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Saturday, Mar 9 2024, 12PM
The third solo album from versatile London-based vocalist and musician Liam Bailey finds him teaming up once again with El Michels Affair leader and Big Crown Records co-founder Leon Michels for a sharp set of timeless British soul music heavily infused with reggae, dub, and Lovers rock flavors. His most honest, personal, and love-filled album to date, ‘Zero Grace’ reflects upon his mixed British and Jamaican roots and difficult childhood experiences, emerging on the other side full of hope, optimism, and renewed spirit – uplifting messages that mesh beautifully with Michels’ top-tier, analog-heavy, nostalgia-soaked productions.
liambaileymusic.bandcamp.com
The Equals, led by Eddy Grant, were a ground-breaking, racially mixed bands in London when they started in 1965. This song was originally released on the The Equals' Baby, Come Back album in 1968. The song then enjoyed a revival when UK punk band The Clash recorded a cover of the song in 1980 for their Sandinista! album.
"The reason for the Equals’ initial lack of success in their home country is a matter of speculation, but one thing is for sure: The band stood out. They were the first major interracial rock group in the UK, predating the Foundations (“Build Me Up Buttercup”) and Hot Chocolate (“You Sexy Thing”), and even getting the jump on America’s first conspicuously mixed-race band, Sly and the Family Stone (not counting forerunners like Booker T. & the M.G.’s, whose status as an interracial band wasn’t played up). On top of that, the black members of the Equals—Grant and the Gordon twins—were immigrants in England at a time when it was absorbing a large influx of people from its former colonies." Read more about The Equals here: tinyurl.com
The Clash covered “Police on My Back” on their 1980 album, Sandinista!
Expert in a Dying Field came in at #10 in last year's KEXP's best albums of 2022, as voted on by our listeners!
www.kexp.org
New single from the Chicago band's upcoming release, Poetry, out May 10th!
Following their electric 2023 album, the London four-piece returns with another bright, energetic collection of guitar driven indie pop with long-term collaborators Lucy Rose, Rae Morris and Liz Lawrence, along with a new feature from Matilda Mann
In 1985, the British pop band XTC recorded an EP of affectionate parodies of '60s psychedelia and guitar pop called 25 O'Clock. They adopted the name The Dukes of Stratosphear and Andy Partridge adopted the moniker of Sir John Johns. Colin Moulding was the Red Curtain, Dave Gregory was otherwise known as Lord Cornelius Plum and Ian Gregory went by the name of E.I.E.I. Owen.: www.getintothis.co.uk
The debut album from the Brighton four piece is a tight collection of artful, guitar driven pop tunes. With honest and witty lyricism, an effortless flair and penchant for some serious earworms, One More Thing is a confident first outing for a young band that has already found their stride
Jerry Casale of Devo said of this song: "We wanted to get everybody into a mood where people thought Devo was saying the world was really nice and saying the world was beautiful, then it turns out to be one man's opinion, which is mine, which is, while the world could be beautiful, it's not for me because of what I'm seeing."
Devo was founded by Jerry Casale and Mark Mothersbaugh, who were both at Kent State University when four unarmed students were shot to death by the US National Guard. This had a profound effect on Jerry and Mark, who developed the idea of "De-evolution," meaning that humans were devolving rather than evolving.
French electronic music duo Air released their debut studio album, Moon Safari in 1998.
Writing in Mixmag, Alexis Petridis called it a "superbly inventive" album that "creates a soundworld in your living room, a world where everything's more shiny, chic and sophisticated than reality"
From French electronic duo, Air's debut album, "Moon Safari." The duo had a longstanding relationship with filmmaker Sofia Coppola--they composed the score for "The Virgin Suicides," were featured on the soundtrack of "Marie Antoinette," and their drummer Brian Reitzell put together the soundtrack for "Lost in Translation."
“‘Haunted World’ sounds like a 90s sitcom theme to us. Network execs – this song is available and we are ready and willing to sell to the highest bidder,” says singer/guitarist Martin Courtney. “We’re super happy with how this one turned out. We had a nice arrangement worked out before we headed to Nashville to record, but it really came to life in the studio. Sometimes a song will surprise you like that.” realestate.bandcamp.com
Watch their full in-studio performance from 2018: www.youtube.com
The debut full length album from Australian singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Meryyn Jean is all consuming. Her unique brand of art-pop with elements of jazz and folk paired with her rich vocals and clever lyricism is positively spellbinding. Dog Beach is an impressive first outing from an artist with a singular point of view that leaves the listener begging for more.
Released on this day in 2018.
Young Fathers were christened in 2008, named after the fact that all three members were named for their fathers.
