by Bill Pearis

Fuzz

As mentioned, Ty Segall's new power trio, Fuzz, will be in town in June to play a Summerstage show at Red Hook Park on June 6. Fuzz (in which Ty plays drums and sings) just released a video for "Fuzz's Fourth Dream" which is the B-side of their debut single which came out earlier this year on Trouble in Mind. The clip was shot during this year's Burgerama festival in Santa Anna, CA and you can watch it below.

In related news, Ty Segall is on one side of the newest 7" in Famous Class Records' LAMC singles series. The instrumental track, "Music from a Film 1," is funky in a Krautrock kind of way. You can stream it below, along with the other side, a very Oh Sees-eque "Mountain" by Chad & the Meatbodies. 100% of the digital proceeds going to the Ariel Panero Memorial Fund at VH1 Save the Music - a non-profit organization dedicated to restoring instrumental music education in America's public schools. You can order it here.

And last but not least, Ty Segall's cohort Mikal Cronin will release his second album, MC II, next week on Merge. It's a terrific album, loaded with harmony-laden psych-pop and you can stream the record in full over at NPR. Mikal will play Bowery Ballroom on June 20 and tickets are still available.

Fuzz video and LAMC single streams are below.

Continue reading "Ty Segall's new band Fuzz made a video; Ty on new LAMC 7"; stream Mikal Cronin's new album on Merge"

by Andrew Sacher

Raleigh/Richmond punks Barren Girls formed back in December of 2011, and they've since signed to Merge Records, who will release their debut EP, Hell Hymns, on April 2. Frontwoman Carla Wolff sounds raised on Bikini Kill-era Kathleen Hanna, and they round out that hard edge with the garage rock organs that fill their songs. Like many great punk EPs, Hell Hymns doesn't overstay its welcome (four songs in under ten minutes) and leaves you begging for that full length. Or just hitting play again when it ends. Head below to check out the EP's closing track, "She-Devil."

Barren Girls were just down in Austin for SXSW and they'll be doing a larger tour of the US once the EP comes out. The tour kicks off with a show in their home stage opening for labelmate Bob Mould, and it hits NYC on April 23 at Death by Audio and April 24 at Cake Shop. No advance tickets for those shows and complete lineups TBA.

All tour dates are listed, along with the song stream, below...

Continue reading "Barren Girls releasing EP on Merge, touring (dates & stream)"

by Bill Pearis

As a member of Ty Segall's band, Mikal Cronin stays busy, what with all the record releasing and constant touring. (Ty's tour just ripped through NYC.) But somewhere in that whirlwind of activity he managed to write and record. He'll be releasing his second solo album, MCII, on May 7 which will be his first album for Merge. That's the cover art above. "Shout it Out" is the first track from the record to be released and, Like his great 2011 Trouble in Mind album, it shows off Mikal's talent as a pop songwriter. But he's not afraid to stomp on the fuzz pedal, either. You can stream it below along with the LP's track list.

Not much in the way of touring for Mikal just yet, but he will be playing a few West Coast dates and SXSW in Austin so look for him there and his current schedule is below. Meanwhile, In the Red just reissued the split LP between Mikal and Ty called Reverse Shark Attack and you can stream that below.

Continue reading "Mikal Cronin announces first album for Merge (stream a track)"

Reigning Sound

Merge Records have added two new artists to their roster: Memphis, TN's long-running garage greats Reigning Sound (previously on In the Red), and Lambchop guitarist William Tyler whose 2011 instrumental solo album, Behold the Spirit, was well-received (stream it at Spotify). Neither act have specific release news but look for albums from both in 2013.

Meanwhile both Tyler and Reigning Sound will be part of Merge Records' official CMJ showcase which will be at Mercury Lounge on October 18 with Telekenesis, Eleanor Friedberger, Mount Moriah and Superchunk frontman/label domo Mac McCaughan also on the bill. It's the first CMJ showcase Merge has had since 2008. Tickets go on sale Friday, September 21 at noon with an AmEx presale starting Wednesday (9/19) at noon.

The only artist on the Merge CMJ showcase that has any other upcoming tour dates listed is Telekinesis, though none in NYC. Those are listed below.

