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Monday, January 29, 2007

NYC



So, I'll be in the process of moving from San Francisco to New York over the next week and posts may come at a slower rate, or even a dead stop for a little while. But I'll be back with new contributors, mp3 postings and an interview with YOUNG LOVE really soon. Check back regularly...you never know when I might hit you up from the road.

In the meantime, check out SEAN DONSON's killer new blog AsRestlessAsWeAre

Thursday, January 25, 2007

YOUNG LOVE - Too Young To Fight It


After playing the shit out of 'Discotech' in 2006 to the point that I never need to hear the song again, I think I'm ready to hear more from NYC's YOUNG LOVE when their debut album 'Too Young To Fight It' hits stores this Tuesday. The only other song I had heard before was the mediocre cover of THE GOSSIP's 'Standing in the Way of Control'. Not that it was terrible...it's a fantastic song that even FERGIE could probably make listenable, but no one could give it the urgency and passion that Beth Ditto does. That said, 'Find A New Way', the first single from the new album is not nearly as catchy as 'Discotech', but it has a cool (and kinda funny) video:

'Find A New Way' - video


Young Love on Myspace
Young Love official site

Wednesday, January 24, 2007

On the Topic of Shoegazer



With the mind-altering news that JESUS & MARY CHAIN will be headlining Coachella this year, I thought it would be interesting to take a look at bands on the current scene whose sound is directly influenced by the seminal band and/or the movement they came from.

The sound actually dates back to the 60's with THE VELVET UNDERGROUND. Many years later, 1984 to be exact, a new band exploded with a fresh new sound that drew elements of The Underground's heroin-tinged guitar noise. That band was Jesus & Mary Chain. But ultimately, the genre's most defining album didn't come out until 1991, when MY BLOODY VALENTINE's 'Loveless' was released.

Over the last decade, a whole crop of bands have found a niche in reviving the 'shoegazer' sound - ultimately fuzzy electric guitars, lots of drone, a melancholy voice and a hint of Spector-era melody - including, but not limited to BRMC, RAVEONETTES, AUTOLUX and THE KILLS. EDITORS and INTERPOL also incorporate the sound, but draw more heavily from the post-punk goth hues of JOY DIVISION and ECHO & THE BUNNYMEN.

More recently, a new wave of bands have come onto the scene, solidifying the power of JAMC's defining sound.

THE RADIO DEPT. - recently made famous by Sofia Copola's MARIE ANTIONETTE soundtrack, are as shoegazer as it gets today.

ASOBI SEKSU - at times this NY based band sounds like THE CRANBERRIES modernized, but their overall tone is one of dream-pop, a genre basically spawned by shoegazer, culminating in bands like GALAXIE 500 and COCTEAU TWINS in the early 90's.

SERENA MANEESH - Sweden has a thing for shoegazer right now. These guys probably hit the sound most on the mark as of late. Playing their CD is like stepping back in time to 1991.

DEERHUNTER - an Atlanta band that I discussed previously. Just today one of their songs came on and I thought it was CHAPTERHOUSE for a second.

THE MANHATTAN LOVE SUICIDES - their Myspace page lists a who's who of shoegazer bands as influences, and from the sound of their song 'Skulls', I can see why.

MIRAGE



Maybe Italians really Do do it better. First SALLY SHAPIRO now the Italo synth duo MIRAGE.

Not much can be found about these guys yet, What we do know is that MIRAGE is comprised of singer Simone Adonai and Achille Vettesi on Synths. They seem to share company with acts like FARAH, CHROMATICS, and GLASS CANDY. Four tracks are currently available for download on their Myspace page , the highlight of which is 'Looking for Love'.

Anyone know anything more about them? Hit me up!

Tuesday, January 23, 2007

CASIOTONE FOR THE PAINFULLY ALONE



I've recently fallen in love with CASIOTONE FOR THE PAINFULLY ALONE (or Owen Ashworth, actually). His latest album 'Etiquette' was released a while back in 2006 and spawned a couple singles - 'Bobby Malone Moves Home' and my favorite 'Young Shields'. Sure, the moody synths and driving beats hooked me at first, but beyond that there's something sad and nostalgic about Ashworth's voice. A voice that has the power to encapsulate you in his haunted world - imagine Leonard Cohen in a sweet synth-pop landscape. Dynamite.

Hear the tracks mentioned above on CFTPA'S myspace page.

Monday, January 22, 2007

COACHELLA LINE-UP REVEALED, Blows Many Minds



They had me at THE JESUS AND MARY CHAIN...oh my fucking God!

