Video: The Curve - Golden Void

Golden Void - Golden Void - out now http://thrilljockey.com/thrill/Golden-Void/Golden-Void video by Alexander Theodoropolus alexandertheo.com Golden Void tour dates: Fri Feb 15 San Francisco, CA - Slim's w/ Graveyard Sat Feb 16 San Francisco, CA - Slim's w/ Graveyard Mon Apr 8 Prague, Czech Republic - Klub 007 Tue Apr 9 Berlin, Germany - Jagerklause Wed Apr 10 Dresden, Germany - Ostpol Thu Apr 11 Linz, Austria - Kapu Fri Apr 12 Innsbruck, Austria - PMK Sat Apr 13 Milan, Italy - Lo fi Club Tue Apr 16 Lyon, France - Le Sonic Wed Apr 17 Paris, France - Point Ephemere Thu Apr 18 Antwerp, Belgium - Trix Sun Apr 21 Tilburg, Netherlands - 013 venue (Roadburn Festival)

Golden Void's self-titled debut from last year was a heady rush of bluesy psychedelia. The BlackPlastic.co.uk review featured a video for 'Virtue' but that was nothing compared to the band's latest video, this time for album highlight 'The Curve'.

Directed by Alexander Theodoropolus the video perfectly visualises the crazy distorted psychedelic sound of the song - giant gods, floating in space, nude yoga poses, deserts... It's got the lot.

Golden Void is out now on Thrill Jockey, available from Amazon.co.uk on CD and LP [affiliate links]. You can catch the band on tour (although provided a jump to the continent isn't a problem, sadly):

• Mon Apr 8 Prague, Czech Republic - Klub 007 
• Tue Apr 9 Berlin, Germany - Jagerklause 
• Wed Apr 10 Dresden, Germany - Ostpol 
• Thu Apr 11 Linz, Austria - Kapu 
• Fri Apr 12 Innsbruck, Austria - PMK 
• Sat Apr 13 Milan, Italy - Lo fi Club 
• Tue Apr 16 Lyon, France - Le Sonic 
• Wed Apr 17 Paris, France - Point Ephemere 
• Thu Apr 18 Antwerp, Belgium - Trix 
• Sun Apr 21 Tilburg, Netherlands - 013 venue (Roadburn Festival)

EP Review: Flex - Pool

artist: Pool title: Flex album: Flex EP label: 2DIY4 cat #: 2DIY4_07 release date: 04/02/13 recorded: David August song mastered by: Hans-Philipp Graf video by: D É J À V Ü video cast: Valentina H., Franziska R., Laura Z. video hair & make up: Aglaja Brix special thanks to: Marc, G.

When I reviewed their debut release Pool they were singing about videogames and I was pointing out their similarity to Alphabetical-era Pheonix. The subject matter may have moved on but the musical approach remains very familiar on this follow up release.

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Flex - Pool

'Flex' is full of the tight guitar work and polished melodies that back a functional and bookish vocal. The slightly loose percussion and guitar riffs flecked with funk give this an infectious disco edge but it lacks just a little sophistication and emotion.

The dance floor sass of 'Flex' is countered by the more wistful 'Botox', with its chirpy verses and layered chorus. It feels a little deeper than the title track but in comparison to Pheonix's work, which often features obtuse lyrics that somehow still carry an emotional weight, this feels a little impenetrable. As a result the music is enjoyable but feels a little disposable.

Two remixes feature on this release in support of the originals. Stimming makes a return from the band's debut EP and offers 'Botox' up in the form of a deeper dub, full of dark grooves.

Aeroplane's remix of 'Flex' is the highlight of the EP and the best mix from (Aeroplane alter-ego, now it's a solo act) Vito de Luca I've heard in some time. It's a full 50 BPM slower than the original and adds some deep cosmic disco finesse to the original. The revision suits the vocals, creating a passionate track that more fully communicates the rhythm and desire it sounds like Pool were going for.

Flex is released on 18 February through 2DIY4.

