duran duran live on kimmel

Share

Last week, Duran Duran streamed a live concert on youtube directed by David Lynch. Last night, they appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live to further warm up ahead of their upcoming tour in support of All You Need Is Now.

According to reports, the full set included "Girl Panic," "Ordinary World" and "A View To A Kill." The featured song on the broadcast was the title track from the new album:




"Notorious" played Kimmel off the air.. here's the full version:




Duran Duran's tour kicks off in Connecticut on April 2, with a looming headlining gig at Coachella on April 17.

twin shadow 'at my heels': the director's cut

Share

One of old waver's favorite releases of last year was the debut from Twin Shadow, Forget. George Lewis, Jr. has an ear for the new wave sound and presents it in a way that's totally fresh.

He's also got an ironic sense of humor, as demonstrated in the video for "Slow" and the new video for "At My Heels."

The latter is presented as a DVD-style director's commentary version of the video — a ridiculously low budget clip with concepts like "seeing into the blogosphere."

There are several gems in the commentary, such as the reference to Lewis as the "Mexican Morrissey," the technique of "an homage or idea of what it would be like to go viral within the video" and the reveal that "George worked diligently on learning Russian sign language":




If you'd like to actually hear the song, here's a live performance from the 4AD Sessions series:




Twin Shadow is on tour in the US through the beginning of May, so check out George and his hair at a club near you.


UPDATE:

Here's the video without the director's commentary...

stars 'changes' nsfw, wtf video

Share

Canadian indie pop veterans Stars released their 5th full length, The Five Ghosts, last summer. Curiously, today they issued a new video for "Changes" which is sure to reignite interest in the album.

Directed by Jaron Albertin, it's his interpretation of the song which begins with an atheist's speech, setting up the individual's battle between good and evil. Or it's just a naked chick dancing all over Toronto's Elgin & Winter Garden Theatre.

Stream the uncensored version below (via exclaim.ca) or if you're worried about your firewall, you can check out the less-NSFW version here (via spinner).



I'm guessing that's a demon's tail she's sprouting in the final scene? Mkay..

tasty yuck b-side 'doctors in my bed'

Share

London indie throwbacks Yuck are in the midst of a US tour behind their Superchunkesque power pop debut.

Earlier today on the band's blog, they posted the b-side to current single "Get Away." With its understated verses, loose chorus harmonies and great guitar interplay, it's a surprise "Doctors In My Bed" didn't make the album:




If you're curious about the a-side, here's the trippy road trip video for "Get Away" featuring censored criscoed naked breasts:

telekinesis video 'please ask for help'

Share

There truly is someone out there for everyone. At least that's the theme of the new video from Seattle's Telekinesis.

Sophomore effort 12 Desperate Straight Lines was released on the legendary Merge imprint in February. Today, a second video from the album was released for the new wave tinged "Please Ask For Help."

In it, we follow a couple of paper-mache-headed people as they try to fit in at a hipster house party. Though they may try to deny it, they're just made for each other:




If you want to hear more from Telekinesis, check out their recent appearance at Seattle's KEXP.

video: british sea power take 'baby' for a hike

Share

British Sea Power are currently on a North American tour in support of Valhalla Dancehall.

Hitting the road has apparently got them all nostalgic, as they have put together a video for "Baby" comprised of Super 8 tour footage captured back in 2005.

It's home movie type stuff of the guys hiking in Utah's Zion National Park. BSP wistfully point out that the video features former member and current frontman of BRAKES, Eamon ‘King Gypo’ Hamilton:




These nature boys put on a fine live show, so please effort to see them at a venue near you.

download: old waver march mix tape

Share

For once, I didn't wait until the last minute. Here's the March mixtape a whole day early for your enjoyment.

This is an attempt to distill the past month of the blog into one tidy package, as done for January and February. Once again, please listen and purchase what you like.. this mix is a single track intended for sampling purposes only:

old waver march 2011 mix tape (54MB file)


tracklist:

1. Ignite - The Raveonettes
2. Pacing Around The Church - Cold Cave
3. Games - The Strokes
4. Live Those Days Tonight - Friendly Fires
5. DNA - The Kills
6. Need You Now (Architecture in Helsinki Version) - Cut Copy
7. Slivers Of You - Puro Instinct
8. The Body - The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart
9. Wait And See - Holy Ghost!
10. The Quiet Earth (James Yuill Remix) - Trophy Wife
11. Shine Like Stars - Glasvegas
12. Suffer Well (M83 remix) - Depeche Mode
13. End Of The Line (Remixed by Tame Impala) - Daft Punk
14. Mirror - Burial & Four Tet & Thom Yorke
15. You Don't Respond - The Flaming Lips with Neon Indian

streaming version:

he gets me high: new dum dum girls video

Share

At the beginning of March, the Dum Dum Girls released the He Gets Me High EP on Sub Pop.

