Tom BeardMy first listen to Wild Beasts’ 2009 release Two Dancers didn’t go so well. The English quartet’s most distinctive feature – Hayden Thorpe’s otherworldly falsetto – comes on so strong that for the unprepared, such as myself, it can be disorienting to experience and my first instinct was to simply back away. It was like stepping into a dense jungle, in this case the dark and shimmering aural backdrop of Wild Beasts’ musicianship and before fully acclimating, being unexpectedly divebombed by a magnificent but terrifying bird that you can barely glimpse but certainly feel, particularly as you know it’s always watching you. Always watching.

If those terms sound more favourable than you’d expect given my opening sentence, that’s because after that initial retreat – and yes, motivated by the record’s Mercury Prize nomination – I revisited Two Dancers with Thorpe’s vocal range (and willingness to use said vocal range) more of a known quantity, was able to take the record in as a whole. And, as those who’ve been singing its praises since its release a year ago knew, it’s some piece of work. It’s as rich and sensual as rock music comes, and yet for all the implied lushness it’s almost ascetically lean in its construction at points. Equal parts glamorous and seedy, it may take some listens and patience to get into – at least it did for me – but the persistence is worth it.

Wild Beasts are set to undertake a short North American tour this week, and to coincide with it, they’re not only releasing a special 10″ single for “We Still Got The Taste Dancin’ On Our Tongues” but are making the tracks available to download for free, for one week until August 9 – coincidentally, the date that Wild Beasts are going to be at the Mod Club in Toronto. Tickets for that show are $19.50 in advance but courtesy of Domino and Collective Concerts, I’ve got two pairs of passes to the show and one copy of said 10″ to give away, which will be bundled with one of the pairs of passes. To enter, email me at contests AT chromewaves.net with “I want Wild Beasts” in the subject line and if you are of the vinyl collecting persuasion, your full name and mailing address in the body and if you are not and just want a shot at the passes, your full name. Contest closes at midnight, August 5.

MP3: Wild Beasts – “All The King’s Men”
Video: Wild Beasts – “We Still Got The Taste Dancin’ On Our Tongues”
Video: Wild Beasts – “Hooting & Howling”
Video: Wild Beasts – “All The King’s Men”
MySpace: Wild Beasts

Franz Ferdinand’s Alex Kapranos tells BBC that he’s been writing songs. Yeah, that’s all.

Hot Chip have recorded a Surveillance episode for PitchforkTV.

Sky Larkin have a new video from their second album Kaleide, out next week in the UK. North American release (hopefully) still to come.

Video: Sky Larkin – “Still Windmills”

Also with a new video to go with the release of their album is Oxford’s Stornoway, whose Beachcomber’s Windowsill is out today.

Video: Stornoway – “Watching Birds”

The Drums are sharing a track from their self-titled debut, which is out on vinyl on August 10. They’re at the Mod Club on October 20.

MP3: The Drums – “Down By The Water”

School Of Seven Bells have released a first video from Disconnect From Desire for leadoff track “Windstorm”. They’re at the Mod Club on September 15.

Video: School Of Seven Bells – “Windstorm”

Pieter van HattemSo all manner of things have been piling up over the past week while I’ve been reminiscing about warm Summer sojourns to Chicago. Let’s get to them.

San Francisco’s Morning Benders are no strangers to Toronto this year, having already come through town twice – once in April for their own show just after their latest album Big Echo was released, and again in June opening up for Broken Bells. They’re back in a couple weeks supporting both Black Keys dates at the Kool Haus on August 3 and 4, but in addition to those performances, they’ve announced they’ll be playing a free acoustic show at the corner of College and Manning in Little Italy on August 4 at 5:30PM in what probably would have been a Soundscapes in-store had the weather not been so nice (or so everyone is hoping). There are rumours that there will be free BBQ and ice cream, but even without refreshments it’ll be a fine, free afternoon of pop music.

MP3: The Morning Benders – “Promises”
Video: The Morning Benders – “Promises”

At long last, after watching her Lilith Fair, Of Montreal and own dates skip us over, Toronto has a date with soul/r&b superstar-in-waiting Janelle Monáe – she is joining The Sadies in supporting Arcade Fire on the Toronto Islands on August 14. Why yes, that is a wacky-ass bill, how good of you to notice. But also an excellent one. Watch this video and tell me that Arcade Fire doesn’t run a real risk of being upstaged by her.

