Check Out: Going Steady [mp3]

Check Out: Dudes [mp3]

Download/Stream: And Now We Are Talking EP by Good Sport

Mr. Fogg – ‘Stay Out Of the Sun’
For his sophomore album, Oxford (UK)’s Mr. Fogg employed a new method – targeting the composition of 20 new songs in 5 months.  The first output from that process is the first single – ‘Stay Out Of the Sun’, which opens with whispered vocals, simple piano chords, and metronomic beats and alternates between that basic structure and waves of phasing synthesizer, hazy guitar and clattering percussion.

Young Hines – ‘Rainy Day’
Brendan Benson (The Ranconteurs) new protégé is a melodious singer/songwriter from Georgia – very Lennon-esque.

Swim Deep – ‘King City’
Birmingham (UK) trio release its first single of the year. It’s bright buoyant synth pop with pulsing guitar rhythms and reverb-soaked vocals. Starts off longing for better things, but it turns out that life isn’t so bad.

Bretonlabs – Blanket Rule EP
Mutated electro-grooves in the vein of LCD Soundsystem.  Forgive me for this… “Play that funky music British guys!”  Awesome stuff.

Thomas Azier – Metropolitan Tribe [mp3] (from Hylas 001 EP, out now)
Berlin’s electro-pop wunderkind Thomas Azier offers up shimmering synthetic beats with blissfully harmonious vocals and youthful abandon.

Lower Dens – Brains [mp3] (from Nootropics, out May 1 on Ribbon Music)
A creeping ballad of artificial intelligence with chugging drums, droning guitar, and waves of synth. The new album from Baltimore’s Lower Dens focuses on transhumanism –“the use of technology to extend human capabilities.”

First Person Shootr – Punch Struck [mp3] (from Mobility for Gods, out Feb 28 on Lefse Records)
A bleak yet seductive slice of soul-infused chillwave.

Asa Milbankx – Fresher [mp3] (from Fresher/Abaco single, out now on Mount Valley Records)
New Yorker James Ward is singer/songwriter for Analog Birds.  His solo work as Asa Milbankx is sunny, mellow acoustic folk-rock.  In his own words “Fresher has a Talking Heads-cum-Paul McCartney feel… Fresher features some interesting sounds, including kalimba, analog synthesizers (SCI Six-Trak, Kawai SX-240, Korg Monotron) and more.”

Eric Chenaux – Amazing Backgrounds [mp3] (from Guitar & Voice, out Mar 6 on Constellation Records)
Toronto guitar master Eric Chenaux’s forthcoming solo album features only his voice and guitar work with minimal overdubs.  The free single ‘Amazing Backgrounds’ displays his languid voice and sleek Nels Cline-ish guitar playing.

Circus Devils – Cyclopean Runways [mp3] (from Capsized!, out now)
Another year – another slew of albums from Boston Spaceships, Circus Devils, and Guided by Voices; it’s all in a day’s work for Robert Pollard. [Okay it's actually a 2011 release...]

Kishi Bashi – It All Began with a Burst [mp3] (from 151a, out Apr 10 on Joyful Noise Recordings)
Jubilant psych-pop from founding member of NY synth rockers Jupiter One and current current member of of Montreal K Ishibashi.

The Pharmacy – Dig Your Grave [mp3] (from Dig Your Grave EP, out Feb 3 on Kind Turkey Records)
From Seattle, LSD pop with piano, organ, & cello (in that order).

Conduits – Top Of The Hill [mp3] (from Conduits, out Mar 20)
Omaha slowcore ambience featuring members of Eagle Seagull.  Nice tune that builds a dense foundation of bass, reverb guitar, and synth with ethereal vocals of Jenna Morrison rising above the fray.

Backwords – Anywhere Now [mp3] (from By the Neck, out Mar 6 )

Quick Hits
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All the Saints – Half Red, Half Way
from “Intro to Fractions”
out  January 30 on Souterrain Transmissions
This is an explosive psych rocker that captures your ears and never lets go.  Fuzzed out guitars, lots of space and reverb on vocals float above smashing toms and booming bass drums to drive this track into a wall. Beautiful.

Baby Teardrops – Banged in the Heart
from “X is for Love”
released April 2011 through  Golden Sound Records
There’s a trancing hook to this song that’s reminiscent of early Smashing Pumpkins. Megan Thomas’ backing vocals really add to the depth of this track, while the band plays a pulsing post-grunge groove with flair.

