LAWRENCE ARABIA of BELLA UNION – Chant Darling will be released in early 2010!

Lawrence Arabia is the pseudonym of James Milne, born 1981 in Christchurch, New Zealand. James has already established a rich musical resume as a former member of The Brunettes, The Ruby Suns and one time touring member of Okkervil River. “Chant Darling”, his UK and Bella Union debut, is a modern pop masterpiece melding dryly witty lyricism with West Coast pop melodies and lush harmonies… Like a mutant hybrid of Jonathan Richman, The Beatles and Beach Boys…

“Chant Darling” is in large part hewn from James’ gradual relocation to London. Recorded over 18 months in a studio in Stockholm, three flats in London, a garden shed in Port Chalmers, a car club in Wellington and a studio in Auckland, these ten songs provide a wonderful example of classic song-writing combining sugar hits of harmony, sweet melody and lavish orchestration that will set you reeling as the witty and sometimes forlorn tales of indolence, longing and romantic misadventure hit home.

For more information on Lawrence  Arabia check out his myspace here.

COLD WAR KIDS announce “BEHAVE YOURSELF” EP, out 19th January on Downtown Records / Cooperative Music.

Cold War Kids are set to release a five song EP – “Behave Yourself” – on 19th January on Downtown / Cooperative Music and available for purchase at itunes, Amazon, and your favourite record store.

“These songs were recorded some time between ‘loyalty’ sessions and now. They didn’t belong there, but they kept hanging around, starting trouble; made friends, and insisted that their story be heard,” said Nathan Willett, CWK singer/frontman.

COLD WAR KIDS will begin recording their third album early next year for a summer release… more info to follow soon.

For More information on the Cold War Kids visit their website here or their myspace here.

The Kissaway Trail Return in 2010 With Their New Album Sleep Mountain on Bella Union Records.

With the clanging of church bells leading the charge into the panoramic sensation of their new album, “Sleep Mountain”,  The Kissaway Trail return with a renewed sense of purpose. “Sleep Mountain” isn’t so much a reinvention for the Danish quintet but a fabulous progression in the wake of its predecessor, 2007’s already grandstanding self-titled debut, a record that The Independent called “the debut album of the year”

With Peter Katis (Interpol, The National, The Twilight Sad) producing, “Sleep Mountain” reveals how The Kissaway Trail have grown. Combining the urgency and dynamics of bands as diverse as Sonic Youth and The Flaming Lips with the sensitivity of “Another Green World”-period Eno, and melodies that have the stamp of bona fide singer-songwriters, “Sleep Mountain” is a contemporary, timeless, vulnerable rock classic.

“Sleep Mountain” is released on Bella Union records in March 2010.

For more information on The Kissaway Trail check out their myspace here.

FEEDBACK Festival – Set Times and Running Order

Below are the set times and running order for tomorrow’s FEEDBACK Festival in Whelan’s Main Room and Upstairs tomorrow.
All times are still subject to change and admission to FEEDBACK terminates at 10.30pm – to avail of the late show you still need to pay in to one of the room’s before 10.30pm to receive an armband.
To avoid disappointment please arrive to the room/band of your choice in plenty of time, as rooms will be full at various points throughout the night.

Whelan’s Main Room
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Cap Pas Cap : 10 – 10.30pm
202s : 9.15 – 9.45pm
The Dead Flags : 8.30 – 9pm
Doors : 8pm

Whelan’s Upstairs Early
——————————

Valerie Francis : 10.30 – 11pm

The Holy Roman Army : 9.45 – 10.15pm

The Sick & Indigent Song Club : 9 – 9.30pm
Doors : 8.30pm

Whelan’s Upstairs Late
—————————————————————-
SoundCheck DJs : 12.45 – 2.30am
David Turpin : 12.15 – 12.45am
Patrick Kelleher & His Cold Dead Hands : 11.30 – 12am

BLAKROC = The Black Keys + Mos Def, RZA, Q-Tip, Raekwon, ODB, Pharoahe Monch, Ludacris, Jim Jones, Nicole Wray, NOE, Billy Danze (M.O.P), Released November 27th on V2/Cooperative Music.

BLAKROC is the thrilling new collaborative project from The Black Keys and a star-studded line-up of influential hip-hop artists that includes Mos Def, Q-Tip, RZA, Raekwon, Ol’ Dirty Bastard, Pharoahe Monch, Ludacris, Jim Jones, Nicole Wray, NOE and Billy Danze (M.O.P). BLAKROC will be released on 27th of November Ireland on V2/Cooperative Music, the same day as its US release  (to be dubbed “Blak Friday” by the independent record stores that will sell the album). Of the album, The Black Keys’ Dan Auerbach said “no samples were used on the record, it’s all live instruments and live vocals.”

Sessions began in early summer in Brooklyn with Mos Def’s songs among the first put to tape… Over the following weeks the ten other artists joined the party to play their part in what is unquestionably one of the most forward-thinking and exciting hip hop records of recent years…

“It was fun and refreshing to work with The Black Keys on the project… We all had one common denominator – The Love of Music” (RZA)

“Experimenting with different sounds and genres of music has always been important to me. While collaborating in the studio with The Black Keys and Damon Dash may seem like an unusual fit, it felt natural. We were able to bring our own unique strengths and experiences together, that signifies the true artistry of music. I think this is something that all fans of music will appreciate.” (Q-Tip)

“What it meant to me was something I always knew; great rock music and great hip-hop music fused together can create undeniable greatness.” (Pharaohe Monch)

For more informations on Blakroc visit their continually updated website here or their myspace here.

