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Daft Punk’s Random Access Memories hits stores today, and while the cat’s been out of the bag for a whole week now, there’s one more surprise to enjoy: a Japanese bonus track. Titled “Horizon”, the light meditative stroll is without a doubt the most tranquil piece of music they’ve composed to date, and comes sprinkled with Eno synths, Michel Rubini guitar work, and Tangerine Dream moods. If you daydream too far, you might find end up here. Take a listen at NO BPM.

Random Access Memories is out now via Columbia. In related news, we recently bundled all of Daft Punk’s past collaborators into an easy-to-read feature — check that out here. And if you’re already tired of RAM, then perhaps you’ll enjoy its alternate version.

Chief Keef shares his thoughts on everyone’s favourite pasta.

He was only released from Dekalb County Jail this morning after being arrested for disorderly conduct and marijuana possession, but already Keith Cozart is back in the driver’s seat leaking this brand new cut. It’s business as usual for the polarizing rapper, and finds him awkwardly slurring over a decidedly synth-heavy backdrop.

‘Macaroni Time’ isn’t breaking any new ground for the Chicago drill superstar but this is Chief Keef we’re talking about, and from the sounds of things he’s been pretty busy recently. [via Complex]

You never, as a music dork, stop learning this lesson, but the truth behind it stands: It’s always, always a bad idea to dismiss an artist based on a terrible name. That rule is right up there with “horrendous rappers get better all the time, so stop believing it can’t happen,” and we break the rule just as often as that one. Case in point: Majical Cloudz. And, I mean, holy gods what an awful name. It’s name that conjures Trapper Keeper designs and rap-metal fake-toughness (that Z!) at the same damn time, and it makes the group seem, immediately, like a halfassed joke, like the sort of band whose music videos consist entirely of floating psychedelic CGI landscapes. And it didn’t help that, up until now, the only things that most of us knew about them were that they were from Montreal and that they were friends with Grimes; Grimes is turning into a pure force of cultural badassery, but she can still align herself with some wack shit. At SXSW, I didn’t just skip multiple chances to see Majical Cloudz live; I actually made the “pssh” noise out loud when presented with the opportunity. This was stupid. This was a mistake on par with high-school me hating on Daft Punk because they had “punk” in their name but weren’t actually punk. As their new album Impersonator makes crystal-clear; Majical Cloudz don’t just make good music; they make the sort of good music that creeps its way into ...

'Anna Nicole' kicks off BAM's 2013 Next Wave Fest...

BAM has announced the 2013 Next Wave Festival which runs from September 17 - December 22. The line-up features a diverse range of programming including opera, theater, music and dance. This year's fest kicks off with the US premiere of Mark-Anthony Turnage's opera Anna Nicole which has performances at BAM Howard Gilman Opera House from September 17 - 28:

The 2013 Next Wave Festival launches with the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) and New York City Opera co-production of Anna Nicole, an opera by composer Mark-Anthony Turnage and librettist Richard Thomas based on the flamboyant life and tragic death of Anna Nicole Smith.

DIY auteur and consummate independent filmmaker Jem Cohen (Museum Hours, Instrument, Benjamin Smoke) collaborates with a supergroup of acclaimed musicians-- Guy Picciotto (Fugazi), Jim White (Dirty Three), T. Griffin (The Quavers), Efrim Manuel Menuck and Sophie Trudeau (Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Thee Silver Mt. Zion), and Jessica Moss (Thee Silver Mt. Zion), plus guest vocalist Mira Billotte (White Magic)--in this cinematic lov...

Austra at Music Hall of Williamsburg in 2012 (more by Amanda Hatfield)

As mentioned, Austra are releasing their sophomore album, Olympia, on June 18 via Domino/Paper Bag, and will be touring in support of it over the next few months. That tour hits NYC for a show on June 20 at Music Hall of Williamsburg with Mozart's Sister (sold out) and a BrooklynVegan-presented show on September 22 at Webster Hall (tickets).

The Webster Hall show and many of their other August/September shows are with fellow Canadians DIANA, who just signed to Jagjaguwar in the US and Paper Bag in Canada. Their debut LP, Perpetual Surrender will come out on August 20 and you can watch the video for its single, "Born Again," below.

Regarding Austra's upcoming album, in a recent interview with Stereogum, singer Katie Stelmanis talked about the differences recording this one with her band, as opposed to entirely solo like Austra's debut:

Yeah, it's something that I was kind of craving. I feel like when you hear a solo record from someone you can kind of always tell that it's a solo record. Like, if literally one person did everything on the record it's like you're following their train of thought. Everything is predictable and fits into this certain box. It's one person's idea, and I was very aware of that, and I wanted to create something that's a little more dynamic. And so doing that I wanted to bring...