Continue reading "Reigning Sound and William Tyler sign to Merge, playing label's CMJ showcase w/ Telekinesis, Eleanor Friedberger and more"

The 2012 Hopscotch independent music festival is underway in venues all across Raleigh, NC. Shows happen at night, and during the day. One such example of the latter is a show BrooklynVegan is co-presenting TODAY (9/7) at Pour House (Noon - 5:45PM, 21+, FREE). And it looks like this:

4:50PM - 5:30PM - Flock of Dimes (Jenn from Wye Oak)
3:45PM - 4:35PM - Field Report (Chris Porterfield of DeYarmond Edison)
2:45PM - 3:25PM - Odonis Odonis
1:50PM - 2:30PM - Dope Body
1:00PM - 1:35PM - Made of Oak (Nick from Megafaun)
12:15PM - 12:45PM - White Life

On September 25, Merge will release "Curtain" b/w "Apparition,"the second in a series of 7-inch singles from Flock of Dimes, the solo project of Wye Oak's Jenn Wasner. Limited to 1,000 copies, each 7-inch includes a download coupon for both tracks.

Jenn launched Flock of Dimes in 2011 as a way to explore more experimental recording and songwriting outside of the burgeoning success of Wye Oak. A tour opening for Sharon Van Etten followed, and a debut 7-inch, "Prison Bride" b/w "I Can't Tell You Why (screwed mix)," was released by Baltimore-based Friends Records in April of 2011. There are more singles planned as part of this series, but a full-length is not yet on the horizon.

"These two songs function as a pair of opposites: 'Curtain' documents the thoughtless, obsessed joy of new love, whereas 'Apparition' attempts to catch sight of the ghosts it leaves behind in the wake of its absence," says Jenn.

Produced and realized with the help of Mickey Free, "Curtain" b/w "Apparition" features a beautiful cover photograph by Matthew Yake<./blockquote>If you're in NC, stop by today. Listen to "Curtain" by Flock of Dimes, along with a reminder of Wye Oak's upcoming tour dates (which will hit Maxwell's & MHOW), below...

Continue reading "Hopscotch is underway in NC (come to our day party today); Flock of Dimes releasing 7" on Merge"

by Tim Griffin

Divine Fits @ The Continental Club - 7/31/2012

Tonight (8/1), indie rock supergroup Divine Fits (Britt Daniel from Spoon, Dan Boeckner from Wolf Parade and Handsome Furs, and Sam Brown from New Bomb Turks - and auxiliary member Alex Fischel) are set to play their official first show at a sold-out Beerland in Austin, TX.

But last night (7/31), they got together and played a secret show at Austin's The Continental Club. Billed as 'The Hot Skull', they were sandwiched between Austin's The Laughing (who were playing their first show) and TV Torso. Divine Fits ran through the almost the entirety  of their forthcoming Merge debut (out Aug. 28, which includes a cover of Nick Cave's "Shivers") plus a take on Tom Petty's 'You Got Lucky'; pretty sure all in attendance felt like they did.

As for the rest of the country, Divine Fits haven't announced a full tour yet, but they do have a few dates set up, including stops in the members' respective hometowns. They play Dan's homebase, Montreal, on Friday, August 3 (not part of Osheaga Fest), and visit Brown's Columbus, OH stomping grounds on August 6. They also play Chicago on August 5 and Salt Lake on Aug. 9.

UPDATE: Brooklyn and Toronto shows were also announced.

All tour dates are below, along with more pictures (and video) Divine Fits, The Laughing and TV Torso below...

Continue reading "Divine Fits played a secret show at the Continental Club in Austin, their first-ever live performance (pics, video, setlist)"

DOWNLOAD: Imperial Teen - "Runaway" (MP3)

San Francisco indie pop band Imperial Teen (fronted by Roddy Bottum also of Faith No More) released Feel the Sound, their first new album in five years and fifth overall this past January on Merge Records. You can download album track, "Runaway," at the top of this post and watch its video below, along with the stream of another album track, "Out from Inside."

Imperial Teen have a few (mostly festival) dates coming up this summer, including a NYC show, which happens on August 17 at Knitting Factory. Tickets for that show are on sale now.

