Happy Thursday, I just wanted to give a little attention on a duo named the Lucky Dragons. Sarah and Luke make entirely too experimental crazy noisey electronic music. They are known for their crazy interactive gallery shows which humans in the experimentation. Heartbreaker is the first song I heard from them and with the bottle rockets noises and the drop-in percussions, I had to hear more. Their latest is Dream Island Laughing Language which they are supporting on tour right meow! Check out some tracks, I'm going to sleep!

Heartbreaker
I Keep waiting for Earthquakes

Labels: Electronic, Experimental

LA's very own experimental electronic producer, Alfred Darlington aka Daedelus has just dropped us a brand new album called Love To Make Music To via Ninjatune. With a handful of releases, Daedelus is back with more unpredictable, groove heavy beats and samples. Some say it is chaos fluxed everywhere but at the same time it's brilliant and track to track you can't really sum it up. Each track progresses into something faster, sometimes clunkier, and basically a mini set if you will. There's a lot of dope tracks and one of my favs is If We Should (yes typical me) which has Alfred's wife Laura on the mic. Just as I was thinking that they should make more together, they have an album coming out together called The Long Lost. If We Should is just a 4 minute tease of what's to come!

If We Should
Get Off Your HiHats

P.S. Daedelus will be at Low End Theory next Wednesday, if you're in LA, do not miss it!

Labels: dj, Electronic, Experimental

I'd have to say this self titled 3 track EP from Detroit's Zoos Of Berlin is very strong and makes for a good case to anticipate a full length! I first gave a listen to them after hearing that one of their band members also plays for Pas/Cal which has a new one out! The beginning of these three tracks really set the tone for the songs, slowly introducng the vocals with subtle instrumentation and electronics. Their mellow sway heavy experimental sound makes us look forward to a debut hopefully rollin' out soon! You can pick up that EP here. Check out the track below!

On Large Amusements

Labels: Experimental, indie

Happy Sunday! It's agreed that New York's Takka Takka have definitely matured their sound, but not from bad to good but from good to even better! They definitely kept their experimental edge with mellow indie tracks full of catchy instrumentation. The new sophomore full-length effort Migration is rollin' out at the end of this month via Ernest Jenning. Also they've got residency at NY's Pianos so definitely go check them out. We got two tracks for you off that new album. ENJOYYY!

Everybody Say
The Takers

7-03 – Brooklyn, NY @ Union Hall
7-15 – New York, NY @ Pianos (Record Release Residency)
7-22 – New York, NY @ Pianos (Record Release Residency)
7-24 – Chicago, IL @ Daytrotter Session!
7-25 – Chicago, IL @ Shubas
7-26 – Madison, WI @ The Frequency - Madison
7-29 – New York, NY @ Pianos (Record Release Residency)

Labels: Experimental, indie

From the remnants of A Clock Work Army, comes San Diego's Calico Horse, fronted by Emily Neveu and Pall Jenkins from The Black Heart Procession. They've got a brand new full length debut called Mirror coming out at the end of this month via Banter Records. Piano driven songs like "Father Feed Me" are easy and delightful to the ears and Emily's vocals brings her songwriting to a new maturity. It's poppy but a little darker and moody. Also check out Emily's cover of Radiohead's Idioteque, part of a compilation of covers, look out for that in the future!

Father Feed Me
Idioteque

Check out their new tour dates including their CD Release show at the Casbah in SD!

Labels: Experimental, indie

For those of you who dig The National, Rufus Wainwright and Beirut, keep your ears open for Emanuel and the Fear. This Brooklyn-based, ten-piece band consists of orchestra members that have played and performed with the likes of Spoon, Mars Volta, and Sufjan too. All together they've produced a sound that can't be entirely described in one word because it's a grand fusion of horns, pop piano, lulling vocals, violin strains and hand claps.

Currently the band is hard at work recording their debut album in Brooklyn, but check out what they've got here.

Labels: Experimental, indie

I just found out about Via Audio via the FYD pipelne and probably the most noteable thing about these guys is there track-to-track style change. It can go from sweet pop melodies with Jessica on vox to acoustic to electronic synth sounds. Second most note worthy is their songwriting. I really enjoy the lyrics. Say Something Say Something Say Something came out last September via Sidecho but continues makin' impacts and they're on tour right now! Get the album here. Check out more songs and tour info here.

Digital
Oh Blah Wee
Modern Day Saint

Labels: Experimental, indie

Everyday I am fortunate to fall on some really great music. There is so much talent out there and I defintely think this 7 piece has got a lot of guts, a great presence, and some seriously thorough instrumentation all over their tracks. As you can tell by the photo above at one of their shows, they've got some serious wind, strings and the traditional indie rock tools. After hearing the album I can say their song from track to track are really different, well pieced, and some yelling and singing. They got some interesting influences holding them up, with lots of energy. They've got a new album that recently dropped called Rewiring The Electric Forest via Paper Garden Records. Sample this stuff:

Sweet Wires of Fire

Tommy Bones

Get Rewiring The Electric Forest here. Also check out their tour dates here.

