Public Service Broadcasting – Spitfire

Posted on by santiago

PSB

Yes, Public Service Broadcasting is the name for a band — composed of the corduroy-obsessed J. Willgoose and his drumming companion Wrigglesworth. The pioneering London entity samples from old public information films and sets them to contemporary music. Granted exclusive access to WWII-era archives from the British Film Institute, their propaganda-inspired music is an educational aural affair complete with krautrock guitars, banjo, atmospheric synths, piano and propulsive drums. Experience the spectacular PSB by streaming “Spitfire” — the lead track off their 2012 EP The War Room below.

Chrome Sparks – Marijuana

Posted on by santiago

chromesparks2

Jeremy Malvin, who creates music under the name Chrome Sparks is a young musician and native of Ann Arbor, now residing in Brooklyn. His obsession for synthesizers can be clearly seen in Marijuana, a song from his EP Sparks released March 2013. Influenced by a background in classical percussion, Chrome Sparks’ music is filled with a cloud of arpeggiators and lead sounds. Jeremy can currently be found on tour with a couple of friends — with upcoming performances at DC9 April 30, and Baby’s All Right in Brooklyn May 2.

I feel music in your eyes
Rainbows, in your ears

I Break Horses – Denial

Posted on by santiago

ibh

Swedish duo I Break Horses, consisting of members Maria Lindén and Fredrik Balck produce a magical lo-fi fusion of shoegaze and dreampop. This January saw the release of their sophomore LP Chiaroscuro via the label Bella Union (Beach House, Explosions in the Sky, Fleet Foxes). Stream the single “Denial” and check out their spring tour dates across the US below.

 

Tour Dates:

4/14 – Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brenda’s
4/15 – Washington DC @ DC9
4/17 – New York, NY @ Mercury Lounge
4/18 – Brooklyn, NY @ Rough Trade
4/19 – Allston, MA @ Great Scott
4/21 – Montreal, QC @ Il Motore
4/22 – Toronto, ON @ Underground at the Drake
4/24 – Pontiac, MI @ Crofoot Ballroom – Pike Room
4/25 – Chicago, IL @ Empty Bottle
4/26 – Minneapolis, MN @ Triple Rock
4/29 – Seattle, WA @ The Crocodile
4/30 – Portland, OR @ Holocene
5/2 – San Francisco, CA @ The Independent
5/3 – Los Angeles, CA @ Bootleg Theater

The War On Drugs – Red Eyes

Posted on by santiago

wodband1

Following up their critically-appraised album Slave Ambient in 2011, Philadelphia rockers The War On Drugs released Lost In The Dream earlier this month. Written by the band’s frontman Adam Granduciel on the heels of a breakup, the album tackles themes of loss, isolation, and depression. In the end though, Granduciel ultimately achieves an honest, heartfelt, and hopefully healing record that’s been lauded even more than the last. Stream their single “Red Eyes” below, and if you’re in DC catch them at 930 Club April 18.

Sharon Van Etten – Taking Chances

Posted on by santiago

arewethere.lpout

Sharing the first single from her upcoming album, Sharon Van Etten reveals the plaintive, downtempo track “Taking Chances.” In a departure from her traditional folk sound, the Brooklyn singer-songwriter employs an exquisite blend of electronic drums and layered vocals on the track. Her LP Are We There will be released May 26 via the label Jagjaguwar (Angel Olsen, Bon Iver, Unknown Mortal Orchestra).

 

Sharon has quite the busy agenda this summer:

5/08 Northampton, MA – Iron Horse Music Hall
5/09 Hudson, NY – Helsinki Hudson
5/10 Providence, RI – Columbus Theatre
5/11 Hamden, CT – Ballroom at the Outer Space
5/25 Brussels, Belgium – Le Botanique
5/28 Paris, France – Café de la Danse
5/30 Barcelona, Spain – Primavera Sound Festival
6/01 Cologne, Germany – Studio 672
6/02 Berlin, Germany – Privatclub
6/03 Amsterdam, Netherlands – Bitterzoet
6/05 London, England – KOKO
6/11 Boston, MA – Sinclair
6/12 Brooklyn, NY – Music Hall of Williamsburg (Northside Festival)
6/13-14 New York, NY – Bowery Ballroom
6/17 Washington, DC – 9:30 Club
6/18 Philadelphia, PA – Union Transfer
6/19 Millvale, PA – Mr. Small’s
6/20 Cleveland, OH – Beachland Ballroom
6/21 Nashville, TN – Exit In
6/24 Denver, CO – Bluebird Theater
6/25 Salt Lake City, UT – Urban Lounge
6/28 Los Angeles, CA – El Rey Theatre
6/29-30 San Francisco, CA – The Independent
7/02-03 Portland, OR – Doug Fir
7/05 George, WA – Sasquatch Festival
7/06 Vancouver, British Columbia – Rickshaw Theatre
7/08 Calgary, Alberta – Republik
7/09 Edmonton, Alberta – Starlite Room
7/14 Fargo, ND – Aquarium
7/16 Minneapolis, MN – First Avenue
7/17 Madison, WI – University of Wisconsin
7/18 Chicago, IL – Pitchfork Music Festival
8/14-17 Wales, England – Green Man Festival

