Untamed Youth

Today is Tuesday again, which means it's another night with French Lessons and his partner in crime, Albatross Kills Wizard, at Fiction again. Feel free to drink too much again. Once again, this drinking behaviour is encouraged and is in no way linked to the fact that they get a cut of the bar takings. But, what it won't be again is Albatross Kills Wizard's birthday celebration!

So don't be lame, venture forth, empty the ATMs and come party like it was 2005. In the words of AKW, 'Come to Fiction tonight for a bit of a shake and cake. Tunes and balloons, dancing horses, Lucky the Clown and a magic show. I will be there too.' I tell you, not only does he have amazing dexterity for a child he is quite funny too.

Jumbling Towers

Digital For Fish is not lazy. We research every band/song we mention. We pride ourselves on the facts and sticking to them. We even have a motto: "Musica digredi

numquam", ie. "Never deviate from the music".

........................................................... Sorry, I always take a moment to recover from the profoundness of that statement.

As I was saying, our dilligent research and steadfast dedication to hard work is why I'm going to use a quote for this post. Thanks Wikipedia. It seems that Pitchfork writers have been submitting to Wiki too, so I have included links to definitions of words used in some of the more 'colourful' descriptions the writer used.

Jumbling Towers are an indie rock act from St. Louis, Missouri. Members include Joe DeBoer on guitar and Rhodes piano, Kyle McConaghy on guitar and organ/synthesizer, Nate Drexler on bass, and Scott Ingram on drums. They are best known for their lively and witty performances ultimately leaving enthusiastic audiences yearning for more of the groups' veritable sound. Another highlight is the Jumbling Towers lyrics. Frontman and lead guitar, Joe DeBoer, is known as a witty raconteur and for his near-fulminating vocal style. Jumbling Towers have been likened to artists such as The Pixies, Half Japanese, and Televison.

Apparently Americans call Jenga "Jumbling Towers". This must be due to the post-80's decadence minimalist movement, which is sweeping the nation. The next version of the game will be called "Falling Blocks". So practical. This has nothing to do with anything.

While there is a lot of truth in that quote above, it is sheize. This band is better than crap comparisons and appealing to the wit. We never try and act witty nor make comparisons. So, here, listen to a band that is cool in a Indie-rock, Spencer Krug kind of way. In all seriousness I actually do like this band.

Jumbling Towers - He's A Cop Now [MP3]
Jumbling Towers - Cowards [MP3]
Jumbling Towers - Beggars [MP3]

MySpace: Here
WebSite: Here

Eagle*Seagull

Jumbling Towers went on a tour with Eagle*Seagull fairly recently, so I thought I'd give you a taste of them too.

Bouncy piano, stereo vocals, jangly guitar and just the right kind of drums. Listen for the screams near the end. Or is it a recorder?

Not Death Metal.

Eagle*Seagull - Your Beauty Is A Knife I Turn On My Throat [MP3]

MySpace: Here
WebSite: Here

Dishwasher

So you may have noticed there wasn't a post on Friday and that's simply cos the Gypsies stole us. True story. Also, I re-introduced alcohol to my diet that day and was struggling to take anything else seriously.

If you were smart/stupid you attended the Fiction and The Waiting Rooms' joined Double Feature Halloween awesomeness on Saturday. Ninjas, Spiders, Robots, Cave Men, Gorillas, Vampires, Ghouls, Papa Lazarou and, quote-unquote 'Satan's Whore' were in attendance as Chromoscience, Felix Laband, Sibot, Markus Wormstorm and numerous others played until the early hours of Sunday.

At one point Bender turned to me to point out the fact that Felix had somehow managed to drop Pinback into his set, to which I replied with a Plancha followed by a Ground Octopus Hold, as any true incarnation of luchador Dos Caras would have done. He was quite bent out of shape after that... I could go into British News broadcasting with shameless puns like that. Losers.

The combination weekend of Gyspies, creatures of all kinds and new old dietary needs has created a rather downtrodden mood here on the Digital side of the Digital For Fish musical bootcamp. So, luckily for me, while pretending to program robots in my dark office and actually cruising MySpace for hot/cute/any girls interesting people, I came across Dishwasher.

