[News] Albert Hammond Jr. Details New EP

The Strokes' guitarist Albert Hammond Jr. appeared on Har Mar Superstar's podcast last month, where he let slip that he has a new solo EP in the works. He didn't say much more than that, but all the details are here now thanks to the ever-helpful press release. The EP is titled AHJ and is due out on October 8th.

AHJ was produced and recorded at Hammond's own studios in Manhattan and upstate New York with the help of longtime producer Gus Oberg. Hammond spoke on the album's influences, saying:

Once you play music for a living, you’re always thinking about stuff. Conversations with friends and things you hear in movies – things come up and become lyrics. Hearing other people's songs becomes like competition – you hear something and mentally you want to beat it. Life in general is pretty inspiring."

No word yet on whether or not we will hear a single before the EP is released, but keep your eyes peeled.

AHJ Tracklist:
01.  Cooker Ship
02.  Strange Tidings
03.  Carnal Cruise
04.  Rude Customer
05.  St. Justice

[Listen] Splashh - "Something's Here"

We've given Splashh a bit of love here on SKOA over the past few months and the boys are preparing to release their fantastic debut album, Comfort, in just under a months time on the 2nd of September via Luv Luv Luv. In support of the album the band have just announced a UK tour set for October this year. Dates of which can be seen below.

As an added bonus you can download "Something's Here", a previously unreleased track that won't feature on the album. 

Splashh UK Tour 2013

03/10 - Spanky Van Dyke's - Nottingham 
04/10 - EVAC - Liverpool
05/10 - Deaf Institute -  Manchester 
07/10 - Brudenell Social Club - Leeds 
08/10 - Art School - Glasgow
09/10 - Electric Circus - Edinburgh
10/10 - Cluny - Newcastle
11/10 - Leadmill - Sheffield
12/10 - Simple Things Festival - Bristol
14/10 - Temple - Birmingham
15/10 - Portland Arms - Cambridge
16/10 - Green Door Store - Brighton
17/10 - The Garage - London

[Listen] Teen Daze Streams New Single "Ice On The Windowsill"

Vancouver's Teen Daze dominated last year with two fantastic albums, All of Us, Together and The Inner Mansions, showcasing his raw talent and ethereal luster. Never one to slow down, he's back with a new album. His third LP, Glacier will be released on October 1st, and "Ice On The Windowsill" is our first taste. The single highlights what Teen Daze hopes to achieve with the new record, focusing more on ambient sounds and textures and looking inward for inspiration. Give it a listen below.

Teen Daze kicks off a North American headlining tour starting on September 26th. Check out the full list of dates after the jump.

Teen Daze 2013 Tour Dates:
09/26 – Seattle, WA @ Decibel Festival
10/02 – Calgary, AB @ The Gateway
10/04 – Edmonton – AB @ The Wunderbar
10/05 – Woodberry, TN @ Music In The Middle Festival [DJ Set]
10/06 – Saskatoon, BC @ Amigo’s Cantina
10/08 – Winnipeg, MB @ Union Sound Hall
10/09 – Fargo, ND @ The Aquarium
10/11 – Madison, WI @ The Frequency
10/12 – Chicago, IL @ Beauty Bar
10/15 – Kingston, ON @ Clark Hall Pub
10/16 – London, ON @ The APK
10/17 – Toronto, ON @ Parts & Labour
10/18 – Ottawa, ON @ Mercury Lounge
10/19 – Montreal, QC @ Le Divian Orange
10/20 – Burlington, VT @ Signal Kitchen
10/23 – Philadelphia, PA @ Boot & Saddle
10/25 – Baltimore, MD @ Gold West Cafe
10/26 – New York, NY @ Glasslands
10/28 – Cleveland, OH @ Beachland Tavern
10/29 – St. Louis, MO @ The Demo
10/30 – Lawrence, KS @ The Bottleneck
10/31 – Denver, CO @ Larimer Lounge
11/03 – Phoenix, AZ @ Last Exit Live
11/04 – San Diego, CA @ Soda Bar
11/05 – Los Angeles, CA @ Echo
11/06 – San Francisco, CA @ Brick & Mortar Music Hall
11/07 – Portland, OR @ Holocene
11/09 – Vancouver, BC @ Electric Owl

[News] Here's Why Daft Punk Wasn't on Tonight's Episode of The Colbert Report

So, excitement was pretty high earlier today when Stephen Colbert's website confirmed an appearance by Daft Punk on tonight's episode of The Colbert Report as part of Colbchella '013. Lo and behold, the robotic duo were nowhere to be found. During the opening segment of the show, Colbert explained why:

Here’s the story: it’s a true story. We booked click and clack over here about a month ago. This network is owned by Viacom, which is also the owner of MTV… Apparently, Daft Punk are going to make a surprise appearance on the MTV Video Music Awards. Don’t tell anyone, because fun fact: no one told me until two hours ago."

Apparently MTV has an exclusive for a live television performance by Daft Punk, and they, and parent company Viacom, nixed the chances of a visit to The Colbert Report. Too bad for them, 'cause Robin Thicke took the title of "new song of the summer" with "Blurred Lines." Colbert took it even further, dishing out a "Get Lucky" montage featuring Hugh Laurie, Jeff Bridges, the cast of Breaking Bad, Jon Stewart, Jimmy Fallon and more. Watch it below.

Daft Punk will be performing during the MTV Video Music Awards on August 25th, during which Kanye West is also scheduled to perform.

