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THE FUTURHEADS
Rant

Long gone are the days when record labels would bow to their artistes’ every whim. At a time when, more than ever, music=sales=money, artistic egos are worth zilch, and concept albums are worth even less. So who on earth agreed to let The Futureheads release an a cappella album? An idea that sprang from a Radio 1 Live Lounge session, which saw them attempt, with schoolboy clever dick humour, an instrument-free version of Kelis‘s Acapella, was somehow allowed to flourish into an entire album. A silly, novelty album that no one’s going to listen to, right? Not quite. Those who are gunning to dismiss Rant as a novelty record will, at first glance, have plenty of ammunition: the covers, the boring re-workings of their own songs, and the fact that at times it sounds part barbershop quartet and part football crowd. But it’s far from self-indulgent: their song choices and clever arrangements make Rant a real, if unexpected, delight.

ARTIST: The Futurheads
TITLE: Rant
LABEL: Nul
RELEASE DATE: April 2, 2012
TIME: 34:04 min.
WEB: http://www.thefutureheads.co.uk/

01. Meantime [03:17]
02. Meet Me Halfway [03:05]
03. Robot [02:01]
04. Beeswing [04:16]
05. Thursday [04:11]
06. Summer Is Icumen In [01:52]
07. The Keeper [01:40]
08. The No.1 Song in Heaven [04:26]
09. The Old Dun Cow [02:53]
10. Acapella [02:28]
11. Man Ray [04:02]

The Futurheads – Meet Me Halfway

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GIARDINI DI MIRÒ
Good Luck

Five years of silence lead us to Good Luck, 4th (5th, if we want to consider also Il Fuoco, sonorization of the 1915′s homonymous film by Giovanni Pastrone) album by Italian post-rockers Giardini di Mirò. For this album the band returns to the original line-up of the first one Rise and Fall of Academic Drifting (2001). In ten years Giardini di Mirò have been able to get out of the label of “Italian Mogwai”, carrying on an idea of sound that in time has become a trademark. Good Luck is heading to be a cross-eyed album, made of songs apparently disconnected one from another. But in the end the beauty and the strength of this release is that: shuffling the cards, alternate moments of solid and classic post-rock to more liquid and soft parts. Good Luck is geometry, not mathematics, and melody is always the center (as a proof of that, the presence of Devics‘ Sara Love as guest vocals on the ethereal This Is the Place). Welcome again.

ARTIST: Giardini di Mirò
TITLE: Good Luck
LABEL: Santeria / Audioglobe
RELEASE DATE: March 23, 2012
TIME: 38:54 min.
WEB: http://www.giardinidimiro.com/

01. Memories [02:36]
02. Spurious Love [05:06]
03. Ride [04:01]
04. There Is a Place [03:35]
05. Good Luck [04:21]
06. Rome [06:33]
07. Time On Time [05:49]
08. Flat Heart Society [06:53]

Giardini di Mirò – Ride

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LADYHAWKE
Anxiety

One of the brightest stars to light up the pop firmament this millennium is back. Thanks to her brilliant self-titled 2008 debut, Ladyhawke (a.k.a. Pip Brown), shot to stardom around the world. Her follow-up will surely even exceed those achievements, and establish the wildly talented young tunesmith as one of her generation’s most beloved pop heroines. Eighteen months in the making, Anxiety carries ten instant classics, each brimming over with irresistable hooks, fresh beats and ear-grabbing synth sounds.

ARTIST: Ladyhawke
TITLE: Anxiety
LABEL: Island
RELEASE DATE: March 28, 2012
TIME: 36:10 min.
WEB: http://www.ladyhawkemusic.com/

01. Girl Like Me [02:56]
02. Sunday Drive [04:05]
03. Black, White & Blue [03:55]
04. Vaccine [03:34]
05. Blue Eyes [03:17]
06. Vanity [03:01]
07. The Quick & the Dead [03:49]
08. Anxiety [03:24]
09. Cellophane [04:15]
10. Gone Gone Gone [03:54]

Ladyhawke – Black, White & Blue (treasure fingers remix)

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TANLINES
Mixed Emotions

Mixed Emotions is the debut album from Brooklyn’s Tanlines, the duo of Eric Emm (vocals, guitar, keyboards) and Jesse Cohen (drums, keyboards, bass). Initially a production project, Tanlines have evolved through two acclaimed EPs into a deeply personal, electronic pop group. The album was recorded in a series of locations after the band were evicted from their own studio, which in turn pushed Emm to focus on his lyrics and songwriting: in the process, he discovered a beautiful baritone vocal style. The lyrics poured out of him, and their maturity and honesty form the core of this release.

