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Prinzhorn Dance School - You Are The Space Invader (Optimo Espacio Remix)

Don't ask, just download this slice of disco brilliance while you can...

Longcut - Idiot Check

Longcut. They've been around for a few years; they're from Manchester, UK; their full length is called Call and Response; this song was recorded during the albums sessions but didn't make the cut. The savvy folks over at Melodic put out the single; you can buy the release in their online shop, complete with excellent B-sides and remixes!

Tonight:

The party is at 29 Wythe Avenue, corner of North 14th street, in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. The venue has no name, but you can't miss it: it's a huge warehouse space.

Saturday:

With Runaway - 200 Orchard. Free. Lets do this!

Shocking Pinks - I Want U Back
Prinzhorn Dance School - Realer, Pretender

As you know, we've always striven to keep things interesting over here at MFR and to keep you gentle readers fully informed when it comes to the bands we think you should know and love. Well, it should come as no surprise that we're big fans of DFA Records. LCD Soundsystem, The Rapture, The Juan Maclean: the three bands that started out on DFA twelve-inches and have gone way big since. Fact, DFA = success story. Duh. Well, two of the recent DFA signings, the UK's Prinzhorn Dance School and New Zealand's Shocking Pinks, have full-length albums that you need to hear.

Shocking Pinks is the production name of Nick Harte's one-man-band. The self-titled album, out this week, is actually a collection of his recent recorded output that was first released on the NZ-based Flying Nun records. The sound is a kind of pure indie rock that draws elements from MBV and Sonic Youth (fuzz and noise and experimentation), and old (synth-heavy) New Order. There is something else in there that I find totally entrancing - signing an indie rock band is unusual for DFA, but they clearly heard that potential in him.

Prinzhorn Dance School is a two-member band, Tobin Prinz and Suzi Horn. According to their website, they "like things simple" - this is apparent when you see their site, and apparent when you hear their songs. Their music is the embodiment of "minimal" - not in the German techno sense, just ultra stripped down - guitar, drums, vocals. That is it. I first heard them on the Optimo 'Essential Mix', with the track "You Are The Space Invader", and like so many people I know, I was hooked from that first listen. Prinzhorn is also a band that I think will be pretty polarizing: you'll probably either love it or hate it. Their self-titled album is out now.

There's a full-album player for Shocking Pinks here, and a player for Prinzhorn over here. Check them out, then grab them from your favorite indie-retailer or from iTunes (Prinzhorn here and
Shocking Pinks here).

Highly recommended.

The Warlocks - So Paranoid.

It's caked in fuzz, wrapped in guaze, buried alive. It's the hazy dream sleep of a lonely drunk, when you dream a melody and swear it was the best song you've ever heard but can't remember it the next day. It's the humming quiet zzzzzzzzzzzzz of coasting on a bike down a long road as the summer turns to fall in the sky. It's the snatch of limbo when you're too afraid to make a move.

Somewhere in the middle of this is a song by the Warlocks, currently a four piece in Los Angeles. The same Los Angeles in which I live. They have a new album coming out on Tee Pee records this fall called Heavy Deavy Skull Lover. It's kind of a horrifying image, but the album isn't exactly metal or anything. It's psychedelic (terrible word) and interesting and quiet and loving. It's the kind of thing that would make your rainy day into something perfect.

If Los Angeles had rainy days, I would put this record on and wait to see what happened next.

In the meantime, TeePee is having a good year -- between this, Earthless, and Entrance, they got a lot of good shit going on. I'm glad that this kind of music- these droney, heavy melodies - are in fashion right now. I'm definitely a fan. You'll be able to buy Heavy Deavy Skull Lover on October 23rd from the fine folks at Tee Pee. Definitely recommended.

Mint Records has been quietly putting out some decent records over the past year. There was Fables by Immaculate Machine, The Awkward Stage's Heaven Is For Easy Girls, and now comes Bella's No One Will Know.

Bella - Give It A Night.

This record is dancey power pop, pure and simple. Sometimes that's exactly what you need, you know? Sometimes all the affected indie vocals, the math rock, the angular guitars are only window dressing. This is slick and polished, to be sure, but there's something to be said for a little sheen once in a while. I know I need something like this before I listen to the next great, abrasive rock band.