[News] Confirmed! Daft Punk to Perform on The Colbert Report Tonight

The electronic music duo Daft Punk helps Stephen perform the song of the summer at this years Colbchella."

I guess it's official, then. Daft Punk will join Stephen Colbert tonight on The Colbert Report to perform "the songs of the summer, of the century" for Colbchella '013. The above words were posted on Colbert's website earlier today, confirming what he has been teasing this past week. It hasn't been confirmed which song they will perform, but "Get Lucky" is the likely candidate. And given that "Get Lucky" collaborator Nile Rodgers is the guest on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon tonight, perhaps he'll stop by The Colbert Report as well. We'll find out tonight when the episode airs. Tune in at 11:30 ET.

[Watch] Animal Collective Shares Quirky Video for "Monkey Riches"

If you've ever dreamed of becoming a snake charmer but shuddered at the thoughts of taming one of those fanged reptiles, look no further than Animal Collective's video for "Monkey Riches" for inspiration. Forget about snakes, it's all about ropes now. The odd video focuses on a bed-ridden rope charmer, whose ability to manipulate rope takes a mysterious turn. Watch below.

Animal Collective have also rescheduled their national tour, following cancelled shows due to band member illnesses. The dates will run from September through October, as well as in December. Check out the full schedule after the jump.

Animal Collective 2013 Tour Dates:
09/06 – Portland, OR @ MusicFest NW *
09/07 – Boise, ID @ Knitting Factory
09/08 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Depot
09/09 – Denver, CO @ Ogden Theatre
09/11 – Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue
09/14 – Mexico City, MX @ Ceremonia Festival
10/16 – Madison, WI @ Orpheum Theatre
10/17 – Chicago, IL @ Riviera Theatre
10/20 – San Francisco, CA @ Treasure Island Festival
10/21 – Los Angeles, CA @ Wiltern
10/22 – Phoenix, AZ @ Marquee
10/24 – Kansas City, MO @ Midland Theater
10/25 – St. Louis, MO @ The Pageant
10/26 – Asheville, NC @ Mountain Oasis Electronic Music Summit
10/27 – Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer
10/28 – Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer *
12/01 – Washington, D.C. @ 930 Club
12/02 – Portland, ME @ The State Theatre
12/04 – Royal Oak, MI @ Royal Oak Music Hall
12/05 – Covington, KY @ Madison Theater
12/06 – Cleveland, OH @ House of Blues
12/08 – Nashville, TN @ Marathon Music Works

[News] Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. Announce Sophomore Album, Due Out in October

Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. have owned my headphones these past few months, as their Patterns EP is played, repeated, enjoyed, repeated again, etc., etc. Each of its four songs are outstanding in their own way. "If You Didn’t See Me (Then You Weren’t On The Dancefloor)" is incredible fun, so upbeat and energetic, "Dark Water" revels in its odd tone and atmosphere, "Hiding" shines with anthemic harmonies and "Habits" is brimming with charm. Imagine my excitement when the duo announced another full-length album.

The Speed of Things is DEJJ's follow-up to their 2011 debut, It's A Corporate World. The Detroit hope, through the album's thirteen songs, to touch on a major aspect of modern culture: the Internet. They were heavily inspired by the Internet-focused nature of society, the obsessions that form around it and how that affects us.

It's a record that means a great deal to us, as it focuses on the size and speed of the world today. Everything is moving faster and faster as we are all much more connected by the global central nervous system that is the internet. Often it feels like when one realizes what they wish to do, it's impossible to know where to begin due to the scale of everything. We’re a generation of false starts."

The Speed of Things will be released on October 8th, and features two previously released tracks, "If You Didn’t See Me (Then You Weren’t On The Dancefloor)" and "Hiding." Watch the video for the former below.

The Speed of Things Tracklist:
01. Beautiful Dream
02. Run
03. Knock Louder
04. If You Didn’t See Me (Then You Weren’t On The Dancefloor)
05. I Can’t Help It
06. Hiding
07. Beautiful Dream (Reprise)
08. Mesopotamia
09. Dark Water
10. Don’t Tell Me
11. Gloria
12. A Haunting
13. War Zone

[News] The Field Announces New LP, 'Cupid's Head'

Minimal techno mastermind The Field (the moniker of Axel Willner) is back with a new album, his first since 2011's Looping State of Mind. If you haven't heard his stuff before, his three previous albums are really quite excellent. Each clocks in at about an hour, giving you plenty of minimal electronic to lose yourself in. This latest effort, titled Cupid's Head, will see the artist movig in a new direction (sort of), opting for live instrumentation throughout as opposed to his usual synthesized affair. It will also be a darker album tonally, hence the brooding gray artwork pictured above. Fitting, right? Willner spoke on the album, saying:

When I started to work on Cupid’s Head, it was quite awkward. I felt that I had nothing to put into a new album and I’m not the type to sit down and force something out in the studio. But then, after a few modest attempts, I got a first loop together and running which turned out (in a short time) to be ‘No.No…’. It was a revelation of sorts as making it felt new to me, and different, and that’s when it all came out. (This album) is about visions of the future, tiny actions and their consequences, about sentimentality and most certainly… about life."

Cupid's Head will be released on September 30th.

Cupid’s Head Tracklist:
01. They Won’t See Me
02. Black Sea
03. Cupid’s Head
04. A Guided Tour
05. No. No…
06. 20 Seconds Of Affection