This week was rather quiet for new releases but there were still some notable records that surfaced. Check out the list and download our selected tracks from the links below.
Pelican - What We All Come To Need (Southern Lord) The Swell Season - Little Joy (Anti-) Devendra Banhart - What Will We Be (Warner) Broadcast And The Focus Group - Broadcast And The Focus Group Investigate Witch Cults Of The Radio Age (Warp) Tegan And Sara - Sainthood (Vapour/Sire) Boat - Setting The Paces (Magic Marker) Talk Normal - Sugarland (Rare Book Room) Awesome New Republic - Hearts (Honor Roll Music) Glass Ghost - Idol Omen/strong (Western Vinyl) I Love You - Bell Ord Forest (Joyful Noise) Junk Culture - West Coast (Illegal Art) Levi Fuller - Colossal (Self Released)
SO LAKE WANT TO BUILD A ROOF...? WE'RE GLAD THEY MADE ANOTHER ALBUM!
Hailing from Olympia, Washington State, north western US indie pop band Lake released their new album earlier this month, Lets Build A Roof, on the community label K Records just a year after Oh The Places We Will Go. With 'Don't Give Up' a current staple on the Indie30 chart, the album gives us all a chance to sample further their lo-fiesque natural pop music. There is definitely something earthy and downright honest about Lake as they adeptly combine a heck of a lot of instrumental activity into their music without confining space, no mean feat. In fact is is this unusual feature that sets them apart from others. Check out a couple more tracks from the album below. Lake cut their way down the east coast of the US over the next week or so before heading to the opposite side of the country for more dates through November. For dates go here.
WHAT WE ALL COME TO NEED AND EVERYONE NEEDS A DOSE OF PELICAN
Hot on the heels of fellow intense post rock instrumentalists Russian Circles releasing their new record, Chicago now Los Angeles based quartet Pelican drop their fourth album, What We All Come To Need this week, their first for Southern Lord Records. Continuing to eschew their own style and still refusing to conform or be pigeon holed to a style, the album, already getting some glowing reviews features a number of guest appearances including new label mate Greg Anderson of Sunn O))), former label Hydra Head's owner and Isis frontman Aaron Turner and Allen Epley of Shiner and The Life And Times fame. It is Epley's vocals, (yes, vocals on a Pelican song) that appear on the track and album closer 'Final Breath' which you can download from the link below. As an added treat Empty's Tapes ventured to a Pelican show at the Triple Rock Social Club in Minneapolis a couple of Sunday's back and recorded the show. You can link to it below through our track pick 'The Creeper'.
Pelican What We All Come To Need tracklisting
1. Glimmer 2. The Creeper 3. Ephemeral 4. Specks of Light 5. Strung Up from the Sky 6. An Inch Above Sand 7. What We All Come To Need 8. Final Breath
Final Breath
Pelican (USA)
From the album 'What We All Come To Need, Southern Lord.
FEATURE ALBUM: JUST ENJOY IT WHILE YOU'VE GOT IT - BUILT TO SPILL
When You In Reverse surfaced in 2006 to mixture of praise, criticism and indifference, the latter from Pitchfork and Pop Matters respectively, I thought to myself is my reading of this album wrong? Do my ears deceive me? Is this not an album choc full of enough hooks to fill a band's entire career? I think you know where I'm going here. When Built To Spill's seventh album There Is No Enemy came out three weeks I thought this will cop similar criticism for not offering a revolutionary rebirth of the band from Boise, Idaho, sixteen years into their career - one which a number of critics have been looking for. However for me, quite simply, There Is No Enemy is evidence of a band with a bag full of tricks underpinned by extraordinary consistency that is still as relevant and as fresh as ever. In fact, that the album doesn't strike with the usual immediacy speaks volumes for what Doug Martsch and co. have produced. Just when you think 'you've heard one Built To Spill song you've heard them all', There Is No Enemy does something to confound the thinking.
This album is more taut than You In Reverse and while that doesn't mean anything in terms of the quality of either, it does offer a seamless and very enjoyable hook laden rock/pop trip. Highlights include the middling wonder 'Hindsight', the up-tempo killer 'Good Ol' Boredom' complete with a lead hook that will embed itself further with each listen. The guitar work that closes 'Oh Yeah' (a cut back live version of this track played on Letterman can be seen below) is an example of some of Built To Spill's best guitar arrangement. 'Planting Seeds' is simply good ol' time pop heaven and 'Things Fall Apart' slides around quite nicely with some sublime guitar interplay. It is this interplay that will always keep Built To Spill more than applicable and downright vital to indie music c2009.
The slow burn of the closer 'Tomorrow' before it explodes into a fuzz of guitars makes you want to hope there will be a tomorrow for Built To Spill as I'm not waiting for their next classic record, I'm going to lap up what I've already got and with There Is No Enemy, that's plenty.
