Directed by Yelena Yemchuk.
Feel It Break is still awesome, by the way.
Pop That Rocks on Y-Not Radio 9.22.2011
My weekly internet radio show Transmission aired last night at 9pm ET (and re-airs Saturday at 6pm ET) on Y-Not Radio. This weeks episode featured new music from Neon Indian, Jens Lekman, The Weeknd,Sleep ∞ Over, Austra and more. if you have a track or artist that you think is Transmission-worthy, feel free to hit me up via e-mail or twitter.
This week’s playlist with MP3s after the jump…
Stroked
Stereogum has just unveiled a tribute album to The Strokes’ seminal debut album Is This It. It features front-to-back covers of all of the album’s songs from such artists of the moment as Austra, Owen Pallett and Computer Magic in addition to indie staples Peter Bjorn & John, The Morning Benders and more. Hear a few samples of the above below, then download the rest for free.
Austra - Alone, Together
Owen Pallett - Hard to Explain
Computer Magic - Take It or Leave It
Austra x MNDR
MNDR has just dropped a remix of one of many highlights from Austra’s still stunning debut album. She gussies up the goth of “Spellwork” for a slinky night on the town. Once you’ll listen, all you’ll want to do is go along for the ride.
Austra - Spellwork (MNDR Nighttime Remix) by DominoRecordCo
This remix will be among many on the forthcoming Sparkle 12”, as well as reworks of “Lose It” and “Beat and the Pulse” by the likes of Planningtorock, Still Going, and more. Look for it 7/26 digitally and 8/23 physically on Domino/Paper Bag.
(via)
My bad, Austra
Ugh I have been trying to get this review up for weeks. Weeks, people. I’ve had the privilege and pleasure of listening to Austra’s utterly, addictively spellbinding debut album Feel It Break for some time now. I originally sat on writing about it out of professional courtesy, then I had to back burner it for professional commitments. I doubt you all care about reading excuses for my tardiness, but there they are nonetheless.
With that out of the way, let me say that even three months after receiving a promo of the album, it has yet to leave heavy rotation on my iPhone or radio show, and I don’t see that changing any time soon. This Toronto trio has released one of the most unassumingly, unwaveringly rewarding debuts of the year. Dark without being dank, haunting without being depressing, they mine similar sonic territory as Zola Jesus, Fever Ray, even Florence and the Machine (don’t act like “Lose It” and “The Choke” don’t echo and then improve on Flossy’s formula), but with a shinier, synthier approach. Dancier too. See “Beat and the Pulse,” which still owns the club like a motherfucker despite floating around since last year.
Opera-trained vocalist Katie Stelmanis has an arresting presence on these songs (and on stage from what I understand), making even the ones most heavily indebted to their influence - the Dreaming-era Kate Bush send-up “Shoot the Water,” for example - stand as highlights on their own. Other favorites include the slightly industrial-tinged “Spellwork,” the jaunty, sexually frank “The Future” and the percussion-free throb of “The Noise.” Singles soon, please?
I’ll stop there, but don’t have to. There’s nary a dud to be found across the album’s eleven songs. If you haven’t heard it already, you should grab it and start deciding on your own faves. For now, here are two rad remixes of current single “Lose It,” including one by Diamond Rings. More on him later…
Austra - Lose It (Diamond Rings Remix)
Austra - Lose It (Young Galaxy Remix)
Austra - Lose It
Directed by M Blash.
Feel it Break comes out May 17 on Domino. Pre-order here.
Katie Stelmanis and co. will also be hitting the road Stateside, first on their own and then with Cold Cave later this summer. Score.
Pop That Rocks on Y-Not Radio 3.17.2011
My weekly internet radio show Transmission airs tonight at 9pm ET (and again Saturday at 6pm ET) on Y-Not Radio. This weeks episode features new music from Hard Mix, Junior Boys, Shabazz Palaces, Nicolas Jaar, Austra and more. if you have a track or artist that you think is Transmission-worthy, feel free to hit me up via e-mail or twitter.
This week’s playlist after the jump…
