You're the train that crashed my heart

She's back. After three years, Bat For Lashes has a new album to share with us, The Haunted Man, and it will be available in October 15. Judging from the single, Laura, which has just been unleashed, the album will be very good, indeed. She's got a lot of European tour dates lined up through the fall and winter, so I think it'll be 2013 before she makes it to the States. I can't wait. That's the album's cover above, and the Laura video below.

Bat For Lashes - Laura

Play it for the heart and the soul

I came across Austra a couple months ago. Her album, Feel It Break, released last year. She sorta reminds me of Siouxsie; a goth feel with haunting, dark electronica. Maybe a little Kate Bush, too. I'm pretty excited, she's gonna be playing here in September and it's pretty cheap (The Independent, if you wanna come with), so that's something to look forward to. If you decide to pick up her album, make sure you hunt down the "deluxe edition" which has excellent covers of Woodstock (Joni Mitchell) and Crying (Roy Orbison) on the second disc as well as a few other b-sides.

Austra - Beat and the Pulse

You got me burnin'

I was watching The Terminator the other night. During the Tech Noir club scene (in which Sarah Connor first encounters the Terminator as well as Reese), I'm reminded that, 80s production aside, I actually like a few of the songs that pop up in the film (although it might just be nostalgia). Namely, Tahnee Cain & Tryanglz's Burnin' in the Third Degree, Photoplay and You Can't Do That. All of these are on the Terminator OST, which I used to have on vinyl way back when. Tahnee Cain was married to Jonathan Cain (The Baby's, Journey). I think someone could actually cover/update these and they wouldn't be half bad songs. Well, maybe if they ditch the guitar solos.

Tahnee Cain & Tryanglz - Burnin' in the Third Degree

Halcyon

I got into Mono when they were described as Mogwai Junior or the Japanese Mogwai. Fairly accurate, if not flattering, descriptions. I actually bought their second album first, One Step More and You Die. The blurb on the "employee picks" rack where it resided compared them to My Bloody Valentine (as well as Mogwai) and I was intrigued. Still, they were promising and they delivered the goods. The Kidnapper Bell, from their first album, Under The Pipal Tree, remains as one of my favorite Mono tracks.

I kinda burned myself out on them in 2005. They were touring in support of their Walking Cloud album and they must have come through the Bay Area some 6-7 times that year. My cousin and I saw them at least 5 times, from what I remember. A couple times, it was at some art gallery and the admission price was $5; who could resist?

But yes, a bit of a burnout ensued. I kept up with their releases, but wasn't listening as intently as before. Now it's mid 2012 and I've been enjoying their 2010 live album, Holy Ground, with the Wordless Music Orchestra. Mono are no longer Mogwai Junior, they've grown, redefined themselves and they have their own voice and this album beautifully illustrates those points. Time to start listening again.

Mono - Halcyon (Beautiful Days)

Robot Cast #3

Robot Cast #3 by Robot_Hero on Mixcloud

I've been threatening to do this again, and here it is. This is my voice talking about some of my favorite musical moments in film. Click on to check out the tracklist.

Don't leave without me

Beach House's Bloom was love at first listen. It drew me in so easily, made me feel comfortable and fuzzy. In a good sort of way, it feels like a continuation of Teen Dream, except that they've tweaked and perfected the formula. Bloom is filled with soaring melodies, magic and passing clouds. It can make any mundane commute seem like you're floating off to some mythical destination.

Beach House - The Hours

Someday we'll find it

This is from the flip side of Tara Jane O'Neil's new single, Sirena. It's a pretty straightforward Rainbow Connection cover. Maybe a little more reverb-y on the vocals. It's really nice, though I like her voice a lot. 

Tara Jane O'Neil - Rainbow Connection

Somebody

I just heard this for the first time today and I love it; it's like a full blown Prince song. I don't really know anything about Niki & The Dove, other than they are from Stockholm and their first album, Instinct, just dropped. Also, you can go to their Soundcloud page to listen to more music. Look for the drum machine version of this song, it recalls Stevie Nicks' Stand Back.

Niki & The Dove - Somebody

Robot Cast #2

Robot Cast #2 by Robot_Hero on Mixcloud

Robot Hero radio is back! Click on to check the tracklist, then press play to hear some sweet songs and sad stories. 

It came from the 80s!

This isn't your parents' 80s mix.

A friend asked for an 80s mix, I thought it would be fun to throw together some stuff not normally associated with typical 80s mixes. This is the stuff that I loved back then.

My feet are in the sky

I went with a couple friends to see First Aid Kit last week. They put on a great show and were kind enough to sign records and take pics with fans. This post is basically an excuse to post the pic. That's Rick and I with the First Aid Kit ladies, Johanna and Klara. I'm in the green jacket. This is King of the World, from The Lion's Roar.

First Aid Kit - King of the World

I gotta get back to you

When I was a kid, the Electric Light Orchestra were pretty huge. Actually, using my meager allowance, Ole ELO (a greatest hits compilation) was among my first ever vinyl purchases way back when. My dad wasn't much of a pop music fan, he was more into classical music. He once stopped by my room while I was listening to A New World Record, the strings had caught his ear and the juxtaposition of traditionally classical music instruments in a rock n' roll setting had intrigued him. He actually asked me about the band and I answered with whatever a 10 year old would answer. He even bought Out of the Blue when it came out in 77 and we would listen to it together. I think the strings gave them credibility in his mind.

