Tag Archives: News

Boy + Kite Are Back With Blueprint | Music News

Posted on by

Boy + Kite has opened up for acts such as Ume, An Horse, Quiet Company and The Toadies, as well as played at SXSW 2012 and the Center of the Universe Festival in Toronto, CA while hitting the Top 10 Charts on KUT 90.5 in Austin, TX. 2013’s We Can Go Anywhere I Want EP, which was recorded by Nada Surf’s Louie Lino at Resonate Studios, expanded on the bands knack for lo-fi ghost-pop. Their sound also landed them kudos from My Old Kentucky Blog, furthering their momentum as an emerging band…

Then, in December 2013, Darvin Jones suffered a traumatic head injury and spent a considerable amount of time hospitalized in critical condition with his synapsis in both ears broke and the left and right hemispheres of his brain severed as well as a fractured skull. Jones wasn’t sure he would ever play music again and the adversity only made Jones’ desire to play music stronger.

After a miraculous recovery, Boy + Kite was ready to fly again.
Boy + Kite

The newest three singles, collectively referred to as Blueprint, were a brutal and euphoric release for Jones and company, now consisting of Jones, Puorro, Giuseppe Ponti and Marc Henry. The songs were crafted in their practice space, which sits inside a massive film equipment warehouse, and were then taken to Public Hi-fi Studios in Austin (owned and operated by Jim Eno from Spoon) where tracking commenced. The resulting singles, “Either Way”, “Turned Sideways” and “Touching the Sun” showcase the most balanced work of Boy + Kites career.

 

 

 

The Art of Amputation: Distorted Pop Song | Music News

Posted on by

Ruby Music
17 November 2014
The Art of Amputation are an alternative five-piece from London who combine soaring melodies with experimental sounds and big fuzzy guitars to create soundscapes they claim will “hold your hand in dark times.”

The band consists of Freddy de Lord (Keyboards, Vocals and Saxophone), Hugh Fox (Drums, Drum-Loops/Programming and Percussion), Allan Harrod (Vocals, Guitar and Keyboards), Mark Hyden (Guitars and Vocals) and newly added member Tim Harrod (Vocals and Percussion).

theartofamputation

The Art of Amputation began when Hugh and Allan got together as a duo after the break up of a previous band. The pair started writing and rehearsing together as a simple keys/guitar and a drummer outfit. Together they wrote and recorded most of their first EP, though it soon became clear that they needed to find an additional guitarist to attain the sound they wanted. Mark was recruited and the trio began rehearsing and writing based on a shared appreciation of an eclectic range of artists like Weezer, Pixies, The Beatles and Bowie. Time in the studio triggered an influx of ideas and the band needed another member in order to realise them. Freddy joined in a formative period for The Art of Amputation. Each member’s individual styles began to compliment the others and the result was the creation of some impressive and polished tracks.

Allan’s keen ear for melody has been the main catalyst for the creation of each of the band’ compositions with other members working together until the song as a whole falls into place. The bands last writing tool is always the studio. They have big ideas and working with producer Steve Honest in Hackney Road Studios has ensured the creative process progresses seamlessly. Allan’s brother Tim recently completed the band’s line up, joining The Art of Amputation on vocals and percussion for their live shows.

Their new single ‘Distorted Pop Song’ is a stunning and intricately layered composition that channels the influences of The Flaming Lips and The Big Pink with its infectious, uplifting melody climaxing in a Spector-esque Wall of Sound.

Gigs:
17th October – Headline show at Camden Barfly

 

 

Kiev Remixes – New Album From Ummagma

Posted on by

Formed in Moscow in 2003, Canadian Shauna McLarnon and Ukrainian Alexx Kretov have been consistently writing and recording music whilst living between Ukraine and Canada. Shauna’s delicate airy gossamer-like vocals hold glimmers of Cocteau Twins, Stereolab, The Sundays, Curve, Lush, and Slowdive. Alexx’s guitar, vocals, synths, beats and programming create cinematic soundscapes with elements of Pink Floyd, Peter Gabriel, Bill Nelson and Brian Eno, enabling the listener soar above the music.

music news

Ummagma debuted with 2 simultaneous LPs (‘Antigravity’ and ‘Ummagma’) in 2012. They’ve built on the success of those records by collaborating with Moscow’s Sounds of Sputnik on their ‘New Born’ LP, which will be released by UK label Ear to Ear Records on November 21st 2014.

