The Angel Riots

Ibi Dreams of Pavement (A Better Day). That's what the Broken Social Scene tells us anyway. Granted, this song is honouring indie-rock legends Pavement, but it honours another as well. Her name is Ibi Kaslik, and she's contemporary Hungarian-Canadian novelist and journalist. Besides her being generally awesome, and having a great taste in friends, she's also quite the literary talent; her debut novel, Skinny, topped out on the New York Time's best sellers list for two consecutive weeks last year.

She also happens to have been buddies with some of the best in the Canadian music scene since high school, including Emily Haines of Metric, Amy Millan of Stars, and Kevin Drew of the BSS. And her friends give her some kind due and proper. As if it weren't exciting enough to be part of the title on Broken Social Scene's eponymous album, she also lent vocals on Stars' album Set Yourself On Fire, as well as her quite poetic quotation on the album sleeve.

Riveting is part of Kaslik's life, when it comes to the music world, and now she's getting directly involved... fictionally. From toting Broken Social Scene's gear to writing novels, now Kaslik has immersed herself into the world of modern indie rock in her latest novel, The Angel Riots. All about an up-and-coming collective out of Montréal, on their journey from obscurity to notoriety. Though she has mentioned that we shouldn't be looking for specific references to Broken Social Scene between the pages, she does assure that the text is, "...definitely based on a world I know." Maybe not the biography of the Canadian collective some were hoping for, but definitely something worthy of your intent reading.

Now we have our chance to honour Ibi Kaslik ourselves. First, you can grab a copy of The Angel Riots right over here from Penguin Book publishing. Then, you can wander to the bookstore, the library, or to Amazon.com to get a copy of Kaslik's freshman debut, Skinny. Speaking as a novelist myself, this comes highly recommended. While you busy yourself with the reading of contemporary fiction, put some music on! Listen to a little bit of Broken Social Scene, Stars, Feist, Metric and Jason Collett (among many more). Finally, you can catch a feature article on Ibi Kaslik by Found In The Margins, a wonderful website all about literature on neat people. All above definitely a great investment.

Band of the Week: Ratatat

[February 23 - March 1]

Ratatat
Sounds Like: Electronic
Drinking Buddies: The Octopus Project, YACHT, MGMT

Synopsis: Instrumental break beats for the soul of a busy-body.

Makes You Want To...: Break it down; Cruise; Chill
[Myspace]

One week, one band. You know the drill.
This week, the featured artist is Ratatat.


Did you guys catch the Peachcake Podcast? Big events like that are always fun, especially when they're so sudden and surprising. Who expected Stefan Pruett to be gracing us with his impeccable music taste. And you've got to admit, if you like some nice, chilled music, José González is a great choice. But you know what I loved most about Peachcake's Podcast? It was the song "Blue Flowers" by Kool Keith. It set a great groove - the beat was quite "bumpin'" as the hip and trendy kids with their pants at their ankles, beatboxing on the streetcorner might say. I dig things with a good beat like that; something that flows well flows through me well; something that flows well helps me flow. Loosens up the bolts, as it were; lightens the load. When you've got a groove going, and a good beat, the world doesn't matter for however long that song/album might last. It's a lovely feeling to completely immerse yourself in a song, and feel your whole body moving independent of thought to the beat a'bumpin' out of the nearest speaker like the beating of your heart.

Am I getting to esoteric? Let's slow it down, G. Gee, G, let's slow it down; let's get a groove of our own going; let's get the bass up and bumpin'. I've got just the cup of tea for your musical relaxation prescription - something to sedate yet invigorate, you feel me? I'm talking about that gangsta lean type of groove - the holy hell, who cares how much gas costs, we're cruisin' round the block a few times (real slow like, for emphasis). I'm talkin' about that blast from the past - my Tommy gun don't believe you, but it certainly blast a sucka' if they don't step off. You know what happens when a fool gets blasted; last thing they hear is gonna be that rat-tat-tat.

But if the last thing you're hearing is Ratatat, I'd have to reckon you're doing pretty well off. This duo of instrumental aficionados hail from the busy-all-the-time town of New York City. They're all about gettin' you into the groove - these cats have got groove down to a science - these kids is the scientists of groove - Groovologists - you dig?

How does Ratatat craft such beat bumpin' beats? Only someone with a PHD in Groovology knows. But give these guys a guitar, keyboard, and something to play beats for them, and they'll be all over that like paper over rock. They drop the beat, and pluck around it with string-diggin' guitar plucking and ambient-esque keyboards. Want to mix it up? 'Cause they know how to drop it down with some live percussion too; these guys are Groovologists, remember? Do not attempt at home, reader, cause Ratatat are some major professionals.

