Fan Death at the Burb

Fan Death played at the Bourbon last night to most of the usual crowd. The performance was pretty hyper (which I really liked). This time, I could actually see them unlike last week at the Biltmore, where I could only see the people's heads in front of me. The vocalist, Dandi Wind, did a great job entertaining the crowd by flying and bouncing around the stage. She kept the audience intrigued and in awe. She was up on speakers, the stage railing, on the floor; all over the place. As she danced along to the electronic music, the rest of the band kept the beat with the keyboards and synths (and maybe some other instruments I couldn't recognize).

The concert was short and sweet. And apparently people at the Bourbon don't know how to clap. I guess it isn't protocol for performances at this venue. I would really like to see Fan Death in a better venue (like I do with many other Vancouver bands). I like the Bourbon and the Biltmore as places for dance parties but for concerts, I don't. I think the best venue for an intimate concert is Richard's on Richards but that could just be me. Hopefully one day, Fan Death will play Richards (or even the Commodore).

Unfortunately, the band doesn't have any CDs for sale yet but they have a video! You can listen to their music on Myspace and/or see their video on Youtube (or below).

Fan Death - Veronica's Veil

Tonight: Franz Ferdinand

I read a music blog a couple of weeks ago called Not Many Experts that inevitably influenced my decision to check out the new Franz Ferdinand album, Tonight: Franz Ferdinand. This blog talked about how Animal Collective's new album, Merriweather Post Pavilion, is all over the internet (mostly other music blogs) and these blogs are claiming that this album is probably going to be the best album of the year (people need to calm down, the year just started). I've somewhat listened to Merriweather Post Pavilion; it seems pretty good but a little too slow for my liking at the moment. I feel like I have to be in the mood for that album while Tonight: Franz Ferdinand is right up my alley everyday (similar to what the people at Not Many Experts think).

When I think Franz Ferdinand, I think dance rock. And that is one thing I can count on them for; they're so reliable, I love it. I heard "Ulysses" in November and was definitely feeling it then. But I forgot about the new album (don't know how that happened, sometimes my brain doesn't work very well) until I read Not Many Experts and checked out "Bite Hard" which soon got me into the rest of the album. Certain songs like "Live Alone", "Can't Stop Feeling" and "No You Girls" stood out to me. So far, "Can't Stop Feeling" seems to be my favourite; it is a good example of how the band is able to electronify their music while still keeping it in the genre of rock (side note: electronify isn't a word but it works so well in this case).

Every song on this album gets me moving/swaying (even the slower ones at the end like "Dream Again" and "Katherine Kiss Me"). Which reminds me, "Katherine Kiss Me" seems to be a slower second part/rendition of "No You Girls" and with reference to my blog post prior to this one, I'm a sucker for that kind of stuff.

Tonight: Franz Ferdinand needs to be in your possession. It will make you want every night, not just tonight, to be: Franz Ferdinand.

Franz Ferdinand - Ulysses

Touch me, I'm going to scream Pt. II

I'm a sucker for songs that are split into different parts. It doesn't matter if it's two parts or five, I will most definitely love all of them.

My Morning Jacket released an album last year called Evil Urges which contained "Touch me, I'm going to scream" and "Touch me, I'm going to scream Pt. II" (two great songs). Compared to the first part of "Touch me, I'm going to scream", the second part is a lot more intense and full of sexual tension. The first seems to be a little more innocent while Part II takes it all the way.

My Morning Jacket - Touch me, I'm going to scream Pt. II

Metronomy and Fan Death - 01.24

Disregarding the intoxication of the Biltmore Cabaret, Metronomy and Fan Death played a sweet concert. Even though some audience members decided to intentionally let their drinks loose on the dance floor (which left us smelling like booze and sweat for the rest of the night), it added to the overall scene of the concert; out-of-control, stinky and drunk. Explanation of the side picture: thanks to the low ceiling of the Biltmore, I ended up only "successfully" taking pictures of the rambunctious crowd rather than Metronomy or Fan Death.

The bands:

Fan Death is a bigger Vancouver band than I had anticipated. Apparently, the lead singer, Dandi Wind, helped produce Metronomy's video, "Radio Ladio". She has also done some work with Lady Sovereign. Fan Death is also supposed to be playing at the Bourbon next week and Dandi Wind is playing at Pub 340 Jan. 30th.

When Metronomy took the stage, people started dancing on speakers, crowd surfing and walking on the ceiling (no joke). Half of the crowd was freaking out while the other half just stood there in disgust/shock/amaze at the freak-out session that was going on around them. Metronomy played well throughout the whole show but by the end of it, they seemed a little tired. They mentioned the Lil' Wayne concert that was also happening the same night and joked around that they were going to play the song that made them famous, "A Milli" (which actually was Metronomy's song called "Back on the motorway"; not one of the songs that made them famous).
Out of all the songs they played, I enjoyed "The end of you too" the most (which is an instrumental with around 5 different levels of intensity; trust me, it's a good one).

So overall, it was a sweet concert full of an extreme amount of dancing. I wished the encore was more than one song ("You could easily have me") but besides that, it was good and definitely worth $20.

Metronomy - The end of you too
Fan Death - Veronica's Veil

It's time for some Canadian music

Lately, I feel like I've been neglecting the talent of my home country. Don't worry Canada, I haven't forgotten about you. I've received many promos regarding new Canadian artists that I've been meaning to blog about but have never gotten around to it until now. So I've put together a list of the top 5 Canadian artists I've been introduced to this month.

