Watch last week’s fantastic performances of ‘Fangela’ & ‘Tunnelvision’ below. MP3: Here We Go Magic – Tunnelvision
read more »Enjoy the brand new Q&A session below. Watch ‘Magic Collector’ here. MP3: Here We Go Magic – Tunnelvision
read more »Enjoy ‘Magic Collector’ below. HWGM’s new album, Pigeons, is out soon. MP3: Here We Go Magic – Tunnelvision
read more »#20 - Here We Go Magic - "Tunnelvision" (from Here We Go Magic)Kicking off this list with a smooth start is "Tunnelvision," from Here We Go Magic's self-titled debut. It was nice to see Luke Temple take this interesting turn in 2009, and I wish I had the chance to see the band when they swung through Nashville this year (though I did see them at SXSW). This song babbles along with a ripply surface like a mid-paced mountain stream, and may have been my first taste of the layered sounds I would fall in love with in 2009. #19 - Fol Chen - "Winter, That's All" (from Part I: John Shade, Your Future's Made)I can honestly say I don't remember anything else that appeared on this Fol Chen album, but I do remember latching on to "Winter, That's All" immediately when I was running over that specific week's releases for the radio show. Then I promptly forgot the song, and lamented that fact a few weeks ago when I started assembling the list - a song can't be a favorite if I didn't listen to it that much. Fortunately, it's been in such regular rotation this December that it made this countdown after all.#18 - Animal Collective - "My Girls" (from Merriweather Post Pavilion)Before 2009, I probably would have been more interested in the optical illusion-y cover of Animal Collective's new album rather than the music within. But the Panda Bear-ified Merriweather Post Pavilion ("Panda Bear-ified" is a term that could be applied to a lot of what 2009 had to offer) was more accessible than anything by Animal Collective that I had sampled to date, and the placement of "My Girls" on a mix a friend made solidified my opinion that it was one of the best songs of the year, even though it appears lower on my list.#17 - Bear in Heaven - "Wholehearted Mess" (from Beast Rest Forth Mouth)I was more pumped about seeing Bear in Heaven at this year's Next Big Nashville than possibly the whole rest of the festival (aside from Phosphorescent, maybe) and I nearly wore out my advance copy of Beast Rest Forth Mouth before the band even rolled into town. They put on a fantastic show and turned out to be a great bunch of guys, and I can't wait to see them in 2010 as well.#16 - Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros - "Home" (from Up From Below)"Home" was my "Young Folks" of 2009 - not because of the whistling, but because I fell head over heels for it immediately and then kinda got sick of it. Still, I loved this song enough to warrant a spot on this countdown, and I know it sounds so classic that I'm going to be listening to it for years to come.
read more »It's the 25th of December and, aside from Christmas, we've assembled 25 of our favorite albums from 2009. There were some sensational albums this year and being forced to only pick out a fraction of our favorites was certainly frustrating. However, our ears have heard tons of music over the past year and we're proud of our picks - some you'll be expecting, while unfamiliar others you're going to need to spin soon. Without further ado, here are The Best Albums of 2009:Harlem Shakes - Technicolor HealthIt's always disappointing to see a band like Harlem Shakes break up. Once the most energetic and must-see band of SXSW '09, now they're destined to be forgotten. Technicolor Health was a very solid debut, highly entertaining and immensely fun from start to finish. These guys didn't rely on washed out 80s dance samples or computers or forced lo-fi, they didn't make music to conform to what they thought Pitchfork wanted to hear. They were completely, refreshingly unstylized, and I'm afraid their break-up marks more than just the loss of one band, but the move away art rock for rock's sake (instead of art's sake). At least in their wake we've got more ARMS to look forward to. - Connor[MP3] Harlem Shakes - SunlightMySpace | More MP3s | Buy @ InsoundLetting Up Despite Great Faults - S/TIt really should come as no surprise that indie music, rather music in general, has ventured down a path where electronically intensified music is a trending topic that sounds great. From samples to glitchy soundboards, evolving technology has added a new weapon to each band's arsenal whilst opening the door to emerging acts like Letting Up Despite Great Faults. Their self-titled debut completely caught me off guard, a great LP full of synth, keyboards, and the delightful dichotomy of male/female vocal harmonies. Each track transports your ears to a different setting, there's no telling where they're headed to next. -Nathaniel[MP3] Letting Up Despite Great Faults - In StepsMySpace | More MP3s | Buy @ InsoundA.C. Newman - Get GuiltyI'd like to think that with any listmaking we might do comes a duty to make sure albums aren't forgotten. Year-end lists can be very limiting, as if to say "these matter, the rest don't." A.C. Newman's sophomore LP Get Guilty has been neglected by nearly every list I've seen, yet it's nearly as strong as his debut and certainly something New Pornographers fans would love. With all the lo-tide/bro-fi of the year, simple indie rock records were tragically overlooked... and if you remember that once upon a time you were rocking out to early Spoon and Mass Electric instead of dubstep and minimalist electro, Get Guilty is the album for you. - Connor[MP3] A.C. Newman - Like A Hitman, Like A DancerMySpace | More MP3s | Buy @ InsoundBat For Lashes - Two SunsThe musical growth of Natasha Khan over the past few years has been quite the sight to behold. Two Suns, her sophomore LP, was a concept album loosely based on the alter-ego Pearl (a direct foil of Khan herself). Thanks to Pearl, or perhaps Khan's own musical maturity, Two Suns soars from start to finish with enough mind-bending genre variety to keep even the most impulsive ears at bay. Album opener "Glass" is a frenetic fusion of chamber pot with traces of metal (wow), whilst lead-single "Daniel" capitalizes on an electro 80s-influence coupled with sensational strings. Two Suns catapults Bat For Lashes from the land of solid singles to the atmosphere of awesome albums. -Nathaniel[MP3] Bat For Lashes - DanielMySpace | More MP3s | Buy @ InsoundReal Estate - S/TSome people call New Jersey the "armpit of America" while others (myself included) can only conjure images of bro's with too much hair gel taking jägerbombs. So how Real Estate emerged from Jersey with one of the better 2009 debuts is beyond me. Better yet, I'm not even sure how they managed to create a surf-rock sound with such stellar reverb you'd think they recorded their self-titled debut inside a seashell. The method to their madness lies within cyclical songs and meticulous melodies, providing the perfect pattern for an unassuming record to sweep one out of suburbia and onto a sandy beach. -Nathaniel[MP3] Real Estate - Fake BluesMySpace | More MP3s | Buy @ InsoundLady Of The Sunshine - Smoking GunOne day in high school chemistry class, my teacher began professing her adoration for Albert Einstein and made sure to include his famous quote: "Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler." It doesn't take a Nobel Prize-winning physicist to understand what Einstein meant, however, it does take Lady of the Sunshine to hear what he meant. Australian Angus Stone separated himself from his sister Julia long enough to craft Smoking Gun, his first solo release. It's a beautiful folk album full of songs in a simpler vein, with enough electric guitar and overpowering emotion to retain your ear's attention from start to finish. Smoking Gun is the singer/songwriter with a guitar combination done right, do yourself a favor and listen as soon as humanly possible. - Nathaniel[MP3] Lady Of The Sunshine - Silver RevolverMySpace | More MP3s | Buy @ iTunesHere We Go Magic - S/TYou know what's telling about Here We Go Magic? I remember the day I first heard "Tunnelvision" early in January '09-- it had just hit the web and everybody (from Ed Droste to the entire blogosphere) erupted into wonderment, fanning its beauty with anything they could. I read quotes from Ben Gibbard and Sufjan Stevens commenting on Luke Temple's angelic pipes. And unlike a lot of "too good to be true" press quotes, HWGM really was meeting every credit it was given: while this debut certainly isn't the best of the year or the most consistent throughout, it offers a unique style and sound: infinitely enchanting lyrical loops, dizzying guitar and bass textures, and a four-track embezzlement of hazy psychedelic noise to keep the project floating just above our heads... we can occasionally reach out and touch it, but we'll never completely capture it. - Connor[MP3] Here We Go Magic - TunnelvisionMySpace | More MP3s | Buy @ InsoundLotus Plaza - The Floodlight CollectiveIt's unfortunate that The Floodlight Collective was as overlooked as it has been this year. Many people tend to associate the success of Deerhunter with Bradford Cox alone, a rather careless assumption considering how unlike Deerhunter his solo work as Atlas Sound is. Deerhunter's sound could be much more attributed to that of Lockett Pundt's Lotus Plaza project, and if you loved last year's Microcastle, especially "Nothing Ever Happened" and "Little Kids" (two best songs on there), you'll easily find a similar amount of alchemy and magic within the tracks on Floodlight (and if I got my way, the ranking of this and Atlas Sound's LP on our list would be switched). - Connor[MP3] Lotus Plaza - QuicksandMySpace | More MP3s | Buy @ InsoundPortugal. The Man - The Satanic SatanistPrior to the release of The Satanic Satanist, Portugal. The Man were a band I'd only heard a few tracks - here and there - from different albums. It wasn't until catching their set at Outside Lands did I realize what a wonderful act they were (see them live - one of the best shows you'll see). The Satanic Satanist is an excellent rock album with inviting riffs and solid songwriting. Lead singer John Gourley has an impressive vocal range, hitting notes on "People Say" and "The Sun" that make us look absurdly silly when singing in our cars. If you're searching for this year's solid rock album with just enough funk and psychedlia to entertain your brain, look no further. - Nathaniel[MP3] Portugal. The Man - People SayMySpace | More MP3s | Buy @ InsoundThe Middle East - The Recordings Of The Middle EastAustralia always seems to musically surprise me in some form or fashion, quitely churning out truly terrific acts. No Aussie outfit has excited me as much as The Middle East, whose debut LP The Recordings Of The Middle East came packed with loads of epic instrumentation. Aside from billowing strings and soft guitar picking, their beautiful harmonies make them instantly memorable. Upon first discovering "Blood" the band was somewhat sputtering and on hiatus; then the blogosphere gave them fresh breath, their LP was properly released, and hopefully enough wind's beneath their sails to send them Stateside. Fingers crossed, this band from Oz has a bright future. -Nathaniel[MP3] The Middle East - BloodMySpace | More MP3s | Buy @ iTunesNirvana - Live at ReadingIt's safe to say: everyone knows about Nirvana. From pretentious music critics to casual CD spinners, Nirvana have served as a generational medium nearly every human being with functioning eardrums is familiar with. Whether it was something Kurt Cobain intended to do or not, his band became the torchbearers for a new musical movement responsible for rewriting the formula for an entire genre. Although Live At Reading has been an infamous bootleg for years, 2009 witnessed an official release complete with a full (color) DVD and mastered tracklist. It epitmoizes everything about Nirvana that made me obsessed with them during 8th grade. With a tracklist touching on material from the band's entire career and an energry intensified by the 60,000+ in attendance, Live At Reading is an album for Nirvana newbies and nutcases alike. -Nathaniel[Video] Nirvana - Drain You (HD)MySpace | More MP3s | Buy @ InsoundPassion Pit - MannersIf "blog house" falls during 2009 and no one is there to hear it, does it make a sound? Ok that was corny, but the answer should be a resounding "yes" as long as Passion Pit is still around to rouse the cause. After the introduction of their breakout single "Sleepyhead" (which they conceded was a song they'll never best by its inclusion on their proper debut), Manners was destined to be one of the most anticipated albums. So what do you do when you created your best song when no one was watching, but now you've got everyone waiting with baited breath for you to turn 2009 into one massive falsetto'd dance party? Manners wasn't the album "Sleepyhead" suggested it might be, but if we didn't know any better it would have been one hell of a debut. The first half is miles better than anything MGMT could come up with, and while the second half lags (which is probably why they stuck "Sleepyhead" in there) the album on a whole is one of the year's most fun and danceable albums... and we always need at least one of those. - Connor [MP3] Passion Pit - Moth's WingsMySpace | More MP3s | Buy @ InsoundFanfarlo - ReservoirAmidst the rise of lo-tide and electronic expansion, there is one band from 2009 that stuck to conventional instrumentation and solid songwriting to lure listeners into their sound. Although the influences of Beirut and Arcade Fire are evident, not just any band can craft memorable melodies as enjoyable as Fanfarlo. Their debut LP Reservoir first caught my attention back in February, full of songs that buoy up and down in sweeping movements. They're also a band whose pop themes tend to have polarizing effects on an audience, and if you've truly listened to Reservoir you'll have a hard time denying the quality of Fanfarlo's music. -Connor[MP3] Fanfarlo - LunaMySpace | More MP3s | Buy @ InsoundAtlas Sound - LogosBradford Cox is quickly entering into the same realm as Spencer Krug: men with so much creativity they can't create monikers fast enough to keep up! I've admired his work with Deerhunter for quite some time but Atlas Sound stands out as my favorite. Logos contains excellent collaborations with Noah Lennox and Laetitia Sadier, yet his other stream-of-conciousness tracks like "Shelia" and "An Orchid" stand out as true gems. Logos is one of those albums that festers and makes ears itch, truly getting better with each listen. -Nathaniel[MP3] Atlas Sound - Walkabout (Feat. Noah Lennox)MySpace | More MP3s | Buy @ InsoundThe Antlers - HospiceThe American existential psychologist Rollo May once said that creativity is born out of the tension between spontaneity and limitations. For The Antlers' frontman Peter Silberman that tension exists between life (or livelihood, that which procures spontaneity) and death (the ultimate limitation). While that may sound terribly cliché, the real testament to the power and grandeur of Hospice is the finite balance it finds. Although not blatantly a concept album Hospice would have been the greatest in recent memory, variating on those themes of uncertainty and waiting perfectly, from the title to the narratives to the musical style itself. Silberman's delicate vocals float over an ocean of harsh noise throughout the album, particularly on "Kettering" and "Sylvia," boiling over at points of extreme emotion. Nothing seems forced, every element is perfectly and delicately plotted. There are joyous highs and sweltering lows and, of course, a gripping sense of currency in between. To give The Antlers as much credit as one can, I commend them for keeping the album format alive with something as viable, organic, and cohesive as Hospice. - Connor[MP3] The Antlers - KetteringMySpace | More MP3s | Buy @ InsoundThe Very Best - Warm Heart Of AfricaFor a band that has the audacious foresight to combine Africana with 80s dance synth (see "Chalo"), you'd think they would have been the biggest act of the year. But of course there's a language barrier which proved to be somewhat limiting in their widespread appeal (although, don't get me wrong, they've got plenty of fans). In the absence of M.I.A., they gave us 2009's "Paper Planes" ("Julia") and easily some of the best produced club-oriented music of the year (give Radioclit credit for that). If you're looking for some of the most infectious and memorable dance tracks of the year, "Warm Heart of Africa", "Mfumu," and "Kamphopo" will be your new best friends. If you get a chance to see TVB live, you'll see that all this joyous, frenetic, anthemic music has a wide-eyed, wide-smiled creator who is as passionate about his music (and your enjoyment of it) as anyone could be, and that's something that shines through every single track on Warm Heart Of Africa. - Connor [MP3] The Very Best - KamphopoMySpace | More MP3s | Buy @ InsoundLe Loup - FamilyNot to slight the efforts of Sam Simkoff and Le Loup, I have to recognize the impact that Animal Collective has had on the production and progression of music over the last few years. That's not to call foul on Le Loup or to suggest they're somehow trying to imitate Avey and Panda's work, rather I think that influence has operated so successfully as a covert force within the indie music realm. Family is a brilliant testament to that, with melodies and textures and harmonies that interact incredibly fluidly, backyard rhythms that are as organic as grass itself, and a general mastery of bringing some honest, palpable consonance to the relative chaos of their musical style. This, of course, is no easy task and the degree to which Le Loup have achieved this on Family is worthy of your attention alone. - Connor[MP3] Le Loup - Beach TownMySpace | More MP3s | Buy @ InsoundHoliday Shores - Columbus'd The WhimBefore listening to a brand new band for the first time, it's difficult to avoid making general inferences. Aside from either liking or disliking the band name, I typically check out their city/state of origin to gauge what they could sound like. Holiday Shores, from Florida, completely confused me because Florida (until recently) never had a defnitive sound or solid musical reputation. Their debut LP, Columbus'd The Whim, definitely sets a superb standard and thrives off retro 1950s-esque guitar melodies many of the Sunshine State's senior citizens may have once enjoyed. There isn't a bad song on the album but gems like "Bradley Bear", "Phones Don't Feud", and "Edge Of Our Lives" will certainly grab your attention from the get-go. -Nathaniel[MP3] Holiday Shores - Phones Don't FeudMySpace | More MP3s | Buy @ InsoundBowerbirds - Upper AirEvery year there are a handful of albums that many lists, including this one, simply overlook. For whatever the reasons may be, Bowerbirds second LP Upper Air has consistently been overlooked by some of my favorite year-end lists. It's a tragic thing too, for Upper Air is a beautifully crafted album that really sinks in deeper and deeper as the album progresses. Their harmonies are mesmerizing while the songwriting is earnest and full of sensational landscapes in which a listener can easily become lost. Tracks like "House Of Diamonds", "Northern Lights", and the sprawling "Silver Clouds" are great compositions. Upper Air is not an album for simple sampling or light listening, you've got to fully immerse yourself in the record to discover its magic. -Nathaniel[MP3] Bowerbirds - Silver CloudsMySpace | More MP3s | Buy @ InsoundBlind Man's Colour - Season DreamingChances are you made up your mind about Blind Man's Colour long ago. You either (rather stubbornly) cast them off as Animal Collective acolytes, or you avoid the heavy hand of hypocrisy involved in that label and judge the band and their debut, Season Dreaming, on its musical merit alone. Taking the latter approach, Season Dreaming is the year's best debut album from start to finish. Every song offered is a different colored gem, its own style and substance blended together in a stew of psychedelia. You'll hear sounds you've never heard in pop music before, you'll feel as if you've discovered something incredible--for your ears, your mind, and your heart--and you'll truly connect with the music (with or without drugs, although they certainly don't hurt the cause). I haven't been as excited about a new band as I am about Blind Man's Colour in a long time, and the idea that something this good came as a debut from two kids who are barely into their college years is endlessly promising, to say the least. I just can't wait to see what comes next. - Connor[MP3] Blind Man's Colour - Heavy Cloud HustleMySpace | More MP3s | Buy @ InsoundDirty Projectors - Bitte OrcaIt's no secret that Dave Longstreth has been creating fantastic music for quite some time. His mixture of hi-fi and lo-fi production on the Don Henley concept album The Getty Address and re-imagined Black Flag songs on Rise Above primed Dirty Projectors for an explosion. Building off the successes and sounds from Longstreth's implementation of female harmonies on Rise Above, Dirty Projectors entered into new sonic landscapes armed with supreme vocal abilities and creative freedom. Bitte Orca was an explosion so grand and well structured, it possessed my ears for months, rather, the duration of 2009. From the frenetic "Useful Chamber" to the pitch-perfect "Remade Horizon" and soulful "Stillness Is The Move", Bitte Orca does well in delivering a diverse album. It's greatest strength (one Longstreth capitalizes on), however, can be seen on the album's cover: Angel Deradoorian and Amber Coffman. -Nathaniel[MP3] Dirty Projectors - Stillness Is The MoveMySpace | More MP3s | Buy @ InsoundPhoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus PhoenixI was, admittedly, first introduced to Phoenix through their contribution of 1999's "Too Young" to the Lost In Translation soundtrack. I never would have guessed that a decade later they'd be moonlighting 2009 with one of the best albums and the single best pop song ("1901") of the year. In that light, Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix is the year's biggest surprise. We knew it would be good but no one would have guessed just how good. I'm not the biggest fan of clean-cut pop, and this is, by every aspect of its design, clean-cut. It's immensely accessible, endlessly enjoyable and replayable, and exactly what a year like 2009 (earmarked by economic depression, confounded politicking, and of course the further loss of the hipster identity) ultimately needed. You've got to commend these boys for creating something so far removed from the times in which it was created, giving its listeners a much-needed respite from everything that sucked about 2009. - Connor[Video] Phoenix - 1901MySpace | More MP3s | Buy @ InsoundSt. Vincent - Actor Annie Clark had plenty of time to hone her skills before becoming the "feature presentation" whilst playing with The Polyphonic Spree and Sufjan Stevens' touring band. As valuable as those experiences were in developing her own sound and career, I can't help but wonder how many other fantastic LPs would be sitting on the shelf next to Actor. Only her second album, Actor demonstrates the type of artistic progression that makes me unhealthily excited for whatever musical project she takes on next. She took all the tuneful melodies from her debut and adventurously made them rough around the edges, coupling dosages of darkness with precise pop instrumentation. Every track on Actor shines separate from the rest, yet it's the audible confidence Clark has in her work that cements the album as one of the year's best. -Nathaniel[MP3] St. Vincent - The StrangersMySpace | More MP3s | Buy @ InsoundAnimal Collective - Merriweather Post PavillionMerriweather Post Pavilion is a legendary outdoor music venue designed by an equally legendary architect, historically hosting acts like Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin and the only bill to feature both The Who and Led Zeppelin. Located on a 40 acre plot called Symphony Woods, it's a slice of nature in Maryland's most populous community representing fond memories and the inspiration for one of the best albums I've ever heard. MPP is the most refined Animal Collective album to date, relying on samplers more than ever before due to Deakin taking time off from the group and bringing his guitar movements with him. What MPP lacks in organic instrumentation, it makes up for with pulsating rhythms and more melodies than I thought humanly possible to cram in 55 minutes. Opening track "In The Flowers" escalates into an electronic explosion after Noah sings, "If I could just leave my body for the night", sending MPP into a Beach Boys influenced existentialist experience. It's the most accessible material they've put together, from likeable leads in "My Girls" and "Summertime Clothes" to the most catchy opening 30 seconds you'll hear all year in "Brothersport". It's not as experimental as Animal Collective albums of the past but is a natural progression toward a baroque pop masterpiece, one - that when taken as a whole - is as close to perfection as collectively possible. -Nathaniel[Video] Animal Collective - My GirlsMySpace | More MP3s | Buy @ InsoundGrizzly Bear - VeckatimestWell this was the big debate, huh? Animal Collective vs Grizzly Bear... like Ali vs Frasier for pasty white kids with skinny jeans and impeccable hipster chic styles. Here's my take on it, for what it's worth: Both bands created absurdly good albums, both bands are remarkably skilled at what they do, and both have had tremendous success to show for their tireless work. On the downside, they've both got rather obvious influences (Beach Boys, hello?) and at least one track that just didn't compare to the others. What Animal Collective has done for the progression of music can already be seen and will continue to be the biggest driving force of change and style through the new decade, that's for sure. For me, however, you've got a handful of musicians who admit that they don't have musical chops, who hardly played any instruments on MPP. They've messed around in the studio using the infallible "guess and check" method of songwriting, and yes, it paid off tremendously. Grizzly Bear, on the other hand, consists of four uniquely talented lyricists, instrumentalists, composers, and collaborators. They may or may not have set out to create the best album they could possible create, but that's exactly what happened. With little computer / technological intervention, using their hands and lungs as much as their minds and fingers, they crafted a gorgeous, endlessly unique creation, impeccably produced and plotted in nearly every way. Nothing was left up to chance, no "guessing and checking," at least it seems this way. Like a true cinematic auteur, every single element of Veckatimest was intended to exist and serves a purpose, from the faint whisper of "It took tiimme..." in the opening of "Fine For Now" to the transition of "Ready, Able" from a chugging 4/4 train to operatic waltz. So which album is "better"?? That's for you to ultimately decide. But if this should include musicianship, studio time, and the incomparable effects of Ed, Bear, Chris, and Dan's collaboration, there should be only one clear "winner." - Connor[MP3] Grizzly Bear - CheerleaderMySpace | More MP3s | Buy @ InsoundHONORABLE MENTION:The Love Language - S/TTimber Timbre - S/TThe Diamond Center - My Only CompanionParlovr - S/TNeon Indian - Psychic ChasmsAndrew Bird - Noble BeastMajor Lazer - Guns Don't Kill People... Lazers DoVarious Artists - Dark Was The NightFool's Gold - S/TDan Deacon - BromstYACHT - See Mystery LightsGirls - AlbumTeengirl Fantasy - CD-RDeastro - MoondaggerMonogold - We AnimalsSleeping States - In The Gardens Of The NorthFontan - Wintherhwila
read more »With this weekend's Northeastern winter storm dubbed "fierce" and "blizzard-like" by media all over the country, I figured now would be a good time for a little winter-themed mix. Rather than focusing on the positive side to winter (does. not. compute.) these songs reflect more the barron winter landscape, locked-inside isolation, and "contemplative" side to the season. 'Tis the season to sit around and wax introspectively upon the year and wait for springtime to come? That's fine by me, and if you'll spend any of the remaining minutes of the year listening to music (of course you will), then let this be your unofficial soundtrack.If you'd like the whole thing in a neatly organized and tagged "album" format, I've uploaded the mix (including artwork) in a zip file which you can download here (mirror here). [MP3] Lady of the Sunshine - Lady of the SunshineI didn't listen to very much acoustic, folky music this year (for whatever reason), but "Lady of the Sunshine" is one song I couldn't avoid-- a lovely little sleeper that'll tug at your heartstrings if it doesn't coax you into a warm night's sleep first. Simply beautiful.[MP3] Grizzly Bear - Easier (Alternate Version)Even with the progress and prowess the GB boys showed us with Veckatimest, Yellow House opener "Easier" remains one of my favorites of theirs. The alternate version strips the song down a bit, relying more on vocal harmonies than woodwind instruments. As if you couldn't have guessed, everything is pretty much perfect on this track.[MP3] Le Loup - NeahkahnieLe Loup's Family is one of the best albums of the year, despite what some pretentious reviews might have lead you to think. You can't get much more harmonious than this.[MP3] Here We Go Magic - TunnelvisionWhen I first heard "Tunnelvision" back in January I knew it would be a fantastic year for music. Maybe its not wintery on the surface, but "Tunnelvision" shares with wintertime a certain blurring of time-- seconds and minutes lose meaning as the experience seems to last forever, and the forgotten whispers of autumn are re-imagined as the promises of spring. "Anything is possible."[MP3] Timber Timbre - Demon HostI sort of forgot about this track after posting it back in the early months of 2009. It's not going to blow your mind and it won't open any new doors for the progress of Music, but it's a subtle little gem, perfect for the long cold nights of winter.[MP3] The Antlers - KetteringWithout sounding like a big cliché, "Kettering" is absolutely beautiful. And haunting. Hauntingly beautiful (so much for avoiding cliché). But there's really no other way to say it... "frighteningly gorgeous" just sounds like I'm trying too hard.[MP3] Lands & Peoples - Bad HabitsI expected big things from Baltimore's Lands & Peoples when I discovered their music earlier this year, and those big expectations were met with a self-titled EP. Now I'm expecting colossal things for 2010 with their debut LP, and "Bad Habits" suggests they'll deliver.[MP3] Animal Collective - Loch RavenAlthough I was convinced when Merriweather Post Pavillion leaked that it was their best album, and I was likewise convinced that Strawberry Jam was their best when it came out, I somehow always come back to Feels. It's their most honest and beautiful creation to date, what a band can create when no one's watching.[MP3] Eluvium - Perfect Neglect In A Field Of StatuesNothing too complex here from Eluvium yet it still leaves me completely speechless every time I hear it. This is almost sacred, entirely meditative... thank god it hasn't been bastardized for a Lexus commercial.[MP3] Jon Brion - Theme from Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless MindSure, it was recorded for a movie. Sure, it was recorded for a movie starring Jim Carrey. Sure, it was recorded for a commission for a movie starring Jim Carrey. Yet it's still one of my favorite songs of the decade and always helps me through this damned season.[MP3] Bon Iver - FlumeThere's nothing I can say about this song that you haven't read somewhere else or figured out on your own. But if you've made up your mind and think you don't "like" Bon Iver, give this song one more shot... and really listen this time.[MP3] The Ghost Orchid - Black BirdsFor some reason I get chills every time I hear this song. It's masterful in its composition, rhythm and melody coming together perfectly, constantly taking on a new form every few melodic verses... I think it's the perfect way to end this mix.
