JOSH HASSIN VIDEO-IZES WINDMILL [VIDEO]

July 18th, 2011 , by

On Friday we announced Roberts & Lord, a brand new band from the likes of Rafter Roberts and Simon Lord.

Designer, director, and animator Josh Hassin has released a video to their first single, "windmill."  Make sure your leotard is on before you watch; you will want to dancerize immediately upon watching.

ANNOUNCING ROBERTS & LORD, EPONYMOUS [MP3, VIDEO]

July 15th, 2011 , by

Even though we act as if it is, collaboration on the internet is nothing new. It probably took more than one person working together to invent bread, or the wheel, or Chia Pets. You probably worked together with someone even today. See, not so interesting.

So what is remarkable Eponymous, the debut album from Roberts & Lord, a band formed in the firey throes of internet collaboration, is that working together on the internet can sound this good. Not that the pedigree of the participants would lead anyone to believe otherwise. Roberts & Lord is one half Rafter Roberts, whom you know well if you’re from these parts (see here if you don’t), and Simon Lord, of Simian and Black Ghosts fame. All they needed was a connection. Enter MySpace. (Yes, MySpace actually made something amazing.)

Rafter and Simon got to talking (via MySpace), then sharing unfinished bits of music, which led to finished bits of music, which led to talk of a full-fledged album, which resulted in Eponymous. The fruit of their digital co-labor is an record replete with sweet pop riffs that magically blend Rafter’s extra-rough 4-track proto-electro backings with Simon’s sparkle-clean, digital vocals. Eponymous is working together at its very best. 

Listen for yourself with “windmill” below. We’ll have more from Roberts & Lord over the next couple months, including of course the full-blown release of Eponymous on September 6th.

“windmill” (Download)

MY BRIGHTEST DIAMOND TO RELEASE NEW ALBUM IN THE FALL

July 12th, 2011 , by

Cover art by Photographer: Denny Renshaw; Hairsculpture: Hrafnhildur Arnardóttir aka Shoplifter; Design: DM Stith; Hat by Emillner

On October 18th in the US (October 10th in the EU), we will have the very, very lucky honor of releasing All Things Will Unwind, the third album from My Brightest Diamond.

Things have changed for MBD frontwoman Shara Worden since 2008’s A Thousand Shark’s Teeth; a move from Brooklyn to Detroit, a new baby boy, a new backyard garden, and a whirlwind of brilliant collaborations with the likes of the Blind Boys of Alabama, The Decemberists, David Byrne, and many others. Likewise, this third album represents a slight tact change from the more direct guitar-rock underpinnings of Shark’s Teeth and her 2006 Workhorse. Less guitar strings, more, well, chamber strings.

But some things have stayed the same, too: Shara’s relentless pursuit of pure, good sound, her rebellion against “genre,” her remarkable understanding of tempo and the way it bends, and her fearless song-writing. We think All Things Will Unwind is not just a third album, it’s a picture taken in time of an artist maturing; someone that is deeply considering joy and pain, beauty and horror, and then singing about it.

Read more info here. You can also hear and download the first single, “Reaching Through to the Other Side,” below:

“Reaching Through to the Other Side” All Things Will Unwind (Download)

WATCH THE SUFJAN-MADE GET REAL, GET RIGHT [VIDEO]

July 7th, 2011 , by

You might recognize the art in the Sufjan-made stop-motion video above; it comes from Prophet Royal Robertson, who inspired not only Sufjan's The Age of Adz but also the documentary film MAKE. MAKE is available now on DVD for $15 here.

Sufjan is also playing one last big Adz show on August 2nd and 3rd in Prospect Park, Brooklyn. In addition to neon gaffe tape (bring it if you got it!), some non-balloon non-confetti partying devices, x-treme dancing, and sweat, expect to see some of projectionist Deborah Johnson's brilliant work at the show (ie. this amazing bit).

Show is general admission and standing room only (stand up if you love standing!). Bring a good 'tude and neon, because you can't Celebrate Brooklyn with a frown. Besides Celebrate Broolyn! is the number one reason Brooklyn lives up to the hype. Believe the hype. Tickets for the show are here.

#THISWEEKEND

June 24th, 2011 , by

Via our Twitter feed.

