VoicesVoices

VoicesVoices' "Tape Noon" has been playing over and over in my headphones for the past week. The duo, both drummers, born out of the grimmy rock scene of The Smell have produced a hauntingly beautiful sound of progressive rhythms, echoing vocals, and layered guitar work. As warned on their myspace, "A sort of existential realization can occur when these two lovely girls envelope you in their rapturous style of melodic, and at times, rough soundscapes." They will be kicking of their west coast tour Sunday at The Smell, collaborating with local artists Voice On Tape, Halloween Swim Team, and others.

Download:
VoicesVoices - Tape Noon

Alela Diane

Alela Diane's sophmore album, To Be Still, was released today on Rough Trade. I didn't want to miss the chance to say how beautiful an album this is; Alela's voice cuts through the air like a knife, clear and strong, with delicate arrangements providing a deceptively sturdy instrumental filigree for support. The Californian native is currently touring, bringing her rejuvenating folk to all corners of the continent with Blitzen Trapper. She'll be playing in Los Angles on March 15th at the Hotel Cafe.

Download:
Alela Diane - White As Diamonds

Weird Tapes

Weird Tapes posted a new remix of Lost Valentinos' "Serio" today. Two versions of the rather loopy remix are offered, the original and extended, both spacey enough for any fan.

Download:
Lost Valentinos - Serio (Weird Tapes Version)

Grizzly Bear - Veckatimest

Grizzly Bear's Edward Droste has been slowly leaking information to the populace about Grizzly Bear's highly anticipated new album through his twitter page: how the recording is going, what stages they're at, etc. Well, finally after the bewildering and rather non-helpful clue that the album begins with a "V", Ed has revealed to us that the album's official title is Veckatimest. What? According to Wikipedia, "Veckatimest Island is one of the Elizabeth Islands of Dukes County, Massachusetts...and was uninhabited as of the 2000 census." Ed also recommends it as "a pretty speck of land to explore." Now we only have to wait and here the thing, which doesn't have an official release date, but is due to surface in May. I really hope the completed version does not get leaked. Here are some live recordings of a couple songs on the album.

Download:
Grizzly Bear - Cheerleader (live)
Grizzly Bear - Fine For Now (live)

Lotus Plaza

Lockett Pundt, multi-instrumenatlist and songwriter for Deerhunter, has his debut solo album, The Floodlight Collective, coming out in March via Kranky. The album is a beautiful collection of sonic shoe-gaze pop, in which, each track adds to the murky waters of sound by which all Deerhunter cohorts seem permeated. This album has not escaped, and will continue, to draw comparisons with Bradford Cox's Atlas Sound, despite that the two artists sound surprisingly different. Cox seems to constantly be weighed down by the plague and drudgery of the every-day world (this is not a put down, but this is my opinion), where as Pundt chooses to illustrate a brighter, more magical, aspect of the world with his floating lyrics dripping from his lips like an ether meant to illuminate the world after a lengthy rain.

Download:
Lotus Plaza - Antoine
Lotus Plaza - Whiteout

Laura Gibson

It's raining here in Los Angeles and even though it is a Friday night the rain has mellowed the explosive nature that one takes on at the end of the week. Laura Gibson's poppy folk single, "Spirited", from her upcoming album, Beasts of Season, is exactly what I feel like hearing as rain patters gently on my roof. It may be because she is from Oregon, that her songs fit so nicely with the rain. The album will be available February 24th on Hush Records (pre-order here).

Download:
Laura Gibson - Spirited

Gang Gang Dance/Ariel Pink/Nite Jewel

Gang Gang Dance, Ariel Pink, and Nite Jewel will be performing at The Smell tomorrow night. One of the best line ups all year, so far. Doors open at 8pm, and tickets are only $7.

Download:
Gang Gang Dance - House Jam
Ariel Pink - Can't Hear My Eyes
Nite Jewel - What Did He Say