Panda Bear, Person Pitch

At some point this morning I found myself listening to a few songs by Animal Collective, so it was probably fitting that later in the day I would come across the upcoming album by Animal Collective drummer/solo artist Panda Bear. The album is titled Person Pitch and it is being released on March 20th on the Paw Tracks label.

The album itself is filled with equal parts toe-tapping pop and hazy psychedelic folk rythyms, and the acoustic instruments present on his previous solo efforts has been replaced with "samplers and electronics." On Person Pitch the artist known as Panda Bear (Noah Lennox) manages to keep these elements in check to insure that they don't overpower the dream state that is created by the addition of his great vocal harmonies. Check out some info straight from Paw Tracks:

Animal Collective member Panda Bear (a.k.a. Noah Lennox) boldly returns with his long-awaited third solo record Person Pitch. Years in the making, Person Pitch marks a dramatic departure from Panda Bear’s previous solo record Young Prayer. The acoustic instruments of Young Prayer have been replaced with samplers and electronics.

Fusing Panda’s dramatic life changes over the past few years (marriage, moving to Lisbon, becoming a father) with his ever-increasing sonic palette (standouts include Caetano Veloso, Berlin Techno, Scott Walker, and Kylie Minogue), Person Pitch is suffused with the kind of feel good modern toe-tapping pop that seems harder and harder to find these days.

Paw Tracks feels that the passing of time will show Panda Bear’s Person Pitch sitting alongside the great solo albums of Paul McCartney, George Michael, and Ghostface Killah. Luckily we don’t have to wait.

While you do have to wait just a little while for the album to hit the shelves, I do have a couple of songs to preview. "Good Girl/Carrots" is a 12 minute composition that feels similar to an Animal Collective product for the first five minutes, with its experimentation and chaotic percussion. Then around 4:45 the track melts into something more influenced by 60s pop music and the harmonies take over for the remainder. "Comfy In Nautica" has been released previously, and it's also the opening track on the album.

Panda Bear-Good Girl/Carrots(12:42)
Panda Bear - Comfy In Nautica


Panda Bear will be playing solo shows throughout North America and Europe this spring and summer, as well as touring with Animal Collective. Stay tuned to Paw-Tracks.com for updates.

More on RJD2..

RJD2's actual name is Ramble John Krohn, and up until recently he had been associated with the New York City independent hip hop record label Definitive Juxtaposition (also known as Def Jux.) His new album takes another veer in terms of style and he will be releasing it under a new label in XL Recordings, home to artists such as Basement Jaxx, Dizzee Rascal and Ratatat. I say 'another veer' because as I am listening through a few of his albums I notice not-so-subtle differences in their respective structures. Some lean heavily towards the hip hop side of the equation, and others such as 2004's Since We Last Spoke are more focused on the samples and somewhat experimental electronics. The DJ says that he approached some of the material on that album like an art project. Hear a track from it below...

RJD2 - 1976

RJD2 also lent a hand to one of the many remixes and reworks of Jay-Z's "The Black Album," with his effort (along with a few other contributors) being dubbed "The Silver Album."

RJD2 - 99 Problems/Divrese - "Explosive"
RJD2 - Dirt Off Your Shoulder/EL-P - "Lazerface Remix"
RJD2 - Moment Of Clarity/Soul Position "Inhale"

The third one there is mixed with a track titled "Inhale" from one of many RJD2 collaborations, this one being a joint effort along with the rapper/producer Blueprint dubbed Soul Position. The original track is from the 2003 album 8 Million Stories, and it sounds a lot like something fans of The Roots might enjoy.

Soul Position - Inhale

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Speaking of The Roots, they will bring their fantastic live performance back to Austin on February 20th at Stubb's. Their show at Stubb's last year was one of the best gigs I saw in 2006, so odds are this one coming up will be pretty great as well. Tix and info are here.

I think I'm falling for RJD2....

I mean, I don't want to have the guy's baby or anything.

But, damn.

I've been listening to his stuff almost nonstop since a friend of mine recommended that I give it a spin. So I guess I'm "falling for him" in that sense of the rare occurrences that you discover a new artist who makes music that fits right in your taste range, and you end up celebrating their entire repertory in no time at all. I haven't made my way through RJD2's entire repertory yet, but I'm well on my way. Lucky for me he has a new album coming out in March titled The Third Hand and he will be performing at SXSW, so I caught on at a good time. He'll be sharing the stage with Girl Talk, The Ponys, Do Make Say Think and The Pipettes at the Pitchfork "Music Festival," as reported here.

I'm working on a couple of other projects at the moment, so I'll have to say more about RJD2 later in the week. I'll try to highlight some of his work from various albums and compilations, and discuss his background and affiliations and such.

Oh yeah, and the music. RJD2 has made a bunch of it this decade. Obscure funk samples from the 70s & 80s, quality rhymes from underground hip-hop artists such as EL-P and MF DOOM, sounds reminiscent of cult movie soundracks, Ratatat/DJ Shadow-esque electronica and ultimately live instrumentation. Those are some of the elements I've heard in the Ohio DJ's wares. Until tomorrow, here's another track from his acclaimed debut album Dead Ringer which you can pick up here and here, among other places.

RJD2 - Good Times Roll, Pt. 2

www.rjd2site.com
www.myspace.com/rjd2

Trans Am, Sex Change

The new album from the Washington, D.C. based electro-rock outfit Trans Am will be released next month on Thrill Jockey Records. The release of Sex Change will be their 8th full-length release under the Chicago independent record label's umbrella since 1995, when the band finished college and began seriously recording.

