Califone Release New Video for “Giving Away The Bride”

All My Friends Are Funeral Singers, Califone’s most recent album opens with a deconstruction called “Giving Away The Bride.” Deep gutteral tones open the song like some lost leviathan rising from the depths. Slowly more elements are introduced often distorted to begin with, but slowly shaking off the murk and muck as the song progresses. Three minutes in a piano finally breaks through like the sun peaking out from behind the clouds. It’s simple and understated, but cast against the other elements of the song the piano rings with stark clarity, creating a juxtaposition of deep and infinite beauty. Today we’re happy to share a new video for “Giving Away The Bride.” Directed by Amy Cargill, the video weaves together a carefully edited collage of test signals, grainy video clips, animations, textures, sculptures, shapes and patterns. Once again, simple elements are activated in such away that they move beyond their normal limitations and given a purpose greater than their individual parts.

For those of you in the Bay Area, Califone will be taking up residence there in October. October 16-17 Califone will be participating in the Mill Valley Film Festival (specific show times and details TBA) and October 18 Califone will perform at Bottom of the Hill in San Francisco.

Citay, Nurses, Phosphorescent Invade Europe

Phosphorescent, Citay and Nurses will be headed to the old world in September for extensive tours. For Nurses and Citay, this will be their first time touring in Europe, so please make them feel welcome. This tour marks Phosphorescent’s second visit since the release of their acclaimed album Here’s To Taking It Easy. All three bands will be visiting one of our favorite festivals, End of the Road. The backstage parties will be epic. A full list of tour dates for all three bands can be found here.

Phosphorescent Cover The Beatles “Across The Universe” For Mojo Magazine

In the October 2010 issue of Mojo, the magazine has curated a Beatles tribute album titled Let It Be Revisted, a track by track reworking of the final album by the Fab four. Contributing to the project was our very own Phosphorescent, whose stunning take on “Across the Universe” is true to the original, filtered through their unmistakable hazy lens. A classic, remade. Alongside Phosphorescent on this tribute are tracks from Beth Orton, The Besnard Lakes, Judy Collins and more. Grab a copy from the newsstand right away. Phosphorescent return to the UK and Europe for a few weeks this fall. Full dates are here.

Check out the cover of the new issue of Mojo below.
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Dead Oceans Welcomes The Good Ones, Download “Sara” Now

We are very proud to welcome Rwandan folk trio, The Good Ones, to our roster today. We will be releasing their album Kigali Y’ Izahabu November 9th in the North America and November 22nd in the UK.

Download the first song off the album, “Sara” here. The fine folks over at The Fader premiered the song earlier today.

Kigali Y’ Izahabu is essentially an intimate field recording that even captures the howling and barking of dogs in the background. It was recorded by two-time Grammy-nominated producer Ian Brennan, who has worked with artists such as Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, Flea, TV on the Radio’s Kyp Malone and Richard Thompson.

Brennan traveled throughout Rwanda, hoping to document some of the country’s contemporary music, but up until his mission-affirming encounter with The Good Ones, he had been left wanting.

As Brennan reports: “They were standing in the dark, their eyes downcast and restless, and holding only one guitar between them. From 100-feet away, I knew instantly that there was something special about them, a feeling one is lucky to experience even once in a lifetime. By that point, I’d already visited literally every recording-studio in the capital (Kigali) and surrounding areas over two weeks and listened to hundreds of artists, but to no avail. This meeting had been set up through a mutual friend and the instant the band opened their mouths to sing, it was as if the universe reached down to tap me on the shoulder and say, ‘What these guys do is precious and rare. Don’t fuck it up.’”

Tracklist for Kigali Y’ Izahabu after the jump,

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