Bandcamp Spotlight: Vienna Ditto

Voodoo Sc fi blues is a weird descriptor for a musical act a blatant understatement of course. After reading this descriptor piqued my interest as intended. I didn’t go in with high hopes after suffering through “Muppet Christ Superstar” and other oddities like the cacophony of experimental noise by Too Many Zooz. So I clicked on the title track of Vienna Ditto’s “Liar Liar” and was relieved and joyful that Bandcamp had finally answered my call for an enjoyable new artist.
Vienna Ditto is made up of singer Hattie Taylor and guitarist Nigel Firth. The duo meet when the latter was tutoring the former in guitar lessons when they were 11. The duo lost touch but eventually reunited by a chance meeting. The British duo was brought  back together by their love of dirty Chicagoan blues, dark psychedelia and gospel.
Vienna Ditto have yet to release a debut album and have released 4 EP’s. “Liar Liar” was released February 2013 not the latest release though that being September 2013s “Ugly, it is the current offering being recommended by Bandcamp.coms staff picks.

(Since the time of writing the duo released their first studio album in 2015 titled circle)

Bandcamp is a site for musicians where they can sell their music and merchandise and unlike other services, the artists keep most of the profits as well as are able to set their own prices. Bandcamp also allows artists to keep easy track of their fanbase and provided every format under the sun that their fans require.

The digital version of Vienna Ditto’s “Liar Liar” is name your own price allowing listeners to pay whatever amount they feel the EP is worth from $0 to however much they are willing to give.
The cover art of “Liar Liar” is a butterfly in silhouette with the words “Liar Liar” written on it. A simple yet elegantly complex cover a taste of things to come.
“Liar Liar”

This is the title track of the EP and its namesake. Near the end of this track Voodoo, Scfi blues does not seem like a too far off descriptor for this duo. Heavy drumming and alien-like phaser sounds interlude near the end of this track. This first track is a strong showing that hooks the listener in and makes them crave more.  Lyrics like “Your mouth runs away like your tongue is on fire” over heavy drumming and dark electronic sounds create a unique track that leaves the listener wondering what’s to come next.

“The Undefeated”

This track has a southern feel where the blues influence can easily be heard. The lyrics also help with his with “Lord have mercy on us all” This track sounds like a dark electronic version of a country or blues song. The chord progression may remind the listener of Johnny Cash’s “God’s Gonna Cut you down” while also holding a southern Gothic feel the latter lacks. This sounds like a track that should be following Cole and Rust on HBO’s true detective.

“What Comes My Way”

This is my least favorite track on this EP. The vocals remain “spooky and sexy” as described by members of their site. But I don’t have much to say about this track. It is a fine piece but doesn’t draw much from me.
“Little Fingers”

This my favorite track on this EP. The vocal performance is both “spooky” and entrancing. I especially like the delivery of “Let it be undone nothing lasts forever” near the midway point of the track. The combination of dark melody and Taylor’s vocals stand out the most on this track and I believe is the highlight of this solid EP.
Overall Thoughts

Those seeking spooky melody with gospel influence should come on down. As well as those just interested in trying an uncommon fusion of style perfect for soundtracks.

https://viennaditto.bandcamp.com/album/liar-liar bandcamp.com

Bandcamp Spotlight: The Mermaidens

“Close to the ocean go down slow. Hold yourself under we’ll grow grow together” these are the lyrics to “Ocean O” by the Mermaidens off their EP O. The vocals combined with the lyrics makes for a seductive and eerie listen much like the mermaids siren song. Which is fitting for a band called the Mermaidens.

The band hails from Wellington, New Zealand which is New Zealand’s second most populous urban area. The band brings together the three-person trio of Lily West (co-lead vocals, guitar), Abe Hollingsworth (Drums) and Gussie Larkin (vocals, guitar)

The Mermaidens take influence from the Psychedelic Pop of the 60s which is heard in their vocal style and trippy guitar riffs. The Mermaidens though have taken this dreamy style and added a darker tinge reminiscent of an industrial sound. These elements combined serve to give the band their haunting and seductive sound. The songs could most definitely be imagined as the closing credits to an episode of “True Detective”.

The songs bring their listener to a dream-like state though not bright and colorful ones, but dark vivid dreams ones that you don’t want to look away from. One fan in a blurb about their EP “O” puts it like this “To me, they are especially good when I am playing the Binding of Isaac.” to those unfamiliar the Binding of Issac is an indie rougelike inspired by the biblical story of Issac. The game starts a child name Issac and has the player face dark themes such as neglect, suicide, child abuse and others.

O is the band latest release from June 2014. Consisting of three tracks the cost of the EP is "name your price" allowing for listeners to name their own price from $0 to whatever amount their heart desires to pay for the album.

The first track titled “Wander” and runs 05:01. This song starts off fairly light in its riffs and drum beats before progressively getting darker in its tone in the middle of the track. It’s a catchy song and a serviceable one, but not my favorite.

The second track titled “Cold Skin and runs again 05:01. This song starts eerie right off the bat with a dark moody riff. The accompanying lyrics build on the moodiness of the instrumental “Who are you, why are you messing with mind?” While I felt the last track was by no means a bad track it dragged on for me and didn’t showcase the band’s uniqueness like this one.

