[Watch] Purity Ring - "Lofticries" (Official Video)

Purity Ring's debut album Shrines evoked a sense of surreal uneasiness amidst ethereal electronic instrumentation, a unique sound that has made it one of favorite albums this year. With the help of director AG Rojas, the Edmonton duo look to expand the unique aspects of their sound to the visual medium, resulting in the sublime video for "Lofticries". Described by Rojas as "[exploring] the stoicism of psychically connected characters confronted by surreal, climactic moments", the video quickly cuts between the lives of four people, as we bear witness to their detachment from the real world. Watch the clip above.

Shrines is out now via 4AD, and the band is currently on tour in Europe, with a North American tour set to start on January 10th. Check out their full tour schedule after the jump.

Purity Ring 2012-2013 Tour Dates:
11/14 – Berlin, DE @ Berghain #
11/15 – Munich, DE @ Hansa 39 #
11/16 – Zurich, CH @ Mascotte #
11/17 – Lausanne, CH @ Romandie #
11/18 – Lyon, FR @ Le Sonic #
11/20 – London, UK @ Scala #
11/22 – Brighton, UK @ The Haunt #
11/23 – Bristol, UK @ Thelka #
11/24 – Manchester, UK @ Sound Control #
11/26 – Leeds, UK @ Hi Fi Club #
11/27 – Glasgow, UK @ Captain’s Rest #
11/28 – Liverpool, UK @ Kazimer #
01/10 – Montreal, QC @ Le National *
01/11 – New York, NY @ Webster Hall *
01/12 – New York, NY @ Webster Hall *
01/14 – Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club *
01/15 – Baltimore, MD @ Ottobar *
01/17 – Atlanta, GA @ Variety Playhouse *
01/18 – Orlando, FL @ The Social *
01/19 – Tampa, FL @ Orpheum *
01/21 – New Orleans, LA @ Maison *
01/22 – Austin, TX @ The Mohawk *
01/23 – Dallas, TX @ Granada Theater *
01/24 – Memphis, TN @ Hi-Tone *
01/25 – Nashville, TN @ Mercy Lounge *
01/26 – Asheville, NC @ Orange Peel *
01/28 – Charlottesville, VA @ Jefferson Theater *
01/29 – Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer *
01/30 – Boston, MA @ Paradise *
02/01 – Toronto, ON @ Phoenix Concert Theatre*

# = w/ Doldrums
* = w/ Young Magic

[Listen] Purity Ring feat. Danny Brown - "Belispeak II"

Despite their status as an indie-electronic darling, the sounds produced by Edmonton duo Purity Ring are anything but. Their debut album Shrines is laden with dark, brooding trap instrumentation, and leave it to Danny Brown to take advantage of the rap-friendly nature of their beats. Labeled as the sequel to Purity Ring's "Belispeak" (note it's not a remix), "Belispeak II" sees Brown dropping a slew of dirty verses amidst the gothic synthesizers and rampant percussion. Stream the song below to hear Brown rap about his little belly speaking in an auto-tuned voice.

(via Yours Truly)

[Listen] Stream New Albums from Passion Pit and Purity Ring

NPR's First Listen series is offering up some awesome goodies to start off the week, namely full album streams for two notable July 24th releases. Streams of both Passion Pit's sophomore LP Gossamer and Purity Ring's debut album Shrines are starting the week off right.

Passion Pit's Gossamer is the long awaited follow-up to the band's standout debut LP Manners, which was released back in 2009. Their sophomore effort saw the band once again teaming up with producer Chris Zane, and the result is a fantastic 12-song album. Gossamer will be released on July 24th via Columbia Records. Stream it here.

Purity Ring have a lot more to prove than Passion Pit, though, and given the fact that they are easily one of the most hyped bands of 2012, there is a lot riding on their debut album Shrines. I have no doubt that the LP will be great, though, but head here to stream it in full and judge for yourself. Shrines drops on July 24th via 4AD.

[Watch] Purity Ring - "Fineshrine" (Official Video)

Purity Ring's "Fineshrine" is a masterpiece, brilliantly paced and encapsulating your senses with driving percussion, chiming synths, and spine-tingling vocals. The video for the song was released by the duo a couple of days ago, and it contains as much depth and captivating beauty as the song itself. Watch it above.