read more »Here are my favorite albums of 2009, with a song from each.Animal Collective - Merriweather Post PavilionAnimal Collective - "Guys Eyes"The Strange Boys - The Strange Boys and Girls ClubThe Strange Boys - "Should Have Shot Paul"The xx - xxThe xx - "Crystalised"Wooden Shjips - DosWooden Shjips - "Aquarian Time"Bill Callahan - Sometimes I Wish We Were an EagleBill Callahan - "Eid Ma Clack Shaw"Sunset - Gold Dissolves to GraySunset - "Hill Country Smog"Washed Out - Life of Leisure / High TimesWashed Out - "New Theory"Bassnectar - Cozza FrenzyBassnectar - "The Churn Of The Century"Atlas Sound - LogosAtlas Sound - "Criminals"Neon Indian - Psychic ChasmsNeon Indian - "Deadbeat Summer"Them Crooked Vultures - Them Crooked VulturesThem Crooked Vultures - "Scumbag Blues"A Place To Bury Strangers - Exploding HeadA Place To Bury Strangers - "Deadbeat"Crystal Antlers - TentaclesCrystal Antlers - "Andrew"Dan Deacon - BromstDan Deacon - "Of The Mountains"Mos Def - The EcstaticMos Def - "Auditorium"Here We Go Magic - Here We Go MagicHere We Go Magic -"Tunnelvision"Blakroc - BlakrocBlakroc - "What You Do To Me"The Fresh & Onlys - Grey-Eyed GirlsThe Fresh & Onlys - "Delusion of Man"Monotonix - Where Were You When It Happened?Monotonix - "Set Me Free"White Denim - FitsWhite Denim - "Syncn"The Thermals - Now We Can SeeThe Thermals - "When We Were Alive"Dan Auerbach - Keep It HidDan Auerbach - "Whispered Words"Gay Witch Abortion - MaverickGay Witch Abortion - "Third World Limo"Real Estate - Real EstateReal Estate - "Black Lake"Clues - CluesClues - "Crows"
read more »<embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=5204103&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="425" height="240"></embed>[via]*************Busy night in Dallas, hit these up after the St. Vincent show: Santigold at House of Blues, and the official afterparty at the Cavern, featuring Amanda Blank, Devlin & Darko, and Sober.*************elsewhere:Our weekly Sirius XM Blog Radio show airs today at noon Eastern (and again at midnight) on Sirius XMU. This week's episode features brand new music from the Smith Westerns, the Very Best, White Denim, HIGHLIFE, Best Coast, Major Lazer, the Bitters, Tiny Vipers, and many more. You can listen online with a free trial here. Check this week's playlist + some mp3s after the jump...******************gorilla vs. bear blog radio :: june 1801. white denim :: i'd have it just the way we were02. fergus & geronimo :: harder than it's ever been03. the bitters :: warrior04. the very best :: ntende uli05. esau mwamwaya :: chalo06. HIGHLIFE :: F KENYA RIP07. toro y moi :: talamak08. animal collective :: daily routine (phaseone remix)09. pariah :: detroit falls10. j dilla :: coming back11. white denim :: regina holding hands12. white denim :: i start to run [video]13. the smith westerns :: dreams14. the smith westerns :: be my girl15. memory tapes :: bicycle16. basement jaxx :: raindrops17. major lazer :: keep it goin louder18. harlem :: caroline19. the mayfair set :: desert fun20. dum dum girls :: baby don't go (sonny & cher cover)21. taken by trees x the tough alliance :: taken too young22. best coast :: sun was high (so was i)23. the bitters :: can you keep a secret24. family portrait :: mega secrets25. real estate :: beachcomber26. st. vincent :: laughing with a mouth of blood27. here we go magic :: tunnelvision28. daniel rossen :: waterfall (judee sill cover)29. animal collective :: no more runnin30. SALEM :: brustreet31. tiny vipers :: dreamer32. grizzly bear :: foreground************
read more »With its spiny dead trees and ghostly heads, Here We Go Magic's video for "Fangela" looks like a black magic trick. It might also look aesthetically familiar considering it was created by Snejina Latev, the New York-based artist/filmmaker who concocted the visuals for Luke Temple & Brooklyn Co.'s first Here We Go Magic single "Tunnelvision." This time we're told she used charcoal animation, super-8 clips, sculptural pieces, various light effects, and stop-motion animation. More importantly, she made good use of "Fangela's" lyrics (eyes, shadows on the wall, etc.) and the band's winsome, weatherworn bedroom prettiness.Continue reading New Here We Go Magic Video - "Fangela"...
read more »Our weekly Sirius XM Blog Radio show airs today at noon Eastern (and again at midnight) on Sirius XMU. This week's episode features brand new music from Ghostface, HIGHLIFE, the Bitters, Mos Def, Cold Cave, Toro Y Moi, Dilla, Phaseone, Tiedye, and more. You can listen online with a free trial here. Check this week's playlist + some mp3s after the jump...******************gorilla vs. bear blog radio :: june 1101. white denim :: i start to run02. the bitters :: warrior03. fergus & geronimo :: harder than it's ever been04. pvc street gang :: cutlass05. animal collective :: daily routine (phaseone remix)06. j dilla :: coming back07. dem hunger :: police rasta08. toro y moi :: blessa09. toro y moi :: talamak10. here we go magic :: tunnelvision11. memory cassette :: surfin12. dirty projectors :: useful chamber13. mor thiam :: ayo ayo nene14. el rego et sus commandos :: feeling you got15. HIGHLIFE :: F KENYA RIP16. amanaz :: khala my friend17. major lazer :: can't stop now18. get back guinozzi :: carpet madness (demo)19. mos def :: supermagic20. ghostface :: forever21. bullion :: are you the one?22. neon indian :: mind, drips23. SALEM :: ohK24. basement jaxx :: raindrops25. dj kaos :: love the nite away (tiedye remix)26. dum dum girls :: jail la la27. the bitters :: can you keep a secret28. dara puspita :: to love somebody29. the intelligence :: thank you god for fixing the tape machine30. cold cave :: love comes close31. arch m :: 21st union32. fever ray :: keep the streets empty for me************
read more »Sometimes I have dreams that sound like the noise that this song makes. All crazy voices, none projecting anything resembling a coherent sentence and it seems to go on forever. Now you’d think that would have me deleting this little beastie on contact but it has wormed its fluid shapelessness into my affections with uncanny resourcefulness. Luke Temple is the impetus behind Here We Go Magic and his swirly creations have been rewarded with a tour with Grizzly Bear. Pretty sure he’ll have plenty of cheerleaders by the end. KDHere We Go Magic - TunnelvisionWatch The VideoMore Info: Official & MyspaceBuy Songs: Here We Go MagicYear: 2009
read more »Luke Temple began to gain attention when he released his first two solo albums with our friends at Mill Pond Records. His vocal style brought accolades from Sufjan Stevens and Ben Gibbard. Late in 2008 Temple formed Here We Go Magic, signed to Western Vinyl, and released their self-titled album this spring. The new venture is gaining momentum, attracting support from the major music blogs and an upcoming tour with Grizzly Bear. Timed perfectly with the Grizzly Bear tour is the release of a Daytrottersession, and My Old Kentucky Blog’s Laundro Matinee live session. “Developed over a two-month period of stream-of-consciousness recording in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, Luke’s self-titled debut under his new moniker Here We Go Magic is a remarkable departure from his signature singer-songwriter material. Luke recorded the album at home using analog synths, a cassette 4-track, and his trusty SM-57 mic, coloring the sound with warmth and creating textures you want to wrap yourself in.” Here We Go Magic - Tunnelvision <object width="445" height="364" data="http://www.youtube.com/v/fer4JUpYWV0&hl=en&fs=1&hd=1&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"/><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"/><param name="src" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/fer4JUpYWV0&hl=en&fs=1&hd=1&border=1"/><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"/></object> Here We Go Magic tour with Grizzly Bear: Thu - 05.28 - New York, NY Town Hall Fri - 05.29 - New York, NY Town Hall Sun - 05.31 - New York, NY Music Hall Of Williamsburg Mon - 06.01 - Washington, DC 9:30 Club Tue - 06.02 - Philadelphia, PA Trocadero Theatre Wed - 06.03 - Boston, MA Berklee Performance Center Thu - 06.04 - Montréal, QC Le National Fri - 06.05 - Toronto, ON Phoenix Sat - 06.6 - Chicago IL Empty Bottle * Sun - 06.07 - Minneapolis, MN Cedar Cultural Center Mon - 06.08 - Milwaukee, WI Pabst Theatre Tue - 06.09 - Bloomington, IN Buskirk - Chumley Theater Thu - 06.11 - Carrboro, NC Cat’s Cradle Fri - 06.12 - Atlanta GA The Earl Mon - 06.15 - Dallas, TX Granada Theater Tue - 06.16 - Austin, TX The Parish Fri - 06.19 - Los Angeles, CA The Wiltern Sun - 06.21 - San Francisco, CA The Fillmore Fri - 07.03 - New York NY South Street Seaport *With John Vanderslice & Apostle Of Hustle
read more »Monday:The XYZ Affair @ Pianos 8pm $5I don't know about you guys, but the last thing I want to do on Memorial Day is cram into some overheated club to see some bands. Not that there's anything wrong with the normal way I live my life, it's just on Memorial Day I'd rather hit the beach, the park, the backyard and grill up some American specialties and enjoy a few cold ones. But if you'd prefer to see a band might I suggest seeing The XYZ Affair.The XYZ Affair - "Sock You in the Face With Love"Tuesday: The Dig, Those Dancing Days, + The Jaguar Club @ Mercury Lounge 7pm $10The Dig and The Jaguar Club are local boys that get their fair share of coverage here in NYC so let's turn our attention to the middle band of tonight's recession special lineup - Those Dancing Days. Once again we are being invaded by a group from Sweden who control your brain with their infectious brand of pop tunes. This time around they are also cute as hell, so girls lock up your boyfriends or they will be lost forever!The Dig - "Any Day Now"Those Dancing Days - "1000 Words"The Jaguar Club - "Beat of My Heart"Wednesday: Jukebox the Ghost + These United States @ Bowery Ballroom 7:30pm $13For those that don't know, I adore the tunes of Jukebox the Ghost and I just can't go very long without hearing these guys live. It has been long enough! So I will be venturing out into the early evening to catch these guys and their D.C. based buddies These United States. Should be a fun night!Jukebox the Ghost - "Hold It In"These United States - "West Won"Thursday: Grizzly Bear + Here We Go Magic @ Town Hall 7:30pm $26For the few of you that don't know, this here is Grizzly Bear week. Kind of like Shark Week, except with fewer human casualties. Seriously folks, the greatest album in the world - Vecketimest - is released on Tuesday and everyone is gonna love the fuck out of that record (if they don't already). I'm super stoked to see them on Thursday (they also play on Friday and Sunday) especially knowing that Here We Go Magic will be opening with some fantastic tunes of their own.Grizzly Bear - "Two Weeks"Here We Go Magic - "Tunnelvision"Friday: Cake @ Terminal 5 8:30pm $35I know it's $35 which isn't very recession conscious of me, but come on how often do I get to mention Cake on this site? I'll tell you, not as often as I would like to. In an ideal world I would have a photo pass for this already and they would play "Frank Sinatra", "Daria", and "Short Skirt, Long Jacket".Cake - "Frank Sinatra"Saturday: Tortoise @ The Bell House 8pm $20If you really wanted to you could save your $20 and just head to the Bang on the Can Marathon on Sunday where Tortoise is about the biggest name you'll see, but something tells me the true Tortoise fans would rather get the full experience at the Bell House. I think that's the right way to go, especially for those who are eagerly awaiting the band's first album in 5-years.Tortoise - "Prepare Your Coffin"Sunday: The Beets, caUSE co-MOTION!, + Air Waves @ 40 Skillman 4pm $tbaI have no idea if this 40 Skillman Ave. is gonna turn into a regular venue or if this is a one-off kind of thing, but with a lineup like today's you just can't go wrong. All three of these bands will have you bouncing off the walls thanks to their energetic brand of lo-fi pop tunes. If you can find the place go, I recommend using HopStop.The Beets - "The Devil"caUSE co-MOTION! - "You Lose"Air Waves - "Shine On"<script type="text/javascript"> sr_adspace_id = 4549407; sr_adspace_width = 728; sr_adspace_height = 90; sr_adspace_type = "graphic"; sr_ad_new_window = true; </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://ad.afy11.net/srad.js?azId=4549407"> </script>
read more »(click for a larger version of the poster) The 2009 Austin City Limit’s Music Festival lineup has been announced and as usual I have mixed feelings. Much like last year the headliners are extremely underwhelming. I would like to see the Beastie Boys and I guess it might be kind of cool to see Pearl Jam, but I am terrified about the crowd Dave Matthews will bring to the festival. Don’t get me wrong, I like Dave’s music, but it’s no secret that he has the douchiest frat following of any band out there. I cringe when I think about all the backward hats and high-fives he will without a doubt bring to Zilker. Also, I’m not sure about the John Legend selection, it’s either pure genius or horrible, but I am interested to see how he works out in a festival setting. I used to spend a lot of time complaining about the headliners, but last year it occurred to me that I rarely hang around to see them, and if I do it’s not like I’m trying to rush the stage or anything. Typically I get a bottle of wine and sit back in my lawn chair and just enjoy the music. The real reason I attend ACL is for the middle tiered bands, and this year the lineup looks spectacular. With bands like Bon Iver, Andrew Bird, Sonic Youth, The Decemberists, Grizzly Bear, The Walkmen, Blitzen Trapper, Here We Go Magic, Dr. Dog, Deer Tick, Suckers, The DoDo’s, and Daniel Johnston I would say this lineup is a win. We are interested in hearing your thoughts on the lineup so feel free to comment. Check out the complete lineup and grab some MP3’s after the jump… * Pearl Jam * Dave Matthews Band * Beastie Boys * Kings of Leon * Ben Harper and Relentless7 * Thievery Corporation * John Legend * The Dead Weather * The Levon Helm Band * Ghostland Observatory * Sonic Youth * Mos Def * Toadies * Flogging Molly * The B-52s * Lily Allen * Citizen Cope * Arctic Monkeys * The Decemberists * Coheed and Cambria * Andrew Bird * Girl Talk * STS9 (Sound Tribe Sector 9) * Phoenix * Bassnectar * Bon Iver * !!! * Avett Brothers * The Airborne Toxic Event * Medeski, Martin & Wood * Clutch * Michael Franti & Spearhead * Grizzly Bear * Heartless Bastards * Passion Pit * White Lies * Dan Auerbach * The Walkmen * The Scabs * Reckless Kelly * DeVotchka * Blitzen Trapper * The Virgins * Here We Go Magic * Eek-A-Mouse * K’Naan * Asleep at the Wheel * Dr. Dog * The Raveonettes * The Knux * Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears * State Radio * Los Amigos Invisibles * The Felice Brothers * Federico Aubele * Raul Malo * Daniel Johnston * Poi Dog Pondering * Brett Dennen * Rodriguez * Henry Butler * Preservation Hall * Sam Roberts Band * The Greencards * Sara Watkins * Walter “Wolfman” Washington * David Garza * John Vanderslice * Zac Brown Band * Todd Snider * School of Seven Bells * The Dodos * Robyn Hitchcock and the Venus 3 * Alberta Cross * Deer Tick * Bell X1 * Alela Diane * The Wood Brothers * The Parlor Mob * Rebirth Brass Band * Marva Wright * Terri Hendrix * L.A.X. * Lisa Hannigan * The Low Anthem * Sons of Bill * Suckers * Sarah Jaffe * Cotton Jones * The Henry Clay People * Papa Mali * Jypsi * Vince Mira * Jonathan Tyler & The Northern Lights * Mimicking Birds * Jeffrey Steele * Jonell Mosser * Leatherbag * Keith Gattis * Damien Horne * Sarah Siskind * The Dexateens * Nelo * Danny Brooks * Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band * The Soul Stirrers * The Durdens * Palm School Elementary * The Gospel Silvertones * Diaconos * Quinn Sullivan * Ralph’s World * Q Brothers * Milkshake * Telephone Company * Loose Cannons * Lunch Money MP3’s: Kings of Leon - Crawl Ghostland Observatory - Sad Sad City Andrew Bird - Measuring Cups Sonic Youth - Superstar [Carpenters Cover] Blitzen Trapper - Furr Girl Talk - Bounce That Bon Iver - Blood Bank White Lies - Nothing To Give Here We Go Magic - “Tunnelvision” Suckers - Hiding Behind Waterfalls Suckers - Afterthoughts and TV The Dodos - “Walking” Dr. Dog - The Beach Avett Brothers – Murder In the City The Walkmen - In the New Year School of Seven Bells - Connjur Black Joe Lewis – “Gunpowder” Related Posts:Austin City Limits Music Festival Mix #1The Bonnaroo Lineup Is Here...New Releases - 2/24/2009The ACL 2008 Lineup MashupJake's Top Songs of 2008
read more »I’m going to get “Bon Iver-ed” by this band, I just know it. Let me explain. When the clever recluse (aka Justin Vernon) wandered out of his log cabin and onto the indie scene, I was asked to give his album a listen and subsequently review it. As an indie reviewer, a lot of what we hear can be hit or miss. After listening to For Emma, Forever Ago, I swore I’d never mind a screaming baby on a 7 hour flight again. I was not a fan, I couldn’t write the review. Call it “writer’s block”, call it lazy (I really should have stepped it up), but I was all set. That bearded flannel fool was the straw that sent me on a music writing hiatus. (The Here We Go Magic [MySpace] review is coming… promise) I walked around for weeks ranting and scoffing to anyone in my life who cared about music. A lot of my friends hadn’t heard of Bon Iver yet. Slowly but surely the name stuck; many gave it a listen and the consensus was that they didn’t mind it. There were rumblings. And then one fine afternoon I picked up my bad habit known as Rolling Stone and saw that they gave it four stars. I recall throwing the mag down, disgusted, and when my husband asked what was up, I made some snarky comment about RS needing a towel. And then Bon Iver infiltrated my life: top ten lists, all of my fave indie blogs, even the esteemed New Yorker ran a piece on Vernon. “A religious experience! ” “Unlike any music on the entire planet!” “Puts Thom Yorke’s crooning to shame!” These were just some of the nuggets that my eyes fell on as the weeks passed (these may be slight exaggerations…slight). I read them, all of them, and kept an open mind. Suddenly, I became completely insecure about the whole thing. Maybe my music ear was going deaf. Listened again. And again. I am still not sold. I’m not sure why I can’t like it. People really love Vernon, love his music, love his weird little stories about living in a cabin, love that he is so “normal” in every definition of the word. It doesn’t make sense - I enjoy chopping wood (yes, I really do), I love acoustic guitar, I adore folk without twang, I have a weak spot for unrequited love lyrics – all signs indicate that I should become the Bon Iver’s “Mel” [Flight of the Conchords] I can’t seem to shake this feeling of the whole thing being contrived. Or maybe I just can’t get into Vernon’s ethereal voice. Or the way I’m always being corrected on the band’s name pronunciation (when I do say it correctly, I almost always want to follow it up with a “oooooh”). Or maybe it’s a subliminal aversion to flannel and beards. It’s as if a horde of indie bands were waiting for this kind of breakout so they could sprout tufts on their faces and dust off their Eddie Vedder specials. Something within this “movement” lacks originality – and what I’m saying is a complete hypocrisy because I can’t point you to one band that sounds anything like Bon Iver (oooooh) before they seeped into the indie world. This extensive backstory is the only way how I can best describe Here We Go Magic’s [MySpace] self-titled debut. I’m not saying it’s the next Bon Iver - it’s like Bon Iver for stoners. While it involves more electronic soundscapes than essences of getting back to the fat of the land, it maintains a certain That 70’s Show “circle scene” feel to it. The recording equipment is old-school, which is always a nice change from the crystal clarity of everything nowadays. The album also jams and bunnytrails and has a lot of repetition within each song. Ideal for hippies, but for the sober portion of the world, it’s background music at best. I’d rather Dylan. Either Dylan. Or Phish. This album is going to Bon Iver me. My prediction includes a grassroots uprising, starting in Colorado. Then Vermont; a new kind of Oregon Trail! Then they’ll land Saturn commercials. Letterman. Bellbottoms. Daisy chains. “This band puts The String Cheese Incident to shame!” “Finally a progressive jam band!” We learn on 60 Minutes that it’s on Obama’s iPod. And this will be the moment that I fall in love with Forever Emma… and buy up all the skinny jeans on the clearance racks. [mp3] Here We Go Magic - “Fangela” [mp3] Here We Go Magic - “Tunnelvision” <script type="text/javascript" src="http://static.delicious.com/js/playtagger.js"></script>
read more »Thursday it'll be worth the cab fare (or long walk, aka my plan) to check out Gorilla Vs. Booze, where a bunch of the "buzz" bands playing multiple SXSW sets can be seen together: Here We Go Magic, the Golden Filter, Outsider/Insider Wavves, and Vivian Girls, among others. If you want to stick closer to the strip, stop by Vaya Con Tacos for My Old Kentucky Blog/Aquarium Drunkard's party: We wholeheartedly recommend Roadside Graves's ragged, boot-stomping (and NJ-proud) live show. You'll also spot noisy barbershop triathletes and BTW Megafaun, Port O'Brien, New Villager, and Fleet Fox J. Tillman while you munch your beans. If their recent Letterman appearance was any indication, the resurgent Cursive's 3:30PM slot (following the perennial Wrens) should be reason enough to visit the Brooklyn Vegan/Agency Group party at Radio Room (the hard workers in BTW Pains Of Being Pure At Heart are playing one of their million sets there as well). For those looking to chant and channel, BTW Suckers and wig-wearing Burzum fans Telepathe are at the IAMSOUND/'Sup Party. All of this before the sun sets! (Give or take.) Once it does, it'd be wise to find yourself a comfy spot at the PPM showcase (@ Red 7): Stereogum favorites the Gun Outfit should be excellent ... and same goes for Abe Vigoda, Soft Circle, Mika Miko, plus a bunch of etc's. And there's more, Sub Pop, Secretly Canadian/Jagjaguwar, and Heeb:Continue reading SXSW: Thursday's Sets To See...
