PRESS PLAY#4 (28 Sept 2009)

Karen O & The Kids – All is Love

Yup! It’s Karen O, New York very own queen of the misfits from Yeah Yeah Yeahs. As you already know sometimes she looks like queen of the damned with that killer bangs and blood red lipstick, and sometimes she looks like android slash dominatrix with that flashy metallic outfits. But for now, I’m not gonna told you about her looks, this is her new project outside YYYs taken from Where the Wild Things Are soundtrack (a must see movie, for sure), in this heartwarming song we not gonna heard that haunting screams of her, she sing it with cheers and joyous that make me wanna go out and tell everyone that I love them so much and believe the world is indeed full of love. And if you failed to love this record, well, at least Karen got an alibi why she wore that confetti dress from now on.

Cotton Jones – Where You Stop For A Minute

Michael Nau and Whitney McGraw from Maryland make music so captivating that I almost change my religion just to sing gospel (kidding, you’re don’t need to be Christian to sing gospel right?). Ahnyway this duo play an exquisite mix of soul, folk, gospel, indie pop and a cup of anxiety that makes them sounds like rougher version of Camera Obscura. This one taken from Rio Ranger EP, evoke your mind with dazzling church organ, cracking drums and tugging guitar. Its makes you wonders about American suburban town on Sunday morning after you attend the funeral of your religious grandma that you never meet when she still alive.

Mr. Little Jeans - Angel

I must to confess that I’m failed to get some info about her. Yes. Mr. Little Jeans is a she indeed; don’t get fooled by that mustache! So that’s one of very few facts I know about her, anything else? Well, she looks like Juno MacGuff, her voice surprisingly delicate and lovable with dancey shimmery rhythm when she begging someone to be her angel with influences from Blondie to Britney and from Joan Baez to Yeah Yeah Yeahs. That’s all for now, and for the rest, let the time answer it…

Los Campesinos! - The Sea Is A Good Place To Think Of The Future

I could say these seven troubadours from Wales are pretty productive. Why? They released their debut Sticking Fingers Into Sockets on 2007 and in 2008 they released Hold on Now, Youngster... and We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed. Yes, two albums in one year, and now they ready to released their new album which the title is still to be announced. As a teaser, they release this single as free download and video for this song. This epic ballads, gentle and rough at the same time, sinking you with serene tidal, just like the sea.

Princeton – Calypso Gold

Twin brothers Jesse and Matt Kivel met Ben Usen at the age of five while attending elementary school in Los Angeles and many years later they formed Princeton, an delicate and lush indie pop band swinging orchestral arrangement and lyric about Leonard Woolf, Lytton Strachey, Virginia Woolf and John Maynard Keynes. Sounds very academic right? Taken from Cocoon of Love, this song sounds like Vampire Weekend jamming with Beirut. Somehow its make me feel civilized and more regal.

The Mary Onettes – Puzzles

This indie rock band was formed in Jönköping, Sweden in 2000 and like you can guess, they signed with Labrador Records. With influencens from The Cure to The Smiths, they combine 80’s guitar pop and 90’s indie rock. Opened with screeches and suddenly the beating drums come collide with jangly guitar and new romantic synths. They’re one of many case of band with great music and not so great name.

Delorean - Deli

All the way down from Zarautz, Spain, this punks playing music so different than any other musician on their country which dominated by melancholic pop (just like the rest of the world). Basically they’re playing dance pop with a kiss from punk with extra coldness. This single taken from Ayrton Senna EP (gosh, I love that title). I don’t know what “Deli” refers to, but if you say it’s “Delirious” or “Delicate”, I couldn’t agree more. Watch out Passion Pit!

PRESS PLAY #3 (August 24 2009)

Asobi Seksu – Transparence

Asobi Seksu always intrigued me from the first moment I read about them. Maybe it’s because their name (playful sex), or maybe because Yuki Chikudate’s persona. But I know certainly when I finally heard their songs from Citrus album, I heart them dearly simply because their music. Previously we used to hear dreamy and spacey ambient from their song and sometimes kinda droning, like your vivid dream. In Transparence, their slightly change into more lucid sounds. It is vibrant and radiant song with livelier yet still soothing vocal from Miss Chikudate and glorious rhythm without left completely the elements we used to hear from them. Just like first morning of spring.

