‘We Can Learn Lessons From The Old Records’: Death Cab For Cutie’s Ben Gibbard On Songwriting, Legacy & New Music

Pilerats

Features / Music
New Music: Flower Drums - Don't Wait feat. St. South
Fremantle singer St. South teams up with Flower Drums on a lazy, hazy sad one.. I’ve exclusively listened to so much ‘future R & B’ lately that I’ve forgotten my affections for a good piece of indie synth pop. When I first heard Bad Websites, a new track Perth four-piece Flower Drums released a month ago, I remembered how great it felt to get washed up in a romantic synth-pop dreamscape, the kind that lets you fall in love with every hook, invest in emotional lyrics (There’s way too many midnight drives, and endless eyes on bad websites…”) and float back into whispery, echoey far-off vocals and ethereal synths. Lead singer Leigh’s falsetto vocals favourably reminded me of one of my all-time favourite acts, How to Dress Well, and as I kept listening to Bad Websites over and over, my mind reminisced on other acts I’d been affectionate on not too long ago, namely Kaputt-era Destroyer, and Blood Orange, and I also weirdly remembered this New York indie band I used to get way into years ago
Features / Music
New Music: Strain of Origin IV Compilation
Talented underground electronic artists re-imagine each others' tracks.. I know the compilation we should be pushing right now is our own one, but there's another compilation out now, Strain of Origin IV, that I really want to give some love to, as well. It's beats/electronic based, but not for the dancefloor by any stretch - it's altogether more experimental, and darker. Strain of Origin is Australian label Feral Media’s annual compilation series, where they enlist some of the most exciting underground acts from around Australia and ask those acts to submit a track to be remixed, and in turn receive a track from another artist to remix themselves for the release. Last year’s Strain of Origin III was a beauty – some of the works to come out of that became firm favourites, like the spacey, moody, meditative instrumental remix of witch-haus artist ¹fm¹’s track Maise, done by Vacant Lake (the solo project of Berlin / Melbourne artist Beres Jackson). Another great one to come out of that c
Features / Music
New Music: Anna Lunoe - B.D.D Remix EP
Anna Lunoe and friends deliver with some massive, bass-filled remixes.. Having released her massive single Bass Drum Dealer back in June, Australian producer Anna Lunoe has enlisted the help of her friends, A.C. Slater, Jubilee and Wuki for three mammoth remixes, alongside a brand new collaboration with fellow Australian producers Wordlife. The EP kicks off with Midnight, the previously-mentioned new collaboration with wordlife. Boasting heaving bass and a super dark vibe, Midnight is jam-packed full of frenzied synths and Lunoe’s own chilling whispers, resulting in a monster tune just perfect for those late night spins at the club. The rest of the EP is what is advertised; three absolutely colossal re-works of the original Bass Drum Dealer, all by friends of the Nest HQ label. A.C. Slater kicks things off by removing almost all the vocal work, showcasing the heavy bassline and drum-kicks of the original with a slight twist. Wuki is up next, chopping up the original and chucking in mor
Features / Music
New Music: Kilter - ReShades (Minimix)
Kilter shares an LP of sorts featuring unheard remixes and originals.. Over the past year we've been big fans of Kilter with the release of his single They Say and we even got round to doing a sneaky video interview with the man. And now Kilter has just released a minimix of an upcoming release that could be termed as an LP featuring remixes that Kilter has compiled over the year alongside some original work. The release sees Kilter remix original tracks by Odesza , Rufus and The Kite String Tangle to name a few. It also features remixes of Kilter's original tracks including a drum and bass re-work of Coward by Akouo, and a Paces remix of Hold Me alongside some other remixes. The full tracklist is below and Kilter is also heading out on tour with all dates below including our own Wonderland festival! Tracklisting:  1. ODESZA – All We Need feat. Shy Girls (Kilter Remix)2. Disciples – Poison Arrow (Kilter Remix)3. Duke Dumont – I Got U feat Jax Jones (Kilter Remix)4. The Kite String Tan
Features / Music
Video: Kele - Closer
