Music before it happens.
Gold Panda ~ Marriage
Gold Panda is a composer and producer from London known for his warm, crackly electronic sounds and soothing melodies. Under the label Ghostly International (of course), he released the album Lucky Shiner in 2010 to immediate critical acclaim, receiving the Guardian UK’s First Album Award for it. The single Marriage was released as an EP this year, featuring remixes by Star Slinger, Baths, Forest Swords, and Halls. (You can stream the entire EP on Soundcloud.) The song features a melodic beat driving the action, overlaid with simple piano refrains and just enough fuzz to create a sound that warms you from the inside out. It’s a perfect track to put on while watching the cars pass by on a drizzling evening. Dreary, yet soothing.
Zorch ~ Cosmic Gloss
I just moved to New York City a few days ago, just a few blocks away from the recently burglarized DIY venue The Silent Barn. (Link goes to their Kickstarter.) Being an indie geek and a supporter of all things DIY, I decided my first show in the city should be a benefit show for TSB, held at Death by Audio. (Another excellent venue.)
Austin, TX native duo Zorch will be headlining tonight. They’re an experimental group with a penchant for wavy effects and heavy percussion, falling somewhere on the spectrum between dream- and noise-rock. They make heavy use of the interesting Omnichord, a nifty little device manufactured by Suzuki in the 80s. Their sound is brash, trippy, and engaging. I’m excited.
Bibio ~ K is for Kelson (Alt. Version)
Stephen Wilkinson, a British music producer who produces under the name Bibio, is widely known for his innovative use of both musical and ambient samples, as well as his tendency towards a “retro” electronic sound, making use of archaic equipment and instruments. His sound varies widely between upbeat synthpop melodies and slow, Simon and Garfunkel-esque folk ballads, all with his distinctive late-seventies twang. He’s currently signed to Warp Records, under which he released his newest album, Mind Bokeh, in 2011 along with an accompaniment of singles, K is for Kelson.
Mean Lady ~ Far Away
Delaware-based folk pop duo Katie Dill and Sam Nobles are celebrating the release of their first EP, Kid Friendly, with a brand new music video for their single Far Away directed by Christopher Watson. Mean Lady brings together an interesting fusion of folk sounds, hip-hop beats and psychedelia with a twist of Oriental influence in their music while embracing their fans with a positive message of “BE HERE NOW.”
The Kid Friendly EP is being distributed for free by the duo. You can download it here. Show the band some support as well on their Facebook page.
The Antlers ~ Parentheses
The new single from Brooklyn slo-fi band The Antlers’ forthcoming album, Burst Apart. The Antlers established their place in many a melancholy heart with 2009’s soul-wrenchingly sad Hospice. Though a departure from Hospice’s ballads, this track gives an almost eerie, distant sound, coupled perfectly with lead singer Peter Silberman’s distinctive warbling vocals. A promising tease for the new album.
You can stream the entirety of Burst Apart through NPR here. (Link via Crumbler.)
