Video appearances by Michael Dedic – Bass, Brian Latimer – Drums
Zachary Murray – Videographer
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Atmosphere – Stopwatch
Atmosphere has just released another new music video for “Stopwatch”, directed by Ryen McPherson and produced by activist art collective, INDECLINE, best known for their poignantly satirical murals and installations.
It’s a different place than it was two years ago when Atmosphere released their last record, Fishing Blues. Their seventh album, Mi Vida Local, reflects the ways in which the world–and their place in it–has changed. The idyllic domesticity of the past few records has morphed into anxiety over keeping loved ones safe during turbulent times. The easygoing collaboration between Ant and Slug has started to feel more like the life-or-death intimacy of two men trapped together on a lifeboat. At times, Mi Vida Local is a heavy album, (“I might be the last generation of grandparents,” goes a key line from “Virgo”), but it’s far from grim.
As the name implies, Mi Vida Local is intensely focused on the place it was created–the south side of Minneapolis–where Slug and Ant work tirelessly in their “beautiful basements”, refining their sound without interruption, save for a handful of Minneapolis friends that showed up to contribute. The album pairs complex subject matter with equally deep beats–ones that show a clear lineage back to the psychedelic funk landmarks from an earlier era where America was going through a post-utopian hangover, and prove that there won’t ever be a time where boom-bap beats don’t sound perfectly of the moment.
Mi Vida Local might be the best album Atmosphere’s ever made. It’s definitely the one they needed to make right now, and one listener’s need to hear just as urgently. If it’s sometimes an album about how the fight to find happiness never really ends–even after you get the house and the kids and the artistic freedom to make dad-rap records–it’s also about discovering that there’s happiness to be found just in fighting.
SOURCE: Official Bio
LINKS:
https://rse.lnk.to/MiVidaLocal
https://rhymesayers.com/artists/atmosphere
https://www.facebook.com/Atmosphere
https://twitter.com/atmosphere
https://www.instagram.com/atmosphere -
Easy – Day for Night
Ahead of releasing their new album ‘Radical Innocence’ via A Turntable Friend Records, Sweden’s celebrated 90s indie rock darlings Easy present the single ‘Day For Night’, a powerfully catchy track highly reminiscent of True Faith-era New Order or the Bernard Sumner / Johnny Marr offshoot Electronica.
The accompanying clever and beautiful animated video was produced by Ian Holmes, who also created the video for the lead track ‘Crystal Waves’, released on February 21.
In the early 1990s, Easy was one of Sweden’s most notable indie groups. This year marks the 30-year anniversary of their highly acclaimed debut ‘Magic Seed’ LP, a critical success that spawned three alternative hit singles: ‘Castle Train’, ‘He Brings the Honey’ and ‘Horoscope’. The group also frequently toured Britain and Europe. While their ambitious ‘Sun Years’ LP (1994) had less of an impact, singles ‘Never Seen a Star’ and ‘Listen to the Bells’ clearly demonstrated that the band had taken several musical steps forward.
Easy suddenly disbanded in 1994, with members becoming involved in other projects. The mark they left was notable – when returning to Sweden years later, they found a new Indie scene full of bands inspired by their uniqueness and success, having toured all over Europe with bands like The Gun Club, The House of Love, Lush, The Charlatans, and The Jesus and Mary Chain. Easy had something special with elements from pop history – the perfect combination of Sonic Youth-like intensity and the sweet harmonies of The Beach Boys.
In 2010, the group reunited with the original line-up, consisting of Johan Holmlund (vocals), Rikard Jormin (bass), Tommy Dannefjord (drums), Tommy Ericson and Anders Peterson (guitars). The reunion spawned the albums ‘Popcorn Graffiti’ (2012) and ‘Swimming With the Beast’ (2014), marking a new era of inspiration for the band.
