Because the world needs more awesome super-groups, Christian Eric Beaulieu of Triclops!, Cedric Bixler Zavala of The Mars Volta, and special guests Mike Watt (Minutemen) and Rachel Fannan (Sleepy Sun) have coalesced as a project called Anywhere.
The group’s style is a blend of Eastern-influenced acoustic/psych punk, and you can hear the jangly, falsettoed, self-titled single below. Anywhere’s self-titled debut is out in the USA on July 24 via ATP Recordings.
Antigama: Stop the Chaos EP (Selfmadegod, 5/22/12)
“The Law”
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This EP from progressive grindcore act Antigama ends with a familiar swooshing sound that usually precedes the beginning of a new track. Listeners are thus left with the impression that there’s more to come, and that Stop the Chaos might actually be a teaser for a longer offering. (A relatively restrained ambient soundscape, the EP’s final track also lines up nicely if you have music of another genre cued up to play after it on your playlist.) Still, though Antigama deftly plays the leave-them-wanting-more card, the Polish quartet packs no small measure of substance into Stop the Chaos’ 15-minute run time.
Prior to Tangerine Dream’s forthcoming US tour kicking off in July, Brooklyn’s BAMcinématek is presenting a 10-film series highlighting the influential German group’s most memorable movie moments. Producing music for more than 40 years, Tangerine Dream amassed more than 30 film scores to its credit in addition to its many studio albums. Along the way, the group has inspired countless electronic acts and brought the group — and the movies — a massive following.
On June 2, French electronic label and fashion boutique Kitsuné and Chicago’s Beauty Bar team up to present the Kitsuné America compilation release party, featuring White Shadow, Giraffage, and Hey Champ (DJ set). After conquering parts of Asia and Europe, the growing label thought it was time to get closer to America. Thus Kitsuné America is the first of its compilations to extensively showcase American acts, all up-and-coming indie/dance artists. They are also opening a boutique in New York this April.
Health: Max Payne 3: The Official Soundtrack (Rockstar Games, 5/22/12)
“Tears”
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Ever adept at pulling beauty from the squall of its savage synth-rock attack, Los Angeles quartet Health makes for a fitting choice to score a video game. Conversely, the game Max Payne 3 contains enough violence, visual brilliance, and plot development to draw from different aspects of Health’s multifaceted sound.
Singer-songstress Jesca Hoop returns next month with The House That Jack Built, the anticipated follow-up to Hunting My Dress. “Born To,” the album’s lead single, is a poppy, twangy tune that, naturally, highlights Hoop’s exceptional voice. Dig it, and look for The House That Jack Built via Bella Union on June 26.
For Record Store Day, Danish producer Anders Trentemøller released a special seven-inch cover of The Gun Club’s “My Dreams.” Now Trentemøller and company (again including guest vocalist Marie Fisker) have released a video for an entirely acoustic version, complete with toy piano.
Birthmark: Antibødies (Polyvinyl)
“Stuck”
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The multi-talented Nate Kinsella (cousin of Tim and Mike Kinsella) has made a name for himself performing in or alongside a slew of out-there indie outfits, including December’s Architects, Joan of Arc, Make Believe, and Owen. As Birthmark, his densely layered solo project, he creates a sound all his own by experimenting with a variety of instruments to an effect that is whimsical and unusual.
Squarepusher: Ufabulum (Warp)
“Dark Steering”
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Previously a ceaseless innovator, recent Squarepusher albums have followed a holding pattern: a strange departure that feints at a new direction (the strangely light-fusion-inflected pop of Just a Souvenir; the truly weird, limp lounge on the conceptual not-actually-a-full-band Shobaleader One: d’Demonstrator) is followed by an “okay, just kidding” return-to-form release (Numbers Lucent and Ufabulum, respectively).
“Occult Vibrations” (ACR version)
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Thrill Jockey’s site jokes that post-hardcore progenitor Lungfish is “enshrined as one of America’s last true folk bands.” Digging into the vaults, Dischord Records’ latest release shows that the group’s hidden relics still have potency, folk or otherwise.