Ill Chill Pill

Jeff Pianki - Said and Done I have to give full credit to the...

Thu, 23 May 2013 20:46:30 +1000

Jeff Pianki - Said and Done

I have to give full credit to the bloggers at My Folking Heart for introducing me to the music of Jeff Pianki. He is truly a sensational songwriter and I believe that his gift for music has enriched many people’s lives.

This track was released in late 2011. I read that Jeff is getting back in to the studio to record more music soon, but until then, enjoy a free download of this track and enjoy.

Download - Said and Done

ScHoolboy Q - Sacrilegious This dark narrative is told from the...

Mon, 20 May 2013 15:55:00 +1000

ScHoolboy Q - Sacrilegious

This dark narrative is told from the perspective of someone with the inability to break from their misguided habits. Taken from ScHoolboy Q’s second LP Habits and Contradictions, Sacrilegious introduces the listener to a world populated by bad choices and self-destruction.

ScHoolboy Q is a part of the Black Hippy collective along with fellow West Coast rappers Ab Soul and Kendrick Lamar. ScHoolboy Q’s debut major label effort is due out later this year and according to the former Crip member, he has ‘no choice’ but to release a ‘classic’ album.

As long as he can continue to write and deliver unconventional rhymes, his hardcore fanbase won’t likely be disappointed.

Enjoy.

Shakey Graves - Unlucky Skin The popularity of the banjo has...

Sun, 19 May 2013 15:16:00 +1000

Shakey Graves - Unlucky Skin

The popularity of the banjo has been steadily on the rise since Mumford and Sons launched to international stardom in 2011. Not to say that banjo music ever really died, but it has certainly seen a revival in the popular collective conscience.

Banjos aside, I just came across a video by Shakey Graves, who is decribed as a “gentleman from Texas.” There has been a horror-esque video collaboration made with Fool’s Road for the song which recently featured on Pigeons and Planes.

Enjoy.

Download - Unlucky Skin

Four Tet - Unspoken (original version) Unspoken originally...

Tue, 14 May 2013 19:47:49 +1000

Four Tet - Unspoken (original version)

Unspoken originally contained a sample of Tori Amos. But because Four Tet could not get the sample cleared, he had to change the original version so it could be released on his sophmore LP Rounds.

Today (ten years after Rounds was released) he tweeted a link to the original 9 minute version along with a download link. What a champ!

Download - Unspoken (original version)

Kydd - Missing Elements Rapper Kydd really taps into the...

Tue, 14 May 2013 15:22:00 +1000

Kydd - Missing Elements

Rapper Kydd really taps into the subconscious regions of the brain with this tune. The hypnotic beat is best enjoyed with headphones on or submerged in a bath (but not both for obvious reasons!). The unorthodox offbeat bassline and percussion add to the mysterious feel of the track.

The video is also incredible. The concept clip depicts life and death while flirting with mystic symbolism.

Download - Missing Elements

Sun Kil Moon - Dramamine (Modest Mouse Cover) Modest...

Thu, 09 May 2013 18:26:00 +1000

Sun Kil Moon - Dramamine (Modest Mouse Cover)

Modest Mouse are one of those huge bands that most people seem to enjoy. I can’t claim to be a humongus fan but I do love the opening track Dramamine from their 1996 debut album This Is a Long Drive for Someone with Nothing to Think About. Apparently dramamine is a motion sickness drug, which ties in to the concept of the album title rather nicely.

Sun Kil Moon covers this song changing the melody and progression of the original, playing up the tension with rhythm guitars and cymbal clashes. Mark Kozelek aka Sun Kil Moon makes Dramamine his own with this rendition and the result is vastly different, but grand in its own right.

Enjoy.

Bonobo - Sapphire Finding a song to feature from Bonobo’s...

Mon, 06 May 2013 17:56:00 +1000

Bonobo - Sapphire

Finding a song to feature from Bonobo’s new album proved to be difficult. The entire LP is a cohesive unit with different textures and cultures like an organic plant growing more luscious with every listen.

