Carrying The Dodos From Extinction

I've got a real soft spot for the motorik-tinged indie rock machinations of San Francisco's The Dodos. I loved 2011's No Color record even when many friends claimed to be a lesser album of diminishing returns - hey, if a song like 'Don't Try And Hide It' doesn't get you in the left ventricle, then it ain't beating. 2013 sees the band release their fifth album, Carrier, through Polyvinyl Records and it's just as emotive, as rollicking, as fervent, as deceptively amorphous. It also has the pensive weight of Christopher Reimer hanging over it - the Women guitarist and Dodos touring musician tragically passing away last year still reverberates. Carrier then becomes possibly one of the most poignant odes to a fallen friend that has been committed to tape for a long time. Most of Meric Long's lyrics were written before music was thought of - a process he had never approached before - and the result is eleven songs that simultaneously fly by, weigh down and lift up, a maelstrom of conflict and weary hope. The vinyl has a warm timbre that adds even more gravitas to these songs.

You can buy Carrier here.

Vale Christopher Reimer

One of the saddest pieces of news last week was the passing of brilliant Canadian band Women's guitarist (and touring member of Dodos) Christopher Reimer last week resulting from complications due to a heart condition. He passed away in his sleep on February 21 at the age of 26.

To coincide with the memorial, Reimer's Women bandmates, Women's Canadian label Flemish Eye, and Jagjaguwar have asked us to stream both of the band's albums, 2008's Women and 2010's Public Strain (which we gave our inaugaral Best of album of the year award), in commemoration. Please listen, remember, put the good vibes out into the ether. We will miss you.

Gauntlet Hair Go Chillwave On The Top Bunk

You've gotta give it to Gauntlet Hair - despite their constant pigeonholing, the Denver duo refuse to be taken seriously. Latest track 'Top Bunk' is impressive in its innate ability to capture the shimmering insularity of the "chillwave" movement (I shall refrain from this abhorrent name from here on out) whilst remaining solely live instrument based, and wearing their Animal Collective thinking caps for all to see. The skewering of the coastal sounds is of particular note. Now, I haven't heard their self titled debut (on Dead Oceans) yet - I know, I'm a bad person - but with this twist in the tale track, I'm sure their noisy pop has many other trajectories on which to travel. I think I will try to find this record today...

Gauntlet Hair - Top Bunk

Hair-Brained Thinking Of Gauntlet Love

Gauntlet Hair have popped out the track 'I Was Thinking' - well, kind of, as they released it last year too. Its a pretty insatiable guitar stomp that throws some R&B and soul into the lo-fi revival pot, mixing heavily-reverbed guitars with a simple, yet undeniabe booty-shaking beat. Add in some Animal Collective-style vocal melodies and you’ve got something pretty fantastic. The Colorado duo have also scored the support slot for the Dodos' upcoming June tour of the US, which is pretty damn sweet too.

Not as sweet as that photo though...

Gauntlet Hair - I Was Thinking