Ratatat's upcoming album, LP4 (due out June 8) has leaked. Their self-titled debut album blew my mind with its cool, original sound and endless melody. Their second, Classics, continued the fun. By LP3, I and many others tired of their sound. LP4? After a few listens, they tweak the formula enough to make it a pretty interesting listening experience. Yes, parts of it just sound like Ratatat, but there is a reason we liked them in the first place. Album opener "Bilar" definitely adds some new elements to the equation, while "Neckbrace" even includes a vocal sample (and not just an isolated clip of dialogue).
Ratatat - Bilar
Ratatat - Neckbrace
My roommate and I made it to the Yeasayer show at Neumo's in Seattle last week, in no small part because of opening act Sleigh Bells. While we'd love to see them de-mechanize more of the live performance, the high energy and volume were infectious. We heard chock-full-of-awesome track "Tell 'Em" for the first time at the live show, days before they released this official recording of the track from upcoming album Treats (due out May 11). Caution: Hearing damage likely.
Sleigh Bells - Tell 'Em
The Books return with their signature sonic pastiche intact - the advance track from upcoming release The Way Out (due in July) opens with soothing vocals manipulated to play backwards. As the song straightens itself out, you'll find yourself intrigued by its collage of musical elements.
The Books - Beautiful People
Kele is the lead singer of British rock stars Bloc Party. He is readying his solo album, The Boxer, for release digitally on May 18 and in physical form on June 8. Here is a low-quality rip of advance single "Tenderoni" for those interested, just be sure to crank up the volume or you'll forget it's playing.
Kele - Tenderoni (Radio Rip)
Precocious teens Avi Buffalo recently put out their debut self-titled album. It has some nice moments, and clearly their inspirations are some of the better bands of the last fifteen years. However, I am more optimistic for their future than I am inclined to spend much more time listening to this particular album. If you enjoyed The Shins' first two albums (and who didn't?) then "What's In It For?" will assure you that Avi Buffalo did too.
Avi Buffalo - What's In It For?
Critically acclaimed rockers Interpol have emerged with a new track from their upcoming album. No title or release date yet, but "Lights" is a moody, five-plus minute piece that you will either like or ignore based on your feelings about Interpol (I tend to fall into the latter camp).
Interpol - Lights
Inlets is the solo project of Sebastian Krueger, a Brooklynite by way of Wisconsin. He rolls with hip crowds, making a guest appearance on a recent My Brightest Diamond record and enlisting Zach Condon of Beirut and Angel Deradoorian of The Dirty Projectors for pieces of his debut album. He writes spare songs that each have their own flourishes, from "Bright Orange Air" and its uplifting chorus to "In Which, I, Robert" and its quick-jab piano rhythms. Regardless of the extra instruments, his songs always retain the feeling of naked connection produced by listening to a pure singer-songwriter.
Inlets - Bright Orange Air
Inlets - In Which, I, Robert
Team Ghost is the new project from Nicolas Fromageau, who was one half of electro-shoegaze duo M83 up through the release of classic 2003 album Dead Cities, Red Seas and Lost Ghosts. Since his departure, M83 has produced some nice music, but none with the sinister edge needed for true nighttime-driving music like "Unrecorded." Team Ghost resurrects the sound for new EP You Never Did Anything Wrong To Me. "A Glorious Time" and "Colors In Time" are the two standout tracks, but the entire seven song cycle blends together smoothly, a more cohesive statement than many full-length albums in this day and age.
Team Ghost - A Glorious Time
Team Ghost - Colors In Time
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