Los Encantados

Los Encantados are a six-piece band based in New York and are kind of a big deal. Their sound is a beautiful amalgamation of aggression and vulnerability, all laced into a contagious throwback package which we just can’t get enough of; think the American dream caught up in a whirlwind love. With a sound that is so defiant, it’s no wonder the lads currently feature in the campaign video for French fashion brand Equipment, as well as appearing in the likes of Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, and STYLE.COM. The band have finished up a three part EP series entitled The Same Damned Soul, which details the trials and tribulations of love, and are expected to drop their debut album in the spring of 2013.

From what we’ve heard so far, these guys are definitely ones to watch in 2013. If we’re completely honest, the only way you can get a true sense of everything these lads represent, is to watch the video below from the first in The Same Damned Soul series and enjoy new track ‘ZZZZ‘ from the last installment of the series. - Bang Tidy Music

Sitting down with the boys of Los Encantados, you don’t get the sense that they’ve caught onto their own inevitable indie fame. Comprised of six members, Los Encantados is a straightforward, surfer-rock band based out of Brooklyn, and, like many others, practices in a tiny room of a converted Bushwick warehouse that smells like booze and cigarettes. Unlike many others though, they are all good at playing instruments. Additionally, they are cerebral and mild-mannered (though not entirely mild-mannered. One member, whose name I’ve omitted, joined the band once upon a daytime bender when he, “literally stumbled into the practice space…” )
The story of Los Encantados started when front man James Armstrong wrote a bunch of songs about a girl, who, from what I surmise, broke his heart in the summer of 2010. Those songs were then turned into an album, and in 2011, he and his friends got together to perform that album for a live audience. Sartorially, the show involved white masks, and a lot of frantic last minute ribbon cutting. After it was all over they decided that they “liked it way too much to stop”. So they kept playing. And it’s a good thing they did.
The album, Same Damned Soul, was released in three parts, to accompany mood shifts driven by seasonal change. Chapter 1 is the sonic embodiment of summer love and all of its nostalgia-inspiring highs and lows. The first track, “Ghosts”, hits you over the head with its catchiness; however any song that opens with four full bars of kick drum is bound to hook you no matter how you feel about throwback rock. Armstrong’s voice then comes in, drawling and retro, reminiscent of Julian Casablancas ‘though so much better, because he doesn’t take himself all that seriously (nor does he loathe his fellow band members. In fact it seems they all really love playing together). After “Ghosts”, you indeed want to hear more. All three tracks, as well as each song from the following chapters, 2 & 3, straddle the line between warm, melodic love songs and loud, insistent, percussion-driven rock jams that take you on the psychic journey of someone who’s been exhilarated and subsequently torn to shreds by love. “Your ghost has chosen me”, Armstrong mourns–a motif as relatable as it is confounding. Without relying too heavily on the theme of love lost, the redemption is in the music: indie gems that keep you pressing ‘play’ again and again.
I was lucky enough to sit down with the chaps of Los Encantados one night, to muse about the band’s happenings around town, what they think about the music industry, and where they see their sound heading over the next year (“we’re NOT planning to make a dub-step or trap album…yet…”), as they prepare to release forthcoming work. They are all exceptionally nice–though I’m sure it didn’t hurt that I brought them beer–and fun to listen to, just like their tunes. Below is my interview with them in full. Click and hear it all, straight from the horse’s mouth. - Audio Femme

Surgida no Brooklyn, a banda Los Encantados lançou o seu primeiro EP em março desse ano, no começo do verão americano. O som indie pop ensolarado com influências de T. Rex, Television e The Beach Boys, com uma pitada de Vampire Weekend, combina muito bem com o clima.

O sexteto formado por James Armstrong, David Kinniburgh, Ben Mattison, Evan Mitchell, Kevin Rochford e Jerome Umanos dividiu o EP The Same Damned Soul em três partes. O primeiro disco da trilogia traz três faixas “Ghosts”, “Maritime” e ”Subways”, com destaque para a última. Remixes completam a tracklist.

Translation:

Formed in Brooklyn, the band Los Enchanted released their first EP in March of that year, at the beginning of summer. The sunny indie pop sound with influences from T. Rex, Television and The Beach Boys, with a hint of Vampire Weekend, blends well with the weather.

