It’s 2007. I’m hanging out with my friend Melissa. She was instrumental in moving me away from mainstream pop, leading me to explore different artists and genres. She hands me a copy of The Teaches of Peaches by Peaches and tells me to chuck it on. The record opens with Peaches’ best known song, Fuck The Pain Away. I remember thinking it was cool, and then the lyrics kicked in. “Sucking on my titties like you wanted me, calling me all the time like Blondie.” I had never heard anything like it. It changed the way I thought about what music could be.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GmFp0I8AZqw
It’s hard to believe that at one point Peaches was a school teacher, before leaving all of that behind to pursue a musical career. The Teaches of Peaches, her second album, was released independently in 2000. The basis of the album was set to Roland synthesiser and drum machine, although it branches out with blistering guitars on tracks like Rock Show. The album has a very DIY sound and is very simple in execution. The album was written in Canada while Peaches was living with indie singer Feist (who contributed vocals to this album and features on her latest release Rub) and was recorded between Berlin and Toronto, where she was signed to Kitty-Yo Records.
Lyrically, the unapologetically feminist album focuses on sex and gender, and ultimately and is unapologetically feminist, a now staple of Peaches’ career. Tracks like Diddle My Skittle, Suck and Let Go and the Mignon-assisted Lovertits are brash comments on female sexuality and sex in general. For sixteen year old me, I had never heard a woman sing so overtly about sexuality or her own needs. Pop musicians talk extensively about having sex, but it’s often from focused on pleasing the male. Think Britney Spears’ I Was Born To Make You Happy, for example. Peaches writes about having sex, and about pleasure – her own.
I saw second track AA XXX as a commentary on the limitation of sexuality in young girls. That boys are allowed to be gross and make dirty jokes, but women are held to an unreasonable and uneven standard, one that can stifle their sexual, physical and mental health in later years. I have absolutely no doubt that Peaches was a groundbreaking force that shaped me into the vocal advocate for gender equality that I am today. I learnt a lot from exploring her music.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYg3aHT8vGc
The Teaches of Peaches for me feels very much like a precursory album; it’s Peaches showing what she’s capable of achieving. Her subsequent albums showcased a beefed up sound – it’s no longer just a keyboard in a bedroom, but the DIY spirit is still there. When I had the chance to interview her earlier this year, she told me she’ll never lose that independent spirit to do what ever the fuck she wants to do.
Now considered to be a masterclass in electroclash, I hold no doubts that the album is still a tough listen for some people. It’s raw, unpolished and very very real. It was designed as an extension to her live show, rather than the reverse, which is obviously more typical. Musically, it reminds me very much of Daft Punk in 2005, when they adapted a lo-fi electroclash sound and made it their own. Today that sound is everywhere, and Peaches was a forerunner of that.
If you’re looking to expand your horizons, dance to something dirty, or just want to fuck the pain away, The Teaches of Peaches is for you.
It’s video roundup time! Once again, Howl And Echoes are coming in hot with the freshest, most eyeball-stimulating music videos to be dropped by the artists you love and some of the artists you don’t know you love yet this week. We do all the dirty work and herd them all into one convenient web-based location for you to enjoy every Friday so that you don’t have to. Have yourself a good old gander at the latest offerings from:
Okkervil River – Okkervil River R.I.P.
Starting in New Hampshire this week and folk rock quintet Okkervil River’s latest single Okkervil River R.I.P. It begins a gentle acoustic song, frontman Will Sheff crooning softly over a lone guitar before the rest of the band kicks in around the chorus, falling away again for a mournful finish.
The video is morbid yet beautiful, set around a funeral for Sheff, who sings from inside an open casket. Shot in some stunning locations in upstate New York, the gorgeous sun dappling across leafy trees and green grass offsets the usual gloom a funeral brings about.
