Louis Kishfy, a blogger from Rhode Island writing for Salad Fork, just released a philanthropic project called A Compilation For World Hunger, packed into 2 CDs, featuring mostly up and coming indie artists, in which he tries to sensibly the audience to the dire issue of world hunger.

I have been working diligently during this month of August to put together a new charity compilation to help combat world hunger. I have handmade eleven CD packages, each unique and personalized for each person who purchases one. It is free for everyone to download, and most of the proceeds from the physical purchases will go to Action Against Hunger. Each compilation features a different apostle, with the first package featuring ‘Jesus’ himself. This is meant to signify Jesus and his apostles, obviously. I did not choose to do this for religious purposes, but only to highlight the significance of the limited release. This compilation is meant to celebrate the art of the compilation as well as limited releases, and all for a good cause. I have also been fortunate to have Justin Vallestros of Craft Spells create the digital art for this compilation, as pictured above. The first CD is all track premieres/exclusives, and the second is some of my favorite tracks from the last quarter.

You can purchase the limited edition package here, or download the digital compilation for free after the jump.

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Baltimore’s Neil Sanzgiri is Soft Cat, a talented folk singer/songwriter that equally caught my ears and eyes with this beautifully water color video for “It Won’t Be Long”, animated by Miranda Pfeiffer,. The song is off Neil’s upcoming new album titled “Wildspace”, which is set for a fall release on Friends Records. Check out a letter from Neil, after the jump.[via Yours Truly]

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Props to Nathaniel from I Guess I’m Floating for recommending this up and coming new band from Atlanta called Living Rooms. The sound is extremely colorful and there’s a distinct sense of joyfulness wrapped around every track, like a sunny summer day or a road trip soundtrack with your best buds. One can clearly sense the Animal Collective influence deeply rooted in their sound, packed with harmonizing vocals, atmospheric synth lines, up-lifting percussions and heavy use of digital samples. I won’t prelong this more than needed, as such I’d like to invite you all to check out “Cave In” and “Light Bright” below, both off the band’s upcoming debut LP “House Kid” out in a few weeks on Double Phantom Records.

[MP3] Living Rooms – Cave In
[MP3] Living Rooms – Light Bright

It was just last week that Sufjan Stevens unveiled to the world his most recent material, the one hour long All Delighted People EP. Seems like it was all just one big chunky appetizer seeing how we just received an official press release announcing the artist’s new full length, titled “Age of Adz” (supposedly spelled ‘age of odds’ according to the press release), an album filled with motifs like “love, sex, death, disease, anxiety and suicide”, which is set to land on October 12 via Asthmatic Kitty. Here’s some insight on Age of Adz’s sound:

We can say it shows an extensive use of electronics (banjos and acoustic guitars give way to drum machines and analog synthesizers), and an obsession with cosmic fantasies (space, heaven, aliens, love), to create an explicit pop-song extravaganza, augmented by heavy orchestration, and maybe even a few danceable moments. Enjoy Your Rabbit meets the BQE. But with songs. Verse, chorus, bridge, backbeat. Gated reverb. Space echo. Get your boogey on.

Join us after the jump for the official tracklist. (more…)

Having toured extensively in 2009 and 2010 alongside Cat Power and Grizzly Bear in support of their latest album, the hypnotic “Teen Dream” released earlier this year, the dream pop duo of Beach House have proven gig after gig they’re just as remarkable and out worldly live as in the studio. Yesterday, the band released a brand new live EP called the iTunes Session EP recorded as a three piece which shows some solid reworks of five tracks off their back catalog, as well as a new Beach House song, titled “White Moon“. The six track EP can be purchased for $4,99 over at iTunes, while White Moon is available for streaming below. [photo courtesy of Music Snitch]

Fresh off last year’s Warped Tour, Disalto just released their second full-length album One Beacon In The Strand. The band, whose name means “by leaps” in Italian, blends influences like A Perfect Circle, Switchfoot, Smashing Pumpkins, At the Drive-In and Radiohead to produce a punk/emo/early nineties alternative rock sound.

