Well, 2011. You were quite the year! So much so that I’ve only been able to recover enough to think about you a full week into 2012. Crazy, huh? New jobs, lots of change, oodles of shenanigans, and yes, lots of good music. So much so, that I undoubtedly missed vast quantities of things that I really should have got to. Ho hum.

So what things did Skye like? Blimey. I just looked at the Excel spreadsheet of this year’s releases (see how cool Skye is!), and there’s a lot of stuff on there. However it’s fair to say that I do actually have a favourite record of 2011, despite my general resistance to ranking things. I know, crazy times, huh, maybe the Mayans are right after all.

(Read the article)

A rare treat: Low’s ninth studio LP, C’mon is streaming from Sub Pop and the Graun this week ahead of its release on the 11th and 12th of this month. Recorded in the same Duluth church as 2002′s Trust, it’s a typically brooding release from the band – and it’s typically marvellous, too. The enlistment of Katy Perry, Leona Lewis and Avril Lavigne collaborator Matt Beckley as producer might have been a bit clever too, as there’s maybe just a hint more peppiness buried deep within the record… or maybe I’m hearing that just because I’m too darned happy to he hearing a new Low record.

Low – C’mon (via teh Grauniad/soundcloud/sub pop)

Click through for tour dates and mp3…

(Read the article)

Low – Sea (Live)

Watch ‘Santa’s Coming Over’ here.

Visit Low at their official site.

MP3: Low – Sea (Live)

Low – Just Like Christmas (Live)

Happy Holidays!

Watch ‘Santa’s Coming Over’ here.

Visit Low at their official site.

MP3: Low – Just Like Christmas (Live)

Low – Monkey (Stephin Merritt Mix)

Read my review of Stephin Merritt’s musical (Coraline) here.

Distortion was one of my fave albums of 2008.

Visit Low at their official site.

MP3: Low – Monkey (Stephin Merritt Mix)

Enjoy ‘Santa’s Coming Over’ below. Download a Low track at bottom of post.

MP3: Low – Breaker

Low – California (Live)

Visit Low on MySpace.

Enjoy their Joy Division cover here.

MP3: Low – California (Live)

Low – Transmission (Live)

A stunning Joy Division cover (circa 1996).

Visit Low on MySpace.

MP3: Low – Transmission (Live)

Low – Dinosaur Act (Live @ VPRO)

A stunning take on the tune (dating back to autumn of ’00).

Visit Low at their official site.

MP3: Low – Dinosaur Act (Live @ VPRO)

At Ease explains: *The Daydream Festival (June 12) in Barcelona, Spain is a tribute to Radiohead, with artists which have influenced Radiohead and the other way around. Allegedly, the band even handpicked a number of the acts playing the festival at Parc del Fòrum Auditorium.*

In addition to Radiohead, expect to see:

Bat For Lashes
Low
Clinic
Liars
Modeselektor

Purchase tickets to the event here.

MP3: Low – Breaker