Showing posts with label Merok. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Merok. Show all posts

Tuesday, October 30, 2007

Stimulation, I need some action.


If you haven't noticed, I love the Teenagers and I find that I have to write about them pretty often to relieve myself of the need that builds up inside me like steam in a kettle (as I did here and here). There is just something so fun about their minimalist blend of pervy lyrics, distinctive bass lines and tinny programmed drums. Sometimes I imagine that if it wasn't for vocalist Quentin's affected French accent the band would be rather plain, but after seeing them live I was totally enthralled. I think they are the kind of band which work better in a small venue rather than massive settings, as with my experience with them they made the stuffy Birmingham Academy 3 into the coolest party that you've ever been invited too. They are a band that actually appear to be having a good time on stage, especially Quentin who excels himself pulling (admittedly camp) shapes at the first sign of a camera from a hand sticking out of the crowd.

You may have heard 'Selflove', an album demo which was floating around on the blogs a short time back, but with the release of their latest single for Merok, Starlett Johansson, the band have renamed the track and unleashed it under the title of 'Full Flavor'. It is, as far as I can tell, a song about masturbation; a topic which seems rather fitting for a band who are renowned for writing rude songs. 'Sunset Beach' is an older song of theirs, but I still love it like I would I small child who happened to be mine. It sounds like the soundtrack to an American 80s TV show which you happened to stumble across on cable in the early hours of the morning, still feeling the effects of the heavy evening of drinks from which you haven't recovered. And then you wake up and realise it was all a dream, and you are sitting in your underpants in the living room, the TV throwing out nothing by static.

According to the band another single is in the pipeline, as well as an album, which will be on Merok.

Thursday, May 10, 2007

We are the Teenagers.



I remember the first time I heard the Teenagers. My girlfriend, Tori, had 'Homecoming' as her profile song on myspace. First I was slightly shocked, but it grew on me. So much so that I have spent the past few months since then trying to track down as much of their material as possible. For those of you who haven't come across the Teens yet (seriously, you must have?), you may have heard some of their distinctive remixes for New Young Pony Club, Au Revoir Simone and Simian Mobile Disco, to name just a few. 'Sleeping Bag' is a track I haven't seen featured on any blogs, and although this version is tagged the Yo version, I haven't a clue what the original version sounds like. All I know is that this track share a similar haunting vibe in its sound as 'Homecoming', the lyrics verging on the pervy (Tori and I are pretty certain that the lyrics say "I'm feeling all erect" - yet to be confirmed). If anyone knows where you can catch the original version, please shout!

'Homecoming' is set to be their first single, out 20th May on Merok records (the label that brought you Klaxons and Crystal Castles no doubt). Backed by 'Fuck Nicole', the single is titled We are the Teenagers, the title of the second track which I have included for your pleasure. Consider it an audio calling-card of the Teenagers' sound: 2 minutes of perfect minimalist trance-pop. Or, jargon aside, just another example of why I love the Teenagers so much.

mp3: The Teenagers - Sleeping Bag (Yo version)
mp3: The Teenagers - We are the Teenagers

video: The Teenagers - Homecoming