Harakiri

Although I originally purchased The Ponys' new album Turn the Lights Out shortly following its release in March of this year, I hadn't really given it much of a chance until last month. It wasn't until a Monday morning's inevitable rush-hour Tube meltdown that I discovered that The Ponys are actually quite a solid band, and Turn the Lights Out is a great album.

You see, lengthy Tube delays often prompt me to deploy a tactic of listening to an album that I haven't dedicated as much attention to as I should, and this particular morning it was in The Ponys that I found salvation while trapped in an overcrowed, overheated District Line train going nowhere.

Oh sure, it's typical indie rock, but there's a nice 60's vibe to the album and pretty much every track is catchy as hell. First track 'Double Vision' and 'Harakiri' are standouts that deserve a listen. FYI: Hara-kiri is a Japanese colloquialism for Seppuku (a form of ritual suicide by disembowelment).

The Ponys - Harakiri

- a.m.p.m.

Remix Sunday

Not so much a remix as an alternate take, this acoustic version of 'A Pillar of Salt' can be found on the Thermals' new Insound Tour Support CD, available at the paltry price of US$5.99. The limited edition rarities album is chock full of goodies: 4 KEXP session tracks, 6 live cuts and 3 acoustic takes.

The Thermals - A Pillar of Salt (acoustic)

- a.m.p.m.

† time

I’ve been rocking 'Phantom pt. I' since late ‘06, and it’s still absolutely ace. This track is ‘Da Funk’ for the ‘00s. Now that Justice's album † has officially dropped in Europe all heck has broken loose; yet another solid 2007 electro release set to rub shoulders with LCD Soundsystem, The Field, Lindstrom, and many others on ‘Best of’ end-of-year mixes.

Justice - Phantom pt. I
Justice – Waters of Nazareth

If you haven’t already, listen to the above tracks immediately, but then check out ‘Valentine’. It’s a little slice of 80’s electro space-pop complete with bouncing synths, throbbing bass, and typically gritty Justice production that would fit nicely into the Clockwork Orange soundtrack.

Justice – Valentine

If you're near London, England this weekend be sure to catch Justice at Wild in the Country with Simian Mobile Disco, Tiga, Hot Chip, Underworld and others. North Americans, expect † Stateside July 11th and undoubtedly on an Internet near you right now.

- a.m.p.m.

Silence, please.

I've really been enjoying the track 'Silence' off the Field's album From Here We Go Sublime lately. Sure, the whole album is absolutely solid, but I can listen to all seven minutes and thirty-five seconds of this baby and still be yearning for more.

The Field - Silence

- a.m.p.m.

Admirable Love

As is the trend these days, the new Interpol album Our Love to Admire has leaked weeks before its intended July 10th official release. After just a few listens, it's clear that there are no weak tracks to be found here - first single 'Heinrich Maneuver' is classic high-energy Interpol, and bloggers are currently going bananas over album opener 'Pioneer to the Falls' and the introspective 'No I in Threesome'. However, in my opinon the real gems are to be found in the latter section of the album.

'Pace is the Trick' nods to the album's theme of predator vs. prey, love vs. lust. Soaring vocal tracks overlap, stating 'Now I select you, slow down and let you, see how I stun' while simultaeneously declaring 'I've seen love, and I follow the speed and the starlight'. The album's flawless production shines through particularly well on this one.

Penultimate track 'Wrecking Ball' is one of this year's best (thus far). Think 'NYC' with less New York and more Cares; while Interpol has always been sombre, the sad beauty here represents the band at their best. Regal horns, a swelling string section and Paul Banks' back-tracked vocals flitting from left to right close out the track in Arcade Fire-esque glory.

Do yourself a favour and pre-order your copy now or trot down to your local record store on July 10th. Make no mistake: this is one of the year's best albums.

Interpol - Pace is the Trick
Interpol - Wrecking Ball

As a side note, a series of menacing video clips featuring prey and predator in their natural habitat has been created to promote Our Love to Admire. Feast your eyes (and ears) on these two:

- a.m.p.m.

Remix Sunday

One of my favourite tracks of late, Justice's 'D.A.N.C.E', has been remixed by one of my favourite knob-twiddlers, MSTRKRFT. Unsurprisingly, the results are quite good. The track begins with the familiar catchy schoolchildren sample in almost original form, but MSTRKRFT apply their patented remix process by speeding the BPMs up just a smidge, chopping up the vocal samples, and adding even more French electro guitar and synth noodling. It all builds up to a head that predictably (but satisfyingly) culminates with a breakdown two thirds of the way through, but even at almost 5 minutes this one seems to end a little too soon.

Justice - D.A.N.C.E. (MSTRKRFT Remix)

- a.m.p.m.

Gripping

A new Go! Team track has made its debut on BBC1, and after repeated listens I believe it's up to par with Thunder Lightning Strike. Can't wait for the new album to drop in a few months.

The Go! Team - Grip Like A Vice

- a.m.p.m.

Rosuto

During my visit to Japan in April I was surprised by how many people I ran into that liked the same music as I do. In fact, the Japanese music scene (especially in Tokyo) is incredible and most Japanese indie kids listen to the same stuff as we Westerners, plus some other really cool shit you've never heard of. I hope to stay in contact with many of the amazing people I met there (thank you Facebook) and discover more amazing Japanese tunes.

To put it in perspective, note how fantastic the lineups at the Fuji Rock Festival and Summer Sonic are this year. They're pretty much the two largest music festivals in Japan and from all accounts are nothing short of incredible. Fuji Rock alone features Deerhoof, Chromeo, Kings of Leon, Ratatat, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Justice, Peter Bjorn and John, Electrelane, Feist, Chemical Brothers, The Album Leaf, !!!, The Shins, Simian Mobile Disco, Battles, and heaps more. I mean, come on. If you're in Japan this summer, be there or be shikaku.

