Former member of The Blow , Jonathan Warren Bechtolt (who performs under the name Jona Bechtolt), is an electronic musician and multimedia artist based in Portland. Jona has released solo records under the name Yacht since 2003 and his forthcoming album 'See Mystery Lights' is due out sometime this summer. On this album Jona teamed up with miss Claire Evans and DFA Records. Take A listen to the first single 'Phychic City' off the album, See Mystery Lights: Download:Psychic City (Right click on link and select [...]
After playing together for a few years in the band Black Mountain, Amber Webber and Joshua Wells decided to start a separate project together, which they named Lightning Dust . Together these two take a very simple, bare bones approach to making music. The Canadian duo are getting set to release their sophomore album, 'Infinite Light' on August 4th via Jagjaguwar Records. Take A Listen: I Knew by Lightning Dust Download:I Knew (Right click on link and select “Save Target As” [...]
Thomas Bartlett has been a busy guy lately working with such artists as The National, Bon Iver, Nico Muhly and David Byrne. Aside from lending out his musical skills, Bartlett also has his own project in the works...the yet to be titled Doveman album that was produced by Patrick Dillett. New York's Doveman is: Thomas Bartlett- Plays with Antony and The Johnsons, David Byrne, The National, Elysian Fields, The Frames, Bebel Gilberto & Miho Hatori Sam Amidon - Plays with Samamidon, Stars Like Fleas, Tall Firs, The Amidon Family & [...]
Del the Funky Homosapien and his crew, the Hieroglyphics came out as a markedly non-gansta response to a growing West Coast scene. After being called on at the age of 17 by his cousin Ice Cube, Del released two records on Elektra, 'I Wish My Brother George Was Here' (1991) and 'No Need For Alarm' (1993). Despite recognizable record sales, his third album 'Future Development' was never commercially released and Del parted ways with Elektra. Apart from collaborations with PrincePaul, El-P (Company Flow), and help from a [...]
Portland, Oregon’s experimental three-piece band, Nurses , will release their debut album ‘Apple’s Acre’ on August 4th via Dead Oceans Records. Nurses formed in 2006 and is made up of singer John Bowers, multi-instrumentalist Aaron Chapman, and drummer James Mitchell. Bowers and Chapman, best friends from Idaho Falls who met in junior high school, have been roommates for five years. They started the group in Idaho and went through stints in Southern California and Chicago before taking to Portland and meeting Mitchell on a whim in late 2007. Until last month, they lived together [...]
I just stumbled upon some beautifully eclectic tunes from the Echo Park duo, Danny & Tiffany Preston. Rainbow Arabia marries electro-acoustic dance sounds and world music with the youthful energy of punk using an array of Lebanese synthesizers and drum machines, serpentine guitar lines, and live percussion. Sounds like a great combination to me. UK label Merok (Crystal Castles, The Teenagers, and Klaxons) released Rainbow Arabia’s EP 'the Basta' in the fall 2008, while Manimal Vinyl (Bat For Lashes, Hecuba) released it in the US. Their 2nd and forthcoming EP ‘Kabukimono’ is [...]
Jarvis Cocker’s follow up to his 2006 solo debut ‘Jarvis’ hit stores a few days ago (May 18th) via Rough Trade Records. The new album ‘Further Complications’ is a bit less pop and a bit more rock than listeners might expect…it is quite possible the Mr. Steve Albini had a hand in that. Albini who has worked with the likes of Nirvana, The Stooges, Pixies, PJ Harvey, Bush, Jawbreaker, Superchunk and Cheap Trick, was the lead producer/engineer on ‘Further Complications.’ Take A Listen: Angela by Jarvis Cocker [...]
Scottish band, The Twilight Sad is comprised of James Graham (vocals), Andy MacFarlane, (guitar/accordion/noise), Craig Orzel (bass), and Mark Devine (drums). Forming in 2003, the band’s early shows saw them creating half-hour pieces of music with tape loops and toy instruments alongside bass, guitar and drums. Their debut album ‘Fourteen Autumns and Fifteen Winters’ which was released in 2007 was recorded in Glasgow, and mixed and produced by the band and Peter Katis (Interpol, Mercury Rev, Mice Parade). The Twilight Sad toured Europe in 2008 with Mogwai and released a [...]
Californian band Foreign Born is gearing up to release their latest album ‘Person To Person’ (due out June 23 in the U.S. and June 15 in the UK) and will be touring over the next few months with various bands, including: Grizzly Bear, BLK JKS, Shane Tutmarc and Erik Blood, The Veils and The Other Girls, Warpaint and The Veils w/ Faces On Firm. Take A Listen to Foreign Born’s latest single - Early Warnings Download:Early Warnings (Right [...]
