The Round Trip Mars Simplex

Late June 09

To the untrained eye it may appear as if there hasn't been a great deal of activity (or should that be slacktivity…) at the RTM Simplex of late, but that is why we only deal with people with trained mince pies. When it's quiet around here it means there is plotting and prepping, pre–production, production and post production and lots of other p's, including procrastination. That produces a lot of fruity friction and excess excellent energy and when that has built up to a suitable head, we unleash… like now.

On the right of nows, James Duncan's dastardly duet with Bachelorette (someone we have an incalculable amount of time and reeespeck for here at the RTM cosomonautical compound) 'My New Flumes' has been unleashed to the b–Nets, and other radio stations of discernment and quality character. Racing ahead of the 'Hello–Fi' full–length like Usain Bolt on the lam, 'Flumes' is a firecracker of a track from an album that will almost undoubtedly raise eyebrow levels and the world of musical listening pleasure to heights never before witnessed… or something like that. It really is a very, very good record.

But wait… there's more. Sean Grattan (the man who got a wrestler in a twist for SJD's 'Black Is A Beautiful Colour' and made the Mint Chicks yet spazzier with his clip for 'If My Arm Was A Mike Stand') has made an eye–poppingly brilliant vid for 'My New Flumes', which you can check in the 'Vision' pod of this very site/sight right now. There will be more non–Govt. sanctioned James Duncan videos appearing here in the weeks leading to release on August 3rd, so don't be a stranger.

Talking of videos, as we were, them that Taylor's are on the final stretch of completing the video for 'Baby You're Oh So' from SJD's 'Dayglo Spectres' which should on screen, and youtubed and most importantly up here – early July style and fashion.

On the subject of style and fashion there is nothing more stylish and chic audio accessory wise as a svelte split 7”, it really is twice as nice. Following on from their 'Gold Dust'/'Up To Eleven' 45 boomshot of last year, Jefferson Belt and Unitone HiFi have linked again – conjuring up a pair of tunes that defy easy description or categorisation. That may sound like a cop out but the best I can muster is that Belt's is a Rastafarian monologue set atop Elizabethan Perrery–esque madness while the Unitone cut is a 65/130 syrupy stepper/stomper that might have a little bit of a late night wobble (or wibble) on … you see it was easier to say they defied categorisation.

So fresh, that titles are still in the mulling mode, they'll be heading off to the vinyl presses very soon for a late July/early August release. There will also be a James Duncan 7” at the same time featuring the staggeringly stupendous, hook drenched 'Cupboards Bare' – it's fair to say that we have it on lock Jock.

On the slightly more distant horizon The Naked And Famous are heads down, no nonsense – settling in a new rhythm section and producing a fearsomely fine, new single, which will be emerging in the near future with live dates to follow. Yipee all round, fuck winter!

March 09

Now that we're all settled in to our rather sumptuous new web surrounds, it’s probably about time for a bit of an updatery.

With most of the RTM camp on writing, demo–ing and what–have–you–ing lockdown it’s old duffers and nouveau kids on the block Unitone HiFi who have actually been eeking something out. As well as a number of exceptionally exciting vocal collaborations on the way, their remix of Overproof Soundsystem’s ‘King Step’ has just been unleashed digitally for purchase here, you can listen to the full version here and we’ll let you know when the soon–come wax is available. Check the blog for the unreleased dub version, which really is the one in our humble hopinion, but don’t delay (no reggae punning intended) it will only be up for a limited time.

A bunch of Orientation gigs up and down the country have definitely returned The Naked And Famous to their normal orbit, after what was a stingingly successful support for NiN, that had the Reznor posting a pic of the band on the ninblog and allsorts. Right about now they are predominantly in writing, demo–ing and all that sort of –ing thing mode for the meantime.

Progress is progressing progressively with James Duncan’s ‘almost imminent/def not that far away’, debut solo splendidopiece (it will be a mid–winter NZ release seasonwise), containing the Alt Chart topper ‘Don’t Close Your Eyes’ and a whole heap more magical majikment in Duncanese.

Following a raft of gigs stretching from Beer Festivals to the Famous Speigeltent, proving that the band can play to all sorts of brows of any vertical disposition, SJD is easing off the circuit to hunker down and come up with his next round of scintillating songcraft, yip and ee!

We working…

The Simplex salutes you…

February 09

Ahoy and warmest welcomings to the brand new – good for you, Round Trip Mars Simplex. We’ve had to wave a sob–some adieu to the dancing spacebots, who’ve been doing hard time on our home page for many moons. Regular RTMees will notice new sections, including snatches from the catalogue in ‘Sound’ and artist links and dates in ‘Around’, as well as a link to Stinky Jim’s blog where there’s an exclusive Round Trip Mars mp3 or two, amongst the musical miasma and deranged mutterings. There’s a somewhat sophisticated new spin to our webular residence, and once again the mysterious Cherry Sprinkles has done us proud, and then some. News–wise it goes a little like this…

SJD – Last seen at the Zoo, wowing the (human) crowd with the whole band animalistically attired with ears, tails and allsorts. There’s a bunch more live action (check the Around page) on the way, with the Speigeltent gig on the 20th of March, particularly having the look of the must book.

PHELPS & MUNRO – Clickings, whirrings. The awakened dragon stifles a mighty musical yawn and then threatens beats for weeks. Please.

JAMES DUNCAN – While the city sleeps James has been fiendishly (but not grimly) plotting and perfecting his debut long–player, and trust us, this is going to be a humdinger of a rekid. We thought that the mesmeric shoegazery vibes of his ‘Don’t Close Your Eyes’ would be a gentle introduction, but it’s been charming the pantaloons of all and sundry from the District of Rodney to merry old Mosgeil, and reaching the lofty heights (#2 to be precise) of the National Alt Chart in the process. Check the blog button pon yer right to link to StinkInc, where the track is available for free download for a limited spell, and keep on eye on right here for all the latest from planet Duncan.

JEFFERSON BELT In our possession we have several new demos from El Jefe Jeffy and what more can be said than we are re–smitten, totally and utterly. One tune in particular has such strenuously strong properties of bowled–over–ness, that it is has already been singled out and requisitioned to appear on a forthcoming split 7” with Unitone HiFi, since that combination worked such a treat last year.

THE NAKED AND FAMOUS By the time you’re reading this The Naked And Famous will have probably already done their support at Nine Inch Nails only NZ show. Given that the big homme Reznor chooses his own supports, this is a biggest of big kind of deal. Now a fully fledged five piece with Aaron Short stepping out from behind the mixing board the group have dates on the horizon (including make it down to Welli again, where they were the most played group on Active in 2008) and have been writing and demo–ing like the on–the–move peoples they is.

UNITONE HIFI Diverse depth charges and rhythmic rumblings from the Unitone camp hint at album activity in the future… at some point. In the meantime, the word is that their heavyweight remix of Overproof Soundsystem’s ‘Kingstep’ will be doing the rounds soon, and then some 7” action in the almost forseeable future.