EXLOVERS
- Starlight Starlight
exlovers' album 'Moth' will be released through Young & Lost Club on the 21st May, 2012, by which point I will have finished my final year of undergraduate education and will be sobbing whilst I pack my life back into boxes. In which case May is a good time for an album release; well done exlovers, excellently timed.
You can download 'Starlight Starlight' here in exchange for your email address.
Directed by Frederick Lloyd (Ursine Vulpine).
Kaylea x
Video: Birds That Change Colour, Tales From the Moon
I always wondered what Blur would sound like if they were fronted by Paul McCartney. It's a common debate in my world. I ask everybody I know if they know the answer. Some people say I ask stupid questions, others say Wings and walk away. But I'm never deterred. It's an important question.
And now there's an answer: Birds That Change Colour
The technical term for their sound is 'effervescent'. They have a lot pop, but it's not all fizz and saccharine enthusiasm. Their music floats-up from something deeper and heart-felt. And it's chased-down with the nice, smooth finish of Koen Kohlbacher's vocals.
There's something different about Birds That Change Colour. It's partly that they're Belgian. But it has what beer makers call 'chill haze': There's some cloudiness to their music that has no affect on flavour. Or put another way, they have a really complex and layered style that comes-off nice and ambient, with a subtle hint of melancholy.
Birds have a new album, On Recording the Sun, that will be out on 5 March.
For more about Birds That Change Colour, visit their website or their label, Jezus Factory.
By Jim Morrow
And now there's an answer: Birds That Change Colour
The technical term for their sound is 'effervescent'. They have a lot pop, but it's not all fizz and saccharine enthusiasm. Their music floats-up from something deeper and heart-felt. And it's chased-down with the nice, smooth finish of Koen Kohlbacher's vocals.
There's something different about Birds That Change Colour. It's partly that they're Belgian. But it has what beer makers call 'chill haze': There's some cloudiness to their music that has no affect on flavour. Or put another way, they have a really complex and layered style that comes-off nice and ambient, with a subtle hint of melancholy.
Birds have a new album, On Recording the Sun, that will be out on 5 March.
For more about Birds That Change Colour, visit their website or their label, Jezus Factory.
By Jim Morrow
Ones to Watch, er, literally...
Delta/Alaska
Delta/Alaska is a five-piece from North London who spent the majority of 2011 writing and playing just a handful of shows, all so that they could produce this wonderful EP for your ears.
They're just babies in the world of social networking, so we only have a still-image video for you to cast your eyes over; this is a song I recommend listening to with your eyes closed anyway.
The limited edition self-titled EP brings a lot of noise, and then little noise, and then pretty noise, and on the whole, some pretty indescribable, amazing noise. If you're quick, you might be lucky enough to grab one of the last copies. If not, you can still choose your own price and download the MP3s from the link below.
Likely to please fans of Foals, Tall Ships, 65daysofstatic, maybe even ASIWYFA fans in places.
You can buy the EP here.
You can go on their website here.
You can go and see them support Tall Ships at New Slang in Kingston next Thursday (26/01/12).
by Kaylea Mitchem
Delta/Alaska is a five-piece from North London who spent the majority of 2011 writing and playing just a handful of shows, all so that they could produce this wonderful EP for your ears.
They're just babies in the world of social networking, so we only have a still-image video for you to cast your eyes over; this is a song I recommend listening to with your eyes closed anyway.
The limited edition self-titled EP brings a lot of noise, and then little noise, and then pretty noise, and on the whole, some pretty indescribable, amazing noise. If you're quick, you might be lucky enough to grab one of the last copies. If not, you can still choose your own price and download the MP3s from the link below.
Likely to please fans of Foals, Tall Ships, 65daysofstatic, maybe even ASIWYFA fans in places.
You can buy the EP here.
You can go on their website here.
You can go and see them support Tall Ships at New Slang in Kingston next Thursday (26/01/12).
by Kaylea Mitchem
Little Boxes
by Bonnie Friend.
