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101 Minutes of Bliss #1: A DiS YouTube Playlist

2012-05-20T13:15:00+01:00

We really miss MTV2's 120 minutes, and we're not sure why we didn't think to start replacing it ourselves using the wonders of YouTube. Thankfully, we got here in the end...

Here's our first 101 Minutes YouTube playlist of songs and videos we've been loving recently, plus a few things that would feature on a DiS Greatest Hits playlist...

For more DiS YouTubular antics, subscribe to our new channel youtube.com/drownedinsound.

Tracklisting:

Flaming Lips - Do You Realise?? (Live at Glastonbury 2010)
LCD Soundsystem - All My Friends
Tanlines - All of Me
New Look - Numbers
Panda Bear - Surfer's Hymn (Actress Primitive Patterns Remix)
Actress - RIP (short film)
Bear in Heaven - The Reflection of You
Chromatics - Lady
Julia Holter - Moni Mon Amie
Exitmusic - Passage
Eight And a Half - Go Ego
Liars - No 1 Against The Rush
My Bloody Valentine - Sometimes
Halls - Solace
Blondes - Amber
Luke Abbott - Brazil
Kate Wax - Dust Collision
When Saints Go Machine - Add Ends (Jazzhouse Session)
Error Operator - Mstblove
Weikie - Rope
Nils Frahm - Live at DiS vs Erased Tapes at Great Escape (teaser)

DiScuss: Do you like this feature? Should we do more? Have you made or found any good YouTube playlists lately?

On The DiS Stereo: May 2012

2012-05-18T14:49:00+01:00

DiS' editor shares some music has been lovin' recently...

Seeing as my Five-4-Friday hasn't happened the past two weeks (blame Live at Leeds, Camden Crawl and Great Escape ), so this week I thought I'd collect together a heap of things I've been listening to and loving, that have either hit my inbox or been spaffed about on my social network feeds. This mixture of videos and SoundClouds and stuff and things, all probably vaguely suffering from drizzle-misery, with a slice of a heart-ache cake on the side...

May 2012 As a Playlist

Firstly, let's get you loaded up with DiS' May Spotify Playlist...

Asa & Stumbleine

A post-clubstep collaboration. Yeah, clubstep - it's like that hungover waddle that some people do at sunrise, half-drunk, half-awake... This EP is gorgeous, like M83 and Zomby rutting in your living room and then writing a post-coital symphony... Thanks to Bronya from Notion for tipping me off about this.

Luke Abbott

He's only gone and signed to Gold Panda's NoTown label, and announced a new EP entitled Modern Driveway which is coming out on 28th May 2012. Here is a song from it:

Gold Panda

Speaking of Derwin (as that's what your mum calls him...), he's got a new single on the way too which slinked onto the web last week. It's already available to buy digitally but there will be a 7” version available June 11th/12th from Ghostly International worldwide and Notown in the UK. If you didn't know, Gold Panda is playing the DiS stage at Summer Sundae.

I also quite liked this recent Night Works remix that he did...

Error Operator

With remixes of Radiohead, UNKLE, Ghostpoet and The Weeknd, under their shiny space-belt, London's EO now has a debut single coming out at the end of May. It's very 'night-bus'. Can someone make me a "Night-bus will never die, but you will..." t-shirt please?

Madegg

Whilst we're vibin' to lots of this ambient-indebted lush dance-music-you-can't-really-dance-to, here's something that literally just hit my inbox from Japan...

Airbird

Joel Ford, the dude from Ford & Lopatin that isn't Oneohtrix Point Never has a new project named Airbird, which is pretty schweeet! Shall we call this Diva-fi...? The 'Trust' EP is out on May 28th via Software/Mexican Summer, and here's a taste of it...

Walls

Speaking of side-project-y projects, those two chaps from Walls seem to be more like a fully-formed band in their own right now, overshadowing their other guises somewhat. We're pretty sure that you noticed that we loved their album Coracle last year, with all its deepwater tranquil chill with colourful tropical fish swimming through it. Well, they're releasing a remixed version of Coracle via Kompakt at the end of the month, which contains remixes by Jon Tejada, Wolfgang and Reinhard Voigt, Perc, and Holy Other. And we'd presume it might include this...

