May 2008

The Archives

• 05.15.08
  New Ratatat Single ‘Shiller/Mahalo’ Calms and Confuses   Singles (0)

  

  Earlier this week, I was overtaken by the urge to listen Ratatat. I dubbed the day “Ratatat Day,” promptly dumped both the “Ratatat” and “Classics” on the iTunes and whiled away the work day. The very same day, news of a new Ratatat album finally surfaced. After just under 2 years away, Pitchfork announced that the band would be returning with a new album later in the year. In anticipation of the release of their third (and possibly 4th, if the press release is to be trusted) Ratatat has released the single “Shiller”.

  Both songs play out in an unexpected way, floating on a hazy cloud of beat-less mush. It’s discernibly Ratatat, but far less active than one would expect. “Shiller” spends over 2 minutes meandering through a calming murk of synth wash and harpsichord before the familiar coo of processed guitar sound punches through. “Mahalo” is even stranger, pumping another beatless track through what sounds like a Hawaiian wax cylinder. It feels a little like spacier Mars Volta wearing a lei; the song floats up toward the rafters almost unaware of the audience. While it’s not necessarily bad, but it certainly is different. Classics was a bit of a downer, less outwardly energetic than their self titled debut. I’d be amused to think that they’d release a beatless ambient album…amused but a wee bit disappointed. Luckily, our questions will be answered in less than a month when the new record is released.

  

  Click the big honking jpg of the cover art for the Shiller to hear both tracks.

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• 05.11.08
  An interview with LA’s noisepunks HEALTH   Interviews (0)

  
  HEALTH live at the El Rey, 01/15/08

  I had the pleasure to interview LA’s noisemasters HEALTH before their opening slot with Dan Deacon a few months back (I posted my review of Dan Deacon’s set HERE and my review of HEALTH’s self titled debut HERE). I waited to post the interview because the site I did the interview for, Airraid had yet to launch and I didn’t want to jump the gun. It had been a few years since I’d done a face to face interview, and yet my first with 4 dudes at once, but the whole thing went down smoothly. By the end BJ, the drummer, shared his sweet potato fries with me while chatting after the interview ended…quite nice guys all around.

  Above is a live photo from the show. I just got the film back this week, so as I scan the rest in I’ll post them up.

  The review finally got posted to Airraid a little while ago and except for the fact that they cut the interview in half and added a stupid final question. The full interview is pretty sold and I’m happy with the way it came out.

  CLICK to read the full, unedited interview.
  

• 05.10.08
  Nom Nom Nominee – Happy Cat Approved!   Rant (0)

  

  R. Stevens went and created the above macro, featuring a mindblowingly content looking Obama chowing on tacos along side a classy ‘nom nom nom’ gag. This brightened my evening.

  I couldn’t resist a tweak.

  

  There, my hat is in the political/catmacro ring.

• 05.01.08
  Mahjongg plays the Empty Bottle TONIGHT   Recycled News (1)

  

  I think this flyer wins. Screw the specifics, nobody needs to know the cover…let’s just put the spooky visage of Hurley floating over a desert. I’m sold.

  If you’re in Chicago, skip Lost and go see Mahjongg at the Empty Bottle.

  As it stands, I’d probably not skip Lost for this show (a potent combination of laziness and dedication to that damn tv show), but my situation is solved by not living in Chicago anymore.

  Both the Machinegong EP & Raydoncong 2005 are tinny, weirdo gems, full of danceable quirk. This year’s record Kontpab, released on K Records has yet to fully win me over but I guarantee that tonight’s Empty Bottle show will be well worth seeing.

• 05.01.08
  The Notwist Return With ‘The Devil, You & Me’   Recycled News (0)

  It’s been six years since Neon Golden was released and three since 13&God hit the shelves. That’s a long time to wait for any band, even for one tucked away in the corner of the indie-universe that they quietly occupy.

  Just when I had taken a moment to wonder, “What did happen to The Notwist?” a leak of their new album The Devil, You & Me appeared, floating around the fringes of the interwub and without hesitation, grabbed it.

  

  The album is a half step forward, moving on from Neon Golden, stressing less the glitchy backing and relying more on elements that album composed as a band. For The Devil, You & Me, the subtlety from 13&God carries over to many of the songs as they solemnly click along, propelled by an undercurrent of noise or subtle electronic backing. Where formerly the electronics would step to the spotlight, defining the construct of the song, it now feels like they function as the undercurrent that drives each. The beautiful digital harshness of Neon Golden has taken backstage to more organic measures to set the tone: delicate acoustic strumming underpins the album closer ‘Gone Gone Gone’ and a terse swirl of strings ducks in and out of the tension of “Where In The World”.

  Markus Archer’s vocals stand strong as the core of most every track on The Devil, You & Me. His voice is a comforting coo that occasionally strains when stretching around moments of the brightest melody. There’s something wonderful in Archer’s voice that varies so little in tone yet conveys so much emotion. The beauty in The Devil, You & Me, and as well The Notwist on a whole, is that there is something so uncomplicated yet expressive to every track on this album. With this record, they continue to build on the emotional dynamic established with Neon Golden, creating something beautiful, enveloping, and worthy of repeat listenings.

  Check out the notwist’s homepage for the video for the lead single ‘Where In The World’. As well you can purchase the 7inch single, which features a b-side remix of The Devil, You & Me track ‘Sleep’ by Odd Nosdam, who, in my opinion, turns everything he touches into hazy awesome.

  Take a listen to the album opener “Good Lies” which was released via their label City Slang.
  
  

  CLICK TO DOWNLOAD “GOOD LIES”

  The Devil, You & Me releases in Europe on May 2nd.

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