 

 

FEEDBACK Festival 2009 – Curated by Lakota Media in association with Whelan’s, in aid of Peter McVerry Trust.

Lakota Media and Whelan’s are delighted to announce the lineup for our first FEEDBACK Festival, taking place on Saturday, December 5th in Whelan’s Main Venue and Whelan’s Upstairs. FEEDBACK 2009 will shine a light on some of the Irish acts that have broken through this year with fantastic album releases. The festival will also feature some Irish bands that are due to release their debut albums in 2010, but have already been causing quite a stir. Finishing off the party, and providing plenty of entertainment between bands, we are delighted to welcome a selection of the finest resident DJs from SoundCheck – Ireland’s best weekly club night.

FEEDBACK will take over Whelan’s Main Room and their Upstairs venue for the night, showcasing the work of 8 critically acclaimed Irish acts this year. Not only is the entry fee just €10.00 to the whole event – running from 8pm to very late! – but all proceeds from the night will go to Peter McVerry Trust – a Dublin-based charity that provides services and support for young homeless people.

Main Room -
Cap Pas Cap
202s
The Dead Flags

Upstairs -
Valerie Francis
The Holy Roman Army
The Sick & Indigent Song Club

Upstairs Late -
SoundCheck DJs
David Turpin
Patrick Kelleher & His Cold Dead Hands

2 Door Cinema Club New Video and Dublin Live Date!

Here is the great video for new single from Two Door Cinema Club I Can Talk, the Guys have just confirmed a live date on Thursday December 17th in Crawdaddy!

For more info on Two Door Cinema Club head to their myspace here.

Laura Veirs Announces details of her new album July Flame – released January 8th 2010 through Bella Union Records!

“July Flame” explores the emotion of mid-summer. Drenched in wood smoke, sunlight, pastoral dales, fireworks and warm nights, the lyrics explore the dichotomy between one’s desire for permanence and security and the realisation that such things rarely exist.

“July Flame” is a magical and flawless collection of songs, highlighting Veirs’ masterful finger picking guitar and confident vocals. “Laura’s like the queen bee and my ear is her hive; she nests and makes honey in the hairs of my cochlea,” says Jim James of My Morning Jacket (who sings on several tracks).

The album breaks from Veirs’ previous full-band efforts, although many of the same players make appearances on the album, including long-time collaborators Karl Blau and Steve Moore. String arrangements are featured more on this album than on others; the brilliant improviser Eyvind Kang plays viola on many songs and legendary arranger Stephen Barber composed hauntingly beautiful string quartet arrangements for three songs.

July Flame is the sixth album that Laura and producer TUCKER MARTINE have made together. Recorded and mixed at their home, the song-writing, arrangements, production and performances create a fully realized piece of art that inspires reflection and calm in a world that spins unsteady.

July Flame is released on January 8th 2010 through Bella Union Records!

For more information on Laura Viers visit her website or her  myspace.

 

Two Door Cinema Club new single I Can Talk released 23rd of November and New Album early 2010!

Two Door Cinema Club are a music-mad trio who’s rhythmic alt-pop draws on electronica, rock and Afro-beats and fizzes with invention and sparkling tunes… Their limited edition debut single – “Something Good Can Work” – released earlier this year, was bursting with hooks and a bona fide pop melody that bounces, swings AND rocks, sounding jittery, dreamy and urgent. Snapped up by KITSUNÉ following their performance at Glastonbury, TWO DOOR CINEMA CLUB are a band on the rise…

TWO DOOR CINEMA CLUB release their first single for Kitsuné – “I Can Talk” – on 23rd November… Another deliriously catchy gem, the single will be released in both 7” and 12” formats and comes backed by a number of remixes by the likes of Crystal Fighters, Golden Bug and French Horn Rebellion. Their new album title and release tbc will follow the single release!

For more information on Two Door Cinema Club check out their Myspace here.

Romance is Boring the new album from Los Campesinos! Released on Febuary 1st 2010 through Wichita Recordings.

Los Campesinos! are proud to announce the title and track listing of their forthcoming album.  ‘Romance Is Boring’ will be released 1st February 2010. through Wichita Recordings. The single ‘There Are Listed Buildings’ which is currently available exclusively on the band’s UK tour dates, will precede it, on the 2nd November 2009.

The track listing is as follows:

In Medias Res
There Are Listed Buildings
Romance Is Boring
We’ve Got Your Back (Documented Minor Emotional Breakdown #2)
Plan A
200 – 102
Straight In At 101
Who Fell Asleep In
I Warned You: Do Not Make An Enemy Of Me
Heart Swells/100-1
I Just Sighed. I Just Sighed, Just So You Know
A Heat Rash In The Shape Of The Show Me State; or, Letters From Me To Charlotte
The Sea Is A Good Place To Think Of The Future
This Is A Flag. There Is No Wind
Coda: A Burn Scar In The Shape Of The Sooner State

“Romance is Boring” was recorded and mixed between March and June of 2009 in Seattle, Connecticut and Monmouthshire with producer John Goodmanson. It features guest appearances from Jamie Stewart, Zac Pennington and Jherek Bischoff.

The album also reveals the bands first experiments with brass and far wider instrumentation than they have employed before and according to the band is a record “about the death and decay of the human body, lost love, mental breakdown, and football.”

Romance is boring will be released on Febary 1st 2010 on Wichita recordings.

For more information on Los Campesinos! check out their website here or their myspace here.