FoundTrack's Fall '08 Collection (Track 20/20) Quantic Presenta Flowering Inferno - Mi Chocolatina

Quantic Presenta Flowering Inferno - Mi Chocolatina (Track 20/20)
Written, produced and arranged by William Holland
(P) 2008 Tru Thoughts Ltd
Published by Full Thought Publishing
Taken from the album ‘Death Of The Revolution’ (TRUCD163) (Sample/Purchase) www.tru-thoughts.co.uk
http://www.myspace.com/quanticmusic


Quantic Presenta Flowering Inferno is the latest guise in a constantly evolving musical production polaroid from the Columbian based beatmaster Will Holland, AKA Quantic. The concept and style of Flowering Inferno ignites from hedonistic, easy-listening dub and reggae inspired music from the 70's made in a tropical climate. The Colombian climate, in this case in which Death of the Revolution was recorded, has certainly made it's musical stamp with the multi-intrumentalist playing exotic native instruments such as the Guacharaca and the Gelta in addition to his own usual efforts and original compositions on the piano, guitar, and accordion with little in the way of sampling. Death of the Revolution also features a number of guest performances from a host of Latin America's finest musicans to produce authentic dub and cumbia rhythms similar to other Colombian icons like Pedro Laza and Michi Sarmiento from the north coast.

Following the release of this album, I was lucky enough to see Quantic perform live at Zanzibar's Afrofunke with Jeremy Sole, who considers Will one of his greatest inspirations and the Santa Monica venue had transformed into the exact climate in which the album was produced. For a once in a lifetime dance experience, I highly recommend looking into his tour in the future. Our featured "Mi Chocolatina" is a fitting way to round out our collection of music from the Fall. We had to leave listeners wanting more and therefore...the second Quantic Presenta Flowering Inferno album is due in 2009 so stay tuned for more updates...until then, check out this brilliant animation video of "Death of the Revolution", the titular track off the album.

FoundTrack's Fall '08 Collection (Track 19/20) - Arabian Prince - Let's Hit the Beach

Arabian Prince - Let's Hit the Beach (Track 19/20)
Album - Innovative Life : The Anthology 1984-1989 (Sample/Purchase)
Label - Stones Throw
http://www.myspace.com/arabianprince



Back in the mid-80's when L.A. had a solid underground scene, a bunch of "Party" D.J.'s were ready to put L.A. on the map not only for electro music but for Hip-Hop as well. The most notable artists from this scene became part of The World Class Wreckin' Cru featuring Dr. Dre & Dj Yella, Egyptian Lover, and Arabian Prince <---the fly guy in the pimp prom pic above. While Dre and Yella went on to fame with N.W.A. and Egyptian Lover went on to D.J. as an opening act to many great electronic artists, Arabian Prince was left in the dust. That is, until recently when the people at Stone Throws decided to put out a collection of his early dancefloor hits in Innovative Life, presenting a glimpse into an overlooked chapter in hip-hop's story. This anthology collects many of his groundbreaking electro-rap work recorded between 1984 and 1989, including our featured homage to the lovely venice beach to keep you warm and toasty this Fall/Winter. This is a must listen for fans of 2 Live Crew, Egyptian Lover, Sir Mix A-Lot, and other 808 bassheads. Here's another little treat, the music video for "She's Got a Big Posse" from Arabian's solo debut album from 1989, Brother Arab.

Special thanks to Doctor Paul Jones (Reckless Romeo) for his Arabian Prince prognosis for this feature.

FoundTrack's Fall '08 Collection (Track 18/20) - The Pharcyde - Passin' Me By (Hot Chip remix)

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The Pharcyde - Passin' Me By - Hot Chip RMX (Track 18 of 20)
Album - Rmxxology (Sample/Purchase)
Label - Delicious Vinyl
http://www.deliciousvinyl.com/rmxxology
http://www.myspace.com/thepharcyde
http://www.hotchip.co.uk

Two major alternative artists collide in this super rad track- one of which is arguably the most unique hip hop act of the 90s, and the other, one of the biggest British acts of the 2000s. Let's begin with the hip hop half of the puzzle- a few guys that need no introduction, The Pharcyde!

