SVANAPAPER » Two Door Cinema Club

Clockenflap: Hongkong Multimedia Arts & Music Festival

svanapaper — Thu, 22 Aug 2013 13:41:24 +0000

Like numerous major international festivals such as Coachella (US), Glastonbury (UK) and Fuji Rock (Japan), Clockenflap has played a colossal role in showing off numerous groundbreaking artists of the 21^st century. Apart from presenting renowned international artists such as Klaxons, Bombay Bicycle Club, Austra, Mac Demarco, Azealia Banks and Britpop legends Primal Scream, Clockenflap has also emphasized the importance of local musicians in Hong Kong’s urban culture. Indie folk group Noughts and Exes, heavy metal duo DP and alternative rockers Chochukmo are just a few of this metropolitan’s many talented acts that have performed at this momentous event.

This year’s headliner is Scottish rock band Franz Ferdinand, who are dropping by this festival, to promote their highly anticipated LP, “Right Thoughts, Right Words, Right Actions” to festival goers at Clockenflap. Along with them are popular indie group Two Door Cinema Club, disco band Chic feat. Nile Rodgers and local Cantopop princess, G.E.M..

With more exciting musical acts, art instillations and contemporary films yet to be announced, Clockenflap 2013 will not just be one of the most exciting celebrations of modern culture in Hong Kong, but an internationally recognized event for the world to experience.

FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS

ART VILLAGE: Curated by Aidan Li, in partnership with Clockenflap, the 10,000- sq.m.-sized Art Village will feature inspired and intriguing art works and multi-media installations by a talented mix of local and international artists. plus

MARC & CHANTAL DESIGN: The specialist creative/design agency presents a surreal “Cloud” installation for all to experience. VANS: Slick street style and raw creativity have inspired the VANS “OFF THE WALL” skateboard art wall and workshop, where festivalgoers can create their own VANS x CLOCKENFLAP merchandise.

ZIPPO: Look out for two giant ZIPPO lighter art pieces by popular young Hong Kong artists, Little Thunder and Telephone Fung.

FILM TENT: Curated by Janel Yau, featuring content from international film festivals, directors and animators, the Film Tent offers a cinematic escape for festivalgoers. plus BRITISH COUNCIL HONG KONG AND UK TRADE & INVESTMENT’S GREAT CAMPAIGN: Festivalgoers are treated to a very special outdoor screening of “Restored Treasures: Captivating Hitchcock Silents – Blackmail (1929),” with live music by Stephen Horne, renowned as one of the world’s leading silent-film accompanists.

EFTERKLANG: Copenhagen-based band Efterklang presents “The Ghost of Piramida,” a film project they initiated, directed by Andreas Koefoed and soundtracked by the synth-laden Apples. NELLY BEN HAYOUN: French experience designer Nelly Ben Hayoun presents “International Space Orchestra,” about her mission to assemble to world’s first orchestra of space scientists from NASA’s Ames Research Center, SETI and the International Space University.

CABARET: Curated by local men’s fashion/lifestyle brand Moustache, the “Bearded Lady Side Show” will feature a wild array of glitzy, glam and downright bizarre performances. With a house band of equal oddity providing laidback ambience throughout the weekend, this brand new addition to the festival is not to be missed! plus

NEW ERA: Working with Clockenflap for its second year, headgear specialist NEW ERA has booked dancers from hip-hop themed movie, “The Way We Dance,” to entertain all, as well as created exclusive NEW ERA x CLOCKENFLAP merchandise (beanies, caps) available for purchase.

CLOCKENCRAFT MARKET: Families and festivalgoers can take a breather — and have a look and shop at the popular Craft Market, packed with lovely locally produced and unique handmade items.

DINOSAUR ENCLOSURE: For the first time in history of Hong Kong — terrifying dinosaurs and beasts, replete with scary and spiky bits, shall roam the West Kowloon Cultural District!

FOOD & BEVERAGE STALLS: With 23 vendors and 26 outlets serving up food and beverages over three days this year, festivalgoers and families can enjoy all day (and night!) at Clockenflap, fuelled by the yummy likes of Ali Oli, Brickhouse, Little Burro, Lola’s Ice Pops and Pizza Express.

KIDS AREA: Supported by Rumple & Friends, the Clockenflap-styled bouncy castle will make an appearance, along with arts and crafts workshops, kid-friendly music & entertainment performances, face painting, stilt walkers, and much more!

SILENT DISCO: In 2012, Clockenflap unveiled the Silent Disco concept to perplexed and amused festivalgoers. This year, expect even more headphones, supplied by Clockenflap’s official sound sponsor SENNHEISER, and a few additional surprises!

Check out The AU Review interviewing with Justin Sweet – the man behind Clockenflap festival:

Tickets will be on sale from September 2 on www.ticketflap.com

Early bird prices:
HK$480 – Friday
HK$580 – Saturday or Sunday only
HK$980 – Three-day entry
(Student discounts are also available, and kids aged 12 or under will have free entry)

Sleep Alone New Video by Two Door Cinema Club

Andriani N Pratiwi — Wed, 08 Aug 2012 16:44:02 +0000

Your favorite Northern Ireland’s band, Two Door Cinema Club just released their new video from..

