Ben Frost is one of those unique composers working in the electronic realm who is able to harness the visceral nature of music. His tools are synthetic yet he always seems to build tangible, almost organic elements into his work. Live he does the some thing, bringing a physicality to his performance as he bends and turns dials and switches. He was spellbinding at ATP … Continue reading NEW MUSIC: Ben Frost | Venter
Amaya Laucirica (VIC) has a brand new record Sway ready to be released on April 14th and it features the great first single Prettier Than Sound which you can stream below. The song includes Adalita on backing vocals and JP Shilo on guitar and they conjure up a wonderful hazy, shimmering track with billowing harmonies and cascading textural guitars. Laucirica’s upcoming tour dates are also … Continue reading NEW MUSIC: Amaya Laucirica | Prettier Than Sound
Wild Beasts have been on something of an evolutionary arc with each album showcasing their willingness to dig deep into creative corners and musically chance their hearts and heads. Present Tense continues that trend, taking them further into the world of lush electronica. They’ve always been a band built on the tremendous voices of Haydn Thorpe and Tom Fleming, a strength they readily accept and … Continue reading ALBUM REVIEW: Wild Beasts | Present Tense
A new Spain album is always cause for celebration. Ever since the classic debut The Blue Moods Of Spain in 1995 they’ve continued to release beautiful albums that showcase their jazz-tinged slowcore songs. Sargent Place was produced by Gus Seyffert (The Black Keys, Beck, Norah Jones) and mixed by Darrell Thorp (Beck, Radiohead, Atoms For Peace, Paul McCartney). It has just been released by Glitterhouse … Continue reading NEW MUSIC: Spain release new LP Sargent Place
Soundgarden look to have gone all out in marking 20 years since the release of their album Superunknown.They have two deluxe reissue CD sets coming out plus a 200gm vinyl pressing and a special 5×10″ vinyl set for Record Store Day this April. 10-Inch Vinyl Box Set: Due out on April 19 for Record Store Day, this set will include all five Superunknown singles and … Continue reading NEWS: Soundgarden to release 20th Anniversary Edition of Superunknown
The Horrors have announced their new LP Luminous will be released on May 5th. Apparently they were determined to make an album that was brighter, more positive and more electronic and they’ve certainly achieved that based on I See You, the first taste of the new album. Tracklisting: Chasing Shadows First Day Of Spring So Now You Know In and Out Of Sight Jealous Sun … Continue reading NEW MUSIC: The Horrors | I See You
Afghan Whigs surprised quite a few people recently with their Bob Odenkirk – assisted announcement that they’re releasing their first new album in 16 years this April. Do to the Beast is coming out via Sub Pop Records (April 15th), was mostly recorded at Josh Homme’s Pink Duck studio and includes contributions from Alain Johannes (QOTSA), Clay Tarver (Chavez), Mark McGuire (Emeralds) and others. Here’s … Continue reading NEW MUSIC: Afghan Whigs | Algiers
Chad VanGaalen has a knack for writing skewed interstellar pop music that sounds both childlike and futuristic at the same time. His album Soft Airplane was a particular favourite of mine (among the four he’s released) so it’s exciting to read he has a new LP Shrink Dust coming out on April 19th via Sub Pop. PREORDER Continue reading NEW MUSIC: Chad VanGaalen | Where Are You?
NEW RELEASE: On March 14th a Deluxe Edition CD and digital version of Sunnyboys’ debut album will be released. The album has been remastered and includes 24 bonus tracks – the entire album sessions, including later b-sides Stop & Think, Guts Of Iron & Physical Jerk. Also included for the first time on CD and download are the live tracks Thrill and Why Do I … Continue reading NEW RELEASE: Sunnyboys debut to be reissued
EMA (Erika M. Anderson) has a new album The Future’s Void coming out in Australia on April 4th (7th USA) and if this first single is anything to go by she’s headed in much more of an electronic direction. Satellites is full of bursts of static, distorted synths and vocal hooks that could easily pass as something from the visceral end of a Depeche Mode’s … Continue reading WATCH: EMA | Satellites (2014)
Damon Albarn only just announced the details of his first solo record a few date ago and now he’s ushered the video for the title track out into the virtual world. Everyday Robots is a synthetic, melancholic track with shades of trip hop that sounds utterly Albarn, the logical combination of his work in Blur and numerous other musical projects. Everyday Robots is out on … Continue reading WATCH: Damon Albarn | Everyday Robots
Here’s Boys in the Wood, the first taste of the new Black Lips LP Underneath The Rainbow coming out on February 18th on VICE Records. Continue reading NEW MUSIC: Black Lips | Boys In the Wood
Doubtful Sounds 