Okkervil River’s next studio album is out September 9th on ATO.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4BpA_MqGBtk
Beaty Heart – Raw Gold
To South London next with electro pop trio Beaty Heart and the new video for single Raw Gold. Their new album Till The Tomb just a few weeks away, Raw Gold is the latest taste of that record. Shimmering synths and complex tribal rhythms (understandable when you know that all three members are drummers) form the crux of some wonderfully dark electro pop here, singer Joshua Mitchell’s impressive vocal range utilised fully.
The video features Brazilian longboarder Ana Maria Suzano riding around in a warehouse, the streets and a rooftop. Her fluid, graceful movements match the song so perfectly, you’ll be mesmerised.
Till The Tomb is out July 29th on Harvest.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ck0BUxR6wVU
Sarah Connor – Apex (ft. Bigredcap and Losty)
Sarah Connor has a debut EP coming right up and she’s released a new single in preparation. Apex sees the Sydney MC going all kinds of hard over some menacing production, reflecting the song’s title and pulling few punches (but a few middle fingers) in establishing her place at the top early.
With co-conspirators Bigredcap and Losty, Connor have a day out roaming the streets of Sydney grime style in the accompanying video. You can catch Sarah for the official launch of Apex at Plan B Small Club next Saturday July 16th.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CIkpwewbRjc&feature=youtu.be
Polographia – Sly (ft. Winston Surfshirt)
Sydney duo Polographia have a new single out today in Sly. They’ve harnessed an almost tropical sound here, soft guitars, wavering synths and a scuttling bass line underscoring featured artist Winston Surfshirt’s breezy vocals, Sly is positively peaceful.
The accompanying video carries over this tropical vibe, lo-fi with the pastels set to lurid, bikini girls dancing in front of reef fish and palm trees at sunset. It’s the perfect single to remind you that Winter is temporary.
Catch Polographia when they support Snakehips in Sydney and Melbourne in a fortnight.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M18TITevyhA&app=desktop
MAF Muses – MAF Million Is Born
The second artist on this week’s roundup to have a semi-eponymous single is North-West London’s MAF Muses and his new single MAF Million Is Born. He’s currently emerging as a solo artist, having previously been half of London Soundklash, and it looks like he’s ready for the spotlight, opening with the line “I think it’s time”, before spitfire flowing over his own uniquely discordant production.
MAF returns to his roots in the accompanying video, wandering around close to where he grew up in Camden, not another soul in sight as another sign this young artist is ready to make it on his own. There’s more to come from MAF Muses in the near future so his might be a name you learn very quickly.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SspwJJOTTNk&feature=youtu.be
Preoccupations – Anxiety
Canadians Preoccupations have a new name and a new album out in 2016. They now also have a new single in this week’s Anxiety. It’s a jarring, dirge-y listen, frontman Matt Flegel’s almost robotic vocals warbling about “all-encompassing anxiety” out over harsh, lo-fi guitars before a soft little synth melody adds some lightness as the beat drives along.
The video, directed by David Yoonha Park, was shot in wooded British Columbia and does its best to creep the viewer out. It’s a series of shots meant to represent childhood fears and phobias, the black and white lighting only making them worse. Still a great track and an evocative video.
Preoccupations is out September 16th on Jagjaguwar via Inertia.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=csMbqrFT1dM&feature=youtu.be
Cassius – The Missing (ft. Ryan Tedder)
French duo Cassius have a new single from their forthcoming album Ibifornia. Titled The Missing and featuring a molasses thick bass line and some classic RnB rhythms under the soulful vocals of featured singer Ryan Tedder (who you may know from OneRepublic), it’s a quintessential summer jam that will have you almost feeling the coastal humidity.
The video is unique, focusing on a couple having a passionate night out somewhere vibrant (meant to represent both Ibiza and California in case you hadn’t clued from the album title). The twist is that the viewer can change each member of the couple in real time by clicking on them, a total of 20 different characters of all backgrounds and over 100 possible combinations. Certainly one of the more innovative interactive videos we’ve seen.
