May 2012
216 posts
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Listen/Download: Antony And The Johnsons - Rise
At the start of the week we got a comment on our Facebook page from a project called Coral Rekindling Venus, as they say:
“Coral Rekindling Venus is major work for fulldome digital planetariums by acclaimed artist Lynette Wallworth.
It is an extraordinary journey into a mysterious realm of fluorescent coral reefs, bioluminescent sea creatures and rare marine life, revealing a complex...
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Review/Listen: - Nick Waterhouse - Time's All Gone
In an era of mass-produced, Garageband manufactured music, authenticity can be a hard to find. The title of this album, “Time’s All Gone”, hints at a throwback to simpler times, and so it is: at the height of “Time’s All Gone”, you can almost imagine being in the room with Nick Waterhouse as his band play small snippets from another time, his regal backup...
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Listen: Summer Camp - "Always"
Listen to the title track off Summer Camp’s upcoming EP, “Always”, out July 10 via Apricot Recording Company/Moshi Moshi.
Last week we posted “Life”, our first listen at UK indie pop duo Summer Camp’s latest EP, “Always”. And now, to send us off into the weekend nicely, they’ve sharing the title track.
“Life” was definitely more...
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Listen/Download: Phédre - Aphrodite (Beta...
I’ve been talking lately about how much I enjoy the videos Phédre release, hoping one day to see them direct some El Guincho videos.
So far that hasn’t happened, but they have been dropping song-of-the-year contenders for the last couple of months, namely “Aphrodite” and “In Decay”, for the former of which has now been giving the remix treatment by...
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Listen/Download: Till Death - "Forever"
Till Death is the new project from Owl Vision and Frank Major, two guys whose previous work Iâm only vaguely aware of, âForeverâ is a testament that such moderate recognition and their presence within the social psyche of our scene is about to drastically change.
This is baby making music for bangers and the recreational bath salt swimmers. âForeverâ is complete grime swallowed by one...
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Video: Sea Of Bees - "Broke" (Mahogany Session)
Julie Baenziger is my favorite female artist of recent years. Something about her transcendentally skilled lyric writing and the transformation which takes place when watching her live just owns my heart.
This performance of “Broke” is a testament of both aspects, stealing my attention as I follow along in complete wonder at what Sea Of Bees and her progression from the timidly...
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Listen: Liars - Octagon
In just over a week Liars will release their sixth studio album “WIXIW” (pronounced “wish you”) via Mute, though a few days ago the band/label dropped a new track that passed by without much fanfare.
On Tuesday they’ll release the first single from the album, “No.1 Against The Rush”, with “Octagon” just appearing on the album itself and not...
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Listen: CocoRosie + Antony Hegarty - Tearz For...
At the start of the month we treated you to the exquisite new track by CocoRosie, “We Are On Fire”, their new 7” single that was produced by TV On The Radio’s Dave Sitek and featuring Antony Hegarty from Antony And The Johnsons on the flipside.
If you’re still spinning “We Are On Fire” then give it a rest and listen to the b-side “Tearz For...
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Ones To Watch: Tiny Victories
I’ve been sitting on this post about Brooklyn’s Tiny Victories for months. I absorbed the band and mulled over what to say, I kept trying to see them live and decided that my writing would wait until then. Not that recordings and performance should be viewed as inclusive, but they coexist. Both inform what you know as “the band”.
Tiny Victories is, surprisingly, just two...
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Video: Ski Lodge - A Game
After releasing “A Game” back in 2011, Ski Lodge are now back with a video for it, one that’s violent and sexy at the same time. I’m not sure if this chick is sexy because she’s sexy, or because she’s dangerous. You decide, let me know.
Connect with Ski Lodge: Facebook | Twitter | Bandcamp | Last.fm
Original Article
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Video: A Place To Bury Strangers - You Are The One
Watch the new video for A Place To Bury Strangers song “You Are The One” below, taken from the album “Worship”. Like your music video Grindhouse-y? You’ll love this.
Connect with A Place To Bury Strangers: Facebook | Twitter | Last.fm | Website
Original Article
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Listen: The National - The Rains Of Castamere
As you wait for The National to finish up a new album you don’t have to wait to hear new music by the band.
This time, though, it’s not really their own track but instead them performing the song written by George R. R. Martin, the creator of Game Of Thrones on the soundtrack to which this song appears.
Yes, you read that right. Everyone’s favourite sourpuss band The National...
