Silence Killer

Lisa Mitchell - Coin Laundry [Video+MP3]

2009-08-21T19:47:00.007-06:00

Lisa Mitchell plays the lolita of the launderette in her new music video for “Coin Laundry”. It's a delightful folk-pop song, and one of the best music videos I've seen all year.

The song is from her latest album Wonder, released a few weeks ago.

Lisa Mitchell - Coin Laundry
Download MP3*
*For sampling purposes only. If you like the music, support the band!

BUY THE ALBUM
Digital: Amazon MP3 UK | 7digital UK | iTunes
CD: JB HI-FI (signed!) | Amazon UK

The Sound of Arrows - Into the Clouds

2009-08-14T23:51:00.004-06:00

It feels like the first time I heard “Walking On a Dream” by Empire of the Sun. Seriously, wow. It only takes one run through the video to see the gorgeous scene behind the Vanilla Ice guy. Modern dreamy synthpop with an emphasis on magnificent visuals.

Here's The Sound of Arrows' video debut, “Into the Clouds”. The single releases on vinyl and download September 21.

The Sound of Arrows - Into the Clouds
Download MP3*
*For sampling purposes only. If you like the music, support the band!

Fun - Walking the Dog

2009-08-09T23:45:00.004-06:00

Fun is an indie pop band from New York, and one of the best new bands this year. I've written about them a couple times already, but now we're two weeks away from their debut album release, so here's a new track to ignite your excitement!

Aim & Ignite comes out August 25 on Nettwerk.

Fun - Walking the Dog
Download MP3* or Listen on MySpace
*For sampling purposes only. If you like the music, support the band!

PRE-ORDER THE ALBUM
Fun Store

New Mika Single + Calvin Harris Remix

2009-08-04T01:43:00.008-06:00

Cue piano and choir over 80s pop beat.

Teenage dreams in a teenage circus.
Running around like a cloud, on purpose.
Who gives a damn about the family you come from?
No giving up when you're young and you want some.

Mika is back, and looking as flambiguous as ever. His new video puts him in white boxers, romping around his teenage bedroom trying on all his favourite chromatic costumes. Curiously, where we would expect provocative and uncomfortable, he gives us fun and amusing.

I'm a sucker for big, flashy pop songs, and this one has it all in excess!

The We Are Golden single is out September 6, and Mika's sophomore album of the same title releases September 21.

MUSIC & VIDEO

Mika - We Are Golden

Mika - We Are Golden (Calvin Harris Vocal Mix)
Download MP3
This version is way better than the Calvin Harris radio edit.

SHOPS
HMV | iTunes

Butterfly Bones - xoxo

2009-08-02T02:00:00.006-06:00

In San Francisco, summer wears you.

All the hot new indie pop is coming from Cali this week. Butterfly Bones are on the verge of releasing their debut Pretty Feelings EP, a synthlicious selection of summery songs to be your sonic serenade whilst you sweat, swim or sit back and sip a strawberry margarita. Whatever your sunshine activities are, by now you know that I love to add to my neverending summer soundtrack.

Butterfly Bones - xoxo
Download MP3* or Listen on MySpace
*For sampling purposes only. If you like the music, support the band!

TOUR
Butterfly Bones are taking a house party tour across the states in September. Check their MySpace if you want to see them live, or even host them in your house!

RELATED TRACKS
Islands - No You Don't
Electric Owls - Magic Show
Starfucker - Rawnald Gregory Erickson the Second

Ghostbird - Ghostbird EP [Review]

2009-08-01T01:48:00.006-06:00

Ghostbird is a new rock band from San Diego. Their genres of choice on MySpace are 2-step, Dutch pop and glam, none of which seem fitting for a new SoCal indie rock band, but those descriptions are, in fact, fairly accurate. The drum beat is a bit unusual, which is what 2-step is known for, and their style does have a touch of glam. Dutch pop, like Scandinavian pop, has a rustic, enchanting feel to it, as does Ghostbird.

