Blue Hawaii - In Two

From debut album Untogether

Been waiting for the debut from these guys for the past two years since they blew me away with their Blooming Summer cassette from Arbutus.  I had just picked up the first Grimes cassette, and I was delving further down the Arbutus rabbit hole.  That barely 30min 8 track cassette remains one of my favorites I’ve ever had the privilege to pick up.  Two years later that album’s quality has held up tremendously, and I can’t recommend it strongly enough as some of the most beautiful and exquisite dream pop.  You should probably go download it from BnDcmP right now (name-your-own price)

For better or worse, it seems Untogether has taken things in a fairly different direction.  Immediately coming from Blooming Summer, you hear that this sounds more beat driven, with generous vocal distortion & processing.  I guess the thing that just keeps coming to mind is that Blue Hawaii sounds like they’re trying to sound like Grimes.  Just sometimes.  Makes sense label mates n all, prob best friends, but things sound just a little too similar at times. On first listen I do like Untogether; its a beautiful album with a some stand out tracks…but maybe just not as beautiful as Blooming Summer.  I  do have distinct feeling that it will grow on me.  

Wish I had some information on its release format etc, but there doesn’t seem to be any hard intelligence yet besides that it’ll be out January 22nd.  Let hope this sees a release on vinyl, and keep an eye on the good folks over at Arbutus until then.  While they’re at it, a re-release of Blooming Summer on vinyl would be killer as well.

Tops - Turn Your Love Around

<3<3<3<3<3<3 Tops.

Directed by Fantavious Fritz
Produced by Erika Lobko
Shot by Jackson Parrell & Fantavious Fritz
Assistant Director Daiva Zalnieriunas
Camera Assistant Matthew Landry
Music by TOPS
Special thanks to Tracy Hsu and the Northern Secondary School dance class.

Shot on location at Northern Secondary School’s dance class for deaf students taught by Tracy Hsu. Using large speakers to transfer vibrations through the dance floor, and a soft glass mirror which mimicked the rhythm of the song visually, the kids in Tracy’s class showed us how they like to experience and dance to music.

Grimes - Shadout Mapes

from her first LP, Geidi Primes released in 2010

A little ol skool Grimes for all you lovers and haters out there alike.  It’s been interesting to see what a devout following of both fans and haters that little Claire has grown over the past 3 years.  Friends of mine that I normally share similar musical interests, recoil at the name drop of Grimes, but when I play Geidi Primes for those same people, they dig it.  Somehow, despite her blowing up, everyone seems to ignore her 1st two albums, Geidi Primes & Halfaxa respectfully.  I’ve said it before, and I’ll harp on it some more, Geidi Primes is a masterpiece, and Visions is great but its got nothing on it.

Fundamentally I understand the relative success of Visions and obscurity of Geidi Primes, being that Visions is much more upbeat & accessible, while the later is a far more experimental & downbeat piece.  I say ‘piece’ to further highlight that Geidi Primes shines best when listening through to it as a whole, with not likely a radio hit here, though Rosa & Avi come close.  If you want to be fair about it, the two are almost in completely different categories, and so I’ll urge haters to give Geidi Primes a fair shot before completely writing off the latest big hipster thing.

Geidi Primes was originally a super Ltd released cassette, later pressed to vinyl, with both OOP.  Unless you wanna drop 50 quid on discogs.    

Anyways all that being said, I’m seeing her play Basilica Hudson tomorrow night, and I can’t wait. Cause I’ve only been waiting 3 years to see her live.  I hope she’ll grace us with at least one or two off Geidi Primes. 

Fingers Crossed.

Tops - Easy Friends

Debut release Tender Opposites, by Tops took me by storm bout 6 months ago.   Originally a cassette from Arbutus Records, I was thrilled when it got a proper vinyl release from Atelier Ciseaux, however Ltd to 250 copies = long gone. 

Nice to see they’ve got at least one b-side for us out on a 7” backing album hit Diamond Look.  Then again every track on Tender Opposites is a single hit in my mind.

Tops - Diamond Look b/w Easy Friends 7” is Ltd to 300 copies on opaque white vinyl.  Kinda hilariously that its less limited than the album. Pre-order your very own copy from Atelier Ciseaux here.  Ships 9/10.

Grimes - Genesis (live)

The girl sounds great live, and consistently.  Which is pretty essential when most of your music is prerecorded synths. I say that not as a jab b/c I’ve been firm Grimes supporter since the start (my cassette), but watching someone live with prerecorded stuff can sometimes be a major bummer.  I saw Sleep ∞ Over at Pop Montreal this year, and its not that she was bad, just not a terribly exciting live show.  That being said, I would still kill to see Grimes live.  Here’s hoping.

