Oberhofer :: "I Could Go"

There is a restrained mania to Oberhofer's "I Could Go." Buzzing synths, a haunting whistle and air-puffed drum-loops finally give way to an ebullient rain of chimes, and all of this is before we've heard word-one from vocalist Bradley Oberhofer. The arrangement is borrowed from the Win Butler school with different aesthetic choices place-holding for the Arcade Fire's orchestral pop. Or maybe more accurately, this is post-apocalyptic orchestral pop, with all the electronic influences of a digital age, but the human howl of Oberhofer finding its way into the song's final third. The singular suggestion of the narrative is in the haunting chorus, the arrangement collapsing and changing around Oberhofer as he indicates that he could go, he could go, he could go ... away. It is truly the contest between the planned and the unexpected that makes "I Could Go" so moving - the sound of pop music being let outside, taken off the leash, and left to do battle with the electric fence at the edge of the yard.

Listen :: Oberhofer - "I Could Go" [zshare click through]
Listen :: Oberhofer - "Haus" [zshare click through]

On The List :: Beat Radio @ The Glasslands [2.5.10]

Glasslands is some separate slice of New York indie rock meta-cognition. It is self-consciously quirky, evoking more than just the distinction of being an "art space," becoming an "Art Space," like some officially incorporated version of The House of Yes. The walls are lined with found-objects constructed with coherent, if intentionally jarring methodology, in an attempt to approximate a more holistic art brut. The most beautiful of these is a puffy white suggestion of cumulus cloud-cover above the stage, back-lit to indicate some sort of explosiveness, in lower-light forecasting a fire in the sky. And in front of this Brian Sendrowitz and Beat Radio are motoring through their set.

In the classic spirit of basement bands and Art Space Shows, Beat Radio are going on late and have major keyboard problems. For a band that relies on delicate, shadowy arrangements, losing your keys isn't an ideal scenario. Sendrowitz and his band seem a little out-of sync, struggling with an over-matched sound guy and a lead-guitarist insistent on overplaying his role. However, against the odds, Beat Radio are still infectious and affecting (the guitarist from Bridges and Powerlines will later call them "his favorite New York band").

The band played "Follow You Around" early, a difficult trick in the live environment, especially without the signature keyboards of the studio original. Relying on material from their most recent LP, Safe Inside The Sound, the set was, unfortunately, cut short because of the late start. Sendrowitz would give us a reference from stage because, undeniably, we share a sense of "the moment" (or tonight, is it The Moment). This was before playing "Sunday Matinee," the band's closing song and proof positive that Beat Radio can negotiate the hymns of youth with the maturity of adulthood, even without keys in a nameless Art Space on the water.

Listen :: Beat Radio - "Sunday Matinee"

Preview :: Red Wire Black Wire and Beat Radio @ Glasslands [Tonight]

Tonight, two of New York's finest young bands are playing Glasslands in Williamsburg. Red Wire Black Wire are hot on the heels of their September release, Robots and Roses (and a July write-up from us) as Beat Radio prepares a series of monthly singles, the first of which can be found here.

Sonically, Red Wire Black Wire is exactly as explosive as the reference to bomb-defusion in their name would indicate. Emanating from the same Wesleyan-milieu that churned out MGMT, Boy Crisis and Amazing Baby, RWBW make dark, synth-driven music that manages to critically wink at genre while still taking a considerable dose of seriousness with their spoonful of sugar. Beat Radio, a drastically different animal, provide the kind of reflective tomes that come from quivering voices, shimmering lyrics and a working knowledge of Ben Gibbard's earliest work. The soundscapes are rich and moving and lead singer Brian Sendrowitz's voice sometimes whispering, other times yelling into the void.

Listen :: Red Wire Black Wire - "Breathing Fire"
Listen :: Beat Radio - "Sleepwalking"

On the List :: My First Earthquake @ Café Du Nord [02.03.10]

If one chooses to apply a literal interpretation to a couple couplets, some boys decided to throw Rebecca Bortman out of a band at some point in the relatively near past.

This was a mistake.