Video: Janelle Monáe – “Tightrope”

Unpronouncable Californian dance-punk outfit !!! (chk chk chk to their friends) have slated a North America tour in support of their forthcoming album Strange Weather Isn’t It?, due out on August 24. Grab an MP3 from their website and look for them at Lee’s Palace on September 26, tickets $16.50 in advance.

MP3: !!! – “Must Be The Moon”
Video: !!! – “AM/FM”

The Dears look to be about done with the follow up to 2008’s Missiles as they’ve scheduled a three-night stand at the Garrison from October 13 to 15 where they’ll surely be previewing new material; tickets on sale Friday (via Singing Lamb). Update: Their label reports that they’ll play the entire new album at the shows and the record isn’t due out till early 2011.

MP3: The Dears – “Disclaimer”

Only in town last month, Swedish sister act First Aid Kit are coming back to North America and will be at the El Mocambo in Toronto on October 15.

MP3: First Aid Kit – “I Met Up With The King”

Blonde Redhead have plotted a North American tour in support of their forthcoming album Penny Sparkle, due September 14. They’ll be at the Phoenix on October 17 with Pantha Du Prince as support; tickets $24.

MP3: Blonde Redhead – “Here Sometimes”
MP3: Pantha Du Prince – “The Splendour”

Helmet are still around and will be at Lee’s Palace on October 17 in support of a new album, Seeing Eye Dog, out September 7.

Video: Helmet – “Unsung”

There are apparently still enough people who want to see The Dandy Warhols live that they can not only book The Phoenix for them, but charge $30 a head. They’re there November 1.

Video: The Dandy Warhols – “Bohemian Like You”

Delorean are back on November 18 for a date at the Mod Club with Lemonade as support.

MP3: Delorean – “Real Love”
Video: Lemonade – “Big Weekend”

Blitzen Trapper tell Spinner that even though Destroyer Of The Void only came out last month, they’re already writing its follow-up. Look for them at the Opera House on August 3.

If it ever looks like Ben Curtis of School Of Seven Bells is sleepwalking through a show, it’s because he may very well be. Hopefully their new live drummer will keep him on his toes when they play the Mod Club on September 15. He also chats with New York Magazine.

Chart has a chat with Beach House; they’re at the Molson Amphitheatre on September 27.

Spinner serves up an Interface session with Stars. They play Massey Hall on October 23.

NPR has a World Cafe session with The National.

Jeff Tweedy talks to Billboard about Wilco’s future as an independent band.

Their own major label experiment come to an ignoble end, Margot & The Nuclear So And So’s will release Buzzard on September 21 on their own.

Paste catches up with John Roderick of The Long Winters, who are so overdue for a new album it’s not funny.

Interview talks to She & Him’s Matt Ward and Zooey Deschanel.

Spinner interviews Holly Miranda.

Rest in peace, Andy Hummel of Big Star.

The final volume of Scott Pilgrim came out this week – The Toronto Star and National Post look at the comic book phenomenon and the film that will be released on August 13, while Exclaim looks at the movie’s soundtrack.

Saddle CreekMany little bits and pieces to get through before I head out to Chicago for the Pitchfork Music Festival, and any randomness in this post was compounded by the fact that I became an uncle for the first time last night. Yay babies.

With seven years past since their last album and numerous solo projects and albums between them in the interim, you’d be forgiven for assuming that Maria Taylor and Orenda Fink had gone their separate ways for good. But their hiatus has turned out to be just that, as Georgia’s Azure Ray is back in action – or at least as much action as can be expected from a band known for languid, hazy pop – and will release their first album since Hold On Love with Drawing Down the Moon on September 14. Exclaim has some details on the record, which was produced by Crooked Fingers’ Eric Bachmann.

They’ve also put together a Fall tour in support – their first in six years or so – and it includes a date at the Horseshoe on November 10 with Tim Fite as support. There’s no samples from the new record as of yet, but odds are they’ll pick up approximately where they left off and not stray too far from their older material.

