Watch: Wavves, Wildbirds & Peacedrums and Baths

Last week was a great week for discovering new music. I heard some new albums that will appear somewhere the coming months, and discovered three that could become some of my favourites this year. So I'd really like to share them with you. I found some nice videos by these three bands and they certainly deserve some exposure here.

First up is a cool video by Yours Truly. They made some shots at a Wavves instore and did an interview on their upcoming album, King of the Beach. This record seriously holds some killer tunes, and once you get the chance make sure to give it a listen. Especially if you're into bands like The Thermals and Cloud Nothings. Here's the video:

Yourstru.ly Presents: Wavves "King of the Beach" from Yours Truly on Vimeo.

Secondly, here is a beautiful video for Wildbirds & Peacedrums' new single Bleed Like There Was No Other Flood, which is also the opening track for their new album Rivers. Their sound might demand a couple of listens, but it's definitely worthwhile:

Wildbirds & Peacedrums - Bleed Like There Was No Other Flood from Leaf Label on Vimeo.

Last, a video shot by Pitchfork in collaboration with Yours Truly for their 'Tunnelvision' series. Apologetic Shoulder Blades is the opening track of Baths' forthcoming album Cerulean. If you're into Flying Lotus, then you'd probably really enjoy this too:

New Best Coast: Boyfriend

Here's another great track from Best Coast's forthcoming debut album Crazy For You. Boyfriend is the opening track, a lo-fi lovesong with a very simple yet very catchy one-liner chorus. Listen below, and also listen to two other songs that will appear on the album (When I'm With You being the bonus track). Crazy For You is out July 27 via Mexican Summer.

Best Coast - Boyfriend
Best Coast - Our Deal
Best Coast - When I'm With You

L.A.'s Ode to Television's Adventure

Aquarium Drunkard curated this nice tribute compilation for Television's 1978 album Adventure. You can download it for free from their site, but you should really throw in a couple of bucks since all donations will go to the Silverlake Conservatory of Music.

"L’Aventure is an attempt to capture, if only for an instant, a slice of what is happening musically in L.A. in 2010. Or more specifically, it’s an attempt to highlight eight Los Angeles artists that have, individually, caught my ear over the past couple of years. By no means all encompassing, L’Aventure is a great jumping off point for those interested in the diverse landscape that is L.A.’s music.

Why Adventure? Why now? Like RAM, the album is used as a template—as a cohesive force—bonding these, at times, disparate artists together. A post-punk landmark, Television’s debut, Marquee Moon, tends to garner most of the adulation. It’s follow-up, Adventure, is now a classic album in its own right that seems to regularly get lost on the mix. In short, it is time for a reevaluation—perhaps this is the beginning of that conversation."

Tracklist:
The Henry Clay People - Glory
Foreign Born - Days
The Happy Hollows - Foxhole
Local Natives - Careful
The Deadly Syndrome - Carried Away
Imaad Wasif w/ Lykke Li - The Fire
Dirt Dress - Ain’t That Nothin’
The Growlers - The Dream’s Dream

Listen/download/donate:

Teams vs. Star Slinger: Close To Me

Close To Me is the result of a collaboration between Teams and Star Slinger. Both bands also put out free records recently: the Catch Pool EP by Teams and Volume 1 by Star Slinger.

Teams vs. Star Slinger - Close To Me

Pocahaunted at Pianos

Here's a nice video of Pocahaunted (the band that Bethany Cosentino from Best Coast used to be in) jamming live at Pianos. It's shot by the magnificent Ray Concepcion (via Chocolate Bobka):

And God Created Woman: Pocahaunted from Ray Concepcion on Vimeo.

Cloud Nothings: Didn't You

Some time ago, I posted an mp3 of Even If It Worked Out, the b-side of Cloud Nothings' new single. Now, we also have the über-catchy a-side. Listen right here:

Cloud Nothings - Didn't You
Cloud Nothings - Even If It Worked Out

Buy a copy of the 7" from Old Flame Records.

Salem: King Night

King Night is the opening track for Salem's debut album, coming September 28 through IAMSOUND. This track is blowing me away right now. What more can I say?

