Dusty Grooves: Treasures Uncovered

For better or worse, the idea of a “lost” album almost no longer exists. Whether it’s the effect of the internet’s hyper-real search possibilities, or simply collectors’ affinity for uncovering that which remains to be uncovered, the reissue movement is in full swing, with venerable curators like Soul Jazz leading the charge.

But why now? “The market has shifted from the Goldmine collector mindset that labels like Ace, Rhino, and Collectables service to a younger, more ravenous youth culture,” says Numero Group’s Ken Shipley. “There’s also been a lot more uncovered in the past decade that larger labels won’t touch because of its lack of hit status. But if you look at no-hits subcultures like indie rock, dance, freak folk, or whatever, it’s no surprise that the audience is gravitating to the unknown.”

Here we profile a few of the lesser-known reissue labels, whose founders comb through discographies, junk shops, and phone books to bring you the goods that you never knew you needed.

Finders Keepers
Finders Keepers, named after a track that founder Andy Votel made with his hip-hop crew Violators Of The English Language, falls under Votel’s B-Music conglomerate, which also houses Twisted Nerve (home to Badly Drawn Boy) and Delay 68. Finders Keepers ignited in 1999 when Votel and DJ partner Boney released a compilation of “obscure European and American psych-sploitation anomalies” for Fat City records. “When Boney went back to his day job’ began to realize the potential enjoyment of releasing this kind of music on a larger scale,” Votel informs. “I just called up the best record collectors I knew, which happened to be my best mates, and we hatched a ridiculous plan.”

They’ve been slogging away ever since, lately reissuing Gallic pop soundtracker Jean-Claude Vannier’s L’Enfant Assassin des Mouches and Turkish protest songs from Selda, who, “When she answered the phone, would put on a fake accent and even told us she had died!” exclaims Votel. The typical problems they face? “Plenty of people pretend that they own rights to music when they don’t,” he offers. “[You risk] getting caught in the crossfire of bootlegger shrapnel and being held responsible for ill-advised band reunions or dodgy remixes.”

Next up: Japanese biker soundtracks, more Czech fairytales, Polish animation, and Welsh books.

Numero Group
Specializing in old soul and funk from forgotten eras and places, Chicago’s Numero Group has had remarkable success with their Eccentric Soul series, which takes whole catalogs of lost labels and makes them available again. Their own catalog isn’t huge, but their holdings might be–they’ve been buying up a number of small labels and publishing companies over the past year for future release, informs Ken Shipley, head of promotions. “We’re of the quality-over-quantity mindset, so you’ll probably never see us issue 20 albums in a year,” he assures.

Still, it’s the thrill of the chase that proves most interesting. A&R man Rob Sevier went vacationing in Belize in 2005 armed with just a scan of a funk 45 by the Soul Creations entitled “Funky Jive,” the only music he’d known from Belize. Junk stores, antique shops, and bootleg bodegas knew nothing of the record, but Sevier sought out a phone number for the label, Contemporary Electronic Systems. The owner, who now operates a security installation company under the same name, was more than happy to chat, sparking the compilation Cult Cargo: Belize City Boil Up.

Next up:What a Beautiful Place–wintry English folk from Catherine Howe.

Light in the Attic
Started years ago as a Seattle concert promotions company, LITA has since blossomed into a full-on label (with a distribution arm for labels like Daptone and Trikont). LITA not only reissues lost classics–like the soundtrack to Deep Throat and Jackie Mittoo’s keyboard suite Wishbone–but also compilations that pair new artists with older material, such as The Free Design: The Now Sound Redesigned (remixes of The Free Design by the likes of Madlib and The Mars Volta).

But the feather in their Kangol caps, aside from the recent success of folkie Karen Dalton’s In My Own Time and their Jamaica to Toronto series, is the proper re-release of music by feminist punk-funkist Betty Davis (the one-time wife of Miles Davis). In the ’70s, after a nervous breakdown, Davis disposed of most of her worldly things, so it’s taken a long time to find old photos and miscellany surrounding her career. With her full involvement, it’s the first time that Davis will properly be compensated for her groundbreaking work.