Bear In Heaven

I love this, it's cool.

Canadian Music Is Awesome

I got called a Canadaphile for the first time at Great Escape last weekend. It may have had something to do with me talking endlessly about Eight And A Half's set, how great Trust were, how lovely the guy who runs Arts & Crafts is and also telling people to come see husband-wife duo New Look, who once lived in Canada. There were a lot more great Canadians at Great Escape, and they made this mixtape to give us all a taste, which I realise might be a bit late now for you to got see them at Great Escape, but that doesn't mean you can't go check out more about each of these in your own time...

Yeasayer

They've snuck back on the scene. Strangely chilled...

Coco Rosie

They're back too.... don't all bumrush your monitor at once.

Perfume Genius

Is giving away a new song as a free-mp3 over on the Turnstile website, which he describes thus:

“It’s a song for a man whose lover has died. He remembers a time, before his partner took sick, where everything felt safe and endless. He asks to be taken next, so they can be together again.”

Weikie

Not a million miles from Perfume Genius is this heart-breaking little ditty from Weikie, who, fact fans, sang on the new Ghosting Season album.

St Vincent & Aaron from The National

Pitchfork popped up this +1 interview with the delightful Annie Clarke and Aaron Dessner from The National.

Liars

Chat about their forthcoming album-of-the-year-contender...

Roomrunner

And finally, let's leave you with some noise, from a 12" forthcoming on Fear & Records....

DiScuss: What have you been listening to lately?

Hear Sigur Ros' new album right here at 7pm tonight

2012-05-17T12:37:00+01:00

Happy Valtari day music fans...

You know what's happening right? At 7pm in each country around the world you'll be able to hear the new Sigur Ros album Valtari for one-hour-only. This hour will be known forevermore as the Valtari Hour.

DiS is one of the official UK partners streaming the album in its entirety, so bookmark this page or leave it open in a tab, and wander back here to listen to the record later (or now, if it is 7pm UK Time when you load up this page). Obviously, if you're a time traveller and have been forward to 7pm tonight, please comment below telling us what we can expect...

If you missed it, read Dom Gourlay's chat with Jonsi about their new album, right here.

Invite: DiS is throwing a party with Exitmusic, Halls and Dems

2012-05-16T11:20:00+01:00

Hello Readers,
We are throwing one of our little events for you (well, as long as you live near-ish to London) next Wednesday, the 23rd of May. It's sort of a 'party' but in the spirit of DiS, it won't necessarily be the cheeriest, most Guetta-esque shebang. Alas, there will be no foam or glitter guns. And although we'll be DJing a set of "The Greatest Hits of The Internet Age", you don't need to worry if 'throwing shapes' isn't your thing.

We know what we like, and we know that some of you like it too, which is why we've teamed up with the lovely people from the brilliant Secretly Canadian label to throw a little shindig with Exitmusic, whose album we premiered on DiS last week. Many of you reacted more-than-positively by saying things like "this is excellent", "this really is something truly brilliant" and "I absolutely love this!" If you didn't get chance to listen yet but like woozy broody soaring music with a glimmer of misery in its eye, then you're in luck, as they're headlining this gig for us/you. Exitmusic have recently supported Sharon Van Etten (they open for her tonight in London, in fact) and School of Seven Bells, and their music does fit somewhere between the two, mixing widescreen shoegaze indebted indie with a heavy heart. For a quick taster, this song 'White Noise' is currently my favourite track on the album:

Supporting Exitmusic for our night, will be the equally haunting Halls who has time and time again come up on our boards as one of the most exceptional new talents in the UK. He takes rich electronic washes of wiggling strings with almost Burial-like sparseness, and then his voice trembles in like Jeff Buckley on downers at a funeral. To say he's one to watch just feels like a hollow cliche but this South Londoner is something special, and, well, just listen to his latest EP for evidence that we are not lying to you...