The Ghostbird EP begins with “Toy Soldier”, an indie pop tune that reminisces upon a time when war was make-believe and battles were fought between plastic figurines. This song is obviously made to be a single, although it's a lot more pop than the rest of the EP.

My favourite track is “Night Kills Day”, a swaggering ballad that gives glimpses into an affair of love and deception. The song begins under the guise of a common indie rock ballad, even to the end of the first listen, but unexpectedly blooms after a few minutes of listening. The 7-track EP contains a few more gems, but I don't want to spoil them all track-by-track this time.

An EP usually has a different feel than an album, sometimes with a more direct theme, or the raw sound of a new band making its debut, or a well-established band branching off briefly in a new direction. Ghostbird's debut EP sounds more like an album than an EP, well-polished and brimming with memorable rock songs. Their style does not diverge far from that of the biggest indie and alternative rock bands of recent years, but that's not so important when their music is simply better than most of those bands.

The Ghostbird EP is out now on CD and iTunes.

MUSIC & VIDEO

Ghostbird - Night Kills Day
Download MP3* or listen on their site
*For sampling purposes only. If you like the music, support the band!

Ghostbird - Toy Soldiers (HD)

BUY THE EP
Digital: iTunes
CD: Ghostbird Shop

DatA - One In a Million (Club Version)

2009-07-31T00:17:00.005-06:00

A grinding superwave electro beat to melt your mind... When you do something bad, like microwaving your cat, but you want to do it another ti-i-i-i-i-ime, do it to this song.

DatA's One In a Million digital single is out now on Ekleroshock.

DatA - One In a Million (Club Version)
Download MP3 or Listen on MySpace

BUY THE SINGLE
eMusic | Juno Download | Beatport | Amazon MP3 US | Amazon MP3 UK | iTunes

Love & Electrik - Sex Video

2009-07-30T03:24:00.004-06:00

Apologies for the less-than-daily posts lately—as mentioned in the last couple posts, I was at the Calgary Folk Music Festival all weekend. The next day I flew to Vancouver to see La Roux, who were to be supported by “special guests”, which turned out to be Vancouver's own Love & Electrik. I remember Discobelle posting about them a little while ago, so I recognised “Sex Video” as soon as they began to play it. They also did a great cover of Phil Collins' “In the Air Tonight” and are the first band I've seen with a real, live talkbox.

The flashy duo is composed of Kevin Mah, who takes on the duties of keyboardist, keytarist and talkbox vocalist, and Roxy Aiston on lead vocals. Their performance was far more energetic than the relaxed electro beat they put on record with their first single “Sex Video”, but to be fair, all great bands have more energy onstage.

The single is out now on Tremendous Records, exclusively available through Beatport.

Love & Electrik - Sex Video
Download MP3 or Listen on MySpace

BUY SEX VIDEO
Beatport

Lee Harvey Osmond (Festival Review)

2009-07-26T01:03:00.005-06:00

I have been listening to Lee Harvey Osmond for the past few weeks leading up to their appearances at the Calgary Folk Music Festival this weekend. I was impressed by a few songs on their debut album A Quiet Evil, but their live show made me a fan.

Lee Harvey Osmond is the name of the band, fronted by Tom Wilson, a dynamic musician and songwriter of folk, rock and roots music, who has played for several bands including Blackie & the Rodeo Kings and Junkhouse. The rest of the band includes 60s folk musician Brent Titcomb, members of Cowboy Junkies and more members of Wilson's other bands.

On Friday night, Lee Harvey Osmond made their weekend debut on the mainstage, opening the evening. The mainstage opener has the difficult job of drawing everyone back to their lawnchairs, and getting them to pay attention or dance, even, is frustrating. Tom Wilson took the stage with his band and began with the addictive beat of “The Love of One”. His rough baritone voice and the relaxed yet heavy roots beat mesmerized the crowd, turning all heads toward the stage. The crowd seemed shocked and amazed that the first band of the night could be that good.