The sextet formed by James Armstrong, David Kinniburgh, Ben Mattison, Evan Mitchell, Kevin Rochford and Jerome UMAN divided the Same EP The Damned Soul in three parts. The first disc of the trilogy features three tracks "Ghosts," "Maritime" and "Subways," especially the last. Remixes complete the tracklist. - Som do Som

Los Encantados are a rising Brooklyn-based six-piece influenced by the likes of T. Rex, Television and the Beach Boys.

Their album, The Same Damned Soul, is a true story and took place over the summer of 2010 in France and New York and then France again. Most of it was written on the F train to Coney Island and on the C train to Rockaway during the summer of 2011.

Ghosts is taken from the first chapter of the album. It is 1/3 of the soundtrack to summer; the other 2/3rds will be released throughout the summer of 2012 - Discoverband.com

Toronto music blogs, and the bloggers that run them, can be thanked for exposing music lovers to many new and ground-breaking musicians that have surfaced over the years. Although there are many blogs posting amazing concert reviews, there's a smaller, more select group that devotes themselves to tirelessly seeking out the latest tunes.

Here's my list of noteworthy Toronto-based blogs that introduce up-and-coming music.

Chart Attack
Chart Attack originally started off as an online magazine in the early '90s. In the broadest sense, the website exists to bring you independent, alternative music. Having said that, they're always posting music that pushes the limits of its genre. With a team of roughly five main contributors, each member has something different to add, creating a sense of diversity in the site's content.

Posts have featured artists such as Daughn Gibson, The Shins and DIIV. Aside from featuring new music, they have recently introduced interviews with artists such as J. Tillman, a former Fleet Foxes member.

Earmilk
Bryan Shoji, founder and editor of Earmilk started off as a computational physics student at the University of Waterloo. After realizing that there was no chemistry between him and university life, he started Earmilk, a blog that features new and upcoming music across all genres. The layout has been recently redesigned, making it easier for music lovers to navigate through specific genres, some of which I didn't know even existed (witch-house and post-dubstep, for example).

One of the unique features on the website is the integrated music player located at the top of the website. There are daily features that have single posts dedicated to a certain theme. All in all, this Toronto-based website has dozens of writers from across the United States and Canada, and an impressive range of musical diversity.

Sidewalk Hustle
Before Tristan, the editor-in-chief, was hustling music, he was hustling as a bank teller. As a break from his bank life, he started Sidewalk Hustle and was later joined by his girlfriend. Having grown up in Toronto in the '90s, he's always had a love for hip hop. However, he doesn't limit himself to the genre--expect everything from Diamond Rings to Quadron to Die Antwoord.

They recently put together the Saint Motel show at the Horseshoe and every so often they set up collaborative events with clothing brands. They'll also be officially representing Virgin at the Osheaga festival. As for what's on Tristan's iTunes? He recently added Frank Ocean's "Pyramids," and a random shuffle yielded A$AP Rocky's "Goldy."

Friends with Both Arms
Nada, the founder of Friends With Both Arms has gone from doing showcases for SXSW to hosting secret shows where artists perform for a small crowd in a living room. Despite her busy life, she's been maintaining the music blog since 2009. If you're into dad-rock, indie-folk, experimental - to name a few - this is your go-to blog. Lately she's had a preference towards female musicians such as Francoise Hardy.

Rather than doing typical artist interviews, she's had guest artists create exclusive mixtapes for the blog. This not only offers more insight into what the artists are listening to, but also creates exposure for the artists themselves. To get a feel of what music to expect from this blog, some of her postings include songs by Family Band, Bowerbirds, Cate Le Bon and others.

Indie Music Filter
Rather than bombarding his friends with e-mails about new bands and shows, Dan directed his energy towards launching Indie Music Filter. His eclectic tastes include indie-rock, electronic, folk, shoegaze, post-rock and more. If you can't dedicate yourself to making a regular habit of visiting the website, check out his monthly playlists. The posts are concise, focusing on key tracks, videos and artist, and encouraging readers to seek out more information about interesting artists. Recent posts include songs by Los Encantados, Trails an - blogTO

Remember that nifty little band we introduced you to a couple weeks ago? The one that puts summer into the music form? Well, they’re back!

Los Encantados just released their EP, The Same Damned Soul: Chapter 2, part 2 of 3 in their summer love trilogy. The EP contains 3 tracks that are perfect for cruising down the roads with your windows wide open.

“St. Tropez,”the first single, is a fun beach-rock track with it’s up beat drums, melodic guitar and catchy as hell vocals. Like the song suggests, it’s perfect to hang out to “in the sunshine.” “OMFD” starts off with a catchy guitar riff and then cue the drums and poppy vocals. The final product is a song that will have you tapping your foot and snapping your fingers. The last track “Pour Toi” is subduded and romantic. It’s sung in both French and English over a simple guitar allowing for James Armstrong’s crooning of love and longing to speak for itself.

