[Interview] Breton Singer Roman Rappak Details Debut Album, Speaks In Multimedia Languages

photo credit: The Fader

What started as a simple solution to showcase their short films in a unique way quickly turned into what we listen to, watch and experience as London five-piece Breton. Lead singer Roman Rappak was kind enough to take a few minutes to duck into another section of their abandoned bank turned studio and home known as BretonLABS to chat with Some Kind of Awesome as he and his bandmates were making their final preparations before heading to Austin, TX for a week's worth of shows at SXSW and their first headlining performance at Mercury Lounge in New York City. With their debut full length Other People's Problems hitting shelves in the UK next week on March 26th and April 3rd in the US, Rappak brought me up to speed on the band from initial idea to present, complete with his experience recording in Iceland at Sundlaugin Studio - Sigur Ros' recording studio that was converted from an old 1930's swimming pool.

Below is our conversation from the Thursday before SXSW.

SKOA_KIBBE: Let's start with the basics. How did Breton come about?

BRETON_ROMAN: Oh. Wait a second somebody just decided to start playing drums. Great. I'm gonna go into a different room than this. Give me just one second.

KIBBE: Sure. Don't sweat it. Take your time.

ROMAN: *sighs*

KIBBE: I take it you're in the labs right now?

ROMAN: Yeah I am. Two of them just decided that one was going to play drums and one was going to learn a bass line which is really great and fun and creative except for the fact that as soon as you want to talk to someone on the phone you basically have to go on the roof.

KIBBE: Ah.

ROMAN: Okay. Here. So basically I was at art school studying sound design and Adam was at Goldsmiths down the road and we were putting on short films and struggling to find a place to show them. In London the short film circuit is really tough to get into. It's tough because everything has to have release forms and you have to get nominated and shortlisted and then after all that you have to have your film screened in a small venue where you have to sit through 20 other films just to see your own. So we just thought it'd be kind of cool to try to put them on at gigs by playing the soundtrack live. We ended up getting a few people down playing some shows like that and then fanzines and blogs and stuff came out and we decided that we should put out some records because people wanted to buy the recording because they were mostly live at that point.

KIBBE: Are you guys a total collaborative effort or do certain people head up certain aspects?

ROMAN: We all sort of have our own thing that we kind of focus in on, like I do most of the production and the songwriting. Then we move it from the studio into the live room which changes everything and it means everyone has to kind of adapt it to make it work in a live setting. 'Cause obviously with an electronic band you kind of have to make it cool when you want humans to play it. For example, I had this really good idea when we were a bit drunk at 3 in the morning and decided to put in a 20-piece orchestra into a track but how are we gonna play that in a pizza shop at SXSW?

KIBBE: You guys are a very multimedia heavy band. How do you maintain a balance between your visuals and the music so one doesn't cancel the other out?

ROMAN: I guess in a way I quite like there to be an imbalance sometimes. I like the idea of the visuals being so strong that they take everyone's attention away from the music and then sometimes the music being so great that people forget that the visuals are even there. I think that's cool because a band has to sort of offer a lot these days for a live gig just because it's not like you're gonna say to people, "Hey buy this record. Here's some vinyl, this, that, and the other" and then just go and sit in a studio until someone says "Write another album", you know? Shows have to be everything. We've been playing a lot of shows in France recently and a lot of fans there have become really obsessed about what the films mean, like REALLY obsessed. When they watch it I try to not get too involved in what their interpretations are just because I think it's really exciting for someone else to read their own stuff into it. I like there to be a bit of a struggle for the visuals to get your attention and for the music to kind of compete with it as well.

KIBBE: If you could control someone's first time experiencing Breton, do you have a particular preference on how that should go?

ROMAN: Like I was saying about how people have their own interpretations for the films and lyrics, the way that they enjoy the band or the way that they absorb what we do, I think everyone has their own unique relationship with the music. Not just with our band but with all music. Things that one album says to me will not necessarily do the same things for you. I think that's the thing about music that I really love. There's something so personal about it. Even if people argue that "this blog told you to listen to this band. This bit of PR got you to try this band" I think that you still have the most personal relationship and that it reminds you of your own things. So I think which ever way someone is introduced to us that's part of what's exciting about it. Whether it's a massive airplane hanger in France like we played a few months back or like this weird exhibition hall that we'll be playing in Manchester in about 2-3 weeks. I think it's not up to us to force ourselves on anyone. Any way that they enjoy it is cool with us.

KIBBE: I saw in another interview that you think that bands nowadays have the tendency to overshare and that it's sort of ruining the element of mystery in music. Do you think that social media is hindering fans from getting the proper music experience? What does Breton do to keep yourselves mysterious without practically hiding yourselves away in one of your valts?

ROMAN: Shit did I really say that? It's always scary when someone's done their research.

KIBBE: I mean I could have played stupid and just asked you generic questions.

ROMAN:No it's cool. Actually, I don't know how quotes work, am I allowed to amend quotes?

KIBBE: Haha. Sure.

