Mount Kimbie – “Cold Spring Fault Less Youth”

Posted on May 22, 2013 by Evander Hologram

The first time I heard Mount Kimbie‘s LP Crooks and Lovers back in 2010 (when it was released), I was trying to get to Baltimore, but instead I got lost somewhere in DC. I listened to the album probably four or five times in a row while wandering around trying to get back out of the city that night. You know something is good when you can do that without thinking twice about it. That album holds a special place in my catalog, that place where you might share a track or two with certain friends but not with too many people. Mostly because even if they like it, they wont have the same feelings about it as you do, and you feel like it’s yours and you don’t want to share.

That’s why this post is kinda hard, but given that the album is streaming now on NPR’s first listen program I might as well put it out there. This album is good, really good. I wasn’t sure after the first single “Made to Stray” was released but listening to it now in the context of the album its one of my favorite tracks. The track is actually a good example of Mount Kimbie‘s previous sound: complex drum rhythms, accompanied by cold tones and melodies often building into more catchy, danceable vibes by the end.

Cold Spring Fault Less Youth has some of the same dark and hollow sounding qualities as their earlier material and it also expands into other realms. At times it sounds more like a live band building acid jazz-esque tracks and using full vocals from King Krule, where in the past they would mostly just use vocal samples and deep, heavy, drum machine beats. Supposedly this change arose from them wanting to have a more real instrument sounding album that would translate to live shows better than their previous work did. Ultimately this variation makes for a very fresh and enjoyable listen, that while different, retains the feel of previous work. Even if they do change it up a bit, this UK duo of Dominic Maker and Kai Campos still prove they can make another album that is worth listening to again and again.

Cold Spring Fault Less Youth is out on Warp Records May 27th. But you can stream it now over at NPR here. And you can buy the Vinyl at Insound here.

Check out a couple of videos and tour dates and get some tracks below.

Mount Kimbie – Made To Stray

Mount Kimbie – Carbonated (Live Daytrotter Version) Click on for download

Mount Kimbie – You Took Your Time feat. King Krule

Mount Kimbie RA.216 Mix

2 May – Certain People @ Berghain, Berlin, DE Tickets

4 May – Sound City Festival, Liverpool, UK Tickets

5 May – Night + Day Festival, Lisbon, Portugal (with the xx) Tickets

10 May – Poolbar mit Pratersauna, Vienna, AT Tickets

11 May – Imagine Festival @ Kaserne, Basel, CH Tickets

17 May – Node Festival preview @ Tube, Modena, IT Tickets

18 May – Night + Day Festival (with the xx), Berlin, DE Tickets

22 May – Bussey Building, London, UK Ticket

24 May – London Calling @ Paradiso, Amsterdam, NL Tickets

25 May – Field Day, London, UK Tickets

30 May – Bowery Ballroom, New York, USA Tickets

31 May – Union Transfer, Philadelphia, USA Tickets

1 June – Black Cat, Washington, USA Tickets

2 June – The Sinclair, Cambridge, USA Tickets

4 June – SAT, Montreal, Canada Tickets

5 June – The Hoxton, Toronto, Canada Tickets

7 June – Magic Stick, Detroit, USA Tickets

8 June – Lincoln, Chicago, USA Tickets

9 June – Turner Hall Ballroom, Milwaukee, USA Tickets

10 June – Fine Line Music Cafe, Minneapolis, USA Tickets

13 June – Fortune Sound Club, Vancouver, Canada Tickets

14 June – Neumos, Seattle, USA Tickets

15 June – Doug Fir Lounge, Portland, USA Tickets

17 June – The Independent, San Francisco, USA Tickets

18 June – Echoplex, Los Angeles, USA Tickets

22 June – Night + Day Festival, Hatfield House, UK (with the xx)

Hot Palms – J.C.

Posted on May 20, 2013 by TY-rannosaurus-RIE

The ethereal Hot Palms are rooted in Melbourne, Australia and have a new EP entitled J.C. out on Why Don’t You Believe Me? Records. Anywhere from a duo to 11 deep including Jordan Ireland, from the no longer The Middle East, on back-up vocals. They produce droning instrumentation with hovering vocals. The EP features three musical adaptions of poems by Jake Core from his book Expecting to be Loved for Nothing.