Needless to say, Stage 6 was packed Saturday morning when Lee Harvey Osmond shared the stage with a few even lesser-known artists. By now, they were already a festival favourite, taking the biggest portion of the cheering crowd.

Carmen Townsend of Tom Fun Orchestra told us how excited she was to share the stage with Tom Wilson, as her first concert experience was sneaking into a Junkhouse concert in the Maritimes with a fake ID. She was delighted when later, Tom invited her up to sing with him when the band covered Lou Reed's “I Can't Stand It”, and her cheeks were as rosy as her hair by the end of the song.

It was then that I figured out that Tom Wilson was also the singer from Blackie & the Rodeo Kings, of whom I had heard one fantastic song, “Stoned”, on a movie soundtrack. I had a brief chat with Tom after the session to confirm that fact and he promised to play it tomorrow (Sunday) morning!

Six stages run simultaneously all morning and afternoon, dividing 60+ artists into group sessions and individual concerts, so it's tough to see all the artists you want to see, but I will undoubtedly be seeing Lee Harvey Osmond perform Sunday for the third and fourth time!

Lee Harvey Osmond - The Love of One
Download MP3 or Listen on MySpace

BUY A QUIET EVIL
CD: Maple Music | Amazon
Digital: eMusic | iTunes

TOUR
After the Calgary Folk Fest, Lee Harvey Osmond heads to BC and Ontario, including an appearance at Toronto's Festival of Beer.

The Decemberists (Festival Review)

2009-07-25T00:50:00.007-06:00

The Decemberists are known for their romantic tales and whimsical stories that are woven through their music. Their latest album Hazards of Love centers on a woman named Margaret, who falls in love with William, a shapeshifting beast of the forest, and the jealous forest queen and the villainous Rake, who bring conflict to the two lovers.

The sun had barely set tonight when The Decemberists took the stage at Prince's Island, the beautiful urban oasis that is the site of the Calgary Folk Music Festival. The audience was weary from the enormous energy we had just spent, keeping up with Arrested Development.

Jenny the organist began with a haunting melody and the band began to tell us the tale of the Hazards of Love. The story itself was pushed aside in favour of the characters themselves, who came to life through the music. The music rose and fell as the band shuffled around, playing organ and guitars, then drums, then some less-recognisable noisemaking contraptions.

As The Decemberists progressed through their epic tale, their was a magical energy radiating from the stage that kept the tired crowd charged until the well-deserved encore. Once I had seen the show, I realised that listening to the CD was really just the appetizer.

Here is a song from Hazards of Love that is outstanding to see live, my favourite from the show.

The Decemberists - The Queen's Rebuke/The Crossing
Download MP3 or Listen on YouTube

BUY HAZARDS OF LOVE
CD/vinyl: Insound | Norman Records | Recordstore | Rough Trade
Digital: Boomkat | 7digital | Amazon MP3 US | Amazon MP3 UK | iTunes

Kesha - Tick Tock (P. Diddy)

2009-07-22T23:01:00.002-06:00

I am not above sharing my guilty pleasures. Kesha, fake-blonde pop singer/crunk bitch and possible The Hills reject, says of her new single, “Mick Jagger might be my dad. fo realz. ....I play the cowbell.”

Her influences include a random list of popular folk, indie, classic rock and pop artists. Her favourite things include getting rowdy and posting silly things in her blog, like “check this shit out . its like a sex cream cone.” and “guyz,ur $moneyyy $moneyy $moneyy$!!” I can't figure out where the hell to put the [sic] on that last one.

I reluctantly recommend Kesha's new weekend party track, “Tick Tock (P. Diddy)”. She's working on her debut album, but in the meantime, she'll also entertain you with her Twitter.

Kesha - Tick Tock (P. Diddy)
Download MP3

via Pretty Much Amazing

VISITOR - Los Feeling + Remix Contest

2009-07-21T23:05:00.002-06:00

I have no idea where these mysterious beings came from, but I hope we hear more from them in the near future. They call themselves VISITOR and with one unpolished gem they have me hypnotised. This is exactly the type of sound that excites me more than any other.

