Trippy, trancey, rockin’ and upbeat is all that encompasses the new Black Moth Super Rainbow jam, Windshield Smasher. The mysterious members of the psychedelic pop band from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania will be self-releasing a new LP, Cobra Juicy, on October 9th; and this new addictive gem will presumably make an appearance on it – The video to accompany your un/healthy addiction to this jam will be released for your viewing pleasure sometime this week. In the mean time, trip out man:
You guys, this is the very first band recommendation (sent via a homie in Ireland) for coco stereo. (Exciting!)
Le Galaxieis a fresh electronic band hailing from, of course, Dublin, Ireland. Ireland never ceases to amaze, as it’s such a tiny country, yet produces and possesses some of the greatest literary and musical talents in the world. And regardless of its economic ups and downs, fresh music consistently flows from the Emerald Isle at alarming rates. I may be biased as I used to live in Dublin, but the Irish are also the friendliest, wittiest and most charming humans on the planet. Fresh jams, sweet beats and addictive electro-pop seeping from Ireland’s seams comes as no surprise.
Le Galaxie is comprised of four Irish bros with sweet moves and an affinity for wearing US Prez masks – I dig the look. They recently released (July 13th) an EP Fade 2 Forever (found on bandcamp here). The sound is an electro-pop, trance-techno-fest with a sprinkling of 80s and 90s throwbacks. Their 2011 album Laserdisc Nights 2 is also available to download for FREE on bandcamp. Find ’em on Soundcloud and Twitter too.
Black Marble, the “coldwave, minimal synth, post-punk, goth-pop” duo (Ty Kube and Chris Stewart) from Brooklyn have been described as a couple of sombre 80s ‘bot boys with machine-like vibes. There’s a slight Ian Curtis monotone-ness to the vocals combined with “cold electronics” that results in an undeniably addictive sound, which can be found on their EP, Weight Against the Door.
On October 9th, the band will release its debut album, A Different Arrangement. A Great Design isthe first release:
I’m sorry guys, but NEWS FLASH: The new jam, Angels by The xx… is kind of boring. I know you wanted it to be epic and all, but it just isn’t there. Can you believe their last album was released in 2009? Hence, Angels is off of their highly anticipated (and hopefully more enticing than just this jam) album, Coexist due in September.
The new and semi-mysterious electronic duo from Boston, MVSCLESreleased their first jam Sweet n Sour earlier this month and it BLEW UP. Well, fabulous news: They have TWO songs now! … even better, this jam is just as catchy as the first. Let’s hope they keep the gloriousness up. Find Where You Are on bandcamp here or Soundcloud here.
It’s a ridiculously beautiful day in San Francisco (for now), and there’s this amazing Indie music/food fest going on today: Phono Del Sol Music Festival, put on by The Bay Bridged. What’s totally ridiculous about this festival, is that it only costs $7-$10! What the hell? – Mind blowingly awesome. I was so excited about it, I asked half a dozen people to go with, and apparently/unfathomably, I don’t know anyone in San Francisco who’s ever heard of any of these bands (Unknown Mortal Orchestra, La Sera, Gardens & Villa, Dominant Legs, Sea of Bees, Mwahaha, The Fresh & Onlys) – It’s obvs not you San Francisco, it’s clearly… my friends. So fuck it, I’m going alone (!) and therefore, I also bring you a fabulous song from (most) artists playing at today’s fest – ‘cus if you didn’t know, now you know:
This week I saw Quilt and Young Magic play at the Rickshaw Stop in San Francisco. I was oddly surprised there was little-to-no line when I arrived, ‘cus tickets were being sold at the door only and um…. these bands are pretty fuckin’ electrifying. Regardless, I walked in, bought a Red Stripe (it’s cheap!) and Quilt immediately hit the stage. Rockin’, psychedelic, trancey folktronica and dream-pop trip hop thus commenced:
Quilt, the Brooklyn-by-way-of-Boston psych-mantric blues-folkers consist of Anna Fox Rochinsk, Shane Butler, and John Andrews. The trio announced it was their first time in California, and the audience gladly accepted their right of passage to the West Coast via an amazing stage presence. Their sound possesses a psychedelic, 60s hippy rock nostalgia and they certainly know how to jam; They’re a must see if you like to rock. Listen to their entire self-titled LP on bandcamp here or Spotify here.
