The Phoenix Foundation - Fandango

Between the opening lyrics to the new Daft Punk wondersong - "Like the legend of the Phoenix...", Phoenix's new album, and The Phoenix Foundation's album release, we have officially dubbed April the month of the Phoenix.  Fittingly, the three bands represent artists at different, evolving stages of their careers.

The Phoenix Foundation, hailing from the land of Mordor and couch burning, aka New Zeleand, has built a loyal, local following in their native country since the release of their first album, Horesepower, in 2003.  Yet with the release of their fifth album, Fandango, they seem to have taken flight in a sound best described as folsky, chill, psychedelic surf-synth indie rock. The lyrics exude a slightly off-key David Bowie.  

We recommend listening to this album while lying on the beach with a cool breeze, a warm sun and a kindred spirit.

Divine Fits - "You Know You're Not the Only One"?

Breakfast tacos, mobile dating apps (ehem, Tinder) and... great music?  Ah, yes, the now world famous SXSW isn't only known for the now booming food and tech scenes.

Here's a first listen to some new material from the Divine Fits (an Austin based band featuring members of Spoon), possibly titled "You Know You're Not the Only One".  Don't worry, we know the music is still the only one.

Husky - Forever So

Husky - "History's Door"

Husky - "Tidal Wave"

Forever So is this Australian four piece's debut album and arrives via the Sub Pop label and are gigging in a U.S. town near you over the next few months.

"The band's shared passion for classic sounds, rich harmonies, and artful songwriting points back to the artists they grew up on: Crosby Stills & Nash, Bob Dylan, the Doors, Neil Young, Leonard Cohen, the Beach Boys. After playing separately in small local bands, the foursome began playing as Husky in late 2008. In a junk-filled bungalow behind Gawenda’s rented house, using borrowed equipment and siphoned electricity, they cobbled together a studio. They used every corner of the little cottage – bathroom, kitchen, corridors – to preserve the vibe of that unique time and place and give instruments and voices room to breathe, echo and resonate."

You have probably hadn't heard of Husky, but they've been making waves back home in the land of plenty and are primed for a states takeover. 

Bear Hands - Burning Bush Supper Club

"best enjoyed with the lights off"

As it goes, there's a tendency to compare a band you hear to other more familiar ones.  Bear Hands and their hook-filled indie rock LP, Burning Bush Supper Club, sound like an up-tempo version of Spoon meets Local Natives and supplanted by Luke Steele's (of Empire Of The Sun) powerful vocals. 

The gradual integration of keyboard, samplers, and programmed drums into their sound has helped propel Bear Hands beyond being simply hometown heroes.  Pitchfork put it best when reviewing Burning Bush Supper Club a few months ago, "this was the album that MGMT's Congratulations should have been, one that sharpens the lush, hedonistic surrealism of reverb-laden psych-rock into tightly focused anthems that are just anarchic enough as to be unpredictable."

Bear Hands - "High Society"

and I said no no no / I am engaged to be alone

Bear Hands - "Crime Pays"  (video)

Bear Hands - "Tablasaurus"  (hope they've admitted to sampling the Catch Me If You Can theme music)

Go on and get all of Burning Bush Supper Club.

Guillemots - "Walk The River"

Ladies and blokes, the Guillemots have released this fantastic title track, "Walk The River" for their upcoming album release.  Their first since 2008, expectations are deservedly high, and have been met so far, after their first two discs both charted in the UK.

Album release date is set for April 18th via Geffen Records.  In the meantime check out the short film made for "Walk The River," and get the free download of the track at the band's website.

Guillemots - "Walk The River"

Geographer - Animal Shapes EP

Back Track

This is one fine EP from last year that snuck past me until recently.  The mix of cello and synth on Geographer's Animal Shapes makes for an excellent Ra Ra Riot kind of journey.

Geographer - "Original Sin"

Geographer - "Kites"

"Animal Shapes follows up "Kites" building on the synth-driven aesthetic of the single, while flirting with darker, more esoteric underpinnings. The record merges Geographer’s aptitude for crafting beautiful, haunting melodies with textural sounds and polyrhythmic energy, marking an evolution of their distinct style."

Buy the entire Animal Shapes EP here.

Nicos Gun

~ 2011 Band to Watch ~

Transcending generations and transgressing genres, Nicos Gun flips the music world on its head, harmonizing classic, funk, and psychedelic rock into prodigious melodies that electrify and inspire.

After sitting on this post for weeks, it's finally time to unveil our first "2011 Band to Watch."  What we're coining their lead single, put your lighters up for "we are fluorescent."

With Flight of the Conchords type creativity (NG lead vocals Barney even resembles Brit), Nicos Gun's talents are far-reaching, with vocals akin to Prince, MGMT, and Empire of the Sun, to psychedelic undertones reminiscent of Ghostland Observatory, while all being rooted in bass and guitar true to pure rock, it's an eclectic collection of phenomenally orchestrated sounds.

