Releases of February, 2011:
THAITI 80
The Past, the Present & the Possible
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as heard on radiospin on February 28th, 2011
under album, electronic, indie, pop, preview, remix
Domestic success clearly does not equate to waves being made elsewhere. Tahiti 80 should know: they’ve been together for all of 18 years at this stage, and whilst quite well known in their home country, they’ve never caused as much of a ripple outside. It’s possible that their new album could change this: The Past, the Present & the Possible reaches a peak higher than any that could have been expected, in particular when the group seems to have fun: they’re not afraid to let their playful side show, and should be commended for matching that with a pop sensibility that would leave many others in the shade.
ARTIST: Thaiti 80
TITLE: The Past, the Present & the Future
LABEL: Human Sound
RELEASE DATE: February 21, 2011
TIME: 45:25 min.
WEB: http://www.tahiti80.com/
01. Defender [04:08]
02. Darlin’ (adam and eve song) [03:20]
03. Gate 33 [03:52]
04. Solitary Bizness [04:09]
05. Want Some? [03:34]
06. Easy [03:12]
07. The Past, the Preent and the Possible [05:25]
08. Nightmares [03:17]
09. Rain Steam and Speed [02:54]
10. Crack Up (extended) [08:03]
11. 4AM [03:40]
Tahiti 80 - Darlin’ (adam and eve song) (jimmy edgar remix)
get it here.
NASH SMITH & GANGES
Nash Smith & Ganges
1 Comment
as heard on radiospin on February 27th, 2011
under EP, experimental, folk, indie, preview, submitted
Nash Smith & Ganges is a trio based in Blacksburg, Virginia. Melissa Smith (keys/vocals), Rob Kenagy (guitar/vocals), and Mark Arciaga (drums/programming) have played in bands such as the 60s-tinged garage/pop Distractions (Chicago) and ambient spacerock outfit Puritan (Minneapolis). Their current project, making its debut with the self-titled EP Nash Smith & Ganges, means of unifying their previous solo ones: moody synthpop (Mark), psychedelic noise/folk (Rob), and hazy pop (Melissa).
An ambitious goal, but this beginning promises really well.
ARTIST: Nash Smith & Ganges
TITLE: Nash Smith & Ganges
LABEL: Pretty All Right
RELEASE DATE: February 18, 2011
TIME: 27:29 min.
WEB: http://nashsmithganges.tumblr.com/
01. Hunters [04:28]
02. Black Cadillac [05:09]
03. Kill the Light [02:54]
04. No Names [05:23]
05. Dress [05:11]
06. California [04:24]
get it here.
GRAILS
Deep Politics
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as heard on radiospin on February 25th, 2011
under album, experimental, indie, post-rock, preview
Deep Politics was conceived during the lengthiest gestation period between Grails albums, and reflects a deeper, more educated level of concentration. In their ongoing exploration of occult/fringe culture and the rich history of film music, they have cultivated a unique environment that inspires both an eternal sense of longing and an indelible sense of dread. Through tireless exploration and awe-inspiring execution, Grails have found their true calling as purveyors of a new kind of library music, to be discovered by future generations of crate diggers and curious forward-thinkers.
ARTIST: Grails
TITLE: Deep Politics
LABEL: Temporary Residence
RELEASE DATE: March 8, 2011
TIME: 46:47 min.
WEB: http://www.grailsongs.com/
01. Future Primitive [05:29]
02. All the Colors of the Dark [04:08]
03. Corridors of Power [03:54]
04. Deep Politics [05:39]
05. Daughters of Bilitis [03:24]
06. Almost Grew My Hair [08:03]
07. I Led Three Lives [08:49]
08. Deep Snow [07:21]
Grails - All the Colors of the Dark
get it here.
JAMES BLAKE
James Blake
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as heard on radiospin on February 24th, 2011
under album, electronic, experimental, IDM, preview, recommended, songwriting
London producer and singer James Blake is easily one of the most promising rising acts of this year. Just in 2010 the inventive electronic prodigy released three EPs: The Bells Sketch, CMYK, and Klavierwerke. And now he’s prepping his self-titled debut LP, released through Atlas/A&M. The record is preceded by his current single, a spacious cover of Feist‘s Limit to Your Love, but the rest of the album is made up of all original material.
