MIA Smashbox

The MIA Website is now up and running

2006-07-24T19:04:00.000+01:00

The MIA website is now up and running - check it out on www.miasmashbox.co.za

Check out our new and upcoming releases:

The Black Angels sound like the Doors, Velvet Undergorund and Jesus and the Mary Chain. Possibly the best rock album so far this year!

The Evangelicals are pysych-rock with catchy pop hooks.
They'll be in stores in the next couple of weeks.

The website will keep you informed of new releases and their arrivals.

CAROLINE – Murmurs

2006-05-22T08:19:00.000+01:00

Artist: CAROLINE
Album: Murmurs
Label: Temporary Residence

Japan’s Caroline is one of those truly rare voices that warms the heart and the soul at the same time and then casually leans over and whispers in your ear sweet nothings that sends a shiver down your spine. It’s just that pretty! Innocence becomes her on this her absolutely enchanting debut album. Even though it’s on Explosions in the Sky’s label this release could be equally at home on Morr, home to Lali Puna and Styrofoam. Organic loveliness abounds, encapsulating everything that is good, both beautiful and unique about similar artists Bjork, Imogen Heap (or Frou Frou) and Emiliana Torrini. That the album lacks samples amongst the densely layered beats and acoustic instrumentation, only ads to the fairytale her voice resides in. Cinematic, soft and brilliant, ladies (and gentlemen) I give you your latest crush.
~ Reviewer: Riaan (Canned Applause)

PSYCHIC ILLS – Dins

2006-05-09T07:56:00.000+01:00

Artist: PSYCHIC ILLS
Album: Dins
Label: The Social Registry

As a faithful Galactic Zoo Dossier enthusiast, I’m sure I’m not the only one bopping my far from numbing yet head in approval of what’s seeping out of modern psychedelia at the moment. Last year brought a whole bunch of nostalgic highlights, including tour mates Aerial Pink’s “Worn copy” (and this year again’s “House arrest”) and Dungen’s “Ta det lugnt” (and not to mention the extremely prolific various incarnations of Acid Mothers Temple). Starting off like Clinic gone psychedelic, Psychic Ills are carving their own vision into our third eyes and injecting a new groove into our stream of consciousness. With lessons in 60’s/70’s Krautrock and a few obvious psychedelic influences (e.g. early Syd Barret era Pink Floyd) and a healthy dose of existentialism, they dance like the neo-hippies they are, staring at their shoes and swimming in sounds that sometimes border on evoking insanity. With a clearer headspace I might add that they’re a culmination, a heady mix of The Pretty Things, Can, Jesus and The Mary Chain and My Bloody Valentine, but I encourage you to dose yourself some “Dins” and a pair of headphones and experience it for yourself. A prescription is not necessary.
~ Reviewer: Riaan (Canned Applause)

THE LADIES – They Mean Us

2006-04-20T10:38:00.000+01:00

Artist: THE LADIES
Album: They Mean Us
Label: Temporary Residence

A match made in math-rock heaven, The Ladies are a new duo comprised of pseudo-gorilla drummer god Zach Hill of Hella and math-pop songsmith Rob Crow of Pinback. While Mr. Hill is the virtuoso and the most obvious upon hearing what exactly his contribution is with his frantic beatings and rolls and clashing of cymbals (and who might put anyone off this album who doesn’t know him better), it is Crow’s knack for good intricate melodies that keeps it all together, letting the weird but wonderful world that they have created (and definitely patented) exist in harmony. With their powers combined they exceed expectations on “They Mean us”, with their chemistry over flowing to create a unique and truly alternative pop record. You can’t imagine anything else like this. It’s an absolutely exhilarating listening experience, from off-kilter meanderings to full-blown psych freak-outs (or to quote accurately the last song name instead, a “Mandatory Psych Freakout”). Fans of both would unanimously approve and the appreciative newcomers would want to look into their respective bands. ~ Reviewer: Riaan (Canned Applause)

LISTEN TO: Richard Haslop on SAFM

2006-04-12T12:47:00.000+01:00

Dont forget to listen to Roots to Fruits on SAFM every Wednesday night from 11:00-midnight presented by the ever passionate and knowladgable Richard Haslop!!

HALF-HANDED CLOUD - Halo’s & Lasso’s

2006-04-12T11:38:00.000+01:00

Artist: HALF-HANDED CLOUD
Album: Halo’s & Lasso’s
Label: Asthmatic Kitty

Lo-fi bedroom noodling twee-pop goes first testament gospel on this chipper ‘n cheeky albeit offbeat offering from John Ringhofer, a.k.a. Half-Handed Cloud. Pinning songs and rather catchy pop melodies armed with an unusual instrument, the Omnichord (“a vintage 80's kidney-shaped electronic auto-harp/drum machine/synthesizer”) and acoustic guitar and what sounds like samples straight out of video game soundtracks, puns ‘galorify’ here in spreading the gospel. That it’s on the same label as Sufjan Stevens serves only to suggest a great taste in music. “Halo’s & Lasso’s” plays like A Boy Least Likely To gone baroque pop… Someone so infectiously inspired, by, well, their beliefs and life in general, deserves to spread all their love and cheer to especially the unsuspecting. Even in its short running time, Half-Handed Cloud guarantees to turn your frown upside down with a halo, a lasso and my blessing!
~ Reviewer: Riaan (Canned Applause)

PLAYING ON MY iPOD

2006-04-08T21:20:00.000+01:00

Playing on my ipod
What's on yours??