Trans Am (what a great band name) is Philip Manley, Nathan Means, and Sebastian Thomson, and they create a hybrid of rock and electronic music that has one foot in the sound of '70s and '80s progressive bands such as Boston and Yes (I swear I can hear some Rush in there too,) and the other foot in modern electronic-driven sounds that border on avant-garde status.

Below is some information on Sex Change from Thrill Jockey Records:

In June of 2006, Trans Am reunited at a recording school in Auckland, New Zealand, with a few songs and almost no musical equipment. Recording moved forward with a wide range of borrowed instruments, keyboards and other gear, including a 1960’s Mellotron and remarkable vintage amps.

Recorded by a professor and a student who received credit towards graduation, the session was threatened when photos of the band drinking beer in the on-campus studio were discovered by the administration. Future drinking occurred off campus. (I love how they made sure to throw that in)

Two months later, recording continued in Brooklyn, New York at the Okropolis: headquarters of New York band Oneida. Determined to make a break with the past, Trans Am again arrived with almost none of their signature gear - none of the vocoders, keyboards, drums, drum machines and amps that they used on previous albums. Two weeks later the album was mixed at Tiny Telephone Studios in San Francisco. Compared with previous records such as TA and Liberation, which took months to complete, Sex Change was conceived, written, recorded and mixed in only three weeks.

Hear two samples from Sex Change:

I really dig this first one titled "4,738 Regrets," because there seems to be so many different things going on within it. There's the chunky yet elastic bass throughout, with a constantly driving synth beat and some delicate guitar strum, a hint of piano and strings, and of course the cymbal and snare duo. Nice.

Trans Am - 4,738 Regrets

When I listen to this next track I get the feeling that the name Trans Am is not only hip, but can also be interpreted as a representation of the band's sound. Upon hearing it I envision a pristine black TA barreling down the highway at top speed, engulfed in flames. It is being pursued by officers with inferior motors and a helicopter that's swooping overhead with a view of the badass hood-sized golden bird whose eye popping metallic sparkles shimmer brightly in the sun. The windows on the car are down and the T-tops have been removed, and "Shining Path" is blaring from the stereo speakers. Perhaps having consumed enough beer and having the volume cranked to the maximum is the ideal breeding ground for visions such as these, or perhaps this song just rocks. Probably both.

Trans Am - Shining Path

See Trans Am on tour:
Feb. 22 - Buffalo, NY Buffalo Icon
Feb. 23 - Pittsburgh, PA Carnegie Mellon University
Feb. 24 - New York, NY Knitting Factory
April 10 - Washington, DC Black Cat
April 11 - Charlottesville, VA Satellite Ballroom
April 12 - Chapel Hill, NC Local 506
April 13 - Atlanta, GA The Earl
April 14 - Birmingham, AL Bottletree
April 15 - Houston, TX Engine Room
April 16 - Austin, TX Emo's
April 18 - Tucson, AZ Club Congress
April 19 - San Diego, CA Casbah
April 20 - Los Angeles, CA Troubadour
April 21 - San Francisco, CA Bottom of the Hill
April 22 - Portland, OR Doug Fir Lounge
April 23 - Seattle, WA Neumos
April 24 - Vancouver, BC Richards on Richards
April 27 - Minneapolis, MN Triple Rock Club
April 28 - Chicago, IL Empty Bottle
April 29 - Detroit, MI Magic Stick
April 30 - Toronto, ON Lee's Palace
May 1 - Montreal, PQ La Sala Rossa
May 2 - Boston, MA Great Scott
May 4 - Philadelphia, PA Johnny Brendas

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Stay informed on Trans Am at:

Transband.com
Thrilljockey.com
Myspace.com/transammusic
Brainwashed.com/transam

Check out these local shows

Li'l Cap'n Travis and Brothers and Sisters will be playing tonight at the Continental Club. Both bands put on a good show, so seeing them both together will be nice. The first track is from the 2004 album In All Their Splendor, and the second comes from the Brothers and Sisters 2006 self-titled debut.

Li'l Cap'n Travis - Steady as she Goes
Brothers and Sisters - Breathing Lessons

See Li'l Cap'n Travis:
Feb 3rd @ Emo's--Kinks Tribute
Feb 22nd @ Emo's w/ Mic Harrison and the Lonesome Heroes
Feb 23rd @ the Barley House in Dallas w/ Mic Harrison and Slider Pines

See Brothers and Sisters:
Jan 31 2007 Brother Will SOLO at Beerland
Feb 27 2007 Emo's w/ The Broken West

Tacks, The Boy Disaster will be performing tonight at Progress Coffee and then Thursday, Feb 1 at Antone's. Tacks are doing some tour dates with fellow Texan indie heartthrobs Midlake, so if you're near any of the stops listed below and want to see a damn fine musical exhibition, you're in luck.

Tacks, The Boy Disaster - Frozen Feet

See Tacks, The Boy Disaster:
Feb 2 2007 The Republic w/ Midlake New Orleans, Louisiana
Feb 3 2007 Bottle Tree Cafe w/ Midlake Birmingham, Alabama
Feb 4 2007 The EARL w/ Midlake Atlanta, Georgia
Feb 6 2007 Local 506 w/ Midlake Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Feb 8 2007 Grimey's In-Store Nashville, Tennessee
Feb 22 2007 Walter's on Washington w/Midlake Houston, Texas
Feb 23 2007 The Parish w/Midlake Austin, Texas
Feb 24 2007 Granada Theater w/Midlake Dallas, Texas
Feb 25 2007 Hailey's Club Denton, Texas
Feb 28 2007 Rhythm Room w/ Midlake Phoenix, Arizona
Mar 3 2007 Marfa, Texas


Two of my favorite local suppliers of rock & roll Tia Carrera and White Denim will be playing Saturday night at The Mohawk. The first track here is a clip of one of the latest from heavy intstrumental metal rockers Tia Carrera, followed by one of the demos from up-and-coming vintage rock revivalists White Denim.

