Vanilla's Eargasms
 

This is the home of my recommendations, I will continue to update this journal with random music that I love and want you to hear.


First up! Gin Wigmore is my first recommendation, she is a New Zealand girl with such a unique voice, I'm really enjoying her music right now.

Her voice is an aquired taste but I like her music. Her voice reminds me of a cross between Cyndi Lauper and Amy Winehouse. Her voice sounds authenically raspy at times but she has no problems hitting the note of the upper registers that are needed to be a decent soul singer. Her phrasing is influenced by Billie Holliday but that's a pretty common trait among many jazz/blues/soul song stylists.

I would have guessed she was black had I not seen her in the videos first. I'll defintiley more of her stuff.

You can get a good idea of her full vocal range on the song Easy Come Easy Go, which is the most challenging of the three songs from the standpoint of vocalist. These Roses is a well written song but it doesn't require the full octave leap into falsetto/soprano she uses on Easy Come Easy Go.

There is still controversy among vocal pedagogists on whether women actually are substituting falsetto for the upper portion of the modal voice. It's my belief that the falsetto registers is not as pronounced in female voices as it is in male voices.

Whether she is singing falsetto or is gifted pure soprano range doesn't matter because Gin Wigmore, despite her unusual vocal approach, hits the the right notes in the upper registers and does so convincingly.

Wow she actually sounds very good to my ears. Her voice is different than most female vocalists and I like it very much. Is there an album you would recommend?

Not really my sort of thing but kudos for bigging up home grown artists! Hopefully I may get to hear a couple of gems that have passed me by.

Hello Vanilla,
I especially liked "Easy Come Easy Go." I like it that, similar to what Gavin B. says, her appearance leads me to expect a sweeter voice than the earthier, deeper one she actually has or chooses to use in her singing.

It's interesting because she actually has a naturally sweet and normal voice. However, when she sings, this deep and sensational sound breaks out. She was very uncomfortable with this strange singing voice up until her 20's, when she finally got over her fear and realised it was unique in a good way. :)

My next recommendations:

Tiki Tane and P-Diggs (from Shapeshifter)



I like this song because it epitimises the strength and mana of the New Zealand culture. No matter what happens, no matter how bad, we always can sit down have a feed and have a laugh with our family and friends. Life for us is about being with family, money and fame is on the backburner.

Salmonella Dub (with Tiki Tane)



This music is incredible, it makes me feel like I am in another world, surrounded by my sadness but getting through the suffering in life I endure for the people that keep me together, my family and my culture.

Salmonella Dub (with Tiki Tane)



Dub at its finest. It brings out the raw emotion, but wraps you up in consecutive beats while waves of sound take you on its journey.

Salmonella Dub - Ez On (Concord Dawn Remix)



I threw this in as a little extra, just showing a little mixture of dub and drum and bass. Concord Dawn are one of my favourite drum and bass groups however I will be saving them for next time.

I think my general music taste revolves around drum and bass, dub, and electronica. I love lots of other random music too, which you will tend to discover. My aim of this journal is to show the way I represent my love of music. I used to be a HUGE metal fan, but as I got older and embraced my culture I had a love affair with drum and bass.

I like her voice. Thanks for posting this!

Me and LSD love you more than ever. Right now.

I've got more where that came from, you'll be pleased to know! :beer:

The next lot of recommendations I'd like to discuss is the New Zealand electronic group Minuit.







Some of the music they make is very repeatitive and hypnotic, but it's incredible for when hearing them live. Ruth Carr is the vocalist, who I think has an incredibly unique and almost indie style voice. Let me know what you think of them.

My next choice is the Checks, a New Zealand rock band who are just making it big here, and they are pretty damn good! They have a strong blues influence, and personally I can hear a bit of the Rolling Stones in them.





More videos after the jump :)

I have an interest in showing you drum and bass fans some very special and personally loved Concord Dawn, a kiwi group who continue to blow my mind with their cryptive tracks. You need to see them live, it's off the hook.

