I woke this morning to yet another new song from the forthcoming Charlotte Gainsbourg album in my inbox. Entitled “Out of Touch”, it hearkens the echoes of Charlotte’s work that engage me most directly — her sensual, left-of-center poesy delivered over an elegantly crafted piece of clever spy pop. I believe this, too, shall be included on the forthcoming Stage Whispers, due 13 December in the U.S.

Charlotte Gainsbourg – Out of Touch

A few months ago, I reported that Charlotte Gainsbourg‘s new double live LP Stage Whispers would be released on 8 November. Guess what? I was wrong either because Pitchfork reported it incorrectly at the time or, more likely, her label pushed the release back. In any event, it turns out that release date is actually DECEMBER 13th in the U.S. You can pre-order Stage Whispers from Amazon here.

So here’s the story from before with some updated info (HT: Larry Fitzmaurice / via Pitchfork):

On December 13 (December 5 in France), Because Music/Elektra will release Stage Whispers, a double-LP of live and unreleased material from Charlotte Gainsbourg that follows up October’s Terrible Angels teaser EP. We’ve already heard “White Telephone”; below, stream another song from the collection, “Paradisco”. The song was written and produced by Beck, and features drum programming from ex-Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti/current the Samps member Cole M.G.N. If you’re looking for more Gainsbourg, there are two more Stage Whispers tracks, “Set Yourself on Fire” and “Out of Touch”, available for listening over at Air France’s Facebook (that’s Air France the airline, not the band).

September 6th sees the release of Charlotte Gainsbourg’s Terrible Angels EP (Because Music/Elektra) featuring two unreleased songs — the Conor O’Brien/Villagers-penned “Memoir” and this title track, written and produced by Beck. Also included on the EP are two videos, one of which is this Nathalie Canguilhem-directed video. Look for Charlotte’s double album, Stage Whisper, to be released on 8 November in the U.S., featuring a mix of live and unreleased tracks. (via Pitchfork)

Wool Recordings is releasing a new record at the end of June, entitled La Piscine. What makes this release special is that it is personally curated by Stereolab’s Laetitia Sadier and several of her friends, including songwriter / composer / producer Richard Swift. Sadier & Swift, we’re told, met at a party some years back and, after hearing his record, she invited Richard to open for Stereolab’s 2008 U.S. Tour. Their musical relationship blossomed into Swift producing Laetitia’s 2010 solo album, The Trip.

On this limited edition silkscreened vinyl record, you’ll also hear touches of minimalist pop from Rebecca Gates‘ new project Parcematone and Parisian band Superbravo. Enjoy, for now, “Resistance dans l’ombre” from Richard & Laetitia.

[ Follow Wool Recordings on Twitter ]

Sleepy Rebels is exactly what I needed to soundtrack my Saturday afternoon: light, uncomplicated acoustic pop that is simultaneously anything but light and uncomplicated.

This is a three-piece that masquerades as a 75-piece, playing a laundry list of instruments (including an ocarina!), and making liberal use of the syncopated hand-clap where necessary. Perfect example: “Unbelievable.” The video for the single premiered yesterday, and they’ll unleash their sophomore full-length Yellow Tree on the world this Tuesday.

The video is directed by Christian Loubek — you might remember his work from the opening credits of Six Feet Under — and it’s the classic tale of what happens when a few handsome men randomly fall out of the sky by parachute into a village full of virile young women. And of course, we can’t forget the old people who laugh at the ensuing girl fight and (naturally) clap their hands.

Check out the “Unbelievable” video here. You can order your copy of Yellow Tree at SleepyRebels.com.

Jed and Lucia have released a limited vinyl run on Ubiquity Records of their latest EP Helium accenting a fascination with dreamy, ethereal synth-pop (a fascination which I share). Their nuanced style on this, the title track from the EP, is warm and simply textured. Not unlike contemporaries Toro y Moi and James Blake, Jed and Lucia seem to understand perfectly how to combine unetched harmonies with a cacophony of echoes and found noises that brighten corners and sweep into rooms like fading sunlight cast through the window, muted in abstract patterns against the drapes on a lukewarm October day.

::: Jed and Lucia – Helium (Letherette Remix) :::

Here’s the original version (as a point of comparison):

Sleigh Bells. Derek Miller. Alexis Krauss. Good band. On tour. Go see them. Don’t ask questions, just go! Full tour dates after thee jump.

