July 29, 2009

KINGS OF CONVENIENCE ARE BACK WITH CHILLED OUT TRACK FROM UPCOMING ALBUM

Okay, so on first listen it might be a little underwhelming, but any new track from Norway's indie folk/jazz/pop duo is worth its weight in gold. Its been five years since the brilliant Riot On An Empty Street, which featured the clever nerd-dance classic 'I'd Rather Dance With You' the contemplative 'Gold In The Air Of Summer' and the endearing 'Stay Out Of Trouble' among other gems. A couple of weeks ago, it was announced that the dulcid tones of Erland Øye (The Whitest Boy Alive) and Eirik Glambek Bøe (Kommode) will return with their third album set for release in October and last week this was confirmed by EMI Italy. Titled Declaration Of Dependence, it contains 13 tracks including this one, a swinging little acoustic number called 'Mrs Cold'. Download it below, get the tracklisting and check out the upcoming October tour dates at their myspace here as they swing through Europe to showcase its wares. Check out a performance of the track performed last year in Seoul along with another 'Peacetime Resistance' -the Koreans clearly loved them both and its evidence they've had some of the album written for a while!

Tracklisting

24-25*
Mrs Cold
Me In You
Boat Behind*
Rule My World*
My Ship Isn't Pretty
Renegade
Power Of Not Knowing
Peacetime Resistance
Freedom And Its Owner*
Scars On Land*
Second To Numb
Riot On An Empty Street

*Denotes - live performances from the same concert featured below available on youtube

Mrs Cold (Radio Rip)

Kings Of Convenience (NOR)

From the forthcoming album 'Declaration Of Dependence', EMI.

Download here

Live performance at Centennial Memorial Hall of Yonsei University, April 11, 2008.

 

Peacetime Resistance (Live)

Kings Of Convenience (NOR)

From the forthcoming album 'Declaration Of Dependence', EMI.

Live performance at Centennial Memorial Hall of Yonsei University, April 11, 2008.

 

July 28, 2009

BUILT TO SPILL TO RELEASE NEW ALBUM IN OCTOBER

Idaho's Built To Spill are set to release their seventh album 'There Is No Enemy' in October with the jam approach of their 2006 and last record You In Reverse being replaced by Doug Martsch writing most of the songs away from the rest of the band. Having just completed a set of US East Coast dates that included Chicago's Pitchfork Festival and playing the Capitol Hill Block Party in Seattle last Friday, they will return to the west coast for a series of shows in late August before playing four shows in New York after the release of the album. Below is a video of a performance of 'Else', one of my favourite Built For Spill songs, at last week's Siren Festival in Brooklyn.

Else

Built To Spill (USA)

Live at the Village Voice Siren Festival, Brooklyn, June 18, 2009. Originally from the album 'Keep It Like A Secret', Warner Bros.

 

LIGHTSPEED CHAMPION GIVES FREE MP3 TO PASS THE TIME - SAYS ITS NOTHING LIKE THE UPCOMING ALBUM

If you're hanging out for the next Lightspeed Champion record, you'll have to wait until later in the year apparently. Recording for the album has been completed according to the man behind the moniker Devonte Hynes and while you wait for the finished product he has recorded a track titled 'Heavy Purple' as a present for those who sign up to his new website. You can do this if you so desire at the link below.

Heavy Purple

Lightspeed Champion (ENG)

Unreleased track available from official website

Download here

July 27, 2009

PENETRATING YOUR ELECTRO-POP SOUL: THE BIG SOUND OF THIS WEEK'S FEATURE ALBUM

The first thing you notice about Moondagger, the second album from Detroit's Randolph Chabot's nom de plume, Deastro is its unabashed largesse. Lyrically expansive, you'll hear hopeful utopian tales about God, true believers, miracles, crusaders and demons in a most human fantasy where green fields, red rivers, floating floors, mocking women, deformed giants and even, albeit in the bass player's mind, cheerleaders on acid make their appearance. Musically, it is a big sounding record and if electro pop had an equivalent of a big band tradition, Deastro would amply capture it. Such immensity can often accompanied by criticism, that the artist has over-reached himself/herself, over-dramatised things, gone over the top. Well, I can tell you that on Moondagger, Chabot has done none of those things. Sure, its full of gigantic sweeping synth, explosive guitars and relentless and thumping rhythms but every note and its scale is worth the effort - and boy do Chabot and co., Mark Smak (guitar), Brian Connelly (bass) and Jeff Supina (drums) put in the effort. The frenetic build up that leads to the crashing and jarring of the massive chorus on first track 'Biophelia', a track that contains five distinct parts, melds into indie30 chart fave 'Parallelogram' where childlike verse is punctured by pulsating rhythm and massive percussion that never relents and is topped off by a gigantic chiming wave of synthesiser, the catchiest part of the whole album. After these first two crackers, if you think you're in for a let down any time soon do not fear. The aptly named 'Tone Adventure #3' is a punchy piece of dramatic theatre laid over a throbbing four-four beat. 'Toxic Adventure' is characterised by funky guitar and bass and a rapacious disco beat and 'Greens Grays And Nordics', an earlier version of which can be found on Keepers, is founded on a hopeful and bright chorus and mid and end sections that contain an interplay of infectious alternate off and double high hat work combined with a intensely sparkling dose of guitar and synth work. The joy doesn't end there although the album does lose a little momentum in its middle section when compared with the stupendous start. It is regained in spades with 'Daniel Johnston...' and fully recaptured with the immediacy and measured brilliance of Vermillion Plaza. The album proper ends with the New Order inspired 'Kurgan Wave Number One' in which Chabot asks the question 'Where were you when I needed you to stay'. It makes you just want to reply, 'Right here Randolph, right here...and I'm not going anywhere...'