Lykke Li – Knocked Up (Kings of Leon Cover)

What will happen when Swedish sassy singer meets Nashville renegades? This cover slash mash up slash rework of Kings of Leon single from their 2007 Because of the Time album could be the answer of that. Actually it’s make me kinda confused cos’ some say it is a mash up and some say it’s a cover but whichever that is, it’s certainly grrreat. It’s a not a cheeky mash up like Ain’t No Sexy Back, for example, and not bad cover too. Indeed it’s felt like kinda new song. When soothing and vulnerable vocal of Lykke Li clashing with rough vocal of Caleb Followill in Americana midnight dessert ambience, it’s feel so delirium and hypnotizing.

We Have Band – You Came Out

Just like their straight to the point name, these Londoners came out to give you straight to your motor neurons music. Opened by throbbing drums and short conversation, the dance-y beat, girlish voice from Dede WP and out of nowhere whistling succeed make me dancing all the long the song goes. It’s not like their intended to be party anthem, they just want to give you and especially themselves good times.

Truman Peyote – New Wife New Life

Some people say this Boston trio has great name and bad music, some people say they have bad name and great music. As for me, I’ll vote for the second group. Taken from their first LP, Light-Lightning, this catchy single with catchy (and certainly true) title surely easily beloved by any hipster who miss Late of The Pier, Klaxons or Cut Copy. With orientalisque guitar riff, bubbling synth and sounds of children playing in the background like MGMT’s Kids bring Sunday morning atmosphere and I think it’s a kind of song that Sofia Coppola will include if she make a movie about Chinese dynasty.

Best Coast

For brief and rush explanation, I will say Best Coast is the female counterpart of Wavves. Best Coast is none other than Bethany Cosentino who formerly in Pocahaunted. As Best Coast she brings you beachy lo-fi surf pop inspired by her craving for summer beach of LA when she stuck on Eugene Lang College, New York. So, her music will talk about summer sun and sea or anything between them in lo-fi manners and girlish voice which is noisy and pretty at the same time, in as short as your speedo duration. I quite confused to pick one of her two singles for this list. The first one is Sun Was High (So Was I) where Beth singing about her object of affection in the day the sun was high. But, don’t we all feel kinda “high” when the sun way too high/hot and you feel too hard to think and you just want go to take a nap and have daydreams? Or maybe that’s just my summer fever. The second single called Something In The Way, this one feel more up tempo and I thinks both of the songs talks about summer fling. Ah-nyway, I love these two and I can’t choose one so I will pick them both for you.

Headlights – Get Going

Headlights is from three to four and now five-piece indie rock band that consisted of Erin Fin, Tristan Wright, Brett Sanderson, Nick Sanborn and John Owen from Illinois. Taken from their latest album, Wildlife, this is could be an example of good indie rock song, warm mix of sunshiny and little bit humming vocal, not over the top synth, infectious rhythm and slip of female voice that makes everyone who heard it feel kinda smiley and optimistic. That’s the math.

The Very Best – Yalira

Actually I already wrote about them when I list their single Warm Heart of Africa which featuring Ezra Koenig, but just to refresh your mind, The Very Best is project of Radioclit DJ/producer duo from England and Esau Mwamwaya from Malawi that bring you Afro pop with authentic Africa instruments which Esau singing in his mother language, Chichewa. Still taken from Warm Heart of Africa album, if the previous single makes you feel like go safari in sunny savannah with your Ivy League friend than this single feels more solemn and epic with African chanting and eclectic instruments, it’s doesn’t even matter if you obviously don’t understand the lyric like me cos’ whatever the language, you’ll never gonna lost in translation in music. Good music for sure. Just close your eyes and let your fantasy fly you away to midnight dance in the middle of African savannah, feel the breezy wind, empyrean moonlight, twinkly fireflies and became unison with whole universe.

download all here (36 MB)

TIME MACHINE: JESUS & MARY CHAIN - JUST LIKE HONEY

Original Bootleg in LQ sounds


Audio only High Quality


Last nite i've got some insomnia..i don't know why but i'm just can't close my eyes and go to sleep and i decide to watch my old DVD,so i pick Sofia Coppola's Lost in Translation...one of my favorite movies. i love how the story about two americans felt lost themselves in sparkling capital of Japan, Tokyo. it's sad...but in subtle and demulcent way...and the other best thing about the movie is the soundtracks...from Kevin Shields, Peaches, Phoenix to Jesus & Mary Chain. I love the entire soundtrack and can't stop it until the very end of credit title.

so, here's one of the most beautiful songs in the movie, Jesus & Mary Chain - Just Like Honey, from the closing scene..

