‘Tis that time of the week again to bring you another My Four, four tracks hand picked by myself, Mark Sharpley.
PUBLIC SERVICE BROADCASTING
London based electronic duo Public Service Broadcasting are first up this week with the release of their new album, The Race For Space. This is their second album since 2013’s debut, Inform-Educate-Entertain, and as you may have guessed by the actual name of the band, their music contains samples of old public information films, archive footage and propaganda material. Old cinema fanatics may enjoy this album a lot. Available on the Test Card Recordings label, this is the video for, “Gagarin”.
MAT KEARNEY
Coming out of Eugene, Oregon, Mat Kearney is our second choice this week with his new album release, Just Kids. It hasn’t always been about music though, as in Kearney’s early years, he was quite the soccer player. A trip to Nashville soon changed that, and he swapped his shin pads for a Stratocaster. Even during his college years, the rock star in him was present, and it became a bit more clearer to him that a steady hand was more useful with a steady mind. The hard work has paid off, touring with the likes of John Mayer and Keane and having his music featured in TV shows such as NCIS. Not a bad musical C.V. at all. Available on the Republic Records/Inpop Records labels, this is the video for the single, “Heartbeat”.
SCREAMING FEMALES
Third choice is New Brunswick, New Jersey, indie rock outfit Screaming Females, and the release of their new studio album, Rose Mountain. An interesting choice of original band name came when they were in high school and they were known as Surgery On TV. Eventually they settled on being a three piece collective and chose the name of the band they use today. They have also been known to do gigs in the houses of various bands, students and residents so people under the age of 21 can attend. They have toured on a wider scale with the likes of Arctic Monkeys, Dinosaur Jr and Garbage, too. The band has also been described as “one of the best bands on the planet”, so buy the album and, indeed, judge for yourself. Available on the Don Giovanni Records label, this is a cut from album called, “Criminal Image”.
THE AIRBORNE TOXIC EVENT
Finally this week, it’s the turn of Los Angeles indie rockers, The Airborne Toxic Event, and the release of their new album, Dope Machines. Keen book readers would have already noticed that the band name derives from a section in Don DeLillo’s novel, White Noise. But it’s the orchestral arrangements that separate these guys from some of the bands on the indie rock scene, having played gigs with the Louisville Orchestra and the Colorado Symphony Orchestra. Indeed, some of you may be familiar with their 2010 documentary DVD, All I Ever Wanted : Live From Walt Disney Concert Hall. A very significant time for the band as, like all music documentaries, it explored the ongoings within the band’s preparations for the show. It was premiered in Los Angeles and New York, and was also chosen to be shown at London’s Raindance Festival. Pretty good recognition. Available on the Epic Records label, this is the video for, “Wrong”.
That is your lot for this week. Please join us here again next time as we present four more tracks you need to know about. Keep on keeping on…
