Viva-Radio

What You Need Wednesdays: Cough Cool - 29

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 15:31:01 GMT

Lo-fi pop outfit Cough Cool released their sophomore full length 29 via Bathetic records recently. Like most other Bathetic releases these days, it's a killer, and given that frontman Dan Svizeny has a predilection for only the finest American exports (Ween, baseball, and the Misfits), it's only natural that these influences would coalesce into and end product this good and familiar.

Mostly due to the production, listening to 29 is reminiscent of the Velvet Underground's shoddily recorded La Cave 1968-guitars are indiscernable from keyboards and the vocals rarely rise to the top of the mix, but there's something distinctively poppy below the surface. As background music, it's delicate and airy; as a deep listen, it's rewarding as the melodies come to the forefront of the murk.

Overall, 29 doesn't try to be grandiose or overreaching in it's vision-it's just a collection of 11 solid pop songs, and it's all the better for it.

Check it out for yourself, and stream 29 in its entirety below, and if you like what you hear, grab 29 for $15 here.:

Me + You 125: Free Blood

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 01:32:00 GMT

The decade long and going strong avant-disco trio Free Blood joins us for the 125th episode of Me + You. The band, featuring ex-members of !!!, (and if everything they say in the interview is true, also One Direction) stopped by the studio to chat and to treat us to a set of mostly unreleased jams.

As far as the interview is concerned, things seem fairly highbrow at first-the guys discuss the allure of church hymns (described as "Sabbath before you get to listen to Sabbath") and Reiki classes. However, this soon devolves into Jerry Maguire impressions, revisiting the Austin Powers series, and debating who gets to keep the term "emo-core." I actually don't think the subject of the band's music is ever breached, but that's fine, as these tunes say enough on their own.

Musically, these guys tread a territory similar to Calling Out of Context-era Arthur Russell. All four songs from this session match soulful vocals with laid back, hypnotic arrangements that could only come from a Reiki master himself. Check out the session when it airs today at noon-you'll laugh, you'll dance, you'll start quoting Jerry Maguire again.

What You Need Wednesdays: Radical Children

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 14:21:00 GMT

Dreampop trio, Radical Children, released their first EP "Pristine" this May with the help of Color My Sound recording studio. Influenced by 60's pop and soul as well as house music and Japanese synth-pop, the trio combines many sounds to create danceable, summery tunes. Hailing from Warsaw, Radical Children was recently featured on a compilation by Curious Absurdities, an independent label from Bristol.

Check out Radical Children's live performance of "Time Won't Wait" below and visit their SoundCloud here

Viva Premiere: Candide 'Scaredy Cat' Video

Thu, 06 Jun 2013 17:54:00 GMT

Brooklyn based dark disco band Candide premiere their new video for Scaredy Cat, Directed by Jacob Halajian and take us into the fantasy of a lone girl living in a suburban sprawl. Conceived in Berlin and played in NYC, you can catch Candide at Northside Festival June 14 and headlining Glasslands July 1st.

What You Need Wednesdays: Quita Penas

Wed, 05 Jun 2013 16:31:00 GMT

We figured nothing would cut through the nice thick humid haze outside your door than a nice slice of tropicalia, and today it comes from musical melting pot from Inland Empire, CA called Quita Penas

This octet mixes both African and South American vibes, offering something that's halfway between Jorge and Fela. Samba, salsa, calypso, and afro-beat all intersect each other, with these guys grabbing the best parts of each genre (polyrhythms, intricate melodies) and creating something that's both familiar and original.

Take a musical genre world tour via the band's "Que te Pasa" below:

What You Need Wednesdays: Fat Creeps

Wed, 22 May 2013 03:20:31 GMT

Massachusetts trio Fat Creeps is touring in June and July alongside Philly's Bleeding Rainbow. Together, they make perfect summer tunes for putting your feet up on the coffee table with a fan blowing in your hair. They will be playing at the Mercury Lounge on July 5th. Head over to their website for more info about upcoming shows and their latest releases.

Check out their videos for "Nancy Drew" and "Daydreaming" below.

Naked Fridays 78 - ADULT.

