BATHS

Baths, “Maximalist,” Cerulean [Anticon 2010]:

Here’s a story: my car was covered in that sort of non-specific white dust (mostly salt, I think,) from the highways of Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, and finally New York. I’d been up drinking till maybe two the night before and tried not to feel sick as I drove, my friend asleep in the passenger seat, another slumped across the back bench, up the Bronx Expressway. The Expressway is mostly a bunch of flowing, narrow tunnels – light, dark, dark, light, dark – it was loud and dirty and oscillating. Then… everything clicked. Like a personal music video, busted bottles on the shoulder of the road, dented bumpers, stained water on the tunnel walls, became beautiful! All there for enjoyment! All moving in some deeper pattern! I think it was because my CD had changed. Sometimes, good music can eclipse even the most uncomfortable urge to vomit out your window.

The CD was Cerulean, the debut album from Will Wiesenfeld, AKA Baths. If you like what you hear, you can listen to the whole album for free at MBV.

So what’s Baths listening to? After opening for Cold War Kids @ Terminal 5 last night, Wiesenfeld told me:

“…Cloud Nothings is the best album that’s come out this year. Best, like, pop album.”

Here’s a nice music video for “Should Have,” from Cloud Nothings’ new self-titled album [Carpark Records 2011]. It looks like an Urban Outfitters commercial, but the braid-eating is neat. Haven’t you ever wanted to do that? Okay, me neither. 

What else? “Also, Cocteau Twins.”

“Heaven or Las Vegas,” Heaven or Las Vegas [4AD, 1990] 

Here’s a super-nice-cool Star Slinger remix of that: 

You could see Baths live on tour with No Age and Cold War Kids… but it’ll cost ya big bucks and No Age is trying something experimental (a half hour, uninterrupted session of flat-form drone noise) that didn’t sit well. Someone threw a tampon on the stage. The teenage boy in front of me tweeted “I literally want to rip up $100 bills and stuff them in my ears… this opener sucks!” Oh, did I mention the crowd isn’t too great either? Keep your money and see a full Baths show somewhere else.

Instead, read Wiesenfeld’s deep, reflective thoughts on water in a nice interview with The Quietus. That’s free.

CALLERS

Less is more with Callers. No busy flourishes, no decorated distortion – just purposeful guitar, drums, and some seriously spacious vocals. The trio’s second album, Life of Love [Western Vinyl, 2010], lucidly merges a range of influences into something cathartic, sort of startling, and definitely beautiful.

So what’s Callers listening to? Guitar-bassist (he plays the guitar with a custom-added bass string) Ryan Seaton shares:

“I’ve been getting stuck on Minnie Riperton’s “Les Fleur” lately…”

“…one of Brooklyn’s best, Buke and Gass, and their track, ‘Page Break’…”

“…Swans’ ‘Reeling the Liars In’…”

“…Light Asylum’s ‘A Certain Person’…”

“…What else? Mikel Rouse’s old band Tirez Tirez, especially ‘Set the Timer’…” And this:

“…R.I.P. Don Van Vliet.”

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Callers left to make the trek to SXSW on Saturday, picking up drummer Don Godwin along the way. “He’s been in New Orleans for a month now, playing with one of his brass bands for Mardi Gras,” says Seaton. “He goes every year, and I’m sure we’ll be rocking whatever he’s managed to pick up during his time there. That will comprise a lot of the van’s soundtrack, I bet.” Read Godwin’s advice on coffee in the morning, a terribly sad anecdote about John Goodman, and a little bit about Callers here in this interview.

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Catch Callers around this week @ SXSW, or check their website for many more shows! They’ll be back in New York on April 14th at the Bowery Ballroom.

AKRON/FAMILY

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And that’s the “Most listening to single song” from Akron/Family’s vocalist/bassist Miles Seaton.

After losing original member Ryan Vanderhoof in 2007 to another forward slashed occupation (he went to live in the midwestern Buddhist community Tsogyelgar/Flaming Jewel), the now-trio has continued on to record its sixth studio album, Akron/Family II: The Cosmic Birth And Journey of Shinju [Dead Oceans, 2011]. Listen:

Akron/Family makes me so very happy. So what else is Seaton listening to?

