CHIMES is a name which seems to recur with surprising regularity.
A collaboration between British producer Draper and multi-genre songwriter/vocalist Paul Aiden, the pair have remixed artists such as Prides, Remi Miles and Charlene Soraia.
It's their own material which rings out most clearly, however. "We're both fans of dance-pop", explains Draper, "but felt there was space for something new, fresh and powerful to make a mark".
Debut single 'Pieces' certainly makes a mark. Dizzying, sugar-filled dance pop with a contagious edge, it's due for release on August 10th.
British rockers Elbow released their Lost Worker Bee EP today in the UK, and to spread the word, they've shared a video for the title track.
The song is a chipper rock tune with elegant horns and some electronic elements, which add up to a sound that's cinematic in a low-key sort of way. The video shows a man in a suit walking though the countryside and into a city, and he has pleasant interactions with various people he meet along the way. There aren't any bees, but evidently the man is a lost worker, since he finds his queen in the end.
Watch the clip below. The North American release of the Lost Worker Bee EP will follow on July 31.
Elbow frontman Guy Garvey said in a statement, "We've always loved the EP as a format and we've enjoyed making this one so much I wouldn't be surprised if there was another before long. All the songs on this EP are set in Manchester city centre. Manchester's symbol has been the worker bee for hundreds of years and the lead track is about finding love far away from home."
Following the recently revealed remix of Janet Jackson's "No Sleeep" single with J. Cole, the pair have now delivered a nocturnal new music video for the track.
Being the "Queen of Insomnia," we first find Jackson stalking around her home late at night. At one point, she grabs a floppy fedora and begins to perform a bit of soft shoe on a staircase, before retreating to the bedroom.
It turns out J. Cole has been crashed out on a couch the whole time, or at least one version of the rapper. The video treatment has the star stricken with a case of multiplicity, leaving at least one freezing Cole standing outside in the rain.
Scottish twee-pop unit Belle and Sebastian offered up their latest LP Girls in Peacetime Want to Dance at the beginning of the year, but they're keeping the momentum behind it going with a new clip for "Perfect Couples."
The video accompanies an extended version of the track, and it's exactly as quirky and adorable as you'd expect a Belle and Sebastian video to be. It opens with a vintage television showing footage of a xylophone being played, then switches focus to fashionably outfitted couples rhythmically weaving their way in and out of a '60s-style living room set.
Watch all the retro fun go down in the player below. Girls in Peacetime Want to Dance is out now on Matador.
After dropping a Frank Ocean cover earlier this week, Major Lazer is shining the spotlight back on their latest LP Peace Is the Mission with a new video for "Powerful."
The track features appearances from pop star Ellie Goulding and reggae singer Tarrus Riley, and both artists star in the new clip. In the video we see Goulding and Riley showing off their telekinetic powers in a diner setting. Milkshakes spill, pizzas shimmy their way across tables and no spoon is left unbent.
Watch the video below to see their powers come together and totally tear up the place.
As Madchild fans may have already noticed, the Vancouver rapper officially let us lap up his Silver Tongue Devil release today (July 24). To celebrate its arrival, the Battle Axe warrior has revealed yet another video behind the release, this time for reflective rap track "Everytime."
The video stars Madchild and guest musician Ceekay Jones, with the host delivering a set of bars about battling demons, killing monsters, and being determined to no longer dance with the devil. Adversity is hinted at via lines about "fortunes blown," which are complemented with the sight of flaming stack of money, but the track ultimately has a hopeful twist to it.
You'll find the pair talking about redemptive second chances down below.
As previously reported, Madchild takes Silver Tongue Devil on a North American tour this fall. You'll find all of the date details over here.
UPDATE: You can now stream the album in full below.
The clip features Weezer frontman Rivers Cuomo trying his luck in the world of dating apps, though he struggles to find the perfect profile pic. Testing out a variety of looks — from dumpster-diving pop-punker to fancy stock broker to a malt-liquor swigging college kid — he just can't seem to get Cosentino to swipe right.
A twist at the end reveals that online dating apps might not be the best way to win a girl's affection. Although, we don't necessarily condone Cuomo's tactic of snatching an unsuspecting lady's purse.
Watch the video for "Go Away" in the player below.
Flyers and posters inform pedestrians of the presence of nudists. Photo: Body and Freedom Festival via wemakeit.com
The Body and Freedom Festival, which bills itself as the world's first ever festival for "naked performing in urban space," will take place for the first time this summer in the sleepy Swiss town of Biel.
From August 21-22, the festival seeks to attracts nude performance artists from around Europe, who will perform in the nude to consenting audiences. The weekend-long event aims to contribute to the dissolution of taboos surrounding nudity.
Organizers have launched a crowd-funding campaign to gather the remaining CHF3,000 ($3,134) required to pay for accommodations, photographers, festival booklets, and posters.
