dazzle calling

holy crapola! has it really been a month since i made you a mix tape? bad kitty.

you know when they say say time flies when you're having fun? do they speak truth or lies? all i know is i have been trapped in a dark cave for approximately four weeks, just dying to get these tunes out to you.

so appropriately these next few songs are all about making contact or some sort of call. forgive me? pretty please? x

like a call - architecture in helsinki

the clip to this song is so darn cute, it makes me think of hot chocolate, rain spattered windows, knitted blankets, holding hands and breathing deeply.

collect call - metric

talking about so darn cute, may i please be emily haines when i grow up? i find this song beseeching. also i love it that every time haines refers to herself as a lazy dancer, i'm ever hopeful she'll one day drop a tiny dancer in there instead. no luck so far...

long distance call - phoenix

italian people answer the phone by saying "pronto!" which means "ready!". ha, that's funny. i wonder how frenchies answer their talky boxes?

new york telephone conversation - lou reed

who doesn't love a little bit of gossip? a song that makes me think that i'm not the only one who eavesdrops on other people's conversations, and reminds me to perhaps speak a little less loudly when conducting my own affairs in public.

call me - blondie

deb harry is one hot bitch in blue. she would look good in a plastic freaking bag. maybe i should go rock-star platinum and disguise my rang.

call it off - tegan and sara

maybe i would have been something you'd be good at. i love this line. and i love this version i found too - demo-style, thanks little canadian trinkets.

angel, won't you call me - the decemberists

i hate waiting for people to call me. in fact i hate waiting for anything, patient i am not! i do love to leave a good voicemail though - i think my record is around 2 minutes and 17 seconds. even when i found out that 99% of my buddies don't even listen to my messages anymore, i still leave them.

spiderwebs - no doubt

i was reminded at my weekly trivia tournament on tuesday just how much i loved tragic kingdom when it came out, and even though it wasn't the biggest hit, spiderwebs was always my favourite track. note to self - another hot blondie - the peroxide really is beckoning today.

telephone line - elo

this sure is a heart-string tugger, and while i think the song is epic, i have never been able to actually take it seriously. i do however love the synth and the doo-wah factor.

dinosaurs are cute

so this post is dedicated as both a birthday and thank you present to my friend gerrysaurus. also i like to call her milkshake. she very much likes dinosuars and even sometimes makes dioaramas out of them. i hope you like gerrysaurus. love cupcake x

brontosaurus - the move

this is so appropriate because gerrysaurus is of the herbviore kind of dino lover. and she has a lovely and graceful neck, just like those tall, leafy tree chompers.

in our talons - bowerbirds

this is just a super pretty song and video clip in general. i heart animations. and i don't know if dinosaurs are more claw-like than talonesque, but i'm pulling some artistic license out of my back pocket here.

crooked teeth - death cab for cutie

dinosuars definitely have sharp teeth but would we call them crooked? well, i don't believe there were many dentists living in the jurassic age, so they most certainly could have been.

time of the season - the zombies

how many artistic license cards does one get per post i wonder? you may be wondering what loose connection katie dazzle is going to make here, but do you remember that wonderful movie the land before time? all about dino's. and a flick i could happily watch in any season.

don't be mean - the raincoats

ok so this has one hundred percent nothing to do with those wonderfully leathery reptillians that milkshake likes so much, BUT, i do know that gerrysaurus likes this band very much. and the track is freaking killer - just like dinosaurs.

wild thing - jimi hendrix

a crazy cat singing about all things wild and dangerous, just like dinosaurs are. and way cooler than if i'd posted dorothy the dinosaur in its place.

vanilla - british india

rather than being anything to do with dinosaurs, this track is more in reference to gerry-'milkshake'-o-saurus. vanilla is my favourite flavour. malt is essential.

children of the revolution - t.rex

imagine being in a band called t.rex? so awesome and powerful. and gerrysaurus is most definitely a candidate for being a revolutionary child. happy hippy hoppy birthday and thankyou times one million x

buon viaggio!

everyone in my life seems to be going on holidays at the moment. that is 100% exaggerated for artistic purposes, but there is definitely a significant amount of people in my life going on holidays at the moment.

