Mistletone

High Places are Mary Pearson and Rob Barber, two hyper-talented humans from Brooklyn (recently transported to Los Angeles) who are making their first journey to Australia. The magical High Places live show is a wonder to behold and will transport you to another, much better place. Expect otherworldly polyrhythmic layers of tribal percussion and heavenly vocals. High Places are taking time out from Summer Tones to play two headline shows and a Perth Festival appearance.

MELBOURNE: Wednesday March 4 @ The Toff w/ ii and Inquiet. Tickets $20 +BF on sale now from Moshtix – phone: 1300 GET TIX (438 849), online: buy here or Moshtix outlets including Polyester (City).

SYDNEY: Thursday Mar 5 @ the Hopetoun w/ Seekae. Tickets $20 +BF on sale Monday from Moshtix – phone: 1300 GET TIX (438 849), online: buy here and all Moshtix outlets.

PERTH FESTIVAL: Saturday Mar 7 w/ Ruby Suns + AIH DJs.

LAWRENCE ARABIA NEW ALBUM & AUSTRALIAN TOUR

Lawrence Arabia is the pseudonym of James Milne, born 1981 in Christchurch, NZ, former member of the Brunettes and the Ruby Suns. Chant Darling (out Feb 21 on Mistletone) is the eagerly awaited follow up to Lawrence Arabia’s self titled debut album, hewn out of the dual cliches of difficult second album syndrome and the Antipodean relocation to London. Chant Darling is a modern pop masterpiece; the sugar hits of harmony, sweet melody and lush orchestration will set you reeling as the witty and sometimes forlorn tales of indolence, longing and romantic misadventure hit home where it hurts. Lawrence Arabia (James Milne with his four piece band) are playing Summer Tones and two not-to-be-missed headline shows:

MELBOURNE: Tuesday 3 Mar @ The Tote w/ Guy Blackman. Tickets $12+BF on sale now from Missing Link, Polyester, the Tote front bar, Corner box office, or call 9427 9198.

SYDNEY (all ages show): Saturday 7 Mar @ Serial Space (33 Wellington St, Chippendale) w/ Songs. Tickets on sale now from Mistletone. Starts 7.30pm.

EL GUINCHO FAREWELL SHOW (MELBOURNE)

If we may quote Three Thousand: Tropical party sprite, El Guincho, winds up a string of big local dates with a smaller one this Monday night at The Tote. This latest tour has seen the much-loved Spaniard expand to a two-piece – meaning twice the afro-beat sampling, ecstatic singing, steel-midi percussion and audience smiles than last year – and a lot of dancing besides. Turn your ho-hum Monday night into a fun-filled fiesta with El Guincho + Mark Barrage + Das Butcher + Donza + DJ Nervous Jerk. Doors open 7.30pm. Tickets $15 + booking fee on sale now and selling quickly from Missing Link, Polyester, the Tote front bar or Corner box office.

NEW MISTLETONE RELEASES

The Good Feeling Music of Dent May & His Magnificent Ukulele by Dent May & His Magnificent Ukulele (out now)

Dent May was discovered by Animal Collective when they were recording their new record in Dent’s home of Oxford, Mississippi last year. Dent’s unique vocal style, part crooner, part falsetto, and 101 percent showman reflects the influences of some of his favorite singers (Prince, Serge Gainsbourg, and Lee Hazlewood to name a few). His love of various song styles results in a unique combination of ukulele, drums, pedal steel, violin, horns and bass. One second his songs hint at Brazilian Tropicalia, the next a 1950s barbershop quartet or an early 20th century country swing. With excitement reaching a fever pitch a new term has been coined:  Dent Maynia.  Catch it!

This Is It And I Am It And You Are It And So Is That And He Is It And She Is It And It Is It And That Is That by Marnie Stern (out now)

Okay, let’s get this out of the way: Marnie Stern can shred. She’s a better guitar player than you, or me, or probably 99% of the people who have ever looked at a guitar. A self-taught guitar virtuoso, vocalist and songwriter from New York City, Marnie combines towers of sound with high-school pep-rally vocals. Signed to the iconic riot-grrrl label Kill Rock Stars, Marnie has become the darling of the American underground. Her new LP is a pop record for an alternate dimension, where hooks and choruses are sent careening through a cracked kaleidoscope. Touring Australia this winter!

Chant Darling by Lawrence Arabia (out Feb 21)

Recorded over 18 months in a studio in Stockholm, three flats in London, a garden shed in Port Chalmers, a car club in Wellington and a studio in Auckland, Chant Darling is a modern pop masterpiece. Chant Darling was mixed and mastered by Olly Harmer and produced by Lawrence Arabia, aka James Milne, who has spent the past 12 months based in London, gallivanting around Europe on tour with Feist and other luminaries, and winning glowing write ups in NME, the Sunday Times, Uncut, Dazed and Confused and other bastions of the British music press.

Bromst by Dan Deacon (out Mar 14)

For the last three years Dan Deacon has been working on Bromst. Fusing together the growing intensity of his live performances with his background in electro-acoustic composition, the outcome is a collection of pieces that are intense and epic and at the same time down to earth and welcoming. Bromst embodies the same energy and excitement as Spiderman of the Rings, however the craftsmanship and composition on Bromst have a wider scope and richer palette, with a mixture of acoustic instruments and mechanical instruments (player piano, marimba, glockenspiel, vibraphone, live drums, winds and brass), samples and electronics…. all woven together into a rich, dense, noisy dance pop that has become Dan’s signature sound.