Rock Plaza Central

Rock Plaza Central first came to my attention with their last album, 2006's Are We Not Horses - an amazing concept album about being resurrected as a Steel Horse, witnessing an apocalyptic battle between humans and angels, ending with a realisation you've picked the wrong side. At least that's what I think it's on about. 

They are of course Canadian, and are a many membered beast - although as far as I can tell don't seem to share members with any other notable bands. They sound Canadian, with a heavy dose of 'influence' from the Elephant 6 way of thinking. The new album …At The Moment Of Our Most Needing Or If Only They Could Turn Around, They Would Know They Weren't Alone, seems to indivualise their sound even more, with an even greater array of instruments at their disposal. Unfortunately this new album is only released in USA & Canada at the moment, but I'm pleased to have found it on Spotify today:

SPOTIFY ---> Rock Plaza Central - …At The Moment Of Our Most Needing Or If Only They Could Turn Around, They Would Know They Weren't Alone

RPC seem to exist outside of the modern structure of bands, Are We Not Horses was released without a record label, alongside ring leader Chris Eaton's literary 'career' with 2 books published. The Inactivist is witty look at activism and capitalism, while The Grammar Architect is supposedly a re-telling of Hardy's A Pair Of Blue Eyes which I've yet to crack open. 

I cannot lay claim to their discovery, as it's one of those bands my father managed to pick out from nowhere. And grateful I am too! They had a UK tour lined up last July, but postponed to finish the latest album. Hopefully they will put sometime aside for us in the future

MYSPACE ---> Rock Plaza Central

DAYTROTTER SESSION (April 2007) ---> Rock Plaza Central

Soundtrack to this post: Phoenix / Royksopp

SXSW & other bands

I quite enjoyed last week - vicariously living SXSW through other people's Twitters. It was a shame not to be out there, and some day I hope to go back (Forward Russia played a vintage year with Duels, The Research & The Cribs in 2006), and have a Tequila marinated Salmon at the Iron Cactus while sipping on a Mojito....

Anyway, it was an interesting portal to proceedings, and I discovered the following bands / things:

1) THE COATHANGERS

Twice a day someone seemed to be seeing this band play somewhere. Funnily enough, pretty reminscent of a few of the ace Rough Trade bands, like YMG or Raincoats. But I'm being a bit crap cos there's girl singers and funky(ish) basslines

The Coathangers' Myspace

2) LOCAL NATIVES

Like a more direct, less ethereal Fleet Foxes. Intriguing to say the least...

MP3's ---> Local Natives @ Daytrotter Sessions

Local Natives' Myspace

3) MOSHI MOSHI RECORDS SAW MORE BANDS THAN ANYONE... EVER

Moshi Moshi Records

The world outside Austin, TX didn't stop. Back in the UK, people were astonished by THE HORRORS new Portishead/Kraut-rock inspired track Sea Within A Sea. It's not that suprising when you learn the album is produced by Portishead's Geoff Barrow, but that doesn't make the track (and accompanying video) any less good. 

They played a secret gig in London last night to preview more material, which has heralded many an NME hack to laud them as the best band in the world (again)

The Horrors website feat. Sea Within A Sea video

HearYouMe3 blog

Finally, check out:

SWAN LAKE, Canadian indie super-group (aren't they all), feat members of Frog Eyes, Wolf Parade, Sunset Rubdown, Destroyer, New Pornographers (and there's only 3 members!). 

MP3's ----> Swan Lake @ Jagjaguwar

Swan Lake Myspace

PHOENIX - French maestro's I've loved long time, since the first time I heard Too Young. No with new management, and already booked to appear on the Late Show in the US, new album Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix could do it a bit

MP3 ---> Phoenix - 1901 @ RCRDLBL.com

Soundtrack to this post: Abe Vigoda, Passion Pit, ANthony & The Johnsons