VISITOR - Los Feeling (Rough Mix)
Download MP3 or Listen on MySpace

Disco DJs and other sound-shapers! VISITOR is offering the stems of “Los Feeling” for you to reinterpret as your inspired mind sees fit. There will be winners and prizes. See! the details!

Islands - No You Don't

2009-07-20T23:52:00.002-06:00

Montreal indie band Islands have reunited with founding member Jamie Thompson (who was absent from their third album) for their upcoming third album, Vapours. Pitchfork premiered a brand new song “No You Don't” today. Like Bloc Party's most recent effort, they have added more synths and taken a small leap toward pop, and landed nimbly on a silver stage.

Islands' new album Vapours releases September 22 on ANTI-.

Islands - No You Don't
Download MP3

Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros - 40 Day Dream

2009-07-19T23:30:00.006-06:00

Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros are a folk collective with as many as 12 members. If you're young enough to have missed the psychedelic 60s, “40 Day Dream” is as close as you may get to the barefooted decade of peace, love and the power of the flower. The song is off their debut album Up from Below which is out now on Community Music/Fairfax Recordings.

Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros - 40 Day Dream
Download MP3 or Listen on MySpace

The band will be presenting a feature-length epic musical film in 12 parts. Here is Part 1 “Desert Song” which is also from the album.

Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros - Desert Song [HD]

BUY THE ALBUM
Digital: Boomkat | Amazon MP3 US | Amazon MP3 UK | 7digital | iTunes
CD: Rough Trade | Norman Records | Recordstore | Insound | CD Universe

The Angel Brothers - Ghosts

2009-07-18T23:13:00.003-06:00

The Angel Brothers describe their new album as ‘a soundtrack to a film of your imagination’. That barely begins to describe their post-folk sound. “Ghosts”, an epic track off their new self-titled album, takes a journey through time and space to discover the indigenous music of a peaceful world where it is always night and the moon is always glowing. Not that there are any lyrics depicting such a backdrop, but it is the image that appears when I close my eyes and listen to “Ghosts”.

The eponymously titled Angel Brothers is out now on Navigator Records.

The Angel Brothers - Ghosts
Download MP3 or listen below

TOUR
The Angel Brothers will begin their England tour in September.

BUY THE ALBUM
Navigator Store | Amazon

Shakira - She Wolf

2009-07-17T23:26:00.000-06:00

Shakira will always be a staple of Latin music, especially in her home country of Colombia, but this might just be enough to bring her back to the international spotlight. “She Wolf” and its Spanish counterpart “La Loba” is a cute, sexy song with goofy lyrics about a woman and her lycanthropic delusion. As everyone has been saying, this track requires three listens before it sparks into brilliance.

This is the first preview of her new album She Wolf, releasing October 5. The She Wolf/La Loba single was released a few days ago, but it's digital only and if you live in the parts of the world where Shakira is most famous, or in the UK, you cannot buy it. The music video is expected to release shortly.

Shakira - She Wolf
Download MP3 or Listen on MySpace

The song was recently made available for free from ABC Music Lounge, but it was US only and for a limited time.

BUY THE SINGLE
Amazon MP3 US | iTunes selected countries only

Bombay Bicycle Club - Dust On the Ground

2009-07-16T22:30:00.002-06:00

Bombay Bicycle Club, indie rock band from North London, is fronted by the unusual voice of Jack Steadman. Their second single “Dust On the Ground” has all the elements of rock, but played at an indulgent pace, like a progressive psychedelic ballad with a sweet pop flavour.

Here are the music video for “Dust On the Ground”, filmed by Elisha Smith-Leverock, and two excellent remixes. You can also find their previous single, “Always Like This”, in a previous article here. Their album I Had the Blues But I Shook Them Loose is out now.

