Hercules and Love Affair: "Blind" Video
Related Videos
Hercules and Love Affair: "You Belong"
Directed by Kris Moyes, Hercules and Love Affair's new video for "You Belong" is a black and white hypnotic exploration of a world where underground dance culture and myth collide.
Hercules Tunes Explorer Wireless
The Hercules Tunes Explorer Wireless remote control lets you access your digital music library from across the room--but whether or not you find that useful is another issue.
Over the past decade, New York City's Ida has mapped their own space in the American underground music scene, defying easy categorization with unpredictable, emotionally charged, frequently memorable live shows, and a series of distinctly voiced records. Driven by three strong singer songwriters and telepathic musicianship, Ida has never accepted the straitjacket of resting on their accomplishments. Whether playing and singing quieter than Joao Gilberto in his living room, or blasting full volume ecstatic guitar noise, Ida embraces a broad template of musical ideas- from acoustic chamber pop, old time folk, and free improvisation to minimalist drones, shimmering harmonies, Krautrock ambience, and bad Prince covers. Throughout it all, Ida has remained a steadfast pillar in the independent community, collaborating with numerous individuals from well respected bands, organizing and playing benefits for a wide array of political and artistic causes, and running their own record label, Last Affair. Ida formed in 1992 as a duo when fellow Brooklynites Elizabeth Mitchell and Daniel Littleton began writing songs together. They soon enlisted friend and upright bassist Rick Lassiter to join them. The trio recorded the Songs from the Ranch tape that winter on their 4-track, and began playing shows in New York City. When a copy of the tape fell into the hands of Jenny Toomey and Kristin Thompson, owners of the staunchly independent and highly influential Simple Machines label, the two offered to put out Ida's debut full-length. In Spring 1994 at Excello Recording in Williamsburg Brooklyn, Ida recorded Tales of Brave Ida a collection of hauntingly beautiful love songs and ambient instrumentals. When Lassiter moved back to North Carolina, Daniel's brother Miggy (White Magic, Blood on the Wall) joined the band as drummer and multi-instrumentalist. Ida hit the road on their first tour opening for Tsunami. Tales of Brave Ida received enthusiastic reviews, eliciting comparisons to the forceful, somber sounds of the Velvet Underground and Nick Drake. Ida had arrived. The following year, Daniel began touring extensively with Liquorice, a 4AD band he founded with Jenny Toomey. Despite a relatively slow year on the Ida front, the band released a 7" on Simple Machines and wrote the songs that would make up their next album. On the first day of the Blizzard of '96, Ida literally dug their way into the studio to record their second full-length, I Know About You. The addition of Miggy on drums brought spartan, pensive rhythms that added a powerful new dynamic to Ida's quietly intense sound. Lassiter's string arrangements and the contributions of Daniel and Miggy's sister Cecilia on violin and viola, brought new layers of dissonance and sonic depth to the recording. That spring Ida toured nationally with Steve Immerwahr (Codeine) on bass and Elaine Ahn on cello. In the fall, Beekeeper bassist/vocalist Karla Schickele joined as permanent bass player for Ida just in time for their second full U.S. tour. 1997 brought constant touring as well as the band's third full-length, Ten Small Paces. The album was a scrapbook of sorts, nestling five covers from songwriters as diverse as Bill Monroe and Brian Eno between ten original tracks. Recorded in various stops while on tour (including a recording session with His Name Is Alive mastermind Warren Defever), the album exuded a loose, offhand "mixtape" feel that perfectly suited the warmth and intimacy of the group. These qualities helped make it one of the band's most beloved albums. Ida toured the first of several tours with the band Low, and began touring regularly with genius violinist Ida Pearle (Ted Leo, Magnetic Fields, William Parker). In Fall 1997, knowing the end of Simple Machines as a label was near, Ida signed with Capitol Records. In 