The San Miguel Primavera Sound in Barcelona has just wrapped up for the tenth year featuring a who's who of the indie world such as Broken Social Scene, Wild Beasts, Panda Bear, The New Pornographers, Built To Spill and Grizzly Bear. This year saw a specific area set aside for music industry professionals to meet and foster relationships and deals with new acts. Featuring its own stage, the area (known as PrimaveraPro) gave a formal setting for signing, renewing, and discovering the next indie 'big thing'. Be interesting to see what comes of it.
CENTRAL PARK SUMMERSTAGE CELEBRATES 25 BIG YEARS
There are no shortage of gigs in NYC this Summer, with many free events taking place in Central Park. See Pavement playing benefit shows over four nights (Sep 21 - 24), and check out the Flaming Lips, Hot Chip, the Black Keys, the Morning Benders, Hercules and Love Affair, Gil Scott-Heron, and Melody Gardot. For more info go to the website here.
INTERPOL TOUR CANNED
Nineteen Interpol shows have been axed as a consequence of U2 cancelling a slew of North American dates over the next two months. They will go ahead and open for them in Europe however, during September and October and promise to reschedule the dates. More info here.
The National's High Violet, last week's feature album has certainly throws up a plethora of options for possible Top 30 tracks. After the mild success of 'Bloodbuzz Ohio' over the last couple of months, we've decided to go with the slow building killer 'Afraid Of Everyone' as its next cab of the rank. It debuts at 5. Foals followed The National in producing a second track to hit the Top 30 off their album 'Total Life Forever'. The funky 'After Glow' got the gong and comes in at 15. Ohio's Brothertiger is the other new entry this week with his excellent track, 'Vision Tunnels' (27) of the self titled EP. Crystal Castles remain at 1 with 'Celestica' while this weeks feature album artist, James Murphy's LCD Soundsystem rose three spots to 3 second week in with 'You Wanted A Hit'. Click here to access the full chart.
Saturday, May 29, 2010
FEATURE ALBUM: THE NATIONAL - LETTING THE MOUNTAIN COME TO THEM
It comes as little surprise that High Violet, The National's fifth album has skyrocketed into the top echelons of the world's mainstream album charts, currently sitting at number 3 in the US, number 2 in Canada and 5 in the UK. But don't fear indie rock bretheren, this much deserved success and attention won't change the Brooklyn via Cincinatti quintet who have never actively sought the limelight. It's a strength of the current indie scene that no longer do bands of The National's stature have to go cap in hand to, get on bended knee in front of or take it up the arse from vulturistic and culturally empty record companies. They remain on an indie, label wise and while the inevitably pyrrhic offers mirage style will come rolling in from blank men with blank cheques, we can be assured that whatever the band choose to do, history demonstrates they will do it to the beat of their own drum. For the world is The National's oyster now, and it has come to them.
High Violet is another slow burning masterpiece that builds on the incredibly strong 2007 release, Boxer. Berninger and the Dessner and Devendorf brothers have an uncanny knack of making simple songs linger yet they never outstay their welcome. It's amazing what unfolds in the minimalist framework from which they work. The secret lies in how the rhythms, melodies and vocals are cleverly and meticulously arranged. The subtle, intuitive and ultimately constructive guitar work of Bryce and Aaron Dessner, the intelligent percussion work of Bryan Devendorf, one of the highlights of the record, the fully formed contribution on bass of brother Scott (check 'Little Faith' together with the orchestral arrangements provided by Padma Newsome, of side project Clogs produces a sound that is unique and owned by no other band. Nothing is left to chance and everything holds together in a form that is organic with an overwhelming air of lyrical honesty. No smoke and mirrors, no gimmicks, no frills and no tricks.
The unique nature of Berninger's voice has been exhaustively written about and apart from stating its absolutely pivotal role at the centre of The National's sound, there's little else that needs to be said. Lyrically High Violet is another personal take on the social complexities of life within and outside of relationships. 'Runaway' is about being resigned to a doomed with someone who slowly chips away at your self worth, 'What makes you think I enjoy being led to the flood' Berninger sings as he states that he won't run away from his claustrophobic and helpless situation. Similar is echoed on 'Conversation 16', 'We belong in a movie, try to hold it together 'til our friends are gone, we should swim in a fountain, do not what to disappoint anyone'. This humility and fragility that abounds lyrically on High Violet is most clearly stated on 'Afraid Of Everyone' where even drugs won't overcome, even in the short term, the unspoken fear.
The other noticeable aspect to this album, apart from its quality, is the way The National have decided to present it, that is the clever and deliberative ordering of its tracklist. Unlike most long players, High Violet actually gains strength rather than loses it with each track. Just like within each song with its noticeable build up of tension and emotion, the journey from opener, 'Terrible Love' to closer 'Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks' is an exhilarating one that only gets more interesting and endearing with each subsequent listen. The fact that the most intense and emotional tracks on the album, 'Conversation 16', 'England' and 'Runaway' are on its second half means that with each of those listens, the trajectory is always up. Other highlights include 'Bloodbuzz Ohio', the album's most up-tempo track that provides a perfect centrepiece to what precedes and follows and its predecessor, 'Afraid Of Everyone' which builds into a maelstrom of reverb that climaxes perfectly.
Its a cliche to say 'there's not a weak track on the album' when reviewing a newly loved long player. In the case of High Violet, the proof will be in the listening years from now as the record is unearthed from said dusty collection and realisation dawns that its importance and worth has probably grown not waned. That's certainly the case with The Alligator and Boxer and that in itself will be The National's legacy, longevity mixed with vitality, two ingredients essential to calling a band great rather than just good.
- James Stocker, May 29, 2010
Friday, May 28, 2010
GRINDERMAN'S SECOND ALBUM HEADS IN A NEW DIRECTION
Following up on the 2007 debut self-titled album, Grinderman are set to release 'Grinderman 2' on September 13. They have stated that this will be a more serious LP and have a different sound to the first, which was completed in a relatively short timeframe. Consisting entirely of members from Nick Cave's The Bad Seeds, Grinderman was created after Cave started writing some new material on guitar. The sound and raw energy has been compared to his earlier work with The Birthday Party, the acclaimed Aussie post-punk group who disbanded in 1983. Warren Ellis will be involved again, as he was on 'Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!!' adding his essential and noticable talent to the fray. He has said of the new album; "There’s an attitude in there that’s similar, but sonically it’s got some pretty weird things going on, it’s probably more fleshed out than the first one, we’ve probably learned to play the instruments a bit more. I play lots of stuff on there, there's violin on it, which I didn’t get in the other one, and a lot of backing vocals".
The new album was recorded in a few studios across London, co-produced by Nick Launay and Grinderman. They have said they are not after commercial success with this release, but anyone who has laid their ears on the previous LP will be waiting for this one. It will be dropping in Australia September 10, Europe on September 13 and in North America on the following day.
