Alt-J has won the UK’s prestigious Mercury Prize for their debut album An Awesome Wave. The annual music prize is awarded for the best album from the United Kingdom and Ireland. Past winners include PJ Harvey, Portishead, Pulp, Arctic Monkeys, and The xx. This year’s nominees included albums from Michael Kiwanuka, Ben Howard, Jessie Ware, and The Maccabees.
An Awesome Wave was recently released on September 18th in the United States. The album was previously released in the UK to much acclaim, with BBC Music calling it “strong, addictive and enthralling, the perfect accompaniment to any mood, any moment, anywhere,” The Guardiancalling them, “the most successful new British band of the year,” and The New York Times said the band’s music “is a handsome alloy of dry acoustic timbre and reverberant effect, suggesting a very British convergence of texture-minded electronic music and psychedelic folk.”
The band are also preparing for a short west coast tour this December, including dates in San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego, Portland, and Seattle. For the full itinerary, please see below.
TUE 12/11 – SAN FRANCISCO, CA @ Bottom of The Hill (SOLD OUT)
WED 12/12 – LOS ANGELES, CA @ Fonda Theater
THU 12/13 – SAN DIEGO, CA @ Casbah
SAT 12/15 – PORTLAND, OR @ Star Theater
SUN 12/16 – KANSAS CITY, KS @ Midland Theater w/ Passion Pit
MON 12/17 – SEATTLE, WA @ The Crocodile (SOLD OUT)
Debut Album Inhibition Release on 5/1/12 Pre-sale HERE via ORG Music
After releasing their eponymous debut EP Dot Hacker via Org Music, Los Angeles-based band Dot Hacker announced their first full-length album, Inhibition to come out on May 1st 2012. To show their live set up, Dot Hacker share a video of their single “Order / Disorder” performed live at The Troubadour, on YouTube HERE and Vimeo HERE. The album Inhibition will be available through all major digital outlets, and in stores on CD and vinyl. An exclusive run of 200 copies of limited edition Black, Blue, and White Swirl color vinyl is available for pre-order on the ORG Music site HERE.
The music of Dot Hacker is architectural, built on a foundation of bold, manipulated tones and supported by lush eclectic textures and angular rhythm. The band’s enigmatic sound comes from the collaboration of friends and founding members, Josh Klinghoffer, Clint Walsh, Eric Gardner and Jonathan Hischke.Before forming Dot Hacker in 2008, the four were already established musicians, recording and touring with an impressive list of respected artists including: Beck, Gnarls Barkley, PJ Harvey, Charlotte Gainsbourg, The Butthole Surfers and Broken Bells amongst many others. Klinghoffer, the band’s lead vocalist, also currently plays guitar in the Red Hot Chili Peppers. The band plans to announce more shows in 2012 to support the release of their debut album.
Download “Inhibition” HERE
Dot Hacker Inhibition track listing:
1. Order/Disorder
2. Idleidolidyl
3. Eye Opener
4. Discotheque
5. Be Leaving
6. The Earth Beneath
7. Inhibition
8. The Wit Of The Staircase
9. Quotes
10. Puncture
Ahead of the release of their new album, Wonky (released April 1st), Orbital have released their stunning collaboration with Zola Jesus. New France. The original version of the track is available now from iTunes, and a remix EP will be released on March 19th featuring versions by Tom Middleton, L-Vis 1990 and Hydraulic Dogs which the band have now shared the entire EP on their Soundcloud page.
Orbital
New France EP
Released March 19th
1) New France – Album version
2) New France – Tom Middleton mix
3) New France – L-Vis Mix
4) Straight Sun
Orbital | New France (feat. Zola Jesus)
“Romantically, one could posit this collective pleasure as a middle-aged, virtual reconstruction of the elated sense of community Orbital generated in their ‘90s heyday. From a distance, it smells suspiciously of nostalgia. “Wonky”, though, is much stronger than that. It might be an album that recaptures the voluptuous, saturated melodies and rave epiphanies of the Hartnoll brothers at their peak, but it also proves the enduring flexibility of Orbital’s work. As it turns out, “Wonky” is solid, complex and hugely rewarding.”
- Uncut Magazine
rbital have confirmed they will headline at the following UK festivals this summer:
*Orbital ranks #9 In MixMag’s Greatest Dance Act of All Time Poll 2012*
Event is 6th–9th September Robin Hill Country Park, Isle of Wight www.bestival.net
Undefeated champions of British electronic music, Orbital get back in the ring in 2012 with Wonky, their first new album in eight years, which will be released on April 3rd and was produced by renowned UK producer and knob twiddler Flood (PJ Harvey/Depeche Mode/U2). It will be preceded by single‘New France’ (with Zola Jesus), set for release on March 27th.
Recently reunited following a long sabbatical, Paul and Phil Hartnoll are back on fighting-fit form and ready to reclaim their title as lightheaded lords of the dance arena. Both timeless and contemporary, heartwarming and exhilarating, Wonky puts a vividly modern spin on their signature blend of richly melodic, deeply emotive electronica. Confident, energised and eclectic, Wonky already sounds like the duo’s finest album to date. Gleaming, whooshing, shimmering tracks like ‘Straight Sun’ and ‘Stringy Acid’ instantly tap into the warm-blooded rush and restless bounce of classic Orbital. These are future festival rocking anthems in the making, right up there with vintage live favourites ‘Chime’ and ‘Belfast’.
