Embracing the spirit of the festive season, Esben and the Witch have merrily handed over a free-download to the Drowned in Sound website, which is available for download here.  Fellow Brits Worried About Satan remixed ‘Skeleton Swoon’ which originally featured on the very first Demo/EP which the band self released last year.  Daniel from the band also passed on these words about the remix:

“It was not really too much of a decision asking worriedaboutsatan to do a remix, I bought Arrivals when it came out and the atmospherics and pacing were just beautiful and the job they have done on this remix is wonderful, I think they managed to make it sound even more macabre. We were fortunate enough to have them play with us in London recently and not only were they lovely gents but they were absolutely captivating. I imagine this wont be the last time our paths cross creatively (or at least we hope not).”

Some 17 months ago, a particularly hyperbole-crazed record company functionary gushed about this imprint’s signing of “one of the more important figures in American music circa 2009″, certainly the sort of poisoned chalice a young musician would have as much trouble living down as the subject of Jon Landau’s 1974 claim in The Real Paper, “I have seen rock’n'roll future.”

We of course know that in the latter instance, Landau was referring to Paul Williams, and in the former, I was writing about Philadelphia’s Kurt Vile.  Through a succession of releases for Matador, Woodsist, Gulcher, Richie and Mexican Summer (not to mention constant touring, both as a headliner an in support of a dizzying range of artists including Ariel Pink, Sonic Youth, Fucked Up, Big Star, The National, Dinosaur Jr.and others) Kurt has quickly established himself as the troubadour du jour for an increasingly large number of clued-in persons.  Though initially praised in some corners for having “absorbed a lifetime’s worth of FM rock”,  Kurt’s music has developed into something less genre/period-specific yet far more focused & powerful.   On March 8, we’ll be unveiling the next stage in that development with the LP/CD/digital album, ‘Smoke Ring For My Halo’ ;  recorded by John Agnello (Sonic Youth, Dinosaur Jr.) throughout 2010 at various studios in NYC, Hoboken and Philadelphia, the 2nd Kurt Vile full-length for Matador is easily his most ambitious work to date.  Assisted by a cast including but not limited to the Violators, ‘Smoke Ring’ doesn’t merely showcase Kurt’s versatility (keep in mind, this is a guy who was once compared to Leonard Cohen, Psychic TV, Tom Petty and Animal Collective — in the same review), but truly ties otherwise disparate elements together in a way that hopefully causes everyone to seriously re-evaluate the very nature of what they consider to be a classic album.

Or failing that, the sort of album you’ll be playing very loud in the car.  Or first thing in the morning. Or perhaps at 3am.  We could call it a record for every mood but you might be far moodier than any of us and that wouldn’t be fair.

‘Smoke Ring For My Halo’ :

A side:
Baby’s Arms
Jesus Fever
Puppet To The Man
On Tour
Society Is My Friend

B side:
Runner Ups
In My Time
Peeping Tomboy
Smoke Ring For My Halo
Ghost Town

In the very near future, we’ll be making another preview MP3 from ‘Smoke Ring For My Halo’ available, but until then, you’ll have to be satisfied with the titular track from the recently released 7″ EP,  “In My Time”.     We’re planning a special, limited edition version of the ‘Smoke Ring’ LP but need to keep the details to ourselves for the time being, but expect a formal announcement soon, along with information about Kurt’s 2011 live activity.

Kurt Vile “In My Time” [192kbps mp3]

“On January 15th, 2011, Shearwater will present The Island Arc, the trilogy of albums that includes 2006′s Palo Santo, 2008′s Rook, and 2010′s The Golden Archipelago, in a single, complete performance at the beautiful Central Presbyterian Church in Austin, Texas.

This will be a one-time-only event – we’ve never performed these thematically-linked albums in order, and probably never will again.  We’ve also never played some of the songs live at all.   We’ll be joined by old and new friends for this show, and we promise a really special evening for everyone.

The Island Arc isn’t a farewell show, not by a long shot, but it does feel like a bookend.  It’s a way for us to look back and to clear the way for what’s next – which, whatever it is, is going to be quite different from these records.

We begin recording a new album in early 2011. “ -  Jonathan Meiburg

Tickets are now on sale.