You can purchase the EP in digital or physical form here. Watch a video, sample a track and download/ stream a really nice little mixtape they put together below.

Hot Palms – Benny and The Jets

Video for Sunday In Milan

Big K.R.I.T – “King Remembered in Time”

Posted on May 18, 2013 by Jay Autom@tticus

We here at DECIBELity are big fans of the K.R.I.T., and have been bumping his music since the release of his first mixtape, Krit Wuz Here, a few years back.

In a sea of paint-by-numbers southern rap, the inimitable M.C./producer stands out like a bubble Kush nug in a QP of brown. Or, as he puts in “King Without a Crown”: in my own lane/ I make my own beats, I write my own rhymes, I grip my own grind, I grip my own grain/ and that’s royalty.

Although Young Krizzle lit the Internetz up with his string of dope, self-produced mixtapes marked by his smooth southern drawl and Organized Noise-style productions, his major label debut 2012′s Live from the Underground was a little bit hit-or-miss. Perhaps the suits at Def Jam were to blame, as they seemingly found it necessary force this outlier into a commercial box complete with flavor-du-jour trap rap production (presumably from in house producers), and largely lackluster guest spots.

Regardless of why his his first outing in the majors turned out the way it did, here we find the the Mississippi M.C. back on peak form, sounding almost as though he has something to prove—his rhymes as witty as ever but his laconic flow replaced with an intensity we’ve not really seen before.

The beats, which are thankfully self-produced (with the exception of a single contribution from 9th Wonder) are remarkably diverse sounding—running the gamut from his trademark soul stylings to contemporary club-esque jams to atmospheric D&B— James Blake.

Big K.R.I.T. featuring Bun B – “Shine On”

Big K.R.I.T – “King Without A Crown”

Download the whole ZIP

Garage Swim

Posted on May 7, 2013 by Jay Autom@tticus

Let’s all thank the good folks at Adult Swim, not just for their quality television programing, but also for continuing to hook up some great tunes for nothing. Garage Swim, which features tracks from DECIBELity favorites such as Thee Oh Sees, Black Lips and King Tuff, follows in the same vein as earlier Adult Swim comps like The Singles Program, {Unclassified}, and African Swim. Grab it while it’s hot.

Tracklist:
01 Bass Drum of Death: “Dregs”
02 Apache Dropout: “Constant Plaything”
03 Thee Oh Sees: “Devil Again”
04 King Tuff: “She’s on Fire” [ft. Gap Dream]
05 JEFF the Brotherhood: “Melting Place”
06 Black Lips: “Cruising”
07 King Khan and the Gris Gris: “Discreate Disguise”
08 Mikal Cronin: “Better Man”
09 Mind Spiders: “They Lie”
10 Cheap Time: “Kill the Light”
11 King Louie’s Missing Monuments: “Covered in Ice”
12 OBN IIIs: “A Good Lover”
13 The Gories: “On the Run”
14 King Khan: “Strange Ways”
15 Weekend: “Teal Kia”

Download the whole compilation here and be sure to check out the promotional documentaries for King Tuff and Mikal Cronin.

Young Fathers – “Tape One”

Posted on April 13, 2013 by Jay Autom@tticus

If you are like me the prospect of Scottish rap might sound about as palatable as white-boy fusion reggae. Sweeping generalizations aside, these Scots have in fact come up with something worthwhile, and something that is uniquely theirs.

Their fusion of innovative rhythm and texture—with roots that can be traced to at least three continents—has led some to proclaim them something of a De La Soul for post-globalization. I think that comparison is a little forced, but I will grant that there are indeed three of them (like De La) and that the left-field hip-hop they make is quite satisfying.

Tape One was actually self-released back in 2012, before being given a proper release in January via Anticon. It doesn’t really sound like anything else on the Anticon roster, but that kind of makes it a perfect match for the weirdo hip-hop stalwart known for pushing the boundaries of what can rightly be associated with the genre.

