Midweek Round-Up #22/4 - Two Door Cinema Club, Best Coast, Lissie + more

Blog-favourite Best Coast really knows how to build hype - she dropped three new tracks last week on the Something In The Way EP (pick up two of them below) before going on to announce last week that her new single, featuring new tracks 'Far Away' and 'Everyone's Gone' will drop May 3 via Eskuche Headphones. She will also play Camden Crawl and Great Escape Festival 2010 as well as more than 25 other dates across Europe in May, on what is shaping up to be a potential breakthrough tour for the lo-fi pop duo. As if all this wasn't enough, the video for "When I'm With You" (featuring Ronald Mcdonald) has also premiered on MTVU - and you can watch it below. All these tasters, and still no album confirmed - just how much more can she play with us?

Best Coast - Something In The Way (MP3)

Best Coast - The Road (MP3)

Two Door Cinema Club's US tour with Phoenix begins this Saturday, and as if to mark the celebration ensuing from the undeniable success of last month's Tourist History, Kitsune has dropped us a lovely remix of Something Good Can Work courtesy of The Twelves. I've also included song What You Know, because as far as what I know goes - this song hasn't left my head for days. As much as I've tried to dismiss this band as 'NME friendly indie pop', I just know that when Reading Festival comes around I'm going to welcome the opportunity to see them play with open arms. Their debut album might just be my next purchase - and if you want to make it yours, look no further - Tourist History on Amazon.com

Two Door Cinema Club - Something Good Can Work (The Twelves Remix) (MP3)

Two Door Cinema Club - What You Know (MP3) 

In a new cover that couldn't more opposite to her last, Lissie Maurus (stage name Lissie) moves from Lady Gaga to Metallica for her latest cover - with an acoustic rendition of 'Nothing Else Matters'. On what Myspace are calling a 'Myspace Exclusive', even though she played it at SXSW and its all over Youtube, Lissie brings Metallica's anger down to acceptable levels.

In terms of new albums - there's a full album stream available of The Hold Steady's Heaven Is Whenever (due  May 4, 2010 via Vagrant/Rough Trade) and LCD Soundsystem's This Is Happening (due May 17, 2010 via Parlophone). Crystal Castles self-titled album number two, originally slated for a June release, has been pushed forwards following a leak to tomorrow (4/23). The National's new album has also leaked, and I can proudly say I haven't indulged, and don't intend to - despite this being the release I am most excited about from this year to date. Like good honest citizens, you can pre-order High Violet from Amazon.com on this link.


This Is Happening on Amazon.com

Heaven Is Whenever on Amazon.com

LCD Soundsystem - I Can Change (MP3)

The Hold Steady - The Sweet Part Of The City (MP3)

The National - Afraid of Everyone (MP3)

Looking to the week ahead, Monday sees the release of Performance's new single The Living, which you can listen to on this handy Soundcloud link. I feel a comparison to Cold Cave is appropriate - the euphoric electro lead line certainly sounds like something the New York duo would come out with, but this time mixed with Manchester vocals akin to other bands of the city such as The Whip, who incidentally were produced by band member Joe Cross. Another member co-wrote the upcoming Hurts album (which I've already featured) - and formed an 80s inspired side project called Kiss In Cities. The whole overdriven pop effect of this band  is huge and well worth a listen, so please do. As I mentioned earlier, 5-tracks are available via Soundcloud.

Midweek Round-up #15/4: New Deer Tick, LCD Soundsystem, The National, Crystal Castles + More

I spent the first half of this week locked-up at The Ranch Recording Studios in Southampton recording my band's first EP (more news on that coming soon), but despite this minor pre-occupation taking up twenty four hours of my last three days - what filtered through the blogs and news services in terms of new music certainly didn't pass me by. Monday saw the fantastic announcement from Reading Festival organisers that Surfer Blood, Girls and Wild Beasts were to be added to the already improved 2010 line-up; one which has already seen Yeasayer, Crystal Castles and Phoenix booked in on the Radio 1 Stage. The festival was at no point going to compete with the provisional Glastonbury, Great Escape, or even Bestival line-ups for this Summer, but perhaps in the light of these further announcements, my vain and naive hope that Reading Festival might become a collection of great musicians as well as a festival of under-age drinking, becomes ever so slightly more realistic.

