J Mascis' Apple is the Sweetest

We mentioned J Mascis' Sweet Apple a couple months ago. Well, their album Love and Desperation is just about ready to drop from the tree, and here is another little taste of what to expect! Interesting album cover also...

Sweet Apple - I've Got A Feeling (That Won't Change)

PJ Harvey set to guest design Francis Ford Coppola's magazine.

PJ Harvey has been invited to guest design the summer issue of Francis Ford Coppola's magazine 'Zoetrope: All-Story Magazine'.  

The quarterly magazine, which digs into story, art, fiction and film has previously had the likes of Tom Waits, Zaha Hadid, David Bowie, Lou Reed or Guillermo del Toro collaborate on the design. 'All Story' will also feature previously unseen artwork, sculpture and drawings by PJ Harvey.

Check it out on www.all-story.com. 

Answer to peace comes from the Middle East - of Queensland...

Townsville, a town on the north coast of Queensland, Australia, isnt known for its prolific and trailblazing music scene. Rugby league, rodeos, monsoonal weather. Not a lot to hope for, right?

Out of nowhere a little band is doing its darnedest to change all that. The Middle East are a seven piece who are rapidly storming across the world, making waves everywhere they go (especially at South By Southwest where they garnered glowing reviews and a few celebrity listeners, allegedly including one very bemused Bill Murray). They have elements of fellow Aussies Art of Fighting in their vocal harmonies and spectral soaring guitarwork, but in tracks like Lonely the shadows of other well-known collectives such as Broken Social Scene shine through. It is the surprising beauty inherent in every second of their tracks that dislodges you from your cynical ways, beguiles you with its ethereal harmonics and finally bolsters your hope that all is not lost.

I had heard of the band through snippets of info, but it wasnt until my mate Andy played me a track that I cottoned on to the hullabaloo. Their recordings have been on high rotation ever since.

Their first album, The Recordings of the Middle East, has been going great guns since its re-release late last year in its home country, and should be pushing more than a few units when it gains international release in the very near future. Until then, unless you decide to order it in (which I strongly suggest), here is a sample of a track from their self titled EP from earlier last year (which is really an abridged version of their album anyway).

The Middle East - Blood

You had me at Bill Murray.

Friday cover up No. 7 - I think

Things have been getting a touch twee round here lately. In fact just the other day I was thinking I needed some more brutal guitar laden noise in my life, so I spent the day listening to Lightning Bolt and Hella, go figure! So for this week's Friday cover up I thought Id pick something a bit brutal and serious. It doesn't get much more serious than Joy Division and it doesn't get much more brutal than Scotland's finest The Twilight Sad really going for it live. Cue the self induced tinnitus...

The Twilight Sad - Twenty Four Hours

The Knife and Hotel Pro Forma bring their electro-opera to the Barbican

The Barbican brings to London The Knife's latest adventure, 'Tomorrow, In A Year', an avant-garde electro-opera performance that revolves around Darwin's thoughts and experiences,

The ever-impressive Swedish duo created all compositions in collaboration with Mt Sims and Planningtorock. Danish performance group Hotel Pro Forma are responsible for the concept and visual experience.

'Tomorrow, In A Year' will be showcased on July 27th and 28th, 20h00. Tickets are now on sale here.

The Knife and Fever Ray's both music and shows are an otherworldly experience as it is - I don't expect anything else from 'Tomorrow, In A Year' and am buying my tickets now!

Want a sneaky preview? Listen to Colouring of Pigeons

Keepaway are (Animal Collectively) comin at ya

I'm still flummoxed by the rise and rise of Animal Collective.

Don't get me wrong - I fucking love the guys. Ive been hooked ever since Sung Tongs. Not all their albums hit me up the right way (Im looking at you Danse Manatee), but their sound is definitely their own, and to immerse yourself in it is to enter a world far more surreal, otherworldly beautiful and completely fucked up than Avatar could ever lay claim to.

