Muse: An 8 Bit Tribute

This here is an awesome compilation that celebrates Muse for being the best band ever. Made only with vintage console hardware, this takes Muse to the level they never gone before. Enjoy!
Download: here

P.S. - I made the artwork as well.

Huis Fransie Grass Rock: New Holland, Ben-Nevis

Yesterday, I wentwith a few pals to attend the Tygerberg kampus rock gig. My intentions was to go say hi to all my medical buddies and then to check out New Holland. I've never seen them gig before so I was keen to see how they shape up.

The venue was rather epic. It was in front of a big classroom hall/building and the stage was the steps up the building. With the lighting and light breeze coming through just added to feeling of awe. I like taking in the atmosphere at gigs.

The gig opened with few local girls singing cover songs, which was pretty brave and good! Then A-Span came on. They are a acoustic guitar duo similiar to Lukraaketaar. Both of them are still in highschool, Ben and Renier. They opened with an amazing instrumental acoustic tune that blew my mind. However, when they began to sing, it lost the effect. The vocals is not bad, just needs a bit more work. The lyrics however was very good. I don't often listen lyrics intently, but that was good.

Then Ben-Nevis came on. I am overly critical with new bands, maybe because I'm self a musician and that "competition" mindset comes into play. "I'm better than these guys" - and gals. However, they have potential. Their riffs are funky and they gel very well together as a group and for mere highschool kids they are very professional. I love the textures of the guitar, however that nagging de ja vu feeling kept coming back. The lead vocalist sounds just like Francois van Coke. I hate drawing parallels, because sometimes they are mere coincidences, but the similarity is to close to chalk to mere coincidence.

The final band to put on our party shoes was New Holland. I thoroughly enjoyed their set. They are extremely tight as a band and their sound are really of international caliber. However they are not there yet. I'm interested in hearing new material, because for now their music is catchy and good, but it still needs that edge, something that sets them apart from other bands. What I like about New Holland is their stage presence. They are smiling and enjoying themselves and that's what matters to me. The bassist is constantly with a smile and bounces his away around the stage. I would've like the frontman's vocals to be a bit more louder though. I'm eager to see them again, to see how they fair with a bigger crowd, I guess the energy could be even more contagious!

2009! Oh yeah!

Hey peeps,

what is up in heezy?
Ok, rather lame.

I'm about half a month late, but I would to congratulate you all on a awesome new year. 2009 I feel is going to be epic. I aim to write a lot more about music, poker, language and experiences.

I joined a LexiBlog: a blog about languages and world cultures. I just finished my first post there. I'll be writing there sporadically on my language adventures.
I also recently started jamming online poker and have been finding it most fun. I'm playing on Piggs Peak Poker mostly and yesterday I've finally doubled my bankroll. It's a great feeling and I hope I can stay consistent. I feel there's a lot more to study on poker.

Also, I must sadly say that I'm not going to play RAMFEST anymore as Sparkyboy. Other obligations arose that I had to take priority to. However, I'm fast at work on a new EP which will be released very soon and I've been working on a Muse 8-bit collaboration! That will be out soon as well.

Also, congrats to Heath Ledger for winning the Golden Globe.

Peace,
Niel

Siren's Eye

Ok, I confess. I am a big fan of the series Greek. Every character is lovable and the stories are oh so juicy soap-ish. Cappie (Scott Michael Foster) is one of my favourite characters. He kind of reminds me of myself, without the lady skills of course. So, such is routine, after every series or new interest I go read up on the wiki. Check some random trivia about the people. You know the simple celebrity syndrome fixation.
Then I read that Scott also plays in an indie band, Siren's Eye. He even does the vocals. So natural instinct took over and I just had to listen to it. Boy, was I surprised. It's not necessarily very unique, but darn is it catchy and Scott can sing! Listen to Falling.

Check the live vids as well on their Myspace.
Awesome-tastic.

Band of the Day: Campbell

http://www.myspace.com/campbelltheband

After listening to an 8bit act called Campbell (which is also very good) I stumbled upon this band on last.fm. Truly amazing vocals and melodies. Subtle yet powerful. Go have a listen!

Dear Reader, I present a new Harris Tweed

I always enjoy interesting music. Someone that brings new things to the front and that broadens my horizons. Harris Tweed did this when they released their first album. It was fresh and Cherilyn's voice was so sweet and sugary. I loved it! Especially Ode to Confusion, which strangely sounded like the Meatloaf epic, I'd do anything for love. Well the keys anyway. Hehe.

Fast forward a successful SA reception and now we have Dear Reader. Harris Tweed had to change their name due to a company in Scotland with a similar name. They are currently touring Europe and UK and their blogs are interesting to read as they document their tour.

I like the new sound of Dear Reader especially the song Never Goes. Go have a listen.

Music and Me: An Introspective Rant

Over the past week, I've been kinda re-evaluting my stance on music. I try to live by the ideal that I will listen to any music, despite prejudices, connotations, ideas and notions; ergo have an open mind.

A previous blog post last week I went into ranting about how I hate zealous bidding of bands such as Fokofpolisiekar and all their respective children they have spawned, but somehow they were not a part of my ideal. I had judged them before I truly listened to it. On a even deeper level: I judged, and that is not part of my life philosophy. I live by the ignorant notion that I shall not judge anyone or anything based on whatever they do. I was not granted the all mighty smiting hammer so I could damn everyone, because they do 'bad' things. Who am I, to take that role?

Don't get me wrong, I'll not be a totally void of opinion, because I'm scared of judging people. That's a whole different ball game. Let's take music as an example again:
I like music, and I try to listen to every kind of music. However, when someone plays me some music, and unless the band or artist is musically horrendous (bad notes, flat, rhythm is off etc), I will take it in for subjective growth experience it provides. I might not go ape shit over it and hail it next messiah, but I will most definitely not say, that shit is horrible. Some things I like more than other, but I'm not in the position to condemn it.

So, taking Fokofpolisiekar, Van Coke Kartel and aKing as examples: bands which I have completely condemned, because I despised them for various reasons, I will now remove that veil and go listen to their music. In the end I'll have a more informed opinion, although I might not necessarily like them, and I'll know that I at least gave them a chance. And if I don't like them, I'm going to go about evangelizing the support for bring down band 'x', because of 'x' reasons.

So, in retrospect, The Afrikaans Phenomenon post was uncalled for. I felt strong about something, but I should've rather focused on the constructive rather the destructive.

Cheers,
Niel