Littl'ans , whose name in Cockney vernacular means "Little Ones," is a four-member group from the UK consisting of singer and guitarist Andrew Aveling, drummer Ben Clarke, guitarist Alex Mahood and bassist Ryan Blagrove. You might be most familiar with the bands’ single, ‘Their Way,’ which features the grimy Brit-rocker Pete Doherty. Although they are relatively new onto the scene, the members are not strangers to life on the road. The Littl’ans ’ last British tour saw gigs canceled due to, amongst other things, an exploding gas canister and a double booking with 80s legendary Echo [...]
Apostle of Hustle consists of Andrew Whiteman (lead guitarist of Broken Social Scene), bassist Julian Brown (Feist), and Dean Stone (Sarah Harmer, Amy Millan) on drums. Apostle of Hustle started as a side project for Whiteman back in 2001 and over the years, between touring and recording stints with B.S.S., A. Hustle has released two albums and a few EPs. Their new EP 'Eats Darkness' is set for release May 19th via Arts & Crafts. Take A Listen: Soul Unwind by Apostle of Hustle [...]
The Crystal Method released their new album 'Divided By Night' on May 12th, and the electronica mix includes collaborations with Matisyahu, New Order Bassist Peter Hook, and Emily Haines of Metric. The first track to spill out from the album is, 'Slipstream' and it features vocals from Grandaddy frontman Jason Lytle. Take A Listen: Slipstream by The Chemical Brothers
Painter and former member of Black Dice, Sebastian Blanck , is in the process of finishing up his forthcoming record at Rare Book Room studio. While there are no confirmed plans for the album’s release, Blanck recently unveiled a delicate new track he worked on with Caroline Polachek of Chairlift. Take A Listen: Thunder by Sebastian Blanck feat. Caroline Polachek Download:Thunder (Right click on link and select “Save Target As” in IE or “Save Link As” in Firefox)
London based five-piece, Orphans & Vandals produce some rather complex music with their array of instruments and Al Joshua’s half singing half spoken word lyrics. Orphans and Vandals seem to be intrigued by death, sex and the underbelly of London’s inner city streets…so their music is a bit on the dark side. Their songs are poetic, they are stories that require attention, especially since their tracks don’t stay within the 3 minute norm. Orphans & Vandals are: Al Joshua - guitar, harmonica, vocals, toy piano Francesca - [...]
The Brooklyn garage pop band, Cause Co-Motion! have a new EP ‘Because Because Because’ out on Slumberland Records, and some tour dates through out the Midwest to go along with it. Take A Listen: You Lose by Cause Co-Motion! Download:You Lose (Right click on link and select “Save Target As” in IE or “Save Link As” in Firefox)
Bike For Three! is the cross-continental duo of Canadian indie-rapper Richard Terfry (Buck 65) and Belgian based electronic producer Joëlle Phuong Minh Lê (Greetings From Tuskan). The duo’s album, 'More Heart Than Brains' was recorded without the two artists ever meeting face-to-face during the recording process. The story goes, Joëlle found Richard,…Joëlle sends Rich music; Rich writes to the moods and movements that she’s designed; Joëlle nurtures each piece into an animate whole. Take A Listen: All There Is To Say About Love by Bike For Three! [...]
Washington, DC’s, The Dance Party is a high-energy rock group with a sound that combines Dance-Punk, 80's New Wave, and Powerpop. The band recently recorded 10 tracks with Andros Rodriguez at the helm (Justin Timberlake, Cobra Starship, !!!). Take A Listen: Sasha Don't Sleep by The Dance Party The Dance Party - MySpace
Balloons is a Philadelphia, PA-based dance music quartet with a sound that blends electronic with pop and goth undertones. They use a mix of electronic beats and keyboards with acoustic and electric guitars and thick, moody vocal harmonies to convey a message that is both tough and tender. The bands debut cd 'Definition of Forever, which was released this past month was written by Martin Royle ( Washington Social Club) and Christian Menses (Toxic Shock founder), the E.P. also features contributions by Angel (Dope / Team Cybergeist). Take A [...]
The Carps , Jahmal Tonge & Neil A. White, are a drum and guitar duo from Scarborough, Canada (Toronto). Although The Carps have been around for a couple of years, releasing their first EP ‘The Young and Passionate Days Of Carpedia in 2007, I just stumbled upon their music in the form of a cleverly titled single “It's Raining In The Projects, But It's Sunny In Africa.” Jahmal Tonge, the man behind the drums and the mic, is a soul junkie. He grew up listening to Prince and Michael Jackson but it was sifting through [...]
Mos Def’s album 'The Ecstatic' is set for a June 9th release date courtesy of Downtown Records. The new album features guest spots from Talib Kweli and Slick Rick, with production credits from Oh No, Chad Hugo, Mad Lib, Mr. Flash and the late J. Dilla, among others. Take A Listen: Casa Bey by Mos Def
MUSiC SNiTCH
Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros – Better Days
Listen The Lonely Island and Solange together on “Semicolon”
Words. They Cut Like A Knife
