The National: Trouble Will Find Me (4AD, 5/20/13)
The Tribeca Film Festival opens today with a slate of films that run the gamut from drama to documentary to horror. One of these films, Mistaken for Strangers, is from first-time director Tom Berninger. If that last name sounds familiar, it’s because he’s the metalhead younger brother of The National front-man Matt Berninger.
Loop 2.4.3: American Dreamland (Music Starts from Silence, 4/24/12)
“Sakura (We Must Love)”
[audio:http://alarm-magazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Loop_243_Sakura_We_Must_Love.mp3|titles=Loop 2.4.3: “Sakura (We Must Love)”]The “singularity” is the predicted moment in the future when technological intelligence surpasses that of humans and renders all previous knowledge null and void. It’s an oft-discussed sci-fi notion, but not your typical album opener. But Loop 2.4.3 is not, let us state for the record, a typical band. Instead, it’s a “percussion duo” that uses a lot more than percussion: piano, strings, and electronics, as well as voices that are all soulful, raw, and classically trained.
Grinderman: 2 RMX (Anti-, 4/17/12)
“Evil (Silver Alert Remix f. Matt Berninger)”
[audio:http://alarm-magazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Grinderman_Matt_Berninger_Evil_Silver_Alert.mp3|titles=Grinderman: “Evil (Silver Alert feat. Matt Berninger)”]It’s not an obvious idea to remix Nick Cave. His status as a musical icon seems to discourage the thought that his manic tales of depravity can be improved or successfully altered. But Grinderman’s 2 RMX — damn, does it work well. From A Place to Bury Strangers’ post-punk rendition of “Worm Tamer” to the spooky, shamanistic vibe of “Evil” by Silver Alert (Grinderman’s Jim Sclavunos) and The National’s Matt Berninger, it’s a surprise to find a style so distinct that’s also so versatile. Grinderman is ripe for experimentation.