I have however, settled on Sapphire for no other reason, other than it was playing when I began writing this. The song features just before the halfway mark and it is nothing less than you would expect from Britain’s elite DJ/producer. It is the kind of song you could play to your mother in law, your teenage hipster nephew, or your neighbour’s ant colony. In other words, I think few people would find Bonobo’s new album difficult to refuse or dispute.

I highly recommend The North Borders to lovers of all music. Released last month, Bonobo’s fifth album is all killer no filler and a definite venture into downtempo bliss.

Enjoy.

Vampire Weekend - Step Vampire Weekend amp up the hype for...

Sat, 04 May 2013 13:11:00 +1000

Vampire Weekend - Step

Vampire Weekend amp up the hype for their highly anticipated third album with a new Youtube lyrics video for the track ‘Step.’ I remember hearing the sampled lyrics ‘everytime I see you in the world you always step to my girl’ from the early 90s Souls of Mischief track Step To My Girl. I’m not sure where the origin of those original lyrics are from but regardless, Vampire Weekend harmonise the lines beautifuly and come in great form with Step.

Modern Vampires of the City is due to be released May 13th, and no doubt fans will be relishing the new record while many critics will be keen to criticise the band, whether it be due to experimentation or lifting influences from other artists.

Enjoy.

Bombay Bicycle Club - Always Like This BBC are no strangers to...

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 19:05:00 +1000

Bombay Bicycle Club - Always Like This

BBC are no strangers to the ill chill pill. We have been following the group’s movements since, well, since we discovered this song really.

The 2009 single launched the British band into worldwide stardom and won them a huge fanbase which has been propped up by three consistent album releases. Always Like This is still regarded a favourite and with very good reason.

If you haven’t already fallen in love with this tune, now is your chance.

Enjoy.

Binary Star - Thumper aka The Caped Crusader aka The King James...

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 16:40:00 +1000

Binary Star - Thumper aka The Caped Crusader aka The King James Diversion

Anyone familiar with Binary Star will know of One Be Lo and Senim Silla, the two emcees who bonded over music after serving time in prison for armed robbery.

After their release from prison, the group quickly recorded Waterworld and rereleased many of the tracks, plus some new ones, for wider distribution on the Masters of The Universe LP which is widely regarded as an underground hip hop classic. Twelve years after MOTU, the two artists finally decided to collaborate as Binary Star once again to release a self-titled EP. While it was a breath of fresh air to hear the two friends at it again, the standout track for me was the epically titled Thumper aka The Caped Crusader aka The King James Diversion, which contains raps from only One Be Lo.

Listening to just the first verse will set your mind boggling. The wealth of knowledge One Be Lo displays regarding Christianity, Hebrew and Islam is truly amazing. His wordplay and intricate double entendres reflect why One Be Lo is known as the emcee’s emcee. I guarantee after listening to this song a few dozen times, you will continue to find meaning that you missed previously.

Enjoy.

James Devane - Rhubarb (Aphex Twin Cover) I have no agenda. I...

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 19:18:13 +1000

James Devane - Rhubarb (Aphex Twin Cover)

I have no agenda.

I have no endorsements, no sponsors, no product placement on this website. I have never studied marketing or advertising. I have no interest in hype, in trending, in staying up to date with the most recent major label artist campaign push.

I have never sugarcoated or given my opinion of music lightly without careful contemplation and consideration on different elements and textures of the soundscape.

I don’t listen to radio, I don’t watch television and I have started falling out of the habit of attending social events for the sake of engaging in shallow conversations consisting of the same polite but generic questions and answers.

I don’t listen to music to be social or antisocial, nor do I do it to develop a false sense of superiority or alienation from those around me. I do listen to music to stimulate my brain, to engage areas of my psyche that are both primitive and highly developed. I write about music not for any personal gain, but in the hope that I can share some amazing creative works with other appreciative listeners. I don’t believe in altruism, or selflessness because I love sharing music with others and I vicariously feel a sense of joy in the process.

