September 2008

The Archives

• 09.05.08
  Modwheelmod’s Haunting Remix of Ladytron’s Ghosts   Singles (0)

  

  With the release of Witching Hour, way back in 2005, Ladytron jumped from being a band that I enjoyed to becoming a band that I loved. The album’s dark veneer gave a touch of substance to their always charming, but aloof sound. It was clear that the band was growing and the choices they were making were good ones.

  I was equally excited when Velocifero was announced, but once I finally heard it the album never quite grabbed me. It didn’t feel as cold or engaging as Witching Hour (a contradiction I know, but there was something in that album which encompassed both). I know that I simply just need to give the whole album some more time, but something stopped me.

  Just this week I discovered the Modwheelmod remix of Ghosts, the single which accompanied the release of Velocifero. I’m always a fan of remixes, but I always love ones that dial the tempo down instead of up. The song is stripped down to a spare selection drums and synth washes, letting the vocal interplay between Helen Marnie and Mira Aroyo take the centerstage in a bath of reverb. Simple and slow will always catch my attention…reverb never hurts too.

  Los Angeles’s Modwheelmod is responsible for the reworking and is comprised of Alessandro Cortini and guitarist Pelle Hillström. Cortini was one of the producers on Velocifero and serves currently as one of the touring members of Nine Inch Nails (maybe this explains the NIN opening slot earlier this year?)

  
  

  Ladytron - Ghosts (Modwheelmod remix)

  
  

  HIT THE JUMP FOR THE VIDEOS FOR ‘GHOSTS’, ‘RUNAWAY’, AND AN AWESOME SYNTH WORKSHOP WITH LADYTRON FROM NYLON TV

• 09.04.08
  Why? MEGATOUR (LA’s ECHOPLEX TONIGHT & RAFTER MP3s!)   Singles, Social Calendar (0)

  

  Why? stands as the most blogged about band here on Taking Tiger Mountain in its short little life, but I do unabashedly love them. Yoni is one of few people I’ve had the pleasure of doing an in-person interview with back in ‘06; I talked with him at Chicago’s Double Door before their opening slot for The Silver Jews. I’ve seen them quite a bit in my free time and also reviewed their shows on more than one occasion (The Double Door show and later opening for Yo La Tengo at Chicago’s Vic Theater). They’re starting a long few months of touring, hitting Los Angeles’s Echoplex tomorrow.

  

  That show will include DJ’s from Dublab and Asmatic Kitty’s Rafter as openers.

  After tonight’s LA date, Why? heads out for a long jaunt that stretches into a European tour. Dates below:

  09-04 - Los Angeles, CA Echoplex
  09-05 - Tempe, AZ The Clubhouse
  09-06 - Tucson, AZ Solar Culture
  09-08 - Austin, TX Mohawk*
  09-09 - Dallas, TX Granada Theater*
  09-11 - Pensacola, FL Sluggo’s*
  09-12 - Gainseville, FL Common Grounds*
  09-13 - Miami, FL White Room*
  09-14 - Orlando, FL The Social*
  09-16 - Asheville, NC Grey Eagle*
  09-17 - Philadelphia, PA First Unitarian Church*
  09-18 - New York, NY Bowery Ballroom*
  09-19 - Boston, MA Museum of Fine Arts
  09-20 - Portland, ME Space Gallery
  09-21 - Providence, RI Club Hell
  09-22 - Montreal, QC La Sala Rossa
  09-25 - Cincinnati, OH Midpoint Music Festival
  09-26 - Chicago, IL Bottom Lounge#
  09-27 - Minneapolis, MN Triple Rock#
  09-29 - Denver, CO Hi- Dive
  09-30 - Salt Lake City UT Kilby Court
  10-02 - Vancouver, BC Richard’s On Richard
  10-03 - Seattle, WA Vera Project
  10-04 - Portland, OR Wonder Ballroom
  10-22 - Confort Moderne - Poitiers
  10-23 - Le Fil - Saint Etienne
  10-24 - La Vapeur - Dijon
  10-25 - BB Mix Festival - Paris
  10-27 - Pirates Cabaret - Amiens
  10-28 - Electrique - La Havre
  10-29 - L’Antipode - Rennes
  10-30 - Festival Yamoy - Nantes
  10-31 - Rockomotives - Vendôme
  11-01 - Andrew Lane Theatre - Dublin
  11-03 - TBA - London
  11-06 - Centre Culturel - Massy
  11-07 - Musique Volante - Metz
  11-08 - Super Sound Festival - Colmar
  11-11 - Maria Am Ufer - Berlin
  11-12 - Ut Connewitz - Leipzig

  % = w/ Tussle
  * = w/ Mount Eerie
  # = w/ Tobacco

  I’ll be at the Echoplex tonight, jealous of all the folks who get to see the shows with Mount Eerie. That’ll be something special.

  In honor of the Rafter’s new EP which drops September 9th, here’s a few insane tracks that Asthmatic Kitty has released:

  ‘Salt’ from 2008’s Sweaty Magic
  Download

  ‘Juicy’ from 2008’s Sweaty Magic
  Download

  ‘Sweat’ from 2008’s Sweaty Magic
  Download

  BUY IT

  

• 09.02.08
  Stuttering Gem - Ryan Lindsey’s “Friend For Life”   Singles (2)

  

  A good pop tune jumps in, like a ninja, does its routine and, with a blinding flash, is gone. Ryan Lindsey’s song ‘Friend For Life’ does just that. The tune takes spazzy drums, boinging bass and near-50’s backup vocals, blending it into something that nudges the base of the brain and prods you to play it repeatedly.

  I’ve honestly not explored the remainder of the album enough, but it shares the same subdued sheen with the 2 minutes of flutter and charm that is ‘Friend For Life’. Based on just this song, the ex-Starlight Mints guitarist is definitely worth further investigation.

  
  

  Ryan Lindsey - Friend For Life