Epitonic Newsletter: Vol. 4, No. 17 'New Music, NXNE, & Other News'
05/03/02
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Before we move onto other matters, we'd just like to draw your attention to the new music that's gone up recently, because we think it's really excellent. Check out a new mix stream from techno DJ Tiga, vintage ragged country-punk from the Mekons, headscratching dance-pop from Cornershop, fascinating orchestral jazz composition from David Axelrod, and much more. Everything featured in this week's playlist has hit Epitonic over the last few weeks.

NXNE
The eight annual North By Northeast music conference descends on Toronto next month, running from June 6 to June 8. More than 400 artists are set to perform at 25 different venues in downtown Toronto, among them Outrageous Cherry, Swearing at Motorists, and the Carnations. Exclusive performances by the likes of De La Soul, Beth Orton, and the Indigo Girls are also scheduled as part of the event's Bonus Conference Series. For the second straight year, the NXNE Film Festival will take place in conjuction with the music conference. Famed rock manager Andrew Loog Oldham, the man credited with discovering the Rolling Stones, will deliver the NXNE keynote address. If you're interested in attending, you can qualify for an early bird discount until May 17.
More info.

V2002
Those of you living in England or planning to be there in August can plan to attend the seventh annual V Festival, to take place over the weekend of August 17 and 18 in Hylands Park, Chelmsford, and Weston Park, Stafford. The lineup will feature Travis, Stereophonics, Badly Drawn Boy, Basement Jaxx, the Beta Band, the Doves, Elbow, Elvis Costello, Groove Armada, Ian Brown, Lamb, Primal Scream, Royksopp, Sigur Ros, Starsailor, Supergrass, and much more.
Tix & Festival info.

WACKY SUMMER TOUR NEWS
Pulp has an interesting summer tour itinerary planned, which will see them perform at numerous UK forests, in an apparent extension of the organic themes the band explored on their great new album, "We Love Life" [More Pulp here]. Meanwhile, those ageless dinosaurs known as the Rolling Stones will be kicking off their summer performance schedule with a typically grandiose flourish, quite literally launching their 40th anniversary tour by flying a plane into a New York park. The Sex Pistols are also threatening to reunite and tour this summer.
David Axelrod
"Big B Plus" by David Axelrod
Producer/composer David Axelrod has been working since the late '50s, helming a number of significant jazz, soul, blues, and rock records. But his iconoclastic solo work, which combines post-war jazz, baroque pop, funk and soul, cabaret, and modern classical sensibilities, is even more compelling. An unheralded great.

Royksopp
"So Easy" by Royksopp
Norwegian duo Royksopp's sultry lounge-house has turned heads the world over. After a couple seven-inch releases on Bergen's Telle, they signed with London's finest, Wall Of Sound.

Miss Kittin & the Hacker
"1982" by Miss Kittin & the Hacker
This dynamite European electro duo splashes you with luscious Eurodisco numbers oozing sensuality and silliness, which seem to carry with them the odor of expensive cologne, designer leather, styling mousse, and recent sex.

Lawnchair Generals
"Sweet Nothing" by Lawnchair Generals
Presumably the kings of summer patio lazing, the Lawnchair Generals are most definitely royalty when it comes to making funky, driving house. Seattle's Viva was the first to spot their talent, watch the rest follow.

Marumari
"Searching For The Sasha Wolf" by Marumari
Marumari's synthy beats bounce along the border between the worlds of pop and abstract music. Following the lead of Boards of Canada, this is "serious" electronic music that will make you bob your head.

The Maxwell Implosion
"L'Homme en Peluche (Interference Mix)" by The Maxwell Implosion
This German DJ and his international stable of assistants sets the laidback, sensual mood for the ultimate hipster's cocktail ball with a swanky signature style that encompasses funk, bossa nova, soul, jazz, downtempo, and more.

Tristeza
"Casio" by Tristeza
Tristeza's instrumental music will lull you into a dreamy trance with its shimmery electronics, then knock you on your ass with its intricate math rock beats. Guitars, keyboards, and drums collide to make a gorgeous riot of sound.

Tommy Guerrero
"Rusty Gears, Lonely Years" by Tommy Guerrero
Pro skater turned rocker Tommy Guerrero is no slouch when it comes to making music either: his jazzy simply constructed Latin- and funk-flavored instrumentals glide along pleasantly just a couple of notches below the speed limit.

Cornershop
"Lessons Learned from Rocky I to Rocky III" by Cornershop
This London-centered group combines sounds and textures in unprecedented but remarkably successful ways. Imagine a place where droning sitars, reggae rhythms, pounding house beats, hip hop textures, roaring rock guitars, and unbelievably catchy pop hooks all sit comfortably side by side. It's called Cornershop.

Ooberman
"Follow the Sun" by Ooberman
Quirky offbeat indie pop with some serious psychedelic folk leanings, sort of like an English Gorky's Zygotic Mynci. Or like laffy taffy in a parallel dimension.

Seaworthy
"The Day" by Seaworthy
Indie-meets-world music pioneer Josh McKay is the longtime leader of Macha. Now he's put together a new project of hypnotic swells and layers.

June of 44
"Escape of the Levitational Trapeze Artist" by June of 44
An underground super group of sorts in which post-rock meets post-punk. June of 44 features intertwining and angular guitars over a second-to-none dub-influenced rhythm section.

Mekons
"Chivalry" by Mekons
From angular anarchic post-punk to lonesome countrified rambling to disco-driven synth pop, the Mekons have made a lot of different kinds of music very well. No matter what genre or style they're working in, their songs are touched by a loose, carefree warmth and acute, poignant lyricism that are undeniably Mekons.

Julie Doiron
"Oh These Walls" by Julie Doiron
Former Eric's Trip's member Julie Doiron will stop you in your tracks with contemplative lyrics that draw a sketch of a troubled heart. Haunting and graceful.