The lead singer of My First Earthquake dominates the stage at Café Du Nord. The type of girl who's ballsy enough to "join a band on a dare," she bounds around while screamsinging the lyrics to "Outta the Band" despite fighting off a weeklong cold. The 100 second-long ode to being ditched highlights the last set of the venue's pre-Noise Pop show.

The song comes immediately after Bortman, Chad Thornton, Dave Lean, and Andre Salcido power through "Cool in the Cool Way." During the middle of the Downstairs' single, the singer does her best Stepford Posh Spice impression. Her bandmates add enough backbeat to make a robot dance throughout.

The set progresses, and My First Earthquake integrates a couple new tunes. They are rough, but there's something undeniable about them.

Bortman found a better band, and we're all better for it.

Listen :: My First Earthquake - "Cool In The Cool Way"

Interview :: The Ghost Is Dancing [2.3.10]

The Ghost Is Dancing blasted on to our radar late but undeniably this past fall. Their latest record, Battles On is a stunning, approachable cry for youth and rock and roll amidst a world of failing signifers. Last week we shot some emails back and forth with Jamie and Kevin from the band about their favorite records and if they really can swim to shore from anywhere.

32feet: What are your top 5 desert island records?

-White Album (because there's more songs)
-Moon and Antarctica by Modest Mouse
-In the Aeroplane Over the Sea by Neutral Milk Hotel
-Feels by Animal Collective
-Abbey Road

You strike me as a band on the verge of something very big. What should be people expect from you all in 2010?

Well, we're currently working on some new songs that are hopefully going to sound quite a bit different but keep all the things you'd expect from us, and we're hoping to play more shows across Canada and the US.

Imagine the following scenario: Your band takes a cruise way out on the harbor and the boat starts sinking. Help will not arrive in time and there are only two life-jackets. Who gets them?

Easy answer. Lesley and Eric would get the life-jackets. Not because they're special or anything (they are though), but because Odie, Jamie and myself are extremely competitive and would try to see who could make it back to shore first.

Do you have a dream tour partner? Is there one band you all admire and would love to take 3-4 months on the road?

While it might not make the most sense musically, I think it would be amazing to tour with Animal Collective. They're definitely one of our favourite bands right now and it would be awesome to get to see them perform every night. For a bill that we might fit better on, I'm thinking maybe Wolf Parade? Or Spoon would be a lot of fun.

What is the most important thing about The Ghost Is Dancing that people don't know?

We love to meet people and make friends. After every show we always try to talk to the other bands or the audience members. And not just to find a place to sleep! (Although that's useful too). We like to hear about the fun things to do in a city, the best places to play a show or grab a bite to eat, and it's always nice to associate a place with friends that we look forward to seeing again.

Listen :: The Ghost Is Dancing - "Battles On"

Skybox :: "In A Dream"

It's a crying shame it's not May turning June. Not only because it's been in the single digits in New York and we're all feeling that emotional freeze of winter where everyone is a little edgy and beaten down, but also because Skybox's "In A Dream" would make more intimate and meteorological sense. The signature lyric about screwing with the sunshine still resonates in that finger-pointing way people get when things seem grossly unfair. It's ten degrees here, who the hell is responsible for this? Where is my survey or customer service hotline? Can I speak to the manager? Yes, "you fucked with the sunshine/you left it in the water/I think I'm gonna die." In surreal over-drama, it almost evokes the solar protectionism of Len's 1999 hit, "Steal My Sunshine" without being annoying. We suppose that we're facing down the next few months with resolve and unblinking hope. They think they're going to die in the dark but Skybox, more than likely, are about to blow up.

Listen :: Skybox - "In A Dream" [zshare]

Egyptian Hip Hop :: "Heavenly" [Video]

Last June we were completely leveled by the demo "Rad Pitt" from Manchester band Egyptian Hip Hop. Now, the band is set to release their debut "7, double-sided "Wild Human Child/Heavenly" single. The better of the two cuts, "Heavenly" bleeps and bloops with the band's miles away vocals. It is reflective and exactly the kind of sound that deserves to soundtrack a growing generation of kids who need their own cathartic, "I'm ok, you're ok," Breakfast Club-moment. The video borrows from found footage of tourists visiting London, the viewer made into an awed, youthful explorer from 1984. We suspect this is what we need.