A list of all dates, video, and streams below...

Continue reading "Imperial Teen released 'Feel the Sound,' going on tour (dates)"

by Andrew Sacher

DOWNLOAD: Redd Kross - "Researching the Blues" (MP3)

Superchunk at Pitchfork Fest 2011 (more by Dominick Mastrangelo)

Superchunk, who came back with a new album in 2010, have followed that release with a new single titled "This Summer." It's out today and comes with a cover of Bananarama's "Cruel Summer" on the B-side. Only 1300 copies were pressed and are available in stores worldwide. Take a listen to the A-side over at Pitchfork. The 7" cover art is below.

Superchunk only have a few dates scheduled and one of those is in NYC as part of CBGB Festival at Beekman Beer Garden on July 6 with Redd Kross and Labor Pool. Tickets for that show are not on sale yet but check ticketweb for any updates or use your CBGB Fest badge.

Redd Kross @ HoZac Blackout Fest on 5/19/2012 (more by John Yingling)

Speaking of Redd Kross, like Superchunk they were responsible for pioneering the pop punk sound that dominated the '90s, most notably doing so on their 1987 LP, Neurotica. The band reunited back in 2004, and now they're set to release their first new album of original material and it's with the same lineup they had on Neurotica. The new album is called Researching the Blues, and it's due out on August 7 via Merge (the label operated by Superchunk). You can grab an MP3 of that album's title track above, or stream it below. Though it's been a while, Redd Kross sound just as urgent on this new track as they do on their earlier records. Check it out for yourself. The album is available for pre-order at the Merge webstore and it comes with a free poster and button. Cover art and tracklist are below.

A list of all dates, that song stream, cover art and tracklist below...

Continue reading "Superchunk releasing 7", playing CBGB Fest w/ Redd Kross, who are prepping a new LP (dates & MP3)"

Britt Daniel (Spoon), Dan Boeckner (Wolf Parade) and Sam Brown (New Bomb Turks) have confirmed the existence of their new band, Divine Fits.

Divine Fits' as yet untitled debut album will be released later this year by Merge Records in the U.S. The album was was produced by Nick Launay.

Further details regarding the record's release date, live dates, etc. will be announced as they are confirmed.

Tickets are now back on sale (but probably not for long) for the Archers of Loaf show at Bowery Ballroom TONIGHT (4/26) (MHoW show on 4/29 is now sold out).

As discussed, Hundred Visions (insert joke about Eighteen Visions here) will open the show, but direct support will come from Chapel Hill band, and the Archers' Merge label-mates, Pipe.

Pipe is possibly the closest thing Chapel Hill's ever had to an SST band: Their raw, aggressive roar blended the hookiness of early punk with the hard-hewn fits of early American hardcore. There's a loose-limbed abandon to songs like "Sonic Scout" and "Hammer God" that recalls the Circle Jerks, while blasts like "Bowling for Fuckers" just crank up the Marshalls and charge like the Stooges. Their fearless leader and singer, Ron Liberti, is the ringmaster taking listeners down dark hallways and through the banal indignities of life. -[Pipe bio]

Check out some Pipe material and all tour dates below.

Continue reading "Pipe touring w/ Archers of Loaf (Bowery tonight back on sale)"

Eleanor at BV Holiday Party at MHOW in 2011 (more by Amanda Hatfield)

Merge labelmates Eleanor Friedberger and Hospitality who shared a bill during CMJ with their other Merge labelmate Wild Flag, are heading out on a tour together in April and May which kicks off with a Brooklyn show at The Bell House on April 18. Tickets for that show are on sale now. All dates are listed below.

Meanwhile, Eleanor Friedberger will be tour with Portlandia, Wild Flag's Carrie Brownstein included, this month. Eleanor made a video for "Heaven" last month. Check it out below.

You can catch Hospitality in NYC even sooner when they open for Tennis at Bowery Ballroom (3/3) and MHOW (3/5). The Bowery show is sold out but tickets for the MHOW show are still available. Hospitality also made a video last month. You can watch that below.

Speaking of Tennis, you can stream their new album which came out this week.

