Muke is the project of Madeline Liebowitz and Luke Kuzava who met in the dorms their freshman year at the University of Oregon. Out of boredom one day they decided to record a song into an iBook and lo and behold, something fresh and new was born out of the disparate influences of each member. Their sound is something like if Lykke Li was backed with acoustic guitar with the “shoegaze rock filter” on high accompanied by toy store percussion. With a sound this cute and strange, it’s only a matter of time before they get some love from Pitchfork.
January 18, 2009
Muke’s "Shutterspeed Lullabies" are an Otherworldly Bedtime Hymn!
November 29, 2008
Guess What Wesley is Dressed as! Plus: Superb Saturday Mix!
This is it! The last Wesley the Robot Cartoon of the year! I decided to take a hiatus from the squid battle and do something more festive and cute. Who would have ever thought that “Cute” would be the word to describe this emotionally impaired automoton? Stay tuned for more on Wesley’s meteoric rise to fame.
In the meantime, enjoy this cold, snowy, winter-y mix.
Snowfight in the City Centre – No Light Left
Graig Markel – Figures in the Snow
The LK – The Private Life of a Cat
Snowden – Anti Anti (Treasure Fingers Remix) <-- Highly Recommended!
The Stills – Snow in California
Dieter Schöön – The Harbour’s Cold
The Octopus Project – Exploding Snowhorse
Moby – When It’s Cold I’d Like to Die
Jens Lekman – The Cold Swedish Winter
November 21, 2008
Wesley The Robot is being Attacked by a 60 Foot Lesbian Octopus!!!! Plus a Friday Mix!
If a giant octopus is attacking a power plant, that’s probably not good. That’s also probably the reason the power went out when Wesley was charging. I think maybe Beatrice owes Wesley an apology.
Does It Offend You Yeah? – Attack Of The 60 Ft Lesbian Octopus
The Octopus project – Truck
Laromlab – Sid Attacks
New Order – Dream Attack
Simian Mobile Disco – Sleep Deprivation
Tin Can Telephone – Spak Attack
The Cinematics – Break
David Bowie – Breaking Glass
Justice – Let There Be Light (Breakbot Remix)
DJ Krafty Kuts – The Message (Accapella) – Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five
Thomas Dolby – Commercial Breakup
November 15, 2008
(New Music) The Kindness Kind!
The Kindness Kind are a band out of Seattle, that has been praised as one of the best bands to emerge from that scene this year by the Toronto Star. The band has also recieved spotlight status from CMJ. The band have recently released their self titled album on which they worked with producer Lucas Carlyle who has worked with The Gossip, The Octopus Project, and the Album Leaf among others.
It’s a bit off target to call The Kindness Kind “Electro” (as on their myspace) while there are synthesizers present, their music is extremely organic. Think; space rock infused jazz with a glamorous lounge vixen vocalist. To create the lovely dream state they call their music, The Kindness Kind use guitars to create some nice edginess and angularity for the songs, but it’s the pianos and keyboards that help create the hauntingly beautiful atmosphere that sets the stage for Alessandra Rose who adds startlingly accessible vocal hooks to The Kindness Kind’s somewhat experimental indie pop. Add in a pounding and dynamic rhythm section and you’ve got one of the most compelling sounds of 2008. The Kindness Kind have created some of the most articulate and cinematic music intended to incite rocking out. Let the rocking out begin!
The Kindness Kind – Beautiful Souls
August 7, 2008
Ratatat’s LP3
Ratatat return with the most to the point album title I’ve ever read, “LP3″. This being their third album, Mike Stroud and Evan Mast have decided to branch out their style in two directions. On one hand they have their classical sound involving intricate melodies and sweeping strings (sometimes even without beats!)and on the other they are branching out their beat fueled grooves employing some of the most upbeat drum tracks they’ve ever used and some tracks built entirely on acoustic sounding hand claps. The results are pretty spectacular. Don’t expect any animal sound effects, but do expect virtually every other trick a keyboard, bass, guitar, and drum machine can provide. From their trademark slide guitar, Crystal Castles-like garbled 8-bit video game blasts, to an occasional voice box over the guitar and you’ve got the basic ingredients of “LP3″ but only Stroud and Mast could season them so deliciously. Even though their previous album was entitled “Classics”, it might be “LP3″ that goes down as their timeless classic.
