[playlist] Hump Day Power Play (5-23-2012)

Handsome Furs Mix

"Thy Will Be Done"... such a fitting first song to this week's Hump Day Power Play, which is meant to pay homage to the Handsome Furs who abruptly announced their disbandment last week. It comes as a total shock, as both Dan Boeckner and Alexie Perry were not only bandmates, but also mates of matrimony. Still no news has surfaced as to whether this is a Wolf Parade-style "indefinite hiatus" or a Sunset Rubdown-style "done for good". Luckily, we already know that Boeckner's music making days are far from over, as he's currently a member of the supergroup Divine Fits, featuring Spoon's Britt Daniel and New Bomb Turks' Sam Brown. Sadly though, it's looking like the Handsome Furs are done for good. Still, we have three amazing LPs to remember them by, and below is my collection of the hits.

Hear it by simply clicking here. Playlist is below.

:: Hump Day Power Play (5-23-2012) ::
01 :: "Thy Will Be Done" - Handsome Furs
02 :: "Dead + Rural" - Handsome Furs
03 :: "What About Us" - Handsome Furs
04 :: "Cannot Get, Started" - Handsome Furs
05 :: "Memories of the Future" - Handsome Furs
06 :: "Evangeline" - Handsome Furs
07 :: "What We Had" - Handsome Furs
08 :: "Repatriated" - Handsome Furs
09 :: "Legal Tender" - Handsome Furs
10 :: "Damage" - Handsome Furs
11 :: "Sing! Captain" - Handsome Furs
12 :: "Cheap Music" - Handsome Furs
13 :: "I'm Confused" - Handsome Furs
14 :: "Talking Hotel Arbat Blues" - Handsome Furs
15 :: "Dumb Animals" - Handsome Furs
16 :: "Nyet Spasiba" - Handsome Furs
17 :: "No Feelings" - Handsome Furs

Get Spotify (if you don't already have it).

[news] The End of Handsome Furs

Sad news

According to the Handsome Furs site, the band has split... Posted last night, HF had this to say:

With a heavy heart the time has come to let all of you know that Handsome Furs are no more.

The most important thing that needs to be said right now is how extremely grateful we are to all the fans all over the world that showered us with love and support over the years. Thank you for everything! It's been an incredible 6 years and we owe it all to you.

xoxo
HF

At this point it's just speculation on the reasons behind the break up. Hopefully it has nothing to do with the recent health scare that led to the cancellation of their Euro tour. Equally important, I hope this is only a break in the band and not a break in their marriage.

Nonetheless, I wish Dan and Alexie the best, and feel grateful to have experienced their amazing 3 LPs and incredible live shows, as well as their touching CNN documentary IndieAsia.

First the end of Wolf Parade, and now the end of Handsome Furs... truly sad news.

[new music] Handsome Furs - Sound Kapital

New Handsome Furs on June 28!

Handsome Furs have just announced the details of their 3rd LP Sound Kapital! The album will drop via SupPop on June 28, and you can hear the first single "What About Us" above. According to the band's press release, Sound Kapital is the first Handsome Furs album written exclusively on keyboards and drum machine. They go on to explain this decision in rational detail:

This was a conscious decision, made for a few reasons: a) it forced Dan, whose primary instrument is guitar, to find fresh avenues of expression; b) it facilitated writing on the road. The latter concern is especially important. Even with their new analog synthesizers, Handsome Furs can still fit all their gear into a subcompact car—or the saddlebags of a camel. Alexei and Dan have joked about being “closet journalists,” but this is no laughing matter. Being able to work as they travel permits visceral editorializing about their eye-opening adventures. The jittery, electro-hardcore “Damage” incorporates samples of radio broadcasts concerning a Hong Kong hostage situation that was unfolding while the Furs were in the Philippines.

The band will be playing a series of US shows before jetting off across the Atlantic (dates are posted below). Could be interesting to hear some old jams played out on the keys...

Sound Kapital Track Listing
01 When I Get Back
02 Damage
03 Bury Me Standing
04 Memories of the Future
05 Serve the People
06 What About Us
07 Repatriated
08 Cheap Music
09 No Feelings

Handsome Furs Tour Dates
04-13 – Boston, MA – Great Scott
04-14 – Brooklyn, NY – Bell House
04-15 – Richmond, VA – Gallery 5
04-16 – Clemson, SC – Clemson University
04-17 – Raleigh, NC – King's Barcade
04-18 – Philadelphia, PA – Kung Fu Necktie
04-22 – Sofia, Bulgaria – RBF Club – with No Age
04-23 – Skopje, MK – Zdravo Mladi Festival – with No Age
04-26 – Prishtina, Albania – Club 21 *
04-27 – Podgorica, Montenegro – Soul2Soul *
04-28 – Dubrovnik, Croatia – Orlando *
04-29 – Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina – SLOGA
05-03 – Vienna, AT – Flex
05-04 – Bratislava, SK – Dunaj
05-05 – Krakow, PL – Laznia Nowa
05-06 – Warsaw, PL – Warsaw Music Week @ Cafe Kulturalna
05-07 – Wroclaw, PL – Puzzle
05-08 – Prague, CZ – 007
05-09 – Berlin, DE – Westgermany
05-11 – Gent, BE – De Centrale
05-12 – Amsterdam, NL – Bitterzoet
05-13 – Brighton, UK – The Great Escape
05-14 – Cardiff, UK – Buffalo Bar
05-16 – London, UK – Lexington ^
05-17 – Glasgow, UK – Captains Rest
05-19 – Liverpool, UK – Sounds City Festival @ Chapel Club
05-20 – Paris, FR – Le Flèche d’or
05-21 – Bergen, NO – Landmark
05-22 – Oslo,NO – Betong

* – With support from Bernays Propaganda
^ – With support from Hundreds