Out Today: MGMT - Loss of Life

 MGMT have released their fifth studio album, entitled Loss Of Life today. Four singles were already take from the album including their latest, "Dancing in Babylon", a duet with Chrstine and the Queens. This is their first album in four years, after Little Dark Age and marks the label chnage from Columbia to a New York independet label called Mom + Pop.

WAW: Pond - Hand Mouth Dancer

The Australian band Pond have premiered the video for a song "Hand Mouth Dancer" which is potentially a new single. The song is taken from their album 'Tasmania', released earlier this year and the video was directed by Elliott Arndt.

Next Wave: Pale Moon

Pale Moon is an Icelandic/Russian Psychedelic group which consists of Natalia Sushchenko and Árni Guðjónsson who met in Barcelona and decided to start making music together. Their music was primarily inspired by the Beach Boys, Fleetwood Mac and the Shins and delivers captivating melodies and lush Neo-Psych textures in the vein of the 70’s sound. Both Natalia and Arni were having a musical experience prior to forming Pale Moon and Arni already has had a great track record with music which is most notable for his work with “Of Monsters and Men”. Natalia on the other hand decided to take road with design. 

This month they released their debut EP titled ‘Dust of Days’ with three songs. Each song tickles different themes and even musical genres, the unique voice of Pale Moon glues together into familiar yet fresh sound. Both Arni and Natalia are providing vocals in their songs where Arni masters the  instrumentation and musical arrangement. You can preview their music on Spotify now. 

https://www.palemoonmusic.com/ 

In Review: Pond- Tasmania

The Australian band Pond have returned this year with their eighth studio album titled 'Tasmania'. It has been announced as the sister album to their previous release 'The Weather' from 2017. Both albums and like all the others, have been produced by Kevin Baker of Tame Impala fame with whom the band also shares band members and they also tour together.

For their eight studio long player the band is taking us to the Island of Inspiration, or so to say, it feels that the band managed to draw a great deal of inspiration from their native Australia and Tasmania. Like the previous album and most of their releases, this one is in the Psychedelia vein and it explores the new topics with the well kept music formula. It tackles some political and environmental issues, without getting too heavy and remaining on the pop ground. The album opens with "Daisy" and "Sixteen Days", both previously released as singles. "Daisy" is perfect for spring break and a start of new concept, the Geneve inspired "Sixteen days" follow and gets us some French lines and another highlight comes with "Tasmania" and the wonderful chorus "I might, I might go shack up in Tasmania, Before the ozone goes, And paradise burns in Australia" where the synth elements play very well with the proggy guitars. By reaching the middle of the album, the songs get more elaborated, thicker and less immediate, with "Goodnight P.C.C." and "Burned out Star" eventually closing with the apocalyptic "Doctor's In" track. Here and there are nice sound accessories which contribute to the layering of the sound including, retro vocoders, colourful guitars and glitchy forms on "Shame". Another interesting feature is the inviting album cover which seems to be Poloroid inspired and it implies that based on the single released so far that each colour will represents one song on the album.

Colourful as it comes, this psychedelic cocktail will give a nice intro to a Spring start, wherever it may hit, and might also be the preparation for the new Tame Impala album which will hopefully be ready for this summer.

In Review: MGMT- Little Dark Age

Back in 2008 MGMT was quite a discovery for us, in particular for the single "Time to Pretend" which was magnificent both in terms of visuals and sound. Their debut album 'Orracular Spectacular' was among the top 5 Album releases of the year and it turned out to be the ultimate summer soundtrack spawning a whole line up of hits including "Electric Feel" and "Kids". It was a spectacular blend of indie neo-psychedelia with the absolute highlight being back then seeing them live at the Sziget festival in Budapest.

Ten years have passed now since the release of their debut and in the meanwhile the band released two more albums which sadly did not live up to the standard of their debut. In late 2017 MGMT surprised the world with the release of their single "Little Dark Age" which saw them entering dark waters and adopting 80's visual and rhythms. The Album which takes the same title as the first single was officially released on February 8th and after few plays it is clear that the album features a whole variety of sounds and influences. "Little Dark Age" for example leads the dark 80's synthpop inspired section which is also evident on "One Thing Left to Try" and "Me and Michael". On the other hand there is also a strong influence by the LA music scene and in particular Ariel Pink which gives MGMT's indie neo-psychedelia new face by mixing the new sound with hypnagogic pop. The album unfolds a whole variety of sounds and moods from dreamy to rhythmic upbeat tunes all reflected by layered and well imagined concept with twists of liquid elements and quirky 80's midi patches.

