I love it when new albums pleasantly surprise. Based in Montreal, Our Book And The Authors is lead singer, songwriter and keyboardist Gabriel D’Amour and programmer Jean-Christian Arod. Their first full length self-titled album was released only two weeks ago, on May 13th 2009. After each listen I am drawn more and more into this beautiful album. I suppose you could call it an electro-pop album, most similar (in my opinion) to the Junior Boys, but more orchestrated and experimental. Each song has that basic electro-pop beat (reminiscent of those stock organ beats), and all feature the layered harmonizing vocals on D’Amour. Each song then adds significantly different effects and instruments, making each track much different from the next. Usually this may result in an incohesive album, but I feel that the basic electronic foundation and D’Amour flat sounding voice tie every together well enough. Furthermore, the strong melodies of every track are enough to win any listener over. Our Book and the Authors are good. Very good. Similar to: Junior Boys, Spoon (maybe), Postal Service (maybe not)
Download:
Our Book and The Authors - In All The Wrong Ways
Our Book and The Authors - Killing Flies
Our Book and The Authors - In All The Wrong Ways (Ease Remix)
Our Book and The Authors on The New Balearic:
‘In All The Wrong Ways’ on Episode 36
Buy Our Book and The Authors at CD Baby
Hello there friends. It’s good to have you back for another thrilling 90 minutes of the best new music in the world. The 36th episode of The New Balearic is a folky affair. Electro-folk. Freak-folk. Indie-folk. Folk punk. Folk pop. Ambient folk. It’s all here, only venturing ever so slightly outside the genre to introduce the episode with some pure pop from Phoenix, and dabbling in some instrumental ambient electronica here and there, courtesy of Helios and Australia’s young Pogo. Yep. The folk fun is led by perhaps the best Grizzly Bear song ever, and continues with some freak-ish folk from Brooklyn’s Julianna Barwick. After that, we head north to Canada to hear a new track from Edmonton’s up-and-coming Provincial Archives, and some experimental goodness from the consistent Tim Hecker. Later on, we’ll be introduced to The (fantastic) Rural Alberta Advantage and Our Book and the Authors, followed by another solid effort from Calgary’s Jordan Klassen. Meanwhile, a new track from the Bowerbirds, a song from the side project of Sigur Ros‘ Jón Þór Birgisson (Riceboy Sleeps), and an epic 10 minute long electro-folk, slow-brewer from England’s Kyte will ensure that this episode does not disappoint. I hope I’m right. Don’t forget to check out The New Balearic on Twitter and Facebook. Tracklisting: (1 hour, 28 minutes) Photo taken by Bruce Mans, All Rights Reserved.
Phoenix - ‘1901 (TNB Extended Intro)’ ()
White Rabbits - ‘Percussion Gun’ (TBD Records)
Grizzly Bear - ‘While You Wait for the Others’ (Warp Records)
Julianna Barwick - ‘Bode’ (eMusic Selects)
Riceboy Sleeps - ‘Boy 1904’ (Moss Stories)
Sea Wolf - ‘Leaves in the River’ (Dangerbird)
The Provincial Archives - ‘Acquaintances and Lovers’ (Bedrooms and Basements)
Patrick Watson - ‘Tracy’s Waters’ (Arts & Crafts)
Tim Hecker - ‘Borderlands’ (Kranky)
Hannu - ‘Harhailua’ (Kesh)
Paperfilm - ‘One Two Three and Zero’ (Unreleased)
The Electones - ‘Right Foot From Left’ (Beatservice)
Kyte - ‘Lights Outside Here’ (Rallye)
Our Book and The Authors - ‘In All The Wrong Ways’ (Domino)
Fink - ‘Sort of Revolution’ (LL Recordings)
Pogo - ‘Get Out and Love Someone’ (Self Released)
Helios - ‘Cross the Ocean’ (Self Released)
Last Days - ‘The Fields Remember My Father’ (n5md)
Jordan Klassen - ‘Hot Ashes’ (Self Released)
Bowerbirds - ‘House of Diamonds’ (Dead Oceans)
Jeremy Enigk - ‘Make Believe’ (Lewis Hollow)
Passion Pit - ‘Moth’s Wings’ (Frenchkiss)
The Rural Alberta Advantage - ‘The Ballad of the RAA’ (Saddle Creek)
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During the past three years of the New Balearic’s existence, I have gotten a lot of questions of some bands I’ve played that are harder to find on the internet, but one artist has been requested far more than the rest. Not a month passes without someone asking me where they can buy the music of Canadian folk singer, Jordan Klassen. Let me answer your questions. Klassen is a humble and talented musician based in Calgary, Alberta. During the past three years, he has been working hard on his debut solo LP called Tempest and Winter. It was finally released during this past month in early May, and the wait was well worth it. You see, Mr. Klassen is a perfectionist. Each and every song on the album has been given the time and space they deserve, resulting in a well produced and wonderfully composed and orchestrated album. Most songs are based around the poetic lyrics and gentle voice of J.K., but are frequently and appropriately visited by strings (Anatomical Literacy, The Most Bored David Jules Ever Got), pianos and organs (Miss Parsons on a Blustery Day, Sing Your Song to Ares), bells and cymbals (Ask Me Not, Astronaut and Harvest March), and other ambient sounds. After all is said and done, Tempest and Winter’s beautifully crafted and creative melodies and meaningful and sincere lyrics are enough to catch the ear of even the most critical of listeners. Similar to: Calexico, Iron and Wine, Sufjan Stevens