Next up: Additional titles for Jamaica to Toronto (including a documentary on the project), and Betty Davis’ first two albums on CD.

Anthology
Started by Kemado Records’ A&R man Keith Abrahamsson just a short year ago, Anthology is one of a growing number of online-only reissue labels. And because of its nature, it may also be the most ambitious. “We presently have about 15 records up on the site,” says Abrahamsson, “but I have nearly 75 licensed already and I expect to see that grow significantly.” The label seems to favor odd metal (Sir Lord Baltimore’s Kingdom Come is incredible) and even odder psychedelic rock from the likes of Peru’s Traffic Sound and Trenton, NJ’s Sainte Anthony’s Fyre. Anthology has released one original artist album, “King of Latin R&B” Joe Bataan’s Call My Name, but Abrahamsson remains dedicated to reissues. He’s presently searching for a way to put out German acid rockers Night Sun, who had one record out in 1972. “The hardest part is tracking down the owner, but that’s also one of the things I enjoy the most,” he admits.

Next up: Experimental Krautrock from Dom entitled Edge of Time, and stuff from the U.K. label Sunbeam.

Honest Jon’s
Blur’s Damon Albarn finds himself in the most unlikely positions. Besides heading up his enormously successful cartoon music side-project Gorillaz, he also has a hand in Honest Jon’s, the label wing of the Ladbroke Grove, London record shop that’s been in business since 1974. Alongside shop-keeps Mark Ainley and Alan Scholefield–who helped birth Mo’ Wax, PK, and Boplicity out of the store–Albarn gave Honest Jon’s the push it needed to put out its first release: Albarn’s Mali Music project.

Since then, they’ve issued some 30 albums and 40 singles, including homeless jazz recluse Moondog’s The Viking of Sixth Avenue (featuring the well-known and sample-friendly “Bird’s Lament”), Candi Staton’s self-titled record, and Afrobeat co-creator Tony Allen’s Lagos No Shaking. Licensing these things can be difficult, but Ainsley states that “whatever the hassles, it’s a satisfaction to put out something that has been unavailable–to breathe a little life into something that was gone.”

Next up: More singles from Tony Allen, including a remix by Basic Channel’s Moritz von Oswald.

They got (re)Issues: The Best of the Rest

Ethiopiques
Afro-funk from Addis Ababa and beyond.

Sublime Frequencies
An ethnomusicologist’s wet dream of Khmer pop, Thai chansons, and Saigon noise.

Wackies
Soul Jazz ain’t the only obscure reggae reissue game in town.

Crippled Dick Hot Wax
German advertisement pop and lost post-punk singles find a new home.

Em Records
You thought you were obsessed with psych-rock and folk? Visit Japan.

Trikont
An outpost for lost queer poetry, prison funk, and John Peel’s record collection.

XLR8R’s South By Southwest Gig Guide

XLR8R is heading down to the venerable South by Southwest festival in Austin, Texas from Wednesday, March 14 until Sunday, March 18, 2007. Join us at the events below, and check back every Friday for full festival updates.

Tuesday, March 13

Check Yo’ Pontail Party
Music By Diplo, Bonde do Role, Edit
Venue Safari Sam’s, 5214 Sunset Blvd.
Details 8 p.m., $18

Wednesday, March 14

Free Yr Radio Party
Music By The Rapture, The Pipettes
Venue La Zone Rosa, 612 W. 4th St.
Details 7.30 p.m.

NME.Com & SXSW Showcase
Music By The Bravery, Razorlight, Lily Allen, The Automatic, Jamie T, The Sunshine, Undergound
Venue Stubbs BBQ, 801 Red River Rd.
Details 7 p.m.

Ola Podrida
Additional Music By The A-Sides, Frightened Rabbit, The Twilight Sad, Rob Crow, Smoking Popes
Venue The Mohawk Patio, 912 Red River St
Details 7.45 p.m.

Peter Bjorn and John
Additional Music By The Rapture, Fink, Tunng
Venue la Zona Rosa,
Details 12 a.m.