Bombay Bicycle Club - Dust On the Ground

Bombay Bicycle Club - Dust On the Ground
(Tanlines Remix)
Download MP3

Bombay Bicycle Club - Dust On the Ground
(Banjo or Freakout Remix)
Download MP3

BUY THE ALBUM
CD: Rough Trade | Norman Records | Recordstore | CD Universe
Digital: Amazon MP3 UK | 7digital | iTunes

Numéro# - Angoisse, Paresse, Panique

2009-07-15T22:50:00.002-06:00

Numéro# exposes the dark side of electropop and the sanguine side of new rave in their new album, Sport de Combat. At least three singles could be culled from this ingenious album, but the duo have not been lucky enough, so far, to generate sufficient buzz about their music. It's only a matter of time though.

If I had to name my favourite track on the album it would be “Angoisse, Paresse, Panique”. The vocals sweep from natural to synthetic and back again, throughout the song. The music is chromatic and harmonious, sounding more like the work of a master composer than a loop-hacking producer.

Another standout track, “Tout Est Parfait” was given a video to accompany and elevate the aural experience. It's artsy, pretentious and it manifests entirely in slow motion, but it's one of my favourite music videos ever, and it's perfect.

The album is out now on Saboteur Records.

Numéro# - Angoisse, Paresse, Panique
Download MP3

Numéro# - Tout Est Parfait

BUY SPORT DE COMBAT
CD: Saboteur Records | Amazon CA
Digital: Saboteur Records | eMusic | Juno Download | Beatport | Amazon MP3 US | Amazon MP3 UK | Amazon MP3 FR | iTunes

a-ha - Foot of the Mountain (Album Review)

2009-07-14T20:11:00.014-06:00

In 1985, Norwegian synthpop group a-ha released their first single, “Take On Me”, which topped nearly every national music chart in the world and went on to become one of the most recognisable songs of the 80s. Through the late 80s and into the 90s they followed the trend towards a more alternative rock sound, but now on their 9th album, they have returned to their synthpop origin with Foot of the Mountain.

The album overall is relaxed and soothing, as synthpop should be. It takes on a beautiful ambiance that flows from the first track through to the last. The Verve's last album Forth is hardly a close genre comparison, but the alluring mood of the music and the smooth, graceful vocals are the same.

The most radio-friendly and standout tracks on the album are “Riding the Crest”, which picks up the pace for a moment, and “Foot of the Mountain”, the gorgeous title track. The rest of the album glides by unpretentiously but unbroken in its symmetry.

I would mention my other favourite tracks, but they seem to change with every listen of the album. Listen to it with intention, if you feel so inclined, or put it on in the background and let it play all day. This 44-minute album is truly worth many hours of your time.

Foot of the Mountain is out now in their home country of Norway and releases worldwide July 27.

8.2/10

MUSIC & VIDEOS

a-ha - Foot of the Mountain
Download MP3 or watch the video below

“Foot of the Mountain” is also downloadable directly from Universal Music Norway.

a-ha - Foot of the Mountain

SHOPS
CD: Recordstore | CD Universe | Amazon US | Amazon UK
Digital: Amazon MP3 US | Amazon MP3 UK | iTunes

TOUR
a-ha are scheduled to tour Europe this fall.

Toby Emerson - Secret Life

2009-07-13T23:53:00.008-06:00

While I am a freak for a good hook, I cannot stand gratuitous repetition. I love many genres of music, but when it comes to techno, house, trance and dance music, I take great care in skimming only the few most outstanding songs off the top.

Toby Emerson ranks among the highest order of producers, who can compose something so stunning that it can be repeated for 2 minutes straight, and further still, can twist and transform it through a 7-minute ascension to a rapturous climax. I discovered this last year with his singles “Rapture” and “Never Comin' Down”, favourites among club DJs but little known to the rest of us.

He has a considerable discography of singles released through a variety of underground labels. He released three singles this year in rapid succession and is currently working on his proper full-length debut, to be released in 2009/10 through Subversive Records UK.

