MUMBLING ABOUT MUSIC

July: The Month of Music

Today on the #blawg I'm going to chat about some music-related topics. I kind of wish I wrote this on a Monday so I could get some 'Music Monday' alliteration going on but I think I brought it home with 'The Month of Music', no? Anyway, let's just launch straight into it:

Gig calendar for July:

Pls ignore the stuff about the dentist. Can't believe I left that on =[

I saw Willow Beats for the second time last Friday and they were incredible (again). They hypnotise their audiences with an odd juxtaposition of dreamy vocals and dubstep-infused beats, causing everyone to emphatically sway in unison like some kind of cult. 
Fun fact: the last time I saw Willow Beats I drunkenly told the singer how 'amAzgNIG' she was and that she looks exactly like Chloë Grace Moretz (which I probably pronounced wrong) so now I can't look her in the eye. #MoreLikeSadFact

The Rubens were surprisingly impressive live. In all honestly I only went because the tickets were $15 but they actually sounded like seasoned professionals, not a band on the verge of releasing their first album. The crowd at the Corner Hotel went crazy for their infectious summer tracks armed with catchy guitar riffs, and then waved their glowing iPhones back-and-forth in silence during their very Kooks-esque ballads. I even bought their EP at the end of the gig, pictured later down, because I was that impressed. Oh- and to the girl at the front who was wildly waving a double black and incorrectly miming the lyrics all night... I like double blacks as well lol =]

So now I've got The xx, Lana Del Rey and Youth Lagoon to look forward to. I reckon by the end of the month I'll perfect my gig stance. I'm still trying to find the middle ground between the "fuck yeah I'm so into this right now I'm going to nod my head like ape shit and sing every word so everyone knows that I ROCK" stance and the "na bro I'm too cool to 'move' or 'bop' so I'll just stand here like a badass statue lol I'm better than you xox" stance.

Blawg question of the day: whats UR #gigstance? R u an #ApeShitRager or a #BadassStatue? #AudienceEngagement

Some music I'm loving this July:

• Seatraffic
  I took this from a write-up I did for ITNO.co.uk. Check out the full thing here. Oh yeah, I'm writing for a website other than my own now! Fun times.
  
  “We make dreamy synth pop!” Seatraffic sum themselves up perfectly in those five words because that’s exactly what they do. Who are these “dreamy synth pop” wizards? They are the San Fransisco duo of Mark Zannad and Brandon Harrison.
  
  
  Seatraffic first appeared with their debut self-titled 5-track EP on Bandcamp last November. This year they’re back again with a two-single 7″ vinyl, “Crimes”, set to release on August 1st. In the meantime you can download the title-track for free on SoundCloud. 
  This is my favourite track of theirs: "Leave It Alone".
  
  

• Twin Shadow
  Last week George Lewis Jr made a return with his second album 'Confess', and it received the same level of praise as George Lewis Jr's debut effort (his name is so good that I refuse to use pronouns). Sonically, George Lewis Jr hasn't changed the Twin Shadow formula that much, in fact, it sounds very similar. That's not an insult though, because George Lewis Jr didn't leave much room for improvement with George Lewis Jr's first album. George Lewis Jr simply confirms that George Lewis Jr is a true master of pop music. This cathartic track has been in my head ALL WEEK. Don't let that put you off, though:
  
  
  

• Purity Ring
  Purity Ring are set to release their first full length album "Shrines" later this month and I've already been loving what they've shown us so far. Synth pop at its finest. Check out the brand new clip for "Fineshrine" and see if you understand what the fuck is going on. Hint: you won't.
  

What is l i f e

Music loving ME this July:

Yes, you heard right. This month I've been getting a lot of love from various musicians. I've gotten so many offers to join bands recently it's a joke. Take a look for yourself:

Thanks Seatraffic but I live in Australia? :S

Not very professional of you, The Rubens.

Others included Muse (gross), Black Eyed Peas (...no) and K-POP band 2ne1 (sorry girls I don't speak Korean). Everyone wants a piece of my #yoloswag.

Playlist #4: GOLDEN LIGHT

Playlist time! Featuring some of the artists I mentioned throughout this post like Seatraffic and Twin Shadow, this fourth playlist is the mellowest of marshes. Did u get it? Coz marshmellows? Leave a comment below if u got it lol. Hopefully I led you to some new music and if not, I owe you a double black.

GOLDEN LIGHT from dylanmccarthy on 8tracks Radio.

AW12 WISH LIST

Winter Wish List: Best of AW12

Ignoring the blatant irony in making a wish list straight after rambling about my unemployment, I've decided to put together my favourite AW12 collections and things I want (to steal) from them. It's almost the middle of winter now and labels are in the midst of releasing their high winter drops into stores. There's so much good stuff out at the moment, but here are my 5 favourite Australian collections from this winter season so far (in no particular order):

1. Handsom
Handsom is a brilliant Melbourne brand I first discovered at Comeback Kid before finding them in the racks of Fat. Many a time have I tried to walk out of stores with pieces from their new AW12 collection stuffed in my backpack. The staff are always very understanding though- I think Handsom-related attempted thefts must happen quite a lot.
The new collection stays true to the ultimately clean-cut, minimal ethos of the label. As always, they've put out some great staple pieces like the plain cable-knits which come in both jumper and cardigan form; patterned knitwear; classic shirting as well as some jersey basics. Mixed amongst the navy and earthy tones are unexpected splashes of yellow and orange which appear in small doses on jumpers, backpacks and also on the end of a (pretty sweet) beanie as pictured below.
Check out the rest of the line at Handsom's online store.

