Modern Superstitions - New Music "Introducing"

Facebook / http://www.myspace.com/modernsuperstitions
http://www.modernsuperstitions.com/

I think I post as much music from Canada as any other Country. The next three Introducing bands all come from Canada too, whilst it seems that the UK is obsessed with either dub-step or a rock-revival (I try to keep this blog positive and ignore crap but The Vaccines / Brother - God help us), across the pond there appears to be a bed of talent waiting to come out to the masses...

Modern Superstitions are from Toronto, in September 2010 they released an EP entitled 'All The Things We've Been Told' which contains six tracks that are infectious and energetic jaunty indie songs. The guitar work reminds me of a girl-fronted Strokes with an added dash of punky Pretenders spirit through the lead of Nyssa Rosaleen.

I'm always fond of music to get that gets you excited and happy, Modern Superstitions do just that with their youthful enthusiasm and powerful songs. Even miserable so and so's like myself will have a good dance (well bop of the head) to the fantastic "Visions of You" and it's sing-along chorus of ooh-wah ooh. From the blistering opener "Go-Between" which encompasses a powerful bass-line and spiky guitars, "Beck & Call" which highlights, for me at least, Chrissie Hinds comparisons with Nyssa’s powerful, sassy vocal the EP is strong, spirited and fun.

There isn't a lot of variety and the tracks are quite short with a running time of twenty minutes, but when we have six well written, dynamic, exuberant and punky tracks such as these then that is probably a plus point.

That's another band to add to the 'excited for the future' bookmark then.

It costs just $6.00 plus shipping for a CD and digital download, so there is no excuse for not getting one. Head over to their store here to get a copy.

Sample listen / download below:
Modern Superstitions - Visions of You by Last Gang Entertainment

Caitlin Rose #16 - New Single and Tour Reminder

I'll be straight up and say I've listened to "Own Side" a few times this past six months and have never once thought of wrestling, yet here we have a lovely new video in just that context... It's my favourite song from the album (just) so I'm glad to see it coming out as a single in its own right, though for me at least, the release notes for the video contain the best news:

'The brand new video directed by Michael Carter in Nashville, TN from the acclaimed debut album 'Own Side Now' Single released in the UK on Feb 21st 2011 with exclusive extra tracks'.

Extra tracks - can't wait. Catch Caitlin Rose back in the UK in Feb / March at the following:

Friday 11th February - London, Camden Barfly - £10 SOLD OUT
Monday 7th March - London, Borderline - £10 http://www.ticketweb.co.uk/user/?region=gb_london&query=detail&event=423754
Tuesday 8th March - Oxford, Jericho - £9 http://www.seetickets.com/Event/CAITLIN-ROSE/The-Jericho/529507
Wedensday 9th March - Exeter, Phoenix - £7.50 http://www.exeterphoenix.org.uk/live/q1-2011/caitlin-rose.html
Friday 11th March - Glasgow, Stereo - £8 http://www.ticketweb.co.uk/user/?region=gb_scotland&query=detail&event=423140
Saturday 12th March - Manchester, Academy 3 - £9 http://www.seetickets.com/Event/CAITLIN-ROSE/Academy-3/529506
Sunday 13th March - Birmingham, Glee Club - £9 http://www.glee.co.uk/index.php?id_page=189

US folks get 'Own Side Now' on 15th March. I'd probably import it now if were you, although the US should bring a much required (at least by me) vinyl release.

Effi Briest - New Music "Introducing"

http://www.myspace.com/effibriest

I've had the debut album from Effi Briest for about four months now and been meaning to do a piece on it for a while, I was prompted to do it now by iTunes random - it's good like that sometimes. I have listened to the album straight through twice today and I think it could end up being one of those underrated gems of 2010.

Effi Briest are an all female sextet from New York. If you want an older cross reference then you need look no further than Siouxsie, if you want something more recent, well maybe a little like a Warpaint if they based they're material on 80's Goth. The LP is out on the fantastic American label Sacred Bones (same label as Zola Jesus) named 'Rhizomes', I recommend you pick it up as soon as possible.

I say Warpaint as an instant name check because it's hypnotic and psychedelic, but this is infinitely more dark and dare I say, more impressive... (side note - also reminds me of another underrated band Bridezilla).

