Posts Tagged ‘Indie’

RATATAT – LP4 (Electro/Indie/Rock – US)

Sep 8th, 10 / 0 Comments

Mike Stroud and Evan Mast (aka Ratatat) first met as students at Skidmore College and they started workind together in 2001, when they recorded several songs under the name “Cherry”. Their 2004 debut, Ratatat, was written and recorded in Mast’s Brooklyn apartment on Stroud’s computer. This first effort is a collection of ten entirely instrumental tracks, with the exception of vocal excerpts at the beginning and end of selected tracks.

In August 2006, Ratatat released a second album Classics, followed by LP3 in 2008. Between releases, Ratatat found time to tour with a handpicked selection of first class artists such as Björk, Daft Punk, Mouse on Mars, Interpol, Franz Ferdinand, CSS, The Faint, Super Furry Animals, Clinic, Panther and The Killers.  Also worth mentioning is the fact that, on October 6, 2006 Ratatat became the first band to perform a public show inside the Guggenheim Museum in New York City.

Bjork – Wanderlust (Ratatat Remix)

Ratatat’s fourth album LP4 was released on June 8, 2010 via XL Recordings. The duo’s sound is more diverse, while still unmistakably “Ratatat”. Judge for yourselves…

Ratatat – Drugs

Ratatat on MySpace. Ratatat on Ratatat

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THE TING TINGS – HANDS (Electro/Pop/Indie – UK)

Sep 6th, 10 / 1 Comment

DIY indie pop duo The Ting Tings formed in 2004 in England and released their first album in 2008. After receiving accolades for this multi-million-selling debut and touring the world for two years, Katie White (vocals, guitar, bass drums) and Jules De Martino (drums, vocals) are back with a new single, “Hands”, which will hit the stores on October 10.

The Ting Tings – Hands (Low Sunday Remix)

This new single is the first taste of their forthcoming sophomore album Massage Kunst. The Ting Tings have definitely avoided a repeat and have evolved into a more electro sound, which probably has quite a lot to do with the fact that Calvin Harris is part of the mix. White and De Martino are keeping the same energy level as in the past but exploring different musical influences to avoid sounding like they’re just taking the same elements and going for a second round.

For the nostalgic, here is a pretty cool remix of one of their most popular tracks “That’s Not My Name”. Taken off their debut, We Started Nothing, the track was reworked by RAC, who really turned it into a completely different song!

The Ting Tings – That’s Not My Name (RAC Mix)

The Ting Tings are currently putting the finishing touches on their new album, which should be out within the next few months. To stay in the loop and get all Ting Tings related news and updates, befriend them on MySpace. For now you can listen another remix of “Hands” by Tommie Sunshine just below.

The Ting Tings – Hands (Tommie Sunshine’s 5AM Edit)

You can of course purchase all of their music on The

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RA RA RIOT – THE ORCHARD (Indie/Rock – US)

Sep 3rd, 10 / 0 Comments

Two years after their critically acclaimed debut album, The Rhum Limb, Ra Ra Riot released its follow up, The Orchard, on August 23. This young indie rock band, which was formed in Syracuse (New York) in 2006, was part of the buzz that through other New York-based such as Vampire Weekend in the spotlight. However, unlike Vampire Weekend, Ra Ra Riot’s move from the underground music scene to a major label’s roster was not as swift, partly due to the death of their drummer John Pike in June 2007. This tragic incident led the band to delay the release of their debut, which finally hit the stores in 2008.

Gabriel Duquette, the drummer that stepped in after John Pike’s untimely death, is now full-time with the band. Other members are Wes Miles (vocals, keys), Milo Bonacci (guitar), Matthieu Santos (bass), Alexandra Lawn (cello, vocals, keys) and Rebecca Zeller (violin).

Ra Ra Riot – A Manner To Act (RAC Remix)

Ra Ra Riot – Can You Tell (The Kids Are Radioactive Remix)

Ra Ra Riot’s sophomore album, The Orchard, was released last month to overwhelmingly positive reviews. Their sound has gotten more mature and the band seems to have developed a sensitivity that is all too rare in most indie rock bands. The arrangements are rich and sophisticated, giving the songs plenty of room to explore the melancholy that is present through the entire record, but without sinking into gloom.

