Bohemian Cuddle Box

My Brightest Diamond :: Be Brave

2011-09-20T17:44:00.000-07:00

I wasn't a huge fan of My Brightest Diamond until I heard Shara Worden's vocal work on Clogs' fantastic LP The Creatures in the Garden of Lady Walton. In the album Worden shifted her voice to a more operatic style that really set her apart, both in terms of talent and delivery, from other indie female vocalists.

On the first two cuts of My Brightest Diamond's new album, All Things Will Unwind, Worden returns to a more traditional (read: no broken champagne glasses) vocal delivery without sacrificing the mystical orchestral feel of her work with Clogs. I'm of the opinion that My Brightest Diamond is at her best when she unleashes, and with these two tracks there is hope that the new album won't disappoint.

My Brightest Diamond :: Reaching Through to the Other Side

All Things Will Unwind hits shelves October 18th courtesy of Asthmatic Kitty. [via Stereogum]

Kurt Vile :: The Creature

2011-09-06T19:36:00.000-07:00

Kurt Vile, the musician behind one of the best albums of 2011, Smoke Ring for My Halo, will be releasing a new EP, So Outta Reach on November 8th. The first taste of the new material, "The Creature," shows Vile in his purest form - rolling guitars, cyclical melodies and lazy Dylan drawls abound. Melodically, the song is a bit heavier with emotion than anything on Smoke Ring, but it's a welcome development that compliments his songwriting style.

I highly recommend giving this track a spin, and if you haven't already checked out Smoke Ring for My Halo, get on it.

Kurt Vile :: The Creature

Joe Goddard (Hot Chip) :: Gabriel

2011-09-05T10:13:00.000-07:00

Joe Goddard, the smooth crooner of Hot Chip fame, has released a new EP, Gabriel. Check out the colorful video for the title track above and stream the EP below. [via GvB]

Oberhofer :: Gotta Go

2011-09-03T12:25:00.000-07:00

I'm a bit late posting on this one, but the talented Tacoma native Brad Oberhofer has released the first single from his band's debut LP coming early 2012. Like his previous work, "Gotta Go" is a rollicking pop tune that blends late emo vocals with sloppy shoegaze. It's a bit cleaner than the tracks he released last year, but no energy seems to have been lost in the process. This is track one on your road trip mixtape.

Oberhofer :: Gotta Go

Previously:

Oberhofer :: Away Frm U

The Buzz Box 15

2011-08-23T19:56:00.000-07:00

This week, the Buzz Box features the return of Feist, a stunning new track from prolific singer-songwriter Cass McCombs, an atmospheric spinner from the new War on Drugs album and a host of other fine singles culled from the blogosphere. Enjoy.

Cass McCombs :: The Same Thing

Blitzen Trapper :: Love the Way You Walk Away

The War on Drugs :: Come to the City

Feist :: How Come You Never Go There

I Break Horses :: Winter Beats

Balam Acab :: Motion

Port St. Willow - "Stay Even"

2011-08-18T08:16:00.000-07:00

[via]

Port St. Willow’s Nick Principe and The Antlers’ Peter Silberman play play this ambling, intensifying tune at Miner Street Studio in Philadelphia. Head to bandcamp for a name-your-price album. See more of the concert at Weathervane Music here.

Twin Sister :: Gene Ciampi

2011-08-18T06:06:00.000-07:00

This morning we have the privilege of hearing the jangly second single from Twin Sister's upcoming highly anticipated full-length, In Heaven, set for a September 27 release date. With "Gene Ciampi," the Brooklyn pop group continues their trend of crafting unique and engaging songs. This one just so happens to come with a side of walking bass line and a South Asian guitar riff. Take a listen below.

[via Dazed Digital]

Braids :: "Lammicken"

2011-08-17T08:41:00.000-07:00

[Dir. Mark Webber]

The ebbing and flowing of voices, of colors. Layers of desperation. Alternating. Silence then audacity. Such urgency. It builds. The colors become sinister. Braids of something woven without words because words have failed. Everything turns white. [via]

Mr. Little Jeans :: "The Suburbs"

2011-08-16T09:49:00.000-07:00

Arcade Fire's title track "The Suburbs" get all dubbed out by Mr. Little Jeans here. Such a sensual voice graces the percolating synths, lending an eerie attractiveness to the already pain ridden track. Scenes of fire, girls cutting hair, dancing. Near Lynch level strangeness here. Both wonderful and welcome. Directed by the the High5collective. More Mr. Little Jeans here.

Stream the New Active Child Album

2011-08-15T09:13:00.000-07:00

Today Hype Machine is offering a full-album stream of Active Child's debut long player, You Are All I See. The album is a superbly orchestrated affair featuring the group's signature blend of harp, electronics and hair-raising melodies. Certainly worth your time.

The National :: "Exile Vilify" (video)

2011-08-15T08:46:00.000-07:00

The National wrote a song for a video game and then had a contest for a video. This is that video.

The National :: Exile Vilify

Lupe Fiasco :: "Out of My Head ft. Trey Songz"

2011-08-12T17:09:00.000-07:00

Always dig a jam from Lupe. Big ups to Elly Lieppman for the tip. This ones off his latest album, Lasers. Enjoy your summery Friday.

Boxer/Briefs #11

2011-08-12T12:32:00.000-07:00

-The Guardian traces the accident of Islamic Punk. More here.

-Aj Rromale has compiled a Djengo Reinhardt documentary from youtube.

-Get guitar lessons from Marnie Stern

Grass Widow "Milo Minute" (feat. Adorable Gorillas)

2011-08-12T11:39:00.000-07:00

Based out of San Francisco, Grass Widow make punk based music with 60s influenced arrangements and melodies (Jefferson Airplane, Velvet Underground, maybe?). The video is obviously wonderful as there are several Gorillas of the Franklin Park Zoo in it (whose names are Gigi, Kiki, Kira, Kimani, Kambiri and Kit). If you want to see Grass Widow (sans gorillas) come to Cairo's 'Vibrations' Music Festival at Volunteer Park Amphitheater on 8/20. Sea Pony will also be there.

Jay-Z and Kanye "Otis"

2011-08-12T00:00:00.000-07:00

We pray that all their pain be champagne.

Memoryhouse :: Quiet America

2011-08-11T08:40:00.000-07:00

BCB favorite, Memoryhouse will be "reissuing" their fantastic debut EP The Years on Sub Pop on September 13. Apparently the group has rerecorded the entire album and added two new tracks, one of which, "Quiet America," you can watch above and both of which you can download below.

