An Australian electronic band is invading our ears today, with their third studio album. In interviews, the band commented that they wanted this to be a new imagining of what they could do with their instruments, stripping away the previous sounds. They recorded in an old warehouse in Melbourne, surrounded by old recording equipment and barely any internet access. By all accounts, it seems like much less of a synthetic sounds because of the use of vocal arrangements instead. In fact, vocals, editing, and mixing are the only big credits on the album for people involved, other than artwork.
So why do we care? Well, the album as a whole was nominated for a Grammy this year, so that's one reason. Plus, it reached #2 on our dance charts, so maybe, commercially, there is something to enjoy here.
Take a listen to the whole album on Spotify by clicking here.
So we kick things off with the one produced video I could find, "Need You Now." First though, the song itself. Actually, from the little I've been hearing while pulling videos, I can already say I think I'm going to like this a lot more than a few other dance ones I've been hearing. The beat's a little lighter, even if it is a bit more steady (which is usually an immediate turn off). And holy crap, there's singing. This is exciting. Like, Chromeo-level exciting (now that was an awesome show). The voice is a little droning, but I'll attribute that to his range for now. It's actually interesting as we're getting more into the lyrics - "I know we're going crazy, but I need you now." I could dig this again sometime.
So why do we care? Well, the album as a whole was nominated for a Grammy this year, so that's one reason. Plus, it reached #2 on our dance charts, so maybe, commercially, there is something to enjoy here.
Take a listen to the whole album on Spotify by clicking here.
So we kick things off with the one produced video I could find, "Need You Now." First though, the song itself. Actually, from the little I've been hearing while pulling videos, I can already say I think I'm going to like this a lot more than a few other dance ones I've been hearing. The beat's a little lighter, even if it is a bit more steady (which is usually an immediate turn off). And holy crap, there's singing. This is exciting. Like, Chromeo-level exciting (now that was an awesome show). The voice is a little droning, but I'll attribute that to his range for now. It's actually interesting as we're getting more into the lyrics - "I know we're going crazy, but I need you now." I could dig this again sometime.
"Take Me Over" comes in like a movie track, then this funky beat hits, with what I can only describe as a bongo sound from the drum circles at parties back home. Eh, shit, now I miss those parties. It gets more dance-y toward as it goes on, giving a good party beat. Dude's voice is still kind fo awkward, but it's working a little more with each number. Here's a live performance from last year's Coachella:
What almost sounds like an opening to a 60's based show (sorry, I've been watching a lot of "Mad Men" lately), we get into "Where I'm Going." Surprisingly, there's no drum credits to this album. Listen to it and see what I mean. There are some fun little groovy moments throughout, including the "yeah's" as the chorus is ending. And those "ooh's" are just priceless. You don't hear them in much music anymore. This exemplifies what they meant by using more vocal arrangements throughout this album.
"Pharaohs & Pyramids" is seemingly a little more electronic, at least from the get-go. Weird airy voice entrance, then picking it up with some electric drums. It's an okay track, though more fitting for the 80's era, or at least A Clockwork Orange. Seriously, if you're not hearing some weird throwback to Bowie, then I'm loosing my mind and/or hearing.
A little train sound comes in with "Blink And You'll Miss A Revolution." There's definite mixes in of tracks and snippets from shows, movies, etc. I actually had to check my video loading screen to make sure it wasn't some weird commercial bleeding through. Interesting little beat and melody on what sounds like a xylophone (never thought I'd get to type that, and got it right on the first try!). I'm becoming less into what we're hearing as this goes on, but I'm hoping that's just due to the voice kind of moving in a weird fashion.
"Strange Nostalgia For The Future" lives up to its name somehow in sound. There's just a lot of blurry off-handed notes coming in and out of the realm of hearing. It doesn't really feel like it lasts all that long either, though maybe I stopped paying attention for a minute. There wasn't a real strong use of prevalent voices here.
In an interesting use of drums, and I mean that in a way that the use is pretty steady and very rock-like, we get "This Is All We've Got." There's almost a Sgt. Pepper feel, or at least Across the Universe is being channeled through the process here. The field scenes, I mean, of course. Until we're very close tothe end and there's a little guitar carrying it. Then the voices fade us out.
"Alisa" kicks things off with a run. Again, I'm waiting to be able to tie moods of the songs to their titles, but maybe I'll need to give up that pipe dream. There is, again, a very 80's-esq feel to the song, with wafting notes off into the twilight (sorry - this kind of music gets me all poetic and whatnot). I like where it winds up going with the vocals in here though. The harmonies become more interesting, even if the words are less-than-understandable. Here's a look at a live performance in their native land:
"Pharaohs & Pyramids" is seemingly a little more electronic, at least from the get-go. Weird airy voice entrance, then picking it up with some electric drums. It's an okay track, though more fitting for the 80's era, or at least A Clockwork Orange. Seriously, if you're not hearing some weird throwback to Bowie, then I'm loosing my mind and/or hearing.
A little train sound comes in with "Blink And You'll Miss A Revolution." There's definite mixes in of tracks and snippets from shows, movies, etc. I actually had to check my video loading screen to make sure it wasn't some weird commercial bleeding through. Interesting little beat and melody on what sounds like a xylophone (never thought I'd get to type that, and got it right on the first try!). I'm becoming less into what we're hearing as this goes on, but I'm hoping that's just due to the voice kind of moving in a weird fashion.
"Strange Nostalgia For The Future" lives up to its name somehow in sound. There's just a lot of blurry off-handed notes coming in and out of the realm of hearing. It doesn't really feel like it lasts all that long either, though maybe I stopped paying attention for a minute. There wasn't a real strong use of prevalent voices here.
In an interesting use of drums, and I mean that in a way that the use is pretty steady and very rock-like, we get "This Is All We've Got." There's almost a Sgt. Pepper feel, or at least Across the Universe is being channeled through the process here. The field scenes, I mean, of course. Until we're very close tothe end and there's a little guitar carrying it. Then the voices fade us out.
"Alisa" kicks things off with a run. Again, I'm waiting to be able to tie moods of the songs to their titles, but maybe I'll need to give up that pipe dream. There is, again, a very 80's-esq feel to the song, with wafting notes off into the twilight (sorry - this kind of music gets me all poetic and whatnot). I like where it winds up going with the vocals in here though. The harmonies become more interesting, even if the words are less-than-understandable. Here's a look at a live performance in their native land:
Such an interesting mix of live band sound with electronic jazz beats in "Hanging Onto Every Heartbeat." The verses are so very different than the choruses, almost providing this end trippy feel as you listen. Ever get lost in an odd galactic way to a song? No? Listen to this with your eyes closed, at least, and I'm pretty sure you'll get there. It's just a good vibe throughout.
We end with a less-than-thrilling, yet appropriate wrap-up of the album, "Corner Of The Sky." It's just another song to me, nothing to write home about. It's got the same sound as a majority of the rest of the album, namely that middle portion that left me kind of bored or annoyed. But live, it's another story. It's actually something I'd love to check out sometime:
We end with a less-than-thrilling, yet appropriate wrap-up of the album, "Corner Of The Sky." It's just another song to me, nothing to write home about. It's got the same sound as a majority of the rest of the album, namely that middle portion that left me kind of bored or annoyed. But live, it's another story. It's actually something I'd love to check out sometime:
Added to My Playlist:
- "Need You Now"
- "Take Me Over"
- "Hanging Onto Every Heartbeat"
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