The members of the band each hold their own and work hard to complement each other. This is not a band that is competing with one another to steal the spotlight.

Dana Cordero’s vocals are unobstructed and come across clear and with conviction, taking some influence from Tim McIlrath’s younger self, no doubt. Even when he soars into a falsetto, he does so powerfully avoiding the whiny thinner sound that less experienced vocalists put forth.

David Friedman and Carlos Flores have a great balance on guitar. They contribute varied guitar riffs, allowing all of the songs on One Beacon In The Strand to have their own identity. Still, their aggressive style and balanced approach keeps everything tied together, so that their sound is cohesive and compelling.

The rhythm section also has its share of strengths. Oren Halmut’s progressive drumming and experienced restraint, gives the band a varied backdrop. He is able to provide a benign accompaniment, or a roaring propulsive force and best of all, he knows which one is appropriate at what time. Same goes for Joe Friedman on bass. When his basslines accompany a vicious drumming sequence, the result is loaded and full.

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“Tres Brujas“, The Sword’s first video as part of their self-described “Post-Apocalyptic Western Trilogy” premiered earlier today and is very much everything one could have expected - blood, gadgets, samurai swords and hard rocking spacy jams in ….ermmm space! Check out the video below. Warp Riders, the new The Sword record, is out this week via Kemado Records.

You can download the song here.

Sadly, Brian Eno’s notoriety comes as a consequence of his, albeit excellent, production work for some of the most influential albums of our time, like U2’s Joshua Tree, in the detriment of his pioneering ambiental/experimental/minimalistic solo work. Yes, Eno is back with a new record this year under Warp Records (his first with the label), who recently confirmed the leaks and rumors according to which the artist would be releasing new material soon.

The new album, titled “Small Craft on a Milk Sea“, has been recorded with previous long time Eno collaborators producers Jon Hopkins and guitarist Leo Abrahams, a trio that over the years has delivered some spectacular sound pallets. Abrahams’ describes this latest collaboration as follows:

“It contains the fruits of several years of jams between the three of us. I’ve not heard anything quite like it– it sounds ‘live’ and ‘alien’ at the same time. Some things have been permitted to survive, which only Brian would have had the courage to let go, and it’s so much the better for it.”

What’s important to note is that Small Craft will be wrapped up in one of the most impressive packages I’ve yet to witness so far. Four versions: limited edition box set, collector’s edition box set, as well as the common CD and HQ digital download. The artwork, it seems, has been designed by Eno himself - you can check out some footage and packaging details on his website. The collector’s edition box set is the definite stand out, limited to only 250 copies and containing “A one-off, entirely unique and customised 12″ square silkscreen print by Brian Eno. A print application of the generative process that Brian has been developing throughout his career, each print will be be a unique combination of screen printed elements by Brian Eno and Nick Robertson. Printed on 330gsm Somerset Radiant White stock, signed and numbered in pencil by Brian Eno. There are no duplicates. The printing process will be fully documented.”

Indeed, a very impressive packaging, most likely at an equally impressive price tag.

Brian Eno’s Small Craft On a Mil Sea will be out November 2 (November 15 UK) on Warp Records, with preorders starting this Wednesday. Follow us through the jump below where you can watch a video of the three playing live the final Jam from Brian Eno’s ‘Pure Scenius’ concert series at the Sydney Opera House. (more…)

Your favorite orchestral indie maestro is back, as Sufjan Stevens released a brand new 8-track, one hour long EP, titled “All Delighted People“, this weekend all without any notice. I’m gonna spare you the details, as I’m sure your just as curious to hear the new material as I was I first heard about it, so I’ll just leave you to the full EP stream below. Of course, you can buy the EP for the nominal fee of $5 at Sufjan’s bandcamp page. A physical release is set to come out this winter via Asthmatic Kitty on CD and double-LP, as reported by the label.