We were of course very excited at the time because the EP closed with a pretty killer cover version of The Smiths classic "There Is A Light That Never Goes Out."

This week, the band released a video for the fuzzy, druggy title track. It's a spot on shoegaze homage with saturated color, layered visuals and flowers aplenty:




If you dig the tune, download it for free with an email address below:

new glasvegas album euphoric /// heartbreak \\\

Share

In 2008, Glasgow's Glasvegas made an impression with their tender and agnst filled self titled debut. A week from today, they return bigger and better with EUPHORIC /// HEARTBREAK \\\.

It's been an eventful few years for Glasvegas. They were up for the Mercury Prize, they opened for U2, their drummer quit, singer James Allan disappeared for a week.. and then they holed up in a southern California mansion to record album number two.

The writing and recording process took a full year, and the result is a concept album of sorts. EUPHORIC /// HEARTBREAK \\\ is obviously more lush and grandiose than its predecessor. Synthesizers and a real drummer (former drummer Caroline McKay learned on the job and was rudimentary at best) flesh out Allan's heartfelt compositions and take them to more dynamic heights.

As the Kanye-style title suggests, the album has a decidedly split personality, featuring rousing anthems and maudlin laments. For our purposes, we'll focus on the euphoric part and leave the heartbreak for another time.

The true album opener is "The World Is Yours" which announces their ambitious new direction:




The simplicity of "You" would be at home on the first album, but production polish takes it to another level:




If there's a track that truly sheds Glasvegas' skin it's the arena ready "Shine Like Stars":




The first single, "Euphoria, Take My Hand," sums up Allan's themes of love and loss:




Allan's Scottish brogue may be too much for mainstream success, but then again it may be just charming enough. Either way, the bombast of EUPHORIC /// HEARTBREAK \\\ makes it hard to ignore.


UPDATE:

Visit the Glasvegas website, share the preview player on facebook and you can unlock a stream of the entire album.

the pains of being pure at heart: new album, new video

Share

Belong, the sophomore album from Brooklyn twee rockers The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart, was released on Slumberland today.

To celebrate, they've debuted a video for "Heart In Your Heartbreak" over on Pitchfork. It's a pretty dang entertaining clip that casts the band as slacker employees of a very generic music store:



Produced by Flood and mixed by Alan Moulder, Belong is a big leap forward — but as you can hear in the full album stream below, their wide-eyed innocence remains intact:

the raveonettes return with raven in the grave

Share

A week from tomorrow, Danish duo The Raveonettes release album number five, Raven In The Grave.

From the cover art to the icy cold production, it appears Sune Rose Wagner and Sharon Foo have honed in on a sound and persona that are more focused and less indebted to 60's surf rock.

While their old-school fans may be disappointed, from an old waver's perspective this is a most welcome development. Wagner's William Reid style chops and Foo's soothing voice are tailor made for the updated turn on 80's alternative that is Raven In The Grave.

"Forget That You're Young" is a fine example of The Raveonettes softer side:




Moodier and reaching more exhilarating heights is "War In Heaven":




Before you think you've got them all figured out, check out the fuzz bass and faraway echo of "Evil Seeds":




And the driving bassline and tight two-part harmonies on "Ignite" are most excellent:




This is another album to file away in the early favorites of '11. Consider me converted.. I'll follow that raven emblazoned flag anywhere:

flaming lips and neon indian team up for tripped out 12" - stream it in full

Share

Yesterday, Wayne Coyne of The Flaming Lips went on a little road trip, hand-delivering copies of his new collaborative 12" with Alan Palomo of Neon Indian.

Coyne only made two stops, to Guestroom Records in his hometown of Oklahoma City and Good Records in Dallas — owned by his pal Tim DeLaughter of The Polyphonic Spree.

So far, only 1,000 copies were pressed and they sold out immediately. Coyne tweeted the photo below of the packaging, which features special colored vinyl that's unique to every copy.