[ Sleigh Bells Official Website | Buy Treats on Vinyl from Insound ]

SLEIGH BELLS :: Spring Tour 2011 :: April – May

APRIL
4/13/11 Pomona, CA @ Glass House
4/14/11 San Diego, CA @ 4th&B
4/15/11 Indio, CA @ Coachella
4/18/11 Tucson, AZ @ Rialto
4/21/11 San Antonio, TX @ White Rabbit
4/22/11 Dallas, TX Granada Theater
4/23/11 Austin, TX @ La Zona Rosa
4/24/11 Houston, TX @ Warehouse Live
4/26/11 Baton Rouge, LA @ Varsity
4/28/11 Orlando, FL @ Firestone
4/29/11 St. Petersburg, FL @ State Theater
4/30/11 Miami, FL @ Grand Central

MAY
5/2/11 Atlanta, GA @ Center Stage
5/3/11 Nashville, TN @ Cannery Ballroom
5/4/11 Asheville, NC @ Orange Peel
5/6/11 Richmond, VA @ The National
5/7/11 Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club
5/8/11 Philadelphia, PA @ Trocadero
5/11/11 Boston, MA @ Paradise Rock Club
5/12/11 Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
5/17/11 Toronto, ON @ Sound Academy
5/18/11 Detroit, MI @ St. Andrews
5/19/11 Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue

[ PHOTO: Above & Beyond Mag ]

I didn’t know who Akila Fields was or what he was up to before last night, but this song “Closer” by his project Sleepyvillain appeared in my Soundcloud inbox and I’m like…ok, I’m here. You got me. The obvious comparisons to both Destroyer and Toro y Moi is inevitable, and that’s perfectly fine, good company to be lumped in with. I guess Sleepyvillain’s got something called Arithmetic coming out (see the album cover there?), but I know nothing more — and I definitely want to.

Anyways, Sleepyvillain (whoever you are) I hear what you are screaming loud and clear, dude, and now my readers do, too. You are blipping on my radar for sure.

[ Sleepyvillain on Twitter | Sleepyvillain on Bandcamp ]

These will be gone FAST: Chaz Bundick of Toro y Moi is not only a talented musician, he’s a graphic screen artist as well. Chaz has teamed up with Etsy to bring you these very limited editions of the soon-to-be-classic Underneath The Pine (out on Carpark on 22 February) which include a screen-printed bag (as seen above). More details, a video & MP3 from the record after the jump.

With this in mind, we are thrilled to bring 24-year-old musician and graphic designer, Chaz Bundick to Etsy. Performing under the moniker Toro Y Moi, the Columbia, South Carolina native rose to the fore of the music blogosphere in summer 2009 with hazy bedroom recordings, pulling from a wide range of influences — French house, Brian Wilson’s pop, ’80s R&B, and Stones Throw hip-hop.

The cost? A mere $25 — a steal for this incredible record and tote bag. Click here to purchase the tote + album download or you can click here to purchase the tote for $20 by itself.

Toro y Moi – Still Sound (Coyote Clean Ups Detroit Dub)
Toro y Moi – Still Sound (Album Version)

Their third album Let It Sway (Polyvinyl) is triumphant, not-too-sweet indie pop with seamless edges in a direct line with The Shins, a collection of nearly perfect gritty pop songs with an achingly sugary filling. The production is never overbearing, set just enough to let the stellar songwriting shine through. Let It Sway, full of sneering sing-along melodies and marching rhythms, droning guitars and punch-drunk effects, has quickly become one of my favorite albums of 2010. I cannot recommend this album enough.

[LISTEN] Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin – Sink/Let It Sway [MP3]

[LISTEN] Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin – Everlyn

[Pre-order Let It Sway from Insound and receive a FREE 7", poster, sticker, and button (while supplies last)!]

To kick things off in advance of the new album, a brand new song called “Where I’m Going” is now available for free download on their website. You say you want it on vinyl? Good to know that “Where I’m Going” will be released as a very limited edition, one-sided etched 7″ in August.

