Here and now

Klaxons videos have been getting more and more out there, but this is insane: Twin Flames is nothing less than an artistic statement to take things into a whole new level. Basically, here's some batshit crazy weirdness from the purveyors of all things mythological... Or: when disturbing images become something strangely fascinating and, dare I say... beautiful? (NSFW)



http://www.klaxons.net
www.myspace.com/klaxons

Klaxons - Surfing The Void

With all the delays and news that their label made them re-record it all over again, Klaxons sophomore album was supposed to be a big failure. Even more if you think that they were the purveyors of a once-hip-genre (nu-rave) that didn't stay hip for so long and ended up being more of a joke than anything else.
Well, the good news is that Surfing The Void is not the disaster it was meant to be, actually on the contrary. It's true that now the songs are buried in a wall of noise that almost suffocates them, but underneath all the heavy sounds (courtesy of producer Ross Robinson, hum, "The Godfather of Nu-Metal") they still exist and are more than recommended. And in fact, that dense atmosphere seems brave enough to give their trademark mysticism a whole new look and feel. Almost as good as that cute LOL-cat on the cover. (8/10)

Klaxons - The Same Space (mp3 via The New Montreal)



www.klaxons.net
www.myspace.com/klaxons

Echoes from the otherworld

About time! After many delays, Klaxons are finally unveiling some new material from their forthcoming sophomore album Surfing The Void, and so far, it's all looking rather feline-promising. Oh, and that video looks like it was a whole lot of fun to shoot:



www.klaxons.net
www.myspace.com/klaxons

Music Videos # 73

Klaxons and Rihanna - Umbrella (Live at the Brit Awards)



The Klaxons and Rihanna together sounds like material for wet dreams and that was almost what happened this past week, during the Brit Awards ceremony. The reason? "Umbrella" again, of course, with the Klaxons boys providing the instrumental parts, backing vocals and adding more than a few drops of "Golden Skans". To top it all, a lighting extravaganza was happening at the very same time. Must see, must see.

SBSR Day 1 (Home Videos # 5)

Arcade Fire - Black Mirror + No Cars Go



Expectations were high and they definitely didn't disappoint. Their music is perfect to be played live and the intensity they put in their performances is totally contagious, making each song seem as a huge celebration and taking the whole crowd into a frenzy state of mass adulation.


Bloc Party - Waiting For The 7.18 + Banquet



Bloc Party were professional and efficient, though their second album is sounding more and more irregular to me, as if they're taking themselves too seriously, and I felt a bit of that at the concert as well.


Klaxons - Atlantis To Interzone



if you read this blog regularly, you'll already know that Klaxons are one of my favourite bands right now and their concert confirmed my suspicions. Even though suffering from sound problems that affected their performance, the enthusiasm they're feeling while doing what they're doing is palpable, as well as the sense of urgency that I love about them.


(filmed on the 03-07-2007 at Parque Tejo, Lisbon)

Music Videos # 49

Klaxons - It's Not Over Yet



Klaxons as some sort of mythological warriors in a ritualistic ceremony, fighting against flying crystals somewhere in a cosmic location? Whatever this all means, it does make for some very nice shots, directed by Saam Faramand. Oh and the crystals do explode in the end, opening some sort of transcendent passage to who-knows-where. As they say, it's not over yet, right? Love this band.

Music Videos # 35

Klaxons - Gravity's Rainbow (2007 version)



Klaxons have re-recorded their video for Gravity's Rainbow and, although the concept and most scenes and shots are very similar, it has a totally different approach. Where last year's version was all colorful and almost childish, with a do-it-yourself feeling, this one is much darker and explores a spookier imaginary while also looking more professional (and with a bigger budget). Objectively I really can't say which one is the best, although my subjective feelings go for the older version, as it was one of my first contacts with their fascinating universe. In case you want to compare and form your own opinion, here's the old version again...

Klaxons - Gravity's Rainbow (2006 version)

Klaxons - Myths Of The Near Future

Klaxons: "Next big thing", "flavor of the month", "flag bearers of a subcultural revolution"...a lot of hype has been created around this young band in the past few months, citing them as pioneers of a new movement which has been designated as "new-rave". Knowing how things work (what goes up must come down), this means that a Klaxons backlash will probably start very soon, with cynicals and detractors already calling them sell-outs and shouting "don't believe the hype". If the "new-rave" thing associated to Klaxons started as a joke and became something out of control, that's not their fault. Fact: using instruments commonly associated with rock bands (drums, bass and guitars, lots of guitars) their music is not totally what we could link to a rave, even if the sirens are also here, along with the glowsticks in their concerts audience. Think of it as pop music in a very broad (and slightly punk) sense and with an urgent need to party, full of falsetto voices and addictive melodies. What really counts is that there's a visceral and cathartic energy from a band that clearly loves what they are doing and put all this energy in their songs and perfomances and even in their videos, photo shoots, record covers, interviews and everything associated with them, creating a very complex and complete pop universe (where we even have an enigmatic drummer that doesn't appear in pictures, interviews or videos). Citing a JG Ballard novel in their album's title is just another proof of their intelligence, also seen in their lyrics, full of surreal moments and erudite references. Now that their album has finally arrived, we'll see where they go from here. But right now, with songs so full of urgency, electrified energy and vicious hooks as these, there's not a sound and a band that better translates the present. Klaxons: the most exciting thing happening to music right now. Album of the year? Already? Maybe, but who cares? To hear at full volume until you blast your speakers. (9/10)

Music Videos # 24 to # 27

Klaxons - Magick




Klaxons - Gravity's Rainbow




Klaxons - Golden Skans




Klaxons - Atlantis To Interzone



One of the biggest promises for 2007, here are the first singles/videos by Klaxons in all their infectious-electric-energy glory. Their debut album "Myths Of The Near Future" is out by the end of this month. Some descriptions: "acid-rave sci-fi punk-funk", "Screamo / Happy Hardcore / Pop" or, most simply, "London new-rave" and "indiedisco". Official site here and Myspace page here.