ARTIST: James Blake
TITLE: James Blake
LABEL: Atlas/A&M
RELEASE DATE: February 7, 2011
TIME: 37:09 min.
WEB: http://jamesblakemusic.com/
01. Unluck [03:00]
02. The Wilhelm Scream [04:37]
03. I Never Learnt to Share [04:51]
04. Lindisfarne I [02:42]
05. Lindisfarne II [03:01]
06. Limit to Your Love [04:36]
07. Give Me My Month [01:56]
08. To Care (like you) [03:52]
09. Why Don’t You Call Me? [01:35]
10. I Mind [03:31]
11. Measurements [04:19]
James Blake - To Care (like you) (poppa mint remix)
get it here.
LYKKE LI
Wounded Rhymes
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as heard on radiospin on February 23rd, 2011
under album, electronic, experimental, indie, pop, preview, remix, rock
Wounded Rhymes is one of the most tremendous records you will hear in 2011. Channeling the demise of The Shangri-La‘s Leader of the Pack, women under the influence, ladies and gentlemen of the canyon, a Kung-fu Marianne Faithful, and an armed Nancy Sinatra on peyote, Lykke Li has created an eleven song album that sounds like no other: the record is packed full of pounding, voodoo drums, girl group gang vocals, sparkling guitar lines, woozy keyboards, love unrequited, hope reignited and her own very powerful voice, sounding bigger and bolder than ever before.
ARTIST: Lykke Li
TITLE: Wounded Rhymes
LABEL: Atlantic
RELEASE DATE: March 1, 2010
TIME: 41:04 min.
WEB: http://www.lykkeli.com/
01. Youth Knows No Pain [03:00]
02. I Follow Rivers [03:49]
03. Love Out of Lust [04:44]
04. Unrequited Love [03:12]
05. Get Some [03:23]
06. Rich Kids Blues [03:02]
07. Sadness is a Blessing [04:01]
08. I Know Places [06:06]
09. Jerome [04:23]
10. Silent My Song [05:24]
Lykke Li - Get Some (beck remix)
get it here.
THE BLOODY BEETROOTS
Best Of… Remixes
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as heard on radiospin on February 22nd, 2011
under best of, electronic, preview, recommended, remix
The Bloody Beetroots have gone from club faces to electo-rocking remixers par excellence, as this collection of their work with the likes of the Chems, Vitalic and Tiga illustrates.
ARTIST: The Bloody Beetroots
TITLE: Best Of… Remixes
LABEL: Dim Mak
RELEASE DATE: February 11, 2011
TIME: 70:40 min.
WEB: http://www.deathcrew77.com/
01. GOOSE – Can’t Stop Me Now (the bloody beetroots remix) [04:19]
02. TIGA – Mind Dimension (the bloody beetroots remix) [03:10]
03. THE WHIP – Muzzle No.1 (the bloody beetroots remix) [04:06]
04. ROBYN – Cobrastyle (the bloody beetroots remix) [03:59]
05. GOOSE – Black Gloves (the bloody beetroots remix) [03:58]
06. SOUND OF STEREO – Heads Up (the bloody beetroots remix) [05:01]
07. U-GOD – Stomp da Roach (the bloody beetroots remix) [02:45]
08. SHITDISCO – 72 Virgins (the bloody beetroots remix) [04:00]
09. ETIENNE DE CRECY – Funk (the bloody beetroots remix) [03:50]
10. HERVÈ feat. MARINA GASOLINA – Baseball Bat (the bloody beetroots remix) [02:48]
11. PROXY – Who Are You? (the bloody beetroots remix) [03:51]
12. THE ALL AMERICAN REJECTS – Gives You Hell (the bloody beetroots remix) [04:34]
13. CAPTAIN PHOENIX – Pistols and Hearts (the bloody beetroots remix) [03:26]
14. THE TOXIC AVENGER – Escape (the bloody beetroots remix) [04:40]
15. ASTON SHUFFLE – Stomp Yo Shoes (the bloody beetroots remix) [04:17]
16. MSTRKRFT – Bounce (the bloody beetroots remix) [04:43]
17. THE CHEMICAL BROTHERS – Dissolve (the bloody beetroots remix) [03:19]
18. ETIENNE DE CRECY – Welcome (the bloody beetroots remix) [03:54]
Tiga - Mind Dimension (the bloody beetroots remix)
get it here.