Bella is a trio from a few different places - Vancouver, Saskatoon, San Francisco. Their new record is called No One Will Know, and it's out now on Mint Records. Pick it up from Insound (or Maple Music if you're in Canada).

The Goodnight Loving first appeared on Robots in March, after the release of Cemetery Trails. They're back with another record, Crooked Lake. I could have included an image of the cover art, but I instead chose to feature a picture of pandas doing it. Inside the moon.

The Goodnight Loving - Land Of 1000 Bars.

This one's a good time. I like Goodnight Loving because, despite how much I focused on their country sound last time, they have more going on than that. There's almost an R&B feel to this song, and their new record shows the band trying out a few more approaches.

Goodnight Loving is from Milwaukee, and Crooked Trail is out now on Dusty Medical. Buy your copy here (for cheap!).

(click the image for full-size flyer)

This is a warning... next Tuesday I'm taking part in this DNCHRDIII: VNYL insanity - the idea is, on September 25th, three DJ’s (including me) go head to head to head in a live competition where LVHRD members provide the vinyl - the theme being 90s dance music - and awards for best dance crew will be up for grabs and will be given out during the competition. Expect hilarity all around.

TONITE: DNCHRD III: VNYL Pre-Party
Here’s how it works: If you bring a slab of 90s vinyl to the pre-party at B-Side, your admission to DNCHRD III is free. B Side (204 Avenue B btw 12th and 13th), September 18, 7pm-midnight - CHEAP DRINKS from 7-8

WEDNESDAY: my pal Jess Jubilee and I are guest DJ-ing at Moonwalk w/ residents Rezound + Workweek, at the inimitable Happy Endings (Broom at Forsyth)... its FREE and there's 2-4-1 dranks from 11 to 12. Expect bangers and get-sloppy disco bombs.

Mobius Band - Hallie

Hooray (read in your best Zoidberg voice)! MFR faves Mobius Band just got signed to Misra Records! Hooray again! They've made a few appearances here on MFR, and will be touring all across the country this month and next, their with old labelmate Matthew Dear (on Ghostly). To make things even better, their new LP (entitled Heaven) releases on October 2nd, and the tour kicks off the night before on Oct. 1st, right here in NYC @ the Mercury Lounge.

So do the right thing: grab your calendar and sharpie and hit their Myspace page (or better yet, click the extended entry link below) for tour dates and to download additional songs. Circle October 2nd to remember to pick up Heaven, and grab a copy of The Loving Sounds of Static if you don't have it already.

Hooray! Music for Rowbits is happy for Mobius Band!

09/14 Morrison, CO - Monolith Festival
10/01 New York, NY - Mercury Lounge *
10/02 Philadelphia, PA - Johnny Brenda's *
10/03 Charlottesville, VA - Satellite *
10/04 Washington, DC - Rock N Roll Hotel *
10/05 Chapel Hill, NC - Local 506 *
10/06 Atlanta, GA - Drunken Unicorn *
10/08 Austin, TX - Emo's *
10/09 Dallas, TX - Granada Theater *
10/11 Albuquerque, NM - Burt’s Tiki Lounge
10/12 Denver, CO - Hi Dive *
10/14 San Diego, CA - Casbah
10/16 Los Angeles, CA - Echo *
10/17 Los Angeles, CA - Spaceland ^
10/18 San Francisco, CA - Mezzanine *
10/19 Portland, OR - Holocene *
10/20 Seattle, WA - Crocodile Café *
10/21 Vancouver, BC - Media Club *
10/24 Minneapolis, MN - Triple Rock *
10/25 Madison, WI - Café Montemarte *
10/27 Cleveland, OH - Grog Shop *
10/28 East Lansing, MI - MSU Union Ballroom #
10/30 Chicago, IL - The Empty Bottle #
11/01 Ames, IA - Maintenance Shop @ ISU #
11/02 Columbia, MO - Mojo's #
11/04 Columbus, OH - The Basement #
11/06 Pontiac, MI - The Pike Room #
11/07 Toronto, ON - Horseshoe #
11/08 Montreal, QC - Petit Campus #

* = co-bill with Matthew Dear
^ = Club NME with The Subways
# = Tigercity supports!