“Most listened to albums:

1) Music of indonesia volume 20: indonesian guitar (smithsonian collection)

2) Kim Soek Chul: shamen of the eastern seaboard

3) Stars of the Lid: and their refinement of the decline

4) Folke Rabe: what??

5) Elaine Radigue: Andos I-III”

…Oh, don’t be so surprised.

That music of Indonesia Vol. 20 is really sweet — a reminder of how good and simple an instrument, a voice and a microphone can be. Even better, you can download it on Amazon (don’t worry, it still works in your iTunes). Same bare-bones energy on Kim Seok Chul’s album, listen for yourself: “Mun-Gut Samul.” If an album of hojok played by a Korean shamen could have a “hit,” that would be it.

Fun fact — Kim Seok Chul’s so good at playing the hojok, he’s officially recognized as the “82nd valuable intangible cultural asset of the Republic of Korea,” says Wikipedia.

Stars of the Lid/Folke Rabe/Elaine Radigue probably fall under ambient drone noise, but don’t let that turn you off. Here, be interested:

You’ll have a harder time tracking down the full versions of Folke Rabe and Elaine Radigue, but it’s worth it. (What??, written and performed by Swedish composer Robert Erickson under the name Folke Rabe in the late 60s, is some pretty seminal stuff. Erickson wrote a neat book, Sound Structure In Music. It might might be a little manifesto for all the ambient soundscapers out there. You can also listen to an excerpt from What?? on Folke Rabe’s myspace.)

Oh, one more recommendation from Seaton:

“WAY INTO: easy relax ultimate: binaural beats app for I-phone… Healing frequencies: deep sleep inducer – headache killer.”

You can get the lite (free) version of Easy Relax Ultimate for your iphone/itouch things with eleven soothing tracks. See?

Favorites: “Into the West (fall asleep by warm campfire)” and “Jungle (birds twittering, near a creek)”

Akron/Family is on tour right now with Delicate Steve, check their website for dates and places. If you want to know more about the Cosmic Journey of Akron/Family, check out the interview with Miles Seaton in Interview Magazine. If you get that Easy Relax Ultimate app, let us know!

PORCELAIN RAFT

Porcelain Raft, “Dragonfly,” Gone Blind EP [self-released; 2011]: 

Featuring rippling layers of sound, graceful vocals, and the occasional nautically-derived sample, Porcelain Raft has definitely got the right name. If you’re picturing a delicate boat weaving its way through crests of warm, dark waves… well, then we were thinking the same thing. Luckily the man behind Porcelain Raft, Mauro Remiddi, has got more than an appropriately corresponding title for his new solo project. His debut EP, Gone Blind, is a brief and encouraging sample of, hopefully, many more beautiful dream pop tracks to come.

So, what’s Porcelain Raft listening to? We caught up with him at his album release a two weeks ago to ask.

“What I’m listening to,” Remiddi smiled, “it’s not out yet. It’s called Oupa. O-u-p-a. Look it up in two weeks.” After many fruitless google searches, unrelated hits for Greek websites, and fifteen days… here it is! O captain! Check it out:

Oupa, “Forget,” 

Oupa is the new solo project of Daniel Blumberg, frontman for Yuck. Check out Oupa’s nice, clean website for more info.

Peruse Remiddi’s blog for Porcelain Raft. It’s got information, updates, concerts, and his thoughts on chocolate cookies. See Oupa and Porcelain Raft perform together at Glasslands on April 7th!

DELICATE STEVE

Delicate Steve, “Welcome – Begin,” Wondervisions [Luaka Bop, 2011]: 

The music starts. You’re not really sure what you’re listening to, why you’re jumping up and down, or why your shoulders are jerking backward and forward in a manic, circular seizure of a dance… but you’re not worried. You feel drunk, or tired, or high. Or, at least, you don’t feel like you felt before. And that’s Wondervisions.

“Don’t Get Stuck (Proud Elephants)”: 

So, what’s Delicate Steve listening to? Founder, guitarist and namesake ‘Delicate’ Steve Marion shares with us a list of “what I’ve been listening to lately:”

“Jimi Hendrix – Axis: Bold As Love, the song “Queen Bee” by Taj Mahal, Blind Willie McTell – Complete Recorded Works, the new Akron/Family album, the new Deerhoof album, the song “Bizness” by tUnE-yArDs, the songs “You Are An Arc” and “Life Of Love” by Callers, a Patsy Cline greatest hits compilation, Sly & The Family Stone – Fresh.”

