Daily Doses: Keep Shelly In Athens “Running Out Of You” From The In Love With Dusk EP (2010)

Grecian outfit Keep Shelly In Athens has twisting up my speakers for about five months now, and each new song has confirmed them as one of my favorite new artists.

From their appearance on GvsB with the stunning “Cremona Memories” and “Fokionos Negri Street” to their more recently released “A Tear In My I”, KSiA hasn’t missed a beat, delivering their own spin on balearic tinged pop with wonderful consistency.

Here, on this new track from their upcoming EP on the fantastic Forest Family Records, KSiA kills in a down-tempo number that starts out recalling Portishead’s “Wandering Star” with it’s ethereal vocals and piercing creepy high end, before breaking out into a power synth, anthem-esque outro.

As with all their tracks, the confidence and maturity exhibited by KSiA in their musical choices and directions is a beautiful thing.

Really couldn’t be stronger in my recommendation of this EP. Also, coming in a limited edition of 500, from a label that has routinely sold out their runs during the pre-order… If you want it, get it quick.

Download Keep Shelly In Athens’ “Running Out Of You”

Pre-Order Keep Shelly In Athens’ In Love With Dusk EP From Forest Family Records (Colored Vinyl, Limited Edition of 500)

(Via FFR)

Daily Doses: Hammocks and Honey “Simple Things” From The Spellbinder EP (2010)

I’m rarely a fan of “pretty” lyrical music, by which I mean music that vacantly reflects upon mundane details as if when you add a melody to a passing thought it becomes profound, or worth spending time with. 

I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with that music. I’m not even saying I never listen to it. I’m just saying that like most one-night stands, It’s best forgotten as soon as it’s over, and I’d rather not be reminded later of the embarrassing details by talking about them here.

What separates this track from Melbourne’s Hammocks and Honey from that pack of three and out mp3’s littering my iTunes is two important things.

First, and most important, is the immersive production is both interesting and soul catching. Darting keys, sampled stumbles, and artificial tropical beats perfectly and lovingly EQ’d into something that just licks your ears like an inquisitive lover.

Second, is self-awareness. In “Simple Things” singer Prudence Rees-Lee isn’t trying to move against the music. She isn’t waxing philosophical in opposition to the movement of the track in order to sell something, nor is she so buried in it’s sweetness as to make her voice and lyrics so non-contrasting as to be unimportant. Instead she drifts along with it with just the right amount of involvement, harmonizing and cooing in powerful emotional compliment to the production wrapping around her. 

So sure, she’s singing about the simple things, but with just the right amount of complexity. 

Download Hammocks And Honey’s “Simple Things”

To pre-order Hammocks And Honey’s Spellbinder EP (Limited Edition On Gold Vinyl):

 If you would like to pre-order the vinyl, please email dan@specialawardrecords.com, and he will put your name on the list.

More details at www.hammocksandhoney.com

Daily Doses: Soars “Throw Yourself Apart” From Soars (Out Oct. 5th 2010)

Have you ever had those mornings you just can’t wake up?

Every time you try to open your eyes, the weight of gravity drags at them like undertow, holding them shut, and pulling you back down into slumber. Creating dreams that are constantly interrupted and transformed; Tiny, fragmented, explosions made up mostly of emotion.

Soars self-titled debut album is like that. Coming out of Pennsylvania’s Leigh Valley, Soars’ songs are awash with waves of guitar that pull you about, as the vocals build  wispy worlds that are alive for only minutes at a time, and can end as abruptly as they started. Sometimes those endings flow together without a seam, and sometimes they’re accompanied with sudden blasts of confusing disparity that may startle your eyes open for a second, almost allowing you to escape…

But then the next song starts, and you’re pulled right back in.

Keep An Eye On La Societe Expeditionnaire For Soars Self Titled Debut Release On 12” Colored Vinyl

Daily Doses: Mountain Man “Dog Song” From Sun Dog EP (2010) and Made The Harbor LP (2010) 

An “Embarrassment of riches” is defined as “Too much of something” or “Too much of a good thing.”

In the vinyl market, the reason it’s too much is not because we can’t take that much amazing music at the same time. It more applies in the occurrence of so many quality, limited edition items hitting at the same time, that they quickly strip your already threadbare wallet to the very bone.

This week, Vermont’s Mountain Man appears determined eat even the bone.

If you haven’t heard of Mountain Man, and need more than the song above, I’d recommend watching the stunning video from Yours Truly of Mouthwings HERE to get an idea of what they do. You can also read a biography HERE, which includes some brief blurbs about the writing of each song. I’ll just describe it as “Transcendental vocal alchemy” and leave it at that.

But you wanted to know how they’re going to rape even the soul from your worn and tattered wallet.

Apparently they decided that releasing one full length, colored vinyl (limited edition of 300) on Partisan wasn’t enough. So they paired up with blog favorite Underwater Peoples to release a “super limited” EP with alternate recordings as well. Don’t worry, if you wait a week, I’m sure they’ll be gone.

Of course the most embarrassing thing will probably be explaining to your girlfriend you can’t take her out to dinner this week because you spent all your money on three other women.

