This is fine.
Fascination is the first of two new EPs from The New Division. Title track video is embedded; this song is strong. The current release includes a bad ass instrumental track “Glass Jaw” and the smopoth synth-pop goodness of “Hope”, while “Faceless is an EP only track. Modus follows next month, with “Tonight” up to stream. I dig the multi-EP idea to get some tracks out there when ready, but a full LP is due at the end of the year, all on Kunkel’s Division87 label.
Good show last night, good shows this weekend, but going to watch the footie in Houston. This week’s HANW track is from Missions, the second single from the pending Holodeck Records release Subcreature due August 2nd. It is an Italian disco synth laden piece of bliss with buried vocoder vocals. Zone out for a bit at the office and dream of tallboys and new vinyl smell.
I’ve streamed the track below and “Traffic”. Giving the rest a listen, a quick forty-seven minutes. But so far, ANIMA is what I was hoping it would be. Nathan will probably hate it, but I am definitely looking forward to zoning out in a field with a few thousand friends at ACL.
Operators is on tour right now. I saw them live. You should, too.
Current touring lineup is Devojka, Sam Brown and Dan Boeckner. It is a tight trio across the front of the stage letting you pick if you want drums, guitar/vox or synths front and center for your earholes. I will ruin any form of review by just telling you it was so good. The collision of this band, visuals from the display screen behind and outstanding sound in the venue made for a fantastic night for fans.
DOOMSQUAD, a Toronto trio of two sisters and a brother, laid down quirky disco grooves in their opening spot as a bonus.
Click through as needed…
Blue Wave was one of our favorite records of 2016. Radiant Dawn is well on its way to getting the plays from all of us at ATH to make the top albums of 2019. Operators is Dan Boeckman’s currently active project; Dan is a very nice person to meet and talk to about music and all the other things. Devojka, Sam Brown, and Dustin Hawthorne make things whole and this band puts out an amazing level of jam live. I am salivating at hearing them fill the speakers at 3Ten. Get tickets here or at the door, a sample below from the previous tour of one of my favorite jams.
I went to see Night Drive last week. They played the hits, they played new stuff. I got some intel. Rodney says they are working through the last bits of studio time to put together the next record. Now, will it be a really tight LP or a big EP? TBD, but the new songs I heard were fantastic. They carried an additional weight and had some interesting progressions and chord foundation shifts occurring over the mandatory synth pop bliss.
Honorable mention goes to Kae Astra. Eyes on her for the future, ethereal, but big voice.
Kae Astra track share and photos after the break.
Reminder, it is Mother’s Day on Sunday. Go get a clever card and some flowers, you ingrates. See you at KVRX Fest.
Some ease into the weekend music courtesy ATH IT Department friend, Missions. Josh Mills’ latest LP will land on Holodeck August 2nd.
We dodged the rain. In fact, it was a perfect night, the heavy air transmitting sound well. Scoot Inn was an odd selection for a pure electronica artist like Jon Hopkins, what with its wood paneling and gravel dance floor, but fans showed up and put the venue at capacity right when Jon took the stage. It was a drifting set of ambient tones that would build to grooves and break back down again with a set list spanning years of albums and collaborations.
Orthy put down a DJ set before hand, merch was bought, the sun set and the yard moved. Pics and show notes to follow…
I’ll be out dodging the few rain drops hoping for heavy air as Jon Hopkins is going to perform at Scoot Inn tonight. The artist has been on our playlists for a long time, scoring spots in our year end best-of song lists and through collabs with King Creosote. This is a pretty rare opportunity to catch one of the best electronic artists building, layering and unleashing tracks live. Orthy will be performing a DJ set beforehand, but be warned – there has been a low ticket warning on bookface event page, so don’t assume they’ll be available at the door, get tix here.
Drab Majesty was all about town for SxSW, new record on the horizon. Things are more official and clear with the relase of the first track from Modern Mirror due July 12th. Ringing guitar progression, their gothwave vocal and drum programming drive forwards and encourages repeat listening.
Dais Records will release the vinyl. You can preorder digital at the bandcamp site.
