Lynne Ramsay Shows Female Directors Are Absolute Masters of Thrillers in "You Were Never Really Here"

Following the success of 2011's We Need to Talk About Kevin, Lynne Ramsay is back with yet another chilling thriller, You Were Never Really Here. Based on the Jonathan Ames novella of the same name, the Cannes-winning film goes to show that women can absolutely make phenomenal violent and expressive movies in a testosterone-dominated playground. Joaquin Phoenix, as the lead, Joe, delivers one of his best performances to date, weaving through the story of a brutal mercenary hired to track down a senator's daughter from a brothel. The plot seems like your run-of-the-mill noir thriller, drawing comparisons to Martin Scorsese's Taxi Driver. Both lead characters are hardened war veterans suffering from some form of PTSD, maneuvering through dark urban jungles, rescuing girls. The similarities stop there, however, as Ramsay offers a unique and intelligent twist on a macabre genre. Female directors holding their own with dramas and thrillers isn't anything new, in fact, they've been quietly making their mark for years now. Kathryn Bigelow's The Hurt Locker, Jennifer Kent's The Babadook, and Mary Harron's American Psycho are all examples of women stepping behind the camera and offering a refreshing take on violence. Despite all the destructiveness, what's different is that there is never an intention to fetishize the savagery. In You Were Never Really Here, Ramsay accomplishes some of her best work during her most violent scenes, and it's interesting to note that during those scenes, the brutality happens off-screen. Ramsay does this so effectively, that the violence becomes only a catalyst into the mind of Joe, but never taking the center stage, or doing so without meaning.

The discreet undercurrent of bloodshed is something that can perhaps be attested to a female-directed movie. This spin makes the whole experience so much more uncomfortable and effective, helping you come to the realization of what the film is truly about. As the drama unfolds in front of you, it touches on themes such as a sleazy underworld, childhood abuse, and corruption. Suddenly, you realize that the movie has nothing to do with rescuing a girl from sex trafficking. In fact, it's a jarring character analysis and social commentary on our world today. As I was watching the film, I found myself caring less and less about the plot, and more so wanting to get into the mind of Joe and his traumas, a heartbreaking look at how our world has absolutely shattered what's deep down an extremely compassionate man.

What's even more so captivating is the way Ramsay offers you glimpses into Joe's humanity and you see how multifaceted of a character he is. The scenes with his dying mother (played by the amazing Judith Roberts) are some of the film's most poignant. It's the relationship between these two characters that we see there is some good in Joe. In another breathtaking scene, Joe lays on the floor with a dying villain, holding his hand and singing along to Charlene's I've Never Been to Me.

Sure, You Were Never Really Here is a merciless thriller, but don't be fooled into thinking it's just like the rest. What Lynne Ramsay offers up is so much more than that. Her expressionistic approach is a journey I urge you to take with her, and one that will grip you and stay within your mind long after the credits have rolled.

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Comanche Peak Releases Return to Fear Mountain

"A spherical journey that leads the listener through layers of soundscapes built with effected voices, guitars, ambient percussion, and a variety of synthesizers. Dark and immersive, the story told with this music follows a character as they pass into the afterlife to confront their own demons, and concludes with them coming back to life and moving on." 

So delighted to share the latest album from Comanche Peak (John Anderson JR), Return to Fear Mountain. We've chatted with John in the past when he released Carnival Lights, a lighter, more ethereal and airy EP. Return to Fear Mountain, on the other hand, sounds like a lovechild of Vangelis and Goblin and sees Anderson honing his sound with this progressive, dark, and absolutely captivating release.  

Witch's Promise (Feat. Imani Carino) Official Video from Comanche Peak on Vimeo.

To go with the album, Anderson has released three videos for Labyrinth, Witch's Promise, and Sword and Lazer. In true Comanche Peak fashion, the supporting videos are entrancing - just like the music.

"The work for this project started right after the Carnival Lights EP.  I wanted to create something really different from that first release, both in mood and sound.  There’s more percussion, darker synths, and even vocals, though no lyrics are actually sung, I wanted to use the voices as instruments. The album Osorezan by Geinoh Yamashirogumi (Akira) provided the jumping off point and gave me something to fall back on when faced with creative decisions along the way.  Osorezan (Fear Mountain) is an actual place in Japan and is regarded as a gateway to the afterlife. (https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3727.html) The group that performs the music is this ever-changing collective of people from all walks of life that create music together, chances are the same performers on Osorezan are not the same you hear on the Akira soundtrack.  This inspired me to make this release a more collaborative effort which leads to 3 very talented friends being featured on some songs.  I extended that same effort to some great video artists who put together some amazing content, all their work is now available on Comanchepeakmusic.com.  Return to Fear Mountain is a concept album that picks up where Carnival Lights left off.  The idea of dying and coming back to life struck me as a metaphor for confronting personal demons, realizing that your obsessions don’t have to control your life, and then moving forward. That’s what the last song, “Back on the Road,” is there for, it has lots of momentum and is this "to be continued moment."