The last word: Even the bonus tracks on Moondagger are great - an outstanding record from arguably the most promising young exponent of the electro-pop genre going around.

FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE ATLANTIC: WHEAT AND WILD BEASTS SMASH INTO THE INDIE30 CHART THIS WEEK

This week saw two massive new entries with US band Wheat entering the Indie30 chart at number five with 'Changes Is' and England's Wild Beasts not far behind at 8 with 'We Stll Got The Taste Dancing On Our Tongues'. They were joined by three equally impressive moves into the 30 with Cold Cave 'Love Comes Close' at 12, Noah And The Whale 'My Broken Heart' at 15 and Sally Shapiro making a second appearance this year with 'Love In July' at 17. This week saw Fools Gold 'Surprise Hotel' grab the number one spot from Dirty Projectors 'Useful Chamber' and some big moves from Anna Ternheim 'What Have I Done' 13 to 4, Blue Roses 'I Am Leaving' 17 to 10 and Barzin with 'Soft Summer Girls' 23 to 16. Check out the chart here

July 26, 2009

NEW CHART JUST ADDED - CLICK HERE

July 25, 2009

SONGS IN THE KEY OF BLOG - MORE OF THE BEST FROM JULY

This week saw the release of some very worthy albums including the already aforementioned Wheat and Magnolia Electric Co. Here's a selection of songs possible Top 30 candidates from the blogs with some links to media attached for your downloading and viewing pleasure.

Gold and Warm

Bad Veins (USA)

From the album 'Bad Veins', Dangerbird Records

Download here

Bad Veins myspace

 

People Say

Portugal. The Man (USA)

From the album 'The Satanic Satanist', Equal Vision

Download here

Portugal. The Man myspace

Audio only

The End Is Near

The Fiery Furnaces (USA)

From the album 'I'm Going Away', Thrill Jockey

Download here

The Fiery Furnaces myspace

Audio only

 

Kaufmans Ballad

Megafaun (USA)

From the album 'Gather, Form And Fly', Hometapes

Download here

Megafaun myspace

Paralyzed

Starlight Mints (USA)

From the album 'Change Remains', Barsuk

Download here

Starlight Mints myspace

Dixie Cups In The Dead Grass

The Skygreen Leopards (USA)

From the album 'Gorgeous Johnny', Jagjaguwar

Download here

The Skygreen Leopards myspace

Our Darkest Days And Nights

Love Is Chemicals (USA)

From the album 'Sons Of The Summer Youth Brigade', Three Ring Records

Download here

Love Is Chemicals myspace

CAMERA OBSCURA PLAY FORMER INDIE30 NO 1 FRENCH NAVY ON US TV

The indie darlings of Scotland, the sublime Camera Obscura played their recent Indie30 No. 1 track on the Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson last month. In case you missed it like we need, check it out here.

French Navy

Camera Obscura (SCO)

From the album 'My Maudlen Career', 4AD Records.

July 24, 2009

WILD BEASTS BACK WITH VERY IMPRESSIVE SECOND ALBUM - JUST A YEAR AFTER THE FIRST!

Just a year after the more than serviceable debut album Limbo, Panto Wild Beasts, one of England's most strongest and interesting indie pop/rock outfits, are back with a follow up, Two Dancers. The album is set for a release on August 3 in the UK and September 8 in the US. The first three tracks to see the light of day, the lead single 'Hooting And Howling' and the other posted mp3s indicate a less frenetic and choppy ride this time with the falsetto voice of Hayden Thorpe sharing the limelight with bassist Tom Fleming, whose vocals lead four tracks, including one of those mp3s and the album's catchiest, 'All The Kings Men'. His pipes also were at the forefront of 'The Devil's Crayon'. Wild Beasts are about to do the Festival run in England with appearances at the Truck Festival at Steventon (see April news archive for info.) tomorrow, the Camp Festival on Sunday at Dorset and the Stockton River Festival on July 31. They'll be at Field Day at Victoria Park in London on August 1st before playing a sold out show at Hoxton Hall, also in London on August 6. They round off this lot of shows at the Moor Festival on the 8th. Be sure to catch them somewhere.

*Note: The Devil's Crayon by Wild Beasts came in at No. 60 on Indie30's Top 100 songs of 2008. To check the track out click here 

Wild Beasts myspace

Hooting And Howling

Wild Beasts (ENG)

From the forthcoming album 'Two Dancers', Domino. Out in UK on August 3 and in US on September 8.

