Category Archives: on the rise

[on the rise] Red Eye Fugu

Questioning the truth and attempting to imagine and re-write what’s been written are the notions encapsulated in Red Eye Fugu’s debut album Watchers. Seemingly infatuated by the roots of science fiction, Enzo Tiano’s electro-pop solo project is fueled with groovy beats and filtered dream-like sounds. The album is a brush fire of thought-provoking tales and the string of events that manifests into our strange reality. Each track provides a glimpse into the mind of a time traveler, a cult member, a truth seeker and a horror movie fanatic. These characters are inspired from fragments of philosophical, political and spiritual agendas hidden behind the curtains of mainstream mentality.

After immigrating to Los Angeles from the Philippines when he was fifteen, Tiano began to develop a sense of melodic urge to write and sing his own songs. Influenced by artists like John Lennon, David Bowie, and Thom Yorke, he manifested his songwriting into an imaginative, twilight-zone, party vibe and formed his first live band Paraventure. After putting aside music to pursue fashion design for a year, he joined the band Twin Falcons which, along with his solo material, marked his rebirth into the music scene. His debut solo EP, Suspicious Characters, was released under the moniker Poster Child on January 22, 2011.

His latest full-length album Watchers is set be released on September 10, 2011. Songs like “Prophecies (I Don’t Mind)” and “Floating Sea” highlight the never-ending belief in a poignant and dogmatic end-of-times scenario following the blueprint of a tenacious biblical endeavor. Tiano explains, “After hearing about Harold Camping’s failed prediction of the supposed end of times due date, I started getting ideas. I imagined being part of a cult who’s heavily devoted to a charismatic false prophet, believing that the world will end tomorrow. The lyrical venture is a split screen satire that focuses on what happens when they wake up the next day and still having to pay tax and mortgage”.

While the subject matter of Red Eye Fugu’s songs are fairly serious and vague in nature, there is still a playfulness and child-like wonder to his work, turning the vicious cynicism of an old hippie into a psybient electro pop wonder boy. His music fits well alongside The Flaming Lips, Toro Y Moi, Memory Tapes, and Washed Out, while still maintaining its own enigmatic mantra.
[source: planetary group]

♫ Red Eye Fugu – Prophecies (I Don’t Mind) ♫

♫ Red Eye Fugu – Night Runner ♫

More Red Eye Fugu at:
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[on the rise] San Cisco

San Cisco are the latest indie act to emerge from Fremantle in sunny Western Australia. On the weekends they go skateboarding, play Nintendo 64 and make a bit of indie pop on the side. Scarlett bangs the drums, Nick plays bass and Jordi & Josh are the guys that play the guitars, write the songs and sing them.  I’d be lying if I told you I wasn’t a bit jealous.

For the past year or so, these budding indie popsters have been quite busy.  They’ve played a ton of local shows, performed at a smorgasbord of festivals (including Big Day Out and Laneway), and self-produced/released their debut EP, Golden Revolver, which has just hit stores and already found a home on Triple J and community radio around Australia.  On top of all that, they also graduated from high school.

Confident with stage presence and strong with vocals, San Cisco brings to the table an impressive brand of upbeat summer pop.  I for one hope they don’t slow down anytime soon and i’m crossing my fingers for some US tour dates.  In the meantime, enjoy the title track and video below.

♫ San Cisco – Golden Revolver ♫

[on the rise] The Jezabels

The Jezabels are a four-piece musical group based in Sydney, Australia.  Hayley Mary (vocals) and Heather Shannon (piano/keyboard) first began playing together in Byron Bay before moving to Sydney to attend university, where they met Nik Kaloper (drums) and Sam Lockwood (rhythm guitar), and formed the band

The band’s sound is not exactly the easiest to define.  They’ve been compared to such bands as Fleetwood Mac and Banshees, and sound like a blend of indie pop, rock, and disco pop.  The band themselves often describe their sound as “intensindie”.  Now I’m not exactly sure what “intensindie” means, but I don’t care, and neither should you.  All you should care about is that The Jezabels make fantastic music.

They’ve received substantial airplay in Sydney, including FBi Radio and Triple J.  The later also selected the band as the Triple J Unearthed featured artist in December 2009 and featured two songs in the Triple J Hottest 100 2010 (Easy To Love came in at #49 and Mace Spray came in at #16).

The band has also found success here in North America.  They’ve toured the States and Canada, including a much buzzed about appearance at the most recent SXSW, and have been featured quite prominently on US college radio and CMJ.

The Jezabels have so far released a trilogy of EP’s: The Man Is Dead (2009), She’s So Hard (2009), and Dark Storm (2010).  As of now, they’re currently recording their debut full-length, which is due out later this year.

Stay tuned.

The Jezabels – Mace Spray

[on the rise] GIVERS

If you happened to be listening to KCRW’s Morning Becomes Eclectic today (6/2), you were treated to a live studio performance by GIVERS.

Hailing from Lafayette, LA, GIVERS are an indie pop quintet that specialize in youthful songs filled with optimism and positivity.  They have a peppiness to them that reminds me of Vampire Weekend, Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr., and Pepper Rabbit.

I really didn’t know much about GIVERS until today.  A number of my favorite blogs have featured them, but I never really gave them a chance…but I really wish I had.  In 2009, GIVERS released their self-titled and self-produced GIVERS EP. Since then, GIVERS have toured with Dirty ProjectorsRa Ra Riot, and more.  In 2010, GIVERS was named the ‘Best of What’s Next’ by PASTE Magazine and a ‘Band to Watch’ by Stereogum, who describes their music as “packed with that sort of psychedelic buoyancy, homegrown exoticism… and rattling optimism/joy.”

I have a feeling 2011 is going to be a big year for GIVERS.  They’re set to release their debut full-length, In Light, on June 7th, and they’ll be touring throughout June in support of the release (LA peeps, they play the Bootleg Theater tonight, 6/2).  Until then, check out a couple of my favorite tracks below and become a fan of GIVERS on facebook.

GIVERS – Ceiling of Plankton
GIVERS – Up Up Up

[on the rise] Thrill Kill

I’m not a dancer…but I do dance, and the latest from the electronic/disco/house duo, Thrill Kill, will definitely make you boogie.

Thrill Kill is the collaborative effort of American Vocalist John Webb and Polish Producer PiMO.  The duo met while working on Modfunk’s 2008 release Emofunk, which featured Webb, PiMO, Philippe Zdar (Cassius), and French producer Demon.

Thrill Kill’s sound is a combination of house, disco, and nuwave, that produces a ultra chic sound…and is the perfect addition to any dance party playlist.  If I had to compare them to another artist or band, Chromeo comes to mind the most.  The duo recently released two singles Night Skys and Way That You Move, along with numerous remixes from the likes of German artist Vincent Fries, Polish artists Pol Rax, Invisible Stroke, and more.

For more Thrill Kill, check out their facebook page and follow them on twitter.  More importantly, head on over to their soundcloud page, where you can listen to and download tunes (my personal favorite is Night Skys, but they’re all worth a listen).