Better Than Sex

MOVE 'EM ON OUT

2010-01-01T14:33:00.004-05:00

New digs for 2010! Escape from the drudgery of the mortal coil (blogspot) and ascend into a Heaven free of sin (tumblr). Please update your bookmarks! Cheers, m8s!

http://betterthansexblog.tumblr.com
http://betterthansexblog.tumblr.com
http://betterthansexblog.tumblr.com

WE'RE READY

2009-12-31T02:05:00.003-05:00

VHS WEED MONSTERS

2009-12-28T16:18:00.008-05:00

FUCK I'm retarded, I posted the MP3 a ways back but I totally forgot to blog about Olde English Spelling Bee releasing Grippers Nother Onesers (At Slimer Beach) on vinyl. Basically this is the Lamborghini Crystal cassette 1992 Cool Runnings Holiday, only...it's on vinyl, man. Anything Ferraro-related is gold, so don't pass this one up.

FIBBERS

2009-12-26T15:18:00.000-05:00

keyBORE's name came from a typo and their existence is fragile because they are all so busy with other things; Laura (keys and noise) is in Internet Forever, David (bass) is in Ice Sea Dead People, and Vicki (drums) and Rita (drums and vocals) are both busy working and studying. But when they do manage to come together to make music what results varies between explosive, catchy, repetitive pop songs with dance beats and dark drone with ethereal shrieks. Think early Liars crossed with Foot Village.

In 2010 they plan to record some more songs and release a tape. The track we have for you to download was inspired by the time they had to sit through a two hour Mars Volta set.

MP3:
There Is No Such Thing As A Comatorium (Live)

BUY ME BONESTORM OR GO TO HELL!

2009-12-23T09:31:00.001-05:00

See you in a few days.

MP3s:
Julia Shamas Holter - Neighbor Neighbor
The Aislers Set - Christmas Song
Jim Jones - Ballin' On Xmas
Shonen Knife - Space Christmas
Kania Tieffer - Christmas Song
Dum Dum Girls + Crocodiles - Merry Christmas Baby (Please Don't Die)
P.R.O.B.L.E.M.S. - I Came Here To Die

OWL HAVE SOME'A THAT!

2009-12-22T07:49:00.001-05:00

Woke up this morning with triangle stigmata; knew it was an Okkvlt Day for sure. Grab ya boards, snow never stopped skate witches. "Skate Or Die"....why not both? Dead Celeb Year, there are no more celebrities left and next year it's our turn to die forever (nobody stops being dead) and I hope nobody comes to my funeral and then before they fill in the grave a car full of drunk horny teens drives by and one chucks an empty Bud bottle out the window and it lands on my coffin with a 'clunk' as hollow as my life.

MP3s:
Grippers Nother Onesers - Overjuiced Suicidal Leather Cupid
Lichens - Live @ Miroiterie, Paris
Matteah Baim - Death Of The Sun
Xela - I Drowned Her In A Dreamless Sleep
Knit Witch - Owl Hour

SUBJECT LINE SAYS

2009-12-17T09:59:00.002-05:00

I'm really really tired so I'll make this brief. This is A BAND called The Horn The Hunt. They are from Leeds and they make catchy and eclectic electro which sounds like a cross between CocoRosie, early The Knife, and Bjork. It's intriguing, beautiful and just a pleasure to listen to.

MP3s:
Hit And Run
The Old Hunting Ground

Their debut album is available on their website. Get it.

CLASSIC SOUNDS #1: AZALIA SNAIL

2009-12-16T07:23:00.006-05:00

There's a lot of really fantastic artists that I feel a lot of people miss out on, so I think occasionally I'll write about something that you should know about that maybe you don't. My first submission is someone I've been listening to a lot lately, the magnificent Azalia Snail. Dubbed 'the Queen of Lo-Fi', Snail has released a bunch of albums since 1990 (all excellent) but her first three remain my favorites. 1990's Snailbate could kick the ass of any chilled-out beach jams released today, and 1992's Burnt Sienna packs a noisier aesthetic and avantgarde/psychedelic leanings, at turns hazy, soothing, chaotic and violent. Her 1993 album Fumarole Rising takes the idea of indie pop and chops it up into a collage of cosmic vocals, trumpets, and distortion. Later albums would see her making the shift toward more structure, but with panache nevertheless. Earlier this year she played Cake Shop in Manhattan, and it was awesome. She'll be touring New Zealand in 2010, marking the first time ever that anyone has been jealous of New Zealanders.

For fans of: Metallic Falcons, Julia Shamas Holter, Best Coast, Marnie Stern, Grass Widow

MP3s:

Flight #520
Anywhere Is Here
They Are Like The Sea
Chinese Horse Torture
You Belong To You

*with apologies to my m8s at Einstein Music Blog. :3

BLACK CELEBRATION

2009-12-15T03:02:00.003-05:00

In his guest post for Pitchfork's Best Of 2009 list, Pictureplane's Travis Egedy mentioned the term 'Witch House' in regards to the dark music that's been so popular this year. I love the term, and while this reactionary compilation of ghost music may not be exactly what Travis had in mind, I feel it's in the same 'spirit' AHAHAHA fuck my life, folks.

Featuring 40 tracks from artists like The Skaters, Modern Witch, Tearist, SALEM, Haunted Fucking, Terror Bird, Gary War, Zola Jesus, and Metallic Falcons, this is the perfect sound for trve okkvlt ritvals.

DOWNLOAD: KID SPORTSWEAR - WITCH HΔVS

GD STF

2009-12-14T07:32:00.000-05:00

My friend Rich hooked me up with some stuff by a Brooklyn boy-girl group making fuzzed-out rap-tinged electro. Nope, not Sleigh Bells, these guys predate them but you can't always catch everything when it first hits. MKNG FRNDZ may not have the pop pizazz that those dudes have, but they do deliver a healthy dose of slammin' lo-fi queercore. FUN FACT! The guy is named Daniel, which is my name, and he was interviewed by BUTT Magazine, which I never was. I have a lot of things to say about butts.....

MP3s:
Don't Make Me Cry
Reject Me
Sexual Forestz

YEAR'S BEST FINALE!!!

2009-12-13T01:15:00.002-05:00

This is it, the final nine best albums of the year. I realize some of you might not agree with this (I want to hear that FEEDBACK, by the way!) and maybe you'll be confused. "Ruddy heck, bruv" you'll say in your thick Bristol accent, "What's this rubbish? Time to kill myself, to fucking die." But I'm here to tell you now....death is not the end.

9.

V.A. - My Estrogeneration
I wanted to include one compilation on here, and before this was released it was going to be the excellent World's Lousy With Ideas Vol. 8 (featuring the best Vivian Girls song EVER) but this album....it's as though the Not Not Fun peeps got together and said, "Hmm, well the year's almost over. Might as well create what is basically Daniel's idea of the perfect compilation." Featuring Zola Jesus at her poppiest (not very), Tickley Feather at her LEAST poppiest, an awesome collaboration between Islaja, Blevin Blectum and Samara Lubelski, my favorite Indian dronesters Pocahaunted, and the always gorgeous U.S. Girls (as well as six more ladies, two of whom also appear on my Best Of list!) this has become THE sampler for me to hand to people when they inevitably ask, "So, what are you into?"

MP3:
Islaja feat. Samara Lubelski and Blevin Blectum - Junipero Mash

8.

Finally Punk - Casual Goths
This Texas quartet were introduced to me as 'a sloppy teenage Scissor Girls', which is one phrase guaranteed to make me cream my jorts. The one release I was able to get ahold of impressed the hell out of me, and I spent many an afternoon bouncing around to the No Wavey riot grrrl of 'Missile' and 'Boyfriend Application'. This is their first real LP, collecting all their previous releases (some re-recorded) and a few new ones. Think of this as the anti-Grizzly Bear, an antidote to pleasant, button-down indie.

MP3:
Manatee

7.

Julianna Barwick - Florine
Generally I'm not a huge fan of 'lighter' music, but since hearing the ethereal, loop-based chants of last year's Sanguine, I've been hooked on Barwick. I'm glad I overlooked the initial comparisons like Cocteau Twins, as I'm not really fond of annoying baby coos (yes I know but I'm only partial to their first album so PEEVE OFF SUCKAS) but this transcends anything like that. Layers of warm sound embrace you as Barwick's rich voice builds on itself, until you're wrapped in a heavenly cocoon. Singular in its beauty, Florine is one of the most rewarding things you'll ever hear.

MP3:
Bode

6.

The Lava Children - ST
Uh yeah I am including an EP in my Year's Best list; not just albums for me, I'm a guy who's not afraid to buck trends. Basically me = brave + cool strong dude. I first heard these guys in a record store and I was like, "Hey, clerk guy! Hit me up with the 411 on this fresh sound" because I'm cool like I said. I was surprised to hear that they were so new; I assumed this was some brilliant '60s psychedelic garage band that had thus far flew under my radar. Equal parts bleached trippiness and artsy pop, this is the sort of debut record you feel equal parts trepidation and excitement about....they can't possibly produce a new full-length as good as this....but holy cow....what if they do??

MP3:
I Am A Pony

5.

Matt & Kim - Grand
If you're one of the dozens of pompous Brooklynites I know who talked trash about Matt & Kim appearing at the MTV movie awards, then get murdered. I'm pumped as HELL that these guys are getting big; I can't think of anyone who deserves it more. Not only are they the nicest people you'll ever meet, they've also crafted one of the best pop-punk albums of all time. One listen will tell you why they're always smiling: if you had the soundtrack to Endless Summer playing through your brain, you would be too. Grand is pure sunshine, anthemic in its evocations of hot days spent bouncing around at McCarren Pool. Break out the cut-offs and flip-flops.

MP3:
Lessons Learned

4.

HEALTH - Get Color
I think I'm allowed one 'obvious' pick, and I can't think of a better one than Get Color. After hearing the new material live, I'd been craving recorded versions but worried the energy might not translate. Turns out I'm fucking stupid as HECK because the energy here is off the charts. Not only that, but their maturity and advancement in style is remarkable. HEALTH has always been one of those bands that are way better live or remixed, but I've played every track on this album about a million times (possible exaggeration) and every time I hear them I want to slamdance. I'm pretty certain the band listened to a ton of post-punk before recording, because there's massive echos of PiL, Sonic Youth, and early Wolfgang Press here. HEALTH have created a modern classic of noise-influenced rock that, 20 years from now, is sure to be sought after as much as those of their influences.

MP3:
In Heat

3.

Mika Miko - We Be Xuxa
Don't everyone smack themselves in the head and go 'DUHHHHH' all at once now. We Be Xuxa is one of the best modern punk records ever, which makes it even more depressing that Mika Miko are breaking up at the end of the year. In a perfect world, I am in the front row of that final show, bopping, jumping and getting covered in sweat while telephones fly through the air and sneakers get trashed. Final song ends, I get shot in the head. Optimal Death. Since that seems unlikely, I'll just spin this record on repeat, blaze one up, chug a beer, and shed one perfect gay tear for the funnest punk group I've had the pleasure to see.

MP3:
Totion

2.