1998, Ida released two EPs including The Ida Retsin Family, Volume One a collaboration with Tara Jane O'Neil (Rodan) and Cynthia Nelson (Ruby Falls, the Naysayer). Additionally, Liz, a former teacher at Roosevelt Island Day Nursery in NYC, recorded a critically acclaimed children's album of old time acoustic folk songs. Shortly thereafter, Ida entered the studio to record Ida's Capitol debut. It was the first time Ida had entered the studio with a recording budget. The Capitol album Will You Find Me was completed in May 1999. However some significant changes had taken place at Capitol Records since Ida's signing -the president was fired and the entire staff was replaced by robots- and the band spent the next six months in limbo. Ida realized that even though they had completed (recorded, mixed and mastered) one album, they had actually recorded enough songs for two full-length LPs on Capitol's dime. Ida eventually won back ownership of their Capitol master tapes. Miggy left the band in the fall of 1999. For their fall 1999 tour, Ida got quieter than ever with an ambitious 6-piece acoustic ensemble, including woodwinds and strings. Several of the shows were part of a series of benefit concerts for Low Power Radio and the grass roots movement to save community-based radio from the dominance of corporate radio stations and media consolidation. They released Insound Tour Support: Ida Live At Carnegie Hall, an 18-song live document, culled from performances at The Anthology Film Archive in NYC, a live WFMU broadcast, a raucous Derby show in Louisville KY and many stops along the road. In 2000, Ida found a new label home with New York's Tiger Style Record who released Will You Find Me. The release was named album of the week by Jon Pareles in the New York Times, August 18, 2000, and named among the year end "best of" lists in both Spin, and the New York Times. The quieter the band got, the more people seemed to pay attention. The band spent the year touring with various ensembles including longtime member Ida Pearle, original drummer Miggy Littleton and newer collaborators Trip Gray (Joe Morris Trio), Zach Wallace (Flashpapr), Dave Curry (Willard Grant Conspiracy, Thalia Zedek), Fred Thomas (Saturday Looks Good to Me, Flashpapr), Jacob Danziger (Flashpapr), Andrew Hall (The Moonlighters, Sparklehorse), and Amy Domingues (Threnody Ensemble). They toured with Pedro the Lion, Low, Shannon Wright, and Julie Doiron. A year later, Tiger Style released The Braille Night, the second of the Capitol-era albums which aptly re-created the intimacy and magic of Ida's live performances. The Braille Night served as a fitting companion piece to Will You Find Me, the perfect ending/beginning of a new century for the band. In the years since the release of The Braille Night, Daniel and Liz took time away from Ida's intense touring schedule to raise their daughter, Storey. They also released two childrens records, and an electro-acoustic duo called Nanang Tatang. Daniel toured Japan and recorded as a solo piano/harmonium/guitar singer songwriter. He also recorded and toured in Italy as an improviser/noisemaker with Geoff Farina (Karate, Secret Stars). Karla toured and performed as K., releasing two records on Tiger Style and a split EP with Low, and doing a dreamy stint as Low?s guest keyboardist opening for Radiohead in Europe. When Tiger Style went on hiatus in February 2004, Ida again found themselves without a label, after having completed a new record. After talking with the folks at Polyvinyl Records, Ida knew they had found the perfect label to help them to exist, and to put out their new record, Heart Like a River. This record marks a period of renewed creativity for the band including collaborations with longtime Ida co-conspirators Cecilia Littleton and original bassist Rick Lassiter as well as violinist Jean Cook (Jon Langford, The Beauty Pill) and cellist Dominique Davison (Threnody Ensemble). Heart Like a River also marks the first time the band has collaborated with producer/engineer Warren Defever on an album from start to finish. After a long touring hiatus, Ida will again return to the road this winter, with Jean Cook on violin and new drummer Ruth Keating (K, The Malarkies). Heart Like a River will be released February 22, 2005.
Over the past decade, New York City's Ida has mapped their own space in the American underground music scene, defying easy categorization with unpredictable, emotionally charged, frequently memorable live shows, and a series of distinctly voiced records. Driven by three strong singer songwriters and telepathic musicianship, Ida has never accepted the straitjacket of resting on their accomplishments. Whether playing and singing quieter than Joao Gilberto in his living room, or blasting full volume ecstatic guitar noise, Ida embraces a broad template of musical ideas- from acoustic chamber pop, old time folk, and free improvisation to minimalist drones, shimmering harmonies, Krautrock ambience, and bad Prince covers. Throughout it all, Ida has remained a steadfast pillar in the independent community, collaborating with numerous individuals from well respected bands, organizing and playing benefits for a wide array of political and artistic causes, and running their own record label, Last Affair. Ida formed in 1992 as a duo when fellow Brooklynites Elizabeth Mitchell and Daniel Littleton began writing songs together. They soon enlisted friend and upright bassist Rick Lassiter to join them. The trio recorded the Songs from the Ranch tape that winter on their 4-track, and began playing shows in New York City. When a copy of the tape fell into the hands of Jenny Toomey and Kristin Thompson, owners of the staunchly independent and highly influential Simple Machines label, the two offered to put out Ida's debut full-length. In Spring 1994 at Excello Recording in Williamsburg Brooklyn, Ida recorded Tales of Brave Ida a collection of hauntingly beautiful love songs and ambient instrumentals. When Lassiter moved back to North Carolina, Daniel's brother Miggy (White Magic, Blood on the Wall) joined the band as drummer and multi-instrumentalist. Ida hit the road on their first tour opening for Tsunami. Tales of Brave Ida received enthusiastic reviews, eliciting comparisons to the forceful, somber sounds of the Velvet Underground and Nick Drake. Ida had arrived. The following year, Daniel began touring extensively with Liquorice, a 4AD band he founded with Jenny Toomey. Despite a relatively slow year on the Ida front, the band released a 7" on Simple Machines and wrote the songs that would make up their next album. On the first day of the Blizzard of '96, Ida literally dug their way into the studio to record their second full-length, I Know About You. The addition of Miggy on drums brought spartan, pensive rhythms that added a powerful new dynamic to Ida's quietly intense sound. Lassiter's string arrangements and the contributions of Daniel and Miggy's sister Cecilia on violin and viola, brought new layers of dissonance and sonic depth to the recording. That spring Ida toured nationally with Steve Immerwahr (Codeine) on bass and Elaine Ahn on cello. In the fall, Beekeeper bassist/vocalist Karla Schickele joined as permanent bass player for Ida just in time for their second full U.S. tour. 1997 brought constant touring as well as the band's third full-length, Ten Small Paces. The album was a scrapbook of sorts, nestling five covers from songwriters as diverse as Bill Monroe and Brian Eno between ten original tracks. Recorded in various stops while on tour (including a recording session with His Name Is Alive mastermind Warren Defever), the album exuded a loose, offhand "mixtape" feel that perfectly suited the warmth and intimacy of the group. These qualities helped make it one of the band's most beloved albums. Ida toured the first of several tours with the band Low, and began touring regularly with genius violinist Ida Pearle (Ted Leo, Magnetic Fields, William Parker). In Fall 1997, knowing the end of Simple Machines as a label was near, Ida signed with Capitol Records. In 1998, Ida released two EPs including The Ida Retsin Family, Volume One a collaboration with Tara Jane O'Neil (Rodan) and Cynthia Nelson (Ruby Falls, the Naysayer). Additionally, Liz, a former teacher at Roosevelt Island Day Nursery in NYC, recorded a critically acclaimed children's album of old time acoustic folk songs. Shortly thereafter, Ida entered the studio to record Ida's Capitol debut. It was the first time Ida had entered the studio with a recording budget. The Capitol album Will You Find Me was completed