They are: ‘G’ Hastings, from Drylaw, Edinburgh, Alloysious Massaquoi, originally from Liberia via Ghana and Kayus Bankole, born in Edinburgh to Nigerian parents but partially raised in Maryland in the USA,
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The video for “In My View” takes gorgeous shots—a crying woman embracing a child, two men grappling, scenes from a dinner party, the trio posing for a portrait—then unravels them by superimposing the stage directions atop “behind-the-scenes” footage of each evocative image. “The Art of Making People Care,” as it’s dubbed by a mid-video title card, warps each scene’s meaning. In typical Young Fathers form, “In My View” and its visuals dare to strip all pretenses away, another deconstructive act..: www.youtube.com
Watch a young DJ Atticus interview Young Fathers for this session! www.youtube.com
This track samples the drums from "Sing A Simple Song" by Sly & The Family Stone which appears on their 1969 album "Stand!"
www.arresteddevelopmentmusic.com
Larry Mizell, Jr. hosted Arlo Parks for a Live on KEXP session in 2022: www.youtube.com
"Black Dog" comes from Parks' 2021 debut full-length album, Collapsed in Sunbeams. arloparks.bandcamp.com
Little Simz continues to display her versatility and artistry with "Mood Swings," the opening track of her latest release, "Drop 7." Produced by Jakwob, the song delivers a captivating blend of rap and experimental sounds, reflecting Simz’s dynamic approach to music.
In "Mood Swings," Simz dives into themes of self-reflection and emotional turbulence with her signature lyricism and compelling delivery. The chorus, with its infectious repetition of "mood swings," captures the essence of the track, echoing the highs and lows of personal experiences. tinyurl.com
Watch Brazlian Girls (none of whom are actually from Brazil) perform "Don't Stop" live: www.youtube.com
Built to Spill "There's Nothing Wrong with Love" with Yo La Tengo on August 15 at Zootunes!
www.zoo.org
From PNW band Built to Spill's fourth studio album, "Keep It Like A Secret"
They played in the KEXP studio in 2015. www.youtube.com
New single from the LA band from their upcoming album Submarine out on May 31st.
The sophomore album from Nottingham-based songwriter and producer Jack Kenworthy is an exercise in juggling the complexities of losing a loved one. Through ornate, layered soundscapes recalling early Radiohead and Elbow, he examines how to sit in grief, celebrate life and find joy.
Dan Bejar of Destroyer broke down the title of this song:
"I like the term “tinseltown.” It’s old American language that doesn’t make too much sense anymore. It implies the fake glamour of showbiz. Even without it being explicit, it implies something that’s gonna chew you out, stretch you up, and spit you out. When I think of tinseltown, I think of being turned out by the pimp that is show business. For me, what stands out in that song are these choruses and this outro that are shockingly heartfelt. They sound like someone standing up in a circle and pouring their heart out."
This great song by Dan Bejar was selected as a KEXP Song of the Day. You can acquire it for yourself here: www.kexp.org
The seventh album from Portland outfit STRKR is a sparkling, groovy celebration of synth pop. Their infectious, dance worthy rhythms and melodies juxtapose the introspective, thought-provoking lyrics for another tight collection of indie pop goodness fifteen years into their career.
When asked by buddy/filmmaker Noah Baumbach if "California" was the closest Luna had to a hit, Dean Wareham replied, "Probably. The opening riff in that song was used in a Calvin Klein commercial. We maybe had more luck getting in TV commercials than on commercial radio."
As for the riff, "It was my attempt to play a James Burton riff from a Ricky Nelson record. It’s a good way to write songs—start with someone else’s song." bit.ly
Salt Cathedral is a band from Bogotá, Colombia, and currently based in Brooklyn, New York. The band consists of Juliana Ronderos and Nicolás Losada.
saltcathedral.bandcamp.com
DJ Larry Mizell recently chose "Terminal Woes" as KEXP's Song of the Day. Check it here: www.kexp.org
The first solo album in nine years from Queens, NY-based Punjabi-American rapper Himanshu “Heems” Suri (formerly of Das Racist and part of Swet Shop Boys alongside Riz MC and Redinho) finds him teaming up with Chicago-based Indian-American producer Lapgan for a sharp set of clever, comical, and confident hip-hop. Heems’ trademark wit, lyricism, flow, and unique cross-cultural perspective shine bright over Lapgan’s cinematic boom-bap beats that utilize South Asian samples to accent the record’s diasporan influences. The album title ‘LAFANDAR’ stems from “an old-country insult for a vagabond, a wanderer, a loomer, a lurker, an urban dilettante, and especially in Heems’ case, a flaneur.” All jokes aside, it’s great to hear Heems back on the mic, and he’s joined by an all-star cast of guests along the way, including Kool Keith, Saul Williams, Open Mike Eagle, Quelle Chris, Blu, Your Old Droog, Sid Sriram, Sir Michael Rocks, Fatboi Sharif, and more.
London-based singer/songwriter Yasmin Hass wrote this song about one of her best friends - "This song is about being utterly in love, whilst also wondering, how much freedom do I have left? It touches on the thrill of the unknown and the sudden urge to break away from what feels comfortable and safe," Hass explains.
tinyurl.com
Seattle electronic duo ODESZA has teamed up with Australian EDM artist Golden Features on a project called BRONSON. Enjoy KEXP's Sound & Vision interview about their new album, making music collaboratively from opposite sides of the globe, and the effects of COVID-19 on musicians' work: www.kexp.org
Vampire Weekend's 5th album, Only God Was Above Us will be released on April 5th.
