Darker My Love, a band hailed for their “monster psych anthems that simultaneously howls for lysergic sunshine and – most importantly – the repeat button” by Alternative Press, are excited to announce a fall tour with Band Of Horses. Beginning August 17th in Los Angeles, CA, the west coast quintet will embark on a short headlining tour before extending their summer trek with Band of Horses, which began in the United Kingdom this June. These dates come in support of the band’s upcoming album, ALIVE AS YOU ARE, out August 17th on Dangerbird Records.

ALIVE AS YOU ARE, the follow up to the breakthrough sophomore album “2,” is Darker My Love’s most musically focused and emotionally direct collection to date. Informed by profound personal tragedy, the 11 songs that make up ALIVE AS YOU ARE travel away the glorious fuzz and distortion of past records to a more evocative approach marked by bold, honest songwriting and intricate arrangements that further illuminate the band’s myriad of classic influences.

The end result is a moving and memorable musical excursion of mind-bending neo-psychedelic grooves and hazily anthemic hooks; one that firmly places Darker My Love among the brightest lights in the long history of West Coast rock.

To get fans excited, Darker My Love is offering new track SPLIT MINUTE for free download at http://dbrd.la/ahyEc1

Fans can also find the hypnotic track DEAR AUTHOR, for free download. A song which Buzzbands LA raves “between the insistent beat and the harmony saturate chorus, DEAR AUTHOR glides straight to your sweet spot,” can be downloaded here

TOUR DATES (more to be announced):

August 17th Bootleg Theater Los Angeles, CA *
August 19th The Independent San Francisco, CA *
September 24th The Greek Theater Berkley, CA **
September 25th The Greek Theater Los Angeles, CA **
September 27th The Joint Las Vegas, NV **
September 28th In The Venue Salt Lake City, UT **
September 29th The Fillmore Denver, CO **

* Headlining show
** With Band Of Horses

Athens, GA trio THE WHIGS are very excited to announce a massive tour that will include a headlining run and opening slots with Kings of Leon, The Hold Steady and The Black Keys. Beginning June 4th at Mountain Jam in Hunter, NY, these 3-months of dates come in support of the band’s latest album, IN THE DARK, which saw the band perform on the Late Show with David Letterman and Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. In addition, the band will embark on a USO tour to Germany and the UK from today, May 17th – May 25th. The week-long tour will consist of five shows for troops and military families and a visit to the USO Warrior Center at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center.

THE WHIGS are pleased to share new song, DYING, with fans at
http://download.atorecords.com/thewhigs/Dying.mp3. The song Esquire Magazine hails as one of “50 Songs Every Man Should Be Listening To,” adds a dark depth and introspective emotional oomph to the band’s overall anthemic power. A vigor Newsday praises for “blending melodies from 70s Rolling Stones and 80s Replacements with 90s grunge underpinnings to build a whole new rock animal.”

IN THE DARK is the follow up to the band’s two critically acclaimed albums – Give ‘Em All A Big Fat Lip and Mission Control – which earned them universal praise as one of America’s finest young rock ‘n’ roll bands.

TOUR DATES:

With Kings of Leon:

June 5 Borgata Event Center Atlantic City, NJ
June 6 Saratoga Performing Arts Center Saratoga, NY
June 8 Toyota Pavilion at Montage Mountain Scranton, PA
June 30 Hyde Park London, UK

Whigs Headlining Dates:

June 10 The Handlebar Greenville, SC
June 11 Sky City ` Augusta, GA
June 12 Riverbend Festival Chattanooga, TN
June 13 Rib Fest Chicago, IL
June 17 Belly Up San Diego
June 18 Troubadour Los Angeles, CA
June 19 Velvet Jones Santa Barbara, CA

With The Hold Steady:

July 2 Lac Courte Oreilles Casino Hayward, WI
July 3 Cabooze Outdoor Stage Minneapolis, MN
July 4 First Avenue Minneapolis, MN
July 6 Slowdown Omaha, NE
July 7 Ogden Theatre Denver, CO
July 8 Santa Fe Brewing Company Santa Fe, NM
July 9 Diamond Ballroom Oklahoma City, OK
July 10 Granada Theater Dallas, TX
July 11 High-Tone Café Memphis, TN
July 12 Square Room Knoxville, TN
July 14 Newport Music Hall Columbus, OH
July 15 Crofoot Ballroom Pontiac, MI
July 16 Kool Haus Toronto, ON

Other:

July 17 Ottawa Bluesfest Ottawa, ON

With The Black Keys:

