Tuesday, June 8th, 2010
An introduction to First Aid Kit
Eva EdsjöIt’s not an unusual tale for young acts to be discovered by veteran ones, but when the youthful protagonists of the story are Klara and Johanna Söderberg of Sweden’s First Aid Kit and the mentor is Karin Dreijer Andersson of the decidedly strange and oft creepy Knife and Fever Ray, it’s understandable that one’s imagination drifts to more Brothers Grimm territory. The truth isn’t all that sinister, though, as the Söderberg’s brother attended the same kindergarten as Andersson’s children and that connection led to the duo’s debut EP – 2009’s Drunken Trees – to be released on Andersson’s own label in Sweden before being picked up by Wichita in the UK and abroad.
Their proper full-length The Big Black & The Blue followed last month, and like its predecessor its a gorgeously out-of-time folk album built around the unconventional yet riveting voices of the two teenage sisters. Rich, rangy and emotive, their voices sound as though their owners were raised in some lost range of the Appalachians hidden under a nordic glacier and for all their individual quirks, intertwine in stunning, intricate harmony the way that only siblings can. Their material is perfectly matched to their delivery; acoustic and spare with just the right amount of embellishment and a world-weary lyricism that’s at odds with their tender ages but typically Scandinavian in tone. Their work isn’t as sophisticated as it could be or should be to be hailed as a great record, but keeping in mind that they are still just in their teens, it’s a remarkably assured work that can only get better.
First Aid Kit are currently in the midst of their first North American tour, and will be in Toronto this Saturday – June 12 – for a free in-store at Criminal Records at 4PM and a proper show at the Rivoli later that night. They’re keeping a tour diary for Filter and were interviewed by The Georgia Straight. And reaching back a bit, there’s a Take-Away Show with the sister act.
MP3: First Aid Kit – “I Met Up With The King”
MP3: First Aid Kit – “You’re Not Coming Home Tonight”
Video: First Aid Kit – “Hard Believer”
Video: First Aid Kit – “I Met Up With The King”
The Line Of Best Fit interviews The Radio Dept., who are about to re-release Clinging To A Scheme on limited-edition (1000 pieces) white vinyl on June 16. I know everyone goes on about how vinyl sounds great – which it does – but as the owner of a copy from the first run of vinyl, I can say that Clinging sounds AMAZING on vinyl.
The National Post reports that The Raveonettes will be releasing a compilation of b-sides and rarities this Fall, followed by a new studio album in early 2011. They will be at NXNE next week opening up for Iggy & The Stooges at Yonge-Dundas Square on the evening of the 19th.
Stereogum points the way to not one but two new Fanfarlo videos – though for the same song. “Fire Escape” gets the choose-your-own-adventure treatment with a ceiling cat version and a basement cat version.
Video: Fanfarlo – “Fire Escape” (dark version)”
Video: Fanfarlo – “Fire Escape” (happy version)”
The Times profiles Teenage Fanclub, whose new record Shadows is out today and streaming in its entirety at AOL.
Stream: Teenage Fanclub / Shadows
Clash checks in with The Futureheads at the start of their North American tour, which hits the Mod Club on Thursday night.
National Public Radio has a World Cafe session and The National Post an interview with The National. They kick off two nights at Massey Hall tonight.
Spinner talks to Danger Mouse of Broken Bells.
Exclaim interviews Sleigh Bells, in town at the Phoenix on July 20.
Handsome Furs have found themselves with a free night and will be playing Lee’s Palace on June 23; tickets are $16.50 in advance.
MP3: Handsome Fus – “Radio Kaliningrad”
MP3: Handsome Furs – “I’m Confused”
Los Angeles’ Autolux return with their first record in six years with Transmit Transit on August 3, and will follow that up with a tour that brings them to Lee’s Palace on August 24, tickets $17.50. The first MP3 from the new album is available to download PWYC-style – the track below is from their first record.
MP3: Autolux – “Here Comes Everybody”
The Horseshoe gets all Merge-y on August 28 when Lou Barlow and Wye Oak come to town. Both have new digital EPs out as of today – Barlow with the digital-only = Sentridoh III and Wye Oak with My Neighbour/My Creator. Pitchfork has details on the Barlow release and full tour dates, as well as an MP3.