If you like the remixes above, get another great RAC Remix of Ra Ra Riot’s single “Boy” over at RCRD LBL. For more info and tour dates, you can check out the band’s page on MySpace. To buy the album, go to Ra

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AU REVOIR SIMONE – NIGHT LIGHT (ElectroPop/Folk – US)

Aug 24th, 10 / 2 Comments

Electronic dream pop band Au Revoir Simone is Erika Forster (vocals/keyboard), Annie Hart (vocals/keyboard) and Heather D’Angelo (vocals/drum machine/keyboard). Since 2003, the Brooklyn-based outfit have been making subtle, breezy, electrofolk and their sound has been praised by the likes of Q Magazine and NME.

On the heels of their widely acclaimed third album, Still Night Still Light (Moshi Moshi 2009), considered by many as their best work so far, Au Revoir Simone recently released a companion remix album called Night Light. The album takes the twelve tracks included on Still Nigh Still Light, mixes things up a bit, dismantles the original tracks and reassembles them in a multitude of ways. With guest artists such as Aeroplane, Jens Lekman, Neon Indian, Silver Columns and Deradoorian (Angel Deradoorian from The Dirty Projectors), you could hope for a strikingly brilliant album. And more often then not it is. But the remixes don’t always add much to Au Revoir Simone’s elegant synth-pop, which is already a delicate synthesis of many different musical genres. By making these influences more obvious, the remixes sometimes break the spell.

Night Light is still a very pleasant listen and some of the reworks are stunning. Let’s mention Clock Opera’s remix of “Tell Me”, Mack Winston’s remix of “The Last One” and Tanlines’ remix of “Shadows”.

Au Revoir Simone – Tell Me (Clock Opera Remix)

If you like what you hear, check out Au Revoir Simone’s profile on Myspace. Buy the album with bonus tracks on Night

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FM BELFAST – UNDERWEAR (Electro/Pop/Indie – Iceland)

Aug 20th, 10 / 0 Comments

FM Belfast started out as a duo in 2005, around Christmas time, when Árni Rúnar Hlöðversson and Lóa Hlín Hjálmtýsdóttir made a song as a present for their friends. What could have been a one-off collaboration actually turned into a full-fledged band the following year  when Arni Vilhjalmsson and Orvar Th. Smarason joined the band. In October 2006 they were invited to play their first full concert at the internationally renowned Iceland Airwaves festival in Reykjavik.

The members now vary from three to eight depending on who can make it. The core of the band is made up of Árni Rúnar Hlöðversson, Árni Vilhjálmsson and Lóa Hlín Hjálmtýsdóttir and when the stars are aligned correctly they are joined by Sveinbjorn Hermann Pálsson, Örvar Þóreyjarson Smárason and Eiríkur Orri (both part of cult Icelandic act múm), Birgitta Birgisdóttir and Björn Kristjánsson. FM Belfast’s debut album How To Make Friends relies heavily on programmed beats and synths, pumped up with the band’s innate sense of fun. The album oozes with a retro 80s vibe and it will make you bop your head till your neck hurts. FM Belfast may reject the traditions of their own county’s music, but they slot very much into the tradition of Icelandic rebellion, and tether it instead to the synths of Scandinavia, pumping them up with their own innate sense of fun.

FM Belfast -- Underwear

Of course FM Belfast are not the first Icelandic band to make electronic music, but their sound is different from that of fellow Icelanders Sigur Rós or Eberg. Their songs are infused with a sense of derision that makes them instantly accessible and familiar. With their lo-fi casio keyboards and simplistic lyrics, the 11 tracks that make up How To Make Friends are not about Iceland’s glaciers and wide landscapes. They are songs for the 21st century, songs for the club. Party on!

Find FM Belfast on MySpace or check out their official site. Buy their music on FM

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TWO DOOR CINEMA CLUB @ PANTIERO FESTIVAL

Aug 15th, 10 / 0 Comments

Hailing from Northern Ireland, Two Door Cinema Club‘s energetic  indie pop has enough kick to electrify even the quietest of audiences. With their slick guitar progressions, infectious baselines and hum-along choruses, the boys from Bangor the three boys from Bangor took to the stage ready to show us how it’s done in Ireland.