PRESS PLAY #2 (August 19 2009)

The Flaming Lips – Silver Trembling Hands

What pop in your head when you hear The Flaming Lips? Maybe pink giant bubble, space rocket or Wayne Coyne’s Miami pimp look-a-like three piece suits? This Oklahoma band used to be one of the kitschy band I’ve ever see but when I heard this single which taken from their upcoming twelfth album, Embryonic (also will be their first double album) they sound like I’ve never heard before. It’s still psychedelic though but it is so intense with stomping drum, guitar overdrive, and Coyne’s vocal that surprisingly youthful and high spirited like teenager on an acid. I repeat it over and over and make me so extremely excited for their new album which MGMT and Karen O contributed to give special kicks. I’m trembling, literally.

Girls – Hellhole Ratrace

Sorry boys, but if you think all that pretty chics is the subject of what I’m trying to inform you, you will be dead wrong , cos sadly, they’re just props. So you better focus to two guys in the bottom part of the photo cos they’re the Girls indeed. Those two lucky bastards are Christopher Owens and Chet White. Back to 2006, Chris along with Liza Thorn formed a band called Curls but Liza decided to split up to focus on her new band. Not giving up, Chris then met Chet and changes the name from Curls to Girls. That’s the story behind and now this duo ready to bring havoc. I’ve already hear about them like three months ago and somehow they intrigue me. Ah, despite the fearsome title of this song, it’s a tender song with grungy vocal, soothing guitar, echoing claps. Feels like misguided prom with beers, smoke, and lipstick stains.

Venice is Sinking – Ryan’s Song

Daniel Lawson, Kevin J. O’Neill Jr., Karolyn Troupe, Lucas Jensen and Alex Thibadoux from Athens (Georgia, not Greece) bring you songs that so delicate that you can’t help but smile. This Ryan’s Song which taken from their latest album, AZAR, is the example of what their music sounds like, orchestral, demulcent, and experimentally gorgeous harmony from hummingbird vocal, keyboards, violin, cello and flute, the basic things on their palette. It’s simply LUSH.

Sondre Lerche – Good Luck

I’m damn sure you all already know about this Norway golden boy so I will skip the introduction and told you about this new song from his upcoming fifth LP titled Heartbeat Radio which will be released on next month. He said on an interview this new album will combine the elements of his first records which is studio recording (more laid back) and the last albums which he recorded with his back up bands, The Faces Down, with more aggressive sounds than before. Well, this single already proves that to me. It’s a combination of Lerche’s well-known harmonious vocal with guitar riff, beating drums, and clashing violins in ending part of this song. Feels like emotional farewell to me.

These United States – I Want You to Keep Everything

They’re sure looks so Americana Badass in their press photo, aren’t they? These United States, usually abbreviated as TUS, formed by Jesse Elliott who also as the central member of TUS. Actually the members of TUS quite a lot of musician, some of them recurring cast and some of them frequent collaborator from any states. So it’s better to consider this band as Jesse Elliott and friends. They already released two LP and new one titled Everything Touches Everything will be released soon. I Want You to Keep Everything is their first single from the third album where Elliott singing like Julian Casablanca and catchy guitar riff that will be perfect comrade to your midnight drive

Peter Broderick – And It’s Alright

Some may say musical talent maybe genetic thing like diabetes or maybe just childhood environment that make one child became aspiring musician someday, whichever that is, it’s happen to Oregon native Peter Broderick. Coming from musical family, this 1987 born started learn his first instrument, violin, at age seven and many years follows he learn piano, guitar, banjo, mandolin, musical saw, and anything else he could find. Started his career as session musician and toured with bands like Horse Feathers, Norfolk & Western, Loch Lomond, She & Him and most notable is Danish ensemble Efterklang which make him go to Copenhagen to touring with them. This one actually taken from his 2008 solo album titled Home. Great arrangement, delirious vocal, bewitching lyric, what you’ve could ask more? And recently I got the remix version of this song, remixed by Nils Frahm and taken from Not At Home EP. It’s great too and somehow reminds me to Postal Service. You can get them both of course.

múm – Sing Along

There’s something on the air of Iceland. Like Chris Martin said, everyone in Iceland looks so ethereal and seems can sing exceptionally enchanting. Gunnar Örn Tynes and Örvar Þóreyjarson Smárason started this project as duo but in following years many members comes and go until now so we can consider múm as collective act a la Broken Social Scene. Taken from their latest album, Sing Along To Songs You Don’t Know, which will be released on August 24 but it’s already leaked on internet (so I will fetch the whole album immediately, I know, shame on me). This song has everything to make me love it. Delicate boy-girl vocals? Check. Eclectic instruments? Check. Quirky beats? Check. Obscure lyric? Check. North European? Check.

