Labels: Rock

Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah (28:10)

• Matt & Kim - "Yeah Yeah" (Flosstradamus Remix)
• LCD Soundsystem - "Yeah" (Crass Version)
• Three 6 Mafia - "Yeah, They Done Fucked Up"
• The Rapture - "Whoo! Alright-Yeah...Uh Huh"
• Greyhounds - "Yeah Yeah Yeah"
• The Rapiers - "That Old Yeah-Yeah Feeling"
• The Flaming Lips - "The Yeah Yeah Yeah Song"
• The Beatles - "The End"

Labels: Mix

Local up-and-comers The Laughing opened the show for Harlem Shakes and Tapes 'n Tapes last weekend, and as I meandered through the large crowd a few times to grab beers from the bar I overheard people saying "hey, these guys are pretty good." I was in agreeance with those sentiments, as I finally had a chance to hear what people have been talking about. I had never heard of Harlem Shakes before, but they won the crowd over quickly with their indie pop tunes.

Tapes 'n Tapes came out and gave an even more impressive performance than their previous visit to Austin (@ Stubb's w/Cold War Kids,) and they played a few tracks that will be on their next album that were fantastic. Well, let's just say I think they would have been fantastic if the sound at Emo's wasn't nearly unbearable, as it too often is. I know you guys are making a little bit of money with that thing, why the hell can't you improve the sound output to a point where the music is even slightly audible? I realize that's a novel concept, but give it some thought.

The Laughing - "Tiger Cry" | .com
Harlem Shakes - "Sickos" | .com
Tapes 'n Tapes - "Cowbell" (The Black Eyes Remix) | .com

Last night Hot Chip rolled through town on their mini tour, playing for over an hour to an extremely receptive crowd at Antone's. They're hitting up Dallas tonight as they make their way west to play for about 100,000 people at Coachella. Hot Chip caused quite a scene down at Antone's, with dozens of people crowding around the front of the club, desperately scavenging for a ticket to the sold out show.

Toward the end of the set they brought out members of the opening act (Tussle) to lay down some extra percussion (and jumping jacks) on their "huge in 2006" single "Over and Over." Those five minutes alone were worth at least twice what you had to pay to get in the door. Women were weeping, men were spitting up blood, and I think I might have torn a ligament. It was a good show. I was able to chat with Joe Goddard (co-vocalist/songwriter/synthesizer) for a minute afterword and I asked him when we could expect to get a new Hot Chip album, and he said they have one in the can that could be released as early as September, assuming that their labels can pull the weight. Pull Astralwerks, pull.

Tussle - "I'm An Indian Too" | .com
Hot Chip - Live at Antone's (The Warning/Over and Over)

-----

Road shows I'll probably be attending soon:

• Tomorrow at Stubb's with the Riverboat Gamblers

Burden Brothers - "Rise and Fall" | .com

• Tomorrow at Emo's with Evangelicals

Sunset Rubdown - "They Took A Vote And Said No" | .com

• Saturday at Stubb's with Elvis Perkins

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - "Satan Said Dance" | .com

• Next Wednesday at Stubb's with Annuals

Blonde Redhead - "23" | .com

• Next Thursday at Antone's

Stephen & Damian Marley - click

• Wednesday 5/09 at Stubb's with Snowden

Kings of Leon - "Wicker Chair" | .com

Labels: Local

The FADER helped put together one of the best events during SXSW, featuring Redman, Amy Winehouse, the Fratellis, and a bunch of other good acts on each day of the festival. Their newest issue features Bill Callahan, Austinite of about three years now, as they discuss his new album Woke On A Whaleheart and the shedding of his stage name of many years, Smog. FADER has a nice podcast to go along with the new issue (which you download as a PDF here,) featuring a few bands I've discussed here previously like Panda Bear, Black Lips and the Presets.

The FADER - Issue 45 Podcast (40:03)

Here's the tracklist + linkage:

• Black Lips, "Hippie, Hippie, Hoorah (Live in Tijuana)"
• Rich Boy (produced by Polow Da Don), "Boy Looka Here"
• Prodigy, "Return of the Mac"
• Hi-Tek f Dion, Q-Tip and Kurupt, "Keep It Moving"
• Bill Callahan, "Diamond Dancer"
• Dandi Wind, "Slumlord"
• Turf Talk, "I Got Chips"
• Bunji Garlin, "Brrrt"
• Munga, "Flipping Rhymes"
• The Presets, "Are You The One (Van She Tech NYC Rush Mix)"
• Panda Bear, "Bros (edit)"
• David Vandervelde, "Can't See Your Face No More"
• Gyptian, "Serious Times"
• DG Yola, "Ain't Gon Let Up"

On the covers:

Bill Callahan
"I don't think I write in character as much as Randy Newman does, but it's probably closer to being in character [than being me]. I always think I'm telling universal stories."

Polow Da Don
"I've become the main guy, that means producers are following me. What that means is real music comes back, because what I do is real music. When that happens, then I did my job."

Between the pages:

Noah Lennox
"I feel like when I listen to an Animal Collective album, I can be like, 'This part of the song, there's a lot of me in that part.' But with Person Pitch it's just like flooding with me--me-ness."

Gyptian
"I'm not the artist to separate from music. Wherever I hear music, ears dem cock up. Like Shabba say: Deejay ears cock up when they hear boom riddim."

The Black Lips
"We ended up singing Lynyrd Skynyrd with the cops and stuff, joking around. They had to take us to jail because the mushrooms were a felony. But we made them laugh--we played Rock, Paper, Scissors to see who was gonna take the charge."

Prodigy
"We were like, 'We gotta bring back that feeling.' Not bring back the old music, because we never go backwards with that, but if we could capture the old vibe..."

New York, NY: The FADER magazine, the definitive voice of emerging music, releases its 45th issue, putting Smog genius Bill Callahan on the cover after 20 years of heartbreak evolved into his current album, Woke on a Whaleheart. It's the first album under his real name instead of the "Smog" moniker, and The FADER finds out the full story. Also gracing the cover is producer Polow Da Don: a not-so-secret weapon who has crafted cutting-edge sounds for everyone from Fergie, Ludacris, R Kelly and the Pussycat Dolls. You may have also heard his current monster smash "Throw Some D's" by Rich Boy. Polow is radio's next super producer. Also knocking socks off this issue are Noah Lennox, better known as Panda Bear from Animal Collective, and his new album flooding with "me-me-ness," Gyptian and his regal aura of roots reggae, the fantastic damage of Atlanta's snottiest punks known as Black Lips, the demented mindgarden of Mobb Deep's legendary Prodigy and intimate portraits from Kabul by photographer Stephen Dupont. As always, F45 will also be available via iTunes in its entirety, with corresponding audio podcasts, and as a free download at www.thefader.com.

Labels: Stochastic

Videohippos is a musical duo from Baltimore, consisting of Jim Triplett (guitar/vocals/keys) and Kevin O’Meara (drums/vocals/keys.) Self decribed as a "two-man audio-visual monster," the musicians have been playing music together since 1997 in various groups, and they are now signed to Monitor Records with a debut album on the way this summer. Unbeast The Leash, due June 19th, contains thirteen tracks of electric (and toy) guitar, addictive beats via electronic toy keyboards and the right-on-time drumming of Kevin O’Meara, and it's all overlapped by the infectiously odd-sounding pop melodies of Jim Triplett.

The first indication that I am really enjoying what I'm listening to is when I find myself repeatedly reaching for the volume to turn it up. I was only a few songs into Unbeast The Leash by the time I had the volume turned up as far as it would go. These are the kinds of songs that should make people famous, instead of what usually does the trick, like yet another (new) new wave band tredding back upon something that's already been done or some emo songwriter lamenting on his numerous failed relationships. I don't want to hear that shit. I want to hear something new. Music filled with originality and emotion, and songs that don't wear off after only a couple of listens.

All of that might sound like a bunch of hyperbole, but I really do feel like Unbeast The Leash is one of the coolest things I've heard so far this year. "Sick Dolphin" sounds like the offspring of a drug-induced three-way at the amusement park between The Ocopus Project, Holy Fuck and Dan Deacon. Listen to the whole last 1:17 of "Rider" with a pair of headphones and the volume turned high, tell me it doesn't rock. Here's two more tracks from the album, brought to you directly from Monitor.

Videohippos - "Koolshades"

Videohippos - "The List"

In a live setting, Videohippos provide a show that just might cause you to have a mild seizure. They perform their two-piece attack backed by a giant screen featuring film clips from cartoons, movies, commercials, and other propaganda that add an additional element to their already explosive songs. Videohippos will be in Austin on June 12, one week before Unbeast The Leash drops, performing in support of Dan Deacon at the Emo's lounge. It's going to be a big party, one that I recommend you check out.

Dan Deacon - "Woody Woodpecker"

That's the opening track on Dan Deacon's new album Spiderman of the Rings, due to hit the shelves on May 8th thanks to Carpark Records. I mentioned it previously, as has Party Ends, Muzak For Cybernetics, Underwire and Golden Fiddle, who reports that Dan has a masters degree in electro-acoustic composition.

