Ibibio Sound Machine set to release debut album next month

09 January 2014

British-Nigerian 8-piece collective Ibibio Sound Machine are probably making the best party music you’re likely to hear this year. Fronted by London-born Nigerian singer Eno Williams, her mother’s South-Eastern Nigerian Ibibio language gives the name to the band. Williams’ lyrics are also inspired by folk stories told to her by her family as a child. The Octet’s explosive genre-fusing sound combines elements of West African highlife, disco, funk, post-punk & psychedelic electro soul.

Late February will see the release of Ibibio Sound Machine’s debut full-length album via Soundway Records. Ahead of it, they’ve spiced things up already with their incendiary first single ‘Let’s Dance (Yak Inek Unek). Play it loud!

Monogrenade drop first single from forthcoming second album Composite

09 January 2014

Montreal based outfit Monogrenade have announced the follow-up to their 2011’s Tantale. The band’s somophore album, Composite, will be released on February 4th via Bonsound.
On Composite, the lyrics are what connects its title and the music, as singer-songwriter Jean-Michel Pigeon explained. “We are complex beings, made up of genetic, environmental, chaotic baggage. We are too small (or too big) to understand all of our complexities. We sail through as if we knew what we should do, what is right and what is wrong. Like planets revolving around the Sun, old ancestors orbit around us as if they knew our secrets.”.

Ahead of the album’s release, Monogrenade have shared the first single ‘Métropolis’, named and inspired by Fritz Lang’s 1927 German sci-fi film. Listen to the track below and watch the spacial album trailer straight after.

This weekend : Richard Youngs + Eric Chenaux in London and Paris

08 January 2014

Photo by Tanya Traboulsi

Toronto’s experimental guitar virtuoso and songwriter Eric Chenaux is kicking off 2014 with two performances, both with British musician Richard Youngs. This Saturday January 11th, London’s Cafe Oto will house this avant-garde double bill, and they are set to play the following day in Paris at Gallery Treize.

With four magnificient solo albums and several other projects and collaborations under his belt, Chenaux’s utterly beautiful and enchanting songcraft in a live format is a must-not-miss if you’re near London or Paris this weekend. Read below Cafe Oto’s press release for the night.

“Two artists pushing at the parameters of avant-folk and traditional songcraft. With hundreds of solo and collaborative releases on countless labels (including his own “No Fans” label) Richard Youngs’ music has been heaped with accolades since the 1990’s. Whether through his collaborations with the likes of Simon Wickham-Smith, Jandek, Neil Campbell or Makoto Kawabata, or in his solo work encompassing the starkest minimalism, lush acapella and acoustic balladry, Richard adds a touch of humanity to any project he’s involved with. Tonight he forms one half of a double bill with one of Canada’s most respected and long-standing experimental guitar players and songwriters, Eric Chenaux, whose clear voice and erudite lyricism is guided by an utterly unique guitar technique and a deep immersion in pop and folk traditions from medieval to post-modern.”

To entice you further, here’s ‘Amazing Backgrounds’, the gorgeous opening track from Chenaux’s 2012 solo album Guitar & Voice.

Listen to Hannah Georgas’s new single ‘Enemies’

07 January 2014

Following the release of Hannah Georgas‘ self-titled full-length album last year, the Canadian electronic pop singer-songwriter is now offering a new single off it called ‘Enemies’. Ahead of the single release on February 10th, Hannah is embarking on a UK tour through January and February supporting City and Colour. January 31st will see her performing at the Hammersmith Apollo in London and you can check all her other stops here.

In other related news, Hannah has just unveiled a stunning cover of ‘Bye Bye Love’ in honour of Phil Everly of The Everly Brothers, who sadly passed away last week. Listen to it straight after the gorgeous ‘Enemies’.

Hannah Georgas is out now via Dine Alone Records.

St. Vincent drops second single from upcoming eponymous album

06 January 2014

Back in December, St. Vincent announced the release of her self-titled fourth studio album and teased us with the first electrifying single off it, ‘Birth In Reverse’. She has just dropped another brilliant and rather brassy taste from the album, ‘Digital Witness’. Listen to it below and watch out for the release of St. Vincent on February 24th via Loma Vista and Caroline International.

Listen to Stage Hands’s debut track ‘Regardless’

03 January 2014

We’ve been quiet for a festive while but as always, we kept listening to old and new great music. One of the latest tracks that grabbed our ears comes from the hands of Brandon Locher, the man behind The Meets and the album It Happens Outside which was one of our 15 Album Picks of 2013. His new project, Stage Hands, sees him collaborating with multi-instrumentalist Gerald Mattis.
‘Regardless’ is the duo’s first excellent offering. Be sure to listen to it below, there could not be a better track to start off the year.

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