The Brooklyn ambient pop collective Cigarettes After Sex are back with a poignant new single in anticipation of their debut full length, due out on Partisan Records in 2017. Sensual, hazy and wearily romantic without holding any self-delusions, “K” is a minimal, moody gem of a shoegazey track guided by frontman Greg Gonzalez’s evocative vocals — recalling Mazzy Star‘s “Fade Into You.” Get intimate with “K” below, and then go have a cig.
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
Portland’s Pure Bathing Culture have shared the title track off their forthcoming LP, Pray For Rain. An offshoot of the group Vetiver — PBC was formed by Sarah Versprille and Daniel Hindman — who recorded the upcoming release with Grammy award-winning producer John Congleton (St. Vincent, Chelsea Wolfe). “Pray For Rain” is an exuberant tune which contrasts upbeat instrumentation with sobering lyrics. Listen below and look out for the album to drop October 23 on Partisan Records.
Also check out their full tour dates below — DC folk can catch the indie act at DC9 Nightclub October 7, with Wild Ones supporting.
PBC Upcoming Tour Dates:
08/23 – Portland OR @ MusicFestNW
09/18 – Seattle WA @ Barboza
09/19 – Vancouver BC @ Fortune Sound Club
09/22 – Fargo ND @ Studio 222 *
09/23 – St. Paul MN @ Turf Club *
09/24 – Madison WI @ The Frequency *
09/25 – Chicago IL @ Schubas *
09/26 – Champaign IL @ Pygmalion Music Festival
09/27 – Cincinnati OH @ Midpoint Music festival
09/28 – Columbus OH @ The Basement *
09/29 – Cleveland OH @ Beachland Tavern *
10/01 – Toronto ON @ The Drake *
10/02 – Montreal QC @ Bar le Ritz *
10/03 – Boston MA @ Middle East Upstairs *
10/04 – Brooklyn NY @ Baby’s All Right *
10/06 – Philadelphia PA @ Boot & Saddle *
10/07 – Washington DC @ DC9 *
10/08 – Carborro NC @ Cat’s Cradle Back Room *
10/09 – Atlanta GA @ Drunken Unicorn *
10/10 – Asheville NC @ The Mothlight *
10/12 – St. Louis MO @ The Demo *
10/13 – Kansas City MO @ Record Bar *
10/29 – San Francisco CA @ The Chapel
11/01 – Santa Barbara CA @ SOHO Restaurant and Music Club *
11/02 – Los Angeles CA @ The Echo
11/04 – Phoenix AZ @ The Crescent Ballroom *
11/07 – Dallas TX @ Three Links *
11/08 – Norman OK @ The Opolis *
11/09 – Omaha NE @ Reverb Lounge *
11/11 – Denver CO @ Hi-Dive *
11/12 – Salt Lake City UT @ Kilby Court *
11/13 – Boise ID @ Neurolux *
* – w/ Wild Ones
PHOX first stole our hearts whilst seeing them perform live this last summer at DC’s The Hamilton. The Wisconsin indie folk band made up of six close friends exudes Midwestern charm and mutual adoration for one another on stage. Lead singer Monica Martin is at once charismatic and relatable—whose soulful vocals lent themselves effortlessly to the intimate venue. Although their songs are filled with latent themes of heartbreak, their breezy almost retro-sounding music is also a joyous and heartwarming affair.
Which is why when we heard that PHOX’s hit single “Slow Motion” had been remixed by Partisan Records labelmate Sylvan Esso, we could scarcely contain our excitement. The North Carolina duo put their inventive art-pop spin on the track to dazzling effect. Stream the mix below, along with a couple of our favorite PHOX tracks.
Both groups released their eponymous debut albums earlier this year, available on iTunes. Don’t miss your chance to see these spectacular artists live — check out upcoming tour dates below!
PHOX On Tour:
10/2 – Dallas, TX | Granada Theater*
10/4 – Houston, TX | Warehouse Live*
10/6 – Nashville, TN – Marathon Music Works*
10/7 – Atlanta, GA | Variety Playhouse*
10/10 – Austin, TX | Lambert’s
12/6 – Portland, ME | State Theatre^
12/7 – Northampton, MA | Calvin Theatre^
12/8 – Providence, RI | Lupo’s^
12/11 – Columbus, OH | The LC Pavilion^
12/12 – Cincinnati, OH | Taft Theatre^
12/13 – Chicago, IL | Aragon Ballroom^
* denotes w/ Paolo Nutini
^ w/ The Head and The Heart
Sylvan Esso On Tour:
10/18 – Irving, TX | Cultivate Festival
10/23 – Baltimore, MD | The 8×10
10/24 – Philadelphia, PA | Union Transfer
10/30 – Saxapahaw, NC | Haw River Ballroom – SOLD OUT
10/31 – Saxapahaw, NC | Haw River Ballroom – SOLD OUT
11/8 – Oakland, CA | Fox Theater*
11/9 – Davis, CA | The Davis Graduate
11/10 – Sacramento, CA | Memorial Auditorium*
11/14 – Los Angeles, CA |– Shrine Auditorium & Expo Hall*
11/15 – Santa Barbara, CA | Santa Barbara Bowl*
1/15 – Atlanta, GA | Variety playhouse
1/16 – Charlotte, NC | The Neighborhood Theatre
1/17 – Charlottesville, VA | Jefferson Theater
1/23 – New York, NY | Terminal 5
1/24 – Uncasville, CT | Wolf Den at Mohegan Sun
1/31 – 2/4 – Riviera Maya, Mexico | My Morning Jacket’s One Big Holiday
* denotes w/ Foster The People
poetry in an empty coke can 