stadiums and shrines

We've Moved to stadiumsandshrines.com!

2010-09-20T22:32:00.000-07:00

Friends, readers, drifters, spirits. We're so very happy to direct you to a new page with a new url:

stadiumsandshrines.com

Please update your rss feeds and blogrolls. It's a work in progress, so things might look funny at times over the next few days. Thanks!

Real Love,
Sutton

Friday Send-Off | AM Sky

2010-09-17T11:47:00.000-07:00

A storm passed through the city last night. It left the air clear with a tint of unease. This morning the gorgeous, heartfelt "AM Sky" appeared from Glasgow's Happy Particles. Its traceable dates reveal it not to be necessarily new, but certainly under-seen. And so we ease into this strange weekend with hopes of a breaking sun, and the sounds of a promising band, who tell me they're finishing an album right now, and were kind enough to supply a (preferred) demo of above and livelier "Infinite Jet":

Happy Particles | AM Sky
Happy Particles | Infinite Jet

Have fun. Be Safe. Get weird.

(via//photo)

Mono no Aware

2010-09-16T07:28:00.000-07:00

An Australian wind chime waltz called "Snowtown" helped see us off a few weeks ago. And now as I trek through missed melodies, it's a pleasure to be greeted by more output from The Townhouses. Mono no Aware moves within the walls introduced on debut Islands, letting bells ricochet to sparked frenzy, more assured than ever, with a calming glow all its own.

The Townhouses | Our Trees Will Grow

The EP has name your price status at bandcamp.

(via//photo)

Mixtape | RANDOM RAINBOW Volume 3

2010-09-01T11:39:00.000-07:00

I'm proud to present the third installment in a series of compilations designed to shoot positivity across your skies. Special inspiration this time came in the form of a trip: Victoria and I leave for Peru tomorrow. As always, the spectrum covers some young artists that S&S really believe in, so if any are delightfully new to you, I encourage not only further exploration at their bandcamps and such, but supporting them in future art.

Kumon Plaza, Top Girls, and Teenage Reverb were kind enough to send over exclusive tracks. Ben Wagner graced us with his last ever Hooray! track (fear not, Craig Cruiser rolls on). You'll also hear Two Bicycles, Teen Daze's other beautiful project, which deserves more love. Lovely last minute additions from newcomers Headless Horseman and Zeadron Del Gomez. A very appropriate something from Machu Picchu (who also recommended we try this "super tasty potato dish" in Cuzco). And much more. Thanks all.

RANDOM RAINBOW V3

View tracklist here.

We'll return in a few weeks, hopefully centered, and ready for the music that awaits.

Real Love,
Sutton

I Had A Hot Summer

2010-08-31T08:31:00.000-07:00

Toronto's Elevator Boy "spends his days in a reverie and drinks loads of lemonade. He loves life for its whimsical existentialism".

Not a bad way to spend this final August afternoon. At least metaphysically, perhaps through headphones, existing within a series of images, emotions, or ideas sensed during states of abstraction, beauty, or sleep. It's not a seasonal function, but damn does spacing out feel especially right under a warm breeze.

Elevator Boy | I Had A Hot Summer
Elevator Boy | No More Sessions

The 17 track collection of ambient, dream-hop infused guitar manipulation is at bandcamp.

(photo(s))

Friday Send-Off | Gone To Sea

2010-08-27T10:37:00.000-07:00

Nothing else was in the send-off running after Jamie Harley set another one free to inter-sea just a moment ago, this time for Italy's A Classic Education. Wonderful.

(via//photo by Victoria)

Have fun. Be safe. Get weird.

With You

2010-08-26T07:58:00.000-07:00

Aligned with this simple snare drum today, living the good life, courtesy of one Seapony from Seattle. "With You" has harmless pop presence. It's a cute throwback and it's pretty open about it. Destination is clear.

Seapony | With You

The self-titled EP is free at bandcamp.

(via//photo)

Cathedral

2010-08-24T11:18:00.000-07:00

“It’s all I’ve wanted for a while.”

'To feel loved' is what Melbourne's James Wallace aka Wintercoats seems to be getting at. On the title track to Cathedral EP, he whirls that universal desire through a feathering of trinkets and strings. It lands in a lush middle ground, somewhere between heartfelt rawness and orchestral grandeur; simply beautiful.

Wintercoats | Cathedral

The 3 tracks leading up exist in a similar realm. Which brings us to bandcamp.

(via)

Island Cottage

2010-08-22T10:54:00.000-07:00

"The long anticipated conclusion. The layer of dust on the bookshelf. The missed flight. The memorized view from a window. The space between."

That memorized view has gone gray at the moment. Warped through glass, blurred by rain, the Sunday skyline is resting. As if aware of my stationary fate, Montreal's Sea Oleena appeared a few hours ago by way of visual, leading to an extended sit with her dream spun self-titled EP.

Sea Oleena | Island Cottage

The entire release is waiting at bandcamp.

(via)

Friday Send-Off | Tattooed Tears

2010-08-19T22:35:00.000-07:00

"I've been wanting you use the song title for a long time to write a dreamy pop song about Morrissey and latino gangsters but as I worked on it I happened to notice a triangle of synchronicity take shape around the Smiths, Cholos, and East of Eden so it ended up being about all three."

Ice Cream Shout are a young 4-piece from Kansai, Japan. "Tattooed Tears" seems to have arrived straight from the 80s, into rapid replay, and my shortlist for songs of the year.

Ice Cream Shout | Tattooed Tears

Their debut (somewhat) album is available now. I'm all ears.

(via//photo)

Have fun. Be safe. Get weird.

When You Feel Like

2010-08-19T07:56:00.000-07:00

"Thinkin about you, got me goin outta my head, outta my head"

Guy will do anything for girl. If sincere, it's timeless. Same goes for a simple guitar pop song. LA's Adam Anderson aka Rraaiillss manages to pair the two in this gritty declaration of love that just appeared at his bandcamp.

Rraaiillss | When You Feel Like...

The track will be part of an upcoming full length called 1098. Between this project and Incubator (US), I'll agree with Mike from Dead as Digital: Anderson is on some streak here.

Odd Tymes

2010-08-17T08:40:00.000-07:00

Green Gerry gave away Odd Tymes in the middle of summer, but his brand of folk transcended seasons altogether, better suited for a cottage on mars. Perhaps that's what happens when Georgia and California are crossed; some deformation of spacetime appears, where birds and trains and toys swirl in cyclonic harmony. We can only hope this freak of nature can be repeated.

(via//bandcamp)

3 Songs For Ryan

2010-08-16T19:57:00.000-07:00

"...sonic backdrop of a huge thunderstorm that rolled through Toronto 2 days ago."

