Klaxons - Surfing The Void coming to the the U.S. soon!

It is no secret that here at Arcadia we are huge fans of Klaxons... I haven't written a review for their new album yet because I want the review to be a little deeper than "OMFG IT'S SO GOOD" lol... In fact I realize that I don't have a whole lot of objectivity with bands like them and Bloc Party so it takes me longer to review the material.

WHILE we are waiting for that... hows about you kids enjoy this live version of "Echoes" in anticipation of their new tour!

Klaxons - "Echoes (Live @ Village Underground)"

Here's some press to tide you over...

“one of the best pop albums of the year – but still one of the most individual and ambitious.” – NME

“Even at low volume, it sounds astonishingly loud and euphoric – a self consciously epic record of rampant
ambition and deliberately arcane weirdness.” – Nylon

It’s been 3 years since Klaxons burst onto the music scene, injecting a dazzling and much needed moment of rave
hedonism into the midst of indie tedium with the truly original and enormously influential Mercury award-winning
album Myths of the Near Future. The band is back with the eagerly awaited follow up, Surfing the Void. This ten
track offering was produced in LA by rock legend Ross Robinson (Sepultura, Slipknot, At the Drive In, The Cure)
and written over the course of a three year long musical journey, it’s a brilliantly diverse and engaging alternative rock
record. While the record is now available to lucky fans overseas, stateside fans that can't wait to download the album at
iTunes on September 21st. The record will see a US physical release in the coming months on tinyOGRE Entertainment.

With the release of Myths of the Near Future the Klaxons burst into the consciousness of music fans everywhere,
going platinum in the UK and gold in Australia, France and Japan. Their debut release earned the band a Mercury
Award, two NME UK awards (Best New Band, Best Album) as well as two NME US awards (Best International Band,
Best International Song). Surfing the Void is already a smash overseas, launching in the top 10 in the UK, France,
Japan, Australia and Germany. Following some fantastic European dates this past summer and performances at
festivals like Reading & Leeds, the band are set to kick of a nationwide headlining tour on our side of the ocean.
Don’t miss your chance to see the band’s riveting live show in a city near you this fall!

We were given a taster of what to expect – or perhaps what not to expect - with the teaser track ‘Flashover’
being streamed on their site and via first single ‘Echoes’ fantastic video. Now it’s time for the full sonic explosion.

“villainous guitar rambling, dread-in-the-gut bass lines, and stentorian falsetto shrieks. But even Klaxons’
most ominously rambunctious tracks grind out plenty of bug-eyed dream pop chants.” – Spin

“it might be time to sit up and pay Klaxons some respect.” – BBC


TOUR DATES
Hoboken, Maxwells – 19th Sept
New York, Bowery Ballroom – 20th Sept
Washington, 9.30 Club – 21st Sept
Brooklyn, Music Hall of Williamsburg 22nd Sept
Boston, Paradise Rock Club – 24th Sept
Columbus, The Basement – 28th Sept
Detroit, Magic Stick – 29th Sept
Chicago, Lincoln Hall – 30th Sept
Minneapolis, Triple Rock Social Club – 1st Oct
Vancouver, Venue – 4th Oct
Seattle, Chop Suey – 5th Oct
San Francisco, Great American Music Hall – 7th Oct
Los Angeles, Filter Magazine Culture Collide Festival – 8th Oct
West Hollywood, Troubadour – 9th Oct

Surfing the Void Tracklist:
1) Echoes
2) The Same Space
3) Surfing the Void
4) Valley of the Calm Trees
5) Venusia
6) Extra Astronomical
7) Twin Flames
8) Flashover
9) Future Memories
10) Cypherspeed

SUPER POST: Ellie Goulding album review, Echo & The Bunnymen live, and win prizes from Record Makers!

Unless you've been in a coma, or are Osama Bin Laden's cavemate, you've probably heard of Ellie Goulding. She's been hailed as the most important musical artist (especially female) since The Beatles and is the future of everything and you should buy her album so you support the future of everything... right?

