Another exciting addition to the Work It Media roster this year is San Diego’s Crocodiles! They release their new album, Endless Flowers, on Souterrain Transmissions on June 4th. The first single from the album, Sunday (Psychic Conversation #9) , with b-side featuring the band’s version of The Kids’ Fascist Cops, is available digitally immediately, and will be released on limited 7” on March 26th.

Here’s a free download of the ridiculously catchy Sunday (Psychic Conversation #9)…

The wonderful people at Sexbeat have announced a London album launch show for Crocodiles on June 4th ON A BOAT. Hell yes! Buy tickets HERE.

For more info about Crocodiles please contact kate@workitmedia.net.

Edinburgh’s North Atlantic Oscillation are the latest band to join the Work It ranks for the release of their new album ‘Fog Electric’ on April 30th. Their knack for combining bright electronics and beats with stormy instrumentals, landing somewhere amidst the realms of electronica, krautrock, post-rock and prog, makes for a captivating listen.

Their debut record, released in 2010, won them fans across the board and is now set to be followed up by this much moodier affair.

Listen to the shimmering & foreboding ‘Savage with Barometer’ here:

North Atlantic Oscillation play London’s Tabernacle on May 2nd. (TICKETS)

For more information, promo copies, interviews anf guest lists please contact kate@workitmedia.net.

The Drums come to the UK next week! Woohoo! They also release their new single ‘Days’ on Feb 27th and to accompany it there are various things to see and hear.

First and foremost, the official video for the track. Jonny Pierce explains: “The song is about that moment when you realize that you are someone different from what you once were. Different needs, different desires. Different hopes and fears. We were lucky enough to have a special guest in our video who is a dear friend and a radiant symbol of being true to who you know you are and moving away from a dark past.”

Secondly, a remix of the single by Danish producer Trentemoller:

And lastly, you can see last night’s performance on the Jimmy Fallon show HERE.

Full 2012 UK tour dates:

February 26: Liverpool, Academy 2
February 27: London, Roundhouse (NME Awards Show)
February 28: Oxford, Academy 2

For more information, press shots, guest lists and interviews contact kate@workitmedia.net.

…But they’ve left their instruments at home. Yep, really.

Due for release on April 2nd, ‘Rant’ is the new, completely a capella album from The Futureheads, and alongside reworked old favourites such as ‘Man Ray’ and ‘Robot‘ they’ll also be opening your eyes to the world of traditional folk songs and covers with their four-part harmonies. In fact, you can listen to ‘Robot’ now:

The Sunderland quartet will also be heading out on a UK tour (full dates below) doing only a capella and acoustic performances of tracks. They seemed determined to do something different, and they’ve done just that. If you’re still yet to be convinced, perhaps Barry Hyde‘s thoughts on the band’s passion project might help sway you.

“A Futureheads fan who doesn’t get ‘Rant’ is not a Futureheads fan. This version of The Futureheads has always been there. We’re bringing to the fore what we’re really about: a unification, a gang mentality, which is in the balance between our voices and our personalities. And on Rant we’re pushing that right into your face. We’ve stumbled across tricks as we’ve made ‘Rant’ which are so powerful and which no one has ever done before. Just because this is an a cappella album doesn’t mean to say that the songs are slow or passive. They’re still in-your-face, slightly mad, aggressive. They’re still The Futureheads.”

The tracklist for ‘Rant’ is as follows:

1. Meantime

2. Meet Me Halfway (The Black Eyed Peas cover)

3. Robot

4. Beeswing (Richard Thompson cover)

5. Thursday

6. Sumer Is Icumen In (Traditional)

7. The Keeper (Traditional)

8. The No. 1 Song in Heaven (Sparks cover)

9. The Old Dun Cow (Traditional)

10. Acapella (Kelis cover)

11. Man Ray

Bonus: Heartbeat Song (Digital only)

The Futureheads will be embarking on a full UK tour in April and will be playing the following shows:

APRIL

3rd: BRISTOL, Colston Hall

4th: LONDON, Union Chapel

5th: LEEDS, Wardrobe

6th: STOCKTON, Georgian Theatre

8th: GATESHEAD, Sage

9th: GLASGOW, Oran Mor

10th: BIRMINGHAM, Glee Club

12th: NOTTINGHAM, Glee Club

13th: MANCHESTER, Royal Northern College of Music

Tickets go on general sale at 10am on Tuesday, February 21st. Head to The Futureheads’ website here for fan pre-sale information!

For more information, interview and review requests, please contact natasha@workitmedia.net

Our affectionaly dubbed ‘apocolyptic Abba’, Tu Fawning return today with the announcement of their stunning new record ‘A Monument’, out May 7th on City Slang. One of the hidden gems of the Portland music scene, the quartet (including Menomena’s Joe Haege) released their debut album during the first stirrings of January 2011.

Whilst ‘Hearts on Hold’ was, as attested by the music press at the time, without doubt a stunning and unsurmisable collection of songs, it certainly did not prepare us for the explosive and jaw dropping power of their live shows which saw audiences at The Old Blue Last and Hoxton Bar & Kitchen pummeled to within an inch of their lives.

And so now we bring you ‘A Monument’, another bold step forwards from what we can only describe as the most criminally under-rated band on our roster. Download the 7-minute closing opus from the record entitled ‘Bones’ and sit tight for more coming over the next few months…

For more information contact kate@workitmedia.net

EMA has announced a new single & video, available immediately this valentine’s day with all proceeds going to an anti-bullying charity.