Fri, 17 May 2013 16:26:45 GMT

We're proud to have Detroit dance duo/punctuation entusiasts ADULT. curating our latest episode of Naked Fridays. These two just released an album called The Way Things Fall and to celebrate, they've created a mix of songs that all include the word "fall" somewhere in there.

And just like fall (the season), this mix is here to destroy your summer vibes. Akin to listening to ADULT. themselves, this mix establishes a dark vibe early on and sticks with it, with Killing Joke, Swans, John Carpenter, and of course, the Fall all making an appearance. Regardless of the dark vibes, there's still enough Siouxsie, Depeche Mode, and Thompson Twins to keep your sad, tiny feet a-moving.

Take a listen (and a Prozac) when their episode premieres today at 4 p.m. on Viva Radio.

Tracklist:

John Carpenter - "Excerpt from The Fog: The Whole Place Falls Apart"
The Fall - "Recovery Kit #2"
The Jesus & Mary Chain - "Fall"
Siouxsie & the Banshees - "Party's Fall"
Killing Joke - "The Fall of Because"
PVT - "Nightfall"
Wire - "Free Falling Divisions"
Thompson Twins - "All Fall Out"
Depeche Mode - "The Sun & The Rainfall"
Drexciya - "Neon Falls"
Chris Carter - "Falling"
A Flock of Seagulls - "The Fall"
Swans - "We'll Fall Apart"
Julee Cruise & Angelo Badalamenti - "Falling"
anbb: alva noto & blixa bargeld - "Fall (edit)"
John Carpenter - "Finale/Nightfall"

What You Need Wednesdays: Lazy Magnet - Crystal Cassette

Wed, 15 May 2013 17:46:36 GMT

Lazy Magnet's Jeremy Harris has been doing his thing for over a decade now, somehow releasing quality material by the boatload. That being said, his newest Night People release (released way back in 2012), Crystal Cassette completely slipped under my radar.

In case you missed it too, Crystal Cassette is a beautiful embrace of the cassette's retro format, sheathed in a neon cardstock and packed with 45 minutes of decade-appropriate electronica, dance, and no-wave. As a man who's put out over 20 releases under the Lazy Magnet name, Jeremy himself claims this tape is one of his best, and he pulls out plenty of welcome additions to the LM oeuvre, including female vocals and electric guitars.

Take a step back in time and check out "Do Midi" from the cassette below, and if you like what you hear, order the tape from Night People here.

Me + You 124: Midnight Magic

Mon, 13 May 2013 12:28:00 GMT

Self described love children of Donna Summers and George Clinton, Midnight Magic hails from Brooklyn to bring you electro-disco goodness. For the recording of this episode, the Viva studio was jammed full with 17 people ranging from Leos to Libras and every sign in between. Midnight Magic performed three songs including "Push 4 Love," "Someone's Watching Me," and "Julio" and chatted with us about eating grade A french fries in Miami and their desire to play for Hugh Hefner.

Be sure to check out Midnight Magic, along with Teengirl Fantasy and DJ Dan Selzer this Thursday at Viva's Audiophile event at the Brooklyn Museum! If that isn't enough to convince you to go, you can even get your nails done in between sets. You can also listen to the entire Me + You Pt. 124 interview with exclusive songs right here today at Noon on Viva Radio!

Check the video of Midnight Magic performing "Push 4 Love" below.

Midnight Magic "Push 4 Love" Live @ Viva Radio from Viva Radio on Vimeo.

Photo and Video:Maia Stern
Engineer: Matt Decker

Viva Radio and Brooklyn Museum Present: Audiophile - Teengirl Fantasy with Midnight Magic

Fri, 10 May 2013 14:39:17 GMT

Right on the heels of last month's Ava Luna/Lushlife show comes one more Viva Radio + Brooklyn Museum collaboration. We're hitting you all with a second Audiophile on the 16th of this month at the Museum, this time starring new-age R&B-er's Teengirl Fantasy (do yourself a favor and please visit their website; it's an Angelfire page) alongside disco-revivalists Midnight Magic.

In addition to the bands, DJ Dan Selzer of Pyjamarama will be spinning in between bands and custom nail art will be provided courtesy of the phenomenal Jessica Washick, Eda Levenson, and Ami Vega.

Grab the details below!