Micachu & the Shapes-OK

Micachu was one of the first bands I ever blogged about. Her debut Jewellery was ever so mind blowing when I first heard it. A complete deconstruction and rearrangement of what a pop song could be, done with self-crafted instruments and an even more impressive self-crafted sound. Twitchy, off-kilter to a degree that didn't seem possible, and yet still strangely twee at its core as well as being extremely catchy. Then Micachu disappeared, only briefly emerging with a strange live album that the band recorded with an orchestra of sorts. I was worried that the original Micachu would never reemerge.

And to a degree that fear was confirmed with Micachu and the Shapes (her back band that's been with here pretty much since the beginning) releasing "OK" last week. It is a very dark track, pulsating and industrial, punctured occasionally even more mood setting deep sax blasts. "OK" is stripped of most, if not all the childish whimsy that seemed present through out Jewellery, instead replaced with a jaded form of maturity. Yet, at the same time, none of this feels forced or unnatural. Being an artist that prided herself on creating something different, if one had heard Micachu just replicating herself, it might have been greatly disappointing. Instead, Micachu and the Shapes have crafted something new (again), with all the lyrical wit and creativity well in tack.

(mp3) Micachu and the Shapes-OK

Links:

Micachu's Website
Pre-order NEVER (their new album) here, from Rough Trade Records

Spoon to Tour with Deerhunter,Micachu and The Shapes, and The Strange Boys

Possible tour of the year alert! Spoon, who will be releasing their 7th album Transference on January 18 on Merge, of course decided to kick off their upcoming in where else but their home town of Austin. Specifically, for South By Southwest. And they're bring some really fucking great bands with them. Austin's own snotty punk kids The Strange Boys for the first half of the tour, pint-sized electro twichers Micachu and the Shapes for the second half (please come to Austin!), and the legendary shoegaze masters Deerhunter for the whole tour. Get those wallets ready for when you have to buy 100 dollar ticket from a guy outside the club due to the whole tour being sold out.

Spoon Tour Dates:

02-14 Glasgow, Scotland - King Tut's
02-15 Manchester, England - Academy 3
02-16 London, England - Electric Ballroom
02-18 Amsterdam, Netherlands - Paradiso
02-19 Cologne, Germany - Luxor
02-20 Berlin, Germany - Frannz Club
03-17 Austin, TX - Stubbs (NPR SXSW showcase) %
03-18 New Orleans, LA - Republic %@
03-19 Birmingham, AL - Workplay Soundstage %@
03-20 Atlanta, GA - Tabernacle %@
03-22 Washington, DC - 9:30 Club %@
03-23 Washington, DC - 9:30 Club %@
03-24 Richmond, VA - The National %@
03-26 New York, NY - Radio City Music Hall %@
03-27 Boston, MA - House of Blues %@
03-29 Toronto, Ontario - Sound Academy %@
03-30 Royal Oak, MI - Royal Oak Music Theater %@
04-01 Chicago, IL - Aragon Ballroom %^
04-02 Minneapolis, MN - First Avenue %^
04-03 Minneapolis, MN - First Avenue %^
04-05 Denver, CO - Ogden Theater %^
04-06 Denver, CO - Ogden Theater %^
04-07 Salt Lake City, UT - In the Venue %^
04-09 Seattle, WA - Moore Theater %^
04-10 Seattle, WA - Moore Theater %^
04-11 Vancouver, British Columbia - Orpheum Theater %^
04-13 Oakland, CA - Fox Theater %^

% with Deerhunter
@ with the Strange Boys
^ with Micachu and the Shapes

Links:

Spoon Website

Deerhunter Website

Micachu and the Shapes Website
The Strange Boys Myspace

News: The Decemberists Have New Tunes, Micachu is Remixing, and Los Campesinos! collecting

People had problems with the last Decemberists album. And while I can’t understand this, those people can sleep easy because Decemberists still obey their folk-rock roots. Recently they deputed two brand new tunes at the Newport Folk Festive and yes, they sound like classic Decemberists songs. Thanks to You Ain’t No Picasso for getting them/uploading them.

(mp3) The Decemberists-Rox in the Box (via You Ain’t No Picasso)
(mp3) The Decemberists-Down by the Water (via You Ain’t No Picasso)





While less know and reported, Micachu is actually a great DJ. For proof, look at her recent remix of Fool's Gold's "Surprise Hotel". And yes it sounds just as odd and glichy as you think a Micachu remix to sound. In other Micachu remix news, Micachu has posted here second Mixtape. However, she join forces with friend Kwes to make the tape and the result is something very metallic and un-Micachu. You have been warned

(mp3) Fools Gold- Surprise Hotel (Micachu and the Shapes remix) (via Stereogum)

Kwesachu Mixtape Link

Finally I would like to post the second video for the Los Campesinos! singles record box project and yes I do plan to post every video. No info on how to get the box is in this video, but just the band adding a expensive single from seeing the No Deachunter show. Orginal blog post by them here.



Update: The band has posted another video for part of the project. No info yet, just more singles to the box. See original post here.

Bands to Care About: Micachu and the Shapes

One thing we music commenters love to do is pigeon-hole bands. The smaller the hole, the better. However, Micachu (Mica Levi) and here band The Shapes (Mark Pell on drums and Raisa Khan on keyboard and computer) have arrived not only being one of the best bans around, but also one of the most undefinable as well. If you took the songs Heather Lewis did in the Beat Happening and added an electronica coat, you might have an idea of a Micachu song. Quarky, sparse, and utterly creative, it’s incredible the sounds made by a band purposely trying to limit the amount of instruments it uses. The production by Matthew Herbert doesn’t hurt either. Her debut ‘Jewellery’ was finally released on in the States and is highly recommenced. Also a mixtape made by the band can be downloaded here.

Micachu Website

Micachu and The Shapes’ Myspce