Woah, nice! Here are just a few highlights…

(We’re still playing around with music-sharing widgets and things. Suggestions?)

Check out a bunch more of Steve’s recommended tracks in the overflow.

Delicate Steve’s made a round with Akron/Family through the east coast, hitting up the west coast now. Check ’em out! Also, read Chuck Klosterman’s delightful press release for Wondervisions.

DINOSAUR FEATHERS

Dinosaur Feathers, “Crossing the Cannon,” Fantasy Memorial [Self-released, 2010]: 

Fantasy Memorial: haven’t I heard that oozing effect from Animal Collective? And the stick-beating tribal stuff? Wait, I hear Vampire Weekend! I hear Local Natives! Frauds!! And that name… Dinosaur Feathers? Isn’t it trying too hard?? Put these thoughts aside. Couch them, for a minute.

Dinosaur Feathers is fun. Maybe it doesn’t achieve new, pure, spontaneous, crazy ecstasy, but there’s definitely something here. It’s quick, it’s light… it’s enjoyable. And really, isn’t that the point of this music thing? Relax!

So, what’s this Brooklyn trio listening to? Greg Sullo, lead vocalist/guitarist for Dinosaur Feathers, shares:

“…Tropicalia artists, such as Os Mutantes, Gilberto Gil and Jorge Ben…” — Os Mutantes, “A Minha Menina,” Os Mutantes [Omplatten/Polydor, 1968]: 

“XTC – Summer’s Cauldron and Drums and Wires especially” — XTC, “Helicopter,” Drums and Wires [Virgin, 1979]: 

“…definitely check out this album, it’s incredible…” — Ruby Suns, “Morning Sun,”Sea Lion [Sub Pop/Memphis Industries, 2008]: 

“…T. Rex – The Slider…” — T. Rex, “The Slider,” The Slider [EMI, 1972]:

Peruse many, many more tracks from Greg in the overflow section!

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Look here for more Os Mutantes info and a nice best-of compilation, released by Luaka Bop and compiled by David Byrne of Talking Heads. Catch Dinosaur Feathers at South by Southwest (SXSW) in Austin this April, or check their website for a list of stops along the way. They’ve got a new album in the works (with Eli Crews, who’s worked on a few Deerhoof albums, by the looks of it) for later in the year. Keep an eye out!

PRINCETON

Princeton, “To The Alps,” To The Alps [Hit City USA; 2011]:

Princeton’s new single, “To The Alps,” makes me think mountain. Big, scraggly, Joy Division mountain. Oh. It’s right there on the cover, isn’t it.

Somewhere on that mountain, Princeton is chillin’ in a hazy hot-tub of simmering dance beats set against an alabaster haze of snowfall. Relaxed, but in a humid, groovy kind of way. Slick, like ice on the hood of a new silver Lexus. “To The Alps” is a song for playing a pickup game of polo, light gardening, or other semi-competitive activities. It’s the kind of song that should come with a drink pairing. I’d recommend a good peruvian white.

So, what’s Princeton listening to? Matt Kivel (above, back, identical to brother Jesse), bassist/vocalist and co-founder of the group shares:

Matt: “Here are a couple of records I am digging right now… Actress ‘Splazsh’, My Bloody Valentine ‘Glider’, Oneohtrix Point Never ‘Returnal’, Arthur Russell ‘Love Is Overtaking Me’, Kanye West’s ‘My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy.'”

Actress, “Let’s Fly.” Splazsh [Honest Jon’s; 2010]: 

My Bloody Valentine,”Don’t Ask Why.” Glider EP [Creation; 1990]:

Arthur Russell, “Good Bye Old Paint.” Love is Overtaking Me [Audika; 2008]: Good Bye Old Paint

Neat! We here are Friends&friends highly recommend picking up Love is Overtaking Me. It is, unequivocally, lovable.