The group was originated in South Central Los Angeles, where the group's members grew up, and a budding underground hiphop scene was flourishing. While the group has gone through many ups and downs and various lineups in recent years, the original and four best known members of the group from it's prime are Imani, Slimkid3 (Tre Hardson), Bootie Brown and Fatlip (A partner in crime of our good friend DJ KnewJack). Several marquee LA producers have worked with the group, including J-Swift and then the late great J Dilla. The group's best known for it's classic debut album Bizarre Ride II the Pharcyde, and hit 90s singles including "Passin' Me By" (the subject of this post), "Runnin'", and "Drop" which got this super cool high concept music video treatment by Spike Jonze:



While Pharcyde created the classic original version of "Passin' Me By," it was caliente British group Hot Chip that did the bang up job on this particular remix that we featured on the FoundTrack Fall '08 Collection. The electropop group has seemingly blown up in the last few years, and has even been Grammy-nominated. They've released three studio albums—Coming on Strong, The Warning, and Made in the Dark- the latter two which were named Album of the Year and Album of the Month respecitvely by Mixmag.


Now that you've heard the "Who" portion of this track's background, it's time to move on to the "Why" and "How." Remixes are often a scary area- especially when it comes to really well known tracks. Leave it to the good folks over at Delicious Vinyl and artists such as Hot Chip to relieve us of this concern! The label produced the super cool Rmxxology compilation which also features the likes of Peaches, Pink Enemy, Fatlip & Aaron LaCrate. I highly recommend picking up a copy for yourself- You can learn more about this collision of Titans new and old at Rmmxology's official site.

In the meantime, in the spirit of the holidays and getting back to your roots, here's the super chill original music video to Pharcyde's "Passin' Me By":

FoundTrack's Fall '08 Collection (Track 17/20) - The Phenomenal Handclap Band - 15 to 20

The Phenomenal Handclap Band - 15 to 20 (Track 17 of 20 - Damn! almost a sweet coincidence)
Album - The Phenomenal Handclap Band (Unreleased Advance)
Label - Self-Release (Embassy Sound Productions)
http://www.myspace.com/embassyproductions
Phenomenalhandclapband.blogspot.com
Photo By Alex Solmssen

Daniel Collas and Sean Marquand are two NY Underground DJ's who grew tired of playing other people's music so they decided to produce their own on Embassy Sound Productions, creating groovy dance-oriented rock fueled by live instrumentation instead of their Mac Powerbooks. Their initial success in revitalizing the careers of two veteran soul acts, New York's Joe Bataan and Brazil's União Black, had given them the motivation to form The Phenomenal Handclap Band, a supergroup of 25+ consisting of a who's who in the indie rock and underground soul scenes. The band's yearbook picture would feature members of TV on the Radio, Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, Si Se, Calla, Mooney Suzuki and many more with honorable mention not pictured album contributions from members of Antibalas, Oakley Hall, The Dap Kings, Diamond Nights, Persephone's Bees and Apollo Heights. Mix together all those guys and you get a sound that is characterized by anthemic dance-flooriented progressive rock with 60's soul, 70's disco, 80's electro and 90's hip-hoperatic orchestral backbeats.

Their self-released/titled debut album is unavailable for purchase but the band has been kind enough to contribute their debut single "15 to 20" for our Fall collection feat. The Lady Tigra (L'Trimm) on vocals singing "5,10,15,20.....45,50 all that time still riding the bus." I'm guessing she's referring to the head count on the Phenomenal Handclappers tour van. Last i checked on their myspace, their were 28. Perhaps NY's answer to Canada's Broken Social Scene, inviting any and all people to collaborate and join the funkiest fam in the land. Although they've only had a handful of live performances I hear they're not to be missed. Prefix Mag has a comprehensive gallery/review of their debut show in July. Here is a little preview thanks to this video from Silent Five Media's Chris Talbott of the track "You'll Disappear" live at The Rivington Lounge in New York City.

