Claire Boucher, who was born in Vancouver, Canada, came to Montreal in 2006. Her experience as a performer is deeply embedded in the DIY loft culture of Montreal, where Grimes, Claire's artistic export, was one of the prominent figures in the scene surrounding Lab Synthèse - a 4600 square foot re-appropriated textile factory. She developed in a scene where punk ethos and pop music collide, resulting in a distinct sense of community, religiosity and psychedelic revelry. Visions arises as Boucher's fourth release in less than two years. Her debut album, Geidi Primes [...]
RACES (formerly known as Black Jesus) formed in the fall of 2009 after singer/songwriter Wade Ryff escaped the sweaty grips of multiple bands, the San Fernando Valley and a real life witch. Originally formed as an impromptu group assembled for a one time performance, this haphazard ensemble of 6 musicians decided to continue playing together and see what opportunities came their way. Despite still have a really bad name, the band's music is ridiculously good. Sweeping, slightly large in scope, and so full of emotion that they seem to be sponsored by Kleenex RACES [...]
Merge will release the self-titled debut album from Brooklyn's Hospitality on January 31. Formed in 2007, Hospitality has evolved from a bedroom project to a 4-piece collaborative group destined to take over the world...or maybe just some corner in Brooklyn. The angular, intricate, and intelligent compositions of Hospitality signal a sophisticated new pop voice. Singer Amber Papini’s idiosyncratic songwriting and incisive lyrics coupled with the band’s rich arrangements on its self-titled debut explore youth, New York, and the bittersweet commingling of past and present in a way that feels [...]
From the 'whistle while you work' opening of 'Zimbabwe', the summer grooves of 'Tapioca' to the dramatic crescendo of 'Oceans', New Navy’s debut ‘Uluwatu’ EP demonstrates the Australian bands powerful songwriting ability and consistent style. New Navy balance sparkly guitars with front man Ben McInerny's smooth vocals, delivering strong bass-lines and breezy indie grooves to great effect. Sounding like a version of Foals or The Whitest Boy Alive on permanent vacation, the band fuses "world music" vibes with hooks that are far too easy to latch on to and come up with something [...]
One of our favorite bands around here is easily Twiggy Frostbite. Sort of a splinter group of The Deer Tracks every once and a while something appears from them that leaves us in awe. It's completely random when they show up. In fact, we don´t know exactly when, what or even if something will happen with these guys but this is how it goes when you give an artist total freedom. No demands on format, no deadlines. no nothing... The saga of these occasional songs is something that we don´t understand the beginning [...]
Rewards (Aaron Pfenning, Co-Founder of Chairlift) has debuted the brand new Eddie Mars remix of his single Equal Dreams featuring Solange Knowles and Blood Orange aka Lightspeed Champion. Released through DFA Records digitally and in 12" vinyl this past summer. Pfenning assumed the name Rewards (a moniker he's actually used since 2003), after he spent the better part of last year touring with We Are Scientists, Brandon Flowers , Suckers and Warpaint , and released three broodingly romantic singles ("I Used To," "What a Loser" and the achingly beautiful [...]
Sea Pinks are a three piece from Belfast, UK formed in 2010. Singer and guitarist Neil Brogan began to write and record songs as a side project from his other band Girls Names(in which he is the drummer) and put out a cassette album Youth is Wasted , in September 2010 on his own label, CF/Records The band went on to record their first studio EP a few months later. Peripheral Vision was released in January 2011 on 12” vinyl also on CF/ Records. Like the tape, the EP quickly [...]
Clubfeet return with their newest single, "Last Words," another piece of melancholic pop from the Melbourne (via Cape Town via Biarritz) band. The single has been remixed by some of their friends and you don't want to miss these. Indie producer Andrew Maury, aka RAC, drops a chunky, catchy mix that works equally well in clubs, on the radio, at home, or through the sound system at the local planetarium while extremely high. Next up, London-bases The C90s turn in a remix that is synth-heavy, twisting and turning into a slab of pop-funk that will shake [...]
Summer might officially be over, but please don't tell Monarchy this as they apparently still think it is mid June. This is ok. You see, Monarchy are back with another synth-pop gem, You Don't Want To Dance With Me, due for release in late October. After the undeniably catchy summer single Maybe I'm Crazy, the duo slow things down with the irresistible YDWTDWM (say that three times fast), featuring guest vocals from Britt Love. The song's pulsating bass line and hypnotic, layered synths provide the perfect backdrop [...]
It's not every day you hear a song about a long-distance runner from Ethiopia, much less one that sounds like a long lost Ride tune. But in the case of...er...[The] Caseworker that's exactly what they've written. With ‘National Runner’, [The] Caseworker have an instant pop classic on their hands. The song’s consummate balance of drone and chime features a heady mix of hypnotic guitars and driving rhythm section, all perfectly offset by Conor Devlin’s starry-eyed vocal. Learning that the track is an ode to famed Ethiopian Olympic long-distance runner Miruts Yifter [...]
