Twin Shadow: Five Seconds

“Five Seconds” by Twin Shadow // Confess (Out 7.10.12)

New music from Twin Shadow is always an exciting thing and this new single from his forthcoming sophomore album, Confess, is definitely something to be excited about. Sounding something like what I would imagine it would sound like if Prince were fronting New Order (during the “Power, Corruption, and Lies” years), this jam just flat out rips. Gone are the chill, glo-fi dreaminess of the past and in their place is a muscular, soulful, post punk vibe not all that unlike TV on the Radio. Highest recommendation. 

(download) “Five Seconds” by Twin Shadow (via Twin Shadow site)

Craft Spells - Leave My Shadow

“Leave My Shadow” by Craft Spells // Gallery EP (2012)

Craft Spells have a nostalgic warmth to their sound that recalls the days of Cocteau Twins, Pale Saints, and (Power, Corruption, & Lies-era) New Order. They also have this special way of sounding absolutely of the moment. Perhaps it has a lot to do with the large influx of bands who draw inspiration from the dawning days of the dream pop sound, but I must say, of those bands doing it really well, Craft Spells are right up there at the top. Like Beach Fossils, they have a knack for drawing on some obscure sounds of the past and mixing them lush melodies and inviting atmospherics. “Leave My Shadow” is a shimmering dream pop beauty that sounds like it could be taken from a 1988 episode of 120 Minutes, or lifted from some killer blog-radio playlist out of Sirius XMU from tomorrow. Absolutely highest recommendation. This is top shelf dream pop. 

New Order - Elegia  (Full Version)

“Elegia (Full Version)” by New Order // Retro (BoxSet) (originally 1985, re-issued 2002 & 2012)

Lately, this full-length, 1985 tribute to Ian Curtis has been making the rounds as it’s about to be included on a vinyl New Order re-issue for the first time outside of the “Retro” box-set from ten years back. Originally, a 5 minute truncated version appeared on “Low-Life” but now is as good a time as any to revisit to sprawling, gorgeous full length hymnal (nearly 18 minutes long) tribute to one of the greatest front men of all time by his former bandmates. 

Terry Malts - Tumble Down

“Tumble Down” by Terry Malts // Killing Time (2012)

It’s impossible for me not to be absorbed by the infectious hooks and generally upbeat nature of this track from San Francisco “chainsaw pop” guys, Terry Malts. This entire album is pure gold and guaranteed to help keep the internals warm with hard drink and bouncing rhythms, but it’s this first single, “Tumble Down” from the Slumberland Records signees that brings the big what-if sound of The Ramones and The Jam playing off of The Jesus and Mry Chain. It’s a killer combination loaded with hooks and buzzsaw guitars that requires all of your attention when it’s released at the end of February. Highly recommended for fans of The Ramones, The Jesus and Mary Chain, and New Order.

(download) “Tumble Down” by Terry Malts (via Slumberland’s Soundcloud)

The Golden Filter - Age Of Consent

“Age of Consent” by The Golden Filter // Power, Corruption, & Lies: Covered (2012)

MOJO’s excellent new collection of covers based on New Order’s synth pop classic Power, Corruption, & Lies contains a lot of songs that are great and play it easy on the cover. No surprises, just solid interpretation. Then there’s The Golden Filter’s take on fan favorite “Age of Consent” - and it’s almost completely unrecognizable. I say this not as a slam, but mostly just to give you a heads up that you could possibly listen to this synthed out electronic take on the track and never realize that you were listening to a cover of a beloved New Order song. The melody is almost entirely deconstructed, and it’s not until about three minutes in that everything starts to click - then the melody finds its way back to the original and in the last half something truly special happens when the track shifts into an ethereal dream for the dance floor. It takes a minute to get going, but the payoff is worth the effort. Pick up the entire compilation in the latest issue of MOJO, available now. 

Shanz - Ceremony (Joy Division Cover)

“Ceremony” by Shanz // Originally by Joy Division//New Order

The lovely, talented, and always interesting Shanz has been posting covers and originals on her Soundcloud page for a while now (you may remember her cover of MGMT’s “Kids” that I posted a while back) and somehow I managed to miss this gem. Here she’s got an excellent noise-pop/bedroom pop take on the Joy Division/ New Order classic, “Ceremony”. Really great stuff. 

(via izxcp)

Frankie Rose - Know Me

“Know Me” by Frankie Rose // Interstellar (2012)

Frankie Rose, formerly of Dum Dum Girls, Vivian Girls, and Crystal Stilts, is about to drop a new album on Slumberland Records and GorillaVsBear has the first taste of the lead off single. Of course, knowing of her previous band work you might expect something of a garage pop sound, but you’d be surprised because what you get is something closer to a lo-fi New Order sound, with a steady old school drum beat and steely, almost synth-like guitar work. It’s a dark, pretty lo-fi synth pop cut that excites me greatly to hear more from the forthcoming album, Interstellar. 