ARTIST: Tanlines
TITLE: Mixed Emotions
LABEL: True Panther Sounds
RELEASE DATE: March 20, 2012
TIME: 39:26 min.
WEB: http://tanlinesinternet.com/

01. Brothers [04:13]
02. All of Me [03:55]
03. Green Grass [03:28]
04. Abby [03:36]
05. Yes Way [03:08]
06. Not the Same [04:34]
07. Lost Somewhere [03:32]
08. Real Life [04:44]
09. Rain Delay [03:36]
10. Cactus [03:40]
11. Nonesuch [03:31]

Tanlines – Brothers

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ELIAS
Fossils

Vancouver-based trio Elias, made by Brian Healy (keyboards, lead vocals), Rob Tornroos (guitar, backing vocals) and Stefan Tavares (drums), release their brand new album Fossils, on Wax Records. On Fossils, the band’s sound covers a lot of ground, moving from dark to light, from moody to anthemic, from rock hardness to melody sweetness, without resulting foregone. After a lengthy search, Jeff Dawson (Marcy Playground, Hey Ocean!) was brought onboard to produce the record and Grammy winner John O’Mahony (Coldplay, Metric) accepted to mix the sounds. Their dedication to the project was glue that allowed for the record’s emotional momentum to carry forward.

ARTIST: Elias
TITLE: Fossils
LABEL: Wax
RELEASE DATE: February 14, 2012
TIME: 44:18 min.
WEB: http://www.eliasband.com/

01. Fossils [05:00]
02. Enough [04:06]
03. Knockdown Dance [04:00]
04. Tunnel Lights [05:07]
05. Hands and Knees [04:25]
06. Lake Louise [04:49]
07. Rising Tide [03:37]
08. Catapults [04:43]
09. Glass [04:58]
10. Hold the Line [03:33]

Elias – Hands and Knees

removed by request

CHROMATICS
Kill For Love

The new Chromatics album, Kill for Love, was just released on iTunes: surprisingly they were not able to find a label. Now, two months later, everything goes in its right place, and Kill For Love sees the light physically thanks to Italians Do It Better. This is the first album since 2007′s Night Drive from this dark-dance-pop aesthetes and it’s filled with mystery, intrigue and several interesting twists and turns.

ARTIST: Chromatics
TITLE: Kill for Love
LABEL: Italians Do It Better
RELEASE DATE: January 24, 2012
TIME: 1:32:04 min.
WEB: http://www.myspace.com/chromatics

01. Into the Black [05:23]
02. Kill for Love [03:58]
03. Back from the Grave [03:43]
04. The Page [03:36]
05. Lady [05:08]
06. These Streets Will Never Look the Same [08:37]
07. Broken Mirrors [07:04]
08. Candy [02:30]
09. The Eleventh Hour [03:28]
10. Running From the Sun [07:07]
11. Dust to Dust [02:41]
12. Birds of Paradise [04:26]
13. A Matter of Time [05:06]
14. At Your Door [03:53]
15. There’s A Light Out On the Horizon [04:44]
16. The River [06:09]
17. No Escape [14:01]

Chromatics – Back from the Grave

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LOLA KITE
I Start to Believe You

In less than twelve months, the 2nd album I Start to Believe You by the Amsterdam-based Lola Kite is already a fact. Unlike the debut album, Lights, especially where the atmosphere is cheerful and spirited, the twelve songs on I Start to Believe You become more melancholiser and reveal their new dreamy nature. With the advent of Jacco Gardner, the trio composed by Keez Groenteman, Jasper Verhulst and Bram Vervaet, evolved into a quartet. Gardner is also responsible for the production of the record that this time was held in their own hands, but this extra addition is primarily intended for the live shows even more dynamic and energized than before.

ARTIST: Lola Kite
TITLE: I Start to Believe You
LABEL: Excelsior
RELEASE DATE: March 2, 2012
TIME: 38:05 min.
WEB: http://lolakite.com/

01. Love and the Weather [00:50]
02. Energy Could Be Our Closest Friend [03:17]
03. Someone OK [03:38]
04. The Fair [03:07]
05. Don’t Block Our Sun [04:14]
06. Boss [04:24]
07. Road to Nowhere [04:05]
08. Island Smyland [01:43]
09. A Higher Key [05:13]
10. Daisy Acquarius [00:51]
11. Tokyo Love [03:42]
12. W’ter [03:09]

Lola Kite – Boss

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YOUNG MAGIC
Melt

Now firmly settled in New York City, Young Magic‘s three members came together through equal helpings of openness and fortuity. The immediately fruitful collaboration brought forth two singles, all of which were fitting indicators of the band’s chameleonic sound, heavily informed by West African rhythms, Brainfeeder hip-hop, UK bass, and 60s psychedelic soul. Young Magic‘s full-length debut, Melt, expands on their varied aesthetic, at once electronically sequenced and completely organic. Containing recordings from 10 different countries, the album flaunts new facets at each turn.

