No. 25

"We American's, we're simple people...but piss us off, and we'll bomb your cities" Robin Williams

MP3: Friendly Fires - Skeleton Boy (Paul Epworth Version) DOWNLOAD

MP3: East 17 - It's Alright DOWNLOAD

MP3: Ladyhawke - Paris Is Burning (Alex Metric Remix) DOWNLOAD

MP3: Mike Keneally -Sisters (Steve Vai Cover) DOWNLOAD

MP3: Vitamin String Quartet - Viva La Vida (Coldplay Cover) DOWNLOAD

MP3: Sniper - Nique Le Pen DOWNLOAD

MP3: Don Henley - Dirty Laundry DOWNLOAD

The E.L.F. (2)

Heads up! Here's a new track from Darren Cross, otherwise known as The E.L.F. Possessing a slightly more shadowy tone to that of previous track Cockroaches, Dragon Fire may seem rather apt to Check The Availability's British readership. Where as Cockroaches was the sound of the Summer that never was (in terms of weather), Dragon Fire's more introvert sound reflects the inevitable arrival of day light savings, anti-freeze and all round hibernation. Lucky b**tard is supporting Midnight Juggernauts on various Australian tour dates.

Here's the video to Cockroaches which was not put up before because I only just found out how to embed Youtube videos. Duh!?!


MP3: The E.L.F. - Dragon Fire DOWNLOAD/Zshare

Moby

My recent interest in Moby was rekindled after watching the unmissable The Bourne Ultimatum where the familiar strings of Extreme Ways poignantly herald the end of the movie. Extreme Ways is taken from the 2002 (is it really 5 years ago?) album 18, which the more I listen to, the more I realise how critics of the time misjudged it, only ever comparing it to forerunner Play, while refusing to accept it as a piece of work in its own right:

• You finish listening to 18 feeling as if you've heard a decaffeinated version of Play. (Modjo)

• The follow-up to Play is, essentially, 'Re-Play', a cynical rehash of the melancholic-yet-strangely-uplifting schtick which sold ten million albums and sound tracked every single advert of the last three years. (Dot Music)

• Moby is no auteur, a fact made painfully clear by his terrible new album, 18, which revisits the already derivative territory of Play. (New York Magazine)

• The lead single, the excellent Bowie-ish wibbler We Are All Made Of Stars is a total red herring. The other 67 minutes and 17 tracks are Play Redux; familiar-sounding "oh-lord-my-dog's-just-died" samples over shopworn pianos and strings, straining to be epic but lacking the crucial element of surprise that made Play sound so innovative. (NME)
  

• Most of 18 is pleasant but unchallenging and unremarkable. (Pop Matters)

If you do own 18, now the baggage of being a 'follow up album' has been cast aside, do yourself a favour and give it a listen; similar in style to it predecessor, yes - but honestly, so much more besides.

MP3: Moby - In My Heart DOWNLOAD/Zshare
MP3: Moby - We Are All Made Of Stars DOWNLOAD/Zshare
MP3: Moby - Extreme Ways DOWNLOAD/Zshare
BONUS: MP3: DJ Isaac - Nobody Listen To Techno DOWNLOAD/Zshare

Maps

I've been in possession of various Map's tracks for what seems like an age. My interest was first drawn when I heard a demo of 'Lost My Soul' about a year ago. It's been a regular player on my ipod ever since.

I've always had a soft spot for this kind of music. Don't get me wrong, I love an upbeat, party track as much as the next man, but there are sometimes when one wants to relax; take a step back.

There has been a growing buzz about Maps on the Internet. Origionally recorded in his Northampton bedroom, these spacey, breezy records have a pop sensibility about them yet manage to retain their underground integrity without even touching on arragance. If you can hear the likes of M83, Mum and Bang Gang in his music, then you won't surprised to hear that the album was produced by Valgeir Sigurdsson of Sigur Rós in (where else) Iceland.

The Album 'We Can Create' is available now.

MP3: Map's - 331 To The Sky MP3 DOWNLOAD

MP3: Map's - Lost My Soul MP3 DOWNLOAD