PHW - July 2010

Moving this weekend - probably won’t hear much from me for a few days. Check out the best of the new music I heard/shared this month in the meantime:

MP3 :: We Scatter Light - Soft Black
MP3 :: Baltimore - Tennis
MP3 :: Let’s Go Surfing - The Drums
MP3 :: Silent Time of Earth - Candy Claws
MP3 :: Saturday Mourning - Slow Animal
MP3 :: Heart To Tell - The Love Language
MP3 :: Life Is A Problem - Marah
MP3 :: Pale Blue Eyes - The Kills
MP3 :: Angel Echoes - Four Tet (Caribou Remix)
MP3 :: Revival - Deerhunter
MP3 :: Eyesore - Women
MP3 :: Love More - Sharon Van Etten
MP3 :: All The Best - My Morning Jacket
MP3 :: Three Sisters - J. Tillman
------------------------------------------------------------------------

[video] Tennis - "Cape Dory"

Tennis - Cape Dory (Underwater Peoples Records) from RichsLaw on Vimeo.

Another goodie surfaced today from lo-fi indie/pop newcomers Tennis. “Cape Dory”, which can be found on the soon-to-be-released Baltimore 7” that I mentioned last week, is another garage rock nugget with a vintage pop melody that this band seems to churn out with relative ease. Check out those mp3s down there if you don't believe me. Not to be missed. Look for it over at Underwater Peoples. Via GvsB.

MP3 :: Baltimore
MP3 :: Marathon
(from Baltimore 7”. Pre-order here)
---------------------------------------------------------------

[video] Bowerbirds - "Northern Lights"

It’s been over a year now since Bowerbirds dropped Upper Air, but they’ve just recently released an official video for the gorgeous, pastoral folk of “Northern Lights”. Fittingly, the video’s imagery, like the song, is heavy on love and nature and the delicate balance of the two.

MP3 :: Northern Lights
(from Upper Air. Buy here)
-------------------------------------------------------------------

[mp3] J. Tillman - "Three Sisters"

After releasing two of 2009’s finest records, I figured J. Tillman would keep quiet on the solo front in 2010. After all, as the drummer for Fleet Foxes (who are busy on their next release) it would seem he would have his hands full these days. Well, Western Vinyl announced today that that isn’t the case. The ever-prolific Tillman found 3 days back in February to lay down his 7th studio album, the upcoming Singing Ax. “Three Sisters” is the stark opening cut, and one of the only songs on the album to feature more than just Tillman’s weary voice and acoustic guitar. The fact that it was recorded by Steve Albini in Chicago’s Electrical Audio seems appropriate - that’s where Albini recorded Songs: Ohia’s Magnolia Electric Co., a truly great recording by a band that Tillman’s last few albums have echoed.

Look for Tillman on tour with Phosphorescent (a brilliant pairing if ever there was) this summer. Dates here.

MP3 :: Three Sisters
(from Singing Ax. Info to come)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

[mp3] Marah - "Life Is A Problem"

Photo by Andre Allegre

My Old Kentucky Blog recently shared the title track to Marah’s best and most exciting album in a decade, Life Is A Problem. The song is a raw, banjo & electric-guitar driven mini-epic inspired by an old blues song of the same name by Sister Ola Mae Terrell. It's the perfect introduction to the promising new phase Philly’s perennial underdogs have entered with this record. In addition to the previous digital release, Life Is A Problem is now also available on gatefold vinyl and cassette. Seems like the only medium it isn’t out on is CD, but who listens to those anymore anyway?

MP3 :: Life Is A Problem
(from Life Is A Problem. Buy here)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[video] Titus Andronicus - "A More Perfect Union" (live from Pitchfork Music Festival)

Has there been a better indie-ROCK song this year? Honestly, I don‘t think anything‘s been close.