the type of big, glorious overseas adventures that are sure to be eye-opening and spectacular. i am supremely jealous of course, but i've had my time in the sun, wind and rains of other countries, so i also know exactly how thrilling it feels to be going away to far off lands.

one of my loveliest friends in the world, anchovy, is leaving for europe today! she is scared and excited and i know she's going to have the most marvelous time. so with her in mind, here's a mixtape of a few songs that spring up when i think about packing a suitcase and jumping on the next available plane out of here. the only place i'm going right now is to the backyard to plant a money tree - then i can start dreaming about my own next great adventure. x

vacationing people - foreign born

foreign born's entire album, person to person, reminds me of holidays, particularly of the summer variety. this super mellow, acoustic version inspires long and lazy daydreams about holiday-making and holiday-taking.

everyday should be a holiday - the dandy warhols

wouldn't that be nice? well maybe not, maybe you only appreciate holidays because you don't get to have them everyday. maybe i should test the hypothesis and get back to you...

holiday - madonna

this is the perfect song for the holiday you take when you don't actually go anywhere. where you get to spend a week beautifying and organising your life in the comfort of your own home. where you spend a few hours every morning dancing around in your knickers to madonna's immaculate collection. other people do that, right?

leaving on a jet plane - john denver

i've been on a quite a few jet planes now, but i still get ridiculously excited each and everytime i board a flight. i think it's because 1) i have little legs so leg room is never an issue, and 2) i have a penchant for free alcohol and tiny packets of m.s.g. sprinkled peanuts.

brothers on a hotel bed - death cab for cutie

i love the imagery this song title conjures up in my head. i think this could refer to any travelling companion, brother from another mother an all that. or sister even. if you can travel in (mostly) harmony with someone, i think that makes them your friend for life.

across the universe - fiona apple

the coolest track to listen to when you've boarded the jet plane, scored yourself a window seat, and you're looking at all the tiny, changing land and sea below. and drinking free alcohol and eating free peanuts.

travel is dangerous - mogwai

only kidding! it's really not, and hairy, scary stories make for the best laughs when you're reunited with your loved ones upon your return. the most dangerous thing of all is staying in the same place all the time.

life is a highway - tom cochrane

potentially one of those songs where this blog's theme has all been a ruse in order for it to be included. in all it's tom cochrane goodness.

let's get out of this country - camera obscura

like i said, i'm planting my money/holiday fund tree asap. destination anywhere and everywhere. have a great adventure anchovy!

snapshot

as a blogger, you have a certain amount of anonymity - however much you choose to have i guess. it's a scary thought for me to give too much info away online in this hazy, dazy voyeuristic land we live in. i should know, i could potentially be the kitty that gets killed by her curiosity.

but on the flipside, if i want you guys to keep coming back time and time again for your musical enrichment, i think it's fair that i share some snippets of dazzle with you. so in a round-a-bout way that's what i'm going to do today.

here goes snippet one. i live in sharehouse with three super fun and excellent buddies i shall call n-dog, bambi and stinks. these are not their real names, but i wouldn't mind if they were. last night we had a delicious family dinner. i cooked cannelloni. snippet two - cannelloni is my thing.

anyway, i was cooking and the gang was on music patrol. secretly, i made mental notes of all their musical choices, the winners of which are going to make up today's mixtape. because, snippet three, i think the musical tastes of your nearest and dearest can also be quite revealing about you too. take a peek through the window before i close it again. x

sgt. pepper's lonely hearts club band - the beatles

this was chosen by bambi. bambi met sir paul mccartney when she was little and he called her a lushling. i'm so jealous.

romeo & juliet - dire straits

n-dog put dire straits on first, but i think this was stinks choice. don't worry, stinks doesn't actually smell bad at all and she enjoys purchasing fresh flowers at the markets.

dress sexy at my funeral - smog

a joint choice from stinks and n-dog, which i was very happy to learn came from an album i had lent them both only a week earlier, dongs of sevotion. weirdest album name to type ever.

i can't stay - the killers

this was definitely n-dog's choice. n-dog likes to rock out to this at approximately 2.30pm on weekdays. n-dog is from new zealand and he calls me katie dizzle.