#THISWEEKEND FRI: Liz Janes in Pittsboro @ Wild Goose Fest; Jookabox in #Indy @ Earth House; Julianna Barwick in Calgary @ Marquee.

#THISWEEKEND SAT: Liz Janes in Carrboro @ Open Eye; @HeladoNegro in Quito; Julianna Barwick in #Calgary @ Stephen's Church.

Details here.

ONE LAST CHANCE TO CELEBRATE

June 23rd, 2011 , by

Sufjan Stevens is playing Celebrate Brooklyn! in Prospect Park on August 2nd and 3rd. This video by Deborah Johnson, who also did the projection you'll see at the show, gives you some idea of what to expect. (YouTube version here).

Buy tickets to the August 3rd show here.

NEWLY RELEASED: MAKE DVD

June 21st, 2011 , by

The best art is that which uses the engine of inspiration to in turn create more art. So today we are honored to be releasing MAKE on DVD, a documentary film that explores the lives of four American self-taught artists, all of whom use simple materials to create remarkable and thought-provoking work. The journey of the film from concept to today's release has been a long one for filmmakers Scott Ogden and Malcolm Hearn; years, really, of travel,  investigation, interviewing, research, editing, collecting, and documenting. Their work, if we may be so bold, mirrors the quality of the artists that they document in the film. 
 
And it is MAKE that also inspired Sufjan Stevens' most recent album, The Age of Adz. Sufjan based the framework of the album after seeing Prophet Royal Robertson's work featured in MAKE. (Royal's artwork is also in the liner notes of the CD and LP.) 
 
You can see this remarkable film for yourself by purchasing the DVD for $15. We also have a digital version available for $10. Click here to do either.
Feel free to play or download Sufjan’s “Get Real, Get Right” below, a track from Adz heavily inspired by the art of Prophet Royal Robertson.

#THISWEEKEND

June 17th, 2011 , by

Via our Twitter account:
 #THISWEEKEND Fri: Julianna Barwick @ Wrongbar #Toronto  || Sat: Chris @Schlarb @ Salvage #Austin; Julianna @ Neptune #Seattle

Details here.

HELADO NEGRO TO TOUR WITH EMA IN NE USA AND CANADA

June 17th, 2011 , by

Sorry about your recent hockey luck, Canada. You're doing an alright job yourselves, but if anyone else can cheer you up, it's Helado Negro.

After playing a string of dates in Florida with Junip this month, Helado Negro (aka Roberto Carlos Lange) will be joining EMA for select shows in the Northeast and Canada in support of his sophomore full-length, Canta Lechuza, released last month on Asthmatic Kitty. Dates are here.

SECOND SUFJAN STEVENS SHOW ADDED TO PROSPECT PARK

June 14th, 2011 , by


Photo by Mattias Johansson

EDIT: preorder tickets go live today (June 15) at 10AM EST at Etix.
The Password is "heirloom" (without quotes): http://bit.ly/m7EqMI 

You went and did it! Undeterred by swelter and sweat and mosquitos and rising crime rates in the surrounding area, you bought all the tickets to Sufjan's Celebrate Brooklyn! show in NYC's Prospect Park on August 2. Wow! Thanks so much! 

Problem though. Sufjan and crew just finished up their European tour, and people seemed to really, really like it. That's not the problem, but do check out these normally reserved British folk in the comment section on the  on the 4-star review in the Guardian: "Utterly mad, utterly beautiful," "My face hurts from 2 1/2 hours of grinning ear to ear," "Ambitious, silly, indulgent and profoundly moving," "The rest of the crowd went absolutely mental." Ok, fine and good, but…back to that problem. 
 
See, Sufjan still has an enormous overstock of balloons and confetti and neon gaffe tape. Soooo what do do? There's only one thing to do: ADD A SECOND SHOW! How's August 3rd sound? Good? Good! 
 
This will be your last chance to see the Adz tour in all its bright, balloony glory! And to see Sufjan actually outdoors. Imagine this, but outside! For the last time! Ok, we said that it was your last chance when we announced the August 2nd show, but this time we mean business. 

And by business we mean tickets. Presale tickets for the second benefit concert go on sale tomorrow from 10AM-10PM EST (Wednesday June 15th) at Etix, and general admission tickets will go sale Friday the 17th on Ticketmaster right here.

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