Download Princeton’s “To the Alps” for FREE right now. The single will be released (side A) on a 7″ from Hit City USA on March 29. Pre-order that, you warm analog people, and they will mail you your record. For the rest, downloads digitally of the B-side, “The Electrician,” will be out same date.

DIRTY BEACHES

Dirty Beaches, “Lord Knows Best,” Badlands [Zoo, 2011]

Dirty Beaches’ pop/LoFi/drone-experimental is a perfect soundtrack for those slick, lucid daydreams you’ve been meaning to have. Alex Zhang Hungtai, the (one) man behind the project, describes his new LP, Badlands, as “songs about leaving and being chased on the road,” and “driving a burning car into oblivion.”

Dirty Beaches, “Sweet 17,” Badlands [Zoo, 2011]

So what’s Dirty Beaches listening to?

Zhang Hungtai: “There’s a band in Beijing now that I’m crazy about called the offset spectacles. They are amazing…”

The Offset: Spectacles, “圆方 Elements,” s/t 2010:

“…they also run a tape label in Beijing called rose mansion analog,” he says. Check ’em out!

You can catch Dirty Beaches @ Glasslands on March 3rd. Badlands will be out on March 29th on Zoo. There’s also a 7″ (it spins!) cover of the Stooge’s “No Fun” out in mid-march. Listen to that here.

If you wanna know what more minimal bluseysurflofidronenoiseexperimental Dirty Beaches sounds like, peruse the Horror LP from ’08.

AISLYN

 

Passion Pit’s Ian Hultquist has a new project with a very special friend – his girlfriend, actually. Hultquist + Sophia Degli Alessandri = AISLYN, an echoey pop duo with smooth, oceanic vibes. They’ve also got a guest drummer, Joey Sulkowski (aka DJ Safe Sex.) No albums yet, but check out their EP. They also mint some nice remixes, like this one.

So, what’s AISLYN listening to? Friends&friends caught ’em at the Mercury Lounge last night to find out…

Hultquist – “What am I listening to? Ava Luna. Check out Ava Luna.”

…ok! Here’s a track from their latest EP:

Ava Luna, “Clips,” Services EP [Environmental Aesthetics, 2010]

Buy the EP from Environmental Aesthetics for 2 bucks, kids! That’s less than a candy bar and a can of coke. Or steal it for free. That’s costs about the same as a stolen candy bar/can of coke.

Other recommendations? Sophie’s listening to Danish ballerina-turned-electropop singer, Nanna Øland Fabricius (just call her Oh Land.) She’s got a preview EP out now, her self-titled album hits the waves in three weeks.

Oh Land, “Son of a Gun,” Oh Land EP [Epic Records, 2011]

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AISLYN will be playing again @ Brooklyn’s The Rock Shop on 3/12. Check out their website! You can catch AVA LUNA in Atlanta or New Orleans in March. Oh Land @ Tammany Hall 3/3, or @ Terminal 5 on 3/8.

 

BECK

If anyone knows about having Friends&friends, it’s Beck Hansen. In the past year, he’s collaborated with Black Moth Super Rainbow frontman Tom Fec for his new album, Tobacco [Anticon, 2010], produced some clacky electronic tracks on Jamie Lidell’s Compass [Warp, 2010], and his songs have popped up in HBO’s True Blood, Twilight, and Scott Pilgrim vs. the World.

Beck’s releasing weekly selections of songs he’s listening to. The newest, No. 23: Why do I feel?, has some real sweet tracks:

TRACKS:

Warpaint — Lissie’s Heart Murmur
Warp 9 — Nunk
The Shaggs — Why do I feel?
Sibylle Baier — Tonight
Section 25 — C. P.
Section 25 — Melt Close
Selda — Meydan Sizindir
Serge Gainsbourg — L’homme A Tete De Choux
Uri Geller — I Cannot Answer You
Francoise Hardy — Viens
Harumi — Without Her
Chris Bell — I am The Cosmos

Oh, Beck’s also got a neat Record Club with even more friends! Stream my favorite, “One of us cannot be wrong” & other tracks for FREE from the Record Club’s one-day cover album, “Songs of Leonard Cohen” featuring Devendra Banhart, MGMT, Wolfmother’s Andrew Stockdale & more.