Tag Archives: new album

November 20, 2019 · 3:43 pm

Holy Freaking Crap! New Music From of Montreal

Who’s excited!?!

of Montreal is back, and on UR FUN, Kevin Barnes is more candid than ever. The public diary that started with classic album Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer? and earned love from The Guardian, Pitchfork, NME, SPIN, etc. has continued into a growing string of increasingly personal works. After several albums recorded with collaborators and various band members, Barnes opted to record this one completely alone. In his home studio in Athens, Georgia, Barnes isolated himself in creative hibernation, working obsessive 12-plus hour days arranging manic synth and drum machine maps on a computer screen with bouncy, melodic basslines, glam guitars and layered vocal harmonies. The result is ten concise electro-pop songs that expose the depths of his current life, his private thoughts (both optimistic and brooding) and his passionate relationship with songwriter Christina Schnieder. Check out the new track “Peace To All Freaks” below.

 

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April 3, 2019 · 2:15 pm

New Music From Holy Ghost!

Photo: Harry McNally

Crafting each sound from scratch with unapologetic, exacting precision, Holy Ghost!’s penchant for in-the-studio perfectionism has delivered hit after hit to the dancefloor. This analog approach to “electronic” music heavily informs the band’s third album Work coming June 21, 2019 on West End Records.

Available for pre-order today, Work features the brand new song “Escape From Los Angeles”(out today) plus previously released songs Anxious” and “Epton On Broadway (Part I & Part II)”. It follows the group’s two previous albums, 2013’s Dynamics and 2011’s eponymous debut (both via DFA) and isfirst full-length LP to come out on the iconic West End Records label in more than 30-years!

A return to the heady ethos that drove Holy Ghost!’s earliest releases, Work sees New York City natives Alex Frankel and Nick Millhiser revisit the freedom from expectations that suffused their 2011 self-titled debut full-length. It was a situation that stemmed partly from circumstances: They dismantled their basement Brooklyn studio and moved to a small room that a few musician friends were renting above a doctor’s office (incidentally the same address where they mixed Holy Ghost!). Due to space limitations, they pared their extensive gear collection down to just two synths, a Yamaha CS80 and a Mini Moog. “Not necessarily the bare necessities, but what would make for the most interesting limited palette,” says Millhiser. “David Bowie didn’t have every fucking synthesizer on earth to make Low. He had two. And that’s one of my favorite synth records of all time.”

The 12-song collection features the buoyant but bittersweet, “Do This” which interweaves ambient chatter from a studio session with a Nile Rodgers-esque guitar, “Nicky Buckingham’s” Fleetwood Mac-inspired riffs and swelling strings are eerily danceable, whereas “Heaven Knows What” – the band’s slowest track to date – showcases an emotional depth and range only hinted at in past releases. Featuring the talents of musical peers including Sinkane’s Ahmed Gallab, Juan Maclean and LCD Soundsystem’s Nancy Whang, Rob Moose (Bon Iver, Paul Simon, David Bowie) and Alex Epton (Neon Indian, David Byrne), Work transcends its physical constraints to capture a spectrum of vibes that remain true to Holy Ghost!’s reverence for the art and craft of dance music.

Work Tracklist:

Epton on Broadway Part I

Epton on Broadway Part II

Anxious

Heaven Knows What

Nicky Buckingham

Do This

One For Pete

My Happy House

Heaven Forbid

Soon

Slow Burn

Escape From Los Angeles

 

Upcoming Holy Ghost! Live Shows:

04-26 San Francisco, CA – The Independent

04-27 Los Angeles, CA – Globe Theatre

05-03 Washington, DC – U Street Music Hall

05-09 Guadalajara, México – Corona Capital at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez

06-21 New York, NY – Bowery Ballroom (Album Release Show)

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February 18, 2019 · 3:21 pm

GRiZ – “A New Day” (ft. Matisyahu)

Check out the next single “A New Day (feat. Matisyahu),” from GRiZ’s new upcoming album Ride Waves. The song was written days after last year’s tragedy at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, FL and aims to spread a message of peace, positivity, and love while sparking inspiration for change.