MP3: Azure Ray – “If You Fall”
MP3: Azure Ray – “Sea Of Doubts”
MP3: Azure Ray – “November”

Amongst other shows announced yesterday – The Airborne Toxic Event will have some fancy digs on their next visit to town, as they’ll be playing Trinity-St. Paul’s on September 13 and they’re bringing a string section along with them. This is insupport of their concert film with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, All I Ever Wanted, which is out September 7.

Video: The Airborne Toxic Event – “Neda”

2007 Mercury Prize winners Klaxons are releasing the follow-up Surfing The Void on August 23 and are coming to North America to support it, including a date at the Mod Club on September 27.

MP3: Klaxons – “Atlantis To Interzone”

I’m not sure if Neon Indian ever became the soundtrack to Summer they seemed tipped to be back in the Winter, but after paying a visit back in the Spring, they’re hitting the road come Fall and the itinerary includes an October 12 date at Lee’s Palace.

MP3: Neon Indian – “Deadbeat Summer”

Irish stars Bell X1 are coming to North America this Fall for an acoustic tour that includes a stop at the Drake Underground on October 12.

MP3: Bell X1 – “How Your Heart Is Wired”

The Vaselines, who are releasing their first new album in forever with Sex With An X on September 14, have slated a North American tour that wraps in Canada, the second-to-last date being at the Horseshoe on October 30.

MP3: The Vaselines – “I Hate The ’80s”
MP3: The Vaselines – “Son Of A Gun”

U2 has rescheduled their canceled Summer 2010 tour for Summer 2011 – the Toronto make-up date will be July 11, again at the Rogers Centre.

Video: U2 – “Cedars Of Lebanon”

Paste reports that R.E.M. have completed work on a new album, and are aiming to have it out in early 2011.

Superchunk have released the MP3 for the first single from Majesty Shredding, out September 14.

MP3: Superchunk – “Digging For Something”

The Village Voice talks to Ted Leo about his retirement plans or lack thereof.

Check out the new video from Miles Kurosky, taken from his album The Desert Of Shallow Effects.

Video: Miles Kurosky – “The Night Won’t Last”

Judging from the new Gayngs video from Relayted, the question is not, “will there be a disco ball when Gayngs play The Phoenix on October 1”, but “how big will it be”.

Video: Gayngs – “The Gaudy Side Of Town”

Each Note Secure has an interview with Matthew Houck of Phosphorescent conducted after $40,000 worth of gear and merch was stolen but before it was all improbably recovered a few days ago. Their tour continues on with the only net casualties being the Toronto and Buffalo dates, and they aim to make those up around the end of the Summer.

The Quietus gets a track-by-track breakdown of the new Autolux album Transit Transit from guitarist Greg Edwards. The record is out August 3 and they play Lee’s Palace on August 24.

eMusic, The Line Of Best Fit and The Music Slut interview School Of Seven Bells about their just-released Disconnect From Desire. They’re at the Mod Club on September 15.

Pitchfork talks to Spiritualized’s Jason Pierce about the decision to play Ladies & Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space in its entirety before retiring it.

Sky Larkin are giving away an MP3 of the title track from their new record Kaleide. It’s out August 9 but is available to pre-order now with downloads available immediately.

MP3: Sky Larkin – “Kaleide”

Bandstand Busking welcomes The Clientele for a session. Their Minotaur mini-album – eight tracks is too many to just call it an EP – is out August 31.

Abbey DruckerSo yes, it was a wonderful little vacation, thanks for asking. Lots of sun (maybe too much), friends (never too much), good food and not a little shopping. And since it was a long weekend on both sides of the 49th, there wasn’t a whole lot of interesting stuff showing up in the inbox but there was some, including the fact that School Of Seven Bells had begun streaming their new record Disconnect From Desire at Rolling Stone, more than a week ahead of its July 13 release date.

Its predecessor, 2008’s Alpinisms, was one of my favourites of the year with its soaring synth-gaze anchored by tribally rhythmic underpinnings, and so obviously the follow-up was on my “hotly anticipated” list. And, a few listens in, there’s no chance it will end up on my “disappointments” list. The key facets of the Seven Bells sound – which is to say the gorgeous vocals and harmonies of the Deheza sisters and the guitars of Benjamin Curtis cutting through the meticulously programmed beats and textures – are wholly intact and even more refined than on their debut, but delivered with a sleekness that was only invoked only sparingly on Alpinisms. In doing so, Disconnect sheds some of the more experimental nooks and crannies that made its predecessor an occasionally difficult listen but also gave it much of its character. Luckily, the new record has opted to trade those quirks for more melodies and hooks as well as being more overt in its 4AD-ishness and love of ’80s synth-pop, and that’s a deal I’ll accept any day. It’s too early to state conclusively, but Disconnect doesn’t seem to reach the same stratospheric heights as Alpinisms, but does maintain a more consistently high cruising altitude throughout.

