The Woodlands
"Can We Stay"
From The Woodlands
Self-Released (2009)
There is a touching intimacy to the track "Can We Stay" that can only be attributed to a wonderful love affair. Portland, OR natives The Woodlands are just that. The husband and wife duo (Hannah & Samuel Robertson) have created a lush and evocative song that calls out from a warm and gentle place of yearning and deep need. Hannah Robertson's voice is a light that peers through a world of emotion and wonder. They are definitely a duo to watch.

We hope to see much more of this band in the future and look forward to getting a sense of their live show.

Listen to "Can We Stay” MP3

MySpace

Brooklyn based Mux Mool, by way of Minnesota, has made amazing strides in the music industry since he captured iTunes "Best of" in 2006 with the song “Lost and Found” . He has really gotten traction lately with his slowed down and minimized update of Snap's, 1992, top 5 US hit "Rhythm Is a Dancer".

The original released as a single from the album The Madman's Return was written by Benito Benitez, John 'Virgo' Garrett III (aliases for German producers Michael Münzing and Luca Anzilotti), The track is back again and looks to score another wave of fans going into 2010. Check it out below.

Listen to "Rhythm Is A Dancer” MP3


Mux Mool (Official) | MySpace

Listen to "Really Like To See You Again" MP3



“Music for outsiders. Or I should say pop music for outsiders.”, is the way that Andy Grier of Thieves Like Us succinctly describes the group’s musical universe, a sound which refuses to slot neatly into any particular style.

Hailing from the US, Andy (vocals) met Swedes Björn Berglund (keyboards) and Pontus Berghe (drums) while living in Berlin. As a counter to the ubiquitous electro / techno scene, they started deejaying together, spinning a cross-over mix of tracks (to the befuddlement of Berliners) from Krautrock, Italo Disco to French filter house. They then formed Thieves Like Us and released their critically successful debut Play Music. This unconventional electro-pop soundtrack is often glacial and minimal, but tracks nonetheless resonate with a certain empathetic intimacy, side stepping becoming uninviting or aloof. With their latest EP Really Like to See You Again and work underway on their next long player, Thieves Like Us continue to develop their modern sound.

Andy talks to us about working together across cities, dissatisfaction with cultural harmonization, the group’s sour relationship with the Kitsuné label, musical innovators and what we can expect the group to deliver next.

All three of you subsequently moved to Paris -- what was behind the move? What do you make of Paris in terms of sparking / fostering creativity, particularly as compared to Berlin and NYC?
I think Paris is pretty bad for actually creating something. The atmosphere was inspiring -- the buildings and streets -- the Parisian people and such. But, to find time and space to actually make music there was pretty difficult. It is too expensive. New York and London are equally bad.

With ‘Globalism’ and all, cities and youth culture are becoming the same everywhere. Same clothes. Same parties (thank you very much Vice Magazine and American Apparel). I think some slower rustic town like Porto or Val Paraiso in Chile would be better for us to record in. I want to make a record in Antarctica, but I think the two Swedes would freeze to death. So, Berlin is better somehow, for slowing down and taking time to make something.

You have all since moved to separate spots. How does this affect working on new material?
We recorded our new record, Again and Again in Paris. So with that being finished, we can live in different cities again (for a little while). We try to record new ideas independently and then work them out into songs when we meet up.

How did you come together with the label Kitsuné?
Kitsuné . . . mmm. They suck actually. They have some say for hyping bands. But then they are incapable of releasing full lengths. They f**ked around a lot with us . . . promised us a lot. [They] [m]ade us wait one year and didn’t release our record . . . Gildas [Kitsuné co-founder] . . . makes the label for fashion purposes. Not music. C'mon, they sell blue jeans for 300 euros and sweaters for 800 euros . . . think about it. In December, when we released our record Play Music on a small independent (Sea You Records), he tried to sue us and block its release, claiming that he owned the masters. . . No, we do not share their beliefs or aesthetics. We would like to expose the company as being -- soulless!