Well... hype is an AWFUL AWFUL thing... it's such a bad thing in fact that it put Miss Goulding in the hospital last year when she was opening for Florence & The Machine and had a wicked panic attack! And I think it's unfair to pin all the hopes and dreams of electro-pop-dance-futurism on one person all across the board... for example it's one thing for me to say "FRANKMUSIK IS THE GREATEST THING EVER IN THE HISTORY OF EVER" and it's another for every paper, blog, podcast etc to say the same. It makes the artists insane, and it kills credibility (unless you're like Lady Gaga or something and transcend all boundaries), and it creates expectations SO HIGH that they can't be meet...

So how is her album "Lights", the recently released debut from electro-pop's most talked about person since La Roux, when all the hype dust clears?

It's pretty damn good. I'd love to say I thought it was a 10/10 but I feel like maybe there was a "too many cooks spoil the broth" thing going on here with "Lights"... not like Ellie's primary collaborator, the brilliant Starsmith, doesn't know what he's doing... but I sometimes feel like maybe the label said "it's great but I think we need a little more of this" or something because some of the spark that came across in her demos and original versions of these songs is missing (something that often seems to be the byproduct of label tampering).

The album starts off with "Guns and Horses" which has transformed into a more dancefloor ready song compared to it's original version (provided by John Fortis' production). It's much more urgent and I think that's a great addition to the song. Not as hot about the "I'd do it all for you"s at the end of the song but... perhaps that because I'm used to a very different version of this song. "Guns and Horses" does however set a nice thematic tone for the album ("when I'm standing here in the dark I see your face in every star") when paired with "Starry Eyed".

I don't need to tell you anything about "Starry Eyed". It's a brilliant single (produced by Jonny Lattimer). The first time I saw the video I was breathless. My sister cried and couldn't explain why. The song is really that good... and it's this type of perfection that feeds that damn hype monster... but that doesn't take away from it's unbroken heart vulnerability/enthusiasm that makes the track nothing short of precious.


We move on to "This Love (Will Be Your Downfall)" which could easily be a single (but more likely a b-side remix bonanza for the dance kids) it's so catchy. It's lyrics have the quality of a song by The Smiths... in that they're not too upbeat but the song sounds (mostly) like rays of sunshine. This is her genius (again something that is highlighted by Monsieur Starsmith).

"Under The Sheets" is like super sick. The lyrics are really vivid and the production it's subtle without being too slick. I got my 7" copy in the mail the other day and was elated. If you don't know this song I'd be surprised so I don't have a lot to say about it.


Ok, now here is one of the songs that got a substantial overhaul, "The Writer". The last one was completely acoustic guitar, I think, so this version feel very different. This truly has "single" written all over it. It's nothing short of cinematic and I think that actually fits well... it's hard to listen to this version and not see some major love affair of a video, or some climatic problem where a couple gets separated (see see Jacob at the end 'Eclipse' lol)...

"Every Time You Go" is inventive and fun and thankfully doesn't sound like a single... because when an album is nothing but singles you don't ever feel connected to it because it feels far too universal (in my humble opinion). The lyrics on this one keep going with the 'star motif' and are some of the most tear worthy lyrics on the album. I give this one a big thumbs up.

Ok, now here's the tricky one. "Wish I Stayed" is produced by ISoA friend Frankmusik and I'm a tad confused why the album version of this song is so so so different from the original. I like the dubby vocal, the almost Chemical Brother sized beats, and I appreciate Vince's desire to constantly evolve (and change the songs he works on)... so I'm going to guess he just wasn't satisfied going with the version he and Ellie put together quite some time ago? But I still prefer the original to this (however the more I listen to it the more progressive and interesting it sounds). Going back and listening to the original it feels like it's dwarfed by these new changes... but the vocal stuttering, the backwards section after "freefall", the audible background vocals, and the bouncy synth groove of the chorus were what endeared this song to me. BUT the version I'm speaking out would be REALLY out of place on this album soooooooo... ultimately I'd give this one a high grade but would recommend for you the listener to hear the original, and for Vince to do a remix version for an upcoming single. That would be amazing. Ohhhhhh or re-record it as a duet... yeah do that lol :) Here's the album version, and then a download of the original...

