FEATURED INTERVIEWS

Sonic Youth, 2009

Grizzly Bear, 2009

Yo La Tengo, 2009

Michael Stipe, 2008

Stephen Malkmus, 2008

Conor Oberst, 2007

The Long Blondes, 2006



FEATURED REVIEWS

Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks, 2008

Beach House, 2008

The Clientele, 2007

Frida Hyvönen, 2006

Ladybug Transistor, 2006

Hidden Cameras, 2006

Ladybug Transistor
Here Comes the Rain EP
+ Venus magazine, December 2006 +

Ladybug Transistor return from a long hiatus with a EP comprised entirely of covers, gems by the likes of Kevin Ayers, John Cale, Trader Horne, and Grin. They’re the right kind of covers, as each is tailor suited to Ladybug’s trademark style of charmed bucolic pop, and arcane enough so as to avoid cheap kitsch.

Standouts here include an eerie gossamer take on Ayers’ “Girl On A Swing,” which showcases a superb pedal steel courtesy of Lambchop’s Paul Niehaus, and a gently rollicking version of Trader Horne’s “Here Comes the Rain,” which features lovely harmonizing from The Aislers Set’s Allicia Vanden Huevel and some near anonymous backing vocals from Jens Lekman, both nicely complementing Gary Olson’s trademark dulcet croon.

The sun bleached reading of Cale’s “Empty Bottles” shimmers gorgeously, while a supple, nursery rhyme take on Grin’s “Everybody’s Missing the Sun” features galvanizing brass and backing vocal contributions from members of Architecture in Helsinki. Hopefully, the spirited élan of these collaborative performances portends great things for the band’s next full length.