Now that the lovely folk at Modular Records have rectified their problem of uploading audioless cinematography onto YouTube, here is the video clip for that Van She song “Strangers,” which I’ve been going on about since, oh, around January. Anyway, four months on, this is still the track to beat for me in regards to Single Of The Year status.

Not much goes on in the clip, but this is no problem; the boys play instruments, some singing is done, there is a bit of smoke and a giant “V” on set (not the drink, but the actual letter,) they all make looking sexy a bit effortless (particularly Tomek, drums, who looks ultra-chiseled throughout, non?) they each jump in the air during the breakdown after the middle-8, and then they all go back to playing their instruments and/or singing. Let’s take a look at all of this being put into proper effect.

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AND IN HQ…

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I’m not one for using any of the Triple A’s; Awesome, Amazing and Ace (GUFFAW,) but this song is definitely all three of those things. Very, very good stuff. And I’m incredibly fond of the clip too; all four subjects in the group make very pleasing visual aides, don’t they? Single is released on June the 7th; physical CD single (technically the boys’ first physical single release!) and digital download.

You can read everything else I’ve said about Van She over the last few months by clicking here, should you be interested.

So todays Van She related post is somewhat of a mixed bag. It’s a collection of good news and frustration. I’ll start with the frustration.

Van She’s debut album has been pushed back YET AGAIN, this time scheduled in for an August 2008 release. I’m not sure if I should be worried; I think I understand why this has happened (again) but am not entirely certain of it. The new single “Strangers” has been penciled in for a release on June the 7th, which is also frustrating seeing as the original date was set for around April/May. So I’m guessing the boys will work the promo wheel in the lead-up to the single release, go on their tour with The Bravery, and then concentrate solely on promo for the album in the lead up till August, right? I have a lot of faith that the boys and, more importantly, their people, know exactly what they’re doing, but I cannot help but feel sad.

It’s just a little annoying I guess; this album was due for release late 2006, early 2007, August 2007, March 2008, April 2008, June 2008, and now August 2008. If it gets pushed back another time I seriously have no idea how I’ll react. This news has put me in the worst mood! I just want to be able to hold that hot-little-record in my hands and finally say there’s a Van She album for everyones consumption. It’s just so disheartening to think what was only 2 months away is now going to be 4. I’ve made it no secret that the anticipation for this album, for me, has been greater than it was for Madonna’s “Hard Candy,” which is a serious statement for me to make I feel.

The good news is, it seems “Strangers” has been sent to radio and the video clip should surface any day now; the boys have posted pictures from the video shoot over on their MySpace page. Here’s the link; I’m sure you’ll agree the boys are looking quite lush in those photos, and that set looks pretty epic, non?

Also, while you’re off visiting other parts of the web, if you have a Facebook account, feel free to join the “I Heart VAN SHE” group. Clicky Clicky.

Stuff on their show with PNAU from last week possibly before Friday; I’d like to tie it in with the posting of the “Strangers” video clip, should it surface on time. Not too sure when my Madonna “Hard Candy” review will be online now. Maybe Thursday, because it’s my birthday tomorrow so I’ll no doubt be a bit busy with family and the like.

UPDATE 8:38pm: The video is online, but there is no audio. W.T.F.?

UPDATE 23/04/2008: “Strangers” - my song of the year - is available for preview on their MySpazz NOW. Hurrah!!

Some little tidbits of information on what’s going over at Camp Van (DO YOU SEE WHAT I DID THERE?!)

First of all, the boys are offering a free MP3 download of the Vanshe Tech remix of their most recent single “Cat & The Eye.” Bit of a dancefloor banger. You can download that from here.

Caught the boys on Friday night supporting PNAU at Billboard Nightclub in Melbourne and, needless to say, they absolutely killed it once again. I’ve seen them dozens of times before; shows in Geelong, Melbourne, Festivals and the like, and this was definitely one of their best; rather dazzling even. There was a proper lighting show and the guys seemed to be in tip-top form both vocally and musically, and the new songs sound better and better with each show. Pictures next week.

Speaking of the new songs, the bands incredible drummer Tomek told me on Friday to expect some news later on this week in regards to the next VS single “Strangers.” I shall reveal all soon…

Just as the boys are wrapping up their tour supporting PNAU across the country, tour dates to coincide with their album release in June (and, my ETA for said album is around June the 1st, going by the tour dates as some sort of rough guide…) have just been announced.