After opening for a number of bands including Delphic, Phoenix, Foals, Metronomy and autoKratz, they toured all over Europe in the first half of 2010, following the release of their debut album, Tourist History. They are now playing most major European festivals and on friday they stopped in Cannes for an impeccable performance.

Two Door Cinema Club – I Can Talk (Crystal Fighters Remix) [vote HERE]

Two Door Cinema Club – Something Good Can Work (The Twelves Remix) [vote HERE]

The band is Alex Trimble (drums and vocals), Kevin Baird (bass) and Sam Halliday (guitar). They have been making music together as Two Door Cinema Club since early 2007, when they decided to give up on university places to work on their music full time. It seems they made the right decision and when we met them before their show they looked as confident and self-assured as any of the veteran bands present at the festival.

- Your debut album Tourist History is a bit of a “Guide to the perfect pop song”. How do you write your songs?

We write a lot and we spend a lot of time working on our songs. Then when we listen to them again, we pick out the best. We only keep the punchiest and the songs that really get stuck in your head. The rest we just throw away.

- How come three Irish guys from Bangor ended up signing to Parisian label Kitsuné?

We wanted to work with a relatively small label where things work on a smaller scale, more personnal. We couldn’t really find what we wanted in Ireland or in London so in the end it was a natural process. We met the people at Kitsuné and kinda grew together… It was important for us to work with people who love music just as much as we do. Really passionate people… And Kitsuné is a small company, everyone knows everyone, it’s like a big family.

- What is it like touring with Two Door Cinema Club?

A lot of time on the internet!! We spend a lot of time on the road so we get bored a lot. In the end we are also checking emails, reading messages from our fans… I think nowadays it’s a lot more fan to support a band you like. We for one are very close to our fans… But it’s still weird to see girls come to us asking for autographs and pics.

- You are tonight’s headliners with Foals. Do you know them?

We are constantly bumping into one another at festivals. We are almost like their “official support band”!! We actually hope to be able to catch a bit of their show tonight. But we actually have to take off pretty soon for another 10-hour bus ride. We won’t even get to check out the bars in Cannes…

Catch up with Two Door Cinema Club on MySpace and buy their debut album on Tourist

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THE RAPTURE @ PANTIERO FESTIVAL

Aug 15th, 10 / 0 Comments

San Francisco-born, New York-based post-punk band The Rapture have been in the music business for over a decade now and it really shows! Luke Jenner, Vito Roccoforte and Gabriel Andruzzi (who replaced Matt Safer on bass guitar in July 2009) know how to galvanize the crowds and get the party started. Starting their hour-long set with three of their most contagious hits (“Don Go Do It”, “Pieces Of The People We Love” and “Get Myself Into It”), The Rapture were coming on strong!

The rest of the performance was handled with brio by the three musicians. Their blend of post-punk, dance, disco, electronica and indie rock turned out to be as effective live as it is on their last album to date Pieces Of The People We Know (Universal Motown Records, 2006).

The Rapture – Get Myself Into It

We caught up with the band a couple of hours before the concert under the sun and asked them a few questions about their new album, their best concerts and more…

- When will your new album be released?

Magic question!

- How has your sound evolved? Can you describe it in a few words?

Well, it’s kinda stupid to describe music, you need to listen to it really…

- Do you all sing on this album?

No! No it’s just me (Luke)… There’s a lot of vocals on this album. Each song either has a lot of vocals on it or a lot of keyboards.

- How has Europe been treating you so far? Do you find it harder to relate to audiences here?

We’ve been coming to Europe for the past 8 years. It’s kinda normal to come to Europe for us. And it’s different from the US, but also France is incredibly different to play from the UK or Germany. It’s really more of a city to city thing… and can be even city to city and venue to venue. Some venues people just feel better and make us feel better and some are harder venues to play… It can even be day to day. I mean if you learn anything from being in a band it’s that you really can’t expect anything: a lot of times the best shows that you had, you will go back to that same audience and something will be really off. It’s like you can’t ever control what’s gonna happen and that’s kind of the most beautiful part… Tonight could be the best show we’ve ever played or the worst show we’ve ever played.