Anything the wind brings in from Warren Hildebrand is a treat. Hopefully soon, some words I submitted elsewhere on Swung From The Branches will surface, but to paraphrase a bit: it seems that each year there's one album that can stop my clock and simply gravitate, and in 2010 it's been his.

Now 3 Songs For Ryan is as Warren says "easing" himself back into recording, after a summer without working equipment to do so. "Rain Falls" is as eased as they come, resting at a comfortable distance from the strobe-lit skies. This reintegration only lasts a moment before "Along" breaks through clouds with sudden flashing lights-esq zest. An outro to a piece all too brief, "Courtyard Summer" drops us off in calmer conditions, where all we can do is wait for more.

Foxes in Fiction | Along

Follow links above for both releases. And Slow Evolution should arrive in the next few weeks.

Whalemary

2010-08-15T15:20:00.000-07:00

The creative travels of Maine's Yellow Ostrich can go unmentioned here no longer. His output expands at will, with undeniable talent present in each direction. Releases now range from the hymnal hypnosis of Fade Cave to the digital dance of The Serious Kids (not to mention that EP inspired by Morgan Freeman's Wikipedia page). The track above is one half of Whalemary 7", and like the rest, is free at bandcamp.

(via//photo)

Friday Send-Off | I Am You

2010-08-13T10:29:00.000-07:00

No outsider to love here, among many other realms, COOLRUNNINGS takes today's duties with this fan-made-gone-official visual for "I Am You". Like like the song, I've returned to its nectar for seconds and thirds since debut (we'll say at least 10 of its 272 views).

The track hangs free at their bandcamp, and if EPs Buffalo and Babes Forever are yet to sweeten your speakers, grab those too.

Have fun. Be safe. Get weird.

Memoryhouse, Twin Sister, Oberhofer @ Mercury Lounge [08/11/10]

2010-08-12T07:38:00.000-07:00

A stacked lineup had the Mercury Lounge filling up early last night. Young buzz-darling Oberhofer lived up to expectations, howling through guitar pop with fevered charisma. Twin Sister was tighter than ever, making two lovely EPs glow over what seemed like one continuous smooth jam. And they do jam.

With a more subdued style and overall presence, Memoryhouse aimed to slow down and spellbind. Dreamwaves were cast from the first lines of “Lately (Deuxième)”, as soft visuals projected past faces onto walls. Some newer tracks were sprinkled between gems from The Years and standout "Bonfire". The set wasn't without a few sounds off balance and transitions unpolished, but not much was lost (should improve as the tour goes on). Like recent Boston show, they closed with an airy cover of My Bloody Valentine’s “When You Sleep”.

Victoria has the rest:

Oberhofer

Twin Sister

Memoryhouse

Twin Sister and Memoryhouse play Monster Island Basement tonight.

Raindeer

2010-08-11T12:31:00.000-07:00

To be honest, that found image doesn't quite fit. Like the misspelling might be hinting at, Baltimore's Raindeer are a rare breed these days. Their cutesy synth-pop doesn't directly reach for weirdness of the psych or the prog or the chill nature; it simply dances in a field, brushing up against them on occasion, more concerned with that of the fun nature.

Raindeer | Green Light

Raindeer | This is My Last Transmission

The debut EP is free at bandcamp.

(via//photo)

Nude Sunrise

2010-08-10T12:15:00.001-07:00

"I really love ya, yes I do...the sky above ya, is crystal blue"

Patient and comfy in psychedelia today. The repeated phrase above takes on mantra status by the end of its 8 minute "Lean Love" greet to Hunks Like Us. This full length cassette from Chicago's Nude Sunrise is not a quick fix, it's a slow drift for those dreamers with mist in mind, and no end in sight. And just before we're long gone, these caffeinated guitar tangents break through to keep everything in check.

Nude Sunrise | Mondo Drag

Nude Sunrise | Fruit Snacks

Nude Sunrise | Lean Love (NITETROTTER session)

Nude Sunrise | Skatepark USA (NITETROTTER session)

Grab two more shorter lo-fi versions from NITETROTTER here, all recorded in one take. And thanks to Boy Attractions for those mp3s.

August in Ombrosa

2010-08-07T11:36:00.000-07:00

"The winds blew high and the trees did sway. Not much from life was I asking."

This afternoon's daydream encountered pink sunrises and indigo evenings, first provided by Cosimo, then by BANDJO, and now by an entire Swedish collective. I'd attempt to make sense of it all, but it's more fun to let the breeze lead.

Cosimo | Morning and Evening

BANDJO | August in Ombrosa (remixed by Cosimo)

Korallreven | Loved-Up (Cosimo's Paradise)

BANDJO Mixtape | Second Day of Summer

(via//photo)

Redondo Beach

2010-08-05T09:16:00.000-07:00

"Welcome to Redondo Beach."

Amazing what 3 minutes and 15 seconds of marvelously fashioned exotic beats can do. All we get here is a track and a half teaser of some secret island utopia, as if this mermaid just swam up, grabbed your hand on her way to the party, and let go just before the portal gates, leaving you on a sandbar, trying to remember it all. The glimpse is at bandcamp.

Baths @ Mercury Lounge [08/03/10]

2010-08-04T10:06:00.000-07:00

Baths played his first show in NYC last night. I was happy to share that mark with him (my first as a resident). The set was early, making for a more laid back vibe than that of his release party in LA last month. But Will's aura remained the same: ever-gracious, passionate precision.

BV has the full round-up with headliners Fol Chen. Both acts play Union Pool tonight.

And grab this live "sprout session" Baths did for a dublab podcast. Too good.

Wednesday Love | Dragonfly

2010-08-04T06:31:00.000-07:00

"Basically my Tony Bennett impersonation." - Porcelain Raft

(via//video/image)

La femme

2010-08-03T10:38:00.000-07:00

I grew up on these VHS tapes by NBA Entertainment (see: Jam Session, Rising Stars, etc) that cut circa 93' highlights and urban imagery to new jack swing era beats. No, DannielRadall is not a disciple of Teddy Riley, but there's something about this La femme EP that takes me back to the days of dunking Nerf hoops hung from bedroom doors. The memories play smeared at half-speed. Shawn Kemp is there, and he's all messed up.

DannielRadall | Stoned

DannielRadall | Lucie Lu

The disco-dream EP (free here) seems to be Radall's first as a solo act after being in a few other bands out of Jalisco, Mexico.

(via)

Secluded Malls and Scenic Byways

2010-08-02T11:30:00.000-07:00

"Consider the space it represents, tumbleweeds of any kind should be free within it."

Bootgazing in adobe-coated space suits, George & Caplin cross penchants for Hitchcock thrillers and The American West into this one strange, road tripping LP. Sonically sprawled from prairie folk to midnight electronic, Secluded Malls and Scenic Byways calls to the gods of ambient fuzz with fleeting strings, sparse vocals and arrowhead rocks.

