[Listen] Memoryhouse - "Shades Of Our Life"

Memoryhouse have been rather quiet since they released their debut album The Slideshow Effect early last year, but that doesn't mean they don't appreciate their supporters. Their new song "Shades of Our Life" and its accompanying may, as the band said themselves, sound "too much like a shampoo commercial", the actually untitled track is their gift to fans. Capturing that fantastic bedroom-borne sound of their debut album, the song is calm, glittering and serene, something to sit back and relax. The video is also pretty great, and was directed by band member Denise Nouivon. Check it out above.

(via disco naivete)

[Listen] Colin Munroe - "Invincible" Feat. RZA & Memoryhouse

The Unsung Hero, Colin Munroe makes his triumphant return with brand new music off his upcoming mixtape, #UnsungHero. Munroe released the first taste from the new mixtape last month with the release of "Fight of My Life" featuring G.O.O.D. Music/Clipse rapper Pusha T and today we get our second leak with the track "Invincible" featuring none other than Wu Tang's RZA and indie chillwave artists Memoryhouse. Check out the new track below and make sure you head to Karmaloop to snag a free MP3 of "Fight of My Life" and to stay informed with Colin Munroe and his upcoming mixtape.

[News] Washed Out Announces U.S. Tour Dates

After a period of calm these past few months, chillwave artist Washed Out will be hitting the road again in support of his debut studio album Within And Without, which was released in the summer of last year. Following a performance at this year's SXSW, Ernest Greene will be teaming up with Toronto dream pop duo Memoryhouse for eight shows across the U.S., as well as a show on May 10 in Austin, before heading out on his own for another fifteen shows. Check out Washed Out's full tour itinerary after the jump.

Within And Without is out now via Sub Pop.

Washed Out Tour Dates:

03-16 Austin, TX - SXSW Rhapsody Rocks Austin
04-16 Carrboro, NC - Cat's Cradle *
04-17 Richmond, VA - The National *
04-18 Washington, DC - Black Cat *
04-19 Philadelphia, PA - Union Transfer *
04-20 Boston, MA - Paradise *
04-22 New York, NY - Highline Ballroom *
04-26 Denver, CO - Bluebird Theater *
04-27 Aspen, CO - Belly Up *
04-28 Salt Lake City, UT - The Urban Lounge
04-30 Portland, OR - Doug Fir Lounge
05-02 Seattle, WA - Neptune
05-04 San Francisco, CA - Mezzanine
05-05 Los Angeles, CA - The Music Box
05-07 San Diego, CA - Porters Pub
05-10 Austin, TX - The Mohawk *
05-11 New Orleans, LA - Parish @ House of Blues
05-13 Tampa, FL - Crowbar
05-14 Fort Lauderdale, FL - Culture Room
05-15 Orlando, FL - The Social
05-17 Charleston, SC - Music Farm
05-18 Asheville, NC - Asheville Music Hall
05-19 Atlanta, GA - Terminal West Atlanta
06-10 Salisbury, England - Parque da Cidade
07-14 Louisville, KY - Forecastle Festival

* with Memoryhouse

[Watch] Memoryhouse - "The Kids Were Wrong" (Official Video)

Memoryhouse have just let loose the official visuals fro their track "The Kids Were Wrong" which features on their recently released album The Slideshow Effect. The video sees the band performing live along with an ongoing story line that progresses as the song does too. Delightful but was it just me who was awful at playing jacks?!

[SKOA Presents] Some Kind of Mixtape: January 2012

Welcome to the first of many mixtapes from your blogger buddies at SKOA. The Some Kind of Mixtape series is a new monthly feature that will showcase both tracks from the month prior and tracks from albums that will be coming out this month. All of our mixtapes will be hosted on 8tracks, which is our one of our favorite communities for sharing mixes. Included in the "liner notes" of our mixtapes will be an explanation from each SKOA writer on their song selections for the month.

Since this is our first one, we encourage you to give us feedback on how we did. We hope you enjoy Some Kind of Mixtape: January 2012. We made it just for you!

<3

Kibbe, Shey, & Adrian

Some Kind of Mixtape - January 2012 from skoablog on 8tracks.

