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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”

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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”

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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”

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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”

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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”

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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”

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making marks // a thousand half-truths lp


 
Marking Marks are exposing their tender vulnerable side with the song Bruises. It is a soft-shelled shooting star filled with sweetness in the form of honey tempered vocals, barely there pelting rain-like drums and meandering twangy guitar, and it is all stitched together with cotton candy synths. The conjoined vocals of Nina Bø and Ola Innset are playful, nuanced and a perfect match here and throughout the album.

The band’s debut album A Thousand Half-Truths resonates with a fistful of heartfelt renditions. These are songs and sounds culled from the ever changing contents of the pantry of life, love and living. The songs range from melodies draped lovingly with a silver-lined tensile strewn avoir le cafard, to the bold and clever. All ten songs on the LP just make the ears happy to be ears.

A bit of back story, in a former life the band previously went by the moniker mylittlepony for several years. In 2011 mylittlepony released their album Making Marks and thus the rest his history.

Get the FREE DOWNLOAD of the splish-splashy song Bruises. It is the perfect confessional theme song. I like. I like it a lot.

The debut album A Thousand Half Truths will be released on vinyl, CD and digital on February 2nd 2014 courtesy of Fika Recordings, with a special Japanese CD version available on January 22nd. Check out a 5-song sampling after the jump. Peace. Continue reading “making marks // a thousand half-truths lp”

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time warp: freddie gibbs & madlib // shame


 
It’s 2014 and this time out I am stepping into the Time Warp. It’s a new feature in which I take you back and wrap your dome around something fly, but perhaps forgotten. Here, I’m shaking off the track Shame by Freddie Gibbs and Madlib. It’s classic, so listen close and take it all in.

FYI. Madlib has been a pivotal figure in hip hop/rap game for well over 20-years and he’s still going strong. With a resume touching all corners of the groove spectrum he has left (and continues) an indelible touch, working with such hip hop/rap luminaries as Erykah Badu, DOOM, Ghostface Killah, J. Dilla, Lootpack and Mos Def. With a atom splitting style and genre defying approach his life work is as chill as it is self-aware and groovenotic.

Also, let it be known I don’t do this without reason. Check the calendar, February will see the release of Pinata, a newcollabo with Freddie Gibbs and yours truly Madlib out courtesy of Madlib’s Invazion imprint. This will be followed up by new material in the sound, shape and form of a Mos Def record. Lastly, there may be a DOOM + Madlib sequel to 2004’s Madvillainy, if the star are in perfect alignment and the herb is most righteous. Peace. Continue reading “time warp: freddie gibbs & madlib // shame”

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ghostpoet // remix competition winners


 
A while back, multi-faceted UK artist Ghostpoet was approached for a remix competition in which fans would rework one (or more) of three singles from his recently released Some Say I So I Say Light LP courtesy of [PIAS] Recordings

The tracks:

1. Meltdown

2. Cold Win

3. Dial Tones

After much deliberation the winners were, Bastard Sugar’s  otherworldly version of Dial Tones, UK artist Thinnen’s dark and bass-loaded take on Cold Win, and the heavily percussive house remix of Meltdown by Londoner Joe Ashworth. All three of the tracks will be cut to their own dubplates by The Carvery, and can be streamed in full below. Peace. Continue reading “ghostpoet // remix competition winners”