Take me away

Who is Vincent Moon?

Who is Vincent Moon, you ask? Or maybe you didn’t, but I will tell you anyway. A Parisian film maker involved in the creation of the always amazing Blogotheque videos. Alongside the site’s founder Cryde, the two set out to make “Take Away Video’s” of indie bands and various musicians in and around Paris. Starting in April 2006, the films have captured breath taking moments, fragments of the beautiful aspects of music making and illustrated to enthusiasts the stunning quality of both city and star.

Bon Iver, Arcade Fire (in an elevator, no less), Sigur Ros, Beirut (swoon*), Pricilla Ahn, The Ex, Tegan and Sara, the National, Black Lips… the list goes on and on of favourites I tend to post on my facebook page (educating the general public with good music one link at a time).

This year and last year, his focus changed to filming short music films portraying artists from Cambodia, Egypt, Istanbul, Brazil, Japan and Thailand.

http://www.blogotheque.net/

Blogo joined the Black XS perfume and now create a series of concerts shot in nine countries with local artists, with the same goals and aesthetic of its earlier Take Away Shows. It is a beautiful exploration of new cities and new sounds.

“We returned from Japan where we shot the first episodes with, among others, Shugo Tokumaru or Tenniscoats. We will then go to Turkey, Canada, Mexico ... And every time we take you back to memories of music. The videos will be published on the website Black XS Live Sound and the Blogotheque. To celebrate Black XS decided to throw a party. We have decided to take groups.”- http://www.blogotheque.net/Toy-Fight-Gush

I love them. Thank God there are people who still can deliver pure music to people who appreciate it most.

Favourites:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04eOtmHoGF8&feature=channel

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjxef8AfVQg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=io_pXLtY0R0

Go explore.

Arcade Fire make The Suburbs sound appealing

Have you listened to the latest Arcade Fire cd yet? If you haven't, you are depriving yourself from ear joy. Funeral... followed by Neon Bible, were eclectic diversions into an exploratory young mind rebelling from parental constraints and social normalities. They were thoughtful and intuitive, an underground movement into new and undiscovered terrain in music. Clearly I like them. And it was pure ear candy.

How much pressure they must've had to follow up such greatness, such critical acclaim and such attention. So they put out The Suburbs, and in my opinion... sweet success. A band I wish I could've seen in a small Koolhaus venue, but now am stuck in line for arena-rock style sold out venues and fighting scalpers outside Toronto island. This band is scaling new heights and shedding "indie" faster than my long weekend sunburn.

"... the musicians have clearly been digging out their parents' vintage vinyl German art-rock records, especially locked-groove rhythm meisters like Can and Neu! The faster tunes, like "Ready to Start" and "Month of May," are leaner and meaner than you'd expect. Ballads like "Deep Blue" go for the swishy piano pomp of David Bowie's Hunky Dory – which was his own album about the dance between parents and kids. In "Month of May," the band sings about the rock audience turning into a scene where "the kids are all standing with their arms folded tight." It could have been a tiresome get-off-my-lawn screed. But it ends up sounding tender and empathetic instead, because Arcade Fire aren't so far from any of the kids – or parents – on The Suburbs."

- Rollingstone, http://www.rollingstone.com/music/reviews/album/17385/182695

Maybe a percentage of their unwavering success is due to good karma? Régine Chassagne, original co-founder and wife to Win Butler (who looks like he should be in an episode of True Blood... preferably opposite Eric and minimally clothed), has long been a strong supporter of Haiti by previously donating upwards of $22 000 after a series of benefit concerts in 2005. The band has since established a “one dollar, one euro, one pound” touring policy, donating one unit of currency for every ticket sold to Partners in Health, which has raised $800 000.

For tour dates and song previews, check out their myspace:

http://www.myspace.com/arcadefireofficial

But really, who uses myspace anymore...

Let me know what you think of the Suburbs!! I think it is genius, every song takes me on an emotional journey and when my mother sits next to me reminiscing about the music of the '60s and '70s, proclaiming that music has since died... I put on their album and reassure her: music never died, it just took a siesta.

New album out in September.. I am already in line

Interpol. Last night. Koolhaus. Were you there? I was.

I was the girl swaying the back corner of the crowd, squished in between a pack of fist pumping geeks from a suburb (I'm from a suburb, so I had a soft spot for them) and a guy with one of those sweating conditions you need meds for. The crowd oozed with 9-5ers, out for a night of good music by that band they have on repeat in their Jeep Liberty's. Interpol brought out an interesting crowd into the Koolhaus last night, so while the band stood still on stage singing tracks exactly from my iPod, I was content watching the crowd instead. Black socks with sneakers.. check! Plaid shirts with cargo shorts... check! Skinny pants with dress shoes... check!

Interpol did NOT disappoint. They made the whole ordeal with my car breaking down afterwards, ALMOST worth it. (A moment of silence for my Chevy Malibu please...)

Playing a few tracks from their upcoming album set for Fall '10, Interpol heighened their signature sound and made us cheer for the newbies as we would have for the favourites.

Come September, go out and get their new album... a great car ride cd. His monotone voice is soothing, and the musical genius of every song keeps you interested.

News About # 4

The month of September; summer ends, classes begin. The coming of a new season is in the air as autumn approaches. A time of year when the natural world slips into a slumber, and Interpol releases it’s fourth studio recording. The self titled, self produced, long-player will be available world wide in mid September. We can’t wait to share our new effort with all of you. We’ve just announced some shows and we look forward to see you soon in your neck of the woods.

Kindly,
Interpol

Fav Interpol tracks from me to you:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vaDw4CAcXVE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNBJSei0XV0&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RNtGYdm2rOY&feature=related