April 25, 2014

An Interview with Jackpot, Tiger



Brooklyn four-piece Jackpot, Tiger are set to release their sophomore self-titled record on May 13th. I sat down with the band to hear about the past two years spent in the studio, what it means to play music with friends, and what lies ahead in the next five years.

April 20, 2014

Mazzy Star - "I'm Less Here"



For this year's Record Store Day, dream-pop luminaries Mazzy Star released a limited 7" of their song "I'm Less Here". The song has been a part of the band's live set for years, but yesterday saw it's first official release. In addition, the band has also shared a video for the song which you can watch below.

April 17, 2014

FKA twigs played Glasslands



In 2013, FKA twigs made her mark with two well-crafted EPs that helped build a mystique around the young British artist. For her first U.S. tour, she has assembled a band that is so astonishingly tight and able to carry her complex rhythms into a live setting in such a manner that it seems as if they have been doing this for years. She contorted and captivated with every beat, warping her figure around the pulse of each track. Her voice was on par with the angels of another planet. Equally intergalactic and comforting; disorienting and magnetic. It was nothing like you'd ever heard before, but still delivered on all your expectations. Her unique blend of 90s slow-jam R&B combined with classic trip-hop made for such an authentic and original performance, it was hard to believe that this was her first live show in New York. On occasion she would bashfully thank the crowd for their admiration and attendance, but otherwise she was focused and determined. Standouts "Water Me" and "Papi Pacify" received the largest woos of the night, the crowd swaying and throbbing, never ready for the unexpected curve along the way. Her music is so forward thinking and mature, foreign to the boundaries of a particular sonic template. The talent required to pull off a set with the confidence and charism displayed by FKA twigs is not something attained over night. The out of touch dynamics of the songs are difficult to attain with the assistance of a studio, but the skill required to captivate a crowd with such little live exposure is remarkable. If people care enough to water this lady with full attention, the payoff could be tremendous.

April 11, 2014

Todd Terje - "Delorean Dynamite"



Earlier this week, Norwegian disco wizard Todd Terje dropped his long awaited debut album. It's called It's Album Time. Among past favorites such as "Inspector Norse" and "Strandbar", he drops the fantastic "Delorean Dynamite", a knock-out dance track full of slinky guitar lines and white-hot synths. It's hard to hear the song and not instantly feel the summer's blazing sun fall upon you. Get up and dance because it's (almost) summer time.
 

April 1, 2014

White Hinterland - "Ring the Bell"



It's been four years since White Hinterland's last record Kairos, but that all changes with today's release of Baby. The beautifully dizzying lead single "Ring the Bell" has been buzzing around for a few weeks, but seems even more meaningful today. It's April and Spring is on the way. Ring the Bell.