Artist Profile: Big Black Delta

Electro pop act Big Black Delta began as an experiment, when LA transplant and Mellowdrone founder Jonathan Bates decided he needed a break from the band aesthetic. Buying a used laptop from friend Alessandro Cortini (Nine Inch Nails, Sonoio) and began playing with sound, twisting, bending and contorting to create a musical style not bound by gravity or any one instrument. "Give me anything, and I'll make it work. Especially if it’s stringed,"Bates says. Combine this penchant for experimentation with a love of UFO folklore and you have the otherworldly coolness that is Big Black Delta, made up of Bates and live drummers Mahsa Zargaran and Amy Wood.

Bates' ambition to stretch the boundaries of pop can be heard in sonic stunners like "Huggin' And A Kissin'." Driven by whiplash-inducing drums, atmospheric, searing electronic sounds and robotic bass, the track sounds like Depeche Mode on steroids (a very good thing in case you were wondering). "Zebra" lifts the trademark alt-rock loud-chorus-soft-verse dynamic and brings into the dance realm with fantastic results,  vacillating quietly between spage-age samples and gentle harmonies and grimy, distorted synths and deep, thumping bass. Meanwhile "IFUCKINGLOVEYOU" borders on punk and hardcore, melding wall-of-sound-style choruses with a nasty bass, pummeling drums and fat blasts of what sounds like mangled brass.

Big Black Delta is currently working on a full-length debut. In the meantime, you download the group's Big Black Delta EP for free, or the aforementioned "Huggin' And A Kissin' below.

Remix Of The Week: Lady Gaga "Judas (Dub Step Remix By Andre Jetson)"

While mother monster may have been channeling Mary Magdalene for her latest single, this ferocious, chaotic dub step remix by Andre Jetson makes Gaga sound like she summoned the four horsemen of the apocalypse. Listen below.

Divine Revelation Or Holy Terror? Lady Gaga's "Judas " Video

Unless you've been living under a rock, you know that Lady Gaga's new clip for her single "Judas" was set to premiere today on the E! Channel. Fortunately (for us anyway) it's leaked about eight hours early. Much tongue wagging has been made of the video's religious subject matter, as Gaga takes on the role of Mary Magdalene and sings of her love for the treacherous Judas.

When talking about the clip and its concept, the singer explained  "Well the video, in essence, suggests that [pauses] forgiveness and betrayal are hand in hand and that... how do I say this? The video puts destiny above all things and postures that the mistakes in your life are in fact not mistakes at all, they are just part of your overarching potential and your destiny."

"I want to allow the video to speak for itself but I will say that the theme of the video and the way that I wanted to aesthetically portray the story was as a motorcycle Fellini movie where the apostles are revolutionaries in a modern-day Jerusalem," she said. "And I play Mary Magdalene leading them into the town where we meet Jesus and I will leave the rest for you to see. But it's meant more to celebrate faith than it is to challenge it."

Personally I feel that the video is good, but not great. It contains many Gaga motifs--surreal theatrics, over-the-top outfits, garish makeup, dancers (the lipstick gun gets a definite thumbs up)--but the whole product doesn't come off with a bang the way previous epics like "Paparazzi," "Bad Romance," "Telephone" or "Born This Way" did. Casting the disciples as a modern-day biker gang  was a nice twist, but she should have scrapped the dance sequences and concentrated more on the overall storyline, which could have provided some great visual scenes. Perhaps the fact the video was being filmed on the same stage as Janet Jackson's "Escapade" inspired her to bust a move.

But a good Gaga video is still better than 85 to 90 percent of other music clips that are out there, so it's definitely worth watching. Maybe when the uncut version premieres later today, it'll contain some new surprises. Watch "Judas" HERE.

WATCH: Beyonce's New Video Teaser For "Run The World (Girls)"

Beyonce has released another visual morsel from her upcoming video epic "Run The World (Girls)" for fans to salivate over. Watch the short clip below. Another B-Day seems to be upon us.....

Vandaveer Drops "Dig Down Deep" Video, Kicks Off Spring Tour

Washington D.C.'s own Vandaveer have released a new video for their single "Dig Down Deep." Filmed in Long Island, NY in the freezing January cold with collaborators Pierre Dejon and Just Philippot, who also shot the band's previous clip for "The Nature Of Our Kind," the video follows the band on a trek towards the sea.