in the air tonight - phil collins

if i'd had my choice last night, we would have been listening to all phil collins all night long, i had to make do with just this one. for now.

dice - finley quaye & beth orton

bambi came into the music choosing shenanigans a little later than stinks and n-dog. when she did come in though, she came armed with some sort of secret magic that suddenly saw her hacking into the playlist and knocking out everyone else's picks with her own. crazy kid.

heartbeats - the knife

n-dog strikes again with some sweet swedish styling. as well as calling me katie dizzle he also calls a frisbee a chuck disc.

graceland - paul simon

from the album that reminds her of her childhood, next up we have stinks with some classic paul simon. stinks also enjoys wearing black, but every now and then will surprise you with a bright splash of colour.

feel good inc. - the gorillaz

bambi's choice. i have to say, i think bambi and i have probably the least similar musical tastes out of my housemates, but she has the BEST musical knowledge and is an excellent addition to any trivia team. maybe sir paul mac blessed her when they met all those years ago...

abracadabra - steve miller band

i'm so glad this got a look in, possibly my fave from the whole night. it's an excellent track to roll cannelloni too, and it was courtesy of n-dog.

fu-gee-la - the fugees

a surprise choice from stinks, breaking it down ghetto style. stinks has a bike called bobby and likes lacquered wicker baskets.

cortez the killer - neil young & crazy horse

n-dog has two bikes, a pushie and a motorised one. despite all my best efforts, neither of them have names. as yet. also n-dog is good at fixing bikes. stella is as quiet as a mouse today!

every little thing she does is magic - the police

bambi also has an un-named bike that currently has a lovely blanket of spidey webs adorning it. n-dog needs to work some magic on that. thanks for unknowingly making up my mixtape today kids x

for dorothy

goodbye. i love you x

pick me!

ok, so totally amazing weekend weather right my darlings!? i went for a deep sea actual ocean dive yesterday. freakin' freezing. like neck aching, heart-stopping, take my breath away, fanny freezing cold. so worth it though. i felt like i was wearing a veritable armour suit of invincibility once i exited the icy blue depths. like the swedish say, very invigorating.

anywho, blue sunny skies such are just absolutely begging for picnics in the park with friends, food, bebitas, wayward frisbees and footballs, and warm breezes licking at bare ankles. and sunday is the perfect friend for said scenario. all that's needed now is a mix-tape of picnic blanket perfect songs. what's that? your wish is katie dazzle's demand. picnic basket out x

park benches - belles will ring

personally, i'm a fan of getting down and dirty on the picnic rug cladded ground when i go for afternoon delights with friends. park benches are what we gaze up at from our grassy knolls. and we're all the better for it. likes this track though.

the park - feist

someone inferred to me today that feist features too often in my mixtapes. whatev's. my girl crush knows no limits. this one is pretty lingering, lanuid, and dare i say melancholy. gotta get one in there.

the coast is always changing - maximo park

a band named after park time goodness, this is mega upbeat and full of writhing around on a picnic blanket rhythm and melody. slap some chicken on a buttered bread roll and slather me some mayo. delightful.

take on me - a.c. newman

when i was originally working on this playlist, i had a different a.c. newman track up my springtime, hayfever sneezing, tissue lodged sleeve - 35 in the shade. because it almost was today. however, in my travels i came upon this glorious pride of place cover instead. enjoy.

summerbreeze - emiliana torrini

ok i lied before, another 'tears forming at the corner of my eyes' song sneaks in this mix. but emiliana speaks the truest truths. summerbreeze's are well on their way, and let's not look the reminding gifthorse in the mouth.

strawberry wine - john steel singers

just because picnics remind me of champagne drunk out of plastic cups with chunky strawberries swimming in their bubbly and effervescent goodness.

forks and knives (la fete) - beirut

again, i'm reminded of plastic-ware. this time round it's a hot pink, 36 piece fork/knife/spoon cyclindrical set you can use picnic and picnic time again. go franklins.

