The London List Review: Bradford Cox opens for himself for a fantastic Deerhunter, Atlas Sound double-bill at Shepherd’s Bush EmpireThe London List

Posted in London, London List, Music
By Tim Baggott on 8 Nov 2015

If any other frontman chose to open for themselves on the final night of their UK tour, it would seem like a cynical move. But for some reason, Bradford Cox of Deerhunter and Atlas Sound, gets away with it tonight. Show the rest of this post…

A reverb-drenched, improvisational opening set from Atlas Sound saw each song take on a new form. Featuring a haunting rendition of Shelia from 2009’s Logos and an almost unrecognisable version of Cold as Ice from 2008’s Let The Blind…, the set was as spellbinding as it was unpredictable.

Perhaps acting as a Bradford Cox palette cleanser, when Deerhunter finally take to the stage they open with Desire Lines, a track sung by Lockett Pundt (guitarist). The set that follows is dominated by tracks from the latest record, Fading Fontier. Album opener All the Same was delivered with resounding confidence and was definitely the punchiest of the new tracks.

However, it was still the fan favourites from 2008’s Microcastle that received the best response from the crowd. The crushing guitars on Cover Me (Slowly) sounded colossal, filling the venue from wall to wall and the build up during the extended conclusion of Nothing Ever Happened whips the audience into an all-too-brief, beautiful frenzy.

Delorean break a relationship apart in the trippy, animated video for new summer single ‘Crystal’

Posted in Music, Music Videos
By Sam Bathe on 28 Jul 2015

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Ahead of a new album in 2016, Delorean have released a psychedelic video for summer one-off single, Crystal. Directed by Joan Gausch, the video is an abstract look at the different stages in a relationship. Using a photogrammetry technique to create the models and textures, from more than 2500 still pictures, Gausch has created a mesmeric sequence to accompany the pulsing electronic track.

An alien crash lands in an ancient settlement in the video for Alagoas’ new single ‘Ghosts’

Posted in Music, Music Videos
By Sam Bathe on 30 Jun 2015

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When an alien ship crash lands in an ancient settlement, the natives are mesmerised by its intoxicating movement and extravagant colours. Written and directed by Dvein, the music video for Ghosts boasts the same sense of momentum as the excellent Alagoas track, while the mysterious alien could be something straight out of a Pixar movie. Alagoas’ self-titled album is out now on Better Problems.

The video for Art Department’s latest single ‘Walls’ is as sultry and alluring as the track itself

Posted in Music, Music Videos
By Sam Bathe on 9 Jun 2015

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Hugo Moreno‘s stunning video for Art Department’s new single, Walls, is a dark tale as the world turns from light to dark. With hover cars on the road, one man struggles in the retro-futuristic world, soon filling the city with his over-powering blight. Directed by Grandson & Son, Hugo Moreno and Jonny White, the alluring track has a fitting accompaniment in this 80’s-inspired video.

Panama colour test in front of the camera in the 80s-inspired video for new single ‘Jungle’

Posted in Music, Music Videos
By Sam Bathe on 27 May 2015

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Directed by A Nice Idea Every Day, the video for Panama’s new single, Jungle, goes back to the 80s to colour test in front of the camera. Reading, lounging poolside or walking in the night air, the sultry video has a dreamy aesthetic inspired by Panama’s own inviting sound. Their debut album is due later this year.

Master & Dynamic introduce two new Marco Brambilla-inspired blue colourways for their signature MH40 over-ear headphones

Posted in Music, Technology
By Sam Bathe on 20 May 2015

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Inspired by the midnight sky and jewel-toned displays of Marco Brambilla’s Apollo 18 Times Square installation, Master & Dynamic have introduced two new colourways for their flagship MH40 over-ear headphones. In navy/black and navy/silver, the MH40s come with rich blue cowhide and lambskin on the headband and CNC-milled forged aluminium for the ear cups. Custom 45mm neodymium is used for the high-performance drivers, while the cables are heavy woven with oxygen-free copper ensuring pure sound and reduced noise. The new MH40 colourways are available for $399 from the Master & Dynamic online store: www.masterdynamic.com

Things get messy in the supermarket in the video for Toro Y Moi’s new single ‘Lilly’

Posted in Music, Music Videos
By Sam Bathe on 18 May 2015

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Walking into your average Joe supermarket, Chaz Bundick probably didn’t expect to be faced with other customers face-on, fruit, veg and tomato sauce in hand. Directed by Harrys, the ’80s-inspired video for Toro Y Moi single, Lilly, puts dry-ice in the supermarket isle for a dreamy and intoxicating sequence before it all turns ugly. Closing with slo-mo foodstuffs crashing to the floor (and Chaz’s face), Toro Y Moi’s fourth studio album, What For?, is out now on Carpark Records.

Two characters make the journey across an alien landscape in the video for Muta’s new single ‘Praise’

Posted in Music, Music Videos
By Sam Bathe on 30 Apr 2015

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On a mysterious musical planet, two people cross a great ravine in Titouan Bordeau‘s animated video for Muta’s new single Praise. With rocks falling from the sky and creatures jumping out from beneath the earth, Bordeau’s bright video is the perfect accompaniment to the rhythmic electronic track. Praise is out now on King Deluxe.

Courtney Barnett drives around the atmospheric Philip Island in the video for new single ‘Kim’s Caravan’

Posted in Music, Music Videos
By Sam Bathe on 28 Apr 2015

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Released as a limited edition 12″ for Record Store Day, the video for Courtney Barnett single, Kim’s Caravan, is suitably moody. Directed by Bec Kingma and shot on Australia’s Philip Island, the slow-burning video explores a small town and its inhabitants before discovering a mysterious caravan. Courtney Barnett’s debut album, Sometimes I Sit And Think, And Sometimes I Just Sit, is out now on Mom + Pop.

Todd Terje sets illustrators Bendik Kaltenborn and Espen Friberg loose for the video for new single ‘Alfonso Muskedunder’

Posted in Music, Music Videos
By Sam Bathe on 15 Apr 2015

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Off fantastic LP, It’s Album Time, and released as a single alongside four great remixes, the video for Alfonso Muskedunder is a joyous trip inside the mind of illustrators Bendik Kaltenborn and Espen Friberg. Featuring surreal and wacky characters inspired by Terje’s It’s Album Time artwork, getting stung by a bee sets off a whimsical, morphing journey of colour and shape. Like everything Todd Terje has been involved in in recent months, this is another mesmerising success.

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