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Review/Listen: Grass Widow - "Internal Logic"
San Francisco-based trio Grass Widow, made up of Hannah Lew (bass), Raven Mahon (guitar), and Lillian Maring (drums), collectively share duties on vocals, weaving together melodies steeped in metaphor as gleamed from each of the members’ personal narratives. Always shying away from directly referential, confessional song structure, this lo-fi post punk band steadfastly refuses to get behind...
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Listen: Marissa Nadler - The Sister (Full Album...
Chalk up Marissa Nadler’s new album “The Sister” as another of this year’s stunningly sparse and haunting releases, alongside Daughn Gibson, Perfume Genius, Sigur Ros, and John Talabot.
Stripping away the instrumentation and production you hear on so many albums these days, she’s left bare the fragile emotion in her voice and acoustics of her guitar and piano,...
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Live Review: Jack White + Alabama Shakes @...
Jack White and The Peacocks - Roseland Ballroom - May 22nd, 2012
I’ve always been a casual Jack White fan: I admired him from afar, appreciated his musical brilliance, and was casually into his bands, but I never really delved into his catalogue; with six full-length White Stripes albums, two fronting The Raconteurs, two in The Dead Weather, and his debut solo album...
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Video: DIIV - How Long Have You Known?
Currently one of the most-talked about, and praised-ridden new bands doing the rounds this year is DIIV. We’ve written about them so you know they must be good, but you shouldn’t let our insignificant words sway your decision to check them out.
You should listen to us, though, and there’s not much to be said about their new video for “How Long Have You Known?”...
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Video: Jaill - House With Haunting
True story: I’ve seen a ghost. I’ve seen a couple, actually, but they weren’t just dudes hanging around with bed sheets over their heads, they were legit ghosts. I can’t tell you the story otherwise they’d give away the secret information about myself that I keep secret, but just believe me, ok?
They weren’t like the ghosts in Jaill’s new video, though....
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Listen: Beat Connection - The Palace Garden, 4AM
Seattle isn’t generally the kind of place you’d associate with catchy dance-pop bands, and with a name like Beat Connection you’d probably think they’re rolling out from Brooklyn or Stockholm, but not so.
Coming straight outta Seattle, Beat Connection are finally releasing their debut album after teasing us for a couple of years with their “Surf Noir” EP and...
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Video: Carousel - "Let's Go Home"
It’s finally getting to the time of year when Carousel’s music feels appropriate, and they’ve kindly graced us with a video for their track “Let’s Go Home”, which you can watch below. The only problem is that I’m now frantically wondering where the hell my old Casio keyboard went to: apparently they are once again regarded as legitimate instruments,...
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Video: SoKo - We Might Be Dead By Tomorrow (NSFW)
If you’re looking for the most authentic, heart-warming, resplendent music that nowhere nearly enough people are listening to at the moment, then look no further than SoKo.
If her previous offerings of “First Love Never Die” and “I Thought I Was An Alien” weren’t enoug for you, her latest video for “We Might Be Dead By Tomorrow”, nothing more than...
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Video: Blood Orange - I'm Sorry We Lied
Blood Orange is still releasing videos from his excellent-but-underrated album from last year “Coastal Grooves”, having already dropped two this year alone for “Champagne Coast” and “Forget It”, with this new one taking the tally up to three.
Personally I’d love it if artists released a video for each song on their album, as some have done in the past,...
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Video: Plateaus - "Do It For You"
Check out the video for “Do It For You” from Plateaus below.
Connect with Plateaus - Facebook | Twitter | Blogspot | Bandcamp
Original Article
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Listen: Fear Of Men - "Born"
Listen to Fear Of Men’s “Born”, the B-side to their latest single to be released on June 18 via Sexbeat.
The London and Brighton four-piece Fear Of Men are back with a new 7” single to be released in a limited run of white vinyl on June 18.
The A-side “Green Sea” was released a few weeks ago, and this B-side is pretty damn brilliant if you ask me; the lyrics,...
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Review/Listen: Actress - "R.I.P."
Darren Cunningham is London based producer Actress. Some see him as an understated genius, others as an over-analyzed dilettante. Which is it?
Actress’ 3rd LP, “R.I.P.”, falls right into place alongside recent efforts like Shlohmo’s “Bad Vibes” or Burial’s “Kindred EP” for their similar approach to their craft. Cunningham sounds and feels like a connoisseur for subtlety, yet, unlike...
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Listen: YACHT - "I'll Be Your Mirror" (The Velvet...
Listen to YACHT take on The Velvet Undergroind’s “I’ll Be Your Mirror” below.
