Nouvelle Vague – Athol Brose

Posted on by poetryinanemptycokecan

13416758_10153811268763918_5515571025090169009_o

After a six-year hiatus, the critically-acclaimed bossa nova cover band, Nouvelle Vague is returning this fall with an anniversary album and brand new material. The project of French producers Marc Collin and Olivier Libaux, ‘Nouvelle Vague’ refers simultaneously to the French New Wave cinema movement of the 1960s, to the new wave music movement of the ’70s and ’80s, and to bossa nova (Portuguese for ‘new wave’), naturally.

Co-opting classics from the punk and post-punk cannon and reinterpreting them through a Brazilian bossa nova lens, the Parisian outfit is now set to release a four-song EP entitled Athol Brose September 2 on Kwaidan Records / !K7. The title track is a reinterpretation of the Cocteau Twins‘ song of the same name, featuring the smoky vocals of Liset Alea. The EP will be followed by the as-yet untitled commemorative LP, which will feature original compositions by Collin and Libeaux for the first time.

Stream the luscious new cover via Spotify below. If you’re excited as we are, you can also peep the EP tracklisting and check out the choice remix of classic cover “In A Manner Of Speaking” (Tuxedomoon) by German producer Freiboitar.

Athol-Brose Tracklist:

1. “Athol-Brose” featuring Liset Alea (Cocteau Twins cover)
2. “La Pluie et Le Beau Temps” (composed by Olivier Libaux)
3. “Love Will Tear Us Apart”
(Dream Koala Remix of Nouvelle Vague, Joy Division cover)
4. “Ever Fallen In Love” (Unlocked Destination) (Buzzcocks cover)

Bat and Ball – Cruel Cats

Posted on by poetryinanemptycokecan

Bat and Ball B&W Promo Photo 1

Bat and Ball make a bold entrance on their new single, “Cruel Cats,” an intriguing left-of-centre pop song that commands attention through crashing synths and syncopated drum beats. The brainchild of brother-sister duo Abi and Chris Sinclair, along with Harri Chambers, Bat and Ball formed in 2013 when the trio were studying music at Goldsmiths College in London. They’ve been steadily building their repertoire through live appearances and the release of an EP, and now they’re getting ready to deliver their debut album this fall. While recording the album, the trio recruited Ted Garfath Gibelin to join Chris on guitar duties–and drummer Ben Penfold to abet Chambers on keys. The album will purportedly explore the modern propensity for anxiety, and the distance between our flawed selves and the people we wish we could be. That tension is reflected in their singular musical style, Abi’s vocal prowess, and lyrically through their unconventional poeticism.

Check out the crafty “Cruel Cats” below. Bat and Ball’s forthcoming LP is slated to release October 2016 via Hush Tongue Records and The state51 Conspiracy.

THE COVERUP: The TVC – Hold On We’re Going Home

Posted on by poetryinanemptycokecan

the_tvc

We’ve received a good amount of noteworthy cover tracks lately, so we’re resurrecting the CCP segment we’re calling The Coverup. The TVC is the project of LA-based musician Spencer Riley, who solicited Nashville recording artist Connor Foley to sing vocals on this Drake cover of “Hold On We’re Going Home.” Slowing down the beat of the original R&B number, the addition of an addictive piano riff, guitar and Foley’s soulful voice renders The TVC rendition a commendable cover of the Grammy award-winning superstar.

The song was recorded live in the Hollywood Hills, CA studio of Tommy King (keyboardist for HAIM), adding to the authenticity of the cover. Look out for original material from The TVC coming soon, but in the meantime enjoy this bluesy acoustic cover of Drake’s instant classic.

BLKKATHY – Lemon

Posted on by poetryinanemptycokecan

blkkathy-640x640

New Brooklyn duo BLKKATHY want to make your booty bounce and ruin your makeup, according to their bio. They actively encourage crying on the dance floor. So who is this duo exactly? They’re a couple of women living in BK who share the name Kate, and make understated yet potent pop music via 808s and plenty of heartbreak. Their new single “Lemon” features tasteful beat work, intricately placed synths and polyrhythms with subdued R&B vocals that denote healthy skepticism. Look out for their EP of the same name to drop later this summer via MANIMAL VINYL RECORDS and listen to “Lemon” below.