The brainchild of alt-folk musician Mark Charles Heidinger, Vandaveer features a revolving cast of musicians and singers, with vocalist Rose Guerin as the sole mainstay. The results of this musical melting pot can be heard on Dig Down Deep, the group's third album released late last month. Churning rhythms, piano and steady guitar provide a melodic backdrop for stories of war, loss and love.

Vandaveer is also in midst of an extensive U.S. tour, which kicked off yesterday in Boston. Watch the "Dig Down Deep" video and view the list of tour date below.




05/03: Boston, MA @ TT The Bears #
05/04: New York, NY @ Rockwood Music Hall #
05/05: New Hope, PA @ Triumph Brewery #
05/06: Brooklyn, NY @ The Rock Shop #
05/07: Pittsburgh, PA @ Brillobox #
05/10: Cleveland, OH @ Beachland Tavern #
05/11: Chicago, IL @ Empty Bottle #
05/12: Bloomington, IN @ The Bishop #
05/13: Newport, KY @ Parlour @ The Southgate House #
05/14: Lexington, KY @ Natasha's #
05/15: Louisville, KY @ Uncle Slaytons #
05/16: Nashville, TN @ The Basement #
05/17: Winston-Salem, NC @ Krankies # *
05/18: Roanoke, VA @ Kirk Ave Music Hall #
05/19: Richmond, VA @ Sound Of Music Studios #^
05/20: Charlottesville, VA @ Twisted Branch Tea Bazaar #
05/21: Washington, DC @ IOTA #
05/22: Baltimore, MD @ The Metro Gallery #

# w/ Ferraby Lionheart
* w/ Marcus Hodges
^ w/ The Low Branches

Architecture In Helsinki's "Contact High" Remixed By Javelin, Drop New Album

Modern pop masters Architecture In Helsinki's new album Moment Bends drops today. Recorded over two years at the band's Buckingham Palace, bandmember Cameron Bird says "Moment Bends was all about being at one with our ideas, obsessed with popular music and falling in love with our hometown. We wanted to build a record to get lost in. A record that always feels exactly what you are feeling."

To celebrate the new album, the band is sharing a remix of the track "Conact High." Reworked by Brooklyn-based cratediggers Javelin, the song becomes a sleek, lush piece of pop perfect for sunny, summertime drives. Architecture in Helsinki will be kicking off a U.S. tour in Los Angeles at the Henry Fonda Theater on June 1st. Listen to and download the "Contact High" remix and view the band's tour dates below.

Contact High-Javelin Remix by Javelin


06/01: Los Angeles, CA @ Henry Fonda Theater
06/02: San Francisco, CA @ Great American Music Hall
06/03: San Francisco, CA @ Slims
06/04: Portland, OR @ Wonder Ballroom
06/05: Vancouver, BC @ Venur
06/06: Seattle, WA @ Neumo's
06/09: Minneapolis, MN @ Varsity Theater
06/10: Chicago, IL @ Lincoln Hall
06/11: Toronto, ON @ Mod Club
06/12: Montreal, QC @ Le Tulipe
06/13: Boston, MA @ Paradise Rock Club
06/15: Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
06/16: New York, NY @ Webster Hall
06/17: Washington, DC @ Black Cat
06/18: Philadelphia, PA @ World Cafe Live

Remix Of The Week: Mariah Carey Ft. Da Brat And Missy Elliot "Heartbreaker"

Mimi recruited Da Brat and Missy Elliot to rework her 1999 hit "Heartbreaker" from light pop track (and just a little too much of a "Fantasy" retread for my taste) to bass-heavy jam. Listen below.

Vid Pick: Tahiti 80 "Easy"

Take a look at the clip for Tahiti 80's song "Easy." Directed by Daisuke Kitayama, the quirky video features plently of intricate animation for graphic design geeks to pour over, while providing a perfect compliment to the track's breezy dance pop sound.

Remix Of The Week: Madonna "Justify My Love (Hip Hop Mix)"

Madge enlisted producer Andre Betts, who later went to produce several hip hop-influenced songs on '92's Erotica, to add a jazz-infused, east coast rap feel to the steamy track. Listen below.

Beyonce Reveal "Girl" Single Cover Art, Video Teaser

Beyonce has revealed the single cover art for her new track "Run The World (Girls)" as well as a short teaser for the video. According to RNBMusicBlog.com In a press release the singer said the song was written and produced herself, Switch, Shea Taylor and The Dream, who was also responsible for her '08 smash "Single Ladies." "Run The World (Girls)" is slated to be released on iTunes Friday. Watch the video teaser below.