Bear & Moose - Wear the Wolf
from Bear/Moose out NOW (self-released)
“Wear the Wolf” is a trippy psychedelic rock tune that slowly builds until Eric Mueller lets his guitar rip it up for awhile. There’s an easy going air emanating from this duo, who recorded a double LP for their first release. It’s got that Haight Asbury sound. You can order their self-titled debut here.

photo: Michael Winters

Guy Capecelatro III - Like Anything
from “North for the Winter”
out February 21 on Dromedary Records
Never underestimate the placement of a musical saw. On “Like Anything,” it adds a hushed eeriness to a track about a guy with a secret crush, who is staring at the object of his affection while she sleeps. He’s not a pervert, he’s planning to reveal his secret by placing his open journals where she can find them upon waking. He’ll be in the bar waiting and hoping. The anxiety is palpable. Excellent songwriting and imagery from Capecelatro, who is a singer-songwriter out of New Hampshire. Looking forward to “North for the Winter.”

Support John French & The Bastilles Kickstarter

We wish to support John French & the Bastilles with their Kickstarter campaign. The Athens-based outfit is trying to raise $11,000 to record their next album, and they are more than halfway there. Throw’em a buck and make a dream a reality. Learn more here.

Check out: Infant Love from On the Face of It (2010)

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Discover: Lethal Dialect

Lethal Dialect is an Irish hip hop artist out of Dublin. We’ve been getting a lot of hip hop lately, and this one stuck out. His thick brogue forces intent listening, and it pays off. The tracks have a great vibe and are driven by powerful lyrics. They’re dropping LD 50 Part II today via Workin Class Records. You can preview the single, Keep It Real, below in videos.

Check out: The LD50 Part 2 Preview

Check out: Metamorphese (from LD50)

Stream:  LD50 (part 1) on Bandcamp.

Consider these…

Joseph Arthur has released Redemption City, a double album that Arthur claims being 10 years in the making. It’s FREE on his website, where you can also order it on vinyl. Get it while you can.

Arundel – Oliver Caves EP
Arundel (aka Lucas Arundell) is out of Brisbane’s hot music scene. An electronic artist, he mixes audio with video imagery to complete his artistic vision. The tracks on this album show great depth and imagination. He’s offering the album free (pay what you like) on Bandcamp.

Download/Stream: Oliver Caves EP

Slowriter – Slowriter EP
Slowriter is Brian Taylor, who is based in Atlanta. His EP is full of hook-ladened psychedelic pop that’s ripe and refreshing. He recorded the album as a solo project, but he’s recruited a full band to bring the songs out live. This is a recording I wished I heard when it was released last year. You can pay what you want for it on Bandcamp.

Download/Stream – Slowriter EP

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Videos, videos, videos…

Arundel – A Deep Freeze (Feat. Simon Crossley & Kate Jacobson)

Joseph Arthur – Travels As Equals (On Letterman 01.19.12)

Nat Baldwin - Weights

Lethal Dialect – Keep It Real

Jonathan Wilson – Desert Raven (highly recommended)

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Cheers… 

Barsuk Records is announcing the release of Yellow Ostrich‘s third LP, Strange Land, out March 6. Yellow Ostrich is a true band now, as multi-instrumentalist Jon Natchez and drummer Michael Tapper join singer/guitarist/ multi-instrumentalist/wunderkind/Yellow Ostrich founder, Alex Schaaf.

Pre-order: Strange Land here

Check out:Marathon Runner [mp3]

Take Our Poll

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Cheers…

Paul Coltofeanu (aka Free Swim), the man who imagined life with an extra set of hands and the escapades of the first Panda to climb Everest, is back with Dennis. The story is more conventional this time. Two buds are alienated by the presence of a woman, a new girlfriend to be precise. They’re having a blast playing tennis, drinking wine, pub crawling, hanging out, and then… Dennis finds love.

Dennis has a Kinks meets The Knack feel to it with the sensibility of Frank Zappa. It’s as fun as other recordings by Free Swim with lots of crunchy guitars and high energy. Coltofeanu has a knack for integrating comedy with very good rock compositions. As with past Free Swim recordings, it all works out well in the end. The unnamed, jilted friend gets a surprising reward for his devotion.

Like all Free Swim  recordings, it’s a freebie. You can download all three Free Swim EPs here. Coltofeanu also leads the band, Android Angel. You can grab their recordings here.

Spend your Friday afternoon with Dennis. Lots of fun, plus it has one of the all time great song titles (The Smell of Pregnancy).

Check out:

Track 1: Dennis

Track 2: Croydon Fernandes

 Track 3: The Smell of Pregnancy

Track 4: Cycling Holidays in the Ardeche

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Happy Friday! 

“tells the story of our character indulging in misery, self-realization, seclusion, developing phobias, anxieties and a need to break out to help his own mind. Accepting negativities, even though it is clear that the consequences of those negativities would be grim. To accept evil just to get some purpose. This section of the story takes place in a single room. We hope the music is picturesque enough for you to immerse yourselves into this story.”

