Macktronic

Macktronic is Dead. (And Risen Elsewhere)

2009-01-05T10:29:00.000-08:00

Macktronic is dead.
You may now read about all things related to Gold Robot Records here:
http://gold-robot.com/records/ (official website, blog imbedded)
http://goldrobot.blogspot.com/ (blog only)
Please update your links.

VIDEO: E*Rock Interview on XLR8R

2008-10-08T11:16:00.000-07:00

I'm a big fan of the various projects E*Rock is involved with (see here, here, here), so this interview on XLR8R is a treat. It's part of the Portland-centric issue, and there's more interviews/clips/etc over on their website. Anyhow, dude is talented.

[E*Rock official website.]
[E*Rock on myspace.]
[Audio Dregs official website.]
[Download Music from eMusic; 25 song free trial.]
[Buy music from Insound.]
[Find/Listen/Download music at The Hype Machine.]

REVISIT: Panther

2008-09-09T11:28:00.000-07:00

Since I had the pleasure of catching another live Panther show last night, along with the excellent E*Rock and Ratatat, I figured it was topical to post some here. This song has seeped into my weekly spin list, and it comes from a couple different spots: a compilation released by the esteemed label States Rights Records (where you can get the whole double CD for only $10) and a self-released 2007 Tour CD. The track's got a nice lounge feel to it, which I appreciate.

::: Panther - Taxes

AND, as if I wouldn't mention it, we've got a few copies left of the limited edition Panther 7-inch over here at Gold Robot Records. Check it out here, and get one for yourself (and a friend).

::: Panther - How Well Can You Swim

You can catch the Ratatat/Panther/E*Rock tour (and I suggest you do just that) as they dance across the states and into Europe. See here for the dates/venues/etc.

[Download Music from eMusic; 25 song free trial.]
[Buy music from Insound.]
[Find/Listen/Download music at The Hype Machine.]
[Photo credit goes to DB007.]

MUSIC: Man/Miracle

2008-08-27T13:02:00.001-07:00

I posted on these guys a while back, when Man/Miracle was known as Bear on Bear. While the name has changed, the talent certainly still remains. This Bay Area band crafts some damn fine jams, with the A-side single "Pushing and Shoving" for an upcoming release features some hand-clapping, sng-alonging, and break-neck pacing. I love how it teeters on destruction and desperation, but never seems to slip over the line. While already posted by more reputable sites, I thought I'd pass this along to the loyal Macktronic readers in case you missed it.

::: Man/Miracle - Pushing and Shoving

You can pre-order the single on either vinyl 7" or CD. The covers are hand-screened and pretty nice, if I do say so myself.

[Man/Miracle on myspace.]
[Man/Miracle official website.]
[Download Music from eMusic; 25 song free trial.]
[Buy music from Insound.]
[Find/Listen/Download music at The Hype Machine.]
[Photo credit goes to smoochka.]

REVIEW: Outside Lands Festival (SF)

2008-08-25T11:20:00.000-07:00

[Photo credit goes to llamacafecom.]

So, down goes a long weekend of music in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park. I would classify the inaugural Outside Lands Festival as an overall success, but not without the expected hiccups. Since I attended without a press pass, my photos ended up being fairly pedestrian, so I've culled the beloved flickr for some good ones. Sanjay Sucha k has loads of other good shots, that I can't imbed here, but you can take a look at if you want to get a better feel of the festival. I won't go into a full-on festival recap (which you can find here, among other places), so here's some odds and ends from my end.

[Photo credit goes to whalesharque.]

+ The first night crowd, most of which were there for Radiohead, pushed the capacity limits of the festival. Everything was crowded (food, beer, bathrooms, etc) and the moving around was pretty limited.
+ One of the main "side" stages, where Beck played had a pretty horrible viewing angle, so unless you were on the hill along the side, or within 50 feet of the stage, it was hard to get a view of the performance.
+ The Radiohead show was excellent, as expected, aside from when the sound cut twice for about 30 seconds. Bad timing for a technical malfunction, when your headliner is on stage. Overall, though, the sound was pretty good. Per Radiohead standards, the visuals were excellent. (Funny side note: KEXP is playing a Radiohead song as I write this)
+ Jack Johnson, who closed out the festival on Sunday night, surprised me. I was wondering if his sound would be able to fill out the huge main stage area (in the Polo Fields), and it certainly did. I think it was a good choice as a closing act, as it sent everyone off on a positive/calm note.