04 JUNE :: The Metro (SYDNEY)
05 JUNE :: Corner Hotel (MELBOURNE)
06 JUNE :: East Brunswick Club (MELBOURNE)
08 JUNE :: We Love Sounds (SYDNEY)
10 JUNE :: The Zoo (BRISBANE)

I’ll see you at the 5th and 6th of June shows? I dare say I’ll be attending both. There’s also the possibility that a Geelong show could be slated into that empty date of June the 7th, so keep your fingers crossed.

Van She’s people have uploaded a new video to YouTube which documents the travels made during their Japan tour earlier this year. The truly brilliant thing about this 2:25 running video is its featured backdrop track; “Changes,” my Number 2 favourite track of 2008 thus far, and so totally not made available anywhere other than their live shows until now. It’s also the boys’ favourite track from the new album.  Whilst it’s not the whole song, it’s certainly enough to tide us over until the album release in June.  Picture me with my happiest of faces when this arrived in my email.

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Fucking Amazing. And we’ll pretend whoever edited that video didn’t go and spell “censored” incorrectly.

News-wise, MY favourite song from the new album and next single “Strangers” (which is also my Number 1 favourite song of the year thus far) is hitting radio in two weeks, meaning we’ll be getting a new video clip from the boys soon, which ALSO means I’ll finally be able to show you all this completely bonza pop song.

On the other side of the world, UK radio seem to be enjoying the ace Van She Tech remix of that Utah Saints “Something Good ‘08″ reswizzle, and apparently some Very Important Deejays are playing it over on that Radio 1 thing. Very good news. I’m just hoping one of these Very Important Deejays is going to bother with mentioning the actual BAND once the new album is released over there, because their original material completely wipes the floor clean with any of their remixing efforts.

Finally, Van She are supporting PNAU on their national tour in April. Full details here. See you at the Billboard show on the 18th, front and center…

Oh, and if you don’t like my constant Van She scribblings then tough; 2008 is ALL about the V. If you love it, you can read more about them on this site by clicking here. Review of their Geelong gigs and Audio Interview with Matt online soon.

This is unbelievably good. The whole package; killer song, stimulating video, people fronting it… everything just works.

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This is Alex Turner (from Arctic Monkeys) and Miles Kane (from The Little Flames) as The Last Shadow Puppets, in the video clip for their debut single “The Age Of The Understatement.” It is complete and utter brilliance. It reminds me of something you’d see and hear during a musical number from one of those hilarious Lepa Brena movies!

The single is released on April 14th, with the album following on April 21st.

I’m incredibly excited about this album. Going by everything I’ve read on this project, it’s definitely going to showcase a slightly more pop/accessible sound from Alex, who I truly believe is not only one of the greatest lyricists, but also songwriters of our time. Kane and Turner’s voices work very well together too, but, not surprisingly, it’s Alex’s pipes which stand out the most in this track. Something else to be very happy about if you love the Turner as much as I.

The album was produced by musical wizard James Ford (member of Simian Mobile Disco,) who also put his hands to producing on the Klaxons‘ “Myths Of The Near Future,” and is currently twiddling knobs for the new Scissor Sisters record. As Paul would say, there is some serious, serious fizzing at the slit going on right about now.

I really, really, really heart you Alex Turner.

Phwoar.

That’s a full stream of my interview from last week with Axle Whitehead. In the interview we discuss his upcoming album, taking time off, why Avril Lavigne is a cunt, stripping off for the gays and - the topic I enjoyed the ‘moist’ (DO YOU SEE WHAT I DID THERE?!) - his cock ‘n balls.

You can also download - via RapidShare - the interview if you wish. Link here.

Axle’s brilliant debut single, “I Don’t Do Surprises,” is released this Saturday the 8th of March. You should definitely buy it from either iTunes, Sanity, or one of those novel record stores (!) in your nearby shopping mall.  You can also buy the very-nice-on-the-eyes video clip, again over at iTunes.

Oh, hello there… 

Phwoar.

As the Summer (or winter, depending on where you are geographically) season draws to a close, we inch closer and closer into the third month of 2008; it’s already going by so quickly.  It feels like just yesterday I was seeing in the New Year when in actual fact it was 55 days ago… oi vey!

