Artist (2)

In Xanadu did Kubla Khan
A stately pleasure-dome decree:
Where Alph, the sacred river, ran
Through caverns measureless to man
Down to a sunless sea.

So twice five miles of fertile ground
With walls and towers were girdled round:
And there were gardens bright with sinuous rills,
Where blossomed many an incense-bearing tree;
And here were forests ancient as the hills,
Enfolding sunny spots of greenery.

But oh! that deep romantic chasm which slanted
Down the green hill athwart a cedarn cover!
A savage place! as holy and enchanted
As e'er beneath a waning moon was haunted
By woman wailing for her demon-lover!
And from this chasm, with ceaseless turmoil seething,
As if this earth in fast thick pants were breathing,
A mighty fountain momently was forced:
Amid whose swift half-intermitted burst
Huge fragments vaulted like rebounding hail,
Or chaffy grain beneath the thresher's flail:
And 'mid these dancing rocks at once and ever
It flung up momently the sacred river.
Five miles meandering with a mazy motion
Through wood and dale the sacred river ran,
Then reached the caverns measureless to man,
And sank in tumult to a lifeless ocean:
And 'mid this tumult Kubla heard from far
Ancestral voices prophesying war!

The shadow of the dome of pleasure
Floated midway on the waves;
Where was heard the mingled measure
From the fountain and the caves.
It was a miracle of rare device,
A sunny pleasure-dome with caves of ice!

A damsel with a dulcimer
In a vision once I saw:
It was an Abyssinian maid,
And on her dulcimer she played,
Singing of Mount Abora.
Could I revive within me
Her symphony and song,
To such a deep delight 'twould win me
That with music loud and long
I would build that dome in air,
That sunny dome! those caves of ice!
And all who heard should see them there,
And all should cry, Beware! Beware!
His flashing eyes, his floating hair!
Weave a circle round him thrice,
And close your eyes with holy dread,
For he on honey-dew hath fed
And drunk the milk of Paradise.

This first band we're bringing to you are friends of mine from New York city. In my mind and heart they're one of the most original artists around right now and this is only the start of what is going to come. They have a sound and history to them that feels familiar but there is a sense of the future in them too. Something definitely new.

I first heard Zaza while in the states last year when I was there with Cut Off Your Hands for CMJ. Through a series of twists and turns with new friends and my extended music family I met them and got to see a show in LA at the Viper room earlier this year. They've signed to Kanine (Grizzly Bear, Chairlift) in the USA for this ep and of course Speak n Spell out here. I'm hoping that we'll have them out to Australia someday soon. Hassle us for a tour if you want to see them out here.

Repetition and Arms Length just kill me. The Cameo ep is droney and epic but lyrically and melodically there is a real sense of violence and power. They may take a few listens to get under your skin but once they're there, trust me, they'll stay for a long time. I'm convinced of this. I have been playing these two tracks in particular on repeat for the last 6 months!

Danny and Jenny have made a killer debut ep and I for one can't wait for their full length record sometime next year. The live show is brilliant too. Minimal drums, driving bass and washy guitars and vocals.

I love ZAZA
jw