Videohippos + Dan Deacon tour dates:

05/25 : Two Art Chicks, Greensboro, NC
05/26 : Local 506, Chapel Hill, NC
05/27 : Harvest Records, Asheville, NC
05/28 : Pilot Light, Knoxville, TN
05/29 : Bottletree, Birmingham, AL
05/30 : Drunken Unicorn, Atlanta, GA
05/31 : The Jinx, Savannah, GA
06/01 : TSI, Jacksonville, FL
06/02 : Back Booth, Orlando, FL
06/03 : TBA, Miami, FL
06/04 : New World Brewery, Tampa, FL
06/05 : Common Grounds, Gainesville, FL
06/06 : The Beta Bar, Tallahassee, FL
06/07 : Thirsty Hippo, Hattiesburg, MS
06/08 : The Green Space, New Orleans, LA
06/09 : Spanish Moon, Baton Rouge, LA
06/10 : Mink, Houston, TX
06/12 : Emos Lounge, Austin, TX
06/13 : The Cavern, Dallas, TX
06/14 : Warehouse 21's Luna Space, Santa FE, NM
06/16 : ExPlx, Los Angeles, CA
06/17 : Che Cafe, San Diego, CA
06/18 : Pehrspace, Los Angeles, CA
06/19 : Bottom of the Hill, San Francisco, CA
06/20 : 21 Grand, Oakland, CA
06/21 : Fools Foundation, Sacramento, CA
06/22 : Holocene, Portland, OR
06/23 : TBA, Seattle, WA
06/24 : TBA, Missoula, MT
06/25 : Grouse Mountain Lodge, Whitefish, MT
06/26 : Neurolux, Boise, ID
06/27 : Urban Lounge, Salt Lake City, UT
06/28 : Hi Dive, Denver, CO
06/29 : The Jackpot Saloon, Lawrence, KS
06/30 : Waiting Room, Omaha, NE
07/02 : Triple Rock Club, Minneapolis, MN
07/03 : Cactus Club, Milwaukee, WI
07/05 : The House Cafe, Dekalb, IL
07/06 : TBA, Kalamazoo, MI
07/07 : Scrummage University, Detroit, MI
07/08 : TBA, Hamilton, ON
07/09 : Sneaky Dees, Toronto, ON
07/10 : Zaphod Beeblebrox, Ottawa, ON
07/11 : La Sala Rossa, Montreal, PQ
07/12 : Middle East Upstairs, Cambridge, MA

Like i said, Unbeast The Leash isn't out until June 18th, but you can hear a few tracks at their myspace page and hear some of the demos at the official site.

Labels: Albums, Rock, Tron

The first track I chose is from the Bees, (known as A Band of Bees in the U.S.,) and "Who Cares What The Question Is?" is the opening track on their new album Octopus that I mentioned back in February. The Bees have given us three albums in this decade, most noteably their 2002 debut Sunshine Hit Me, which was nominated for the Mercury Prize alongside the likes of Doves and David Bowie. I love the guitar work on this one...


From the MySpace: "The Moths (a West London trio) are an electro-punk sensation waiting to happen. Already over the past few months the handful of live shows played by The Moths have had hearts a'fluttering across the capital. Eschewing the dull-eared bravado of the nascent Lad Rock scene The Moths proffer love, arrogance, poetry, some cracking drum machine rhythms and a frontman who has been drawing creditable comparisons to everyone from Pete Shelley to Marc Almond via Brett Anderson. Crucially they also provide corking tunes – three of which have made it onto this, their debut single – and the sort of heartfelt paeans to emotional pain which could make Moths cheerleaders of us all."


From the Official Site: "THE BISHOPS are a rock and roll band emanating from London. They are fronted by twins Mike Bishop (vocals, guitar) and Pete Bishop (vocals, bass) and completed by Scotsman Chris McConville (drums). From the dark damp cellars of their youth hostel abode, the band worked tirelessly towards creating their sound, studiously developing their gift for classic song craft. The result of these sessions was a collection of songs that are refreshingly striking and different.

The bands musical influences stem from a range of genres: but to list them isn't what it's about. Their sound does features an amalgamation of ideas but it's their reinterpretation of this sound that makes THE BISHOPS so thoroughly relevant, drawing upon a range of classic influences whilst still creating something new, original and exciting."


From the Official Site: "In a music scene splintered into so many subgenres that it's barely recognisable from its original blueprint, a band with the courage to stand up for rock'n'roll's fundamentals is a breath of fresh air. Meet Bobby Anderson, rock'n'soul savant and pint-sized powerhouse singer and guitarist in Fortune Drive. He feels strongly about this sort of thing.

"That's a problem at the moment," he seethes. "There aren't any rock'n'roll bands. It's all post-punk, art-rock electro, new rave whatever. We just like rock'n'roll bands and that's what we're trying to aspire to be." Four years ago, Bobby reunited scattered schoolfriends Alan Akehurst (guitar), Andy Lowe (bass), Ingo Nyakairu (keyboards) and Mark Bent (drums) back to Bristol. And it's been the dark-hearted classics -The Doors, The Who, Oasis - that have given Fortune Drive their reason for being."


From Rough Trade: "Jack Penate seems destined for big things this year - his pop sensibilities and remarkable song craft have already got him noticed - his energetic gigs are always rammed, his myspace page is among the most visited on there and, most recently, he's cropped up in virtually everybody's ones to watch in 2007 poll." If you've been keeping a close eye on this page you'll recall that I said a few good things about Jack Penate after catching his showcase at SXSW. Jack's first single "Second, Minute or Hour" was released late-last year and sold out in one morning, and he performed that one last week on Zane Lowe's BBC 1 radio show...


From Monsters and Critics: "Favourite Worst Nightmare' is described as everything you hoped Arctic Monkeys would do next. Not so much a sequel as an upgrade, a breakneck techni-color journey through screwball punk and guitar-fuelled dance floor heroics. The album is also described as very, very fast and very, very loud. A “brilliant” racket that proves there's infinitely more to Arctic Monkeys than writing pretty little ditties. Yet at the same time boasting some of the strongest songs they've ever written." Songs from the new Arctic Monkeys album Favourite Worst Nightmare have been clogging up the Hype Machine since the moment it first leaked. So here's one you might not have heard, a "very, very fast and very, very loud" single that is featured on the Japanese import of the album.


Amy Winehouse is from North London. The Rumble Strips are a sax and trumpet wielding rock quartet from Devon, way down in the south west corner of England. They recently teamed up to put out a split 7'', with the Rumble Strips laying down their own version of "Back To Black" on one side, and on the opposite side a remix of the same song. The remix is basically the Rumble Strips' cover version from Side A, added in with Amy Winehouse's soulful singing. The result is a good one, with the horns really pushing this song forward.


We might as well continue on with the soul theme from the first song, this time with another British female soul singer. Her name is Alice Russell and she's been on the scene since releasing a debut solo album titled Under The Munka Moon in 2004. Below Alice Russell brings her "signature sound of funk and fun to the lush 70's-esque orchestration of "High Up on the Hook," from the recent release of A New Groove, another album in the long list of releases from the Putumayo World Music record label.


Switches are an indie rock band who released their debut EP just last year and put themselves on the map with their single "Lay Down the Law." After playing two Carling Festival dates the band put out another single, got signed to Atlantic, and released their debut album today (4/23). You won't find the song below on the new album though, "Cut My Hair" was a B-side on one of their earlier 7'' releases.


The Strange Death Of Liberal England is the name of a book published in 1935 that "attempted to explain the decline of the British Liberal Party in the years 1910 to 1914." Wow, that sounds fun. The Strange Death Of Liberal England (TSDOLE) is also a five-piece band from Portsmouth who have just released their debut single on the London based independent label Fantastic Plastic Records. The band got off to a quick start in 2006 by winning the Drowned in Sound's readers' choice award, and someone out there was impressed enough by their sound to book TSDOLE on a handful of dates supporting of Montreal next month.

Labels: UK

The Tuesday of SXSW week I had the pleasure of loitering around the Daytrotter recording to watch a few local acts. One of those was Peter and the Wolf (Red Hunter,) who provided one of the finest recordings that I heard in 2006 with his album Lightness. The follow-up effort to that album is titled Sun Chasers, which I believe will be slated for a summer release. Red gave us a preview of the new album at the Daytrotter recording, performing a stripped-down version of "Where Summer Goes." You can hear that one below, and by heading over to Daytrotter.com you can download the rest of the recording and learn more about Peter and the Wolf.

Peter and the Wolf - "Where Summer Goes"

On the current Peter and the Wolf tour you can get your hands on a new EP titled Fireflies, which holds ten lo-fi tracks including "Race Around The Earth," which you can hear (and place an order for) at Peter and the Wolf on MySpace. Below is an mp3 from an earlier self-titled release that contains twelve original demos, which you can pick up at Insound.


