The Evil Usses are a band like no other. Their wild and exhilarating live shows flow fluidly between thoughtful composition and improvisation as they venture into a dense jungle of sounds and influences, clearing their singular path with sharp melodies and heavy grooves. All of this, as well as the wide dynamics and playful humour of this unique Bristolian quartet can somehow be found in the mix they made for us this month. Press play and enjoy!
Last year Deerhoof gave us La Isla Bonita, which was one of our 15 Album Picks of 2014. So we’re excited to know the band is heading to Europe for a month-long tour in support of the album, with a stop in London at the Oval Space on February 26th. They’ll head back to the US in March for more shows, including appearances at SXSW. Check all their dates and other info here.
To celebrate the upcoming tour, the foursome unveiled a video for ‘Black Pitch’, featuring Satomi on a boat going down the river Thames before disappearing into the North Sea. Gary McQuiggan directs. Watch it below.
As the year draws to a close, we picked our favourite Albums of 2014.
Deerhoof are gearing up to release their twelfth studio album, La Isla Bonita, next month. On the run up to it, they have already shared ‘Paradise Girls‘ and ‘Exit Only‘ and now they are teasing the album further with a new cut off it, ‘Last Fad’. Take a listen now.
La Isla Bonita drops on November 3rd in the UK/Europe via Upset the Rhythm and November 4th in North America via Polyvinyl.
Photo: Photo Yasuhiro Ohara
Following the punky and catchy first single ‘Exit Only’, Deerhoof have shared a second track from their forthcoming album, La Isla Bonita. The rebellious ‘Paradise Girls’ is a call for smart and strong women to challenge and fight against a patriarchal society. “Our heroes on this song are Joan Jett, Janet Jackson, Kim Gordon, Kathleen Hanna. It’s about how girls are and have always been smarter,” said drummer Greg Saunier. Here it is.
La Isla Bonita is out on November 4the via Polyvinyl.
Deerhoof have just announced the release of their twelfth album and the follow-up to their 2012’s Breakup Song. The new effort is entitled La Isla Bonita and it arrives on November 4th via Polyvinyl and Upset the Rhythm.
Deerhoof recorded the album live in guitarist Ed Rodriguez’s basement, “a weeklong sleepover arguing over whether to try and sound like Joan Jett or Janet Jackson, cracking each other up, one guitarist whose name starts with J always putting too much red chile into the rations,” as the band’s drummer Greg Saunier put it.
According to the press release, La Isla Bonita sees Deerhoof pay tribute to some of their “heroes-turned-fans”, like David Bowie, Ric Ocasek, The Roots, Lou Reed, David Byrne, Sonic Youth, The Flaming Lips, Radiohead and Beck. The album is also described as a discourse with some of very current fierce female-fronted bands, including St. Vincent, Tune-Yards, Perfect Pussy, Karen O and Speedy Ortiz.
Here’s what Saunier said speaking about the upcoming album:
“No band is an island. Felt like one sometimes, in those budgetless and obscure early days, Satomi and me locked in the basement trying to figure out how our clashing personalities and ideas could turn into a band. If we hadn’t had that crazed mid-90s Bay Area punk scene to call home, I doubt we’d still be here to chat about a 20th anniversary.”
Lucky for us, Deerhoof have shared La Isla Bonita‘s first single, the punky and catchy ‘Exit Only’. Here it is.