Archive for August, 2011
Dream Rock & Noise Pop in Videos: Slowdive – “When the Sun Hits”
Who knew there was a promo video for this? Who even knew it was a single? The final track from volume two.
Dream Rock & Noise Pop in Videos: Drop Nineteens – “Winona”
Another promo video recorded from 120 Minutes. Track 16 from volume two.
Coming Soon to a Venue Near You (As Long as You Live in Vancouver)
Oval
Vancouver, BC, obviously. Not the one in Washington. If you live there, you probably have to drive into Portland when you want to see a show.
Aaaaanyway, the point is there are some very, very exciting shows happening in Vancouver over the next few months. The big news is that Oval is coming to town, with support from label-mates Mountains! Quite the Bubblegum Cage-friendly double bill (just as long as those Mountains fellas don’t play too much stuff from their rather disappointing new album – LEAVE THE ANALOGUE SYNTHESIZERS IN BROOKLYN! THEY ARE NOT WELCOME HERE!)
Ahem, anyway… Here’s a round-up of shows this here blog is excited about, for one reason or another…
Fieldhead, Thomas Jirku, Gunshae, Hong Kong Soap Operas
A superb line-up of local electronica artists, as part of TKG’s Panambient series. Wonder if there’ll be food at this one.
Saturday August 27th (in the afternoon)
At Blim
James Blake, Teengirl Fantasy
He’s supposed to be rubbish live, isn’t he? Mind you, he’s supposed to be rubbish full-stop and he clearly isn’t. Teengirl Fantasy are said to be very good too.
Sunday September 25th
At the stinky Commodore, unfortunately
Secret Pyramid, No Ufos, connect_icut, Fieldhead & Cloudface
A real friends-and-family affair this one. More details closer to the time.
Friday September 30th
At Blim
- Secret Pyramid – “Milk & Honey”
- No Ufos – “Evidence/Century Park”
- connect_icut – “The Left Hand of Darkness”
Oval, Mountains
This is the big one. Absolutely the most important musical event to happen in Vancouver all year. If you live here and you don’t go to this, you must have cloth ears and a heart of stone. No excuses!
Sunday October 2nd
At the Western Front
Gang Gang Dance
A phenomenal live band. Probably worth braving a shitty venue for.
Saturday October 15th
At this here blog’s least favourite venue on the planet Earth, unfortunately
Portishead
Don’t get too excited – the tickets for this one are prohibitively expensive (and quite possibly sold out, at this stage).
Monday October 24th
At the PNE Forum
Something weird is happening to YouTube videos on this here blog
Normal service will be resumed as soon as possible
Dream Rock & Noise Pop in Videos: Swervedriver – “Rave Down”
The official promo video. Track 15 from volume two.
Fennesz – Seven Stars (Touch) 10″
Fennesz - Seven Stars
Blimey! A new Fennesz solo record, already!! Are you sure? Yes, it’s true: In the two-and-a-half years since the release of Black Sea, the great man has managed to produce as many as four (4) new songs. You have to wonder: given the hell-for-leather work rate our boy Christian is clearly maintaining, has quality control gone out the window? Short answer: No! Long answer: Noooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mind you, there aren’t any great surprises here. Or at least, there aren’t any great leaps into the unknown. In a sense, it is rather surprising that Fennesz has released something so immediately reminiscent of his great masterpiece Endless Summer. But while the melodic elements of Seven Stars are strikingly like those of Endless Summer, the overall sound is much more in line with his last couple of albums – moody and atmospheric, rather than noisy and colourful.
Even the appearance of Steven Hess (of On and not – as this here blog has previously claimed – Labradford) adding a steady drum beat to the title track isn’t that startling. The results actually recall another previous Fennesz release – the Fennesz/Brandlmayr/Dafeldecker trio album ‘Till the Old World’s Blown Up & a New One is Created. Which is, of course, a very good thing indeed. For evidence, watch the (official?) video below, then go buy the 10″ at the Touch shop.
Dream Rock & Noise Pop in Videos: Moose – “Suzanne”
The official video, as broadcast on MTV’s 120 Minutes show. Amazing to think there was a time when MTV had room in the schedule for stuff like this. But that was the 90s for you: cross-dressing shoegazers as far as the eye could see! Track 14 from volume two.
Bubblegum Cage III 