Quilt – Young Gold
Quilt – Cowboys in the Void
Young Magicconsists three Australian and/or Indonesian ex-pat nomads (Isaac Emmanuel, Michael Italia & Melati Malay – also of New Moods ) now living it up in NYC. Their sound is a mix of dreamy shoegaze, electro-experimental “trip-hop.” Their set involved theatrical drumming and bad Egyptian film footage. I dig! Listen to their entire LP Melt on Spotify here.
I have a un/healthy addiction to You with Air. It’s repetition, sweet beat and haunting vocals put you in a trance of experimental music bliss.
Young Magic – You With Air
Young Magic – Sparkly
If they hadn’t blown your mind already, Young Magic just remixed Doldrums‘ jam “Egypt” AND they’re featured in Purity Ring‘s recently released album, Shrines. What an epic combination!
So, if you haven’t already illegally downloaded/streamed/and/or hit up a music blogger who actually gets paid, the new Purity Ring, Twin Shadow & Dirty Projectors albums have FINALLY and legally arrived.
I’ll admit, I have a homie who gave me the albums well in advance (to end my “suffering”), thus my ears have been delightfully well versed, but I figured I’d save this post for those who are morally good and wait and/or pay for things like this to be legitimately released.
Side note: Apologies for the centered Spotify audio players, I spent a ridiculous amount of time researching how to flush them left, I really did, and sadly, nothing fuckin’ worked.
Purity Ring is a beloved fav amongst synth-electro-pop lovers. Songs from the new album: Odebear, LoftiCries, BeliSpeak, Ungirthed and Fineshrine have been leaked/released/floating around the interwebz for quite a while, some even as far back as 2011, hence the album doesn’t seem entirely *new* if you’ve been an avid follower. BUT! it’s still an amazing listen nonetheless. (If you’re not a Spotify user, you can stream the entire album on NPR here.)
Purity Ring – Shrines (July “24,”2012)
Thank God Dirty Projectors has something new out. As amazing as the song is, there are only so many times you can continuously listen to Stillness is the Move (okay, I still do) before realizing it came out a LONG time ago (2009). Also, can you believe they have 7 full-length albums out now? Seven! If you aren’t familiar, Dirty Projectors is a six man/woman indie-rock band hailing from Brooklyn, of course! I listened to “Dance for You” an unhealthy amount of times in a row.
Dirty Projectors – Swing Lo Magellan (July 10, 2012)
George Lewis Jr. aka Twin Shadow is a one-man 80s new wave master. He produced his latest album Confess, by himself and apparently a motorcycle accident was the inspiration for its creation. I’ll be enjoying his stage presence at the Great American Music Hall on August 16th and so should you (unless you already have Charli XCX tickets for the same night, then it’s completely justified):
I was riding the bus the other day to drop off my “unlawful rent increase petition” to the SF Rent Board, as my landlord is trying to raise our rent to “market value,” which happens to be a whopping 25% increase. WTF! Thanks San Francisco. So as I’m standing there on the bus holding onto a pole, I turn to see a 20 something year old bro, who also happens to be a midget, walk on and hoist himself into a seat. A mini bro! He was jamming out to some tunes, swinging little his legs back and forth with his arm casually laying across the top of his seat. Of course my staring problem kicks in and I have to tell myself to act civilized, but suddenly out of the corner of my eye I spy this thin, weathered looking guy in his 40s who I can already tell is beyond mental. He’s twitching, swallowing hard, blinking quickly and staring intently at mini midget bro. He starts to frantically wave his hands back and forth in large circular motions at the midget and yell, “HELLO!” “HELLO!” as if mini bro is blind and/or deaf. Mini bro takes his ear buds out and gives the mental guy a flat and surprisingly low, “YO.” The mental guy points at the midget and wavers, “You know… I want to ask you something…” At this point, the entire bus is dead silent, anxiously waiting in anticipation for what craziness he’s going to unleash. He points at the midget and sputters with utter concern, “Say, how many meals a day do you eat?” I immediately turn my head to conceal the burst of laughter and utter delight I’m ensuing. Mini bro looks at him blankly and replies, “Uh… I eat a lot,” then puts his ear buds back in. I step down, push through the doors at my stop and let out a loud burst of laughter. Of all things to ask a midget?