Memoryhouse will be in Seattle November 12th at Neumos with Radio Dept. in what is sure to be one of the can't-miss shows of 2011. Get tickets here.

Memoryhouse :: Quiet America

Memoryhouse :: Modern, Normal

The Buzz Box 14

2011-08-06T14:12:00.000-07:00

We are scavengers of the blogosphere. This week hear new tunes from Best Coast, Air France, Jens Lekman and previously buzzed acts SLEEP ∞ OVER, Dominant Legs and Gauntlet Hair.

SLEEP ∞ OVER :: Romantic Streams

Air France :: It Feels Good to Be Around You

Jens Lekman :: An Argument With Myself

Dominant Legs :: Hoops of Love

Gauntlet Hair :: Top Bunk

Best Coast :: How They Want Me to Be

Download all six tracks below:

The Buzz Box 14

Sufjan Dancing

2011-07-29T12:17:00.000-07:00

He says, "What would Beyonce do?" I want bracelets.

Alex Winston's "Sister Wife" Video

2011-07-29T12:02:00.000-07:00

If you like to start your weekend off right with a little dose of the bizarre, look no further than Alex Winston's "Sister Wife" video. The song itself is a strange pairing of undeniable catchiness and polygamous relationships as a subject, so it seems only fitting that the video would embrace a brand of chaos that includes (but is not limited to) gale force winds inside a house, pieces of bread flying out of a toilet, and a really ugly cat vomiting blood in Winston's face. It's weird and a little grotesque, but also kind of mesmerizing. You can purchase Alex Winston's Sister Wife EP here.

Website: Alex Winston Offical.com
Facebook: Alex Winston
Twitter: @IamAlexWinston

Timber Timbre :: "Bad Ritual"

2011-07-29T09:18:00.000-07:00

Creep on Creepin on ...

Boxer/Briefs #10

2011-07-29T08:56:00.000-07:00

Photo by Annabel Mehran.

- The Minnesota Daily asks artists who played P4Kfest about Pitchfork.

- Bombsite interviews Joanna Newsom.

- P4k asks Marissa Nadler about here favorites.

- The Awl ranks Bill Callahan songs.

Twin Sister :: "Bad Street" Video

2011-07-28T10:35:00.000-07:00

New York dream poppers turned funk enthusiasts (at least on this song) have their debut full length, In Heaven, out September 27th via Domino. You can download the Bad Street 10" from their website here.

Twin Sister :: Bad Street

Twin Sister :: In Heaven

Twin Sister :: You Remind Me Of

Sufjan on WNYC's Soundcheck

2011-07-28T09:18:00.000-07:00

photo Denny Renshaw

Hear Sufjan perform "Heirloom" off the All Delighted People Ep at 1:00, "Pleasure Principal" from The Age of Adz at 10:50, and "Futile Devices" off the same at 16:50. Interview takes place between performances. [via]

EDIT: Fast forward all the way through the first player and it will reload and play the bit with Sufjan (although the first segment is a fascinating look at Delta blues musician Son House).

Girls :: "Vomit"

2011-07-28T08:37:00.000-07:00

The new track from San Francisco's Girls features an uncharacteristically somber Chris Owens brooding over uncharacteristically angsty music for about six and a half minutes. Also an organ and choir.

Their sophomore effort, Father, Son, Holy Ghost, drops September 13th.

Girls :: "Vomit"

Gold Leaves :: The Ornament

2011-07-27T20:36:00.000-07:00

Photo by Kyle Johnson

Gold Leaves is one of those outfits that would seem a bit off if they weren't from Seattle. Thankfully for us, they are. Songwriter Grant Olsen wields a familiar blend of chamber folk and 60's pop that's sure to lift the spirits of you deprived, summerless Northwesterners. Look for the full-length to drop August 16 on Hardly Art and check out the two fantastic singles below.

Gold Leaves :: Cruel/Kind

Gold Leaves :: The Ornament

Upcoming Seattle Shows

Friday, Aug. 12
5 pm - Mural Amphitheater w/ Seapony

Thursday, Sept. 1
9 pm - The Crocodile Cafe, Record Release Show

Marissa Maharaj: Letters

2011-07-27T16:13:00.000-07:00

Marissa Maharaj's album Letters, released on July 7th, is a seven-song album with humor, harmonies and heart. The album's sonic influences span a large spectrum, from the hand-clapping modern girl group feel of "Kill a Good Thing" to the folky banjo-infused "Sunny Side Up" to the lilting "Waltz (We Are in Love)", but where her sound is diverse, Maharaj's lyrics are, for the most part, uniformly upbeat. On "Better Off Alone," she sings "If you don't come home/ I'll try to be better / better off alone"; she seems to always be looking on the bright side, even in the face of trouble and heartache. Her songs buck pretensions and capture a youthful jubilance and an unjaded outlook on life and love that is not only refreshing, but also a perfect soundtrack for summer.

Marissa Maharaj - Kill a Good Thing

Marissa Maharaj - Better Off Alone

Twitter: @marissamaharaj

Purchase Letters on Bandcamp here.

New Neon Indian

2011-07-27T10:55:00.000-07:00

Era Extraña drops September 13th via Mom and Pop. Listen below, download above.

St. Vincent :: "Surgeon"

2011-07-27T08:19:00.000-07:00

Spent the summer on your back, eh? "Surgeon" is tantalizing new track from St. Vincent ahead of her new album Strange Mercy, due out on 4AD in September.

St. Vincent :: "Surgeon"

Ryan Adams Covers Vampire Weekend

2011-07-27T00:40:00.000-07:00

Ryan Adams is a man of many talents. Doing interesting covers is apparently one of them. Here, dressed in his Rivers Cuomo best, he turns the New England bark and bustle of Vampire Weekend's "Mansard Roof" into a delicate acoustic lullaby. [via + another video]

The Chances :: "No Escape" Video

2011-07-26T12:55:00.000-07:00

[Dir. Eddie O'Keefe]

Do you remember when we dreamt of sun like this? The Chances are that you do. And in your memory our time was soundtracked by silky melodies turning into lilting harmonies as we might have meandered around half empty beaches until the sun went down. But these are only memories of dreams and there is No Escape from them.