Kele is back with a new video clip for his song Closer.. Following up from his debut album Trick Kele Okereke, frontman of Bloc Party, has released a video clip for his track Closer. The clip is shot throughout a dark winter's night in Peckham, London. The haunting nature of the song fits the dark palette of the track and makes uses of a series of visuals to compliment the lighter chorus created by vocalist Jodie Scantlebury. It's a intriguing clip that fits the moody aesthetic of Kele's track and also reflects kele's use of visuals in his own set where the light show is reactive to the music. You can watch the clip below and see the pleasing combination of light and dark reacting with one another. And in recent times Kele also teamed up with Pilerats Records' own Sable to create a tracked called The One.  Follow Kele: FACEBOOK
Features / Music
New Music: Sia - Big Girls Cry (Odesza Remix)
Odesza drop a remix of Big Girls Cry from Grammy nominated artist Sia.. Pilerats fave Odesza are returning to Australia in 2015 as part of their world tour for their debut album In Return. They'll be playing at Sugar Mountain in Melbourne along with a series of shows around the country, the full list of dates are below. Odesza has also just dropped a remix of Grammy nominated artist Sia's track Big Girls Cry. It features some of the well loved elements of Odesza, including heavily chopped almost soulful vocals and a warm drum beat which form together to always create this dreamy summer afternoon visage. It's the forte of Odesza and this perception only grows stronger as the track progresses.  Follow Odesza: FACEBOOK -  Tour Dates:  17 January - Oxford Art Factory, Sydney (SOLD OUT) 18+ 18 January - Sets On The Beach, Perth 18+ 22 January - Oxford Art Factory, Sydney 18+ 23 January - Oh Hello, Brisbane 18+ 24 January - Sugar Mountain, Melbourne 18+ 25 January - Howler, Melbourne 18+
Features / Music
New music: Pilerats Records Compilation - RAT PACK #2
A free compilation of exclusive and unreleased tracks from our favourite new artists.. After years of throwing some of the sickest parties and music festivals the country, and giving shine to countless Australian and international artists through articles on the Pilerats Website, last March Pilerats launched our very own record label, Pilerats Records. We celebrated this milestone with the release of a free compilation, RAT PACK#1 (which you can still download for free HERE), featuring original material from big international guns Ryan Hemsworth, ESTA, ODESZA, and Trippy Turtle, as well as solid jams from local artists we admire, such as Catlips and Leon Osborn.  In the past year, Pilerats Records has strengthed its musical muscles, putting out dreamy experimental electronica from Melbourne duo Willow Beats, and an EP of happy lo-fi garage from HAMJAM, and filming some awesome video clips (Merewif and LOVE) for both acts. We've continued to propel Sable's continued destruction of dance
Features / Music
New Music: Oisima - Sun Of Truth Feat. Mei Saraswati
Oisima returns with an out of this world single featuring Perth darling Mei Saraswati.. It's been a quiet year for Oisima with almost nothing from the man except his Goddess remix album at the beginning of the year. Oisima has finally returned with a charming, interstellar styled single Truth Of The Sun featuring Mei Saraswati, the vocalist of Afro-house WA group Savoir. Sun Of The Truth follows a similar path to Everything About Her with that ever-present hip-hop styled drum beat, but the presence of Mei Saraswati alongside some out of this world sonic touches sees it becomes a vibrant, almost futuristic tropical jam. And if you're keen to hear this live Oisima is also currently on tour with Pilerats Records' artist Willow Beats, who you can catch at the dates below: WILLOW BEATS SUPPORT DATES: Thur, 11 Dec - Astor Lounge, Perth, WA (TICKETS) Fri 12 Dec - CATS @ Rocket Bar, Adelaide, SA (TICKETS) - Follow Oisima: FACEBOOK
Features / Music
Video: WAAX - Wisdom Teeth
Wisdom Teeth packs a punch but the feeling doesn't last for long.. It's not everyday someone writes a song about wisdom teeth. Those teeth that everyone dreads being told you have to get out because you'll end up looking like a chipmunk afterwards. And that's what WAAX's latest track Wisdom Teeth is about and they've got a completely unrelated music video to boot, which is no less a fun and colouful time at the rock show. Wisdom Teeth is a clean-cut rock track that attempts to get in your face with it's meaty riffs and Marie De Vita's snarling vocals, and it does so with a fair amount of success, although at times the clean production sees the track lack that raw energy. Indeed, much like when you get your wisdom teeth ripped out it smarts for a brief period but over time it drifts from your mind. The music video - with it's heavily edited chopping style and constantly shifting colours - does enhance the punch of the track, and you can check it out below: Follow on WAAX: FACEBOOK
View More