Aphrodite

Local Natives | Who Knows Who Cares | A Take Away Show from La Blogotheque on Vimeo.


My brother just sent me the latest Take-Away-Show from La Blogotheque, shot in Paris... and it was of the band I introduced you to earlier... The Local Natives. These guys are picking up a lot of momentum. They sound phenomenal live. Everything around you just stops as their harmonies hit you. Its like that one person who makes your heart pound and stomach drop... you see them heading towards you down the hall, and as soon as you do, everything goes into slow motion and becomes hazy. You can hardly breathe and your heart starts to burn and pounds so hard it feels like its going to burst through your chest. They casually walk by (as though being kin to Aphrodite were no big deal) leaving a trail of intoxicating perfume... which lingers and haunts... leaving you dizzy... yearning for more. This is exactly what The Local Natives do to you with their music.

-Frey

M83 - Digital Shades Vol. 1

Glorious and sumptuous analogue synth soundscapes caress the ears and beckon one on a journey of highest heights; M83's 2007 release Digital Shades Vol. 1 is both peculiar and curiously indulgent. Featuring mostly two-track compositions and no drums, Anthony Gonzalez (M83's primary member), displays his genius with poignant precision. This album is not for the impatient but will reward the listener with each new texture revealed throughout the nearly 36 minute running time as each track seamlessly flows into the next in perfect juxtaposition to the last.

This album has been incredibly inspiring ever since it was passed on to me and continues to serve as my personal soundtrack to times of meditation, contemplation and rest. I recommend listening to this album all the way through as it was meant to be heard and on a decent stereo or pair of headphones. Setting the atmosphere with some dimmed lights or candles, or even just listening with your eyes closed will enhance the experience and bring you into the heavenly wold of this record.

Breathe deep, listen and drift away.

- Rufio

Standout tracks are "Sister, Pt. 2" and "By the Kiss".

Apricot by Ben Briand

One of the most amazing short films.

Great score by Basil Hogios.

Directed by Ben Briand

APRICOT — A Short Film by Ben Briand from Moonwalk Films on Vimeo.

- David

The Naked and Famous

I've really been enjoying the Naked and Famous. Their debut album, "Passive Me, Aggressive You", was released in September last year and has taken me quite a while to get to it...but so worth it. The album is full of indie electronic joy. Heaps of this record reminds me of the last M83 album. Real fresh melodies and great textures that are soon to appear in projects that a certain writer of a blog is involved in. These Kiwi's are much better than the last Kiwi band I had the misfortune to hear. (They were support to the artist with my choice of the best album of 2010)

Stand out tracks:

Young Blood

Punching in a Dream

The Sun

The Naked & Famous "Young Blood"

David

Of Vincent Moon

Speaking of Vincent Moon, my housemate and I recently held a movie screening/premier for a film by Vincent of a band from Denmark called "An Island." The band featured in it is called Efterklang and their style of music is in the folk/indie digital realm. I definitely recommend that you guys get a hand on this movie to see how Euros do creativity.

Check out this Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQXJ7HUhugc

Les concerts à emporter..

Fleet Foxes - A Take Away Show from La Blogotheque on Vimeo.

La Blogotheque is the birth child of Vincent Moon, a nomadic independent film maker from Paris. He started a little revolution in the relationship between cinema and music by traveling around the world filming "Take Away Shows" of indie rock related musicians (Bon Iver, Iron & Wine, Tallest Man On Earth, The National, Mumford & Sons) as well as some notable mainstream artists (Sigur Ros, Jason Mraz, Arcade Fire, Sufjan Stevens, Phoenix).  He films them playing their music live whilst walking through the old cobblestone ridden streets of some European town, or through a park in New York. Some are shot in a more intimate setting... just Vincent and the band in an apartment overlooking the Seattle skyline, or an old apartment in Paris on a rainy Monday. In every film he brilliantly captures the raw beauty of music... no studios, no synths, or over dubs. Just a couple of guys with guitars, a melodica, and the burden of song that they each carry. 

I think its really interesting as well to note how all of the bystanders in the videos react. Usually when the artist(s) starts, there is no crowd... but soon enough, with out fail... one gathers and is filled with a wide variety of people with different ethnicities, races, and creeds. Its quite interesting isn't it?... the tug music has on all of us. How it draws us out. Stops us. Redirects us. Moves us. Unites us.


-Frey