Cuddle Up With: Grand Hallway

2011-07-25T12:35:00.000-07:00

Seattle's Capitol Hill Block Party concluded last night, and while I was only able to attend the final day, I got to see some fantastic performances. Main Stage performances by Battles, Cave Singers, and Explosions in the Sky were excellent, but it was Grand Hallway's performance on the smaller Vera Project stage that wowed me the most.

Grand Hallway's sound is gentle and lilting, blending whispery fingerpicking, haunting harmonies, and the occasional melancholy pump-organ. It is the music of sleepy dreamworlds. The sonic lightness of their 2011 album Winter Creatures is juxtaposed by lyrical heaviness: motifs of familial ties, memory and mortality create an almost spectral quality, like a soul caught between the worlds of the living and of the dead. It's an album that is quiet but vast, expansive not in a showy look-what-I-can-do way, but in a way that is humble and brings the listener to a place that feels safe and warm and comfortable, almost like home.

Grand Hallway - Apple Tree

Grand Hallway - Little Sister

Check out the video for Grand Hallway's "Roscoe (What A Gift)" below. It was filmed in the Neptune Theater, where frontman Tomo Nakayama worked for a decade, before it was transformed from a movie theater into a live music venue. It's stunning.

Grand Hallway is playing The Crocodile in Seattle with Wye Oak and Say Hi on Tuesday, August 9. Buy tickets here.

Website: GrandHallway.com
Facebook: Grand Hallway
Twitter: @GrandHallway

Purchase Winter Creatures here.

A Winged Victory for the Sullen

2011-07-24T09:53:00.000-07:00

A Winged Victory for the Sullen is the project of Adam Wiltzie and composer Dustin OʼHalloran. They will be releasing their first full-length in September.

A Winged Victory for the Sullen :: Steep Hills of Vicodin Tears

Sparrow House :: When I'm Gone

2011-07-23T19:21:00.000-07:00

From the 2006 Falls EP.

Sparrow House :: When I'm Gone

Hooray for Earth :: Sails

2011-07-22T13:53:00.000-07:00

Hooray For Earth - "Sails" from Dovecote Records on Vimeo.

Music video for the track "Sails" from BCB-favorite Hooray for Earth. Directed by David Parker and Cole Schreiber.

Loney Dear :: My Heart

2011-07-20T09:27:00.000-07:00

In 2009 we reviewed Loney Dear's Dear John, a heavy and rather dark album that seemed a bit out of place for the usually uplifting songwriter. Today brings the announcement of the band's new album Hall Music, out this fall. The first single, "My Heart" strikes the perfect balance between the group's earlier joyful sound and the maturity of Dear John. Like traditional Loney Dear songwriting, the song slowly rolls and gathers steam (and church bells) as it goes, arriving at a perfect blend of several layers, only to diminish as it began - with the light plucking of banjos. Highly recommended. [via Stereogum]

Loney Dear :: My Heart

Hall Music is out October 4 on Polyvinyl.

M83 :: Midnight City

2011-07-19T18:14:00.000-07:00

Never was there a more appropriately titled track. "Midnight City," the dark and lively first single from M83's forthcoming double LP, Hurry Up, We're Dreaming (Out October 8) was released today to well-deserved critical acclaim. It's a riotous song that easily passes as one of the catchiest singles of 2011.

While the song subtly embraces present trends (hello 80's saxophone, thanks again Dan Bejar...), it's never lost in them. Similar to his previous album, Saturday = Youth, M83 continues to mine the sound of long nights, boundless young love and endless movement. According to Gonzalez, "the direction of the album is very, very, very epic." Sounds about right so far. Check it out below.

M83 :: Midnight City

M83 will be in Seattle November 13 at Neumos. Check out the band's website for ticket information.

Cuddle Up With: The Local Strangers

2011-07-19T12:22:00.000-07:00

The Local Strangers, comprised of midwestern transplants Aubrey Zoli and Matt Hart, are masters of acoustic beauty. Their alt-country sound is all dulcet harmonies and folky fingerpicking, and their lyrics are earnest and honest enough to tug at the heart-strings of any run-of-the-mill grump. The tenderness with which Zoli sings "There's nothing left to leave here but you / so I'll take the scent of your shampoo / the way that nostalgic people do" in "All Along" is absolutely stunning, and an understated vocal companion to her powerhouse pipes. The Local Strangers also do a soul-crushingly beautiful, chills-inducing cover of Patty Griffin's "Forgiveness" (proof: this performance amongst California's Redwoods).

The Local Strangers - Hunted By Ghosts

The Local Strangers - All Along

Their self-titled EP was released on June 10, and can be downloaded in its entirety for free here. The Local Strangers are also playing at the Tractor Tavern in Seattle on Thursday, July 21. Tickets are $8, and you can buy them here.

Website: The Local Strangers.com
Facebook: The Local Strangers
Twitter: @Local_Strangers

image via Andria Lindquist

The Bird and the Bee - I'm a Broken Heart

2011-07-19T08:41:00.000-07:00

A tribute to heartbreak, this song

is a soundscape best experienced by the doleful.

If you're not taken by the brass (trombone solo? nice),

you've still to contend with the mellifluous voice of

Inara George. She reinterprets the classic in vintage

and makes it something her own.

Their website

Boxer/Briefs #9

2011-07-18T11:25:00.000-07:00

-Aquarium Drunkard has found a free documentary about Tom Waits.

-Flavorwire lists 10 blogger-owned labels.

-They also breakdown whether or not you need Spotify

Kanye and Q-Tip at Brooklyn Hip-Hop Festival

2011-07-17T16:06:00.000-07:00

Little Kids :: Logic Songs

2011-07-16T00:40:00.000-07:00

The art of lo-fi folk seems to have been lost amid the gloss of recent trends in the independent music scene. Brave are the musicians still willing to bear their souls to a four-track armed with only a guitar and a soft voice. There is no hiding here; no washing out.

Little Kid, aka Kenny Boothby, is one of these courageous few. Logic Songs is a rough collection of intimate, unadorned folk tunes that vary thematically from God to trains. In the spirit of early Akron/Family, Microphones and Julian Lynch, Boothby navigates the genre with a familiar ease.

Check out two tracks from the album below and if you like what you hear head over to Bandcamp to download the album for free.

