Tyondai Braxton (guitar, keyboards, vocals in Battles) is set to release his solo album Central Market on Warp on 14th September.Uffe's Woodshop is the first track we have heard from Central Market and features vocals/whistling, kazoos, violins, violas, synths, electronics, piano, 6 guitars, bass and drums/percussion. the track sounds like battles but with a much more jazzy orchestral feel to it, it makes me think of "peter and the wolf" for some reason, in any event I'm very looking forward to Central Market.



Pre-order Central Market at Bleep.com
Tyondai Braxton - Facebook

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So after all the talk and the hoo-hah and the scumbags and the line-up announcements and the pictures of burning tents and the hating and the rain and the mud and more talk and hoo-hah, Oxegen has rolled around again, boasting what is probably the best line-up of all European festivals. Those of you who have been there before and have been to any other festival other than it too can attest that as far as things-to-do is concerned Oxegen is severely lacking but nobody can argue with the quality line-up showcasing some of the best that music is offering at the moment.

Most of you are already down there but its not too late and perhaps this post will show you what it is you're missing. In the read more we've picked what we think is the best of the weekend. Three categories of Acts that can't be missed, Acts worth checking out and Irish acts to see (this will not include the 4 way power-house of Irish mediocrity that is the Friday night line-up in the Green Room. Sawdoctors, Aslan, Mundy, Bell X1, Shudder).




Top 5 Acts That Can't Be Missed

1. Justice
Clashing with the Prodigy should prove no problem for the new saviours of Dance, who are sure to finish off Saturday night by getting the crowd grooving to their funky next-level-Daft-Punk sounds.

Justice - D.A.N.C.E.


2. Battles
How many times do we have to tell you to check this band out? Hopefully this should be the last.

Battles - Tij


3. Aphex Twin

Richard D James returns from wherever the hell he's been to wow us hell. Or scare the shit out of us if he wears one of the masks from the Come to Daddy video.

Aphex Twin - Window Licker



4. The Music
Vastly vastly underrated Dance-Rock band. Pissed no doubt at Kasabian stealing their style and doing a giant shit on it.

The Music - Getaway

5. Rage Against The Machine

The "Angriest band in the World"(TM) return to entice folks to crack some (hopfully scumbag) skulls in the mosh pit. Prepar to scream "Fuck" very very loudly.

Rage Against the Machine - Take the Power Back

Top 5 Acts Worth Checking Out


1. Holy Fuck

Canadian dancey types prove that they're not just a funny name.

Holy Fuck - Lovely Allen


2. Friendly Fires


More fans of the 80's. Uk Three-piece make frantic electro tuneage.

Friendly Fires - Lovesick


3. Jaguar Love
US Synth drive squawky types cause confusion as to gender of singer. Fans of Blood Brothers will be used to this. Awesome.

Jaguar Love - Highways of Gold



4. Yeasayer


Self-described as "Enya with bounce" but don't let that turn you off. I happen to love Enya so I'm already erect.

Yeasayer - Wait for the Summer


5. Does it Offend You Yeah?

Uk Dance types who can't decide exactly what style they want to be but are awesome at each one they try.

Does if Offend You Yeah? - We Are Rockstars



Top 5 Irish Acts To See
(this could easily have been a top 10)

1. Crayonsmith


Fresh from US tour dublin souls return for what will hopefully be gigs of awesomeness.

Crayonsmith -6Am Again



2. God is an Astronaut

With a live set thats never been captured completely on record, God is... are visually and sonically stunning.


God is an Astronaut - All is Violent, All is Bright



3. Dry County
Indie-electro darlings with the un-enviable challenge of playing at the same time as Rage Against the Machine which is a shame because this gig will be their last under this moniker apparently.


4. Halves

Dublin types throw up dreamy post-rock to help pill heads come down.

Halves - Medals



5. Fight Like Apes
Ireland's bright new shouty hopes take to Oxegen after two GLastonbury shows broadcast on BBC.


Fight Like Apes - Lend Me Your Face

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U:Mack continue their path of bringing excellent music to the country at an affordable price. The fact that they have managed to somehow get around the monopoly created by other prickish organisations is commendable indeed and the fact that they've managed to get three awesome bands together in one venue warms the cockles of my cold heart.

Click on the read more for analysis of each.