George and Caplin | Sleep Deep

The physical/digital release along with a bonus disc of infinite drone loop called Requiem For an Encyclopedia are available (to purchase) at bandcamp.

Send-Off | California

2010-07-29T16:41:00.000-07:00

S&S is going unplugged for a few days.

And after that time, it'll be plugging in from a new location: Brooklyn.

This, is exciting.

California, I will always love you. Your magic is real. Your spirit is in me.

Have fun. Be safe. Get weird.

(photo)

It's Coming Around

2010-07-28T12:10:00.001-07:00

"I'll get it, I'll get it, I'll get it, I'll get it."

On the move today, physically buried in task, mentally buried in thought, I'm still free though with a singular notion to echo:

BAnanas Symphony | It's Coming Around

Yohsuke Araki of Blackhawks added the gazing track above and the Caribbean-tinged "Dumb Teenage Love" to his solo outfit BAnanas Symphony. Grab both at bandcamp.

STEPHANIE

2010-07-26T19:29:00.000-07:00

"We're from Seattle, where the clouds at night are big and bright."

This dose of poisonous pop called "Meds" keeps interrupting an otherwise chill breakfast here. It's happened a few times now: song shuffles in, I spit milk, check iTunes, say "oh right, STEPHANIE, digging this."

STEPHANIE | Meds

STEPHANIE | Love For Sale

Stephanie 2010 CS/CD is bratty post-punk gone galaxy surfing. Obtainable at GGNZLA.

Monday Love | Chesapeake

2010-07-26T02:37:00.000-07:00

Another shred approved matching of sound and vision. This time from the light, focused force of Evenings, whose North Dorm EP has crept its way into heavy, focused rotation (free at bandcamp). And to extend that flash just a moment longer:

Evenings | Chesapeake

(via//via)

Palm Reader

2010-07-22T09:25:00.001-07:00

Another hula-loop destiny from Monster Rally arrived this morning. Like previous instrumentals, these tracks come from some beach lounge in our subconscious, and they're free at bandcamp.

Monster Rally | Steal

It appears there will more to Palm Reader come September, and a cassette to be experienced.

Tuesday Love | In Lieu of Flowers

2010-07-20T22:47:00.000-07:00

Shred Wednesday approved visuals gliding with a standout track from one of year's finest releases, Stoned Alone. All smiles.

DOWNHILL EXXXPRESS

2010-07-19T19:32:00.000-07:00

"work it work it work it work it work it"

As if he hadn't steamed this year out enough, Detroit's Coyote Clean Up is back with 12 more tracks. Downhill Exxxpress keeps a good thing going, but Chrissy's got the dial maxed here, raising sultry whispers and smooth grooves to hot flash. Here's a lead off:

Coyote Clean Up | Downhill Express

The rest arrives digitally and on purple tapes, July 25th.

`+`

2010-07-18T13:37:00.001-07:00

Wise Blood is wild fire, set just a few hours ago, and I'm feeling a need to further feed. The five tracks on `+` are bizarrely cohesive given their ranging samples and general free formage. Self-tagged as 'future music', and why not, with time periods overlapping into fresh warp. Pittsburgh's Christopher Laufman is the name attached, and that's about all we know.

Wise Blood | HERE COMES THE SUN

Wise Blood | B.I.G. E.G.O.

Grab the EP at bandcamp.

(via)

ALPS

2010-07-17T02:09:00.001-07:00

"cold static dance in Siberia forest"

Waiting for the wind to return after a blindsiding courtesy of Russia's Motorama. This is a full band with sonic waves in all the right places, calling back to post-punk with a genuine smile. What clean fun.

Motorama | Wind In Her Hair

Alps in its entirety is available for free at their site.

(via)

Nate's Summer Mix 2010 | Volume 2

2010-07-15T11:01:00.000-07:00

Nate LC's last compilation hinted that there would be a second dose of shamelessly sunny pop for your playlists, and now here it is. He also lined up both volumes on a continuous mp3 which certainly earns its endless artwork. Nate's been too kind with these mixes over the past year, and it was only a matter of time before he'd give them a home of their own. So grab it all from his tumblr.

Wednesday Love | The Endless Field of Mercury

2010-07-14T12:28:00.000-07:00

Powerful track from ANR meets Jamie Harley, the man with an astonishing ability reach our hearts through our eyes.

(via)

Monday Love | The Crown

2010-07-12T14:44:00.000-07:00

"there's no such thing as a royal few"

Made with footage from the childhoods of Zachary Tipton and his cousin.

(via//bandcamp)

Lonesome

2010-07-10T13:55:00.000-07:00

Consider me slightly floored by the four charming tracks that make up Lonesome. They came over with the humblest of notes from one Allister Izenberg, and do indeed suit a scene like the one above. Lonesome he is, but each spin reveals more hints of sunlight through his bedroom blinds that would have one believe Allister isn't the miserable kind of alone, but rather, the restlessly inventive.

Bird chirps, loon calls, saloon pianos...Lonesome had me intrigued too, so we ended up trading a few e-mails:

DS: Age 19, from Los Angeles, what else should we know about Allister Izenberg?

AI: That's all you really should know about Allister Izenberg :)

DS: I've made some assumptions about how Lonesome was recorded. Fill me in.

AI: The recording process was lonely, dark, with my heater blanket, and sleepytime tea.

DS: Did you have any other records with you? Specifically The White Album? "Little Swan" has this "Don't Pass Me By" / "Honey Pie" thing going on. "Allodoxaphobia" plays with a melody from the Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind soundtrack, which results in a unique yet equally moving song.

Allister Izenberg | Little Swan

Allister Izenberg | Allodoxaphobia

AI: There's always some Beatles somewhere, and for "Allodoxaphobia" I was alone one night in my room and I was watching Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and it was so beautiful and I was so touched by Jon Brion's piece I decided to make my own song out of it not thinking anyone would hear it besides my friends.

DS: You're doing some west coast shows with Stereo Total. Excited? Have you toured much?

AI: I am so excited to go on tour and take these pups to the stage. I toured opening for Roger Daltrey (The Who) in my last band which was pretty sweet, we played some amazingly beautiful venues which I wish to revisit one day. The band broke up due to musical differences, we were called Paper Zoo. So stoked to go out though, so stoked.

DS: Very cool man, best of luck. Mind if I .zip up this EP and mediafire it out?

AI: Sure, zip that up.

Allister also mentioned he went to high school and played some shows with Will Wiesenfeld (Baths). Must be something in those water fountains.

COOLRUNNINGS | ROAD TO NOWHERE

2010-07-10T01:21:00.000-07:00

COOLRUNNINGS went and covered one of the best songs of all time (and a personal favorite). It's late, I've had a few beers, talked about the 4th dimension, of course this is happening.

COOLRUNNINGS - ROAD TO NOWHERE (TALKING HEADS COVER)

Goodnight.

