Here’s a brief look inside the mansion studio the new LCD Soundsystem album was recorded. Some of James Murphy’s thoughts. Some new album sounds. And is that a Will Ferrell impression at the end? James also announced a tour and made a few promises:

“here’s a promise: i’m not going to make many expensive videos. know why? no one plays videos. another promise: i will fall over and injure myself at some point on this tour. this is a promise i hope i can bail on, but it’s unlikely, considering my track record of falling over and injuring myself. if you are unaware of my track record, here it is: i fall over and hurt myself. somewhat regularly.”

Hmm. Sounds like a drunk girlfriend.

James Lavelle has confirmed a new album release for UNKLE in 2010. It is planned for May and includes contributors: Pablo Clements of the Psychonauts and Mark Lanegan, former frontman of the Screaming Trees. The new UNKLE album is entitled Where Did the Night Fall and Lavelle has described it as “different from the last one and a bit more electronic”. UNKLE’s last studio album, End Titles . . . Stories For Film, prorated the more intimate, instrumental and ambient side of the group and as the title suggests is a collection of cinematic pieces “inspired by the moving image.” This was much the opposite, although production and vocal wise still heavily influenced, from the 2007 release War Stories which bore witness to the groups evolution from sample heavy hip hop to trancy electronic pop to rock influenced anthems. The genius of UNKLE is headed back full circle, 12 years after the breakthrough debut of Psyence Fiction.

From the Big Ears email update.

BIG EARS 2010 INDIVIDUAL SHOW TICKETS ON SALE THIS FRIDAY
The BIG EARS FESTIVAL is proud to announce its initial schedule for the weekend of March 26, 27, and 28 in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Friday, March 26:
7:00 pm – Terry Riley featuring Gyan Riley, Tracy Silverman, and Ches Smith at the Bijou Theatre
10:30 pm – The xx + jj + Nosaj Thing at the Bijou Theatre

Saturday, March 27:
1:00 pm – Clogs with special guests + My Brightest Diamond at the Bijou Theatre
2:30 pm – Dirty Projectors + Bang On A Can All-stars at the Tennessee Theatre
7:00 pm – Andrew W.K. and Calder Quartet at the Bijou Theatre
8:00 pm – Vampire Weekend at the Tennessee Theatre
10:00 pm – Joanna Newsom + special guests at the Bijou Theatre
12 Midnight – Terry Riley’s In C, performed by Bang On A Can All-Stars and special guests + Terry Riley solo at the Tennessee Theatre

Sunday, March 28:
2:00 pm – Brian Eno’s Music for Airports, performed by Bang On A Can All-Stars + the Books + special guests at the Tennessee Theatre
7:00 pm – St. Vincent + special guests at the Bijou Theatre
9:00 pm – The National at the Tennessee Theatre

INDIVIDUAL SHOW TICKETS ON SALE THIS FRIDAY, JANUARY 29
On Friday, January 29th at 10:00 a.m. EST, a limited number of individual show tickets will go onsale and the above links will be activated for ticket purchases.

A limited number of Big Ears 2010 “Inner Ear” weekend festival passes are still available for $249.50 + applicable service fees. The Big Ears 2010 Inner Ear weekend pass offers premium access to all Big Ears 2010 happenings throughout the entire weekend (subject to available capacity for each venue) as well as exclusive invitations and access to special events.

This is just the first round of shows! Additional shows will be announced in the coming weeks. Visit the BIG EARS website for the most up-to-date information on the Big Ears schedule, evolving lineup and ticketing information.

ARTIST
SAM AMIDON
ANDREW W.K.
BANG ON A CAN ALL-STARS
IVA BITTOVA
BUKE & GASS
CALDER QUARTET
CLOGS
BRYCE DESSNER
DIRTY PROJECTORS
DOVEMAN
THE 802 TOUR
THE EX
BEN FROST
GANG GANG DANCE
TIM HECKER
JAVELIN
jj
ANDY MOOR
NICO MUHLY
MY BRIGHTEST DIAMOND
THE NATIONAL
JOANNA NEWSOM
GYAN RILEY
TERRY RILEY
DJ /rupture
TRACY SILVERMAN
NADIA SIROTA
ST. VINCENT
VAMPIRE WEEKEND
THE xx

The new Beatport exclusive single, “X Ray Eyes” from Bomb the Bass is out. Vocals by Kelley Polar and additional remixes by John Tejada. X Ray Eyes is the second of four singles to be released once a month until the full length album. The new album, Back To Light, is a follow up to the phenomenal 2008 release Future Chaos.

