August 19 2008
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If the super intense tango scene in Scent of a Woman was transposed into The Red Balloon, the soundtrack would be "In Spain." If Frankie and Annette's Beach Party also featured the arboretum scene from Sabrina, the soundtrack would be "Cave." If the "Stella!" scene in Streetcar Named Desire was filtered through The Science of Sleep, the soundtrack would be "Sisma." Vadoinmessico has created 3 cinematically charming demo songs that have the rare ability to seem more epic than their 3 minutes. The core of Vadoinmessico is Giorgio Poti's soaring vocals and the constantly beguiling and inventive instrumentation that seems more Mediterranean Island than London, but that's where the fellas call home and where this delightful live performance comes from. Grab these songs and let the Vadoinmessico magic unfurl.
Sounds Like: Orouni, Johnny Boy, Grizzly Bear, Lykke Li
Download: Vadoinmessico - In Spain
Download: Vadoinmessico - Cave
Download: Vadoinmessico - Sisma
Vadoinmessico's RCRD LBL page
"Just another journo gone to the dark side," muses Philip Sherburne's Myspace quote, but one can't help but think he's selling himself short. As an internationally renowned electronic music critic who pens Pitchfork's "Month In Techno" column, is the editor in chief of the Earplug newsletter, and contributor to such respected mags/sites as "The Wire," eMusic, XLR8R, "Groove", Slate, "De:Bug" and a little paper called the New York Times, Sherburne is anything but "just another journo." In fact, after only two solo releases Sherburne's productions and remixes sound as if he was an old hand, the product of years of experience dissecting tracks for his readers' benefit -- not to mention his jet-setting DJ career. "Salt & Vinegar," his latest EP for Lan Music (distributed by Kompakt), offers three tasty tech-house tunes marinated in a 90's electronica sort of mindset -- rendered with many painstakingly arranged layers and proud of its full bodied sound. "Milk & Honey," featured here, wobbles cheerfully between glinting syncopated tones and hypnotic pools swirling below. Not to be missed, in other words.
Sounds Like: My My, B12, Isolee
Download: Philip Sherburne - Milk & Honey
Philip Sherburne @ Myspace
Philip Sherburne @ RCRD LBL
Philip Sherburne's website
Buy Philip Sherburne's releases
Last week I promised a special War on Drugs surprise. Treat of all treats. A gigantic, milkshake-covered banana split of sound. In addition to two market fresh downloads from Wagonwheel Blues for you to devour, digest and covet, there's so much more to fall madly in love with: just above is a photo of the handmade (I repeat, HANDMADE) LP sleeve soul man slash front man Adam Granduciel crafted especially for you, the fine readers of RCRD LBL. To acquire this beautiful piece and the sweet slab of vinyl it will encase, all's you've got to do is join our Mp3 Of The Day Newsletter (look up and to the right) and e-mail your name and mailing address to contests@rcrdlbl.com, subject header: War On Drugs. Name another holiday that easy. You can't do it. Not because you're a dummy, but because it's impossible.
BONUSVILLE: The good folks at Secretly Canadian will be tossing some extra goodies in the package as well. Huge goodies. Plus, we'll have an interview with Mr. Granduciel for you right here on Thursday.
Please enjoy the music.
Download: War On Drugs - Needle In Your Eye #16
Download: War On Drugs - Taking The Farm
Download: War On Drugs - Buenos Aires Beach
Norwary’s Silje Nes plays folk songs, but you have to dig for them. Under down jackets of softly-samped toms and snares you’ll find her solitary strumming and luring whisper, faint traces of song wrapped in programmed outerwear. There are only a few chords, but they get clouded among the cascading loops and arctic noise in the background until you've all but forgotten about them. This is the sound of roasting salmon in a large igloo near a lake or making snow angels alone at twilight. “Giant Disguise” is from Nes’ incredible debut album Ames Room, which came out earlier this year through Fat Cat. The singer just played the Oya Festival last week, finally graduating from loop pedal accompaniment to a fleshed out full band. I know it’s summer, but grab the tune below and think of wool and icicles and toboggans and marshmallows and then go buy the record. Winter always seems more pleasant when you're not actually in its grasp.
Sounds like: Animal Collective, Andrew Bird, Grizzly Bear
Download: Silje Nes - Giant Disguise
Silje Nes' RCRD LBL Page
Santa Rosa, CA is about fifty-five miles north of San Francisco off the 101 highway, the largest city in California’s wine country and home at times to ultimo artistes like the late Charles Shultz and Tom Waits. That Ghost is Ryan Schmale, an eighteen year old Santa Rosa resident who makes fuzzy pop music that sounds like Guided By Voices dealing with the pressures of high school (which, I guess, is kind of what it is). According to dude’s MySpace, he’s already chalked up five out of print releases since December of 2006, including three full-lengths and two EPs (holler prodigies), but just finally released his first proper seven-inch on Brooklyn startup Two Syllable last week. We’ve got the A-Side for download—“I Crossed Out The Options”, a swift three-chord pop song sticky with over-trebled guitars and Schmale doing his best Jonathan Richman by mumbling lines about calling and walking down halls and wasting time and stuff like that. This, however, will not waste your time, unless you consider sitting around drinking Dr. Pepper and eating goldfish while listening to records a waste of time, which would be pretty lame.