Apart from the miserable weather and interminable number of months looking forward to summer with only the interruption of consumer sponsored celebrations in between … although having said that, Valentines does promise another influx of chocolate so it isn’t all bad … I find this time of year fascinating. In the weeks following New Year the leisure industry sees a cavalcade of new gym memberships and promises to oneself of a brighter and better-toned future.
Apart from the miserable weather and interminable number of months looking forward to summer with only the interruption of consumer sponsored celebrations in between … although having said that, Valentines does promise another influx of chocolate so it isn’t all bad … I find this time of year fascinating. In the weeks following New Year the leisure industry sees a cavalcade of new gym memberships and promises to oneself of a brighter and better-toned future.
Ones to Watch, er, literally...
ame>
DAUGHTER
Setting fire to our insides for fun.
For me, one shining gem glistening amongst Communion Records' growing roster is Daughter. From the acoustic, folk roots of her first EP, ‘His Young Heart’, to the more edgy, darkly inspired follow up ‘The Wild Youth EP’, she’s seen a passionate following grow. The husk of Daughter’s breathtakingly soft vocals play the angel over devilishly crafted song writing. 2012 can only be her year, where the engineering of a busy 2011 will properly pay off. If you’re failed to be blown away by Daughter, you have a heart made of iron. She’ll touch you somewhere deep, and you won’t forget it.
by Robbie Wojciechowski
DAUGHTER
Setting fire to our insides for fun.
For me, one shining gem glistening amongst Communion Records' growing roster is Daughter. From the acoustic, folk roots of her first EP, ‘His Young Heart’, to the more edgy, darkly inspired follow up ‘The Wild Youth EP’, she’s seen a passionate following grow. The husk of Daughter’s breathtakingly soft vocals play the angel over devilishly crafted song writing. 2012 can only be her year, where the engineering of a busy 2011 will properly pay off. If you’re failed to be blown away by Daughter, you have a heart made of iron. She’ll touch you somewhere deep, and you won’t forget it.
by Robbie Wojciechowski
Labelled Independent Live: Sophie Bohana
Back in November, Labelled Independent sat down with Sophie, her guitarist Josh and Assorted Records’ Pete Roch to record some live tracks, talk about her music and play some of her EP too. This LIVE episode is the result.
Listen here: http://labelledindependent.podbean.com/.
Subscribe to the podcast by searching iTunes Store for Labelled Independent or by going to http://bit.ly/labelledindyitunes.
You can find out more about Sophie Bohanan at http://www.assortedrecords.com/sophiebohanan/.
Assorted Records: http://www.assortedrecords.com/.
Also, while you’re here, don’t forget you can still vote for your Labelled Independent Track of the Year for 2011 – simply download the previous episode and have a listen!
Video: Rich Aucoin, 'It'
Rich Aucoin's Canadian. He has the Canadian ever-changing-multiple-member-orchestra-organised-around-a-single-composer thing down. In fact, I'll wager to top comment on Youtube for this video is 'Its a Arcade Fire rip-off' - or some poorly spelled variant. Instead, what Aucoin and Arcade Fire have in common that they sound like Canada.
Aucoin's latest album, We're All Dying to Live - which is the second in a trilogy - was recorded on multiple continents, has 22 songs, and features somewhere around 500 musicians and a children's choir. Hell, even his video for 'It' features an absurdly massive ensemble cast.
But in spite of his Canadian inclinations, Rich Aucoin makes catchy music, the kind that will have you singing-along and bopping all day long. It's straight-up, unpretentious anthem music; think John Maus without the obscure allusions to cypto-Marxist academics and Speak and Spell synth.
If you want to know more about Rich or just want to see what he's up to, you can click... here.
By Jim Morrow
New Single from Tanlines
You can download 'Brothers' here.
FUN PARTY
FLAMINGODS launch party!
To celebrate Flamingods release of 'Away' on Belly Kids, they're throwing a party at Power Lunches.
They will be joined by:
Halo Halo,
Keel Her,
Bone Yards,
Chalices of the Past,
Yola Fatoush
AWAY is available to download for free here.
And if you like what you hear, you can order now from BELLY KIDS (http://www.bellykids.co.