Edelweiss: Pre-Columbians

svanapaper — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 01:02:25 +0000

Edelweiss are a four piece indie band from Pennsylvania, comprised of Tommy, Niko, Tony and Coby, and are set to release their debut EP ‘Pre-Columbians’ on September 13th. Think Foals style drumming and guitar riffs augmented with a noticeable 80s vibe, giving musical nods towards the likes of Joy Division and New Order. Edelweiss achieve a contemporary-yet-aged musical juxtaposition with these influences, producing their own diverse sound.After a New York meet up with the band’s two brothers, Coby and Niko, they divulged that Foals were in fact the reason that they became a band. 1965’s ‘The Sound of Music’ starring Julie Andrews however, was not, for they admit to having never seen the film and so is not the origin of the name for those wondering. Furthermore, they pronounce their name “Idle-veiss” which should provide further differentiation from the song in the musical.The band’s feat is even more remarkable when you consider that the band is of school age with the youngest member, Coby, being fifteen. You shouldn’t be deterred by their youth; their sound is distinctive and fully fledged, most bands of this age would just be finding their feat. Furthermore, they are the true role models that the industry craves, for I couldn’t have met pleasanter people. I also commend them for their originality; it would have been easy for them to replicate the sound of Foals as most teenage fans would have done. Yet incredibly, the band has produced something new and quirky that I much prefer.

Having been listening to Pre-Columbians in its entirety for a few weeks now, I’ve really grown to love the tracks and they have found their way in to my day-to-day playlists alongside names such as Bloc Party, Two Door Cinema Club, Bombay Bicycle Club, Tokyo Police Club and the Strokes. They firmly compliment any library with similar tastes and rack up nicely against the big boys in the industry. More surprisingly however, they’ve found their way in to my Dad’s library alongside the Stone Roses, James and New Order.

This really practically demonstrated the wide age demographic to which this EP could potentially serve and the whole ‘old-new’ ambiance that they sport. Despite their American upbringing, it has a distinctly English sound, undoubtedly from their influences. It even manifests in them singing with a slight English accent. It’s reminiscent of how people mistake the Killers for being British. The EP encompasses five tracks, but how do they individually tally?

1. Icarus
Icarus (also the band’s second single) sets the standard high with a heavy beat and almost haunting vocals, yet it still retains an air of positivity. From the first track alone you can note the high quality of the production and a quality of lyrics rarely seen of new or young bands. The track hits the ground running and continues to deliver with quirky guitar melodies and a kind of fanfare affront every line of the chorus that works really well. The instrumental bridges also really work well.

2. A Sound From Pennsylvania
For me, A Sound From Pennsylvania is like a tamed version of You! Me! Dancing! by Los Campesinos. The fully instrumental track starts at a gentle pace and builds to something altogether more exciting and climactic. Coby envisages it being used in adverts, and I could most definitely see it being used to build tension towards a sporting montage or such on television. After the tension building plateaus, it has an almost metropolitan sound and sends images to my brain of those long exposure videos of car lights in a city centre. It also throws to mind a kind of chase and of footsteps gaining pace. The track adds texture to the EP and breaks it up nicely, given that the other tracks share more similarities. It’s the sore thumb that you’ll relish.

3. (NO)
Whilst the tracks all individually shine, (NO) is the true gem on the record. The lads had previously correctly identified it as the track to be their first single. It’s an upbeat track with clever melodic vocals, but what really stands out here are the instrumental segments and the chorus. There’s a beautiful guitar riff behind both, making it the catchiest of the set for me. Luckily, there’s a version of the track available for you to sample, have a listen below.

4. Witches & Vampires
Witches & Vampires is the true underdog of the record. It’s perhaps the most simplistic track on the EP, yet it is bold and defined. Its structure is more regular than the other tracks. But it works, with a fast paced intro and remaining pacey throughout, it’s one I expect to have the crowds dancing at gigs. It also pairs nicely with Icarus in terms of haunting vocals. My hat goes off to them for the ending also, it’s original and works fabulously. I’ll leave it for you to discover yourself.

5. Fiasco
Fiasco sounds a little more Two Door Cinema Club than the other tracks. It deviates from them enough to bring the EP to a gentler end. It was originally the B-Side to the (NO) single and you can see how the two pair well, as they both kind of have that indie-pop feel. Fiasco is another solid track with a memorable and catchy chorus. The close of this track seems to mimic the beating heart which the lyrics portray, a really fitting and satisfying end I found.

The EP’s roots themselves deserve a mention. Being unsigned the band had to fund the studio time and production themselves, but luckily were able to attain funding through internet donations from supporters. Having listened to a couple of tracks before the EP, I have to say I had high expectations. But none as high as what they have produced, I was blown away. I’d be astonished if they remained unsigned for much longer. They seem very suited to the likes of Kitsuné – so the pressure is on them! Considering that we are now ten years on from the Killers first being showcased to the world; we could easily have just discovered the Killers of the new decade. I wish the band luck and every success, for they are certainly promising. ‘Pre-Columbians’ will be available on CD and digital download from September 13th. (Joe)