“Matisyahu’s voice speaks volumes to so many people. He has this unique ‘way’ of speaking and I am infinitely humbled that we were able to link up an idea that I think is very necessary today.” – GRiZ

“The song kind of wrote itself and came at a time when this was obviously what was going on around us and in our consciousness. When we walked into the studio we knew we wanted to make a meaningful song but we didn’t walk in there with this specific intention (addressing gun violence). But that’s what ended up coming out. When we came into that artistic place where we were like “let’s open up and figure out what is going on inside of us’, this is what rose to the top.” – Matisyahu

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January 22, 2019 · 3:02 pm

TOURIST – “Emily”

Photo: Daniella Maiorano

Pioneering UK producer and composer Tourist (William Phillips) announces Everyday, the follow-up to his critically acclaimed album U (2016), set for release on February 15th. The news is joined by the release of “Emily”, a deeply rich and shimmering upbeat new single which follows “Hearts”, “Someone Else” and the mesmerising “Apollo” from 2018. Starting with a sparkling vocal sample and picking up into a triumphant swell of synths that bounce along with a bristling house beat, “Emily” is a prime example of what makes Tourist one of electronic music’s most talked about artists.

Considered an “artist’s artist”, Tourist’s fans include the likes of Flume and Porter Robinson who have expressed their admiration for his past releases. After his self-titled debut EP (2012), Tonight EP (2013) and Patterns EP (2014) featuring guest appearances by the stunningly talented Lianne La Havas and Will Heard, Tourist went on to win the GRAMMY for co-writing Sam Smith’s breakthrough single “Stay With Me”.

The artwork for Everyday comes from acclaimed British photographer Nigel Shafran who also directed the minimalist yet quietly captivating video for “Apollo”. Tourist said of his approach to making music: “I’m interested in exploring human themes through sound. Family, mental health, loss, love. I sit at home by myself most days, writing music. It’s quite an insular life, and it can be claustrophobic but I suppose much of my new music is an attempt to produce work that is outwardly facing. I want my music to connect and to tell a human story through samples, sounds and melody.”

In 2018 Tourist revealed Tourist Essentials – a collection of works dating back to 2012 curated into one creative piece. Building detailed soundscapes and bittersweet dance tracks, William embraces a wide scope of song-making encompassing a diverse artistic approach to music.

Tourist will be heading back to North America shores for appearances in Boston, Chicago, New York, Seattle and the run ends at San Francisco’s Noisepop.

Photo: Daniella Maiorano

Everyday tracklisting:
1. Awake
2. Emily
3. Someone Else
4. Love Theme
5. Pieces
6. Gin Under The Sink
7. Apollo
8. Hearts
9. Violet
10. Affection

TOURIST live dates:
02/20/19 – Boston, MA @ Sonia
02/21/19 – Chicago, IL @ Sleeping Village
02/23/19 – Brooklyn, NY @ King’s Hall
02/26/19 – Seattle, WA @ Neumos
03/01/19 – San Francisco, CA @ Noise Pop
03/09/19 – Sydney, AUS @ Days Like This Festival
03/10/19 – Victoria, AUS @ Pitch Music & Arts Festival
03/16/19 – Singapore, MY @ Kilo Lounge
03/22/19 – Dublin, IE @ Academy Green Room
03/23/19 – Manchester, UK @ YES (SOLD OUT)
03/27/19 – Bristol, UK @ Thekla
03/28/19 – London, UK @ EartH

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April 13, 2018 · 2:11 pm

Another New Marian Hill Track Before Coachella Performance Tomorrow

Photo: Shervin Lainez

Today, platinum-certified duo Marian Hill drops their latest track, “Wish You Would,” off of Unusual. The song arrives ahead of their performance at Coachella tomorrow at 3:25PM – 4:10PM PT at the Outdoor Theatre, which will include a special guest appearance. Listen to “Wish You Would” below.

Of the song, Marian Hill says, “‘Wish You Would’ is all about tension. The chord progression oscillates between two chords a half step apart, never quite resolving, and the lyrics are all about wishing something could happen while knowing it cannot. You want someone, but they’re unavailable. And you’re actually unavailable as well. But sometimes that only makes the wanting more powerful. ‘Wish You Would’ hangs perpetually in that state of almost, and the sneaky sweetness that comes with it.”

Marian Hill debuted a short episode for “Wish You Would,” which is the fifth of ten one-minute visual episodes the duo conceptualized for each song off the upcoming album—watch it here. “Wish You Would” follows previously-released tracks, “Differently” and “Subtle Thing.” “Differently” was produced by Marian Hill and notable Canadian producer, Boi-1da (Drake, Rihanna, Kendrick Lamar, Jay Z, Lana Del Rey).

The duo’s sophomore album, Unusual, is set for release on May 11th. The album features ten tracks written and produced by Jeremy Lloyd (production/songwriting) and Samantha Gongol (vocals/songwriting) of Marian Hill. See the full Unusual tracklist below. Pre-order Unusual now here.