[Photo credit goes to blurb.]

+ I know that Devendra Banhart won over a number of new fans with his performance. He's just a force of a performer, and I think that once you see him live his recordings take on a new dimension. Plus, he had on a rad old school Lakers t-shirt, which was funny. (Side note: I first ran into Mr. Banhart at a Ratatat show a little over 2 years ago at Great American Music Hall. He was chilling in the back, as a fan, which I thought was cool.)
+ Beck's set was great and eclectic. Although I'm really into his new album (my friend calls it a "creeper", as in it gets better with each listen), the highlight track for me was "Que Onda Guero" for some odd reason. Never been a huge fan of the track, guess the wind was just right at the time.
+ One complaint commonly heard, concerning the festival at large, was the corporate nature of the event. Although they made many "green" efforts, it seemed like everything (and I mean everything) was sponsored. Now, I get that they've got to do in order to cover costs, but it does get a bit tiring. (C'mon, a Visa Signature Series VIP Lounge??!?!). Since the 3-day pass was $225.50 (plus all the service charges), you'd think the sponsorships would be a little less prevalent. Probably just wishful thinking on my part.
+ Wilco were amazing, seemed like the stage they played on (not the main one) had the best sound. The crowd was definitely into it.

[Photo credit goes to ppparasol.]

+ Tons of folks jumped the fence into the festival the first night, so security was beefed up the next couple of days. I even talked to a few people who just walked past the ticket-takers. (Side note: As we were leaving the first night, one guy stole a huge flagpole, which there were lots of, and was running out the exit with it. A security guard yells "Hey, slow down, stop running!" and didn't even care/notice the flagpole.)
+ Saturday and Sunday were much more mellow than Friday night, probably around 40,000 folks instead of 60,000. Made getting around alot easier for sure.
+ My personal favorite set was The Cool Kids, someone who I enjoy but probably wouldn't catch outside of this kind of setting. Rap is hard to pull off live, and I've seen some horrible sets in my day, so I was duly impressed. Plus, the stage banter is damn good. (So, if you run into them, tell them they did a good job.)
+ Bon Iver also was able to pull off his sound live, which I was curious about. Really humble guy, it seemed.
+ Set I wish I saw: The Black Keys. Even though I've seen them about 6 times, I love their live performances. Too bad they were running parallel to Beck, who I hadn't ever seen (I know, how does that happen?), so I'll catch them next time around. Also heard good things about The Walkmen's performance, but I've seen them alot too. Oh well, can't see everything.

It'll be interesting to see if they make this into a yearly event, haven't read anything from the organizers about their expectations. If you also were at the festival, I'd love to hear your thoughts as well. Here's some tracks, while we're at it.

::: The Cool Kids - Black Mags
::: Devendra Banhart - Sea Horse
::: Radiohead - Nobody Does It Better (live)
::: Jack Johnson - Wasting Time
::: Wilco - Sky Blue Sky
::: Bon Iver - Skinny Love

[Download Music from eMusic; 25 song free trial.]
[Buy music from Insound.]
[Find/Listen/Download music at The Hype Machine.]

RELEASE: Meanest Man Contest (Digital Only)

2008-08-22T13:30:00.000-07:00

Wow, these Meanest Man Contest fellows are quite prolific. On the heels of some wonderful new tracks through RCRD LBL and the previous GRR release comes a new EP featuring some remixes, a cover version, and a new original track.

We Blame You is the first in a series of odds-and-ends EPs from the San Francisco/Los Angeles hip-hop/electronic pop duo. Three remixes of MMC faves – by Paris-based producer Débruit (Musique Large), San Francisco laptop king Mochipet (Daly City Records), and Dutch up-and-comer Multi-Panel – are rounded out by a cover from Roman Ruins (Gold Robot) and a new MMC track ("You're Right. It's Ballin'.").

Check out the tracklist:

1. We Wouldn't Want It Any Other Way (Débruit remix)
2. Throwing Away Broken Electronics (Mochipet remix f/ DJ Lion)
3. You're Right. It's Ballin'.
4. They Do (Multi-Panel remix)
5. They Do (Roman Ruins version)

The Multi-Panel remix was selected from numerous entries to our "They Do" remix contest. They were all excellent, and you'll start seeing some of them pop up over the coming months.

