I am at the point where I think that I might belong in Australia. However, with the massive influx of music coming from down under, much of the dancing world is probably thinking the same thing. We’ve talked about Van She, The Presets, Cut Copy, and Bang Gang Deejays… and now it’s time to break out the Muscles. This came to me via Jordan, who got it from Dylan, who probably got it from Fluo Kids… regardless… it’s time you got some Muscles too.
Muscles is from Melbourne and his his first official release is scheduled to drop on the Bang Gang 12 Inches label. The 12 inch is slated to include a triple feature A-side with remixes on the B-Side. Assuming the three tracks already released on the blogs are the A-Side, I hope this is being printed on some seriously durable vinyl.
Each of the three songs I have are equally infectious. Sickly sweet melodies and hopelessly obsessed lovers hooks are sung in the style of Tom Vek. Production wise, the songs all share many of the characteristics of recent Australian releases (think Van She). It would be safe to say that music, atleast in Australia, shares genetic traits. Analog and FM synths… chorus and distortion… melodies and parts run through sidechains to give the entire track a true to life breath and pulse.
Muscles gets a bit more eclectic in the execution. His backbeats and rhythms tend to stray a bit from the classic disco rhythms that are so frequently heard in dance music lately. Instead he looks to 2000 for 2-step Garage (or UK Garage… Garridge if you want to say it properly) on “Chocolate, Raspberry, Lemon, and Lime”. “Ice Cream” skips and jumps about with a dirty break beat that skips and scatters about.
Honestly, when I heard Tom Vek’s “Things Are Here To Stay” last year, I found myself wishing the whole album had been more like the B-Side. Well, my wishes came true through someone else. I can’t complain.
Who wants to take a trip to Australia with me?
Muscles – Chocolate, Raspberry, Lemon, and Lime – mp3
Muscles – Ice Cream – mp3
Muscles – One Inch Badge Pin (Bag Raiders Remix) – mp3
Muscles is great; might be attending one of their shows in a few weeks.
If you haven’t already checked out Midnight Juggernauts, Damn Arms or The Valentinos; they’re similar to the whole bunch of bands you mentioned.
Australia is a good place to be during this time. Fantastic summer weather. Most of the upcoming bands are coming out of Melbourne and Sydney, so should be looking to be hearing some more in the future.
[...] Muscles is my new favorite artist thanks to recent spins on Whothehell.net and Kiss Atlanta. And judging from Hype Machine I am totally late on this game. You know you’re late when Fluxblog has hit a band not once but twice. [...]
[...] One that I still cannot get enough of. I have nothing else really to say that hasn’t been said [...]
i lovvvvveeeeee muscles ice creammmmmmmmmmmmm hehe
Woooo Ah…..
Woooo Ah…..
Woooo Ah…..
Ice Cream….
A relly really great song!