Los Encantados doesn’t disappoint with their EP, leaving us looking forward to the final chapter of this fantastic love story. - indiecurrent.com

Thanks Jana for the tip. Los Encantados are a six-piece Brooklyn band influenced by the likes of T. Rex, Television and the Beach Boys, which you can hear in their music. Their album, The Same Damned Soul, is a true story and took place over the summer of 2010 in France and New York and then France again. This first chapter of this “summer love trilogy” came out in March, the other 2/3rds will be released throughout this summer of 2012. I’ll keep you up to speed when I hear more.

Take a listen to this standout song/video “Ghosts”. There’s more than a few great songs though, check the player below. - Indie Music Filter

Thanks Jana for the tip. Los Encantados are a six-piece Brooklyn band influenced by the likes of T. Rex, Television and the Beach Boys, which you can hear in their music. Their album, The Same Damned Soul, is a true story and took place over the summer of 2010 in France and New York and then France again. This first chapter of this “summer love trilogy” came out in March, the other 2/3rds will be released throughout this summer of 2012. I’ll keep you up to speed when I hear more.

Take a listen to this standout song/video “Ghosts”. There’s more than a few great songs though, check the player below. - Indie Music Filter

There was an overwhelmingly positive response to the Los Encantados streams last month, so this should make those new fans especially happy.

The Brooklyn-based six-piece are giving away a free MP3: another take on their excellent track “Maritime“, a dub-styled remix by Tim Wagner with guest vocals from Amy Douglas. It takes the listener from the DIY, garage setting of the original to a tropical island; Wagner relaxes the song’s feel while keeping much of the composition in tact, as Douglas’ gleeful vocals act as the final massage. A dub-inspired guitar lead provides the track’s backbone, as Los Encantados’ original vocals are touched with a bit more reverb. It’s an interesting and wildly successful take; the band agrees as well.

Wagner is the founder of new Brooklyn label, Dither Down Records. It already has several promising artists on the roster, including the dance-pop of Eli Escobar and “afro-electro” duo Jogyo. Douglas, one-half of electro-pop duo SPF 5000, has been a pianist and songwriter since age 6 and packs a 5-octave range. - Obscure Sound

Prendete un po di classico rock, mischiatelo con un viaggio tra la Francia e Coney Island ed ecco questa piccola gemma di indie rock sbarazzino. Los Encantados sfornano questo EP prima del loro album di debutto. Interessante, divertente, adatto a questa estate appena iniziata.

Website: http://www.losencantados.com/
Buon Ascolto.

Translation:

Take a bit of classic rock, mix it with a journey through France and Coney Island and here is this little gem of jaunty indie rock. Los Encantados churn out this EP before their debut album. Interesting, fun, suitable for this summer has just begun.

Website: http://www.losencantados.com/
Good Listening. - http://www.gengiskunk.net/

Well, HOT DAYS are NOW upon us. Which means it's time to do a few things: cut your jeans up into pocket-high jorts, hole-punch your neon tees into mesh tanks, and, perhaps most importantly, start dragging tracks into your Summer Playlist. And may I make a suggestion? Check out Los Encantados, a Brooklyn-based sextet that seems to know Pop inside and out. They released the first of a three-part EP (Same Damned Soul) a few weeks ago, with the rest scheduled to leak throughout the summer. With a barrage of sweet, ringing guitar melodies, hat-heavy drum patters, and catchy-as-F vocal forays, this first chapter kinda reminds us of Vampire Weekend, or latter day Arctic Monkeys, and is about as beach-ready as it gets. The track "Subways" is sure to make you smile eight different ways at the same time, and the Disco Dub remix of "Maritime" serves as a particularly salient addition to any summer soundtrack. - BuffaBlog

Los Encantados’ new video for the superb track “Ghosts” (MP3) is suave and carefree. It embodies the feeling of exhilaration on a beautiful day, when you’re walking around the city without a stressful thought on your mind. Go ahead and play Scrabble by the river, run up the stairs to the rooftop, or have your own mini-block party. Dance in the streets, and walk with a slight hop. Live life. The video to “Ghosts” embodies sunlit spontaneity in the best way possible. It just makes you feel good. Even without the visual accompaniment, the Brooklyn-based six-piece are frequently capable of this. Their knack for throwback, summer-friendly rockers is extraordinary.

