New Interpol: Lights

NYC'S finest Interpol have issued a new track via their website.
Called Lights, it starts off a little like Joy Division's Shadowplay but Paul Bank's vocals kick in and the lights seem to turn off.
Lights is a broody slow burner and Banks & co are clearly not giving much away here.
It's a bit of a disappointing return from arguably one of the finest bands out there today. It sounds like a Our Love To Admire cut and could easily have found its way onto the mediocre Julian Plenti is.....Skyscraper.
Still, I'm never one to write off a band but Interpol really need to pull something special out of the bag if their next LP is going to be any good,
Turn on the Bright Lights IS the best album ever and sophomore effort Antics showed exciting progression. But Our Love to Admire was tame and Lights seems to follow that formula.
Average.

Interpol -- Lights

MCA's Ill Communication

BACK in July last year, Beastie Boy and hip-hop legend Adam Yauch, aka MCA, was diagnosed with a cancerous parotid gland.
Fans were told the cancer was treatable and it wouldn't affect his trademark baritone vocals but the release of the Beasties' album Hot Sauce Committee would be on indefinite hiatus.
But just last week, Yauch released a statement to fans on the beastieboys.com mailing list asking them to join him and some friends in meditation to beat cancer.

Here's the letter:

hello,

wanted to send this out to you guys in case you were into it, or wanted to give it to anyone who you think might be.

a few friends and i are meditating at the same time twice a day. 9:30am and 6:30pm eastern standard time, for about an hour and half.

we are picturing smashing apart all of the cancer cells in the world.

we are visualizing taking the energy away from the cancer, and then sending it back at the cancer as lightening bolts that will break apart the DNA and RNA of the cells. if you have the time, please join us in whipping up this lightening storm. mind over matter......

if you prefer to sit then sit, but if you are not used to meditating, or sitting quietly doesn't sound like fun, put on some music and dance while you do the visualization, and if you want to do it at some other time, or picture curing some other illness that's fine too. yoko will be joining the meditation by visualizing all of us dancing with joy to celebrate the world without cancer. all variations are welcome. this is really just being done with a wish for all beings to be cured of all illnesses and to find true lasting happiness.

i'll also be saying prayers for the earthquake victims in tibet, so join in on that if you can too.

please feel free to pass this onto anyone who you think may find it interesting.

with all my love,

adam

Chillingly, it was released on the same day of hip-hop icon Guru's death following a long battle with the disease.
Yauch seems positive and upbeat but to some it may seem like he's clutching at straws.
The guy is ill (in both senses of the word) and it remains scarily quiet from the Beastie Boys front but music fans across the world will be hoping he can beat cancer.

Wolf Parade release Expo 86 artwork

SINISTER looking kids with a penchant for war grace the cover of Wolf Parade's forthcoming new album Expo86.
In a move that completely distances the band from the abstract artwork of their last two LPs - the classic Apologies to the Queen Mary and 2008's epic At Mount Zoomer - Wolf Parade seem to be drawing the battle lines in the indie world ahead of Expo's release, one of Luminous Plectrum's most anticipated albums of the year.
Can the Canadians continue their superb form and wow us once again with Expo? We'll find out in July.
In the meantime, fans in the UK can catch them on tour at the following venues in May:

Monday, May 17 - Brighton Concorde 2
Tuesday, May 18 - London Borderline
Wednesday, May 19 - Glasgow Oran Mor
Friday, May 21 - Manchester Club Academy

Hot new tracks

Gauntlet Hair – I Was Thinking…

COLORADO duo Gauntlet Hair have unleashed this loud and jagged belter, full of distorted vocals and the tinniest of guitar melodies. There may be only two of them but Gauntlet Hair manage to transform themselves into a tour-de-force of wonderful noise. This is a fantastically layered song that progresses into something huge. This band has a promising future.

You can check out Gauntlet Hair by clicking here.

Sage Francis – The Best of Times

IT’S difficult not to like the uplifting The Best of Times. Sage Francis opens up the first chapter of his young life and leads the listener on a journey of love, pain, heartache, hope and the future. It may be a little corny but Sage is on top form as ever and has arguably come up with his breakthrough UK hit.

The National – Afraid of Everyone

KICKING off with an accordion and a brooding guitar riff, The National’s haunting Afraid of Everyone explores the depths of the soul. Matt Berninger’s howling vocals propels, as ever, The National’s work onto another level. It’s epic and just whets our appetite for High Violet even further. We are in for one hell of a treat.

The Futureheads – Struck Dumb

THE Futureheads are safe bets. Sure, they’ve not really changed since their self-titled debut in 2004 but their post-punk style and working class sing-a-long choruses will always ensure a damn good listen. 0/10 for originality, 10/10 for enjoyment.

Sean Bones -- Rhumba Beat

THERE'S nothing rhumba about Rhumba Beat. Sean Bones' power pop fuses 80s Roxy Music-esque structures with glorious 60s surf tones. It doesn't stop there, Rhumba Beat drifts off into a disco floor-filler for the final minute for a sublime conclusion to a perfect summer anthem. Barbecues at the ready, Sean Bones is coming for dinner.

NME listens to The Drums' self-titled new album

MUSIC rag NME has had a first listen to The Drums' self-titled debut album, a preview of which can be found here.
From the looks of things, there are no real surprises apart from the notable admission of Submarine - arguably one of their best songs.
The track list looks promising, especially the inclusion of Me and the Moon and I'll Never Drop My Sword, and is likely to be an Luminous Plectrum favourite at the end of the year.
Expect a full review here upon its release on June 7.

The Drums (self-titled) tracklist:

Best Friend
Me And The Moon
Let's Go Surfing
Skippin' Town
Book Of Stories
Forever And Ever, Amen
Down By The Water
It Will All End In Tears
We Tried
I Need Fun In My Life
I'll Never Drop My Sword
The Future

Listen to LCD Soundsystem's This Is Happening now

KNOCK knock
Who's there?
Good
Good who?
GOOD TIMES

QUITE lovely modern dance pioneers LCD Soundsystem have decided to stream their new and hugely anticipated new album This Is Happening on their official website, lcdsoundsystem.com, for us all to enjoy before its release in May.
Is this happening? Yes, THIS IS HAPPENING.
Luminous Plectrum has already given the thumbs up to Drunk Girls, the first leaked song from the up-coming LP.
Can James Murphy better the stellar Sound of Silver?
Check it out for yourself here: This Is Happening

Track list:
1. Dance Yrself Clean
2. Drunk Girls
3. One Touch
4. All I Want
5. I Can Change
6. You Wanted A Hit
7. Pow Pow
8. Somebody's Calling Me
9. Home