And speaking of cruising, the band’s upcoming Fall tour took an interesting and exciting dimension when I heard some first-hand accounts of their shows at New York’s Mercury Lounge last month – specifically, the fact that the trio were now playing with a live drummer. The couple times I’d seen them perform, they’d sounded great but the show’s energy definitely suffered for their reliance on prerecorded backing tracks. Now with live drums in the equation, I’m extra excited for their upcoming September 15 date at the Mod Club – not just to hear the new material, but to hear how it all sounds live. Now if they could just get Claudia Deheza a keytar so she can move around a bit on stage, we’d be cooking with gas.

MP3: School Of Seven Bells – “Windstorm”
MP3: School Of Seven Bells – “Babelonia”
Stream: School Of Seven Bells / Disconnect From Desire

Spinner has details on exactly what lineup of Guided By Voices will be taking the stage at the Palms in Las Vegas on the weekend of October 1 to 3, and they’re not kidding when they say it’s the classic lineup. Seeing as how they’ll be sticking to period-correct material, expect to hear lots of Alien Lanes, Bee Thousand and Under The Bushes, Under The Stars. Oh yes. Rolling Stone talks to some of the folks at Matador about how the sure-to-be-epic Matador 21 birthday bash came together; tickets and packages go on sale this Friday and the theatre that it’ll all be taking place in holds 2100. I’ll leave you to figure out just how long you can afford to dither. And yes, I am talking to myself there.

Bradley’s Almanac is sharing a recording of the Pixies doing Doolittle in Boston last Fall.

James Mercer talks to Spinner about his timeline for taking The Shins out of mothballs and making a new record.

Spin checks in with The Submarines as they plug away on a new album.

Sharon Van Etten has released details of her second album, and though Epic will only contain seven tracks, on scales of emotionality and beauty, it’s sure to more than live up to its name. It will be released on October 5.

MP3: Sharon Van Etten – “Love More”

And a slew of show announcements, big and small. Well, mostly mid-sized. Phosphorescent will follow up their show at the Horseshoe this Saturday night (July 10) in support of new album Here’s To Taking It Easy with an in-store at Soundscapes on the following afternoon (July 11) at 5PM. American Songwriter has an interview with Matthew Houck.

MP3: Phosphorescent – “It’s Hard To Be Humble (When You’re From Alabama)”

You may want to lump them in with the reunion bandwagon, but when Polvo and Versus roll into Lee’s Palace on August 13 for their first local shows in forever and a day, it’ll be in support of new albums – Polvo’s In Prism came out last year and was their first album in 12 years while Versus’ On The Ones And Threes will mark their first release in a decade when it finally comes out on August 3. Tickets for the show are $16.50 in advance, and yes of course they’ll play some of the old stuff.

MP3: Polvo – “Beggar’s Bowl”
MP3: Versus – “Invincible Hero”

Admiral Radley may not be a familiar name but the principals – Jason Lytle and Aaron Burtch, both formerly of Grandaddy, and Aaron Espinoza and Ariana Murra of Earlimart, might be. And if they are, you may be inclined to check them out on their upcoming tour, which stops in at the Horseshoe on August 15, tickets $13.50 in advance. Their debut I Heart California is out next week and is streaming in whole at NPR. Filter also has an interview.

MP3: Admiral Radley – “I Heart California”
Stream: Admiral Radley / I Heart California

Denmark’s Efterklang will bring this year’s Magic Chairs back to town for a show at Lee’s Palace on September 8; tickets are $12.

MP3: Efterklang – “Modern Drift”

Having conquered England, Marina & The Diamonds sets her sights across the Atlantic with a Fall tour in support of her debut The Family Jewels that’s still to be formally announced but will include a September 8 date at the El Mocambo in Toronto. Tickets for the show are $16.50 in advance, and I’m pretty sure this one will sell out fast. The Queen just visited; our Anglophilia is at a fever pitch. The San Francisco Examiner talks to Marina Diamandis.

