The Dutchess and the Duke + The Cave Singers @ The Empyrean in Spokane!

The Empyrean is the one place in Spokane where the hidden hipster scene comes out of the woodwork. Up until November of last year, "The Empyrean" was across town in an ex-lamp shop, but had to move out for the same reason that The War Room in Seattle fell on hard times: Washington state bitching about the fucking sprinkler systems. So it moved into a building known locally as "The Big Dipper," which is owned by some 70-year-old ex-hippie and which has sat dormant for...my entire life. And I have no idea why it hasn't been used until now, because it's an amazing venue...and after a nice acoustic show by The Dutchess and the Duke (I think they had an equipment malfunction so they had to play unplugged), Spencer and I totally got to sit in what is basically a loft directly over the stage for the entirety of The Cave Singers' set:

The Cave Singers!!

And here are some shots from The Dutchess and the Duke:

(The Duke)

(The Dutchess). Hell yes. They both finished bottles, if you're wondering...

All in all, I was impressed. The venue and both the shows far exceeded expectations, and it was a lot of fun having such intimate access. I hope now that The Empyrean has resumed operations at this new (and better) location, Spokane will start attracting more shows like these. God knows the city needs them.

And if you like chill indie folk, both of these bands are worth a look. D&D is more intimate, while The Cave Singers sound as if David Gray went indie. Check them out!

The Cave Singers- MS

The Dutchess and the Duke - MS

Charlotte Gainsbourg

I'm about to do two things that I am highly loathe to do: comment on something Pitchfork already got their grubby hipster hands on, and add to Keegan's "France" tag count. But alas, I have to, so I will keep it short:

I am quickly becoming convinced that IRM by French actress/singer Charlotte Gainsbourg easily one of if not the best albums released within the past 12 months. If you haven't listened, just get it. Now. Her voice is saucy and all but one of the songs were written/produced by Beck. I mean, fuck, what else does a growing boy need?

Justin Faust - Holdin' On

I suppose I do put alot of effort into finding obscure french electro outfits, so I suppose it time to share with y'all another type of beast - the enigmatic German electronic producer. Justin Fuast, the "Muscles from Munich" is a prime example of the reclusive, supremely talented individuals pumping music out of the fatherland. I know only a very little about him, though apparently he has been producing music 1992, and I've certainly seen him pop up every once and a while on places like discodust - but hes tearing up the blogs this morning with his newly released single Holdin' On.

And with good reason. The title track is absolutely incredible. It sounds like the best of smooth French house - almost Daft Punk. I know of no higher praise. The track struts in back and forth between disco and house so effortlessly and efficiently - and with such incredible Germanness.

The other highlight track is Witty, which, while still heavily disco influenced, has a bit more of that speedy, electro timbre. Both stand out tracks, from a stand out producer. Keep your eyes on Justin Faust.

Justin Faust - MS

Justin Faust - Holdin' On

Justin Faust - Witty

Tim has a record player and speakers. Uh oh.

So my project yesterday was rummaging around in my basement and piecing together all the parts of what has now become my vinyl setup. My room needed a change, and once I had discovered a few days ago that there actually is a place in this God-forsaken city of Spokane to get ahold of records, I wanted to get some vinyl up in this bitch:

To say I'm retro-ing my room would be an understatement. I don't know how old the record player is...but the speakers are from 1963. And the story on them is the most baller shit of all time: my dad essentially bought them through the White House...

In the early 60s, my dad lived in a Virginia suburb, right outside D.C., and one of his neighbors happened to be the White House electronics guy, who had worked for multiple administrations (and apparently at some point partied with Jackie Kennedy) and was the guy in charge of everything that the White House used. He offered to get my dad the government price on these speakers, which were literally the single best speakers you could get at the time (made at M.I.T., which more recently spawned Bose), by including it in the next order he made for equipment at the White House. And now I have them. Be afraid. I already bought Kid A and Aeroplane.

LCD Soundsystem - New Album!

I was pretty depressed today, considering how much effort me and my friend Matt put into trying to get into Four Tet last night and what an epic fail that was - until I read on Pitchfork that LCD Soundsystem finished their new album today. Unfortunately they haven't released any new material for it yet, but here's hoping for a leak...

Unfortunately, I did a little research and it looks like this will be the last LCD Soundsystem album - and the next tour will be the last tour. So if you haven't seen LCD Soundsystem yet, you need to get on it. The concert I saw in San Francisco was the single most epic musical experience I have had in my whole life - hand to god, James Murphy rocked the amphitheater so hard he started controlling the weather. Seriously, he made lighting strike in time to his music. You think I'm exaggerating, but no. James Murphy is literally the art house disco punk reincarnation of Zeus.