Download:
Jordan Klassen - Anatomical Literacy
Jordan Klassen - The Most Bored David Jules Ever Got
Jordan Klassen - Sing Your Song to Ares Jordan Klassen on The New Balearic:
‘Introduction/Song of Deborah’ on Episode 35
‘Miss Parsons on a Blustery Day’ on Episode 31
‘Harvest March’ on Episode 30
‘Anatomical Literacy’ on Episode 20 Buy Tempest and Winter at his website
Wow. Nick Bertke . Remember that name. The last time I read about Nick, he was nineteen years old and had just released a fantastic EP called Wonderland under his alias Pogo. That was half a year ago. In that release, he cleverly cut-and-paste Alice in the Wonderland samples and rehashed them into trippy, melodic, and very fun tracks. His cleverness (for lack of a better term) is not just in choosing nifty phrases from the Disney classic - rather Bertke seemingly took one or two words from different samples of varied tones from Alice herself and transformed and tuned them into fantastic melodies. You can watch his music video on youtube to see exactly what I mean. Since his successful trip to Wonderland, Nick has released yet another EP called Broken Beats, which continues along the similar vein of taking samples from children/family films. The result is another successful collection of nostalgic and incredibly melodic tracks reminiscent of The Avalanches. Such goodness. And when it rains, it pours. Shockingly, the young Australian has four fine EPs listed on his last.fm page, all available to download for free. His song ‘Go Out and Love Someone’ from the Table Scraps EP is another case in point, and my personal favourite. I must say, these are perhaps the best free songs I’ve ever received. Similar to: The Avalanches, Air France, Lemon Jelly (?)
Download:
Pogo - Go Out and Love Someone
Pogo - Drunk in the Mat Mobile!
Pogo - Dot’s Vinyl Gone Bad
Pogo - Alice Pogo on The New Balearic:
‘Alice’ on Episode 29 Download Broken Beats, Wonderland, Table Scraps, and Weave and Wish all for FREE! at last.fm
Erwan Castex is the mastermind behind his relatively new musical alias, Rone. For the past few years, Castex spent his time as a filmmaker and constructing music for advertisements, TV shows, and the like. Only recently has he set aside time to piece together his very first debut LP Spanish Breakfast, and it is already creating a very big buzz amongst the electronic music scene. His beautifully lush and infinitely layered tracks have already caught the ears of established artists such as Massive Attack, Ellen Allien, Lawrence, James Holden, and Agoria; the latter whom couldn’t resist but to sign the obvious talent to his label, Infiné. Indeed, Erwan makes melodic music. His intricate melodies and synthesized loops captivate throughout the record, and the result is a phenomenal debut from an artist to keep an eye out for. Similar to: Extrawelt, Minilogue, Stimming
Download:
Rone - Spanish Breakfast
Rone - Interlude in Bed Rone on The New Balearic:
‘Spanish Breakfast’ on Episode 35
‘Bora (feat. Alain Damasio - Vocal Mix)’ on Episode 34
Hello there. Welcome to the thirty-fifth installment of The New Balearic. Apologies for being a little late on this one. Lydia and I are wrapping up our time in South Korea, and I’m preparing to go to grad school in Eastern Canada, so things have been a little hectic lately. But I still have some belated music for you: And lots of Canadian music, in fact. Calgary’s Jordan Klassen has finally self-released his much anticipated debut LP called Tempest & Winter. You can buy the LP by visiting his website. Also from Canada, is the radio edit of ‘Hazel’ by the Junior Boys, and a new track from Patrick Watson’s fantastic new album. Metric and Barzin are also on board this month, as is British Columbian pop band Oats. France, Scotland, Japan and Sweden are also represented by some fantastic bands this episode. French power pop group Phoenix delivers this summer’s sure anthem in ‘Lisztomania’. Scottish indie band My Latest Novel harmonizes there way back onto the podcast with a track I cannot get out of my head, and we’ll also pay a visit to Japan to check out a new ambient track from the legend Ryuichi Sakamoto, and a new folk track from up-and-coming Shugo Tokumaru. All and all, it’s another great episode of great music, and on’t forget to check out The New Balearic on Twitter and Facebook. Tracklisting: (1 hour, 28 minutes) Photo taken by Bruce Mans, All Rights Reserved.
