The new EP from Massive Attack, Splitting The Atom, is now available for pre order from iTunes (UK) and 7digital. The official release date is 10/4/09. This release has been a long time in the making. Track listing below.

Gust of Wind # 8

Air, Moon Safari

Astralwerks

http://en.aircheology.com/

This Gust of Wind gives meaning to the word Classic, establishing its place as one of the most important albums to hit the shelves in a long time.

Since Air will be releasing their new album Love 2, on October 6th, I thought this would be a good time to rehash Moon Safari, and reflect on its amazing feeling. Moon Safari is by far the best album released by the profound French duo. For those who missed this record, I strongly recommend purchasing it; they recently reissued it with quality extras.

From the beginning the music buckles you in for a hazy trip, flowing in the mystical tones, and wilderness of sound that makes Moon Safari such a classic. The instruments speak to the mind, the rhythm fluid and consistent, while the keys are able to ride just above in a liberating way. Throughout this record the science fiction noises of the future interject over the bands thorough instrumentation’s – essentially, the backdrop of time and the places we see ourselves in, are running parallel with Moon Safar, as it takes us through the tides, and the mystique of the other side.

Air is out there, no question, and they connect to a dimension that requires a great focus. But not only is this record a path toward an influx of futuristic revelation, or a focus for the reality of nature, or one’s self. It has the tools to provide some moments that are simply fun, without losing the unique destination of the journey, or the fatigue of too much thought. Let go, and let Air design new images in your mind, new ideas for your own creativity, new energy for new ambitions, and a place to escape when the material world gets too crowded.

This is one of the best albums ever recorded, and easily one of my top five of all time. It’s a bit hard to believe two people  thought of something this wonderful, but in the reality of technologies today only a human can translate emotion to others, as if we are all connected by an invisible rope.

All day today there is an official Air, Love 2 world premiere listening party – World Premiere Listening Party: Listen to “LOVE 2″ Online Now! (starts at 12.00 CET on monday 28th, for 24 hours)

- Ryan Boos, September 28, 2009

Now available for download is the TwitterDJ application. DJ pioneer/Producer/Label Owner Richie Hawtin and his Minus label helped develop this application that tweets each track a DJ plays during a set in (nearly) real time. You can see the application in action @ his twitter account, www.twitter.com/rhawtin. The app utilizes an updated version of Traktor’s standard broadcasting technology and the popular social site twitter.com. Traktor being the Djing software that allows you to mix digital music internally within the software or externally with a standard mixer, turntables or CD decks and timecoded vinyl or CDs; depending on the software version (just in case you’ve been locked in a padded room flippin old tresor wax for the last decade and finally decided to conform).

TwitterDj is currently only available to run on Intel based Macs running OS X 10.5 and Xcode software. You will also need Native Intruments Trakt5o Pro 1.2 and Icecast 2.3.2 or higher.

This type of technology is an excellent step in promotional advancement for digitally released music. This gives an artist, and typically their independent label, the opportunity to gain further recognition for their music as its being played by a performer. How many times have you heard a track at a party, then again at another, frantically needing to add it to the collection but every pain-staking effort to find it on the small information you have is entirely fruitless? Yes, it may take a little something away from those diligent heads who scour through dusty crates and scan thousands of samples before finding those gems; only to broadcast your find to the world so it can be soaked up by some brat who lets his software beatmatch for him. But there are inventive ways around such things. Maybe counterproductive, but there’s always a way… Or, like a good friend pointed out to me, how annoying will it be with a bunch of techie-hipsters standing around at a club, too cool to dance, face lit up from the warm glow of their iphones, anxiously awaiting the next track tweet.

But (after years of denial and sly looks in the mirror) I excepted the fact that you must embrace technology and the information trade. The faster technology is adopted and the more it is exposed leads to faster development. It’s just the way it is, you can either your turn your back on it in denial… or except it. It will still continue to exist either way.

New Music: Deadmau5, For Lack Of A Better Name is out today (9/22/09). A bit too mainstream dance anthems for me, but this Toronto native has dropped some heavy hitters in the past and he is an in-demand remixer and dance producer.