Listen: French Horn Rebellion On Myspace

Electro pop duo French Horn Rebellion's debut album ,The Infinite Music Of French Horn Rebellion, is currently streaming on Myspace. The album will have its official physical release on May 19th and a digital release on April 19th.

Infinite Music blends rock, funk, electro, and dance in an intergalactic tale of a French horn player's physical and emotional journey. "There is a story running through the album, it's about the Universe, says David. We're pretty clear on what the story is, but what you take away from it may be something entirely different."

In addition the band is also embarking on a 27 date North American tour with French electro pop outfit Yelle, beginning on April 17th. View the tour dates below. And if you don't have time to sit and listen to the full album over at Myspace, listen to an album sampler below.


Sun 4/17          Phoenix, AZ @ Rhythm Room (w Yelle*)
Mon 4/18         Tucson, AZ @ Club Congress *
Tues 4/19        Albuquerque, NM @ Launchpad *
Thurs 4/21      Dallas, TX @ Granada Theater *
Fri 4/22           Austin, TX @ The Mohawk *
Sat 4/23           Houston, TX @ Fitzgeralds *
Sun 4/24          Mobile, AL @ Alabama Music Box (FHR show)
Mon 4/25         Atlanta, GA @ Masquerade (Hell Stage) *
Tues 4/26        Carrboro, NC @ Cats Cradle *
Weds 4/27      Washington DC @ 9:30 Club *
Fri 4/29            Boston MA @ Royale Nightclub *
Sat 4/30           New York, NY @ The Fillmore New York at Irving *
Mon 5/2           Quebec City, QC @ Le Circle *
Tues 5/3          Montreal, QC @ Le National *
Weds 5/4        Toronto, ON @ Opera House *
Thurs 5/5        Toledo, OH @ Frankie's (FHR Show)
Fri 5/6             Chicago, IL @ The Bottom Lounge *
Sat 5/7             Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue *
Sun 5/8            Madison WI @ Majestic Theatre *
Tues 5/10        Denver CO @ Bluebird Theatre *
Weds 5/11      Salt Lake City, UT @ Urban Lounge *
Fri 5/13          Vancouver, BC @ Commodore Ballroom *
Sat 5/14          Seattle WA @ Neumos *
Sun 5/15         Portland OR @ Wonder Ballroom *
Tues 5/17        Reno, NV @ Tonic Lounge *
Weds 5/18      Santa Cruz, CA @ Rio Theatre *
Thurs 519       San Francisco, CA @The Grand Ballroom @ Regency *
Fri 5/20           San Diego, CA @ Casbah *
Sat 5/21           Los Angeles, CA @ Music Box at The Henry Fonda *

Nicki Minaj To Tour With Britney Spears

It's official: Nicki Minaj will be joining Britney Spears as the opening act for her Femme Fatale tour. According to TMZ, sources involved in the negotiation said the deal was signed a few days ago after Enrique Igleasias dropped out. The tour is set to kick off June 17th in Sacramento, CA.

Minaj is currently on the road with Lil Wayne and Rick Ross as part of the I Am Music II tour.

Afrobeta "Nighttime"

Darlings of the Miami avant-dance scene, duo Afrobeta--made up of Cuci Amador and Tony Smurphio--have been tearing up dance floors since 2006. "Nighttime" the first single from their forthcoming album Under The Sheets, a follow up to last year's Do You Party?, is the kind of sleek electro-pop befitting such a title. Full of loopy bottomless bass and seductive synths, the track is made for dark, sweaty strobe light-filled nights. Listen below:

Nighttime by Afrobeta

Remix Of The Week: Janet Jackson "Rhythm Nation"

Check out this version of Janet's "Rhythm Nation," remixed for the classic album's 20th anniversary back in '09. Watch below.

Album Review: HolyGhost!

Holy Ghost! first peaked the ears of audiophiles with "Do It Again," a first-class slice of sonic wizardry crammed with shimmering synths, a ferocious bassline and beats all topped off by an "oh oh oh's" that could only be described as deliriously psychotic baby laughter.

