MusicDesk: 2009

December 13, 2009

MusicDesk Pin-Up Girl #2: Addison Gill

Absolutely nailed it; you won't be finding her in the pages of FHM or Heat, she will not be dating a movie star, a football player or a drug dealer - Addison Gill is pure class.

Canadian, looks a bit like that Kristen Stewart , 18 years old, seasoned. Look forward to the next 80 years of her life...

Follow this link for her full story, enjoy the pics!

MusicDesk

October 30, 2009

What Is That Sound?...Barkley Blazer

Barkley Blazer on Facebook

October 9, 2009

What A Treat...Phoenix

A treat! This is a treat because I get to express my opinions on a package of perfection for those who haven't yet experienced this musical Mona Lisa, Phoenix's new album, Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix. The gift on having to be obliged to replay this album over and over again for specific review-related purposes, is also, absolutely great. Quite simply, Phoenix have had me on my knees since the first taste of their fourth LP. The only way to describe such an album is to go through every song, so be patient and then, be humbled.

Lisztomania: Officially bringing 'groovy' back into music. A healthy combination of moods over the decades, but a fresh attitude for music, thankfully.

1901: The party song for summer. Everyone, from any era or scene or whatever, can all share in this brilliant 21st century piece of art. This song will get you distracted for sure.

Fences: What is this craziness? This song has the potential to unite musically-racist and lost souls alike, as well as bring world peace. This expertise is difficult to comprehend.

Love Like a Sunset, Parts I & II: Epic, in the true form of the word. These two songs are basically twins - you can't play any of these songs without playing the first and then listening to the second - these two are family. These two creations are the recordings of the evolution of the life that is Love Like a Sunset.

Lasso: Phoenix have given their interpretation of 'cool' on this album in the form of Lasso. That is all that I will say.

Rome: Extraordinary! Think of watching a film, a romantic-drama, it secretly sums up your life up until now, it is your identification. This is it! Rome, Rome, Rome, Rome, Rome...

Countdown: The door to the magical imagination that we will call 'the consciousness of Phoenix'. We are yet again invited to lose ourselves in the structure of their sound.

Girlfriend: Here is a truly magnificent blend of a melancholy mood and the groove that has been mentioned before. An excellent experiment that will get your nostalgia going again.

Armistice: You're compelled to salute the french men of Phoenix after listening to Armistice, the album's last song. It is fantastic farewell and just a reminder of the prime quality of songwriting.

So, perhaps this does not do the best job of describing the songs themselves, but in this recording every song is as important as the next - it is the feeling after listening to Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix that I am trying to get across, if I may. It's more of a deductive method. Phoenix have set the standard, in my opinion. The album is a story. Now, it is time to for it to be retold and then, time to retell it.

October 6, 2009

BON IVER.

Justin Vernon; a multi talented musician with a somewhat emotional edge, never a bad combination for an indie-rock singer/songwriter.

From the exceptionally cold Wisconsin (Northern USA) which he claims, "inspires him", Vernon entered into numerous musical ventures, including bands he and his friends formed that went by names like Mount Vernon, DeYarmond Edison and The Rosebuds. Vernon eventually settled on Bon Iver whilst recording what would become the band's first album in a remote mountain cabin, he got the name from watching the TV series "Northern Exposure" and used the French words "bon hiver" which literally means 'good winter'. After breaking up with his band and his girlfriend as well as suffering from mononucleosis, Vernon decided to recover by spending 3 months in a remote cabin in the freezing mountains of Northern USA. With very basic recording equipment, Vernon recorded the album completely himself.

The album, entitled 'For Emma, Forever Ago', was originally not meant for release but after such a positive response from friends and family, Vernon and his band decided to release it properly through a label - JagJaguWar which saw even more support shown. All of the songs you hear on the album are as they were recorded in the cabin by Vernon. Vernon expressed his desire to continue to record in this way in the future; perhaps a trend is emerging as many indie rock bands are choosing to have a heavier hand in the recording of their music as technology is making it far simpler to understand without training or experience.

'For Emma, Forever Ago' is unreal, the perfect album to listen to, cover to cover. Ideal for serenading, it also aids chilling and driving. Three is a crowd when Bon Iver is on, two is ideal!

Best tracks; Skinny Love, Blood Bank and Creature Fear.

Click for the Bon Iver Website...

Bon Iver is so good!

Enjoy!

MusicDesk

September 20, 2009

Why Chairs? Whats Wrong with Beds?!

Most comfortable couches in the world, tick!

Time to chill; PS3, FIFA 10 (Releasing on the 2 October, just in time to coordinate the purchase of the game with the purchase of your most comfortable couch in the world), blue Doritos + white dip, 250ml vanilla milk, 500ml coke, 500ml lemon twist, 4 finger kit-kat, a huge beego and you have just nailed it.