I highly recommend checking out this concept album, it's perfect for like-minded individuals looking to create something themselves, or simply as a piece of cinematic bliss.  

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A Ghost Story: A Review

As I began writing this article I decided to put on the film's score, written by Daniel Hart of Dark Rooms. Immediately I felt a deep shiver throughout my body, and remembered why it's taken me so long to write this review.

This movie makes you feel tremendously alone.

A Ghost Story is a horror tale unlike any other. It's not defined as something unsettling and macabre. In fact, most see it as a drama or romantic film. It does, however, tackle one of life's most unsettling frights. More on that later.

It's hard to write about A Ghost Story without giving anything away. It's a film that's so simple, so minimal in fact, that it's so easy to spoil the experience. Because of this, I really will err on the side of caution and not give too much away. Upon first glance, you see it as a drama, a romance between a couple madly in love. You don't know much about them, even the film itself gives you only their first initials; C (Casey Affleck) and M (Rooney Mara). When the husband, C, passes in a car accident, M is left alone in their beautiful home, in the middle of nowhere, and grieves. C comes back to her, a ghost simply hovering in a white sheet. He stays there and watches her, through all her sadness and pain, until she eventually moves on, and new tenants move in. He remains as the new tenants come and go.

And come and go.

And come. And go.

Suddenly, a tremendous amount of time has passed and he's still there.

The house is replaced by a massive luxury condo and he's still there. Stuck in an everlasting limbo, constantly aching. Constantly waiting.

Director David Lowery does a great job at making a film involving a man cloaked under a sheet for the majority of it deliver such powerful emotions and raw feelings. A Ghost Story above all, is a film about transcendental loneliness. It urges you to feel something. The film isn't a horror, but it does achieve one of the most horrifying questions of afterlife: what if your loved one moved on from you? Worse, what if your loved one forgot about you?

We feel for C. Through his exaggerated motions, we suddenly ache for him. Because he's wearing a sheet, his thoughts and emotions are portrayed differently. The way he stands when he's sad, with his head bowed, fills you with sorrow. When he's frustrated and moves quickly, your adrenaline rises with him. When he's heartbroken, you feel that pain with him.

In combination with these emotions is the wonderful usage of cinematography by Andrew Droz Palermo. Deciding to use a 4x3 aspect ratio, Palermo achieves a retro frame, one that we're not used to in modern films. We see the rounded edges of the frame, and this constricts us. The reason why this is so thematically relevant is because C, like us, is stuck in a box that he cannot get out of, thus making us feel for him more. It also brings a sense of intimacy, spying into someone else's life.

The last piece to this stunning symphony? The soundtrack that utterly shatters you. Written by Daniel Hart of Dark Rooms, it evokes a sadness and loneliness that some people have never themselves experienced. Like the track from the soundtrack, I Get Overwhelmed, you can't help but be overcome with emotion. To this day whenever I hear the song I get teary. What a powerful emotion to attach to a movie.

With all these magnificent elements that swirl together to create a masterpiece, Lowery achieves greatness. A lasting scene that haunts me involves two ghosts, both staring at each other from their respective houses that they dwell in. One asks the other who they wait for every day. The other responds that they simply don't remember; it's been too long. And that's it. That's what absolutely gets you. That in the afterlife there is no time, that things change and every day passes and the way people move on is natural, and something that you should come to expect.

I promise you this will end up breaking your heart.

Please watch A Ghost Story. I haven't seen a movie that has moved me so much in a really long time. It'll hand you clues to obvious interpretation; but don't take them. Make whatever you wish of the film, that is the main goal. 

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Leisure Club Release Debut Album & New Music Video

It was just a month ago that I sat down with Vancouver's own Leisure Club, the lads behind such infectious tracks like Still Young and Throw My Love Away. Since then, the guys have been rather busy, releasing their debut album, gracing us with a fun video for the single TV Shows, AND embarking on their Western Canadian tour. 

To start their tour they played their first show over at the Biltmore Cabaret here in Vancouver, turning it into a fun lil' album release / pizza party / all-around awesome gig with copious drinks and loads of grooving. 