Friday Send-Off | Hazy House Flow (Rub Your Body Up To Mine)

2010-07-09T15:21:00.000-07:00

Damn you're sexy, weekend.

And gosh, has the vimeo experience over at Moduli TV been on a telepathic tear as of late.

The sampled n' warped jam above might be misleading when it comes to the drone world in which Montreal's Hobo Cubes is heavily productive, and I'm just starting to mine through. It's a deep and sometimes disorienting one, so this Hobo Cult Records compilation might be used as a guide (click artwork below).

Also take two from this year's Hypnotic Infinitum:

Hobo Cubes | AXXA
Hobo Cubes | Onde Astrali (w/ Bernardino Femminielli

Have fun. Be safe. Get weird.

Photosynthesis

2010-07-08T23:22:00.000-07:00

I still call upon "Photosynthesis" almost daily, even after the play-count upping process of forming a mix. The same can be said for all transportive tracks on NEON CANYON's EP (free here). They never cease to deliver when daydreams are needed.

Our friend ZJ Wong connected visuals nicely (again), off we go.

And take the recent collaboration with Blackbird Blackbird while you're at it:

Blackbird Blackbird & Neon Canyon - We Have to Know

(via)

Baths @ The Troubadour [LA;07/02/10; plus Converse]

2010-07-08T10:47:00.000-07:00

(photos by Steph Thompson)

It was pure love last Saturday at the Troubadour, all directed at Will Wiesenfeld, who so graciously had a lot to give back to us. To celebrate the release of Cerulean, Baths performed a magnetic set following friends Daedelus, El Ten Eleven and MatthewDavid. With mastery over his MIDI, pouring his heart into every movement, Will assembled each track piece by piece, which at times became a game in how fast the audience could identify songs. This of course, had Will singing out of a huge smile, eventually declaring, "you guys, this is honestly the best night of my life."

I've never been happier for an artist.

Much more could be said, but my wordy piece on Cerulean just went live today on Converse, so I'll send ya there.

Sultan

2010-07-07T13:28:00.000-07:00

Brooklyn's Sultan is an audible exhale lingering in the wind, which makes Summer Sigh too good of a title. The virtual 7" (free at bandcamp) bustles on an unrestrained guitar, extending its three tracks past 25 minutes, fit for those who warm to the sleepier spells of Sun Araw, Ducktails, and the like.

Outside of the wordless Sigh, we can ease into Kayla Cohen's vocals on "There Goes My Girl" – one of the sweetest atmospheres I've been in all year. This is from a compilation by Blackburn Recordings.

Sultan | There Goes My Girl

Also take two from Spring 2010 CDR (m4a), first hums, second gazes:

Sultan | Picture

Sultan | Commanded

(via//via)

RxRy * | * VAEIOUWLS + CONSTANT CONSONANCE MIX

2010-07-05T21:53:00.000-07:00

Like all material to date, RxRy decided to transmit his second LP, VAEIOUWLS, directly and generously. Also like previous RxRy work, this album unlocks a truly distinct and spellbinding dimension, where underwater machines interact with prism-faced lifeforms (etc).

"happy independence day
Americans: stay wild.

_Rx"

* | * 2010 * | *

UPDATE: here's track 07, since that one was an error for some:

RxRy | EUIEE (dancer sea floor bed)

And there's more.

"To accompany this "leak"
I want to send out a group of tracks

a "mix"

of songs that served inspirational to me

during this recording process:

CONSTANT_CONSONANCE:
1. kites sail high _ 16

2. 1 mile north _ return to from where we came
3. odd nosdam _ DC bit (boards of canada)
4. burial _ ghost hardware
5. belong _ girl from new york
6. four tet _ skttrbrain (radiohead remix)

7. bullion _ i just wasn't made for these times (beach boys/dilla)
8. telefon tel aviv _ your face reminds me of when we're old
9. teebs _ untitled 3
10. loscil _ cloister
11. boards of canada _ moment of clarity
12. yellow swans _ limited space"

Friday Send-Off | Valley of Abra

2010-07-02T15:20:00.000-07:00

Alba Lua took off somewhat quietly into the June sky, and now appear to be bursting streams of soft psychedelia all over July's with their Ballad of Joseph Merrick release. The short and sweet EP is not freely floating, so here's a third of it:

Alba Lua | Valley of Abra

ps // this pretty song from France (recorded in Barcelona) may not be the expected send-off for such a patriotic weekend. We could always do this...

Have fun. Be safe. Get weird.

M M R

2010-07-01T23:27:00.000-07:00

I've been silently infatuated all week with the latest avalanche of magic mountain ambiance from MICKEY MICKEY ROURKE. Miller has really outdone himself here, which is something special considering the weight that Festive Bummer carried. From the unexpected ghost tribe greeting of "BIGGIE" to the expiring light of "HOPPER COLEMAN JACKSON", M M R is equal parts thrilling and tragic, able to push as much as it cradles.

MICKEY MICKEY ROURKE | HOPPER COLEMAN JACKSON

He's giving it away in its entirety here. Highly recommended.

Burnt Sienna

2010-07-01T11:02:00.000-07:00

HELICOPTER DOES NOT EXIST

2010-06-30T01:17:00.000-07:00

Brandon Biondo of Coolrunnings is involved in a number of traceable projects, and also drops solo gems on occasion. This is a case of the latter. It may be a basic instrumental, but this track invades jam status quickly. Behold, a sinister midnight attack:

BRANDON | HELICOPTER DOES NOT EXIST

(via Coolrunnings' tumblr)

Tuesday Love | Moonlighting

2010-06-29T12:39:00.000-07:00

"There's no earthly way of knowing / Which direction we are going"

Maximum energy flowing throughout the blogosphere today. Let's just have one big blissed-out pillow fight meltdown for the love of it all.

Navajo Bixby | Moonlighting

More happy tracks are coming from Navajo Bixby this summer.

ps - just watched that boat scene over the weekend. So random//scary//revolutionary.

Puddles

2010-06-29T00:38:00.000-07:00

I must say, watching Ben Wagner's music grow in the last half year so has been a vicarious pleasure. Since he first sent over that little Snow Day EP from a snowed-in dorm in Normal, Illinois, the guy seemingly hasn't left the bedroom. This new EP takes that sound-searching journey and presents it as a whole. From the cast of ambient flashbacks, here's what could be the long lost little brother of Memoryhouse's "Lately":

Hooray! | Long Distance

Puddles is free at bandcamp. And not surprisingly, Ben also brings news of a side project called Teen Spirits – a place for beats:

Teen Spirits | Silent Rooms

Kiitos Sara

2010-06-26T21:14:00.000-07:00

Waiting directly in the heart of yesterday's Watching TV was the soothing harp of Kiitos Sara. Walking the halls of this entire compilation has been rewarding, but there was certainly nothing more divine than the surprise behind door number 7. "Butterfly" stood out for obvious reasons; it's a track formed around porcelain vocals and rippling strings (and what could be an actual triangle).

