#NewMusicFriday Guide - 04/08/2016

So. Many. Albums. Are. Coming. Out. This. Month. Seriously. I knew that April was going to be awesome, but not this awesome.

If I'm feeling overwhelmed trying to keep up, I imagine you are, too. Since I already do this on a weekly basis for myself and sharing is caring, here is an overview of what I'm excited about that came out this week: 

Mayer Hawthorne - Man About Town

After venturing out on various side projects, Mayer Hawthorne has returned to his retrofitted swoonerific sound. I'm still confused why there are so many women moaning on this record, but I guess he does have that kind of effect on the ladies, so I'll allow it. Either way, I look forward to spending some quality time with this record. 

M83 - Junk

Everyone on the internet has very strong emotions and opinions about how the followup to M83's 2011 blockbuster of a record, Hurry Up We're Dreaming is supposed to sound. The headlines that I've seen for the reviews of this record indicate that Anthony Gonzalez has made a lot of critics very upset because they didn't get what they wanted. Guys, the record is literally called JUNK. Pretty sure he knew critics were going to thumb their noses at this record. Whatever, I think it's fun...and that's  not just because "Time Wind" features Beck. 

Wildlife Control - Particles

This is a fun kind of album release because there's an ultra neat way to experience it. The brainiac brothers that are Wildlife Control leveraged Instagram's API and coded up their own tool to search and carefully piece together a hundred or so hyperlapse videos from Instagram as a way to take in their record. I actually got to chat with these guys last night at an intimate party to celebrate their record coming out and boy did we get nerdy. That interview will be coming soon. 

Deftones - Gore

Deftones are back! And there was much singing and much rejoicing! There are so many people in my timeline that are SO EXCITED ABOUT THIS RECORD. This includes me. I actually have not kept up with any of the new singles or anything related to this album, so I consider myself kind of hashtag blessed that my first listen of this record is going to be spoiler-free. 

Honne (feat. Izzy Bizu) - "Someone That Loves You" 

Honne fam dropped a new track! If you are part of my Snap fam you got to hear a loud garbled snippet of this track at their Bowery Ballroom show last month. As much as I like the illusion of premium #content, I'll admit that this professional recording is better than my snippet. Also, Izzy Bizu! I need to spend more time with her music. Her vocals on this track are so sensual. Everything Honne puts out makes you want to practice baby making. These are just the facts, fam. 

Digitialism - "Go Time"

This is the fourth track from Digitialism's upcoming album Mirage, which comes out on May 19th. Last week it was on Soundcloud. This week it can be streamed for many micropennies. It is good. #bye

Moving Units - Damage With Care

I am embarrassed because I forgot Moving Units still made music. I took to them very quickly with their debut, Dangerous Dreams, but then they fell off my radar. This is an example of why I'm making this list now. It's just as much for you as it is for me. I have no idea if this is any good, but I really hope it is. They have more albums, too. This might take awhile. Fingers crossed! 

Culture Abuse - Peach

You may have diSKOAvered these guys a few weeks back. If you didn't, bummer for you. Either way their album is out and it's fuzzy lo-fi fun times and I like it a lot. For some reason when I listen to Culture Abuse I'm always fighting the urge to not walk around with that signature Mick Jagger pouty/kissy/duck face everywhere I go. You know, this face. It's okay, I don't know either. Anyway, it's nice feeling like a bratty #teen listening to this. 

What came out today that's got you rushing to your record store or swift to stream immediately? Let me know in the comments below or @ me! 

[Listen] Breton - "Titan"

I'm calling it right now: Breton's third album will be their breakthrough in the states. This is not up for debate. It's going to happen and I am so excited about this I feel like having sex with a drum machine. 

I'd love to be wrong about that and have it be sooner though, specifically since they announced that they'll be re-issuing War Room Stories  on November 10th on their very own label Cut Tooth (via Believe Recordings). The reissue will include two brand new songs, "Titan" and "Parthian Shot", along with 9 bonus tracks, previously unseen tour pictures and a PDF of all the band’s lyrics to date.