-Andrew M

It's A Contender

Yes, The National's new album Boxer is tight. Yes, it'll likely be an album of the year. Yes, you can have a free song now.

The National - Slow Show

-Andrew M.

Boyz in the Hood

Bridging the Atlantic favourites The Hood Internet released their first mixtape album yesterday as a free download and it's a doozy. Fans of mashups will find plenty here to satisfy; the Timbaland/Hot Chip fusion 'Give It To My Boy From School' is particularly awesome. Do yourself a favour and grab it now - the price is right.

The Hood Internet - The Mixtape Volume One

-Andrew M

June Tunes

Summer's almost here, again. It feels like I was just saying that at the end of April, but now I'm saying it again about the summer course on Bollywood cinema I'm taking for two and a half more weeks. That combined with a bi-weekly commute to the camp I work at make for a lot of traveling and iPod charging.

Here are some tracks that have been in high rotation recently:

Kanye West - Stronger (feat. Daft Punk)

Justice - Phantom Pt. 2

The New Pornographers - My Rights Versus Yours
Handsome Furs - Dead+Rural
LCD Soundsystem - No Love Lost (Joy Division cover)
- LCD was solid-sounding live and played most of Sound of Silver along with a couple older tracks, like Movement, Yeah and Daft Punk (obviously).
Feist - Sea Lion Woman
Arcade Fire - Antichrist Television Blues
- I agree with Bowie that these guys are the best band in the world. I had a brutal seat but it was so worth it.

-Andrew W.

Radical, dude

I should have posted something about Radical Face way back in March, but completely forgot to. Sorry about that. Radical Face is actually the solo effort of one Ben Cooper who still makes up half of another project called Electric President with pal Alex Kane. The song 'Welcome Home' from Radical Face's newly release album Ghost is one of my top tracks of 2007 so far due to its gentle but infectiously catchy melody, beautiful vocal harmonies and lush orchestration. 'Wrapped in Piano Strings' is another sweet track that shouldn't be missed.

Radical Face - Welcome Home

-Andrew M

Dan Deacon

The Bridging the Atlanic crew really likes Dan Deacon's album Spiderman of the Rings, and we think you will too. Tracks range from frenetic schizo electro bashers ('The Crystal Cat') to twinkly ambient noise-scapes ('Big Milk) to atmospheric synth-pop ('Pink Batman'). Plus it has neat cover art and the songs all have cool names. Deacon is now on tour and Ottawa kids can catch him at Zaphods on July 10th.

Dan Deacon - The Crystal Cat
Dan Deacon - Pink Batman

The video for 'The Crystal Cat', released a couple of weeks ago, is typical Deacon fare:


-Andrew M

Sticky-Icky

Lucky White Stripes fans on this side of the pond got an early taste of new track 'Icky Thump' last month when British radio station 83 XFM gave it spin, and I for one was hooked. It's a little heavier than the average Stripes song, but you won't hear me complaining. It's been in my iPod's heavy rotation playlist for the last few weeks; those of you who haven't heard it yet should give it a listen.

The album (also titled Icky Thump) won't be available until June 19th, but the 'Icky Thump' single can now be purchased from the iTunes store and the video was released today.


The White Stripes - Icky Thump

-Andrew M

Remix Sunday

Another great 2006 release, Hot Chip's The Warning made its way into more than a few 'best of' lists last year, and with good reason. On an album of consistently strong tracks, 'And I Was A Boy From School' was a standout; more of an alternate version than a remix, the gentle organic instrumentation of the acoustic version allows the (excellent) lyrics to be more easily heard and appreciated.

Hot Chip - And I Was A Boy From School
Hot Chip - And I Was A Boy From School (Acoustic Version)

-Andrew M

Beach Bears

If Brian Wilson had been born in 1982 instead of 1942, he probably would have released music that sounds a lot like Panda Bear. Although the Bear's new album Person Pitch is a little out there for some people, I'm totally loving it and really picking up a Beach Boys vibe. It's all vocal harmonies, lots of reverb and slick pop production. I think Brian would be proud.

Panda Bear - Bros (edit)
Panda Bear - Comfy in Nautica

-Andrew M.

Sore Ankles

Brighton outfit Fijiya and Miyagi have released the video for their single 'Ankle Injuries' from recent album Transparent Things and it's a looker. Catch them this summer as they do the festival circuit and make stops in Montreal and Toronto July 10th and 11th respectively.

-Andrew M

Remix Sunday

Australia's Van She have been popping out some tight remixes lately. Last month Bridging the Atlantic brought you a vocal re-work of Dragonette's 'I Get Around', and now we present this Kitsune Maison Compilation 3 electro-tastic remix of the Klaxons hit 'Gravity Rainbow' that sounds absolutely nothing like the original (in a good way). Keep your eyes on these guys.

Klaxons - Gravity's Rainbow
Klaxons - Gravity's Rainbow (Van She Remix)

-Andrew M

Shapes and Sizes

Shapes and Sizes are an incredible Canadian band you didn't even know existed. They're from Victoria, B.C. and they sound kinda like Islands and kinda like Built to Spill. But different.

Shapes and Sizes - Island's Gone Bad
Shapes and Sizes - Wilderness

-Andrew M.