Ellie Goulding - "Wished I Stayed (produced by Frankmusik)"

"Your Biggest Mistake" is audibly produced by someone other than Starsmith. It's a good tune but the previous one was so huge that this song was one I had to listen to on it's own and not in the context of the album. It sounds very radio ready? And while very catchy it just doesn't have the impact of some of the other songs for me.

"I'll Hold My Breath" has Ellie and Starsmith back together and you can tell that they are both at their best together. This song isn't all fireworks like their other collaborations on the album but is a brilliant 2nd to last song. It keeps with the 'star motif' again and just sounds right... it just sounds right. There is no other way to explain it.

"Salt Skin" is the perfect album ender, and like watching a supernova or something. It's very experimental, shimmery perfect album closer. I recommend this to all the skeptics because this song touches on something that other albums in this sort of genre haven't.

Add all that together and I'd say it's somewhere between a 8.7/10 to a 9.5/10 lol. It just depends on how the tracks hit you and what you already know about Ellie. Hype aside it's a wonderful debut and is frankly MUCH better than some of her contemporaries who have had very successful careers.

It's often mentioned (in almost every review) that Goulding is a "folkie" dressed up in Frankmusik/Starsmith's poptronica production sheen... which is kind of true? But I'm not exactly sure what it has to do with anything unless staying that is some derisive term to imply she doesn't know which direction she really wants to go in. I think that to focus on that too much is to negate her talent as an artist and is an attempt to corral her into some genre specific cage (which is goofy because I'll bet right now that her next album will sound nothing like this one). Since it doesn't really show up on the album though I thought I'd post some of her more acoustically inclined work :)

"Not Following You"'s lyrics on this are bit like 10cc's "I'm Not In Love" which makes it coy and adorable...
Ellie Goulding - "Not Following You"

This one I listen to a LOT. "The End" stirs up a lot of memories and just sort of sounds like magic... even if the lyrics are a little sad in places...
Ellie Goulding - "The End (Demo)"

I'd post more from Ellie but I think I'd get my ass handed to me by the illusive Polydor. Someone involved in her career said I could probably get away with this remix as well so enjoy, because it's probably the last you'll get from her for a while! This one is for the dubstep heads out there... I also suggest seeking out the Jakwob remix of "Starry Eyed" if you can manage.

Ellie Goulding - "Under The Sheets (Pariah Remix)"

On to something TOTALLY different...

I would say that I've probably listened to "The Killing Moon" as many times as I've brushed my teeth in my life (which is a high number, thank you, not a low number lol) so I was very excited when my friend Zoe shared with me that Echo & The Bunnymen have recorded a NEW VERSION, along with a bunch of other live tracks, for Daytrotter. I was initally a little put off by the 128 kbps download, but there are options to buy, and the interface is really cool and worked smoothly with my Mac... so for all the skeptics, go ahead and register and check it out, it's free!

Ian McCulloch of Echo & The Bunnymen - "A Bunnyman In Rock Island"

Now, normally, you know I don't post things that aren't British... but frankly? I'm starting to see that this is going to be impossible. Why? Because frankly a lot of your favourite artists are on record labels that slap me with DMCA notifications for dumb shit like posting a WIDGET. So I'm willing to play ball with certain individuals/labels that are a step ahead of the average prerogative. So I guess let's intro the uber famous label Record Makers by saying Bobby Gillespie from Primal Scream is on Turzi's new record "B" which is awesome by the way!

Sebastian Tellier has been a pretty non-stop fixture in my car/iPod/phone recently (after wearing myself out on "Sexuality" when it first came out)... so I'm very relieved to see some new material here! The good people at Record Makers have a lot of cool stuff coming out starting with this...


