saturday wake up call

These New Puritans performs "The Light In Your Name" live with the Magnetic Resonator Piano.

tuesday wake up call

Incredible live session of These New Puritans performing "Island Song".

These New Puritans: Island Song on Nowness.com

my 30 favourite albums of 2013

Happy New Year! Here's a look back at some of my favourite albums from 2013 ... other great albums that made it just outside of this list include Anthems by Pure Love, No World by Inc., You're Nothing by Iceage, Enola by I Can Make A Mess, Kveikur by Sigur Rós and Good Together by Chapel Club.


30. Direct Hit!: Brainless God

29. Nils Frahm: Spaces

28. The Flatliners: Dead Language

27. Ghostpoet: Some Say I So I Say Light

26. Zomby: With Love

25. Frank Turner: Tape Deck Heart

24. Bad Religion: True North

23. Vampire Weekend: Modern Vampires Of The City

22. Deafheaven: Sunbather

21. Weekend Nachos: Still

20. The Wonder Years: The Greatest Generation

sunday wake up call

These New Puritans performs "Fragment Two" live at Le Grand Mix back in November.



"Fragment Two" is taken from the band's third (yet another incredible) album, Field of Reeds.

thursday wake up call

Incredible animated video by Picnic Studio for These New Puritans' "V (Island Song)".

wednesday wake up call

These New Puritans performing "Fragment Two" at the Guardian studio.

friday wake up call

These New Puritans have released their video for "Organ Eternal" (directed by Willy Vanderperre.)



"Organ Eternal" is off Field of Reeds, of one of the best albums of the year so far!

wednesday wake up call

New These New Puritans video for "Fragment Two", directed by Daniel Askill.



"Fragment Two" is taken from the band's 3rd album, Field of Reeds, hands down one of my favourite records of the year so far!

my 30 favourite albums of 2010

2010 was a year of many great new artists/debuts. It is also a notably good year for instrumental and hardcore albums. There were a handful of disappointing sophomore records; however, with that being said, my favourite album (and possibly some of the finest music ever created) came from a sophomore release. Please take a look at the following list and like previous years, I encourage you tell me your favourite albums of the year, I look forward to all your comments!

Ps, I took elements from the top 30 cover art to make the banner above, how many can you spot? ...There are some very Hidden ones!


#30 Holy Fuck: Latin
My top 30 list opens with Latin, one of several great instrumental albums of the year; but unfortunately, it is also one of only two Canadian albums on this list (you can probably guess the other one.)


#29 The Soft Pack: The Soft Pack
A fast pace, upbeat album full of catchy, positive and carefree surf rock songs, "Answer to Yourself" is definitely one of the best songs of 2010!



#28 White Guilt: White Guilt
Very loud and abusive to my eardrums—love it!




#27 Emeralds: Does It Look Like I'm Here?
Peaceful, calming and atmospheric, what standouts for me is the weird sci-fi like effects throughout the record.



#26 Everyone Everywhere: Everyone Everywhere
Great straightforward melodic indie rock record, sounds like The Promise Ring.





#25 No Age: Everything in Between
Same old same old... still loud, still energetic... and still awesome!





#24 Salem: King Night
Melodically dark and mysteriously distorted beats, a highly additive record.




#23 Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross: The Social Network Soundtrack
Another instrumental album on the list. The 19 tracks on The Social Network Soundtrack is surprising engaging.




#22 Foals: Total Life Forever
A wonderfully epic, moody and stylish album with some very memorable tracks—"Spanish Sahara" is one of my favourite songs of the year!



#21 Arcade Fire: The Suburbs
The first Arcade Fire album to entre my year-end list. It took me a long time to like this band and it began with The Suburbs/Month of May 12-inch, two of the best tracks of 2010.



#20 65daysofstatic: We Were Exploding Anyway
An insanely hyper, intense and explosive album full of killer guitar melodies and crashing drum beats... so good!



#19 Brutality Will Prevail: Root Of All Evil
Holy shit, what a year for hardcore music! Drone metal build-ups and hardcore deliver. Root Of All Evil is this year’s Monoliths & Dimensions for me.





#18 Wavves: King Of The Beach
A clever mix of pop, punk, and psychedelic makes for some of the catchiest and most memorable songs of the year. "Idiot", "Post Acid", and "Take On The World" are among my favourite tracks of 2010.



#17 The Tallest Man On Earth: The Wild Hunt
Another collection of delightfully genuine folk songs from Kristian Matsson. For some strange reason, I love making breakfast to this album... actually, Shallow Graves as well! Conclusion: Matsson makes great breakfast making albums!