Speaking of Wild Flag, their tour hits NYC on April 1 at Webster Hall. Tickets for that show are still available.

All dates and videos below...

Continue reading "Eleanor Friedberger & Hospitality announce tour (dates)"

DOWNLOAD: Lambchop - "Gone Tomorrow" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Lambchop - "If Not I'll Just Die" (MP3)

Kurt Wagner's Nashville-based alt-country band Lambchop are set to release their first album since 2008's OH (Ohio); Mr. M, on February 21 via Merge. The album is dedicated to Vic Chestnutt, who passed away in 2009, and whose 1998 album The Salesman and Bernadette was recorded with Lambchop as his backing band. It includes the tracks "If Not I'll Just Die" and "Gone Tomorrow," which you can download above and stream below, along with a trailer video and the artwork and tracklist. You can pre-order the album at the Merge webstore as a CD or double LP, the latter of which includes 4 vinyl-only bonus tracks, one of which is a cover of Glen Campbell's "Guess I'm Dumb," co-written and produced by Brian Wilson. According to Merge, "While supplies last, preorders will include a poster (the first 150 of which will be signed!) featuring Kurt Wagner's original paintings used in Mr. M's liner notes and a Lambchop Mr. M coin purse."

Lambchop have a number of European dates scheduled in support of the release from February to April and are beginning to announce North American dates, including a NYC show happening on April 19 at Le Poisson Rouge. Tickets for the LPR show are on sale now.

All currently known dates, video, streams, and album info below...

Continue reading "Lambchop releasing new LP, scheduing shows (dates & MP3)"

Archers of Loaf at Webster Hall (more by Chris Gersbeck)

Archers of Loaf, still reunited, have a handful of dates scheduled in 2012 so far. The seminal 90s band has a pair of West Coast dates: LA and San Francisco (as part of Noise Pop), and two East Coast dates: Bowery Ballroom on April 26th and Music Hall of Williamsburg in Brooklyn on April 29th that same week (date TBA shortly). Tickets for the NYC shows go on sale at noon on 2/3. The last time that Archers of Loaf played NYC it was over two nights at Webster Hall and Music Hall of Williamsburg.

Archers will also be at Primavera fest in Spain in May. More dates will be announced soon, as Merge is getting ready to release more remasters...

On February 21, Merge will re-issue Archers of Loaf's sophomore release Vee Vee on dbl-CD, limited edition mossy-green LP and digital download.

Re-mastered by Bob Weston and featuring new liner notes by Magnet Magazine editor Eric Miller, Vee Vee will include sixteen bonus tracks and new cover art re-imagined by graphic artist Jay Ryan. Reissues of All the Nation's Airports and White Trash Heroes will follow later in 2012.

All known tour dates and a couple of videos below...

Continue reading "Archers of Loaf schedule 2 NYC shows, 2 in CA & Primavera"

by Bill Pearis

DOWNLOAD: Hospitality - Friends of Friends (MP3)

Hospitality's long-in-the-works debut album is out next week (1/31) on Merge and the band have just released a video for the horn-filled "Friends of Friends." In addition to the band playing in someone's well-equipped kitchen, the video tells the story of a relationship stretched between coasts, as played by Arrested Development's Alia Shawkat and Videogum's Gabe Delahaye (who was also recently in Real Estate's video for "Easy"). You can download the MP3 of "Friends of Friends" at the top of this post. The whole album's terrific, one of my early favorites of the year, and Spotify users can get an early listen to the whole thing here.

You can pick up the album at Hospitality's record release show at Glasslands next Friday (2/3) which also has Glass Ghost and Dustin Wong on the bill. The band are also heading out on a quick tour of both coasts and will be in Austin for SXSW. All scheduled tour dates are below.

In other Hospitality news, the band play WFMU's Seven Second Delay at UCB this Wednesday (1/25, 6PM) and have just released a Daytrotter session. Below is the "Friends of Friends" video and those upcoming tour dates.

