New Cut Copy - Where I'm Going

Australia's Cut Copy released one of the mastered tracks today from their upcoming new album, which is still currently nameless. Described by Dan Whitford as something along the lines of what Brian Wilson would have written if he spent his days doing acid in London in the 60's instead of hanging out in California. I'm inclined to agree. The track definitely has an airy, throwback feel and would be a good addition to your sunny summer days playlist. You can download the track here or head over to their website where it is also being given away for free-ninety nine.

Cut Copy - Where I'm Going

Arcade Fire's Exclusive Fans-only Gig at Hackney Empire

I was one of the privileged few who were allocated tickets to last night's Arcade Fire gig at the Hackney Empire - their first non-festival performance in the UK in 3 years and a chance for them to test out new material from forthcoming album The Suburbs in front of a crowd of devout fans (including Florence and the Machine). Tickets were only made available to a selection of those who pre-ordered the new album online a few days before the event. Rather than me describe how amazing it was, have a look at the much more eloquent glowing reviews from the BBC, Guardian and Telegraph.

The monster 18-song setlist played out as follows:
Ready to Start
Modern Man
Neighbourhood #2 (Laika)
No Cars Go
Haiti
Empty Room
Rococo
The Suburbs
Suburban War
Intervention
We Used to Wait
Neighbourhood #3 (Power Out)
Rebellion (Lies)
Month of May
Crown of Love
-encore-
Neighbourhood #1 (Tunnels)
Keep the Car Running
Wake Up

Based on the new material presented last night, "We Used to Wait" and "Rococo" are likely to be my favourite tracks from album number three.

"Neighbourhood #1 (Tunnels)":


"Wake Up":


Win crowdsurfing at the end of "We Used to Wait":

Pional - In Another Room

After reading this review on Resident Advisor and noticing that P4K had featured this track a couple months ago, I gave it a quick listen and was blown away. The beat itself is deceptive, at first seeming too slow for its own good. Metallic percussive elements and various chopped choral samples begin to unravel and provide a very propulsive background for the main vocals which echo underneath, lurking in unrecognizable depths. Find this track on Pional's A Moot Point single, out on Hivern.

Pional - In Another Room

Jingling All The Way

Brooklyn's Sleigh Bells have finally released their debut album, the appropriately titled Treats. I've been a big fan ever since I heard the excellent "Crown on the Ground" last year and the majority of the new tracks are of a similar pedigree.

Sleigh Bells - Rill Rill
Sleigh Bells - Crown on the Ground

Such Great Heights

I've been listening to The Wild Hunt, the new album from The Tallest Man on Earth, almost incessantly since it was released over a month ago. It's one of those amazing records that grabs you firmly by the ears from the first listen and doesn't let go. He's Swedish, it's folk, it's amazing.

The Tallest Man on Earth - The Drying of the Lawns
The Tallest Man on Earth - Love Is All

Bros

The new Black Keys album Brothers is one of my favourite albums of the year so far, and the new video for lead single "Tighten Up" is a winner as well:

Check out another track, the excellent "She's Long Gone":

The Black Keys - She's Long Gone

The Return of Ratatat

So we all know their sound by now: screaming guitars, tribal rhythms, the occasional big cat howl. Ratatat are back with 'LP4', which was originally set to come out shortly after 'LP3' dropped two years ago.

Regardless, it is out in physical form now. Hopefully these guys do a bit more extensive touring, as their live show is incredible.

Party on!

Ratatat - Party With Children
Ratatat - Neckbrace

This is Happening - UPDATED

UPDATE: 'I Can Change' is now available as a high quality mp3.

First, there were the 'Drunk Girls' (read: summer 2010 party anthem), now we get a little more laid back with 'I Can Change' from LCD Soundsystem's forthcoming album, This is Happening.

LCD Soundsystem - I Can Change

Also, floating around this morning was this radio rip of 'Dance Yourself Clean'. Sounds like another winner, despite the lower quality.