Charalambides
Additional Music By Ecstatic Sunshine, Aa aka BIG A little a, Ponytail, Mae Shi, Todosantos, Yacht, Slim Moon and What Army, JuiceboXXX, Kiiiiiii, Punches
Venue Ms. Bea’s, 1104 E 6th St
Details 9 p.m.

IODA Presents
Music By The Foundry Field Recordings, Canada, The Affair, The Twilight Sad, Uncut, Honeycut, Apostle of Hustle, The Black Angels
Hosted By Pigeon John
Venue Emo’s Annex, 603 Red River St.
Details 1 – 6 p.m., FREE, All ages

Yarr! PR and Latest Flame Records Present
Music By The Slats, 1986, Heligoats , Minmae, That Handsome Devil, Skull Time
Venue Treasure Island, 413 E. 6th St.
Details 1 – 6 p.m., FREE, 21+


Beggars Group and 4AD Presents 
Music By Calla, The Early Years, Future Of The Left, I Like Trains Voxtrot, Blonde Redhead, Mountain Goats, Beirut, Wolf & Cub, Emma Pollock
Venue Emo’s, 603 Red River St.
Details 6:30 p.m., All ages, Official SXSW Event


The Viper Room in Austin Presents
Music By Rocco Deluca and the Burden, Reeve Carney & The Revolving Band, The Daylights, Will Dailey
Venue Apple Bar, 125 5th St.
Details 9 p.m.


Quannum Presents
Music By Dust & Blood, Honeycut, The Wombats
Venue Friends, 208 E 6th St.
Details 11p.m. – 1a.m., FREE, All ages

Instore: Cheapo Records
Music By Arbouretum
Venue Cheapo Records, 914 Lamar St.
Details 5 p.m.

Gen Art Uncover/Discover Day Party
MusicBy Menomena, Dirty on Purpose, Suffrajet, Snowden
Venue Beauty Bar, 617 E. 7th St.
Details 1.30 p.m., Invite Only, 21+

The Hourly Radio
Additional Music By The Hourly Radio, Blacklist, Bird feat. Mark Burgess of the Chameleons, Hugh Cornwell
Venue Elysium, 705 Red River St.
Details 8p.m., 21+

Thursday, March 15

XLR8R and Hydra Head Records Present
Music By Pelican, Jesu, Big Business, Daughters, Oxbow, Stephen Brodsky’s Octave Museum
Venue  Emo’s Annex Tent, 603 Red River St.
Details  7 p.m., All ages, Official SXSW Event

Anti-, Epitaph, & Fat Tire Present
Music By Busdriver, Youth Group, David and the Citizens, Age Rings, High Strung, Sammies, Peachcake
Venue SOHO, 217 E. 6th St.
Details 12 p.m.

Peaches
Additional Music By Crystal Castles, Bonde de Role, Guns and Bombs, Crash Berlin, Shout Out Out Out, John Redden, The Hot Flash! DJs, Max Klaxxon
Venue Club Barcelona, 209 E. 6th St.
Details 9 p.m., RSVP to [email protected] 

Iris, Vice, and Scion Party
Music By The Melvins, Boris, Pelican, Panthers
Venue Stubbs BBQ, 801 Red River St.
Details 12 p.m., RSVP


Gorilla v. Booze Party Present
Music By Ola Podrida, Alela Diane, Dana Falconberry, Dirty Projectors, Peter and the Wolf, The Dodoes, Ariel Pink, W-S Burn
Venue The Peacock, 515 Pedernales St.
Details 1 p.m.

Anticon and Terrorbird Present
Music By Sole, Dosh, Buck 65, Thee More Shallows, Telephone Jim Jesus, Brenmar, and more TBA
Venue Spiro’s Patio, 611 Red River Rd.
Details 8 p.m.