Concord Dawn

If you would like a bit of background information about them go to this website: CONCORD DAWN - CHAOS BY DESIGN

I have seen them many times in concert and their music and the bass absolutely drowns into you, and it puts you into a complete trance. They have a very homegrown feel to them, they still keep it culturally relevant but still pull out some seriously intense tracks for anyone, such as one of my personal favourites Broken Eyes.

My d'n'b collection's pretty feeble, and it's all the old school stuff as well - A Guy Called Gerald, Goldie, Adam F, that kinda thing. I'd be lying if I said I was terribly keen on the more modern sounds, but I like the vids you posted here, the Broken Eyes and Morning Light tracks especially. Can definitely see what you mean by that trance-like effect.

So, yeah, I'll check into these guys when I can. Cheers for heads-up :thumb:

Kids Of 88





The Upbeats







Sick groups. Kiwi as. Might be a bit mainstream for some, but I feel as if they are bringing some unique sounds to the mix. Some MB men will most likely enjoy the My House video.

Next:

Q Project





Eleventh Sun



^ Absolutely fucking rocking the **** off me.



If you love drum in bass, I think you'll really dig this! I really want everyone to experience the genius drum N' bass coming out of New Zealand.

I have four songs I want to review:

Marilyn Manson - Disassociative



This song makes you actually feel as though you are losing all control, it's depressive suggestion of your body shutting down and everything is falling apart around you.

Manson really shows his talent with this song, it has emotion, intensity and he finds a way of showing a inner dark side in a manner which isn't clichéd like some of his other music. Personally this is one of my favourites of his, along with another of his album Mechanical Animals - Coma White



I relate to this song's lyrics ridiculously, I feel as though he's writing about me which is what everyone says I suppose! This song sums up my depression, when I've been ill and lonely. On the outside I often appeared happy and friendly but inside I was dying, I just wanted to pop pills and sleep. I kind of did. It's got a real eerieness to it, the music is almost soft at some points which then blasts at the chorus describing the way drugs make the 'girl' feel. Very haunting and real.

Adrian Lux - Teenage Crime



This song has a milky flow to it, Adrian has an incredible voice which is soft, almost suited for a position in the Lazy Sunday compilations. It's a song that always makes me feel relaxed and is best heard in the sunshine. I actually discovered it off the Clubbers Guide to 2010 so well worth a listen.

Placebo - For What It's Worth



Sexy mothering effing riff, sensual vocals and a drowning song to bring you back to reality. Kind of reminds me slightly of Lou Reed (only very slightly). This song to me should probably be in the eargasm thread but I wanted to recommend it. It's kind of describing to me for a person you like that you just want to fire them up. In the middle it sort of fades out to a random sega tune and rides back up again to break it up a bit. Normally that might annoy me but I think it gave the song more distinction.

My reviews might not make that much sense, I'm no expert, but I like describing how they make me feel and why they might be worth a listen to. :D

I like Ruth Carr's voice: silky and very human sounding since she doesn't always make herself sing a straight, solid note. Her wild arm movements in the first song are kind of distracting, but cute! The more electronic songs are definitely hypnotic.

Ok guys, I hear some of you Drum and Bass lovers may not have heard of Eleventh Sun. They produce music in the subgenre neurofunk of DnB.

It's music is dark and minimal. Aside from the drums and the bass you here there are often ambient sound effects and atmospheric pads. Basslines are generally pretty simple since the variety comes in through bass modulation.

Eleventh Sun- Pass it on :)

You heard of Calyx and Teebee?



1 min 28 onwards :)

:love:

Yip I'm liking these guys, I will get some more artists on here to show everyone.

Have to recommend this lovely lady, Oh Loud. Suggested to be a cross between Bjork and Florence and the Machine here is her songs so far:









I think she has a very beautiful voice, reminds me of a Kiwi artist called Gin Wigmore who I've mentioned in here before. Her album is going to be released in 2011.

Very, very unique voice... I like it.

I'm glad you like it!

