Mark McGuire Shares Serene "Beginning of Winter" Video - New Album Ideas of Beginnings Out 6/2 on VDSQ

Mark McGuire has shared a new video for “Beginning of Winter,” a highlight from his upcoming album Ideas of Beginnings, out June 2nd on VDSQ. The track exemplifies the guitarist’s stripped back approach on the new album, forgoing the expansive sound he has explored on other recent solo outings in favor of the simple arrangements allowed by his guitar and trusted looping pedal. The result is some of his most direct and emotionally impactful work to date. McGuire is seen playing guitar in the video, overlaid with imagery of a lush green forest that slowly fades into a gentle, but steady, snowfall. NPR premiered the video this morning.

Pre-order Ideas of Beginnings via VDSQ: www.vdsqrecords.com

Mark McGuire reminds us why he is among the most beloved guitarists of our new age. McGuire returns to VDSQ with a beautiful album of fractal introspection, a succinct collection of deeply melodic and emotive themes. Ideas of Beginnings is a direct statement of modern guitar, running the gamut from brightly focused acoustic compositions to late night electric vapor trails. Ideas of Beginnings is another highlight from this iconic 21st Century guitarist.

Mark McGuire first came to national prominence as one third of legendary drone/psychedelic collective Emeralds and quickly ignited a new movement of New Age transcendence in American underground music. In 2009 Mark released his first solo album, VDSQ Solo Acoustic Vol. 2 to wide acclaim. Since then, Mark has released albums on Editions Mego, Dead Oceans and toured the world several times. Having reached a status as a contemporary guitar legend its with great joy we find his return to VDSQ in 2017 with Ideas of Beginnings.

Mark McGuire – Ideas of Beginnings

(June 2nd, VDSQ)

1.    Beginner

2.    The Girls

3.    Skipping Stones

4.    Smile From Up North

5.    Late Summer Early Evening

6.    The Clock Strikes With Soft Rain

7.    Serpent Mount Coyote Song

8.    To Continue

9.    Beginning Of Winter

10. By The Light Of The Freezing Pond

11.  Eleven Sevens

Mount Kimbie Share New Single & Video, Announce EU/UK Tour Dates, NA Tour Starts End of May

Following an incredible response to their first new track in 4 years – “We Go Home Together” (feat. James Blake) - Mount Kimbie return with another close friend and collaborator, the Oscar nominated Mica Levi aka Micachu, with “Marilyn.”

“Couldn’t be happier to share a song we wrote with Mica Levi - this one’s called Marilyn. Mica’s work has been a constant source of inspiration for us and I’m grateful she wanted to sing on this one because as a singer and a lyricist I think she brings so much. We’re also announcing our EU tour which starts in October. Can’t wait to be back playing gigs every night with our band-mates Andrea and Marc. Lots of new music and new ideas for us so we hope to see you somewhere on our travels.”

— Kai from the band

The track is accompanied by a video by renowned cult fashion photographer and film director Mark Lebon, who rose to notoriety in the 1980s for his work with high end fashion labels and magazines including i-D, Vogue, John Galliano, Jean-Paul Gaultier and Vivienne Westwood.

The clip is an intimate portrait of family life, compiled from home video footage shot by Mark of his sons Tyrone Lebon, who previously worked with Mount Kimbie on videos and photography for their debut album Crooks and Lovers, and Frank Lebon, who directed and starred in the recent ‘We Go Home Together’ video. A true family affair.

Mount Kimbie have also announced a European tour, which includes their biggest London headline to date at the Roundhouse. These are in addition to the band’s dates in North American in May and June with support acts Tirzah and Ash Koosha. Full dates are listed on the band website and tickets are on sale from 3pm BST on Wed 10th May: http://www.mountkimbie.com/live