Opening up the night will be new kids on the block Dems who also deal in a bedroom electronica, that seems to sit somewhere in the space between Foals' 'Spanish Sahara', Jack Penate's ballads and Talk Talk, which really isn't a bad place to be. Have flick through their Soundcloud:

So when is this 'party' and how do you get in? Well, firstly it's a FREE EVENT but we know you'll want to ensure you can get in, without camping overnight, so we will be giving away guaranteed entry guest list places every day over on our Twitter @drownedinsound and Facebook (there's a Facebook event too RSVP here). Or you can just turn up on the night. Bash the words "RSVP - I Are Excited" below, and we'll pick some of you to get on the guest list too, but like I said, you can just turn up early - we'll probably play some tracks from records that aren't out yet, like, I dunno, who'd like to hear something from the new Liars album? Yeah, come early then.

Where is it? This event is taking place @ CAMP, 70 – 74 City Rd, London, EC1Y 2BJ. Yeah, that's just off of the Old St Roundabout in London's hipster-cesspool Shoreditch. The venue is down in the basement, that's how literally 'underground' and 'kewl' we are.

Dress Code: You don't have to have Skillex/Grimes/cyberdog-crustie hair to get in, but it will probably be advantageous if you don't wear your favourite Levellers t-shirts, but then again, that's probably the sort of irony that will win you friends with the sort of people Nathan Barley accidentally invented. Indie points will be awarded for wearing t-shirts of bands who split up after releasing two seven singles, obviously.

Here is a flyer, in case any of that information wasn't clear...

Now, go listen to the Exitmusic album.

Valtari Hour: Sigur Rós premiere new album

2012-05-14T18:14:28+01:00

This Thursday (17th May), Sigur Rós invite their fans to participate in Valtari Hour. Set to take place worldwide at 7pm in every time zone around the globe, Valtari Hour is a rolling, New Year’s Eve-style listening event celebrating the band’s new album.

The album will be playing via a special listening platform on the band’s website as well as via selected media partners - of which we here at drownedinsound.com are one - in record stores and on radio stations. More information can also be found on their official website. Valtari Hour will allow the band’s fans worldwide to collectively experience their new album throughout the course of a twenty-four hour day.

Those listening to the album are encouraged to use the hashtag #valtarihour when discussing the album via Twitter, Instagram and other social networks. Tweets and images will be filtered into a special page on the band’s website here where fans can comment and participate in the conversation about the album.

Valtari, the album itself, is out on Monday 28th May through Parlophone in the UK. Read our interview with Jonsi Birgisson from the band last month here.

Album Stream: Exitmusic's new LP Passage (Secretly Canadian)

2012-05-10T08:49:00+01:00

Some epic and woozy-rock for you... plus a track-by-track guide to it by the band.

DiS is proud to bring you the new album from Exitmusic. Fans of Low's heart-break, School of Seven Bells' soaring shoegaze and those elegant little songs which simmer, shimmer and then get a bit epic (not unlike Sharon Van Etten who they're about to go on tour with!), you're in for a real treat. Stream the album in full, right here, right now ahead of its May 21st release via the ever-brilliant Secretly Canadian label.

Here is a track by track guide to the album by the band...

1) PASSAGE

Falling into something that you know won't end well. like a moth to the flame, there's an undeniable pull that lets you know you're alive.

2) THE NIGHT

Cheating the physical laws of birth/death & separation.

3) THE CITY

Man's enslavement of the wilderness. and how man in turn enslaves himself by paving over his own "nature". a call to unbuild man's world.

4) WHITE NOISE

Confusion. vomiting back everything thats coming at you. trying to stay connected/focused on what matters… which in the end all dissolves into static and faltering loops of decay.

5) STORMS

A talk to myself. my better self. and telling her to wait for me.

6) THE WANTING

Haunted.

7) STARS

"i'm waiting for waves now to wash us away for the wind to unearth us and laugh in our face 'hallelujah'…"

8) THE MODERN AGE

Being out of time with the modern world. on the run to find someplace true. but not finding it.

9) THE COLD

Death and a question answered.