The noisy, earnest legacy of the Jesus and Mary Chain, My Bloody Valentine, and Ride lives on in the expansive, catchy-as-hell pop songs of Los Angeles’ Tennis System . Matty Taylor (vocals and guitar), Misha Bullock (drums and, on occasion, guitar), Christopher Norman (guitar and, on occasion, drums), and Guylaine Vivarat (bass) are masters of loud and dirty anthems, but rising above the noise that blankets them are Taylor’s beautifully sung, dreamy lyrics inspired by both love and art. Listen hard, and through the distortion, threads of melody emerge; these are picturesque songs, full of woe, optimism and yearning. [...]
World's End Girlfriend is a Japanese composer whose work blends complex sound structures with beautiful melodies, reaching from electronic glitch to jazz-infused rock to modern classical. Captivating, enthralling and like nothing you’ve heard before, WEG makes for a surprising yet central addition to London contemporary music label Erased Tapes (Ólafur Arnalds, Peter Broderick, Nils Frahm, Rival Consoles). World's End Girlfriend hails from Nagasaki Kyushu, Japan and currently resides in Tokyo. Fascinated by his father's classical music collection, he began his foray into sound at the tender age of 10, creating his early [...]
Finnish Electro-Grindcore maven Huoratron (pronounced whore-a-tron) is the solo project of Finland's Aku Raski, who began by using two Game Boy consoles to produce experimental and dark electro. Since then, he's risen from the digital underground and updated his gear while maintaining the pure black sound and raw aesthetics. If you can imagine Kid 606 with a tune and bit of metal churning through his veins you can kind of picture where Huoratron is coming from. He's chaotic, dark, and sure to write the soundtrack of the end. Huoratron [...]
Miami is exploding with talent. It's amazing how much difference a decade can make. Once a musical wasteland for anything that wasn't related to dance music, the Magic City has come back with a vengeance. As if to prove that point, The Jacuzzi Boys have just released their sophomore album. And rather than slumping, the Jacuzzi Boys have cranked up the amps, tuned the guitars and let it rip. Breaking out of the garage and fully embracing their power pop roots The Jacuzzi Boys have created one heck of a record with Glazin'. [...]
St. Lucia is a recording artist based in Brooklyn, NY. However, his musical journey began far from here. The vocalist/producer/multi-instru mentalist began his musical journey in his home country of South Africa . Much of his music is inspired by old family photos and the exotic environment in which he first began cultivating his talents. His debut double AA-side, All Eyes On Me , is now out on HeavyRoc - the China Town, NY label that brought you The Knocks and Alex Winston. Dreamy and kind of like old Peter Cetera records, this is a [...]
Austin’s Wiretree began as the solo recording project of singer-songwriter Kevin Peroni. After releasing the LP Bouldin in 2007, Peroni recruited Joshua Kaplan on guitar, Rachel Peroni on bass and Daniel Blanchard on drums to solidify the project. The group released their sophomore effort Luck in 2009, finding it’s way on various year-end best of lists (Blurt, Absolute Powerpop) while being labeled Blurt Magazine’s “Best Kept Secret.” KLRU featured the band on Austin City Limit’s “Satellite Sets” in January 2011. The band is currently supporting their 3rd full length album [...]
The New Investors are a brand new group from Copenhagen formed by four young investors with a passion a for sophisticated pop music, everlasting virtues, life affirming investments and French wine. So when the Eurozone totally collapses into economic chaos, at least they have something to fall back on. Sounding like a psychedelic trip through the 60's via indie pop from today the band cover all their bases and then some. To quote their bio (which incidentally is written like a business portfolio), "When listening to the New Investors you [...]
Back in February we told you about Team Genius and back then we noted that they would be releasing records like mad men. Well, they didn't lie, they've been busy and have indeed released new music...again. This is, uh, genius if you ask us. Team Genius' simple take on indie pop at times sounds like the Cars, Weezer, and Papas Fritas. And that's not a bad thing. With hooks large enough to reel in a whale shark, and understated simplicity that makes their songs irresistible it's almost [...]
Tim & Becca from Tim & Sam's Tim & The Sam Band are also the fantastical Golden Fable . A much easier name to remember Golden Fable are anything but a tall tale. This dark, piano led single will haunt your dreams and leave you in a cold sweat. With Becca's otherworldly voice leading the way, you'll find yourself crossing over into the great unknown and not wanting to come back. Lets just put it this way, if "The Chill pt 2" is the light at the end of [...]
British electronic-infused post-rock faves 65Daysofstatic announce the North American release of their latest album We Were Exploding Anyway in a special deluxe edition that also features the recent Heavy Sky EP . The expanded set will only be released in North America and hits stores on 2xCD, LP and Digital Download on October 25th, 2011 via Monotreme Records. The deluxe 2-CD edition includes bonus 7-track Heavy Sky CD EP . The vinyl edition is heavyweight 180 gm vinyl (dark blue and white versions) and includes a free copy of the [...]
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Who is BANKS?
Watch The National on The Colbert Report
Green Day all'Ohibò di Milano, secret show a sorpresa
I am back in town. Chairlift are coming to town. Coincidence? Absolutely.