The last track on this three track EP is the aforementioned “Ocean O” running the shortest length at 02:10. If it wasn’t already obvious this is the pinnacle of this EP for me and my favorite track. The riffs here are subtly creating a chilling atmosphere. As mentioned previously the vocals are seductively haunting. Every time I listen to this track I can’t help, but picture a mermaid luring someone with her song and leaving them at the bottom of the ocean.

Check them out on bandcamp.com

Final Blog

When comparing international film that is modern like The Artist and Amelie.  A lot of similarities can be seen with the films from years past.  In these films the leads aren't really Hollywood and neither are the  stories. The characters are somewhat unconventional and   quirky though not in the Hollywood wacky way. Their idiosyncrasy are much more genuine and subtle. I think these films have a lot of play on realism compared to the one American film we watched.  Though 12 angry men isn't conventional Hollywood.   I think there's an interesting conversation to be had on the individual and adulthood when it concerns these films.

How 12 Angry men is mundane and strict adult hierarchies and something like Amelie is more playful same could be said for the Artist.

The Artist

The Artist  is a celebration of silent film. It's also a celebration of change.  It reminded me a lot of  a TV drama called "An Adventure in Space and Time"  George Valentin in the movie is a huge silent film star than he's replace by Peppy Miller.  What reminded me of that special was  that it's  about the making of Doctor Who back in 1963. It shows us the rise of the original actor to play the part and he gets really into the role and the character he plays. Then there comes a point where he's told to step away and he just can't let it go. He's eventually replaced on a not so mutual decision.  Though he's work is still appreciated.  To bring it back around a lot of these silent film starts may be gone,but  there work can still be appreciated as much as it's style. I think this film tells us that we can look onto the past and borrow on it and build for the future.  A popular thing in recent times is using past elements in new films whether ironically or not.  It's a wonderful tribute to the silent film area. I watched the Phantom of the Opera the silent film version a while back with organ and all and that was quite an interesting experience. This film brings a similar experience to those    who may not want to sit through that.

Blog of the Week

"To put it another way, why does she dress like Zoro in a black mask? Is she avenging some wrong? How is she helping the world/universe"

If anything is being avenged it's just the disillusionment or unsatisfactory nature of peoples lives.  Her goal is to make up wrongs in the world and bring happiness to people. She does this two fold by of course helping them out,but also to herself she keeps herself engaged up  helping others and makes it fun for herself.

She simply refuses to be bored or let anyone else be bored.  There is so much to do and see in life that there is no time for that.  All the things out there in the world contain wonder if those that are seemingly mundane. She's genuine and imaginative and intelligent.  The garden Nome is just that a lawn ornament. Though she turns it into a world traveler and in term her father.

These peoples aren't just for her,but how she thinks and problem solves.  In terms of their meaning I'd say that it's that sometimes for our sake we have to look outside of ourselves and into others.  By helping others sometimes or most of the times we end helping ourselves.

Amelie 2

So I was talking to someone about the film and they made an observation I hadn't thought of much before. They said  Amelie  projects her worries of life on TV. And then this person felt the same in that they reflected there own disappointments into the film.  I think the films resonance with people has to do with wanting to find "hope." The film revels in a type of magical realism and in hope.

It show us quirky,but doesn't look down  on it or revel in it in ironic manner. The film is genuine with it's characters. They have their flaws though it's  not malicious.  The flaws are things like social anxiety, general impatience or something similar. It's fairy tale esque in it's execution. 

Amelie is rebellious in her  nature of adulthood. I think this two has reason to do with the films success. Every now again you'll read articles about the stunted nature of young adults of this generation. Though I think it's a misunderstanding sure they may revel in what seems like childlike behavior it's just learning to not let go childhood interest in curiosity.  Now you see a much greater interest in childhood nostalgia than before.  It's all a  matter of a type of rebelliousness and redefining of a adult hood. Sure there are other ways that this is done but this is the most glaring example that comes to mind a the moment

All the dressing up and puzzles and such are just a rebelliousness of redefining adulthood in particular the young adult years..  

I'mma be on these tracks like indie girls on Amelie-Childish Gambino (My Shine)

Years after its release Amelie is still having an affect on pop culture.  In his 2011 track the rapper Childish Gambino name drops the movie in his song "My Shine" he uses the line as a way he's saying  he's going to focus on his music as much as "indie girls" focus on Amelie. It's always tongue in cheek saying that his music appeals to all groups.

On Amelie itself I've seen the film a number of times and it isn't one I get bored with similar to Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.  Though this one for me is a much better film to cheer you up if you're feeling down. Though the other film does end "happy" though that is up to debate. In Amelie though  pretty much every character you meet get some time of resolution to them. When Amelie decideds  to set things right it isn't really malicious but just harmless mischief.  There is a real whimsical and fairy tale aspect to it. You really get this feeling in the visuals of Paris and just the vibrancy of the colors.  I did almost type musical instead of whimsical though I guess it is appropriate since the film is seeing a musical adaption.

My favorite thing that spawned from Amelie though is the show "Pushing Daises" it's a really quirky and sweet show. The creator of the show admits that Amelie is his favorite film and he drew from it.  This is scene a lot in the narration that is throughout the series.  Also it's vibrant visual style which is described somewhere between Amelie and Tim Burton. I watched the series just because of the directors comments that the show was heavily influenced by Amelie.