Cave has consistently been held in high regard over his 30 plus years in the game, and anyone who who has seen him live knows the power and emotional force he and those behind him can create on stage, is nothing short of incredible. To whet the appetite check out the video of 'No Pussy Blues' from the first album below. To sign up for more info have a look at their website here and watch out for the wolf. Their MySpace is here. The release of 'Grinderman 2' will be supported by a European tour, dates below.
September 25 Nottingham, England - Rock City September 27 Leeds, England - University September 28 Glasgow, Scotland - Barrowlands September 29 Manchester, England - Academy October 1 London, England - Hammersmith Apollo October 4 Lausanne, Switzerland - Les Docks October 5 Zurich, Switzerland - Volkshaus October 6 Milan, Italy - Live October 7 Rome, Italy - Atlantico October 10 Vienna, Italy - Gasometer October 11 Munich, Germany - Muffathalle October 13 Leipzig, Germany - Haus Auensee October 14 Berlin, Germany - Columbiahalle October 15 Cologne, Germany - E-Werk October 17 Brussels, Belgium - Ancienne Belgique October 20 Utrecht, Netherlands - MCV October 21 Hamburg, Germany - Docks October 23 Copenhagen, Denmark - Falkoner Theatre October 24 Randers, Denmark - Power Station October 25 Paris, France - Cite de la Music
No Pussy Blues (live)
Grinderman (AUS)
Live on Jools Holland, from the album 'Grinderman', Mute
Thursday, May 27, 2010
ARCADE FIRE NEW DOUBLE A SIDE SINGLE FIRST LISTEN
To little fanfare, apparently the new very limited edition double a-sided single from The Arcade Fire, The Suburbs/Month Of May made its way into small independent record stores today. What we do know is that it made it on to Zane Lowe's playlist on BBC Radio 1 this week. The link to the two tracks below are the radio rips of said single and pretty nice quality at that - thanks the Beeb. It's a kind of a change of direction for the band, a much more breezy and relaxed, almost old school approach and sound than that of the immediate emotion of the first two LPs. The upcoming third album is also called The Suburbs and will see the light of day on August 2. You can purchase the real thing in digital format from the band's website here.
MOGWAI TO DROP FIRST LIVE ALBUM AND DVD PACKAGE AUGUST 24
Scottish post-rockers Mogwai have teamed up with long time collaborator Vincent Moon once more to bring you a visually and sonically spectacular live DVD to combine with their first live album. Titled 'Burning' and 'Special Moves' respectively, the package is set for release on August 24, on Mogwai's very own label, Rock Action. Hardcore fans will be chuffed to learn there is also a special edition triple vinyl box set available, which will include a poster and extra tracks (these will be will be available with the CD version but only as a download). Aidan Moffat of Arab Strap designed the package.
The track New Paths To Helcion Pt 1 is up for free download from their website here. Just enter your email address to get a taste of what the new live album, 'Special Moves' has in store. Check out the dramatic teaser clip below (which actually lives up to the name, it left me wanting to see the whole thing...now!). Nathanaël Le Scouarnec worked with Moon directing the film, which as you will see is more than your run of the mill live concert offering. It is beautiful to look at in glorious and under-rated black and white which are their hallmarks. Don't adjust your volume prematurely, the thing rocks out about halfway through.
Burning live DVD trailer
Mogwai (SCO)
Released with the forthcoming live album 'Special Moves', Rock Action, out August 24
Tuesday, 25 May, 2010
GOLD PANDA RETURNS WITH YOU
Okay, so what's with the chipmunk inspired vocals that seem to be all over the ambient electronica scene these days. Essex DJ/Producer Gold Panda continues the trend on his forthcoming EP, You. Melodically sundrenched and dripping with loops, sliced up vocal samples and a big hard back beat, the title track is set to do big things when released in mid June. The EP contains a b-side and three remixes of the original by Osborne, Seams and Minotaur Shock while the digital format includes two extra tracks, one another remix of the orginal by Dam Mantle. You is the follow up to last years critically acclaimed single, 'Quitters Raga' and is out on June 15 via Ghostly International. Gold Panda is on tour with Health beginning at the Echoplex in Los Angeles on June 8. Full dates at myspace below.
This week saw Gayngs finally knocked off their perch at number one. 'The Gaudy Side Of Town' dropped a massive nine spots this week and was replaced by Canadian duo Crystal Castles with their track, 'Celestica'. LCD Soundsystem made a grand entrance with their nine minute marathon of a track, 'You Wanted A Hit', in at six while there were three other debuts, Sweden's Club 8 with 'Shape Up' (18), Elite Gymnastics with 'Is This On Me', (19) and Menomena, 'Five Little Rooms' at 27. Click the link above to access the full chart.
NEW INDIE30 FEATURE: THE MONDAY WHIP AROUND!
Welcome to a new addition to Indie30, a quick roundup of some of the happenings out there in the Indie world. Short and sweet info to keep you abreast of who's touring where, what's about to drop when, and the news you need to know. So let's get crackin' with the first installment.
AUSSIE ELECTRO ACT SIGN WITH WARP Sydney based electro-experimento-rockers PVT (formerly Pivot) are bringing out a new LP due out later this year on the esteemed Warp label. Check out their track The Quick Mile below. Check out their MySpace here.
MOUNT KIMBIE TO RELEASE DEBUT LP Dubstep aficionados and masters of the remix, Mount Kimbie are set to release their debut album 'Crooks And Lovers' on July 19, via Hotflush Recordings, and touring across Europe over the next three months. Dates on their MySpace here. Check out the new track Field below.
BROTHERTIGER PUTS OUT SINGLE Hailing from Athens, Ohio Brothertiger (John Jagos) has released Vision Tunnels, the title track from a self released EP. It's a low-fi, lush, and layered example of the quality electro that has emerged over the last year or so. Haunting echo-laden vocals make this a perfect Sunday track. MySpace here.
THE ANTLERS IN EUROPE, TO SUPPORT THE NATIONAL IN NORTH AMERICA And finally, Brooklyn's The Antlers are touring over the next couple of months in the northern part of the world. Currently in UK, they will soon be playing in Amsterdam (25th May @ Paradiso), Barcelona (29th May @ Primavera Festival) then back to North America for a heap of dates with fellow Brooklynites The National. They finish off at New York's Radio City Music Hall on 16 June. The Antler's MySpace here.
The Quick Mile
PVT (AUS)
From the forthcoming album 'Church With No Magic', Warp, out later this year
FEATURE ALBUM: AT THE HEIGHT OF HIS ARTISTIC POWERS
There comes a point in time in the musical careers of but a few talented artists where they are at the height of their powers, and by that I mean they reach towering heights, not just measured against themselves, but against all that is outside of them. Los Angeles genre defying producer Steven Ellison, aka Flying Lotus has reached those dizzying spaces with his new album Cosmogramma and with it has in all likelihood produced the record of the year. Cosmogramma is the fourth release from Flylo, as he is affectionately known and follows up the very special Los Angeles. Tracing his trajectory from his debut back in 2006, 1983, it can definitely be said that Ellison has been searching for that seamless record and with this album he has nailed it. Cosmogramma was conceived as a movement (and initially sent to reviewers as a single track), where everything is part of larger melting pot, a meticulously crafted genre defying work of art.