Peter Bjorn and John - ‘I Want You!’ (Wichita)
Animal Collective - ‘Taste’ (Domino)
My Latest Novel - ‘Two Weeks’ (Bella Union)
The Long Lost - ‘Siren Song’ ( Ninja Tune )
Ryuichi Sakamoto - ‘In The Red’ (Avex Trax)
Last Days - ‘Thoughts of Alice’ (n5md)
Mount Kimbie - ‘William’ (Hotflush)
Say Hi - ‘November Was White, December Was Grey’ (Barsuk)
Metric - ‘Help I’m Alive’ (Metric Music International)
Phoenix - ‘Lisztomania’ ()
Junior Boys - ‘Hazel (Radio Edit)’ (Domino)
Lykke Li - ‘Until We Bleed (Re-edited)’ (LL Recordings)
Jordan Klassen - ‘Introduction/Song of Deborah’ (Self Released)
The Middle East - ‘The Darkest Side’ ( Self Released)
Patrick Watson - ‘Wooden Arms’ (Arts & Crafts)
Barzin - ‘The Dream Song’ (Monotreme)
Oats - ‘Red Benches’ (Unsigned)
Paperfilm - ‘Resojets (Today At The Zoo)’ (Unreleased)
Rone - ‘Spanish Breakfast’ (Infine)
Aether - ‘Variance’ (Project:Mooncircle)
Röyksopp - ‘Silver Cruiser’ (EMI France)
Shugo Tokumaru - ‘Rum Hee (Deerhoof Remix)’ (p-vine)
Theresa Andersson - ‘The Waltz’ ( Basin Street Records )
Alena Diane - ‘White As Diamonds’ (Rough Trade)
Jeremy Enigk - ‘Vale Oso’ (Lewis Hollow)
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I’ve been meaning to do this more. The idea behind The New Balearic was to promote music without giving away free mp3s without the bands permission, however, more and more (usually new) bands seem to be embracing the idea of handing out one or two tracks in order to promote their new release. It’s a great promotional tool, and it’s one I would like to start using more and more as well. I want to start with a new band based in San Antonio called Aether. This is the moniker of Diego Chavez, who also makes music under the names A.M. Archtect and Otic Angst. His debut release under his Aether alias is called Artifacts, and three tracks from this album have been featured on the past three episodes of The New Balearic, with more to come. It’s no secret that I am a Boards of Canada fan. I am infatuated with the mid-70s, ambient/analog nostalgic aesthetic, and it is something I am always keeping an ear out for. However, I was surprised to hear something similar in what was supposed to be a hip-hop album. Indeed, there are a lot of counterfeit BoC bands out there (which I unabashedly love). Chavez, however, attempts to mix some of his hip-hop influences in with analog, synthesizer-based IDM. It’s digital meets analog, with some amazing results. Aether have taken the gritty and repetitive drum loops, aged samples, and short, deep rhythms of Boards of Canada, and gives it a unique, head-nodding and hypnotic sound. Artifacts is a perfectly mastered mix of 16 tracks that have been intelligently connected to one another, making the whole album a wonderfully intriguing soundscape. Similar to: Boards of Canada, DJ Shadow, Luomo
Download:
Aether - Makeshift Sanctuary
Lykke Li - A Little Bit (Aether Remix) Aether on The New Balearic:
‘Makeshift Sanctuary’ on Episode 32
‘Orfeu Negro’ on Episode 33
‘Autumn Pisces’ on Episode 34
Hello there. Thank you for joining me on another trip around the globe with The New Balearic podcast! Today we are headed for many fantastic sounds around the planet, featuring France and the U.S., as well as some more music from Finland, Mexico, Canada, Norway, Poland, Australia, and more! We start in the United States of America, with a new track from Grizzly Bear’s upcoming album Veckatimest, and some more amazing music from Animal Collective. We will then revisit Sleeping In Trains and The Middle East in the land Oz, before heading up to Scandinavia to hear some new stuff from Ólafur Arnalds, The Dø, and another fantastic track from Peter Bjorn and John. Finally, we’ll stay in France for a lengthy time in order to hear some new pop tracks from Phoenix, some lullabies from songstress Valérie Leulliot, and finally some ambient swoons from Rone. Before we wrap things up, we’ll even take a rare trip to Mexico to here a classic track from electronic composer Murcof. Buckle Up! In other news, be sure to check out The New Balearic on Twitter. Tracklisting: (1 hour, 35 minutes) Photo taken by Bruce Mans, All Rights Reserved.