Team Clermont and Under the Radar Present
Music By The Pipettes, Architecture in Helsinki, Loney, Dear, Headlights, Gruff Rhys, Dark Meat
Venue Flamingo Cantina, 515 E. 6th St.
Details 12 – 6 p.m., FREE


Quack Media & Found Magazine Present
Music By Okkervil River, Tally Hall, Great Lakes, Myth Society, The Walkmen
Hosted By Davy Rothbart and Jason Bitner
Venue Bourbon Rocks, 508 E 6th St.
Details 1 – 5.30p.m., 21+, RSVP

Nordic Nights
Music By Marit Bergman, Funky Nashville, Mammút, moi Caprice, Rubik, David & The Citizens
Venue Uncle Flirty’s Loft, 325 E 6th St.
Details 8p.m., 21+

Spaceland & Livedaily Day Party
Music By Blonde Redhead, Annuals, Mando Diao, Datarock, Dirty on Purpose, Tally Hall
Venue Antone’s, 213 W. 5th St.
Details 12 p.m., Free


IHEARTCOMIX and AM Only Official SXSW Showcase
Music By The Presets, Shit Disco, Matt & Kim, Shout Out Out Out, Foreign Islands, Lo-Fi-Fnk, Protokoll, Aaron Lacrate, Lethal Bizzle, Ocelot, DJ Franki Chan, Le Castle Vania, DJ Paparazzi
Venue Beauty Bar Austin, 617 E 7th St.
Details 8 p.m. – 2 a.m., Free to SXSW Badge and Wristband Holders, 21+

Glacier Hiking
Additional Music By The Attorneys, Soular, The Hero Factor
Venue The Chugging Monkey, 219 E 6th St.
Details 8p.m., $8, 21+

The Viper Room in Austin Presents
Music By Valient Thorr, The Ringers, Big Bang, Hello Stranger
Venue Apple Bar, 125 5th St.
Details 9 p.m., FREE, All ages

M80 Music, Film 101, and the Spiderhouse CafePresent
Music By Dengue Fever, Panther, Great Northern, Joseph Israel, Dub DJ, Tank Engine, The Black Country, Chalk Outlines
Venue Spiderhouse Cafe, 2908 Fruit St.
Details 1 p.m.

Cadence Weapon
Additional Music By Grand Analog, Josh Marinez, el Axel, Chris Lee, C-Mon & Kypski
Venue Copa’s, 217 Congress Ave.
Details 9.15 p.m., 21+

Tag Team and The Onion Present
Music By Andrew Bird, Tokyo Police Club, Matt & Kim, Amy Millan, Patrick Watson, Future Of The Left
Venue Emo’s, 603 Red River St.
Details 12 p.m., FREE, All Ages

Kemado Showcase
Music By Vietnam, Cheeseburger, Danava, Marissa Nadler, Turzi, Lords
Venue Bourbon Rocks, 8 E 6th St.
Details 8 p.m., 21+

Anodyne Showcase
Music By Meat Puppets, Architects, The Hearers, The Valley Arena, Be/Non
Venue The Parish
Details 1 p.m., FREE

British Music BBQ
MusicBy Amy Winehouse, Scott Matthews, Seth Lakeman, Tunng
Venue Brush Square Park
Details 12 p.m., Invite Only

Tea for Texas
Music By Ryan Bingham, Get Cape Wear Cape Fly, Robert Gomez, Gallows, Grady
Venue Latitude 30, 152 San Jacinto Blvd.
Details 3 p.m., Invite Only

Astralwerks Showcase
Music By Sondre Lerche, Sparklehorse, The Little Ones, Small Sins
Venue Antone’s, 214 E. 6th St.
Details 9.30 p.m.

Friday, March 16

DIW Magazine and Music For Robots Present
Music By Land of Talk, Twilight Sad, 120 Days, Daedelus (featuring Busdriver), Pop Levi, Calla, Architecture In Helsinki
Venue Emo’s Lounge, 603 Red River St.
Details 12-6 p.m., FREE, All ages

Mess with Texas Presents Pirate!
Music By Les Savy Fav, The Black Angels, Gossip, Dead Meadow, Erase Errata, Matt and Kim, David Vandervelde, Danava, Brother Reade, Spindrift, and more TBA
Venue Red Sever, 611 E. Seventh St.
Details 11.30 a.m.

Giant Step Lounge Party
Music By Nickodemus, Nicknack, Chicken George, J. Boogie, DJ Sun, Kraak & Smaak
Venue Firehouse Lounge, 605 Brazos St.
Details 9 p.m., FREE

Ola Podrida
Additional Music By Delta Spirit, Ladyhawk,
The Silent Years, Ola Podrida, The Glass Family, Everybody Else, Let’s Go
Sailing Turbo Fruits
Venue Home Slice, 1415 S. Congress Ave
Details 3.15 p.m.