The debut album Play Music received a lot of (well-deserved) critical attention, and particularly the brilliant track "Drugs In My Body". Could you tell us how the latest EP Really Like to See You Again follows from and departs from the debut release?
Well. We were still learning how to produce when we made Play Music. “Drugs In My Body” was recorded in our living room in one evening. There is kind of a dislocation in Play Music. Some songs we began in 2005 but did not finish until 2007. Really Like To See You Again is kind of a preview to our next album. I think it is more solid.

When can we expect the next long player? Any surprises in store?
It has lots of backing vocals. And it is more organic. Lots of guitar. I think it is more catchy than the last record. It is still pretty psychedelic in that space rock kind of way.

Could you tell us a bit about the imagery you gravitate to for you videos (for example, the video for "Program Of The First Part" features clips from the classic (TRON)?
Well, I saw a lot of these films late at night on television when I was a child. The film stock and lighting maybe reminds me of my childhood. There is a purity to these films that is missing in new cinema I think. The characters are mostly outsiders / people running away. We are going to try to produce some videos for the new record. Hopefully they will turn out good too.

Who do you see as being particularly innovative in music right now?
Mikey Bones. He has got a story to tell. Nobody is really telling stories anymore.

If you close your eyes, where do you imagine your tracks being played?
I think it is played in a variety of settings to a variety of people. Morning, day and night. At home or in the car. Probably by some confused people.

What's on your hi-fi at the moment?
Scott Walker, “Best Of Both Worlds” (from Scott 2, 1968)
Sade, “Why Can't We Live Together” (from Diamond Life, 1984)
Sam Cooke, “Feel It” (from Live At The Harlem Club, 1963)
Pat Metheny “Phase Dance” (from The White Album, 1978)
Michael Nyman, “Fish Beach” (from Drowning By Numbers, 1988)

MySpace

Lusine
"Two Dots"
From A Certain Distance
Ghostly International (2009)

Listen to "Two Dots" MP3




"Two Dots" is the first single from the release A Certain Distance from Seattle's Lusine (a/k/a Jeff McIlwain). On this track, McIlwain (a sometimes soundtrack composer) manipulates the organic sounds of drums and strings, setting them off against the crisp, accented vocals of Finland's Vilja Larjosto. The strength of this track lies in its seeming simplicity, altered snares racing at a steady clip coupled with an uplifting, melodic chorus which foregoes the usual dance lyrics, instead seeing Larjosto asking who is responsible for the not so benign consequences of geometry (relationships - as - trigonometry). "Two Dots" is just one of the highlights on this excellent second release from Lusine on Ghostly International.

The "Two Dots" single also contains a remix by Dave Pezzner (of Jacob London) as well McIlwain's own dance floor rethink.

Check Lusine's MySpace page for a list of European dates through the end of November 2009.

Lusine (Official) | MySpace | Watch

What's On The Hi-Fi Podcasts are also available for subscription at iTunes.

Listen to "What's On The Hi-Fi Ep. 4” MP3

"In The Summer In The Heat" - Shannon Stephens
We see a broad and bright future from the former Sufjan Stevens bandmate. On the track she bares her soft but not brittle vocals over a richly picked and strummed acoustic guitar and a distant, spare bassline.
Asthmatic Kitty Records | MySpace

"Words of Love" – Jeremy Jay
Inspired by Françoise Hardy and the French New Wave (fans of Jens Lekman take note), Jeremy Jay creates an exceptional cover of a Buddy Holly classic. It's just him and a guitar, and it works so good.
K Records | MySpace

"Dishwasher" - Fujiya & Miyagi
Formed in Brighton in 2000, Fujiya & Miyagi are purveyors of the 70’s Krautrock popularized by bands such as Can and Neu!. The band’s name comes from the now infamous, waxing on and off teacher from The Karate Kid movies and a brand of a record player. They've produced several LP's and remix albums including 2008's Light Bulbs and their songs have found mainstream commercial success being featured in ads ranging from Jaguar to Miller Lite Beer.
Fujiya & Miyagi (Official) | MySpace

"Boulders" – Luxury Pond
Toronto-based musician, Dan Goldman is the force behind this sweet, lush and eclectic track that effortlessly fuses vocal harmonies and electronic samples into a building, ethereal and at times somber sound.
Luxury Pond(Official) | MySpace