Micachu & The Shapes - Jewellery
Every time I read a Best Of 2009 list and it doesn't include this album, I point and laugh. If someone's with me, I turn and nudge them while I point and go 'Holy crap look at this babby who never developed proper ears and brains" and I'm right. Jewellery was released at the beginning of the year, and since then it's been my go-to album when I want to prove that pop CAN be art. Taking cues from musique concrete, post-punk and noise rock, Mica Levi & Co. have managed to combine traditionally obscure or oblique ideas into something wonderfully innovative, fresh, and above all catchy. That's the beauty of Jewellery: it's not about the past or the future, it's about the moment we're in NOW. It's a celebration of noise and beauty and passion and I can't get enough of it.

MP3:
Vulture

1.

Broadcast & The Focus Group - Investigate Witch Cults of the Radio Age
Because FUCKING LISTEN TO IT. This is the pure essence of Okkvlt Music, magic psychedelia that entrances you and delights and scares and fills your very soul. I play it over and over, wear it like a cloak of entropic rainbows, tattoo FUCK THE BEATLES on my thigh, monster sweaty drug party in a skull the size of Madison Square Garden where my butt + balls are stuffed with rocks until I die and am reborn without original sin (this does not imply being Jesus but rather being the Virgin Mary; look it up) and then I give birth to this album.

MP3:
The Be Colony

Honorable Mentions:
Strip Mall Seizures - The Secret To Financial Freedom
Gay Against You - Righteous Signals, Sour Dudes
Vivian Girls - Everything Goes Wrong
AIDS Wolf - Dustin' Off The Sphynx
Christmas Island - Blackout Summer
Gentle Friendly - Ride Slow
DAT Politics - Mad Kit
Bat For Lashes - Two Suns
OOIOO - ARMONICO HEWA
Tickley Feather - Hors D'oeuvres
Girls - ST
T.I.T.S. - Second Base
Pre - Hope Freaks
Wavves - Wavvves
Yacht - See Mystery Lights
Wet Hair - Dream
Raccoo-oo-oon - ST
Tune-Yards - Bird Brains
Drug Rug - Paint The Fence Invisible
Zola Jesus - The Spoils
PENS - Hey Friend! What You Doing?

АЛИЕН ЮНКЯРД МУСИЦ

2009-12-08T00:28:00.003-05:00

Sometimes a band contacts me online and it takes about two seconds for me to decide that I love them. Such is the case with Asian Woman On The Telephone, a Moscow-based art/noise group with a passion for homemade costumes and angular sonic meanderings. Looking like junkyard aliens, the quartet rattle and scrape and squawk about stage, delivering snippets of vocals possibly at random. As someone whose grasp of Russian is limited to a few cusses and basic nouns, I can't even tell if it's gibberish or prophecy. All I know is, it's one hell of a captivating experience.

MP3s:
That Very Bass
Young Cutting Teeth

AWOTT have a new album coming out in January on Warded Halls. Get it, and check out their blog for some more awesome videos as well!

YEAR'S FINEST II

2009-12-07T04:17:00.009-05:00

And so we continue with the countdown. Part III (3!) will be coming later this week; I want at least a brief window in the event that something godly gets released in the next few days. As always, ////FEEDBACK//// is appreciated and helps give me incentive to keep this blog going.

15.

Inca Ore - Silver Sea Surfer School
While last year's Birthday Of Bless You was deliciously dreary and terrifying, I got a lot more joy echoes from Eva Saelens’ latest LP, although it's the sort of joy that comes from wading in pools of thick, syrupy distortion and distant, haunting drone-voices. 'Ruff Ridin' is a perfect example of this, a ballad for dead TV cowboys trapped in a world of reruns and bad reception.

MP3:
Ruff Ridin'

14.

Sun Araw - Heavy Deeds
Heavy Deeds is the tripout album of 2k9. The freaked-put guitar notes soak into your brain like thick, weed-soaked syrup, dub-drone waves of sound washing over you as congealed vocals filter into your ears in bits and pieces. Is it the kind of thing you want to listen to all the time? Of course not. But at certain moments, it's the only thing you can listen to.

MP3:
Heavy Deeds

13.

Talk Normal - Sugarland
Talk Normal is the best band in Brooklyn right now. No question. Their deft wrangling of post-punk and early industrial sounds along with almost beat-poet lyrical styles is an instant attention-grabber, and in the short time it's been released, this LP (their first!) has become one of my favorite experimental albums. Put this proudly next to your Monte Cazazza and Throbbing Gristle.

MP3:
In A Strangeland

12.

Kap Bambino - Blacklist
Though the duo suffer comparisons to Crystal Castles, Kap Bambino are much, much better. For example, they aren't complete douchebags. They're capable of putting on a really, really good show. And their music actually has substance; while you get the expected killer synthpunk thrashers like 'Red Sign' and 'Human Piles', there's also the sweet '80s French new wave influence of 'Rezo Zero' and drippy death-punk synthlines of 'Batcaves'. These dudes have pure style, they're super friendly and real, and live, they're one of the most intense shows you'll ever see. So they next time someone compares the two, slap 'em in the head with a copy of Blacklist.

MP3:
Dead Lazers

11.

Foot Village - Anti-Magic
Listen to this phrase: 'Tribal drumcircle noise punk with megaphones.' If your ween0r / her-hole didn't just spasm a little bit, well I just don't know what to do with you. Foot Village make the kind of music that's going to be topping the charts after the apocalypse. We're all going to be wearing one retarded football shoulder pad and have chunks of our head shaved and we'll turn on our nuclear-steam powered radios and this will come out. "Here's a long distance dedication from the Thunderdome in Neo-Cincinnati. Please play Foot Village's 'National Jamthum' for my dead gay shoehead baby. Agghhpphht" - mutated Casey Kasem's stomach mouth. Anti-Magic ends with a 14 minute mashup featuring like every good underground band ever (I.E., AIDS Wolf, Nero's Day At Disneyland, T.I.T.S. + one thousand more.) Appears under Wikipedia's entry for 'F'in sweet, bro' {{citation needed}}

MP3:
Take

10.

These Are Powers - All Aboard Future
One of the things that makes these guys so exciting is how much they evolve with each album. They gave us walls of art-rock noise, and that's cool but bitches gotta step that shit UP. These Are Powers prove themselves equal to the task; this new album is like a cross between 23 Skidoo and some of the more danceable stuff from Liars, with a hefty dose of sinister sound experimentation and just a dash of Spanish influence (mamba? samba? la bamba? ay caramba!) After seeing the video for 'Candyman', you'll no longer doubt that this is just another noise rock group. These Are Powers have surpassed their origins; can't wait to see where they go from here.

MP3:
Adam's Turtle

SUNDAY BLOODY SUNDAY

2009-12-06T16:27:00.004-05:00

Quick Sunday update because I had to post this rad vid that Brian from Foot Village just showed me. It's from their awesome new album Anti-Magic, obvs, and it's one of my favorite tracks. Have a good Sunday!

MAGNETIC ATTRACTION

2009-12-05T19:34:00.015-05:00

When I first saw Trash Kit it was the rhythms that got to me. The almost Zach Hill-esque drums coupled with the catchy guitar riffs made everybody dance. They made me think of Afrirampo, New Bloods and Marnie Stern. I'm pretty sure I grinned all the way through their set because I was so excited that a band like this existed in my city.

Since then Ros (aka Ray Rumours, who used to be in Lesbo Pig, Battys and Electrelane) joined and my feelings for them grew even stronger. Next time I see them I am going to ask them all to marry me. They can all come live in my single room; we can listen to Y Pants all day and paint each other's faces.

Their album will be out on Upset The Rhythm next year but until then enjoy these mp3s.

MP3s:

Cadets

Fame!!

MAGIC SHADES

2009-12-05T02:11:00.003-05:00

I hate winter. I fucking hate it. I love Christmas, though, but I can't really abide temperatures under 50 degrees. "Move to LA and get a boob job, Tit Man. Combine your love of breats with your mistrust of insects and get monster jugs filled with bugs." Sweet idea, m8, but there's one problem: I also hate driving, so a place without a decent public transport system is yucky for me. Instead I'll just keep cranking out the summer-themed compilations, all hazy and nostalgic and just a bit dark. Okkvlt for life, rad as heck druid death awaits me.

Download Kid Sportswear - Okkvlt Svmmer mini-mix!
Featuring:
De Rol Le'
Time For Dreams
Active Child
Pina Chulada
Feathers
Class Actress
Speculator
Memoryhouse
oOoOO
Sports Hit Paradise
Matrix Metals

Oh, and I don't usually ask for comments because that's not why I do this, but I would love it if ya'll could chime in on part one of my 2009 Best Of post. Agree, disagree, death threat, whatevs. Say a Thing.

I AM PROVEN A LIAR ONCE AGAIN

2009-12-04T04:37:00.002-05:00

Okay okay, I guess I AM doing a Year's Best list after all, but I'm doing it a bit different. Yes, I loved the albums from The XX/Fever Ray/Animal Collective/Atlas Sound/Neon Indian/The Smith Westerns/insert hyped indie band here, but what blog ISN'T mentioning them. *yells from the back of the classroom*: BOOOOORRRIIINNGGGGGG. This is the other Year's Best list, the one those fat cats in Washington don't want you to see. These dudes and dudettes may not get as much notice as some of the bigger bros, but every album on this list has been spinning like crazy at my crib since I got it. Here's part one; gonna finish writing part two when I'm less busy.

30.

Samara Lubelski - Future Slip
Samara's beautiful indie-folk has always seemed a bit other-worldly to me; everything seems ever so slightly off in some way when you listen to it, and Future Slip cranks up the spacey drips to bring you into a realm of the chillest acid trip you ever had.

MP3:
The Trip Is Out

29.

Lemonade - ST
I don't get why Lemonade was on and off the blogosphere so quickly; for such a young band, they've released an astonishing debut. These Bay Area boys-turned-Brooklynites mix elements of tropicalia, deep house, and wailing post-punk into a sonic delight.

MP3:
Sunchips

28.

Circuit Des Yeux - Sirenum
Last year's Symphone LP was quite good, but Haley Fohr's sophomore release is truly haunting. All rattles and clangs and metallic scrapes floating in the ether of Haley's distorted vocals. Monstrous sounds for sick humans.

MP3:
Binding Feet

27.

Heathers - Here, Not There
Heathers is two Irish sisters packing an acoustic guitars and fast-paced vocal harmonies. Kind of a Tegan & Sara-ish vibe, if Tegan & Sara were really really enjoyable. Listening to this makes me think of sweethearts and sunshine with a touch of melancholy; a really gorgeous album.

MP3:
Slices of Panama

26.

Hecuba - Paradise
I've heard them described as 'LA's Gang Gang Dance', and while that's not accurate at all, this boy-girl dou are quickly becoming renowned for their amazing live shows. Paradise captures a hunk of that live essence, straddling the line between outright weirdness and smart pop hooks. Not just art music, but smart music.

MP3:
Even So

25.

