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"One Twenty" is the weirdest, grooviest song you've never heard, and good luck getting it out of your head once you do. Frank Musarra and his compatriots lay down their icky thump and dress it up with a healthy disregard for rules and structure. Frank's remix work with Gregg "Girl Talk" Gillis as Trey Told 'Em has only sharpened and enhanced his sense of melodic terrorism. Grab the 12" on Deleted Art on December 1, but this is the only place you'll find "One Twenty". The novel was a head trip by itself-- now imagine plural.
Sounds Like: Art Brut, White Williams, Japanther
Download: Hearts Of Darknesses - One Twenty
Hearts of Darknesses' RCRD LBL page
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Electric Owls is a new project from Andy Herod of The Comas with contributions from members of his band, Archers of Loaf and Band of Horses, and the "Sounds Like" referenced below are only slightly tongue in cheek. What this song does is capture the sheer size and breadth of prog while retaining a decidely low-fi aesthetic, and the two balance each other out rather nicely. The fuzz bass is equal parts Neutral Milk Hotel and Funkadelic, and it sits on top of the track like a fat bully while the treated vocals, guitars, etc do their thing. The EP is out now on Vagrant; the song is here for you now.
Sounds Like: MGMT, ELO, Rush
Download: Electric Owls - Magic Show
Electric Owls' RCRD LBL page
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LA's El Ten Eleven make a danceable racket that's all the more impressive for being the product of a duo, albeit a power-duo armed with double-necked guitars, basses and a pedal board that probably needs its own trailer. DFA 1979 and Ratatat are obvious antecedents, but these guys place a greater emphasis on layering and manipulating loops on top of a consistently bodyrocking beat. "K10" winds up and drops right in, proceeding to scribble concentric bass lines all over the map as the kick forces the issue. These Promises Are Being Videotaped is out next week on Fake Record Label, but this should suffice in the mean time.
Sounds Like: Justice, Death from Above 1979, Ratatat
Download: El Ten Eleven - K10
El Ten Eleven's RCRD LBL page
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These songs represent the glorious collision of Trans Am and The Make-Up, though it's certainly not initial contact. Sebastian Thomson and Ian Svenonius have been making joyful noise together for some time as members of Weird War, but Publicist is Sebastian's baby, a solo drum and electronics project that focuses on the beauty of the beat. Brother Svenonius throws in his two cents on top of Thomson's polyrhythmic attack, and the listener wins.
Sounds Like: Fiasco, Sally Shapiro, Jacques Renault
Download: Publicist - Chain Gang
Stream: Publicist - System
Publicist's RCRD LBL page
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I know we're all getting a little tired of the endless stream of Swedo-Situationist garage rock, but I'm gonna ask you nicely to make room for one more. The (International) Noise Conspiracy formed like Voltron from the remnants of Refused and a bunch of other Swedish hardcore bands, and ten years later they're still alive with pleasure. The new album Cross of My Calling will be out later this month on Vagrant, but this is the only place you can cop "Boredom of Safety," your typical agit-prop slow dance number that sounds like the MC5 playing at your wedding.
Sounds Like: Division of Laura Lee, The Hives, The Make-Up
Download: The (International) Noise Conspiracy - Boredom of Safety
The (International) Noise Conspiracy's RCRD LBL page
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The Poison Arrows apply and amplify numerous lessons learned from Chicago's after-rock luminaries (Shellac, Tortoise et al) on their new-ish EP from File 13 Records, recorded under the watchful eye of Dr. Albini at Electrical Audio. "Casual Wave" hits a blissful peak around the four minute mark that crests and collapses on itself, as bagpipe synthesizers spread out and play capture the flag across the field of sound. Lay back in the sun, indeed.
Sounds Like: Mogwai, ...And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead, Shellac
Download: The Poison Arrows - Casual Wave
Poison Arrows' RCRD LBL page
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All The Saints' new album Fire on Corridor X drops this week via Touch and Go Records, and on bone white vinyl to boot. "Sheffield" is a solid representation of the proceedings, as the boys lay into it with abandon and throw a fuzz blanket over top for good measure. Production from Ben Allen (Gnarls Barkley) helps keep things thick but fluid, and while the vocals may be buried in the mix, they manage to thrust their way out of the grave at just the right moments.
Sounds Like: A Place to Bury Strangers, Dead Meadow
Download: All The Saints - Sheffield
All The Saints' RCRD LBL page
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These young Bostonian-Americans make pop music, for sure, but it's a particular sort of twisted nervo-pop that references while it rearranges. Their record Get Young is out now on Sub Pop's new Hardly Art imprint, and the average song is about two and a half minutes long, which happens to be the exact attention span of Generation X-Box. "Tora Tora Tora" slices and dices its way through four decades of synth/guitar/bass/drum racket in two minutes flat, before the dust has time to settle anywhere.
Sounds Like: Maximo Park, Art Brut, The Prayers
Download: Pretty & Nice - Tora Tora Tora
Pretty & Nice's RCRD LBL page
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Using the term "supergroup" to describe Magnetic Morning might be a little excessive considering their independent leanings, but the pedigree of the folks involved (Sam Fogarino of Interpol and Adam Franklin of Swervedriver) is undeniable. The fact that the lyrics to "Motorway" are a rough translation of Kraftwerk's timeless "Autobahn" makes this already-catchy tune a must-hear. The album A.M. is available now digitally, with a physical release in January on Friend or Faux Recordings.
Sounds Like: Swervedriver, Interpol, The Album Leaf
Download: Magnetic Morning - Motorway
Magnetic Morning's RCRD LBL page
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Free Blood makes death disco for the living, which is terrifyingly appropriate for this All Hollow's Eve. Together with Brooklyn's new Bomb Squad, production bullies The Brothers, John and Madeline have crafted the thinking wo/man's banger. The beats knock erratically and challenge you to keep up, while your feet twitch about from here to eternity. "Grumpy" also announces their semi-subliminal endorsement for president, (Hint: It's not McCain), which dovetails nicely with our impending election. Happy Hallowlection Day!
Sounds Like: Cut Copy, Justice, !!!
Download: Free Blood - Grumpy
Free Blood's RCRD LBL page