"Halleluja" - [ingenting]
Thanks go out to Kristian Dahl of Lacrosse for turning us on to this steller pop track from Sweden's [ingenting]! "Halleluja!", sung in Swedish, confidently swaggers along on Brit-pop riffs and a joyous melodic chorus. Its no wonder why this indie-pop track has been a top play on Swedish radio over the past few months. While the subtleties of the Swedish language may escape us, this delightfully addictive tune remains firmy stuck in our heads. "Halleluja!" is the first single from the album Tomhet, idel tomhet (which, in a rather stark contrast to the track, we understand means "emptiness, nothing but emptiness") and is out now on Labrador. Watch
[ingenting] (Official) | MySpace

"6174" - Don’t Wait Animate
Fusing indie and dubstep, Londoners Don't Wait Animate create a terrifically warped and frenetic vibe, which as the story goes, was first christened "strumstep" by an excited (and rather lit) fan after a show. Each of the members of this five-piece brings to the group varied musical influences and affinities, and together they meticulously distill these into a heady and genre / era crossing concoction. Keep these guys on your radar! Watch the video for "6174".
Don't Wait Animate (Official) | MySpace

"Bicycle" - Memory Tapes
Weird Tapes, Memory Cassette and Memory Tapes are all monikers of one-man-band Dayve Hawk who has recently released his first full-length Seek Magic. Liquid mercury tracks stream along on drum machine beats, detailed layered melodies and Dayve's pitched and muted vocals, creating an album of energized, but confidently chilled, electro-pop tracks. Give a listen to the first single "Bicycle" which ebbs and flows with late 80's New Order-style electro-pop guitars, synths and sharp-edged beats. The track is also available for download at We're Tapes.
Official | MySpace | Acephale Records | Sincerely Yours


"My Body’s A Zombie For You" – Dead Man’s Bones
Hollywood star Ryan Gosling and Zach Shields take their love of all things macabre into the studio for an intriguing mix of doo wop, kid's chorus anthem, and the Misfits.
Dead Man's Bones (Official) | MySpace

"War" - BMX
Hailing from the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, Australia, BMX bring blissed-out fun on this refreshing and imaginative track. The electro-pop sound is a wandering journey of danceable energy.
MySpace

"König" - Omo
Born in spring 2004. Omo (a.k.a Berit Immig and David Muth) have developed a sound based on mellow acoustic textures, amped-up casio's and Theremin sounding vocals.
Omo (Official) | MySpace

"Tall Countryside" - Shannon Wright
Wright's "Tall Countryside" from her album Honeybee Girls is a beautiful and melodic piece that combines her soft, commanding voice, a steady fingered guitar and a lonely snare drum keeping time. It feels like a walk through the woods on a distant, autumn afternoon watching the sun punch wholes through the falling orange leaves. It is an evocative tale from a powerful singer-songwriter.
Shannon Wright (Official) | MySpace

"Beyond Blue" - Limes
The Limes must surely be the only North Carolina / Paris band around. The band recenty now released a cinematic self-titled collection of songs which run the gamut of styles highlighted by the sunny strains of Beach Boys sing-a-long "Beyond Blue". The Limes is out now on Sauvage Records.
The Limes (Official) | MySpace

Podcast Quicktime

Founded in 1977 by Didier Marouani (also known as Ecama), Roland Romanelli, and Jannick Top, Space first three albums — Magic Fly, Deliverance and Just Blue — sold over 12 million records worldwide and spawned the #1 hit "Magic Fly". Leader Didier Marouani left the band in 1979, but the other two members Roland Romanelli and Jannick Top released the forgettable Deeper Zone under the name of Space. The original lineup was officially disbanded by 1981. Although, Marouani released albums as Didier Marouani & Space and Paris-France-Transit in the 1980's the efforts failed to reach the success of the original lineup.

The bands legacy was apparent in bands such as Daft Punk (who even wore the trademark Space helmets), Cassius and Alex Gopher who started a new wave of French electronica dance-pop in the 90's.

Nang Records has brought Space back again full circle with the release of digital versions of the bands four albums and a best of set available in November. Listening to songs such as "Magic Fly" you can experience a sound as fresh today as it was 30 years ago.

Watch out for a subsequent revival and get ready to hear remixes in clubs and lounges around the world.

