take a look / listen
Haunting vocals, intense, driving guitars, and raw passion are just a few of the components that make up one of Austin’s most dynamic and exciting new bands—The White White Lights.
Led by skilled vocalist Jenny Gacy and master guitarist Deluxe Peroux, TWWL brings a little bit of everything to the table, with a distinguishing sound that is nothing short of intoxicating. Along with earning the titles of “Best New Austin Band” and one of the “Top 10 to Watch in 2010” by The Austin Chronicle, TWWL have already received excellent reviews from a number of media outlets, including Spin and The Onion’s A.V. Club. The band’s debut EP, Medium Head Boy, is set to be released on February 27th, via Indiedirect Records. While TWWL may be one of the newer members of the Austin music scene, their mature and expertly-crafted sound and vast collection of material has critics comparing the up-and-coming band to veterans like Sonic Youth, Yo La Tengo, and Yeah Yeah Yeahs. With its own professional recording studio and years of experience in production, TWWL has come up with a unique recording process that captures all of the raw emotion and aggression of a live performance. Taking pride in its creative artistic nature, the band is focused on creating and releasing limited, special edition material to fans so that every individual album feels like a one-of-a-kind art piece.
The Delta Mirror sign to Lefse Records ; the gothic,
electronic shoegaze of "Machines That Listen" out in March
MP3: He Was Worse Than The Needle He Gave YouUp-and-coming label Lefse Records (Neon Indian, Phaseone) announce the signing of Los Angeles' The Delta Mirror. Merging brooding songs with boom bap production, their debut "Machines That Listen" (out 3.16.2010) is a clever, haunting record full of ear-tickling electronics, psych layers, and foreboding storytelling. With plans to tour this spring along with a stop at SXSW, the songs of the Delta Mirror are poised to linger in the ears of new listeners well into 2010.
Check out a sneak of the album here
Check out Sambassadeur
The band has just released “Stranded,” their second single from their forthcoming album “European” due out February 23rd on Labrador Records.
PEASANT Announces New Shady Retreat Album,
Available March 2, 2010!
Check out Peasant’s “Well Alright” mp3 here
As we enter a new decade and many of us are trying to live up to our potential quietly, PEASANT is taking his personal resolution to the ears of every listener. Having been in a continual state of growth for the past two years, Peasant has flourished to create a new album – an album that illustrates maturity gained through experience without losing the honest charm of deliverance.
Shady Retreat, Peasant’s new record, takes off where the previous record, On The Ground, left us. While the last album gave many people their first taste of Peasant, in the eyes of the moniker’s human form, Damien DeRose, this was a mere appetizer to what would soon come to fruition. DeRose molded his own retrospective thoughts and realization about the music and content of On The Ground to use as a platform for Shady Retreat. The result is an album that is an extension of the most creative and substantial elements of On The Ground combined with DeRose’s maturing music tastes and everyday influences. Shady Retreat stands out as its own introspective artistic masterpiece.
Keep an eye out for new Peasant tour updates to be announced soon as he will be venturing down to Austin for SXSW in March, followed by a nationwide tour in April and then heading over the Atlantic in May to tour in support of the release abroad!
Shady Retreat is available via Paper Garden Records
on March 2, 2010 in North America and April 5th in Europe.
Georgie James’ Laura Burhenn Forms New Solo Project:
The Mynabirds Debut Album What We Lose In The Fire We Gain In The Flood
Coming Out April 27th on Saddle Creek
Free MP3 of “Numbers Don’t Lie” Available HERE
Drawing upon the gospel, old soul, and rock n roll records that she grew up with, Laura Burhenn will unveil What We Lose In The Fire We Gain In The Flood (April 27, Saddle Creek), her debut album as The Mynabirds. Despite her small size and the clean sound found in her work with Georgie James, Burhenn shells out an enormously rich and husky voice on her new album. Her vocals color the vivid imagery of her lyrics, many of which were inspired by a Zen look at ideas of loss and recovery. Whether upbeat or introspective, Burhenn remains soulful and honest at her core. She simultaneously harnesses the charm of contemporaries Cat Power and Feist, as well as the fervor and magnitude of iconic influences Nina Simone and Grace Slick.