Junior Senior
Additional Music By The Horrors, Har Mar Superstar, Winter Kids, Dandi Wind, The Gray Kid, Ceeplus Bad Knives, New Berlin, Pink Enemy
Venue Club Barcelona, 209 E. 6th St.
Details 9 p.m., RSVP to [email protected]

Kraak & Smaak
Venue Latitude 30, 512 San Jacinto St.
Details 12 a.m.

Peter Bjorn and John
Additional Music By The Stooges, Rwake, Bret Dennen, Get Cape Wear Cape Fly
Venue Waterloo Records, 600 N. Lamar Blvd. #A
Details 2 p.m., FREE 

Urge Presents “Trans Austin Express”
Additional Music By RJD2, Kenna, Simian Mobile
Disco and surpsrise “SPCLGST”
Venue Karma Lounge
Details 8 p.m.

Mush Records Showcase
Additional Music By k-the-i???, Bigg Jus, Listener, Eliot Lipp, Antimc, Thavius Beck, Daedelus, Of Mexican Descent, Busdriver
Venue Zero Degrees, 405 E. 7th St.
Details 9 p.m.

Denver Post, Mania TV.com, Monolith, Create Denver and My Old Kentucky Blog and Bender Tavern Party
Music By Machine Gun Blues, Western States Motel, Laylights, Hot IQs, Cloud Cult, Earl Greyhound, Mando Diao
Venue 2110 Lamar Building, 2110 S. Lamar Blvd.
Details 3p.m., Free.

Moshi Moshi Records Showcase
Music By Architecture in Helsinki, Tilly and the Wall, Lo Fi Fnk, Au Revoir Simone, Metronomy, Hot Club de Paris, Best Fwends, Rebecca Gates, Indian Jewelry, Viet Nam, Titan, Finally Punk, Old Time Relijun, O’Death, Die!Die!Die!, Mint Chicks/Prayers, Ad Astra per Aspera, ZZZ, Panther, Meric Long/Dodo Bird
Venue Ms. Bea’s, 1104 E 6th St.
Details 11 p.m.

The Windish Agency and Pitchfork Present
Music By Do Make Say Think, Crystal Castles, The Pipettes, Marnie Stern, The Ponys, Beach House, RJD2, Fujiya & Miyagi, Menomena, Simian Mobile Disco, Girl Talk, Deerhunter and more
Venue Emo’s, 603 Red River St.
Details 12 – 6 p.m., FREE, All ages


SF X SXSW Party
Music By Honeycut, Audrye Sessions, A Band Called Pain, Street To Nowhere, Every Move A Picture, Scissors For Lefty, Push to Talk, Mud, Bray, Built For The Sea, Panda, Jason DEBO, Poor Bailey, Minipop, Kerry Gulbranson, TS Leach, Austin Willacy, The Trophy Fire, Kid Beyond, Maldroid, The Actual
Venue Spiro’s Outdoor Patio, 611 Red River St.
Details 12p.m. – 6 p.m.

Paste Magazine Official SXSW Showcase
Music By The Polyphonic Spree, Moe, Pigeon John, Brandi Carlile, Danny Flowers
Venue Austin Music Hall Ballroom, 500 E Caeser Chavez
Details TBA


NAIL Distribution presents: Afternoon Delight
Music By Restarurant, Tulsa, The Capitol Years, The Teeth, Shot X Shot, Women & Children, Dengue Fever
Venue The Side Bar, 602 E. 7th St.
Details 12:15 p.m., FREE, 21+

Lucero
Additional Music By The Electric Soft Parade, Goldrush, The Pierces, We Are The Fury, Secondhand Serenade
Venue Magggie Mae’s Rooftop
Details 8 p.m. 


