Avalon Emerson: “Church of SoMa”.

21 May 2012 — Henning Lahmann

No need to get off the dancefloor, our favorite San Francisco club girl has done it again. Avalon Emerson is back (not that she was ever gone in the first place) with another stupendous banger, almost seven minutes of, oh well, let the girl speak for herself once again (because she also writes the most appropriately descriptive mails): "a dub-edged rhythm conversation between of-the-moment house revivalism and long-forgotten tribal voices". Yes indeed. Read more → No need to get off the dancefloor, our favorite San Francisco club girl has done it again. Avalon Emerson is back (not that she was ever gone in the first place) with another stupendous banger, almost seven minutes of, oh well, let the girl speak for herself once again (because she also writes the most appropriately descriptive mails): "a dub-edged rhythm conversation between of-the-moment house revivalism and long-forgotten tribal voices". Yes indeed.

Video: Pillars and Tongues - “(Laid) Palms to Tell”.

21 May 2012 — Henning Lahmann

Around this time last year, Chicago's Pillars and Tongues enchanted us with their superb album The Pass and Crossings on Empty Cellar Records, a stunning blend of slow-burning neo folk and melancholic, blue-eyed and cloud-gazing yet earthbound psychedelia. Tomorrow, the band will head off on an extensive late spring/early summer tour through the States, starting in their hometown's The Hideout (go here for the complete list of dates). To mark the occasion, Pillars and Tongues have just released a free digital single, a re-recorded and alternate version of "(Laid) Palms to Tell", which had already been a standout on The Pass and Crossings and that will be featured on a limited tour release. Below, you may watch the song's gorgeously colorful and aptly arcane video, made by Alex Babbitt. The free digital single "(Laid) Palms to Tell" is available over at bandcamp alongside two other tracks. Read more → Around this time last year, Chicago's Pillars and Tongues enchanted us with their superb album The Pass and Crossings on Empty Cellar Records, a stunning blend of slow-burning neo folk and melancholic, blue-eyed and cloud-gazing yet earthbound psychedelia. Tomorrow, the band will head off on an extensive late spring/early summer tour through the States, starting in their hometown's The Hideout (go here for the complete list of dates). To mark the occasion, Pillars and Tongues have just released a free digital single, a re-recorded and alternate version of "(Laid) Palms to Tell", which had already been a standout on The Pass and Crossings and that will be featured on a limited tour release. Below, you may watch the song's gorgeously colorful and aptly arcane video, made by Alex Babbitt. The free digital single "(Laid) Palms to Tell" is available over at bandcamp alongside two other tracks.

Video premiere: Clu - “Evening Ever”.

18 May 2012 — Tonje Thilesen

We're excited to give you all a first view at the new video for Clu's "Evening Ever", the moniker of the two Dublin-based producers Sean Cooley and Kevin A. Freeney that we stumbled upon last month. Enjoy below. Read more → We're excited to give you all a first view at the new video for Clu's "Evening Ever", the moniker of the two Dublin-based producers Sean Cooley and Kevin A. Freeney that we stumbled upon last month. Enjoy below.

LLLL: “Drowned Fish”.

18 May 2012 — Tonje Thilesen

We've had our eyes focused on the rapidly (internet) expanding music scene of Tokyo for a little while now, and it seems that more and more sweet electronic tunes from this pulsating city keep dropping into our inbox. The Fader were perhaps a bit faster on this than us however, pulling one of those never-dying references "My Bloody Valentine-esque shoegaze" in the description of LLLL's S/T four-track EP, but whatever: the sky-gazing purity of LLLL is nothing but impressive with its beat loaded production and highly pitched vocals. Free download via their Bandcamp. LLLL - Drowned Fish Read more → We've had our eyes focused on the rapidly (internet) expanding music scene of Tokyo for a little while now, and it seems that more and more sweet electronic tunes from this pulsating city keep dropping into our inbox. The Fader were perhaps a bit faster on this than us however, pulling one of those never-dying references "My Bloody Valentine-esque shoegaze" in the description of LLLL's S/T four-track EP, but whatever: the sky-gazing purity of LLLL is nothing but impressive with its beat loaded production and highly pitched vocals. Free download via their Bandcamp. LLLL - Drowned Fish

Golden Birthday: “Our Love Is Free”.