in May 1999. However some significant changes had taken place at Capitol Records since Ida's signing -the president was fired and the entire staff was replaced by robots- and the band spent the next six months in limbo. Ida realized that even though they had completed (recorded, mixed and mastered) one album, they had actually recorded enough songs for two full-length LPs on Capitol's dime. Ida eventually won back ownership of their Capitol master tapes. Miggy left the band in the fall of 1999. For their fall 1999 tour, Ida got quieter than ever with an ambitious 6-piece acoustic ensemble, including woodwinds and strings. Several of the shows were part of a series of benefit concerts for Low Power Radio and the grass roots movement to save community-based radio from the dominance of corporate radio stations and media consolidation. They released Insound Tour Support: Ida Live At Carnegie Hall, an 18-song live document, culled from performances at The Anthology Film Archive in NYC, a live WFMU broadcast, a raucous Derby show in Louisville KY and many stops along the road. In 2000, Ida found a new label home with New York's Tiger Style Record who released Will You Find Me. The release was named album of the week by Jon Pareles in the New York Times, August 18, 2000, and named among the year end "best of" lists in both Spin, and the New York Times. The quieter the band got, the more people seemed to pay attention. The band spent the year touring with various ensembles including longtime member Ida Pearle, original drummer Miggy Littleton and newer collaborators Trip Gray (Joe Morris Trio), Zach Wallace (Flashpapr), Dave Curry (Willard Grant Conspiracy, Thalia Zedek), Fred Thomas (Saturday Looks Good to Me, Flashpapr), Jacob Danziger (Flashpapr), Andrew Hall (The Moonlighters, Sparklehorse), and Amy Domingues (Threnody Ensemble). They toured with Pedro the Lion, Low, Shannon Wright, and Julie Doiron. A year later, Tiger Style released The Braille Night, the second of the Capitol-era albums which aptly re-created the intimacy and magic of Ida's live performances. The Braille Night served as a fitting companion piece to Will You Find Me, the perfect ending/beginning of a new century for the band. In the years since the release of The Braille Night, Daniel and Liz took time away from Ida's intense touring schedule to raise their daughter, Storey. They also released two childrens records, and an electro-acoustic duo called Nanang Tatang. Daniel toured Japan and recorded as a solo piano/harmonium/guitar singer songwriter. He also recorded and toured in Italy as an improviser/noisemaker with Geoff Farina (Karate, Secret Stars). Karla toured and performed as K., releasing two records on Tiger Style and a split EP with Low, and doing a dreamy stint as Low?s guest keyboardist opening for Radiohead in Europe. When Tiger Style went on hiatus in February 2004, Ida again found themselves without a label, after having completed a new record. After talking with the folks at Polyvinyl Records, Ida knew they had found the perfect label to help them to exist, and to put out their new record, Heart Like a River. This record marks a period of renewed creativity for the band including collaborations with longtime Ida co-conspirators Cecilia Littleton and original bassist Rick Lassiter as well as violinist Jean Cook (Jon Langford, The Beauty Pill) and cellist Dominique Davison (Threnody Ensemble). Heart Like a River also marks the first time the band has collaborated with producer/engineer Warren Defever on an album from start to finish. After a long touring hiatus, Ida will again return to the road this winter, with Jean Cook on violin and new drummer Ruth Keating (K, The Malarkies). Heart Like a River will be released February 22, 2005.
The fifth full-length Nettwerk release from Vancouver-based duo Bill Leeb and Rhys Fulber, Nuages Du Monde (Clouds of the World) continues the evolution of Delerium from creators of predominantly instrumental filmic soundscapes to a fully-fledged vocal group. Featuring an array of renowned singers, Nuages Du Monde neatly combines the more overtly commercial pop of previous album Chimera (2003) with the lush sensual ambience and cloistered harmonies of 1997?s Karma, a meld that bridges the gap between world music, new age electronics and modern classical.
