Sep 04, 2018

There are some albums that you serendipitously stumble into, that surprise and delight. Rejoicer is a producer from Tel Aviv by way of L.A. and his new album Energy Dreams dropped this past Friday. As his Bandcamp page describes, Rejoicer “splices together funk, hip-hop, breakbeats, and jazz. He’s helped cultivate Israel’s modern beat movement and fostered a community of international artists who contribute to his Raw Tapes label.” Take Energy Dreams for a ride.

Sep 02, 2018

Just a quintessential example of my longstanding stance that Mogwai would make the perfect scoring music. Gorgeously understated, slow release. From Mogwai’s soundtrack to the just released Sci-fi film KIN.

Aug 31, 2018

Definitely one of the hype bands of the year, Iceage stopped through KEXP earlier this summer for a four song session consisting of “Catch It”, “Painkiller”, “Hurrah” and “Beyondless”. The performance was just posted. Cheryl Waters hosts and you never quite know how frontman Elias Bender Rønnenfelt will approach a question.

Aug 29, 2018

Exultantly, The Twilight Sad are making their return. Today they shared the video for “I/m Not Here [missing face]”. The very promising track marked a new album ahead under new label Rock Action:

“The band’s recent signing to Rock Action – a home for so much rich, deserving music, particularly in the band’s native Scotland – feels like something of a homecoming for The Twilight Sad. Speaking of the union, lead singer James Graham says, “To be able to say that we’re on that record label, to try and give something back for all the good faith they’ve had in us over the years. Mogwai took us on tour early on, introduced us to Robert [Smith]. They’ve been a through line for us and I’m excited to be a part of that label.”

The video is comprised of VHS camcorder footage and “runs a fine line between wistful, homespun melancholia and a more intense, at times sinister, sense of reflection - gradually becoming more warped as if to mirror the way our memory can become self-manipulated and refracted with time and distance.”

Speaking of the video, its creator Brendan Jay Smith says, “When Andy and I came across the footage, we both immediately felt that it was the right fit for “I/m Not Here [hidden face].” I was really interested in the idea that our memories are often confused and influenced by what we recall from old camcorder footage. Sometimes it’s difficult to work out how you feel about an experience and other times it’s etched in a recurring visual that degrades over time.”

Twilight Sad Tour

Oct 9th | Los Angeles, CA - Troubadour
Oct 10th | San Diego, CA - Casbah
Oct 12th | Tustin, CA - Marty’s On Newport
Oct 14th | San Francisco, CA - Independent
Oct 17th | Portland, OR - Doug Fir
Oct 19th | Seattle, WA - Crocodile
Oct 20th | Vancouver, BC - Fox
Oct 25th | St. Paul, MN - Turf Club
Oct 26th | Chicago, IL - Theater on the Lake
Oct 27th | Toronto, ON - Velvet Underground
Oct 28th | Montreal, QC - Ritz
Oct 30th | Boston, MA - Middle East Downstairs
Oct 31st | Kingston, NY - BSP Lounge
Nov 1st | Brooklyn, NY - Elsewhere
Nov 2nd | Philadelphia, PA - Boot & Saddle
Nov 3rd | Washington, DC - U Street Music Hall

Aug 28, 2018

We have a Florida band sighting y’all. Gouge Away are a hardcore punk band from Fort Lauderdale and just released their forceful new single “Ghost”. It’s the second single from their forthcoming album Burnt Sugar. From the press release: “With Burnt Sugar Gouge Away dive into personal and social-political subject matter without getting the bends on their way back to surface. Carrying an emotional vulnerability and honesty that few bands own in today’s music world.”

Burnt Sugar is set for release on September 28th and Gouge Away will be on tour in North America and the UK with Culture Abuse this October.

GOUGE AWAY, ON TOUR:
October 4 Orlando, FL @ Will’s Pub (Record Release Show) *
October 6 Queens, NY @ Death Match *
October 7 Charleston, WV @ Bully Trap *
October 8 Richmond, VA @ Gallery 5 *
October 9 Philadelphia, PA @ Voltage Lounge *
October 10 Boston, MA @ Hardcore Stadium *
October 11 Baltimore, MD @ Wind Up Space *
October 12 Long Island, NY @ Amityville Music Hall *
October 13 Buffalo, NY @ Mohawk Place *
October 17 Southampton, UK @ Joiners *
October 18 Birmingham, UK @ Actress & Bishop *
October 19 Nottingham, UK @ Bodega *
October 20 Leeds, UK @ Key Club *
October 21 Brighton, UK @ Hope & Ruin *
October 22 Bristol, UK @ Exchange *
October 23 Glasgow, UK @ King Tuts *
October 24 Manchester, UK @ Star & Garter *
October 25 London, UK @ Boston Music Room *
October 27 Hasselt, BE @ Groezrock *
November 9 Phoenix, AZ @ Pub Rock Live ^
November 10 Anaheim, CA @ Chain Reaction ^
November 11 Berkeley, CA @ 924 Gilman ^
November 13 Seattle, WA @ Vera Project ^
November 14 Portland, OR @ Black Water ^
November 16 Denver, CO @ Hi Dive ^
November 18 Chicago, IL @ Cobra Lounge (Matinee) ^
November 19 Cleveland, OH @ Mahall’s ^
November 20 Pontiac, MI @ Pike Room ^
November 26 West Haven, CT @ The Cave %
November 27 Boston, MA @ Great Scott %
November 28 Brooklyn, NY @ Alphaville %
November 29 Philadelphia, PA @ Kung Fu Necktie %
November 30 Richmond, VA @ Strange Matter %
December 1 Chapel Hill, NC @ Local 506 %
December 2 Atlanta, GA @ Masquerade %
December 3 Gainesville, FL @ Loosey’s %
December 4 Orlando, FL @ Will’s Pub %

* w/ Culture Abuse
^ w/ Drug Church, Heart Attack Man
% w/ Drug Church, Seattle’s New Gods

Aug 24, 2018

In the midst of writing and recording new original material Mac DeMarco always has time for a cover. This one is of “Honey Moon” by Japanese artist Haruomi Hosono. He takes Hosono’s avant-abstraction and pulls it closer to South American folk-pop… I suppose. Hear for yourself.

Aug 23, 2018

Lights on Moscow is a collaboration between Justin Lockey of Editors/ Minor Victories/ Mastersystem and Hazel Wilde of Lanterns On The Lake. Justin Lockey is best known for his work with Editors but is becoming increasingly regarded for his collaborative efforts – most notably on the Mastersystem album, which came out earlier this year. Lanterns On The Lake are a critically acclaimed act who have released 3 studio albums through Bella Union.

Under the Radar has the premiere of the Lights on Moscow single “Lord Let Me Know” from the EP Aorta Songs Pt 1, set for release in October on Physical Education. The debut music, a blend “full of anguish and beauty,” took shape circuitously for this duo, with a brief run of performance on a trip to New York that came back around when they lived close by in Newcastle.

“It’s strange how the timing of something can make a difference. We always knew it was something we’d come back to. And now we have” says Wilde of the project.