Sebastien Tellier just dropped a great new video for “Russian Attractions” with the help of Air (new carbonated water drink with alcohol!) and I highly encourage you to watch it. Starring an olympic caliber synchronized swim team, the video for the latest track from his new album My God Is Blue is reminiscent of akaleidoscopic Bond title sequence.
In addition to producing the music video, Air and VICE, are hosting an epic free summer dance party series on the west coast in celebration of water getting a lot more exciting. The series kicks off in Los Angeles featuring free Air (booze) and a rare appearance by renegade French electronic artist Sebastien Tellier on June 28, with the series culminating in a colossal San Francisco finale event on August 2, 2012.
You can RSVP for the FREE Vice / Air Launch Parties that kick off this Thursday in LA with Sebastien Tellier here: http://rsvp.vice.com/AirParties/
The tour continues through the summer in the following cities:
July 13: Portland – Lemonade
July 14: Las Vegas – Nadastrom, Treasure Fingers & AC Slater
July 20: Seattle – Z-Trip & Sinden
August 2: San Francisco – Surkin & Sinden
In conjunction with the launch parties, Air invites audiences to submit a photo for a chance to win a free trip to the series finale in San Francisco. Submit via Facebook, Instagram and Twitter by tagging your photo #AirParties, or visiting Drinkair.com/PhotoContest.
Canadian electro-pop trio Dragonette is preparing to release their third studio album Bodyparts on September 25th. Along with recently released singles “The Right Woman” and “Let It Go,” the Toronto band has revealed new album track. “Rocket Ship” is a groove-worthy track with a pulsating synth line. Singer Martina’s lyrics and hungry vocals add a layer of sensuality to the track with lines like “I want you to pin me like a poster to the wall.” “Rocket Ship” is just a glimpse into Bodyparts, an anthemic album of edgy electronic dance rock music that the group is notorious for.
Dragonette has teamed up with Talenthouse for a fan-challenge to create a version of the band’s album track “Untouchable” based on the provided lyrics alone, before hearing the band’s version! Among other great prizes, the winning entry will be the official b-side to a future single. Add music, do it as poetry, make it a film – whatever you like – make it yours!
Contest begins today and ends August 17. Click HERE for entry and submission details!
Check out this fun video for the second single from The Griswolds, “Heart of a Lion.” The video was filmed over one day in a film studio, and took 5 days to clean up. The Griswolds are now banned from that studio.
The band have had a fast start to 2012, with support shows around Australia with Last Dinosaurs, Millions, San Cisco, Hey Geronimo, and Kids of 88. Their first single, “Mississippi” has also received high acclaim, featured on over 100 blogs worldwide, and charting on college radio in the USA. Both songs are from an upcoming EP due for release in August 2012.
Dub Pistols have spent the past 15 years winning over audiences globally with their infectious blend of ska, dub, hip-hop, electronic and punk. Now, Barry Ashworth and his motley crew are back with their fifth studio album, Worshipping The Dollar. Written on the road as a follow-up to 2009’s acclaimed Rum & Coke, the album will be released July 3rd on Sunday Best Recordings. Single “Mucky Weekend” features guest vocals from UK hip-hop legend Rodney P, who guests on several album tracks. The band released an electrically-charged video for the track that takes viewers on a fast-paced ride along with them for a night of mayhem. Check out the energetic “Mucky Weekend” video above.
Worshipping The Dollar sees a return to lyrical themes explored on earlier albums, with deeper, more conscious lyrics and what Ashworth describes as “a lot of food for thought.” The album’s title is taken from a track voiced by Akala, Ms Dynamite’s brother. “Living in squalor, worshipping the dollar, there is no flag large enough to wrap around the horror” — so runs a key lyric on the anti-war song ‘West End Stories,’ a scathing indictment of US imperialism. In addition to Rodney P, the album’s guest vocalists include Lindy Layton, who adds her smooth sound to “Rock Steady,” Barbados reggae legends Red Star Lion, who appear on the shimmering, horn-heavy track “Alive,” and London’s Dan Bowskill, plus regular Dubs MCs TK and Darrison. Having played sold-out shows across Europe, Dub Pistols were voted Best Live Act by DJ Mag last year and will continue to perform scores of live shows worldwide, kicking off with a handful of UK festivals this summer. Stay tuned for more from Dub Pistols as they invade the US!