16 May 2012 — Henning Lahmann

We've reported about Chicago synth pop group Golden Birthday's forthcoming full-length Blue Island a couple of times over the course of the last twelve months but once in a while, things just need a little longer. In any case, we now finally got a definite release date, and having listened to the whole thing, we can confirm that it was worth the wait. Below, take an exclusive listen to album standout "Our Love Is Free", a swirling, expansive six and a half minute ballade that takes quite a few inspirations from mid-eighties high-end charts pop as well as some darker, minor tones of classic era new wave, which both has never been a bad idea. There are some added twists such as subtly distorted vocals and and a nicely shuffling rhythm, which make the song picture perfect for late afternoon daydreams of your half-forgotten high school prom night, when you simply didn't dare to ask Nancy to dance with you. Blue Island is out June 26 via Rainbow Body Records. Read more → We've reported about Chicago synth pop group Golden Birthday's forthcoming full-length Blue Island a couple of times over the course of the last twelve months but once in a while, things just need a little longer. In any case, we now finally got a definite release date, and having listened to the whole thing, we can confirm that it was worth the wait. Below, take an exclusive listen to album standout "Our Love Is Free", a swirling, expansive six and a half minute ballade that takes quite a few inspirations from mid-eighties high-end charts pop as well as some darker, minor tones of classic era new wave, which both has never been a bad idea. There are some added twists such as subtly distorted vocals and and a nicely shuffling rhythm, which make the song picture perfect for late afternoon daydreams of your half-forgotten high school prom night, when you simply didn't dare to ask Nancy to dance with you. Blue Island is out June 26 via Rainbow Body Records.

Ad Hoc Co-Premiere: San Gabriel - “Z Trail”.

16 May 2012 — Henning Lahmann

Co-premiere with Ad Hoc We've been informed that the music of San Gabriel aka Los Angeles resident and Pit Er Pat">Pit Er Pat co-founder Butchy Fuego has created for his debut Volfe EP shall be labeled "mountain rave". Now there ain't any decent mountains anywhere near Berlin, so we cannot evaluate if raving to these tunes high up in thin air enhances the experience in any way, but we can confirm that Fuego achieves a surprisingly massive impact with strikingly few means. With a thick, pounding bass and minimalistic, yet intricate drum patterns, Fuego creates a weird hybrid between R&B and global club music not far from his friends Nguzunguzu, which in short means that you can rave to it just about anywhere. The Volfe EP is out May 22 via Time No Place. Read more → Co-premiere with Ad Hoc We've been informed that the music of San Gabriel aka Los Angeles resident and Pit Er Pat">Pit Er Pat co-founder Butchy Fuego has created for his debut Volfe EP shall be labeled "mountain rave". Now there ain't any decent mountains anywhere near Berlin, so we cannot evaluate if raving to these tunes high up in thin air enhances the experience in any way, but we can confirm that Fuego achieves a surprisingly massive impact with strikingly few means. With a thick, pounding bass and minimalistic, yet intricate drum patterns, Fuego creates a weird hybrid between R&B and global club music not far from his friends Nguzunguzu, which in short means that you can rave to it just about anywhere. The Volfe EP is out May 22 via Time No Place.

Heatsick: “Déviation”.

16 May 2012 — Henning Lahmann

As reported last Friday, Berlin resident Steven Warwick aka Heatsick will play as a special guest at the upcoming 100% SILK showcase as part of the CTM-initiated Polymorphism concert series at Kater Holzig on June 1. And we do understand why Amanda Brown is such a big fan of Warwick's work. Just like last year's stellar Intersex, his new 12 inch Déviation is all polyphonic playfulness, upbeat and diverse and weird and completely irresistible, with a truly unique approach to electronic dance music. This is disco, but in an original way that most contemporary producers wouldn't even dream to come up with. Listen to the title track below. Déviation is out May 29 on PAN. Get it soon via Boomkat. Read more → As reported last Friday, Berlin resident Steven Warwick aka Heatsick will play as a special guest at the upcoming 100% SILK showcase as part of the CTM-initiated Polymorphism concert series at Kater Holzig on June 1. And we do understand why Amanda Brown is such a big fan of Warwick's work. Just like last year's stellar Intersex, his new 12 inch Déviation is all polyphonic playfulness, upbeat and diverse and weird and completely irresistible, with a truly unique approach to electronic dance music. This is disco, but in an original way that most contemporary producers wouldn't even dream to come up with. Listen to the title track below. Déviation is out May 29 on PAN. Get it soon via Boomkat.