Surfer Blood - Floating Vibes (MP3) from Astro Coast - Out Now

On the subject of Girls, in the lead up to Mates of State's projected release of 'Crushes (The Covers Mixtape)' - they've dropped us a cover of Laura from 2009's 'Album' to wet our appetite - and although slightly cringey at times, the boy-girl harmonies from the Peter Katis produced duo certainly bring out a different side to the surf-pop anthem. The National, yet another band on that coveted Katis roster, had news of their own this week when they revealed the star-studded collaboration list that May's High Violet will feature. According to The Quietus Justin Vernon is the main harmony on 'Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks' and Richard Reed Parry from the Arcade Fire also features heavily on the record. Sufjan Stevens also personally revamped 'Afraid of Everyone' on what is promising to be The National's strongest instalment yet.

Mates of State - Laura (Girls Cover) (MP3) from Crushes (The Covers Mixtape) - Summer

The National - Bloodbuzz Ohio (MP3) from High Violet - May 11

In terms of new tracks, the biggest news of the week came from LCD Soundsystem, whose new songs are sprouting up across the blogosphere. A radio-ripped version of erratic dance track Dance Yourself Clean politely reminds us that James Murphy belongs with Hot Chip, and official single I Can Change is sounding equally as good, if a bit Caribou-esque. Murphy has stated that 'This Is Happening' is most likely the last LCD Soundsystem album. As mentioned in the post title, Deer Tick also dropped a new track last week from his upcoming album, The Black Dirt Sessions. 20 Miles features a twangy acoustic guitar and soulful blues/country vocals. The new one is out May 8, 2010 via Partisan Records. 

LCD Soundsystem - I Can Change (MP3) from This Is Happening - May 17
Deer Tick - 20 Miles (MP3) from The Black Dirt Sessions - May 8.


As pictured at the top, my next update deals with new London based band The Shimmer, who have already created quite a stir with their lo-fi rock tracks No Surprise At All and Lovers Void. In return for your email address, they've agreed to hand over another free download - Crash. Its not got quite the same pop-vibe as the former tracks, but with a dark overdriven bassy sound, and distant vocals - The Shimmer use the Kasabian electronica formula to create captivating shoegaze pop music.

The Shimmer - Crash (MP3)

Crystal Castles aired their new track Doe Deer on Radio 1 this week, and I found a Radio 1 Rip this morning on We All Want Someone To Shout For. The post has got it pretty spot on, its short, bad sound quality and tagged up by Radio 1 DJs - but at least its food for thought for those of us too eager and intrigued to wait until Record Store Day to find out what the band have been up to musically since 2008. The song sounds like electro-thrash, with a short repetitive riff clipping the sound quality joined by aggressive and inhuman screams from Alice Glass. You have to hear it to believe it, the new album is definitely going to be interesting. Joining Doe Deer is the Midnight Conspiracy Remix of Crimewave, an airy French Disco influenced take on the 2008 hit from the Chicago-based remixers.


Crystal Castles - Doe Deer (MP3) (Radio 1 Rip via We All Want Someone To Shout For) from Crystal Castles - June 7, 2010.

Crystal Castles - Crimewave (Midnight Conspiracy Remix) (MP3)

Search Amazon.com for Crystal Castles

Finally, if you're a regular reader, you'll appreciate my love for Technoir MA. This week, they've dropped a new video for their track 'Sparks', shot in Boston and Somerville, Massachusetts by Evan Ragon. You can watch it below or read my 2/B EP Review, which the duo released themselves in 2010.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AbXvPwhwGRU (for some reason Youtube's embedding is failing today, however the link is well worth a click)

Album Preview: The National - High Violet (May 11, 2010)

The National

High Violet - (Worldwide - May 11, 2010)

4AD Records

Indie Rock/Post-Punk

The National premièred Terrible Love on Jimmy Fallon last week, and it has to be said, if the lead single is any indication of what's to come when High Violet drops in May; we've got a serious contender for album of the year on our hands. The National just don't seem to get it wrong - and with three years since their last full-length, they still have the kind of devoted fan base to sell out venues in 60 seconds. The new song marks a return to a sound closer to that of Alligator than Boxer, with emphasis on the guitars and overdrive sound rather than on Berninger's voice. With an unusually direct introduction, Terrible Love's fuzzy guitars are joined seamlessly by percussion and an idly piercing riff which barely breaks its head above water. Vocals as ever are immaculate if slightly concealed, and as we've come to expect in recent years - The National yet again conjure up unrivalled intensity without so much as a second thought. Pick up the first and second live clips from the new album below - and check Jimmy Fallon's show from last Sunday below.

The National - Terrible Love (Live) (MP3)

The National - England (Live) (MP3)

Pre-order High Violet on Amazon.com

Fanfarlo

Fanfarlo (from the novel 'La Fanfarlo' are a London based indie pop band whose debut album 'Reservoir' was released (after a year of recording in Conneticut) in February of 2009. In an attempt to make their music more widely available, the album is available until 4th July for $1.