Listen to "Deliverance" MP3


Listen to "Magic Fly” MP3


SPACE (Official) | Nang Records

Formed in Brighton in 2000, Fujiya & Miyagi are purveyors of the 70’s Krautrock popularized by bands such as Can and Neu!. The band’s name comes from the now infamous, waxing on and off teacher from The Karate Kid movies and a brand of a record player.

They've produced several LP's and remix albums including 2008's Light Bulbs and their songs have found mainstream commercial success being featured in ads ranging from Jaguar to Miller Lite Beer.

David (Miyagi) Best of Fujiya & Miyagi was kind enough to give us a few examples from his vast knowledge of Krautrock and electronica. Here's what's on their hi-fi this week.

Franco Battiato - "Mecanics"
This is from the 1972 LP Fetus and there is an Italian and English version. It is a very unique sounding record with lots of good synth sounds and great melodies. It's hard to describe as there is so much going on in it. It's quite proggy in places but seems more mental than self indulgent. I believe Jim O'Rourke is a big fan.

Vangelis - "The Dragon"
This is more like an Elongated Aphrodites Child song than Chariots of Fire. It has a fuzz bass all the way through it and it lasts for about 15 minutes. It reminds me of Beefheart and Zappa's "Willie the Pimp" for some reason. I like to listen to this when i'm shopping in supermarkets.

Silver Apples - "I Have Known Love"
I love the Silver Apples and this is probably their most accessible song from their second LP called Contact. It's like a number one pop song from a parallel universe that keeps going round and round your brain. Any song that just has live drums, singing and electronics on it is always going to be a favourite.

Chrissy Zebby tembo & Ngozi Family - "Troublemaker"
This is from an LP called My Ancestors from 1974 which was recorded in Zambia. The music reminds me of a fuzzed up Modern Lovers but i'm just listening to it again as I write this and it sounds nothing like the Modern Lovers. Maybe it sounds like an outtake from Can's Delay 1968 . Maybe it doesn't.
it's a joyous sounding record.

Don Cherry - "Brown Rice"
This has a wahwahed fuzz double bass and very, very whispered vocals. I don't know if Don Cherry did any other songs like this one, if so i'd like to hear them. It's a cross between Donald Byrd's "Cristo Redentor", Miles Davis' The Complete Jack Johnson sessions and something from Can's Landed LP or maybe "Dizzy Dizzy" from Soon Over Babaluma.

Listen to Fujiya & Miyagi's "Dishwasher” MP3


Fujiya & Miyagi (Official) | MySpace

Shannon Wright
"Tall Countryside"
from Honeybee Girls
Vicious Circle (2009)

Listen to "Tall Countryside” MP3

Wright's "Tall Countryside" from her album Honeybee Girls is a beautiful and melodic piece that combines her soft, commanding voice, a steady fingered guitar and a lonely snare drum keeping time. It feels like a walk through the woods on a distant, autumn afternoon watching the sun punch wholes through the falling orange leaves. It is an evocative tale from a powerful singer-songwriter.

Shannon Wright (Official) | MySpace

With New York bracing with excitement for the upcoming CMJ NYC 2009 (October 20-24), we've put together our list of favourite bands to watch out for this year. We will add a supplement list at the end of the week. Check back in!


Care Bears On Fire
October 20
@ Bowery Ballroom - 6 Delancey St.
7:00PM to 8:00PM
MySpace



Mon Khmer
October 20
@ Cameo Gallery - 93 N. 6th St.
9:00PM to 10:00PM
MySpace



Paper Route
October 20
@ Union Hall - 702 Union St., Brooklyn, NY
10:00PM to 11:00PM
MySpace



Takka Takka
October 21
@Knitting Factory - 361 Metropolitan Ave.
8:30PM to 9:10PM
MySpace



Tigercity
October 21
@ Bowery Ballroom - 6 Delancey St..
9:00PM to 10:00PM
MySpace



ZaZa
October 21
@ Cake Shop - 152 Ludlow St.
9:45PM to 10:30PM
MySpace



Bear Hands
October 21
@ Mercury Lounge - 217 E. Houston St.
11:00PM to 12:00AM
MySpace



