Welcome… to the first great Australian rock record of the new decade. An album where every song could be a single and every single could be an anthem. An album that floats and pulls, pushes and tears through on a completely different level to all those around it, calling out our vices and heartbreak in one of the most uplifting dark albums ever. Everything they’ve done before has led to this album. Welcome… to Birds of Tokyo.
Opening with the gentle Plans drifting out of the speakers like a sweet breeze and gliding effortlessly through the air, before building, building and building some more and then exploding into the atmosphere. Look down, see those dots below you, they’re every other rock band in the country trying to reach these giddy heights. And we’re only on track one. Launching into our first trip around the board game of love and the destruction it leaves behind, Dark Side Of Love rolls the dice and leaves only questions and the ache of what used to be, when the slide begins and everything points to the end of everything. But you’ll never feel so glad to see it.
The aggression and Bombast of The Saddest Thing I Know roars out as lead singer Ian Kenny seems to take shape as the scythe wielding Grim Reaper, shaking his head at the vice ridden behaviour he sees before him. Looking on as the weak willed sink ever deeper by their own hand, all the while waiting for his time to strike and end their suffering. Waiting for those whose blood and substance runs deep In The Veins Of Death Valley. The macabre violins set against the soaring vocal melodies leading them ever deeper into his grasp.
A beautiful, haunting refrain introduces Circles and bends its way through much of the song, twisting and turning, looking for the way back to redemption and where it all came undone. Aching to break free of distraction and all the while building up with the frustration and impatience of the great return until it can’t take no more.
Wild At Heart spills in, laying the foundation for its soaring declaration of heart on sleeve abandon… “I fought with many and I won for some” Kenny’s arch angel of love cries… “We wear our bruises like watermarks”, the medals of battles fought for the heart and soul worn as proof of a life lived on the edge of all it could offer.
The massive, robot production line riff of The Gap kicks you right in the head and the band strap their fighting boots on and launch an all out aural assault, Kenny’s knowing sneer setting the scene before a delicate falsetto belies the sinister stomp of the music. Escape from the unescapable seems too far gone and the slow sink begins. The gentle intro to Murmurs is short and soon gives way to the huge guitars and soaring chorus that wash over like a wave of relief and regret. All before the massive, abrasive guitar break drives a hole right through you, nailing you to the last ditch wall of redemption as the final chorus has you soaring all over again.
The Birds march and kick and glide their way through this record with their eyes set firmly on the prize, that of making a truly great rock record… and they achieve it tenfold. Determined not to be dragged down by angst and temptation, but instead using it to build themselves up again, fighting all the time for survival. Fighting for love over heartbreak, for courage over vice. Their weapons of sonic walls, huge hooks and amazing vocal melodies being fired at will. When the time comes to tour, watch as audiences will heave to The Unspeakable Scene before being lifted by its stunning chorus, then ride Waiting For The Wolves to its breathtaking conclusion.
And so as If This Ship Sinks (I Give In) sails inevitably out to sea you know they aren’t going down without a fight. But whatever fate has in store can only be put off for so long before it stares every one of us down and we succumb to its all knowing glare and drift helplessly along, our last gaze falling sweetly upon that which has kept us in the fight all along.
As the album title suggests, there is nothing subtle about The Count & Sinden’s tunes… 4 minutes of a minimix and I’m already bouncing off the walls. If you remember the #1 UK dance track Beeper, you know what you’re in for… (hit me on my beeper, hit me on my beeper, beeper-beeper-beeper-beeper, hit me on my beeper, etc…)
So perhaps keep the minimix for today, and take the album for a proper spin on an ‘enhanced’ hedonistic Saturday night when it arrives in Australia on August 20.
1. Do You Really Want It – ft. Trackademicks 2. After Dark – ft. Mystery Jets 3. Desert Rhythm 4. Hardcore Girls – ft. Rye Rye 5. Roll Out – ft. 77 Klash 6. Elephant 1234 7. Hold Me – ft. Katy B 8. Mega 9. Addicted To You – ft. Bashy 10. Panther 11. Llamamé – ft. Coolio Iglesias 12. You Make Me Feel So Good
Follow The Count (@hervespace) & Sinden (@gsinden) on Twitter and give the current single MEGA a whirl.
It is indeed, MEGA.
The Count & Sinden will play Parklife nationally in September.
Last week, we told you about The Cat Empire’s Biggest Smallest album launch for Cinema this Sunday in Melbourne… Yannow, the gig where you can get your own on-stage shout-out from the band and that will be beamed out live around the planet?
So far, people from FIFTY SIX COUNTRIES around the world have registered to watch!
As for Victoria however… 100 lucky people (who will need to be the fastest internet users in the state!) have the chance to attend this event in person… Today the band released 100 of their guest tickets for public purchase from Moshtix. These lucky peeps will join the band’s friends and family and fiercest supporters in the room to witness the launch of Cinema. Grab your tix here.