Here is one of his three recent singles. “Secret Life” shows off Toby's extraordinary ability to feature driving guitar riffs in a dark, entrancing house track. The single is out now on Bugeyed Records.

Toby Emerson - Secret Life (feat. Dwizz)
Download MP3 or Listen on MySpace

BUY THE SINGLE
eMusic | Juno Download | Beatport | Amazon MP3 US | Amazon MP3 UK | iTunes

The Angry Kids vs. Bob Marley - Mr. Brown (Dylan Rhymes Remix)

2009-07-12T20:54:00.009-06:00

Some time ago, Bob Marley's “Mr. Brown” was remixed by The Angry Kids, a then-unknown team of DJs based in Toronto. The track spread among club DJs like wildfire, spawning dozens more remixes.

Dylan Rhymes brought the track to its peak with this floorgrinding remix. The drums feel like a kick to the chest and the bassline crunches on a seismic scale. I have never heard anything quite like this.

The Angry Kids vs. Bob Marley - Mr. Brown (Dylan Rhymes Remix)
Download MP3 or Listen on MySpace

BUY THE SINGLE
This single, including this and many more remixes, is not available to purchase in most of the world. Check iTunes or Beatport to see whether you are allowed to buy it in your country.

Val Venosta - Peace and Quiet Is for Libraries!

2009-07-11T22:30:00.007-06:00

Val Venosta, a band from Sweden that is causing a lot of ruckus among blogs today, has sent us this oddly fantastic disco song and music video. The video reinterprets a 1963 public safety video featuring apes riding bicycles. The clip has been used by other artists before, such as Boards of Canada, but this song is waaaayyy more fun!

If you love this as much as I do, you'll be happy to know Val Venosta has promised more to come! You can also find more on their MySpace.

Val Venosta - Peace and Quiet Is for Libraries!
Download MP3 or watch the video below

Val Venosta - Peace and Quiet Is for Libraries!

Teddybears - Get Mama a House

2009-07-10T23:14:00.007-06:00

Whether you've heard of the Swedish band Teddybears, you already know their song “Cobrastyle”. It has been featured in countless movies, movie trailers, TV shows and ads, yet somehow it never feels overused or overplayed.

Now, after three years of silence, Teddybears are back with a new song. Apparently this one began its life as a television ad jingle. “Get Mama a House” has a warm acid jazz vibe with a faint chip synth and monotone vocals, revisiting the last chapter of their career: “Mama, haven't you heard? We sold out all over the world!”

Teddybears are offering the new song free on their website, along with a couple remixes. A new song often means a new album, but no official news has been released yet. xfingersx.

Teddybears - Get Mama a House
Download MP3 or Listen on MySpace

New Calvin Harris Video

2009-07-09T15:21:00.004-06:00

Calvin Harris' new single “Ready for the Weekend” premiered last month, and just posted the new music video a few hours ago. The single releases August 10 on CD and 12". The album, also entitled Ready for the Weekend, drops August 17.

His previous hit “I'm Not Alone” was more innovative and less formulaic, but “Ready for the Weekend” is more chilled and fun. Get ready for massive summer rotation of this one.

Calvin Harris - Ready for the Weekend

WhoMadeWho - Keep Me In My Plane

2009-07-08T23:10:00.000-06:00

Copenhagen electropop group WhoMadeWho, together with director Good Boy Creative, have filmed a fascinating music video for their single “Keep Me In My Place”. The song is low-key and classy, while the video extends that theme into an ironic story of successful failure. It's a rare music video that reveals insight, that the song alone could not.

WhoMadeWho's new album The Plot is available now, as is the digital single for Keep Me In My Plane.

WhoMadeWho - Keep Me In My Plane
Download MP3 or watch the video below

WhoMadeWho - Keep Me In My Plane

BUY WHOMADEWHO
Digital: Beatport | iTunes
CD/vinyl: Norman Records | Recordstore | Insound | CD Universe