In celebration of Unusual, Marian Hill are currently on a full-scale North American headline tour. Billed as the “UNUSUAL” tour, Los Angeles-based singer and producer Michl is serving as support. The tour kicked off April 12 in Los Angeles at The Fonda Theatre and includes stops in Brooklyn, Boston, San Francisco, Chicago, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C. and more. See the full list of tour dates below. Tickets are available now via MarianHillMusic.com.

UNUSUAL TRACKLIST
01. “Subtle Thing”
02. “Differently”
03. “All Night Long”
04. “Don’t Miss You”
05. “Wish You Would”
06. “Don’t Do It”
07. “Sideways”
08. “No Hesitation”
09. “Listening”
10. “Go Quietly”

“UNUSUAL” TOUR DATES:
April 17            Portland, Oregon                    Crystal Ballroom
April 18            Seattle, Washington               The Showbox
April 20            San Francisco, California       Warfield Theatre
April 23            San Diego, California             The Observatory North Park
April 24            Phoenix, Arizona                    The Van Buren
April 26            Denver , Colorado                  Ogden Theatre
April 27            Kansas City, Missouri             The Truman
April 28            St. Louis, MO                          Delmar Hall
April 30            Austin, Texas                           Emo’s
May 1              Dallas, Texas                           House of Blues
May 2              New Orleans, Louisiana          Republic
May 4              Tampa, Florida                        The Orpheum
May 5              Birmingham, Alabama             Saturn
May 6              Nashville, Tennessee              Marathon Music Works
May 8              Philadelphia, Pennsylvania     Union Transfer
May 9              Washington, DC                      9:30 Club
May 11            Brooklyn, New York                 Brooklyn Steel
May 12            Boston, Massachusetts           Royale
May 13            Toronto, Ontario                      The Mod Club
May 15            Chicago, Illinois                       Metro
May 16            St. Paul, Minnesota                 Palace Theatre

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April 3, 2018 · 1:51 pm

Marian Hill – “Differently” + Tour Dates

Photo: Shervin Lainez

Platinum-certified Philadelphia duo Marian Hill’s highly anticipated sophomore album, Unusual, is set for release on May 11th. The album features ten tracks written and produced by Jeremy Lloyd (production/songwriting) and Samantha Gongol (vocals/songwriting) of Marian Hill.

Marian Hill debuts a new track, “Differently,” off of Unusual.  “Differently” was produced by Marian Hill and notable Canadian producer Boi-1da (Drake, Rihanna, Kendrick Lamar, Jay-Z, Nicki Minaj, Lana Del Rey). Marian Hill recently released a short episode for “Differently,” which is the second of ten one-minute visual episodes the duo conceptualized for each song off the upcoming album—watch it below:

“Differently” follows Marian Hill’s previously released single, “Subtle Thing,” off of Unusual—watch the “Subtle Thing” video below:

 Of their upcoming album, Jeremy Lloyd of Marian Hill says, “We made this album when ‘Down’ was having a moment, and we were reckoning with the fact that our music was now officially pop in the most literal sense. Our favorite pop songs have an intangible quality, something that sets them apart from just about anything else. And so, we pushed ourselves to make many, many unusual pop songs in different cities and tour buses, narrowed them down to a tight 10 and built a world for them to live in.”

Samantha Gongol chimes in, “People often think Marian Hill is the name of a woman, but we are two songwriters who made a name for ourselves by making minimal, strong, sexy, confident music. Unusual is a continuation of that vision, where women are in control even in the most vulnerable of moments. We don’t feel strong and confident all the time, but we hope that when you listen to our music, it makes you feel that way.”

In celebration of Unusual, Marian Hill will embark on a full-scale North American headline tour this spring, including a stop at Coachella. Billed as the “UNUSUAL” tour, Los Angeles-based singer and producer Michl will serve as support. The tour kicks off April 12 in Los Angeles at The Theatre at Ace Hotel and includes stops in Brooklyn, Boston, San Francisco, Chicago, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C. and more. See the full list of tour dates below. Tickets are available now via MarianHillMusic.com.