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Richard Swift - Not Wasting Time
Black Mountain - No Satisfaction
Pink Mountaintops - Slaves
Arcade Fire - Wake Up
Kelley Stoltz - Words
Radiohead - No Surpises
Friends of Dean Martinez - Dawn
The Verve - The Drugs Don't Work
White Stripes - The Denial Twist
Elton John - Tiny Dancer
Magnolia Electric Company - The Dark Don't Hide It
Interpol - Evil
Martha Wainwright - This Life
Link Wray - Georgia Pines
Grateful Dead - Friend of the Devil
Beach Boys - Caroline, No
Mercury Rev - Goddess on a Hiway
Joanna Newsom - Cassiopeia

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

What are you Listening to?

2006-03-26T15:50:00.000+02:00

These are the top 5 abums that I'm listening to at the moment.

What are yours?

(Hit the comment button at the bottom of this post!)

Arcade Fire – Funeral
The best album of 2005. It’s full of energy and innovative melodies with unusual instrumentation. Chaos and harmony simultaneously.

Black Mountain
Psychedelic rock from the 70’s with a modern feel.

Martha Wainwright
She comes from a musical family with outstanding credentials but she makes her own very personal heartfelt music.

I Love You But I’ve Chosen Darkness - Fear is on Our Side
Solid and interesting indie rock – heavily influenced by Joy Division and Talk Talk. Listen to this in the dark at your own peril.

My Morning Jacket – Z

The second best album of 2005. They’ve honed their songwriting skills to produce this stunning rock album.

I LOVE YOU BUT I'VE CHOSEN DARKNESS - Fear is on our side

2006-03-23T23:29:00.000+02:00

Band: I LOVE YOU BUT I'VE CHOSEN DARKNESS
Album: Fear is on our side
Label: Secretly Canadian

For it to take a label that is primarily responsible for some of the best Americana and the number one album of 2005 all over, Antony and the Johnsons' 'I am a bird now', to release what could possibly described as the next best thing since Interpol's 'Turn on the Bright Lights' -- it could only be something you'll need to investigate for yourself.

ILYBICD invoke a later Talk Talk with a darker Ride circa their 'Nowhere' album; or 'Ferment' era Catherine Wheel hijacked by a gothier Morrissey. Or at the very least the once frontman of The Smiths sitting on the sidelines at an 80's prom night with his heartcarved sleeve in the name of heartbreak and heartache, before swallowing his pride to take turns slowdancing with Joy Division and the Cure.

With an earlier Britt Daniel (Spoon) produced EP to add to the allure, this is a much darker affair and maybe far better off for it. Atmospheric goth post-punk? Nostalgia or narcotics? Let me put it this way maybe. If the Donnie Darko soundtrack needed any more recent bands to add to the 80's filled soundtrack in an OC fashion, there would be plenty of songs on 'Fear is on our side' to choose from. Only thing is, that would most surely put them in the spotlight when if they would be destined to remain in the shadows just a little longer, they could produce an even better album with the next one. Only time (and trends) will tell.
~ Reviewer: Riaan (Canned Applause)

Sample the Music

KRIS KRISTOFFERSON - This Old Road

2006-03-23T11:21:00.000+02:00

Artist: KRIS KRISTOFFERSON
Album: This Old Road
Label: New West

As played on Richard Haslop’s Roots to Fruits show (SAFM Wednesdays 11:00pm). Richard is of the opinion that this political album may be his best yet!

Prominently reviewed in March MOJO - **** 4 Star Review.

Sample the Music

OKKERVIL RIVER - Black Sheep Boy

2006-03-22T20:32:00.000+02:00

Band: OKKERVIL RIVER
Album: Black Sheep Boy
Label: Jagjaguwar

Sometimes folky, sometimes alt.rock, sometimes orchestral (or all three at once) but always interesting. Their sound is "strongly founded on dark and profound lyrics". Some of these songs can make you care and cry at the same time. Thoughtful, melodic, laid back and somewhat country tinged with an evil streak that strikes just when you think you've got it all worked out. If you like Bright Eyes and Palace/ Bonnie "Prince" Billy/ Will Oldham you'll find this will fluff your nighty-night pillow. Introspective without being whiny.

Sample the Music