She explains:

“This footage comes from a South Dakota trailer park in the mid-90s, and features a small group of freaks and misfits who seem to be having the time of their lives. Dressing up, hanging out, making up funny skits, and lots of laughing. When I look back now at our fresh young faces (yes that is me with the short dark hair and cat-eye liner), I’m amazed at how simply happy we all look. This is especially remarkable as I know what was going on outside those plywood walls: getting called names, shoved into lockers, and threatening to get our asses kicked for being queer or punk or just plain weird.

But despite all that, there is a joy, strength and self-acceptance in our faces that I find inspiring and wanted to pass on. I’m offering the proceeds of this song to an anti-bullying non-profit started by a 15-yr-old girl in Long Island who was a victim of bullying for 7 years before switching schools. It’s called The Jamie Isaacs Foundation (www.jamieisaacsfoundation.org) and it works to bring youth advocates into schools and pass anti-bullying legislation.

When I first put together this video I sent it out to the people involved to get their take on it before it was released. My friends thought it was “adorable” but I didn’t hear back from the sweet boy in the turquoise teddy. I worried that it was too much, too revealing, and he wouldn’t want that footage put out into the world. Finally, I got a message back:

“That was the most beautifully done video I have ever seen I love it I love it I love it. I could not stop bawling. I don’t think I’ve ever felt so secure as when we were all hanging out in the trailer bedroom. Erika. Lacy. All 3 of us went thru some pretty tough shit. But we made it through. Lets use what we learned and give it to somebody else that needs it.”

I couldn’t have said it better myself. This one’s for all the weirdoes out there: cherish your friends, fuck the haters and let your freak flag fly.

- Erika M Anderson (EMA)”

Watch the video for ‘Take One Two’ here:

And give your contribution to The Jamie Isaacs Foundation by purchasing the track here: http://bit.ly/x7pMal

Photo Credit: Rachael Wright

Happy Valentines Day!! To celebrate, The Drums‘ Jonny Pierce has uploaded a cover of The Ronettes Do I Love You.

“Hey it’s Jonny. We wanted to buy you something but we made you something instead. It’s Valentines Day so don’t be shy with your love. See you soon”

Download the track for free HERE!

Lambchop‘s dazzling new self-dubbed “psycha-sinatra” record ‘Mr. M’ comes out a week today on the ever brilliant City Slang. If you’ve not heard it yet, it’s streaming on The Guardian right HERE. The heavyweight new video for track ‘Gone Tomorrow‘ has also just premiered on The Telegraph and here it is!

You can also download the track for free.

Mr Wagner and co take to the UK on tour as of March 1st when they play a special show at London’s Barbican. For more info visit Lambchop’s facebook page or email kate@workitmedia.net.

So last week we brought you the new single from Leeds-based indiepopsters This Many Boyfriends. It’s out next week (in the form of a nifty fanzine, handrawn by the band themselves) through Angular Recording Co, and to keep you going until then, the band have unveiled the equally-jangly -b-side ‘Just Saying’ and you can hear it below.

They’re also heading out on a UK tour with Allo Darlin’ and The Cribs next week, and you can see the full list of dates below! (Note: The Sheffield and  London Popfest venues have been updated since we announced them last Monday)

FEBRUARY
23rd: MANCHESTER, Deaf Institute w/Allo Darlin’
24th: SHEFFIELD, Queen’s Social Club w/Allo Darlin’
25th: LONDON, Popfest, 100 Club
26th: LEEDS, Brudenell Social Club w/Allo Darlin’
28th: LONDON, ULU w/The Cribs
29th: CARDIFF, Buffalo Bar w/Allo Darlin’

MARCH
1st: EDINBURGH, The Liquid Room w/The Cribs
2nd: BRIGHTON, Concorde 2 w/The Cribs
3rd: LEEDS, Metropolitan University w/The Cribs

‘Starling’ is released on Feb 20th via Angular Recording Corporation. For more information speak to natasha@workitmedia.net

Always intrigued by new and exciting releases, we couldn’t wait to start working on the new offering from This Many Boyfriends. Signed to Angular Recording Corporation, The Leeds-based indiepop group are releasing an exclusive, limited edition fanzine on February 20th.

Complete with everything from recipes to quizzes, it was completely drawn by the band’s own fair hands, and a download of the single ‘Starling‘ also comes with the fanzine. They’re also hitting the road with The Cribs and Allo Darlin’ later this month, taking their ridiculously energetic show around the UK.

‘Starling‘ was written and recorded with This Many Boyfriends‘ friend Pete, and this release is dedicated to him. You can stream it here:

And catch them at the following shows:

FEBRUARY
23rd: MANCHESTER, Deaf Institute w/Allo Darlin’
24th: SHEFFIELD, Queen’s Social Club w/Allo Darlin’
25th: LONDON, Popfest, 100 Club
26th: LEEDS, Brudenell Social Club w/Allo Darlin’
28th: LONDON, ULU w/The Cribs
29th: CARDIFF, Buffalo Bar w/Allo Darlin’

MARCH
1st: EDINBURGH, The Liquid Room w/The Cribs
2nd: BRIGHTON, Concorde 2 w/The Cribs
3rd: LEEDS, Metropolitan University w/The Cribs

For more information, interview and review requests, please contact natasha@workitmedia.net