The anticipation for the new Blackbird Blackbird ‘Tangerine Sky’ LP is building! Here’s the world premiere of the title track. Pick up the new single here., and check out what The Onion AV Club has to say about it here.
““Tangerine Sky” is like an upbeat electronic fog, aurally all-encompassing in the very best way.”
The big day is here! Blackbird Blackbird ‘Love Unlimited’ is out worldwide, pick up the single HERE and get the exclusive b-side ’Waikiki. Check out the video and more fun goodies below
Great news Blackbird Blackbird fans, Om is gearing up for a brand new single for the standout track ‘Love Unlimited’ on July 8th. Here’s the world premiere video for the track directed by Larkin Donley and Govind Rae! Check out the feature on SPIN and pre-order the single HERE and get the exclusive b-side ‘Waikiki’
“The clip, directed by Larkin Donley and Govind Rae, details the beginning of a slow motion romance, and when our two stars eventually touch it unleashes some pulsing polychromatic imagery that functions as pretty salient visual analog to Maramag’s work.”
The wait is finally over! Pick up the fantastic new album ‘Tangerine Sky’ from Blackbird Blackbird now on iTunes and get the exclusive bonus track ‘Visionary’
See below for reviews, and scroll down to preview tracks on YouTube.
“As the title track of Blackbird Blackbird’s second LP Tangerine Sky opens, a warm polyphony of synths bounce radiantly to the beat of a driving kick drum presenting what seems to be a sort of instrumental prelude to the rest of the album. Suddenly, two and half minutes in, the dreamy vocals of Mikey Maramag appear all distant and blissed-out like a 3 O’clock wine buzz. For a guy who cut his teeth as the drummer for a hardcore band (Murder Practice), Maramag’s solo work as Blackbird Blackbird is about as sunny as it gets, having more in common with the chillwave warmth of Washed Out or the more tranquil sides of Ulrich Schnauss. While an album like this is enjoyable enough for its peaceful, mood-setting aesthetic, Tangerine Sky is also fortunate enough to contain some legitimate songwriting. Distressed lo-fi textures, Casio tones, and clever sequencing along with live guitars, bass, and drums make up the core of the album’s sound bed which wraps around some neatly melodic dream pop tunes like “Love Unlimited,” “Darlin Dear,” and “Rare Candy.” Some of the tweaked samples recall a gentler, hazed-out Passion Pit and like many artists working in that sonic bailiwick, the throbbing compression on a few of the tracks can become a bit trying. Still, it’s a stylistic choice that hardly deters from the songs, which coast along easily on a wave of homemade electro charm and Maramag’s sweet, late afternoon harmonies. Though beguiling in any climate, Tangerine Sky could easily become a soundtrack to the summer months.”
“Often cited for occupying the same woozy musical neighborhood as Washed Out, Caribou and The Postal Service, San Francisco-based artist Mikey Maramag has defined a sound that’s all his own under his Blackbird Blackbird alias. On Tangerine Sky he finesses his ability to write melodically infectious songs fueled by electronic instrumentation. Upbeat songs come to him as easily as Kenyans win marathons, so that’s why the heartfelt digital soul of “There Is Nowhere” reminds us of range and that sad songs say so much. Essential track: “Treehouse”
“San Francisco-based Mikey Maramag, aka Blackbird Blackbird, has been a staple in the psychedelic poptronica genre for a while now. His textured, vivid soundstrokes blended with ghostly vocals takes listeners to other worlds. On June 3rd via Om Records, he will be releasing his Tangerine Sky LP.”
Big news! Here’s your chance to check out the new Blackbird Blackbird album a week before it’s in stores. Find out why My Old Kentucky Blog describes it as, “textured, vivid soundstrokes blended with ghostly vocals.”
Big day for Blackbird Blackbird! KCRW are giving away ‘Hold On’ as their Today’s Top Tune. It’s available as a free download for 24 hours here. Impose Magazine are premiering the Phages remix of ‘There Is Nowhere’ here. Here’s a blurb from each, check out the tunes below and pre-order ‘Tangerine Sky’ coming on June 3rd.
Impose: Back in February, Bay Area songwriter/producer Blackbird Blackbird (real name Mikey Maramag) released the spaced-out R&B jam “There is Nowhere,” the first single from his upcoming album Tangerine Sky, out June 3 on Om Records. Though Maramag reportedly played drums in a hardcore band for six years, the track incorporated wispy falsetto and sensitive lyrics (“I’ve given up everything/ there is nowhere I’d rather be”) that would sound at home in the company of fellow indie crooners Active Child and How to Dress Well. (READ THE FULL REVIEW HERE).
KCRW: Blackbird Blackbird is the moniker of San Francisco-based wünderkind Mikey Maramag. He conjures a dreamy electro-pop ambience in his music, but things heat up on Today’s Top Tune, a B-side called “Hold On.” (CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOADTHE SONG)
To celebrate Om’s 100,000 likes on Facebook, I thought it would be fun to go back through the catalog and pick out some of my favorites. New school and old school fans will enjoy this ride through the history. Hope you enjoyed the session! Thank you for liking what we’re doing, your support means the world to us.
1) Body Language ‘Well Absolutely’ (Shiny Objects Remix) – first time ever available for download. This one was released exclusively for streaming only on Spotify. You may have heard it on Sirius XM Chill b/c it’s been in their rotation.
2) Blackbird Blackbird ‘Hold On’ – the b-side on the ‘There Is Nowhere’ single. We love the ambient vibe on this one. It’s also a favorite on Sirius XM Chill and on KCRW.
3) Sleight of Hands ‘Sometimes’ – SF duo Phil Collis (Bachelors of Science) and DJ M3 combine forces to create some heavy underground house music. Be sure to seek out the Psychemagik mix of this one, it’s getting lots of airplay on KCRW ‘Metropolis’.
