MUST LISTEN: Escapee by Architecture in Helsinki

Wee! finally! I knew they would release Escapee as a single! This track is my favorite from Architecture in Helsinki's recent release Moments Bends. It's fun, poppish song that injects good vibes in every spin.

MUST WATCH: Tamaryn x Lindsay Lohan x Richard Phillips

I wish Lindsay Lohan wasn't thinking that she's swimming in a pool of vodka when this video was shot. NY-based artist Richard Philips made this Lindsay Lohan short film showing the actress in a more sober state. I must say, the girl is getting back on track and she looks amazing, fresh and all cleansed up...literally. Tamaryn provided the soundtrack for this 90 seconder with their shoegaze music and made the film cooler than ever. Check it out

MUST LISTEN: Simple Mechanics and March by Quiet Lights

I would like to thank everyone from Quiet Lights for always sharing their music with me every time they have new releases. If you've been following my blog, this Brooklyn-based band was one of my favorite Band Crushes last year. They play awesome shoegaze and dreampop music that never fails to put me in kaleidescopic coma. I dont   know what that means but if you listen to their music you might just feel the same thing. Simple Mechanics is part of their upcoming EP entitled The Big Fear. You can stream the track below and also a download it for free.



As a bonus, here's a song they made for the BEKO label (www.beko-dsl.com)
March

BAND CRUSH: Hypocrite in a Hippy crypt

Good thing I always check my trash list before completely deleting them or else I would have not discovered this amazing band. I didnt know why it's in the trash list. Probably I accidentally deleted or something. Hypocrite in a Hippy crypt's music blends alternative poprock with a little bit of sweet summery folk sound. It kind of reminds of a toned down version of Stereophonics or is it because of the voice of the vocalist. Check out these three sample tracks from their upcoming album Tweaker in the Park under Gulcher Records.
  

MUST WATCH: Wall Street by Battles (A La Blogotheque Take Away Show)

One of the reasons why i always read La Blogotheque is the amazing live performances they produce. This one is probably one of my favorites because of the Battles and how everything looks amazing. Battles performs Wall Street at the Mission Theatre in Paris. This track is part of their upcoming album Gloss Drop out on 6th of June.

MUST LISTEN: Paranoid Android (Radiohead cover) by Weezer

Here's the original version.

NEW MUSIC: Indak by Up dharma Down

Heart vs brain! Yes, that's the central theme of this new track from Up dharma Down and i know you already love it. Well I do. Indak will be part of their upcoming third album to be released probably the end of this year or early next year. Here's a live performance of Indak. 


LYRICS:

Tatakbo at gagalaw

Mag-iisip kung dapat bang bumitaw
Kulang na lang, atakihin
Ang pag-hinga’y nabibitin

Ang dahilan na alam mo na
Kahit ano pang sabihin nila
Tayong dalawa lamang ang makakaalam
Ngunit ako ngayo’y naguguluhan

Makikinig ba ako
Sa aking isip na dati pa namang magulo?
O iindak na lamang
Sa tibok ng puso mo

At aasahan ko na lamang na
Hindi mo aapakan ang aking mga paa
Pipikit na lamang at mag-sasayaw
Habang nanonood siya…

Paalis at pabalik
May baong yakap at suklian ng halik
Mag-papaalam at mag-sisisi
Habang papiglas ka ako sayo ay tatabi

Tayong dalawa lamang ang nakaka-alam
Ngunit hindi na matanto kung sino nga ba ang pag-bibigyan ko
Makikinig nga ba sa isipan na alam ang wasto

O pipigilan ang pag-ibig nya na totoo

Iindak na lamang ba sa tibok ng puso mo
At aasahan ko hindi nya lamang aapakan ang aking mga paa
Pipikit na lamang at mag-sasaya
Habang nalulungkot ka

Habang nalulungkot ka, isa nama’y natutuwa

Minsan naman ay lumuluha

photo via Up Dharma Down's Facebook

MUST WATCH: Civilization by Justice

Apocalyptic, futuristic, fantastic! This music video of Justice's Civilization is a perfect soundtrack for the recent end-of-times claims. The track is part of Justice's yet to be named second album, their follow up to the 2007 release †. 

LATE NIGHTERS: Get Away by Yuck on Later with Jools Holland

This is probably my favorite track from Yuck's self-titled debut album. Watch them perform Get Away on Later with Jools Holland!

MUST LISTEN: Still Life by The Horrors

Check out the new single of The Horrors from their self-produced third album Skying. Still Life sounds like a modernized 80's track coated with lots of lush synths and Faris Badwan. No other reason. That's all.

NEW MUSIC: Mother by Blondie

Ito ang mga lola ng mga hipsters! Debbie Harry and the rest of Blondie are back with a new album and a single and I must say, they still have it! Mother is the first single from Blondie's forthcoming ninth studio album  Panic of Girls. Mother sounds young, fresh and so now! Who would have thought that Debbie Harry can still be hip after centuries?! hahaha And the boobs ha, still intact! It may look awful for some but her bra-less outfit gives her a youthful vibe. Love this track!

NEW MUSIC: Calgary by Bon Iver

After four long years of waiting, Bon Iver's self-titled sophomore album is ready for the world. Here's the first single from the album Calgary and you can also download it here for free ;)

BAND CRUSH: Youth Lagoon

Cant describe the feeling i was in when I first listened to Youth Lagoon's July but i think it was love at first heard. It's one of those songs that will give you the chills after the first listen. And after few spins, you still have the sensation you had on the first try. From Boise, Idaho, Youth Lagoon a.k.a Trevor Powers plays music that is ethereal, dream-like and surprisingly melodic. It's a kind of lo-fi pop that you will not be intimidated by its experimental sound. His first perfectly-titled album, The Year of Hibernation, will come out as a digital download on his Bandcamp page this July. I would definitely hibernate with his music on the background. Here are some of the sample music from his upcoming album.  