New Music from Wales
Music By The Hot Puppies, The Gentle Good, The Automatic, The Storys
Venue Latitude 30, 512 San Jacinto Blvd.
Details 12 p.m., FREE


Biz 3 Publicity and Kork Showcase
Music By Kid Sister, A-trak, Yo Majesty, Bone Do Role, Flosstradamus, CX, The Rub
Venue Beauty Bar, 617 E. 7th St.
Details 8 p.m., 21+

Thrill Jockey, UrbanPollution.com, and Polyvinyl Records Present
Music By Arbouretum, The Zincs, Saturday Looks Good to Me, Shapes and Sizes
Venue Spider House, 2908 Fruth St.
Details 6 p.m., 21+

Nordic Nights
Music By Sister Flo, Marit Larsen, Vincent Van Go Go, Johnossi, Grand Island, Reykjavik!
Venue Uncle Flirty’s Loft, 325 E 6th St.
Details 21+

The Viper Room in Austin Presents
Music By Oliver Future, Dirty Sweet, The Ruse, Stars of Track and Field
Venue Apple Bar, 125 5th St.
Details 9 p.m., FREE, All ages

Official SXSW Showcase
Music By Cage, Brother Ali, Aesop Rock w/ Rob Sonic & Big Wiz, EL-P, Galactic w/ Lyrics Born, Gift of Gab, Boots Riley
Venue Emo’s, 603 Red River St.
Details 9.30 p.m., All ages


MTV Urge, Motormouth Media, and Domino Present
Music By RJD2, Junior Boys, Simian Mobile Disco, and Guests
Venue TBA
Details 11 p.m., FREE, All ages

Saturday, March 17

XLR8R and Fanatic Promotion, Inc. Present
Music By Girl Talk, 65daysofstatic, Bang Gang, The House of Apples & Eyeballs (The Octopus Project & Black Moth Super Rainbow), The Berg Sans Nipple, Pink Nasty
Venue Elysium, 705 Red River St.
Details 9 p.m., All ages, Official SXSW Event

Mess with Texas Presents Pirate!
Music By The Walkmen, The Black Lips, Sloan, Apples in Stereo, Fucked Up, The Ponys, Deerhunter, Ladyhawk, The Carbonas, The Cubicle, and more TBA
Venue Red Sever, 611 E. Seventh St.
Details 12 p.m.

Giant Step Lounge Party
Music By Nickodemus, Nicknack, Chicken George, J. Boogie, DJ Sun, Kraak & Smaak
Venue Firehouse Lounge, 605 Brazos St.
Details 9 p.m., FREE 

Roommate
Additional Music By Brave Radar, Casey Dienel, Dawn Landes, Au Revoir Simone, Nicole Atkins & the Sea
Venue Copa, 217 Congress Ave.
Details 7 p.m. 

Iris and Scion Party
Music By Rakim, Ghostface, The Rhythm Roots All Stars, Mickey Avalon, DJ Higher
Venue Stubbs BBQ, 801 Red River St.
Details 12 p.m., RSVP

Factory People & Anthem Party
Music By Har Mar Supterstar, Lucero, Death Disco
Venue Factory People, 1325 S. Congress
Details 1 p.m.

Shout It Out Loud Showcase
Music By David Vandervelde, Spain Colored Orange, O’Death, Datarock, Walter Meego, Shout Out Out Out Out, Dani Wind
Venue Whisky Bar, 303 W. 5th St.
Details 3.15 p.m.


Le Tigre Presents “NY2LON”
Music By Amy Winehouse, Antibalas, Malajube, The Fratellis, Datarock, Monsters Are Waiting, Trainwreck Riders, Johnossi, Takka Takka, Ferraby Lionheart, We Are Wolves, Get Cape Wear Cape Fly
Venue Habana Calle, 709 E. 6th St.
Details 11 a.m., RSVP

Hella
Additional Music By Land of Talk, Deerhunter, Matt and Kim, Medicine Fúck Dream, Dragons of Zynth, Dirty Projectors , Cheeseburger, Tall Firs, 31 Knots, Green Milk from the Planet Orange, Dynasty Handbag, Noxagt, Pony Pants, White Mice
Venue Ms. Bea’s, 1104 E 6th St.
Details 10 p.m. 


