CD review - The Twoks '240 Volts'

240 Volts - The Twoks

The Twoks (Xani Kolac and Mark Leahy) are a 2 piece band featuring what initially seems a sparse line-up of Violin, Vocals and Drums until you hear them play live.  Xani uses loops and with a vast set on her effects board, lays the foundation for a really full sound whilst Mark has a great light and shade dynamic on the drums.

I first saw Xani live at the Espy with her other band The Hosies and then again at the Rainbow Hotel in November where they were supported by Tim Woods.  I was so impressed I bought a copy of 240 Volts.

There is not a weak track on this 6 track EP/Mini Album.  240 Volts is probably the most commercial radio friendly number of the lot but each track takes you on a journey and when you see them live, you gain a greater appreciation of the way they structure the drive of their compositions. Really this band live is refreshing, they are openly experimental and the kind of band the Melbourne scene misses.

Let You Down is another song driven by a pizzicato violin riff with numerous layers and sticks on the rims.

Take It Slowly is driven by drum mallets and has a break with squealing violins, I can imagine it more classical than pop like 240 Volts.

Northern Lights is a more haunting track and gives me a more melancholic feeling, it has a theme of winter.  As someone who has experienced the Southern Lights, I can relate to this. This is akin to a Lullaby.

Living Isn't Fun it's hard it's hard.  This is probably the rockiest number on the CD with a fuzz bass sound.  Once again, I'm astonished how you can get that sound out of a Violin.

Take Me Home features a lot of distortion on the violin and a simple drum beat on the snare and toms.  A nice reverse reverb on the violin at the end with her melodic voice is a great finish to this CD.

If you are interested in checking out more of The Twoks you can visit their website at http://www.thetwoks.com

Reviewed by: Joel Stibbard

Radio Presenter, North West FM Melbourne

December 2011

Here is the playlist for our 6th show - 7th December 2011

The 6th show of Stibbard me Timbers was a really inspiring one.  Featured on our program was Carly Fern who was prepared to present us with a special pizza box she created for her and her Humicorn.  We learned how to play guitar and keyboard simultaneously by wedging cotton wool buds between the keys to hold them down as well as introducing us to a more theatrical approach to music.  Here is a picture of Carly and her drummer Christopher Windley in the studio

Here is the playlist for our 6th show - 7th December 2011

1. Favourite Things - Tony Bennett (USA)
2. Living With The Human Machines - Strangelove (UK)
3. Raining - Nik Lone
4. Into The Wild - Caitlin Harnett
5. Consolation Prize - Richard Jeffrey
6. The House That Jack And Jill Built - Josh Durno (Tas)
7. Big White Dresses - Alanna And Alicia Egan Band (Alanna Egan)
8. Full Of Surprises - James Moore (James Cameron Moore) (Australia/Canada)
9. Procrastination Blues - Carly Fern (Featured Artist - Live In The Studio)
10. Tip Of The Iceberg - Carly Fern (Featured Artist - CD)
11. We Sit In Silence - Carly Fern (Featured Artist - CD)
12. Life On Leonard Street - Carly Fern (Featured Artist - Live In The Studio)
13. Tale Of A Possum - Tim Woods
14. River Mouth - Josh Romig
15. Drown - Obvian (Nathan Davis)
16. Diminished - The Gallant Trees
17. Coming Home - Ewan Cloonan
18. Guess It's Goodbye - Michelle Meehan
19. Crossroads - Kat Winduss
20. She Don't Wanna Know - The Stillsons
21. Jazmin Et Cigarette - Since We Kissed
22. Turquoise House - Jim White (USA)

This week, 19 of the 22 songs we played are Australian musicians. We like to support local music on Stibbard me Timbers and would like to see the quota of Australian acts on radio lifted. Play your part by supporting Community radio where contemporary music is best in action!


http://www.northwestfm.org

Playlist for our 5th show - 23rd November 2011

Here is the playlist for our 5th show - 23rd November 2011 ....

A special thanks to Elephant Eyes for appearing on our show

1. Hard Day On The Planet - Loudon Wainwright III (USA)
2. After Party - Josh Durno (Tasmania)
3. We Sit In Silence - Carly Fern
4. Let Your Hair Down - The Timbers (Adelaide)
5. Blue Robin - Jade Ulani Young (Tasmania)
6. Sunday Inertia - Elephant Eyes (Featured Artist - Live In The Studio) (Kate McMahon)
7. Mother Said - Elephant Eyes (Featured Artist - Live In The Studio)
8. I Want To Know - Elephant Eyes (Featured Artist - CD)
9. Wake Up - Elephant Eyes (Featured Artist - CD)
10. It's A Joke - LeBelle
11. Emma-Li - Khristian Mizzi
12. Turquoise House - Jim White (USA)
13. Birds With Fangs - The Gallant Trees
14. The Arborist - Ewan Cloonan
15. Jazmin Et Cigarette - Since We Kissed (Tasmania/Melbourne)
16. Love Unconditional - The Gallant Trees
17. I Put You In A Song - The Hazelman Brothers (Stu Hazelman)
18. Annabelle - Obvian (Nathan Davis)

Thank you all for tuning in to our show. We have had a great time working with North West FM.

CD review - Nik Lone 'These Pictures Won't Tell You'

'These Pictures Won't Tell You' is Nik Lone's ten track solo album, the sort of CD you'd listen to late at night when you're in bed imagining what dreams you are about to have.

The first track 'Raining' sets the tone, reminiscent of Keane with a beautiful atmospheric voice and keyboard arrangements.  It features a kick drum, first starting with a heart beat graduating to a driving accent on certain beats.

