What's New(s)?

Damon Albarn drops video for Brian Eno feature "Heavy Seas of Love"

Earlier today Damon Albarn made his debut solo effort Everyday Robots available for streaming through iTunes Radio and to promote the move he's released the video for Brian Eno-feature "Heavy Seas of Love". While the Matt Cronin-edited clip doesn't include the ambient-pioneer, it does incorporate plenty of shots of wide-eyed traveling and not so subtle psychedelia. Like the ambling track itself it doesn't bowl you over, but it is relaxed enough to calm you down. 

Everyday Robots is out April 28 via Parlophone/Warner Bros.

 

Jamie xx releases new song "Girl" from upcoming single

Almost a month ago, The xx's beatmaker Jamie xx dropped the profoundly silent "Sleep Sound" as part of an upcoming double A-side 12" record. Then dubstep-crooner James Blake released the record's other half "Girl" during his BBC Radio show; albeit with talking piled on top of the track. Now the track has officially been released by Jamie xx and its an absolute monster. For all of the stark silence of "Sleep Sound", "Girl" is brimming with warped vocal samples, hair-raising electronic tics, and dying drum machine beats. Whatever sliver of comfort the already tense "Sleep Sound" had to offer is gone on "Girl".

"Girl"/"Sleep Sound" is out May 5 via Young Turks, and you can find the audio for "Girl" below along with the deeply affecting clip for "Sleep Sound".

Chromatics & Glass Candy's Johnny Jewel Scoring Ryan Gosling's directorial debut

 

 

As much as I love Cliff Martinez's alternately bright and foreboding soundtrack for the 2011 pulp-masterpiece Drive, I can't help but wonder how it would've sounded in the hands of Italians Do It Better-founder Johnny Jewel. Though Jewel's band Chromatics had a feature on the soundtrack, Jewel was originally slated to craft the entire score until interests diverged and Martinez stepped in. And while Jewel's fascinating Themes for An Imaginary Film strongly hints at what might've been, it's not entirely satiating. 

 

All of that will change next month when Drive-star Ryan Gosling's directorial debut, Lost River, premieres at the Cannes Film Festival. The film which the L.A. Times summarizes as "A single mother enters a dark lifestyle, while her son uncovers a road leading to an underwater utopia," was entirely scored by Jewel, who is also working on a new Glass Candy record.

No word yet on when the score/soundtrack will be releasing, but odds are it will be a worthwhile listen. While you wait, enjoy the video for Chromatics' mesmerizing "Cherry".

 

 

Check back tomorrow for more of the newest in new(s) and follow AllFreshSounds on Twitter for updates throughout the day.

What's New(s)?

Beck shares a new song

 


After teasing a new song in the trailer for his upcoming album Morning Phase on Friday, Beck has released the first taste of his upcoming 12th studio LP with "Blue Moon". The record has been touted as a "companion piece" to 2002's lush Sea Change and the carefully strummed first single confirms the reports. Beck's voice hovers above the acoustic and orchestral strings, resonating "don't leave me on my own" during the chorus.

Morning Phase, Beck's follow-up to 2008's sorely under-appreciated Modern Guilt will be released February 25th through Capital Records.

Death Grips working on a new album

Experimental-rap/punk group Death Grips can be accused of being many things, but lazy isn't one of them. Since the three-piece's clamoring debut in 2011, they've released three LPs, including two in 2012 and the phenomenal 2013 manifesto Government Plates.

According to drummer Zach Hill, the group doesn't have any intent to slow down in 2014.

Taking to Facebook, Hill writes "starting to record the new Death Grips album right now," and adds "hope to tour a lot this summer." And while the band's touring record has been "spotty" at best, there's nothing to suggest their output will suddenly taper off in 2014. Even if they fall into old show routines, I'm willing to bet that by late-Summer/early-Fall all will be forgiven with the release of a new album.

 "Whatever I want (F*** who's watching)"

Damon Albarn unveils a video for "Everyday Robots"

 

It's almost impossible to believe that in the incredibly prolific three-decade career, Damon Albarn of Blur/Gorillaz/The Good, The Bad, and the Queen fame has released exactly one solo LP, 2003's largely underwhelming Democrazy. That all changes with the release of Everyday Robots, which Albarn tells Rolling Stone is a sort-of "folk soul project."

Now the project has an accompanying CGI-heavy video for the title-track. The hauntingly skittish "Everyday Robots" which features clanking percussion and scratchy orchestral strings blurs together with cranial scans of Albarn to create an intensely personal video. Director Aitor Thorup calls the piece "a unique digital portrait of Damon" and you can see the artist discuss the making of the clip courtesy of Dazed.

As for the album, a press-release reveals the record will feature contributions by electronic-music luminary Brian Eno and Bat for Lashes' Natasha Khan. Featuring production-work by XL Recordings head Richard Russell, Everyday Robots arrives in the U.S. April 28.

Check back in tomorrow for more of the newest in new(s) and follow @AllFreshSounds on Twitter for updates throughout the day.