LCD Soundsystem - Dance Yourself Clean

Get excited, this album is shaping up well. You're going to want to actually buy it when it drops May 17 in Europe, May 18 in North America. You also don't want to miss them live, starting at Coachella next weekend.

And Speaking of New Wolf Parade...

Wolf Parade, my favourite band with a wolf-inspired name, is currently on a massive tour that will see them travel across Europe and North America through the summer.

Here is a pretty high quality video of a new song, it is still untitled but the uploader has called it 'Fast Ballad'. It's not their fastest track, but it's definitely Wolf Parade.

Friday Five: 1st 1/4 2010 Highlights!

You guys, it's already April! That means that a quarter of the year has passed us by. Fortunately for the keen music fan, there has been lots of great new stuff to soak in through our ears. We've already had great new releases by Hot Chip, Owen Pallett (formerly Final Fantasy), Vampire Weekend, Spoon and MGMT (oh what? it's not out till next week...LEAK ALERT). Plus I've stumbled upon new interests, like Das Racist whose reference-laden rap makes me smile. Their mixtape/album is well worth the free download.

And there is so much more too look forward to in the coming months: LCD Soundsystem are releasing LP3, 'This is Happening', on May 18 in North America and Wolf Parade are dropping their next one, 'Expo '86', in June or July (fingers crossed for June). Broken Social Scene have new record, 'Forgiveness Rock Record', coming out May 4 which I'm sure will be another epic based on these tracks. Not to mention every morning I check the interwebs hoping for some piece of information about highly anticipated LP3 by Arcade Fire - tipped to appear later in the summer.

Enough talking, these songs are all objectively great.

LISTEN / TELL YOUR FRIENDS:

LCD Soundsystem - Drunk Girls

MGMT - Flash Delerium

Hot Chip - I Feel Better

Owen Pallett - Lewis Takes Off His Shirt (Dan Deacon Remix)

Das Racist - You Oughta Know

Spoon - I Saw the Light

Children's Choir Covers Phoenix

Continuing on the Phoenix tip, I came across this video which is spreading quickly of the PS22 Chorus (who contributed vocals for Passion Pit's debut) singing their version of Phoenix's "Lisztomania." Read more about these brilliant kids in the Guardian. Considering they'll be featured in Entertainment Weekly and probably a million other publications, this isn't any sort of scoop. Still, this choir puts other kids to shame. Gotta love the husky dude in white being spastically into it and his buddy's Mutombo finger wag around the 2:05 mark. Much respect.



PS22 Chorus - Lisztomania

Free Phoenix Live Album

Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix was undoubtedly one of 2009's highlights so this free album featuring 8 of the album's 9 tracks performed live at the Hordern Pavilion in Sydney earlier this month is a treat not to be missed. The Observer is giving it away here but only until midnight this Tuesday, so grab it now. You can also check out the paper's comprehensive interview with the band here.

This Is Australia

Continuing my mission to attend every quality musical festival in the world, I sidestepped the harsh British winter this year to spend the first few weeks sampling the Australian summer festival season. In between navigating the dangers of spontaneous human combustion from the heat and locating their unfeasibly small two dollar coins in my wallet; I found time to immerse myself in the indie music scene. Primarily centered in Sydney, Perth and Melbourne this included attendances at Slopfrenzy, Southbound and St Jerome Laneway's events.

True to form, I've chronicled my antipodean adventures with a mix-tape of my favourite discoveries. I present to you: This Is Australia

1 - Philadelphia Grand Jury - Going To the Casino (Tomorrow Night)
2 - Yves Klein Blue - Polka
3 - John Steel Singers - Rainbow Kraut
4 - Canvas Kites - Wayside
5 - Little Red - Waiting
6 - Sugar Army - No Need for Lovers
7 - Cameras - June
8 - Felicity Groom & the Black Black Smoke - 39 Ways To Leave Your Lover
9 - Tame Impala - Sundown Syndrome
10 - Lisa Mitchell - Neapolitan Dreams
11 - Little Birdy - Brother
12 - Teeth & Tongue - Sea Ice
13 - Sarah Blasko - No Turning Back
14 - Frequent Flyer - Twirl & Sink

Think About Evangelical Life

Who knew that Think About Life would appeal to the devout masses? Their new video for "Havin' My Baby" shows what good music can do to people who believe in it. Starring muppet look-a-likes a hip preacher rockin' out to my favourite Think About Life track, a church is taken over by the sweet sounds of TAL. Can't wait to see TAL invade the cribs of a daycare next. Nobody's safe.