[Official Website | MySpace Music Page | Modular Records]

CUT COPY TOUR DATES
7/16 – Lisbon, Portugal @ Super Bock Super Rock
7/17 – Valencia, Spain @ Benicassim Festival
7/18 – London, England @ Lovebox Festival
7/20 – Dublin, Ireland @ Tripod (Moved from Button Factory)
7/22 – Amsterdam, Netherlands @ Paradiso w/ French Horn Rebellion
7/24 – Mamaia, Romania @ Orange Pre Pay Party/H20 Beach
7/25- Warsaw, Poland @ Palladium w/ French Horn Rebellion
7/27 – Helsinki, Finland @ Tavastia- SOLD OUT w/ French Horn Rebellion
7/29 – Emmaboda, Sweden @ Emmadoba Festival
7/30 – Arrhus, Denmark @ Train
7/31 – Oslo, Norway @ Rockafeller
8/6 – Chicago, IL @ Metro
8/7 – Chicago, IL @ Lollapalooza
8/8 – Brooklyn, NY @ Jelly Pool Party at East River State Park
9/25 – Gold Coast, QLD @ Parklife at Gold Coast Parklands
9/26 – Perth, WA @ Parklife in Wellington Square
10/2 – Melbourne, VIC @ Parklife in The Sidney Myer Music Bowl & Surrounds
10/3 – Sydney, NSW @ Parklife in Kippax Lake/Moore Park
10/4 – Adelaide, SA @ Parklife in Botanic Park

I didn’t listen yet so I don’t know what it sounds like, but feel free to offer your thoughts on this track being streamed at All Songs Considered from NPR. It comes from The Walkmen’s new album Lisbon due 14 September from Fat Possum Records.

The Walkmen’s latest album, Lisbon, isn’t due out until Sep. 14, but we’ve got a sneak preview of one of the standout tracks. “Stranded” is an incredibly soulful piece with some beautiful horn parts that sound like something pulled from a 1950s Sun Studio session. We first heard the cut when The Walkmen performed it live at our South by Southwest showcase in March.

The Matador at 21 Lineup was announced today on the Matablog and, much like the Matador label itself, will be a celebration of trailblazing indie pop and indie rock acts that made the label the respected institution it has become. The celebration will take place 1 October thru 3 October 2010 at the Palms Casino Resort & Hotel in Las Vegas, NV. This is going to be an unforgettable series of shows.

Here is the current lineup, more acts to be announced on July 5th:

Pavement * Sonic Youth * Belle & Sebastian * Guided By Voices * Spoon * Yo La Tengo * JSBX (Jon Spencer Blues Explosion) * The New Pornographers * Superchunk * Ted Leo & The Pharmacists * Guitar Wolf * Chavez * Girls * Fucked Up * Harlem * Cold Cave * Shearwater * Liz Phair * Kurt Vile * Jeffrey Joe Jensen

So… what do you think? Do you want to go?

[Official Matador at 21 Website]

Two key recordings which serve as bookends to Elliott Smith‘s catalogue of solo recordings, Roman Candle (his first) and From A Basement on the Hill (ostensibly, his last), are being reissued by Kill Rock Stars on 6 April 2010. Roman Candle, Elliott’s first album, was issued by Portland’s Cavity Search Records in 1994. For the Kill Rock Stars reissue, Roman Candle been remastered by Smith family archivist Larry Crane. Crane, the respected long-time editor of Tape Op Magazine, served in several engineering capacities on Elliott’s work over the course of his career, predominantly as owner and operator of Jackpot! Recordings where Elliott recorded many of his earliest works.

Embarking on the journey of remastering Roman Candle, Crane says that his primary intention going in was to “make the album more listenable.” The job was never to create remixes from the masters or to purposefully make the record seem louder, Crane said. Instead, Crane tried to deal with intricacies that would give the audio a warmer quality. “We never tried to make this CD as loud as current, over-limited trends,” Crane says, “but just to match the volume of the rest of Elliott’s KRS catalog in a graceful way. Please note that none of this album is “remixed” from the master tapes – it is still composed of the mixes Elliott created himself.”

From A Basement on the Hill was previously released by ANTI- Records in 2004 and now becomes part of the Kill Rock Stars catalogue of Elliott Smith material.

To celebrate these two reissues, KRS is giving away this free, previously unreleased track, “Cecilia/Amanda” which was recorded at Jackpot! Recording Studio in 1997 by Larry Crane. And, until January 4th, Elliott Smith’s entire back catalogue is on sale both via KRS mail order (http://buyolympia.com/killrockstars) and via iTunes.

Elliott Smith – Cecilia/Amanda

[Sweet Adeline:KRS (Label)]

With free downloads from St. Vincent, Deerhunter, Camera Obscura, The Mountain Goats and M. Ward just to name a few, famed UK label 4AD has unleashed a free downloadable sampler of their 2009 releases in time for the holidays. Follow the links above to listen or download from 4AD.