FoundTrack's Fall '08 Collection (Track 16/20) - Woolfy - Odyssey

Woolfy - Odyssey (Track 16/20)
Album - Odyssey 12" (Sample/Purchase)
Label - Rong
http://www.myspace.com/woolfys




Simon "Woolfy" James is an L.A. transplant via London, growing up in a musical pedigree from pops, who managed Yes, The Bee Gees, Desmond Dekker, and the Stranglers to name a few. Obviously influenced by his father's clientèle, it is no wonder that Woolfy put his paw on the needle to make musical footprints all over the LA scene as a DJ in the early 90's, opening for such acts as DJ Krush, Antibalas, and Jurassic 5. In 2000 Woolfy would have a chance meeting with multi-instrumentalist Dan Hastie (Breakestra, Orgone, Lions) in a little pub in the valley, which Woolfy now owns, and together they would form an 8-yr musical collaboration called Projections, which recorded material fusing live instrumentation with sampled breaks and beats from their favorite 70's funk and rare groove records. After a few successful releases on Guidance recordings and some collaborations with Plantlife and the Pharcyde, Woolfy met DJ Spun of NY's Rong Records, and they began releasing his solo work on the new Rong/DFA imprint, including the 12" single for our featured "Odyssey", a crafty-cosmo funk cut with a perfect dose of soul.

Woolfy has just released the latest from his Projections project, The Astral Projections of Starlight on Germany's Permanent Vacation. Here's a little preview with "Neeve", what sounds like part 3 of Another Brick in the Wall.

neeve.mp3 - Woolfy

Make sure to have a pint at his Canoga Park Pub, the Scotland Yard, in honor of their 20-year anniversary. Cheers.

FoundTrack's Fall '08 Collection (Track 15/20) Monsters Are Waiting - Don't Lie

Monsters Are Waiting - Don't Lie (Track 15/20)
Album - Ones and Zeros EP (Sample/Purchase)
Label - Kanine
http://www.myspace.com/monstersarewaiting


Monsters are Waiting are an indie rock duo from Echo Park consisting of Annalee Fery (vocals, keys) and Andrew Clark (guitar, bass). They were originally a four-piece when they formed in 2005, but have since downsized to dos...Damn you economy. The band's change coupled with Annalee's pregnancy has kept Monster fans waiting as well, but this past Fall saw the release of a new 6-track EP on Kanine Records, including our featured "Don't Lie" in addition to a Monster rendition of the Stone Roses' classic "I Wanna Be Adored". V and I got a chance to check out the band's infectious haunt-rock this past summer at the final installment of Fridays off the 405 at the Getty Center in a highly anticipated return to stage before a local-crowd. Annalee's breathy, dreamy vocals, similar in style to Blonde Redhead's Kazu Makino, served as a suitable companion to Andrew Clark's shoe-gaze drift-riffs on guitar while enchanting visuals were projected behind the full band. Check out the video below for the title track from the Ones and Zeros EP.



To get to know Annalee's green thumb and the Geico gigs she lands when she's not rocking it out on stage in this interview with PLAYBOY for their Woman on the Verge series.