These are just the tip of the iceberg, extreme comfort is out there. Check out www.digsdigs.com for related content, worth a look.

Images; Top - class!

Middle - It has massage and vibrating features, 'hidden treasures'.

Bottom - Personal favorite, ample space, legs and feet are well taken care of, simple, leather, lasts a lifetime and note the hide underneath it...

Enjoy!

MusicDesk

September 18, 2009

Man Who Missions...Riaan Manser

Have you heard of Riaan Manser? You have? Great. You haven't? Listen closely. Riaan Manser is an true adventurer who refuses to take on his dangerous and enduring journeys with support teams. He is a man's man. He has cycled around Africa, unaided, circumnavigating all 36500km of the continent, taking over two years to accomplish the task, and not too long ago he finished kayaking around Madagascar, unaided, circumnavigating all 5000km of the huge island-country's coastline. But what do you expect from a man who's motto is "quitters never win"?

Riaan Manser, the man, has already written a book on his impressive African achievement, entitled 'Around Africa on my Bicycle' and is writing his second book, named 'Around Madagascar on my Kayak', which will record his epic challenge around Madagascar, obviously, and his respective experiences. He also also started his own brand, 'No Food For Lazy Man', which encourages pro-activeness, constructivity and education. If you get his whole deal, which you can look more into at http://www.africa365.co.za/, you can understand that this man has so much good in him, iyt can only be expressed in such extraordinary ways.

Keep a keen eye out for this crazy cat to see what his next plans are. He is bound to do something ridiculous. Listen to his words, appreciate his feats, respect his plans.

Presenting the Future...MusicDesk

Firstly, thank you to the man of MusicDesk himself, MusicDeskManning, for those kind words.

Secondly, take heed of what he is saying, he speaks the truth. MusicDesk is truly getting dik kief.

Thirdly, something to look forward to that Manning has touched on, is Rocking The Daisies.

The MusicDesk Team will be tackling the phenomena that is Rocking The Daisies from two angles, directing our attention to the two areas in which the festival takes pride: Lovely live music and enviromental protection. Expect these two articles to be punctually presented on MusicDesk before the actual festival so that you boys and girls can approach the respective weekend of wonder with a critical, yet enthusiastic mind and high epistemic standards.

However, the buck doesn't stop there at all. This is only the beginning of the informative-era, the time of intellectual expansion to which MusicDesk will play host. So, take advantage. And no, the photo has nothing much to do with what has just been said, but we all want to be wherever that place is. Right? Yes.

September 17, 2009

MusicDesk is Back

MusicDesk is back!

More legal, more contributors, more Music!, more Art!, More Design!, More Culture!, More Cool!.

Thanks to CREESRIDER who has joined the team, you will probably have heard of him, he's musical. You will find yourself meandering when CREES reports back on his thoughts and that which he stumbles upon, chilled.

Look out for new posts including Rocking the Daisies and everything that goes with that, another MusicDesk pin-up girl, some epic paintings - courtesy of the cool hunter, Bon Iver, free software and the maddest web browser the internet has ever been combed with! Keen!

Keep checking...

MusicDesk

September 8, 2009

It's Free...YOUR LMG

What happens when the academics of the South African music press want you to know more? They publish a magazine, for free. This is not a joke, I can do way better. YOUR LMG is a fairly new print magazine that is distributed throughout the Cape Town and Stellenbosch areas, providing the reader with up-to-date gig guide. While it obviously offers a 'live music guide', (that's what 'LMG' stands for in case that wasn't clear), the magazine also boasts one-on-one's with the hottest faces in various genres, reviews and releases, and a decently-sized pull-out poster, as well as many other creative content.

The guys and girls at YOUR LMG just want to share the love and we all know what the end product of sharing the love is...a lot more love. Honestly, I thought I knew a fair bit about music, not only nationally, but internationally too. Nevertheless, I was silenced with a shh! when friends of my mine were sucked into this resourceful find. Minutes later I too was paging through the magazine, somewhat suprised at how well-informed the contributors were and how little I in fact knew. It's fantastic to see this sort of commitment to music in South Africa, because we do have endless expert acts of rock, reggae, whatever, and because local is indeed lekker. And it's free.

In this month's issue, Dubmaster China, The Wild Eyes, Black Market riots and others that absolutely own. Pick up the latest publication or have a look at http://www.yourlmg.com/ to know more, to advertise and for a good read.