"Decadent Boy" starts with a Stones-like riff and develops into a 60's flower power classic

Murray Hewitt is smiling somewhere

Nicos Gun - "Dirty Girl"

We had the chance to hear some rough cuts of a few unreleased tracks, and it's obvious there's plenty more where this came from.  In the meantime check out the other four public tracks not included here at the Nicos Gun bandcamp page.

Their bloodstained video for "we are fluorescent" spent almost two weeks on YouTube before being taken down a few days ago due to the inclusion of some "violent" scenes.  Let's hope a revised cut returns to the public eye soon.  As if on cue, a video for "Party Cult" hit the web this week, more than doing its part to keep us captivated. 

With their debut full length set to drop in the near future, it'll become increasingly obvious, Nicos Gun is the modern cool.

For you New Yawkas, roll through the LES Saturday, Dec. 11th, 10pm @ Fontana's to check Nicos Gun out live.

The Phantom Band - The Wants

8 different band names and multiple labels later, it seems The Phantom Band moniker has finally stuck for this Glasgow-based group.  How many fans did they confuse and lose? "Not many," said bass player Gerry Hart. "Really, we weren't very good back then."

After hundreds of tracks were pushed aside, the sextet finally publicly released Checkmate Savage in 2009 to critical acclaim (28th ranked Scottish Album of the Decade).  Fast forward to now and last month's release of their second EP, The Wants.  Despite the mainly local success of their debut, the sense this time is that their fan base is going to extend outside the Scot borders, and I concur.  This EP is quite eclectic, with a variety of undertones and reverbs twisting their way throughout each track.  The disparate sound leaves you gloriously confused and intrigued all at once, which is what makes it great.  From the background effects in "Into the Corn," to the Eddie Vedder-like vocals in "The None of One," and the strangely ebullient darkness that "Everybody Knows It's True" exudes, these Scots are well on their way to cementing their place in the hallows of indie rock, and more importantly on my tape deck.

Diamond Rings

The solo project of Canadian indie-rocker John O'Regan, Diamond Rings dropped his debut album, Special Affections, in October.  It's unlike anything I've heard before.  Diagnosed with Crohn's disease in late 2008, O'Regan started creating and writing these songs during his hospital stay, "It was kind of like I had my own subsidized artist residency," he continues. "I had this bed and a desk, and a guitar here, a crappy keyboard there. We couldn't bring a drum kit into the hospital, so the songs started taking on more of this singer-songwriter lyrical quality than what I had done previously. And that was it. I started writing songs just for me."

Co-founder of D'Ubervilles, O'Regan now has to balance his time between the two as Diamond Rings continues to gain popularity with his Marilyn Manson-like appearance and David Bowie-esque hooks and vocals.  With his songs jumping up the charts, the jean jacket, purple shoes, and face paint are starting to look trendy.  Be sure to check out MJ crowd surfing at the end of the "Wait & See" video.

Diamond Rings - "Wait & See"     Diamond Rings - "On Our Own"

The Decemberists - "Down by the Water"

We have a title and we have a release date.  The King is Dead - January 2010.

Now get the first released single, for free from their website.

Real Estate - "Out of Tune"

They've been listed on Stereogum's "Band to Watch" list and Pitchfork coined their 2009 debut LP, self-titled Real Estate, "Best New Music," so I'm not the first one to appreciate Real Estate's sound.  With bass, percussion, bongos, and guitars this New Jersey band takes a laid back approach to indie rock evoking images of relaxing on a front porch or sitting by the beach all day.  Last month, in conjunction with True Panther Sounds, they released this single, "Out of Tune," which keeps anticipation high for their next album.

Real Estate - "Out of Tune"

Like Pioneers - Piecemeal

"Last winter, members of Bound Stems, the Narrator, Chin Up Chin Up, Vacations, and a whole host of other Chicago bands got together over two weekends at IV Labs and played it out.  A band that came together as a result of a recording studio reunion, a name that came about from a self-deprecating joke, and an album that exists with the help of many - it makes perfect sense." -likepioneers.com

Deerhunter - Halcyon Digest

Halcyon Digest Release Date:  9.28.10

FROM:  Atlanta, GA

This four-piece rock group has been around since '01 and dropped their fourth studio album this month.  "Desire Lines" is my favorite track so far but a few of the others are in close competition.  Drop a line or two in the comments section with your thoughts.

Deerhunter - "Desire Lines"

Deerhunter - "Fountain Stairs"

Ra Ra Riot - The Orchard

 

With their sophomore album Riot nails it with The Orchard and outdoes their debut with 10 tracks that all bring something unique and different.  The chello and violin still play a big part as the group continues to gain popularity, Hulu decided to create a separate channel for them and are hosting this video called The Making of The Orchard.  My standouts are "Shadowcasting," (especially the build up to 2:40) "Too Dramatic," and "Kansai."

Ra Ra Riot - "Boy"

The Pass - Burst

With their first LP, Burst, The Pass is definitely one of the best new relatively underground groups I've heard in 2010.  Playing mostly frat parties and small venues, The Pass are takin to the road to show off their album, stopping in New York October 22nd to make a few CMJ appearances.  They remind me of Passion Pit with less whine and more rhythm.