Oh Yeah
Built To Spill (USA)
From the album 'There Is No Enemy', Warner
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
WARPAINT RELEASE VIDEO FOR STARS
The indie darlings of a select number of the Hollywood set Warpaint, have released a video for the track 'Stars' which sees the female vocal trio, Jenny Lee Lindberg (bass), Emily Kokal and Theresa Wayman (both guitar), minus drummer and keyboardist Josh Klinghoffer cavort around the recently burnt out Angeles National Forest. The video, directed by Adam Harding and Burke Roberts is representative of the band's dark, brooding yet strangely bright sound. 'Stars' comes from the orginally self released EP, Exquisite Corpse, a title which gives further insight into Warpaint's musical direction. The buzz the band have attracted landed them a release of the EP through Manimal Vinyl earlier this month which features a bonus track 'Krimson', which was mixed by Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist and luminari John Frusciante. Check out the video and two other tracks below. Fresh off playing shows at New York City's CMJ Music Festival, they also have some dates starting tonight in Athens (Georgia that is) with the cumbersomely named but talented Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson - look out for a link to a track from him in the next instalment of Songs In The Key Of Blog and for those dates go here.
1. Laura - GIRLS 2. Fantasy Nation - KORDAN 3. Silver Trembling Hands - THE FLAMING LIPS 4. The Lisbon Maru - FUCK BUTTONS 5. The Night The Night - CHET 6. Ghost Colony - TAPE DECK MOUNTAIN 7. Beach Town - LE LOUP 8. Molalatladi - BLK JKS 9. We Are Water - HEALTH 10. Little Pieces - THE PARLOUR STEPS 11. Don't Give Up - LAKE 12. In Steps - LETTING UP DESPITE GREAT FAULTS 13. Light At The End Of The Tunnel - THE BLOODSUGARS 14. Wasteland - RUBIK 15. Convict Escapes - PALE AIR SINGERS 16. Hindsight - BUILT TO SPILL (NEW) 17. Lady Bones - MAGNETA LANE 18. The Numbers Song - ACID GIRLS 19. Sooner Or Later - ZAZA 20. Saturation - ZOOT WOMAN 21. In Your Heart - A PLACE TO BURY STRANGERS 22. Little Lion Man - MUMFORD AND SONS (NEW) 23. Ten By Ten - BLUEBRAIN 24. Change Of Heart - EL PERRO DEL MAR (NEW) 25. Teknique - BURNS 26. Warm In The Shadows - MUSIC GO MUSIC 27. Artificial Clouds - TIGERS THAT TALKED (NEW) 28. Hurricane - DOVEMAN (NEW) 29. Funeral Singers - CALIFONE 30. Burst Its Banks - KILL IT KID
All tracks have links to free downloads in the Latest Top 30 section here.
Tracks exiting this week Links to download these tracks now available in the archive section here.
The Great Escape - THE RIFLES Rats - THE BLACK HEART PROCESSION Bay Of Pigs - DESTROYER* Higher Than The Stars - THE PAINS OF BEING PURE AT HEART In The Dreamlife You Need A Rubber Soul - THE CLEAN
Friday, October 23, 2009
FEATURE ALBUM: FUCK BUTTONS BLOW UP YOUR STEREO
Bristol duo Fuck Buttons have released their follow up album to Street Horsing, Tarot Sport on the All Tomorrow's Parties label. Andrew Horsing and Benjamin John have recieved many accolades for their wall of noise grunge electro sound experience that is something to behold. The first single 'Surf Solar' at ten minutes long, starts off a bit like a carrousel at a country fair on acid. It builds up with a sample that might be alien vocals buried deep under all the other layers and carries you up on a breeze into the stratosphere leaving you wondering how you got there, but loving it. Then it all gets taken a notch higher making your head spin, in a good way. With a minute to go it drops you crashing back to earth feeling somewhat dazed and looking forward to what is coming up next.
'Lisbon Maru' featured on the Top30 at number 5 keeps the pace going with a military drum beat that kicks in halfway amongst the other dense layers. It's a very cinematic experience, like many other tracks on the album, lending itself to being listened to in a dark room to create the full effect.
'Olympians' is another long and strangely graceful journey, evoking images of slow motion athletes tearing along the track or hurling a javelin. 'Rough Steez' on the other hand begins with some rough sounds indeed that might have you jumping to check your stereo's speakers haven't imploded; it's loud and abrasive stuff with a lot going on. 'Space Mountain' is easier on the ears, high energy and more accessible. The track name inspired from a certain mouse-themed multi-national park chain perhaps?
With the help from legendary producer Andrew Weatherall, Tarot sport is worth a good listen more than once to do it justice. Catch one of their gigs in Europe, the U.S. or Canada over the next couple of months.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
SYNTAKS SET TO RELEASE NEW FULL LENGTH - PRESENTS MISTRAL MOON EP
Danish experimental electronic outfit Syntaks are set to release a new album, Ylajali, on November 3 through Ghostly International. Jakob Scott has been making textural and atmospheric electronica for years under the Syntaks moniker and three years ago got together with Anna Cecilia on his last album flying solo, Awakes. Now a fully fledged duo, Cecilia's wordless vocals mix effortlessly with Scott's meticulous production to produce a virtual cinematic experience. This is in evidence on the advance EP, Mistral Moon, which features the tracks 'Sudden Dream' (no on the album) and 'Mistral Moon (Illuminated Version)', the original of which is on the album. Download both tracks at the link below.
