Fuuuuck, this song rules. Mi Ami carry this pounding rhythm for over 6 minutes here, without losing any of it’s original steam. There seems to be heaps of reference to African beats when talking about Mi Ami, which I guess fits, but its the way they’ve made something so abrasive come off as so catchy that I think is the song / band’s real strength. Vocalist Daniel Martin-McCormick even throws down the chorus of “I Wanna Dance With Somebody” mid-song, referencing that seems to be carried on throughout their sophomore album, Steal Your Face (which, incidentally, stole Bob Marleys face for it’s cover). There’s nods to Tom Tom Club and Springsteen, despite their being hardly any sonic connection between the bands (except, maybe, the fact that they use tom toms?). This track is a flat out chuggernaut, McCormicks vocals high and shrieking over tight, propulsive guitar / drums combo. Dance-punk? It’s more of a foot tapper than a floor stomper to listen to, although I’m guessing Mi Ami threw it down with maximum violence in the studio. Shit is AGGRESSIVE. Easily on of the highlights of the year so far.

Mi Ami – Latin Lover

So if you have  read this column at all regularly, you’ll notice I’ve got a bit of a semi for British 3-piece Male Bonding. Their simplistic pummel has been pretty joyous to my ears over the last year or so, even if it has been via terribly recorded tracks released on Paradise Vendors compilations or splits with the likes of Eat Skull. No more! Their debut LP, Nothing Hurts, is out on Sub Pop in May, and here’s a taster of their scrubbed-up pop racket. The most noticeable thing for me on the new tracks is the bass. As in, it exists. You can hear it. It doesn’t add much to the mix on much of Nothing Hurts, but on T.U.F.F, everything manages to mix in superrrbly. The vocal hook is effectively a better version of Paradise Vendors (which didn’t translate into album material well at all), and as long as you can endure brief cowbell spasms, you should come through this one alive and happy. The albums hit and miss, but it’s hits are worth the album. It’s what, 28 minutes long or something anyway?

Male Bonding – T.U.F.F

Male Bonding – Crooked Scene

Autechre here later in the year…?

BOOHOO. Can we please be blacklisted by Warners too?

“Don’t worry, he’ll realise the irony soon.” Strange world when Hitler becomes the poster boy for free speech

Fundraiser on the Tugboat, May 8th for Women’s Refuge! Feat. Karen Clarke, Creaky Drawers, The Sing Songs, The Lake and Eli Show, Body Lyre, Cult of the Cobra, DJ Femidisc

Grayson Gilmour signs to Flying Nun! New album No Constellation out May 10th.

T54 are a band from Christchurch. They used to be called Joe Sampson and the T54. They played at Glastombury, which was effectively a microcosm of the messiest parts of CALH, over New Years 2009 vs 2010. It was dusk, and it was pretty refreshing, after a few sloppy sets from bands that had already played at the festival, to have a band play a furious set that managed to be ‘hella tight’ too. Via bandcamp, T54 now have two collections of tracks – one which appears to be ‘pre-54′, and another of demos recorded voer the course of 2009, entitled ‘12 Songs Madras’. Hoooly. Many of the tracks are plain disgusting – like, 3Ds ripoff disgusting. Really, really good disgusting. ‘I can’t afford to record anywhere good yet which is a fucking shame because I’ve written some really good songs’ disgusting. Squalls of rackety guitar parts, which mould themselves into a pretty arrogant struts (a la Big Time) or Spaghetti Western punk in Localism. . It’s not all clamour and swagger, though – tracks like Chicken Roll Model exhibit restrained guitar pop that manages to echo Mestar in it’s frail higher-range vocals and simple, chugging distortion. Easily one of the best bands operating in Christchurch at the moment.Good cover of Hey Seuss every now and then too, for good measure.

T54 Bandcamp (Everything available for free download there)

(Photo by Chris Andrews)

New Ghost Wave track, Gold, right here – Cleany goodness

29th April, by the way.. Who’s it gonna be? Vampire Weekend in Auckland or Simple Minds in Auckland?!! TOO HARD.

Only just realised this, but RIP to the butterxface blog! Babes. And the GIF of Bill Murray in Ghostbusters is still there for all to see.

So it’s not as intense as, say Frenchys, but Holy Fuck still churn out a bit of tension here in their new single, Latin America. It’s first three quarters keeps it lightish with some minor chord action and, weirdly, some Moby vibes, but it’s the home run that seals the deal, drums fading out into dashboard electronics and static sweeps that put their little toe into Fuck Buttons territory, but only ever so slightly. Holy Fuck aren’t exactly turning their sound upside down, but it’s good to have new material. Even if it is a little too relaxed to be exciting.

Holy Fuck – Latin America

Okay I think I first heard this at the Mount Pleasant / With Moths / Rhinoceros extravaganza at Watusi approximately a month ago (that was a p. cool show by the way, too many Phil Elverum vibes to count), and it’s almost disturbing in it’s fidelity to the original. I mean obviously it’s Julian Lynch so it’s not going to be a full on Lauper assault, but it totally carries the tenderness of the originaly ditty. Lynch’s voice gets all high and soaring and touching – inspirational stuff. It’s been kicking around for aaaaages and now that I’ve found it, pretty much kicking myself for not getting weepy and singing along in my room at night earlier.

Julian Lynch – Time After Time (Cyndi Lauper cover)

What do Lil Jon, the RZA, Jake Gyllenhaal and Joe Jonas have in common?? Uh, the new Vampire Weekend video…

Golden Axe, Thought Creature, Old Grey Wolf at Mighty Mighty this Saturday!! Gameboy in yr grille suckazz

Woahwoah according to the Matablog, Cold Cave are now playing with ex-members of Hercules and Love Affair and Mika Miko?!!?! YES YES YES YES YES YES