MICACHU AND THE SHAPES - Turn Me Well

This new video from Micachu and the Shapes' album Jewellery premiered last week on Bjork's website of all places. It's good to see interesting new artists being supported by music legends, but then again, Bjork has always been good about that.

I really dig the vacuum on this track and the video suits the tune well.

ANTONY AND THE JOHNSONS Set to Return with New Ep and LP

Antony and the Johnsons are prepping a pair of follow-ups to their Mercury Music Prize winning album I Am a Bird Now. The first release will be the 5-track ep Another World, which hits stores October 7th via Secretly Canadian. The same label will also release the new full-length The Crying Light, due January 2009.

In the meantime, you can still get your Antony fix on the Hercules & Love Affair album and on the new Bjork single "Dull Flame of Desire", which will also feature remixes by Modeselektor. A new video for the single is also on the way.

Antony will embark on a special symphonic tour in September, where he will be joined by a local symphony in each city. Due to the scattered nature of the dates, I expect more will be added. Here are the dates as of yet:

9/5 Portland, OR
9/10 Milan, Italy
9/12 Zaragoza, Spain
10/14 Los Angeles, CA
10/16 New York, NY
10/30 London, England
10/31 London, England

CELERY MOON - Good Morning Stardust V mix

I don't know who Celery Moon is or what his/her story is, but the new "Good Morning Stardust V" mix is off the hook! Celery Moon has something to do with Misshapes, as his/her blog is hosted on their site. He/She has incredible taste in dance music, as this mix features seamless transitions between great artists like Ladyhawke, Bjork, The Black Ghosts, Lykke Li, Simian Mobile Disco, Felix da Housecat, Kleerup, Cut Copy, Moby, and In Flagranti, with remixed efforts by talent such as Hercules & Love Affair, Calvin Harris, Holy Ghost, Alan Braxe, and (again) Cut Copy.

At press time, whilst in the pursuit of knowledge about Celery Moon, we were only told he/she was currently shooting on location in Hawaii. I have no idea. More info (or the lack of such) at Celery Moon's blog.

Now get the goods...

Celery Moon - Good Morning Stardust V (mp3)

00 Good Morning Stardust V

01 Raiders Of The Lost ARP - Summer 1986
02 Lykke Li - Im Good, Im Gone (Fred Falke Remix)
03 Alan Braxe & Fred Falke - Most Wanted
04 Trentemoller & Vonstroke - Want 2 Need 2 Whistle
05 Chas Jankel - Get Yourself Together (Hercules & Love Affair Remix)
06 Ladyhawke - Paris Is Burning (Cut Copy Remix)
07 John Dahlback - I Had A Feeling
08 Felix Da Housecat - Rude Allegiance
09 The Touch - Regain Control
10 Cut Copy - Hearts On Fire (Calvin Harris Remix)
11 Simian Mobile Disco - Wood (Danton Eeprom Remix)
12 Pink Skull - Drugs Will Keep Us Together (Trevor Loveys Remix)
13 33Hz - Crazy All The Time (Magik Johnson Remix)
14 Ian Pooley - It's You
15 The Whip - Blackout (Popular Computer Remix)
16 Professor Genius - Pegaso (Silver & Kane Remix)
17 The Black Ghosts - I want Nothing
18 8otto - 0zero (Herve Remix)
19 Moby - I Love To Move In Here (Holy Ghost Remix)
20 Jesse Rose & Trevor Loveys - Heavy What?
21 Daedelus - Make It So (XXXChange Remix)
22 Bjork - Alarm Call (Alan Braxe & Ben Diamond Edit)
23 Red Astaire - For The Time
24 Egyptian Lover - Egypt Ear Work
25 Richard Bartz - Voyager
26 In Flagranti - Nonchalant
27 Euro Johannes - Lipton Service Boy
28 Kleerup - Thank You For Nothing

BJORK - 'Wanderlust'

Bjork churns out yet another visually stunning video with the new clip for "Wanderlust", from the 2007 Volta LP. The 3D version is expected to premiere on April 14th. Also check out the Behind the Scenes making-of the video...

Bjork - Wanderlust (music video)


Wanderlust - the making of wanderlust

BJORK - 'Declare Independence'

The anticipation for this video has been intense. This marks the seventh Bjork video to be helmed by acclaimed director Michel Gondry (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, The Science of Sleep). All I can really say is that it stays true to Bjork's nature of being the queen of all things bizarre.

'Declare Independence' is the third single from Bjork's "Volta" album.

Bjork - Declare Independence (music video)


Watch Michel Gondry talk about his collaborative relationship with Bjork:

The Making of 'Declare Independence'

BJORK Transcends Madison Square Garden

BJORK amazed last night, bringing her stunning live show to Madison Square Garden. Complete with fire, confetti, lasers, flags, special guests and a brass section dressed as a tribal army, this was a global circus of stimulation that only Bjork could pull off. The setlist (which you can find at the bottom of this post) was crowd-pleasing, highlights of which were 'I Miss You', 'Hyperballad', 'Army of Me', and the electrifying 'Pluto'. Another highlight was 'Dull Flame of Desire' of which Bjork brought out special guest Antony of ANTONY & THE JOHNSONS for a gorgeous and flawlessly executed duet.