(download) “Know Me” by Frankie Rose (mp3 via GorillaVsBear)

09 A Puppy Is Not Just For Christmas

“A Puppy is Not Just For Christmas” by HEHFU // Music for My Broken Ears (2011)

The new HEHFU full length has been getting some air time in my ears for the past couple of weeks, but with the craziness of this time of the year and the general busy-ness of life, I hadn’t been able to give it my proper focus. Thankfully, all of that has changed these past few days and I’m finding myself hit the repeat button more and more. There’s a playfulness that weaves it’s way in and out of the album that makes it infectious as other times you’re hit with decidedly darker, serious tones. It doesn’t make for a schizophrenic listen in the least. In fact, it calls to mind the great Idlewild album “100 Broken Windows” which straddled the angst line with great indie pop. Of course, there’s shades of other sounds at play as well. Take for instance the Joy Division-esque driving post-punk rhythm (and synth line) of “A Puppy is Not For Christmas”, which is a genuine killer of a track. A gigantic leap forward for the band who were already making great use of the lo-fi, indie pop sounds in their previous EPs. The lean into the darker sounds of new wave and post punk is just what HEHFU needed to give it that extra little push and hopefully people will take notice. They’ve made a wonderful record that deserves your attention, and for the time being you can score it from Bandcamp for Name-Your-Price. You won’t be disappointed. 

HEFHU @ | bandcamp | soundcloud | tumblr |

The Human Elephant - Ceremony [cover]

“Ceremony (Joy Division/New Order Cover)” by  The Human Elephant // White Thunder (2011)

It was a little touch and go there for a moment as it seemed like the first couple of decades following the end of Joy Division, that “Love Will Tear Us Apart” would be the most covered song from their catalog, but if the last decade is any indication, “Ceremony” is making a mad leap for that title. Here is The Human Elephant’s excellent take on the classic track. This time around the rhythmic metallic beat is accompanied by narcotic buzzsaw guitars (later joined by that gorgeous synth line that anyone would be a fool to leave out of a cover of this track). The vocals have a similar hazey drone to them, but it all works quite well. Definitely worth a listen or six. 

(stream) “White Thunder” by The Human Elephant (via Soundcloud)

Silver Antlers - Ceremony (Joy Division / New Order Cover)

“Ceremony” by Silver Antlers // Originally by New Order/ Joy Division

It’s commonplace to run across covers of “Ceremony” these days as it’s started to overtake “Love Will Tear Us Apart” as the go-to Joy Division jam to cover these days. That being said, it’s not as if every version is worth a damn. The original is an iconic masterpiece so for every version that’s as good as Galaxie 500’s take or as interesting as Xiu Xiu’s explosive version, there are a handful of bullshit takes that make your ears bleed. This is luckily not one of those bleeding ear versions. This version is actually pretty damn great. It has a wide open wall of sound that moves like a glacier over the original melody. Like some old slowcore Low produced by Sigur Ros. It’s pretty fucking phenomenal. Also phenomenal? You can download it for free over at Bandcamp right now.

(Silver Antlers @ Bandcamp)

(via danceyrselfclean)

New Order - Ceremony (1st version)

“Ceremony (1st Version)” by New Order // from the RSD Ceremony 30th Anniversary Single

Hard to believe that this, one of the best songs of all time, is thirty years old. It still sounds completely fresh and relevant. Then again, it’s inspired countless bands and the sound can be felt in countless more. This is the first version recorded of the brilliant track, as included on the 30th Anniversary EP of Ceremony/ In A Lonely Place, which also features newly discovered master cuts of the Joy Division versions of said tracks. Truly, a must have/listen for fans of both bands.

Galaxie 500 - Ceremony (Joy Division / New Order Cover)

galaxie 500 - CEREMONY (New Order // Joy Division Cover)

Why not lounge into a Sunday with an excellent cover of of the Joy Division (and later properly recorded by New Order) classic, “Ceremony”? Galaxie 500 made atmospheric slowcore and dream pop music that still feels fresh twenty years after they broke up. Why are all slowcore bands these days so damn boring? Oh well, there’s always the album “On Fire” laying around to keep me company.

The Decemberists - Calamity Song

the decemberists - CALAMITY SONG

Okay. Got the new Decemberists album, “The King is Dead” and upon first listen, it’s the album i was hoping to get from them. Less bloat and more storytelling. The strange thing is that Peter Buck of R.E.M. worked on the album and you can absolutely feel him all over the album (though i think he only worked on 3 songs). This is one of those songs. It sounds like a cross between New Order’s “Age of Consent” (listen to that guitar riff) and “Green”-era R.E.M.

This is the first time i’ve been excited about a Decemberists’ release since “Picaresque”. It’s really good.