Happy New Years

Thankyou to all who have come here to read/comment/listen over the last four months - will catch you all in the new year - peace.

Soil and Pimp Sessions - Pimp Master

Another japanese band to showcase here at Whatever Takes Your Fancy - did anyone say Jazz? how about psycho jazz? or death jazz as it has been described. I love me some jazz music, you know the laid back kind that you can chill to - so when i first played this album i obviously had no idea what i was getting into - luckily the tunes hit me like a freight train and my face was melted by amazing musicianship and funky ass dance floor jazz. You really feel the energy dripping off these guys as they play - its fun and frenetic and damn right catchy - tight intense drumming is backed by alarming horns, thumping bass and one hell of a crazy frontman who is supposedly only there for the entertainment factor during live shows - do yourself a favour and check this out...

Dir en Grey - Kisou

Long before Dir en Grey sort of sold out to the tidal wave of nu-metal lingered a dark, disturbing yet delicate visual kei band - straddling the line between metal, melodic punk, and beautiful pop balladry. It was from Gauze to (and i am hesitant to say so) Vulgar did Dir en Grey own the j-rock arena - producing interesting, forward thinking rock music for the masses who ate it up gleefully.

And why wouldn't they? With a pulsing drummer, off-kilter and menacing guitar work with a bass that would rattle your walls. The real selling point of the band however lies in Kyo's rather intriguing vocals. He is a nutter, to say the least - utilising his voice to maximum capacity with an emotive singing voice, harsh screams, and noises that i would describe as out of this world.

What is great about this album is it's diversity - Dir en Grey stretch their imagination from the hard hitting punk opener Kigan to the electronica driven beats of Shinsou. Standout ballads are also apparent with the beautiful 24 Cylinders and the harrowingly painful Mushi.

Merry Christmas

Yes it is that merry time of year - Merry Christmas to all my readers and fellow bloggers
- Rachel at inasafeplace
- captainmelody
- chewinggumforears
- secreta music
- brian bohan wherever you are
- and yourhappymakesmegooldies

to my family in Queensland Merry Christmas and especially to Anonymous - Merry Christmas

Peace and Love

New Layout

If anyone comes here frequently i apologize for the change of layout and colour scheme. I'm the type of person who gets bored with things like that after a while - an example is that i move the furniture in my room around frequently because i can't have it the same for too long - this is similiar to that haha.

Music will continue to flow, and thanks for visiting!

Saltillo - Ganglion

Saltillo crafts the most beautiful and demanding trip hop beats intertwined with classical movements of simple beauty. Also incorporated are sound clips from god knows where, but they add a layer of intensity and urgency to the songs. Certainly refreshing and laid back, dark and disturbing yet beautiful and majestic at times. The heart tugging vocals on "i'm on the wrong side" grip at you and dont let go. A must have of 2008.

The Cinematic Orchestra - Live at the Royal Albert Hall

I've just bought tickets to this amazing bands show in Adelaide on January the 19th and in doing so it has prompted me to offer you this stunning live album by the Cinematic Orchestra. This eclectic live show brings together genres of all kinds including soul, jazz, classical, pop, electronica and trip-hop offering the listener with a smorgosbord of tastes to dabble into. Perfect for a hot summers night chilling outside with your favourite beverage, this band will help you pass the time without a worry in the world.

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Random Post for Anonymous #2

So it makes you angry when the Australian government pledges to cut Co2 emissions by only five per cent in the next what? 25 years i think? pretty pathetic if you ask me. But then the next news story came on - GIGANTIC JUMPING SPIDERS IN ASIAN JUNGLES!

MY GF IS ASIAN - that means there is a possibility that while even though she was born here, she has brought back the demon spiders and they could infest my general living area - which is not good because i hate and am petrified of spiders!!! How does this all tie together? well these newly discovered super species are very low in numbers, and can be wiped out due to greenhouse gases and global warming! Clearly the Australian government has taken these super dangerous monkey spiders into account and has only chosen to cut emissions by 5 per cent to destroy these...these...things!