Now back to the dub scene that I love. A newish group from New Zealand called Six 60. Absolutely fantastic music, similar to Shapeshifter crossed with Nesian Mystik.

If you like dub music with laid back instrumentals, soothing vocals, you'll like these guys, my best friend is obsessed with them:

Quality. I am liking this band a lot.

I've recently come across this French singer/songwriter/actor. He is currently doing solo work but was part of another group. I have been listening to his album Un Disque pour Elle. There is only 5 tracks but so far I've really enjoyed every song. My favourite is 'The Wall'. It's the kind of song you would listen to while sitting on a bus, looking out the window with all the people walking by, keeping to themselves as if you are not really existing with them.

http://www.le-hiboo.com/wp-content/u...cf8264976a.jpg



I would consider his music to be very acoustic driven with an often gentle feel. Some of the songs are darker than others and have an emotional vocation associated.

Eleventh Sun sound good, I'll be looking into them further.

Cool! Glad to hear you like the sound of them!

Right, time for me to update this journal. Watch this space.

Tell you what, I'm loving the sound of that Six60 group there. Maybe it's the lack of sleep talking, but they sound to me like that vampire band in From Dusk 'til Dawn, only if they'd somehow got to King Tubby and had him produce the recordings 'til the end of time...

...erm, yeah, anyway, good journal and all. Looking forward to more of it :thumb:

Oh sweet! I'm so glad you like them! It's nice to see people taking away some recommendations from my journal, even if it's only one. I'm such a promoter for Kiwi roots/drum and bass music. It's because it's original, fresh and on the other side of the world so it's got a unique feel to it.

I feel a lot of UK drum and bass sounds a lot different.

Yeah, I'm all about getting hold of some more music from New Zealand, as it's fairly under-represented in my collection. All I've got are some albums by the Clean, the Dead C and the Mockers of all people. I'm gonna have to take some time to look back through this thread a bit more, as I'll fess up and say that most of my time in forum goes rather selfishly towards my own journal!

Six60 here, as you say, are definitely very different from all the UK d'n'b I've ever heard (though I'm far from an expert on it - it's a genre I've only been listening to for the last 6-odd months or so). Either way, I've certainly never heard d'n'b crossed over with dub rhythms before, so this'll definitely make for some good listening when I can get round to finding some albums of theirs.

Holy shit six60 is good, will keep an eye out for them when they come lurking.

Today I will be discussing:

State of Mind

State Of Mind is a duo consisting of Patrick Hawkins and Stu Maxwell. The two certified audio engineers met in 1999 through the drum and bass scene in Auckland, New Zealand. Finding that they both shared a background in hard rock music, and even trip hop, it was drum and bass that was the most powerful musical link between the two.

Total Science have long been a musical influence for State Of Mind, so this meeting, and subsequent label interest served as a 'coming of age' for the producers. Unfortunately, at the time of this encounter Stu was away on holiday, and with no phone contact he was unable to be a part of the initial dealings with the lads' heroes. Thinking that Stu may not quite be able to believe this course of events, Pat asked Q Project to write a note for Stu expressing their interest, so the story would be believable once he returned. The note was then photographed in the hands of Mr Q Project to seal the deal.

Many will be astounded by this kind of success at such an early point in their careers – that is, until they hear the music the duo has produced. Jackhammer snares, gut-churning kick drums and thunderous sub-bass are paired with a seemingly endless supply of infectious basslines and thematic effects. Ditching the blueprint standard of many drum n bass tunes, the State Of Mind construction has continuously achieved its goal of optimum dancefloor satisfaction.

Tracks from the lads are currently on high rotate in the sets of Concord Dawn, Black Sun Empire, Spor, Doc Scott, Bulletproof, The Upbeats, Pendulum, Klute, Teebee, Bad Company, DJ Friction, Total Science, DJ Craze, Futurebound and many more.

