5:30PM: Gold Panda

(Ghostly International)
London, England

Gold Panda’s journey has been a long and intermittently strange one. Initially, the Essex, UK artist spent his day-job time behind the counters of various houses of ill repute—adult bookstores, record shops—finding that the two were equally seedy. He spent the rest of his waking hours building up a library of original, dizzyingly eclectic electronic music incorporating a disparate mix of influences and source material. The results were gleaming instrumental hip-hop tracks saturated with bright colors and sublimely chopped-up vocal samples. Thus, Gold Panda was born.

Having built up a sufficient volume of music, Gold Panda began leaking remixes to various labels, blogs, and tastemakers, all of whom instantly took notice. More remixes—for the likes of Little Boots, Telepathe, Bloc Party, Simian Mobile Disco, HEALTH, and The Field—followed.

“Perhaps the most striking thing about Lucky Shiner is how human it sounds. Despite Derwin’s love of the more challenging end of electronic music (“I like glitchy stuff, the idea of things going wrong”), there’s none of the icy emotional distance people tend to associate with electronica or sample-based music.” –The Guardian UK First Album Award

5PM: Beach Fossils

(Captured Tracks)
Brooklyn, NY

The story of Beach Fossils starts with frontman Dustin Payseur writing and recording songs for their debut self-titled LP out of his tiny Brooklyn apartment in the Fall of 2009. His recent move from North Carolina that year had left him with a sense of longing to reconnect with his past and the lush open landscape he left behind. During that year Dustin experimented with innovative methods of self-recording (using a Tascam four-track and Logic Pro) and composing. He drew his inspiration from improvisational jazz, classical and shoegaze artists, such as Anthony Braxton, pre-Stereolab project McCarthy and Giuseppe Tartini. Playing all his own instruments (keyboard, drums, bass, guitar), he soon emerged with a shimmering array of sun drenched pop songs.

Beach Fossils offers warm and inviting melodies that evoke the haunted sounds of another era: straightforward guitar riffs, a kaleidoscope of psychedelic rhythms, and distant, faded vocals all come together to make the perfect soundtrack to an endless summer afternoon.

“Oh, that hook! Immediately familiar, yet impossible to place; a riff so warmly nostalgic it feels classic upon the first listen. Brooklyn’s Beach Fossils make good use of it, putting it right up front, repeated sans vocals, shimmering in its summery glow.” – Pitchfork

4:15PM: Typhoon

(Tender Loving Empire)
Portland, OR

Legends in the Portland, OR, house show scene, the 12 member+ Typhoon, fronted by the heart-rending vocals of songwriter Kyle Morton, craft songs that somehow combine the tenderest of folk with the epic-est of rock.

“And if ever a record deserved multiple release shows, it is Hunger and Thirst, the album that Typhoon fans feared might never happen, and one that surpasses the high expectations the band’s history has thrust upon it. Each song progresses with a steady gait; singer Kyle Morton leads the pack with a voice that bluntly hits a raw nerve, and when the full Typhoon ensemble opens their throats to sing along, the moments become transcendent.” -Portland Mercury

3:30PM: The Bewitched Hands

(Look Mum No Hands / Sony Music Entertainment)
Paris, France

The Bewitched Hands’ music is one of those pretty secrets that pop lovers listen to non-stop when they’re on their own, until they spit it to the world’s face as if it were a miracle solution to salvage the declining record industry and trigger countless orgasms.

There is so much melodic generosity, so much freedom and such sweet backing vocals in those graceful songs that listening to them might well place a silly grin on your face. These nonchalant and luminous songs seem to be coming from a fantasized America, that one would drive through listening to Herman Dune, Cerberus Shoals, the Brian Jonestown Massacre and “Race for the Prize” by the Flaming Lips. Through great incendiary choruses, psychotropic rhythms and addictive melodies, The Bewitched Hands flirt with the lyrical Polyphonic Spree and Ween’s classy “Chocolate & Cheese” period.
by C.Jollard

3:00PM: True Widow

(End Sounds)
Austin, TX

As Dan Phillips’ previous band Slowride (moderately well known in punk and “emo” circles for their pummeling onslaught and lyrical wit) dissolved, the songwriter was slowly taking a different turn. He moved away from his native Texas to Massachusetts to be trained in the old ways of woodworking and for a while there was a question of if he would ever craft another tune. While the cold and solitude certainly had their effect they allowed him to reflect and turn inwards to build something new. Songs started to emerge, but they were not what was expected. The songs that would become the first True Widow material were extremely personal, heavy, melodic, and surprisingly not at breakneck speeds. They left room for the notes and melodies to breathe as the depth of the lyrics slowly seeped in over time. After a year or two Phillips returned to Dallas, Texas where True Widow first formed. The band which now also consists of co-vocalist and bassist Nicole Estill and drummer Timothy Starks were aiming to do something entirely different from their peers.

