Exploitation, expanding markets, demographic developments and cultural surveys were all the rage this week. We heard rumors from Media Take Out of a Lil Wayne and Nicki Minaj sex tape floating around looking for buyer to the tune of $150K, or how about your dubstep boy Skrillex reaching out to his gamer demographic with the Electronic Arts penned “Syndicate” (but not before a Korn collaboration to boot), then there is that Deadmau5 dude finding his inner chill with a stripped down remix of “Raise Your Weapin,” or the breathtaking if not tear jerking documentary American Juggalo made by good Americans like Sean Dunne. The ramifications of all these things are currently being looked into by a study group at Yeshiva University no doubt, but the real gems await you here in no particular order.
Fanzine dropped the new single “Roman Holiday” in the advent of their Fat Possum signing. A UK trio with a passion for releasing paper stapled fanzines with their EPs, their new single “Roman Holiday” will prove to have been well worth the year's wait. Look for the the Roman Holiday 7″ with the B-side “My Stupid Brain” November 22 courtesy of the good people at Fat Possum. Keep up the good work fellas.
Prince Rama's video for “Golden Silence” is a beautiful VHS visual blended reminder that Trust Now is only days away. We can't get enough.
You also might be rewared when considering Amen Dunes' Damon McMahon karaoke cover of “Golden Silence” as well. He gives it the community college go before hitting the straight black stuff direct from the carafe.
Charlottesville, Virginia's Borrowed Beams of Light make an art-y brew of indie rock. On the heels of releasing their album Stella Hoax, they are making the blog appearances with “Half-Light”, which presents the group's romantic side and contemplates Autumn weddings and the illustrations of dreams and desire. Given all the bummed out bros we listen to around these offices, BBOL is a heartfelt slice of indie pop that is welcome any time.
Cate Le Bon has been working away on her follow up to last year's Me Oh My with news that CYRK will be released early next year. “Puts Me to Work” depicts the chanteuse hard work ethic of organic song craft that presents something other than the sum of the press's flowery comparison superlatives. You can catch Cate touring about with St. Vincent from October 3 through Novemember 4.
Mark Sultan is a multi-talented purveyor of rock movements since the 50s. He is releasing two albums at the end of October called Whatever I Want and the other Whenever I Want, which is said to feature the talents of Cole and Jared from the Black Lips, Choyce from Red Mass, Danny from the Gories, Erin from the Spits and more. If you were one of those rock and roll nerds who loved the Roy Wood solo/Wizzard output more than his work in the Move or ELO, you have been waiting for this since 1974. Whatever/Whenever I Want drops October 25 on in the Red, enjoy “Song in Grey” now.
With a dance oriented Factory Records comp on the way, leaked nuggets like Shark Vegas's “Pretenders of Love” will delight New Order fans world wide upon immediate listen. Previously only available on an out-of-print US Factory comp Young, Popular and Sexy, Shark Vegas was a group from Berlin whose talents Martin Hannett forged into 80s dance gold. FAC. DANCE, Factory Records 12″ Mixes & Rarities 1980 – 1987 drops October 11 on Strut.
Twin Sister has their big new album In Heaven out and to celebrate, frontwoman Andrea Estella has released the video for “Kimmi in a Rice Field.” The video has a mystical, strange, if not scary, charming, yet creepy quality that spins a creation myth for the band's name, in a sense. Watch and see for yourself.
Gem Club release a NSFW video for “Twins” this week via the NPR channels. Given the closure of everything from the coolest radio stations (R.I.P. KUSF), book and record stores (insert your favorite here); at least we can enjoy all the buzz party favors in between listening to BBC World Service on the top of the hour and All Things Considered. Two words; nude dancers. What's not to like?
Kathryn Calder released the video for “Who Are You?” as a one month warning that her sophomore album Bright and Vivid drops October 25. With a resume that lists Immaculate Machine, a stint with the New Pornographers and a knack for constant reinvention, we cannot wait to hear Calder's newest song cycle. With a video to match the upcoming album title's promise, prepare yourself for the best origami dancers you have ever seen in your life.
SL Jones got my attention earlier this month with his Clams Casino Rainforest EP remix, Pandamonium and this week with a gritty Modern Family directed video for “Paper Cuts.” Here Jones is playing the role of a bookie amid a scene of gnarled out cooks, hustlers, mules and all the stuff you see on those crime-obsessed hour network television specials with a boss-baller confident flow.
Gold Panda released the glass bell banger “An Iceberg Hurled Northward Through Clouds.” At best it is the soundtrack for your favorite new street artist's installation at that new pop up gallery or at worst is the alt soccer mom's drive-thru latte soundtrack. “An Iceberg…” opens up G. Panda's DJ-Kicks mix and is expected to hit the shelves November 8/October 31 in the UK on !K7 Records.
A loosie from Monterey producer/artist Jimmy Moonboots is this ultra-chill instrumental “2B4” that I am told has been half a year in the making. Could be 2012's next big thing.
Here is a little something from Willie Evans, Jr. who is set to perform at the seventh annual A3C Hip-Hop Festival, October 6-8 at the Masquerade Atlanta, Georgia. “Never Will Be Free” is part of the compilation A3C Volume 1 coming your way October 4.
And a little something for your weekend, here is a sampler from Rustie's Glass Swords album that is coming to you October 11 on Warp Records. Because no weekend is ever complete without some chopped and screwed sounding electro beats.