1. Red Sea, Black Sea b/w Sing , Little Birdie single (from Palo Santo):

A. Red Sea, Black Sea (192k mp3)
B. Sing, Little Birdie (192k mp3)

2. The Snow Leopard b/w South Col (from Rook):

A. The Snow Leopard (192k mp3)
B. South Col (192k mp3)

3. Castaways b/w God Made Me (from The Golden Archipelago):

A. Castaways (192k mp3)
B. God Made Me (192k mp3)

Just in time for the holidays, we’re reissuing the devastating debut album from Seattle’s Perfume Genius, aka Mike Hadreas, in a new slipcase edition. If you missed ‘Learning’ when it came out last June, now is your chance to explore the most critically acclaimed album Matador released this year. Get one for yourself, then get another for your loved one.

The new version of the CD comes in a cardboard slipcase with new artwork (above), along with a coupon entitling you to downloads of three new tracks: “Dreeem,” “Your Drum” and “Divine Faxes.” The new version of the LP is stickered with information about the new tracks, which have been added to the standard download coupon inside.

Check out an MP3 of “Dreeem” here:

Dreeem (192k mp3)

Preorder the slipcase edition here:

PREORDER

Perfume Genius will be playing one more show this year, in Seattle this Saturday December 4, at the Healthy Times Fun Club.

The first proper video for Perfume Genius, “Lookout Lookout,” directed by Patrick Sher, will premiere next week. Keep your eye on this space for further information.

(from left to right, Thomas Fisher, Daniel Copeman, Rachel Davies. Photography by Adam Kola)

On the heels of their recent “Marching Song” 12″ EP and first US tour (culminating in tonight’s show at Brooklyn’s Knitting Factory), Esben and the Witch will be releasing their debut full-length LP/CD/digital album on January 31, 2011 (February 8 in North America ). The Brighton trio, recently nominated for a Q Award, found themselves nearly drowning in plaudits following “Marching Song”‘s release “teetering on the edge of explosive emotion”, raved one observer, while the assessment, “thoroughly mesmerizing” came to mind for another.

And while the currently available “Marching Song” 12″ is as impressive as advertised, ‘Violet Cries’, recorded by produced by the band’s Daniel Copeman, easily ranks amongst the more audacious and ambitious debut albums, whether in recent memory or in this label’s very long run. While we’re occupied petitioning retailers to add an “Uneasy Listening” bin card to their sales floor, here’s just a hint of what you’re in for next February ;

“Warpath” [192kbps mp3] (from ‘Violet Cries’, OLE 939)

Esben and the Witch will be touring Europe and North America in early 2011 ; though if you’re based in one of the relevant cities below,  you’ll not want to miss out.

Remaing 2010 Tour dates
26th October – The Knitting Factory, Brooklyn, NY
- – - – - – - – - – - -
4th November – Paris, La Boule Noir
10th November – London, Electrowerkz
11th November – Manchester, Deaf Institute
12th November – Glasgow – Captains Rest
14th November – Leeds - Constellations Festival
27th November – Le Guess Who Festival, Utrecht – Netherlands

Broken Dreams Club
Avail. 11/22/10
CD/12″/DS
Pre-order HERE
Rather than us spieling about this record Christopher wrote y’all a letter that sums it all up way better than any of us could. 6 New songs. 30 minutes. Mp3 download below.

click to enlarge

“In My Time” b/w “Early Dawnin’”, “Sad Ghost”
OLE-949
Digital: October 25
Limited 7″: November 9

Kurt Vile “In My Time” [192kbps mp3]
PREORDER NOW

In music biz parlance, you’d call  this new 7″ a “teaser/single/pre-release for Kurt Vile’s forthcoming long-player produced by John Agnello hitting streets in 2011.” And although you’re likely to hear one of these tracks on Kurt’s next album,  this 7″, like every other of his releases, is an item that’s worthy of its own recognition. We’re excited to announce three brand new tracks by Kurt Vile which will be available for purchase at digital retailers on October 25, and on 7″ vinyl on November 9.

You can also pick the 7″ up on Kurt Vile and the Violator’s nationwide tour, which is happening now!

