Alexander Laurence's Blog, page 2499

Elysian Fields: For House Cats and Sea Fans

ELYSIAN FIELDS SET TO RELEASE FOR HOUSE CATS AND SEA FANS (OJET, 3/22); NYC DATE & FRENCH TOUR, HEAR "ALMS FOR YOUR LOVE". GET IN TOUCH WITH ME TO HEAR THE RECORD.
"Alms For Your Love" MP3: https://soundcloud.com/vicious_circle/elysian-fields-alms-for-your


‘For House Cats And Sea Fans’ (Ojet), is the ninth full-length album by Elysian Fields since emerging from the legendary early Knitting Factory scene, a hotbed of cross-cultural downtown music. In their lifetime, EF have spawned dozens of imitators, but their consummate blend of folk, no wave, jazz, and rock, to name a few of the prominent strands of their tightly woven style, has kept them at the top of their own category: music that relentlessly rejects the passing trend in favor of the timeless.

Singer Jennifer Charles, like the priestess of an ancient rite, transports audiences to the other side of reality’s veil, guiding and freeing them with her incantations and gestures. Her voice possesses one of music’s most unique tones, perhaps best described as a seamless combination of Anita O’Day and Jim Morrison. Her lyrics, spanning the transcendent, personal and political, reflect her wide reading but also come from a deep wellspring of language that is redolent of profound inspiration, incomparable to anything else in music, but in which a lineage can be traced through Leonard Cohen to Federico Garcia Lorca — at whose family homestead the band was invited to perform.

The main architect of the group’s sound, guitarist Oren Bloedow, employs a powerful arsenal of musical effects to plant each lance of Jennifer’s vocals deep in the listener’s ear and heart. His harmony, taste and restraint have made him a weapon of choice for such artists as Antony, Doveman, Meshell Ndegeocello and Regina Spector, among countless others, but it is in his own Elysian Fields where his playing and writing truly shine.

‘For House Cats And Sea Fans’ features a cover painting specially created by downtown maverick artist/musician John Lurie, in whose Lounge Lizards the young Oren served an early apprenticeship. Other no wave legends who appear on the album are James Chance, who lends his sax and voice to the noir-jazz romp “She Gets Down’ and composer J.G. Thirlwell, whose unsettling soundscapes underly the searing late-capitalist indictment “Escape From New York.” Other guests on the album include jazz greats John Medeski and James Genus and mainstays from the EF family such as pianist/genius Ed Pastorini, and top drummers Matt Johnson, Chris Vatalaro and Ben Perowsky. The record was mixed by David Bowie henchman Mark Plati, bringing luster to their sound while preserving each track’s essential intimacy.

This band and this record are near and dear to me like whoa. Let me know if I can get you the record or set you up with an interview.

Thanks again and all the best,
Joan

ELYSIAN FIELDS ON TOUR:

03.22.14 – Brooklyn, NY @ Rough Trade (ALBUM RELEASE)
03.29.14 – Saint-Lo, France @ Le Normandy (Les Femmes S’en Melent 17)
03.31.14 – Brussels, Belgium @ Botanique
04.01.14 – Lille, France @ L’Aeronef
04.02.14 – Paris, France @ Divan du Monde
04.04.14 – Bretigny Sur Orge, France @ Le Rackam
04.05.14 – Dijon, France @ Consortium
04.06.14 – Bern, Switzerland @ Rössli (Reitschule)
04.07.14 – St. Gallen, Switzerland @ Grabenhalle
04.08.14 – Strasbourg, France @ Au Camionneur
04.10.14 – Toulon, PACA @ Théâtre Denis
04.11.14 – Cenon, France @ Le Rocher De Palmer
04.12.14 – Montluçon, France @ Le Guingois
04.13.14 – Toulouse, France @ Connexion Cafe
04.15.14 – Beaumont, France @ Le Tremplin
04.16.14 – Nantes, France @ Le Ferrailleur
04.17.14 – Brest, Bretagne @ La Carène
04.19.14 – Auray, Bretagne @ Les Nuits Soniques
04.23.14 – Düsseldorf, Germany @ Atelier Padao
04.24.14 – Hamburg, Germany @ Kampnagel (Small Beast)
04.25.14 – Dortmund, Germany @ Theater Dortmund (Small Beast)
04.27.14 – Munich, Germany @ Milla Club
08.16.14 – North Adams, MA @ Mass MoCA