Little Kid :: Let There Be Light

Little Kid :: The Lord Made Me Leave You

Caged Animals :: "Girls on Medication (Teenage Desert Mix)"

2011-07-15T08:02:00.000-07:00

[via]

Caged Animals :: Girls on Medication

Caged Animals :: Girls on Medication (Teenage Desert Mix)

The Backyard Reading Series #1

2011-07-14T11:28:00.000-07:00

This coming Saturday, July 16 at 7:30pm on Capitol Hill is the first in a series of local "backyard" summer readings. The event is completely free and features cheap food, cheap drinks, books for purchasing and live music from Portland's Childish.

If you are interested in literature, music, hot dogs or just having good, honest fun with good, honest people on a good, honest summer evening, this is for you. We hope to see you there.

&lt;p&gt;&amp;lt;a href="http://childish.bandcamp.com/track/the-night-we-celebrated-twice"&amp;gt;The Night We Celebrated Twice by Childish&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;&lt;/p&gt;

Cults :: "Go Outside" Video

2011-07-14T09:31:00.000-07:00

A cultish video for one of the catchiest, summery-est songs on one of the catchiest, summery-est albums of the year. Go outside indeed!

Cults :: "Go Outside"

Kanye, G.O.O.D. Music and SXSW

2011-07-14T08:09:00.000-07:00

Kanye's G.O.O.D. Music project generally produces just that, good music. His performances are notoriously fantastic as well and this one at SXSW is no different. These are really worth your time as they include performances by Mos Def, Jay-Z, Kid Cudi and of course, Kanye.

New Lil' Wayne Mixtape

2011-07-14T00:40:00.000-07:00

Get it here.

All Cameras On: Hot Bodies in Motion at The Round #73

2011-07-13T13:46:00.000-07:00

Hot Bodies in Motion. Hannalee. Daniel Blue. One magical evening at The Round #73. There's a little bit of back story necessary to explain why this video is awesome. So let me start by explaining what The Round is.

The Round is an event put on approximately every month, generally at the Fremont Abbey Arts Center in Seattle, and it always features 3 musicians/bands, a couple slam poets, and a few visual artists. The Round is named after the format of the performance: one round consists of an initial reading by a slam poet, then one band/musician will play one song, and then the second band/musician will play one song, and then the third plays one song, and finally the second slam poet reads, with the visual artists creating art all the while. And then it starts all over again. Pretty interesting, right? What makes it even more interesting is that collaboration is highly encouraged: when a musician isn't performing their own song, they're welcome to vibe on and add musical flourishes to whatever song is being played. It was absolutely riveting to see how songs were built upon and transformed into entirely new entities through musical collaboration, especially since the bands hadn't really heard each other's songs before The Round.

Now let's talk about All Cameras On. All Cameras On asks audience members to record a performance using whatever camera they have with them, from fancy digital cameras to iPhones to esoteric Nokia bricks. Once they have all the different footage, they piece it all together into a single video. The above video was shot with two DSLRs and six phones. You can obviously tell the difference in the quality of each recording, but that's what makes it amazing: it's like a little patchwork quilt of experience, from different perspectives and through difference lenses (literally). I think this video really exemplifies the spirit of The Round and captures some of the magic that happens within such a collaborative space, in addition to just being a really well-put together representation of an experience.

If you like what you hear, there are free podcasts of songs from The Round #73 available for download here (sidenote: Hannalee's "Ocean" took me to another plane of existence when I first heard it at The Round, and has been on infinite play in my iTunes since the release of the podcast).

ALSO, The Round #75 is happening on August 9th at the Fremont Abbey Arts Center, and will feature Black Whales, so if you're in the Seattle area, it will definitely be worth checking out.

The Wandering Lake :: In Passage

2011-07-13T11:00:00.000-07:00

In short, The Wandering Lake is like a male, slightly cleaner Grouper. Or a washed-out Jeff Buckley. Or a fervent disciple of Panda Bear's Young Prayer. One could call it sacred music.

This is an album to fall asleep to - not at night, but in the afternoon. It's nap music; which is not to say boring music, because it's not. The sound falls in the small space between melodic clarity and drifting, and in many ways is perfectly described by both the band's name and the album title. The music is "in passage" - it's traveling with a vague purpose, but a purpose none the less.

Check out the mesmerizing and beautiful "People" below, and head over to Bandcamp to download the full-length album (pay what you want).

&lt;p&gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://wanderinglake.bandcamp.com/track/people"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;People by The Wandering Lake&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&lt;/p&gt;

The White Stripes Cover Otis Redding

2011-07-13T09:34:00.000-07:00

Oh my mercy, there are no words to describe how incredible this White Stripes cover of Otis Redding's iconic "I've Been Loving You Too Long" is. Their characteristically low-fi sound is a delightful juxtaposition to the lilting melodies, and the guitar solo in the middle is a little slice of garage rock heaven. Why did the White Stripes break up again?

Panda Bear :: "You Can Count on Me" on Fallon

2011-07-13T09:20:00.000-07:00

Panda Bear :: You Can Count on Me

The Rest :: "John Huston"

2011-07-13T08:44:00.000-07:00

This is just what I need right now. I have been working a lot and I am tired. I want to sleep, I want to Rest. Hailing from Hamilton, Canada, The Rest make sincerely gorgeous music that seems to breathe the crisp Canadian air. The vocals have a delicate urgency that is utterly compelling. Intricately layered arrangements percolate with strings and moments of intense percussion giving these songs a dynamic range that bears several listens.With an EP and a ten-song full length under their belt, The Rest are preparing their 2011 Seesaw for release (presumably) later this year. You can be sure I will let you know if I hear anything.

The Rest :: Over The Hill

The Rest :: John Huston

Bandcamp
Tumblr

Real Estate :: It's Real

2011-07-12T12:40:00.000-07:00

Real Estate will be releasing a new album this fall titled, Days. Check out/download the album's lazy first single, "It's Real" below.

Other Lives :: For 12

2011-07-12T08:04:00.000-07:00

Every once in a while an unassuming band comes along and creates beautiful, unassuming music. Fredrik's Na Na Ni, the Middle East's I Want That You Are Always Happy - these albums are not stylistically groundbreaking nor particularly courageous and thus typically fly under the hype radar.

Tamer Animals, the new album from Oklahoma's Other Lives, has a similar unpretentious air. With a smooth blend of atmospheric chamber folk and 60's psychedelic vocal harmonies, the album unfolds slow and steady. It is music that can easily pass through the ears of an inattentive listener without leaving much of an impression. But if you are willing to sit with Tamer Animals and strike up a conversation, there is a lot to love.

