Track of the Day..."Above Your Head" from Anoraak
Anoraak
“Above Your Head”
Listen to "Above Your Head" MP3
As a follow-up to some stellar singles including “Nightdrive with You”, the French electro artist Anoraak will be releasing his debut album Wherever The Sun Sets on 21 September on Grand Blanc and Naïve. The Valerie collective member continues to play with retro electronic sounds and romantic grooves on the album’s first single “Above Your Head”, available as a free download from the Anoraak MySpace page.
Check out the video for “Above Your Head”, a flat rendering of a 360° dizzying descent through the French Alps.
In case you missed it, read our interview with Valerie Collective founder David Grellier
MySpace | Valerie Collective
What's On The Hi-Fi...Podcast Twelve
While you listen to the podcast click here or on the image above to go to our podcast artist gallery to find out descriptions, links and more. You can also subscribe to our podcast free at
Listen to "Podcast 12” MP3
Artist - Track Names
1) A CLASSIC EDUCATION - "WHAT MY LIFE COULD HAVE BEEN"
2) ROLLERSKATERS - "SLEEP TIGHT"
3) KORALLREVEN - "THE TRUEST FAITH"
4) MILES - "JUST IN CASE"
5) LIVING DAYS - "LET’S KISS"
6) ACTIVE CHILD - "SHE WAS A VISION"
7) DEASTRO - "MOWGLI THE LYNX"
8) TRACEY THORN - "KENTISH TOWN (WALLS REMIX)"
9) CHAMPAGNE RIOT - “HEART STAB”
10) EVENINGS - "BABE"
Track of the Day..."What My Life Could Have Been" from A Classic Education
A Classic Education
"What My Life Could Have Been"
from Hey There Stranger
Lefse Records/Holiday Records 2010
Listen to "What My Life Could Have Been" MP3
Bologna, Italy outfit A Classic Education is a promising young group, which has a distinct stateside approach to indie rock. Formed by Canadian singer and guitarist Jonathon Clancy and his Italian friends Luca Mazzieri and Paul Pieretto, the band is now a six piece with the addition of Giulia Mazza, Federico Oppi, and Stefano Roveda. Their sound could easily be mistaken for the best of Arcade Fire or the Decemberists and they translate that impressive aptitude onto their upcoming release Hey There Stranger (due out September 21).
On the lead single “What My Life Could Have Been” A Classic Education provide us with a rich, multi-layered, up-tempo dashboard - possibly dance-floor - pounder that glows with self-confidence and fun. The track gives you that feeling like you’ve heard early-New Order for the first time. In short, this band is hitting on all cylinders and seemingly, just in first gear. We will be watching.
Official | MySpace
Track of the Day..."Sleep Tight" from Rollerskaters
Rollerskaters
"Sleep Tight"
2010
Listen to "Sleep Tight" MP3
Andrew McKee may be better known for his project The Young Friends, a project which has recently been featured in Clash Magazine and which will see Andrew and co. touring with The Drums and Surfer Blood this September.
However, Andrew's Phoenix-based side project Rollerskaters is not to be overlooked. The project's sole track thusfar "Sleep Tight" was written during Andrew's senior year in high school as a means of procrastinating, avoiding studying for finals. The track is a slice of reimagined nostalgic indie pop, accompanied by a video featuring some of those mighty fine metal clip on rollerskates.
MySpace
Track of the Day..."The Truest Faith" from Korallreven
Korallreven
'The Truest Faith"
Acéphale Records (2010)
Listen to "The Truest Faith" MP3
Korallreven is the coming together of talented Swedes Daniel Tjäder (of one of What's On The Hi-Fi's favorites, The Radio Dept.) and Marcus Joons. Together they create the perfect bright Balearic backdrop to those dog days of summer.
'The Truest Faith" is available as a limited edition 7" single or as part of a remix EP with the track "Loved-Up". Be sure to check out the rather amazing Sail A Whale remix of "The Truest Faith" which grabs onto the track's shimmering haze.
Keep an eye out for the duo's first full-length hopefully to be released later this year. Meanwhile, check out the video for "The Truest Faith."
If you are in NYC, be sure to catch Korallreven at Glasslands on 12 September in Brooklyn.