Los Angeles’ Dot Hacker To Release Debut EP Dot Hacker on February 21st via ORG Music
Listen/download/ the first single “Order/Disorder”HERE
Los Angeles-based band Dot Hacker to release eponymous debut EP on February 21st, followed by first full-length album, Inhibition later in 2012.
The music of Dot Hacker is architectural, built on a foundation of bold, manipulated tones and supported by lush eclectic textures and angular rhythm. The band’s enigmatic sound comes from the collaboration of friends and founding members, Josh Klinghoffer, Clint Walsh, Eric Gardner and Jonathan Hischke.
Before forming Dot Hacker in 2008, the four were already established musicians, recording and touring with an impressive list of respected artists including: Beck, Gnarls Barkley, PJ Harvey, Charlotte Gainsbourg, The Butthole Surfers and Broken Bells amongst many others. Klinghoffer, the band’s lead vocalist, also currently plays guitar in The Red Hot Chili Peppers. The band plans to play shows in 2012 to support the release of their debut album.
Orbital Return In April with ‘Wonky’, 1st New Album in Eight Years
Album features collaborations with Zola Jesus and Lady Leshurr
UK Tour In April, Culminating in Royal Albert Hall Concert
Undefeated champions of British electronic music, Orbital get back in the ring in 2012 with Wonky, their first new album in eight years. Recently reunited following a long sabbatical, Paul and Phil Hartnoll are back on fighting-fit form and ready to reclaim their title. Both timeless and contemporary, Wonky puts a vividly modern spin on their signature blend of richly melodic, deeply emotive electronica.
Confident, energised and eclectic, Wonky already sounds like the duo’s finest album to date. Gleaming, whooshing, shimmering tracks like Straight Sun and Stringy Acid instantly tap into the warm-blooded rush and restless bounce of classic Orbital. These are future festival- rocking anthems in the making, right up there with vintage live favourites Chime and Belfast.
But there are nods to cutting-edge club culture on Wonky too – including a guest appearance by hotly tipped Birmingham grime MC Lady Leshurr on the album’s irresistibly vibrant electro-rap title track. The Hartnolls even give a radical post-dubstep makeover to their much-loved techno-rock classic Satan, reworking it into a razor- backed beast of shuddering bass called Beelzedub.
Like all Orbital albums, Wonky defies narrow-minded caricatures of electronic music as cold and mechanical. Playful humour and warm humanity are woven into its fabric – from the heart-tugging harmonies and woozy vocal layers of Never and Distractions, to the guest appearance by the highly acclaimed LA-based electronic musician Zola Jesus on the brooding, atmospheric epic New France. These are machine-made symphonies to stir the soul and electrify the senses.
“When I’m writing music, if it doesn’t move you emotionally, it’s not working,” Paul explains. “It has to give me butterflies. I have to make myself cry in the studio.”
Formed in the late 1980s, Orbital released a string of classic 1990s singles including Chime, Style, The Box and Satan. Paul and Phil put their partnership on hold in 2004, but a five-year absence only increased demand for their exhilarating music and legendary live shows. The brothers finally announced their comeback with a triumphant headline set at the Big Chill in 2009. Orbital were revitalised, rebooted, reunited – and it felt so good.
The idea for Wonky sprang from Orbital’s rapturously received live comeback. A year of sell-out tours and euphoric festival appearances, including Coachella and Glastonbury, was followed by a further year of globe-trotting DJ sets. This allowed the brothers to road-test the new album in raw form, then make instant adjustments in the studio in response to crowd reactions.
“That was really beneficial to our writing,” Phil says. “Trying out tracks in front of audiences, listening through their ears, getting responses. That’s been a really good string to our bow.”
Wonky was recorded in Orbital’s Brighton home base, then mixed in London with internationally acclaimed producer Mark “Flood” Ellis, whose stellar list of previous collaborators includes PJ Harvey, U2 and Nine Inch Nails.
“I mostly remember Flood from all the electronic stuff like Cabaret Voltaire, Depeche Mode and Renegade Soundwave,” Paul says. “He also has a good structural overview of music, because he’s not just a dance producer, he comes from a more holistic song viewpoint, which is how we like to approach it.”
From the intoxicating energy rush and glistening fanfares of its mighty opening track, One Big Moment, to the restless bounce and optimistic glow of its galloping finale, Where Is It Going, the new Orbital album was designed to follow an emotional and musical “road map” devised by Paul and Phil. Mark Farrow’s sumptuous sleeve artwork reflects this circular narrative. “The whole process of this album has really been a case of the book writing itself,” Paul explains.
Reunited and revitalised, Orbital have come full circle with Wonky. Paul and Phil can hardly wait to unleash the full album in its natural habitat, the live stage. The undefeated champions of British electronic music are back, sounding bigger and better than ever.
“For me these feel like the most enjoyable Orbital times that we’ve ever had,” Phil says. “It’s just getting better and better. It feels like a new beginning.”
Alt-J has won the UK’s prestigious Mercury Prize for their debut album An Awesome Wave. The annual music prize is awarded for the best album from the United Kingdom and Ireland. Past winners include PJ Harvey, Portishead, Pulp, Arctic Monkeys, and The xx. This year’s nominees included albums from Michael Kiwanuka, Ben Howard, Jessie Ware, and The Maccabees.
NEW SINGLE “NEW FRANCE” FEATURING ZOLA JESUS AVAILABLE FOR STREAMING EXCLUSIVELY THROUGH PITCHFORK HERE
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