Gay Beast - Second Wave
There's a lot of No Wave comparisons in noise rock, but Gay Beast are one of the few that I think really carries the torch. Second Wave is sort of like being overwhelmed by anxiety at a really fun party. Less abrasive than Child Abuse, more melodic than Lake of Dracula, they share with them a love for angular arrangement, their disjointed compositions utilizing jarring synth, discordant saxophones, and twitching guitars to a rich and intricate effect.

MP3:
Make A Map, Pressing Hard

24.

Pictureplane - Dark Rift
I'm not sure when Denver became my go-to place for amazing music, but I'm certainly not complaining. One of the best things to come out of the Mile-High Fun Factory is this new album by Travis Edgy, master of eclectic electro. Dark Rift won't just make you dance, it will make you twitch, spasm, barf, twerk that barf, yeah girl. Pop that corn. Shoot that dog. Don't stop.

MP3:
Goth Star

23.

Music Go Music - Expressions
Perhaps the most 'authentic' sounding of the disco revivalists, Music Go Music aren't just making another CD of cosmic, diamond-cut night drive music. This is genuine pop beauty with a high replay value. Listen and fall in love.

MP3:
Light Of Love

22.

Grass Widow - ST
I'm about to commit Brooklyn heresy, but so be it: I like Grass Widow better than Vivian Girls. The similarities are obvious: three dames, lo-fi fuzz, garage influence. But where Vivian Girls give me a Black Tambourine vibe (no bad thing at all) GW make me think more of Delta Five. A bit more angular, a bit more going on. And where the Vivs might have more jangly pop hooks, I'll take more punk any day.

MP3:
Long Walk On The Beach

21.

Wetdog - Frauhaus!
Speaking of angular, Wetdog are swiftly becoming the underground UK band to talk about. At times jagged and jittery, at others dark and thoughtful, Frauhaus! bounces and shakes and makes your feet do the same. If you remember a time when post-punk meant more than just trying to be Ian Curtis, you're going to love this.

MP3:
Trees Fall

20.

Cate Le Bon - Me Oh My
Melancholia goes hand-in-hand with Autumn, which is one of the reasons why Me Oh My was being spun over and over again in my house. The other reasons? Psychedelic guitars, spacey synths, Nico-esque vocals, and an almost breathtaking beauty in each song.

MP3:
Hollow Trees House Hounds

19.

Terror Bird - Sociopaths Are Glam
Seems like this cassette, the solo project of Vancouver's Nikki Never, was overlooked by almost everyone, which is a horrible shame because it's a wonderful art pop masterpiece. Each side contains earnest, sweet, weird, minimalistic indie/new wave that reminds me of the soundtrack to a low-budget '80s cult horror film. C.H.U.D. or Street Trash, maybe. And how can you not love that?

MP3:
Beat Off Queen

18.

Black Moth Super Rainbow - Eating Us
I haven't seen this get the nod on anyone's Year's Best list, which frankly is fucking absurd. While it may not be as freaktacular as Dandelion Gum, the album's combination of BMSR's love of the weird with accessible hooks, psychedelia and a touch of darkness easily earns it a place as one of the year's best.

MP3:
Born On A Day The Sun Didn't Rise

17.

Gary War - Horribles Parade
I love a man who sounds like he's singing underwater. After seeing the incredible video for 'Highspeed Drift', I raced out, got this album, ripped some cracklin' green down my throat, and floated off into a dense, hazy world of wobbly, garbled robot music. Flange for the soul.

MP3:
No Payoff

16.

Nite Jewel - Good Evening
I've enjoyed the bedroom disco antics of this LA chanteuse since I first heard her demos in '08, but it was only when I saw her live this year that I truly fell in love. And I don't mean with synth player Emily Jane, dreamy as she may be; no, it was Ramona's heartfelt vocals that drew me in. Her latest singles show her getting even stronger; here's hoping I see her on this list next year.

MP3:
Artificial Intelligence

HAPPENINGS

2009-12-02T00:07:00.007-05:00

Got a track recently from this mystery band Feathers and I've been bumping it all day. Sounds like something you'd be playing in your convertible on the way to the beach, circa 1986. Maybe you pull into some rollerskate drive-thru, grab a shake and some fries, your goofy buddy leans out and laughingly begs the beautiful bikini girls to hop in. Everyone laughs, no hard feelings, nothing but good feelings today. You flip your neon pink hat backwards; yeah babe, I am a rebel. Tonight you're going to be waist deep in Malibu muff, just stomping and smashing your way around in some broad's grody girl parts. Get your grunt on, gruff buff bro.

MP3:
Weird Summer

MEANWHILE!!!
My wonderful and amazing girlfriend, AKA Laura Wolf from Internet Forever, recently announced that the first single 'Cover The Walls/Pages Of Books' is available to buy. You should absolutely buy this, it's frickin' awesome. Listen to it while reading the tour diary she wrote on Platform.

ALSO!!!
I'm not doing a Best Of albums list this year; as an 'indie' blogger with a steadily growing readership, I'm required to throw in one token hip-hop album so I can seem 'diverse' but frankly I don't listen to a ton of mainstream hip-hop and I feel goofy throwing up something like that next to Gay Beast or whatever. Just assume it has a lot of lo-fi electro chillwave noise rock disco twee psychedelic drone albums. And Raekwon, I guess.

GIRLS GIRLS GIRLS

2009-11-29T13:35:00.008-05:00

It's no shock that I love female-fronted bands. I'm 90% more likely to check out a band if they have a girl singer, and honestly this blog has sort of transformed into a female-oriented music fansite. Factor in my love of all things Not Not Fun and you'll see why I'm pounding my mental meat into a frenzy of brain-cum over My Estrogeneration, an all-lady compilation featuring some of my favorite Y-chromo projects in the NNF family, including Zola Jesus, Tickley Feather, US Girls, Pocahaunted, Topaz Rags, Talk Normal, Inca Ore, HNY, Valet, Islaja, and LA Vampires. Sounds magnificent, right? Well, it's only out in 500 editions, so grab it quickly! The quicker the sell, the more likely it is Amanda and Britt will put out another!

MP3s:
Zola Jesus - Heaven Sold You Back to Earth
Talk Normal - Warrior

My Estrogeneration is out now. Get it.

THREE GIRL NIGHT

2009-11-22T13:13:00.002-05:00

PENS are another one of those awesome noise-pop bands that exist in a vacuum where it's 1993 forever. The UK trio recently released their debut full-length album Hey Friend! What You Doing?, fourteen short songs full of punky charm, fuzzy guitars and lo-fidelity synths. All the things that give me and any right-thinking person massive brain-boners.

MP3s:
I Sing Just For You
Networking
I Heart You
High In The Cinema

Hey Friend! What You Doing? is out now on De Stijl. Get it.

WHEREVER I GO, SHE GOES

2009-11-20T14:37:00.004-05:00

I'm a sucker for electro-hop, and I've been throwing up the whitest dance moves imaginable since I got Kid Sister's new album Ultraviolet. I'm talkin' wicked banger beats, rapid-fire rhymes, and some hot collabs (nasty ol' Kanyeezy is here, allow it!) all packed into a sexy purple package. A nice change of pace from my usual drone and disco fare.

MP3s:
Right Hand Hi
Switch Board (feat. DJ Gant-Man)
Step (Feat. Estelle)

Ultraviolet is out now on Downtown. Get it.

MAGIC CIRCLES

2009-11-19T10:51:00.003-05:00

I feel dark today. In a good way. Let's smoke and make magic together.

MP3s:
Tearist - 1963
The Centimeters - I Want A Dead One
Haunted Fucking - Wooden Sword
White Ring - Roses
Genders - Popjam
Inca Ore - Sun
Coil - Solar Lodge
Paid In Puke - The Council
SALEM - Sweat
Cromagnon - First World

FUN FUN FUN

2009-11-18T09:43:00.005-05:00

Anything connected to Pocahaunted is godly by default, so when I got my first Topaz Rags 7" a couple years ago, naturally I was enthralled. And how can you not love a duo made up of Amanda and Britt Brown, the people running the impeccable Not Not Fun? Their newest release Capricorn Born Again is the first full-length from the two dronesters, melding the psych-drone of Britt's Robedoor project and the haunting, distant vocals of Pocahaunted. Beautiful stuff for late night burnouts.

MP3s:
Heart In Ribs
Sightings

Capricorn Born Again is out now on Not Not Fun. Get It.

DESERT JEWEL

2009-11-17T00:42:00.003-05:00

I wear little to no jewelery but I'm a bit in love with the Machine De Terre line at AESA.

ENDLESS SUMMER

2009-11-16T09:29:00.007-05:00

I miss summer; days filled with hazy, washed-out beachy bliss-pop are days to remember (or not, depending on how much you smoked.) With Endless Endless Endless' Black Talisman, you get a slice of that feeling back. The debut release from NY/Jersey duo Brett Renfer and James Tichenor has all the familiar elements: distorted layers of vocals against swirling lo-fi melodies, slow-burning jams, and snippets of synth, but they also incorporate delicate touches of 8-bit sounds. Not only that, but the limited edition album (53 made on cassette, 47 on CDs) comes with a laser-etched Talisman:

Seriously, how sick is that.

MP3s:
I Remember
Washes

Black Talisman is available from the band's website, as well as some free downloads. Get them.

LAST NIGHT IN NYC: SLEIGH BELLS + KAP BAMBINO

2009-11-15T12:12:00.005-05:00

Photos © me. Hello!

THE WIND BENEATH MY WINGS

2009-11-14T17:05:00.003-05:00

There's been so much focus on Fan Death this past year that I'd almost forgotten about Ms. Opaine's Dandi Wind project, which is how I first learned of her work several years ago. Well, aside from rumors of a new full-length next year, she's also released a new 7" split with Dead Gods. Her A-side track 'Incubation' is a thudding tribal-electro brainkiller with her trademark vocals that make this project stand out so strongly.

Listen to 'Incubation' on Dandi's Space and buy the split; it's awesome!

PLAN FOR 2K10: STEAL LAURA'S SHIRT

2009-11-11T12:30:00.002-05:00

Hey, remember when I made a list of the best five videos this year and I said the new Internet Forever video couldn't be seen yet? Well now it can. God I love this band.

NIGHT CREATURES

2009-11-11T06:55:00.004-05:00

Where have I been for the last week or so? Listening to What Is It Like To Be A Bat?, the 2003 album by avant-garde musicians Kitty Brazelton and Dafna Naphtali. A monstrous amalgamation of whoops and wails, operatic vocals, prog and noise rock, the collaboration is like some bizarre cross between Lene Lovich and Erase Eratta. Sadly the duo haven't collaborated again since then, but if either of them are reading this: GET TOGETHER AND RECORD. Brilliant stuff.

MP3s:
Aria 5
Batch 7-8
Answer 2

What Is It Like To Be A Bat? is available on John Zorn's Tzadik label. Get it.

INTERVIEW: MARLO EGGPLANT

2009-11-05T06:56:00.003-05:00

Earlier this year I had the pleasure to interview Marlo Eggplant, one of the nicest women in music and the mind behind 2008's well-received Ladyz In Noyz, a three-disc compilation of female-fronted experimental projects.