The festival's initiator, Thomas Zollinger, told 20 Minuten, “I hope for the support of many friends of nakedness."
“Today everything that can be shown and performed in galleries or theaters may also be shown and performed in urban spaces—only the naked body seems to remain a taboo," he lamented.
The festival has launched a crowdfunding campaign to raise money. Photo: Body and Freedom Festival via wemakeit.com
The 62-year-old hopes that the festival will change this. According to the crowd-funding page, the event promises to answer “a cross-section of questions about the presentation of the naked body in public spaces."
To entice people to donate, Zollinger devised a number of unusual incentives. For CHF111.55 ($116.54), “one can participate in the naked procession outside the church," together with the “professionals."
And for CHF280 ($292), donors can look forward to an invitation to a “naked lunch."
The festival attracts naked performance artists from around Europe. Photo: Body and Freedom Festival via wemakeit.com
For CHF880 ($919) donors can buy the whole package, which includes participating in the “naked procession," taking part in the “naked lunch," and an exclusive meeting with the initiator.
Chinese police have cracked down on dozens of half-naked foreigners who hit the streets of Beijing dressed as Spartan warriors.
Curious onlookers soon swarmed around the sandal-wearing models, who had been deployed to one of Beijing’s busiest shopping districts as part of a publicity stunt masterminded by Sweetie Salad, a local food delivery firm.
“Passersby scrambled to take photos of the men when they first appeared on the street, and the volume of onlookers was deemed disturbing by authorities,” the ChinaDaily newspaper reported.
“As the crowd grew, its adverse impact on street order grew,” reported the Beijing Youth Daily.
After repeatedly warning the foreign “warriors” to retreat, Beijing police went on the offensive to “control” the mob.
Photographs posted on Chinese social media showed officers pinning two semi-clothed Spartans to the ground on a pedestrian walkway opposite an Adidas shop.
An unknown number of the combatants were taken into custody.
“Handsome Spartan warriors tried to occupy the Chinese capital but were defeated by our awesome police in five seconds,” one witness said, according to state media.
A headline in the English-language Shanghai Daily newspaper read: “Spartacus subdued”.
State-controlled newspapers were unsympathetic. “In China, those who want to parade for any purposes must obtain a permit from the authorities beforehand,” the China Daily noted.
The male models were promoting ‘Sweetie Salad’ until their parade got out of hand. Photograph: Imaginechina/Rex Shutterstock
The Global Times, an English-language tabloid, saw a funnier side.
“I think I can accept naked delivery men,” mused one local interviewed by the newspaper . “Whether they are naked or not, I will eat my salad calmly.”
The company responsible for sending the Spartans onto the streets of Beijing issued a grovelling apology to China’s security services on Thursday. Sweetie Salad said it had put the muscle-bound models on the streets in order to promote “a nutritious diet and a healthy lifestyle”.
“Our ‘Spartans’event yesterday generated far more interest than we had expected,” the company saidin a statement.
“We truly thank the police for giving us assistance and instructions during our event.”
Cold Speckshas just delivered a powerful video behind herNeuroplasticity closer, "A Season of Doubt." Weighing in on themes of racism and conflict, it can be watched online now.
The track plays out via spacious piano, mournful brass and Cold Specks' lines about finding the spirit to fight. Determined yet bleak, the Seth Pimlott-directed visuals often find the singer's visage, which stares deep into our souls, becoming eclipsed by footage of protestors clashing with police.
Cold Specks said of the video:
"I was in America when the Ferguson grand jury decision was announced. I was there again when it was announced the police officer who placed Eric Garner into a fatal chokehold would not be indicted. I felt an overwhelming sense of sadness. I just kept thinking of my baby brother. My brother is 12 years old. The same age as Tamir Rice, the child who was shot and killed as he carried his toy gun. It could've been him.
I shouldn't have to remember the first time I was called a nigger as vividly as my first kiss. I shouldn't have to experience and witness the burden of being black in 2015. It shouldn't have to be this painful."
You can let the message sink in by giving the video a stream down below, courtesy ofAfropunk.
Shortly before West Franklin Street meets Carrboro, a storefront with a blue awning displays the name Chapel Hill Comics.
Its yellow cartoon letters and the stuffed pastel cartoon characters in the window below may evoke a sense of nostalgia, but it’s clear the success of the comic books that line the shelves is anything but in the past.
With $935 million in United States and Canada sales, 2014 was the biggest year for print comic book sales since 1995, adjusting for inflation, according to an estimate from comic book and geek culture blogs Comichron and ICv2.
This was a 7 percent increase from 2013. It’s possible the uptick is linked to the superhero movies that have dominated the box office.
But small, local stores like Chapel Hill Comics have different challenges — and different advantages as well.