Kiitos Sara | Butterfly
Kiitos Sara | Velvet Beach
Kiitos Sara | Trees Are Growing

Sara lives in Chicago, but I'd like to think in some cloud formation above the city. She's also into photography (above image taken from her tumblr). A debut LP may arrive by the end of the summer.

Quilt

2010-06-26T12:20:00.000-07:00

It's not often that a song hits this instantly. "Quilt" goes for it. That 5 minute capture and release of your soul. It's a missed train flying by your fuck-it moment of acceptance, a montage of family vacations on fast forward, a sprint from the cops – high on fear and smirking adrenaline.

Weed | Quilt

Brooklyn's William Anderson is Weed. His fuzzy guitar meets fuzzy vocals approach may not be that inventive, but his songwriting appears to be. "Quilt" will be on the upcoming DC Hope EP, and it's at his bandcamp along with previous digital cassette, To The North.

(via)

Watching TV

2010-06-25T16:14:00.000-07:00

Telly from Organized Creations, a Chicago based wizard of weird on tumblr, just passed along his compilation called Watching TV, which organizes some mighty fresh creations.

"14 tracks by friends, acquaintances, future enemies, all-up and coming (you know, like 1000 plays on myspace and shit) and all super-talented. electronic experimentation, house, analog electro, harp-pop, ambient, noise. just a little eclectic pocket of a scene going on here on our Northside. Just like flipping through the TV, each new channel brings a new vibe. I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed putting it together."

The download and tracklist with links to artist pages are here. I've already DVR-ed a few.

Thanks Telly!

H A P P I E R / T H A N IVE/NEVER/B E E N

2010-06-25T09:20:00.000-07:00

A growing heap of polluted surf pop's been washing in from LA's Ghost Animal. The blog-shore is now covered in these beasts. New scavengers are happy, us friends are happy, and Ghost Animal, is happy. Micheal shared that feeling on his tumblr last night, along with the above image which links a garageband screengrab, all hinting to completion of what will be his debut LP and first release with newly formed Summertime In Hell. Looks like more details will show up there this weekend. The title track already has in howling fashion:

Ghost Animal | Summertime in Heaven

To this point, your heap should include a small EP from bandcamp, and a few others Delicious Scopitone is conveniently rehosting today.

HEAVY POP

2010-06-24T01:27:00.000-07:00

WU LYF | Heavy Pop

(via//via)

Pandit

2010-06-23T14:49:00.000-07:00

"Spending time together before my father left for Vietnam"

A solo project called Pandit quietly left Lance Smith's home studio in Texas last year. While it is unassuming, I'm surprised Pandit hasn't seeped into more homes yet. Smith's debut EP is easy to like, traveling from simplistic folk to bedroom electronic (dude rides a few chillwaves too). All anchored by a nice airy voice. Grab it for free here. Also take the newer single which seems to indicate he's moving further in that parenthetical direction:

Pandit | Artichoke

An LP arrives this fall on Lefse.

KEEPN IT UNREAL

2010-06-21T09:57:00.000-07:00

Thomas of Jaded Hipster Choir surprised me with this mixtape the other day, or actually, his intent to make this mixtape. He asked what kind of feeling I wanted for it, and my answer, "whatever you are feeling dude, and real is a feeling." It came out rather weird and rather rad (not a surprise). He can setup the rest:

HELLO WORLD.
KEEP'N IT UNREAL aims to bring you a mix for day-trips in your own backyard, fist-pumping like champs, pre-drinking for your niece's communion, and other dumb activities.

Jaded Hipster Choir is all about polarity. Mixing choral music with synth samples and minimal techno beats. PILL WEEKEND is Jaded Hipster Choir's FULL LENGTH, coming out in August. It'll be full of what-the-fuckery, featuring people talking about going to 7/11 to pick up apples, clarinet/flute arrangements, e.e.cummings, and syncopated bass lines, available from our BANDCAMP and on AMDISCS/OLDUGLYRECORDS on TAPE.

TRACKLIST:
YR LOVE IS MY DRUG - KE$HA
PLATH HEART - BRAIDS
IN RED (SECRET MOMMY REMIX) - AZEDA BOOTH
MOVE (METRONOMY REMIX) - CSS
THE HOLLY AND THE IVY - BENJAMIN BRITTEN
WELL (FILLED AND REFINED WITH SAND) - AZEDA BOOTH

Polarity indeed.

Sunday Love | Lalie's Game

2010-06-20T10:05:00.000-07:00

"that's a pure jangly guitar feeling with great female choirs"

Viking Dress – another band from France that I wish to know more about. Sound and vision is working too well here, my heart could burst (in slow-motion). Play it again, please.

Inspired. Rejuvenated. Good morning.

(via)

Brothers Was Taken

2010-06-19T18:27:00.000-07:00

Crashing tides in the moonlight, take me there Persona La Ave. I felt like doing nothing today, and your music understood that. Life is beautiful.

Recent love on SDS and NMB (and of course, Small Summits) has put this project from South Carolinian Dylan Dawkins on the mind. And now Brothers Was Taken puts it all in one splendid place, ending on the gorgeous towering swell of "D I V E" – a collaboration with Rachel of Kiss Kiss Fantastic (grab that EP too if you haven't yet).

Brothers Was Taken is here.

Audience

2010-06-19T16:05:00.000-07:00

Audience is from St. Louis and that's all we know. Both ambient tracks in existence march on the moon, looping droplets of guitar and drum to subtle victory. Symmetrically 3:24 a piece, "Opposite or Inverse" and "Eight System" have been circling my living room for about an hour now. Looking forward to more.

Grab em from bandcamp.

Friday Send-Off | Heaven's On Fire

2010-06-18T13:23:00.000-07:00

It seems I've been rendered frozen by an overflow of promise this week. Really, what a truly fortunate position to be in (and what an exciting time for music!). Hopefully the weekend brings some time to catch up. So this send-off is my own reminder. Playing in the new and obscure cycle is beyond fun and pretty damn addicting. But it will not keep this guy from loving the hell out of a full-scale achievement like Clinging to a Scheme.

(via // photo by Victoria)

Have fun. Be safe. Get weird.

Small Summits

2010-06-17T09:25:00.000-07:00

It's been fun to follow the behind the scenes of our friend The Road Goes Ever On's first ever exclusive mix. A tweet here, a btw there, it was clear this was growing to be something special. He unleashed Small Summits today, and the tumblr community is obviously going off right now, as are my ears. Ever generous pals Blackbird Blackbird and Teen Daze both chipped in, and that's just the start. And somehow Cameron managed to keep it at a modest 35 minutes. Well done.