You can also pick up a limited edition Aztec-style zine with a purchase of the single.
'Ones to Watch', er, literally.
NURSES.
Nurses. Nurses. Nurses. Where do we start? Formed in Portland, Oregon, I'm certain that this three-piece are the answer to your comedown from Foster the People. Your pining for Animal Collective. Hell, even I know that you sometimes still listen to MGMT.
Nurses produce that kind of dreamy psychedelic pop that is the soundtrack to your perfect Summer. They're uplifting, focusing on hypnotic but shifting rhythmic patterns. And when paired with unpredictable, nasal vocals, which are oft unintelligible, Nurses quite often catch you off guard.
It's their aesthetic that has grabbed my attention; it would seem as though they enter the recording studio and warble in various ways until they find what they like. It's difficult to describe their sound exactly; there's a lot of indecipherable subtleties in each track. From the almost tribal drumming in 'Fever Dreams', to the finger-clicking feel-goodness of 'Trying to Reach You', the tracks really are made up with the tiniest inflections.
by Kaylea Mitchem.
Nurses. Nurses. Nurses. Where do we start? Formed in Portland, Oregon, I'm certain that this three-piece are the answer to your comedown from Foster the People. Your pining for Animal Collective. Hell, even I know that you sometimes still listen to MGMT.
Nurses produce that kind of dreamy psychedelic pop that is the soundtrack to your perfect Summer. They're uplifting, focusing on hypnotic but shifting rhythmic patterns. And when paired with unpredictable, nasal vocals, which are oft unintelligible, Nurses quite often catch you off guard.
It's their aesthetic that has grabbed my attention; it would seem as though they enter the recording studio and warble in various ways until they find what they like. It's difficult to describe their sound exactly; there's a lot of indecipherable subtleties in each track. From the almost tribal drumming in 'Fever Dreams', to the finger-clicking feel-goodness of 'Trying to Reach You', the tracks really are made up with the tiniest inflections.
by Kaylea Mitchem.
'Ones to Watch', er, literally.
GRIMES
(This is not an official video - but it is an interesting watch all the same).
Having just signed to 4AD (home of tUnE-YaRdS, St. Vincent and Bon Iver, to name a few), Grimes is our third 'One to Watch' this year.
Grimes is pretty difficult to pin-down in terms of description, but I'll try my best: Montreal-based Claire Boucher's previous releases summon other-worldly vocals, hiding them amongst layer-upon-layer of beautiful musical constructs not too dissimilar to that of Zola Jesus. It's all very ethereal and, at times, a little difficult to get into. With this, it seemed as though Grimes was destined to embrace witch-house and stay there indefinitely. However, what we've heard of her upcoming album, Visions (her fourth release in two years, no less), nods towards something a little new age, a little more synth-y and altogether more upbeat, whilst remaining ultimately melancholy in its undertones - which when written down, doesn't make much sense, so have yourself a listen and see what we mean.
Visions - released in Canada 31/01/12 (Arbutus)
- released in North American 21/02/12 (4AD)
- released everywhere else 12/03/12 (4AD)
by Kaylea Mitchem (via Wayne Moya Kettell)
(This is not an official video - but it is an interesting watch all the same).
Having just signed to 4AD (home of tUnE-YaRdS, St. Vincent and Bon Iver, to name a few), Grimes is our third 'One to Watch' this year.
Grimes is pretty difficult to pin-down in terms of description, but I'll try my best: Montreal-based Claire Boucher's previous releases summon other-worldly vocals, hiding them amongst layer-upon-layer of beautiful musical constructs not too dissimilar to that of Zola Jesus. It's all very ethereal and, at times, a little difficult to get into. With this, it seemed as though Grimes was destined to embrace witch-house and stay there indefinitely. However, what we've heard of her upcoming album, Visions (her fourth release in two years, no less), nods towards something a little new age, a little more synth-y and altogether more upbeat, whilst remaining ultimately melancholy in its undertones - which when written down, doesn't make much sense, so have yourself a listen and see what we mean.
