Tame Impala - Innerspeaker

While it's a place I'd surely love to visit, with the exception of boomerangs and didgeridoos, I can't think of a lot of exciting exports out of Australia. However, they have been known to make some pretty good music, especially lately ( Jonathan Boulet and Richard In Your Mind). Home to The Seekers, AC/DC, The Vines, Jet, Wolf Mother and many others, the Australians are no stranger to rock music. Carrying on the classic rock flag is Tame Impala, who is probably about as classic rock as you can get while still being contemporary. With guitars that would please Hendrix and vocals that bear an uncanny resemblance to John Lennon, it's no wonder that the members of Tame Impala are making a name for themselves. It also doesn't hurt to be touring with MGMT and have past dates with Yeasayer and The Black Keys under your belt.  Releasing their debut album, Innerspeaker, on Modular (arguably Australia's biggest label), the band has certainly skipped to the relative front of the line in terms of international success.

For good reason though, Innerspeaker is a piece of psych rock gold. While it may not stand up to the pop sensibilities of late, and it's probably not the first choice record to throw on at a party, that doesn't take away from the fact this would be great soundtrack to a summer roadtrip, drinking beer out in the sun or passing the joint around. There is a nice diversity to the album, from circular jam tracks like "Solitude is Bliss" to straight forward arena rock like "Desire Be Desire Go" or the dizzying eclecticism of "The Bold Arrow of Time", there is a little something for everyone in the rock department, and these standout cuts show it off. Fundamentally, Tame Impala are all about layers. Nothing is ever left to float on its own and songs that start off with simplicity are soon methodically built into a wall of sound. These layers provide a great pillow for the Lennon-reverbed vocals and John Bonham percussion to operate.  If anything the level of complexity and technical skill displayed on this debut release proves that we can probably expect interesting things from this group in the future. Somewhere between now and then, we hope that Innerspeaker makes it on to a record player near you. If not, check out "Desire Be Desire Go" in digital form below. Old and new, just like Tame Impala.

Tame Impala - "Desire Be Desire Go"

New Music Tuesday - Minks

Coming out the interminable epicenter of creativity that is Brooklyn, is yet another hot new band - Minks. Opting for the popular minimal info approach, there isn't a lot known about the project. However, here are some of the facts:

• Judging by live footage the band seems to have 6 members.
• They have just released a new 7" on Captured Tracks.
• They have a lovely collection of pictures on a blog.
• They have an undeniably dark, gothic aesthetic.
• Their track "Funeral Song" is catchy as hell.
• The music video is made by Wooden Lense, a Portland-based film collective.
• I fucking LOVE macaroni and cheese. Wait.... 

With only a 7" to date, Minks emanate a pretty cohesive sound, one in the ilk of Gothic New Wave. You can certainly hear elements of The Cure or The Smiths - a clear, driving bass line, nickel guitar that darts in and leaves lazily, whining synth layered over simplistic drums. "Funeral Song", which is the standout single, even has some vocals reminiscent of Morrisey's baritone croon, but to just compare them to The Smiths though, would be unfair. Their other tracks show there is more capacity to this group than just regurgitating John Hughes soundtracks. Even "Funeral Song" is a departure from simple emulation, an eerie inversion of effervescence and depression. It's a bright song for sad kids. Good news for people who love bad news, to reference the melancholic Modest Mouse. And while "So long summertime/I'm not coming back" constitutes the chorus of a single making it's way to us right at the first signs of sunshine and warmth, we can't help but disagree a little in our minds, but our ears certainly couldn't care less. The lovely video work of Wooden Lense below shows that our eyes can be pretty happy, too. If you like it, then I know you'll dig this as well. How can you be a sad kid now? Enjoy!

Minks - "Funeral Song" (Wooden Lense)

Crocodiles - "Sleep Forever"

After seeing Crocodiles open for The Faint and Ladytron last spring, I have to say I was pretty smitten with their dark demeanor and manic energy. Their April '09 debut, Summer of Hate, quickly became one of my go-to zone-out albums. Which isn't to say that the duo is devoid of stimulating riffs or raucous percussion, you could certainly thrash out to the titular single (video below), but there is something rather mollifying about their hazy brand of noise-pop. While Summer of Hate exuded a more sinister vibe, their new single "Sleep Forever" still employs that wall-of-sound style, but Producer John Ford (one half of Simian Mobile Disco), cleans up some of the fuzz and moves the band towards a slightly more light-hearted tone. Frontman Brandon Welchez' vocals come off as less haughty and caustic, and the instrumentation moves away from the crunchier guitar riffs of old. The future looks exciting for Crocodiles, currently on tour with Dum Dum Girls. The pair will roll through Portland on June 25th, via the Hawthorne Theater. I just might see you there!

