127. JULIANNA BARWICK "ENVELOP"

here's the stunningly exquisite opening track, Envelop from brooklyn-based ambient/a'cappella seraph Julianna Barwick off her sublime album "The Magic Place" (2011).

Envelop is a breathtaking spiritual journey into the unknown, a profound leap of faith, engulfed by waves of swirling, shimmering, quivering synths et seraphic vocals, we slowly give in to the soothing rhythms et repetitions, Barwick's airy vocals echo, like a deeply heartfelt prayer or incantation projected into the ether for eternity. Envelop is one of those rare, pure musical experiences, it one to truly savor! enjoy!


MP3: Envelop

et here is the sublime title track from the album

MP3: The Magic Place

check out the devastatingly beautiful et entrancing experimental/video-art, tracking-glitched "vhs" music video for Envelop directed by Cam Archer.

Julianna Barwick - Envelop

et here is the music video for The Magic Place directed by Jacob Corbin

Julianna Barwick - The Magic Place

i strongly recommend getting this mesmerizingly beautiful album, "The Magic Place" is available on cd, mp3 or vinyl from Asthmatic Kitty Records et is also available form itunes.

you can find Julianna Barwick here: myspace | lastfm | juliannabarwick

127. APRIL ...

127.

April was the cruellest month.

{Sion Sono, Heya}

126. THE COATHANGERS "HURRICANE"

here's a feisty, angst-laden track Hurricane from Atlanta-based all-grrrl post-punk outfit The Coathangers off their forthcoming album "Larceny & Old Lace" (2011).

 "You're like thunder / you're like rain / you're my little hurricane!"

Hurricane is a frenetic, punked-out, incantation, lead singer Kugel ejaculates abrasive, declamatory lyrics while the rest of the girls join in with screechy, witch-like, chanting et whispering, a killer fuzzed-out, throbbing bassline runs through the track, while a scuzzed-out, saw-toothed guitar riff grinds away, loud enough to wake the dead! enjoy!


MP3: Hurricane

et here is a fantastically entertaining single from their debut album "Scramble" (2009).

MP3: Stop Stomp Stompin'

check out the awesome new glitched-out angst-laden music video for Hurricane directed by Mike Moore for Studio8 in Atlanta.



et here is the super cool Power Rangers meets Michel Gondry music video for Stop Stomp Stompin' directed by David Y. Hahn.



the "Larceny & Old Lace" album is set for release June 7th on Suicide Squeeze Records, it will be available on cd & vinyl! et you can also still get the fantastic debut album "Scramble" on cd or vinyl too if you haven't got it already!


you can find The Coathangers here: myspace | lastfm | thecoathangers

126. ONE ...

126.

One of my shallowest inclinations is that I always look

at a gentleman's footwear, and that's often a deciding

factor towards, or away from, thoughts of romance.

{Sriwhana Spong, Camille}

125. oOoOO "BURNOUT EYESS"

this next track is from an artist i only discovered recently, et have been ritualistically thrashing ever since, it's an entrancing, darkwave-tinged, electro pop jam, Burnout Eyess from San Francisco-based 'witch house'/electro-pop producer oOoOO {Christopher Dexter Greenspan} off his self-titled "oOoOO" EP (2010).

if you are racking your brain trying to think how oOoOO is pronounced, it is just simply "oh", but with cover art like the one that adorns this hauntingly sublime EP i thought it would be pronounced more like a spooked-out ghostly "...ooOOHH!!!"

Burnout Eyess is a woozy, stripped back lo-fi, hip-hop beat-laden, melancholy-tinged, dream pop trip, it's is also one incredibly addictive track, so put it on repeat, turn out all the lights, lie back et enjoy!

the awesome cover photograph is by Alison Scarpulla


MP3: Burnout Eyess

i'd highly recommend getting your hand on a copy of the "oOoOO" EP, it is available on 12" vinyl from Brooklyn-based label Tri Angle Records, or you can also get it digitally online from itunes.

you can find oOoOO here: myspace | lastfm

125. WHAT ...

125.

'What are you inventing? A novel?' she asks, in anguish.

{Milan Kundera, Slowness}

124. SEAPONY "BLUE STAR"

here's a healthy dose of jangly, fuzzed-out sunshine pop, Blue Star is from Seattle-based indie pop trio Seapony off their forthcoming debut album "Go With Me" (2011).

Blue Star is a catchy, simple, carefree, wistful, jangly pop song, nothing more nothing less, nothing wrong with that either! sometimes it's nice to just zone out to an easy going track, et Seapony are becoming very adept at crafting infectious little indie pop gems, evoking the golden age of UK indie/twee pop. enjoy!


MP3: Blue Star

here's another catchy single from the forthcoming album, which was originally released on the brilliant "Dreaming" digital 7" {available from itunes}:

MP3: Dreaming

the "Go With Me" album is set for release May 31st via Hardly Art, it will be available on cd et lp!

you can check out Seapony here: myspace | lastfm | facebook

124. REVOLUTIONS ...

124.

revolutions are creeping out

from under my bed!