Following the breakup of DC duo Georgie James, Burhenn turned inward and truly found her voice. In the spring of 2009, she crafted a new batch of songs and enlisted singer-songwriter/producer Richard Swift to help the material come to life in the studio. The Mynabirds, inspired by the name of a forgotten Motown Records band that included Rick James and Neil Young, is the project that emerged from these sessions.
The album also includes some notable guest artists. Tom Hnatow (These United States) played pedal steel, Nate Walcott (Bright Eyes) arranged the horns on the album and backing vocals were provided by Orenda Fink (Azure Ray) and engineer/producer AJ Mogis (Monsters of Folk, Cursive, Tilly and The Wall).
As The Mynabirds, Burhenn walks a fine line between deep contemplation and absolute joy. Dark and light, old and new, and soft and loud – all work in tandem to create a truly dimensional record that is rich emotion and perfectly in balance.
CHICAGO'S MAKO SICA DUAL HORIZON LP AVAILABLE FEBRUARY 16
Band's avant-psychedelia limited to 250, 12" vinyl on La Société Expéditionnaire
Download "I'Itoi" mp3 from Dual Horizon
Mako Sica is a trio featuring Przemyslaw Krys Drazek on guitar and trumpet, Michael J. Kendrick on drums and Brent Fuscaldo on vocals, guitar, and various percussion. The words Mako Sica come from a Sioux Lakota Native American term meaning "land bad." They were taken from a signpost at the Painted Desert in Arizona during a trip Fuscaldo took in 2007. The band lives and works in Chicago (also a Native American term meaning "wild onion"), where the city's rich jazz history and punk ideals give Mako Sica, containing two ex-members of avant/experimental band Rope, the complete freedom to create music which reflects the spirit of their chosen name.The band's La Société Expéditionnaire debut, Dual Horizon, was recorded and mixed by Todd Rittmann (D. Rider, US Maple, Singer) and Jim Zespy (Magnolia Electric Co.) at Logan Hardware. The sessions were captured completely live without any over-dubs and the result is a powerful and natural forty minute cycle in album form. Layered guitars emerge then disappear, primitive rhythms echo around ancient vocal chants and dark electric grooves lead the journey through a desert of unexpected peaks, valleys, and micro-songs. Their lengthy cinematic approach recalls Godspeed You Black Emperor! with the expressive freedom and abandon of Soft Machine and hometown heroes The Art Ensemble of Chicago. Side A's twenty minute cycle begins with "I'itoi", a song named for a mythological Native American god who lives in a mountain cave and watches over the desert. The voice of a dark storm on the horizon recalls a forgotten voice of ancients stirred by Fuscaldo's visit to the Painted Desert. The menacing, enigmatic tones reflect a lack of written history and the dependence on folklore to tell the cautionary tales of injustices that predicted America's rampant growth and industrialization.
Groove Armada
Black Light (out March 2nd on OM Records)
Click HERE to Download "Shameless (featuring Bryan Ferry)"
"How can a tune invoke both a smoky Parisian café glinting with the reflections of lost loves and early David Bowie? Bryan Ferry keeps his legendary Roxy Music roots front and center on this exclusive Groove Armada tune—replete with a downtempo melody, piano keys and a plaintive beat that turns tempestuous. It’s Groove Armada—sexy’s a given! But there’s something more intellectual at play; it’s clear this sound is more dance-informed progression than chillout track. "
Click HERE to Download "I Won't Kneel (Treasure Fingers Epicwave Remix)"
Listen to…EMANUEL AND THE FEAR
Releases Debut Full-Length Album - Available March 9, 2010!
Check out Emanuel and the Fear’s “Dear Friend” mp3 here
Often times, a band can get too big too quickly and not be able to adapt in ample time to their own success. In Emanuel and the Fear’s case, they started big - an entire 11 members big. With less than a year under their belt since the initial self-titled EP release, Emanuel and the Fear has been building its profile and reputation rapidlly, proving to the industry and fans alike that it is one band that is worth the hype.