Under prized producer Peter Katis (The National, Interpol, The Twilight Sad), Reservoir displays instrumentally dense indie rock, with a full Arcade Fire feel to their sound. The influence of Katis is clear throughout, and like the sounds of The National and The Twilight Sad, Fanfarlo do a fantastic job of keeping each instrument's recording concise, whilst including more than your average folk band.

Ultimately there is a twee pop lightness and air of youth to their work, and particularly to Swedish guitarist and vocalist Simon Balthazar's fragile vocal part. The band draw another similarity, whether intended or not, to London based folk band Mumford & Sons particularly in vocal sound and structure.
They have recently played dates at SXSW Festival, and they spent the March of 2009 on a UK tour with Snow Patrol. You can pick up the album for a dollar below, or two of the album highlights for nothing whatsoever.

Reservoir for $1.
Fanfarlo - Luna
Fanfarlo - I'm a Pilot

New National, 'So Far Around The Bend' and a beautiful streaming compilation album.

The National's latest effort, the upbeat but, like all songs by The National, ultimately depressing 'So Far Around The Bend' is available for one day only to stream from the Dark Was The Night Myspace, as a taster for the February 17th release of the compilation of the same name. Check the myspace for what's shaping up to be a fantastic double album, from which one track is streamed every day until the release. The tracklisting is as follows:

THIS DISC (DISC ONE):

1. "Knotty Pine" - Dirty Projectors + David Byrne
2. "Cello Song" - The Books featuring Jose Gonzalez
3. "Train Song" - Feist and Ben Gibbard
4. "Brackett, WI" - Bon Iver
5. "Deep Blue Sea" - Grizzly Bear
6. "So Far Around The Bend" - The National
7. "Tightrope" - Yeasayer
8. "Feeling Good" - My Brightest Diamond
9. "Dark Was The Night" - Kronos Quartet
10. "I Was Young When I Left Home" - Antony with Bryce Dessner
11. "Big Red Machine" - Justin Vernon + Aaron Dessner
12. "Sleepless" - The Decemberists
13. "Stolen Houses (Die)" - Iron & Wine
14. "Service Bell" - Grizzly Bear + Feist
15. "You Are The Blood" - Sufjan Stevens

THAT DISC (DISC TWO):

1. "Well-Alright" - Spoon
2. "Lenin" - Arcade Fire
3. "Mimizan" - Beirut
4. "El Caporal" - My Morning Jacket
5. "Inspiration Information" - Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings
6. "With A Girl Like You" - Dave Sitek
7. "Blood Pt. 2" - Buck 65 Remix (featuring Sufjan Stevens and Serengeti)
8. "Hey, Snow White" - The New Pornographers
9. "Gentle Hour" - Yo La Tengo
10. "Amazing Grace" - Cat Power
11. "Happiness" - Riceboy Sleeps
12. "Another Saturday" - Stuart Murdoch
13. "The Giant Of Illinois" - Andrew Bird
14. "Lua" - Conor Oberst with Gillian Welch
15. "When The Road Runs Out" - Blonde Redhead & Devastations
16. "Love Vs. Porn" - Kevin Drew

Covering The National.

Lackthereof is the long-running side project of Menomena's Danny Seim, formed in 1997, who made their 9th release (third with any kind of proper distribution) July 22nd 2008. 'Your Anchor' contains a highly experimental selection of songs, almost a caricature of Seim's main project, with new influences, simpler instrumentation and a definite folk influence. I think the band's attempt to describe themselves in three genres on their myspace (emotronic/folk/healing & easylistening) is about as close as they realistically could have got. While some songs retain the kind of funk/punk Menomena feature, other parts (namely 'every kind word') explore folktronica with the kind of psychedelic vocals more often seen from Devendra Banhart. The vocal itself isn't too far from the National's Matt Berninger, but varies so much across the album, particularly on their cover of 'Fake Empire', that any kind of generalisation is made impossible.

I've always loved how Danny Seim's projects really do explore boundaries of indie rock i could never even imagine existed. 'Fake Empire' is the icing on the cake. The catchy piano line present in the National version has been stripped and replaced with a simpler one and an electro-ambient drone has been placed underneath two tired psychedelic voices. This is an extremely odd but strangely satisying take on a classic song by The National.

Grab the original here.

The Lackthereof cover is available for streaming here.

And also, here's another strange cover of this song, by Scottish folk rock band Frightened Rabbit, who give in to a partial cover during their song 'My Backwards Walk' live in Denver.