Purity Ring's debut album Shrines is out on July 24th via 4AD.

[SKOA Presents] Some Kind of Mixtape: June 2012

Summer is finally upon us! It seems almost everyone far and wide is caught in a nasty heat wave. Now that the season is in full swing, it's time to grab the coldest of beers, put on some sunscreen, toss on some killer jams and make the most of all of the sunshine. Of all the mixes we've made up to this point, I think all four of us can agree that this is the one we're the most pleased about. It seems the warmer it gets the tracks just get better and better.

Make sure to follow us over on 8tracks if you happen to enjoy the mix below. As always, you can learn more about why we've chosen the tracks that we did after the jump!

<3 <3 <3

kibbe, rocko, shey, & adrian

Some Kind of Mixtape - June from skoablog on 8tracks.

The Fresh & Onlys - "Yes Or No"

Coming from humble beginnings in San Francisco The Fresh and Onlys have released a decent back catalogue of music. We've not had a full length from them since back in 2010 when they dropped Play It Strange but later this year on September 4th they'll return with a new LP titled Long Slow Dance, via their new home at Mexican Summer. This track is the perfect introduction to the band and is the lead single from the forthcoming release. Check out "Yes or No" below and look out for more tracks in the build up to release. —Shey

Maximo Park - "Hips and Lips"

Maximo Park take me back to being a kid and blasting music out of my bedroom window in the summer months whilst jumping on my trampoline. You know, as you do. When I heard they'd announced a new album I was anxious, you can't help but not be when a band you like is making new music. What if you hate it? The led single from The National Health, "Hips and Lips" is as infectious as the classics. A statement and a band back on form. Paul's vocal delivery will ring around your head for the rest of the day after you hit play and I bloody love it. —Shey

Aesop Rock - "ZZZ Top"

About a week away from his upcoming release Skelethon, Aesop Rock dropped the second single from his forthcoming LP alongside an awesome fucking video (SERIOUSLY GO WATCH IT) for the tune "ZZZ Top". It's been a good 5 years since Aes' last solo outing and this time around he's solely producing without his buddy Blockhead or El-P for the first time. The album also marks Aesop's first solo release away from Definitive Jux (currently on hiatus). But no worries Aesop is good hands with Rhymesayers, who along with Def Jux were the top indie hip hop labels of the new millennium. However, back to the music, "ZZZ Top" is filled with filthy cut drum breaks, razor sharp guitar riffs provided by Dirty Ghosts and that signature wordplay Aesop is known for making this track one of our favorites. —Rocko

Cruiser - "Moving To Neptune" (from his Cruiser EP)

After discovering Cruiser through our good friends at Listen Before You Buy, I immediately loved the blissful, summery sounds of the Philadelphia-based solo artist. It's not just the feel good nature of his songs that stood out, though, but rather his fantastic instrumentation. "Moving To Neptune" is the perfect example of Cruiser's multi-layered approach, as he blends layer upon layer of beautifully timed melodic guitar riffs. The result is something so enjoyable to listen to. From the moment I heard it, it became a welcome addition to my summer listening. His debut self-titled EP comes highly recommended, so make sure to head over to his Bandcamp page to check it out. —Adrian

Unknown Mortal Orchestra - "I'll Come Back 4 U"

After a very successful debut LP, UMO drop the a taste of their upcoming yet to be titled for this year's Adult Swim Singles Program with the tune "I'll Come Back 4 U". The lo-fi psych rock tune may not be as funky as the group's well known single "How Can You Luv Me" but definitely carries that signature sound and catchiness that UMO is known for. After getting this wonderful taste, we are highly anxious to see what the band has in store for us later this year. —Rocko

Slow Magic - "On Yr Side"

Each release Slow Magic puts out impresses me more than the last, and "On Yr Side" is no exception. The song is just so crisp, with each pulse-pounding drum hit and every perfectly-timed synth note coming together in such a memorable way. The tone of the song deserves props, too, as it delivers a tense yet engaging experience, one that you will want to repeat over and over again. I don't know how Slow Magic pulls it off, but in no way am I complaining. —Adrian

Harlan - "Dirty Laundry"