Anywho, in lieu of any new stuff, here is Kermit the Frog singing "New York, I Love You."

LCD Soundsytem - OS|MS

LCD Soundsystem - "New York, I Love You"

Marsmobil

I give you Marsmobil. They're a German lounge/psychedelic duo that you would be wise to check out. While I love me some French banger shiz just as much as the next...Keegan...every once in a while it's just time to sit back, wear something straight out of a Sean Connery-era James Bond film (or at least imagine that you're that cool), drink a fucking martini, bust out your shag-pad, and listen to some sweet, sweet electronic vermouth. Want an olive with that? I hope you like them stuffed...

Seriously. You will never feel more suave. Your life will revert back to technicolor, and you will wonder why we ever abandoned 60s block font (and the pop art furniture!!!). I mean, I went for the longest time thinking that these two were French. They sure cover their tracks well in their music. But alas no, they are German...and somehow manage never, ever to sound like it. But really, I don't think it really matters where they're from when they can bust out tracks like these:

Unlike Caribou, Marsmobil embraces the shtick...and doesn't give a fuck because the shtick is sometimes just the shit the doctor ordered. You know it, and they know it, and they know you know it.

Their most recent album, Minx, was released in 2007, and it's awesome. Don't take my word for it. Even the music videos are awesome (and awesomely German and weird):

Their next effort, entitled (Why Don't You Take) The Other Side?, is dropping this April. I can't wait. Oh wait, yes I can, because right now I'm a suave, martini-drinking, Foucault-reading pop-art-viewing motherfucker...and I have all the time in the world.

Marsmobil - MS

Artist Profile: Irish Steph

As Tim was kind enough to bring to my attention, it has been quite a long while since we've had any of that genuine French electro banger shiz up on the cheetah. So I present to you - Irish Steph. Despite what the name implies, he is very, very French, being from Cannes, and even though he labels his music 'Electro/Celtic', his work is very, very banger. I've been watching this guy ever since he appeared on Vogelspand about a year ago, but Ive been waiting for him to drop something new since I wasn't really posting much back then. However, in the interest of helping them gain a little buzz, he is only 17 after all, and because our neighbors to the north Trashbag Kids posted working links (cheetah luvs Trashbag)

Irish Steph plays out alot like Justice did when they wrote Planisphere for that fashion show. Its got the electro banger energy and beat, but with some absolutely vicious guitar riffs that grab your attention and send the music on its own trajectory. Power is a good example, opening with some very Sebastian style bass noise and distortion, until some straight heavy metal guitar arrives to rock your world (with a nice "Prepare --- To Headbang").

Irish Steph - Power

The Guide is another great example, with a super Justice-esque opener moving into some glorious funk movement before coming back to catch the listener off gaurd, before punching it in twice as hard.

Irish Steph - The Guide (ft. Apricot'Yo)

Again, not alot of his stuff is accesible on the blogosphere, but enjoy the stuff below and remember - long live French Electro!

Irish Steph - MS

Irish Steph - Leprechauns Eat Red Socks

Irish Steph - Shamrock (Deluce Remix)

Irish Steph - Leprechauns Head Bang tinymix

Phantogram + KEXP = Sex.

Massive Attack - Heligoland

About a month or so ago, Jon was surprised to hear me say that I wasn't looking forward to the fact that Massive Attack was finally about to release a new album. He was probably surprised because I recently had introduced him to Massive Attack; I clearly loved the shit out of them and wanted to share Massive Attack's thick black trip-hop love with him and anyone else who would listen. Only now I wasn't excited about the fact that Massive Attack was finally releasing a new album after a fucking 7-year long wait (and essentially a 12-year wait, seeing as their 2003 release 100th Window didn't involve all the usual members), and this was understandably odd.

Here's why I was somewhat ambivalent: I had heard the track "Splitting the Atom," which had been leaked around 6 months or so ago, and which was to be included on the new album, Heligoland. And I'll be honest...it's a horrible track. The pulsating, beautifully dark music that I had fallen in love with had somehow been replaced by sheer gloomy loops, with an annoying distorted baritone voice that detracted further from the music. I was pretty worried that the decade-long collaborative hiatus had essentially killed off whatever semblance of Massive Attack's unique songcrafting ability might have remained.

