tauiwi

Time for my review of my mixtape entitled "Secret of Flyboat" (Complete with art!) Track #1: We start off with a very futuristic-sounding track with many elements sampled into it. At this stage, it sounds like it could be the sister of Apparatjik’s ‘Electric Eye’. Then I hear familiar vocals, but I just can’t put a name to them! An unusual song, but it has a catchy beat! The piano bridge adds a softer element, really a poignant moment around the electro hip-hop elements. **** Track #2: “Dynamite!” This sounds like classic Motown. I am instantly hooked, what an amazing transition. Puts me into a great mood. Horn sections are mesmerising, it’s got a great African beat which makes me nod my head in approval! Production quality on the track indicates that it might be a track from a few few years back… ****** Track #3: DOMINOES! As soon as I heard the intro to this, I was like awesome! I love the Big Pink’s debut album, this was my favourite track off it. ***** Track #4: Song starts with a catchy shuffling of drums behind psychadelic-sounding flanging guitar. This is an old school jem. I love the chord changes in the verses. Sounds like a song that came straight out of the ‘Boat That Rocked’ movie soundtrack. Like the Beatles and Stones eras. **** Track #5: An international flavour, with what I assume is an asian language. I like the musical side of the track, with the acoustic/electric/bass combination. I wish it was in English! Sounds like it could be a dance-floor filler. *** Track #6: French. I can pick out this accent, even with only two years of learning the language in high school. It’s a swinging track, sung by a very provocative-sounding woman who could have come straight from the Moulin Rouge! A bit too old-school for me. *** Track #7: Atmospheric, reverbed piano opens the track in a nice change before a deep techo beat erupts – this intro sounds amazing and like something I would listen to from that genre! Grouped vocals work perfectly. Loving this track, sounds like a French or German band singing English vocals. It’s a bit like Australia’s indie/electro bands Cut Copy or Midnight Juggernauts. This is the best new song I have heard so far! ***** Track #8: Instant tempo and genre change, a sneaky groove opens this track – it sounds like Elbow with a different singer and with a more bluesy influence. Then the chorus sounds Arctic Monkeys, so of course I am liking all of the elements of the song so far! The lyrics are sneaky and sinister, and the music compliments it well. ***** Track #9: Intro almost sounds like underwater drumming before a soaring harmony appears over top. It’s very Fleet Foxes, with banjo. A second burst of drumming is met with great excitement – this is a really great short folk/alternative track that fans of Grizzly Bear or Fleet Foxes would like. Probably the best surprise you’ve given me so far. ***** Track #10: Electro opening, slowly builds up with an accompanying techno beat, sounding very ‘house’ genre at the moment. It’s a very reflective track, just a bit too repetitive for me. *** Track #11: Loud vocals, another French band singing English vocals is it? Synths well represented here, but the background guitar stands out to me. Interesting chord changes, it’s actually a track that sounds very inspired by the English band Blur, with added synths for an electro feel. I want to really like it, but sometimes the synths are just too in your face. Infectiously catchy song nonetheless! **** Track #12: Old school jazz introduces the track, complete with loud horn section. Then it’s transformed with what clearly is a remix or a track that’s sampled it. It’s made it more modern, really a weird sound but it makes you want to keep listening! Cement Mixer Party-party? I can hear the French influences again, this is a real 50-50 track that makes me smile. Saxophone section is gorgeous. **** Track #13: This track starts off with a sound that is more familiar to me. It’s once again a bit like Fleet Foxes, but this time has female vocals and I realise it’s a country track! But the singer’s voice is so so familiar, a bit like Norah Jones – this might be some of her new stuff I am not familiar with! **** Track #14: Acoustic folk and electro synths mix in the introduction with atmospheric strings and a toe-tapping beat. Vocals enter and I am immediately in love with this track, hoping it goes well for the remainder. Beat changes slightly, with more bass drum, but all the right elements remain. A beautiful track that is one of my favourite from the mix. ***** Track #15: A quieter, acoustic track that sounds internationally familiar. It’s a great folk track that is soft and melodic, I like it but its nothing I am used to listening to. The vocals could be better, but the instrumentals are superb. **** Track #16: This track almost signals the end of the tape. French vocals over calming acoustic guitars. It’s nice, but nothing spectacular – almost sounds like a French version of a song that’s been done before. *** Track #17: Echoing notes soaked in reverb stutter through the opening of the track which turns out to be an instrumental. A nice choice as a closer. *** Overall I liked the mixtape. Nothing blew me away and makes me want to chase the band up, having known the Big Pink track already. Tracks 7, 8, 9 and 14 were standouts. The mixtape varied the genres alot; tracks in French were difficult to listen to but it was great to get the international experience. An interesting blend of tracks that kept me listening with intent.

