AM & Shawn Lee are back with their sophomore LP, La Musique Numérique (French for "digital music"): a sun-filled, space-funk masterwork that blends early digital technology with decade-blurring songwriting, transporting listeners deeper into the sonic crates from which the music was born. A follow-up to 2011's Celestial Electric, La Musique Numérique sees the duo expanding their influences while simultaneously refining their sound and tightening production. Taking fans in and out of faded memories of disco, funk, soul and reggae but never colonizing one style, La Musique Numerique will be released May 7th via Park The Van Records. The album is now available for pre-order via iTunes and Amazon.
La Musique Numérique contains an ambitious rendition of Joe Jackson's 1982 hit "Steppin' Out"-- a version that sees the new wave classic taken deeper into the cosmos. Closing out the album with a bang, listen to the "Steppin' Out" MP3, and check out a behind-the-scenes video of the duo discussing their cover, below!Album opener "Two Times" introduces the record with a tip of the hat to Sleng Teng Riddim's technological origin: the Casio MT-40 keyboard. What follows is a pulsating sex groove complete with unexpected synth jabs and smooth soulful vocals: a space capsule where Curtis Mayfield and Sly & Robbie play the host. "Automatic" features an irresistiblechorus punctuated by a danceable beat, funky filtered bass lines, and an electric sitar intro that will have you immediately hooked, while "In The Aftermath" is a sonically rich ballad with swirling layers of vintage synth instrumentation that set an atmospheric tone, showing a softer side of the album.
It's no secret that AM & Shawn Lee dig deep into obscure musical wells, gaining approval from other like-minded audiophile obsessives and vintage Sound Library revivalists. However, these influences aren't simply plugged into a computer program and spit out through modern-day technology: the instruments are played, the vocals are sung, and the songs are written, giving the music a very physical process that has become apparent with the duo's growing live fan base. Having played alongside Phoenix, AIR, Sigur Ros, and CharlotteGainsbourg, AM & Shawn Lee will bring their infectious live show on the road this summer. AM & Shawn Lee on Tour: Sounds of Summer Tour 2013 6/13: Portland, OR @ Mississippi Studios - TICKETS 6/14: Seattle, WA @ Chop Suey - TICKETS 6/16: Vancouver, BC @ The Cobalt - TICKETS 6/18: Washington, DC @ U Street Music Hall 6/19: Boston, MA @ Church of Boston - TICKETS 6/20: Brooklyn, NY @ Knitting Factory - TICKETS 6/21: Chicago, IL @ Schubas - TICKETS 6/22: Rochester, NY @ Lovin' Cup - TICKETS 6/26: San Francisco, CA @ Rickshaw Stop - TICKETS 6/27: San Jose, CA @ Pagoda 6/28: Los Angeles, CA @ The Echo - TICKETS 6/29: San Diego, CA @ The Griffin - TICKETSwww.amandshawnlee.com www.facebook.com/amandshawnlee www.twitter.com/amsounds www.youtube.com/amsounds www.soundcloud.com/amsounds www.parkthevan.com
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