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Contests & MGMT

So the Dan Deacon/Diplo/TaxLo contest is over and the winner has been notified by email. If you didn’t get an email, don’t fret.

You can still enter to win in our Presets contest, going strong til June 1.

That ever so funky MGMT song “Electric Feel” now has a really spectacularly fantasy-driven music video to go along with it. Rejoice!


Flight of the Conchords – S/T (Sub-Pop)

If you are familiar with the Flight of the Conchords from their HBO show of the same name then you will love this album. You will also recognize all of the tunes because they were all showcased on the show.

Even though the show and the album are closely associated, it would be a shame if their albums were only sold to fans of the show. The reason why the show works is two-fold: one being the characters themselves who are funny and their situations tend to be farcical, the other key element the music, which is actually pretty good.

As I listened to the album, I could recall every episode where a song was featured. But unlike watching it performed on the show, this time I actually listened to the words. And they are hysterical.
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Caverns @ The Ottobar May 29

DC’s Caverns will play at the Ottobar this Thursday, the 29th, along with Lush Farm, Driving in Silence, and Person Parcel.

I’m not that familiar with the other bands playing, but from what I know my gut reaction is to bemoan the fact that shows aren’t prorated just for the bands you want to see. However, no amount of arguing with the doorman “I’m just here for one set” has ever yielded me the results I wanted.

But trust me this dramatic instrumental metal trio is worth price of admission. Man, they even have a tech on stage delivering a killer light show. Kevin goes apeshit on the guitar, a man wailing with daemonic fury. When Kevin throttles back, Pat fills in on the keyboard with melancholic arpeggios, and classical flourishes. And Caverns is fucking LOUD.

Seriously don’t let the fact that a Gary B side project is also on the bill scare you away. Well, actually…

Bonnaroo 2008 Coverage

So, big news. Ginormous, spectacular, amazing news. Everyone gather ’round.

Aural States will be going to Bonnaroo (full schedule). In a stroke of divine providence, last week we were granted the vaunted media bracelet aka the blue glittery band of the Gods (or just artist access, free tix, A/C, free bottled water).

More specifically, it’s just me going. So here’s the coverage I have planned in my inhuman rampage to catch every artist possible in an aural gorging the likes of which have never been seen.

Any readers want to hear about an artist I don’t have penciled in? Feel free to suggest an artist I should check out in the comments, keeping in mind this is a festival setting and not a club.

I left out quite a few people I’ve seen before, like Gogol Bordello. I was thinking about injecting some levity in there with a trip to the comedy tent, but then it felt wrong to miss music for that. And Chris Rock is on the stage too so without further ado…my ungodly schedule thus far:

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Sound Off!: Bellman Barker

Hearkening back to those care-free days of sugary bubble-gum pop seems to be a pseudo-rage in recent years.

Drawing from that very same groundswell is DC’s Bellman Barker. Their EP, Anise & Anisette, is chock full of lofty, airy, fluffy-as-a-cloud vocals and plentiful backup vocal harmonization, supported by twangy, power-chording guitars, crashing and rolling drums, and an oft-walking, spry bass line.

It’s glorious pop from days of yore, wistful and achingly sweet without reaching saccharine over-saturation. Sunny and light, the perfect soundtrack to a summer picnic, some frolicking through grassy fields or rolling down idyllic hills of dandelions in a playful, romantic haze.

But don’t let all the sugar fool you. There are glimpses of a much more diverse musical language for the boys, from the straight-up garage jamming in the EP’s lead track “Charles Kil” to the brief-and-hushed, track-closing, MMJ-reminiscent country found in “Pockets,” the more modern pop-rock of “I Do I Do” and peeks at more sophisticated song structures beyond stringing together hook after admittedly killer hook.

They are making the trek up I-95 this Wednesday, May 28 to play the Sidebar with Among Wolves, Ryan Little of Tereu Tereu and Red Vines. This will be the penultimate stop on their spring, pared-down tour (B.B. will be playing only as a duo with Steve Dennis (keys/backing vox) and Aaron Estes (guitar/vox)). Get a sneak peek at what the performance will be like after the jump. And enjoy these two tracks, the bookends of their EP.