State of Mind | Amplifier NZ Music

I used to see these guys all the time back when I was at University. They would have their sets in a small underground club called Bath Street and boy did they blow your mind (and ears). One of my favourite mixes of theirs was when they pounded DJ Friction's "Roots" through the speakers:



I have bought their albums and tenderly play them through generous speakers that my dad has donated. Incredible drum and bass here, it's intense, it's solid and soul destroying. Highly recommended. Their releases include:

Faster Than Light (2009)

http://www.dogsonacid.com/system/ima...ews/3088_2.jpg

Take Control (2006)

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WI-tSgbbid...qhA/s400/a.jpg

Last track was definitely the best for me and I have been looking for some new DnB to listen :)

That last track reminds me of a heavier version of LTJ Bukem who can be described as ambient DnB I guess and pioneered the 'kick drum' sound that is used a lot today.

This is now 15 years old but still sounds superb. A good track to turn up loud.

Ooo I like, I think I remember you introducing me to them a while ago. Glad to hear you like the sound of State of Mind. There's always more to come from my sexy country. :D

It's been a while. Me being a slack lounge lizard/work nut.

Here is my French obsession Julien Dore. Now I am a big fan of music that is in languages I can't understand because I find certain ones absolutely beautiful like German, French, Arabic and Korean. This in mind though, for those not so partial to pushing the language boundaries I have an artist just for you.

Julien Dore

He was discovered on a random French singing competition and has produced some intense music.

He's got this raw, indie vibe. From beautiful somber piano melodies to rough and tangible guitar riffs. Oh yeah and throw a little sax in there too.

Can only get acoustic examples on youtube but hit me up and I'll flick you the album Erstaz if you like him. He's like the sexist man in France or something and to be honest I could bang him till the bed breaks.





Favourite song:



Incredibly beautiful:

(Trollheart casts out his line hopefully)

Seeing as you mentioned you're a big fan of let's say non-English-language music, perhaps you can help me. I'm trying to expand a little myself, and planning on a section in my journal concentrating on just that subject, music in other languages and from other countries. Mostly rock, but country, pop, easy-listening etc would all be good too. Would you have any suggestions?

Just to give you an idea of the pathetic level of my NESM (Non-English-Speaking (or Sung) Music) experiences, we're talking Josh Groban, Baron Rojo, Trust, and... yeah, that's about it. Pathetic with a capital P.

Any help in this area would be very much appreciated.

TVM
TH

Goyte

Gotye is an Australian artist who's popularlity has exploded since the release of the song Somebody That I Used To Know, which has 99 million views on Youtube.

" Belgian born Wally De Backer is Gotye. He has adopted Australia as his home and it's certainly not unlike us Aussies to claim him for ourselves! An incredible artist, he has the ability to play many musical instruments to an extraordinary level while mixing and producing his own music at home.
With the combination of his music and talented vocal ability, the results are songs that reflect styles and sounds of the past, but demonstrate a distinctly contemporary outlook.

Since his teenage years in Australia, Gotye has been playing music for good sized crowds, often in underage gigs around Melbourne. As he developed his musical talent, this alternative artist started to gain popularity through radio station Triple J. His first single Learnalilgivinanlovin was released in August 2006. Since then he's never looked back. ''

Taken From the album ''Boardface'' (2008)



I absolutely love him and think he brings real musical talent into his work. This is real pop. Here are some more of his songs for you to check out.

This video made me cry, as much as I tried not too.

I discovered this photo on Twitter today, Gaga and The Rolling Stones, my two loves, performed my favourite Stones track Gimmie Shelter. I actually wet myself a little. Here is the video, enjoy. Warning: Lady Gaga is obviously whacked out on drugs, I don't know what the fuck she was up to.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/A-H8QaACUAAEneb.jpg:large

After watching this vid, I totally agree with you. Wtf Lady G. I did some research about her and her history (if any) with drugs. I get put off by drug-influenced music (I'm a twerp), so I was disappointed with Gaga as early as "You and Me" when she fell off that piano. But I do lover her all the same.

I hear tell that you are the Lady Gaga expert on the forum. Do you think she's headed down the road of Janis, Kurt, Jim, & Amy?

By the way, I love your posts. :D