#16 Cats and Cats and Cats: If I'd Had An Atlas
Unpredictably youthful and raw as well as catchy as hell hooks make If I'd Had An Atlas an ultra exciting and refreshing indie rock record.




#15 Anamanaguchi: Scott Pilgrim vs. the World: The Game (Original Videogame Soundtrack)
45 minutes of chiptune/classic 8-bit music mixed with killer riffs and dance beats = wickedly fun!


#14 Villagers: Becoming A Jackal
Fantastic and unforgettable lyrics make for an absolutely beautiful record.
"My love is selfish/How it separates the earth/It takes every shiny stone but leaves the dirt/For the cowards in the corner who just don't know what they're worth" —by far some of my favourite lines of the year!

#13 The National: High Violet
Another acclaimed band I only got into this year. High Violet is additively mesmerizing for its gloomy mood and Matt Berninger’s tender vocal—I often have this album on repeat.



#12 Titus Andronicus: The Monitor
I got really interested in American Civil War after watching Glory many years ago. Titus Andronicus’ concept album about the Civil War once again sparks my interest in the subject. The Monitor is grand and celebratory with Decemberists-like stories and Gaslight Anthem-like punk attitudes... it is really fucking good!


#11 Devlin: Bud, Sweat & Beers
Devlin’s debut is full of clever wordplays, emotional lyrics and stories—it is fascinatingly poetic! Bud, Sweat & Beers is one of the gloomiest albums of the year, but it also features one of the most inspiring tracks in "Finally".



#10 Los Campesinos!: Romance Is Boring
All the classic Los Campesinos! goodness + the band’s best song writing to date!

#9 Ceremony: Rohnert Park
Classic straight hardcore sound combine with the perfect dose of experimentation—Rohnert Park is without a doubt, one of the best hardcore albums I've heard in recently years.








#8 Deerhunter: Halcyon Digest
The most accessible and arguably one of the best releases Bradford Cox has ever created. As always, I found something relatable in Cox’s lyrics; but it is the comforting and soothing melodies that make Halcyon Digest an astonishing record. I pretty much never want this album to end—that sudden stop in "He Would Have Laughed" kills me every time.





#7 Professor Green: Alive Till I'm Dead
This long-await debut is full of classic Prof. Green humourous and cocky attitude, Alive Till I'm Dead is unbelievably fun and entertaining, a near perfect pop record.





#6 Band Of Horses: Infinite Arms
Surprise of the year! I didn’t care for this release at first; in fact, I was sent an advanced link from Sony and didn’t even bother to download it. Months after the album was released, I finally listened to it because my friend gave me his CD. I fell in love with it and bought it on vinyl. Infinite Arms is a prefect marriage of pop, rock and folk sound. Some of my favourite songs of the year ("Blue Beard", "On My Way Back Home", "Evening Kitchen") are taken from this album.





#5 Ben Sollee and Daniel Martin Moore: Dear Companion
The central idea behind Dear Companion is to express the members' love for nature—in particular the Appalachian Mountains. Not only is the album remarkably gorgeous and moving; it is an environmentally conscious as well.







#4 Avi Buffalo: Avi Buffalo
Avi Buffalo is one of my favourite new bands of 2010 and their S/T debut is youthful, pure and genuine. It is full of catchy melodies and brilliant lyrics.

My favourite video of 2010:





#3 Perfume Genius: Learning
Absolutely gorgeous! There is something comforting through the darkness, sadness and delicateness of Mike Hadreas’s songs. Learning is the most beautiful record of the year!





#2 Pulled Apart By Horses: Pulled Apart By Horses
Being a long time fan of the band through their amazing collection of 7-inchs and EPs, this was a long-await debut that ended up being everything I expected plus more. An insanely high-energy record, it is loud, heavy and aggressive... and fuck yes—there is even a song about Link (Zelda)!



#1 These New Puritans: Hidden
Hidden was the first album I recommended in 2010 and it was also by far the best and my most listened to album of the year. In a year where I was disappointed by a lot of follow-ups, Hidden is the one album that completely surpasses its predecessor, which is pretty impressive consider that Beat Pyramid was my third favourite album of 2008. The first time I head the album, I was blown away by the mysterious atmosphere, the killer rhythms and drumbeats, the grand sound and incredible production. It is uniquely modest for its colossal stature. Hidden is the most innovative/my favourite album of this year; in fact, it is one of the best albums I have ever heard!

the world might disappear under blankets of snow

These New Puritans have released yet another video from their incredible record Hidden. Watch "Hologram" below:



Hologram (SALEM Remix)

the paths are a labyrinth or even a trap

These New Puritans performs "We Want War" on BBC Radio 1... just incredible!

this is attack music

Yet another incredible video by These New Puritans for their song "Attack Music".