Video: Diana - Shiny Darkly

iTunes: http://bit.ly/W2LAvl Wimp: http://bit.ly/11wqCLo Spotify: http://spoti.fi/KCRMJy Directed and edited by Madeleine Kate McGowan. Camera by Jonas Bang, Madeleine Kate McGowan & Kristoffer Bech. Performers: Sarah Armstrong, Ágúst Einar Ágústsson (Gústi Goo), Inga Gerner Nielsen, Oliver Matthew Volz, Mads Lassen, Louise Love Ya Aisin, Klara Utke Acs & Kristoffer Bech.

Press play above for downright noisy goth garage from Shiny Darkly, new on Copenhagen's Crunchy Frog label (responsible for the Raveonettes and Iceland's Apparat Organ Quartet amongst others).

'Diana' is a dark take on garage post-punk, full of reverb and distortion. The video is also confrontational - a disorientating riot of urban desolation, group dance and some fairly graphic scenes. Slightly NSFW.

Video: Quinzhee (Building Us A House Out Of Snow) - The Voluntary Butler Scheme

Uploaded by voluntarybutlertv on 2012-12-06.

Pretty sure I caught this new single from The Voluntary Butler Scheme on 6music the other day. At the time I was way too tired to contemplate remembering what it was (it would have been about 6:30 am at the time)... As such I'm rather glad it dropped into my inbox on Friday!

The press release likens it to the Beach Boys and a Christmas song recorded in the sun, which pretty much nails it. Wistful and festive and fun.

'Quinzhee (Building Us A House Out Of Snow)' is out tomorrow on Split Records with the album, A Million Ways To Make Gold, following in March 2013. You can grab the single from Amazon.co.uk on MP3 or 7" [affiliate link].

Album Review: Golden Void - Golden Void

Hot on the heels of Tame Impala's second album it's difficult for me to not hear their dizzy, psychedelic experimentation whenever I listen to Golden Void's new self-titled debut album..

Whilst the references are different and the approaches may vary the obsession with the past is a clear raison d'être for both bands. But Golden Void are hooked on a different beast - where Tame Impala are constantly reliving their wildest Revolver and White Album fantasies Golden Void take their lead from 70s blues rock and hard metal - traces of Deep Purple and early Hard Core.

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Golden Void - Golden Void

Tame Impala's latest album used technology to realise a vision of the musical period they love that never quite could have existed at the time but Golden Void play their dedication straight. Unlike on Lonerism, nothing here sounds like it couldn't be 35-years old - this is a raw album, still itching with a warm, fuzzy sound that harks back to the days of valves and grooves. Recorded in San Francisco, it was recorded straight to tape with limited overdubs and that purity of approach comes through.

And that is basically what Golden Void is - a celebration of doing things the old way. Having played together across various bands for years there is a tightness in the interplay between the band's members, particularly Isaiah Mitchell's vocals and the bass and drum work of Aaron Morgan and Justin Pinkerton.

That tightness is demonstrated in the album's opening tracks. 'Art Of Invading' sounds as vicious as the title implies - a wall of guitar and bass whilst Mitchell howls. 'Virtue' is similarly unsympathetic, with the kind of chunky bass melody that Death From Above 1979 hung their hats on and a rhythm section that is basically Pinkerton locked into a full, pummelling drum-solo for five-minutes.

After letting off the gas ever so slightly for the album's middle-half and gloriously gloomy 'Badlands' the band once again open up on 'The Curve'. Mitchell's guitar work here is exemplary - furiously riffing one moment before a gentle, bluesy bridge sees a tortured solo in the style of Python Lee Jackson's 'In A Broken Dream'.

Due to the straight nature in which it is played those that think Tame Impala do nothing but revisit the past-glories of other bands will have even less to like here, but put aside such concerns and it's another well played and executed album.

Golden Void is released on Monday through Thrill Jockey, available to pre-order on CD and LP from Amazon.co.uk [affiliate links].

Check out the video for 'Virtue' below:

Golden Void - Golden Void - coming in November and available for pre-order http://www.thrilljockey.com/thrill/Golden-Void/Golden-Void Video by Dyer-Green Filmed on location in at the San Francisco Botanical Garden and Japanese Tea Garden Volcano Footage from the National Archives and Records Administration and the Prelinger Archives Additional footage Filmed by Tenkai Karina and Tyler Green.