Cosmogramma combines a digital fusion of free form jazz, dubstep, ambient, intelligent dance drum 'n' bass and hip-hop that is complemented by the instrumental work of Thundercat (Stephen Bruner), who takes the Squarepusher inspired bass runs to a whole new plane, the perfectly utilised harp of Rebekah Raff and the string arrangements of Miguel Atwood Ferguson. Sequencers, loops, first class beat programming, computer game inspired bleeps, glitches and stratches, pitch control mastery - its all here. Guest vocal appearances by Thom Yorke, Niki Randa and Laura Darlington are welcome and add to the mix but they never overshadow Ellison's vision. He is all over them manipulating pitch and embedding them into the context of where and when they are utilised. To top it all off, through the brief appearance of Ravi Coltrane on tenor saxophone, Flylo's geneology is on display (he is the great-nephew of Alice Coltrane) and those jazz roots in general are used to great effect across the whole record.
Right of the bat, abrasive plucking of guitar strings, cosmic orchestration through harp and strings, a distant train, manic bass lines and killer hooks, restrained drum 'n' bass rhythms, shuffling percussion, muffled vocal samples, video game sampling, film noir sounds and big extended hip hop beats all collide as the first six tracks absolutely fly by, over in just over ten minutes. When listening to the album the first few times, there is a need to go back and just check, 'what was that?'. There is a frenetic air about Cosmogramma as Ellison aims to expose his audience to as many of his ideas and concepts as possible, most evident in those first few minutes. This may be an achilles heel for lesser talents as many have died a quick death from attempting to squeeze in too much, but in Ellison's case, these ideas never outstay their welcome, nor are they undeveloped or lacking the fullness of form. To carry this off is no mean feat and the fact that Ellison not only manages it, but excels at it to the point of it being essential to the worth of the album, is evidence of an artist in full flight.
By the time the album penetrates into its middle section with the synth inspired pitch warped '...And The World Laughs With You', the realisation that something special is unfolding before you is palpably obvious. The turn into the second half of the track and the introduction of Yorke's manipulated vocals perfectly complements a track that would of been excellent anyway had it maintained its early line. The fact that it doesn't magnifies its effect. But that is what's special about this album, there are no one trick pony's anywhere to be seen. 'Do The Astral Plane' is probably the most accessible track on the album and perfect for Flylo to make his mark on DJ mixes in progressive clubs and it is expertly placed smack bang in the middle of the movement. 'Satelllliiiiiteee' ushers in the run home with its busy afro-rhythm pulsating over a chilled out piece of layered ambience. 'German Haircut' has a definite jazz theme as Thundercat's high bass runs again make an appearance to lasting effect amidst shaking percussion. 'Recoiled' is probably the best example of a track in two distinct parts, its beginning a clear dose of free form jazz that is rudely and abruptly replaced by some of the best beat and percussion work you'll hear accompanied by a spazzed out synth loop. 'Dance Of The Psuedo Nymphs' is a manic mixture of slapping basslines, synths, jungle beats and rapid handclaps, Drips/Auntie's Harp is almost straight out of broadway with its string and harp arrangements but when they are interspersed with ultra modern synth the track become another thing altogether. 'Table Tennis' is another highlight with its appropriate use of ping pong balls in the mix alongside Darlington's ethereal vocals while 'Galaxy In Janaki' is a come down emanating from 'heaven'.
Cosmogramma is a representation and culmination of a musical journey that should see Ellison elevated to the exulted status he deserves. His sheer genius and ability to seamlessly mix genres through expert manipulation of instrumentation and sound means that he can create a sonic template like no other of his contemporaries. Flylo has carved out a place in the pantheon of modern music that he alone owns freehold. To encapsulate just how important Cosmogramma is in the context of contemporary music in a few glib words would be doing it an injustice. Time and the music to come that will inspired by it means the album will more than speak for itself and in time become the stuff of legend.
James Stocker - May 22, 2010.
From a performance at the Ann Arbor Film Festival After Party
Friday, 21 May, 2010
NEW MENOMENA TRACK MAKES LONG AWAITED FIRST APPEARANCE
A little less than two months ago, Portland indie avant garde rockers Menomena set down the last week of July for the worldwide release for their new album, Mines. Since then fans and critics alike have been waiting patiently to hear the first sounds from the album, let alone the first song. Well, the wait is over. The three piece have released the track, 'Five Little Rooms' as a free download. It's a slow burning stomper replete with big sounding drums and percussion combined with a myriad of keys and brass. Mines is the first Menomena release since the excellent 2007 album Friend And Foe and is out in Europe on July 26 and North America a day later.
Five Little Rooms
Menomena (USA)
From the forthcoming album, 'Mines', City Slang/Barsuk
THIS WEEKS NEW RELEASES: LCD SOUNDSYSTEM, TAME IMPALA, BLACK KEYS, BAND OF HORSES
James Murphy's last release under the LCD Soundsystem moniker, This Is Happening, is definitely the highlight this week, standing head and shoulders above all else. That's not to say there aren't some other worthy additions to music world. Australian pysch rockers Tame Impala released their second album in their home country, the sonically ear splitting pyschedelic romp, Innervision. The album is out in the North America/Europe on June 8. LCD Soundsystem and Tame Impala are joined by two bands that have garnered quite a name for themselves over the years and a substantial following. The Black Keys release, Brothers, is their sixth LP proper while Band Of Horses have now released exactly half that number with their third, Infinite Arms. These acts are accompanied by albums from Swedish calypso posters Club 8 with The People's Record, English veteran Tracey Thorn, one half of Everything But The Girl with Love And Its Opposite and the trio of agrarian brothers, the tension rockers Pontiak with Living.This weeks releases are rounded off by Brooklyn experimentalists Keepaway, who did some good business on the Top 30 earlier this year with the track, 'Yellow Wings'. Their EP is called, Baby Style. Check out a track from each record below.
Crystal Castles have been featured a couple of times this month on Indie30 and Celestica has roared up to number three on the Top30 list. Here we have the remix with Dan Alcala retaining the pureness and light of the original but tweaking it in all the right places to give us something new. A thumping beat and some looping of Glass' beautiful vocals sit perfectly amongst the chord progression of the album track. Foals have a new remix from the brilliant LP 'Total Life Forever' with This Orient by Silver Columns. A catchy number in its original form, here it cruises along with some injected energy and high BPMs to create a short but sweet track. Tanline's Real Life is mixed here by New Jersey based Memory Tapes (Dayve Hawk) starting with a kettle drum intro and slowly moving into a nice easy groove. And, finally we have Future Islands' Little Dreamer from the EP 'Post Office Wave Chapel' released earlier this year. The Jones remix features Victoria Legrand (of Beach House) adding her wistful and subtle additions to the gorgeous reworking of this track. Check 'em out below.