Artist Spotlight: Kwes

Posted on by santiago

Kwes-color

British producer and songwriter Kwes is used to being behind the scenes, having done production for a myriad of artists including The xx, Damon Albarn and Hot Chip’s Joe Goddard. However, he’s also broken out as a solo artist in recent years, having released his first LP ilp in 2013. As demonstrated on the gorgeous track (“36”) from the LP, Kwes’s art form is a masterful convergence of subtlety and sonic complexity achieved through the use of repetition, layering, and divergent textures. Interestingly enough, Kwes — along with Pharrell, Dev Hynes, Billy Joel and even Stevie Wonder — all experience a phenomenon known as Chromesthesia (sound-to-color synesthesia), a neurological condition effectively allowing them to hear color, or see sound depending on how you look at it. Perhaps it is no coincidence then that these artists’ creative genius manifest themselves in stunning visual pathways as well. Stream “36” and “Bashful” (from the 2012 EP Meantime) below.

https://soundcloud.com/littlebig/kwes-bashful

Elbow – New York Morning

Posted on by santiago

NY Morning

Having a strange name for a band, Elbow is an alternative rock group that hails from Manchester. This month they released their sixth studio album, The Take Off and Landing of Everything. Another exquisite song about the capital of the world, “New York Morning” was inspired by Elbow frontman Guy Garvey’s recent time in Brooklyn last year. The accompanying video — detailing the lives of New York City couple and CBGB scenesters Dennis and Lois — is a love sonnet to the city in itself and well worth a viewing.

https://soundcloud.com/mmmusic/elbow-new-york-morning

NY Morning3

Upcoming Tour Dates:

3/31, Birmingham, LG Arena
4/6, Glasgow, SSE Hydro
4/8, Cardiff, Motorpoint Arena
4/9, Manchester, Phones 4U Arena
4/11, Leeds, First Direct Arena
4/12, Liverpool, Echo Arena
4/14, Nottingham, Capital FM Arena
4/16, London, The O2

US Tour:
5/11, Washington, D.C., 930 Club
5/12, Boston, MA., Royale Night Club
5/13, Philadelphia, PA., Electric Factory
5/16, New York, NY., Webster Hall
5/17, Toronto, ON., Danforth Music Hall
5/19, Chicago, IL., House of Blues
5/20, Minneapolis, MN., First Avenue
5/23, Vancouver, BC., Commodore Ballroom
5/24, Portland, OR. Wonder Ballroom
5/25, Quincy, WA., Sasquatch Music Festival
5/27, Oakland, CA., The Fox Theater
5/28, Los Angeles, CA., The Wiltern

NY Morning2

Caveman – In The City

Posted on by santiago

caveman2

Brooklyn continues to churn out good musicians at a rapid rate. Caveman released a self-titled album in 2013 under Fat Possum Records. The five-piece was formed as the individual members’ respective projects all disbanded (The Subjects lead singer Matthew Iwanusa and guitarist Jimmy “Cobra” Carbonetti, White Clam keyboardist Sam Hopkins, The End of the World drummer Stefan Marolachakis, and Elefant bassist Jeff Berrall).

They are playing a gig in Brooklyn March 5, and will be heading to Europe in late May.

Jungle – Lucky I Got What I Want // The Heat

Posted on by santiago
Jungle
Jungle video: Icky and Silence in The Heat. Photograph: PR company handout

Formed at the start of 2013, Jungle is the enigmatic new London duo consisting of best friends “J” and “T”. The loneliest place is in your own head, so you have to share it with other people to make it real, says J. They’ve already built up quite the fan base in the blogosphere over the past year, so much so that their first show in London this past December sold out in less than 24 hours. They will be supporting HAIM in March around Europe as well as a handful of places in the U.S., so check out their tour schedule below and catch this promising group live if you can.

Stream their song “Lucky I Got What I Want” from their debut EP The Heat, and watch their groovy video for the title track below. Co-directed by J and T, the vid featuring the dance moves of Icky and Silence from the High Rollaz UK skate crew.

2014 Tour Dates:

3/1 – Le Trianon Hall, Paris *
3/3 – Paradiso, Amsdterdam *
3/4 – Village Undergound, London
3/6 – Brixton Academy, London *
3/7 – Brighton Dome, Brighton*
3/8 – Rough Trade, New York
3/9 – Mercury Lounge, New York
3/10-14 – SXSW, Austin
3/17 – The Echom, LA
3/20 – Hare+Hounds, Birmingham
3/21 – Exchange, Bristol
3/22 – Deaf Institute, Manchester
* with HAIM