Syntaks - Ylajali tracklisting
1. Twentytwohundred 2. Love Camp 23 3. Phantasmagoria 4. She Moves In Colours 5. Blue Omega 6. Blue Sunshine 7. Mistral Moon 8. The Shape Of Things To Come 9. Dark Night
Sudden Dream
Syntaks (DEN)
From the forthcoming album 'Ylajali', Ghostly International
This week sees a solid selection of albums surfacing, a selection undoubtedly led by the Norweigan duo Kings Of Convenience with their new long player Declaration Of Dependence. Other new releases include Bradford Cox's Atlas Sound with Logos and Pavement's Scott Kannenberg whose moniker and second side project Spiral Stairs has a debut record, The Real Feel. Melbourne's Crayon Fields have a new album All The Pleasures Of The World out on vinyl this week in Australia only. The CD came out a couple of weeks ago. Sufjan Stevens goes all orchestral with The BQE and British bands The Rakes and The Maps also put out new albums. Chicago instrumental post rockers Russian Circles release Geneva and the pysch rock band, Espers from the Drag City stable also have a new LP out, their third, the aptly titled III. Sweden's Sarah Assbring alter-ego El Perro Del Mar's new album, Love is Not Pop sees a North American release and Canada's The Parlour Steps, whose track 'Little Pieces' is currently going great guns on Indie30, releases their new album, The Hidden Names. Check out a selective list below.
Kings Of Convenience (NOR) - Declaration Of Dependence (EMI) Spiral Stairs (USA) - The Real Feel (Matador) Atlas Sound (USA) - Logos (Kranky) El Perro Del Mar (SWE) - Love Is Not Pop (The Control Group) Doveman (USA) - The Confomist (Brassland) Russian Circles (USA) - Geneva (Suicide Squeeze) The Crayon Fields (AUS) - All The Pleasures Of The World (Chapter Music) - AUS only The Rakes (ENG) - Klang (digital release) Maps (ENG) - Turning The Mind (Mute) Sufjan Stevens (USA) - The BQE The Parlour Steps (CAN) - The Hidden Names (Nine Mile Records) Espers (USA) - III (Drag City) Alec Ounsworth (USA) - Mo' Beauty (Anti-) Old Canes (USA) - Feral Harmonic (Saddle Creek) Tim Williams (USA) - My Careful Love (Dovecote) Dam Funk (USA) - Toeachizown (Stones Throw)
Here's a selection of links to tracks from some of the above albums
Thomas Bartlett's project Doveman releases The Conformist today through the usual outlets on the Brassland label. Punters lucky enough to get along to one of his shows across Canada and the U.S. over the next couple of months are in for a real treat, as he supports Glen Hasnard (The Frames) and The Swell Season (recently in our Top 30 with their track "In These Arms"). Check here for date details.
The whispery and dreamy vocals of Bartlett team beautifully with the likes of Martha Wainwright, Matt Berninger and Aaron Dessner (both of The National, of which he was once a member) backing up on 'Angels Share', while tracks such as 'Breathing Out', 'Hurricane' and 'Castles' give a feeling the ideal place to listen to The Conformist is driving at night on the open road. With the windows down. It just has that feel to it.
With a background studying piano in London before moving to NYC and working with Yoko Ono, David Byrne, Antony and the Johnsons, and Grizzly Bear amongst others, Bartlett has garnered quite a following. "The Conformist", his third album, is set to be one for many late night / early morning listens. If you don't have a car, then a pair of good quality headphones should prove to be just as magical.
GIRLS TAKE NUMBER ONE SPOT : NEW INDIE30 CHART JUST ADDED - CLICK HERE
Chart Number Thirty Six, October 18, 2009
1. Laura - GIRLS 2. Fantasy Nation - KORDAN 3. Beach Town - LE LOUP 4. Molalatladi - BLK JKS 5. The Lisbon Maru - FUCK BUTTONS 6. The Night The Night - CHET 7. We Are Water - HEALTH 8. Ghost Colony - TAPE DECK MOUNTAIN 9. The Numbers Song - ACID GIRLS 10. Little Pieces - THE PARLOUR STEPS 11. Convict Escapes - PALE AIR SINGERS 12. Don't Give Up - LAKE 13. Silver Trembling Hands - THE FLAMING LIPS (NEW) 14. Warm In The Shadows - MUSIC GO MUSIC 15. Wasteland - RUBIK 16. Lady Bones - MAGNETA LANE 17. Teknique - BURNS 18. Light At The End Of The Tunnel - THE BLOODSUGARS 19. Funeral Singers - CALIFONE 20. In Steps - LETTING UP DESPITE GREAT FAULTS 21. In Your Heart - A PLACE TO BURY STRANGERS 22. Saturation - ZOOT WOMAN 23. Burst Its Banks - KILL IT KID 24. The Great Escape - THE RIFLES 25. Rats - THE BLACK HEART PROCESSION 26. Sooner Or Later - ZAZA (NEW) 27. Bay Of Pigs - DESTROYER* 28. Ten By Ten - BLUEBRAIN (NEW) 29. Higher Than The Stars - THE PAINS OF BEING PURE AT HEART 30. In The Dreamlife You Need A Rubber Soul - THE CLEAN
*Denotes stream available only. All other tracks have links to free downloads in the Latest Top 30 section here.