It was the title of the song, which did not automatically play on this girl's someone's page, that piqued my interest. "Dishwasher - Again and Again". The thought of actually listening to a washing machine grumble, spin and hum was and is incredibly appealing in my current state, so I clicked it. Well, it wasn't what I expected but something something blah blah least expected it, right?

Dishwasher is from Montreal and counts Giselle Numba One and Lovefoxxx from CSS amoung his actual friends. Which is nice. To have real friends. More importantly, his slo-mo, beat pop is great for listening to just loud enough when you don't feel like listening to anything, which is better than nice.

Dishwasher - Robber [MP3]
Dishwasher - Come Home [MP3]

Giselle Numba One - Swedish and Hai... [MP3]
Giselle Numba One - Charmer the Farmer... [MP3]

MySpace: Dishwasher Is Me
MySpace: Giselle Numba One

Bonus:
Pinback - Loro [MP3]

Uber Bonus:
Papa Lazarou - Papa Lazarou Megamix [MP3]

"It's nice to see you again, Dave. All grown up."

Crystal Castles vs Klaxons

Ever since French Lessons slid a CD with Chiptune music into the CD player of my Gran's car, as we down Camps Bay's main strip, with the words "I think you'll like this", I have been hooked. That little Renault never rocked so hard in all it's days.

And that day is why bands like Ratatat blow my mind, it's an evolution of the music I heard in it's simplest form that sunny day. I can't really explain why I like this music so much, and I don't want to. When you analyse something too deeply you can take away the thing that made you enjoy it in the first place. So, I'll leave it at that.

I was checking out Crystal Castles', which is one of my favourite bands of what ever you want to call this genre, MySpace page today and I noticed that their blog had been updated with some new tracks. And that's were I found the track that made me wanna do this post.

While Klaxons, who have a pretty huge following now, is not one of my favourite bands, Crystal Castles certainly is. And it's the Crystal Castles glitchy edge to this collaboration track that they have recorded that really does it for me.

So here I present to you the first Chiptune track I ever heard by 8-Bit Peoples man, Paza Rahm, along with the Klaxons & CC collaboration and a track by each group respectively. Enjoy.

Paza                                    Baspatterns [MP3]
Crystal Castles vs Klaxons    Crystal Castles vs Klaxons [MP3]
Klaxons                                Magick [MP3]
Crystal Castles                     Air War [MP3]

MySpace: Crystal Castles
MySpace: Klaxons

WebSite: Klaxons
WebSite: 8-Bit Peoples

A darn cool video for the Klaxons
Klaxons - Magick

Untamed Youth

Today is Tuesday, which means it's another night with French Lessons and his partner in crime, Albatross Kills Wizard, at Fiction. Feel free to drink too much. In fact, it is encouraged. And this is no way due to the fact that they get a cut of the bar takings. No way. Also, you'll definitely be the only one not partying and dancing yo' feet off.

Two sample tracks of the music you can expect to hear from each of the illustrious DJs.

French Lessons:             Heypenny - Parade [MP3]
Albatross Kills Wizard:  Ghostland Observatory - Sad, Sad City [MP3]

And if I was DJing... Duran Duran - I Just Died In Your Arms Tonight [MP3]. Aren't you sad I'm not?

MySpace: Heypenny
MySpace: Ghostland Observatory

WebSite: Heypenny
WebSite: Ghostland Observatory

The Smurfs

Apparently today is the anniversary of the first appearance of little blue people in Peyo's Johan & Pirlouit comic back in 1958. We here at Digital For Fish believe strongly in the Communist message behind the Smurfs, simply because Communism is such a good idea. I mean, look how countries thrive post-Communism. Communism got them there.

Thanks, Smurfs for teaching us about Marxism!

The Smurfs - Theme Song [MP3]

WebSite: Smurf

I initially had this embedded in the page, but realised some of you may not actually like the message it conveys.