MIKA has announced his new album The Origin of Love, due out on Universal Republic this fall. Following up his multi-million selling worldwide smash ‘The Boy Who Knew Too Much’ (which debuted in every single iTunes top ten around the world), The Origin of Love is Mika’s third album and will be preceded by an EP this summer. The anthemic brand new single “Celebrate” is an epic slice of cool modern pop destined to be a global summer soundtrack, written by Mika, produced by Nick Littlemore from Empire of the Sun and featuring Pharrell Williams on vocals.
Completely self-created and self-imagined, The Origin of Love has been a two-year DIY labour of love for Mika who has put together everything on the record himself, flying around the world under his own steam personally assembling an incredible roll call of collaborators – in addition to Nick Littlemore and Pharrell Williams Mika has also worked with William Orbit, Benny Benassi, FrYars, Greg Wells (Katy Perry, Adele), Klas Ahlund (Robyn’s Body Talk) as well as working with some brand new unsigned musicians he found himself online.
Chicago DJ duo, The Hood Internet, featuring STV SLV and ABX, are releasing their debut album of original material, FEAT with Decon on September 18, 2012. The Hood Internet are infamous for their mixtapes featuring blends of a wide array of artists including the late Whitney Houston, Justice, Fleetwood Mac, Jay-Z and more. Their foray into production work has found them collaborating on new songs with hyped rappers and artists from across the nation that range from Chicago artist Show You Suck to Black Moth Super Rainbow’s Tobacco. This release marks The Hood Internet’s first completely original, sample-free album with vocal and instrumental collaborations highlighting different artists including erudite rapping by Psalm One on ‘More Fun’, synth-pop trio Class Actress alongside Canadian rapper Cadence Weapon on the chimerical ‘Critical Captions’ and the infectious track ‘Won’t Fuck Us Over’ featuring the raw energy of Chicago group BBU.
Since the inaugural release of their first, critically acclaimed mixtape in 2007, their rise to glory has steadily landed them performances at festivals like Lollapalooza, Bonnaroo, SXSW, CMJ, Pitchfork’s #Offline, Mad Decent Block Party, and The Roots Picnic. When they aren’t busy playing huge festivals or touring the country, they’re releasing upwards of 500 mixes on their website, leading to millions of free downloads since their start in 2007. The Hood Internet will be going on a west coast run with Psalm One and Tanya Morgan in July and August. A national tour will take place in September and October, coinciding with the album’s release.
FEAT TRACK LISTING:
Critical Captions (ft Class Actress, Cadence Weapon)
One For The Record Books (ft AC Newman, Sims)
More Fun (ft Psalm One, TOBAXXO)
Nothing Should Be A Surprise (ft Isaiah Toothtaker, Show You Suck)
Exonerated (ft Zambri, Hooray For Earth, Junior Pande)
Won’t Fuck Us Over (ft BBU, Annie Hart)
Do You Give Up Now? (ft Donwill, My Gold Mask, Junior Pande)
Our Finest China (ft The Rosebuds, Astronautalis)
Uzi Water Gun (ft Millionyoung, Kenan Bell, The Chain Gang Of 1974)
These Things Are Nice (ft Kid Static, Slow Witch, Kleenex Girl Wonder)
“Here’s the first song I wanted you to hear from my new record, “The Origin of Love.” This is not a single but a song I really love and wanted to share with you.
I commissioned a short film which I felt perfectly captured the sentiment of the track. The film was directed by Iouri Philippe Paillé and was made in Montreal. This is where the entire album started taking shape a year ago with Nick Littlemore at Planet Studios in Papineau.
I can’t wait for you to hear the first single and the rest of the album very, very soon.” – Mika
Bloc Party will release their fourth album, appropriately titled Four on August 21st. The long-awaited return from their indefinite hiatus finds the band playing select dates this summer, making their debut at HARD Summer in Los Angeles August 3rd & 4th.
Watch the trailer below for some teasers on what to expect from Four.
Dub Pistols will be releasing their fifth album, Worshipping The Dollar, July 3rd via Sunday Best Recordings. The band was named “Best Live Act” by DJ Mag and has written music for the new Rob Lowe movie “Knife’s Edge.” Worshipping The Dollar features guest vocals from UK hip hop legend Rodney P and up-and-coming Barbados reggae act Red Star Lion.
Musically Amusing 