December 18, 2008 | Video | by Huna Amweero |

It’s not surprising that the fifteen-year-old boy I tutor introduced me to this video. Spatial geometry and the causes of the Vietnam War gathered dust, as he made me view it numerous times, pointing out which girl was his favourite and why: the one on the left, because she’s hot; the one on the right because she is ‘hittin’ her moves’; and Beyoncé, because, well she’s Beyoncé. To be honest, after the first ten seconds of our first viewing, I became a very willing participant in the whole discussion. We talked about why Beyoncé’s pseudo-feminist lyrics sometimes annoy me (Jay-Z did ‘put a [HUGE] ring on it’) and which moves were our favourites (mine occurs at the 52 second mark, he likes the one at 1:32). Truthfully, I barely like this song, but this video is like nothing I’ve ever seen before. I wonder if we could cut the sound and get Sir David Attenborough to narrate it.

New Music / Children Collide interview

December 16, 2008 | New Music | by Huna Amweero |

It’s hard to find a misstep on the full-length debut from Melbourne band, Children Collide. The Long Now doesn’t sound like a first album: its mature, yet completely varied sound and lyrical concept makes it feel like something you’d expect from a band on their third or fourth album (you know, after the ‘cursed’ second album). Children Collide are most definitely in control, something that could have been lost while working with big-name producer, Dave Sardy. It’s rare that you pick up a CD and feel like the band has decided on everything, right down to the artwork that encases their killer album. We threw guitarist-singer Johnny Mackay a few questions about how they managed to wrap everything up in such a … errr … tight little package. Read more

December 7, 2008 | Video | by Huna Amweero |

I can say with an unwavering amount of conviction that kaleidoscopes are the greatest things ever invented. Well, one of them at least. Brisbane band, The John Steel Singers, take that statement and turn it into a super cool video for their song, Rainbow Kraut. I think Oliver Sacks would agree: phantom hands should always play keyboards.

New Events / Wolf & Cub live in Sydney

December 4, 2008 | New Events | by Huna Amweero |

Chances are we haven’t met. Despite this, it’s most likely you’ve heard that I’m a huge fan of Adelaide band Wolf and Cub. The somewhat strange unconditional love I feel for this band can be justified with this live footage from a show they did in Sydney a month ago. As you will see, Wolf and Cub are always thrilling to watch, not just because of the two drummer thing (or the newly added saxophone), but because their sound always goes to unexpected places. They never sound the same. Sure the songs are recognisable, but they always manage to play them in a way I’ve never heard before. So enjoy this absolutely superb set courtesy of MoshCam [watch footage], featuring some of their new tunes, stunningly fresh renditions of their old ones, singer Joel Byrne’s shiny new haircut and some shots of bass player Thomas Mayhew’s rarely seen face. Read more

New Music / Erykah Badu

December 1, 2008 | New Music | by Huna Amweero |

When I was little, for reasons I can no longer remember, I wanted to be Catwoman. A little older and appreciating the impracticalities of such an outfit, I’ve decided to be Erykah Badu, instead. On the Spanish leg of her recent European tour she rocked the crowd with her funky dance moves and a set of pipes that are a weapon of mass destruction. Her tunes, both old and new, were performed with vigour and something a little harder to explain. It was her vibe, her flow, her drama, her wit that enthralled me. Like Catwoman, she was something beautiful, dangerous and dressed in black.

November 4, 2008 | Video | by Huna Amweero |

See, a video like this would confuse the Pussycat Dolls. It is a super hot-sexy video. But alas, no one is wearing skin-tight black latex pants, or skin-tight pink latex tops. I imagine them screaming at the television ‘where is all the skin! Skin!’ All five (or is it six?) Pussycat Dolls aside, this pairing is super cool. I love that Jack White finally got to do a Bond theme, and I think he’s done a great job on Another Way To Die. I also hear that he is going to work with Miss Keys on her next album. But for now we must be satisfied with watching this video over, and over, and over again.

November 3, 2008 | New Music | by Huna Amweero |

A few months ago, Dan Davey tapped me on the shoulder and politely asked me for a moment of my time. We had a brief — and, of course, polite — conversation about Sydney’s psychedelic ’scene’. Not wanting to take up more of my time, he politely said, ‘nice to meet you’, and went on his very polite way. Now, either all the people I hang around with are really rude, or Dan Davey is the most well-mannered man I have ever met. This seemingly irrelevant tale becomes totally relevant when you hear his band Sister Jane. You see, when Dan sings, it sounds like he smokes fifty cigarettes a day, is made up of 87% liquor and never asks for a moment of your time, because he’s just too damn cool. So take a moment of your time and give their song, Shacked Up Blues, a listen.

