by Andrew Sacher

We're still waiting til Tuesday (6/18) for one of the most anticipated albums of the year -- Kanye West's Yeezus -- to drop, but something tells us it may have surfaced on the internet a little early. Assuming what going around is the final version of the album, it's pretty consistent with Kanye's mini-rant at Governors Ball about not caring about the radio anymore; this is some of his most anti-commercial music yet. Rather than the lush string/horn arrangements he used on My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, the melodic R&B-style beats of 808s and Heartbreaks or the borderline-electropop of Graduation, on Yeezus Kanye is all about dark, distorted synth maximalism. On "On Sight" those synths were reportedly worked on with Daft Punk, he's got a TNGHT track on "Blood on the Leaves," and that's Evian Christ on "I'm In It."

He's pretty dark, lyrically, too and dominates most of the vocals on the record. Ye's been known to get heavy on the guest spots, but they're pretty low-key here. Not that they're coming from low-key people of course. The full version of "New Slaves" features Frank Ocean crooning at the end, a track called "Hold My Liquor" transitions from a Justin Vernon (of Bon Iver) hook into a Chief Keef hook, and rumor has it that "God" appears on "I Am a God." I guess he really is talking back.

Kanye also brought in outside producer/Def Jam founder Rick Rubin (who just discussed the album at length) to help him out.

What may very well be the official tracklist for the album is below. Check that out and let us know your thoughts on Yeezus.

Continue reading "is Kanye West's 'Yeezus' finally here? (includes Justin Vernon, Frank Ocean, Daft Punk, Chief Keef, TNGHT & more)"

by Andrew Sacher

DOWNLOAD: Evian Christ - "Duga-3" (MP3)

For this year's Record Store Day, UK producer Evian Christ pressed the Duga-3 Mix that he made last year onto limited edition vinyl via Tri Angle Records. If you wanted one and didn't get a chance to pick it up, Boomkat is now selling some copies. You can also download it for free above. It's a more ambient exploration than his dank rap EP/mixtape Kings and Them. That's the cover art above.

As mentioned, Evian Christ is going on a tour this year which brings him to NYC for a Red Bull Music Academy show on May 26 at Saint Vitus with Oneohtrix Point Never, Bill Kouligas, Kid Simpl, and ANNALOVE. That show has sold out, but you'll get another chance to see him in NYC a week earlier when he plays 285 Kent on May 18 with Gorgeous Children and Ian Isiah. Tickets for that show are on sale now.

Updated dates are listed below...

Continue reading "Evian Christ released a RSD 12" (download it), playing 285 Kent before Red Bull show (updated dates)"

Evian Christ

UK producer Evian Christ has a few festival dates scheduled this year, including Pitchfork Festival in Chicago. His only other US date that we're currently aware of happens in NYC as part of the previously announced Red Bull Music Aacademy residency. He'll share a bill with Oneohtrix Point Never on May 26 at Saint Vitus. Also on the bill are Bill Kouligas, Kid Spml, and ANNALOVE. Tickets for that show are still available.

Evian Christ is set to release a new album at some point this year, and though not much has been revealed about that, he recently did a new mix on Benji B's BBC Radio 1 show, which features an unreleased track. You can stream that mix HERE.

Meanwhile, Oneohtrix Point Never is currently touring as an opener on Sigur Ros' North American tour. All dates for both artists are listed below...

Continue reading "Evian Christ working on new material, playing festivals and NYC show w/ Oneohtrix Point Never (dates & BBC mix)"

Pitchfork Festival 2012 (more by Fred Pessaro // BBG)

The final Pitchfork Festival lineup has now been announced, and in addition to previously announced acts like R. Kelly, Joanna Newsom, and Swans, it now includes M.I.A., Lil B, Solange, Wire, Yo La Tengo, Low, Savages, Toro Y Moi, Phosphorescent, Metz, Autre Ne Veut, Mikal Cronin, Parquet Courts, Merchandise, Woods, Julia Holter, Glass Candy, Andy Stott, Pissed Jeans, Frankie Rose, Ryan Hemsworth, Waxahatchee, Blood Orange, Daughn Gibson, Evian Christ, White Lung, KEN Mode, and DJ Rashad.