But I would hate to pass judgement on one of my all-time favorite groups after hearing one song. So when it came out at the beginning of this month, I gave Heligoland a good few listens, put it down, and didn't come back to it until now. And while I'm still not insane about it, I've come around to it. I think it's a lot better than Pitchfork did (they ripped it a 5.0), and while it still has that stupid track on it, it also has some true highlights.

There are a lot of guest performances on the album, more than usual for the group. 4/5 of the album is made up of tracks featuring TV on the Radio's Tunde Adebimpe, Elbow's Guy Garvey, Gorillaz's Damon Albarn, Martina Topley-Bird, and Horace Andy (a usual suspect with Massive Attack). I could go through each of them, but I have a feeling that different people will gravitate more towards different vocalists and tracks. All of them are good (with the exception of "Splitting the Atom" ... and I'm not a huge fan of the Guy Garvey track, which sucks because I love Elbow), but I think the second half of the album is where it comes to life – or, Massive Attack's idea of life. The nearly 8-minute closing track, "Atlas Air," is incredible. And "Paradise Circus," of which Keegan already posted a remix, is hauntingly beautiful.

With Massive Attack headlining at Sasquatch!, I have hope once again for this group. I'll likely return to give them another look once I see them live, at which time I will hopefully be able to complete my verdict. But until then, definitely give Heligoland a listen or two. Who knows when how fucking long we'll have to wait for their next album...

Keegan Bait

I'm just gonna get right to the post I've subconsciously been waiting to write for at least a year: my retrospective, in your (read: Keegan's) face defense of In Rainbows, by Radiohead. For a little background, Keegan thinks this is one of Radiohead's single worst albums, referring to it as nothing more than a "45-minute-long jazz odyssey of B-sides," generally followed by the patented dismissive-Keegan-hand-gesture, and perhaps an added scoff. I, on the other hand, increasingly view this as one of Radiohead's best, most mature albums, and a welcome shift in musical subject material and narrative. (I would also add that Keegan likes Hail to the Thief, which I think has a few good tracks but then devolves into aimless, uninspired musical place-holding...but that's another debate).

To start off, I should mention that In Rainbows is actually the first Radiohead album I ever listened to. I didn't used to like the band like I do today, and because of that I really didn't have much context in terms of where Radiohead had musically been before this album. Only this last year, in response to a Southwest Airlines employee telling me that I look like Thom Yorke, did I do my duty and get the fuck into all the previous albums. And in an odd way, I'm actually glad I didn't have my first OK Computer listening session until I was a senior in college, because it was as if I was experiencing it as a 22-year-old right when the album came out...and I was old enough to appreciate shit that I wouldn't have picked up on when I was in middle school.

Anyway, as I feel like it is with a majority of Radiohead fans, it was the combo of OK Computer and then Kid A that really got me into the band. For a few months, those two albums were practically all I could listen to. I would try escaping from them, but after I listened to anything else for more than 10 minutes, I would just think to myself "man...I could be listening to 'Everything in its Right Place' right now." And as musically limiting as that might sound, I felt like that period of time opened me up to more new ways of hearing music and thinking about the world than any other point in college. I complained to Keegan about this one night, to which he responded "It will consume your life if you let it. Fear Radiohead." They are albums that build an all-encompassing worldview, one which begins to creep into your everyday, non-Radiohead-soundtracked life. I've had my best epiphanies and worst breakdowns to those two albums. I wish this were pure romanticized exaggeration. It's not.

Which brings me back to In Rainbows. Whereas Keegan sees this album as an uninspired collection of songs that sort of accumulated while Radiohead dicked around touring (which is exactly what I think of Hail to the Thief), I'm more inclined to take Yorke at his word: it's about love in a foreign, modern world with which we all too suddenly find ourselves faced. And that's really new material for Radiohead: they spent so much time living in their heads worrying about technology and the postmodern condition that I think they finally figured out that they were leaving out a really important piece of the puzzle. While their earlier albums deal a lot with extraordinarily crushing societal realities, In Rainbows offers what perhaps it took Yorke raising a child to come to terms with: love can be really scary, but it is deep and real, and even if it is harder to attain in the face of the postindustrial world, it only becomes that much more important if we hope to retain our identity. We emotionally need each other if we're going to live:

I am a moth

Who just wants to share your light

I'm just an insect

Trying to get out of the night

I think to dismiss an album this thoughtful and powerful, mostly on the grounds that it doesn't seem at first to fit in with the Radiohead we are used to, is a mistake. I think it says more about the true nature of love and relationships in today's world than most of the type of music we usually associate with that subject material. And yes, it is probably true that when I personally think of putting a Radiohead album on, my mind usually jumps to the more obvious choices. But being a few years removed from its release, and a whole lot more experienced than I was (not just with Radiohead, just in life), I am definitely willing to crown In Rainbows as one of the band's truly best works.

