High Places – Sonora

We wanted to post something for High Places’ brilliant new album Original Colors when it was first released back in September but unfortunately there wasn’t really that much knocking about for it and the only album stream had been privately uploaded (damn you!). Thankfully Keith Musil has given cause to buck that trend and put together a fantastically bat-shit vid for their track Sonora. Its Popeye-influenced take on DIY body horror and Drive-esque levels of ultra violence is totally incongruous with the sound (a cross between Lykke Li style dream-glam pop, Macarena-era 90s chart house and psyched out hippy-dub à la Peaking Lights) but what’s creativity if not an amalgamation of juxtaposing elements to generate as yet felt emotions and as yet understood thought processes? That’s not rhetorical by the way. I actually want you to answer it. Go on. What is it?

We also just found this video, which we think is quite nice too.

If you like what you hear then nip over to Thrill Jockey to stream the album in full and, if you’re feeling flush, buy it too.

The above image is taken from High Places’ own blog.

Wooden Shjips – Lazy Bones

Agh. Check out this bat-shit-mental pop collage/analogue distortion video by Black Dice (reminiscent of the brain-melting set they put on at ATP in May this year; memories I’d forgotten I had). The song is called Lazy Bones and is taken from Wooden Shjips’ absolutely brilliant recent album West, out now on Thrill Jockey.

Image is by Sam Falls.

White Hills – H-p1

There seems to be a lot of pretty great psychedelic rock out at the moment. Well, either that or we’re just listening to quite a lot of psychedelic rock at the moment. Maybe it’s a refreshing alternative to the ambience of drone and the impersonality of the computer generated sound. Or maybe it’s a subconscious revolt against our pitifully damp squib of a hot season and its concurrent sunny sounds. Maybe we’re secretly harbouring urges to grow our hair long and live in caves. Or maybe it’s just a coincidence.

Either way, with the likes of Wolf People, Moon Duo, Wooden Shjips, Ttotals and White Hills all featuring frequently on our playlists at the moment, we thought it’d be worth putting something up that bore witness to our current likes. So here you go: a selection of the latter’s tunes, starting with the opening track from their recently released megalith of an LP, H-p1. Heavy, man.

If you like what you hear hop over here to pick up many more of their excellent albums.

Image is by Jason Nocito.

Future Islands – Before The Bridge

The purveyors of one of our favourite pop singles from last year have recently announced a new album, dropping this October. To help spread the word and the excitement the wonderful people over at Thrill Jockey have sent us a sneak peek and we’re happy to report that it’s bloody great; as catchy, upbeat and heartfelt as its predecessor, but with an added depth of feeling and richness of palette. To spread the love we’ve got a couple of tracks to share with you here – soon to be released (on July 18^th) as a single – as well as a video of one of their awesome live shows, which, come to mention it, you’ll be able to witness for yourselves in Brixton this Saturday. Support will be provided by the fantastic Cold Pumas too, another reason to pop on down.

Image is courtesy of prolifically great photographer, Tim Barber.

Mountains – Air Museum

Brooklyn ambient noise duo Mountains have been on our radar ever since we discovered their beautiful album Choral and its graceful acoustic minimalism a couple of years ago. Their new release, Air Museum, has surpassed all previous output in terms of mood, scope and technical proficiency, catapulting them into the hypnagogic realms of Ducktails, Emeralds and Oneohtrix Point Never.

Check out their stunning new video and an additional track off the new album here, then hop over to Thrill Jockey to pick up the album.

Image is by old fave Ryan McGinley.