video: Mountain Man "Babylon"

"We Remember"

Our West Coast friends Yours Truly recently spent an afternoon with Mountain Man in San Francisco. Alex and Amelia arrived on the left coast after an epic cross-country drive which brought them to Molly, and now, they are whole again. Not only that but this video, which finds the women in fine form, features a song I've never heard them sing before, "Babylon," which sounds as if its one of the ancient hymns Mtn Man have a particularly soft spot for. Touring up the coast, if I could be anywhere right now, it'd be behind a beat up old Volvo rolling up the Pacific Coast Highway following Mountain Man on their maiden voyage to the Pac-Nor. Be sure to watch the two other segments Yours Truly filmed, which are currently airing over at GvB and AD. Also, be sure to read the lovely letter Molly, Amelia and Alex left these guys. Nice people coming together, this is how the world will change. (*Molly, you will get an A+ for your Field Work Term. Cheers.)

mix: El Guincho

Que?
Barcelona's El Guincho just did a mix for GvB and Imeem and, unlike today's previous post, it really makes me miss Spring and Summer. If Alegranza was the soundtrack to rooftop daydrinking and bike rides through parks, then this Gorilla Contra Bear mix will surely take you back to such lovely times. Bust out the blender, some bottom shelf tequila and pretend its summer and you're unemployed, or on a cosmic trip to Rio.

El Guincho :: gorila contra bear mixtape

Claustrofobia - Paris Nostalgic (edit)
The Congos - Ark Of The Covenant (edit)
MC Solaar - Temps Mort (edit)
Marina Rossell - Morí a Revensbruck
Yoruba Andabo - María Belén (remix)
Trío Matamoros - Reclamo Místico
The Mighty Sparrow - Wood in the Fire
Phyllis Dillon - Perfidia (edit)
Docteur Nico & L'Orchestre African Fiesta - Zadio (edit)
Fase Nuova - Ritmo Salvaje, Ritmo Bestial
Extraperlo - Esperando Nuevas Órdenes
Roberto Carlos - Quero que Vá Tudo Pro Inferno

GorilaContraBear Mixtape - El Guincho

morning music: Sunnybrook

"Rolling Like A Sunflower Earth"
GvB turned me onto Sunnybrook (what a surprise) earlier in the year when he posted the lovely "Big Waving Hands," which is still one of my favorite songs of 2k8. To be honest, because Sunnybrook doesn't have any released material and is not touring, he sort of fell of my radar. That is until about 6:15 this morning when my computer woke me up to the opening fingerpicks of "Big Waving Hands." I figured now was as good a time as ever to head over to his MySpace and see what's good. Good time too, as Paul North has posted a few other exceptional tunes, all perfect for making coffee and reading the paper on sun soaked mornings. If I were a sunflower, Sunnybrook would be my favorite band. "Big Waving Hands" is below for downloadable consumption, but you also head over to MySpace to hear "Yellow Dronings", "Strangers" and the other songs Paul is sharing, which sort of remind me of what Sigur Ros might sound like if they moved to Nevada City.

Sunnybrook- Big Waving Hands

tonite: Harlem

"Psychedelic Tits... They Are The Color Of A Rainbow"

Harlem is playing the Charleston on Bedford Ave tonight. Got turned on to them two weeks ago when GvB posted the explosive garage joint "South of France," which has been on high Subway headbang rotation ever since. "South of France" is really irresistible as it is exactly what I'd want to be listening to if I was driving in the South of France and not blasting ABBA. Really don't know anything about these guys except they have one of the most entertaining MySpace pages I've ever seen, not to mention killer song names ("Psychedelic Tits", "I'm On Drugs", in particular). Oh yeah, their album is called free drugs;-). If your not gonna make it to the Charleston (pizza+beer, mmm), you can grab free drugs;-) on vinyl (or cd) HERE.

Harlem- South of France (courtesy of GorillaVsBear)

hot: James Pants

"Why You Trippin' On Me, You Know I'm Trying To Build A Church"

Everyone I know is obsessed with Stones Throw artist James Pants. For the last month or two I've had all my good friends/music chatters screaming "We're Through" in my ear. He did a hot mix for the increasingly killer Stones Throw podcast and recently dropped his debut LP, Welcome, which is about as close to a summer barn burner as can be. Sometimes it reminds me of Muscles, but with a certain amount of grime that can only come from Smokane, Washington. Farting bass synth melodies, ass shaking poly-rhythms and just a touch of cow bell, this shit is a sure fire party starter. Plus there are so many squiggling synths it's practically overwhelming, in an "oh shit I did too many key bumps of Molly" way. Lots of goodies below. Call your dealer asap.

James Pants- Ka$h (direct link)
Music From The Forest mixed by James Pants for the Stones Throw Podcast (direct link)



James Pants Goes Record Shopping

nu musick: St Vincent

"Paris is Burning After All"

I have been anxiously awaiting the full length debut from Dallas' St. Vincent (government name Annie Clark) since Gorilla vs Bear posted her phenomenal cover of "These Days" last fall. Marry Me dropped today and is a platform for St. Vincent's talent as a multi-instrumentalist. Stirring compositions like "All the Stars Aligned", "Paris is Burning" and "Jesus Saves, I Spend" showcase her outerworldly fret work, soaring string arrangements, cryptic yet contemplative lyrics and her sweet soaring vocals. She's only 23 and has already been a member of the Polyphonic Spree, Sufjan Stevens touring band as well as opened for the Arcade Fire's.

If the dreamy piano flourishes, haunting harmonies and delicate poetics of "All the Stars Aligned" don't give you the middle school butterflies, then the melancholic cabaret act of "Paris is Burning" will convert you. The Gorilla vs Bear crew know Annie's onto big things. I agree. Big, big things. Her website is www.ilovestvincent.com. It's an appropriate domain name.

St. Vincent- All the Stars Alligned
St. Vincent- Paris is Burning

Daytrotter: Sparrow House

"Strange Reflection"

Fell in love with Jared Van Fleet's debut release, Falls Ep, under the Sparrow House moniker last Fall (duh) after hearing him perform on GorillavsBear's Sirius show . Luckily, Jared is finally getting around to getting some new music out. Television Show EP, the soon to be released (?) follow up EP, in what was intended to be an EP for every season, may see the light of day soon. Winter has passed and Spring quickly gave way to Summer and still no EP. No big deal, as Jared's been hard at work touring the globe with Voxtrot. Peep an untitled song from Sparrow House's and some stuff from Voxtrot over at La Blogotheque's increasingly wonderful Take Away Show series. Also, our friends at Daytrotter recorded some lovely live Sparrow House goodness at SXSW and just posted some tracks free for download. With sites like Daytrotter, GorillavsBear and La Blogotheque , its a wonder I ever get away from the computer. Probably the three best music sites out their.



Sparrow House & Voxtrot Take Away Show
Sparrow House Daytrotter Session

GorillavsBear