Earlier this week the band shared "Titan" for your listening pleasure in anticipation of the reissue. Remember when I was super excited about "Got Well Soon" and said it was the best thing they had ever made? I think I still stand by that for now, but in the case of "Titan" there's this new found approachability in this song that was previously only found in little snippets throughout their work, which is why I'm convinced that they're on the path to worldwide domination. Keep in mind that War Room Stories only came out in February and already we're seeing a massive growth spurt from the band in this track. Granted, I'm sure that some credit should go to Antoine Gaillet (co-wrote  M83's Before the Dawn Heals Us, mixed on Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming), who co-produced the song. Even so, the band has matured at such a rapid pace since their 2011 debut album, Other People's Problem that it's almost hard for me to believe that it's even the same band. 

Either way, it's basically all that Sprout and I have been listening to all morning and there has been much chair dancing at our desks as a result. Have a listen to "Titan" for yourself and tell me that your hips don't involuntarily shake even a little bit the second it hits your ears. 

Lucky folks across the pond can catch the band on tour next month. Make the best decision of your life and catch them if they're playing in your area. 

BRETON ON TOUR

09 Nov - Effenaar - Eindhoven, NL
10 Nov - Patronaat - Haarlem, NL
12 Nov - Berghain Kantine - Berlin, DE
13 Nov - Minoga Club - Poznaně, PL
14 Nov - Klub Hydrozagadka - Warsaw, PL 
15 Nov - Jazz Club Hipnoza - Katowice, PL 
17 Nov - Chelsea - Vienna, AT
18 Nov - Grabenhalle - St. Gallen, CH
19 Nov - L’Usine PTR - Geneva, CH
21 Nov - Liberteě - Rennes, FR
22 Nov - La Cartonnerie - Reims, FR
23 Nov - L’Autre Canal - Nancy, FR
24 Nov - La Rodia - Besancon, FR
25 Nov - Casino de Paris - Paris FR
27 Nov - Marcheě Gare - Lyon, FR
28 Nov - Paloma - Nimes, FR
29 Nov - La SireĚne - La Rochelle, FR
30 Nov - CCM John Lennon - Limoges, FR 
02 Dec - Heaven - London, UK

[Watch] M83 Returns with a Video for "Claudia Lewis"

Nearly two years after releasing the epic Hurry Up, We're Dreaming, M83 returns, not with new music, but with a video for the song "Claudia Lewis." Continuing his fascination with the supernatural, the clip follows the life of a blue-haired high schooler (played by actress Lily Collins). As her story progresses, it becomes more confusing and complicated, ending with tongue-filled kissing and a predictable twist. Watch the Dallas Howard-directed video below.

[Watch] M83 - "Oblivion" Live on Kimmel

We've not really given enough love to M83 here on SKOA, so we apologise for that. You may or may not be aware that they put together a great soundtrack to the latest Tom Cruise blockbuster, Oblivion. Anthony Gonzalez and Nicolas Fromageau last night enrolled the help of Susanne Sundforør for a hair raising rendition of the soundtracks title track on Jimmy Kimmel Live. If you missed the broadcast last night, check it out above. 

If you like what you hear you can pick up the full soundtrack over here.

[Watch] M83 - "Wait" (Video)

One final time, M83 invites us into the sci-fi-tinged post-apocalyptic world he presented with the videos for "Midnight City" and "Reunion". "Wait" is the third and final part of the video trilogy, once again directed by Fleur & Manu, and with it we continue the story of the strange superpowered children introduced in the previous videos. Conclude their story above.

(Hint: Fleur & Manu seem to be big fans of Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey. Pay attention throughout the video for some nods to the sci-fi epic)

[Watch] M83 - "Steve McQueen"

A few weeks back, M83 partnered up with Genero for a video contest regarding their track "Steve McQueen". Today a winner of the competition has been announced and we can enjoy a clip from French directors Sylvain Derosne and Balthaza Auxietre. See what you make of it above. Anyone else think that this track still sounds just as fresh as when you first heard it or am I alone on that one?

[Download] Benjamin Francis Leftwich Covers M83 and Frightened Rabbit

We've seen Benjamin Francis Leftwich deliver stellar sounding covers for the past 12 months. He's been touring relentlessly since the release of his brilliant debut, Last Smoke Before The Snowstorm, last July. He's not ready to slow down yet either as he's just announced a huge amount of UK dates and North American dates and what better way to celebrate than to share a few covers with fans? Below you can check out not one, but two truly great covers.