Images from Handsom

2. Zoologie
Zoologie are another Melbourne-based brand. I had seen a feature on them in Acclaim Magazine before accidentally discovering their Manchester Lane store one rainy day on my way to uni. Unsurprisingly, I bought one of their rain coats (the one in the first picture below) not just because I was already soaking wet but because, clearly, it was incredibly neat. Neat? Does anyone say that anymore?
The menswear is made up of classically cut shirts and jackets. But it's the addition of patterned panels that makes each piece in the collection unique. For example, the khaki jacket I bought with felt camouflage detailing, the denim shirt with brown cord pocketing and elbow pads and a jacket with large felt plaid panels on the front and that same brown cord across the back.
Zoologie pay great attention to the small details. Take the hoods, for example. They have little hat-like brims on them, are lined with a nice checkered pattern and their pull strings are made from a thick rope. Who thought hoods could be so neat? On the theme of hoods, listen to Hood by Perfume Genius. #hood

Images from Zoologie

3. Vanishing Elephant

Stocked in the likes of General Pants, INCU and Fat- not to mention their own brand new store- Vanishing Elephant has become a brand synonymous with Australian streetwear.
With each new VE range comes many tears. Tears of 'shit I can't afford all of these shirts'. Aztec, floral, paisley, striped- they have the lot. But it's the new addition of the on-trend camouflage that I like the most about VE's new range. I clearly like camouflage print a lot. So much so that it's almost making me pro-war. So naturally, I'm a big fan of Vanishing Elephant's spin on the trend. Coming in jumper form as opposed to jacket, it gives you the option of subtly layering a bit of camo into your outfit under a coat or jacket, whilst still providing enough warmth if worn on its own.

On a side note, I wish the model's beard was available for purchase. I can only imagine how much protection it would give you from the savage winter winds.
The collection (minus the beard) is available online.

Images from Vanishing Elephant

4. Jesen

Jesen make great streetwear. Simple as that. Classic chinos, not-so-classic chinos with greyhounds on them (yes, you heard right), basic knits and jumpers, clean shirting- every staple item for a cold winter. In saying that, there are always intelligent little details that make the clothes to stand out. Take, for example, the seaming in the Xavi Sweat (pictured below). It has seam detailing across the chest as well as large white panels on the forearm, so whilst it is still remains aesthetically minimal, it becomes unique instead of boring. Another example is the studded collar on an otherwise plain blue shirt. Staple clothing with individual twists. Great.
Again, it's available online at Jesen's online store or at Comeback Kid.

Images from Jesen

5. Banana Wednesday's
Banana Wednesday's is a young Melbourne-based label (fun fact: the designers went to RMIT #claimtofame). Their second collection 'You Only Live Bananas', as suggested by the name, is vibrant and fun; something you wouldn't typically expect from an A/W collection. But that's precisely why I like it. The bright, Hawaiian-inspired prints will easily brighten up a rainy Melbourne day and will definitely help you stand out against a sea of black clothes. Perfect for those who don't take themselves too seriously in what they wear. My favourite piece is the "Jungle Beats" sweater. The range can be shopped online.

Images from Banana Wednesdays

Special non-Australian mentions:
(because I'm not THAT xenophobic)

Opening Ceremony v Adidas

This collaboration between Opening Ceremony and sporting giant Adidas is too good to ignore. Adidas' sporting mantra permeates this collection, manifesting in athletic jackets, parkas and tees. Also consistent through most of the collection are the distinct paisley patterns which come in either deep blue or bright red hues- different blocks of paisley crash against one another in a seemingly random way which creates very eye-catching imagery that almost looks like patchwork.
According to Opening Ceremony, the collection is due to release in early July. Personally, I've got my eye on one of the paisley jackets and a navy tee as pictured below. In the meantime, eye off the full range at Hypebeast.

Images from Hypebeast

Raf Simons Spring 2013 footwear
Admittedly, I've never really been a fan of sneakers/ runners. I'm scared of them. Sure, I know that they're a widely accepted trend at the moment, giving the wearer instant street cred, but I know if I wear them I'll look less like this and more like this (#junners). It's just like the time I tried to catch the 'bucket hat' trend amongst 10 year olds in '04 (#regretsandmistakes #memoriesmade). Nonetheless, these ones from Raf Simons are undeniably cool in a deliberately tacky way. The shiny, multi-coloured plastic panels are especially fantastic.

Images found on Tumblr: here and here

Source: style.com

Playlist #3: PICK ME UP

You said it sister. #GroanZone

It's Tuesday. The weekend is still forever away. Yes, FOREVER. However, I've made a playlist that will speed up your week and get you excited for your upcoming weekend shenanigans. With the likes of Poolside, Polographia, Duke Dumont as well as some snazzy remixes, your "ugh-it's-only-Tuesday-why-does-lyf-suck-so-much" thoughts shall be temporarily erased.

PICK ME UP from dylanmccarthy on 8tracks Radio.