And then there's all this! Have you ever played with the iDaft app? Because if you have then you know how baller this should be...

Launching twelve months of 10th anniversary celebrations in style, the Parisian label Record Makers are proud to announce the release of a free iPhone application along with a special digital compilation to commemorate a decade in existence.

The iPhone application was developed by Sam Vermette (iDaft) and conceived by French contemporary artists Mrzyk & Moriceau. The idea behind the application is to provide the user with a surrealistic visual game, an exquisite corpse in the vein of French surrealism. The introduction theme comes courtesy of label figurehead, Sébastien Tellier, with Mr. Oizo on hand to provide the noises for this eccentric game of mix and match. Unreal graphics appear on your screen, that you can send to your friends at the touch of a button.

Spectacular prizes are on offer to those who find the winning combinations and send in photographic proof to Record Makers HQ. The entire discography is up for grabs, whilst every entry will be entered into a prize draw to win a trip for two to Paris in October including a week’s stay at Hotel Amour and an invite to Record Makers’ anniversary celebrations on 10/10/10.*

- The first 100 to send in one combination will receive 2 CDs / vinyls from the Record Makers discography.

- The first 50 to send in two combinations will receive 10 CDs / vinyls from the Record Makers discography.

- The first 10 to send in three combinations will receive the entire Record Makers discography.

Players only permitted one entry.

You can find the app in the App Store on your iPhone!

Video Teaser - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZ2DrsaBl6A

Head over to www.recordmakers.com for more info and a free download of the video to Sebastien Tellier's 'Look' by Mzyrk and Moriceau.

'Look' Teaser - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X8C33AXf9GY

Competition winners will be announced via twitter.com/recordmakers

Here's a video for the app:


Download the 10th anniversary compilation from iTunes here for super cheap and here at 10 really really interesting facts about the label that you probably want to know...

AND IF THAT WEREN'T ENOUGH... here's a the new Kavinsky called "Nightcall" (which you may have read above is produced by none other than Guy from Daft Punk) and "Pacific Coast Highway":

Nightcall by Kavinsky
Pacific Coast Highway by Kavinsky

WHOO! That was one hell of a post... I've got a bunch from Ninja Tune to post for you guys but it didn't seem like it would fit in this post. Plus I've got the line up for this years Movement and other little tidbits so PLEASE come back... and as usual you comments are always appreciated :) Be back soon!

Music is great again... thank Simian Mobile Disco and Heads We Dance!

I have some wicked live Simian Mobile Disco tracks to give you... BUT first I implore you to check out my favourite new band on the internet. Heads We Dance are about the coolest shit I've run into in a minute. Right at the moment that I've become totally wiped out by the never ending queue of "samey" sounding blog-house in my iTunes this band emerges out of nowhere restoring my faith in internet music. They make songs that feel comfortable in a playlist with stuff from the Kistune Maison albums as well as Depeche Mode and New Order. They site PKD and all sorts of other shit that I love as influences. And they sound fucking awesome... so check out their myspace, listen to their songs, download the tracks below, and make a note that you heard it here first. Because these guys will be big soon. (Speaking of big... they've got DatA & Yuksek remixes on the way... how fucking baller is that?)

Heads We Dance- "My Heart Is Set On You" zShare

Heads We Dance- "My Heart Is Set On You" YSI

Heads We Dance- "Love Version 15" YSI


Ok... now SMD... I've been waiting for this for quite a while. The last time that all the planets aligned and every (dance) album that came out was awesome was roughly 1997 (really it was the tail end of 1996 and the beginning of 1998)...

Back then you had Sneaker Pimps, Fluke, Orbital, Aphex Twin, Photek, Atari Teenage Riot, "Homogenic" by Bjork, Dj Shadow, Prodigy, and a host of other bands who were releasing great albums all at the same time. But most of all you had the Chemical Brothers and Daft Punk. And all of these bands together orbited around the awesome magazines and products of the time (The Face magazine, Wipeout XL videogame, Playstation) and for about a year and a half it looked like the future was here (even in America).