ARTIST: Young Magic
TITLE: Melt
LABEL: Carpark
RELEASE DATE: February 14, 2012
TIME: 34:32 min.
WEB: http://www.myspace.com/youngmagicsounds

01. Sparkly [03:40]
02. Slip Time [02:45]
03. You with Air [03:31]
04. Yalam [01:55]
05. Jam Karet [03:23]
06. Night in the Ocean [04:12]
07. Watch For Our Lights [01:50]
08. The Dancer [03:50]
09. Calvary [02:03]
10. Sanctuary [03:26]
11. Drawing Down the Moon [03:57]

Young Magic – Slip Time

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WHITE RABBITS
Milk Famous

After a 2011 UK Tour supporting Muse and a US tour with Interpol, White Rabbits return with Milk Famous, the new studio album and follow-up to the critically acclaimed It’s Frightening.

ARTIST: White Rabbits
TITLE: Milk Famous
LABEL: TBD
RELEASE DATE: March 6, 2012
TIME: 40:25 min.
WEB: http://whiterabbitsmusic.com/

01. Heavy Metal [04:27]
02. I’m Not Me [03:37]
03. Hold It to the Fire [03:41]
04. Everyone Can Be Confused [03:01]
05. Temporary [03:40]
06. Are You Free [03:14]
07. It’s Frightening [02:51]
08. Danny Come Inside [04:21]
09. Back For More [04:05]
10. The Day You Won the War [03:20]
11. I Had It Coming [04:08]

White Rabbits – Temporary

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RS HOT SPOT – #05
stay updated with radioSpin

Just straight after the release of Port of Morrow, radioSpin is ready on the rock to give to you another special gift: an acoustic EP by The Shins containing four tracks, the brand new unplugged version of Simple Song, It’s Only Life and September and the old Young Pilgrim (from 2003′s Chutes Too Narrow) simply re-worked into a voice-and-guitar previously unreleased dress. Download it here, and don’t forgeto to say thanks.

The Shins – September (acoustic)

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THE SHINS
Port of Morrow

Port of Morrow, the 4th album from The Shins, was recorded in Los Angeles and Portland over the course of 2011 with James Mercer as usual handling all songwriting duties, lead vocals and the majority of instrumentation. The record was produced by Greg Kurstin and mixed by Rich Costey. The cover art was created by Jacob Escobedo.

ARTIST: The Shins
TITLE: Port of Morrow
LABEL: Columbia
RELEASE DATE: March 20, 2012
TIME: 40:13 min.
WEB: http://www.theshins.com/

01. The Rifle’s Spiral [03:30]
02. Simple Song [04:15]
03. It’s Only Life [04:02]
04. Bait and Switch [03:23]
05. September [03:33]
06. No Way Down [03:16]
07. For a Fool [03:57]
08. Fall of ’82 [03:48]
09. 40 Mark Strasse [04:39]
10. Port of Morrow [05:50]

The Shins – The Rifle’s Spiral

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THIEVES LIKE US
Bleed Bleed Bleed

Bleed Bleed Bleed is the 4th record by Thieves Like Us and first with Captured Tracks. Recorded safe inside their homes in Berlin and Paris, the ten songs here are an admission of fears and doubt while entering a new chapter. While continuing Theives’ tradition of quality pop songs, the addition of female vocalist Martine Duverglas add a new dimension to the group. But, have no fear: you can still dance to this one.

