'Surf Solar'

Days ago I headed over to the Fuck Button's myspace, because every now and then there's a little edible candy blog with information relevant to my interests. And judging from the title I knew it'd be something good.

They had announced their second album-Tarot Sport-and a bevvy of UK tour dates. Though I don't live in Europe the album spill and the mere mention of playing live again made me giddy.

Earlier today Pitchfork.com premiered the duo's first single-'Surf Solar'-and I found it during lunch at work, and lucky me my computers speakers are shit-broke. So I had to wait to get home to finally listen to it. And the verdict?

Well, I love it, that is a given. But I'm also really conflicted.

Andrew Weatherall (who did a delightful remix of 'Sweet Love For Planet Earth' that invoked the dance floor) has apparently had a hand in Tarot Sport, and it is quite noticeable in 'Surf Solar.' Not to say that's a bad thing, but if every song on Andy and Ben's sophmore piece sounds like a remix instead of their fuzzy, unique noise, then I'm going to be a tad dissapointed.

Granted the two haaave been playing some mysterious, yet-to-be mentioned tracks during live shows, so there's hope that maybe those will be included.

Now, I should state that 'Surf Solar' is fantastic in it's own right and I love it; I mean, if my ears are correct there's some subtle collective chanting going on which is splendid. If all of Tarot Sport sounds like this then I'm sold, but here's hoping to some ocean-of-noise and tribal drum epics that Street Horrrsing so lovingly contributed.

http://pitchfork.com/news/36063-premiere-fuck-buttons-surf-solar/

I'm surprised I haven't gotten a papercut yet

From where I sit in this office
there's a window I can look out
There's a field
and almost every time I look at it
there are butterflies fucking.

Commenced? A possible follow up to 'Street Horrrsing'?

As in... finished? As in everything is recorded? As in new album?
Well it's been 3 years hasn't it?

http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendId=12929735&blogId=496705430

Dracula Birthday

I wonder what the typical 'Happy Birthday' song would sound like under the control of Brian and Brian of Lightning Bolt.

(SOMEBODY TAKE THIS INTO CONSIDERATION.)

The Horrors 'Primary Colours'

Back in 2007, British goth-garage band The Horrors released their first album Strange House. It was great at the time, I was in fact pretty obsessed with them for a while, but I have to admit the album didn't really quench my thirst entirely. The first single 'Sheena is a Parasite' (whose video is directed by nonother than Chris-Fucking-Cunningham) is properly brilliant, opening with what you might think is a hellicopter and just exploding from there. And the rest of the album isn't bad by any means whatsoever.

Their sophmore album Primary Colours is out May 4th, and showcases a new, more refined sound. There's still plenty of flashy drums, vibrating guitar riffs, janky organs, and aching vocals, but there's also the presence of a kind of ambient force. The Horrors wouldn't be the only band this year to start relying more on synths (coughYeahYeahYeahscough), but I have to say it really really works for them. It is very aparent through the first track ('Mirror's Image', which starts out rather dreamlike) to 'Sea Within a Sea', the first single and Seventeen Seconds-esque album finisher.

In short, the garage raucous has been toned down but the instinct to dance like an 80's goth rocker has been doubled. If you're me that's a good thing, but take it as you will.

Listen to Primary Colours in it's entirety at: http://www.nme.com/news/the-horrors/44240

This is a good year

See that? That's a pretty fantastic music video. It's so fantastic that I've decided I'm going to make an end-of-the-year list of '09s most specTACULAR videos, because spectacular music needs a nice visual to pair itself with. I'm trying to open myself up to more artists and music I wouldn't normally bother with in hopes of finding something new to excite me. And seeing as there's plenty of new albums to get into this year there should be plenty to look forward to.