KITE IN THE AIR
When looking at ‘super groups’, making a whole that is greater than taking it’s individual parts is often one hell of a hit or miss business. Just check out rock’s attempts, with Velvet Revolver missing it badly, or the more recent Dead Weather, who made it work with a little more success, (although Jack White could join Jedward and make it work as far as we are concerned). Kite In The Air isn’t quite a ‘super group’, but the members have previously existed in separation. Mike Genius, one half of the dark electronic riff section that was the American duo WZRDZ, has joined forces by playing the laptop behind another duo, Jed & Lucia, who are more used to providing us with a sweet blend of Californian gaze folk. So they seem to have previously occupied very different genres and it seems rather impossible to imagine they’d ever have a middle in which to meet. As individual groups their music seemed born from a type of drug infused haze, only the drugs of choice in WZRDZ case were mountains of petrol-infused crack, where Jed & Lucia were drifting on a purple cloudy wave of weed. However, the music they’ve created whilst pulling together is nothing short of astonishing! It’s music you will instantly adore, made equally for the headphones as the dancefloor. It’s what The Golden Filter would have loved to have made, with it’s four beat pace and electro riffs, but with Emma Lucia’s vocals the music totally takes off. There are the kind of peaks on each track, all available for free on their website, that would make anyone jealous. Clear headed, or mind fucked beyond repair, this is music that makes a bee-line for your cerebral cortex and stays there until the morning. Enjoy the sunrise. (MB)
Find them here: Myspace
Hear them here: KITE IN THE AIR – MAGIC MARKER ysi
MNDR
If you’re from the UK you would be forgiven for thinking this artist is named after the 1980s show starring Arthur Daley, but sadly not. It’s actually pronounced “Man-dar”, as in her real name, Amanda Warner, and she’s one of those very special finds! Locating a diamond cut like this is all too rare and it’s commonly followed by plenty of whoops and over-enthusiastic yelping. Apologies if you involuntarily produce some these noises too, but at least you’ve been warned. Like all good music, this is best played very loudly, so the synth punch goes straight through you, Bruce Lee style. Don’t be fooled for thinking this is too basic either, as simplicity is a lot harder to create than you would think and Amanda’s jams, and they are proper jams, have mastered this art. Jerked dance hall drum machine beats, of a kind not seen since Santi White, jump over modulated synths in a style claimed to be nerdcore. However, her thumping tunes have plenty of pop and melody fitted inside too, in the same great way those other nerds, Hot Chip, achieve so effortlessly, (she even shares their love of big geek glasses!). The key to it all wrapping up so well is the vocals, which reflectively remind us of Kim Wilde. She’s previously worked with Har Mar Superstar, Deerhoof and Yeah Yeah Yeahs in various ways, so we will try and get her over to the UK so she can headline a Recommender gig next year. Hopefully plenty more will arrive from her between now and then as she’s currently busy piecing together her debut album. This is one space we will all be watching intently! (MB)
Find her here: Myspace
Hear her here: MNDR – FADE TO BLACK ysi
CITADELS
We’ve known about this Shoreditch three piece for some time now, but as always the packed inbox of the blogger is both a blessing, giving us many introductions, but also a bastard, as it takes such a long time to get around to listening to, and ultimately writing about, each new discovery. Citadels seem to be well known around the trendy East London circles, with two out of the three also performing as the dance duo Labyrinth Jackals to reflect their schizophrenic love of dance music. So good was their recent remix of Seven by Chew Lips that we may well have to write Labyrinth Jackals’ own Recommender in due course. If we get around to it of course! Anyway, back to the band Citadels, their original construction, which they formed upon moving to the capital from their south coast roots. The regular comparisons to The Flaming Lips electro pop would only work if the Oklahoma giants had Brett Anderson fronting them! However, their vocals enjoyably crescendo in the same excellent way that Wayne Coyne’s do and they similarly produce a type of playful, dreamy, layered peak to each of their songs. It’s intelligent and totally fearless music, absolutely rammed with melodies and contagious vocals. When they reach the summit of their songs, and they build a song as good as anybody, it turns out the view is truly beautiful. For fans of imaginative, aspirational guitar pop, you will do well to watch this band, as they are due to really deliver their master plan during 2010. (MB)
Find them here: Myspace
Hear them here: CITADELS – ANIMALS ysi
