Like goths on a beach, the dark sounds of Daughter may seem out of place on sunny summer day, but few bands make "moody" music that's not downright depressing as well as this UK trio. Their atmospheric debut LP, If You Leave, arrives just in time for the warmer weather, and you may find yourself, w…
Although he made his name as a collaborator of the fast-rising Aussie producer Flume, Chet Faker's solo material is a much starker affair, dealing with heartbreak and isolation. Considering that, it's a little strange that he played to a fervent, mid-sized audience at Sasquatch in the dance tent on…
"It's on, baby!" Those three words signaled the end of the day's nine-hour freeze on main stage acts due to heavy winds, but as the sun set, Alabama Shakes brought back music to the Gorge Amphitheatre for Sasquatch! Music Festival, and to say there was palpable relief both on stage and in the audie…
Do you like to rock the hell out? Fuzz certainly does. As the last of the sunset faded, a large crowd of people gathered at the Yeti stage at Sasquatch to have their heat stroke blasted away by waves of distortion heavy guitar, fat bass, and driving drums. This three piece does not mess around. Ty …
Toronto’s BADBADNOTGOOD’s first headlining show in Seattle proved that they have come a long way from their viral-video rap-cover roots, as the three-piece made some serious noise tearing through several familiar covers and even more originals from their debut album, III. With only a drum kit, elec…
A review of Fauna Shade's single "Marzipan" described their sound as "Floydian... zapping electronic wiggles." This simultaneously whimsical yet vague description fits the band perfectly: their sound bounces through all the psychedelic subgenres, with droning stoner fuzz meeting some of Tame Impala…
Among all the new releases this week, it's hard to escape the one from Daft Punk. Their new album, Random Access Memories, is the first by the band in eight years. The 13-track record begins with a bang via its track "Give Life Back to Music", a funky, 70's-inspired song with trademark robot-style …
Indicators of Autumn: cooler weather, it's getting darker outside earlier, and the new releases list is getting more robust! Just look at this week's list. We get the long-awaited new album from Interpol. KEXP's Music Director Don Yates notes, the "New York-born band’s fifth album (and first withou…
There's this interview reel with Rod Serling that plays over the intro of Flight Facilities opening dance number "Two Bodies" on their debut LP, Down To Earth. Here, the famous Twilight Zone narrator reconciles the ideas of commercialism and creativity as the house beat fades in and Emma Louise sin…
Sweatson Klank is the alias of Los Angeles-based electronic producer Tom Wilson, also previously known as Take. He's a veteran of the underground beat scene with releases for revered labels such as Brainfeeder, Project Mooncircle, Alpha Pup, and All City Records. He's consistently evolving his cutt…
Mean Jeans guitarist and vocalist Billy Jeans (Christian Blunda) took the stage for his second set of the night (he also performed in openers Patsy’s Rats). He was joined by Jeans Wilder (Andrew Bassett) on drums, and Jr. Jeans (Richard Messina) on bass. It was late, but the crowd at Chop Suey wasn…
As the business model for the 21st music industry continues to shift and evolve, more and more artists are forming small, independent collectives, compiling funds between the group to make distribution easier to take on financially, but keeping ownership and obligations independent. One of the best…
4AD has been on a roll this year with unique new signees that are bringing the atmospheric R&B game to the next level. I guess this isn't terribly surprising, considering 4AD has been on the forefront for, I don't know, 35 years. But between last month's sleeper hit Lo-Fang set and last week's …
Inspired by Sufi poetry, their obsessions with writing, and limitation, Benjamin Verdoes and Nathan Quiroga, the creative masters behind Iska Dhaaf (a Somali phrase which roughly translates to "let it go"), have been collaborating for the past couple of years with impressive results. At first glanc…
Something felt different in the Neumos basement last week as the crowd packed in to see Shy Girls. The Portland electronic act, led by Dan Vidmar, has been around for a couple years, dropping lush EPs including the lauded Timeshare, making earnest love songs for the introspective bedroom-ridden lis…
