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Tuesday, October 6, 2009

I’d Look Psychotic In a Balaclava

New Vampire Weekend Song Available for Download

Ahhhh viral band marketing, your beguiling and mesmeric charms have done it again. Vampire Weekend has just released the lead track from its upcoming album and in exchange for an e-mail address (or not), you could be listening to that very song on your iPod in no time. Horchata is now available in glorious high bit rate MP3 format as a free download on the band’s official website.

Definitely exploring the same musical territory to some of the songs on their first full length, the song takes on an almost celebratory vibe. This time though, the Brooklyn based quartet has traded in the trademark skittering guitars for xylophones and kalimbas. There is a lot going on in this song. The fuller sound is augmented with a host of other world-music instruments; some of which are played by Brazilian musician extraordinaire Mauro Refosco.
Vampire Weekend frontman Ezra Koenig told NME today , Vampire Weekend recruited Brazilian percussionist Mauro Refosco for the song. “We just heard he’s joined Thom Yorke’s band (The New Yorkers). He’s an amazing percussionist,” Koenig said Refosco, who performed with the Radiohead leader during his solo gigs in L.A. this past weekend.
Vampire Weekend is currently on tour, with two Canadian dates including a stop in Montreal tonight and Toronto on Thursday.

The band’s latest album, Contra is out on January 12th via XL. Here's the rest of those upcoming tour dates:

10/06 - Montreal, QC @ Le National
10/08 - Toronto, ON @ Horseshoe Tavern
10/15 - London, UK @ King's College
10/22 - Paris, FR @ Nouveau Casino
11/02 - Long Beach, CA @ The Art Theater
11/05 - Pioneertown, CA @ Pappy and Harriet's
11/07 - Lafayette, CA @ Town Hall Theatre
11/08 - Santa Cruz, CA @ Catalyst
11/09 - Visalia, CA @ The Cellar Door
11/10 - San Luis Obispo, CA @ Downtown Brew
11/12 - Bakersfield, CA @ Chencho's
11/14 - Lomita, CA @ VFW Hall
11/17 - Tokyo, JAP @ Tokyo Unit
11/21 - Sydney, AUS @ Oxford Art Factory


3 comments:

Barbara Bruederlin said...

The New Yorkers? Really, is that what they ended up being named? I don't know why I didn't think of that, it's so simple but so perfect.

Vampire Weekend song is now downloaded (without leaving an email address, no body is tracking this little blogger down) and I am looking forward to hearing how they have advanced into the realm of world music, around which they have always danced.

Thanks, Sean!

Stuart A. Thompson said...

Sweet man, nice find! I downloaded it and am giving it a listen... give me a sec...

Oh, yes, I like it! Naturally, they're so shamelessly fun. I'm hearing a little Animal Collective in this, especially the Brazilian percussionists moves. Maybe a song for the blog... !

Sean Wraight said...

Barbara - New Yorkers HA! That Thom is a genius isn't he? Keep it simple, keep it perfect for certain. I sure hope he can make a go of this one though. That other band of nothings he belongs to should hang it up.

Stu - I think its definitely a step in the right direction for the band. It is the instrumentation on this one that makes it so distinctive. Definitely some Animal Collective seeping into this one. I think this one would be perfect for the blawg. Just live with it for a few weeks and let its idiosyncrasies reveal themselves.

s