ARTIST: Thieves Like Us
TITLE: Bleed Bleed Bleed
LABEL: Capturd Tracks
RELEASE DATE: March 20, 2012
TIME: 38:23 min.
WEB: http://www.thieves-like-us.com/

01. Bleed Bleed Bleed [04:46]
02. Stay Blue [04:42]
03. Still Life [03:17]
04. Fatima [03:18]
05. The Killing Revolution [04:16]
06. Bleed Bleed Bleed II [03:53]
07. Maria Marie [03:23]
08. Memory Song [03:34]
09. Your Love Runs Still [03:21]
10. Worthy to Me [03:53]

Thieves Like Us – Maria Marie

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THE ASTEROIDS GALAXY TOUR
Out of Frequency

Out of Frequency is the brand new release release from this Danish pop band. As their name might imply, The Asteroids Galaxy Tour are somehow less of a band than they are a many-legged, ever-evolving, constantly moving party machine. Unlike so many of their Scandinavian contemporaries-bands that often attack pop music with an almost surgical precision. The Asteroids Galaxy Tour‘s vision of pop music is a much more a freewheeling affair: a symphonic collision of big pop hooks, soaring horn sections, retro-synth flourishes, and epic beats. Inspired by everything from Blaxploitation soundtracks to Primal Scream to old reruns of Dynasty, The Asteroids Galaxy Tour evolved from a bedroom recording project between friends into a psychedelic big band of the future.

ARTIST: The Asteroids Galaxy Tour
TITLE: Out of Frequency
LABEL: B.A.R.
RELEASE DATE: January 31, 2012
TIME: 47:19 min.
WEB: http://www.theasteroidsgalaxytour.com/

01. Gold Rush (pt.1) [01:05]
02. Dollars in the Night [01:59]
03. Gold Rush (pt.2) [01:40]
04. Major [03:58]
05. Heart Attack [03:51]
06. Out of Frequency [04:34]
07. Cloak and Dagger [04:08]
08. Arrival of the Empress (prelude) [00:42]
09. Theme from 45 Eugenia [05:24]
10. Mafia [04:09]
11. Ghost in My Head [04:37]
12. Suburban Space Invaders [04:26]
13. Fantasy Friend Forever [03:15]
14. When It Comes to Us [03:31]

The Asteroids Galaxy Tour – Heart Attack (cosmic kids remix)

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METRONOMY
The English Riviera (unreleased remixes)

The title of the new Metronomy album is pretty self-explanatory: The English Riviera (unreleased remixes) is a collection of unreleased remixes from their album The English Riviera, and in normal circumstances, that would be the end of this review. But it’s not. On the surface, this might sound like easy listening electronic pop, but these guys are good at what they do, and with the assistance of remixers like New Villager, Benoit & Sergio, Wax Cotton, and Ewan Pearson, you get to hear The English Riviera album in an all new fauna. If anything, these remixes might help to bring new life to the original album, which wouldn’t be a bad thing.

ARTIST: Metronomy
TITLE: The English Riviera (unreleased remixes)
LABEL: Because
RELEASE DATE: April 8, 2012
TIME: 66:51 min.
WEB: http://www.metronomy.co.uk/

01. Corinne (benoit & sergio remix) [04:14]
02. Everything Goes My Way (ewan pearson dub) [07:16]
03. The Look (two inch punch’s shook shook refix) [03:46]
04. Loving Arm (soul clap’s shake a leg mix) [05:26]
05. Corinne (night angles remix) [04:56]
06. The Bay (clock opera remix) [06:07]
07. The Look (camo & krooked remix) [05:18]
08. She Wants (c-berg remix) [04:14]
09. Corinne (leodoris remix) [05:53]
10. Everything Goes My Way (jesse rose & duke dumont re-dub) [05:11]
11. Some Written (new villager remix) [03:10]
12. Corinne (mario basanov remix) [05:44]
13. The Bay (wax cotton remix) [07:12]

Metronomy – The Look (camo & krooked remix)

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MARGOT & THE NUCLEAR SO AND SO’S
Rot Gut, Domestic

Fresh off a five-week tour with The Twilight Singers, Margot & The Nuclear So and So’s returned home with a new batch of songs that would become the bands fourth full length album, titled Rot Gut, Domestic. The band raced into the studio and recorded the new album in ten furious days while enlisting the help of Jon Congleton (David Byrne, St. Vincent, Polyphonic Spree).

ARTIST: Margot & the Nuclear So and So’s
TITLE: Rot Gut, Domestic
LABEL: Mariel
RELEASE DATE: March 20, 2012
TIME: 43:02 min.
WEB: http://margotandthenuclearsoandsos.net/

01. Disease Tobacco Free [04:07]
02. Books About Trains [02:46]
03. Shannon [03:11]
04. Prozac Rock [03:28]
05. A Journalist Falls in Love [03:36]
06. Frank Left [03:29]
07. Fisher of Man [03:42]
08. Arvydas Sabonis [03:20]
09. Coonskin Cup [03:52]
10. Ludlow Junk Hustle [04:02]
11. The Devil [04:01]
12. Christ [03:28]

Margot & the Nuclear So and So’s – Shannon

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