Continuing a long-held DJ Kicks tradition, Kieran Hebden (aka Four Tet) has contributed a brand new Four Tet track, specially created for his forthcoming 'DJ Kicks' compilation. Entitled 'Pockets' and released as an exclusive 12? single on June 12th, this is the only new Four Tet material to appear this year.'Pockets' is trademark Four Tet: a bona-fide euphoric dancefloor filler?Although by now we all surely expect nothing less from an artist and producer so widely revered for consistent innovation and creativity. This exclusive DJ Kicks track is an infectious and expertly-mixed brew of layered, stabbing synths and dominant fussion jazz percussion (which seems to teeter on the brink of fully-fledged wig-out throughout), as well as a crescendo chorus of xylophones, chimes, and of course a host of distinctively 'Four Tet' electronic elements. A heady mix indeed.For a man known primarily for his home made excursions to the far reaches of the musical map, Kieran Hebden as a DJ is a different kind of trip, the gratifying results of which can be seen all over his exemplary 'DJ Kicks' compilation, due for release on June 26th.Four Tet's DJ Kicks is a mind blowing experience, taking in just about as many genres as there are tracks (which is 20). Old skool hip-hop, French prog, conscious electronic experimentation, minimal techno, early two-step, cosmic jazz, African thumb pianos and much more besides share space here, bound together by analogue synth interludes and of course, 'Pockets'.The pure soul genius of Curtis Mayfield sits alongside the likes of David Behman's 'Leap-day Night (Scene 1)', the squelchy and off-kilter techno of Model 500's 'Psychosomatic', Animal Collective, Akufen, the early 90's major label hip-hop of Showbiz & AG's 'Represent', 'Autechre's 'Flutter', Madvillain (a Four Tet favourite and longtime collaborator), Heiner Stadler, and the cosmic jazz of Julian Priester and Pepe Mtoto's 'Love, Love'. Even So Solid Crew's (the local Wandsworth lads who bedazzled the young Kieran with their fearless experimentation) 'Dilemma' finds a happy home on the diverse mix.
Raul Midon: "Pick Somebody Up"
Originality in pop these days is a commodity. Raul Midon is rare in music, and his originality and vibrant sound are again evident on his new CD: A World Within a World(Manhattan Records). Following up on his audacious: State of Mind CD, A World Within a World provides an even more memorable song cycle, again revealing great depth, talent, and dedication. Midon who loves Paul Simon, James Taylor and Prince as much as Miles Davis, is a fiercely a single-minded artist, blind from birth, who has always created with his imagination.
Dri has spent her music career lending her vocal and keyboard chops to bands like the much missed first wave emo-band The Anniversary, and Saddle Creek's Art In Manila. Her sultry debut "Smoke Rings" is a collection of kisses (and kiss-offs) blown to past and present loves; a swirl of stoned immediacy with feelings and melodies coming to life in loose perfection. A departure in sound from her previous work "Smoke Rings" is a diverse soulful affair taking influence from the classic sounds of Motown and Stax as well as modern R&B.
Hieroglyphics: "Live in Tempe, AZ"
Rooted in the creative atmosphere of the Bay Area, Hieroglyphics has emerged as a powerful force within underground hip-hop culture. Comprised of Del the FunkyHomosapien, Casual, Pep Love, Domino, and the group Souls of Mischief, this crew is one of the first to successfully forge careers as a collective and as individual artists. Sales for the crew have sailed well beyond 3 million units-- and that?s not even including their various tapes and underground records released in the early days. If you felt the Hieroglyphics camp for the first time when Del emerged on the scene in '91 with the classic, I Wish My Brother George Was Here (Elektra) you had to know that great things were ahead. And on and on, good things came from Hiero, including: Del?s 1993 release, No Need for Alarm (Elektra), Souls? debut in 1993, 93 til Infinity (Jive), Casual's 1994 release Fear Itself (Jive), and Souls? follow up in 1995, No Man?s Land (Jive). In 1997, armed with experience and insight, Hieroglyphics formed their own independent company, Hiero Imperium, and soon released their first album as a collective unit, Third Eye Vision, followed by releases by each of the individual artists on the label. Hiero also built a strong online presence through their award-winning website ? hieroglyphics.com (9 years and running!) and a merchandise