MP3: Lou Barlow + The Missingmen – “Losercore”
MP3: Wye Oak – “Take It In”
Stream: Lou Barlow + The Missingmen / = Sentridoh III
Stream: Wye Oak / My Neighbour/My Creator
Monday, June 7th, 2010
Review of The New Pornographers’ Together and giveaway
Jason CrepsThe first thing you notice about The New Pornographers’ latest album Together is the unison electric guitar and cello line that opens the first track, “Moves”. The second thing you notice is that you probably didn’t notice it at all. The band who first burst onto the scene at the turn of the century with the giddily live wire Mass Romantic transformed themselves from power-pop to orch-pop over the course of their five albums in the past decade that the strings and orchestral flourishes that permeate Together don’t seem at all out of place whereas they’d have had trouble finding the space to be heard amidst the cranked electric guitars and keyboards of their debut.
But sophisticated sonic accouterments aside, Together is still arguably their liveliest record since Electric Version, successfully recovering from the rather staid Challengers. Taken in the context of their career arc, that last record can now be regarded as more of a transitional record which tried to move away from the hepped-up pop of their earlier records and pulled a little too far in the other direction. Together strikes a much more comfortable balance, balancing the likes of “Your Hands (Together)”‘s amplified rock with the more stately pace of “Valkyrie In The Roller Disco”. Having noted those differences, it’s also important to note that which remains the same as on all other New Pornographer records – Carl Newman’s unerring ear for melody, Neko Case’s wonderful vocals and Dan Bejar’s requisite two wildcard songs though his contributions this time around are possibly his most straightforward compositions ever – still the highlights, but also a solid reminder that the world needs a new Destroyer record sooner rather than later.
Carl Newman has been quoted as saying that he knew that Challengers was going to be the band’s “backlash record”, even before it was out – maybe that’s why he made a record so worthy of backlash, so those of us disappointed wouldn’t have to work so hard to find reasons to feel that way. The good news is that the backlash has passed and with Together, The New Pornographers have made their rebound record.
The New Pornographers are currently on a cross-Canada tour – with the full band – and will be at the Sound Academy in Toronto for an all-ages show on June 15 with The Dodos and The Dutchess & The Duke. Tickets are $28 in advance but courtesy of Collective Concerts, I have two pairs of passes to give away for the show. To enter, email me at contests AT chromewaves.net with “I want some New Pornography” in the subject line and your full name in the body, and have that in to me before midnight, June 11. And yes, I will check through my spam filter for entries, just in case.
There’s interviews with Carl Newman at The Star Phoenix, The Edmonton Journal, The Gateway and Canada.com as well as a list of songs that influenced Together at The Calgary Herald.
MP3: The New Pornographers – “Your Hands (Together)”
Video: The New Pornographers – “The Crash Years”
Video: The New Pornographers – “Your Hands (Together)”
MySpace: The New Pornographers
Forest City Lovers have announced a full mostly Canadian tour (there’s one Chicago date) for the month of July to mark the June 29 release of their third album Carriage. After they return from out west, they’ll play a homecoming release show on August 12 at The Great Hall accompanied by Gentleman Reg and Carmen Elle, preceded by an August 10 in-store at Soundscapes. They’re also playing the LEAF celebrations at Wychwood Barns on June 11.
MP3: Forest City Lovers – “Light You Up”
The Toronto Star examines the low-key appeal of Shad, who is also featured by The Gauntlet, The Leader-Post and The Times-Colonist. He plays the Opera House on June 12; passes to the show are up for grabs.
The Fly has another video session with Born Ruffians; those guys will unplug for anyone with a video camera! There’s also interviews at The Seattle Times and Metro.
In town for two intimate nights at The Drake Underground this coming Friday and Saturday, Robyn Hitchcock has added an in-store at Sonic Boom on June 12 at 4PM to his itinerary. It goes without saying that this is going to be worth seeing.
Spinner has an Interface session with Two Door Cinema Club, who will follow up last month’s sold out gig at Wrongbar with a show at The Phoenix on October 25.
MP3: Two Door Cinema Club – “Something Good Can Work”
Paste catches up with Laura Marling.
Pitchfork talks to Aaron Dessner and Matt Berninger of The National. They open a two-night stand at Massey Hall tomorrow evening.
Though Bono’s bad back has forced Interpol to cancel their dates opening up for U2, they’ve still given their fans something to get excited about by announcing that their fourth album would be self-titled and out in mid-September and the replacement for departed bassist Carlos Dengler would be former Slint guitarist (and hired gun for too many acts to name) David Pajo.
