BlackPlastic doesn't know much about this video apart from its awesome-ness. It's a soul joint that is a bit reminiscent of some of Common's material from the Like Water For Chocolate era only a bit more melancholic. The video itself is pretty special so stick with it - it starts off very understated but as the song progresses it really starts to reflect the sounds - we won't say any more than that because it would spoil it.
The song is taken from the Conversations With Her EP, which is out now on Melting Pot Music, and the video is directed by Eric3000 & Marque.
Created to commemorate the end of Mayer Hawthorne's two-month tour, which finishes on Thursday in San Francisco, Hawthorne is releasing this rather sublime cover of Tony Bennet's 'I Left My Heart In San Francisco' in collaboration with SF based Huf and designer Freegums.
If you haven't checked out Hawthorne yet then BlackPlastic suggests you do - this cover strikes a beautiful balance between his usual refined soul sound and a more subdued, lounge style that reminds us of Richard Hawley.
LCD's lead single from the forthcoming album has hit the interwebs and it's pretty sweet. Not a re-defining track in the same way as 'Someone Great' or 'All My Friends' but more like a 'North American Scum' but better.
Based on the fact they are now headlining (headlining!) Barclaycard's O2 festival in London 2010 just might be theirs:
Pitchtwit is the pseudonym for Yorkshire's Tom Sidebottom and according to the release the music is about melody and energy and, having had a listen, BlackPlastic would say that the release is on the money.
'Bulletproof', co-written with Sidebottom's long-time writing partner Jesse O'Mahoney (AKA J Dog), is the kind of stressed out twitchy electro that gets us hot under the collar and if this song is anything to go by Pitch Twit might just be Yorkshire's answer to Justice. The anarchic animated video, created by Matt Harney, also suits the track - both coming together to create an ASBO-on-Redbull mess.
BlackPlastic has to admit it knew nothing about this but as part of their annual Music Academy, Red Bull have been running a series of lectures and music events across London and whilst this is the last week BlackPlastic didn't want to let the events pass without comment.
The video above is Playgroup Tactics, one of lectures, and this one featured one of BlackPlastic's long saluted stars Trevor Jackson, the man behind Playgroup and the Output label - check it out to get his insights into graphic design and the (frankly hugely under-rated and important) Playgroup record.
If you are an artist or fancy getting into the industry there are a stack of interesting videos on the site from the likes of Kieran Hebden (of Four Tet fame) and Philippe Zdar (of Cassius). Check them out on the Red Bull Music Academy Website.
There are still a few more live events happening this week including 12x12 (12 artists, including New Order's Peter Hook and X-Press 2, each playing for 12 minutes) and the Closing Bash featuring 2ManyDJs and DJ sets from Friendly Fires and The XX. More on the site.
To be honest one of the best things about all of this is the rather excellent collection of radio shows that Red Bull have put together. There are far, far too many to mention over on the site (which is actually an offshoot of the main site here) but you may want to start with this one from James Murphy and Pat Mahoney of DFA / LCD Soundsystem.