Tops - Diamond Look

Breaking News: Tops - Tender Opposites   sees a super Ltd release on 12” vinyl

So there was a Ltd to 80 cassette non/us release that quickly sold out, and another Arbutus cassette/compact disc, but I’ve been holding my breath waiting/praying for a vinyl version to drop.  Happy day as of 10min ago.  

Tops - Tender Opposites 12” AC#14 is Ltd to 250 copies on solid red vinyl.  Atelier Ciseaux  consistently produces some of the nicest vinyl releases, and I’m thrilled to see them efforting this vinyl port. Pre-order one quick quick.  Releases May 30th.

Grimes - Oblivion

Motocrossin sweaty man orgies? Oh Grimes you so crazy.

Tops - Rings of Saturn

Tops - Turn Your Love Around

After Claire’s endorsement of label mate Tops during her gvb takeover yesterday, I thought I throw up another track from the cassette.  Pick up your very own copy from Arbutus Records here.

Grimes - Genesis

Here is the latest single release from genius girl wonder Grimes, off what will be her forth release (3rd full length) in under 2 years at age 23.  I’ve been obsessed with her music since her first release of Geidi Primes on Ltd red cassette (see mine above ^^^).  I remember getting that cassette in the mail that summer of 2009 and thinking to myself, ‘damn she sketched this jacket in pencil, and I can see the indentations from her drawing, that is dedication.’  Would love to hear from anyone else that might have snagged a copy if they had the same cover art? 

Well flash forward to now and she’s come a long way.  The new tracks she’s releasing are each a progression and new experiment, and I love in a recent interview how she explains her music is post-internet.  She’s not showing any indication of slowing down, so I keep taking the new music while its coming.

Side note, Geidi Primes is on LP from no Pain in Pop and you might be able to still snag a copy from insound here; the label and most places are out of stock of it.  Her 2nd LP, Halfaxa was delayed from pressing for quite some time, but as I understand it you can finally order a pricey copy from Lorecords here.  That one was originally only on compact disc (sigh….) so I never really gave it my proper full attention.

<3<3<3 me some Grimes.  

Grimes - Nightmusic

More live Grimes.  Damn she makes me weak in the knees. See below:

gVb: When Grimes was in Dallas last summer for our first music fest, she came through to chill at the studio in East Dallas and watch Shabazz Palaces and Yourstru.ly do their thing. She wasn’t planning on playing for us, but in the downtime between sessions, she was cool enough to hook up this magical, completely impromptu candlelit performance of Visions highlight / absolute JAM “Nightmusic.”

Grimes - Oblivion

Sounds killer live, but I kinda like wish I didn’t like hear her talk before she like started playing.  Too cruel?  No matter, I’ll pardon on the assumption that she was super nervous.  Regardless the new album will be best in 2012.  For sure.

Grimes - Oblivion

Yep new Grimes 12” on the way.  Super rad indeed.

Arb:

Grimes’ forthcoming record “Visions” will be released on January 31st, look for 12″ Vinyl, CD, and digital formats! Catch her on tour with Austra across North America this autumn, and at CMJ and New York next week.

Graphic design by Jasper Baydala, and illustration by Grimes – the album features guest performances by contemporaries Majical Cloudz and Doldrums.

Grimes - Crystal Ball

from the upcoming split 12” entitled ❦❦ DARKBLOOM ❦❦ by ✠✠ D’EON & GRIMES ✠✠
released APRIL 19th via ❧ ARBUTUS RECORDS ❧ and ✦ HIPPOS IN TANKS ✦

Check out new track Crystal Ball from the Grimes & D’eon 12” Split.  Pre-order has been available from either releasing label, and you can find copies from Arbutus Records or Hippos in Tanks. 

I’m jammin out to the Grimes side now, and it is most excellent.  Grimes side has more beat to it, D’eon is more spaceage dance club stylesin.  I’ve been hot on Grimes since their stellar OOP Geidi Primes cassette debut from Arbutus Records, which you can download from the label for free via mediafire hYpersPaceLink here.  Glad to finally see their tunes on vinyl, cause I was most disappointed to see Grimes followup release Halfaxa was on niether vinyl nor even cassette.  Compact discs = waste of dough.  Make sure you check out the Grimes video below; so sick.     

Grimes - Vanessa

Spectacular & slightly disturbing video for one of the new jams from Grimes.  I enjoy the creative use of reverse motion video.  Track from their 12” split with d’Eon, a collective effort from Arbutus Records & Hippos in Tanks.