Bluesfest Music Festival – July 4-15
No one knows why it’s called Bluesfest, and I doubt we will ever find out. For our friends up North, this week kicks off Bluesfest: a 12-day Canadian Music Festival in the capital city which a). should not be mistaken for a “Blues Festival” and b). is in Ottawa, aye? (contrary to Canadian Bacon, the capital is Not Toronto!)
Bluesfest may have nothing to do with blues music, but it’s still a great time of year for government employees to stop pretending they work, and indie music fans from all over North America to flood the city and party until a stage collapses. This year has a great lineup you can check out after the jump:
What to look forward to: Other than being excited to boo Chad Kroeger of Nickelback and grind your significant other (or willing proximity other) to Seal’s “Kissed by a Rose” while eating poutine, you should keep on the peg for:
Beirut, Pretty Lights, Mustard Pimp, Grimes, Big Boi of Outkast, A$AP Rocky, Diplo, Felix Cartal, MSTRKRFT, The WEEKND, Tyga and Deltron 3030, who will be playing some of their new material off of their upcoming album: Event II. The show will consist of the Deltron core (Dan the Automator, Del the Funky Homosapien and Kid Koala), along with drums, guitar, keyboards AND the “Deltron Orchestra” – You can expect 16 additional band members which incorporate strings, horns and background vocals.
Our Ottawa envoy Darcy Ujjainwalla will be covering all the shows, so if you see him at the festival, stop on over and say “hi” and tell him who you’re excited to see. And maybe, just maybe, he will hook you up with a Discosalt T-shirt (while quantities last of course).
Video – KidsOf88 : Tucan feat. Alisa Xayalith
New Zealand duo KIDSOF88 have released a new remix of their official single, “TUCAN,” from the forthcoming album MODERN LOVE, expected in summer 2012 via Dryden Street. On the original version of “TUCAN“, Sam McCarthy and Jordan Arts are joined by Alisa Xayalith of The Naked And Famous, uncovering a soaring sense of yearning previously unseen within KidsOf88’s oeuvre.
KIDSOF88 : “TUCAN” L-O-L-O Remix
New Track – The Vaccines : No Hope
The Vaccines Come Of Age is the follow-up to the bands’ unabashed, critically-acclaimed debut What Did You Expect From The Vaccines? Of the overall album, frontman Justin Young told NME earlier this year, “The record is a lot more intimate and close than the first record.” To capture this intimate sound the band worked with producer Ethan Johns (Ryan Adams, Kings of Leon, Laura Marling), recording over the last few months at ICP studios in Brussels and Distiller in Bath.
The first single “No Hope,” is available now and can be listened to below:
Album Stream – Bravestation : Giants & Dreamers
With just a couple of weeks to go now until the release of their debut full-length Giants & Dreamers, Toronto’s Bravestation have unveiled the video for the album’s third single ‘Western Thrills’ – which, combines the bands ambient textures and spaced-out New Wave guitars with colorful harmonies and tribal percussion. Listen to the album and watch the new video after the jump.
New Video – Sebastien Tellier : Russian Attractions
French vocalist Sebastien Tellier just dropped a great new video for the Morrissey-esc single ‘Russian Attractions’ produced by VICE with the help of Air. Starring an olympic caliber synchronized swim team, the video for the latest track from his new album My God Is Blue is reminiscent of a classic kaleidoscopic Bond title sequence.
Album Stream – Milk Maid : Mostly No
‘Mostly No’, Milk Maid’s second album, follows hot on the heels of last year’s debut record ‘Yucca’ and finds frontman Martin Cohen cementing his reputation as a talented songwriter able to straddle the line between noise and pop whilst also expanding the sonic terrain the band covers. Adding swirls of Psychedelia to ‘Yucca’s’ crafted fuzz, the home-recorded ‘Mostly No’ explores a trans-Atlantic sound that at times simultaneously recalls the grand traditions of Manchester indie and Californian acid rock but which also sits alongside contemporaries such as Ty Segall, White Fence, and The War on Drugs.
This mix of influences comes together perfectly on ‘Summertime’, the lead single from ‘Mostly No’, which combines the haze of early Jesus and Mary Chain with the sun-bleached guitars of Roky Erickson and the classic songwriting of Jefferson Airplane. Its title and hooky chorus may suggest a carefree summer anthem, but the season simply presents the “doomed man” of the 1st verse with a “nicer time” to kill himself; Manchester miserabilism raining on a sound so associated with hippy optimism.
Milk Maid’s new album ‘Mostly No’ will be released on 9th July via FatCat Records. Pre-order the album now.
MP3 – Bike Warrior : Mixtape # 1
Secret Ra Ra Riot Show in NYC
MP3 – Beach Day : Walking On The Streets / Boys
Hollywood, Florida is not your typical beach town. The buildings, diners, and of course the beach appear frozen in the 1950’s. Probably a result of the town’s population boom happening in that era, a current drive down the streets feels like your moving through an R. Crumb drawing.
