What’s New In Music This Week

[BoxTitle]Pictureplane: Thee Physical[/BoxTitle] [MusicVideos target="blank"]http://vimeo.com/26480359 [/MusicVideos] [Listen]http://soundcloud.com/pictureplane/sets/thee-physical[/Listen]

In recent years, Denver’s Travis Egedy has become something of a cultural force in the progressive dance world. On his much anticipated follow-up to 2009’s Dark Rift, Egedy raises the stakes with a mystically enhanced, industrial tinged, trancefloor declaration. He whispers “touch”-centric lines as if inside your mind—a proximity goal, it seems. Sexually assertive and transformative, Thee Physical is meant to be conceptually experienced as much as it is physically (complete with manifesto), destined to breakthrough even more boundaries of genre and thought. Standout track: universal oneness anthem, “Trancegender” featuring Zola Jesus. Also absorb the video for “Real is a Feeling” (which shares its name with a biweekly party in Denver curated by Egedy and friends).


[BoxTitle]Crystal Antlers: Two-Way Mirror[/BoxTitle] [Listen]http://grooveshark.com/#/album/Two+way+Mirror+/6468497[/Listen]

These SoCal garage rockers have reeled in the fuzz and tightened the noise on their second LP, and the results are as expected: accessibility. They’ve met this sophomore challenge (heightened even more by label setbacks) head-on, with swagger even. Two-Way Mirror opens on a flash-storm of triumphant guitars and spiraling verses, before giving way to a generally more composed and steady (and still loud) approach. With the newfound clarity come more distinguishable plunges into surf-pop, and a welcome upgrade on the songwriting/singing.


[BoxTitle]Autre Ne Veut: Body EP[/BoxTitle] [Listen] http://boomkat.com/downloads/425743-autre-ne-veut-body-ep[/Listen] [BuyNow]http://hipposintanks.bigcartel.com/product/autre-ne-veut-body-pre-order [/BuyNow]

Brooklyn-based R&B weirdo Autre Ne Veut earned a devoted left-field following on his self-titled debut last year. With an often striking/sometimes jarring, chest-about-to-burst delivery, he’s invited many to his demented, avant-pop world—some followed, some ran. First impressions might verge on wedding singer-having-demonic-meltdown, but, if anything like his LP, Body will win ears with its hidden melodies and drastically unique presence.


[BoxTitle]Future Islands: Before The Bridge 7″[/BoxTitle] [MusicVideos target="blank"]http://vimeo.com/25778762[/MusicVideos] [Listen]http://soundcloud.com/thrilljockey/future-islands-before-the[/Listen]

Fresh off one of the most underrated albums of 2010, Baltimore’s best theatrical new-wavers now feed the fire with a 7″, and it might be their single most potent expression to date. The A-side has perennially heartbroken crooner Sam Hearing in poetic control, bouncing on a bassline as synths escalate. The exclusive, dance floor-oriented B-side hits an opposite emotional peak—as together they explore the “flip sides of love.” Additional live percussion is found on both, which might signal bigger directions to come.


[BoxTitle]Theophilus London: Timez Are Weird These Days[/BoxTitle] [MusicVideos]http://heavy.com/music/2011/07/theophilus-london-last-name-london/[/MusicVideos] [Listen]http://music.aol.com/new-releases-full-cds/spinner#/1[/Listen]

“Last name: London, first name: Theophilus”—you may have seen it around by now. The Brooklyn MC is suddenly at the center of the mainstream thread. For good reason, debut LP Timez Are Weird These Days has just about something for everyone: Prince-era pop, western-leaning hip hop, chopped-up robot rock, the indie-soul stylings of TV On The Radio‘s Dave Sitek, guest appearances from Sara Quin, of Tegan & Sara, and Holly Miranda. It can be overwhelming, but certainly far from uninteresting.