Peter and the Wolf - "The Fall"

Tour dates:

Apr 23 2007: Cloak and Dagger House - Riverview, Michigan
Apr 24 2007: First Capital Dispensing Company - York, Pennsylvania
Apr 25 2007: TBA - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Apr 26 2007: Wesleyan University - Middletown, Connecticut
Apr 28 2007: TBA - New York, New York
Apr 30 2007: Rodrigue's at Fordham U - New York, New York
May 1 2007: Union Hall - Brooklyn, New York
May 2 2007: A/V Space - Rochester, New York
May 3 2007: The Spill - Peterborough, Ontario
May 4 2007: Over the Top fest - Toronto, Ontario
May 5 2007: Casa Burrito - Murfreesboro, Tennessee
May 6 2007: Knoxville/Atlanta TBA
May 7 2007: Birmingham or Nashville TBA
May 8 2007: The Bottletree - Birmingham, Alabama
May 9 2007: Memphis or Little Rock TBA
May 10 2007: Pontiac - Springdale, Arkansas
May 11 2007: Jackrabbit Lounge - Shreveport, Louisiana
May 12 2007: The Cavern - Dallas, Texas
May 13 2007: Hailey's - Denton, Texas

Labels: Local

How many band members does it take to have a good band? Sometimes only two, sometimes four, and sometimes a lot more. We All Have Hooks For Hands has nine. Dueling drummers, a violinist, three guitars, two horn/keyboard players, and a bassist. I'd say they sound a bit like a handful of bands I'm familiar with. Tap Tap and Canadian indie rock bands like Wolf Parade & other Spencer Krug projects are in there. Lots of percussion and shouting like Rock Plaza Central or Arcade Fire, horns that make me make me think Beirut, and a sound somewhere in the ballpark of early Apples in Stereo and a folkier Neutral Milk Hotel.

One thing I can't pinpoint about We All Have Hooks For Hands on The Pretender (their new album) is the addition of the keyboards. I can't think of a band that has a folkish indie rock sound with horns, keys, and a bit of experimentation. That's one of the first things that caught my attention about this band. We All Have Hooks For Hands is Eli Show, Isaac Show, Brent Hardie, Tim Evenson, Tony Helland, David Left, Logan Borchardt, Micheal Graber and Tory Stollen. They're yet another quality act on Afternoon Records up in Minneapolis.

Afternoon Records says: "Sioux Falls, South Dakota, the 167th largest city in the nation, is the commuting center for the nine members that make up We All Have Hooks For Hands. Originally starting in a downtown Sioux Falls apartment as a simple project to create happy pop tunes, "Hold On, C'mon" was recorded first with minimal members without a name for the project. A six piece first set off for a short west coast tour screaming through the mountains in a green tin lizzy.

After growing from the experience, a full-length album was put into production. A self-built/self-taught recording studio resulted in the addition of multiple amiable pals hailing from as far as Freeman, S.D., home of the Mennonites. The result is a full band with a radiant sound, which includes dueling drummers, a violinist, three guitars, two horn/keyboard players, and a lonely bass. The size of band and collective feel is a means to experiment with sound and dynamics. The influences that shaped the upcoming album are as colorful as they were plentiful. The party lifestyle in a rural city fuels the music."

Listen:

We All Have Hooks For Hands - The Pretender (April 17th, 2007)

1. Music Which Feeds The Guests
2. Jumpin' Jean-Luc
3. Oh I'd Expect
4. Hold On, C'mon
5. The Man Trying To Outfox Us All
6. Elvis "MF" Christ
7. On & On
8. Ghosts and Strangers
9. The Teeth That Feed The Lions
10. untitled

They've got a few dates booked with Mouthful of Bees, who I wrote about previously:

• April 21 Varsity Theatre - Minneapolis, Minnesota
• Jul 15 Velvet Lounge - Washington dc, Washington DC
• Jul 18 The Knitting Factory - New York City, New York
• Jul 20 Cassa Burrito - Murfreesbro, Tennessee
• Jul 22 Saddle-Creek bar - Omaha, Nebraska
• Jul 24 7th Street Entry - Minneapolis, Minnesota

You can pick up a copy of The Pretender at Afternoon Records, and hear more We All Have Hooks For Hands at MySpace.

Labels: Albums, Indie

Just in time to build some extra steam for the Hot Chip gig in Austin next week, the Austinist speaks with Hot Chip co-vocalist, songwriter, and synthesizer player Joe Goddard about everything from a new album to SXSW and the awesomeness of Whole Foods.

"Saturday evenings at SXSW are usually a disappointment. Everyone is tired, bands are weary, and lines seem to be at a peak. Last year, our Saturday was completely transformed when we attended Hot Chip's showcase at The Parish. Despite some equipment troubles, the band's mix of electronics, enthusiasm, and tough-guy lyrics had the crowd dancing and roaring approval to the point that the floor quaked. Since then, the group have won NME's single of the year for "Over And Over," been nominated for the Mercury Music Prize for their brilliant album The Warning, and come in at #3 on Austinist's Top Albums of 2006 poll."

Labels: Local

Had the iPod on shuffle earlier and some Beck songs popped up that I'd almost forgotten about, thought someone out there wouldn't mind hearing 'em. Included are two Hank Williams covers, two tracks off of a limited 7'' pressing from 1993 called God Is My Wetsuit, and one from the 1994 independent Stereopathic album comprised of mostly home demos, live performances, and abstract noise experiments.

Links to the albums are included, and for more Beck head to the official site.

Listen:

• Beck - "MTV Makes Me Want To Smoke Crack" | (God Is My Wetsuit)
• Beck - "To See That Woman Of Mine" | (God Is My Wetsuit)
• Beck - "Satan Gave Me a Taco" | (Stereopathetic Soulmanure)
• Beck - "(I Heard That) Lonesome Whistle" (KCRW: Sounds Eclectic)
• Beck - "Your Cheatin' Heart" (Timeless: Hank Williams Tribute)

Labels: Stochastic

Over the past couple of years Austin's own group of hand-percussion aficionados Clap! Clap! have been steadily building a reputation as one of the most entertaining live acts in town, bringing their very own brand of dance-punk to stages around town to perform in front of appreciative crowds eager to free their bodily movements of any restraint. After a year of work including many hours spent determening the very best method of transferring their high energy dance rhythms onto disc, Clap! Clap! are now prepared to offer up their first proper recording. The album titled You Love This! will be available starting next week at CD release shows at Emo's in Austin and Lucy's in San Marcos, at Waterloo and Sundance Records locally, and if you're not local you can also grab a copy through the official site and MySpace page.

You Love This! has keyboard and synth-driven sounds along with occasional guitar freak-outs on songs like "Relation Control" that instantly bring to mind the electronic-dance-rock style popularized by the Rapture, while other moments on the album such as the opener "Pressure of Your Pressure" recall the new wave tendencies present on the Faint's debut album. Another track on the album that begs repeated listening is "Space Dance," a downtempo dance track that occupies a full six minutes of last half of the album and sounds as if Bowie himself lent a hand in the production. You Love This! is filled with 10 tracks and clocks in at just under an hour in length, including a re-recording of the live favorite "Talk Shop" that features a guest spot from Chief of the local (San Marcos) hip-hop outfit The Word Association.

Party Ends said: "With the popularity of LCD and the Rapture singing about dancing and the crowds going nuts- the world now have a new entrant into the talented dance post-punk game: Clap! Clap!. The recording quality and full sound of this album is unlike anything else locally being produced and is a fantastic representation of what locals have known for years- that Clap! Clap! live shows are out of control."

Austin Sound said: "Already working from a reputation as one of the best live bands in Austin (and San Marcos), Clap! Clap!’s full-length debut You Love This has been building anticipation for almost a year. Onstage the group is a dynamic octagonal whirlwind of synths, guitar, electro-beats and unrestrained movement that lives up to their moniker and explodes infectiously into the crowd. It’s the Rapture brought home and the Faint resuscitated, all with a playful enthusiasm that takes the pretentiousness out of IDM."

Clap! Clap! said: In 2004, Clap! Clap! was born with a mission: to bring energy back to live shows and to make the energy infectious amongst the audience. Armed with 8 members, the band hopes to continue its quest to bring back audience participation and energy to live shows. With influences such as The Faint and The Rapture, dance and electronic rock is the band’s forte. The band utilizes five keyboards and two guitars to generate layered, accomplished songs. In 2005, MTVU recognized Clap! Clap! in a nationwide contest, “The Best Band on Campus,” and listed the band amongst the top 10 in the nation. Although the band did not win the contest, the campus newspaper honored the group as the top band in the city of San Marcos. The following year, the band relocated to Austin only to be the Austin Chronicle’s recommended choice for best new artist in 2006.


Clap! Clap! - You Love This!

1. Pressure of Your Pressure
2. Talk Shop
3. Troubles with Doubles
4. Dr. Doctor!
5. Relation Control
6. Props to the DJ
7. You Love This!
8. Space Dance
9. We Lurk for Love
10. Coach

www.clap-clap.com

Labels: Local

New York, NY February, 26, 2007 - Stephen Marley, GRAMMY winning artist and producer, has announced that he is launching a much anticipated tour this spring. Kicking off on March 30th, the tour is happening in association with the Ghetto Youths International Foundation and will feature special guest "Jr. Gong." The tour will run through May, hitting more than 40 cities with acclaimed artist K'naan also in tow.

Billed as the Mind Control North American tour, Ghetto Youths International will contribute one dollar from every ticket sold to the Marley's homegrown charity, The Ghetto Youth Foundation, which provides aid and programs to children struggling in impoverished and war-ravaged conditions around the globe. Highlights of the 3-month tour of Canada and the US will also include performances at the World Ski and Snowboard Championships in Whistler, British Columbia on April 15th, Coachella Music Festival in Indio, CA on April 27th, and JazzFest in New Orleans on May 5th.