Nevertheless, their skyrocketing popularity after the mammoth success of Merriweather Post Pavilion had, and still has, me scratching my noodle. Still, even without an appropriate answer, it has been massively influential in the sounds that are now allowed to permeate the airwaves in the past 12 months, and for every miss there is a well qualified eclectic hit. Grizzly Bear got their leg up due to the AC shimmer; another small band that might find themselves getting that helpful hand is Brooklyn trio Keepaway. If their single Yellow Wings (from their Baby Style EP put out through Lefse Records) is anything to go by, we should all count ourselves lucky - for although the tribal drumming, the warbled soarings of singer Nick Naumann's vocals, the slithering whisps of guitar breaks all denote a clear influence, there is a sense that Keepaway are a band that people will more readily get. And that is a good thing. The lyrics (I think I finally know what I want/I want to be in two places at once) and the inherent fuzziness that emanates from every beat and groove will have many a happy listener dance around in their redundancy meeting, blissfully skip in front of passing buses, and bop furiously as they steer their aircraft into devious volcanic ash clouds.

In short - when the world comes to an end, Keepaway will allow all and sundry to not give a shit.

Keepaway - Yellow Wings

Titus Andronicus+Vivians Girl = Weezer?

I was not expecting this.

Once again I feel like Im stepping on Paul's coattails here, what with my Mates of State/Girls cover the other day, and here I am doing it again! But this one can not be ignored.

Titus Andronicus - those of wild beards, wilder buzzsaw guitars and American History texts tucked firmly under their flannel & tattoo-covered arms - playing with Cassie Ramone - she of doo-wop from the psychedelic shop lo fi maestros Vivian Girls - playing Weezer - cardigan wearing, horn-rimmed glasses championing, slacker hipsters that disappeared up the pop inanities otherwise known as cuckoo-to-the-supreme Rivers Cuomo's arsehole.

Ah, its all true - and quite frankly brilliant. The impromptu back and forth banter between Ramone and TA frontman Pat Stickles is very amusing, and the homemade 'Im in a high school band' sound just heightens the warmth factor.

And the fact that Paul and I belted out this tune the same weekend that we came up with this blog means that this song will always be close to my heart haha!

Turn this on, crack open an alcoholic beverage, grab a sliver of sun, and remember the 90s in all its indie glory...

And as a little post script - I love the Blue Album and Pinkerton. And some of the Green Album. And a little more of Maladroit. But havent heard Make Believe or the Red Album. And Raditude - the less said the fucking better.

Fuck buttons at Koko

On Tuesday we popped along to Camden's Koko to see Fuck Buttons melt face and ears, here are the photos and a tune...

Fuck Buttons - The Lisbon Maru

Taking Travolta to the Stars...

Prins Thomas (AKA Thomas Moen Hermansen) has been pumping out his take on "space disco" for a few years now, spewing forth delectable cuts of psychedelic electronica-esques from his Norwegian ice tower (so Im led to believe...although Im sure he lives in a far more ordinary environ, I like to push the envelope on this one.) Better known for his music production and his collaborations with Hans-Peter Lindstrom, Prins Thomas has etched out a nice little niche for himself and a few other Scandinavian light trippers through his Full Pupp label, and his globally renowned DJ sets (including an epic 6 hr trip in Thessoloniki recently). A cut from his upcoming album will give you a clear indication of what to expect. I, for one, am sold.

Prins Thomas - Orkenvandring

Have a little faith in The Lodger

Leeds' The Lodger have been around for 5 or so years, plugging away, letting their James or Blur-infused (although I also hear a lil George Best era Wedding Present in there also) indie wanderings filter through the slipstream of Music's subconscious. Later this year the four piece will be releasing Flashbacks through This Is Fake DIY Records, from which they have released the 7" single "Have A Little Faith In People". Its fun, unassuming stuff, enough to warrant a few listens and some interest in what else these boys will produce. Check it out.