Tia Carrera - As She Sleeps
White Denim - Let's Talk About It

Okkervil River Jan. 28 at the Hogg Memorial Auditorium has been postponed, info at Austin Sound.

Okkervil River - For Real

Check out the video




This Will Destroy You - Jan. 31st at Emo's
This Will Destroy You - There Are Some Remedies...

For Those Who Know - Feb. 3rd at The Mohawk
For Those Who Know - Competition

The Lemurs and Lomita - Feb. 8th at Stubb's
Lemurs - Hear Sounds Here
Lomita - Lots of info and sounds at Indierect

The Laughing (CD release) and 'Til We're Blue or Destroy - Feb. 10 at Scoot Inn
Plenty of info on The Laughing at Party Ends
'Til We're Blue or Destroy on MySpace

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You can get more info on these shows at Do512.

SXSW is coming, Part 3

Alright kids, here is the third group of music that I promised from artists you might want to consider checking out at SXSW 2007. I'm going to be scanning the sites and keeping my ear to the rail so that when any fresh news appears of SXSW, from artists to showcases to day shows to private parties and everything inbetween, I'll report on it and keep you all informed.

The Ponys - Chicago, Illinois
The Ponys - Harakiri

Mates of State - East Haven, Connecticut
Mates of State - Fraud in the 80s

Girl Talk - Pittsburgh, PA
Grizzly Bear - Knife (Girl Talk Remix)

Lily Allen - London, UK
Lily Allen - LDN

Rock Plaza Central - Ontario, Canada
Rock Plaza Central - When We Go, How We Go (Part 2)

Fujiya & Miyagi - Brighton, UK
Fujiya & Miyagi - Electro Karaoke in the Negative Style

New Young Pony Club - London, UK
New Young Pony Club - The Get Go

Okkervil River - Austin, TX
Okkervil River - No Key No Plan

The Little Ones - California
The Little Ones - Lovers Who Uncover

Bishop Allen - Brooklyn, New York
Bishop Allen - Corazon

SXSW is coming, Part 2

The second part of sounds to come at SXSW 2007.

RJD2 - Columbus, Ohio
RJD2 - Ghostwriter

Prototypes - Paris, France
Prototypes - Je Ne Te Connais Pas

Black Moth Super Rainbow - Pittsburgh, PA.
Black Moth Super Rainbow - Drippy Eye (Octopus Project Remix)

Rodrigo Y Gabriela - Dublin, Ireland via Mexico
Rodrigo Y Gabriela - Tamacun

Cold War Kids - Long Beach, California
Cold War Kids - Quiet, Please!

The Detroit Cobras - Detroit, Michigan
The Detroit Cobras - Putty (In Your Hands)

The Apples in Stereo - Denver, Colorado
The Apples in Stereo - 7 Stars

Peter & the Wolf - Austin, TX
Peter & the Wolf - Lightness

Midlake - Denton, TX
Midlake - Roscoe

The Besnard Lakes - Montreal, Quebec
More on them here

SXSW is coming, Part 1

Yes! SXSW is right around the corner, March 14-18. There's no official word from SXSW.com yet of the bands that will be attending, but those in the know (Austinist, Done Waiting) have released the names of some of the acts that they're pretty sure will be there. In light of that, for the next three days I'll be highlighting around 30 or so of those bands said to be coming that I'd be interested to see.

I probably won't be able to catch 30 bands during SXSW, I think the most I've ever seen was around 26. BUT, if I had some sort of little SXSW time machine I would program it to see the artists that I'll be metioning over the next three days. Treat it as an early SXSW 2007 playlist .

Beach House: Baltimore, Maryland.
Beach House - Master of None

Shout Out Out Out Out: Edmonton, Alberta.
Shout Out Out Out - Self Loathing Rulz

Malajube: Montréal, Quebec.
Malajube - Fille a Plumes

Bonde do Role: Curitiba, Brazil.
Bonde do Role - Melo Do Tabaco (A-Trak Remix)

Frog Eyes: Canada.
Frog Eyes - One in Six Children Will Flee in Boats

The Stooges: Ann Arbor, Michigan.
The Stooges - 1969

Holy Fuck: Toronto, Canada.
Holy Fuck - Korock

Deerhoof: San Francisco.
Deerhoof - Rainbow Silhouette Of The Milky Rain

The Walkmen: New York City
The Walkmen - We've Been Had

The Presets: Sydney, Australia
The Presets - Steamworks

...

Part 2, mañana.

VietNam

On their debut album former Texas residents VietNam dance around a thin line between Kings of Leon and The Walkmen, and rejuvinate the beer-swigging tendencies of rock & roll. VietNam was formed in Austin in 2000 by guitarists and co-frontmen Joshua Grubb and Michael Gerner, and the two were later joined by bassist Ivan Berko and drummer Michael Foss.

After releasing an EP in 2004 on Vice Records and struggling to make it as a band, they ultimately had a falling out with Vice and signed to New York's Kemado Records, who are releasing VietNam's self-titled debut album today. The album's standout tracks are the unassumingly thoughtful "Priest, Poet & The Pig," and the straight ahead rocker "Welcome To My Room."

