Tagged: Montreal

Braids is Finally Back! Listen to New Jams – In Kind + Amends

BraidsRaphaelle Standell-Preston is a busy woman. As the vocal half of the ambient dream-pop “love project,” Blue Hawaii, and vocalist in the electro-pop “art rockers” group, Braids, Raphaelle’s dynamic voice is keeping electro music in Montreal alive and beautiful.

Blue Hawaii has been in the spotlight as of late – They released a new album this year, Untogether, which was received with incredible praise, and headed out on a whirlwind tour with electro Canadian comrades and bffs, Purity Ring. However, Braids is now having its well-deserved shining moment… again.

Braids made waves with their 2011 debut LP, Native Speaker, establishing themselves as a “promising band.” With two new recent releases, “In Kind” and “Amends,” Braids is back and it appears they’re keeping up with the reputation. However, the blend and undistinguished sound between Blue Hawaii and Braids has become even more apparent amongst fans – but can you really complain? Have a listen and decide:

Braids‘ 12 inch, In Kind//Amends is due out 6/11/13 and their highly anticipated sophomore album, Flourish//Perish is due out 8/20/13 via Arbutus, Full Time Hobby, and Flemish Eye.

Hallelujah! New: Mozart’s Sister – “Mozart’s Sister”

Mozart's SisterEXCITING NEWS y’all! Mozart’s Sister, one of the (by far) most talented, yet underrated artists has released another, and self-titled track: “Mozart’s Sister“(!)

Montreal-hailing Caila Thompson-Hannant, (formerly of Shapes and Sizes)  is the one-woman electro-pop Queen behind the project known as Mozart’s Sister. She dons just a handful of songs via her self-released Dear Fear EP from 2011, yet each track is drenched with pure electro-pop bliss. It’s simply astonishing that with Mozart’s Sister‘s undeniably catchy beats and soaring, soulful vocals, she hasn’t skyrocketed to major superstardom, because it’s certainly deserved. However, it looks like things are certainly in motion. Mozart’s Sister made an appearance at CMJ music marathon in 2012 catching the eye of a Pitchfork-ist, and has partnered up with Merok Records (Crystal Castles, Majical Cloudz, Active Child, Giza).

“Mozart’s Sister” is the lead track from Mozart’s Sister‘s forthcoming EP, Hello, due out February 25th – Exciting times! Find her on Facebook, Twitter, SoundCloud and/or Bandcamp. ENJOY:

Mozart’s Sister – “Mozart’s Sister”

Fresh Tracks – NEW: Main Attrakionz, Absofacto, Naomi Punk, Blue Hawaii

Main Attrakionz

Main Attrakionz

“Cloud Body” is the latest addictive, billowy, and appropriately titled, “cloud rap” single from Main Attrakionz‘s recently released LP, Bossalinis & Fooliyones via Young One. The “best duo ever” consisting of Oakland hailing rappers, MondreM.A.N. and Squadda B, have certainly proved with this track that “cloud rap is that shit that you can trust.”

Cloud Body (prod. by Grown Folk) – Main Attrakionz

I keep finding myself obsessively listening to “Backfire,” the latest track by Jonathan Visger aka Absofacto. The solo “experimental pop” project is an offshoot from Visger’s other band, Mason Proper. According to Paste Magazine, Visger teamed up with Mason Proper guitarist, Brian Konicek, to record “Backfire” in a basement – Sounds… typical, but the dreamy indie rock track is anything but:

Absofacto – Backfire

Gritty grunge, dream-pop, noise-rock, garage punk… this is what I think of when I listen to Naomi Punk. And, when I listen to the Olympia/Seattle-based trio’s track, “The Spell,” I wanna trip out, rock out, and score some sweet flannel. “The Spell” is off of Naomi Punk‘s second full-length album, The Feeling, originally released on vinyl. So technically this is a (re)fresh, as Captured Tracks has recently reissued the LP digitally, on CD, and on CLEAR vinyl – Ooh fancy!

Naomi Punk – The Spell

Montreal’s ambient dream-pop “love project,” Blue Hawaii, has just released a two-part single, (I see what you did there), “In Two” and “In Two II.” Back in August, Grimes displayed her absolute admiration for Blue Hawaii’s upcoming LP, Untogether (due in early 2013), via the Twittersphere, calling it the “biggest album of next year, WOWWWWWWWW.”

Blue Hawaii

Raph/Raphaelle Standell-Preston (of Braids) and Agor/Alex Cowan from Blue Hawaii

Blue Hawaii – In Two

Blue Hawaii – In Two II

Mozart’s Sister Saves the Day

A homie of mine introduced me to Mozart’s Sister back in November of 2011, and I haven’t been able to kick her (figuratively speaking) since… and I mean this as the highest form of flattery. As an avid and almost rabid new music scourer, moving on the next best thing within a week is par for the course, but Mozart’s Sister isn’t going anywhere and (i’m hoping) this “static electro-pop” songstress is gonna be big.

Hailing from Montréal (Oh Canada, you’re just too good!), Caila Thompson-Hannant, formerly of Shapes and Sizes, has only produced a handful of sickeningly addictive pop songs, but they’re electro-tastic enough to make an impact. Chained Together is her newest gem of glorious pop proportions from her 3-track DEAR FEAR EP.

Mozart’s Sister – Don’t Leave it to Me – This is my all-time favorite Mozart’s Sister jam. I can’t tell you how many times i’ve listened to it on repeat:

Mozart’s Sister – Single Status