You've been doing music for a long time now; how did you get started?
I’ve been musicing since I was little. My parents made me take cello, piano, voice, and classical guitar. on top of compulsory karaoke. Technically I guess I began playing out in junior high at a coffee shop in Baltimore city called the Bohemian Cafe with my big brother. Singer-songwriter folky stuff.

And how did you get started working with Arrington de Dionyso?
Arrington had a show in NYC in 2003. Timothy and I went and emailed him to see if he could come play a show in Baltimore, and he said he could take a bus down. So quickly we went ahead and found a place to book the show and then started our project Hazardous Guadalupe to open for him. Ever since then we became friends with the rest of OTR. He booked us at the Olympia Experimental Musics Festival in 2004.

You've been involved with a lot of bands with many different sounds; what's your personal sound of the moment, if any?
My personal sound at the moment is improvisational ambient minimal slow drone-y? I have been pairing down my set up and it is definitely showing up in my style.

I heard you weren't working with Spleencoffin anymore? What prompted the split?
Spleencoffin is more of Timothy Wisniewski's project. It is also a Baltimore based label and now I live in Seattle. My new label, Corpus Callosum, is solely mine which allows me to include all the styles and bands that don't on the surface appear to be connected.

That's so rad! Any cool upcoming signings?
Poundland is new and awesome. Live she relies heavily on hex wrench and autoharp with effects; very minimal, then recorded she uses more layers and beats. She’s definitely diverse. Also Froghat and Sofaqueen from Victoria BC will be doing their first full length. They have a track on the LiN comp and also have one on the upcoming LiN addendum. Circuit bending and well structured noise.

What’s the Seattle music scene like for you?
It’s is so friendly and diverse. What gets me about it is how well people play with others. I mean that different genres mix well and appreciate each other. There’s great house shows and performance spaces like the Josephine. People really like to help each other out. And they love to jam and record everything!

Who do you like working with there?
I work with Kieran and Cole from Brush Bandit and Dogwater in a project called Napdance, with Wedge in a project called Medge (where I play piano! pretty stuff!), Dogwater and Rokkhausen (our recent transplant from Jersey) in a new project called Guitar Center, Octal from Merdique in a project called Panty Bag, and I also DJ an internet radio show called Allergen Special Showcase on HollowEarthRadio.com. There’s a blog for the show off the distro site as well. Joy von Spain has been a great new contact and music maker.

Your compilation Ladyz in Noyz got a lot of attention last year. Any plans to do a follow-up in the same vein?
I’m very excited to announce that LiN has a follow-up disc called Ladyz in Noyz: An Addendum on Corpus Callosum. I plan to do a new comp every year. Just one disc. This year I am pleased to present new artists like Poundland, Buckets of Bile, Mass Ornament, Kawaiietly Please, and Empty Remains. You can get some of the tracks for free off the download link of the distro.

You recently released a new cassette, can you tell me a bit about it?
Yes, it has been ultra cool lately! I just released a split with Inbalso on Shark Bite Tapes and a solo tape Marlo Eggplant for President on Scotch Tapes. The split I used as an opportunity to try and use samples while improvising. The solo tape I mostly play with my new contact mics. Both use the electric autoharp. They are both great labels and I hope to do more with them.

You played the Titwrench Festival in Denver this summer; how was that?
Titwrench was a beautiful experience. Seriously, Denver really brought it together. What I found amazing was how supportive and active the community was. It truly was a community event. The volunteers were plentiful and Sarah the organizer put so much heart into it. They truly made me feel welcomed! I loved all the little conversations about feeling good about celebrating our gender and music in the same fest. I would love to return there.

MP3s:
Arteriole
Crazy Girls
It Was Summer

REWORKED DIAMONDS

2009-11-03T06:01:00.004-05:00

Marina & The Diamonds is one of those bands that get a lot more of play from me when they're remixed, and the Mille reworking of Marina's new single 'Mowgli's Road' is the best one I've heard since the Starsmith reworking of 'I Am Not A Robot'. The Swedish producer has turned a decent pop song into a dancefloor-stomping electro strutter that works perfectly with Marina's strong vocals.

MP3s:
Mowgli's Road (Mille Remix)
I Am Not A Robot (Starsmith's 24 Carat Remix)

'Mowgli's Road' is out November 16th on Pure Groove. Get it.

On a side note, I had no idea this blog had more than five or six readers until I checked the 'followers' thingy today. So, thanks for reading! You guys should comment more.

CLOUD SHIRT LOVE

2009-10-27T15:59:00.005-04:00

BTS Favorites Fan Death premiered their new video yesterday for 'Reunited'....and it feels so good. Fuck, I gotta check to see if any other blogs made that joke. Some, I bet. The video is beautifully shot and features some celebrity musician lookalikes, including a familiar tarred-and-feathered chap under the car. Mr. Tovey, is that you??
.....

Fuck, I totally jumped the gun on that whole 'Top Five Vids of the Year' post, didn't I? Let's make it Top Six because this so belongs there.

I'M SCARED OF GIRLS IRL

2009-10-26T18:51:00.002-04:00

I was just slammin' and jammin' my dickhead earlier today, and suddenly it occurred to me: "You know who would hate this? Kathleen Hanna." So, after bashfully covering up my 'PUSSYBRUTE' chest tattoo and glaring at my balls for a couple minutes, I started digging up some memories from my love of all things punk and riot grrrl from the '90s. Together with some old LP knowledge and a few choice selections from the realm of modern punk and garage, I made this compilation of lady-bands. I realize it doesn't have any Bikini Kill on it, but frankly I don't need Hanna to read this post and then murder my w33n0rz. :(

I HOPE YOU LIKE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Kid Sportswear - Who Needs Boys When You Have Guitars

EARLY CHRISTMAS

2009-10-25T18:39:00.005-04:00

Yeah, I know I'm a little behind on Sleigh Bells, but I've also been drunk + stoned off my gourd for the last four days at CMJ, so bear with me. Besides, how can I not post about a lo-fi power pop hip-hop group? The new Brooklyn duo have been producing crazy buzz for the last few days, and for good reason. I caught the tail-end of their set on Friday and was blown away by how strong vocalist Alexis' stage presence was. If this doesn't blow up, I'll eat my hat. *points at sombrero made of tortilla chips*

MP3s:
A/B Machines
Ring Ring
Beach Girls
Crown On The Ground

BON VOYAGE

2009-10-21T00:00:00.006-04:00

I've fallen utterly in love with Cate Le Bon. She's been compared to Nico and Bobbie Gentry, both accurate but there's you can also hear elements of contemporary artists like Tickley Feather and Inca Ore. Her new album Me Oh My is like an aural distillation of fall; spooky-spacey synths, bittersweet folksy guitars and somber vocals swirl around in your brain like dry, crackling leaves blowing in the wind.

MP3s:
Me Oh My
Terror Of The Man
Burn Until The End

Me Oh My is available now on Irony Bored. Get it.

TAKE ME TO THE BEAT

2009-10-20T23:19:00.003-04:00

A few days ago I was asked, "Hey Daniel, why don't you make electro-disco mixes anymore? What's with all this psych-drone-lo-fi stuff?? I want something I can really DANCE to!" To which I replied, "Fuck you STEVE, just because you're sleeping with my mom doesn't make you my real dad!" Later though my friend Marissa asked me to make a sequel to an older mix of mine and I said yes because, wow...a girl is talking to me. :3 ENJOY!

Kid Sportswear - Sky Prism Mix 2
FEATURING MUSIC FROM
Burns
Mansion
FM Attack
Cassette Kids
Alex Metric
Beyonce & Alan Braxe
Fukkk Offf
Riton 1 & Primary
Juiceboxxx & AC Slater
The Beach Boys
The Young Punx
Kiss In Cities
Florence & The Machine

PUNK IS DEAD

2009-10-19T14:06:00.000-04:00

Just got the news that Mika Miko are breaking up. For the last six years, these girls have been hands down the funnest punk show in the world. I still remember the first time I saw them; it was like a combination of Bikini Kill and screaming muppets, and I was spilling beer everywhere because my feet couldn't help but dance. Every new release built on that fun, bringing a raucous, colorful energy into the lives of everyone who heard them. So goodbye to one of my favorite bands in the world. Thanks for everything.

MP3s:
Capricorinations
Totion
Too Cute To Puke

COOL KID PICKS VIDS

2009-10-18T20:20:00.007-04:00

'All The Single Ladies' as best video? Not so! says buff bro. There's been so many good videos out this year that I don't even like to think about it. All those really nice videos make me wiggle and wobble, but only a few know how to really get this dude's dander up. Let me tell you about some of the best videos this year, and I'd know; every day I get ruggeder and more handsome.

5. Foot Village - Anti-Magic
Hectic violence, crazy colors, and screaming with abandon. This perfectly captures a Foot Village show, and is an excellent teaser for inciting people to get their awesome new album.

4. Fever Ray - When I Grow Up

A creepy, Lynchian masterpiece in washed-out colors. The surreal setting compliments Karin Dreijer's music perfectly.

3. HEALTH - Die Slow
"WHOA, hold up!" I hear you say, "there are girl guts and blood in this, grody! Aghh, yuck!" Well I say scarf your barf back up, slim, because there's no way anyone can deny how much they'd love to be in this glittery goo-pile of awesome dance-thrash.

2. Internet Forever - Cover The Walls
Where's the video for this one?? Hey jerk...where is it. Ohohoohoh, haha, ahahah....I can't show it to ya, mate! No hard feelings but this one can't be seen yet, I promised Laura I wouldn't and the last thing I need is some cute English girl showing up with murder in her eyes...OR DO I, well perhaps too much info about me but hey it could happen! Rest assured it's DIY radness and the finished version of 'Cover The Walls' is so dang addictive.

1. Gary War - Highspeed Drift
The first track off Gary War's new album is an absolute psychedelic freakout, with weirdo imagery and shiny geometric heads. Watch this over and over, feel yourself free-form tripping. Maximum schwing.

THE HORSE, HE'S SICK

2009-10-10T11:35:00.002-04:00

Updates to resume soon-ish after I'm not leaking like a faucet out of both ends. In the meantime check out this generic inspirational/first-year design school image I found on a blog....sweet, huh?

THE HOLE ENCHILADA

2009-10-05T07:55:00.000-04:00

When I toured the West Coast last year with my band, the show we were looking forward to playing more than anything was the one with Strip Mall Seizures. After hours of driving, we arrived in Oakland and walked into the massive anarcho house where the show was going to be. Wandering into the back yard, we can upon a large man with boobs digging in the dirt. He handed us shovels and asked us to help. This is how I met Levi, ex-member of the brilliant Coughs and the monster behind Carreza.

Eventually we'd dug a hole large enough that Levi was up to his chest in the ground, and to open what was to be the best show we'd ever played (including dogs on trampolines and a beer can easter egg hunt) he surrounded himself with tiny speakers, bashed his keyboard, and hooted and hollered. These tracks and video may give you some indication of the happiness I felt at being part of all this.

MP3s:
I'm Not The Kind Of Woman
Meat Is Murder

THE COLORS, DUKE! THE COLORS!

