THE DRUMS: LIVE AT W.I.P. 2.14

The Drums performed a 4 song set last night (Valentine’s day) at W.I.P. (short for Work-in-Progress & owned by the proprietors of the Greenhouse). We caught The Drums last at CMJ 2010 (Photos). Starting roughly an hour late a midst the bottle-service-heavy underground art house (even if a bit contrived), The Drums tore through perennial favorites such as “Best Friend” as well as their more current hit “Money” and the dancing made me really miss the days of Mondo at Don Hills.

Catch the photos from last night’s performance below.

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[photos: Cory Greenwell]

DOWNLOAD STARFAWN: GREENLIGHT [TEEEL REMIX]

Check out this dark disco remix of Starfawn’s “Greenlight” from Teeel.

Download a copy of Starfawn’s EP – available digitally now through Moodgadget, more info at moodgadget.com/starfawn/

Starfawn is a collaboration between Producer Misha Mross and Vocalist Amber Schaefer that began in early 2011. The two met through mutual friends and connected over a shared love for synthesizers and electronic music.

Misha Mross currently lives in Brattleboro Vermont and splits his time between his day job as an electro-optical engineer, writing music, and his musical engineering projects, which include building custom MIDI controllers and interfaces, and programming synthesis software. Influenced by both the organic (Vermont woods, classical music, physics, math) and the technological (NES/SNES, electrical engineering, synthesizer music), his production style, while heavily synth based, has natural motion and melody.

While Misha Mross is the technical expert of the duo, Brooklyn resident Amber Schaefer brings her natural charisma and song-writing abilities to the project. Amber tangibly brings her acting and improv background to their performances, cooing as she nonchalantly rolls around on the stage.

Together as Starfawn, they craft highly personalized electronic music that has been described as “an instantly recognizably retro, yet strange and otherworldly soundscape … that revels in experimentation while still understanding the importance of actually having a song amongst the indulgence.”

ADULTSWIM PRODUCED NEON INDIAN VIDEO: FALLOUT

The new video for Neon Indian‘s “Fallout” is an Adult Swim-produced cartoon directed by Lilfuchs. Paying homage to 80’s Saturday morning cartoons and sexy commercials, a scantily clad, pink maned, chill-wave Barbie cruises the scene in her 80’s convertible while paralyzing gas station workers with her gaze.

 

NEW VIDEO FROM THE BLACK KEYS: GOLD ON THE CEILING

The Black Keys Follow up their buzz-worthy viral video for “Lonely Boy”, with a new video for “Gold On The Ceiling” off of their late 2011 release, El Camino. The video, directed by Reid Long, keeps it simple, following the band through their recent world tour intertwining studio footage with clips of the band behind-the-scenes and performing on stage.

TEEEL SHOW THIS WEEK + NEW ALBUM COMING THIS MONTH

Inspired by italo, electro and the 80s new wave movement, Teeel aka Jim Smith credits his sound to marathon movie watching and being an obsessive gear head. Creating music in a 10×10 teal painted room, stacked with vintage synthesizers and guitars, TEEEL creates music that ranges from hypnotic synthpop to dreamy disco and dark electronica. Although TEEEL is a fairly new solo project, Jim Smith is no rookie in the music industry. He’s been producing a wide range of music, performing with bands and DJing in clubs since the late 90s. His debut album, AMULET (Moodgadget Records) has generated quite the buzz in the blog world as well as being featured on KEXP radio. “Dark Passenger” was featured as “Song of the Day”.

You can check out a night of electronic bliss this Thursday at 11:15 at Lit Lounge in New York City with Teeel performing along with Starfawn, Jacob 2-2, and Crozet. Doors open at 8:30pm.  Lit Lounge is 93 2nd Ave. (btwn. E5/E6th St). Click HERE for more details.

TEEEL – “University Heights” (Coming 2/22/2012)
Original Cover Art by: Hayden James Mitchell

TEEEL – “Amulet” (Moodgadget Records, February 22nd, 2011)

Amulet by TEEEL [iTunes]

TEEEL – “Amulet” (Moodgadget Records, September 27, 2011)

Amulet (Remixed) by TEEEL [iTunes]

Remixes by Teeel

NEW MUSIC FROM LELAND SUNDRIES: APPARITION

Brooklyn’s indie strummers Leland Sundries’ 2nd release The Foundry EP is out Feb 21, 2012 on L’Echiquier Records. Led by Nick Loss-Eaton the EP was recorded in Greenpoint, Brooklyn in an old creamery building with Loss-Eaton on resonator guitar, banjo, harmonium, harmonica, and vocals.

