Pitchfork.tv: Hercules & Love Affair: Live on "Don't Look Down" Part 2
Here's the conclusion to Hercules & Love Affair's "Don't Look Down" performance, where the sun finally sets on the rooftop dance party, but not before a rousing rendition of the epic "Hercules' Theme", a bubbling, brooding disco epic brimming over with lavish horn blasts and sensuous "yeah yeah yeaaah" vocals from Nomi Ruiz. Yesterday we had Part 1.
"Hercules' Theme"
Pitchfork.tv page with embed code is here.
Video: Antony and the Johnsons: "Aeon" (Live on "Late Show With David Letterman") / Various Songs (Live on Minnesota Public Radio's "The Current")
Is the gospel-flavored "Aeon" the best song on Antony and the Johnsons' excellent new album The Crying Light? It's definitely way the hell up there, and it sounded very good on the set of "Late Show With David Letterman" Tuesday night.
Update: Hey, it's a busy time for Antony and the Johnsons. They were guests on today's episode of Minnesota Public Radio's "The Current", where he and the band performed "Her Eyes Are Underneath The Ground", "Epilepsy Is Dancing", and "Another World". There's also an interview with Antony by host Mark Wheat.
Stream:> Antony and the Johnsons: Live on "The Current"
"Aeon" (Live on "Late Show With David Letterman")
[original version from The Crying Light; out now in the U.S. on Secretly Canadian and in the UK and Europe on Rough Trade]
New Music: Vivian Girls: "Lake House" [MP3/Stream]
You might remember Vivian Girls' "Lake House" from last year's KEXP live session, or from any one of their countless shows since. But despite the constant touring (if they're not going for a record, they probably should be), New York's first ladies of lo-fi have taken a minute to put "Lake House" down on wax for the eighth installment of Almost Ready's The World's Lousy With Ideas compilation. Here, VG trade in their stock 1960s girl-group panache for a brief little rockabilly-nodding ditty that's got more in common with Charlie Feathers than the Ronettes. All the familiar Vivian tropes are present (that's a good thing), resulting in a clamorous saloon anthem that's as menacing as it is sun-dappled.
MP3:> Vivian Girls: "Lake House"
[from The World's Lousy With Ideas Vol. 8; forthcoming from Almost Ready]
Premiere: Amadou & Mariam: "Tambara" [Stream]
"Moi je vais chez toi, mais toi tu viens pas chez moi. Viens chez moi, je vais chez toi, on sera tous ensembles" sings Amadou in Amadou & Mariam's "Tambara", an unreleased song recorded during the Welcome to Mali sessions that finds the couple connecting with artists far beyond the reaches of their home country. Mehdi Habad's oud adds a little something, as do the vocals of Smriti Minocha, a singer who is no stranger to music that fuses various sounds together-- she lent her soft yet strong tones to Salif Keita on his last album, M'Bemba. The lyric, in English, can be translated as "I go to your place, but you don't come to mine. Come to me; I'll go to you; we'll all be together." Indeed. Not only does this describe the song itself, but perhaps a bit of Amadou & Mariam's musical philosophy. Sure, it's not likely that many folks will be able to take a trip to Mali. But listening to a tune like this, which brings together all sorts of influences, feels like paying a visit and getting everyone together-- a great idea that can produce some great music.
[Welcome to Mali is out now on Because]
Pitchfork.tv: Fol Chen: "Cable TV" [Video Premiere]
Rather fittingly, the video for Fol Chen's "Cable TV" takes place on the grounds of a roadside motel whose rooms feature some of the humble amenities-- A/C, free ice, uh... cable TV-- mentioned in the song. It may be a little on the nose, but the colorful tourist stop provides an appropriately cinematic backdrop for the Laker Girls to bust some Britney Spears moves in the empty pool, and some econo romanticism. Chris Wilcha directs.
Pitchfork.tv page with embed code is here.