The Lodger - Have A Little Faith In People

Run the forest family gauntlet

Now if you read this blog on a regular basis I'm sure you'll be aware that yours truly is a bit of a fan of the Texas-based music blog Gorilla Vs Bear. These chaps have taste so when I heard that they had set up a label, Forest Family, with Weekly Tape Deck, it could only be a good thing in my book. They've already had a top notch start with the 7" Go Outside from The Cults. In fact it's the most previewed track I ever posted, so you guys clearly have taste too - I hope you bought it!
Forest Family's next release must surely spark as much interest. The debut single from Colorado duo Gauntlet Hair, I Was Thinking... is a throbbing slice of summer bliss, echoing vocals and sparkling guitars. Due late May, its one for the pre-order and then some.

Gauntlet Hair - I Was Thinking

Dan Deacon mallets Owen Pallett - and yet Lewis still takes his shirt off...

I reviewed Owen Pallett's newie, Heartland, a few weeks ago just before I fled the country for the sunnier climes of Australia (not for tax evasion...just evasion in general - and I even have Nature on my side - thanks freakish Icelandic glacier volcano!). It is a goodie, and would be on high rotation if I hadnt forgotten to load it onto the Ipod. So I went a-searchin to try and get me a taste of Pallett - and found this undeniable gem. The doppleganger of the dead hypnotist in Office Space, the lovechild of Dr Marvin Munroe and Comic Book Store Guy, and the harbinger of all things geekily danctastic, Dan Deacon (who put on one of my all time fave gigs - EVER! - last year at ULU) has gotten his sweaty mitts on the standout Heartland track "Lewis Takes His Shirt Off", adding two minutes on to the track length and infusing it with even more toe tapping craziness. In short, it fucking rocks. Now, I wonder what the lovechild of Dan Deacon and Owen Pallett would look like...

Owen Pallett - Lewis Takes His Shirt Off (Dan Deacon remix)

More National gibber gabber

I know Ive been strong on the National front in the past few weeks, but with their January 2008 gig at the Zoo, Brisbane, still firmly entrenched in my mind, the release of their newie in a few weeks is palpable. So when I come across any kind of info about the guys I must impart, pront!

First up is that on Friday the band are streaming High Violet in its entirety via The New York Times to counter a poor quality leak of the album thats floating out in the internet ether. Fair enough too - its better to give your fans a taste of the real deal than let them suckle on the teat of a tinny blowback of a reproduction - that is the way of today though, so good on the lads for taking it on the chin and being proactive.

Also of interest is that long time National collaborator (and celebrate Illinoisemaker in his own right) Sufjan Stevens has brought an experimental short film entitled Destroy! Those Irritating Memories. The soundtrack (and to most reports, the most interesting part of the whole endeavour) is by the Dessner bros, Aaron and Bryce. See the clip below to get the gist - the first 4 minutes or so is boring otherness from Stevens, but it gets interesting after that.


Destroy Those Irritating Memories
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Mates of State hear it for the Girls

Im not sure if this classifies for 'guilty pleasure' status, but Im a rather large fan of Californians Mates of State. Their album Bring It Back from 2006 was a honey-drenched slice of sunny synth succulence; the husband and wife pairing of Jason Hammel and Kori Gardner are not only cute, but effervescent, their vocals entwining and fusing together into a giddily indulgent tsunami of uber pop; and they are catchy as all fuck. Although I didnt get into 2008's Re-Arrange Us, I still hold their intimate gig a few years back in Brisbane as a personal highlight, and am always interested in anything they have to offer (it says a lot when you start a conversation with "Thank God there was a Mates of State song on the soundtrack of that Adam Brody and Meg Ryan film...")

So two bits of info have been gleaned. Mates of State are bringing out a new album on their Barsuk label (home of previous postees Menomena) in the summer, called Crushes. Its a covers album, including reworkings of tracks by the likes of The Mars Volta, Nick Cave, Tom Waits and Death Cab For Cutie...actually all covers are well considered and are amazing renditions. And whilst a lot of fans salivated over Waits' track Long Way Home, it was the opening track, a cover of Girls' Laura, that took me most by surprise (actually, Mars Volta's Son Et Luminaire was probably the biggest surprise, but Ill leave that one for you guys to discover...). Girls' Album...er, album, was a solid LP that flew under a few folks' radar last year, so the inclusion of its most recognisable track here is a testament to both bands.