Spinner, The Boot, Charlotte Observer and The Huffington Post talk to Tift Merritt about her new record See You On The Moon, an MP3 from which you can download over here.
Video: Tift Merritt – “Mixtape”
Pitchfork has details on the new Thermals record Personal Life, due out September 7.
Sunday, June 6th, 2010
The Antlers cover Beach House
The AntlersBeach House on their own – particularly circa their 2006 self-titled debut, were no slouches at crafting lazy, hazy dream pop, but when used as raw material for another artist who also trades in languid atmosphere, the results can be, well, barely there. In a good way.
The Antlers circa 2007 had already mostly evolved from a Peter Silberman solo project into a proper band, but the dynamic between ethereal and crushing that helped define their breakout Hospice hadn’t yet coalesced – or at least wasn’t in play for their Cold War EP, which they’re currently giving away for free.
The three songs on the release are ghostly, even by Antlers standards, but the cover of Beach House’s “Apple Orchard” is the most gossamer of the bunch, more a cloud of reverb held together by Silberman’s quavering falsetto, the suggestion of guitar chords and a steady, distant kick drum. Mathematical proof that when dream pop meets dream pop, the results aren’t additive so much as exponential.
The Antlers are in town for two nights this week, opening up for The National at Massey Hall, and Beach House are here next Saturday as part of the Toronto Island Concert as well as on September 7 at the Molson Amphitheatre opening for Vampire Weekend.
MP3: The Antlers – “Apple Orchard”
Video: Beach House – “Apple Orchard” (live)
Saturday, June 5th, 2010
Frank YangThis is the weekend that myself and other music writers from across the country feverishly cram on Canadian albums released over the past 12 months to assemble our votes for this year’s Polaris Music Prize, and while I don’t have any particular insight into how any of the other jurors are voting, I am willing to bet dollars to donuts that the words Shad and TSOL will be getting typed into the online ballot more than a few times. It’s certainly going in mine. And while the process of choosing my top five homegrown records of the year is usually a real hem and haw process, the Shad record grabbed my attention with the first listen and with each (of the many) subsequent listens, further affirmed that this was as close to a no-brainer pick as there was going to be for this year. And for that – and the record – I thank Mr Kabango.
Shad has just kicked off a cross-Canada tour, starting from his current digs in British Columbia, and will be winding his way across the country, including a stop at the Opera House in Toronto on June 12. Tickets for the all-ages show are $15 in advance but courtesy of Union Events, I’ve got two pairs of passes to give away for the show. To enter, email me at contests AT chromewaves.net with “I want to see Shad” in the subject line and your full name in the body, and have that in to me before midnight, June 9.
And now I’m kind of tired of giving stuff away. I am going to get some lunch.
MP3: Shad – “Yaa I Get It”
Video: Shad – “Rose Garden”
Video: Shad – “Yaa I Get It”
Saturday, June 5th, 2010
Toronto Island ConcertAs great as they might be, Calgary doesn’t have the market cornered on island festivals – either titular or literal. Announced way back in January but now tantalizingly close, the almost-annual Toronto Island Concert will happen on June 19 with heavyweight lineup featuring Pavement, Broken Social Scene, Beach House and Band Of Horses amongst others – and then there’s the SECOND show out on the islands on August 14 featuring Arcade Fire… yeah, we may have a few fests missing in action, but we’re doing okay.
With the show a couple weeks off, more details have been posted to the website including set times, a list of food vendors and other rules and regulations. It was also announced this week that the first 250 NXNE wristbands or badges to the Collective Concerts box office at the ferry docks on the morning on June 19 will get free admittance to the show – you’ll still have to pay the $6 for the ferry and there’s no practical way you’re going to see Pavement on the island AND Iggy & The Stooges at Yonge-Dundas Square short of one of these (and even then, you’d probably be shot down by G20 advance security) but hey – not a bad way to spend the day before heading back into the city for evening festivities.
And on top of all that, courtesy of Collective Concerts, I’ve got three pairs of passes to give away for the Island show. Again, these don’t include ferry so you’ll have to shell out the $6 a head or find your own way over, but still a bargain and a half. To enter, email me at contests AT chromewaves.net with “I want to see Broken Pavement House of Horses” in the subject line and your full name in the body. Contest closes at midnight, June 12.
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