In 2013, Ummagma won the Alternative Eurovision, hosted by Amazing Radio, from 21 countries and repeated the feat in 2014 on Pure FM. They received 2 awards at the 2013 Australian Independent Music Video Awards, often feature in The Scottish New Music Chart, and landed a full-spread feature in Rolling Stone Russia. Ummagma has also caught the attention of Robin Guthrie (Cocteau Twins) and Malcolm Holmes (OMD), who have remixed tracks for forthcoming release.

Despite heavy turmoil in Ukraine, Ummagma are showing a solid footing, looking forward to a brighter future for Eastern Europe. In ‘Kiev’, this Canadian-Ukrainian team celebrates their freedoms, exploring the root of today’s problems to create beauty in the face of hostility.

‘Kiev’ is the capital of Ukraine and the epicenter of massive civil unrest this year, but with this release of the same name, Ummagma rise above the decay and mayhem encountered in that country to embrace diversity and beauty, while taking their music in new directions. ‘Kiev’ is a essentially message of hope.

This release is an impressive package featuring the original track ‘Kiev’ plus 9 remixes from 9 fantastic artists from nearly as many countries, celebrating the splendor of the original composition in their own unique styles.

Auxiliary tha Masterfader transforms the duo’s work into an Italoesque electro-disco-pop gem. A Copycat’s handclap-dream-pop version is tender as a peach skin with a retro summer groove factor. Statickman’s synths shoot like laser guns into the retro-synth future. A Copy For Collapse goes for a more experimental, industrial approach, while David Garcet’s trippy chillwave edit brings downtempo bliss. Mikael Fas dishes up a beautiful trance-imbued deep house version. Celebrated Japanese chillwave artist Haioka takes everything to the next level with sounds reminiscent of an angelic playground. Sounds of Sputnik presents a stripped-down 90s indie version laced with synth-guitar harmony. Brazilian electro-child Mind Movies delivers a fragmented, dubby and loud breakbeat adaptation that probably comes closest to the actual state of mankind if we could listen to its rhythm.

The outcome shows that what is the end for one person may be the start for another. Even more important, it shows that beauty can blossom even in the midst of ugliness.

Emerald & Doreen Recordings is a German boutique record label for futuristic indie, chill & dance music, curated by dedicated audiophile music makers and lovers who pride themselves on selecting the most exciting original material they can find, engaging the services of the most innovative remixers. Emerald & Doreen Recordings released Ummagma’s ‘Rotation/Live and Let Die’ single in December 2013, followed by the ‘Lama’ extended EP in late May 2014.

RIYL: Stereolab, Curve, Cocteau Twins, Broadcast, Everything But The Girl, Dubstar

Released 31 October 2014

 

 

The Society Islands, The Big Sleep | Music News

Posted on by

Band/Artist: The Society Islands
Location: Cologne, Germany
Styles: Indie Pop, Neo Folk, Dream Pop
Similar to/RIYL: Tame Impala, Grizzly Bear, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Porcupine Tree, Brian Eno
CD: The Big Sleep
Release date: September 26 (digital), November 14 (CD)
Members/Instruments: Boris Rogowski (vocals, guitars, bass, keys, woodwinds, percussion, drums), Moishe Lichtfuss (Saxophone), Benedikt Filleboeck (Trumpet), Isabelle Holder (vocals), Eva Bardo (vocals)
Production: Boris Rogowski


Bio: 


The Society Islands is the solo project of the Cologne, Germany based singer and multi-instrumentalist Boris Rogowski whose other musical ventures include work as composer, studio and live musician for domestic bands and artists like Klee and Gentleman. He is also a founding member of the psycho pop quintet DIE SONNE.

thesocietyislands

His music as The Society Islands oscillates between neo-folk, dream pop and indie rock and is further characterized by unconventional stylistic shifts, ominous undertones and its creator’s firm belief that there is no such thing as bad influence.

“The Big Sleep” opens with the monologue of a person in a drug-induced state of wonder whose discovery that she “can’t use colour” only leads her to the conclusion that she “can do everything” – an adequate way of introducing an album full of musical and lyrical arrangements that never feel contrived or formulaic, but rather like something discovered by chance – in a state of somnambulistic certainty. The songs manage to conjure up musical and emotional landscapes which are as engrossing as they are hard to pinpoint; like dreamscapes, they tend to shift, blur and bleed into each other. 

“The Big Sleep” as a whole can be read as a meditation on impossibilities: There is no way to start over with a clean slate, to change who you are or to make beauty – or even happiness – last forever. It would be a depressing sentiment, were it not coupled with the one good reason to keep trying: the endless creative power of discontent. 