First up he takes on the still fresh sounding M83 track "Midnight City" before tackling one of his favourite bands tracks, Frightened Rabbit's "Swim Until You Can’t See Land". Both deserve a moment of your time as Ben puts his own signature sounds into the tracks making them feel slightly different while keeping the foundations in tact. You can download them over here. Tour dates can be seen after the jump for those of you wanting to check him out on the road this Autumn.

Benjamin Francis Leftwich 2012 UK Tour

01/10 – BRIGHTON – Concorde 2
02/10 – BOURNEMOUTH – Old Fire Station
03/10 – EXETER – The Phoenix
04/10 – FALMOUTH – Princess Pavilion
05/10 – SWANSEA – Sin City
06/10 – BRISTOL – O2 Academy
08/10 – OXFORD – Town Hall
09/10 – NEWCASTLE – Northumbria Uni
10/10 – EDINBURGH – Pleasance Theatre
11/10 – ABERDEEN – Lemon Tree
12/10 – INVERNESS – Ironworks
13/10 – GLASGOW – Oran Mor
15/10 – LEEDS – Varieties
16/10 – SHEFFIELD – Plug
17/10 – BIRMINGHAM – Irish Centre
18/10 – CAMBRIDGE – Junction
19/10 – NORWICH – Waterfront
20/10 – NOTTINGHAM – Rescue Rooms
22/10 – CARLISLE – Brickyard
23/10 – LIVERPOOL – Stanley Theatre
24/10 – LONDON – KOKO
25/10 – MANCHESTER – HMV Ritz
26/10 – STOKE – Sugar Mill
27/10 – YORK – The Duchess
29/10 – WREXHAM – Central Station
31/10 – GALWAY (Ireland) – Roisin Dubh
01/11 – CORK (Ireland) – Cyprus Avenue
02/11 – DUBLIN (Ireland) – Whelan’s
03/11 – BELFAST (Ireland) – The Limelight

North American Tour Dates

11/08 – San Francisco, CA @ Bottom of the Hill
11/09 – Los Angeles, CA @ Bootleg Bar
11/10 – San Diego, CA @ Soda Bar
11/12 – Eugene, OR @ Cozmic
11/13 – Portland, OR @ Doug Fir Lounge
11/15 – Seattle, WA @ Tractor Tavern
11/16 – Vancouver, BC @ Media Club
11/17 – Kelowna, BC @ The Habitat
11/18 – Canmore, AB @The Communitea
11/21 – Calgary, AB @ Palomino
11/22 – Edmonton, AB @ Brixx
11/23 – Regina, SK @ The Exchange
11/24 – Winnipeg, MB @ Park Theatre
11/26 – Minneapolis, MN @ 7th Street Entry
11/28 – Chicago, IL @ Schubas
11/29 – Indianapolis, IN @ (venue TBD)
11/30 – Louisville, KY @ Uncle Slaytons
12/02 – Nashville, TN @ 3rd n Linsly
12/03 – Columbus, OH @ The Rumba Café
12/05 – Lansing, MI @ Mac Bar
12/06 – Toronto, ON @ Rivoli
12/07 – Montreal, QC @ Petit Campus
12/08 – Albany, NY @ Jacks Place
12/09 – Boston, MA @ Club 939 Berkeley
12/12 – New York, NY @ Studio @ Webster hall
12/13 – Philadelphia, PA @ World Cafe Live
12/14 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Club Cafe
12/15 – Washington, DC @ BlackCat
12/16 – Charlottesville, VA @ The Southern
12/18 – Raleigh, NC @ The Pour House
12/19 – Atlanta, GA @ Vinyl

[Watch] Nardwuar vs. M83

When M83 visited Vancouver back in April, the city's resident weirdo and interview aficionado Nardwuar the Human Serviette made sure to stop by to ask Anthony Gonzalez as many pressing questions as possible. The result? Gonzalez was, like many of Nardwuar's interviewees, stunned by his impressive knowledge and research, and reacted only with confusion to Nardwuar's signature sign-off. If you're a fan of M83, the interview is definitely worth the watch.