This is the Dream of Owen Pallett

Last month I had the pleasure of seeing my first full set by the guy who calls himself Final Fantasy. Actually one Owen Pallett from Toronto, in the live setting Final Fantasy is just a violin and a looping pedal. This simple musical formula, along with his excellent albums which feature more varied production, has created one of Canada's most recognized and acclaimed artists. Last year Pallett won Canada's inaugural Polaris Prize for his sophomore album, He Poos Clouds, and he has contributed string arrangements to the likes of Arcade Fire, Fucked Up and DFA1979.

Final Fantasy - Many Lives -> 49 MP
Final Fantasy - This is the Dream of (Win & Regine) (live)

-Andrew W

Remix Sunday

Alan Braxe & Fred Falke have combined for some of the most bumpin' remixes in the past year or so, including their incredible renovations of Kelis' "Bossy" and DFA1979's "Black History Month." Though this Test Icicles remix dropped in '06, I doubt enough people have been exposed to its 80's synth lines and fuzzed out bassline. The predominate melody sounds as if its main inspiration was a Simple Minds track used to flesh out a Molly Ringwald teen romance, but luckily being paired with these unabashed whisky-hoarse lyrics gives the song a fresher aesthetic. All in all, this is certainly a banger for the summer, if not last summer, I think I'm much delayed in getting this up on the ol' interweb.

Test Icicles - What's Your Damage (zShare)
Test Icicles - What's Your Damage (Braxe & Falke Remix)

-Brad

May Grab Bag

May marks the start of the summer for the University crowd, and with the new season comes new opportunities for work, belligerence, patio surfing, and most importantly, the outdoor festival. Ottawa welcomes back Bluesfest and the Capital Idea! Festival, among others, bringing to town massive acts like Bob Dylan, Kanye West, and The White Stripes, and lesser known but incredibly potent bands such as Sunset Rubdown, Girl Talk, Born Ruffians, and Rock Plaza Central. I'll have to miss the aforementioned fests due to a cross-Canada trek, but those staying in town or rolling through should not miss these highly concentrated events. Bluesfest, offers a diverse collection of authentic blues and soul acts as well as jazz, indie, punk, and straight up rock and roll. Capital Idea!, running June 21st-30th, remains more indie-hipster-centric, but should not intimidate those unfamiliar with the billed bands. For those sitting on the fence, check out some material from the artists involved:

Capital Idea!

Rock Plaza Central - How Shall I To Heaven Aspire?

Xiu Xiu - I Love The Valley OH!
Russian Futurists - Our Pen's Out of Ink

Bluesfest

Gogol Bordello - Troubled Friends (Live)

Tokyo Police Club - Nature of the Experiment (Live on Letterman)

Jetplanes of Abraham (myspace)

Relief Maps (mp3's on myspace)

Jokko (myspace) **Senegalese afro-beat type stuff, very chill.

The Cat Empire (myspace)

and don't miss Kanye, Dylan, Michael Franti, Alexisonfire, The Hilotrons, Ohbijou...

and a couple random songs that may or may not improve your day:

Dandi Wind - Apotempnophilia

Avey Tare & Kria Brekkan - Palenka

-Brad

Remix Sunday

Gosh. One of the best songs of 2007 and now one of the best covers of 2007 . . .
Franz Ferdinand has contributed a bang-up version of LCD Soundsystem's 'All My Friends', complete with a circa-1980s synth and Erol Alkan production.
This cover will be featured on LCD Soundsystem's upcoming All My Friends 7" single, out May 21st on DFA/EMI. Pick up a copy if you get a chance; it'll be a doozie.

LCD Soundsystem - All My Friends
LCD Soundsystem - All My Friends (Franz Ferdinand cover)

-Andrew M

Ah Oui, Comme Ca

These guys claim to be the only successful Arab-Jew combination in history. Chromeo, aka Dave 1 and Pee Thugg, produce music that is a blend of electro dance beats, synthesizers, guitar and Daft Punk-styled vocoder. I thought they were ridiculous the first time I heard 'Needy Girl', from debut album She's In Control. It was then that I realized that over the top dance music is exactly what they are going for. It's shameless and some of the most danceable stuff I've heard in ages. The Vice Records duo is set to follow their solid debut with Fancy Footwork this spring. The title track was released/leaked a while back and shows some serious potential for the follow-up disc; I particularly like the Michael Jackson throwback intro and the song itself is just as good as anything they've put out so far.

Chromeo - Fancy Footwork

-Andrew W

Johan Agebjörn

Johan Agebjörn is a Swedish musician and producer whose musical tastes include electro, ambient, house, classical and italo disco. Agebjörn is best known outside Sweden for his work producing, writing (except for one track) and providing backup vocals for Sally Shapiro's album Disco Romance; rumour has it that he heard Shapiro singing a Christmas carol and knew right away that he had to create a record with her.
However, Agebjörn's other projects are worth a listen as well; I particularly enjoy his live DJ mix for German webradio station Welt-am-Draht. During the 58 minute 'We Go All Night Long' session he mixes together vintage italo disco cuts, his new Sally Shapiro tracks, and a variety of other material. The performance demonstrates that not only is Agebjörn a solid composer and producer, but also a skilled DJ.
Also check out his myspace page for an awesome Mega Man II remix (featuring original 8-bit NES samples).