The singles will be an exclusive for the first 4 weeks on Beatport. The first single “The Infinites” dropped on 12/22/09 which featured retakes, care of Extrawelt, Kwesachu, Jake One, Atom TM and Mark E…plus a special Bomb the Bass remix. The LP will feature ten new tracks, with contributions from Paul Conboy, Gui Boratto, Kelley Polar, Richard Davis, The Battle of Land and Sea, and Depeche Mode’s Martin Gore.

Get the Beatport Exclusive “X Ray Eyes” Single

Get “The Infinites” Single

Pre Order Back to Light on CD (2/16)

Pre Order Back To Light on MP3 (3/2)

Animal Collective’s ODDSAC is premiering at the Sundance Film Festival.

Heligoland, the much, much anticipated, long overdue album from Massive Attack is available for pre-order in a number of formats (releases 2/8/2010). There is a new “LP’ format from iTunes that will include 6 bonus tracks and exclusive art – two of the tracks (unfortunately) are only available on iTunes (and they may just be worth it). This new version will also include an enhanced version of the standard artwork plus new works and photos not available anywhere else. As of now, you can only purchase the entire album not individual tracks. A special triple vinyl / cd format with additional art will also be available – no word yet on where it will be distributed through.

Heligoland is the fifth studio album from Massive Attack and the first studio album since 2003′s critically-acclaimed 100th Window, created solely by Robert Del Naja (3D) as the other founding members split after the 1998 album Mezzanine. Grand Marshall (Daddy G) returns on Heligoland as well as long time vocalist cohort Horace Andy. In typical Massive fashion, the new album features an all-star cast of guest vocals from Damon Albarn (Blur, Gorrillaz), Hope Sandoval (Mazzy Star), Martina Topley-Bird (Tricky), Guy Garvey (Elbow) and Tunde Adebimpe (TV On The Radio). The band also collaborated with DFA’s Tim Goldsworthy on selected tracks as well as guitar from Portishead’s Adrian Utley. The cover, as in Splitting The Atom and various UNKLE albums, is original artwork from Del Naja.

Pre-order Massive Attack, Heligoland CD (Available 2/9)

Pre-order Massive Attack, Heligoland MP3

Pre-order Massive Attack, Heligoland ‘LP’ from iTunes

Pre-order Massive Attack, Heligoland from iTunes

If you missed it out last week is the new album from Eels, End Times.

Animal Collective goes a bit more dreamy acoustic with their new 5 track release Campfire Songs.

Gust of Wind # 14

Signer, Next We Bring the Fire

CarPark

This Gust of Wind rests in spaces out of this world.

The atmospherics of Signer are pleasant from the start. The record plays with an ease of beauty. The soft hushed vocals are co-mingling with a vast amount of layering. Beats come out of left field, and the feeling gets me high. Ryan McFun from one of my favorite bands, The Ruby Suns, contributes on this record. His vocals are distinct, and go as high as a rocket ship. All the songs are written and performed by Bevan Smith.

Next We Bring the Fire certainly has moments more accessible than others. The song “+ kicks and kicks” is quite funky and blazing with static, while McFun’s vocal adds a laid back feel to its more groovy nature. Signer has an older sounding electronic quality to it, sort of 1990s-esque, with an acidic tone. This impression is left more notably on the tune “glass ceiling.” Its glitch foundations are coupled with a voice trying to get out from behind a dark corner. Most of the album is nothing if not riddled with tons of reverb, and the consistent emotion of searching to be lost.

There is something that reminds me of the ride home during the dawn of an after party, with all the “colorful balloons” floating in the air. As you drive out of the cold darkness, lost in some random inner city with no where to piss, remember, you can play Signer on your way home and all will be forgotten.

- Ryan Boos