July 31, 2008
The Octopus Project Embark on West Coast Tour
The experimental indie rock group The Octopus Project will be kicking off a west-coast tour starting with the Lollapalooza festival. The Octopus Project put out one of my favorite albums of 2007, that album being “Hello, Avalanche”. Which I still listen to on a regular basis because of its broad variety of musical tones and sounds. Where else can you get a chugging guitar riff alongside a theremin and a drum machine? No where else that I’ve found. Please, if you know of someplace that it exists please tell me. I’m serious.
Here’s the tour schedule
The Octopus Project Live:
* w/ Diagonals
08/02 Chicago, IL @ Schuba’s
08/03 Chicago, IL @ Lollapalooza
08/04 Kansas City, MO @ Record Bar
08/05 Norman, OK @ Opolis
08/06 Lubbock, TX @ Tequila Station
08/11 Phoenix, AZ @ Rhythm Room*
08/12 Tucson, AZ @ Congress Theater*
08/13 San Diego, CA @ The Cashbash*
08/14 Los Angeles, CA @ Knitting Factory*
08/15 Visalia, CA @ Cellar Door*
08/16 San Francisco, CA @ Bottom Of The Hill*
08/18 Portland, OR @ Satyricon*
08/19 Seattle, WA @ Nectar Lounge*
08/20 Vancouver, BC @ Richard’s
08/22 Edmonton, AL @ Velvet Lounge
08/23 Calgary, AL @ Hi Fi
08/25 Salt Lake City, UT @ Urban Lounge
08/26 Denver, CO @ Hi Dive
08/28 Dallas, TX @ Lola’s*
08/29 Houston, TX @ Warehouse Live*
09/28 Austin, TX @ Austin City Limits Festival
Anyway, besides you lucky west-coasters out there having the opportunity to see one of my favorite bands, there are also a series of fan videos that have been produced by various… well… fans. They’re pretty cool. Check ‘em out.
And since I’m talking about the Octopus Project again, I can post more of their glorious music.
November 22, 2007
Monday Radio Show Stack Attack
It’s Thanksgiving, so that means I am going to do a little extra today by posting my radio show track by track, including my custom little promotional advertisements, which I enjoy way too much. Keep an ear out for next week, there’s going to be even more ridiculous promos, which are my favorite thing ever right now.
AZLTRON Station ID #1
Truck – The Octopus Project
Almost Ready – Dinosaur Jr.
Scientist – The Dandy Warhols
I Can Cook – Grafton Primary
Short Sharp Shock – (We Are) Performance
She Don’t Use Jelly – Flaming Lips
What Would Wolves Do? – Les Savy Fav
So Many Frequencies – Midnight Juggernauts
Unlucky In Love – Greg Summerlin
The Kids From Orange County – Moving Units
November 7, 2007
Crazy Wednesday
The Octopus Project is a band from Austin, Texas that play strangely saccharine pop music that often features a theremin. They have a new video out for their song “Truck”.
MP3 – I Saw The Bright Shinies – The Octopus Project
While we’re on the topic of strangely addictive pop bands, Black Moth Super Rainbow, whose psychedelic electronic pop songs have been traveling with the Flaming Lips this fall also have a new video for their song “Sun Lips”, Featuring overweight men and trash bags… Take a look!
MP3 – Roller Disco – Black Moth Super Rainbow
Last but not least is Dan Bejar’s new project with his sweetheart Sydney Vermont entitled “Hello, Blue Roses”. The music is sparse and melodious and while Dan Bejars voice serves as an anchor for the vocals, it’s when Sydney Vermont’s vocals take off accompanied by sweeping synths that the songs really soar. Don’t take my word for it.
