[guest post by Kurt Soller]
Today’s post injects some East Coast influence into both the Untz and the Emo. The same boy who introduced me to Vampire Weekend during a sun soaked Mexican spring break and Francis and the Lights last fall contributes two bands I have never heard before but instantly love. It doesn’t hurt that the boy can write, having taken on the pages of Newsweek, Esquire, and New York Mag.
I am also not the least bit surprised that his untz involves roaming the streets very late after a night of play. Great taste and thoughtful words… enjoy. And thanks ‘Tugs. – Tor
Today’s Emo: Your Body is a Machine / The Good Natured
‘we are influenced by self-love and benevolence / narcissism’s overwhelming / vanity is quite exhausting / self-indulgent, hedonistic, blame it all on your upbringing’
I don’t remember how I first found this song, but I do know this: when I went searching for more information on The Good Natured and the indie-pretty Sarah McIntosh, she had just launched her band’s website that day – on March 8th. Needless to say, if she’s anything like her fellow label ladies (Bat for Lashes and Lily Allen, to name a few) or any of the other fierce front women that seem to be farmed in the UK these days, we can expect true greatness. Florence, batten down the hatches!
I’m especially digging the song above because it hides emo-romance beneath lively beats and a constantly-changing cadence. It also doesn’t hurt that there’s a gothic, Crystal Castles-inspired undertone to all this, another group that starts my mind racing toward darkness every single time. #emo
Today’s Untz: Stop and Stare / Fenech-Soler
‘the city, it sleeps, not knowing the reason why‘
Growing up, everyone always mispronounced my name as Soler (Solar?) and for some reason, even now, I’ve always remembered that. So I was originally drawn to Fenech-Soler when I saw their name – my mistaken name – while reading Kitsune Maison’s stellar online journal.
Soon, I forgot all about the name bullshit and was pulled into this U.K. band’s hypnotizing electro-pop. Like La Roux or Ellie Goulding, I like the glam sensibility that underlines pulsing techno beats. This time, it’s absolutely a dude’s game, with a chorus that’s booming with brio; Ben Duffy is one energetic lead vocalist, and I’m eager for the band to head on their first U.S. tour. After struggling over which of their songs would be the most weekend-worthy, I settled on the one above. It’s an up-all-night anthem about losing track of time, wandering around the city and, perhaps even, forgetting how to pronounce your own name. #untz
theuntzandtheindie 