by tunmer

Birds & Batteries Release New Video

The new video for “We’re An Industry” by the San Francisco band Birds & Batteries conveys a lot using just some metal and other hard materials employed by the method of stop motion. The video was carefully crafted by the Made By Cabbage Head production company who designed the set by hand and filmed frame by frame.

The protagonists of this video – seeming like more of a short film – are two steel wool people placed in a desolate, industrial setting with pipes, coils and other constructional components who discover they create sparks when touching together.

The song itself is a lamentation of belonging to the center of the earth with lyrics describing baring the burden of causing natural disasters under rough and hot conditions, sorrowful strings and mechanical, almost militaristic drums.

Then, the instrumentation becomes looser and builds up with the percussion quickening and the vocals all the sudden taking a new, proud tone. Greenery begins to grow up the metal structures and flower as the vocals harmonize and reach higher notes and the two steel wool characters look on, sparking hand-in-hand. By the end of it, you are left with a beautiful, resolved feeling.

Birds and Batteries are currently on an American tour:
November 26, 2010
9pm
San Diego, CA
Soda Bar
with: Longstay, Patrick Norton & The Saints, DJ Lord Nelson

November 26, 2010
5pm
Los Angeles, CA
Origami Vinyl

November 27, 2010
Tucson, AZ
Cafe Passe

November 28, 2010
Albuquerque, NM
Low Spirits
with: The Cave Singers, Excalico

November 30, 2010
Lubbock, TX
Bash Riprock’s

December 1, 2010
Austin, TX
The Mohawk
with: The Authors, Sunset

December 2, 2010
Frisco, TX
Lochrann’s

December 3, 2010
Fort Worth, TX
Lola’s

December 4, 2010
Denton, TX
A Spune Christmas
Hailey’s
with: Telegraph Canyon, Doug Burr, Monahans

December 7, 2010
Memphis, TN
Buccaneer

December 8, 2010
Louisville, KY
Zanzabar

December 9, 2010
Pittsburgh, PA
Thunderbird Cafe
with: Nik Westman and the Central Plains

December 10, 2010
New York, NY
Pianos
with: ARMS

December 11, 2010
Boston, MA
Great Scott
with: Marconi, Mean Creek

December 12, 2010
Brooklyn, NY
Littlefield
with: Scrambler Seequill, Tallest Trees, Elastic Summer

February 4, 2011
Tacoma, WA
The Warehouse
with: Grand Hallway

February 5, 2011
Seattle, WA
Chop Suey

http://player.vimeo.com/video/15017110

Birds & Batteries- We’re an Industry from Birds & Batteries on Vimeo.

11.23.10

by jill ettinger

New York’s MAKE OUT Is Set To Release Their Debut EP In Early 2011

Drawing on their eclectic backgrounds, the quartet intentionally makes music against the mainstream grain as they see it, eschewing contemporary indie sounds. MAKE OUT plays fast, concentrated pop songs as evident in their first single releasing December 14th, the anthemic, “I Don’t Want Anybody That Wants Me.”

Formed in 2010, MAKE OUT features Leah Hennessey on vocals, former Junior Senior member, Jesper Mortensen on backing vocals and guitar, Anders Christiansen on bass and Olivia Alminiana on drums.

MAKE OUT was excited to work with producer Nicolas Vernhes (Dirty Projectors, Animal Collective, The Fiery Furnaces) at his Rare Book Room studios in Brooklyn, feeling an instant connection and shared vision for what the band should sound like.

Check out the new single available now on Spin.com

11.23.10

by tunmer

Radio Department to Release Singles Compiliation

The Radio Department comes out with a selection of their latest (of the past eight years) and greatest (of those eight years) work: Passive Aggressive: Singles 2002-2010 for release on January 25^th, 2011.

This “best hits” compilation of sorts of at least their time thus far with Labrador Records is complete with a double disk and some B-sides and rarities mixed in. The Swedish indie label is boding this release as a result of the success of their best selling band. Such success does not come without its obstacles, however. The Radio Department are undoubtedly rock stars, but hesitant – or at least coy – ones at that. Considering their popularity, it seems strange that they have consistently been hesitant to sign contracts, expose themselves to the media and generally skeptical of their acceptance by fans, critics and the rest of the musical community they – whether or not they believe they do or should – belong to.

Until their tour of said album, satiate your need for The Radio Department with the dream-pop track “Never Swallow Fruit” off their just released EP, Never Follow Suit, accompanied perhaps by a candle lit room with an uncontrolled drug of the green variety.

Look out for their tour celebrating this album, including the upcoming New York shows on 11/30 and 12/01 at the Knitting Factory and Bowery Ballroom, respectively.

11.23.10

by justgentile

Woodsmen Film Live Performance For Terroreyes TV

Out of Denver, Colorado come Woodsmen, an experimental ambient post-psychedelic (their genre, not mine) quartet. Featuring “totemic percussionists and two sonic animators who employ electric guitars, feedback loops, and recorded samples to build the dreamy astral soundscapes that define Woodsman’s sound.” While traveling up and down the West Coast, Woodsman stopped by Terroreyes TV in Sacramento to perform “Insects” from their upcoming album Rare Forms, out 1/25 via Lefse Records and Fire Talk Records.

Earlier this year Lefse Records released their Mystery Tape EP, and will follow it up in January with their Rare Forms full length from which “Insects” is drawn. Heavily influenced by hazy mountain passes, the cinema of Stan Brakhage, and early 1970’s improvisational recordings by Miles Davis. Woodsman has crafted aural offerings that are uniquely their own. Watch full screen in HD!

http://vimeo.com/16751042

11.23.10

by Sedera Ranaivoarinosy

The Hush Now Release Free Holiday Single

The Hush Now look like they might be starting a tradition. After last year’s sing-along tune “Wishing You A Happy Christmas,” they are returning this year with “On Holiday,” an ode to tropical end of year celebrations. With a Brazilian groove and cheery horns, the Bostonians’ new release will make you want to ditch Christmas trees, white snow and hand-knit deer sweaters for a cool cocktail on a beach with white sand and a guitarist playing a bossa nova arrangement of “Jingle Bells.” The single was recorded with Benny Grotto and Jeff Lipton, the same team behind the band’s latest EP, Shiver Me Starships, which you can get for free on their website HERE!

Listen and share The Hush Now’s love of Christmas below: