Alan Wilkis is an electro/funk/rock artist out of Brooklyn, New York whose tracks on his new EP 'Pink and Purple' are reminiscent of Prince playing with Cybotron. Hand claps and synth bass cascade over pure pop seduction. The first track 'Snuggle Up to Nail Down' has the artist harmonizing with himself through a talk box with the finest 80's synths grooving and glitching in the background. The next track 'N.I.C.E' sounds a bit like Rick James with Prince on synth bass. Yes I just used Prince again as a reference point. 'Gotta Get You Back' uses a good old fashion clean hook ala Stevie Wonder and some baroque harpsichord breakdowns. The Stevie Wonder vibe continues onto the title track 'Pink and Purple' until the track explodes into some 80's solo style guitar riffing. 'Dance with You' continues the party in 80's pop bliss style with ascending dance funk melodies.The final track 'Time Machine' sounds like a solo ballad from Martin Gore from Depeche Mode. Overall if you're looking to get a house party started with an electro-funk slant, Alan Wilkis' 'Pink and Purple' will not dissapoint, it's electro-funk with a retro-futuristic edge.
Mason Proper has released their new video for their excellent song 'Safe for the Time Being' over at the fine 'My Old Kentucky Blog'. The video features some dramatic David Bowie 'Heroes' style lighting and about a million dancers in trash bags, which in a weird way adds to the majesty of the song.
Cassettes Won't Listen is a one man band named Jason Drake who got his start DJing and remixing in NYC. Since then he has gained critical acclaim from SPIN, and countless blogs everywhere. Cassettes Won't Listen is also salon.com's number one unsigned artist. He recently moved to California where the sunny landscape inspired him to make an instrumental album called 'Into the Hillside'. I had a chance to correspond with the continent travelling musician about his new album and what inspires him.
Where does the name ‘Cassettes Won’t Listen’ come from?
The name sort of popped in my head back in 2005 when I was searching for a name to go by.A ‘cassette’ is a term that describes a certain type of person that gets played by their surroundings. They are the people who don’t think for themselves and whose style or taste is dictated by what is popular at that moment.These are the types of people I didn’t think would listen to my music when I first started releasing it.
What were your favorite musical artists growing up?
I was always into hip hop growing up.Some of my all time favorite artists were Digable Planets, A Tribe Called Quest, Ice Cube, The Fugees, and The Wu Tang Clan.
How did you get into the DJing/remix business?
I stole my parents turntable when I was 14 and wouldn’t give it back to them.From that moment it was on.I started collecting vinyl and really getting into DJing and from that stemmed my interest in creating music myself.I haven’t DJ’d for a while because I’ve been so focused on songwriting, production, and remixing.Remixing came about from basically remixing everything that I came across.I was working next to a company that handled business for Midlake and Morcheeba and I asked to hook up a remix for both bands.The bands loved the remixes and everything started rolling from there.
What about moving to California made you think of 70’s instrumental production?
After living in New York for so long, a move to California was quite a shock to the system.I still feel like I’m on vacation living out here.When I was writing this record I got really into old school surf movies.Not big budget surf movies but ones that people were doing themselves back in the 70s on supper 8mm film.I wanted to give the record more of a dirty electronic vibe to it, sort of like the dirt on the film of these old movies.Everything seems so clean nowadays so I was interested in creating something that would fit well while on vacation at the beach in the late 70s / early 80s.
What was your favorite old technique/piece of equipment that you used on ‘Into The Hillsides’?
I enjoyed the techniques I used while recording the album the most.I really wanted to degrade the quality of the sound and so I did a lot of resampling, feeding music through pedals, guitar amps and so on.It was freeing to step to this project and not worry about keeping everything super clean.A little dirt to the mix gives it character.
You recently moved from New York out to LA what brought about this change? Are you on staff for the Conan O’Brien show?
Actually, I think Conan heard I was moving out here and then decided to move his show.I also heard that the Lakers heard I was out here and decided to win the championship.
Speaking of NBC shows, your ‘Freeze and Explode’ was featured on ‘Chuck’ recently, did you watch the episode? And if so was it weird hearing one of your own songs on television?
I actually did catch the clip of the show and it was a bit surreal.I thought someone turned the track on in my studio while I was watching the clip and then realized the music was coming from the TV.I thought they used the track tastefully, the music supervisors over at Chop Shop know what they’re doing and I trusted them to use the track in a respectful manner.
You’re releasing an iphone application with the new album that allows users to manipulate the songs on ‘Into the Hillside’, are you excited to hear what some users might create out of your songs?
I’m actually very excited to see what fans can come up with.I’m also excited that I have a new platform to deliver new music to people and offer it in a new interactive way.
What’s in store for Cassettes Won’t Listen after the release of the new album?
I’m already about halfway finished recording my next album.This will be a proper follow up to my 2008 album Small-Time Machine so all of the tracks will have vocals.I’ve been thinking of releasing an instrumental album every other album, it keeps me sane.