Covers are a tricky thing. They can be yawn worthy if the covering artist basically carbon copies the orignial track, but if you transform it a little too much a lot of times the emotion doesn't get refocused and is lost somewhere. Harlan's cover of Don Henley's "Dirty Laundry" is neither of those things. Harlan is respectful of Henley's work but isn't afraid to add his bits of grit, polish and funk along the way. Been following this guy for awhile now, you should, too. —kibbe

Alt-J - "Tessellate"

Alt-J (∆) have been gaining a decent following and gaining rave reviews wherever they set foot and with the release of their debut in May the ball is continuing to roll and build pace at a rapid rate. The album, An Awesome Wave, has been playing none stop on my iTunes recently and this track is a great little tease of what the album has. "Tessellate" has a bit of everything. Piano, funky bass lines and a big drum beat. Get familiar with this band. Plus, any band who share my love for triangles are cool by me. —Shey

Poolside - "Slow Down"

With the temperature continuing to rise in NYC I have been daydreaming up ways to beat the heat. My mind keeps wandering to the large pool in McCarren Park that just opened up. Since hearing LA duo Poolside's latest track, "Slow Down", every single time that I have the urge to go swimming this song pops in my head. Certainly the rather simple music video for the song didn't help any with having that thought drilled into my brain. Gotta say, pretty bummed that their album, Pacific Standard Time, doesn't drop until next week, I have a feeling this would have been perfect for the inevitable daytime summer grilling on Independence Day. —kibbe

Brother Ali - "Stop The Press"

It's been a long 2 years for Brother Ali who has been constantly touring and been working on his upcoming album Mourning In America and Dreaming In Color entirely produced by Jake One. The first single "Stop The Press" documents Ali's journey from the recording of his previous album US to the present and all the heartache and success Ali's been through over the last few years. Even with the constant touring Ali has been putting work all year with releasing various free tracks and an emotional but amazing (and FREE) EP The Bite Marked Heart amping new and old fans up for the release of his new LP. There's note doubt in my mind that Brother Ali is going to have one of the top albums of the year especially after hearing all that he's put out so far which has been nothing but natural quality music. —Rocko

Purity Ring - "Fineshrine" (from their forthcoming album Shrines out July 24th via 4AD and Last Gang)

This is the second time Purity Ring has appeared on our mixtape series, and rightly so. The Edmonton duo becomes more impressive with each song leading up to the release of their debut full-length Shrines, and "Fineshrine" is the perfect example of how good that full-length will be. Megan James' vocals are once again a highlight, as they deliver the emotional core of the song, but add to that the amazing production of Corin Roddick to make it a standout track. Roddick masterfully blends heavy-hitting percussion with the duo's distinct gothic synth sounds, seamlessly tinkers with James' vocals, and paces the song incredibly well. "Fineshrine," and everything Purity Ring puts out, is worth your attention. —Adrian

Dragonette - "Rocket Ship"

From their upcoming September 25th release Bodyparts, Canada's Dragonette dropped their latest single "Rocket Ship" for the world to hear. I can't explain what it is about singer Martina Sobara's voice that i find so endearing, but I never end up feeling bad after hearing songs from their previous albums or any of the other tracks that she's done guest vocals for. She always sounds so playful but sassy with a dab of sexy in it at the same time, much like the music that accompanies her. I still can't believe they've challenged their fans to create a version of one of the unreleased songs from the forthcoming album just based on the lyrics. If you're up for for it, you have until mid-August to submit something. Until then, I'll just be waiting for the new album —kibbe

[Listen] Purity Ring - "Fineshrine"

Purity Ring has been making serious headway in recent months, with their tracks "Obedear" and "Belispeak" garnering a ton of attention. Today, you can hear a third cut from their upcoming debut LP Shrines, which is out on July 24th via 4AD. Stream "Fineshrine" below, and after the jump take a look at the full tracklisting for Shrines. 

Shrines Tracklist:
01. Crawlersout
02. Fineshrine
03. Ungirthed
04. Amenamy
05. Grandloves
06. Cartographist
07. Belispeak
08. Saltkin
09. Obedear
10. Lofticries
11. Shuck

[Watch] Purity Ring - "Belispeak" (Official Video)

On July 24th, breakout Edmonton duo Purity Ring will be releasing their debut LP Shrines through 4AD and Last Gang, and today they've unveiled the first official video from the forthcoming release. In the visuals for "Belispeak," directed by Brewer, we see vocalist Megan James in a dark, misty setting fitting with the gothic tones of the song. Check it out above.