5/25 - Ramsgate Music Hall, Ramsgate, UK

North American Tour Dates

5/28 - GEORGE, WA - Sasquatch Music & Arts Festival_

5/29 - DETROIT, MI - Movement Music & Arts Festival_

5/30 - SANTA ANA, CA - Constellation Room

5/31 - SAN DIEGO, CA - The Music Box_

6/01- LOS ANGELES, CA - El Rey Theatre_

6/02 - SAN FRANCISCO, CA - 1015 Folsom_

6/03 - SACRAMENTO, CA - Harlows _

6/05 - SALT LAKE CITY, UT - Urban Lounge           

6/06 - BOISE, ID - The Reef

6/07 - PORTLAND, OR - Star Theater_

6/08 - VANCOUVER, BC - The Imperial        _

6/10 - BETHEL, NY - Mysteryland Music & Arts Festival_

6/11 - BOSTON, MA - The Sinclair_

6/12 - WASHINGTON, DC- U Street Music Hall_

6/13 - BROOKLYN, NY - Warsaw      _

6/15 - MONTREAL, QC -Theatre Fairmount_

6/16 - TORONTO, ON - Velvet Underground_

6/18 - CHICAGO, IL - Thalia Hall

EU/UK Dates

10/27 - Liverpool Music Week, Liverpool, UK

10/28 -  Ritz, Manchester, UK

10/30 -  Glasgow Art School, UK

11/01 - The Institute, Birmingham, UK

11/02 - Motion, Bristol, UK

11/03 - Roundhouse, London, UK

11/04 - AB, Brussels, Belgium

11/05 -  Paradiso, Amsterdam, Netherlands

11/07 -  Parkteatret, Oslo, Norway

11/08 - Kagelbanan, Stockholm, Sweden

11/09 -  Vega, Copenhagen, Denmark

11/10 - Astra, Berlin, Germany

11/11 - Niebo, Warsaw, Poland

11/12 -  Kwadrat, Krakow, Poland

11/14 - Meet Factory, Prague, Czech Republic

11/15 -  Flex, Vienna, Austria

11/16 -  Muffathalle, Munich, Germany

11/17 -  Mascotte, Zurich, Switzerland

11/8 -  Magnolia, Milan, Italy

11/19 - Cabaret Aléatoire, Marseille, France

11/21 - Rockstore, Montpellier, France

11/22 - Razzmatazz, Barcelona, Spain

11/23 - Joy Eslava, Madrid, Spain

11/24 - Atabal, Biarritz, France

11/25 -  Le Trianon, Paris, France

11/28 -  Grand Mix, Lille, France

Nick Murphy Announces 'Missing Link' + Track with KAYTRANADA + Extensive World Tour

New York-based Australian producer & musician Nick Murphy has announced Missing Link, a new collection of tracks that bridge the sonic shift between Chet Faker and Nick Murphy. The 5-song EP is out today via Downtown Records / Interscope and available to stream / order here: http://smarturl.it/MissingLink.

Murphy will also bring his dynamic live show to stages across the globe through the end of the year, announcing an extensive world tour that features headline shows in North America, Australia and Europe. U.S. dates include this Friday’s show at Red Rocks with Bonobo, a headline performance at Los Angeles’ Shrine Auditorium, an appearance at NYC’s Panorama Festival, and more. Murphy will also perform an exclusive residency at Sydney Opera House for Vivid LIVE next month. For tour details and to purchase tickets, visit http://missing.li/nk.

Photo Credit: Tyler Mitchell

Missing Link opens with the first single “Your Time,” a moody, older recording featuring production from KAYTRANADA that just premiered as a World Record on Zane Lowe’s Beats1 show. Hear the track and interview with Lowe below. The EP continues to move through Murphy’s sound evolution from the voiceless distortion of “Bye” to the grand, escalating track “Forget About Me”—also premiered today on Lowe’s show—and “Weak Education,” the dance-influenced track closer. It’s the sound of Murphy exhaling.

Missing Link Track Listing

1. Your Time (produced by KAYTRANADA)

2. Bye

3. I'm Ready

4. Forget About Me

5. Weak Education

The EP is Murphy’s first release since announcing last fall that he’ll record and perform under his given name and step away from his Chet Faker moniker. “Chet Faker was me trying to prove something to myself,” says Murphy. “But my tastes are pretty dynamic and I realized I’ve spent time resisting that. Now I want to put everything in. It’s not conceptual anymore. It’s just me, and it made sense to show that in a name. It feels like a rediscovery.”