[from Part One: John Shade, Your Fortune's Made; out now on Asthmatic Kitty]
Premiere: Ladytron: "Tomorrow (Great Northern Remix)" [MP3/Stream]
Liverpudlians Ladytron and Los Angelenos Great Northern have played at least a few shows together over the years, and now the radio-ready SoCal power-poppers have remixed latest Ladytron single "Tomorrow". In an age of increasingly superfluous cross-branding remixes, this cut from the forthcoming Tomorrow remixes EP may not break any new ground, but at least it has a raison d'être. Great Northern, a guitar outfit, retrofit Ladytron's electronic-oriented track from last year's Velocifero with crashing guitars, additional backing vocals, and some plangent piano toward the end. Simple concept, polished execution: from Ladytron to Ladyrock.
MP3:> Ladytron: "Tomorrow (Great Northern Remix)"
[from the Tomorrow EP and original version from Velocifero; due 03/03/09 and out now, respectively, both on Nettwerk]
New Music: Buraka Som Sistema: "Kalemba (Wegue Wegue) (Hot Chip Remix)" [MP3]
If kuduro, the housey Angolan dance variant, wasn't infectious enough on it's own or when electrified further by Portugal's Buraka Som Sistema (for evidence check killer single "Yah!"), leave it to Hot Chip to toss a little more fun into the mix. "Kalemba (Wegue Wegue)" is perhaps what some are calling ghettotech these days, but the remix brings a little bit of UK rave to the party. The original from Black Diamond is an upbeat affair that's difficult not to dance to. Hot Chip's quality remix, however, brings big warm bass half way through. A fantastic addition to the tune that not only ups the danceability factor, but it's sure to put a smile on the face of anyone who gets to hear this one nice and loud.
MP3:> Buraka Som Sistema:"Kalemba (Wegue Wegue) (Hot Chip Remix)"
[original version from Black Diamond; out now on Enchufada/Sony BMG]
Pitchfork.tv: Hercules & Love Affair: Live on "Don't Look Down" Part 1
If you weren't able to catch Hercules & Love Affair on their all-too-brief tour last year, here's a chance to see what you were missing. Brooklyn disco revivalist Andy Butler brought his eight-person band to a New York rooftop for the latest episode of "Don't Look Down". In part one, they stretch out the elastic grooves of 2008's brilliant self-titled debut, transitioning flawlessly between standout tracks "You Belong", "True/False, Fake/Real", and "Athene", as the sun sets behind the Manhattan skyline. Stay tuned tomorrow for part two.
"You Belong"
Pitchfork.tv page with embed code is here.
"True/False, Fake/Real"
Pitchfork.tv page with embed code is here.
"Athene"
Pitchfork.tv page with embed code is here.
Video: Bruce Springteen: "The Wrestler"
The Bruce Springsteen song featured in the Darren Aronofsky film The Wrestler, which shocked fans when it failed to earn an Oscar nomination, now has an official video. We see Bruce looking grim and buff as he paces around an empty ring and sings into the camera, intercut with footage from the film. Now, I haven't seen The Wrestler yet, so I can't comment on how it was used in the movie, but I'm not quite feeling this song the way everyone else seems to. Latter-day slow acoustic Bruce is a harder sell for me, and I could name a half-dozen songs from Working on a Dream I'd rather listen to, even if the self-doubting lyrics are pretty powerful. (via Stereogum)
[from Working on a Dream; out now on Columbia]
New Music: Two Fingers (Amon Tobin and Double Click) [ft. Sway]: "What You Know" [Stream]
Amon Tobin lived in Montreal for a while, and during his stay he played rhythm pen-pal with Brighton-based Joe "Doubleclick" Chapman. Together they've christened themselves Two Fingers, and this recent (and unlikely) combination with UK MC Sway is the first piece of evidence that the upcoming LP (which, in an also unlikely turn, matches the production duo with dancehall bad gyal Ce'cile and hip hop hustler Ms. Jade) will be both a little odd and potentially good. When listening to this track, it's hard not to think that Tobin was inspired by the weather of a French Canadian city that can change from icy winter to sweltering summer within a week-- its all about extremes. The tune has a crunchy, lonely, cold industrial sound paired with what might be the opposite-- honest, earnest, thoughtful lyrics. And then mixed on top of it all is a bit of English dreariness.