The Smurfs - The Lost Episode

When America finally figured the Smurfs out...
Unicef Ad - Don't let war affect the lives of children

Mix Tape Monday

1. Huma - Feels Like I'm Walking [MP3]

MySpace: Huma
WebSite: Huma Music

2. Tanakh - Drink to Sher [MP3]

MySpace: Jesse Poe Tanakh
WebSite: Tanakh

3. Kite Flying Society - If I Could Split [MP3]

MySpace: KFS Music
WebSite: Kite Flying Society

4. Hot Chip - The Warning [MP3]

MySpace: Hot Chip
WebSite: Hot Chip

5. Someone Still Loves You, Boris Yeltsin - House Fire [MP3]

MySpace: Boris
WebSite: Boris

6. Her Space Holiday - Japanese Gum [MP3]

MySpace: Her Space Holiday
WebSite: Her Space Holiday

7. The Desks - Stop! [MP3]

MySpace: Desks
WebSite: The Desks

8. Gene Serene & John Downfall - The Hours [MP3]

MySpace: Gene Serene Org Records
WebSite: Gene Serene

9. Hot Chip - Crap Kraft Dinner [MP3]

MySpace: Here
WebSite: Here

10. Sufjan Stevens - The Lord God Bird [MP3]

WebSite: Sufjan

11. Elliott Smith - Between the Bars [MP3]

WebSite: Sweet Adeline

12. Rafter - Bicycle [MP3]

MySpace: Rafter Roberts
WebSite: Rafter

13. The Most Serene Republic - Emergency Performance Art Piece [MP3]

MySpace: The Most Serene Republic
WebSite: The Most Serene Republic

14. Röyksopp - Triumphant [MP3]

MySpace: Röyksopp Melody Am
WebSite: Röyksopp

15. The Album Leaf - 22:14 (TwentyTwoFourteen) [MP3]

MySpace: The Album Leaf
WebSite: The Album Leaf

Dirty Projectors

Nat is currently touring with Dirty Projectors as their bassist. Dirty Projectors is the brainchild of David Longstreth, and is best described by this review from the Portland Mercury:

So, check it, I toootally made the bonehead mistake of listening to the new Dirty Projectors EP, New Attitude, after smoking a gangload of medicinal-grade weed and the shit WWE-smackdowned me and cooked my little brain like a delicious ham and cheese omelet. The seven tracks made no sense; I had no reference points for what I was hearing. I knew there were guitars but since when did guitars sound like they were playing notes on a steel bass drum instead of steel strings and frets? Were those really Hare Krishna chants, or was I that blunted? Was their drummer dropping beats backward while the band played lead and rhythm lines with screwdrivers on a basement's water piping? Like, WTF, yo! Looney Tunes thing is, I listened to it the next day and it sounded exactly the same. Dirty Projectors, you're my new best buddy. Let's kick it again sometime. Your crunktastical music. My confused but loving ears. Bong not required.

Dirty Projectors - Imagine It [MP3]

MySpace: Here

Nat Baldwin

Nat Baldwin is the only other Baldwin, besides Stephen that's worth a damn. Sure, post-"Alec Baldwin" Alec Baldwin is trying really hard to be endearing but he's still a jerk. I'm sure you remember Stephen from his tour de force performance in in the largely academic film BioDome. Also, the moment when he places Josh Charles' hand on his thigh in Threesome is one of the more powerful moments in cinematographic memory. Nat Baldwin is not related to either Baldwin, please don't be stupid, and he won't invite unneccessary, tongue-in-cheeck scorn from idiots like me either.

Nat's music is harrowing, and sounds something like Antony and the Johnsons beauty meets TV on the Radio experimentalism. He currently has two Albums out and a split with Deer Tick. "Within Walls" is definitely my favourite track, with a drum beat that just gives more and more as the song progresses, and Orange Mobile used "Only In My Dreams" in a very cool ad that is ruined the moment the narrator speaks.

Nat Baldwin - Within Walls [MP3] from Enter the Winter
Nat Baldwin - Only In My Dreams [MP3] from Lights Out

MySpace: Nat Baldwin
WebSite: Broken Sparrow

Bonus

"Now I know you're leaving me, and I know that I'm no king"

Deer Tick - Diamond Rings [MP3]

Nat Baldwin - "Only In My Dreams" Orange Ad

L.A. Cobra

Sin is back! These guys bring the sleaze that you've missed so dearly whilst secretly listening to L.A. Guns and Twisted Sister on your iPod. Hailing from Pretoria and rocking names like Don Cobra, Ron Midnight and Animal Mother they've mashed their influences from metal, sleaze, glam and punk together and created a sound that says "We have come to bring the party!".

Their album is coming out in February 2007, and they are taking some time off touring in December to write some more music, but there are a few gigs coming up, so go and watch them!

L.A. Cobra - Hot Rocks [MP3]

Upcoming Gigs:

Oct 21 2006 8:00P ESP ACTION BAR Pretoria North
Dec 8 2006 8:00P POISON RALLY Nylstroom

MySpace: Here
WebSite: Here

Jacob Borshard

Remember, back in 1963, when Dad got a new job and you had to move to California and start at a new school? How you met Bobby, Ricky and Drew during the summer before school at the beach? You guys used to surf and skate and play baseball all day long. The way you used to harrass Mr Wong at the corner cafe? Man, those were good times.

Remember the first day of school? When you saw her? Standing at your locker, talking to Bobby, you looked over his shoulder and she was smiling right at you. At you! The room when quiet, everything went in slo-mo, the sun seemingly shining on her only, as she walked towards you, and just as you were about say something to her she hugged that guy behind you. She was smiling at him. Him, Peter Kaczynski. That jerk.

You two, Sarah and you, became friends, and Peter Kaczynski and his buddies would rough you up when she wasn't around. He'd tell you to say away if you knew what was good for you, and you didn't cos she was the thing that was. And then, finally, at the Under the Sea Dance you told her how you felt, and Peter Kaczynski went nuts. He started beating on you, Sarah was calling him an asshole, and, blindly, you swung once and knocked him out cold.

Remember when you walked her home that night? When she kissed you? Remember that? Bobby does.

Jacob Borshard - Grass Stains [MP3] from The Last Brontosaurus
Jacob Borshard - First Girlfriend [MP3] from The Last Brontosaurus
Jacob Borshard - Brains Brains [MP3] from The Last Brontosaurus
Jacob Borshard - 6,000,000 Dead Punks Can't Be Wrong [MP3] from Songs For A Small Stereo

MySpace: Jacob
WebSite: Creepy Bobby More Free MP3s from his amazing album.

Just For Kicks

Come and spend your Wednesday late afternoon with us.

Filled with disingenuous spelling and grammatical errors for your intellectual enjoyment.

Cold War Kids

Listening to your History lecturer can only make you think the post-WWII era just never got as exciting as before, did it? The Cold War was something of a spectacular anti-climax. Too much Vodka induced fear and Puritan loathing resulting in the passive-aggressive reading of each others' diaries for my taste. "Look, Boris, on the microfilm that Double-Double Agent gave us, Reagan admits that the chimp in Bed Time For Bozo was a better actor. Wait til we show Comrade Stalin." I would have preferred a little Enola Gay action myself, just to get the crowds running. Excercise is good for you. So is a tan.

Maybe if Cold War Russia had implemented a better marketing strategy or agent we could all have been friends and casually droping phrases like "Холодная Война дети, скала!" as quickly as we say "Yo, dat shiz be tha Blingity-Bling, dawg. Word" Cos we do, um, say that. You know how we crazy kids are. I'm sure this Arliss of the political world would have changed their flag to the image we see above and everything would have been okay. Can you say Communist! Party! I mean the !s would have been so Indie (!).

It's a shame. I'm sure their parties would have become notoriously wild, with many people just going missing never to be heard from again. Kennedy would have felt an idiot forgetting his hat. I'm sure the music wouldn't have sucked either.

Cold War Kids - We Used To Vacation [MP3] from Up in Rags EP
Cold War Kids - Hospital Beds [MP3] from Up in Rags EP
Cold War Kids - Tell Me In The Morning [MP3] from With Our Wallets EP

MySpace: Here
WebSite: Here
Daytrotter: Here (Thanks Ian)

Cold War Kids - Hang Me Up to Dry Video

As an aside, the owners/creators of YouTube will have to spend the rest of their days scrounging around like filthy street urchins in a Dickens novel after selling to Google for way under market-value, if you ask me. $1.65 Billion. I mean, that's a pittance, really.

Beirut

Zach Condon dropped out of school at 16. Then he said to himself "What now?". He must have thought very briefly before he replied "I know, I'll go to Europe." And he did. On his brave and oft treacharous travels he encountered the arch nemesis of civilization - the dreaded Gypsies. These evil gypsies captured him and played their Balkan music at him. And he was entranced.

Satisfied with their work, they released him. When he came home he decided, "No, my previous albums will not do! Do as the gypsies have taught." And he did. Thus, it came to pass that Gulag Orkestar was delivered unto us. Many, many peoples across the Interweb lauded him and pronounced his greatness with cries of "Balkan is now!". The Great Hay Movers of music declared his work worthy of such acclaim, and the new Siege of Beirut marched onwards without much resistance. The Gypsy Illuminati rejoiced, "Our wicked deed is done. Now all will love that which is Balkan." And we do.

Now, he has recorded more of this infectious, Balkan stomp, cleverly titled Lon Gisland, to bend more of us toward the ways of the Gypsy. I warn thee not to listen to these songs, they are simply amazing. But you will.

Beirut - Elephant Gun [MP3] from Lon Gisland
Beirut - Postcards From Italy [MP3] from Gulag Orkestar
Beirut - Mount Wroclai [MP3] from Gulag Orkestar

Once you have listened to those three tracks above you will obviously wish to be surrounded by true gypsy folk. Lucky for you the Gypsy Illuminati have arranged a gathering disguised as a new Balkanology Party. Click here.

MySpace: Beirut
WebSite: Beirut Band

Beirut Live in Brooklyn

Swan Lake

Spencer Krug is one hell of a guy. First he creates Wolf Parade with Dan Boeckner, only because he accepted to open for The Arcade Fire but didn't actually have a band. Then he continues his solo project Sunset Rubdown, fleshing it out into a full band and releasing the excellent Shut Up I am Dreaming. Then he decides to rejoin Frog Eyes and tour with them. Now, and definitely, not finally he's teamed up with Carey Mercer (Frog Eyes) and Dan Bejar (Destroyer) to form indie's 'greatest' supergroup, Swan Lake.

I'm tentative to say the greatest simply because supergroups by their nature can be too much of a good thing. By this I mean the things that make each individual in the group great may not combine to form a band sound that is great. Furthermore, the supergroup albums could just become a compilation of tracks where alternately one member features and the others are merely guest players. And, from the 5 tracks I've heard so far, this compilation effect does happen a little.

Well, after all that gloom and doom, you're thinking "Do they suck?" Well... no! Don't be fucking stupid. These are three incredibly talented and respected musicians. Carey and Spencer have worked together for ages, Spencer has collaborated with Destroyer before. Of course it won't suck. Will it be the best album ever? Probably not, but these guys have come together to create some amazing songs and have managed to improve on the qualities that makes each one of their distinct sounds great. All does bode well for November 11th when Swan Lake's ablum, Beast Moans, is released.

Spencer Krug Swan Lake - All Fires [MP3] an interesting Review
Dan Bejar      Swan Lake - Widow's Walk [MP3]
Carey Mercer Swan Lake - City Calls [MP3]

Bonus:

Handsome Furs - Untitled [MP3]    Dan Boeckner's side project.
Destroyer - Painter In Your Pocket [MP3]
Sunset Rubdown - Shut Up I am Dreaming of Places Where Lover's Have Wings [MP3]

MySpace:

Wolf Parade
Sunset Rubdown
Frog Eyes
Destroyer

Wolf Parade - I'll Believe In Anything

kidofdoom

I watched these guys twice this weekend and they are simply amazing. If you don't want to dance check your pulse cos you're probably dead. "Forest Fire" is definitely my favourite track that I can remember from both times. I say 'remember' for a reason - these guys make you want to party hard. And you do. Plus, it doesn't help that they walk around with a beer funnel after the show and buy you beer.

They are easy and hard to define. They sound like Explosions in the Sky at times, then they sound a little like The Faint, but unlike either really. Definitely not a rehashed or derivitive sound. There are no vocals (besides an occasional shout into the mike), which some people complained about, but to put a vocal to this would ruin it. As they say on their MySpace page about the lack of vocals, there is no pretense or claim to any intellectual aspirations, all they want is for you to dance, dance, dance! Works for me.

kidofdoom - Forest Fire [MP3]

MySpace: kidofdoom

This band is awesome live, so I suggest you go and watch them.

Upcoming Shows

Oct 12 2006 8:00PM Tings an' Times (back from tour show) Pretoria Oct 28 2006 8:00PM Sovereign Halloween - Carfax - Kidofdoom's last show for 2006 Johannesburg

And on the subject of doom. Check this out.