You may remember this initial post with several streams, as well as our premiere of “Maritime (Wagner’s Dither Down Disco Dub)” in May. These songs exemplify their love of surf-rock and throwback pop in the vein of Jonathan Richman or Little Joy, who recall the style’s chirpiest and most accessibly recognizable aspects without appearing overly sentimental or dependent on the era. Alas, Los Encantados do not abandon the suave NYC indie-rock sound of The Strokes or The Virgins. With a breezy, nonchalant, hook-filled sound, they’re destined to explode shortly.

Los Encantados’ most recent album, The Same Damned Soul, is a true story that took place over the summer of 2010 in France and New York. Most of it was written “on the F train to Coney Island and on the C train to Rockaway during the summer of 2011.” Look for new material on the way very shortly. I’ll keep you updated. - Obscure Sound

Los Encantados’ new video for the superb track “Ghosts” (MP3) is suave and carefree. It embodies the feeling of exhilaration on a beautiful day, when you’re walking around the city without a stressful thought on your mind. Go ahead and play Scrabble by the river, run up the stairs to the rooftop, or have your own mini-block party. Dance in the streets, and walk with a slight hop. Live life. The video to “Ghosts” embodies sunlit spontaneity in the best way possible. It just makes you feel good. Even without the visual accompaniment, the Brooklyn-based six-piece are frequently capable of this. Their knack for throwback, summer-friendly rockers is extraordinary.

You may remember this initial post with several streams, as well as our premiere of “Maritime (Wagner’s Dither Down Disco Dub)” in May. These songs exemplify their love of surf-rock and throwback pop in the vein of Jonathan Richman or Little Joy, who recall the style’s chirpiest and most accessibly recognizable aspects without appearing overly sentimental or dependent on the era. Alas, Los Encantados do not abandon the suave NYC indie-rock sound of The Strokes or The Virgins. With a breezy, nonchalant, hook-filled sound, they’re destined to explode shortly.

Los Encantados’ most recent album, The Same Damned Soul, is a true story that took place over the summer of 2010 in France and New York. Most of it was written “on the F train to Coney Island and on the C train to Rockaway during the summer of 2011.” Look for new material on the way very shortly. I’ll keep you updated. - Obscure Sound

Qual o resultado de uma viagem de Verão entre França e Coney Islands - Nova Iorque?
Resulta neste belíssimo Ghosts dos Los Encantados. Batidas de bateria cativantes, rifadas de guitarra e uma voz capaz de agarrar qualquer ouvido à primeira audição. Um indie-pop com ligeiros laivos de indie-rock e um óbvio surf-rock, com uma audição extremamente limpa sem qualquer partícula em suspensão que nos possa causar má impressão. Ghosts pertence ao EP “Same Damned Soul, Chapter 1”, lançado em Abril, mas que só agora teve direito a vídeo.

Translation:

What is the result of a summer trip between France and Coney Islands - New York?
Results in this gorgeous Ghosts of Los Enchanted. Catchy drum sets, guitar and rifled a voice able to grab any ear at first hearing. An indie-pop with slight hints of indie-rock and surf-rock obvious, extremely clean with a hearing without any particles suspended in it can cause bad impression. Ghosts EP belongs to the "Same Damned Soul, Chapter 1," released in April, but only now had the right video. - Indie With The John

Qual o resultado de uma viagem de Verão entre França e Coney Islands - Nova Iorque?
Resulta neste belíssimo Ghosts dos Los Encantados. Batidas de bateria cativantes, rifadas de guitarra e uma voz capaz de agarrar qualquer ouvido à primeira audição. Um indie-pop com ligeiros laivos de indie-rock e um óbvio surf-rock, com uma audição extremamente limpa sem qualquer partícula em suspensão que nos possa causar má impressão. Ghosts pertence ao EP “Same Damned Soul, Chapter 1”, lançado em Abril, mas que só agora teve direito a vídeo.

Translation:

What is the result of a summer trip between France and Coney Islands - New York?
Results in this gorgeous Ghosts of Los Enchanted. Catchy drum sets, guitar and rifled a voice able to grab any ear at first hearing. An indie-pop with slight hints of indie-rock and surf-rock obvious, extremely clean with a hearing without any particles suspended in it can cause bad impression. Ghosts EP belongs to the "Same Damned Soul, Chapter 1," released in April, but only now had the right video. - Indie With The John

Los Encantados are a rising Brooklyn-based six-piece with a knack for throwback, summer-friendly rockers. They incorporate their love of surf-rock and throwback pop like Jonathan Richman or Little Joy, who recall the style’s chirpiest and most accessibly recognizable aspects without appearing overly sentimental or dependent on the era. Alas, Los Encantados do not abandon the suave NYC indie-rock sound of The Strokes or The Virgins. With a breezy, nonchalant, hook-filled sound, I’ be surprised if they didn’t reach similar initial “buzzband” status.

It’s a cliché to say you’re all about summer and love, man, but this is a band actually capable of making that love audible, like how Air France or The Beach Boys captured the sounds of a carefree summer (though with differing presentations and perspectives). Los Encantados’ new album, The Same Damned Soul, is a true story that took place over the summer of 2010 in France and New York. Most of it was written “on the F train to Coney Island and on the C train to Rockaway during the summer of 2011.” Oh, and if you’re itching to know where it was recorded, it was in Bushwick, “until the building that housed the Encantado recording studio was condemned.”

If you’re in NYC, check out the band at the Cake Shop or Bell House; they have a few shows coming up at both. - Obscure Sound

Powerfully punching that bass drum in time, Same Damn Soul Chapter 1 enters with a traditional rock ballad, lead confidently in the vocal department and hooked by the guitars. Los Encantados, the New York rockers, deliver a rock album made for the last pitch of a perfect game, in slow motion, game seven of the World Series. Dingus - Dingus On Music

Los Encantados most likely write their music by forcefully giving each other high fives until the music spontaneously happens. This is just an uninformed guess of course, but with the band's name loosely translating to 'The Enchanted,' it wouldn't surprise me. The septet deals with the same chapters in life shared by most of us, city dwellers. Only when they do it... it's actually uplifting!

Their latest EP 'Same Damned Soul,' opens with a barnburning athem to lost loves ('Ghost'), and continues at this speed 'til you arrive at the beach in time for the party with closer 'Maritime.' This is quite a bit of fun to be sure, but nowhere near as good a time as seeing the six-piece live. So check them out on July 6th when they play the CBGB fest at The Delancey - Deli Magazine

Los Encantados most likely write their music by forcefully giving each other high fives until the music spontaneously happens. This is just an uninformed guess of course, but with the band's name loosely translating to 'The Enchanted,' it wouldn't surprise me. The septet deals with the same chapters in life shared by most of us, city dwellers. Only when they do it... it's actually uplifting!

Their latest EP 'Same Damned Soul,' opens with a barnburning athem to lost loves ('Ghost'), and continues at this speed 'til you arrive at the beach in time for the party with closer 'Maritime.' This is quite a bit of fun to be sure, but nowhere near as good a time as seeing the six-piece live. So check them out on July 6th when they play the CBGB fest at The Delancey - Deli Magazine

Here is the premiere of Obscure Sound’s new video feature. The first band featured is Los Encantados, a rising Brooklyn-based six-piece with a knack for throwback, summer-friendly rockers. They pack a breezy, nonchalant, hook-filled sound akin to the suave NYC indie-rock of The Strokes or The Virgins. - obscuresound.com

We fell in love with the original and summery-to-the-max sound of Brooklyn sextet Los Encantados a while ago, when they dropped Chapter 1 of their The Same Damned Soul project. Now they’re back with Chapter 2, and it’s another short, but sweet hit of near-perfect rock’n'roll tracks, stuffed full with pop hooks and choruses to die for. Highlight track “St Tropez” is full of pomp and shoutalong vocals, with a killer guitar riff to boot, while closer “Pour Toi” shows a softer, more sentimental side to the band. A must-have for any lover of danceable indie-rock, The Same Damned Soul (Chapter 2) is out now. - themusicninja.com

If summer love was presented in band-form, it would probably look something like Los Encantados. The six-piece Brooklyn based band, which mixes classic surfer sounds like that of The Beach Boys with more current pop tunes, is the our most recent discovery of band to be creating catchy indie-rock muse.

The newly released video for their song “Ghosts”, will have you beach ready with it’s sputtering guitar licks, enveloping drum beats and the infectious vocals of singer James Armstrong. The video begins with an all-white band member wandering the sunny streets of Brooklyn in-search for his lovely looking, darkly dressed, counterpart. It cuts through to scenes of the other band members enjoying their summer loves with quirky activities like kite flying and arm wrestling, until finishing in classic love story style with the two running into eachother’s arm and the precession of dance. Summer love at it’s best.