It’s not an album that’s going to blow you away – and it’s not trying to.

James Blake - Lindesfarne I & II (vs Fantastic Mr. Fox, as remixed by Oddlogic)

2011-07-11T21:11:00.000-07:00

Cuddle Up With: Allen Stone

2011-07-11T16:11:00.000-07:00

Allen Stone is a soul man. The Chewelah, WA native sings sexy soul music that is damn near impossible not to move your body to, and has enough swagger and charisma to warrant endless Justin Timberlake comparisons. He played for a packed house at the Crocodile in Seattle last Friday, July 8th, and absolutely killed it.

The show began with a stripped down mini-set of cover songs, including John Denver's "Take Me Home, Country Road" and Ray LaMontagne's "Let It Be Me," backed up by fellow Seattle musicians Kris Orlowski and Ben Carson of Hot Bodies In Motion, among others. With a promise to "funk your shit up," he returned to the stage with a full band and set about making good on his vow. Booties were shaking and minds were blown. Allen Stone is one of the only musicians I've ever seen who appears to be wholly in his own skin onstage: you can tell just by the way that he sings and the way he moves that he's feeling every single thing he's singing in every single part of his body. There is not an ounce of him that appears to be faking it. He also plays the sexiest version of Bob Marley's "Is This Love"... EVER.

To witness an Allen Stone performance is truly something special. I watched an interview with Michelle Williams recently in which she was talking about what it was like to film some of the most difficult scenes in Brokeback Mountain, and she said: "I remember thinking... 'I want to be like water.' Strong enough to hold up a ship, but able to slip through your fingers." This statement is a perfect characterization of the way Allen Stone performs, in that his performances are fun and lighthearted and funky enough to wow even the most dour cynic, but there's also a level of vulnerability, a sort of willingness to be wounded, within the muscle of his performance. It's a tricky line to walk, but Allen Stone is able to project strength and vulnerability simultaneously, without ever coming off as prententious or sappy, and that is something worthy of praise.

Twitter: @allen_stone

Facebook: Allen Stone

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Vashti Bunyan :: Winter is Blue

2011-07-09T19:46:00.000-07:00

Vashti Bunyan :: Winter is Blue

Doug Hoyer :: Walks With the Tender and Growing Night

2011-07-09T19:20:00.000-07:00

Nothing says summer like the combination of a deep baritone and a ukelele. Much in the vein of Beirut, Mountain Goats and Jens Lekman, Doug Hoyer crafts sharp and sophisticated pop songs that conjure summer-wind-through-the-hair images. His debut full-length, Walks With the Tender and Growing Night, is a vibrant collection of light-hearted tunes more than qualified to serve as your summer soundtrack. Check out two album tracks below and head over to Hoyer's Bandcamp page to purchase the album for a mere 7 bucks.

Doug Hoyer :: Oh, The Wind Will Blow

Doug Hoyer :: Northern Lights

The Tallest Man on Earth :: Weather of a Killing Kind

2011-07-08T11:24:00.000-07:00

Today we find a new track from Tallest Man on Earth featured in Adult Swim's weekly mp3 series. Check out "Weather of a Killing Kind," an understated and simple folk tune that is (thankfully) not much of a stylistic stretch for the talented songwriter

Fleet Foxes on La Blogotheque

2011-07-07T12:36:00.000-07:00

[via]

White Denim - "Street Joy" (Video)

2011-07-06T22:21:00.000-07:00

[via]
White Denim - Street Joy

Hjaltalín - Traffic Music

2011-07-06T15:37:00.000-07:00

Hjaltalín - a lesser-known indie ensemble from Reykjavik, Iceland. Kind of reminds me of a Nordic Sufjan Stevens. I really enjoyed their debut album, the Sleepdrunk Seasons, and I think I'll grow to love their latest (Terminal), too.
Wait for the bridge: the bassoonist plays melancholy, the clarinet commiserates its woodwind relative, and together they articulate something quite evocative. It's become a habit of mine to associate music with place - not an uncommon activity, I suppose. As for this situation, my little vignette reads: crisp morning, old friends - good friends -, frolicking about an Icelandic fjord. So... basically a Sigur Rós video.

Birkwin Jersey - "Sixes and Nines" Video

2011-07-06T09:46:00.000-07:00

[via]

Birkwin Jersey have more music here and an album coming out in a week on here.

Birkwin Jersey - Sixes and Nines

The Embassy - Stage Persona

2011-07-05T17:42:00.000-07:00

I was asked to make some sort of introduction upon my debut. Kind of dropped the ball, there. What's more, I actually hate that guy - the absentee blogger. So, as per request, myself properly introduced: Christian Truscinski, a reporter of things chillwave, dreampop, and remixes thereof. Musical provinces aside, I'm just another enthusiast to enlist in the brohort of BCB. As a disclaimer, I'll be breaking the rules now and again; that is, I might post something outside my official purview once in a while. Remixes are great, and I prefer to stay on theme, but I also subscribe to the "post stuff I like because I want to" notion of blogging. Hopefully you'll find my aberrations in good taste.

On to more important matters.

The Embassy, while neither the latest nor the greatest that Swedish electropop has to offer, is one of those soulful sojourns I love to take when I've exhausted my current playlist. Like other gems of Svenska - Air France and Little Dragon in particular - the Embassy is unabashedly pop. They're like a textural version of Peter, Bjorn and John, without the percussive virtuosity.

M83 Album Teaser

2011-07-05T09:34:00.000-07:00

Cool Runnings - I Am You (Star Slinger Remix)

2011-07-03T23:21:00.000-07:00

Lana Del Rey - "Video Games" (Video)

2011-07-03T21:32:00.000-07:00

[via]

The best way to define heartbreaking is with this melody/voice combination from Lana Del Rey. Of the king indeed. Check more words here. I let you know if I find any mp3s.

Sleep Good - "Memory Cops"

2011-07-02T15:42:00.000-07:00

[via]

Both of us at BCB were English majors (among other things) back in our college attending days, so when a band name like "Sleep Good" shows up, we can't help but giggle a little at the unrepentant disregard for propriety it exudes. This song is really short and sweet. Reminds me a bit of a more melodic and harmonious Wavves and leaves me wanting so much more. How am I supposed to sleep good in a situation like that?

