New project, new album, new mp3. Not an unfamiliar artist though. Nooo, I’ve known the involved party for quite some time. Alex Chen, head honcho of Boy in Static, is starting up a solo project called “The Consulate General”, based out of (indie pop) heaven, Sweden. Several of The Consulate General’s songs are collaborative efforts, as [...]]]>

New project, new album, new mp3. Not an unfamiliar artist though. Nooo, I’ve known the involved party for quite some time. Alex Chen, head honcho of Boy in Static, is starting up a solo project called “The Consulate General”, based out of (indie pop) heaven, Sweden. Several of The Consulate General’s songs are collaborative efforts, as Chen is joined by the likes of Antoine Bedard (Montag), John Chao (of Misha), Ryan Fritch (of Sole & The Skyrider Band), and Simon Scott (of Slowdive).

His first album as The Consulate General is titled Person Number, and it’s set to drop on April 6. I expect it to be reaching several ears when the sound begins to infiltrate the blogosphere, as it takes some of the clean electronica of Boy in Static and mixes it with some new experimental twists. Listen to the first single below:

The Consulate General – “What Time Is It Now” [MP3]

Check out an awesome interactive musical toy at theconsulategeneral.com. Built from samples of “On the Run,” track 2 on Person Number.

[Ed. Note: In an effort to provide a diverse range of music, not only in genre but also by location and culture, Lin Lizhuang, from Singapore, writes about music from parts of the world that may go unnoticed on this here blog (you can find more of her work on her blog, Rock Loves Romantic.) [...]]]>

[Ed. Note: In an effort to provide a diverse range of music, not only in genre but also by location and culture, Lin Lizhuang, from Singapore, writes about music from parts of the world that may go unnoticed on this here blog (you can find more of her work on her blog, Rock Loves Romantic.) Enjoy! Previous KR Goes Global here.]

By Lin Lizhuang

In my opinion, the Japanese rank very highly on the “Asian mysticism” mysterio-meter. They have a language that is specially designed to mask the true emotions of the speaker and anything that goes through their handling becomes somewhat complex (origami, flower arrangements, gift wrapping, elaborate green tea ceremonies) and entirely worth your worship. You don’t really understand their motivations and inspiration, but somehow, you find yourself trusting and fascinated by whatever that is Japanese (ok, let’s leave Toyota out of the picture for a while, those guys will be back on their limited edition sneakered feet in no time, I presume).

Shena Ringo (or sometimes known as Shiina Ringo) is a Japanese lady who has named herself after a fruit (ringo = apple in Japanese). She also happens to have a very peculiar voice, which is complex and very difficult to describe. Sometimes it’s rusty like the sound of paper tearing, other times its sexy and exciting like the ring of pants unzipping in the midst of passion. But for most of the time, she sounds like a women soured by bad relationships and listening to her can be like torture; it can bring out some pretty intensely unpleasant emotions.

Tokyo Jihen is her band, made out of some of the most competent musicians in the Japanese music industry. Each of them are gods of their respective instruments, and although at times you are confused about what to listen to, you are more than likely to be stricken with awe at the impeccable precision of the instrumentation, and the cosmic chemistry between the band members.

At this point I must admit that it has been one hell of a long introduction, but the matter of the fact is, Sports is the worst Tokyo Jihen album to date, and I do desperately want to impress upon you that they are indeed too great a band to be judged based on the shortcomings of a single album.

東京事変 (Tokyo Jihen) – “雪国 (yukiguni)” (from Adaruto) [stream only]

Sports is the fourth album from their “Programming Genres” line up (the first was Kyoiku (Education), followed by the rather dark Adaruto (Adult) and the more relaxed and entertaining Variety). It is a tightly packed set of 13 vigorous tracks, which begins with an overly elaborate opening ceremony anthem, Ikiru. The album  then proceeds to cover as many sporting activities as possible, such as the intense racetrack adrenaline in Denpa Tsushin, to the dignified grace of archery in Sweet Spot, the pool table sophistication of FAIR and lastly, the euphoric rush of extreme sports in Noriki.

As if to go along with the theme, here, each member’s competitive streak comes to light, everyone is screaming to be heard and it really comes across like an overwrapped present; its just too noisy, too tipsy and a tad too alcoholic. I felt absolutely exhausted after listening to the album.

Here’s the part where I tell why you would still fall head over heels in love with Tokyo Jihen despite all the failings that are apparent in Sports. Tokyo Jihen is considered a suitably westernized band in Japan, but the listener is often blindsided by a surprising Japanese hook in the middle of the song. Moreover it is almost impossible to understand any of the lyrics as Shena Ringo rambles incomprehensively (both Japanese and English alike), but when listening to tracks like Zenttai Zetsumei, Senko Shojo and Noudouteki Sanpunkan, you’ll find an unlikely kindred spirit in their music and let yourself be carried away inexplicably by the amazing atmosphere created by the songs.

You’ll get a taste of what it ‘s like to be Japanese and to be mysterious. And then you’ll finally understand how to feels to be invincible.