Three-day passes and single-day tickets are still available.

In other Chicago music festival news, Lollapalooza early bird passes went on sale today, sold out, and then regular 3-day passes went on sale and sold out. Single day tickets go on sale April 9.

Full Pitchfork Festival lineup and schedule below...

Continue reading "M.I.A., Solange, Wire, Savages, Phosphorescent, Julia Holter, Waxahatchee, KEN Mode & more added to Pitchfork Festival"

Andy Stott/Lee "Scratch" Perry

As mentioned, tickets went on sale today for the previously announced Red Bull Music Academy events, which take over NYC from April 28 to May 31. And now that those are on sale, the rest of the lineup has been announced. In addition to the newly-added Flying Lotus show at Terminal 5, the Red Bull Music Academy events now also include...

A Bunker party with Andy Stott, Atom TM, Objekt, Octo Octa, Kloke, Smax, Bryan Kasenic, and Mike Servito at Public Assembly on May 4; Blondes, Mike Simonetti, Rudi Zygadlo, Astroboyz, CABAAL, Ale Hop, Yodashe, Harald Bjork, Alitrec, Mungo Park, Seretan, and Ada Kaleh at Cameo on May 6; and Le1f, Laurel Halo, Venus-X, and a secret guest at Glasslands on May 7.

Still more: Metro Area, Gerd Janson, and Bok Bok b2b L-Vis 1990 at 88 Palace on May 10; 'Drum Majors' with Mannie Fresh, Boi-1da, Young Chop, J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League, Bangaldesh, DJ Mustard, and Drumma Boy at Knitting Factory on May 22; Afrika Bambaataa, Egyptian Lover, DJ Magic Mike, DJ Assault, DJ Funk, Scottie B, DJ Rashad & DJ Spinn, Big Freedia, Salva, Drop the Lime, and Branko & Krampfhaft at Santos on May 23; as well as Skream, Mala, and Plasitician & Hatcha on May 24 at Can Factory (232 3rd St in Brooklyn).

And even more: Oneohtrix Point Never, BIll Kouligas, Evian Christ, Kid Simpl, and ANNALOVE at Saint Vitus on May 26; Benji B, FaltyDL, Dorian Concept, Orquesta, and Somepoe at Sullivan Room on May 27; Pantha Du Prince & the Bell Laboratory with Louis Baker and Anya Kuts at West Park Church on May 28; a killer night of dub with legends Lee Perry & Adrian Sherwood, The Congos vs Sun Araw, M. Geddes Gengras, and the Raw Power Band, Peaking Lights In A Dub Style vs Future Times, and DJ Slow at Le Poisson Rouge on May 30.

Tickets for all events are on sale now.

These join the previously announced shows, talks, and other events with James Murphy, Brian Eno, Giorgio Moroder, Tony Visconti, Nile Rodgers, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Four Tet, A-Trak, Just Blaze, and more. Flyer with the updated, show-by-show lineup is below...

Continue reading "Red Bull Music Academy reveals full NYC lineup (Oneohtrix, Lee Perry, Andy Stott, Laurel Halo, Skream, Le1f, Young Chop, Big Freedia, Pantha Du Prince, Congos/Sun Araw, more)"

by Andrew Sacher

Howse

One of my two personal most-anticipated Warm Up at MoMA PS1 lineups goes down this Saturday (8/11) with sets from Photek, Evian Christ, Howse, Shlohmo, and Autre Ne Veut. Tickets for Saturday's show are still available. You can stream/download Shlohmo's FADER/MoMA PS1 mix for this week's installment below.

Meanwhile, Howse (aka Nathaniel Oak), who released the great footwork-meets-witch house ("footwitch"? or maybe housework...) Lay Hollow EP on Tri Angle earlier this year, will be arriving in NYC a bit earlier to play a late show at Cameo Gallery on Friday (8/10 with the always great Octo Octa and The Range. $5 tickets for that show will be available at the door. Howse also made hand painted, hand stamped CDRs which will be available at both of his NYC this shows this weekend, or if you contact him via email. You can stream the Howse track, "VBS," below.

