This week, we thank matron saint Madge for sleazing it up abroad. Perhaps it was a latent desire for an opportune nip-slip during this year's Super Bowl Half-Time show that never came, with the cheap consolation of MIA's cameo flip-off or Nicki Minaj beating her with the wardrobe malfunction punch last year on GMA. Perhaps dissapointing sales of MDNA are to bring our beloved matriarch to such desperation. Perhaps we should move forward and look to those not resorting to acts of exhibtionism in no particular order.
First up we give you Portland's DubbleOO keeping it “Fresh Out the Wrap” with the prominent dominance of Big K.R.I.T. Bridging the Bay and the Pacific Northwest, Dubble breaks it down like this: “Working together with Big K.R.I.T. had a big impact on the direction of the song. Once we started working on the track together, the music began to fly. Have fun, party hard, stay in the newest clothes and cars, and, of course, recycle.” Keep an eye of the VU meters and the blue bins, and be on the lookout for Dubble00's Beast Mode, Vol. 2 coming soon.
Yes, you read this right. Mike G, Vince Staples and Speak! together at last, to show the West Coast who the real shapers of tomorrow's spitters, basement beatmakers, and rhyme slingers are and what they are doing today. Get in on this and get your advance tickets here.
Sonnymoon is on the West Coast tour beat with co-headliner Jonti, joined in various cities by the likes of Knxwledge, devonwho, B.Lewis, & Mndsgn. After raging with Teebs and Time Wharp some months back, the tour is back in effect and with a listen to Dane of Sonnymoon (or DEO)'s exclusive The (Infinity) Mix that can be downloaded here.
Austin's Deep Time, formerly YellowFever, dropped the experiment in technicolor lights, silhouettes video for “Clouds” directed by Grass Widow's Hannah Lew. Look for the Deep Time self-titled July 10 from Hardly Art.
No sooner had I caught myself shaking a leg to that Blood Diamonds/Grimes collab when I stumbled on this supergroup L$D video titled “Don't Smoke My Blunt Bitch” comprised of the aforementioned plus Tragik and Kreayshawn. The ladytragik-posted video writes in the description, “We did this song in 10 minutes and the video in under an hour… TRIPPY.” The result is a kaleidescope that makes for a super alt+diy+LA Rap commercial. Also check out our debut of Blood Diamonds' remix of Hot As Sun's “Only A Woman.”
Sure, you have all heard this all ready but we were busy being held up at the pre-party while our gal pals monopolized the restrooms, fussing about whose hair was did, a do, a don't, or just fronting with some fake ass extensions. Whatever the case was, we give you Frank Ocean's massive single “Pyramids” that clocks in at just under 10 minutes and is his most ambitious work to date. Here's slick sung stories of top floor hotel suite baller status, Las Vegas neon grandeur burning like bright strip, lights blinking in mechanical slow motion with a bevy of dance beat-twitpic still-life grooves. But the big news is that Frank Ocean will release his big album Channel Orange July 17 on Def Jam and will be on tour between July and August at a venue near you.
Dark Time Sunshine goes for “A Walk in the Park” with this b-side preview from ANX coming from Fake Four Inc. July 24. Onry Ozzborn puts the things that matter in life into perspective while Zavala keeps the production pensive and concentrated fit for the panning perspectives on family and keeping the loved ones both near and far together.
Meet San Francisco's hot duo Seatraffic. Comprised of Mark Zannad manning vocal and keyboards with drummer Brandon Harrison. The group present shades of a new school of shoe-admiring pop that favors the synthesizer hum to keep warm amid the fog of keys. Since they released their self-titled EP in November 2011 they are preparing their Crimes 7″ recorded at Mission Street Recording for a limited vinyl release and unlimited digital August 1.
Checkout London's Second Head, featurins members from Arrows of Love, Loverman, Turbogeist and Eraserheads. Their new mini album is Disease Comes in Waves, a limited edition of 300 12-inch vinyl LP with extended bonus tracks. It was recorded by Rory Attwell, Brattwell Recordings, and features two Americans: drummer Neil Ganesha Hunt and guitarist Mike Kokinda.