Salem - King Night

How to Dress Well: Ready For the World

Good news just came our way through How to Dress Well: his first 7" is to be released by Lefse Records on July 20. And it looks like HTDW is coming up with more big news pretty soon. Watch a teaser for the single below (shot by Yours Truly) and listen/download the song:

I Never Let Myself to Pieces from Yours Truly on Vimeo.

ready for the world by howtodresswell

Pearl Harbour = Puro Instinct

The two girls of Pearl Harbour just changed their name to Puro Instinct. This dreampop duo's first release was recently reissued by Mexican Summer, after the first edition sold out some time ago. Puro Instict's new EP will be released in July by Gloriette. You can also get it digitally on Bandcamp, or listen below:

Free download: In A Cabin With Neonbelle

Here's a post for al you non-Dutchies, since everyone from The Netherlands probably already knows Neonbelle. This really is one of the most promising bands emerging from our humble local scene the last couple of years (well, in my opinion that is). Their first 8 songs were recorded in cooperation with the In A Cabin-project, which links different musicians to record songs in, that's right, a cabin. The Neonbelle album was recorded the rural area near the Belgian Lanakenin August 2007. In their own words: "Without a specific plan we left Utrecht with a van full of keyboards, synthesizers, a guitar, a banjo and microphones and headed for Belgium. In a small cabin in the middle of the woods the creative juices richly flowed (as well as the Jupiler beer) and eight tracks emerged. Songs were written on the spot and Maarten recorded everything. This result is a mixture of fresh electronic beats and hauntingly intimate songs."

Resulting are some beautiful atmospheric songs, sounding a bit like The xx, only more organic. The match of musicians (Pien Feith, Jelte Heringa and producer Maarten Besseling) was such a success, that they decided to keep playing together as a band.

Listen to some songs on Myspace, or download the album for free from the In A Cabin website (email address required) where you can also order a physical copy.

Listen: Herzog - Search

Transparent just announced its first full length LP release, and what a great one this is. I hadn't heard of Herzog before, but listening to the sixth song of the album at the moment, I'm really darn enthusiastic. Herzog knows to write the catchiest of tunes you've heard in a long while. Sometimes rocking it out straight ahead in Dinosaur Jr.-style, sometimes searching or a bit more experiment in arrangements. They never seem to shake their ability to write perfect pop tunes. This album will be great company the coming summer. Listen to the full album below:



You can get a download from their Bandcamp page, or pre-order a vinyl copy from Pure Groove. First 25 get a nice discount.

New video galore: Memory Tapes, Korallreven & Veronica Falls

Some fantastic new video stuff. Memory Tapes' Bicycle is one of the finest electronic songs I've heard in a long while:

Memory Tapes - "Bicycle" from Jamie Harley on Vimeo.

Second is the official video for Korallreven's The Truest Faith. This dreamy and nonchalant song is very reminiscent to dreampop-duo jj. Video directed by Sebastian of Sail a Whale:

Korallreven - The Truest Faith from Sebastian Rozenberg on Vimeo.

And lastly, the video for Veronica Falls' new single Beachy Head. The video for this lo-fi garage outfit is a bit sinister, especially when you realize that Beachy Head is one of the highest cliffs in Britain and is therefore known as one of the most notorious suicide spots in the world:

Veronica Falls - Beachy Head from Philippa Bloomfield on Vimeo.

Tame Impala's Camp Nowhere

Camp Nowhere is a new video series by Ears of the Beholder in collaboration with Yours Truly. Bands are filmed in Redwoods, just outside Santa Cruz, California. First off is Tame Impala, a band that has been a regular in my iTunes the past week.

From Ears of the Beholder: “Nate Chan and I met the band late Saturday morning on Memorial Day weekend before they played Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium with MGMT. We were running late picking up the PA system, and when we returned, the band had just arrived and was already scattered across the meadow embracing the unfamiliar environment. Only a day into their debut US tour, our small audience may have been some of the first American fans they met. The several hours we spent together went by quickly, but it was memorable for everyone - and as a result we have two fantastic videos to show you all. Stay tuned for more from Camp Nowhere in the coming months. Hope you enjoy! And if you haven’t already, pick up a copy of Tame Impala’s new album Innerspeaker. It will blow your mind.”

Check out the video's below. If you like their style, also make sure to check the different mixes the individual bandmembers made for Yours Truly.

Yourstru.ly Presents: Tame Impala (1 of 2) from Yours Truly on Vimeo.

Yourstru.ly Presents: Tame Impala (2 of 2) from Yours Truly on Vimeo.

Moondoggies - It’s a Shame It’s a Pity / Fly Momma Fly

Here's a nice video from The Moondoggies, shot by Yours Truly. This Seattle foursome truly has the sweetest vocal harmonies around, and the melodies to match too. The band positions itself somewhere between Band of Horses and Fleet Foxes. Their last album, Don't Be A Stranger, didn't really get the attention it deserved in my opinion, but they're back for the rebound. They've just released You'll Find No Answers Here, an EP featuring five cuts that didn't make it to the album expected somewhere later this year. Listen to one of their new songs from the EP called Fly Momma Fly below the video.

The Moondoggies "It's a Shame, It's a Pity" from Yours Truly on Vimeo.