Sounds like: Guided By Voices, The Strokes, Deerhunter
Download: That Ghost - I Crossed Out The Options
That Ghost's RCRD LBL Page
Start the week off right with the lead single by Chicago’s latest greatest garage blues-rock band the Chicago Stone Lightning Band, featuring veteran players from Chisel, Perfect Panther, Boas, The Civilized Age and Edsel. This is the music that you play in your car after your old lady leaves you because you don’t make enough money; it’s backyard music made for yard sale speakers. ZZ Top used to rock like this. So did Deep Purple. And these guys are kind enough to let us debut their killer single here for you. Download it, live with it.
Also, check the video. All I can tell you is that the four ladies in the video are for real: they are sisters, this is their farm, those are their guns and knives, that is their plane. They are the Hendrickson sisters. You will hear of them again, I promise you.
For you folks in Chicago, check the band at Sonotheque tonight at 9. They are bringing some records too so that you never have to drink in silence.
-Jedd Katrancha
Download: Chicago Stone Lightning Band - My Love is a Good Look
Chicago Stone Lightning Band at MySpace
Chicago Stone Lightning Band's RCRD LBL Page
August 18 2008
It was a hot day in Austin, SXSW 2007. The sun was strong, dust balls blew down through the street and all's I wanted was a cold beer and a foot rest. So I slipped into a random sticky-floored venue, knowing there was a 54.57 percent chance the next band up would be half decent. Turns out- the band was, "What Laura Says Thinks And Feels," churning out good, memorable pop that's tinged with psychedelia. A better elixir than a cold brew on a warm day.
Fast forward a season later. The band's abbreviated their name to "What Laura Says"- with a brand-spanking new album "Thinks and Feels" out tomorrow. As a treat, we're delivering you "Pairadice," that begins whimsically with a clicking film reel- and bloosoms into a happy-go-lucky beat, ala Simon & Garfunkel or The Beatles.
Hells bells, while we're at it, we're gonna give one of you lucky readers their brand-new CD. All's you gotta do sign up for our MP3 of the Day newsletter and email contests@rcrdlbl.com with your address; We'll notify the winner via email. How's that for southern hospitality?
SOUNDS LIKE: The Beatles, Simon and Garfunkel
Exclusive New Download: What Laura Says - Pairadice
What Laura Says @ Myspace
What Laura Says' Website
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The first time "You Are The Generation That Bought More Shoes and You Get What You Deserve," came charging out of my stereo speakers, I knew Johnny Boy was going to become an obsession. Bucking the notion of how much noise 2 people can make, what it means to participate in the music industry, what it means to make a wall of sound, what worshiping Phil Spector and being "modern" and "British" can sound like, Johnny Boy has put together tunes so undeniably catchy members Davo and Lolly could rest comfortably knowing that they've created songs indelible enough to stand up to classic tracks from the Ronettes to the Clash. But what would be the fun in that? Grab these two tunes and just try to get them out of your head. Watch out world, here comes Johnny Boy.
Sounds like: The Clash, the Ronettes, the Ting Tings, Panda Bear, Au
Download: Johnny Boy - You Are The Generation That Bought More Shoes And You Get What You Deserve (Crews Against The Consumisno - Extended Version)
Download: Johnny Boy - Johnny Boy Dub
Johnny Boy's RCRD LBL page
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When I tagged along to see Rafael from El Guapo/Supersystem's solo project Las Palabras a few months ago, I was expecting something along the lines of his previous bands' output on Dischord and Touch & Go. Instead I found him with an acoustic guitar (and a toy guitar he got when he was five) singing beautifully in Spanish about car rides, relationships and life in general. I've been after him ever since to a) record an album, and b) give me a song to post here. I'm keeping my fingers crossed about the album, but the wait is over for the first single: "La Primera Vez," freshly mixed by the man himself. Download and listen as the guitar, organ and percussion chase each other in circles right up to the near-psychedelic climax, where the layered vocals drift off into space. Every time I hear it I'm scoring the next Almodóvar film in my head.
Sounds Like : Caetano Veloso, El Guincho
Download: Las Palabras - La Primera Vez
Las Palabras' RCRD LBL page
Weathermen aficionados and RCRD LBL signees Sam Champion are prepping the release of their sophomore album Heavenly Bender, due September 2nd through North Street. Because sketch comedy web videos are, like, SO HOT RIGHT NOW, the band are releasing a series of genuinely funny clips to promote the (already comically titled) album. Scope the first clip above and grab Sam Champion's free RCRD LBL EP below along with "Easy Street," a cut from bassist Sean Bones' roots reggae side project.
Download: Sam Champion - Your Party Was Yesterday?
Download: Sam Champion - So Good To Me
Download Sam Champion - Uncle Drums
Download: Sean Bones - Easy Street
Sam Champion's RCRD LBL Page
