We love Jack Ladder. It's been a great thing getting to work with the man and his band of... well, freaks. Over the last year jack Ladder and his entourage featuring Kirin J Callinan, Laurence Pike and Mr Donnie Bennet criss crossed the grand old land of Australia from East to West and back again several times. At the end of August they stepped into Sydney's BJB and committed their live noise to tape.

The band let loose a limited edition CDR ep called Counterfeits. It came complete with individual hand made covers and featured five songs from the album Love Is Gone "re-interpreted". There were only 200 and they were sold on their last tour of 2009. Well he got his act together with the digital world so now it's available on itunes for all those who desire.

I say go buy it. The guy and his band are one of the only truly Australian acts around today. If you think this grand old land of ours has turned to rehashed Shoreditch or Brooklyn mush that's about 4 years too late then this will truly bring you back from the dark side. He is a jedi night.

Enough said.

JW

This video is awesome. Big ups to Bridezilla and Inertia for doing something different. I like the bit where they do a "kangaroo dance move" with their hands.

Check it and buy their record from Inertia

Serena Maneesh are one of the greatest bands of the last decade. I've been lucky enough to see them play a bunch of times over the last couple of years both here in Aussie and abroad. Their new album is going to be one of the best this year. Here is one of the tracks live on tele in Norway. I've watched this about 50 times and it just kills me.

So much noise, yet so so sweet. The album is out in March on 4AD world wide!

I just watched this again and was blown away. How amazing was this band and full of such fight. I loved this song way back when and now it still stands up. 

I just stumbled across this new band called Mountain Man and I think they're awesome. Check them out here and you can buy the ep direct from the band at this link. We don't release them on Speak n Spell but I feel the need to make sure they're heard in our part of the world sooner rather than later. 

Check out this little live video too.

Such cool voices and Animal Tracks is an awesome song. I'll be posting regularly about new bands I just like or find. Please check back and comment if you're so inclined.

High five for bands doing their own thing and making it available to the world and a high five to 2010 for offering up new sounds to me.

jw

I love metal. I also love Roosters so that makes this the best thing ever.

Also on another note, how cool is it that British Sea Power are finally touring!!!

Joining Danimals on the night will be revolving Sydney super-group Fashion Launches/Rocket Launches, the ethereal-yelp trickery of the lovely Flutter Lyon & DJ sets from DJ duo Goldrush from Los Angeles in between sets. Killer!

Watch it here.

We can't wait for the album release, FEB 1. Holla!

Next year is almost here so I thought I'd share some of the bands we're really excited about for 2010. Release dates aren't upon us but click the links and you'll get to hear their respective sounds.

From The USA I've been well and truly head over heals for A Grave With No Name and Sister Crayon. They have both had high rotates in my car, my house and my soul these past few months. We'll have the debut full length from A Grave With No Name and an ep from Sister Crayon. 

Closer to home, well New Zealand to be exact, we fell for Dear Times Waste. Check out Claire and her band. They are something else and we'll have an ep for them sooner rather than later and a full length later in the year. 

Seriously close to home is I.D.I.T. I think these guys and gal might be the one and only band we've signed from a demo. They're from Sydney and are fucking bleak in that I will listen to you now and forever kind of way. They look set to release a bunch of things across the year. So look out.

On top of new things there is of course the brilliant 3rd record from Midlake, the 2nd albums from both Fionn Regan and also Cut Off Your Hands. Castratii have a brand new ep in the bag called "Telling Of The Bees" that pretty much sounds like the end of time. It should be due in Feb.

2010. You're sounding great already.

Fuck. Yes. 

this one is by Phoenix. we love this band, what a freaking album their last one was! 

check out 1901 below. it's awesome

Phoenix - 1901 - A Take Away Show from La Blogotheque on Vimeo.

Check more out here

pop crimes. album of the year? .... wow!

http://www.nme.com/video/id/1THLazgSDs0/search/Rowland%20S%20Howard

The Grave

Who, counting on long years of pleasure here, is quite unfurnish'd for that world to come! In that dread moment how the frantic soul raves round the walls of the clay tenement, runs to each avenue, and shrieks for help, but shrieks in vain! how wishfully she looks on all she's leaving, now no longer her's! a little longer, yet a little longer, O might she stay to wash away her stains, and fit her for her passage! mournful sight! her eyes weep blood, and every groan she heaves is big with horror! but the foe, like a stanch murd'rer steady to his purpose, pursues her close through every lane of life, Nor misses once the track, but presses on; till forc'd at last to the tremendous verge, at once she sinks to everlasting ruin!

Sure 'tis a serious thing to die! My soul, what a strange moment must it be when, near the journeys end, thou hast the gulph in view! that aweful gulph no mortal e'er repass'd to tell whats doing on the other side! nature runs back and shudders at the sight, and every-string bleeds at thoughts of passing.

By Robert Blair.

Hey all, so we love Berko, right?

So here's what we're going to do.

We're going to implore you to zap an e-mail to static@2ser.com, ranking your Favourite Albums of 2009.

Vote for as many albums as you like, just number them from 1 to infinity in order of preference ... and have your votes back to the lads no later than next Tuesday 8th December.
 
As a helping hand, they've compiled a list of most of the albums played songs off on "Static" throughout 2009 www.2ser.com/programs/shows/static. There are a few Speak n Spell releases on there might we add, so get involved people!

This is by no means complete, and is intended only as a "whoops I can't believe I might have forgotten that one" kind of guide. If you can't see one of your favourites on there, by all means still include it ... just as long as it was an album released during the calendar year of 2009. They'll start rolling out some of their picks of 2009, too, on next week's program (Thursday 10th December).

The nail-biting conclusion comes the following week (Thursday 17th December), when the "Static" listeners' Top Ten of 2009 will be revealed on their last "proper" show of the year.
 
So choose wisely, and may the best album ... win!

Yep, all you have to do is head here  for your chance to win the voyage of a lifetime, all the way to the land of the rising sun with 3 friends.

All you have to do is sign up to Pedestrian Daily, which is a rad deal as the daily is full of interesting news. Once you're on board you'll wonder how you lived without it.

Of course, if you’re already a subscriber all you have to do is invite 3 friends to go into the running.  Pedestrian rule, they're partying with us on the 9th December at the Oxford Art Factory.