Category Archives: Check ’em Out!

November 16, 2011 · 3:49 pm

Free Download: Escort – “Makeover”

“The Best Disco Album Of 2011”
– SPIN

“The best New York disco tracks since West End Records’ early-‘80s heyday.”
– Pitchfork

“Escort is New York City’s greatest perpetual buzz band…”
– The Village Voice

Escort has been setting dance floors ablaze with their disco-infused beats, irresistibly catchy hooks and seductive live shows since releasing a series of 12” singles in 2006. The seventeen-member “disco orchestra,” founded by producers Eugene Cho and Dan Balis, and fronted by lead singer Adeline Michèle, features an incredible cast of musicians who have played with everyone from indie-rock titans Arcade Fire to avant-classical luminaries Alarm Will Sound. Escort’s long-awaited debut LP will be released on vinyl and CD on January 31st but is out on iTunes now!

Escort’s self-titled new album pays homage to mutant-pop luminaries such as Kid Creole and the Coconuts & Ian Dury. While embracing the legacy of these forward-thinking but classic acts, Escort has managed to create something strikingly new. Check out the new song “Makeover” below.

Listen/download: Escort – “Makeover”

Opener “CaméleonChameleon” is a theatrical masterpiece about the French serial impostor Frédéric Bourdin, set to a beat that’s equal parts Thriller and the Tom Tom Club. With piercing horns and silky smooth vocals “A Bright New Life” commands you to the dance floor. “Love in Indigo” blends the enormous R&B vocals of Adeline Michèle with lush strings creating a disco extravaganza that is all their own. The tracks, “Makeover” and “Why oh Why” seem to explore the lost possibilities of another era. The 1937 standard “A Sailboat in the Moonlight” is twisted into a lost classic. The album also includes versions of their 12” DJ releases remixed, re-mastered, rearranged, and re-recorded specially for the LP, completing the album as a sonic experience from beginning to end. New Yorkers who haven’t had a chance to catch them live have 2 more chances with a release party DJ event this week and a live disco extravaganza w/Midnight Magic coming up in December.

Escort NYC Shows
11/18: Brooklyn, NY @ Cameo, DJ Release Show
ft. Escort, Prince Languare & DarshanJesrani
12/17: Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg w/Midnight Magic

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November 15, 2011 · 5:11 pm

Kid Sister – “Gucci Rag Top” remix feat. Danny Brown

After some serious time in the studio working on her next full-length album, Kid Sister is releasing a new EP, Kiss & Tell, on November 29th on Fool’s Gold Records. The MC born Melisa Young not only spent 2011 tearing down shows all over North America – from the Magic 8 Ball tour with A-Trak to NYC’s 80,000 deep Electric Zoo festival – but managed to bring that boundless on-stage energy to sessions with some of today’s most exciting producers.

The EP offers four of Kid Sister’s latest tracks with a diverse crew of collaborators. “Mickey” is a club workout from heavy hitting DJ/producer duo Nadastrom (Dave Nada and Matt Nordstrom who are currently helping pilot Skrillex’s sold-out Mothership tour), while “Hide N Seek” pairs Kid Sis with rap absurdist Riff Raff and bass maestros Sinden & 5kin&Bone5. Hip-hop hero Scoop Deville (Snoop, Game, Fat Joe) mans the boards for “Cliq Claq” (as featured in Stella McCartney‘s recent runway shows) as well as a brand-new remix of “Gucci Rag Top,” now featuring a guest verse from fellow Fool’s Gold rapper Danny Brown.

Click image to check out Kid Sister's facebook page

 KISS & TELL TRACK LISTING:

1. Mickey (Produced by Nadastrom)

2. Hide & Seek feat. Riff Raff (Produced by Sinden & 5kinandbone5)

3. Cliq Claq (Produced by Scoop Deville)

4. Gucci Rag Top (Remix) feat. Danny Brown (Produced by Scoop Deville)

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November 15, 2011 · 5:02 pm

Brand New: Skream – “Anticipate”

Skream dropped the appropriately titled single, “Anticipate” feat. Sam Frank on Sunday. This is arguably the catchiest single OWSLA has put out, it was stuck in my head all weekend. Skream is credited for helping to invent Dubstep, pretty cool that he’s putting this out with Skrillex.

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November 15, 2011 · 12:15 pm

Check ‘Em Out: Remember Remember

Click to check out the album on iTunes

Glasgow’s instrumental ensemble Remember Remember released their new album The Quickening on October 11th through Mogwai’s Rock Action Records here in the US. Remember Remember’s musical journey, which began as one guy on stage with a loopstation and a bag of toys, now finds them here with The Quickening, a powerful and exciting listen that promises live experiences just as thrilling. Recorded in early 2011 at Chem 19 Studios in Scotland against a background of tumultuous global events, the new album sees Remember Remember return with the same seven-piece group heard on last year’s “RR Scorpii” EP.

The Quickening is still a playful, colourful record- the music dives deeper into darker, psychedelic territories hinted at on “RR Scorpii.” Pagan waltzes, apocalyptic Egyptian surf and Middle Eastern modes mingle with somber pianos and bleak string interludes, concluding with a duo of songs – “One Happier” and “John Candy,” both bittersweet and stratospheric, creating an ending made of pure, bright light.