Ibifornia is out August 26th on Interscope/Polydor.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DreeCbl8s9E
Peaches – Vaginoplasty
Living legend and electro pop queen Peaches has a new video as well that is everything we’ve come to expect from her. Vaginoplasty is the name of her latest single, taken from her 2015 album Rub. It’s an absolute club banger, Peaches’ idiosyncratic almost spoken word vocals over huge stabbing synths and a beat made to dance to, listen out for the subtle homage to Smells Like Teen Spirit in there too.
The video is the icing on the cake, featuring dancers and synchronised swimmers dressed as different parts of the female anatomy, unicorns blow-drying their nether regions and Peaches herself dressed in an incredibly NSFW bodysuit all cavorting around a waterfall. I’d say we’ve reached peak Peaches here but, as she has proven time and again, there may be no such thing.
Rub is out now on I U She Music.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QlwlDB5swdQ
Image: Stereogum
It’s video roundup time! Once again, Howl And Echoes are coming in hot with the freshest, most eyeball stimulating music videos to be dropped by the artists you love and some of the artists you don’t know you love yet, of this week. We do all the dirty work and herd them all into one convenient web-based location for you to enjoy every Friday so that you don’t have to. Have yourself a good old gander at the latest offerings from:
Lostkeyz – It’s Funny
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QogfYxdoySw
We first caught wind of Sydney rapper Lostkeyz last year with the release of his debut mixtape Organic Narratives, a record full of stellar production, clever rhymes over the top of smooth and jazzy backbeats. It’s Funny was one of the standout tracks from that mixtape, Lostkeyz’ uniquely deadpan delivery masking a rather upbeat song exploring the fluid dynamics of relationships.
The video depicts Lostkeyz taking what looks like a thoughtful stroll around what might be his native Bondi at dusk, a fitting visual effect for such a cool and breezy track. He’s a name to look out for in the future, and you can stream It’s Funny and the rest of Organic Narratives on his Bandcamp.
Beaty Heart – Flora
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKE7agmaiMU
Travelling from Bondi to South London next, with trio Beaty Heart and their latest single Flora. Coming in the lead up to their second record, which is as yet untitled, Beaty Heart have crafted a deliciously dark electro pop song here, punchy beats and click percussion tangoing with staccato synths and muffled vocals, it’s an all-nighter that would work a treat with the lights down low.
The accompanying video is a mesmerising snapshot of after-dark London, dancing on urban rooftops and deserted basketball courts, the songs titular subject alluring the viewer and the band to what looks like their end, writhing along to the fantastic electronic soundscape. Also, look at that dog!
Mallrat – Sunglasses
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJCEPE0IJ8Y
Keeping with the after dark vibes, albeit a lot more locally is Brisbane MC Mallrat. Sunglasses is the name of her latest single, held down by off-kilter trap beats and some jarring but cool production from frequent collaborator Tigerilla.
The video is about as lo-fi as it can possibly get, shot on an old VHS camcorder (Jesus, they’re still around) in a dimly lit backyard. Mallrat and co. look like they’re having a whale of a time, donning sunglasses and face masks and dancing up a storm. They’re doing more for Ribena than the last decade of its own advertising has too, drinking what looks like enough to fill a swimming pool and looking cool af doing it.
Another exciting young Australian artist to expect big things from in 2016, keep them coming Mallrat.
Peaches – Free Drink Ticket
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZEtQTGtD-Q
Perhaps someone the aforementioned Mallrat may take some inspiration from is legendary electro-queen Peaches and her latest incredibly Peaches video. It’s for the newest single from her 2015 LP Rub. I shouldn’t even have to mention how NSFW the video for Free Drink Ticket is, but I will just in case.
There’s so much simmering anger below the surface of this almost darkwave-style song, which centres around a less than amicable break-up. Peaches described it thus
“…It was important to demonstrate that if you hold onto the bitterness you that you feel from a monster who has hurt you, then you will become the monster that you are trying to shed”
The video definitely gets that point across in as provocative a fashion as it gets, a naked Peaches going back and forth with some kind of monstrous pig snake uh… thing? It’s overtly sexual and confronting, which seems like exactly her intention. Totally badass.