The tour will hit Austin on May 3rd at Antone's. This is good news my friends. When Damian Marley (Bob Marley's youngest son) last came through Austin he was putting on one of the most memorable performances of the Austin City Limits Festival. Now he'll be back supporting his older brother and bringing some friends along. Make sure grab some tickets before it sells out.

Mind Control North America Tour:

4/20 San Luis Obispo, CA @ The Graduate
4/21Santa Cruz, CA @ The Catalyst
4/22 San Francisco, CA @ The Fillmore
4/24 Ventura, CA @ Ventura Theatre
4/25 San Diego, CA @ House of Blues
4/26 Los Angeles, CA @ House of Blues
4/28 Las Vegas, NV @ House of Blues
4/29 Kyotsmovi Village, AZ @ Hopi Veterans Memorial
4/30 Albuquerque, NM @ Sunshine Theatre
5/02 Fort Worth, TX @ Ridglea Theatre
5/03 Austin, TX @ Antone’s Nightclub
5/04 Houston, TX @ Warehouse Live
5/06 New Orleans, LA @ House of Blues
5/08 Washington DC @ 9:30 Club
5/09 Boston, MA @ Avalon Ballroom
5/11 New York, NY @ Nokiaa Theatre Times Square
5/12 Philadelphia, PA @ Theatre of the Living Arts
5/13 Baltimore, MD @ Ram’s Head Live
5/15 Toronto, ON @ Phoenix Concert Theatre
5/17 Windsor, ON @ Chrysler Theater
5/18 Atlanta, GA @ The Roxy
5/19 Saint Petersburg, FL @ Jannus Landing
5/20 Orlando, FL @ House of Blues

Check out the tracks below to hear a couple of good songs to shout for when you hit up the tour. For more K’naan, check out the e-card for a live recording & etc.

Stephen Marley - "The Traffic Jam" | (Mind Control)
Damian Marley - "Move" | (Welcome To Jamrock)
K'naan - "Soobax" | (The Dusty Foot Philosopher)

I'll also throw in these two classics to help get ready for the Austin Reggae Festival this weekend. It used to be called the Bob Marley Festival, but you know, copyrights happen. It should be a pretty good time, and it looks like there's only a 10% chance of rain on Saturday. Score.

Augustus Pablo - "Thunder Clap" | (Original Rockers)
The Maytals - "Pressure Drop" | (Very Best Of)

Labels: Local

Earlier this week Gregg Gillis (Girl Talk) posted this quick message via the MySpace:

"I just started a new band for production, beat making, and remixes with a sick dude named Frank Musarra. Our band is called Trey Told 'Em, and we have our first remix available for download on myspace now.... myspace.com/treytoldem."

Their first remix is of Tokyo Police Club's first single "Cheer It On" done up with some spastic sampling and a dance-ready hook. You should probably be well familiar with Girl Talk by now, and Frank Musarra has been producing music under the name Hearts of Darknesses, putting out an album in 2004 titled Music For Drunk Driving that received a 4/5 from Tiny Mix Tapes. He has been described as one part composer, five parts spaz, and a dope emcee to boot. He once became so entangled in his mic cord during a performance that he fell and broke his collarbone.

I don't know if I'm really sold on their first output. I mean, I'm not really into Tokyo Police Club, and I've already heard Girl Talk use a couple of these samples before. But, I think this remix is starting to get under my skin...

Tokyo Police Club - "Cheer It On" (Trey Told' Em Remix)

Since we're on the subject of Girl Talk and a lot of you folks seemed to enjoy his live set from Seattle that I posted previously, here's a five minute clip of that show to get down on.

Girl Talk - Live in Seattle (5:08)

Linkage:

http://myspace.com/treytoldem
http://www.myspace.com/girltalkmusic
http://www.myspace.com/heartsofdarknesses
http://www.illegalart.net

Labels: Mix

I first mentioned local DJ crew Car Stereo (Wars) back in February, and earlier this month a new mash-up was posted over at CarStereoWars.net that combines Chamillionare's track "Not a Criminal" with Ratatat's first hit, "Seventeen Years." The result is fairly sick.

Last year CSW put a track out there combining "Midnight Voyage" from Ghostland Observatory's sophomore album, along with Ghostface Killah's "Be Easy." Both of these tracks bump just fine by themselves, but when they're mixed together it's like the two were made for each other. Have a listen to both of them below...

Car Stereo (Wars) - "Been a Criminal About Seventeen Years"

Car Stereo (Wars) - "Ghostface Observatory"

You can hear more Car Stereo (Wars) at CarStereoWars.net, as well as visit myspace.com/CarStereoWars to find out more.

Labels: Local, Mix

What I can't stop spinning at the moment is the Hieroglyphics album that came out last month called Over Time. I don't listen to as much hip-hop as I used to, so I'm always happy when I find some new stuff that I can get into. Thanks to the Gorillaz for introducing me to Del on their self-titled album...

Hieroglyphics - "You Never Knew" (Domino Remix)

Hieroglyphics - "Phoney Phranchise" (Domino Remix)

This is real hip hop not no phony phranchise
Winnin' by a landslide and you know you can't hide
This is D-E-L not no phony phranchise
Winnin' by a landslide and you know you can't hide
This is Hieroglyphics not no phony phranchise
Winnin' by a landslide and you know you can't hide

[Cut:]
Rag Del, impetuous, tempestuous,
My power's activated, have to make it, funky

Del deep, scuba diver wet suit
Who survived to get loose
Brewin' in the test tubes
To the rescue, extradiction process
To get you all stressed
Step onto my office
That's what you call fresh
It's more like some soft breasts
If i stopped cess, i probably would cough less
Test it, just to see if ya'll rested
I'm blessin' the beat just like if i was the best man
Yo, you miss it in ya' public school distict
Get a book and do the physics
Yo' i got a cool image
Like Hendrix, my kindred,
Y'all fuck up to my index
Bench press rappers doing sets with my Syntax
Ain't nothin' new motherfucker man i been black
Impact, remember Malcom X wore a pimp hat
You paper chasin' when you make it then you spit that
That your whole life shoulda never even been rap
Wannabe gangster fool around and get your friend capped
Talkin' hella shit my brother trying to buy a ten sack
Man, just call me amphibious
Submerging so deep yanking curtains on these idiots
Walking 'round oblivious more than annoying
Everywhere I turn a black life is destroyed and
Times is getting tough gotta sign for unemployment
Walkin' round the town all 'noid and bent
Out of posture from sixteen blunts, a pint of vodka
Intoxicated some of y'all call it faded
With my headphones slammin' playin Iron Maiden
Sleepin' in the lobby of the Days Inn

[Hook]

[Cut:]
Never outdated
When my power's activated, have to make it, funky

I'm barn storming, alluring, curing
Your ailments with lyrical talismans
Here it is, for the scrutiny of every record reviewer
Your tool to reduce your little rhymes are non-existent
Meticulous methods I use to modify
The style you all should try
Posh poetics, cost effective
Neck and neck with sun beams
Transcends the fabric of time
Yah, it's one thing
Named Hiero, habitual funk, fiends and freakerz
Techniques from the major leaguers leaves you meager
Style malfunctional i'm punchin' in early
Right on schedule gold medalist rebellious (who?)
Del is, got you cornered like a cougar
Comin' up with new words like you must be a lummox
Wanna infiltrate my crew when you know you'll go nuts
Lactose intolerant your bowels'll blow up
Catostrophic so deep can't locate with metal detectors
Listen more then once you'll need several inspections
I'm sicker than a beef recall
Reiterate the fact with flows that free fall
Reintroduction the classic material
That last with imperial
Props and Pop Will Eat Itself
Hotter than coals tread and your feet'll melt
Like plastic i castrate contenders
With a crew that got more power than the Westcoast Avengers
Sit and let your ears swim in the splendor

[Hook:]
It's just that real hip hop not no phony phranchise
Winnin' by a landslide and you know you can't hide
This is D-E-L not no phony phranchise
Winnin' by a landslide and you know you can't hide
This is Hieroglyphics not no phony phranchise
Winnin' by a landslide and you know you can't hide

[Verse 3:]

Mouth watering musical madness
More bomb than Bombay in glad bags, get mesmerized
Spellbound Del found profound
Hip hop essentials mandatory for the mental
I used to be dazed and confused
Now I'm amazed and amused
At life and its clever ruse
I have compassion while other brothers askin' for trouble
Brain damage got 'em befuddle
Yo, while I'm on stage pumpin' fear
Your over there in the corner drinking non-alcoholic beer
Dominating, commentating moving on to great things
Embracing the lunacy, lacing the community
With one, two, and three for all clueless emcees
They need guidance, tutorials from the Overlord of skill
Magnifying music with my magnificent mind
That blinds with such shine it's embarrassing
Hop in the caravan with Hiero and hit the road to take care of fans
You know what, I'm claimin' dozens
It's Sudden Impact Crib Death
It's big threat major counter-act like tazers
Trailblazers, we clown the name sayers
I crave flavorings with custom tailorings
I can comunicate with aliens, it's a daily routine
It's never failing you fiends to get cream
By the continuity the rhymes move in unity perfectly with the tunes
I hope it hits you soon

[Hook]

When my power's activated, have to make it funny

Learn more about Hieroglyphics at Wiki, get the album at Amazon/eMusic, & find out what's happening and get other releases at the Hieroglyphics Official.