(from the "What You Know" single; out now; also from Two Fingers; due 04/14/09; both on Paper Bag)
Forkcast Playlist
Other Recent Downloads
Thu: 02-19-09
- Pitchfork.tv: Hercules & Love Affair: Live on "Don't Look Down" Part 2
- Video: Antony and the Johnsons: "Aeon" (Live on "Late Show With David Letterman") / Various Songs (Live on Minnesota Public Radio's "The Current")
- New Music: Vivian Girls: "Lake House" [MP3/Stream]
- Premiere: Amadou & Mariam: "Tambara" [Stream]
- Pitchfork.tv: Fol Chen: "Cable TV" [Video Premiere]
- Premiere: Ladytron: "Tomorrow (Great Northern Remix)" [MP3/Stream]
- New Music: Buraka Som Sistema: "Kalemba (Wegue Wegue) (Hot Chip Remix)" [MP3]
Wed: 02-18-09
- Pitchfork.tv: Hercules & Love Affair: Live on "Don't Look Down" Part 1
- Video: Bruce Springteen: "The Wrestler"
- New Music: Two Fingers (Amon Tobin and Double Click) [ft. Sway]: "What You Know" [Stream]
- New Music: Friendly Fires: "Skeleton Boy (Air France Remix)" [MP3]
- Pitchfork.tv: Ra Ra Riot: "Can You Tell" [Video]
- New Music: Anamanaguchi: "Dawn Metropolis" [MP3/Stream]
- Premiere: Swan Lake: "A Hand at Dusk" [MP3/Stream]
Tue: 02-17-09
- Pitchfork.tv: Max Tundra: "Will Get Fooled Again" (Live on "A>D>D")
- Video: Kanye West: "Welcome to Heartbreak"
- New Old Music: Nat King Cole: "Nature Boy (TV on the Radio Remix)" [Stream]
- New Music: Deradoorian (of Dirty Projectors): "High Road" [MP3/Stream]
- Pitchfork.tv: J. Tillman [ft. members of Fleet Foxes]: "Firstborn" [Video Premiere]
- New Music: Yeah Yeah Yeahs: "Zero" [Stream]
- New Music: El Perro del Mar: "Change of Heart" [Stream]
- New Music: The Decemberists: "The Hazards of Love 1" [Stream]
- Video: Peter Bjorn and John: "Just the Past" (new song; live in Stockholm)
- Video: Fever Ray: "When I Grow Up"
Fri: 02-13-09
- Pitchfork.tv: Andre Williams: One Week Only: Agile Mobile Hostile: A Year With Andre Williams
- Pitchfork.tv: The Presets: "If I Know You" [Video Premiere]
- New Music: Johan Agebjörn: "Longing for Romantic Summer Nights" [Valentine's Day Mix] [MP3]
- Pitchfork.tv: Tahiti Boy and the Palmtree Family: "1973" [Video]
- Pitchfork.tv: Titus Andronicus: "Absolute Zero" [Video]
- New Music: Papercuts: "Future Primitive" [MP3/Stream]
- On Repeat: Cymbals Eat Guitars: "Wind Phoenix" [MP3/Stream]
- Pitchfork.tv: Here We Go Magic: "Tunnelvision" [Video Premiere]
- New Music: Morrissey [ft. Chrissie Hynde]: "Shame Is the Name" [Stream]
- New Music: Extra Golden: "Anyango" [MP3/Stream]
Thu: 02-12-09
- Pitchfork.tv: Marnie Stern: "Daytripping" Part 2
- Video: Jenny Lewis & Elvis Costello [ft. Zooey Deschanel]: "Carpetbaggers" / "Go Away" (Live on Sundance's "Spectacle")
- Video: Simian Mobile Disco: "Synthesise"
- Video: The Wrens: "Marked Up"
- New Music: Strange Boys: "Heard You Wanna Beat Me Up" [MP3/Stream]