The night was phenomenal and they played to a fantastic, packed crowd. It was really awesome to feel the community in the audience, and the boys thrived off of it. There was even a sense of confidence in the fellas, one that was amplified since the last time I saw them. Perhaps due to a sense of completion after finishing the album, maybe feeding off the crowd, or even simply just hopped up on pizza, Leisure Club were on fire. As usual, their captivating melodies just made for an all around fun and memorable night.

Meanwhile, the video released is for their single TV Shows, directed by Riun Garner. 

As for their self-titled, debut album, it consists of 10 songs written over the last year. They explore various themes, including leaving your family and loved ones, the current state of affairs in the world, and an emphasis on personal relationships. With all these ideas, however, the album consistently harks back to an underlying theme of connecting with people around us, both healthy and toxic. 

Recorded at Afterlife in Vancouver and The Noise Floor on Gabriola Island the album was Engineered by Jordan Koop, Elisa Pangsaeng and Shawn Cole, mixed at Fader Mountain by Shawn Cole, and mastered by Brock McFarlane at CPS Mastering.

"Bringing this album to completion has been a labour of love for all of us. Writing the songs was very much a collaborative effort, which is a process that has worked very well for the band and has lead to a sound that has elements of each of us buried in the music. Recording the album at the Noise Floor was an absolute dream experience. Going away to an island with your best friends is a dream in itself, to also be able to record a record while you’re there is just a whole new level of awesome. The experience was a comfortable one and really promoted a sense of open creation without having the distractions of everyday life to hinder us. That laid back atmosphere really made it’s way into the recordings in a lot of subtle ways. Our hope as musicians and artists is that listening to these tracks will give people a similar feeling of escaping from the everyday drudgery of real life while still engaging and instigating meaningful thought."

If you want to catch the guys on their tour, see the dates below!

Nov 24 Vancouver - Biltmore Cabaret

Nov 25 Victoria - Lucky Bar

Nov 26 Nanaimo - The White Room

Nov 30 Kelowna - Fernando's

Dec 1 Lethbridge - The Slice

Dec 2 Calgary - Nite Owl

Dec 3 Revelstoke - The Last Drop

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Website: leisureclub.band

Soundcloud: soundcloud.com/leisurexclub

Bandcamp: leisure-club.bandcamp.com

Instagram: @leisurexclub

Twitter: @leisurexclub

The Analog Affair - The New Shit

First I heard about The Analog Affair was back in February. I stumbled upon the Portland-based lads whilst on a Spotify binge and became a fan almost instantaneously. Evan Baker and Cody Moser have crafted a fine blend of danceable indie-pop that people just naturally seem to gravitate towards. I remember counting down the days until summer, since their music is simply made for it. Shortly thereafter I interviewed the guys, and couldn't wait for them to get back into the studio.

Lo and behold, the duo is back with a new track, aptly named The New Shit, and it's the perfect sort of chilled-out summer anthem, ideal for winding down to now that we're already in August. Blending tropical influences with wonderful synth hooks, The New Shit is infectious, and the first single from their upcoming album due out later this year. 

Check it out below! 

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LINKS

Band Website: http://theanalogaffair.com/

Instagram/Twitter: @theanalogaffair

SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/theanalogaffair

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4RWXWiYvFNeoSYdxRREqXM

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/the-analog-affair/id386251196

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theanalogaffair/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/theanalogaffair

Parcels ; Overnight

I've written about Parcels not too long ago, the Australian but Berlin-based 5-piece spoke to me not long after completing Dot to Dot Fest in the UK, one of the many shows they've had in a slew of touring this year.

These disco-funk lads are now hitting us again with a new single, Overnight, and it's going to be a surefire hit. Why you ask? Because it was produced and co-written by non other than the French disco Gods themselves, Daft Punk. Overnight is infectious and grooveable, and sounds like it should have belonged on Daft Punk's 2013 album, Random Access Memories. The collaboration just makes sense, and will garner Parcels a monsoon of new fans.

Parcels spoke to NME about the single and working with the duo, "Most surprising was the nature of the collaboration. Despite the obvious status that Daft Punk carry, there was never any ego in the studio. From start to finish it was an equal collaboration with no pressure, only a desire to create something meaningful together. That gave us a lot of confidence in ourselves, as well as respect for those two."

Check out Overnight if you're into 70s-inspired disco groove, Daft Punk, Phoenix, or even just after something to jam to at your next poolside soiree. 