The Young Fathers

Thematically, Tape One could be described as something like pan-Africanism, infused with a healthy dose of dystopic British paranoia.

Weird droney noises and snippets of synthetic ambiance snake in and out of spiraling poly-rhythms. The verses, which are half rapped and half sung, are broken up by call-and-response refrains and tribal-ish sounding chants. There’s even a straight reggae track in there (possibly just to throw the listener off).

The experience as a whole is a little like what I’d imagine the ‘80s might have sounded like if dub, hip-hop and British post-punk had been smashed together instead of separated by oceans.

Good stuff.

Young Fathers – “Sister”

Young Fathers – “Rumbling”

Decibelcast Vol. 12 – “Playcation”

Posted on April 12, 2013 by Evander Hologram

It’s been a kind of a long winter (well they always seem that way though, right?) and it’s time to move on to the next couple of seasons, like spring and summer. My way of doing this is to travel to a tropical island so I can burn off my pale white skin in one quick trip. I know that you’re getting jealous of my amazing vacation, but don’t be so mad! I’ve made a mix to help you get into the mood of the next season. So even if you dont get to go to a white sandy beach, hopefully you can close your eyes, put on these relaxing jams, and pretend you’re there. Don’t take a vacation, just hit play on this mix and take a Playcation. (Not to be confused with Playstation™)

Decibelcast Vol. 12 – “Playcation”

[Download ZIP]

Tracklist:

Javelin – “Excerpt from Andean Ocean Mixtape”

Bongos Ikwe -”Sitting On The Beach”

Taken By Trees – “Pacific Blue”

Unknown Mortal Orchestra – “Swim and Sleep (Like a Shark)”

STRFKR – “Beach Monster”

The Very Best – “I Wanna Go Away”

Tanlines – “Lost Somewhere”

Major Lazer Feat Chronixx – “Where I Come From (Get Free Riddim)

Main Attrakionz – “Perfect Skies”

Wild Nothing – “Paradise”

Allah-Las – “Ela Navega”

Blackbird Blackbird – “Waikiki”

Lord Huron – “Ends Of The Earth”

Shlohmo – “Places”

Devendra Banhart – “Mala”

Ducktails – “International Dateline”

Calvin Love – “Bring Back The Summer”

How To Dress Well – “Ocean Floor For Everything”

Blue Hawaii – “Sierra Lift”

Diamond Messages – “Liquid Summer”

Rhye – “One Of Those Summer Days”

Phosphorescent – “Sun, Arise! (An Invocation, An Introduction)

Thee Oh Sees – Floating Coffin

Posted on April 7, 2013 by TY-rannosaurus-RIE

San Fransisco’s psychadelic/garage rockers, Thee Oh Sees are ready with their twelfth studio album and fourth LP in two years. It’s beautifully named Floating Coffin and is out April 16th via Castle Face Records.

“These songs occur in the mindset of a world that’s perpetually war-ridden,” singer-songwriter John Dwyer explains. “Overall, it’s pretty dark, and much heavier than our other albums.”…The first single Minotaur displays this aesthetic with rumbling strings and a thick brooding nature.

Thee Oh Sees – “Minotaur”

Thee Oh Sees – “Thumb Buster”

Not only do we have Floating Coffin on the immediate horizon but they’ve also prepared an EP entitled Moonsick for record store day on the 20th. Sample Candy Clock, off the EP, below and make sure to get out and support your local record store.

Indians – Somewhere Else

Posted on April 4, 2013 by TY-rannosaurus-RIE

Søren Løkke Juul is Indians. The Copenhagen based one man project dives into ambient melancholic electronica and ethereal psych/pop. Recently signed to 4AD his beautiful debut, Somewhere Else was released earlier this year.

Grab a couple singles below and watch a gorgeous live session from 4AD. Full album stream over at KEXP and grab it on vinyl here.