XLR8R, Zune, Envision Management, and Ninja Tune Records Present
Music By Amon Tobin, Kid Koala, Yppah, Plaster, Bleubird
Venue The Parish Room, 214 E. 6th St.
Details 8 p.m. – 2 a.m., Official SXSW Event


XLR8R, Creative Commons, and Tigerbeat6 Present
Music By Kid606, Clipd Beaks, Drop the Lime, Star Eyes, Dandi Wind, White Williams, Oonce Oonce
Venue Beauty Bar, 617 E. 7th St.
Details 9 – 2 a.m., FREE, 21+, Official SXSW Event

The Bootleg BBQ
Music By Gruff Rhys, iLiKeTRAINS, Blanche, Bat for Lashes, Fionn Regan, The Explorers Club, and Guests
Venue The Mean Eyed Cat, 1621 West 5th St.
Details 12 – 4 p.m.

OM Showcase
Music By Mark Farina, Chuck Love, J Boogie
Venue Sky, 416 Congress Ave.
Details 9 p.m., 18+ 

Fina Music Party
Music By Arbouretum, The Zincs, Pattern is Movement, Brad Laner
Hosted By Home Tapes Records
Venue Friend Island, 301 Chicon St.
Details TBA

The Bootleg BBQ
Music By Gruff Rhys, Foals, Blanche, Bat for Lashes, Fionn Regan, The Explorers Club
Venue The Mean Eyed Cat, 1621 W 5th St.
Details 12 p.m.

Liverpool Sound City Party
Music By The Wombats, Hot Club de paris, The Aeroplanes, Delta Fiasco, Eugene McGuinness, Working for a Nuclear Free City
Venue Latitude 30, 152 San Jacinto Blvd.
Details 3 p.m., 18+

Kill Rock Stars Showcase
Music By Erase Errata, The Mary Timony Band, Two Ton Boa, Marnie Stern, Macromantics, Mika Miko
Venue Emo’s, 603 Red River St.
Details 8 p.m. – 2 a.m., All ages

GSL Records Presents
Music By Qui featuring David Yow, 400 Blows, Triclops!, Anavan, Coaxial, Attractive and Popular
Venue Emo’s, 603 Red River St.
Details 8 p.m., All ages, Official SXSW Event

Esquire Party
Music By The Stooges, Spoon, Kings of Leon, Paolo Nutini, A Fine Frenzy
Venue Stubb’s BBQ, 801 Red River St.
Details 8 p.m., All Ages

The Viper Room in Austin Presents
Music By Bloodcat Love, Nico Vega, Pink Spiders, The Stock Market Crash
Venue  Apple Bar, 125 5th St.
Details 9 p.m., FREE, All ages

Thrill Jockey Showcase
Music By Arbouretum, The Zincs, The Black Hollies, The Forms, Chris Mills
Venue Uncle Flirty S, 325 E 6th St.
Details 8.30 p.m., 21+

Liverpool Sound City
Music By Hot Club de Paris, Working for a Nuclear Free City, The Wombats, Eugene McGuinness, The KBC
Venue Latitude 30 Degrees, 512 San Jacinto Blvd.
Details TBA

Lesbians on Ecstasy Preps Album, Tour

Montreal-based quartet Lesbians on Ecstasy (LoE) just announced that their latest album, We Know You Know, will be full of the usual electro-punk, but with the added bonus of ’70s campfire-esque sing-a-longs and Burzum lyrics.

LoE should have been a band in the early ’90s, that faraway time when “parental advisory” labels were supposed to be shocking. One might theorize these five ladies–who remain devoted to the idea of women playing electronic music¬–would have caused hardcore conservatives to quickly forget about Body Count and NWA, even if all they sang about was My Little Pony.

In reality, the lyrics here are far more controversial than ponies. LoE is, according to their press materials, steadfastly focused on radical politics, “surfing the giant third wave of wimmin’s lib” in a world where “corporate interests and inequality reign.” Such charged statements are rendered nicely when paired with thrashing synths, rumbling basslines, and punk-inspired guitar riffs.

We Know You Know is out April 10 on Alien8.