Download: Remember Remember – “John Candy”

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November 15, 2011 · 12:02 pm

Newest Love: Ashtar Command

Click image to check out the album on Amazon

Tracklisting

1. Let the Sunshine In

2. The Breakup Song (ft. Priscilla Ahn)

3. Save Me (ft. Alex Ebert)

4. (Walking On) Landmines

5. China

6.Mark IV (ft. Joshua Radin)

7. Rosa (ft. Priscilla Ahn)

8. Gravity (ft. Z Berg)

9. Requiem For Love

10. Hello

11. Salvation

12. That’s How it Is (ft. Har Mar Superstar)

13. Blister of the Spotlight (ft. Rachael Yamagata)

14. All the Stars in Heaven (ft. Priscilla Ahn)

15. Don’t Destroy Us

16. Holding Out For Love

American Sunshine, Ashtar Command’s debut album, evolved organically, a labor of love from veteran musicians Chris Holmes and Brian Liesegang,  American Sunshine is an expansive and coherent album that defies being reduced to a single genre. It is a FANTASTIC album. I knew the band’s name had sounded familiar and once I heard “China” I knew for sure that I’ve heard these guys before. In fact, I heard “China” years ago, so it must have taken a while for the duo to perfect their debut. American Sunshine includes songs of exquisite beauty and ones that unabashedly rock.

The project features a remarkable group of guest artists. Working in identical studios in Los Angeles and Chicago respectively, the duo sent songs back and forth thereby growing fleeting ideas into full-fledged songs. The group enlisted musicians that seemed to suit the individual songs – people they had worked with or been friends with for years.

They were joined by guest vocalists Joshua Radin on “Mark IV,” Alex Ebert of Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros (“Save Me”), Har Mar Superstar (“That’s How It Is”) and Rachel Yamagata (“Blister of the Spotlight”). The dreamy “Rosa,” already in heavy rotation at Los Angeles’ KCRW, is one of two tracks featuring Priscilla Ahn, while Z Berg’s crystal clear vocals provide a stunning counterpoint to the throbbing groove on “Gravity.”

Other guest artists include: Matt Walker (Filter, The Smashing Pumpkins) on drums, Solomon Walker (Morrissey) on bass, Mike Garson (David Bowie) playing piano, drummer Joey Waronker (Beck, R.E.M.), Oliver Kraus (Beth Orton) on cello, Stewart Cole (Edward Sharpe) on horns.

 

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November 9, 2011 · 11:08 am

Check ‘Em Out (+ free download!): Hey Geronimo

Hey Geronimo are a Frankenstein make up of Brisbane indie-pop bands, The Boat People, Blame Ringo, and Montpelier. They’re bringing their kooky, upbeat brand of party music on tour for the release of their first single, “Why Don’t We Do Something?”

Listen/download: Hey Geronimo – “Why Don’t We Do Something?”

 

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November 2, 2011 · 10:25 am

Download: Scattered Trees – “Four Days Straight” (Barbaric Merits Remix)

Scattered Trees share a “Four Days Straight” remix by Barbaric Merits with their fans.

Download: Scattered Trees – “Four Days Straight” (Barbaric Merits Remix)

The Chicago quintet Scattered Trees’ Daytrotter Session show their skilled, multi-layered heartfelt songs HERE. The band premiered their latest video for “Sympathy” with MTV Hive. Directed by Scattered Trees’ guitarist/keyboardist J.M. Harper, “Sympathy” is a stark, poignant exploration of love, loss, and redemption — themes the band touches upon in their recently released full-length record. Praising the video, MTV Hive’s Jason Newman wrote, “The clip is a mini-movie that looks like a deleted scene from Werner Herzog’s soldier-gone-mad epic “Aguirre: The Wrath of God” … it feels more like an artsy, methodical short film than the budget-conscious, lo-fi approach employed by many indie bands.” Watch the video HERE.

Scattered Trees Upcoming Tour Dates:
* – w/ The Parlotones
$ – w/ a Lull
% – w/ Quiet Corrall

11/04: West Hollywood, CA @ Roxy Theatre *
11/05: San Diego, CA @ Casbah *
11/25: Chicago, IL @ Lincoln Hall $ (HOMECOMING THANKSGIVING SHOW)
11/26: Minneapolis, MN @ 7th Street Entry $
11/30: Omaha, NE @ The Waiting Froom %
12/03: Columbia, MO @ Mojo’s

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November 1, 2011 · 1:24 pm

Newest Love + Free Download: Sparkadia – “Mary”

Sparkadia is essentially Alex Burnett who plays with his supporting and touring band. The latest album, The Great Impression, is a great listen, and “Mary” is a great introduction to the record as a whole. “Mary” is a perfect example of Sparkadia’s musical astheic and take on twisted emotions of a story-telling soul. Look out for Sparkadia’s upcoming music video release for a track off The Great Impression by visiting their site here www.sparkadia.com.

The Great Impression by Sparkadia is out now, and can be purchased here.

Download: Sparkadia – “Mary”

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October 28, 2011 · 3:12 pm

Newest Love: Lissi Dancefloor Disaster

I am loving this song! I don’t know whose dad that is in the video, but whatever…he’s cool I guess. Happiness again!

 

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October 26, 2011 · 10:51 am

Wale and Diplo Leak New Track

Wale and Diplo are so proud of their hot new track “Slight Work” that they decided on Twitter to leak it.  “Slight Work,” which is on Wale’s Ambition (album drops on Tuesday, 11/1/11), features Big Sean and was produced by Diplo, who premiered the track yesterday on his Facebook.

 

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