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Friday, March 28, 2014

RAC - Strangers LP [Full Stream]

If you choose to take Andre Allen Anjos at his word, the debut album from RAC, Strangers, has taken 3 and a half years to complete. Finally, on April 1, we will have a full album via Cherrytree Records. Can't wait that long? The good folks at Hype Machine got you covered with a stream of the exceptional debut album.

What started as the Remix Artist Collective, releasing countless remixes for every band under the sun, has blossomed to a project that is poised to dominate your summer playlist.

Strangers, originally released as Part I and Part II, features load of guests contributing vocals with Anjos acting as producer, or maybe more accurately, a kid in a candy store.

Highlights include, Let Go, featuring Kele and MNDR, the first single and a great opener that sets the pace for the rest of the album. Old Favorite, Hollywood, featuring Penguin Prison, was originally released in February of 2012, yet manages to sound as fresh as anything else on the album.

Repeating Motion, featuring Karl Kling, is another gem, sounding like the best of They Might Be Giants and Talking Heads. 405, featuring Yacht, has all the sheen and glamor of a California cruise, offering a nice reprieve from this god awful weather.

Basically, anywhere you are right now, press play and you'll feel a whole lot better.

Chicago, you have 2 chances to see them. They will play a SOLD OUT show this Monday, at Lincoln Hall and return in August for Lollapalooza.





Tuesday, March 18, 2014

tUnE-yArDs - Water Fountain

tUne-yArDs have released the first single, Water Fountain, from their forthcoming album, Nikki Nack. Despite the mention of a few new producers, this single stays fairly close to the sound that catapulted 2011's Whokill to the top of countless "best of" lists.

I for one, am not complaining. Only tUnE-yArDs could combine Afro-centric rhythms and tinkering accents with a recess-ready, paddy-cake howl - Woo-Ha, Woo-Ha!

If you want to see them in Chicago, you might want to pick up a pass for this year's Pitchfork Music Festival, as that is the only scheduled date so far.

Nikki Nack is scheduled for release on May 6, via 4AD. Vinyl geeks, should act fast, as there is a limited red pressing available for pre-order while supplies last.

Thursday, March 6, 2014

Night Beds - Hide From It

The more I listen to Night Beds, the more I pray for a Chicago show. Last year's debut, Country Sleep, was a favorite of mine as it straddled the line between Ryan Adams and Bon Iver with its alt-country ramble and Winston Yellen's stunning voice.

Today, they released a free track, the hypnotic Hide From It, and it's another stellar offering. By the time you catch up with the bustling drum loop and swirling vocals, the song is over leaving you to wonder if it ever happened at all. So basically it's the audio version of Vanilla Sky...

Also recommended is last month's stand alone track, Head For The Hills. Keep'em coming guys.