ROMAN: Okay. The thing is for any deeply held beliefs and philosophies that I have is I often change my mind. *laughs* The bit about that [quote] that I'd love to amend is I don't think that it's destroying the mystery of the band but I do think it shifts the focus a little bit away . . . There was this weird transition in the Myspace era where people were my friends on major [labels] were being told by big suited record dudes (which was really contradictory to the fact that this is massive PR functioning company that is a record label), "What you really need to do is if you like egg sandwiches you gotta tweet that you like egg sandwiches. If you like putting on blue socks the fans need to know that you're wearing blue socks." and I think that there was a lot of overkill about that at one point. I think that our response to that, because by definition if you try to maintain a layer of mystery it's not mysterious, you know? It's the lack of trying to do things like [trying to be mysterious] that makes things interesting. Our angle on it: people are much too clever and are much too able to use tools like Google to find things out. Like if you really want to know what color socks that the guys in Mount Kimbe have they can find that stuff out. Or if you want to find out if ASAP Rocky likes egg sandwiches then that information is there. So there's not really any point in them telling you all about it… Making a website where it's like "Follow us on Twitter and download this and here's us in the studio doing this" feels a little bit dated. I dunno. It feels a bit MySpacey to do all that.

KIBBE: I know when I was doing my research and I came to your website (which is just a video looping) I was like "Okayyy this all looks cool but there's no information here. *laughs* Time to look somewhere else" and it was really kind of refreshing to have to really dig to know more about it.

ROMAN: Yeah it kind of weeds out a lot of people that are like, I dunno. I did this week of interviews in Europe just ahead of the album coming out [on March 26th in the UK] and there was like two really different types of journalists I kind of found… there's some journalists like you who've done research and have got questions that are interesting and then you've got journalists who are like, "I saw here that you said your favorite color was blue, so what's your second favorite color?" or just like the most mindless kinds of questions. People don't really wanna know that surely. Like people can research, not only journalists.

KIBBE: I don't know. I think for those kinds of journalists there are fans who choose a level of fandom where you choose to align yourself with a band so much that you want to know the little nitty gritty details about them and things like that.

ROMAN: Yeah of course. I wouldn't wanna say, "People are allowed to know this and should ask this" I just know that from my personal experience about what I like to about the bands and filmmakers that I like and it's mostly in response to that question about, you know, Is the internet suffering from the death of this kind of mystery that we used to be? I think that there's always gonna be something new that you'll want to find out about [a band or something]. Just having access to that kind of information doesn't necessarily mean that everyone goes and gets it, I suppose.

KIBBE: You mentioned your new album, Other People's Problems. What kind of process went into that? What kind of things inspired you guys? Was everything recorded in BretonLABS?

ROMAN: Everything started out in little sketches and stuff. We had loads of little ideas that just begun as nothing and I tried to record them as well as I could here and then we made a version of the album which was about fifteen songs chosen from about 120 little ideas or full songs and then we settled on a narrative for the album, like "this would be a cool song to introduce the band with" . . . and then we listened to it and it was like…  i don't know. It sounded really claustrophobic and a bit cold and brittle. I think it was because we had been staying in the same building for like 4 months. It felt like it would come off as an [inside] joke like it wouldn't make sense to anyone else. So Alex from our label said, "Why don't I ask Sigur Ros if you can go to their studio and record in their studio and use all of their stuff and see what it does to the music?" So at first we were like, "Well we obviously think Sigur Ros is amazing and we love all of their music and stuff," but you listen to [the demo version Other People's Problems] this like, really aggressive electronic and sort of punk album (which is kind of how I heard it, whether it is or not is a completely different phone conversation) and we thought, "actually it would be cool to take it to the total opposite of how it started". [The album] starts off in London which was all grey and miserable in this broken down old building that we kind of live and work in. At that time of year Iceland is in 24 hour daylight and the air is super clean and there's volcanic mountains and lakes and horses and waterfalls. Sigur Ros' studio is a converted swimming pool with oak panel everything and every instrument you touch sounds beautiful and sounds like a Sigur Ros song. So we thought it would be really cool to put it through that sort of filter, take off a lot of the sharp edges, and actually make it an album that you don't have to be in London in 2012 to understand that's actually a bit more universal. We can talk about it more when it comes out if it worked or if people are just like "no that sounds really London and really 2012" *laughs.

KIBBE: I don't know if I'd call it London-y but I guess not living in London I don't really know what a London album is supposed to sound like, or I guess what it sounds like to you.

ROMAN: Cool. That's perfect. You're the perfect test case then.

KIBBE: Yeah I mean, it resonates really well here in Brooklyn so I think you're okay.

ROMAN: Really? Does it? That's amazing.

KIBBE: Yeah I can even picture the venue where I'd have you guys play here in Brooklyn and it fitting very well.

ROMAN: Amazing. That's like the best thing I've heard all day. Totally cheered me up.

KIBBE: Aww.

ROMAN: 'Cause no one knows how the fuck it's gonna work, you know? Like no one knows if it's gonna make sense to anyone even outside of this building.

KIBBE: Yeah true.

ROMAN: The weird thing about an album (and I never realized this) but I always thought that you make an albm and then you go "3-2-1" and then everyone listens to it and goes, "I like it" or "It sucks". But what actually happens is this really slow process where you play it for your band mates and you listen to finished bit and then you play it to your label and then they send it off to journalists. And you're like three months down the line and the first people who've heard it that you don't know are journalists who are like obviously by nature are like, inquisitive and critical. So it's like a really really nerve-wracking process. Like I always thought, you know, people who just listen to music would hear it first but the first people who hear it are people who write about music. It's been really interesting to see people's reactions.

KIBBE: Yeah, I can't remember where I was but I was about two tracks in on the album and I was like, "Yeah, we need to do something for this in the US" so I hit up [the guy who handles their press in the US]

ROMAN: Oh amazing. Yeah I'm really excited about just people hearing it, really. Touring and everything is so much fun and playing these shows and meeting new people is going to be amazing. . . .  It's strange, I've never worked on anything this long or as solidly and then waited this long [to see what happens].