THE 1900s
Return of the Century
The 1900s‘ second record, Return of the Century, seems refreshing in its straight-faced sunniness: it leaves behind the 60s fetishism and faux-country that make their 2007 debut Cold & Kind sound nowadays like a superior proto-Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeroes, opting instead for a spotless pop sound that your kid sister wouldn’t object to. This six-piece has claimed inspiration from cult activity in the Arizona desert and apocrypha regarding the Incredible String Band, and maybe these unlikely thematic considerations have something to do with the surprising depth and cohesiveness of this breezy half-hour batch.
ARTIST: The 1900s
TITLE: Return of the Century
LABEL: Parasol
RELEASE DATE: November 20, 2010
TIME: 35:35 min.
WEB: http://www.myspace.com/1900s
01. Amulet [02:35]
02. Lay A Ghost [03:00]
03. Kidnap Runaway [03:02]
04. Lions Fur [03:44]
05. Tucson [03:13]
06. Zerkalo [02:40]
07. Bmore [03:16]
08. Babies [03:30]
09. Overreactin’ [03:17]
10. Jean Demon [03:59]
11. Sanzimat [03:19]
get it here.
RADIOHEAD
The King of Limbs
2 Comments
as heard on radiospin on February 18th, 2011
under album, electronic, experimental, preview, recommended, rock
8 track are enough to reassert They‘re the best band in the world.
Ever.
ARTIST: Radiohead
TITLE: The King of Limbs
LABEL: XL
RELEASE DATE: February 18, 2011
TIME: 37:33 min.
WEB: http://www.radiohead.com/
01. Bloom [05:15]
02. Morning Mr. Magpie [04:41]
03. Little By Little [04:27]
04. Feral [03:13]
05. Lotus Flower [05:00]
06. Codex [04:47]
07. Give Up the Ghost [04:50]
08. Separator [05:20]
get it here.
DESOLATE
The Invisible Insurrection
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as heard on radiospin on February 18th, 2011
under album, ambient, electronic, experimental, IDM, instrumental, preview
Lushly built, beats-driven ambient album from Desolate aka Sven Weissmann: The Invisible Insurrection is in no small part influenced by one Will Bevan aka Burial, taking his mournful urban ennui and swaddling it in the kind of sumptuous atmospheres Sven has formed his reputation on. At first glance it may seem a little obvious, lazy even to wholesale rip another artist’s distinctive sound, but upon repeat listens Sven’s sincere and effectively heartfelt delivery make it an entirely worthwhile effort. In fact, those who still shirk the Burial albums as being under-produced or somehow inferior in construction, but had a soft spot for its cinematic mood and emotion, will find much to fall in love with here.
ARTIST: Desolate
TITLE: The Invisible Insurrection
LABEL: Fauxpas
RELEASE DATE: February 1, 2011
TIME: 42:25 min.
WEB: http://www.desolatenyc.com/
01. Imagination [04:02]
02. Follow Suit [03:14]
03. Cathartic [06:16]
04. Farewell #1 [01:18]
05. Aviance [02:28]
06. Pain [04:44]
07. Divinus [06:24]
08. Farewell #2 [01:47]
09. Escape [02:56]
10. Endurance [04:32]
11. In Secret [04:44]
get it here.
tags: desolate fauxpas
WIN WIN
Win Win
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as heard on radiospin on February 17th, 2011
under album, electronic, indie, preview, recommended
Billed as a collaborative project, the debut from Boston-bred producer and video artist Ghostdad and Spank Rock–associated XXXChange and Chris Devlin, feels a lot more like a loosely-curated DJ set than a cohesive album: ambient electro-garble makes up the intros, outros, and interludes that piece together a group of pulse-and-throb-backed tracks meant to be made distinguishable by the horde of easily recognizable big-name guests the trio have invited along, featuring Andrew WK, Hot Chip frontman Alexis Taylor and Gang Gang Dance frontwoman Lizzi Bougatsos.
