Architecture In Helsinki is one of Australia’s most infectious and beloved pop bands. Following their internationally acclaimed 2011 album Moment Bends, the band will release their highly anticipated new album NOW + 4EVA this April via the band’s own Casual Workout.
The bands highly polished and unique pop sound reaches an even brighter level on NOW + 4EVA; as the album’s first single “Dream A Little Crazy” vibrantly attests. “Dream A Little Crazy” is a song about letting go and enjoying it thoroughly. Featuring a big sing-along chorus, Architecture in Helsinki debuted the single live at Splendour in the Grass earlier in the year and it had the crowd singing along in harmony.
Today, AIH reveal the “Dream A Little Crazy” official video, which stars frontman Cameron Bird as a mad scientist of sorts working in a bio-tech lab called “The Biological Bakery.”
“Dream A Little Crazy” and NOW + 4EVA were mixed in Los Angeles and Montreal by Francois Tetaz and Damian Taylor. Long time collaborator Tetaz is most notably known for his efforts with Gotye’s full-length album Making Mirrors as the engineer/mixer, as well as working with Kimbra. Taylor has a successful past working with Bjork, Gotye, The Killers and Arcade Fire.
Tracklist for NOW + 4EVA:
01 In The Future
02 When You Walk In The Room
03 I Might Survive
04 Dream A Little Crazy
05 (Boom) 4EVA
06 U Tell Me
07 Echo
08 Born To Convince You
09 2 Time
10 April
11 Before Tomorrow
Multi-platinum, Grammy Award-winning global superstar Kylie Minogue will release a brand new album, entitled Kiss Me Once, on Warner Bros. Records / Parlophone on March 18th. This is the Australian pop icon’s first studio album since 2010’s Aphrodite, and her first since signing to Roc Nation Management.
Kiss Me Once, a return to the dance floor after 2012’s orchestral compilation TheAbbey Road Sessions, was executive produced by Kylie and Sia, who co-wrote the title track. Kylie also teams up with Pharrell Williams, who wrote and produced “I Was Gonna Cancel,” Ariel Rechtshaid (HAIM), MNEK (Bastille), and Greg Kurstin (P!nk).
“Making this album was quite a journey but I loved it,” Kylie says. “It was through a time in my life where there were a lot of changes and new beginnings. I’m thrilled with the response to “Into The Blue,” and I can’t wait for you hear the rest of the record!”
The first single, “Into The Blue“ will be released today, and has already been hailed by critics as “the best pop single you’ll hear all year,” as The Huffington Post put it, going on to praise it as “a bona-fide, smack you between the eyes, instant pop classic” that “manages the rare feat of getting better with every listen.” Idolator raved: “‘Into the Blue’ truly takes off at the seismic hook, where Minogue’s crystalline voice soars over an arena-ready dance breakdown. She sounds optimistic, if not in total bliss.” “Into The Blue” will feature remixes by Vanilla Ace, Roger Sanchez and Patrick Hagenaar.
Kylie exploded onto the music scene in 1987 and has not only become a chart topping, multiple Grammy, BRIT, and ARIA award-winning artist over the past two decades, but also a fashion icon, designer, entrepreneur, actress, and philanthropist. She has remained a force to be reckoned with and a constant musical influence throughout the years, having released eleven studio albums, two live CDs, eight live concert DVDs, plus her Greatest Hits and the Ultimate Kylie double album and multiple video packages. She has released 50 singles internationally, all of which have been hits, and sold more than 70 million albums worldwide.
Kylie broke through in the U.S. with her 2001 smash single “Can’t Get You Out Of My Head,” which reached No.1 in over 40 countries. Her myriad achievements also include performing during the closing ceremonies of the 2000 Sydney Olympics, ranking among VH1’s “Great Women in Music” and Greatest Women of the Video Era,” and inspiring millions around the world as not only a gay icon, but also a breast cancer survivor.
Most recently, Kylie made a triumphant debut as a coach on The Voice UK, with The Guardian exclaiming that she “single-handedly revived the show” as it pulled in record viewing figures. She is also coaching on The Voice Australia, which began filming this year.
Kiss Me Once is available for pre-order in standard and deluxe editions beginning today, Tuesday, January 28th.
Brooklyn-based denitia and sene have mastered the fine art of soulful sensuality with their luscious, smooth-as-silk sound. The duo’s intoxicating music effortlessly melds elements of electronic, hip hop, R&B & soul in equal doses- a reflection of Denitia Odigie & Sene’s respectively diverse musical backgrounds. In addition to a Red Bullsingle & video collaboration on the horizon, denitia and sene have just announced the release of their his and hers LP on vinyl, out February 11!
his and hers LP cut “Casanova,” is a deliciously addictive number that features the intertwining silky vocals of the duo in a “his-and-hers” battle of the hearts. Another stellar LP single, “trip. fall.”was transformed into an evocative live video with the help of Brooklyn collective BKLYN1834, as part of their hand-curated BKLYN AIR series. Matching the sultry dynamic of the song, the video portrays the pair in an intimate hotel room – Denitia’s stirring vocals stripped down as she sings from the shower, and Sene providing the instrumentation.
Black Lips have dropped the first video from their new one Underneath the Rainbow (out 3/18). The ATL Twins/Matt Swinsky co-directed clip for “Boys In The Wood” is a parade of NSFW visuals set in the backwoods: drinking, drugging, fighting, murder, face-pissing, fire dancing, sponge bathing in a coffin – all somehow beautifully rendered.
