Human Like A House

Tracyanne and Co. are coming to Singapore to perform for a one night only at 7:30 pm on 29th October at the Esplanade! =D So that ends the looking forward to bit. Now for the main chunk of text.

Camera Obscura was founded in 1996 and hmm, how shall I put it, what I feel to be a definitive Indie band; the love for classic records/cassette tapes, guitar/record shop junkie sounds there and that seemingly elusive air which it brings about when you listen to their songs is just so reminiscence inspiring that you almost feel that you've been transported back to the the 70s (around there, that's just my approximation) coupled with the distinctive Tracyanne vocals.

So ranked in descending order according to play count from my library, these are the Top 5 songs:

1. Lloyd, I'm Ready to Be Heartbroken
2. I Don't Do Crowds
3. If Looks Could Kill
4. Suspended from Class
5. Keep It Clean

You can download music videos of most of above songs about from Elefant Records here. I highly recommend the video for Tears for Affairs to start of with - the use of various vintage TV show backdrops is just so nostalgic. And so how did I stumble upon them you ask?

It all had to do with a trip to Booksactually, making friends with owners Uncle Kenny and Aunty Karen and of course avid patron Mr. Eric. Mr. Eric was the Number One Son, sorry fan among us initially whom due to his frequent distant travels managed to get hold of a few of their albums, so he spread the joy to Uncle Kenny and Aunty Karen and then I got sucked into this vortex by spending much too many hours at the old tree house. Every time I listen to them, I get reminded of the days at the tree house and how I missed the place. Yes, Booksactually shall always have a special place in my heart, or mind - if you prefer and consider the approach of epiphenomenalism.

Just so if you have access to the iTunes store, they are also available there and do grab a copy of the band's cover of Super Trooper by ABBA. That rustic feeling is always present in the band's songs albeit them being released after 1996. Do check out Tracyanne's virtual compilation tapes at the band's site if you're running out of ideas on what to listen to.

Update: It just hit me that I actually wrote an e-mail to them begging them (I admit to using a number of 'please's but I was very earnest in writing) to play in Singapore a few months ago and tickets are only available from 21 August onwards and that means sleepless nights till I get my hands on a pair of tickets...

Labels: Indie Music Spotlight, Looking Forward To

I first saw this on Geoff's BLDGBLOG and almost blown away by it. Basically you have this apartment unit with a history, new family moves in. Delivery dude arrives someday with the first clue and you're on your way to the scavenger hunt of your life - well though not quite as dramatic as it all takes place within the house. Erm, it's all gonna be made into one movie directed by J.J. Abrams (whose claim to fame largely lied with that infamous viral marketing of Cloverfield)

Seriously take a look at the New York Times article here and the slideshow here - the door handle that turns into a crank for a secret compartment is way fun (I hesitate to use the word cool since it's like pachebel's canon - overplayed and in this case overused in world as we know it to be). However, I'm sure that archinecks would be more appreciative to all that detail alongside Le Corbusier's modular man.

Labels: Looking Forward To