FoundTrack's Fall '08 Collection (Track 14/20) - Lemon Sun - The Edge of Defeat

Lemon Sun - The Edge of Defeat (Track 14/20)
Album - Run With the Faithless (Sample/Purchase)
Label - Self-Release
http://www.myspace.com/lemonsun
www.lemonsun.net

Lemon Sun are four lads and a lady who coalesce to form a star of molten rock & roll at the center of LA's sonic solar system. They are led by charismatic singer Rob Kolar and Chris Knight (bass) and accompanied by sassy/sexy guitarist/keyboardist Melissa Dougherty, el gigante drummer Nick Rucker and guitarist Mike Shapiro. They have played at many of LA's best venues sharing stages with the likes of the Cold War Kids, The Killers, and other LA staples including Silversun Pickups, Monsters Are Waiting, and Run Run Run. Speaking of LA's best venues, Lemon Sun have released live recordings from their residency at the echo so go to Spaceland Recordings to order a copy and get a taste for their energetic brand of psychedelic rock influenced by the classics. Here's a video for "Telephone" directed by Jason Argyropoulos (Tree Film Works)

They will be playing at the Casbah (Sand Diego) on the 20th before taking respite for the holidays. Make sure to check them out when they come through as they have big plans for the new year. Special thanks to Larry Little (Future Sounds) for his help in introducing us to this great local band.

FoundTrack's Fall '08 Collection (Track 13/20) - The New Year - The Company I Can Get

The New Year - The Company I Can Get (Track 13/20)
Album - The New Year (Sample/Purchase)
Label - Touch and Go
http://www.myspace.com/thenewyear
Photo by Allison Smith


The chiming and spacious sounds found on The New Year's self-titled September release establish a musical progression that expands on the band's earlier work, dating back to the Kadane brothers' earlier incarnation Bedhead. 4 years removed from "The End is Near," what one might expect from these veterans still remains: subtle, often sparse, experimentations in guitar rock offset by ambitious, yet not overpowering accompaniment, highlighted particularly by the emergence of majestic piano work. The first single, the relatively bright "The Company I Can Get," demonstrates this conceptual nucleus perhaps more aptly than any cut on the album, pushing soft, clear, almost twinkling guitar to the forefront of a lurching piano melody. The lyrics of the song, and the album as a whole, for that matter, reflect a consistently honest demeanor that is largely somber, but tinged with guarded optimism.

You can check out another sampling from the new album, "X Off Days," and for those of you who don't already own the album, here's the third of a series of simple, but elegant trailers that captures what The New Year is all about, featuring the aforementioned "The Company I Can Get:"



The New Year just wrapped up tours through the eastern U.S., and most recently, Europe.

FoundTrack's Fall '08 Collection (Track 12/20) - The Broken West - Perfect Games

The Broken West - Perfect Games (Track 12/20)
Album - Now Or Heaven (Sample/Purchase)
Label - Merge
http://www.myspace.com/thebrokenwest


The Broken West are a local indie rock band from Los Angeles, producing a pleasing sonal picture of alternative California Rock & Roll soul removed of the LA glitz and glam. The foursome are fronted by Ross Flournoy (vocals, guitar), Danny Iead (guitar), and the rhythm section of Rob McCorkindale (Drums) and Brian Whelan (Bass). In early 2007, the band released an ambitious debut album, I Can't Go On, I'll Go On, but their indecisive album title seemed to serve as a metaphor for a band who weren't afraid to accept their inexperience. This recent second effort, Now or Heaven, seems a much more definitive sonic statement, originating from an endless tour searching for "a diamond in a bag of ice" only to find greener grass in their own backyard.

For a more stonesy, blue-eyed soul version of our featured "Perfect Games", check out their second Daytrotter session, which also includes free downloads of other re-arrangements off their new album. Below is their live performance from this past Fall on KCRW's Morning Becomes Eclectic with Nic Harcourt, who included Now or Heaven on his top 10 year end list.



The Broken West have just announced new tour dates for the late winter with the French Kicks and AC Newman so check out the Broken West blog for more details on the dates.

FoundTrack's Fall '08 Collection (Track 11/20) - The Golden Dogs - Lester

The Golden Dogs - Lester (Track 11/20)
Album - Construction Worker (B-side of 7" Release)
Label - Indie
http://www.myspace.com/thegoldendogs



The Golden Dogs are an indie rock band hailing from Toronto. They are led by Dave Azzolini (pictured in Golden Dog attire above) on guitar/vox and wife Jess Grassia on the smashing keys and accompanying vocals. The first time i heard of the Dogs it was when they were introduced to to join Feist on stage at the Hollywood Bowl, accompanying the canadian chanteuse on her summer tour. If the Golden Dogs were a football team as their name might suggest, they would be the team that looks pretty unassuming when they step on the field during warmups but once the whistle is blown, they might have to destroy their opponents and eat the football..such was my surprise as i caught the band's performance the night after at Tangier, a local haven for singer songwriters. The dogs were let out and the band provided a great world of sound from the light pop of our featured "Lester" to the gritty hard-nosed rock n roll licks on this fine cover of Paul McCartney's "Nineteen Hundred and Eighty-Five".



Check out this video for "Construction Worker" directed by Arno Salters..they use the same signs in this video to conveniently display the songs in their setlist during their live shows. Wish other bands would do the same.



For more info. contact Graham Stairs - Finkelstein Management

FoundTrack's Fall '08 Collection (Track 10/20) - Donkeys - Walk Through A Cloud

The Donkeys - Walk Through A Cloud (Track 10/20)
Album - Living On the Other Side (Sample/Purchase)
Label - Dead Oceans
http://www.myspace.com/thedonkeys


A few years ago on my religious weekly trek to Amoeba, I noticed a featured title from an unfamiliar band. Of course, there are many of these but this one had a nice picture of a candle-lit piano in a dark cabin and something about it seemed to attract attention to the music within. Thus, I did my homework to find an impressive debut from four San Diegans, playing country-tinged Americana that seemed to fit perfectly to the lifestyle of the sea world they lived. I shouldn't have been surprised to find out that at one time or another, various members of The Donkeys have been the backing band for such veritable acts as Cass McCombs, Casiotone for the Painfully Alone, and Papercuts. They def'ly didn't disappoint on their sensational sophomore effort, Living on the Other Side, with such standouts as our featured "Walk Through A Cloud" and "Dolphin Center", the latter of which gave me goosebumps after Jessie Gulati's nearly two minute guitar solo led to the en-chorus. Listen below and test the hairs on your arms.



The Donkeys have just wrapped up their national tour but you can get a great feel for their quality live performances from their dual Daytrotter sessions.

FoundTrack's Fall '08 Collection (Track 9/20) - Jail Weddings - The Spell Has Lifted

Jail Weddings - The Spell Has Lifted (Track 9/20)
Album - "The Spell Has Lifted" / "People Like Us (Are Extinct)"
Label - Albino Crow
http://www.myspace.com/jailweddings
Photo by Lauren Everett

Swampy, doo-wop artists Jail Weddings is a ten-piece ensemble hailing from Los Angeles. In addition to ex-Starvations and Fortune's Flesh frontman Gabriel Hart, the lengthy roster features two female vocalists, Tornado Jane and Katya Nadia Hubiak, as well as members on violin, piano, saxophone. Their swirling melodies result from a lavish approach to equal parts 60's pop, soul, and garage rock with an unmistakable penchant for the dramatic. Hart's lyrics reflect a sense of gravity, recklessness, and portent all at once, translating into a live show that has earned substantial praise from critics and concertgoers alike for its air of heroism as much as its vulnerability. Jail Weddings is currently recording an EP, not to mention their full-length debut, Love is Lawless. But, in case you can't wait any longer to hear more of them, they'll be performing at the echo on Dec. 17 in support of the record release of their highly anticipated "The Spell Has Lifted" single.