Celestica (Alcala remix)
Crystal Castles (CAN)
Original from the album 'Crystal Castles II', Fiction Records
NEW PANDA BEAR ALBUM DUE IN SEPTEMBER-FIRST SINGLE OUT JULY
Panda Bear is set to follow up Person Pitch, the 2007 album which had critics and punters alike awestruck, with a new album due out September. Titled Tomboy, its title track single is due for release on July 13 with a track titled 'Slow Motion' on the B side. It will be the first in a series of limited edition singles all on different labels to be released as we near closer to the album's drop date, which has not been officially announced. Check out a live rendition of the song from a gig in Kortrijk back in January below.
LORN MAKES HIS DEBUT WITH 'NOTHING ELSE' OUT JUNE 8
Out on the Brainfeeder label, electro maistro Lorn (Marcos Ortega) has proven he has what it takes to shake up the decks with his own blend of darkly ambient dance music. Renowned internationaly thanks to his masterful work with previous tracks and commissioned remixes, he is the first artist to make the Brainfeeder roster who is not an LA native. Cherry Moon (which has debuted at number 15 in this weeks Top30) is a sweeping track with a dark underbelly, carried along on layers of strings, synths and a driving beat that envelopes you for its three and a half minute ride. It is the first single to be lifted from his twelve track debut album 'Nothing Else' which comes out June 8 in all the usual formats, with the US release slated in for June 15. Legions of Lorn fans worldwide will be counting down the days. Check it out for yourself below.
BIG DEBUTS FOR FLYING LOTUS, LORN AND PHOSPHORESCENT
FEATURE ALBUM: CRYSTAL CASTLES NOT FOR THE FAINT HEARTED
Toronto's Crystal Castles have made huge waves on the indie circuit of late with their massive new LP 'Crystal Castles II' due to be released on May 24. Following the avalanche of interest on the web, with their myspace being inundated (50 million plays) you can now purchase the whole thing on iTunes. Multi-instrumentalist Ethan Kath and vocalist Alice Glass have redefined the electro genre, producing something totally unique and at times confronting. The album takes you to some dark places, the opening track Fainting Spells swings between distortion and hyped up synth driven mayhem. Following this is Celestica, on the other end of the spectrum. Purely pop, Alice Glass' voice gets a chance to stand front and centre with this track and it's a beautiful thing. Then we are suddenly back in the dark again with the abrasive Doe Deer, a track released as an EP with a limited edition vinyl pressing for last month's Record Store Day. You never know where you are heading next with this LP, Baptism has an old school ravey quality about it with Glass screaming over the electro sounds and swirling synths. Year Of Silence is more accessible and a highlight of the album, ebbing and flowing with a nice build up and featuring a vocal sample from Sigur Ros.
Crystal Castles have pulled off an amazing feat with their eponymous second album debuting at number one on the dance music charts, with no publicity from the label (Fiction Records). Produced by Kath, they recorded in some unusual locations such as a church in Iceland, a self built cabin in northern Ontario and a garage behind a Detroit convenience store. Further recording was done in London.
According to the BBC, listening to Crystal Castles "is to be cast adrift in a vortex of deafening pain without a safety net. You get the feeling you can do anything in the world, but that 'anything' would ultimately mean nothing. Crystal Castles marks a nuanced emotional territory that dance music never covered before". Seeing them live would be an exhilarating experience, at the 2008 Glastonbury Festival, Glass climbed the rigging and her stage-diving antics caused organisers to curtail their set. This year sees them playing Glastonbury again, festivals in Leeds and Reading, as well as the Exit Festival in Novi Sad, Serbia in July.
With their heavy use of pitch altered vocal snippets, samples, distortions, loops and seemingly impenetrable walls of noise, Crystal Castles have carved out a unique niche that sounds like nothing else.
Baptism (Live at Lollapalooza)
Crystal Castles (CAN)
From the album 'Crystal Castles II', Fiction Records
Saturday, May 15, 2010
THIS WEEK'S RELEASES: GAYNGS, THE NATIONAL AND PHOSPHORESCENT
Hot on the heels of the last week's double attack by Canadian supergroups Broken Social Scene and The New Pornographers, this week sees the US equivalent, albeit in its embryonic stages, Gayngs, release their debut, Relayted. The Ryan Olsen led collective are joined by the long awaited new album from The National, High Violet. Matthew Houck, through his country inspired project, Phosphorescent releases his fourth LP of original tunes, Here's To Taking It Easy and French based American sisters, CocoRosie also put out their fourth album, 'Grey Oceans'. The big four are joined by the post punk outfit Male Bonding, lo-fi rockers Woods and Canadian popsters The Salteens with Nothing Hurts, At Echo Lake and Moths respectively. England indie pop/rock outfit The Foals released their new album, Total Life Forever in the UK this week (out June 15 in North America) while Sage Francis, Li(f)e and Thee Oh Sees, Warm Slime round out the highlights. Downloads available at the links below.
SEATTLE'S BAND OF HORSES INFINITE ARMS SET TO EMBRACE YOU MAY 18
'Infinite Arms' is the title of Band Of Horses new LP set to drop next week, May 18. Out through the labels of Fat Possum, Brown Records and Columbia, it is available in its entirety to be streamed via their website. The first single Compliments, has been released and was recorded in the woods of Northern Minnesota, adding to the typical Americana country pop rock style that is their sound. Factory, the first track on the album, is floating around on the 'net and has a haunting atmosphere featuring strings and superb harmonies. Ben Bridwell's beautifully wistful voice sits alongside overdubbs and rootsy guitar to create a track that will keep fans of BoH, old and new, well happy until the full length album is released in physical form in a week or so.
Christopher Wilson who has worked with the band on many projects has shot the video to NW APT, an amazing mix of time lapse photography filmed over spectacular natural scenery without a band member in sight. Working with the same visionary collaborator is always a good move, providing a continuity and overall visual style that ends up becoming seamless and synomomous with the band. Wilson also shot the album cover with its swirling starry sky (again using time lapse photography) and has been the bands' documentor of live gigs over the years. Band of Horses is touring North American and beyond over the next few months, and venturing down under to play a part in the amazing line up of Australia's Splendour Music Festival.
Check out the whole album stream-wise through their view-master style player, which can be found below via the link.
Factory
Band Of Horses (USA)
From the album, 'Infinite Arms', Fat Possum/Columbia
MULTI-GENRED ELECTRO-WIZ FLYLO SOARS WITH COSMOGRAMMA
Hindsight and time are wondrous things when it comes assessing the worth of a newly released album, especially one as complex and ultimately sustaining as the new album, Cosmogramma, by experimental genre defying producer Steven Ellison, aka Flying Lotus or Flylo, as he is commonly known. It's unfortunate that sometimes time is in short supply here at Indie30 and its often because of this fact that gems like this one slip through the cracks. Cosmogramma should of been among our pick of last week's new releases and high among those picks at that. The album is the third release by Ellison, who is the great-nephew of the late Alice Coltrane, multi-instrumentalist and wife of jazz legend John.
