LOVE MIGRATE.
Long term followers of this site will know that a couple of years ago I use to harbour a deep deep love for a band called Love Migrate. The band haven’t released anything since the Dissolved EP in late 2013, a release that felt a lot more assured and focussed than their debut album of 2012. That’s not to say that I didn’t love that debut though.
This new track ‘Pippa’s In The Highlands’ feels as though a band in its new form, harking back to its older sound. And the track is all the better for it. The sparseness is back, allowing the vulnerability in Eddie’s voice once again to shine through. And those builds are also there – that euphoria that sets in at a minute left makes it all worth the wait.
They’ve also retained that solid pop structure to their songs that seemed to develop on the Dissolved EP, all while keeping that classic Australian singer-songwriter vibe.
The track is taken off the bands new EP Shimmer Through The Night due out May 22. You can catch the band launch the EP at the Gasometer on May 28.
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Miks
LOVE MIGRATE.
So, I must admit, I got a little excited when Love Migrate announced a new EP. I’ve written about these guys a fair bit both on maamf and over on mismatch, and, well, they’re just a classic sounding band to my ears. There’s something distinctly Australian about their sound, they sound like the country, without the twang etc.
Whilst I should say that it’s taken me a while to get into the bands’ new track ‘Dissolved’, after a couple of listens, it’s sitting rather nicely. It feels more stripped back than their earlier work, and there isn’t that sparse intensity that seemed to plague their debut full length. But there’s a level of assuredness that comes through on ‘Dissolved’.
The new EP, of the same name, will be available on November 1st. And if you’re down in Melbourne town, then the guys are launching the EP at The Tote on December 8.
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Miks
FAVOURITE TRACKS OF 2012
Ok, so here it is. my favourite 10 tracks of 2012. I think I’ll let the music do the talking instead of me crapping on about how each track made my year.
All I will say though is the criteria I had for this list
- It had to be a track I kept on coming back to; and
- It had to be a track that, even on the 10th listen, was still good.
I should also mention that they’re not numbered. They’re all decent in their own way. Awwwwww.
You can stream all ten below, and if you’re keen, you can download a mix with all ten below.
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Miks
FAVOURITE ALBUMS OF 2012.
ok. So, here it is. My top albums of 2012. It’s been a nutty year, full of some really incredible albums. As I mentioned in my earlier post, it was impossible to listen to everything, but, I did try. Continuing on with the whole Australian music blog theme this blog has taken on over the past 8 or 9 months, everything here is Australian. Check out my 11-20 list for the os albums that made my faves.
I’ve made a bit of a mix with a track or two from each album which you can stream/download below. Also, if you click on the album titles, you can stream the album on spotify. Coz I is good like that.
So, without further ado, 10 – 1.
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10. Bored Nothing – Bored Nothing
Such a chilled release. A culmination of tracks from EPs leading up to his singing to SPUNK, not only is it a rad collection of tracks, but they all sit so tightly together. Great prolific song writing on show with this one.
Bored Nothing – Get Out Of Here
9. Jonathan Boulet – We Keep The Beat, Found The Sound, See The Need, Start The Heart
I called this fella a genius when his debut album came in my fave albums of 2009. His second album, whilst perhaps not living up to the rather lofty heights he set himself a few years ago, still nails it. A lot more percussive this time round, I think the beauty in it is just how ferocious some of this disc is.
Jonathan Boulet – Trounce
8. Catcall – The Warmest Place
This took me a little by surprise. From the opening 46 second intro, The Warmest Place shows that Catcall is, simply put, a killer pop song writer. But moreso, not only is she an individual pop song master, she also pretty much kills a pop album.
Catcall – The World is Ours
7. Pop Singles – All Gone
Like the Twerps debut album of last year (my fave of the year too!) Pop Singles have the whole Flying Nun era jangly pop, but still manage to sound broad, encompassing, and dare I say, Australian. Not only are there some incredibly excellent individual songs on this release (in fact, each track is excellent), the songs sit really well alongside each other. It freakin works as an album.
Pop SIngles – All Gone
6. King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard – 12 Bar Bruise
Throw shit at the wall and see what sticks? King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard nail that noisy bluesy punk vibe with their debut release, 12 Bar Bruise. There’s a bit of variety on this disc which I love.
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard – Muckraker
5. Presets – Pacifica
There are so many great pop moments on this album. Whilst I had heard that this disc was going to be a bit more straight techno than Apocolypso, I would perhaps suggest that there are a heap more feel good moments on here. Both Kim and Julian nail it though.
