The immediately fruitful collaboration brought forth singles “Sparkly”, “You With Air” and “Night In The Ocean,” all of which were fitting indicators of the band’s chameleonic sound, heavily informed by West African rhythms, Brainfeeder hip-hop, UK bass, and 60s psychedelic soul. Young Magic’s full-length debut, Melt, comprises both of these tracks-as well as their B-sides-and expands on their varied aesthetic, at once electronically sequenced and completely organic. Containing recordings from 10 different countries, the album flaunts new facets at each turn, letting-as on “Watch For Our Lights”-rough samples from distant lands coalesce with drum machines and distorted synths. “Night In The Ocean” and “Jam Karet” put soaring synth pads around the higher frequencies while deep kicks keep the songs grounded, allowing Isaac and Melati’s vocals to float in synchronicity between. And with its shifting rhythm, open structure, and layers of echoed vocals, closer and highlight, “Drawing Down The Moon,” hints at crystalline take on UK garage: a last dance from a collection of short stories from around the world. With a sonic mélange of vibes on a debut that remains cohesive and distinctly their own, it will be exciting to see where the trio’s tastes will guide them next.

They will also be playing at SXSW this year.  We got a chance to chat with the band, to ask about which music they have been listening to, and what they recommend listening to:2011

Teebs – Autumn Antique (Left Edit) (2011)  This came out last night and hasn’t left my headphones all day. Somehow in this New York winter I couldn’t feel much warmer.

Samaris – Góða tungl from Kljompu (2011)  I first met Áslaug and Jófríður of Samaris just before our first show in Iceland. This EP became our soundtrack of that trip… sparse layers of dark winds floating over lava landscapes. They are still only so young so will be interesting to hear what they make next.

Galapagoose - Milkwood (2011)  Underrated sounds from the Melbourne monome wizard, featuring a beautiful sample from Brazilian singer é linda.

The other years..

Mariah – 心臓の扉 from (1983)  Transcending time whilst ahead of their time. Japanese group with an Armenian vocalist, who craft delicate jams that help you drift up and off. Highly recommended, and somehow completely lost to history. Translation? My Life Is Big.

Selda Bagcan – Yaz Gazeteci Yaz from Selda (1976)  In a league of it’s own. When progressive Turkish label Türküola gave Selda the opportunity to make this record in the mid 70s, the outspoken protest singer saw Istanbul’s silenced musical genius come out of the woodwork to contribute, resulting in one of the most forward thinking, dangerous and mind-melting records of the era… in that part of the world or any other. This record still hasn’t left my playlists.

WOOSHIE – Drama (Unreleased) (2009?)  Underrated Melbourne digger with such pristine soul and a dirty touch to his dusty, melting flips. In the reds and recommended.

Asha Bholse – O Babuaa Yeh Mahua from Sadma Soundtrack (1983)  The chorus melts me. The beat is already a beat. Her voice is amazing. And this scene of the film with Silk Smitha? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CAAtcLyv1zw

City and Colour – Little Hell: an artist and album that’s easy on the ears. Strong enough for a man, pH balanced for a woman.
Alexisonfire – Old Crows/Young Cardinals: the last album by this great post-hardcore Canadian band. Gonna miss them dearly.
Dredg – Chuckles and Mr. Squeezy: an album out of left field from a usually progressive rock band. In collaboration with Dan the Automator.
The Grouch -  we’re currently on tour with this awesome hip-hop emcee so I’ve been catching up with his catalog. Listen to “Artsy”.
Adele – she’s gotten very popular for a reason. Great voice and range. Really digging the track “Hometown Glory”.
Radiohead – In Rainbows: an instant go-to for me whenever I need something downtempo and melodic.

Here is some live footage we shot of the group last year.

Bright Eyes

Skrillex

M83

Avril Lavigne

Bob Marley

Alkaline Trio

Depeche Mode

The Cure

Feed Me

Joy Division

Madonna

Lil Wayne

Marilyn  Manson

MSI

Motley Crue

MCR

Nicki Minaj

NIN

Nirvana

NOFX

Placebo

You can listen to a preview of one of their new songs here.

I just first discovered white female hip-hop artist K.Flay from San Francisco right before the holidays. She was the opening act supporting Grieves With Budo on tour. I immediately realized how talented she was and became an instant fan. She was a new EP,  Eyes Shut, coming out this month and here is a brand new single titled “Sunburn”. We have already heard her new single “We Hate Everyone” previously. I wanted to find out what she listens to and what she would recommend to us, so I asked!  Read her recommendations below, and tour dates follow her answers.