New Music: Basement Jaxx, Scars Not necessarily something I would buy… but shit, you may be into it. The “Raindrops” track has been getting steady club play…

Gust of Wind # 7

Iron & Wine, Around The Well

Sub Pop Records

www.subpop.com/artists/iron_and_wine

This Gust of Wind holds us close while the leaves fall from the trees, and the summer memories fade into something more calm, something more tame, something we will miss, but inevitably have to wait for. As the clock spins and the days change into the New Year, this gust of wind will be right there, complementing the haze of autumn.

“>For those of you who are familiar with Iron and Wine, Around the Well is right on point with what you would expect from Sam Beam. Iron and Wine is known for their melancholy harmonies, and beautiful acoustic guitar playing. More recently the stripped down approach has been replaced with a full band, and musicians equal to the task of creating Beam’s wondrous sound. It’s hard not to get drawn into the pictures Iron and Wine evokes on their records, I know some who say it’s even hard to listen knowing the bitter sweet feeling these recordings can have. It’s imperative to grasp that emotion by allowing it to pass right by with the clouds up above, so you can see the brighter side of Iron and Wine.

Around the Well is a good place for new listeners to start, and equally a nice release for loyal fans, and even collectors. The beginning of the collection(disc 1) is a mix of older tunes, and the quality of recordings make it easy to distinguish between disc 2, which takes off into more diverse sounds, and even has a spark of experimental influence. That’s the beauty of Disc 2; it delves deeper into the Shepherds Dog approach. That album marked a significant shift for Sam Beam, and the extra tunes on Around the Well (Disc 2), treats listeners to more of that direction.

Iron and Wine is arguably one of the best bands in the last 10 years to come on the scene, but more  importantly the music on Around the Well, and any previous release, can be appreciated by more then just “the heads” of Indie Rock. Their music has an old timey quality to it, and as their discography has progressed into the sounds of different times, most notably Shepherds dog having a sixties and seventies rock undertone, Sam Beam reminds us that although their sound is expanding, the roots of their music will always come from the subtlety of acoustic guitars and hushed harmonies. Around the Well is a reminder of where they have come from, and were they’re going.

- Ryan Boos, September 22, 2009

Buy: Iron & Wine, Around The Well

Released today: The Big Pink, A Brief History of Love. The first full length album from the London duo. Their music encompasses everything great: pop, rock, indie, electronic, soulful vocals and distinct production beats.

Just released today is Rain Machine, Rain Machine. A solo album from Kyp Malone, the guitarist/vocalist from TV on the Radio. TVOR is currently on a break for the next year or so, which gives this lead-man a chance to shine alone. TVOR is one of my favorite groups and it’s gonna be a task to surpass their innovative talent and success. Kyp’s vocals on Rain Machine drive further into the soulful dynamics he gracefully accomplished on TVOR’s last album Dear Science. A method that took him three records to perfect and execute. Rain Machine goes deeper into experimentation and peers into a bluesy, folk singer-songwriter’s afternoon by the lake… dropping the drum heavy tracks for simple shakers, backwoods pickin and vocal harmonics.

New from LCD Soundsystem is the 45:33 Remixes. Originally 45:33 was a commissioned piece for Nike. One continuous track to inspire a workout session. The demand for the music grew until the track was release on a Proper CD with extra content. On 45:33 Remixes, segments of the record are reinterpreted by acts including: Brookyn’s Runaway, Norway’s Prins Thomas to Berlin’s Riley Reinhold and Paris’ Pilooski. The remixes where then placed on the CD in subsequent order, giving it the same seamless feel. There’s also been much buzz about one remix in particular. Theo Parrish’s Space Cadet remix showed up in DFA Records snail mail box of all places, straight from Detroit, and should prove to be in heavy rotation. Keep an eye out for an early 2010 release from James Murphy, the voice and driving force behind LCD Soundsystem and DFA Records founder, as he’s currently in the studio.

Download the new Phish Album Joy, Only $3.99 on Amazon Today.