The Very Best

-via Yours Truly

The Very Best is the collaborative effort of Esau Mwamwaya (Malawi) and Radioclit (London) and their unique pan-African sound is taking the world by storm. In 2008 the duo released a critically acclaimed mixtape, which heavily sampled M.I.A among others. On their official debut, Warm Heart of Africa, The Very Best again enlist the help of M.I.A., as well as Ezra Koenig of Vampire Weekend.

The folks at Yours Truly caught up with The Very Best at a show in San Francisco, where they discussed the process of making music. The new album is available now everywhere.

PASS KONTROL Debut New Songs

Pass Kontrol are one of the headliners of our unofficlal CMJ party this Wednesday and, coincidentally, they have unveiled some new material. The Bushwick band recently premiered the new track "New Hope City" on Myspace, along with another new one, "Twins". But no one knows Pass Kontrol if they haven't seen them live. Don't miss their performance at Tandem on Wednesday at 11:30PM.

Pass Kontrol - New Hope City [stream]

ATLAS SOUND - Logos

Today Bradford Cox releases the 2nd LP under his side project moniker Atlas Sound and I feel it is poised to score high on many year-end lists. Logos was originally leaked in its unfinished form back in 2008. Cox was so outraged by the leak that he vowed never to officially release the album. Well, thank god he did, because it is well worth the release.

"Cox on Logos: "My last album was a bedroom laptop type thing. Very introverted. Logos is an album that was recorded all over the world. It's not about me. There are collaborations with other musicians. The lyrics are not autobiographical. The view is a lot more panoramic and less close-up. I became bored with introspection. This was also the case with Deerhunter's Microcastle LP, which was written during the same period.""

Listen to the standout track "Quick Canal", featuring Stereolab's Laetitia Sadier on vocals.

FAN-TAN

Fan-Tan are one of the rising Brooklyn bands playing our unofficial CMJ party on Wednesday. They recently released the Bars In Window ep and are also playing the Knitting Factory in Brooklyn on November 5th.

"We guess we're into totally epic synth pop lately, because Fan-Tan's big and sprawling melodies are hitting us kind of right. Listening to this, we really wish we were in a massive rainstorm and there was a camera shooting down on us from a crane, because then we could outstretch our hands and lift them high to heavens while shouting a roar that's equal parts joy and pain. That's what Fan-Tan makes us want to do." - ohmyrockness.com

Don't take our word for it. Check out a handful of tunes from Fan-Tan at Myspace.

PURE ECSTASY

Pure Ecstasy are a few guys from Austin making beautiful lo-fi, beach-fuzz music and they definitely live up to their name. "You're In It Now" is one of the most gorgeous songs I've heard all year. And "Easy" is just, well...pure reverb ecstasy. The band features two members from Silver Pines, another great band well worth checking out.

Pure Ecstasy - Easy [link]
Pure Ecstasy - You're In It Now [link]

Pre-order the "Easy" 7" at lightlodge.com.

CMJ 09 Poster Collection

See the full collection on FLCKR. Collection compiled by bumpershine.com.

FRANKIE ROSE - Thee Only One

Frankie Rose, drummer for Crystal Stilts and formerly of Vivian Girls, has stepped up to bat with her first solo effort, the new single "Thee Only One".

"Ms. Rose's music is haunted by the ghosts of 60s girl group, Brill Building, and 80s and 90s noise pop in equal measure. It's a spooky, lovely sound -- Frankie's ethereal yet affectation-free voice swirling in a sea of church-like harmonies over a bed of tambourines, bells, and propulsive drumming. Recalling in spirit such groups as The Aislers Set and Black Tambourine, Frankie's music is both timeless and immediate, both deeply personal and completely universal."

Brooklyn Vegan reports that Rose has left Crystal Stilts to fully embark on her solo project. She will also be drumming for Dum Dum Girls when they play CMJ in New York this week.

Frankie Rose - Thee Only One [mp3]

Backed by her new band The Outs, Frankie Rose will debut her new material at these upcoming gigs:

Nov 5 The WOODSER - Brooklyn
Nov 13 THE BLACK CAT with CRYSTAL STILTS - Washington DC
Nov 14 THE BELL HOUSE with CRYSTAL STILTS - Brooklyn

UPDATE - The Sky Report Unofficial CMJ Party

The Sky Report celebrates the CMJ Music Marathon Bushwick style with an unofficial showcase at Tandem Bar this Wednesday, October 21st. (21 & over!!) Check out the schedule and band links below. Hope to see you out!

Tandem is off the Jefferson L stop in Bushwick, walk Troutman 2 1/2 blocks past Knickerbocker. Address is 236 Troutman. tandembar.net

BACK ROOM ($4):

8:00 YES ALEXANDER (Blue Sky Black Death)
8:35 CALLERS
9:10 postMagic
9:45 MeKaniKdolls
10:20 BONNIE BAXTER
10:55 FAN-TAN
11:30 PASS KONTROL
12:20 MARIONETTES OF SATAN
1:10 TIGER! SHIT! TIGER! TIGER!
1:40 DJ JEREMY RUSSELL

FRONT ROOM (free!):

8:20 TED BUDDY ENSEMBLE
10:05 BRITTAIN ASHFORD
11:00 TED BUDDY ENSEMBLE
12:00 YES ALEXANDER (Blue Sky Black Death)
1:00 DJ PALEBOY

THE RAVEONETTES Perform Acoustic Set for Shock Sessions

I've already "raved" about the new Raveonettes album In and Out of Control, now watch the duo strip down the new songs beautifully in this four song acoustic set, featuring "Suicide", "Gone Forever", Oh I Buried You Today" and "Last Dance".

THE SOFT PACK - Fences

The Soft Pack (formerly The Muslims) are a Southern California garage quartet of 20-something guys who are gaining a lot of mileage from this fresh new cover of the Phoenix track "Fences".