10) SPARKS OF LIGHT

A journey through a city at night… that ends with a revelation of all being true and good and hidden.

Catch them on their upcoming dates in the UK & Ireland...

12th May, BRIGHTON, The Great Escape at The Royal Albert
14th May, GLASGOW, King Tuts with Zulu Winter
15th May, LEEDS, Brudenell with Zulu Winter
16th May, LONDON, Scala with Sharon Van Etten
17th May, MANCHESTER, Deaf Institute with Sharon Van Etten
18th May, DUBLIN, Whelans with Sharon Van Etten
23rd May, LONDON, ~~Electrowerks~~ ...now playing DiS Party @ CAMP info here

And mention that the album 'Passage" is released on May 21st on Secretly Canadian

Mixtape: Eight And a Half's forward-thinking-future-beat instrumental hip hop

2012-05-09T19:26:56+01:00

As an integral part of Broken Social Scene, and now as one of third Eight And A Half - who play their first UK shows this week - Justin Peroff is clearly a man who knows his way around a beat. We asked him to make us a mixtape to get us in the mood for their show on the DiS stage at The Great Escape this week, and this is what came back...

"This mix of forward-thinking-future-beat instrumental hip hop started at all things J Dilla. Jay Dee. James Dewitt Yancey. His left side leaning mentality of hip hop production has changed the way beat makers approach their art, forever. This neck brace required mix of 30 plus producers will take you on a journey through a swung-bastic universe of synth's and slaps. I truly, madly, deeply cannot get enough of this shit. "

Eight and a Half's mix of forward-thinking-future-beat instrumental hip hop by Drownedinsound on Mixcloud

Download

Tracklisting

Abjo - Kalimba Song
Teebs - While You Doooo
Mndsgn - Wobbyclouds
Elaquent - Reccuring Dream
Secret Track - Secret Track
Knxwledge - Rektro
Jonti - Nagoya Train Station 3AM
Mike Slott - Flunky
Alex B - Pad 5
Star Slinger - Mornin'
Lazloh - Bee - Yerk
Eight and a Half - Scissors (TOKiMONSTA Remix)
Darkhouse Family - Stay Blazed
Onra - Send Me Your Love
Lazloh - Laz…
Flying Lotus - Sleepy Dinosaur
Pixel Lord - Cheese Freak
VLooper - Neon Water Planet
Hayzee - Press Start
BMB aka Space Kid - Dillagalaxy
Dibiase - Neighbourhood Watch
Samiyam - Wonton Special
Million Young - Chlorophyl

eight-and-a-half.com

DiS' 5 Must-See Acts at The Great Escape 2012 + Spotify playlist

2012-05-09T13:29:00+01:00

Ah, The Great Escape festival. 300+ acts/bands playing over three days and nights on Britain's beautiful south coast in the city of Brighton.

To say that we are excited is a given, but we might be just as daunted and overwhelmed by the sprawling line-up as you quite possibly are. While we resign ourselves to the fact that we will miss far more of the event than we will actually manage to see, here are five names you should stick on your schedule, double underline and draw little stars around, according to me (the editor of this website).

Eight And a Half

First up, a trio of Canadian gentleman, who deal in the kind of sexy synths that your mother warned you about. The band features two guys who were in The Stills and two guys who were in Broken Social Scene (and yes, there are three of them and that doesn't add up, but we're sure you can figure out how that is possible). Their debut album just came out in North America and they play their first UK dates this week, including Thursday night at the Komedia on a bill curated by some website called Drowned in Sound. We'll be filming their set (I say we, I mean the awesome dudes from beatcast.tv), and lots of other stuff at the Great Escape, which you can watch over the coming weeks and months.

When Saints Go Machine

Next, a bunch of chaps from Denmark who seem to have a shattered disco ball in their heart. This is dark party music, cut from a similar cloth as The Knife and TV on the Radio. They made one of the albums of the year last year (#6 in our LPS of the year list) and we're thrilled that they're bringing their truly exceptional live show to Digital for DiS' Saturday night bill, so if you're coming along to see headliners Errors (who we're sure you don't need one of these who to see lists to underscore how much of a must see they are!), be sure to arrive early or to hang around after New Look and The Soft.