Choir Of Young Believers
October 23
@ Pianos - 158 Ludlow St. (btwn Stanton & R...
1:00AM to 2:00AM
MySpace



Violens
October 23
@ Bowery Ballroom - 6 Delancey St.
10:00PM to 11:00PM
MySpace



Sin Fang Bous
October 24
@ Le Poisson Rouge - 158 Bleecker St.
8:00PM to 9:00PM
MySpace

Department of Eagles
"No One Does It Like You"

Every once in a while you stumble on a real gem of a video by a really great band. Although, much of Daniel from Department of Eagles time has been spent with Grizzly Bear, they did release "No One Does It Like You" as a special showing at the MOMA a few months back. The video, directed by Patrick Daughters and Marcel Dzama, is equal parts Pink Floyd "The Wall", The Red Shoes dance/musical from the 30's and Monty Python's Meaning of Life...oh and Casper the Ghost.

Enjoy!



Department of Eagles (Official) | MySpace

The Limes
Self-Titled
September 2009
Sauvage Records

Listen to "Beyond Blue” MP3


The Limes must surely be the only North Carolina / Paris band around. Started in 2006 as a transatlantic writing project, David Simonetta (Paris), Brent Ballantyne (Durham, NC), Orouni (Paris), John Hale (Carrboro, NC) and Mina Tindle (Paris) have now released a cinematic self-titled collection of songs which run the gamut of styles. Tracks range from the sunny strains of Beach Boys sing-a-longs (the infectious "Beyond Blue"), spaghetti western pop ("San Francisco Waters", "Dead Furniture"), nostalgic folk ("Between Roof & Bird"), to Devo-style electronica ("City Lights"). One of the standouts is the mini-epic "Big Top Head", a track which coaxes you down the eerie fairway of old time carnival, and with its wizened hand on your shoulder, leads you into the glow of the fortune teller's tent. A wonderful mix of tracks from an uninhibited imagination, The Limes is out now on Sauvage Records.

The Limes (Official) | MySpace

Frànçois is an artist (both musical and visual) who deftly melds the influences of his native France with those of his adopted home of Bristol. His lo-fi indie pop is at once warm and intimate and often unabashedly joyous. There is a welcome unhurried and ambeling feel to his naive songcraft and a soft reassurance in his reserved vocals, combining to lay out landscapes often plucked from Frànçois' passions and memories, as is the case on the beautiful EP Her River Raves Recollections. A true delight.

Look for Frànçois' releases on Stich Stich Records, Lejos Discos and Talitres Records.

Listen to: "Royan" (opener from the EP Her River Raves Recollections) MP3


You are originally from Charente-Maritime (the South-West of France), but have been based in Bristol for a few years now. How did this move come about?
I got offered a job as a French assistant at the Bristol Cathedral School. I was very pleased to move to Bristol; I liked the atmosphere of the music coming from there (Crescent, early Tricky, Portishead).

How does growing up in Saintes play into your music and lyrical imagery?
Saintes was a boring city for the teenager that I was. It's very calm especially at weekends. When my friends took me on the back of their scooters to go skateboarding on Sundays we would be riding in deserted streets. There is a feeling of melancholy and desolation in the air.

It's exactly the type of city described in Dominique A's song: "Je suis une ville de chantiers ajournés, de fetes municipales de peu de volonté".

How would you describe Bristol to friends back in France? How did you become involved with the local music scene?
All my French friends who visited Bristol loved it. It's a very easy city to love. The underground art scene is dynamic and friendly. It's easy to get involved. There's no snobbery. Crusty hippies and trendy hipsters work together in volunteer run cinemas and cafés.

How did you assemble the musicians of "The Atlas Mountains"?
By meeting friends. By involving whoever is available amongst the people I get on with. The Atlas Mountains is just the name I give to my backing band, but its members change all the time and are from different group of friends. A few examples: Rory Pilgrim was a pupil at my school, Victor Crespi and Amaury Ranger are old friends from Saintes, Rozi Plain is my girlfriend, Rachael Dadd is a singer I met at an open mic night, Rob Hunter is my flatmate, etc.