Tracks exiting this week Links to download these tracks now available in the archive section here.
Red River - SONYA COTTON So Slowly - EARLY DAY MINERS Stuck In Lalaland (feat Morpheus) - THE PENELOPE(S)*
October 17, 2009
SONGS IN THE KEY OF BLOG: MID OCTOBER
We've been busy again scouring the blogs and music websites for our regular column 'Songs In The Key Of Blog' to bring you some of the best indie music going around. There's not as many tracks this time around but we think the ones we've included are quality. They include the new single 'Artificial Clouds from Leeds pop rock outfit Tigers That Talked and a link to download the track 'Walk Of Shame' from UK electro-dance producer Andrew Weatherall's recently released debut solo album, A Pox On The Pioneers'. Weatherall is most known for his collaboration with Primal Scream on the hit track 'Loaded' back in the mid '90's. The Latest single 'Northern Ends' from Calgary post punk band Sharp Ends is also included. The band features ex Ostrich members including lively frontman Chris Zajko. Still in Canada, but at the other end of the spectrum career wise, pop/rock veterans Sloan have written a new song and have offered a free download for the small price of giving them your e-mail address.The Holladay brothers, Hays and Ryan from Washington D.C. have recently been doing remixes for Ra Ra Riot and The Death Set and their new project Bluebrain has a forthcoming album, Soft Power. Although not a blog site we felt getting it right from the source was the best thing so we have the link to Lujo Records free download of the first single 'Ten By Ten'. The final offering comes from San Francisco new wave shoegazer Tamaryn with their new track 'Mild Confusion. Enjoy.
Artificial Clouds
Tigers That Talked (ENG)
From the single 'Artificial Clouds', Bad Sneakers Records
Labelled raw, direct and adventurous, the static soaked new album from the Flaming Lips is either a return to form, a complete rebirth or both. We'll go the latter although the title is telling. Not for fifteen years have Coyne and co. sounded so like their formative years but there is something very different about Embryonic - it is at times dark, cold and downright nihilistic with not a pop song in sight. It was quite a worrying sight to see a band of such stature produce something like the disappointing 2006 effort At War With The Mystics and punters could have been forgiven for putting their Lips cues in the rack. This writer virtually did. However, this double album restores the faith. Its long on adventure and ambition but in Coyne's own words 'more free', a process that gave the band 'more room to get lost...(and)...at last be free from the discipline and focus' (of ...Mystics, Yoshimi... and The Soft Bulletin). Check out two examples of this below, the pyschedelic echoes of 'Silver Trembing Hands' and the playful delight musically and visually of 'I Can Be A Frog'.
Having offered their first EP, Cameo as a free download earlier this year, nascent Brooklyn atmospheric/shoegaze rock duo Zaza, have been garnering blog love all year and some great review from the release of the EP proper back in August. The track 'Sooner Or Later' has just been made Song Of The Day on KEXP and their all-encompassing sound will feature in a support gig for Echo And The Bunnymen at the Mercury Lounge in New York City this Saturday night. Not bad for an outfit that have only been around for a year or so. Zaza play two showcases during the CMJ Music Marathon for PR group Terrorbird and their own label Kanine at the Cake Shop, also in NYC on October 19 and 21 respectively. In addition to the expansive aural textures, their live show is really a value adding visual experience. If you live in the megopolis get out and catch them. If you can't and you haven't yet heard Zaza, download the tracks at the links below.
The Call
ZAZA (USA)
From the EP, 'Cameo', Kanine Records/Speak N' Spell
FEATURE ALBUM: CALIFONE - CONSISTENTLY CHALLENGING AND RESHAPING THE BOUNDARIES
Upon listening the first couple of times to the new and 7th album, All My Friends Are Funeral Singers by post folk rock experimentalistsCalifone, I was content but wasn't as immediately struck with it as I was by their previous effort, 2006's Roots And Crowns. Then I reminded myself who I was listening to and delved into the record's sonic landscape further safe in the knowledge that time was not going to be my enemy, it in fact became my best friend.
It's always that way when an exploration of releases from bands of this brilliant experimental ilk is undertaken. Further listens (and I can tell you there have been plenty) uncover and reveal previously hidden gems as Tim Rutili and his troupe of acclaimed multi-instrumentalists take you on a vocal and instrumental journey that doesn't so much have a destination or an end point but rather tempts to, then does, put you into a state of suspended aural bliss, neither aware or concerned about quite where you are or where you are going.