July 23, 2009

COLD CAVE PUTS DARK AND EXPERIMENTAL TOUCH ON 80S ELECTRO-POP

There is a great deal of 80s style electro-pop around at present with the decade seemingly being permanently channelled by its new adherents. So a new spin on the genre as well as some genuine diversity within it is sorely required. Well, that's just what you'll find on the new Wesley Eisold (Xiu Xiu, Prurient, Ye Old Maids, American Nightmare/Give Up The Ghost) project. Combining with Caralee McEvoy, also of Xiu Xiu and fellow Prurient member Dominic Ferrow, Cold Cave have been threatening to unleash an album for a while, after a collection of singles (a couple appear on it) and last week did. Full of hooks that traverse darkness and light, experimentation that's not out of context or over the top for the sake of it and employing a perfect balance of noise with synth, Love Comes Close is out now through Eisold's own publishing company, Heartworm Press. Check out the title track below with album tracklisting.

1. Cebe And Me
2. Love Comes Close
3. Life Magazine
4. The Laurels Of Erotomania
5. Heaven Was Full
6. The Trees Grew Emotions And Died
7. Hello Rats
8. Youth And Lust
9. I.D.C.K.

Cold Cave myspace

Buy album here

Love Comes Close

Cold Cave (USA)

From the album 'Love Comes Close', Heartworm Publishing.

Download here

Life Magazine

Cold Cave (USA)

From the album 'Love Comes Close', Heartworm Publishing.

Download here

July 22, 2009

NEW AND FUZZY WHEAT

They're from Taunton, Massachusetts, they're into their thirteenth year and they released their fifth full length album yesterday - they must be Wheat! Having re-released their first two albums Medieros and Hope And Adams earlier this year in case you missed them first time round (I did) this one, White Ink, Black Ink is a reminder of the freshness of their early years and a big return to form for the band. This track, Changes Is is an absolute beauty made up a lasting off beat, a trance like melody, the fuzzy sirens of overlayed distorted guitars and the telling line, "Change is the better part of me, Boom Boom, I'm gettin' out of here".  Download through the link below and watch their excellent new video.

Changes Is

Wheat (USA)

From the album 'White Ink, Black Ink', The Rebel Group

Download here

Official Video

GRIZZLY BEAR RETURN TO LETTERMAN

Having been snubbed last time they were due to appear on Letterman - being from Brooklyn at least they didn't have to go far - Grizzly Bear made a return last week and actually got to play. Here's that performance, the delicate and hopeful 'Ready, Able'. 

Ready, Able

Grizzly Bear (USA)

From the album 'Veckatimest', Warp Records.

July 20, 2009

SARAH BLASKO'S BEST ALBUM YET IS INDIE 30 FEATURE ALBUM THIS WEEK

Discarding her electric guitar and straightforward pop sound for a more sparse and intricate but sonically diverse approach, Australian singer/songwriter Sarah Blasko has breathed fresh life into a career that thus far has been impressive but was in danger of heading in a direction that has rendered many artists by their third album, stale. In search of a different perspective for her third album As Day Follows Night, Blasko parted company with co-writer and producer Robert Cranny and enlisted Swedish producer, the recently prolific Bjorn Yttling (Camera Obscura, Robyn, Lykke Li, Anna Ternheim, Nicolai Dunger) of Peter, Bjorn and John and Yttling jazz fame. Try and read a review of the album without it mentioning him - I bet you don't. 

As Day Follows Night allows Blasko's remarkably unique and affecting voice full range and she has never sounded better. The weak spots that affected small parts of the first two albums are gone and full potential has been reached. Combine such grand vocals with fusions of jazz, blues and of course pop dominated instrumentally by piano rather than guitar with the employment a range of instruments; keyboard, saxophone, strings, double bass, xlyophone and effective percussion and you've got Blasko's finest album yet. Standout songs include 'All I Want', 'Bird On A Wire', 'Hold On My Heart', the magnificent centrepiece 'Sleeper Awake', 'Lost And Defeated' and the beautiful closer 'Night And Day'. This is undoubtedly a true step forward for an artist who continues to develop and grow. Blasko is to be commended.

As Day Follows Night is only available in Australia with no word on an international release at this stage.

BIG DEBUT FOR ANNA TERNHEIM - BIG MOVE FOR REVERIE SOCIAL REVUE 

This week's Indie30 chart sees Swedish artist Anna Ternheim debut at 13 with her 2008 album opener, the catchy bass and strings number 'What Have I Done'. The album itself, Leaving On A Mayday (see article below), finally sees a US release next month. Other new entries include the beautiful Bowerbirds track 'Beneath Your Tree' (19), the equally gorgeous and second track by Barzin to hit the chart this year 'Soft Summer Girls' (23), the jaunty 'Hold On To My Heart' (29) by Sarah Blasko and the delights of the mysterious Swedes JJ sneaking in with 'Things Will Never Be The Same Again' (30). The biggest mover of the week was Reverie Sound Revue with their smooth and silky piece of pop magic 'An Anniversary Away' (up 13 from 17 to 4). Dirty Projectors remain at 1 with 'Useful Chamber' for the second week. Check out the chart here.