But kids these days, they be forsakin' away at their mentors; not paying homage to their sensei - their mentors - you feel me? It's tragic, which is why Ratatat aims at learnin' these rude youngn's. You see, Ratatat throws down the beats of their fellow beat masters too with some remix albums; they remix the best in the biz: From Kanye to Hova, from T.I. to Ghostface Killa, from Method Man to Biggie Smalls. And Ratatat is as infamous as their entourage these days, you heard? They've be from LA to Okinawa with the likes of Daft Punk, !!!, Björk, Franz Ferdinand, and Mogwai just to name a few, and have remixed folks like Animal Collective, YACHT, and many more.

Where are these G's at now, you ask? They're gettin' ready the States at the end of March. That's one straight month of touring, but Ratatat are tough type; as soon as they get home to New York City, they're off for a tour of Asia, including stops in Australia, New Zealand, China, and Vietnam. Can't get much more extensive than that, eh? This is all of course after a long list of tour dates from 2008, when they were wanderin' 'bout in support of their latest album, LP3, which is available right now. Also available is their latest remix compilation, Ratatat Remixes Vol. 2, which you can download for free right off their website (or Myspace). Yeah, of course fool, Ratatat has a Myspace. They even have their remix of Björk's "Wanderlust" up for streaming. And if you're eager for somethin' eponymous, you should check out their debut LP and it's extremely wicked minimalism.

It's all about how you take it, reader, you feel me? Take it slow. Ride it with the windows down and the bass thumpin'. It's all about that symbolic biz, y'know? "Stop and smell the roses?" Except you're stoppin' in front of a speaker, and listening to the music. So listen up, you dig?




Ratatat "Cherry" from Audio Dregs Recordings on Vimeo.

Peachcake Podcast!

Hey there! Sorry you guys haven't heard from me in so long. Don't worry; you don't have to send me all of those love letters and sit outside of my house anymore. Never fear, Arabella is here. With something magnificent.

Last night was pretty uneventful until my buddy Stefan from Peachcake contacted me via one of the internet's many communication venues, Facebook chat! He told me that he had just completed the first edition of Peachcake Radio ("Peachcake Radio: The JukeBOX from The Planet Awesome!") and asked if Voilà! would be interested. And being the huuuuuuuuge Peachcake fans that we are, of course I said we would be.


Upon receiving the file, I'll admit that I turned the job of writing the actual entry over to Chris. But upon listening, I've decided that I wanted to do the honor of posting this! It's about an hour's worth of music from a magical realm that has occasional description/narration by the darling Stefan himself. Here is the download link!
(suspense suspense suspense)


Download here!

Enjoy! And until next time, may the force be with you. All of you. Y'all. May the force be with y'all.

-Arabella

Tourism avec Thao with The Get Down Stay Down

Live shows. Can anyone really get enough? It's one thing to listen to your favourite band on CD, or vinyl, or MP3... you could listen to any of your most beloved bands on cassette as far as anyone cares. But the truth is, no matter how many times you can swim your way by album artwork, into record sleeves, or consume music videos for a band you love, one thing can easily become abundantly clear: the music will always sound the same.

That's the intrigue, of course, in the live show. Musicians have been playing music for a live audience since longer than anyone can remember. Many a beautiful note, many a memorable moment, in music history would be entirely lost if there were no live shows throughout the entire world, from past to present. No "Mountain Jam" by The Allman Brothers Band. No Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson apart as a solo artist, apart from his work with Grizzly Bear. Improvisational bands like Holy Fuck or Do Make Say Think would just be jokes. Pavement's second disc from the re-release of Slanted & Enchanted wouldn't have any material. Nirvana's epic live performance, MTV Unplugged in New York, nonexistent.

Live shows are important. They're what keep music alive and thriving. They're what inspire improvisation and solos; what spawn inside jokes, cult followings, and unforgettable performances. Whether in a stadium or in some rinky-dink club downtown, a live show does the music lover's soul good.

Thao with The Get Down Stay Down shines when they're live; in fact, they're touted for their performances. Thao busied herself in late 2008 with some solo performances, in tow with the girls representing The Hotel Café tour (including Priscilla Ahn and Meiko). Now, Ms. Nguyen has her gents in line for a tour with the full band across the States, and I certainly don't exaggerate that they'll be going just about everywhere. Thao with The Get Down Stay Down will have a couple shows at the end of the month, followed by their no-doubt awesome sets during SXSW 2009 in March. Then, starting in April, they will launch on their wild tour, which is going to be a tour you won't want to miss.