Johan Agebjörn - We Go All Night Long

-Andrew M

Remix Sunday - Lost in Translation

For the past two weeks I was lost in translation traveling around Japan, and what a fine experience I had. Among the many other pleasant surprises Japan had in store for me, while dining at a particularly sketchy restaurant in Kyoto last week I chanced to overhear a Japanese version of Peter Bjorn and John's 'Young Folks' playing on a local radio station. The lunchtime crowd of salarymen was largely unappreciative. After conducting further research I learned from Japanese friends that this rendition of PBJ's catchy tune is quite popular with the kids there and is commonly referred to as "the whistling song" in Japan.
I've not yet been able to track down that Japanese-lyric version, but did run across a nice late-2006 cover by Japanese musician Shugo Tokumaru. Tokumaru's cover is very similar to the original but with airy vocals and a slightly different hustling instrumentation. However, it is a charmer. Listen for yourself:

Peter Bjorn and John - Young Folks
Peter Bjorn and John - Young Folks (Shugo Tokumaru cover)

-Andrew M

Springin' Forward

I guess Ottawa deserved one last fight with winter after the short one we had, but finally its April 18th and actually feels like it. Blue sky, light breeze...you can't beat the sigh of relief that is spring. And with spring comes a whole bunch of songs that will no doubt go on to soundtrack the upcoming summer. Here are a couple that I know will be in high rotation for the months to come.


A friend of mine told me that Dan Deacon is set to be the new Wesley Willis (RIP), but I see way more potential here than in songs about rock and roll McDonalds and ratnest mullets - no offense Wesley, you were too brilliant. The Crystal Cat is by far the most accessible track I've heard by Deacon: It caught me with its pounding kick drum and electronic chords but only takes off from there. The build up of vocals (both clean and vocoder-ed) and a simple key change make the song really soar and super catchy. Wham City is a stunner clocking in at over 12 minutes, but it changes enough and grows to make those minutes fly by. If you can get past the super high pitched vocoder squeals and chaotic electronics, I think Dan Deacon's got a lot to offer. His album, Spiderman of the Rings is due out May 8th on Carpark Records and Dan is set to rock Ottawa on July 10 at Zaphods, obvi.

Dan Deacon - The Crystal Cat(zShare)
Dan Deacon - Wham City (zShare)

I dont think many new Bloc Party songs are going to make my summer mixes, but I just found this gem by Ed Banger, SebastiAn, remixing the mediocre MTV ditty, I Still Remember. It starts with synth chords reminiscent of The Who but SebastiAn quickly adds in his signature forceful 'banging' rhythm, sweeping sounds and darker tone. Maybe its not the bright summery song we want in the summer, but its a party track for sure. I can only hope that he uses this track during his set when he opens for Daft Punk (with Kavinsky and The Rapture) this summer.

Bloc Party - I Still Remember (SebastiAn remix) (zShare)

In other Ottawa news, Kanye West is playing Bluesfest this summer.

-Enjoy, Andrew W.

Nothing and Everything

Call it fate or luck, but 24 hours before Mates of State were scheduled to play the Spring Scream festival in Kenting, Taiwan, I happened to be obliviously browsing the band’s website. Immediately following this exciting discovery my girlfriend and I packed a bag and make the two-hour trip south on our Vespa. Our heads filled with Mates of State’s contagious indie-pop anthems and genuinely sappy ballads helped to build the anticipation as we made the beautiful trek south.

After arriving at the festival we learned that MOS would be playing the “indie” stage, filled with American indie bands, most of which I’ve never heard of. The first band we saw was a four-piece bar mitzvah-inspired act from NYC by the name of One Ring Zero. Their Jewish backgrounds were made obvious by the lead instruments: accordion, claviola, and theramin; I couldn’t help but think that they’d break into a rendition of Hava Nagila (you know - the Jewish wedding song). Their set was filled waltzes and pop tracks glazed with lyrics commissioned from various renowned poets including Margaret Atwood, Paul Auster and Rick Moody. Their sheer novelty was reason enough for listening, but this genre is not for everyone.

With our dancing feet warmed up and plenty of room in front of the stage, Kori and Jason took their places. They opened the set with the chugging chords of ‘Fraud in the '80s’ and I was immediately impressed at how the two command their stage. The chemistry between husband and wife duo filled the stage and spilled into the crowd until everyone was intoxicated by how incredibly adorable they are. Their set included a balance of tracks from Bring it Back and Team Boo including ‘Beautiful Dreamer’, ‘Think Long’, ‘Ha Ha Ha’ and ‘Goods’.

Unfortunately, the setlist was limited by a malfunctioning “D” key on Kori’s organ, preventing the band from playing favourites ‘Running Out’ and ‘Punchlines’. Nevertheless, ‘Like U Crazy’ stole the night when the crowd, the majority of whom weren’t familiar with MOS, swayed and sang along to the infectious “ah-ah-ah…like you crazy” lyrics.

Kori and Jason showed no signs of jet lag throughout the show, belting out their tight melodies and producing a powerful organ-driven dance groove like no other. Even though the twao of us appeared to be the only ones there specifically to see the Mates, there is no doubt that the Taiwanese crowd found every minute pleasing to their ears.

-Marc Bertrand

Mates of State, Spring Scream Festival (Hillside Stage), Kenting, Taiwan
April 7, 2007

Mates of State - For the Actor
Mates of State - Like U Crazy

Remix Sunday - An Oldie but Greatie

This was one of my favourite tracks of 2005/06. R.I.P. DFA 1979. Sebastian Grainger, a former camp counsellor of mine and Final Fantasy (aka Owen Pallett) rework Black History Month - one of DFA79's best tracks - with some epic strings and a solid disco beat.

Death From Above 1979 - Black History Month

DFA1979 - Black History Month (Girl on Girl Revision feat. Final Fantasy)

-Enjoy, Andrew W.

Remix Smonday

The weekly remix feature has been pushed back a day due to complications involving the Easter weekend and its latest problems with the Hare Club For Men and the Pope (see the new South Park). This week's remixes come courtesy of Teenagers, Van She, and Mississauga stars MSTRKFT. Original versions of these tracks are out there, but I think each remix outdoes its source material.

