Oct 02, 2009

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We haven’t heard the studio version of “Slow Life” at UTR Towers yet. You know, the Grizzly Bear duet with recent Sub Pop signee/Beach House singer Victoria Legrand that will appear on the very indie Twilight: New Moon soundtrack.

Thanks to the beauty of Web 2.0 we can hear a lo-fi version (have very 2009) of the song above. Grizzly Bear and Beach House are on tour together at the moment and they’ve inserted the track into their always atmospheric set list. Last night, both groups played at the Blue Note in Columbia, Missouri.

“Slow Life” is exactly what you’d want from a Grizzly Bear/Beach House collabo: a sonorous vocal jam that wafts into room and begs for attention. Can’t wait to hear the finished product.

Oct 02, 2009

Dick jokes and abound on this latest leaked track from Flight of the Conchords’ forthcoming sophomore album, I Told You I Was Freaky. The dancefloor parody may lack wittiness but the album and TV season it appears on is most likely the last time we hear from Bret and Jemaine. They’ve stated repeatedly that they’re moving on to other projects but who knows, reunions happen all the time.

Freaky features 15 tracks from the TV series’ second season in extended punchline form. “Sugalumps,” is largely about balls and ridiculous lines about chicks ogling the front of dudes’ trunks. Makes you wonder where the subtle of season one went this year. I guess we’ll always have Rock Band to remind us of the Grammy-winning good times of the past.

I Told You I Was Freaky is due out on October 21st via Sub Pop.

Oct 02, 2009

Jason Klauber and Molly Shea are the original members of the current Brooklyn fivesome, Acrylics. They’re one of the first signees to Terrible Records, the indie imprint co-founded by Grizzly Bear‘s Chris Taylor. They’ll be releasing a 5-track 10” EP, produced by Taylor on October 28th but you can download the reverb-y, slightly countrified single above. Unsurprisingly, the harmony-laden title cut from the wholly atmospheric All of the Fire was recorded at Tarlor’s church-studio in Brooklyn. Enjoy its fall tones.

Oct 02, 2009

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Covering a much-loved song is a lot like a tightrope act. Following the original’s instrumentation too closely will only get you a bunch’s of z’s above the head of your audience and completely abandoning what made the orginal great will surely get you in trouble too. It makes a whole lot of sense then that when Taken By Trees (former Concrete Victoria Bergsman) made a video for her cover of Animal Collective‘s “My Girls,” she walks a tightrope in the middle of the forest.

The sly change of the title to “My Boys” will turn heads but the plinking percussion of Pakistan drive the track into new territories. It and the rest of East of Eden, were recorded in Pakistan where the “boys” weren’t exactly nice to the girls. Read more about her globe-trotting in our Fall issue. East of Eden is out now on Rough Trade. Sadly no tours are scheduled because of the economic recession.

As Bergsman says on her website: “So here I am at stuck at home like a stranded whale. Unable to do any shows simply because there is no money for musicians these days.” She also gives an open plea for fans with any suggestions to contact her: ” I am now asking you if you have any ideas or suggestions in how to make this happen, making it possible for tbt to do some shows? Maybe you even have a jet-plane for what I know… Please don´t hesitate in letting us know. We need all the help we can get.” Click here to help Ms. Bergsman out.

Oct 01, 2009

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Hyperstory is made up of session players from some of the best indie groups of the past few decades. Their self-titled debut record features the likes of Brooklyn based musician Julian Cassia (vocals), as well as performances from musicians Joey Waronker (Beck), Deron Johnson (Seal, Miles Davis), Chris Chaney (Jane’s Addiction), and others.

All those sounds are spearheaded by L.A. musical mastermind C. Scott Blevins. Snippets of blaxploitation soundtracks, nu-jazz and dub-rock fly by your windshield while listening to the deep grooves of Blevins and Co.‘s LP. Above we have the premiere of the music video for the Gorillaz-in-a-space-circus single, “A Happening.” In it some dude walks around the “colorful” parts of L.A. just to whisper something in a lady’s ear. I have no idea what he said but she seems to like it. The music’s pretty slick too. Hyperstory is due November 10th. You can listen to the jazzy “Ascension” on their website.

Oct 01, 2009

I have to side with Gorilla vs. Bear on this one. Grass Valley, CA native Alela Diane is underrated here in the States. She’s got a new companion compilation to her spectacular 2009 debut To Be Still. The release sees her collaborating with fellow folkie, Alina Hardin. Here they do a heartfelt cover of the very old folk ballad “Bowling Green.” The limited, six-track Alela & Alina 10” tour EP, is out October 6th on Rough Trade. There’s only 1000 copies (give or take).

Alela & Alina:

01 Amidst the Movement
02 Bowling Green
03 Crying Wolf
04 Matty Groves
05 I Have Returned
06 Rake

Oct 01, 2009

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Here’s a nice clip video of just Matt and Elanor from The Fiery Furnaces playing a catchy piano/vocal rendition of I’m Going Away‘s “Keep Me In the Dark.” It’s one of their best songs since that whole grandma album debacle. This was recorded at University of Washington’s KEXP morning show. I can’t think of a better way to wake up. I’m Going Away is out now on Thrill Jockey. FF’s touring this fall.