The album is mostly instrumental, so you’re free to ascribe whatever meaning you choose.

The excellent track ‘Curl Up, Time to Die’ was included as the opener on Thedadada Winter Mix 2011-12.  Also:

Check Out: Freelance Dream Killing Machine (gunpoint dub mix) [mp3]

Check Out: Wasted Faces in Secret Places (behind this wall acoustic version) [mp3]

Download($5)/Stream: Mother Superior and Her Fields of Migraine

Porcelain Raft – Put Me to Sleep [mp3]

Porcelain Raft – Unless You Speak from Your Heart [mp3]

(each from Porcelain Raft – Strange Weekend, out Jan 24 on Secretly Canadian Records)
An eagerly anticipated debut album of elegant electo-pop from Italian Mauro Remiddi.  Bursting with snyth, drums, and Remiddi’s androgynous vocals, these songs suggest the visual dreamscape of Remiddi’s journeyman musical past.

Lee Renaldo – Off_the_Wall [mp3] (from Between the Times & the Tides, out Mar 20 on Matador Records)
A little pop ditty from Sonic Youth stalwart – kinda reminiscent of “Wish Fulfillment” off of Dirty.

Mind Spiders – Wait For Us [mp3] (from Meltdown, out Feb 21 on Dirtnap Records)
Denton, TX’s Mind Spiders made a really fun album in 2011.  The new album is more of a team effort with Mark Ryan being joined by members of Bad Sports, Marked Men, and two simultaneous drummers!

Shearwater – Breaking the Yearlings [mp3] (from Animal Joy, out Feb 14 on Sub Pop Records)
Early reports suggest that the new Shearwater album is less grandiose and expansive than the previous trilogy of “Island Arc” albums ( Palo Santo, Rook and The Golden Archipelago).  The first single ‘Breaking the Yearlings’ is a forceful, confident, yet understated – not your typical indie rock.

Tanlines – Brothers [mp3] (from Mixed Emotions, out Mar 20 on True Panther Audio Warfare)
Jesse Cohen (formerly of Professor Murder) and Eric Emm (previously with Don Caballero and Storm and Stress) comprise this Brooklyn-based electronic duo that specializes in sunny, rhythmic electro-pop with lazy lyrical delivery.

Pontiak – Lions of Least [mp3] (from Echo Ono, out Feb 21 on Thrill Jockey Records)
Heavy psychedelic rock from the rural compound of three Virginia brothers.

Digital Leather – Young Doctors In Love [mp3] (from Modern Problems, out Feb 14 on FDH Records)
Invigorating synth punk in the vein of Wavvves!

Sleigh Bells – Comeback Kid (from Reign of Terror, out Feb 21 on Mom & Pop Records)

Sleigh Bells – Born to Lose (from Reign of Terror, out Feb 21 on Mom & Pop Records)

Sandy Gilfillan is Yes Know. A multi-media artist, Gilfillan focuses primarily on music, video, and photography. In less than six months, he’s recorded two full albums, Over Under and Place.

Largely experimental, Yes Know dabbles in a bit of lo-fi shoegaze, folk and ambient electronic music. Of the two releases, Over Under is far more polished, featuring tracks that favor clean acoustic sounds and ambience over the DIY noise and shoegaze of Place.

In either case, you should take Gilfillan’s advice, “…and purchase a good set of speakers or headphones.”  You’re gonna need them.

Check out: Stop from Over Under

Sooner or Later (By Storm) from Place

You can pay what you want for both albums on Bandcamp.

Preview/Download: Over Under
 

Preview/Download: Place

Watch: Drop and Roll Montage Video
 

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Cheers… 

Photo: Charlotte Waltes

Fires & French Horns is the second solo EP from Halina Larsson. Having spent time in the punk band, Chick Habit, and backing vocalist for Coheed and Cambria, Ms. Larsson is ready to break out and away from the past.

On Fires & French Horns, the Brooklyn-based artist offers an alternative to the jazz club chanteuse with her fantastic range. She can sing you to sleep with delicate, sweet-sounding vocals or smack you in the face with surprising soulfulness. All of this occurs within arrangements steeped in nu-folk, jazz, and indie pop. Highlights include Puget Sounds, Story of A Ghost, and Midnight.

We’re featuring the title track with remixes by Swedish electronic artists: NIVA, Alf Tumble and Kissey.

Fires & French Horns

Fires & French Horns (Kissey Remix)

Fires & French Horns (Alf Tumble Remix)

Fires & French Horns (NIVA Remix)

Preview and purchase Fires & French Horns on Bandcamp:

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Cheers…