Nov 19, 2009

Today, Beck has released a new recording of a song entitled “Harry Partch,” an homage to the composer who expanded upon the conventional tonal scale by implementing a custom 43-tone scale. The cut is a playful rejoinder to Matt Friedberger of The Fiery Furnaces’ online quasi-beef against Radiohead‘s “Harry Patch.” In his original statement, Friedberger also said he “would have much preferred to insult Beck but he is too afraid of Scientologists.”

The resultant track is an intricate, experimental mash-up of pretty much any genre Beck’s flirted with in the past. It also sounds somewhat close to a Fiery Furnaces jam. Listen closely for some mumbled lyrics from Blueberry Boat. Certainly worth a download/stream, if only to hear what a track with 43 tones to the octave sounds like. Go here and here for Matt’s “imaginary responses” to the track. (Disclaimer: They’re very strange.)

Nov 19, 2009

U.K. electro-acoustic composer Charlie Alex March makes intimate music that flutters the heart and mind. He’s set to release his Home/Hidden, February 16th via Lo Recordings. The David Bowie-approved musician has already released two EPs (2006’s When the Clouds Clear, 2007’s In the End) but Home/Hidden is his debut full-length.

Treated piano, classical stringwork, and electronic gadgetry all get equal playing time on the forthcoming, Books-esque release. Though March’s minimal music is tailormade for the quiet of the bedroom he invited longtime musical associates Sean O’Hagan and Dominic Murcott of The High Llamas (string arrangements and vibraphone respectively) to join him in the studio. He also brought in former Stereolab drummer/programmer/sound engineer Andy Ramsay on percussion, ex-Metronomy player Gabriel Stebbing for bass, and Jo Apps on vox. Enjoy the lilting “Cortot No 6” above. Home page photograph by Ben Rayner.

Nov 19, 2009

Watch on YouTube

Animal Collective‘s Fall Be Kind EP drops November 23rd digitally and December 15th physically on Domino. Its delicious opening track is “Graze”, which can be peeped above.

Like many of the Collective’s live cuts, “Graze” is two songs for the price of one. It starts out with a foggy choral soup creeping into your soul. And just as you turn the last few bends of this mysterious, 5-minute-and-change maze, an elven flute loop starts up, and the song mutates into a bucolic dancefloor banger for forest pixies. (Yeah, even with all these crisp, clean vocals, AC is just as weird as we left them.) Click above to stream the track. (via Stereogum)

Nov 19, 2009

The indie-pop quartet Sambassadeur hails from Gothenburg, Sweden but take a little of the bucolic whimsy from groups such as Belle and Sebastian, Camera Obscura, and The Go-Betweens. Their new string-laden single, “Days” is coming out December 2nd in anticipation of the band’s third full-length, entitled European. This new full-length also follows a flurry of buzz-worthy EPs in 2005 and 2006. European saw the foursome banning electric guitars in the studio space and its acoustic glory can be heard in full on February 24th, via Labrador. Listen to the lovely (and very free) mp3 above.

The loop-y new music video for Vampire Weekend‘s single “Cousins” is up and making the rounds. You can watch the behind the scenes clip on MTV. Hammer & Tongs (aka Garth Jennings and producer Nick Goldsmith, the men who lensed videos for Blur, Supergrass, eels, and Pulp) directed the clip. Oh yeah, they also helmed VW’s equally punky, “A-Punk.” Got to love those face-morphing masks. Also, I’ve got to find out what was on that list at the 40 sec. mark. “Cousins” is out now digitally through XL. The quartet will drop a 7” on December 15th and the catchy track will also be on Vampire Weekend’s sophomore full-length Contra, out January 12th. (via mtvU)

Nov 19, 2009

Will Oldham (aka Bonnie “Prince” Billy) recently hooked up with the Kentucky bluegrass outfit The Picket Line for the upcoming vinyl and digital-only live LP, Funtown Comedown. (Man, this guy’s constant renaming seriously some serious damage to my iTunes!) The downloadable track above, is a rootsy new version of I See a Darkness’ “Death to Everyone.” It’s an exclusive from the live sessions that is not featured on the full-length. The release features tracks from Oldham’s Bonnie “Prince” Billy and Palace eras, and covers of classic country songs. Funtown Comedown is out December 15th on the Drag City sub-imprint Sea Note. (Via MBV/Drag City.)

Funtime Comedown:

01 Ohio River Boat Song
02 May It Always Be
03 Hemlocks and Primroses
04 The Glory Goes / Wolf Among Wolves
05 We All Us Three Will Ride
06 Easy Does It
07 Lay and Love
08 Rider
09 Rambling Fever
10 You Want That Picture
11 Idle Hands Are the Devil’s Playthings

Nov 19, 2009

Watch on YouTube

Thanks to one of Pitchfork‘s international readers we have this slick YouTube footage of St. Vincent performing the Actor deep cut “The Party.” The performance happened last night in Basel, Switzerland, and Ms. Annie Clark was joined on stage by Grizzly Bear‘s Daniel Rossen. Click here for St. Vincent’s always-expanding itinerary. In other SV news, the band posted some more tour diaries. (See them all here.)