As for the tunes, they're acid tinged experimentation that go beyond even what Coyne or Palomo generally do alone. The "single," as it were, is "Is David Bowie Dying?":


(via onethirtybpm)


We've uncovered the remaining three tracks, which sound less like songs and more like studio noodling. Here's "Alan's Theremin":




Check out the far out "You Don't Respond" — just don't get thrown off by the spotty right channel connection:




And finally, the amusingly titled "Do You Want New Wave Or Do You Want The Truth, Part 2":




We'll see if another pressing, digital release or further collaboration are to come.

cold cave cherish the light years premiere

Share

A few weeks ago, we brought you some leaked tracks from Cold Cave's forthcoming Cherish The Light Years. Now, thanks to Matador, we can bring you a stream of the entire wonderful album.

Cherish The Light Years is light years beyond Love Comes Close, featuring a more refined sound, varied moods and a remarkable new vocal confidence. Listen to it front to back, and I'll be damned if you don't agree that this is one of the highlights of 2011 so far:




Wesley Eisold's synthpop opus will be released on April 5, with an extensive US tour to follow. "Pacing Around The Church," "Confetti" and "Icons Of Summer" are current favorites, but there's no filler here. Hope you enjoy it half as much as I do.

omd live los angeles in-store performance

Share

Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark are in the midst of their first world tour in more than 20 years. And as a friend of old waver can attest, they are killing it.

Thanks to slicingupeyeballs and L.A.'s Amoeba Music, you can see for yourself how well Andy McCluskey has aged.

Yesterday afternoon, OMD did an in-store performance to a packed house. It's roughly a 30 minute set — or as McCluskey calls it "a seven song history of the band." The magic begins at the 18:45 mark:




Good times, eh?

m83 and tame impala daft punk remixes

Share

Daft Punk made quite a stir last year with the score to Disney's Tron redux. On April 5, a remix album will be released with plenty of big name producers and electronic acts attempting to turn Daft Punk's relatively cinematic score into more dance floor ready jams.

According to Daft Punk's former manager, Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo and Thomas Bangalter had nothing to do with the project — but a little detail like that shouldn't stand in the way.

See the full tracklist and the list of those who actually were involved below. One of the standout tracks is the M83 and Big Black Delta remix of "Fall":




Also streaming over at Modular, is a Tame Impala remix exclusive to the Australian release. The psych-rockers added some drums and woozy keyboards to "End Of The Line," making an already ominous track that much more engrossing:




Check out the full tracklist of the US version of Tron: Legacy Reconfigured:

1. The Glitch Mob - Derezzed
2. M83 VS Big Black Delta - Fall
3. The Crystal Method - The Grid
4. Teddybears - Adagio for TRON
5. Ki:Theory - The Son of Flynn
6. Paul Oakenfold - C.L.U.
7. Moby - The Son of Flynn
8. Boys Noize - End of Line (Boys Noize Remix)
9. Kaskade - Rinzler
10. Com Truise - Encom Part 2
11. Photek - End of Line
12. The Japanese Popstars - Arena
13. Avicii - Derezzed
14. Pretty Lights - Solar Sailer
15. Sander Kleinenberg - TRON Legacy (End Titles)

cut copy 'need you now' architecture in helsinki remix

Share

Australia's Cut Copy have a big weekend ahead. Friday they appear on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon and Saturday they perform at Miami's Ultra Festival to kick off a North American tour.

Today, they've issued a fabulous remix of "Need You Now" off recently released third album Zonoscope. Produced by fellow Aussies Architecture In Helsinki, it reimagines the slow percolating track into an even slower epic ballad in the style of Roy Orbison:




Download the remix here. For reference, here's the silly Jock Jams video for the album version:




Cut Copy will be touring the US with excellent NYC dance scholars Holy Ghost!, so get your tickets now as many shows have already sold out.

peter murphy spits roses

Share

Peter Murphy is currently on the road, ahead of the June release of Ninth — the godfather of goth's eighth full-length release. Something isn't adding up here.

Regardless, this week saw the release of the lead single off the album, "I Spit Roses." His sound is still somewhat dreary and mysterious, but it's also a bit ballsier with more gritty guitars:




The b-side, "The Prince & Old Lady Shade" is the brighter and more anthemic of the two. Perhaps the single should have been flipped:




This old waver had the pleasure of seeing Murphy live on the current tour. I'm happy to report that he's still got it — not his hair, but his chops — and at least on that night he was in surprisingly good spirits.