The duo provide plenty of heading spinning tricks on other tracks. "It's Not Over" and the ironically titled "Slow Motion" practically spill over with stacks of  booming tom tom drums, frenetic keyboards and at one point, an oddly poignant brass solo. "Static On The Wire," features an elastic bass, smooth falsetto vocals, warm chords and fiery guitar solo, provides a sleek, sultry groove ideal for late nights, and the breathy "Say My Name" give offs a cool, laid back vibe.

But the album's focus turns consistently to pop melodies and more traditional song structure. This was a wise choice, as pulling back the production theatrics leaves room to concentrate on the lyrics, which focus on themes of love, betrayal and loss. "Well you promised/To be honest with me/Were you being honest/Tell me honestly," singer Alex Frankel pleads in "Wait and See." Backed by heavy synthesizers and a slowing pumping bass, the track rides a twinkling melody that echoes in the guitars, samples and keyboards and builds into a giant, Phil Specter-esque melodic sound wall.

Dripping with early 80's new wave sheen, clean, angular guitars and all, "Hold My Breath" mines the same paranoid territory, with Frankel repeating "Took some money from the joint account/I know I know I know I'm runnin' out but/I found a woman in a photograph/Good guess, good guess, good guess." The emotional "Jam For Jerry" laments the untimely death of the band's drummer. "It surrounds me/Drowns me in it/If I change it all I would/If only I could," he sings mournfully.

If any track seems to meld Holy Ghost!'s pop ambitions with sheer sonic audacity, it's album closer "Some Children." Somber chorus harmonies weave in and out over a bouncy, grooving bassline, while jittery synths flutter by and rise and fall from the shadows. All while Michael McDonald serves as guest star vocalist....oh yeah, that Michael McDonald. The song manages to be cutting edge, catchy, joyously danceable and beautifully melancholic all at once.

Holy Ghost! is a frighteningly hooky, compulsively listenable debut that dares you not to bust a move.

5/5

Holy Ghost! Live Album Stream

Can't wait to hear Holy Ghost!'s self-titled debut? Well you're in luck, as Hype Machine is streaming the band's album in its entirety. The disc will officially hit the streets on April 21st. The duo are also in the midst of a tour with fellow dance-rockers Cut Copy. View the tour dates below, and listen to the album HERE.

04/07 – Toronto, ON – Sound Academy
04/08 – Chicago, IL – Riviera
04/09 – Minneapolis, MN – First Avenue
04/12 – Seattle, WA – Showbox Sodo
04/13 – Portland, OR - Branx #
04/15 – San Jose, CA – Blank Club #
04/16 – San Francisco, CA – The Grand Ballroom
04/17 – San Francisco, CA – The Grand Ballroom
04/18 – Los Angeles, CA – Echoplex (Check Yo Ponytail) #
04/20 – Dallas, TX – Granada Theater
04/21 – Austin, TX – Stubb’s
04/22 – Austin, TX – Stubb’s
04/23 – New Orleans, LA – Republic
04/29 – Brooklyn, NY – Music Hall of Williamsburg

# = without Cut Copy

New Music: Javelin "Cowpoke"

Crate-digging connoisseurs Javelin have returned with a new track, the appropriately title "Cowpoke," which premiered over at Stereogum. The song is a complete 180 from the duo's usual R&B-influenced dance funk fun, instead drawing on a sound so country that you almost expect a tumbleweed to roll by while listening to it.

Javelin's new album Canyon Candy will be released on April 16th, Record Store Day. The band is also taking the western theme a step further by creating a companion video detailing the saga of a lone survivor of a wagon train massacre. You can contribute to band's project over at Kickstarter. View the pitch video below.


Canyon Candy will also be released as a Playbutton, a new, nonrecordable, nontransferable and  portable music format in the shape of a button pin, preloaded with the album of your choice. Find out more about Playbutton here.

The group will also begin a short tour in May. View the list of dates and listen to/download "Cowpoke" below.

Javelin - Cowpoke by Javelin

05/24 – Washington, D.C. @ DC 9*
05/25 – Baltimore, MD @ Sonar*
05/26 – New York, NY @ Mercury Lounge*
05/30 – Boston, MA @ Brighton Music Hall*
06/01 – Toronto, ON @TBC*
06/02 – Pittsburg, PA @ Shadow Lounge*
06/03 – Cincinnati, OH @ Midpoint Indie Summer Series @ Fountain Square
06/05 – Chicago, IL @ Empty Bottle*
* w/ Big Freedia 

Architecture In Helsinki Rework Cut Copy, Get Remixed By Clock Opera

Architecture in Helsinki remixed and recorded their own version of Cut Copy's "Need You Know," turning the dance floor burner into a psychedelic surf-pop track. And to keep the remix lovefest going, AIH gave their new track "Contact High" over to up-and-coming Brits Clock Opera for a reworking.

