After releasing an EP last March, Gold Fields will release their debut LP, Black Sun, on February 26th via Astralwerks. The Australian quintet has toured with Diamond Rings, Crystal Castles, SBTRKT & Metric, and will be heading out their first US co-headlining tour early next month. Having played 2012’s SXSW and CMJ, the band has already received praise from the New York Times, Billboard, FILTER, & more. Check out the streams below, Diamond Rings and Gold Fields remixed each other!
French duo Total Warr formed when longtime friends Kiki and Guigui joined forces with the goal of creating fun, energetic pop songs. Since then, they’ve made their mark with a handful of singles and EPs that have earned praise from Stereogum, FADER, RCRD LBL, and more. Now, Total Warr is back with a new three-track EP that includes guest vocals from The Death Setand an electrically-charged Pixies cover. Packed with irresistible hooks and sing-along choruses, the Loisy EP will be released digitally on January 29th.
Total Warr’s “Where Is My Mind” (Pixies cover) turns the hit into a buzzing, beat-driven jam complete with a sample from “Empire State of Mind.” The video, which premiered with PAPER Magazine earlier today, builds from a simple live performance of the classic into an all out house party full of entertaining characters.
“Bambastard,” which features guest vocals from The Death Set’s Johnny Siera, opens the EP with a rich blend of electric guitar, synths, and layer upon layer of harmonies, all set to an infectious beat. “Always Me” slows things down with a swirling foundation of vocals and instrumentation that builds to an explosive climax.
New York based dream-pop group Hooray For Earth will be kicking off the new year with a string of dates throughout the Northeast and Midwest. The group is fresh out of the studio with producer Chris Coady (TV on the Radio, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Grizzly Bear, Blonde Redhead, etc) recording their follow-up to the acclaimed True Loves out on Dovecote Records.
The group will bring a dizzying amount of distortion and ethereal vocals to the masses starting January 13th in Washington before winding through the midwest including a performance at TNK Festival in Chicago on January 16th with Bear in Heaven, The-Drum and Dovecote labelmates Supreme Cuts, before wrapping up with a hometown show at Knitting Factory on January 31st. In celebration of these dates, check out the brand new music video for “Never/Figure”. This two-part music video includes both tracks from the band’s single release back in August. Directed by Milton Ladd, the video weaves a sinuous narrative. Follow the band into an affected world of psychosis, confusion, and memory replete with smoke signals, helicopters, levitating objects and more. Frantic visions and effects combine, on land and in the air, to conceive an alternate reality in which there are only questions.
HOORAY FOR EARTH TOUR DATES:
01-13-13 – Black Cat (Backstage) – Washington, DC # TIX
Gold Fields’ debut album Black Sun is armed with pop hooks, tribal beats, danceable rhythms, and plenty of emotion. With a larger-than-life live show, the the Australian quintet has already shared stages with acts like Crystal Castles, Metric, Pnau and SBTRKT.
After releasing their debut EP earlier this year, the band settled down to record their first LP – a task that would take the band on a journey they never expected. Following recording sessions with Mickey Petralia (Flight of the Conchords, Ladytron, Peaches) and manager Scott Horscroft (The Presets, Sleepy Jackson, Silverchair), the band’s record came together after several weeks of recording while holed up in a singer Mark Fuller’s family garage. The result of relentless work and playful experimentation, Black Sun will be released February 26th via Astralwerks.
Single “Dark Again” is a pop gem flecked with driving guitars and bright synths, all building to a heavy-hitting chorus that’s sure to make you move. The accompanying video features mysterious scenes full of graphic symbols against a black and white backdrop and model Shaun Ross who has previously starred in videos with Katy Perry, Kanye West & Beyonce.
Hitting listeners with a power-packed punch from its first note, Black Sun opens with the infectious “Meet My Friends,” a bass and percussion-driven track with haunting vocals echoing in the background. Tracks like “Ice” with its dreamy, swirling layers and the sincere lyrics of “Happy Boy” showcase the band’s vulnerable side. The album also contains “Treehouse” and the electrically-charged “Moves,” which you can watch a live performance of, here.
Stay tuned for more from Gold Fields soon, including US tour dates!
C2C will unveil their first full-length album, Tetra, on February 11, 2013 via Casablanca Records. It’s preceded by the eclectic electro, jazz, blues, and dance gumbo of the invigorating track, “Happy” [featuring Derek Martin].
The phenomenal French electronic producers also recently dropped the digital EP, Down the Road, firmly planting their feet in the U.S. scene in the process. On “Happy,” these four turntable sorcerers—20Syl, Greem, Pfel, and Atom—mix a myriad of styles into a downright sizzling stew. Combining an organic swing with intricate scratching, the track bridges boundaries in a manner that electronic dance music has never seen before.
Since debuting on December 12, the music video has already racked up almost 100k views and counting. Boasting immense turntable talent and an adventurous knack for experimentation and production, this album will surely introduce the world to C2C.
This isn’t their first time around the block though. C2C initially came together in 1998, formed by the four high school friends. From 2003-2006, they conquered the DMC Championship, winning four times in a row and garnering a rabid worldwide fan base. However, 2006 marked the beginning of a four-year break for other projects, Hocus Pocus and Beat Torrent, before these four musicians would reform. Now, C2C have returned, and they have their sights set on dance floor domination uniquely mixing live instrumentation and turntable fireworks.
C2C is not yet (see: yet) a household name in the US for electronic and urban music enthusiasts, but the three-letter name is synonymous in the world of “turntablism,” a highly technical yet intensely musical discipline, with performers using turntables as a bona fide musical instrument.
Brooklyn duo The Echo Friendly just did a live session for ‘Honey I’m Home’, a live session series made by The Wild Honey Pie. Each episode has a different band perform a couple songs at Sounds Like a Fire home studio in Brooklyn. Then, they give ’em away for free on their website!
This episode is The Echo Friendly which is Jake Rabinach and Shannon Esper, singing tracks “Same Mistakes” and “Worried” which will be on their upcoming debut album.
Caught a Ghost is a new project from LA-based songwriter and producer Jesse Nolan, features a classic Motown and Stax sensibility mixed with modern samples, synths and beats. In its live incarnation, Caught A Ghost features an 8-piece band including a 3-piece horn section and visual projections tailor-made for each song.
Jesse describes the name of his band as referring to the sensation of being filled with the spirit of the past. “It’s an old expression” he says, “musicians used to say you caught a ghost if you gave a good performance. Like you were possessed.” It is this sort reverence for the music of bygone eras combined with his musical dexterity that makes Caught A Ghost so intriguing.
On and off the stage, Caught A Ghost is quickly gaining new fans. “Connected” recently premiered on ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy and My Old Kentucky Blog. “Time Go” was featured on the NBC show SUITS and by Paste Magazine. And “Hold Out” was praised by Rolling Stone and it’s music video by NYLON.
Nightworks, the debut EP from Caught A Ghost, will be released via +1 Records on February 12th, 2013.
“Closer,” off of their upcoming seventh studio album, Heartthrob (out January 29th on WBR), initially premiered on RollingStone.com and proved to be internet gold, peaking at #1 on Hype Machine’s “Most Popular” chart that same week. Tegan and Sara also recently released the cover art and track listing for Heartthrob.
Musically Amusing 