Now we have a new Daft Punk and Chemical Brothers in Justice and Simian Mobile Disco. I mean I realize they sound nothing like their predecessors (ok well maybe there's some Daft Punk in there) but they are the two flagship bands that are going to make this summer (and this year) fucking awesome!

Simian Mobile Disco- "I Believe (Live)" zShare
Simian Mobile Disco- "I Believe (Live)" YSI

Simian Mobile Disco- "It's The Beat (Live)" zShare
Simian Mobile Disco- "It's The Beat (Live)" YSI

Simian Mobile Disco- "Sleep Deprivation (Live)" zShare
Simian Mobile Disco- "Sleep Deprivation (Live)" YSI

And here is the new video for "I Believe"...


So that's it. Hopefully you're excited about music as I am now. I'll be back soon. I've got those other tracks to post... I'm just so busy. In the meantime... how bout you join eMusic? lol...

Klaxons Live At Coachella

So... I deliberated for a while on this one... what do you do when you have awesome music... that has kind of shit sound? Do you post it?

I think if the content is amazing enough the answer is yes.

I tried to figure out the best way to copy the Klaxons show at Coachella. I settled on running it through my "Windows Stereo Mixer" or whatever because I couldn't figure out how to do it on my Mac (I'm sure there was an easy way but I was pressed for time because I only realized a few mins prior to them taking stage that I should do this) so... basically what you have here is what you expect out of live streaming audio... glitches and all.

Klaxons- "Live At Coachella"

At the end of the day I've heard 10,000 bootlegs with sound 1/9 as good. I've got some Franz and some Bjork I'd never post because it sounds so bad. Some Dirty Pretty Things too.

The little gaps suck but... unless you did the same thing I did... or someone else posts this same thing... this is all we've got. None of the glitches are so bad that they ruin the songs... hopefully they stream video live for Pitchfork or something you guys can record it same way I did and we'll get it right!

So I hope you guys enjoy this.... and I hope someone else posts a better version lol!

If you download it and decide the glitches are too much (you fussy fucker) then check out Klaxons @ Transmusicales Festival 2006.

The word on The Streets...

SO I'm really surprised to see there is a (possibly) new track by The Streets on the Internet? I mean it's a little confusing... because there are a few tracks here and none of them are STRAIGHT Mike Skinner tracks... they are with his singer Leo The Lion and himself... and sometimes with grime MC Kano.

There is a groovy live version of Leo singing the hook to Gorillaz "Feel Good Inc" on Radio 1 with Kano, and then there is a track called "She's Got It All Wrong" that has Leo singing and Mike (and someone else) rapping (this is the one I would imagine is a Streets track), and then there is a song (that is a Kano release) called "Nite Nite" that has Mike Skinner, and Leo from 2005. They are all really cool (especially if you are a big fan of The Streets like I am).

All of these are (or perhaps 'were' by the time you get to them, as these things tend to go) for download over at Leo The Lions Myspace. OR if you rather RIGHT HERE ON ARCADIA! If anyone knows the origins of "She's Got It All Wrong" let me know so I can properly label it.

Kano- "Nite Nite (feat The Streets)"

The Streets- "She's Got It All Wrong"

Leo (from The Streets)& Kano- "Feel Good Inc (Live @ Radio 1)"



Leo (for those of you who don't know) has sung on many of The Streets tracks ("All Goes Out The Window" for example) and sings on ALL of them while on tour. Generally speaking at some point during his performances he also exposes his near perfect physique by taking off his shirt... which probably makes sense in England (where Grime/2step/etc is just like hip-hop here) but did't make so much sense in America when he did it to a crowd full of scrawny indie kids *cough Intonation Festival 2006*.. to each their own I suppose.

Anyway.. go add Leo on Myspace... check out Vice Records for more info on The Streets and make sure you keep checking back for more music here at Arcadia!