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Asobi Sesku

“Transparence” MP3

Aug 20, 2009

Dream-pop duo Asobi Seksu have a new single from their third LP Hush. The Brooklyn unit are prepping a limited-edition 10-inch that includes a slightly different version of Hush‘s “Transparence” along with two unreleased songs from the Hush sessions and a remix of the eponymous cut by Aa. Here’s the Version 2.1 of Seksu’s “Transparence.” The introduction is the most noticeable change from the original.

The “Transparence” 10-inch drops August 25th on Polyvinyl. You can pre-order the clear vinyl, 1000-only release now. Here are the new tour dates:

09-16 - New York, NY - Joe’s Pub (acoustic performance)
09-23 - Chapel Hill, NC - Local 506
09-24 - Atlanta, GA - The Earl
09-26 - Austin, TX - The Mohawk
09-27 - Denton, TX - Hailey’s
09-29 - Tucson, AZ - Plush
09-30 - San Diego, CA - Casbah &
10-01 - Los Angeles, CA - Troubador &
10-02 - San Franisco, CA - Slims &
10-03 - Portland, OR - Doug Fir Lounge &
10-04 - Seattle, WA - Chop Suey &
10-06 - Vancouver, BC - Biltmore Cabaret &
10-09 - Minneapolis, MN - 7th Street Entry &
10-10 - Chicago, IL - Bottom Lounge &
10-11 - Cleveland, OH - Grog Shop &
10-12 - Toronto, ON - Horseshoe Tavern &
10-13 - Montreal, QC - Il Motore &
10-14 - Boston, MA - Great Scott &
10-15 - Hoboken, NJ - Maxwells &
10-16 - New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom &
10-17 - Philadelphia, PA - Johnny Brendas &

& w/ Loney Dear and Anna Ternheim

The Feelies

“Crazy Rhythms” (Vintage Live Footage, NYC Concert) Video

Aug 20, 2009

Watch on YouTube

The term seminal gets tossed around a lot in the critical realm but if anyone deserved it, New Jersey post-punkers The Feelies deserved ample amounts of cred. The minimalist rock group of Glenn Mercer (lead/rhytm guitars, vocals, keyboards), Bill Million (rhytm/lead guitars, backing vocals), Dave Weckerman (percussion), Brenda Sauter (bass, backing vocals, violin) and Stan Demeski (drums, percussion) were a nerdy, twisted up ball of energy.

Bar/None is re-releasing two Feelies classics from the Haledon alt-rock Repackaged version of 1980’s Crazy Rhythms and its 1986 follow-up, The Good Earth. Both albums (on CD or vinyl) come with liner notes by rock crit luminaries Jim DeRogatis and Jim Sullivan. The bonus ephemera includes demos, B-sides, EP cuts and some new live recordings from the re-united group will be included on digital download cards. The two-pronged release will coincide with the outfit’s reunion show at All Tomorrow’s Parties, where they will perform Crazy Rhytms in its entirety. To celebrate both, here’s a classic, unearthed live clip of the band blazing through Crazy Rhytm‘s title track in New York. (Judging from the body language of the person with glasses and a crocodile(?) sweater in the front row, it seems ‘inidie kids’ were a nuisance in the ‘80s too.)

We Have Band

“You Came Out (Blamma! Blamma!‘s Fleetwood Mix)” MP3

Aug 20, 2009

The U.S. digital release of We Have Band‘s self-titled debut EP is September 15th. On it you can hear single, “OH!”, “Hear It In the Cans”, and their other single “You Came Out.“Plus there’s a cover of the Pet Shop Boys cut, “West End Girls”. Here’s a churning house rendition of “You Came Out” going by the name of “Blamma! Blamma!‘s Fleetwood Mix.” It starts to build but then drops off into a dance-y, mid-tempo balearic beat. It can soundtrack the first days of fall. R.I.P. Summer 2009.

We interviewed WHB in the fall of 2008. The electro trio’s debut LP is in the works. It was produced by Gareth Jones (Grizzly Bear, Mogwai, Depeche Mode and Liars). The group’s touring much of Europe right now and North American dates are coming soon. (Via RCRD LBL)

Grand Archives

“Oslo Novelist” MP3

Aug 19, 2009

Seattle’s Grand Archives have a sophomore LP coming out September 15th called Keep in Mind Frankenstein. Sub Pop is doing the releasing and here’s the pedal steel-led track, entitled “Oslo Novelist.” Frankenstein was recorded at Paradise Sound in Index, WA. The first album was put to tape there as well. Producer Ben Kersten (who also recorded 2008’s The Grand Archives).

A few musical friends show up on the release as well. Carissa’s Wierd members Jenn Ghetto and Sera Cahoone sing backing vocals. The purty pedal steel on this windswept preview song come from Cahoone’s bandmate, Jason Kardong

Free Energy

“Free Energy” Video

Aug 19, 2009

Watch on YouTube

Free Energy released their “Free Energy’ debut 7-inch single in July through DFA. The chunky ‘70s-rocker recently released a ‘party-hard-or-go-home’ video for the eponymous earworm. Check out the three wolves howling at the moon shirt in the Scott Thrift-directed clip. Burger birthday cakes, bike riding and hydrant spraying ensues. House party! The Philly retro-rockers will tour east coast and midwest states soon.

Imelda May

“Love Tattoo” MP3

Aug 19, 2009

Ireland’s Imelda May has already wowed Jools Holland, Beck and her home country but she’s setting her punkabilly sights elsewhere. New ska single, “Love Tattoo” was released on Verve Forecast earlier this month but it still slays. Naysayers may cry that this type of music already had its third resurrection in the early-‘90s (see Big Bad Voodoo Daddy or The Squirrel Nut Zippers) but with a earworm hook as instantly engaging as this most of that criticism falls on deaf ears. Looks like David Lynch has a new song to like. May already had her debut U.S. performance at the Mercury Lounge. She’s touring the U.K. this month and next. Her debut full-length, No Turning Back, is getting a re-release later this year and Love Tattoo (2008) is already is out.

Gyratory System

“Cargo Cult” Video

Aug 19, 2009

Watch on YouTube

“Cargo Cult” is a new single by Gyratory System, a pulsing electronica group spearheaded by trumpeter/producer Andrew Blick. He’s joined by his brother Robin (reeds, brass), Laurie Waller (drums, drones) and James Weaver (bass synthesizer). The kaleidoscopic video for “Cargo Cult” pinpoints the London act’s wobbly rave-meets-minimal-techno sound.

Gyratory System releases its debut full-length in October via the Angular Recording Corporation. It is titled The Sound-Board Breathes, a title that stems from John Milton’s epic poem, Paradise Lost. That release will be flanked by a four-track EP, Sea Containers House, in September.

Also, you can snatch a free download of the title track by going here.

Frida Hyvönen

Judee Sill

“Jesus Was a Crossmaker (Judee Sill cover)” MP3

Aug 19, 2009

Stereogum premiered another track off American Dust’s tribute compilation for the late California folk singer Judee Sill. Sill died of a drug overdose in 1979 at the age of 35 after releasing two classic LPs, Judee Sill and Heart Food. Here, Frida Hyvönen does a beautiful piano-led rendition of the ‘71 Laurel Canyon-esque track “Jesus Was a Crossmaker” for Crayon Angel: A Tribute to the Music of Judee Sill, out September 22nd via American Dust. Other guests on the tribute CD are Daniel Rossen (Grizzly Bear, Department of Eagles), Beth Orton, Ron Sexsmith, Bill Callahan, Marissa Nadler & Black Hole Infinity and Trembling Blue Stars.