On a completely separate note… Ever wondered how The Strokes would sound in true Cat Empire style? The boys recently performed a brilliant cover of The Strokes classic hit Last Night at Nova Melbourne… hopefully no one will be shocked to discover that Harry is an absolutely astonishing trumpeter.
Australian Remix duo Stereogamous (AKA Paul Mac and Jonny Seymour – @stereogamous) get a big thumbs up this week from LCD Soundsystem frontman James Murphy for their hot new remix of the forthcoming LCD single I Can Change.LCD’s latest (and final) LP This Is Happening has scored rapturous acclaim across the globe as one of the albums of the year.
To have LCD’s frontman give his personal stamp of approval to a remix has been a huge coup for this local dance duo. With its thumping beats and driving core, the track is sure to be a hit. The world’s most popular pop website POPJUSTICE agrees and made it a feature, as well as Stoney Roads sharing the love.
Stereogamous have made quite a name for themselves remixing some of the best and most diverse acts around the world including Wolfmother, The Presets, MEN (JD Samson from Le Tigre), Jimmy Sommerville, We Have Band and The Scare. And it’s not just James Murphy giving them kudos – earlier this year George Michael was so impressed with their dynamic live set, he commissioned them to create a 45 min warm-up for his sold-out Melbourne and Sydney stadium shows.
Last week, Erika Heynatz screened her Bullet video on a wintry rainy intimate night at The Beresford in Surry Hills. While we huddled under the outdoor gas heaters, cinematic tales of romance, intrigue, suspense (and hot guys & girls!) unfolded on the screen before us.
Erika performed several tunes off her upcoming album Sweeter Side (due out in July), including Bullet, her previous single Kingdom, and Mind Games (fellow In Sounder Meeg’s passionate fave), and explained what it was like to work with a full studio orchestra and some of the best in the biz in California.
The video for Bullet featuring Rose Byrne’s older brother, George (a singer and musician himself), the vintage 1942 Harley-Davidson which was ridden by Hugh Jackman in Wolverine and a python named Blake… check it out here.
Pretty ‘cinemtic’, hey!?
Also in the Sunday Papers this weekend she gave us a look at her beautiful album cover…
Next time I’m in an argument, I shall simply punch the air and declare:
Honestly, this is one of the most visually stunning and euphoric (a very different type of euphoria than the latest Miami Horror vid) music videos I’ve seen in recent years. For all the non-believers out there… this is the antidote.
You MUST watch it in HD on full screen.
If you are inspired to be that amazing kid standing on top of the crowd (at 2min 19s), or to witness the utter phenomenon of The Echelon and 30 Seconds To Mars from afar (ie seated), head to one of the Australian Into The Wild shows this July.
So… the 4 yearly World Cup football-athon kicks off this weekend and round ball fans right around the globe are gearing up for some serious action.
On this side of the world sleepless nights, drunken mornings and a low spot on workplace performance reviews will be the tale of the next four weeks.
Brazil, Spain, England, Netherlands, Argentina, and current holders Italy (grrrr) are all placed to take out the 2010 edition. And in no time at all every person you pass on the street will be dissecting Australia’s match against Germany, Lionel Messi’s performance against Greece, Ronaldo’s amazing goal for Portugal and why England have once again been knocked out by penalties. (ed note – sorry Roddy but it’s true)
Already the mighty advertising dollar that dominates everything we touch, including sport, has shown it’s hand and a plethora of finely filmed, big budget ads have debuted on T.V and the interwebs.
One wonders, with so much quality going around this month, how Adidas managed to let this slip by the keeper…. one of the most nonsensical things I’ve seen in quite some time.
Still, somehow Snoop Dogg escapes with his cool intact… fo shizzle!!
Hands up if you watched Eurovision. Neither did I.
Apologies to any Europhiles, but after migrating 10 years ago I don’t fancy flashbacks of German guys in spandex singing “bum-baba-bum”. Shame, as it seems I missed a real beaut’ this year.
I’m not fussed about the winner. Nobody remembers the winner when the runner-ups look like extras from Glee. And 2010 did not disappoint. As usual, you can rely on the East Europeans to out-do Lady Gaga in the weirdness stakes. They don’t come much weirder than Moldova’s offering…
Mmm…
80’s saxophone? Tick.
Light sabre? Tick.
Adam Ant’s make-up? Tick.
Bloke who loves his reflection? Yep.
Wardrobe from Mad Max 2? Probably.
And just in case you haven’t heard… this year Eurovision suffered a stage invasion. OMG whatever next?! It’s described as an “attack”, but looks suspiciously like a drunk guy taking the piss.
Jarvis Cocker would be proud.
The Eurovision DVD is out 25th June. 3 discs of glorious tacky viewing. For those who can’t wait, the CD came out 21st May.
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