Archive for July 2010
Evan Voytas: I Took A Trip On A Plane
Evan Voytas is a music making machine. He’s always churning out new songs when he’s not playing in Flying Lotus‘ band. The most remarkable trait about him is that no new release is ever a let down. I’m beginning to think it’s impossible for Mr. Voytas to disappoint me. We last heard from him when he released the warm “Sad, Like Hearts Can Be” and now he’s back with “I Took A Trip On A Plane.”
The new track is slightly happier than the previously mentioned, but that doesn’t mean it lacks the contemplative quality he’s known for. While FlyLo’s music has a darker and even fantasy-like quality to it, Voytas displays the other realm with dreamy indie pop layers that only lift you up.
Check it out below!
Wake Up Lucid: A Minor
As some of you may know, I help run another site called BeatCrave and every now and then we present shows with some stellar bands. When we hosted the Wires in the Walls show, a trio by the name of Wake Up Lucid closed the night out. Although they were last and it was already late for a weekday, Baca cousins Ryan, Ian and Jamie blew me away with their raw blues sound.
Just like The Happy Hollows make me proud to know they are from Los Angeles, Wake Up Lucid is another powerful trio that give your ears just what they’ve been craving without all the frills most bands try too hard to incorporate into their music. If this isn’t straight up rock n’ roll, I don’t know what is. Spiraling guitar riffs, raspy vocals and strong bass lines come together for songs that sound much bigger than just a three-piece band.
Wake Up Lucid is one of the bands that can join the league that is organic rock at its best in Los Angeles. Just take a listen to “A Minor” and “Black Hair Woman” off of their “Look Alive People” EP below and just try to tell me there’s not any substance there. Not only is there major substance but it’s an intense and honest sound you can grab on to and dig your finger nails into.
Cut Copy: Where I’m Going
Electropop band, Cut Copy has been working on their third studio album with producer, Ben Allen (Gnarls Barkley, Animal Collective) and have just released a single called “Where I’m Going” in anticipation of the release sometime in early 2011 via Modular. First impression? This ain’t no “Lights and Music” but it’s definitely a welcomed sound as it oozes Beach Boys pop complete with ooo’s and aah’s making them sound more Californian than Australian.
The album is yet to be titled but if the rest of it sounds anything like this new track, their fans may be opting to hold hands in a giant circle with flowers in their hair instead of rolling on ecstasy. Check it out below!
Robyn Music Video: Hang With Me
Robyn‘s Body Talk Pt. 2 is on its way! It’ll be available on September 6 in the UK and on the following day in the States. Word on the street is that Body Talk Pt. 3 will be here in time for Christmas!
If you thought I was obsessed with “Dancing On My Own” from Body Talk Pt. 1, I’m going gaga over the official first single of Body Talk Pt. 2 now. “Hang With Me” was offered as an acoustic song on the first part of the Robyn trilogy, however, it reappears on Pt. 2 with a shinier mix that now puts the song in the same league as “Dancing On My Own.” Unfortunately, all I am allowed to give you is the radio rip in a youtube video, but it’s worth hitting the replay button over and over. There are also already a ton of remixes of the song. UPDATE: The official video for “Hang With Me” was just released. I’ve replaced the radio rip with it so you can listen to the song (and watch it) in higher quality!
Take a listen to the new version of the single below along with remixes by Reset! and Avicii below. Personally, Avicii’s remix is my preference because Reset’s version is a bit too house for my liking but I know some of you Fabric-type heads will enjoy it. Also, I’ve included Copycat’s Sundrenched FM remix of “Dancing On My Own” after the jump. It has more of a rock vibe to it with guitars added in. Ah, so much Robyn goodness! I bet all of you who saw Robyn kick off her tour a couple of nights ago in Los Angeles with Kelis and Dan Black are already gobbling all this down.
The Love Language: Heart To Tell
One of the albums I have been playing on repeat is The Love Language‘s sophomore effort, Libraries. I was a bit worried that their follow-up to their debut self-titled album was not going to measure up but I was dead wrong. Even with the band parting ways with Stuart McLamb, the expansion on The Love Language’s sound is incredible. In fact, McLamb and producer BJ Burton completely slayed with everything on this album from the sequencing to the way the vocals just effortlessly croon to the slight 50′s and 60′s backdrop for the album’s theme.
The single, “Heart To Tell” which was released by Merge Records prior to the album’s release is just the tip of the iceberg. I strongly, and I mean STRONGLY, suggest bopping on over to the label’s website or The Love Language’s website to stream the entire album if you don’t already have it. It may be foolish to say this so soon, but my guts are telling me that Libraries will be in my top 20 albums of 2010.
Grab “Heart To Tell” below!
Peaches Music Video: Show Stopper
Another music video which turns out to be far from what I expected is Peaches‘ latest clip for her song, “Show Stopper.” The Canadian-born electroclash artist is well-known for her blunt opinions on sexuality no matter what orientation it may be, and her album titles have all been racy with her latest one titled, I Feel Cream, but the video provides a type of prologue to the song.