KIBBE: Okay. I've started doing this kind of cheesy finish this sentence but sometimes it helps open up the conversation more. Finish this sentence: "Breton writes songs about…"

ROMAN: What would happen to you if you were in a room surrounded by synths and drums and lots of records and had no way of talking to anyone. I don't know if that counts.

KIBBE: No it definitely counts. Would you say that because you utilize so many different multimedia elements that it's kind of your own way of communication?

ROMAN: Yeah totally. I kind of see these things as different ways of communicating (voice trails off)… it's so difficult to talk about these kinds of things without sounding like a wanker.

KIBBE: *laughs*

ROMAN: You know what I mean?

KIBBE: Yup.

ROMAN: As soon as you start talking you sound like an art school essay, but actually it's trying to do something really simple.There's all these tools at everyone's disposal, like even moreso now whether you're a painter or a photographer or a journalist or whatever. There are some things that you can express in an article that you can't express in a song and there are some things in a song that you could never do in a photo. I guess the only way you can really totally express yourself properly is just by using all of these different "languages".

KIBBE: "Languages". I like that.

ROMAN: Yeah? Okay good I thought I'd lost you in a sea of babble.

KIBBE: Haha. Not quite.

ROMAN: I should send you a photo of where I'm standing. It's actually a very calm bit of the building. Never stood here before.

KIBBE: Let's move onto that. Tell me about Breton LABS. Are you the only people that exclusively operate out of there or are there a lot of people coming and going? What's a typical day like in Breton LABS?

ROMAN: Today's a good typical day because basically everyone is working 7 times as hard because everyone's going, "SHIT! We're going to Texas [for SXSW]" Like one of the guys in the band has never been to America .

KIBBE: Awww

ROMAN: Yeah and they're all super excited but also we play our first show 2 hours after we come off the plane [in Austin] so they're like "Shit. We better get it together". So there's one room at the moment where our bass player is re-learning/triple learning bass lines and then our drummer has headphones on and I think… you know I think he's just listening to an MP3 right now. He's not really doing anything but he looks like he's working really hard. *we both laugh* But yeah, a typical day here people just come and go. At one point [everyone in the band] all lived here at different points but it's just been a really cold winter so they all magically acquire girlfriends who've got warm houses and they all very mysteriously disappear and I'm left sitting in a big pile of synths and drums hoping no one breaks in. We live in one bit of the building [an abandoned bank] and there's another part of the building where there's an editor, script writer, another film maker and a couple of other people. It's like a magnet in a way because studio space is so expensive [in London]. We kind of attract a lot of photographers and film makers and other musicians just because we're quite lucky to have this space. It's really only down to luck that we got it so we figure jealously guarding it and not letting anyone in it would be stupid and it's actually worked out really well because we've met some amazing photographers and film makers and musicians just because we've got this space that they can work around in here. We don't ask them for any money, we just use it as a way of meeting new people.

KIBBE: That's really cool. I've never been to London but you just paint a nice enough picture to make me want to get on the next plane over to check the whole city out.

ROMAN: Ha. Yeah cool. Well come to London but just come to this part of it. There are a lot of shit places.

KIBBE: Oh really?

ROMAN: In fact just over the road is pretty shit. I'm looking over there now and there's a sushi place next to a lobster place next to a chip shop.

KIBBE: I hear sushi in London, well, the UK in general is pretty terible.

ROMAN: Yeah it's pretty crap.

KIBBE: Probably just spoiled here.

ROMAN: Yeah, I think it's probably more that America has just reduced it to a complete art form so whenever you go anywhere else it's just like, "yeah this is just sub par sushi". It's pretty hit and miss here to be honest. There are good restaurants but like if you go to "your average sushi place" it's rubbish.

KIBBE: Right on. Well good luck on your shows at SXSW. I'll be sure to grab you at the Mercury Lounge show and say hi.

ROMAN: Cool please do. Take care.

Catch Breton live on tour starting Wednesday night at Mercury Lounge in NYC (which you can win tickets for still) or at their many dates in Europe starting on Saturday, March 24th.

Other People's Problems is out March 26th in the UK and April 3rd in the US. Pre-order it on FatCat. The band also just released their next single, "Interference" which you can grab on iTunes.

[SKOA Presents] Some Kind of Mixtape: February 2012

Another month gone by and another handful of music that your friends at SKOA are offering up for your listening pleasure. The February edition of the Some Kind of Mixtape series features artists from all over the world, some of which might not be known by many of you. Either way, give the mixtape a listen and let us know who you enjoyed, and perhaps who you didn't, and make sure to give us feedback on this relatively new monthly feature. Our mixtape is hosted on 8tracks, a favorite of ours in the world of music sharing communities, so make sure to head over there and show your support. In the "liner notes" you will find written explanations from each of the SKOA writers regarding their choices for the month.

We hope you enjoy Some Kind of Mixtape: February 2012!

Much love,

Kibbe, Shey & Adrian.

Some Kind of Mixtape - February 2012 from skoablog on 8tracks.

