Long dormant electronic artists Mouse on Mars have just released a new video for track “Polaroyced”, and it might actually teach you how to dance, move, and shake. Just rock a gold mexican wrestler mask and prepare to break it down….now. Directed & produced by Jan Bitzer of Polynoid, this video throws glitter in your face, and keeps shit blooming in a far out way. From their new album Parastrophics, out now on Modeselektor‘s label, Monkeytown.

Not that long ago, the world was drab and banal. There was hardly any glitter or golden buildings that blinked in rhythm with your music. No cute puppies. None of that. That was until Mouse on Mars brought that shit into our lives. This video makes me wanna go outside (even though its raining) and dance the fuck out of this song with reckless abandon. Just need that damn gold wrestling mask…

I gotta hand it to the Marvel people and Joss Whedon, and I also gotta chide myself a little bit, because they’ve actually accomplished something I thought was impossible: with only two months to go until the release of probably one of the biggest movie events of all time, and they’ve managed to keep quite a bit of it secret. Trailers giving too much away has been a big fanboy complaint for a while now, myself included, and with The Avengers we’re getting what we asked for. So it’s with a bit of shame that I really want to know: who is the other villain? Skrulls? Chitauri? Kree? Thanos? Frost Giants? Elseworld Justice League (hnggg)? Who is it?!

Even in this new trailer, we can see more of the (alien?) army that Loki has amassed, as well as some good banter/infighting between The Avengers. Remember, a lot of times they’re actually their own worst enemy. We also see a shot of humans bowing to Loki. Theory time: these are Skrulls in disguise and are now bowing to Loki because he’s been given power over them after trading the Cosmic Cube to their leader (Herr Kleiser perhaps?). I just wanna know…

The enigmatic and enchanting video artist Cosmotropia de Xam, the mastermind behind the nightmarish and elegiac chopped-up visual aesthetic of Mater Suspiria Vision, is taking his talents to South Beach in the form of a brand new, 60 minute soap opera. The first episode of SÜSYPHÜS CONCRËTE will be available in early March, and there’s the trailer above.

There is a slight catch however, though it has its upsides too. The full episode will only be available as an extra when you purchase the second issue of de Xam’s self described “surreal newspaper” Vogue Witch. They’re limited to only 50 copies, and they ship on March 5th, so you better hurry on over here to buy one, and get your DVD copy of SÜSYPHÜS CONCRËTE to boot.

Prague based Label AMDISCS just dropped a massive new compilation A’M 2012! Totally free to download, this compilation features a schmorgasboard of dope artists. Pictureplane, AyGeeTee, GoldenAxe. Thats just to name a few of the over thirty artists who contributed over 50 tracks! It’s being issued in an edition of 1,000 CDs. They are bundled with a music magazine called Zivel. Unfortunately these will only be distributed in Europe.

There’s a solid digital bonus compilation with upcoming artists as well. It is available for free download here. The entire digital compilation will go with a special exclusive limit edition T-Shirt made by NVR MND and designed by AMDSICS. Check the (huge) embedded player after the jump!

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Trust – TRST (2012) [Arts & Crafts] // Grade: B

Trust is Robert Alfons and Maya Postepski, the drummer from the all female synth act Austra. The release careens around various synth pop styles and treads the line between being true throwback synth wave in the vein of Trisomie 21 and also sounding very retro electroclash like Fischerspooner, FPU, or early Ladytron. What seems to hold the release together despite these seemingly separate synth styles is the T21 style verby serious vocal delivery of Robert Alfons which helps maintain the level of believability in spite of the semi-obvious tongue in cheekiness.

The first track,”Shoom,” is almost cookie cutter Works era Trisomie 21 with tight gated drums, epic reverb, and synths galore with careening effects coming from outside of the stereo field. The song also plays in a similar way to T21 with melodic emotional swings, full of dips and swells. Some of the percussive synth arpeggiations even sound a bit like Tear Garden circa Tired Eyes Slowly Burning. The third song, “Bulbform,” has much more of an aggressive electroclash style with its definite 4/4 909 clubby percussion accompanied by low humming vox and outstanding grinding synth bass. High pittery blips and massive feedback delays crown this beast.