this wind - the tallest man on earth

something about the wind spoke to me today, possibly from a tall man on earth up high position. it was slow and it was weighty, and it spelled out all the promises of summer 2009/2010. needless to say i'm pretty excited.

lisztomania- phoenix

when you organise a picnic, it's prudent to make lists. there are so many things you need from so many different places, it would just be silly not to. the end result can be lista-mania, best countered (i find) by a hefty dose of lisztomania. nice.

folding chair - regina spektor

as much as i love the earthy, grounded picnic blanket, sometimes all you want to do is sit in a snap-happy, pouch for my bevvie holding, folding chair. listening to the new album from ms. regina while doing so is icing on the delicious picnic cake.

bless you!

don't worry kidlets, i haven't gone all god-botherer on you. but something is bothering my sinuses right now, and i believe it may be those little mites that go by the name dust and pollen.

hayfever is bizarre - i never used to get it when i was little. oh no, i'm one of those lucky one's that has grown in to the itchy eyes, scratchy throat, endless sneezing and dripping nasal passages. yay me.

you know what all that means though? spring has sprung my pretties. it's magical how it happens, almost overnight, and it's like something in the air actually lifts, and we get those the distinct sense that lightness and brightness is on its way. people start revealing their stark white limbs, choosing white wine over red and dipping their toes into the sparkly blue ocean (still freezing ps.)

to continue the mood into the weekend, here's a mixtape of all my favourite songs about blooming, blossoming, bountiful, beautiful springtime. happy days x

spring 2008 - architecture in helsinki

this song is tip-toeing through freshly mown grass, barefoot, nimbly trying to avoid the bindis. i haven't had a bindi in years, i need to get around without shoes more often.

crush in the ghetto - jolie holland

where's the spring reference i hear you cry immediately!? that would be within holland's album springtime can kill you, on which this glorious number appears. found a lazy live version for your listening pleasure, bonus.

rise in the springtime - lavender diamond

this song is so spring. there's something about the violins that reminds me of vivaldi's four seasons actually! it's so grand and lovely, big sweeping piano chords, sweetly rounded vocals, thoughts of purple stems and a sprinkling of sparkles. perfect.

it's spring - swoop swoop

do magpies start their scary head pecking attacks in springtime? because you know that magpies swoop right? how's the synchronicity - this perth artist is one clever cookie.

come here - the concretes

i haven't popped a cover into the mix in ages, hello old friend! again, you might have trouble grasping the immediate springtime reference here. the original version of this song was performed by one kath bloom. as in flowers bloom. in spring. naff.

cherry blossom girl - air

have you seen the cherry blossom at the moment? it's a-brown-sticky-pink-flowery-mazing. branches of pure spring time beauty, i likes them a lot. and air is definitely floating in a cloud of

cherry blossom goodness.

blue flower - mazzy star

swells of fuzzy electric guitar, the beat of a tambourine against one palm, and flowers being crushed in the other. mazzy star is like a cruel spring day, snapping back to winter weather just when you thought it was safe to leave the house without a cardigan.

dancing in the dark - bruce springsteen

hey boss man. not only do you have the word spring contained within you ALL year round, i'm sure you've encouraged much dancing in the dark on balmy september, october and november nights. bring your own bonfire.

light & day - the polyphonic spree

this clip is a little bit wacky, but it's most definitely a springtime offering, in a most colourful, disney, animated sense of the word. i'm not sure what the white gospel style smocks are all about, but i do like the trilling flutes.

spring rain - the go-betweens

i feel like i should be much better buddies with the music of the go-betweens, so no time like the present to strengthen our friendship. the chorus in this is killer, the way they were meant to be written and the way i wish they still were.

sweet treats

so, you know how i tell you just over there to the right of my page that you can call me katie dazzle? i actually have another decidedly sugary nickname - katie cupcake. i adopted this alias when i was working at the jam factory, and luckily for all concerned, i'm actually not too shabby when it comes to baking these delicious mini sweet treats myself.