Here is their video for “Red” via HungerTV.
House Shoes comes at you again, this time with his friends Quelle Chris & Guilty Simpson on the following organ grinder “Nails.” Let Detroit into your ears and look for House Shoes' Let It Go June 19 on Tres Records.
Au Revoir Simone's 'it' girl Erika Spring presents her new track “Hidden” off her upcoming EP from CASCINE. The Brooklyn, NYC artist embraces today's keyboard rich approaches to the dance medium by taking it through the looking glass mirrored against its opposed reflection on the opposite side. She creates the optical passage into the metaphors of infinity, throwing the timeline continuum of new romantic balladry into the future's foundation for potential remixed revisions and musings. Erika Forster will release her Erika Spring EP on 12″ and digital July 10 on CASCINE.
Willits and Sakamoto have combined collaborative forces again for their upcoming album Ancient Futures. In sustained note tones of “Completion,” the duo presents the type of sparse ambient that works off of tonal resonances to fill any space from an empty bedroom to a vacant warehouse after the after party. Look for Ancient Futures from Ghostly International.
14KT is counting his “Blessings” in the video that will fill all who see and hear with hearts and attitudes of thanks. Catch A Friendly Game of KT out now from the Mello Music Group/A-Side Worldwide.
Join Future Twin and friends for a dual cancer birthday celebration for guitarist/singer Jean Jeanie along with Religious Girls' drummer Nich Cowman at the Hemlock, Sunday June 24. Further performances will be given by Austin's MODRAG, currently on their North American tour with an appearance from Mission-based newcomers Cruel Summer. We are told that confetti and fried chicken are being encouraged but are not a requirement. Check out MODRAG's slow burning spiritualizer, “Long Way Home.”
Get at listen to Tall Black Guy's “Sparkling Adventure” to put that extra sparkle in your Friday afternoon. Terrel Wallace, the man behind TBG is readying his compilation Tempo Dreams Vol. 1 for release June 19 on Bastard Jazz Recordings. Get ready for international producer overload as TBG is joined by the likes of Buscrates, Doc IllingsworthChief, Monkey Robot, Tensei, Ta-Ku, Teru and probably a few more we're leaving out. If songs in the key of Sa-Ra and Thundercat styled recordings that work in the most deluxe fashion of relaxation mode music appeals to you, then you have no excuse not to listen further.
New Mount Eerie album Ocean Roar is coming September 4 from P.W. Elverum and Sun, and we got a preview of “Pale Lights” for you to feast on until that time. From his de-sanctified church studio “The Unknown” in Anacortes, Washington, Phil Elverum invites you into the sea's mystery with the poetic, “pale lights from other islands, slow flashing, through dusk, across the water, seeing island shapes, who is there? I call. A small yelp on the wind and then more roaring.”
Dive in on all the big buzz while kicking it poolside with none other than Poolside in their “Slow Down” video directed by Shahana Khan. Poolside's debut release Pacific Standard Time emerges July 9 on Day & Night Recordings World and Different Recordings Europe.
Mr. Boomtown brings out the bright visuals for Waka Flocka Flame, Bun B, and Ludacris giving the South love in “Candy Paint & Gold Teeth.” Waka's follow up to Flockaveli is out now with Triple F Life: Friends, Fans & Family available in the shops and iTunes.
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Look out for our friends Exray's as they take on the West Coast on the following dates ahead of their release of Trust a Robot June 36 via Howell's Transmiter. The SF trio brings a revamped live set that now includes the much talked about single “Hesitation” with selections rescued from tomorrow's apocalypse to be played and heard now.