Things seem exaggerated and a bit odd. The now mature population seems a caricature of their former selves. It is this strange place, lovingly dubbed Hollyweird, Florida, that the trio Beach Day calls home. Their sound is heavily influenced by their surroundings. They make new music, but it is definitely old at heart. And it’s definitely sunny, but not without some murkiness.
Video – Bowerbirds : Sweet Moment
Watch the Bowerbirds brand new video for “Sweet Moment“, off The Clearing.
You can also grab some MP3’s and watch the mini-documentary about the Bowerbirds’ The Clearing after the jump.
MP3 – Bowerbirds: Tuck The Darkness In
MP3 – Bowerbirds : In The Yard
About “The Clearing” by Bowerbirds from Secretly Jag on Vimeo.
MP3 – Cat Power : Ruin
Longtime Miami indie Goddess Chan Marshall is back with a short, cropped, breakup haircut and the first Cat Power album of original material in over six years! Was it worth the wait? Check out the first single “Ruin” from the new album Sun – performed and produced entirely by Chan in various locations including a studio she built in Malibu. Sounds pretty awesome. The album drops September 4.
Chan introduces “Ruin” via this clip below directed by Austin Conroy.
Video – Gem Club: I Heard The Party
Watch this intriguing, new, slow-motion love story video from Gem Club – beautifully directed by Joshua Stocker.
Gem Club – I Heard the Party from Gem Club on Vimeo.
MP3 – FIDLAR : Got No Money + No Waves / No Ass
FIDLAR are known as much for their noisy, infectious West Coast punk as for their insane ability to rile crowds. The band hits Terminal 5 on Friday, June 22nd, joining The Hives on the East Coast leg of their tour. Click Here To Listen To Daytrotter Session or Grab some MP3’s after the jump:
MP3 – FIDLAR : Got No Money
Taken By Trees : Other Worlds – Official Trailer
Victoria Bergsman has announced a new album for her main creative outlet, Taken By Trees. The LP, her first since 2009’s East of Eden, is called Other Worlds and will be released October 2 on Secretly Canadian.
Other Worlds is a impressionist poem for the Hawaiian Islands, where on a recent visit, Bergsman found a swell of creative inspiration. Working closely with photographer Amanda Marsalis, Victoria intimately documented her time in Hawaii gathering ideas for songs and recording nature sounds while Marsalis filmed and took photos.
Bergman says, “I remember two songs that really triggered the whole ‘Hawaiian/tropical’ album idea and kept hanging on through out the whole process of the album as sound and feel atmosphere. The first song was the instrumental track ‘Diamond Head’ by The Beach Boys and the other one is Augustos Pablo’s song ‘AP Spezial,’ also an instrumental track. Both of the songs have beautiful nature sounds added to them of waves, thunder and birds. The Beach Boys song turned me onto pedal steels and the Augustos Pablo song turned me onto the more dubby feeling.”
Album Stream – Lockah : When U Stop Feeling Like A Weirdo & Become A Threat
Lockah, a standout among the bourgeoning bass music community of Scotland, has released his debut EP on Diplo‘s Jeffree’s imprint. When U Stop Feeling Like A Weirdo & Become A Threat succinctly demonstrates his penchant for melody in the context of sub-octave bass music that defies any singular genre tag. A resident and general proponent of the fringe-city of Aberdeen (think the Milwaukee of Scotland), Lockah has helped build an organic, exceptionally self-sustaining scene with his Tuff Wax imprint that has become a glaring blip on the global radar with releases from ¥oin, Bones & Money,Grobie and others. The album features skittering drums that reference New Orleans bounce and southern trap music circa ’98, warbling synths that feel at home among boogie 12-inches of the late ’80s, and the low end that is undeniably en vogue currently. An emotive and frankly un-danceable collection of 3 tracks capped off by a breathtaking remix by Pictureplane, Lockah has created a thoughtful piece that sits among some of the most interesting and compelling releases from the post-dubstep-era UK.
New MONO album promises tortured neo-classical music
MONO – the stylized instrumental rock / shoegaze band from Japan – have unveiled a trailer for their sixth studio album, which is set for release this Fall via Temporary Residence Ltd. Self-Titled has posted a teaser video of studio footage of the Japanese quartet crafting, what sounds like, their most beautiful album yet and another step towards the Japanese band becoming a tortured form of neo-classical music.
Check out our digital music store: http://monoofjapan.bandcamp.com
Physical CDs & records available here: http://www.temporaryresidence.com
Catalpa Festival NYC Announces 2012 Lineup Featuring The Black Keys and Snoop Dogg
This summer promises an avalanche of free music events and heavy billed festivals.