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LOCAL NATIVES @ PANTIERO FESTIVAL

Aug 13th, 10 / 1 Comment

For the opening night of the Pantiero Music Festival, headliners Local Natives were scheduled to perform at 9PM and well before the concert tension was already building amongst the crowd,  waiting in anticipation to see the five Californian wunderkinds perform their magic on stage…

The band fulfilled all of their fans’ wildest expectations!  Performing under a hazy blue light, the no-front-man band proved how well they work together, always balancing stage presence and creating a perfect alchemy that transpired into their music and subtle vocal harmonies…

Local Natives – Sun Hands (RussianAdults Remix)

- So there’s no leader?

It’s very democratic… Some tensions sometimes but it’s good… Obviously we share similar tastes.

- You used to live in a house together?

We did. We all moved out of the house cause we move around so much, it doesn’t even make sense to have a house really.. We’re just never home. We’re homeless in a way… We’ve been on tour for a year, with little breaks every few months.

- And during your breaks do you write new songs?

The breaks aren’t long enough, they’re just maybe a few days off to hang out with our girlfriends or family, catch our breath…

- You still find time to write during the tour? Or will take a break after the tour to make new music?

When we write, we write very collaboratively and collectively and so we’ve had some time to write in an individual sense but we won’t really get to dive in the songs until we’re done touring. And we’ll probably tour till the end of this year and so after that we’ll take a big break so we can spend a lot of time to write.

- Are you tired of touring?

No!! Everything has been kind of a new experience for us and it’s been exciting to play for different audiences. We just played in Japan for the first time and it was just insane, it was really cool. I think it’s still exciting for us.

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FESTIVAL PANTIERO (Cannes – France)

Aug 11th, 10 / 0 Comments

At the height of summer, a quiet storm is brewing in the South of France. Bringing together the best of indie, rock and electro music, the Pantiero Music Festival is kicking off today in the sun-soaked city of Cannes!

Home to one of the oldest and most reputable film festivals in the world, the “Palais des Festivals” will be rocking to some of the freshest tunes around. So put on your dancing shoes, grab your sunglasses and follow umstrum||music every day from August 12 to 14 as we walk you through some of the highlights of this year’s festival!

For the 9th year in a row, the Pantiero Music Festival brings together a handpicked selection of artists from all over the world, playing all genres of music and catering to very different audiences. With one thing in common though: passion! Since 2002, the artists that have taken to the stage have consistently wowed fans and critics alike and for this new edition  expectations are high. With a lineup that includes Foals, Local Natives, Bot’Ox, Errors, Zombie Nation, Two Door Cinema Club, The Rapture and Mondkopf, Pantiero’s huge rooftop stage overlooking the Mediterranean will be at the center of this 4-day music extravaganza.

Foals – Astronauts and All (Barringtone Remix)

Join the party! Tune in tomorrow for some hot festival news and an exclusive interview with Local Natives.

Find more info about the festival HERE and buy tickets online HERE.

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GENERAL ELEKTRIKS – GOOD CITY FOR DREAMERS (Electro/Lounge/Hip Hop – France)

Aug 9th, 10 / 0 Comments

Hervé Salters is the artist behind one-man-band General Elektriks. A French keyboardist with a self-confessed passion for vintage keyboards, Hervé Salters initiated General Electrics just before moving to San Francisco. Using a computer and his oldschool keys, he started sowing together loops, Funky keyboards, light melodies and digital noises.

General Elektriks – Take Back The Instant

Also part of the band Honeycut, Salters released his sophomore album as General Elektriks last year to wide acclaim. The new album, Good City For Dreamers, is the follow up to GE’s debut album Cliquety Kliqk. The production here is polished and the songs are just as well crafted as on GE’s debut. Hervé Salters’ new offering is a quirky mix of retro funk, New Wave-inspired indie rock and glitchy electronica that oscillates between moments of quiet contemplation, melancholy and clap-happy euphoria.

General Elektriks – Raid the Radio (Lazy Uprise Mix)

If you like what you hear, head over to MySpace to listen to more music or check out the official website. Buy the album on General

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