BACK

Been absent for a long while over summer but now I have dragged my mosquito bitten ass back over here to share some of the good shit I found whilst sweating it out in the French heatwave. Hope it kinda makes up for shutting up for so long. Enjoy!

 
The comics of Michael DeForge are pure genius and my current favourite is about the potential issues faced when adopting a rescue pet.



This article  by Tara Isabella Burton published in the brilliant American Reader about melancholy and the city is one of the best things I have read all year. 

'The self that wanders through the melancholy city bears the weight of that city’s history: the urban body the point of convergence for the imminent present and the past that no longer exists.'

MUSIC | SPRINGY

Sorry about the massive hiatus whilst I was moving countries. Anyway, bonjour because I am finally back (hold the applause).

Now spring has sprung - although wouldn't know by the current grey rainy stuff happening outside - let's start with some cracking new music to welcome in a season that brings baby critters, daffs and chocolate. Enjoy!

First up is some melodic psyche rock from Berkeley residentsThe  Art Nikels. His music makes you feel like you are floating on a cloud that you can tap your foot on and their latest EP, Primitive, is set to be released on 30th March on Peach Fuzz Recordings. It's a an album that merges a range of styles such at psyche, indie, trip-hop and ambient to offer something that is fresh and the perfect accompaniment to long train journeys or simply a stroll in the park.



Perhaps it was finally getting to see my heroes Sleater Kinney live in paris on Friday night that has amped up my desire for screamy lady rock. Fortunately I have since come across The Stops. These woman also hail from Portland and also make guitar music that hits you hard (in a good way) but you can't stop listening because it's just so darn catchy.



This is easily one of my favourite tracks at the moment. Atlanta rapper ILoveMakonnen talks about clubbing on a weeknight like it's water into wine kinda shit. He may have Kanye levels of subtlety but he has Drake featuring on this track and, as he states, 'I got the gas and coke' so let's keep listening.
R. Seiliog aka producer Robin Edwards makes music that soothes the brain. His blend of experimental ambience, drone, krautrock, psyche and melodic oddness is currently my first choice for a relaxing evening.

Late Of The Pier's former frontman, Samuel Eastgate, is back on Domino as LA Priest (hurrah) and his first offering is superb. This trippy funky synth laden bit of psyche infused wiazardry will have you dancing into autumn. Sometimes it's better to let someone else take all the drugs and feel the effect second hand. Not sure?..  just listen.

The latest single from British band Early Ghost is a swirly piece of psyche-folk goodness. Influenced by The Doors and old Westerns, this band create music that is both fun and interesting to listen too. Singer Mike O’Malley spoke about thier latest EP Devils Got Me Now (relaesed on 23rd March):

'We have given birth to our very own space epic, an accomplishment that all are due to achieve at some point, lest they spend their final hours on this planet feeling bitter and unfulfilled. This one's about my own, totally unwelcome, obsessive link between sleep and death.'

Crikey! They play at The Shacklewell, London, tomorrow (27th March) and at the Brighton Dome Theatre on saturday (28th march), so definitely check them out if you're about!

 

Mysterious producer LSDXOXO has dropped his latest project Sacanegan and it's a dark x-rated folow up to his Whorecore mixtape that is full of meddling surprises and killer beats.
 

Named after everyone's favourite Pokemon ghost, Gengahr are bringing some pretty riffs and harmonies to ensure that you have something to soundtrack your daisy chain making.

MUSIC | SWEDEN

There's some great stuff coming out of Sweden at the moment. Just listen...



Will keep adding to it if and when I get chance...

MUSIC | A/W 13 NEW RELEASES

A new season usually means there's a shit load of new releases to review. Here's some interesting stuff...

Darkside sees Nicolas Jaar and Tim Hecker join forces. Enough said.

Islet will release, 'Released By The Movement' on 7 October via Shape Records. Expect echoing vocals and scuzzy post-punk guitar with a good helping of personality.




Crowd pleasers Haim seem to have been everybody’s every second word this summer. I’m almost sold and reckon this is going to be a fun and likable album that perhaps could have done with an earlier summer release. I personally found 'The Wire' a bit empty (controversial) but 'Falling' is a decent track and prompted some good remixes. Anyhow, it’s going to be big.

Axel Wilner, under The Field makes some really fresh minimal ambience. His latest release 'Cupid's Head' (30 Sep, Kompact) is going to be THE dark winter nights soundtrack if it's anything like 'Then It's White'.

Ok, so this one was actually released back on the 10^th but it’s a corker so had to be on the list. Released on Young Turks, FKA Twigs, a young and illusive artist is doing fine stuff for British RnB. Soooo good!

 

Danny Brown’s a bit of a character isn’t he heh. With friends such as Rustie, Schoolboy Q, Kitty, Ab-Soul, Purity Ring, Charli XCX, Mr. MFN Exquire, and Oh No his latest due out on the 30^th can’t fail to be interesting. Scuzzy in your face rap from this relentlessly surprising chap.

Experimental Producer Daniel Lopatin, under the guise Oneohtrix Point Never, has been delivering some cracking albums. From ambient synth drones to some A1 sampling, this next offering (due Oct 1 on Warp) is looking like it’s going to be a twitchy analog heavy wonder.

Kanye West and Pharrel Williams have produced tracks on Pusha T’s forthcoming album, released under Kanye West’s G.O.O.D. Music imprint on Oct. 8. Pretty foolproof plan right there. 

Tim Hecker’s latest Virgins (due for release on  October 14 on Kranky /Paper Bag) was created in three cities - Seattle, Montreal and Reykjavik – and I’ve been listening to it none stop for 24 hours now. Basically it’s music crack and I'm more than happy to be your dealer.

'Bring the Noize’ showed some promise that M.I.A was back on the form that caught our attention back when she released ‘Bad Girl’s’ and was sadly lost with her 2010 album. No wallflower this one, this album will be interesting but there's a bit of a wait until Nov 5 to find out if that’s a good thing.

DJ Rashad is pretty prominent on the Chicago scene and judging by this latest track, 'Don't Give a Fuck', it’s for good reasons. October 22 sees his new LP Double Cup released on Hyperdub and, as per, we’re going to hear Rashad play to the techno beats of his own drum and base. (sorry)

Theo Verney's brand of gritty guitar music is pretty good. Having just finished touring with Parquet Courts (who?) Theo is set release an limited edition (300)'Heavy Sun' EP on October via Hate Hate Hate. 


Also, Chvrches and Justin Timberlake's new offerings are obviously going to be decent. Mazzy Star releases first stuff for 15 years and Arcade of Fire is going to get talked about - A LOT!

Right, that'll do for now. Go listen.
BTW - I will probs update this as I go along.