My Canadian lo-fi hero, Chad VanGaalen, has a new album due out September 9 entitled, Soft Airplane. And considering how much I loved his prior releases – Skelliconnection and Infiniheart – I fully expect this album to be on the top of my list for 2008.
Chad also helped Flemish Eye label mate, Women, record their debut album this year with his signature lo-fi style. Another album I adore.
Here’s a track from Soft Airplane, ‘Willow’.
Artist: High Places
Album: 03/07-09/07
File Under: Experimental
Recommended if You Like: Panda Bear, Atlas Sound, Ruby Suns, Animal Collective
Featured Tracks: Head Spins
How to describe High Places sound. It’s difficult. To quote the band, “Where the ocean meets the forest, this is where we sing our chorus.” The Brooklyn-based duo, consisting of Rob Barber and Mary Pearson, take simple beat structures, layer it with echo and reverb and top it off with the pretty songs of cloud gazing and existential yearning. It’s heady and hypnotic in it’s repetition. Charming and tranquil in it’s simplicity.
Their debut EP is a compilation of singles collected over a six month period, thus the title 03/07 – 09/07. The album is a pre-cursor to their full length LP scheduled for release September 23 on their newly signed label, Thrill Jockey. I have high expectations. Until then, enjoy 03/07-09/07 and make sure to check them out at Bottom of the Hill October 8.
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I’ve had The Last Shadow Puppets on my Rhapsody new music playlist for some time. I’m a sucker for that way back sound. The Last Shadow Puppets have been the extremely hyped side project of Arctic Monkeys’ Alex Turner and Miles Kane of The Rascals. Their new album is called ‘The Age of the Understatement’. Featured is their new video for the single, ‘Standing Next to Me.’
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One of my all time favorite live performers, Juana Molina, is playing Yoshi’s San Francisco tomorrow. The Argentinean songstress is a literal one woman band. Often compared to the likes of Bjork and Beth Orton, she singlehandedly plays guitar, synthesizer and percussion while singing and looping her vocals to harmonize with herself. It’s truly incredible and something you have to see live to appreciate all that’s going on. I highly recommend it.
Check out this YouTube video profile of Juana and you’ll get a good sense of what I’m talking about. And be sure to pick up her latest album, Son.
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For all the bullshit that was involved with the All Points West Festival in NY this weekend – the poor transportation planning, ridiculous VIP setup, absurd alcohol restrictions, enormous lines and overall clusterfuck – all was redeemed when Radiohead took the stage Saturday night.
As the sun set on the New York city skyline, thousands of people jostled to their places then stood transfixed and mesmerized for the next two hours. It was the most beautiful Radiohead performance I’ve seen yet. So gentle, haunting and moving that it enraptured 30,000 people to such a state of reverent silence you could hear a pin drop when Thom Yorke started in on ‘House of Cards.’
It gave me chills and felt somewhat transcendental. For everything at that moment was perfect – the weather, the scenery, the crowd, the company and most of all the music. I didn’t want it to end – ever.
After the show, there was a palpable sense of calm and peacefulness about the crowd. I was truly amazed no one lost their cool as 30,000 people descended on the only two transportation outlets home. Clearly everyone was affected.
Once we got home, all we could do for hours was reflect. It was a profoundly beautiful evening. And it might have been the closest thing to a religious experience I’ve ever had. My Radiohead religion.
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As with most indie music festivals today, there’s typically a stage dedicated to the electronic/dance genre. It’s not my usual scene but some of my best festival moments have been enraptured in the energy of a full-fledged, 80s flashback, dance your pants off set from groups like Chromeo – who’s performing on Saturday. ‘Cuz you know, sometimes is so bad it’s good. Here’s a video for ‘Fancy Footwork.’
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One of my current hometown favorites, Girls, has a new video out for ‘God Damned’. Check out their new album, Lust for Life.
I’ve been a long time fan of UK-based, Clinic. They fit right in there with my Brit Rock fascination. And the fact that they perform all their shows in surgical masks only adds to their eccentric allure. They have a new album out, ‘Do It!’ – their fifth album. Here is the new video for the track ‘Tomorrow.’
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Yay! I’m in New York. So happy to be here and looking forward a fun weekend of music and friends. Another anticipated performance for me this weekend is experimental group Animal Collective. Their 2007 release, Strawberry Jam, was critically acclaimed. Here’s a new video for Water Curses off the same titled 12″ released this year.
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There’s nothing like an impending festival to focus your music research efforts. This is a group on the line up for All Points West that I know little about. But after listening to a few songs, I’m marking them as a must see! Here’s a video for ‘Leave Us or Forgive Us’ and ‘Lucy Rides’. The lead singer kind of has a Kurt Cobain vibe, no?
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the OCMD 