"Ezra's Interlude" ft. Ezra Koenig- Chromeo

I'll admit from the jump that I know next to nothing about Chromeo. Until I posted the artwork from their forthcoming fourth album White Women, I was clueless as to how many members were in the group. If you'd told me 2 or 10, I could've been talked into believing either. I had no idea that the duo of David Macklovitch and Patrick Gemayel, better known as Dave 1 and P-Thugg, hailed from Montreal or that they'd been going strong since the release of She's In Control in 2004. All I had was this vague conception of Chromeo as some sort of goofy, electronic-tinged act.

So it was somewhat disconcerting for me to see this morning that the latest preview from the White Women LP featured none other than Vampire Weekend's Ezra Koenig. I haven't exactly been shy about my admiration of the band and while they've been able to loosen up before, "goofy" is not a primary word I would use to describe them. I was worried that Koenig could descend into a garish pit of cheekiness that would be difficult to crawl back out of. However, all of my fears were allayed as soon as I actually heard the track. The reflective piano opening the track as Koenig coolly hums, is distant kin to the gliding keys found in "Hannah Hunt". His realization "I just can't pretend I'm gonna make you mine," is the much-needed eye-opener after the relationship dreaming that marked "Ya Hey". And then, as Koenig bows out, Dave 1 rides in on electronic burbles and reaffirms his sentiment. "I never wanna be the last to know," he calmly protests atop a bed of sonic burbles. What read as disjointed on first glance is in fact united.





White Women is out 5/12 through Big Beat, and if you pre-order the release you instantly receive four songs.

What's New(s)?

Avey Tare's Slasher Flicks announce debut Enter the Slasher House

Animal Collective founder Avey Tare's side-project Slasher Flicks has been touted for over a year now and today the project came into focus with the announcement of a debut LP. The trio, featuring Tare alongside ex-Dirty Projector Angel Deradoorian and former-Ponytail drummer Jeremy Hyman will release Enter the Slasher House April 8 via Domino. 

To accompany the announcement, they've shared a lively first single entitled "Little Fang". For all of the ghoulish titles and pictures, it's a remarkably effervescent track that finds Tare's voice lilting right along with aqueous synth noises. You can hear the cut below, along with the tracklist to Enter the Slasher House and tour-dates for the group.


Tracklist: 
1. "A Sender"
2. "Duplex Trip"
3. "Blind Babe"
4. "Little Fang"
5. "Catchy (Was Contagious)"
6. "That It Won't Grow"
7. "The Outlaw"
8. "Roses on the Window"
9. "Modern Days E"
10. "Strange Colores"
11. "Your Card"


Tour Dates: 
4/17 Madison, WI - Majestic Theatre
4/18 Ann Arbor, MI - The Blind Pig
4/19 Toronto, Ontario - Lee's Palace
4/21 New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom
4/22 Boston, MA - Brighton Music Hall
4/24 Philadelphia, PA - Johnny Brenda's
4/25 Washington, DC - U Street Music Hall
4/26-27 Asheville, NC - Moogfest
4/28 Columbus, OH - Ace of Cups
4/29 Nashville, TN - Exit In
4/30 Atlanta, GA - Masquerade (Purgatory Stage)
5/2 New Orleans, LA - Parish at House of Blues
5/3-4 Austin, TX - Austin Psych Fest 

"Little Fang" 

Joey Bada$$ celebrates Valentine's Day early

“Lil sumchin for the ladies , early valentine’s day present ;) -" Brooklyn boom-bap revivalist Joey Bada$$ says of his early V-Day present "Panty Raid Pt. II". A sort-of-sequel to 2012's "Panty Raid", Pt. II finds the 19-year-old in loverman mode whispering sweet-nothings over an 80s R&B beat. And while the promise to "expand your ocular" isn't exactly as sweet as candy, "Okay you’re obviously brainwashed, our time ain’t the same watch, waiting by your grandfather clock like that shit gon’ stop for us" is the type of line anyone would love to hear on the 14th.

"Pantie Raid Pt. II" marks the start of "Pro Era Week", which will feature new singles from Bada$$'s crew in the run-up to their third mixtape Seccs Tap.e Pt. 2.

Karen O and Ezra Koenig team up for "The Moon Song"

I don't know if there's a greater music moment in film from 2013 than the tender duet Joaquin Phoenix and Scarlett Johansson share in the Spike Jonze directed Her. "The Moon Song" is delivered with such intimacy, featuring only whispered vocals and softly strummed ukelele, that the two feel as though they're in the same room together; even though they're close to the song's "million miles away."

This updated version of the track, featuring Vampire Weekend's Ezra Koenig provides O with a partner who she says "has the goods." In this minimalist setting, O and Koenig's hushed tones offer a stark contrast to both of their bands' work. And while piano has also been added to the mix, it's inclusion isn't a distraction in the least bit. It spins everything closer to a dream, one where distance isn't meaningless.

A three-song EP of "The Moon Song" will be debuting on iTunes later this week and you can hear the duet here.




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