Hawk Eyes - "Skyspinners" (from their upcoming album Ideas)

 So, if you're a regular reader you may of realised I have a personal love for Leeds band Hawk Eyes and with their new album Ideas being released later this month my love has only grown. Their lead single "Skyspinners" is the perfect taste of what's to come on the album. Heart thumping drum lines and guitar riffs renascent of QOTSA in places thrown together with a lighter worthy slow breakdown make for the perfect little tease from the band. Look out for their new LP when it drops on March 26th. - Shey

Death Grips - "Get Got" (from their upcoming album The Money Store)

People loved these guys and their Exmilitary release and now with the announcement that Death Grips have signed to Epic and are to release two records this year I am one of those people falling for them. While they're not the most what you might call, radio friendly type group, the music they make just talks to me. It's brash and abrasive whilst managing to make you wanna turn it up loud to soak it all up. I'm hooked and I hope a few of you will be too. - Shey

Santigold - "Disparate Youth" (from Disparate Youth - Single)

What can I say about a track that just oozes awesome. Well let's see, the comeback track from Santigold sent the internet into a frenzy in a matter of minutes with the synthy intro and reverb filled snare leading into a beat you just simply cannot get a groove onto. Add to this a harsh guitar jab here and there and Santigold's vocal work it all ties into a track that is sure to be one of (hopefully) many this year that will be spun time and time again by not just me, but some of you too. Let's get excited for  her new album Master of My Make-Believe which comes out May 1st on Downtown/Atlantic. - Shey

Montage Populaire - "Reject Reinstall" (from their upcoming Not All Bombs Explode EP)

Southampton experimental pop five-piece Montage Populaire has latched onto my ear drums with their single, "Reject Reinstall" from their forthcoming debut EP Not All Bombs Explode. Hours after you've stopped listening to the song and left your house you will soon find yourself humming the melody and muttering to yourself, "Why can't I just listen to that again RIGHT NOW?!?!" To think that this EP was recorded and mixed over the summer of 2011 in an old meat locker that the band had been using as a rehearsal space just adds to their quirky wonderfulness for me. Not All Bombs Explode is set for release on March 19th courtesy of a joint venture between Popular Recordings, Tri-Tone & PIAS UK. - Kibbe

Computer Magic - "Moving Forward" (from Orion Minimix)

Computer Magic is simply fun and charming, with an upbeat and poppy 8-bit sound driving her music forward. The solo project of Toronto's Danielle Johnson, Computer Magic takes a note from the eccentric and quirky style of band's such as Lemon Jelly, and in every facet her Orion Minimix is just that. Specifically, her track "Moving Forward" is outright fun and enjoyable on so many levels, with 8-bit synths leading the show and odd sounds popping in at every possible opportunity. Add in the fact that Johnson's vocals are executed in such a simple and calm manner, and "Moving Forward" encapsulates everything that makes music entertaining. - Adrian

Bedroom - "You'll See" (from Toys EP)

When I first came across Noah Kittinger's (quite literal) bedroom project Bedroom, I was immediately intrigued, and since premiering his Toys EP last month, it's been amazing to see the blogosphere react to his music. His music perfectly embodies the simplicities and joys of life, the moments where you sit back and relish in the good times, despite the fact that these songs were written in a time of depression. With airy, distant vocals, entrancing acoustic guitar riffs, subtle percussion and an overall attitude of calm serenity, Bedroom's music has an incredibly alluring quality, and his song "You'll See" captures this perfectly. - Adrian

RxGibbs - "Futures" (from Futures EP)

From the EP of the same name, "Futures" is a chilltastic little gem that I've been keeping to myself this month. RxGibbs is a Michigan-based producer that recently signed to the ever-solid Cascine. I've continued to come back to this song all month because of its ability to clear your head almost instantly. The vocals that he's peppered in are so cool and soothing coupled with the laid back synths and beats. Futures dropped just this past week, so make sure you grab it here. - Kibbe

Lucius - "Don't Just Sit There" (from Lucius EP)

It has been a pleasure watching Lucius grow into their own on their new self-titled EP. The Brooklyn duo has gone from cramming friends and a few fans into Rockwood Music Hall to taking the stage at the Bowery Ballroom at such a natural pace that you can tell the amount of care that they have taken to carve out a sound of their own. Having heard "Don't Just Sit There" way back in 2010 as just a sketch of a song, these lovely ladies have transformed it into a full-blown piece of artwork that people of all types can connect with. Head over to their official website and show them some love - Kibbe

PANAMA - "Porcelain (Skinny Love)" (from Good Winter [A Bon Iver Remix Album])

Bon Iver's For Emma, Forever Ago stands as one of my favorite albums, and the song "Skinny Love" as the standout track. When the rather unknown PANAMA released Good Winter, I was immediately excited to hear how they had remixed the aural beauty of Justin Vernon's work, and in no way was I disappointed. The album takes crucial elements of Bon Iver songs and reworks the rest in such a way that it is unique in its own merits, but still retains the recognizable stamp of the original. "Porcelain (Skinny Love)" is where the album shines, though, as it takes the original song's memorable guitar riff and combines it with the distinctive and captivating sounds of a glockenspiel to create a very simple yet powerful take on an already amazing song. - Adrian

[SKOA Presents] BBC 6 Music Blog Awards

Well this is a little treat isn't it?! This month BBC 6 Music has approached some awesome websites to choose a category for their inaugural BBC 6 Music Blog Awards. We were over the moon to be asked to take part and alongside us we have the The Recommender, Drowned in Sound, The Quietus, One For the People, Never Enough Notes, For Folk’s Sake, The 405 and Data Transmission putting forward categories. To see what they all chose head over to the BBC website.