July
15 Tacoma, WA, The Space
16 Olympia, WA, Little House on the Perry
17 Seattle, WA, Sunset Tavern
22 San Diego, CA, Soda Bar
23 Los Angeles, CA, Roxy Theater
Australia's Slug Guts dropped their new single “Stranglin' You Too” bringing a barage of that post-punk attitude from down under. Like the “Bodies in the Dunes” Horror macabre of their labelmates Pop. 1280, the sextet brings their killing moon world wide with a menacing attitude fresh off of extensive international tour encompassing 'court trials, death, rehab, and bouts of violence following thousands of kilometers spent in a van.' Look for Slug Guts new album Playin’ In Time With The Deadbeat coming July 24 from Sacred Bones.
Cate Le Bon revealed that her upcoming CYRK II EP is coming August 21 from The Control Group and shared her Winston Case-directed performance at NYC's All Souls Church. Cate utilizes the full pipes of the organ with a performance of “The Man I Wanted.”
Astrobal got things spinning with this week with computer generated global roll with the video “Poetry & Science Fiction” The title track from the album of the same name released last year on Plug Research. We encourage you to join the French producer into a vision crafted from Google Earth imaging by loïc Jouan for Blåsut films.
Here's Hot Panda's “Future Markets” video from William Minsky filmed inVancouver's CBC studios. Digital capture takes on a whole new meaning in the video for a track that features some of our favorite use of cell phone interference as an instrumental noisemaker. Hot Panda releases Go Outside on Mint Records July 17.
For those in need of some modern day glitched beats and more, get a listen to Gobby's “Viewing HRS (Zzz).” Seen around Harlem playing a self-styled, blue masked approach to the techno construct. Gobby persuades even the most cynical of forward thinking electric music enthusiast in a world of fascinated awe. Also seen providing some production for Mykki Blanco's mixtape with “Betty Rubble,” keep your ears and eyes peeled for Gobby's New Hat EP coming June 26 on 12″ & digital from UNO NYC. Look for Gobby playing 285 Kent June 22 at the upcoming UNO x Software event.
We also have the video for The Invisible's “Wings” sending out those flashes of light and liquid reverberations throughout the nation. Get more future groove's now with The Invisible's Rispah out now on Ninja Tune.
With more from tracks and videos from the Ninja Tune, check out Grasscut's “From Towns & Fields.” The perfect weekend get away track to flee the trappings from the city for the coutnry's azure skies, verde pastures and seaward ledges and edges of earth. Join Robert Wyatt, Gazelle Twin, and Polar Bear's Seb Roachford as they contribute to Grasscut's upcoming album Unearth due July 24.
In keeping with the Ninja Tune vibe for a few minutes we want to share with you Lorn's animated video for “Ghosts.” The CRCR video plays around with a sketch of a mustachioed face that morphs, spinning around like a Janus coin amid the bass strings and synthesized atmospheres. Lorn's Ask the Dust comes out June 26.
If you are reading this from a work, take the rest of your Friday off because we got the Dent May video for “Home Groan” filmed by both James Alexander Warren and may on their iPhones while living it up. And if you made an album as chill as Do Things, you can bet your top dollar you would either be living it up in Oxford, Mississippi or the Cayman Islands. Dent May's Do Things is available now from Paw Tracks.
Laetitia Sadier gave the world a sneak listen to her new song, “There is a Price to Pay For Freedom (And it Isn't Security).” A gorgeous collaboration between Sadier and James Elkington that brings the Franco sentiments to Chi-town as Laetitia readies the release of her solo album Silencio due July 24 from Drag City.
Fresh & Onlys are on the move again with word of their upcoming Mexican Summer album Long Slow Dance coming September 4 while solo releases from Tim Cohen with Ruler of the Night (Hardly Art) and Wymond Miles' Under the Pale Moon (Sacred Bones) both dropped earlier this week. But until the September, feast your ears on San Francisco's heroes with their new hot single “Yes or Now” out now from Mexican Summer and streaming here.
Turn up or turn down your subwoofers because we got a listen from TNGHT's TNGHT EP out July 23, 24 on Warp Records / LuckyMe.