read more »It's that time of year where internet publishing platforms great and small get overstuffed with #sxsw tags. Yay? It's an odd climate for a festival devoted to artist discovery and its collateral debauchery. The internet and its various status-alerting mechanisms have subsumed much of the fest's function, or at least that's what I read on Twitter. But this year is special because we've got the meltdown of our entire financial system added to the mix. They say there will be less money flowing through Austin this year: less promo material, less bands getting signed, less free booze. At SXSW '09, S.W.A.G. = Sorry, We Ain't Got any. But you know, the state of the economy finally catching up with the music industry's years-long free fall is comforting to the indie rock ego; we've always been early adopters. And just maybe this recalibration of what it means to be at SXSW -- each year a little less about finding a "new" band to brag about, this year a little less about frivolously blowing your savings in an absent minded party -- will help the festival become what it should be in 2009: simply, a great place to see a ton of independent bands. And Kanye West. Of course, the list of official showcases (and day parties) is overwhelming per usual. So whether you're in Austin or are just looking for a roadmap to your SXSW 2009 torrent, check here each morning for a pared down version of the day's slate to help focus your energies. As you scan this first installment, you might notice that we forgot to mention our party. Well, it's gonna be huge! Huge in 2010. Mark your calendar. On to Wednesday's music: Continue reading SXSW Starts Here: Wednesday's Sets To See ...
read more »//photo by jonny leather So every time we play records at the Attic, Jay burns a cd beforehand of all the new songs he found that week which haven’t been released on vinyl yet. Afterwards he always drops it in my box of records at the end of the night for me to discover the next morning. Then I get to spend the next week obsessing over a bunch of songs that I have no leads on whatsoever. I usually end up typing the lyrics into google and discovering them through lyric sites. Anyways, luckily I didn’t have to do that for Brooklyn’s Here We Go Magic since he had been talking about them all week long. I kind of slept on Luke Temple the first time around but I have to say that this record blew me away.. so good. They’re playing with Grizzly Bear at The Fillmore in June so I might bite the bullet and check them out, but I sort of wish I was in Austin right now to see the sweaty packed shows they will be performing at sxsw. Also, check out the video for ‘Tunnelvision’. They did a real nice job. Here We Go Magic - Fangela Here We Go Magic - Tunnelvision Bonus: Here We Go Magic - Tunnelvision (video)
read more »Luke Temple has one of the best voices in the indie rock spectrum and has impressed loads of people with his two solo records in the past few years. Never afraid to re-invent himself, Luke decided to change course for his latest project Here We Go Magic by taking his exceptional vocals and layering the album with a wide variety of sounds and adventures. In order to perform the album live, Luke enlisted the help of some other musicians who joined us in the WOXY Lounge for this session. During this set we get three songs from Luke and his band from the debut Here We Go Magic album, as well as a new song that could land on an upcoming release. Track Listing: Fangela Tunnelvision - interview - Surprise (new/unreleased) Only Pieces Here We Go Magic - Fangela (Live On WOXY.com) Here We Go Magic - Tunnelvision (Live On WOXY.com) Here We Go Magic - Surprise (Live On WOXY.com / New / Unreleased) Here We Go Magic - Only Pieces (Live On WOXY.com) Here We Go Magic - Live On WOXY.com (full session download)
read more »I've always thought Luke Temple should be more famous than he is. While I far prefer his first album Hold a Match for a Gasoline World to 2007's Snowbeast, he's talented, handsome and excellent live. Totally ready for primetime (and by "primetime" I mean like a Ben Lee level of fame or even an Amos Lee level of fame). These days he heads up another Brooklyn-based band, Here We Go Magic, and you can check them out tonight at Beat Kitchen. Did I mention he's excellent live? 'Cause he is. So unless the other band members are narcoleptics or like to yell super-racist non sequiturs in between songs, HWGM is going to be a really good show. Here We Go Magic - Tunnelvision Luke Temple - Make Right With You[No, that isn't Luke Temple at right, and if you don't know who that is I don't think things are going to work out between us. I'm sorry.]
read more »If I hadn’t already seen Grizzly Bear four times (with three more on the way in ‘09), I’d feel pretty jealous that their tour with Here We Go Magic isn’t coming anywhere near me. Both bands have great releases out this spring and I hear HWGM have built up quite a nice live show to [...]
read more »The Pains of Being Pure At Heart The Pains of Being Pure at Heart (Slumberland) Pick a band, any band from Disc 1 of Rhino Records The Brit Box, their four cd set chronicling UK indie, shoegaze, and Brit pop, and The Pains of Being Pure at Heart will pretty much sound like that band. The Smiths, The Shop Assistants, Jesus and Mary Chain, The Sundays, and The Primitives all make valid reference points. Maybe not so much The Happy Mondays, Primal Scream, or The Charlatans, but...you get the point. The Pains of Being Pure at Heart sound so much like their UK idols of the past, you'd swear they came directly from the late Eighties, early Nineites, pre-Oasis era in British music. Yet, they're neither British, nor is this disc a relic rescued from the cut-out bin. No, they're very much from modern times and they're from Brooklyn. Does this fact even matter in this day and age when underground music strains to come up with new ideas? (7 out of 10 on The Rockometer)MP3: The Pains of Being Pure at Heart - Everything With YouMP3: The Pains of Being Pure at Heart - Come SaturdayHere We Go Magic Here We Go Magic (Western Vinyl) Like a Canadian indie-pop collective minus ten or twelve members, Here We Go Magic (Luke Temple with Baptiste Ibar and Peter Hale) make deceptively simple, yet elegantly grand statements constructed out of light, yet seemingly complex beats, and layers of electronic and acoustic sounds. As Temple's light falsetto blends into the slight, ghostly movements which surround him, his voice practically dissipates, blurring the lines between singer and song, man and the instruments which man has made. (7/10)MP3: Here We Go Magic - TunnelvisionMP3: Here We Go Magic - FangelaLower Heaven Ashes Lower Heaven's debut album, Ashes, works within the same sluggish, haze as a band like Dead Meadow, but without the swampy guitars. It also bears more than a passing resemblance to the post-punk of Echo and the Bunnymen, Film School, and any number of neo-shoegazers who worship at the altar of Kevin Shields and the Reid Brothers, but, again, there's something missing: The piercing feedback. Skillfully, this LA quartet borrow from two distinct periods of psychedelic music without firmly establishing themselves in either camp. When they're on, Ashes is a deep, brooding, and strangely comfortable affair. And, when they lax into the post Joy Division sounds, like those which dominated the first half of this decade (Think Interpol and all their followers), I'm hitting the next button. (6/10)MP3: Lower Heaven - KnifeMP3: Lower Heaven - Lose it All at OnceThe Black Lips Two Hundred Million Thousand (Vice) There's an inherent contradiction in Two Hundred Million Thousand, the latest album by Atlanta, Georgia's favorite ne'er do wells, the Black Lips. While it just may be the band's most diverse set of songs to date, showcasing some real, musical talent (A word you don't hear too often with this garage rock band notorious for their monkeyshines as much as their music), it's also an album whose sound hearkens back to their pre-Vice Records days with Bomp! then In The Red Records. It's the type of record that would sound the same whether the source is mp3, CD, or LP. That is, there's a certain grit and thinness to it, like you're listening to a recording of a record and not the record itself. It's an aesthetic which serves them quite well, as the Lips take you on a drunken romp along the radio dial through Fifties bad boy Rock 'N' Roll ("Drugs"), British Invasion ("Starting Over" and "I'll be With You,") early psychedelic rock ("Trapped in a Basement,") and howling, garage rock ("Again and Again" and "Body Combat.") (7/10)MP3: The Black Lips - Starting OverWavves Wavvves (Fat Possum) With acts like Times New Viking, Psychedelic Horseshit, No Age, and Jay Reatard gaining popularity, and in the process, making lo-fi and in the red recordings, the new hi-fi, an album like Wavvves, by the one man San Diego band, Wavves was inevitable. At their best, intentionally gritty recording techniques can lend mystique, intimacy, and humanism to what has become a digital recording world, a place where uniqueness and personality are sacrificed for precision and perfection. Conversely, there's a seedier side to lo-fi, one where twisting the knobs to blurry levels obfuscates otherwise ordinary recordings. Unfortunately, more times than not, the lo-fi nature of Wavvves, hides ordinary songs, rather than mystifying the pop song (see Times New Viking and No Age), adding dirt and drive into the mix (Jay Reatard), or blurring the lines between madness and genius (Psychedelic Horseshit). The promise of a one man, lo-fi, Southern California beach boy, is fulfilled on songs like "No Hope Kids," "So Bored," and "To the Dregs," and too little else. (5/10)MP3: Wavves - So BoredVarious Artists Dark Was the Night (4AD/Beggars US) Let's look past for a moment, that in this day and age, the concept of a compilation record is tenuous at best. With Dark Was the Night available for digital download at your favorite e-tailer, one could, conceivably, pick and choose your way through its 31 tracks, to a much more manageable collection. However, once you get to ten tracks and ten dollars, which with an all-star indie cast including Spoon, The Decemberists, Sufjan Stevens, The National, Cat Power, Feist, etc, etc, you'll quickly get to that ten dollar/ten track mark, you'd be better off downloading the whole thing anyway. Plus, all proceeds go to charity.Let's also look past the fact that on a two disc compilation there's bound to be more than one track you'd rather skip. Sufjan Stevens' "You Are the Blood," will either be your favorite, or least favorite track. There is no in between. A friend of mine described it as Stevens being fixated on Portishead and early Nineties trip-hop. I think of it as Paranoid Sufjan Android. On "Mimizan," Beirut mails in a stale, Eastern-European take on They Might Be Giants, one without the energy, or the wit, and one which is ultimately flat and uninteresting.Yet, in spite of the inevitable misstep or two, Dark Was the Night, is still one of the better compilations to come across my desk in some time. Dave Sitek of TV on the Radio transforms The Troggs' "With a Girl Like You," into a brooding, Jesus and Mary Chain style jam. While Broken Social Scene's Kevin Drew, does as he is apt to do, making his ambient and atmospheric, masturbatory fantasy, "Love vs Porn," into a quaint, endearing love letter. Other highlights include Spoon's cut up, bass driven rocker, "Well Alright," Cat Power's sinfully, powerful take on "Amazing Grace," Yeasayer's airy and rhythmic "Tightrope," and The National's almost upbeat, piano ballad "Around the Bend." There's more than enough to make you forget you had to sit through six minutes of The Decemberists and eight plus minutes of Sufjan. Plus, it's for charity. (7/10)MP3: The National - So Far Around the Bend
read more »Here We Go Magic may just end up being that break-out band at SXSW 2009. Locals, you can see them in Bloomington next Wednesday, but The Laundromatinee gets a crack at them first. The band released a new, free single/download out to the internetz yesterday...Here We Go Magic (ft. Luke Temple) - FangelaPrevious:Here We Go Magic - TunnelvisionU.S. Tour Dates:03/07 Washington, DC The Red and The Black*03/09 Pittsburgh, PA garfield artworks*03/11 Bloomington, IN Cinemat*03/11 Indianapolis, IN - Laundromatinee / SIRIUS XM Session03/12 St. Louis, MO Off Broadway*03/13 Chicago, IL Beat Kitchen*03/14 Rock Island, IL Daytrotter Session03/14 Rock Island, IL - Daytrotter Presents @ Huckleberry's Pizza Parlor*03/17 Dallas, TX Mountain House*03/17 Dallas, TX – 6 PM INSTORE AT GOOD RECORDS 03/22 New Orleans, LA Marigny Theatre* 03/23 Atlanta, GA 529 Club**03/24 Chapel Hill, NC Local 506**03/25 Baltimore, MD Ottobar*** w/ Callers ** w/ Titus Andronicus SXSW Dates:3/18 - WEDNESDAY - 3PM: Austinist/Gothamist party @ Mohawk3/19 - THURSDAY - 1:45PM: Gorilla vs. Bear day party @ The Peacock -1:45 PM slot 3/19 - FRIDAY - 1PM: Other Music show @ French Legation Museum3PM: Park The Van Records / Partisan Records / indie outlaw / The Knitting Factory Day Party @ Side Bar--------------------------------------------------------MySpace | More MP3s | eMusic | Subscribe To RSS Feed | Follow MOKB on Twitter
read more »SIDE A1. Pomegranates - Corriander2. Swan Lake - Spanish Gold, 20443. Here We Go Magic - Tunnelvision4. The Veils - Killed By The Boom5. Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit - Seven-Mile Island6. Laura Gibson - Spirited7. Pree - In The ParlorSIDE B1. Papercuts - Future Primitive2. Camera Obscura - My Maudlin Career3. Caroline Weeks - Elegy4. The Rural Alberta Advantage - Four Night Rider5. In-Flight Safety - Actors6. Condo Fucks - What'cha Gonna Do About It7. Cursive - From The HipsTags: February Mixtape, Mixtapes, Captain Obvious Mixtapes, Captain Obvious
read more »This week’s releases is a bit slim compared to the massive amount from last week, which i’m sure may be a relief to many. Though, if you’re looking to pick up something, you can’t go wrong with releases from Black Lips, Here We Go Magic, Clem Snide, and Laura Gibson. Also available this week is the covers compilation War Child: Heroes, which you may have heard a tune from if you happened to sit through the credits during the Oscars this past Sunday night. Beck’s cover of Bob Dylan’s “Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat” could be heard during the clips of upcoming films for 2009. You can read more about the 16-track album at the War Child organization website, which works with children affected by war in Iraq, Afghanistan, Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda. Black Lips 200 Million Thousand MP3: “Short Fuse” MP3: “Starting Over” Clem Snide Hungry Bird MP3: “Me No” Gentleman Reg Jet Black MP3: “You Can’t Get It Back” Here We Go Magic Here We Go Magic MP3: “Fangela” MP3: “Tunnelvision” Laura Barrett Victory Garden MP3: “Bluebird” The Lovetones Dimensions MP3: “Journeyman” Laura Gibson Beast of Seasons MP3: “Spirited” The Picture Bluebirds EP MP3: “Deer Crossing” Ume Sunshower EP MP3: “The Conductor” Various Artists War Child presents Heroes full album stream Related posts:The Daily GraboidThe Daily Graboid | 05/30/07The Daily Graboid | 04/12/07
read more »Every Tuesday, Hypeful teams up with Salad Days Music to pick and preview the week's best new album releases. Bend an ear to this week's choicest selections after the jump! Various Artists - War Child presents Heroes MP3: TV on the Radio - "Heroes" (David Bowie cover) A. Armada - Anam Cara EP MP3: A.Armada - ...
read more »Every Tuesday we team up with our friends over at Hypeful to bring you the week’s best new album releases. This week we have also decided to implement our respective “Picks of the Week” which will hopefully be an ongoing feature. So check out the albums and let us know if you agree with our picks. Check out the new releases, album art, mp3’s and streams after the jump… <script src="http://mediaplayer.yahoo.com/js" type="text/javascript"></script> Various Artists - The War Child Presents Heroes ** Buy this album HERE for a good cause** MP3: TV on the Radio - “Heroes” (David Bowie cover) Stream: Various Songs Air France - No Way Down MP3: Air France - “June Evenings” Black Lips - 200 Million Thousand Stream: Entire Album MP3: Black Lips - “Short Fuse” Clem Snide - Hungry Bird Stream: Entire Album MP3: Clem Snide - “Me No” Here We Go Magic - Here We Go Magic MP3: Here We Go Magic - “Tunnelvision” A. Armada - Anam Cara EP MP3: A.Armada - “The Moon Shifts The Sea The Sea Shapes The Shore The Shore Shakes The Sand The Sand Sinks The Ship” The Bran Flakes - I Have Hands MP3: The Bran Flakes - “I Have A Friend” The Alternate Routes - A Sucker’s Dream MP3: The Alternate Routes - “The Future’s Nothing New” (Live) Caw! Caw! - Wait Outside MP3: Caw! Caw! - “Organisms” Gentleman Reg - Jet Black MP3: Gentleman Reg - “You Can’t Get It Back” Kinky - Barracuda MP3: Kinky - “Hasta Quemarnos” Laura Barrett - Victory Garden MP3: Laura Barrett - “Bluebird” The Lovetones - Dimensions MP3: The Lovetones - “Journeyman” Pan-American - White Bird Release MP3: Pan-American - “How Much Progress One Makes” Laura Gibson - Beasts of Seasons MP3: Laura Gibson - “Spirited” Related Posts:New Releases - 2/17/2009The 2nd Annual Norman Music FestivalNew Releases - 1/6/2009New Releases - 1/13/2009New Releases - 2/10/2009
read more »Here We Go Magic’s self-titled debut is a dank, surreal album, made with equal parts electronic wizardry and gloomy folk mysticism. There’s plenty of magic in songs such as “Fangella,” a song that evokes Simon & Garfunkel’s early-morning ruminations even as drum machines and synth programming dance above Luke Temple’s sunken singing. “Tunnelvision” is another highlight, his voice wafting along as a groove clomps and stomps beneath him. But the album’s swampy mix of digital and analog styles — along with the album’s occasional instrumental bits and Temple’s bright vocal range, most recalls the approach of Chad VanGaalen, a performer whose own adventurous releases rank easily among the decade’s most artful. Like VanGaalen’s Infiniheart, Temple breaks up his pop songs with instrumentals, but to the detriment of Here We Go Magic, pads the album’s second half with a few too many. As textural, ambient pieces, they’re interesting enough — but after the effortless psych-pop finale of “Everything’s Big,” it’s hard not to want to hear Temple sing a few more songs, especially given Magic’s scant 9 tracks. He may have already — Temple already has a pair of previous albums under his own name which I have yet to track down, and perhaps this is his move toward left-field. Either way, the album is a journey down the rabbit hole that bears more than a few round trips. Here We Go Magic - “Tunnelvision”: mp3 Previously: Video: Here We Go Magic - “Tunnelvision” *** Looking for new music? Click below for more recent and upcoming 2009 releases, or visit our MP3-filled Album Release Calendar.
