Now Future Islands. They reduce me to pieces. They're the A-side on a recent release of the Less Artists More Condos 7" series benefiting the late Ariel Panero of the Brooklyn-based artist collective Famous Class. "Cotton Flower" is a comforting ode to letting go.
They play SF's Independent September 4th.
There are songs I just respond to immediately. It's so predictable. I could loop the first 16 seconds until infinity. The "so come dance with me" refrain toward the end is simply icing on a pulsing, synth-filled cake. You know hard it is to say no to cake?!
The album's called I Love You, It's Cool, which makes it sound like it could be brilliant.
The band's called Bear In Heaven, and they're playing your favorite venue The Independent on April 8th.
So last week I grumbled about pretty much everything - sucky weather, utter broke-ness, and the lack of good new jams. I was your prototypical anonymous cynic of the internets!
This week is different. It's currently 75 degrees in Oakland with fair skies, and I'm stoked on a new track. I am however, still broke, but I'm always broke.
French swirly dream pop band M83 dropped new single "Midnight City" off the forthcoming Hurry Up, We're Dreaming. This succeeds John Hughes-movie- soundtrack-inspired LP Saturdays=Youth, which was a damn near perfect record for ME. I mean, c'mon, an atmospheric synth-pop record inspired by moments like Ferris and Sloane bidding goodbye after a long, radical day to Dream Academy's "The Edge of Forever"?
Saturdays=Youth was a record tailor-made for this kid who thought Shermer, Illinois was real way before Jay and Silent Bob.
New single "Midnight City" doesn't sound far off, era-wise. There's a huge sax solo at the end. I've heard this so many times before (Psychedelic Furs' "Heartbreak Beat") but with that, it hits every note of nostalgia without sounding old.
The double(!) record comes out October 18 on Mute, followed by a gig at SF's Independent on November 10.
London DJ and producer Gold Panda is killing it. His last LP Lucky Shiner continues to challenge and satisfy it's listeners, while key track "You" could be regarded as a modern electronic classic.
A few months ago he released a remix of Lykke Li's "Sadness Is A Blessing", taking a gorgeous track and making it into something otherworldly. It's on another level.
Catch him play The Independent on October 25.
Brooklyn, NY based noise-poppers Sleigh Bells were remixed earlier this year by maestro and stereo-land favorite Diplo. Here he strips down the opening track off Treats, "Tell 'Em" with fantastic results.
Sleigh Bells kick off two-sold out shows tomorrow, Memorial Day, with Neon Indian at The Independent in SF.
I'll be there undoubtedly with a sunburn left over from this weekend.