After announcing the name change last fall and releasing two well-received tracks—“Fear Less” and “Stop Me (Stop You)”—he notes, “This huge wave came out and I broadened the framework. Instead of having to make finished tracks, I could just explore. That felt like the missing link between where I was and where I’m going now.” The Missing Link EP is a snapshot of that wave in motion. It is the ‘missing link’ between who he was as an artist and what’s next for him.

The trailer for the Missing Link EP, co-directed by Murphy and New York-based Australian filmmaker and musician Johann Rashid, was released last week and teases some of the EP’s forthcoming visual accompaniment. Watch the trailer here: https://youtu.be/yz4hf1qV73k. Murphy also recently released a short video interview with collaborator Dave Harrington where he discusses the name change, creating his new music and more: https://youtu.be/KWNTwX5bfTA.

Juan Maclean, Juliana Huxtable, Jellybean Benitez & more play Boiler Room This Thursday at House of Yes for Let NYC Dance

This Thursday, May 11th, Boiler Room is teaming up with the Dance Liberation Network to produce an event at Brooklyn’s House of Yes to raise awareness for Let NYC Dance, a campaign to help repeal the archaic cabaret laws still in effect in NYC. The event, which will be live streamed via Boiler Room’s channels, aims to drive attention to the campaign and encourage people to sign the petition pushing for repeal of the law.

Musically, the night will unify a broad range of DJs/performers to illustrate the diversity of NYC's sound, spanning the range of generations of music and people who have been affected by this law. Each DJ will celebrate a different generation of NYC sound, grounding the event in a historical and educational context. Dancing is part of the fabric of NYC and they want to highlight the absurdity it being illegal to do so.  

Lineup:

1960's Jonathan Toubin

1970s Mobile Mondays DJs

1980's Jellybean Benitez

1990's Anané Vega

2000's Juan Maclean

2010's Juliana Huxtable

+ Special performance by LiteFeet Nation

Event Details:

House Of Yes

2 Wyckoff Ave,

Brooklyn, NY 11237

Thursday, May 11th

Doors 10pm // Broadcast 11pm

More info on NYC Cabaret Law:

Since 1926 it has been illegal to dance in NYC without a Cabaret License- a nearly unobtainable license that is far out of reach for bars and clubs that cater to everyday New Yorkers. 

Originally deployed as a law to control black jazz clubs in Harlem, the Cabaret law has gone through waves of enforcement, notably during the Giuliani years when it was used as a tool to shut down over 70 venues “violating” cabaret law- the vast majority of which served LGBT communities. Let NYC Dance x Boiler Room aims to mobilize the community around repealing this law, bringing together NYC DJs each representing a different decade in music, illustrating the wealth of music NYC has contributed globally. The time is now to Let NYC Dance!

Forest Swords' new album out tomorrow, playing NYC next week!

Tomorrow, Forest Swords, aka Merseyside producer Matthew Barnes, will release Compassion, his sophomore album and follow up to his critically acclaimed debut Engravings. In celebration of the release he will be playing New York’s Mercury Lounge next Wednesday alongside label mates Actress and UMFANG.

Compassion is a response to the uncertain, aggressive new world we’re experiencing and communicating within, distilling it into a unique sound territory: Barnes' exploration of the mid-point between ecstasy and melancholy, artificial and human feels timely and affecting; a celebration of primal connections, life itself, and an anxious glance at the direction we're heading. The result is an assured, compelling, vital body of work, tying together the ancient and future: weaving swathes of buzzing digital textures, field recordings, clattering beats and distorted jazz sax with fizzing orchestral arrangements.

Central to this enthralling world is Compassion, an album that's as weighty as it is vulnerable, sculpting the most striking parts of his previous work into something that feels urgent and necessary, and cementing Barnes as one of the UK's most significant electronic artists and composers.

Forest Swords – Compassion

(May 5th - Ninja Tune)

War It

The Highest Flood

Panic

Exalter

Border Margin Barrier

Arms Out

Vandalism

Sjurvival

Raw Language

Knife Edge

Pre- Order

https://ninjatune.net/release/forest-swords/compassion