Anyway, enough of the waxing, more of the listening!

Mates of State - Laura (Girls cover)

Breathing in snow

I stumbled upon the North Carolina shoegaze outfit Glissade a while ago and they've been one of those bands I never got round to digging deeper into. In fact their L.P. Further came out way back in March 2008 so I'm so far behind on this slice of joy that they may of already left this earth for good, hope not, but their myspace has gone a bit cold.

Glissade - Fields of Snow

Talking of quality shoegaze passing me by I should really mention Bristol band The Fauns in the same breath, shame they should get a whole lot of breath all of their own, cos that's how this band feels, a distant west coast sigh as you drift off to sleep in the sun. Check out their self titled L.P from last year. The Fauns also have a London live date in May at the 229 Club supporting The Telescopes.

The Fauns - Loverstuck

Even more Pure Ecstasy

Step back a couple of weeks, or its in months? And I threw the Austin trio Pure Ecstasy at you. Well here's to more mud slinging, taken from their 7" Easy and a stripped back cover to boot.

Pure Ecstasy - Easy
Pure Ecstasy - Pressure Drop

Another Bonding Session

And whilst Im showcasing the talents of previous postees, here's another track by London's own rabble rousers Male Bonding to sink your teeth into. (That's right - even though Im STILL marooned in Australia, music still filters to the arse end of the world...) Its a good un, and only accentuates why you must see these guys in 2010 - post haste.

Male Bonding - Year's Not Long

Another National Anthem

The National's new LP High Violet is almost upon us - the vinyl artwork looks pretty impressive for this one - and we have yet another taste of what they have in store for us. This one is a little darker but is nonetheless quintessential for National lovers. The one off gig at Royal Albert Hall sold out in double quick time, and their return to fully flog the album will see tickets fly out the door quickly too, so don't dilly dally...

The National - Afraid Of Everyone

HEALTH Hear It For The Boys

HEALTH are releasing their remix album, Disco2, in June. As you can probably guess - its full o remixes of their brilliant album of 2009, Get Color! Well, not quite, as it opens with an all new, unmixed track - and Sonic Masala have it here for you! The track, USA Boys, is a lot more disco than the noise we have come to expect (which probably helps tie the album together), but is still a lot of fun.

HEALTH - USA Boys (no longer available)

MINE-ing Muppets

Menomena are a band that I fell in love with last year, stumbling across 2007's Friend and Foe, embracing it wholeheartedly, and playing the shit out of it. The energetic, inventive, enigmatic and altruistic (?) Portland duo are renowned for their funk/punk/crunk (their words...) car crash anthems, and their clever, intricate structures are amazing considering the apparently minimal efforts exerted and the bubbling enthusiasm and inherent fun that permeates each track. There are nuggets of pure gold littered everywhere on this LP, a veritable Easter Egg hunt of incendiary musical noodling and tomfoolery that even the most ardent haters can find something here to indulge their sweet tooth.

They have been high on my 'to post' list since the inception of Sonic Masala, but some new snippets of info has finally spurred me into action.

1stly - they are about to release their new album, MINES, in July through Barsuk.

2ndly - it is their 10th year anniversary.

3rdly - due to the two points made above, they are saddling up the horses and, along with esoteric partner in crime Joe Haege (of 31 Knots (very good) and Tu Fawning (not so good...)), Menomena are hitting the frog and toad for their most extensive tour to date. They havent been to our shores since 2007, and whilst dates are yet to be announced, they are in the pipeline, and are well worth getting excited for!

4thly - a smaller but nevertheless awesome piece of info - Menomena, along with musical minstrel mates The Helio Sequence, released a 7" split for Record Store Day, showcasing B-sides from their respective upcoming albums. As I was marooned in a part of the world that was devoid of anything that resembled a passable record store, I missed the boat. I hope you guys didnt! But if you did...

Lastly - here is some choice cuts to feast on. Enjoy, yeah?

Menomena - Pilgrim's Progress

Menomena - Evil Bee

Menomena - Wet & Rusting