Yo, it's corrupt where I'm from..

UPDATE!!!
Cadence Weapon is incredible live. Performing in front of a whopping 50 people at Victoria's Sugar nightclub last night, Cadence Weapon played a bunch of dope new stuff as well as some odd-ball covers...ie Weezer's "Pink Triangle". His DJ was a crazy long-haired, white metalhead-looking dude, but man did he ever tear up that vinyl. If you even mildly like hip hop, electronic or both, check this guy out asap and get pumped for his forthcoming disc. Plus, he chills with the likes of Ghostface Killah, who's also got an album out just before that new Wu-Tang drops. It's shaping up to be a pretty big winter for rap...but what do I know?
-AW

Edmonton-born rapper Rollie Pemberton, aka Cadence Weapon, got kind of big a couple years back in the indie world for his jarring and harsh electronic-based beats. His first lp, Breaking Kayfabe, was something that I hadn't really heard in hip hop before. Pitchfork just 'premiered' a new track from his forthcoming Anti/Epitaph release, Afterparty Babies, due out in March. "In Search of the Youth Crew" has a dancier backing track and some pretty awesome funk soul samples. I could definately see this one getting some serious play in the clubs...but it'll probably stick to the undergroud circuit.

Recently, I also came across some recordings of Owen Pallett, of Final Fantasy fame, and Pemberton playing together on a CBC session. It's different, but definately works out. Check it. I plan on seeing Cadence Weapon when he rolls into Victoria this Saturday, with a stop in Vancouver the night before.

Cadence Weapon - In Search of the Youth Crew
Cadence Weapon - Sharks (avec Final Fantasy)
Cadence Weapon - Grim Fandango (with Final Fantasy)

-AW.

Labrador Retrieval

A spur of the moment newfangled internet search a few years back led me to a couple unknown bands sharing residency on Sweden's Labrador Records. Remembering that some of those acts earned a surprising amount of replay value, I thought it time to see what the label's been churning out recently. Not surprisingly, the country proven to produce world class pop does it again on a few of Labrador's newest releases.

Sambassadeur - Subtle Changes
From: Migration
Sounds Like: A Swedish freak stepchild of Camera Obscura and Blonde Redhead.

The Mary Onettes - Lost
From: The Mary Onettes
Sounds like: The Cure, Joy Division, albeit more optimistic than both.

- brad

Sending Lightning to the Ground

Icelandic group Seabear have crafted a great album in the form of The Ghost That Carried Us Away. Released a couple of months ago on Berlin label Morr Music, this is the lush, gentle stuff that indie pop dreams are made of. The Ghost . . . is the band's debut album and is chock full of amazing tunes I can't stop listening to. 'I Sing I Swim' is one of my favourite tracks of the last few months; I can't recommend it enough.

Sindri Már Sigfússon originally started the project as a one man band, but the Reykjavik-based group now comprises seven members in total. The band's 2004 EP Singing Arc is still available online for free, so grab those excellent tracks here.

I'm going to make a concerted effort to catch these guys on December 11th when they're here in London supporting fellow Icelanders Múm. I have a feeling they're going to put on a solid live show.

Myspace: www.myspace.com/seabear

Website: http://www.seabearia.com/

From The Ghost That Carried Us Away:

Seabear - I Sing I Swim

Seabear - Libraries

From the Singing Arc EP:

Seabear - Singing Arc

- a.m.p.m.

Remix Sunday - Night Facilities

Night Facilities is a dj/producer from Norwich, England. Dude's only 17 and he's already produced stellar remixes of The Go! Team, Cassius, Simian Mobile Disco, The Chemical Brothers and Daft Punk. In fact, he recently crafted one of my favourite Daft Punk remixes ever with his tweaked and sample-tastic reconstruction of 'Prime Time of Your Life'.

He also started his own blog back in August where he makes available rare songs, promos, remixes (both his and those done by others) and his own original creations. 'We Invented MTV' is one of the latter, and I recommend giving it a listen.

- a.m.p.m.

Daft Punk - Prime Time Of Your Life (Night Facilities Remix)

Simian Mobile Disco - I Got This Down (Night Facilities Remix)

Night Facilities - We Invented MTV