- Pitchfork.tv: Dent May and His Magnificent Ukulele: "Meet Me in the Garden" [Video Premiere]
- New Music: Gui Boratto: "Take My Breath Away" [MP3/Stream]
- Pitchfork.tv: Doves: "Kingdom of Rust" [Video Premiere]
- New Music: Wale [ft. Young Chris and Tre]: "Nightlife" [Stream]
- New Music: Lunice [ft. Al Ripken Jr.]: "Jane's Addiction" [Stream]
Wed: 02-11-09
- Pitchfork.tv: Marnie Stern: "Daytripping" Part 1
- Pitchfork.tv: Casiokids: "Fot i hose" [Video]
- New Music: Black Ladies: "The Real Jurassic Park" [MP3/Stream]
- New Music: A.C. Newman: "Take On Me" (A-Ha cover) [Stream]
- Pitchfork.tv: Jeremy Jay: "Lite Beam" [Video Premiere]
- New Music: Charles Hamilton: "Scorpion" [MP3]
- New Music: Tahiti Boy and the Palmtree Family [ft. Tunde Adebimpe]: "That Song" [MP3]
- New Music: I Was a King [ft. Sufjan Stevens]: "It's All You" [MP3]
Tue: 02-10-09
- Pitchfork.tv: Times New Viking: Live on "A>D>D" Part 2
- Video: Bat for Lashes: "Moon and Moon" (Live on BBC2's "The Culture Show")
- Premiere: Cage [prod. by El-P]: "Nothing Left to Say" [MP3/Stream]
- Pitchfork.tv: Chairlift: "Evident Utensil" [Video Premiere]
- Premiere: The Thermals: "Now We Can See" [MP3/Stream]
- Video: TV on the Radio: "Dancing Choose" (Live on "The Colbert Report")
- Pitchfork.tv: School of Seven Bells: "Half Asleep" [Video Premiere]
- New Music: Wavves: Various Songs (Live in Brooklyn at the Market Hotel) [MP3s]
- On Repeat: TVO (aka the Village Orchestra): "Dwyer" [Stream]
Mon: 02-09-09
- Pitchfork.tv: Times New Viking: Live on "A>D>D" - Part 1
- Video: Ladytron: "Tomorrow"
- New Music: tUnE-yArDs: "Sunlight" [MP3/Stream]
- Premiere: The Tough Alliance: "A New Chance (Tanlines Remix)" [MP3]
- New Music: The Boy Least Likely To: "Every Goliath Has Its David" [Stream]
- New Music: The Lonely Island: "I'm On a Boat" [ft. T-Pain; Video] / "Boombox" [ft. Julian Casablancas; Stream]
- New Music: Camera Obscura: "My Maudlin Career" [MP3/Stream]
- Video: Beirut: "A Sunday Smile" (Live on "Late Show With David Letterman")
- Pitchfork.tv: Marissa Nadler: "River of Dirt" [Video Premiere]
- Video: Radiohead / M.I.A., Kanye West, Lil Wayne, Jay-Z, and T.I. / U2 / Estelle and Kanye West / Coldplay [ft. Jay-Z]: Various Songs (Live at the Grammys)
Sun: 02-08-09
Fri: 02-06-09
- Pitchfork.tv: One Week Only: Kick That Habit
- Pitchfork.tv: Via Tania: "Wonder Stranger" [Video Premiere]
- Premiere: Fucked Up: "Year of the Rat" [Stream]
- New Music: Big Boi: "Ringtone" [MP3]
- Pitchfork.tv: It Hugs Back: "Now & Again" [Video Premiere]
- Video: Eddie Vedder: "Where the Streets Have No Name" (U2 Karaoke)
- Premiere: Prefuse 73: "Preparations Kids Choir" [Stream]
- Video: Morrissey: "Something Is Squeezing My Skull" (Live on "Jimmy Kimmel Live")
- Video: Peter Bjorn and John: "Nothing to Worry About"
- Video: Lil Wayne: Top 10 List on "Late Show With David Letterman"