Order Mountain Man’s “Made The Harbor” Limited Edition of 300 In Coke Bottle Green From Partisan Records

Order Mountain Man’s “Sun Dog EP” Super Limited Edition In Sea Foam Green From Underwater Peoples

Note: To be clear the song posted above appears on both albums, but I’m not sure if it appears on either in the form posted as that’s from an earlier digital self release.

Something Borrowed:
New Releases: 
Reblog From: forestfamily

Pre-order the debut 7” from Lafayette, Colorado’s Gauntlet Hair. Limited to 500 copies on clear/white “cloudy” vinyl, with cover art featuring the Gauntlet Hair compound. Will ship on or before June 8 release date. Download both tracks below, and grab the 7” here while they last.

DOWNLOAD:

Gauntlet Hair :: I Was Thinking…

Gauntlet Hair :: Our Scenery

PRESS:

“Particularly heart-melting is Gauntlet Hair’s “I Was Thinking,” which is five minutes of cascading guitar bliss and shivery echoing vocals that sound like the wind blowing through your hair down the open road. Someone needs to put it on a movie soundtrack immediately.”

—THE FADER

“…a snowball made of sunlight and wrapped in glass, floating in a hall of reverb. It probably also has a Cadbury Creme center, for all I know”

—STRATOSPHERING

“…delirious, fire-spewing stomper from this Denver-based avant-pop duo…an unstoppable melodic heart that beats like it just ran an Alaskan winter mile in short-shorts…”

—PITCHFORK

[buy]

Normally I’d add something, but other than I hoped the Gauntlet Hair Compound was more like this, I think it’s all pretty much covered here! Give a listen to “I Was Thinking”, as well as read up on some hilarious Gauntlet Hair Dickery HERE.

Also, the last Forest Family release sold out it roughly a week. So if you don’t want to miss out, I wouldn’t sit on it.

Along with the regular Vinyl and CD releases for The National’s new album, High Violet. 4AD has apparently decided to keep record store alive just a little bit longer by offering a limited edition colored “deluxe limited edition” at certain independent record stores.

Also, it’s a 2xLP that will also have foil stamping, and a chance to win $50.00 in store credit if you find the one with the magic ticket! I think someone may have been watching “Charlie And The Chocolate Factory” a little too much.

Click on the link in the letter below to see if it’s available at a store near you.

From 4AD:

LIMITED EDITION DELUXE VERSION AT INDIE RETAIL

The deluxe limited edition DLP and CD will be available at these fine Independent Retailers. Many of these stores also have ONE special copy of High Violet which randomly contains a “Violet Ticket”. This ticket is redeemable for $50 store credit. Click the link to see the stores in your neighborhood.

Digital download vouchers are included with the vinyl LP in the U.S. only.

As the e-mail from Captured Tracks puts it:

We have less of these available then people on our mailing list, first come, first serve…

So I’ll keep this real brief -

Get ‘em while their hot.

Listen To Wild Nothing On Myspace

Listen To Beach Fossils On Myspace

Order Beach Fossils and Wild Nothing Debut On Clear Vinyl

Ahhhh yes, nothing like a little market diluting reissues to make any vinyl collector clap with glee.

Starting with announcing the reissue of Pearl Harbor’s Something About The Chapparrals, Mexican Summer has now added a few others including Real Estate’s Reality EP to the mix. Reality was originally released in a numbered edition of 1000, and you can now add 1000 Tie-died color copies, as well as another 1000 plain black to that count.

On the one hand, while 2000 copies should take a bit longer to move, the last one did sell out rather quickly.

On the other hand, they’ve now had three issues of this record in the last six months.

Probably no need to rush.

Also included in the reissue set are Kurt Vile’s God Is Saying This To You and Washed Out’s Life Of Leisure

Order Mexican Summer Reissue’s From Aural Exploits 

Daily Doses: Deer Tick “20 Miles” From Black Dirt Sessions (2010)

Deer Tick’s (AKA lead singer John McCauley and company) has been consistently, and relatively quietly, delivering their own spin on Americana since around 2004. Their last release, the More Fuel For The Fire EP, was released early this year and has been getting steady spins on my turntable since it’s release.

McCauley’s songs are often about things that remain slightly out of reach, and “20 Miles” is no exception. Dreams, destinations, and most of all love are just close enough to tempt, but too far away to quench.

And as long as the songs are this good, I can only hope the characters in his songs never get satisfaction.

Order Black Dirt Sessions on Limited Edition Red Vinyl W/ Black Streaks

Rough Trade U.K is releasing a 7” for Surfer Blood’s single Swim, and yes, the Unknown Pleasures spoof with the cover art is intentional. As a bonus for pre-order’s,

“Pre order the 7” and you will get the super limited coloured vinyl version. It’s that simple. Otherwise you will get the bog standard black vinyl version” - Via Rough Trade

As a collector, I never see any reason to pre-order an item if it’s just going to be the exact same version I would buy in stores a month later, and save on shipping, and I’ll pass on that information they send to you when mentioning pre-order items. However, the bonus gift of “colour” makes this a worthwhile investment that’ll cover the shipping costs in the long run.

The b-side of the 7” is an Allen Blickle from Baroness remix of swim, which you can hear here.

Order Surfer Blood Swim Here