Montreal’s Jacques Greene continues to reconcile house and R&B on his latest release.

After teasing it yesterday, LuckyMe has detailed the forthcoming release from Jacques Green, the On Your Side EP. From the sound of it, the EP heavily features Greene’s trademark R&B-meets-house sound, most recently heard on his collaboration with Tinashe.

The title track, which premiered today on Zane Lowe’s BBC 1 show, features How To Dress Well’s Tom Krell on vocals. Rounding out the release are the previously-premiered

Deafheaven’s George Clarke and Kerry McCoy enjoy bodysurfing of the different sort. Rather than risk the sharks and shell shards (say that three times faster), the Bay Area duo let themselves go in the raw orchestral distortion — and for 10 whole minutes. It’s the stuff meant to shake and shatter arenas everywhere. Good god. Stream below.

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Sunbather is out June 11th via Deathwish Inc.

Sunbather Tracklist:
01. Dream House
02. Irresistible
03. Sunbather
04. Please Remember
05. Vertigo
06. Windows
07. The Pecan Tree

Deafheaven 2013 Tour Dates:
05/22 – San Francisco, CA @ Rickshaw Stop *
05/23 – Los Angeles, CA @ Echoplex *
05/24 – Los Angeles, CA @ Echoplex *
06/19 – Phoenix, AZ @ Yucca Taproom
06/21 – Dallas, TX @ Club Dada
06/22 – Austin, TX @ Red 7
06/23 – Houston, TX @ Mangos
06/25 – Orlando, FL @ Will’s Pub
06/26 – Atlanta, GA @ The Earl
06/27 – Birmingham, AL @ The Forge
06/28 – Charlotte, NC @ Milestone
06/29 – Raleigh, NC @ King’s Barcade
06/30 – Washington, DC @ Rock & Roll Hotel
07/01 – Philadelphia, PA @ The Barbary
07/02 – Brooklyn, NY @ St. Vitus
...

by Andrew Sacher

Jessica Pratt at Maxwell's - 5/17/13 (via @cbruno1983)

Loner folk devotee Jessica Pratt just wrapped up a tour supporting Father John Misty, which hit the NYC-area this past Friday (5/17) for a show at Maxwell's, where FJM played solo acoustic, unlike his theatrical performance at The Great GoogaMooga the next day. Jessica played backed by a keyboardist and sounded delicate and wonderful as ever. Check out a video from her set below.

As mentioned, Jessica is about to do a few dates with Grouper, including one in NYC on June 2 at Le Poisson Rouge with Raajmahal and a DJ set from onetime Cocteau Twins bassist (and current Bella Union label head) Simon Raymonde. Tickets for that show are still available. Jessica has since added her own NYC show happening a day earlier (6/1) at Union Pool with Gambles (aka ex-Levy member Matthew Siskin) and Zachary Cale. Tickets for the Union Pool show are on sale now. Show flyer below.

And as discussed, Jessica will return to Le Poisson Rouge on July 12 to open for Julia Holter, which is one of a few shows the two musicians are playing together that month. Tickets for that show are still available

After she wraps up her run with Julia Holter, Jessica will do some West Coast dates with White Fence. Updated dates are listed, along with the Maxwell's video and Union Pool sh...

After spending much of this year associated with French robots, super-producer Pharrell Williams is linking back up with world-conquering super villains. Williams helmed the soundtrack to the first Despicable Me, and now he’s contributing music to its upcoming sequel.

Among the three tracks Williams supplied is “Happy”,  a ’60s pop ditty that switches gears from sexy disco anthems. Williams lays down some effervescent organ, snappy handclaps, and lyrics so simplistic and joyful they’re irritatingly catchy (“Clap along if you feel like a room without a roof”). Listen in below.

The Despicable Me 2 soundtrack hits stores on June 18th. The film stars Steve Carrell, Kristen Wiig, Steve Coogan, and Ken Jeong, and hits theaters July 3rd. Watch the trailer below:

The Feelies at The Bell House last Saturday (more by Greg Cristman)

Jangly post-punk legends The Feelies just played two NYC-area shows last week, and they've since announced the return of their annual July 4 shows, which they'll play in their hometown of Hoboken this year. The shows will happen on July 4, 5 and 6 at Maxwell's. Tickets to night 1, night 2, night 3, and all three nights are on sale now.

They've got a few other upcoming Northeast dates scheduled too. All dates are listed, along with a video of the band playing "Crazy Rhythms" off their classic 1980 debut LP of the same name at The Bell House last week, below...

Continue reading "The Feelies playing July 4 shows at Maxwell's (& other dates)" at brooklynvegan