Rutili's distinctive gravelly worn vocals sit perfectly nestled alongside a rustic and clanging, seemingly ancient set of guitar and alternatively banjo strings while a dozen different types of drum and percussion sounds drive a restless rhythm. The astounding number of percussive entities are matched by an entire globe of instrumentation that includes among other things, the precarious sounds of an optigan, a born again stylophone, a baritone ukelele, and the African sounds of the mbira and thumb piano. The album's three strangely named and capital lettered interlude tracks showcase the eclectic blend.
In typical Califone style, lyrically the album is as surreal and obscure operationally as the imagery contained in the films of the late Spanish born Mexican director Luis Buñuel, the subject of the sixth track and a definite album highlight. It opens with the lines;
'Luis Buñuel made bullets and guns at home, to pass the time away', 'with careful fingers and eyes turning old, smoking the whole time',
then Rutili's mouths something indecipherable before the line;
'every camera loves you better when you're trying to play',
which is repeated throughout the song before it launches into one of the rockiest things Califone have done complete with memorable vocal harmonies. Priceless stuff.
Other highlights include the radically stripped back opener 'Giving Away The Bride' with its initially muffled and stilted beat and inverted synth bass before it embraces jazz like piano and a more familiar drum sound. The laconic yet accentuated guitars of 'Polish Girls', the languid, almost hypnotic '1928', the sensual guitar loop of 'Alice Marble Gray' and the slow building yet atmospherically charged 'Krill' are also more than noteworthy. Truth be told though, every track impressively has its own story to tell divulging just a little more with every play. That Califone gets things so consistently right throughout is so strikingly remarkable, its quite extraordinary.
*The album doubles as the soundtrack to a feature film of the same name that will be submitted to film festivals in 2010. The band will showcase the soundtrack during their current tour of North America.
Alice Marble Gray
Califone (USA)
From the album 'All My Friends Are Funeral Singers', Dead Oceans.
JASON MOLINA AND WILL JOHNSON TEAM UP FOR ALBUM AND ARE HEADING TO EUROPE
Jason Molina, the architect behind Magnolia Electric Co. and Songs Ohia and Will Johnson, of Centro-matic and South San Gabriel fame have got together and released a self titled album, imaginatively titled Molina and Johnson. Consisting of 14 tracks written over ten drink filled days of artistic endeavour, the two indie/folk songwriters invited along some friends for the ride. Appearing on the record are Molina's bandmate in Magnolia Electric Co. Michael Kapinus and Johnson's equivalent in Centro-matic Scott Danbom as well as Shearwater's Howard Draper, Texas singer-songwriter Sarah Jaffe and the trusty Bryan Vandivier of Tre Orsi and History At Our Disposal fame. The album is out on November 3 through Secretly Canadian. Check out the advance track below.
Twenty Cycles To The Ground
Molina And Johnson (USA)
From the forthcoming album 'Molina And Johnson', Secretly Canadian. Out on Nov 2 (UK/Europe), Nov 3 (US).
1. Beach Town - LE LOUP 2. Laura - GIRLS 3. We Are Water - HEALTH 4. Fantasy Nation - KORDAN 5. Molalatladi - BLK JKS 6. The Numbers Song - ACID GIRLS 7. The Night The Night - CHET 8. The Lisbon Maru - FUCK BUTTONS (NEW) 9. Warm In The Shadows - MUSIC GO MUSIC 10. Teknique - BURNS 11. Little Pieces - THE PARLOUR STEPS 12. Burst Its Banks - KILL IT KID 13. Don't Give Up - LAKE 14. The Great Escape - THE RIFLES 15. Funeral Singers - CALIFONE 16. Bay Of Pigs - DESTROYER* 17. Convict Escapes - PALE AIR SINGERS 18. Rats - THE BLACK HEART PROCESSION 19. In The Dreamlife You Need A Rubber Soul -THE CLEAN 20. Ghost Colony - TAPE DECK MOUNTAIN (NEW) 21. Lady Bones - MAGNETA LANE 22. Wasteland - RUBIK (NEW) 23. In Steps - LETTING UP DESPITE GREAT FAULTS (NEW) 24. In Your Heart - A PLACE TO BURY STRANGERS (NEW) 25. Saturation - ZOOT WOMAN (NEW) 26. Higher Than The Stars - THE PAINS OF BEING PURE AT HEART 27. Light At The End Of The Tunnel - THE BLOODSUGARS (NEW) 28. Red River - SONYA COTTON 29. So Slowly - EARLY DAY MINERS 30. Stuck In Lalaland (feat Morpheus) - THE PENELOPE(S)*
*Denotes stream available only. All other tracks have links to free downloads in the Latest Top 30 section here.
Tracks exiting this week Links to download these tracks now available in the archive section here.