Von Sell – Stay

Posted on by poetryinanemptycokecan

vonsell-stay

Back with the third installment of his handful of releases, Brooklyn-based German artist Von Sell shared his latest electropop offering this week. The new single, “Stay” was crafted in conjunction with producer Nick Stumpf (Cavemen, NVDES) and is a brighter, more upbeat number than previous slow-burner of an effort “I Insist.” Speaking on the inspiration for the track, David Von Sell states “I remember thinking about these archaic roles men and women assign each other in relationships, emotionally, sexually, temperamentally, intellectually. We’ve evolved in every way until it comes to how our relationships actually materialize. It’s like we’re still wearing our kids clothes and they hardly fit but we refuse to buy something new in our size ‘cause of our programming.” Layered with glittering synths, thick bass, and playful vocal effects, the new track is another infectious addition to Von Sell’s collection and further assurance that the soulful artist has staying power.

Stream “Stay” and if you’re in the NYC area, you can catch Von Sell at his artist residency this month at Pianos on August 10, 17, 24 and 31.

Flock of Dimes – Semaphore

Posted on by poetryinanemptycokecan

flock-of-dimes

Wye Oak‘s Jenn Wasner is quietly one of the steadiest and strongest female singer / songwriters in the biz right now. Recently she announced plans to release the first full-length for her solo project Flock of Dimes, a sobriquet she released three singles under between 2011-2012. The affirmatively-titled album, If You See Me, Say Yes was written and produced by Wasner with help from rapper/producer Mickey Freeland, multi-instrumentalist Aaron Roche, and indie super producer John Congleton on mixing duties.

The first single off the LP “Semaphore” showcases Wasner’s prismatic and expansive pop stylings, which are as brilliantly constructed as ever. According to the chanteuse, the song is about “communication over great distances — both literal, physical distance and the infinite space that exists between even the closest of people.” Wasner is known for her abstract lyricism, even abstaining from publishing the lyrics to her songs, thus, a semaphore — a telegraphy system of conveying information at a distance via visual signals traditionally in the form of flags — seems like the perfect metaphor for her mysticism.

The album will arrive September 23 on Partisan Records and is available for preorder here. Stream “Semaphore” below as you peruse the Flock fall tour schedule — which will include a stop at DC’s U Street Music Hall.

Flock of Dimes Tour Dates – Tix at smarturl.it/FlockTour:

08/19-08/21 – Darlington, MD – Fields Festival
10/14 – Santa Fe, NM @ Meow Wolf
10/15 – Tucson, AZ @ 191 Toole
10/16 – San Diego, CA @ Soda Bar
10/17 – Los Angeles, CA @ Bootleg Theater
10/18 – San Francisco, CA @ Bottom of the Hill
10/20 – Portland, OR @ Doug Fir Lounge
10/21 – Vancouver, BC @ The Cobalt
10/22 – Seattle, WA @ Barboza
10/25 – Minneapolis, MN @ 7th St. Entry
10/26 – Chicago, IL @ Schubas
10/28 – Toronto, ON @ The Drake
10/29 – Montreal, QC @ Bar Le Ritz PDB
10/30 – Allston, MA @ Great Scott
11/01 – Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brenda’s
11/02 – Brooklyn, NY @ Rough Trade NYC
11/04 – Washington, DC @ U Street Music Hall
11/05 – Carrboro, NC @ Cat’s Cradle
11/06 – Asheville, NC @ The Mothlight
11/08 – Nashville, TN @ The High Watt
11/09 – Atlanta, GA @ The Earl
11/11 – Dallas, TX @ Three Links
11/12 – Austin, TX @ 3TEN ACL Live

[CCP PREMIERE]: Portl – The Beach

Posted on by poetryinanemptycokecan

The Beach

When life hands you bitter lemons, making lemonade as a means of finding meaning is often the best coping strategy — as Bey and so many other artists have done before her. This is also the case with new Liverpool producer Portl, whose debut tribute of a single, “The Beach” drops this Friday, July 29 on Vulpine Records and which we are excited to premiere for you today.

The 20-year-old analogue synth fanatic wrote his first single as a tribute to his friends in Viola Beach, the UK indie act who tragically passed away in a car accident earlier this year while on tour in Sweden. Portl first met Tomas Lowe while working at a pub in Warrington, with whom he quickly formed a close friendship over a shared passion for music. The members of Viola Beach used to hang out at his bar where he would share his music with them and try to solicit their opinion. “The Beach” is his way of paying homage to the band, saying goodbye and memorializing the impact they had on him.