For those fortunate enough to attend SXSW, TAL will be showcasing their dominance of the live show.

Think About Life - Havin' My Baby

Enjoy!

Friday Five: Two-foot Express

There's nothing new to post in this week's Friday Five. These are just tracks that get me up and out of the house for work. Once out of the house, they ease my two-foot commute. Everyone has their own tracks that gets them up and at 'em.

Here's what got me to work this week:

The Lovely Feathers - In the Valley

Sigur Ros - Untitled 1 (Vaka)

First Aid Kit - Ghost Town

Palovr - Pen to the Paper

Elvis Costello - Radio, Radio

Enjoy!

P.s. For those in Ottawa, catch The Lovely Feathers on March 8 with The Love Machine and Oceans at Mavericks.

Friday Five: 2010 So Far...and a leak

The year is barely two months old and already there is plenty of music to be excited about. With so many anticipated releases, 2010 has the potential to top 2009's stellar year. Here are some tastes of tracks that I just can't keep out of my head.

Beach House tops my list of new favourites. Victoria Legrand's voice is hauntingly seductive and her lyrics dive deep into your soul. This song is simply amazing.

Beach House - Silver Soul

Jonsi's single off the album Go is just beautiful. The arrangements are calculated, but erratic. The music has such a soothing quality and his voice is just magical.

Jonsi - Go Do

Yeasayer take autotune-influenced tracks to another level, this track has some serious production elements which make it really exciting. Their new album has such a dance-pop feel once you get a couple tracks deep.

Yeasayer - Children

I just love The Besnard Lakes and their pretentious album titles; for example, The Besnard Lakes Are the Roaring Night.

The Besnard Lakes - Chicago Train

SUPRISE!

Broken Social Scene's first track from their upcoming album Forgiveness Rock Record is huge. I can't wait to hear what BSS has in store.

Broken Social Scene - World Sick

Enjoy!

New Chiddy Bang Video "Opposite of Adults"

I've talked about Chiddy Bang on here before, particularly this track where producer Xaphoon Jones does a great re-inventing of 'Kids' by MGMT. They have now released a very fun video to accompany the track just ahead of the UK release of their EP out February 22nd.



And if you are at all interested in how they made the video's visuals, we were just sent over a 'Making of' video for the track.

Behind the Scenes: Opposite of Adults from LOOSEWORLD on Vimeo.

Mumford and Sons cover White Lies

Mumford and Sons were on the air this morning on the 'Like a version' segment on Triple J. Oh what silly and playful banter the guys have. In the segment they play their song 'The Cave' as well as a great cover of 'Unfinished Business' by the White Lies. You can stream it below or head right here to download it in full.

Frightened Rabbit, 'Nothing Like You'

Check out the video of Frightened Rabbit's new single, 'Nothing Like You'. This track will be availabe on 7 inch and for download February 22nd. Their new album entitled The Winter of Mixed Drinks, will be hitting the streets on March 1st.


Frightened Rabbit on MUZU

Lil' Wayne, Drake, Eminem, Travis Barker kill it.

Now I really don't care about the Grammy's too much, but I had to watch it just so I could see the crazy performance of 'Drop the world' and 'Forever' by the power house of Weezy, Drake and Eminem. To top it off Travis Barker rocking the kit. I guess Kanye isn't invited to things like this anymore. He probably would've walked down and punched Taylor Swift in the mouth or something. Whoever runs the Grammy's was very uncool and took down the footage from youtube, but not even they could stop mother Russia, and this random link I found. The audio blanks out every once in a while because of all the naughty words.

* Forget the Russians, here's an uncensored video of it that I came across instead.