Give a listen to… Telefon Tel Aviv

It’s been a while since I’d featured a musical artist in this blog’s “Give a listen to…” series, and after previewing a track from the forthcoming album from Telefon Tel Aviv, a Chicago-based, New Orleans transplanted electro-pop duo, I knew that the feature was ready to make its triumphant return.

The track that did the trick is “Helen of Troy,” a lush, pastoral electronic track that is sweetly infectious (and available for download at the bottom of this post). I could listen to it on repeat for eons. The track seems to be on the brink –I’d give it two months — of remixes galore and probably a good six months from blogofame, particularly if the rest of Immolate Yourself, out on January 20, 2009, matches the level of this track.

The duo, comprised of Joshua Eustis and Charles Cooper, recently changed record labels to BPitch Control, have previously released two original albums, 2001’s Fahrenheit Fair Enough and 2004’s Map of What Is Effortless. The below track, from a live performance at the Kick It! Festival in Rome last year showcases, in admittedly low quality, their live presence:

The band have a handful of North American stops left on their tour this month, and will surely be on the road in the new year, so be sure to keep a look out for them. Meanwhile, enjoy the track below, and if you like what you hear, go and buy some new music.

Download: Telefon Tel Aviv ‘Helen of Troy’

Visit: Myspace | Official Site

Previously listened to on GALT: Kate Nash | Owen Pallett | Onili | Lykke Li

Give a listen to… Kate Nash

20-year-old Dublin songstress Kate Nash’s debut album “Made of Bricks” will finally be unleashed upon the States tomorrow after over a year of critical acclaim overseas, and I cannot find the words to adequately describe the many reasons why this is an album you should most certainly own. Nash’s British accent and quirky song-writing style have drawn comparisons to other artists from across the ocean, most notably Lily Allen, but any similarities end at the accent. Simply put, Nash is what everyone will be saying Lily Allen “could have been” three years from now.

Need some evidence? Check out the video of Nash’s performance of her #1 single “Foundations” from Jool Holland’s Hootenanny New Years’ Eve show below, as well as a download of the wickedly tart “Dickhead” and a link to her Myspace profile to hear more.

Download: Kate Nash ‘Dickhead’
Visit: Myspace
Visit: Official Site

Be on the lookout for more “Give a listen to…” entries on a semi-regular basis here at the blog, spotlighting upcoming artists that deserve your attention.