Here's a free MP3 from the EP, feel free to spread it around.

::: Meanest Man Contest - We Wouldn't Want It Any Other Way (Debruit Remix)

You can download the album through a number of digital retailers, including Emusic and iTunes.

[Meanest Man Contest on myspace.]
[Gold Robot Records home.]
[Download Music from eMusic; 25 song free trial.]
[Buy music from Insound.]
[Find/Listen/Download music at The Hype Machine.]

RELEASE: Lady Genius

2008-08-18T11:29:00.000-07:00

The rumors are true, Gold Robot Records has another new release! Coming on the heels of the already-sold-out Bonnie Prince Billy vinyl single, we're proud to present the first 10-inch record of GRR's brief history. San Francisco's very own Lady Genius offer up this 6-song gem of an EP, featuring stunning artwork and red colored vinyl in a limited pressing of 500 copies. Details and a full tracklist can be found here.

Buy your very own copy of the beautiful EP here. Each vinyl purchase includes a digital download code for the entire album. (If you're a digital-only kind of person, it's already up on iTunes, eMusic, and many other fine digital retailers.) Also, cruise on over to the esteemed Deli SF and cast a vote for Lady Genius is their "Band of the Month" poll.

Free MP3 sample to boot!
::: Lady Genius - New York Through York

[Lady Genius on myspace.]
[Gold Robot Records home.]
[Download Music from eMusic; 25 song free trial.]
[Buy music from Insound.]
[Find/Listen/Download music at The Hype Machine.]

RELEASE: Bonnie Prince Billy

2008-07-28T16:34:00.000-07:00

Gold Robot Records is extremely (!!!) happy to announce the release of a new single by Bonnie Prince Billy. This 2-song 45RPM vinyl record features two unreleased tracks. Here's the pertinent information:

Title: Notes For Future Lovers
Format: 7-inch colored vinyl (translucent blue)
Run: 500 (individually numbered)
Release Date: July 29, 2008

Tracklist:
A1 - Notes For Future Lovers
B1 - Donde Esta Prufrock

Details:
Music/Vocals: Bonnie 'Prince' Billy
Lyrics: John Harmon
Recorded: Tusi
Cover Art: Hunter Mack
Rear Photograph: WCM
Design/Layout: Ian Umlauf

There's only 500 of these things, so it'll run out pretty quick.

Buy it here.

[Gold Robot Records home.]
[Download Music from eMusic; 25 song free trial.]
[Buy music from Insound.]
[Find/Listen/Download music at The Hype Machine.]

RELEASE: Railcars

2008-07-18T13:19:00.001-07:00

Gold Robot Records is please to announce another new release, this time by San Francisco's very own Railcars. Crashing and wonderful, this 5 track 7-inch vinyl is sure to make your day. Here's the blurb on the EP, titled Cities vs Submarines:

Recorded in the kitchen of Xiu Xiu frontman Jamie Stewart, cities vs submarines is a ten minute journey into Aria Jalali's most vivid, reoccurring dreams. Railcars is an attempt to bring the images that have haunted Aria's mind to life using drum boxes, synths, and noise pedals with sentiments recreated in lyrical form. The current four member lineup for railcars' live performances was established by Jalali when asked to play some shows with Handsome Furs in April 2008, however Aria Jalali has also performed railcars sets by himself, with only a laptop, guitar and pedal effects.

And the Tracklist:

A1 - There Is Ice; It Is Blue
A2 - Saints Are Waiting For Me, Outside My Door
B1 - Concrete Buildings
B2 - Through The Trees Lay Smokestacks
B3 - Bohemia Is Without A Sea

::: Railcars - There is Ice; It is Blue

Pre-Order the vinyl EP!
(Each vinyl comes with a digital download code for the entire EP)

[Railcars on myspace.]
[Gold Robot Records home.]
[Download Music from eMusic; 25 song free trial.]
[Buy music from Insound.]
[Find/Listen/Download music at The Hype Machine.]
[Photo credit goes to qsySue.]

MUSIC: Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds

2008-05-15T11:45:00.000-07:00

The last track from the new Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds release (Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!!) has officially worked itself into my daily routine. The longest track on the album, coming in a 7:58, chugs along, slowly marching at a constant clip while Mr. Cave narrates a wandering stor y (in his typical fashion) that comes off as dark and beautiful, which is what we've come to expect.

::: Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - More News From Nowhere

Buy the album over at Insound. It is absolutely fantastic.

[Download Music from eMusic; 25 song free trial.]
[Buy music from Insound.]
[Find/Listen/Download music at The Hype Machine.]
[Photo credit goes to semarr.]

MUSIC: Sweetie

2008-05-11T15:48:00.000-07:00

Time for another release from Gold Robot Records, this time from San Francisco's very own Sweetie. The 4 song EP, titled Saturdays, will officially drop on May 27th. It is being released on red colored vinyl in a limited run of 500 copies with hand-screened covers. See more details here. Jen Chochinov of Wiretap sums up Sweetie's sound nicely:

"To me Sweetie is the quintessential Indie pop/rock band. Catchy, catchy guitar & synth hooks with really sweet, laid back vocals. Omar's vocals remind me of a slightly softer and more soothing Ira Kaplan (of Yo La Tengo), and I was bobbing my head in total joy.
Their brand of indie rock is the kind I can listen to non-stop – it was like that feeling when you're on a road trip and you chance upon an awesome college radio station that is playing everything you want to hear exactly how you want to hear it. Sweetie brought back the joy of new band discovery for me, and for that I say thank you."

Here's a free track off of the Saturdays EP (get a copy for yourself pronto).

::: Sweetie - Killing the Crown

Pre-order the vinyl EP for only 5 bucks. Each purchase also receives a digital download code for mp3's of the entire release.

[Sweetie on myspace.]
[Download Music from eMusic; 25 song free trial.]
[Buy music from Insound.]
[Find/Listen/Download music at The Hype Machine.]
[Photo credit goes to falcos11.]

MUSIC: Bonnie Prince Billy (New Demo Track)

2008-04-24T16:57:00.001-07:00

A slight regurgitation, but the track provided by Drag City was in .m4a format. Plus, I'm a sucker for anything new from the hands of Will Oldham. This track, although rough, certainly falls nicely into his recent (abundant) basket of releases. It'll be fun to see how the song progresses before landing on the album (titled Lie Down in the Light, out in May). It's disturbing how spoiled I am; when news of a new BPB album comes out, all I say is "well, of course".

Personally, I love this lyric the most: "I'm a good bird, son, and now I'm free". (Certainly subject to interpretation).

::: Bonnie Prince Billy - So Everyone

Buy some Bonnie/Will/Palace, as it is wonderful wonderful stuff.

[Bonnie Prince Billy official website.]
[Bonnie Prince Billy label page.]
[Download Music from eMusic; 25 song free trial.]
[Buy music from Insound.]
[Find/Listen/Download music at The Hype Machine.]
[Photo credit goes to Alan Dejecacion.]

MUSIC: Railcars

2008-04-23T10:30:00.000-07:00

I'm quite excited about this local (San Francisco) band. Railcars (formerly known as Aria C Jalali, the lead singer's name) has released a 7-inch vinyl EP called Postmodernism! and have another EP in the works which is being produced by Jamie Stewart (Xiu Xiu). Originally oriented as a bedroom music project, it soon blossomed into a 4 piece; subsequently, they found themselves opening for Handsome Furs. The immediate aural connections to the Wolf Parade crew are evident, but while Dan Boeckner and crew tend towards morose/angst, Jalali et al approach their music with a little more hope/desperation. So, count me in as a member of the Railcars fanclub.

::: Railcars - There is Ice; It is Blue
::: Railcars - Neon Lovers Glowing on a Dull and Dark Night

Keep an eye out for their upcoming EP and try and pick up one of the remaining vinyl EP's at a live show.

[Railcars on myspace.]
[Download Music from eMusic; 25 song free trial.]
[Buy music from Insound.]
[Find/Listen/Download music at The Hype Machine.]
[Photo credit goes to unfurl.]

MUSIC: Delta Spirit

2008-04-22T11:08:00.000-07:00

I got a tip from a trusted fan a while back about Delta Spirit he (and I quote) "saw the best live show in a long, long time" out in Boston. With that kind of recommendation, I couldn't pass up on checking into this Southern California (right?) band. After receiving their new album (Ode to Sunshine) in the mail, my initial response was incredibly positive: soaring tempos, achingly good vocals, and more-than-apt songwriting. Further research shows that I'm certainly not the only one enjoying their sounds (see here, here, and here).