ARTIST: Win Win
TITLE: Win Win
LABEL: Vice
RELEASE DATE: February 09, 2011
TIME: 52:14 min.
WEB: http://www.myspace.com/winwin
01. Planet Playground (interlude) [00:32]
02. Victim [03:37]
03. Future Again (oakland) [04:32]
04. Future Again (win win club mix) [04:41]
05. Mother Mary (interlude) [00:53]
06. Release RPM [04:18]
07. Interleave with You [04:17]
08. Cada Buen Dia [03:12]
09. Pop a Gunball [04:47]
10. Distort Reality [05:40]
11. Glen Back (interlude) [00:50]
12. Ghosts Delirium [04:36]
13. The Nature of Transendent Forces [04:06]
14. Not Too Late (pt.1) [03:43]
15. Not Too Late (pt.2) [02:48]
Win Win (feat. lizzie bougatsos) - Release RPM
get it here.
STATELESS
Matilda
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as heard on radiospin on February 16th, 2011
under album, electronic, indie, info, preview, recommended, remix, rock
Matilda is the second album from British outfit Stateless. Produced by Damian Taylor (Björk, The Prodigy) the album sees the band move from the DJ Shadow influenced sound of their debut to a more glitch based electronic sound: a true mix of styles all brought together by Chris James‘ soulful vocals.
ARTIST: Stateless
TITLE: Matilda
LABEL: Ninja Tune
RELEASE DATE: February 21, 2011
TIME: 49:19 min.
WEB: http://www.statelessonline.com/
01. Curtain Call [06:15]
02. Ariel [03:32]
03. Miles to Go [04:25]
04. Visions [02:59]
05. Assassinations [04:11]
06. Red Sea [02:00]
07. I’m On Fire [05:22]
08. Ballad of NGB [03:30]
09. Song fot the Outsider [05:16]
10. Junior [04:38]
11. I Shall Not Complain [07:11]
Stateless - Ariel (dark sky remix)
get it here.
YOUNG GALAXY
Shapeshifting
Young Galaxy fans have become accustomed to the band shifting gears with each album, but nothing could prepare for the left-turn the Montreal group have taken with Shapeshifting: a stunning album mixing the band’s knack for studio experimentation with Studio’s brand of clean beats and electronic flourishes. This an album that works as both a collection of singles (any of these tracks can stand on their own) while maintaining a consistent vibe throughout that ensures marathon listening sessions never get old. Maybe Shapeshifting will finally catapult Young Galaxy out of the ranks of perpetual underdog and into the upper echelons of Canadian indie stardom.
ARTIST: Young Galaxy
TITLE: Shapeshifting
LABEL: Paper Bag
RELEASE DATE: February 15, 2011
TIME: 41:55 min.
WEB: http://www.myspace.com/younggalaxy
01. Nth [00:32]
02. The Angels Are Surely Weeping [03:40]
03. Blown Minded [03:24]
04. We Have Everything [04:37]
05. For Dear Life [05:06]
06. Peripheral Visionaries [03:37]
07. High and Goodbye [03:10]
08. Phantomas [04:19]
09. Cover Your Tracks [03:48]
10. B.S.E. [04:58]
11. Shapeshifting [04:44]
get it here.
TORO Y MOI
Underneath the Pine
Underneath the Pine is an album evocative of R. Stevie Moore‘s homespun ruminations, David Axelrod‘s sonic scope, Steve Reich-ian piano phrasing, and the pervasive funk of Toro Y Moi‘s first record. An album that announces a new phase for an artist whose talent defies classification.
ARTIST: Toro Y Moi
TITLE: Underneath the Pine
LABEL: Carpark
RELEASE DATE: February 22, 2011
TIME: 39:06 min.
WEB: http://www.toroymoi.blogspot.com/
01. Intro / Chi Chi [02:25]
02. New Beat [04:05]
03. Go With You [03:58]
04. Divina [02:19]
05. Before I’m Done [02:42]
06. Got Blinded [03:10]
07. How I Know [04:05]
08. Light Black [03:24]
09. Still Sound [04:30]
10. Good Hold [02:27]
11. Elise [06:01]
get it here.
