The latest MGMT vid is pretty strange, but that’s as surprising as green grass, pink cotton candy, and blue skies. The “Congratulations” clip finds the psych-pop duo traversing a desert (another planet?), as their four-legged creature-pal disintegrates one body part at a time. The track sports one of the mellowest melodies MGMT has produced so far. Peep upcoming gigs at MGMT’s official site. Congratulations is out now via Columbia. (Via Pedestrian.tv/Pitchfork.)
In the two-and-half-minute clip, directed by Whitey McConnaughy, ex-Sleater-Kinney member Carrie Brownstein acts as a woman that just wants some peace and quiet. She rips up her home trying to find out where the music’s c. The twist ending is quite funny, so stick around, folks. Find upcoming North American tour dates here. Also, please check out Thermals frontman/singer/guitarist Hutch Harris’ Wasted on the Youth blog about Wax Packs.
Sufjan Stevens: All Delighted People EP MP3 Stream
Sufjan Stevens probably won’t live long enough to release his glacially paced “50 States” project, but beyond that he’s been pretty damn prolific, scoring a symphonic ode to the BQE in 2007, released in album form as The BQE in 2009, while guesting on sundry artists’ albums, including The National’s High Violet. And now, seemingly out of nowhere, Stevens has digitally released the eight-song EP, All Delighted People, via Asthmatic Kitty. Weighing in at a hefty 60 minutes, the record is said to be structured thematically around the title-track, according to Asthmatic Kitty’s site, an “epic ballad,” which is featured in both its original form and a “classic rock version.” You can buy the digital version now via Stevens’ Bandcamp page for $5, or wait for the physical version, which Asthmatic Kitty is hoping to have available sometime in December. We have a full stream of the record, along with the tracklisting below. Plus Stevens has recently announced some new tour dates, which you can check out here. - John Everhart (Via Pitchfork.)
Brighton, England goth-pop trio Esben and the Witch just signed to Matador. They are the lauded indie imprint’s first U.K. signing in over six years, according to Matablog. After the self-issued 33 EP and Too Pure‘s single for “Lucia, at the Precipice,” Esben will drop a 12-inch single for the spooky-good ”Marching Song.” That streets October 12 in North America. Esben’s debut LP is due in early 2011.
The brooding and sinister video for “Marching Song” was directed by David Procter and Peter King and sees the band slowly getting bloodied and bruised with each film cut. R.I.Y.L. - early ‘80s Siouxsie and the Banshees. Watch that above. Check North American and European concerts here.
Arcade Fire begin their first victory lap with the performance clip for single, “Ready to Start.” (Can you have a victory lap this early? A #1 album screams “yes.”) The whole black-and-white video consists of screaming fans, jamming bandmembers, and obligatory slow-mo. Not very inventive, but nice nonetheless.
Suburban rockers Real Estate return October 12 with a new single via True Panther. The 7-inch vinyl and digital release features two tunes, “Out of Tune” (below) and “Reservoir” (which the quintet performed at Pitchfork Festival). “Out of Tune” was recorded by Woods’ Jarvis Taveniere, and Oneohtrix Point Never (aka Daniel Lopatin) adds some feathery synths over the macramé-like guitar lines. Pre-order True Panther’s store. See some upcoming tour dates with Deerhunter right here.
Summer Camp: “Round the Moon” Video
Bask in the AV warmth of Summer Camp‘s instant-earworm, synth-poppin’ debut single, “Round the Moon.” The Swedish duo dial up the tweeness for their new Young EP, out September 6 on Moshi Moshi, with a Round the Moon 7-inch following on September 13. The clip for the tune re-edits scenes from the 1970 Swedish film A Swedish Love Story. The Niles East production is a perfect visual partner for Elizabeth Sankey and Jeremy Warmsley’s “dance all night” conceit (via Gorilla vs. Bear.) Watch “Ghost Train” here.
How to Dress Well: “Lover’s Start” Video
How to Dress Well‘s debut LP, Love Remains, drops September 21 on Lefse. We’ve already posted sometunes leading up to the release and now Gorilla vs. Bear has a hazy clip for album track, “Lover’s Start.” It was lensed by “Decisions” director and chillwave-conspirator Jamie Harley. The video shows a business man running into the surf with some suitcases. Fairly simple, but these are very effective visuals. The footage comes from the 1971 Jacques Brel film Franz. Watch it below:
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