Chad Valley | Young Hunger [album review]
Thu, 12/06/2012 - 14:41 by vanessa
Synth-pop has become a dirty word. But Oxford’s Chad Valley has taken a stab at reclaiming the term and breathing impressive, fresh life into a genre filled with embarrassing attempts - sorry, Owl City. On Young Hunger, Valley (nee Hugo Manuel) delivers an unorthodox concoction of electronica, airy dream pop and… adult contemporary? It’s true.
Select[ION] | Pissing The Night Away
Thu, 12/06/2012 - 13:59 by vanessa
Pissing the Night Away. You ever had to pee so bad your back teeth are floating and your front teeth are all “Anchors Away!”? Our mostly beloved (and sometimes despised) DJs are busy drinking beers and keeping a party going, and generally don’t have a party catheter attached. Truckers use empty bottles, moviegoers use potato chip bags, infants use diapers. DJs? They use the longest tracks in their collection giving them enough time to relieve themselves. ION asked a few of our favourite selectors to share their secret, go-to track when they desperately need to siphon the python.
Wild Belle | interview [web exclusive]
Thu, 12/06/2012 - 08:19 by vanessa
Wild Belle is a fresh new band made up of brother/sister duo Natalie and Elliot Bergman. Hailing from Chicago, they’re sound incorporates an array of influences spanning the globe and can best be described as Afro-Reggae Indie Pop. They are set to release their first album this Spring and I caught up with songstress Natalie in the midst of their North American tour.
What's the most notable experience you've had since being on tour?
The Mary Onettes | Evil Coast [Video]
Nosaj Thing | Ecplise/Blue feat. Kazu Makino [Blonde Redhead]
Tue, 11/27/2012 - 11:55 by vanessa
A beautiful video for Nosaj Thing's, "Eclipse Blue" featuring vocals by Kazu Makino [Blonde Redhead] and created by Tokyo-based artist and programmer Daito Manabe.
The New Values | The New Values album review
Mon, 11/26/2012 - 14:07 by vanessa
Let's start with the obligatory music-review laboured metaphor: The New Values are a three-pistoned engine of Thor-like hammering and weird attitude, powered by blood, sweat, and spit (sorry, tears! Maybe on the fourth album, once they all have kids). This sounds gross, I know, but it's actually awesome. After a few years of gigs they've finally released a 12" that manages to do the impossible, (okay...the difficult), and catches some of that excessive live energy. And, then they named it after themselves.
Spank Rock "Baby" video
Mon, 11/26/2012 - 12:07 by vanessa
Spank Rock fills the halls of a school house with piercing vibrato enlisting the help of an unsupervised 3rd grade class in his video for "Baby" off his 2011 release Everything Is Boring And Everyone Is A Fucking Liar. You can download the album here.
Mother Mother | The Sticks [video]
Tue, 11/13/2012 - 12:38 by vanessa
Mother Mother have just dropped their latest video for the song " The Sticks", with animation by Chad VanGaalen. They are also starting their Canadian tour on November 17th. Dates are below.
CANADIAN TOUR DATES
Nov 17 – Halifax, NS – MultiPurpose Room @ Halifax Forum
The Octopus Project | Whitby [official video]
Wed, 11/07/2012 - 17:00 by vanessa
Fresh off a successful appearance at last weekend's Fun Fun Fun Festival, Austin-based group, The Octopus Project, kicks off the western half of their North American tour this week by dropping a new digital single and video for 'Whitby.'