It didn't make things any easier for the later bands that the most enjoyable part of the night for me was the opening act Chrome Hoof. Filling in for Liars who just had to run off and support Radiohead on their U.S. tour, the Hoof put on one of those performances that make you stare hard with jaw dropped and a puzzled but pleasured expression on your face. Its hard to describe exactly what it is that I saw on that stage but its certainly something that isn't for everyone. Not everybody will dig their combination of funk/punk/post-rock/electro/metal but those people are all fucked up in their mind-thoughts. Won't be missing these punters again.



It unfortunate that The Redneck Manifesto had to follow the Hoof because as good as they are (and they are very very good)- it isn't the first time I've seen them, so the surprise element isn't there. That being said they put on as great a show as they always do.



Despite the fact that this is probably about the 5th time in the last 18 months that Battles have played Dublin its still the first time I've had the pleasure of checking them out. Even after playing "Mirrored" to death all the songs they crack out seem as fresh as the the first time that I heard them. Its hard to believe that 4 men can make that kind of chaotic yet beautiful noise but they manage it. There were a few complaints from those accompanying me that perhaps they shouldn't have played their more recognisable songs like "Tonto" and "Atlas" so early on in the set but to those folks I say "Why should they pander to your preconceptions? They're Battles. They can do whatever the fuck they want".

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This weeks hangover mix comes from Arthur de La Grandiere of the French trio papier tigre.
the mix is a little different then others as it slaps you in the face (urging you to snap out of your hangover) and soothing you back before slapping you again , download and see what i mean.

tracklisting
1. It's like fucking a napkin full of toenails -American Heritage
2. A dog's life - Nina Nastasia
3. Drinking at the dam - Smog
4. Aotkpta - The Locust
5. Big city secret - Joseph Arthur
6. Bellamy Straat Straat - Britta Persson
7. Horse - Adebisi Shank
8. Peacebone - Animal Collective
9. Cigarette girl from the future - Beauty Pill
10. Race Out - Battles
download
Some really amazing tunes on this , dont let the heavier songs put you off,


Go to papier tigre myspace page where they have two new songs up for your listening pleasure and you can also buy their cds there through pay pal. I totally recommend their last cd.

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U:mack have announced a replacement for the Battles & Red Neck Manifesto gig on May 15 and that replacement is the mighty Chrome Hoof.

Anyone who saw Chrome Hoof in Whelans last month will know what a show they put on, and that they really are not to be missed.


U:MACK
Present
BATTLES
CHROME HOOF
THE REDNECK MANIFESTO
THURSDAY MAY 15
VICAR STREET
DOORS 7pm
TICKETS €27 FROM ROAD RECORDS, CITY DISCS, SOUND
CELLAR, SPINDIZZY & ONLINE AT www. tickets. ie/umack

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Dirty Projectors have been added to Battles and Fuck Buttons ATP show in London on the 14th of May as replacement to Liars ,this show is a day before the U:mack gig in Vicar street with battles and Redneck manifesto that Liars pulled out of.
mmmmm will U:mack bring Dirty Projectors over too ?
who do you think U:mack should get to fill the slot ???

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LIARS have pulled out of both their ATP related performances this May, firstly at the London Astoria show on the 14th May featuring BATTLES and FUCK BUTTONS, and also their position on the lineup of the Explosions in The Sky ATP festival. This is due to them securing the main support slot for Radiohead's forthcoming American tour which starts on the 5th of May.
Things are not looking well for their gig in vicar street with battles and redneck manifesto on the 15th of May but that said even with out LIARS the line up of battles and redneck manifesto is still an awesome one. Will keep you informed as i find out more

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Woh the gigs are coming thick and fast over the next couple of month and May in particular is shaping up to be packed to the gills. To try and keep our pudginess down im going to post a link to vids instead of post the vids in a hope of keeping out bandwidth down. without further a do some class up coming gigs.


Le Loup Thu 21 February Crawdaddy
Le Loup is an American indie band founded in late 2006 in Washington, D.C. by Sam Simkoff (keyboard/banjo). The band also includes Christian Ervin (computer), Michael Ferguson (guitar), Nicole Keenan (keyboard/French horn), Dan Ryan (bass), Robert Sahm (drums), May Tabol (guitar) and Jim Thomson (guitar). The group has drawn comparisons to Sufjan Stevens, The Arcade Fire, The Books and Animal Collective.

le loup "i had a dream i died"


Menomena February 29 The sugar club
Menomena are an experimental rock band from Portland, Oregon, made up of Brent Knopf on guitar, keyboards, glockenspiel; Justin Harris on bass, guitar, baritone sax and alto sax; and Danny Seim on percussion. All members of the band share singing duties.