A cocktail of witchcraft and Goth, listen to album highlight "Nights" for proof, it's a tormented wail of brilliance. The title track is another perfect example and highlight, lead vocalist Kelsey Barrett's eases us gently into the song before it snaps in after a minute with full on yelps and barking vocals combined with prolonged thick bass lines and clanging, moody guitar work, with of course some pulsating tribal drum beat added to further enlarge the paranoia stakes. "Long Shadows" is similarly brooding, at times the guitar work made me think of some Adam & The Ants work from 'Kings of the Wild Frontier' era- hope that's ok! "Mirror Rim" is another highlight, an even more insane, intense tune than the ones mentioned previously.

So if you like the bands I've already mentioned or Esben & The Witch, or if you just like locking yourself up late at night and listening to some dark, sometimes disturbing but ultimately wonderful music. Do yourself a favour and Listen to the title track from the LP below and then buy it here.

Effi Briest - Rhizomes by morrisday


EFFI BRIEST - LONG SHADOW (OFFICIAL VIDEO) from HOLY COW COLLECTIVE on Vimeo.

Echo Lake - New Music "Introducing"

http://www.echolakeband.com/
http://www.facebook.com/echolakeband

Echo Lake are from London, they make psychedelic, dreamy tunes with ethereal vocals. That description doesn't really do them justice as they're also so much more than that, with soft hushed and hazy melodies playing over a bed of droning, whirling guitars-centric shoegaze with percussion adding to an ambient yet dense feeling much akin to My Bloody Valentine.

They've an EP called 'Young Silence' due on valentines day and I'm very much looking forward to that. For now, you can listen to a couple of tracks from it below which will give you a general idea of just how much potential this lot have. They played a show with Still Corners last year and I do have to wonder why I didn't get to that now. Ones to watch in 2011. You betcha.

"In Dreams" is wonderful and "Young Silence" not far behind, see for yourself:
Young Silence by Echo Lake

In Dreams by Echo Lake

Sweeping the Nation complies the best of 2010 lists

Before we crack on with 2011, one last post about the albums of 2010. Sweeping the Nation complied a list of bloggers to made a definitive list of the best of 2010 albums. The full list can be found here.

Here are the top ten:

10 LOS CAMPESINOS! - Romance Is Boring
9 KANYE WEST - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
8 SLEIGH BELLS - Treats
7 FOALS - Total Life Forever
6 LCD SOUNDSYSTEM - This Is Happening
5 BEACH HOUSE - Teen Dream
4 CARIBOU - Swim
3 LAURA MARLING - I Speak Because I Can
2 ARCADE FIRE - The Suburbs
1 THE NATIONAL - High Violet

How did my top ten do overall? Well fear no more I have the answer below:
 
10. Beach House - Teen Dream (Number 5)
9. Anais Mitchell - Hadestown (Number 26)
8. Hurts - Hapiness (Number 28)
7. Holly Miranda - The Magician's Private Library (did not poll - why I ask!)
6. Arcade Fire - The Suburbs (Number 2)
5. Zola Jesus - Stridulum II (Number 39)
4. The National - High Violet (Number 1)
3. The Strange Death of Liberal England - Drown Your Heart Again (Number 70)
2. Sleigh Bells - Treats (Number 8)
1. Caitlin Rose - Own Side Now (Number 12)

What does it show? Nothing really apart from the sheer volume of brilliant music that was release in 2010.
Would I change anything? Yes. I put an album I put at number 14 higher - Perfume Genius, Learning hasn't been off my stereo the past month. For what? No idea, thankfully I don't have to think about it.

Will 2011 be better than 2010? Who can say but with The Joy Formidable, British Sea Power, The Boxer Rebellion, The Duke Spirit and more all with early 2011 releases it certainly is an exciting start to the year.

Lookout, Lookout by TurnstileMusic
The National - Terrible Love (Live in Brooklyn) by morrisday

Happy New Year

Happy New Year! I'm far, far too rough today and have a couple of hours missing from my memory, so a standard NYE it was!

Here is a quick present to start the new year with, one of the tracks off the forthcoming Terror Bird release that I'm getting involved with on Verulamium Records. It's entitled "Waiting For Nothing" and will contain four frankly wonderful tracks. Release date will be over the next few months, I'll let you know once it's announced.