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M83 – ‘Midnight City’ (VIDEO)

The internets are already doing backflips over M83‘s album ‘Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming’ and now leading man Anthony Gonzalez has dropped an official video for ‘Midnight City’! Directed by Fleur & Manu who recently won awards for Bag Raiders ‘Sunlight’ (you know the video with the monkey and the young girl…*cough*)!? Anyway, for M83′s ‘Midnight City’ Fleur & Manu get all Village Of The Damned. Check it out below…

Visit M83 and order ‘Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming’ @ www.ilovem83.com.

Should – ‘Faded’

On November 29, Brooklyn imprint Captured Tracks are kicking off a series of classic releases coined ‘The Shoegaze Archives’. First up is Should’s album ‘A Folding Sieve’ from 1995, plus a compilation of Deardarkhead’s work from the early 90s titled ‘Oceanside; 1991-1993’. I’m looking forward to getting my hands on these releases, mainly to get educated on lost classics. Should’s ‘Faded’ is a great start with all its fuzziness and saturated warmth.

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Co-incidentally or not, Should released a comeback record this year titled ‘Like A Fire Without Sound’ through Words On Music. However, with more than a decade between releases, the Should of 2011 is a lot cleaner than their mid 90s selves (check it out here).

Visit Captured Tracks for more on The Shoegaze Archives / Visit Should @ Words On Music.

True Widow – 'Bathyscaphe' & 'I.N.O'

It’s getting late in the year and I can still say that True Widow‘s ‘Skull Eyes‘ is one of my favourite tracks of 2011. True Widow’s ridiculously long titled album, ‘As High As The Highest Heavens And From The Center Of The Circumference Of The Earth‘ is top notch sludgy rock! So upon hearing the news of a new True Widow EP I was so excited that a little bit of pee came out. Joking, joking!

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True Widow‘s ‘I.N.O’ was recorded by the Texans themselves at their practice space with their own gear, before the last album was released. In fact, according to truewidow.com it was their first recording.

So I know what you’re thinking – oh right, so now they’ve released a full album we’re being fed the outtakes and b-sides. Thankfully, this is not the case. There’s three totally fresh tunes on the ‘I.N.O’ EP that are just as heavy and expansive as anything True Widow have produced to date. From the opening instrumental ‘For Grace’ to the fourteen minute epic of the title track, this EP works as its own self contained mini-album.

‘I.N.O’ drives along like an old grunge tune at half speed, getting more progressive and experimental as it stumbles forward. Whereas ‘Bathyscaphe’ starts with a hypnotic and raw guitar line before kicking into a full on swagger. Like only Texans can! It eventually builds with the female backing vocals while the guitar sound descends towards the scratchiness of a blown out speaker. ‘Bathyscaphe’ is a slow grind and blends into the more haunting tune, ‘S.Y.B’.

True Widow – ‘I.N.O’ tracklist…
1. For Grace
2. I.N.O
3. Bathyscaphe
4. S.Y.B
5. S.F.H.D

Grab True Widow’s ‘I.N.O’ EP on CD or download via Kemado / visit True Widow @ www.truewidow.com.

Manner – ‘Caught In The Middle’

Brooklyn’s Manner released their debut album ‘Side Launch’ this week, pick it up here. This kind of techy rock doesn’t normally float my boat but holy s**tballs Batman, Manner bring some serious stops and angles on this one! ‘Caught In The Middle’ crashes about with robot rock precision and high production quality across the board. There’s some definite Tom Morello stylings going on too.

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Download ‘Side Launch’ from Manner here / connect @ Facebook.

Mint Julep – 'Days Gone By'

Boston husband and wife duo Mint Julep are set to release their new album ‘Save Your Season’ in late November via Village Green. The album cut ‘Days Gone By’ has just had the video treatment by director Noah Harris (watch below…if you dare, the axe lady gives me the creeps)!

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZHTEjwAKdQ

Connect with Mint Julep @ Facebook or through Village Green.

Arrange + Ricky Eat Acid – ‘P.S.L.W.’

I’ve been struggling to keep up with the musical tidal wave of late and Arrange‘s collaboration with Ricky Eat Acid has been one of the casualties! The pair have worked together to create the incredible song ‘P.S.L.W’.

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If you haven’t yet heard Arrange‘s ‘Plantation’ album then do yourself a favour and pick it up here free. Arrange is producer Malcolm Lacey from Southern Florida whilst Ricky Eat Acid is otherwise known as Sam Ray from Maryland. No doubt this won’t be the last we hear from the duo.

Arrange @ Facebook + Bandcamp / Ricky Eat Acid @ Facebook + Bandcamp.

The Patience – 'Moving Through The Echoes' & 'Solar Fields'

Russian indie pop outfit The Patience have released the follow up to their EP ‘Sun Is Always Pt. 1′. The sequel features three well crafted tracks including ‘Moving Through The Echoes’ and ‘Solar Fields’. The former is a catchy, ultra-reverbed affair whilst ‘Solar Fields’ gets nice and dreamy.

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The Patience formed in 2007, releasing their first disc ‘Every Minute Is Ok’ the following year. You can pick up all of their work to date via Bandcamp and ‘name your price’.

Connect with The Patience @ Facebook, visit The Patience @ Myspace / Bandcamp.

Moscow Olympics – 'Keeping The Avenues Open'

Indie four-piece Moscow Olympics have unveiled a new version of their previously released track ‘To Keep The Avenues Open’. Moscow Olympics bring forth their own brand of dreampop from The Philippines and comparisons to The Radio Dept. are unavoidable, but welcome! ‘Keeping The Avenues Open’ was premiered over at No Modest Bear, where you can download this free version.

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After forming in 2006, Moscow Olympics released their debut mini-album ‘Cut The World’ via Fraction Discs (reissued for Japan last year on Happy Prince). ‘Cut The World’ was a fuzzy, shoegaze blur with a light 80s pop touch. Moscow Olympics are expected to release a full length follow-up in the new year.

Connect with Moscow Olympics @ Facebook @ Myspace.

Atlas Sound – 'Amplifiers'

Bradford Cox (of Deerhunter) is releasing his third solo album as Atlas Sound, titled ‘Parallax‘ which will be available via 4AD on November 7. I must admit, the previous album cuts made public haven’t grabbed me as much as I’d like. But ‘Amplifiers’ has a simple playfulness and reminds me a little of Thurston Moore. Perhaps that’s just me!?

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Pre-order Atlas Sound’s ‘Parallax’ from 4AD or visit Atlas Sound @ a very outdated Myspace page!

The Morning Clouds – ‘Ends’ & ‘The Wrong Things’

Denver artist Josh Wambeke is The Morning Clouds – you may remember the tune ‘A Walk Home‘? Eitherway, The Morning Clouds debut album ‘Wasted Youth Blues‘ has finally been released via Lefse.

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The lyrics of ‘Ends’ play out like a slow motion argument. They’re amazingly relaxed yet full of rage and resentment. Before long the guitar and synth breaks away into an instrumental deep breath before trudging on again. Great pacing, great song!

If the slow drawl of ‘Ends’ or the drugged out Beach Boys echoes of ‘The Wrong Things’ scrambles your eggs then make sure you check out ‘Wasted Youth Blues’.

Connect with The Morning Clouds @ Lefse Records or thru The Morning Clouds @ Facebook.