The band’s first EP, The Same Damned Soul: Chapter 1, contains “Ghosts” and many other summery flavoured tracks that move in much of the same waters of clumpy pop/rock choruses and intensifying end-parts. Since this is only the first of a trilogy based off a true story that happened in France and New York, we can expect to hear the remaining two-thirds in the coming-future. As for now though, let’s just enjoy this fantastic first part while we still can! - Indie Current

Proving once again that the internet, not the radio, is the place to find new tunes, we've just discovered Los Encantados and their brilliant track "Ghosts". We love it! Raging melodies, floating riffs, and massive head-exploding 60's style drums! These guys don't just say they're all about the beach, the sun, and the laid back days of summer; they actually prove it.

Hit that spin button and then score the download! 5 out of 5 surfboards! - A Media Mindset

Wrap your ears around Brooklyn’s Los Encantados, a six piece indie rock act on the verge of releasing their debut LP in 2013. Meanwhile ‘ZZZZ’ comes from the third chapter of their EP series ‘The Same Damned Soul’. Its a vintage lullaby that throws a mild tantrum before getting its way. If only my high school dance played this tune in the hall rather than ‘Ice Ice Baby’, I may have had a chance. A Marty McFly moment. Alas, best not to paint Los Encantados with one brush. While ‘ZZZZ’ may be sweet, there’s also rough edges rock n’ roll to be had, take a listen to more here.




What’s the Los Encantados creation story? Where did it all begin?

I moved to New York in the summer of ’07 from Florida. Nothing was inspiring me then, so I just DJ’d around for the first couple of years here. A friend of mine (and also member of Los Encantados) Kevin needed a guitar player in his band, The Dunnie Bobos, so that got me back playing rock music again. Then I met a girl and recorded a New Order-y inspired cover of Springsteen’s ‘I’m On Fire’ one night for her. Then we had a great thing and I started writing songs about it and recording them in my apartment. Initially, it was just a personal thing, bedroom demos passed between us. Eventually, I showed a couple of friends the tracks and a few months later at a party we decided to form a band around these songs.

The initial idea was to play this collection, The Same Damned Soul, once – make a little production out of it for our friends and then pack it in. We played the show – in our Encantado disguises (which included masks and mustaches to hide our identities – at Union Hall and had a great time and set. Heather D, who books there and Bell House, enjoyed it and was finalizing the line up to that year’s Beard and Mustache Bash at Bell House. She asked us to play, we thought about it and decided to keep playing and here we are two years later. We recorded the whole thing with Sammy Gallo (www.sammygallo.com) and released the tracks as three EPs. So, we were created from love and are sustained by love. It’s really great.

What inspired ‘ZZZZ’?

The EPs follow the arc of a relationship and ZZZZ is towards the endpoint. If there are two people and one has a ticket for a departing flight, ZZZZ is the ride to the airport.

If the band were a cartoon character would it be? Why?

Oblio from The Point. He’s a really great positive & optimistic character. When he gets thrown out of town and exiled to the Pointless Forest, he takes it on the chin and just searches for meaning while exploring his surroundings. He’s open to all of the information that comes his way and soaks it all up like a sponge – always focusing on the positive. When he’s ready, he comes back to his people and takes all the knowledge from his travels, filters it through his own point of view and succeeds in opening their minds to new thoughts and experiences. That’s basically the goal of life in general I think, beyond just songs and records.

What are you listening to at the moment?

Literally, ‘Kid Charlemagne’ by Steely Dan. In general, I’ve been listening to a ton of Harry Nilsson – mostly his work in the 70s. The soundtrack to ‘The Point’ is my favorite thing to start and end my days. After that, ‘Duit On Mon Dei’ is a favorite. His lyrics are excellent, so witty. Superb vocal range as well. As far as newer stuff – I think that Solange’s record is going to be really great, I love Dev Hynes’ production work and the lead single ‘Losing You’ is such a beautiful track.

If you could assemble a fantasy band, what would the line-up be?

For me, The Spiders From Mars on the later dates of the Ziggy tour, when Bowie added Mike Garson on keys to join Trevor Bolder on bass, Mike Woodmansy on drums and Mick Ronson on guitar, is the greatest rock line-up. I’d have loved to have seen them play on that tour.

When can we get our ears on the album?