The new EP from LA based project led by Lexi Vega is a big, bright, sugary indie-pop delight. These five tracks pack a punch and hit their mark with Vega’s vocal acrobatics, shimmering guitars, insanely catchy pop hooks and intimate lyricism.
The Icicle Works were named after the 1960 short story "The Day the Icicle Works Closed" by science fiction author Frederik Pohl. This was their first single from their debut album -- Arista wouldn't release it in the US until the opening spoken-word overdub was removed. This was their only hit in the US.
Australian duo Royel Otis from their 2022 debut. They just released a new album, PRATTS & PAIN.
This song is a scathing goodbye to her ex. "'It's never my design to hurt anyone's feelings, but I needed to say what was on my mind without editing myself," said Howard. "I like how it's a song that makes you want to dance, but at the same time, the lyrics are brutal."
Howard will be at Coachella in April.
www.brittanyhoward.com
The sophomore album from Nashville-based singer-songwriter Caroline Glaser is a delightful slice of guitar driven bedroom pop and indie-rock with beautiful vocal tones, infectious melodies and playful, personal lyricism. The layered instrumentals, intriguing arrangements and lyrical depth provide a captivating, introspective listen.
Released on this day in 1999.
Off of Wilco's third studio album, which was heavily influenced by 20th century literature by authors like Henry Miller, William H. Glass and John Fante.
In "Wilco: Learning How to Die," Tweedy shared, "I definitely wanted to get better at writing, and those things happened simultaneously with trying to read better. I would write tons of stuff in my head, and forget. Some songs on 'Being There', I don't think I ever wrote any lyrics down... To fight that, I started writing words on paper and making up melodies to go with them. By writing things down, and putting more words into my head, it put more words in my mouth when I turned on the tape recorder to sing."
Wilco played an intimate performance for a rapt group of KEXP donors in 2015: bit.ly
Solo debut from Belgian artist Bolis Pupul, who collaborated with Charlotte Adigéry on "Topical Dancer" (both performed Live on KEXP in 2022 www.youtube.com)
"Letter to Yu" comes out on March 8th.
Future Islands will play The Paramount Theatre on Friday, September 13th!
The group's new album came out this past January! "The seventh album from the Baltimore quartet is complex, moody and powerful. Their quintessential synth-pop is big and bold as they oscillate through melancholy ballads, lively pop bangers and everything in between, taking influence from new wave, psych, dance and more. With singular vocalist Samuel T. Herring at the helm, this instantly recognizable outfit continues to deliver almost two decades into their career."
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www.kexp.org
futureislands.bandcamp.com
The songs "Caring Is Creepy" and "New Slang" from Oh, Inverted World, appeared in the 2004 film Garden State.
The fifth studio album from the Atlanta native is a beautiful, sweeping, understated collection of emotive indie rock. Sonic intricacies including orchestral flourishes, pedal steel and vocoder accompany her pristine, ethereal vocals, adding a rich depth to these intimate songs that explore desire, conflict and platonic love.
"Mixed by Flaming Lips collaborator Dave Fridmann, each component here [on Innerspeaker] is set on an even plane, allowing bass lines and delay-swept guitar bursts to melt into one another, cultivating a uniform feel that's vintage, far-out, and irrepressibly cool." tinyurl.com
The debut album from this Japanese-Belgian duo composed of Japan-born vocalist/producer Aili Maruyama and Belgian electronic producer Orson Wouters is a wonderful set of infectious synth-pop that bubbles and pulses with a playful spirit. The album title stems from a Japanese word that roughly translates to “Well, what was it?” and the opening title track is about the language Aili speaks with her dad, a mix of French and Japanese that she invented to help bridge the gap between them. This blurry cross-cultural mix seeps into the record with AIli fluidly bouncing between Japanese and other languages over sleek analog-rich beats, yielding a loose, spontaneous, and downright fun record. — AR
www.kexp.org
Check it out here www.eskimorecordings.com
See Austra perform live in the KEXP in-studio performance from 2017: www.youtube.com
Released on this day in 1979!
M was a British new wave and synthpop music project from London, England, led by English musician Robin Scott in the late 1970s and early 1980s. "Pop Muzik" featured Scott's brother Julian on bass, his wife Brigit Novik on backing vocals, and Wally Badarou on keyboards.
Singer-songwriter and guitar hero Mary Timony new album, Untame the Tiger, marks her fifth solo album, her first in 15 years (and first for Merge).
marytimony.bandcamp.com
Mary Timony will perform at the Clock-Out Lounge in Seattle on Saturday, March 23, 2024 - get your tickets now!
New cover by Caroline Polachek - originally recorded by the music-theatre company Operating Theatre - the single originally came out in 1986.
This cover includes background vocals by True Blue, the solo project of Maya Laner.
rogerdoyle1.bandcamp.com
tinyurl.com
See Caroline Polachek's Live on KEXP In-Studio June 2023 performance with DJ Kevin Cole hosting here:
youtu.be