read more »AMERICA I Guess Im Floating Here We Go Magic, "Tunnelvision" Brooklyns Here We Go Magic is the bedroom folk-pop project of Luke Temple, who is releasing his self-titled debut this year. He has been praised by Sufjan Stevens and Ben Gibbard for his uniquely gorgeous vocals and meticulous lo-fi production aesthetic. "Tunnelvision" is the first single one part Shakespearean sonnet and one part circus music, swirling in a beautiful mess of poetic acrobatics. ARGENTINA Zonaindie Pablo Dacal Y La Orquesta De Salón, "Ella Ya Está En La Playa" Pablo Dacal is a musician, singer and songwriter from Buenos Aires. His first songs circulated in tapes and between 2000 and 2002 he published a series of EPs that caught the attention of the media. The Orquesta De Salón was founded to collate this loose collection onto his first proper album, 2005's 13 Grandes Éxitos. His next record was 2008's La Era Del Sonido and Ella Ya Está En La Playa is one of the finest songs from it. AUSTRALIA Who The Bloody Hell Are They? The Crooked Fiddle Band The Rom Rebellion" More furious fiddling from The Crooked Fiddle Band, who have a new EP called Rise which they are currently touring. Ive been getting into bands like Balkan Beat Box and while these guys are different, I like the punk element in the songs. It just sounds like it would be a whole lot of fun to watch. BRAZIL Meio Desligado João Brasil, "Orgasmadance" Like a tropical version of Girl Talk, João Brasils music is a mashup of beats and artists from different styles and backgrounds. With a strong influence of Brazilian funk carioca, a style derived from Miami bass and famous because of its explicit lyrics about sex, João Brasil released his first mashup album last year, Big Forbidden Dance. "Orgasmadance" is one of the best samples of his work. It starts with pieces from Orgasmatron and Brazilian heavy metal band Sepultura, before suddenly meeting Justices "D.A.N.C.E". and other songs from Justin Timberlake, Nirvana, Snoop Dogg, CSS and Michael Jackson. CANADA i(heart)music The Rural Alberta Advantage, "Four Night Rider" The Rural Alberta Advantage -- who hail from Toronto, with frontman Nils Edenloff's birthplace being Alberta -- are one of Canadas best-kept secrets. They specialize in Neutral Milk Hotel-esque pop with a slight twang and, as "Four Night Rider" demonstrates, the results are simply, passionately amazing. See what the rest of the world is listening to after the jump! Continue reading "The World Is Watching: Music Alliance Pact, February 2009"
read more »MAP - Music Alliance Pact #5Nuovo appuntamento con l'esperimento internazionale del Music Pact Alliance (riassunto delle puntate precedenti: 1 / 2 / 3 / 4). A questo giro i nomi già noti sono un po' più presenti (vedi Broken Records, Let's Wrestle, Here We Go Magic...) ma mi sembra ci sia comunque parecchia carne al fuoco.Per chi vuole scaricare tutta la lista in colpo solo ecco il link.Come al solito, commenti e consigli su come proseguire al meglio sono i benvenuti.AMERICA – I Guess I’m FloatingHere We Go Magic – TunnelvisionBrooklyn’s Here We Go Magic is the bedroom folk-pop project of Luke Temple, who is releasing his self-titled debut this year. He has been praised by Sufjan Stevens and Ben Gibbard for his uniquely gorgeous vocals and meticulous lo-fi production aesthetic. Tunnelvision is the first single – one part Shakespearean sonnet and one part circus music, swirling in a beautiful mess of poetic acrobatics. ARGENTINA – Zonaindie http://zonaindie.com/Pablo Dacal Y La Orquesta De Salón – Ella Ya Está En La PlayaPablo Dacal is a musician, singer and songwriter from Buenos Aires. His first songs circulated in tapes and between 2000 and 2002 he published a series of EPs that caught the attention of the media. The Orquesta De Salón was founded to collate this loose collection onto his first proper album, 13 Grandes Éxitos (2005). His next record was La Era Del Sonido (2008) and Ella Ya Está En La Playa is one of the finest songs from it. AUSTRALIA – Who The Bloody Hell Are They?The Crooked Fiddle Band – The Rom RebellionMore furious fiddling from The Crooked Fiddle Band, who have a new EP called Rise which they are currently touring. I’ve been getting into bands like Balkan Beat Box and while these guys are different, I like the punk element in the songs. It just sounds like it would be a whole lot of fun to watch. BRAZIL – Meio DesligadoJoão Brasil – OrgasmadanceLike a tropical version of Girl Talk, João Brasil’s music is a mashup of beats and artists from different styles and backgrounds. With a strong influence of Brazilian funk carioca, a style derived from Miami bass and famous because of its explicit lyrics about sex, João Brasil released his first mashup album last year, Big Forbidden Dance. Orgasmadance is one of the best samples of his work. It starts with pieces from Orgasmatron and Brazilian heavy metal band Sepultura, before suddenly meeting Justice’s D.A.N.C.E. and other songs from Justin Timberlake, Nirvana, Snoop Dogg, CSS and Michael Jackson. CANADA – I(Heart)MusicThe Rural Alberta Advantage – Four Night RiderThe Rural Alberta Advantage, who are actually from Toronto, with frontman Nils Edenloff’s birthplace being Alberta, are one of Canada’s best-kept secrets. They specialize in Neutral Milk Hotel-esque pop with a slight twang and, as Four Night Rider demonstrates, the results are simply, passionately amazing. CHILE – Super 45Congelador – AbrigoFor more than 10 years, Congelador have been a cornerstone of the Chilean independent rock scene. After four record releases and two years in a hiatus, the band came back with the Abrigo EP - six songs that gracefully move around post-rock, noise, pop and electronic music. ENGLAND – The Daily GrowlLet’s Wrestle – Let’s WrestleI could continue to bring you songs from London’s fertile folk-pop scene but it’s time for something a bit different. This month we have a singalong theme song from the self-professed ‘most miserable and hateful band in London’. GERMANY – BlogparteiBratze – Jean ClaudeBratze is a Hamburg-based duo consisting of Der Tante Renate and ClickClickDecker. They make beautifully simple electroclash and indietronic music accompanied by sophisticated lyrics, all mixed with a DIY mindset. The featured song, Jean Claude, was their breakthrough as a newcomer in 2006. ICELAND – I Love Icelandic MusicHjaltalín – Goodbye July/Margt Ad UggaHjaltalín is a nine-piece collective, so almost an orchestra, which uses an eclectic selection of instruments, from bassoon to bass, accordion to clarinet. With these instruments and two singers they create a wall of sound for their folky indie-pop songs. This song features the beautiful voice of singer Högni Egilsson, a catchy chorus, broken up with an Icelandic hymn sung by Sigga Thorlacius. IRELAND – Nialler9Tenaka – AlaskanTenaka is Ronan Carroll, a one-man band who creates melodic and sinewy slices of electronic pop from his bedroom but which suggest an imagination far beyond the physical. Alaskan is the soundtrack to dipping your toes into a lake before dive-bombing into its sunshine-infested yet chilly waters. The song features on EPonymously Titled, a free EP available from his MySpace. No excuses, download it now. ITALY – PolaroidWax Anatomical Models – Recollections Of Our TimesWax Anatomical Models may just have formed but they already have plenty of skills. Their sound mixes post-punk, hardcore, shoegaze and electronic influences, but the results in their first demo stand on a different level. Emotional and driving, they are a band to keep an eye on. MEXICO – Club FonogramaNatalia Lafourcade – AzulThe expectancy for Natalia Lafourcade’s upcoming album Hu Hu Hu is building up quick, her redefined lyricism and instrumental complexity showing true signs of an potential masterwork. She’s naturally cute and affecting, and previous material indicated talent, but her sharp new musical vision has finally reached widescreen. Azul is ornamentally sublime. In Mexico, it’s rare to find such a beautiful delicacy. NEW ZEALAND – Counting The BeatThe Enright House – Scattering The Sun Like GunshotThe Enright House is the musical project of Mark Roberts from Christchurch. Despite being predominantly a solo affair, his 2007 album A Maze And Amazement was filled with songs that had a real sense of grandeur. Some of these have recently been re-released in acoustic form on the Six Acoustic Renditions EP and, as demonstrated in Scattering The Sun Like Gunshot, they lose none of their epic qualities in the translation. NORWAY – EardrumsRichard Holmsen – Great SpeedRichard Holmsen is the singer of the band Delaware but his main focus these days seems to be his solo project. His music is fragile and simple, with few elements other than his guitar and tender vocals. This is quite the opposite of Delaware’s grand, melancholic indie-rock sound. In recent years Holmsen has also made music for film and been involved in an electronica project called Sea. Great Speed is a Music Alliance Pact exclusive, written and recorded only a week ago. PERU – SoTBCatervas – CovidaAfter 10 years in the local scene, Catervas – formed by brothers Pedro, Raul and Javier Reyes – swapped their previous shoegaze sound for melodic rock on 2008 album Hoy Más Que Ayer. With its optimistic, convincing pop songs, Hoy Más Que Ayer is pure passion made into music. Covida is the second single from it and easily the band’s best song to date. PORTUGAL – Posso Ouvir Um Disco?PressPlay – Play Hot (extended mix)PressPlay are Playgirl and Lisa (aka The Party Queen). Playgirl does vocals and guitars, while Lisa does vocals and electronica. Their influences are PJ Harvey, Peaches, Electrocute, Cobra Killer and Miss Kittin but they sound much better than some of their heroes – and they’re definitely cuter. The extended version of Play Hot, which is the debut single for their upcoming debut album, was mixed by Woman In Panic, who is actually a guy called Pedro Lourenço. ROMANIA – Babylon NoiseThe Amsterdams – Suffering And SurfingThe Amsterdams are a post-punk, indie power-pop band based in Bucharest. Inspired by the famous Dutch city, their name symbolises the freedom of spirit in every sense. Suffering And Surfing is featured on their forthcoming album, a blend of reckless vocals with freewheeling, volatile riffs and rhythms. SCOTLAND – The Pop CopBroken Records – Nearly HomeEdinburgh seven-piece Broken Records have just signed to renowned label 4AD, the just reward for over two years of personal sacrifice and preaching to the soon-to-be converted with their relentless touring schedule. Devoted followers like myself have already amassed as many as 18 of Broken Records’ epic, swooning, orchestral songs in one form or another – enough to predict that their debut album, scheduled for release this summer, will probably be 2009’s best. SINGAPORE – I’m Waking Up To…Nuance – Fear Strikes MankindNuance is a four-piece rock band, with a recently self-released eponymous EP. At the heart of the record is the two-part epic Fear Strikes Mankind, an ambitious and intense journey that invokes the rock sensibilities of 90s Radiohead and contemporary post-rock experimentation. In the first part of the song (provided here), the biblical narrative of Abraham’s willing sacrifice of his son, Isaac, is related through the perspectives of both father and son. It’s a troubling journey, but the band does well to face the challenges head-on, both existentially and emotionally. SOUTH KOREA – Indieful ROKSeokjune – DokSeokjune released his first EP, Dok, at the start of 2009. Equipped with an acoustic guitar and a voice that conjures Elliott Smith, he performs one delicate tune after another while singing in Korean or English. SPAIN – El Blog De La NadadoraNouvelle Cuisine – La Comunicación No VerbalNouvelle Cuisine are a band with a French name but Spanish nationality. They come from Galicia and have self-produced their new album, De Memoria, which is reminiscent of indie bands in the 90s. They develop their essence in personal lyrics and the soft melodies of their songs. SWEDEN – SwedespleaseLove Lindblom – Till Min SysterI’m a real sucker for catchy music like this which builds and builds into a frenetic climax. I love when the horns kick in. I love the DIY nature of the video – you just know he asked all his friends to help out. In short, I think I Love Lindblom.
read more »AMERICA – I Guess I’m Floating Here We Go Magic – Tunnelvision Brooklyn’s Here We Go Magic is the bedroom folk-pop project of Luke Temple, who is releasing his self-titled debut this year. He has been praised by Sufjan Stevens and Ben Gibbard for his uniquely gorgeous vocals and meticulous lo-fi production aesthetic. Tunnelvision is the first single – one part Shakespearean sonnet and one part circus music, swirling in a beautiful mess of poetic acrobatics. ARGENTINA – Zonaindie Pablo Dacal Y La Orquesta De Salón – Ella Ya Está En La Playa Pablo Dacal is a musician, singer and songwriter from Buenos Aires. His first songs circulated in tapes and between 2000 and 2002 he published a series of EPs that caught the attention of the media. The Orquesta De Salón was founded to collate this loose collection onto his first proper album, 13 Grandes Éxitos (2005). His next record was La Era Del Sonido (2008) and Ella Ya Está En La Playa is one of the finest songs from it. AUSTRALIA – Who The Bloody Hell Are They? The Crooked Fiddle Band – The Rom Rebellion More furious fiddling from The Crooked Fiddle Band, who have a new EP called Rise which they are currently touring. I’ve been getting into bands like Balkan Beat Box and while these guys are different, I like the punk element in the songs. It just sounds like it would be a whole lot of fun to watch. BRAZIL – Meio Desligado João Brasil – Orgasmadance Like a tropical version of Girl Talk, João Brasil’s music is a mashup of beats and artists from different styles and backgrounds. With a strong influence of Brazilian funk carioca, a style derived from Miami bass and famous because of its explicit lyrics about sex, João Brasil released his first mashup album last year, Big Forbidden Dance. Orgasmadance is one of the best samples of his work. It starts with pieces from Orgasmatron and Brazilian heavy metal band Sepultura, before suddenly meeting Justice’s D.A.N.C.E. and other songs from Justin Timberlake, Nirvana, Snoop Dogg, CSS and Michael Jackson. CANADA – I(Heart)Music The Rural Alberta Advantage – Four Night Rider The Rural Alberta Advantage, who are actually from Toronto, with frontman Nils Edenloff’s birthplace being Alberta, are one of Canada’s best-kept secrets. They specialize in Neutral Milk Hotel-esque pop with a slight twang and, as Four Night Rider demonstrates, the results are simply, passionately amazing. CHILE – Super 45 Congelador – Abrigo For more than 10 years, Congelador have been a cornerstone of the Chilean independent rock scene. After four record releases and two years in a hiatus, the band came back with the Abrigo EP - six songs that gracefully move around post-rock, noise, pop and electronic music. ENGLAND – The Daily Growl Let’s Wrestle – Let’s Wrestle I could continue to bring you songs from London’s fertile folk-pop scene but it’s time for something a bit different. This month we have a singalong theme song from the self-professed ‘most miserable and hateful band in London’. GERMANY – Blogpartei Bratze – Jean Claude Bratze is a Hamburg-based duo consisting of Der Tante Renate and ClickClickDecker. They make beautifully simple electroclash and indietronic music accompanied by sophisticated lyrics, all mixed with a DIY mindset. The featured song, Jean Claude, was their breakthrough as a newcomer in 2006. ICELAND – I Love Icelandic Music Hjaltalín – Goodbye July/Margt Ad Ugga Hjaltalín is a nine-piece collective, so almost an orchestra, which uses an eclectic selection of instruments, from bassoon to bass, accordion to clarinet. With these instruments and two singers they create a wall of sound for their folky indie-pop songs. This song features the beautiful voice of singer Högni Egilsson, a catchy chorus, broken up with an Icelandic hymn sung by Sigga Thorlacius. IRELAND – Nialler9 Tenaka – Alaskan Tenaka is Ronan Carroll, a one-man band who creates melodic and sinewy slices of electronic pop from his bedroom but which suggest an imagination far beyond the physical. Alaskan is the soundtrack to dipping your toes into a lake before dive-bombing into its sunshine-infested yet chilly waters. The song features on EPonymously Titled, a free EP available from his MySpace. No excuses, download it now. ITALY – Polaroid Wax Anatomical Models – Recollections Of Our Times Wax Anatomical Models may just have formed but they already have plenty of skills. Their sound mixes post-punk, hardcore, shoegaze and electronic influences, but the results in their first demo stand on a different level. Emotional and driving, they are a band to keep an eye on. MEXICO – Club Fonograma Natalia Lafourcade – Azul The expectancy for Natalia Lafourcade’s upcoming album Hu Hu Hu is building up quick, her redefined lyricism and instrumental complexity showing true signs of an potential masterwork. She’s naturally cute and affecting, and previous material indicated talent, but her sharp new musical vision has finally reached widescreen. Azul is ornamentally sublime. In Mexico, it’s rare to find such a beautiful delicacy. NEW ZEALAND – Counting The Beat The Enright House – Scattering The Sun Like Gunshot The Enright House is the musical project of Mark Roberts from Christchurch. Despite being predominantly a solo affair, his 2007 album A Maze And Amazement was filled with songs that had a real sense of grandeur. Some of these have recently been re-released in acoustic form on the Six Acoustic Renditions EP and, as demonstrated in Scattering The Sun Like Gunshot, they lose none of their epic qualities in the translation. NORWAY – Eardrums Richard Holmsen – Great Speed Richard Holmsen is the singer of the band Delaware but his main focus these days seems to be his solo project. His music is fragile and simple, with few elements other than his guitar and tender vocals. This is quite the opposite of Delaware’s grand, melancholic indie-rock sound. In recent years Holmsen has also made music for film and been involved in an electronica project called Sea. Great Speed is a Music Alliance Pact exclusive, written and recorded only a week ago. PERU – SoTB Catervas – Covida After 10 years in the local scene, Catervas – formed by brothers Pedro, Raul and Javier Reyes – swapped their previous shoegaze sound for melodic rock on 2008 album Hoy Más Que Ayer. With its optimistic, convincing pop songs, Hoy Más Que Ayer is pure passion made into music. Covida is the second single from it and easily the band’s best song to date. PORTUGAL – Posso Ouvir Um Disco? PressPlay – Play Hot (extended mix) PressPlay are Playgirl and Lisa (aka The Party Queen). Playgirl does vocals and guitars, while Lisa does vocals and electronica. Their influences are PJ Harvey, Peaches, Electrocute, Cobra Killer and Miss Kittin but they sound much better than some of their heroes – and they’re definitely cuter. The extended version of Play Hot, which is the debut single for their upcoming debut album, was mixed by Woman In Panic, who is actually a guy called Pedro Lourenço. ROMANIA – Babylon Noise The Amsterdams – Suffering And Surfing The Amsterdams are a post-punk, indie power-pop band based in Bucharest. Inspired by the famous Dutch city, their name symbolises the freedom of spirit in every sense. Suffering And Surfing is featured on their forthcoming album, a blend of reckless vocals with freewheeling, volatile riffs and rhythms. SCOTLAND – The Pop Cop Broken Records – Nearly Home Edinburgh seven-piece Broken Records have just signed to renowned label 4AD, the just reward for over two years of personal sacrifice and preaching to the soon-to-be converted with their relentless touring schedule. Devoted followers like myself have already amassed as many as 18 of Broken Records’ epic, swooning, orchestral songs in one form or another – enough to predict that their debut album, scheduled for release this summer, will probably be 2009’s best. SINGAPORE – I’m Waking Up To… Nuance – Fear Strikes Mankind I Nuance is a four-piece rock band, with a recently self-released eponymous EP. At the heart of the record is the two-part epic Fear Strikes Mankind, an ambitious and intense journey that invokes the rock sensibilities of 90s Radiohead and contemporary post-rock experimentation. In the first part of the song (provided here), the biblical narrative of Abraham’s willing sacrifice of his son, Isaac, is related through the perspectives of both father and son. It’s a troubling journey, but the band does well to face the challenges head-on, both existentially and emotionally. SOUTH KOREA – Indieful ROK Seokjune – Dok Seokjune released his first EP, Dok, at the start of 2009. Equipped with an acoustic guitar and a voice that conjures Elliott Smith, he performs one delicate tune after another while singing in Korean or English. SPAIN – El Blog De La Nadadora Nouvelle Cuisine – La Comunicación No Verbal Nouvelle Cuisine are a band with a French name but Spanish nationality. They come from Galicia and have self-produced their new album, De Memoria, which is reminiscent of indie bands in the 90s. They develop their essence in personal lyrics and the soft melodies of their songs. http://www.fileden.com/files/2008/12/5/2212489/03%20comunicaci%C3%B3n%20no%20verbal.mp3 SWEDEN – Swedesplease Love Lindblom – Till Min Syster I’m a real sucker for catchy music like this which builds and builds into a frenetic climax. I love when the horns kick in. I love the DIY nature of the video – you just know he asked all his friends to help out. In short, I think I Love Lindblom. To download all 22 songs in one file click here: http://www.zshare.net/download/55582845ae7a1284/
read more »Here's February's edition of the Music Alliance Pact. For those of you who don't know about MAP, it's a collection of music blogs from around the world who band together once a month to shed light on up-and-comers from their home countries. It's sort of like the WTO without the human rights violations. This month we've welcomed Mexican blog Club Fonograma to bring the total participation to 22 nations. Our contribution this month includes an excellent track from Brooklyn-based Here We Go Magic.Nathaniel's decree has become somewhat of a MAP motto over the last few months: "Three cheers for musical globalization! Now, let's diversify our ears:" AMERICA – I Guess I'm Floating[MP3] Here We Go Magic - TunnelvisionBrooklyn’s Here We Go Magic is the bedroom folk-pop project of Luke Temple, who is releasing his self-titled debut this year. He has been praised by Sufjan Stevens and Ben Gibbard for his uniquely gorgeous vocals and meticulous lo-fi production aesthetic. "Tunnelvision" is the first single – one part Shakespearean sonnet and one part circus music, swirling in a beautiful mess of poetic acrobatics. ARGENTINA – Zonaindie [MP3] Pablo Dacal Y La Orquesta De Salón - Ella Ya Está En La PlayaPablo Dacal is a musician, singer and songwriter from Buenos Aires. His first songs circulated in tapes and between 2000 and 2002 he published a series of EPs that caught the attention of the media. The Orquesta De Salón was founded to collate this loose collection onto his first proper album, 13 Grandes Éxitos (2005). His next record was La Era Del Sonido (2008) and "Ella Ya Está En La Playa" is one of the finest songs from it. AUSTRALIA – Who The Bloody Hell Are They?[MP3] The Crooked Fiddle Band - The Rom RebellionMore furious fiddling from The Crooked Fiddle Band, who have a new EP called Rise which they are currently touring. I’ve been getting into bands like Balkan Beat Box and while these guys are different, I like the punk element in the songs. It just sounds like it would be a whole lot of fun to watch. BRAZIL – Meio Desligado[MP3] João Brasil - OrgasmadanceLike a tropical version of Girl Talk, João Brasil’s music is a mashup of beats and artists from different styles and backgrounds. With a strong influence of Brazilian funk carioca, a style derived from Miami bass and famous because of its explicit lyrics about sex, João Brasil released his first mashup album last year, Big Forbidden Dance. "Orgasmadance" is one of the best samples of his work. It starts with pieces from Orgasmatron and Brazilian heavy metal band Sepultura, before suddenly meeting Justice’s D.A.N.C.E. and other songs from Justin Timberlake, Nirvana, Snoop Dogg, CSS and Michael Jackson. CANADA – I(Heart)Music[MP3] The Rural Alberta Advantage - Four Night RiderThe Rural Alberta Advantage, who are actually from Toronto, with frontman Nils Edenloff's birthplace being Alberta, are one of Canada’s best-kept secrets. They specialize in Neutral Milk Hotel-esque pop with a slight twang and, as "Four Night Rider" demonstrates, the results are simply, passionately amazing. CHILE – Super 45[MP3] Congelador - AbrigoFor more than 10 years, Congelador have been a cornerstone of the Chilean independent rock scene. After four record releases and two years in a hiatus, the band came back with the Abrigo EP - six songs that gracefully move around post-rock, noise, pop and electronic music. ENGLAND – The Daily Growl[MP3] Let's Wrestle - Let's WrestleI could continue to bring you songs from London’s fertile folk-pop scene but it’s time for something a bit different. This month we have a singalong theme song from the self-professed ‘most miserable and hateful band in London,' Let's Wrestle. GERMANY – Blogpartei[MP3] Bratze - Jean ClaudeBratze is a Hamburg-based duo consisting of Der Tante Renate and ClickClickDecker. They make beautifully simple electroclash and indietronic music accompanied by sophisticated lyrics, all mixed with a DIY mindset. The featured song, "Jean Claude," was their breakthrough as a newcomer in 2006. ICELAND – I Love Icelandic Music[MP3] Hjaltalín - Goodbye July/Margt Ad UggaHjaltalín is a nine-piece collective, so almost an orchestra, which uses an eclectic selection of instruments, from bassoon to bass, accordion to clarinet. With these instruments and two singers they create a wall of sound for their folky indie-pop songs. This song features the beautiful voice of singer Högni Egilsson, a catchy chorus, broken up with an Icelandic hymn sung by Sigga Thorlacius. IRELAND – Nialler9[MP3] Tenaka - AlaskanTenaka is Ronan Carroll, a one-man band who creates melodic and sinewy slices of electronic pop from his bedroom but which suggest an imagination far beyond the physical. "Alaskan" is the soundtrack to dipping your toes into a lake before dive-bombing into its sunshine-infested yet chilly waters. The song features on EPonymously Titled, a free EP available from his MySpace. No excuses, download it now. ITALY – Polaroid [MP3] Wax Anatomical Models - Recollections Of Our TimesWax Anatomical Models may just have formed but they already have plenty of skills. Their sound mixes post-punk, hardcore, shoegaze and electronic influences, but the results in their first demo stand on a different level. Emotional and driving, they are a band to keep an eye on. MEXICO – Club Fonograma [MP3] Natalia Lafourcade - AzulThe expectancy for Natalia Lafourcade’s upcoming album Hu Hu Hu is building up quick, her redefined lyricism and instrumental complexity showing true signs of a potential masterwork. She’s naturally cute and affecting, and previous material indicated talent, but her sharp new musical vision has finally reached widescreen. "Azul" is ornamentally sublime. In Mexico, it’s rare to find such a beautiful delicacy. NEW ZEALAND – Counting The Beat [MP3] The Enright House - Scattering The Sun Like GunshotThe Enright House is the musical project of Mark Roberts from Christchurch. Despite being predominantly a solo affair, his 2007 album A Maze And Amazement was filled with songs that had a real sense of grandeur. Some of these have recently been re-released in acoustic form on the Six Acoustic Renditions EP and, as demonstrated in "Scattering The Sun Like Gunshot," they lose none of their epic qualities in the translation. NORWAY – Eardrums [MP3] Richard Holmsen - Great Speed (MAP Exclusive)Richard Holmsen is the singer of the band Delaware but his main focus these days seems to be his solo project. His music is fragile and simple, with few elements other than his guitar and tender vocals. This is quite the opposite of Delaware’s grand, melancholic indie-rock sound. In recent years Holmsen has also made music for film and been involved in an electronica project called Sea. "Great Speed" is a Music Alliance Pact exclusive, written and recorded only a week ago. PERU – Side of the Blog [MP3] Catervas - CovidaAfter 10 years in the local scene, Catervas – formed by brothers Pedro, Raul and Javier Reyes – swapped their previous shoegaze sound for melodic rock on 2008 album Hoy Más Que Ayer. With its optimistic, convincing pop songs, Hoy Más Que Ayer is pure passion made into music. "Covida" is the second single from it and easily the band’s best song to date. PORTUGAL – Posso Ouvir Um Disco? [MP3] PressPlay - Play Hot (Extended Mix)PressPlay are Playgirl and Lisa (aka The Party Queen). Playgirl does vocals and guitars, while Lisa does vocals and electronica. Their influences are PJ Harvey, Peaches, Electrocute, Cobra Killer and Miss Kittin but they sound much better than some of their heroes – and they’re definitely cuter. The extended version of "Play Hot," which is the debut single for their upcoming debut album, was mixed by Woman In Panic, who is actually a guy called Pedro Lourenço. ROMANIA – Babylon Noise [MP3] The Amsterdams - Suffering And SurfingThe Amsterdams are a post-punk, indie power-pop band based in Bucharest. Inspired by the famous Dutch city, their name symbolizes the freedom of spirit in every sense. "Suffering And Surfing" is featured on their forthcoming album, a blend of reckless vocals with freewheeling, volatile riffs and rhythms. SCOTLAND – The Pop Cop [MP3] Broken Records - Nearly HomeEdinburgh seven-piece Broken Records have just signed to renowned label 4AD, the just reward for over two years of personal sacrifice and preaching to the soon-to-be converted with their relentless touring schedule. Devoted followers like myself have already amassed as many as 18 of Broken Records’ epic, swooning, orchestral songs in one form or another – enough to predict that their debut album, scheduled for release this summer, will probably be 2009’s best. SINGAPORE – I'm Waking Up To... [MP3] Nuance - Fear Strikes MankindNuance is a four-piece rock band, with a recently self-released eponymous EP. At the heart of the record is the two-part epic "Fear Strikes Mankind," an ambitious and intense journey that invokes the rock sensibilities of 90s Radiohead and contemporary post-rock experimentation. In the first part of the song (provided here), the biblical narrative of Abraham’s willing sacrifice of his son, Isaac, is related through the perspectives of both father and son. It’s a troubling journey, but the band does well to face the challenges head-on, both existentially and emotionally. SOUTH KOREA – Indieful ROK [MP3] Seokjune - DokSeokjune released his first EP, Dok, at the start of 2009. Equipped with an acoustic guitar and a voice that conjures Elliott Smith, he performs one delicate tune after another while singing in Korean or English. SPAIN – El Blog De La Nadadora [MP3] Nouvelle Cuisine - La Comunicación No VerbalNouvelle Cuisine are a band with a French name but Spanish nationality. They come from Galicia and have self-produced their new album, De Memoria, which is reminiscent of indie bands in the 90s. They develop their essence in personal lyrics and the soft melodies of their songs. SWEDEN – Swedesplease [MP3] Love Lindblom - Till Min SysterI’m a real sucker for catchy music like this which builds and builds into a frenetic climax. I love when the horns kick in. I love the DIY nature of the video – you just know he asked all his friends to help out. In short, I think I Love Lindblom. For those wanting to delve into the international music scene as a collective whole, you can download all 22 songs in one file as well.