Visions - released in Canada 31/01/12 (Arbutus)
- released in North American 21/02/12 (4AD)
- released everywhere else 12/03/12 (4AD)
by Kaylea Mitchem (via Wayne Moya Kettell)
'Ones to Watch', er, literally
TIMBER TIMBRE
It kicked-in around the time Amy Winehouse's beehive met Mark Ronson's record collection, and has carried-thorough Lady Gaga's impersonation of Grace Jones humping Madonna.
But alchemy's not all bad. At least it's not historical re-enactment or strip-mining - both of which Sublime has been up to these days. Alchemy's about putting the right elements together to make something different. It's about finding the right matter and substance and using the proper magic to make it dance: Two turds rubbed together makes a mess; two sticks make fire.
Appropriately, Timber Timbre has their alchemy down.
Timber Timbre is: One part black and white celluloid science fiction soundtrack, one part smoke-filled beat jazz club, one part Canadian roadhouse, three parts Leonard Cohen, and a whole lot of Elvis on downers.
Timber Timbre won't set your dance floor alight. Instead, they smoulder like embers, keeping it warm enough for their melody and composition to work their magic.
And if you want to see Timber Timbre's alchemy for yourself, they're touring the UK this March.
By Jim Morrow
'Ones to Watch', er, literally
WEEKEND WOLVES
Based in Hamburg, Weekend Wolves is something of an enigma. With barely an internet presence besides a handful of reviews and a short interview, there's little to tell about the man behind the sound. But that's all irrelevant anyway: the music speaks for itself.
It's hard to place his sound amongst a scene full of chillwave/grimewave/dubwave (that surely must be a genre by now?). He creates multi-layered, gritty landscapes, that grab you and force your head back and forth with such meaning and purpose that you have to push 'replay' countless times in an attempt to make sense of what you're hearing.
With its samples and heavy basslines, Weekend Wolves would most likely appeal to fans of Fuck Buttons, perhaps M83 and, at a push, Gold Panda. The only difference being that Weekend Wolves produces 'the best bits' that carry consistently throughout the track. There's no subtle build-up, no 'massive drop', he just pelts straight-in with the heavy bass and a persistent beat.
With remixes for Lo Fi Fnk, Is Tropical and MIT under his belt, we're looking to hear a lot more from Weekend Wolves in 2012. And, hopefully, sooner rather than later.
by Kaylea Mitchem
Based in Hamburg, Weekend Wolves is something of an enigma. With barely an internet presence besides a handful of reviews and a short interview, there's little to tell about the man behind the sound. But that's all irrelevant anyway: the music speaks for itself.
It's hard to place his sound amongst a scene full of chillwave/grimewave/dubwave (that surely must be a genre by now?). He creates multi-layered, gritty landscapes, that grab you and force your head back and forth with such meaning and purpose that you have to push 'replay' countless times in an attempt to make sense of what you're hearing.
With its samples and heavy basslines, Weekend Wolves would most likely appeal to fans of Fuck Buttons, perhaps M83 and, at a push, Gold Panda. The only difference being that Weekend Wolves produces 'the best bits' that carry consistently throughout the track. There's no subtle build-up, no 'massive drop', he just pelts straight-in with the heavy bass and a persistent beat.
With remixes for Lo Fi Fnk, Is Tropical and MIT under his belt, we're looking to hear a lot more from Weekend Wolves in 2012. And, hopefully, sooner rather than later.
by Kaylea Mitchem
Podcast: Labelled Independent
Presented by Steve Boniface, with panellist Emma Jones
Another new year is upon us. And 2012 is already looking to be a promising one for new music. First, though, Labelled Independent takes a look back at some of the best tracks from 2011 in our Track of the Year contest. Listen, and find out how you can vote for your favourite to be named our first TRACK OF THE YEAR.
Listen Now:
Another new year is upon us. And 2012 is already looking to be a promising one for new music. First, though, Labelled Independent takes a look back at some of the best tracks from 2011 in our Track of the Year contest. Listen, and find out how you can vote for your favourite to be named our first TRACK OF THE YEAR.
Listen Now:
Happy Holidays from Risk and Consequence!
As our gift to you, we give you a special Holiday mixtape.
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