in fact, i made the best cupcakes just the other day, jam doughnut cupcakes. seriosuly, have you ever seen three consecutive words that looked so good together? while i was whipping up these flavour bombs, i made myself a mixtape of the sweetest songs i could think of, and in an equally sweet gesture i'm going to let these tracks tantalise your eardrums as well. don't forget to brush your teeth x

life is (super) sweet - cara beth satalino

sweet song name, sweet artist name, sweet voice, sweet lyrics, sweet melody. cara beth is just all sorts of licking your lips after eating a cinnamon doughnut sugary goodness.

spoonful of sugar - of montreal

not your mary poppins type of spoonful, but a healthy measure nonetheless of sweet indie-pop courtesy of kevin barnes et al. funnily enough i find the album title this "songle" comes from, horse & elephant eatery (no elephants allowed), kind of crass, weird.

honey honey - feist

listen to the opening strains of feist uh-ahhing in this song, and it's like viscous, golden honey slowly dripping out of your speakers and into your ears. watching the video clip is a slightly different experience - fish bones and gnarled gnome-like elders anyone? but i think it's actually quite beautiful.

sweet dreams, sweet cheeks - los campesinos!

how sweet can a song really be when the lyrics contain the words f**ked and sh*t in the first verse, and said lyrics are sung with an undeniably welsh twang? the violins are pretty cute though. plus i actually use this phrase in real life.

blood sugar love - the real tuesday weld

stephen coates likes to refer to his particular brand of electro-pop as antique beat. cute. in this song he sings about how life is good when you're filled with blood. especially if your blood-sugar levels are quite high i'd imagine. and again with the violins, i'm digging them this week!

syrup & honey - duffy

dudes - this girl is amazing. the sweetest, most soulful voice i've heard in such a long time, especially for a welsh whitey.

it could be sweet - portishead

portishead sing some of the saddest songs i know, but beth gibbons voice is like a lovely, silken ribbon wrapping it's sweet self around and around me everytime i have the pleasure of listening to it.

sugar - wooden birds

the wooden birds are a recent discovery - one of those gems you stumble upon and you don't quite know how or where or why, but what you do know is that the entire album glows from start to finish. get your ears around their debut magnolia as soon you can - super sweet, toothache not included.

sweet november - sarah blasko

what's not sweet about sarah blasko, i mean really? i haven't seen her perform live, but apparently she gets about like a cute little puppet on marionette strings. i wish it was november already.

sweet disposition - the temper trap

the official vid clip to this one is awesome, and you should check it out here. however, the link i've given you above has an extra power punch of sugar crystals set against stills from the upcoming and much hyped flick 500 days of summer. apparently it doesn't turn out as sweetly as you might expect.

hots for scots

so the other day i heard my hands down favourite song of the entire month. it happens to be by a scottish band, big country, and i love it so much, i'm kind of feeling sad for the twenty six years that i have been alive and not been listening to it, since it was released the same year i was born.

then i started going through my music collection, and i realised i've actually got a bit of a thing for scottish bands. then i started feeling guilty as i realised i've been the worst blogger ever and i've not tantalised your ears with mix for approximately a fortnight. now i give you a mixtape of ridiculously good songs by scots.

big country - a big country

i honestly can't believe i've never heard this song before, it's truly epic to my ears. anthemic and uplifting with just the right amount of electro-bagpipe.

life without buildings - the leanover

this song is very much one of those time and place tracks for me. once upon a time i lived in a tall concrete building in florence and one of my flatmates was scottish. she introduced me to the now defunct band life without buildings. actually we used to dj in a bar called pop cafe, and this song reminds me of mojito fuelled nights filled with music and misfits.

arab strap - the shy retirer

aidan moffat and malcolm middleton doing their sweet scottish thing together. i just love the name of the album this comes from, their 2003 offering, monday at the hug and pint. win.

belle and sebastian - step into my office baby

this song was the first belle and seb track i ever heard, and i immediately loved their eccentric and melodious way of telling stories. this song also has a wack film clip full of weird phallic references, and the most unlikely couple to ever do it in the office.

franz ferdinand - wine in the afternoon

firstly, i love the idea of wine in the afternoon. any afternoon. all afternoon. secondly... oh. i forget what my next point was going to be. where's my wine?

