Kris Bowers set to release debut album Heroes + Misfits

01 February 2014

Kris Bowers - Heroes + Misfits

Los Angeles born, New York based jazz pianist and composer Kris Bowers has announced the release of his debut full-length album, Heroes + Misfits. Bowers cites a number of influential elements, emphasizing the accelerated technological advancement of our era. Rooted in the jazz tradition, Heroes + Misfits also reflects Bowers’s extensive classical training.
Now in the bandleader seat for the first time, Bowers enlisted the help of alto saxophonist Casey Benjamin, tenor saxophonist Kenneth Whalum III, guitarist Adam Agati, bassist Burniss Earl Travis II, and drummer Jamire Williams to bring his album to the world.. Heroes + Misfits also features guest contributions from vocalists Julia Easterlin, Jose James and Chris Turner.
The album is slated for a March 4th release via Concord Jazz. Ahead of it, Bowers has shared the first marvellous single ‘Forget’er’ featuring Julia Easterlin. Listen to it now.

Hauschka premieres live video for ‘Elizabeth Bay’

31 January 2014

Hauschka - Elizabeth Bay

Back in December, we heard ‘Elizabeth Bay’, the monumental first single from Hauschka‘s forthcoming album Abandoned City. Now the talented composer, songwriter and experimental musician is offering an astonishing live video to accompany the track. Watch it beneath and grab Abandoned City when it drops on March 17th in Europe via City Slang and a day later in North America via Temporary Residence.

Girl With The Gun set to release somophore album

30 January 2014

Girl With The Gun

Italian psychedelic electro folk outfit Girl With The Gun first came together in 2006 as the duo of Matilde Davoli and Andrea Mangia aka Populous expanding a few years later to a trio with the addition of Andrea Rizzo.
The threesome are ready to release their second album, Ages, written and recorded over a long time long period that saw them absorbing and drawing from different inspirations and references, from the 50’s till now, from the classic to the cutting-edge. Ages is due out in February via Bad Panda Records & Interbang Records.
Girl With The Gun have just premiered a video to accompany the infectious and hypnotic track ‘Hover’. Watch it below and straight after listen to another excellent and warm cut off the album, ‘Hold On For Cues’. Enjoy!


Hydras Dream tease debut album with lead single ‘The Joys Of A New Year’

30 January 2014

Hydras Dream - The Joys Of A New Year

Singer, songwriter and pianist Anna von Hausswolff and silent picture composer Matti Bye, both hailing from Sweden, teamed up to form the new project Hydras Dream. The pair have announced the release of their debut full-length album, The Little Match Girl, due out this Spring via Denovali.
Drawing inspiration from old stories and films, Hydras Dream’s upcoming album is inspired by Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tale bearing the same name.
‘The Joys of a New Year’ is the albums first enchanting single. Listen to it below.

Origamibiro’s fourth album arrives in February

29 January 2014

Origamibiro - Odham's Standard

At the end of last year, the good folks at Denovali Records added Origamibiro to their roster and announced the release of the outfit’s fourth album. Odham’s Standard arrives on February 28th and ahead of it, Denovali have recently released Origamibiro’s entire back catalogue comprising the albums Cracked Mirrors and Stopped Clocks, Shakkei and Shakkei Remixed.
Initially started as the brainchild project of musician, soundtrack composer and producer Tom Hill, the project evolved into an audio-visual collective with the later addition of visual artist and filmmaker The Joy Of Box aka Jim Boxall and multi-instrumentalist Andy Tytherleigh. Origamibiro use unusual sources and ways to create music as the press release notes, and their live shows “involve treated books, typewriters, found celluloid, paper, eerie wildlife recordings, home movies, sellotape and bespoke visual contraptions”.
To get you excited for the release of Odham’s Standard, take a listen to the album’s wonderful opening track ‘Ada Deane’ and straight after watch the video that accompanies the intricate and delicate title track.


Christina Vantzou ready to release new album No2

29 January 2014

Christina Vantzou - No2

Kansas City, Missouri born, Brussels based composer, artist and filmmaker Christina Vantzou, who is perhaps best known for being one half of The Dead Texan with Stars of the Lid’s Adam Wiltzie, is ready to unveil the follow-up to her 2011’s No1. In the works for four years, No2 was composed using synthesizers and several unidentified samples. After manipulating these sounds, Vantzou collaborated with Minna Choi of the San Francisco based Magik*Magik Orchestra to transcribe the compositions for a 15-piece ensemble. Adam Bryanbaum Wiltzie (Stars of the Lid / A Winged Victory for the Sullen) was also recruited for engineering duties stamping his own signature sound texture on the album. As the press release describes, in No2 “dense layers of strings are augmented by angelic voices, piano, woodwinds, & various synthesizers”.
Take a glimpse at the immersive grandeur of Vantzou’s forthcoming album with the painstakingly beautiful track ‘Going backwards to recover what was left behind’ streaming beneath. And watch out for the release of No2 on February 24th via Kranky.