NYC natives Hollis Brownmake music that is lush, raw and full of heart. The band’s Nothing & The Famous No One EP will be released digitally on April 3rd. For an early taste, the band has released a video for album track “Ride On The Train,” a triumphant song of new beginnings lead by warm, crackling guitar over booming piano.
Nothing & The Famous No One opens with the emotionally charged, bluesy love ballad, “Gypsy Black Cat.” The classic rock & roll track “Spoonful” features guest vocals by Deer Tick’s John McCauley. The band recorded Nothing & The Famous No One with producer Adam Landry (Deer Tick, Middle Brother) in Nashville during the summer of 2011. Taking great care to create a warm, vintage sound, the tracks were recorded live, straight to analog tape.
Check out this new chill-inducing video for Miike Snow’s “The Wave.”
The video is a continuation of a thread which began in their last video for “Paddling Out.” In that video, a group of unfortunates were abducted to space in an experiment to create a perfect human named Jean Noel. Following some pretty brutal chainsaw surgery, the video ended with Jean crashing to earth in a spaceship seemingly manned by classical-era twins.
Both videos were directed by Swedish Director Andreas Nillson, who’s work includes MGMT and Fever Ray. Rumours the entire plot was cooked up after a real life after hours chain saw massacre are currently unconfirmed.
Click here to see the video for “Paddling Out” (the first video of the series), if you haven’t yet.
Canadian pop-rock icons Tegan and Sara are in the studio recording their as-yet-untitled seventh studio album, the follow-up to their critically acclaimed 2009 album Sainthood.
“Sara and I are trying to step outside of our comfort zones and push ourselves to the extreme with this one so get ready for a whole new T+S sound!” Tegan says. “We strive to keep things fresh and exciting with each new record and I definitely feel like we’re accomplishing that so far.”
Fans can keep up with their progress via an online web series “Carpool Confessional,” which captures them in the car as they travel to and from the studio each day. New episodes (which have featured such special guests as fun., Sia, and AFI’s Hunter Burgan) are posted every Tuesday on www.teganandsara.com. Rolling Stone is documenting the action as well, with new photojournals being posted every Wednesday. See the ongoing behind-the-scenes photo gallery here. Alternative Press also ran a Q&A with Tegan about working on the new album.
Escort has been setting dance floors ablaze with their disco-infused beats, irresistibly catchy hooks and seductive live show since releasing a series of 12” singles in 2006. Those who have not had a chance to experience the band’s energized live show will have several chances to catch the band at SXSW including the outdoor stage at SPIN Magazine’sshow @ Stubbs. The band will also play a special Last.FM “Live In NYC show on March 23.
For an early taste of the 17-piece disco party powerhouse, check out the brand new “Why Oh Why” video, created by Marisol Baltierra.
Escort Tour Dates
3/16: SXSW @ Stubbs, (SPIN Party), 1:30pm
3/16: SXSW @ Empire Automotive (Keep A Breast Foundation, Official Showcase), 1am
3/17: SXSW @ Malverde (Bond Showcase), 7:30-8:15pm DJ SET
3/23: Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Bowl w/ DFA DJs, Last.FM “Live In NYC”
Escort’s highly anticipated self-titled debut record has received acclaim from New York Times, The New Yorker, Pitchfork, WNYC Soundcheck, The Village Voice, RCRD LBL and more. 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. Steeped in the venerable tradition of club-land’s holy trinity, New York, Chicago, and Detroit, 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.
Featuring the theatrical masterpiece “Caméleon Chameleon,” the piercing horns and silky smooth vocals of “A Bright New Life” and “Makeover” which effortlessly explores the lost possibilities of another era 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. Escort’s long-awaited debut LP was released January 31st on vinyl and CD as well as iTunes and all digital retailers through Escort Records.
“…music that shimmers like a sky full of fireworks” – NME“
catchy and anthemic indie-dance” – The Guardian
“UK reverby rockers” – BrooklynVegan
Perseverance and dedication are two things that the members of Zulu Winter are very familiar with. The four guys from Oxfordshire, England came together in their teens over a shared love of music and have been collaborating ever since. Now, twelve years after their first practice as a band, Zulu Winter is gearing up to release Language, a debut album that has the immediate appeal of pop while at the same time packed with emotional insight. Inspired by everything from 19th century literature to obscure ‘60s electronica, Language will be released in North America on June 19th via Arts & Crafts.
Language is a collection of multi-dimensional songs that bleed with sentiment and syncopated dance beats. The album opens with “Key To My Heart,” a sincere message of love that showcases the depth and richness of the band’s sound with layers of swirling instrumentation. The upbeat “Silver Tongue” is driven by an energetic bass line that leads to a danceable chorus. “Bitter Moon” is an emotionally charged track hinged on a powerful chorus, inviting listeners to experience a vulnerable side of the band. “We Should Be Swimming” is a melancholic pop-song running over a compelling rhythm. Zulu Winter released a chilling video for the track, and today they have released the song as a free MP3 download.
Having played sold-out shows across Europe alongside acts like Friendly Fires and The Horrors, Zulu Winter is ready to bring its energetic live show to the US. The band will be hitting the road for a string of US dates this month, including multiple performances at SXSW. Be sure to catch Zulu Winter live in your city!
3/14: SXSW @ The Mohawk (Eat Your Own Ears & Laneway), 3:30pm
3/15: SXSW @ Cedar Street Courtyard (Filter Magazine party), 1pm
3/15: SXSW @ Latitude 30 (Clash Music UK party), 3pm
Swedish native Soso will release her debut album That Time I Dug So Deep I Ended Up In China, May 1, 2012. Today Soso releases the companion video to her power pop version of cult legend Cody ChesnuTT’s song “My Women My Guitars” which PerezHilton recently noted has “hints of Lauryn Hill and Amy Winehouse”.
“This is soooooooooooo good!!!” – PerezHilton
“Soso shifts from an Adele-brand of defeatism to Beyoncé’s confidence in just a few chords.” – Interview Magazine
“Soso is Swedish superpower composed of Monica Belluci’s face, Robyn’s voice and Adele’s heartbreak.”– RCRD LBL
That Time I Dug So Deep I Ended Up In China features single “Who’s Gonna Love Me,” a slow-building pop gem that battles intimate issues like insecurity and abandonment, with a “fuck-you” attitude. “Happy People” is a soulful and bittersweet song evoking an earlier time, when life was simple and free from complication. “Joaquin Phoenix” is a one-take-love-song to the decadent actor that Soso recorded impulsively after watching his mockumentary “I’m Still Here” in 2010. The record is also cut with a number of lush preludes and semi-instrumentals, including “Sab Lackath,” on which Soso recorded herself crying and edited it into rhythmic beats. It is clear that within the parameters of her technique, Soso truly invites us to her inner most private places.
I just listened to this 5 times in a row. I love it.
According to Kate, Hand Me My Bow And Arrow, was a difficult second album to make, but not for the usual reasons of writer’s block or procrastination. Instead, the Townsville songstress was beset by a series of battles throughout the writing and recording process, beginning with family breakdown, and followed up by lost jobs, discarded boyfriends, unpaid rent and being evacuated from her house to escape a cyclone.
“The album came together surprisingly easily”, Kate explains, “I wasn’t exactly short of material to write about.” Candle Burnin’ Wax Drippin’ is about the relationship that are you know will fail from the start, but you stay in it regardless.
Hand Me My Bow And Arrow will be released through Shock Records on March 23.
Musically Amusing 