As a lover of all things Lobster Theremin — an underground house label in the UK — Portl draws influence from a variety of underground electronic acts that have shaped his progressive and shimmering nu-house sound. Using an array of modular synthesizers, with “The Beach” the producer constructs a warm analogue atmosphere with wobbling synths and a driving bassline. Stream this summertime groove in anticipation of the release below.

Sea Span – Refugees

Posted on by poetryinanemptycokecan

 

Sea span

Sea Span is the project of a former senate page turned musician, who hung up his political suit to channel his frustrations with the American political system into a more gratifying outlet. The tongue-in-cheek name is no coincidence for the Philly-based band, who create their own blend of indie-folk baroque pop, recommended if you like Day Wave. According to the young act, who have only a handful of tracks uploaded to Soundcloud, most of their music was written this past winter and influenced by Neil Young, Bob Dylan, and Crosby, Stills, and Nash. With a firm base in acoustic guitars and subtle Fender Rhodes synths, their style is melodious and accessible with a side dose of political disenchantment. Stream their track “Refugees” below.

Snowblink – Feel Like A Man

Posted on by poetryinanemptycokecan

1606222_10153997021616591_964735163859065642_o

“I feel like a man, haven’t cried for weeks now,” Daniela Gesundheit opines on the latest Snowblink single. Borne out of a career-related, ambition-exhaustion, masculinity burnout, “Feel Like A Man” is a song about the exertion it often requires of women to have their voices heard. Speaking on the inspiration for the track, Gesundheit states: “I pictured myself as a man, feeling both the elation and intense frustration of being powerful.” Pretty potent, especially when buoyed above sparing strings and a suspenseful synth pattern.

For those unfamiliar with the duo, Snowblink is a folk/pop act comprised of Gesundheit and Dan Goldman of Toronto and Los Angeles. Purveyors of non-denominational devotional pop music, Snowblink draws influence from a background in South Indian vocal studies and a Jewish Cantorial repertoire. Gesundheit — who was also a featured vocalist alongside Brian Eno on Owen Pallett‘s In Conflict LP — has an amorphous sound that shifts effortlessly between dispassionate soprano and unapologetic animalistic tones. In conjunction with Goldman’s intimate and narcotic harmonies, together they construct an opulent, hypnotic aura inspired by the Japanese concept of beautiful imperfection called wabi-sabi.

It’s a lovely foundation on which to build a musical soundscape, which is why we’re looking forward to the coming of their new album, Returning Current. The record will be released on Outside Music September 9, but in the meantime, stream the new single and get in touch with your inner man below.

DC LIVE: Air Traffic Controller / Holy Fuck / Future Generations

Posted on by poetryinanemptycokecan

Holy-Fuck-live

On any given night of the week in the DMV, there are myriad options for live music, which is why we’ve started a segment called DC Live to call out our favorites. First up on the docket is a Boston-based indie band known as Air Traffic Controller, who are playing at Jammin’ Java TONIGHT in Vienna.

The story behind ATC is an interesting one — singer-songwriter Dave Munro had served in the US Navy as a real-life air traffic controller, sending out 4-track demos during his deployment. After his enlistment was up, Munro arrived back home in Boston to discover he had inadvertently established a fanbase, which prompted the career switch under the same name. He first met singer Casey Sullivan, and then the duo quickly grew into a quintet with the addition of multi-instrumentalist Steve Scott, Richie Munro on drums, and violinist Jeremy Van Cleave. Their following hit single “You Know Me” is off their 2012 sophomore LP Nordo, which soared to the number one spot on the Hype Machine at the time and sealed their status as all-American indie darlings.

Another upcoming show we’re excited about is the influential Canadian experimental rock band Holy Fuck, who are hitting the road in support of their first album in six years — Congrats. They’re known for having a particularly electrifying live show with lots of improv and electronic ingenuity, so make sure to check them out at DC9 this coming week on July 21. Watch the video for new track “Tom Tom” below.

And finally, the NYC-based indie band Future Generations are playing Tropicalia August 5 with support from local DC bands Wylder and Clones of Clones. The foursome first came together in the dorms of Fordham University, who bonded over their nerd-like zeal and shared appreciation of all forms of pop music. Now the quartet is gearing up to release their self-titled debut album via Frenchkiss Records July 29. Stream the infectious album single “Stars” and be sure to come out to the show if you’re in the area.