The lead single “Apparition” is now available for free download.

DROSS GLOP 2: SHABAZZ PALACES REMIX BATTLES

Battles Dross Glop 2  – the second album in a 4-part Battles remix series, out on 12-inch vinyl (Feb 21), features remixes of their recent Gloss Drop by Shabazz Palaces, Kode 9 & The Alchemist. You can listen to Shabazz reworking “White Electric” above with Ishmael Butler waxing poetically on “Reaganomics, Bushonomics, Obamanomics”.

Subscribe to the full vinyl series at Bleep.com until Feb 26th. http://bleep.com/index.php?page=release_details&releaseid=34495

NEW VIDEO FROM BIG DEAL: TALK

Kacey Underwood and Brit Alice Costelloe aka Big Deal just released a new video for “Talk”, off their most recent album Lights Out.  Directed by the talented, Brooklyn director Yoonha Park (Washed Out, Deerhoof and Beach House) the video  captures the bands innate ability to tap into the innocence, insecurity, wonder and (sometimes unrequited) love and lust of relationships. With a combination of sparse interweaving lo-fi guitars, emotive lyrics, set against the fuzzed out chords of an electric guitar and the tones of a boy / girl vocal create a sound that is sweet and seductive. Understated and discreet, it feels like a love note passed between classes.

Big Deal will be coming to the US in March for SXSW, including two special shows in New York and a show in Los Angeles, marking the band’s live debut in the US.

DOWNLOAD MP3: BIG DEAL: “CHAIR”

 

Tennis : Young and Old

Rating: 5/5 stars

Label: Fat Possum Records

 

While most husband-and-wife indie pop duos can induce nausea, Denver’s buzz band Tennis, deliver effortless lo-fi beach pop that is as romantic as the nautical adventure spawning the duos collaboration. Produced by Patrick Carney (The Black Keys), Young and Old is grounded in a retro sensibility that surfaces extra layers of vocal harmonies, jangly guitars and 60′s organ from beneath the fuzz pedal.  A sincere sophomore effort that maintains the simple songwriting beauty of Cape Dory – a collection of songs about love, loss and inertia. But, this time around, there is much more anxiety and volume, ensuring each song has more depth and texture.

 Listen :  Tennis : Take Me Somewhere (viaSoundCloud)

NEW MUSIC FROM MOTIVE: WHAT’S SO BAD

Brooklyn band Motive have been playing around town for quite some time now, opening up for larger names like The Vaccines and Bear Hands. After releasing their self-titled debut EP last year, they’re kicking off 2012 with a series of new songs and music videos and this premier stream of “What’s So Bad”, the band’s newest single. Produced by Chuck Brody (PhantogramBear Hands), the theme of the song is the dissatisfaction of being a young adulthood — the thrilling feeling of having your whole life ahead of you, yet being plagued by an irrepressible, discontented frustration. Like most of Motive’s work, the track is heavy in both guitar and drums, and its slightly fuzzy and distorted vocals [reminiscent of  Julian Casablancas’ drawl] are completely appropriate given the inconsistency of the subject matter.

NEW METRONOMY COLLECTION + PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED REMIX

Mercury Prize nominated indie-electro-pop quartet, Metronomy, are set to release The English Riviera Unreleased Remixes, via Big Beat Records and Because Music, on March 6th.  As the title would suggest, the collection features thirteen reworkings of tracks from the group’s critically acclaimed third album, The English Riviera.  The English Riviera, which has sold over 150,000 copies worldwide, was proclaimed by NYLON Magazine the 2nd best album of 2011 calling it a “sexy and sultry…modest masterpiece.”  In addition to two new reworks of the single ‘The Look’ (which Huffington Post ranked among their top songs of 2011), the release presents left of center versions by much loved producers Benoit & SergioEwan PearsonCamo & KrookedJesse RoseSoul Clap, and more.

Comprised of multi-instrumentalist front-man Joseph Mount, keyboardist Oscar Cash, drummer Anna Prior, and bassist Gbenga Adelekan, Metronomy are heading out for a North American Tour this Spring.  The tour, which puts the foursome out on the road with Brooklyn indie band Friends, will showcase Metronomy’s signature sound and bring a much needed spark of bliss to end the of Winter.  The group is particularly excited to announce their inclusion on this year’s already sold out Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, California as well as Ultra Music Festival in Miami, Florida.

