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Tomberlin Unveils New draag me Remix of ‘Hours’

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Tomberlin has shared a new remix of her song ‘Hours’ courtesy of draag me, the moniker of the Spirit of the Beehive’s Zack Schwartz. The track originally appeared on Tomberlin’s new Projections EP, which was co-produced by Alex G and Sam Acchione. Check out ‘Hours (draag me Remix)’ below.

“I was excited to try and work on something out of my wheelhouse stylistically and it’s a great song to begin with,” Zack Schwartz said of his remix in a press release. “I just reimagined it playing in a club, with chopped up vocals and subs.”

Sarah Beth Tomberlin added: “Zack from draag me and SPIRIT OF THE BEEHIVE makes some of my favourite music. Last year he released draag me’s first full length, i am gambling with my life and it blew my mind. I couldn’t stop listening to it all winter. I’m really stoked to present to you a draag me / Tomberlin mashup of ‘Hours’. Now I can’t stop listening to this remix on loop. Thanks Zack <3″

Watch Ariana Grande and Thundercat Perform ‘Them Changes’ for Adult Swim

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Ariana Grande joined Thundercat for a live performance of his 2015 hit ‘Them Changes’ during the first day of the Adult Swim Music Festival. Accompanied by Thundercat’s band, the two artists played against an animated backdrop, with Grande singing backing vocals and the whole second verse. Watch the performance below.

Ariana Grande covered ‘Them Changes’ back in 2018 for a BBC Radio 1 Live Lounge session, calling it her “favourite song of the past year and a half”. In a new statement, Thundercat said, “It feels like Ariana and I are forever connected through Mac [Miller], and this is part of the healing process.”

‘Them Changes’ is taken from Thundercat’s 2015 LP The Beyond / Where the Giants Roam. His most recent album, It Is What It Is, came out in April. Ariana Grande recently dropped her fifth studio album, Positions.

Woodlock Present ‘Settle Down’

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Woodlock, an alt-folk trio, have today revealed their latest single ‘Settle Down.’ The song comes before the release of their forthcoming album The Future Of An End which is due to be released on the 26th of February, 2021 via Nettwerk Records.

Their latest ear-pleasing piece will join twelve other tracks by the band. It follows up on their previous six-track EP Collateral, which like the album holds a collection of songs about trauma, faith, and resilience.

‘The Future Of An End’ Track List:

  1. Watchmaker
  2. Feel It Coming
  3. The Future of an End
  4. Settle Down
  5. Start Again
  6. I Think I Know
  7. Only Human
  8. Collateral
  9. Idol (My Old Friend)
  10. Normal
  11. Superhero
  12. In Your Mother’s Arm
  13. Friends

Why Do Adults Like Comic Books?

For the uninitiated, comic books (a shorter version of the graphic novel, and not to be confused with comic strips found in newspapers) might seem to be something children would like. After all, they’re not ‘real’ books (they’re more like picture books), they’re very colourful, and they tend to contain stories about superheroes or magical, mythical beasts. 

Yet the reality is that many more adults read comic books than children do, and many are written specifically with adults in mind. So what is it about these books that are so intriguing to both grown men and women? Read on to find out. 

Escapism

One of the main reasons people love to read comic books is that they offer a chance at escapism. Life can be stressful at times, or it can be boring, or generally unpleasant, and therefore escapism is important once in a while. It means getting away from all the trials and tribulations of real life, and delving into a different space altogether – for some this is comic books. 

The very fact that these stories are not based on real-life means that readers can truly disengage from their issues for a short while and focus on something else. This relaxation of the mind can even mean that, when they do have to face their problems again, they are a little easier to deal with. 

A Hobby

Everyone should have some kind of hobby, and as long as it doesn’t hurt anyone else, that hobby can be anything at all. Reading comic books certainly won’t hurt anyone, and those who enjoy it do get a sense of fulfilment from it. 

Plus, it’s not just comic books. There are movie versions of these stories that are fun to watch as DMG Entertainment’s Dan Mintz explains. There are action figures to collect. There is clothing, bedclothes, posters, soundtracks, and much more. A love of comic books can spawn a wonderful hobby of enjoying and collecting all kinds of memorabilia. Over time, some of these items might even be worth a large sum of money. 

Something For Everyone

Some people will read comic books and enjoy the main story and characters. Others, however, will find a deeper meaning in the pages, perhaps equating the tale to other myths, religious ideas, or scientific endeavours. The fact that there is something for everyone, and you don’t have to have a scientific mind or know the backstories to every character to enjoy the comic book in your hand is unlike many other forms of entertainment. 

Not only that, but the types of comic book available are many, and although the ones that people think of most of all – thanks, again, to movies and other popular culture – are the ones feature superheroes, there are all kinds of different stories from crime to romance to sci-fi and much more. 

