Astronomers define the mean sun as an imaginary star, moving at the pace of our equator’s rotation. Perhaps it is the impossible setting of this sun Brasstronaut has pursued since the release of their critically acclaimed 2010 debut, Mt. Chimera. Cresting the momentum of that album – a SOCAN Echo Prize for Canadian song of the year, a Polaris Prize long-listing, and chart-topping singles on The Hype Machine – Brasstronaut embarked on a comprehensive world tour, seeking out the mean sun’s fabled dusk. On their sophomore album, Brasstronaut has finally captured its fleeting blaze, and has returned to reveal the radiant Mean Sun.

This is not merely Brasstronaut’s moment to bask in Mean Sun’s instant eminence. This is the affirmation of their ever-evolving promise: to tirelessly chase, like the elusive light of an imaginary sun, brave and startling new inventions.

Plus support from Wildswim

Tempered by heartache and defiance Oxford’s Wild Swim. Swarming with expansive guitars, haunting vocals and delicate keys, their 2012 debut single ‘Echo’ touches on anguish and mythology and was The Guardian’s band of the day, as well as The Sunday Times Hottest Download

Produced by the legendary Steve Osborne (New Order, Suede), it’s an introduction to the five-piece who have drawn early comparisons to the likes of XX, Alt J and fellow Oxfordians Foals. Within its minimalist electronics and unconvential structure, ‘the band nod in the direction of Kid A-era Radiohead and The Associates.

Still in their late teens, Wild Swim met at school, forming at the age of just 13. Fast-forward five years, and they are BBC Introducing in Oxford’s most hotly tipped band for 2013.  With Radio 1 support from Huw Stephens and playlisted at XfM.   Richard is currently training to be a tailor on Saville Row while the others are all at university.

Live, the band are a must-see. Sansom cuts a charismatic figure whose voice mesmerises as the songs shape-shift unpredictably, offset by the electro-heavy sound that is, at times, almost operatic

Wild Swim are: Richard Sansom (Vocals) / Jamie Jay (Guitar/Keyboard) / Carlos Posada (Guitar/Keyboard) / Jacob Lively (Bass) / Sam Robinson (Drums)

Tickets via TicketABC

We are pleased to announce that Sweet Baboo will be playing at the Lexington this April.

Influenced by the likes of The Beach Boys, Daniel Johnston and Gorky’s Zygotic Mynci, Sweet Baboo’s fourth record ‘Ships’ is due out this Spring.

A concept album about the sea, ‘Ships’ was recorded with long time collaborator The Voluntary Butler Scheme earlier this year.

A native of the North Wales countryside, Sweet Baboo aka Stephen Black is a sinlge minded, idiosyncratic singer possessing an ear for sparkling melody and a gift for a deft lyrical turn – from darkly funny to piercingly tender, twinkling boastful to deliciously self-deprecating.

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New Mexico’s A Hawk and A Hacksaw return with a new double LP ‘You Have Already Gone To The Other World: Music Inspired By Paradjanov’s Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors’, which will be released through LM Duplication on March 25th.

In 2012, Jeremy Barnes and Heather Trost scored a live soundtrack to the unforgettable and inspirational 1964 film Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors by the legendary Ukranian director Sergey Paradjanov. They took the soundtrack on tour, accompanying the film live, and performed in cinemas and theatres. You Have Already Gone To The Other World is the product of those tours and the evolution of the soundtrack into something that can stand on its own: a double album of new compositions and traditional folk tunes that have been inspired by the surreal folk magic of the film, sprinkled with the wondrous music and foley from this piece of cinematic history.

Produced by John Dieterich of Deerhoof, this is the first AHAAH album in a long time on which its two primary members, Barnes and Trost, play pretty much every last note (save for a couple of Dieterich guitar cameos). Yet the instrumentation is far from minimal, and the songs often explode into the rich ornamentation that one would expect from the band.  Dieterich’s production values and sense of experimentation have elevated AHAAH into new territories of folk psychedelia, with the band’s own personality colouring the traditional forms they explore with such joy like never before. It’s also the bands most dynamic album since they began their Eastern European adventure, with the thundering percussion and dramatic arcs of violin on the title track being counterpointed by majestic solo pieces for hammer dulcimer (Where no horse neighs, and no crow flies) and piano (The Snow in Kryvorivnya),  stately organ-led processionals (O Lord, Saint George, bewitch Ivan, make him mine) and original sound and melodies from the film woven in throughout.

Support comes from Ryan Francesconi (previously best known for his work as the musical director on Joanna Newsom’s stunning triple album ‘Have One On Me’). Now, he prepares to return to European stages to perform with his partner, violinist Mirabai Peart, as the duo release a new album on Bella Union in December.

Tickets via See tickets

Tickets available through See &  We Got Tickets.

Born in Djura (population 400) in the dark woods of Dalarna, Sweden, in a deeply religious family, Park was first a pop star in Norway with her 2004 debut ‘Superworldunknown’, before she started collaborating with Datarock’s Fredrik Saroea on the previous album ‘Ashes To Gold’, a route she’s now continued with UK based producer Barry Barnett. Co-produced and mixed by Christoffer Berg (The Knife/Fever Ray/Little Dragon) into an even darker soundscape. Karin’s new album combines electronica, industrial, dubstep and synth pop with her unmistakeable, truly unique voice. The album is out NOW on State of the Eye recordings Featuring the singles Restless Supported by Nick Grimshaw and Jo Whiley andn “Fryngies” supported by Zane Lowe

Tickets available through See &  We Got Tickets.