Dark Rift - PICTUREPLANE In These Arms - THE SWELL SEASON Good Friends, Bad Habits - OWEN May You Never - LAND OF TALK All Things To All People - M. BISON Let's Go Surfing - THE DRUMS Changes Is - WHEAT
Saturday, October 10, 2009
SELF-DESCRIBED MID-FIERS TAPE DECK MOUNTAIN TO RELEASE DEBUT
San Diego's Tape Deck Mountain are set to release their debut album, Ghost on November 17 through Lefse Records. The three piece released their debut EP, Sparks on cassette only but this time around the release will cover all formats. The first track to do the blog rounds off it is 'Ghost Colony', a musically spacious and vocally distant post rock sounding number heavy on guitars and effects. Think space rock mixed with Americana. Download 'Ghost Colony' at the link below and catch them live in the three Californian cities, their hometown, Los Angeles and San Francisco through October and November.
Ghost Colony
Tape Deck Mountain (USA)
From the forthcoming album 'Ghost', Lefse Records.
ELECTRONIC EXTREMISTS FUCK BUTTONS ARE BACK WITH NEW ALBUM
Not content with sitting on their laptops and associated equipment after squeezing every last drop of moisture from our ear canals with Street Horssing just last year, England's electronic extremists Fuck Buttons are back with a new long player, Tarot Sport. The Bristol duo of Andrew Hung and Benjamin Power have again produced a collection of mind-bending tracks that manipulate the sonic senses in ways often unsettling and unexpected. Dare I say it though this collection is probably a tad more accessible and structurally more readily understandable than their previous effort but anyone not familiar with their style may still find them hard work and still even sonically repulsive. However, for those who loved Street Horssing, even the hardcore fans, or new listeners who are open to new revolutionary directions in sound and noise within music will or should instantly fall for Tarot Sport. The album is due out in the UK, Europe and Australia next week with North America to follow on October 20. The album's first single 'Surf Solar' was released in September and the link to download the edited version is below. Fuck Buttons are on tour throughout Europe and the UK through October with the US and Canada to follow in November. Check out the dates at their myspace site.
Fuck Buttons - Tarot Sport tracklisting
1. Surf Solar 2. Rough Steez 3. The Lisbon Maru 4. Olympians 5. Phantom Limb 6. Space Mountain 7. Flight Of The Feathered Serpent
Surf Solar (Edit)
Fuck Buttons (ENG)
From the forthcoming album 'Tarot Sport', ATP Recordings
GET READY FOR THE END OF YEAR ALBUM RUN: THIS WEEKS NEW RELEASES
Well folks, it's hard to believe that musically, we are less than two months away from putting away 2009 and looking towards 2010. With this in mind, you might as well get geared up for the plethora of upcoming last quarter album, EP and single releases. We did mention that September 22 was something of a watershed date for album releases, but believe it or not, October 6 probably matches it. We've included a few more obscure releases this week so check out the list below descending from probably the more accessible to some lesser known, but no less worthy artists. (Note: US release dates)
Built To Spill (USA) - There Is No Enemy (Warner) Air (FRA) - Love 2 (Astralwerks) Califone (USA) - All My Friends Are Funeral Singers (Dead Oceans) The Black Heart Procession (USA) - Six (Temporary Residence) The Raveonettes (DEN) - In And Out Of Control (Vice Records) The Clientele (ENG) - Bonfires On The Heath (Merge) Mountain Goats (USA) - Life Of The World To Come (4AD) Daniel Johnston (USA) - Is And Always Is (High Wire Music) Port O'Brien (USA) - Threadbare (TBD) Headlights (USA) - Wildlife (Polyvinyl) Osso (USA) - Run Rabbit Run (Asthmatic Kitty) Kurt Vile (USA) - Childish Prodigy (Matador) No Age (USA) - Losing Feeling EP (Sub Pop) The Cinematics (SCO) - Love And Terror (The Orchard) Mission Of Burma (USA) - The Sound Of The Speed Of Light (Matador) A Place To Bury Strangers (USA) - Exploding Head (Mute) Lights (USA) - Listening (Drag City) Mike Doughty (USA) - Sad Man, Happy Man (ATO) Octoberman (CAN) - Fortresses (White Whale) Hush Arbors (USA) - Yankee Reality (Estactic Peace) Orenda Fink (USA) - Ask The Night (Saddle Creek) Jason Ulrick (USA) - Husbands (Thrill Jockey) Duchess And The Duke (USA) - Sunset/Sunrise (Hardly Art) Dead Man's Bones (USA) - Dead Man's Bones (Anti-) Horse The Band (USA) - Desperate Living (Vagrant) Exene Cervenka (USA) - Somewhere Gone (Bloodshot Records) Glorytellers (USA) - Atone (Southern Records) The Happy Hollows (USA) - Spells (Self Released) Supercluster (USA) - Waves (Cloud Records) The Wheat Pool (CAN) - This Is It (Shameless Records)
...and here's a little selection of links to tracks from some of these albums. Enjoy!
FEATURE ALBUM: THE BOYS OF GIRLS ALBUM CALLED ALBUM
Girls (USA) Album True Panther (2009)
Naming their debut album 'Album' is the first hint the Girls release is something a bit different. The all male San Franciscan duo has made a major impact on Indie music circles with its eclectic blend over 44 minutes of subtlely produced songs that will grow on you with every listen.
