Lotus Plaza

is the solo project of Lockett Pundt, who is also the guitarist of popular indie band, Deerhunter.

His music is very hazey/dreamy and similar to the work of Bradford Cox, whose projects include the aforementioned Deerhunter as well as Atlas Sound. In fact, it seems that they might be musical kindred spirits.

I just learned that Lockett wrote and sang my favorite song, Agoraphobia on Deerhunter's last LP, Microcastles.

Here's a working link for Lotus Plaza's full-length album, The Floodlight Collective, released earlier this year on Kranky records.

This album is absolutely beautiful.

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=QJHA5KV1

Support the artist for just $8.99 on amazon:
http://tinyurl.com/LotusPlazaLP

Gold Panda

So yes, another artist with Panda in the title...though Panda Bear is actually the only other one I can think of. This...sounds absolutely nothing like Panda Bear though. In fact, this artist sounds nothing at all like Panda Bear. I know that was redundant, but i really wanna drive that point home.

Check him out here: http://iamgoldpanda.com or here: http://www.myspace.com/goldpanda

It's kinda housey, but it's so much more than that. Dubsteppy in parts, i suppose, though i really don't think i'll ever really know what constitutes dubstep. He's from the UK, and currently unsigned I believe. I wonder if he's friends with the guys from Mount Kimbie. Track 2 of the Miyamae EP reminds me of some of the sounds they use.

GOLD PANDA - Back Home from NO-FACE Films on Vimeo.

Buy it from here: http://bleep.com

Bibio

One of the newest acts signed to Warp records, Bibio used to be mostly ambient sun-soaked (sorry if that description doesn't make sense) guitar recordings...with his new album, Ambivalence Avenue, he shifts drastically between that style and the more cut & pastey stylings of such artists as Hudson Mohawke, and even incorporates some pretty vocals on quite a few tracks. Hard to pin this one down as anything in particular...

Check out the track Fire Ant:
http://www.myspace.com/mrbibio

Here's some video of him messing about with his MPC:
The MPC & I

2 Hype Bands not getting enough Buzz

Or 2 Buzz bands not getting enough Hype. I can't decide.

The Antlers....from Brooklyn, they're like a more introverted Grizzly Bear. And that's the least lazy description i could muster after a 1 month absence of blogging. What can i say, I'm pretty fucking lazy. I'd make an excuse, but i don't feel like it.



Listen to them here: http://www.myspace.com/theantlers

Who else...oh Woods.

They've got a little bit of a lo-fi Built to Spill sort of feel. Kind of remind me of Bon Iver a little bit too. Maybe a little bit of that home-made feel of Okay. You don't know who Okay is. That's....Okay. :)

New album is called Songs of Shame. Album cover looks like this:

http://www.myspace.com/woodsfamilyband

Japandroids

2 piece band out of...Vancouver.

Guitar and drums, but those guitars are fuzzy as fuck!!!

hxxp://www.mediafire.com/?jllojtnu5ti

CFCF - You Hear Colours

Instrumental single of the year?

I dunno...maybe not, but i just love those drums at the beginning!!!


CFCF - You Hear Colours from tommy boy on Vimeo.

http://acephalerecords.com/

Feel.Love.Thinking.Of.

is the title of Faunts new record. Its great. I played a show with them when we played the Silverlake Lounge in Los Angeles. I remember liking them, but not this much...

and even though i've been super fickle with this term lately, it just became my album of the year (of the moment).

Apparently they used to be a post-rocky kind of group, but this album is pure poppy goodness. Lots of layers of guitar and synths, some electronic drums, some real drums, great melodies. One track even reminds me of the Cure. I'd like to see Mogwai make this kind of record. Actually, i probably wouldn't. Maybe.

Shugo Tokumaru

Copy/Pasted from Wikipedia:

Shugo Tokumaru (born 1980) is a Japanese singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, whose style and influences incorporate elements of pop, folk and electronic music. He is also a member of the pop rock band Gellers. His first solo record, Night Piece was released in 2004 and his second record, L.S.T., was released in 2005. His latest album, Exit, was released in Japan through P-Vine Records, on October 19, 2007. Almost Gold released Exit internationally on September 2, 2008.



Sorry, that was a suuuuuuper lazy post. But i wanted to share this, because the music really is bizarre. I wouldn't just say that about anyone...

Hudson Mohawke

Newest act signed to Warp Records (home of Boards of Canada, Aphex Twin, Autechre, Squarepusher, and many other of the world's greatest electronic acts), this guy is pretty exciting, with his cut and pastey schizophrenic instrumental hip hop.

Check out his debut ep, Polyfolk Dance, here: http://bleep.com.

Download here, since i know i won't get in trouble:
http://www.sendspace.com/file/8qgs62

Full length to come later this year i believe.

The Pains of Being Pure at Heart

So far, I'm thinking this is my album of 2009. Ha. I've only heard like 4 or 5 other albums, but yes, this band takes the cake.



Why? Because they're like a wonderful synthesis of all the best 80's indie pop/rock there ever was (think Jesus and Mary Chain, Smiths, Teenage Fanclub et al), all tied together in a wondeful lil' 34 minute, 10 track package.

The most immediately catchy thing i've heard in years. For real.



Album drops Feb 3, 2009. Pick it up!!

Oh, 8? Oh GREAT!!!

I present to you, the Official Hyptzr Doofus Best of 2008 compilation:



Download here: http://www.sendspace.com/file/fkzh14

And if you wanna know what you're in for, here's the tracklist!!!



Hope you likey!

Chairlift

Was late to discover this band in 08, but i do love them.

Found them on year-end lists of M83 and Why? (two of my favorites), so how could i not check it out?



Instead of showing a picture of them, i'll show that, because fuckit, nobody reads this god-damn blog anyway.

I mean, even I forgot it existed.

Whoops-a-daisy.