Civil Civic, 'Less Unless'

Now that Ratatat has made it readily apparent that they are only going to rehash their debut album over and over, there seems to be a spot available for a dancey instrumental duo to step up and fill a void. Smart money should be on European two piece Civil Civic. Live guitar and bass with a layer of electronics and a love of distortion, that seems like a mighty safe bet.

Here they are claiming their legitness with a live version of their song 'Less Unless':



More over on their MySpace and Bandcamp pages.

Rene Hell, Porcelain Opera

Renee Hell is the latest name taken by American electronic musician Jeff Witscher, who has recently released Porcelain Opera. Equal parts light and dark, this album falls more on the repetitive drone side of things and is worth repeated listens. You can preview the entire album below.

Tycho, 'From Home (Mux Mool remix)'

Ghostly International has digitally re-released an expanded version of Tycho's 2006 work Past Is Prologue. Included is a remix by hanBrolo favorite Mux Mool, which you can hear below. Blissful electronic pop that helps cut through the June gloom here in Los Angeles. Or maybe helps one to embrace it.

Tycho - 'From Home (Mux Mool remix)'

More info here.

BEAK>, Wulfstan 12"

BEAK> is a relatively new-ish project from Geoff Barrow (Portishead) that also features Matt Williams and Billy Fuller. They released a debut album last fall and now they give the world the four song Wulfstan 12".

You can preview the tracks over on their Bandcamp page. 'Wulfstan' is dark, repetitive, murky and pretty spooky. It's the kind of music that plays in your head when you are walking down a desolate country road and you keep turning around to see if you are being followed.

If Geoff is going to dabble in projects like this than there is no real rush on that next Portishead album as far as I see it.

The 12" is limited to 500 copies.

Reissued!: Spiritualized, Ladies And Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space

There's a short list of things that could convince hanBrolo to emerge from the self-imposed blogger exile he lackadaisically entered over a month ago. News that one of the greatest albums of the 1990's is finally being re-released on vinyl is one of those things.

Those who care most likely know that the original pressing of Ladies And Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space can be located on eBay from time to time, but you're not likely to snag it for less than 100 bones.

That's why the news that this Tuesday, June 15th, Plain Recordings will be releasing a new pressing on 180 gram vinyl should be met with cheers and tears of joy from any self respecting music fan.

Pre-order!

To celebrate, I give you the 1998 Flux Festival performance, where J. Spaceman performed a handful of Ladies And Gentlemen tracks accompanied by a choir:

Spiritualized: Flux Festival / Edinburgh, Scotland / 08.14.98

1. Intro
2. Ladies And Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space
3. No God Only Religion
4. Choir
5. Cool Waves
6. The Individual
7. Lord Can You Hear Me
8. Choir
9. Choir
10. Feel So Sad
11. Feel So Sad

Download!

Menomena, 'FIVE LITTLE ROOMS'

Three and a half years can feel like an eternity when you are waiting for someone like Menomena to release their next album. Good news- Mines is out July 27th on Barsuk.

Take a listen to a new song, 'FIVE LITTLE ROOMS', using the widget below. Hands down the best newsletters you will ever read come from Menomena, so don't worry about giving them that.

It's been a bit since I listened to the last record, Friend and Foe, but I don't immediately recall anything this moody being on there. Sounds like this one is worth the time spent waiting.

 

(original source: P4K, where you can also stream the new song)

Gold Panda, 'You (Seams remix)'

My fascination with UK's Gold Panda originated with this post. This was before I learned that the wonderful Ghostly International had him up their excellent sleeve. They will be relasing his You EP digitally on June 15th with the 12" version following shortly. It will be well worth the wait.

To celebrate this news, take a listen to the Seams remix of 'You'. I think I could hear a hundred different versions of this song before I got bored with it.

Gold Panda - 'You (Seams remix)'

Gold Panda will be a part of one of the more interesting and eclectic lineups I've seen in a while when they play the Echoplex June 8th with HEALTH, Best Coast and Indian Jewelry.

More info, pre-order and additional tour dates here.