LISTEN TO ‘CORINNE (BENOIT & SERGIO COVER)’ HERE: 

METRONOMY TOUR DATES

Sat March 24       Miami, FL                         Ultra Music Festival

Sun Mar 25          Atlanta, GA                      Masquerade

Tue Mar 27          Washington, DC                Rock N Roll Hotel

Wed Mar 28         Philadelphia, PA               Theater of Living Arts

Fri Mar 30            New York, NY                   Irving Plaza

Sat Mar 31           Boston, MA                      Brighton Music Hall

Sun Apr 1            Montreal, QC                    Metropolis Theatre

Mon Apr 2            Toronto, ON                     The Hoxton

Wed Apr 4            Chicago, IL                      Lincoln Hall

Thu Apr 5             Minneapolis, MN              7th Street Entry

Thu Apr 12           San Francisco, CA           Slim’s

Sun Apr 15           Indio, CA                         Coachella

Sun Apr 22           Indio, CA                         Coachella

NEW MUSIC FROM SOUTHERN NOISE-POP BAND: MOONLIGHT BRIDE

If you’re into bands like The Pains of Being Pure At Heart, My Bloody Valentine and Los Campesinos!, check out Chattanooga based noise-pop Moonlight Bride and their new EP Twin Lakes (out feb 28th). 

 Featuring the pop-gaze anthem “Lemonade,” Twin Lakes finds Moonlight Bride at their best, weaving brooding guitars with driving melodies and poignant vocals that drip with raw emotion.  The five song EP, self-produced and mixed by John Goodmanson (Death Cab For Cutie, Los Campesinos!), flows seamlessly in a dream-like procession through peaks and valleys of noise-pop ecstasy, further revealing the band’s remarkable knack for memorable songwriting.
Listen to “Lemonade” here: http://on.fb.me/wQwUzk

NEW MUSIC FROM THE BAND IN HEAVEN: SLUDGY DREAMS

New music from South Florida noise duo – The Band in Heaven is available on 7″ featuring the track “Sludgy Dreams” on HoZac Records
Watch the original Alice Cohen created video for “Sludgy Dreams” above or the alternate version – “Sludgy Dreams/Sleazy Dreams” HERE.

NEW MUSIC FROM SOFT LIGHTING: SLOW MOTION SILHOUETTES

Soft Lighting is the solo work of Bryan Cox, Kansas City based musician/producer. Equipped with a Juno60 and a bedroom studio, Cox makes his own brand of light headed pop music influenced by Italo Disco, 80s film soundtracks and contemporary Chillwave artists.

Soft Lighting – Slow Motion Silhouettes (3/1/2012)

Soft Lighting on Facebook

STREAM SHADES: CLEAR MOTIONS

The four-piece band from Boise, Idaho known to the universe as Shades bring an eclectic mix of woozy melodic synths, crunched drums, smooth vocals and sweet vibes. “Clear Motions” will be released in January. We’re very excited to share a fantastic collection of songs that flow brilliantly into each other as warm waves grab the soul with emotion. Perfect for fans of Small Black, Washed Out, and love Shoegaze Electronica.
Shades on Facebook

BUY ON iTUNES

STREAM A PLACE TO BURY STRANGERS: ONWARDS TO THE WALL

Onwards To The Wall, the new EP from A Place To Bury Strangers, is available for streaming right now – a week in advance of release date – on Hype Machine. The disc has 5 brand new face-melting tracks and will officially be released on Dead Oceans next week on February 7. The  Boston Phoenix calls it “indebted to the pleasures of pressure…a suicide tease,” and KEXP  recently made “So Far Away” their Song of the Day.

NEW VIDEO FROM THE WAR ON DRUGS: BROTHERS

The War On Drugs are excited to share the brand new video for the dylan-esc track “Brothers,” one of the many highlights off their stellar Slave Ambient. Following the more kaleidoscopic videos for “Baby Missiles” and “Come to the City,” the “Brothers” video, definitely takes a different approach with its bleak western narrative. Here’s what the director team of Brewer, a pair of brothers (Ben and Alex), had to say about the video:

“We kept picturing it as the soundtrack to a dark western like Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid or Unforgiven. That is where the deranged T.V cowboy character came from. We wanted the video to feel like the most exciting five minutes taken out of a longer movie. The biggest challenge in the filming was how to make the old cowboy (played by David Weindel) seem threatening, and how to make the nurse (played by Tallie Medel) seem like she was dealing with the situation the way a normal person might really handle such a nightmare.”