I often feel forced to talk a lot during the day, and far too often these spoken exchanges are dwarfed in terms of meaning, emotion, expression and understanding compared to the awesome communicative powers that music can have - which brings me to the end of my ramblings. At the end of the day, you can complain about the state of music today, or you can use your initiative and seek a world of undiscovered talent and a crowd of like-minded people to share your appreciation with, rather than your own disappointments.

Enjoy.

Nicolas Repac - La Nuit Méne Une Existence Obscure This track...

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 21:20:00 +1000

Nicolas Repac - La Nuit Méne Une Existence Obscure

This track is sizzling with French sensuality. I first came across La Nuit Méne Une Existence Obscurefrom the So Frenchy, So Chic albums seven years ago. I hold this compilation series responsible for introducing me to a plethora of French talents including Emilié Simon, Spleen, Camille and We Were Evergreen to name a few.

Enjoy.

Astronauts, etc. - 17 (Youth Lagoon Cover) Astronauts, etc. has...

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 18:34:00 +1000

Astronauts, etc. - 17 (Youth Lagoon Cover)

Astronauts, etc. has really made a lovely cover of Youth Lagoon’s 17. This track is the kind of song you can listen to over and over again when you are tired out of your mind and it will soothe you like a full brain massage through your earlobes. The raw vocals and live sound make the impact of this song far more immediately emotional than more polished recordings.

Just like Tim Fitz, this DIY musician has shown a proficiency dubbing over the top of the tracks he has laid down to essentially play the entire song solo.

You can check out more of Astronauts, etc.’s work on his Soundcloud page which includes plenty more free downloads. Enjoy.

Download - 17

Jai Paul - Crush (Jennifer Paige cover) Holy guacamole...

Sun, 14 Apr 2013 12:09:00 +1000

Jai Paul - Crush (Jennifer Paige cover)

Holy guacamole Batman!

Jai Paul, one of my most highly anticipated artists has just released his debut album unannounced, six years after premiering his first track BTSTU.

The unconventional approach in which he’s released it is nothing short of what I have come to expect from the mysterious England-based artist. The untitled tracks have been uploaded onto Bandcamp without any warning from Jai Paul’s record label XL. Blogs are speculating on the authenticity of the album, but people familiar with the Everlasting demo leaks will recognise many of the mastered versions of material that has previously surfaced on the internet (such as his hit Jasmine).

The album is spliced full of obscure film dialogue and skits but there are still plenty of gems to be found on the album. One highlight on the album is Track 7, thought to be a cover of Jennifer Paige’s 1998 pop single, Crush. You can check out the rest of the album here.

Download - Crush

The Flashbulb - I Saw The Sky The prolifically gifted musician...

Sun, 14 Apr 2013 11:20:00 +1000

The Flashbulb - I Saw The Sky

The prolifically gifted musician The Flashbulb (aka Benn Jordan) is a man of many talents. He is a master drummer, drum programmer, pianist, guitarist and accomplished producer. The man is so musically gifted he has also opened up a music studio in his home city of Chicago.

I Saw The Sky is from Hardscrabble, Benn’s 13th album under his Flashbulb moniker (and third album he released last year).

Whether it is the bipolar disorder that fuels his creative drive, or his highly attuned senses, Benn’s artistic works are engrossing and immersive. His unique brand of downtempo, often orchestral breakbeat music is what I like to consider (at the risk of being called a musical snob) high art escapism.

Check out the beautifully filmed video for I Saw The Sky here.

Enjoy

The Ting Tings - Soul Killing The Ting Tings, who could have...

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 16:35:00 +1000

The Ting Tings - Soul Killing

The Ting Tings, who could have been easily dismissed as a pop throwaway group after releasing the irritating single That’s Not My Name in 2008. The British duo consists of Katie White and Jules De Martino and they have more skill than many casual listeners might have known. I admittedly had no idea who they were until I heard this track from their second album Sounds From Nowhereville which came out around this time last year.

