James Vincent McMorrow – Early In The Morning (Special Edition Album)
Label: Believe Digital
Release date: 2/5/12
James Vincent McMorrow is going from strength to strength. His debut album “Early In the Morning” has earned him an extensive fan-base and significant critical plaudits since its release in March 2010. The record has since gone Gold, been nominated for the Choice Music Prize and the Irish Mercury, and has seen James spend the last two years touring the US and Europe extensively (stopping off at Glastonbury, Latitude and ‘Later…With Jools Holland’ along the way).
Following the success of his new single, a cover of Steve Winwood’s “Higher Love” featured in LOVEFiLM’s TV ad campaign through November, December and January and the single’s top 20 success in the charts, James will release a special edition of his acclaimed debut album on February 5th through Believe Digital, before embarking on a tour around the UK this month. His 7 date tour will end with a sold out show at London’s Royal Festival Hall on February 15th.
The physical release of the Special Edition album, featuring 4 bonus tracks including his stunning version of Higher Love, is available here:
Alternatively you can get a digital copy with 3 bonus tracks here:
and with 2 bonus tracks here:
The Twilight Sad – No One Can Ever Know
Label: Fat Cat
Release date: 2/6/12
The Twilight Sad are a three-piece indie rock band from Kilsyth, Scotland, formed in late 2003. Starting off as an experimental outfit and creating half-hour long pieces using unusual ingredients including theremin, thumb pianos and tape loops from films, the band fine-tuned their sound into something more traditional, layering emotive melodies in their studio recordings yet still keeping their experimental element. After sending a demo over to Fat Cat Records in 2005, they grabbed label co-founder Alex Knight’s attention who signed them upon watching the band at their third ever gig. They toured extensively last year, supporting fellow Scottish band Mogwai on their UK tour as well as performing at various UK festivals.
The Twilight Sad list Phil Spector, Leonard Cohen and Daniel Johnston among their influences. “No One Can Ever Know” is their third album, released through Fat Cat Records. Described by This Is Fake DIY as “a tense and absorbing record that creates its own world for you to live in”, this album is one to check out.
(iTunes exclusive – bonus track)
Kinny – Can’t Kill a Dame With Soul
Label: Tru Thoughts
Release date: 2/6/12
Kinny, aka Caitlin Simpson, was born and raised in Canada but also has a mixture of Jamaican, Native Canadian Indian, French and Swedish in her heritage. Originally trained as an opera singer, Kinny cleverly infuses together her classical mezzo-soprano voice with her love of jazz and reggae, which combine together to create her unique, freestyle improvisatory sound.
She has performed with Third Eye Tribe, improvising over their electronic, dub and hip hop beats, and has guested on tracks by De La Soul, Diesler, TM Juke and Quantic, as well as supporting American hip hop group Ugly Duckling on their tour.
Kinny’s second solo album “Can’t Kill a Dame With Soul”, produced entirely by Nowegian collaborator Souldrop, is released today through Tru Thoughts Records.
The Megaphonic Thrift – The Megaphonic Thrift
Label: Club AC30
Release date: 2/6/12
Hailing from Bergen, Norway, The Megaphonic Thrift are an experimental psychedelic rock band formed of members from Stereo 21, Low Frequency in Stereo and Casiokids. Formed in 2008, the band who have been described as “face-meltingly intense” by NME have enjoyed success performing across the world including the by:Larm Festival in their home country, the Netherland’s Eurosonic, SXSW and The Great Escape and Standon Calling in the UK, as well as a UK support tour with A Place To Bury Strangers.
“…it’s a struggle to recall a band more fragmentary and frazzled since early, melting-before-your-eyes-era Mercury Rev” – The Fly
The Megaphonic Thrift’s self-titled second album is out today.
The 2 Bears – Be Strong
Label: Southern Fried
Release date: 1/29/11
Formed in 2009, this furry electronic band are made up of Joe Goddard (Hot Chip) and Raf Rundell (Greco Roman Soundsystem). As well as making their own blend of 2-step, house, hip-hop and soul, The 2 Bears are busy remixing other artists such as Junior Boys, Metronomy and Death Cab For Cutie and have also been featured by Virtual Festival as Ones To Watch in 2012. They also host their own “Follow the Bears” show on Ministry of Sound Radio – tune in on Wednesdays at 9pm to catch them.
The brilliant track “Bear Hug” shows that they can still make catchy electronic songs without taking their music too seriously, with the duo’s influences including Polar Bear, Grizzly Bear and Bear Grylls.
The 2 Bears’ debut album, “Be Strong” has been described by BBC’s Ian Wade as “a joyous amalgam of disco textures and dancefloor stylings which never fail to bring a big grin to your face”, and “one of the smartest and funniest dance records you’ve heard in a long while” by the NME.
(iTunes exclusive – bonus track)