Speaking of artists playing Warm Up this weekend, as hinted at and now confirmed, Evian Christ will in fact open both NYC shows on Purity Ring's upcoming tour. Those shows include 9/21 at Bowery Ballroom and 9/22 at MHOW. Both shows are now sold out. Headaches, who made his US live debut opening for Purity Ring at LPR last month, is also on both shows.

A list of all Howse dates, and all streams are below.

Continue reading "Howse playing Cameo before Warm Up; Evian Christ opening Purity Ring's NYC shows (dates & streams)"

by Andrew Sacher

Without UK producer Photek (aka Rupert Parkes) 1997 debut LP, Modus Operandi, much of today's bass music scene might sound very different (Burial is a fan). He recently revisited the album, as it nears its 15th birthday, for a set in London and met up with FACT afterwards to discuss his feelings on it now:

Why did now feel like the right time to revisit Modus Operandi?

"Well, the request actually came from Tony at Hospital. He asked me to come and play that kind of set because I've not done it for a long time, not really since when the records were first out. To tell you the truth, I spend most of my time trying to think about what's happening next rather than looking back. I mean, last night, that's probably only the second time I've played a retro set ever...the only other one I can think of was in LA a couple of years back, when I played a best of '89-'95 set on vinyl."

What exactly was the content of the Modus set?

"90% of the set was tracks from the actual album, and a load of stuff from around that time. Singles that came shortly before and after, remixes...a 'Still Life' remix I did for Goldie...oh, and 'Pulp Fiction'! I think that was only one tune that wasn't by me, 'Pulp Fiction', that was kind of my encore track [laughs]...But yeah, mostly all original Photek stuff from that era."

"It's funny now, there's seems a general sense across the board in clubs and electronic music that, well, everything's pretty flexible and anything goes. And for that reason, you don't have to get quite as hung-up on making an album as you used to. You feel like it'll pass so quickly, things move quickly...I suppose this new album is a sort of Modus Operandi for 2012 - it's got quite a lot in common with the first album - but less hang-ups. These days, I know I can DJ the week after and play a set of completely different style music and it not be a problem. With the album, well, it's just a case of what statement you want to put out, and how long it's going to last. To tell you the truth, it feels like music's much less permanent and lasting than it used to be."

A list of all Photek dates and streams of every track on his Modus Operandi LP below...

Continue reading "Photek discusses his influential 1997 debut, 'Modus Operandi'"

Purity Ring at LPR last week (more by Amanda Hatfield)

As mentioned, Purity Ring, who just played a sold out show in NYC on the date of their album's release (7/24), recently added a NYC date to their upcoming tour, which happens on September 21 at Bowery Ballroom. Tickets for that show went on sale last Friday and immediately sold out. They've since added a second NYC show which will take place one day later (9/22) at Music Hall of Williamsburg. Tickets for that show go on sale Tuesday (7/21) at noon.

No opener for either NYC show has been announced, but Evian Christ who plays Warm Up at MoMA PS1 (8/11) next month, opens every other date on the tour. Updated dates are listed below.

Continue reading "Purity Ring adds 2nd NYC date to tour (updated dates)"

DOWNLOAD: Evian Christ - "FYTS" (MP3)

Purity Ring at Pitchfork Festival 2012 (more by James Richards IV)

As mentioned, Purity Ring, whose great debut album, Shrines is out today (7/24) (did you stream it?) will play a sold out NYC show in support of it TONIGHT (7/24) at Le Poisson Rouge with Headaches. If you weren't able to get tickets, the first 20 people who buy Shrines at Other Music will get a free ticket to the show (though it may already be too late).

Now that they're certain they've moved enough tickets for tonight's NYC show, they've added a much needed NYC date to their North American tour which kicks off in late August. That new date happens on September 21 at Bowery Ballroom. No opener for that show has been announced yet but Evian Christ, who will be in NYC for Warm Up at MoMA PS1 (8/11) next month is opening every other date on the tour (along with Headaches), so hopefully he'll be added. Tickets for the Bowery Ballroom show go on sale Friday (7/27) at noon. Updated Purity Ring dates are listed below.