[SKOA Presents] Some Kind of Mixtape: April 2012

Honestly, where is this year going!? It feels like last month we were doing our end of the year write ups and making plans to party on New Years Eve, but here we are nearly halfway into the year already. That means it's definitely time to start making all of your festival plans and start picking songs to listen to on the way to the beach. This month's tunes that have been hand selected by us for Some Kind of Mixtape: April 2012 are sure to point you in the right direction. As always, we've left you some tidbits about each song via our "liner notes" below and be sure to have a listen below via our 8tracks player. Our other mixtapes from earlier in the year are all over on 8tracks as well.

We luvah you facez,

Kibbe, Shey, Adrian & Rocko

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

Animal Kingdom - "Strange Attractor"

It's been hard to take this song off of repeat ever since I saw the rather bizzare video to accompany the track, but "Strange Attractor" one of those kinds of songs that you want to put on while driving at sunset with the windows down so that the glimmering guitars and airy vocals can echo up into the sky and bring the stars out more quickly. This lovely gem comes from London outfit Animal Kingdom who are a week away from releasing their sophomore album The Looking Away that's packed with their unique blend of indie pop. Keep your eyes peeled on May 8th and be sure to grab a copy of the album for yourself. - Kibbe

Jai Paul - "Jasmine" (Demo) (from the Jasmine (Demo) Single)

Somehow, with only two songs to his name, Jai Paul has managed to remain in music conversation for years. His premier track "BTSTU" initially released in 2007 as a demo, and has since been reworked several times and sampled by the likes of Drake and Beyoncé. "Jasmine," Jai Paul's second outing, delivers an even more enticing package than, with deep, pounding basslines, catchy guitar riffs and echoey, reverb-heavy vocals combining seamlessly. Despite having only two tracks, Jai Paul deserves all the hype given to him. Bragging rights are acceptable with a track record such as his. - Adrian

PINS - "Eleventh Hour"

Seeming to have come from nowhere, PINS have emerged like a butterfly, fully formed and dripping in an undeniable beauty. This, their second track with thumping anthemic drums paired with the distant yet bright guitar makes a great combination. The chant like vocal work also adds to the mystery. A lot darker than the rhythm of "Shoot Me" but just as moreish. I've had this on repeat a lot this last month so maybe you'll enjoy it just as much? - Shey

El-P - "Oh Hail No" Feat. Mr Muthafuckin eXquire and Danny Brown

One of my personal anticipated records of the year, El-P delivers yet again with his forthcoming 3rd LP (no pun intended), Cancer For Cure. And what better track to represent a sharper wittier El than the banging "Oh Hail No" which features 2 of the most current hyped wordsmiths, Mr Muthafuckin eXquire and Fool's Gold's Danny Brown. Although, the guest features on this track (and the album) stray away from El-P's old Def Jux partners, the trio deliver without mercy over El-P's destructive backdrop. C4C hits shelves on May 22nd, preorder here and make sure you check out El's upcoming tour featuring Mr Muthafuckin eXquire, Killer Mike and Despot. - Rocko

Norah Jones - "After The Fall"

Danger Mouse x Norah Jones = Awesome. That pretty much sums up Norah Jones' new album, Little Broken Hearts (which actually dropped today) to a T. After Jones teamed up on Danger Mouse & Daniele Luppi's Rome album last year, it was on inevitable for things to come back around and have Jones and DM work together on a full LP together. Aside from the leaks and single releases ("Happy Pills", "Say Goodbye" and "Travellin' On") the track I have currently on repeat is "After The Fall" which displays that classic Danger Mouse sound combined with the amazing vocals and lyrics from Norah Jones. Check it out and pick up the album today. - Rocko

Jack White - "Missing Pieces"