Crocodiles - "Sleep Forever"

Crocodiles - "Summer of Hate"

[adult swim] + music = awesome!

Anyone whose been a regular fan of [adult swim] knows that the crew over there is pretty hip to the groove. Airing shows like Tim and Eric, Aqua Teen Hunger Force and a slew of other cult favorites, their slightly bent, minimalist programming has pervaded a generation. Known for using a wide variety of contemporary music in their commercials and filler material, [adult swim] has recently partnered with Kia for the Adult Swim Singles Program. "8 Free Tracks 8 Straight Weeks" the page boasts. Well, they are currently on Week 4 and the past three weeks have been pretty satisfying. Displaying expansive taste, past singles include an acoustic ballad from Matt Sweeney and Bonnie "Prince" Billy, a fresh hip-hop cut from Killer Mike produced by Flying Lotus of all people, and a funky flow from Madvillain - the collaborative of Madlib and [as] favorite MF DOOM. This week continues to shake things up with a great new track from chillwave superstar Ernest Greene aka washed out. Interestingly enough the track features vocals from Chairlift frontlady Caroline Polachek. The result is "You and I", a hypangogic underwater dreamscape that could easily accompany any steamy romance montage from a 90's movie. Romeo + Juliet comes to mind. Regardless, it's a track that you could comfortably sink into on repeat for a good long while. I know, I just did it. Try it for yourself and check out those past singles too. Stay tuned, they've still got four more weeks of titillating tracks to come.

washed out ft. Caroline Polachek - "You and I"

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Latest Single From Toro Y Moi

Traditionally, when we enter a new decade, we find that the genres we've become accustomed to change with the era. 2010 is no exception. With bands like Neon Indian, Washed Out and Memory Tapes creating one of the most popular genres of this new decade, we are all becoming quite familiar with chillwave. Riding into our hearts on this chillwave is Toro Y Moi. If you've never heard of bedroom artist Toro Y Moi yet, you need to check him out asap. Coming out of South Carolina, the project is spearheaded by Chazwick Bundick. In addition to having one of the coolest names ever, he also has one of the chillest projects out right now. (Pun intended!) Chillwave, also known as glo-fi, is a genre that eats up eclectic influences and produces an interesting spread of dreamy electronic pop that somehow evokes an undefinable nostalgia. Toro Y Moi is no exception. Blending 70's pastoral folk, 80's new romanticism and 90's indie into one cohesive album, Chaz released his full length debut, Causers of This, in January of this year. I recently saw Toro Y Moi as a 4-piece, opening for Caribou at the Hawthorne Theater. Let me say there is no doubt that this kid is definitely only on the up and up. As an opener, they were rallied into an encore and played an interesting new single "Leave Everywhere". Recently released, the track departs from TYM's chillwave roots and moves towards more guitar driven, purely lo-fi rock. This is par for the course, as Chaz had stated that he intends to release two different albums this year. While he doesn't mind the chillwave label, he wants to show that he's into all kinds of music, and by the sound of this single we're all for that notion. Yay for diversity! Keep it coming Mr. Bundick.  

Toro Y Moi - "Leave Everywhere"

Bjorn Copeland (Black Dice)

New York based artist Bjorn Copeland is a pretty talented dude. Despite comprising one third of the trio behind Black Dice, he is also quite an accomplished visual artist. Regularly doing work for the band's albums, posters and t-shirts, he has also displayed his collage style art in a multitude of galleries on the east coast. Employing a vivid color palette, from neons to primaries, and focusing on the blend between geometric shapes, patterns and organic imagery - Copeland seems to address, moreover mock, the high glitz, over-produced graphic design that dominates major media sources. He also regularly adapts found objects into sculpture and installation pieces that strike the same chords as his 2 dimensional work. If you haven't ever checked out Black Dice either, then get on it. Existing for over a decade now, releasing an album on DFA (founded by James Murphy of LCD Soundsystem), the group is currently on the roster for Paw Tracks (founded by the members of Animal Collective.) Here's the video for 2007's "Kokomo", which definitely incorporates the artistic style evident with Copeland into moving form. Epileptics be warned!