September 5, 2009

Vrede Forever...Herman Pretorius

The South African music industry is growing. It is booming. Jaco 'Snakehead' Venter, (Fokofpolisiekar and aKing), summed it up well in an interview recently, stating that a few years ago people would reply with a blank stare when asked about their favourite local band, and now most people could list a number of favourite local bands. There are, of course, a number of individuals who have played a vital role in our industry's revolution and evolution, yet one name stands out in bold, capital letters, font size 50, Herman Pretorius.

Herman Pretorius passed away last month after a long battle with cancer, leaving a legacy that you and I dream about, and one on which we model our ambitions in this country. Read about everything he has achieved and tell me I am wrong. I urge you to watch his raw and still elegantly executed interviews on MK and GO - this is professionalism without being pretentious. What struck an A-major chord with me was how you could see his genuine interest in a band when he was interviewing them - this is passion personified.

South African music lovers have been hit hard by the loss of Herman. However, as we celebrate his accomplishments and his time with us, we must keep up the energy and creativity that is the South African music industry. Please visit http://www.vredefoundation.co.za/ to help support cancer awareness amongst today's youth and to pay your respects to one of the elite, Herman Pretorius.

Communication Break(it)down...Led Zeppelin

Here's a famous photo of Led Zeppelin that shows the band posing next to a massive plane with their name on it. There was a whole photo shoot done of the boys by their plane, but this particular photo is probably familiar to most folk because it’s a common poster in stores that still catch themselves selling posters. My friend happily accepted the poster as a gift last Christmas and now it hangs on his wall. A wise decision.

When I see that poster of Led Zeppelin, I wonder about how it would have felt to be them, right there in that part of their lives, by their plane, with the camera aimed at them. Pretty untouchable, I think. I mean, at that point in time, when the photo was taken, the band were in their prime. They knew it too, standing there all coolly and cocky, and rightfully so. Imagine you have a chauffeur. Now imagine you chauffeur is a pilot... What I dig and respect about these guys, apart from their outstanding domination in the roots of contemporary rock ŉ rollers, is how they embraced the ride and lived up to the reputation of rockers . The acceptable arrogance and attraction is all there in the photo, clearly dik gerook or just basically tripping balls, as the expression goes. And assuredly, there would have been groupies frantically queuing for Robert Plant and his crew from the boarding gate to the cock pit.

Look, if you’re given that gift and that opportunity of becoming iconic in an industry that asks so much of you, wouldn’t you also take it by the horns, like a matador with a death wish? There should be a time in your ideal life that is reserved for sex, drugs, rock ŉ roll, in no specific order.

August 4, 2009

MusicDesk Under Construction

Thanks to those of you who have kept checking MusicDesk for new posts! We know there has not been much activity, we encountered one or two serious issues that are being tended to day and night.

Keep checking MusicDesk, it's the best.

MusicDesk

July 26, 2009

Space Month Nearing Its End

40th anniversary of Space Month ending in days.

MusicDesk

Loving the Red - Buamai

MusicDesk

July 25, 2009

Yes! The Mystery Jets are here.

"All the best band create their own universe. Few, however, create one as strange and bewitching as the Mystery Jets".

Listen to these guys, they are in their own weird world of bohemian British indie pop, but they are so cool! They remind you of one of those epic 60's and 70's bands that seem to cruise around, somehow escaping death through all of the ridiculous situations they find themselves in.

It definitely helps that all the band members have known each other from the age of four, and you can hear it. The reckless youthfulness of their current day early 20's helped them create the techni-colour rock and roll masterpiece that was their first album entitled, "Making Dens", which will literally take you through all kinds of emotions, best tracks; ''Alas Agnes'' and "The Boy Who Ran Away". Next as the band grew, they released ZOOTIME and went international for the first time, produced by Erol Alkan, this album set them off so to say, listen to "Umbrellahead" off this. More recently, in 2008, they released Twenty One; unbelievable! Listen to "Behind the Bunhouse", will change your life.

Assembled over a few years, they became the unit they are today around 4 years ago when they captured their drummer, Kapil, who also happened to be a champion break-dancer which is great as well as a big sign that they are not limited to the creative outlet that their band offers them and their listeners. Kai makes film, Will, Blaine and Henry attended the same art school as Freddie Mercury (The Camberwell) and have continue with their art.

Following a $25 000 fine for noise, the band decided to take their band off the urban island on which they lived on a 27 date tour with 16 supporting acts, many of which grew up with the band, such as Jamie-T, the Noisettes. The tour was named the Eel Pie Review, following the White Cross Revival, and it gave the band direction as well as building a bit of hype along the way; much like Bob Dylan's Rolling Thunder Review; perhaps a sign of things to come?

A kaleidoscope of moods, energies and atmospheres builds their intrigue and with every song they produce, you notice the changes, the growth and ultimately the potential for this young group of musicians to become music legends. Mystery Jets are staying.

Enjoy.

MusicDeskManning