VietNam - Priest, Poet & The Pig
VietNam - Welcome To My Room

VietNam are currently on tour with the Lemonheads in support of the album's release, the dates are as follows:

January 23rd -- New York, NY - Mercury Lounge (Record Release)
January 25th –- Carrboro, NC – Cat's Cradle
January 26th -- Charleston, SC – The Music Farm
January 27th -- Athens, GA – 40 Watt Club
January 28th -- Charlotte, NC - Amos' South End
January 30th -- Jacksonville, FL - Jack Rabbits
January 31st -- Orlando, FL - The Social
February 1st -- Ft. Lauderdale, FL – Culture Room
February 2nd -- St. Petersburg, FL – State Theatre
February 3rd -- Tallahassee, FL – Beta Bar
February 5th -- Birmingham, AL – Zydeco
February 6th -- New Orleans, LA – The Parish
February 8th -- Houston, TX – Scout Bar
February 9th -- Austin, TX – Emo's
February 10th -- Dallas, TX – Palladium
February 13th -- Memphis, TN – Young Ave Deli
February 14th -- Nashville, TN – Exit In
February 15th -- Maryland Heights, MO – Harrah's Casino
February 16th -- Indianapolis, IN – The Vogue
February 17th -- Milwaukee, WI – Shank Hall
February 19th -- State College, PA – Lulu's
February 20th -- Millvale, PA – Mr. Smalls
February 21st -- Baltimore, MD – Ottobar
February 23rd -- Brooklyn, NY – Southpaw
February 24th -- Hoboken, NJ – Maxwell's
February 25th -- Hoboken, NJ – Maxwell's

Daytrotter has also done a feature on VietNam and provided you with four free songs to download, which you might be interested to peruse. VietNam on Daytrotter

You can remnain up to date with VietNam at their Official site, and MySpace

Local sites I recommend you visit

Both Sides of the Mouth - Brad and Alina continually proivide great content, and back it up with solid writing. They've also got a great new look going on at their site, check it out.

Party Ends - John is from Austin and Luther is from Dallas, and they cover both locations like white on rice. Party Ends is helping to organize the Draft Sessions at Independence Brewery, which has just seen its glorious debut over the weekend featuring great local music, and great local beer. Do you really need anything more than that?

Ultra8201 - Richard brings you interviews, photos from some of the best gigs in town, as well as ample music reviews, recommendations and tunes to keep the iPod fresh.

Do512.com - Want to find something to do in Austin? Look no further than Do512. Live music news, art, and additional info that will keep you informed on what's happening.

Austin Sound - Doug and the rest of the Austin Sound crew cover local music in Austin as well as any other entitity in town, and better than most of them. Very professional and thorough coverage of Austin music.

UnlockAustin.com - Unlock Austin is a live music recommendation site that connects music fans to new bands and helps bands reach new fans, using a user preference-based engine similar to that of Amazon.com. For its members, UnlockAustin.com puts all the pieces together - customized music recommendations, online music samples, photos, videos, fan reviews, blogs and schedules - all in one place, updated daily.

The Besnard Lakes Are The Dark Horse

The Besnard Lakes might be the dark horse to become your next favorite band, and that just so happens to coincide with the name of the psychedelic indie rock band's album that will be released on Jagjaguwar next month. The Besnard Lakes proper is frontman Jace Lasek along with his wife and fellow band member Olga Goreas, and though the two normally have additional members along with them they decided to handle the instrument duties of recording their album themselves. This came as a surprise to me, as the album sounds so full and powerful that you wouldn't think it was created by only two people. I recently discoved that Lasek also had a hand in producing Sunset Rubdown’s Shut Up I Am Dreaming, as well as the 2005 album from Wolf Parade Apologies to the Queen Mary.

On The Besnard Lakes Are The Dark Horse Lasek and Goreas create eight tracks full of psychedelic delight that sounds to me like something along the lines of an unlikely mixture of the Beach Boys and Jefferson Airplane, if they had recorded in the 21st century instead of the 20th. The songs are slow building and filled with crashing rises and falls, then wrapped in anthemic songwriting and intoxicating vocals which are shared by both husband and wife. The opening track on the album titled "Disaster" melts into a shout-along jam and you'll immediately recognize my inclination to name-drop the Beach Boys.

The Besnard Lakes - Disaster

There are other standout tracks such as "Devistation" which builds and dies multiple times before ultimately unraveling at the end, as well as the siren song-like "For Agent 13" and the rolling smoke vibes of "And You Lied To Me."

The Besnard Lakes - And You Lied To Me

The sound on The Besnard Lakes Are The Dark Horse is so good that I found myself pushing the headphones against my ears to really hear it. Don't discount it at its relatively short number of 8 tracks either, this recods packs a wallop.

You can listen to a stream of the entire album on the front page of label site Jagjaguwar.com, and visit The Besnard Lakes at their official site and myspace. Obscure Sound also has a great piece on the band, and be ready to pencil them into your SXSW plans as well.

I wasn't cool at the age of 10

No, I wasn't cool at the age of 10. I was probably still eating dirt and trying to figure out how to tie my shoes. I didn't really ponder my youthful un-coolness until recently when I came across two groups of youngsters aged 10-12 who have started bands and are not only making their own original music but also taking their show on tour.

The first is The Jack Bambis, a blues/rock quartet whose ages combined adds up to forty-nine. Lia Avraham handles the vocals and Indio Falconer-Downey plays guitar, while Jasper McMahon and Cash provide bass and drums, respectively. The Smoking Section says: "The S.S. infiltrated their first rehearsal of the year, and were dazzled by their supernatural jamability. A la Jeff Beck, Indio plays the electric blues sans pick. Jasper is the next John Entwistle, Lia channels Patti Smith, and Cash, who honed his chops at Flea’s L.A. conservatory, is a heartbreaker in the making."