July 19, 2009

NEW CHART JUST ADDED - CLICK HERE

July 18, 2009

ANNA TERNHEIM'S LATEST ALBUM FINALLY COMES TO THE US

Being on a major label in Sweden or winning Swedish Grammy Awards doesn't mean a lot when it comes to breaking the US market. Take the example of Anna Ternheim, who released her fourth full length Leaving On A Mayday in Sweden late last year. The album finally and belatedly gets a US gig next month, a full ten months after that initial release despite the fact Ternheim has been regularly in the country touring and collaborating since her 2006 album Halfway To Fivepoints. That album only saw the light of day in the US last year and her first two albums appeared as a collection back in 2006. Leaving On A Mayday is an impressive and accessible collection of 10 songs full of pop authenticity that was produced by Bjorn Yttling with collaboration by Matt Sweeney and Sonic Youth drummer Steve Shelley among others. Just like the recent collaboration with Australian Sarah Blasko, Yttling allows Ternheim's strong vocals to shine through rather sparse but rich instrumentation. Leaving On A Mayday is out in the US on August 11 while the first single and album opener 'What Have I Done' was packaged as a US only EP release last month. Download it below and look out for its debut in tomorrow's Indie30 chart.

What Have I Done

Anna Ternheim (SWE)

From the album 'Leaving On A Mayday', Universal Music. Out now in Sweden and rest of the world except in the US - Out on Aug 11.

Download here

July 17, 2009

THE AUDREYS HEADING TO L.A. BEFORE RETURNING HOME FOR AUGUST DATES

Adelaide indie country/folk/rock outfit The Audreys will be in Los Angeles for two shows later this month to showcase their 2008 Australian release When The Flood Comes. Still only available internationally through import, no doubt a label will pick it up soon if they already haven't. Read about the upcoming Los Angeles odyssey here. Upon heading home, they will be doing a mini Australian tour in August taking in Sydney, Adelaide and Melbourne to celebrate the release of both of their albums Between Last Night And Us and the aforementioned When The Flood Comes in Australia on vinyl. Tour dates and free mp3 link below.

Mon, Jul 27 - Spaceland, Los Angeles
Thur, Jul 30 - The Hotel Cafe, Los Angeles (buy here)

Thur, Aug 20 - The Basement, Sydney
Fri, Aug 21 - Governor Hindmarsh, Adelaide
Sat, Aug 22 - Northcote Social Club, Melbourne
Sun, Aug 23 - Northcote Social Club, Melbourne

Official Site here

The Audreys myspace

Paradise City

The Audreys (AUS)

From the album 'When The Flood Comes', ABC/Universal/Import Only

Download here

Official Video

July 16, 2009

DODOS RESPOND PROACTIVELY TO LEAK OF NEW ALBUM

The new Dodos album was not slated for a release until September but with the record leaking all over the internet, the band and their label French Kiss have decided to tackle the problem head on. The have decided to offer a high quality stream of the album and a free mp3 at timetodie.net. In addition to this, they have brought the digital release date forward to later this month. Amazon will have the album available on July 28 with other digital retailers to follow a week later. The physical release occurs in the UK on August 31 with the US to follow on September 15. As far as an appraisal of the album's music is concerned, the bloggers are largely mixed thus far. There's been a lot of criticism about the band losing the raw sound that characterised their first two releases Beware Of The Maniacs and last years Visiter. This effort is certainly far more produced than those, whether that's a good thing or not, time will tell. My instincts tell me it just may be the former.

Fables

The Dodos (USA)

From the forthcoming album 'Time To Die', French Kiss. Out in UK Aug 31, US Sept 15.

Download here 

VAL VENOSTA - COUNTING TO TEN, TALKING LIBRARIES WITH MONKEY MASKS AND BIKES

Swedish duo Val Venosta have just released a free mp3 of their catchy count to 10 electro-pop track 'Peace And Quiet Is For Libraries' which is accompanied by a video of people wearing ape masks and riding bicycles. Apparently, the vision is a bastardisation of a road safety video from 1963 and has been used by the likes of Boards Of Canada. Peace And Quiet...  comes hot on the heels of their last single 'These Days' released just last month. Look out for more from this promising outfit in the near future.

Peace And Quiet Is For Libraries

Val Venosta (SWE)

From the single 'Peace And Quiet Is For Libraries', Self Released. 

Download here

Official video

  

These Days

Val Venosta (SWE)

From the single 'These Days', Self Released. 

Download here

Official video

  

NEW SALLY SHAPIRO VIDEO 'LOVE IN JULY'

Back in May we featured the first track from Sally Shapiro's forthcoming album My Guilty Pleasure. Now Sally (and Johan) are back with their second single, the aptly titled 'Love In July', a chilled out tale about lost love and regret coupled with a Paul Leeny and David Loom created video of a goldfish who leaves its bowl in a rocket ship to save a whale trapped in an iceberg but ends up trapped in an icecube itself. Both are saved by the sun of a Swedish July melting their mutual prisons. Cute stuff!

Love In July

Sally Shapiro (SWE)

From the forthcoming album 'My Guilty Pleasure' Paper Bag Records. (Out on Aug 25)

Download here

July 15, 2009

NEW WHY ALBUM COMING

Why are set to release their fourth album Eskimo Snow in September and have just offered the first track off the record as a free mp3. Eskimo Snow will be out via anticon in the US with the UK release on Tomlab not until October. It contains ten songs, all of which were recorded during the same sessions that produced their last album Alopecia.

