A new name to some of you, probable underground heroes to many, Manchester's (We Are) Performance are returning in 2009 armed with some of the most undeniably brilliant pop songs you'll be lucky enough to hear all year. A bold claim we know, but this is one claim we've 100% faith in, such is the quality of album that's been on our office stereo this week
The first evidence of this brilliance is available now, with the track 'Let's Start' available to download completely free. Further evidence will also be audible when the band play their first London headline show of the year at 93 Feet East this coming Thursday (January 29th).
2009 looks set to be an exciting year for (We Are) Performance, and it's not just about the music. Frontman Joe Stretch's first novel 'Friction' was published last year to cult success and critical acclaim, and his second novel 'Wildlife' (Vintage) is released on March 5th. Bassist/Programmer Joe Cross is making a name for himself as one of Manchester's most exciting remixers, working with bands like Daggers and The Whip, while sisters Laura and Hilary Marsden continue to promote some of Manchester biggest club nights.
The band also feature in the film 'Unmade Beds', which is tipped to be one of the highlights of this year's Sundance Film Festival.
The first evidence of this brilliance is available now, with the track 'Let's Start' available to download completely free. Further evidence will also be audible when the band play their first London headline show of the year at 93 Feet East this coming Thursday (January 29th).
2009 looks set to be an exciting year for (We Are) Performance, and it's not just about the music. Frontman Joe Stretch's first novel 'Friction' was published last year to cult success and critical acclaim, and his second novel 'Wildlife' (Vintage) is released on March 5th. Bassist/Programmer Joe Cross is making a name for himself as one of Manchester's most exciting remixers, working with bands like Daggers and The Whip, while sisters Laura and Hilary Marsden continue to promote some of Manchester biggest club nights.
The band also feature in the film 'Unmade Beds', which is tipped to be one of the highlights of this year's Sundance Film Festival.
If we had our way here at MCB, every child would be weaned on Jagger, The Kinks and The Clash. Just ask Inward Eye, a troupe of three brothers — Dave (vocals/bass), Kyle (guitar/vocals), and Anders Erickson (drums) – what cutting your teeth on the classics does for you. At 5 years old, the Erickson brood would dance around in their underwear to their dad’s old vinyl of “Get Yer Ya-Ya’s Out,” and it still shows some 20 years later. As Inward Eye, the brothers craft snarling, revved-up rock music that could get comfy on a playlist from any era. Their eponymous debut is a front-to-back study in rebellion and high-voltage swagger. 
AFAS PRODUCE NEW VIDEO FOR ANTONY AND THE JOHNSONS' NEXT SINGLE
"EPILEPSY IS DANCING
freeeee copy of the new EP to the 4th emailer
Antony asked his friends the Wachowski Brothers to work with him on a video for his new single "Epilepsy is Dancing". They in turn invited painters Tino Rodriguez and Virgo Paradiso to create costumes and a mystical environment and choreographer Sean Dorsey and his dancers to bring the dream sequence to life. Antony's artistic partner Johanna Constantine stars as herself in the role of "Deer Monster". The video was lit and shot by the up-and-coming directors of photography, Chris Blasingame and Banker White, and produced by Jim Jerome. The production team collectively named themselves AFAS.
Please enjoy the fruits of their San Francisco art party.
The video premiered a few days ago on Pitchfork.tv:
Antony and the Johnsons’ highly anticipated album, “The Crying Light”, is released last week in the US by Secretly Canadian and is available in Europe and the UK on Rough Trade. http://www.antonyandthejohnsons.com/
Kemado Records is proud to announce the latest release from renowned Boston singer/songwriter Marissa Nadler: Little Hells. On her fourth solo album, to be released on March 3, Marissa Nadler finds multiple ways to envelop the listener in splendid gauzy moods without becoming monochromatic.
“The songs take on different personalities at different points in time,” says Nadler. “If a song is good, you should be able to do it in any style and transform it, take a risk and have some fun."
DOWNLOAD "RIVER OF DIRT" FROM LITTLE HELLS
http://www.spin.com/ is giving away a track from The Answer’s upcoming FULL length album, Everyday Demons. Download the track experience the awesomeness that is The Answer. 
My view for the next 2 weeks