The added surprises of PEACHES, FELIX DA HOUSECAT, JOSE JONZALEZ, NEW PORNOGRAPHERS etc. has me second guessing my cross-country move to NYC next week.

Damn...I may have to move some mountains for this.

JARVIS COCKER, PLACEBO Confirm Coachella


According to their website PLACEBO are taking to the California desert for their first appearance at Coachella.

Billboard also reports that PULP frontman JARVIS COCKER will also be on hand.

So, as of extremely early Monday morning, the line-up seems to look kinda like this:

rage against the machine
red hot chili peppers
bjork
arcade fire
interpol
willie nelson
the roots
manu chao
the decemberists
artic monkeys
sonic youth
happy mondays
crowded house
air
faithless
tiesto
kings of leon
placebo
sattelite party
silversun pickups
busdriver
ozomotli
the good the bad the queen
jarvis cocker
the kooks
the cribs
the feeling
travis
!!!
Lilly Allen
Hot Chip
LCD Soundsystem
Junior Boys
Comedians of Comedy
Fountains of Wayne
Fields
Oh No Oh My
Cornelius
Digitalism
Ozomatli
MSTRKRFT
VNV Nation
Konono No. 1
Rodrigo y Gabriela

Also rumored: Girl Talk, CSS, The Rapture, and uh...The Police?

Official line-up to be posted any minute now on Coachella.com

FAITHLESS, HAPPY MONDAYS Confirm Coachella


According to Bjork.com FAITHLESS and HAPPY MONDAYS will also be on the COACHELLA 2007 bill, as will GOTAN PROJECT and Damon Albarn's new project THE GOOD, THE BAD & THE QUEEN.

I love HAPPY MONDAYS, but are they still any good live?

Sunday, January 21, 2007

BJORK Confirms Coachella


According to the LA Times BJORK will make her second headlining appearance at this year's annual Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, slated for April 27-29 in Indio, CA.

Other headliners announced in the LA Times article by Geoff Boucher are RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE and RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS. Boucher also confirms the following acts for what is sure to be a memorable three day festival:

WILLIE NELSON
INTERPOL
ARCADE FIRE
SONIC YOUTH
ARCTIC MONKEYS
MANU CHAO
THE DECEMBERISTS
AIR
CROWDED HOUSE
THE ROOTS
KINGS OF LEON
TIESTO

Previously confirmed acts include:
HOT CHIP
!!!
LCD SOUNDSYSTEM
DIGITALISM
LUPE FIASCO
and many more

Friday, January 19, 2007

FUJIYA & MIYAGI - Transparent Things



Finally!

FUJIYA & MIYAGI's fantastic album 'Transparent Things' will be released in the U.S. on Tuesday, January 23 on Deaf Dumb & Blind. If you are a fan of artists like THIEVERY CORPORATION, HOT CHIP, RATATAT or AIR, this album will have you hooked at the start.

Not exactly a duo like their name suggests, FUJIYA & MIYAGI are actually three guys. And though they would like you to think they are from Japan, they actually come out of Brighton. Those crazy electro geeks...

Fujiya & Miyagi official site

U.S. Tour Dates

03-10 Seattle, WA - Chop Suey
03-11 Portland, OR - Doug Fir Lounge
03-13 San Francisco, CA - Mint
03-14 Los Angeles, CA - Spaceland
03-18 New York, NY - Mercury Lounge

Thursday, January 18, 2007

DEERHUNTER - Cryptograms



Another great new band from Atlanta...DEERHUNTER's new LP 'Cryptograms' will be released on Kranky on January 29. I'm really into the title track and I love that they so forthrightly admit their influence...THE JESUS & MARY CHAIN, who are probably my favorite band ever...well, that's a big statement, but still...

Deerhunter website
Deerhunter on MySpace

Here's the video for 'Strange Lights" from the new album:

XLR8R Issue 104 - Altered States



The new issue of XLR8R is one to grab. The issue includes a full investigation of "The Return of Psychedelia" in electro music (New Rave? 'wink-wink'), as well as a feature on Klaxons and a shout-out to hot NY (formerly SF) graphic designer Jon Santos.

XLR8R has, over the years, become one of my favorite resources for new electro music. Editor Vivian Host always has her finger on something, living for the next pulse in the evolution of cutting-edge beats.

Check out Derek Morris' designs for the magazine: Trophy

Wednesday, January 17, 2007

UFFIE - Pop the Glock



I may be really late in the game on this, but I just had to mention UFFIE here. 'Pop the Glock' is some hot breakbeat-electro shit. BIG STEREO wrote this great piece about UFFIE. Now I just can't wait to get my hands on the SebastiAn remix.