here's the download link

Portugal. The Man - The Satanic Satanist

Portugal. The Man – The Satanic Satanist

Equal Vision Records

John Gourley, the lead vocalist of Anatomy of a Ghost, formed Portugal. The Man after the band broke up. Started as side project, Gourley along with Jason Sechrist (drums), Ryan Neighbors (organ/piano/synth), Zachary Carothers (bass/percussion) and Zoe Manville (backup vocals and moog synth) make their debut on 2006. After 3 LPs and 4 EPs, now they have released their fourth LP, The Satanic Satanist, on 21 July 2009 produced by Paul Q. Kolderie, who has produced bands like Radiohead, Pixies and Dinosaur Jr. Despite the title, interestingly there’s nothing satanic at all for me in this album, in fact it was shimmery full of groove and anthemic album of summer, although it’s obviously not over-the-top happy album. There’s something obscure and intricate behind the narrative lyrics, created by Gourley himself. The best example is their first single, People Say, with sunny atmosphere and Gourley sang “What a lovely day, yeah we won the war / May have lost a million men but we’ve got a million more.” this is a kind of lyric that make us fall in love with Blur or Radiohead long time ago. Meanwhile, Guns and Dogs wowed me with bluesy guitar hooks and all the oohs and aahs of high-pitched vocal. it’s like searching for treasures all the way long, you can find experimental, post rock, indie, folk, blues, soul, 90’s alternative, handclaps (yaay!) and the best part is the duration of each song never too long and the flow of transition to next song running smoothly and sometimes gapless which make you should repeat the album from the beginning again just to see if you missed something. As for me, this album make me want to listen it everywhere over and over again like someone possessed, maybe that’s the satanic part. This 11 tracks album was nothing but perfection and should have blown their name high and far far away.

here's the link

PRESS PLAY #1 (August 3 2009)

This week I will start my notes with a few chit-chats all about this note, in Q&A mode.

Q: who are you and why you create this stupid note every single week?

A: I’m just some music dilettante who can’t afford imported CD and the only way to tantalize my “musical slash spiritual needs” is picking scattered mpfree all around the net, either it’s legal or not, as long as I can get it. Yes, I am lower than cheap bastard; I’m “free bastard” indeed (whatever that means). some of those mpfree was mediocre and some of them stuck in my head, and in these notes, I just write about songs that I repeat more than three times in a row (and make me doing my weird “dance” or make my heart beating faster). And if you don’t buy all that bullshit that I wrote, here’s the truth: I just need to do something to busying myself (read: unemployment, unless you consider student as a job)

Q: why you just write one track for one musician and not review their whole album? And it’s must seven each week?

A: simple, I hate listening one full whole album. Seriously, in my opinion there’s no single musician ever made one album which EVERY single tracks are great. That’s what I think. So I prefer to pick the best one and write about it. Ah yes, seven is enough for one week, you can simply listen one song for each day. Pretty neat isn’t it?

Q: anything else?

A: yeah, I just wanna say that writing a review in Indonesian is way more difficult than write in English so I prefer to write it in English (and it’s not that I’m so fucking fluent in English. I don’t. You can easily found wrong grammars or any error in my notes but I’m learning, though). And writing album review is harder than single review. So I wanna say BRAVO to all Indonesian music journalist/reviewer cos’ they manage to write album review in Indonesian, kudos to you.

And from now on these kind notes of mine will titled as PRESS PLAY, cos’ I think it’s more simple and easier name than “7 singles you should hear this week”. I’m so lame in giving a title or name anyway.

That’s the craps and like Bugs said: “That’s all, folks!”

Neon Indian – Should Have Taken Acid with You

Ever been or dreaming some places with hallucinating neon lights rounded you, with fluorescent shaped sounds and fuzzy sensation? If not maybe this elusive single from Neon Indian, pseudo name of Alan Palomo, will help you imagine that place. Taken from Psychic Chasms which will be released on October 13^th, this full acid yet innocent single will make you dreaming bizarre dreams if you repeat it until you fell sleep. For me, after I played it over and over, I dream about some girl with blonde ponytail and violet gym leotard doing ribbon rhythmic gymnastic in perpetually revolving lights. It’s bizarre and awesome sensation. I would like to know is it only happens to me or anyone else, so go get the mp3 and tell me your dream afterwards will you?