YACHT’s already done a cover of Brigitte Fontaine’s “Le Goudron” last month, and as the B-side to that one they’ve reworked another great 60’s song. This time it’s “I’ll Be Your Mirror”, a track off The Velvet Underground’s...
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Listen: Metric - "Speed The Collapse"
Listen to “Speed The Collapse”, the second single off Metric’s “Synthetica” which is out June 12 via their own Metric Music International.
After having given us last month the glam-rock-y and anthemic “Youth Without Youth” as the lead single off their upcoming fifth studio album, “Synthetica”, Metric have just given us a second glimpse at...
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Video: Alcoholic Faith Mission - "Ask Me This"
Check out the sad but solid video for “Ask Me This” from Alcoholic Faith Mission below.
Connect with Alcoholic Faith Mission - Facebook | Twitter | Website
Original Article
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Video: Body Language - You Can
More than a year after the song was released, Brooklyn’s Body Language have dropped an official video for “You Can”, one of the highlights on their fantastic debut album “Social Studies”. Moral of the story? Don’t take your hot girlfriend to a sweet country mansion and hook up with another chick right in front of her.
Connect with Body...
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Introducing: Young Wonder
We’ve already featured Young Wonder’s gorgeous video for “Orange”, but if any group was ever deserving of a full write-up, this duo are. There’s Rachel Koeman, who provides the lyrics, melodies and the vocals themselves, and Ian Ring, who provides the musical foundations for it all. Between them, they can knock out some pretty killer music.
In the course of my...
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Video: Lianne La Havas - Is Your Love Big Enough
London’s Lianne La Havas has been on our radar since the start of the year after we found her video for “Forget” and then subsequently named her One To Watch.
Since then she’s toured all over the shop, released another couple of songs and announced her debut album “Is Your Love Big Enough” due for release on July 9th. Yesterday she released the title track...
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Listen/Download: Jhameel - "Shadow Of A Man"
More new tracks from Jhameel? This guy never lets up!
The first time I heard Jhameel I fell in love; control, intensity, skill that is reigned in rather than boasted gave me an overwhelming urge to share his music with every single person I came across regardless of their choice genre. When we first introduced you to what is still my favorite track of his, “Shut Up,” he had 83...
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Video: Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs -...
Somewhere between Pretty Lights and Skrillex you’ll find a solid niche that Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs fits into comfortably, check out his video for “American Dream Part II” below.
Connect with Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs - Facebook | Twitter | Website | Soundcloud
Original Article
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Video: Beach House - Myth (Live On Jools Holland)
Another episode of Jools Holland where he puts every other music-based television show to shame.
This week it’s Beach House’s turn to show the world of shitty music how it’s done, with a fantastic and rousing performance of “Myth”, the lead single from their current album-of-the-year-contender “Bloom”.
Connect with Beach...
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Review/Listen - El-P - "Cancer For Cure"
In both independent and mainstream music over course of history, certain genres have been almost lead, or progressed, by the particular individuals which inhabit them. Take for example shoegaze, which was developed much further by artists such as My Bloody Valentine or Slowdive, or perhaps post-punk, with early material from Talking Heads, Gang of Fours, Joy Division, and many more. No matter...
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Listen/Download: Foxygen - Make It Known
Listen to and download the new Foxygen track “Make It Known” below.
As we patiently await a new album from MGMT and Tame Impala, the 22 year-old duo Foxygen (they’re 22, not the band) have arrived on the scene just in time to replace both of them in one fell swoop.
When I make the MGMT comparison I’m talking about their “Oracular Spectacular” vibe, playful...
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Listen/Download: Highlands - Railroad
Listen to and download Highlands’ new song “Railroad” below.
There’s been a resurgence in the last couple of years of the wall-of-noise type of indie-rock that was inescapable in the 90s, perhaps most-notably brought back to life by Yuck and their driving, unforgiving guitars and melodies.
California’s Highlands may not necessarily being trying to bring that sound...
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Video: When Saints Go Machine - Mannequin
Watch the new video for When Saints Go Machine song “Mannequin” below.
The band’s follow-up album to 2011’s “Konkylie” will see the light of day later this year, but for now enjoy this Antony Hegarty-sounding new jam from the Danish quartet.
Connect with When Saints Go Machine: Facebook | Twitter | Website
Original Article
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Video: When Saints Go Machine - Mannequin
Watch the new video for When Saints Go Machine song “Mannequin” below.