Kudos to you Australian government!

(i do not in any way endorse the governments new emissions scheme and am abhorently in objection to the dangerously low emissions cut proposals)

The Kinison - What Are You Listneing To?

Permeated with crunching guitars this album by now defunct The Kinison is an intense journey into the then emerging punk/hardcore seen of 2004. What stands out about this album is the cathartic rhythm section which just begs you to get up in your room, out of your chair and dance till your legs fall off. It's fun hardcore that makes you wanna groove - and who would pass that up?

Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu - Gurrumul

Insane hype over this man. Absolutely insane hype over this man in Australia and it is growing throughout the world. He played for the Queen, literally meters away from her. You know what, never in my wildest dreams did i think my Album of the Year title would go to an Australian artist...but with this, Goeffrey Gurrumul's first solo effort - the title has been awarded.

This man is no ordinary man. This Indigneous Australian was born blind, was born into the most disadvantaged culture in this country. And he has brought such a wonderful gift to all of this continents inhabitants. He learnt the guitar by ear and plays it upside down, he has also mastered keyboards and drums (which is amazing, but dont feature on this cd).

All of this set aside, his voice is his true and most inspiring instrument. His voice is the most sincere, heartfelt, evocative, emotive, captivating and enthralling voice i have heard - ok big call here - in my whole life. I almost cried during the second track, it just holds that kind of transcendental beauty, it is a voice that could last forever even when it had passed.

The album itself is nothign short of a masterpiece. It is nothing more than a man with his guitar - no songs of protest against Indigenous affairs, no songs of disdain or hatred - just songs of pure beauty, songs about culture, his homeland, his family and himself. The majority is sung in his native tongue, of which few understand - however it doesn't take a second to understand him at all - his voice carries feeling with ease and transparency that i have not seen before. His guitar playing is sublime and contemplative with just the right amount of subtelty that si required to compliment his unique and diverse vocal chords.

Album of the Year.

The Evpatoria Report - Maar

The Evpatoria Report is one of many many many post-rock outfits flooding the scene lately, which to be honest i don't mind because there is plenty of quality music for me to sink my teeth into. The Evpatoria Report show tinges of Explosions in the Sky prowess but also add flare with some jazzy keys, lax drumming and dreamy soundscapes that have a more laid back feel to them.

What i most enjoy about this album though is the bass, it really holds the tracks together especially with the sparce percussion and dreamy keys spinning out of control. The Guitars resemble that of EitS while crescendos and climaxes are of the GY!BE ilk. Another dynamic instrument added to the mix is a violin which really adds that speical layer of beauty that a lot of post-rock uses today.

Although comparisons can be drawn to GY!BE the songs themselves proabaly don't rely too much on heart tugging, tear jerking emotion, rather The Evpatoria Report opt for a more relaxed, dreamy and ethereal soundscape to push their art. Definately one of my top albums for 2008, time to check out their EP....

Maybeshewill - Not For Want of Trying

I downloaded this because i thought the cover was amazingly beautiful - i dunno, theres just something about naked red heads that makes me take a second look - jks - what i found however was a nice suprise in this album by UK's Maybeshewill.

They play some instrumental math-rock for the most part of the album, however some tracks do have slight vocals and/or sound recordings from around the place. Highlights include the dreamy and playful I'm in Awe Amadeus! which includes a rolling piano line and frollicking drums - makes me feel like im surrounded by clouds and unicorns for some reason. There is also an aggressive tone to many of the songs and The Paris Hilton Sex Tape showcases this to perfection.

Maybeshewill can also slow things down abit - seen on the drum machine driven Heartflusters. The album's most epic track He Films the Clouds Part 2 is however something else - a journey that makes it's way slowly to a powerful climax and absolute beauty. It is certainly a feat when an artist can convey such emotion without the help of a vocalist to drive power.