They don't have any Bay Area dates lined up, but there's certainly a high probability they'll be in your area soon. Check out tour dates on their myspace page. Here's some tracks that are floating around the internet.

::: Delta Spirit - People, Turn Around (f/ Ode to Sunshine)
::: Delta Spirit - Trashcan (f/ Ode to Sunshine)
::: Delta Spirit - Gimme Some Motivation (f/ I Think I've Found It! EP)
::: Delta Spirit - Streetwalker (f/ I Think I've Found It! EP)

You should definitely order the album. However, I can't recommend ordering the vinyl version of the EP from Monarchy Music; I did that three weeks ago and it hasn't arrived yet.

Also, their new Daytrotter session is excellent. So, head on over there to read the article and download some free tracks. (The older session isn't half bad either!)

[Official Delta Spirit website.]
[Download Music from eMusic; 25 song free trial.]
[Buy music from Insound.]
[Find/Listen/Download music at The Hype Machine.]
[Photo credit goes to Sam Newmann.]

MUSIC: My Morning Jacket (New Song!)

2008-04-18T11:31:00.001-07:00

My excitement for the new My Morning Jacket album should come as no surprise. However, the fact that MMJ has provided the title track for free is kind of surprising (but certainly welcome). It's certainly better than listening to the various live cuts out on the interweb. Evil Urges, which drops on June 10th via ATO Records, promises to build upon their already magnificent catalog of work. Color me patiently waiting.

::: My Morning Jacket - Evil Urges (from Evil Urges)
(use the official MMJ download page to get the song)

Pre-order Evil Urges in either CD or Vinyl.
Also, check them out on their spring/summer tou r.

[MMJ official website.]
[Download Music from eMusic; 25 song free trial.]
[Buy music from Insound.]
[Find/Listen/Download music at The Hype Machine.]
[Photo credit goes to misstinguette.]

MUSIC: Ladyhawk

2008-04-07T15:30:00.000-07:00

A recent addition to the "top played" list around here at macktronic is the new album by Ladyhawk. Their second LP, titled Shots, is out now on Jagjaguwar, is a raucously enjoyable affair. See for yourself.

::: Ladyhawk - I Don't Always Know What You're Saying
::: Ladyhawk - S.T.H.D.

You can purchase the new album (and others) here. For you Bay Area folks, word on the street is that local faves The Parish will be opening for Ladyhawk on May 30th at Bottom of the Hill. I'm definitely gonna be at that show.

[Ladyhawk official website.]
[Ladyhawk on myspace.]
[Download Music from eMusic; 25 song free trial.]
[Buy music from Insound.]
[Find/Listen/Download music at The Hype Machine.]
[Photo credit goes to by-stander.]

MIXTAPE: FRIDAY (Apr 4 2008)

2008-04-04T17:11:00.000-07:00

It's Friday, and I felt like making a mixtape. Although all the songs don't sound the same (see: boring), there's a similar tone (read: arc). So, onto the weekend.

[01] ::: Burial - Southern Comfort
[02] ::: Battles - Atlas
[03] ::: Apparat - Arcadia
[04] ::: Hercules & Love Affair - Athene
[05] ::: Does It Offend You, Yeah? - Let's Make Out (Alt Version)
[06] ::: MSTRKRFT - She's Good For Business
[07] ::: Glass Candy - Sugar & Whitebread
[08] ::: Gang of Four - I Love a Man in Uniform (YYY Remix)
[09] ::: White Williams - Route To Palm
[10] ::: Bomarr - Trike

Oh, and I dropped it onto a muxtape as well. Hello bandwagon!

[Download Music from eMusic; 25 song free trial.]
[Buy music from Insound.]
[Find/Listen/Download music at The Hype Machine.]

MUSIC: The Golden Boys

2008-04-04T13:36:00.000-07:00

Came across a good band through the recent Monofonus Press sampler (which you can get for free here) called The Golden Boys (out of Austin, TX). Expansive rock with a hearty dash of psychedelic noise makes for a wonderful listening experience.

::: The Golden Boys - James The Gentle Dreamer (f/ an upcoming release)
::: The Golden Boys - Oooh Girl (f/ Whiskey Flower)
::: The Golden Boys - If I Can't Hold You In My Arms (f/ Whiskey Flower)

You can download more tracks directly from their myspace page. Buy Whiskey Flower directly from Hook or Crook (Oakland!).

[The Golden Boys on myspace.]
[Download Music from eMusic; 25 song free trial.]
[Buy music from Insound.]
[Find/Listen/Download music at The Hype Machine.]
[Photo credit goes to electricnarwhal.]

VIDEO: American Princes

2008-04-04T12:20:00.000-07:00

Here's a new video from American Princes, who have a new album coming out next week (which I wrote about here). It's directed by Matt Bradley, who must be a ninja with the scissors.

::: American Princes - Real Love (f/ Other People)

You can pre-order the album here and receive some demo MP3's immediately. Or you can stream a few new songs over at their official website.]

[American Princes official website.]
[American Princes on myspace.]
[Download Music from eMusic; 25 song free trial.]
[Buy music from Insound.]
[Find/Listen/Download music at The Hype Machine.]

LIVE: Jim James & M Ward (03/15/2008 @ St. David's Church)

2008-03-31T15:54:00.000-07:00

MUSIC: Air Waves

2008-03-31T11:45:00.000-07:00

A welcome release that coincided perfectly with the true arrival of spring here in the Bay Area comes to us from Brooklyn's Air Waves. Their new EP, released through the excellent Catbird Records, includes 5 tracks that drip optimism; there's a certain level of comfort evident in every song. (The cover art is beautiful as well). See for yourself:

::: Air Waves - Shine On

Order the limited edition (200!) CD for only 4 bucks directly from Catbird Records.

[Air Waves on myspace.]
[Download Music from eMusic; 25 song free trial.]
[Buy music from Insound.]
[Find/Listen/Download music at The Hype Machine.]
[Photo credit goes to pirate_phil.]

MUSIC: Colin Meloy

2008-03-28T12:59:00.000-07:00

Every once in a while I like to go to a concert where I sit down, relax, and get a chance to soak in the artist's talent. One such concert occurred in 2006 at the Great American Music Hall in San Francisco; the solo tour of Colin Meloy (frontman of The Decemberists) eventually spawned the soon-to-be released live album (out on Kill Rock Stars). I also picked up a copy of the EP which Colin plays Shirley Collins songs which included the "Barbara Allen" track below (and a live version is on the new release). A previous solo tour included a Morrisey-themed EP and word on the street says that the new tour will offer up a Sam Cooke EP. Sweet. Anyhow, here's some solo Colin Meloy for your enjoyment.

::: Colin Meloy - We Both Go Down Together [from Colin Meloy Sings Live!]
::: Colin Meloy - Barbara Allen [from Colin Meloy sings Shirley Collins]
::: Colin Meloy - Everyday Is Like Sunday (live) [from Yeti 3]

You can also stream "Engine Driver" from the new album over at RCRD LBL. Pre-order the album (out on April 8th) from Insound in either LP or CD format and get two downloadable non-album tracks immediately for free.

Also, here's some tour dates:
4/7 Austin, TX La Zona Rosa
4/8 Dallas, TX Granada Theater
4/10 Atlanta, GA Variety Playhouse
4/11 Asheville, NC Orange Peel
4/12 Charlottesville, VA The Satellite Ballroom
4/13 Washington, DC 9:30 Club
4/15 Somerville, MA Somerville Theatre
4/16 Brooklyn, NY Music Hall Of Williamsburg
4/17 Brooklyn, NY Music Hall Of Williamsburg
4/21 Chicago, IL Park West
4/22 Milwaukee, WI The Pabst Theater
4/23 Madison, WI Barrymore Theater
4/25 Lawrence, KS Liberty Hall
4/26 Boulder, CO Fox Theatre
4/28 Los Angeles, CA Henry Fonda Theatre
4/29 Santa Cruz, CA The Rio Theatre
4/30 San Francisco, CA The Fillmore
5/2 Seattle, WA Showbox
5/3 Portland, OR Wonder Ballroom

[Colin Meloy on myspace.]
[Download Music from eMusic; 25 song free trial.]
[Buy music from Insound.]
[Find/Listen/Download music at The Hype Machine.]
[Photo credit goes to shikihan; pinhole!]

