This Bat For Lashes’ performance of “Daniel” is from last week but it’s certainly worthy of the belated attention. Even Dave’s usually perfunctoryintroduction is spot-on, as he regales his audience in a hilarious tangent about how he got totally smashed at a pub after getting lost on those “silly” roundabouts on the way back from a Des O’Connor appearance. Letterman may have have never made it to Brighton but Natasha Khan certainly takes us on her magnificent trek. When she finally starts her live entry in the heated race for song of the year you’ll melt into your seat, “Cloudbusting” style. Bat For Lashes was our cover girl for the current issue of Under the Radar. It’s on stands now, so check it out!
Grizzly Bear
“Two Weeks” (live on Later With Jools Holland) Video
One of Vecktaimest‘s many grand tunes (there are many) recently received a stately live rendition on the U.K.‘s “Later With Jools Holland.” “Sorry about the ‘evaluation copy’ on the video, that’s what happens when you use a free trial of a video editing system,” warns the YouTube info box. Despite the irritating disclaimer, Jools proves (yet again) that he knows how to pick ‘em. Grizzly Bear was the cover band for the Winter 2009 issue of Under the Radar.
Sally Shapiro
“Miracle” MP3
May 06, 2009
My Guilty Pleasure, the follow-up to Sally Shapiro’s Disco Romance, is out in late summer/early fall. And what a way to come back. First single “Miracle,” written and produced by Johan Agebjörn and Roger Gunnarsson, is out officially via Paper Bag Records on June 16 but you can hear Sally’s synth thunderstorm now. It starts with a diaristic spoken word in French before a thunderclap and then comes the rain. Beautiful stuff. Shapiro’s still got that Italo disco sound. According to her official site, Sally’s main songwriting partner, Johan Agebjörn, is keeping busy with various solo DJ gigs on the weekends. Under the Radar featured Shapiro in our Winter issue’s Most Anticipated Albums of ‘09 section. My Guilty Pleasure was under a working title then but it seems the duo’s hard work is starting to coalesce into a very dreamy project.
The Soundcarriers
“Time Will Come” MP3
May 06, 2009
Nottingham, England’s The Soundcarriers started as an instrumental rock group with jazz leanings but after discovering the music of Can and early Pink Floyd, they’ve taken on a distinctly psychedelic edge. Their hazy new single, “Time Will Come,” drives that home. A high-in-the-mix jazzy drum kit builds around a stately piano figure before the full band lays into a distinctly downtempo lilt.That their debut ( Harmonium) shares its title with a 1992 Stereolab single may be no accident. It’s the first available track from Harmonium, which is set for release on May 25, via Melodic. It will be available on CD, double gatefold vinyl and digital download. Here’s a link to Harmonic’s pre-order site. You know the drill by now folks: the digital download is available now; physical copies will land on your doorstep two weeks prior to the release date. (www.thesoundcarriers.com)
Previously On Lost
“LOST In 2 Minutes” MP3
May 06, 2009
Brooklyn’s Previously On Lost take fan fiction to a whole ‘nother level. Adam Schatz and Jeff Curtin have already recapped every episode of ABC’s Lost into bite-sized They Might Be Giants-like pop songs. Now they’ve tackled everything that’s happened to the survivors of Oceanic 815 up until last week’s episode. It’s hilarious, manic, and only reminds you of Weird Al sometimes. The duo is inviting Lost fans to make their own YouTube videos for “LOST in 2 Minutes,” plus the POL boys and Brooklyn Based will host a Season 5 finale party at Bell House on May 13th. Also, here’s an older YouTube clip of the twosome recreating the Oceanic plane crash of Oceanic 815 and performing “The Tale of Season 4 and the Oceanic Six” live at New York’s Knitting Factory. Lost into bite-sized They Might Be Giants-like pop songs. Now they’ve tackled everything that’s happened to the survivors of Oceanic 815 up until last week’s episode. It’s hilarious, manic, and only reminds you of Weird Al sometimes. The duo is inviting Lost fans to make their own YouTube videos for “LOST in 2 Minutes,” plus the POL boys and Brooklyn Based will host a Season 5 finale party at Bell House on May 13th. Also, here’s an older YouTube clip of the twosome recreating the Oceanic plane crash of Oceanic 815 and performing “The Tale of Season 4 and the Oceanic Six” live at New York’s Knitting Factory.
The Big Pink
“Velvet (Van Rivers & The Subliminal Kid Remix)” MP3
May 06, 2009
Here’s the second official remix of The Big Pink’s “Velvet” to surface on the interwebs in as many weeks. First it was Gang Gang Dance’s tribal jungle jam and now it’s Van Rivers & the Subliminal Kid turn. You may recally they’re the analog-loving duo behind some of the stark tones on Fever Ray’s self-titled debut. Their version of “Velvet” is equally haunting. You can equate it to the aural sensation of rocking back and forth in the hull of an empty ship. It’s much more ephemeral than Gang Gang Dance’s spastic electronic freakout. For reference sake, here’s the original music video for “Velvet.” The Big Pink was one of the bands featured in Under the Radar‘s Pleased to Meet You: New Artists 2009 special section in our Winter 2009 Issue.
Man, my love for Pheonix’s “Lisztomania” knows no bounds. This YouTube mashup of various Brat Pack clips goes so well with the early contender for song of the year. I’m with commenter ‘deathcabforeric2780’ wholeheartedly when they posted this: “If YouTube gave out awards, this should win for best video compilation of the year.” Here’s the official music video after you get your Molly Ringwald fix. Anyone who wants to sate their craving for French indie-pop can also read a Detection feature on Phoenix in the current Spring 2009 issue of Under the Radar. The Wolfgang Amadeus Pheonix blimp arrives May 26.
David Byrne and Dirty Projectors
“Ambulance Man” MP3
May 05, 2009
Is 2009 the year of the Dirty Projector? All signs point to yes if memory serves us right. First there was “Knotty Pine,” that brilliant collaboration with David Byrne on the Dark Was the Night compilation, next came the sparkling pop single “Stillness Was the Move,” and in preparation for Bitte Orca‘s non-leak June 9th release here’s another David Byrne/Dirty Projectors track that didn’t make the cut for Dark Was the Night. “Ambulance Man” is one of those atypical avant-pop Projectors ballads and Byrne steals the show a little. It all unfurls into a slightly less captivating a capella outro. Not a bad companion piece, but you can clearly hear why “Knotty Pine” was picked over this one.