“I think companies like DC and Marvel, they say the comic business does well because their orders go up, but that doesn’t necessarily mean the sales in the shop are up,” Chapel Hill Comics owner Ryan Kulikowski said, referring to comics sold directly from the DC Comics or Marvel websites.
Kulikowski said his sales fluctuate more based on the season than the latest superhero movie.
“Winter is slow,” he said. “Summer’s been awesome.”
He attributes the summer sales peak to kids coming into town with their parents to visit UNC and exploring Franklin Street for the first time.
“Any time you’re on a trip, you’re definitely loose with the cash,” he said.
In 2011, the national economic slump caught up with Chapel Hill Comics.
In 2013, Mellow Mushroom moved in next door. That helped the store stay open later because there was a reason to — a new batch of customers coming by after dinnertime, takeout boxes in hand.
But comic-based movies and television do seem to trigger some increased interest in print comics.
Kulikowski said the Emmy-nominated Netflix series “Daredevil” has had people coming to West Franklin Street looking for the original version — the Stan Lee comic book series first published in 1964. The new Marvel Star Wars comic books, which Kulikowski said are well done and do justice to the original characters, have been selling well also.
“I like when they write good stuff,” he said. “A good story keeps them on for the long haul.”
But the local store isn’t dependent on Netflix or Hollywood for good business. Many customers, Kulikowski said, are consistent and want to support local business.
“A lot of my customers are people who work at other local businesses or work at the school,” he said. “It’s that community: we all want to support each other. I think there’s a lot of people who want their downtown to thrive.”
Chapel Hill Comics isn’t the only local go-to spot for superhero stories and other nostalgic entertainment.
Graphic novels, non-periodical books made up of comic-style art, are available at The Bookshop of Chapel Hill.
“They move very well; it’s pretty steady,” said Lee Johnson, who helps run The Bookshop.
And with a bar top done entirely in comic books and nearly 50 original arcade games from the past few decades, the Baxter Bar and Arcade aims to create a nostalgic atmosphere as well as a nightlife hot spot.
“I think that geek is chic right now, and I honestly think that it’s OK to like comic books and to love video games,” co-owner Nick Stroud said. “I think that it’s in, but I think that it’s always been in to some degree.”
Vancouver indie rock outfitDerrivalis set to release their latest EPDeparture and Arrivalnext month, but before it officially takes off and lands, Exclaim! has got your first look at the brand new video for "Canvas." The band know a thing or two about mixing things together to make it work. Not only were they formed from an array of high school bands back in 2009, but even their name is a combination of departures and arrivals. Sound-wise, they've created a concoction of synth-pop and melodic, guitar-driven rock that yet again showcases their knack for smoothly blending a variety of concepts. The new video was directed by Sean Depner and shot by Manual J. Ibanez, and it pays homage to the band's favourite childhood heroes. "We all loved the Power Rangers when we were kids," said vocalist Adam Mah. "So, we're basically living out a childhood fantasy with this video. How awesome is that?!" Playing with role reversal, the clip sees a town of Godzilla-esque people under attack by the giant, terrifying human Manzilla. Thankfully, the members of Derrival ditch what they're doing and come to the rescue — in colourful spandex. Departure and Arrivalis out on August 21, and you can see the band's upcoming tour dates listed below. Scroll past the shows and hit play to watch the action-packed video premiere of "Canvas."
Tour dates:
08/29 Kelowna, BC - Fleetwood Public House 09/01 Red Deer, AB - Fratters Speakeasy 09/02 Edmonton, AB - Wunderbar 09/03 Saskatoon, SK - Capitol Music Club 09/04 Calgary, AB - Broken City 09/05 Banff, AB - Elk & Oarsman Pub 09/25 Vancouver, BC - Venue
"Heart Attack" sees AOA changing up their signature, rhythmic sound (the same one that helped them initially break out with last year's "Miniskirt") to embrace a peppy, electro-pop production. Over the stadium-sized EDM sound that initially broke thanks to Calvin Harris and David Guetta, the septet bring fluttery vocals that, at times, get lost in the unforgiving beats, but become more easily deciphered upon further listening. The group will need to nail the head voice-heavy delivery (not to mention the athletic choreography) during live performances to guarantee the success of this single.
Similar to the videos for "Short Hair" and "Like a Cat," the band's latest gets a glossy, concept-driven visual that sees the girls playing adorable underdogs. This time, the setting is a school where the gal pals are part of a pitiful lacrosse team and the male lead leaves member Choa blushing and flustered. Seolhyun plays the new girl who, at first, looks like she's going to steal Choa's crush away, but instead helps her fellow ladies with their lacrosse, equipment, stretchingand flirting. By the next game, they're are kicking their competitors' asses and (spoiler alert!) Choa gets the guy.
Similar to EXO's sports-themed "Love Me Right" video there's a few laughable oversights (like how females are competing against an all-male team, which wouldn't happen in any school, along with the complete lack of gear on AOA, but full-on protection for their competitors), but it's all done in a fun and colorful way to make them easy to overlook.
