Category Archives: Blog

Listen to Black Yaya’s ‘Vigilante’ off upcoming eponymous album

20 February 2015

Black Yaya - Vigilante

Black Yaya is the solo project of singer-songwriter David Ivar, who is also known as one half of French duo Herman Dune. Ivar has apparently woke up one morning in November of 2012 feeling like he wanted to give a break to the band and start his very own thing. And so he did. Just over two years later, and after moving to LA, he’s recorded several songs and comes March 2nd, his self-titled debut album will hit the shelves via City Slang.
Black Yaya has shared the catchy and folky harmonica-charged single ‘Vigilante’. Take a listen now.

Black Yaya is embarking on a European tour this April, with several dates in the UK including a London show at The Lexington on April 9th.

Colin Stetson and Sarah Neufeld announce debut album as a duo

19 February 2015

Colin Stetson and Sarah Neufeld - Never were the way she was

A match made in heaven: the musical union of sax magician Colin Stetson and extraordinary violinist Sarah Neufeld. The pair have been composing together for a while now whilst carrying on playing with other outfits and keeping busy as soloists. 2015 will bring us the Colin Stetson and Sarah Neufeld duo‘s debut album. Entitled Never were the way she was, the album was recorded at their farmhouse attic studio in rural Vermont by Hans Bernhard and mixed in Montreal by Mark Lawson (Arcade Fire). As is usual with Stetson and Neufeld, in both recording and live formats, they didn’t use any looping/layering or multi-track/overdubs technologies. You’ve probably already heard us raving about Colin Stetson, and you’ll know of his superhuman powers and how he plays tremendously and uninterruptedly using circular breathing, which allows him to produce multiple sounds simultaneously in real time.

“Never were the way she was is guided by the metaphorical narrative of the life of a girl who ages slow as mountains; excited, exalted, and ultimately exiled in her search for a world that resembles her experience”, explains the press release. “The album’s expansive sonic trajectory and multiplicity of structures and voicings belies the fundamental economy of two acoustic instruments combining in real time. The result is a musical chronicle that powerfully establishes its own spatial and temporal horizon, a soundtrack that requires no images but profoundly compels the imaginative.”.

‘The sun roars into view’ is the first wonderful and staggering track being offered from the album. We can’t wait to hear more.

In other Stetson and Neufeld related news, and coinciding with the album release, the pair are bringing their compositions for horns and violin to Europe in April. Their tour includes a stop in London at the Islington Assembly Hall on April 17th. Head over here to check all their other dates.

Last November, we were delighted to have Colin Stetson curate our monthly mixtape. If you’ve missed it, check out now an incredible selection of tracks that inspire him.

Waterstrider share second single ‘Calliope’

18 February 2015

Waterstrider - Calliope

Last month Waterstrider teased their upcoming debut album, Nowhere Now, with the first single ‘White Light’. The Oakland five-piece released it as a double A-side, also featuring the marvellous ‘Calliope’. “‘Calliope’ is about a psychological battle with one’s muse”, explained lead singer Nate Salman. “Afraid of giving everything to the unknown force behind a creative process and exposing our hearts to the world, we shackle ourselves to routine experiences.”
Listen to ‘Calliope’ below and grab the album when it drops on April 6th in the UK and April 7th in the US.

Dakh Daughters – Ukrainian Freak-Cabaret

by Joely Berf - 16 February 2015

Dakh Daughters - Ukrainian Freak-Cabaret

Don’t be fooled by the delicate porcelain doll face paint. Dakh Daughters are anything but fragile. On stage, this freak-cabaret group works themselves into a musical fervor, stomping and howling war cries. The seven woman are multi-instrumentalists and bounce between accordions, a double bass, xylophones, drums, and more. Talented, beautiful, and fierce, the powerful daughters of Ukraine.

2013 was a turbulent time for the country. The streets were packed with protesters in an uprising that led to the impeachment of former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich. Despite sub-zero temperatures, heavy police presence, angry crowds, firecrackers, and tear gas, Dakh Daughters took to the stage and provided a soundtrack for the Ukrainian revolution.

This Will Destroy You premiere animated video for ‘New Topia’

13 February 2015

This Will Destroy You - New Topia

Texan post-rock quartet This Will Destroy You have shared a gorgeous animated video for ‘New Topia’. The track is taken from their fourth full-length album, Another Language, released last September via Suicide Squeeze. The video was directed by Lilfuchs a.k.a. Adam Fuchs. Watch it below.

This Will Destroy are embarking on a North American tour at the end of February. Head over here to check all their dates.

Yonatan Gat drops new cut from upcoming album

12 February 2015

Yonatan Gat - North To South

Yonatan Gat got us salivating last month when he dropped ‘Goldrush‘, the first single off the upcoming full-length album Director. The album will hit stores on March 3rd via Joyful Noise Recordings. To keep us excited, the composer and guitar virtuoso is giving us another taste from the album, with ‘North To South‘, a Carnival of a song with lyrics sang in English, Portuguese and Hebrew.  Orchestre Poly-Rythmo Cotonou, Orchestra Baobab and Bembeya Jazz are some of the Western African bands quoted as influences on the guitar work on ‘North To South‘. Get dancing.

In other related good new,  Yonatan Gat has announced a North American tour supporting of Montreal and Deerhoof in March, and also appearances at SXSW. Check out all the tour dates below.

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