FoundTrack's Fall '08 Collection (Track 8/20) - Rodriguez - Sugar Man

Rodriguez - Sugar Man (Track 8/20)
Album - Cold Fact (Sample/Purchase)
Label - Light in the Attic
http://www.myspace.com/rodriguezsugarman


The first time i heard Rodriguez my friend made me stop what i was doing to listen to Cold Fact. The first song was "Sugar Man" and my initial reaction was immediate familiarity. By the end I felt like I was taken through a rite of passage from the 60's pop folk world into a 70's type psychedelic wonderland. I did my best to find more information but the only thing i found was a tribute page built by people in South Africa. It went on to describe how music was extremely popular among white people during the Apartheid. However, his music barely made a ripple in his homeland in the U.S. due to the fact that he recorded his two albums for the Sussex label which went under shortly after his second album. Luckily people in South Africa and Australia bought the rights to the music and have been re-issuing this album since its release. Thanks to Seattle's Light in the Attic Records, 39 years later this album finds a home in America with the company of a renewed and growing audience. If "Sugar Man" makes your ears perk, I highly recommend the rest of the album which features the bass player from the Funk Bros. on multiple tracks. For more info. check out this great feature on NPR and a recent video below, both produced just before the start of his tour through the states with Connie Price and the Keystones as his backing band.



Special Thanks to Reckless Romeo for introducing me to Rodriguez's music and contributing to this feature.

FoundTrack's Fall '08 Collection (Track 7/20) - Obi Best - Nothing Can Come Between Us

Obi Best - Nothing Can Come Between Us (Track 7/20)
Album - Capades (Sample/Purchase)
Label - Social Science
http://www.myspace.com/obibest
Photo by Sarah Creighton


Obi Best are an LA based pop group formed from the pieces of Colorforms. They are led by the sweeping vocals of Alex Lillly, the moonlighting backup singer for the Bird and the Bee, as well as Bram Inscore (Beck) on bass and keys. On their debut full-length, Capades, Obi Best's music contains a 60's retro fabric with analog synths and sophisticated keyboard driven pop in the vein of Stereolab. Recently, Alex and the band were featured on Nic Harcourt's Tuned-In series, a weekly wrap up of the tracks that's catching nic's ears on the KCRW airwaves. Capades is now available digitally but will be in stores early next year. Below is a video for the humorous "It's Because of People Like You", a response to an angry note left on a car door.



Here's a link to the video for our featured "Nothing Can Come Between Us". Obi Best are just about to wrap up a mini-tour in NY but they will be back in LA next week for a show with Princeton at the echo on the 26th. You best be there or else beware of the angry note on your car door ; )

FoundTrack's Fall '08 Collection (Track 6/20) - Eliza Doolittle - Rolling Stones

Eliza Doolittle - Rolling Stones (Track 6/20)
Album - Demo
Label - None
http://www.myspace.com/elizadoolittlemusic
http://www.youtube.com/elizadoolittlefilm
For More info. - Coda Agency


Let's get one thing clear, Eliza Doolittle is not a second coming of Audrey Hepburn but the latest coming in a series of sensational british pop songstresses and she doesn't need anyone's help passing the bar as a fair lady in the music scene. Eliza is her true birthgiven name and the Doolittle is a nickname that has stuck with her since gradeschool. At just 19 years of age and 5'3 tall, this little gal has already been writing music for eight years and she's got a suitcase chock full of over 40 cuts of catchy melodies ready to accompany her on an inevitable int'l tour. According to her myspace, she's signed to Parlophone records but who knows if she's got a domestic deal in the states so do your due dilligence. We've even thrown you a bone with our featured "Rolling Stones" so make sure to follow this young talent on the rise. Check out the video below for her new single, "Piano Song."

FoundTrack's Fall '08 Collection (Track 5/20) - Zigmat- Light of the Moon

Zigmat - Light of the Moon (Track 5/20)
Album - Sounds of Machines EP (Sample/Purchase)
Label - Self Release
http://www.myspace.com/zigmat
Photo taken by Zandy Mangold


Zigmat is a Brooklyn-based electro-rock outfit led by Puerto-Rican singer, Monica Rodriguez. I was introduced to the band from KCRW DJ Raul Campos, who said of the group after hearing them at the Latin Alternative Music Conference in New York "Zigmat's music is edgy, rockin’, melodic and dreamy. It's a wonderful fusion that's makes for great energy in their recordings and on stage”. I felt that energy at their sole performance at the CMJ music conference and also got a chance to record an interview with the band and KCRW's music publicist Rachel Reynolds. Check it out below and make sure to continue to watch the next show on the video player where Monica showcases her beatboxing skills on Happy Birthday. BTW- She does do parties.

