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July highlights / August hopes

sean [Edit] [Delete] 16 replies 20:30 July 30th, 2011

Nearly the end of the month, so time for the month-just-gone best bits and gazing forward at the month ahead, thread.

ALBUMS
Been an odd month with a lot of good releases at the start of the month and then a fairly quiet past few weeks. Really loved the SBTRKT album (sort of like Joy Orbison with xx-ish vocals - bit easier to leave on when working than the Zomby record) and the lush throb of the John Maus lp. Spent a lot of time listening to the Emmy the Great and When Saints Go Machine albums, as well as the Metronomy record, which I didn't get into at first. Listened to a lot of individual songs, and some forthcoming records (obsessed with the new St Vincent record - album of the year contender methinx!), so not much time to listen to other things enough to make an impact.

GIGS
In terms of gigs, highlight was probably my trip to a festival in the Faroe Islands called G! festival which was quite fun. I watched Travis in the rain, a freakshow, some old guys who I think did the music to The Wire or True Blood, and discovered a junk-shop Sigur Ros-meets-NiN band called ORKA.

August, I'm looking forward to seeing Deftones (possibly at Reading) and Antlers at Screen on the Green. Release-wise, it's all about Beirut, innit? Strangely curious to hear the Chilli Peppers record too. What else is out?

New and related: Song of the Month thread: http://drownedinsound.com/community/boards/music/4299323

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and here's my July-as-a-playlist

based on stuff I've liked and DiS has recommended or has been talked about a fair bit on the boards
http://open.spotify.com/user/seaninsound/playlist/1gmcRUDy3WyJLamQq4KcNX

sean | 30 Jul '11, 20:32 | X | ^ This | Reply
oh, and...

Beirut will be doing a takeover :)

sean | 30 Jul '11, 20:33 | X | ^ This | Reply
Keep an eye out for...

Sully on Keysound: http://blackdownsoundboy.blogspot.com/2011/07/sully-carrier-keysound-recordings.html It's too good: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxqhSrkZhOo next month or so, can't stop playing it.

jimitheexploder | 30 Jul '11, 20:38 | X | ^ This | Reply
nothing too great this month

some solid 7/10s: SBTRKT, Horrors, John Maus, Zomby, Araabmuzik + the How To Dress Well and Jam City EPs. Got Machinedrum and The Men to listen to, both meant to be strong.

next month, hmm. well I have a few things to digest that are just out/will be in the coming weeks: The War On Drugs' new record is meant to be excellent, and Kurt Vile is still top 5 of the year for me so I'm going to listen to that now actually. Thundercat I'm intrigued by and there's the new HudMo and Dark Sky EPs to keep me going through

oh wait. Watch The Throne. could be ridiculously good, could be kinda lame. THAT is the biggie next month.

SCROTUM | 30 Jul '11, 21:34 | X | ^ This | Reply
- gigs-wise:
  
  The Flaming Lips were a let-down (great performance from the band, incessant blathering from Wayne spoilt it a bit), Odd Future were surprisingly together and good but Weezer at Brixton...hoooollllyyy shit, one of the best gigs I've ever been to. So much fucking fun, I can't even describe
  
  SCROTUM @SCROTUM | 30 Jul '11, 21:36 | X | ^ This | Reply
- i've got a promo f that Thundercat record on my desk, will give it a spin later and report back.
  
  sean @SCROTUM | 31 Jul '11, 09:23 | X | ^ This | Reply
  - weirdly
    
    this post didn't bump the thread?!
    
    sean @sean | 31 Jul '11, 09:30 | X | ^ This | Reply
- War on Drugs
  
  Slave Ambient is awesome. I got sent an advanced copy, and I think it's better than Smoke Ring for my Halo. Tt's probably going to get unfavourably lumped in with the Kurt Vile (as is to be expected) and considered it's less attractive brother, but I think it's a different beast. The only possible downside is that 3 of the tracks are ones re-jigged from Future Weather (Brothers, Come to the City and Baby Missiles) but it's great. It's more like Kurt Vile had made an album of variations on Society is My Friend (unchanging drums, twiddly feedback, full-band sound) and thrown in a bit more Neil Young and Spiritualized for good measure. A winner for me!
  
  johnwiddop @SCROTUM | 1 Aug '11, 18:35 | X | ^ This | Reply
Don't think I've bought or even listened to a single album thats been released this month

Did go see Bjork though which was ace. Well worth the 7 hour round trip.

Next month looking forward to seeing Ensemble Economique and hearing the Balam Acab LP.

karl | 30 Jul '11, 21:59 | X | ^ This | Reply
.

I think there was only one July release that I bought, which was The Real Tuesday Weld's The Last Werewolf. Which I have been playing relentlessly since getting it. Superb album.
I've also discovered Clock Opera, as a result of seeing them on the Latitude line-up. Amazing band. Looking forward to seeing them again at Field Day.

Other than Latitude, my favourite gig was 13 & God at the Garage. They were stunning. Doseone was just so brilliant live. Really want to see them again.

Not sure what I'm looking forward to in August, but thanks for the Beirut reminder, as I've just pre-ordered that now.

paulo13 | 31 Jul '11, 09:46 | X | ^ This | Reply
Hilight album wise

was Three Trapped Tigers - Route One or Die. Epic. As for shows, only went to 2000trees. But it was an incredible festival. ASIWYFA were stunning, as were Catsx3. Only FRabbit were disappointing, so went to see Dizreli instead.

nowheresnigh | 31 Jul '11, 11:57 | X | ^ This | Reply
Looking forward to

Stephen Malkmus, Male Bonding and Beirut albums.

shinymcshine | 31 Jul '11, 12:10 | X | ^ This | Reply
Within and Without (Washed Out) was by far my favourite album of July

As for August, have (cheekily) heard Beirut and War on Drugs and they are both really good, so its good to anticipation. I'm a big Krug fan so the Moonface LP is also in high rotation.

But above all I can't wait for You Are All I See by Active Child. He has a pretty interesting/potentially unique sound, and the two pre-released songs are amazing, especially this: http://soundcloud.com/snipelondon/active-child-hanging-on

wonton | 1 Aug '11, 22:17 | X | ^ This | Reply
highlights + hopes

Stumbleine - Rose Tinted EP
The Horrors - Skying
High Powered Boys - Udon/Work EP
Mike Dehnert - Bricolage EP
Machinedrum - Room(s)
Dark Sky - Radius EP
V/A - 50 Weapons Of Choice #10-19
Seiji - SEIJI 4
+
Widowspeak - S/T
Various Artists - Mad Decent Volume 1
Cansei de Ser Sexy - La Liberación
The Throne - Watch The Throne

cronenberg | 1 Aug '11, 23:34 | X | ^ This | Reply