Colin Stetson: “Awake on Foreign Shores” / “Judges” / “Red Horse (Judges II)” / “In Love and In Justice” (A Take Away Show) Videos
Ann Arbor, Michigan-born, Montréal-based brass and woodwinds player Colin Stetson is a touring member of Arcade Fire and Bell Orchestre. He’s also performed on stage and in the studio with well-known artists such as Tom Waits, David Byrne, Feist, Sinéad O’Connor, LCD Soundsystem, TV on the Radio, The National, Bon Iver, among others. He just issued his excellent second full-length for bass and baritone sax. It’s called New History Warfare Vol. 2: Judges and you can grab it via Constellation.
The devastating release was recorded live in single takes at Montréal’s Hotel2Tango studio. No overdubs or looping were used and over 20 mics were placed on the sax and throughout the recording space. One brief, multi-tracked french horn and guest vocals by Shara Worden (My Brightest Diamond) and Laurie Anderson are the only examples of overdubbing on this beautiful release. It’s one of the best albums of the year.
This week, Stetson performed four live tracks for La Blogothèque‘s A Take Away Show. The first vid was filmed in Stetson’s swanky living room and the second took place in Belle Orchestre’s basement studio. All four compositions (“Awake on Foreign Shores,” “Judges,” “Red Horse (Judges II),” “In Love and In Justice”) are taken from Vol. 2: Judges. Enjoy the polyphonic audio and visual magic and do seek out Vol. 1 and 2 as soon as possible.
Wild Beasts: “Albatross” MP3 Stream
Dalston indie-pop outfit Wild Beasts will release their third LP, Smother, on May 10 in the U.S. and May 9 in the U.K.,via Domino. Domino’s website is now offering a full stream of the LP’s debut single, “Albatross.” Listen to that below. The single will street on May 2, with a special 7-inch version available on Record Store Day (April 16). See upcoming tour dates here. According to the group, the new release is a more synth-oriented sound, influenced by “moving to Dalston,” Brazilian scribe Clarice Lispector, Mary Shelley’s classic novel, Frankenstein, and noise-electronica duo Fuck Buttons.
Robin Pecknold
“Where Is My Wild Rose” MP3
Mar 07, 2011
Fleet Foxes’ Robin Pecknold released today three new solo songs via his Twitter account. The acoustic tracks were recorded in Los Angeles “a couple weeks ago with my friend Noah,” Pecknold writes in an update. He makes it clear that they are not exclusive preview material from the forthcoming Fleet Foxes record, nor is it a cheeky way for Pecknold to announce a solo project-yet.
The last in his trio of new music is the forlorn yet elegant cover of “Where Is My Wild Rose,” originally performed by New England folk artist Chris Thompson.
Robin Pecknold
“Derwentwater Stones” MP3
Mar 07, 2011
According to his Twitter account, Fleet Foxes frontman Robin Pecknold recorded several tracks with his friend Noah “a couple weeks ago in Los Angeles.” He makes it clear that they are not exclusive preview material from the forthcoming Fleet Foxes record, nor is it a cheeky way for Pecknold to announce a solo project—yet.
Pecknold describes sprightly acoustic track “Derwentwater Stones” as “just a new solo jam.” We’ll take it.
Robin Pecknold
“I’m Losing Myself” (Feat. Ed Droste) MP3
Mar 07, 2011
Fleet Foxes’ Robin Pecknold released today three new solo songs via his Twitter account. The acoustic tracks were recorded in Los Angeles “a couple weeks ago with my friend Noah,” Pecknold writes in an update. He makes it clear that they are not exclusive preview material from the forthcoming Fleet Foxes record, nor is it a cheeky way for Pecknold to announce a solo project—yet.
First up on Pecknold’s list is “I’m Losing Myself,” a duet with Grizzly Bear’s very own Ed Droste.
James Blake: “What Was It You Said About Luck” MP3 Stream
James Blake is releasing a new single, “The Wilhelm Scream.” The song is off his promising debut album, which streets on 12-inch vinyl tomorrow, March 7, via Atlas in the U.K. (Universal Republic will issue it in the U.S.). In addition to the title track, there are two new cuts on the release. Disco Naïveté is streaming the forelorn and haunted piano ballad “What Was It You Said About Luck.” Stream it over here.
Wild Flag: “Glass Tambourine” MP3
Wild Flag is a Portland, Ore. and Washington, D.C.-based supergroup that features Sleater-Kinney monarchs Carrie Brownstein and Janet Weiss, and former Helium leader Mary Timony and ex-Minders keyboard player Rebecca Cole. The punky women plan to street their debut full-length with producer Chris Woodhouse soon, but a 7-inch single drops first on Record Store Day (April 16), through Merge. Spoon main man Britt Daniel helmed the boards for the 7-inch, which also sports the jams, “Future Crimes” and “Glass Tambourine.”
Before you go, download the trippy rocker, “Glass Tambourine,” via NPR. The foursome plans to re-record both of the cuts off the 7-inch for the LP. Woodhouse will produce. Read Brownstein’s musings on the single at NPR. Enjoy.
Ponytail
“Easy Peasy” MP3
Mar 04, 2011
Bat-shit crazy Baltimore avant-punksPonytail are releasing Do Whatever You Want All the Time on April 12 via We Are Free. It’s the band’s follow-up to their promising sophomore LP, 2008’s Ice Cream Spiritual. Ex-Burning Airlines/Jawbox leader J. Robbins manned the boards for the LP, and EYE from The Boredoms crafted that psychedelic cover artwork you see. Go ahead and download the full-length’s zany opener. It’s called “Easy Peasy” and it’s almost six minutes of Molly Siegel’s Yoko Ono-styled yelps and surf rock tumult.
