Canadian Wildlife - “Winter’s Moon” It may be odd to be listening to this very autumnal/wintry song in late summer, or it could just be wishful thinking on my part as I’m pretty ready to move on to the next season, or fast forward straight to the dead of winter. That’s where this song is — you can nearly feel the bite of frigid January air on your skin in the negative space between Jennifer Mecija’s spectral piano chords, the bright notes evoking white and yellow lights illuminating the blue-black cast of the early evening. The melody is rather sad, but Mecija’s small, girlish voice sounds calm and hopeful, particularly as she harmonizes with herself on the chorus.

Buy it from Friends In Bellwoods.

Electric Six @ The Temptress 8/20/2009
Formula 409 / Feed My Fuckin’ Habit / Be My Dark Angel / Down At McDonnellzzz / She’s White / Randy’s Hot Tonight / Watching Evil Empires Fall Apart / Improper Dancing - Never Tear Us Apart / Danger! High Voltage / The Future Is In The Future / Your Heat Is Rising / Dance Epidemic / Gay Bar / I Buy The Drugs / We Were Witchy Witchy White Women // Gay Bar Part II / Germans In Mexico

This was the third summer in a row that the Electric Six have played aboard a small cruise ship in the Hudson River, and well…I don’t need to get into it too much. Just like the two previous years, it was a very wild and rowdy gig, the band rocked hard, and Dick Valentine was hilarious. If you’re into the band already and were not there, you should be jealous. If you don’t care about the band at all, I’m getting tired of trying to convert you. But if you’re curious, you can always check this out.

Daniel Johnston – “Freedom” From Johnston’s new Jason Falkner-produced album Is And Always Was, out 10/6 from Eternal Yip Eye.

Helado Negro – “Playas”

Helado Negro’s 5 borough tour of NYC kicked off this weekend– don’t miss your chance when he comes to your ‘hood.

Ben WellandI’m not sure why it’s taking me so long to try and come up with words to describe The Balconies and their debut album – also called The Balconies and out September 15. It could be this epic nap that I woke up from a few hours ago but still haven’t shaken loose, or maybe it’s because whenever I start playing the record, that’s 37 minutes that I’d rather just sit and listen instead of write.

The Balconies stick to the tried-and-true power-trio format and on top of that, favour of a dry, in-your-face approach that eschews any sort of studio hijinks. They’re a confident crew, these Balconies, and why not? All three are superb musicians and guitarist Jacqui Neville has got a most impressive set of pipes, with power and expressiveness to spare but thankfully uninterested in showy over-singing. Sibling and bassist Steve Neville is an effective vocal foil, though I find myself wishing I wasn’t reminded so much of the B-52s’ Fred Schneider at points. Their songwriting is also at its sharpest when they plough straight ahead with the power-pop, all punch and vigor and demonstrating a knack for the not-so-obvious-but-indelibly-catchy hook. But even the lesser tracks have at least one riff, melody or moment to justify its place amongst the stronger numbers and oft times, they’re the ones that stick in the head the most. In fact, on the first few listens, I thought I was able to easily distinguish the standouts from the filler, but subsequent listens have blurred those distinctions significantly. What hasn’t changed, however, is the first impression – that The Balconies have turned out a cracking debut record and more than merit my – and your – attention.

MP3: The Balconies – “300 Pages”
MP3: The Balconies – “Smells Like Secrets”

Spiral Beach will release their new album The Only Really Thing on September 22 and follow that up with a whackload of touring, including a cross-Canada jaunt with Two Hours Traffic.

MP3: Spiral Beach – “Domino”
Video: Spiral Beach – “Domino”

There’s a new track available from Grand Archives’ forthcoming second album Keep In Mind Frankenstein, out September 8.

MP3: Grand Archives – “Oslo Novelist”

Also sharing a new tune are Headlights, who’re releasing their third album Wilderness, out October 6.

MP3: Headlights – “Get Going”

Spinner talks to Grizzly Bear.

Stereogum has premiered the MP3 for the a-side from a new Asobi Seksu 10″ coming out this week, a different version of “Transparence” from their latest album Hush.

CMJ reports that Venice Is Sinking are soliciting pre-orders for their third album The Georgia Theatre Sessions, proceeds from which will go towards rebuilding the titular theatre where the album was recorded and which burned down earlier this Summer. Chip in via Kickstarter.com. This record would be the follow-up to AZAR, released earlier this year and just lovely.

MP3: Venice Is Sinking – “Ryan’s Song”
MP3: Venice Is Sinking – “Okay”
Video: Venice Is Sinking – “Ryan’s Song”

While I like the piece by Adrian Tomine they ultimately used for the cover art to Luna’s Best Of (and which you can buy for just $1500), I like this rejected cover better.

Newsweek Q&As The Flaming Lips’ Wayne Coyne about their new album Embryonic, out October 13.

P.S. Eliot - “Entendre” I will never delete this voicemail. It's a performance just for me, a completely unscripted masterwork. It has all the curves of a voice that's electric with teenage anticipation, it's a smiling sound, a kiss from a machine. It's wet from when we weren't even together, it's cracked in all the most beautiful places, it's made of marble, and marbles, and theories, and gold.

[MySpace] (another moss bailey treasure)

Fontana - “Gotta Split” That was The Shitters with their spit-drenched A-side "Here Comes The Coming" from their 7" called Butt's Up? released on Head of the Dead Records. That's a small DIY cassette label out of Newmarket, which has recently moved into the realm of vinyl, so I guess they're making a buck or two over there at Head of the Dead... (Continue reading at Said the Gramophone →)

[MySpace]