Favorite Music of 2011:

Schoolboy Q – Setbacks

Little Dragon – Ritual Union

Katy B – On A Mission

Drake – Take Care

The Kills – Blood Pressures

Favorite Music Of All Time:

Outkast – ATLiens

Liz Phair – Exile In Guyville

Metric – Live It Out

Missy Elliott – Supa Dupa Fly

Portishead – Dummy

Favorite Indie/Unsigned/Underrated:

Black Light Dinner Party

Purity Ring

Sarah Jaffe

K.Flay is scheduled to released the self-produced Eyes Shut on January 31st. She will have a few shows with Brooklyn rapper Theophilus London, rest of the dates are listed below:

01/17 – Seattle, WA @ Neumo’s *
01/18 – Vancouver, BC @ Fortune Sound Club *
01/19 – Portland, OR @ Wonder Ballroom *
01/21 – San Francisco, CA @ Mezzanine *
01/22 – Los Angeles, CA @ El Rey *
02/10 – Chicago, IL @ Subterranean
02/11 – Minneapolis, MN @ The Best Love Is Free 3 #

* = w/ Theophilus London
# = w/ Culture Cry Wolf, Toki Wright, Crunchy Kids, Wesley Opus, Ceewhy, Slipmats Ent., and special guests.

Favorite Music of 2011:

1. Bon Iver – Bon Iver, Bon Iver
2. Drake – Take Care
3. M83 – Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming
4. Jay-Z and Kanye West – Watch The Throne
5. Doomtree – No Kings

Favorite Music of All Time:

Stevie Wonder

Thin Lizzy

Luther Vandross

Jay-Z

Isley Brothers

Steely Dan

R. Kelly

Favorite Independent/Unsigned/Underrated:

Polica

G-Side

Money Making Jam Boys

Marijuana Deathsquads

The Weeknd

King Mez

Killer Mike

1/19 @ The Granada Theatre- Lawrence, KS
1/20 @ Mojo’s- Columbia, MO
1/21 @ The Waiting Room- Omaha, NE
1/22 @ The Summit Music Hall- Denver, CO
1/23 @ Urban Lounge- Salt Lake City, UT
1/24 @ Neurolux- Boise, ID
1/26 @ Branx- Portland, OR
1/27 @ The Crocodile- Seattle, WA
1/28 @ Fortune Sound Club- Vancouver, BC
1/29 @ WOW Hall- Eugene, OR
1/31 @ Slim’s- San Francisco, CA
2/01 @ Catalyst Atrium- Santa Cruz, CA
2/02 @ The Troubadour- West Hollywood, CA
2/03 @ The Casbah- San Diego, CA
2/04 @ Chasers- Scottsdale, AZ
2/07 @ Dan’s Silverleaf- Denton, TX
2/08 @ Fitzgerald’s Downstairs- Houston, TX
2/09 @ One Eyed Jacks- New Orleans, LA
2/10 @ Bottletree Cafe- Birmingham, AL
2/11 @ Drunken Unicorn- Atlanta, GA
2/12@ Local 506- Chapel Hill, NC
2/13 @ Rock and Roll Hotel- Washington, DC
2/15 @ Union Transfer- Philadelphia, PA
2/16 @ Bowery Ballroom- New York, NY
2/17 @ The Middle East- Downstairs- Cambridge, MA
2/18 @ II Motore- Montreal, QC
2/19 @ Sneaky Dee’s- Toronto, ON
2/20 @ Shadow Lounge- Pittsburgh, PA
2/21 @ Beachland Ballroom- Cleveland, OH
2/22 @ Blind Pig- Ann Arbor, MI
2/23 @ The Bottom Lounge- Chicago, IL
2/25 @ Turner Hall- Milwaukee, WI

http://itunes.apple.com/ca/preorder/a-flash-flood-of-colour-deluxe/id488075518

I was able to interview guitar player Liam “Rory” Clewlow at the end of last summer, after they were through with Van’s Warped Tour. I became an instant fan after discovering them, and thought it would be a good idea to keep in touch. This time I was able to catch up with Roughton “Rou” Reynolds, the lead vocalist, to get some music recommendations.

Erik Mongrain: Incredibly talented progressive classical guitarist. Really feel good, great use of harmonics, and always good to listen to after playing a metal/hardcore show!

True Tiger: Dubstep collective from near us really starting to break out. Really classy stuff unlike most of the homogeneous stuff coming from that scene now.

Noisia: The top producers in the game in our opinion. Pure quality every time. Hugely inspirational.

Mong Hang: Crazy experimental Japanese band. Go from Rock & Roll to weird choir stuff to creepy cartoon style music within 10 seconds.

The King Blues: Our boys helping us hold the fort of socially conscious music. Great lyrics and fun music!

Looks like the track listing will be:

1) System…
2) …Meltdown
3) Sssnakepit
4) Search Party
5) Arguing With Thermometers
6) Stalemate
7) Ghandi Mate, Ghandi
8) Warm Smiles Do Not Make You Welcome Here
9) Pack Of Thieves
10) Hello Tyrannosaurus, Meet Tyrannicide
11) Constellations

Girl in a Coma is a rock band from San Antonio, Texas – land of puffy tacos, Lone Star Beer, and the place where Ozzy pissed on the Alamo. All through High School best friends Jenn Alva and Phanie Diaz spent their Friday nights not at the football games, but in Phanie’s bedroom listening to records, singing along to punk songs, and talking of the band they would someday form.

