‘Do What You Will’ by Papercuts

Jason Robert Quever’s indie-pop band Papercuts are a group with whom I haven’t spent much time with, but their track Do What You Will has creeped its way under my skin and I’ve been humming along to it all day. There’s something charming about Quever’s voice, and the whole thing trots along on a sweet drumbeat which could have been lifted straight from the hazy days of The Velvet Underground. This is dream-pop at it’s sweetest.

The song comes from the bands fourth album Fading Parade which was released last March through Sub Pop Records. It was also accompanied by a neat music video which might be worth checking out. The album is available to purchase through Sub Pop Records.

Philip

‘Saint Nothing’, a new track from Daniel Rossen

I’m a huge fan of Daniel Rossen and his music. His contributions to Grizzly Bear are usually my favorite, and Department of Eagles is a fantastic side project for him. Now he’s signed to Warp records as a solo artist and will be releasing a new EP on march 19/20 called Silent Hour / Golden Mile, which Rosen describes being “like a unified declaration—about unease with the world around you, about indeterminacy in your own life, and the ability somehow to navigate both.”

The song above is called Saint Nothing, and if it’s indicative of the rest of the album, I think Rossen’s created something very quiet and special. The five song EP also features an appearance from Dr. Dog’s Eric Slick, so there’s that as well. For more info about the record, click here.

Bobby

Jaaam (The Fresh Prince Remix) by Pogo

This makes me so happy. The extremely talented and oft-featured Pogo has released a new remix using footage from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Vivian, Carlton, Geoffrey, everyone is excised from the mansion, the early ’90s, the videotape, and moved into an updated digital melody. As the early ’90s would have it, the cast is wearing some of the only clothing that could compete with the song they now live in. But isn’t that part of Hilary’s charm?

I’m a bit skeptical of nostalgia when it seems inauthentic, but this is legit. Watching the Fresh Prince with my sisters after school is one of my favorite memories. We were on a first-name basis with the Banks and watching this again, I think we still are.

Alex

P.S. Did you know that Pogo came to the States and got arrested? He is banned from reentering the country for 10 years which is very sad for us. I would cite SOPA, but I’m a day late.

‘You As You Were’, a new track from Shearwater

Shearwater is back and releasing a new album in 2012 called Animal Joy, this time around with the help of the always on point Sub Pop Records. From this track alone I’m extremely excited to hear the rest of the album. It’s got a wonderful pace to it, Jonathan Meiburg’s vocals spilling out like a beautiful brook. The vibe is also a bit more uplifting than their previous material, constantly building up higher and higher. The new album comes out February 14 in the USA and Feb 27th everywhere else, so be on the look out. If this song isn’t weird enough for you, I’d suggest checking out Meiburg’s collaboration with Jamie Stewart of Xiu Xiu called Blue Water White Death.

Bobby

The Ice Music of Terje Isungset

Video via Third Channel on Vimeo

I recently discovered the work of the Norwegian musician and composer Terje Isungset and was really impressed by what he does. Isungset is one of Europe’s most accomplished and innovative percussionists, and he is a true innovator in his creation of ice instruments. For ten years, Isungset has been making and playing these incredible creations by carving them from the ice and he has performed in a number of wonderful and strange locations such as behind frozen waterfalls, inside of igloos and on top of giant glaciers.

The video above gives a brief insight into what Isungset does so well. Directed by Santiago Posada and produced by Third Channel; the film was taken during his performance last year at London’s Somerset House. It shows many of Isungset’s unique instruments including an ice horn, an iceophone and his ice percussion. Each instrument creates a unique and haunting sound and they really need to be heard to be believed. The majority of the instruments are carved from ancient glaciers and were transported to an urban igloo right in the heart of central London as part of three day event which ran last January in the city.

Isungset has also recorded a number of albums which you can check out here.

Directed by: Santiago Posada
Produced by Third Channel.
http://vimeo.com/thirdchannel
www.thirdchannel.co.uk

Philip