Onto our category; How many albums do you truly listen to and never want to skip a track on? Be honest! Now, this is different for everyone, obviously, but we wanted to try and scope peoples attitudes to listening to albums in general. For me, ever since I was a kid listening to music was a getaway from reality but there was always a track on an album I'd be likely to skip on my walkman, you know? So that led us all to come put forward our category...The Album of the Year That You Never, Ever Skipped a Track On... yeah, it's a bit long for the plaque but think about it for a few minutes. Last year was a top year for albums as you can see from our best of 2011 list and we want you to put forward your votes on which album you truly never get bored of and don't want to skip a track on. It could be on our list or it could be left field. The album needs to have been released within the last year and for inspiration go look at our top 10 albums from last year over here. Whatever gets the most votes will win our award this Friday.

To vote you can leave a comment below or hit us up on Facebook or Twitter but be sure to @ us and include the hashtag #Blog6Music so we don't miss any votes! The awards ceremony is set to take place this Friday on BBC 6 Music, from 7PM onwards and are presented by the wonderful Tom Robinson. START VOTING NOW and show your love for your favourite album. We'll add a shortlist later today of the front runners but for now, anything goes... 

See below for the other categories you can go and vote for:

Best Tease of the Last 12 Months – (The Recommender)
Tomorrow’s Cult Artist Today – (The Quietus)
Must See New Band for Summer 2012 – (Drowned in Sound)
Most Genre Defying Artist – (One For the People)
Unsung Hero – (Never Enough Notes)
The Writes Songs Joni Mitchell Would be Proud Of – (For Folk’s Sake)
Best Free Download Album – (The 405)
‘Superstar DJ’ in the Making – (Data Transmission)

[SKOA Presents] Have We Told You Lately That We Love You? More Valentines From Your SKOA Lovers

You didn't think we forgot about you guys, did you!?!?! WE LOVE YOU! Since it's Valentine's Day, we made sure to turn on the extra cheese for you because we don't care how lame we sound, WE LOVE YOU GUYS SO MUCH! Your support, comments, likes, follows, and feedback makes our hearts skip a beat every day. Just like last year, we took some of your suggestions for these, so be sure to let us know what you thought in the comments!

XOXO + <3

kibbe, shey & adrian

Valentines after the jump!

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Looking for last years Valentines? Head over this way!

[SKOA Presents] Some Kind of Mixtape: January 2012

Welcome to the first of many mixtapes from your blogger buddies at SKOA. The Some Kind of Mixtape series is a new monthly feature that will showcase both tracks from the month prior and tracks from albums that will be coming out this month. All of our mixtapes will be hosted on 8tracks, which is our one of our favorite communities for sharing mixes. Included in the "liner notes" of our mixtapes will be an explanation from each SKOA writer on their song selections for the month.

Since this is our first one, we encourage you to give us feedback on how we did. We hope you enjoy Some Kind of Mixtape: January 2012. We made it just for you!

<3

Kibbe, Shey, & Adrian

Some Kind of Mixtape - January 2012 from skoablog on 8tracks.

 

††† (Crosses) - "Purien†" (from EP ††)

When ††† (Crosses) came to be the internet blew up for a little while and the tag "witch house" started being thrown all over the project. The second EP, ††, from the pairing of Chino Moreno and Shaun Lopez offers more of the same from EP † with lashings of instrumentation to help mellow you out after the hardest of days and it's all held together by the haunting yet comforting vocal work of Chino. The subtle "woo" towards the climax of the song leads into a retro drum beat and guitar solo that are sure to elate you to a higher place. - Shey

Miike Snow - "Paddling Out" (from their upcoming album Happy To You)

When Swedish trip Miike Snow returned with the track "Devil's Work" back in December, I was immediately hooked and couldn't wait for more. Their second offering, "Paddling Out," delivered yet another tantalizing taste of the band's upcoming sophomore LP, Happy To You, and I was once again sucked into the world of Miike Snow. With catchy piano instrumentation, upbeat vocals combined with a fantastic chorus, and all kinds of synthesizer goodness, "Paddling Out" has made me even more excited for Happy To You. March 27th couldn't get here any sooner! - Adrian

Wazu - "Murder 1" (from WAZU EP)

From their debut self-tiled EP, Australian-American duo Wazu's single, "Murder 1" had me hooked within the first few seconds of the first time I tried them out. The Syndney-born now Brooklyn-based group has managed to develop a sound that, while it clearly draws inspiration from bands like Depeche Mode, Duran Duran, David Bowie, and Talking Heads, is still their very own. It's dark, gritty, and stupidly catchy. In addition to playing out more in the NYC area, Matt and Rizz are readying their upcoming debut album for a May release. If you're around in NYC next Monday (2/6), join me for their set at Piano's.  - Kibbe

Breton - "Sandpaper" (from The Blanket Rule EP)

London's Breton create art pop and are known to experiment with visuals during live performances with footage shot by the art-rock group in their bank-turned-base called BrentonLABS. While prepping for their upcoming release, Other People's Problems, which is out via FatCat Records on April 3rd, the band dropped The Blanket Rule EP for free in mid-January that featured "Sandpaper", which was tucked in almost at the end of the five-song EP. With it's sassy synths and pulsating beats, the song has the power to fill many a dancefloor. Consider me more than excited to see them on March 21st at Mercury Lounge. I will be there ready to party my face off. - Kibbe

Memoryhouse - "Walk With Me" (from their upcoming album The Slideshow Effect)