Bo Ningen Release "III" On May 20th

Bo Ningen Announce New Album Details + US/UK Tour Dates

Artist: Bo NingenTitle: "III"Release Date: May 20th (US) /  May 13th (UK/ROW)Cat. No. : SR077 CD / double LP / downloadLabel: Stolen Recordings
Bo Ningen's third album "III" will be released by Stolen Recordings on May 20th, 2014 (May 13th in UK/ROW). It is a rich and accomplished album that has seen them evolve musically. Collaborations withJehnny Beth of Savages and Roger Robinson of King Midas Sound feature and they've sung partly in English for the first time. The album was recorded over several months with the band spending more time on the production and development of the songs. "III" illustrates Bo Ningen as a group with a singular vision, reaching for what they define as 'pure music', by turns esoteric and a no holds barred sensory assault.
UK and US tour dates have now been confirmed – full details below.  Having recently played SXSW, BoNingen tour the US in April, the UK in May and play Coachella festival amongst many others this year. They will also be performing an in-store at Rough Trade NY on April 27th.
Album is available for pre-order:http://smarturl.it/BoNingenIIIiTuneshttp://stolen.greedbag.com/buy/iii-127/
Lead track here: "DaDaDa" https://soundcloud.com/stolenrecordings/bo-ningen-da-da-da/s-caGNn

Full Album Tracklisting:
1.DaDaDa2.Psychedelic Misemono Goya (Reprise)3.Slider4.Inu5.CC6.Mukaeni Ikenai7.Maki-Modoshi8.Mitsume9.Ogosokana Ao10.Kaifuku
April US Tour Dates
April 13th Coachella FestivalApril 15th Los Angeles, CA, The RoxyApril 20th Coachella FestivalApril 22nd Cambridge, MA, TT The BearApril 25th Brooklyn, NY, Knitting FactoryApril 27th Brooklyn, NY, Rough Trade InstoreApril 29th Philladelphia, PA, Kung Fu NecktieApril 30th Baltimore, MD,Ottobar

Band of Skulls at Belasco Theatre, March 18

The Horrors reveal new track from forthcoming album Luminous

REVEAL A SECOND NEW TRACK FROM THEIR FORTHCOMING ALBUM
LISTEN TO "SO NOW YOU KNOW" HERE  
Photo credit: Nic Shonfeld 
New album Luminous out May 6 on XL Recordings"The follow up to 2011's superb Skying is called Luminous, and we can confirm it's a 10-track cracker that sees The Horrors move even further from their neo-gothic roots." -  ShortList 
Last month British act The Horrors announced their return with details of their fourth studio album Luminous (out May 6 on XL Recordings), promising a 'weirder, wilder and more colourful' sound.  Teaser track "I See You," a seven and a half minute synth anthem, "collects almost everything this band does well into one beautiful sprawling epic" notes Stereogum. Today the band will reveal "So Now You Know," bringing fans one step further into the technicolour world of Luminous that awaits. A hazy backdrop of bubbling synths expand spectacularly into an otherworldly widescreen affair, with the commanding vocals of Faris Badwan leading the way.

 STREAM "SO NOW YOU KNOW": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=38vBSlpwKJY

Since returning, the band have brought their new sound to the inaugural 6Music Festival in Manchester, where they headlined Stage 2 (view here), and The Fly Awards, where they performed "I See You." On May 1 Oxford Games Present, Spaceland and KCRW presents:  Britweek music sessions - Featuring The Horrors and Toy at the First Unitarian Church in Los Angeles (on-sale Thursday 3/20).  Festivals already announced for the summer include Austin Psych Festival, Field Day, Lovebox and End Of The Road. Since posting the lyric video for "I See You" it has notched up almost 300,000 YouTube views in just a matter of weeks.  NME and Stereogum made "I See You" their track of the week

Luminous  is out on XL Recordings on May 6 and is available to pre-order now on iTunes, with "I See You" available as an instant grat track.  Those who have pre-ordered the album will instantly get "So Now You Know."  Buylink: http://smarturl.it/luminousitunes

Luminous  is an album that, for once, merits that over-used phrase "keenly-anticipated". Tipped to be one of the biggest British albums of 2014, it follows the breakthrough success of the silver-selling Skying, an album beloved of heroes and peers such as Bobby Gillespie, Alex Turner and Trent Reznor and that also brought The Horrors into the world of the Radio 1 A-list and Later... With Jools Holland. Tasking themselves with, as ever, moving onwards, The Horrors determined to make an album that was brighter, more positive, more electronic. 'We've refined our sound," affirms lead singer Faris Badwan, "and in terms of songwriting it is the record I'm happiest with." Or, in the words of bass player Rhys Webb, "it's not so much about heavier guitars as a heavier potency... We want to make music you can dance to, music that elevates..." Luminous by name, luminous by nature: this is an album radiating light and energy. These songs are The Horrors writing at their instinctive, intuitive and accessible best.

The Horrors are Faris Badwan (vocals), Joshua Third (guitarist), Tom Furse (keyboards, synthesisers), Rhys Webb (bass) and Joe Spurgeon (drums, percussion).