Tracklisting
1. Sisters in the Struggle
2. Sedition
3. The Cold Touch of Leather
4. Victoria’s Secret
5. We Won’t Give it Back
6. Party Time (A Womyn’s Luv)
7. Is This the Way?
8. Alone in Madness
9. Mortified

Lesbians on Ecstasy storms the streets beginning March 17 at South By Southwest. If you miss those shows, you can always check them out back home at the Montreal Biennale Contemporary Art Festival on May 11.

Tour Dates
03/17 Austin, TX: Exodus
03/18 Austin, TX: Hazy’s Backyard
03/31 London, UK: Bloomsbury Ballroom
04/05 New York City, NY: Studio B
04/06 Baltimore, MD: Sonar
04/13 Montreal, QC: Club Lambi
04/19 Quebec City, QC: Rouje
04/20 Wakefield, ON: Black Sheep Inn
04/21 Ottawa, ON: Barrymores
04/26 Toronto, ON: TBA
05/11 Montreal, QC: Montreal Biennale Contemporary Art Festival

Lady Saw Walk Out

Over the course of her long career, Lady Saw has always been known for her raw lyrics, but on Walk Out, she takes advantage of the full-length format to stretch out a bit. There are several heartfelt songs like “No Less Than a Woman” (inspired by her own infertility), “World’s Prettiest” (her take on women’s self-esteem issues), and “You Need Me,” a love song that could have come straight from Nashville. And while the album also includes her trademark sexed-up chunes (like the particularly slack “Power of the Pum” and “Like It,” a take on Dem Franchize Boyz’s “Oh I Think They Like Me”), she uses “Me and My Crew” to remind the listener that her first name is still “Lady,” stressing the importance of table manners and crossing one’s legs, and asking women to “please cut out the cheap dutty wine.”

Klaxons Myths of the Near Future

These London lads did a great job of using glowsticks to convince folks they were the second coming of rave. Forget it. This is bloke-rawk that challenges the Arctic Monkeys and Maximo Park, but has lower self-esteem and higher-proof booze in its gut. “Atlantis to Interzone” is a death-disco stomp that punches clubbers before getting 86’d, and “Forgotten Works” is a fine post-punk ballad that crumples rose thorns in its hand. Despite those tracks, the record can sound bogged down by awkward rhythms and some sour ideas, but there’s always remixers to keep Klaxons’ myth alive.

Khan Who Never Rests

What’s up with Berliners ditching techno for electro-fried soul and funk albums lately? Ripping a distant page from city-mates Jamie Lidell and Mocky, Can Oral (half of electro-trashers Captain Comatose) assumes his Khan persona for the relentlessly colorful Who Never Rests. Grinding his warble against grimy guitar strings like a pelvic thrust, Khan croons about making love in the drive-thru and spanking the monkey with intensity that teeters between sexy and absurd. Jams like “Excommunication” and the title track are legitimate bump-n-grinders; you’d be hard-pressed not to tug at your underpants just a little bit.

Video: GusGus “Moss”

Iceland’s avant-garde foursome GusGus are known for music that’s chilling as Reykjavik’s weather while simultaneously remaining emotionally elevating. A bizarre combination sure, but such disparate elements combined is what we’ve come to expect from artists on a freezing cold island miles from any other continent. Such geographical isolation probably inspired the graphics for the group’s latest video, a bizarre, colorful visual accompaniment to its recent 12″ “Moss.”

See it now, along with hundreds of other videos, at XLR8R’s Video Section.

Mark Templeton “Tentative Growth”

Alberta, Canada-based Mark Templeton kicks things off for the brand new Anticipate label. Fans of all things experimental and minimal will delight in this inaugural release, whose bend is towards acoustic instruments manipulated digitally and accompanied by carefully arranged layers of field recordings.

Mark Templeton – Tentative Growth

Bukue One “Murder Sound”

Released just last week, Intromission is MC Bukue One‘s first full-length, and on it the Bay Area artist revisits the five elements he considers integral to hip-hop: rapping, DJing, breaking, graffiti, and skate boarding. In his own words, these various components are ‘all about reintroducing good old party hip-hop to young kids. It’s me saying it’s okay to dance and smile.

Bukue One – Murder Sound

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