The MATTAdor.... awesome report this week....

I love these weekly reports, & obviously love the introduction to the new music The MATTador introduces us to....

Enjoy Cheers Greg

I have wanted to unveil this group for some time however my travels away from the folk rock genre in the past couple of weeks has meant that they have just had to wait. But no longer.... I can now unwrap them from their cotton wool and allow their amazing talents to reverberate in the ears of all of you that take the time to allow them into your lives.

This Sydney based Band formed in 2009, adding members one by one until the quintet - 'Boy and Bear' had arrived! I remember specifically where I was when I heard their first release 'Rabbit Song' which lead them to win the Triple J unearthed award and instantly become one of my favourite new acts. They have since toured with world class acts including Angus and Julia Stone, Mumford & Sons and Laura Marling, the whole time without yet releasing a full length album.

Boy and Bear are very unique in their formation, five singer song writers who in the past have fronted their own groups. This combination adds a silver lining, a difference that can be felt as well as heard to their music. Boy and Bear deliver fantastic choir type harmonies over an underlining driving force of indie folk guitar, piano, ukulele, tamborine and a whistle (bloody love a whistle in a song). Put simply they are musically amazing, vibrant and a refreshingly new sound that makes you sit up and say 'who are these guys'?

I am torn like never before when it comes to choosing one song to serve on this weeks musical platter. Should it be their latest song 'Feeding Line', their absolute marvel of a cover produced for the 'He will have his way' tribute to Crowded House - 'Fall at Your Feet', or one of the amazing songs from their first EP Emperor Antarctica? Truth is if you love music, you are doing yourself a monumental injustice if you don't search for all of these songs and give them a good old fashion belting.

Drum roll please.............................. and the winner is 'Rabbit Song'!! The reason - because their entire catalogue of songs is still relatively small, this means you can take the same journey I have taken very easily on you tube or various other sights by simply using the little thing called google. if you enjoy this song you will love what you discover thereafter!!!!

Please enjoy.................................................................The Music Mattador.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EbmcSQ_qVng

The Music MATTador, weekly report, Moods Photography, Greg Dries

Again, The MATTador has astounded me with his introduction to another fabulous artist who without him I/we may never have discovered, hope you enjoy as much as I have...

Cheers Greg

The Music MATTador...............

There is a band that I cant wait to tell you all about but it must wait for just one more week as I have a mission to complete here on my journey down the track known as the slightly obscure.

While my musical tastes have yet to fully embrace the intriguing world of opera I do completely appreciate these people's ability to produce noise that is somewhat unbelievable!

I have recently embraced an artist that resembles what I would call 'as close as it gets' for me when it comes to opera.

'AUSTRA' is a solo project started by Katie Stelmanis (who's middle name is Austra, the 'Latvian Goddess of Light'), that evolved into a three piece (Maya Postepski and Dorian Wolf), the Canadian group formed only last year and released their debut album last week titled 'Feel it break'. The aptly titled LP combines dark and almost dream like melodies warped into soft, subtle beats that create a magical carpet ride of an album.

Katie's voice totally dominates the song that I have chosen and introduces the listener to her incredible gift. This song and the album as a whole, leaves no question that if she had chosen opera no one could have second guessed her decision, luckily for us she didn't. Katie, the song writer of the group has written an album that is quite different to almost anything else I have heard this year and goes some of the way to blur the lines between opera and popular music. After ten years of writing her debut is spectacular and sure to rate highy in many critics top albums of 2011.

To fully appreciate the quality of this song I recommend that you download the song from the link (for free - thankyou Triple J - I Love You) and play it through the best speakers you have available rather than your computer.

Please enjoy....................................................... The Music MATTador.


http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/ - half way down the page on the right hand side you will find the free music header, below that is 'Austra - Lose It' download for free and enjoy forever...

Lili & Graham, Novotel Twin Waters Wedding, Greg Dries, Moods Photography

Here's a quick sneak peek from yesterdays wedding at the Novotel Twin Waters, the choice of location was perfect for Lili & Graham....

We had the chance to meet and photograph Lili & Graham a few years ago, so we were stoked when they contacted us about photographing their wedding..

The connection these guys share is truly beautiful so it was an absolute pleasure to share time again with them yesterday.

Huge thanks to everyone for being so fabulous, we had planned to do beach shots but were very concerned following the ceremony as it was obvious rain was imminent, so after a quick discussion we loaded in the Novotel Golf Carts & headed off to the beach, walking along the track leading to the beach the light was fantastic, all was looking good, down on the beach perfect.... out to sea though a rain squall was heading our way, we had just set up for the first group shot when it hit us.... thankfully we kept shooting and got some fabulous shots, (big plug for nikon cameras here... the seals on ours were fully tested yesterday & came through with flying colours... i hope)

Hope you enjoy these few images.......

ps: huge thanks to Loretta for yesterday..... soaking wet & freezing she did an amazing job, Loretta did the lighting for the bar shots featured...

We had the pleasure of sharing the day with Sam, from Wild Bunch Wedding & Video, hopefully his equipment faired well.... need a videographer check them out...

Greg Dries, Master of Photography, a.i.p.p

join us on facebook: www.facebook.com/moodsphotography

The Music MATTador, weekly report

There is no doubt when you read the Mattador's report that this guy is absolutely passionate about his music, I had the opportunity to catch up with him for a couple of hours last week, always good times, we did debate the fact that the the 80's was a good time for music......

While we debated & disagreed about 80's music there is no disagreeing with this weeks featured artist, one of my favourites (actually they accompanied me yesterday at the studio while I was working, musically that is...)

The Music MATTador.......................

I spent some time with a great friend last week who told me they had created a playlist of 'significat songs' that sparked memories of special times or events in his life. Once again this got me thinking................

There are many many choices here for me but in keeping with last weeks decision to post something a little fired up my choices were shortlisted.

It was the middle of Summer, year 2000. It had been typical 32+ degree day and I was at a the Big Day Out, I think I had lost the equivalent of about 10l of fluids and needed something to give me the energy to go on. Water fountains were sparse and beer wasn't really helping the situation...... The sun had just started to set and despite all the pain associated with heat exhaustion the bands I had seen were freaking amazing. Old school greats like Regurgitator, Resin Dogs, Spiderbait and Grinspoon and headliners like Foo Fighters, Red Hot Chilli Peppers and The Chemical Brothers still to come, I was in heaven.

This week's post is more about the specific time, song and lyrics as opposed to the normal run down of history and unknown trivia.

Enter Powderfinger! A band that needs no introduction and the band that I have seen live more than any other, put simply these guys hold a very sentimental place in the heart of the MATTador.

So now for the moment.... Close you eyes, place yourself within about 10 meters of the stage, and imagine being in a boiling hot bowl of sweaty people all gasping at any hint of a breeze that passes by the main stage while you sing along to every word that Bernard rips out. Cue the most freakin unbelievable coincidence in my musical memory! With the lyrics "cascading down" exiting Sir Bernard's lips and entering my eardrums, the sky's opened in typical Queensland fashion and the thunderstom hit. With the song 'DAF' my memory had been created.

Sigh................... What a wonderful day that was, I would love to hear some of your song provoked memories................................

Please enjoy.............................................................................The Music MATTador.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQKichwGakI (no video of that day exists so this is from the year before at the livid festival in Brisbane).

Cant resist a bit of trivia - DAF is the name of the song because they could not come up with anything else... DAF is the Chord progression in the song.

Wayne & Felicity, Greg Dries, Master of Photography

A couple of images I grabbed of friends & fellow photographers Wayne & Felicity yesterday...