Video: Marina & The Diamonds – “Oh No!”

Swedish psychedelic merchants Dungen will trip people right out when they play the Horseshoe on October 10; tickets are $17.50 in advance. Their new album Skit | Allt is out on September 14 – details and full tour dates at Pitchfork.

MP3: Dungen – “Satt Att Se”

The legendary Nick Lowe will return to the Mod Club on October 13 and while it’s true he was here a few years ago at the same venue, this time he’s bringing a full band. Ticket $34.50.

Video: Nick Lowe – “Cruel To Be Kind”

And another legend coming to town – same-ish era, also immeasurably influential but different stylistic wheelhouse – is Gary Numan. Look for him at the Opera House on October 24.

Video: Gary Numan – “Cars”

Josh Ritter and his new record And So The World Runs Away will be at the Phoenix on October 26.

Video: Josh Ritter – “The Curse”

Patrick FordHad the weekend not already wiped me out before Sunday even began, I might well have made it a three-for-three for shows-in-evenings – or five-for-three if I had attempted to make any of the in-stores happening around town – by catching Peggy Sue at Sneaky Dee’s on Sunday night. And if that had happened, you might be reading a live review of their show. But I didn’t, and so you’re not.

But even without my notes from the Toronto stop of their ongoing North American tour – Friends With Both Arms was and has some thoughts and remember, I caught them last time they visited – there’s plenty to talk about with regards to the English trio. They just released their debut album Fossils And Other Phantoms in North America – hence the tour – and melange of folk, soul and blues that their Lover Gone EP hinted at arrives on it fully-formed. It’s a darkly-hued and unexpectedly sensual record filled with tales of love gone wrong, gone off or just gone away, all delivered in the affectingly unvarnished voices and multi-instrumentalism of Katy Young and Rosa Slade and backed by the clattering percussion of Olly Joyce. It’s not the most immediate record, but given the proper attention its a rewarding listen.

As part of their tour, the band are recording a live video on location in each city – I’m pleased to be able to present their communiqué from Toronto, a reading of “February Snow” done by the garden car in Kensington Market. Enjoy it and check out the rest of the series at their YouTube channel.

And on top of that, there’s a Daytrotter session from this Spring and a video from Fossils – not a bad grab bag for having missed the show, eh?

Video: Peggy Sue – “Watchman”

Interpol have finalized details on the release of their fourth album. The previously announced window of mid-September has been clarified and the self-titled effort will be released on September 13, and somewhat surprisingly, it will be coming out on their original label of Matador. Their move to Capitol for 2007’s Our Love To Admire was one of the first in a run of indie rock stalwarts leveraging that success for life in the major leagues – and now they’re one of the first to return. Interesting.

The Line Of Best Fit chats with The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart.

Following the August 24 release of their Burning/Special Moves live video/audio documents, Mogwai will be screening the film component around North America – the Toronto date will comprise two screenings at the Drake Underground on September 14. There’s a new clip from the film available to watch.

Video: Mogwai – “I’m Jim Morrison, I’m Dead” (live)

School Of Seven Bells will follow up the July 13 release of their sophomore effort Disconnect From Desire with an Autumn North American tour, supported by Active Child and including a September 15 date at the Mod Club in Toronto.

MP3: School Of Seven Bells – “Babelonia”

Laura Veirs and The Watson Twins will team up for a Fall tour that stops in at the Horseshoe on September 29. Veirs’ latest album July Flame came out in Jaunary, while The Watson Twins released Talking To You, Talking To Me a month later. Veirs’ Daytrotter session just went up as well.

MP3: Laura Veirs – “Wide-Eyed, Legless”

Stereogum has premiered an MP3 from the new Superchunk record Majesty Shredding, out September 14.

PitchforkTV has added a couple more segments to their video session with The Hold Steady. They play the Kool Haus on July 17.

Spinner, The Guardian and Billboard talk to Kele about The Boxer. The record is out next week and he plays the Mod Club on July 29.

Interview puts M.I.A. and the director of her “Born Free” video in conversation with one another.