On the heels of three well-received singles comes Ride Your Heart, the bombastic debut album by LA band, Bleached, out April 2 via Dead Oceans. Sisters Jennifer and Jessie Clavin match their ability to blend a mix of freewheeling '77 punk with vintage sunny Southern California melodic rock and roll; creating blindingly bright hooks and dark heartfelt lyrics about love, loss, and the crazy fun moments in between. That's the goal: the sugary and sour, repurposed by two aggressively harmonic musicians and songwriters. Their first single "Next Stop" epitomizes this movement - fun, raw, adventurous and free. Tossing you out onto the dance floor, hair mussed from make-outs, cigarette still dangling from your fingertips.
Raised up deep in the San Fernando Valley, their suburban isolation nurtured the girls creativity, as they started making their own music at a young age. Sneaking into punk shows over the hill in Hollywood, they grew up to become teenaged underground staples at all-ages Downtown DIY venue, The Smell. "Me and Jen were punk kids who weren't taught how to play instruments," says Jessie. We taught ourselves how to play, out in the garage." Eventually signing to Kill Rock Stars and Post Present Medium, their all-girl punk band Mika Miko drew international acclaim, landing slots on tours with No Age, Black Lips, and The Gossip.
Bleached originally formed when the Clavin sisters resolved to continue working with each other upon the break up of Mika Miko. Plans were postponed when the sisters joined other bands. Jennifer relocated to New York and toured extensively. With Jennifer away, Jessie began to play with various bands in LA. But in the fleeting moments they found together back home, the songs that became Bleached's early 7" singles came together. Since Jennifer moved back to her hometown, Bleached now serves as both girls' chief creative outlet. "I was going crazy being in someone else's band," remarked Jennifer. "Me and Jessie are so proud and happy to be able to focus on our own music, together."
As a whole, the twelve tracks on Ride Your Heart reveal the many facets of Bleached's music in a delirious vortex of playful harmonies, tangled guitars, and golden noise. Each song brings a new element, while also imbibing the classic moods of bands as varied and iconic in nature as The Ramones and The Cars to The Rolling Stones and Fleetwood Mac. From the syncopated backbeat and two-part chorus of "Dead In Your Head,", the rolling riffs and sparkling melodies of "Searching Through The Past" and the pulsating energy and urgency of "Dreaming Without You" and "Outta My Mind", Bleached take you on a sweeping emotional roller coaster that churns and burns. Ride Your Heart is a thrilling, beating, glorious wall of sound strong enough to withstand its own impact.
Sounds like: Mazzy Star/Hope Sandoval, Kurt Vile, Feist, Cocteau Twins…
Already one of the “keep an eye on” bands in both Humo and De Morgen forecasts early January and the debutsingle “Shell” was immediately picked up at Radio 1 daytime rotation and Studio Brussel “Select” show…there is clearly something in the air with those Bits…
Musicians Tim Coenen, Jules Lemmens, Peter Pask and Steven Holsbeeks gather around singer-songwriter Karolien Van Ransbeeck to bring heartfelt lyrics. The mood is intimate, subtle, sometimes even restrained. Yet every so often the band flies off the handle with boisterous guitars, soul and drive.
On stage Few Bits knows exactly how to pull the right strings and move the audience in more ways than one.
The band did already several supports for artists like Heather Nova, I blame coco and Jessica Lea Mayfield but was also on the bill of respectable festivals like Crossing Border or Les Nuits
CONCERTS
LIVE:
22/02 café salle jeanne deurne
23/02 cc de posthoorn hamont achel
26/02 arenbergschouwburg antwerp
28/02 depot leuven
02/03 cactus bruges
27/03 beurs bxl
13/04 c-mine genk
16/05 4ad diksmuide
Electric Voice II featuring Martin Dupont, Genesis Breyer P-Orridge, Tropic of Cancer and more scheduled for March 1st release
Electric Voice Records just released two more exclusive tracks from their much anticipated Electric Voice II Compilation. The record is slated for a digital and limited vinyl release on March 1st. Due to heavy demand, those looking for the LP version are encouraged to take advantage of the label's pre-order option in order to ensure availability.
Electric Voice II
On this deluxe compilation, Electric Voice Records offers yet another exploration of historical and contemporary underground music. Whereas last year’s Electric Voice V/A release focused on alternative approaches to electronic pop music, this new album mines a darker spectrum of genres, one that spans more than three decades of minimalist synth and industrial work.
Here, new generation artists like Tropic of Cancer and Martial Canterel (Xeno & Oaklander) are seen to extend rather than revive the music of their influences. Electric Voice II marries these young artists with pioneers from the beginning days of this music, truly groundbreaking acts like Ike Yard, the first America band to sign with Factory Records, and Throbbing Gristle/Psychic TV’s enigmatic Genesis Breyer P-Orridge, now performing some of her most poignant material to date as Thee Majesty.
Other featured artists include Das Ding and French group Martin Dupont, who both offer cuts from their respective early 80’s archives. There are also exclusive tracks by ADN’ Ckrystall, Frank (Just Frank), Vita Noctis, and Nine Circles. Taken together, the seamless flow of these tracks, despite the span of generations, makes clear the continued relevance of these practices and pure electronic sounds. To celebrate this collection, acclaimed artist Juan Mendez (Silent Servant) provides cover artwork, with additional design by Dmytrij Wulffius. Brandon Hocura at Polyphasic Studios offers the meticulous final master.
Tracklist:
A1 Real Eyes - Thee Majesty
A2 Who Will Remain - Martial Canterel
A3 Der Stasi Palace - ADN' Ckrystall
A4 Bit of Smile - Martin Dupont
A5 Fall Apart - Tropic Of Cancer
B1 Traversez le Pont - Frank (Just Frank)
B2 Elysians - Ike Yard
B3 Serial Killer - Vita Noctis
B4 Mercy - Nine Circles
B5 End Credits Roll - Das Ding
Good news for the Laibach-fans as they have released their first video ever "Mi kujemo bodočnost" ("We are Forging the Future!") for the very first time on-line.
The clip was filmed in Ljubljana's legendary FV club in 1983.
The two drunken bastards from Bocksholm (Peter Andersson of Raison D'être and Lina Baby Doll of Deutsch Nepal) are finally back with a new album and this time they have unleashed the Beast.
Any mythological idea that Boxholm has become a great peaceful Eden is from now on eternally disproved. No one is safe anymore, not even the horror of Kisa. Birath - the Beast of the forge - is back and we are all captives inside his devilish mind, at least for 60 minutes after pressing play.
Enjoy with a bottle of moonshine
