I was looking forward to this show for quite sometime. Midlake’sThe Trials of Van Occupanther is the perfect hazy day soundtrack for me and when this year’s The Courage Of Others came out, that album quickly became one of my favorites of the year. By pledging allegiance to old-time country music, 1960s The Band-like harmonies, and exuberant acoustic clatter, Midlake create hushed, dreamy and mysteriously beautiful music.
Matthew and the Arrogant Sea
Opening was the fello Denton, Texas crew, Matthew and the Arrogant Sea. The combination of the hushed, indie balladry with the spacious guitar rock made these guys a welcome addition to the short line-up. Mixing boogie-soaked country and the wail of Matthew’s echoing falsetto may have gained a few skeptical audience members.
Midlake
Ethereal beardy-music has a ready-made audience ready to declare it’s the best thing since My Morning Jacket, and as a result it’s suffering from oversubscription. Midlake are a cut above, but lack the psych-pop complexity of, say, Fleet Foxes.
Midlake
Despite darker notes like the eerie Rulers Ruling All Things, whose sweet melody couches strange, oblique images of snow and destruction, mainly they’re as unshowy, down-home and honest as their plaid shirts.
Midlake
Existing in a vague timeless space somewhere between the early-’70s and a folky, pre-industrial world of Crosby, Stills & Nash harmonies, streams and squirrels, they’re almost too gorgeous, neatly sidestepping the mess of modernity.
Midlake
Of course, you’d only have such doubts hours later. As you stand, rapt, bathed in the chiming acoustic guitar and flute of Van Occupanther or thrilling to Tim Smith’s haunting whisper on Acts of Man, your head will be full of nothing but the desire for it not to stop.
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[mp3] Midlake – Acts of Man from The Courage Of Others (2010)
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[mp3] Matthew and the Arrogant Sea – You Still Love Me Blondie from Family Family Family Meets The Magic Christian (2008)
It’s been a while since 2006 and it’s about time Jimmy LaValle got back on the horse and started making music again. After hearing some of the new tunes at the Bottom of the Hill show last year, I was already excited to hear what else he had to provide. Luckily while I was on vacation, he released Falling From The Sun, an echoing and minimalistic vocal track with a bit more harmony than most Album Leaf tracks. This is a nice way to progress for an already gifted musician.
The new album, A Chorus Of Storytellers, will be available on the 2nd of February 2010 on CD, 2x LP, and digital download.
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[mp3] The Album Leaf – Falling From The Sun from A Chorus Of Storytellers (2010)
Jonah Matranga and Kevin Seconds recently released a split 7 inch vinyl through Canada’s Blacktop Records on Tuesday, December 22 2009. The vinyl features four brand new previously unreleased songs including Jonah Matranga’sI’ve Always Wanted To Write A Song Commanding People To (Dance!), a goofy dance tune not unlike Jonah’s tendency to get groovy and silly at the same time, the subtle and sweet Daylight by Matranga, Kevin Seconds’ rolling road tune Grip Yr Own and the harmonic and idiosyncratic Life Unknown by Seconds. The limited pressing of 1000 hand-numbered copies are available to purchase in Canada at all records shops through FAB Distribution. It will also be available online at various online outlets including the official Blacktop Records webstore at blacktoprecords.ca and interpunk.com.
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[mp3] Kevin Seconds – Life Unknown from Jonah Matranga/Kevin Seconds Split 7 (2009)
Another February 2nd release to talk about is Midlake’s forthcoming album, The Courage of Others. To hype this release up, they have released two excellent tracks to tide you over until next month, Rulers Ruling All Things and Acts of Man. To top this Midlake-cake of awesome, the band will return to San Francisco on the 4th of March to the Great American Music Hall. Tickets here.
