Sleigh Bells frontwoman Alexis Krauss has released a new benefit single called "Our Land" to raise awareness about President Trump's efforts to attack America's parks and monuments. Proceeds from the song go to the nonprofit organization Utah Diné Bikéyah’s fight to protect the Bears Ears National Monument, which was lost recently due to the current administration. Krauss said this of the song: "Inspired by my love of wild spaces and in response to President Trump’s assault on our national monuments, I wrote 'Our Land' as a protest song. The song led to a collaborative recording session and quickly developed into a film project, in partnership with professional photographer/producer Chris Vultaggio." The video, filmed in Utah, features appearances from a number of musicians, including Karen O, Animal Collective’s Geologist, Maggie Rogers, Miya Folick, Sunflower Bean, Edward Sharpe, Tunde Olaniran, and A Place To Bury Strangers. [ Stereogum ]
Mexican Summer has announced their third collaborative EP in the Marfa Myths series, this one pairing up Stockholm's Dungen and New York's Woods, a very fitting pairing. They follow up the previous pairings of Dev Hynes with Connan Mockasin for Myths 001 and Ariel Pink with Weyes Blood for Myths 002. Now they've shared the first single off of Myths 003, "Turn Around." The Marfa Myths series coincides with the festival of the same name in Texas. This year's festival takes place April 12-15. Myths 003 is out March 16 on Mexican Summer. Woods released their latest album Love Is Love last year and Dungen's last album, Häxan, came out in 2016. [ Pitchfork ]
Baltimore duo Wye Oak announced they'll be releasing their first full album in four years this spring, titled The Louder I Call, the Faster It Runs. They've shared the album's title track, which their press release calls "the biggest, broadest, boldest music Wye Oak has ever made." The song certainly backs up that claim. Wye Oak's last release was the mini-album Tween in 2016. Jenn Wasner also released her side project Flock Of Dimes' debut album If You See Me, Say Yes that year. The Louder I Call, the Faster It Runs is out April 6 on Merge. Catch Wye Oak in Seattle on Sunday, July 15 at Neumos. [ Under the Radar ]
It's been four years since Kyle Thomas released his last King Tuff album Black Moon Spell. Today we see a softer side of the garage rocker with the single "The Other." The mellow 6-minute ballad taps into Thomas' recent bout of depression. "It’s a song about hitting rock bottom. I didn’t even know what I wanted to do anymore, but I still had this urge-this feeling-like there was this possibility of something else I could be doing… and then I just followed that possibility....'The Other' is basically where songs come from. It’s the hidden world. It’s the mystery. It’s the invisible hand that guides you whenever you make something. It’s the thing I had to rediscover-the sort of voice I had to follow-to bring me back to making music again in a way that felt true and good." No word if a forthcoming album is on the way. [ Consequence of Sound ]
Let's Eat Grandma popped up in 2016, drawing critical acclaim and rampant comparisons to experimental folk duo Cocorosie. The UK duo is back, now with their own sound courtesy of PC Music producer SOPHIE. The single "Hot Pink," shared today, is a glimmering electronic banger that utilizes the vocal harmonies of Jenny Hollingworth and Rosa Walton perfectly. “‘Hot Pink’ is about the misconceptions of femininity and masculinity and the power of embracing both of them. It’s about self-expression and appreciation for an underrated colour," explained the duo. Let's Eat Grandma's last album was 2016's debut I, Gemini. [ SPIN ]