While many artists often cite being influenced by music from an early age, Girls front man Christopher Owens is an exception, raised until age 16 in a religious cult where music was banned. We won't go into that here, there's plenty out there about the tragic circumstances surrounding Owens' upbringing. Upon escaping the cult Owens played guitar in punk rock bands where he says he had a chance to vent the anger he had. The formation of Girls began with, in his words, "a bit of fun", recording on broken equipment and writing music for the first time while leaving the other half of the band, Chet 'JR' White to take care of production. The result, 'Album', has a raw quality that is unique from track to track. The theme seems to be girls indeed, and there are some definite signs in some songs that it was in fact written after a 'messy' break-up with a particular girl who was also a band-mate. The sadness in Owens' voice is almost palpable at times, notably on 'Lauren Marie', "It isn't right to sit around and think about the awful things that get you down / You've got to try to wear a smile no matter how hard it can be to do". The first single 'Hellhole Ratrace' also has this feel to it, but again shining through with an underlying sense of optimism. The opening line 'I'm sick and tired of the way I feel / I'm sick of dreaming and it's never for real' soon gives way to 'I want to do some laughing too / so come on, come on, come on, laugh with me'.
'Laura' which entered Indie30 at number fifteen this week, is far from melancholy, with a hook that will stay with you pleasantly all day long. This, their third single will be released on 7" heavy weight vinyl in the UK on November 9th with a new track 'Oh Boy' on the flipside. 'God Damned' features beautiful moments of acoustic guitar, while 'Big Bad Motherfucker' sounds like something from a sixties beach party. 'Morning Light' is classic shoegaze material, and not nearly long enough at 2:36. Beach-rock, power-pop, and the melancholy, it's all here, with Owens' vocals adapting accordingly to each track and White's contribution offering new flourishes upon each listen. 'Album' is an album deserving of multiple listens, leaving you feeling strangely uplifted despite the often downbeat subject matter. In the words of Owens himself "When you have a background like mine you can't concentrate on the negative all the time, so even when the subjects aren't so positive, I wanted to keep a positive feel".
'Album' takes you many places and back again, and the ride is well worth it. Download the MP3's available in the feature album panel, buy the album and see for yourself.
Monday, October 5, 2009
FORMER PIPETTE ROSE ELINOR DOUGALL TO RELEASE NEW SINGLE
Hot on the heels of releasing two earlier singles this year, English solo synth pop artist Rose Elinor Dougall is to make it a third. Titled 'Fallen Over', it's set for a release date on November 23. The track is a pulsating little ditty replete with careful orchestration, synth and guitar flourishes sitting perfectly alongside Dougall's seemingly effortless and laid back vocals. According to her myspace blog, her debut album, Without Why, is now complete and set for a release early in 2010. On the strength of this it is one to look forward to. Download 'Fallen Over' at the link below and check out her performance of the track live in Liverpool back in June.
Fallen Over
Rose Elinor Dougall (ENG)
From the forthcoming single 'Fallen Over', Scarlett Music. Out on November 23.
FIVE NEW ENTRIES - NEW CHART JUST ADDED - CLICK HERE
Chart Number Thirty Four, October 4, 2009
1. Beach Town - LE LOUP 2. We Are Water - HEALTH 3. Molalatladi - BLK JKS 4. The Numbers Song - ACID GIRLS 5. Funeral Singers - CALIFONE 6. Burst Its Banks - KILL IT KID 7. Fantasy Nation - KORDAN (NEW) 8. Teknique - BURNS 9. Warm In The Shadows - MUSIC GO MUSIC 10. The Great Escape - THE RIFLES 11. Bay Of Pigs - DESTROYER* 12. The Night The Night - CHET 13. Rats - THE BLACK HEART PROCESSION 14. In The Dreamlife You Need A Rubber Soul -THE CLEAN 15. Laura - GIRLS (NEW) 16. Red River - SONYA COTTON 17. Dark Rift - PICTUREPLANE 18. So Slowly - EARLY DAY MINERS 19. In These Arms - THE SWELL SEASON 20. Don't Give Up - LAKE 21. Good Friends, Bad Habits - OWEN 22. Stuck In Lalaland (feat Morpheus) - THE PENELOPE(S)* 23. Little Pieces - THE PARLOUR STEPS 24. May You Never - LAND OF TALK 25. Lady Bones - MAGNETA LANE (NEW) 26. All Things To All People - M. BISON (NEW) 27. Convict Escapes - PALE AIR SINGERS 28. Let's Go Surfing - THE DRUMS (NEW) 29. Higher Than The Stars - THE PAINS OF BEING PURE AT HEART 30. Changes Is - WHEAT
*Denotes stream available only. All other tracks have links to free downloads in the Latest Top 30 section here.