- New Music: Dum Dum Girls: "Catholicked" [MP3/Stream]
Thu: 02-05-09
- Pitchfork.tv: El Guincho: Various Songs on "Pitchfork Live" - Part 2
- New Music: Holly Miranda [ft. Kyp Malone; prod. by David Sitek]: "Slow Burn Treason" [Stream]
- Pitchfork.tv: The Homosexuals: "3am (Pink Pony)" [Video Premiere]
- Video: Lil Wayne: Katie Couric interview
- New Music: Bat for Lashes: "Glass" [Stream]
- Pitchfork.tv: Fleet Foxes: "Mykonos" [Video Premiere]
Wed: 02-04-09
- Pitchfork.tv: El Guincho: Various Songs on "Pitchfork Live" - Part 1
- New Music: Gospel Gossip: "Nashville" [MP3/Stream]
- New Music: The Lonely Island [ft. T-Pain]: "I'm On a Boat" [Stream]
- New Audio: Rivers Cuomo: “By The Side of the Road" (poem for Daytrotter's Bookery) [Stream]
- Pitchfork.tv: Cut Off Your Hands: "Turn Cold" [Video Premiere]
- New Music: Speech Debelle: "The Key" [MP3/Stream]
- Premiere: Booker T. With Drive-By Truckers and Neil Young: "Warped Sister" [Stream]
Tue: 02-03-09
- Pitchfork.tv: Ponytail: Live on "A>D>D" Part 2
- Video: Wavves: "So Bored" (live in studio in San Francisco)
- New Music: White Antelope (Robin Pecknold of Fleet Foxes): "False Knight on the Road" [Stream]
- Video: Cam'ron: "I Hate My Job"
- Pitchfork.tv: Jean on Jean: "Tonight" [Video Premiere]
- Premiere: Black Dice: "Glazin" [MP3/Stream]
- Pitchfork.tv: A Place to Bury Strangers: "My Weakness" [Video]
- New Music: Bruce Peninsula: "Crabapples" [MP3/Stream]
- New Music: Raekwon [ft. Ghostface Killah and Method Man]: "Back From the Slums" [MP3/Stream]
- New Music: The Mae Shi [ft. Christian Bale]: "R U Professional" [Stream]
- Pitchfork.tv: The Walkmen: "Four Provinces" [Video Premiere]
- New Music: Lil Wayne: Yeahhh [Stream]
Mon: 02-02-09
- Pitchfork.tv: Ponytail: Live on "A>D>D" Part 1
- Video: Silver Jews: "Introduction / We Are Real" / "Smith and Jones Forever" (Live at Cumberland Caverns; final show)
- Pitchfork.tv: Filastine: "Desordenador" [Video Premiere]
- New Music: My Morning Jacket: "El Caporal" [Stream]
- New Music: Devendra Banhart: "Forget About Him" (Kath Bloom cover) [MP3/Stream]
- New Music: Smashing Pumpkins: "FOL" [MP3]
- Video: Lily Allen: "The Fear" (Live on "Friday Night With Jonathan Ross")
- New Music: Lotus Plaza: "Whiteout" [MP3/Stream]
- Pitchfork.tv: Air France: "No Excuses" [Video Premiere]
- Video: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band: Various Songs (Live at the Super Bowl)
Sun: 02-01-09
Fri: 01-30-09
- Pitchfork.tv: One Week Only: Desperate Man Blues
- Pitchfork.tv: Deerhoof: Live From Juan's Basement Part 3
- WTF: Bob Dylan and Will.I.Am: "Forever Young" (Pepsi ad)
- New Music: Q-Tip [ft. Busta Rhymes, Raekwon, and Lil Wayne]: "Renaissance Rap Remix" [MP3/Stream]
- New Music: Junior Boys: "Parallel Lines" [Stream]
- Pitchfork.tv: Tombs: "Gossamer" [Video Premiere]
- New Music: No Age: "Padded Chair" [Stream]
