James Rutledge had his hand in all the cookie jars this year. In 2009 alone, he’s released an album with Mush Records under the name Pedro, and toiled away on remix and production projects for Fever Ray, Bloc Party, Grizzly Bear, Late of the Pier, My Bloody Valentine and Telepathe. On top of that, last year he penned a song for the Sean Penn-directed film Into the Wild, and a four-hour remix of the Radiohead cut “Videotape” on a single VHS tape.
Vowels is a band consisting of the industrious UK producer/remixer and drummer Chris Walmsley (Psapp, Broadcast). Like Rutledge’s other work, Pattern Prism spins its influencess into a centrifuge of noisy tones. His new release is an intriguing mutation of krautrock beats and Terry Riley-esque haze. Some Dan Deacon-like admiration for video game music is thrown in for good measure on the engaging preview track, “On Up!” Pattern Prism is out September 22nd on LOAF. Before it was only available on import.
Them Crooked Vultures
“Dead End Friends” (Live at Melkweg, Amsterdam) Video
The new hard rock megawatt group Them Crooked Vultures, consists of vocalist and guitarist Josh Homme (Queens of the Stone Age, Kyuss), bassist and keyboardist John Paul Jones (Led Zeppelin) and drummer Dave Grohl (Foo Fighters, Nirvana). The power trio’s only posted a 33-second snippet of “Nobody Loves Me and Neither Do I” on YouTube thus far. With little to go on but that, fans of the group’s respective disographies are wondering what this three-headed beast may sound like in full.
Well, early last week the band’s gave a full song preview at a festival in Amsterdam. The track in question is entitled “Dead End Friends” and since it’s a live YouTube clip the sound is pretty whack. It’s very loud though, but what else did you expect from these dudes? Them Crooked Vultures supposedly have a completed debut album all locked away, ready for release this year or next.
Earlier in August, Chicago Sun-Times’ Jim DeRogatis reported that the threesome’s forthcoming disc, Never Deserved the Future will be released October 23rd. That claim has since been refuted by Vulture’s publicist. Looks like the Crooked crew are holding their cards close to their chest on this one. I guess this means Led Zeppelin won’t be reuniting?
Sally Shapiro
“Dying In Africa” MP3
Aug 22, 2009
The first two tracks off Sally Shapiro‘s sophomore full-length Guilty Pleasure (“Miracle” and “Love In July”) saw the italo-disco princess lingering on a similar (read: dancier) aesthetic. Here’s a moody third cut, entitled “Dying In Africa.” Nicolas Makelberge’s original was already a melodramatic slice electro-pop, so Sally just ups the emotional ante of the lyrics: “I never knew someone could make me cry like this / I won’t get over you / even if I’m dying in Africa”). It’s a full-bodied performance, buoyed by Johan Agebjörn‘s effervescent production. Shapiro and Agebjörn were interviewed in our Summer ‘09 issue. My Guilty Pleasure is out August 25th via Paper Bag. (via NME)
Fever Ray
“Seven (Crookers Remix)” MP3
Aug 22, 2009
The Italian DJ pair known as Crookers remixed the Fever Ray track “Seven” for the forthcoming single with longtime collaborator Bot. The Crookers treatment infuses the moody “Seven” with some quacking synth lines and phone bank samples. The single is set to be released in Ocotober when Andersson will be wrapping up her short U.S. tour.
HEALTH
“We Are Water” MP3
Aug 21, 2009
Before you think about writing off noise bands as taking the path of least resistance, give a second look towards the Los Angeles foursome HEALTH. If their sophomore album Get Color wasn’t enough, they’ve also got that Nine Inch Nails tour and a crazy Willy Wonka-inspired giveaway on the docket. Thankfully, the tunes keep flowing as well. Here’s the dance-y din called “We Are Water.” It will be found on the new full-length, coming out September 8th on Lovepump United. “Water” rattles atop a insane drum kit for awhile and then a huge wave of crushing noise engulfs the mix for a triumphant dénouement. In related media news, former single, “Die Slow” now has a remix by Black Moth Super Rainbow‘s Tobacco. HEALTH have a ton of tour dates coming up as well.
The Black Hollies
“Run With Me Run” MP3
Aug 21, 2009
Here’s a new track from Jersey City’s The Black Hollies. The garage rock foursome’s got that Kinksian sound that all the kids dig. “Run With Me Run” is off the band’s third album set to analog tape, Softly Towards the Light, out October 6th on Ernest Jenning Record Co. You can stream all of new tracks here.
The Hollies have a U.S. tour coming up in the fall too. For those dates, click on over to their Myspace. More western dates TBA. They’ll be on the road with Washington, D.C. singer/songwriter Benjy Ferree.
This week Intuit, the debut solo LP by Ramona Falls, was released. Just in case you needed a refresher, Ramona Falls is the first solo project by Brent Knopf, who also plays in the Portland, Ore. art-pop trio Menomena. The always hummorous Knopf, posted two very interesting clips to celebrate the release. One is a hilarious (and strange) promo clip featuring Christopher Frogken (a play on the matchless thespian Christopher Walken). The best line from that is “rasp is not a color.” The video above is an intimate peak into Brent’s solo creative process. One hint: it involves a ton of painstaking looping.
Watch “Christopher Frogken + Ramona Falls” here. You can also stream Intuit through the weekend at Barsuk.com. Ramona Falls Tour Dates
08-21 Los Angeles, CA - The El Rey 08-23 Costa Mesa, CA - Detroit Bar 08-25 San Francisco, CA - Café Du Nord 08-26 Ashland, OR - Where? House 08-28 Seattle, WA - The Crocodile 08-29 Portland, OR - Douglas Fir 09-09 Minneapolis, MN - The 7th Street Entry 09-10 Madison, WI - The High Noon Saloon 09-11 Chicago, IL - The Chopin 09-12 Cleveland, OH - The Beachland Tavern 09-15 Boston, MA - Great Scott 09-17 New York, NY - Piano’s 09-18 Brooklyn, NY - TBA 09-19 Philadelphia, PA - Kung Fu Necktie
Young Buffalo
“Catapilah” MP3
Aug 20, 2009
Aprt from some killer blog sightings from Citizen Dick and I Guess I’m Floating, there’s not too much we know about the Oxford, Miss. group Young Buffalo. Both blogs made the correct observations that they sound like a more free-form Fleet Foxes, with a love for Afro-beat. They both pointed out this humorous item from Buffalo’s Myspace bio: “Goal 1: make good music Goal 2: not be doosh-like.” Sounds spot-on. Though the young trio(?) wears their influences on their sleeves their self-proclaimed “poppy doom” doesn’t come across as biting.
On “Catapilah” the group also ropes in some Dodos-like fireside chants. Most of the track consists of crisp percussion yelps and handclaps It’s pretty engaging throughout. The Southern band started recording earlier this year and supposedly have a five-song demo, dubbed Beast Mode. Be sure to check out the slightly goofy, chamber pop cut “Empathy is Everything.” Those fake deep voices sound like Leonard Cohen in a dour barber shop quartet. You can check out that and more songs on their Myspace page. Regardless of outward silliness, these calves have the potential to burn up the blogs like a brushfire; so be on the lookout.
James Rutledge
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