read more »PressPlay - chosen by our Portugese MAP blog partner - Posso Ouvir Um Disco?. MAP (Music Alliance Pact) is a monthly feature where music bloggers across the world share a track from their home country that they think you should hear. 22 blogs are submitting their country’s pick this month. My Irish contribution is Tenaka who I suggest you get on right away. Let’s get right to it. AMERICA – I Guess I’m Floating Here We Go Magic – Tunnelvision Brooklyn’s Here We Go Magic is the bedroom folk-pop project of Luke Temple, who is releasing his self-titled debut this year. He has been praised by Sufjan Stevens and Ben Gibbard for his uniquely gorgeous vocals and meticulous lo-fi production aesthetic. Tunnelvision is the first single – one part Shakespearean sonnet and one part circus music, swirling in a beautiful mess of poetic acrobatics. ARGENTINA – Zonaindie Pablo Dacal Y La Orquesta De Salón – Ella Ya Está En La Playa Pablo Dacal is a musician, singer and songwriter from Buenos Aires. His first songs circulated in tapes and between 2000 and 2002 he published a series of EPs that caught the attention of the media. The Orquesta De Salón was founded to collate this loose collection onto his first proper album, 13 Grandes Éxitos (2005). His next record was La Era Del Sonido (2008) and Ella Ya Está En La Playa is one of the finest songs from it. AUSTRALIA – Who The Bloody Hell Are They? The Crooked Fiddle Band – The Rom Rebellion More furious fiddling from The Crooked Fiddle Band, who have a new EP called Rise which they are currently touring. I’ve been getting into bands like Balkan Beat Box and while these guys are different, I like the punk element in the songs. It just sounds like it would be a whole lot of fun to watch. BRAZIL – Meio Desligado João Brasil - Orgasmadance Like a tropical version of Girl Talk, João Brasil’s music is a mashup of beats and artists from different styles and backgrounds. With a strong influence of Brazilian funk carioca, a style derived from Miami bass and famous because of its explicit lyrics about sex, João Brasil released his first mashup album last year, Big Forbidden Dance. Orgasmadance is one of the best samples of his work. It starts with pieces from Orgasmatron and Brazilian heavy metal band Sepultura, before suddenly meeting Justice’s D.A.N.C.E. and other songs from Justin Timberlake, Nirvana, Snoop Dogg, CSS and Michael Jackson. CANADA – I(Heart)Music The Rural Alberta Advantage – Four Night Rider The Rural Alberta Advantage, who are actually from Toronto, with frontman Nils Edenloff’s birthplace being Alberta, are one of Canada’s best-kept secrets. They specialize in Neutral Milk Hotel-esque pop with a slight twang and, as Four Night Rider demonstrates, the results are simply, passionately amazing. CHILE – Super 45 Congelador – Abrigo For more than 10 years, Congelador have been a cornerstone of the Chilean independent rock scene. After four record releases and two years in a hiatus, the band came back with the Abrigo EP - six songs that gracefully move around post-rock, noise, pop and electronic music. ENGLAND – The Daily Growl Let’s Wrestle – Let’s Wrestle I could continue to bring you songs from London’s fertile folk-pop scene but it’s time for something a bit different. This month we have a singalong theme song from the self-professed ‘most miserable and hateful band in London’. GERMANY – Blogpartei Bratze – Jean Claude Bratze is a Hamburg-based duo consisting of Der Tante Renate and ClickClickDecker. They make beautifully simple electroclash and indietronic music accompanied by sophisticated lyrics, all mixed with a DIY mindset. The featured song, Jean Claude, was their breakthrough as a newcomer in 2006. ICELAND – I Love Icelandic Music Hjaltalín – Goodbye July/Margt Ad Ugga Hjaltalín is a nine-piece collective, so almost an orchestra, which uses an eclectic selection of instruments, from bassoon to bass, accordion to clarinet. With these instruments and two singers they create a wall of sound for their folky indie-pop songs. This song features the beautiful voice of singer Högni Egilsson, a catchy chorus, broken up with an Icelandic hymn sung by Sigga Thorlacius. IRELAND – Nialler9 Tenaka – Alaskan Tenaka is Ronan Carroll, a one-man band who creates melodic and sinewy slices of electronic pop from his bedroom but which suggest an imagination far beyond the physical. Alaskan is the soundtrack to dipping your toes into a lake before dive-bombing into its sunshine-infested yet chilly waters. The song features on EPonymously Titled, a free EP available from his MySpace. No excuses, download it now. ITALY – Polaroid Wax Anatomical Models – Recollections Of Our Times Wax Anatomical Models may just have formed but they already have plenty of skills. Their sound mixes post-punk, hardcore, shoegaze and electronic influences, but the results in their first demo stand on a different level. Emotional and driving, they are a band to keep an eye on. MEXICO – Club Fonograma Natalia Lafourcade – Azul The expectancy for Natalia Lafourcade’s upcoming album Hu Hu Hu is building up quick, her redefined lyricism and instrumental complexity showing true signs of an potential masterwork. She’s naturally cute and affecting, and previous material indicated talent, but her sharp new musical vision has finally reached widescreen. Azul is ornamentally sublime. In Mexico, it’s rare to find such a beautiful delicacy. NEW ZEALAND – Counting The Beat The Enright House – Scattering The Sun Like Gunshot The Enright House is the musical project of Mark Roberts from Christchurch. Despite being predominantly a solo affair, his 2007 album A Maze And Amazement was filled with songs that had a real sense of grandeur. Some of these have recently been re-released in acoustic form on the Six Acoustic Renditions EP and, as demonstrated in Scattering The Sun Like Gunshot, they lose none of their epic qualities in the translation. NORWAY – Eardrums Richard Holmsen – Great Speed Richard Holmsen is the singer of the band Delaware but his main focus these days seems to be his solo project. His music is fragile and simple, with few elements other than his guitar and tender vocals. This is quite the opposite of Delaware’s grand, melancholic indie-rock sound. In recent years Holmsen has also made music for film and been involved in an electronica project called Sea. Great Speed is a Music Alliance Pact exclusive, written and recorded only a week ago. PERU – SoTB Catervas – Covida After 10 years in the local scene, Catervas – formed by brothers Pedro, Raul and Javier Reyes – swapped their previous shoegaze sound for melodic rock on 2008 album Hoy Más Que Ayer. With its optimistic, convincing pop songs, Hoy Más Que Ayer is pure passion made into music. Covida is the second single from it and easily the band’s best song to date. PORTUGAL – Posso Ouvir Um Disco? PressPlay – Play Hot (extended mix) PressPlay are Playgirl and Lisa (aka The Party Queen). Playgirl does vocals and guitars, while Lisa does vocals and electronica. Their influences are PJ Harvey, Peaches, Electrocute, Cobra Killer and Miss Kittin but they sound much better than some of their heroes – and they’re definitely cuter. The extended version of Play Hot, which is the debut single for their upcoming debut album, was mixed by Woman In Panic, who is actually a guy called Pedro Lourenço. ROMANIA – Babylon Noise The Amsterdams – Suffering & Surfing The Amsterdams are a post-punk, indie power-pop band based in Bucharest. Inspired by the famous Dutch city, their name symbolises the freedom of spirit in every sense. Suffering And Surfing is featured on their forthcoming album, a blend of reckless vocals with freewheeling, volatile riffs and rhythms. SCOTLAND – The Pop Cop Broken Records –Nearly Home Edinburgh seven-piece Broken Records have just signed to renowned label 4AD, the just reward for over two years of personal sacrifice and preaching to the soon-to-be converted with their relentless touring schedule. Devoted followers like myself have already amassed as many as 18 of Broken Records’ epic, swooning, orchestral songs in one form or another – enough to predict that their debut album, scheduled for release this summer, will probably be 2009’s best. SINGAPORE – I’m Waking Up To… Nuance – Fear Strikes Mankind I Nuance is a four-piece rock band, with a recently self-released eponymous EP. At the heart of the record is the two-part epic Fear Strikes Mankind, an ambitious and intense journey that invokes the rock sensibilities of 90s Radiohead and contemporary post-rock experimentation. In the first part of the song (provided here), the biblical narrative of Abraham’s willing sacrifice of his son, Isaac, is related through the perspectives of both father and son. It’s a troubling journey, but the band does well to face the challenges head-on, both existentially and emotionally. SOUTH KOREA – Indieful ROK Seokjune – Dok Seokjune released his first EP, Dok, at the start of 2009. Equipped with an acoustic guitar and a voice that conjures Elliott Smith, he performs one delicate tune after another while singing in Korean or English. SPAIN – El Blog De La Nadadora Nouvelle Cuisine – La Comunicación No Verbal Nouvelle Cuisine are a band with a French name but Spanish nationality. They come from Galicia and have self-produced their new album, De Memoria, which is reminiscent of indie bands in the 90s. They develop their essence in personal lyrics and the soft melodies of their songs. SWEDEN – Swedesplease Love Lindblom – Till Min Syster I’m a real sucker for catchy music like this which builds and builds into a frenetic climax. I love when the horns kick in. I love the DIY nature of the video – you just know he asked all his friends to help out. In short, I think I Love Lindblom. To download all 22 songs in one file click here: http://rapidshare.com/files/197964342/Music_Alliance_Pact_-_February_2009.rar If you like this try: Music Alliance Pact - November 08 MAP - January 09 MAP - December 08 Music Alliance Pact - October 08
read more »More music, more exclusives, more premieres of the best music from around the world courtesy of some of the best country specific music blogs in the world. That’s M.A.P. and this is the February edition. AMERICA – I Guess I’m Floating Here We Go Magic – Tunnelvision Brooklyn’s Here We Go Magic is the bedroom folk-pop project of Luke Temple, who is releasing his self-titled debut this year. He has been praised by Sufjan Stevens and Ben Gibbard for his uniquely gorgeous vocals and meticulous lo-fi production aesthetic. Tunnelvision is the first single – one part Shakespearean sonnet and one part circus music, swirling in a beautiful mess of poetic acrobatics. ARGENTINA – Zonaindie http://zonaindie.com/ Pablo Dacal Y La Orquesta De Salón – Ella Ya Está En La Playa Pablo Dacal is a musician, singer and songwriter from Buenos Aires. His first songs circulated in tapes and between 2000 and 2002 he published a series of EPs that caught the attention of the media. The Orquesta De Salón was founded to collate this loose collection onto his first proper album, 13 Grandes Éxitos (2005). His next record was La Era Del Sonido (2008) and Ella Ya Está En La Playa is one of the finest songs from it. AUSTRALIA – Who The Bloody Hell Are They? The Crooked Fiddle Band – The Rom Rebellion More furious fiddling from The Crooked Fiddle Band, who have a new EP called Rise which they are currently touring. I’ve been getting into bands like Balkan Beat Box and while these guys are different, I like the punk element in the songs. It just sounds like it would be a whole lot of fun to watch. BRAZIL – Meio Desligado João Brasil – Orgasmadance Like a tropical version of Girl Talk, João Brasil’s music is a mashup of beats and artists from different styles and backgrounds. With a strong influence of Brazilian funk carioca, a style derived from Miami bass and famous because of its explicit lyrics about sex, João Brasil released his first mashup album last year, Big Forbidden Dance. Orgasmadance is one of the best samples of his work. It starts with pieces from Orgasmatron and Brazilian heavy metal band Sepultura, before suddenly meeting Justice’s D.A.N.C.E. and other songs from Justin Timberlake, Nirvana, Snoop Dogg, CSS and Michael Jackson. CANADA – I(Heart)Music The Rural Alberta Advantage – Four Night Rider The Rural Alberta Advantage, who are actually from Toronto, with frontman Nils Edenloff’s birthplace being Alberta, are one of Canada’s best-kept secrets. They specialize in Neutral Milk Hotel-esque pop with a slight twang and, as Four Night Rider demonstrates, the results are simply, passionately amazing. CHILE – Super 45 Congelador – Abrigo For more than 10 years, Congelador have been a cornerstone of the Chilean independent rock scene. After four record releases and two years in a hiatus, the band came back with the Abrigo EP - six songs that gracefully move around post-rock, noise, pop and electronic music. ENGLAND – The Daily Growl Let’s Wrestle – Let’s Wrestle I could continue to bring you songs from London’s fertile folk-pop scene but it’s time for something a bit different. This month we have a singalong theme song from the self-professed ‘most miserable and hateful band in London’. GERMANY – Blogpartei Bratze – Jean Claude Bratze is a Hamburg-based duo consisting of Der Tante Renate and ClickClickDecker. They make beautifully simple electroclash and indietronic music accompanied by sophisticated lyrics, all mixed with a DIY mindset. The featured song, Jean Claude, was their breakthrough as a newcomer in 2006. ICELAND – I Love Icelandic Music Hjaltalín – Goodbye July/Margt Ad Ugga Hjaltalín is a nine-piece collective, so almost an orchestra, which uses an eclectic selection of instruments, from bassoon to bass, accordion to clarinet. With these instruments and two singers they create a wall of sound for their folky indie-pop songs. This song features the beautiful voice of singer Högni Egilsson, a catchy chorus, broken up with an Icelandic hymn sung by Sigga Thorlacius. IRELAND – Nialler9 Tenaka – Alaskan Tenaka is Ronan Carroll, a one-man band who creates melodic and sinewy slices of electronic pop from his bedroom but which suggest an imagination far beyond the physical. Alaskan is the soundtrack to dipping your toes into a lake before dive-bombing into its sunshine-infested yet chilly waters. The song features on EPonymously Titled, a free EP available from his MySpace. No excuses, download it now. ITALY – Polaroid Wax Anatomical Models – Recollections Of Our Times Wax Anatomical Models may just have formed but they already have plenty of skills. Their sound mixes post-punk, hardcore, shoegaze and electronic influences, but the results in their first demo stand on a different level. Emotional and driving, they are a band to keep an eye on. MEXICO – Club Fonograma Natalia Lafourcade – Azul The expectancy for Natalia Lafourcade’s upcoming album Hu Hu Hu is building up quick, her redefined lyricism and instrumental complexity showing true signs of an potential masterwork. She’s naturally cute and affecting, and previous material indicated talent, but her sharp new musical vision has finally reached widescreen. Azul is ornamentally sublime. In Mexico, it’s rare to find such a beautiful delicacy. NEW ZEALAND – Counting The Beat The Enright House – Scattering The Sun Like Gunshot The Enright House is the musical project of Mark Roberts from Christchurch. Despite being predominantly a solo affair, his 2007 album A Maze And Amazement was filled with songs that had a real sense of grandeur. Some of these have recently been re-released in acoustic form on the Six Acoustic Renditions EP and, as demonstrated in Scattering The Sun Like Gunshot, they lose none of their epic qualities in the translation. NORWAY – Eardrums Richard Holmsen – Great Speed Richard Holmsen is the singer of the band Delaware but his main focus these days seems to be his solo project. His music is fragile and simple, with few elements other than his guitar and tender vocals. This is quite the opposite of Delaware’s grand, melancholic indie-rock sound. In recent years Holmsen has also made music for film and been involved in an electronica project called Sea. Great Speed is a Music Alliance Pact exclusive, written and recorded only a week ago. PERU – SoTB Catervas – Covida After 10 years in the local scene, Catervas – formed by brothers Pedro, Raul and Javier Reyes – swapped their previous shoegaze sound for melodic rock on 2008 album Hoy Más Que Ayer. With its optimistic, convincing pop songs, Hoy Más Que Ayer is pure passion made into music. Covida is the second single from it and easily the band’s best song to date. PORTUGAL – Posso Ouvir Um Disco? PressPlay – Play Hot (extended mix) PressPlay are Playgirl and Lisa (aka The Party Queen). Playgirl does vocals and guitars, while Lisa does vocals and electronica. Their influences are PJ Harvey, Peaches, Electrocute, Cobra Killer and Miss Kittin but they sound much better than some of their heroes – and they’re definitely cuter. The extended version of Play Hot, which is the debut single for their upcoming debut album, was mixed by Woman In Panic, who is actually a guy called Pedro Lourenço. ROMANIA – Babylon Noise The Amsterdams – Suffering And Surfing The Amsterdams are a post-punk, indie power-pop band based in Bucharest. Inspired by the famous Dutch city, their name symbolises the freedom of spirit in every sense. Suffering And Surfing is featured on their forthcoming album, a blend of reckless vocals with freewheeling, volatile riffs and rhythms. SCOTLAND – The Pop Cop Broken Records – Nearly Home Edinburgh seven-piece Broken Records have just signed to renowned label 4AD, the just reward for over two years of personal sacrifice and preaching to the soon-to-be converted with their relentless touring schedule. Devoted followers like myself have already amassed as many as 18 of Broken Records’ epic, swooning, orchestral songs in one form or another – enough to predict that their debut album, scheduled for release this summer, will probably be 2009’s best. SINGAPORE – I’m Waking Up To… Nuance – Fear Strikes Mankind Nuance is a four-piece rock band, with a recently self-released eponymous EP. At the heart of the record is the two-part epic Fear Strikes Mankind, an ambitious and intense journey that invokes the rock sensibilities of 90s Radiohead and contemporary post-rock experimentation. In the first part of the song (provided here), the biblical narrative of Abraham’s willing sacrifice of his son, Isaac, is related through the perspectives of both father and son. It’s a troubling journey, but the band does well to face the challenges head-on, both existentially and emotionally. SOUTH KOREA – Indieful ROK Seokjune – Dok Seokjune released his first EP, Dok, at the start of 2009. Equipped with an acoustic guitar and a voice that conjures Elliott Smith, he performs one delicate tune after another while singing in Korean or English. SPAIN – El Blog De La Nadadora Nouvelle Cuisine – La Comunicación No Verbal Nouvelle Cuisine are a band with a French name but Spanish nationality. They come from Galicia and have self-produced their new album, De Memoria, which is reminiscent of indie bands in the 90s. They develop their essence in personal lyrics and the soft melodies of their songs. SWEDEN – Swedesplease Love Lindblom – Till Min Syster I’m a real sucker for catchy music like this which builds and builds into a frenetic climax. I love when the horns kick in. I love the DIY nature of the video – you just know he asked all his friends to help out. In short, I think I Love Lindblom. To download all 22 songs in one file click here: http://www.zshare.net/download/55582845ae7a1284/ heartache
read more »Brooklyn singer-songwriter Luke Temple was known for his solid folk and pop outputs…that is until one moment in life propelled him to record some stream of consciousness songs with nothing but analog synths, a cassette 4-track, and his trusty SM-57 mic over a two month period. The result is Here We Go Magic. Music that sets off to sea with layers and echoes and waves and clouds and beauty. So much goodness in there…almost too much…no wait…just enough. A big thanks to Gorilla Vs. Bear for turning me onto them a ways back. Here’s some tunes so you know what I’m talking ’bout: mp3: Here We Go Magic - Tunnelvision mp3: Here We Go Magic - Fangala They recently put out a video for “Tunnelvision” on Pitchfork TV. Check out this hazy memory of a vid: <object width="501" height="394" data="http://video.pitchfork.tv/mediaplayer.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"/><param name="flashvars" value="file=http://pitchfork.tv/node/2989/embed.xml"/><param name="src" value="http://video.pitchfork.tv/mediaplayer.swf"/></object> You can catch Here We Go Magic live at the Red and the Black in DC on March 7th with Callers and in Baltimore at the Ottobar on March 25th with Titus Andronicus.
