Caught in the Net: The Peel deal for LCD Soundsystem
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Your support makes all the difference.On 29 June, just after playing Glastonbury, LCD Soundsystem (below) headed to a studio in south London and spent the day playing songs from across their back catalogue.
They recorded their efforts, in what they describe as "John Peel Sessions- style", and now the results can be heard in a nine-track live album, appropriately called The London Sessions. It was released on Tuesday on iTunes, and will be available there exclusively until 6 December. Pitchfork has one track streaming at ind.pn/dnFOTE; a nice take on their swift ballad "All I Want", though it doesn't sound hugely different than how it does on record. Which isn't hugely surprising given James Murphy's impressive attention to sonic detail in the studio and in concert.
Icy soundscapes from Swedish duo
Niki & the Dove are an electro-pop duo from Sweden. They're spearheaded by the spiky voice of Malin Dahlström, which inevitably invites comparisons with Karin Dreijer Andersson of The Knife, and Fever Ray. Their sound too, full, sharp electro beats and icy soundscapes, follows in a similar path – if a little less dark – to their more illustrious fellow Swedes. They first picked up attention at the end of the summer with a double A-side single on the Moshi Moshi digital/vinyl singles club – ind.pn/bDpkms. Now comes another slice of addictive electro: "Mother Protect" begins with a shuddering-but-slight beat. However, it grows brilliantly into into a low-key epic. Get it next week at www.nikiandthedove.com.
Buck helps out The Decemberists
The Portland indie-rock stalwarts The Decemberists return with their sixth full-length album The King Is Dead on 18 January. It seems alarming to already be discussing new releases from next year, but you can't fight time. And in the meantime the five-piece have put out the first single from the record. It's called "Down by the Water" and is available at www.decemberists. com. The song kicks off with a burst of harmonica, which signals its country rock flavour, and backing vocals by Gillian Welch add to this recipe too. Meanwhile, REM's Peter Buck also features with his 12-string guitar in tow.
Shadow bands
The up and coming solo artist Twin Shadow sounds rather like Morrissey with some synths and a drum machine. Already arrived band The Drums sound a bit like the Backstreet Boys with guitars. Now the former has remixed the latter on "Me and the Moon", bringing the synths to play with the guitars and the harmonies and turning it into dreamy electro pop. Find it on RCRD LBL at ind.pn/cQw8gc.
l.ryan@independent.co.uk
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