Menomena - Rotten Hell



Ballroom #74: Kling Klang (Rock Action) Friday, 28 March in the Lower deck.
Kling Klang are a five piece kraut-punk band from Liverpool, consisting of four synth players and a drummer.Formed in mid 1999, as a 3 piece using only cheap synths and old drum machines, in 2001 they became a 5-piece outfit
click herehere to see there video for there awesome tune Heavydale
been dieing to see theses guys live so im mega physed about this and its in the lower deck too happy days.

Foggy Notions Presents: Deerhunter Thursday, 08 May Whelans
Deerhunter began in 2001 with the ambition of fusing the lulling hypnotic states induced by ambient and minimalist music with the klang and propulsion of garage rock.Their live performances almost always leave audiences polarized, and have been referred to by Karen O of Yeah Yeah Yeahs in NME as bordering on "a religious experience."

Deerhunter "Lake Somerset"

Foggy Notions Presents: Health Friday, 09 May Whelans
HEALTH are an American noise rock band from Los Angeles, California. HEALTH have been described as having "artfully crafted noise and raw synth, haunting monotone vocals, and drum skills that are borderline insane

Health - "Heaven"


Foggy Notions Presents: Man Man Sunday, 11 May Whelans
Based out of Philadelphia, PA, Man Man is an experimental indie band that incorporates Eastern European and circus-esque styles in their music, creating a unique sound. The band consists of Honus Honus (lead vocals, piano, organ, persussion), Pow Pow (drums and other various percussions), Cougar (trumpet, guitar, percussion), Sergei Sogay (bass, synths, percussion), and Chang Wang(sax, percussion).

Their style has been compared to a mixture of Tom Waits, Frank Zappa, and Captain Beefheart. Man Man is known for their distinctive live shows where the members of the band dress in white tennis outfits and don war paint. During their sets the band does not take breaks between songs in order to keep a constant energy level

Man Man - Feathers and Engrish Bwudd (Live)


Yeasayer Tue 13 May Whelans
Yeasayer (pronounced "yay-sayer") takes place in the future, somewhere in the Middle East where citizens wear turquoise robes, live in crystal towers, and overindulge on Peter Gabriel albums.

Yeasayer- 2080


Marnie Stern 16th May new upstairs room in Whelans
released one of my favorite albums of last year shes just amazing and very easy on the eyes.

Marnie Stern "Every Single Line Means Something"


FOREVER Presents: Ween Saturday, 17 May The Village
what can i say about Ween apart from go see

Ween - Baby Bitch


there a few more gigs coming up i just cant find any info on them at the moment so no kids, the ex and jandek are all playing dublin in the next couple of weeks i just dont know where or when as of yet when i find out you will know.

The Redneck manifesto have been add to the Battles/liars gig in Vicar street on May 15.
And bats Tomorrow for free in tower records at 3


and of course the sugarlips gig in the boom boom room click here to find out more

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Even if your not going to either of the ATP this year (dont know what im talking about check the both line up here and here) you will still be reaping the benefits , two more acts from ATP are going to be stopping off on our shores on there way to ATP. The bands Battles and Liars. yup both of them are playing vicar street on Thursday May 15. Both bands are great and a must see live band.

LIARS - Let's Not Wrestle Mt. Heart Attack



Battles - Atlas


People won't be people when they hear this sound
That's been glowing in the dark at the edge of town
People won't be people, no
The people won't be people when they hear this sound
Won't you show me what begins at the edge of town

The singer is a crook
The singer is a crook
The singer is a crook
The singer is a crook
The kitchen is the cook
The scissors are the barbers
The singer is a crook
The chorus, full of actors

check out this old article from the onion , and have a look at who is the temp
click here

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Ste kept playing 'Mirrored' this weekend so now it's all I want to hear. So lets make Battles the band of the week this week. Here are various videos that have been causing a stir online recently by being exceedingly good & the mp3s to go with em.

Tonto:



Wow Fucking wow fuck

Click me for mp3.

Atlas (live on Jools Holland):



Click me for mp3.


Battles' debut album 'Mirrored' is out now and kickass. Check it out.

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