September 2 Town Ballroom Buffalo, NY

With Kings of Leon & The Black Keys:

September 3 Verizon Wireless Music Center Indianapolis, IN
September 4 Riverbend Music Center Cincinnati, OH
September 7 First Niagara Pavilion Pittsburgh, PA
September 8 Hershey Park Stadium Hershey, PA

With The Black Keys:

September 9 Charlottesville Pavilion Charlottesville, PA

With Kings of Leon & The Black Keys:

September 10 Verizon Wireless Ampitheatre Charlotte, NC
September 11 Virginia Beach Ampitheatre Virginia Beach, VA
September 13 Time Warner Music Pavilion Raleigh, NC

With The Black Keys:

September 14 Orange Peel Asheville, NC

With Kings of Leon & The Black Keys:

September 17 Cruzan Amphitheatre W. Palm Peach, FL
September 18 Ford Amphitheater Tampa, FL
September 20 Verizon Wireless Music Center Birmingham, AL

With The Black Keys:

September 21 House of Blues New Orleans, LA

With Kings of Leon & The Black Keys:

September 22 Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion Houston, TX
September 23 SuperPages.com Center Dallas, TX

22 years old and never been kissed, but with a whole lot of stories to tell, Will Stratton has once again composed, compiled and produced an album that is far wiser than his years. Having released his critically-favored debut, What the Night Said, at only 19, Stratton’s follow-up, No Wonder, is the result of three year’s worth of recording sessions sandwiched between his studies at Vermont’s Bennington College. In celebration of his forthcoming release, Stratton is offering the intro track on the album, “Who Will,” for free download.

Like any other good craftsman, Stratton has looked to his peers for inspiration and guidance; British folk music, ’70s power pop, Tin Pan Alley songwriters and ’90s indie rock has all helped shape the sound and sauce that is Will Stratton. Lyrically, No Wonder is laced with subtle cameos from legendary literary figures such as Robin Hood and Maid Marian, Salinger’s desolate Franny Glass or the notorious betrayer, Judas, but as a direct descendent of Geoffrey Chaucer, it comes natural for Stratton to first and foremost tell his own tale, one of longing and reminiscence; Stratton’s sophomore album is so much more than an ode to tales and old records.

No Wonder is slated for release on November 3rd via NC/NYC label and studio Stunning Models On Display (Pow Wow!, The Receiver), and marks another compelling chapter in the DIY handbook of Will Stratton the songwriter, the lyricist, the producer, the artist.

“Another disarmingly proficient project by an indie-rock prodigy.” – NPR’s All Songs Considered

“Stratton has produced something stirring and hyper-personal yet universally beautiful.” – All Music Guide

” … If What the Night Said is not a straight-up masterpiece, then it’s pretty damn close.” – PopMatters

“Stratton positively exudes insular transcendentalism…” – Cokemachineglow.com

Will Stratton No Wonder Track Listing
1. Who Will
2. For Franny Glass
3. The Country Clear
4. The Past Always Runs Faster
5. Robin & Marian
6. For No One
7. Nineteen
8. Your California Sky
9. You’re a Real Thing
10. No Wonder
11. It’s Okay If You Want To
12. If Only
13. Judas
14. New Jersey

Will Stratton Upcoming Shows:
10.20 New York, NY @ Cake Shop (Pop Tarts Suck Toasted CMJ Party)
10.29 Brooklyn, NY @ Spike Hill

East London group Dark Captain Light Captain spawned a surprise hit in the US with their release of their full-length debut, Miracle Kicker, in fall of last year. The album received loads of glowing reviews and a place in some surprising end-of-year charts. Expanding to a six-piece live machine, they toured all over the UK before settling down for a well earned rest. Now the band is releasing a digital-only Remix EP, out now on UK label LOAF, and is offering Hatchback’s remix of “Questions” for free download.

“…the band’s whispy, experimental folk style…with gently floating vocals and the soft, finger-picking of an acoustic guitar….mellow guitar with accompanying electronic accents, but also quirky treats like the bubbling sound of a stream and chirping birds. There’s a charming and graceful quality about these British newcomers.” – NPR

Driven by a quest for a killer vocal harmony and a constant desire to make their hearts beat ever so slightly faster than normal, Dark Captain Light Captain’s songs range from malignant and accusatory to wildly optimistic, with comparisons varying from Kings Of Convenience to The Violent Femmes. Now the Captain’s return with this diverse and carefully crafted EP of remixes that includes the dubbed out Mercury Rev vibes of ‘Summer’ complete with motorik groove and spooked horns. The sultry balearic groover that is ‘Remote View’ as mixed by Chicken Feed and the achingly beautiful new version of ‘Questions’ by San Fran’s favorite ambient kraut-disco son Hatchback (one half of the duo Windsurf on Prins Thomas’ label), who comes on like Philip Glass on Quaaludes at sunset.