I haven’t really popped up any sort of list containing the songs that have, thus far in, tickled my musical fancy, so I thought now was as good a time as ever.  In chart form, here are the 10 best songs 2008 - whether they be singles or album tracks - has brought us so far.

01.       Van She - Strangers
02.       Van She - Changes
03.       Axle Whitehead - I Don’t Do Surprises
04.       Róisín Murphy - You Know Me Better
05.       Pigeon Detectives - I’m Not Sorry
06.       Cut Copy - Lights & Music
07.       Ashlee Simpson - Outta My Head (Ay Ya Ya)
08.       Sam Sparro - Black & Gold
09.       Goldfrapp - Caravan Girl
10.       Duffy - Rockferry 

I cannot wait for people to hear Van She’s “Strangers” because it is so sublime.  The synths during the chorus are magnetic and fierce.  “Changes” is just as ace and is also single material (and now that I’ve realised how similar the words “strangers” and “changes” sound when said over the phone, I’m back to being unsure as to which of the two songs are going to be the NEXT Van She single. Boo!) - sounded exxxxcellent live on the weekend and the boys told me it was their favourite track from the new record.

Axle’s debut “I Don’t Do Surprises” still impresses me, as does the man himself.  I spoke to him on Friday afternoon and the interview will be online later this week; went really well and he was incredibly charming.  Miss Murphy’s “You Know Me Better” somehow manages to become a stronger song the more I listen to it; and I already loved it immensely.  I’m aware that the Pigeon Detectives song in my list was released in 2006 and then again last year, but I’ve only just discovered the guys in the last 2 months and that song is so brilliant, I just couldn’t leave it off.

Cut Copy’s new single is a delicious taste of what’s to come from their hotly anticipated sophomore album, and Ashlee Simpson’s bonkers “Outta My Head (Ay Ya Ya)” sounds like a stripped down homage to Madonna’s “Burning Up.”  I love it!  Both Sam Sparro’s “Black & Gold” and Duffy’s “Rockferry” were introduced to me by the lovely xolondon, who has just written a stellar review of the new Goldfrapp album, which the track “Caravan Girl” comes from.

Anyway, what are your favourite tracks of the year so far?

Here are numbers 11 - 20…

11.       Goldfrapp - A&E
12.       Van She - Talkin’
13.       Girls Aloud - Can’t Speak French (Jeremy Wheatley Radio Edit)
14.       Kylie Minogue - Carried Away
15.       Courtney Love - Never Go Hungry Again
16.       Duffy - Mercy
17.       Courtney Love - Happy Ending Story
18.       Lykke Li - Little Bit
19.       Utah Saints - Something Good ‘08 (Van She Radio Edit)
20.       Rihanna & Klaxons - Umbrella (Live @ The BRIT Awards)

WOULDN’T YOU JUST?

So on Friday afternoon I’ll be chatting to the seriously delicious Axle Whitehead about his aces new single “I Don’t Do Surprises,” and no doubt covering the whole cock-flashing thing. Sadly, it’s not an in-studio interview and I can’t ask for a personal demonstration, but I’m sure he’ll make it down to Geelong sometime in the near future.

Was just wondering if any of you lot had a question you’d like me to ask of Mr. Whitehead? Email or pop the question in the comments field. The best will brought up on Friday afternoon and, more than likely, a couple of the worst too.

Oh, and his clip is finally on YouTube for those who couldn’t view it on the Hot Hits website.

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So tonight I spoke with Matt (far left) from Van She for a little on-air banter, and he provided me with some seriously spectacular sound bites. Would you believe we even got a Britney Spears related one in which Matt imitated Chris “Leave Britney Alone!” Crocker. But the best of all was information on the bands NEXT single. Looks like that little baby will have a video clip ready made in about a months time, which should tie me over until the now-pushed-back album release of June.

The even better news is that the next single will be the astoundingly poptastic “Strangers,” which is the song you may remember me referring to a few weeks back as The First Truly Great Song Of 2008. Which means that in a short while you’ll all finally get to hear what I’ve been banging on about.

The guys are also planning another tour around the UK and US towards the end of the year, with plans to go with singles only at first in the “hard to crack” American market. Will post the interview next week to coincide with the beginning of their Australian tour. Dates, venues, et cetera, can be found here.