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TENDER - "Nadir" Video, First Full-Length Album, and Headline Tour

If there is any act out there that's gaining notoriety by what seems like the absolute second, it would be London-based electro-pop duo, TENDER. James Cullen and Dan Cobb are perfect at crafting broody and melancholy yet immensely danceable tracks. They mesh so well together, it's hard to believe they only formed TENDER back in 2015. The two have been unstoppable, from going on tour and supporting highly acclaimed Cigarettes After Sex, to releasing a string of successful EPs and catching the eye of every notable blogger, James and Dan are on a roll. 

TENDER fans (myself included) were in for a huge treat today when the lads announced their first full-length album, Modern Addiction, would be out September 1st via Partisan Records. If that isn't already exciting enough, they also graced us with the official video for recently released single, Nadir, and a UK/US/CAN tour with tickets starting to sell this Friday. 

Holy ***, Christmas essentially came early.

Take a look at the video for Nadir below. In a press release for the band, the team over at TENDER had this to say about the video, 

"The bittersweet nature of 'Nadir' conjures memories of relationships, and the way in which a couples dynamic can shift in many ways. The band wanted something Dance-driven, so they took the route of expressing these dynamics through contemporary movement in collaboration with Jamie Neale. They asked that during the off-kilter parts, one of the dancers would remain in an oblivious daze, stumbling around their partner but never quick catching each other's attention. In a climactic show of desperation our female tries one last time to catch her mans eye. Alas, he remains slumped and disconnect. As she leaves for good, he comes around, realizing that she's gone."

The song itself leaves you in an total daze, with a reverberating and throbbing synth hook, and ultimately complex soundscape. Perfect for those breezy summer nights, Nadir is infectious, smooth, and downright sexy. 

TENDER tour dates: 

Aug 29 – Manchester, UK – Deaf Institute

Aug 30 – Glasgow, UK – King Tut’s

Sep 1 – Bristol, UK – Louisiana

Sep 2 – Nottingham, UK – Bodega

Sep 4 – Birmingham, UK – Sunflower Lounge

Sep 5 – London, UK – Village Underground

Sep 10 – Los Angeles, CA – The Echo

Sep 11 – Santa Ana, CA – Constellation Room

Sep 13 – San Francisco, CA – Rickshaw

Sep 15 – Seattle, WA – Vera

Sep 17 – Vancouver, BC – Cobalt

Sep 19 – Denver, CO – Lost Lake

Sep 21 – Chicago, IL – Beat Kitchen

Sep 22 – Toronto, ON – Adelaide Hall

Sep 24 – Washington, DC – Songbyrd

Sep 25 – Philadelphia, PA – World Cafe

Sep 27 – Brooklyn, NY – Baby’s All Right

Sep 28 – Boston, MA – Great Scott

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Flight Facilities ; Arty Boy

There's nothing nicer than waking up in the morning and finding out one of your favourite artists has released a new single. It's even nicer when one of your favourite artists happens to be Australian duo, Flight Facilities, who will guarantee silky-smooth, feel-good tracks. It's safe to say that my morning drive to work put me in the best mood.

Jimmy Lyell and Hugo Gruzman haven't put out new music in over 3 years, but they're certainly delivering with Arty Boy. Collaborating again with Emma Louise is a great call, with her beautiful and airy vocals the perfect addition to the dreamy synth hooks and beyond slick guitar licks. The boys released Arty Boy at the perfect moment, right in time for all the pool and beach parties you're bound to go to. 

The supporting video they released for the song is equally awesome, if not slightly bizarre as well. Directed by the German collective, Junglinge, the video tells the story of an Irani-German couple who guide us throughout their bodybuilding memorabilia in a strange yet alluring glitzy 80s environment.

Flight Facilities are known for being iconic in the electro-funk scene, and grace guaranteed spots in everyone's summer playlists. Infectious singles like Crave You, Foreign Language, and Two Bodies were huge, and gave the duo a signature sound that was unmistakable. 

Check out Arty Boy below. I promise you won't be disappointed. I personally can't get enough of this track! 

Anna of the North premiers video for "Lovers"

I'm so absolutely thrilled to be sharing this, being a huge fan of Norwegian and Kiwi duo, Anna of the North. Anna Lotterud and Brady Daniell-Smith make the dreamiest synth-pop, with infectious and airy beats perfect for grooving along to. After gracing the internet with single after single, the duo just recently announced their debut album is dropping September 8th via Different Recordings. They then debuted their title single Lovers, and premiered the video shortly after June 19th on The FADER. 

Speaking to FADER, Anna explained the video, “On a literal level, the video is about being lost at a house party and surrounded by couples when your own relationship has fallen apart. Digging deeper, it’s set in the same place as the song, that point when you feel so alone and you're reaching out but they're not reaching back. It’s desperate."