You want homework? Well, fine, be diligent little scholars. First, wander over to the feature article, here on Voilà!, for Thao with The Get Down Stay Down. Then, mosey on over to their Myspace. Whenever you're done saying some hello's to them, hustle over to BOTH of their Daytrotter episodes (part one here - part two here). And note that part two has some brand new songs! Then, pull out those date planners, and make sure you jot down Thao with The Get Down Stay Down's show nearest you, and catch them!

PS: This entire article is a big excuse for me (not only to express my love for Thao with The Get Down Stay Down) to post this awesome cover of Aretha Franklin by Thao. Woo!



4/17 - Black Cat - Washington, DC
4/18 - Duke Coffee House - Durham, North Carolina
4/19 - Village Tavern - Mt. Pleasant, SC
4/20 - EARL - Atlanta, GA
4/21 - Club Downunder | Florida State - Tallahassee, FL
4/23 - The Parish - Austin, TX
4/24 - Lola's - Fort Worth, TX
4/25 - The Foundation - Lubbock, TX
4/26 - The Sub-College of Santa Fe - Santa Fe, NM
4/28 - The Loft | UCSD - San Diego, CA
4/29 - The Hotel Café - Los Angeles, CA
4/30 - Independent - San Francisco, CA
5/1 - Mississipi Studios - Portland, OR
5/2 - Chop Suey - Seattle, WA
5/4 - Neurolux - Boise, ID
5/5 - Kilby Court - Salt Lake City, UT
5/6 - Hi Dive - Denver, CO
5/9 - Empty Bottle - Chicago, IL
5/10 - Beachland Tavern - Cleveland, OH
5/12 - Iron Horse - Northampton, MA
5/14 - Bowery Ballroom - New York City, NY
5/15 - First Unitarian Church - Philadelphia, PA
5/16 - The Boot - Norfolk, VT





Baby I Love You by Thao - Thao

Artist Feature: Akron/Family

Akron/Family
Best Described As: Folk-influenced experimental rock
Similar To: Grizzly Bear, Animal Collective, Devendra Barnhart
Discography: Akron/Family (2005), Akron/Family and Angels of Light (2005), Meek Warrior (2006), Love is Simple (2007)
Label: Young Gun Records (2005-2007), Dead Oceans (present)

The means by which I came across this band could be described as a little unusual. I'd heard plenty of raving about the band on a message board that I frequent, but I hadn't been bothered to check them out. It was a few weeks ago that I finally got around to hearing them. It was the annual University of Montana Jazz I tour, and I was hanging out with the group's guitarist for some of the trip. He was talking about his experiences in music and explained that he grew up with the members of Akron/Family, played in his own band with them, and moved to Montana (for its fly fishing) very soon before the group formed and began writing. After hearing this testimony, I asked him if I could have some of their stuff from his computer. And then the wonder commences.

Akron/Family is unlike any single band you've heard. Honestly, I can only describe them as a group as they correspond to each album, since they're practically a new band with each album they cut. Their self-titled debut in 2005 was a relaxing, intricate collection of lo-fi folk music. Their split LP with Angels of Light later that year showed some of the sensitivity of their debut, but added a new layer of meat and potatoes rock and roll with a slightly more hi-fi sound. Their 2006 album Meek Warrior followed along the lines of the split LP, with added elements of free jazz and psychedelia; the album was also a collaboration with their longtime hero, percussionist Hamid Drake. Their 2007 LP Love is Simple took it down one notch from Warrior in the abstract, instead going for a more accessible, catchy feel. This year their album Set 'Em Wild, Set 'Em Free is due out in May.

If I knew exactly what to say about these guys that would get everyone to give them a listen, I'd say it. But I really don't know what to say about them besides that this may be one of my favorite currently active groups. Here's a few videos of two tracks from their split with Angels of Light. Hope you guys all enjoy.

Band of the Week: Sequoyah Prep School

[February 16 - 22]

Sequoyah Prep School
Sounds Like: Pop-Rock / Piano Rock
Drinking Buddies: Making April, Something Corporate, Secondhand Serenade

Synopsis: Southernly hospitable piano melodies.

Makes You Want To...: Go on a roadtrip; Sing; Smile
[Myspace]

One week, one band. You know the drill.
This week, the featured artist is Sequoyah Prep School.


