Neon Indian’s new single , ‘Sleep Paralysist’, is the latest offering on the Green Label Sound’ series of exclusive free downloads from some of the most creative names of the moment – joining the likes of Chromeo, Solid Gold and Amazing Baby.
The project, created in Austin, Texas by 21 year-old wonder kid Juan Palomo – formerly known as VEGA – earned raved reviews last year with debut album ‘Psychic Chasms’. Neon Indian’s blend of lo-fi analog recordings; synth riffs and psychedelic vibes has been a key player on shaping the new ‘Glo-fi’ style, one of the most promising trends in today’s indie music.
‘Sleep Paralysist’ was recorded in collaboration with Chirs Taylor of Grizzly Bear and can be downloaded here.
One of the most eagerly awaited releases of 2010, the follow-up to Brooklyn duo’s MGMT groundbreaking debut ‘Oracular Spectacular’, is beginning to take shape. Hardcore fans will already be familiar with the album’s title, ’Congratulations’, and the colourful, cartoon-inspired cover. Added to that, there will also be a limited edition package that’s set to feature a special coin, a 32-page booklet and a scratch-off front cover.
Now the time has come for the first taster, which the band is giving away through their website. ‘Flash Delirium’ continues the duo’s taste for mixing diverse musical influences into the same track. This time paying tribute to both Phil Spector’s epic wall of sound and the current batch of new lo-fi and DIY artists. The results, if not as immediately catchy as ‘Kids’ or ‘Time To Pretend’, may be as rewarding after a just few listens.
Our favourite US art rockers are previewing their fifth studio album ‘Sisterworld’ in full at MySpace one week ahead of release.
The album was conceived and recorded in Los Angeles and it’s based on Liars’ interest for “the alternate spaces people create in order to maintain identity in a city like L.A. Environments where outcasts and loners celebrate a skewered relationship to society”. ‘Sisterworld’ is somehow the trio’s attempt to find one of those alternate spaces and preserve their musical identity. The anticipating track ‘Scissors’ takes off right where their acclaimed ‘Drum’s Not Dead’ ended.
‘Sisterworld’ is released via Mute on March the 8th in normal and expanded versions. The expanded one will feature a bonus remix disc featuring the likes of Radiohead’s Thom Yorke, TV on the Radio’s Tunde Adebimpe, Deerhunter’s Bradford Cox, Melvins and others reworking some of its tracks.
Further details and tour dates are available at Liars official webpage.
The good health enjoyed by the live circuit in recent years has facilitated the return of many notable vintage artists. Among them, the seminal American new wave combo Devo. Their recent comeback tour was such a success the group has announced they’ll be hitting the studio and releasing a new album in 2010, their first for twenty years.
A rather excellent taster of Devo’s recent work is called ‘Fresh‘. It was unveiled after their performance at the Winter Olympics and can now be heard on their website - where the band is also conducting a peculiar colour study, the results of which will form the basis of the band’s future artwork.
The New Pornographers, our favorite Canadian-American supergroup, returns. The band who brought the vocal harmonies of power-pop back in trend will release their fifth album ‘Together’ with its usual ensemble of singers and songwriters in full (Neko Case; A.C. Newman; Dan Bejar; Kathryn Calder; etc..).
‘Together’ is scheduled for release via Matador/4AD on May The 4th and will see the Pornographers collaborating with recent indie luminaries such as St. Vincent; Beirut’s Zach Condon and Okkervil River’s Will Sheff.
‘Your Hands (Together)’, described by the band as “a magical trifecta of Black Sabbath’s War Pigs with Abba’s Waterloo and Siouxsie and the Banshees’ Christine” is a promising taste of things to come and can be listened here.
The first dates of their international tour have also been confirmed:
19 May London, UK – Electric Ballroom
21 May Berlin Germany – Magnet ‘Club NME’
22 May Hamburg, Germany – Molotow
23 May Amsterdam, Holland – Melkweg
25 May Brussels, Belgium – Orangerie
26 May Paris, France – La Maroquinerie
27 May Toulouse, France – Cafe Rex
28 May Barcelona, Spain – Primavera Sound
31 May Quincy, WA – Sasquatch Music Festival
With the last batch of artists announced yesterday, the San Miguel Primavera Sound festival has a superb line-up for its tenth anniversary, held from the 27th to the 29th of May in the Parc Del Fòrum of Barcelona.
The popular independent music event has been generating a growing buzz since both Pavement and Pixies were confirmed as headliners – thus putting two of the most eagerly anticipatedreunion tours of recent times at centre stage.
The organisers of San Miguel Primavera Sound launched a poll for fans to vote for past acts they would like to see play the festival again. The winners included the fore-mentioned Pavement and Pixies; Wilco; Shellac; Orbital and Panda Bear from Animal Collective. Other heavily influential artists such as The Pet Shop Boys, Gary Numan, Marc Almond, Les Savy Fav, The Slits, Sunny Day Real State and Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry have also been confirmed. Added to this Low will be performing their classic album ‘The Great Destroyer’ in full and Charlatans will do the same with their LP, ‘Some Friendly’.
The Danish chamber-pop collective Efterklang –the name means reverberation in their mother tongue- has become the most recent addition to 4AD’s illustrious roaster.
‘Magic Chairs’- their third full length and follow-up to the critically acclaimed ‘Parades’- is released next week and can be streamed in full at MySpace.
Efterklang are also about to embark on a world tour. Their unique orchestral experiments will be hitting British shores in April. Full tour dates after the jump… Read more…
Hendrick Weber has been releasing under monikers such as Glühen 4 and Panthel through the influential German electronic label Dial for some time; but it’s as Pantha Du Prince he’s gained most recognition. The DJ and producer’s mix of minimal techno with elements of British shoegaze and Detroit house create very personal electronic soundscapes and have won him much critical acclaim. His third album, ‘Black Noise’ – released by British indie label Rough Trade – is earning Pantha Du Prince unanimous praise for both staying faithful to his roots and expanding in ways that may appeal to a wider audience. Highlights include collaborations with LCD Soundsystem and !!!’sTyler Pope ‘The Splendour’; and with Noah Lennox – AKA Animal Collective’s Panda Bear - who adds a touch of psychedelic colour to the ethereal beauty of ‘Stick To My Side’.
‘Stick To My Side’ and the whole ‘Black Noise’ album are available now via Itunes.
How do you follow-up one of the most ground-breaking and critically acclaimed albums of the decade? In Joanna Newson’s case with an epic triple-album that is likely to rival the achievements of her former work. The singer-songwriter from Nevada City, California, is slowly unveiling the contents of her third opus ‘Have One On Me’. For the past few weeks she has been posting new songs through her label’s website, where we were previously introduced to the wonders of ‘81′, followed by ‘Good Intentions Paving Company’ and this time is the turn of ‘Kingfisher‘.
The multitalented artist - currently on tour around Australia - has also revealed the record’s tracklist, which can be seen below: Read more…
The last few weeks haven’t been short of thrills for music fans.
Beginning with ‘Tumbélé: Biguine, Afro & Latin sounds from the French Caribbean, 1963-74′ a festive anthology of songs from Guadalupe and Martinica taken from the region’s golden musical decade. Focused in the common Afro-Latin influence that’s shared around the area, it’s a look at a musical heritage often ignored due to the wealth of influential rhythms coming from their surrounding neighbors. Some of its highlights can be checked here. Read more…