Toronto dream pop duo Memoryhouse have no trouble impressing with each new song they release from their upcoming debut album The Slideshow Effect. With only a month to go before the release of the album, their latest track "Walk With Me" will find itself being played repeatedly until that day. Evan Abeele and Denise Nouvion have crafted yet another kaleidoscope dreamscape that drifts in and out of reality, with instrumentation rising and flowing in an almost trance-like way. The slow build and eventual crescendo makes for a fantastic track that makes the February 28th release date of The Slideshow Effect seem much too far away. - Adrian

Wild Nothing - "Nowhere" (from the Nowhere 7")

Since the release of his debut album Gemini back in 2010, I'd almost completely forgotten about Wild Nothing, but Jack Tatum's one man dream pop project has returned and the wait was well worth it. "Nowhere," which features the vocals of Twin Sister's Andrea Estella, is a fantastic return to form for the artist, who has taken what he did so well on his studio debut, that is a gradual build of instrumentation and vocals, and delivers it in a much more upbeat and summery package. The addition of Estella's vocals, in combination with Tatum's vocals, gives the song a great amount of depth and diversity. Wild Nothing's sophomore LP is expected to drop later this year, and if "Nowhere" is any indication, the album will be a dream pop lovers fantasy. - Adrian

Sleigh Bells - "Comeback Kid" (from their upcoming album Reign of Terror)

With the noisy duo set to return fully with their sophomore LP, Reign of Terror, later this month they let us dip our toes into their mixing pot of goodness in the shape of the first single, "Comeback Kid". The ominous feedback opening leads into a big drum machine riff and distorted guitars before Alexis' vocal chimes in bringing the song to a head. Catchy, dirty with a perfect softened chorus. More please! - Shey

Pulled Apart By Horses - "Wolf Hand" (from Tough Love)

The cheeky chappies from Leeds launched their new album, Tough Love, with the explosive "V.E.N.O.M.", a perfect introduction for what was to come next. "Wolf Hand" shows a growth from the band, a step forward musically whilst lyrically they've kept their tongues firmly placed in their cheeks. From the offset this track is the perfect follow up to the shout along comeback single that was "V.E.N.O.M.". A heavy bass line and guitar riff accompanied by a thumping drum beat is all you need to cleanse the soul. This track, and this album need to be added to everyone's collection - Shey

Teen Daze - "Let's Groove" (from Let's Groove single, grab over here)

On New Years Eve 2012, Vancouver-based Teen Daze dropped "Let's Groove" which started everyone's new year off dancing until their feet couldn't take it anymore. Although the track doesn't really fit in with the current chilled out ethereal sound he's progressed to over the course of his many EPs, I for one am thankful that he took a moment to stop everything and just start dancing. Since then he also dropped his first single, "Brooklyn Sunburn", which is off his upcoming debut album, All Of Us, Together, which is due out on May 22, 2012 via Lefse Records. - Kibbe

[Introducing] Blacklisters - "Swords"

This year we want to bring you heaps more cool stuff as well as some more personal opinions regarding new music we’re really digging. Included in this we may throw in some more local stuff you guys may never have found/heard if we didn’t throw it up as you could be anywhere in the world! As a collective we live in some pretty awesome Cities for new Music! Some of the things we introduce you to we hope you might like or even love too. You may also hate it but hey, you guys are here for a reason so we hope to continue to give you more awesome recommendations in 2012. To start off as we mean to go on, today, I’d like to introduce you to a band called Blacklisters. They humble from Leeds, Yorkshire and are made up of Billy Mason-Wood on Vocals, Dan Beesley on Guitar Owen Griffiths on le Bass and they're rounded out with the beats from Alistair Stobbart on Drums. Boy do they know how to make some noise. I first heard them last year when they signed to Brew Records, a label that I fully trust in bringing me awesome new music. 

Over the summer whilst at Leeds Festival I was introduced to the guys in a live setting and my mind was blow. As well as my eardrums. These guys are loud, brash and aggressive yet with that tongue in cheek  attitude you can’t help but like. After gaining some coverage in 2010 via a recording with Childhood Sweetheart Recordings they went on to tour with another favourite of  mine, Pulled Apart By Horses. (Childhood Sweetheart Records is funnily enough ran by Lee Vincent of PABH!). Fast forward to 2012 and after a load of positive live reviews they’re readying their debut album. This track was released last year and titled "Swords". The track is heavy from the start so brace yourselves for a roller-coaster of riff and rhythm for the next 3 minutes. I’ve been trying to think of a comparison to make and this track for me sounds a little Glassjaw but a little more raw with a few rougher edges. In short, I can’t get enough of it and am very much looking forward to a full length from them. What I've heard is sounding big. See what you make of it below and look out for more new music than you can imagine in the coming year. It could be heavy, if could be soft, but if we’re introducing it to you, it means it’s something we’re passionate about. – Shey

[SKOA Presents] The 50 Best Albums Of 2011: 5 - 1

5. Arctic Monkeys - Suck It And See [Amazon] [iTunes] [Insound]

Long gone are the days when you'd see Arctic Monkeys at The Boardwalk in Sheffield. 6 year later and with 4 albums under their belt, you can't deny how far the young boys from Yorkshire have come. The thing I love about the Arctic Monkeys is that they don't have an indefinite recipe for greatness, with each album they throw away whatever preconceptions they had for the last album and start fresh. Nothing could be truer for their latest LP Suck It And See, on which the band explore deeper the darker sounds that were dabbled with on Humbug some two years ago. Remember the days when Alex used to write about dickhead bouncers from clubs in Sheff? Well, they're long gone, as this album sees Alex grow once more as a songwriter, fathoming some psychedelic realm of subject matter. The opening lines to "Black Treacle" talk of him seeing "belly button piercings, in the sky, at night," whilst the albums title track sees him compare a girl to a can of "Dandelion and Burdock"; he's grown as a writer and this allbum is a perfect chance to show how far they've come since their debut, Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not. Start to finish, this album has you under a spell of time changes and beautiful sounding instrumentation. Ip, dip, dog shit, rock and roll guys, this album is a triumph! —Shey