The song itself is absolutely brilliant, with tidy production and the breathtaking vocals of Lotterud. Combine that with the mega-seductive and hazy video, and you have a perfectly wrapped indie-synth package.

Anna of the North on quite literally on the cusp of blowing up, and I'm so thrilled for what's still to come.

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Tei Shi - Crawl Space LP

Raise your hand if this release was a pleasant surprise. After charming a plethora of indie music aficionados back in 2014 with her single, Bassically, Tei Shi is back with her debut album, Crawl Space. She's mastered her own genre, blending fluid, airy beats with her sultry voice. Tei Shi is fearless, much like the tarantula moving across her face on the album cover. Valerie Teicher, the New York-based singer, is an insanely skilled vocalist, and she really flexes her vocal chops on this LP, blending silky smooth ocean-like waves that lull you into a beautiful trance. 

The album starts off with a recording of her as a child, a reoccurring interlude throughout, where she talks about her insecurities and musings. It really gives her this down-to-earth quality that makes her even more likeable than she already is. After that, we dive into her lead single from the album, Keep Running. It just oozes this energy and puts you in a different state, with heavy drums, a reverberating bass line, and her luxe voice that whisks you miles away. 

Branding her own sound as "mermaid music", Tei Shi really has an undefinable genre. She blends a sort of minimalism that's tinged with R&B, she's an experimental artist with definitely her own flair. At one point we hear her Bad Singer interlude, where as a child she announces she hopes one day to sing like Britney Spears. Right after that we jump into Say You Do, which is finest sort of pop music. It's super catchy and danceable, with an unmistakeable radio quality about it.

Baby on the other hand is airy and light, perfect for afternoon lounging. It's totally different than the other songs on her album, basic but clean, evoking fuzzy and warm feelings. Tei Shi is truly a chameleon, because she takes you from that innocent emotive state, into slow and sultry bedroom music like on Como Si, which is sung entirely in Spanish.

Crawl Space is refreshing, it's a different take on pop music that I haven't heard in a really long time. I was so excited for this release and Tei Shi delivered. She's absolutely captivating, and this unique confidence she has I'm sure she'll take with her to whatever musical venture she puts out next. If you've fallen absolutely in love much how I have, be sure to catch her on tour currently with MØ this year.

PS; She's a Grimes-approved artist, and if that's not enough reason for you, I don't know what is ;)

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The XX - I See You

Well folks, it's out, and it seems like The XX are finally out of their shell. 

The London natives which have been in the spotlight as shy introverts since Coexist came out in 2009, seem to have finally taken the helm of their star power, and confidently return with I See You, their third album. After what has been a 5 year wait for all of us fans (and honestly, probably felt like a decade), it's so wonderful to see that they're back, complete with a soundtrack to your next love story; from initial puppy-eyed first date to the ultimate tumultuous break up, that leaves you absolutely shattered.

We all know it, The XX have always been the hopeless romantics. As Romy sings on I Dare You, "I've been a romantic for so long, all I've ever had are love songs." This album makes you FEEL. And it makes you feel something intense. Be it lustful romance, a hurt longing, it plays with your emotions and takes you on a whirlwind of a ride.  A Violent Noise is your harsh make-out track, while Replica is great for unwinding and brooding, alternatively a great late-night driving song. It totally plays off of Jamie Smith's more tropical influences from his solo work.

Speaking of Jamie Smith (Jamie XX), after the success of his solo dance-influenced LP In Colour, you can tell that they experiment with some more upbeat tracks. Dangerous sounds like it could have belonged on In Colour, and the catchy Hall & Oats-sampled On Hold are definitely different than what we've previously heard. But you know what? It works. 

The biggest difference you'll notice on this album is yeah, of course, they're still brooding, but half the time they sound happy. Along with that happiness is the ballsy sort of assurance they have with boldly expanding outward from their minimalist sound that they're famous for. As a third album, it's their most pop-y one yet, but still maintains the signature traits that will definitely give their old fans that XX fix that they've waited so long for.

Yesterday also marks the day I finally bought tickets to hear the trio live for the first time this coming April. I am beyond ridiculously excited. Especially with an album that packs so much intensity, and one that's even filled with danceable tracks like On Hold (which has a massive big-stadium feel), I See You was made to be heard live. 

It's nice to see The XX opening themselves up to new styles, all the while still maintaining the melancholy but absolutely stunning dream pop that we've all come to associate them with. They have managed to give us a more uptempo environment, without losing a single piece of emotion and passion that they want us to re-live with them. It's brilliant to see The XX are back, and finally bursting with confidence.