Cosmogramma combines elements of intelligent dance music (IDM), especially ambient, jazz, hip-hop beats, blips and sequences (and ping pong balls!) digitally arranged into one long seemingly astral focused movement where tracks intertwine in almost seamless fashion. Make no mistake though, Flylo has created a sound out of these diverse influences that he owns lock, stock and barrel. Stephen 'Thundercat' Bruner (bass), Miguel Atwood Ferguson (strings) and Rebekah Raff (harp) provide the bulk of the traditional musical instrumentation with a guest spot from Ravi Coltrane (tenor sax). In addition, the Flylo treatment is given to vocal efforts by Thom Yorke (Radiohead), Niki Randa (Blank Blue) and Laura Darlington (The Long Lost). Make no mistake, Cosmogramma will probably take out experimental electronic album of the year, if not be vying for album of the year full stop. The album is out now through Warp Records.
INDIE30 TO PROVIDE TUNES IN SUPPORT OF CORA BARCLAY FOUNDATION
This Saturday night May 15, The Sandbar in Henley Square, Adelaide plays host to the second installment of Live And Loud in support of The Cora Barclay Centre, a treatment centre set up to provide Auditory-Verbal Therapy for children who are deaf or hearing impaired and wear hearing aids, cochlear implants or other listening devices. Indie30 will be providing brand new tunes for the evening in support of two excellent live rock acts, Ryan Woolford and Isle Of Vision in the quest to raise awareness of and money for the centre. If you like the tunes you hear on this website and appreciate quality independent live music, get down there and support a more than worthy cause. Doors open at 8pm with a $10 cover charge. All proceeds to the centre.
GET READY FOR EXPO 86 - WOLF PARADE DROP NEW ALBUM JUNE 29
June 29 is the day fans of Wolf Parade are waiting for as they drop their third LP 'Expo 86'. The guys have had their plates full with writing and recording this album as well as being associated with notable side projects. Spencer Krug also plays with Sunset Rubdown and Dan Boeckner with the Handsome Furs, while the other band members (Arlen Thompson and Dante De Caro) have been involved with Arcade Fire and Hot Hot Heat. This is an album according to them, much more upbeat than its two predecessors, with tracks they 'like playing'. A kind of understatement I'm sure. The tracks have an immediate and 'live' feel to them due to the fact that most of the 15 tracks recorded were done so live to tape, everybody playing at the same time, with no overdubbing apart from vocals. Eleven tracks made it onto 'Expo 86' with an EP on the cards for release at a later date.
To whet the appetite we have links to a couple of brand spankin' new tracks featuring Krug and Boeckner on vocals respectfully. What Did my Lover Say (It Always Had To Go This Way) is a vibrant, guitar driven energetic dynamo of a song, giving us an indication of the gems Wolf Parade fans have in store come the end of June. Also available is Ghost Pressure with its slightly pop edge and beautifully layered vocals.
The guys who were mere lads when they each attended the Vancouver World's Fair in 1986, are now off on their own mammoth tour of the world. Taking in North America and Europe right through until September, there's a good chance they could be playing at a venue near you.
Tracklisting
1. Cloud Shadow On The Mountain 2. Palm Road 3. What Did My Lover Say (It Always Had To Go This Way) 4. Little Golden Age 5. In The Direction Of The Moon 6. Ghost Pressure 7. Pobody's Nerfect 8. Two Men In New Tuxedos 9. Oh You, Old Thing 10. Yulia 11. Cave-o-Sapian
Ghost Pressure
Wolf Parade (USA)
From the forthcoming album 'Expo 86', Sub Pop. Out June 29.
What Did My Lover Say (It Always Had To Go This Way)
Wolf Parade (USA)
From the forthcoming album 'Expo 86', Sub Pop. Out June 29.
PURPLE SNEAKERS DJS SET TO RELEASE DOUBLE COMPILATION CD
Purple Sneakers, Sydney's iconic and premier indie club night is set to unleash its first record release, a 2CD mix, We Mix You Dance through Boundary Sounds on June 11. The discs will see DJs PhDJ, M.I.T and BenLucid take tracks from some of indie music's current luminaries and give them the treatment. The first disc sees the mixing labours of M.I.T and BenLucid applied to the likes of Vampire Weekend, Hot Chip, Phoenix, Miike Snow, Animal Collective, Friendly Fires and Major Lazer while PhDJ handles the second disc which features among others The XX, The Drums (new album forthcoming June 8), Lissy Trullie, Caribou and Neon Indian. Smashing genres is the name of the game as tracks are spliced up, mashed together and generally put through the wringer to form an impressive mix. Purple Sneakers are giving punters a sneak peek promo mix over at their Soundcloud page which you can access below.
BIG DEBUTS FOR CRYSTAL CASTLES AND BROKEN SOCIAL SCENE
This week's new entries mirror the Canadian attack on our musical senses with two new entries from the beautiful city of Toronto and one from equally lovely Montreal. Experimental electronic dance duo Crystal Castle with their new track, 'Celestica' (11) are joined by fellow Ontarians, Broken Social Scene with their second entry in the Top 30 this year, 'Forced To Love' (12). Quebec's Wolf Parade are due to drop their new album, Expo 86 in late June and the first track off it is the synth driven 'Ghost Pressure' (20). The United States provides the other two debuts this week. Marylanders Future Islands are in at 27 with the infectious, 'An Apology' and Texan singer-songwriter sneaks in at 30 with his 'uplifting' track, 'A Black Wave Is Comin'. The Minneapolis based indie super-collective Gayngs is still number 1 with 'The Gaudy Side Of Town' off their debut album Relayted, which is out this week, while the pop wonder of the world, the country of Sweden provides three of the top five songs in the form of The Radio Dept. 'Never Follow Suit' (3), The Tallest Man On Earth, 'Love Is All' (4) and Robyn, 'None Of Dem' (5). Another Canadian act, the Dan Snaith led Caribou remains at two with the ultra impressive 'Sun'. Check out the full chart complete with download links and youtube clips here. Get into it, it will prove more than worth your precious time.
Saturday, May 8, 2010
FEATURE ALBUM: AN AWESOME ROCK RECORD AND NOTHING TO FORGIVE
I saw Broken Social Scene when they played Australia's premier indie music festival roadshow, St Jerome's Laneway in Adelaide back in 2008. It was a pretty special day for BSS fans as Stars preceded them and Leslie Feist was due to play a solo show later that evening. Which brings me to my point. On at a ludicrous time (2.30 in the afternoon) for such an important and seminal act and given just 40 minutes, Kevin Drew, Brendan Canning and the whole troupe, Cranley, Milian and Feist included, preceded to deliver a big 'fuck you' to the powers that be much to the chagrin of event organisers and go 30 minutes over time, putting the entire festival line-up behind time for the remainder of the day/night - loved it!