MUSIC: Ambient Not Not Ambient (Audio Dregs)

2008-03-28T12:33:00.001-07:00

I managed to get my hands on an advance copy of this excellent collection of tracks and it's been on continuous rotation around the macktronic complex. Here's the scoop on the Ambient Not Not Ambient compilation:

This collection was curated by Paul Dickow together with E*Rock as a long term project showcasing some outsider ambient works and blissed-out pop from their hometown in Portland as well as friends across the seas. Emphasis was made to bring together artists from a variety of scenes and different underground bubbles of music producers that remain close to our hearts. Though many of the artists may have never previously bumped shoulders it was important for us in keeping a common thread in the musicality and a conscious flow to the collection. Ambient Not Not Ambient should act strongly on its own merit as a complete thematically unified album of exclusive tracks, not an ad-hoc collection of unrelated tracks. This is part of the reason it took us so long to organize from conception to completion and to paint a larger picture with the variety involved.

Here's the tracklist:

1. E*Vax "Awl"
2. White Rainbow "See and The Field Feels"
3. Mudboy “Study for a Sleep Album- 2nd Movement.”
4. Dania Shapes "Weird Boombox"
5. Bird Show "Less of Everything"
6. Yellow Swans "To Valleys of Beautiful Arson"
7. WZT Hearts "Discuss Winter"
8. Sawako "Nst"
9. Grouper "Quiet Eyes"
10. Nudge "Dayrise"
11. AM/PM "Even as We Here"
12. Smoke & Mirrors "Ocean"
13. E*Rock "Exexpat"
14. Freeform "Ante Meridian"
15. Chris Herbert "Whips & Jingles"
16. Lucky Dragons "Sayles Street Ok Ok"
17. Valet "Tuesday Partly Sunny"

From my repeated listens, you can tell that alot of sweat has been put into creating a cohesive album that manages to paint a large picture while drawing from so many different artists. I'm continuously amazed at what Audio Dregs drops on us. Here's a couple of my favorite tracks.

::: E*Rock - Exexpat
::: Lucky Dragons - Sayles Street Ok Ok

You can pre-0rder the album (which drops on April 29th) from a variety of online retailers, with Darla being one of them. It's only 7 USD, so get yourself one.

[Audio Dregs official website.]
[Download Music from eMusic; 25 song free trial.]
[Buy music from Insound.]
[Find/Listen/Download music at The Hype Machine.]
[Photo credit goes to vanator.]

MUSIC: Colour Revolt

2008-03-22T15:41:00.000-07:00

A while back I posted about some of my favorites EP's at that particular point in time. One such EP was by Colour Revolt and it so happens that they've got a new full-length out on Fat Possum titled Plunder, Beg, and Curse. The band has recovered from some unfortunate thievery which resulted in them losing their van, gear, and loads of other stuff to record an incredibly strong album. The new songs vier slightly away from the painstaking despair-filled tone evident in their EP, which isn't exactly a bad thing. Although this and the urgency is dialed down a notch, the hints of optimism and growth fit well amongst a marching sonic backdrop. Check out a few new tracks.

::: Colour Revolt - A Siren
::: Colour Revolt - Ageless Everytime
::: Colour Revolt - Naked and Red

You can buy the new album here. You can also download it over at Emusic as part of a free trial (if you haven't already signed up).

[Colour Revolt official website.]
[Colour Revolt on myspace.]
[Download Music from eMusic; 25 song free trial.]
[Buy music from Insound.]
[Find/Listen/Download music at The Hype Machine.]
[Photo credit goes to Luke Hilton.]

REVISIT: Bright Eyes (Digital Ash in a Digital Urn)

2008-03-21T10:30:00.000-07:00

Seems like this album (Digital Ash in a Digital Urn) fell by the wayside in comparison to the rest of the Bright Eyes catalog. However, I find it to be a welcome addition rather than a side-thought throwaway (as many reviews on the interweb seem to insinuate). In fact, I place it up near another Conor Oberst side project, Desaparecidos. Granted, it may not be the strongest "electronic" composition but it does sit well with the subject matter and vocal delivery. Anyhow, it's recently reappeared on my radar and I thought I'd pass that along.

::: Bright Eyes - Gold Mine Gutted
::: Bright Eyes - Arc of Time

You can buy the album here.

[Bright Eyes official website.]
[Download Music from eMusic; 25 song free trial.]
[Buy music from Insound.]
[Find/Listen/Download music at The Hype Machine.]
[Photo credit goes to etouffle.]