So far, four songs have been released from the album and it seems that this will be an album of hits but also as a concept and a whole package. It echoes a good focus, energy and maturity in sound and definitely brings MGMT back in the spotlight by giving 'Orracular Spectacular' a huge challenge. 'Little Dark Age' certainly is the big opener for 2018 and I am sure it will have an impact on the days to come.

Instant Hit: The Legendary Pink Dots- Under Glass

“Under Glass” was released by The Legendary Pink Dots as single in 1988 on Play it again Sam Records and featured two other tracks. This song used to mix neo-psychedelia, elements of goth with vivid and dark Synth-pop. During the same year they also released their album Any Day Now. In 2001, when this album was reissued, beside the standard track listing, it featured all three tracks previously only released on single format.

WAW: La Femme- Sphynx

La Femme have returned this year with their second album 'Mystère'. One of the leading tracks and the first single is entitled "Sphynx" and it was released earlier this year in March. The super exciting video for this songs was directed by Marlon Magnée and Aymeric Bergada du Cadet. I'm sure this video will make it into the top ten best videos of 2016.

The KVB Announce a New Album 'Of Desire'

London based duo The KVB have announced the release of a brand new album 'Desire' which is set for release in March. This is their fifth studio release and “their most fully formed record” as they have announced. The album will be out on Metropolis Records and according to the label, The KVB balance walls of blurred guitars washed on the machine rhythm of electronic pop, exploring the darker, neo-psychedelic edges of shoegaze and noise pop. 

The album will be out both on vinyl and on CD and it will be officially released on March 11th.

Next Wave: Lusts

Lusts a are the Leicester based band consisting of  brothers Andy and James Stone. Inspired by a Paris trip and lot more from their everyday life, they decided to start the band. Although it is a duo, Lusts really sound like a real band with their atmospheric and rich in sound. They also draw inspiration from previous decades, mixing Krautrock with New Wave and Shoegaze and creating a very unique blend of post-punk psychedelia. Their debut album 'Illuminations' is out now on 1965 records. Do check them out.

http://www.lustsmusic.co.uk

The Teardrop Explodes' Wilder 2 CD Reissue in June

The Teardrop Explodes have announced the reissue of their second album 'Wilder' last week.'Wilder' was the second and final album by the band, originally released in November 1981. "Ambitious, colourful and catchy and with more ideas at play than most groups could conjure up in a lifetime, like so many great albums, it simply confused people in its audacity". soundsxp.com 

This new edition features the original album in all its glory, plus a second disc compiled and sequenced by Julian Cope containing all the related singles, b-sides and BBC radio sessions. Disc two is effectively an alternative version of the album, the BBC sessions presenting many key songs in a noticeably different form, closer to how the group used to play them live. 'Wilder' 2CD REissue is announced for June 24th.  

WAW: Crocodiles- Sleep Forever

MGMT- 'Congratulations'

MGMT's second album 'Congratulations' has been released today on April 13, 2010. This is a follow up to their debut album 'Oracular Spectacular' from 2007. The first single from the album "Flash Delirium" was released on March 9, 2010 as a free download.

Yeasayer- Odd Blood

Yeasayer have released their self produced second album 'Odd Blood'. The album was recorded in New York ans is out on February 8/9, 2010 in Europe and North America. Two singles have already been released so far,"Ambling Alp" in 2009 and "O.N.E." preceded the album release.

WAW: Animal Collective- My Girls

A video for 'My Girls' from Animal Collective's new album 'Merriweather Post Pavilion'. Out now on Domino.

of Montreal- Sleketal Lamping

'Skeletal Lamping' is the title of the ninth studio album by Athens, Georgia-based band Of Montreal. The album is scheduled to be released on October 21, 2008. Lats track of the album has previosly been released as a single on September 9, 2008. It's entitled "Id Engager". The title 'Skeletal Lamping' is the name of a rather dreadful hunting technique where, hunters go into the forest at night, flood an area in light, then shoot, or capture, the animals as they panic and run from their hiding places.

Next Wave: MGMT

MGMT are Andrew Vanwyngarden and Ben Goldwasser and the group is formerly known as MANAGEMENT. On November 14, 2007 "Rolling Stone" pegged MGMT as a top 10 "Artist to Watch" in 2008 and they really are something to "Watch". Their music is innovative with so much retro style, mixing synths and psychotropic sounds. They sing about love, youth and nature.

MGMT's Myspace

Who is MGMT

Panda Bear- Person Pitch

Person Pitch is the third solo album released by Animal Collective member Panda Bear (aka Noah Lennox), released on March 20, 2007. Five of the seven tracks on the album were released prior to the album, some of them with different mixing and/or lengths. "I'm Not" and "Comfy in Nautica" were released together as a double A-side single in 2005. "Take Pills" will be released as a 7" single on June 19, 2007, the same day that Person Pitch is being released on vinyl.