This Blackest Purse

WHY (USA)

From the forthcoming album 'Eskimo Snow', anticon/Tomlab. Out in US on September 22. In UK on October 5.

Download here 

July 13, 2009

THE CLIENTELE ADVANCE MP3 OFF FORTHCOMING ALBUM

London's The Clientele are set return with a new album, Bonfires On The Heath, in October. We were all very impressed by their last release back in 2007, God Save The Clientele, so there's some anticipation around for this one. The rich reverb and breathy vocals are back with this advance track which leads off the album and is a signifier of what's to come. Download it and check out the tracklist below.

I Wonder Who We Are

The Clientele (ENG)

From the forthcoming album 'Bonfires On The Heath, Merge Records. Out on October 6.

Download here

1. I Wonder Who We Are
2. Bonfires On The Heath
3. Harvest Time
4. Never Anyone But You
5. Jennifer & Julia
6. Sketch
7. Tonight
8. Share The Night
9. I Know I'll See Your Face
10. Never Saw Them Before
11. Graven Wood
12. Walking In The Park

July 12, 2009

A GENRE DEFYING BEACON OF EXPERIMENTAL POST ROCK BRILLIANCE

It usually takes a few weeks to digest a new Tortoise album such is the nuanced, distinct and genre defying nature of their musical approach and end product and this album is no different. After a five year hiatus from recording a Tortoise album proper, the Chicago experimental post rockers have returned with an extremely strong release that once again combines a plethora of genres ranging from minimalist to sweeping versions of Krautrock, world music, dub, electronica, punk, post-punk, funk and jazz and won't disappoint any long time fans. , the powerful opener 'High Class Slim Came Floatin' In' was a perfect lead out preview track for the album upon its release in late April and amply illustrates that far from running out of ideas for experimentation, the band has them in spades and undoubtedly has more up their sleeve. 'Prepare Your Coffin' is probably the most straight forward rock track on the record jammed packed full of  powerful guitar melodies and combined with the propulsion of relentless bass. Try to get the bass and percussion of Northern Something out of your head or try to stop the smile come over you when Gigantes hits the mid way mark and floats of on a synth driven percussive odyssey. Other strong tracks include the chilly western inspired 'The Fall Of Seven Diamonds Plus One' and the awesome closer 'Charteroak Foundation', a track that is built on six up and down notes juxtaposed on a straight four-four beat - check out the jarring two notes at the three quarter mark. I'm not one to worry about comparisons with a band's past releases, therefore I don't reference them. So for mine, Beacons Of Ancestorship more than deserves its stand-alone place in the pantheon that is the Tortoise discography.

DIRTY PROJECTORS TAKE THE NUMBER ONE SPOT

The towering middle track on the Dirty Projectors latest album Bitte Orca, 'Useful Chamber' has hit number one this week on the Indie30 chart. With enough changes of direction to make your head spin, its by far in our view the best track on the record eclipsing its strong forerunner 'Stillness Is The Move'. While I'm on the Dirty Projectors, credit also needs to go to the voice of Haley Dekle, who tends to get left behind Amber Coffman and Angel Deradoorian as together the trio excel here. Thus Bill Callahan drops to the number 2 position after two weeks at the top. The other big news this week is the debut of the West African inspired track 'Surprise Hotel' by the Los Angeles based Fools Gold replete with lyrics sung partly in Hebrew. We can't wait 'til September and the release of the album. Other debuts this week mostly stemmed from tracks that have been doing the blogs. Canada's Reverie Sound Revue drops in at 17 with the silky and sublime 'An Anniversary Away' while Jason Molina's Magnolia Electric Co. debuts with 'Little Sad Eyes' (21) and Dodd Ferelle does likewise with the country pop of 'I Can't Wait' (22). Boston's Hallelujah The Hills completes the five debuts with 'Blank Passport'. In other developments, Bibio moves up a massive nine spots to three with the Phenomenal Hand Clap Band not far behind, up six spots to four. New Zealand veterans, The Bats position themselves at 16, up six, Spoon's 'Got Nuffin' is up 5 to 15 and Blue Roses and Slaraffenland move up four spots with 'I Am Leaving' (20) and 'Meet And Greet' (16) respectively. Heading the other way is War Tapes 'Dreaming Of You' down from its lofty position of 2 to 8, Deastro 'Parallelogram' (down 7 from 4 to 11), Bat For Lashes 'Pearl's Dream' (down 5 from 8 to 13), Sweden's Fibes Oh Fibes 'Love Child' (down 7 from 11 to 18), Deerhunter 'Circulation' (down 10 from 15 to 25), Evan Voytas 'Getting Higher' (down 9 from 17 to 26), Jeniferever 'Green Meadow Island' (down 8 from 19 to 27) and Throw Me The Statue (down 9 fron 21 to 29). It's certainly cutthroat at present as none of these quality tracks deserves to be treated like that but what to do? There are only thirty spots. Check out the chart by clicking here.

