World Premiere: Wallpaper. feat. Jacob Safari and Kid Static - "Pool Party"

If you're not on this tip about Oakland's Wallpaper. by now, we don't know why we're having to continue to convince you of getting on board immediately. Whether it's endless praise from those that can handle the party (and hell, even some that can't), whether it's turning Twitter into the best vehicle for booty calls in 2009, or whether it's just being the only guys in the room who know how to bring the kids to a sweaty mess of a climax, these bros are the ultimate.

Well, if you're still in the rut of not being on with these boys, let's introduce you to the newest track to come from their camp, "Pool Party", a half-metered electro/reggae jam that finds Ricky and Arjun working with Chicago's Kid Static and Jacob Safari, who serves as the stickman for The Mae Shi. It's July, it's perfect out and Wallpaper. know what that means.

Ricky says of the track:

"Me and Jacob from The Mae Shi had been playing grab ass for a few months about collaborating on some music. He took the first step and sent me this weird glitch reggaeton thing. I was in the studio late on a Saturday night chock-full of Red Bull and self loathing. Wishing I was on top of the Standard Hotel LA getting my ugly dude on. So I wrote "Pool Party."”

Wallpaper.'s debut full length, entitled Doodoo Face, drops September 22.

(mp3)    Wallpaper. feat. Jacob Safari and Kid Static - Pool Party

Godspeed!

Live: Akron/Family announce ridiculously full summer/fall tour

Next week, indie guitar rock kids Akron/Family take to the streets for a long, two-month trek around the US and Canada, supporting their disc Set 'Em Wild, Set 'Em Free, which came out in stores this past May. Stops include the stages of All Points West, ATP NY, 10,000 Lakes, a guest appearance on indie rock radio KCRW's "Morning Becomes Eclectic" and many more.

Dates:

Jul 22 Cleveland, OH Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame  
Jul 23 Detroit Lakes, MN 10,000 Lakes Festival 2009       
Jul 24 Chicago, IL Bottom Lounge      
Jul 25 Calgary, AB Calgary Folk Festival
Jul 26 Calgary, AB Calgary Folk Festival
Jul 2Sep 09 Steamboat Springs, CO Ghost Ranch Saloon
Jul 30 Vail, CO The Sandbar   
Jul 31 Denver, CO Bluebird Theater    
Aug 02 Jersey City, NJ All Points West
Aug 09 New York, NY Other Music Free In-store
Aug 11 Washington, DC Rock & Roll Hotel        
Aug 12 Carrboro, NC Cat's Cradle       
Aug 13 Atlanta, GA E.A.R.L.     
Aug 14 Birmingham, AL Bottletree       
Aug 15 Asheville, NC Grey Eagle Tavern & Music Hall    
Aug 24 Santa Monica, CA Morning Becomes Eclectic (89.9FM KCRW)
Aug 28 San Francisco, CA Outside Lands Music Festival
Aug 29 Los Angeles, CA El Ray Theatre  
Sep 07 Seattle, WA Bumbershoot Festival        
Sep 08 09 Portland, OR Bagdad Theatre      
Sep 10 Baltimore, MD Talking Head Club
Sep 11 Philadelphia, PA Johnny Brenda's        
Sep 12 Monticello, NY All Tomorrow’s Parties New York (ATP)
Sep 14 Hudson, NY Jason's Upstairs
Sep 15 Williamsport, PA Site: B
Sep 16 Ithaca, NY Castaways
Sep 17 Buffalo, NY Mohawk Place
Sep 18 London, ON, Lola Festival
Sep 19 Detroit, MI Magic Stick
Sep 20 Louisville, KY 21C Museum Atrium Gallery

(mp3)    Akron/Family - They Will Appear

Godspeed!

Download: Housse De Racket - "Synthétiseur (The Teenagers remix)"

Tennis-jocking French indie new wavers Housse De Racket have come back to us with a bunch of new news to share and yet another smashing remix of their catchy-as-shit track "Synthétiseur", which just dropped in France last week. Word finally on the street is that August 16 will bring the single to our shores. The boys are currently in the middle of some tour dates of their own, but this October finds them supporting Does It Offend You, Yeah? on their UK tour and a month earlier, they'll be premiering a video for this latest single, which they've teased with its impending radness.