{Jessica Hagdorn, Latin Music in New York}

123. WASHED OUT "EYES BE CLOSED"

next up is the awesome new dreamy, 90s-tinged downtempo, electro pop track, Eyes Be Closed from Atlanta-based bedroom pop/chillwave crooner Washed Out {Ernest Greene} off his hotly anticipated, forthcoming debut long player "Within and Without" (2011).

Eyes Be Closed is more of Greene's own unique blend of hazy, blissed-out, shimmery synth pop that we have come to adore! put on your headphones, lie back, close your eyes et let the music take you on a euphoric journey through the clouds!


MP3: Eyes Be Closed

et here is a fantastic, blissed-out, downtempo single off the awesome "Life Of Leisure" EP (2010)

MP3: New Theory

also this great single remixed by Small Black off the "Small Black/Washed Out" split EP (2010).

MP3: You'll See It (Small Black remix)

the "Within and Without" album is set for release July 12th on Sub Pop Records. 

you can find Washed Out here: myspace | lastfm | facebook | subpop

123. ROOM ...

123.

Room after room,

I hunt the house through

We inhabit together.

{Robert Browning, Love in Life}

122. YOUTH LAGOON "JULY"

this next track was a magnificent discovery, a complete revelation actually, July is a devastating, soulful pop reverie from Boise-based bedroom pop crooner Trevor Powers aka Youth Lagoon, off his forthcoming et eagerly anticipated debut album "The Year Of Hibernation" (2011).

July is a remarkably endearing, life affirming, anthemic pop song, a mournful organ drones away quietly before Powers softly spoken, airy vocals float in, mesmerizing in their simple, artless et heartfelt delivery, along with his charmingly raw et childish, fervent, choir-like harmonies, Powers' voice is totally captivating et refreshingly sincere, the track slowly builds to an epic, euphoria-inducing middle eight, a joyous cacophony of reverb-laden vocals, pounding drums, chiming keys et fuzzed-out guitar.

July is the kind of track that gives you goose bumps when you first hear it, you know right away this is the real deal, Powers' isn't f@#king around here, he has genuinely got something to get off his chest et thankfully for us, music is his medium of catharsis, this is utterly compelling et beautifully considered/realized music, Powers' youthful fervor reminds me a lot of Archy Marshall aka Zoo Kid on Out Getting Ribs. i've nothing more to add other than, lie back et enjoy this sublime musical experience!!!


MP3: July

et here is the other fine single from the forthcoming album that has been made generously available on the Youth Lagoon Bandcamp.

MP3: Cannons 
   
also, great news, hot from the Youth Lagoon Soundcloud page is Powers' latest spaced-out, reverb-laden, soulful, epic offering:

MP3: Montana 

take a look at the epic new, nostalgia-bathed, Terrence Malick-imbued visuals for Montana, directed by Tyler T Williams.

Youth Lagoon - Montana

"The Year Of Hibernation" album will be available July 5th on Juno Beach Records et will be followed with a vinyl release on October 11th, pre-orders are available from Insound, Lefse Records or Fat Possum records, where you can also grab it on cassette!

you can check out Youth Lagoon here: lastfm | facebook | soundcloud

122. A ...

122.

A strange quietude, a sort of desperate satisfaction

emanated from them.

{Nathalie Sarraute, Tropisms}

121. LOWLANDS "THE WORLD PAGES"

well great news, here's an awesome new jangly, fuzzed-out track from the antipodes, The World Pages is from Wellington-based indie/guitar pop artist Lowlands {Tobias Brockie, formerly Rhinoceros Brave} off his new "The World Pages" digital 7" (2011).

Lowlands totally reaffirms/bolsters my faith in the New Zealand indie music scene, a romantic belief that there are still in fact some great new musicians lurking out there in dingy flats, working away diligently, meticulously honing their skills et experimenting in their bedrooms et creating/producing some amazing et unique music that is not "radio friendly" or funded {or faux-funded} by nzoa! there seems to be some really great music coming out of the windy city {Glass Vaults}, it's making me jealous {although winter is almost upon us so not that jealous}.

The World Pages is cast from the same mold of catchy well crafted, jangly, guitar pop that came to define the "Dunedin sound", yet Brockie manages to successfully add his own influences et unique voice into the mix to produce a beautifully considered et paced, melancholy-tinged, power pop jam! enjoy!!!


MP3: The World Pages

et here's another fantastic Flying Nun-tinged track:

MP3: Church Bells

the fantastic three track digital 7" is available for free download from the uber-cool French label Beko dsl {digital singles lable}, or from Lowlands bandcamp page, you can also head over the Lowlands/ex Rhinoceros Brave soundcloud page et hear a bunch more tracks from Brockie's impressive "Dark Star Athena" EP (2010) which is well worth getting your hands on!

you can check out Lowlands/Tobias Brockie here: tobiasrhinoceros

121. AFTER ...

121.

After that, before he writes the next word, he taps 

his ear lobe with the eraser-end of the pencil.

{Vito Hannibal Acconci, 0 To 9 no.5}