Simian Mobile Disco - The Beat (Teenagers Remix)

Dragonette - I Get Around
Dragonette - I Get Around (Van She Vocal Remix)

Armand Van Helden - NYC Beat (MSTRKRFT Remix)

- Brad

Gloomy Buoyance

Many regard Edwin Morgan among Scotland's greatest poets. My first encounter with his work came with the release of Idlewild's 2002 album The Remote Part. That album solidified the band as one of my personal favorites, and particularly striking was the album closer "In Remote Part/Scottish Fiction." The song features Morgan reciting his poem Scottish Fiction, written exclusively for the album, as the track comes to a thunderous conclusion. A snippet of that poem: "It's a red haunting vibration pushing through the walls of dark imagination, finding no equation." I won't pretend to always understand the intentions of the prose, but his structure and tone resound differently than many poets before him. It was a pleasant surprise then, to discover that Idlewild has teamed with Morgan once again on the new track, "The Weight of Years." Morgan himself does not appear on the song, but all lyrics are his. Roddy Woomble's youthful take on the 86 year-old's words is at times inspiring and at times somber, realizing how Morgan's description of elderly deterioration and acceptance must have been difficult to formulate on paper. Traditional highland string arrangements add to the melancholy, further imprinting Idlewild's footsteps on the cultural landscape of Scotland.

Idlewild - In Remote Part/Scottish Fiction
Idlewild - The Weight of Years

- Brad

Capture the Flag

Boston by way of Brooklyn's Nurse and Soldier make music after putting in the nine to five at their respective day jobs. With a little more exposure, who knows, maybe they'd need to find part time work to supplement being a full time band. Regardless if their fortune changes, I'm glad I stumbled upon their work. "Green Tea" is a sparse track with few discernible lyrics. Whatever is being said stays relatively incomprehensible, as its buried deep beneath the slow-cycling lounge instrumentation. The band sounds completely different on "Capture the Flag," as the two vocalists harmonize over the sound of pulsating bleeps and drenched guitars.

Nurse and Soldier - Green Tea
Nurse and Soldier - Capture the Flag

Another newly discovered act for this side of Atlantic (Andrew M may have heard more buzz across the pond) is France's Joakim, whose sound is tricky to dismiss into just one existing genre. New single "Lonely Hearts" has been described around the web as house, indie, electronica and numerous other things that don't really give any clear indication of what to expect. My first inclination was to draw comparisons to Hot Chip and a late 80's style of monotonous vocal pitch...listen and judge for yourself. His label Versatile Records cites him as "a major figure of French modern electronic music" who is both "multi talented and well-cultivated." His sound is certainly refined and meticulously shaped, making the latter description most appropriate.

Joakim - Lonely Hearts

The Exclaim! Spring Fling tour rolls through Ottawa tonight and Bridging the Atlantic will be attending in full force...we'll be sure to post a review with photos of Chromeo's fancy footwork and clear guitars...

- Brad

Lost Underground

It's no surprise that Arcade Fire chose Brighton's Electrelane as openers for select Neon Bible tour dates. Current single "To the East" has a few shades of Funeral, with a beat akin to "Rebellion (Lies)" and sharply wavering vocals that bring to mind Régine Chassagne crossed with Nico. With continued listening, you'll find that Electrelane quickly deviates from expectations, offering unique harmonies that show an impressive vocal range from frontwoman Verity Susman and guitarist Mia Clarke.

Electrelane - To The East

Continuing on the theme of female vocal harmonies, we have Palomar. The Brooklyn natives can be sorted into the category of bands I've heard little of, but have been thoroughly impressed with. Small dose, big reward; kind of like getting your Hepatitis vaccination before heading to Varadero. When Palomar III: Revenge of Palomar dropped in 2004, it failed to draw much attention. For me though, songs like "The Planeiac" and "Work is a State Function" combined somewhat cynical, cheeky lyrical approaches with fast and bubbly guitars, providing ample reasons for repeated listening. From the first glimpses of the new album, All Things, Forests seems to be a healthy improvement on their already polished sound. "Our Haunt" adds a bit of melancholy to the mix before a saccharine guitar solo closes out the song. Album opener "Bury Me Closer" is equally compelling, showcasing the band's greatest asset - the vocals. The lack of drum percussion on "Closer" brings to mind Tilly and the Wall and sees the band at the most versatile point of their career.

Palomar - Our Haunt
Palomar - Work is a State Function

Tilly and The Wall - Nights of the Living Dead

And for something to balance out all the estrogen of the above bands, a song about Bombs! Ted Leo's new stuff looks very promising and sees him more pissed off than ever before. Bomb.Repeat.Bomb is a sarcastic soother for fighter pilots ignorant to world affairs. The track flies out of the gate with a chugging rhythm interspersed with sharp cries of Bomb!! Repeat!! Bomb!! Repeat!! Bomb!!! Some genuine hard rock that doesn't sound half-assed or contrived, now that is hard to find. The new album Living with the Living is worth checking out.

Ted Leo & The Pharmacists - Bomb.Repeat.Bomb

- Brad

Remix Sunday - Sharing and Caring

This is, in my opinion, one of the best remixes of 2006. Ratatat takes The Knife's disjointed, frenetic and slightly disturbing 'We Share Our Mother's Health' and restructures it into something much more comprehensible. I particularly like what is done with the rearrangement of the vocals, and where the original is cold and downright creepy the remix is much more user-friendly, encouraging the listener to shuffle their feet and bob their head if not dance outright. As much as I love the original, I love the remix for all different reasons.