The ‘Radical Innocence’ LP is Easy’s first new album in a decade. It is also the band’s third release via German label A Turntable Friend Records, the first being the ‘Magic Seed’ LP reissue in 2017 and the 2018 release of ‘A Heartbeat from Eternity’, a user-friendly compilation of the two previous albums, along with the fresh new single ‘Ask the Sky’. The group played live shows in the UK and Germany.
With a songwriting-production cycle that began in late 2018, the band worked with legendary producer Pat Collier, who was responsible for many of their favorite records, at his Perry Vale Studios in London. Everything has come full circle with the band returning to the British capital, where they recorded their debut album 30 years earlier – kind of a new start on the band’s path towards creating perfect pop songs.
‘Radical Innocence’ is an 8-track offering and their most ambitious album to date. Here, Easy is being easy. The songs are coherent and more refined than on previous albums. This new album also involves a new member – Ingvar Larsson, Moog, and keyboard master for post-punk outfits Camouflage and Dogsmile.
Working with Collier and Larsson helped the band to further refine their sound, achieving organic pop songs with sweet melodies, sharp guitars, impactful drumming, and clever lyrics.
LINKS:
https://www.easy-magicseeds.se
https://www.facebook.com/pg/SwedishindiebandEasy
https://easy-sweden.bandcamp.com
https://twitter.com/easybandsweden
https://aturntablefriendrecords.limitedrun.com
https://open.spotify.com/artist/0DjECvHwnn8WAvqMWflvB5
https://music.apple.com/ca/artist/easy/1305804296 -
Fear Is Dead – Dirtnap
New York-based Heavy Rock / Metal band Fear Is Dead has released the Official Music Video for their single ‘Dirtnap’ off of their August released EP, ‘What Remains’. ‘Dirtnap’ was directed and edited by Skila of Fear Is Dead.
In today’s overcrowded Metal scene it’s virtually impossible for a band to rise up and stand out, against the odds, that’s what Fear Is Dead is doing.
Since 2011 they’ve been racking up large numbers of awe-inspiring live performances, Fear is Dead has garnered the acclaim of many of New York’s underground, bringing fans from the Metal scene, and Hardcore / Punk scene together. Melting faces from BK’s Knitting Factory to LES Mercury Lounge, most recently packing out Brooklyn’s new Metal haven Lucky 13 Saloon. Their unique sound and intense energy some would say is reminiscent of early Machine Head and Korn.
Established in 2011 by Skila and Jacqueline Burns, the early line up included Anthony Moreno Brown on drums. Jax’s guitar and bass stylings set the tone for the heavy sound that would evolve to what we hear today. They released two EPs Fear Is Dead in 2011, and Mourning Ritual in 2013, that were both well received. Songs like “I’m Slow,” “Lie to Me,” and “Boomerang” still requested by fans today.
The band went on hiatus in 2014, and in 2015 Skila returned with a new line up, composed of Matt Pompeii on Bass, Carlos Crowcell on Drums, and newcomer David English on Guitars. This new Fear Is Dead still had the trademark strong groove and poetic introspective lyrics but is musically much heavier, and darker than it’s earlier incarnation. In the beginning of 2016, the band released their 3rd EP, Eleutherophobia. An appropriately more aggressive project, reflecting the times, personally, socially, and politically. Songs like “Pretty Ugly” and “Miranda” quickly became underground favorites. Since the EPs release, FID has been performing monthly and putting out a video per song every 2-3 months, all produced and directed by Fear Is Dead.
In 2017 Fear Is Dead released their 4th EP, What Remains. While a bit more experimental than the last project, they still retain the heavy feel that they’re known and loved for.
Their music, videos, and artwork all embody what Fear Is Dead is about: evolving musically, artistically, exorcising demons and losing yourself to find yourself, even for a moment.
LINKS:
https://www.fearisdead.com
https://www.facebook.com/fearisdead
https://twitter.com/FearIsDead
https://www.instagram.com/fear_is_dead