Kristoff Krane To Play Soundset 2009, Releases New Songs

Kristoff Krane announced earlier in the year that he's due to release two new EPs in the late April/early May, one as himself, and one as ABZORBR, his more atmospheric, but similarily hip-hop alter-ego. Now, Krane has revealed, via MySpace, that he's posted a few new tracks from both EP3, the ABZORBR release that sees the light of the digital-only day on May 23rd, and from his EP as Kristoff Krane, Picking Flowers Next To Road Kill.

The song from Kill, "Leave The Summer," is a sparse number, with an acoustic guitar, and a soft, skipping beat straight out of trip-hop. Krane's flow is a bit reminscent of Lupe Fiasco's. The other tracks, from EP 3, are a little heavier, both musical and lyrically, with Krane experimenting with distorted textures, church organ, and a minimalist, almost dystopian take on hip-hop. Listen to the tracks on his MySpace, then congratulate him on making the Soundset 2009 lineup.

Kristoff Krane MySpace Page

(Jon Graef)

The Deaths Post New Old Music

Speaking of Minneapolis bands and live music, psych-pop devotees The Deaths have posted two new songs on their MySpace Page, one of which is a performance that was taped at the Current earlier this year. That song is the waltz "Turn for the Worst", which finds the band at its most pop-filled, with a sound that is redolent of the 60s (particularly mid-period Beatles). The Deaths also posted the demo of "Revolution" (no relation to Chairman Mao or the number 9), a tension-filled, but more laid-back as well, psychdelic number with a sighing keyboard line much like MBV.

Listen to both songs here.

(Jonathan Graef)

The Deaths Post New Songs on MySpace

The Deaths have posted three songs on their MySpace Page, each one taken from their latest release, Centralia. The band, whose brand of psychedelic indie-pop recalls seminal groups like The Beatles and Pink Floyd, and even more contemporary examples like Air (though without the ambient influences), put out Centralia in April, but if you haven't been able to pick it up until now, heading over to the group's 'Space is the best opportunity to hear the new music. The songs are called: "Peter Duncan", which is very Meet The Beatles, music wise; "To The Start", which begins with ominous organ sound before settling into a mid-tempo groove which highly recalls Pink Floyd's "Breathe"; and, lastly, "It Takes Time", which kicks off with a minor-key riff doubled by bass and guitar before settling into another Beatles influenced pop verse.

Hear all of the songs on the band's MySpace page. Listen to "Stay", one of the better tracks from Centralia, at the top of the post.

span style="font-style:italic;">Centralia is out now.

The Deaths MySpace Page

(Jonathan Graef)