(mp3)    Housse De Racket - Synthétiseur (The Teenagers remix)

Godspeed!

Getting Sassy with...Busy P

We here around THE CULTURE OF ME were once obsessed with all things relating to Sassy and Dirt magazines. And while those titles are long gone, the sentiment of how they covered the culture industries has indeed left its mark on writers and culture vultures everywhere. It is because of that influence that we are proud to present our features post, "Getting Sassy with...", wherein we bring you that much closer to your favorite bands by way of a simple Q&A session that's both painless and informative. Ha! Beat that, FOX News!

This time: Busy P.

(photo by Ysanya Perez)

We don't think there needs to be a big brouhaha about Busy P and what you should know about him as an introduction. Sure, he runs what may be one of Europe's best record labels. And yes, he has his little fingers in everything electro stemming from that side (and maybe a bit on this side) of the Atlantic, with breakneck scheduled sets and surprise appearances, etc. He's also (gasp) a really really down-to-earth person, on the level of a friend to most people he meets and has enough time to chat with. Oh yeah, and he also managed Daft Punk for twelve years. Naturally. We're super excited to have had him spare a few minutes to send a response to us for our questionnaire, where he discusses being forced to play the flute at a young age, Deee-Lite's mixtape perfection and getting into Pink Floyd at an early age, among other things, and cannot wait to see him bang shit out at the Electric Zoo Festival this coming Labor Day weekend at Randall's Island.

Name?
Pedro “Busy P” Winter.

Hometown?
Paris, France.

I now live in:
Paris, in Montmartre, the north side of our lovely city.

Number of states visited?
You mean how many times I’ve visited your country? Whouaa so many times, maybe 50?

My favorite place in my hometown is:
I'm lucky to live in the perfect town. Mixed crowd, artists and crack heads, perfect mix.

Most recent phone bill total?
Ahaha I like this question, something like $500.

Items found in my day-to-day bag (if applicable)?
I got converted into slim jeans; I can't put anything in my pockets now! Just my Crackberry in my ass I’ll say.

First album bought on your own?
Pink Floyd, The Wall, thanks to my older brother.

Favorite song memorized as a child?
"Another Brick In The Wall", sung in a French English way.

When I sing in the shower, it’s usually:
It's usually crap.

The one song that must be on every mixtape is:
Deee-Lite, "What Is Love?"

Last book read?
Something from Michel Houellebecq, a French writer.

Favorite book ever?
My art books, I prefer to watch rather than read.

Favorite thing you bought this year?
Some art for my walls. Scott Campbell, Suzannah Sinclair and more Neckface!

Instruments played (chronologically)?
Piano for a year, flute forced at school!

After the jump, more with Pedro Winter.

Download: Amanda Blank - "Might Like You Better (NEAR DARK remix)"

(photo by Alexander Wagner)

Vocal modulation and pitch-bending is the crucial element here for the curling, haunting remix of Philly hot ticket Amanda Blank's kiss-off "Might Like You Better" from the bleakly-leaning Berliner NEAR DARK. When the beat really kicks in, though, you get a mid-80s synth and bass drum line that would revel right in between Human League B-sides and that one single that everyone knows from J.J. Fad. Wow for reals.

(mp3)    Amanda Blank - Might Like You Better (NEAR DARK remix)

Godspeed!

Download: Mike Genius - "Love Me"

Mike Genius, himself a reputable DJ, producer and person, is also in the massive hyperbole-needed groups Kite In The Air and WZRDZ. Wherever he ends up, it always seems that the music remains top notch and never settling for mediocre. Which, of course, is a good thing, because having your hands in too many pots does not usually a good chef make, right? On "Love Me", the newest track to leak from Genius in his solo iteration, is an ambient-leading, jittery and glitched out affair, rife with bends and breaks, gentle reprieves and swaying, menacing pulses. It reminds us very very very much of the output from one of our favorite 90s electronic production entities, Mike Simpson and John King aka The Dust Brothers.