mogwai - stanley kubrik

mid mixtape wind down as i get all instrumental on you. this is an amazing track from mogwai, very internal organ grabbing and heartbeat quickening. one of those songs you don't want to end because you just love being wrapped up in it. like a blanket.

frightened rabbit - keep yourself warm

i saw these dudes at peat's ridge festival over new year's 09. i was so excited about seeing them, but a crazy leprechaun slipped me some fairy dust before i got there and all i really remember are lots of bright, streaky lights. according to my happy snaps though, i had a great time.

aberfeldy - summer's gone

maybe for you northern hemispherions, but our summer is just around the corner. have you been experiencing the amazing sydney weather lately? if i stick my tongue out far enough, i can practically lick summer on the face. it tastes good.

dogs die in hot cars - apples & oranges

for some reason when i think of this band, i can't help but chant "who let the dogs out...who who" in my head. which is weird, right? these scots are nothing like that song. they are my favourite brand of good time happy pop. bloody word association.

lord cut glass - look after your wife

this is a new gem i've just stumbled upon. the clip is super cute and lord cut glass is the new project from alun woodward, who you may know as a member of the delgados. i love how when alun sings, there is zero percent doubt of his nationality. that is what i'm talking about when i refer to hot scots.

wet wet wet - love is all around

and wrapping up the show today, i'm getting wet wet and wetter. i haven't heard this corny sparkler for ages. i had to get one syrupy effort in here, and i think i've already used up the proclaimers in a previous post. i'll be back sooner rather than later next time lads and lassies. stay scottish x

with a name like katie dazzle, i assume it wouldn't be a stretch to imagine i'm a quite a fan of all things sparkly. my friend bambi sent me a link to the website of this cute as a button designer victoria mason. this necklace of a pencil sharpening is my favourite for sure. and it got me thinking about writing, of the non electronic persuasion.

i used to live in overseas, and one of my most favourite things to do while i was away was write and receive handwritten letters. there's nothing quite like cracking open a lovingly sealed envelope and reading the freshly inked sentences of loved ones to give you a sense of connection that would never come from clicking open an email in hotmail.

it's just all too easy to send a text or shoot off an email these days. don't get me wrong, i appreciate the electronic medium as much as the next amateur blogger, but it's nice to remember that sometimes the simpler things in life can be way more rewarding. so today's mix, as you may or may not have already guessed, has everything to do with letters. and if there's someone you haven't said hello to for a while, pen + paper + envelope = all you need. x

envelope - the colorful quiet

this song is made up of 2 sentences that are only sung once, but it is a perfectly pensive tune for penning a letter to the one that you're missing.

blue letter - fleetwood mac

funnily enough, this song doesn't make me feel blue in the slightest. if i was writing a letter while listening to this track, it would probably be written with a novelty pen that had some sort of tassle attached to the end of it.

postcards from italy - beirut

i've sent a lot of postcards from italy in my time. postcards are just as awesome as letters. you can get them free from heaps of places, and you don't even need an envelope! go and send one to someone right now.

a pencil full of lead - paolo nutini

a surprise nugget from one hot scot. paolo nutini's last offering was pure pop - this is some old school sounding jazzy be-bop goodness. swoon.

please mr postman - the marvelettes

speaking of old-school. i was in a high school musical based on sister act one AND two. yes, it was amazing. i danced to this song in spangly blue bike pants. i wonder if my post man is nice, i'm always at work when he's delivering the letters.

stan - eminem

don't worry guys. i always answer my fanmail.

letter from an occupant - the new pornographers

i can't believe i sometimes forget how much i bloody love neko case. despite it's uptempo beat and general loudness, i reckon this song is even sadder than slim shady's contribution to the mix. i guess not all letters can be good.

the district sleeps alone tonight - the postal service

not techincally a song about letters, but these guys are the musical epitomy of snail mail and doing things organically.

a postcard to nina - jens lekman

when you write a postcard, how do you sign off? yours truly is quite formal. best is a bit weird and brief. cheers is a too matey. i like hugs and kisses xo

five letters - jeff lang

langers is a way under-rated australian musician. this track is from the album half seas over and it's really rather good. i reckon i could write a pretty intoxicating love letter while listening to this one.