They’re Good

Finally, comic books are good. The writing is excellent, the stories are interesting, and the illustrations are impressive, to say the least. It’s no surprise that some adults appreciate the work of art that a comic book is, and all the hard work that goes into it. What’s more of a surprise is that more adults don’t give them a try. They would probably like what they find. 

Top Tips To Choose The Best Phone For You

Are you thinking about buying yourself a new mobile phone? Whether your old phone is in dire need of an upgrade, or you just want something with more bells and whistles, there’s a lot of choices out there when you’re looking for a new phone. When it comes to making the right choice, it can be hard to decide, especially if you’re not the most tech-savvy person. How do you decide what the best option is for you?

There are a few things you should consider when choosing the best phone for you. 

Budget

Phones vary a lot in price, from simple options that are more affordable to pricey options with lots of features. What can you afford? Before you look at any phones, set a budget. This will keep you from accidentally looking at, and really wanting, a phone that you can’t afford. Keep a strict budget in mind when you go shopping and only look at options that fall within that budget to avoid overspending.

Features

How do you use your current phone? If you just make phone calls and send texts, then you don’t need a fancy phone. A basic, and much cheaper, option will do the job. However, if your phone gets heavy use for internet, games, or services like Playphone reviews, you’ll need something faster and with more power, which will cost a little more.

Do you want a phone that is also a great camera? Think carefully about what you actually use your current phone for on a regular basis, and look for new phones that will fit those needs and wants best. This means you can get the best phone within your budget, without having to pay more for a phone with a lot of features that you don’t want or actually use. 

Are there any other phone features that you need? For example, do you need a large screen for a better ability to read small text, or for playing mobile games? Do you need a tough, hard-to-break phone or at least one that comes with a sturdy case if you often work outdoors or are prone to dropping things? 

Looks

The way a phone looks can be an important part of the choice. Some people really don’t care what their phone looks like. If this is you, you can buy a less trendy phone that still has great features, and get a much better price. If looks do matter to you, think about the style you like. 

Mobile phones have changed a lot as trends have shifted. What style do you like best? Do you want something slim and sleek, or do you prefer something a bit chunkier? 

If you like to change your phone case on a regular basis, then it’s a good idea to choose a popular phone, so there are more options for cases available on the market. Some stores stock dozens of case options for certain models of phones, whereas it’s harder to find nice options for less popular models. 

Album Review: Hachiku, ‘I’ll Probably Be Asleep’

Coming from an artist whose music normally comes hand in hand with vague descriptors like “dream pop” and “bedroom pop”, the opening track to Hachiku’s debut studio album seems poised to break away from those associations by presenting something startlingly different: a big, roaring wave of guitar distortion cuts through the air, Hachiku’s dreamy vocals floating above: “Maybe I’ll be up for it/ But I’ll probably be asleep,” she intones, as if stuck in some sort of trance-like state, before blending into an expansive tapestry of instrumentation. There’s a unique sense of ambiguity to Hachiku’s songwriting, which is at once idiosyncratic and sincere; the psychedelic tones never feel perfunctory, instead serving as a gateway into a fractured psyche. “Leave your conscience behind and then cherish the beginning,” she sings, then raises her voice, “Of something that I don’t want to further unfold/ Let it go.”

It’s a mesmerizing introduction to an album that keeps finding new ways to enchant the listener. The project of Melbourne-based artist Anika Ostendorf, Hachiku’s eccentricities are what shine through on I’ll Probably Be Asleep, which remains captivating even when it slides back into textures that are less intricate and ambitious than the lead-off track – also the only song on the record that was made with the full Hachiku band, including guitarist Georgia Smith, bassist Jessie L. Warren, and drummer Simon Reynolds. An otherworldly charm runs through tracks like ‘You’ll Probably Think This Song is About You’ and ‘Dreams of Galapagos’, whose shimmery sonic backdrop brings a tropical vibe to the otherwise intimate arrangements: “In my mind I take you to all the places you want,” she sings on the former, underscoring the escapist fantasies that permeate the album. But there’s also a conversational – and often confrontational – aspect to Hachiku’s lyrics that grounds the project in reality, hinting at the inner conflict between wanting constant change and trying to find comfort in stillness.

It’s clear how Ostendorf’s personal experience has informed the ideas behind the album: she was born in Michigan, grew up in Germany, studied in London, then moved to Melbourne, Australia, where she signed to Courtney Barnett’s Milk! Records. The songs were written between places, and while their solid structure implies a sense of forward motion, I’ll Probably Be Asleep keeps oscillating between resoluteness and self-doubt. ‘Busy Being Boring’ dates back to 2018, when Ostendorf was applying for a partner visa to stay in Australia for two more years, and though the instrumental is dreamy and serene, it’s quickly undercut by Hachiku’s sobering performance. ‘Bridging Visa B’, whose lush sound showcases Hachiku’s artistic growth, is one of the record’s most propulsive cuts, but it also doubles as a commentary on the intrusiveness of the visa application process – and, by extension, the ways in which our freedom and ability to move forward is restricted by social structures beyond our control.