One of our favourite tracks is "Tracy Emin" from the Brother release. Could you tell us a bit about this track dedicated to the Turner prize winner?
It's a dream I had one night. She was keeping people locked up to make them go crazy and filming their reactions.

You are also passionate about painting and filmmaking (the artwork on your releases is often that of Frànçois himself). How do theses passions weave into his music?
I see it as one big body of work. My stage name is also my artist name. Frànçois the painter = Frànçois the musician. It's a different way to express my vision of the world and explain my way of life. I think they join. I think my music and my drawings have a common feel. I rarely lie when I do art. It's very honest most of the time. Sometimes I use a bit of effect here and there, but the intention is always to be direct and true.

How do you choose between writing / singing in French or English?
Poetry comes to me in both languages. I think French is a beautiful language. I can't get enough of reading poems by Baudelaire or novels by Camus and Vian. But at the same time English is very playful and funky sounding. I need both to express feelings and create imagery.

The tracks from your EP Her River Raves Recollections and the long player Plaine Inondable [Out 14 September on Talitres Records] were recorded in an array of locations. Could you tell us how these recordings came about and your approach to the releases?
Her River Raves Recollections is a sort of collection of songs recorded at different places and times, but they have in common the feel of water. One side of the vinyl is the River Side, and the other is the Sea Side. I need to go in the water very often. If I don't swim in the sea or the river for a long time, I start feeling confused … All the songs on the EP refer to that feeling in one way or another. It's an intimate affair - a lot of it was recorded on a 4 track that fits in the palm of my hand. So when I recorded it, it was like talking quietly to someone. I recorded a lot of it outdoors, picking up the surrounding sounds.

Plaine Inondable was recorded in one place: Saintes. The songs talk to the city and its surrounding, the fields along the river Charente that gets covered by the water every winter when the rain makes the river flood. It's got melancholy in it and also more foreign rhythmical backgrounds that express the desire to move away from Saintes, the will to travel to Africa (calabash beats), California (70's guitars) or Eastern Europe (Bulgarian female vocals harmonies), etc. Sound wise it is more produced, the ideas are more developed and the sound is richer.

It has been said that you are not particularly influenced by contemporary acts? Is this the case, and if so, what types of music are you the most attracted to?
I like some modern things, and I love watching bands live. At the moment I enjoy listening to hip hop and R&B artists like Kanye West, Clipse, Lil' Wayne. But it is true that a big part of my influences is music from the 70's (Arthur Russell, Philip Glass, music from Mali, Nigeria and Ethiopia recorded in the 70's), and also composers from previous centuries (Debussy, Satie, Chopin, Rachmaninoff, Bach).

What is on your hi-fi at the moment?
"The Balled of Dorothy Parker" - Prince
Because I just found out Prince is a giant. I love the way he combines the profile of a superstar who looks and acts cool and an artists who spends all of his time in his studio experimenting with funky ideas.

"Two Weeks" - Grizzly Bear
An example of how modern production can create purity of sound and make simple pop songs that don't sound dull.

"Silver Boat" - Ladybird
He is my friend and a constant inspiration. The simplicity in his music and its intentions move me.

"Mr. Me Too" - Clipse
Because it's pure groovy.

"The Lady With The Braid" - Dory Previn
A lesson in songwriting. Better than Dylan because she's not a poser. I discovered her through my friend Tracyanne Campbell from Camera Obscura, so I also like that song because it reminds me of her.


Frànçois (Official) | MySpace

Memory Tapes
"Bicycle"
from Seek Magic
Acephale Records / Sincerely Yours, 2009

Listen to "Bicycle” MP3

Weird Tapes, Memory Cassette and Memory Tapes are all monikers of one-man-band Dayve Hawk who has recently released his first full-length Seek Magic. Liquid mercury tracks stream along on drum machine beats, detailed layered melodies and Dayve's pitched and muted vocals, creating an album of energized, but confidently chilled, electro-pop tracks.

Give a listen to the first single "Bicycle" which ebbs and flows with late 80's New Order-style electro-pop guitars, synths and sharp-edged beats. The track is also available for download at We're Tapes.

Pick up Seek Magic from Rough Trade Shops and get a bonus CD

Official | MySpace | Acephale Records | Sincerely Yours