(Toronto) Two days, two videos that have blown my mind. I am still trying to get over the Brighton Port Authority video that Ricky posted a couple of days ago. The second video that has caught my attention comes via Cajun Dance Party. I first saw it over at Indie Kid vs. Dance Kid and I can’t stop watching it. I guess they had some heart shaped flare filter on their camera for this, their Colourful Life video. Watch out for the part where they go through the tunnel.

I did some research and found how you can do a similar effect using some construction papaer and a string of Christmas lights. Learn how to make your own heart shaped bokeh over at DIYphotography.

Here’s my candidate for Video of the Year. I was trying so hard to restrain LOLing at work I broke out in a sweat. The second dude is the best.

Earthquake Rocks Chino Falls - Watch more free videos

During my daily peruse of the ever reliable NME.com (I just read it for Tabloid Hell really), I came across an article claiming that The Avalanches are nearly finished their second LP. Wanting a substantial source I checked out The Av’s myspace page and it looks like NME was right (for once). If you check out their current status it says “putting the finishing touches on album 2 !!!!!!!!!”, but there doesn’t seem to be any indication as to when it will be released. Rest assured the Panic Manual will keep you posted as events warrant…Yeah!

Nothing pleases me more than listening to music that reminds me of a certain era in my life. Much like ‘Fortunate Son’ reminds me of my days hovering over jungles and hunting VC snipers back in ‘67, Stereolab latest, Chemical Chords takes me back to 2001, where I instead hunted for the best Vietnamese restaurants in Toronto. My intention at the time was to purchase ‘Mars Audiac Quintet’ after hearing ‘Ping Pong’ at some DJ night. Being fairly new to the city I wasn’t aware of shops like Rotate This or Soundscapes so my primary source for music was HMV. After seeing the ‘Import’ price I nearly sprayed my Starbucks Chai all over my Scary Movie 2 t-shirt, so I instead opted to pick up their just released ‘Sound-Dust’. with it’s loungey space-pop stylings I was smitten the first track in. This album continued to be my soundtrack for the reminder of the summer.

After the release of Sound-Dust it took a few years to release another album and understandably so, after the untimely death of their amazing vocalist Mary Hansen. 2004 saw the release of Margarine Eclipse to much critical acclaim, but it just didn’t strike a chord with me. For the most part, Stereolab sticks to the same formula - singsong female vocals and pop melodies, this doesn’t always equate to the perfect pop song and I think it was that mediocreness I heard in Margarine Eclipse. But I will say that Lætitia Sadier did more than her fair share compensating on the vocals.

Chemical Chords is definitely a worthy successor to Sound-Dust. With their trademark Moog, xylamaphone and brass horn sound, it’s a perfect example of what Stereolab does best. The great thing about this album is that it’s not as ‘heavy’ as some of their previous LP’s. There’s a easiness about this album that makes it feel like the beginning of every track beckons you to a comfy chair on the patio of a beachside Spanish Villa, where an olive skin temptress proceeds to rub fine oil all over…ahem, sorry got carried away.

Even though it’s tried, tested and true Stereolab, there’s a little more airiness to Chemical Chords which I think will be a welcome change (albiet small one) for the die hard fans and a great intro album for any newcomers.

4/5

 

 Stereolab - Self Portrait with 'electric brain': Play Now

Who woulda thought Steve Nash can dance?

Toronto - Norman Cook (Fatboy Slim) is back, this time, he has teamed up with Dizzee Rascal and David Byrne to form the Brighton Port Authority, otherwise known as The BPA. This single got released awhile ago, I think. It’s a good summer party ska tinged song, but more importantly, the video is mesmerizing.

 

 Brighton Port Authority - Toe Jam: Play Now