• First, a quite funky remix for the funkiest MC on the west coast, off of the new album Over Time by the underground hip hop collective that Del founded in the early 90's called Hieroglyphics.

• An atavistic beat makes for a head-bobbing remix of Public Enemy's "Bring That Beat Back," originally from their 2005 album New Whirl Odor.

• Electronics-heavy remix of Lil' Flip's "Game Over" done by Portland's own keytar wielding elecro-house pop craftmaster Copy, who I'll be discussing again very soon. For good measure I threw in his remix of Family Affair by Mary J. Blige.

• Not sure how I've overlooked this Hot Chip remix of Amy Winehouse's "Rehab" for this long, but here we have it nonetheless. Tickets are still available for their April 25th gig in Austin at Antone's, get them for $15 at the link.

• The penultimate, a hilarious (and fun!) remix of Snoop's 2004 hit "Drop It Like It's Hot," done disco-chipmunk style by Copyfokking Ungdomsnizzle, whoever that is. Thanks to Palms Out Sounds.

• To close it out (even though it doesn't fit the theme of these other tracks whatsoever,) an ambient take on Midlake's "Roscoe," produced by London-based electro DJs Erol Alkan and Richard Norris under the name Beyond the Wizard's Sleeve.

Labels: Mix

A few days ago I mentioned the Daytrotter Session by a great local band Tacks, The Boy Disaster and added in "Forgetmenot" from their 2006 EP. Today the local media collective SUPER!ALRIGHT! released a music video for that very same song, with different collective members lending their talents to 15-30 second sections of the production.

SUPER!ALRIGHT! is a growing collective of freelance visual media artists. It was founded on the desire to extend creative possibilities beyond the realm of any one individual. Although its members currently specialize in visual media such as commercial and music video, web design, graphic design, and photography, the collective's ongoing goal is to create an ever-broadening base of creatives working in all forms of media. We are a network of artists gathered under the belief that our greatest strength is the dynamism offered by the variety of creative capabilities we hold as group.

Check out the video below, and don't forget to visit SUPER!ALRIGHT! and Tacks, The Boy Disaster.

Labels: Local

The Republic of Iceland has birthed international successes in the musical realm with such acts as Sigur Rós, Múm, Björk, Amiina; and most recently Bang Gang. It is time to brush up on your Icelandic for, “Where is the bathroom?” or “Please fluff my pillow” because you can enter to win a trip for two to Iceland courtesy of Iceland Sir, Bang Gang & From Nowhere Records.

Bang Gang is looking for the best fan remix of their song “It’s Alright” from the new Bang Gang album Something Wrong. To create your remix and enter the contest, visit the links below to hear the original song and download isolated multi-tracks of “It’s Alright.” Then use them and whatever else you have up your sleeve (just no illegal samples), to create a kick-ass remix! The entries will be judged by Bardi Johannsson of Bang Gang himself!

• WIN! - Two plane tickets from one of Iceland Air's US gateways (NYC, Boston, Orlando and Baltimore)
• WIN! - Two nights stay from a hotel in the capital city, Reykjavík
  
• WIN! - Transportation to Keflavik airport to the hotel and back
• WIN! – A Bunch of Exposure

• Contestants must submit an MP3 of your remix, your full name and e-mail address to banggang@fanaticpromotion.com by Friday, May 11.
• Anyone can participate, and contestants can submit as many remixes as they wish.
• The winner will be notified on Monday, May 21.

• Contest winner is responsible for their own transportation to and from one of Iceland Air's US gateways (NYC, Boston, Orlando and Baltimore).
• The prize can be used within one year of the issue date, except June, July, August and Christmas holiday period.
• By submitting your e-mail, you agree to receive information on low fares to Europe from IcelandAir.
• All contest entrants understand and agree that under no situation will Fanatic Promotion, Inc. be liable for any direct, indirect, consequential, incidental, special or exemplary damages resulting from your participation in this offer.
• By sending your mp3, you confirm that: All rights in and to the recordings remixed versions of the recordings are owned by FROM NOWHERE RECORDS and to the extent necessary you assign all rights in the remixed recordings to FROM NOWHERE RECORDS.

Bang Gang full stream of their Something Wrong album

Bang Gang @ MySpace

Labels: Stochastic

Blog Fresh Radio is a new cutting-edge radio program hosted by a lovely young lady named Alex who travels the blogosphere to uncover the best new music and talk to music bloggers in order to find out what they're listening to right now.

Each week there is a new hour-long radio show and podcast available for download at BlogFreshRadio.com that features interviews with different bloggers from around the globe, and each one chooses a track to highlight from artists that they have recently written about at their respective sites. Also available is the handy Blog Fresh Chart, which tracks the most talked-about artists on music blogs each week and informs you of where to get the freshest mp3s.

Covert Curiosity was featured on the April 2nd edition of the program, and you can hear that broadcast along with the other weekly editions that have been completed thus far by visiting Blog Fresh Radio.

Next Tuesday, April 24th, The Detroit Cobras will release their new album Tied & True via Bloodshot Records. This is the first new Cobras release since Baby in 2005, and it once again features the sultry vocalist Rachel Nagy and her guitar-wielding cohort Mary Ramirez. On Tied & True they continue down their path of garage rock revivalism, this time around creating a true soul album full of engrossing recreations of forgotten songs from the past.

Selections from Tied & True include original versions of "It's My Delight" from the late 60's Jamaican rastafari group The Melodians and "Nothing But A Heartache," originally done in 1968 by the female pop trio The Flirtations. Another great moment on the album comes from the unforgettable lyric "Bitch I'm gonna have to hit you on the top of your head," from the song "Leave My Kitten Alone" which was originally done in the 1950's by R&B singer Little Willie John.

From the press release: "When we come into this world, some of us get tapped on the head by God, the Grand Poobah, Mother Nature or who/whatever and are granted extraordinary gifts; there is no question that Detroit Cobras’ singer Rachel Nagy rolled snake eyes at the Grand Casino in the Sky. With Tied And True, their first new record in three years, the Cobras practically done created a new genre all for themselves, delivering the sonic goods to back up some seriously supernatural soulful vocal gifts.

Untrained and undisciplined (and how!), Rachel started out by belting revved-up rock yowlers and has grown into the gen-u-ine gutsy, vulnerable, delicate and commanding soul-on-the-edge singer. She effortlessly glides from R&B sass, to girl group pathos to kitten-with-a-whip toughness with a snap of her chipped fingernails. Longtime musical partner in crime, guitarist Mary Ramirez keeps the DE-troit Motor City in the Cobras with her body shop wallop, greasy rock ‘n soul rhythms and a bold grasp of old school, big room arrangements.

Stretching out in the studio like never before, and including contributions from top line players like Greg Cartwright (Reigning Sound) the Cobras have created a versatile and formidable wall of Spector sound (is that timpani you’re hearing here and there? Yer goddam right it is). Be it eerie or orchestral, or pure rock and roll rough up, Tied and True puts the Cobras on a whole new level—of many sources but a genus all its own. Soul lives below the belt, and whether you’re looking to be grinding it slow or shaking it up good, the Cobras bring it tough and tender, savage and sweet. Tied and true."

Tied & True - April 24, 2007 on Bloodshot Records

1. As Long As I Have You
2. Nothing But A Heartache
3. (If You Don't Think) You Better Change
4. Leave My Kitten Alone
5. (I Wanna Know) What's Going On
6. Try Love
7. You'll Never Change
8. Puppet On A String
9. Only To Other People
10. The Hurt's All Gone
11. It's My Delight
12. On A Monday
13. Green Light
    

You can hear the opening track, preorder Tied & True plus get a free poster and more at Bloodshot Records. You'll have an opportunity to catch the Detroit Cobras on their headlining CD Release Tour this Spring, with dates soon to be listed at their MySpace page. Also visit DetroitCobras.org to get the word direct from Mary and Rachel, and DetroitCobraCovers to read an in-depth study of the songs the Detroit Cobras have chosen to cover.