July 11, 2009

NEW CHART JUST ADDED - CLICK HERE

July 10, 2009

SONGS IN THE KEY OF BLOG - OUR BEST OF JULY SO FAR

There's been quite a decent collection of new mp3s doing the blog rounds so far this July. Here is our pick of them with download links and release information to give you a taste, there's twenty tracks in all - some kind of mixed tape! If you like what you hear buy the records.

Greens, Greys And Nordics

Deastro (USA)

From the album 'Moondagger', Ghostly International.

Download here

From Africa To Malaga

JJ (SWE)

From the album, 'JJ N° 2', Sincerely Yours.

Download here

I Can't Wait

Dodd Ferelle (USA)

From the album 'Lonely Parades', Two Sheds Music.

Download here

Scott Walker's Fault

The Minus 5 (USA)

From the album 'Killingsworth', Yep Roc

Download here

Fortune Teller

Forest Fire (USA)

From the album 'Survival', Catbird Records

Downloadl here

The Love Of One

Lee Harvey Osmond (USA)

From the album 'A Quiet Evil', Latent Records

Download here

Ships With Holes Will Sink

We Were Promised Jetpacks (SCO)

From the album, 'These Four Walls', Fat Cat Records.

Download here

Heavy Drops

Lights (USA)

From the forthcoming album 'Rites', Drag City. Out on July 21.

Download here

Soft Summer Girls

Barzin (CAN)

From the album 'Notes To An Absent Lover', Weewerk Recrds.

Download here

Vertex

John Tejada (USA)

From the EP 'Vertex', Palette Records

Download here

Little Sad Eyes

Magnolia Electric Co. (USA)

From the forthcoming album 'Josephine', Secretly Canadian. Out on July 20.

Download here

Blank Passports

Hallelujah The Hills (USA)

From the forthcoming album 'Colonial Drones', Misra Records. Out on Sept 22.

Download here

Red Light Love

Those Darlins (USA)

From the album 'Those Darlins', Thirty Tigers.

Download here

Stay Famous

Rhinelander

Cougar (USA)

From the album 'Patriot', Counter Records/Ninja Tune

Download here

Arrows

We Are The Opposite Of Thieves

An Anniversary Away

Reverie Sound Revue (CAN)

From the album 'Reverie Sound Revue', Boompa Records

Download all here

Taking Drugs At The Amusement Park

The Silent Years (USA)

From the EP 'Let Go', Sidecho(US)/Moorworks(Jap)/Gift Music(UK)

Download here

Crazy Ship

Jeff Merchant (USA)

From the album 'City Makes No Sound', Tropical Mall Music

Download here

July 9, 2009

FRESH FROM HIS JAPANESE ODYSSEY, GOLD PANDA DROPS DEBUT EP

UK techno glitch pop dubstepper (what is that?) Gold Panda has been a prolific remixer for some time now with the likes of Your Twenties and Little Boots being the subjects of his treatment among others. Next week he's set to release his debut EP, the Japanese inspired Miyamae, which happens to be an industrial suburb in Kawasaki he stayed in with a Japanese DJ, whose name is the title of the second track, 'Mayuri' while teaching English in Japan - that occupation will bring memories flooding back for someone I know well. Read about his 'shitty' experiences in that occupation, not the Japan one itself at Fader where you can download 'Mayuri' below. Must have worked for the rapacious Nova chain. The EP also contains the tracks 'Back Home' and 'Long Vacation'.

Mayuri

Gold Panda (ENG)

From the EP 'Miyamae', Various Productions.

Download here

MARTYN REMIXES EFDEMIN'S ACID BELLS

Dutch DJ/Producer Martyn released his debut long player Great Lengths back in March which not only drew on dubstep but genres ranging from minimal house, Detroit techno, reggae and drum 'n' bass. The album garnered some very positive press which lauded him for branching out and not resting on his past 12" laurels. Now Martyn has got hold of long time German DJ/Producer Efdemin's two year old track 'Acid Bells' and  put it through the remix ringer with two alternate mixes, 'Bittersweet' and 'Dark'. The double A side is out this week. You can listen to the both versions below. Just don't get confused as the Bittersweet Mix is incorrectly labelled as the Dark Mix on The Hype Machine.

Acid Bells (Martyn's Bittersweet Mix)

Efdemin/Martyn (GER/NET)

From the 12" single 'Acid Bells (Martyn Remixes), Curle Records.

Stream here 

Acid Bells (Martyn's Dark Mix)

Efdemin/Martyn (GER/NET)

From the 12" single 'Acid Bells (Martyn Remixes), Curle Records.

Stream here

Right?Star!

Martyn (NET)

From the album 'Great Lengths', 3024.

Stream here

BOWERBIRDS ARE BACK WITH SECOND ALBUM UPPER AIR

Its been less than eighteen months since Phil Moore and Beth Tacula released their first album Hymns For A Dark Horse and this week saw them put out their second album as Bowerbirds, the stratospherically titled, Upper Air. Lyrically, it continues down the interconnected road between nature and human beings that characterised Hymns... but employs more fuller instrumentation on the front and back ends. There have been two preview mp3s added to promote the album both of which you can download below. 'Beneath Your Tree' is accompanied by a live walk through performance in an Austrian park via They Shoot Music Don't They. Two other tracks from the same session follow.