Wednesday Love | La Reproduction

2010-06-16T15:15:00.000-07:00

I know very little about Arnaud Fleurent-Didier (France, forgive me) but I'm certainly intrigued by this song/video's catchiness/weirdness, and the man's general Gainsbourg-ness.

(via)

Airliner

2010-06-15T16:32:00.000-07:00

"It's been a busy two years. This is the product of me."

Airliner, the other side of New Jersey's one man jam factory (see: today's Com Truise post), just released the None LP. These drowsy beats echo a similar synth-hop longing but are less direct about it, landing somewhere in Bibio land. His bandcamp has it all, and I've been given the tough task of choosing one track to give away. Let's go with:

Airliner | Dienyddio

Komputer Cast Vol 2

2010-06-15T15:06:00.000-07:00

Com Truise is one fast, happening dude, running off some Shasta buzz of productivity (and there's more coming today). Here we have a new Komputer Cast of electric boogaloos parachuting off fighter jets from space. This is non-stop JAM. View tracklist (Gil! Scott! Heron!) and download here.

Interview | Blackbird Blackbird (plus "Float On")

2010-06-15T10:10:00.000-07:00

"Sometimes my songs are an experiment, the subject matter often being about the walls that separate what is real and unreal, but most of all they are about an experience in a particular place/situation or about an impactful moment in my life."

Blackbird Blackbird and I just had a solid chat and play.converse.com is hosting it. A video for his sparkly Modest Mouse cover also showed up this morning. Today is a good day.

Grab his latest track "Summer Heart" right here and Coolrunnings just remixed "Pure", which is over at their bandcamp.

The Social EP

2010-06-14T01:33:00.000-07:00

'On 2 July 2010, all four of these bands will come together for a one-off show at Central London venue The Social which will feature live visuals from video artist Jamie Harley.'

I'd give anything to be at that show. The Social EP is free via The Line Of Best Fit:

"Featuring two unheard tracks – Visions Of Trees reveal the hypnotic sub-tropical world of the ‘Black River’ plus ‘Volcanic Ash’, a charming paen to the recent events in Iceland from Prizes (formerly Treasure). There’s also a stripped bare ‘acoustic’ version of the Memoryhouse classic ‘Lately’ and the haunting ‘Suicide Dream 2′ from How To Dress Well."

Porcelain Raft

2010-06-12T16:49:00.001-07:00

London's Mauro Remiddi aka Porcelain Raft had floated outside my surveillance until the signs of "Despite Everything" arrived this morning (via). Wonderful then to find a wealth of tracks at his bandcamp, including recent Gone Blind EP, which has pretty much executed a day takeover. Vocally, Mauro flashes a Jónsi-esq tone, and atmospherically, he's in a foggy world all his own, built on feathered guitar loops and the metallic sheen of a keyboard/sampler. Opening set "Tip of Your Tongue" and "Gone Blind" stay fairly lighthearted in comparison to the darker second half, which simply crushes on "Talk To Me". Both moods suit him well.

Plenty more self-made clips at his YouTube channel. Dude is on fire.

Friday Send-Off | Born Stoked

2010-06-11T17:01:00.000-07:00

This one goes out to lil Nate Robinson. Go Celts!

Wet Illustrated's hyper refreshing San Francisco psych garage comes from The Fresh & Only’s Tim Cohen.

(via//via)

Have fun. Be safe. Get weird.

RxRy * | * SUPERSINGLE

2010-06-11T09:49:00.000-07:00

Caffeine slowly soaks into this Friday morning. It's drizzling here in Southern California (we never know what to do). Surely I'll snap into gear soon. But the blur is calming in its own way. And now has the aid of another dose from s&s' favorite surprise audio elixir, "recorded back in cold in February in frost in snow".

"Here is this new 'super-single.'

It is 3 tracks rolled into one big stretch
a yawn:
a morning drive.
wake up to birds
enter vehicle exit
walk into buildings
past trees
that sing.”

I am blue bolt on the agua; searching for midnight jolts. Scaring you from sleep. The guts that never gave up."

Rx. Ry.

No Pain In Pop is hosting the 15 minutes.

Com Truise | Cynanide Sisters EP

2010-06-10T11:18:00.000-07:00

Just last week, Com Truise's Komputer Cast bumped heavily in from 1985 and now we have an equally pulsing (and equally free) EP to sit with. Like any proper release should when following a teaser mix, Cyanide Sisters pays off on the general back to the future vibe of Komputer while unleashing the full brand of original Com Truiseness. Grab it here, then take your babe to the arcade in a convertible.

(thanks for the tip, JHC)

Thursday Love | You

2010-06-10T02:02:00.000-07:00

You. Me.

Gold Panda

(via WWWidoWWW) <<< the BUTTERxFACE girls are back!

Real Life Color

2010-06-09T11:58:00.000-07:00

Boston's Magic Man has somewhat quietly given away one of the warmest releases of the year. They're in good company on Arcade Sound Ltd and for whatever reason, hadn't commanded as much of my personal air time as their friends until recently. Real Life Color travels, sometimes in passing clouds ("South Dakota", "Layers"), other times to places more tangible ("Monster", "Darling [Reprise]). Blurb has it, this duo wrote and recorded most of this during a summer in the French countryside. Lovely. Grab here and don't accidentally overlook it like I did.

RxRy * | * Thunder / Language

2010-06-09T11:26:00.000-07:00

"Hello:

the wind is blowing through my window
through the fan perched on the sill
spinning the blades by themselves.

here is a new song. written and recorded during a low and rumble

thundery storm night.

cloud language.

this song won't be on "VAEIOUWLS"

an extra treat.

best
_Rx"

*Thunder / Language*

Catch Pool EP

2010-06-08T11:04:00.000-07:00

This free EP from Knoxville, Tennessee's Sean Bowie aka Teams floated in via NMB yesterday and has since made serious laps (it's fun when we all get excited simultaneously). Catch Pool is a fairly ambient 15 minutes with a lot of range. I especially dig the shamanic chants on "dominika" and how they crash up against this bright fluttering beat about mid way through. Cue the angel battle scene. Grab it at his bandcamp.

Neon Indian @ Detroit Bar [Costa Mesa, CA; 06/03/10]

2010-06-07T18:27:00.000-07:00

It was a real treat to see Alan Palomo and co bring Neon Indian to full color last Thursday night. Detroit Bar filled up like you'd expect. 'Special Guest' Class Actress pulled us closer within a few songs – a nice vibe to start on.

The first sight of Palomo raised room temperature significantly. At this point, his assembled touring band (synth, drums, guitar) operates in stride like they were present when all these tracks were born. It's been interesting to watch 09's glo-class take it to the road. What Neon Indian has done with Psychic Chasms should be considered a success. The album benefits from live reconstruction, and Palomo makes a smooth frontman. I was most into seeing "Local Joke" after their exceptional Daytrotter session, and sure enough they opened with it. Tie-dye projections cut with a sporadic lasers gave reason to keep our eyes open, even when terminally chill (that and a nifty flashing guitar).