Although Peaches is known for shout-singing in hits such as “Operate,” “Downtown,” and “Talk To Me,” she surprised many on this recent album by singing on quite a few tracks such as the down-tempo “Lose You.” However, she hasn’t lost her momentum for being absurdly riske either.
The video is more of nearly eight minute short film that stars Danish actress, Charlotte Munck. The music doesn’t even come in until the 5:17 mark after we watch Munck suffer through awkward conversations with the musician who is as bold as ever during the massage and during an interview (which is done while she is getting a massage.) Munck goes on to suffer as Peaches and her party friends dance on top of her massage table causing her to worry that it might break. Peaches may come off as the reckless partying artist here but she does share a few statements about herself in the video as well.
Check it out below and grab a Slash Fiction remix of her track, “Lose You,” below!
Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti Music Video: Mistaken Wedding
Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti has made some pretty weird videos in the past but this one is just plain silly. The video for, “Mistaken Wedding,” which is the b-side to the single “Round and Round,” looks like a typical and quite boring video of a Jewish wedding. That is until Pink is superimposed throughout the rest of the video like a random stamp. At times he looks bored lip-syncing along to the lyrics but at other times, he seems quite delighted to be there when he smiles for no apparent reason. Sometimes he’s chain smoking and sometimes he’s just looking at you through a pair of bright-colored sunglasses. It’s definitely not what I expected for the track but it’s amusing once you stop wondering if this is really a karaoke video or not.
In other Ariel Pink news, Pink and his Haunted Graffiti recently did a cover of R. Stevie Moore’s “She Don’t Know What To Do With Herself” for a compilation titled “Copy Me, Treat Me” which is also a free download. You can watch the “Mistaken Wedding” video and grab the R. Stevie Moore cover after the jump.
of Montreal: Hydra Fancies
Athen, Georgia-based band, of Montreal, is a band almost everyone enjoys. What’s not to enjoy about danceable neo-psychedelia pop music? However, I’ve had a personal battle with my preferences in regards to the band’s sound. I only really got into of Montreal after they took a turn for the dance realm (which would be The Sunlandic Twins album) but once I discovered their older material (the Coquelicot Asleep in the Poppies: A Variety of Whimsical Verse album) which was more reminiscent of Frank Zappa and The Beatles I was sure I liked the original of Montreal sound better. Once I saw them at Pitchfork Music Festival three years ago and noticed that they were going for a bit too much of shock factor, I stayed grounded in that opinion.
However, they’ve recently released two singles in anticipation of their new album, False Priest, and I can’t help but fall back in love with their danceable pop anthems again. “Coquet Coquette” is irresistible and their latest single, “Hydra Fancies,” is bumping so much funk I have to ride along. Kevin Barnes revealed that the album was going to have a prominent R&B vibe and it makes sense since songs such as “Hydra Fancies” have been mixed by Chuck Lightning, who is also Janelle Monae‘s producer. (Maybe those two artists touring together wasn’t so random after all.)
As for that whole shock factor issue I had, I’ve just learned that it’s expected of Barnes to rock out in a thong and for the band to throw balloons of red paint out on the audience.
Check “Coquet Coquette” out below if you haven’t already. Otherwise, make sure you take a listen to “Hydra Fancies” below!
Flying Lotus Music Video: MmmHmm ft. Thundercat
Flying Lotus - or FlyLo as fans like to call him – has accomplished some pretty great things for a laptop artist. His music has so many layers to it, it’s a mind trip to even attempt to get to the root of it all. Speaking of roots, this musical genius is in his bloodstream as he is the nephew of world renowned jazz artist, John Coltrane. However, aside from his family tree, FlyLo has remixed and produced a number of projects with one of those artists being the lovely Mia Doi Todd. If you’re an avid Cartoon Network/Adult Swim fan, I can also guarantee you’ve heard his material as the bumper music in their programming.
His latest and third album, Cosmogramma, is put together in such a sophisticated and experimental manner my brain melts at the thought of where he got the idea for each song. Just take a listen to “MmmHmm” ft. Thundercat below. Better yet, watch the extremely acid trip-like video for it below!
The Parson Red Heads: Choose
The Parson Red Heads were one of the groups that was in that elite bunch of Los Angeles bands that really opened me up to the local music when I first moved to city of angels a little over two years ago. At first listen, you’d think husband and wife, Evan Way and Brett Marie Way, along with Sam Fowles really were from the SoCal area with their sunshine-drenched pop melodies swirled in to smooth ’60s psychedelic folk rock arrangements. In fact, based on their sound you’d never know they just happen to be from Portland, Oregon.
This post is a somewhat bittersweet one because during their years in Los Angeles, The Parson Red Heads have released several EPs and a wonderful LP while they’ve made their rounds in residencies, opening slots and tours. However, shortly after the recent release of their “Early Birds” EP, they’ve announced a relocation back to Oregon. I’m sad to hear this news but also wish them well on the rest of their tour. If they happen to have a last hurrah in LA, I highly suggest catching that show.
For now, take a listen to “Choose,” a track off of the “Early Birds” EP (which is only available at shows). I’ve also got some other gems such as “I Knew A Young Girl” from their “Orangufang” 7″ as well as “Got It All” from their “Owl and Timber” EP.