Uffie on MySpace

Tuesday, January 16, 2007

THE RAPTURE to Shoot New Music Video



THE RAPTURE are having an open call to be in their next video, 'Pieces of the People We Love'. Damn, I wish I was in NY.

The following was posted as a bulletin on MySpace today:

"The Rapture will be shooting their new music video in Brooklyn, NY for “Pieces of The People We Love” on Thursday, January 18th and we need YOU!

We’re looking for real Rapture fans so if you are interested in appearing in the video please submit the following to rapturecasting@gmail.com as soon as possible.

1. A photo of yourself
2. A short blurb about why you want to appear in the video

Our production company will contact those they are interested in directly.

Hope to see you Thursday!"

COACHELLA RUMORS


-photo by Derek Morris for TROPHY

With MSTRKRFT, HOT CHIP, !!!, and LCD SOUNDSYSTEM already confirmed (via various sources), Coachella 2007 is looking to be one hell of a party this year. Also heavily rumored to be on the bill are THE RAPTURE, BRAZILIAN GIRLS, GIRL TALK, CSS, BLONDE REDHEAD, GRIZZLY BEAR, THE ARCADE FIRE and many more.

Unfortunately, I will most likely not be going to Coachella this year, but I've been so many times it would feel weird not to take part in the obsessive rumor-mill that has become a yearly ritual. It's the most fun!

The official Coachella line-up is widely speculated to be announced around February 1st (the same day The Sky Report moves to NYC).

Monday, January 15, 2007

New Music 2008 - MY BLOODY VALENTINE



Kevin Shields claims that there WILL indeed be another MBV album in the future, but no word on when exactly. We've waited sixteen long years, so what's another year or two? I just hope one of them doesn't die before they get the album out.

My Bloody Valentine

Saturday, January 13, 2007

KAVINSKY



So the guys over at MISSINGTOOF have been turning me on to a lot of new shit lately and they have suddenly become one of my favorite music sites. Not only do they have excellent taste in remix/electro/DJ what have you, but their site looks fucking awesome. Please visit them now and often.

One of my favorite missingtoof discoveries is KAVINSKY, an electrohead from France with an unmistakable influence from DAFT PUNK. Swirling in a sea of buzz with other hot acts like THE TEENAGERS, PONEY PONEY, SEBASTIAN and TEAM RECORDER, KAVINSKY is bound to make it big. Even current electro-masters JUSTICE chimed in on KAVINSKY'S MySpace page to compare the hype around him to that of THE CLASH back in the day. Now that's saying something.

My favorite blog in the universe BIG STEREO also wrote about KAVINSKY nearly a year ago when the "Teddyboy EP" was released. How do they do it? Always ahead of the game.

A new KAVINSKY EP- "1986" -will be released in March on Record Makers. And if you're lucky enough to live in Australia, check out the KAVINSKY/SEBASTIAN tour, also in March.

Thursday, January 11, 2007

AEREOGRAMME



Glasgow-based epic rockers AEREOGRAMME are set to release their newest album 'My Heart Has A Wish That You Would Not Go' on January 29th. If the first single 'Barriers' is any indication, this is one album to watch this year. A gorgeous song, swirling with melody and emotion, 'Barriers' slowly grows on you. Before you know it, you're hooked.

BONDE DO ROLE - Gasolina EP



BONDE DO ROLE are the other Brazilian act (re; CSS) to make global waves last year via Diplo's Mad Decent label. And now they have a brand new EP hitting I-Tunes, etc. on January 22. The title song, 'Gasolina' is the best BONDE DO ROLE track yet. A straight-up mash-up jam that brings the party to your headphones. Lead singer Marina's shout out to Afrika Bambaataa is a fun tribute to the Godfather of samples and beats.

THE CASUAL LUST


Yes Alexander, the lead singer of folk trio THE CASUAL LUST, has one of the finest voices I've heard in a long time. The Lust recently released their 2nd EP 'So Be It' on Litterbox Records. To buy it for six dollars and also get their self-titled debut free, go here:

Litterbox Records

I'm sure we'll be hearing more from Yes very soon.

Wednesday, January 10, 2007

GUSGUS - new single 'Moss'



For those who love Icelandic electro darlings GUSGUS, the long wait for a new album is finally coming to an end. After teasing us for two years with a string of singles from Pineapple Records, GUSGUS will at long last drop their 5th studio album, appropriately titled 'Forever', at the end of February.

LISTEN to the first single 'Moss' by clicking above on the title of this post.