No-matter what band/group/project he's working on at any one moment, Jack White can make it his own. Now, when it came to his solo project it's hard to deny that we all, yes even you there in the back, we all got excited. A man of many talents but we all wanted to see and hear what direction his very own solo album would take. "Missing Pieces" is the opening track from Blunderbuss and it encompasses everything Jack is. Multiple instruments all prominently yet carefully placed resulting in an engaging piece of music. Just listen, stop reading. - Shey

The D.O.T. - "And A Hero"

I discovered The Streets and The Music back in college. I remember being so fascinated by the tone of Rob Harvey's voice on The Music's self-titled album and chuckling to myself at how clever I thought Mike Skinner's lyrics were on Original Pirate Material. Years went by and I watched their careers unfold and was pretty upset as both bands dwindled around the same time. Little did I know at the time that the brief collaborations on The Streets' Computers and Blues album would transition Skinner and Harvey into a new project which we now know as The D.O.T. I wasn't sure what to expect at first, but after hearing "And A Hero" I could not be more excited to see this next chapter unfold for these two. The production on this track is like a breath of fresh air into Skinner's signature sound and Harvey's vocals on this track make my eyes water just a tiny bit every single time. I absolutely cannot wait to hear more - Kibbe

Major Lazer - "Get Free" (Feat. Amber Coffman)

What can I write about Major Lazer that hasn't already been said? I could try to make up some off the cuff word to describe their sound. But why should I? We all know by this point that the combination of Diplo and Switch is a beautiful one and by adding in Amber Coffman of Dirty Projectors for vocal duties just takes it up another notch of ever growing greatness. No doubt we'll be having more Major Lazer treats over Summer, Diplo doesn't know how to take a break. - Shey

Purity Ring - "Obedear" (from their forthcoming album Shrines out July 24th via 4AD and Last Gang)

Edmonton duo Purity Ring are swiftly and gracefully establishing themselves as a favorite throughout the blogosphere, dropping select songs here and there. The difference? Each and every song they release is absolutely fantastic. "Obedear" is the best track they've delivered so far, and makes the July  24th release of their debut album Shrines even more anticipated. Pulsating gothic synth sounds surrounding ominous chanting and the spine-tingling vocals of Megan James, "Obedear" is the kind of song that, despite leaving you with goose bumps, has you desperately wanting more. What's not to love? - Adrian

White Fence - "Green Balloon" (from the Green Balloon 7" Single out May 22nd via Sexbeat)

Being a huge fan of Ty Segall, the psychedelic stylings of White Fence stood out immediately. "Green Balloon" is a great example of what makes the '60s-inspired psychedelic rock revival so appealing, as drowned out vocals and fuzzy guitar riffs pound in your ears like a flashback to a decade where music was at its finest. In every way, this song evokes the feeling of freedom and experimental creativity that was so prominent in the '60s, and all with a refreshingly carefree attitude. With his collaborative LP with Ty Segall out and volume one of his two volume Family Perfume LP released, 2012 is proving to be a good year for White Fence and the psychedelic rock revival. - Adrian

The Uncluded (Aesop Rock x Kimya Dawson) - "Bats"

Rhymesayers always knows how to deliver big on Record Store Day and this year was no different with the release of the 2012 RSE picture disc featuring new music from RSE flagship artists, Atmosphere and the debut of Aesop Rock and Kimya Dawson's collaborative project, The Uncluded. We've been excited for this collaboration ever since the announcement of the two working together on Kimya's recent LP Thunder Thighs and last year's Daytrotter Session. And after hearing the studio version of "Bats", we can't wait to hear more from two of music's most eclectic artists. The duo's album will drop later this year, but you can expect Dawson to guest feature on Aesop Rock's forthcoming album Skelethon this July. - Rocko

Ladyhawke - "Sunday Drive"

Relationships are such complicated things. A lot of times the central issue in a troubled relationship is a lack of communication. I really doubt that this was the case when Ladyhawke penned her latest single, "Sunday Drive". She really lays her heart bare in front of all of us as she details a relationship that is clearly not doing so well. Not only do her lyrics speak to just about anyone who's ever had a tough love life, but her delivery on this song was very well thought out. She doesn't come off sounding too miserable, but there's just a twinge of pain in her voice as she sings, "Please don't go / I need your love" from the chorus. Typically by the end of the song I feel the urge to hunt down Ladyhawke down myself to give her a hug because the song has shaken me that much. - Kibbe