4. The Black Keys - El Camino [Amazon] [iTunes] [Insound]

There aren't many bands that can bounce back for a two year streak of getting into the top 5 album lists of not just ours, but a few other blogs too! That's exactly what Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney managed to do, though, with their Brothers follow up El Camino. From album opener and lead single "Lonely Boy," which will have you gyrating from start to finish, you can't help but fall in love with the album. It's a little more moody than Brothers, all the while finding its very own sound and hitting it home better than you could have ever hoped for. Dan's guitar tone is enough to make any grown man swoon, and Patrick takes out some hidden anger on the kit 'cos damn he kills it. The stand out track for me has to be "Little Black Submarines," with a slow building acoustic verse or two with just Dan and his guitar before a huge hair raising finale of pure awesome. Following up Brothers was never going to be an easy task, but The Black Keys threw away the rule book, did what they thought sounded good and thankfully, we agree with them! Grab this album now. You won't regret it. —Shey

3. Icebird - The Abandoned Lullaby [Amazon] [iTunes] [Insound]

Move over Danger Mouse and Cee-Lo! RJD2 and Aaron Livingston have came along to take the title for the best producer/soul singer duo with their magnificent debut album The Abandoned Lullaby. Icebird have proved they are more than a vocalist singing over the producer's beats duo with stand out tracks such as such as the soul/rock tune "Just Love Me" or the funky "Going and Going. And Going" and have made their mark as one of the top soul/rock/hip hop acts alongside artists such as Mayer Hawthorne, Aloe Blacc and Cee-Lo Green. The Abandoned Lullaby is filled with rich melody and emotion and never provides a dull moment which leaves you fiending for more after the 12 tracks are said and done. Thankfully, this wasn't just a one off project and the group are already plotting their next venture and by the looks of things so far, they have a bright future ahead. —Rocko

"Just Love Me"

2. Foo Fighters. - Wasting Light [Amazon] [iTunes] [Insound]

I don't think I have been this happy about an album since Modern Guilt came out in 2008. Sometimes being up to your eyeballs in the latest buzz bands makes you lose sight of what matters the most to you when it comes to the way a record makes you feel. When it comes to Wasting Light I felt allowed to enjoy the entire process of an album from start to finish again. These days a lot of the magic of making a record seems to get lost in the art of ProTools perfection, so when I heard that Foo Fighters were going to be recording to tape I was anxious to hear the difference between making a record in Davie Grohl's garage and a multi-million dollar studio.

Truth be told, I prefer Grohl's garage. It's hard to know what you're missing out on until it's gone. There is a warmth to albums on tape that can't be replicated with any piece of software, a lot like playing a CD versus dropping the needle on a record. The songs are thoughtful and probably the most intimate to date from Foo Fighters in my opinion, thus making it almost impossible for you to not find some way to identify with every song on the record. This album coupled with their documentary, Back and Forth, made me feel so close to the band that I feel more invested in them now than I ever had before with them or any other band for that matter. Foo Fighters solidified a place in my heart with this album and I am more than okay with that. —Kibbe

1. Bon Iver - Bon Iver, Bon Iver [Amazon] [iTunes] [Insound]

Simply put, this album and albums like this are the reason I listen to music. With his self-titled sophomore album, Justin Vernon has crafted a magnificent, ten-song opus that encapsulates everything music should be. It feels happy when it should be, it emotes the sadness that we will and have experienced in our lives, it never feels forced yet it always feels real and genuine. While For Emma, Forever Ago did this, and was an amazing album, it always felt a little bit too simple and acoustic driven, but, with Bon Iver, Bon Iver, Vernon's musical breadth has widened exponentially. "Beth/Rest" is, in itself, a symbol of Vernon's foray into the realm of risk-driven experimentation. Using the soul pop genre of the '80s as a muse, the song ends the album on the perfect note, evoking a passionate, joyful, and sombre conclusion to an incredible album. Vernon's growth and experimentation is evident with each passing song, as one will offer something that the previous didn't, and this adds a layer of depth that wasn't fully realized in For Emma.

It isn't just Vernon's instrumentation that has evolved, though, as the solitary sadness heard on his debut has grown into something beautifully melancholic here, and, as each consecutive song on the album passes, this beauty takes a number of emotional twists and turns. Album opener "Perth" starts slow, building up to a percussion-driven intensity before slowing down again and seamlessly flowing into "Minnesota, WI." "Holocene" is a masterpiece in and above itself, with Vernon's vocals beautifully rising and calming at just the right moments, and with such brevity, to evoke a humanity that is oft absent from music. Whether it is the doleful happiness of "Towers," the saddening childhood story of "Michicant," or the solemn memories of a failed relationship in "Wash.," the album conveys such powerful and meaningful messages. From beginning to end, from "Perth" to "Beth/Rest," we are taken through a journey of emotional expression, of life and all its trials and tribulations. It is this which makes the album so incredible, because, no matter who you are or where you are, we all succumb to heartbreak, to struggle, and the albums themes, themes that are part of life, of growing up, manage to transcend the album itself, and it does so in such an organic way. It is a rare thing for an album to feel so organic, so seamless and unified, with each song feeling like it should be there, yet each song offering something that only it can provide. The humanity of the album is what stands out the most, with each song evoking exactly what it needs to, not feeling too forced or underutilized. I listen to music for this exact reason, because it acts as an avenue for the emotions, enjoyment, happiness, sadness, and all the things that makes me human, and, in this regard, Bon Iver, Bon Iver succeeds in every way. —Adrian