Tim Wagner (33hz & Dither Down Records co-founder) is producing and we’ve done some tracking at Strangeweather (DIIV, Friends) with Dan. It’s going to be an exciting process. Much of the music is written for our upcoming debut full length. I’m still trying to conceptualize it lyrically and tie everything together at the moment – so you’ll have to stay tuned until next 2013.

Any upcoming shows?

We’re playing a couple with Luke Rathborne, an excellent musician and great guy based in NYC, too. First one that is all set in stone at Glasslands on November 14th. To keep up to date, hit our website www.losencantados.com and join in our sharing of jokes and lewd images over at facebook.com/losencantadosmusic. - Sounds Better With Reverb

For Los Encantados' 2nd EP this year, 'Same Damned Soul: Chapter 2,' they've extended their ambitions to include the summer anthem-in-waiting 'St. Tropez.' Competing as much with local bands like Beach Fossils, as much as with former occupants of this hallowed space like Len and Sublime before them, I recommend taking a listen as soon as you can to see if you think the band are the next bearers of the esteemed summer anthem crown.

The sun-worshippers then take you sailing on the rousing 'OMDF' and finally settle in for a romantic evening with closer 'Pour Toi.' Sung half in French, half in sunglass swagger English, the EP is a sign of how far this band has come, and where they might be headed to next. The new EP should well compliment whatever weekend road trip you were thinking of taking. - Mike Levine (@Goldnuggets) - Deli Magazine

For Los Encantados' 2nd EP this year, 'Same Damned Soul: Chapter 2,' they've extended their ambitions to include the summer anthem-in-waiting 'St. Tropez.' Competing as much with local bands like Beach Fossils, as much as with former occupants of this hallowed space like Len and Sublime before them, I recommend taking a listen as soon as you can to see if you think the band are the next bearers of the esteemed summer anthem crown.

The sun-worshippers then take you sailing on the rousing 'OMDF' and finally settle in for a romantic evening with closer 'Pour Toi.' Sung half in French, half in sunglass swagger English, the EP is a sign of how far this band has come, and where they might be headed to next. The new EP should well compliment whatever weekend road trip you were thinking of taking. - Mike Levine (@Goldnuggets) - Deli Magazine

Brooklyn six-piece Los Encantados take all the great bits of rock’n'roll, mix them up with a summer of trips to France and Coney Island, and end up creating indie rock gems like ‘Subways’. Featured on the band’s first release ‘The Same Damned Soul’ (the first part of three EPs under this name), ‘Subways’ is a jaunty slice of guitar pop that will get your toes tapping within seconds. ‘Subways’ is out now, but look out for the next two parts of ‘The Same Damned Soul’, which are set to drop this summer. - The Music Ninja

Los Encantados is a New York based six-piece band who are all about summer and love in the short-haired, 50's, faux-California way -- They listen to T. Rex, Television and The Beach Boys -- and you can kind of tell.

The bands' three EP series, The Same Damned Soul, is based on a true story which took place over the summer of 2010, between France, and New York and then France again. Most of it was written on the F train to Coney Island and on the C train to Rockaway during the summer of 2011. The Same Damned Soul was initially written by the band's lead man James Armstrong, who wrote the songs as a means of personal catharsis, intended for just one special set of ears. Eventually, Armstrong's band mates heard the music, and insisted on bringing the tracks to the stage and thus, Los Encantados was born.

Recorded in the bands' studio space in Bushwick, this Brooklyn-based six piece like to keep things local. Their sound is fresh and vibrant, with undertones of piercing sensitivity and sadness - and isn't that the way love works? The third installment of this EP series was released October 6th. While the first two, released over the summer, were light-hearted and blissful, this final offering carries a darker, emotionally heavy tone that parallels the trials and tribulations of love and distance. Listen/Purchase The Same Damned Soul (Part Three) here.

Watch an interview with Los Encantados featured on Obscure Sound:

This spring, Los Encantados is excited to release their debut full-length record (more details TBC). The songs on the album are inspired by the idea of "home," and touch on the feelings of reassurance, connection, and love associated with it. For the band, "home" isn't just limited to where you live, but where you find refuge as well. "Los Encantados is a brotherhood not limited to the members that make up the band" says front-man James Armstrong. "We stretch out our arms to include all that connect with us. In extending this brotherhood infinitely and outwards, we'd hope to include all in our 'home.'"
Read more at http://hangout.altsounds.com/news/153358-band-watch-los-encantados.html#J9HoLK4W8hMiZW7X.99
- Alt Sounds

Some bands toil away for weeks trying to get the perfect opening lyrics or guitar lick, but it wasn't the songwriting process itself that was painful for Los Encantados when it came to putting together their new track "ZZZZ." "It was very quick and natural--like turning on a faucet and filling in a glass of water," explains James Armstrong, the Brooklyn six-piece's lead singer, adding, "Emotionally, it felt like that faucet poured serrated blades and shards of glass into my cup to drink."