read more »The 15th day of the month means Music Alliance Pact time, when the blogging community comes together to offer up their favourite song for the world's ears. Think of it as the international invasion it's OK to support.Last month we welcomed Babylon Noise to the party - a development so significant it was reported by MTV Romania no less, and with a fair degree of enthusiasm by the young brunette presenter, who is clearly a big fan of the Moozeek Alliance Pact.It's a tough act to follow. Perhaps our newest representative, Mexico blog Club Fonograma, can persuade Salma Hayek to unveil a pair of pants with "MAP" emblazoned across her bum cheeks in her next movie.Until then here is this month's greatest tracks, starting with the mighty, mighty Broken Records... SCOTLAND: The Pop Cop4 Broken Records – Nearly HomeEdinburgh seven-piece Broken Records signed to renowned label 4AD last month, the just reward for over two years of personal sacrifice and preaching to the soon-to-be converted with their relentless touring schedule. Devoted followers like myself have already amassed as many as 18 of Broken Records’ epic, swooning, orchestral songs in one form or another – enough to predict that their debut album, scheduled for release this summer, will probably be 2009’s best. AMERICA: I Guess I'm Floating4 Here We Go Magic – TunnelvisionBrooklyn’s Here We Go Magic is the bedroom folk-pop project of Luke Temple, who is releasing his self-titled debut this year. He has been praised by Sufjan Stevens and Ben Gibbard for his uniquely gorgeous vocals and meticulous lo-fi production aesthetic. Tunnelvision is the first single – one part Shakespearean sonnet and one part circus music, swirling in a beautiful mess of poetic acrobatics. ARGENTINA: Zonaindie4 Pablo Dacal Y La Orquesta De Salón – Ella Ya Está En La PlayaPablo Dacal is a musician, singer and songwriter from Buenos Aires. His first songs circulated in tapes and between 2000 and 2002 he published a series of EPs that caught the attention of the media. The Orquesta De Salón was founded to collate this loose collection onto his first proper album, 13 Grandes Éxitos (2005). His next record was La Era Del Sonido (2008) and Ella Ya Está En La Playa is one of the finest songs from it. AUSTRALIA: Who The Bloody Hell Are They?4 The Crooked Fiddle Band – The Rom RebellionMore furious fiddling from The Crooked Fiddle Band, who have a new EP called Rise which they are currently touring. I’ve been getting into bands like Balkan Beat Box and while these guys are different, I like the punk element in the songs. It just sounds like it would be a whole lot of fun to watch. BRAZIL:Meio Desligado4 João Brasil – OrgasmadanceLike a tropical version of Girl Talk, João Brasil’s music is a mashup of beats and artists from different styles and backgrounds. With a strong influence of Brazilian funk carioca, a style derived from Miami bass and famous because of its explicit lyrics about sex, João Brasil released his first mashup album last year, Big Forbidden Dance. Orgasmadance is one of the best samples of his work. It starts with pieces from Orgasmatron and Brazilian heavy metal band Sepultura, before suddenly meeting Justice’s D.A.N.C.E. and other songs from Justin Timberlake, Nirvana, Snoop Dogg, CSS and Michael Jackson. CANADA: I(Heart)Music4The Rural Alberta Advantage – Four Night RiderThe Rural Alberta Advantage, who are actually from Toronto, with frontman Nils Edenloff's birthplace being Alberta, are one of Canada’s best-kept secrets. They specialize in Neutral Milk Hotel-esque pop with a slight twang and, as Four Night Rider demonstrates, the results are simply, passionately amazing. CHILE: Super 454 Congelador – AbrigoFor more than 10 years, Congelador have been a cornerstone of the Chilean independent rock scene. After four record releases and two years in a hiatus, the band came back with the Abrigo EP - six songs that gracefully move around post-rock, noise, pop and electronic music. ENGLAND: The Daily Growl4 Let’s Wrestle – Let’s WrestleI could continue to bring you songs from London’s fertile folk-pop scene but it’s time for something a bit different. This month we have a singalong theme song from the self-professed ‘most miserable and hateful band in London'.GERMANY: Blogpartei4 Bratze – Jean ClaudeBratze is a Hamburg-based duo consisting of Der Tante Renate and ClickClickDecker. They make beautifully simple electroclash and indietronic music accompanied by sophisticated lyrics, all mixed with a DIY mindset. The featured song, Jean Claude, was their breakthrough as a newcomer in 2006. ICELAND: I Love Icelandic Music4 Hjaltalín – Goodbye July/Margt Ad UggaHjaltalín is a nine-piece collective, so almost an orchestra, which uses an eclectic selection of instruments, from bassoon to bass, accordion to clarinet. With these instruments and two singers they create a wall of sound for their folky indie-pop songs. This song features the beautiful voice of singer Högni Egilsson, a catchy chorus, broken up with an Icelandic hymn sung by Sigga Thorlacius.IRELAND: Nialler94 Tenaka – AlaskanTenaka is Ronan Carroll, a one-man band who creates melodic and sinewy slices of electronic pop from his bedroom but which suggest an imagination far beyond the physical. Alaskan is the soundtrack to dipping your toes into a lake before dive-bombing into its sunshine-infested yet chilly waters. The song features on EPonymously Titled, a free EP available from his MySpace. No excuses, download it now. ITALY: Polaroid4 Wax Anatomical Models – Recollections Of Our TimesWax Anatomical Models may just have formed but they already have plenty of skills. Their sound mixes post-punk, hardcore, shoegaze and electronic influences, but the results in their first demo stand on a different level. Emotional and driving, they are a band to keep an eye on. MEXICO: Club Fonograma4 Natalia Lafourcade – AzulThe expectancy for Natalia Lafourcade’s upcoming album Hu Hu Hu is building up quick, her redefined lyricism and instrumental complexity are showing true signs of a potential masterwork. She’s naturally cute and affecting, and previous material indicated talent, but her sharp new musical vision has finally reached widescreen. Azul is ornamentally sublime. In Mexico, it’s rare to find such a beautiful delicacy. NEW ZEALAND: Counting The Beat4 The Enright House – Scattering The Sun Like GunshotThe Enright House is the musical project of Mark Roberts from Christchurch. Despite being predominantly a solo affair, his 2007 album A Maze And Amazement was filled with songs that had a real sense of grandeur. Some of these have recently been re-released in acoustic form on the Six Acoustic Renditions EP and, as demonstrated in Scattering The Sun Like Gunshot, they lose none of their epic qualities in the translation. NORWAY: Eardrums4 Richard Holmsen – Great SpeedRichard Holmsen is the singer of the band Delaware but his main focus these days seems to be his solo project. His music is fragile and simple, with few elements other than his guitar and tender vocals. This is quite the opposite of Delaware’s grand, melancholic indie-rock sound. In recent years Holmsen has also made music for film and been involved in an electronica project called Sea. Great Speed is a Music Alliance Pact exclusive, written and recorded only a week ago. PERU: SoTB4 Catervas – CovidaAfter 10 years in the local scene, Catervas – formed by brothers Pedro, Raul and Javier Reyes – swapped their previous shoegaze sound for melodic rock on 2008 album Hoy Más Que Ayer. With its optimistic, convincing pop songs, Hoy Más Que Ayer is pure passion made into music. Covida is the second single from it and easily the band’s best song to date. PORTUGAL: Posso Ouvrir Um Disco?4 PressPlay – Play Hot (extended mix)PressPlay are Playgirl and Lisa (aka The Party Queen). Playgirl does vocals and guitars, while Lisa does vocals and electronica. Their influences are PJ Harvey, Peaches, Electrocute, Cobra Killer and Miss Kittin but they sound much better than some of their heroes – and they’re definitely cuter. The extended version of Play Hot, which is the debut single for their upcoming debut album, was mixed by Woman In Panic, who is actually a guy called Pedro Lourenço. ROMANIA: Babylon Noise4 The Amsterdams – Suffering And SurfingThe Amsterdams are a post-punk, indie power-pop band based in Bucharest. Inspired by the famous Dutch city, their name symbolises the freedom of spirit in every sense. Suffering And Surfing is featured on their forthcoming album, a blend of reckless vocals with freewheeling, volatile riffs and rhythms. SINGAPORE: I'm Waking Up To...4 Nuance – Fear Strikes Mankind INuance is a four-piece rock band, with a recently self-released eponymous EP. At the heart of the record is the two-part epic Fear Strikes Mankind, an ambitious and intense journey that invokes the rock sensibilities of 90s Radiohead and contemporary post-rock experimentation. In the first part of the song (provided here), the biblical narrative of Abraham’s willing sacrifice of his son, Isaac, is related through the perspectives of both father and son. It’s a troubling journey, but the band does well to face the challenges head-on, both existentially and emotionally. SOUTH KOREA: Indieful ROK4 Seokjune – DokSeokjune released his first EP, Dok, at the start of 2009. Equipped with an acoustic guitar and a voice that conjures Elliott Smith, he performs one delicate tune after another while singing in Korean or English. SPAIN: El Blog De La Nadadora 4 Nouvelle Cuisine – La Comunicación No VerbalNouvelle Cuisine are a band with a French name but Spanish nationality. They come from Galicia and have self-produced their new album, De Memoria, which is reminiscent of indie bands in the 90s. They develop their essence in personal lyrics and the soft melodies of their songs. SWEDEN: Swedesplease4 Love Lindblom – Till Min SysterI’m a real sucker for catchy music like this which builds and builds into a frenetic climax. I love when the horns kick in. I love the DIY nature of the video – you just know he asked all his friends to help out. In short, I think I Love Lindblom.To download all 22 songs in one file click here.
read more »Music Alliance Pact are din luna februarie inca un blog, reprezentand Mexicul. Multa muzica buna vine din acea zona, dar presupun ca vor promova rock en espanol mai mult decat, sa zicem, Lucha Reyes . Cu alte cuvinte MAP a ajuns la 22 de tari si creste. Asa cum v-am obisnuit, fiecare blog din fiecare tara a propus cate o melodie deci avem 22 de artisti din tari diferite,piese destul de noi. Din Romania, in aceasta luna ii avem pe The Amsterdams care se pregatesc de un album nou, dupa EP-ul de anul trecut. Ma pot astepta la ceva mult mai dinamic si mai creativ, la influente puternice new wave. Pentru MAP am ales “Suffering And Surfing”, o piesa bine cunoscuta de fanii acestei formatii, de cei care au ascultat EP-ul si de oamenii care au mers pe la concertele lor. Luna trecuta, Babylonoise si MAP, au aparut la rubrica blogul zilei la MTV Romania…thanks guys! ENJOY: AMERICA – I Guess I’m Floating Here We Go Magic – Tunellvision Brooklyn’s Here We Go Magic is the bedroom folk-pop project of Luke Temple, who is releasing his self-titled debut this year. He has been praised by Sufjan Stevens and Ben Gibbard for his uniquely gorgeous vocals and meticulous lo-fi production aesthetic. Tunnelvision is the first single – one part Shakespearean sonnet and one part circus music, swirling in a beautiful mess of poetic acrobatics. <object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://babylonoise.wordpress.com/wp-content/plugins/audio-player/player.swf" width="290" height="24" id="audioplayer1"><param name="movie" value="http://babylonoise.wordpress.com/wp-content/plugins/audio-player/player.swf"/><param name="FlashVars" value="&bg=0xf8f8f8&leftbg=0xeeeeee&lefticon=0x666666&rightbg=0xcccccc&rightbghover=0x999999&righticon=0x666666&righticonhover=0xffffff&text=0x666666&slider=0x666666&track=16777215&border=0x666666&loader=0x9FFFB8&soundFile=http%3A%2F%2Figuessimfloating.net%2Fassets%2Fmp3s%2F07%2520Jimmy%2520Dove.mp3"/><param name="quality" value="high"/><param name="menu" value="false"/><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF"/></object> ARGENTINA – Zonaindie Pablo Dacal Y La Orquesta De Salón – Ella Ya Está En La Playa Pablo Dacal is a musician, singer and songwriter from Buenos Aires. His first songs circulated in tapes and between 2000 and 2002 he published a series of EPs that caught the attention of the media. The Orquesta De Salón was founded to collate this loose collection onto his first proper album, 13 Grandes Éxitos (2005). His next record was La Era Del Sonido (200 and Ella Ya Está En La Playa is one of the finest songs from it. <object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://babylonoise.wordpress.com/wp-content/plugins/audio-player/player.swf" width="290" height="24" id="audioplayer1"><param name="movie" value="http://babylonoise.wordpress.com/wp-content/plugins/audio-player/player.swf"/><param name="FlashVars" value="&bg=0xf8f8f8&leftbg=0xeeeeee&lefticon=0x666666&rightbg=0xcccccc&rightbghover=0x999999&righticon=0x666666&righticonhover=0xffffff&text=0x666666&slider=0x666666&track=16777215&border=0x666666&loader=0x9FFFB8&soundFile=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fileden.com%2Ffiles%2F2008%2F10%2F16%2F2145849%2FPablo%2520Dacal%2520y%2520la%2520Orquesta%2520de%2520Sal%25C3%25B3n%2520-%2520Ella%2520Ya%2520Esta%2520En%2520La%2520Playa.mp3"/><param name="quality" value="high"/><param name="menu" value="false"/><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF"/></object> AUSTRALIA – Who The Bloody Hell Are They? The Crooked Fiddle Band – The Rom Rebellion More furious fiddling from The Crooked Fiddle Band, who have a new EP called Rise which they are currently touring. I’ve been getting into bands like Balkan Beat Box and while these guys are different, I like the punk element in the songs. It just sounds like it would be a whole lot of fun to watch. <object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://babylonoise.wordpress.com/wp-content/plugins/audio-player/player.swf" width="290" height="24" id="audioplayer1"><param name="movie" value="http://babylonoise.wordpress.com/wp-content/plugins/audio-player/player.swf"/><param name="FlashVars" value="&bg=0xf8f8f8&leftbg=0xeeeeee&lefticon=0x666666&rightbg=0xcccccc&rightbghover=0x999999&righticon=0x666666&righticonhover=0xffffff&text=0x666666&slider=0x666666&track=16777215&border=0x666666&loader=0x9FFFB8&soundFile=http%3A%2F%2Fwhothehell.net%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2009%2F01%2FThe%2BRom%2BRebellion.mp3"/><param name="quality" value="high"/><param name="menu" value="false"/><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF"/></object> BRAZIL – Meio Desligado João Brasil – Orgasmadance Like a tropical version of Girl Talk, João Brasil’s music is a mashup of beats and artists from different styles and backgrounds. With a strong influence of Brazilian funk carioca, a style derived from Miami bass and famous because of its explicit lyrics about sex, João Brasil released his first mashup album last year, Big Forbidden Dance. Orgasmadance is one of the best samples of his work. It starts with pieces from Orgasmatron and Brazilian heavy metal band Sepultura, before suddenly meeting Justice’s D.A.N.C.E. and other songs from Justin Timberlake, Nirvana, Snoop Dogg, CSS and Michael Jackson. <object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://babylonoise.wordpress.com/wp-content/plugins/audio-player/player.swf" width="290" height="24" id="audioplayer1"><param name="movie" value="http://babylonoise.wordpress.com/wp-content/plugins/audio-player/player.swf"/><param name="FlashVars" value="&bg=0xf8f8f8&leftbg=0xeeeeee&lefticon=0x666666&rightbg=0xcccccc&rightbghover=0x999999&righticon=0x666666&righticonhover=0xffffff&text=0x666666&slider=0x666666&track=16777215&border=0x666666&loader=0x9FFFB8&soundFile=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fileden.com%2Ffiles%2F2008%2F12%2F10%2F2218195%2FOrgasmadance.mp3"/><param name="quality" value="high"/><param name="menu" value="false"/><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF"/></object> CANADA – I(Heart)Music The Rural Alberta Advantage – Four Night Rider The Rural Alberta Advantage, who are actually from Toronto, with frontman Nils Edenloff’s birthplace being Alberta, are one of Canada’s best-kept secrets. They specialize in Neutral Milk Hotel-esque pop with a slight twang and, as Four Night Rider demonstrates, the results are simply, passionately amazing. <object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://babylonoise.wordpress.com/wp-content/plugins/audio-player/player.swf" width="290" height="24" id="audioplayer1"><param name="movie" value="http://babylonoise.wordpress.com/wp-content/plugins/audio-player/player.swf"/><param name="FlashVars" value="&bg=0xf8f8f8&leftbg=0xeeeeee&lefticon=0x666666&rightbg=0xcccccc&rightbghover=0x999999&righticon=0x666666&righticonhover=0xffffff&text=0x666666&slider=0x666666&track=16777215&border=0x666666&loader=0x9FFFB8&soundFile=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.iheartmusic.net%2Fmp3%2FTheRuralAlbertaAdvantage-FourNightRider.mp3"/><param name="quality" value="high"/><param name="menu" value="false"/><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF"/></object> CHILE – Super 45 Congelador – Abrigo For more than 10 years, Congelador have been a cornerstone of the Chilean independent rock scene. After four record releases and two years in a hiatus, the band came back with the Abrigo EP - six songs that gracefully move around post-rock, noise, pop and electronic music. <object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://babylonoise.wordpress.com/wp-content/plugins/audio-player/player.swf" width="290" height="24" id="audioplayer1"><param name="movie" value="http://babylonoise.wordpress.com/wp-content/plugins/audio-player/player.swf"/><param name="FlashVars" value="&bg=0xf8f8f8&leftbg=0xeeeeee&lefticon=0x666666&rightbg=0xcccccc&rightbghover=0x999999&righticon=0x666666&righticonhover=0xffffff&text=0x666666&slider=0x666666&track=16777215&border=0x666666&loader=0x9FFFB8&soundFile=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.hotlinkfiles.com%2Ffiles%2F2280625_xpxrb%2F01CONGELADORAbrigo.mp3"/><param name="quality" value="high"/><param name="menu" value="false"/><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF"/></object> ENGLAND – The Daily Growl Let’s Wrestle – Let’s Wrestle I could continue to bring you songs from London’s fertile folk-pop scene but it’s time for something a bit different. This month we have a singalong theme song from the self-professed ‘most miserable and hateful band in London’. <object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://babylonoise.wordpress.com/wp-content/plugins/audio-player/player.swf" width="290" height="24" id="audioplayer1"><param name="movie" value="http://babylonoise.wordpress.com/wp-content/plugins/audio-player/player.swf"/><param name="FlashVars" value="&bg=0xf8f8f8&leftbg=0xeeeeee&lefticon=0x666666&rightbg=0xcccccc&rightbghover=0x999999&righticon=0x666666&righticonhover=0xffffff&text=0x666666&slider=0x666666&track=16777215&border=0x666666&loader=0x9FFFB8&soundFile=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thedailygrowl.co.uk%2Fdownloads%2F01%2520Let%2527s%2520Wrestle.mp3"/><param name="quality" value="high"/><param name="menu" value="false"/><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF"/></object> GERMANY – Blogpartei Bratze – Jean Claude Bratze is a Hamburg-based duo consisting of Der Tante Renate and ClickClickDecker. They make beautifully simple electroclash and indietronic music accompanied by sophisticated lyrics, all mixed with a DIY mindset. The featured song, Jean Claude, was their breakthrough as a newcomer in 2006. <object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://babylonoise.wordpress.com/wp-content/plugins/audio-player/player.swf" width="290" height="24" id="audioplayer1"><param name="movie" value="http://babylonoise.wordpress.com/wp-content/plugins/audio-player/player.swf"/><param name="FlashVars" value="&bg=0xf8f8f8&leftbg=0xeeeeee&lefticon=0x666666&rightbg=0xcccccc&rightbghover=0x999999&righticon=0x666666&righticonhover=0xffffff&text=0x666666&slider=0x666666&track=16777215&border=0x666666&loader=0x9FFFB8&soundFile=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogpartei.de%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2009%2F02%2FBratze-JeanClaude.mp3"/><param name="quality" value="high"/><param name="menu" value="false"/><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF"/></object> ICELAND – I Love Icelandic Music Hjaltalín – Goodbye July/Margt Ad Ugga Hjaltalín is a nine-piece collective, so almost an orchestra, which uses an eclectic selection of instruments, from bassoon to bass, accordion to clarinet. With these instruments and two singers they create a wall of sound for their folky indie-pop songs. This song features the beautiful voice of singer Högni Egilsson, a catchy chorus, broken up with an Icelandic hymn sung by Sigga Thorlacius. <object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://babylonoise.wordpress.com/wp-content/plugins/audio-player/player.swf" width="290" height="24" id="audioplayer1"><param name="movie" value="http://babylonoise.wordpress.com/wp-content/plugins/audio-player/player.swf"/><param name="FlashVars" value="&bg=0xf8f8f8&leftbg=0xeeeeee&lefticon=0x666666&rightbg=0xcccccc&rightbghover=0x999999&righticon=0x666666&righticonhover=0xffffff&text=0x666666&slider=0x666666&track=16777215&border=0x666666&loader=0x9FFFB8&soundFile=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fileden.com%2Ffiles%2F2008%2F3%2F24%2F1833451%2FHjaltalin%2520Goodbye%2520July%2520_%2520Margt%2520Ad%2520Ugga.mp3"/><param name="quality" value="high"/><param name="menu" value="false"/><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF"/></object> IRELAND – Nialler9 Tenaka – Alaskan Tenaka is Ronan Carroll, a one-man band who creates melodic and sinewy slices of electronic pop from his bedroom but which suggest an imagination far beyond the physical. Alaskan is the soundtrack to dipping your toes into a lake before dive-bombing into its sunshine-infested yet chilly waters. The song features on EPonymously Titled, a free EP available from his MySpace. No excuses, download it now. <object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://babylonoise.wordpress.com/wp-content/plugins/audio-player/player.swf" width="290" height="24" id="audioplayer1"><param name="movie" value="http://babylonoise.wordpress.com/wp-content/plugins/audio-player/player.swf"/><param name="FlashVars" value="&bg=0xf8f8f8&leftbg=0xeeeeee&lefticon=0x666666&rightbg=0xcccccc&rightbghover=0x999999&righticon=0x666666&righticonhover=0xffffff&text=0x666666&slider=0x666666&track=16777215&border=0x666666&loader=0x9FFFB8&soundFile=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nialler9.com%2Fmp3%2FTenaka_-_Alaskan.mp3"/><param name="quality" value="high"/><param name="menu" value="false"/><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF"/></object> ITALY – Polaroid Wax Anatomical Models – Recollections Of Our Times Wax Anatomical Models may just have formed but they already have plenty of skills. Their sound mixes post-punk, hardcore, shoegaze and electronic influences, but the results in their first demo stand on a different level. Emotional and driving, they are a band to keep an eye on. <object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://babylonoise.wordpress.com/wp-content/plugins/audio-player/player.swf" width="290" height="24" id="audioplayer1"><param name="movie" value="http://babylonoise.wordpress.com/wp-content/plugins/audio-player/player.swf"/><param name="FlashVars" value="&bg=0xf8f8f8&leftbg=0xeeeeee&lefticon=0x666666&rightbg=0xcccccc&rightbghover=0x999999&righticon=0x666666&righticonhover=0xffffff&text=0x666666&slider=0x666666&track=16777215&border=0x666666&loader=0x9FFFB8&soundFile=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.polaroidallaradio.it%2Faudio%2Fwax_anatomical_models_-_recollection_of_our_times.mp3"/><param name="quality" value="high"/><param name="menu" value="false"/><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF"/></object> MEXICO – Club Fonograma Natalia Lafourcade – Azul The expectancy for Natalia Lafourcade’s upcoming album Hu Hu Hu is building up quick, her redefined lyricism and instrumental complexity showing true signs of an potential masterwork. She’s naturally cute and affecting, and previous material indicated talent, but her sharp new musical vision has finally reached widescreen. Azul is ornamentally sublime. In Mexico, it’s rare to find such a beautiful delicacy. <object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://babylonoise.wordpress.com/wp-content/plugins/audio-player/player.swf" width="290" height="24" id="audioplayer1"><param name="movie" value="http://babylonoise.wordpress.com/wp-content/plugins/audio-player/player.swf"/><param name="FlashVars" value="&bg=0xf8f8f8&leftbg=0xeeeeee&lefticon=0x666666&rightbg=0xcccccc&rightbghover=0x999999&righticon=0x666666&righticonhover=0xffffff&text=0x666666&slider=0x666666&track=16777215&border=0x666666&loader=0x9FFFB8&soundFile=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.hotlinkfiles.com%2Ffiles%2F2273340_aosjm%2FNataliaLafourcade-Azul.mp3"/><param name="quality" value="high"/><param name="menu" value="false"/><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF"/></object> NEW ZEALAND – Counting The Beat The Enright House – Scattering The Sun Like Gunshot The Enright House is the musical project of Mark Roberts from Christchurch. Despite being predominantly a solo affair, his 2007 album A Maze And Amazement was filled with songs that had a real sense of grandeur. Some of these have recently been re-released in acoustic form on the Six Acoustic Renditions EP and, as demonstrated in Scattering The Sun Like Gunshot, they lose none of their epic qualities in the translation. <object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://babylonoise.wordpress.com/wp-content/plugins/audio-player/player.swf" width="290" height="24" id="audioplayer1"><param name="movie" value="http://babylonoise.wordpress.com/wp-content/plugins/audio-player/player.swf"/><param name="FlashVars" value="&bg=0xf8f8f8&leftbg=0xeeeeee&lefticon=0x666666&rightbg=0xcccccc&rightbghover=0x999999&righticon=0x666666&righticonhover=0xffffff&text=0x666666&slider=0x666666&track=16777215&border=0x666666&loader=0x9FFFB8&soundFile=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.waihekeradio.org.nz%2Ffiles%2FThe%20Enright%20House%20-%20Scattering%20The%20Sun%20Like%20Gunshot%20%28Acoustic%29.mp3"/><param name="quality" value="high"/><param name="menu" value="false"/><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF"/></object> NORWAY – Eardrums Richard Holmsen – Great Speed Richard Holmsen is the singer of the band Delaware but his main focus these days seems to