TRACK LISTING
* Acts of Man
* Winter Dies
* Small Mountain
* Core of Nature
* Fortune
* Rulers, Ruling All Things
* Children of the Grounds
* Bring Down
* The Horn
* The Courage of Others
* In The Ground
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The mighty Portishead have released a brand new track called Chase the Tear for human rights charity group, Amnesty International. It’s now available as an exclusive download single from 7 digital with all earnings going towards Amnesty’s human rights work. First aired on Zane Lowe’s BBC Radio 1 show on 9 December, the track is out just in time for international human rights day on 10 December.
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Portishead – Chase The Tearfrom Amnesty International (2009)
Sean Hayes has finally released details to his next album, Run Wolves Run. Well, he’s kind of let it all loose in a way. If you pre-order the album now, you’ll get a free 3-song EP that includes songs that will not be released on the next album. The Honeybees Falling EP is very much like his catchier and more popular Big Black Hole and the Little Baby Star. It’s clear that Sean is not trying to add anything new with this album or EP, he knows what he’s good at and is sticking with it. You won’t hear me complaining…
Pre-Order Run Wolves Run here. (For the record; I bought the vinyl + full album download. It’s his first record on vinyl so it’s kind of a big deal for me). The album will be released on the 10th of March, 2010.
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With their new album The Courage of Others releasing the 1st of February, Midlake have just announced news of a shiny new vinyl release. Midlake will be releasing a limited-edition (500 copies) 12” this Monday (14th December) featuring brand new songs Acts of Man and Children Of The Grounds. For anyone smitten by 2006’s The Trials of Van Occupanther, this is a must have. Order now!
Via Audio’s new record, Animalore won’ be in your ears until February 23, but for those of you who can’t wait (like me) here’s the newest slice of awesome from their next album.
With Jim Eno from Spoon producing this thing, you can only imagine the potential this record already has. The new song, Babies, is a danceable party anthem that sounds like a tribute to Michael Jackson and soulful 80s love-synth.
Via Audio will be on the road to support Animalore in early 2010.
Via Audio Tour -
2/23 – Washington, DC – DC9 *
2/24 – Philadelphia, PA – Kungfu Necktie *
2/25 – Brooklyn, NY – Union Hall *
2/26 – Boston, MA – Middle East *
2/27 – Hamden, CT – The Space *
2/28 – Buffalo, NY – Big Orbit Soundlab *
3/2 – Cleveland, OH – Beachland Tavern
3/3 – Bloomington, IN – Bishop *
3/4 – St. Louis, MO – Billiken Club @ Saint Louis University *
3/5 – Milwaukee, WI – Club Garibaldi *
3/6 – Depere, WI – Baba Louies *
3/7 – Madison, WI – The Frequency *
3/9 – Chicago, IL – Schuba’s *
3/10 – Dekalb, IL – The House Cafe *
3/12 – Kansas City, MO – Record Bar *
3/13 – Columbia, MO – The Blue Fugue *
* w/ Pattern is Movement
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Kata Rokkar is a place where you can download free mp3 from artists and bands that I currently love and listen to. They are only for sampling purposes and to influence you to go out and support these artists by purchasing their records and going to their concerts. If you are a record company or an artist that is displeased with a song being displayed, feel free to contact me and I will remove it ASAP. Thank you and enjoy!
It’s been a while since 2006 and it’s about time Jimmy LaValle got back on the horse and started making music again. After hearing some of the new tunes at the Bottom of the Hill show last year, I was already excited to hear what else he had to provide. Luckily while I was on vacation, he released Falling From The Sun, an echoing and minimalistic vocal track with a bit more harmony than most Album Leaf tracks. This is a nice way to progress for an already gifted musician.
Sean Hayes has finally released details to his next album, Run Wolves Run. Well, he’s kind of let it all loose in a way. If you pre-order the album now, you’ll get a free 3-song EP that includes songs that will not be released on the next album. The Honeybees Falling EP is very much like his catchier and more popular Big Black Hole and the Little Baby Star. It’s clear that Sean is not trying to add anything new with this album or EP, he knows what he’s good at and is sticking with it. You won’t hear me complaining…