Meanwhile, here’s the hilarious new video for the old-but-new-because-it’s-getting-a-proper-release Van She remix of Utah Saints’ 90’s dance classic “Something Good.” Matt hadn’t seen it yet but was quite keen to YouTube it after I’d told him how rather-good it actually was.

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It’s common knowledge that I have a soft (or, hem hem, hard) spot for Calvin Harris; I’ve often said he’s husband material. Musically and aesthetically, I simply adore him. Whilst he’s not everybody’s cup of tea (and I do understand why this is the case,) the more I listen to his debut album “I Created Disco,” the more I find to love about it. Watching him live with his incredibly talented band over the weekend has now only heightened my appreciation of his work. Luckily for me, I got to see Harris do his thing twice over two magical days.

First up, Calvin’s Good Vibrations Festival side-show at Melbourne’s HiFi bar on the Friday. Supporting the fly-eye guru were Aussie funsters Gameboy/Gamegirl who - quite alarmingly - my friend Catherine and I were later mistaken for by some random drunken whores who had been standing next to us while Gameboy/Gamegirl were actually performing…

So Calvin and his band were scheduled to come on at 10pm and - surprisingly - they were on time; on the dot in fact. That hasn’t happened to me at a pop concert for quite some time! Opening with the mesmerizing instrumental “Certified” (my third favourite moment from “I Created Disco,) Calvin played about on his geniusly set up Amiga computer, which several people have pointed out to me looked a LOT like an Etch-A-Sketch. Thrashing himself around, jumping up and down as he began “Disco Heat” (my second favourite moment from the album,) Calvin - who I should point out was smack bang in front of me during the whole show on that stage - with his long hair flying about, spread an incredible amount of his own sweat onto all of those in the front row, in particular myself. And due to the height of the stage at the HiFi bar, Calvin’s crotch was at level with my face for the entire show. It was all a little bit exciting really, and I’ll leave the sexual hysterics at that.

“Colours” and “Acceptable In The 80’s” followed, to much fanfare, followed by “Merrymaking At My Place,” “Neon Rocks” and “The Industry” followed, all sounding incredibly beefy accompanied by a proper live band. Calvin took time between almost each song to chat with the crowd and thanked us for coming countless amounts of times, and - at one point - he laughed when I asked him to “tell me another one of your festive funnies!” Calvin’s rather charming guitar player also thanked the crowd a few times in his own way; quite the show pony he was, parading about stage with that instrument like he was an undisputed rock-god… it totally worked too and he pulled it off impeccably… I almost began paying him a little more attention than I was Calvin.

“The Girls” and “Vegas” followed, with Harris announcing he refused to partake in encores because he felt they took away from the magic of a live show (I agree, and applaud him for not succumbing to the tiresome encore procedure.) I was a bit annoyed that my favourite track from his album, “Electro Man,” was left off the set list, but the finale certainly didn’t disappoint. Finishing up with “I Created Disco” was a fine choice, particularly seeing as the live version has an additional 4 minutes to the version on the album. You know how, right at the end of the album version, it sounds like the track is going to pick up even further and go somewhere else? Then, shockingly, it just ends? Well the live version does what the album version should have and gives it a BONZA ending; totally reinvents the track and turns it into a seriously special musical moment. Can we have a studio version of this please? Or at the very least a good quality live recording of it? I am dying to hear those hearty extra few minutes again.

At the end of the show Calvin came out to say hello to the couple of punters who’d been waiting to get things signed and what-not. He and I chatted for a bit about Popjustice and how great the show was, he signed my copy of his album and posed for a photo, and we bid adieu.

The next day I saw Calvin play AGAIN at the Good Vibrations Music Festival, which was held at Melbourne’s Sidney Myer Music Bowl. Right up the front for an almost identical set to the HiFar bar show, it was still super special, especially hearing the extended “I Created Disco” all over again. He jumped about enthusiastically and - on several occasions - jumped off the stage and ran through the front row. Fun, fun, fun.

Unfortunately for me, I missed seeing Kanye West’s closing set at the festival; I had a slight altercation with a hill and a cement step which saw me twisting my ankle and had me leaving for bandages and ice at home in place of live Daft Punk collaborations. Oh well, at least I got to see hubby play before it all went pear shaped.

Took a stack of photos, I’ve included thumbnails of the best few, but you can view the galleries in full over on facebook if you’re interested: HiFi Bar gallery here (best set of the two,) and Good Vibes gallery here.