Speaking of Evian Christ, he recently released a free track called "FYTS," which you can download above or stream below.

Continue reading "Purity Ring add NYC date to tour w/ Evian Christ (who has a new MP3); their LP is out now (sold out LPR show is tonight)"

The 2012 edition of MusicFestNW takes place in September 5 - 9 at 18 venues in Portland, OR and will feature performances from over 150 bands, including Passion Pit, Hot Snakes, Girl Talk, Danny Brown, Beirut Silversun Pickups, Dinosaur Jr. and Sebadoh, many more.

In addition to those previously announced artists, MFNW has just added The Hives, Flying Lotus, Wild Nothing, DIIV, Quasi, Moon Duo, My Goodness, DZ Deathrays, and Strand Of Oaks to the already impressive line-up. Wristbands, available various levels and packages, and tickets to individual shows are on sale now. Check out the complete MFNW lineup below.

Continue reading "MusicFestNW 2012 lineup expands (The Hives, Flying Lotus, Quasi, DIIV, Passion Pit, Hot Snakes, Beirut, Swans & many more)"

One of the most anticipated debuts of the year has to be Purity Ring's Shines which will be birthed on July 24th via 4AD. The first single is a remixed/remastered version of "Belispeak," which originally came out last year as a split 7" with Braids. The band just released the video for the song which drops Megan James into a dark and stormy ocean full of creepy, sinewy things. You can watch it at the bottom of this post.

Purity Ring have a summer full of touring ahead of them, first with Dirty Projectors -- including the Celebrate Brooklyn show on July 10 with Wye Oak as well that is not sold out as of this posting -- and then with Evian Christ (no NYC dates unfortunately). All upcoming Purity Ring dates are listed below.

Continue reading "Purity Ring reveal first 'Shrines' video: "Belispeak" (watch)"

by Andrew Sacher

Evian Christ

Once-mysterious UK producer Evian Christ (real name Joshua Leary) has been picking up a ton of speed this year and now he's set to kick off his first North American tour this summer. It was only four months ago that Joshua was a kid living and attending school in the suburbs of England, posting tracks to his YouTube page. Then in February, it was announced that he signed to Tri Angle Records, who compiled those tracks into the Kings and Them mixtape, which you can download for free or stream in full below.

The mixtape is probably most comparable to labelmate Clams Casino, with whom he shares a knack for warped, dark hip hop. Samples on the record include Tyga, Grouper, and E-40, all used in blown-out otherworldly atmospheres that never cease to feel right at home on the Tri Angle roster. Four of the tracks -- "Fuck It None of Ya'll Don't Rap," "Thrown Like Jacks," "MYD," and "Drip" -- will be remastered and released as a limited edition 12" on the label on June 25.

Evian Christ will kick off his North American tour in July, most of which is with Purity Ring. None of the shows with Purity Ring are in NYC, but Evian Christ will be in the area to play Warm Up at PS1 on August 11 with Tri Angle labelmate Howse (who we recently wrote about HERE), Shlohmo, Photek, and Autre Ne Veut. Tickets for that show go on sale June 18. All Evian Christ dates are listed below.

Continue reading "Evian Christ touring this summer (dates and streams)"

Warm Up 2011 at MoMA PS1 (more by Erez Avissar)

The Warm Up summer concert series is returning to MoMA PS1 this summer for another run of dance parties from forward thinking electronic musicians every Saturday from July 7 through September 8 in PS1's outdoor courtyard. For the first time, advance tickets for Warm Up will be available this year. They go on sale June 18.

The 2012 schedule includes Thom Yorke's Atoms for Peace (DJ), Jamie xx, Danny Brown, Just Blaze, Maria Minerva, Shlohmo, Evian Christ, Howse, Nguzunguzu, Baio, Holy Other, Rustie, Matthew Dear (DJ), Lemonade, Slava, TRUST, Light Asylum, Sepalcure, Floating Points, Jacques Greene and many more.

More info and the full schedule below...

Continue reading "PS1's 2012 'Warm Up' lineup announced (Thom Yorke, Jamie xx, Danny Brown, Maria Minerva, Evian Christ, Trust & more)"