Stay+

Described as chill-rave, ambi-dance, sigh-fi or whatever they hell you want to call this, this collective of minimal-techno lovers from Manchester have somehow created a series of wide-screen after-party anthems. Their live show on the DiS stage last year rattled my very core while its snarky projections made for one of the most exceptional gigs I've seen in a very very long time. Easily the most exciting new band in the UK right now, and if you're not at their set at 12:30 on Friday at Coalition, you'll probably be hearing about what you missed the morning after, the week after and if it's half as good as last year, twelve months after. Be there.

FOE

Without meaning to sound like a broken record with glitter in its booze-soaked grooves, we've been banging on about FOE and her Kills-y grungey whirly-pop for a little while now. She headlined our DiS night at Camden Crawl, and she's snuck onto the Great Escape bill at 6pm on Friday at Life (info). Come see what the fuss is all about...

A Winged Victory for the Sullen

On Friday night, DiS hosts a special evening at St Mary's Church, in association with Brighton Festival and the brilliant Erased Tapes label. Erased Tapes are celebrating their 5th year as a label, and we're sure you've noticed all of the DiS love for A Winged Victory... and Nils Frahm, who will both be performing a set of their heart-stopping, slight, faint, ornate and quite simply gorgeous music that you could file under neo-classical or post-Sigur Ros or whatever silly name you want to file it under that isn't 'brilliant' 'genius' or 'quite simply great music'. We suggest you bring tissues, as things could get a bit tear-jerky...

---

...and if that wasn't enough tipping, we suggest you also try to catch New Look, EMA, The Soft, Enjoyed, Keep Shelly in Athens, Savages, Deaf Club, Exitmusic, Perfume Genius and, well, whoever it is you wanna see, as we've barely scratched the surface of the 300+ performers. In fact, why not let us know who you're looking forward to seeing and share any daytime show info in the comments section below.

Here's a Spotify playlist which may also come in handy:

...or if you'd rather listen to a YouTube playlist, head over to http://youtube.com/drownedinsound

Photo via Lomography.

Latitude Festival 2012 adds Los Campesinos, Clock Opera, Polica, Gemma Arterton, Tom Watson MP...

2012-05-09T12:14:00+01:00

This year's Latitude festival line-up just keeps getting bigger and better.

Firstly, DiS is very proud and excited to announce that we'll be one of the official partners of this year's event. We will be revealing a little more about what we have planned nearer the time. Mostly it will involve some exclusive news and insight, as well as back stage chats and sessions filmed in high quality.

Anyway, what you wanna know right now which acts have been added to the festival (which takes play July 12th - 15th near Sothwold in Suffolk), well, there is a feast of new names for you, including: Catherine AD, Slow Club, King Charles, Smoke Fairies, Norman Jay and Of Monsters And Men who join the various main music stages.

The Lake Stage, which will once again by curated by BBC Radio 1 DJ Huw Stephens, has revealed the following line-up of new music:

FRIDAY
Clock Opera
Alt-J
Seye
Vadoinmessicco
Polica
Tim Ten Yen
Cate Le Bon
The Soft

SATURDAY
Los Campesinos
Toy
The Crookes
Kwes
Tall Ships
Theme Park
Sam Airey
Dingus Khan

SUNDAY
Herman Dune
Lucy Rose
Weird Dreams
Hooray For Earth
The Cast Of Cheers
Peace
Benjamin Bloom

Also announced today of note to DiSsers is....

