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