In the overpopulated genre of folk-horror you’d have to think that Graveyard Train would be near the top of the game. There’s a whole lot of fauxk out there but the real meter stick of true folk is this: does someone in the band play the chain? Graveyard Train must surely be the only Australia act that can answer that question positively. Multi-instrumentalist J.J. Cadaver (he also plays the harp & the kazoo) works the chain like a convict, though it’s not particularly evident in the video below. There is however some cracking washboard action. They capture the oldentime feel immaculately. The song I really wanted you to hear is not the below track but their rumbling ballad Run Billy Run but iTunes rejected my credit card as I’d spent all my remaining coin on an industrial jar of heartbeats. I maintain I made a wise purchase. Confectionary aside, you should listen to Run Billy Run on their myspace.
No free downloads but if you want to order a hardcopy of their record The Drink, The Devil & The Dance then visit their myspace or download a copy through iTunes.
If anyone from the band reads this, you should probably send me a promo copy of the album… just sayin’.
I hope everybody had a great Halloween. I know I sure did. I had a particularly scary evening spent out west. Something that’s neither Western nor scary however, are the melodious songs of Inland Sea, a band from the fiery Northern realm (I’ve been reading fantasy novels lately) of Queensland. Don’t even act like you didn’t love every bit of that segway. One moment we’re talking about Halloween then- What!? Did we just change topic!? I know. I know.
Anyway, Queensland, harmonies, violins, you’ll love it. They cite Arcade Fire as an influence, probably because they both have way too many band members to fit comfortably on a stage. A ten piece! Imagine dragging that around the country. I ‘spose the upside is that they can arrange some glorious five part harmonies. I guarantee- I GUARANTEE you’ll be hearing a lot more about the Inland Sea in months to come.
Here’s one of three tracks that they’ve made available for free download.
Inland Sea – No Time
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A copy of their EP will set you back $8.45 on itunes.
I’m your prostitute, you gon’ get some”
I guess I’m initially annoyed that I’m being accused of soliciting a prostitute. It’s slightly less insulting that the prostitute is an easy-on-the-eyes, internationally reknowned singer but I’m still having trouble coming to terms with it. Lykke Li asks the big questions; Can she outdo Emiliana Torrini’s Jungle Drum? Why are there so many phenomenal Swedish musicians? Does whorepop exist as a genre?
Lykke Li – Get Some
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Sydney based rapper (don’t stop reading here, I know this doesn’t bode well, but stay with me) Miracle is an 18 year old, Ghanean born character who just finished his HSC. He sampled Pete Murray’s Better Days for a high school assignment (that much I learnt from Who The Hell blog) but it’s his version of Angus and Julia Stone’s Big Jet Plane that got me all frazzled.
Hear more tracks here.
“the self-absorbed musical equivalent of having 12 browsers open at the same time”. That’s just one of the things that Pitchfork had to say about Man Alive, the debut album from Everything Everything. I don’t even think they meant it as a positive though, which is just baffling. In fact I know they didn’t mean it as a positive since they gave them a scorching 3.2/10. Ouch. Luckily, my readership is on par with Pitchfork and I’m going to negate that poor review with a rating of 12 stars. That’s HEAPS of stars. I haven’t heard the album yet (and if it doesn’t arrive soon I’ll be leaving some negative eBay feedback) but if this one track is anything to go off it should be a positive experience.
Everything Everything – My Kz Ur Bf
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[FREE DOWNLOAD] of Everything Everything – My Kz Ur Bf (Grum Remix) here
Also, I’d be remiss not to mention that Katie Brown recommended I listen to these cats at least 11 years ago. I didn’t pay attention because I’m simple.