“Records like this come along so rarely. The sort of record that immediately reveals itself as something so more then just another disc to add to your collection, …. The second we heard this, we knew we had to hear more, and hear it over and over and over again…. We originally expected this to be metal, maybe some sort of heavy post rock metal hybrid, and while it is heavy, it’s way more indie rock, or maybe slowcore, more like some haunting mix of the two, the guitars are thick and distorted, but not metallic, and they drift into slow drifting creeps as easily as they do pounding majestic roars. Other reviewers have described True Widow as ‘sonic noir’ and ‘stonegaze’, both of which are fairly appropriate, it’s definitely dark and moody, certainly shoegazey, and a little bit stonery, but it’s really just some sort of perfect gloomy heavy postrock. We hear Codeine, Low, Seam, the vibe is laid back and disaffected, weary and washed out, but still somehow completely rocking. ” – Aquarius Records

2:30PM: Aphasia

(White Wabbit)
Taipei, Taiwan

Aphasia, previously known as Nipples, formed in the late 90’s, Nipples is one of the well-established bands in Taiwan’s indie rock scene. Leading by Yi-Jyun Wu (Guitar) and KK (Bass), Nipples is well known for its provocative sound and aggressive social attitude. Combined with the other brilliant guitarist Su, the two-guitar setup creates huge feedback and distortion, and its intertwined structure builds up angular soundscapes and rough textures; that’s the reason why Aphasia is sometimes compared to Sonic Youth and other guitar-heavy bands.

Their latest effort, “The Crocodile Society of Aphasia,” which was completed with production help from notable US indie rock engineers JJ Golden and Andy Baker of Japancakes, takes the listener on a sonic walk through the day in the life of a Taipei resident. The album is distributed by Arts & Crafts in North America.

Aphasia been hard at work penning material for the follow-up to The Crocodile Society Of Aphasia. They plan to issue the recording this year through KK’s White Wabbit Records imprint. They want to further expand and develop the well-crafted balance of lush soundscapes and noisy guitars showcased on The Crocodile Society Of Aphasia.

“I’m not a betting man, but I don’t feel like I’m going out on a limb in predicting that fans of Explosions In The Sky, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Mono and the more dilettantish leanings of Sonic Youth will find that Aphasia sets their tails wagging.” – My Old Kentucky Blog

1:45PM: Weekend

(Slumberland)
San Francisco, CA

Within a grainy film-still between a summer sunset and the end of times lies the post-punk squall of Weekend. Weekend filter the aggression, tempo and sneer of punk through a wall of reverb, haunting melody, feedback and primitive garage guitar. Formed in San Francisco in late 2009, the band have quickly developed a totally distinctive take on the history of noise rock. Combining noisy guitars, pounding rhythms and dark post-punk vibes in fresh ways isn’t easy, but Weekend somehow make it look like it is.

Their new album Sports is one of the most assured debuts in recent memory, full of rumbling rhythms, layers of LOUD guitars and most of all great songs that pay special attention to texture and atmosphere, and leaven even the most riotous moments with unexpected shards of melody. “Coma Summer” kicks things off in stunning fashion, an epic slice of noise/gaze that stands tall with No Age’s best power-drone. “Youth Haunts” is a new version of a tune from their long sold-out 10″ single on Mexican Summer and shows off the band’s darker, more tribal side. “Monday Morning” is a dreamy noisescape, a perfect lead-in to the driving, punky “Monongah, WV,” which is blessed with a chorus melody a lot of straight pop bands would kill for.

1:15PM: Fredrik

(The Kora Records)
Malmö, Sweden

Swedish electro-folk three-piece Fredrik return with a follow-up to their 2010 sophomore album Trilogi. Recorded in their ramshackle garden studio last summer, Flora marks a departure from the wintry moods of the band’s first two outings. According to Fredrik, flower season is anything but limonades and hammocks. The music paints a vision of summer as the darkness beneath, a busy, feverish, sprawling organic chaos. The three members build songs from dense, wavering textures of voice, strings, brass and twinkly home-made folk instruments, all couched on top of a smattering of haywire orchestral drums and swirly electronics. In keeping with all their previous work, there’s the attention to detail, the unfailing knack for melody-making and the misadventures in hyper-soprano singing, not to mention Fredrik Hultin’s restful, abstract storytelling.