Tracks exiting this week Links to download these tracks now available in the archive section
Puzzles - THE MARY ONETTES If Pain Persists - THE GOOD CHINA Wholehearted Mess - BEAR IN HEAVEN Twelve Fingers - SALEM Look Out - LOVE OF DIAGRAMS
Saturday, October 3, 2009
THE BLOODSUGARS SET TO DROP DEBUT ALBUM IN NOVEMBER
Brooklyn based quartet The Bloodsugars are set to release their debut record, the akwardly but aptly titled I Can't Go On, I'll Go On' on November 3 through Engine Room Records. A dose of good old fashioned 'kooky' rhythmic pop, the album is described by frontman Jason Rabinowitz as a 'modern prom playlist' and lyrically centres on celebrating the good things in life no matter what adversity comes your way. This track, with it's deliberate build up, bouncing bass line and hopeful guitar flourishes, is certainly sure to get you smiling. Download it at the link below.
Light At The End Of The Tunnel
The Bloodsugars (USA)
From the forthcoming album 'I Can't Go On, I'll Go On' Engine Room Records. Out on Nov 3.
This week saw the long awaited release of Los Angeles collective Fools Gold's self titled debut. Indie30 readers will be more than familiar with the first single off the album 'Surprise Hotel' which spent a few weeks at Number One a couple of months back. Well, we've sourced another track from said record doing the blogs to coincide with this announcement of its release. Very different to the aforementioned former chart topper, 'Nadine' is a much more reserved affair and more conventional in a western sense. Download it at the link below. The album is out now through IAMSOUND records.
Indie30 kicks off the month in style by pointing you to a plethora of new music doing the blogs right now. The twelve tracker will go down a treat as a little indie mix. It begins with four tracks from California, Los Angeles female dream pop duo Pearl Harbor, veteran Sacramento singer/guitarist Rose Melberg, Chino electro pop rockers M. Bison and one man show Pat Grossi's moniker Active Child. Brooklyn's electro-ambient duo Small Black and new wave popsters Kordan are also featured along with London based French band Underground Railroad. Times New Viking have just released their fourth album and the link to the single 'Move To California' is below. Sweden's The Sweet Serenades follows together with the South Indian pop sounds of New York based Bamboo Shoots. The Clientele releases their new album Bonfires On The Heath next week and the track 'Harvest Time appears in this set. The mix is rounded off by The Black Key's drummer Patrick Carney's side project that includes the drummers from Beaten Awake, The Six Parts Seven, Hydra, Ghostman and Sandman hence the name... Drummer. A drumming supergroup!!!
Download and enjoy by clicking on the links below.
Luv Goon
Pearl Harbor (USA)
From the forthcoming 12", 'Something About The Chaparrels, Mexican Summer. Out this month.
To coincide with their 33 city tour of Europe, The Drones have released a live album, The Drones: Live At The Hi-Fi (which we assume is the Hi Fi Bar in Melbourne- correct us if we're wrong). The album was released last week through ATP and contains nine tracks including the staple 'Shark Fin Blues' and the live favourite, a cover of Indigenous Australian music legend Kev Carmody's 'River Of Tears'. You can download the live version of 'Shark Fin Blues' below as well as view a live performance of the Kev Carmody cover at the Cannot Buy My Soul concert earlier this year at the State Theatre in Melbourne. Check out their European tour dates here.
Shark Fin Blues (Live)
The Drones (AUS)
From the album 'The Drones: Live At The Hi-Fi', ATP.
Track appears on the album 'The Drones: Live At The Hi-Fi', ATP.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
DAS POP SET TO RELEASE LONG AWAITED THIRD ALBUM WORLDWIDE
Longstanding electro-pop outfit Das Pop are set to release their third album to the world at the end of October. Released in their home country in April, the self titled album is the first long player for the three parts Belgian, one part New Zealand band since 2003's The Human Thing. The first single is titled 'Never Get Enough' and its simple, catchy groove is set to do the business whether it be sizzling in the Southern Hemisphere's upcoming summer or brightening up the northern equivalents forthcoming winter. The somewhat derivative riff and bass line will find its way into your head instantaneously, embedding itself there totally out of your control. Download the track directly (right click) below and have a gander at the video. Das Pop have just begun a European tour which kicked off in Paris last week. Check out the dates as their myspace site here.
Never Get Enough
Das Pop (BEL/NZL)
From the album 'Das Pop', Ugly Truth/N.E.W.S. Out now in Belgium, worldwide on October 30.
If you are an independent artist or record label or a promotional or management company that represents an artist please feel free to send us updates about forthcoming news, releases, events. Digital audio samples of single tracks or albums are welcome and there is no need to fear any negative press about what you send. Quite simply, if we like what we hear we will feature it, if we don't we won't.
DISCLAIMER
All media on Indie30 is for sampling purposes only. If you like what you hear we implore you to purchase the said album and support the artist concerned. Directly downloadable Mp3s will be posted for a short time and then removed and those contained in the Top 30 will be removed when the track exits the chart. If you are an artist, label or promotional or management company that wants something removed please contact us asap and we will remove it.