*Update: DETROIT COBRAS TIED AND TRUE CD RELEASE TOUR DATES

Fri May 11 - Baltimore, MD @ Pier Six Concert Pavilion
Sat May 12 - Brooklyn, NY @ Southpaw
Thu June 28 - Springfield, MA @ City Block Summer Music Festival
Wed July 11 - Covington, KY @ The Mad Hatter
Thu July 12 - Columbus, OH @ Little Brother's
Fri Jul 13 - Millvale, PA @ Mr. Small's Theatre
Sat Jul 14 - Cleveland, OH @ Beachland Ballroom
Sun July 15 - Buffalo, NY @ Mohawk Place
Wed July 25 - Knoxville, TN @ Blue Cats
Fri July 27 - Atlanta, GA @ Earl
Sat July 28 - New Orleans, LA @ House of Blues
Thu Aug 9 - Houston, TX @ Rudyard's Beer Bar
Fri Aug 10 - Dallas, TX @ The Palladium
Sat Aug 11 - Austin, TX @ Emo's
Mon Aug 13 - Tuscon, AZ @ Plush
Tue Aug 14 - Tempe, AZ @ The Clubhouse
Wed Aug 15 - San Diego, CA @ The Casbah
Thu Aug 16 - West Hollywood, CA @ Troubadour
Thu Aug 17 - San Francisco, CA @ Slim's
Sat Aug 18 - San Jose, CA @ Blank Club
Mon Aug 20 - Portland, OR @ The Doug Fir
Tue Aug 21 - Seattle, WA @ Neumo's
Wed Aug 22 - Boise, ID @ Neurolux
Thu Aug 23 - Salt Lake City, UT @ Urban Lounge
Fri Aug 24 - Denver, CO @ Bluebird Theatre
Sat Aug 25 - Kansas City, MO @ Record Bar
Mon Aug 27 - St. Louis, MO @ Creepy Crawl
Tue Aug 28 - Iowa City, IA @ Picador
Wed Aug 29 - Minneapolis, MN @ Triple Rock
Thu Aug 30 - Milwaukee, WI @ Mad Planet
Fri Aug 31 - Chicago, IL @ Double Door
Sat Sep 1 - Detroit, MI @ Magic Stick
-----

In related news, have a listen to the Flirtations' original recording of Nothing But A Heartache (that I also mentioned in Feb.,) along with the Beatles' cover of Leave My Kitten Alone. If you want to hear the Cobras' take on Heartache then make sure to pick up Tied & True on April 24th, it is worth every penny.

The Flirtations - "Nothing But A Heartache"

The Beatles - "Leave My Kitten Alone" (from Anthology)

Labels: Albums, Rock

In today's edition of the Dallas Morning News there is a piece written by Karen Brooks about a new development in Austin called Villa Muse, a planned $1.5 billion recording/film studio combined with a 70,000-seat outdoor amphitheater and the largest soundstage in North America.

"Developers intend to unveil the plans for the community today, and they envision a unique place where 8,500 residents will "live, work and be inspired." The entire development, known as Villa Muse, has a target date of completion in 2012. The studio's founder and chief executive officer Jay Aaron Podolnick – who founded Texas' first 24-track recording facility in the '70s in Austin – says Villa Muse Studios, combined with the amphitheater, will let huge acts record, set up for tours, mix, produce and then throw a big concert to pay for it all – in one place."

This place is going to be amazing.

Click here to visit DallasNews.com and read the full article.

-----

On another, completely unrelated note, the Italian psychedelic rock band Jennifer Gentle (that I first discovered last October while compiling this,) have a few tracks up at MySpace from their new album on Sub Pop Records titled A New Astronomy. The output is markedly different from their 2005 album Valende, from which the retro-pop single below is taken.

Jennifer Gentle - "I Do Dream You"

If you were curious, Jennifer Gentle take their name from the track "Lucifer Sam" on Pink Floyd's 1967 debut album The Piper at the Gates of Dawn. The song was written by a pre-completely-bonkers Syd Barrett and carries a reference to his then-girlfriend, Jenny Spires, referred to in the song as "Jennifer Gentle."

Pink Floyd - "Lucifer Sam"

Labels: Local

I've never been under enough influences to enjoy trance music, and techo might as well not even exist as far as my tastes are concerned. But those two notions have recently been squashed somewhat, as I find myself going back again and again to listen to From Here We Go Sublime, the debut album from Axel Willner's most recent alias The Field, released April 3rd on Kompakt. Filed below are a handful of press snippets that I feel provide great descriptions of what this album is about...

"Muted euphoria." - Cyclic Defrost

"You don’t need to be on the shiniest new candy out of a backstreet East-Berlin illicit narcotics factory and on a sunlit dancefloor in a post-industrial decrepit techno hell-hole/heaven near Ostbahnhof at 10a.m. on a Sunday morning to be struck by it (although I’m guessing that’s gonna work preeety good too)." - In Fact Ah

"Mixing gauzy shoegaze, slippery ambient loops, and two-cheeks-on-the-floor bass drum bounce, the Field offers an idyllic work of startling novelty, and perhaps ‘techno’’s most widely appreciable offering in years." - Stylus Mag

"The debut release from Sweden's Axel Willner, it drifts somewhere between minimal dance music and repetitive ambience, with beats that clomp along fast enough to fuel movement, but with enough ethereal qualities that you could simply put it on and trip out on the couch with it easily enough as well." - Almost Cool

"That's at the heart of this album - dance music written with Indie kids in mind, a feel-good session that's forever looking for the next crescendo." - Boomkat

Also there is a decent review of From Here We Go Sublime at Pitchfork. Listen to a couple of samples below and follow the links for more.

The Field - "The Little Heart Beats So Fast"

The Field - "A Paw In My Face"

garmonbozia.se/thefield
myspace.com/thefieldsthlm
Kompakt

Buy @ Insound
Buy @ Amazon

Labels: Albums, Tron

I didn't intend on such a Ratatat onslaught in my recent entries, but I just came across this live broadcast of the fellas doing their thing on KEXP in 2006 and thought it was fit to print.

Ratatat - Live on KEXP (28:04)

• "Wildcat"
• "Kennedy"
• ..interview
• "El Pico"
• "Lex"
• ..more chit-chat
• "Gettysburg"

RatatatMusic.com
www.KEXP.org

Labels: Live

Head over to Daytrotter.com to download and read about the set that local music-makers Tacks, The Boy Disaster recorded at the Big Orange studio in Austin during SXSW. Below is the single "Forget-Me-Not" from their highly recommended debut EP, which you can pick up by clicking on that flashy banner down there.

Tacks, The Boy Disaster - "Forget-Me-Not"

www.tackstheboydisaster.com

myspace.com/tackstheboydisaster

Labels: Local

I've been an eMusic subscriber for almost two years now, and every time I think about letting my membership lapse I end up being glad that I didn't. Running a music blog means that I get about a dozen cds in the mail every week, and piles of email from artists and record labels who want me to give their material a spin. Even so, I just can't find the strength to release eMusic's huge library from my grasp and give my credit card a much needed breather. If I did so, that would mean I'd miss out on little golden nuggets like the ones below that I've come across while finding good ways to use my monthy downloads.

---

I heard this first song in a documentary about the dark side of the music industry called Before The Music Dies, which examines why most current radio sucks and inspires one to see that there's still a lot of good music out there to be found and had. From time to time, Correo Aereo call Austin home and they have steady local gigs in the Austin area whenever they're here.

Correo Aereo - "Cuatrapeado" (@ eMusic)

I knew that E*vax (aka electrician Evan Mast of Ratatat) had produced an album called Parking Lot Music prior to forming Ratatat, but I had never seen a copy of it anywhere nor heard anything from it until uncovering it recently on eMusic. The music he creates here is minimalist, using everyday sounds samples to create simple electronic beats.

E*vax - "The Process of Leaving"
E*vax - "We Believe in Broken Bones"

After downloading Parking Lot Music I was provided with a link to other albums that were recommended listening if you were into E*vax or other electronic production in general. One of the albums listed was 15 Ideas How To Treat Commodore 64 Game Tunes In The 21st Century, a collection of 15 original songs created by using sound samples from various Commodore 64 video games. Have patience with "Crazy 64," it develops nicely.

Gebrüder Teichmann - "Crazy 64"
Steve Claydon - "Wicked Cool Rock School"

Dial 'M' For Monkey, the first release on Ninja Tune from the British producer, composer, musician and DJ Simon Green, otherwise known as Bonobo. Ninja Tune is a London-based independent record label started in 1991 by DJs Matt Black and Jonathan More, better known as Coldcut, with a strong leaning towards electronic, abstract hip-hop, instrumental hip hop, nu jazz, drum and bass, and chillout music.

Bonobo - "Nothing Owed"
Bonobo - "Pick Up"

And one more from that Jazz & Milk Breaks EP where I found a Free The Robots track. I think jazz flute is making a comeback...

Mr. Chop - "Snob"

Labels: Stochastic

It turns out that Robert Rodriguez's Planet Terror steals the show from Tarantino's Death Proof in the new double feature Grindhouse, except of course in the music department. Grindhouse starts out with the blood, gore and hilarity of Planet Terror, but I found Death Proof to be a bit of a disappointment. Luckily there's a gnarly car chase for the whole last quarter of the film that manages to save it from being a total disaster. This is just my humble opinion, of course.

The music selected for Death Proof does provide a decent soundtrack, as if we needed any further proof that QT is a total music nut. The cd is in stores now, and also if you head over to DeathProof.net you can hear selections from the album, order the standard release, download a digital copy, or even get a special edition with 12-page picture booklet or a collection of 7'' 45's in art sleeves with a collector's carry case. The two tracks below are included, of course.




Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Titch - "Hold Tight"


April March - "Chick Habit"





Via the BBC: "Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich hailed from Wiltshire, England and formed their eponymously-named band in 1961. After undergoing the dance hall circuit and supporting successful acts such as the Honeycombs, they were signed to Fontana records in 1964. They hit the charts with 'You Make It Move' and enjoyed a succession of memorable singles including 'Bend It', 'Zabadak' and 'The Legend of 'Xanadu'. Their combination of colourful rhetoric, extravagant costumes and camp theatrics secured their fame throughout the sixties and, apparently, a legion of imitations in the fashion outlets of Carnaby Street.