The Knife - We Share Our Mother's Health
The Knife - We Share Our Mother's Health (Ratatat Remix)

-Andrew M

More of Everything

Although I'm always quick to embrace an excellent new single, I'm really a connoisseur of the quintessential quality album at heart. It's no wonder then that I'm a huge Band of Horses fan. Ben Bridwell and Mat Brooke were responsible for one of my favourite albums of 2006: Everything All The Time. I loved every single track; 'Funeral' and 'The Great Salt Lake' especially were in heavy rotation throughout the year.
Well, the boys will be back in the studio after completing their current tour and plan to release their sophomore album later this year. Nothing new has made its way onto the Interweb yet, but as tracks become available Bridging the Atlantic will be among the first to let you know. For now, I've managed to scrounge up a few BOH rarities you may not have heard. The live studio cuts of 'Wicked Gil' and 'I Lost My Dingle On The Red Line' are pensive and charming; this version of 'Wicked Gil' drastically differs from the album as it seems about 30% slower and 80% sadder. 'The End's Not Near' is a typical instantly catchy, irresistably relistenable Band of Horses track that feels like it would have fit perfectly in the middle section of Everything All The Time.
I've heard from a variety of sources that Bridwell purposely applied layers of effects to his vocals on EATT as he was not confident in his vocal skills. However, his voice comes through clean on these tracks and he really needn't have worried - it's excellent. I'm very much looking forward to seeing them here in London on May 22nd.

Band of Horses - Funeral (Original Version)
Band of Horses - Wicked Gil (Alternate Version)
Band of Horses - I Lost My Dingle On The Red Line
Band of Horses - The End's Not Near

-Andrew M

Disco? Disco.

I've always had a soft spot for good disco music. Growing up listening to my parents' ABBA records paved the way for an appreciation of Donna Summer and Kool and the Gang, among others. More recently, groups like Scissor Sisters and the Rapture have incorporated elements of dance music some would regard as good ol' disco, and now Sally Shapiro has attempted to help resurrect the much adored/despised genre back with her 2006 album Disco Romance. Not much is known about Ms. Shapiro (she does few interviews and almost nil publicity) but I managed to discover that she's shy, doesn't play live, and Sally Shapiro isn't her real name. Oh Sally . . .

Sally Shapiro - I'll Be By Your Side
Sally Shapiro - I Know

-Andrew M

Remix Sunday

Grizzly Bear + Tears For Fears + Clipse + Girl Talk = ? Mashup master Girl Talk actually creates something functional and cohesive by combining these disparate sounds, taking Grizzly Bear’s ‘Knife’ to new territory with vocal cuts from ‘Wamp Wamp’ by Clipse and 80s electro percussion courtesy of Tears For Fears. This one may take a while to grow on you, so don’t be afraid to listen to it more than a few times.

Grizzly Bear – Knife
Grizzly Bear – Knife (Girl Talk Remix)

-Andrew M

It Felt Like We Were Running All The Time

When Voxtrot frontman Ramesh Srivastava mouths the words "we get bored of weakness all the time" on album opener "Introduction," there is little doubt if he means it. Voxtrot are a good band, soon to be great based on the expected acclaim for their self-titled debut full length. The "Introduction" here is one of steadily building momentum and visions of rock grandeur. They have the chops on their instruments, insight in their lyrics, and an odd Texan charm which carries more eloquence than that of dubya and his breed. There's a certain undefinable quality about well constructed songs in any genre of music, and Voxtrot have found it. The drum beat that begins skipping along turns into a heavy stomp while the lyrics leave little room for self-deprecation: "I wouldn't give one ugly moment, I wrap it up, I keep it in my sock." And when he proudly pronounces that "your sun sets when my sun starts to shine," and the guitars gain the spotlight for the song's booming finish, I wonder if anybody could not enjoy this. That's the feeling obtained from most-to-all of this album, a highly recommended purchase for 2007. If it means anything, this is an album I want to own a copy of come May 22nd.

Voxtrot - Introduction
Voxtrot - Every Day

- Brad

Raking It In

Like the Strokes? You’ll like the Rakes. It’s that simple. The London band has been getting a fair bit of attention on this side of the pond since their album, Ten New Messages, was released on March 19th. Chock full of danceable, infectious tracks with names like ‘When Tom Cruise Cries’, how could you go wrong?

The Rakes – We Danced Together
The Rakes – Suspicious Eyes

-Andrew M

Wake Up Call

I caught Arcade Fire last Wednesday at Brixton Academy and they were - you guessed it - amazing. The venue was buzzing with feverish energy for the band's first performance of a four-night stint here in London and a strong performance by opener Patrick Wolf only left the crowd pining for what everyone had shown up for: the most heavily touted indie band in the world. How things have changed since I first saw Win & Co in Montreal two years ago when touring in support of their debut album. That night they opened a mind-blowing show with my then-favourite song, 'Wake Up'. This time it was the closing song to one of the best shows I've seen since my arrival in London. How appropriate.

Arcade Fire - Wake Up (live)

-Andrew M

Remix Sunday

Welcome to the first installment of Remix Sundays. Each and every week Bridging the Atlantic will bring you a high-calibre remix, along with the equally high-calibre original version. We'll strive to present remixes that elude most listeners and are a marked departure from the inspiring track. For the first ever Remix Sunday, I present a bold reworking of Tegan & Sara's 'Walking With a Ghost' by Miami Horror. Miami Horror is the project of Melbourne resident Ben Plant and his debut album Bravado is due to be released shortly; he describes the upcoming album as "the epic, missionary 80's disco soundtrack of summer." Bring it on.

Tegan & Sara - Walking With a Ghost
Tegan & Sara - Walking With a Ghost (Miami Horror Remix)

-Andrew M

Ankle Injuries

Maybe the reason why the new album is entitled Transparent Things is because after one listen, I immediately discerned that Fujiya & Miyagi listened to quite a bit of Hot Chip, Junior Boys, and other popular-of-late chilled contemporaries while jamming out ideas for this newest full-length. If they didn't, well, it sounds great anyhow.