He explained that the last song would be from VEGA (his other project) – quite the 'retro-futuristic' jam. He also noted how stoked he is for new material and about the video for "Sleep Paralysist" that debuted earlier that day (below).

Nate's Summer Mix 2010

2010-06-07T08:48:00.000-07:00

Our occasional contributor, Nate LC, first mediafired up my world last summer. The heat had been forwarded over on a 'you'd dig this mix' tip. After reading Nate's positive message and hearing his labored sequence, I thought this package deserved an audience beyond those fortunate Cc'ed. Nine mixes later, we're back where it all began. His words:

"Every summer needs a soundtrack. More transportive than pictures and more visceral than diary entries, songs bring you back to those hot days at the beach long after your tan has faded. However, these songs can’t do it on their own. Right now this is just arbitrary collection of good-feelin'-summer jams, no memories included. In order for this to become The Soundtrack to Your Unforgettable Summer you need to go out and start having a summer worth remembering. Though this mix isn’t guaranteed to inspire fun, it’s at least guaranteed to enhance it. So take this mix to the beach house, the lake house, the campsite, the car ride, anywhere you go this mix should be your carry on. Then months from now you’ll hear one of these songs and think that reminds of that time, last summer, when we…"

View the hit-fest here.

And make sure to grab yvynyl's latest and NMB's loaded effort as well. You'll have it covered.

Friday Send-Off | Whirlwind

2010-06-04T09:45:00.000-07:00

Yup. It's all in there. Death In Plains has a bandcamp, and it's all very much in there too.

(via)

Have fun. Be safe. Get weird.

Quick | o0Oo0Oo

2010-06-03T14:51:00.000-07:00

Love is raining down on Oberhofer; some real storybook magic happening here, and fast. You gotta feel happy for this weird virtuoso (who was born in the 90s). Grab the o0Oo0Oo EP here. It's rad.

(this 6/3 post had tech difficulties, but is now back up!)

Com Truise

2010-06-02T11:20:00.000-07:00

OK, there's an S&S soft spot for good n' weird mixes and of course, dope celeb powerplays. AMDISCS (who are also giving away that nice Pears LP I've been meaning to love) tipped to both the digital wonder of Jersey's Com Truise and this Komputer Cast 1 that hypes his forthcoming album (and fills a morning nicely). Check the wild tracklist, and grab here.

Tuesday Love | I'm Leaving Everywhere

2010-06-01T12:12:00.000-07:00

(via gvb)

Somewhat related, I cruised to Sides of Chaz over the holiday and damn does Chazwick seem like the nicest dude around, with a real wealth of talent. He simply cannot be put in one box. "Goodbye Raven" forever.

Let's Move On Together

2010-05-31T22:25:00.000-07:00

In between memorializing activities this weekend, I was checking my phone (like we do) and saw that San Francisco purveyor of bliss, Blackbird Blackbird (formerly known as Bye Bye Blackbird) released the Let's Move On Together EP. Like the last Happy High, it's seven minutes in heaven (okay, eight), and also freely bandcamped. Mikey S explains the EP will double in size on a vinyl later this season. Go get it, then get horizontal.

(via)

Is This On Me?

2010-05-29T14:10:00.000-07:00

Ben Sifel nails another.

Friday Send-Off | Summer Majestic

2010-05-28T02:14:00.000-07:00

Well Jamie Harley (via Delicious Scopitone) just ended my search for the big FSO.
More brilliance. This time for His Clancyness.

Have fun. Be Safe. Get weird.

WOOM

2010-05-28T00:09:00.000-07:00

A charming music box called Muu's Way showed up last night with understated grace. This wasn't blogwave seduction, it was old fashioned 'may-I-have-this-dance'. There's an honesty and patience to these songs (at times recalling Panda Bear's Young Prayer) built with scarce, strange tools. All softened by the smiles of Sara Magenheimer.

Oakland's WOOM have a lovely debut here, one likely to grow by the hour.

Two tracks are allowed to linger before June 28th and both are active standouts, so grab "The Hunt" and "Quetzalcoatl's Hip", here. This is the launch of Muu's Way:

And if I can't find time to give Friday a proper Send-Off, may this WOOM-related slow dance moment provide the right message.

Quick | Elite Gymnastics

2010-05-26T16:24:00.000-07:00

A heap of jams blazed through this month. Sometimes it takes a play count to tell you which ones are sticking around. The four tracks on Real Friends are. If these wildly varied grooves are yet to roam about your rotation, go to Psychedelic Surf Club and set em' free.

(first seen on Ice Cream Dreams, who now has a tumblr).

RxRy * | * visual sequence

2010-05-25T18:57:00.000-07:00

RxRy entered my mind for the first time in too long last week while running to the end of a pier. I'd never tested his 'auditory passcodes to an unknown dimension' during such an activity, and it actually synced up a perfect escape – eyes open just wide enough to see but not decipher or care, while windblown seagull cries seeped into beat.

So our still-blurry friend just blasted a set of videos from his forthcoming VAEIOUWLS LP. The first experience is "EUUIO (latch crescent tide saw)", followed by "AAIEI" above. Signed:

congruent triangles
and cloud patterns

more soon
best
_Rx

Here are the two from GOTC: "AAIEI" and "EIIOA (flint rasp export defect)"

Update: A third video has been added to the sequence, "UUAII (root lapse portrait soil)":

more triangles
and microuniverse sheets of rainbow

Cosmic Sound

2010-05-25T12:04:00.000-07:00

When he's not a Ghost Mountain man, Houston's Stephen Farris creates Cosmic Sound using old school analog synths and VHS tape samples. That science applies to his visuals as well. Fitting then that an EP called VHS vision will land soon. UPDATE: here it is. And now, "Bear Auras":

Monster Rally

2010-05-24T11:03:00.000-07:00

Easing into this Monday for sure. And it doesn't get any easier than an instrumental depiction of the image above, for free (bandcamp). This short EP is a flashback to the Hawaiian vacation I've never taken. Destined to loop.

(via yvynl)

Police Academy 6

2010-05-21T21:18:00.000-07:00

Couldn't resist the click. A funny myspace says Police Academy 6 is "a six piece all female lesbian jazz-funk group active in the 70s", hot n fresh out the kitchen from Iraq, which might not be accurate (but is great, and maybe the fresh part is true with 0 friends and 56 views at the moment). From there we grab a little self titled zip. And things get interesting.

It opens briefly on "Nostalgia", a watered down theme from what has to be some old TV show (tell me if you get it). Onward we get distant and subdued until "Run" and through "Apollo" where all shifts beneath the shaking floor of a club spinning disco era Arthur Russell. Wild stuff.

