BAG RAIDERS - Shooting Stars

Australian dance duo Bag Raiders have a new video for the contagious pop track "Shooting Stars" and it's awesome. Check it...

New PRESETS Video "If I Know You"

Harkening back to the days of pop/new wave, The Presets present an awesome new video for the track "If I Know You". The clip was directed by Eva Husson, known for her recent video for M83's "Kim and Jessie". Apocalypso was released last year via Modular.

Wish I Lived in Australia

Modular Records, the home to luminaries such as Avalanches, The Presets, Cut Copy. New Young Pony Club, Klaxons, Van She, Ladyhawke and more, turns 10! This is going to be amazing. I kind of really do wish I lived in Australia. The event plays Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth in December. Tickets are almost sold out, so Australians get with it and get your tix now!

"NEVEREVERLAND is the musical wet dream Australia this December to celebrate Modular notching up double digits and turning ten. With The mighty, mighty Presets, the neo-awesome knights Klaxons, latte legends Cut Copy, DFA darlings Hercules And Love Affair and the rest of the completely bonkers line-up, NEVEREVERLAND will whisk you to a place beyond your brain’s limits, where the inescapable aural ecstasy is unimaginable."

A New LP From THE AVALANCHES?

According to Pedestrian.tv, The Avalanches are putting the finishing touches on their long awaited follow-up to 2001's Since I Left You, an album that contained approximately 3500 samples, most impressive of which was the first ever legally licensed Madonna sample. Largely the reason Modular Records is on the map today, The Avalanches made one of the best dance albums of this decade and the anticipation for the sophomore LP is of magnum proportions.

The Melbourne, Australia-based electronic collective released a statement in early 2007 about the new album - "It's so fuckin' party you will die, much more hip-hop than you might expect, and while there is still no accurate estimated time of arrival, we're sure you're gonna love it when it arrives ... It's ended up sounding like the next logical step to "Since", we just had to go around in a big circle to get back to where we belong. And one day when you least expect it you'll wake up and the sample fairy will have left it under your pillow."

The unconfirmed, tentative title of the new disc is Inactivity, and it may hit shelves in early 2009. Cross your fingers!

The Avalanches - Since I Left You (music video)


The Avalanches - Frontier Psychiatrist (music video)

VAN SHE - V

It seems like forever ago when Van She released their self-titled EP, which featured "Kelly", the feel-good song of its time. We were left eagerly awaiting a full length album and then...a lot of time passed. Now, three years later, we finally get V, the debut LP from the Australian band who have a decidedly fun electro/80's new romantic sound.

Don't ask me what's going on with that album cover, but it appears that it is the final artwork. Clever or ridiculous? Hmm.

Check out a pair of videos from the new album below. Stream "Changes" here. Pre-order V over here.

Van She - Changes (music video)


Van She - Strangers (music video)

New CUT COPY Video - 'Hearts On Fire'

The second video from Cut Copy's new album In Ghost Colours has arrived in the form of "Hearts On Fire". The video sort of reminds me of what it has been like living in New York lately - more rain than sunshine. In the case of the video, lead singer Dan Whitford is followed around everywhere he goes by a constant downpour. The video was directed by Nagi Noda.

Cut Copy - Hearts on Fire (music video)

CUT COPY, PINK SKULL Played Studio B, In Ghost Colours Full Album Stream

CUT COPY wowed a packed house at Studio B on Saturday night, delivering a high energy dance party with their new wave, electro-rock sound. After kicking off the set (after 1am) with the new track "So Haunted", the band pleased the late night crowd with favorites like "Going Nowhere", "Saturdays", and "Future", as well as newer tracks "Hearts on Fire" and "Lights and Music". The new stuff sounded fantastic live.


Cut Copy are releasing their new album In Ghost Colours April 8 on Modular Records. You can now stream the entire album at Myspace.


Philadelphia's Pink Skull opened the show for Cut Copy. Knowing nothing about these guys prior to the show, I can say that I was thoroughly impressed. So much so that I bought their latest album Zeppelin 3. They kind of remind me of early !!! (Chk-Chk-Chk) - solid art-dance tracks that really come alive in a live setting. Definitely check these guys out if you ever have the chance.

-Pink Skull

-All photos by Scot Bowman

CUT COPY - 'Lights & Music'

Cut Copy have announced the release of 'Lights & Music', the first official single from their second album "In Ghost Colours". Only problem is they don't say how or when the single will be released. In their own words, Cut Copy describe the single as "a trans-galactic voyage featuring epic synth breakdowns and more than a sprinkling of Goldsworthy magic". Tim Goldsworthy of DFA that is.

"In Ghost Colours" is due from Modular Records in March.

STREAM - Cut Copy - Lights & Music

THE PRESETS - 'My People' Music Video

The music video has arrived for the new single from The Presets, 'My People'. I'm not sure why, but the video really lifts the song for me. It's very simple, yet quite effective. The new album is expected early 2008.

The Presets - My People (music video)

THE PRESETS - 'My People'

The Presets are back with a brand new single!! 'My People' will be released as a digital single and on vinyl December 18th via Modular. No word as to whether this is the precursor to a new album yet or not, but a video for the track is expected to be released soon. The Presets will be touring Australia with Daft Punk throughout December, though most dates are already sold out.

STREAM - The Presets - My People

VAN SHE - 'Cat & the Eye'

After an immensely popular EP, Australian synth-rock sensations Van She have spent the last year hard at work on their full-fledged debut LP. And now the first glimpse of the forthcoming album has been let loose.

The new single 'Cat & the Eye' attempts to recapture the dizzying contagiousness of their previous hit 'Kelly'. Though milder than its predecessor, the track grows on you in that sort-of perfect pop kind of way. Judge for yourself. Check out the new video here.