Majical Cloudz - "Dream World" Video

2011-07-02T15:21:00.000-07:00

Tasseomancy - "Heavy Sleep" Video

2011-07-01T10:08:00.000-07:00

Tasseomancy is the project of Sari and Romy Lightman who recently recorded their second album with BCB favorite Timber Timbre. This track, "Heavy Sleep," sounds like a cathedral. Vocals sound like a cross between Jo-New and Bat for Lashes and alternate between chillingly cute and hauntingly ethereal. Video features all the gothic trimmings: blood, a sleeping (or dead) women in a Victorian dress, lightening. If you like, stay tuned. According to their myspace, the album will be released "sometime before the next thaw." Until then, check out their Takeaway Show here which gets a little Cocorosie (in the best way).

James Blake - Lindesfarne (Unofficial Video)

2011-06-30T12:28:00.000-07:00

[via]

Seapony - "Where We Go"

2011-06-16T13:46:00.000-07:00

The Blow - "Ask Me (Demo)"

2011-06-15T20:19:00.000-07:00

[via]

Erykah Badu - "Time Out of Mind, Just in Time"

2011-05-27T16:45:00.000-07:00

OUT MY MIND JUST IN TIME from Creative Control on Vimeo.

Youth Lagoon :: Cannons

2011-05-19T19:58:00.000-07:00

In my continued campaign to force summer upon us via song, I present to you listeners Youth Lagoon, the project of Boise resident, Trevor Powers. Yes Boise, Idaho.

"Cannons" is an slow and uplifting jam with a memorable electric piano line running throughout. Powers' nerdy, lo-fi vocals are a bit lost in the layers, but the song is so damn catchy you don't really mind in the end.

If you like this track, head on over to the band's Bandcamp page for a free download.

Youth Lagoon :: Cannons

The Tallest Man on Earth :: New Song

2011-05-19T18:35:00.000-07:00

Tallest Man on Earth, the Bob-Dylan-sound-alike-that-sounds-just-different-enough-to-be-okay, blew away critics and fans alike with his second album The Wild Hunt. Now comes a new track performed live in Sweden. Featuring just a simple piano line and restrained drums, the new song brings Kristian Matsson's strong vocal performance to the forefront. It's a good recording and well worth a listen or ten. [Via You Ain't No Picasso]

The Tallest Man on Earth (New Song, Live) by TwentyFourBit.com

Money Jungle

2011-05-19T18:19:00.000-07:00

Duke Ellington, Charles Mingus and Max Roach :: Money Jungle

The Way is fast
like the beat of the jazz,
which through the buds in my ears, blooms-
transforming the stale, lonely
flashing-neon-lights
into a silent metronome.
and the whole world moves together again:

The yippy bitch tied to the bike rack
now yips in tune- complements Thelonious
with bright harmonies.
Might be pissing off everyone but me-
'cause I got the jazz in my head.

or the spastic bizzness man
walking fast
heel!
toe.
heel!
toe.
heel!
toe.
little does he know
He walks with the rhythm in my head.

or the slimy American flag-
moving in the wind-
seems to dance
the seductive dance
to the voice of romance-
like the singer's body-
hips slide over tables
she leans,
to the delight of many
then SNAPS upright
she croons our song,
tangled in herself she mourns
in blues.

Beach House :: Untitled

2011-05-18T19:30:00.000-07:00

I'll never turn down a mysterious new Beach House track, and this one (like most) finds that soulful groove the band forged so perfectly on Teen Dream. I haven't heard any new-album rumblings yet, but any new music is a good sign. This one actually might give you some chillz. [Via GvB]

Bon Iver :: Calgary

2011-05-16T16:43:00.000-07:00

Bon Iver released the first single off their self-titled second album today. Predictably, the group seems to be developing the "band" sound (cough... Coldplay ... cough.) they began with the Blood Bank EP. It works pretty well with this track, and we've been spared the auto tune ... so far. Take a listen:

Bon Iver - "Calgary" by One Thirty BPM

The Book of Disquiet

2011-05-15T16:18:00.000-07:00

Julian Lynch :: Terra

Grouper :: Alien Observer

I see life as a roadside inn where I have to stay until the coach from the abyss pulls up. I don't know where it will take me, because I don't know anything. I could see this inn as a prison, for I'm compelled to wait in it; I could see it as a social centre, for it's here that I meet others. But I'm neither impatient nor common. I leave who will stay shut up in their rooms, sprawled out on beds where they sleeplessly wait, and I leave who will to chat in the parlours, from where their songs and voices conveniently drift out to me. I'm sitting at the door, feasting my eyes and ears on the colours and sounds of the landscape, and I softly sing - for myself alone - wispy songs I compose while waiting.

Night will fall on us all and the coach will pull up. I enjoy the breeze I'm given and the soul I was given to enjoy it with, and I no longer question or seek. If what I write in the book of travellers can, when read by others at some future date, also entertain them on their journey, then fine. If they don't read, or are not entertained, that's fine too.

Fernando Pessoa, The Book of Disquiet

Beat Connection :: In the Water Video

2011-05-15T11:21:00.000-07:00

We at BCB have been following the ascent of Seattle duo Beat Connection since the release of their debut EP last year. Now comes the first official music video for the fantastic single "In the Water." Note the wonderful sun-basked Seattle scenery and dare to dream of a Northwest summer.

Beat Connection - In The Water from Dumb Eyes on Vimeo.

Check out our interview with Beat Connection from last year.
Bandcamp / Myspace / Facebook

The Middle East :: I Want That You Are Always Happy

2011-05-15T10:53:00.000-07:00

It takes a few listens to get your head around the new album from Australian outfit, The Middle East. At times it's a dark affair; the first three tracks suggest tones of 60's British folk with a medieval twist (The album opens with "Black Death 1349"). By the fourth track, "Jesus Came to My Birthday Party," the sound shifts to a lighter place, only to dip back into the slow melancholy of songs like "Mount Morgan" and "Months." Clocking in at an hour (almost unheard of these days), I Want That You Are Always Happy takes some patience, but is ultimately rewarding.

Despite their ability to successfully navigate multiple genres, The Middle East are at their best when diving into more traditional folk/country sounds. Album standout "Land of the Bloody Unknown" is a downright chill-inducing ballad. Later tracks like "Months", "Dan's Silverleaf" and "Hunger Song" continue the rousing chamber folk sound to great success.