MP3 :: A More Perfect Union
MP3 :: Four Score And Seven (Part 1)
MP3 :: Four Score And Seven (Part 2)
(from The Monitor. Buy here)
------------------------------------------------------------

[mp3] Tennis - "Baltimore"

Tennis have slipped out a couple of songs this summer, and each has been a super lo-fi/pop gem in its own right. Underwater Peoples will release a 7” from the duo later this month that collects a couple of those tunes. You may have already heard “Marathon”, the sparkling, throwback pop b-side, or seen the video for “South Carolina”. If not you’ve been missing out. Now check out “Baltimore”, the vintage sounding collage of jangly guitars, big booming drums, and Alaina Moore’s sweet-as-salt water vocals that kicks the thing off (via Pitchfork).

MP3 :: Baltimore
MP3 :: Marathon
(from Tennis 7”. Pre-order here)
---------------------------------------------------------------

[video] The Drums - "Let's Go Surfing"

I’ve been busy this summer, the hottest we’ve had in years. The days are long and my shirt is stuck to my skin at the end of every one of them. Music hasn’t taken a back seat, but I have a lot less time right now to immerse myself in it than I usually do. The Drums’ self-titled debut is one of those albums that I would have certainly spent more time with if I only had a little more to give. As it is I’ve only given it a few cursory spins, but from what I’ve picked up it’s perfect summer music - bright, catchy, new wave (eww, pun) beach/pop that’s part Factory Records, part Feelies, and part of the herd of like-minded young lo-fi bands that sound like they grew up within walking distance of the ocean. The video for “Let’s Go Surfing” (which may be kind of old, not sure) is sporty, but The Drums aren’t going to be confused for jocks anytime soon. And though the night time jog scene doesn’t really capture the spirit of the opening line (“Wake up, it’s a beautiful morning”), the song is memorable enough to withstand a good but imperfect video. Then again, maybe it was just so freakin’ hot that the guys couldn’t bear to film during the day.

MP3 :: Let’s Go Surfing
MP3 :: It Will All End In Tears
(from The Drums. Buy here)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[video] Arcade Fire - "Rococo" clip

Untitled from Arcade Fire on Vimeo.

The Suburbs drops 8/3 via Merge, like you didn‘t know. Arcade Fire & Spoon are taking over MSG for two nights (8/4 - sold out, 8/5 tickets here).

(Preorder The Suburbs here)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Four Tet - There Is Love In You

I’ve slept on There Is Love In You for most of the year, but the first new full-length album from Four Tet since 2005's Everything Ecstatic is just a flat out gorgeous record that’s had me hooked for the past few days. Though the pulsing, dream-like soundscapes of Kieran Hebden often get pegged as electronic (or worse yet, folktronic), there’s something completely natural and organic at work here - elements of folk, jazz, dub, and IDM all working together perfectly. The album is filled with the sort of glistening melodies and intricate craftsmanship that reward repeat listens. Opener “Angel Echoes” echoes Burial’s brilliant Untrue with its chopped vocal samples, and “This Unfolds” does just that, not so much building as growing over its near 8 minutes into something magnificent. The highlight though is the majestic “Love Cry”, which begins as just distant static before bursting into a harrowing, eerie dancehall jam.

Stream :: Love Cry
Stream :: Sing
(from There Is Love In You. Buy here)

MP3 :: Angel Echoes (Caribou Remix)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

[mp3] Candy Claws - "Silent Time Of Earth" & "Sunbeam Show"

You may have read about or seen the pictures of the recent car fire that disrupted what should have been an awesome summer for Candy Claws. With a couple of tracks making their way around the blogs/Pitchfork and a modestly-hyped debut dropping in early August, things were definitely on the up for the Colorado duo before that crazy incident. Hope they get back on the road soon. Listen below to a pair of musically lush, vocally fuzzy Beach Boys-inspired indie-pop songs from the forthcoming record, Hidden Lands (Two Syllable, 8/3), below. (via MBV).

MP3 :: Silent Time Of Earth
MP3 :: Sunbeam Show
(from Hidden Lands. Info here)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[video] Beach Fossils - "Golden Age"

Pitchfork TV had a video up today of Beach Fossils performing the sun-dappled “Golden Age” from their excellent self-titled debut. Check it out, and hear some recent singles below if you haven’t yet.

MP3 :: Youth
(from Beach Fossils. Buy here)

MP3 :: Time
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------