Category Archives: News

12.09.10
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4AD and The Red Hot Organization Donate $1,000,000 Thanks To The Album Dark Was The Night

As World AIDS Day on December 1st reminded us that AIDS is still a threat and continues to kill, good news came to us from the folks of 4AD and the Red Hot Foundation. In February 2009, 4AD released Dark Was The Night, a musical collaboration conceived and produced by Aaron and Bryce Dessner of The National, and Red Hot founder John Carlin, and its sales have now raised $1,000,000 for charity!

The compilation is made up of 32 exclusive tracks by Arcade Fire, Blonde Redhead, Bon Iver, Cat Power, The Decemberists, Dirty Projectors + David Byrne, Grizzly Bear, The New Pornographers, Spoon, and Sufjan Stevens… the list goes on. Each band has recommended a charity to which the funds raised will be donated. This is the 20th album put out by The Red Hot Foundation, which has been working to help fight AIDS since 1989. You can still purchase it HERE.

Here is the list of the charities chosen to receive Red Hot grants:
Advocates For Youth (recommended by The National)
After Hours Project, Inc (recommended by Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings)
AIDS Resource Center of Wisconsin (recommended by Bon Iver)
A Loving Spoonful (recommended by New Pornographers)
Bronx AIDS Services (recommended by The National)
Camp Amerikids (recommended by The National)
Casey House (recommended by Kevin Drew/Broken Social Scene)
Central City Concern (recommended by Decemberists)
Citta (recommended by David Byne)
Housing Works (recommended by Dirty Projectors)
Nebraska Aids Project (recommended by Conor Oberst)
Out Youth (recommended by Iron & Wine)
Partners In Health (recommended by Arcade Fire)
San Francisco AIDS Foundation (recommended by Kronos Quartet)
Tamasha (recommended by Sufjan Stevens)
In addition to Terrence Higgins Trust, PSI/YouthAIDS, and CHAI.

12.09.10
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The Sword travels to “Lawless Lands” in New Single

“Lawless Lands” is the second chapter in the epic tale of The Sword’s mystical travels from Earth to Space, called Warp Riders, also the name of their latest album. “Lawless Lands” is the next installment after the first chapter, “Tres Brujas” or “Three Witches” in English. As one could surmise from the title, the Texas metal outfit in a haze of “sacred smoke” encounter three witches in “Tres Brujas,” the first of whom will “rob,” the second will “deceive,” and the third will “show you the way.”

As a perfect segue, the third bruja shows The Sword the way into “Lawless Lands,” or outer space, as it turns out. “Lawless Lands” immediately takes a new musical tone from “Tres Brujas,” from epic to looming doom with the change of riffing, fast paced guitar to slower, more ominous bluesy rhythms. The video looks like a hodgepodge of old school sci-fi movies like Willow and The Dark Crystal with some Star Trek mixed in, centered around some chick who is part goth princess, part child empress from Never Ending Story.

The Sword puts a fantasy twist on metal with “Lawless Lands” and the rest of Warp Riders that is nothing short of totally awesome. The Sword is currently on an American tour for the release of Warp Riders through mid December.

12.09.10
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Summer Camp Release “Christmas Wrapping” Cover Just For You

If you think about it, Christmas is kind of like summer camp, just with snow, presents and fewer kayaking incidents. Fitting then that British duo, Summer Camp have holiday presents for all of you. Yay Christmas! They’ve covered the classic Waitresses track, “Christmas Wrapping,” which like all good presents, is free.

With a full-length release slated for Summer 2011, Summer Camp have released their debut EP, Young, with praises calling it an “effervescent slice of indie pop” (Pitchfork) and “gorgeous vocal that traces the arc of a girl group melody.” (Uncut)

Videos from Summer Camp’s Young for your viewing and listening pleasure:

View the videos for the singles “Round the Moon” and “Ghost Train”
http://player.vimeo.com/video/14041632

SUMMER CAMP – Round the Moon from Paddy Power on Vimeo.

http://player.vimeo.com/video/9814265

Summer Camp – Ghost Train (viral) from Paddy Power on Vimeo.

12.08.10
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Christopher Paul Stelling Tackles A Classic and Closes Out 2010 With A Bang

History is important. Looking back can put things in perspective. Taking a deep gaze towards at a timeless track from the 1800’s, New York City up and coming songwriter, Christopher Paul Stelling, along with singer Julia Marie Christgau throw their version of the classic, “Motherless Child” into the pages of history.

Directed by John Alberico, the duo filmed their “Motherless Child” rendition in Brooklyn’s Prospect Park in a video highlighting their harmonies and the depth of this powerful song.

Have a look/listen at Stelling and Christgau’s video version of “Motherless Child” and if you’re up for it, here’s a little journey through the classic song’s evolution. Take a listen to the renditions of this amazing song, including one of the best-ever versions of it, by the inimitable man himself, Lou Rawls.

You can also check out two new tracks free from Stelling: “Flawless Executioner” and “Strange Darkness” and catch his last live performance of the year at Rockwood Music Hall’s Stage Two on December 20th.

12.08.10
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Mynabirds Release Christmas 7”, Debut Video

Saddlecreek’s Mynabirds have released a limited edition 7” for their Christmas song “All I Want is Truth (For Christmas)” with a cover of The Zombies’ “This Will Be Our Year” as the B-Side. For the Mynabirds completists, the first 200 copies sold through Saddlecreek’s website will be pressed on white vinyl. The song is also available as a free download here.

For those still not satisfied, the band has released a video for the song “What We Gained in the Fire” from their debut album. The video features new Super 8 footage of singer Laura Burhenn along with three generations of home movies spliced together.

Watch it here:

12.08.10
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Horn Player Colin Stetson’s New Album and Bon Iver Tour in 2011

Though you may not recognize the name, Colin Stetson has played with everyone from the African legend Angelique Kidjo to Tom Waits, Arcade Fire and TV on the Radio.

Though the roster of projects is quite impressive, Stetson is an equally astounding solo performer. You can confirm this yourself by listening to his latest offering on Constellation records, New History Warfare Vol. 2: Judges, releasing late February 2011. Recorded live in Montreal’s Hotel2Tango studio with no overdubbing or looping, guests on the record include the inimitable Laurie Anderson and My Brightest Diamond’s Shara Worden.

Stetson uses all kinds of techniques that probably mean nothing to lay people like us (or at least me). He’s got tricks up his reeds including circular breathing, arpeggiated swirls, singing through the reed of his horn and amazingly, not fainting while doing all this heavy breathwork. In other words, it all sounds hella good and pretty damn impossible.

Whatever you may think you know about jazz will forever be open to reinterpretation and that’s a gift Stetson possesses. He has an ability to defy categorization. Stetson’s originality and forward thinking talent is iconoclastic and refreshing.

Catch Stetson with his bands Sway Machinery and Bell Orchestre or touring with Bon Iver throughout 2011. All the latest here: http://www.colinstetson.com