Do try to check him out if there's a tour stop near you.

david lynch directs duran duran unstaged

Share

Last night was the big American Express corporate gig for Duran Duran. They streamed a concert live on youtube, directed by noted Hollywood outsider David Lynch.

At the moment, the band has made four songs from the show available on their youtube channel. Frankly, Lynch's direction — with grainy filters, visual non sequiturs and glitchy effects — makes the clips pretty unwatchable. Not to mention the song selection leaves a bit to be desired.

Anyway, judge for yourself. Here's the opener of the new album, "All You Need Is Now":




Also from the new record, "The Man Who Stole A Leopard" featuring Kelis:




They dug deep into the back catalog for "Careless Memories" from their 1981 self titled debut:




And finally, "Notorious" featuring a rather uncertain Beth Ditto of The Gossip:




My eyes hurt.

depeche mode remixes 2: 81-11

Share

It's a regular Depeche Mode family reunion. On June 6, the legendary synth pop band will release Remixes 2: 81-11, a sequel of sorts to 2004's Remixes 81-04. What makes this one special is the expanded editions include exclusive remixes by Vince Clarke and Alan Wilder —  the first time every current or former member of the band have contributed to the same release.

Remixes 2: 81-11 will be released as both a single disc and a triple disc, as well as a 6 x 12" vinyl box set — see the full track lists below.

The collection features classic remixes released over the past 25 years from the likes of Digitalism, Dan The Automator and Peter, Bjorn & John. New remixes include tracks by Karlsson & Winnberg of Miike Snow and Röyksopp, plus Clarke's mix of "Behind The Wheel" and Wilder's take on "In Chains."

For a sample, here's the UNKLE reconstruction of Playing The Angel's "John The Relevator":




From 2006, this is the Oliver Huntemann & Stephan Bodzin Dub of "Everything Counts":




And finally, M83's rework of "Suffer Well":




UPDATE:
The band has made a stream available of the lead single for Remixes 2, "Personal Jesus (Alex Metric Remix)":




Here are all the details to excitedly pour over:

single disc version

1. Dream On - Bushwacka Tough Guy Mix Edit (2001)
2. Personal Jesus - The Stargate Mix (2011)
3. Suffer Well - M83 Remix (2006)
4. John The Revelator - UNKLE Reconstruction (2006)
5. In Chains - Tigerskin's No Sleep Remix Edit (2011)
6. Peace - SixToes Remix (2009)
7. Tora! Tora! Tora! - Karlsson And Winnberg (from Miike Snow) Remix (2011)
8. Never Let Me Down Again - Eric Prydz Remix (2011)
9. I Want It All - Roland M.Dill Remix (2011)
10. Wrong - Trentemøller Remix (2009)
11. Puppets - Röyksopp Remix (2011)
12. Everything Counts - Oliver Huntemann And Stephan Bodzin Dub (2006)
13. A Pain That I'm Used To - Jacques Lu Cont Remix (2005)

triple disc version
disc one

1. Dream On - Bushwacka Tough Guy Mix (2001)
2. Suffer Well - M83 Remix (2006)
3. John The Revelator - UNKLE Reconstruction (2006)
4. In Chains - Tigerskin's No Sleep Remix (2009)
5. Peace - SixToes Remix (2009)
6. Lilian - Chab Vocal Remix Edit (2006)
7. Never Let Me Down Again - Digitalism Remix (2006)
8. Corrupt - Efdemin Remix (2009)
9. Everything Counts - Oliver Huntemann And Stephan Bodzin Dub (2006)
10. Happiest Girl - The Pulsating Orbital Vocal Mix (1990)
11. Walking In My Shoes - Anandamidic Mix (1993)
12. Personal Jesus - The Stargate Mix (2011)
13. Slowblow - Darren Price Mix (1997)

disc two

1. Wrong - Trentemøller Club Remix (2009)
2. World In My Eyes - Dub In My Eyes (1990)
3. Fragile Tension - Peter Bjorn and John Remix (2009)
4. Strangelove - Tim Simenon/Mark Saunders Remix (1998)
5. A Pain That I'm Used To - Jacques Lu Cont Remix (2005)
6. The Darkest Star - Monolake Remix (2006)
7. I Feel You - Helmet At The Helm Mix (1993)
8. Higher Love - Adrenaline Mix Edit (2004)
9. Fly On The Windscreen - Death Mix (1985)
10. Barrel Of A Gun - United Mix (1997)
11. Only When I Lose Myself - Dan The Automator Mix (1998)
12. Ghost - Le Weekend Remix (2009)

disc three

1. Personal Jesus - Alex Metric Remix Edit (2011)
2. Never Let Me Down Again - Eric Prydz Remix (2011)
3. Behind The Wheel - Vince Clarke Remix (2011)
4. Leave In Silence - Claro Intelecto 'The Last Time' Remix (2011)
5. In Chains - Alan Wilder Remix (2011)
6. When The Body Speaks - Karlsson And Winnberg Remix (2011)
7. Puppets - Röyksopp Remix (2011)
8. Tora! Tora! Tora! - Karlsson And Winnberg (from Miike Snow) Remix (2011)
9. Freestate - Clark Remix (2011)
10. I Want It All - Roland M. Dill Remix (2011)
11. A Question Of Time - Joebot Presents 'Radio Face' Remix (2011)
12. Personal Jesus - Sie Medway-Smith Remix (2011)

friendly fires new single 'live those days tonight'

Share

When last we heard from London's Friendly Fires, they had released a cover of Depeche Mode's "Strangelove" for a Gucci campaign.

Today, they offer a preview of their upcoming second album, Pala, with the single "Live Those Days Tonight." It picks up where their dance-floor-filling self titled debut left off, with exotic rhythms, soaring keyboards and breathy vocals:




Pala comes out May 24 on XL, but the entire album will be premiered at an intimate live show in London on April 7. Here in the states, we can see a live performance of "Live Those Days Tonight" tomorrow night (3/23) on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon.

Check out the Pala tracklist below:

1. Live Those Days Tonight
2. Blue Cassette
3. Running Away
4. Hawaiian Air
5. Hurting
6. Pala
7. Show Me Lights
8. True Love
9. Pull Me Back To Earth
10. Chimes
11. Helpless

For a further taste of what Friendly Fires are all about, here's "Kiss Of Life" from the re-released version of Friendly Fires:

echo and the bunnymen ocean rain tour

Share

Echo and the Bunnymen have announced a September tour of the UK that will feature the 1984 classic Ocean Rain.

Beginning in Manchester on September 24 and culminating six nights later at Liverpool's Philharmonic Hall, the band will play the entire album accompanied by a full string section.

This mini-tour is on the heels of a string of gigs last year in which they performed first two albums Crocodiles and Heaven Up Here front to back. A similar Ocean Rain tour also took place in late 2008 and early 2009.

Echo and the Bunnymen's fourth album is somewhat divisive, but it holds arguably the band's most effective song, "The Killing Moon":




From a 1983 performance at Royal Albert Hall, here's album opener "Silver":




"Seven Seas" was the third and final single from the album. The video was a typically silly affair:




Echo and the Bunnymen will be touring the states in May — no word on the source of those setlists.

the smiths meat is murder, live in '85

Share

It's been just a bit more than 25 years since The Smiths released their second full length, Meat Is Murder. And coming up on May 18 is the 25th anniversary of the Paseo De Camoens show in Madrid, Spain.

The often bootlegged show was a free concert presented by the Spanish government and rebroadcast on the Spanish television show "La Edad De Oro." The show is one of a band still in relative infancy; "How Soon Is Now?" had yet to catch on in the states and their self-titled debut album was little more than a year old.

You can watch the full 18-track show here, but for our purposes we'll present the Meat Is Murder selections within the context of the album sequence. Which of course means we open with "The Headmaster Ritual":




Next is the jaunty "Rusholme Ruffians":




"I Want The One I Can't Have" and Morrissey's fantastic hat:




Classic Johnny Marr brilliance on "What She Said":




The one true single from the album, "That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore":




Originally a B-side to "William, It Was Really Nothing," "How Soon Is Now" was added to Meat Is Murder for its US release:




All aboard for "Nowhere Fast":




"Well I Wonder" didn't make the cut, but the extended version of "Barbarism Begins At Home" did — along with shirtless Stephen:




And finally, a rare live performance of "Meat Is Murder":




Timeless.

death from above 1979 sxsw reunion sparks riot

Share

So maybe riot is hyperbole, but there was some public unrest Saturday night in Austin. As we surmised last week, Death From Above 1979 performed for the first time in 5 years at South By Southwest, playing a "surprise" gig at Beauty Bar.