Popping the top – The inaugural Catalpa Festival – set to take place July 28-29 on Randall’s Island. Striving to be a pioneering NYC festival comparable to California’s Coachella and Chicago’s Lollapalooza, unique in its programming, atmosphere and aesthetic – Catalpa has secured an eclectic lineup of over 40 indie and bands and hip-hop artists that include The Black Keys, Snoop Dogg (playing Doggy Style), TV on the Radio and Girl Talk. The bands will play from 1-11pm over two days, along with art installations, structures and unique elements including the Arcadia Spectacular, Frisky’s Church of Sham Marriages, a Silent Disco Tent, bumper cars, and plenty of NYC eats.
Check out the complete list and more details on the festival after the jump.
What Else Can you Expect:
Arcadia Spectacular
Arcadia is a sculpture-based organization that takes military scrap and turns it on its head to create positive environments for the purpose of celebrating life. Their structure known as ‘The Afterburner’ will be making it’s debut North American appearance at Catalpa Festival. This is a mind-blowing spire that shoots giant 30ft flame balls from its peak and contains DJs playing from within. Surrounded by a high-powered sound system and an incredible lighting system, New York City will have never seen anything like this!
Frisky’s Church of Sham Marriages
The 60ft inflatable Church of Sham marriages is to ensure that any sudden urges for marriage proposals (sham or legitimate) during Catalpa can be dealt with on the spot! We will have our full time pimp pastor on hand at all times throughout the weekend to conduct ceremonies and he will provide wedding veils, candy wedding rings and ‘just married’ sashes for all the happy couples.
We want people to get creative here. Straight, gay, three-way or even group marriages are all accepted. Heck, you can even marry yourself if you feel like it!
Silent Disco Tent
The Silent Disco tent at Catalpa Festival is an experience that you don’t want to miss out on. Listen to DJs playing in the tent through wireless headphones while you dance and sing along at the top of your voice. Don’t worry, nobody else in the tent can hear you, they will all be doing the same thing!!!
High Times Reggae Stage
Our friends at High Times Magazine are helping us to curate what will no doubt be a great fun reggae stage at Catalpa Festival. Throughout the weekend The High Times Cannabis Cup Band will be joined on this stage by guest artists, DJs, Bob Marley Tributes and Nyabinghi drumming sessions. Prominent guest speakers from High Times Magazine will also be present ensuring a very chilled environment is created within the festival site.
Art Installations
Catalpa Festival is entirely based on the notion of taking people out of their ordinary environment and into an atmosphere more fantastic. We believe that this needs to come across aesthetically in every facet of the weekend so we have invested a lot of time and effort to source the most visually stunning, interactive and thought provoking art installations to achieve this goal. Artists from New York, European festivals, Burning Man and even Yoko Ono are contributing to what we can assure you will be a visual overload!
A Taste of New York
This area of Catalpa Festival will serve as a homage to all things gastronomic in New York. We are carefully selecting the most unique and top quality eateries to participate at Catalpa. From the farmers market to stone-fire pizzas, we aim to offer a culinary profile far beyond your expectations. More info coming soon…
Tickets are on-sale now starting at $99 for a weekend pass.
MP3 – David Byrne & St. Vincent : Love The Giant
David Byrne & St. Vincent team up on the new jazzy collaborative album Love This Giant. Grab it below:
MP3 – Moons : Waves at Night
Check out this sprawling b-side – “Waves at Night” from Atlanta’s Moons – one of the more promising acts to surface this year.
Live – Radiohead @ Blossom Music Center 6/6
Radiohead Live June 6, 2012 @ Blossom Music Center, Cuyahoga Falls, OH
My brains have been scrambled. Radiohead probed my mind… and I liked it.
Radiohead may actually be dark scientists, merely posing as musicians who are highly adept at their craft. Operating at forbidden frequencies, and unlocking aural sequences the equivalent of cosmic code breaking, it seems plausible that this band could cause a cataclysmic celestial event. An event, where formulas and proofs replace measures and movements and theorems and algorithms, substitute tempos and time signatures.
(photography by Radiohead was the band that sold us jazz by convincing us it’s rock. But, after witnessing their experimental mastery onstage, a more fitting decree is – Radiohead is purging our arcane notions of dance music and reprogramming it into something unearthly, maybe even a little unnerving ( like a college student’s introduction to David Lynch). The truth is, Radiohead is alien. The band speaks an entirely different language than most of us, and live, summon an other worldy sound -both unnerving and beautiful. I heard the death rattle of a thousand dying star systems. Felt the rumblings of an astral anomaly and ancient planets violently rotating. I heard all earthly matter beautifully swirling towards a wormhole, being replaced by antimatter as it enveloped all it touched. I heard the sound of the apocalypse, and Radiohead were the end of music on earth. The effects this sonic experiment, caused audience consciousness to disintegrate. From the front row to the lawn, everyone seized and convulsed in unison, as if losing control over their bodies and minds.
-Casey Bowers
"you have punk rock, you have rock, you have blues, you have soul, it’s all disco.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUOsztgBE-I
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