October 27, 2008 | Video | by Huna Amweero |

I recently added DJ to my repertoire of skills, after I ‘dropped’ tunes till the early hours of the morning in my friend’s lounge room. The dance floor was positively heaving as the punters (or punter, my friend Macarena) lapped up some LCD Soundsystem, N*E*R*D and, of course, Spank Rock. As the sun started to rise, I decided to tone down the mood, working the blissful Park Benches by Belles Will Ring into my set. I’d forgotten how beautiful the song is, and have been listening to it ever since. Check out the lovely video they did for the Shoot The Player team in the backstreets of Sydney.

New Music / The Drones’ Havilah

October 16, 2008 | New Music | by Huna Amweero |

The Drones are a rarity for me. Unlike my Arctic Monkeys or MGMT fixations, their music possesses a longevity that makes me think I’ll still be listening to them when I’m old and grey. Like their previous albums, the sounds on their new release Havilah are challenging, or at least give you the sense that they challenged themselves while making this record. For a record made in an isolated shack, the sound manages to be really big — with all the intimacy tied up in its vocals. Gareth Liddiard’s rough and filthy register is endearingly believable, sometimes scary, and so distinctly belongs to this band. The Drones have produced a phenomenal piece of art with this record, exuding the kind of brilliance that makes me think, we have only seen a fraction of what this band is capable of.

New Music / Dead Farmers

September 27, 2008 | New Music | by Huna Amweero |

Every now and then you encounter a band whose sound cannot be confined to CD, Vinyl or a MySpace Music Player; a sound so incredible that it must be experienced first hand, in the flesh, where it can do some well-deserved damage to your eardrums. Sydney’s Dead Farmers are one of these bands. Read more

New Music / Eddy Current Suppression Ring

September 18, 2008 | New Music | by Huna Amweero |

Last week when the 2008 ARIA nominations were released, I was so happy to see the recognition of Melbourne’s Eddy Current Suppression Ring. Their album Primary Colours is pure, unadulterated Aussie rock, standing out from the numerous electro releases we’ve had this year. The band manages to capture that wonderful pub-vibe without any pretension or tragic nostalgia. Primary Colours speaks to people who still seek an existence that is all about wearing ripped jeans, loitering and punching people in the face … not in a violent way, but because your fist flailed in that direction while you were thrashing around front of stage.

September 2, 2008 | Video | by Huna Amweero |

This is the first video from the debut LP of Melbournites Little Red. Witchdoctor has a fantastic old school feel, with its barbershop vocals and 60s pop sensibilities and collar-shirted young men. It’s funny how a video featuring beautifully delinquent young women appeals to the small part of me that is still somewhat wholesome. I’m anticipating huge things for this band.

New Trends / Diplo remixes Santogold

August 21, 2008 | New Trends | by Huna Amweero |

Diplo’s most recent venture — titled Top Ranking — takes Santogold’s glittery debut and smashes into a whole lotta dub. The superbly quirky musical conglomeration reworks Santogold’s weird pop sound with some fantastic dub tracks, with Diplo adding some 80s pop, 60s soul, punk and Top-40 gloss just for kicks. If dub is not your thing, I urge you get this mixtape simply for Santogold’s cheeky cover of The Clash’s Guns of Brooklyn and the twentieth track, Get It Up [listen below] — the most exciting song I’ve heard in a long time.

New Events / Radiohead play Belgium

July 31, 2008 | New Events | by Huna Amweero |

Waking up at 4am, I took a plane, two trains and a bus to a rainy field in Belgium. I passed the day drinking beer and staring at the numerous stalls selling only spring rolls- for some reason either a giant one or eight mini ones qualify as a meal. The day wore on and the rain came-quickly followed by some misgivings. Was it worth coming all this distance to see Radiohead in a bleak grey field? I tried to push these thoughts aside with a giant spring roll, but it didn’t work. Read more

Cool Travel / Bar Oviso

July 31, 2008 | Cool Travel | by Huna Amweero |

On my recent visit to Barcelona, my love for Animal Farm led me to the Plaça de Geroge Orwell. There I discovered Oviso. The tiny café features hand painted walls and low wooden benches, where inhabitants enjoy great coffee for €1 and discuss music, beer, photography and the hordes of tourists that bustle just beyond the quiet square.