"Heart Attack" is the title single from AOA's new EP that five other new songs. "Like a Cat," released in late 2014, marked AOA's first appearance on a U.S. Billboard chart when it bowed at No. 9 on World Digital Songs. Will this sport concept lead them to higher chart success?
It's summer, and SISTAR has dropped their new album, 'Shake It.' The great thing is that I get the idea this was planned. For the last few years, SISTAR has released something for the summer. The title track has apparently hit a perfect all-kill, so how does the rest of the EP stack up?
"Shake It" is a pseudo-retro track with mindless hooks ("na na na") and accompanying horns. Also there's an absolutely simple rap by Bora, which isn't playing to her usual abilities. It took a few listens, but it grew on me. I'm still not comfortable with the rap for the record.
The girls scold their boyfriend in "Don't Be Such a Child." It's a playful track, much calmer than "Shake It." Of course Giriboy doesn't take this laying down, and tells them, "I don't wanna argue, just let it go." It's actually kind of funny when you listen to it, light-hearted and catchy.
The bouncy, exuberant "Good Time" bids a boyfriend adieu and is trying to convince him that it's over. A sample of the lyrics: "Good Time, Good Time. I'm happy don't worry." This must be the cheeriest breakup song ever. Hooky as hell; not only that, I found the song amusing, probably because of the tempo.
And that's where "Bad Guy" comes in, to reassure us that breakups aren't joyous affairs -- especially when the guy cheats. It's not entirely what we'd expect from a SISTAR ballad; it's a typically soaring track, with stops and echo effects to jazz it up, not to mention raps by Mad Clown and Bora.
"Go Up" is a jangly, energetic track tailor-made to make heads bob and feet dance. It's 80's pop writ large, and it has a pleasant, danceable sound. At times, it also sounds like some of f(x)'s 'PinkTape' album. As you might expect, it's how a guy is driving them crazy.
This definitely feels like a SISTAR album. We've got several dance tracks and a ballad, which is par for the course. If you're a lover of light, fluffy pop like I am, then this disc is for you. Very radio friendly, with enough danceable hooks and good vibes to make this album worth a spin this summer.
MV REVIEW
To quote Jerry Lee Lewis, there's a "whole lotta shakin' goin' on."
The girls of SISTAR go through their moves as they engage in high school hijinx. Barely there outfits, bright colors, and even some animation (with speech bubbles and the like) give this video some definite eye candy.
I'm not really down with the undue emphasis of the posterior. When they were singing about shaking it, I didn't think of "it" as the butt. Now someone's going to point out they do say "rump" in the beginning. They do, true, but it's not throughout the piece. Here, we get some butt shaking every 20 seconds or so. Not that it's a bad thing to do that, but here it just felt extreme.
And I felt it ruined what could have been a good dance. Ever since "Give It To Me," the dances have gotten simpler and cheesier. In the show '4Minute's Travelmaker,' SISTARwas able to drop into a pretty professional dance routine at the drop of a hat. What happened?
Regardless, it's not a terrible video, but it was less than I was hoping for.
British rockers Elbow released their Lost Worker Bee EP today in the UK, and to spread the word, they've shared a video for the title track. 
Following the recently revealed remix of Janet Jackson's "No Sleeep" single with J. Cole, the pair have now delivered a nocturnal new music video for the track. 
Scottish twee-pop unit Belle and Sebastian offered up their latest LP Girls in Peacetime Want to Dance at the beginning of the year, but they're keeping the momentum behind it going with a new clip for "Perfect Couples." 
After dropping a Frank Ocean cover earlier this week, Major Lazer is shining the spotlight back on their latest LP Peace Is the Mission with a new video for "Powerful." 
As Madchild fans may have already noticed, the Vancouver rapper officially let us lap up his Silver Tongue Devil release today (July 24). To celebrate its arrival, the Battle Axe warrior has revealed yet another video behind the release, this time for reflective rap track "Everytime." 
Last year, Weezer dropped the optimistically titled Everything Will Be Alright in the End, which featured Best Coast's Bethany Cosentino on "Go Away." She joined the band for a live rendition on KROQ a while back, but now the tune has been given the official video treatment. 
Cold Specks has just delivered a powerful video behind herNeuroplasticity closer, "A Season of Doubt." Weighing in on themes of racism and conflict, it can be watched online now. 
Sudbury-born, Montreal-based singer-songwriter Justine Giles released her debut LP Shine last year, and she's keeping the momentum behind it rolling with a brand new video for album cut "Sparks" — and Exclaim! has got your first look at it. 
Vancouver indie rock outfit Derrival is set to release their latest EP Departure and Arrival next month, but before it officially takes off and lands, Exclaim! has got your first look at the brand new video for "Canvas." 
