Recently, the latest album Love Letters, from the ever-changing and perpetually ear-appealing foursome Metronomy is 10-piece deep fried and served with packets of funk sauce. Yes, your ears will need wet wipes for this one. Here is a band with a sound soul-stitched in the artsy annals of some future retro otherworld. Down below you can check out the brand new and oh so official video the their titled-track Love Letters. This piece was directed by Mr. Michel Gondry, so you know it’s an eyeful of sticky sweet. You can cop Love Letters now via the music outlets below, and check out the band’s Deezer Session you’ll succumb to total swoontaneous combustion. Peace.
iTunes
Amazon US
hmv
Recordstore.co.uk
Rough Trade East Continue reading “metronomy | love letters lp | video”
maps // a.m.a. + official video
maps // a.m.a. + official video
Shot in sun drenched Spain and directed by Alan Masferrer, the video perfectly captures the dreamy summery mood of A.M.A..
A.M.A. is out now on limited edition Rough Trade 12” and download, with remixes from the Norwegian songwriter Susanne Sundfør who has collaborated previously with MAPS and recently featured on the M83 soundtrack for the film Oblivion; Dutch electronic artist Legowelt and fellow Mercury nominees The Invisible alongside a remix from MAPS himself.
The latest LP Vicissitude focuses, tightens and sharpens MAPS’ expansive sound. The album might have been born from a long period of self-contemplation, but maybe you do need a while to get simple answers to the difficult questions. Time to face the light. Peace.
Continue reading “maps // a.m.a. + official video”
amateur best // pleased
One-man band Amateur Best (Joe Flory) does it all. Mr. Flory writes, produces and plays all the instruments, and he also handles the details of the visual artwork surrounding his musical projects. I like the DIY approach, and in the case of Amateur Best and the song Pleased the results are quite agreeable to my eardrums. The Amateur Best debut LP No Thrills is out now via Double Denim Records. Peace. Continue reading “amateur best // pleased”
the history of apple pie // do it wrong
The History Of Apple Pie have pulled the gloves off to reveal knuckles encased in brass. The bands latest single, “Do It Wrong” finds Stephanie Min fully embracing her rock-n-roll bitchiness with a snarl and attitude galore. “Do It Wrong” will be released August 6th via Marshall Teller Records. You can pre-order the limited edition (only 300 will be pressed) 7″ (b/w “Long Way To Go”, on white vinyl. Peace. Continue reading “the history of apple pie // do it wrong”
things we like: gil scott-heron // the last holiday: a memoir
“Gil Scott-Heron’s posthumous memoir, The Last Holiday, plays back the life of a musician whose scorching political writings and recordings reflected the social injustice faced by African-Americans, inspiring today’s rappers.” —Elissa Schappell, Vanity Fair
Global loud mouth extraordinaire, societal rabble-rouser or fearless middle-finger waving poet agitator? Gil Scott-Heron wore all these labels shamelessly. He was, and still is, that singular black voice transcending the color line, challenging and thought-provoking. He was an attentive antenna transmitting the angst and global injustice of corrupt industry, ineffective political processes, and our blissful ignorance concerning not only race but the human conditional. He wanted to shock us out of our inefficacious complacency and to elevate our consciousness, to such a degree as to allow us all to acknowledge our sameness and collective and universal interdependency.
And perhaps now, albeit posthumously, he can occupy your eye space and breathe awareness into your very own precious and fortuitous existence. Here, the memoir The Last Holiday, with the help of writer-editor Tim Mohr, the thoughts and life story of Gil Scott-Heron are woven together into a coherent and wholly über interesting tapestry. Revealing a man who walked the earth and let his words to the heavy lifting and the fighting. For more about this wonderful book, well read the memoir. It can be purchased at fine independent book stores everywhere, or visit Grove Press and for additional books, music and poetry by Gil Scott-Heron visit gilscottheron.net. Peace.
perfume genius / / hood + normal song + dark parts
As always, there exists much fragility in the world and the songs of Perfume Genius not only embody those easily broken parts of the human heart and soul; they expand upon them in the role of one who has endured much. When I first listened to the musical renderings of 26-year-old Seattle resident Mike Hadrea I was at once struck, not only by the beauty of the songs, but also the very raw and uncontrived nature of Mr. Hadrea’s voice, for it is the voice that conveys the pain and exposed nerve endings of one whose felt much the dark underpinnings of heartache. Listen to the songs, “Hood”, “Normal Song” and “Dark Parts” all of which are taken from the album Put Your Back N 2 It (2012). I’m certain you’ll love them enough to want them all for yourself as salve against the small meteors that assail one’s existence from time to time. Peace. Continue reading “perfume genius / / hood + normal song + dark parts”
Pulled Apart By Horses // Until My Head Exploded: Greatest Hits // V.E.N.O.M (Video)
You have a tendency to perk up your ears when such a reputed indie label as Rough Trade describes a band as follows, “The band’s (Pulled Apart By Horses) self-titled 2010 debut was a sonic maelstrom of screamo and hard disco riffage; here was heavy music that you could shake a tail feather to, pop music at its most corrupted. Dance music played by wiry punk weirdo’s.” Such an introduction surely got my attention. So, get in touch with your inner ruffian and see if you can blow your speakers out playing PABH cranked up to 11. To get you up to speed, as a primer check out their 2011 release Until My Head Exploded: Greatest Hits. I gather you need no explanation on what you do with this one, but don’t be surprised if the neighbors call in 5-0. And that’s not all, I also have the band’s latest video for the raucous mosh pit ready single “V.E.N.O.M.” I warned you! Peace. Continue reading “Pulled Apart By Horses // Until My Head Exploded: Greatest Hits // V.E.N.O.M (Video)”
the history of apple pie // mallory
I think The History of Apple Pie is my fatal fuzzy fantasy band come to life, if not they’ll do until it gets here. Their music is the perfect blend of shaggy hair in your bubble gum — don’t worry, that’s just my way of describing their unshorn shoegazy pop sound. And the vocals of Stephanie Min make want to do unmentionable things to my speakers. Like rip ’em apart and commune with their fizzling innards. Hey, what can I say? I’m weird like that. Anyway, listen to the song “Mallory,” and if it makes you feel like putting on the warm wool sweater of nostalgia and pout into your yearbook, don’t say I didn’t warn you. THOAP is mighty, mighty delicious stuff. Peace. Continue reading “the history of apple pie // mallory”