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This Manchester band is just shy of turning one but they’re already putting out a 7” through Dirty Bingo Records on October 22nd. The record pairs “Eighteen” with “Ennui”, which you can stream above.
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Steezy Ray Vibes - ‘Empty City’ (demo)
About three months ago we posted Steezy Ray Vibes’ stunning “Empty City” demo pretty much immediately after he uploaded it on Soundcloud, and there wasn’t much any information out about him yet. But now, thanks to The Bay Bridged, the man behind the moniker has been unmasked. His name is Dan Casey and he’s originally from Philly. Check out the interview and head over to the recently created Steezy Ray Vibes Facebook page. And then just listen to “Empty City” 43278 times in a row like I am and have a really great day!
Brighton: Holy Vessels - ‘Springtime Bloom’
You may not believe me after listening to “Springtime Bloom” but Holy Vessels are from Brighton, UK. Not Brighton, Tennessee and not Brighton, Alabama. Yet the quintet has achieved a classic Americana/roots rock sound with their blue-grassy drums, agile fingerpicking, and the addition of a twangy slide guitar at all the right moments. And yes, I know it’s well into the summer at this point, but despite the title of the track I think this is a perfect hot weather/road trip song. Gonna go pour myself some sweet tea now…
PS. YOU CAN DOWNLOAD THE SONG FOR FREE HERE!!
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Yeasayer - ‘Henrietta’
It’s been a couple of years since we last heard a proper recording from the electronic fusion Brooklyn band that is Yeasayer. Their audience grew in 2010 thanks to the blog-worthy “Ambling Alp” off of Odd Blood, and that album’s success, paired with a few individual new tracks here and there, bought the band some time while they worked on their forthcoming third record.
While this new track off of Fragrant World isn’t all that different sonically from any number of songs out there, the subject matter is actually pretty interesting. ”Henrietta” refers to Henrietta Lacks, the woman whose experience with cancer both during and after her life is chronicled in the nonfiction book The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot. From singer and keyboardist Chris Keating:
“Her tumors were somehow used in the polio vaccine, too, so basically this woman’s cells still exist. It’s an interesting story. So we turned it into a dubbed-out pseudo-science-fiction song.”
Too early to tell whether the other songs on the record will have similarly far out inspiration, but we’ll find out soon enough - the album is set to drop on August 21st 2012 through Secretly Canadian.
London: Pale Seas - “My Own Mind”
Gorgeous new (first!) video from London chums Pale Seas:
“My Own Mind” will be released on Communion as a double A-side single with “Bodies” in September, but in the meantime head over to their Facebook page, “Like” them, and get a download of the track for free! (They’re just the loveliest, aren’t they?).
