Boxes & Stairs Oh My!

I’m still here folks and I truly appreciate your patience. I’m crazy busy with moving into a new apartment this week plus a slew of other work, life and family things that just can’t be ignored. Strangely enough I’m listening to more music (new and old) than I have in a long long while which of course makes me want to stop and write – well I think carrying my entire home six flights down and one flight up in 95 degree heat also contributes greatly to my desire to just stop and do nothing but write. Anyways I’m going to take a day or two more to settle in but then I’ll right back at it.

Be sure to check out Strangers In Stereo if you’re in need of some good reading, I’ll be posting my thoughts on Sufjan Stevens’ new EP on Friday.

[MP3] Home – Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros

[MP3] Homeward Bound (Simon & Garfunkle Cover) -Reid Jamieson

[MP3] Go Forward – La Strada

Remix Rehash: Freelance Whales + Jneiro Jarel + Christian Martin

Freelance Whales

Jukebox The Ghost has a new -and fantastic I might add- album about to drop and to prime your attention they asked Freelance Whales to take the first single “Empire” for a spin. What they got was a much spacier version of their pop track.  Both takes are awesome in their own way and they’re kind enough to let you pick your fav.

[MP3] Empire

[MP3] Empire (Freelance Whales Remix)

Jneiro Jarel

This is a nice smooth jam for the end of summer. The popping back beat keeps it moving as Theophilus London’s voice run flawlessly on top. Maximum Balloon is the new side project from TV On The Radio’s Dave Sitek and his new album feature a sweet assortment of guest vocalists (Karen O, David Byrne and Holly Miranda) complimenting his tight sonic productions. Definitely worth you looking in to.

[MP3] Groove Me (feat. Theophilus London) (Jneiro Jarel Remix)- Maximum Balloon

Christian Martin

I’ve already given some love to the playful video Chromeo put together for “Don’t Turn The Lights On” and now this great remix from Christian Martin. He knocks it about just so to produce a trippier take on the original. I also appreciate that he included a little bit of the silliness in the simplicity of his version.

[MP3] Don’t Turn The Lights On (Christian Martin Remix) – Chromeo

Frightened Rabbit Impromptu Show Video

Frightened Rabbit taped a last minute show they decided to do in San Francisco a while back and Revision3 did a lovely job editing it together. I thoroughly enjoyed the video and thought I’d share.

[MP3] Swim Until You Can’t See Land

New To Know: Tu Fawning + The Gentle Guest

Tu Fawning

Upon first hearing Tu Fawning’s “The Felt Sense” there was an immediate sense of familiarity. The unrelenting boom of the percussion and lead singer’s Corinna Repp’s voice is both striking yet comforting. The layers of sound the group piles on to each of their songs are always placed with intention giving their music a wonderful texture. This isn’t entirely surprising considering all four members are veteran multi-instrumentalists capable of playing with the whole sound of the song at the forefront of their individual contributions. The Portland based group will be opening for Menomena which personally creates one of the most delectable bills on the road this fall.

[MP3] The Felt Sense

The Gentle Guest

Gentle Guest comes from an entirely different angle. The Eau Claire WI group plays raucous carney folk, almost gypsy music. The four fellas who make up the band spin tales of false folk heros, nonsensical mischief and every once in a while tender ballad. This is the kind of band that celebrated the release of their most excellent new album Cast Off Your Human Form with a pub crawl. Their enthusiasm and recklessness- whether is pe by banjo, fiddle or guitar- infuses their music with the a pure Midwestern charm few bands wear with greater pride. Get into them.

[MP3] Judgement

New To Know: Jenny Wilson + Film School

Jenny Wilson

I first nibbled at the awesomeness that is Sweden’s Jenny Wilson a few weeks ago when I posted her video for “Like A Fading Rainbow.” She is another example of the wealth of talent pouring out of Sweden that the US is very slowly delving in to. Her voice is smooth but distinct, like a cross between broadway stage trained and soul singer, and this new track simply solidifies her unique place amongst the lady vocalists vying for attention. I really appreciate the gentle assertiveness in her inflections and can’t resist the Annie Lennox comparisons. Her self produced album Hardships! comes out today and I can’t recommend it more highly.  I know touring is in the works for Ms. Wilson but no word yet on whether Philly is in the cards. I’ll keep you posted, in the mean time devour this great track.

[MP3] Hardships (Gospel version)

Film School

Are you a teen looking for an album to soundtrack your angsty moments of self loathing or a twenty something scenester wanting new fodder to fill your iPod so you don’t have to really interact with others en route to work in the morning; hell, if you’re a little older and in need of new music of the John Hughes soundtrack ilk then look no further than Film School. Their new album Fission is well executed shoegaze at it’s best. It is fuzzy and full at it’s emotional peaks and neat and peppy during it’s happier moments demonstrating the richness imparted by a genuinely dynamic shoegaze album. The LA group has been running the rounds opening for everyone from The National to British Sea Power but now it is their time to shine with the release of their fourth studio album new Tuesday. The twelve tracks on Fission range in energy level but never falter in the execution of the harmonies, reverb heavy instrumentations or engaging percussion. They’re about to start on tour with The Depreciation Guild -including a stop in Philly on Sept 29th at Johnny Brenda’s – then a few dates with Love Like Fire. You know what you’ve gotta do…