Grizzly Bear - ‘Two Weeks’ (Warp Records)
Animal Collective - ‘Guys Eyes’ (Domino)
Blind Man’s Colour - ‘Jimmy Dove’ ( Unsigned )
Aether - ‘Autumn Pisces’ (Project:Mooncircle)
Mount Kimbie - ‘Maybes’ (Hotflush)
Rone - ‘Bora (feat. Alain Damasio - Vocal Mix) (Infine)
Chairlift - ‘Don’t Give A Damn’ (Kanine)
Jacaszek - ‘Orszula’ (Gusstaff)
Bat For Lashes - ‘Glass’ (EMI)
Antony and the Johnsons - ‘The Crying Light’ (MagicStrawberry)
Sleeping in Trains - ‘Your Head On My Shoulders’ (Independent)
Digitonal - ‘A Lighter Touch’ ( Just Music )
edIT - ‘Ants’ (Planet Mu)
Murcof - ‘Mir’ (Leaf)
Ólafur Arnalds - ‘Himininn Er A› Hrynja, en Stjörnurnar Fara Fér Vel’ (Erased Tapes)
The Middle East - ‘Pig Food’ ( Self Released)
Great Lake Swimmers - ‘New Light’ (Weewerk)
Bon Iver - ‘Brackett WI’ (4AD)
Peter Bjorn and John - ‘Just The Past’ (Wichita)
Phoenix - ‘Lasso’ ()
The Whitest Boy Alive - ‘Promise Less Or Do More’ (Bubbles)
Valérie Leulliot - ‘Mon Homme Blessé’ (Le Village Vert)
Coeur De Pirate - ‘Comme Des Enfants’ ( Grosse Boîte )
The Dø - ‘Tammie’ (Cinq 7)
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TheNewBalearic.com has a new layout! The old layout served me well, and I’d like to thank Liz again for her wonderful painting that served as my banner for well over 2 years. That being said, I am very excited about the new look. I find it much more minimal and less cluttered. Hopefully you find it easier to use as well. Let me know what you think! Cheers, and thanks for your support!
Cheerful and joyous greetings to you all once again, and welcome to the thirty-third installment of the New Balearic. This episode I am proud to introduce to you (or re-acquaint…which ever) some fantastic bands from all over the planet. The episode kicks off with 2 new tracks coming out of Bergen, Norway, courtesy of Erlend Øye and his band The Whitest Boy Alive, followed by electronic duo Röyksopp. From there we will touch down in the US several times to hear some more Animal Collective, and an instrumental track from Chicago based Interbellum. Some fantastic folkish music from Australia courtesy of The Middle East and Sleeping In Trains is also present, as is the very first South Korea track on the New Balearic, performed by Shugo Tokumaru soundalike, Seokjune. Germany also delivers again will some tracks from electronic DJ Lee Jones, and modern composer Max Richter, and no episode would be complete without a few tracks from Canada, with some fantastic pop from French Canadiens Malajube, and electropop sensations Junior Boys. Enjoy the trip. Tracklisting: (1 hour, 35 minutes) Photo taken by Bruce Mans, All Rights Reserved.
The Whitest Boy Alive - ‘Keep a Secret’ (Bubbles)
Röyksopp - ‘Happy Up Here’ ( Wall of Sound )
Animal Collective - ‘Brother Sport’ (Domino)
Animal Collecive - ‘Winter’s Love (Live at Maida Vale with Rob da Bank)’ (BBC Radio 1)
Digitonal - ‘Silver Poetry’ ( Just Music )
The Middle East - ‘Fool’s Gold’ ( Self Released)
Chairlift - ‘Somewhere Around Here’ (Kanine)
Michna - ‘Triple Chrome Dipped’ (Ghostly International)
Lee Jones - ‘Mdmazing’ (Aus)
Aether - ‘Orfeu Negro’ (Project:Mooncircle)
Mount Kimbie - ‘Taps’ (Hotflush)
Sleeping in Trains - ‘The Fisherman’ (Independent)
Seokjune - ‘Dok’ (MagicStrawberry)
The Advisory Circle - ‘Erosion of Time’ (Ghost Box)
Circlesquare - ‘Hey You Guys’ (!K7)
Fanfarlo - ‘I’m A Pilot’ (Independent)
TV on the Radio - ‘Shout Me Out’ (4AD)
Project Jenny, Project Jan - ‘Pins and Needles (w/ Fugiya and Miyagi)’ (Independent)
Junior Boys - ‘Bits & Pieces’ (Domino)
Max Richter - ‘The Picture of Us. P.’ (Fat Cat)
Interbellum - ‘Mansfield, Louisiana’ (Flingcosound)
Helios - ‘Mima’ (Type)
Malajube - ‘Dragon de Glace’ (Dare to Care)
Human Highway - ‘All Day’ (Suicide Squeeze)
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