The music behind the new Howling Bells album, Radio Wars
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|The last time I caught up with London-based, Australian band, Howling Bells, was in New York in early 2007 when they played a show at one of the many seedy Lower East Side bars. Since then, they’ve recorded a new album, the aptly named Radio Wars [listen to their song, Treasure Hunt, below], a remarkable follow-up to their 2006 self-titled debut. I checked in with guitarist Joel Stein to find out what music the four-piece had been listening to around the time the album was written: ‘The Byrds’ Eight Miles High always sounds so futuristic to me. It has one of the best guitar sounds ever and really moves me with its color and power. Every time I hear the Tortoise track, I Set My Face to the Hillside, I instantly get transported to the ocean. Beautiful! Joy Division’s Isolation is incredible. I love the intro keyboard riff, in particular (the keyboard was self-built). It expresses urgency and truth. And then there’s Neu!’s Hallogallo, a truly inspiring instrumental track that I always want to go on for longer. Its fuzzy guitars are so warm and vibrant. Perfect!’ Read frontwoman Juanita Stein’s Playlist of inspiring songs.
Tagged: Australian bands, new albums, pop music, rock music
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Having spent his early years in Syria, artist Hagop Belian now resides in Los Angeles, leaving behind a BA in Mathematics and the option of becoming a weapons engineer to instead pursue an artistic path of self expression. His most recent work involves stories told by trinkets and treasures to represent rebirth, transformation, truth and change. Read more
I’ve been living in Greenpoint Brooklyn for a couple of years now and one of the highlights is brunch on the weekends. After living in Crown Heights for seven years, where your only choices are Tom’s Diner or Popeye’s Fried Chicken, it’s an amazing change of pace. Brooklyn Label is a classic, old Brooklyn style restaurant with a great menu and when you’re a regular, you get seated before the masses. It’s definitely worth the trip to Greenpoint. But beware of the long waits at around 1pm when the hipsters wake up.
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Made from 100 percent organic cotton and eco-friendly, this super soft tee celebrates a sinister world of kaleidoscopic colours and ripples of psychedelia, of serenading Queens, of dancing flamingos, of unimaginable euphoria. It’s all the work of Sydney label, Das Monk and it’s available through the Lost At E Minor online store for just US$40. Now, there’s one hell of a Christmas present, even if we do say so ourselves!
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