JackBambis.net

The second is Brooklyn-based Tiny Masters of Today, a garage rock duo comprised of twelve year old Ivan and his ten year old sister Ada. These two have already released a couple of 7" singles and have been receiving good press from Artrocker to Newsweek and others inbetween. They are scheduled to open for fellow New Yorkers Clap Your Hands Say Yeah in a few days, and will be perfoming at SXSW in March before touring the UK in April. Not too shabby for a ten and twelve year-old.

Tiny Masters of Today - Stickin' It to the Man
Tiny Masters of Today - Pictures

myspace.com/TinyMasters

Curious about Elf Power

Being an avid fan of the The Elephant Six Collective since the first time I laid ears on In the Aeroplane Over the Sea some years ago, I have been conscious of the psychedelic indie rock band Elf Power for about the same length of time. Elf Power consists of guitarist/vocalist Andrew Rieger, keyboardist Laura Carter, guitarist Jimmy Hughes, bassist Derek Almstead, violinist John Fernandes, cellist Heather McIntosh, and drummer Josh Lott. The band, originally from Athens, Georgia (as most artists associated with E6 were), have released numerous albums and singles since they started recording together back in 1994. Elf Power's most recent album titled Back To The Web was released in 2006 on Rykodisc. In 2006 they also self-released what quickly has become perhaps my favorite Elf Power output, Treasures From the Trash Heap, a tour-only collection of unreleased demos, live songs, and cover versions of songs by bands such as R.E.M., Olivia Tremor Control, and the Byrds.

Many of Elf Power's albums have featured contributions from members of other Elephant Six bands, with members of The Olivia Tremor Control, Kevin Barnes from Of Montreal, and Jeff Mangum from Neutral Milk Hotel lending a hand on When The Red King Comes and A Dream in Sound, with the latter being produced by Dave Fridmann, who has also worked with The Flaming Lips and most recently Clap Your Hands Say Yeah. Later in 2002 Elf Power released Creatures as well as their sixth full length album titled Nothing's Going to Happen, which is a combination of previously unrecorded cover songs as well as a reissue of their EP Come On.

If you'd be interested to further familiarize yourself with Elf Power, you can do so by checking out a few tracks I've selected from various Elf Power releases below. First, have a look at their music video for the song "All The World Is Waiting," from 2006's Back To The Web.


Selected tracks:

From Treasures From the Trash Heap
Elf Power - Hole In My Shoe (Demo)

From A Dream In Sound
Elf Power - Will My Feet Still Carry Me Home

From Back To The Web
Elf Power - All The World Is Waiting

From When The Red King Comes
Elf Power - It's Been A Million Years

From Walking With The Beggar Boys
Elf Power - Don't Let it Be

You can purchase these titles via Elf Power's official website as well as at eMusic, and get friendly with the band on MySpace.

*Also, the ever-impressive Daytrotter has two great Elf Power features at Daytrotter.com, an interview with the band as well as four free songs. Be sure to check that out!

Just Jack, "Disco Friends"

This song is pretty smooth. I came across it kind of randomly on MySpace earlier, and delving deeper I found out that it's from the upcoming (January 29th) sophomore album Overtones by British hip-hop artist Just Jack. Overtones really didn't have much else to offer me, but I did find this song pleasing to the ears.

Just Jack - Disco Friends

You can visit JustJack.co.uk to preview the album via MTV UK.

I'm not even sure I was aware that there was such a thing as MTV UK. I wonder if it's as trite as our very own MTV here? Pimp My Ride UK can't be a good sign.

MSTRKRFT on Tour

Electropunks MSTRKRFT are teaming up with dance music icon John Digweed for the first ever Diamonds 07 Tour. Throughout the month of March, these two dance floor forces will be making stops all over the US, bringing to the masses their distinct DJ styles: Digweed, with his beautiful tech-inspired sets, and MSTRKRFT, with their fresh electro punk anthems.

"We're very excited about the first ever Diamonds Tour and are honored to have John Digweed headline. We think it’s the type of lineup fans have been searching for," says MSTRKRFT's Jesse Keeler.

The DJs will be brining the Diamonds party to the following cities:

MSTRKRFT/John Digweed Tour Dates:

March
1 Portland, OR - Rose Land Theatre
2 San Francisco, CA - Ruby Sky
3 Los Angeles, CA - The Vanguard
4 San Diego, CA - Belo
7 Phoenix, AZ - Axis / Radius
8 Las Vegas, NV - Jet
9 Minneapolis, MN - Myth
10 Denver, CO - Vinyl
13 St. Louis, MO - Dantes
15 Houston, TX - Warehouse Live
16 Austin, TX – SPIN
17 Dallas, TX – Karma
18 New Orleans, LA - Ampersand
20 Miami, FL (WMC) - Pawn Shop
27 Atlanta, GA – Blue
28 Nashville, TN - Club Play
29 Charlotte, NC - The Forum
30 Washington, DC - 9:30 Club
31 New York City, NY – Pacha

MSTRKRFT - Paris
MSTRKRFT - Street Justice

remixes...

The Gossip - Listen Up! (MSTRKRFT Remix)
Metric - Monster Hospital (MSTRKRFT Remix)

I'm going to attend the festivities when this duo makes their way through Austin in March and experience firsthand what I've been hearing about over the past year or so when MSTRKRFT first showed up on my radar. I might even be able to give away a free pass to the show, which I have a feeling will be an invite-only kinda thing. If you're interested in this be sure to let me know, and I'll double check to confirm that it would be copacetic to have a giveaway for this pass.

www.MSTRKRFT.com

It came from the UK

Here we have the first proper entry of this series that I've compiled since November I believe, since there wasn't one for the month of December other than a year-end three track mash of UK Demos from 2006 that's still available here if you hadn't heard it.