 

††† (Crosses) - "Purien†" (from EP ††)

When ††† (Crosses) came to be the internet blew up for a little while and the tag "witch house" started being thrown all over the project. The second EP, ††, from the pairing of Chino Moreno and Shaun Lopez offers more of the same from EP † with lashings of instrumentation to help mellow you out after the hardest of days and it's all held together by the haunting yet comforting vocal work of Chino. The subtle "woo" towards the climax of the song leads into a retro drum beat and guitar solo that are sure to elate you to a higher place. - Shey

Miike Snow - "Paddling Out" (from their upcoming album Happy To You)

When Swedish trip Miike Snow returned with the track "Devil's Work" back in December, I was immediately hooked and couldn't wait for more. Their second offering, "Paddling Out," delivered yet another tantalizing taste of the band's upcoming sophomore LP, Happy To You, and I was once again sucked into the world of Miike Snow. With catchy piano instrumentation, upbeat vocals combined with a fantastic chorus, and all kinds of synthesizer goodness, "Paddling Out" has made me even more excited for Happy To You. March 27th couldn't get here any sooner! - Adrian

Wazu - "Murder 1" (from WAZU EP)

From their debut self-tiled EP, Australian-American duo Wazu's single, "Murder 1" had me hooked within the first few seconds of the first time I tried them out. The Syndney-born now Brooklyn-based group has managed to develop a sound that, while it clearly draws inspiration from bands like Depeche Mode, Duran Duran, David Bowie, and Talking Heads, is still their very own. It's dark, gritty, and stupidly catchy. In addition to playing out more in the NYC area, Matt and Rizz are readying their upcoming debut album for a May release. If you're around in NYC next Monday (2/6), join me for their set at Piano's.  - Kibbe

Breton - "Sandpaper" (from The Blanket Rule EP)

London's Breton create art pop and are known to experiment with visuals during live performances with footage shot by the art-rock group in their bank-turned-base called BrentonLABS. While prepping for their upcoming release, Other People's Problems, which is out via FatCat Records on April 3rd, the band dropped The Blanket Rule EP for free in mid-January that featured "Sandpaper", which was tucked in almost at the end of the five-song EP. With it's sassy synths and pulsating beats, the song has the power to fill many a dancefloor. Consider me more than excited to see them on March 21st at Mercury Lounge. I will be there ready to party my face off. - Kibbe

Memoryhouse - "Walk With Me" (from their upcoming album The Slideshow Effect)

Toronto dream pop duo Memoryhouse have no trouble impressing with each new song they release from their upcoming debut album The Slideshow Effect. With only a month to go before the release of the album, their latest track "Walk With Me" will find itself being played repeatedly until that day. Evan Abeele and Denise Nouvion have crafted yet another kaleidoscope dreamscape that drifts in and out of reality, with instrumentation rising and flowing in an almost trance-like way. The slow build and eventual crescendo makes for a fantastic track that makes the February 28th release date of The Slideshow Effect seem much too far away. - Adrian

Wild Nothing - "Nowhere" (from the Nowhere 7")

Since the release of his debut album Gemini back in 2010, I'd almost completely forgotten about Wild Nothing, but Jack Tatum's one man dream pop project has returned and the wait was well worth it. "Nowhere," which features the vocals of Twin Sister's Andrea Estella, is a fantastic return to form for the artist, who has taken what he did so well on his studio debut, that is a gradual build of instrumentation and vocals, and delivers it in a much more upbeat and summery package. The addition of Estella's vocals, in combination with Tatum's vocals, gives the song a great amount of depth and diversity. Wild Nothing's sophomore LP is expected to drop later this year, and if "Nowhere" is any indication, the album will be a dream pop lovers fantasy. - Adrian

Sleigh Bells - "Comeback Kid" (from their upcoming album Reign of Terror)

With the noisy duo set to return fully with their sophomore LP, Reign of Terror, later this month they let us dip our toes into their mixing pot of goodness in the shape of the first single, "Comeback Kid". The ominous feedback opening leads into a big drum machine riff and distorted guitars before Alexis' vocal chimes in bringing the song to a head. Catchy, dirty with a perfect softened chorus. More please! - Shey