Indians – “I Am Haunted”

Indians – “Magic Kids”

4AD sessions directed by Iain Forsyth & Jane Pollard

Tracklist: 1) I Am Haunted 2) Magic Kids 3) New

Taken from the 4AD website…”Filmed over the course of one day on Osea Island – a little-known, privately owned island in the estuary of the Blackwater in Essex – the starting point for the performance was embracing the challenge of playing, recording and filming outside, placing the music into a vast open space, under sky and near water.

With the intention to capture the sense of air and atmosphere in the music, each track was recorded in a different location, moving the band and cameras in order to introduce a new element that reflected the change in song. This was further complimented by the shift in light: the session begins with ‘I Am Haunted’ filmed just after high tide in the early afternoon, is then followed ‘Magic Kids’ just as the sun had set, and ends with ‘New’ filmed after dark in the small hours of the morning. While still flecked with the surreal ambience of Søren’s air-tight compositions, the full-band performance adds a foreboding sense of wonder that provides a fitting introduction into Indians’ very own natural world.”

I Am Haunted official music video

Magic Kids official music video

Kurt Vile – Wakin On A Pretty Daze

Posted on April 4, 2013 by TY-rannosaurus-RIE

Philadelphia native and psychedelic/folk/rock authority, Kurt Vile will release his newest record on April 9th via Matador. It’s an expansive slow jaunt through hypnotic melodies and mollifying lyrics.

Grab a couple singles below and head over to NPR First Listen for a full album stream up until the release date. Preorder the record here.

Kurt Vile – “Wakin On A Pretty Day”

Kurt Vile – “Never Run Away”

Wavves – Afraid of Heights

Posted on March 28, 2013 by TY-rannosaurus-RIE

Southern California’s garage grunge rockers, Wavves dropped their newest effort, Afraid of Heights March 26th. It’s their fourth full-length and first on Mom+Pop Records. New label, new bassist Stephen Pope and fully produced by John Hill (M.I.A, Santigold). A lot is new but original member Nathan Williams keeps the aesthetic true to form, self-loathing melancholic melodies strung over riff heavy grunge.

Williams on the new record…“The general theme of the record is depression and anxiety, being death-obsessed and paranoid of impending doom. I feel like the narration is almost schizophrenic if you listen front to back; every word is important, even the constant contradictions and lack of self-worth. That’s all a part of this record-questioning everything not because I’m curious, but because I’m paranoid.”

Sample a few tracks and watch some videos below and then grab Afraid of Heights at Insound.

Wavves – Demon To Lean On (Afraid of Heights)

Wavves – “Convertible Balloon” (King of The Beach)

Wavves – “Post Acid” (King of The Beach)

Wavves – “Baby Say Goodbye” (King of The Beach)

Mr. Little Jeans – Runaway (Wavves Remix) (featured on Decibelcast vol.5)

Afraid of Heights directed by BLACK // DOCTOR

Demon To Lean On directed by BLACK // DOCTOR

Sail To The Sun directed by BLACK // DOCTOR (CHRIS BLACK + MISTERDOCTOR)

Post Acid

Wavves tourdates ::

March 27 – Denver, CO @ Larimer Lounge *
March 28 – Omaha, NE @ Waiting Room *
March 29 – Minneapolis, MN @ 7th Street Entry *
March 30 – Milwaukee, WI @ Rave Bar *
April 1 – Chicago, IL @ Subterranean *
April 2 – Columbus, OH @ Basement *
April 3 – Cleveland, OH @ Grog Shop *
April 4 – Detroit, MI @ Magic Stick (Lounge) *
April 5 – Toronto, Ontario @ Horshoe *
April 6 – Montreal, Quebec @ Salla Rosa *
April 8 – Boston, MA @ Brighton Music Hall *
April 9 – Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brendas *
April 11 – Brooklyn, NY @ Glasslands *
April 12 – Brooklyn, NY @ Shea Stadium *
April 13 – Washington, DC @ Rock & Roll Hotel *
April 15 – Atlanta, GA @ Drunken Unicorn *
April 16 – Nashville, TN @ Mercy Lounge *
April 18 – Houston, TX @ Fitzgerald’s *
April 20 – Phoenix, AZ @ Crescent Ballroom *
April 21 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Smell *

* with FIDLAR and Cheatahs