“UNUSUAL” TOUR DATES:
April 12            Los Angeles, California          The Theatre at Ace Hotel
April 17            Portland, Oregon                    Crystal Ballroom
April 18            Seattle, Washington               The Showbox
April 20            San Francisco, California       Warfield Theatre
April 23            San Diego, California             The Observatory North Park
April 24            Phoenix, Arizona                    The Van Buren
April 26            Denver , Colorado                  Ogden Theatre
April 27            Kansas City, Missouri             The Truman
April 28            St. Louis, MO                          Delmar Hall
April 30            Austin, Texas                           Emo’s
May 1              Dallas, Texas                           House of Blues
May 2              New Orleans, Louisiana          Republic
May 4              Tampa, Florida                        The Orpheum
May 5              Birmingham, Alabama             Saturn
May 6              Nashville, Tennessee              Marathon Music Works
May 8              Philadelphia, Pennsylvania     Union Transfer
May 9              Washington, DC                      9:30 Club
May 11            Brooklyn, New York                 Brooklyn Steel
May 12            Boston, Massachusetts           Royale
May 13            Toronto, Ontario                      The Mod Club
May 15            Chicago, Illinois                       Metro
May 16            St. Paul, Minnesota                 Palace Theatre

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April 3, 2018 · 1:01 pm

New Music From Said The Whale

“Though fewer in number, the pulse between the remaining members has grown louder and more confident than ever before.” – NYLON

“Bursts of electronic bass compliment bright synths and bittersweet vocals” – Consequence of Sound

“An explosive synth-backed outpouring” – Noisey

“Their best effort yet.” – CBC Music

JUNO Award-winning chart-toppers Said The Whale have announced a deluxe edition release of their 2017 LP As Long As Your Eyes Are Wide via Hidden Pony Records. Released one year after the original on March 30, the album includes 10 additional tracks, 5 B-sides, 4 acoustic versions, and 1 new cover song. To celebrate the release, the band has shared one of the previously unreleased tracks “Congratulations”.

Previously operating as a five-piece, the current trio – made up of frontmen Tyler Bancroft and Ben Worcester and keyboardist Jaycelyn Brown – have created their most collaborative, focused record to date. Previous releases highlighted the contrast between the two founders’ eclectic rock influences and salt-of-the-earth folksiness. Here, their styles become one. Despite the album’s many adventurous sonic forays, it remains true to the spirit of their classic work. At its core, As Long As Your Eyes Are Wide is a singer-songwriter record, guided by introspective lyrics and alchemical group harmonies from Ben, Tyler and Jaycelyn.

Additionally, the band has released a 5 episode podcast titled Demoitis. Each episode explores a song from As Long As Your Eyes Are Wide as well as featuring discussions with peers in the Canadian music scene such as Max Kerman (Arkells), Graham Wright (Tokyo Police Club), Ryan Guldemond (Mother Mother) and more.

As Long As Your Eyes Are Wide: Deluxe Edition + B-Sides is available via the band’s website, Spotify, and Apple Music.

 

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March 21, 2018 · 10:39 am

DATAROCK – Back After 9 Years!

“…this band can nail any song they want, cheekiness be damned” – Pitchfork
“A note-perfect tale of nerd love from two Norwegian dance rockers” – Rolling Stone
“…a frothy elixir out of 1980s synth-pop, art-rock and new wave” – The New York Times
“Don’t be fooled by the tracksuits and ironic facial hair – these wacky Norwegian ‘new rave’ dudes actually write ace songs” – SPIN
“[Datarock] delivers another set of kitschy…songs…very catchy” – BrooklynVegan

The return of DATAROCK is finally upon us: the Norwegian tracksuited synth-stars have finally released their long-awaited third album Face the Brutality. After a nine-year absence, the new album still checks off every spot on the DATAROCK checklist: infuriatingly catchy, impeccably produced, with an undertone of lighthearted goofiness. Make sure not to miss the action-packed video for “Laugh in the Face of Darkness.”

DATAROCK’s playful brand of indie-dance crossover music has been featured everywhere from Workaholics to Vampire Diaries, to more than ten major EA games to various ad campaigns including Apple and Google — take one listen to the opening bassline of “Fa Fa Fa” and you’ll instantly recognize it. American fans have been able to catch sight of the signature red tracksuits at festivals such as Coachella and Lollapalooza and late night TV programs like Jimmy Kimmel. Face the Brutality will be the synth-rockers’ first LP since 2009 and first output since their musical, The Musical, in 2015. Years in the making, Face the Brutality is an album for the bored and bitter survivors of 2017, an upbeat escape with substance.

FACE THE BRUTALITY Tracklist:
  1. BMX
  2. Ruffle Shuffle
  3. Sense of Reason
  4. Laugh in the Face of Darkness
  5. Everything
  6. Feathers & Wax
  7. Beautiful Monster
  8. Invitation to Love
  9. Outta Here
  10. Darkness at the Edge of the Pit

 

 

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March 21, 2018 · 10:25 am

WhoMadeWho – Through the Walls

WhoMadeWho has released their sixth full-length album, ‘Through The Walls’, which is now available digitally and in stores worldwide. The album features the already previously released singles “I Don’t Know” and “Dynasty”.