Now armed with a brand new 18-song album of epic proportions, Emanuel and the Fear is raising the bar yet again with Listen. To be released in North America on March 9th and in Europe on March 22nd with Spring and Summer tour plans both domestic and abroad, not to mention playing two of NYC’s best venues (Music Hall of Williamsburg and Gramercy Theatre) in February and March, Emanuel and the Fear will be bringing their music and full live experience to listeners across the globe.
Pre-order Emanuel and the Fear’s Listen CD here:
http://papergardenrecords.com/shop/item/53
The soundtrack from the award-winning film Crazy Heart is new in stores as of January 19, 2010. Co-produced by T Bone Burnett, Crazy Heart: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack features “The Weary Kind” (co-written and sung by Ryan Bingham) which won The Golden Globe for Best Original Song in a Motion Picture, as well as a number of songs performed by Jeff Bridges, winner of The Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Drama for his role as country music singer, Bad Blake. There is a limited deluxe edition of the soundtrack, featuring 23 songs (regular edition is 16 tracks) and Click here to watch the music video for “The Weary Kind,” directed by Danny Clinch.
2010 is the year to come out and play in the playground
Crystal Fighters
Having established a name for producing eclectic alternative, indie and dance events for breaking bands over the years at highly regarded London venues including Proud, Koko and 93 Feet East among others, 2010 is looking even stronger for The Playground brand. Previously, the company has stamped its approval on the best emerging bands by booking acts including The Joy Formidable, The Horrors, Bombay Bicycle Club, Hadouken!, Ipso Facto and Punks Jump Up who all now regularly feature in renowned media titles NME, There Goes the Fear, Clash, Drowned in Sound, The Guardian and on BBC Radio 1 and MTV (among other fine media outlets such as yours). Last year also saw The Playground outsource their knowledge of revelries when promoting successful after parties for Franz Ferdinand’s and White Lies’ Brixton Academy shows with said bands performing exclusive DJ sets.
The Playground is looking at continuing these taste making events with its weekend residencies at Shoreditch hotspot 93 Feet East throughout 2010, starting with ‘London’s best kept secret’ indie popsters, Cha Cha, who have their launch party on Friday the 5th February. Alongside them are Lyrebirds who have already supported Neil Young, Echo and the Bunnymen, The Big Pink and Maccabees plus supporting acts for the night Artrocker-tipped Black Manila Beach Parade and Bang Bangs. Did we mention it is free for the kids to attend, too?
The Playground continues to show love for all things electronic the night before Valentines Day on Saturday the 13th February and well into wee hours of the 14th with an epic line up of Kitsune artists featuring a DJ set from electronic outfit Crystal Fighters, who have made it clear about their feelings for London with their recent smash ‘I Love London’, whilst Inflagranti, My Tiger My Timing and The Seal Cub Clubbing Club offer the perfect ear candy and Punx Soundcheck host their album launch party in the 2nd room. The love is definitely set to last all night with a 4am close.
visit www.theplayground.co.uk
Child's Play Records is proud to present Amp Live 'Murder at the Discotech.'
The anitcipated electronic and hip hop fused record features guest vocals by Mickey Factz, Zumbi of Zion I, Grouch, Eligh, Trackademicks, Fashawn, Myka Nyne, Hot Tub, Yak Ballz, My First Earthquake, Golda Supa Nova, Bambu, Dude Royal and more. Featuring the internet buzz hits 'Gary is a Robot' featuring Trackademicks (Fools Gold) & Mr. Micro and 'Turn it Up' featuring Mickey Factz (XXL hottest mcs to watch out for 2010), Murder at the Discotech is best defined as electro hop; melting dubstep, electro, hip hop and indy in to one pot. Amp Live Remixes Why?'s 'Eskimo Snow'!!!
MP3s: One Dark Eskimo