The debut album should see a release via Modular early next year.

Van She - Cat & the Eye (music video)

CUT COPY - "In Ghost Colours"

February of next year is gonna be a hot one for new releases. In addition to the announcement of Hot Chip's new album getting a Feb. 2008 release, Cut Copy are also planning to release their sophomore LP "In Ghost Colours" the very same month. Yes! This one has been a long time coming. The band recently went into the DFA studios with Tim Goldworthy to complete the album. It should be outta sight!

Snag the mp3 for 'So Haunted' from the new album over at Big Stereo.

MIDNIGHT JUGGERNAUTS - "Dystopia"

MIDNIGHT JUGGERNAUTS debut album "Dystopia" is finally upon us. With its Australian release on August 4th, the rest of the world will hopefully follow very soon after. The indie-electro-synth band has already wowed the public thanks to their EP "Secrets of the Universe", the immensely popular single 'Road to Recovery', and their remix of DRAGONETTE's 'I Get Around' on the Kitsune Maison 4 compilation.

Now, Midnight Juggernauts have a new single in conjunction with the album release. 'Into the Galaxy' finds the group drawing inspiration from ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA, or so they say.

STREAM - Midnight Juggernauts - Various Tracks

Midnight Juggernauts - Into the Galaxy (music video)


Midnight Juggernauts - Road To Recovery (music video)

ARCHITECTURE IN HELSINKI - 'Heart It Races'

'Heart It Races'. the latest single from Australian music collective ARCHITECTURE IN HELSINKI, is one of those songs that slowly grows on you. After many subliminal listens I have come to love this one. The new album "Places Like This" is set to be released in the US on August 21. Check out the positively bizarre video for 'Heart It Races' below.

STREAM - Architecture in Helsinki - Heart It Races

Architecture in Helsinki - Heart It Races (music video)

MUSCLES

If you are reading about MUSCLES for the first time here, you really need to read more music blogs. This guy has been all over the place for the last six months, largely because of his breakthrough track 'Ice Cream', which Gorilla Vs. Bear declared the "2007 summer jam of the year".

The latest track to make the blog rounds is 'One Inch Badge Pin' and it is just as good, if not better. Catch up now on what was kinda cool a few months ago, but will be huge in the future.

DOWNLOAD - Muscles - Ice Cream (mp3)
DOWNLOAD - Muscles - One Inch Badge Pin (mp3)

THE PRESETS - U.S. Tour is NOW!

If you have never seen THE PRESETS live, drop what you're doing now and mug some hipster on the street. Chances are they have a pair of tickets to the Aussie electro duo's current stop in your fabulous city. These guys put on an amazing, vigorous live show. Be there now.

Friday March 23 - Touch Supper Club, Cleveland
Saturday March 24 - Metro, Chicago
Sunday March 25 - Alchemize, Cincinnati
Tuesday March 27 - Mod Club, Toronto
Wednesday March 28 - Cafe Campus, Montreal
Thursday March 29 - Hiro Ballroom, New York
Friday March 30 - Pure, Philadelphia, PA
Saturday March 31 - Studio B, Brooklyn
Sunday April 1 - Sonar, Baltimore MD

Update - CUT COPY Recording at DFA

CUT COPY posted this message on myspace today. Check it out.

"Hi all!

Well we're in the thick of recording with Tim Goldsworthy here in New York and you can keep up to date with how things are going by dropping by www.cutcopy.net. We're keeping a diary of the recording process for all to enjoy.

The record is sounding beyond what we thought possible and Tim has been amazing to work with. James Murphy also bought an industry standard coffee machine so no large cups of black water or soy mocha/frappa/decaf from starbucks for us.nice.

Also available from the website is the limited edition Cut Copy/Claude Maus t shirt and hoodie which is close to selling out so be quick!

More news soon including 'hearts on fire' 12 inch release with an EPIC Joakim remix and touring dates!
Until then take care

cutters

x"

Can't freakin' wait for this album to drop!

CUT COPY "Hearts On Fire"

It's been a long time coming! CUT COPY are apparently finishing up their second album at the DFA studios in New York this month. "Bright Like Neon Love" remains one of my favorite albums of the last decade...no matter what my mood is like, it always sounds good.

The new single, "Hearts On Fire" takes the Aussie group in a slightly new direction, clearly finding influence in the unmistakeable bass lines of NEW ORDER by track's end. In any case, it's a great electro-dance track. Catchy. Hooky. Sugar-coated fun.

Hear the new single here!

Cut Copy official site

Be The Riottt! - THE PRESETS

THE PRESETS had a lengthy sound issue, delaying their set by a good 35 minutes or so. Julian Hamilton, the singer/keyboardist half of the Aussie electro duo, was visibly frustrated and it almost started to feel like the show wasn't going to get off the ground. Luckily, the over-stressed soundman in the Polk Room eventually figured out how to get Julian's mic working, because what ensued was the talk of the festival.

A nonstop new wave dance factory, THE PRESETS delivered, slamming through the sinister pop of "Are You the One?", the funked-out electric "Kitty in the Middle", and the electro-nostlagia of "Girl and the Sea". The duo literally had the room jumping with the infectious neo-rave anthem "I Go Hard, I Go Home". For a second I felt like I had been teleported back in time to the hottest underground party in San Francisco circa 1989.


For a duo comprised of a drummer and a keyboardist, I was amazed at the energy and sound these guys created. The crowd was nearly epileptic in it's show of affection, as sweating 20-somethings poured out of the room at set's end, spilling euphorically back into the Civic Center's brightly lit corridors of beer vendors to chat about what just occurred.

To Be Continued...METRIC...