PJ HARVEY
Let England Shake
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as heard on radiospin on February 11th, 2011
under album, preview, recommended, rock, songwriting
PJ Harvey has long been considered one of England’s most innovative and iconoclastic female artists and with her 8th studio album Let England Shake she embarks on a historical musical voyage as she seeks to define her relationship with the land of her birth. This is a musical excavation of England’s very soil, of its history and the violent and bloody cycles of conflict that have shaped the nations geography and psyche. It’s sometimes bleak, sometimes beautiful but it is always utterly compelling. Maybe the boldest statement the album makes with understated eloquence is, to quote George Bernard Shaw “we learn from history that we learn nothing from history”, war it seems is as cyclical and inevitable as the changing of the seasons.
ARTIST: PJ Harvey
TITLE: Let England Shake
LABEL: Island
RELEASE DATE: February 11, 2011
TIME: 39:51 min.
WEB: http://www.pjharvey.net/
01. Let England Shake [03:07]
02. The Last Living Rose [02:21]
03. The Glorious Land [03:34]
04. The Words That Maketh Murder [03:41]
05. All and Everyone [05:42]
06. On Battleship Hill [04:06]
07. England [03:07]
08. In the Dark Places [02:56]
09. Bitter Branches [02:26]
10. Hanging in the Wire [02:40]
11. Written in the Forehead [03:37]
12. The Colour of the Earth [02:34]
PJ Harvey – The Words That Maketh Murder
get it here.
PAPERCUTS
Fading Parade
Papercuts prinicipal Jason Robert Quever‘s beautiful songwriting is thoughtful, evocative, subtle, and simultaneously ambitious. Crafted over the course of several months at The Hangar in Sacramento, with Thom Monahan, and at Quever’s own Pan American Recording studio, Fading Parade is meticulously designed pop music, with a fully developed sense of space and a sturdy wall of sound. Imagine Belle & Sebastian teaming up with Slowdive and recording with Phil Spector back when he was killing it in the studio rather than, well, you know. Fading Parade is Papercuts‘ first album for Sub Pop.
ARTIST: Papercuts
TITLE: Fading Parade
LABEL: Sub Pop
RELEASE DATE: March 1, 2011
TIME: 37:47 min.
WEB: http://www.myspace.com/thepapercuts
01. Do You Really Wanna Know [03:15]
02. Do Waht You Will [03:42]
03. I’ll See You Later I Guess [04:49]
04. Chills [04:20]
05. The Messenger [03:28]
06. White Are the Waves [03:17]
07. Wait Till I’m Dead [04:11]
08. Marie Says You’ve Changed [03:28]
09. Winter Daze [03:19]
10. Charades [03:58]
get it here.
QUINTORIGO
English Garden
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as heard on radiospin on February 9th, 2011
under album, experimental, folk, preview, recommended, rock
Quintorigo factory is back with its new album, English Garden, great proof of their continuous evolution. Luca Sapio‘s voice (succedeed to Luisa Cottifogli, who took John de Leo‘s place years ago) perfectly harmonizes with the italian combo’s experimentations: blues, 70s rock, punk, jazz and classic melodies. Everything played only with non-rock instruments like violins, saxophones, double-basses and stuff like that. The icing on the cake is Juliette Lewis partecipation on the vocals of two tracks.
Listen and try to define it, if you can.
ARTIST: Quintorigo
TITLE: English Garden
LABEL: Moletto
RELEASE DATE: January 25, 2011
TIME: 41:32 min.
WEB: http://www.quintorigo.com/
01. English Garden [03:20]
02. The Fault Line [04:35]
03. Teardrops [03:16]
04. How Does It Feel [03:37]
05. The Place They Claimed [03:29]
06. Somewhere Else [03:42]
07. Shepherd of the Sheep [03:32]
08. Candyman [03:41]
09. Lies! [03:09]
10. Hang Man Blues [05:34]
11. Burning Doubts [03:37]
Quintorigo (feat. juliette lewis) – How Does It Feel
get it here.