The other day, I came across this live clip of ELO doing Sweet Talkin' Woman (which is on Out of the Blue) and it totally reminded me of all that. I can also put ELO in the Bands I Wish I'd Seen Live file, so I'm glad stuff like this exists.

ELO - Sweet Talkin' Woman

Why would you live anywhere else?

I'm loving the new Best Coast single. It sounds a lot cleaner that the previous album, but who cares because it's so damn catchy. This is a song that should blasted in the car, windows and top down, as you drive along Highway 1 on a bright, sunny day.

The Only Place is the title track from the upcoming album (out May 15) and is Bethany Cosentino's love letter to California and really, why would you live anywhere else?

Best Coast - The Only Place

Pictures came and broke your heart

Shugo Tokumaru's version of The Buggles' Video Killed The Radio Star. My friend who turned me onto Tokumaru described him as a folkier Cornelius, which pretty much sold me.

You can find this on Polyvinyl's Japan 3-11-11 album, which benefits the victims of last year's earthquake in Japan.

Shugo Tokumaru - Video Killed The Radio Star

Robot Cast #1

I'm trying my hand at a podcast, since I seem to have a little extra time on my hands these days (read: unemployed). Listen to my lovely voice, as well as some of my favorite songs. Don't be afraid.

Robot Cast #1 by Robot_Hero on Mixcloud

Zou Bisou Bisou

If you watched the Mad Men S5 premiere this week, then you saw this moment. Don Draper's wife, Megan (Jessica Paré), throws a surprise birthday party for her husband. In the middle of the party, she busts out a French pop song, Zou Bisou Bisou. I thought it was a pretty cool, lighthearted and sexy moment. Mad Men, bringing yé-yé to the masses. Who woulda thought?

I'm not very familiar with the yé-yé scene (I know who Françoise Hardy, France Gall and Sylvie Vartan are, but that's about it) but a little googling reveals that the original version of the song was sung in English by Sophia Loren, and then in French by Gillian Hills. Actually, after reading the wiki page, it's sorta confusing. I bet that page has gone through a ton of edits in the past few days since the premiere, so I'll leave you to figure it out for yourself if you're so inclined.

In any case, you can actually buy Jessica Paré's version of the song on iTunes or on 7" vinyl (b/w the Mad Men theme song). You can also see the clip from the show here.

Jessica Paré - Zou Bisou Bisou

Fall Back in Love Eventually

I picked up tickets today to see The Naked & Famous (next month, April 21 at the Warfield). I saw them a few months ago at the Independent with a friend and figured why not see them again. All the way from New Zealand, their songs are dance-y, full of synths (but not completely) and instantly accessible. It's just catchy, fun pop music...and the lead singer is CUTE.

I love this single, Young Blood; it's monster of a sing-a-long anthem about young love. I get it stuck in my head and it stays there for weeks at a time. Check it out on their album, Passive Me Aggressive You. It's about a year and a half old now, so hopefully it's about time for something new.

The Naked & Famous - Young Blood

You keep me under your spell

I recently saw Drive, which I very much enjoyed. In the film was a song by Desire called Under Your Spell. Watching the film, the song sounded familiar to me, I had to look up the soundtrack listing and then I stupidly realized I had their album. I like the song but I didn't like the chit-chat breakdown in the middle with the two girls talking to each other. The Drive soundtrack has an edited version of Under Your Spell which omits the chatter and the result is much more satisfying, for me.

I like the song's simplicity; I don't eat, I don't sleep, I do nothing but think of you. The basics of obsession when you meet that certain someone.

Find this on the aforementioned Drive soundtrack; alternatively, you can find the original version on Desire's II, which is a pain to search for.

Desire - Under Your Spell

Fredo's Lament

I've been slacking lately, mostly when it comes to this blog, but I'm trying to get back into it. In any case, I'm here now. I recently attended a screening of The Godfather, a film I absolutely love and had never before seen in a theater. That was pretty exciting and it got me thinking, if ever there was a tragic figure in the history of cinema, Fredo Corleone might pop up on some people's lists. Definitely on mine. I tried to make a Fredo Corleone inspired mix, songs that might speak for him or remind people of him. I tried to follow the arc of his life; birth, full of promise, upbeat. Then it gets darker and maybe a little bit ferocious. Anyways, this is what came out, it lives over on 8tracks.com and it's embedded here, maybe you'll like it; press play.

Fredo's Lament from robot_hero on 8tracks.

Larks' Tongues in Aspic (Part II)

I've been having a little King Crimson revival this week. The 80s incarnation of the band (Fripp, Belew, Levin, Bruford) is probably my favorite, if only because that was my initial entry into their catalog. I've been listening a lot to a live album called Absent Lovers which was recorded in Montreal at the end of their 1984 tour.

Originally recorded in 1973, this particular performance of Larks' Tongues in Aspic (Part II) (from the Larks' Tongues in Aspic album) showcases their chops and power. The word devastating comes to mind. Precision. Deadly accuracy. It's like the Death Star of songs, capable of destroying entire planets (if someone were to use that power for evil). I dunno, it's just so very good.

King Crimson - Larks' Tongues in Aspic (Part II)