Labels: americana, Experimental, indie

Sweden's Little Dragon is cruisin' through California for a 3 night tour beginning at the Elbo Room tonight! This seemingly synthpop group is filled with notably arranged electronic beats, jazzy percussions, and tons of experiments with hints of jazz, r&B, soul, and good pop. You might recognize Yukimi Nagano's beautiful soft voice as she has collaborated and featured with Koop and Jose Gonzalez. They currently have a self-titled album out that dropped at the edge of last summer via UK's Peace Frog Records.

Twice
Constant Surprises
No Love

I wanted to specially note my high interests in their music videos. The video for Test seems more simple, while the other a bit more complex, but both are really interesting and Yukimi's all up in the front. Check these videos out!





Last 2 dates in the states!
Apr 2 2008 8:00P Mercury Lounge Goleta, California
Apr 4 2008 8:00P Roxy Los Angeles, California

Labels: Experimental, Pop, synthetic

Thanks to The Good Pants for pointing me to this awesome band. The hiatus of Gatsby's American Dream has a couple spinners including Kay Kay & His Weathered Underground made up of bandies Kirk and Kyle with Cello man Phil Peterson. I think the most distinctive part of this band before the style is their utility of the fugelhorn and other brass. I love the sound. Imagine an old west parlor with that borderline out of tune piano, folky old show tunes, quick from subtle to chaotic harmonies, halfline Broadways, and almost too perfect renovation of an experimental 1960s. It's just a combination of a lot of great things with awesome arrangements.

Last Tuesday, the Seattle-ites released their self titled album only on a special 1000 copy limited edition vinyl via their label and Vinyl Collective. It's a Double LP with a rainbow transparent version, rainbow milky vinyl? and Orange with Red speckles. I want the transparent rainbow one! Get the goods here. Also below are some super hi-quality recordings just for you! More on their myspace.

Hey Momma
Birds (On A Day Like Today)

Newsies: Apple is now No. 2!
Google invests in new undeground super cable to Japan!
Kofi Annan stops the talks in Kenya!
Clinton and Obama are battling! No really?!

Happy Tuesday!

Labels: Experimental, Folk, indie

About the time I rolled out of high school Xiu Xiu came on the scene and now at the end of this month you'll be able to experience their 6th studio release! Another example of their crazy pursuit for true ambi-experimental noise, Woman As Lovers follows their 2006 release The Air Force with a mixed genre, bassy, percussive and interestingly placed brass melodic sure to please the past and the present. Lots of mixed emotions, a continuum of morose atmopheres, and drop-in vocal arrangements really make this album rather easy on the ears.

The album's out on the 29th from Kill Rock Stars and as a special treat the iTunes release will have 5 exclusive bonus tracks, the "What's Your Problem" DVD, music videos and photos...Holy Smokes! that's like a whole-notha EP and then some. They are touring in Spring! Check the tracks and get to the pre-order!

No Friend oh!
Under Pressure

Happy Monday!

Labels: Experimental, indie

Our Canadian friends over at Non-Existent Recordings have recently released Mojib's debut album, Whimsical Lifestyle. Swedish native, Mojib is a producer/mixer of sorts who has delicately combined pop melodies with different drum elements and synth sounds everywhere. Some of the loops provide for some awesome hiphop/ downtempo vibes with airy vocals over faint piano keys. It's a wide array of musical influences coming from all over and I dig the experimenting. Mojib, in the past, has done remixes of several bands and songs which initially caught my attention. If you got itchin' for some great remixes and mixtape style music, Mojib.net has got a ton of FREE downloads! We got some for you right here!

Break Of Dawn (Sigur Ros' Staralfur remix)
I Don't Know (Kings of Convenience remix)
Grip Like A Vice (Go! Team Remix)

Here is a preview of the 'Whimsical Lifestyle' album.
Get that album now!

Labels: Experimental, hiphop, remixes, synthetic

Hope Everyone is having a relaxin' weekend, but if not I got some music for you that might help you out with your stress. We Versus The Shark just came out with a new EP called EP of Bees which is a small handful of radness to follow up the Ruin Everything! debut album. When I heard "This Graceful Planet" of that album I was totally hooked to their crazy shredding, switching to angryesque vocals, breakdowns and Samantha Paulsen's yelling in the backgrounds. The new EP also includes We Wanted A New Government Not Odd Times Signatures, a DVD featuring live show footage and the making of Ruin Everything. Get these songs now!

EP of Bees EP
The Lament of Sue Richards

Ruin Everything! LP (2005)
This Gracesless Planet
You Don't Have To Kick It

Hello Sir Split (2004)
See Carolina's Fastest Trees

Also check out that video on their site, it totally sums them up, subtly.

Labels: Experimental, indie, Rock

When I hear The Octopus Project I think nintendo; the 8-bit classic, can't save your progress, Mario can't walk backwards nintendo. The only difference between The Octopus Project and nintendo music is the added make-you-wanna-dance drum beats, frantic distorted guitars, and some good old fashion noise. Throw that all together and you just might be onto something.

They have created their own brand of experimental pop rock and because of it they are going places. Their recent successes include playing at Coachella, a few sold-out nationwide tours, & receiving a proclamation as one of Rolling Stone's five stand-out artists at SXSW. Hello, Avalanche is their third full-length album on Peek-a-boo Records. It was released this week!

From Hello, Avalanche:
Truck
I Saw the Bright Shinies

Other Tracks:
Music is Happiness
Pif

The Octopus Project is on tour from now until November.

Labels: Experimental, Pop, The Octopus Project