Hungry Kids of Hungary have had a pretty good year. The boys from Brisbane Ben Dalton, Dean McGrath, Kane Mazlin and Ryan Strathie put out an outstanding album, You’re A Shadow. Listen to the song When Yesterday’s Gone after the jump. Peace. Continue reading “hungry kids of hungary // when yesterday’s gone”
a sunny day in glasgow // in love with useless (the timeless geometry in the tradition of passing)
A Sunny Day In Glasgow hit us over the head with a dreamy and buoyant new song, In Love With Useless. It is a sunny cocktail of the good stuff. SDIG will release their fourth album in 2014. I’m excited about that. Peace. Continue reading “a sunny day in glasgow // in love with useless (the timeless geometry in the tradition of passing)”
warpaint // warpaint lp + full album stream
Warpaint is four individuals. Emily Kokal, Theresa Wayman Jenny Lee Lindberg and Stella Mozgawa. Yet, they stand as a single force of sound.
From the needle drop to records end, Warpaint’s sophomore and self-titled Warpaint release sounds like a mature whiskey, perfectly aged and just a potent. The brimming and haunting vocals of Emily Kokal enter your belly and spreads something intoxicating throughout.
This is a collection of stirring songs, which are perfectly suited for the spiritualistic and the sensualistic, so imbibe responsibly.
The verdict. Get it now. Warpaint the album is poignant and evocative; difficult to ignore or forget.
Pre-order Warpaint, Warpaint over at Rough Trade store. I love vinyl and the color red, so the double-lp is heading my way i-mmediately.
Catch the full Warpaint album stream at NPR and The Guardian at your leisure. Peace. Continue reading “warpaint // warpaint lp + full album stream”
orthy // night touch + video
Let me get a five-piece. No, we’re not talking about a deep fried poultry here, but this is just as hot and something you can sink you ears into. Austin, Texas-based quintet Orthy are making a lot of electronic noise with the release of their second sound pill Night Touch.
If you recall, the E.M.I.L.Y track released back in December was a slow ride down. Check out the Eli Welbourne-directed video after the jump. Look for the E.M.I.L.Y. EP to drop January 28th courtesy Dither Down Records.
TRACK LISTING:
1. E.M.I.L.Y
2. Night Touch
3. Oasis
4. Take the City
5. E.M.I.L.Y. (Baio Remix)
The E.M.I.L.Y. EP also has a sweet remix by Greco Roman’s own Baio, aka Chris Baio of Vampire Weekend. Peace. Continue reading “orthy // night touch + video”
we were promised jetpacks // peace sign
We Were Promised Jetpacks will return this winter with E Rey (Live in Philadelphia), an album that was recorded at Philadelphia’s Union Transfer. The live album will be released on February 25 via FatCat and follows up We Were Promised Jetpacks critically acclaimed sophomore album In The Pit Of The Stomach. Check out the new song, Peace Sign after the jump. I’m excited.
Recorded at the final show of their 2012 US tour, at Union Transfer in Philadelphia, and mixed by the band’s touring sound engineer Andrew Bush, E Rey features the first new WWPJ song in two years, “Peace Sign” – an early live-version taster of their upcoming studio album, which will be released in the fall. The bonus film, downloadable
separately, includes the full concert shot by a 5-camera crew, as well as tour footage and interviews shot on Super 8 by their friend Matt over weeks of being on theroad with the band.
For fans, this is a new piece of the Jetpacks’ puzzle, a reminder of where Jetpacks truly live: on the stage, under the lights and singing along with everyone in the audience. Peace. Continue reading “we were promised jetpacks // peace sign”
crushed stars // farewell young lovers lp + album stream
Crushed Stars are releasing their new Farewell Young Lovers LP, it drops January the 21st courtesy of Simulacra Records. Anticipating the album release the excellent blog American Songwriter is streaming the LP in-full for a week. Cooler than cool.
The Farewell Young Lovers album moves easy, like a cool mist over wildflowers. This is dream pop interwoven with silvery veins of folksy southern rock-edges, diluted with stylistic fissures reminiscent of Peter Murphy, and the likes of Jesus And The Mary Chain and Sparklehorse. Yet, there exists enough of band leader Todd Gautreau and band mates Jeff Ryan, Howard Draper and Buffi Jacobs talent and beauty to make this Dallas-based band shimmer.