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MP3: Bellman Barker – Charles Kil

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MP3: Bellman Barker – Anise & Anisette

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Diplo, Dan Deacon, DD/MM/YYYY (TaxLo 6th Anniversary Finale!) Giveaway

TaxLo closes up its insanely high-quality 6th anniversary festivities with a spectacular show at Sonar this Friday May 30, headlined by Diplo, Dan Deacon and DD/MM/YYYY.

But wait, there’s more!

In addition to our still-going Presets contest, you, lucky reader, have another contest to enter!

To enter, it’s simple: comment on this post or email your name and location to us at auralstates at gmail dot com.

One lucky winner will score the following:

  • 2 Tickets to TAXLO featuring DIPLO, DAN DEACON, and DD/MM/YYYY on May 30
  • CUT COPY tote bag
  • TAXLO 6-Year Anniversary Screenprinted Poster by Kevin Sherry
  • BONDE DO ROLE sticker
  • CUT COPY 3-D glasses
  • DAN DEACON t-shirt
  • 2 TAXLO buttons
  • BONDE DO ROLE sticker
  • DIPLO “AEIOU” CD
  • CUT COPY “In Ghost Colours” CD
  • BLAQSTARR “Shake It to the Ground” 12″ featuring RYE RYE
  • BLAQSTARR “Shake It to the Ground” remix CD single feat DROP THE
    LIME, Santogold, Switch

TaxLo is seriously blitzing, with two other chances to win at BYT and Butterteam. Tasty downloadable Diplo and Dan Deacon bits here. Videos for “Crystal Cat” and “Okie Dokie” after the jump.

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Dan Deacon – Wham City from Spiderman of the Rings

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Dan Deacon – Okie Dokie from Spiderman of the Rings

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M.I.A. (Diplo Mix) – Fire Bam from Piracy Funds Terrorism Vol. 1

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Kemialliset Ystavat, The Skaters, Axolotl, DJ Dog Dick @ Floristree

Download live sets (MP3 or FLAC) for Skaters, Axolotl, DJ Dog Dick for a limited time, courtesy of Aural States and Jeff the Baltimore Taper. Just click on the artist name to goto the downloads!

Ah yes, an ambient noise show. I don’t want to make a protracted defense of the genre, so I will simply state that this is music; in many cases beautiful music.

But I will concede that musicians in this genre are often hit-or-miss. To be sure, turning knobs on FX pedals doesn’t require great musical chops, but you still better be inspired when performing. With an ambient music live performance, as with any musical performance really, it is immediately apparent when the musician is just going through the motions.

In the case of this genre, watching a person “go through the motions” twisting knobs can be pretty disappointing. But then again there are those absolutely sublime performances. Last night’s show at the Floristree saw both extremes.

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DJ Dog Dick-Live @ Floristree

Excellent stuff, again courtesy of Jeff the Taper, exclusively on Aural States. Click through to find MP3s, or download the entire set in these formats: (MP3 or FLAC).

Other sets from the night: Axolotl, the Skaters, Kemialliset Ystavat

And be sure to read our show review.

DJ Dog Dick
Floristree
Baltimore, MD
May 25, 2008

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The Skaters-Live @ Floristree

Excellent stuff, again courtesy of Jeff the Taper, exclusively on Aural States. Click through to find MP3s, or download the entire set in these formats: (MP3 or FLAC).

Other sets from the night: Axolotl, DJ Dog Dick, Kemialliset Ystavat

And be sure to read our show review.

The Skaters
Floristree
Baltimore, MD
May 25, 2008

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Axolotl-Live @ Floristree

Excellent stuff, again courtesy of Jeff the Taper, exclusively on Aural States. Click through to find MP3s, or download the entire set as ZIP file in these formats: (MP3 or FLAC).

Other sets from the night: the Skaters, DJ Dog Dick, Kemialliset Ystavat

And be sure to read our show review.

Axolotl
Floristree
Baltimore, MD
May 25, 2008

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