AA Loves: Lily and the Parlour Tricks

Be forewarned because you may not survive Lily and the Parlour Tricks’ gorgeous sound. Like the sultry southern sirens of O Brother Where Art Thou?, they will draw you in with their gorgeous three-part harmonies and deadly sex appeal only to turn one of your friends into a frog.

Okay not really, but you get the point – their sound is dangerously seductive. Drawing on a wide range of influences, Lily and the Parlour Tricks blend raucous old timey saloon jangles with the sugary sweetness of 1950s pop, the devilish cunning of a snake oil salesman, and a bit of Motown soul to create one of the most mesmerizing sounds I’ve heard in a long time.

Watch below as they fight off the brutal rhythms of a German nightclub with their sexy sound.

Exitmusic @ Death By Audio 1-27-12

For nearly thirty minutes last Friday, Death by Audio was converted into a place of eerie worship as Exitmusic wove a ghostly spell over a packed room, leaving everyone in a nearly catatonic state of aural bliss.

Flooding the tiny smoke-filled venue with wave after wave of ethereal incantations, Exitmusic simply overwhelmed the senses. In stunned silence, the crowd hung on every one of Aleksa Palladino’s ghoulish wails in all of their morbid beauty. “Rip your eyes out tonight” she whispered dangerously on the show’s opener “The Sea” with a voice filled with yearning, desire, and anxiety.

Seemingly tranquil, each track was rife with roiling tension that lurked just below the surface waiting to explode and engulf unsuspecting listeners. Dragging the audience down into turbulent waters rife with lushly textured melodies and filling their lungs with thunderous drums, vaporous synths, and unearthly guitar lines, Exitmusic left little room for air.

Watch the chilling video for “The Sea” and “The Hours” below, and be sure to pick up their EP From Silence, which is out via Secretly Canadian.

The Sea from EXITMUSIC on Vimeo.

EXITMUSIC - "The Hours" from stereogum on Vimeo.

Troubadour Dali – Pale Glow

For a dose of blues rock with a hazy, haunting twist, check out Troubadour Dali.

I recently got a chance to catch a few tracks from their latest album and within ten seconds it was pretty apparent that this sextet from St. Louis is somethin’ mighty fierce.

Combining grinding guitars with long psycahdelic instrumental breaks and fuzzy vocals, Troubadour Dali plays like a hardcore bluesy Americana version of Yuck.

Check out the live video for “Pale Glow,” taken from their second album Let’s Make It Right.

Saskwatch – Don’t Wanna Try

Who better to carry on the torch of Motown soul than nine Aussies. Wait, what the what? I’m super cereal, Saskwatch is the real deal. Fellow Motown revivalists Alabama Shakes, which have been blowing up the innanets of late, are going to have to watch out because Saskwatch gives them a serious run for the money. 

With a voice steeped in the soul fire of Aretha and Tammi Terrell, vocalist Nkechi Anele lights up “Don’t Wanna Try” like a four-alarm fire. Riding smoothly over doo wop bass lines, funky trumpets, and bouncing pianos, Saskwatch will send you to a magical land where everyone is named Curtis, Marvin, or Etta.

Stream the hot new 7” below along with the B-side “Pushin’ Me Away” below.

  

Living Days – If You Ever

Unfurl the celebratory banners, let the trumpets blare, and put on your finest livery because Living Days is back with a brand new song.

Keeping in line with their insanely danceable EP Make Out Room, Vol. 1, “If You Ever” is an intense dark wave dance floor banger. Stephonik Youth’s hushed whispers are as sultry as ever and there are more than enough sparkly synths and shimmering beats to go around.

Have a listen below and stay tuned as it seems this Brooklyn five-piece has been busy in the studio.

  IF YOU EVER by LIVING DAYS

Stillwater Giants – Give Into Me

Say goodbye to those winter blues with Stillwater Giants and their insanely catchy “Give Into Me.”

With songs drenched in surf and sun, this Australian quartet is contagiously fun. Their addicting guitar lines, bubbling harmonies, and rollicking beats have all the charm and innocence of 60s pop -- throw in a pinch of 70s funk and you have all the ingredients for a rollicking good time.  

Check out the fun video for “Give Into Me” below and be sure to grab their fantastic self-titled debut EP.