He just sent another and this one's a jam, up close: "gettin down"

Mixtape | RANDOM RAINBOW Volume 2

2010-05-21T00:08:00.000-07:00

The first compilation (or optical and meteorological phenomenon) appeared after a 'stress storm', and this case is no different, albeit less random. The tracks themselves have accumulated over the past few weeks like shimmering specs of gold in the rapids of our blogosphere. Some picked up along the way from friends, and others generously straight from the source. And it's with my utmost excitement that RANDOM RAINBOW can debut a new track from Teen Daze, which he tells us was recorded the rainy morning following our chat. The thought of him doing that has me completely glowing. Alongside "Hard Times/Good Times" (that's a lone mp3 for you gold rushers) are fellow red hot Canadian dreamers Blue Hawaii, Kumon Plaza, Foxes in Fiction, NEON CANYON, and Lester Brown (in a collaboration with MICKEY MICKEY ROURKE). And the equally prismed rest are from all over: Barcelona, Belgium, and of course Dom's sexy America.

♦RANDOM RAINBOW♦

View tracklist here.

Real Love,
Sutton

Phantogram @ The Bowery Ballroom [NYC; 05/19/10]

2010-05-20T16:30:00.000-07:00

Busy week here for our New Yorker but like she said, how can you really pass up an invite to this one? Phantogram had my ears pretty excited back in November, and Victoria confirmed that the band is just as easy on the eyes, and super gracious to boot.

"And they were clearly excited to be playing to a sold-out crowd. 'We're a very young band and from the bottom of our hearts, we're just so glad you're here,' said Josh as their show neared to a close. With a big smile on her face, Sarah whipped out her iPhone and proceeded to take a photo of the crowd before walking off stage."

(BrooklynVegan)

RADAR FICTION

2010-05-20T14:52:00.000-07:00

As recent posts would suggest, I've been all up in the clouds, riding a blissed-out missile of chill. And you know, eventually that thing needs to make contact. Even if we catch those currents again as soon as later today (likely), the past hour called for a straight fuming of rock and roll. Brooklyn's RADAR FICTION had it.

RADAR FICTION EP (2010)

Singer Mick Vonn will be the deal breaker here. He knows it, and he doesn't give a shit. Vocally (and at times lyrically) he can be abrasive, but hits that up-front, punk rawness we usually look back in our collections for (Iggy Pop, The Modern Lovers, Television, etc). These are their first recordings, and fearless ones at that. They've played a few local shows (Union Pool, Arlene's Grocery, Public Assembly, Knitting Factory). So keep em' on your radar.

Thursday Love | "Time"

2010-05-20T11:50:00.000-07:00

That floored me, Jamie!

(via)

Lonely Galaxy looks to be a gripping frontier. Grab "Time" and equally powerful "Have a Heart", plus an Active Child remix of the latter, here.

Wednesday Love | Baths

2010-05-18T22:31:00.000-07:00

This feels a bit meta with the fluid month Baths is having, but wow. My love for this album is so heavy, I must make sure, for good measure, that if you haven't yet taken the wonderful advice of our via lovers (yvynyl, Delicious Scopitone, The Road Goes Ever On, etc) or from P4K, that you consider mine as well: anticipate Cerulean with a passion. Grab "Halls" and "Maximalist", watch "STUPOR" for some context, seek the leaks if you'd like, and know that the mastered copy arriving July 6th is worth the wait. Will Wisienfeld is one very talented dude. I don't even know where to begin.

Twin Sister @ Open Road Rooftop [NYC; 05/14/10]

2010-05-17T22:39:00.000-07:00

Our favorite breakout act of the year graced the top of New Design High School last Friday to mark the start of event season for Rooftop Films. Victoria was there (lucky!) and per usual, came home with a lovely evening on memory card:

And now I'd like to once again watch that video yvynyl put together. All around and away we go:

Blue Hawaii

2010-05-16T15:42:00.000-07:00

Blooming Summer came and lifted this cloudy Sunday thanks to a tweet-lead from brother GOBBLE GOBBLE. Montreal's Blue Hawaii describe their sound as "beach storm & morning after" and that fits, as does the airy artwork. This debut LP roams around freely with digital drums ricocheting off celestial vocals like jj with suntans and bigger smiles. "Dream Electrixra" and "Blue Gowns" are destined for mixtape love (I'm gonna get on that). Arbutus Records has the the full and free download.

Blue Hawaii | Blooming Summer

They recently stripped down "Castle Of Clouds" for nomag and prefaced it with:

“At the beginning, this song was an upbeat computer song, with midi sounds. [...] It was originally super dancy, and we took it apart, and it became really ambient and slow. [...] We went to Guatemala for two months together, and we got samples of kids playing soccer and fireworks, and we put tons of reverb and delay on those, and compressed the whole song. Yesterday, we got excited that “Felix wants us to do this acoustic thing!” so we came up with this arrangement.”

TOP GIRLS

2010-05-15T13:23:00.001-07:00

Faintly humming across waves of distortion, this South Carolina project brings to mind moans of the great southern gazer himself, Bradford Cox. For now, these two tracks are a solitary glimpse into the mellow souled water world of TOP GIRLS.

"Not Enuff" and "Face It" from Attraction EP

Opening an email entitled TOP GIRLS at 3AM was worth the gamble. Add with the new RxRy gems Get Off The Coast just posted and have yourself a faded one.

Friday Send-Off | "Let Your Hair Grow"

2010-05-14T07:32:00.000-07:00

Lester Brown | Inslomania EP (2010)

A tiny, unassuming fish called Inslomania has been waiting in my iTunes (iTank?) for over two weeks, straight chilling. Lester Brown sent him over with kind words. He also pointed me towards the energy of friend/collaborator MICKEY MICKEY ROURKE, which, as previously noted, was pretty serendipitous. And like that occurrence, there's something about today's lack of sleep and this patient EP that feels exactly right (the video helps, made by Life Aquatic, and via). There's an isolated, almost murky vibe beneath the liquid feel goods here. Lester's vocals seem just a bit out of frame at all times, like he's singing from an off-screen shower or something.

Tuesday Love

2010-05-10T23:47:00.000-07:00

Love for Beach Fossils is in draft mode right now as I collect summer 2010 magic (somehow before it strikes) for the other night job (that one powered by Chuck Taylor), but this clip just had too much ♥, it couldn't wait.

Friday Send-Off | "Aquarium"

2010-05-07T08:38:00.000-07:00

Cyberspace rays struck down perfectly upon this Friday morning when Jamie Long passed along "Aquarium" w/video, as if knowing I was in search of a Send-Off. I see now Jheri had similar fortune, so he gets a [via] here.

Life Of Dreams will land later this year. Until then, here's a bundle of free floaters from his myspace, plus the new one above.

Make this weekend glow. Have fun. Be safe. Get weird.