Continue reading "Hospitality's new video stars Maeby of 'Arrested Development; album streaming on Spotify, tour announced (dates)"

Yo La Tengo Hanukkah @ Maxwell's 12/21/2011 (via TheRealYLT)

Looks like Mac McCaughan (of Superchunk, Portastatic and Merge Records) had more than one reason (so far) for spending Hanukkah in Hoboken with Yo La Tengo again this year. His old friends Spent, who reunited in 2009 for Merge's 20th Anniversary, were the openers for Yo La Tengo on Wednesday (the second night of Hanukkah), along with comedians Bobcat Goldthwait (!) and Neil Innes (!). Smokey Hormel is guest YLT guitarist.

The Sea and Cake opened the first night. A picture of Spent on stage at Maxwell's below...

Continue reading "Spent reunited for night 2 of Yo La Tengo's Hanukkah party"

Stephin Merritt has a new The Magnetic Fields LP on the way due via Merge Records on March 6th. Love at the Bottom of the Sea is the band's 10th LP, and they'll celebrate its release with a string of dates this spring that will include SXSW and two shows in NYC at the Beacon Theater on April 3rd and 4th. A fan presale has started, while Beacon Theater tickets go on AMEX presale Wednesday (12/14) at 11AM and regular sale Friday.

The new tour dates also list a NYC appearance at Barnes & Noble on March 8th. Stay tuned for more info on that. All dates are listed below.

The release marks a bit of a departure from Merritt's recent work...

After putting out three synthesizer-free albums, The Magnetic Fields are returning to the signature mix of synth and acoustic sounds they established in the 90s with Merge releases such as The Charm of the Highway Strip and Get Lost. Stephin Merritt has come back to synths with a fresh approach: "Most of the synthesizers on the record didn't exist when we were last using synthesizers," he notes. The songs -- none over three minutes long -- were recorded in Los Angeles, San Francisco and New York with Merritt's usual cast of collaborators: Claudia Gonson, Sam Davol, John Woo, Shirley Simms, Johny Blood and Daniel Handler.

Continue reading "Magnetic Fields announce new album & tour (dates & presale)"

DOWNLOAD: Merge Records Winter Sampler 2011 (ZIP)

Hospitality at Bowery Ballroom in October (more by Amanda Hatfield)

Hospitality recently finished up a bunch of shows in NYC during and after CMJ. They'll take a short break until they release their debut LP on Merge on January 31. The band will celebrate the release of the album at Glasslands on February 3 with fellow Brooklynites Glass Ghost. Tickets are on sale now.

Hospitality's "Betty Wang" appears on the Merge Records Winter Sampler, alongside tracks by The Mountain Goats, Archers of Loaf, Lambchop, Imperial Teen, Wild Flag, Eleanor Friedberger, and others. You can download the entire sampler above. If you hear something you like, check out the Merge Store where they're running a holiday sale.

Meanwhile, you can catch Glass Ghost even sooner at Cameo Gallery on December 8 with Little Horns.

The Merge-signed Ladybug Transistor plays Mercury Lounge with Citay and Ill Fits one day before that.

Continue reading "Hospitality on free Merge Sampler, schedule release show"

photos by Tamara Porras

Wild Flag @ Bowery Ballroom

"On Tuesday night, that act vacuuming up all the attention was Wild Flag, a new band comprised of members of old bands that sounds like the mean of those old bands, and also like many recent bands who have looked to those old bands for inspiration. (Got all that?)

The self-titled Wild Flag debut album was released last month on Merge and, in places, it's blistering. But only some of that tension came through during the band's set Tuesday night at the Bowery Ballroom. The singer Carrie Brownstein is still poignant, and still wry, and still handles her guitar authoritatively. While Janet Weiss, the drummer, was firm, she wasn't at her firmest. And sometimes the keyboard lines from Rebecca Cole appeared to have parachuted in from another concert up the block." [NY Times]

Continue reading "Wild Flag played Maxwell's, the Bell House & Bowery Ballroom w/ Eleanor Friedberger (pics)"

photos by Tamara Porras

DOWNLOAD: Hospitality - "Friends of Friends" (MP3)

Hopefully you got to Bowery Ballroom early enough last night to catch Hospitality open for Eleanor Friedberger and Wild Flag at the Merge Records CMJ showcase. Here are some pics from their opening set.