The word looks the same.

lol I think I put liam cos Neil looks like noel

Firstly I am SO SO sorry for replying too late to this! Have been really busy lately. I was so amazed listening to your review, I am so glad you liked it! Its a real mix of genres that even coldplay fans will like, with international and Australian flavour! Here's the tracklisting: 1. 'Doubt' - Dephic A new up and coming Manchester band from the UK, with a debut album. This is clearly the best track of the album. Whilst the start is weird, it ends with a great electro-rock explosion. 2. 'Signs And Wonders' - Animal Kingdom One of the most surprising bands of 2009, I discovered them by chance. The singer is mesmerizing! 3. 'Austere' - The Joy Formidable Another "underground" UK act that is unknown internationally. They supported The Editors last year on tour and the female singer is superb! 4. 'Slow For Me, My Island' - Dappled Cities Sydney Band, 3rd album. My favourite Aussie album of 2009. Great track that slows down the tempo only slightly for a temporary breather. 5. 'One Night In October' - Little Comets This is the UK band I am most excited about. They make disco-rock tunes that do make you want to jump around. Really upbeat, positive music that hasn't even made an album yet! 6. 'Sometimes' - Miami Horror A new Australian act that hone in on the best of todays and 80's music in a unique blend. This has been their smash breakout single. No album yet. 7. 'Blood' - The Middle East A unique folk group from Australia - tipped for big things in 2010. Breakout single, really melodic with an interesting ending. For fans of Grizzly Bear. 8. 'Winter Winds' - Mumford & Sons London lads who have made it big in Australia recently. They play irish folk-pop-rock sounding music with a london twist. Infectious to sing to! Chorus is amazing. 9. 'The Good News' - Philadelphia Grand Jury Quirky band from Sydney. Breakout single off their debut album - it's another favourite of mine because of the piano riff and its such a positive sound! 10. 'Thats The Reason' - The Rakes Uptempo, toe-tapping British indie rockers. This song is amazing to jump around to, with so much energy. This song typifies good working class British music to me! 11. 'Disembodied Voices' - Neil and Tim Finn Being a New Zealander for 12 of my 20 years, had to put The Finn Brothers on the mixtape - NZ icons. This is a real melodic, slow tune I thought would fit well. 12. 'No More Empty Words' - The Thrills My 4th favourite band, haven't released an album since 2007. The singer has the best vocals in the entire world, and it's well-produced, great irish indie music. 13. 'I Wanna Live In a Dream (In My record Machine) [Demo]' - Noel Gallagher A Noel Gallagher (ex-Oasis) demo that hasn't had a proper release yet. Its one of my favourite of his, and could be a sign of what is to come in the future if he releases a solo album. 14. 'A Community Service Announcement' - Jonathan Boulet The first true breakout single of 2010. He's a 21-year-old from Sydney who produced this whole album in his bedroom. This song is going to be a big money maker. 15. 'Let Your Love Grow Tall' - Passion Pit Passion Pit are one of the biggest acts of 2009, and this was the final track of their album, which I think was a great closer. Love the indie/electro crossover. Glad you liked, i tried my best! My link is: http://www.mediafire.com/?j5aowtmgjzn My blog is: http://theamarar.blogspot.com/ Alex

100% sure

My MUSE videos from the night are up on my blog and also on the Muse thread

That is 3 DAYS OF HEAVEN.