So in conclusion to this story, I give you 5 jams I’ve discovered recently that’re so fresh I think even the mini-est of bros and/ or mental maniacs would most def dig:
1) The Irrepressibles is a 10 piece performance orchestra lead by composer/artist Jamie McDermott. Arrow is a magnifying, melody-pop jam that’ll be featured on their upcoming album, Nude – released in October. The vocals, intrumentals + the video are intense, sensual, and totally electrifying.
The Irrepressibles – Arrow (video is prob NSFW)
2) Idris Vicuna aka Eyedress hails from the Philippines and honestly, I wish there was more about him on the interwebz. He does have a blog and a Twitter, so go follow him, then come back tell me more about him. Hah. This is his new shoegaze jam that I can’t get enough of:
Eyedress – Teen Spirits
Okay so I’ll admit, these next three songs aren’t really that new (2011, gasp!), but I’d only even heard of these bands (New Moods, Autre Ne Vuet and Gatekeeper) until the last couple of weeks, so if I haven’t heard of them, then maybe you haven’t fuckin’ heard of them either?…! Plus their catchy jams are so full of synth-electr0-goth-pop greatness, you’ll dig them like a mental guy and a midget should:
3) New Moods consists of Billy Jones from Other Passengers and Melati Malay from Young Magic. They only have two songs, but you can download both of them on bandcamp. Weeee!
New Moods – Playtime
4) There’s like, nothing written about Autre Ne Vuet except an old Pitchfork album review (reviewing older jams) stating that the one-man act behind the “vagina” looking Body EP cover wants to remain anonymous. I bet he’s a midget bro. Regardless, his jams are dancy fancy and “I really want it.” The article says he “shares qualities and a scene with acts like How to Dress Well, Games, and, less directly, soul-aspiring indie bands from Bon Iver to Yeasayer.” Interesting. Now get down!
Autre Ne Vuet – Your Clothes
5) Someone tagged Gatekeeper as “skull disco” on last.fm. HAH. I can see that. I discovered this band because Claire aka Grimes had mentioned them in an interview. She said she saw them in Mexico and it was the best live show she’d ever been to, so of course I had uncover this greatness as well. They’re an electronic duo hailing from Chicago and/or NYC and this song was released on their 2011 EP titled, Giza. They’re dark, experimental, gothic-y and undeniably addicting:
Just yesterday, V Magazine released a stunning cover alongside interviews with three fabulous femme fetale “It” girls in indie, experimental & electro-pop music: Grimes, Charli XCX and Sky Ferreiera. Each of them were interviewed by Elton John, Genesis Breyer P-Orrifge, and Geri Halliwell – Are you fucking kidding me? Who came up w/this ridiculously amazing combination? You can read all three full-length interviews here. The cover soon inspired me to pay homage to Grimes & Charli XCX (sorry Sky) – two of my fav female musicians “on the verge” of total pop stardom.
Claire Boucher aka Grimes shouldn’t be news to you (apologies for assuming – if she is news to you – catch up on your shit! hah). Her latest side projects and/or collaboration(s) might be though. I swear, in every interview I watch of Claire, she seems to be involved in some sort of failed romance with an electro-bro obsessed w/K-pop, who most likely opened for her last show and/or is a fellow Canadian bff. Either way, Claire makes fresh music with these homies too, which is just fine for us because – in typical Grimes fashion – it’s always amazing:
This one’s trippy, industrial and really fucking catchy after the 3rd time. Apparently (and/or obviously?) the song was made in 10 mins, and Grimes produced the video in an hour. Best part: Grimes screeching into a red and black polka dot print phone. ENJOY:
Charli XCX, (Kiss Charli Kiss), the brit goth-pop songstress just recently released her new EP, You’re the One and this is her video premier (via Gorilla vs.Bear):
Charli XCX – You’re the One
This is my all-time favorite Charli XCX song AND video – also recently released on her new EP. The goth-pop jam explodes with synth-tastic-ness and it’ll stay in your head for days. No complaints!
coco stereo 