Beneath Your Tree

Bowerbirds (USA)

From the album 'Upper Air', Dead Oceans

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Live at Stadtpark, Vienna, Austria (walk and talk!)

 

Northern Lights

Bowerbirds (USA)

From the album 'Upper Air', Dead Oceans

Download here

Audio only

Teeth

Bowerbirds (USA)

From the album 'Upper Air', Dead Oceans

Bright Future

Bowerbirds (USA)

From the album 'Upper Air', Dead Oceans

MORE THEY SHOOT MUSIC DON'T THEY - AU REVOIR SIMONE

Any chance to catch some live video of Brooklyn starlets Au Revoir Simone is always a rewarding experience aurally but also visually. On our wanders through the They Shoot Music site we stumbled across these performances back in late April of 'Tell Me' and 'Take Me As I Am' from their recently released album Still Night Still Light live in Vienna's Volksgarten and Rathauspark respectively - and on the one keyboard. A real DIY effort with bum notes, out of kilter timing as well as ramshackle endings. Good on 'em!

Tell Me

Au Revoir Simone (USA)

From the album 'Still Night, Stll Light, Our Secret Recording Company.

Take Me As I Am

Au Revoir Simone (USA)

From the album 'Still Night, Stll Light, Our Secret Recording Company.

July 8, 2009

HONOURABLE SWEDE SARAH BLASKO DROPS NEW ALBUM NEXT WEEK - ANNOUNCES AUSTRALIAN TOUR

There's little doubt that Australian indie folk/pop starlet Sarah Blasko's recent work with Bjorn Yttling (Peter, Bjorn & John) in Sweden on her new album has not only rubbed off on her music but seen a forging of definitive links with some important figures in the Swedish music scene. Blasko's new album, As Day Follows Night is released in her home country next week on July 10 through Dew Process. She embarks on a couple of dates with Jack Ladder later this month before a Splendour In The Grass festival appearance. She then jets off for two dates in Scandanavia, Landet in Sweden and the Aarhus Festival in Denmark on August 8th and 30th respectively  before heading home for a tour with Swedish pop songstress and namesake Sarah Assbring, otherwise known as El Perro Del Mar. Here are the full dates and the new Celeste Potter directed video for first single 'No Turning Back'.

Australian Tour Dates - As Day Follows Night Tour

October 1, Theatre Royal, Castlemaine
October 2, The Forum, Melbourne*
October 3, Norwood Concert Hall, Adelaide*
October 9, Enmore Theatre, Sydney*
October 10, The Tivoli, Brisbane*
November 12, The Quarry, Perth

*with El Perro Del Mar

No Turning Back

Sarah Blasko (AUS)

From the forthcoming album 'As Day Follows Night', Dew Process. Out in Australia on July 10.

Official video

RED RIDERS METAPHORICALLY DROWNING IN COLOUR

Australian indie rock band Red Riders are set to release their new album which you can hear as a whole accompanied by the usual poor quality sound of a myspace stream on their site here. A positive follow up to the 2006 straight ahead pop/rock release Replica Replica, this album Drown In Colour, is a more nuanced, diverse and introspective effort. If you can stand the sound quality, do check it out before it drops through Ivy League next week on July 10. Here's the tracklisting and the video for the first single 'You've Got A Lot Of Nerve' released back in May

Tracklisting

1. Tomorrow/Today
2. Ordinary
3. You've Got A Lot Of Nerve
4. Feels Like Grace
5. All Mine
6. So Long
7. Over Again
8. The Beginning Of The End Of The Night
9. Never Gonna Be Enough
10. The Siren Sings

You've Got A Lot Of Nerve

Red Riders (AUS)

From the forthcoming album 'Drown In Colour', Ivy League. Out On Australia on July 10.

Official video

NEW MICHEAL DEAN DAMRON RECORD

If you don't like country rock in its non market tested and non garden variety form, stop reading this article now. However, it gives us pleasure to let all and sundry that do know that long time purveyor of dark and twisted country rock, Michael Dean Damron is back with a new album, Fathers Day. The former frontman for I Can Lick Any Sonofabitch (get it?) has returned with his band Thee Loyal Bastards for 9 new tracks and three covers, Drag the River’s 'Beautiful And Damned', Thin Lizzy's 'Dancing In The Moonlight' and Townes Van Zandt's 'Waiting Around To Die'. Standouts among the new tracks include the title track which you can download below, 'Angels Fly Up' and 'Tornado Song'. Fathers Day is out now on In Music We Trust.

Fathers Day

Michael Dean Damron (USA)

From the album 'Fathers Day', In Music We Trust.

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July 6, 2009

L.A's FOOLS GOLD TO RELEASE DEBUT ALBUM IN LATE SEPTEMBER

'Hailing from Los Angeles by way of Nigeria c1978'',  Taco, Dec 16, 2008.

Fool's Gold transcend the smog of Los Angeles with their big band tropical orchestral call-it-what-you-will multicultural dance music'. LA Record, March 5, 2009.

'...a mix of West African pop, Krautrock and a little bit of 80's dance music sung in a mixture of Hebrew and English', Hate Something Beautiful, Jun 24, 2009.