The rest of the tracks continue in various synth styles. “The Last Dregs” begins with filter happy analog zaps that open into soaring resonant strings. Their first single (originally released last year prior to signing with Arts & Crafts) the epic cold wave ballad “Candy Walls” will transport you to an ’80s Michael Mann soundtrack flashback. “Gloryhole” has a definitive or Swayzak production value sitting above a loop of synth and voice that sounds directly extracted from Peter Gabriel’s soundtrack to Birdy. Two tracks that step away from the rest with Maya on some vocals are “This Ready Flesh” where she sounds almost Miss Kittin and FTF with accompanying live bass. As a whole this album is a complete work full of great song writing,  excellent production, and moods that will have you listening to TRST on repeat.

Another art opening, another smashing success, if I do say so myself. Last Friday night we celebrated the beginning of a totally kewl 13 artist group show at our 350 Broadway Store, entitled While You Were Sleeping. The show was curated by friend and co-worker Royce Bannon, and featured a whole bunch of awesome artists. From other Mishka employees Domenick Trimboli, Reymi Gil, Mike Jones, and Lamour Supreme, to street art staples Matt Siren and Abe Lincoln Jr.

Our lil’ store was packed to the brim with friends, fans, and fam, (not to mention recent TV star The Sucklord) and luckily Fresh Paint NYC was there to photograph the event and even grab some video too. Check out more images here, and be sure to stop by 350 Broadway and (soon) our online store if you want to add to your art collection.

Мишка
350 Broadway
Brooklyn, NY
718-388-1725

This is Near Mint Condition. At the end of a long fucking day, during a long fucking week in which I haven’t actually read any comic books, I come to you. My task!, should I choose to accept it: to tell you the funny books I’m buying during this ungodly weekly cycle. All I ask in return is that you partake in this community (I accidentally typed ‘cummunity’ so you can see the threads coming apart in here) by rattling off the swag you’re either buying or interested in that are dropping this week. It’s a simple conceit. Yet in these complicated times, isn’t that just a bit comforting? Make the nips soften a bit knowing every Wednesday lies some friends and some funnies.

Don’t know what’s coming out? Hit ComicList, then come back here. We’ll wait.

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Justice League #6
I showed the cover of Justice League #6  to Freud and the dude just passed the fuck out with giggles. Was rolling on the ground, all coked-up and bleary eyed. I saw what he meant though. Jesus Christ, a bunch of spandex-clad dudes paying supplication to Dark-Seed or whatever. Christ almighty even Aquaman’s mammoth trident is being pulled down towards the Seed, while Batman’s mouth-muzzle is right on his the baddie’s Hogwarts. When Freud woke up he tried to sneak a peak at the cover again, but couldn’t help but pointing out how much vigor Jim Lee put into rendering Hal Jordan’s taut puckering asshole of chitin-armored subservience. Dude’s got a point.

Wait, about the comic? Probably the last fucking issue I buy of it. Been bored. Ready to complete the first arc and then reallocate funds towards something *worth* purchasing.

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Spaceman #4
If you’re a fan of science-fiction and gritty dystopian social commentary and you’re not snagging this Azzarello/Risso joint, you’re a true asshole. Deep into your soul, the Asshole strand of DNA has wound itself. Coiling around your Good Taste and is slowly siphoning your life force. Or maybe you’re just pressed for cash, behind on your other comics, or it simply wasn’t for you. I’m voting former, those guilty as charged are probably throwing their chips in with the latter. Spaceman is good shit. I could explain to you why — but I’ve done that three other times. Either it’s stuck by now or it hasn’t.

I’m getting it. I’m touching myself on the crotch with my Blade Runner model kits while I read it.

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Ultimate Comics Ultimates #7
Speaking of covers. Man. What the fuck is going on with Sam Wilson up there? Dude is straight-up on the fucking Ryan Braun treatment right there. His samples must have been compromised! Ignore the writhing veins underneath the skin! Wilson ain’t supplementing his superheroics with performance enhancers. Oh Braun! I fucking trusted you! I trusted you. Now you’ve betrayed me and Prince Fielder is going to Detroit to pretend he isn’t working out Daddy issues.

Meanwhile, back in the comic universe! Hickman is doing what he does best these days, which is to drag his feet. Reed Richards is a real sack of Post-Human shit, gobbling up real estate as the Future threatens to consume the Present. The first six issues or so of title was the futurism hotness, but ever since then it’s throttled way back. Whatevs!, I’m in it for the long haul. Particular since now I know Sam Humphries is the series’ heir apparent.