RIP Scott Asheton 1949-2014

Blood Red Shoes US Tour 2014

Black Lips @ Pappy and Harriets

BLACK LIPS March 2014 Tour Dates:
3/20   Pioneertown, CA   Pappy and Harriet's *
3/21   Los Angeles, CA  El Rey Theatre *3/22   Santa Ana, CA   Burgerama @ The Observatory3/23   Felton, CA   Don Quixote's *3/24   San Francisco, CA   Great American Music Hall *3/25   Sacramento, CA   Assembly *3/27   Vancouver, BC   Rickshaw Theatre *3/28   Seattle, WA   Neumo's *3/29   Portland, OR   Hawthorne Theater *3/30   Boise, ID   Neurolux *3/31   Salt Lake City, UT   Urban Lounge *4/2   Denver, CO   Bluebird Theater *4/3   Albuquerque, NM   Sister Bar *4/4   Phoenix, AZ   The Crescent Ballroom *4/5   Solana Beach, CA   Belly Up Tavern *4/14   Richmond, VA   The National ^4/15   Washington, DC   Black Cat ^4/17   New York, NY   Webster Hall ^4/18   Philadelphia, PA   Union Transfer ^4/19   Boston, MA   Paradise Rock Club ^4/21   Montreal, QC   Corona Theatre ^4/22   Toronto, ON   Phoenix Concert Theatre ^4/24   Detroit, MI   Magic Stick ^4/25   Cleveland, OH   Beachland Ballroom ^4/26   Chicago, IL   TBA ^4/27   St, Paul, MN   Turf Club ^4/28   Omaha, NE   The Waiting Room ^4/29   St Louis, MO   The Firebird ^4/30   Kansas City, MO   The Riot Room ^5/2-5/4   Austin, TX   Austin Psych Fest5/3   New Orleans, LA   Siberia5/16-17   Gulf Shores, AL   HangOut Fest 

* w/ The Coathangers^ w/ Natural Child

Photo: Angel Ceballos

INVSN PREMIERES NEW SINGLE “DISTORTED HEARTBEAT” + US Tour

Hi Res Photos and Album Art Here: http://www.razorandtiepublicity.com/artistpage.php?artist=279INVSN PREMIERES NEW SINGLE, “DISTORTED HEARTBEAT” ON MTV HIVESelf-Titled Album Out September 24Album Available for Pre-Order on iTunes INVSN To Accompany Minus The Bear on US Fall Tour (New York, NY) – The third single, “Distorted Heartbeat,” from INVSN’s forthcoming self-titled album, premiered on MTV Hive today.The Swedish rock group is set to release their self-titled US debut,  INVSN , on September 24 viaRazor & Tie. Recorded in their native country, INVSN was tracked at Studio Ingrid in Stockholm - formerly known as Polar Studios - and mixed by Nick Launay (Arcade Fire, PiL, Nick Cave, Kate Bush) and Jacob Hansen (Volbeat). The new 10-song LP is available for pre-order now on iTunes.INVSN was formed by Dennis Lyxzén (Refused, The (International) Noise Conspiracy) along with musicians Andre Sandström (DS-13), Sara Almgren (The (International) Noise Conspiracy), Richard Österman, and Anders Stenberg (Lykke Li, Deportees). Having previously released music in Sweden, this album marks their US (English language) debut.MARCH 2014 US Tour Dates18/3 - Tuscon, AZ - Club Contress
19/3 - Santa Ana, CA - The Observatory - Constellation
20/3 - Los Angeles, CA - Troubador
22/3 - San Francisco, CA - Slims
24/3 - Portland, OG - Wonder Ballrooom
25/3 - Seattle, WA - The Crocodile
26/3 - Washington, DC - DC9
27/3 - New York, NY - Mercury Lounge
28/3 - Brooklyn, NY - Knitting Factory
29/3 - Philadelphia, PA - Milkboy