'music made for hot nights in a sweltering desert', Popwreckoning, June 25, 2009.

In addition to Top and Pesacov,'

'The cast of characters includes Garrett Ray (of Foreign Born) on drums, Jimmy Vincent and Matt Popieluch (of Foreign Born) on guitar, Amir Kenan (childhood friend of Top's from Israel) sings backup vocals and plays keys, Brad Caulkins and Mark Noseworthy on saxophones/flute, and on percussion: Orpheo McCord (who studied percussion in Ghana as well as moonlighted as drummer for The Fall), Brazilian/Mexican visual artist Salvador Placencia, Argentinean pop star Erica Garcia, Michael Tapper (ex-drummer of We Are Scientists), all of whom play a beautiful array of hand-made instruments including: Ewe, Gungon and Djembe skinned drums; Gankogui, Bananna bells and claves; Kashishi, nut-rattles, goat-toe rattles, Chekeres, Axatse shell gourds and an over-sized tambourine Mizhar bought on the street in Cairo, Egypt'. RCRD LBL.

The official release date for their self titled debut album is September 29 on IAMSound Records. It was recorded live over two days at Sunset Lounge last year and completed at various places in the first half of this year. The aforementioned tropical African sound comes through strongly on its opening track 'Surprise Hotel' which you can download courtesy of the Austin Town Hall.

Surprise Hotel

Fools Gold (USA/BRA/MEX/ISR/ARG)

From the forthcoming album 'Fools Gold', IAMSound Records.

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CHEW LIPS RELEASE NEW SINGLE

London electro indie pop outfit Chew Lips released their second single 'Salt Air today digitally. The vinyl edition will see the light of day next week and both contain some interesting remixes of the track by Jupiter and Indie30 faves Two Door Cinema Club. An excellent video done by man vs magnet accompanies the single. Chew Lips will follow New York's Phenomenal Hand Clap Band (6.30) for an in-store at London's Pure Groove records tonight from 9pm. Details here.

Salt Air

Chew Lips (ENG)

From the single 'Salt Air', Kitsune/Rough Trade.

FLUNK GET PASSING GRADE WITH US

Prolific Norwegian indie electronica band Flunk released their sixth album 'This Is What You Get' worldwide early last month. Its contains a mixture of influences from trip hop, ambient, dreampop, shoegaze and post rock and carries a chilled and downtempo aura about it. The first single has been doing the rounds for some time now and you can download it below.

Common Sense

Flunk (NOR)

From the album 'This Is What You Get', Beat Service Records. 

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July 5, 2009

NEW CHART JUST ADDED - CLICK HERE

BRILLIANT BIBIO FEATURED ALBUM ALL THIS WEEK ON INDIE30

English producer Stephen Wilkinson has been making and reinterpreting music under the Bibio moniker for some five years and now with his signing to Warp Records he is exposing his overhauled sound to a much larger audience. In fact, a quick look at Barnes And Nobles sales ranks for CD's sees his new album and this week's feature sitting at a sales rank of 642 which essentially means its walking off the online shelves. Some of you may ask why we as a indie music site have links to the American chain store. Well, quite simply it's the cheapest price for CD's you'll find for both US and international customers and its shipping rates mean its still often cheaper than buying the record in your own country. So, we're basically providing the cheapest option for our readers wherever they live. CD prices are still too high and discouraging for punters so finding cheap purchase options is of paramount importance, especially in this day and age of illegal downloads. The artist has to be supported.

In any case, I digress, back to Bibio. Ambivalence Avenue can be described thus; folk is the new electronica and electronica is the new folk! Both influences converge in a pastoral delight and shine through in a strong and surprisingly compatible and complimentary way. While the melodies may be recognisable and, according to the Guardian, whose reviewer quite unfairly and somewhat missing the point states 'its as if we're listening to Bibio the music fan, not Bibio the distinct musical personality (what's wrong with that anyway?). Sure, the album taken as a whole can be labelled a homage to Wilkinson's influences but its not as if there's not enough of all things new that it can't be taken as an honest, original work either and in my view the word disingenuous has been bandied around far too easily.

The stiltedness yet natural flow of the record kicks off with the retro folk of the title track and by the time we've got past the single 'Fire Ant', a chopped up looping 70's soul number, the diversity is assured to keep interest. Then, Wilkinson brings in the exquisite beauty of Haikuesque, a track that hits on a loose guitar chord that permeates the musical spine. Then next is the track chosen by Indie 30 to chart from the album (debuting at No 12 this week),the booming bass of the Aphex Twin and Flying Lotus influenced and otherworldly sounding 'Sugarette'. Then we return to the cloudy folk sound of the intro to 'Lovers Carvings' before it gets a dunking in sunlight a minute and a half in. The strength of the album's back end is the melodic reflection of 'The Palm Of Your Wave' and the slow, deliberate 'Cry! Baby!'. So we've established the reviews have been somewhat mixed. However, in my book its an album to be embraced and loved and a release that taps into what's feels right in the fickle 'now' of indie music circles. That must of been why I've had a smile on my face all week as it accompanied me on my otherwise automaton-like drive to and from work.