Greg Dries, Master of Photography

Redcliffe Kite Festival, Greg Dries, Master of Photography

Annually there is a Kite Festival where we live, & yesterday was the day, it is held a stones throw from our home & is always a great family day... Yesterday we headed down early & were joined by some photographer friends.... Always great opportunities for great images, hope you enjoy these few.

Greg Dries Master of Photography.......

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Limited to 8 attendees, the day is designed for enthusiasts.

Sunday 5th June ......

Call the Moods Photography studio to book: 32834144

or check out: www.facebook.com/moodsphotography, events

This will be a fantastic day not too be missed.....

The Music MATTador... Something a little different

Wow, this week is a surprise... will be interested to hear what you think

Cheers Greg

I've been given the heads up (by Mrs MATTador) that it may be time to fire it up a bit this week. This got me thinking.......... which direction should I take, my musical tastes are so varied that I feel I am now standing in the middle of a five way intersection guessing which way to head that would inturn please everyone.

Then I had the epiphany, don't try and please everyone, just spend the next couple of weeks travelling a few different roads!! So, seatbelts on peeps here we go...

When I mention the next three words I want you to take a deep breath and push through the pain as I promise it will be much, much better that you will initially give me credit for........................... Aussie Hip Hop.

OK, I assume you have probably heard of a few Aussie artists that over the last two decades of so risen to be the most well know Aussie Hip Hop artists, Hilltop Hoods immediately springs to mind. They can probably take most of credit for bringing this genre into the spotlight as they showed us that to be successful in such a cut throat industry you need to connect immediately with the audience. They kicked the old gangsta rap template to the curb and made the Aussie Hip Hop style energetic, positive and something that in the end, made you feel good, and ask questions.

The one band that captured this feeling for me and kick start my love of Aussie Hip Hop was TZU. In 2004 they released their debut album 'Position Corrected' on the unsuspecting Australian public, it was overflowing with whity but profound lyrics to describe their home town and their love for it, Melbourne, Victoria. They had the unique ability to match a sense of social conscience with a sense of humour create live shows that are exhausting just to watch.

This year 'Joelistics', one half of TZU will release a solo album titled Voyager (May 20). What I have for you this week is a bit different, it is a link to a site at which you can purchase the song for as much as you wish or as little as 10c, sorta like the honesty jar on the side of the road. You can simply listen to the song if you wish, I payed $1 for mine.

The second variation this week is that I have two links for you all - I had initially planned to give you my interpretation of the song however, who better to do that than the man himself. His way with words is amazing..........! A very touchy subject in such volatile times shepherded perfectly into a song.

Please enjoy...............................................................The Music MATTador

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7f1e0fKNNs listen here first!

http://www.elefanttraks.com/store/glorious-feeling.

The Music MATTador... Enjoy

The MATTador was at a course this week & had limited internet access... thankyou to those of you that look forward to these posts & let us know, like you I get excited about what Matt is going to share... hope you enjoy this week, very interesting choice.... look forward to hearing your thoughts.... Cheers Greg

Well here's a 50 / 50 for you all. I love it!!! you may hate it, have a listen make up your own mind. The best thing about music is that is yours, yours to judge, yours to completely do with what you want, nobody can tell you that your views and opinions are wrong, because their yours. My goal here as the MATTador is not to tell you what music is good, but rather offer something new, wave the red flag as such, to offer something different than your everyday run of the mill pop artists.

Thats where James Blake comes in, a perfect example of an artist you will never hear on commercial radio, however, one that is so wonderfully talented. His music is a masterpiece of simplicity matched perfectly with a sublime intensity, Jeff Buckley like, in the way a voice can dominate a performance.

James Blake is a British electronic composer from London, his self-titled debut album was released in the UK on 7 February 2011 and is one of the most unique sounds I have heard.

According to many who have had the opportunity to experience James live it is a struggle to describe the unique qualities they experience, quite honestly I struggle to compair James to many other artists.

The recording speaks for it'self please enjoy..................... The Music MATTador

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2n-kGLPCLs