If you missed 'em don't worry, they'll be back soon. After two days on the road they'e back in NYC to play two CMJ day parties starting with the free BrooklynVegan day party at Public Assembly on Friday. All dates, the cover and tracklist of their debut album for Merge (out 1/31), and more pictures, below...

Continue reading "Hospitality played Bowery Ballroom (pics), playing more CMJ shows (BV party included)"

DOWNLOAD: Hospitality - Friends of Friends (MP3)

Hospitality @ 'Sound Bites' (more by Chris La Putt)

Speaking of Wild Flag, if you hadn't guessed it yet, the band who are opening for them and their Merge labelmate Eleanor Friedberger at Bowery Ballroom during CMJ, is in fact signed to Merge too. Congrats to Hospitality! The North Carolina label will release the Brooklyn band's debut full-length in "early 2012". Download a track above, or stream it, with all dates below...

Continue reading "Hospitality announce Merge signing (MP3 & dates)"

DOWNLOAD: RIchard Buckner - "Traitor" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: David Kilgour - "Chord" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: David Kilgour - "Son of God" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: David Kilgour - "Sept 98" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: David Kilgour - "BBC World" (MP3)

Richard Buckner

RIchard Buckner is releasing his new LP Our Blood on August 2 via Merge. You can pre-order the album at the Merge webstore now and check out the lead track, "Traitor," above.

He'll go on an August tour in support of the album with his Merge labelmate David Kilgour of The Clean. That tour hits NYC on August 27 at The Bell House. Tickets are on sale now. Richard Buckner will also play Truck America in the Catskills in September. All dates are listed below.

David Kilgour offers some free song downloads on his website of songs not available elsewhere. Grab a few of those tracks above. David Kilgour & The Heavy Eights' new CD Left by Soft is out now on Merge where you can also stream it.

All tour dates and a video of David performing the title track on his new album, below...

Continue reading "Richard Buckner & David Kilgour going on tour, have new albums on Merge (MP3 & dates)"

As mentioned Merge labelmates Jonny and Apex Manor were forced to cancel their tour which would have hit Le Poisson Rouge tonight (6/9). All is not lost though. Apex Manor have scheduled a show instead tomorrow (6/10) at The Rock Shop with Chris Bathgate and The Long Eye. Tickets are on sale for what is now Apex Manner's only upcoming show

In other Merge news, The Rosebuds (as mentioned) and The Ladybug Transistor both released albums this week. "Clutching Stems" can be streamed at Merge's site (where you can also buy it).

The Ladybug Transistor's previously announced tour hits NYC on July 6 at Knitting Factory with The Beets and James Ausfahrt of Love Is All. Tickets are still on sale. Ladybug also recently announced a few west coast dates in September including MusicfestNW. Updated dates below...

Continue reading "Jonny still not coming, Apex Manor add a show, The Ladybug Transistor released an album (it's streaming)"

DOWNLOAD: Eleanor Friedberger - My Mistakes (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Fiery Furnaces - Keep Me In The Dark (Eleanor cover version) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Fiery Furnaces - The End Is Near (MP3)

"Eleanor Friedberger is not just the enigmatic mouthpiece of The Fiery Furnaces, one of music's most interesting, dynamic and constantly exciting bands. In fact, Eleanor Friedberger is an exceptional songwriter herself, playing a variety of instruments and crafting the very sorts of choruses that made you fall in love with The Fiery Furnaces in the first place. She's a lover of Led Zeppelin and Jorge Ben; she's a fearless performer, as comfortable fronting a band as she is playing alone on a stage with an acoustic guitar; she's one of the sweetest alto voices in music. Nowhere is all of this more apparent than on her very first solo album, Last Summer, out on Merge Records on July 12th, 2011.