MySpace | Acéphale Records (Korallreven EP page)
Track of the Day..."Just In Case" from Miles
Miles
“Just In Case”
from As Fast As You Can
(2010)
Listen to “Just In Case” MP3
Miles are a Brooklyn-based band that creates delicious pop soaked treats. Their new album As Fast As You Can is a testament to that notion filling the ethos with lighter than air melodic dreams.
On the track “Just In Case”, singer/songwriter Marc Plotkin shows off his high-range vocals and feather soft arrangements. It’s a hip spark that will grow on you listen after listen.
MySpace | Official | Twitter
Album Review …Make Out Room (Part 1) from Living Days
Living Days
Make Out Room (Part 1)
Listen to “Let’s Kiss” MP3
Living Days is a new romantic pop group from Brooklyn which includes former members of Matisyahu, Coco Rosie, Lee Scratch Perry, and sci fi thrash band AQUI. Their unpredictable frontwoman, Stephonik Youth, is an underground legendary performer.
Each track on the album not only relives Human League, Berlin and The Cure’s mantras but succeeds in re-inventing each with a superstar panache that will have you hitting the play button every time you need a jolt.
Their VHS-aesthetic on “Let’s Kiss” is a lip-locking gem. Watch it here.
Living Days’ debut album Make Out Room Part 1 drops Aug 24th and will host a record release party at Webster Hall’s The Studio on Aug 27th with bare-bones indie rockers Naked Hearts.
MySpace | Facebook | Twitter
Track of the Day..."She Was A Vision" from Active Child
Active Child
“She Was A Vision”
from Curtis Lane
Filter Records / Merok Records 2010
Listen to “She Was A Vision” MP3
Active Child is the moniker of Los Angeles based artist Pat Grossi. This former choirboy (he is a former member of the Philadelphia Boys Choir) continues to surprise with his clean falsetto, knack with the harp and subdued 80’s synth-pop inspired electronics. Have a listen to the woozy track “She Was A Vision” with its tribute to the chorus from Cocteau Twins’ ’84 release “Lorelei”.
You can find “She Was A Vision” on Curtis Lane, Active Child’s six-track debut EP released this past June on Filter Records (US) (Filter Magazine’s label) and Merok Records (UK). A 10” white vinyl is also available directly from the official Active Child website or via Insound.
Watch a session online with Active Child on KCRW’s excellent Morning Becomes Eclectic.
NYC residents, you can catch Active Child on 9 September at Brooklyn Bowl. Active Child will stay out on tour through North America through October.
Official | MySpace | Twitter
Track of the Day..."Mowgli The Lynx" from Deastro
Deastro
“Mowgli The Lynx”
from Mind Altar EP
Ghostly International (2010)
Listen to “Mowgli The Lynx” MP3
At the tender age of twenty-two, Deastro’s Randolph Chabot has created an unmistakable record filled with exciting starry-eyed, laptop pop.
His new EP, Mind Altar, continues the same life and spirit that he has shown on previous effort Keepers and Moondagger. At the heart of the work is “Mowgli The Lynx” – an ethereal, glossy electro-gem that harkens back to early 80’s synth without being overly derivative.
The eight-song Mind Altar —originally released on cassette through Deastro’s blog—comes with three bonus tracks from the also-blog-released Orange Swimmer Red Summer EP, all of which has been remastered and reissued into a cohesive, album-length EP.
MySpace | Ghostly International
Track of the Day...“Kentish Town (Walls Remix)” from Tracey Thorn
Tracey Thorn
“Kentish Town (Walls Remix)”
from Opposites (Available August 24)
Merge Records (2010)
Listen to “Kentish Town (Walls Remix)” MP3
On August 31, Tracey Thorn will release Opposites - a special digital-only EP of experimental remixes of tracks from her latest album Love And Its Opposite.
While many of her recent remixes have been geared towards the dancefloor, the tracks on her upcoming EP are more futuristic and heady.
The track “Kentish Town” returns Tracey’s sound to that her work with Massive Attack. The remix for the song was created by WALLS - Sam Willis (from influential electronic music blog, Allez-Allez) and Alessio Natalizia (Banjo or Freakout).
Tracey Thorn’s Opposites EP will be available beginning August 24 exclusively on Beatport and then on the usual digital outlets beginning August 31.
Official | MySpace | Merge Records