As if all that wasn’t enough, the EP concludes with the dark night of the soul underground electronics of the title track from the album. A deep, haunting mix of drones and underwater piano best listened to with the lights off.

A gem of an EP that throws new light on the multi faceted creative team that is DCLC.

Dark Captain Light Captain Remix EP Track Listing
1. Questions (Hatchback Remix)
2. Remote View (Chicken Feed Remix)
3. Summer (Vernal Equinox Remix)
4. Miracle Kicker (Here be Monsters Remix)
5. Questions (Hatchback Remix – Dub)

Previous Dark Captain Light Captain releases (artwork by Landland):

“Circles EP” “Miracle Kicker” LP “Jealous Enemies” Single

UK label Lo Alternative Frequencies (LOAF) is delighted to announce the US release of a new project featuring members of UK group The Chap (Ghostly International), called Omo. With the release of Omo’s debut, The White Album, the band and label are offering a free mp3 download of the song “Tea Break.”

Omo is a new band comprised of pan-European rockers The Chap’s keyboardist Berit Immig and visual artist, David Muth, both previously members of London based band Karamasov (Satellite Records). Together they make pop that delights and surprises, eminently hummable and chewable, it’s post pop pop for the now generation. The band’s debut, The White Album, will see a proper US release on Sept. 22nd. The White Album is an album full of spiky little pop gems. A little like Laurie Anderson jamming with the Tom Tom Club, or a collaboration of Laurie Anderson and Young Marble Giants, mixed by Ricardo Villalobos, occasionally joined by Enoch Light on vibes and Raymond Scott on synthesiser. This is a surefire chart hit in a parallel universe where all TV programmes are made by David Lynch and every household owns a hover car.

If you’re looking for music with depth and character, that is fun and wants to get to know you, meet Omo.

The White Album Track listing:
1. Live Show
2. 2PM
3. ROV
4. Oversized
5. König
6. Tea Break
7. Her Body
8. Fish In The Tin
9. Hairy Bastard
10. Advantage
11. Turtle Neck
12. Novi Sad

Omo will also be doing a split 7″ with The Chap for “Oversized/Well Done You,” to be released on Sept. 8th.

Brooklyn-based Clare and the Reasons, fronted by collaborators Clare and Olivier Manchon, is pleased to announce the release of their sophomore album, Arrow, out October 20th on Frog Stand Records. Arrow features a special guest appearance from Shara Worden of My Brightest Diamond, and is the followup to their acclaimed debut LP, The Movie, which included contributions from Van Dyke Parks and Sufjan Stevens. Clare and the gang have spent the past two years touring around the world in support of The Movie. Live, they have a steady list of contributors (the ‘Reasons, including members of The National and Beirut), with a lot of instruments– cellos, violas, things to hit, kazoos, baby kotos, saws, recorders.

It took a bit of wood, nails and many blankets to make Arrow in a recording tent built in the Ditmas Park apartment of Clare and the Reasons’ neighbor, friend and engineer, Alex Venguer. Clare and the Reasons deliver an assortment of meticulously constructed and arranged songs, most written by Clare in her very own kitchen, arranged by Olivier in the living room with two cats by his side, and recorded with surgical precision with the help of “Reason” Bob Hart. Walking the line between musical maturity and sophistication and primal, childlike musical instincts, Arrow floats in both worlds, comfortably.

Clare and the Reasons will be touring North America in support of Arrow starting in late October with The Vic Chesnutt Band (featuring Guy Picciotto of Fugazi and members of Thee Silver Mt. Zion). Van Dyke Parks says, “Clare is the Reasons’ raison d’être. Melodious et mysterieux–(the group) defines esprit de corps. (wrapped in) elegant arrangements for your dream escape— Chamber music with edge. Get this Visa to real musical adventure. Totally transportive!”