The Main Drag are an indie/electro/pop band out of Boston Massachusetts. Like Passion Pit, another Massachusetts band, these guys have an ear for a good pop song, and also like Passion Pit they throw everything and the kitchen sink into their mixes. Everything from strings and glitches to horns makes it's way into their songs. The Main Drags overall sound is a bit more of a traditional rock sound that only leans on synths occasionally. The main heft of their songs is lifted by their nimble guitar work. They've gone on to be salon.com's #1 unsigned artist and have a song featured in a Target commercial.
The band has also done an excellent cover of LCD Soundsystem's 'All My Friends'. I know what you're thinking: "Oh great, another 'All My Friends' cover, whoop dee doo." Well imagine the Arcade Fire covering the song over skittering dance beats with Beirut on vocals and you're getting into the ballpark of what it sounds like.
Also, if you're interested, here are some tour dates:
June 20- Allston, MA - The Great Scott June 22- Chicago, IL - Schubas June 23- Minneapolis, MN -Fine Line Music Cafe June 24- Winnipeg, MB - The Lo Pub June 26- Lethbridge, AB - Henotic Lounge June 27- Calgary, AB - Sled Island Festival June 29- Milwaukee, WI - TBA July 1- Philadelphia, PA - The M-Room
War Tapes are a band from Downtown LA who have successfully amalgamated the dreamy pop structures of the Cure with the power and poise of NYC guitar bands like Interpol. Their debut album 'The Continental Divide' is now available at all the usual venues for obtaining music, be it electronically or physically.
Louisiana's Mutemath are set to release their sophomore album 'Armistice' on August 18th, and you can preview one track off of the new album when you visit their site.
Here's the official word from the innovative band:
"New Orleans-based eclectic/innovative rock quartet MUTEMATH has just completed their second full-length album for Teleprompt/Warner Bros. Records entitled ARMISTICE. Recorded in New Orleans and Oxford, MS and produced by Dennis Herring (Elvis Costello, Modest Mouse, The Hives), the record is scheduled for release on Aug 18th.
Song titles are as follows:
1. The Nerve 2. Backfire 3. Clipping 4. Spotlight 5. No Response 6. Pins and Needles 7. Goodbye 8. Odds 9. Electrify 10. Armistice 11. The Lost Year 12. Burden
Nearly 50 minutes in total, MUTEMATH does not play it safe on their sophomore effort. With a stunning range of dynamics, ARMISTICE boasts the kind of masterful production and songwriting that ensure it to be one of the year's standout albums."
I'm pretty psyched that they have a new record coming out, I've been a fan of their since I found their early (but still excellent) 'Control' online at some free music sample page. I'm kinda bummed they didn't return to this year's 'Transformers' movie soundtrack.
Maja Ivarrson and company have returned with a new album called 'Crossing the Rubicon' timed perfectly for summer. The album features the soaring melodies and choruses that embed themselves in your cranium just like previous Sounds releases, but rather than just being an all out arrogant rock dance party, The Sounds opt instead to infuse each track with a level of earnestness that gives each song equal measures of heart to their dance-floor thrust.
Even a song that is labeled as a blatant disco/punk track (Beatbox) has palpable emotion as well as references to previous songs (Tony the Beat) not to mention a mid song break that will test the sturdiest of subwoofers. Last summer it was the Ting Tings that were aimed at surefire crossover commercial success, but this summer The Sounds deserve that honor. 'Crossing the Rubicon' is a hit both on the dancefloor and the drive home. I expect I'll be hearing at least a few songs from the album 9 months from now on my local pop hits station, if there truly is any justice in the world.
North American Tour Dates
5/29 El Paso TX @ Take IIII
6/04 Orlando FL @ Firestone
w/ No Doubt
5/28 Albuquerque NM @ Journal Pavilion
5/30 Dallas TX @ Superpages.com Center
5/31 Spring TX @ Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
6/02 Tampa FL @ Ford Amphitheatre
6/03 West Palm Beach FL @ Cruzan Amphitheatre
6/05 Atlanta GA @ Lakewood Amphitheatre
6/06 Charlotte NC @ Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
6/08 Raleigh NC @ Time Warner Cable Music Pavilion
6/10 Virginia Beach VA @ Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
6/11 Camden NJ @ Susquehanna Bank Center
6/13 Burgettstown PA @ Post-Gazette Pavilion
6/14 Bristow VA @ Nissan Pavilion
7/19 Auburn WA @ White River Amphitheatre
7/21 Concord CA @ Sleep Train Pavilion
7/22 Los Angeles CA @ Gibson Amphitheatre
7/24 Wheatland CA @ Sleep Train Pavilion
7/25 Mountain View CA @ Shoreline Amphitheatre
7/27 Universal City CA @ Gibson Amphitheatre
7/28 Universal City CA @ Gibson Amphitheatre
7/31 Irvine CA @ Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
8/01 Irvine CA @ Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
8/02 Irvine CA @ Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
8/04 Irvine CA @ Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
(Check Out :37 for stellastarr*'s 'Civilized' Album Cover)
The Portland Oregon by way of Chicago Illinois electro duo Microfilm has released another collection of songs written and recorded around the same time as their innovative 'Slingshot Orchestra' as the 'International Velvet EP'. The songs are harder and more electronic sounding than the tunes found on 'Slingshot Orchestra' but retain an expanded melodic and compositional pallette.
Those Perth, Australia psychedelic popsters Empire of the Sun have had their Walking on the Sun track remixed by Clash The Disko Kids & Ming and the result is an even more summery dance tune. Enjoy!
Thieves Like Us, the American/Swedish electro rock group, are set to release a new EP called the Really Like to See You Again EP next Tuesday, which features three new tracks and Desire from their debut Play Music fleshed out with more rhythmic punch. Opener Really Like to See You Again and closer To Joy sound remarkably similar, with the former sounding like the New Order Blue Monday remix of the latter. Also, it looks as if TLU(Thieves Like Us) have set out to promote American airway travel with their hot new track "American Skies". If only the executives of American Airlines would take heed of this song and promote air travel with a new series of commercials of air hostesses dancing in silver shoulder padded uniforms with big hair... To quote another famous line of commercials, "Hey, it could happen." Either way, if you've got some surplus cash in this downed economy, shell out some coin for "Really Like to See You Again" and enjoy some of the finest electronic music of recent times.
This is a frighteningly cute video, or maybe a cute video trapped in a frightening environment? Either way see a baby brave a city full of monsters before he is absorbed by a psychedelic cartoon that would make Robert Crumb proud. Yes it is that good.
The Stills have released the next video from their excellent third album Oceans Will Rise with I'm With You and it features singer/guitarists Dave Hamelin and Tim Fletcher being bombarded by the elements (and a piano) before they get onstage to play flaming instruments with the rest of the band. Enjoyable, n'es pas?
Chicago's Kniife Prrty has popped onto my radar with some somber electro pop on par with Styrofoam, Postal Service, The Go Find and others in that vein. The track Change your Mind offers up a steady beat and a full array of synths that illuminates a story that has adulterous aspirations. Also the band pulls out their post-punk guitars for the atmospheric ballad Trap Door. All in all Kniife Prrty offer some emotionally heavy pop ideas with beats to match. A must have for the neo-synthpop connaisseur.
stellastarr* have released their new song Freak Out, from their forthcoming album Civilized set for release on July 7th, for free over at their Purevolume page. The track is a moody melodic number that brings the urgency of their first self titled release as well as the textured atmosphere of their sophomore release Harmonies for the Haunted.
Additionally, if you order the album ahead of time here, you will get special packaging, a t-shirt and a poster. Gotta love the extra goodies.
Here's the summer tour schedule for those of you interested in seeing the asterisked ones.
July 7th || Live on The KEXP Morning Show || 6 - 10am PST July 7th || Live on WNYC's Soundcheck || 2 - 3pm EST July 8th || WFNX/Boston || tune in to WFNX for tix announcement July 15th || Philadelphia, PA || Johnny Brenda’s # July 16th || NYC || Highline Ballroom || Official Record Release Show # July 17th || Washington, DC || Rock ‘N’ Roll Hotel # July 18th || Baltimore, MD || Ottobar # July 20th || Cincinnati, OH || 20th Century Theatre # July 21st || Columbus, OH || The Basement # July 23rd || Chicago, IL || Double Door # July 27th || Austin, TX || The Parish ^ July 30th || San Diego, CA || Casbah ^ July 31st || Los Angeles, CA || Troubadour ^ August 1st || San Francisco, CA || Slim's ^ August 3rd || Portland, OR || Doug Fir ^ August 4th || Seattle, WA || Chop Suey ^ # with Wild Light, The Postmarks ^ with Wild Light
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Alan Wilkis is an electro/funk/rock artist out of Brooklyn, New York whose tracks on his new EP 'Pink and Purple' are reminiscent of Prince playing with Cybotron. Hand claps and synth bass cascade over pure pop seduction. The first track 'Snuggle Up to Nail Down' has the artist harmonizing with himself through a talk box with the finest 80's synths grooving and glitching in the background. The next track 'N.I.C.E' sounds a bit like Rick James with Prince on synth bass. Yes I just used Prince again as a reference point. 'Gotta Get You Back' uses a good old fashion clean hook ala Stevie Wonder and some baroque harpsichord breakdowns. The Stevie Wonder vibe continues onto the title track 'Pink and Purple' until the track explodes into some 80's solo style guitar riffing. 'Dance with You' continues the party in 80's pop bliss style with ascending dance funk melodies.The final track 'Time Machine' sounds like a solo ballad from Martin Gore from Depeche Mode. Overall if you're looking to get a house party started with an electro-funk slant, Alan Wilkis' 'Pink and Purple' will not dissapoint, it's electro-funk with a retro-futuristic edge.