Whether it was the accident with the bullwhip or a desire to go solo, in 1969 Dave Dee packed his bags and moved on to pursue careers in acting, presenting and A and R. The remaining four continued for a short period, releasing a minor hit, 'Mr President', but eventually disbanded."

A bit more info is found at 45-rpm.org.uk, and after a little more searching I found video of the lads performing "Hold Tight" in 1965.

April March is the stage name of Elinor Blake, who is a cartoon animator and a little-known indie pop singer/songwriter who was a member of bands such as Pussywillows and the Shitbirds. Her contribution to the Death Proof soundtrack is actually a cover of a 1964 French pop song titled "Laisse Tomber Les Filles."

The charmingly named Shitbirds started in 1991 after Blake moved to Los Angeles to work as an animator for Spumco, the company that produced the cartoon series Ren and Stimpy. While working for Spumco, Blake simultaneously began her career as April March and formed the Shitbirds, named for Vietnam-era Army slang for new enlisted men chosen for the worst duties. If you're curious, you can check out some Shitbirds sounds at eMusic.

Labels: Stochastic

"There's a fine line with this kinda stuff: of course, nobody wants to hear a band stuck in the same style on every tune, but you also have to be wary of "too many cooks spoiling the broth." Free The Robots tread on that line like some tightrope performers, and they manage to pull off the trick on every track here, balancing breakbeats, psychedelia, hip hop and electronic elements like it's nothin'. From the smoked-out, spattering, Speak-N-Spell groove of "Listen To The Future" to the jazzy "Session Two," these guys show that they can even weave dialogue and non-traditional lyrics into their music. The title alone on "Yoga Fire" had us Street Fighter nerds trippin', but the music ain't too shabby either. Lastly, check the bouncy, swingin' "Jazzhole," and if you still aren't convinced, I guess this isn't your cuppa joe." turntablelab.com

That's all fine and good, but what caught my ear was the computer animated start to the opening track "Listen To The Future," which then moves into a little jazz rhythym featuring xylophone and electric organ mixed with some Gorillaz-esque sampling. If that wasn't attention-grabbing enough, the following track "Diary" rolls in on an eerie jazz movement tangled with Pink Floyd-inspired vocal style, and of all things a recurring sample from The Geto Boys' "My Mind Playing Tricks On Me." Give it a spin...

From the EP

Free The Robots - "Listen To The Future"
Free The Robots - "Diary"

From Jazz & Milk Breaks Vol.I (get it @ eMusic)

Free The Robots - "Jazzhole"

You can hear more + order the EP via myspace/FreeTheRobots

---

Various Free The Robots linkage:

Free The Robots.com
Free The Robots Blog
Profile via HitChaser.com
Indie Music Project Article

Labels: Stochastic

The currently unsigned singer/songwriter Peter Silberman had a great idea for releasing his 5th album, and that was to give it away to anyone who wants to hear it for the discounted price of $0. That's correct, the Manhattan-based artist opted to release the digital-only album In The Attic Of The Universe for free in hopes of getting his music out there in an easier fashion. And here's the kicker: the music is actually pretty damn good. "The Universe Is Going To Catch You" opens with a delicate guitar strum that builds quickly with the addition of keys and hand claps, and by the time the tracks hits 1:23 the song has moved forward into full-on head bobbing mode. All the while Silberman's hushed vocal style plays nicely with the many other elements included: Acoustic and Electric Guitars, Toy Piano, Moog, Egg-shaker, a little Drum Machine and even some Gravel and Leaves.

At only 21 years old, this is Peter Silberman's 5th release, though only his second under The Antlers moniker. After moving to Manhattan last year, he set up a cramped, make-shift recording studio in his apartment and set to work on what would become The Antlers' first proper LP, "Uprooted", a different sort of take on the transplant album, exploring claustrophobia and sleepwalking against a fuzz-folk backdrop.

He spent 2006 performing throughout his new home in support of the album, and in the fall of 2006, sprawled his equipment on the floor and set to work on "In The Attic of The Universe", a concept-EP in which he ups the instrumentation from the acoustic guitar that dominated "Uprooted", introducing a full rhythm section, moog, accordion, and piano (both traditional and toy) and a host of others, while parts of the album were recorded outside the farmhouse he grew up on with an old Sony shoebox tape-recorder. The result is a sound revolving around swelling ambience and climactic explosions in the vein of The Arcade Fire and Sigur Ros, alongside Silberman's voice, a sort of cross between Jeff Mangum and Jeff Buckley.

The Antlers - "The Universe Is Going To Catch You"

If you like the sound of that, head over to AntlersMusic.com to download the rest of In The Attic Of The Universe free of charge!

Labels: Albums, Indie

Ratatat rocks my socks. I mean, seriously, these guys are friggin rediculous live. They must really enjoy performing in Austin too, their show last night at Emo's with Despot and 120 Days was Ratatat's third gig just over the past few months. Their gig at Emo's last September was really good, and then they came back and played a sort-of private show with The Faint at La Zona Rosa that was a bit lackluster. But their return to Emo's last night was a glorious one. The first sign of a good night to come was that they sold the place completely out, that didn't happen in September. I was thankful to have gone by Waterloo on Thursday to pick up my ticket, as a couple of my buddies were denied once they got down to the club in anticipation of just paying at the door.

Despot, an MC from Queens who is featured on the new Mixtape opened the show along with those Norwegians 120 Days. Despot was entertaining, but not anything extremely special. Mostly average beats with a decent flow. 120 Days were also just a bit so-so, except for one song they performed in the middle of the set that the lead singer announced was a world premiere. Whatever that song was called, it jammed. Think Ghostland Observatory meets LCD Soundsystem meets The Knife, somewhere in there.

As for Ratatat, they slayed. Rolling Stone called John Mayer a "guitar god." Meh. I'll take Mike Stroud any day of the week and twice on Sundays. The whole front of the stage, filled with those who had been at the venue since four hours earlier to stake their claim to prime viewing space, came alive as Ratatat tore through their hour-long set. At the end of the encore a few dozen concert goers jumped up on stage to give the guys a little help closing the show. Good times indeed. If things keep progressing the way they have been for Ratatat, then very soon Emo's will not large enough to hold them. I think a spot at the Austin Music Hall with a slightly upgraded light show would be pretty sweet.

Below is a live recording of last night's performance along with the setlist. I had trouble identifying the title of song #6, so if anyone could help me out with that one I would appreciate it.

Ratatat - Live at Emo's April 06, 2007 (59:26)

1. Montanita
2. Crips
3. Lex
4. Germany To Germany
5. Loud Pipes
6. Truman
   
7. Nostrand
8. Seventeen Years
9. El Pico
10. Wildcat
11. Cherry

I'm an ass and didn't bring any extra batteries with me, so I guess if you want to hear the encore you'll have to find your way to one of the following stops on the Classics World Tour...

Apr 9 2007 Mercy Lounge - Nashville, Tennessee
Apr 10 2007 The Loft - Atlanta, Georgia
Apr 11 2007 The Social - Orlando, Florida
Apr 12 2007 Common Grounds - Gainesville, Florida
Apr 13 2007 Club Downunder (FSU) - Tallahasse, Florida
Apr 14 2007 Post - Miami, Florida
Apr 16 2007 Cat's Cradle - Carrboro, North Carolina
Apr 17 2007 9:30 Club - Washington D.C.
Apr 18 2007 Webster Hall - New York, New York
Apr 21 2007 Ambassador (w/ CSS) - Dublin
Apr 22 2007 Astoria (w/ CSS) - London
Apr 23 2007 Astoria (w/ CSS) - London
Apr 24 2007 ICA - London
Apr 25 2007 Triptych Festival - Edinburgh
Apr 26 2007 Triptych Festival - Glasgow
Apr 29 2007 Coachella - Indio, California

Ratatat had the Mixtape Vol. 2 cd on sale for the low low price $5, and they even had it on vinyl. I'm assuming you'll be able to order it via Ratatatmusic.com at some point, but for now you'll have to pick it up at a show. Here's a couple of tracks from that one...

Notorious B.I.G. - "Party & Bullshit" (Ratatat remix)
Memphis Bleek - "Alright" (Ratatat remix)

Labels: Live

I have been casually following local dirty rock & rollers Chili Cold Blood for a little over a year now, and ran into them again last night at the large free-for-all gathering that goes down on the first Thursday of every month down on South Congress. Basically, on The First Thursday of each month, merchants of the historic, pedestrian-friendly South Congress Avenue keep their doors open until 10 pm and later playing host to an array of events and activities, including live music happening at a handful of joints along the roughly half mile section of road.

This is where I first heard Chili Cold Blood, a trio consisting of Doug Straham on electrified guitar & vox, Ethan Shaw at the controls of a mean pedal steel, and Matt Puryear keeping things steady on the drums. There is no bass. They don't need no stinking bass. Traffic was moving at a snail's pace one night as my company and I made our way down S. Congress, and at one point we were at a stand-still directly in front of Jo's Coffee while we waited for a long line of pedestrians to make their way across the street. As we waited, with windows rolled down, our ears and eyes slowly gravitated toward Jo's patio, where three guys were entertaining a crowd of onlookers with a raw, raunchy, mostly instrumental bar-room rock and roll sound that never seemed to end. I said to myself, those dudes sound pretty good. A few months later I saw them again at the big Led Zeppelin hoot night at Ruta Maya, where a bunch of local acts were jamming on Zeppelin covers all night. Then I saw them again later performing with my friend's band The Guest, and was once again pleased by what I heard. Last night I finally got around to picking Chili Cold Blood's newest record called Lips, and there's a couple of tracks from it below.

