In our Moving Units column, Mike Ramirez at Fort Lauderdale's Radio-Active Records graciously keeps us up-to-date and comments on the current releases flying out of his store each week.
The intrigue of the week: Esben and the Witch is an English trio (featuring no one named Esben) ready to cast spells on an American audience with its debut Matador Records release, the "Marching Song" single. Behind the vocal heft of Rachel Davies, the dour track's accompanying video (below) shows each member's face slowly evolving into a beaten, bloody pulp. It's a chilling aperitif for a debut full-length early next year titled Violet Cries.
Radio-Active Records' Top 5 Releases for October 19-25:
1. Kings of Leon - Come Around Sundown (RCA). "We have to say thanks for the nod from the latest Kings of Leon album
(lead-off single is called "Radioactive"). Other than that, there's not
much else here going on that would differentiate this album from U2's
last three efforts. Maybe the Irish accent. Stadium-ready, Dad-tested,
radio-approved!"
2. Bob Dylan - The Witmark Demos 1962-1964 (Columbia). "Bob Dylan's early demos are finally available, in all full mono glory."
3. Squarepusher - Shobaleader One: d'Demonstrator (Warp).
4. Pantha Du Prince - Lay in a Shimmer EP (Rough Trade). "Pantha Du Prince's new 12-inch offers an exclusive remix plus two nonalbum tracks."
5. Esben and the Witch - "Marching Song" single (Matador).
Which albums will we be discussing next week?
"Next week, check the radar for the debut full-length from Warpaint, The Fool (Rough Trade). This is Radio-Active recommended! Also:
Roots Manuva's Duppy Writer (Big Dada), Avey Tare's Down There (Paw Tracks), Bryan Ferry's Olympia (Astralwerks), Scissor Sisters' Invisible Light (Boysnoize), Small Black's New Chain (Jagjaguwar), Andrew Bird's Useless Creatures (Fat Possum), Earth's A Bureaucratic Desire for Extra-Capsular Extraction (Southern Lord),
and more!