Dusted dropped a limited time stream of their album Total Dust for your preview-listening enjoyment. Listen as Holy Fuck frontman Brian Borcherdt steps out from the electronic zaps and travels down the long, dusty trail with the following batch of modern roadhouse pop. Total Dust comes out July 10 from Polyvinyl/Hand Drawn Dracula.
And for a super group track that you have to hear to believe, listen to Lushlife's remix of “She's A Buddhist, I'm A Cubist”, featuring Angel Deradoorian's angelic voice with verses from Big Baby Gandhi, Deniro Farrar, Cities Aviv, G-Side, KDz Kenny Dennis a.k.a. Serengeti rolling as a crew to contend with. Be sure to check Lushlife with Kool Keith June 14 at the Brooklyn Bowl.
The Child of Lov's “Give Me” begs and pleads “give me all your loving, give me all your body, give me all the things you did not know that you had before” as a soulful follow up to his earlier “Heal” demo that appeared last month. Look out for TCOL collaborating with both Doom and Damon Albarn while promising more solo work and an upcoming mixtape coming our ways later this summer. Stay tuned for more.
Allow me to introduce you to Ranch Ghost, branded by the press junkets as 'Nashville Psych Rockers' but we like to think of them as part of that great traditional southern pantheon of DIY, nitty gritty rock n' roll. Get your copy of their Jeffery Drag Records 7″ here and get a listen to the Tennessee punk of “New News” and amped up b-side “The Water.”
In keeping up with the hype surrounding the upcoming Del the Funky Homosapien & Parallel Thought album Attractive Sin, we invite you to stream the album here before you can get it this upcoming Tuesday June 19.
XV dropped his Popular Culture mixtape via Livemixtapes, featuring tracks from our recent coverage of X Ca$hin' Out with his own take “Tappin’ Out” or the remake of Kendrick Lamar’s “The Recipe” with “Stone Cold.” Get in on the Popular Culture party here and pre-order XV's The Awesome EP here coming June 26.
Mrs. Magician released the happening jam “Fools Paradise” that has been receiving repeat listenings here in the office this week. This golden single that oozes with everything you love about trademarked So Cal indie but devoid of every pretentious thing you hate about So Cal indie. With their 7″ picture disc on Enjoyment Records along with “In the Wake of Heaven” are b-sides from the San Diego scuzz poppers Strange Heaven. The album's out now on any format you can think of everywhere thanks to Swami Records.
We also learned that Blu & Exile will drop their album Give Me My Flowers While I Can Still Smell Them on September 4 on Dirty Science / Fat Beats with the sample of the following preview video. This summer look for their 10″ EP Maybe One Day which drops on July 24 from Fat Beats.
Wild Nothing dropped the lovely new track “Shadow” to ease the soul with strings and sound blurs heralding the coming the new album, Nocturne coming August 27 in the UK from Bella Union and August 28 on Captured Tracks in the States. Get mellow.
Watch as Mystery Jets bro try to get his records back from his hot ex in the Jem Goulding directed video for “Greatest Hits.” Look for their album Radlands Truthpaste Records / Rough Trade out now.
As you may have heard already, ring the bells and sound the announcement trumpets because Sic Alps have proclaimed the fall arrival of their fifth full-length release. The first single “Glyph” drinks from the Alps' well of analogue equipment recipes for reconstituted facsimiles of 1967's popular time signatures and style idioms so retro that you have to wait until September 11 to get the new Sic Alps self-titled from your friends at Drag City.
Nguzunguzu has prepared some bass rich, Toys R Us piano sampled sequencing from the upcoming Warm Pulse EP coming July 3 from Hippos in Tanks digital and August 14 for both CD and 12″ vinyl. Get in on all the euphoria with the aptly titled track “Delirium” which promises to be more fun than having your co-workers spin you around in your office chair until you projectile hurl your morning coffee+wheatgrass shot+omega-3 food bar.
And coming from the Goldmine Sacks offices in Puerto Rico, we leave you with the island horn jam “Crazy with Joy” by Henry Cole & The Afrobeat Collective performing live at La Respuesta.