Oh silly technology. How easy it is to forget how much we rely on it. Voilà! was gone for a week due to technical issues, but it returns with a vengeance. Renewed with vigour, we have a ready passion to search the realms of the music world for the best and the brightest. Hopefully, dear reader, you had a wonderful Valentine's Day. Love is certainly in the air... it might be smog in some places, but that's not the point. Slowly, the sun is warming things. Plants are contemplating starting their Spring; some of us are lucky enough to break out the t-shirts and shorts; the lightheartedness of Spring is revitalizing our Winter chilled souls. We need something equally lighthearted to fill our ears - something soothingly nonchalant to warm our hearts and fill us with a spirit of better, warmer days to come (despite what dumb ol' gophers tell us).

Look no further than Florence, South Carolina. There, you'll find a humble band with a smoothed sound and a humble demeanour, under the moniker Sequoyah Prep School. Now, where they got the name from is a question you should direct toward them. What I can confide is Sequoyah's refined, practiced, diligent skill in crafting music!

Perking ears of the piano rock lovers out there, Sequoyah Prep School brings a structured, promising new sound to the pop-rock music scene. Their tunes are whimsical, blithe - dare I say - sunny, with a strong passion for the bonds of friendship; a subtle concept that only bands like Jimmy Eat World, or songs like "Soco Amaretto Lime" - Brand New so accurately capture. Their music is slowly paced, but this is only because Sequoyah Prep School's style is so laid back and relaxed. Their lyrics and melodies harken toward outfits like Jack's Mannequin or Secondhand Serenade, with an oddly distinct terroir of the southern United States. What I'm trying to get across here is that their blend of contemporary music is distinct, folks! They're a band you don't want to miss.

Presently, Sequoyah Prep School is busy busy busy. First, they're getting a head starts on their peers in the music world by hitting up Texas with some live shows nearly a month prior to South By Southwest 2009; they'll be showing up in Greenville, Denton, Abilene, and Austin all this week; fellow Texans should definitely not miss them while they're around. Their frivolous parade will take them across the south-eastern United States with some aggressive tour lineup, before then end up back in Austin for SXSW. And believe me, their calendar is booked with plenty more shows in the future.

Sequoyah Prep School has a few albums, along with an EP. But the big talk around town is the guys' latest album, Ghost Town, which was released midway through 2008. You can snag a copy of either We Said Hello... or Ghost Town right now on iTunes, or - of course - at any of their upcoming live shows. But why would you hesitate in visiting their Myspace right now? Sequoyah Prep School has a loyal street team, and if I'm not mistaken, I think they may be taking applicants! What are you waiting for? Get movin'!

Get ready, Spring, cause we're ready for you! We ain't scared of them ol' groundhogs, Mr. Winter! We're going to warm things up and make 'em absolutely jubilant. Am I right? Have a nice week, reader.

Technical Issues!

Eek! It's so difficult to do one's work when one is not in a place where work is easily done. I'm in a library right now, and this is not the most appealing place to update one's music blog, especially since the... extremely strange guy next to me was downloading some very explicit material.

That's neither here nor there.

The fact is, I have no internet at home. Meaning I don't really have a fair opportunity to do any sort of significant updating action here on Voilà!. So until my infuriating internet provider (who shall remain nameless (for fear of me uttering thousands of expletives)) gets their act together, Voilà! will remain updateless.

But never fear! You can almost absolutely expect things to return back to normal by next week. Maybe even by the weekend! Can you hear the Voilà! Omnibus in the distance? Because I certainly can. Though I know how you're feeling - where are you supposed to get your extensive updates on the latest and greatest in the music world. Since there are no updates, maybe this is your chance to browse the Voilà! archives. There is a Band of the Week article almost every single week, meaning Voilà! has featured quite a lot of lovely bands. For now, I'll endow upon you, my dear reader, some of the neat articles that have been written over the past year or so. Have fun perusing!


I Want It Now, Now! - by Jeanette
Band of the Week: The Acorn
Band of the Week: Ben Kweller
Band of the Week: Fanfarlo
Band of the Week: Priscilla Ahn
Band of the Week: Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson
Band of the Week: Quruli (くるり)
A Week Of SXSW 2008: Bam Bam
Video: Untitled 2 - Kevin Drew
Band of the Week: Mount Righteous
Girl Talk - by Marie
From Classics To Indie: A Memoir Of A Musician - by Ezra
Commercialization Of Music - by Cullen
Reviews of Olde - by Ezra
Video: "Stars & Sons" - Broken Social Scene
Video: "Bitches In Tokyo" - Stars
Bell Orchestre's Unreleased Album

Mount Righteous/Fanfarlo Featured on Dallas Does Indie

Those dang kids and their new-fangled things-a-ma-jiggies! Why, just a few years ago, they came up with those... what do you call them... telephones. Now them kids is walkin' about with phones in their POCKET! Their pocket, I say! And can you believe those fancy-pants radios? The new ones show all those moving-pictures, and are bigger than the front door! All this new technological business is just getting out of hand.