2009-10-04T11:30:00.004-04:00

Just heard Brilliant Colors are gearing up for their debut LP Introducing, which is fucking fantastic news. The San-Fran trio were one of my favorite discoveries at the Woodsist festival earlier this year, and their singles have places of pride in my record collection. If they haven't convinced you yet, check out this track from the new album, as well as a live track from their (Make) The Product session.

MP3s:
Absolutely Anything
Short Sleeves At Night

Introducing is out on Slumberland November 3rd. Get it.

LOOK WHO'S SMOKING TOO

2009-10-04T00:13:00.004-04:00

I realized I hadn't posted art in a long time and these paintings by Brecht Vandenbroucke give me brain boners so here you go. Back to weekend stuff; death to my balls.

MP3:
Bridez - Rolling Stoned

FOLLOW THE GOLDEN FOX

2009-09-28T14:29:00.005-04:00

A lot of people have been asking me to make another mixtape in the vein of my Fuzzy Wolf Summer cassette-style mix. Well I'm here to tell you: sometimes dreams become reality. Just in time for Fall, behold a new tape of dronegasms, psychedelic meanderings, and lo-fi fuzz, served brisk and slightly washed out. Just like Autumn!

Click to download:
Side 1
Side 2

SMELLS GREAT!

2009-09-27T19:06:00.003-04:00

Here's an excellent video showcasing one of the best venues in the world, the almighty Smell. Along with interview snippets from the staff, there's some great footage of some of the rad bands who regularly play like Nite Jewel and Foot Village. Pretty cool little piece for longtime fans like myself, or a good introductory piece for anyone living under a rock.

Thanks to Brian from Foot Village for letting me know about this!

STILL LIVING WITH THE ENGLISH FEAR

2009-09-24T08:59:00.003-04:00

Good news for Broadcast nerds like myself; they're releasing a new mini-album called Broadcast & The Focus Group Investigate Witch Cults of the Radio Age. Not ashamed to say I started leaking a bit when I saw this; the visuals are by Julian House, co-founder of the awesome Ghost Box label and art designer for the band. 43 minutes of music? If that's 'mini', I can't wait to see next years full-length.

The collaborative album is available now on Warp Records. Get it.

WHAT'S THE WORD?

2009-09-22T11:38:00.002-04:00

I admit it: my original prediction was off. 2009 has been the year of Lo-Fi Jammin' rather than Solid Gold Disco. Not that I'm disappointed but I totally have some egg on my face. Seems like the big disco names have been quiet this year; does this mean 2010 is going to bring the Saturday night fever? Making no predictions.

While I was disappointed at their live performance, The Golden Filter still manage to impress me with their recorded material. After ages of radio silence, they've released their new single 'Thunderbird'. It's been a good while since I've heard some good disco, and it's good to know I can rely on these guys to deliver. 'Thunderbird' is every inch a shimmering monster; you'd better believe it's going to be dominating your nights.

MP3:
The Golden Filter - Thunderbird

The 12" single is available for pre-order now on Dummy Records. Get it.

SUMMER OF '93

2009-09-18T10:12:00.000-04:00

Last year, the Alabama-based P.S. Eliot dropped a demo of fuzzy, scuzzy lo-fi pop-punk that had me bouncing around like I was ten again. Since then I've celebrated my twelfth birthday, so maybe I'm in the mood for something a bit more mature. Apparently P.S. were too, because they had a line-up changed, got some cleaner recording equipment, and released their debut LP Introverted Romance In Our Troubled Minds. It has some pretty sweet Sleater-Kinneyisms, and while I'm always up for lo-fi, it's cool to see a band's sound mature so quickly. You can check out the demo for comparison here.

MP3s:
Like How You Are
Troubled Medium

Introverted Romance In Our Troubled Minds is out now on Salinas Records. Get it.

SECRETLY ALL I LISTEN TO IS NEW JACK SWING. TRUE.

2009-09-17T10:03:00.005-04:00

At times I feel like this blog is mainly a fan site for three or four artists, but sometimes a guy just wants to update about his favorite dudes and dudettes. Maybe this will all change when I hit puberty, I don't know. For now though, here's a bunch of rare Nero's Day At Disneyland songs I just discovered. A few have been released on compilations, but a good chunk of them are just random tracks that I guess were either posted on his Space or just floated through the ether and into the world. I'm not a man of explanations; sorry about this.

Download:
Rare Nero's Day At Disneyland Tracks

What with Fall peeking its head about, posts are going to get a bit post-punkier; this sort of weather always makes me crank up the early Cocteau Twins stuff (maybe you agree that their first album is their only worthwhile stuff? Let's email each other about this) so stay tuned for some Old Stuff maybe, mixed in with some newer stuff....kinda wish some new electro would smack me in the face. Be sure to also check out the new Vivian Girls video for 'When I'm Gone' (definitely the best track from their new album) on the always rad Gorilla VS Bear.

DUM FUCK

2009-09-15T12:15:00.004-04:00

On July 4th, I stood in the front row of the Captured Tracks/Woodsist festival as Dum Dum Girls took the stage for their first live performance. I was treated to pure noise pop bliss and had a chunk of my noggin wind up in a few videos (hint: I'm wearing a blue shirt and I have giant Brooklyn faggot glasses.) I admit I was a casual fan before that, but afterwards I snatched up their few releases with gusto. Now, Dee Dee has released a new track on her Space called 'Over The Phone' which easily rivals 'Catholicked' and 'Hey Sis' for shimmery girlfuzz joy. Have a listen.

Meanwhile, Fuck Buttons blow me away once again with their new LP Tarot Sport, out Oct. 5th on ATP. Don't lie and say you didn't snag the leak, but do be a sport and order the album because it's fucking massive. 'Surf Solar' has been all over for a few weeks, but here's another track that's been making me bounce.

MP3:
Fuck Buttons - Phantom Limb

A LIKELY NOISE

2009-09-10T01:04:00.003-04:00

Anyone who's read much of this blog will know what a huge fan I am of Brittany Gould and her project Married In Berdichev!, so when I saw that the Denver chanteuse had put up a rough preview of the new Caldera Lakes album (the collaborative project between her and Kevin Shields' Eva Aguila) I hooted and hollered like an ape, making just the most appalling racket until I got grounded. I'm not ashamed of my feelings; if this is a rough cut then the polished version is going to blow me away. Check it out, download it, get excited.

Meanwhile, this summer's haze-pop hero Neon Indian has done this gorgeous remix of Au Revoir Simone's 'Another Likely Story'. The result is new wave deliciousness.
(via GvB)

MP3:
Au Revoir Simone - Another Likely Story (Neon Indian Remix)

NOT AS DEVASTATING AS SAYING GOODBYE TO HORSES BUT STILL.....

2009-09-08T09:52:00.002-04:00

As summer fades into fall, we sadly pack our cut-off shorts, break out sweaters and cardigans, and start wearing socks. Say goodbye to sun-soaked haze and beach-filled days with my new mix! Since a bunch of people complained about the last one being one mixed track, this one is all separate files for your enjoyment...so enjoy!

Kid Sportswear's Goodbye Summer Mix
Featuring music from
Headlights
Washed Out
The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart
The Fresh & Onlys
Terror Bird
Mazes
Veronica Falls
Hecuba
Thesaurus Club
Belbury Poly
Native Fauna
Neon Indian
Memory Tapes
Diamond Vampires
Pictureplane
Iggy Pop
Cocteau Twins

IT'S A TEEN'S WORLD

2009-09-08T01:26:00.005-04:00

One of my favorite ways for finding new music is doing a search on Soulseek for an obscure band you like and then once you find someone who has their stuff, poking around in folders for otherstuff that looks strange. Most nights this will find me something good, and last night found me Teen Fuqq. I haven't the foggiest clue about this band other than that they're
- a guy and a girl
- lo-fi noise/industrial that brings to mind Circuit des Yeux and Throbbing Gristle
- amazing

Here's a couple tracks from their Tamed By Censors EP. Short and sweet.

MP3s:
Breathing In My Vein
Where I Sleep

CHROME SEPTEMBER

2009-09-07T03:39:00.001-04:00

Here's something scuzzy and rad from Oz. Chrome Dome features Shaun (ex-Deaf Deaf) and pals making analog wave music. If you bone hard for Suicide, The Normal, Crash Course In Science etc. you'll be poppin' trouser tents like mad.

MP4s:
Bruised & Battered
Lipstick

Their debut release, the Negative Vibes 7", is available from their Space. Get it.

LIVE HARD

2009-09-05T07:58:00.001-04:00

This is an 'easy' post, but gat damn, I just can't ignore the rad new video off HEALTH's fantastic new album. Am I the only one who thinks they listened to a ton of Public Image Ltd. before writing the new tunes?

LOOKIN' GOOD

2009-09-03T06:26:00.002-04:00

You seriously need to buy The Good Look Book. It's a new 'zine by Will Bryant and Gavin Potenza, and it's gorgeously designed with tribal graphics. There aren't a ton of copies left, so if this charms you as much as it did me, act fast!

INTERVIEW: ALPHABETS

2009-09-02T02:24:00.003-04:00

Colin Ward is probably the coolest guy in music right now. I first caught word of his killer project alphabets from a German friend of mine, and I’ve been hooked ever since. Not only are these tunes massively catchy, Colin gives them away for free download on his Space every month or two. In terms of things like ‘being a grown up’, well sorry dude, this beefy bro is just a kid. But hey, it’s a kid’s world and kids gotta have fun! If you like things like fun, take a good hard look at this Denver dynamo as we shoot questions at each others faces.

BTS: COLIN WHO THE HECK ARE YOU.

Colin: Well I am just like a kid in a city basically, like a lot of everyone else. For me it’s Denver right now. But I was born in Atlanta, lived for 3 years, learned how to have memory and toes and a mouth and learned how to go to the bathroom and stuff. Then when I was 4 my family moved us to Connecticut. Lived there for 6 or so years, learned how to have friends and say "fuck" while playing soccer at recess. I thought I was so cool one afternoon in 2nd grade when I learned how to cuss. I was being so mean to kids with out knowing it oh my goodness. So I loved Lego’s and stuff too. Like mostly every child, my imagination was my best friend. And I played Super NES and Genesis and stuff too, c’mon it was the ‘90s. But then we moved to Colorado and I played clarinet in 4th grade. But it took up my Saturdays so I just decided to play drums in 6th grade.

I played marimba and timpani stuff in 9th grade at an artsy sorta high school. I guess I don't even know how I feel about that place. It’s like an arts high school or something. I hardly was there; I was kicked out after 9th grade. But you know, puberty and angst and stuff happened and I just would play piano or drums or like sing weird things in the bathroom and I just sorta always figured to follow what I was talented with, which I don't know, everyone’s so talented in so many ways usually so its like everyone’s reaching and reaching and making things and stuff so I’m just doing it with the rest of them.

BTS: You should record an album in a high school bathroom! Get kids to come in with different instruments, the acoustics would be nuts and you could probably do some sick things with it all digitally.