[MP3] Heart Full Of Pentagons

SXSW Panel: Vote Now

A few of my fellow SiS bloggers and I have put together a proposal for a panel at next year’s SXSW music conference. What are we proposing to talk about you wonder? Well, as bloggers we are acutely attuned to the way people are discovering music, we often find ourselves getting creative with the ways we find the under heard -and deserving- musicians out there so we can in turn become the conduit for discovery for our readers and each other. Even more often we find ourselves discussing our approaches and perspectives of the state of musical discovery. So, we thought we’d open the discussion to a public audience and share how we find music, how our experiences (personal and professional) influence our perspective and where we feel “musical discovery” is headed. Among us we have social media consultants, promoters, ex-pr and radio presenters – all rabid music lovers – so I assure you it will be a very interesting discussion. But first we need you to vote so our panel is selected for the 2011 SXSX music conference. If you’re so inclined we’d surely appreciate your support simply click below to be taken to our panel page. If you have any questions about our panel or ideas you would hope are voiced if we are selected please don’t hesitate to drop a comment.

Watch This! Hold Your Horses + Wild Nothing + a little laugh

Hold Your Horses

Hold Your Horses came to my attention by one of the bookers at Danger Danger Gallery – one of Philly’s best DIY venues- and after seeing this video I’m super bummed I missed seeing the French band’s stop in Philly a few weeks ago. This is one of the coolest premises for a music video I have seen in a long while, the group recreates classic paintings while performing the totally addictive track “70 Million.” The art major in me had a lot of fun trying to place the inspiration for each of the poses. Even if you don’t know your art history its a fully enjoyable video.

[mp3] 70 million

Wild Nothing

Wild Nothing – Chinatown from Jack Tatum on Vimeo.

The Red Balloon was one of my favorite movies as a child and I absolutely adore that Wild Nothing gave their video for Chinatown the same French 70’s vibe. The dream pop group’s music is heavily rooted in a nostalgic sound; lo fi guitars drenched in echoey vocals is their hallmark. Their strength lies in their humble approach, they’re not trying to psyche it out or give it a coating of synth, they’re simply trying to craft the same quality music of their musical fore bearers. The group will be opening for Stars on their fall tour, including a stop in Philly on September 30th.

[MP3] Golden Haze

And finally, this has nothing to do with music but it is incredibly delightful. I introduce to you, Marcel the shell.

MARCEL THE SHELL WITH SHOES ON from Dean Fleischer-Camp on Vimeo.

Remix Rehash: Fools Gold + Kyle Andrews + Skinny Freidman

Fools Gold

The Fools Gold kids push Philly’s Free Energy “Bang Pop” in tropically spaced out directions with this remix. Yeah, I’m fully aware that is a strange way to classify their take on the otherwise entirely delectable pop tune but you listen to it and let me know a better way  to describe the awesomeness that goes on here.

[MP3] Bang Pop (Fools Gold Remix)- Free Energy

Kyle Andrews

This one is totally not the usual fodder for a remix rehash but it popped up while reviewing this week’s fresh remixes and I couldn’t resist popping it in here. I guess a variety of takes on Kyle Andrew’s track “You Make Me Smile” a confection of a ditty, have tracked Holiday Inn’s summer campaign which I can only manage is pretty effective since this is damn happy music that’s been roughed up a bit. It’s like the shabby chic take on remixes.

[MP3] You Always Make Me Smile (remix)

Skinny Freidman

This remix, from the deft touch of Skinny Friedman, takes the breathy synth laden original and fancies it up just enough to make it the prime track to play as you’re winding down your dance party. I ha-luv the original -a truth acquired only after seeing it performed live- but Skinny’s spin is easy on the ear right off the bat. Just occurred to me it would also make a great driving track, lyrics you can sing along to with the beat to keep you awake. A win on many levels!

[MP3] Norway  (Skinny Friedman edit) – Beach House

New To Know: My Gold Mask

My Gold Mask

A long while back I saw My Gold Mask in Brooklyn and the Chicago duo totally blew me away with the power of their live performance. Lead singer Gretta Rochelle’s voice has an unfiltered rawness that leans towards the iconic lady howlers of the past. It’s the voice of a woman who has some stories to tell and she channels some deeper places during her performances. Her partner in crime Jack Armando knows know to complement her croon with his charging guitar riffs making them a pair to be reckoned with. They have a new 4 song 12″ due out in October that you should most certainly pick up.

[MP3] Tu Farai (Mina Cover)

[MP3] All Up In The Air

Watch This! Sebastien Tellier + Scissor Sisters + Kids of 88

Sebastien Tellier

Sébastien Tellier – Look from Record Makers on Vimeo.

This video for Tellier’s song “Look” is being relieased as part of Record Maker’s 10 Anniversary celebrations and it embodies the chill euro coolness both the label and the artist are known for. The simple animation tells a cheeky -heh I love a good pun- story with clean imagery. The song, of course, is smooth as all get out which makes this one awesome video.

[MP3] Look

Scissor Sisters

Take some plether pants add a healthy dose of weird animal/pop imagery and a whole lotta primary colors and what do you get? Why the most recent Scissor Sister video of course. I never tire of their effusive glam pop pep and it is even more amazing that they only seem to be getting better musically.

[MP3] Invisible Light

Kids of 88

Kids of 88 – Downtown (Official Video) from Dryden Street on Vimeo.

Fantastic New Zealand pop duo Kids Of 88 slow it down a bit to get their sexy trance vibe on for this track and made this crazy video to accentuate the positive. For some reason I’m really digging on the primary colorscapes lately I guess and this is another way to get a great fix. If you like this you should definitely check out the super cool video they made for “Just A Little Bit.”

[MP3] My House (RAC remix)