Immensely chuffed to be working with Guillemots, an astonishing band embarking on quite a project; releasing four albums this year.
The first is out today on The state51 Conspiracy’s label and available direct from the band via their website – http://guillemots.com
Spotify have launched the Play Button. It’s a way to embed streaming music from their catalogue on sites across the internet, with revenue directed back to artists and labels. Playing the music requires the listener to have a Spotify account. More information can be found here.
The embedded player should look a little like this…
Or this for a single track with a compact player…
Black Devil Disco Club’s Magnetic Circus is a drawing together of remixes and alternate versions from his Circus album.
Featuring collaborations from the likes of Faris Badawan (The Horrors and Cat’s Eyes), CocknBullKid, Afrika Bambaataa and Nancy Sinatra to name a few. If the list of guest collaborators has piqued your interest then wait until you see the artist doing the reworks. The album brings together the production skills of Leo Zero, Sauvage, Junior Claristidge and label mate NZCA/LINES reworking the tracks to bring a new flavour to them from cosmic disco to cold wave to freak folk there’s something for everyone and always something new to you to find.
Magnetic Circus is available now on digital download.
Portland duo AU (pronounced Ay-You) make their return this year with their third album entitled Both Lights. The band lead by principal songwriter Luke Wyland have over the years become one of the staples of the independent scene in Portland.
For a two-piece alt-indie-rock band you wouldn’t expect to get such a clash of frenetic and nervous energy gathered on one records but that’s what you get listening to this. Relying more on improvisation that on previous albums it gives the band a more free approach to making their music by packing in dense layers of instrumentation and sprawling percussive rhythms.
The album also features the earth-shattering saxophone Colin Stetson who plays on the opening track ‘Epic’ and debut single ‘Solid Gold’. There’s also the guest vocals of Portland singer Holland Andrews and long time collaborator Sara Winchester who lends her whispering vocals to ‘Old Friend’.
Moving, often seamlessly, from densely layered jittering energy to softer soundscapes the album will always keep you listening to hear what’s coming next.
The album is available now on digital download.
The new single by Furious is out now! ‘Teds Don’t Need a King’ is a piece of ruthless, gritty, hellbent rock n’ roll with the angriest guitars you’ll ever listen to.
More info here - www.rockfurious.com
Get it on iTunes
The force now known as Seekae came together in 2006, when primary school alumni Alex Cameron and George Nicholas, then fresh out of high school, met again after eight years by chance. Alex introduced George to his then-bandmate John Hassell, and the three, who had all been conducting bedroom experiments with electronic music, decided to start making noise together.
After a couple of years recording their debut album was released, and they went on tour. An Ep of remixes followed and in 2010 they started working in +Dome.
Paying homage to the sound and textures of Tokyo, Berlin, Chicago and London, +Dome blends live instrumentation with electronics and samples collected over two years of performing, touring and writing. Composing every sound and song with meticulous detail, from sub bass heavy rollers to intricate guitar riddled interludes, Seekae transmit their developed pallet through a long player that is both rhythm orientated and at the same time self reflecting.
Electronic Album of the Month – Mojo, January 2012
The Deluxe Edition features 3 Bonus Tracks: Sir, Altise Lament and Face Facts. Available on iTunes now
Smoove & Turrell track ‘In Deep (Kraak & Smaak Remix)’ is #1 at Traxsource’s Hype Chart
Featured on their album ‘Eccentric Audio‘, ‘In Deep’ is dubby disco of the highest quality, co-written with band member Dave Wilde.
Get the full release on Traxsource or on Jalapeno Records shop
Imagine a combination of The Incredible String Band and Boards of Canada and you won’t be far off….The Belbury Tales is infused with a deep vein of paranoia, a palpable fear, an attempt to reconcile the imminent unknown (evoking a reimagined or never experienced past).
BBC Music Review
A cunning mix of 1980s TV, addled Prog folk and science fiction, a very literary music.
Wire
The Belbury Tales is stranded somewhere between the abstract work of Jupp’s past and the fuller sound of the live instrumentation he is applying, making this feel like his most pleasingly open-ended release so far.
Pitchfork
…one of the most rewarding and fully realised projects in the Ghost Box catalogue and that’s high praise indeed.
FACT Magazine
Weird analogue synths? Rural symbolism? Artwork like a John Wyndham paperback? If you’re into all three then The Belbury Tales is Christmas…Nostalgia doesn’t often feel as good as this. Prepare to feel both spooked and studious.
Drowned in Sound
Upstairs Recordings release ‘Llama Ghost’, the new album by New Channel.
The music reflects the surroundings: beach / woods / weather / storms / sun / snow / rain / fog. A bendy hook that grabs you. An inspira- tion to create rhythm, melody and apply noise throughout. Llama Ghost is power and energy. The approach is a collage. Sound layers created with experimentation utilizing various distortion brushes, washes, samples, cut, sliced, trimmed and glued down. An abstract approach without any calculated outcome. A free stream of recycled unconsciousness. To be played back in its entirety at a high volume.
The Deluxe Edition features a Bonus Track and is now available on iTunes