Most songs on this understated release carry subdued and often whispered vocals, which, aligned with funky, rhythmic bass lines, have led me to make the above comparisons. This being said, the majority of the album's tracks are minimal compared to the amount of layers and instruments incorporated by their peers, a trait best exemplified on leading track "Ankle Injuries" and "Conductor 71." On the other hand, the aforementioned funk does eventually surface in the second half, most easily identified on "In One Ear & Out The Other." Hopefully the irony is purposeful as the groove tends to stick in your head. There is a similarly clear intent in all of the album's instrumentation and knob-twiddling, leaving listeners with a carefully constructed effort that should be considered among the best of its kind thus far in '07.

Fujiya & Miyagi - Ankle Injuries
Fujiya & Miyagi - Conductor 71

Speaking of Hot Chip:
Amy Winehouse - Rehab (Hot Chip Remix)

- Brad

Hot Pepper

Yet another group hailing from the dynamic Montreal scene (although originally from Guelph, Ontario), The Dymaxions' debut album How The Sick May Help Themselves clocks in at just under 23 minutes. But don't let the short track lengths deter you - each of the 10 tracks is a sweet and succinct little gem. 'Hard Rock In Shallow Waters' is insanely catchy and the massive guitar hook that closes out 'Birdwatching (I Was A Teenage Zombie)' will leave you yearning for more. Alas, the group called it quits in late 2006. However, the album can still be purchased directly from their website or through CD BABY. Better news yet, former Dymaxions bandmaster Gregory Pepper has just released a new album titled Gregory Pepper & His Problems. Word on the street is that this album is just as engaging as any of the output from Pepper's Dymaxions days, and I'll try and post a few tracks ASAP. For now, try these:

Dymaxions - Birdwatching (I Was A Teenage Zombie)
Dymaxions - Hard Rock In Shallow Waters

Gregory Pepper - Baron Blood (sorry for the .wma format, I'm living in the past minus itunes - Brad)

- Andrew M

Fine Beats

The creative forces behind Bridging the Atlantic are big fans of electro/guitar duo Ratatat. That being said, it should come as no surprise that we’re all waiting with bated breath for Remixes Vol. II. For those unfamiliar with Ratatat’s Remixes mixtape project, our boys take classic and contemporary rap tracks, strip away everything musical to render them a cappella, and add their own brand of beats and riffs. The results are glorious. Volume I included reworks of tracks by Method Man, Kanye West, G-Unit and Missy Elliott, among others.

When a mysterious collection of 9 Beats attributed to Ratatat surfaced in October of last year, we couldn’t help but think that these tantalising samples were destined for remix greatness. Now, as completed compositions from Volume II begin to hit the streets, it would appear that we were right.

'Track Six' from the 9 Beats leak backs '3 Kings' to great effect:
Ratatat – Track Six
Slim Thug, Bun B. & T. I. – 3 Kings (Ratatat Remix)

Remixes Vol. I was self-released by the band and sold at live shows; expect the same protocol for Vol. II. If that alone isn’t reason enough to catch Ratatat in concert, rest assured that they put on an absolutely killer show. They rocked the house at Madame Jojo’s here in London last month, and I’ll be catching them again with CSS on April 23rd. Once is never enough.

Bonus:
Notorious B.I.G. - Party and Bullshit (Ratatat Remix)

- Andrew M

North American Scum

LCD Soundsystem, for those unfamiliar, are North American scum. But man, can they get the kids dancing. DFA Records co-founder James Murphy fronts the group which seamlessly blends dance-punk with elements of electronic and disco. Murphy and company create something that owes a lot to its influences while managing to bring something that is fresh and not too derivative.

Sound of Silver, the group's sophomore album, is set for release March 20 with a worldwide tour currently underway in Europe. The album leaked in December, but it's going to be in high rotation for a while - mind you, I'm a huge fan of pretty much anything that has the Murphy/DFA tag attached. LCD Soundsystem will make us North American scum shake our hips after a pair of NYC shows and a Coachella appearance at the end of April. I'm going to become a disco infiltrator at their Toronto show May 8.

For your listening pleasure:

LCD Soundsystem - North American Scum
LCD Soundsystem - All My Friends

From LCD Soundsystem (2005):
LCD Soundsystem - On Repeat

UPDATE: As of yesterday, Sound of Silver can be streamed in its entirety on LCD Soundsystem's MySpace page. One of my favourite tracks thus far is the uncharacteristically down-tempo ballad 'New York I Love You But You're Bringing Me Down' that sounds like a lost track from the Magnetic Fields album 69 Love Songs. - Andrew M.

LCD Soundsystem - New York I Love You But You're Bringing Me Down

Buy music from LCD Soundsystem and others found on bridgingtheatlantic at Insound or your cool, local store.

- Keep it real. Andrew W.

Daylight Storms

In my sloppiest criminal efforts to download the new Air album, I found myself with a copy of Air Formation's Daylight Storms. Whether it be My Bloody Valentine, Ride, The Jesus and Mary Chain, or more recently, I Love You But I've Chosen Darkness, shoegazer-type rock bands have always appealed to the daydreaming depths of my mind. Listening to Sussex's Air Formation temporarily transforms life into a Sofia Coppola movie, as time tends to slow down with songs this drenched in reverb and atmosphere. Maybe it's because it reached a cool -25 today with the wind chill or perhaps it's because I'm feeling particularly contemplative, but either way this brand of slow-building guitar rock is suiting me well at the moment.