Numero un: Said the Whale*
From Where: Vancouver, BC (represent!)
Songs to listen to: This City's a Mess, Puddleglum
Album: Howe Sounds/Taking Abalonia
Label: Pop Machine
Sounds like: West Coast version of Broken Social Scene
Video: This City's a Mess


Numero deux: The D'urbervilles*
From Where: Toronto, ON
Songs to listen to: The Receiver, Hot Tips
Album: We are the hunters
Label: Out of this Spark
Sounds like: Interpol on uppers

Numero trois: The Rural Alberta Advantage
From Where: Alberta
Song to listen to: Frank, AB
Album: Hometowns
Label: Unsigned
Sounds like: Rocky Mountain rock

Numero quatre: Gentleman Reg
From Where: Toronto, ON
Song to listen to: We're in a Thunderstorm
Album: Jet Black
Label: Arts & Crafts
Sounds like: Night Songs
Video: Over My Head


Numero cinq: Fake Shark-Real Zombie*
From Where: Vancouver, BC (yeaaaaaaaaa)
Songs to listen to: Sour Times, Angel Dust
Album: Zebra! Zebra!
Label: Unsigned
Sounds like: Intense acid rock/metal

*Info and downloads for Said the Whale, The D'urbervilles and Fake Shark-Real Zombie are courtesy of The MuseBox

If I had a heart

Fever Ray is the side project of Karin Dreijer Andersson from The Knife. Her debut album is already digitally released and is available on Klicktrack and Amazon. It will be physically released in March (on the 18th in Sweden and 23rd in Europe and America).

Fuck Buttons did a pretty good remix of "If I had a heart". The original song is eerie, ambient, slow and weird. Fuck Buttons gave it a hard, fast beat while keeping the original eerie features of the song present. You can hear the remix at Stereogum.

Happy up here

The electronic Norwegian band, Röyksopp, is coming out with their third album this March. The album is called "Junior" and the band promises that it will be worth the two-month wait. They've collaborated with some artists like; Lykke Li and Robyn (which I'm pretty excited for).
You can listen to the new single, "Happy Up Here", below or stream it from their website. This song is so happy it reminds me of a colourful video game full of happy creatures flying and bouncing around all over the place.

Röyksopp - Happy Up Here

Love is to share

"La Ritournelle" - a musical refrain that is regularly repeated throughout a song.

I'm going to give it to Tellier, he can come up with some pretty heart-breaking piano ballads; "La Ritournelle" being one of them. This song comes from his third album, Sessions (2006). It's a long song which is a good thing; decent songs these days are too short, in my opinion.

Sébastien Tellier - La Ritournelle


And once again, Metronomy has proved to me that they can remix exceptionally well. This remix is good for when you're not feeling the romance and you just wanna bust some funky moves. I also owe the discovery of this remix to my good friend, M-ilicious. Shout out!

Sébastien Tellier - La Ritournelle (Metronomy remix)

Back to Tellier, he WAS coming to Vancouver this year. According to his Myspace page, he was supposed to be coming to Richard's on April 14. I don't know why it was removed though.

For white diamonds in the snow

"Don't hold your breath too long/ For white diamonds in the snow"
The skies are trying to white Vancouver out and I can't stop listening to this song at the moment.

Friendly Fires is a three-piece band with a hyper vocalist. But I don't blame him for being so hyper; especially when he performs songs like "White Diamonds".
Right now, I'm really digging the lyrics of this song. They tell an open-ended love story that the listener can imagine to their liking. And of course, the beat keeps the body moving.

Check.it.out.

Friendly Fires - White Diamonds

Lights & Music are on my mind

This remix isn't as hard as the original but it definitely puts a smile on my face and makes me wanna move, need I say anymore?

Cut Copy - Lights & Music (Boys Noize Happy Birthday Remix)

Miami Horror

Miami Horror is comprised of one man from Melbourne, Australia. His influences range from Todd Rundgren to Cut Copy. After listening to his Myspace songs, I've noticed that there is an apparent subtle trance twist added to most of his remixes.

"Talk like that" by The Presets is quite an intense electro song. In the original, there is a heavy use of the organ which inevitably adds to the overall sexual creepiness of the song. When I first saw that "Talk like that" was remixed by Miami Horror, I honestly thought that it wouldn't do the original justice, but I was wrong on that one. Miami Horror remixed this song very well; he took it down a notch on the creepy scale for the masses. He eliminates the organ, replacing it with synthesizers and keys which gave it that subtle trance twist I mentioned earlier.

This remix needs to be played on the dance floors.

The Presets - Talk like that (Miami Horror remix)

You can hear the original here.

Sweden wrap up

Stockholm, Sweden
I've been back in Vancouver for a bit now; still slightly off-balance and mentally exhausted. Considering my mental state here, I would say my trip to Sweden was very good. The great shopping, the amazing company, the interesting food, the Stockholm club full of 16 year-olds, the dirty streets of Malmö, the DJ lesson, the indie dance work-out, the candles, Christmas Day 2008, New Years Eve 08/09, the new music, the culture; are all entities or memories I will never forget.

Short music summary:

Travelling
Metronomy - The End of You Too

Gothenburg
Bon Iver - The Wolves (Act I and II)
As in RebekkaMaria - Yours Truly
Convoj - My Timekeeping Heart


Stockholm
MGMT - Time to Pretend (YouTube link)

Kristianstad
Leonard Cohen - Hallelujah (YouTube link)

Malmö
Hot Chip - Over and Over