The back cover reads: "On a steamy Austin, Texas Saturday night I drove my Dodge North past Ginny's Little Longhorn Saloon up to the Poodle Dog Lounge. Bikers, cowboys, college kids and off-duty strippers from the Yellow Rose were packed in tight; all in defiance of the "no smoking bylaw." The cigarette machine was pushed aside to accomodate 3 lanky ranch hands dressed in their finest honky tonk attire. The instrumentation seemed harmless enough: an old Fender guitar, a pedal steel and a bare bones trap kit. But country music was not on the menu. The boys played as if they'd been raised by wolves. What I heard was a one chord stomp so filthy that I felt like I needed a shower. That was "Chili Cold Blood" and this is some Austin, Texas weird ass rock and roll for all y'all muthafuckas." - Grady Johnson, November 2006

The Austin Chronicle said "The sound is razor-blade, roller-coaster, boot-stompin' ecstasy. The freedom of rock & roll, discipline of country, and passion of blues; the best elements of all three genres liquefy into one powerhouse set. When Strahan starts picking a free-flow solo and Shaw's steel flies back and forth like an air hockey puck, a brand-new history lesson is being written at 100 mph.



Chili Cold Blood - "Bush To Be In"

Chili Cold Blood - "Juicy Pink"

Get more: myspace.com/ChiliColdBlood

Labels: Local

Here's another mix I've been fooling around with, (disco lights sold seperately.) Some really good tracks are penciled in on this one, including a new one from Hot Chip from their forthcoming release of DJ Kicks: Hot Chip on K7 Records. As I've said previously, Hot Chip will be performing right here in Austin on April 25th at Antone's, tickets are $15 and you can bet your bollocks to a barn dance that I will be front and center.

Also mixed in are a sweet reinterpritation of Jimi Hendrix's "Foxy Lady" that I found over at Mischief, a crazy tune off of the debut from the Toronto-based 8-bit noise-spazz duo Crystal Castles, that D.A.N.C.E track that people have been going bananas for, two from Baltimore's finest DJ Blaq Starr, and of course I had to throw in the Humpty himself. Today is hump day, afterall.

All Dance-like (36:29)

1. DJ Blaq Starr - "Shake It To The Ground"
2. DJ Blaq Starr - "Supastarr"
3. Modeselektor - untitled
4. Justice - "D.A.N.C.E" (original)
5. Speaker Junk - "Foxy Lady"
6. Ashwan Featuring Curious - "DANGEROUSE"
7. Digital Underground - "Humpty Dance"
8. Positive K - "I Got A Man"
9. Hot Chip - "My Piano"
10. Shout Out Out Out Out - "Chicken Soup for the Fuck You"
11. Crystal Castles - "Love & Caring"
12. LCD Soundsystem - "Us vs Them (Go Home Productions Remix)
    

Labels: Mix, Tron

I saw The Octopus Project once upon a time in Austin, about three years ago, and I was one of only a dozen people in the crowd. Unless I get invited to some super secret shindig they decide to do for only twelve people, that kind of scene will never happen again. They have experienced a windfall of exposure and a massive surge in popularity over the past couple of years, and they're only getting better and better at what they do.

What they do is create unique and irresistable music that is one part experimental electronica, one part face-melting rock, and a bunch of other parts that include descriptors like "adventurous," "innovative," with "danceable soundscapes" and "sugar-coated sledgehammers." Oh, and they also dabble in barely-controlled chaos, AKA: putting together some of the most interesting and endlessly entertaining live shows that you're likely to see.

I've recently received word that The Octopus Project have just finished recording a third album for Peek-A-Boo Records in an old barn outside of Seattle, otherwise known as famed producer Ryan Hadlock's (Blonde Redhead, Stephen Malkmus, The Gossip) Bear Creek Studio. The as yet untitled album, slated for release in late Summer or early Fall of this year, will feature 14 tracks and two of those will apparently feature some sort of contribution by Lionel Ritchie and/or Eric Clapton.

If you click over to TheOctopusProject.com you can check out media from each of their releases, including the tracks available below.


From the Peek-A-Boo debut, Identification Parade:

A swirly, seven-minute beat project filled with all sorts of clicky claps and finger taps, some nice guitar work and a few groovy bass lines.

The Octopus Project - "The Way Things Go"




From the excellent follow-up, One Ten Hundred Thousand Million:

A gyrating electronic rocker with a nice theremin solo smack dab in the center. This one has been stuck in my head since I first laid ears on it many moons ago.

The Octopus Project - "Music Is Happiness"


From the 2006 collabo with Black Moth Super Rainbow that I have mentioned on this site more than once, The House Of Apples & Eyeballs:

It takes a keen ear, or maybe just a healthy affection for both bands, but I can distinctly make out the contributions of both sides on this track. The backing beat and keyboard work brings a few BMSR songs to mind, and then the noisy guitar kicks in about halfway through that is pure Octopus.

The Octopus Project - "Psychic Swelling"

Videos:

First off, two separate captures of The Octopus Project performing "Truck," one of the songs that will be featured on the forthcoming album. I'm including both clips because the lighting is better in the first so you can see the guys going berserk while Yvonne remains stoic and steady on the keys, and in the second one there is hardly any lighting but the sound quality is better.



...performing the song "Malaria Codes"


...and Yvonne performing for a group of youngsters. That's a theremin, kids.



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Also new from Peek-A-Boo Records is another talented group of local musicians, Peel. The Austin quartet have just released their self-titled debut album, described thusly:

"The debut album from Peel is perhaps the most impressive first effort from any band you'll hear in 2007. This may sound bold, but the Austin quartet has created a sure-to-be enduring pop-rock record that begs to be heard. Peel's music is bursting with the kind of loose energy only young bands exude, yet the songs belie a cerebral approach to songwriting and lyrical maturity that usually takes years to discover. The record plays like a pursuit of the perfect three-minute pop song handicapped by youthful enthusiasm and ADD. Like a bad child, Peel can't write a beautiful song without also giving in to the irresistable compulsion to destroy it with unhinged noise. It's that tension that makes this record so interesting and compelling. These songs are immediate and timeless, nostalgic yet hopeful, teeming with sunny regret.

And they f'n rock."


Hear a couple of cuts from the release..

Peel - "Navy Waves"

Peel - "Sliding Doors"

Hear more & grab the album at the official site.



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Alllllso in Peek-A-Boo and local talent news are details about the upcoming Spoon album, as well as that great photo-op with Spoon frontman Britt Daniel spending some quality time with everyone's favorite connoisseur of quality time pieces, Flavor Flav. Both Sides has your details...

Labels: Local

Over the past week I've been creating a handful of mixes for podcasts and a few just for friends who are tiring of their own music collection and want to hear something new. I'll share two of them here now, and perhaps a few more later on this week or next.

This first one is 30 minutes of some really chilled-out stuff with slow moving tempos intended for a relaxing experience. The tempo increases gradually toward the end with Gorillaz and Booka Shade, but not so much as to throw off the calm of the other fine tracks that are included. The first half are all local artists, including one from the upcoming album (April 10) by Houston's Jana Hunter. Let it play in the background for a while and maybe you'll hear some stuff you like...

"Simmer Down" (30:34)
(alternate link)

1. Sur La Mer - "Adagio"
   
2. Explosions In The Sky - "Remember Me As A Time Of Day"
   
3. Shearwater - "You're the Coliseum"
4. Jana Hunter - "Movies"
5. Peter and the Wolf - "Silent Movies"
6. Feist - "Intuition"
7. Four Tet - "My Angel Rocks Back and Forth"
8. Hot Chip - "Won't Wash"
9. Gorillaz - "Sound Check (Gravity)"
10. Booka Shade - "In White Rooms"
11. Ratatat - "Cherry"

If that first one is too slow for your taste here's another mix with ample beats per minute, filled with some (mostly) recent rock music that I have found interesting. I think I've only mentioned about half of these tracks previously, so most of it should be music you haven't heard before, at least not here. Radio Moscow will be perfoming in Austin on April 26 at the Mohawk, and White Denim's next gig is April 13 at Continental Club.

"Get Get Up" (23:48)
(alternate link)

1. Radio Moscow - "Introduction"
2. Clinic - "Hippy Death Suite"
3. PowerSolo - "Baby, You Ain't Looking Right"
4. Soledad Brothers - "Shaky Puddin'"
5. White Denim - "Shake Shake Shake"
6. The Detroit Cobras - "Right Around The Corner"
7. The Walkmen - "Tenley Town"
8. Suicidal Birds - "Salt Sugar"
9. Eagles Of Death Metal - "Miss Alissa"
10. VietNam - "Welcome To My Room"
11. Guitar Wolf - "Koukousei Action"
    

Labels: Mix