東京事変 (Tokyo Jihen) – “能動的三分間 (Noudouteki Sanpunkan)” (from Sports) [stream only]

東京事変 (Tokyo Jihen) – “絶体絶命 (Zettai Zetsumei)” (from Sports) [stream only]

Composer Sarah Kirkland Snider teamed up with Shara Worden (aka My Brightest Diamond) for “This Is What You’re Like,” a track from Snider’s upcoming album Penelope. Now I’m not 100 percent clear on this, so I think a block quote from the press release will suffice:

Derived from a multimedia-theater piece co-created [...]]]>

Composer Sarah Kirkland Snider teamed up with Shara Worden (aka My Brightest Diamond) for “This Is What You’re Like,” a track from Snider’s upcoming album Penelope. Now I’m not 100 percent clear on this, so I think a block quote from the press release will suffice:

Derived from a multimedia-theater piece co-created by Snider and playwright Ellen McLaughlin, the work centers on a woman whose long-missing former husband turns up at her door, traumatized by two decades spent in an unnamed war.  To restore his memory, the woman reads aloud from Homer’s “Odyssey.”

Right?? I’m no theater critic who might “Bah!” and “Arrgh!” at some new-fangled work. But as a music critic who might “Bah!” and “Arrgh!” at some new piece of work I can with confidence say that “This Is What You’re Like” is awesome. It’s such a well-crafted song with intense emotion and wonderful instrumentation. The vocals are classic My Brightest Diamond and hearing Worden in a slightly different and unique setting is just thrilling.

Penelope is out in August on New Amsterdam.

Sarah Kirkland Snider – “This Is What You’re Like (ft. My Brightest Diamond)” [MP3]

The time of physical release for Milly Beau’s debut album, Party Glitter (a previous “new obsession” of mine), has finally arrived. Several physical copies will be available at The Mercury Lounge in NYC, where Milly Beau are holding their album release show, or you can purchase Party Glitter through Greenhouse Records. The album comes with quite [...]]]>

The time of physical release for Milly Beau’s debut album, Party Glitter (a previous “new obsession” of mine), has finally arrived. Several physical copies will be available at The Mercury Lounge in NYC, where Milly Beau are holding their album release show, or you can purchase Party Glitter through Greenhouse Records. The album comes with quite the reputation recording-wise, as it was engineered and mixed by John Thayer (Exit Clov/Drunken Sufis) and Scott Norton (CoCo Rosie, Built to Spill) at both Stitch Studios and Headgear Studios (TV on the Radio, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings) in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

Check out a newly free track from Party Glitter below (it’s one of my favorite songs on the album – the smoky vocals, minimal percussion and strings…oh man):

Milly Beau – “Free You In The Meanwhile” [MP3]

Previously: Milly Beau – “So Chic” [MP3]

I obviously don’t need to persuade you to attend the show after writing this post, so I won’t. (But, uh, do go.)

Show details:
Tuesday, March 16, 2010 @ The Mercury Lounge
217 E Houston Street
New York, NY 10002
8pm doors, 9pm show

Purchase Party Glitter from Greenhouse Records | Milly Beau on MySpace

Sound of the City, Brooklyn’s The Village Voice music blog, premiered a new track from ARMS today (check that link out, has some great info and q&a) and it’s all kinds of wonderful. We last talked about them in October when they released “Tiger Tamer” off their debut album (EP), Kids Aflame (which dropped in November [...]]]>

Sound of the City, Brooklyn’s The Village Voice music blog, premiered a new track from ARMS today (check that link out, has some great info and q&a) and it’s all kinds of wonderful. We last talked about them in October when they released “Tiger Tamer” off their debut album (EP), Kids Aflame (which dropped in November of ‘09), so it’s nice to have Todd Goldstein and crew back in action.

“Heat & Hot Water” is off their forthcoming five song EP, titled um… the Arms EP. It features Goldstein’s baritone with slow rolling percussion and whistles to start, then builds up with atmospheric harmonies and added instrumentation. I love it. Seriously. (P.S. Still miss you, Harlem Shakes.)

ARMS – “Heat & Hot Water” [MP3]

ARMS on MySpace

[Photo by Will Calcutt via Sound of the City]

California-based sextet Family of the Year has friends in high places, including the likes of Ben Folds, The Boston Pops and indie act extraordinaire Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros. And it’s not hard to see why. Family of the Year is a band bursting with folk talent that’s more than [...]]]>

California-based sextet Family of the Year has friends in high places, including the likes of Ben Folds, The Boston Pops and indie act extraordinaire Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros. And it’s not hard to see why. Family of the Year is a band bursting with folk talent that’s more than evident on their latest release “Through The Trees,” a five-track EP that runs the gamut of folk music and tosses in some great non-folk stuff too. “Chugjug” is a great foot-tapper, singalong track that is probably the only “purely” folk song on the recording. The EP is on their own Washashore Records and available for 4 lousy bucks at their website.

