Small Tough @ Revolver (21/05/2009)

built by vocalist ben efrat, guitarist jarred hofman, bassist elia mazor, synthesizer dan rutman and drummer ilan waincymer, 'Small Tough' have now become one of melbourne's hottest and most anticipated bands of the near future.

small tough graced excited loyalists with a one off private show at the revolver front room, offering a one hour flaunt of their pure talent. a band based upon powerful bass lines and energetic guitar riffs, it is ben efrat's echoed voice of blues and country that partners, and therfore creates a sound that melbourne hasn't heard before.

having played at some of melbourne's finest venues, alongside some of melbourne's big up and coming bands ( Johnny Rock and the Limits and Fearless Vampire Killers) Small Tough have entrenched their presence among the evergrowing melbourne music scene.

a true piece of art, small tough should be watched with great anticipation. watch this space.

http://www.myspace.com/smalltough


j.

Ratatat @ The Corner Hotel (15/05/2009)

the corner hotel is a venue renown for encouraging as well as introducing growing bands of our time. this time, as part of a side show, Ratatat decided to show off their brilliance in front of an energetic multicultural and ageless crowd. as the numbers grew, the corner hotel was vacuumed in as countless supporters of the electronic duo came in to indulge in eerie bass lines and the occasional echo of vocals.
to the likes of 'wildcat' and 'loudpipes' , intertwined with Ratatat's use of querky, and somewhat terrifying, visual stimulus, sent the crowd into a trance. the basslines literally shaking the very foundations of the venue.
the duo, consisting of mike stroud and evan mast, is so perfect, that performing, not replaying, their tunes live feels almost natural. Sipping on a bottle of Jameson's whisky and the occasional moan to the crowd in between songs was Ratatat's only recognition of the audience. only reiterating their passion and love for their timeless tracks.

the lack of vocals may seem a discouragement for few, but experiencing Ratatat is something so special that the likes of witnessing the birth of your child could be its only competition.

check them out at www.myspace.com/ratatatmusic

j.

album review - inside your guitar

whilst all we hear about now is 'pop' with a new prefix each week, it hugs back's 'inside your guitar' is what one would call dreamy.

the album, as a whole, is peaceful and artistic. the kind of music you'd expect thom yorke and james mercer to indulge in on a late night with some paper and some stuffing.
as a debut album, 'it hugs back' has brought about a renaissance in our world. influential and sharp, the album has its ups and downs, perfect for an hour of listening.
the soft and reflective mixtures of 'Q' doesn't set the album up for anything. each song is individual, each song unique. for a debut album, this is a very brave attempt - and with the likes of 'now and again' and 'look out', inside your guitar is an album for those who can appreciate that special hair found in your food at your local chinese restaurant.

you can check them out at: www.myspace.com/ithugsback

j

album review - enemy mine

wolf parade, new pornographers and frog eyes into one big ball of gu - Swan Lake.

spen krug has formed a fierce pack of musicians, to uncover a sound of cynicism and whirlwind. swan lake's latest album, enemy mine, is a psychadelic trip through the complex minds of each individual in the group - spen krug, carey mercer and dan bejar.

soft echoes of wolf parade, the composition of each song is filled with a chilling ambience - the lyrics of each song are the focus of each track - an intentional motif for the three men. song-writing, as opposed to jumbled lyrics and distortion.

the influence of bowie is reiterated through their base track 'paper lace' - ziggy stardust - twisty lyrics, and quirky inclines, the track itself is a masterpiece.

the opening track, 'spanish gold, 2044' is a track of chaos. "just connect your poetry and your incantations". now whilst this track is chaotic, it also reflects the relaxed attitude of the group - having fun and making some fantastic tunes.



www.myspace.com/swanlaketheband

check them out!

dum dum - first entry

so, basically, I have just created this blog. duh.

welcome to plucking the blutac.

here, you will see some insane reviews on film, music and other shit.

i have worked for a few newspapers, and online informants, and now, i'm just enjoying the comforts of relaxation - oh, and i have a university degree to complete (professional communication @ rmit)

watch this space peeps


j