MP3: The Moondoggies - Fly Momma Fly

Oh yeah, the band also wrote an open letter to Sasquatch (click to enlarge):

Free download: Clearing

Here's another free downloadable album. Clearing sounds like listening to last night's dream. The one you remember you had, but don't know what it what was about. Their music is hard to grasp, but strangely makes you listen again and again. The band sound a bit like The Caretaker, only less haunting. Download their untitled album from Megaupload or take a look at their equally strange video below:

Free download: Teams - Catch Pool EP

Lend your ears to this one. Teams creates progressive and very contemporary electronic music, linking pleasant melodies to grand beats. Listen or download their Catch Pool EP via Bandcamp right here:

Washed Out feat. Caroline Polachek - You and I

Here's a sweet new song by Washed Out, courtesy of the Kia Adult Swim Singles Program. You and I features guest-vocals by Chairlift's Caroline Polachek.

MP3: Washed Out - You and I

Vondelpark: The Netherlands' best-kept secret?

Vondelpark (with no Myspace, website or Bandcamp that anyone can seem to find) is already being picked up to some blogs, like No Pain In Pop and Transparent. With the latter stating: "...just an email out of the blue and a fruitless Google trail that leads to Amsterdam. It’s a mystery and enigma that carries into their music..."

Well, if they really are from Netherlands, it's a band to be proud of. Their sound consists of hazy and laidback soundscapes with mumbling vocals sounding incredibly pleasant. I collected some of their songs I could find right here:
Vondelpark - Jetlag Blue Version 22
Vondelpark - Hippodrome
Vondelpark - California Analog Dream

Sleep ∞ Over - Your World Is Night

Seriously beautiful. Here's an unofficial (I think?) video for Sleep ∞ Over's Your World Is Night by Josh Morgan. He sure knows how to capture the right atmosphere. Really is best thing I've seen for quite some time:

Sleep ∞ Over - Your World Is Night from Josh Morgan on Vimeo.

Also, Forest Family Records' third release will be a 7" by Sleep ∞ Over. Listen/download the title track right here:
MP3: Sleep ∞ Over - Outer Limits

Cloud Nothings' hits

This boy just keeps producing lo-fi hit after lo-fi hit. Even If It Worked Out is the b-side from his new 7" on Old Flame Records. Again, it's catchy as hell.

MP3: Cloud Nothings - Even If It Worked Out

Tripped-out Twin Sister

Ray Concepcion made these beautiful, tripped-out video's of a live performance by Twin Sister. Check out his profile on Vimeo to also see the works he made for acts like Toro Y Moi, Neon Indian and Fucked Up.

Color Your Life with the Chaos of Trouble: Twin Sister [Part 1 of 2] from Ray Concepcion on Vimeo.

Color Your Life with the Chaos of Trouble: Twin Sister [Part 2 of 2] from Ray Concepcion on Vimeo.

S. Carey - All We Grow

Yesterday, Jagjaguwar announced the release of S. Carey's debut album All We Grow on August 24. You may know Carey as a member of Bon Iver, where he plays percussion. He got his performance degree in classical percussion from the University of Wisconsin, and his love for jazz drumming delivered him a central role in the Bon Iver live show. During the last two years he patiently crafted his own records during infrequent tour breaks. Most of the records were done at home, where Carey would add layers of sound whenever he got the chance.

Debut MP3 In the Dirt sounds like his album could once again set a bar in modern Americana like For Emma, Forever Ago did two years back. The song features beautiful, dream-like piano parts reminiscent of the Amélie-soundtrack combined with dynamic and more experimental percussion loops. Take a listen for yourself:

MP3: S. Carey - In the Dirt

Here's the cover of the album:

Silence is Sexy - Here Comes the Wave

True, it is shameless self-promotion:

Silence is Sexy - Here Comes the Wave from Silence is Sexy on Vimeo.

Get the song from our Bandcamp, and pay what you want:

Listen: The Golden Filter - Voluspa

Here's a nice widget by The Golden Filter for their upcoming album:



You can also listen to the album on Spotify. Here's the video for Solid Gold:

The Golden Filter - "Solid Gold" from The Golden Filter on Vimeo.

Toro Y Moi - Leave Everywhere

Unofficial but lovingly made video for Toro Y Moi's Leave Everywhere by Heidi Petty:

Toro Y Moi - Leave Everywhere from Heidi Petty on Vimeo.

Free download: pə-ˈrād

pə-ˈrād (pronounced "parade") make lo-fi, grungy garage-recorded songs, somewhere between Sonic Youth, mewithoutYou and Sebadoh. In their own words: "we're an experimental, low fi band who tries to create interesting music; focusing on how we like various sounds rather than specific chords, notes, or rhythm. We shy away from traditional verse chorus verse arrangements and are fascinated with the DIY music scene. We like the digital age and digital music but we have a fascination for the old analog world. Playing live is as much of a passion as making music. I hope this makes sense. Its strange to try and describe our music. Thanks so much for listening."

In my opinion these guys sound really interesting, you should definitely take some time to download their first release for free from mediafire. You can also get a tape from Leftist Nautical Antiques.