Band of Skulls confirm spring North American tour

 BAND OF SKULLS CONFIRM SPRING NORTH AMERICAN TOUR
HIMALAYAN  NOW AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER, SET TO BE RELEASED APRIL 1
 “pure rock ‘n’ roll”—KCRW’s Morning Becomes Eclectic “In this millennium, there are seldom few ‘rock bands’ creating music with a shelf-life. Band of Skulls appear to be in this game for the long haul.”—Paste
Band of Skulls will embark on an extensive North American tour this spring. Tickets will go on-sale this Friday, February 21. Additionally, in March, the band will perform special shows at SXSW as well as L.A.’s Belasco Theater and Brooklyn’s Warsaw. See below for full details. The North American shows are in celebration of the acclaimed U.K. trio’s forthcoming album,  Himalayan , which will be released April 1 and is now available for  pre-order  (Electric Blues Recordings via Kobalt Label Services).
Already receiving critical acclaim,  NME  selected the debut single, “Asleep At The Wheel,” as one of their “20 Essential New Tracks,” praising, “Like The Black Keys at their meanest, it stomps away before propelling itself into a riff of Black Sabbath standards…” The official music video for the single can be viewed/embedded here. Additionally, a new video for the album track, “Nightmares,” recently premiered at Vevo.   
Produced by Nick Launay (Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Arcade Fire, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds), the album was recorded during the summer of 2013 in Richmond, London at State of the Ark studios.
The new album follows 2012’s Sweet Sour, which debuted at #14 on the U.K. album chart and received widespread acclaim—NME praised, “Proficient, precision-executed blues-rock,” while Consequence of Sound praised, “sizzles with muscle-driven, sludgy honest-to-goodness rock.” In the years since, the band has toured alongside Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Black Keys, The Dead Weather, Queens of the Stone Age and Muse and sold-out two headlining shows at London’s The Roundhouse and Brixton Academy. 
BAND OF SKULLS NORTH AMERICAN TOUR DATESMarch 11-16                                               Austin, TX                                                                SXSW   March 18                                                 Los Angeles, CA                         Belasco Theater (Tickets)             March 20                                                    Brooklyn, NY                                          Warsaw (Tickets)           April 24                                                      Toronto, ON                               Phoenix Concert TheatreApril 25                                                     Montreal, QC                                              Corona TheatreApril 26                                                   Philadelphia, PA                                            Union TransferApril 28                                                   Washington, DC                                                    9:30 ClubApril 29                                                      Boston, MA                                                House of BluesMay 1                                                        Pittsburgh, PA                                     Mr. Small’s TheatreMay 3                                                          Tampa, FL                               Big Guava Music FestivalMay 4                                                     Ft. Lauderdale, FL                                                RevolutionMay 6                                                         Nashville, TN                                        Cannery BallroomMay 7                                                         Carrboro, NC                                                 Cat’s CradleMay 9                                                          Atlanta, GA                                    Shaky Knees FestivalMay 12                                                         Austin, TX                                                      Emo’s EastMay 13                                                        Houston, TX                                          Warehouse LiveMay 14                                                         Dallas, TX                                            Granada TheaterMay 16                                                     Englewood, CO                                          Gothic TheatreMay 17                                                   Salt Lake City, UT                                          In The VenueMay 19                                                      San Diego, CA                                         House of BluesMay 20                                                      Santa Ana, CA                                 The Observatory OCMay 22                                                   San Francisco, CA                           The Regency BallroomMay 24                                                        George, WA                                      Sasquatch! FestivalMay 27                                                       Portland, OR                                       Wonder Ballroom May 28                                                     Vancouver, BC                               Commodore BallroomJune 3                                                       Minneapolis, MN                                            First AvenueJune 5                                                             Chicago, IL                                                    Park WestJune 6                                                             Detroit, MI                                        St. Andrew’s HallJune 7                                                        Columbus, OH                                  Newport Music HallJune 9                                                        Louisville, KY                               Headliners Music HallJune 10                                                     Indianapolis, IN                                                The VogueJune 11                                                       Lawrence, KS                                         Granada Theatre

LILIES ON MARS / FOR THE FIRST 3 YEARS

LILIES ON MARS / FOR THE FIRST 3 YEARSVIDEO PREMIERE 
★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★Watch The Video Here:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lApwSjItUiU★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★
a beautiful work of art - Earmilkkeyboard crafted songs fly forth from tones of selected euphoria - IMPOSE Magazine"gorgeous vocals, swaying little melody" - It's Psychedelic Baby Magazine"Dot to Dot is infections and danceable" - The Berklee Groove

Lilies On Mars currently on world tour With Fanfarlo... dates here or below
March
24 - House of Blues - San Diego, CA
25 - Troubador - Los Angeles, CA
26 - San Francisco, CA Great American Music Hall
28 - Dante’s - Portland, OR
29 - Venue - Vancouver, BC
30 - Tractor Tavern - Seattle, WA
April
01 - Urban Lounge - Salt Lake City
02 - Larimer Lounge -  Denver, CO
05 - Duck Room at Blueberry - St. Louis, MO
07 - Triple Rock Social Club - Minneapolis, MN
08 - High Noon Saloon - Madison, WI
10 - Lincoln Hall - Chicago, IL
11 - OHSkully’s Music Diner, Columbus
12 - Mr. Small’s Theatre - Millvale, PA
14 - Shelter - Detroit, MI
16 - Lee’s Palace - Toronto, ON
17 - La Sala Rossa - Montreal, QB
19 - The Sinclair - Cambridge, MA
22 - Bowery Ballroom - New York, NY
25 - Underground Arts - Philadelphia, PA
26 - Street Music Hall -  Washington, DC