Brooklyn-based duo Blondes (aka Sam Haar and Zach Steinman) are set to release their debut self-titled album on Feb. 7 on RVNG Intl. Falling somewhere between techno, house, and beat-driven space music, this electronic pair have released a tease of what to expect entitled "Wine." Give it a listen.
Last year, Dublin-band The Cast Of Cheers recorded an album in just 3 days, and threw it up on a Bandcamp page for anyone to download for free. The finished work Chariot eventually earned an unexpected 150,000 downloads. Working on a proper debut to be released this spring, the band has unveiled this little single called "Family" and its music video. Directed by Russell Weekes the sequence is made up of 5,000 separate photographs. "Family" will go on sale on Feb. 20 via School Boy Error/Cooperative Music.
Active Child
"Hanging On" Video
If the new music video for Active Child's "Hanging On" were a full-length movie it would be Robert Redford's 1992 flick A River Runs Through It. As the music of the pop harpist plays over it, the clip places its focus on fly fishing. Somehow it manages to capture a mix of the activity's ranging connotations, creating both a sense of relaxation and quiet, wild beauty, to something isolating, lonely, even dangerous.
In her video for her Rapprocher single "Bievenue" Class Actress' Elizabeth Harper gets to live out what some women would consider a cliche romantic fantasy. Arriving in Paris, Harper gets to pose for rooftop photo shoot, give flirting glances at a handsome production assistant, and take him out for a night of walking and making out. Certainly sounds like a nice vacation for any single lady.
Of Monsters and Men
"Little Talks"
On the strength of their song "Little Talks," Icelandic six-piece Of Monsters and Men are going to be making a strong bid for breakout status when they attend this year's SXSW festival. Recently hitting#1 on the US Billboard Heatseekers chart, the track comes off their debut EP Into the Woods and features a brilliant mix of Arcade Fire/Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros jubilance. The band's proper debut is scheduled to come out in the U.S. sometime this April.
Though still early in their career Unknown Mortal Orchestra are building a reputation that leans their music videos on the weirder side of conceptual creativity. Their latest, a video for "Thought Ballune" seems to continue the trend by showcasing one truly bizarre birthday party, complete with drugged cupcakes, and floating heads.
Swedish folk-singing duo First Aid Kit are poised to officially release their third album The Lion's Roar next week on Jan. 24, but iTunes has already got the digital copy of it available for download now, including this little gem called "Emmylou." Featuring some truly gorgeous slide guitar and vocal harmonies, its hard to believe such earthy, American music can sound so beautiful coming from a pair born and raised on the other side of the Atlantic. The Lion's Roar certainly has a good pedigree backing it up, featuring Mike Mogis on producing duties, as well as a song called "King of the World" that includes help from Conor Oberst and Theh Felice Brothers.
We’re quite taken with “Pleased to Meet You” artist Big Black Delta’s blend of romanticism and ear-shattering electronics. Of course, leadman Jonathan Bates (who live is joined by not one, but two drummers) also has a softer side—as evidenced by this mixtape he sent over to premiere Under the Radar. Judging by the clouds outside our office window, today could be a perfect time to take a listen.
Says Bates about the project; “Rain is rare in Los Angeles, so when the occasion arises, it’s good to have a moody set of songs. These are some of my favorite ones to zone out to. Get your pull.”