- Video: Andrew Bird: "Fitz and the Dizzyspells" (Live on "Late Show With David Letterman")
Thu: 01-29-09
Wed: 01-28-09
Tue: 01-27-09
Mon: 01-26-09
- Pitchfork.tv: Fucked Up: Live on "A>D>D"
- Pitchfork.tv: Asobi Seksu: "Me & Mary" [Video Premiere]
- Premiere: TV on the Radio: "Heroes" (David Bowie cover) [Stream]
- New Music: The Wrens: New Song [MP3]
- New Music: Santogold [ft. Drake & Lil Wayne; prod. Diplo] / Lil Wayne: "Unstoppable (Remix)" / "Prom Queen" [MP3s]
- New Music: The Decemberists: "Sleepless" [Stream]
- Pitchfork.tv: The Cool Kids: "Pennies" [Video Premiere]
- New Music: Sébastien Tellier: "Kilometer (A-Trak Remix)" [Stream]
Fri: 01-23-09
- Pitchfork.tv: Kraftwerk: One Week Only: Minimum-Maximum
- New Music: Of Montreal: "First Time High" (Remix of An "Eluardian Instance" by Jon Brion) [MP3]
- Pitchfork.tv: Morgan Geist [ft. Jeremy Greenspan of Junior Boys]: "Ruthless City" [Video]
- New Music: Marissa Nadler: "River of Dirt" [MP3]
- Video: The Walkmen: "On the Water" (Live in New York for La Blogothèque's "In a Van Sessions")
- New Music: Bon Iver: "Creature Fear" / "The Park" (Feist cover) / Interview (live on Australia's Triple J) [Stream]
- New Music: Rich Boy [ft. Kardinal Offishall]: "Drop (Remix)" [MP3]
- Video: The BPA [ft. Iggy Pop]: "He's Frank (Slight Return)"
- Video: The Arcade Fire: "Born in the U.S.A." (Bruce Springsteen cover) / "Intervention" (live at the Obama Staff Ball in Washington, D.C.)
Thu: 01-22-09
- New Music: Animal Collective: Mix [MP3]
- Pitchfork.tv: CFCF: "Crystal Mines" [Video Premiere]
- WTF: Pistol Youth: "In My Eyes" [Video]
- Pitchfork.tv: Skeletons: "Stepper aka Work" [Video Premiere]
- Pitchfork.tv: Loney Dear: "Airport Surroundings" [Video Premiere]
- New Music: The National: "Far Around the Bend" [Stream]
Wed: 01-21-09
- Pitchfork.tv: Jesse "The Devil" Hughes of Eagles of Death Metal: Interview
- New Music: Hot Chip: "Transmission" (Joy Division cover) [Stream]
- Pitchfork.tv: Animal Collective : "My Girls" [Official Video]
- New Music: Circle of Buzzards (Jason Loewenstein and Fiery Furnaces drummer Bob D'Amico): "Realizing Emptiness" [Stream]
- Videos: Beyoncé / Kanye West: Various Songs (Live in Washington, D.C.)
- Pitchfork.tv: Psychic Ills: "Mantis" [Video Premiere]
- New Music: I.U.D.: "Daddy" [MP3]
Tue: 01-20-09
- Pitchfork.tv: Marnie Stern: Live at Cake Shop
- Video: Coldplay: "Life in Technicolor II"
- Video: Young Jeezy and Jay-Z: "My President Is Black (Remix)" (Live in Washington, D.C.)
- New Music: Lily Allen: "Straight to Hell" (The Clash cover) [Stream]
- Pitchfork.tv: Antony and the Johnsons: "Epilepsy Is Dancing" [Video Premiere]
- Video: Daft Punk vs. Adam Freeland: "Aer Obama" [Updated with MP3]
- Video: Deerhoof: "Buck and Judy" (Live in Washington, D.C.)
- New Music: Julie Doiron: "Consolation Prize" [MP3]