The first track on that one is from the two-piece hardcore/punk band Comanechi, and I've got two more songs from them here which display that same heavy and intense sound they've created. These are somewhat difficult to track down, as most of Comanechi's releases thus far have been seen stricly in vinyl format.

Comanechi - Rude
Comanechi - Naked

Throwaway Style says:

"If you live in London, or generally well up on White Heat and your Artrocker news, then you're most probably aware of Comanechi.

Comanechi are Akiko on Drums/Vocals and Simon on Guitar. This raging boy/girl two-piece have been destroying - mostly London - audiences with their screaming no-nonsense DIY punk for what seems like an eternity now, and it's finally time for the rest of us to catch up."

www.comanechi.com

After releasing a handful of singles and building a mass of popular support throughout Europe and indeed in their homeland of Scotland, the four piece indie rock/pop band The View are prepared to release their much anticipated debut album Hats Off to the Buskers this month on 1965 Records. The album contains 14 tracks and was produced by Owen Morris, who has previously produced albums by Oasis and The Verve. I'd say that's pretty good company. Hear two songs from Hats Off to the Buskers below...


The View - Superstar Tradesman
The View - Skag Trendy

www.theviewareonfire.com
www.myspace.com/dryburgh




The Veils are a band fronted by singer/songwriter Finn Andrews that splits time between New Zealand and London, composed of himself and high school classmates Liam Gerrard (keyboards) and Sophia Burn (bass). Their album Nux Vomica was released in 2006 on Rough Trade Records and at the end of the year found itself on many critic's "Best of the Year" lists. Their sound has been compared to the likes of The Smiths & Joy Division, and according to Wiki The Veils' live shows have become famed for their emotional intensity and Finn's often scarily possessed stage presence. Hopefully they'll make it stateside in 2007 so we can find out for ourselves.




The Veils - Pan
The Veils - Jesus For The Jugular

www.theveils.com





If you have not heard of The Fall, I might suggest that you haven't been paying attention. The English post-punk band formed in Manchester way back in 1976, and have produced a whopping 25 studio albums with the 26th album titled Reformation Post TLC scheduled for release in February on Slogan Records. Popular music acts such as Pavement, At the Drive-In, Sonic Youth, LCD Soundsystem and Bloc Party all have paid homage to The Fall and point to the band as a source of influence. The Fall's influence has even extended to rap music and hip hop, with artists such as DJ Shadow and Wu-Tang Clan both reflecting elements of The Fall's sound and giving 'props' to the band; a noted example being a flattering radio interview by the latter's RZA, in which he says he learned the 'beauty of chaos' from them._



The Fall - Fall Sound

www.thefall.info




The debut album from 21-year-old South London singer/songwriter Jamie T will be released on January 29th via Virgin Records. There's a humorous little tidbit on the singer's Wiki entry that reads "It is whispered that if you say 'Jamie T' into a mirror three times he appears and sings you a Paul Simon record." I think I'll refrain from giving that a try, Paul Simon ain't exactly my bag, baby.




Jamie T - Salvador

myspace.com/jamietwimbledon




I featured a track by the 5-piece indie rock band from Sheffield The Long Blondes some time ago before their highly acclaimed debut album Someone To Drive You Home was released on Rough Trade Records in November of 2006. What I mean by highly acclaimed is (9/10, Prefixmag) (4/5 The Observer) (4/5 The Guardian) etc etc etc. Below is the opening track on the album..



The Long Blondes - Lust In The Movies

www.thelongblondes.co.uk




This song came up on my iTunes yesterday and it was stuck in my head all day. It's an Arctic Monkeys cover of the classic song written by Van McCoy, and first popularized by Barbara Lewis in 1965. This version was featured on the Leave Before the Lights Come On single by the Arctic Monkeys, which was released in August of last year.



Arctic Monkeys - Baby I'm Yours

www.arcticmonkeys.com

Backups are a novel idea...

If you're a frequent visitor of Covert Curiosity you've noticed that I've returned to using the original site where everything started to begin with. Shortly before the New Year all of my data was lost and never to be heard from again, which I'm still sort of coming to terms with. This debacle was pretty much the last straw that led me to ditch the third party and return to the old digs, which I'll probably be doing some tinkering with. Just thought I'd let some of you know what's up.

One of the things I put together just before dissappearing data debacle was some of my favorite songs that came out of Austin this past year, so I'm reintroducing each of those tracks individually in hopes of further spreading the word about just a handful of the great artists local to Austin. I freshened this list up by two songs to try and avoid overkill...

White Denim - shakeshakeshake
myspace.com/bopenglish

The Early Tapes - Betty and Thomas
myspace.com/theearlytapes

Tacks, The Boy Disaster - Forget-Me-Not
myspace.com/tackstheboydisaster

Voxtrot - Trouble
myspace.com/voxtrot

Peter and the Wolf - Safe Travels
myspace.com/whiskeyandapples

The Channel - The Man I Don't Remember
myspace.com/thechannel

Oh No! Oh My! - I Love You All The Time
myspace.com/ohnoohmyband

Sparrow House - When I Am Gone
myspace.com/sparrowhouse

The Lovely Sparrows - Chemicals Change
myspace.com/thelovelysparrows

The Lemurs - Hello
myspace.com/thelemurs

Brothers & Sisters - Lost & Found
myspace.com/brothersandsistersmusic

The Octopus Project/BMSR - Psychic Swelling
myspace.com/theoctopusproject

For good measure here's two tracks from Austin's own Clap!Clap!, they're definitely a group to keep an eye on. Word on the street is their debut album will be out soon...