I Want That You Are Always Happy is an impressive collection of songs that takes enough twists and turns to keep listeners tuned in for quite a bit longer than most sub-40-minute albums. Sometimes it feels like the album will never end; a prospect that I'm 100% okay with and you should be too.

The Middle East :: Hunger Song

Previously:

The Middle East :: Blood

I Want That You Are Always Happy will be released June 7 in the U.S.

Hooray for Earth :: True Loves

2011-05-15T09:29:00.000-07:00

There are some songwriters who seem to simply discover melodies, as if song craft was no different from walking out your door and breathing fresh air. Each song, each chord, each note falls precisely into place seemingly preordained by the gods of song. Hooray for Earth, led by Noel Heroux, embodies this notion to the fullest. Says Heroux:

“I don’t write music with an instrument, I usually just get an idea of what the whole song sounds like in my head, kind of like an earworm that stays with you after listening to the radio. My task is to recreate what’s stuck in my head in actual audible form, as quickly as possible.”

And when Noel Heroux says "quickly" he means quickly. Less than a year after the release of their fantastic EP, Momo, Hooray for Earth are gearing up to drop their full length, True Loves, a joyous collection of melodic pop sure to yield some of the year's best songs.

The band has a clear gift for infectious rhythms and "earworm" vocal melodies. Opener "Realize It's Not the Sun" slowly unfolds with what sounds like a choir of baritones in an open-air African market. Heroux's voice hovers over all and is quickly joined by tribal beats and yelps. It's a sound deeply rooted in gospel, afro-pop and communal singing.

Second track, "Last Minute" and third track "Sails" both showcase the band's propensity for stadium-worthy hooks. It's almost impossible to listen to the songs and not imagine a large and youthful crowd singing along to every word (Think early MGMT singles minus the ego). Standout "True Loves" falls right in between the African and stadium influences and is a no-doubt candidate for single of the year.

Side 2 slows down from the torrent pace of the first five tracks, but still holds on to the melodic and rhythmic integrity established in the first half. Closer "Black Trees" revisits and reinterprets the beat from "True Loves" in a slower and more contemplative track. The melodies close out the album with the same emotional powerful with which they opened it.

This album will appeal to fans of MGMT, Passion Pit, Twin Shadow as well as more afro-influenced acts like Ra Ra Riot, Vampire Weekend, Paul Simon and the Lion King soundtrack (not kidding). It's a record as genius as it is unpretentious. Well worth your time.

Previously:

Hooray for Earth :: Surrounded by Your Friends

Hooray for Earth vs. Twin Shadow :: A Place We Like

Dam Mantle :: Movement

2011-05-07T18:38:00.000-07:00

Dam Mantle :: Movement

Dam Mantle is movie music. Dam Mantle is Jurassic Park meets Open Wyoming Highway.

How I really feel about Dam Mantle:

Wild Beasts :: Smother

2011-05-07T09:52:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I jokingly described Wild Beasts to a friend as a mind-numbing combination of Queen, Death Cab for Cutie and Dean Martin. While such mash-up descriptors are typically a sad reflection of my limited musical tastes, I challenge any one out there to refute this one. Hailing from Kendal, England, Wild Beasts features two energetic and unique vocalists: Hayden Thorpe, whose warbling countertenor channels Freddie Mercury's more operatic moments, and Tom Fleming, who appears to be the only surviving member of the Rat Pack.

Wild Beasts' newest album, Smother, sees the band toning down some of the unrestrained energy of their previous efforts. The steady, frolicking drum and bass lines of their last album, Two Dancers, are replaced with slow, drawn out melodies and floating electric guitar lines. It's an odd stylistic decision for a band fronted by such an extraordinary pair of voices, and fans of earlier albums might find it a bit off putting. But after several listens Smother finds its groove.

Second track "Bed of Nails" shoots out of the gate, carried by a subtle, machine-gun bass line. Post-rock guitar lines bounce through the track alongside a repetitive and quiet synth that slowly gains steam as the song expands. The package as a whole is mesmerizing. Album standouts "Albatross" and "Reach a Bit Further" are perfect examples of how Wild Beasts has managed to convey a paradoxical sense of intensity and relaxed control. The play between Thorpe's and Fleming's vocals on the latter track is the highlight (and emotional peak) of the album.

Smother is an oddly fitting name for an album that seems, on first listen, to rein in the energy of Wild Beasts' previous music. But this restraint also reveals the unique songwriting and undeniable talent of each band member. I highly recommend this one!

You can stream the album over at The Guardian. Release date is May 9.

Memoryhouse - "Caregiver" Video

2011-02-17T12:09:00.000-08:00

We are Trees - "Sunrise Sunset" (not a Bright Eyes cover)

2011-01-20T20:30:00.000-08:00

[via]

This video is pretty mesmerizing. Out of tune on purpose? More We are Trees here.

Sufjan Documentary

2011-01-10T16:45:00.000-08:00

In which Sufjan rules at pacman.

The Radio Dept: Never Follow Suit Single

2010-11-01T08:00:00.000-07:00

The Radio Dept. is releasing a new single their album Clinging to a Scheme in anticipation of their fall U.S. tour. The release features a few new tunes, including "The One" a slow jam that showcases the band's melodic lo-fi electronic pop of which we are so fond. If you haven't had a chance to get into Clinging to a Scheme, I would highly recommend it.

[mp3] The Radio Dept. :: The One

Hooray for Earth vs. Twin Shadow: A Place We Like

2010-10-31T14:30:00.000-07:00

We've written quite a bit about Twin Shadow, who recently released his fantastic album, Forget. Here we find George Lewis Jr. teaming up Hooray for Earth to create arguably one of the most catchy pop songs of 2010. Both artists are embracing the 80's renaissance that has been sweeping the indie rock scene over the past year and a half; but it is the soaring v-for-victory melodies that are setting them apart. Feast on this jam, get your hands on Twin Shadow's debut, and look forward to a full length from Hooray for Earth in 2011.

[mp3] Hooray for Earth vs. Twin Shadow :: A Place We Like

P.S.
[mp3] Hooray For Earth :: Surrounded by Your Friends

Doug Hoyer - Two New Songs

2010-10-22T07:03:00.000-07:00

Doug Hoyer hails from Canada and makes me think about duets between Jens Lekman and Camera Obscura. Clap and dance to "Lakes of Mars" the b-side of the Two New Songs by Doug Hoyer 7" put out by Old Ugly Records. Download the tracks here.