Despite pleas from the band, fans gathered on the street began trying to climb over and rip down the chain link fence around the venue. As you can see in this video, Austin police put a halt to the show:




According to brooklynvegan, police on horseback attempted to disperse the crowd, and after a beer was thrown there are accounts of fans being tasered and maced. Here's some eyewitness footage:




Once the scene was under control, the band was allowed to finish their set, closing with "Romantic Rights":




For a laugh at lines such as "hundreds showed up to see the Canadian punk band Death From Above 1979 rock out," here's the full story from Austin NBC affiliate KXAN:




I, for one, am glad I stayed home.

digging up the the's soul mining

Share

Matt Johnson's 1983 The The classic Soul Mining is often overlooked in the discussion of essential synthpop. Perhaps because much like The Hurting by Tears For Fears, it's an album that's out of context with the rest of the band's more guitar based catalog. At any rate, it merits revisiting or discovery — depending on your point of view.

Technically, it's The The's debut album, as Burning Blue Soul was originally released under Matt Johnson's name.

With only 8 songs — Johnson intended it to be 7 with the exclusion of "Perfect" — it's concise and powerful. Johnson's always poignant lyrics are perfectly framed by the interplay of electronic sounds, programmed drums and organic instrumentation.

Without a doubt, side 1 is the hero. Here's album opener "I've Been Waiting For Tomorrow (All Of My Life)" taken from the apparently out-of-print 1989 concert film The The vs. The World, featuring the great Johnny Marr on guitar:




Thanks to commercial licensing, "This Is The Day" might be The The's most recognizable track. Here's the original music video, featuring Matt Johnson's mullet:




"The Sinking Feeling" continues Johnson's theme of disillusionment and despair with the priceless lyric "I'm just a symptom of the moral decay that's gnawing at the heart of the country":




Finally, back to Royal Albert Hall in '89 for the epic "Uncertain Smile", featuring a fine approximation of Jools Holland's original piano solo:




That's probably enough.. you're on your own for side 2.

the charlatans go acoustic with warm sounds

Share

Throughout the month of March, Tim Burgess and Mark Collins of the Charlatans are doing an acoustic tour of the UK. To coincide with these unplugged gigs, they've released an EP entitled Warm Sounds.

The EP features re-workings of six of the band's songs, half from the glory days and the other half from more recent albums — see the tracklist below. As they describe it:

"Both sophisticated and refined, the band has found inspiration in folky Byrds-esque harmonies and Johnny Cash style rockabilly."

We'll compare and contrast a couple of the classics from 1997's Tellin Stories. First up, the stripped-down version of "North Country Boy":




And here's the original:




Certainly different, but not as much so as "One To Another":




Now the Chemical Brothers influenced album version:




Warm Sounds is an interesting experiment, for sure. Here's the full track listing:

1. Smash The System
2. The Only One I Know
3. North Country Boy
4. Oh! Vanity
5. Blackened Blue Eyes
6. One To Another

mogwai 'san pedro' stalking video

Share

So far, we've seen two videos from Mogwai's 7th album Hardcore Will Never Die But You Will. An edit of "How To Be A Werewolf" accompanied a short film about world record cyclist James Bowthorpe, and "Mexican Grand Prix" catalogued the many faces of native Glaswegians.

Yesterday, the band released a video for perhaps the best cut on the album, "San Pedro." It follows a mysterious trench coated man who's identity is just out of reach:




You can actually see Mogwai's faces when their current tour brings them to the states in mid-April.

new thom yorke 12" with burial / four tet

Share

Overnight, the web was atwitter with the radio rip of Thom Yorke's new split 12" with experimental electronic artists Burial and Four Tet.

Four Tet, aka Kieran Hebden, premiered the tracks on UK radio station Rinse FM yesterday. Here's A-side "Ego":




And B-side "Mirror":




The initial presale at online outlet bleep is sold out, so best sign up for the mailing list if you want one.

mstrkrft + dfa1979 @ sxsw

Share

If you hadn't heard, Toronto two-piece noisemakers Death From Above 1979 have reunited after a nearly 5 year break. No new material yet, but Jesse F. Keeler and Sebastien Grainger are scheduled to appear at the Coachella and Sasquatch festivals.