Wed-Oct-20 Chapel Hill, NC Local 506
Thu-Oct-21 Atlanta, GA The Earl
Fri-Oct-22 Birmingham, AL The Nick
Sat-Oct-23 Nashville, TN Mercy Lounge
Mon-Oct-25 Toledo, OH Mickey Finn
Tue-Oct-26 Covington, OH Mad Hatters
Wed-Oct-27 Columbus, OH Skully’s
Thu-Oct-28 Ann Arbor, MI Blind Pig
Fri-Oct-29 Indianapolis, IN White Rabbit Cabaret
Sat-Oct-30 Chicago, IL Empty Bottle
Sun-Oct-31 Chicago, IL Empty Bottle
Mon-Nov-01 Minneapolis, MN Triple Rock
Thu-Nov-04 Seattle, WA Neumos
Fri-Nov-05 Vancouver, BC Biltmore
Sat-Nov-06 Portland, OR Berbatis Pan
Tue-Nov-09 San Francisco, CA Rickshaw Stop
Thu-Nov-11 Los Angeles, CA Echoplex
Sat-Nov-13 San Diego, CA Casbah
Sun-Nov-14 Tempe, AZ Trunk Space
Wed-Nov-17 San Antonio, TX The Korova
Thu-Nov-18 Austin, TX Emo’s (w/ Purling Hiss, The Young, Air Traffic Controllers)
Fri-Nov-19 Dallas, TX Club Dada
Sat-Nov-20 Little Rock, AR Whitewater Tavern
Sun-Nov-21 Memphis, TN Hi Tone
Wed-Nov-24 Washington, DC Black Cat (backstage)
Fri-Nov-26 Philadelphia, PA Johnny Brendas
Fri-Dec-03 Brooklyn, NY Knitting Factory (w/ Metal Mountains)

10/21-11/13, co-headlining with The Soft Pack
10/19-12/3, support from Purling Hiss

Glasser just finished up a run of U.S. Dates with Gayngs. They shared the stage on a number of occasions, recorded a video together, and by most accounts blew a lot of minds. It doesn’t stop for Glasser though. Right about now, Cameron and the band should be landing on the shores of the United Kingdom for a run of U.K and European dates before embarking on a full U.S, tour. We have these dates along with some new U.S. ones (in bold) below.

Also, we’re also thrilled to share a new standout track from Ring (now available in everywhere), Mirrorage. You’ll be seeing some reinterpretations, both visual and aural, of this track in the coming weeks but for the time being, here it is in its original glory.

Glasser- Mirrorage (mp3)

Buy Ring HERE (and get a full mp3 download of the album instantly)

TOUR DATES
10/10 – Rough Trade East – London, UK (Free Entry)
10/11 – The Macbeth – London, UK (Sold Out)
10/12 – Madame Jojo’s – London, UK (White Heat)
10/13 – Le Point Emphere – Paris, FR
10/15 – ‘In The City’ Festival – NME showcase, Manchester, UK
10/16 - Internasjonalen, Oslo, NO w/Lindstrom(!!)
10/17 – Club Privat – Berlin, GE
11/3- Los Angeles, CA @ Troubadour w/Teen Inc.
11/4- San Francisco @ Popscene (330 Ritch)
11/6- Portland, OR @ Holocene w/Pains of Being Pure At Heart
11/7- Seattle, WA @ Crocodile w/Beat Connection
11/9- Boston, MA @ Middle East w/Violens
11/10- Montreal, PQ @ Il Motore #
11/11- Toronto, ON @ Drake Hotel #
11/12- Pontiac, MI @ Pike Room #
11/13- Chicago, IL @Lincoln Hall #
11/15- Washington D.C. @ Black Cat #
11/16- Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
11/19- Hartford, CT @ Arch Street Tavern
11/20- Baltimore, MD @ Metro Gallery
#= w/Twin Shadow

Cold Cave have unveiled a new website and christened it with a free download of a demo they recorded in April of 2009; a cover of Hunkydory’s 1982 track “Tomorrow”. Click here, or head over to http://www.coldcave.net/ to check it out, along with the latest updates from the band. Don’t forget, the band will hit the road for a quick westcoast run in September

Download: Cold Cave – Cold Cave – “Tomorrow” (demo) [by Hunkydory]

Sep 2 2010  9:00P

@ Casbah w/ DELOREAN & ABE VIGODA

San Diego, CA

Sep 3 2010  8:00P

@ Detroit Bar w/ ABE VIGODA

Costa Mesa, CA

Sep 4 2010  12:30P

FYF FEST at LA State Historic park www.fyffest.com

Los Angeles, CA

Sep 5 2010  7:00P

@ Great American Music Hall w/ ABE VIGODA

San Francisco, California

Sep 6 2010  6:00P

@ Henry Miller Memorial Library w/ABE VIGODA

Big Sur, California

Sep 9 20108:00P

@ Holocene

Portland, Oregon

Sep 10 20108:00P

@ Neumos

Seattle, WA

Sep 30 2010 7:00P

@ Hollywood Palladium w/ SPOON

Hollywood, California

Oct 1-3 2010
@ The Pearl at The Palms Resort
Matador at 21
Las Vegas, NV

*photo from neitherfishnorflesh‘s flickr

Glasser’s Ring is arriving in our hands September 28th but for now, here is the first taste of Ring entitled “Home”. The song remains in line with the Glasser we’ve heard before, eclectic and beat-driven with instrumental melodies often driven by Cameron’s own voice. But there is a depth to both the arrangement and recording which somehow makes the song simultaneously intimate and explosive.