Doug Hoyer - Lakes of Mars

Body Language - Free EP

2010-10-21T06:58:00.000-07:00

[via]

Body Language's digital hooks are simply phenomenal. They come across like a more filled out The XX utilizing guy/girl vocals and certain minimalist sensibilities. Go get their Social Studies EP for free right here. Its filled with alternating funky/chill/poppy jamz.

Seapony - Dreaming 7"

2010-10-20T07:43:00.000-07:00

The Seapony strikes again! They will release the Dreaming 7" on November 15th via Double Denim Records (as their second ever release!).

The release will be limited to 300 and our stock is even less than that so if you don't want to miss out then we advise pre-ordering. We expect the vinyl to be in stock from the 15th of November.

Baths - "Stupor"

2010-10-19T08:37:00.000-07:00

[via]

BCB favorite Baths has already released an excellent album this year and wowed us with his live show. Now he has got some new music for us. "Stupor" is a little more minimal than we are used to and extremely percussive. This song is part of a free EP put out by Heart Music Group. Check the video here.

Baths - Stupor

Courtney Marie Andrews - For One I Knew

2010-10-19T08:29:00.000-07:00

Courtney Marie Andrews' music sounds like an Icelandic Regina Spektor, though as far as I can gather she is neither of these things. Her new album and third full length, For One I Knew features a dense collection of cleanly produced catharsis. In the opener "Venus is Prominent" she alternates between hauntingly hushed and haunting guitar and dramatic piano. The most striking feature of these songs is obviously her voice. She matches the dynamics of each song and occasionally lets it all go and man is her voice powerful. Her live shows have got to be intense! Her debut album For One I Knew, comes out January 15th.

Nico Muhly: A Good Understanding

2010-10-18T22:48:00.000-07:00

Nico Muhly, the contemporary Manhattan composer responsible for, among other things, the choir-boy atmospheres on Grizzly Bear's Veckatimest, has had quite a prolific year. He's lent his orchestral arrangements to Jonsi's debut solo album Go and Sam Amidon's I See the Sign, and has released two full albums of his more traditional classical works.

Classical musicians who fraternize with the likes of lowly popular musicians are rarely recognized for serious compositional achievements. But Muhly has managed to straddle the two paradigms, largely through his own willingness to become fully absorbed in a given project. His compositions for indie acts are not forced; his arrangements spring naturally from sound and timbre of the artists. In the same way, Muhly's classical pieces find the young composer steeped in more religious European traditions. The brilliance of his music comes from his fusion of spirited American melodies with the choral church sounds he was raised with at his Episcopal church in Providence, Rhode Island.

Muhly's newest release, A Good Understanding, is a fantastic collection of melodically moving choral works performed by the Los Angeles Master Chorale. The album is a must-hear for both serious and casual classical fans. Chopped church organs call forth Muhly's "Bright Mass With Canons" - a sweeping piece accentuated by discordant harmonies and the sharp, piercing explosions from the pipe organ. Later in the collection is "Senex Puerum Portabat," a slow and aching song that carries melodic traces of Johnny Greenwood's There Will Be Blood soundtrack and Sufjan Stevens' trumpet work on Michigan. Writes Muhly on his blog, "The musical language of Senex is, I hope, appropriate for church but also appropriate for private listening." It is this tension between the sacred and the profane, the spiritual restraint and sensual indulgence, that Muhly so expertly captures. The record is at once alien and familiar, the European immigrant and the free-spirited American youth.

I hear American singing

The varied carols I hear

[mp3] Los Angeles Master Chorale :: Senex Puerum Portabat

Purchase A Good Understanding Here

Y La Bamba - "Juniper" Video

2010-10-18T08:39:00.000-07:00

Y La Bamba's weaving vocal melodies and harmonies are both gorgeous and dark. A gothic cathedral in ruins. Their video for "Juniper" features my friend and former employer, Jim Grandy, performing some medicine man type ritual and looking as creepy as ever. Look at the size of that beard! Y La Bamba's label, Tender Loving Empire, is based out of Portland and is home to several great acts, including the mesmerizing Nadine Mooney. Buy Y La Bamba's Lupon here.

Camera Obscura’s Tracyanne Campbell w/ Owen Holmes - “Automobile”

2010-10-18T07:22:00.000-07:00

[via]

On November 29, Black Kids bassist Owen Holmes will unleash a brand new EP, Duettes, under the moniker Gospel Music, featuring guest vocalists SoKo, Magnetic Fields collaborator Shirley Simms, Cassie Ramone (Vivian Girls), and — my personal fave — Camera Obscura frontwoman Tracyanne Campbell. Enjoy the new Alan Del Rio Ortiz-directed video for Campbell and Holmes’ catchy duet “Automobile” above.

Star Slinger - "1987" Video

2010-10-15T14:51:00.000-07:00

[via]

On the last song of the Seeing Suge single, which is available here, Star Slinger's 1987 combines excellent percussive sensibilities with vocal samples and synths to create a jam that sounds like it should be on Jay-Z's Reasonable Doubt. I would love to hear some rapping over this.

Blackbird Blackbird and Twin Sister

2010-10-15T14:31:00.000-07:00

[Via]

Blackbird Blackbird is one of the more prolific artists (and bloggers) these days. If you liked "Fly" which we posted a bit ago, this Twin Sister remix is sure to please, adding some ambient washes and a stomping backbeat. Also go look at their beautiful new website!

In other Twin Sister news, Domino will be releasing the "All Around and Away We Go" 7" single with BCB favorite "Meet the Frownies" as the b-side. Dont forget to see them with The Morning Benders in Seattle on the 18th!

Twin Sister - Lady Daydream (Blackbird Blackbird Remix)

Twin Sister - All Around and Away We Go

Twin Sister - Meet the Frownies

Hunting Hat - "A Vampire Christmas"

2010-10-14T08:01:00.000-07:00

Hunting Hat is from Bellingham/Tacoma. Rightfully, "A Vampire Christmas" sounds like classic Northwest. Halfway in between the solemn, broken lo-fi aspects of The Microphones and the cynical melancholy of early Modest Mouse the song simply but surely leaves its imprint. Hemingway and Steinbeck are listed as influences and this music feels as lost as their generation.

Download the VampireXmas EP here.

Hunting Hat - "A Vampire Christmas