Also on the bill were SANTOGOLD and KLAXONS. It was Santogold's birthday and you could feel her genuine excitement about the show from a mile away. Playing to a half empty stadium, Santogold gave a highly energetic performance that easily overcame the 8:00 opening slot obstacles. Santogold is an artist to watch in the future. She will be big. In between songs, Santogold introduced herself to the crowd by saying something to the effect of, "I don't have any music that you can buy. Bjork just picked us up and she's making it all happen." It also doesn't hurt that she had DIPLO onstage with her, providing the electronic beats.

Faring not so well were the recent Mercury Music Prize winners Klaxons, who got off to a rocky start with sound issues. Their set was lost on the crowd, as they seemed to just move through the motions, without any charisma or energy whatsoever. This doesn't close the door on Klaxons for me, as I love the album and will continue listening to it. But I think Klaxons haven't evolved into an arena-sized band yet. I would much rather see them in a small venue like Studio B. Some sort of light show would have hugely made a difference as well.

Check out this short clip of Bjork's closing encore 'Declare Independence'. This was truly a spectacular finale...

Bjork - Declare Independence (live at MSG) (partial)


Setlist:

01. Intro - Brennið Þið Vitar
02. Earth Intruders
03. Hunter
04. Pagan Poetry
05. I See Who You Are w/ Min Xiao-Fen
06. Unravel
07. The Pleasure Is All Mine
08. Dull Flame Of Desire w/ Antony (of Antony & the Johnsons)
09. Jóga
10. Desired Constellation
11. Army Of Me
12. Innocence
13. I Miss You
14. Cover Me
15. Wanderlust
16. Hyperballad
17. Pluto
encore
18. Oceania
19. Declare Independence

BJORK - 'Innocence'

BJORK held a competition where fans were asked to make the second video from "Volta" for her. After a long voting process (by the fans), the winner has been selected. And here you have it, the official new video for 'Innocence'...and it's a trip! You can also view the runners-up at Bjork.com.

P.S. - Is anyone going to the Madison Square Garden show? In the vast number of years that I've been a fan, I have amazingly never seen her live. This landmark moment for me will finally commence at MSG on September 24th. Yes!

Innocence

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COACHELLA COVERAGE

Coachella 2007 is happening now and reports of the first day are all over the internet. For those of you (like me) who stayed up until 3AM (eastern time) watching the simulcast last night, you probably agree that BJORK gave a spectacular performance, the highlight of which was the bleedingly urgent and apocalyptic version of "Army of Me".

The AT&T Blueroom simulcast is really awesome. My only complaint is the omission of some of the more exciting performers. Why no JESUS & MARY CHAIN?!!! Tonight they have REGINA SPEKTOR and ARCADE FIRE, starting around 9 pacific and midnight eastern.

For loads of reports, photos, and everything else Coachella, check out some of these blogs - Stereogum, ProductshopNYC, and Brooklyn Vegan.

In not-so-releated news, it looks like The Sky Report isn't the only one NOT at Coachella this year. Just yesterday I rode the L train into Williamsburg with none other than KAREN O (Yeah Yeah Yeahs), who ironically headlined Coachella one year ago this weekend. She looked awesome. Try as I did, it was difficult not to stare at her.

NEW VIDEO FRIDAY

THE TEENAGERS - "Homecoming"


JUSTICE - "D.A.N.C.E."


BJORK - "Earth Intruders"


FEIST - "My Moon, My Man"
Feist - My Moon My Man (Promo Video)

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Countdown to Coachella part 2 - 10 Days...

Here is part two of my Countdown to Coachella...


FAITHLESS
A nostalgic moment for those of us who were deeply ensconced in the electronica-era late 90's when FAITHLESS burst on the scene with trip-hop classics "Don't Leave" and "Insomnia". FAITHLESS bring their epic live show to the Coachella stage to remind us that these guys should have played at the first Coachella in 1999. Here's another throwback from the savagely underrated 2000 film "The Beach" - DOWNLOAD Faithless - Woozy

*****


BJORK
I can't believe I've never seen Bjork live. This will be pure magic at the Empire Polo Fields, just so long as crazed fans don't rush the stage like they did back in 2002. Her new single "Earth Intruders" shows promise of a lively stage show.
DOWNLOAD Bjork - Earth Intruders (Spike Stent mix)

*****


PEACHES
Peaches is another one I've never seen live, but have heard endless great things about from friends. I predict she will go on the Outdoor Stage for a late night party just as Bjork is finishing on the main stage. (Note to crazy Coachella freaks: That is a prediction, not to be confused with fact.)
DOWNLOAD Peaches - The Inch

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