Back with Through the Walls, four years after the critically lauded Dreams, WhoMadeWho have crafted a shimmering sonic odyssey that’s equal parts epic, heartfelt, soaring and pounding. Co-produced with fellow Copenhageners and dance music luminaries, Kenton Slash Demon, the new record sees Jeppe Kjellberg, Tomas Barfod, and Tomas Høffding, tapping into the same musical restlessness that formed them, making the band incorporate new modes creativity, songwriting, and production. This is probably WhoMadeWho’s most cohesive and daring album to date; a testament to three maverick musicians working at the apex of their game.

WhoMadeWho are that rare thing, a band with their own sound. And Through the Walls adds yet more fuel to the restless, fluctuating bonfire. It sounds as if they won’t cool off or settle down anytime soon.

Tracklist
1. Neighborhood 2. Chrystal 3. Dynasty 4. I Don’t Know 5. Putpie 6. Goodbye To All I Know 7. Through The Walls 8. Belong 9. Funeral Show 10. If This Is Your Love 11. Surfing On A Stone 12. Keep On

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December 19, 2017 · 5:15 pm

New Music From Walter Martin (of The Walkmen)

Walter Martin (co-writer/multi-instrumentalist of The Walkmen) will release his new album Reminisce Bar & Grill on February 16th via Ile Flottante Music. His fourth solo record since The Walkmen’s hiatus in 2013, Reminisce Bar & Grill was announced earlier this month with a surprise appearance on NPR Music’s Tiny Desk in which he performed two of his new songs with a full band and a barbershop quartet. Today, he unveiled another new song from the record titled “I Can Run Now From The Hellhounds But I Can’t Hide” which premiered on Consequence of Sound.

“Jaunty guitars, whistling flutes, and rippling cymbals evoke a sunlit, slightly scuzzy beachside dive. There, Martin recalls an ’emotional run’ (despite only running ‘about once a month these days’) that served to remind him ‘we’ve only got one body,'” described Consequence of Sound. “All told, the song is likely to be one of the more upbeat musings you’ll hear about the fear of impending death.”

Reminisce Bar & Grill is one that might throw fans of his two award-winning kids’ records (2014’s We’re All Young Together and 2017’s My Kinda Music) for a loop. Listeners will still recognize the same affable narrator and quirky musical style as his previous solo work, but here the subject matter is shifted dramatically. With frankness and poignancy, Martin, now a 43-year-old married man with two young children, squarely tackles the subject of adulthood – specifically, his own.

“I think this is my mid-life crisis album,” said Walter. “These days my friends and I all seem to be thinking the same dark thoughts – ‘What the hell am I doing? What the hell’s going on? I’m lost. I’m running out of time and I’m doing everything wrong. And I’m probably dying.’ This is definitely an insane period,” he continues, “but most of the time I kind of love it.”

While Martin approaches these subject matters with candor and sincerity, he clearly also enjoys mining them for humor. “I wanted this album to be an entertaining discussion of marriage, fatherhood, work, fear, and weakness,” he explained. “I’m definitely influenced by Woody Allen movies. No matter how serious or romantic or dark his story may be, there’s always a strong undercurrent of comedy.”

Reminisce Bar & Grill was recorded at various studios in Brooklyn and at Richard Swift’s National Freedom Studio in Cottage Grove Oregon. The songs were mixed by D. James Goodwin (Bob Weir, Craig Finn), Richard Swift (The Shins, Foxygen) and Phil Ek (Fleet Foxes, Band of Horses). A nimble multi-instrumentalist, Martin handled guitar, piano, organ, bass and percussion duties, but he also relied on the services of a coterie of crafty players and singers: Brian Kantor (Fruit Bats) on drums, Josh Kaufman (Craig Finn, Josh Ritter) on guitar, and Jamie Krents (French Kicks) on bass. The soaring harmony vocals woven throughout the album are delivered by Clap Your Hands Say Yeah singer Alec Ounsworth.

Track List:
01) Me & McAlevey
02) Too Cold To Waterski
03) I Went Alone On A Solo Australian Tour
04) I Can Run Now From The Hellhounds But I Can’t Hide
05) I’m A Puppy
06) The Drummer
07) Ride Down The Avenue
08) I Wanna Be A Country Singer
09) Pink Piano
10) Colorado Lonesome
11) I Dreamed I Was Lana Del Rey’s Older Brother

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