Magic Kids – “Superball”

JJ LevineRae Spoon’s last album, 2008′s Superioryouareinferior, may have served as the point of entry for me into the Calgary native’s works, but his fifth album was more of an exit for him in that it represented a push out of the country-folk scene with which he’d been associated and into the (relatively) broader realm of Canadian indie-pop. Maybe not the promised land, but without that bit of crossover, the record probably wouldn’t have otherwise caught my ear certainly wouldn’t have last year’s Polaris ballot.

For the follow-up record Love Is A Hunter, Spoon’s muse took him a little farther afield – Berlin, to be precise. The influence of the time spent abroad was more overt on last year’s free-to-download Alexandre Decoupigny collaboration What Are You Waiting For? (Worauf Wartest Du?), but the time spent in and around the European dance scene is still echoes quite clearly on Hunter.

But rather than try to craft a record of club bangers or electro-clash anthems, Spoon makes those influences lyrical concerns than sonic ones, opting to contemplate the experiences and interactions, diary-style, and thus sticks to his strengths. This isn’t to say that it’s all more of the same, though. Spoon’s sound is still more folk than anything else – you can take the boy out of the country and all that – but Hunter comes fairly suffused with electronic beats and textures that dance in and around the compositions, offering an interesting counterpoint to Spoon’s crystalline voice and otherwise spare arrangements. They don’t necessarily elevate them, but they do add some extra aural interest. And while the meeting of influences on Hunter doesn’t create the same stop-in-your tracks, emotional impact of Superioryouareinferior, it does further the case as Rae Spoon as one of the country’s up-and-coming songsmiths and certainly a talent to continue watching.

Exclaim has a short piece on Spoon, who kicks off a cross-Canada tour next week.

MP3: Rae Spoon – “Death By Elektro”
MP3: Rae Spoon – “You Can Dance”
Video: Rae Spoon – “Love Is A Hunter”

Details have emerged about the forthcoming Neil Young album produced by Daniel Lanois. It will be entitled Le Noise and be available on September 28 in pretty much every format imaginable (LP, CD, MP3, Blu-Ray, iPhone…). I’m not the biggest fan of Lanois’ own work, but as a producer he’s helmed some amazing records and triggered creative renaissances from some legendary artists. Really anxious to hear what he’s done with Neil.

Exclaim has put Land Of Talk’s Liz Powell on the cover of their September issue with accompanying feature piece.

MP3: Land Of Talk – “Quarry Hymns”

MOG talks to Matt Camirand of Black Mountain. Their new record Wilderness Heart is out September 14.

Arcade Fire’s first video from The Suburbs is a live clip of “Ready To Start” recorded in July in London.

Video: Arcade Fire – “Ready To Start”

Two Hours Traffic have a new clip from this year’s Territory.

Video: Two Hours Traffic – “Happiness Burns”

There’s also a new video from Tokyo Police Club’s new record Champ.

Video: Tokyo Police Club – “Bambi”

Blonde Redhead – “Here Sometimes” (4AD Session)

Cold Cave – “Tomorrow” (Hunkydory) A previously-unreleased 2009 demo, just released on the band’s Tumblr.

MOJO interviews guitarist Johnny Marr about his increasing work on film soundtracks.

Time lists the top 10 angry breakup songs.

Exclaim profiles Land of Talk's Elizabeth Powell.

Though not very eager to discuss her own role as a woman in music for fear it overshadows the rest of what informs her, when asked if she feels any obligation to carry that torch, Powell's tone turns meek. "I owe her, yeah. I would want to be that to a girl, or girls. I would like that." You get the feeling that Powell isn't so much the reluctant hero as she is an engaged and influenced product of post-feminism, perpetually in the private, persistent midst of mapping her roles as artist and woman, but also ready for everyone to just get over the gender thing already.

The Seattle Times interviews Vampire Weekend frontman Ezra Koenig.

The Quietus interviews Kristin Hersh.

Exclaim wonders what the demise of American Apparel will mean for band merchandise.

Pop & Hiss reports that a Bob Dylan box set of demos and early mono releases will be released later this year.

At Paste, Aquarium Drunkard's Justin Gage shares a list of the albums he's currently enjoying.

On sale at Amazon MP3: The Love Language's 10-track Libraries album for $2.99

The Perfect Five is a music blog that recommends five songs (one each of hyped, covered, classic, remixed, and loved).

Rosecrans Baldwin, author of the novel You Lost Me There, shares a music playlist with Paper Cuts.

Grass Widow – “Fried Egg”