The War On Drugs’ “Come to the City” 7-inch single is available this week on Secretly Canadian. Listen to the b-side, “Don’t Fear The Ghost” 

NEW MUSIC FROM HUSBAND: SLOW MOTION

Husband is Gianlorenzo (Buzz Aldrin) and Chiara from Bologna.  Offsetting the driving Italo-pop dronetronica rhythms of their track “Slow Motion” is this strangely uneasy video filmed and edited by Ailien Reyes, which features the duo’s shared love of volcanoes.

RICK RUBIN REMIXES JUSTICE: ON ‘N’ ON

Fader have just posted Rick Rubin’s remix of “On’n’On” by Justice. It’s from the EP for the song they have dropping on Monday. Check below for links and a hilarious note from Justice’s manager/label head Busy P:

Stream: Justice, “On’n’on (Rick Rubin Remix)”

ONCE UPON A TIME RICK RUBIN

It all started in 1989, I visited my brother in Canada, where he was living with my dad. We went record shopping, probably one of the first time I was buying my own records, my first real choices let’s say. Before that I was just the little brother, listening to what the family was listening, following my brother’s music taste ; Pink Floyd, Led Zep, Metallica, The Cure etc…I ended up with a bunch of cassette tapes : RUN DMC “Tougher Than Leather”, THE CULT “Electric” and BEASTIE BOYS “Licensed to Ill”. Don’t ask me why, but a funny name appeared on the credits of each tapes! produced by RICK RUBIN
No need to lie to you, at that time I did not know what was the meaning of it and I don’t think I really cared… Skateboarding was all I had, every week-end, then almost everyday, I cruised in the streets of Paris. Naturally (thanx to Thrasher magazine) I discovered SLAYER, RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS and DINOSAUR JR (but we don’t need them here) And again! THAT name RICK RUBIN was written in the credits, even in capitals on the back of the records. Who’s that guy ? Is he the manager of the bands? nope Is he running the label or something ? nope… errr I mean YES! not always, but wait, are you telling me that man created DEF JAM with Russell Simmons ???? The label of LL COOL J, BEASTIE BOYS, PUBLIC ENEMY… OUI it’s him!
Oh I see now, he’s also behind the clash AEROSMITH vs RUN DMC “Walk this way”, what’s wrong with that man, sorry I meant how cool is that ?
I remember watching the video on MTV (hello Headbangers Ball!), probably one of my first musical shock, that man is a genius! Time goes on and here we are in 2008, Ed Banger records is only 5 years old, we released JUSTICE first album and the band is touring the USA. RICK RUBIN is running Columbia records from his house in Malibu. Our friend Kevin works at Columbia emailed me saying RICK RUBIN loved the album!

“guys” (me speaking) “i just got a message saying RICK RUBIN loved the album!”
“shut up Pedro!” (the boys spitting on me)
“and he wants to meet you…” (me almost crying, yes yes I’m not shy sharing this with you now)

We drove all the way to Malibu and entered RICK RUBIN’s world. For privacy reasons I will not speak about it here. Rick asked the boys about sampling, compression, and few other producers fantasy, me I was just dreaming (awake) We hang out, had a tea and took this memorable photo.

Time goes on and here we are in 2011, Ed Banger records is now 8 years old, we just released JUSTICE “Audio Video Disco” second album
and the band is about to tour the world.

“guys”(me speaking) “i just got a message saying RICK RUBIN loved the album AGAIN!”
RICK RUBIN is running Columbia records from his house in Malibu. Our friend Kevin is now Dilpo’s manager emailed me saying RICK RUBIN loved the album!

I will not waste your time repeating the same jokes… I prefer to share with you this piece of music, the kind of story you hear about someone meeting his hero. RICK RUBIN accepted to RUIN (or remix) JUSTICE new single. Not only it’s a dream, it’s an honor to have him on board.

Monsieur DJ Double R I salute you!

STREAM AU PALAIS: TENDER MERCY

Stream the Tender Mercy EP from Toronto bred- now London based Au Palais.  On Tender Mercy, Brother and sister duo Elise and David Commathe have crafted a calm and cool collection of beat heavy, goth-pop tracks, shimmering with soaring vocals and elegant beauty.