Sadler’s Wells Production, The Most Incredible Thing on The Waterfront Stage, adding to the diverse and exciting dance line-up. It's a collaboration between pop legends Pet Shop Boys and choreographer/director Javier De Fruto.
In the Film & Music tent, Birds Eye View Springs 2012, will present Mary Pickford’s Sparrows with live accompaniment by Aristazabal Hawkes (of The Guillemots fame) and her band.
In the Literary Arena, WordTheatre® present contemporary short stories brought to life by a the likes of Downton Abbey’s Dan Stevens, Bond Girl Gemma Arterton, Diana Vickers fresh from the West End, Game of Thrones actor Gethin Anthony, The Awakening’s Lucy Cohu and Emma Rigby from Brit soap Hollyoaks.
Fast Show comedian Simon Day will read from his comic memoirs,
Tom Watson, Labour MP and anti-Murdoch campaigner, will be chatting with Rosamund Urwin, Evening Standard columnist and feminist and Ian Birrell, Daily Mail columnist and General Election speech writer for PM David Cameron, in a live debate “What’s the Big Idea?” organised by Instigate Debate. The topic for the debate will be chosen by Latitude festival goers. In the lead up to the Sunday night debate, Instigate Debate will interview as many Latitude festival goers as possible and ask them for unique idea to change for the better. Four ideas will be chosen and debated by the panel.
Joining Jack Dee, Brian Cox, Tim Minchin and others in the Comedy Arena will be stand-up and Never Mind the Buzzcocks team captain Phill Jupitus.

Plus the next Longitude (a monthly Latitude event) will take place on Monday 14th May and have a taster of what Latitude is all about. It's held at The Century Club in Shaftesbury Avenue this month’s event will feature Luke Wright, Miss Behave, Doc Brown and Catherine A.D. plus a DJ set from DiS editor. For free tickets please email longitude@latitudefestival.co.uk.

Phew, that's a lot of info, and there was plenty more, so fire up latitudefestival.co.uk to find out what else was added on the various stages, and also to pick up your tickets if you haven't already done so.

Exclusive EMA mixtape + WIN tickets, t-shirts and vinyl!

2012-05-04T15:23:00+01:00

A competition and a mixtape...

You may remember that DiS spent much of last year going on and on and on (and on) about how awesome Past Life Martyred Saints is, and how EMA is one of the most exceptional new acts to arrive on 'the scene' for quite some time. Well, you didn't think we were gonna stop blah-blahing about how wonderful she is, did you?

Like, this awesome:

Anyway, EMA returns to the UK next week, to play the following shows:

May 2012
9 Leeds @ Brudenell Social
10 Nottingham @ Bodega
11 Manchester @ Night and Day
12 Brighton @ The Great Escape (Uncut Stage)
15 London @ Scala

We have three pairs of tickets to give away to the above (excluding The Great Escape), plus three goodie bags including an EMA t-shirt and an 'Angelo' limited edition red vinyl 7”. All you need to do to stand a chance of winning is answer the following simple question in the Facebook comment box below...

Which position did we place EMA's debut album in our 2011 albums of the year list and should it have been higher?

Please include the location you wish to attend with your answer, and we'll pick a winner from the correct answers at midday on Tuesday 8th May.

Mixtape

Yes, we promised you a mixtape, but first, an introduction by Erika M. Anderson (aka EMA).

Featuring Cypress Hill, an ultra-rare Gowns song, and the erstwhile lead guitarist of one of the world's most famous rock bands singing "Your Pussy Is Glued To A Building On Fire".

FYI the tape is entitled Hanging Out With Sarah – In Praise of Extremities, Sarah being Erika’s good friend who is standing in as guitarist in EMA’s current band. Sarah usually plays in Talk Normal, who are great.

Follow @emathorstar

Music

CYPRESS HILL - HITS FROM THE BONG

JOHN FRUSCIANTE - YOUR PUSSY IS GLUED TO A BUILDING ON FIRE

JULIE RUIN - I WANNA KNOW WHAT LOVE IS

SHELLAC - PRAYER TO GOD

CONCRETE BLONDE - JOEY

KRISTIN OPPENHEIM - SAIL ON SAILOR

SKATT BROS - WALK THE NIGHT

ELVIS COSTELLO - GREENSHIRT DEMO

GOWNS - WHAT IF NOT YOU

SPLIT ENZ - I GOT YOU

ZOUNDS - CAN'T CHEAT KARMA

PJ HARVEY - GOODNIGHT

ENTRANCE - PRAYER OF DEATH

Enjoy!