I had to kill a panther with my bare hands to be allowed on the Cheetah

Sup beezies. I'm Tim. If you are one of the people who currently read/contribute to this blog, I'd put pretty good odds on the fact that you already know who I am. Probably like 2 to 1 odds. Those are good odds. Anyway, I'll be on here from time to time to distract people like Keegan from tagging everything with ELECTRO, and FRANCE, instead replacing them with things like, PSYCH-POP and RADIOHEAD. I'm looking forward to changing the Cheetah Love world...forever....

Ok. First knowledge drop from Tim: Caribou. Get on this shit people. Look at this goofy-looking Canadian fucker:

I don't know what it is about Canadians and swanky retro electro awesomeness (see: Junior Boys...mmmm); maybe it runs in the syrup or something. But you are looking at a guy who chose his name after dropping acid in the middle of the Canadian woods somewhere – oh, and his name was "Manitoba" before he changed it. Quite frankly, that's all you need to know. But fear not little birds, I will tell you more.

Caribou's music covers a pretty wide range, but the album that really got me into his music is the 2007 release Andorra. From the opening track on, I was sold. "Melody Day" gives you a pretty good feel for Caribou's sensibilities: much like it could be said that M83 is eternally sad that the 80s ended, Caribou seems to lament the loss of 60s swingers and flower children:

Now, his musical style has changed a lot over the course of his albums, but I've never disliked anything I've heard. His next album, Swim, is slated for release in April of this year, and I'm sure it promises to switch things up yet again. But if you want really genuine, original modern electronica that still somehow nostalgically captures a bygone era without feeling like a shtick, then check him out. Which, by the way, YOU CAN DO AT SASQUATCH BECAUSE HE'S TOTALLY GOING TO BE THERE!!!

Broken Bells

Broken Bells (MS) is a collaboration between Brian Burton (i.e. Danger Mouse) and the Shins' James Mercer - just them... for all of the instruments. I love this track! And it's the first I've heard of the duo. I'll be keeping tabs on them...

Unfortunately, a video that was posted this morning of the Broken Bells doing Neutral Milk Hotel covers was taken down pretty quickly (Thanks Sony!). But I'll post it if I come across it.




They'll be playing a show in Austin @ Stubb's for NPR's SXSW Showcase with the likes of Spoon and The Walkmen, on Wed. March 17.

<3

Phantogram

My good friend Tim just introduced me to Phantogram, a sort of electronic indie rock hybrid from New York. Their music is dark and ominous, their vocals distant and distorted, but their atmosphere is amazing and their sound is impeccable. Apparently these guys (well, this guy and gal) have been slowly gaining steam for the last two years and recently played a series of sold out shows on the east coast, an accolade that they certainly deserve. Take listen to "Running from the Cops," where the vocals have been not only distorted but warped, making it sound like the saddest Black Moth Super Rainbow song of all time.

Phantogram - MS|OS

Running from the Cops

NEW BROKEN SOCIAL SCENE!!!!

Fuck yes motherfuckers, Broken Social Scene is back. Broken Social Scene is one of my favorite favorite bands, one of the first bands I ever fell head over heels in love with and one of the greatest bands of the last decade. And they have a new album, Forgiveness Rock Songs, coming out on May 4th, their first album in 5 years. Admittedly, with Brendan Canning and Kevin Drew both releasing Broken Social Scene Presents albums those 5 years havent been as desolate as they could have been, but still - the band is back together.

And so, with no further ado, we have this gorgeous slow burning anthem called "World Sick." Ive only listened through it a couple of time so far, but its gold, and I am now super excited for this new album.

Broken Social Scene - MS|WS

World Sick ((cheetah loves))

Anjunadeep:02

I recently got turned on to the awesomeness of progressive house and have been aimlessly drifting in that sea endlessly progressive melodies and basslines for awhile now - so prop go to Spencer for introducing me to Anjunadeep. Anjunadeep is is a sub-label of UK house label Anjunabeats that specializes in prog house, giving a home to a variety of artists such as Mat Zo, 16 Bit Lolitas and Jaytech. More importantly, however, the label puts together a compilation of their best music called, not suprisingly, Anjunadeep.

