Episode051 - Holy Ghost

Episode051 - Holy Ghost
"♫Makin' a soundtrack for another planet to hear♫" on @PumpUpThaVolume! Episode051 - Holy Ghost was recorded at the home studios of MediaMonarchy.com and features brand new #SongOfTheDay sounds from Wooden Wand, Low, Ducktails, Devendra Banhart, Widowspeak, Patha Du Prince, Dead Leaf Echo, Foxygen, Mop Mop, Other Lives, Strange Relations, Black Angels and Cave Singers... because it can't be news and politics all the time!

Episode051: MP3/Feed\Archive



Previous: Episode050 - Dark Horse

****************************************
♬Liner Notes♬: From 'Dark Horse' to 'Holy Ghost'! This week we get return appearances from Low, Foxygen and The Cave Singers - plus new sounds from Ducktails, Devendra Banhart, Black Angels and much more! It's a well-paced mix and it's time to Pump Up Tha Volume!

Wooden Wand
"Supermoon (The Sounding Line)"
'Blood Oaths Of The New Blues'
Fire, 2013
Note: Stereogum says Stereogum contributor James Jackson Toth aka Wooden Wand's song "is an aching alt-country ballad with a quietly crushing lyric — Toth’s voice has never sounded better or more haunting".
(More Info)

Low
"Holy Ghost/Plastic Cup"
'The Invisible Way'
Sub Pop, 2013
Note: Last heard on Episode042, the mighty trio from Duluth has TWO new tracks from their Jeff Tweedy-produced 10th studio album for us. The London Guardian says, "As ever, it's the gorgeous harmonies of husband and wife Alan Sparhawk and Mimi Parker that make these sparsely decorated songs take flight." Did I ever tell you I saw Britt Daniel from Spoon at a Low show at the Doug Fir Lounge here in Portland?
(More Info)

Ducktails
"Letter of Intent"
'The Flower Lane'
Domino, 2013
Note: Again, Stereogum says, "Real Estate guitarist Matt Mondanile also records as Ducktails... the official first single is “Letter Of Intent,” a slow-melting synthpop tune that I’d have to call out-and-out catchy."
(More Info)

Devendra Banhart
"Mi Negrita"
'Mala'
Nonesuch, 2013
Note: Pitchfork says, "Devendra Banhart will release his next album, Mala, on March 12 via his new label home, Nonesuch... According to the label's website, the Spanish-language track was inspired by Banhart "envisioning himself 'in an oversized suit, slightly sweaty' on the set of the Venezuelan variety show 'Súper Sábado Sensacional', a program he'd watch as a child growing up in Caracas in the 80s.""
(More Info)

Widowspeak
"The Dark Age"
'Almanac'
Captured Tracks, 2013
Note: Song source KEXP says, "A memorable guitar riff is one of the strongest weapons in a rock band’s arsenal... It’s a lesson Widowspeak appear to have taken to heart with the iconic guitar riff introducing “The Dark Age.”... On 2013’s Almanac, Widowspeak continue exploring their dreamy, atmospheric indie pop".
(More Info)

Patha Du Prince
"Photon" (w/ Bell Laboratory)
'Elements of Light'
Rough Trade, 2013
Note: "Pantha du Prince is teaming up with the Scandinavian Bell Laboratory for a new album, 'Elements of Light', releasing on 15 January 2013. Here's one of the five new tracks that are composed around the carillon, a massive Chinese instrument."
(More Info)

Dead Leaf Echo
"Act Of Truth"
Dead Leaf Echo / Slowness Split 7 Inch
Greenfuse, 2013
Note: Song source KEXP calls the song "a great introduction to Dead Leaf Echo. Right off the bat, you get a sleepy, reverberated guitar singing you off into wonderland"
(More Info)

Foxygen
"No Destruction"
'We Are The 21st Century Ambassadors of Peace and Magic'
Jagjaguwar, 2013
Note: We heard "Shuggie" on Episode044 and now Pretty Much Amazing says, "It’s hard to dislike their sixties, hippy vibe, which they pull off without any kitschiness or artificiality." But y'know, after hearing this second song from Foxygen, I can't help feeling like their name would be better suited for an all-female funk band...
(More Info)

Mop Mop
"Kamakumba"
'Isle of Magic'
Redeye, 2013
Note: Song source KCRW says, "mix of voodoo jazz has already earned them a coveted spot in Woody Allen's film To Rome with Love, but their use of cool vibes and warm marimba is what has captured our hearts."
(More Info)

Other Lives
"Take Us Alive"
'Mind The Gap' EP
TBD, 2012
Note: Song source KEXP says this track from the ex-Oklahoma band was "constructed with a brooding tension, buoyed by its electronic elements and insistent violin loop. When Tabish sings “they’ll never take us alive” in the chorus, it comes off not as rebellious, but desperate"
(More Info)

Strange Relations
"Endurance"
'Ghost World/Endurance'
self-released, 2013
Note: The Writing In Reverse blog says, "Minneapolis trio Strange Relations have returned with yet another brilliant, stormy single. Despite the fact that they have yet to release their first EP, members Casey Sowa, Marisa Helgeson, and Andrew Shaw have wasted no time in captivating the Minneapolis scene with their stunning live presence."
(More Info)

Black Angels
"Indigo Meadow"
'Indigo Meadow'
Blue Horizon, 2013
Note: The hyperbolic press release says this title track is from the band's "most revelatory collection thus far, Indigo Meadow marks the Austin, Texas-based band’s fourth full-length release, following 2010’s acclaimed Phosphene Dream. Once again The Black Angels prove themselves the undisputed avatars of contemporary psychedelic rock."
(More Info)

Cave Singers
"Have To Pretend"
'Naomi'
Jagjaguwar, 2013
Note: And finally we close with a Pacific Northwest band as usual and for the second week in a row we get a track from the Seattle quartet's fourth record. Song source KEXP says this "lead single off of Naomi is the best of both worlds. It tends towards the emotional center of the record, never getting too raucous but always driving energy forward. "
(More Info)

****************************************
@PumpUpThaVolume Music News:
Jason Molina of Songs:Ohia and Magnolia Electric Co. has died
#MediaMemes: #Gossip Singer #BethDitto To Pay Fine After Arrest Outside North #Portland #Oregon Bar
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club sound reinvigorated on their brand-new album. Get Specter at the Feast for $5
I sure would rather be seeing @ChelseaLightMov at @DougFirLounge in #Portland tonight instead of being at work...
Watching @dcfc's #Storytellers episode on @Palladia, it was filmed back in 2011 and my man #ChrisWalla is rockin' a creepy 'stache...
♬ Faith No More - War Pigs ♬ http://soma.fm/covers #nowplaying
LOW celebrates turning 20 on 'The Invisible Way,' exploring country-pop and more of Mimi Sparhawk's glorious voice
Rock band My Chemical Romance break up after 12 years
Record Store Day 2013 Release List Unveiled #RSD2013 @Pulp2011, @Best_Coast, @SurferBlood, #ChrisWalla and tons more
The Jesus and Mary Chain released 'Honey's Dead' on this day in 1992

(Thanks again to @KEXP, @KCRW, @TheCurrent and you!)