Black Dice - "Kokomo"

Cults - "Go Outside"

Back in March a group called Cults made a big splash in the music blogosphere with "Go Outside". At the time is was the only known track from the deliberately clandestine group. While deciding to wait for a little something more to write about, this song has quickly racked up a substantial play count here at the Spectrum. We were quite excited to find out a good deal more about Cults in recent months. We now know the project is helmed by Brian Oblivion and Madeline Follin who are film students in NYC. The song was released as part of a set of 3 on a 7" over on their Bandcamp. The group has plans to release a full length sometime this year and possibly start touring. In the meantime, the aforementioned 7" is so buttery delicious that we can continue to satiate ourselves just a little longer.

"Go Outside" plays comfortably in the mix of any summer playlist. The call to action from the title is evoked perfectly in the sonic qualities of this track. Despite an ironically morbid sampling from ultimate cult leader Jim Jones - jangling glockenspiel and a Jackson 5 inspired bassline mingle with reverberating choral vocals that resemble the kind of lo-fi indie pop coming out of some countries like Sweden lately. Grab your bicycle, get their one and only release over on the Bandcamp, get it on your iPod and set to repeat, then start riding for perfect summertime fun. With only that 7" to their name, the details of this project may still be a little hazy and your summer might be even hazier, but it's clear that we can't wait to hear more from Cults.

Cults - "Go Outside"

Video Magic: Foals - "Miami"

With as much cultural diversity as a Spike Lee film, Foals latest video release for "Miami" is surely a weird one. Gang fight between body builders and drag queens? Hell yeah! Baby powder and a hydraulic hoopty? You bet! While it's not really clear if the video is supposed to be suggesting something about Miami itself, or merely humorous juxtapostion, the song itself is certainly worth a listen or two. Off their newest release, Foals just dropped their new album Total Life Forever on May 11th via Sub Pop. Laugh, cry, maybe gag a little? You decide.

Foals - "Miami"

Junip - Rope and Summit

The low-key, acoustic stylings of Sweden's Jose Gonzalez are what made him famous. So you wouldn't necessarily know what to expect when he formed a  trio called Junip back in 2005 and put out an EP called Black Refugee. Now 5 years since that debut release, you still can't really be sure what to expect, but you might have a better idea. Announcing the release of a new full length, set to drop for September of this year, the band has made the 4 track Rope and Summit EP  available for free over on their website. The title track "Rope and Summit" is hopefully a lovely harbinger. Tickling our expectations, the song displays Gonzalez innate aptitude for restraint, featuring his trademark nylon abilities, building slowly into a tightly bubbling soundscape of riffs and repeating vocals. Somehow he makes the transition more naturally than you would think. Combining elements of kraut-rock and jazz, this cut certainly has refreshingly uptempo and off-kilter vibe that seems to come with ease from the typically soporific Gonzalez. The second track, "Far Away", picks up where the first left off, displaying a new level of energy, but Junip doesn't disappoint the original fan base. The second half gently puts you back to sleep with the jammy "At the Doors" and lulling "Loops", proving that elements of Jose will always remain as they certainly should. Check out the title track and grab that EP now.

Junip - "Rope and Summit"

Mashin' It Up

The White Panda, Procrast aka Tom Evans and DJ Griffi aka Dan Griffith, are one of the most reliable DJ crews mashin' it up on the internet these days. In the ilk of The Hood Internet and RAC, these guys regularly have new tracks in the "Top 25" on Hype Machine. Soon to unveil their newest batch of tracks with Rematch, they're latest track, "The Next Starf*cker", comes as teaser for that release. This is a summer party jam at it's finest, combining some real fan favorites with Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg and Nate Dogg's hood flows on "Smoke Weed Everyday" and Starfucker's poppy accompaniment on "Rawnald Gregory Erickson The Second". Check it, grab the track and throw that shiz on your iPod party playlist ASAP!

The White Panda - "The Next Starf*cker"

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New Project: CEO

One half of the Swedish duo The Tough Alliance, Eric Berglund is making waves with his new side project - CEO. The project, like many these days, was a mystery to many at first; with no myspace or word who was behind it. Pitchfork only recently discovered that it is indeed Berglund. Check out the official band page for an equally cryptic description. CEO seems to maintain TTA's funky electronic presence, while cultivating a sound that is perhaps slightly poppier in a more a traditional sense. Either way, if the single "Come With Me" is any indicator, then we're looking forward to CEO's June 29th debut White Magic on Modular.

CEO - "Come With Me"