By the way, Air's new release Pocket Symphony looks promising but I've yet to hear it. Perhaps the next post?

Air Formation - Tidal
Air Formation - Daylight Storms

- Brad

Learning to Love Country?

Well not exactly. I've always held strong opposition to country music if it didn't come in the form of Johnny Cash. Besides the man in black, I've always detested country music's often depressing/over-emotional lyrics combined with the twang that accompanies it. Sure, I'm generalizing but I'm allowed to not like things for poor reasons - who's to stop me?

Just as electronic music has stolen my heart over the past years, I see my defences weakening to the 'alternative country' of Wilco. I've heard of the rock act from Chicago for several years, but the mere fact that they were labelled as an 'alt-country' act completely turned me off. Friends of mine who are more alligned with the guitar-side of music have urged me to check them out, but it wasn't until Wilco dropped a few new tracks that I took notice. Sure, I'd heard that Yankee Hotel Foxtrot was a great album but I'll admit that I'd never listened to it until last week. By the way, what a good cd. It's not my usual colour of music, but I enjoyed it none the less.

However, it's Wilco's new songs that got me into that 'classic' album. They have reminded me why I used to love guitar rock. 'You Are My Face' begins with a gentle guitar and vocal harmony that really gets going at about the 1:30 mark when the band kicks in with a little guitar solo. My stance on guitar solos since my departure from the realm of classic rock listening has shifted to see them, essentially, as musical bullshit. This song has helped me enjoy a good guitar solo because not only is it not an excuse for wankery but it fuels the song. Maybe this is one of those personal experiences people have with music, but it's forced me to recommend this track to everyone. I haven't heard all of Sky Blue Sky, but I'm sure it'll make some noise when it comes out May 15. I'll be too busy seeing Arcade Fire in Toronto.

Wilco - You Are My Face
Wilco - Walken

On an unrelated sidenote, I love this track:

Vampire Weekend - Walcott

Enjoy yourself. Hype Machine these bands for more music.
-Andrew W.

Gonna Work It Out

Okey dokey. Neon Bible, Arcade Fire’s new album, is to be officially released tomorrow. If you don’t know who Arcade Fire is, or why every indie kid and music aficionado in general is going gaga over the Montreal collective’s latest offering, I guess you’ve been living under a rock for some time now. So get out from under your rock, find a record store, and buy Neon Bible tomorrow. You won’t be disappointed, promise. BBC Radio 1 will not stop raving about the quality of the album, the Observer has accorded Neon Bible a perfect 5-star review, and Pitchfork has blessed it with a solid 8.4 rating.
And just when did the band go from being called “The Arcade Fire” to simply “Arcade Fire”? Perhaps it’s all a clever ruse to garner A-list status in record shop alphabetical filing systems. Hmmmm . . .

Arcade Fire – Ocean of Noise
Arcade Fire – Keep the Car Running

-Andrew M

Leon's

I've always enjoyed Kings of Leon and their southern rock. Understanding that it's a bit of a music writer's convention to say so and so band sounds like they're from another generation, it's still quite true with the band from Mt. Juliet, Tennessee. The drawl/guitar is as good on new album Because of the Times as it has been on the two previous albums. "True Love Way" is the standout for me, but lead single "On Call" and misspelled, pasta-ready "Ragoo" is also jiving with something upstairs. I just wanted to somehow incorporate the word jiving, sorry.

Kings of Leon - On Call
Kings of Leon - True Love Way
Kings of Leon - Ragoo

Maximo Park want two dots on top of the lonely lower case I in their name. I say tough shit, you have to earn it. That being said, they are well on their way to that dot duplicate. Though they, like Kings of Leon seem to have been frozen from 25 or so years ago. Here's a new one with a chorus on par with anything they've done before:

Maximo Park - Our Velocity (courtesy of: Can you see the sunset from the southside?)

- Brad

Les Ed Bangers

Ed Banger Records is home to some of Bridging the Atlantic's favourite artists at the moment. The French label is run by Busy P, Daft Punk's manager, and hosts a stable of talented electro acts including Justice, SebastiAn, DJ Mehdi, Mr Flash, Zongamin and Uffie. The entire crew will soon be on the move; the Ed Banger North American Tour takes place March 23rd to 31st and includes stops in Toronto and Montreal.

Justice - Phantom
Justice vs Simian - We Are Your Friends
SebastiAn - Ross Ross Ross
DJ Mehdi - I Am Somebody (ft. Chromeo)
Mr Flash - Disco Dynamite
Zongamin - Bongo Song
Uffie - Pop the Glock

UPDATE!!! If there is one song you NEED to get your hands on, it is this hot new number from Justice, D.A.N.C.E. from their forthcoming disc. This track has been floating around the blog galaxy (blogosphere, anyone?) for a couple weeks now but it was just a shitty BBC Rip. Who can deny the combo of grimy disco and a British children's choir? Well here it is, one of 2007's first great party tracks (that wasn't leaked last fall). -Andrew W.

Justice - D.A.N.C.E.

- the Andrews

Fire It Up

It’s hard to believe these guys have been around for over 10 years. We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank, Modest Mouse’s fifth album, will be released March 20th. However, thanks to the magic of the Internet many fans have got a few listens in already. Although there has been much talk about how different this album is from its predecessors, it still sounds like the Mouse I know and love. A nautical theme runs through the album, as does Isaac Brock’s usual blend of despair and sarcasm. The video for first single 'Dashboard' is swell:



As I’m sure everyone has already heard ‘Dashboard’, here are two other tracks from We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank:

Modest Mouse – People As Places As People
Modest Mouse – Fire It Up

- Andrew (the one in London)