Sydney, Australia
I'm sitting up in bed, my voice rendered Gollum-esque by the most dramatic, persistent death rattle of a cough, one that could rival the most tragic consumption-ridden heroine of any bodice-ripper. But I can't stop singing! Luckily nobody can hear me, because I sound like somewhere between Tom Waits and Derek Zoolander's "black lung". But I have a tune stuck in my head - one of SClub's favourite Sydney bands, the Red Riders, has a smashing new single out that they've christened "Slide In Next To Me". Stuey, Chuck and I caught it live this time last week at the Snowball party, where it proved to be a highlight of the RR's live set on the Purple Sneakers stage downstairs at Manning Bar. (Pic courtesy of nice purple sneaky folks.) The crowd went WYLD! There were blunt fringes and plastic beads flying everywhere as the indie chicks screeched the refrain along with Alex and waved their fists about in dark fits of glee. It's a slinky, crackling beast of a tune, and the boys have been so kind as to make it available for download on the Triple J free-mp3 page (always worth a visit anyway). Allow me:

Red Riders - Slide In Next To Me.mp3
MySpace

Now I just need to find out what that mindblowing final number was. I am so psyched for this new album after seeing that show. If you can catch the boys as they tour the little green apples out of their new material, DO. Expect more raving when Replica Replica hits shelves next month.

Update on my new favourite band, Cloud Control: here's about 10 minutes' mp3age of Heidi and Alister on FBi on Tuesday (I think). Gorgeous acoustic version of "Ashes" in there.

Cloud Control interview on FBi.mp3

Oh, and just for the record - I love the new Scissor Sisters track. I love the pink-leather-pants swagger of that syncopated piano. I love Jake Shears' facial hair that would be seedy as day-old Tooheys Red on anyone slightly less fabulous. I love the fact that Elton John, by dint of contributing his ivory-tinkling skills, is being played on Triple J. I love that it sounds like the Bee Gees playing dress-ups with Mrs Gibb's feather boas and strings of cheap pearls. I love that there is only one style of dancing to accompany this bright yellow slice of tasty cheese, and that is Boogieing. I love that even though by this admission I am utterly massacring whatever musical credibility I might have established with you lot up until now, I completely do not care because I'm singing two octaves too high in my Smeagol lost-voice rasp and I've got a silly grin on my face the likes of which I haven't had since I heard THIS remix on FBi a little while back...

Belle & Sebastian - I'm A Cuckoo (Avalanches remix).mp3