To be perfectly honest, since downloading Soul Killing upon its release, I haven’t properly explored their other work together and I am dubious whether there will be a song I like better than this one. It has an upbeat reggae beat and enough variation to make it a worthy of plenty more listens one year on.

Enjoy.

Paul Simon - Diamonds on The Souls of Her Shoes (Live in New...

Sun, 07 Apr 2013 21:43:00 +1000

Paul Simon - Diamonds on The Souls of Her Shoes (Live in New York, 2011)

You can’t help but let the uplifting vocal and instrumental expressions of this song pick you up and carry you away on a foot tapping frenzy. Written twenty-five years ago, this song still gets people of all ages dancing as was proven at the Paul Simon concert held last week in Melbourne.

Paul Simon has been a powerful force in influencing modern music today. Bands such as Vampire Weekend have drawn inspiration from the groundbreaking 1988 album Graceland, from which Diamonds on The Souls of Her Shoes appears. The album is noted for its African musical influences and genre-defying upbeat vibe.

Vampire Weekend received a lot of backlash by fans of Paul Simon’s solo work for ‘lifting’ similar influences, such as afrobeat and eastern African folk music in the wake of their 2008 breakthrough album. However Paul Simon defended the group.

‘I felt bad. I wanted to go and tell them that I didn’t think they were taking anything. So that’s what I told them. They said, “Do you think we are?” and I said, “No, I think you’re going to the same sources that I went to. You’re drawing from the same well. You’re trying to write interesting songs.” In a way, we were on the same pursuit, but I don’t think you’re lifting from me, and anyway, you’re welcome to it, because everybody’s lifting all the time. That’s the way music grows and is shaped.’

The 71 year old is still an excellent performer and musicians continue benefiting from his illustrious 50+ year musical career.

Vampire Weekend are due to release their third album in May this year.

Enjoy.

Horrorshow - All Summer Long (Live) And i still think of your...

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 21:26:00 +1100

Horrorshow - All Summer Long (Live)

And i still think of your face everytime it rains and I wonder
In a different time and place could we find our way to one another?

Solo MC from Horrorshow really crystalised the sentimental feeling of chance encounters and forlorn teenage infatuation when he penned All Summer Long from the group’s 2008 debut album The Grey Space.

On an album that features some heavy topics, such as depression, losing loved ones and finding hope, All Summer Long brightens the corners of The Grey Space and makes the listener feel what it’s like to be 16 and in love again.

To reward their fans on the four year gap since their last studio full-length, Horrorshow have decided to release a free live album, Live At the Spiegeltent. The generous act is also a calculated move to excite old fans and win over casual listeners before the group release their third album later this year.

Enjoy.

Download - Live At the Spiegeltent (album)

Fyfe - Lies Paul Dixon, otherwise known as Fyfe, is an artist...

Sun, 31 Mar 2013 11:21:20 +1100

Fyfe - Lies

Paul Dixon, otherwise known as Fyfe, is an artist I’ve been meaning to share for a while now. He has developed quite a following with tracks like St Tropez and Solace.

The London-based musician approaches his music with an interesting and sparse arrangement. This one is also available for free download, so if you feel that you’d like to grow better acquainted with Fyfe, you can do so before his debut EP Solace is released on April 8th.

Download - Lies (link to FB page)

Active Child - Evening Ceremony One reason to be thankful for...

Fri, 29 Mar 2013 11:33:00 +1100

Active Child - Evening Ceremony

One reason to be thankful for Stephanie Meyer is that despite writing some inexcusably trashy vampire-romance books, her Twilight franchise has garnered some impressive soundtracks. The latest of her books to be remade into a movie will be The Host.

Active Child has released Evening Ceremony for the soundtrack and it is a low-key, ambient piece with a layered production style that makes for the perfect accompaniment to the falsetto of Pat Grossi.

Thankfully, you don’t have to like Twilight to appreciate this.

Enjoy.