An okayish new tune from John Steel Singers, a fine, mysterious piece from Otouto and a wonderful Grizzly Bear cover from Pivot...
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John Steel Singers - 'Masochist'
I'm not feeling this new tune from John Steel Singers I have to say. Maybe I was hoping for the bands next release to trip over into that full psychedelic wigout territory they've promised thus far. Maybe, with their obviously talented chops, prior tunes and guidance (this was produced by Go-Between, Robert Forster no less) I was expecting something that reflected upon the controlled chaos of their live shows. Instead 'Masochist', their first single from their forthcoming debut album is...well, kinda pedestrian. And seemingly continuing Brisbane pop's recent haunting of early '90s Brit-Pop. (YKB?)
The band supported the singles release with a tour through October, and while that's been and gone, the
excellent band diaries written by trombonist Pete Bernoth, will live on in comedic perpetuity.
myspace.com/thejohnsteelsingers
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Otouto - 'Spot'
If Melbourne group Otouto sound at least vaguely familiar to some, it could be one of two reasons. Fronted by Hazel Brown, the singer has adopted the group moniker only recently for this version of her songwriting project. Secondly, the drummer is Kishore Ryan, whose percussive clattering on kitchenware positioned around his drumkit immediately evokes his other band Kid Sam. Rounded out by Hazel's sibling Martha Brown, the trio make a flittering, woozy and slightly melancholic kind've bare, keyboard pop. Something approximating New Buffalo meets a relaxed Dirty Projectors. And while that's not quite bang on, it translates as intriguing either way.
'Spot' is a B-Side of the bands single 'Sushi', but I prefer it to the A. The bands upcoming album produced by Nick Huggins is due in 2010.
myspace.com/hazelbrownmusic
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Pivot - 'Colorado' - Grizzly Bear cover
Since signing to the fabled Warp records, Sydney band Pivot have been on the up. Touring the world, garnering praise from all corners of the globe,
chilling with David Byrne in New York and, in turn - as is the want of our tall poppy syndrome - becoming duly feted at home. Not without reason. Their Warp debut
O Soundtrack My Heart, was one of the best releases of last year. Even
we said so.
Warp records have just released a massive box set celebrating the label's music, and as part of the process that asked a bunch of their bands to cover fellow Warp artists tracks. Fortunately for Pivot, they got in on the ground level with a cover of this year's darlings. From their MySpace:
"In November last year, in the middle of our Australian tour, we had a day off and went to the studio to cover Grizzly Bears 'Colorado'. The track is off their album 'Yellow House' which is a great record from a few years back which you should check if you haven't yet. The Grizzlies have since been blowing up all over the place with their new record Veckatimest, but that's a whole other story...
Our cover is out on '
Warp20 (Recreated)' which is a compilation of Warp artists covering tracks from Warps (now huge) back catalogue. It's got Autechre covering LFO, Born Ruffians covering Aphex, Prefuse covering us, and so on... "
As with most things Pivot, it's a combo of their eerie signature Blade Runner-esque synth churn and the general otherworldliness of Grizzly Bear. Ie: quality.
www.myspace.com/pivotpivot