It's about three and a half months into the year now and Hidden is by far my favourite album of 2010 so far!

that's when we're slicing through time

Check out this rehearsal video for the song "Hologram" by These New Puritans!



The band have just been confirmed to support The xx on their UK and European tour dates, go to TNP's MySpace for more info.

these new puritans: hidden

With Beat Pyramid being my third favourite album of 2008 and one of my favourites of the decade, These New Puritans’ sophomore release, Hidden is by far my most anticipated album of this year. Let me dive right into it: Hidden is a lot like Beat Pyramid, but far more superior. Everything I loved about the first album—the mysterious atmosphere, the killer rhythms and drumbeats, the grand sound and incredible production—is somehow even better... far better in the new record! While Beat Pyramid sounds triumphant and celebratory, Hidden sounds epic and majestic, like an ancient noble battle. I am not going to write much more as I am far too excited about this album to stay cohesive. First Beat Pyramid and now Hidden—which I can’t imagine being out of my top 5 at the end of the year (I know, it’s only January)—TNP proofed to be one of the most talented bands in recent years. I don’t usually rate albums here, but if I were to, I would give Hidden a perfect 10; it is absolutely brilliant, a true masterpiece!

Three Thousand [super-wicked-cool song]
Attack Music [super-wicked-cool song]

visit These New Puritans' MySpace here
buy Hidden here

song of the moment

These New Puritans' epic single, "We Want War" is out on 10-inch vinyl today! The highly anticipated sophomore album, Hidden will be out new Monday (18th), you can stream the entire album on the band's MySpace.

this is probably my most-anticipated release of 2010!

These New Puritans will release "We Want War"—a spectacularly epic 7-minute first single off of the band’s new album Hidden—on January 11th, 2010 in two formats: digital download and 10” vinyl.

Check out the amazing video for "We Want War" below!



Hidden is set for release on January 18th, 2010. Go to the band’s website to download a free preview of the album!

1. Time Xone
2. We Want War
3. Three Thousand
4. Hologram
5. Attack Music
6. Fire–Power
7. Orion
8. Canticle
9. Drum Courts–Where Corals Lie
10. White Chords
11. 5

strike me down... i am an island, a mountain, a river

OMG: "Vulture" remixed by These New Puritans!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(thank you Liam for the heads up!)

Patrick Wolf: Vulture (These New Puritans remix feat. Other's International Choir) [wicked-cool song]

nxne08, day 2

The Rough Sea — June 12 @ Savannah Room


Monotonix, These New Puritans — June 12 @ Reverb

Monotonix
One of the most entertaining/craziest bands I have ever seen!

These New Puritans

i wasn't talking about that king

These New Puritans begin their North American tour tomorrow! Head over to the band's US tour page for dates.

Elvis [wicked-cool song]
Navigate-Colours [wicked-cool song]
***all files expire in 7 days or until bandwidth reaches its limit

visit These New Puritans' MySpace here
buy Beat Pyramid here

what's your favourite number?

These New Puritans have posted "Navigate, Navigate (The Loving Hand Remix)" here. This track, along with the original version are available on a limited edition 12" single. You can enter a contest to win the 12" here or you can buy it via Domino Records (US).

If you are interested, you can read the press release of this special 12" below:

A week before Hedi Slimane's Autumn ‘07 collection for Dior Homme was to be introduced on the catwalk, Slimane called Jack Barnett (These New Puritans' de-facto band leader) to Paris, requesting of him the no small task of composing a 15-minute soundtrack suitable for the collection. In under a week, they worked for hours on end long into each night, only retreating for sleep to the top floor of a block of Paris flats, writing, producing, recording, mixing and mastering the 15-minute track. The resulting “Navigate, Navigate” seemed to draw as much of the resulting press as Slimane's sleek, elegant costumes. It showed the band, in only a few short months, to have moved light years ahead of previous work.
The epic “Navigate, Navigate” highlights the artistic ambition and raw talent of the young band whose rich and disparate influences range from the sound of early 80’s industrial music to numerology, from This Heat to Dubsteb, and from J. Dilla to the films of David Lynch. The track begins with an unassuming sound collage of ambient electronics and feedback drones, which quickly fade out to make way for an urgent drum beat accompanied by brash guitar stabs and Jack’s dislocated vocal musings. Over the course of 15 minutes the track is an ever-mutating blur of layered vocal chants, taut rhythms and subtle details. A track of such stature had to be given an entire side on this, the band’s debut North American 12” release.

On the flip side is a club ready remix by Tim Goldsworthy under The Loving Hand moniker. Tim Goldworthy is part of the heralded DFA production team who have worked with and remixed artists such as The Rapture, LCD Soundsystem, Hot Chip and more.