Glasser- Home (mp3)

Pre-order Ring HERE and get either limited clear vinyl or limited deluxe cd jacket designed by Tauba Auerbach.

TOUR DATES W/GAYNGS (Feat. Bon Iver)

Sept 29 Milwaukee, WI @ Turner Hall

Sept 30 Chicago, IL @ Metro

Oct 2 Boston, MA @ Paradise

Oct 3 New York, NY @ Webster Hall

Oct 4 Brooklyn, NY @ The Music Hall of Williamsburg

Oct 5 Washington, DC @ Black Cat

Oct 7 Nashville, TN @ Mercy Lounge

We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again. Magic Kids are serious about the craft and composition of rock music. Superball, off of their debut record Memphis out 8/24, demonstrates this incredibly. Using the tools they sharpened in their old D.I.Y. bands, The Barbaras and Girls of the Gravitron, they set out to do something classic: take the simple and skeletal structures of rock and garage songs and build into pop epics. The horns, strings and synths are not trim or embellishments but crucial components of their unique compositions. You may have heard an early demo of this song on the 7″ split with the Smith Westerns but this is the version that defines it. We hope you find it as immediate and enthralling as we do.

Magic Kids- Superball (mp3)

Pre-order Memphis and get an instant mp3 download of the WHOLE ALBUM HERE

Magic kids also have more new tour dates that will take them across the country with their neighbor and friend, Bosco Delrey. Memphis isn’t about mourning an era of music that is gone, rather, adding another chapter to the story and Bosco is a perfect companion for this mission. MEMPHIS EVERYWHERE!

Fri 11/05 Dallas, TX @ The Cavern Ω
Sun 11/07 Houston, TX @ Numbers Ω
Mon 11/08 Baton Rouge, LA @ Spanish Moon Ω
Wed 11/10 Chapel Hill, NC @ Local 506 Ω
Fri 11/12 New York, NY @ Mercury Lounge Ω
Sat 11/13 Brooklyn, NY @ Silent Barn Ω
Mon 11/15 Cleveland, OH @ Beachland Tavern Ω
Tue 11/16 Chicago, IL @ Empty Bottle Ω
Wed 11/17 St. Louis, MO @ Firebird Ω
Thu 11/18 Nashville, TN @ The End Ω

Ω= w/Bosco Delrey

Current Dates:
09-01 Lubbock, TX – The Foundation *
09-03 Phoenix, AZ – The Trunk Space *
09-04 Los Angeles, CA – FYF Fest
09-05 San Francisco, CA – Bottom of the Hill*
09-08 Vancouver, BC – The Media Club*
09-09 Seattle, WA – The Vera Project *
09-10 Portland, OR – Backspace- Music Fest NW *
09-11 Garden City, ID – Visual Arts Collective *
09-13 Salt Lake City, UT – Kilby Court *
09-14 Denver, CO – Hi Dive *
09-16 Lawrence, KS – Replay Lounge *
09-17 Memphis, TN – Hi Tone Cafe *
10-1 London, UK @ Barfly
10-2 London, UK @ Camden Proud Galleries
10-3 Bruges, Belgium @ Botanique/Witloofbar
10-5 Amsterdam, Holland @ Paradiso
10-6 Tilburg, Holland @Tilburg 013/Batcave
10-7 Hamburg, Germany @ Molotow
10-8 Helsingar, Denmark @ Musikhuset Elvaerket
10-9 Oslom, Norway @ Café Mono
10-10 Gothenburg, Sweden @ Pusterviksbaren
10-11 Stockholm, Sweden @ Landet
10-12 Copenhagen, Denmark @ Lades
10-13 Berlin, Germany @ Magnet
10-14 Köln, Germany @ Werkstatt
10-15 München, Germany @ Atomic Cafe
10-16 Zurich, Switzerland @ Club Zukunft
10-17 Milan, Italy Indierocket party @ Rocket (free entry)
10-18 Paris, France @ Point Ephemere
10-19 Oxford, UK @ Jercicho Tavern
10-21 Bristolm UK @ Louisanna
10-22 Bristol, UK @ The Social
10-23 Cardiff, UK @ Swn Festival
10-24 Newcastle, UK @ The Cluny
10-25 Leeds, UK @ Nation of Shopkeepers
10-26 Birmingham, UK @ Hare and Hounds
10-27 London, UK @ TBC
10-28 London, UK @ Lexington
* w/Candy Claws