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Orc Stain #7
James Stokoe does everything within the pages of this title. He draws it, writes it, colors it, bathes the PDF files of the comic in the Blood of the Choosen in order to gain favor with the Dark Ones. He does it all. Yes, sir. Since he assumes such an enormous task, the comic book takes on the flavor of this creator in its entirety. That’s why when you crack open Orc Stain, you’re thrown into a world that is blood, cocks, violence, orcs, and humor. The resulting cacophony is so terrifying and beautiful you’ll bask in the sunlight of creativity while barfing all over your exposed genitalia. Why are your balls-labia hanging out? Orc Stain. That’s why.

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What are you guys and gals of the Sequential Rockitude buying this week? I’m all ears (eyes).

OBEY x Мишка T-Shirt ($34.00)

Stop what you’re doing and halt the presses, because some real shit is going down as we speak. Well, we’re not speaking but… the point is that the collaboration between your favorite Brooklynite ne’er do wells (that being us, of course), and street art/streetwear powerhouse OBEY is finally here and it’s available in stores and online right meow! We were a little bit afraid that the sheer power of this raglan tee might shake the foundations of the universe loose, but as of now all dimensional boundaries appear to be holding. Barely, but holding. Phew.

What isn’t holding up is that brick wall the the Soviet Super Soldier Bear is smashing through, Mjolnir-like hammer in hand. And what’s a wall without the iconic OBEY face emblazoned upon it, the design famously created by Shepard Fairey in the likeness of Brendan Fraser, star of such films as – what’s that? – in the likeness of legendary wrestler Andre The Giant. If you peep the back you can see all of the myriad stops on the (possibly fictional) Engineered To Destroy! World Tour, the greatest travelin’ show of all time. This handsome raglan is perfect for everyone and everything. At all times. Available now.

Мишка
350 Broadway
Brooklyn, NY
718-388-1725
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Мишка LA
1547 Echo Park Ave
Los Angeles, CA
213-536-4234

Ay yo, big 24 hours for our homie Perrion. First he popped up in our brand new Spring 2012 Lookbook, then he dropped an ill new mixtape onto the earth. A collaborative project with Parisian beatmaker Myth Syzer, From Paris With Love brings together the best of the Big Apple and the City Of Lights for 19 tracks of straight fire.

Featuring guest spots from Young Money‘s Jae Millz and fellow rising NY rapper ASAP Ferg, this tape is sure to be another step in Perrion’s inevitably journey to blowing the fuck up. What better way to start a Tuesday than with some free quality raps, na’mean?

Download Perrion & Myth Syzer’s From Paris With Love (Click here)

Mouse On Mars – Parastrophics (2012) [Monkeytown] // Grade: B

When this new Mouse on Mars showed up on my radar, I thought: “well here’s a name I haven’t heard in a while.” It’s surprisingly easy to forget bands that have been around for this long. Their last album came out over 6 years ago on Ipecac Records after a long strand of releases with Sonig, and this one is the latest release on Modeselektor’s Monkeytown. Needless to say, this is not your grandpa’s electronic music.

Unless that is, your grandpa got well into IDM when he was just beginning to be a grandpa, in which case he will be right at home from the outset. The whole record has the cozy feel of tweed slippers paired with a weird naphtha smell you just cannot ignore. There’s vocals and 303s and synths and vocoders and guitars and bass drops which are all a little dizzying after a while, just not quite enough to lose the listener. It’s Idiology and its mental eclecticness. It’s not Varcharz and its noisy assault. It’s good old electro, made the old fashioned way, but with new machines.

The opening track, Beach Stop, sounds like Prefuse 2073 and tracks like Gearknot Cherry sound like Rustie’s a little rusty (if you like rust, like me). Not far behind, Baku Hipster sounds like Drop The Lime picked it right back up (ok this one’s a stretch). There is so much of everything on this record that you are bound to find something you like in it – but also so much to be alienated from. Vocals on Chordblocker and They Know Your Name remind you of the times when white boys rejected from rap found a home in electro. On Cricket they’re barely audible, used as instrument in pure naughties tradition. The experiment is successful when you hear Polaroiced or Wienuss you get a clear sense of all the work that has been put in it. Other times (Metrotopy), it’s up to you to decide whether you are hearing a live draft or experimental techno.

Mouse On Mars are (fore)fathers to a lot of electronic musicians today, but the filiation with Modeselektor is especially clear here when you listen to Parastrophics and Monkey Town side by side. Their re-appropriations and mélanges of the entire history of dance music within a digestible modern electronic record is a perfect fit on the young label. But you do need to know your history in order to fully appreciate what Parastrophics has to offer. Without the right tools, listening to this album will be a daunting task – but a rewarding one.