Clap!Clap! - Talk Shop Remix
Clap!Clap! - New Workout Plan

Learn more about Clap!Clap! at Austin Sound, and if you're local you can see 'em perform on January 20th at Independence Brewery for $5 and get complimentary beverages! Yes, complimentary beverages. I recommend the Bootlegger Brown Ale, it's super bueno.

www.partyends.com

www.myspace.com/clapclap

Clap Your Hands once again...

I mentioned a few weeks ago that Clap Your Hands Say Yeah's new album Some Loud Thunder will be released on January 29th. You can download the whole album in high quality MP3 format starting tomorrow if you head over to their official website and put in an order for the CD to be shipped to you on the 30th. I have another track from the new album here titled "Satan Said Dance" for you to check out, and there's more at their site and MySpace, of course. These guys are self-releasing this album within the US as they did with their debut, so show 'em some support. I have a feeling that this song will sound fantastic live during SXSW when Clap Your Hands Say Yeah will be sharing the stage with Ghostland Observatory at La Zona Rosa. Yes, I believe there will be much dancing involved...

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - Satan Said Dance

Electronics are cool.

Here's a handful of electronic ditties for your consideration. You can click on the artist image for more, as always...

Klaxons - Golden Skans (SebastiAn version 1.2.0 Remix)

Dosh - Everybody Cheer Up Song
Dosh - MPLS Rock And Roll

Homeboy will be giving two performances in Austin this month on Sunday January 28. I'll probably check out the first at End of an Ear, and just might check out the evening set at Emo's.



Two live cuts, straight from the Holy Fuck vault.

Holy Fuck - Safari
Holy Fuck - Junglor

They'll be at SXSW '07 too. Fuck yes.


Two tracks from the fantastic 2006 album, Movements. It is dancetastic, to say the very least.

Booka Shade - In White Rooms
Booka Shade - Night Falls




I promise that I'll eventually stop mentioning this album, as long as you promise to listen. 'Twas was definitely one of my favorites from '06. I even picked it up on vinyl, which won't do until I'm completely sold on an album.

Bonobo - Between The Lines (feat. Bajka)

Fujiya & Miyagi - "Collarbone"

Before you listen to this song, turn the volume way up.

Then try not to dance. I dare you.

Fujiya & Miyagi - Collarbone

From their album Transparent Things, which has received some pretty durn good reviews. Quick, Before It Melts has more on Fujiya & Miyagi, or you could check out any of the following links:

http://www.fujiya-miyagi.co.uk
http://www.tirk.co.uk/newtransparent.htm
http://www.myspace.com/fujiyaandmiyagi
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fujiya_%26_Miyagi

Have you heard of Vessels?

Over the past few months I've become more and more interested in post-rock, and I was pleased to have been recently passed along some tracks from a new post-rock band from Leeds, UK who call themselves Vessels. The quartet self produced, self released, and self-titled debut in 2006 consisting of five tracks filled with great rising and falling movements and pounding, powerful climaxes. Popular English disc jockey and BBC Radio host Steve Lamacq referred to Vessels' sound as "Dynamic post rock which stalks around your room before launching itself through a window." Take a few minutes to hear two tracks from their debut EP below...

Vessels - Look At That Cloud!
Vessels - Armed To The Teeth

For more music and information about Vessels:

http://myspace.com/vesselsband
http://vesselsband.com
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vessels

No Dancing On The Bus

Sometimes you have to ride the bus.

Sometimes you have to wait a long time at the bus stop.

Sometimes while you're waiting the weather will be uncooperative.

Other times very strange people on the bus will try to talk to you.

Sometimes (like an idiot) you take the wrong bus, and it takes forever to get where you're going.

I occasionally face some of these problems, so I made a mash of tracks that I could listen to that would make my time waiting on/riding the bus a little bit funkier.

It's titled No Dancing On The Bus, and consists of:

!!! - Must Be The Moon
Professor Murder - Champion
LCD Soundsystem - North American Scum (Ian St.Laurent's South Philly Scum Remix)
Mousse T vs. The Dandy Warhols - Horny as a Dandy (So Phat! Remix)
The Human Beinz - Nobody But Me (Pilooski edit)
Shout Out Out Out Out - Your Shitty Record Won't Mix Itself
Justice vs. Simian - We Are Your Friends (Original Mix)

Give it a spin...

No Dancing On The Bus (20:54)

New music coming in the New Year

What new albums will everyone be talking about in the new year? Here's an early look at some of them, with a single track from each...

Coming in 2007:

Field Music - Tones Of Town ( January 22nd )
Neiles Life has A House Is Not A Home
http://www.field-music.co.uk

Deerhoof - Friend Opportunity ( January 23rd )
Skatterbrain has +81
http://deerhoof.killrockstars.com

of Montreal - Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer? ( Jan. 23rd )
Bon Ton has She's a Rejector
http://www.ofmontreal.net

The Shins - Wincing The Night Away ( January 23rd )
Sleeping Lessons
http://www.theshins.com


The Six Parts Seven - Casually Smashed To Pieces ( January 23rd )
I Rock Cleveland has Stolen Moments
http://www.myspace.com/sixpartsseven

Clinic - Visitations (U.S. release) ( January 23rd )
Family
http://www.clinicvoot.org

Menomena - Friend and Foe ( January 23rd )
Invisible Limb has Wet and Rusting
http://www.menomena.com

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - Same Loud Thunder ( January 30th )
Underwater (You and Me)
http://www.clapyourhandssayyeah.com

Patrick Wolf - The Magic Position ( February 5th )
Batteria Ricaricabile has Overture
http://www.patrickwolf.com

The Apples In Stereo - New Magnetic Wonder ( February 6th )
Stereo has Can You Feel It?
http://www.applesinstereo.com

Benni Hemm Hemm - Kajak ( February 6th )
sól á heyhóla
http://www.bennihemmhemm.com

Bloc Party - A Weekend In The City ( February 6th )
Hunting For Witches
http://www.blocparty.com

Sondre Lerche - Phantom Punch ( February 6th )
Earfood has Phantom Punch
http://www.sondrelerche.com

Explosions In The Sky - All Of A Sudden I Miss Everyone ( Feb. 20th )
Music Of The Moment has Welcome, Ghosts
http://www.explosionsinthesky.com

Do Make Say Think - You, You're A History In Rust ( February 26th )
The Universe!
http://www.cstrecords.com/bands_domakesaythink.html

!!! - Myth Takes ( March 6th )
Dreams of Horses has Myth Takes
http://www.brainwashed.com/!!!