You may be wondering where I'm going with this and asking 'what's a show two years ago got to do with a review of the new album Forgiveness Rock Record? My response is simply, 'everything'. In the decade since their inception, Broken Social Scene have always played to the beat of their own drum and have never compromised with anyone or anything other than the necessity of having to do so between themselves. They also have a habit of messing with expectation and this happens when self-expression is the reason for artistic existence yet expectation since the aforementioned You Forgot It In People, one of the Twenty First century's best albums at this embryonic stage, is a constant factor surrounding every Broken Social Scene release. People often ask me what the term 'indie' actually means in a musical sense. Rather than answering them straight out I often feel that if I could only get an hour of their time and play them You Forgot In People, the need for a worded explanation would be circumvented and if they don't get it, well....
Such expectation either increases or decreases after a five year hiatus since the difficult self titled follow up to that seminal 2002 release and I wasn't sure what I was going to get with Forgiveness Rock Record. 'World Sick' was a deceptive first taste, probably deliberately so, with its huge rollicking sound and anthemic feel but confounding people, whether deliberate or not, is in Broken Social Scene's DNA. There's a feeling of being overwhelmed at times, but the near-bombast of the music suits the lyrical bent of the track as Drew sings 'I get world sick, everytime I take a stand'. While 'World Sick' is a cracker, a more wider listening audience and voracious record labels are kept at bay by its crashing crescendos and seven minute length. Commercial sabotage, concious or not, has always been a feature of bands approach.
With Drew and Canning still well and truly at the helm duelling as ever the band strips down to six regulars for this release, Charles Spearin (bass and guitar), Andrew Whiteman, Sam Goldberg (guitar) and the ever present Justin Peroff (drums). That's not to say that other members don't figure, they do, playing their bit parts at appropriate junctures together with some help from some notable outriders. The band commissioned the expertise of Chicago musician/producer John McEntire (Tortoise, The Sea And Cake) as producer and the record sees important contributions from Sam Prekop (The Sea And Cake), Doug McCombs (Tortoise), Scott Kannburg (Pavement, Spiral Stairs) and Sebastian Grainger (Death From Above 1979). Lisa Lobsinger, vocalist from the vastly underated Reverie Social Revue, is a more than welcome addition to the band proper and her laid back soothing voice well and truly comes to the fore on the excellent, 'All To All'. This track and 'World Sick' bookend the truly outstanding opening five tracks. The synth driven 'Chase Scene' has all the hallmarks of conjuring up just that picture in your mind, like out of an old 80's action movie featuring the obligatory police chase. The instant and irresistable 'Texico Bitches' is seemingly a subtle indictment of big oil, apt especially considering the disastrous situation in the Gulf Of Mexico. 'Forced To Love' is a resplendent rock classic, relentless and gritty with a multi-layered attack of guitars served up on a base of keyboards that follow and underpin the vocals.
The impressive trajectory continues with the horn driven blast of Art House Director, a track that's got Andrew Whiteman's prints all over it. 'Ungrateful Little Father' delves into familial abandonment 'ungrateful little mother fuck, built you up, a brand new breakthrough device' and is an appropriate vehicle to contemplate and draw breath ready for the run home.
That run home includes some stunners. The excellently busy instrumental jam of 'Meet Me In The Basement' sits uncomfortably but appropriately alonside the floating ride of relationship breaker once removed and Emily Haines sung, 'Sentimental X's. Two of the album's standouts 'Sweetest Kill and the Prekop sung 'Romance To The Grave' follow. The former is a Drew penned slow burner focusing on a lost relationship that is musically complemented by Spearin's (Do Make Say Think) rounded bass line that ends each run through. The latter wouldn't be out of place on a Sea And Cake record but is even better with the backing vocals of Milian, Feist and Haines at the beginning building the track up nicely alongside reverb fuelled guitar arrangements. The immediacy of Prekop's as always breathy vocals sit beautifully alongside those of the female trio.
While many saw the self titled predecessor as a bit of a mis-step and I'm not going there here, Forgiveness Rock Record will ultimately see Broken Social Scene return to collect the critical acclaim received in the wake of You Forgot It In People. The most lasting and impressive aspect of the album is how the disparate interests of the six main protagonists compete with eachother yet are able to mould a seamless finished product, a product that is disciplined and vital in every way where not one note outstays its welcome. This detailed approach and the bringing on board of McEntire has by sonic evidence given Broken Social Scene a new lease on life. Those lucky enough to catch them on tour over the next few months will undoubtedly see, as I did back in 2008, a band at the top of their game, in love with their music and having nothing to apologise for.
Forced To Love (Live)
Broken Social Scene (CAN)
From the album, 'Forgiveness Rock Record', Arts And Crafts.
Friday, May 7, 2010
NEW ALBUM RELEASES: LET THE MAY AVALANCHE BEGIN, THIS ONE EMANATES FROM CANADA
There is little doubting this week's standout album. Broken Social Scene's killer release Forgiveness Rock Record is a stunning return after five long years by the rock collective, wearing as many influences on its sleeves as songs on the album. They are joined by fellow indie supergroup The New Pornographers, who put out the more than accomplished Together. The Canadian supergroups are joined this week by US powerhouses The Hold Steady, who tread water nicely with Heaven Is Whenever. On the house front, German DJ/Producers Booka Shade are back with their fourth release, More. Los Angeles newcomers Infantree release their debut album Food For Thought and rootsy Texan Doug Burr puts out his fourth release, the wickedly named, O Ye Devastator. After a couple of years of label turmoil, New Young Pony Club return to funk it up with The Optimist, which has now been released in North America. United States bands Future Islands, Minus The Bear and Free Energy drop In Evening Air, OMNI and Stuck On Nothing respectively. While lesser known than the groups leading this week's pack of new albums, fellow Canadians The Whitsundays, more than hold their own with a new album, the biblically titled, 'Saul'. You'll find a blog link to a track of each release below.
Texico Bitches
Broken Social Scene (CAN)
From the album, 'Forgiveness Rock Record', Arts And Crafts.
London based indie popsters Cha-Cha are set to release their debut album, We Are... next week through Pop Noodle Records. The second single 'The Fellowship', was recently offered as a free download which you can access below. It has a familiar ring to it, combining a catchy retro bass rhythm with a disco beat. The track follows up the equally build-up laden first single 'Phonographic Love' released earlier this year. The video sees the guys living out their childhood fantasies playing to a cute girl, who, after saving the day, by the end of the proceedings is mightily impressed. You can view this as well as the video for 'The Fellowship' below. Although Cha-Cha employ an approach a little more laid back and less frenetic, this is definitely for fans of Irish pop trio, Two Door Cinema Club. We Are... is out May 10.
1. Phonographic Love 2. Sit You Down 3. The Fellowship 4. Cherokee 5. Let You Down 6. Seventies Casualty 7. Juicy Lucy 8. Second Chances 9. Flashlight 10. Windows
The Fellowship
Cha-Cha (ENG)
From the forthcoming album, 'We Are..., Pop Noodle. Out in UK May 10.