Last Summer, which was recorded, well, last summer, was born out of Take Me Round Again, a collection of cover songs from the previous Fiery Furnaces album. Both Eleanor and Matthew did their own inspired versions of songs they'd written together for their last LP I'm Going Away. Matt's were otherworldly affairs, while Eleanor's were lo-fi and lovely, all recorded in her home, the sound of an artist kicking off her shoes, settling into a big comfy chair with an acoustic guitar, a glass of scotch, and a four-track. She enjoyed the experience so much she decided to move forward with recording songs she had written in her spare time, songs that hadn't been included on any of The Fiery Furnaces' nine incredible albums." [Merge Records]

Go see the Fiery Furnaces on tour now. The tour kicks off with two NYC shows, tonight (5/4) and Thursday (5/5), at Rockwood Music Hall. Tickets are still available for both. According to someone who works at Thrill Jockey Records (home of the Furnaces), "It'll just be Matt playing the piano and Eleanor singing but they plan on doing simple renditions of as many Fiery Furnaces songs as time will allow! Like most Fiery Furnaces shows, it should be a completely new and unique experience."

The two "Fiery Furnaces" MP3s above are both from 2009 albums that were released via Thrill Jockey. "Keep Me In The Dark", from Take Me Round Again, is Eleanor's cover version of the FF song that first appeared on I'm Going Away. "The End Is Near" is an original track off I'm Going Away.

Eleanor will also be announcing a solo show today via BrooklynVegan.com. Stay tuned for that news coming soon (UPDATE: HERE IT IS. Meanwhile, you can see a list of all FF tour dates, below...

Continue reading "Eleanor Friedberger signed to Merge (MP3), Fiery Furnaces kicking off tour (dates)"

DOWNLOAD: Ladybug Transistor - "Clutching Stems" (MP3)

Give a warm welcome for Clutching Stems, the new LP from The Ladybug Transistor which is due via Merge Records on June 7th. Check out the title track from the LP above and preorder the record at Merge if you wish. In late Ju ne, you can welcome the new songs a bit more personally, as the band will hit the road for a string of dates that naturally includes a stop in their hometown of NYC, at Knitting Factory on 7/6. Tickets for that one are on sale.

All tour dates and a couple of videos, below...

Continue reading "The Ladybug Transistor releasing 'Clutching Stems', touring (MP3 & dates)"

DOWNLOAD: Damon & Naomi - "Walking Backwards" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Damon & Naomi - "Shadow Boxing" (M4A)
DOWNLOAD: Amor de Dias - "Bunhill Fields" (MP3)

Damon & Naomi

Damon & Naomi will add to the embarassment of Record Store Day riches by playing a free show at Sound Fix in Brooklyn on 4/16 at 7PM, AND releasing a limited 7" featuring "Walking Backwards" with a cover of Scott Walker's "The World's Strongest Man" on the flip. Look for that limited 7" wherever new vinyl is sold.

The former Galaxie 500 pair are also headining out on a US campaign with Amor de Dias in May, adding Ghost/Boris axeslinger and frequent collaborator Michio Kurihara (Boris, Ghost) on some dates and saxophonist/arranger Bhob Rainey of nmperign on others. Look for Kurihara at their Brooklyn show on May 22nd at Knitting Factory. Tickets are on sale.

Damon & Naomi will be touring in support of their new album, False Beats and True Hearts, which is out 5/17. Download "Walking Backwards" and "Shadow Boxing" from that CD above. Stream the same songs, and watch their new video, below.

Amor de Dias

Amor de Dias ("Love of Days") is the duo/supergroup of Alasdair MacLean (The Clientele) and Lupe Núñez-Fernández (Pipas). Their album, Street of the Love of Days, is also due 5/17. Their label is Merge Records, and Merge says:

"Over the course of three years, they quietly put together their debut record during evenings and weekends as they called in local friends (Louis Philippe) and visiting musicians (Damon and Naomi, Gary Olson) for sessions, building up the songs' multifaceted arrangements and vocal harmonies with harps, bouzoukis, strings, recorders, and brass over the core of dual Spanish guitars and the dream imagery of their bilingual lyrics.

The result is a focused, cohesive jewel of chamber pop that reflects a little of Gal Costa and Caetano Veloso's elegant brand of bossa nova, a bit of Erik Satie's haunting night music, and a large dose of spooky psychedelic folk. But the beautiful harmony that sings throughout the record makes it all their own."

Expect a bit of collaboration between the two duos on tour. All dates below...

Continue reading "Damon & Naomi have a new LP, playing Record Store Day show @ Sound Fix, touring w/ Merge power couple Amor de Dias"