With the release of their new video “It Can’t Be Simple“, Secret Colours continue to build momentum toward their two releases due out this year in the form of Positive Distractions Part I and Positive Distractions Part II. Directed by Secret Colours’ bassist Eric Hehr, SPIN’s Kyle McGovern writes “the clip [“It Can’t Be Simple”] functions as a three-and-a-half-minute throwback to the days of vintage technology, when listening to vinyl was more than a simple affectation.”
Positive Distraction Part I will be released digitally on February 4, 2014 with Positive Distractions Part II being released digitally on April 29, 2014 to mark Secret Colours return to Texas for 2014’s Austin Psych Fest. Positive Distractions Part I & Part II’s combined physical incarnation will be released on vinyl and cassette on April 29, 2014.
In an era of digitized, recycled beats, Brooklyn-based quintet Jeremy and The Harlequins are a welcome breath of fresh air. A modern, energizing take on the best of classic American rock & roll, the band’s sound conjures inspiration from the likes of Roy Orbison, Buddy Holly, and Elvis Presley. Jeremy and The Harlequins recently released their self-titled debut EP!
Having previously unveiled EP cut “Trip Into The Light,” an up-tempo, unadulterated rock joint with raw vocals & foot-stomping drumbeats, the band now reveals the Ellen Francis-directedaccompanying video- a dark, sultry oeuvre complete with motorcycles, rocking guitars & enigmatic symbolism.
Jeremy and The Harlequins consists of brothers Jeremy & Stevie Fury (We Are The Fury), Craig Bonich (Head Automatica), Nathan Cogan & Patrick Meyer. The band came together somewhat serendipitously, spending less than week in a whirlwind of rehearsals & recorded their debut self-titled EP at Detroit’s famous Tempermill Studios (The White Stripes, Loretta Lynn).
Their sound is international and their ambitions are spot on. The musicians and entertainers of Klischée have been working
meticulously on their electro-swing oriented music, but now in the year 2013 they seem to have definitely found their own signature.
Their latest singles “Tiquette”, “Sometimes” and “Tin Tin” are proof, that no stage is small enough anymore, for the producers Dominique Dreier, Kilian Spinnler and their Crew. Performances all over Europe are part of the agenda even before the release of their LP and it won’t be long until Klischée becomes one of the rather more successful CH-export hits. The five members can look forward to some eventful days and we’re eagerly expecting whereto the musical path these five electro-swingers will lead.
“Big and hopeful and reminds us that life can be hard, but hard can be good” – USA TODAY
“The Dallas-based folk band Fox & The Bird sound like The Decemberists and The Avett Brothers jamming on an ocean voyage. If you like nice harmonies and acoustic instruments, you will likely fall in love with their song “Wreck of the Fallible.” – AMERICAN SONGWRITER
“Local beloveds Fox and the Bird take their straightforward folk sensibility and throw it in a blender on high with beautiful melodies and sing-along, foot-stomping tunes.” – DALLAS OBSERVER”Beautiful folk with a dark side.” – PEGASUS NEWS
A folk-pop band with gang vocals and layered harmonies, Fox and the Bird is a choral collective of rotating songwriters and singers. The band’s characteristically rich, up-beat orchestration is hitched to banjos, accordions, ukuleles & fiddles to form the foundation of a sound reminiscent of hard times and high hopes.
Fox & The Bird’s latest album, Darkest Hours, is a sorrowfully appropriate title for an unapologetically bare-bones, brutally honest folk album. From lyrics chronicling the confusion of lost love in “Ashes” and “Bend” to commentary on the darkly violent tendencies seen in human nature as presented in “Habit” and “Valley,” the album laments hardship, poverty, death, loss… those moments in life when the darkness seems most impenetrable.But while Darkest Hours is a heavy follow-up to the band’s debut Floating Feather, lyrically, their characteristic rich, up-beat orchestration carries us through the darkness with an innate sort of joy and hints at the light that inevitably follows even our darkest of hours.
Fox and the Bird continues to produce and self-release its albums, touring and always committed to music that is made on back porches, in living rooms and on the streets. Darkest Hours is set for release January 14th, and will be available on vinyl, CD and digital formats.
FOX & THE BIRD TOUR DATES
2/26 – Lucky’s Everyday, Wichita, KS
2/27 – Replay Lounge, Lawrence, KS
3/7 – Hi-Tone, Memphis, TN
3/8 – Maxine’s, Hot Springs, AR
Ha Ha Tonkais an unmistakable indie-meets-Southern rock band. Sitting at the crossroads of Americana and indie – where Alabama meets Arcade Fire – the quartet recently released their fourth full-length album, Lessons, via Bloodshot Records.
Now, the band unveil their striking video for Lessons album opener “Dead To The World.”A simultaneously poignant & bittersweet oeuvre, the video premiered with American Songwriter.
Ha Ha Tonka will be heading to Telluride, CO on Dec. 30th for a FREE show at the Sheridan Opera House, which will serve as the party/announcement of the Austin City Limits 40th Anniversary weekend aka The Ride 2014. In March, they will be touring down to SXSW Music Festival, and will then head to Europe for a run of headline dates in May/June.
Musically Amusing 