Free Music Friday 37! The gig tonight edition

Based on the the majority of my posts, you can probably tell that I'm not the biggest listener to electronic music. It's not that I don't listen to some, I just don't get into it as much as a lot of other people I know. And when I try to, it just becomes so overwhelming with the different styles and genres and noises they make.

That being said, I know what I like when I hear it. And when something is free, I'll be more willing to give it a chance for the first time (and probably like it even more).

So today's Free Music Friday is a man from Sydney who's debut EP is slowly taking the world over (at least the UK and USA). His name is Oliver Tank.

He's bucking the wub-wub trend of popular dubstep music these days (at least I perceive it's the popular/dominant electronic style of music right now) and exploring more quiet, ambient areas. His EP is aptly named Dreams. The music on it is the kind of trip-hop sounding, relaxed, dreamy music which you can just shut your eyes to and let yourself float away.

Oh, and it's also free (well name-your-own-price anyway). On his Bandcamp page. 

Have a quick listen to it, and if you like it and have nothing planned tonight, do yourself a favour. Head on to the Bridge Club on Elizabeth St in the CBD and for $10 you can let yourself be washed over with gorgeous tunes.

Crystal Castles

Crystal Castles are a male-female electronic duo that dabble in lo-fi. You can't get any more cliche in this day and age than that, can you? But this Canadian duo has something that makes them stand out from the crowd. I'm not sure what it is, but I think it's the fact that they like pushing the boundaries on a lot of their songs and experimenting with sounds and noise. Lots of noise at times.

Like a lot of bands hipsters love, they'll be coming down in the new year for a southern music festival. Which means, of course, that we Brisban-ites get sideshows! January 4 at the Tivoli. Bring ear plugs, it could get very loud.

Free Music Friday 30!

Ahhhhhhhhh... Chino Moreno. I musically man crush on this man:

Lead singer of the Deftones. Although I like their first album the best (Adrenaline... so good), their musical output has always kept me entertained, even in recent years when it's become almost ambient electronica with overtones of heavy rock.

For anyone that has listened to the Deftones over the last few years, or Chino's side project Team Sleep, this Free Music Friday will be something you embrace. It's ††† (Crosses) his collaboration with a few other artists. Like other Chino work, it's very beautifully constructed almost ambient electronica, but with overtones of hard rock (less so on this EP). He's obviously onto a winning formula here...

You can grab their EP for free at their Facebook page. It sounds very similar, but goshdarn if I don't enjoy it...

Guerilla Gig

And if you can't see that crappy screengrab I made, it says "7pm, Jan 7, 2011 (This Friday), Get to this South Brisbane Train Station location to catch re:enactment play in a scissor lift. This is a Guerilla gig!"

re:enactment = local electronic/rock band. Listen to them here: http://www.re-e.net/. And it's free.

Lamb

It's not Australian unless you think of this video when you think of Lamb:

However, on this occassion, it's the British electronic/trip-hop duo. Having just released their first album in 8 years, they are taking it on the road for the Playground Weekender. Of course, that's not coming here, but we will get a sideshow for them to play their relaxing electronica, hopefully including their hits Gabriel and Gorecki.

Feb 18, HiFi

MySpace

Gorillaz support/Little Dragon sideshows

Oh Sweden, how come you make such good music? It's criminal how much good music of all genres comes from your cold, cold, cold, cold, cold, cold country. The latest is this very mellow electronic band, Little Dragon.

Mmmm, dreamy. And wouldn't you know it, they are coming out to play with the Gorillaz! I believe their role is to be the band behind the band. But at the same time they will be part of the opening band. And by part of the opening band, I mean they are doing the music for De La Soul who will be rapping as the openers, before joining back in with the main Gorillaz show.

They'll also be playing a set at Woodland (it's a new indie bar upstairs from the Mustang, enter via the alleyway behind the Family) on December 18th.

Little Dragon MySpace

Of course, I'm seeing the Descendents at the No Sleep Til festival, so I will probably head to Woodland to catch Little Dragon.

Minimalistic indie/folk/electronica tour!

Electronica is a very broad and alienating genre. I know that most of the time I struggle to get through it. There's only a handful of bands I like that do it well and I am lucky enough that two of them have decided to tour Australia together next year.

Caribou and Four Tet are joining forces to come play for us on the 15th of February at the Zoo (18+).

Both of these bands do a very stripped back electronica. It doesn't overpower the senses like most other electronic bands, but is more for a lazy day lying in bed listening to the rain (or reading a book, or just relaxing). I am not sure how to explain their folk style of electronic music, so just go and check it our for yourself.

Four Tet
Caribou

Flying Lotus

A lot of people I know hate hip-hop. I don't blame them, there's a lot of shite out there. But one of the things that makes good hip-hop great, is the beats behind them. So what happens if you take out the rhymes and focus on the music? You get Flying Lotus.


For those of you that watch Adult Swim, he produces most of the beats for the cuts and promos. Even if you ignore how awesome those 10 second cuts can be, his new album is a stand out reason to listen to him. Called Cosmogramma, it has electronic, hip-hop and just random hipsters all over the world raving. Oh, and me. It's hard to describe, as he goes from orchestral moments in songs like A Cosmic Drama, to bass heavy beats like in Nose Art and trip-hop like in Drips. It's just an amazing album of modern music.

We're lucky enough to get him out on a tour Sunday the 2nd of January at the Tivoli. 18+

MySpace

Emilie Simon

I have no idea why, but the So Frenchy So Chic shows at the Powerhouse always seem to miss me until only a few days before. Last time I found out about it only about 2 days before it, this time I've at least got 4 days until Emilie Simon takes to the stage.


She's French (obviously). And she does electronic/trip hop singer songwriter kind of stuff. It's quite relaxing and beautiful music.

She'll be playing the Powerhouse this Friday, the 1st of October.

Goldfrapp Splendour Sideshow

In what could be a first ever, Brisbane is getting a side show to the Splendour festival. Quickly announced yesterday, it's for British pop/electronic duo Goldfrapp.

I reviewed their new album in my old blog (RIP) and it's not as dance-oriented as earlier Goldfrapp music, it's now more ambient and relaxed electronica. They are probably best known for their song Strict Machine (listen here).

They'll be at the Tivoli on July 30th.