New Camera Day

I want to get back into the habit of uploading photos. Somewhere.

Here are the first four images straight off my wonderful new LUMIX DMC-LX5; the first ones are of my notoriously camera-shy Mum and her partner Jerome. The next is the beautifully linear council block sat behind Homerton Overground station. The last, well...I suppose that's the loving look of a proud and dedicated new mother to her awesome son.

Not a bad start, I think.

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All I want for Christmas

"Get Some' is amazing. 'Wounded Rhymes' will most likely be amazing.

She is amazing.

You get it.

http://www.lykkeli.com/

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I heart Jenny Lee Lindberg, much.

OK, so I've developed another futile crush.

This time it's Jenny Lee Lindberg from the incredible Los Angeles all girl outfit, Warpaint. She's the one in the middle bouncing around on the video, and funnily enough is in all of the photos. Somewhat excessive you say? Bordering on obsessive? A tad rapey? Naaah.

At first I was struck by how much she looks like Shannyn Sossamon, albeit in a slightly more approachable girl next door sort of way. I wasn't too shocked to learn then that she's her younger sister, nor that Shannyn used to be in the band as a co-founding member back in 2004. Imagine if you will; those two people standing in front of you and playing such spellbinding music, whilst looking so bewilderingly beautiful. And genuinely cool. Fucking hell! It's almost a positive that big sis left to pursue other things, as dudes' hearts would be exploding at every gig just for being in their presence.

Anyway, their highly anticipated debut LP 'The Fool' is out on Rough Trade records on 25th October, and they're playing The Scala in London on the 28th. It clashes with Tame Impala at Heaven and Electric Wizard at the Electric Ballroom - two sets of people I'd usually be loathe to miss when in town. Not this time though.

http://www.warpaintwarpaint.com/

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Bordering on genius.

Never ones to churn out a regurgitative splurge of their past glories like so many other bands, Bradford Cox's Deerhunter have produced what is the most unique of records in the recently released 'Halcyon Digest'.

I'd go into why it's so important that you have these eleven songs in your life but Marc Hogan has summed it up perfectly over at Pitchfork.

Mesmerisingly beautiful and another huge win for the legendary 4AD.

http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/14681-halcyon-digest/

http://www.4ad.com/deerhunter/shows/

Lucidity

What would happen if you let a weather balloon film your music video?

Australian psych-pop rockers Tame Impala have done just that with the help of Robert Hales, and the result is pretty sweet. Taking off from Mildura in the Sunraysia region of Victoria, the unconventional cameras leave the band and soar in to the atmosphere, before eventually falling to earth capturing some amazing visuals along the way.

'Lucidity' is taken off the band's first full length LP (entitled Innerspeaker) after a couple of killer EPs and even though there's not a stand out track as soul-charging as 'Half Full Glass of Wine' you'd be completely hatstand not to check it out. For those lucky enough to live in the smoke, they're playing Heaven on October 28th. I will, as always, be there grinning like a complete spanner with an overpriced beer in hand.

http://www.modularpeople.com

I've been cattacked!

'Surfing the Void' might just have taken the accolade for my favourite cover art of 2010, so far.

The Klaxons' new LP features Jamie's cat 'Orphee' wearing a spacesuit. Massive win.

The illusion of absolute awesomeness is mildly shattered when you learn the cat is not actually posing in the suit, and it was the product of some digital magic by London-based creative heads, Mads Perch and Richard Robinson. I don't even care if it was directly inspired by an image the band found on Tumblr. It still rocks so much.

http://www.klaxons.net/

http://www.mads-perch.com/

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Suburban bliss

Don't really need to say much about this release; I'm far too excited to put my thoughts into any cohesive output.

Be sure to hover your cursor over the picture for maximum joyface.

Happy ears tomorrow, guaranteed.

http://www.arcadefire.com/

I love hippies?

Anyone who knows me will testify to the fact that I don't love hippies. I might even hate them. I'm going to have to make an exception of sorts in this instance though, as Matador newbies Harlem have released their second LP under that same stomach-turning name.

Rest assured there are no hemp underpants, shoes made from banana leaves or lingering wafts of patchouli here.

This is the last album I listened to before leaving New York last night in the incredible gem of a store that is Bleecker Street Records, and it's a fizzing garage rock humdinger. I wasn't the only one there though, as this rather portly, grey fellow seemed to be enjoying them too; sitting up and posing during 'Gay Human Bones' for long enough for me to grab this snap. I swear he was bobbing his big fat head.

Wish I could be in my beloved Newcastle this evening to see them play in an old shitty favourite, the Head Of Steam.

Joy.

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Call on me, Valerie.

Oh Valerie Phillips, how you test my resolve with such fucking cool stuff.

Think I'm going to take the plunge and buy this screenprint for my room, after much deliberation. Having been reminded of it's existence in recent weeks, coupled with repeated flicks through her wonderful book 'Amber is for caution' from which this very limited series is derived, I'm besotted.

Don't get me started on the PJ Harvey shots.

http://valeriephillips.com/