line prominently featuring their famous three-eyed logo. The success of the Hieroglyphics Imperium label has enabled them to branch out beyond their own work to expand their musical legacy. In 2002 Hiero released one of Hip-Hop?s first CD/DVD hybrids, One Big Trip, which included a soundtrack on one side of the disc and a movie on the other. Artists within the collective also have collaborated with the likes of Dilated Peoples, Q-Tip, Xzibit, George Clinton, Jurassic 5, and Dan the Automator (Deltron 3030). The most notable of these collaborations was Del the Funky Homosapien?s lead vocal performance on "Clint Eastwood", the smash single off of the multi-platinum selling album from the Gorillaz. 2003 brought about the highest grossing fiscal year ever, along with the formation of a brand-new distribution wing of Hiero Imperium, which showcases the next wave of innovative independent artists. Releases included projects with soul singer Goapele, and hip-hop artists Z-Man and Encore. In 2004, the expansion continued. The Hiero crew has followed up Third Eye Vision with a new release entitled Full Circle , as well as a solo album from Tajai (Souls of Mischief)-Power Movement, and V/A The Building, a budget compilation of things to come. 2005 will bring about forthcoming albums from: Opio (Triangulation Station) Casual (Smash Rockwell), Pep Love (Reconstruction) and Del (Eleventh Hour). Also included in this surge of creativity is the newly formed multi-media branch of Hiero Imperium, set to release a DVD of the recent Hieroglyphics "Full Circle" Tour. Keep your third eye open!
Hieroglyphics: "Full Circle Tour Live" DVD
Rooted in the creative atmosphere of the Bay Area, Hieroglyphics has emerged as a powerful force within underground hip-hop culture. Comprised of Del the FunkyHomosapien, Casual, Pep Love, Domino, and the group Souls of Mischief, this crew is one of the first to successfully forge careers as a collective and as individual artists. Sales for the crew have sailed well beyond 3 million units-- and that?s not even including their various tapes and underground records released in the early days. If you felt the Hieroglyphics camp for the first time when Del emerged on the scene in '91 with the classic, I Wish My Brother George Was Here (Elektra) you had to know that great things were ahead. And on and on, good things came from Hiero, including: Del?s 1993 release, No Need for Alarm (Elektra), Souls? debut in 1993, 93 til Infinity (Jive), Casual's 1994 release Fear Itself (Jive), and Souls? follow up in 1995, No Man?s Land (Jive). In 1997, armed with experience and insight, Hieroglyphics formed their own independent company, Hiero Imperium, and soon released their first album as a collective unit, Third Eye Vision, followed by releases by each of the individual artists on the label. Hiero also built a strong online presence through their award-winning website ? hieroglyphics.com (9 years and running!) and a merchandise line prominently featuring their famous three-eyed logo. The success of the Hieroglyphics Imperium label has enabled them to branch out beyond their own work to expand their musical legacy. In 2002 Hiero released one of Hip-Hop?s first CD/DVD hybrids, One Big Trip, which included a soundtrack on one side of the disc and a movie on the other. Artists within the collective also have collaborated with the likes of Dilated Peoples, Q-Tip, Xzibit, George Clinton, Jurassic 5, and Dan the Automator (Deltron 3030). The most notable of these collaborations was Del the Funky Homosapien?s lead vocal performance on "Clint Eastwood", the smash single off of the multi-platinum selling album from the Gorillaz. 2003 brought about the highest grossing fiscal year ever, along with the formation of a brand-new distribution wing of Hiero Imperium, which showcases the next wave of innovative independent artists. Releases included projects with soul singer Goapele, and hip-hop artists Z-Man and Encore. In 2004, the expansion continued. The Hiero crew has followed up Third Eye Vision with a new release entitled Full Circle , as well as a solo album from Tajai (Souls of Mischief)-Power Movement, and V/A The Building, a budget compilation of things to come. 2005 will bring about forthcoming albums from: Opio (Triangulation Station) Casual (Smash Rockwell), Pep Love (Reconstruction) and Del (Eleventh Hour). Also included in this surge of creativity is the newly formed multi-media branch of Hiero Imperium, set to release a DVD of the recent Hieroglyphics "Full Circle" Tour. Keep your third eye open!