The Presets – Ghosts
4. Tame Impala – Lonerism
For all of the hype this album has received, for me, it still manages to fit in the top 10. The album has some seriously great tracks – some perhaps even contenders for year best! But, as with all the albums on this list, it’s not just a collection of songs. They all sit well together, and there’s an overarching story if you like, in the sequencing of the tracks.
Tame Impala – Elephant
3. Collarbones – Die Young
A massively hyped album, for sure, but I think still deserving of every little bit of love it gets. If beat driven glitchy rave style r’n’b is the new thing, then these two are at the forefront.
Collarbones – Die Young feat. HTML Flowers
2. Love Migrate – Plagued Are All My Thoughts, Like White Ants In The Fence
Easily one of my favourite Melbourne bands, this was definitely an album I was eagerly anticipating. Showcasing some incredibly strong songwriting, it’s full of really broad encompassing instrumentation. Eddie’s wonderfully crafted vocals really complement what this band do.
Love Migrate – What Kind Of Man Have I Become
1. Boomgates – Double Natural
As is the sound of bands like Dick Diver, Twerps, and Eddy Current, there’s this thrown together sound that these guys really nail. It really does sound like a couple of mates having a play. As a result, there’s this nice snug feeling that you get from listening to this disc. And yeah, sure, you may classify it as indie pop. But more me, it’s indie pop perhaps at it’s finest, and it genuinely leaves you feeling satisfied.
Boomgates – Flood Plains
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Miks
OCTOBER ’12 MIX
Ok, so slowly we’re getting back on track. This here is the October Mixtape, chockablock full of my fave tunes of October. Some absolute stunners in here – the Lower Spectrum EP was one I kept on coming back to, as was Tame Impala‘s record, Collarbones‘s second full length, as well as the Love Migrate disc. Then there were those big massive tracks – that Hermitude remix of Presets‘ ‘Ghosts’. MY GOSH.
All of the tracks are pretty excellent…and I think it’s one of the better tapes so far.
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TRACKLISTING:
Aluka – Keep My Cool (Oscar Key Sung Remix)
DCUP – I’m Corrupt
Flume – Holdin On
The Corsairs – Everlasting Youth
Tame Impala – Feels Like We Only Go Backwards
Collarbones – Die Young (Ft. HTML Flowers)
Lowlakes – Cold Company
Total Control – Scene From A Marriage
Flight Facilities – Clair de Lune (Ft. Christine Hoberg)
The Presets – Ghosts (Hermitude Trapped in Heaven Remix)
Love Migrate – I Want You To Mend
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Miks
JULY ’12 MIX
Well well well…who woulda funk it? A Monthly Mixtape delivered on time? Yeah, it’s the 1st of August and here is July’s Mixtape all up in your grill n shit.
Pretty good mix this time round, if I don’t say so myself – bit of everything. Majority local, new Jordan F EP is amazing. Then there’s also some killer stuff from Amali Ward & QWARMS, The Nectars, Pop Singles, and serial maamf feature man, Ry.
Then of course there’s the internationals – man, that Frank Ocean record is something amazing. And there’s also a killer track from New Yorkers, Romans.
But yeah, you can stream/download the mix below…but if bandwidth ain’t your friend, a few of the tracks are available for free download too!
MAAMF – JULY ’12 MIX (Right click/save as)
TRACKLIST.
Jordan F – Crime in Fourth Sector
Ry – Won’t Be Long (Prod. Soul Marauder)
Sable – Euphoria
Amali Ward – Leave Me Alone (QWARMS RMX)
Van She – Coconuts
Frank Ocean – Pink Matter (feat. André 3000)
Sticky Fingers – Caress Your Soul
Wildcat General Strike – Is Jonathan Taking You Out Again?
The Nectars – Do You Want Me To Possess You?
Velociraptor – Riot
Bad Dreems – Too Old
Single Twin – confused during the show
Love Migrate – Making This Hard
Pop Singles – Field in Flames
Bored Nothing – Get Out Of Here
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Miks
LOVE MIGRATE.
On Saturday night I saw Love Migrate support the excellent I, A Man. I, A Man were really great, but easily, for me, it was Love Migrate that stole the show.
Having followed them since they started out as Goodnight Owl with their folk-electronica, these guys have changed so much over the past couple of years. First off, expanding out to a six piece has obviously changed their sound somewhat. There’s also this broader more encompassing feeling. As Goodnight Owl, not only were Eddie’s vocals kind of delicate sounding, but the whole band was. Now there’s this really strong overall sound that compliments Eddie’s quivering, but still strong vocals.
