Angelo Spencer – Et Les Hauts Sommets
Out 2/9 on K
This instrumental album from the French musician features guests Arrington De Dionyso, Karl Blau, and Clyde Petersen (Your Heart Breaks) as his accompanying band “Les Hauts Sommets” (“The High Summits”).
Lilja BirgisdottirWhen it was revealed that Jon Thor Birgisson was going to be working on a project separate from Sigur Ros, many – well me, at least – assumed that the instrumental Riceboy Sleeps record which came out earlier this year was it. But in fact, it was credited to Jonsi & Alex, the titular Alex being Alex Somers of Parachutes and Birgisson’s boyfriend and the project being something else completely. Which is just as well because while it was a pretty piece of atmosphere, Riceboy Sleeps didn’t really engage as a piece of music and didn’t do much to tide one over while waiting for the new Sigur Ros record.
When flying solo as just Jonsi, however, the results are more satisfying. Details on Birgisson’s debut album entitled Go were revealed last week alongside the first MP3 – “Boy Lilikoi” – and it’s definitely not lacking in substance. Big and colourful, it finds Birgisson singing in English overtop buoyant and burbling pop arrangements, courtesy of Bjork arranger Nico Muchly and The National producer Peter Katis. This track and the extra audio samples available on the Jonsi website seem to ensure that Go will be enough like Sigur Ros to entice and satisfy fans of Sigur Ros, but different enough to justify not being Sigur Ros.
The album will be out on March 23 of next year, and a world tour to support will follow. Which basically ensures that the new Sigur Ros record won’t be out until Fall at the earliest.
MP3: Jonsi – “Boy Lilikoi”
MP3: Riceboy Sleeps – “Boy 1904″
MySpace: Jonsi
Rolling Stone talks to Ted Leo about his new album The Brutalist Bricks, available March 9. For a sneak preview of the new material, check out this downloadable live show from last week courtesy of NYC Taper.
Magnet does the over/under thing with Built To Spill’s oeuvre.
The Fader has posted their recent cover story on Bon Iver online while NME reports that a charity album entitled A Decade With Duke, pairing Justin Vernon with his Eau Claire, Wisconsin high school’s jazz band in performing Duke Ellington songs, Bon Iver songs and a few standards. NPR has a feature piece on the collaboration.
Paste kicks off their new “Moog Sessions” – featuring videos of performances recorded at the Moog factory in Asheville, North Carolina – with Yo La Tengo.
The Skeleton Crew Quarterly interviews Venice Is Sinking.
For Folk’s Sake interviews Jenn Wasser of Wye Oak.
Drive-By Truckers will release their new studio album The Big To-Do on March 16 – details at Muzzle Of Bees.
This week, PitchforkTV is streaming the 2004 Superchunk documentary, Quest For Sleep.
Video: Superchunk: Quest For Sleep
The Thermals’ Hutch Harris talks lyrics with Paste. Their next album is out September 7, 2010.
The Line Of Best Fit interviews Beach House about their new album Teen Dream, out January 26.
The Independent has an extensive interview with Wilco.
Austinst has information on The Golden Dossier component of Shearwater’s new album The Golden Archipelago, which they are hoping to finance via Kickstarter. The album is out February 23.
And to the latter, the long-rumoured Thrush Hermit reunion appears to be a go. Official confirmation and full dates are still forthcoming, but an eastern leg of the tour appeared on last week and puts the reunited Haligonians at Lee’s Palace in Toronto for two nights, March 26 and 27. Once and future Thrush Hermit frontman Joel Plaskett also just released a new video from Three. Update: Plaskett has confirmed the reunion in an interview with Exclaim.
My Brightest Diamond – Shark Remixes
Out 1/26 on Asthmatic Kitty
My Brightest Diamond – “Inside A Boy” (Son Lux Remix)
This 2xCD collects the 3 prior My Brightest Diamond Shark Remixes EPs, plus the new 4th edition, featuring remixes by DM Stith. Limited to 1500 copies, signed and numbered by Shara Worden.
BONUS: Asthmatic Kitty is also offering a free download of 5 alternate tracks & demos from MBD’s original A Thousand Shark’s Teeth. Get it here: My Brightest Diamond – Shark Demos
The Fiery Furnaces @ Bowery Ballroom 12/12/2009
Rub Alcohol Blues / Charmaine Champagne / Duplexes of the Dead - Automatic Husband - Ex-Guru / Chris Michaels / The End Is Near / Keep Me In The Dark / Up In The North / Staring At The Steeple / Drive To Dallas / Evergreen / Crystal Clear / Cut The Cake / Ray Bouvier / Worry Worry / Wolf Notes // I’m In No Mood - Candy Maker’s Knife In My Handbag / Two Fat Feet / Asthma Attack / Single Again / Chief Inspector Blancheflower (first part) - Japanese Slippers / Even In The Rain / Here Comes The Summer
I wonder if the Fiery Furnaces are going to stick with performing crowd-pleasing rock shows for the foreseeable future, or if they’re just dying to go off on another strange tangent as soon as they get a chance...
Read the full review at Fluxblog →
The Fiery Furnaces “Keep Me In The Dark” It would be interesting for the Fiery Furnaces to further mine the territory established on “Keep Me In The Dark.” They’ve done some groovy, danceable bits in the past, but it’s never been a focus, especially as Matthew seems like the sort of guy to either lose interest midway or flip your expectations once he’s got you moving. The verses are fine, but the chorus is top-notch, vaguely echoing Motown in both form and substance without veering into pastiche. The lyrics kill me, by the way. The verses are typical high concept Furnaces fare, but when Eleanor sings “please don’t tell me nothing, keep me in the dark with the opposite of anything,” it’s clear that she’s talking about something far more emotionally potent than antiques, receipts, and per diems.
Buy it from Amazon.
Handsome Furs
Sharon Laurilla, 2009