Keeler's other project, MSTRKRFT will be in Austin this weekend for South By Southwest, with a showcase gig Friday night at Mohawk. To build some anticipation, MSTRKRFT have released a new single "Beards Again."

The track is an interesting mashup, like a MSTRKRFT remix of a Ride The Lighting era Metallica instrumental:




With the penchant for "secret shows" at sxsw, it wouldn't be surprising to also see an appearance from Death From Above 1979 in Austin this weekend. A rehearsal video of "Little Girl" posted on the band's website this week hints as much:




Here's some "Romantic Rights" to get you geared up, just in case (sorry about the ad - this was the best quality I could find):

(the london) suede's triumphant return

Share

Can't really call it a reunion as guitarist Bernard Butler isn't in the band — but he has given his blessing to the resurgence of Suede, or The London Suede if you insist.

Next week, a digital version of The Best Of Suede will finally be released in the US. Also to come are expanded reissues of all five studio albums, beginning with their self-titled debut on May 30th. They'll also be performing albums in full on a world tour that so far only has one US stop at Coachella.

That debut album was unstoppable, with Butler's intricate guitar work and Brett Anderson's overt sensuality. It was the glam side of Brit pop that couldn't quite fend off the scousers of Oasis.

To this day, "Animal Nitrate" is still Suede's calling card:




Watching the US version of the video for "The Drowners," it's hard to understand why they weren't bigger in the states:




I suppose grunge had a bit to do with that, but this live performance of "So Young" from the Introducing The Band DVD shows Anderson and Suede could command a room:




Finally, here's one from the time capsule. "Metal Mickey" from a circa 1993 appearance on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno:




Welcome back, Suede. We missed you.

cfcf games remix and the car of the future

Share

Shameless repost, but this is beyond excellent. Canadian electro composer Michael Silver, otherwise known as CFCF, released The River EP last October.

It featured a rather ambient track "It Was Never Meant To Be This Way," as well as a Miami Viceified remix by electronic duo Games — now known by their given surnames Ford & Lopatin.

The remix now has an unofficial video directed by artist/photographer Franck Deron. Using found footage — mostly of the 80's Vector supercar, which as it turns out actually existed — the video plays like cheesy period fantasy. It's the perfect marriage of sound and image.

Thanks to gorillavsbear for uncovering this gem:

stream angles now: new strokes leaked

Share

So far, all we've officially heard from The Strokes forthcoming album Angles is "Under Of Cover Of Darkness" — and "Life Is Simple In The Moonlight" from the band's Saturday Night Live appearance.

Unofficially, "Machu Picchu," "Taken For A Fool" and "You're So Right" have all been leaked, but those leaks were quickly cleaned up by RCA.

Today, however, the whole damn thing is out there. It's a full-on breach just a week before the official release date. While it lasts, we offer it to you to stream here. If this set dies, we'll venture to find another one.

At first blush, the moody "Games" is a standout. "Two Kinds Of Happiness" has some fantastic classic Strokes guitar interplay. Also check out the old time rock-n-roll of "Gratisfaction" and the positively awesome album version of "Life Is Simple In The Moonlight":



(via)


UPDATE:

You can now also stream Angles on the band's website.

telekinesis turns up at kexp

Share

If you haven't yet given a listen to 12 Desperate Straight Lines, the sophomore release of Seattle-based Telekinesis, you're missing out on some of the purest power pop of the new year.

Michael Benjamin Lerner is Telekinesis, recording the entire album himself with the assistance of producer Chris Walla — guitarist of Death Cab For Cutie. Released on Merge last month, 12 Desperate Straight Lines is in line with 90's indie revivalism — at times echoing the fuzz of Weezer or Dinosaur Jr, while also owing a debt to power pop merchants like Teenage Fanclub or Matthew Sweet.

Touring, Lerner makes the odd choice of sitting behind the drum kit, joined by Jason Narducy (Robert Pollard band, Bob Mould band) on bass and Cody Votolato (Jaguar Love, The Blood Brothers) on guitar.

Last week, Telekinesis dropped by the studio of their hometown college radio station, the legendary KEXP, to perform four tracks from the new album.

