chika
is a los angeles based artist whose work i found this weekend- she
makes the most adorable felt animals, and while i’m nearing the end of
my obsession with felt (i know, about time), i had to post these. i’m
not quite sure what i’d do with them, but mayve you guys could find a
use for them. maybe for kids? who knows, they’re cute and deserve a
click and check. so please click here and check out the world of chickgraphy.
[Via Designsponge]
AK-Momo [Sounds: Time For a Muse - Boys and girls]
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[Via PopMatters]
With two Dischord records that explored free jazz, trance punk, and old-fashioned dance tracks, the DC/NY quartet formerly known as El Guapo finds its way into new territory once more with this Touch And Go debut. They fuse pop, punk, hip hop, dancehall, and world influences into a bubbling stew that sounds like equal parts Kraftwerk, Timbaland, and your favorite Ethiopiques CD.
[Via Amazon]
Like compatriots Franz Ferdinand , the Futureheads play a dazzling power pop that’s impossible to sit still to. This British quartet’s rambunctious long-playing debut showcases choice art school tastes ca. 2004: Their sound’s strongly influenced by the herky-jerky pop of early XTC, the album was produced by the Gang of Four’s Andy Gill, one of the songs is called “Man Ray” (dada and surrealism are perennial hits with undergrads), while one of the best tunes is a well-placed cover of Kate Bush’s “Hounds of Love.” These retro ingredients would result in trendy mush in most hands, but the ’heads’ songs are strange, melodic and almost as original as the artists they brazenly borrow from. With intricately woven vocal harmonies that almost recall jubilee-era gospel (really), excellently sparse production, and a sproing-oing guitar sound that’s to die for, the Futureheads’ snappy songs are not likely to go stale as quickly as your electroclash favorites did. –Mike McGonigal
High Speed Scene [Sounds: In the know - For The Kids]
The High Speed Scene has connections. Signed to the Neptunes’ Star Trak label, regular headliners at trendy Silver Lake club Spaceland, and proud owners of a MySpace friends page that boasts countless endorsements from models and strippers, the shaggy-haired Los Angeles trio seems custom made for the hedonistic lifestyle that ripples through songs from its self-titled debut like “For The Kids” and “In The Know.” This is power-pop, plain and simple, running the gamut of the snarling punk of Material Issue to the melodic twists of Jellyfish. And while it never sounds particularly original or inspired, it is a lot of fun. Besides, imagine what it will sound like on the catwalk at the next Tommy Hilfiger show. — Aidin Vaziri
Spoon is a rare example of a band whose artistic strengths have grown exponentially with each album, despite numerous line-up changes and record biz setbacks. With a name culled from the Can song, Spoon began playing and recording in 1993 as collaboration between vocalist/guitarist Britt Daniel and drummer Jim Eno. Through a series of critically acclaimed releases for the Matador, Elektra, Merge and numerous other labels, Spoon have staked a claim as one of the US’s most revered & respected independent bands, with singer/songwriter Britt Daniel in particular an idiosyncratic author and voice to be reckoned with.
[Via Peek a Boo Records]