New single, ‘Making This Hard’ is so good. I remember this being a stand out on Saturday night, and it still nails it on record. There’s times where it feels as though it’s getting slightly out of hand, but then it’s all pulled back together with the chorus. Such a well written track.
You can stream it below…and if you dig, it’s up on iTunes. The best way to hear them is live though – they’re playing August 30 at the Toff in Town (Buy your tix here!).
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Miks
JUNE ’12 MIX.
It’s the June mixtape. Below are the tracks that have got me through the past month. It even features a small bit of a double feature working ‘Wimbledon 1980’ by Indian Wells and the Jon Hopkins piano version of ‘Modern Driveway’ originally by Luke Abbott.
This was easily the most fun mix to make, especially working with the opening rework. Once again, it features some absolutely killer tracks, from the amazing indie goodness of I, A Man, the almost tribal epicness of Jonathan Boulet to the straight out techno fantasticness of the latest track from The Presets.
MAAMF JUNE ’12 MIXTAPE (Right click/save as to download)
TRACKLISTING
Indian Wells vs. Luke Abbott/Jon Hopkins – Modern Driving to Wimbledon 1980
I, A Man – The Scenic Route (Right click/save as to download)
Bobby Womack – Stupid Interlude (Ft. Gil Scott-Heron)
Bobby Womack – Stupid
Grey and Patrice – So Beautiful (Right click/save as to download)
Collarbones – Missing
The Presets – Youth In Trouble
Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs – American Dream, Pt II
Snakadaktal – Dance Bear
Van She – Jamaica
Junior Boys – Every Little Step (Flume Remix)
Jonathan Boulet – Dread Is This Place
Jeremy Neale – Darlin’ (Right click/save as to download)
Saskwatch – Your Love
Palms – Love
Cat Power – Ruin (Right click/save as to download)
The Temper Trap – Trembling Hands (Chet Faker Remix)
Love Migrate – Plagued Are All My Thoughts
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Miks
LOVE MIGRATE.
This is such a good song. Plain and simple. As I said when I posted the new Love Migrate clip on the maamf facebook page a week ago, ‘This seriously grabs a hold of you and wraps you up’. You can get lost in this song – the warmth and texture that slowly builds just kills.
Before you listen to it though, make sure you plug in a decent pair of headphones. All I can say is wow. Eddie’s breathy vocals are just beautiful.
The clip is seriously good too. Captured by Dylan Wiehahn, it, like the song, takes a hold.
The guys are set to follow up ‘Plagued Are All My Thoughts’ with another taste of their debut album late July.
You can also check out the band as they support another Melbourne fave, I, A Man as they launch their new single, ‘The Scenic Route’. Tix here.
Miks
TRIPLE J HOTTEST 100.
Yep, so think of it what you will, but this thing always manages to end up being a pretty massive day as well as creating a bit of controversy. Be it not having any females…to Angus & Julia Stone winning with a song about a big fucking plane. Shannon Noll sang about a big car…didn’t see him winning anything! (JOKES!)
Because maamf hasn’t done a best tracks of 2011 list (it is simply too hard and I think the ‘art’ of making a good album is more interesting), I thought I should post up what tracks I voted for in this years Hottest100. These are in no order…but hopefully they reflect my diverse taste which I try to put across on this here blog. If you still havent voted, then it all closes TOMORROW NIGHT! That’s Monday 16th Jan Midnight AEST. You can do so here. I do warn you though, it takes some time!
Without further ado:
Snakadaktal – Air
Oscar + Martin – Do The Right Thing
Step-Panther – My Neck
Battles – Ice Cream (Feat. Matias Aguayo)
Twerps – Dreamin
Architecture In Helsinki – Contact High
Gotye – Somebody That I Used to Know (feat. Kimbra)
M83 – Midnight City
Loon Lake – Bad to Me
Love Migrate – Little Kid
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Miks
LOVE MIGRATE.
The Goodnight Owl guys are no longer 😦 But, Love Migrate, the new band for the guys are taking forth that excellent melbourne style indie pop. They’ve got a new track to help celebrate the new name…and kind of a new sound. Although, if you’ve been following the guys for a while, you would’ve noticed that they were doing a lot more guitar driven stuff in the latter stages of the Goodnight Owl era.
Anyways, new track is called Little Kid and it’s already got a pretty stellar review from Dom Alessio over on their Unearthed page. It’s all sorts of good. Starts off sounding like a Goodnight Owl track, with that lone guitar. But then it brings in that bass and that almost raucous sound with the double time drums etc. I like this track a heap.
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