Such lovable idiots may be forgiven – ever since Bon Iver found mainstream success with the single ‘Skinny Love’ from the debut album For Emma, Forever Ago, Justin Vernon has gone about his business in an understated manner. Many will be surprised to learn that not only did he record a solo album back in 2006 (Hazeltons), but he is also heavily involved in other projects - GAYNGS and Volcano Choir, to name a couple. Samples of songs from Bon Iver’s 2009 effort Blood Bank were also used on Kanye West’s 2010 release My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. The kind of unimaginable mainstream attention this garnered was matched only in the advent of Bon Iver, Bon Iver‘s release in 2011 – an effort that peaked at #2 on the Australian charts.

This kind of prolificness (is that even a word? I don’t care) is matched by another founding member of Bon Iver – drummer and vocalist Sean Carey, who released a stellar full-length solo debut in 2010 (All We Grow). In this video, the two perform four songs from Bon Iver’s extensive catalogue, as well as a cover of Bonnie Raitt’s I Can’t Make You Love Me. I’m not even going to try to describe how this made me feel, but I will say this: regardless of whether you refer to them as Bonnie Bear, Bony Bang, Bonjoviver - these dudes are doing something utterly fantastic with their art.

Born out of Sydney in 2008 Vanishing Elephant was conceived when Felix Chan, Huw Bennett and Arran Russell joined forces with a singular vision of creating a line committed to producing clothing of real quality, purpose and originality.

Making their mark with a classic aesthetic, each collection has heralded a return to gentlemanly style with an undeniable modern twist.

Mastering a timeless classic men’s range, Vanishing Elephant have now introduced a highly anticipated women’s range.

Here’s what they said

Tell us a little about your inspiration for the last couple of seasons:

We’ve gone from a love ode that was really a carry over from the season following with some added samples and tweaked fits. Our collection about to hit shores was about re-evaluating the collections gone and working to our strengths, adding unique pieces that complimented our classic pieces and worked within a bolder colour palette. We’re now heading into what we believe is a really defined Vanishing Elephant collection, again with our classic pieces but more substance with the seasonal highlights and varied fabrics colours.

Tell us a little about your design process; where is the starting point for a collection and how do you see it through?

We sit down and work a range plan this is always seemingly easy but ends up being the backbone for the whole collection. From there we work out exact fits, add fabrics work back to our colours, amend, argue, make-up, talk, amend, re-fit, find new fabrics, cuddle and  then some samples show up.

What made you want to design womenswear?

We wanted a new challenge and we really picked one with womenswear!

Last Friday we viewed what is install for this coming winter. Expect to see some bold prints, earthy palettes, classic fits and impossible to resist coats. What to say about the women’s range?! Think VE men’s prints and styles meets irresistibly cute cuts!

Winter couldn’t come sooner!

Full interview

Vanishing Elephant info source

The Walking Who, a three-piece currently residing in the northern reaches of Wollongong, are among the frontrunners in the aforementioned ‘good noise’. Eschewing the inoffensive, easily digestible indie-pop that seems to have taken pride of place amongst the playlists of many a DJ across the nation, The Walking Who have created a psychedelic rock masterpiece – an album released in early 2011 known as ‘Candy Flu’.

Recorded during the summer months of 2010/2011, ‘Candy Flu’ is one of those records that can be played right through – there are no weak tracks. Right from the start, the listener is treated to a soundscape of epic proportions; album opener ‘Lepathon’ sees vocalist/guitarist Rohin Brown’s versatile strains sit on top of a simple-yet-catchy riff and a rhythm section (bassist Jay Drury and drummer Paul McLean) that threatens to take right off at any given time. The noise throughout the rest of the album is rich, rhythmic and ultimately catchy – the kind of album that could turn any automobile ride into a road-trip, or any droll office cubicle into a space for deep thought and/or casual pondering.

Gone are conventional stylings and song structure – ‘Candy Flu’ presents in full view a band that’s firing on all creative cylinders. Each tone, riff and phrase strikes the listener as something new, something unique to The Walking Who’s sound. There’s something for everyone – whether you’re a budding musical genius with a taste for sweet guitar tones, or a regular-Joe/Jane listener with a penchant for music that makes you feel generally pleasant about everyone and everything – ‘Candy Flu’ must be your next musical treat.

You can catch The Walking Who on Facebook here. Aaaaaaaaand you can suss their new video for the title track ‘Candy Flu’ here!

Taken by Lara Barker - click through for more.