"Contact High" is the first single from Architecture in Helsinki's album Moment Bends, set to drop on May 3rd. Fans will get plenty of chances to groove to the new music on the band's summer tour, which kicks off in Los Angeles on June 1st. View the list of tour dates and listen to AIH's version of "Need You Know," their original version of "Contact High" and Clock Opera's remix below.

Contact High by Architecture In Helsinki

Contact High (Clock Opera Remix) by Clock Opera

Need You Now Architecture in Helsinki Version by Architecture in Helsinki

06/01:  Los Angeles, CA @ Henry Fonda Theater
06/02:  San Francisco, CA @ Great American Music Hall
06/03:  San Francisco, CA @ Slims
06/04:  Portland, OR @ Wonder Ballroom
06/05:  Vancouver, BC @ Venur
06/06:  Seattle, WA @ Neumo's
06/09:  Minneapolis, MN @ Varsity Theater
06/10:  Chicago, IL @ Lincoln Hall
06/11:  Toronto, ON @ Mod Club
06/12:  Montreal, QC @ Le Tulipe
06/13:  Boston, MA @ Paradise Rock Club
06/15:  Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
06/16:  New York, NY @ Webster Hall
06/17:  Washington, DC @ Black Cat
06/18:  Philadelphia, PA @ World Cafe Live

Mercury Rev Reissues "Deserter's Songs," Drops Free MP3

Mercury Rev announced they would be reissuing their seminal 1998 album Deserter's Songs on May 16th. The new release comes complete with a 13-track bonus disc made up of B-sides, rare tracks and outtakes. Deserter's Songs marked a turning point in the band's sound, eschewing the harsh noise of their previous music for jazz, folk, 60's rock and Disney's soundtrack to Fantasia to create a lush, orchestral sound.

The album not only earned rave reviews from critics, but served as Mercury Rev's commercial breakthrough in the U.K. and Europe, producing three top 40 hits for "Goddess On A Highway," "Holes" and "Opus 40." View the full tracklisting below, and listen to "Opus 40."

Opus 40 by Mercury Rev

Tracklist:
 
Album:
1. Holes
2. Tonite It Shows
3. Endlessly
4. Collect Coins
5. Opus 40
6.  Hudson Line
7.  The Happy End (The Drunk Room)
8.  Goddess on a Highway
9.  The Funny Bird
10. Pick Up If You're There
11. Delta Sun Bottleneck Stomp
 
Bonus Disc:
1) Piano vs. Telephone (Cassette Tape Player Demo)
2) Holes (Bill Laswell 1998 Remix)
3) Pick Up If You're There (DJ Nickel 1998 Remix)
4) Endlessly (Tascam 8-Track Reel to Reel Demo)
5) A Soft Kiss (for waking up) (Cassette Tape Player Demo)
6) Tonite It Shows (Tascam 8-Track Reel to Reel Demo)
7) Looking Back Now, I Can See (Unreleased Mix)
8) Opus 40 (Early Rough Version)
9) Hudson Line (Early Rough Version)
10) Judging By The Moon (Cassette Tape Player Demo)
11) Goddess On A Hiway (1989 Cassette Tape Player Demo)
12) Night On Panther Mountain (Unreleased Mix)
13) Delta Sun Bottleneck Stomp (Early Rough Version)
 

The Strokes, Friendly Fires, Vaccines Join Radio 1 Big Weekend Lineup

The Strokes, Friendly Fires, The Vaccines and Noah And The Whale have added their names to list of acts performing at BBC Radio 1 Big Weekend in Carlisle. The NYC alt-rockers with headline the In Music We Trust stage on May 15th, while Swedish House Mafia will be the closing act on May 14th.

Panic! At The Disco, The Door Cinema Club, Pulled Apart By Horses and Everything Everything have also been added to the bill. Superstar acts Lady Gaga and Foo Fighters will headline the event, set to take place at Carlisle Airfield. More acts are expected to be added to the bill in the coming weeks. You can find out how to get tickets and other details at Bbc.co.uk/radio1.  See the current lineup over at NME.com.