'We're Dying Alone' is a song with great melody for those who really appreciate Classical music.  This driven album of keys, melody and string quartets is a beautiful piece of work.

"Because We Are Apart, we feel so defensive" is the opening line of 'Winter Song', a melancholy piece on the album. Where this one stands out is in it's light and shade.  Produced by Tim Whitten, well known for producing Sydney band 'The Clouds' as well as Powderfinger and Augie March.

Stand out tracks of this album are:

Raining

We're Dying Alone

Winter Song

You can check out his work further at http://www.niklone.com.au

Playlist for Stibbard-me-Timbers Radio Show 9 November 2011 (Show #4)

Here is the playlist for our 4th show - 9th November 2011 (4.30pm - 6.30pm)

A special thanks to Bronwyn Coull for appearing on our show

1. Elephant Bill - Patrick Duff (U.K)
2. Toy Soldiers - Beth King And The Hemingway Collective (Bethany King)
3. Make The Drop - Late Arvo Sons
4. If Melbourne Was A Lady - Giles Field (Giles David Field)
5. Painting - Richard Jeffrey
6. It's OK - Bronnie Coull (Live In The Studio - Featured Artist)
7. Heart Of Gold - Bronnie Coull (Live In The Studio - Featured Artist)
8. Society - Bronnie Coull (Live In The Studio - Featured Artist)
9. All I've Ever Known - Bronnie Coull (Live In The Studio - Featured Artist)
10. Don't You Take It Too Bad - Townes Van Zandt (USA)
11. Turquoise House - Jim White (USA)
12. I'd Rather Be Birdwatching - The Gallant Trees
13. Lolly Shop - (Josh Durno) Josh Durno (Tasmania)
14. All These Words - Kate Walker
15. Tip Of The Iceberg - Carly Fern
16. One Man Guy - Loudon Wainwright (USA)
17. Tale Of A Possum - Tim Woods
18. Love Motel - Abbie Cardwell (Adelaide)
19. Let You Down - The Twoks (Xani Kolac)
20. Crows Nest - Claire Jenkins Avec Band (Canada/Australia)
21. ? - Michelle Meehan

Playlist for Stibbard-me-Timbers Radio Show 26 October 2011 (Show #3)

Playlist for The Stibbard-me-Timbers Radio Show 26 October 2011 (4.30pm - 6.30pm)
1. Run Runaway - Slade (U.K)
2. About Time - (Samuel J Cole) Samuel Cole And The Mornings (Tas)
3. 16th Miracle - Vicuna Coat (Gordon Blake, Kat Winduss)
4. Take Me Over - Cazi (Caroline Gale)
5. Turquoise House - Jim White (U.S.A)
6. Recreational Derelict - Go-go Sapien (Featured Artist)
7. Celebrities Are Your Gods Now - Go-go Sapien (Featured Artist)
8. Instant Welfare Centre - Go-go Sapien (Featured Artist)
9. Sick Love - Go-go Sapien (Featured Artist)
10. Green Grass - Fritz (Jess Dix) (Tas)
11. Birds With Fangs - The Gallant Trees
12. In This Lullaby - The Gallant Trees
13. Who Wrote This? Barbara Streisand - Baterz (Adelaide)
14. Dollar In And Watch It Spin - Tim Woodz
15. Tail Of A Possum - Tim Woodz
16. Passenger Train - Tim Woodz
17. Bartholomew's Bed - Andrew Marshall (Tas)
18. The UFO's - The Bedridden (Adelaide)
19. Don't Bogart My Heart - Darren Hanlon
20. Wishing - Khristian Mizzi
21. Anne's Song - Tiddas
22. Sorry I Cannot Help You - Josh Durno (Tas)
23. Under The Waves - The highLows (Tas)
24. As A Writer - New Saxons (Tas)

12 October 2011 Playlist for Stibbard-me-Timbers Show #2

This is the playlist for The Stibbard-me-Timbers 2nd Radio Show (12 October 2011):
1. Got The Monkey Off My Back - Susan Lily
2. Be Alright - Sal Kimber 
3. Dirt - Alfords Band Of Bullwinkles
4. Johnny Cash Is A Good Friend Of Mine - Craig-Lee Smith
5. 3am - Richard Jeffrey
6. Bells Of Harlem - Dave Rawlings Machine (USA)
7. Where Do You Want To Go Today? - Bernee (Adelaide)
8. Stones And Bones - Owls Of The Swamp
9. No Blood For Oil - Rory McLeod
10. Get Up - Beth King And The Hemingway Collective (Featured Artist)
11. Lament (Live In The Studio) - Beth King And The Hemingway Collective (Featured Artist)
12. Andalucia (Live In The Studio - Beth King And The Hemingway Collective (Featured Artist)
13. Christmas Island - Beth King And The Hemingway Collective (Featured Artist)
14. Hazey Jane II - Nick Drake

Welcome to Stibbard-me-Timbers Radio show blog

Welcome!
We are Joel Stibbard and Tim Woods and together we make the Stibbard-me-Timbers radio show.
We have started this blog after completing 3 shows together at North-West FM and we will be building it from here.
Starting off in September 2011, our show features predominantly Australian and New Zealand unsigned music with the occasional overseas track.  We are on fortnightly rotation with Radio Roarhouse every second Wednesday from 4.30pm to 6pm and we usually have a featured artist who plays 4 tracks either from CD and Live or either/or.
Stay tuned, you can stream us on http://www.northwestfm.org

Joel Stibbard