It’s not hard to forget that Matt Corby (the man behind the tune perched at number 3 on Triple J’s Hottest 100 – ‘Brother’) once tore it up as a 15-year old on the ill-fated Australian Idol series, rending many a teenage girl’s heart limp with puppy-love and sending music industry apparatchiks into a feeding frenzy. The kid-sized manifestation undoubtedly had talent, but the man-sized version has that and more. Having successfully dodged the ultimate artistic stagnation that is now associated with Idol alumni (see Callea, Sebastian, Noll et al), Corby has spent the best part of four years building something completely separate from that enterprise; an effort that has culminated recently in the aforementioned recognition from Triple J.

Team lee & me, along with scores of other expectant punters, had the privilege of bearing witness to the fruits of his labour in the comfort of a secret garden in North Wollongong on the 29th January 2012. The afternoon began with two support acts (the names of which were somehow unclear) that held the crowd’s attention with hushed ballads and folksy murmurings. Thankfully, the good Lord held off the impending storm (spurts of rain in the second act had led to a hurried distribution of makeshift ponchos), and Corby took the stage. It sounds a little wanky, but the dude carries with him an air of humility and tentativeness that belies the bucket-loads of talent; often stopping between songs to tell stories and hilariously awkward anecdotes, the Matt Corby show was refreshingly bereft of the showmanship that you would probably expect from a man well-acquainted with national airwaves.

And the music? It’s hard to describe. At once ethereal and stripped-down, the live renditions of tracks from his studio releases took on a new form. Somehow, the angst apparent in ‘Brother’ was magnified by the unhinged nature of a man with only his voice and a guitar; the precariousness of the situation exposed as he screamed out the final lines (‘you couldn’t help out your own neighbour/you couldn’t tell it to his face’). Other set highlights included his covers (the classic ‘Amazing Grace’ and ‘Lonely Boy’ by The Black Keys), and his use of a loop station at various times during the set to create delightful harmonies and layers of ambience. Adjectives are unfortunately limited in describing the experience; you would do well to get yourself to a Matt Corby show in the future. However, be prepared to lose yourself in the experience – that unfortunately blank facial expression that you sport when you’re either horribly tired or hopelessly enthralled will come out. But it’s okay, everyone else will be modelling the same look.

(Suss out recordings, upcoming shows etc. at mattcorby.com.au)

Image source: Radar Illawarra (Lara Barker)

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“Moonfire is a collection of sing-alongs, crowd favourites and anthemic pop moments. At a time when Powderfinger has called it a day and Silverchair is on ice, the top of the podium is bare… Boy & Bear is the closest thing to it.” – Dom Alessio, Triple J Magazine

To say the past year has been a whirlwind for Boy and Bear would not only be a cliche, but it would also be an understatement.
Touring alongside some famous folky friends, including Angus and Julia Stone, Mumford and Sons and Laura Marling, in two years, the boys have secured a loyal fan base and ‘most requested’ status on Triple J.

Most loved for their warmth and stirring presence on stage, the band have just released their anticipated debut album ‘Moonfire’.

As Killian Gavin (vocals/guitar) shares on the album title, “Moonfire was the name of this $2 DVD that Jake bought in a chemist while we were on tour and it was hands-down the worst movie I’ve ever seen. We were driving to Byron Bay and he saw it for two bucks. It had this ridiculous cover with truckers and Nazi flags all over it and all this weird stuff. It was truly the worst film any of us had ever seen. So we never intended to call the album ‘Moonfire’ it was done as a joke, but after a few weeks we couldn’t change it, everyone was used to it!”

Boy and Bear will be performing across Australia for the 20th anniversary of the Big Day Out. Their debut album ‘Moonfire’ is out now.

Image from boy and bear

[pictured above]

1. Insight ‘low rider slouch short’ in peach, floral, beach blue and tribal grunge from $79.95
2. Status Anxiety ‘Audrey’ wallet in stone, black and tan – $75
3. Dr. Denim ‘Nicole’ loose chino in sage, khaki, blue, light vintage and black – $129
4. Lomography ‘Fisheye’ camera – $88
5. Kirsten Ash necklace – from $95

Enjoy, and happy wrapping!

As Ryan shares, “I have always been big about taking something old and making it new – ‘one mans trash is another mans treasure’ as the saying goes. I love that each piece in store is unique and different (as is everyone’s taste). There’s also not a whole lot of it in Wollongong especially for the guys (and yes don’t forget the girlies as well) so our heritage range aims at sourcing the good stuff at a one stop shop.”

The heritage pieces include a selection of shirting, maxi skirts, blouses, blazors, belts and dresses and with Ryan’s penchant for op-shopping, the selection just keeps expanding.

“My favourite item at the moment would have to be this heritage patterned short sleeve shirt [pictured below] just $35, I’m loving the pattern!”