From the forthcoming album, 'We Are..., Pop Noodle. Out in UK May 10.
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
THE REMIX FIX - VOL 1: NO 5
It's May already and it delivers with new remixes from Crystal Castles new album and LCD Soundsystem. Besides the these releases, I suspect we are going to hear big things from the new LPs that have presented or will present themselves over the next few weeks. A nice mixture of remixes below for you to check out, so get clicking and enjoy.
Vietnam (Lightsoverla remix)
Crystal Castles (CAN)
Original from the forthcoming album 'Crystal Castles', out May 19, available now on iTunes, Lies Rcords / Last Gang Records
THE VIEW IS GREAT FROM THE TOP OF THE CRYSTAL CASTLES
The second full album from Crystal Castles is out now digitally on iTunes following a massive build up with support from BBC's Radio1 and the mighty word of mouth. There has been an incredible fifty million plays on MySpace and Lastfm and they are set to head off on a world tour. It's exciting times for Ethan Kath and Alice Glass, the second album (also titled the same as their debut album) 'Crystal Castles' has had the physical album date pushed forward by two weeks. To build on the success of a debut album is always a hard thing to do, but they have blitzed it with this one. With some tracks on the more pop side of things, Celestica, their first single from 'Crystal Castles' is sublime honey dripping pop, holding no allusions to the distorted walls of noise this duo is also capable of. The track Baptism has a beautiful 90s hard rave feel, you can almost see the green lasers penetrating the smoke machine. The distort laden and heaving track Doe Deer was released as part of the Record Store Day festivities, on a limited edition vinyl pressing. They'll be playing live in London at Heaven on May 19 and will be at Glastonbury on June 27. Get along if you can, or anywhere else possible as seeing them live would be something to remember. The album is out on physical form on May 24.
Celestica
Crystal Castles (CAN)
From the forthcoming album, 'Crystal Castles', Fiction/Last Gang. Out now digitally and physically on May 24
NEW MELBOURNE INDIE LABEL DEPARTED SOUNDSROCKS THE BOAT WITH NEW DIRECTION
Formed in late 2008 by friends Ashley Sambrooks and Andrew Keese, Departed Sounds has built up a roster of Aussie artists such as Gaslight Radio, Lindsay Phillips, Amaya Laucirica, Tobias Cummings, Andrew Keese And The Associates and khancoban. This label strives to empower the artists as much as possible, and is interested in quality and longevity rather making a quick buck. Producing music that sounds like everything else and is ultimately disposable is not what they are about. As they have stated..."Instead of being based around self defeating principals of ownership and control; the label adheres to values of collaboration and freedom; collaboration with partner companies in the way it operates as a business and freedom in the sense that it gives its artists the power to create without hindrance, interference or manipulation of their sound or image".
Departing from the usual industry model, DS goes to great lengths to bring together the worlds of business and art without having one sacrifice the other, a common problem in what can be a fickle industry. Technology is embraced with the label's website offering a fully automated online store where you can sort yourself out with vinyl, CDs and MP3's in single or multiple files.
There is a wide range of musical offerings here, from the haunting, pop-ambient feel of Amaya Laucirica to the rock-pop, guitar driven sounds of Gaslight Radio. Andrew Keese And Associates, Silver City Highway and Lindsay Phillips are launching Phillips's debut CD 'Varning' on May 9 at the Northcote Social Club, doors open at 2pm. You can find examples of their work on the sampler below as well.
It is good to see a label around that has the faith and trust to allow their artists the time, freedom and assistance to develop and grow. Amaya Laucirica is offering a free five track download of tracks from her 2008 album, Sugar Lights at her website here. A new album is said to be forthcoming this year.
NEW NUMBER ONE, BIG MOVES FOR CARIBOU, RADIO DEPT, SURFER BLOOD, DEBUTS FOR ROBYN, THE HOLD STEADY AND PALLERS!
Indie supergroup Gayngs takes the Number 1 spot this week with the track 'Gaudy Side Of Town'. It replaces Panic Bomber's 'Discipline' that ends its three week reign at the top. Caribou's 'Swim' rises six places to two while The Radio Dept's third single from their Indie30 feature album Clinging To A Scheme, 'Never Follow Suit' is up seven to four.This week sees debuts for Swedish dance songstress Robyn, 'None Of Dem', Brooklynites via Ohio The Hold Steady, 'Weekenders', (11) and another Swedish artist, the chilled electronica of Pallers, 'The Kiss' (17). Check out links to download each track and the full chart here.
Saturday, May 1 2010
FEATURE ALBUM: RADIO DEPT. WHEN A SCHEME IS WORTH CLINGING TO
Four long years in the making, the new album from the fiercely independent The Radio Dept, Clinging To A Scheme, finally saw the light of day last week. One may probably expect some sort of opus full of ambition and bombast after such a long period of writing and fine tuning. Not so with The Radio Dept. Long time devotees of the trio have come to expect almost metronomic economy and this album lives up to that expectation. There is not a second wasted during the 34 minutes of Clinging To A Scheme, nor is there room for any more. If there was, only the stupendously brilliant piece of serious pop that was 'Freddie And The Trojan Horse', which was originally destined for the album, would fit. Right down to the exceptional track sequencing, Clinging To A Scheme is a carefully crafted gem.
The title of the album is telling. The Radio Dept. have a scheme and come hell or high water they are going to stick to it. Roughing up pop at its very centre, the trio work away from the the inside out, scuffing and denting the gloss and sheen with reverb, static and distortion. It has been their trademark in its various forms for a decade and a half and they do it to great effect here. At once a hive of activity as the layered guitars, electronic beats and synth combine with splashes of expertly inserted instrumentation - piano, strings, woodwind and horn, it's quite amazing that the album still has a minimalist uncluttered feel to it. Only the best of artists can achieve this and it only comes from time and painstaking effort.
While consistent in approach, paradox abounds. Take the vocals of Johan Duncanson. How can a voice that on the surface is so distant, not only in nature, but also in the mix to the point of dissaffection and disconnection exude such emotion and feeling. When transposed deliberately underneath the shimmering introspective intonations that drive the bands sound, there's a feeling of knowing detachment to these songs and Duncanson's view of the world in general. Even when Duncanson's often cryptic and somewhat inaccessible lyrics seem to be overtly saying little, there is always more than an inkling they're actually conveying a great deal.
On the opener, 'Domestic Scene', the chime of guitar chords and incessant patter of the drum machine are complemented by the insertion of a delicate end hook and liquid sub-layer of synths. The song is an indication of the careful layered approach employed throughout the album where nothing is left to chance and every second is spent. Second single, 'Heaven's On Fire' harks back to the chilled out Balearic sounds of late 80s synth pop and would of been a much loved feature on the Manchester or Ibiza scenes. And that's not saying that it belongs there. Its immediacy to 2010 is obvious.
