I See MONSTAS: Evolution

Just in time for Halloween, London based trio I See MONSTAS, formerly MONSTA, released their second EP 'Evolution' on October 21. The stellar title track showcases singer Skaar's outstanding vocals which here call to mind Led Zeppelin's Robert Plant if he decided to time travel and dabble in techno.

The excellent nightmarish video has a nice man-in-the-mirror twist at the end.


They have four gigs coming up in the UK plus two in continental Europe: the mini tour kicks off with a show in Manchester tomorrow Thursday. There are also five dates scheduled in Australia in March.


https://www.facebook.com/iseemonstas/app_308540029359

White Denim: Pretty Green

Austin, Texas band White Denim drop their sixth full-length studio album 'Corsicana Lemonade' on October 29; a very trippy video was made to accompany the track "Pretty Green".


The quartet is currently touring: there are two dates in L.A. Oct. 29 and 30 plus one in San Francisco Oct. 31.  Ten shows (some already sold out) are scheduled for November 12-24 in continental Europe and the UK.  Late December/early January they'll be playing a few gigs in Australia, including several at the Falls Fest.


https://www.facebook.com/whitedenimmusic/app_123966167614127


NOTE: I would like to dedicate White Denim's excellent song to the legendary Lou Reed who passed away today at age 71. I have a feeling he would appreciate the track and the video. One thing is for sure: Velvet Underground is the most ingenious band name in rock history. (Brian Eno famously stated that while the first Velvet Underground album may have sold only 30,000 copies in its early years, "everyone who bought one of those 30,000 copies started a band.")

4 Guys From The Future: Nothing To Say + You Don't Know What You're Doing

Two videos were published last month to accompany the opening track "You Don't Know What You're Doing" as well as the first single "Nothing To Say" from 'Adagio', the second full-length from Copenhagen band 4 Guys From The Future.  The album drops on October 28.

There is a release party at Musiksmag in Nørrebro on Saturday Oct. 26, followed by two shows the first week of December: Dec. 5 at Radar in Århus and Dec. 6 at famed Christiania venue Loppen.



"Nothing To Say" was directed by Lasse Smith and can be viewed with or without 3D glasses.
"You Don't Know What You're Doing" was directed by Louie McPherson and Stefan Björklund.


NOTE:
Jannis Noya Makrigiannis, frontman in Danish band Choir Of Young Believers plays 12-string guitar on the outstanding "Nothing To Say." 


www.facebook.com/4guysfromthefuture

http://4guysfromthefuture.net/

Polica: Warrior Lord + Lay Your Cards Out + Dark Star

Minneapolis band Polica drop their second full-length 'Shulamith' October 22.  A gorgeous video for the stellar single 'Warrior Lord" was published this month; it was co-directed by Isaac Gale and David Jensen.

Their North American tour runs from October 31 through December 7; the UK/continental Europe tour kicks off in Stockholm on January 22 and wraps up in London on February 12.

The outstanding live version of "Dark Star" proves that concert goers have much to look forward to.


http://thisispolica.com/tour.php

www.facebook.com/thisispolica


NOTES on videos below:
"Warrior Lord" was directed by Isaac Gale and David Jensen
"Lay Your Cards Out" and "Dark Star" are off the debut album 'Give You The Ghost'

Denai Moore: The Lake

19-year-old Jamaica-born, London-based singer-songwriter Denai Moore released the four-track EP 'Saudade' in March of this year and word began to spread. Her second EP 'The Lake' drops November 4; the stunning title single is out now.

Moore has several shows lined up this month and next month, most of them opening for other artists, but I doubt it will be long before she will be headlining extensively in the UK and abroad. Hopefully, a full-length will be released in the new year as well as some good videos.


https://www.facebook.com/DenaiMooreMusic/app_123596511166358

https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/saudade-ep/id620948470

Augustines: Cruel City + Juarez + Book Of James + Chapel Song

Today Brooklyn trio Augustines published the video for the stellar teaser single "Cruel City" from their self-titled second album which drops January 21.  The clip was shot in London and was directed by Bryan Schlam.

Drummer Rob Allen, singer/guitarist Billy McCarthy and multi-instrumentalist Eric Sanderson are currently touring North America with Scottish quintet Frightened Rabbit; final stop is Washington D.C. on October 29.


https://www.facebook.com/weareaugustines/events


The excellent videos 2, 3 and 4 accompany "Juarez", "Book of James" and "Chapel Song", three outstanding tracks from their highly acclaimed 2011 debut album 'Rise Ye Sunken Ships'.

Drake: Too Much (Featuring Sampha, Live On Late Night With Jimmy Fallon)

I first became familiar with London based singer-songwriter-producer Sampha a year ago when I posted a video he did with Jessie Ware and thus recognized him as Drake took the stage on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon on September 13.  Their outstanding performance of "Too Much" from Drake's new album 'Nothing Was The Same' featured Sampha on piano and vocals and is a perfect example of how rap and soul/R&B can be blended seamlessly, sublimely. It also goes to show that the live version of a song is often superior to the recorded version, even if the latter is quite good, as is the case with this track.


Drake begins his long string of North American 'Would You Like A Tour' concerts in Pittsburg on October 18 and wraps things up in Auburn Hills on December 16.  Special guests are Miguel and Future, big names in their own right.  (No word on whether Sampha will be appearing.)


http://www.drakeofficial.com/tour-dates/

www.facebook.com/pages/Sampha/144200692175


Jessie Ware and Sampha clip:
http://latenightdj.blogspot.com/2012/10/jessie-ware-wildest-moments-110-running.html