Andrei Eremin: Anhedoniac ft. Kucka
Anhedoniac is defined as a person with the inability to derive pleasure from normal pleasurable things. A chronic masturbator has an imbalance of the hormone dopamine, rendering him or her incapable of enjoying life to the same extent when they aren’t in an orgasmic state. For people that love to go out every weekend and rail MDMA, coke and booze, normal life becomes a little pale in comparison.
The notion of becoming trapped in an endless cycle of seeking out the next high is a theme that has been explored countless times in electronica, techno, and house music, for obvious reasons. They are styles of music that we like to get fucked up to, and in most cases the person who creates it has at least a basic understanding, if not a full-blown love for that lifestyle.
The real question here is whether Andrei Eremin is really making us contemplate the seduction, and perhaps the destructive qualities of the party life. Or is he celebrating them? Or indeed is he just showing us a bunch of hipsters having a freaky night out in Melbourne? Maybe it’s a bit of all three.
When asked to comment on the video, one of its directors, Louis Mitchell responded, “It’s a sign of poor health to be well adjusted to a sick society”.
Take that how you will.
Art vs Science: In this Together
I feel as though if Sam Kristofski, the director of this latest music video made a one-line pitch to Art vs Science he would have raised a few eyebrows…
“Sci-fi vibes, weird space war between people that are all wearing the same clothes, evil helicopters, all shot on a super los res camera… Oh and it’ll be shot on the beach and also in a field. Oh and also at the end it becomes a ’90s style video game.”
Right. Got it. Then again, Art vs Science aren’t really known for being conventional, they probably jumped right on board. In This Together is the lead single from the bands forthcoming album, Off the Edge of the Earth and Into Forever, Forever. The album will be independently released on 9 October via the band’s own label Magellanic/MGM.
R.W. Grace: Shell
R.W. Grace has released a stripped back live version of her hit single Shell. While the bones of the song are still there, the instrumentals are restricted to a tiny OP1 midi-board, which Grace uses to play a simple beat. A choir in the background gives the song the lift that it needs. Grace talks about how she met the choir and decided to do a version of her song with them.
My band and I were in a final rehearsal before some shows and I was completely wiped out from these pain killers I took for my wisdom teeth. It was the first day I had taken them, so had no idea how strong they would be. I was literally lying on the floor of the rehearsal studio when through the walls I started to hear an incredible a cappella choir in the next room over. It basically broke me out of this coma. I sat up and spoke for the first time in hours.. “WHO IS THAT?”
Szymon: Medusa
Szymon was an intelligent, immensely talented artist who took his life in December 2012, at only 23 years old. Despite having worked throughout all of 2008, recording an entire album of music, he had to postpone the release of his music due to bouts of depression. As a result, Szymon was unfortunately unable to release his music before his death. Such is the nature of tragedy though, that it can bring about the beauty in others. Craig Hawker from Sony ATV and Mark Holland from EMI were big believers in his talent and potential. They worked hard to release the album in a way that was both respectful to Szymon’s work, and gave his music the attention it really deserved.
Curated by both family and friends, Tigersapp is an album that gives a glimpse into the world that Szymon wanted to share. Medusa as a song is both playful and deeply moving. Beautifully animated illustrations depict a world that is grey and dark, but not without hope. Warm orbs of light move around through fish, and are passed between people. The illustration brings to mind the final lines of The Road by Cormac McCarthy, in which after wandering through the apocalyptic wasteland that the world has become, the boy finds trout in a stream.
“You could see them standing in the amber current where the white edges of their fins wimpled softly in the flow. They smelled of moss in your hand. Polished and muscular and torsional. On their backs were vermiculate patterns that were maps of the world in its becoming.’
Cleopold: Down in Flames
Cleopold’s dark, brooding music video marks his beginning as a solo artist. Down in Flames as a single is everything that an emerging artist should aim for, unique, beautifully restrained and technically flawless. The film complements this perfectly, displaying an insight into the artist’s music writing process, as he calmly commands a grande piano. Cleopold has been based in Los Angeles, and has written multiple singles for Cassian and Miami Horror, as well as collaborating with Australian acts like Bag Raiders. With such enormous potential, it’s no surprise that his debut EP was immediately snapped up by Detail Co., a boutique record label owned and curated by our very own Chet Faker.
Rooms: Fig
Two-piece Sydney act Rooms are new to the scene, but if Fig is anything to go by, we’ll be hearing a lot more about them real soon. Combining electronic music with live elements like guitars, drums and vocals, Fig is a captivating and unique musical blend. The accompanying video clip shot by Varna Park, depicts the two in old-fashioned princess and knight attire having a little battle with an opposing group on a field. It’s not what you’d call flashy, but the tongue-in-cheek melodrama, combined with the homemade feel, makes it a pretty funny accompaniment to the track. The video follows the track, growing wackier and more intense as the music builds, ending up with the pair going to a party, having a final showdown on a stage and all trying to kill each other. It’s a lot of fun. If you dig it, head to Waywards in Newtown on September 11 for Rooms’ EP launch.