be his solo project. His music is fragile and simple, with few elements other than his guitar and tender vocals. This is quite the opposite of Delaware’s grand, melancholic indie-rock sound. In recent years Holmsen has also made music for film and been involved in an electronica project called Sea. Great Speed is a Music Alliance Pact exclusive, written and recorded only a week ago. <object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://babylonoise.wordpress.com/wp-content/plugins/audio-player/player.swf" width="290" height="24" id="audioplayer1"><param name="movie" value="http://babylonoise.wordpress.com/wp-content/plugins/audio-player/player.swf"/><param name="FlashVars" value="&bg=0xf8f8f8&leftbg=0xeeeeee&lefticon=0x666666&rightbg=0xcccccc&rightbghover=0x999999&righticon=0x666666&righticonhover=0xffffff&text=0x666666&slider=0x666666&track=16777215&border=0x666666&loader=0x9FFFB8&soundFile=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.eardrumsmusic.com%2FMAP%2FRichard%2520Holmsen%2520-%2520Great%2520Speed%2520%2528Norway%2529.mp3"/><param name="quality" value="high"/><param name="menu" value="false"/><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF"/></object> PERU – SoTB Catervas – Covida After 10 years in the local scene, Catervas – formed by brothers Pedro, Raul and Javier Reyes – swapped their previous shoegaze sound for melodic rock on 2008 album Hoy Más Que Ayer. With its optimistic, convincing pop songs, Hoy Más Que Ayer is pure passion made into music. Covida is the second single from it and easily the band’s best song to date. <object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://babylonoise.wordpress.com/wp-content/plugins/audio-player/player.swf" width="290" height="24" id="audioplayer1"><param name="movie" value="http://babylonoise.wordpress.com/wp-content/plugins/audio-player/player.swf"/><param name="FlashVars" value="&bg=0xf8f8f8&leftbg=0xeeeeee&lefticon=0x666666&rightbg=0xcccccc&rightbghover=0x999999&righticon=0x666666&righticonhover=0xffffff&text=0x666666&slider=0x666666&track=16777215&border=0x666666&loader=0x9FFFB8&soundFile=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.hotlinkfiles.com%2Ffiles%2F2275614_k0l0h%2FCatervas-Covida_Peru_.mp3"/><param name="quality" value="high"/><param name="menu" value="false"/><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF"/></object> PORTUGAL – Posso Ouvir Um Disco? PressPlay – Play Hot (extended mix) PressPlay are Playgirl and Lisa (aka The Party Queen). Playgirl does vocals and guitars, while Lisa does vocals and electronica. Their influences are PJ Harvey, Peaches, Electrocute, Cobra Killer and Miss Kittin but they sound much better than some of their heroes – and they’re definitely cuter. The extended version of Play Hot, which is the debut single for their upcoming debut album, was mixed by Woman In Panic, who is actually a guy called Pedro Lourenço. <object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://babylonoise.wordpress.com/wp-content/plugins/audio-player/player.swf" width="290" height="24" id="audioplayer1"><param name="movie" value="http://babylonoise.wordpress.com/wp-content/plugins/audio-player/player.swf"/><param name="FlashVars" value="&bg=0xf8f8f8&leftbg=0xeeeeee&lefticon=0x666666&rightbg=0xcccccc&rightbghover=0x999999&righticon=0x666666&righticonhover=0xffffff&text=0x666666&slider=0x666666&track=16777215&border=0x666666&loader=0x9FFFB8&soundFile=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.hotlinkfiles.com%2Ffiles%2F2275613_ubujl%2Fsplay_-_playhot_extended_mix.mp3"/><param name="quality" value="high"/><param name="menu" value="false"/><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF"/></object> ROMANIA – Babylon Noise The Amsterdams – Suffering And Surfing The Amsterdams are a post-punk, indie power-pop band based in Bucharest. Inspired by the famous Dutch city, their name symbolises the freedom of spirit in every sense. Suffering And Surfing is featured on their forthcoming album, a blend of reckless vocals with freewheeling, volatile riffs and rhythms. <object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://babylonoise.wordpress.com/wp-content/plugins/audio-player/player.swf" width="290" height="24" id="audioplayer1"><param name="movie" value="http://babylonoise.wordpress.com/wp-content/plugins/audio-player/player.swf"/><param name="FlashVars" value="&bg=0xf8f8f8&leftbg=0xeeeeee&lefticon=0x666666&rightbg=0xcccccc&rightbghover=0x999999&righticon=0x666666&righticonhover=0xffffff&text=0x666666&slider=0x666666&track=16777215&border=0x666666&loader=0x9FFFB8&soundFile=http%3A%2F%2Fcnimigean.btn.ro%2Fbabylonoise%2FThe%2520Amsterdams%2520-%2520Suffering%2520and%2520Surfing.mp3"/><param name="quality" value="high"/><param name="menu" value="false"/><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF"/></object> SCOTLAND – The Pop Cop Broken Records – Nearly Home Edinburgh seven-piece Broken Records have just signed to renowned label 4AD, the just reward for over two years of personal sacrifice and preaching to the soon-to-be converted with their relentless touring schedule. Devoted followers like myself have already amassed as many as 18 of Broken Records’ epic, swooning, orchestral songs in one form or another – enough to predict that their debut album, scheduled for release this summer, will probably be 2009’s best. <object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://babylonoise.wordpress.com/wp-content/plugins/audio-player/player.swf" width="290" height="24" id="audioplayer1"><param name="movie" value="http://babylonoise.wordpress.com/wp-content/plugins/audio-player/player.swf"/><param name="FlashVars" value="&bg=0xf8f8f8&leftbg=0xeeeeee&lefticon=0x666666&rightbg=0xcccccc&rightbghover=0x999999&righticon=0x666666&righticonhover=0xffffff&text=0x666666&slider=0x666666&track=16777215&border=0x666666&loader=0x9FFFB8&soundFile=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.eardrumsmusic.com%2FMAP%2FBroken%2520Records%2520-%2520Nearly%2520Home%2520%2528Scotland%2529.mp3"/><param name="quality" value="high"/><param name="menu" value="false"/><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF"/></object> SINGAPORE – I’m Waking Up To… Nuance – Fear Strikes Mankind I Nuance is a four-piece rock band, with a recently self-released eponymous EP. At the heart of the record is the two-part epic Fear Strikes Mankind, an ambitious and intense journey that invokes the rock sensibilities of 90s Radiohead and contemporary post-rock experimentation. In the first part of the song (provided here), the biblical narrative of Abraham’s willing sacrifice of his son, Isaac, is related through the perspectives of both father and son. It’s a troubling journey, but the band does well to face the challenges head-on, both existentially and emotionally. <object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://babylonoise.wordpress.com/wp-content/plugins/audio-player/player.swf" width="290" height="24" id="audioplayer1"><param name="movie" value="http://babylonoise.wordpress.com/wp-content/plugins/audio-player/player.swf"/><param name="FlashVars" value="&bg=0xf8f8f8&leftbg=0xeeeeee&lefticon=0x666666&rightbg=0xcccccc&rightbghover=0x999999&righticon=0x666666&righticonhover=0xffffff&text=0x666666&slider=0x666666&track=16777215&border=0x666666&loader=0x9FFFB8&soundFile=http%3A%2F%2Fwakingupto.files.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F02%2Fnuance-fear-strikes-mankind-i.mp3"/><param name="quality" value="high"/><param name="menu" value="false"/><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF"/></object> SOUTH KOREA – Indieful ROK Seokjune – Dok Seokjune released his first EP, Dok, at the start of 2009. Equipped with an acoustic guitar and a voice that conjures Elliott Smith, he performs one delicate tune after another while singing in Korean or English. <object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://babylonoise.wordpress.com/wp-content/plugins/audio-player/player.swf" width="290" height="24" id="audioplayer1"><param name="movie" value="http://babylonoise.wordpress.com/wp-content/plugins/audio-player/player.swf"/><param name="FlashVars" value="&bg=0xf8f8f8&leftbg=0xeeeeee&lefticon=0x666666&rightbg=0xcccccc&rightbghover=0x999999&righticon=0x666666&righticonhover=0xffffff&text=0x666666&slider=0x666666&track=16777215&border=0x666666&loader=0x9FFFB8&soundFile=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fileden.com%2Ffiles%2F2008%2F12%2F5%2F2212496%2FSeokjune%2520-%2520dok.mp3"/><param name="quality" value="high"/><param name="menu" value="false"/><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF"/></object> SPAIN – El Blog De La Nadadora Nouvelle Cuisine – La Comunicación No Verbal Is It Nouvelle Cuisine are a band with a French name but Spanish nationality. They come from Galicia and have self-produced their new album, De Memoria, which is reminiscent of indie bands in the 90s. They develop their essence in personal lyrics and the soft melodies of their songs. <object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://babylonoise.wordpress.com/wp-content/plugins/audio-player/player.swf" width="290" height="24" id="audioplayer1"><param name="movie" value="http://babylonoise.wordpress.com/wp-content/plugins/audio-player/player.swf"/><param name="FlashVars" value="&bg=0xf8f8f8&leftbg=0xeeeeee&lefticon=0x666666&rightbg=0xcccccc&rightbghover=0x999999&righticon=0x666666&righticonhover=0xffffff&text=0x666666&slider=0x666666&track=16777215&border=0x666666&loader=0x9FFFB8&soundFile=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fileden.com%2Ffiles%2F2008%2F12%2F5%2F2212489%2F03%2520comunicaci%25C3%25B3n%2520no%2520verbal.mp3"/><param name="quality" value="high"/><param name="menu" value="false"/><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF"/></object> SWEDEN – Swedesplease Love Lindblom – Till Min Syster I’m a real sucker for catchy music like this which builds and builds into a frenetic climax. I love when the horns kick in. I love the DIY nature of the video – you just know he asked all his friends to help out. In short, I think I Love Lindblom. <object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://babylonoise.wordpress.com/wp-content/plugins/audio-player/player.swf" width="290" height="24" id="audioplayer1"><param name="movie" value="http://babylonoise.wordpress.com/wp-content/plugins/audio-player/player.swf"/><param name="FlashVars" value="&bg=0xf8f8f8&leftbg=0xeeeeee&lefticon=0x666666&rightbg=0xcccccc&rightbghover=0x999999&righticon=0x666666&righticonhover=0xffffff&text=0x666666&slider=0x666666&track=16777215&border=0x666666&loader=0x9FFFB8&soundFile=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.swedesplease.net%2Fmusic%2FTill%2520min%2520syster.mp3"/><param name="quality" value="high"/><param name="menu" value="false"/><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF"/></object> To download all 22 songs in one file click here. [Mirror RAPIDSHARE] Posted in map, noise, playlist
read more »After dropping on radars as a singular singer-songwriter type, Brooklyn's Luke Temple shifted course, scrubbing his name from the masthead for his next solo endeavor: Here We Go Magic. Cue internet praise. On this new project and its self-titled LP, the organizing principle is less Luke's alluring, wispy vocal androgyny and more patterns in sound, often repetitive folk-guitar figures buried in the fuzz of his 4-track, percussion, and analog synths. "Tunnelvision" is the first single, tapping all those points, and getting a video that is every bit as sketchily psychedelic and vaguely evocative as its source track. Peking and Snejina Latev direct. Continue reading New Here We Go Magic Video - "Tunnelvision"...
read more »We may or may not tend to get a little cavalier at times with our use of the word "epic," but this sprawling, ominous, and undeniably cinematic 14 minute track from Pittsburgh duo Zombi is massive in every way. Can't wait to get my vinyl copy in the mail. Via the always-on-it purveyors of proggy, retro-futuristic Italian horror soundtrack-disco, xxjfg. Here's a 5-minute-long edit of the track:mp3:zombi :: spirit animal (edit)[buy]******************elsewhere:Our weekly Sirius XM Blog Radio show aired today at noon Eastern (and will re-air at midnight) on Sirius XMU. This week's episode features new music from Little Girls, Bodies of Water, Wavves, Ariel Pink, and more. You can listen online with a free trial here. Check this week's playlist + some mp3s after the jump...******************gorilla vs. bear blog radio :: feb. 121. girls :: lauren marie2. girls :: morning light3. wavves :: gun in the sun4. white denim :: heart from us all5. the golden filter :: hide me6. jeremy jay :: love everlasting7. nite jewel :: weak 4 me8. nite jewel :: artificial intelligence9. here we go magic :: tunnelvision10. harlem :: caroline11. dum dum girls :: catholicked12. little girls :: what we did13. vivian girls :: girl don't tell me14. no age :: sleeper hold15. bodies of water :: dear boy (paul mccartney cover)16. amnion :: long haired lady (LOVE IS ALL) (paul mccartney cover)17. grizzly bear :: knife18. raekwon :: back from the slums (wu ooh)19. j dilla :: nothing like this20. j dilla :: walkinonit (phaseone remix)21. q-tip :: move22. ancient crux :: in teen dreams23. ariel pink's haunted grafitti :: can't hear my eyes24. angel deradoorian :: grey teeth25. jana hunter :: babies26. holy shit :: written all over your face27. adrian orange :: while you live28. white denim :: wet sand29. grouper :: heavy water/i'd rather be sleeping30. panda bear :: guys eyes (live on ma fama)31. animal collective :: guys eyes****************
read more »[larger image]Here are the details for our third annual gorilla vs. booze day party in Austin, TX, during the week of SXSW '09. We'll be back at one of our favorite bars in town on Thursday, March 19, with an incredible lineup of some of my favorite bands in the world (if you're unfamiliar with any of these groups, check the playlist at the bottom of the post). No RSVP or wristband required, but the place is pretty tiny and tends to fill up fast, so get there early.***************Thursday, March 19, 2009The Peacock | Austin, TXFree | NO RSVP | Free BeerVivian Girls (Brooklyn)White Denim (Austin)WAVVES (San Diego)The Golden Filter (NYC)Girls (San Francisco)Here We Go Magic (Brooklyn)Harlem (Austin)DJ Sober (Dallas)***************<embed id="lalaPlaylistEmbed" name="lalaPlaylistEmbed" src="http://www.lala.com/external/flash/PlaylistWidget.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" wmode="transparent" allownetworking="all" allowscriptaccess="always" flashvars="playlistId=62795P28089&host=www.lala.com&partnerId=memberAffiliate.62795%4023662" width="420" height="254"></embed>More info coming in the weeks leading up to the party. In the meantime, download some mp3s from the bands playing the show after the jump...*******************GORILLA VS. BOOZE III:mp3:vivian girls :: where do you run towhite denim :: sittingwavves :: gun in the sunthe golden filter :: solid goldgirls :: hellhole ratracehere we go magic :: tunnelvisionharlem :: south of france*******************
read more »Brooklyn artists continue to dominate 2009 for me the latest example being Here We Go Magic, the moniker for singer/songwriter, Luke Temple. I’m not sure why I’ve gone this long without hearing about this guy, especially since Sufjan Stevens and Ben Gibbard have both expressed their admiration for his previous work. On the debut album for Here We Go Magic, Temple creates a dense world of folk and lo-fi pop experimentation all tied together by his ethereal, otherworldy vocals. The album highlight is “Tunnelvision” a song which is based on an acoustic progression that repeats throughout the song while layers of vocals build on top and Temple’s falsetto woos the listener. The vibe I get from this song is something like an airy, transcendent incarnation of The Dodos. The flutters background vocals especially give the feeling of weightlessness on this track. “Fangala” goes a slightly different direction, honing in on tropical / Afropop influences with the percussion and incorporating eerie synths and a lovely acoustic melody. Listen to both below and get an advance download of the album at emusic. MP3 Tunnelvision MP3 Fangala *** Pitchfork has a nice recap of the Grammy’s, although I think the Jonas Brothers were less this and more this. Also, I thought Radiohead killed it. if you haven’t watched their performance with the USC marching band yet, you should get on that.
read more »Luke Temple is a singer with immense talent. If you are a fan of his solo work or not, you have to at least appreciate his ability as a singer, which is nothing short of impressive. His two albums to date have been very introspective bedroom folk pop that requires some patience to fully appreciate. Temple is stepping outside of those boundaries for his new project though, Here We Go Magic. For this adventure, Temple has enlisted a wide variety of sounds and emotions to make up the self titled album. Luke still recorded things at home, but used analog synths, a cassette 4-track, and a SM-57 mic to get the album where he wanted it. The results are multi-layered experimental pop music that, when combined with Temple’s voice, make this an album I can easily recommend. The record is due out February 24th on Western Vinyl and HWGM is also hitting the road with Department Of Eagles for some shows this month. In addition, Here We Go Magic will be joining us live in the lounge on March 10th for an afternoon session. So mark you calendars now and check out all the upcoming tour dates after the jump. Here We Go Magic - Tunnelvision 02/15 Brooklyn, NY Southpaw 03/03 New York, NY Le Poisson Rouge w/ Callers and Cary Brothers 03/07 Washington, DC The Red and The Black** 03/09 Pittsburgh, PA garfield artworks** 03/10 Newport, KY southgate house** 03/11 Indianapolis, IN MOKB Laundromatinee Session 03/11 Bloomington, IN Cinemat** 03/12 St. Louis, MO Off Broadway** 03/13 Chicago, IL Beat Kitchen** 03/14 Rock Island, IL Daytrotter Presents** 03/17 Dallas, TX Mountain House** 03/22 New Orleans, LA One Eyed Jacks * w/ Department of Eagles ** w/ Callers
read more »This trio has been generating a lot of good press lately and I can see why. Hailing from Brooklyn, Here We Go Magic are songwriter Luke Temple, Baptiste Ibar and Peter Hale. They are soon to release their debut self titled album on Western Vinyl. Temple made the album over a two month period, using analog synths, a cassette 4 track and his SM-57 mic. The songs that I have heard from the album are quite beautiful and difficult to define. Temple has a light, airy voice, that plays over gentle melodies and many, many interesting sounds. This is one album that I am looking forward to hearing in full.MP3: TunnelvisionMP3: Only Pieces (excerpt)
read more »For a handful of reasons, I’m feeling rather strongly that January has got to go. First off, it’s been damn cold, and I don’t use that kind of vulgarity lightly. It’s been years since I remember anything close to the constant bombardment of sub-freezing daily temperatures we’ve been ‘blessed’ with here in NY this month, and I‘m tired of it. Second, and much more important, before February is through I’m going to be the father of twin girls, and, of course, I’m pretty damn psyched about that. Vulgarity again, I know, and I apologize. I know everyone is going bat shit over Animal Collective’s “My Girls” these days, myself included, but the song has taken on a whole new life for me in the face of what’s coming. My wife’s 34 weeks in right now and looks as though she could pop at any minute. It’s a beautiful sight, and I admire her more than ever for not only dealing with the physical toll on her body in such a brave way, but the psychological toll of spending the better part of the past 4 months confined to a couch. For me, putting together a pack n’ play last weekend sealed it all. I stood over that thing for a few minutes after I was done imagining the tiny lives that will soon inhabit it. The surrealist nature of the past 8 months very quickly became 100% real.As far as music goes, the selection of new tunes I’ve come across in January has made me very excited for what lies ahead in 2009. Literally, I could barely keep up with all the songs I wanted to post. All the record labels must know I’ll be severely handicapped when it comes to regular posts in a few weeks and started getting while the getting’s good. I’m sure you are well-versed in Merriweather Post Pavilion by now, but in addition to it really compelling new albums came from Soft Black, A.C. Newman, and Antony & The Johnsons. The upcoming month sees solid new albums from Handsome Furs, The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart, Dan Auerbach, and a few others. I figured there was no sense in trying to narrow down the month’s selection into a 4 or 5 song sampler of the best it had to offer, so instead you get a mixtape of something from almost every album or band I posted about this month. Dig in, and sorry there’s no Zip - I still haven’t mastered that.MP3 :: I Am An Animal / Soft Black (original post)MP3 :: People Got A Lotta Nerve / Neko Case (original post)MP3 :: Two / The Antlers (original post)MP3 :: Ladybug, Don’t Smile / The Online Romance (original post)MP3 :: There Are Maybe Ten Or Twelve / A.C. Newman (original post)MP3 :: So Bored / Wavves (original post)MP3 :: Everything With You / The Pains Of Being Pure A Heart (original post)MP3 :: Glasses On / Schwervon! (original post)MP3 :: She’s Got Stripes / Aaron Young & His Nightjars (original post)MP3 :: Reasons To Quit / Phosphorescent (original post)MP3 :: Blood Bank / Bon Iver (original post)MP3 :: Tunnelvision / Here We Go Magic (original post)MP3 :: Familiar Light / Asobi Seksu (original post)MP3 :: Starting Over / The Black Lips (original post)MP3 :: I’m Confused / Handsome Furs (original post)MP3 :: The Rake’s Song / The DecemberistsMP3 :: Never Had Nobody Like You / M. Ward (original post)MP3 :: The Wind / Peasant (original post)MP3 :: End In Flames / Strand of Oaks (original post)MP3 :: Beauty Force / David Shane Smith (original post)---------------------------------------------------------------------------
read more »At this time of year, when the view of diminishing daylight outside your window encourages you to stay indoors where it is warm and bathed in electric light, you’ll probably turn towards that which comforts you. The activity of the busy exterior world can be ignored and the urgency of life can be forgotten, and maybe your listening tastes will be refashioned too, by an environment that suggests you should be taking it easy, not moving too much and keeping warm. If that is the case, here are a few downtempo tracks to help you ease into the languid and contemplative state suited for late January Here We Go Magic – Tunnel Vision Here We Go Magic is the new outfit fronted by Luke Temple and this track has been popping up on websites everywhere as a precursor to the debut album, much like the seven-inch single used to do years ago (released February 24th on Western Vinyl). As this song indicates and the album augments, this isn’t an electro-folk digression but an expansive and inclusive exploration into the idioms of folk, electro-trickery and muted recording techniques. Here We Go Magic - Tunnelvision Sleeping States – Rivers Markland Starkie AKA Sleeping States is the kind of artist you want to hold to your bosom and keep as your own and unfairly/secretly hope no one else is going to find, even though he’s be around for a while now (There the Open Spaces will be the grand old age of two this year). But in these months of relative hibernation Starkie’s lethargic lullabies are the kind of songs that perfectly complement a slower way of life. Sleeping States - Rivers Real Estate – Suburban Beverage This new band made up of members of Predator Vision and Ducktails are currently being touted as the kind of outfit you want to hear on a beach holiday when the air feels as if it’s on fire and people start wearing ridiculous looking summer clothes. But the listless jangle of Suburban Beverage with its weary vocals and guitars peals form a befitting calm winter soundtrack to play in the movie of your life - when you aren’t doing very much at all. Real Estate - Suburban Beverage Related posts:Playlist for Heroes Season 3 + Ghost Town Review The Season 3 premiere is tonight! So what else...Songs I like From Bands I Know Nothing About I’m suffering from a bit of writer’s block today. I...AWmusic’s Top Songs of 2008 pt4: #1-25 I know I’m one day late but I’m finallllly done....Allan’s Top Songs of 07 #25-1 I decided to change my mind and do the rest...Spiritualized - Songs in A and E Review The critical consensus on J. Spacemen aka Jason Pierce...
read more »Luke Temple is a singer with immense talent. If you are a fan of his solo work or not, you have to at least appreciate his ability as a singer, which is nothing short of impressive. His two albums to date have been very introspective bedroom folk pop that requires some patience to fully appreciate. Temple is stepping outside of those boundaries for his new project though, Here We Go Magic. For this adventure, Temple has enlisted a wide variety of sounds and emotions to make up the self titled album. Luke still recorded things at home, but used analog synths, a cassette 4-track, and a SM-57 mic to get the album where he wanted it. The results are multi-layered experimental pop music that, when combined with Temple’s voice, make this an album I can easily recommend. The record is due out February 24th on Western Vinyl and HWGM is also hitting the road with Department Of Eagles for some shows, all of which are listed after the jump. You can also catch Here We Go Magic here in Cincinnati on March 10th for a show at Southgate House. Here We Go Magic - Tunnelvision 02/15 Brooklyn, NY Southpaw 03/03 New York, NY Le Poisson Rouge w/ Callers and Cary Brothers 03/07 Washington, DC The Red and The Black** 03/09 Pittsburgh, PA garfield artworks** 03/10 Newport, KY southgate house** 03/11 Indianapolis, IN MOKB Laundromatinee Session 03/11 Bloomington, IN Cinemat** 03/12 St. Louis, MO Off Broadway** 03/13 Chicago, IL Beat Kitchen** 03/14 Rock Island, IL Daytrotter Presents** 03/17 Dallas, TX Mountain House** 03/22 New Orleans, LA One Eyed Jacks * w/ Department of Eagles ** w/ Callers Thanks To Our Sponsor: Cell Phones Zone Baby, Dont Forget Our Number
read more »Those of you who follow Luke Temple are most likely aware that the Austin-based label Western Vinyl is set to release Temple’s new project/band Here We Go Magic’s debut LP next month (following J. Tillman’s excellent Vacilando Territory Blues). If you keep up with my Friday SIRIUS show, you know this has been in [...]
read more »Gorilla vs Bear finally turned me on to Here We Go Magic after a few tries. They’ve got a lot coming up in ‘09, including a show in Kentucky at the Southgate House March 10. MP3: Here We Go Magic - Tunnelvision “Tunnelvision” by Here We Go Magic is a great meld of some of my [...]