The urgency of the double beat and swirling synths on 'This Time Around' is given extra strength and depth by the smothering nature of the bass while the downbeat dub of 'Never Follow Suit' features a sample from a nihilistic train hopping graffiti artist and the choice of words taken here is illustrative of The Radio Dept's penchant for gritty social and political commentary. While simplistic on the surface, the said subjects defiant individualism while clinging on to the fraternity that he finds with others that share his passion is indicative of the confounding nature of the modern western lifestyle, on the one hand valuing individualism but on the other demanding conformity within a confined paradigm. The artist is either outside of that paradigm or a victim of it - or both.
On first listen, the middle track, 'A Token Of Gratitude' seems to be nothing more than a holding song, but repeated listens reveal its crucial role on the album as well as its worth in it own right. Personal change and growth often stem from heartbreak. Amidst the looping and layered synth and the sound effects of releasing pressure valves, Duncanson has a cerebral and deliberate strategy to combat this as he sings, 'I love you, yes I love you, but easy come easy go...
Those who liberally employ the overused shoegaze label when reviewing The Radio Dept's work will find themselves able only to use the term on one track. 'The Video Dept.' is a classic rendition of the fuzz soaked vibe of that era and comes equipped with an emotion filled outro that is a shoegazers dream. 'Memory Loss' evokes the spatial rhythms of the mid 80s and could almost be three songs in itself. Just have a close listen and at times you would think that you've got two or three stereo systems on at the same time. Despite this, the track holds together almost seamlessly. The first single 'David', released last year is almost trip hop in its affecting beat as the synth and strings combine to make you forget the forewarnings present in the lyrics. Despite its short stay make no mistake, 'Four Months In The Shade' is no filler as the welding together of its busy shuffling beat with an expansive yet hollow echo of girating synth renders it an important and vital track, sitting perfectly between the aforementioned 'David' and the gorgeous twinkling closer, 'You Stopped Making Sense'.
The album format forms only one part of The Radio Dept's if it ain't good enough, we ain't releasin' it' approach. Their historical penchant for penning quality EP's and b-sides is testimony to this and the 2008 and 2009 work more than tided this devotee over. Those who complain about the length of time between albums need to understand that it is precisely time that has made Clinging To A Scheme so good. The Lund trio have continually raised the bar with each passing year and they may need to be careful that this album hasn't seen them raise it too high, for it might take them eight years to release the next album. No matter though as these ten songs will still be as immediate then as they are now. I for one, am prepared to wait.
James Stocker - May 1, 2010.
THIS WEEK'S NEW RELEASES
Just the three new releases in a quiet week from The Golden Filter, The Futureheads and Frog Eyes. Voluspa is the long anticipated album from New Yorkers, The Golden Filter. The first single from this, 'Solid Gold', came out way back in February 2009 and fans have been waiting a while for this to drop. The Chaos is the new one from UK outfit The Futureheads. They have described their new material as 'complicated' and it is just that. Heavily layered and a sublime listen. It's out on Nul Records. Canadians, Frog Eyes, have the oddly titled Paul's Tomb: A Triumph and it's is a raw and unique beast. They are touring the US during May. Voluspa and The Chaos are out now in the UK but won't see the light of day in the US until June. Check out tracks from each below.
Hide
The Golden Filter (USA)
From the album, 'Voluspa', Dummy Records (UK release. Out in US June 15)
SONGS IN THE KEY OF BLOG: UPCOMING RELEASES MAY/JUNE
This fortnight's installment of SITKOB takes on a bit of a difference. We've decided to look ahead as the next couple of months see an absolute smorgasboard of must have albums being released. In this light, we've collated a chronologically ordered selection of tracks from the best of them for your downloading pleasure. There are links to a massive 22 tracks below and due to the monster size of this installment of Songs..., it will the last one until late May.
*Take special note of the new Phosphorescent and Windsor Of The Derby singles both of which can be downloaded direct. While technically outside of SITKOB brief, we've snuck them in anyway. Enjoy.
Water In Hell
Broken Social Scene (CAN)
From the forthcoming album, 'Forgiveness Rock Record', Arts And Crafts. Out on May 4.
SHIGETO GOES FULL CIRCLE WITH GHOSTLY INTERNATIONAL
Zach Sanginaw goes by Shigeto, his middle name and his Japanese grandfathers name. Raised in the flatlands of Michigan in a house full of Mowtown and jazz vinyl, he started drums early and played the Ann Arbor and Detroit scene. Three years in NYC studying jazz and another three years in London saw Zach finding his place in electronic music. You can hear all the influences in there, mixed up in the multitude of layers you find yourself immersed in upon hearing his music. Going under the name of Shigeto and based in Brooklyn, he released EPs on the Moongadget label and remixed the likes of Tycho, Mux Mool and Beautiful Bells. Semi Circle, Shigeto's new EP is out on Ghostly International, a label he says was big influence on him over the last ten years.
The EP begins with a keyboard and a female voice over, speaking about the hardships and discrimination that faced early Japanese people in America. Track two 'There Is Always Hope', continues with more voice over at the start and then gives way to an envelope of sound full of synths, brass and keyboards. It's a real mix of ambient with elements of world music in there at times to add to the palette. 'Eternal Life' is a highlight for me, it brings in the percussion and salsa feel, then as he does so well, Shigeto takes it somewhere totally unexepected. Rich in texture, the production is superb with the twin vocal loops working together seamlessly despite being so different. 'Embrace The Cold' rounds off the EP with a piano intro and a soundtrack of rain falling. Two minutes in, the gear changes and it slides away into an electro abyss. The build up is awesome.
Semi Circle has the hallmarks of someone with musical intelligence. Shigeto's diverse range of influences come together beautifully and is a reminder of how strong the indie electro scene is becoming.
TWELVE MONTHS IN THE MAKING, GEORGIA FIELDS DEBUT ALBUM HITS THE FINAL STRAIGHT
Still no title yet but mixing is set to begin on the debut album from Melbourne singer songwriter Georgia Fields. Having dropped the first single, 'One Finger' from the forthcoming record last year, Fields has now released the follow up, 'Something Borrowed, Something Blue', which plays like a cross between the sounds of childlike wonder and mature orchestration. The single is accompanied by yet another impressively shot video, again directed by Rohan Sprong. The album, set for release sometime in August features the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and multi-instrumentalist, Judith Hamann (cello, harp, piano) and has Greg Arnold (Things Of Stone And Wood) in the producers seat. It's been a long road for Fields, who only received funding from Arts Victoria to complete the album recently, a road that just illustrates how difficult things can be for independent artists. She is set to launch the single with her Mini-Indie-Orchestra this Thursday, April 29 at the Toff In Town in her home city. Go here for tickets or alternatively, you can get them at the door. Stream the new single via Soundcloud and check out the video below.
Something Borrowed, Something Blue
Georgia Fields (AUS)
From the single,' Something Borrowed, Something Blue', Pop Boomerang.
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. If you are an artist or label who wants something removed please contact us asap and we will remove it.