Colin: Oh my goodness gracious. if I could get some woodwinds and marimbas and broken tape machines with exposed circuits to be touched so they chirp and warble and then got like some 7 year olds in there in some sort of grimy high school bathroom like you said and then told them to go ape shit with the instruments, and break shit against the sinks and toilets and give them spray paint and have them like fucking get all punk on the walls with paint and just set up like 4 room microphones and have them screaming with joy and give them energy drinks or something and they'd be like chanting almost, breaking things and throwing broken electronics at the wall and being alive and slamming on marimbas with flutes while whistling and running in circles and trumpeting like fawns and toddler centaurs while others where having light saber-esque fun fights with clarinets and stuff, well that'd probably be one of my happiest most avant days to experience. And the song would be called something like hella punk'd out like "fuck teachers" or something. Even though some teachers are amazing, and school is amazing and I’m totally a bookworm, I think there is an evil side to most public school systems that these kids could lash out at for an afternoon. I hardly even know what I just said. Just a daydream of an amazing musical experiment I guess.

BTS: Oh man, I am totally a 7 year old with an instrument. Seriously let's get all at sixes and sevens with a bunch of gummy candies and soda and just go crazy in a school with horns and stuff.

Colin: Kids they want to have fun uhn, how kids just wanna have fuuuhhuunnnnnn. Cyndi Lauper. Except about kids.

BTS: So how did you get started with Alphabets?

Colin: I gave my first cd with me on acoustic guitar channeling 14 year old hormones or whatever to Nick Houde and he emailed me about it and stuff and was really cool about it even though I’d be totally embarrassed and maybe a little nauseous if I heard that CD. now. Then I saw him at a cafe one day and he asked if I would play a show at his house on York Street and I was stoked so I played. So I made some friends. And then I met Nick Peelor and we started the band Tudaloos. We played shows around town and went on a small tour, it was probably the best thing to be a part of for me when I was 15, 16. He moved to college in Baltimore. M.I.C.A. is the name of the college I believe. So I started making music by myself, but basically just experimenting with sounds and different ways of producing them and recording them and documenting them (diary-ish sort of). . And didn't choose a name for it for like 6 months. And then I was alphabets somehow one day. I’ve been doing songs for it as a second life almost. So much recently that I’ve had about an album of music that I think is worth sharing with friends and whoever can get a hold of it and enjoy it or not enjoy it, each month. Jan09, Feb09, March09, etc. all the way up to July-Aug 09. But I’m taking a break from the monthly thing for a while. Just to start school and relax and "summer time" it out.

BTS: I think it's mad cool that you release all your albums for free online. Do you have any plans to do a release on CD or cassette or whatever?

Colin: I give it out for free because, I don't know, it just feels like something good to do right now, because I feel like a lot has been shared with me and it has been given sort of gift-like, so I’m just responding. I have released alphabets CDs and a split tape with BDRMPPL will be released on Bocumast Records in the near future, but every so often I will just hand make like 25 or so when I have a show that I want to give them out at, and I’ve gotten donations for them before, and I think one time when I was 17 I was like "yo yo yo, this is 5 Washingtons". But I'm waiting until I get a collection of something I’m 100% proud of and I feel is 100% complete in some way before I try and release something on a huge scale. Honestly right now the attempt sort of makes me nervous. I still want to learn about music more, and collaborate with other people and meet new people and continue that for a minute or two or three. I'm comfortable just putting love and effort into whatever it (alphabets) is perceived by others or myself to be, and in turn it feels like its going somewhere. At least it’s helping me grow as a person in some way, big or small. and I think lots of people if not everyone has those sorts of things that they retreat and/or escape with, and day dream and make things and share them if you want and how you want and be a human and all that good stuff.

BTS: You have a lot of organic stuff in your sound; how much of that is stuff you manipulated and how much is digital?

Colin: In songs, usually I like mixing a variety of different sounds, about half of them are organic I would say. But that’s just a guess. Um. Also alot of it is made of electronic sounds played organically, like programming drum sounds and loops on a drum machine while pressing on pads live, and the composition aspect that goes into drum sequencing, or synthesizer tracks or whatever. Or real drums mic'd with effects or something. Then sometimes I’ll throw in a sample from my computer or drum sounds and digital synths and midi sequencing over that. But mostly all those organic made sounds are then looped or digitally manipulated. So I’d say the digital realm of music plays a pretty huge part in what I’m doing right now.

BTS: What kind of influences do you have? I hear a ton of stuff in your sound, from like classical to fidget to breakcore.

Colin: I guess musically I’m influenced by alot of my friends who play music because I’ve been around them and know them personally (BDRMPPL, Thundercade, Pictureplane, Married in Berdichev) just a whole "awesome local people category", those are the big times for me though, "musical projects" wise. But headphones are on my face a good 70% of my life I think so I try to put a variety of things through them. Or through a stereo, you know it works, its 09 boi! Anyways sorry I’m getting silly town over here. Okay so yeah basically what you said, everything from classical to fidget to breakcore. And stuff in between. I don't even know what fidget is actually. But its sounds like I’d like it. I’m always f-ing fidgeting. I get hella nervous alot. But outspoken and completely un-nervous in other spaces. I think everyone has that sorta deal going on for them, all in their own way of course though.

BTS: Kind of feel like this whole big word is a crazy place that we all need to take pieces out of and make art, but at the same time I just want to hang in the park with buds and just not think about ANYTHING. Maybe life is a compromise...if that makes sense? I know Rorschach said never compromise but I feel like his ideals were different than most.

Colin: Audition for private instruction for percussion at my new school happens Saturday, and I gotta practice hard core if I want a good teach who'll treat me like a princess. Actually I sort of want some dude who drills me so hardcore on scales and techniques that I cry but inside he or she's like "this hurts me more than it hurts you, Colin, after all this you'll be even more incredible than you sort of are now", and then once I don't have lessons from him/her anymore, we can have a great relationship that’s totally lax, despite all the emotional trauma that I was put through to be fucking SKILLED.

BTS: I want a dude who drills me hard too if you get my flippin' meaning, haha but seriously just bust out with that crazy technique you got already and they'll be poppin' boners and flinging accolades on you.

Colin: Practice makes perfect. When you’re perfect that’s when headaches happen. Bliss aches from accomplishment. Then after like 2 milliseconds its like "what’s next, motherfucker, life, you motherfucking crazy mass of whatever you are I love you" that’s how i feel about life. And then sometimes. I’m like. Dying would be sweet. You know. Cycles. Mood swings. My moods don't really swing though, they just sort of "volcano" over the place or its like an internal eruption of some sort of type of feeling. But. Whatever. Volcanoes are fucking tight. I bet Pompeii villages were like "dudes, holy balls we are gonna burn so hardcore, but look at that fucking awesome volcano, its beautifuu-AAAHHH MY FLESH!" right? If I was burning alive, for comic relief of those around me I’d be like, AAAAHHH MY FLESSHHH! and then I’d seriously just bash my head against whatever I could to just end it quick, no one wants to burn out slow.

But okay for real back to business. I love classical music; Chopin and Erik Satie are my main heart throbs currently in that area. But even if I don't particularly dig on an early composer (Mozart is not my fave), I still love how its put together and get inspired by it. I think its cool how NOT being so much into things but looking a little bit deeper anyways is inspiring. But then of course I’m a modern nerd dork cuteness and half ashamed half confident sort of simultaneously, you know. I’m still a beginner at this life game. So I like alot of raw and noisy, rhythmic or ambient or both at once, electronic or organic or both at once, subtle and gorgeous, or loud and terrifying, or a mix of all that stuff into one. Or other words could be used to describe music I’m into but I’m no "Webster’s thesaurus" or something, you know. But I do think life feels sort of book-ish sometimes. Chapters ending, things changing, antagonist, plot story line stuff. I hear there's a book for faces now too or something, what’s that about? Get it? Was it funnY???///?? Does it matter? I don't know. Whatever you want.

So on the influences thing; I don't know if too much band name dropping would work, because there’s alot alot alot alot. I have been getting into this Allan Family tape, I got it off of the awesome tapes from africa blog page. That page owns me. I love that sort of stuff. Heavy drums and chant-singing, tribe and peoples representing sort of stuff from places I’ve never been too. It blows my mind how much I don't know about and how much there is out there to inspire and connect to on some emotional level. Sometimes I trick myself into thinking I know about more than I do. After realizing that, its sort of a good place for me to chuckle at myself. And then I’m usually not so nervous or worked up anymore.

BTS: Okay, check out this interview question:
"So, are you involved in anything else right now?" Pretty sweet, right? Okay so now you say:

Colin: In terms of side projects or something??? I’m chilling with my bff Rose, we’re in Chamberjoy together.

BTS: Whooooa, project rulessss! Aha I see she's in Yellow Elephant, that explains it because YE rules also.

Colin: Also Snake Feathers, although one of the members just moved to Baltimore, so Snake Feathers is on an extremely long hiatus I think for awhile. My Youtube channel has straight stupid comedy videos and stop frame animations I’ve made over the last year or so. I used my old band's name for my Youtube account, but the videos are made by me, but oddly enough, Nick is visiting Denver right now, and we are currently working on a stop frame animation. Mostly for funzies. We've got a dinosaur that pukes a rainbow so far, and then he has a bloody seizure and then 3 lions a cub, teen lion, and adult lion, manifest from the dinosaurs blood and start to eat him. I’m always trying to collaborate with so many people on alot of different ideas though. Also, look out in the future though for like "sheet music" alphabets sort of stuff. I’m currently writing music for tuned tom toms, percussive synth sounds, and violin. I don't know we'll see. I’m all about the bachelors degree in music comp that I’m about to start though. I feel like an astronaut about to take off into the outer space that is my future, or something. Also still high off of pain pills for my teeth, so all the imagery of this outer space galactic alphastronaut dude that maybe I am, well I don't know forget about it, LOVE!!!!!

DOG BLOG

2009-08-03T20:32:00.006-04:00

ARGH I promise promise PROMISE that this isn't going to be one of those blogs that just talks about my personal stuff I'm doing, but today was the last wisdom tooth removal day and I'm a mess so I can't write about anything too crazy. However here is a new song from my band.
Tomorrow: SOMETHING ELSE.

MP3:
Mike On Monday - Box Of Boogers

NAME INSPIRED BY AN AD DISCOURAGING MANBOOBS

2009-07-29T23:35:00.008-04:00

So I started a new project with my friend Justin. It began as a joke (see the second song), but we actually managed to record a cool song during it. Here is that song; if you like stuff like Gtuk, Nero's Day At Disneyland, Neon Hunk.....basically if you love noisy glitch electropunk stuff you'll like this. And yes, we were stoned the whole time.

MP3:
Mike On Monday - Puke Skateboard

NOT DEAD QUITE YET

2009-07-29T13:55:00.004-04:00

Ahaha god I'm lazy. Lots of stuff I want to talk about but really no time. Eventually, I promise. But check this out, it's a mix I made recently! You should listen to it! And then sometime in August I really will get back to this.