read more »Being sick with a cold plus having an unusual amount of paying work (a good thing) this week has resulted in some blog neglect. With my head about to explode, I haven’t felt much like listening to music, and my watery eyes couldn’t stand much time on the computer, so I haven’t been reading other blogs either. At least today, I feel like I’m going to live. Above, this is what happens when the afternoon sunset strikes a mountain covered with snow. This photo was taken from in front of our house last January 2008. L.A. area readers, don’t forget the Alt-Inaugural celebration tonight with Death To Anders, The Hectors, and Divisadero. What a great TGIF! Everybody: note the new subscription buttons in the sidebar on the upper left. If you’re still getting here on a redirect from the old blogsite, it’s time to get with the new program. More on this in the future. Contrast Podcast #147 wanders into the Guitar-Free Zone this week. I really enjoyed reading the concert review of Land of Talk at For the Records. We have to start going to shows again. Been too long! Find another concert review at Music Under Fire–Anya Marina, Greg Laswell–both new to me–and Jennie Owen Youngs. It’s Hard To Find a Friend still doesn’t like Animal Collective. You know, I don’t find any thrill factor there either. The comments on this post made me LOL. If you don’t do anything else, you must pop over to Muruch and read Vic’s review of the soon-to-be-released album by Alela Diane. The featured mp3, “White As Diamonds,” is gorgeous and makes me want to hear more. Lost In Your Inbox has some special finds today. I am also trying to catch up with all the great songs and bands that have been pouring into my Inbox with a few short intros: London band Red Light Company will release their album Fine Fascination in March, but here they give the third track an exhilerating School of Seven Bells treatment and cover the Ting Tings, both live. Red Light Company: Arts & Crafts (School of Seven Bells Cathedral Cubs Cru-Gaze Mix) - Live Be the One (Ting Tings cover) MySpace | Website | Label: Lavolta Records Here We Go Magic is Luke Temple’s new project with a sound that makes you want to soar right out the window–really different from the last song I remember from him. The album won’t be out until February 24, but I already want to hear more. Even P4K likes it. HWGM will be playing dates with Department of Eagles this month. Here We Go Magic: Tunnelvision from Here We Go Magic (2009) MySpace | Website | Label: Western Vinyl And another cover from Ruby Isle, this time of a song not yet officially released by the original artists, the Decemberists, which may be a first in the history of cover songs Ruby Isle: The Rake’s Song (Decemberists cover) MySpace | Label: Kindercore Free download: Download Copyright © 2008 This feed is for personal, non-commercial use only. The use of this feed on other websites breaches copyright. If this content is not in your news reader, it makes the page you are viewing an infringement of the copyright. (Digital Fingerprint: )
read more »In the life of Luke Temple, artistic transitioning nearly seems like a daily routine by now. In several career choices that are not particularly surprising from a multifarious talent, Temple has made a living out of being both a mural painter and a musician. Between painting murals in the grandiose houses of the New York City elite and singing his oddly infectious tunes in smoky barrooms, one could say that Temple likely has a good perception of what it means to struggle as someone who makes a living out of being an artist. Now, Temple appears to be doing just fine for himself, but his growing recognition did not come without any work at all. As he transitioned between considerably different jobs and states (from Boston to Seattle and California to New York), Temple gathered experience that proved beneficial to his talents as both a painter and musician. Perhaps most importantly of all, he learned what it took to alternate between various lifestyles and locales, all while maintaining a consistent focus on the reason why his renown is growing considerably: his art. While mural paintings supported him well enough, Temple’s true calling always seemed to be within the art of music. When he decided to prioritize his music-related pursuits above his respectable work as a mural painter, many wondered whether such a risky move would pay off in the end. Considering that Temple pursued painting as a student at the School of Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts, it may strike many as surprising that he chose to pursue music over something that he was well-studied in. After all, why not just study music in school if it were your most ardent passion? The truth is that few people realize their true focused potential upon entering, and even exiting, college, leading onto lives of regret and contradiction. Well, it usually is not that bad, but Temple is a good example of how initial interests can stimulate a latent talent. There is no doubt that Temple is a talented painter, but it is also a skill that can be rendered unavoidably prevalent in childhood. After all, in grade school, a child drawing a picture is a more common and accessible occurrence than one who transcribes music or writes songs in crayon. This interest, along with an easily identifiable talent, likely led Temple to his choice of a career as a painter. This career choice, like many others though, led to something else that eventually resulted in more appropriate circumstances for a songwriter whose lyrical and melodic prowess transcends many of those who have been set on a musical career since their early childhood. At this current decade’s beginning, as Temple was preparing to try out his hand at visual art, he began to develop an interest in music. He had enjoyed listening to music for the majority of his life, but it was not until then that he took a deep interest in songwriting, production, and the inner-workings of the art. An artist his entire life, the transitioning seemed nearly seamless as he released his debut, a four-track EP, in 2004. His full-length debut, Hold a Match for a Gasoline World, followed in 2005 and it was a fantastic display of the Massachusetts native’s songwriting ability. One thing that he kept the same was his commitment to striking visuals, an aspect that he accomplished through excellent lyrical imagery. For a former painter, I suppose it was not surprising. What was unexpected was Temple’s melodic virtuosity, a feat that was heavily accomplished despite the bare workings of finger-picked acoustics and folky ballads. The songs were not breathtakingly innovative or structurally unpredictable, but they were appealing and accessible enough for Temple’s words to flow with an emotional vigor that is essential in quality folk music. He found his first glimpse of mainstream success in 2006 after one of the album’s tracks, “Make Right with You”, appeared on Grey’s Anatomy, setting the stage for the release of his second album, Snowbeast, in 2007. Snowbeast was a breakthrough for Temple on several levels. In addition to gathering the acclaim of both fans and musicians (Sufjan Stevens, Ben Gibbard) alike, it found Temple expanding upon his previous material without reverting to new styles of play or methods of production. Recorded in his Brooklyn apartment, the use of lo-fi folk was still prominent but the songs themselves benefitted from a more organized flow and a stylistic addition that saw some aspects of electronica being incorporated into Temple’s works. The structures were also noticeably more ambitious, with most of the tracks apart from the opening “Saturday People” taking unpredictable twists and turns that often resulted in an ingeniously engineered success. After the release of this, it was clear that Hold a Match for a Gasoline World was setting the stage for Snowbeast in showcasing Temple’s wildly impressive growth as a songwriter within only two years. And just like that evolution, Snowbeast has accomplished in preparing listeners for Temple’s newest release, a new project altogether that he entitles Here We Go Magic. What Here We Go Magic’s self-titled debut does so well is that it takes the ambitiousness and electro-folk tinges of Snowbeast and combines them with unchartered territory that is not like anything Temple has done before. Half psychedelic-pop and half electro-folk, Here We Go Magic is yet another redeeming example of Temple’s growth as a songwriter. While a wide assortment of synthesizers, guitars, bass, percussion, and samples push him out of the lo-fi category, the songs here are more depictive of minimalistic experimentation than the structural ambitiousness found on Snowbeast. In fact, many of the tracks on Here We Go Magic like “I Just Want to See You Underwater” and “Tunnelvision” benefit from a repetitive riff or sample that remains somewhat consistent throughout the song. “Tunnelvision” sports an acoustic progression and a basic 4/4 drum beat that is not altered even once; the beauty of the track instead comes in the effectiveness of the warbling production and Temple’s high-pitched voice. The tone is ethereal and calming, a stark contrast from the synthesized arpeggios of “I Just Want to See You Underwater”. But this contrast is what makes Here We Go Magic so extraordinary. From the accessibly tropical pop sensibilities of “Fangela” and the use of Afro-pop in “Only Pieces” to the droning ambience of “Ghost List” and “Nat’s Alien”, this album is full of wonderful surprises. This especially applies to the concluding “Everything’s Big”, a track unlike anything else on the album with its naturalistic lo-fi sentiments involving acoustic guitars, keys, and a slight touch of strings. When this ends the album with its genuine flair of romance, it is difficult to even envision Temple pursuing a different art form. This is clearly his true calling. —————————————————————————————— Here We Go Magic - Fangela Download audio file (hwmag-fan.mp3) —————————————————————————————— Here We Go Magic - Everything’s Big Download audio file (hwmag-eve.mp3) —————————————————————————————— Here We Go Magic - Tunnelvision Download audio file (hwmag-tun.mp3) —————————————————————————————— Official Web Site MySpace BUY
read more »GvsB's weekly Sirius XM Blog Radio program airs today at noon (and again at midnight) EST on the new Sirius XMU. This week's episode features new music from the Golden Filter, Fever Ray, WAVVES, Here We Go Magic, Jeremy Jay, Eternal Summers, and more. You can listen online with a free trial here. Check this week's playlist + some mp3s after the jump...***************************gorilla vs. bear blog radio | thursday, january 221. grizzly bear + feist :: service bell2. the books + jose gonzalez :: cello song3. marissa nadler :: river of dirt4. peter bjorn & john :: lay it down (the golden filter remix)5. lykke li :: little bit (aether remix)6. kleerup :: until we bleed (feat. lykke li)7. eternal summers :: fall straight back8. jana hunter :: a bright ass light9. harlem :: goodbye horses (q lazzarus cover)10. wavves :: no hope kids11. wavves :: vermin12. fungi girls :: crystal roads (demo)13. fever ray :: keep the streets empty for me14. john maus :: do your best15. jeremy jay :: love everlasting16. ariel pink's haunted grafitti :: can't hear my eyes17. the notwist :: boneless (panda bear remix)18. animal collective :: no more runnin19. love is all :: make out fall out make up20. vivian girls :: where do you run to21. harlem :: south of france22. here we go magic :: tunnelvision23. real estate :: black lake24. arch M :: 21st union25. burial :: shell of light26. grizzly bear :: deep blue sea27. animal collective :: daily routine28. white denim :: sitting***************************
read more »Tonight in Baltimore there’s a great art opening over at Metro Gallery with some fantastic music to boot. The Birdwatcher’s Companion, work of Katherine Fahey opens tonight and features performances from Caleb Stine, Andy Stack, Jenn Wasner, James Sarsgard, and Bob Keal. Down in DC the Black Cat has The Raveonettes and Nickel Eye while the 9:30 Club has Adele. The Sixth and I Synagogue has a pretty special event - Songs For Presidents - A Bands for Lands benefit celebrating the Presidential inauguration with performances from the critically acclaimed Of Great and Mortal Men: 43 Songs for 43 U.S. Presidencies featuring Nellie McKay, Jukebox the Ghost, These United States, Laura Burhenn, Tim Fite, Joe Pug, Denison Witmer, Silver Darling, Tom Carter (Charalambides), Hiss Golden Messenger, Reid Maclean, J. Matthew Gerken , Jefferson Pitcher, Christian Kiefer, and many more yet to be announced! There will also be an opening set by These United States. Up north in Philly Johnny Brenda’s has a PHEnomenal show with Department Of Eagles, Bear Hands, and Here We Go Magic. Also in Philly is the Cheers Elephant CD Release show at the North Star Bar. There will also be performances by The New Connection, Creaky Boards, and Mr. Radar. Enjoy! mp3: The Raveonettes - Lust mp3: Nickel Eye - Dying Star mp3: Here We Go Magic - Tunnelvision mp3: Department Of Eagles - Balmy Night mp3: Cheers Elephant - Here We Are mp3: Caleb Stine - Devil mp3: Bear Hands - Sickly Brunette
read more »...but that doesn't mean you shouldn't listen to them.If you've spent the past week in the American Arctic, aka the Midwest, chances are you're ready for a holiday somewhere, anywhere sunny and warm, and while the Congo may not be the first place on your list, Rainbow Arabia sure make the thought of January in The Congo rather inviting. With a reggae rhythm which wouldn't sound out of place on The Clash's Sandinista, filtered female vocals, and keys set to cheerful, this number will raise the temperature a few degrees, making the outside feel like a balmy -2.MP3: Rainbow Arabia - Holiday in CongoRainbow Arabia---Like Sigur Ros in a language you can understand, or Broken Social Scene without 15 extraneous members, Here We Go Magic's "Tunnelvision" is a light, uplifting piece of pop recalling the finer moments of either band. At first slight, with its acoustic guitars and synchopated rhythms, then more pieces are delicately stitched together as airy samples and loops gradually build in volume and complexity over the course of four minutes. At its peak you have a head full floating sounds, and you're left wondering how you got here from there. May I suggest a repeat?MP3: Here We Go Magic - TunnelvisionThe self titled debut by Luke Temple and his band, Here We Go Magic, will be out February 24th on Western Vinyl.Here We Go Magic Western Vinyl
read more »I came across this track over at Gorilla vs. Bear not too long ago and find myself listening to it regularly and wanted to share it. Here We Go Magic is the recording name for Brooklyn’s Luke Temple, and the first single from his band’s forthcoming self-titled debut is this tasty little nugget. “Tunnelvision”’s lightly galloping beat and lush acoustic guitars sound vaguely, at first, like “Girlfriend In A Coma”. But as soon as Temple’s airy voice kicks in, it turns into something more beautiful and dreamlike, and makes a fine introduction to an artist to keep an eye on in 2009. Here We Go Magic comes out on 2/24 through Western Vinyl Records. MP3 :: Tunnelvision(from Here We Go Magic. Info here)--------------------------------------------------
read more »Image: Dark Roasted BlendYou know that 2008 best-of list? I take it back--not gonna happen. 2008 was a rotten year for music overall and I'm not motivated to extend it any longer than necessary. But 2009--shaping up to be awesome!!! Aw, just kidding. You know better than to expect ADDed enthusiasm round here. Read on for the usual hedged rah rah and ambivalent approbation. Tunnelvision - Here We Go MagicDidn't really expect this coming from Luke Temple, whose previous work struck me as alright but kind of plodding guy-with-a-guitar prime-time TV drama fare. But this and "Fangela" are two of my favorite songs this year (all 13 days of it), so go figure. Temple sings a Lindsay Buckinghamesque falsetto to divine syncopated folked-up pop, and coats it with ambient drone. To make a visual art analogy, it's like an Edward Hopper/Agnes Martin mashup. Any representational/abstract tensions get canceled out by a shared appreciation for geometry and the American perspective of hard, flat, infinite space.From Here We Go Magic (preorder), MyspaceWoodfriend - Miles Benjamin Anthony RobinsonA con artist approached me recently while I was wrestling with one of those barely functioning parking garage ticket validation machines. He didn't start out as a con artist, of course--he started out as an 19-year-old or so kid who wanted directions to a Metra station. The tip-off (even before he produced the "police report" about his "stolen wallet")? He said his mom had told him to ask a nice lady for help. Lady, hee hee. Nice, har fucking har. First rule of the con: Know your mark. That's when I decided he was a) working a classic angle, and b) really, really bad at it. But I listened to his spiel with fake interest anyway and almost felt sorry for him when I asked if I actually seemed like someone who would hand over money to a stranger with a lame, completely illogical story. There's a sucker born every minute, etc. Now Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson recycles just as many chestnuts--of the guitar hero variety. But I'd slip him some cash to buy drugs, sure. He's that charming, in a slack-shifty sort of way. When he yells hey like a faded Gary Glitter and slurs something about everything being ok, to a ticking cowbell, you believe--because you want to. Good cons make you care. from Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson (Amazon, eMusic), Myspace
read more »Alter egos of solo musicians never seem to go well (see: Garth Brooks, Beyonce except for that one song, etc.) among the commercially mainstream, but here in our little bubble of a music world, they can be occasionally great (see: Jimmy Tamborello, DJ Touche, etc.). Here We Go Magic may be the next great one, as it's the other recording name of folk singer Luke Temple. Paul Simon comparisons have been thrown about when talking about HWGM's self-titled album, while there is also a sense of Dodos-esque percussion as well as the haunting loop-heavy air about it a la Panda Bear (not that Panda Bear comparisons haven't been played out by now, but it's appropriate in this case). I'm a sucker for all three of the aforementioned things so therefore, I'm a sucker for Here We Go Magic. Download audio file (Here%20We%20Go%20Magic%20-%20Tunnelvision.mp3) Here We Go Magic - Tunnelvision
read more »das jahr startet bunt und aufgeregt und voller toller musik. wer das noch nicht bemerkt hat, hat schwere probleme, denn es ist weder ein subtiler vorgang noch irgendwie anders verhangen. die tourpläne füllen sich rasch, die ersten '09er platten schneien ins haus und die labels überschlagen sich mit ihren ankündigungen. wer nicht sondieren mag, schaut ins klienicum. haha! oder auf die anderen diversen blogs dieser welt. natürlich werden wir weiterhin getreulich berichten und dabei so subjektiv wie möglich bleiben. ein paar neue ideen entwickeln sich zudem in den verborgenen regionen unserer hirnkasterl. wir sind dabei an kollaborationen mit anderen blogs interessiert und auf aufregende und originäre ansätze fixiert. auch heuer möchten wir den aufruf lancieren, dass sich weitere schreiberlinge am hiesigen projekt beteiligen dürfen/können/sollen/müssen. ob konzertbericht, review oder vorstellung, wir würden uns über jeden beitrag freuen."passanger" heißt das 09er werk dieser band aus philadelphia, mittlerweile das dritte full length der truppe um die brüder brooke und will blair: east hundred - slow burning crimesende november auf morc records erschien der erste auswurf seit 2005 der jungen dame, mit der wir uns vor nicht allzu langer zeit in bezug auf jessica bailiff beschäftigten, "somewhere someone" heißt das 6track werk:annelies monseré - goldendie dänen befanden sich ende 08 auf ausgiebiger japantour, mit im gepäck hatten sie das ihrem bandnamen gleichlautende album:summerhill - country boyvon ihm wollten wir eh schon mal wieder neues hören, seinem "war elephant" könnte ein ruhig ein nachfolger hinterher trampeln:Deer Tick - Still Crazy After All These Years (Paul Simon cover)und es wird ja geflüstert, dass mit "Born on Flag Day" etwas repräsentierbares bereits vorliegt, leider mangelt es noch an releasedatum, cover, tracklist...:Deer Tick - These Old Shoes am 17. februar erscheint "artificial fire", ein albumname, der einiges erwarten lässt:Eleni Mandell - Artificial Firewas haben sich unsere freunde dabei gedacht?, verschweigen können wir es jedoch auch nicht, an das aktuelle album "black forest (tra la la)" sei dabei erinnert:Pale Young Gentlemen - Paper Planes (M.I.A. cover)an dieser stelle auch noch einmal die aufforderung zum kauf des am 27.01. erscheinenden "paranoid cocoon" albums: Cotton Jones - Blood Red Sentimental Bluesetwas worauf ich mich sehr freue, ist das neue album dieser zwei verrückten barden, die aus einer anderen zeit zu stammen scheinen und dennoch so modern sind, "drip dryin'" erscheint bald:The Two Man Gentleman Band - Drip Dryin'The Two Man Gentleman Band - Fancy Beerdie wollen wir mal im auge behalten, kommen immerhin aus brooklyn:here we go magic - tunnelvisionein nachzügler bei uns, auf shelflife der neue output (10.02.), das album dazu "aboa sleeping":burning hearts - i lost my colour visiondates for friends:sam amidon02. Feb. 2009 20:00 Pop’In Paris03. Feb. 2009 20:00 Baron Paristhe robot ate me / rlyand bouchardJan 22 2009, Transporter Bar, Vienna, ATJan 25 2009, Cafe Zapata, Berlin, DEJan 27 2009, University of Luneburg, Luneburg, DE
read more »Okay, so Pitchfork beat me to posting this...but I've decided to post it all the same. I had never heard of Luke Temple up until last week. I did not know that he had released previous material, especially in the folk vein. And, I could not help but look into Here We Go Magic, his new project, after hearing "Tunnelvision". Developed over a two-month period of stream-of-consciousness recording in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, Luke's self-titled debut under his new moniker Here We Go Magic is a remarkable departure from his signature singer-songwriter material. Luke recorded the album at home using analog synths, a cassette 4-track, and his trusty SM-57 mic, coloring the sound with warmth and creating textures you want to wrap yourself in.Here We Go Magic will be hitting up a few venues on the East Coast alongside Department of Eagles.Download:Here We Go Magic - Tunnelvision
read more »Brooklyn seems to be riding sky high as of late, as every other band you seem to hear about right now is coming out of that area. Joining the ranks is Here We Go Magic, a new project from singer-songwriter Luke Temple, who’s garnered much praise and admiration from his peers for his wonderful singing voice. It’s certainly what made me gravitate to this one track, “Tunnelvision,” which basically begins as a rather boring folk song until Temple’s almost high pitched vocals really just takes things to another level and runs away with everything. Soon after, these great harmonies begin to emerge and everything within the song starts to blend together beautifully. If this happens to drop in my mailbox, i’m more than willing to give it a listen. You can expect Here We Go Magic’s self-titled debut on February 24th via Western Vinyl. MP3: Here We Go Magic :: “Tunnelvision” Related posts:The Magic NumbersNew Shearwater- “Rooks”The Most Serene Republic | “Sherry And Her Butterfly Net”
read more »GvsB's weekly Sirius XM Blog Radio program airs today at noon (and again at midnight) EST on the new Sirius XMU. This week's episode features new music from Animal Collective (duh), Ariel Pink's Haunted Grafitti, Fever Ray, WAVVES, Here We Go Magic, and more. You can listen online with a free trial here. Check this week's playlist + some mp3s after the jump...***************************gorilla vs. bear blog radio | thursday, january 81. animal collective :: my girls2. animal collective :: daily routine3. animal collective :: no more runnin4. ariel pink :: can't hear my eyes5. adrian orange :: while you live6. grouper :: heavy water/i'd rather be sleeping7. white denim :: wet sand8. harlem :: caroline9. ol dirty bastard :: nigga please10. grizzly bear :: blackcurrant jam11. amanaz :: khala my friend12. arthur russell :: close my eyes13. here we go magic :: tunnelvision14. the zombies :: leave me be15. ducktails :: beach point pleasant16. ariel pink :: suicide notes17. vivian girls :: girl don't tell me (beach boys cover)18. crystal stilts :: the dazzled19. WAVVES :: no hope kids20. the golden filter :: solid gold21. chromatics :: in the city22. felix da housecat :: ready 2 wear23. fever ray :: if i had a heart24. invisible conga people :: cable dazed25. gang gang dance :: vacuum26. flying lotus :: aunties lock/infinitum27. frankie knuckles x animal collective :: your love my girls28. cassie + lil wayne :: official girl (CFCF remix)29. burial :: archangel***************************
read more »Sometimes, it's worth gritting your teeth through a little tedium to get to the good stuff. I'm thinking of Joyce Carol Oates stories in Harper's, stealth sections in video games, and the opening stretch of indie-folk musician Luke Temple's (now fronting a band called Here We Go Magic) "Tunnelvision". It begins as a fairly innocuous folk-rock jam-- clip-clopping percussion and craggy acoustic guitar simmer in a four-track haze, Temple's high voice flying overhead like a banner in the wind. But something happens along the way-- the track picks up buried vocal harmonies like rolling snowball, and little flights of lyricism attach to the underside of the hard-charging riff, which takes on an air of inexorability. Gradually, "Tunnelvision" earns its title, moving so purposefully forward that you can feel your own lateral perspective blanking out, eyes fastened on the prize. <object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" width="220" height="70" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0"> <param name="id" value="lalaSongEmbed"/> <param name="wmode" value="transparent"/> <param name="allowNetworking" value="all"/> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"/> <param name="flashvars" value="songLalaId=-8214529535218802931&host=www.lala.com"/> <param name="src" value="http://www.lala.com/external/flash/SingleSongWidget.swf"/><embed id="lalaSongEmbed" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="220" height="70" src="http://www.lala.com/external/flash/SingleSongWidget.swf" flashvars="songLalaId=-8214529535218802931&host=www.lala.com" allowscriptaccess="always" allownetworking="all" wmode="transparent"></embed> </object> MP3:> Here We Go Magic: "Tunnelvision"[from Here We Go Magic; due 02/24/09 on Western Vinyl]
read more »Sometimes, it's worth gritting your teeth through a little tedium to get to the good stuff. I'm thinking of Joyce Carol Oates stories in Harper's, stealth sections in video games, and the opening stretch of indie-folk musician Luke Temple's (now fronting a band called Here We Go Magic) "Tunnelvision". It begins as a fairly innocuous folk-rock jam-- clip-clopping percussion and craggy acoustic guitar simmer in a four-track haze, Temple's high voice flying overhead like a banner in the wind. But something happens along the way-- the track picks up buried vocal harmonies like rolling snowball, and little flights of lyricism attach to the underside of the hard-charging riff, which takes on an air of inexorability. Gradually, "Tunnelvision" earns its title, moving so purposefully forward that you can feel your own lateral perspective blanking out, eyes fastened on the prize. <object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" width="220" height="70" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0"> <param name="id" value="lalaSongEmbed"/> <param name="wmode" value="transparent"/> <param name="allowNetworking" value="all"/> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"/> <param name="flashvars" value="songLalaId=-8214529535218802931&host=www.lala.com"/> <param name="src" value="http://www.lala.com/external/flash/SingleSongWidget.swf"/><embed id="lalaSongEmbed" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="220" height="70" src="http://www.lala.com/external/flash/SingleSongWidget.swf" flashvars="songLalaId=-8214529535218802931&host=www.lala.com" allowscriptaccess="always" allownetworking="all" wmode="transparent"></embed> </object> MP3:> Here We Go Magic: "Tunnelvision"[from Here We Go Magic; due 02/24/09 on Western Vinyl]
read more »Joining the likes of SALEM, Alela Diane, WAVVES, Girls, Ducktails, and a few other new-ish artists from whom we expect (relatively) huge things in 2k9 is Brooklyn's Here We Go Magic. His/their self-titled debut has been steadily growing on me over the last few days, recalling some of the warmer, weirder bits of Cass McCombs' best work, and at times, as the Fader points out, Graceland (though not in an aping, Vampire Weekend-y kind of way). Look for the record in February on Austin's Western Vinyl:mp3:here we go magic :: tunnelvision*********************
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