Delighted to share the new one from a musician who was easily one of our favorite musos to emerge from Down Under over the last few years — D.D Dumbo. Having released his EP Tropical Oceans in late 2014, the Australian artist and musical raconteur aka Oliver Hugh Perry has a new album in the works and we couldn’t be more thrilled. Although the multi-instrumentalist is definitely someone you’ll want to see live, the production on Perry’s new song “Satan” sounds more polished than ever. Hard to deny the Sting comparison here, in which Perry weaves a compelling tale on the typically inventive and colorful cut replete with Eastern influences. Stream below.
As most people are aware by now, beloved indie-folk band Beirut released their fourth full-length No No No this September. The album is distinctly more upbeat than earlier efforts, as evidenced by the title track. Watch the video for “No No No” and revisit one of our favorite Beirut songs (“Nantes”) below.
Beirut will be playing two shows in DC this week — November 3 and 4 at Lincoln Theatre. We were going to say beg, steal or borrow to get tix as they were originally sold out, but it looks like Lincoln has released some extra tickets so it’s your lucky day.
Just in time for Halloween, Grimes has released the sanguine self-directed video for “Flesh Without Blood” / “Life In The Vivid Dream” off her forthcoming album Art Angels. The album is the long anticipated follow-up to the Canadian artist Claire Boucher’s 2012 LP Visions, and will beout November 6 on 4AD.
Despite the bloody essence of the video, which evokes imagery from that of a possessed angel to a scorned Marie Antoinette — “Flesh Without Blood” is a pretty pop number that retains her signature dark and ethereal undertones. At the end of the phantasmagorical video reveals another, more subdued and equally intriguing sound with the second piece “Life In The Vivid Dream.”
Beginning her headlining tour in the US this week, check out Boucher’s North American tour dates below, which include a sold-out show at DC’s 9:30 Club November 13.
2015 North American Tour Dates:
28th – The Showbox, Seattle WA, US [Tickets]
31st – The Fillmore, San Francisco CA, US 2nd – Mayan Theatre, Los Angeles CA, US [Tickets]
4th – Guggenheim, New York NY, US [Tickets]
7th – Fun Fun Fun Fest, Austin TX, US [Tickets]
9th – Republic, New Orleans LA, US [Tickets]
10th – Marathon, Nashville TN, US [Tickets]
11th – Buckhead, Atlanta GA, US [Tickets]
13th – 9:30 Club, Washington DC, US [Tickets]
14th – Union Transfer, Philadelphia PA, US [Tickets]
16th – Terminal 5, New York NY, US [Tickets]
20th – Paradise, Boston MA, US [Tickets]
21st – Metropolis, Montreal QC, Canada [Tickets]
22nd – Danforth, Toronto ON, Canada [Tickets]
25th – Metro, Chicago IL, US [Tickets]
Purity Ring received plaudits for their second studio album anothereternity, released last month via 4AD. Following their futuristic debut Shrines in 2012, the Canadian duo Megan James and Corin Roddick bring a contrasting, softer style to the table on the new album while maintaining their otherworldiness.
Stream standout single “begin again” below, followed by our favorite track “stranger than earth” (only available via Spotify for streaming).
Purity Ring will be playing two sold-out shows at DC’s 9:30 ClubMay 29, with Braids and Born Gold supporting.
D.D Dumbo is the moniker of Australian artist and multi-instrumentalist Oliver Hugh Perry. The structure of his songs are minimal, authentic and complemented by Perry’s reverberated vocals. Looks like a promising future for this young artist that just signed to 4AD, and recently supported Tame Impala and tUnE-yArDs on tour. Watch his impressive performance of unreleased track “Walrus” from an NPR Music Field Recordings session below and purchase his self-titled EP here.
tUnE-yArDs, the peculiar two-piece out of Oakland put out their wildly imaginative third album, Nikki Nack via 4AD earlier this month. For those not familiar with the duo — consisting of New England native Merrill Garbus (vocals, drums, ukelele) and Nate Brenner (electric bass) — take a listen to the lead single off the album “Water Fountain” below. Weaving African polyrhythms and Haitian drum beats throughout their music, Garbus and Brenner achieve a sound that is refreshingly unorthodox, progressively playful and entirely their own. Their track “Bizness,” from previous album Whokill is another great example of their creative genius.
tUnE-yArDs will be playing two shows at DC’s 930 Club, June 13-14 with Sylvan Esso supporting.
Welcome to another edition of Remix Roundup! Let’s get started with this Goldroom/MØ collaboration on the soulful track “Don’t Wanna Dance.” The LA producer/DJ takes the Danish artist MØ’s original to nu-disco-heights with his hypnotic, shimmering synthed-up rendition. (Sidenote: DC’ers can catch the Danish songstress performing at U Street Music Hall on May 20.) Next up is Brooklyn producer BAILE‘s electronic rework of British indie rock band Daughter‘s song “Love” — off their 2012 EP Wild Youth (via 4AD). Dark and foreboding, this downtempo and percussion-laden remix blends well with Elena Tonra’s chilling vocals. Last but not least is the gorgeous Rainer and Grimm re-imagining of Sam Smith‘s affective new ballad, “Stay With Me.” I’ve been waiting for a quality retake on this one, and it turns out the Toronto-based production duo were just the ones to step up to the plate. Stream all three tracks below — each of which is available for FREE by following their respective DL links on Soundcloud.
SOHN is one the most buzzed about new musicians at the moment. Austrian-based but English-bred, the mysterious electronic producer released his debut LP Tremors via 4AD Records on April 7 to critical acclaim. Having produced for burgeoning artists such as BANKS though, he is no stranger to success. Take a listen to the stunning lead single off the album “Artifice,” as well as the devastating title track “Tremors” via Spotify below.
BONUS: Also check out this fantastic tropical remix of SOHN’s track “Lessons” by Bearson — and follow the Soundcloud link for a free download.
Purity Ring just dropped this timely new cover of Soulja Boy’s “Grammy” – and it’s so damn good I had to share it this instant. Infusing their signature sound, PR turns the hip-hop number into a true synthpop stunner, with Megan James’ vocals taking the song to new heights at 1:58. I’m truly impressed as this is a sound I didn’t even know the group was capable of.
poetry in an empty coke can 