No surprise--the '50s-esque ballad, slated to be released on their new album this spring, chronicles the end of a relationship. "It's almost the kiss goodbye; it's seeing the endpoint and preparing to put something to rest," notes Armstrong. "ZZZZ", the second-to-last song in a three EP series dubbed The Same Damned Soul, captures that with its lullaby-to-chainsaw guitars arc. As the singer puts it, "Songs like this, Jesus & Mary Chain, and Harry Nilsson allow me to crack a smile after my internal yelling fits."

So start your Monday off with a sweet scream--we've got the exclusive premiere of "ZZZZ" and it's yours to download for free.
REBECCA WILLA DAVIS
Visit losencantados.com for more info, including their upcoming tour dates. - Nylon Magazine

Last month I gave a little shout-out to Los Encantados, a Brooklyn band that really stood out among the thousands of Brooklyn bands that send me music each week.

Today I'm psyched to debut the group's video for Ghosts. Shot by Patrick Lawler and directed by David W.M. Kinniburg, the clip showcases Los Encantados' home turf (and mine).

I swear I'm not just premiering it because it features Converse sneakers and pale girls with dark hair, but that certainly doesn't hurt! - USA Today / PopCandy

Proving once again that the internet, not the radio, is the place to find new tunes, we've just discovered Los Encantados and their brilliant track "Ghosts". We love it! Raging melodies, floating riffs, and massive head-exploding 60's style drums! These guys don't just say they're all about the beach, the sun, and the laid back days of summer; they actually prove it.

Hit that spin button and then score the download! 5 out of 5 surfboards! - A Media Mindset

One month ago, I hadn’t heard of most artists on this compilation. Excluding a handful that were featured in the past (John Maus, The Virgins, Eversons, Tesla Boy, Jesus H. Foxx), the great majority of these new finds were via e-mail submissions. That’s my favorite method of finding new material to post; you never know how a great an artist could be. How much exposure they have to this point is irrelevant, since experiencing an artist’s work without any prior context can be thrilling. This compilation is a fan of that sentiment.

Don’t bother wondering if the track listing is any way representative of qualitative order. My aim is to make the compilation flow well. I enjoy all of these songs, and attempting to put one ahead of the other is a waste of time. They’re all good. If you don’t wish to download the massive .RAR file, then the Media page is a good way to stream most of the music on one page.

On a different note, expect a dramatic number of increased content – and more writers – right after July 4th. I’ve been extraordinarily busy with non-OS stuff all year, but that’ll change a bit in July. Starting then, and running throughout the summer, I plan on massively expanding Obscure Sound. But enough of that. Summer is just about here. Enjoy the tunes.

Also, check out the free albums from last month: Monster Rally, Time Travelers, and Summer Flake.

01. Gap Dream – 58th St. Fingers (post)
02. John Maus – Mental Breakdown (post)
03. Paris – Say It (post)
04. Monster Rally – Snoozer (post)
05. Port St. Willow – Amawalk (post)
06. Pajama People – They Keep Saying (post)
07. Time Travelers – Abalone (post)
08. Tesla Boy – Fantasy (post)
09. Kids – Indian Paintbrush (post)
10. Los Encantados – Maritime (Wagner’s Dither Down Disco Dub) (post)
11. Monster Rally – Honey (post)
12. Badass Yuki – Cherry Tree Bonanza (post)
13. The Last Temptations – Police State (post)
14. Cary Kanno – Take Me Away (post)
15. Summer Flake – Inside Out (post)
16. The Virgins – Venus in Chains (post)
17. KiNo – Won’t Do (post)
18. Jesus H. Foxx – So Much Water (post)
19. The Eversons – Creepy (post)
20. Pagiins – What’s the Point? (post) - Obscure Sound

11. Los Encantados -- The six-piece Brooklyn band made me smile this week with its catchy EP, Some Damned Soul. Stream the whole thing on their site. - USA Today / Pop Candy

11. Los Encantados -- The six-piece Brooklyn band made me smile this week with its catchy EP, Some Damned Soul. Stream the whole thing on their site. - USA Today / Pop Candy