News : Béla Fleck Picks His Top Five African Albums
Over the past few years, master banjo player Béla Fleck has spent a lot of time in Africa learning about the origins of his instrument of choice. Perhaps the world’s most recognizable banjo player (with over 30 years of experience and 13 Grammys to his name), Fleck recorded with musicians from Uganda, Tanzania, the Gambia and Mali, and has released a handful of albums from these sessions, including the new Throw Down Your Heart: African Sessions Part 2, released last month. After careful consideration, here Fleck gives FILTER his five favorite African albums.
Béla Fleck's Top 5 African albums
Hukwe Zawose - Chibite
This dude was a Tanzanian phenomenon. When ran out of instruments he could play, he started building Frankenstein/Dr. Moreau instruments and taught his whole family to do his music. They carry the music on for him, after his passing from AIDS. Especially cool, his trancey 'go-go' traditional music.
Oumou Sangare - Oumou
Oumou has one of those classic voices, like Hank Williams or Ralph Stanley. Her small group of acoustic instruments makes a warm and satisfying sound. Her Wasselou music always pays attention to the plight of women in the world. She is a world-class diva.
Jewish Uganda - Abayudaya - Music from the Jewish People of Uganda
Who knew? This music was such a surprise to me, Ugandan/Jewish music that is some of the most lyrical, sweet music I have ever heard.
Toumani Diabate - Mande Variations
The world's foremost kora (African Harp) player finally made the recording everyone wanted from him, a solo kora album that shows his spiritual acoustic side. Highly beloved, this album is perfect for many occasions.
Bassekou Kouate - Sega Blue or I Speak
Fula Bassekou is passionate about his instrument, the n'goni. It is the Malian banjo, and he rocks on it. He has a great band with four of his favorite n'goni instruments in it, as well as two percussionists and his lovely and talented singing wife, Amy Sacko.
Media : Kate Nash, Do Wah Doo
Crimson-maned UK songstress Kate Nash will release her new album, My Best Friend Is You April 20th. We've already gotten a taste of her new album with "I Just Love You More," and now comes a fun, flight attendant-themed video for "Do Wah Doo" another track from the upcoming release.
No strangers to the weird and occult, The Flaming Lips are planning another film- a follow-up to their 2008 flick Christmas on Mars.
According to Billboard, frontman Wayne Coyne plans to film the movie in their hometown of Oklahoma City. He reveals, "My only goal was that I didn't have to build space station-looking sets every time I wanted to have someone say something, only because I built those sets myself every time we shot something for Christmas on Mars over the seven years we took to make it. This one is set in someone's house and in a back yard and in a slaughterhouse; all those are available to me right here, so I don't have to build everything this time."
Band of Horses have revealed cover art for their next album, Infinite Arms, out May 18th, via Brown Records/Fat Possum/Columbia. Though longtime Sub Pop signees, it was announced last week that the Seattle label would not release this latest, highly-anticipated third release from the Pacific Northwest-bred band. The band will head out on tour to support their latest effort, hitting, among their stops, Austin's SXSW.
Media : KISSES, Bermuda
Considering the sweetness and sentimental composition of debut single, "Bermuda", it's no surprise that LA-based twosome, KISSES, is comprised of two real life lovers. Jesse Kivel (of Princeton) and better romantic half, Zinzi Edmundson, elevate your normal layers of disco into transgressive dance pop grooves. Inspired by Kivel's day job as a travel writer, KISSES interjects elements of exotic locals and places only daydreams are made of, into each of their lush creations.
Although taking a page from Jens Lekman's vocal cadence, "Bermuda" may hint to something familiar, but this pair is carving out their very own sweet dispositions and dance circles. "Bermuda" will be released on April 27th, with a remix by rising FILTER US Recording artist, Active Child. Check out their various Los Angeles appearances below.
Tour Dates:
March
8 Los Angeles, CA - Mandrake (DJ Set)
15 Los Angeles, CA - Mandrake (DJ Set)
18-19 Austin, TX - SXSW (DJ Sets)
ApriL
23 Echo Park, CA - Echo Curio (Live Set)
27 Los Angeles, CA - Origami Vinyl (7" Single Release Party)
Following sold out shows coast to coast including a date at Radio City in January, the Swell Season return to the U.S. for a May tour in support of their critically acclaimed new album, Strict Joy out now via ANTI-. The duo - Oscar winners Glen Hansard and MarketaIrglova will also play LA's Hollywood Bowl on July 18.
News : the bird and the bee Premiere 9 Songs on 9 Different Websites
the bird and the bee, the duo of singer Inara George and multi-instrumental/producer Greg Kurstin, kicked off a musical scavenger hunt for their fans today by premiering all nine songs from their new album, Interpreting The Masters Volume 1: A Tribute To Daryl Hall And John Oates on nine different websites: AOL Spinner, BrooklynVegan, Entertainment Weekly, Idolator, MySpace, PerezHilton, Prefix, SPIN and USA Today. Featuring eight classic covers and one original song, “Heard It On The Radio”, the band’s love letter to the "rock & soul" duo, will be released on March 23 courtesy of EMI’s Blue Note Records.
the bird and the bee also played a once-in-a-lifetime concert on Friday in Los Angeles to celebrate the album's forthcoming release and were joined on stage by super special surprise guest, John Oates (yes, the one with the mustache), for performances of “Maneater,” “She’s Gone,” and “I Can’t Go For That”. If you missed out, no need for sad faces, the entire show was archived and will be rebroadcast at Livestream.com starting March 22.
News : Yo Gabba Gabba! Launches Premiere Week with Weezer, Mos Def, and Weird Al!
The party continues with the Gabba gang – DJ Lance Rock, Brobee, Muno, Toodee, Foofa and Plex – as Nickelodeon premieres the third season of the award-winning preschool music series Yo Gabba Gabba! today, Monday, March 8, at 10:30 a.m. (ET/PT). The new season commences with a week of brand-new episodes featuring Sarah Silverman, Weird Al Yankovic, Black Kids, Jack McBrayer, Paul Scheer, Weezer, Anthony Bourdain, Of Montreal, Mos Def, Devo, The Aquabats, Mark Mothersbaugh, Biz Markie and a special remix by Travis Barker. Yo Gabba Gabba!, created by Christian Jacobs and Scott Schultz, is produced by The Magic Store and W!LDBRAIN.
FILTER likes music. There's no hiding it. We also like our own opinions a whole bunch, so once a week we give the masses a fleeting glimpse into our selective stereos to let them see firsthand what fuels our endless devotion. We like to think of it as community service. We're selfless like that. So without further ado, here are the official, inarguable, objectively good Filter Weekly Picks. And in case you trust our tastes that much, click on the links below for some sample tracks (not all releases have samples available) from these releases, and even buy it if you feel so inclined. Yeah, we're good at what we do:
In a digital age where so many bands rely on camera tricks and computer generated graphics in their videos, you hardly ever get to see the lead singer actually perform and show off their true entertainment value. Thanks to Brooklyn based duo, We Are Scientists' new video, "Rules Don't Stop", you not only get to enjoy frontman Keith Murray's hilarious bravado, but you also get the ADD-infested, all-up-in-your-grill graphics.
Check out the best of both worlds, as band meets green screen below! We Are Scientists new record, Barbara, is slated for a June release.