Even when Hachiku is tackling serious subjects, there’s a distinctive quirkiness to her approach, whether it comes through in some of the off-kilter production choices or her often equivocal lyrics. “If you’re like my friend Tushara you might think this song is about oral sex,” Ostendorf has said of ‘Shark Attack’, which is actually about her dog being diagnosed with throat cancer. But even with some of the track’s stranger lines (“You lick my fingers/ Saliva, does it last?”), her emotional devastation still rings through as her quivering voice calls out, “Please don’t leave me.” Closer ‘Murray’s Lullaby’ is marked by a similar kind of emotional honesty, with Hachiku striving to offer reassurance to a partner in a long-distance relationship. Elsewhere, she seeks to instil a more positive mindset on her own self: “Hold on to the truth that you know/ One day you’ll see you’ll have it figured out,” she sings on ‘A Portrait of the Artist as a Woman’. At 34 minutes, I’ll Probably Be Asleep is a bit too short to fully explore that personal journey, but it’s nevertheless an endearing and promising debut from an artist determined to stay true to herself in the midst of uncertainty.

Sigur Rós Unveil Video for New Song ‘Stendur æva’

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Sigur Rós have shared a new song titled ‘Stendur æva’, taken from their upcoming album Odin’s Raven Magic. Recorded with a full choir and symphony orchestra, the new track arrives with an accompanying music video filmed in Paris in September of 2004. Watch it below.

Odin’s Raven Magic, which originally premiered at the Reykjavik Arts Festival in 2002, is set for release on December 4 via Krunk/Warner Classics. The orchestral album was made in collaboration with Maria Huld Markan Sigfúsdóttir, Hilmar Örn Hilmarsson, and Steindór Andersen, and was inspired by one particular chapter of Iceland’s Medieval literary canon known as the Edda, entitled Hrafnagaldur Óðins, or Odin’s Raven Magic. The 8-track LP includes the previously released single ‘Dvergmál’.

Lizzie Reid Previews Debut EP with New Song ‘Always Lovely’

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Glaswegian singer-songwriter Lizzie Reid has announced her debut EP Cubicle, out January 22 via Seven Four Seven Six. Reid recorded the project in March of this year with producer Oli Barton-Wood (Mellah, Nilufer Yanya, Molly Payton) and completed it just days ahead of the UK-wide lockdown. She’s also previewed the EP with a new song called ‘Always Lovely’ – listen to it below.

“This song is about insecurity,” Reid said in a statement about the track. “Feeling like you’re not quite up to it. It’s about obsessing with the idea of perfection and worth – whether that be about your physical appearance, your personality or social identity.”

‘Always Lovely’ follows on from Reid’s recently released single ‘Seamless’, which landed on our Best New Songs segment that week.

Listen to David Bowie and Morrissey’s Cover of T-Rex’s ‘Cosmic Dancer’

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David Bowie and Morissey‘s live cover of T-Rex’s ‘Cosmic Dancer’ has been officially released. Listen to it below.

The pair teamed up for the cover during a show at The Forum in Los Angeles in 1991, and their rendition has been curated online in the two decades since. The track is now available to download digitally as well as on streaming services, while a 7″ vinyl version of the single is set for release on February 19, 2021.

‘Cosmic Dancer’ originally appeared on T. Rex’s 1971 album Electric Warrior. Nick Cave offered his own take on the track earlier this year. Morrissey released his 13th solo studio album I Am Not a Dog On a Chain in March of this year.

Phoebe Bridgers and Maggie Rogers Share Cover of the Goo Goo Dolls’ ‘Iris’

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On November 3, Phoebe Bridgers tweeted that if Donald Trump lost the US presidential election to Joe Biden, she would cover the Goo Goo Dolls’ 1998 single ‘Iris’. The singer-songwriter has now made good on her promise, enlisting Maggie Rogers to join her. Their rendition is available as a pay-what-you-want download on Bandcamp, with proceeds benefitting Fair Fight, a voting-rights and advocacy group led by Stacey Abrams. Check it out below.

Phoebe Bridgers and Maggie Rogers’ version of ‘Iris’ was co-produced by Tony Berg and Bridgers, engineered and mixed by Joseph Lorge, and mastered by Bob Ludwig. It features a guitar section from Bridgers’ touring guitarist Harrison Whitford, Odessa Jorgensen on violin, as well as additional mandolin by Lorge.

Earlier this week, Phoebe Bridgers announced a new EP called Copycat Killerout November 20 via Dead Oceans. The project will feature orchestral re-workings of four tracks from her most recent album Punisher: ‘Kyoto’, ‘Savior Complex’, ‘Chinese Satellite’, and the title track. Last month, Bridgers launched her own label, Saddest Factory, which released Claud’s latest single ‘Cold’.