Yes, every once in awhile those year-end lists are good for something other than epic, never-ending arguments. OK fine probably not on the magazine end of things, but if you’re looking to do some discovery, artist-generated lists are a great way to go. Take Bradford Cox for example. The man not only looks great in a dress, he also knows his shit. He’s a great interviewer, knows how to handle a track review, and was an early champion of the mighty No Age. But all that aside, if you put together an excellent five-point year-end list that includes four from our personal top ten of ’07 (Animal Collective, Dirty Projectors, Liars, Panda Bear) and one we don’t know … we’re gonna seek out that unknown.
And it turns out that group, Brooklyn duo High Places, is really, really good. Not hard to see why Bradford likes it, it’s a little like Atlas Sound looking in a musical mirror (check the shimmery first minute of “Shared Islands,” the darker final minutes of “Cosmonaut”), but it’s far from solely a reflection of Atlas’s aesthetic. There’s something more playful/less dire at heart, carefree melodies with a concerted infusion of pan-global sounds and percussive tics, from Polynesian, polyrhythmic steel drum sounds to laptop-enhanced tribal grooves. Songs like “Sandy Feat,” “Head Spins,” and the aforementioned “Cosmonaut” come off like a tropically situated Cox/Panda Bear cross-pollination, as fronted by the Belle Stars covering “Iko Iko.” And if you hear a little of the Blow’s Khaela Maricich in Mary Pearson coos, pretty sure Khaela does, too. Musicians love their own reflections. Anyway, there’s gonna be a lot of people aping this Lennox-enabled ‘ethereally luminescent melodic psych’ (or whatever we wanna call it) sound that’s swelling, but High Places already cut through the haze. Dig in…
Far as we can tell, there’s a six-song demo and a four-song EP out there, with a full-length on the way. Head to MySpace to grab one more. A nice warm breeze for your wintry holiday mix.
UPDATE: Jeff K. points us to another must-grab track…
Two minutes and out, file in that ELMP pop meets the Belle Stars category and then repeat, often.
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I mean, if you’re read that list by going to pitchfork on your own, you probably have already heard High Places. So, I don’t how much of an “unknown” they would be.
High Places are definitely NOT unknown. They’re one of the most rapidly rising Brooklyn bands, going from opening from some super tiny bands to playing with Black Dice and Lightning Bolt to headlining their own 150+ venues, all in less than a year. They deserve it, too. Though, of course, I can’t help but be just a tad jealous of the press. Hey, at least they give be ups to the Music Inn in the Village.
Now I’m curious, if High Places were new for you guys and you’re based in New York, do you actually go to Brooklyn shows? I seriously want to know. Would you work with a freelancer who does, nightly? Eh? Eh? Hit me up, d00dz (and ch1x, ain’t no hate up in herrrr’).
Oh no! I made a typo in my first post! “Be ups?!?” What was I thinking? My dreams of Stereogum-induced, freelance, show-going fame … destroyed! Internet, what cruel playground are you?
Yes, they have been playing a shit ton of shows in Brooklyn, and Todd P does love them enough to name drop them any chance he gets in an interview. But lets not forget Stereogum does have a national readership. I’d be willing to bet this band is pretty unknown to most people outside of the Brooklyn scene aside from a few curuios souls.
I’m happy they get this solo attention. As far as getting press is concerned they are pretty unknown. So far the only mentions they’ve received on prominent blogs have been as openers for other bands’ shows.
On a side note, they get the vote for best show I’ve ever seen at 7 am in the morning. They played the breakfast party post urban camping at they Citysol festival at Solar One on the East River this past summer. The music bouncing off the hi-rise condos overlooking the FDR was perfect sound-track for a sunrise over the water.
Actually they have an international readership. But I’ve heard of them too.
Well, they are pretty well know for a band with 3 out of print 7″ records and a few comp tracks, but they are definitely UNKNOWN. Unsigned too. Any takers?
They are definitely not PR babies, they are about as honest and sincere as they come. From what I can tell (having only met them a few times), they are totally clueless about the business side of the indie world and their potential. Or they don’t care. Either way it is refreshing and inspiring.
You can get one of their better tracks, “New Grace,” free at the label’s site here:
http://www.mistletone.net/?cat=24
wowowowowow! This is like what I have wanted to hear forever but didn’t exist know it existed yet. Does that make sense?
And they are totally hot! Dude is wearing a friggin’ baja on their myspace, and he actually looks sexy as hell in it! Sorry to get all carnal….
Chris:
That 7 a.m. show totally ruled! Did you do the camping thing, too, or just got for the gig?
Who the heck is going to, or has signed them!?!?!
For the record (no pun intended), the High Place discography, courtesy of last FM research:
6 song demo cd-r (good luck finding this)
4 song 7″ on Casual Rob
2 song picture disc 7″ on Caff/Flick and Reverse Retro
2 songs on a split 7″ w/ Big A Little A
As far as I know everything is out of print except the picture disk, which is maybe still available through mail order.
They are also on some comps, “Groan Zone” on States Rights Records, The Cardboard Records Comp, and the comp on Mistletone Records.
Let me know if there is more.
“Who the heck is going to, or has signed them!?!?!”
They do a lot of stuff with the social reg crew and they wouldn’t be out of place there, but I’m really not sure who (other than themselves) has any rights to put something out. I’m sure there’s plenty of interest, but I can’t imagine them going with any sort of contractual, straight-laced, bankroll signing.
“they are totally hot”
Oh brother, here comes the return of Sassy Magazine’s cute band alert!
At least they are good musically. There are enough silly photo-friendly bands out there, that aren’t that great.
Ok. I admit it, they are cute.
There is a CD-R floating around that has like 40 minutes of music, and I believe, that the 6 song demo isn’t on that. I would shit myself to get a copy of that. Anybody?
Luke,
this is probably too late,
but I did the camping thing too. I’m friends with Jenn Su, and volunteered for the event.
AMAZING!!! New fave band!
Thanks for peeping me to them!
they stayed in my house. lol.
“Lennox-enabled”
They sound nothing like the Eurythmics!
“Lennox-enabled”
They sound nothing like the Eurythmics!
I love this band. They remind me most of beat happening.
I really like their work but after watching them play “live” on pitchfork.tv, I’m almost completely convinced they are faking it. It sounds too exactly as they are on record to have anything to do with what they are drumming. The drumming matches nothing, and I really want to believe they are playing, but as much as I want it to be true, theres no way. The only thing I’ll believe at this point short of them demonstrating their live equipment to me is that they just play their studio recordings and karaoke along to them. Please tell me I’m wrong. This won’t stop me from listening to their music, cause I don’t doubt that they made the originals. As far as live…wtf.
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