Family of the Year – “Chugjug” [MP3]

On Monday you may have noticed I posted a little info about Color of Clouds’ record release for Satellite of Love (April 6) and accompanying show at Pianos in NYC (on April 8). Well now we’ve got an extra special treat for ya. We’re providing you with two of the new new tracks (not the remastered [...]]]>

On Monday you may have noticed I posted a little info about Color of Clouds’ record release for Satellite of Love (April 6) and accompanying show at Pianos in NYC (on April 8). Well now we’ve got an extra special treat for ya. We’re providing you with two of the new new tracks (not the remastered ones from The Look EP) for your free consumption. Go out and share them; they’re quite lovely. The album as a whole is delicious, I can’t think of a better word to describe it. Pop you can eat right up! Mmmmmm.

*Also, a note from Dan the Man (Chen) himself: “FYI – the songs from The Look EP have been remastered, and they all appear on the full length - Next week we’ll be doing a free download of those remastered tracks from our MySpace & Facebook, PLUS a bonus mystery track [my commentary: oooooh] - so that fans who have already bought the stuff won’t have to buy the same songs twice!” [Update: Here you go.]

Sweet. Now get your goodies below.

Color of Clouds – “I Want You” [MP3] Poptronica (genres!) at its finest – the soothing vocals, the warm electroacoustic background, a playful ending. It’s also a song full of yearning, and we can hear it in the very sound itself, not just the words.

Color of Clouds – “Haunts Me (A Cappella)” [MP3] Scarr gets all Imogen Heap on us (she performs this track live with a looping machine and all). Her voice is on exquisite display here, demonstrating her enormous talent and range. Her low backing tone gives the song its foundation and the dreamy harmonies end it on a high note.

It’s appropriate that Austin boys Harlem should release another new single the week before SXSW. The song is “Gay Human Bones” (I just won’t ask, I guess) and it’s the second single from their upcoming full-length, Hippies. Like their previous single, “Friendly Ghost,” “Gay Human Bones” isn’t quite living up to my expectations after their [...]]]>

It’s appropriate that Austin boys Harlem should release another new single the week before SXSW. The song is “Gay Human Bones” (I just won’t ask, I guess) and it’s the second single from their upcoming full-length, Hippies. Like their previous single, “Friendly Ghost,” “Gay Human Bones” isn’t quite living up to my expectations after their earlier songs like “Witchgreens” and “South of France,” but I”m not writing the new material off just yet. It’s enough to keep me happy (for now).

Hippies is out April 6 on Matador.

Harlem – “Gay Human Bones” [MP3]

On Talking Through Tin Cans, the band’s last proper album, The Morning Benders didn’t seem to have any grand aspirations. “Damnit Anna” was a modest acoustic romp; “Crosseyed” was a Shins-y foray into acoustic pop; “Chasing a Ghost” added some electric elements rock to the formula.

But Big Echo is different. The band wants the album [...]]]>

On Talking Through Tin Cans, the band’s last proper album, The Morning Benders didn’t seem to have any grand aspirations. “Damnit Anna” was a modest acoustic romp; “Crosseyed” was a Shins-y foray into acoustic pop; “Chasing a Ghost” added some electric elements rock to the formula.

But Big Echo is different. The band wants the album to be more. If Talking Through Tin Cans was shit-eating innocence, Big Echo is the advent of adulthood. The production value is used to the band’s advantage (having Grizzly Bear bassist Chris Taylor co-produce will do that), whereas The Morning Benders’ first album seemed to be a few tracks just slapped on top of each other (generally). And so the songs, again, besides the fact that they’re filtered through a decidedly Grizzly Bear sensibility, seem to want be more than simple, fun tracks. Now they want to be the soundtrack to something. Like your summer. Brah.

If anything, the album is unfailingly bright and sunny. Opener “Excuses” hearkens back to the music of decades ago, and the prominent spacious guitar riffs and dulled organ don’t hurt much either.

And really, there’s not much more for me to say. The album’s not perfect, of course — it drags in the middle for a bit — but it’s not explicitly bad at any point. It’s agreeable. Chris Chu’s voice is nice and distinct, the guitars are crisp, the drums move the tracks along nicely, and the production is well suited for the direction the band seems to want to go. So take out your new boom box (or whatever the kids listen to these days) out to the beach and pump up some Big Echo. Because I said so. Go. Now.

The Morning Benders – “Excuses” [MP3]

The Morning Benders – “All Day Daylight” [MP3]

Purchase Big Echo here

We’ve been anticipating this track since as far back as yesterday when Scott from Stereogum tweeted:

Poppiest @NeonIndian MP3 yet drops tomorrow. Keep an ear out. Dr. Pepper or someone paid 4 it but I’m not being paid 2 tweet that! Gr8 song.

Thanks for the heads up Scott! I’m digging it and this is usually Jamie [...]]]>

We’ve been anticipating this track since as far back as yesterday when Scott from Stereogum tweeted:

Poppiest @NeonIndian MP3 yet drops tomorrow. Keep an ear out. Dr. Pepper or someone paid 4 it but I’m not being paid 2 tweet that! Gr8 song.

Thanks for the heads up Scott! I’m digging it and this is usually Jamie territory. Surprised? Have a listen below. It’s a goodie (and co-produced by Grizzly Bear’s Chris Taylor).

Neon Indian – “Sleep Paralysist” [MP3]

Way to go, Palomo!

Find it all at Green Label Sound