Kid Sportswear - Every Thing Must Go
FEATURING MUSIC FROM
A Silver Mt. Zion
Kevin Shields
Caldera Lakes
Aaliyah
Leah-Peah
Simon Bookish
Unicorn Hard-On
Destiny's Child
Secret Mommy
Swans
Ducktails
The Sister Act soundtrack
Foetus
Boyz II Men
Patty Waters

COASTING ALONG

2009-07-01T05:27:00.000-04:00

As a long-time Pocahaunted fan, I was a bit glum when Bethany Cosentino quit to head to NY. Fortunately, she moved back to LA and decided to keep making music, and if your taste of summer is more pop than Pukers, you'll fall in love with her new project Best Coast. Fuzz-drenched sweet sounds that are the perfect beach pals along with your Dum Dum Girls and Ducktails cassettes.

MP3s:
The Sun Was High (And So Was I)
In My Room
Up All Night

BARF BEACH

2009-06-29T13:02:00.000-04:00

Well I'm a week late but it is Monday so this is an update! Been pretty busy but expect at least semi-regular updates now. Also, all the old links are dead but I killed my old domain. Sorry, but I just bought a new one and I'm not made of millionaires!

I figured I'd kick off with Pukers, who I've been listening to for weeks. Thrashy, lo-fi noise punk made by Andy from the sadly dead Raccoo-oo-oon and his girlfriend. This is summer music, maybe the polar opposite of stuff like Ducktails. Matthew Mondanile's tunes are awesome, but it's the kind of stuff that's suited best for chilling in the shade on a sunny day, while this is music to fuck shit up with buds to and get scabbed up on pavement.

MP3s:
Run From The Cops
Weed Hound
Beach Cop

Their new tape Born In The USA is available on Gel Records. Get it.

GUY NOT DEAD, OH HEY

2009-06-20T12:15:00.008-04:00

I'm not dead! I just have some stuff to do since I got back from Germany; interviews with DAT Politics, Neil Krug and Joni Harbeck, working on a new magazine etc. This bluggg will start up again on Monday.

POPS IN DUCKTAILS TAPE WELL GUYS....

2009-05-19T17:24:00.000-04:00

I was going to do some big post because it's lame as hell to leave with your last post being your old band, but I got a plane to catch so you're going to have to deal. However, I've been busy relaunching a magazine I do with my best friend, and it's online now. You can read it free by clicking
HERE.

Off to Europe, see you on the 17th of June! If you need music, please visit the following quality blogs for some great tunes:
The Passion Of Indie Music
Ill-Formed
Follow Eye!
No Not Fun Not No

Laters!

YES, THAT IS MY VOICE. YES, I AM A BAD VOCALIST.

2009-05-18T02:09:00.003-04:00

So I used to have a band. We weren't really blog-worthy and we only played a few big shows, but we had a lot of fun, made a lot of messes, and got a lot of free drinks. Some of us even got to kiss girls because of the band, a couple girls, not me though, I'm just a kid and I don't know anything about sex so don't ask me about it!!!! but I feel like this thing we did right before we broke up deserves maybe a little of your attention, mainly because of the involvement of Nero's Day At Disneyland. ENJOY???

MP3:
Din Glorious VS Nero's Day At Disneyland - Shattering Two Peals

SERIOUS BLUES

2009-05-15T01:21:00.000-04:00

Just found out about LA's Blue Jungle, and I've been eating them like candy. Earlier this year they released their first album, the strangely haunting Baby Don't Cry. It's a hot combination of fuzz, surfy garage and ghost-vocals from the too-sexy Lately Blu Blu. If you're craving a Black Tambourine/Gun Club sandwich, step this way.

MP3:

Oh Suicide

Baby Don't Cry is available on the band's website. Get it.

TURNS OUT HER SECRET IS SHE HAD EIGHT KIDS AT ONCE....UNCANNY....

2009-05-10T11:20:00.002-04:00

In one incredible night, Dan Deacon got ripped on coke, whiskey and horse tranquilizers and did about seven or eight rapes on Beat Happening. Their parents wouldn't let them get an abortion, and eventually Deacon gave birth to one boy and one girl. This is their band.

MP3s:
Future Eyes
Sparkly Sweater

Their new LP Super Animal Brothers III is out now on Carpark. Get it.

FALKE ME

2009-05-06T20:36:00.001-04:00

Holy cow, this one blew me away when I found out about it. Not only does Ladyhawke pop back into the world of blogs, she does so with a flippin' Fred Falke remix! This one slams hard, while still retaining that sexy attitude and sleek electro grooves that both are known for. A bit epic; now let's hope some new stuff is in the making

MP3:
Ladyhawke - Back Of The Van (Fred Falke Valvestate Mix)

WHO WRITES THE LOVE SONGS?

2009-05-04T10:09:00.000-04:00

Damn, look at me with my lies. Okay, I had to post this. If you missed my previous post, in December of 2k8 LA drum-monsters Foot Village petitioned bands to record a version of 'Chicken & Cheese' and send it to them. Contributions would be mashed up and incorporated into one track on their next album Anti-Magic Friends. The response? Nothing less than amazing. The band, being the rad people they are, put all the unedited tracks up for free download. With contributions by AIDS Wolf, Death Sentence: Panda!, Nero's Day At Disneyland, I.E., Paid In Puke, Laco$te, and loads more, this is basically a massive bonanza of Awesome.

CLICK HERE
CLICK HERE
CLICK HERE

PULLS UP TO YOU AT STOPLIGHT, FARTS WELL LATER! PEDALS OFF

2009-05-03T13:47:00.006-04:00

Pardon the coitus interruptus; very busy with my magazine + growing a terrible beard. Updates to resume sometime within the next week. Until then, here's a live Married In Berdichev! track that's been rocking the fuck out of my face. Damnnnn do I want to make love to her voice.

MP3:
Married In Berdichev! - Track 1

This, by the way, is my 100th post. Kind of thought it would be more impressive than this...nah, I'm crap.

SKATE OR LIVE

2009-04-28T03:04:00.003-04:00

A bit of thrashy, noisy skate punk for a hot night, courtesy of P.R.O.B.L.E.M.S. Perfect for those sun-soaked LA days drinking cheap beer, eating Oki dogs and hating your parents. Their 'Narc Grind' cassette is sold out but you can order a copy from the band on their Space.

MP3s:
Narc Grind
I Came Here To Die

HORSE DREAMS

2009-04-23T09:30:00.002-04:00

An almighty cover of the Q. Lazzarus classic 'Goodbye Horses' has just arrived, by none other than BTS favorites Fan Death. Check it out and continue dreaming of an album release.

MP3:
Fan Death - Goodbye Horses

I've also been extremely busy listening to loads of great stuff, and one of the reasons is because of the awesome guy who runs follow eye. Spend five minutes over there and tell me your face isn't rocked by a ton of good music. I will know you are a liar.

JUST LIKE HNY

2009-04-21T21:00:00.001-04:00

Somewhere between the dead Indian chants of Pocahaunted and the droney pop of Grouper, you'll find HNY. The solo project of Social Junk's Heather Young, HNY crafts black deserts of sonic bleakness, her lovely vocals meshing with washes of noisy loops. The sound of dead cities and rain-soaked junkyards.

MP3:
Lost To The Sky

CHEWED LIPS WERE NEVER SO KISSABLE

2009-04-20T03:54:00.000-04:00

England is pretty much the place today for amazing girl-fronted electro-pop. I have no idea why I was such a late-comer to CHEW LiPS. Not only have the English trio just released a single on one of my favorite labels, they've also been slowly climbing their way to the top in the UK with a massive flurry of shows. Late to the party; I suck.

Vocalist Tigs and her boys are still young, but they're coming up fast. Don't be surprised if they're the Little Boots of 2010.

MP3s:
Solo
Eight
CLVRI
Solo (Tepr Remix)

DON'T FORGET, JOHN HUGHES ALSO DIRECTED 'DUTCH'. THE MAN WAS REALLY HIT OR MISS.

2009-04-18T03:26:00.003-04:00

If M83's Saturdays=Youth was the soundtrack for last year's coming of age movie, then Neon Indian are probably going to be making this years'. Gorgeous, wistful tunes that are equal parts psychedelia and spacey disco-funk. They're one of those darn 'mystery bands', but the money's on Alan Palomo of VEGA being involved.

MP3s:
Should Have Taken Acid With You
Mind Drips
Local Joke

WE HAVE A FUZZ WOLF AND WE KNOW HOW TO USE IT

2009-04-15T12:01:00.003-04:00

I made this mixtape just for the rad (and extremely talented!) Laura Wolf, but I'll share it with you because you're good people, in a very general sense because I don't really know most of you. Shove this into your jambox for a summer full of all the fuzzy lo-fi shitgaze, dronegasms and psychedelia you could want!

Click to download!

BEACH BOY

2009-04-14T10:37:00.003-04:00

The first time I saw Hawnay Troof was in Germany as he was opening for Stereo Total. The second he stepped on stage, I said to myself, "This mothafucka is from Oakland." I was right, and I am awesome. So is this new video from Mr. Troof. Fun fun in the sun sun, with seaweed zombies and screaming stuffed bears.

BUY IT BLACK

2009-04-14T04:04:00.002-04:00

Diamond Black Hearted Boy is true art music. He combines elements of lo-fi, early industrial and hip-hop, post-punk, minimal disco, 8-bit...basically everything we love, and crams it all into a show that will amp up your libido and smash your brain into the bin. Think Blank Dogs meets SPK and Kurtis Blow at a Nintendo party. Of COURSE you're downloading these.

MP3s:
Post Hip-Hop (yeah I said it)
Psalms 57:2
Mephistopheles

CURLING FLOWER SPACE

2009-04-13T04:30:00.002-04:00

This is the best thing I've heard in weeks. ADD-inspired electronics, a mash-up of fuzzed-out tropicalia and guitar, snippets of Indian dance pop, and random raps, all from two guys from Cali calling themselves Blossoming Aquatic Meadows. They had this to say:

my name is watering
his is alvyn gwen'cotton
our influences are the process of learning to fly. telepathy. growth. energy. the plants. definitely omnipresence. well sounding humans.
we eat curry and rice

Bask in it, son.

MP3s:
Eyes Of A Water Buffalo
Eyes Of A Sea Lion
Life Like Lungs

WITCH TRIALS

2009-04-12T00:05:00.001-04:00

Lo-fi death disco. Neon lighting up a grimy windshield at night. A fading cassette from some obscure post-punk new wave outfit from 1981. This is the luxuriously decayed sound of Modern Witch, about whom I know only the following facts: They are collage artist Mario Zoots and Kristy Fenton. They are from Denver. They love performance art.

Here is some music, it is very fine, and a video that is equally fine. Yes yes!

MP3s:
In Your Eyes
She Bites
Rever Fay

BORN TO BE

2009-04-07T23:07:00.006-04:00

Not sure what it is with me and Australian girls but anytime they start fronting a band I'm all over it. I'm especially interested when I learn it's a side project from Toxic Lipstick's Cyndii Valentine. B.A.A.D.D.D. are like a teenage Kap Bambino let loose in a toy factory; sexy mutant electropunk that will leave you bruised and horny.