[SKOA Presents] The 50 Best Albums Of 2011: 10 - 6

10. Metronomy - The English Riviera [Amazon] [iTunes] [Insound]

With their first two albums, Pip Paine (Pay the £5000 You Owe) and Nights Out, U.K. four piece Metronomy established their niche with a somewhat-awkward-yet-completely-awesome blend of electronic synths, smooth basslines and subtle guitar riffs. With their third studio album, The English Riviera, Metronomy has shown that they know exactly what works for them and have gone a step forward by fully embracing it and perfecting it. The allure of this album comes with its undeniably awkward charm, with every song coming across as a little bit 'off,' and it is exactly that which makes this album so different and appealing when compared to everything else we've seen this year. From the charming presentation of "Everything Goes My Way," with its subtle whistles and the calming vocals of guest artist Roxanne Clifford, to the amazingly groovy bassline on "The Bay," to the catchy synth work throughout "The Look," it all just works beautifully to Joseph Mount's vision. And it is Mount himself who adds the largest dose of charisma to the project, with his lyrical style and vocal work working synonymously with the instrumentation that backs him up. The English Riviera shows Mount's, and the entire band's, ability to stand out above the rest. With a unique and visionary musical style and unquestionable talent, Metronomy have crafted an album that is one of the most charming and interesting packages released this year. —Adrian

9. The Kills - Blood Pressues [Amazon] [iTunes] [Insound]

Following up their 2008 release, Midnight Boom, Alison "Sexhair Mosshart" (as Rocko and The Audio Perv refer to her) and Jamie Hince released their fourth studio album, Blood Pressures this past April. The album is nothing short of sexy with tracks like "Satellite," "Damned If She Do" and "DNA." This was quite an abitious undertaking overall for the duo and they managed to pull it off quite well, with only a few less than stellar moments throughout. Mosshart has truly come into her own on this album in particular after solidifying her place as a frontwoman in her time working with The Dead Weather. I think it is safe to say that the SKOA staff will continue to look forward to more from the duo in the years to come. —Kibbe

8. The Roots - Undun [Amazon] [iTunes] [Insound]

The greatest band in late night hit the nail on the head with their most recent concept album, undun. The album tells the story of fictional character Redford Stevens (named after a Sufjan Stevens song) reverse-chronicling his struggle and downfall in the ghetto. Undun is vintage Roots material although it features a bit more singing than previous albums thanks to special guests like Icebird's Aaron Livingston, Phonte and Bilal and is filled with tons of emotion from the subject matter down to the music production. However, unlike any other Roots record, undun features four beautiful orchestral pieces, one being the instrumental song "Redford" from Sufjan Stevens that the main character was based on, which adds on to the all around feeling of the album. Although a late entry this year, The Roots prove to millions to why they are one of the greatest hip hop acts ever with this beautiful opus ,while other mainstream acts just stroked their egos putting out the same ol', same ol'. —Rocko

7. tUnE-yArDs - w h o k i l l  [Amazon] [iTunes] [Insound]

tUnE-yArDs w h o k i l l is unlike anything else I've heard this year, possibly in my lifetime, and, in every way, this is a good thing. Merrill Garbus' experimental project is something magnificent, a jumbled amalgamation of African and Eastern influences and modern techniques and technologies such as looping and drum machines. On the surface, it sounds like something that would not and should not work, but, somehow, Garbus executes it wonderfully. Garbus herself is what makes this project, though, as her vocal work is so versatile and the way she presents her music, and herself, is so utterly carefree and delightful. Her use of looping her own voice in album opener "Bizness" is absolutely perfect, and, when combined with her powerful vocal range, it manages to work in a fantastically spine tingling way. In "Wooly Wolly Gong," Garbus' oft powerful voice takes an eery turn, embracing Thom Yorke levels of creepy-yet-beautiful subtlety, and "Es-So" sees her encapsulating a Beck-esque persona as her voice mingles perfectly within a slightly offbeat rythym. Garbus has somehow created something so different, so odd and unexpected, that it works in every facet. w h o k i l l is so unique in its presentation, so strong in its blend of vocals, styles, and influences, and such an achievement on Garbus' part, that you would be hard-pressed not to be impressed with everything she has done here. All I can say at this point is bravo Merrill Garbus, for you have crafted something so nontraditional and so beautiful that I can only be excited for what your talent will create next. —Adrian

6. Unknown Mortal Orchestra - Unknown Mortal Orchestra [Amazon] [iTunes] [Insound]

Unknown Mortal Orchestra took over the whole blogosphere as one of the freshest bands to come out in 2011 with their selft-itled debut album. The lo-fi, break-heavy psych rockers short but sweet album features a lot of memorable melodies with tracks like "Ffunny Ffriends," "Thought Ballune," "Little Blu House," "Bicycle" and the funk/soul tune "How Can You Love Me," and was a nice change compared to most of this year's releases. —Rocko