Category Archives: SXSW

SXSW

Bouncing to Belleruche

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Belleruche hails from north London, UK and kicks out the beat using a unique blend of turntables, guitars, and soulful lady crooning.  Led by the sultry Kathrin deBoer, Belleruche follows in the footsteps of Charlie Christian and Cut Chemist.  They also tout the same setup on stage as they have in the studio.  The music label Tru Thoughts snatched them up in 2007 and will be at SXSW to support their latest offering, 270 Stories.

Listening to ‘Clockwork,’ the influence of Bellaruche shows itself.  Kathrin deBoer does her best Sarah Vaughn impression, while DJ Modest spins like the Cut Chemist himself.  Let’s not forget Ricky Fabulous, who keeps it all together with his guitar work.  But that didn’t hit me at the beginning.  ‘Clockwork’ is the kind of song you hear and then forget, only to have it hummed back through the larnyx in an oh so subtle way.   It’s a solid song that bobs the head at just the right motion.

[audio:http://146.190.132.255/audio/Belleruche-Clockwatching.mp3]

SXSW

OliveTreeDance Your Ass Off

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It’s not just local fare, or even national fare, at SXSW.  Bands from all over the world come on down to Austin to jam out.  I’ve featured a British band already, but we are going all world with world music from Portugal.  OliveTreeDance is an outfit that uses traditional Australian instruments like the didgeridoo by way of Portugal.  Led by Renato Oliveira, OliveTreeDance advertises ‘organic’ dance music.  That’s right, no 4 on the floor with house breaks here.  It’s all natural.

“Airport Tunnel” jerks in an out before landing on a comfortable groove.  The man focus is of course the didgeridoo and Oliveira wastes no time spitting into its hole on this song.  Like with every other song I demoed, the groove builds halfway through before climaxing into a crazy Portuguese release.  What seems like monkey screams are actually Oliveira freestyling while making his instrument hum.  The build up is perfect and I found my shoulders bouncing unintentionally toward the end of this one.

[audio:http://146.190.132.255/audio/OLIVETREEdance-AIRPORT_TUNNEL.mp3]

SXSW

Toro Y Moi Es Muy Bueno

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I don’t like to dip in the mainstream everyone once in awhile but I have in the case of Toro Y Moi.  What?  You haven’t heard of them before?  OH!  Sorry!  I mean the music blog mainstream.  Yeah, it’s still not the Top of the Pops, but what we have here is a very tasty artist that will be at SXSW this year.  Toro Y Moi is the stage brainchild of Chazwick Bundick and cemented its place in the chillwave movement.  There were two albums promised last year with Causers of This and Underneath the Pine,  with one electronic  and the other being more instrumental respectively.  Welp only Causers of This came out with Underneath the Pine coming out February 22.

“You Hid” off of Causers of This puts me in a hazy dream.  The subtle and muffled dream beats keep me entranced while Chazwick himself lays down some smooth lyrics to ride with the keys that blip and bleep along.  It’s the kind of cool that’s only cool when absolutely no effort is put into it.  Almost like wearing velcro shoes.  So slap on a pair and check out “You Hid” yourself.

[audio:http://146.190.132.255/audio/Toro_Y_Moi_-_You_Hid.mp3]

SXSW

I’ve Got My Helmet On

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Part of going to SXSW not only includes discovering new acts, but it also includes seeing older acts that are still on the road.  One of my favorite bands from the mid to late 1990s will be in Austin in March and I can’t wait the see them.   Helmet started out for me with two songs: “Unsung” and “Milqtoast.”  The first one nailed me with radio waves and the second one came from the stellar Crow Soundtrack.  Both Meantime and Betty rocked for me but when Aftertaste came out it went downhill.  That’s alright because they are back with a new album to support, Seeing Eye Dog, and they will be doing it in good ole Texarkana.

The title cut off Seeing Eye Dog, reminds me more of some the harsher Helmet songs.  Page Hamilton goes from screaming to melodic singing depending on the song.  We have screaming Page on “Seeing Eye Dog”.  You know, it kind of reminds me of “In the Meantime” but with the guttural screams.  It’s more high-pitched and whiney.  Still, these guys have mastered being heavy by using quiet breaks between riffs.  Sometimes a calm quiet before a thundering heavy riff doubles the effect.  Check out “Seeing Eye Dog” yourself.

[audio:http://146.190.132.255/audio/Helmet_-_Seeing_Eye_Dog.mp3]

SXSW

The Bees Knees

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I remember back in the day, when I was budding computer programmer and a budding (still) musician.  The college scene led me to some tasty underground and overseas scenes.  One of the destinations was a group called The Bees.  Their first album, “Sunshine Hit Me,” I actually owned in CD format and I wore a hole in the cd player listening to it.  Welp, the magic continues at SXSW this year as The Band of Bees, their American name, will showcase their talents for thirsty young peeps like myself.

The Bees were Blitzen Trapper before Blitzen Trapper was Blitzen Trapper.  And I’m not talking about the Super Bowl Sunday.  Their earlier stuff sound much like “Silver Line” except it was harsher and more Spanish.  I’m reminded of dirty hammock on the beach with a half empty beer (not Corona) jamming out to The Bees and watching the sun going down.  The blizzard I’m knee-deep in right only makes me long for that time and place more.  There’s always a sliver lining and in this cased, it’s The Bees and “Sliver Line.”

[audio:http://146.190.132.255/audio/The_Bees_-_Silver_Line.mp3]