First up is the most "new wave" of the lot, the driving "Please Ask For Help":




In the same ballpark, with a little more edge, is "Country Lane" — not to be confused with Pavement's "Shady Lane":




"Dirty Thing" was the album's lead single — it's a blissful summertime tune with a dark side:




When Telekinesis wants everyone to hold their cell phones in the air, it's time to bust out the anthemic "50 Ways":




Thanks again to KEXP for the excellent work.

puro instinct 'stilyagi' video featuring ariel pink

Share

Sisters Piper and Skylar Kaplan, age 23 and 16, weren't even a gleam in their father's eye when C86 was released. Yet they have an odd affinity for new wave and early indie — skewed through the prism of Red Wave.

As Puro Instinct, they cop the sound and persona of cold war era Russian rock, complete with gauzy cheesecake cover art. Whether genius or gimmick, it's a bold direction for the duo formerly known as Pearl Harbor.

Their full length debut, Headbangers In Ecstasy, was released earlier this year on noted California indie Mexican Summer. Filled with random static-laden radio vignettes, it's like a woozy mixtape from your high school Russian penpal.

The album's standout track and first single is "Stilyagi," featuring freak-folk hero Ariel Pink. Check he and the girls out in this appropriately vintage looking video:




"Slivers Of You" is a personal favorite, with jangly guitar and hauntingly sweet harmonies:




You can hear bits of Lush, The Cure and My Bloody Valentine at times, but Puro Instinct's hazy pop is unto itself. It's a pastiche of comforting bits of the past — kind of like this unofficial video for "Luv Goon":




Makes you ready to spring forward this weekend, right? Or not.

the kills return with 'dna'

Share

Alison Mosshart has returned from her side project with Jack White, The Dead Weather, and is set to release her fourth album with The Kills, Blood Pressures, next month.

VV and Hotel (Mosshart and Jamie Hince) have raised expectations with the success of 2008's Midnight Boom. For a taste of where they're headed, you can download "DNA" for an email address at the band's website.

With its gritty riffs and live drum sounds, "DNA" hints at a more stripped down album — but Mosshart's voice is as big as ever:




Even darker is the first clip released from the album, "Satellite," with its Bonnie and Clyde style video:




Here's the full tracklist for Blood Pressures, due out April 5 on Domino.

1. Future Starts Slow
2. Satellite
3. Heart Is A Beating Drum
4. Nail In My Coffin
5. Wild Charms
6. DNA
7. Baby Says
8. Last Goodbye
9. Damned If She Do
10. You Don’t Own The Road
11. Pots and Pans

get a 'rope' - new foo fighters video

Share

Still more than a month away, new Foo Fighters album Wasting Light has already produced its second video.

"Rope" was leaked as a single a couple weeks ago, but now the video has debuted on MTV. Directed by Dave Grohl himself, it features a guest appearance by Pat Smear.

Dave, Pat and the rest of the band are black-clad in a stark white room rocking their balls off. Alternating between full color and silhouette, it's all treated with a retro VHS filter to make it that much more awesome:




And in case you missed it, here's the amusing video for "White Limo" that truly plays like a long lost dusty old VHS:




Love live Lemmy.

watch british sea power's 'who's in control'

Share

It's been a couple months since the release of Valhalla Dancehall, fourth album from British Sea Power.

To coincide the the start of their US tour, Yan, Noble and the lads have released a video for "Who's In Control."  It follows a crew of hipster kids as they made tourist stops at a civil protest and an ironically political house party. To quote the press release:

"We are talking dope, guns and American Apparel underwear. So, hey, Mr Lukashenko, stick this in your pipe and the rest of your Belarus bully-boy stooges. Student Grant is in town and he be shouting "Wassup, naa mek mi vex, mon!" And then he beat you rough-rough right out the far side of Minsk."

That's your hint to not take it too seriously. Oh, and beware.. don't press 'play' if you're offended by pencil neck dork full frontal nudity:



Fascism can't stop love, man.

'the body' video - the pains of being pure at heart

Share

Belong, The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart's sophomore album, is a few months old now, but just when it seemed it would fade away they've released a terrific video for one of the album's best tracks.

"The Body" is a keyboard flavored slice of indie pop that tackles the ever sobering subject of growing old. In the clip, this is expressed with flashbacks to the Pains as carefree kids, juxtaposed with scenes from their current Lexapro lives.

Despite the somewhat depressing set-up, the soaring song and nicely shot beach scenes make it a lovely summer video:


(via mtvuk)


If you haven't checked out Belong yet, see what you've been missing here: