i will always be the outlaw for your love.

Ramesh Srivastava has still got it in terms of vocals, haunting melodies, and lyrical genius. The new Voxtrot track "Trepanation Party" makes this clear. The question is whether their newfound electronic sound stems from the undeclared absence of stellar guitarist Mitch Calvert. Ramesh addressed the band's quietude only in saying:

Regarding our absence, sometimes one needs to disappear in order to regroup; situations change and human beings are swept here and there by the marvelous ebb and flow of culture. And so, there can be only this: a return to a love of music.

I adore "Trepanation Party" for its metaphor and attention to an individual's reality. Voxtrot lyrics always find a way to have a resonance and relevance to my life, making me listen over and over again because of the connection. The music I would say is just okay, following along the heels of some kind of New Order or Depeche Mode cover. I think I could do without the new direction. In the end, I will always cherish the days of the Raised By Wolves EP, but this track does enough to keep me wanting more.

DOWNLOAD HERE
radio interview with ramesh

back it up on me.

I haven't felt so hyped about a song in a long time. "Neva Believe U" by Mavado, a Jamaican dancehall artist, has me dancing whether it's in my room or out in the club. I don't even usually like dancehall! Something about the key is perfect and the dirty lyrics add to the charm because everything sounds better in Jamaican Patois. This song was tweeted about by Diplo and made the rounds to me via DJ Gavin Holland. Looks like Gully God has a summer jam on his hands.



& for all kinds of hot joints, download the Nouveau Riche for DURKL mixtape free from http://durkl.com/.

we're too old. we're not old, old at all.

Last night I headed over to The Black Cat to check out Nunchucks and The Antlers. It's been a while since I've seen a band live without hearing any tracks first, so I just dove in. Ronald was gracious enough to comp me on the "food stamps list" so that us poor folk can stick together and see live music. His band, Nunchucks, are a high energy rock group hailing from the DC metro area. They are a solid group and put on a great show. The songs are catchy, they have coordinated moves, and had the backstage dancin' a bit. Check them out at www.myspace.com/nunchucksrock.

The Antlers, out of Brooklyn, have a more ambient sound. Their set had a very ethereal vibe to it. During "Bear" and "Two" my eyes were glued to the stage. The vocals were tender yet strong and the instrumentation suited the songs and set a mood. Look 'em up at www.myspace.com/theantlers or stream their full album here.

she asked me if i would ever fall.

Skywave are an amazing group from the 90's and early 2000's. Hailing from Fredericksburg, VA, they helped the resurrection of shoegaze in the United States. Every time some type of "shoegaze" is mentioned there is talk of derivation from The Jesus & Mary Chain and My Bloody Valentine, but Skywave definitely carve out their own place.

In terms of albums, I am partial to Took the Sun (1998). Each song is mesmerizing with its perfectly placed feedback, dissonance, and accentuating percussion. The guitars are layered with complexities and add so much to each track while the vocals work well to set an emotional tone. Not one song sounds the same as the one before it, but there is an innate cohesiveness to the album. In addition to the below song, I highly recommend "Walking on Stars" and "Sanddune".

"Sixteen" -


The music is still alive, the bassist went on to form A Place To Bury Strangers. They come off as a bit more abrasive to me, but are still very very good. Ceremony, another solid effort, came from two other members. I just can't help but keep a little special place in my heart for Skywave.