Okay, well, maybe technology is all over the place, but while some may protest, I'm certainly not! If you're up with the latest technological trends out there, podcasts are probably old news to you. For a quick review for those still in the dark shade, let me explain: a podcast is essentially a show produced by someone out there on the wide world of the internet. It contains whatever they choose to record on the podcast (music, interviews, talking, what have you), and is then uploaded to the internet for your divulging pleasures. It gets the name "podcast," as you can easily upload these PODcasts to your iPOD. Get it?

Now, if you've also been hiding in the dark, there may have been a couple other things you might have missed. I'd hate for those musically inclined to have missed something so grand, but if you're not up to date with your North Texan musicians, you better catch wind of Mount Righteous. They're the most eclectic thing to happen since Architecture In Helsinki, and probably tie with I'm From Barcelona for absolute jovialness. They're fantastic! There's also Fanfarlo, a certain little band from London who also plays their own style of chipper music. Finally, they're about to release their debut album! As exciting as that may be, that's not what this article is about.

The fact is, Dallas Does Indie, Mount Righteous, and Fanfarlo have now been mixed in a wonderful pot of awesome! This week, Jasien Swords opens up the Dallas Does Indie podcast with Mount Righteous' "Licorice Night," from their debut LP When The Music Starts. Then, the feature band this week on the Dallas Does Indie podcast is Fanfarlo! How can it possibly get better? Well, you could possibly be listening to DDI presented by the HD channel The Indieverse here in the D-FW Metroplex - for free right now! Wander over to DDI or to your nearest iTunes to catch the latest episode of Dallas Does Indie to hear a bit of Mount Righteous and Fanfarlo for yourself right now!

Band of the Week: All About Max

[February 2 - 8]

All About Max
Sounds Like: Electronica / Indie-Pop
Drinking Buddies: The Postal Service, The Album Leaf, Uzi & Ari

Synopsis: Exploratory electronic music with an immense spirit.

Makes You Want To...: Dream; Travel; Imagine.
[Myspace]

One week, one band. You know the drill.
This week, the featured artist is All About Max.


It's a bright and sunny world out there, reader. Oh yes, indeedy, folks, this world of ours is very vibrant. It's filled with some many neat, eclectic, quirky things. Things that can make us feel good, and some that might make us mad; some that make us cry, and others that make us give that one face - you know the one I'm talking about - the 'What in the world? This is the strangest thing I think I've ever seen' face. It's a world filled with more interesting things that we know what to do with, or ever even discover for ourselves in our own lifetime. And then, we're there, and we're making it even more interesting day, with our wonderful talents and limitless creativity. What a tremendous, magnificent place, huh?

It's hard to capture the concept of such a world filled with wonders great and small. Especially when our imaginations wander and take us to fictional worlds that don't even exist. We may never fully comprehend. But All About Max can help us along the way. All About Max is humble, to say the least. This solo act by Massimiliano Setti, from Brescia, Italy, is a little work of love. Surrounding himself with electronics and acoustics - musical instruments both tried, and true and new and novel - Setti crafts a dilettante collection rhythms, with steady beats and intricate style.

Taking influence from the the finest in the field, All About Max is an adventure into imaginative music composition. The combination of sound, and the novelty of its execution by Setti, is unparalleled. The songs are anything from sad to uplifting; from quaint and lighthearted, chipper and jubilant; there are many stops in between, to be assured. Setti's songs are also patiently textured with a dense variety of sound, but not one that is cumbersome. The layers of composition are not cumbersome, neigh, they're invigorating. It presents all the more to study in their imaginative works of music.

All About Max is a trip into a vibrant, creative world. At present, things are calm and complacent in All About Max camp. But as of last week, the latest song from All About Max, entitled "A Slow Walk To Japan," was released. Very complex, and with a quick rhythm, it will certainly get a groove in you flowing. Setti's musical home is Muertepop, which is an Italian netlabel supporting a grand selection of independent artists, along with a huge collection of downloadable mp3 albums! You can catch All About Max's debut release, Nothing To Say, right here. Or, if you'd rather hear the latest and greatest, mosey on down to All About Max's Myspace for a taste of some new material.

Keep that creativity alive, reader. Hopefully you can do something resplendent with that imagination of yours this week. Until next time, reader, have a great week.