(mp3)    Mike Genius - Love Me

Godspeed!

Emerging: How I Became The Bomb

If you'll recall the short span of time during which genre melds were happening, where nouveau post-punk was transforming into full-out dancepunk, but BEFORE dancepunk throttled itself to a death and rebirth as electro, angular, jumpy, herky-jerky enthused lads and lasses were making some seriously exciting music. Now, because this wasn't so long ago, we're not chasing dinosaurs here. And when we make references (spot-on 100%, no less) to this band from Rome, Georgia called How I Became The Bomb thoroughly stealing the stencil from groups like Hot Hot Heat or an apolitical Radio 4, everyone is instantly in agreement about what we mean when we're doing it. Everything is an anthem, every second is breathless and fist-pumping and full-steam ahead. How I Became the Bomb are gearing up to release a brand new full-length LP this fall, but before that, they're celebrating the release of 4 digital EPs available on their website and heading out on tour.

Dates:

Aug 06 Knoxville, TN Pilot Light
Aug 07 Chattanooga, TN JJ's Bohemia
Aug 09 Nashville, TN Mercy Lounge
Aug 11 Atlanta, GA 529
Aug 12 Caledonia Lounge
Aug 13 Raleigh, NC Slims Downtown
Aug 14 Richmond, VA Gallery 5
Aug 15 Norfolk, VA Boot
Aug 18 New York, NY Pianos
Aug 19 Brooklyn, NY Union Hall
Aug 20 Philadelphia, PA The Khyber
Aug 21 Richmond, VA Plaza Bowl

(mp3)    How I Became The Bomb - Mothership

Godspeed!

Download: Gary Go - "Engines (A1Bassline remix)"

Here's a peppy monster jam to start your day off all funky, fun and full of promise. If you've never heard the name Gary Go before, let's open your eyes and ears to the singer/songwriter's frothy mix of sunny voice and from-the-heart-no-matter-what lyrics, a penchant for melodrama and an uncanny ability to mix his brand of "pop" for all to swallow. Go has his debut disc out now in the iTunes store full of spot-on production work and handy, generous arrangements. We don't need to say much of London's number one 4/4 club purveyor A1Bassline given his track record, right? It's just another notch in his belt of uncompromising treatments and unflappable talent.

(mp3)    Gary Go - Engines (A1Bassline remix)

Godspeed!

Video: Holy Fuck - "Untitled 1 & 2"

Recorded live outside the WUK venue in Vienna, Austria on a tour stop in April, the guys in Canada indie rock troupe Holy Fuck played and improvised two completely never-before-heard "songs" in their tour bus, modulating sounds and effects and instruments like usual. An amazing experience was had by the filmmakers They Shoot Music and we're super glad that the cameras were rolling. Undulating, rhythmic, untamed, analog.

(mp3)    Holy Fuck - Royal Gregory

Godspeed!

Video: One For The Team - "Ha Ha"

When you're a band setting off to make your first music video, the visual aid to your band's sound/aim/look/profile/idea, you sometimes choose for the bombast. Sometimes, you opt for just a live clip of your band playing--playing very hard. And with feeling. Feeling! Maybe you think that it'd be good to have shot the whole thing while you're recording the song in the studio. Multi-tracking. Overdubs. Getting that snare sound. Just. Right! It's got to be perfect! You can't show too many laughing moments with your bandmates or various close-ups and wide shots of your singer crossing out lines in the lyric sheet. Use that eraser! You need lyric sheets everywhere! Writing this song that you are hearing right now was really hard! Honest!

Not so for Minneapolis, MN indie power pop trio One For The Team. For their first video, of the song "Ha Ha" off the band's Build A Garden EP, the band goes for the jugular. That's right. Their first-ever music video is. About. Bowling!

(mp3)    One For The Team - Best Supporting Actress

Godspeed!