MP3s:
Poofie
Owly

FROM BOYZ TO DRIVE-BYS

2009-04-07T16:21:00.001-04:00

Six girls, ages twelve to fourteen, making hip-hop with the help of Excepter's Nathan Corbin. No question: this is amazing.

MP3:
Fly Girlz - Born 2 B Fly

The Fly Girlz' debut LP Da' Brats From Da' Ville is out now on True Panther Sounds. Get it.

TASTE THE RAINBOW

2009-04-02T18:11:00.002-04:00

Does it get any better than this? LA's Rainbow Arabia have pretty much held us in thrall since we first got their Basta EP, and now their video for 'Omar K' is making us fall in love all over again.

KID, YOU GOT A LOT TO GIVE

2009-03-31T21:28:00.004-04:00

As lucky as I am to to live in the city that hosts the yearly Blip Festival and the monthly PulseWave party, it seems like I may never get to see most of my favorite 8bit peoples. Prepare To Meet Thy Broom! never seem to play. 1-800-Zombie/Talk To Animals have yet to make it here. All in all, most of these kids just don't travel much. But recently my favorite animal hat-wearing chiphead Unicorn Kid embarked on a UK tour which, while emphatically not located anywhere near me, gives me hope that maybe he'll set his sights on us Yanks. As in I will yank your crank dude if you come here, just two dudes hangin', who knows what can happen? Seriously come party here it'll be awesome.

MP3s:
Lion Hat
Supermart
Nuts 'n' Milk

Unicorn Kid's 3-track Lion Hat is available on Euphonios. Get it.

I LIKE CHICKEN, I LIKE CHEESE

2009-03-30T08:11:00.001-04:00

There are a lot of artists we like. But there are few that we really love, and when fate finds a way to combine them....that's when life becomes sunshine and ice cream. Oakland synth-king Brock Bousfield has taken part in Foot Village's call for bands to complete the last track 'Chicken N Cheese' on their upcoming album Anti-Magic, with each band contributing having a chunk of their interpretation added into one massive tune. This is the entire Nero's Day At Disneyland contribution; look for it in the mix.

MP3:
Nero's Day At Disneyland - Chicken N Cheese

Anti-Magic is out in June on Upset The Rhythm. Get it.

NO SUCH THING AS TOO MUCH DRUGS

2009-03-27T07:09:00.001-04:00

The weather gets warmer, the beats get hotter. Do I feel guilty for posting about Designer Drugs so often? Of course not! They've remixed the latest single from Norwegian heartthrob Annie, turning this gorgeous slice of disco pop into an epic club banger.

MP3:
Annie - Anthonio (Designer Drugs Remix)

DONE PROPER

2009-03-26T16:09:00.000-04:00

I remember the first time I heard I.U.D. At the time they only had a bit of material and I wasn't sure if it would develop, but fortunately they've gone the distance. The distance, however, is quite far from the tribal weirdo-pop of vocalist Lizzi Bougatsos' main project Gang Gang Dance; here instead we have the shrieks, loops and clangs of early industrial and sleazy, sludgy no-wave rock. Tracks like 'Glo Balls' and 'Mary Unmargaret' are kissing cousins to Einstürzende Neubauten and Filth-era Swans. Off-putting for some, perhaps, but we love it.

MP3:
Glo Balls

I.U.D.'s debut The Proper Sex is available now on The Social Registry. Get it.

MINIMAL MUSIC, MAXIMUM EFFORT

2009-03-23T15:16:00.003-04:00

From what I've experienced, the modern minimal scene is best avoided live because it's god-awful boring and packed to the wall with sad goths and forty year old men who wish they looked like Faris Rotter. That's why I'm a bit confused about Gape Attack!. They come across with the same sort of minimal wave/post-punk sound, but their live shows seem crazy. They look like any kid in Brooklyn but they actually seem to be having a good time. If this Seattle trio can inject some life into a rather dreary genre, more power to 'em and here's hoping it spreads.

MP3s:
Zombie Attack
OD

DOLL BREAKS, NIGHT BEATS

2009-03-18T06:19:00.001-04:00

Ever since she premiered her band Dollskabeat last year, Lucy Ross has been raising eyebrows left and right, as well as appearing on bills with Midnight Juggernauts and putting together memorable live shows comprised of animated dancing and visuals from award-winning artist Max Hattler. Armed with the cheekbones of Nico and the New Wave chops of Gina X, if this Scottish ice-queen's album is as strong as her demo tracks, she's going to a huge force for electronic music.

MP3s:
Zodiac Rising
Go POP!

HEY YOU MILLIONAIRES! GET OUT OF THAT GARBAGE!

2009-03-17T12:41:00.002-04:00

Bass-heavy is how I like my summers, and as the weather grows warmer I'm far more inclined to lend an ear to any bangers thrown my way. First up is Designer Drugs, and we know that means good listening. And when Le Castle Vania gets involved...well!

MP3:
Designer Drugs - Back Up In This (Le Castle Vania & Rrrump & Computer Club Remix)

Next comes a mix from one of my favorite remixers, featuring one of my favorite bands. The Acid Girls remixes on HEALTH's Disco were some of the best, and now they've released a mix that includes all new edits for you to drool over. It's exclusive to URB.com, so click the link and download it already!

MP3:
Acid Girls - HEALTH Megggamix

This one, however, I was reluctant about. I'll be honest: I don't see anything of value in The Millionaires. When I first heard them, I think I said something like "10th-rate Uffies for scene retards". Not that I think Uffie is packed with talent, but I can get down to even her in a sort of 'this is goofy but fun' way. These girls, though, hot as they may be in a sort of 2007 kind of way, are just not my steez. However, time and again Hot Pink Delorean have blasted the blogosphere with amazing remixes. Do they have enough swagga to turn this lead into gold? You decide.

MP3:
Millionaires - I Move It (Hot Pink Delorean Remix)

DOWN UNDERGROUND

2009-03-16T06:14:00.001-04:00

I first became aware of Australia's Birth Glow while trying to find more info about vocalist Ellen Carey's earlier project Jemima Jemima. Unlike that clattering No Wave deliciousness, Birth Glow are far more restrained, but they make up for it with their infections melodies. You can hear echos of something darker, however; that classic post-punk drumming hits you here and there, and when Carey's voice hits that warbling falsetto, you feel a charge up your spine. I don't think they're active anymore but certainly neither band got the notice they should have.

MP3s:
Birth Glow - Palm Tree Ukelele
Birth Glow - Too Slow
Jemima Jemima - Why Must I Improve

Birth Glow's album Ultimate Relief is available through Nervous Jerk/Remote Control. Get it.

BELIEVE THE HYPE

2009-03-11T17:14:00.000-04:00

Not much information about this; two Londoners making amazing fuzz-filled psychedelic stuff. You can download their single-track EP for free on their Space, and here's a couple split songs for you as well.

MP3s:
Karen Hates The Forest
White Mike

JUNIOR SAMPLES

2009-03-10T20:12:00.002-04:00

Okay, look. Röyksopp's new album Junior leaked. You know it, I know it. Röyksopp know it, and you better believe their label know it, and that label is pretty enthusiastic about not having people post tracks from the upcoming album. So what I will do is give you a low-quality, one-minute taste of my favorite track. Believe me, the full version is awesome, as are pretty much all the tracks. Like any good fan, I've already pre-ordered this sumbitch, and you should too.

MP3:
The Girl And The Robot (ft. Robyn) ((sample))

Junior is out March 23rd on Astralwerks. Get it get it get it.

GANG OF FOUR

2009-03-10T14:23:00.000-04:00

Man, as sexy as a lot of the breaking electro stuff is, I haven't heard any brand new stuff that's really fun in a while. Mickey Gang have really lifted my spirits, however. These four Brazilian boys first wowed me with 'I Was Born In The 90's' (which I found on Big Stereo, respect) and now they've absolutely thrilled me with their new song 'Horses Can't Dance'. Move those feet, people!

MP3s:
Horses Can't Dance
Born in the 90’s (Naji Nahas Footloose Remix)

FASTBLOOD

2009-03-07T03:35:00.003-05:00

As someone who's lived in Las Vegas, I can honestly say that not much good comes out of it. Old Blood, however, prove that there are always exceptions (although they're originally from LA, which makes a lot more sense. Screw you, Las Vegas. Fuck you.) The brother-sister duo make my favorite kind of pop: NOISE pop, and it's mixed with a healthy amount of garage sensibility and a touch of the blues. The result is a Velvet Underground-meets-Wavves sensation.

MP3s:
I Win
Cannibal Lovin'

A WOMANS' WEAPON

2009-03-04T14:45:00.003-05:00

Anyone who reads this blog will be able to tell I have a thing for female vocalists, and especially for female vocalists fronting noise projects. I've been loving the DIY drones of Caldera Lakes for a while now, but it's only recently that I've discovered vocalist Brittany Gould's side project Married In Berdichev! Cacophonous beauty and swooping, garbled snippets of sound alternately caress and pummel the eardrums while Brittany's vocals coo and wail.

MP3s:
Late At Night
Wake
Feet In The Water

TAKE ME OUT TONIGHT

2009-03-04T14:09:00.001-05:00

BTS favorites Little Boots and Fred Falke combine to form the first Big Dance Hit in 2k9. 'New In Town' is a Little Boots live favorite, and the remix by Falke turns it into a funky disco club delight. If this doesn't make your shoulders shake, you're probably paralyzed from the neck down.

MP3:
Little Boots - New In Town (Fred Falke Remix)

SEX AND SEXUALITY

2009-03-04T01:14:00.006-05:00

Real content coming later this evening; I've been indisposed for a bit. Until then, enjoy the amazing new video for Sébastien Tellier's 'Roche'. If you've ever gazed longingly at the cover of Sexuality and wished you could see it come to life, your prayers are answered. God bless.

EMERGING: COUGARETTES

2009-02-26T13:54:00.003-05:00

Montreal is bursting with good sounds, and Cougarettes are getting ready to burst! The four-piece electro group recently released a new track called 'Sugar', as well as a new, improved version of their other tune 'Ego Head'. Soundwise they're in the same vein as Crystal Castles and Heartsrevolution; in other words, fun stuff!

MP3s:
Sugar
Ego Head

PANTSED AT THE LAKE

2009-02-25T10:46:00.004-05:00

Somehow, in the kerfuffle of This and That I missed the fact that Vivian Girls have a new song out. It's awesome, listen to it etc. I need to go buy pants.

MP3:
Lake House

NOISE GRAMMAR

2009-02-24T09:35:00.001-05:00

LA is a hotbed of radioactive noise merchants, and one of my favorites is the brutal din of Asyntax. Watch as they drag seven or eight huge amps into a tiny venue and arrange themselves in front so that they take the brunt of the sonic concussions. They don't save it all for themselves, however; if your ears aren't smashed, your body will be as they throw themselves around, using their instruments as much as physical weapons as mental. When I saw them, I gashed open my knuckles on Aaron's guitar, got whacked in the collarbone with James' mic, and managed to somehow get a good amount of Nick's sweat in my mouth while he bashed away at his synth. Fun? Believe.

MP3s:
Treblehook (Rumblehoof)
Clusterbomb