Ane Brun Readies U.S. Debut of "Changing of the Seasons," Announces Tour Dates

Norwegian singer/songwriter Ane Brun will be releasing her sophomore U.S. album Changing of the Seasons on October 21st. She's also announced tour dates with Tobias Froeberg and Theresa Andersson. Brun's first U.S. album A Temporary Dive in 2006 was nearly drowned in praise, whether for her surreal melodies of erotic, Bjork-like vocals. Her voice is polarizing--it has a certain waver that drives people nuts, for better or for worse. It's quite sensual really. In any case, Brun is in no way tackling sophomore-slump issues. Changing of the Seasons is her fifth album altogether and was produced by Valgeir Sigurdsson (Björk, Sigur Ros, Múm, Bonnie Prince Billy, Coco Rosie, Maps, and more). So don't be afraid to set your hopes high. Check out the video for "Don't Leave" from the upcoming album below.

Brun has also announced a set of dates for her fall U.S. tour:

10/22 - The Living Room - New York, NY
10/23 - Tin Angel - Philadelphia PA
10/24 - Iota Club and Café - Arlington, VA
10/25 - Attucks Theatre - Norfolk, VA
10/28 - Café Du Nord - San Fransico, CA
10/30 - Hotel Café - Los Angeles, CA
11/01 - Schubas Tavern - Chicago, IL
11/06 - London Music Club - London, ON
11/07 - El Mocambo - Toronto, ONT
11/08 - Lee Saints - Montreal- QUE
11/11 - Great Scott - Boston, MA

Mason Proper New Album, Tour w/Cloud Cult

Michigan's half-post-punk, half-emo indie rockers Mason Proper will release their sophomore album Olly Oxen Free on September 23. Produced both by the band and by Chris Coady (TV on the Radio, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Blonde Redhead), the album reportedly "bristles with a ghostly ambience...[it] beams with otherwordliness and reaches towards transcendence." Quite a lofty description, but I expect good things. Their 2006 debut There Is a Moth in Your Chest was worth the flattering feedback it received, though it wasn't exactly my cup of tea. The descriptions of their coming album play up to my gloomy post-rock tastes though, so perhaps they'll win me over yet. Check out the video for "My My (Bad Fruit)" from There Is a Moth in Your Chest below.



Additionally, the band will be on a quick tour this fall--including some dates with Minneapolis experimental outfit Cloud Cult. Dates below.

09/25: Ann Arbor, MI @ The Blind Pig (CD Release Party)
10/21: New York, NY @ Rehab (Dovecote Records CMJ Showcase)
10/31: Mt. Pleasant, MI @ Rubbles Bar
11/01: East Lansing, MI @ Small Planet
11/10: Washington, DC @ Black Cat*
11/11: New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom*
11/12: Danbury, CT @ Herloom Arts Theater*
11/13: Cambridge, MA @ Middle East Downstairs*
11/15: Rochester, NY @ Bug Jar

*Dates with Cloud Cult

Review: My Majestic Star's "Too Late, The Day"

Most post-rock you come across nowadays are filled with a certain dramatic gloom that so well lends itself to heavily layered, massive attacks of guitars. Explosions in the Sky, This Will Destroy You, A Place to Bury Strangers, all exude an attitude of negative energy to some extent. Not that their songs are depressing or pessimistic, but it’s characteristically difficult to pull off a “happy” post-rock track.

While perhaps My Majestic Star don’t achieve “happy,” their songs in Too Late, The Day are certainly more sunny and optimistic than some of their instrumental brethren. The follow-up to 2006’s Ideas Are the Answer, Too Late uses the theme of a quickly passing day well. The title track, which leads off the album, is short-lived and dramatic like most days—if albeit in a slowly developing sort of way. Unlike most days however, “Too Late, The Day” is enjoyably atmospheric and worthy of being repeated.

The most-used musical theme however, is that found within “On Afternoons.” Cheerful instrumentals hold back any darkly-layered guitars, spiraling into enjoyable sonic chaos before giving way to a daydreamy Sonic Youth guitar riff. The track, as well as others such as “Defects in Sunsets” and “Forget Idaho,” is filled with distracted attentions, perhaps trying to capture an afternoon spent on your back, watching clouds dance across the sky.

My Majestic Star exudes warmth in its instrumentation where others deliver only frigidity. In fact, the biggest drawback of Too Late, The Day is that My Majestic Star relaxes you into forgetting that you’re listening to music. Concentration is difficult on this lazy summer afternoon of an album. My Majestic Star craft a graceful collection of delicate melodies that move at a natural pace—seemingly no faster than the pace of a flower growing, or the sun moving across the sky. A wonderful find for all fans of post-rock, shoegaze, or beautiful music.

My Majestic Star - "Defects in Sunsets"

(Published at MusicEmissions.com)

The Juan Maclean - "Find a Way"

Hello! Been a while. The Juan Maclean -- the electro-infused persona of John Maclean -- is embarking on a U.S. tour this fall. To kick off the tour, the New Hampshire resident has released "Find a Way" available as a free download at RCRD LBL.

First off, if you haven't heard of RCRD LBL, it's truly one of the best things to happen to music and one of the best uses of the Internet (and of course, this crazy record label-less world it has created). Bands as diverse as Tokyo Police Club, The Chemical Brothers, Foals and Caribou have published singles, remixes, or B-side tracks to the site where you can download them all for free! It's a pretty cool operation, and definitely worth some of your time.

Anyways, "Find a Way" is a groovy dance-floor/trance/electronica/whatever cut that throws in some jazzy influences (the piano part in the intro is one of my favorite elements). Fans of Cut Copy (who Maclean recently toured with) should take to The Juan Maclean instantly. Watch for the act's new album The Future Will Come early next year. Tour dates below.

The Juan Maclean - "Find a Way" (via RCRD LBL)

The Juan Maclean will be joined by Nick Millhiser (!!!), Gerry Fuchs (Turing Machine) and Nancy Whang (LCD Soundsystem) on tour.

09/17: Scottsdale, AZ @ Martini Ranch
09/18: Tucson, AZ @ Club Congress
09/19: Albuquerque, NM @ Launchpad
09/20: Ciudad, Juarez @The Hard Pop
09/22: Austin, TX @ The Mohawk
09/23: Dallas, TX @ Palladium Loft
09/24: New Orleans, LA @ One Eyed Jacks
09/25: Atlanta, GA @ Masquerade, with Ratatat
09/26: Chapel Hill, NC @ Local 506
09/27: Greensboro, NC @ Guilford College
09/28: Baltimore, MD @ Ottobar
09/29: Washington, DC @ Black Cat
09/30: Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brendas
10/18: New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom, with Chairlift
10/31: Los Angeles, CA @ Lot 613