In today’s world of everyone brewing their own coffee, have you had trouble finding an espresso machine that looks appropriately bad-ass sitting on your counter? Do you have copious amounts of money and not enough things to spend it on? Do you love Top Gear and enjoy super-cars and gadget porn? If you answered yes to all of that, meet your new espresso machine.
Haunting hypotheticals: Tricky and Francesca Belmonte ask “Does It”
Tricky: False Idols (False Idols, 5/28/13)
Trip-hop pioneer Tricky is returning to the music world this May, releasing False Idols on a label of the same name. Now, after releasing first single “Nothing’s Changed” earlier this month, we’re getting another glimpse, this time of the musician/producer himself along with guest Francesca Belmonte, in the video for “Does It.”
The way to a man’s soul is through his…pants? Depeche Mode’s “Soothe My Soul” video
Depeche Mode: Delta Machine (Columbia, 3/26/13)
Following last week’s release of Delta Machine, Depeche Mode has debuted a video for another single, “Soothe My Soul.” Directed by Warren Fu, it includes reptiles, tastefully shot nudity, and some of the more suggestive shots of recording consoles we’ve seen. In other words, the band may have a rather…physical…soothing of the soul in mind.
Punk-rap super-group The White Mandingos vs. #swag in “The Ghetto Is Tryna Kill Me”
The White Mandingos:The Ghetto Is Tryna Kill Me (Fat Beats, 6/11/13)
Super-group The White Mandingos, comprised of rapper Murs, Bad Brains bassist Darryl Jenifer, and Ego Trip magazine founder Sacha Jenkins, is releasing its debut album, The Ghetto Is Tryna Kill Me, on Fat Beats in June. A concept album about a Harlem projects-dwelling rocker, it’s shaping up to be an incisive, satirical, and unique blast of dub-infused rap punk.
Retox redefines police brutality in gory video for “Mature Science”
Manic punk band Retox is an intelligent machine made of unstable energy. And in the NSFW (unless you work in a butcher shop, I guess) new video for “Mature Science,” the band throws on leather jackets to hold court on a classic musical topic, previously pondered by groups like Black Flag, NWA, and Body Count: the police.
Brother Ali stands with struggling homeowners in “Work Everyday” video
Brother Ali: Mourning in America and Dreaming in Color (Rhymesayers, 9/18/12)
Hip-hop artist/activist Brother Ali has worked with Occupy Homes Minnesota to try and stop foreclosures in the state, at one point even taken into custody for civil disobedience. Now the movement has debuted a video for his track “Work Everyday,” a heartfelt solidarity anthem for those on the street dealing with the consequences of the financial collapse. Featuring cameos by P.O.S, Jackson Browne, Tom Morello, and more, the video is a real-life montage of those on the domestic frontlines.
Q&A: Intronaut on rhythmic concepts and melodic vocals in metal
Intronaut: Habitual Levitations (Instilling Words with Tones) (Century Media, 3/19/13)
“Milk Leg”
At a time when the definition of “heavy” music seems to get narrower and narrower, LA quartet Intronaut continues to push forward, continually redefining its own sound and challenging genre conventions. One could call it “post-rock” or “prog/fusion metal,” but labels only serve to limit its sound.
Race, identity, and gender roles in The Zolas’ video for “Escape Artist”
The Zolas: Ancient Mars (Light Organ, 10/2/12)
Sometimes we keep parts of ourselves hidden.
That’s the idea that Canada’s The Zolas is dealing with in its new video for “Escape Artist.” A group of teens meet up to hang out, with piano and Zachary Gray’s vocals a haunting narration to their afternoon and to the idea of other selves. See the video below and read Gray’s explanation over at NPR.