And this shit is real. Definitely one of the strongest collaborative electronic efforts Ive heard in a while, and perhaps my favorite UK Electronic music since... probably ever. If you have twenty minutes on a computer, let this preview play in the background, it gives an excellent sample of how the mix as a whole flows and feels. Deep, epic, inquisitive, booming. Pretty much fantastic.

Wonderful Life - Hurts

I know this is kind of old (released last April), but its new to me and its super awesome! They're called Hurts, they're from the UK, and they play New Order style, synthy Post Rock amazingness. The song is appropriately down tempo and somber, and the video looks like its straight out of Joy Division prime, but with a sound this solid all that is entirely forgivable.

Big in 2k10?

Hurts - WS|MS

Wonderful Life

The Pipettes New Single/What Happened to The Pipettes?

So The Pipettes released a new single and music video, which is all well and good, it sounds pretty much like you would expect it to, maybe it lacks some of the hooks of their older stuff, but hey, what can you do, its got a nice little guitar riff in the middle, right? So I head over to their wikipedia page and - what the fuck? Who are these chicks? The Pipettes have lost almost their entire original lineup. The only one I kind of remember is Gwenno - but according to wikipedia she wasn't even a part of the original lineup! What is this shit? I guess I was always aware The Pipettes were more of a project of the largely invisible backing band but damn. Sad.

Anyways, here it is, plus my own personal favorite...

The Pipettes - WS|MS

Our Love Was Saved By A Spaceman

Your Kisses Are Wasted On Me

Gui Boratto Remix

Its cloudy, dark, and pouring down rain in Seattle, the perfect weather for this incredible new remix by Gui Boratto of Massive Attack's Paradise Circus. Ive never really gotten into Massive Attack, although I understand the appeal... but I love Gui Boratto. Coming in from Sao Palo Brazil to drop the greatest electronic music of last five years in the form of Chromophobia, Gui Boratto reasserts himself his position as master of his trade with this deep, atmospheric track. I've never heard the original, so I cant comment on how it compares, but it's easy to detect Gui's distinctive percussive elements pushing the song forward and the circling structure is all Boratto.

Incredible.

Gui Boratto - WS | MS

Massive Attack - Paradise Circus Feat. Hope Sandoval (Gui Boratto Remix)

- Link removed at the request of Virgin's lawyers who dont want people to know about good music/me to help them sell Massive Attack's shitty album

The Wombats! New Single! Hooray!

There are few things in this world that I love as unabashedly as The Wombats. They absolutely explode with energy, their fast, synthy guitar rock and fucking adorable British accents create some of the most fist pumpingly exciting songs I know. Sort of like British version of Voxtrot that focuses on much simpler themes.

Anyways, they just dropped a new single, which is pretty much the most amazingly excellent news Ive heard all day. Its pretty fantastic as well, at first it seems too move a little away from their somewhat stock tales of Love, Loss and Despair - but really, no. Its classic Wombats. And it works. As always. You should probably buy it, because the 7" looks pretty sexy.

There is also a music video for, which... works. I really dont understand what it is with young british Indie Rock bands doing cheap CG music videos, but whatevs, I suppose

My Circuitboard City

The WOMBATS | MySpace Music Videos

The Wombats OS|MS

Circuitboard City

Also, the greatest Wombats song of them all...

Kill The Director

Also PS: I Love You

This song is super awesome, one of the best bits of indie-rock I've heard in a long bit. A little bit of that Canadian yelp that Wolf Parade perfected in 2005 and strong guitar drives forward an insistent, energetic track. I know nothing about this band except they hail from the frozen steppes of Ontario, which sounds about right.

PS I Love You - Facelove

Eluvium Excellent New Video

Gorgeous new music video from Eluvium, the Portland based ambient performer. This track gives away a sort of post-rock, dreamlike vibe - reminds me of walking home to an empty room on a cold night. Music video syncs up perfectly with the buzzing guitars and straining piano notes; a wonderful combination.

Eluvium - The Music Makes Me Last

Four Tet - There Is Love In You

I'm back bitches - apparently you cant be taken seriously on the internet if you don't maintain a blog. So hopefully that will finally convince me to update on this damn thing regularly.

Anywho, my favorite ambient techno artist, Four Tet, Kieran Hebdan remix moniker, just dropped his first album in years, called There Is Love In You. A fitting name for a gorgeous album, this LP sees Four Tet move away from the hip hop influences that his sound originated from and more towards a house feel - a move that I certainly endorse whole heartedly. I just listened through it for the first time and its very coherent, very driving, and extremely engaging.

This is the third song on the album but is what truly caught my attention on my first listen. Its incredible

Circling - Four Tet