Oct 07, 2009

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This black-and-white video from gauzy Portland chanteuse Liz Harris (Grouper) uses strobe lights to create a Halloween-ready ambience on “Hold the Way.” Director Weston Currie helmed the Silent Hill-esque clip. He also helmed videos for Abe Vigoda‘s “Don’t Lie,” Cryptacize‘s “Blue Tears” and Desolation Wilderness’ “Come Over in Your Silver Car.” (All of those clips can be viewed here.) The ex-Outsider is also streaming “Hold the Way” and “Vessel” on her MySpace. Both are rumored to appear on a forthcoming long-player or a split 12” with Roy Montgomery. Montgomery’s side of the split was recorded live from their concert in Christchurch, New Zealand. Four new Grouper cuts are on the flip. The ethereal singer is also touring Eastern Europe later this month.

Oct 07, 2009

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Yesterday, Rolling Stone premiered Dead Man’s Bones’ “Dead Hearts” video. Click above to watch the spooky clip. The actor/musician twosome of Ryan Gosling and Zach Shields, directed the creaky clip themselves, with production designer Jed Hathaway, who you may know from his stop-motion Adult Swim series, Robot Chicken.

Aside from the excellent slow-build of “Dead Hearts,” the great wonder on this music video is “Machine With Wishbone,” a kinetic sculpture created by the Rube Goldberg machine artist Arthur Ganson. Apparently the band became instant fans of his existential sculptures while recording. The video tracks the Wishbone’s walk past a creepy cemetery, a barn engulfed in flames and a ghostly horse. Like many of DMB’s tracks the videos takes a lot of cues from classic horror films.

DMB’s self-titled debut LP is out now on Anti-. They’re touring throughout October.

Oct 06, 2009

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This new, very somber Mountain Goats single, “Ezekiel 7 and the Permanent Efficacy of Grace,” isn’t your typical song and its accompanying music video bears that out. The clip strips the The Life of the World to Come track to its rain-soaked core as a single camera encircles frontman John Darnielle playing a dimly lit piano at California’s Pomona College.

The haunting video was filmed by director Rian Johnson for his The Life of the World to Come film, in which the Brick/The Brothers Bloom helmer lensed The Goats frontman performing the new LP in its entirety. According to a press release, Pamona College was where Darnielle “performed Bach minuets for the state examiner as an eight year old.” The Life of the World to Come is out today via 4AD.

Oct 06, 2009

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Ah, the wonders and travails of touring never seem to get old. Annie Clark (aka St. Vincent) is trekking around the U.S. with Andrew Bird this fall and director Alan Del Rio Ortiz has taken it upon himself to document the whole thing. There are no interviews in this first installment. Ortiz lets the music speak for itself. In the short clip, Clark practices at soundcheck and signs records for adoring fans. A stripped down recore store performance of the great single, “Actor Out of Work” weaves a dreamy audio throughline throughout the video. I guess even during the mundane segments of touring the music still shines through.

A quick shot of a paper schedule in one of St. Vincent’s dressing rooms says it all: “Load In, Bird Phoners, Soundcheck, Dinner, Doors Open, St. Vincent, Bird, Load Out.” The second video sees the band clowning around at some aeronautics museum/zoo. Hopefully Ortiz injects more of that spontaneity into the next few installments. Check out more clips and photos at the ilovestvincent.com blog or the band’s YouTube channel. (via MBV)

Oct 06, 2009

Our Spring cover subject, Bat for Lashes, already has an album of the year on her hands with Two Suns, but she just keep unpacking its multi-hued charms into the chilly fall. The goth cut, “Pearl’s Dream,” illustrates the new album’s bifurcated personality very nicely. On his adroit remix, the dubstep artist/producer Skream gets Pearl out on the dancefloor with a shrapnelled backbeat.

Skream’s Pour Another Glass of Champers re-rub doesn’t mess too much with Khan’s gauzy melody, but overlays some chopped up drums and coiling synthlines over the fog. Click the link above to peep Skream’s treatment. Also, be sure to check out the forthcoming Deluxe Edition of Two Suns. (via Annie Mac Presents / The Fader)

Oct 06, 2009

The Dutchess & the Duke (aka Jesse Lortz and Kimberly Morrison) are releasing their sophomore LP, Sunset / Sunrise tomorrow. Here’s another track from the ‘60s-esque LP, called “Living This Life.” Close examinations reveal this folk tune as quite an intricate step forward for D&D.

A police siren can be heard faintly in the background as a guitar and drum kit waltz around each other. Lortz and Morrison entwine their earnest vocals throughout. The folk-rock duo have some upcoming concerts with Greg Ashley. All dates can be found below, including a release party this Friday (10/9) at The Crocodile in the band’s hometown of Seattle (with Dead Ghosts, Meth Teeth).

Dutchess & the Duke:

10-09 Seattle, WA - The Crocodile ^
10-10 Olympia, WA - Northern
10-14 Spokane, WA - Whitworth University
10-17 Portland, OR - Scion Garage Fest - free w/ RSVP!
10-24 New York, NY - Mercury Lounge Hardly Art / Sub Pop CMJ showcase
11-07 Sacramento, CA - Luigi’s Fun Garden %
11-08 San Francisco, CA - Bottom of the Hill *
11-10 Santa Cruz, CA - The Crepe Place *
11-11 Los Angeles, CA - Spaceland *
11-13 Irvine, CA - UC Irvine / Acrobatics Everyday *
11-14 San Diego, CA - Casbah *
11-15 Phoenix, AZ - Rhythm Room *
11-17 Albuquerque, NM - Launchpad *
11-18 Denver, CO - Larimer Lounge *
11-19 Salt Lake City, UT - Kilby Court (early - all ages) *
11-19 Salt Lake City, UT - Urban Lounge (late)
11-21 Boise, ID - Neurolux *
12-04 Grinnell, IA - Gardner Lounge @ Grinnell College *
12-05 Chicago, IL - The Empty Bottle *
12-06 Minneapolis, MN - 7th St. Entry *
12-07 Omaha, NE - The Waiting Room *
12-08 Lawrence, KS - Replay Lounge *
12-09 Columbia, MO - Mojo’s *
12-10 Little Rock, AR - Sticky Fingerz Chicken Shack *
12-11 Denton, TX - Rubber Gloves *
12-12 Austin, TX - The Mohawk *
12-14 New Orleans, LA - One Eyed Jacks *
12-15 Birmingham, AL - The Bottletree *
12-16 Atlanta, GA - The Earl *
12-17 Indianapolis, IN - Locals Only *

^ - w/ Dead Ghosts, Meth Teeth
% - w/ Blues Control
* - w/ Greg Ashley

Oct 05, 2009

The Chilean Kompakt producer, Matias Aguayo, has a new album in the works entitled, Ay Ay Ay. Its infectious techno-pop single, “Rollerskate,” glides around around the room with poppy vocal samples. Ay Ay Ay is available on CD / 2LP (w/CD download) on October 27th in North America.

When Aguayo isn’t releasing techno-pop records that cut a fine line between the dance music of Paris and Germany, he’s best know for his free parties on the streets with his musical compatriots Gary and Pablo and Ladybumbox. These infamous “bumbumbox” soirees take place in the big cities of South America (Buenos Aires, Rio de Janeiro, Asuncion in Paraguay, Sao Paulo, Medellin in Colombia, Santiago de Chile, et al.) Upcoming tour dates can be found here.