I saw The Magnetic Fields on Sunday night and I can’t possibly begin to be even remotely objective about the concert (suffice to say I’m a fan). So um, in summary, it was brilliant, perfect, magical etc etc and a lot of people cried.
If you don’t believe me just watch this video I shot of “The Book Of Love”.
SAJB
James Apollo performing “Big Dipper” for my absolute favorite radio station KEXP from Seattle. I wish we had radio stations like this in Portugal. Produced by songwriting monster Damien Jurado, Apollo’s new EP Little War, Little Less sees the light of day next June 4th via Cakes and Tapes (pre-order info coming soon) and his very own imprint Marterry Music. Watch the whole KEXP session here.
DSS
“[described as] hip-hop-infused electro-pop trio”, Interview Magazine
“Really, really fun, simple works but effectively groovy”, reviewer
“OM NOM NOMNOM NOM”, Cookie Monster
Jokes aside, here’s Cookies. You could say that we’re indulging this band a priori, since their name translates no more no less to “Bolachas” in Portuguese (now you know, newcomers) and in fact, I wouldn’t just ignore such given opportunity to make some jokes about this fact, at least. So I went listening. And damn, it got me right away.
Ben Sterling (Mobius Band), Melissa Metrick and Ian Ainley start shitless: some enjoyable beat, groovy bass, throw some synths here and there and the rest is up to guitar reveries and a male-female choir singing. All this results in a really happy, funky, danceable and catchy jam, straight from some pool party next Summer (mssng Milhões de Festa).
Also, they’re making some cool friends. “Crybaby (A)” (linked above) features the freaky “balls to the wall” virtuoso saxophonist Colin Stetson, jamming up your asses. Besides that, there’s great guitar work on some solos, 1000 Breakfasts With You, bringing some rock to the mixture.
In a total of eight songs, two for each single (all available for free here), it was a fun half hour. Really, really fun. Simple works, but effectively groovy (there, it’s a quote!). 4 cookies for this one, no pun intended.
BSC
bernardo@bolachas.org
Matana Roberts is awesome. I didn’t have to tell you that. You figured it out just by watching the video above, right?
Props to Videoteca Bodyspace.
DSS
Although there’s no info about which bands will play in which stage on the official website for now, that information is already available for those who downloaded the official Android/iPhone app. For those old-fashioned folks who still sport a Nokia 3310, here’s the distribution of the artists per stage per day:
Thursday, June 7:
Optimus stage
Yann Tiersen
Bigott
Suede
The Rapture
Primavera stage
The Drums
Atlas Sound
StopEstra!
Explosions in the Sky
—
Friday, June 8:
Optimus stage
M83
Wilco
We Trust
Rufus Wainwright
Primavera stage
The Walkmen
Yo La Tengo
The Flaming Lips
Linda Martini
ATP stage
Shellac (pictured above)
Rafael Toral
Wolves in the Throne Room
Tall Firs
Codeine
Tennis
Thee Oh Sees
Club stage
Numbers Showcase
The War on Drugs
Esperit!
Other Lives
Chairlift
Beach House
Neon Indian
Black Lips
—
Saturday, June 9:
Optimus stage
Kings of Convenience (replacing Björk)
The Right Ons
The xx
Death Cab for Cutie
Primavera stage
The Afghan Whigs
The Weeknd
Gala Drop
Spiritualized
ATP stage
Forest Swords
Dirty Three
Lee Ranaldo
I Break Horses
Sleepy Sun
Siskiyou
Demdike Stare
Club stage
Erol Alkan
James Ferraro and the Bodyguard
Washed Out
Wavves
Baxter Dury
John Talabot
Saint Etienne
Veronica Falls
Mujeres
—
Sunday, June 10 (outside main festival site):
Casa da Música
Jeff Mangum
The Olivia Tremor Control
Nick Garrie
James Ferraro and the Bodyguard
Best Youth
Hard Club
You Can’t Win, Charlie Brown
Veronica Falls
Julie and the Carjackers
Kindness
Optimus Primavera Sound 2012 takes place in Porto, Portugal and runs from 7 to 10 June. Buy tickets here.
DSS