Arrow Tracklisting:
1. All the Wine
2. Ooh You Hurt Me So
3. Out Team is Grand
4. You Got Me
5. That’s All
6. Mellifera
7. You Getting Me
8. Kyoto Nights
9. This is the Story
10. Perdue a Paris
11. Photograph
12. Murder, They Want Murder
13. Wake Up (You Sleepy Head)

Clare and the Reasons On Tour:
10/20 New York, NY @ Mercury Lounge w/ Josh Mease
10/23 Ottawa, ONT @ Mavericks*
10/24 Montreal, QC @ Ukrainian Federation*
10/25 Somerville, MA @ Somerville Theater*
10/26 New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom*
10/27 Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg*
10/28 Philadelphia, PA @ First Unitarian Church Sanctuary*
10/29 Baltimore, MD @ Ottobar*
10/30 Washington DC @ Black Cat Backstage*
10/31 Wilmington, NC @ Soapbox*
11/01 Atlanta, GA @ The Earl*
11/02 Athens, GA @ 40 Watt Club*
11/04 Newport, KY @ Southgate House*
11/07 Toronto, ONT @ Lee’s Palace*
* w/The Vic Chesnutt Band

Following on the success and critical acclaim of Disco Romance, comes the highly anticipated sophomore release from Swedish italo-disco artist Sally Shapiro – My Guilty Pleasure, a blend of 80s-inspired italo disco and twee indie pop – melancholic yet hopeful, sweet yet danceable. The album takes influences from genres like trance, cosmic disco, acid, ambient and jazz while retaining that sweet disco romance you know and love. My Guilty Pleasure contains 9 tracks, including the singles “Miracle” and “Love in July,” and is available on CD and limited edition 180GRAM vinyl. (Only 300 were pressed, so snap one up while you still have the chance!)

The name “Sally Shapiro” refers to both the Swedish duo, consisting of the producer Johan Agebjörn and an anonymous singer, as well as the pseudonym of the singer itself. In December 2004 Agebjörn discovered Shapiro’s gentle and beautiful voice while the two were singing Christmas carols together. About one year later they uploaded their first track “I’ll Be By Your Side”, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Watch the video for “Love In July” here.

“Demure Swedish disco doll compares her crush to the sun, then lets the joyous beat and twinkling keyboards handle the emotional heavy lifting” – SPIN

“For lovers of synth-pop perfection, Sally Shapiro’s ‘My Guilty Pleasure’ will certainly woo you.” – Bust Magazine

“Whispery sopranos and gentle pulsations buoy this Swedish Italo-disco duo.” – NYLON

“Sweden’s disco princess is seeking out old love and new fans on her continuing mission to bring starry-eyed synth-pop throughout the galaxy.” – Pitchfork

“[Sally] channels ’80s pop dollies Regina and Stacey Q over bass-heavy, tuneful house music and…can ride a tough dance groove like the most seasoned of Pussycat Dolls without sacrificing the melancholy that made her debut a distinctive pleasure.” – Instinct Magazine

“‘My Guilty Pleasure’ rides high on the same strengths that made ‘Disco Romance’ such an endearing listen.” – Under the Radar (7/10)

UK producer James Rutledge has taken on many personas over the years, and is now moving his efforts and exploration into the Krautrock realm. Rutledge will release this new music under the name Vowels, teaming up with LOAF records (The Chap, Johan Agebjorn/Sally Shapiro, Pete Fowler), for the US release of Pattern Prism on September 22nd. Previously only available on import, Pattern Prism is an extension of Rutledge’s continuing interest in Krautrock, and he cites influences ranging from Silver Apples and SunnO))) to John Carpenter and Black Dice among others.

Previously, Rutledge has released music on Domino, Melodic, Moshi Moshi, Warp and Wichita and has worked with artists like Dangermouse, Four Tet, Kevin Shields, The Pastels and Prefuse 73. This past year, he released an album with Mush Records under the name Pedro, and has been doing remix and production work for bands like Fever Ray, Bloc Party, DNTEL/Grizzly Bear, Late Of The Pier, My Bloody Valentine, The Kills, Radiohead, and Telepathe. He was also asked to release a track for the Sean Penn-directed film Into the Wild, and recently did a four-hour remix of the Radiohead track “Videotape” on a single VHS tape, signed by the band themselves.

Paired with drummer Chris Walmsley, Vowels finds Rutledge building on his previous successes, and has received early support from the likes of Geoff Barrow, Julian Cope and DFA.

“[Rutledge's] genius is unmistakable.” – XLR8R

“A unique craftsman of collected sound.” – Dusted Magazine

“Brutal and inspired… Beautiful, deeply personal and original.” – The Guardian

“The sound of the future” – NME

Pattern Prism Track listing:
1. Sonny
2. Two Wires
3. Swim Pool
4. Appendix
5. On Up!
6. Drums Gone Awry
7. Eh Up
8. Closing Circles