FoundTrack's Fall '08 Collection (Track 4/20) - Heartbreak - We're Back

Heartbreak - We're Back (Track 4/20)
Album - Lies (Sample/Purchase)
Label - Lex
http://www.myspace.com/heartbreak1


Heartbreak is an electro duo from London comprised of Arengtinian singer Sebastian Muravchik and British/French keyboardist Ali Renault. The duo are heavily influenced by Italo disco and are on a mission to awaken the ignored voices of this forgotten past. Their recently released debut full-length Lies is one of the top synth pop albums of the year and they have been busy supporting it on tour with the Presets and Cut Copy. On the new album, you'll find our featured anthem "We're back" in addition to intense songs about Mr. T on LSD and Molly Ringwald painting a rainbow. Their music has been coined "Metallo", fusing the dark energy of metal bands like "Black Sabbath" with the melodic drama of early 80's electro and italo disco. But i think Vice magazine described the duo's music best as "how the 80's would sound today if the 90's hadn't got in the way."

FoundTrack's Fall '08 Collection (Track 3/20) - Juvelen - Hanna

Juvelen - Hanna (Track 3/20)
Album - 1 (Sample/Purchase)
Label - Hybris
http://www.myspace.com/juvelen



After a few unsuccessful attempts as guitarist and keyboardist in a number of bands, Jonas Petersson locked himself in a basement and started recording songs under the name Juvelen (Jewel in swedish). Overnight he became an internet sensation on myspace after hooking up with producer Patrick Berger (Robyn, Hillary Duff). Thus was born Stockholm's Juvelen, the R&B synth pop/electro funkmaster with a true falsetto in the style of the artist formerly known as Prince. Juvelen explains that his highly acclaimed debut effort, 1, is "about songs from the heart sung from the hip". Check out the video for our featured "Hanna" below with synchronized swimming directed by Yousavedme photographer Oskar Lundgren.

FoundTrack's Fall '08 Collection (Track 2/20) - Ladyhawke - Back of the Van

Ladyhawke - Back of the Van (Track 2/20)
Album - Ladyhawke (Out 11/18/08)
Label - Modular
http://www.myspace.com/ladyhawkerock

Ladyhawke is the stage name of New Zealand singer songwriter Phillipa "Pip" Brown. In High School Pip played lead guitar in the grunge band Two Lane Blacktop and just two days before they were to support Australia's The Modey Lemon en route to an invitation to SXSW, the singer and drummer had both quit the band. Pip decided to take the flight to Australia anyways with an empty aisle and window seat accompanied by just her suitcase and guitar. She would end up befriending Nick Littlemore (Pnau) in Sydney and they played together for a few yrs in the band Teenager before Pip would focus on a personal project she had been developing for some time, a persona dubbed "Ladyhawke", named after the Rutger Hauer film from the 80's starring Matthew Broderick and Michelle Pfeifer. The project is greatly influenced by the music of this time, giving listeners a feeling of nostalgia despite having first heard her music. Memories of Pat Benetar were instantly evoked upon listening to the first track "Magic" off her forthcoming self-titled release, which Pip arranged and plays all on her own.

Our featured "Back of the Van" refers to her own memories touring in the back of an old clapped out Van called Cherry and driving through the night with her smelly bandmates from Two Lane Blacktop once they were developing quite a following in NZ. Check out the her video below, directed by Kinga Burza.



Ladyhawke also has an affinity 80's arcade games as well. That's why she's offered for us fans to play the Ladyhawke arcade game for free- check it out here http://www.ladyhawkemusic.com/game/