I took this on the day: [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7RdoBmGaOI]YouTube- Powderfinger - 'Little Lion Man' (Cover) [Melb Big Day Out 2010][/ame]

Sorry about all the posts, but I finally reviewed Laneway festival from Saturday: http://theamarar.blogspot.com/

Yeah i saw that one added to youtube today. And I saw it on TV this morning too, as the Channel V Ripe Clip of the week. Excellent recording! I finally uploaded my videos, and this is the best I got: [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jqH5ETkdfk]YouTube- Muse - Starlight (Melbourne Big Day Out 2010)[/ame] [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6oTvgFEMWs]YouTube- Muse - Back In Black (ACDC Cover with Nic Cester) [Melb BDO 2010][/ame] Shows how close I was.

Ha thought you would! Have to have some nz roots

Thanks. I wanted to make it easier and more compact!

I just snazzed mine up. Cleaner look.

Yeah, I heard nothing about Green Day's album here!!

Oh, and its very anthemic. Which they need live!

God these guys change musical genres so much. It's a good song, should do well on the radio too.

Thanks again! Finished product: http://theamarar.blogspot.com/

Yeah and I'll fix the photos too

legend! I am just making a new banner. You can see the changes!

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Oh ok, ill paste it here

I am looking forward to it.

Oh cool, well my site is http://theamarar.blogspot.com/ Thanks heaps for replying!

Hi, So have a music blog at theamarar.blogspot.com, and I want to do two things: 1. Make the background completely white 2. Widen the blog so it fits the entire screen - right now it only takes up the middle section. The RHS sidebar is an ok width, its just the blogging part I would like to widen. Im terrible at CSS code, and have read through both http://www.google.com/support/blogger/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=46870 and http://www.blogdoctor.me/2006/10/how-to-change-width-of-blog.html but I still can't get it to work. Is anyone able to help? Plus, if you're an expert, I can entrust someone to log in and fix the problems for me. This will lead to the improvement and creation of an awesome, high quality music blog for all of you to enjoy! Alex

According to NME, the new Liam-Gallagher led "Oasis" is putting an album out THIS SUMMER!! Liam Gallagher: 'My post-Oasis album will be out by July' Plus singer regrets the band's 'poor' workrate Liam Gallagher's new band are aiming to release an album by July. The singer says that his new group – featuring former Oasis bandmates Andy Bell and Gem Archer – had eight songs, and are aiming to head into the studio soon. "A lot of these songs I wrote before the band [Oasis] split up," Gallagher told XFM. "I mean, there's a few new ones on there that are coming out now." He added: "We're going in [the studio] in April with a producer, we're going to do three songs with him and if he doesn't balls it up and we don't balls it up then we'll go in and do the whole album with him." Gallagher suggested he was keen to get on with the new, still nameless group - saying he regretted the fact that Oasis only made seven albums in the 16 years they had a record deal. He called the amount of music Oasis' put out in their career "poor", and chastised the band for taking so long to produce new material. "Seven albums for Oasis is not good, I don't think. We've been going 18 years, 16 years or whatever and all we've done is seven albums. Ian Brown's on his seventh solo album. I just think it's poor, really," Gallagher said. "I'm not going to beat myself up about it, I think we should have made better, bigger albums. Or more albums. Having like four or five years off is just no good," he added. "Obviously Noel (Gallagher) wanted a bit of time off and we don't. The band split in August – we was in the studio in November 'cos we're mad for it." Elsewhere in the interview, Gallagher said he wants to appear on 'I'm A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here or Total Wipeout – but only if no other contestants are involved. "I'd like to do all that shit," he said, before adding that Total Wipeout is his favourite reality TV programme of the moment. "They do it in Argentina. I'd love to do it on my jaxy, with no one about."