[on repeat] GASHCAT

With a name like GASHCAT, I had no idea what to expect.  After 10 seconds into my first listen, I didn’t care what their name was.  All I cared about was hearing more.

Originally from Mississippi, the five some (i think) released their debut LP Reunion! in March 2011.  More recently, the group had a strong showing at this year’s SXSW and are now currently working on a new record and touring the east coast, with plans to venture out west for some mid-summer shows.  It’s a bit difficult to pin down their “sound”, but Robin Hilton of NPR Music put it best — “Neutral Milk Hotel for the 21st century.”  If you’ve ever listened to the All Songs Considered podcast, you know Robin is a big fan of Neutral Milk Hotel, so this is an even bigger compliment.  Don’t believe Robin?  Listen to “Ghost of a Ghost”, “Melanie”, or “The Morning Sun” and you’ll definitely hear the resemblance.

I’m really excited to see what GASHCAT has in store for us.  In the meantime, I’m gonna continue listening to Reunion! on repeat, as you should too.

♩GASHCAT//The Morning Sun (from Reunion!)

♩GASHCAT//Ghost of a Ghost (from Reunion!)

♩GASHCAT//Melanie (from Reunion!)

more: facebook // twitter // tumblr // bandcamp // iTunes

[on the road] Sigur Rós

Sigur Rós will begin their world tour in July.  Featuring eleven people on stage, the shows this summer are a combination of festival appearances and headlining shows.  A fan pre-sale for selected North American dates is coming soon.

North American Tour Dates
July 30 – Philadelphia, PA (Skyline Stage at The Mann)
July 31 – Brooklyn, NY (Celebrate Brooklyn – Prospect Park Bandshell)
August 1 – Toronto, ON (Echo Beach at Molson Canadian Ampitheatre)
August 3 – Montreal, QB (Osheaga Festival Musique Et Arts)
August 4 & 5 – Chicago, IL (Lollapalooza)
August 8 – Seattle, WA (The Paramount Theater)
August 9 – Troutdale, OR (Edgefield Ampitheatre)
August 12 – Los Angeles, CA (Hollywood Forever Cemetery)
[full list of tour dates]

♩ Sigur Rós//Ekki Mukk (from Valtari)

Valtari is due out May 28th (29th in the US)

sigur-ros.co.uk // facebook // twitter // iTunes

[happenings] April 13 – 16

Beach Life Kings @ Central 11/5

If you’re not mud wrestling at Coachella this weekend, consider these weekend show recommendations.

Friday, April 13th – White Fence, Sandwitches, Deep Time (formerly Yellow Fever) @ The Satellite
White Fence – It Will Never Be (from Family Perfume Vol. 1)

Saturday, April 14th – Beach Life Kings @ Central Social Aid & Pleasure Club (21+)
♩ Beach Life Kings & Mychael K//Sunset (Original Mix)

Sunday, April 15th – Snow Angel, Laura Serafine, Kit-N-Tenders, Hardly An Aviator, Rachel Antony-Levine @ Lot 1 Cafe

[hot off the press] Afrobeta

Miami’s avant-dance duo Afrobeta have been tearing up dance floors for years, and they have made a splash yet again with the release of their latest mix tape,Wig Party. Cuci Amador and Tony “Smurphio” Laurencio formed Afrobeta in 2006 as a way to share their mutual love of songwriting and dancing till 5 a.m.

Wig Party is available to download for free on Afrobeta’s Facebook, as a “thank you” to their much-loved fans. The release features several new singles, remixes of previously released songs, mashups and a new take on Devo’s classic “Whip It!”

Afrobeta’s unique songs transcend genre classifications—Cuci’s rapid-fire delivery, combined with Smurphio’s funky synths and head-bopping bass lines are sure to keep audiences moving for all ten tracks. The duo explains, “Participating in the Identity Festival tour this past summer really influenced the making of Wig Party. We wrote the songs ‘Virtual Life’ and ‘Anthem’ while on the road. We were very fortunate to have DiscoTech remix our song ‘Love is Magic’ and we would also like to thank the Nervo twins for their informal birthday greeting intro on ‘Birthday Situation.'”

Wig Party marks Afrobeta’s first release since their 2011 LP Under the Streets. The band was ready for a change of pace after a busy tour schedule over the past couple of years, playing Glastonbury Festival, Burning Man, New York Fall Fashion Week, Ultra Brazil, Space Ibiza, Camp Bisco and Identity Festival. Afrobeta has rocked alongside  artists including Trentemoller, Booka Shade, Hercules and Love Affair, The Crystal Method, Annie Mac, Holy Ghost!, Nero, Kaskade and The Bloody Beetroots. [source: planetary group]

♩ Afrobeta//Love Is Magic (DiscoTech Extended Remix)

♩ Afrobeta//Whip It (Devo cover)

afrobeta.com // facebook // twitter // soundcloud // iTunes

[on repeat] Charli XCX

If you’re a fan of such artists as Grimes, Class Actress, Robyn, Purity Ring, and Niki & The Dove, you’ll love Charli XCX.  I discovered this British pop vixen just last month (via The Hype Machine Radio Show – March 2012) and I was immediately hooked.  It was her special Valentine’s Day track, aptly titled “Valentine”, that initially caught my ear.  Since then though,  I’ve listened to just about everything I can find and haven’t found a track yet that I don’t love.  She’s got a really cool sound, that she describes as “dark pop”,  and her range keeps you wanting more.  In one track, she could be channeling Siouxsie Sioux with a heavy goth-pop ballad and next thing you know, she’s treating you to some of the catchiest synth-pop you’ve heard all year.  No official word yet on when a debut LP will arrive, but she’s working on a EP, due this summer via IAMSOUND, with a full-length to follow late 2012 or early 2013.  I for one can’t wait for more of the “dark pop” stylings of Charli XCX, so stay tuned for more.

Valentine
charlixcxmusic.com
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Expert Music Lover//Amateur Music Blogger