Kevin Gates – Pride
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vUvcbT7-KCA
Coming out of Baton Rouge, Louisiana is the latest single from Kevin Gates. Taken from his debut album Islah, a record that ended up above Adele and just behind Rihanna and ANTI when it dropped last week, Pride takes a pretty harrowing look at life behind bars.
Starting off with Gates being arrested and dragged from a palatial mansion and his wife and daughter, winding up in a jail cell in an orange jumpsuit. It’s one of the more emotional tracks on the album, exploring themes of drug abuse, depression and anxiety, Gates weaves a tale of sorrow at having left his family to fend for themselves on the outside.
Islah is out now via Bread Winners Association/Atlantic Records.
Kool A.D. – Santeria
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lu2B-nMkuMM
From the bayou to Mexico we go next with Bay Area rapper Kool A.D.,who you may also recognise as a member of rap crew Das Racist. Featuring production from Toro Y Moi, Santeria is the latest single from Kool from his 2015 mixtape O.K.
That Toro Y Moi production, coupled with Kool’s snarky and snappy flow make for a fantastic partnership, but the real treat here is the utterly fun video. Before the first bar even begins you’ll be hooked, simply because there’s a dog riding a donkey that’s painted to be a zebra (I seriously thought this was just an Eastbound And Down joke but apparently it’s a real thing) and it’s awesome.
The rest of the video is a lo-fi and motion sickness inducing look at Kool’s new life in Mexico, where he is a new resident. The psychedelic lens through which simple things like walking the dogs or the arcade lights of the carnival are viewed is about 500% of your recommended daily eyeball stimulation in just under six minutes, but it’s all part of the charm.
Timbaland – Servin (ft. Blaze Servin and Tweezie)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yoOx-7jL9hI
Coming off his Christmas Day mixtape King Stays King and in the lead up to his next album Opera Noir, producer king Timbaland has dropped a video for one of its tracks this week in Servin. Featuring a pair of up and comers in Blaze Servin and Tweezie, the track features beats of the thickest variety and looks like a return to form for Timbaland, who seems to be jumping all over the trap train that hit full steam in 2015.
The video is your standard hip-hop fare, alternating shots of different combinations of the trio dancing for the camera spliced in with shots at a club that unquestionably has bottle service. There’s plenty of fire as you can probably guess too.
Tyler, The Creator – PERFECT (ft. Kali Uchis and Austin Feinstein)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XIqVCJWSoeE
Following a tumultuous year seeing the release of his long-awaited third studio album Cherry Bomb and his simultaneous banning from Australia, Tyler, The Creator is back with a brand new video landing this week for Cherry Bomb standout PERFECT.
It’s a split-screen duet between Tyler and featured artist Kali Uchis, Uchis surrounded by sunflowers, Tyler covered in Monarch butterflies. Los Angeles indie rocker Austin Feinstein eventually joins Tyler on the right to inject some laidback surfy guitars into what was already an eclectic mix of jazz and hip hop. It’s a simple concept but an effective way of visualising the very huge stylistic contrast between the artists.
See you next week!
So, Peaches’ forthcoming album Rub will be out September 25. It will undoubtedly be everything that it is touted to be. It will be an album for a post-gender world rife with sex positivity and body love. It will be an exemplar of anti-heteronormative transgression. It will also be a gritty fuck-fest, an irruption of filth and smut. You see, Peaches knows the real you – a knotted ball of libidinous energy; a hungry, lip-smacking cannibal – she knows you need to Fuck The Pain Away (brilliant song).
To do just that Peaches has shared a NSFW wrestling video for her new track, Close Up. Kim Gordon, who lends her voice to the hook, performs as Peaches’ nonchalant wrestling maestro. Gordon puffs her vape, and lackadaisically shuffles around the ring rolling her eyes as Peaches battles numerous spandex-wearing, fluid-spurting opponents. It is all rather intense, at one point one of the opponents heaves out her breast and fills Peaches’ open mouth with an effusion of lukewarm milk. It all ends with Peaches making-out with her final opponent. Basically, the video is a hypnotic whir of fluorescent body-benders with a dash of defecation. Nice.