Other songs rumored to make up the album's tracklist are:

1-Degeneration
2-You’ll Never Change
3-Hold You
4-Need In Me
5-Lust
6-If You Don’t Jump (You’re English)
7-Forever
8-Sweet Smoke
9-Porn
10-Demo 54
11-Moss (featuring Daniel Agust, formerly of GusGus)
12-Mallflowers

www.gusgus.com

Tuesday, January 09, 2007

AU REVOIR SIMONE



Who wouldn't love an all-girl indie pop band named after the infamous dinosaur scene in PEE-WEE'S BIG ADVENTURE? AU REVOIR SIMONE make dreamy music using keyboards and vintage drum machines - the kind of sounds that can perfectly lull you to sleep.

My first taste of these girls came from THE TEENAGERS remix of the forthcoming single 'Fallen Snow'. The original track will be featured on AU REVOIR SIMONE's second album to be released this spring on the Moshi Moshi label.

In the meantime, you can enjoy this seemingly homemade live video of the band walking the streets of Brooklyn, performing the track 'Stay Golden'.



AU REVOIR SIMONE on MySpace
OFFICIAL SITE

Monday, January 08, 2007

KLAXONS - Myths of the Near Future



UK sensation KLAXONS finally have a full-length album coming to America. "Myths of the Near Future" will be released on January 29 and will contain all the previous singles as well as some new songs. The new single, 'Golden Skans' is already available on I-Tunes.

Track listing

"Two Receivers"
"Atlantis To Interzone"
"Golden Skans"
"Totem On The Timeline"
"As Above So Below"
"Isle Of Her"
"Gravity's Rainbow"
"Forgotten Words"
"Magick"
"It's Not Over"
"Four Horsemen Of 2012"

Check out the KLAXONS positively insane website:

http://www.klaxons.net/

Sunday, January 07, 2007

SOFTLIGHTES - Heart Made of Sound



San Diego based SOFTLIGHTES have me all giddy with their "Heart Made of Sound" EP. Five tracks of warm and poetic electro fuzz. I want more!

If you live in SoCal, check out one of their many upcoming live gigs in LA and San Diego...

Thursday Jan 11
Silver Lake Lounge, Los Angeles, CA

Friday Jan 12
Beauty Bar, San Diego, CA

Thursday Jan 18
Silver Lake Lounge, Los Angeles, CA

Friday Jan 19
Whistle Stop, San Diego, CA

Thursday Jan 25
Silver Lake Lounge, Los Angeles, CA

Friday Jan 26
Beauty Bar, San Diego, CA

Thursday Feb 1
Silver Lake Lounge, Los Angeles, CA

Friday Feb 2
Whistle Stop, San Diego, CA

Friday Feb 9
Tangier, Los Angeles, CA
Record Release Party

Saturday Feb 10
Location TBD, San Diego, CA
Record Release Party

Here's the first video from SOFTLIGHTES..."Heart Made of Sound"



http://thesoftlightes.com/letter.html

Thursday, January 04, 2007

THE EMMANUELLES

THE EMMANUELLES are a super-cute San Francisco band that embodies a nostalgic girl-group feel much like early-early BLONDIE or Cyndi Lauper's original band BLUE ANGEL. Lead singer Mandy Taylor is a coy, blonde beauty, but rough around the edges.

Check out the band's first video, 'All About You'.



Learn more about THE EMMANUELLES...

http://www.myspace.com/theemmanuelles

EDIT JAN. 13 - I was just informed by the lead singer that these guys have called it quits. So sad!! But Mandy Taylor has a new band THE VATICANS. More info soon...

LOVE IS ALL

In case you haven't yet discovered the beauty that is LOVE IS ALL, they are my favorite band of the last year. Their debut album "Nine Times That Same Song" is a sort of rock n roll jamboree, full with horns and howls and heart. At times bombastic, anthematic and nostalgic, you must hear this album.

Here's the video for one of my favorite tracks, 'Make Out, Fall Out, Make Up'.



And the video for 'Busy Doing Nothing'.

SNOWDEN



Over the last few weeks, I've grown somewhat addicted to this band's first full-length album, "Anti-Anti". Ironically, the first time I heard SNOWDEN was via the LE CASTLE VANIA remix of 'Black Eyes', which takes their moody sound and turns it into a shakin' dance anthem. I became even more intrigued when I discovered the title track and recent single, 'Anti-Anti'. I was surprised to learn that a band who embodies the sounds of JOY DIVISION, INTERPOL, and ECHO & THE BUNNYMEN actually hails from Atlanta, Georgia.

SNOWDEN are touring the U.S. again real soon. I am hoping to catch their show with MALAJUBE at The Mercury Lounge, NYC on Feb. 18. Tickets go on sale tomorrow morning. For more tour dates or to listen to some tracks, visit their MySpace page.

http://www.myspace.com/snowden