 

 

The Oxford Coma, Morphine | Music News

Posted on by

 

Band/Artist: The Oxford Coma
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Styles: Heavy Psychedelic Rock/Metal
Recommended if you like: Tool, Dillinger Escape Plan, Nirvana, Primus, the Melvins, Neurosis
CD: Morphine EP
Release date: 12/2/14
Accolades: CBGB Festival 2013, opened for Soulfly and Fear Factory, Finalist in KUPD’s Playdio competition for best band in Phoenix, Summer Tour 2014

 

theoxfordcoma
Members/Instruments: Billy Tegethoff (guitar/lead vox), James Williams (bass/vox), Anthony Chamberlain (drums/vox)
Production: Recorded and Mixed at Audioconfusion by Jalipaz, mastered by Matthew Murman at Matthew Murman Mastering



Bio: The Oxford Coma is a three piece heavy psychedelic rock band operating out of Phoenix, AZ.  The band has released a full length LP entitled Adonis which was critically well-received in the US and western Europe after its release in 2012. Their new EP ‘Morphine’ drops on 12/2/14.  

The Oxford Coma is endorsed by Orange Amplifiers. The band played the international CBGB Festival in NYC in 2013. They have opened for Soulfly, Fear Factory, and Amaranthe and successfully toured the continental US in summer of 2014. In 2013 they were finalists in KUPD’s annual Playdio recording/live competition for best band in Phoenix. You can catch them every few months playing in the Phoenix valley area or regionally at venues like the Whisky in LA.

 

 

Jennifer Lopez And Iggy Azalea Team Up For Booty Video | Watch

Posted on by

We are really not sure about the trend for female superstars to sing and dance in their pants and become obsessed with booty- their own and other peoples. We haven’t seen any men dancing in their pants, thank god. Although Justin Bieber did strip off at Fashion Rocks, and get booed for it. Jennifer Lopez and Iggy Azalea have teamed up for this Booty video. What do you think: female empowerment, a celebration of the female form or just time to put some clothes on? Comment below.

iggy-azelea_jenniferlopezbootymusicvideowatch

Vision the Kid & Tru Somewhere In A Dark City | Music News

Posted on by

visionthekid

Artist: Vision the Kid
Similar to: Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, J. Cole, Brother Ali
Label: Be Easy Music
Accolades:
* VTK was voted Best Local Rapper in a poll by Minneapolis publication Vita.mn
* Tru’s production was featured in Minneapolis publication City Pages’ Gimme Noise Beattape

Bio:
Vision the Kid & Tru are a rapper/producer duo based in Minneapolis. They are set to release their second full-length album, Somewhere in a Dark City. In 2013, Vision the Kid was voted Best Local Rapper in a poll by Minneapolis publication Vita.mn. In 2014, Tru’s debut instrumental album, Smokers Lounge, earned a glowing review from Minneapolis publication City Pages and inclusion in the fourth volume of their Gimme Noise Beattape.

The duo first saw success with Vision the Kid’s debut album, Lost Summer, which lasted over 10 weeks on the College Media Journal’s Hip-Hop charts, peaking at #12. The debut music video, “Lost Summer,” is featured on MTV.com, along with an MTV artist page. The duo’s most recent Ep, BrokenRadioLove, also appeared in CMJ’s Hip-Hop charts, holding a Top 40 spot for multiple weeks. Their single “Live from the Midwest” has been featured on both MTV’s The Real World and E! Network’s Kourtney & Kim Take Miami.

Somewhere in a Dark City displays the type of growth listeners and critics want to see from artists. It is densely personal, at times vulnerable, but overall an invitingly listenable record. Mixing true stories of drug addiction and heart break with tracks of pure, danceable braggadocio, Vision the Kid & Tru set out to make a Hip-Hop record that sounds as current as it does timeless, as personal as it is universal, and as much party as it is poetry.

“I Was Sacked From Iron Maiden For Listening To The Eagles.” Dennis Stratton

Posted on by

Iron MaidenIron Maiden – one of the world’s biggest heavy metal rock bands with over 85 million album sales – sacked their guitarist because he was caught listening to California soft-rockers The Eagles!

Speaking exclusively on Litopia’s Garry Bushell Talk Show, guitarist Dennis Stratton doesn’t mince words.

He also reveals:

How – and why – he knocked out former Iron Maiden singer Paul Di’Anno.
How sexual offender Jonathan King tricked him into a convertible bed and tried it on. Dennis told him: “If you bring your nose an inch closer to mine – I’ll bite the ******* thing off!”

Check out the interview below.