“Hailing from Malmo, Sweden, Fredrik makes music with just the right mix of light and darkness: It’s quirky but elegant, spare but rich.” – NPR Music

12:45PM: Queen Sea Big Shark

(Modern Sky)
Beijing, China

Queen Sea Big Shark (后海大鲨鱼) are a Beijing based dance-rock/electro band. The group consists of lead singer/keyboardist/wild woman Fu Han (付菡), guitarist Cao Pu (曹璞), bassist Wang Jinghan (王静涵), and drummer Xiao Wu (小武). Formed in 2005, the band is arguably China’s most recognizable band – having been featured in massive campaigns for Converse, Diesel, and Dell Computers. They released their debut, self-titled album in 2007 under the Modern Sky label.

QSBS regularly headline major festivals throughout China, and have supported Western acts including the Yeah Yeah Yeahs (in Beijing and San Francisco), Maximo Park, and others. In 2009, they embarked on a tour of the U.S. – the “Sing for China Tour” – also featuring Chinese bands Hedgehog and Casino Demon.

QSBS recently released and are currently touring around their well-received second album, Wave. Lead singer, Fu Han, known for her chaotic and mesmerizing stage presence, won Best Female Vocal Performance at the 2010 Midi Awards.

12:20PM: Geographer

(Tricycle Records)
San Francisco, CA

After the unexpected deaths of his sister and father, Geographer founder Michael Deni left his hometown in New Jersey for San Francisco. He spent the next several months with his guitar and a synthesizer he found on the street, turning the tragedy that drove him from home into songs rich with emotion and lush melodies. After the additions of cellist Nathan Blaz (previously in St. Vincent, on Sufjan Stevens’ Asthmatic Kitty label) and drummer Brian Ostreicher, Geographer spent the next year playing clubs around the Bay Area, crafting their songs into the driving, heart-pounding epics that make up Innocent Ghosts. Deni’s angelic vocals soar above thumping dance tunes with highs and lows that are simple and beautiful in their delivery. Recently named a “Pop Artist to Watch in 2011″, Geographer is poised on the brink of becoming one of the most exciting newcomers in Indie music.

12PM: Withered Hand

(Absolutely Kosher)
Edinburgh, Scotland

Inspiration is often spoken of in terms of altitude, but for some, like Withered Hand’s Dan Willson, a little help is needed to even find the foot of the mountain to climb. Painfully shy and anxious through childhood that his voice was too high, Willson didn’t start singing until his late twenties. By then, he was married and living in Edinburgh, Scotland, a listless visual artist and rock tinkerer who was afraid of microphones. He faced down this fear as the lead shouter in a short-lived art rock outfit with his best friend, acquiring a reputation for his way with words. Then, when his children were born, like many new parents, he took time out, worked hard and seriously considered selling his electric guitars and concentrating on art as a future creative outlet. Rather than let this happen, his wife and friends chipped in and bought him an acoustic guitar for his 30th birthday, a gesture that inadvertently led to a huge change in his writing approach. Willson says, “It’s a very quiet guitar, not quite full size, very light tone, so I can sing over it without shouting too much. I started writing these very simple quiet songs concerned with communicating truths. Songs I could play at home without waking the children.” The nascent Withered Hand gently slipped into existence.

Shortly thereafter, Withered Hand recorded and released the first of several lo-fi EP’s. These early releases showed Willson’s lyricism and tremendous command over fragile melodies and earned attention from cult American producer Kramer (Galaxie 500, Low, Daniel Johnston), who first contacted Willson several years ago and offered to record his debut album. The Scottish Arts Council, who had previously funded the debuts of Belle and Sebastian and Snow Patrol, eagerly funded his debut.

The album was released in the UK in late 2009 and without any coordinated publicity or promotional effort, Withered Hand has been gathering critical acclaim from all corners via word of mouth. To wit, MOJO magazine’s four star review of the album came out eight months (!) after its release. Withered Hand has garnered some rather public endorsements from the likes of Jarvis Cocker, The Dodos and Frightened Rabbit. All of this attention has led to festival invitations, a successful European tour and regular sold out shows in London and Scotland alike. Absolutely Kosher is proud to present this landmark record for the Western Hemisphere.