July

Cannon

Montana

NEW MUSIC: Make Time by Cults

The Cults should have made this as their official release rather than their current one. I know they just released a video for their track Abducted but didnt like it so no post for that. Good thing somebody emailed me this track from their upcoming album, i have something to blog about Cults. Make Time is a fun song wrapped with some twinkly sounds and hand claps gearing up for happy song perfect for summer (it's still summer on my playlist).

MUST LISTEN: Number Line Records Sampler No. 1

I was browsing through my Philippine Fashion Week photos so I could maximize my Sunday by blogging something but didnt find any decent photos to post. Tss.. so much about my photography prowess. To my desperation of posting something, thank goodness for Facebook, I got to listen to the sampler of this new local independent music label Number Line Records and was totally glued to it the whole afternoon. I havent been to a local gig  for quite sometime now and I have no idea who are the hottest indie bands around. This compilation introduced me to new indie bands and I am excited to see them live! Number Line Records is the brainchild of the Benedicto siblings from the indie-pop band Outerhope. The label, for now, specializes digital releases. And with digital releases I mean free downloads. Most of the songs in the compilation have that chillwave/lo-fi/sythpop sound that is relevant in the indie scene right now. So if you're a big fan of Panda Bear, Neon Indian, Washed Out and Toro y Moi, Number Line have that sound here with a local flavor. But they are not confined in that sound, for sure. Just like my favorite from the compilation, Slow Hello who plays awesome indie rock with pop sensibilities. Decidedly Weird is definitely a winner track for me. I have the whole compilation below which you can stream/download. GO FOR EAT!!

For more info about the label, you can check their Facebook, website and Twitter.

NEW MUSIC: Hawaiian Air + Blue Cassette by Friendly Fires

The Friendly Fires released two tracks from their upcoming album Pala this week online. First is Hawaiian Air which sounds like a perfect jingle for an airliner with the same name for its sunshiny summery feel.


Blue Cassette on the other hand has that pulsating tribal noise of Kiss of Life and the catchy chorus of Skeleton Boy which sounds like a template for this track.


Pala is set to come out this month but there's already a leaked version of it. Nothing's impossible anymore ;)

BAND CRUSH: Fixers

NEW BAND ALERT! NEW BAND ALERT! NEW BAND ALERT! NEW BAND ALERT!

They may sound like a hipster buzz band from Brooklyn, but Fixers might just put England in the map of psych-pop universe. Hailed from Oxford, Fixers describe their music as "nu-world pop with stark flashes of experimentalism and psychedelia." Sure is experimental but with a hint of sunshine over layers of spaced-out instrumentation. Think of The Beach Boys (which they are a big fan of) doing Animal Collective and MGMT. Whatever they sound like, Fixers is definitely a must listen on this hot summer season.


Listen to some of their tracks below. Crystals is my favorite. They also did an interesting cover of Rihanna's What's My Name.

MUST WATCH: Darlin' (Adam & Eve Song) & Easy by Tahiti 80 + The Past, The Present & The Future Album Streaming

Tahiti 80 is back! Yes, I couldnt contain myself from posting everything about the new stuff from this French indie-pop band. The Past, The Present & The Future is Tahiti 80's sixth studio album and I haven't lost that kilig feeling since the first time I heard them.

The first single from the new album is Darlin' (Adam & Eve Song) which kind of a retake of the biblical story with a different ending....


The current single is Easy which is my favorite track from the new album. The colorful music video could pass as a clip in Sesame Street. Both videos are directed by Daisuke Kitayama.


You can listen to the entirety of The Past, The Present & The Future below and download legally.

Download

Last one! I just wanna share with you my favorite Tahiti 80 song ever! aaahhhhh! so excited! Here's Heartbeat...

INDIEBON MIXTAPE: Let's Take It Slow, Soul Slow

If you like R&B and Hip-hop, you might want to check this mixtape i made featuring some of my favorite songs from the neo-soul artists that I admire. DOWNLOAD HERE

Photography by Gisela Torres via here

MUST WATCH: Changes by Stars (NSFW! swear!)

I am telling you guys, before clicking the play button make sure no one's behind you or you are alone watching the new music video of Stars. There's no sex or anything sleazy on the video just a naked woman dancing, crawling, rolling who grew a tail at the end. WEIRD! Changes is still from Star's album The Five Ghost which was one of the best releases of 2010 and one of my faves from the CD. Watch the video if you dare.

Not so NSFW


NSFW

FILM TO WATCH: Submarine

I dont know if this film will be shown here in the Philppines but im sure i will be watching it in any way. Check out the trailer of the British film Submarine directed by Richard Ayoade.
Arctic Monkeys' frontman Alex Turner has written songs for the soundtrack of the film and will be releasing it in a six-track EP. Here's one of the tracks from the film.

Lost in Binondo...

PLAY THIS WHILE READING

Looking for something else to do on a hot summer afternoon, we found ourselves braving the heat in downtown Manila, had lunch at Wai Ying and got lost while looking for the right way out of Binondo. I didn’t know that I had my camera in my bag. So when I remembered having it, I took some random shots without looking at the viewfinder and here are the things I captured…