The upcoming album from San Diego beach-punker Wavves (Nathan Williams), titled Wavvves just to confuse you (note the three v’s), was originally due out in February on De Stijl, but ended up getting pushed back to March when it was announced that Fat Possum Records would be handling the release. Lucky for us they decided to drop an early digital release today.

With songs that are at once supremely grating and unbelievably infectious, Williams continues to perfectly unite breezy California pop and feedback-drenched noise on this latest record. Except nearly everything here is even stronger than the material on his self-titled debut, even the interludes of synthed-out cacophony he uses to splice together his power chord driven bedroom-punk. “To the Dregs”, which was one of the tracks Wavves played at his Yours Truly (a Take Away Shows spin off) performance, manages to stand out amongst the excellence of Wavvves, as do a couple other tracks that have been floating around since last year (“So Bored”, “No Hope Kids”). But, let me be clear, on first listen this whole record rules… pick it up now (first 300 buyers get a free 7-inch single).

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Download: Wavves – To the Dregs
Buy: Wavvves is available over at the Fat Possum webstore (free 7-inch) or on iTunes (with bonus track). And for you vinylphiles that would also like that digital copy, you can pre-order the LP at Insound and download the mp3s instantly.
Watch: Check out Wavves performing “To the Dregs” live in San Francisco, courtesy of Yours Truly (plus parts 1 and 2).

Zach Condon, still only in his early twenties, has been reimagining the pure and powerful sounds of gypsy brass bands in an ever evolving set of contexts as Beirut. On 2006′s Gulag Orkestar he constructed what was a pretty convincing imitation with just himself (and enough instruments for a small orchestra), while 2007 saw him expand to a full band line-up on the Lon Gisland EP and later blend his take on Balkan music with additional influence from early 20th century France on The Flying Club Cup. And now for his latest EP, March of the Zapotec, Condon presents us with a batch of bombastic brass-heavy tracks via Oaxaca, Mexico.

Joined by The Jimenez Band, a 19-piece funeral orchestra from a small village in Oaxaca, this exceptionally full release finds Beirut striking at the harmonious middle ground between Eastern European and Mexican musical traditions. The songs here are even more centered on the horn section than previous releases, ranging from bouncy waltzes to breakneck onslaughts of brass. On “La Llorona”, inspired by the traditional tragedy of the same name, Condon briefly settles into his familiar, heartfelt croons before The Jimenez Band opens the floodgates with their towering hooks. The animated video for this track depicts rocky Mexican landscapes, an old village, townfolk, and a traditional band, certainly appropriate for a song that’s as much Morricone as anything else — dramatic, eccentric, emotional, cinematic.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Download: Beirut – La Llorona
Buy: March of the Zapotec is available on iTunes right now, but comes out on CD and vinyl on Feb. 17th.

Along with March of the Zapotec comes Holland, an EP of material billed to an earlier moniker of Zach Condon. As Realpeople he explores the realm of bedroom electro-pop (save for one track of deviation), leaving Holland more comparable to 808s & Heartbreak than Gulag Orkestar or The Flying Club Cup. Maybe not as exciting as Beirut, but definitely still worth checking out.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Download: Realpeople – Venice
Buy: Pick up Holland with March of the Zapotec on iTunes or at Insound.

Peep the album art and full tracklists after the jump.

Continue reading →