Pulled Apart By Horses - "Wolf Hand" (from Tough Love)

The cheeky chappies from Leeds launched their new album, Tough Love, with the explosive "V.E.N.O.M.", a perfect introduction for what was to come next. "Wolf Hand" shows a growth from the band, a step forward musically whilst lyrically they've kept their tongues firmly placed in their cheeks. From the offset this track is the perfect follow up to the shout along comeback single that was "V.E.N.O.M.". A heavy bass line and guitar riff accompanied by a thumping drum beat is all you need to cleanse the soul. This track, and this album need to be added to everyone's collection - Shey

Teen Daze - "Let's Groove" (from Let's Groove single, grab over here)

On New Years Eve 2012, Vancouver-based Teen Daze dropped "Let's Groove" which started everyone's new year off dancing until their feet couldn't take it anymore. Although the track doesn't really fit in with the current chilled out ethereal sound he's progressed to over the course of his many EPs, I for one am thankful that he took a moment to stop everything and just start dancing. Since then he also dropped his first single, "Brooklyn Sunburn", which is off his upcoming debut album, All Of Us, Together, which is due out on May 22, 2012 via Lefse Records. - Kibbe

[Listen x Download] Memoryhouse - "Walk With Me"

Below, you can listen to and download the second taste of Toronto dream pop duo Memoryhouse's upcoming debut studio album The Slideshow Effect, which is set for release on February 28th via Sub Pop. "Walk With Me" is a fantastic demonstration of how to take a slow build and perfectly transition it into an exhilarating combination of instrumentation, so do yourself a favour and give it a listen. As well, if you've yet to hear the duo's first single "The Kids Were Wrong," you can listen to it here.

[News] Memoryhouse Announces North American Tour Dates

As the February 28th release date of Memoryhouse's debut album The Slideshow Effect inches closer and closer, the Toronto-based duo have been amping up with releases and announcements. Today, the pair announced a North American tour in support of the upcoming studio effort, which kicks off the day the album is released in Chicago. From there, the duo will be on the road for three weeks, where they will perform in Denver, Seattle, Vancouver, Portland, San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego, among others. You can take a look at all the band's tour dates and locations after the jump. As well, you can listen to the first single from the album, "The Kids Were Wrong," below.

Memoryhouse - "The Kids Were Wrong" by Some Kind of Awesome

Memoryhouse 2012 Tour Dates:
02/28 – Chicago, IL @ Schubas Tavern
02/29 – Madison, WI @ High Noon Saloon
03/01 – Iowa City, IA @ The Mill
03/02 – Ames, IA @ Maintenance Shop at Iowa State University
03/03 – St. Paul, MN @ Turf Club
03/05 – Denver, CO @ Larimer Lounge
03/07 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Urban Lounge
03/08 – Boise, ID @ Neurolux
03/09 – Seattle, WA @ The Crocodile
03/10 – Vancouver, BC @ Waldorf Hotel
03/11 – Portland, OR @ Bunk Bar
03/13 – San Francisco, CA @ Rickshaw Stop
03/15 – Santa Barbara, CA @ Soho
03/16 – Los Angeles, CA @ Bootleg Theater
03/17 – San Diego, CA @ Soda Bar
03/23 – Glasgow, UK @ School Of Art
03/24 – Dublin, UK @ Whelan’s
03/26 – Manchester, UK @ Deaf Institute
03/27 – Bristol, UK @ Louisiana
03/28 – London, UK @ Cargo

[Listen] Memoryhouse - "This Will Be Our Year" (The Zombies Cover)

Toronto-based dream pop duo Memoryhouse are set to release their debut full length studio album The Slideshow Effect on February 28th via Sub Pop. In anticipation of the album's release, the duo have appropriately let loose a cover of The Zombies' 1968 hit "This Will Be Our Year." Even though it's not a single or track from the upcoming album, the cover is a fantastic representation of what the pair has in store, with their upbeat, layered sound being fleshed out in full force. The blend of the duo's signature dreamy atmosphere, frontwoman Denise Nouvion's stand out vocals, catchy guitar riffs and stylistic 1960s organ sounds makes for an excellent New Years treat. You can listen to, and download, the track below.