The Sifting Pan

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Tag Archives: New Zealand

Kimbra - The Golden Echo


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Best Albums of 2014 #5.) Kimbra – The Golden Echo

Kimbra - The Golden Echo

released in August 2014 via Warner Bros. Records

The Golden Echo is both majestic and enamoring in the way it leaves behind an insatiable thirst for more. New Zealand’s very own Kimbra has truly outdone herself on her latest release with the ability to keep her unique brand of experimental pop so palatable. She’s miles ahead of her fellow intellectual alt-poptress and the proof is in the incredible range of genre warping going on here. The debate about the coming mono-genre rages on, and all the while Kimbra has created a saturated cocktail that combines more genres then I actually knew existed.

Here is where things start to get a little strange. As it turns out, The Golden Echo is an experimental concoction that goes down smoother than I could have ever possibly expected. I never knew I could fall for an album that had so much going on in areas music that I simply have no foundation. I can understand how at first everything it may seem too overwhelming to handle, but like a good movie, as you watch it time and time again, you begin to pick up on the clever artistic choices made that add to the overall appeal. Clocking in at over an hour, with its shortest track being closer to 4 minutes, The Golden Echo is very much like watching a cinematic experience, and I strongly recommend setting aside the time to give it shot.

Kimbra has created more than a few engrossing songs that I will surly keep on sharing and playing for decades to come.

Favorite Tracks:
90s Music
Love In High Places
Goldmine
Miracle
Carolina
Nobody But You
Madhouse

Twitter Handle: @kimbramusic
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/kimbramusic
Spotify:  Kimbra


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Top 10 Albums of 2011! #8 Passive Me, Aggressive You

The Naked and Famous may not be naked, but I'd be damned not to say that they're now famous.

New Zealand’s own The Naked and Famous are responsible for easily one of the most invigorating albums of 2011; Passive Me, Aggressive You. From start to finish this album is a self-sufficient youthful journey of loud and powerful indie rock that ranges from the synth strung Young Blood to the heavy distorted guitars found on Frayed and many other tracks. The overall listening experience is definitely a memorable one that does not allow itself to be taken for granted. The Naked and Famous bring a unique form of vitality to a genre that likes to say it’s seen it all. The reception from critics and audiences alike could generally not be more positive making this band one of the most demanded acts of 2011.

“Frayed” – The Naked and Famous

The alarm has sounded and what has commenced must be allowed to finish and take its course. Frayed is just something that can’t be fought off with its alluring build up into a full blown tantalizer of the musical senses. Ok, so maybe I get a bit more out of this track then the average individual but there is no denying the mesmerizing appeal of this wicked track.

“Young Blood” – The Naked and Famous

Ah, Young Blood. The pinnacle song in The Naked and Famous’ arsenal, and what I like to believe is the track that put these guys on the map. From the second those first synth driven notes are dropped you find yourself enveloped in a song that just towers above the rest of what 2011 has to offer. This is something new- something different- you could almost say it’s a breed of its own. This track is the very embodiment of the youthfulness and spontaneity The Naked and Famous evoke so well. I don’t think Passive Me, Aggressive You would have been the same with out this beautiful stand out of a track.

The Naked and Famous - Passive Me, Aggressive You (click image to buy album)

  1. “All of This”* 3:55
  2. “Punching in a Dream“* 3:58
  3. “Frayed”* 3:46
  4. “The Source” 0:48
  5. “The Sun”* 3:56
  6. “Eyes” 4:43
  7. “Young Blood”* 4:06
  8. “No Way” 5:29
  9. “Spank”* 4:10
  10. “Jilted Lovers” 3:15
  11. “A Wolf in Geek’s Clothing”* 3:14
  12. “The Ends” 1:49
  13. “Girls Like You”* 6:04
*Notable Tracks

Open and listen to The Naked And Famous’ Passive Me, Aggressive You in Spotfiy


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Song the Day! Clap Clap Riot – Everyone’s Asleep

Clap Clap Riot - Everyone's Asleep

Clap Clap Riot are an undiscovered indie rock band from Auckland, New Zealand

Clap Clap Riot is just one of those bands that really do live up to their name. This is evident within seconds of starting the band’s single Everyone’s Asleep. *Clap*Clap*Clap* And then begins that oh so addicting chorus line. Things get even better when you add in the gritty guitar riffs and steady tempo of melodic beats that persist throughout this foot stomper. I am very shocked at the lack of hype around this track. Under 300 last.fm listeners and under 10,000 youtube plays, so I’d say these guys are pretty off the radar. The thing about a song as likable Everyone’s Asleep is that it won’t stay hidden for long. This one’s going to jump a few rungs on the musical ladder, mark my words. What’s even better is that these guys are still fresh and have time to develop their sound even further before attracting a huge following. It’s just a matter of letting time and buzz take its course at this point.

Here’s the official music video for Everyone’s Asleep. Don’t let the all zombies frighten you.

As always, you should check out the band’s Facebook Page. I’m sure Clap Clap Riot appreciate the love and like.


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Song of the Day! Cut Off Your Hands – You Should Do Better

Cut Off Your Hands, New Zealand based Indie Rock band, are back making music after a three year absence.

Cut Off Your Hands are still the amazing indie rockers I remember them being back in 2007. But now it’s 2011 and we’re on the brink of the bands newest LP Hollows which, so far, sounds very promising. The song You Should Do Better is the first single off of Hollows and I can tell just from this track the LP will be something big. You can just hear the artistic passion surging out from this wonderful new song. This song is leaving me with some very big exceptions for the upcoming album, but its not like i’d expect anything less then great from a band who has delivered so well in the past.

You can hear how the band has made some changes and strides from their 2008 debut album You & I. Just listen to the wonderful track Still Fond off their debut to hear what has happened in the course of three years and also just to know how amazing these guys were for their time. The song remains one of those great indie rock tracks from when I was still being influenced heavily in alternative music.

Cut Off Your Hands – Still Fond


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Song of the Day! The Naked and Famous – Punching In A Dream

The Naked and Famous are punching into our dreams from New Zealand

Music Video: Punching In A Dream

There is undoubtably something magical about The Naked and Famous. Their music has the capability of taking you to a wonderful place that is free of the world’s woes and seems to transcend so many genre barriers. If you haven’t done so already I suggest you go listen to their amazingly beautiful song Young Blood right now. But today is about the awesome electro-clash track Punching In A Dream. Whimsical synth-beats are abound in The Naked and Famous’s third single from their debut album Passive Me, Aggressive You. After so much success with the release of their debut in their home country of New Zealand these kiwis decided that its only right to take on the world and officially released Passive Me, Aggressive You worldwide on March 14th through Polydor Records. If your as big of a fan of simple and good electro-pop as I am then you need to get your hands on this record ASAP- you will not regret it.