Yesterday, we dropped a bit of a bombshell (said in Lee “Hacksaw” Hamilton voice), revealing the Monday release of the full length debut from Seattle songwriter/vocalist Mike Hadreas, aka Perfume Genius, ‘Learning’. It’s usually our habit to drop an MP3 or two prior to commercial availability and while we hardly regret embracing the element of surprise, at the end of the day, we are creatures of habit.

“Learning” (160k mp3)

‘Learning’ is available today on LP, CD, MP3 or FLAC from The Matador Store

“Heartbreaking, rip-your-toenails out bleakness is part of the charm…a fragile, fucked-up little wonder.” (9/10), Camille Pia, NME

“‘Learning’ is a bruised and suggestive affair; of catharsis and rare, redemptive beauty, which ranks as one of the most uniquely endearing and quietly forceful debut albums of recent years.” (9/10), James Skinner, Drowned In Sound

True Panther is incredibly excited to announce that on August 24th Magic Kids‘ debut album Memphis will see the bright, gleaming and summery light of day. Recorded in the Memphis studio of Doug Easley over the course of several months it is an attempt to re-frame the city, not as the home of musical eras long-gone, but a place where crumbling neighborhoods hidden BBQ places, and closed-down roller rinks are all enveloped by a thick summer air, and a sense of MAGIC.

What Magic Kids share with last century’s masters- Jeff Lynne, Brian Wilson, Van Dyke Parks–  is a belief in the promise of the pop song; in the ability to take a tiny and simple melodic gem, a small moment of wide-eyed sincerity, and translate it into something that is bursting with life. The arrangements and colors hinted at with their singles on Goner and Fat Possum, are in full bloom on the album. There are touches of late 80s Britpop, the Delphonics’ heartbreaking harmonies, ELO’s grandeur, and Belle & Sebastian’s intimacy. And MEMPHIS. While home to artists that range across genres- the music of the city is honest, robust and joyful- often made by iconoclastic, rebellious and larger-than life musicians. This is the Memphis where Magic Kids were born, where Bennett, Al, Ben, Michael, and Will grew up playing in garage bands, hanging around Goner Records and listening to records. It’s also the city that houses the orchestra of musicians they called upon to realize the sound and ambitions planned for this new collection of songs.

Memphis reminds us of some of the first exciting moments of becoming a lifelong music listener. The excitement, sounds, lush harmonies, and celebration. Their music isn’t positive because of the difficulties of life, but in spite of them. They are close to our hearts because they believe that no matter what the circumstances are, deliberate hard work and ambition mixed with joyous honesty still make it possible to craft classic, beautiful, and eternal pop music.

This first song “Summer” is a slightly more restrained and nuanced than what you may have heard before. In the words of the band “this song isn’t ‘fun in the summertime’ kind of summer, but more the wistful, fighting-loneliness-with-your-friends kind of summer.” We felt like sharing this one because honestly, it’s torture watching summer days blaze by without people having this mellow anthem at their disposal. So here we go. Enjoy the summer!

Magic Kids- Summer (mp3)
Pre-order Memphis HERE (and get a free poster and 10% off)
On-Tour with Ariel Pink this Summer

(Photo by Alejandra Sabillon)

After a steady stream of remixes for Cold Cave’s “Life Magazine”, a vinyl piece collecting each of them is available in stores now. We’ve to date witnessed Pantha Du Prince, Arthur Baker, Optimo and Delorean take a crack at manipulating “Life Magazine”‘s elements through each of their unique visions. The final track on the EP is Cold Cave member, Dominick Fernow’s ecstatic arrangement under the nom-de-plume of his longstanding project, Prurient.

Life Magazine (Prurient Remix) [160 kbps]

You can find the “Life Magazine” 12″ in Matador’s store, in music retailers across the world and on Cold Cave’s merch table.

Thursday 17   Chicago, IL         Empty Bottle w/Hair Police, Locrian
Saturday 19    Toronto, ON      Wrongbar
Sunday 20      Montreal, QC     Le Belmont