The band’s follow-up album to 2011’s “Konkylie” will see the light of day later this year, but for now enjoy this Antony Hegarty-sounding new jam from the Danish quartet.
Connect with When Saints Go Machine: Facebook | Twitter | Website
Original Article
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Video: When Saints Go Machine - Mannequin
Watch the new video for When Saints Go Machine song “Mannequin” below.
The band’s follow-up album to 2011’s “Konkylie” will see the light of day later this year, but for now enjoy this Antony Hegarty-sounding new jam from the Danish quartet.
Connect with When Saints Go Machine: Facebook | Twitter | Website
Original Article
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Listen/Download: How To Dress Well - Ocean Floor...
Listen to How To Dress Well’s new song “Ocean Floor For Everything” from the album “Total Loss”.
What’s that? One of my most-anticipated albums of the last 18 months has just been announced? Oh cool, no biggie (YES BIGGIE!).
Excuse my excitement, but Tom Krell, aka How To Dress Well, released my second favourite album of 2010 with his lo-fi take on...
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Listen: Jessie Ware - "What You Won't Do For Love"
Listen to Jessie Ware’s new song “What You Won’t Do For Love” below.
I don’t know about you guys, but there aren’t many things I won’t do for the love of Jessie Ware’s music, or my cat.
More so for my cat, just because he’s cool and he’s called Mr Miagi and we’ve got that human/cat/friend bond thing going on (he’s...
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Listen: No Joy - Junior
Listen to No Joy’s new track “Junior” below, taken from the EP “Negaverse”.
Canadian noise-rock-shoegaze-sludge-doom-indie band No Joy have announced the details of a new EP, “Negaverse”, their first non-single release since 2010’s debut LP “Ghost Blonde”.
First cut from the EP is “Junior”, a short but snappy rumble through...
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Video: Sleigh Bells - "Demons"
Check out the new video for “Demons” from Sleigh Bells.
The guitar alone is enough to keep me hitting repeat, this is by far my favorite Sleigh Bells track.
Connect with Sleigh Bells: Facebook | Website | Last.fm
Original Article
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Listen: Port St. Willow - Holiday (Full Album...
Port St. Willow: You may have heard the name before, or even a song or two when he performed with The Antlers last year, but you’re not doing the music any justice or properly rewarding the confines of your soul if you don’t give your undivided attention to his new album from start to finish.
Granted, it won’t be for everyone, but when you can bring together the untouchable...
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Review/Listen: Killer Mike - "R.A.P. Music"
Killer Mike and El-P really are an unstoppable force. Not only do they have the best bromance ever, but “R.A.P. Music” combines two of my favourite things; Atlanta hip hop and El-P’s magnificent beats. Christmas has come early and in the form of a political gangster rap album, folks.
As disappointing as I am by my first impressions of “Cancer For Cure”, El-P will always,...
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Listen: Foxes - "Warrior"
Listen to “Warrior” the last to drop from Foxes’ upcoming EP of the same name.
We here at Listen Before You Buy really love us some Foxes. Already named One To Watch in February by yours truly based on the strength of her massive first 7” single - containing “Youth” and “Home” - the young London native has done nothing but continue to stun us.
A...
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Video: Sigur Rós - "Ég anda"
If you’re a fan of Sigur Rós then today must be a pretty great day for you.
We already posted the stream of their entire new album “Valtari” this morning, one of the most stunningly beautiful albums of the year and one of the best of their career. To make the day even better they’ve dropped a brand new video for “Ég anda” that you can check out below.
Connect...
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Video: Hot Chip - "Night & Day"
Watch the new video for Hot Chip’s song “Night & Day” below, taken from the album “In Our Heads”, released on June 11th via Domino. If you missed them on Jools Holland last week, they dropped two new cuts from the album.
Connect with Hot Chip: Facebook | Twitter | Website | Last.fm
Original Article
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Video: Woodkid - "Run Boy Run"
It’s been more than a year since Yoann Lemoine, known to the rest of the world as Woodkid, released one of the most stunning videos of the last decade for “Iron”.
Since then he’s gone on to direct videos for Lana Del Rey, Rihanna, and Drake, whilst also dropping a sexy marbled vinyl for the “Iron” EP and completing work on his debut album. Today he released...
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Ones To Watch: Haim
One of the greatest things about music is that there can be bands that, while not completely captivating at first, still have something to keep you coming back until they’ve managed to make one fall in love. Such has been the affair of LA-based group Haim and myself.
The band is actually a trio of sisters and a drummer and only have an EP out, but that’s by no means their first...