Tracks on Farewell Young Lovers range from the effervescent opener Flowerbomb to the moody instrumental centerpiece Poppies to the Jesus and Mary Chain meets Stax Haters alongside several tracks of the dreamy psychedelia the band is known for. Other surprises include a guest theremin player on Fly and the first crushed stars guitar solo on Supernova with a second one superimposed for good measure.
Drummer Jeff Ryan says, “It seems there’s a new sense of energy woven into these new tracks, there are more textures and electronics expanding the musical landscape. The straightforward harder songs like Flowerbomb and Haters show a musical side that hasn’t been seen before from us, even though there’s still a common thread between these songs and the others on the album.” Peace. Continue reading “crushed stars // farewell young lovers lp + album stream”
news from the dispensary : gold lake // alone again (love cover + for amnesty international
It is so distressing to watch tragedy unfold regardless of which part of the globe it originates. But, almost just as worrisome is not knowing what to do, or how to help alleviate a bit of the suffering for those physically or domestically maligned by dire circumstances.
For me (and for many I suppose) it is those who don’t have to, but do so anyway, who are the true heroes. Those who are safe and secure in their comfortable enclaves, who not only deign to intervene, but do so risking life and limb to make a difference regardless of peril.
Amnesty International is such an organization. Comprised of selfless individuals who comprise a collective human consciousness in perpetual action.
The basic tenants of AI’s mission, to campaign tirelessly to end grave abuses of human rights are something the Brooklyn-based band Gold Lake agrees with wholeheartedly. And what does any compassionate world citizen (or band) do? Well, they take action in whatever capacity they can. The band, with the help of a few friends, pulled up their shirt-sleeves and made a song. Listen to their cover of Love’s Alone Again.
To record the cover, Gold Lake teamed up with friends of various bands including Pico Alt (Sufjan Stevens) on violin, Kyle Resnick (Beirut, The National) on trumpet, Steve Mertens (Here We Go Magic, Moldy Peaches) on bass and Carleigh Aikins (Bahamas) on vocals. All in all, this is one heck of an extended family band. The representative love and energy joined Gold Lake in the studio, and their pals from The Wild Honey Pie recorded it on video. Check out the results after the jump. Peace. Continue reading “news from the dispensary : gold lake // alone again (love cover + for amnesty international”
kill j // phoenix + galimatias remix
There exists in the world of music songs which transcend mere sound. The Danish duo Kill J delves into the dream ether and constructs from the sparkling atoms of creativity the beautiful, the sonically spatial and the wondrously variegated.
The track Phoenix is much more than the some of its parts though. For it somehow simultaneously anchors the senses and unmoors them to wander where they will. This is distilled euphoria unleashed. Simple. Gorgeous. Hypnotic. No, not ear candy. This is ear bling. Peace.
Cop a FREE DOWNLOAD of the Phoenix (Galimatias Remix) Continue reading “kill j // phoenix + galimatias remix”
midlake // the young & the old + video premiere
Your favorite Denton, Texas-based band Midlake is premiering the visuals for the astounding song The Old and The Young directed by Ollie Murray. Making an already great song all the more astounding. If you haven’t already, check out Midlake’s recently released Ahtiphon LP out now courtesy of Bella Union and under exclusive license in North America via ATO Records. Peace. Continue reading “midlake // the young & the old + video premiere”
moderat // last time = alternate version
Moderat has admitted to doing us fans a grave injustice. The track Last Time didn’t make the cut on their wildly successful LP II. However, it made the cut as a bonus track on the limited Deluxe Edition of Moderat’s II release.
But folks there is good news on the horizon, Last Time will be released as a single and it hits the street January 17, 2014. It will get the vinyl treatment, alongside an instrumental version, an alternate version and the only guest remix by Jon Hopkins, who will also support Moderat at their second Berlin show at the Columbiahalle on February 27, 2014.
“Last Time” is now available for pre-order at Monkeytown Records. Peace. Continue reading “moderat // last time = alternate version”