4) Click Click & Upstroke ‘Barricade’ – Berlin’s Click Click teams up with Russian Upstroke to create this down and dirty b side to the stunning ‘Everything’ single on Om’s sister imprint Smoke N’ Mirrors. We love how this one builds and rolls with the bass.
5) Mark Farina ‘Life’ – ah the Mushroom Jazz man himself delivers an original tune taken from his stellar 6th volume of the series. Head nod heavy, slightly weird, and just damn great.
6) The Jazzual Suspects ‘Ba Dada’ – another mysterious moniker of the most recorded artist in Om Records history, Mr. Charlie 6’8" Tate! If you dig this one, be sure to check out his other offerings from King Kooba, Colossus, Boswick Gates, Alta Plana and Grand Synthe.
7) People Under the Stairs ‘80 Blocks from Silverlake’ – LA’s finest deliver another tribute to the city of angels taken from the ‘Carried Away’ LP. Listen for the name check at the 2:00 mark. :)
8) Afro-Mystik ‘Shoplift the Future’ – Om hip-hop from 1999 feat. the homie Azeem. You may have missed this one if you’re on the new school side. I highly recommend going back for more of the Future Tropic bizness from Om founder Christopher J. Smith and his funky afro Brazilian moniker.
9) Ming & FS ‘Madhattan Bound’ – an Om classic! When this came out in 1998, it was way ahead of its time. A favorite of b-boys and bassheads the world over. Be sure to check out the video.
10) Bassnectar ‘Bomb the Blocks’ – ah, one of my favorites and a perfect closer to the session. Available on vinyl if you can find it. Make sure you check out the video, you will like!
Haunting guitar and sparse drum kicks build to a harmonious vocal crescendo of Blackbird Blackbird’s Mikey Maramag and DWNTWN’s Jamie Leffler. Pure goose bump inducing magic takes the melancholic beauty of the original to even higher heights. Props go out to DWNTWN producer Robert Cepeda for delivering exactly what a good remix is supposed to do!
Big news today! Blackbird Blackbird is embarking on a 23 date North American Tour to support his new Tangerine Sky album (out 6/4/14 on Om Records). Check out blackbirdblackbird.com for more info.
Curious about those sultry lyrics in Body Language’s ’I’m a Mess’? What are they saying? Yeah, we thought you might be curious. Here’s our rendition of a lyric video complete with beautiful colors and lovely people. We hope you enjoy. Pick it up in iTunes here!
New Blackbird Blackbird album ‘Tangerine Sky’ coming June 3rd.
The new album Tangerine Sky promises more surprises, creatively meshing a wide array of contemporary styles into something unique that can only exist in the now. This is futuristic synth-pop that doesn’t look back for inspiration, instead tying together elements of forward thinking hip-hop/R&B, space-age folk, and the meditative grooves of house and techno. Pre-order here!
The Sleight of Hands x Psychemagik ‘Sometimes’ three track single is out worldwide! Here are some recommended links for picking it up. Click here to get it on Beatport! Click here to get it on iTunes!
Want to hear more from Click | Click? Check out his DJ Chart on Beatport. Click here to listen to the tracks!
Show Sleight of Hands some love and pick up their first DJ Chart on Beatport featuring a collection of their work with Groove Armada/ Psychemagik / Body Language & More. Click here to check out the sounds!
More big Smoke N’ Mirrors premiere news today! Check out the full new ‘Everything’ EP from Click | Click and Upstroke now! Click here to get it on Beatport!
A spacey rework of the classic Olivia Newton John track. One of Shiny Objects’ all time favorite songs :) CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD
A spacey rework of the classic Olivia Newton John track. One my all time favorite songs :)
Big video news today! We’re world premiering the new Blackbird Blackbird video ‘There Is Nowhere’ on the Om Records YouTube Channel. Check it out and pre-order the single coming on Feb. 25th. CLICK HERE TO PRE-ORDER
Returning from the critically acclaimed ‘Boracay Planet’, San Francisco’s Blackbird Blackbird takes his dreamy electronic pop to even greater heights with his forthcoming album ‘Tangerine Sky’ out this May on Om Records.
The lead single, ‘There Is Nowhere’ (Coming Feb 25th, 2014), is melancholic deconstructed soul that’s as heart wrenching as it is beautiful. Slowed down heavy drums dance with synths and Blackbird Blackbird’s crooning falsetto. This is beautiful, majestic and elegant music for a more civilized age. Make sure to check out the video on YouTube on February 17th.
The b-side is a drum heavy ambient tune called ‘Hold On’. Twinkling percussion and angelic vocals float over driving beats culminating in a whirlwind of electronic bliss. An exclusive unreleased track, ‘Hold On’ is already a fan favorite at Blackbird Blackbird shows.
Starting February 18th, catch Blackbird Blackbird on a 30 date European Tour that brings him to England, Norway, Spain, France, Czech Republic, Germany, Sweden, Denmark, Belgium, Italy and Russia.
Stay tuned for upcoming US tour info at blackbirdblackbird.net
Here’s the new video from San Francisco’s Shiny Objects. a funk-infused deep house track with a hint of techy goodness. Provocative female French vocalist, Aya, gives the track a surreal yet danceable edge.
Please join us Saturday February 1st for a stellar night of music featuring PillowTalk performing all new material from their forthcoming album live at Monarch. Also on the line up the mysterious and infectious sounds of dAvi A along with the the master blaster of Nite Moves Papa Lu. Of course Smoke n’ Mirrors residents Shiny Objects and Trev Campbell will be in full effect dropping the very best deep house, disco and techno.