While Nina is often referred to as “the female version of Morrissey,” the band as a whole has been compared to The Smiths, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and the Pixies. Drawing from these influences (the band’s name, Girl in a Coma, comes from the classic Smiths song “Girlfriend in a Coma”), the girls have managed to create a sound and style that not only pays homage to their heroes, but is uniquely their own. Nina’s voice is at turns mesmerizing, hypnotic, playful, thunderous, and soft, and has been compared to artists as diverse as Bjork, Patsy Cline, and Morrissey himself.

In addition to playing hundreds of their own headlining shows, Girl in a Coma has played on Vans Warped Tour and has opened for Morrissey, The Pogues, Frank Black and the Catholics, theSTART, The Epoxies, The Eyeliners, Boz Boorer and The Bozmen, The Groovie Ghoulies, The Cruxshadows, Brassy and The Smoking Popes.

Phanie, who plays drums, recently took some time for us to tell us what the band is listening to in rotation in their van right now. They have recently been on tour in support of their newest record, Exits & All The Rest.

Agent Ribbons- Chateau Crone: Agent Ribbons is from Austin ,TX one of our top fav bands.

Black Box Revelation- Shiver of Joy: Black Box Revelation is from Belgium. They opened for us on our last tour and we became instant fans. Sweet guys.

The Coathangers- Larceny and Old Lace: The Coathangers were also on our last tour.

Gene Pitney- The Best of Gene Pitney: We have always been a fan of oldies and the artists we listen to rotate. Right now we are on the Pitney trip.

Altered Images- Pinky Blue: I’m obsessed with them. May be my new Smiths.

Pharcyde- Bizarre Ride ll The Pharcyde: The three of us love old school hip hop. It’s true. This is our top group.

Lene Lovich- Stateless: I bought her vinyl years ago on a whim. Now we are all fans.

Morrissey- Kill Uncle: Of course we are all big fans. This is one of our fave albums.

Pinata Protest- Plethora: They are from San Antonio as well and one of our fave bands out here.

Superdrag- Regretfully Yours: Very influential on us. We would love to tour with them.

One of my favorite releases this year was from a band I was only introduced to this year, Young Buffalo. The young Mississippi group signed to Fat Possum, toured opening for Arctic Monkeys, and released their phenomenal EP Young Von Prettylips. They were originally scheduled to play CMJ, but one of their members left the band due to his wife having a baby. More recently they gained 2 new members for their live set-up, and released a new song, called “Baby Demons” (see this link). By the way, in case you didn’t know, member Jim Barrett is the brother of John Barrett, the frontman of another Mississippi/Fat Possum band, Bass Drum Of Death.

Here is a list of what they are currently listening to, and have been during 2011. There are also some of their all time favorites listed here as well:

M83

Mikal Cronin

Twin Sister

Craft Spells

A Tribe Called Quest

Reptar

Queens of The Stone Age

Tom Petty

Reptar

Queens of The Stone Age

Tom Petty

Looking forward to great things to come from them in 2012! Here is some live footage we shot of them opening for Arctic Monkeys.

The Aggrolites – Rugged Road

The best way to describe this record, released this year, and this band is just cool.

Lucero – 1372 Overton Park

These are old friends of ours, and we have toured a lot with them.

Street Dogs - Street Dogs

These are more good friends of ours, and are good guys. This is music for good time.

Roll The Tanks - Suffer City

This new band are from Los Angeles and have a new record out that reminds me of Jimmy Eat World’s Bleed American. Every song has a hook and is very catchy.

Fucked Up – David Comes To Life

We were gonna tour with them in Europe last year but it didn’t work out. They have layers, not just cut and dry. Still one of the best bands out.

Castlemania – Thee Oh Sees
John Dwyer channeled a death obsessed mountain troll for this perfectly fried and bizarre little album from 2011. Dwyer reinvents himself every six months and somehow it’s always a totally different version of bad ass. Also Thee Oh Sees are currently the best live band in the world.

King Kahn and the Shrines – What Is?!
The first time I heard this, I thought every song was a cover of some obscure 60’s garage Motown gem I couldn’t quite place. Then I realized the songs are formally perfect period pieces, as though Mr. Kahn had slipped inside Otis Redding’s cadaver and brought it to life for reals and it was cool without any shades of necrophilia, just something you do for fun. Another great live band.

Sagor & Swing – Orgelfärger
I can’t remember who gave me this simple and lovely Swedish synth folk band’s album, but thank you! I thought they must be really popular over there until I watched some YouTube clips of them playing in nearly empty outdoor park amphitheaters. Still, they capture a feeling with their simple little melodies that sound so sincere even though they’re synthesizers.

Indian Jewelry – Free Gold!
The best album by this warped Houston psych damage band. They rival the Butthole Surfers at moments but are really more of an awesome weird-feeling atmosphere band (instead of the full game changing brilliance of the fucking Butthole Surfers – hands down the greatest live band ever).

Mel Tormé – Crown Collector Series The very best of the Velvet Fog – Jesus Christ this guy is smooth! Way to lay back on it, Mel.