Air - Pocket Symphony ( March 6th )
Headphone Sex has One Hell of a Party
http://www.intairnet.org

LCD Soundsystem - Sound Of Silver ( March 20th )
North American Scum
http://www.lcdsoundsystem.com

Ted Leo And The Pharmacists - Living With The Living ( March 20th )
Counting Stars on The Ceiling has The Sons of Cain (Live)
http://www.tedleo.com

I'm From Barcelona - Let Me Introduce My Friends (U.S. release) ( March 20th )
We're From Barcelona
http://www.imfrombarcelona.com

Arcade Fire - Neon Bible (March/April)
Off The Record has Intervention
http://www.arcadefire.com

Happening in Austin this week

Tuesday 1/2 - Friday 1/8

"An annual Emo's and Austin tradition that gets enough attention we had Spin magazine calling us last month to ask who was on the line up so they could list it in their next issue. Starting out a little Red River party after the holidays, but before the hustle of school, work, SXSW and the rest of spring bring us back to the "busy time in Austin," this week of free shows at Emo's. Each year all of Austin's favorite bands play this event. Each year we get thanked repeatedly for throwing the show. Folks, please don't thank us...thanks ALL these great local bands that play for FREE for you! These boys and girls are hard working for some free drinks and a good time!! Here is the line up we have for you:"

Tuesday 1/2:

INSIDE: Signal Lost / Conversions / Storm the Tower / Repercussions / Bitch Attack

LOUNGE: Green Potato Ventures presents: This Will Destroy You / Low Line Caller / The Interest Kills / The Laughing

Wednesday 1/3:

INSIDE: Ume / Camp X-Ray / Red X Red M / Daniel Francis Doyle

LOUNGE: Youngmond Grand / The Last Gasp / The Mercers / Red Leaves

Thursday 1/4:

OUTSIDE: Crash Gallery / Am Syndicate / Prom Nite / Lalaland

INSIDE: the ATTAK (iN)FORMATION / Oh, Beast!!! / Horn Of Africa / Alright, Tonight!

LOUNGE: The Word Association / Zeale 32 / Tee Double plus DJ Crown

Friday 1/5:

OUTSIDE: Lemurs / The Lord Henry / Clap! Clap! / Lomita

INSIDE: Amplified Heat / Lions / Full Stride / The Flood

LOUNGE: Grand Champeen / Quien Es Boom / The Fall Collection / The Alice Rose

Saturday 1/6:

OUTSIDE: At All Cost / Warwulf / Tia Carrera / Me Infecto / the Snake Trap

INSIDE: Zykos / Brothers and Sisters / The Crack Pipes / The Strange Boys

LOUNGE: Cue / My Education / Horse Plus Donkey / Finally Punk

Sunday 1/7:

INSIDE: Chicken Ranch presents: Automusik / The Troublemen / Mr. Lewis and The Funeral 5 / The States

LOUNGE: Awesome Cool Dudes / Dogme 95 / When Dinosaurs Ruled the Earth / MVSCVLS

Monday 1/8:

INSIDE: The Onlys / Ghost of the Russian Empire / Midgetmen / tba

"On the first full moon of 2007, Wednesday, January 3rd, Bleu French Laundry Productions gathers together 19 fab Austin acts for the ZEPPELIN Hoot Full Moon Party at Ruta Maya HQ in South Austin, Texas. Breakin' the levee: CHILI COLD BLOOD, LOMITA, AMPLIFIED HEAT, TIA CARRERA, GOLDEN BEAR, JUST GUNS, TAMMANY HALL MACHINE, THE SUMMER WARDROBE, THE GOLDEN ARM TRIO, RALPH WHITE, LZ LOVE & LIGHTNING RED, ERIC TESSMER BAND, THE ACTION IS, THE BOXING LESSON, JADE DAY, PRESENCE (featuring members of GRIMY STYLES & DANGEROUS TOYS), NATHAN SINGLETON & HIS SIDESHOW TRAGEDY, NIKI DUNCAN, JANE BOND & CHAD TRACY, & more. This cool winter's night not only presents the potent catalogue of LED ZEPPELIN performed live, but further includes rare ZEPPELIN film footage screened between hot sets, & a Roots of ZEPPELIN Happy Hour featuring LED's blues influences, as well as Jimmy Page's era with the YARDBIRDS which served as a proving ground for Page's searing songwriting, the seed of LED ZEPPELIN."

Cover is $7 cheap, $5 for students.
No advance tix.
Bring 3 friends. Drink a beer. Dig. Groove. Have you ever seen stock footage of LED ZEPPELIN like this?!

You may view a promo video on this gig at:
http://www.myspace.com/rutamaya

Ruta Maya is located at:
3601 South Congress, Suite D-200
in Penn Field
directly behind Expose
off E Alpine
South Austin, TEXAS
Lost? 512-707-9637