Friday, September 28, 2007

They Just Keep Coming: Primavera Profiles #8 and #9

Battles

From the impossible mix between hip hop, mathematics, and experimental rock, is born one of the most interesting American forefront bands: Battles, band from New York, composed by Lan Williams (Don Caballero), John Stanier (Helmet, Tomahawk), Dave Konopka (Lynx) and Tyondai Braxton (collaborator of Prefuse 73). Working with Warp, record label which caught them after discovering their imbricate and vibrant compositions, the New Yorkers return to Barcelona to present "Atlas", debut album preceded by several EP's and important live shows like the ones they gave during their tour, together with Prefuse 73.


Beirut

After a visit to a Parisian hospital due to an assault of "extreme tiredness", the young Zach Condon comes back to continues the presentation tour of "Gulag Orkestar", and one of the hidden pearls of 2006. Supported by Jeremy Barnes (Neutral Milk Hotel), Condom has managed to create with nothing a language in which the bedroom pop looks for the reply in the hustle of the Balkan music. The result, something like Radiohead sharing stage with Emir Kusturika, has turned the North American into the new little genius of the independent village and into a talent we have to keep looking at closely.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

That Warp link up sounds promising.

Neil said...

Did you realise that "CondoN" has changed to "CondoM" in the last paragraph?

I loved Gulag Orkestar. More Beirut is a good thing.

John said...

Hi WBS--

Welcome!!!

Hi Neil--

Yup. These are exact transcriptions from the Primavera Festival souvenir guide. From what I recall, I made a mental note to buy the G.O. album, but I haven't yet done so.

Anonymous said...

Cheers John. :)

Martin said...

John

I seem to remember you were not that impressed by Beirut at Primavera.Do you want me to buy you a CD when I see them next month or not?

John said...

Mart--

Yes please. From what I remember it was difficult to hear Beirut properly. Didn't they play just before Damon Albarn? They were certainly on the same stage, and the acoustics were shite because of 1: the wind and 2: the music from elsewhere drowning them out.

I'm perfectly willing to give them another listen.