Photograph © Xolali Joval

Afrojack (think ‘Take Over Control’) and Shermanology put together this party track. We’re giving it to you just in time for the weekend. Originally played for Pete Tong on BBC Radio 1. Download ‘Can’t Stop Me Now’ by Afrojack ft. Shermanology

Frankie Rose, Photograph: n0-data

Released by Slumberland Records/Memphis Industries and produced by Le Chev, Interstellar is the latest album from Frankie Rose. Rose comments: “I always have a big picture in mind,” Frankie reflects. ‘I knew I wanted a HUGE sounding record. Big highs, big lows, and clean. There is no fuzz on this record. I knew I wanted to make a streamlined, spacious record with big choruses that sometimes referenced 80s pop.’ (SoundCloud)

ScHoolboy Q, Photograph: thefader.com

Some new West Coast hip-hop for you – it’s Quincy Matthew Hanley aka ScHoolboy Q’s second full-length album titled Habits & Contradictions.

Amon Tobin - ISAM, Photograph: the needle drop

‘Re-drawing and blurring the lines between psychedelia and sci-fi, between art and entertainment, between sound design and melody, Amon Tobin has created the finest, most intense work of his very considerable career, an extension and refinement of everything he has achieved thus far, a crowning achievement in the process that he describes as “re-ordering the things around me.”’ (SoundCloud) Released by: Ninja Tune. Check out our post about a collaboration between Tobin and sculpturer Tessa Farmer.

'Sex, Money, Crime' © Tannhauser Gate

‘Sex, Money, Crime’ is a track from local guys, Tannhauser Gate. Len Cockcraft breaks it down a bit: ‘It’s a synth-based project based around analogue gear and trying to stay away from DAW’s and VST’s as much as possible. Inspiration comes from bands such as Tense and White Car, Cabaret Voltaire and Kraftwerk to name a few.’ They’ll be playing in Jo’burg and Pretoria on the 1st and 2nd of March. Tannhauser Gate are also in the process of remixing an exclusive for the Los Angeles band The Present Moment who are released on the legendary French label Desire.

Bilderberg Motel, Photograph: ahymn.blogspot © Bilderberg Motel

Bilderberg Motel – 12122011 – Live E.P. Recorded Live at Kill City Blues by George van der Spuy (Mixed by George van der Spuy). Cape Town-based band Bilderberg Motel are Adrian Day (Guitar and Vocals), Sean Gibson (Guitar), Brett Foord (Guitar), Trish Davis (Tambourine, Vocals), Matt Goodall (Bass Guitar), Jean Labuschagne (Drums). © Bilderberg Motel on all tracks.

MIIKE SNOW, Photgraph: Stereogum

Miike Snow is – are – in a playful mood. The second, somewhat orchatronic, album by the three-headed-band with the one-man-name and mysterious Jackalope symbol is called Happy To You. (Source: Soundcloud)
 
 
source: n0-data, thefader.com, the needle drop, © Tannhauser Gate, ahymn.blogspot © Bilderberg Motel, Stereogum, © Xolali Joval

High on Fire by DeadAlphabet

Having started out in 2009, Dead Alphabet has evolved a dirty rock sound with a hint of garage and punk, and throbbing riffs and prodigious lyrics; they have climbed steadily in popularity and swelled their fan base. The band credits electronic music for re-shaping the way they see rock music and pushing the walls out with regards to what instruments they use to create their sound. Most recently they were nominated in the 2012 MK Awards under Best Rock Video category for the ‘Eat You Alive’ music video.

The Kill by DeadAlphabet

When asked how they felt about the nomination, Adam Edwards the vocalist and visual creator of the video explained, ‘It actually feels really great, we were selected as a defining video and song in a calendar year full of bands and artists trying their mightiest to be rock ’n roll. We would also like to have the opportunity to win something other than a beer drinking competition or the genetic lottery.’

So how did the actual video come about? ‘I went to the band with an idea and we all piled our cash together on a bed. After we were done throwing it in the air and slipping 10’s into Phil’s jockstrap we hired a forest and some rather fancy looking equipment and started shooting us playing a show in the dark.’ The cinematography was done by still photographers, Paul Shiakalis and Huw Morris, and Adam along with a colleague, Philip Davies, approached the visuals with trippy animation and kaleidoscopic effects in mind. I had to enquire about the inspiration for the lyrics. ‘It’s a story of dangerous courting and the promise of even more dangerous sex.’ The end result was a video focused on a live performance which engaged, entertained and used visuals to tie into the lyrics. Adam added, ‘This is no revolutionary idea, hopefully people think it looks cool and they listen to the song long enough for the subliminal messaging to do its work.’

Even though 2012 is not even at the teething stage, the band has not been resting on their laurels or recovering from any New Year’s benders, they are in the final stages of editing a music video for a song recorded late last year entitled ‘Blood on My Fist,’ due to be released as a single on radio and television with the video featuring footage of their recent European Tour. They are also currently booking a tour in the United States in June, ‘The U.S. is an exciting prospect because it is such a massive market with plenty of venues and a hunger for rock ’n roll.’ Accompanying them will be the shows unofficial extra band member and their very own paparazzo, Hanro Havenga, who was responsible for filming and photographing their European tour. Adam describes how his photographic work really captures the nuances of being on a tour and gives people a sense of what it’s like to live with them day to day.

The band is completely D.I.Y, with Adam on visuals and Philip controlling the engineering and mixing the recordings and the logistics and organization. ‘Phil likes to think he‘s in charge so he is quite good at that. Hugh and Justin buy the beer. This cannot be underestimated.’ Adam is quick to add that on a more serious note everyone contributes to the music. I had to ask if he could ask any musician a question, who would it be and what would he ask? ‘Lady Gaga. You show me yours, I’ll show you mine?’  Follow the band on their Facebook page, http://www.facebook.com/#!/DEADALPHABET
Lick Yourself Clean by DeadAlphabet

Produced by Dead Alphabet, recorded live at the SABC. Co-engineered by Graham Klawansky and Kyle Sutcliffe. Featured in South African horror film Rancid

Rancid preview

Rancid First Look from Kamikaze Motion Pictures on Vimeo.

Words: Angelique Redmond

Photography: Mr Hanro Havenga