gee, I feel like I’ve abandoned you all lately. So, here, have some wild music as I slowly wind my way back to civilization (that’s a joke as I’ve been treated to some lovely, civilized spa treatment, fine restaurants, and family time here in Bozeman, MT)

Windstorm mp3 School of Seven Bells Disconnect From Desire ….. coming 7/13, Pre-order the new album in deluxe, regular CD, or LP form, directly from the Vagrant site.

First, you should know that School of Seven Bells is streaming their new album here in return for your email addy. Due out July 13, it’s really a BIG album, full of swirling, carefully controlled chaos and multi-layered sounds. In true SVIIB style, Disconnect From Desire incorporates twin-like harmonies with ethereal electronica to produce music with a beat that transcends typical disco fare. This record finds them on somewhat more solid ground than Alpinisms, and I think it expresses, even more honestly who this trio is, as people, fusing closer together with their experience in music and on the road. It’s chock full of shimmering cymbals and interesting percussion. I love the lyrical leads, followed by instrumentation – the vocals often set the melody in such a way that reminds me of non-Western music. There’s a strong feel to Disconnect from Desire of true engagement in their craft. I was fortunate to sit down with the three of them last fall when they came through Chicago and what struck me was how seriously they took making such sublimely ethereal music.
School of Seven Bells – Babelonia by VagrantRecords

Secondly, this popped in my mailbox from the kind folks at Crash Avenue Publicity and it just so happens to have on it a number of good Chicago groups! So download for FREE and enjoy: Apteka, Panda Riot, Secret Colours, (all from Chicago) as well as: Whirl, Superdrag, creepoid, Soft Crest, Fjord Rowboat, Stripmall Architecture, Sugar Army

Also… give an ear to this, Take Me As I Am mp3 Max Cooper I do really like his treatment of Hot Chip’s “I Feel Better.” Yeah, I’m feeling much better for getting out of the city for the weekend and driving around and looking at horses and cows and mountains (snow peaked!) and soaking in hot springs and eating way too much of what’s not good for me, xoxo