Beastie Boys Tour Canceled; MCA Cancer

It’s just been released this morning that Beastie Boys‘ latest tour has been canceled as Adam Yauch (a.k.a. MCA) has just been diagnosed as having a cancerous tumor in his left parotid (salivary) gland. The cancer is considered very treatable, but will require Yauch to undergo surgery and several weeks of treatment.

Yauch said in a press statement, “I just need to take a little time to get this in check, and then we’ll release the record and play some shows. It’s a pain in the neck (sorry, had to say it) because I was really looking forward to playing these shows, but the doctors have made it clear that this is not the kind of thing that can be put aside to deal with later.”

In the Country Whiteout

The three-piece In the Country is all about the piano on their third album, treading off deep into space-jazz and progressive-rock galaxies with their sublime, epic compositions. “From the Shore” opens the album with a hushed chamber mood that imagines a somber, desolate soul slumped over a piano in a darkened parlor before moving onto more ambitious pieces like “Doves Dance” and “Ursa Major.” The vibe is still somewhat upbeat on “W.A.R.M.,” as it shimmies with a lounge-jazz touch before a chorale of heavenly vocals and mammoth drums eventually makes its way into the mix and awards the song’s ending with the prog rumble it truly deserves.

Ganglians Monster Head Room

The Woodsist banner has put out one psych nugget after the next in ’09, and this stunner from Ganglians is the brightest hunk of gold to land in my lap thus far. Like a thunderous stomp straight out of the dusty Topanga Canyon, “Lost Words” and “Valient Brave” rattle and jolt with a Crazy Horse-stoner jangle in the sizzling California sun, while you can almost smell the campfire smoke and hear the coyotes yelping in the distance on the fried folk-isms of “To June” and “Modern African Queen.” However, the real charm and beauty of Monster Head Room are those sunny Beach Boys harmonies that just don’t stop.

Inbox: Lopazz

This week, XLR8R chillzz out with composer, producer, and DJ Stefan Eichinger (a.k.a. Lopazz). Negative Nancies, be gone! Through a rose-colored low-pass filter, this easy-going, mop-haired German marinates on Mother Nature, Brian Wilson’s genius, and onstage profanity in Arabic countries. His latest album, Ambient Film Themes, Vol.1, is out now on Get Physical.

XLR8R: What are you listening to right now?
Stefan Eichinger: My new album, Ambient Film Themes, Vol. 2, has to be finished soon, so I use time at airports or in cars to check the track list and its flow. Vol. 1 was released on June 12—I am very happy about that. We’re gonna release three albums with tracks I’ve done for documentary films.

What’s the weirdest story you ever heard about yourself?
Wow, I really don’t know. Many people think I am a Latino because Lopazz reminds them of something Spanish, or whatever, but Lopazz comes from a technical filtering method (low-pass filter).

What band did you want to be in when you were 15?
The Beastie Boys. I admired Mike D and his great drumming skillz.

Worst live show experience?
At a huge Spanish festival where everything went wrong. Usually, I like the shows even if problems occur—it’s part of the game. “Think positive” sounds cheap, but it’s helpful. I try to be happy, but that festival was really badly organized. Nobody knew what’s going on. One guy said there’s still time for me to relax backstage, then suddenly I’ve been told I was supposed to play already and had only 20 minutes of my set time left. I think they even forgot artists at the airport.

Favorite city in which to play?
Hmm, that’s really hard to tell. I’ve just played in Vancouver/Tofino at the Soundwave Festival. The people and the unique surrounding nature made it very special and wonderful. We were surrounded by mountains, the beach… bears and other wild animals showed up. What a great weekend!

You’ve written over 45 scores for films during your career. Who would you have score a film about your life?
Brian Wilson (of The Beach Boys). I love the work he did; it’s so special. He didn’t have the computers and [technology] we use in studios now. And I like his attitude. He really kicked it—he put real sand from his favorite beach in his studio, and other freaky stuff.

What is your favorite thing you own?
My flats and my garden! I need to hang out there and relax… eat vegetables and fruits… play with the dogs… work in the studio, cook, chill…

Name one item of clothing you can’t live without.
My sandals!

If you could reduce your music to a single word, what would it be?
Eclectic.

For what did you always get into trouble when you were little?
School and police.

What other artist would you most like to work with?
I am looking forward to meeting Konrad Black soon, and I’d like to do something with Neneh Cherry.

What’s the last thing you read?
A book about water and its pH levels; how we can improve the quality of the water we use. James Boatman introduced me to this Japanese Kangen machine—crazy stuff!

Complete this sentence: In the future…
I am afraid that copyrights won’t have a value anymore; they won’t be protected and respected.

Stupidest thing you’ve done in the last 12 months?
Said, “How you’re doing, motherfuckers?” on stage in a Arabic country—not very smart, even if it turned out to be a running gag afterwards.

What’s next?
I am on tour in the U.S., Portugal, and I will go to Ethiopia and South Africa [to do] field recording for a new documentary film. Working on new scores and dance tracks, and finally getting my hair cut!

Hot Tropic!

For June/July, we take a summery trip down to the Tropics. First up, we hit the gully with Kingston dancehall don Mavado. Next, for our Party Out of Bounds feature, we head south to Buenos Aires, where Zizek’s Villa Diamante gives us the scoop on his fair city’s hottest spots (we also take a detour through Toronto with Thunderheist, New York with DJ Derek Plaslaiko, and Helsinki with the Top Billin’ crew). Then we shoot to Norway and London to visit with Meanderthals, and finally it’s back over the pond to balmy Baltimore, where space-rapper Labtekwon fills us in on life on the east coast.

Rifflandia Festival Announced

The folks of CMJ better step to the side because it looks like Canada is gearing up for its own fall music festival in ’09 and the lineup thus far is sure to amaze. Touching down in the beautiful metropolis of Victoria, British Columbia, during the weekend of September 24-27, the Rifflandia Music Festival will take place at a handful of venues throughout the city and will feature artists such as Buck 65, Holy Fuck, Pink Mountaintops, and Final Fantasy. Other confirmed acts on the bill include The Most Serene Republic, Beach House, Hey Rosetta!, Cuff The Duke, and more. Tickets at $60.00 for the whole weekend, and are available here.

pictured Holy Fuck

Chromeo to Mix Next DJ-Kicks Comp

Montreal-New York ’80s R&B revivalists Chromeo have been chosen as next in line to helm the decks for !K7’s first DJ-KiCKS release in two years. Joining such company as Kruder & Dorfmeister, Playgroup, Tiga, Erlend Oye, and Hot Chip, the duo has crafted a set bursting with the robo-funk basslines, plastic handclaps, smooth string sections, and sweet, ’80s pop synths. The mix isn’t only a trip down memory lane, however. Tracks from contemporary artists Lifelike and Chateau Marmont, along with Chromeo’s exclusive rendition of the classic Eagles song “I Can’t Tell You Why,” are also found throughout the release. More information on the mix and a download of Chromeo’s Eagles cover can be found here.

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