Four years after their last effort, 2008′s Keep Your Eyes Ahead, Portland-based indie rockers The Helio Sequence are set to release their fifth LP Negotiations this fall on Sub Pop Records. Earlier this summer, the duo unleashed “October”, a simple gem of a pop song rife with soaring melodies and spacious, Eno-esque production. Now they’ve treated us to “Hall of Mirrors”, a song with equal parts of melodic goodness and sonic interest. Both are streaming below for your listening pleasure.
Hey party people, Goodbye, Labrador (the Brooklyn-based indie punk band that got especial mention in our IHL Music Round-up last Friday) is releasing their refulgent, glimmering track, “Memoir,” as a free download here. It’s also embedded below for your ease of comfort (noise cancellation headphones recommended. You know you own a pair).
My ongoing music project with colleague Tayne Kim. This one is about an intense two-man escape from a high-security prison complex. Will they make it?
Come see us (namely, Panda Sanchez) open for Tigertronic and Gracias, Pero No Gracias on August 15th at DC9. Doors open 8PM.
Featured art by Sahar Naderi
Earlier today, Halifax Pop Explosion announced the stellar initial lineup for the 20th edition of the five-day event, set to take place in the third week of October. The festival is known for its innovative programming, pairing up international headliners and up-and-coming talent on the same stage. Artists who have been announced so far include psych-pop group of Montreal, electronic/darkwave singer Zola Jesus, Cold Specks, Atlas Sound and perennial east coast favourites Wintersleep. You can check out the full list of announced artists below, or visit the festival website for more information.
As some of our readers may know, Panda Sanchez is the budding music project of In Harsh Light editor Richard Sanchez and writer/musician Tayne Kim. We’ve been hard at work crafting our dilettante, freshman EP to accompany our nosedive into DC’s live performance scene (see below for show dates). In particular, we’re opening for the up-and-coming metal/post-punk band Gracias, Pero No Gracias at the Velvet Lounge in DC on July 25th, 2012. Wish us luck — and, if God willing, attend, kick back with a beer (or five), and enjoy some local indie music.
In a recent interview with Pitchfork‘s Jenn Pelly, Beach House multi-instrumentalist Alex Scally revealed his frustration with the changing ways in which we listen to music:
“A lot of people listening to music now don’t listen to the songs or lyrics at all. They just go, “Good tones…” and that’s it. But we’re obsessed with songs. Sometimes, I feel like people aren’t listening to our songs, they’re just listening to the sound. “
Scally’s chagrin can be viewed as a gripe with twenty-first century music as a whole. In an age where music is both easily accessible and easily dismissed, the dual arts of album structure and song writing have been lost amongst many artists. Taking this into consideration, Beach House, a Baltimore-based dream pop duo, can be seen as traditionalists in the world of modern indie music. Over the course of four albums, including 2010′s sonic opus Teen Dream, the Beach House sound has remained steady, slowly improving with thoughtful refinements.
According to indie record label Matador‘s blog (Matablog), Paul Banks of Interpol is set to release Julian Plenti Lives …, a five-track solo EP, on June 12. Interestingly enough, Julian will precede the debut of Banks’ full-length LP in the fall.
The EP — which features covers of J Dilla, Frank Sinatra, and Harold Faltermeyer songs — will be available everywhere digitally, with 2,300 vinyl and 1,500 CD limited-edition copies made available worldwide. Proud collectors can pre-order physical copies here.
The EP’s focal track is titled, “Summertime is Coming” — which, adjectivally, is described by Matablog as “brooding.” The remaining track will be an all-instrumental piece.
Fun fact: Harold Faltermeyer is the German composer responsible for some of the 1980s’ most iconic synthpop-laden scores and soundtracks, including Beverly Hills Cop, Top Gun, and my personal favorite, The Running Man. How cool is that?
