Dirty Projectors' mastermind David Longstreth appears to be attracted to sounds that will simultaneously draw in and confound the average listener; he has a clear, sweet voice and a gift for well-crafted harmonies and melodies that bring out the innate beauty of his music, but he often weds them to fractured time signatures that cause the songs to shift gear at the least expected moments, and he tosses in sudden bursts of atonal skronk that are either bracing or puzzling, depending on your point of view. 2009's Bitte Orca certainly follows in this tradition, and there's enough aural shapeshifting on this set to keep anyone guessing on first listen. Despite that, in many respects, Bitte Orca is one of Dirty Projectors' most accessible efforts to date; the slinky "Stillness Is the Move" could almost pass for mainstream R&B with its potent groove, lush harmonies by Amber Coffman and Angel Deradoorian, and elegant string coda, though with Longstreth's wiry juju guitar leads floating over the top, this ain't quite Beyoncé, and the placid semi-folkie grace of "Two Doves" (which bears a certain melodic resemblance to a-ha's MTV-driven hit "Take on Me") is truly lovely even when the dramatic dynamics of the string section seem intent on calling attention to some darker undercurrents. On the other side of the coin, there's "Useful Chamber," which combines bent vocal samples, wheezing synthesizers, steadily chugging beatboxes, and sudden blasts of overdriven electric guitar to form a pocket concerto of beauty and noise, and "The Bride," where Longstreth's guitar hops back and forth between polite acoustic strum, bluesy slide work, and shards of noise while the rhythm section ties to keep up and the vocals drift past the foreground like a cloud. Bitte Orca's nine tracks all seem to be bursting with ideas that they can barely contain, but despite the sometimes fractured synapses of this music, the songs are at once surefooted and agile, and "Remade Horizon" and "No Intention" are joyous and funky in their own curious way, and you can dance to them if you're in the right frame of mind. David Longstreth isn't quite trying to make things easy for his listeners on Bitte Orca, but there's far too much pleasure in this music for its eccentricities to put off anyone who is open to its gleeful, eclectic, internationalist heart.
Words and photos by Mehan Jayasuriya.Back in June, I saw the Dirty Projectors play to a crowd of a few hundred kids at the Rufustival in Baltimore. It was the week before the release of Bitte Orca and I remarked at the time that it seemed, "a foregone conclusion that after years spent as an opening act, the band will soon graduate to headliner status," What a difference a few months makes. Last...
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Stressing contrast and composition, Bitte Orca barrels between percussive background vocals, distorted guitar licks, and hand claps on “Cannibal Resource” to fingerpicking, string orchestration, and sonorous female vocals on “Two Doves.” Throw in some falsetto and tempo changes and you have one aesthetically complicated but imaginatively and meticulously crafted album.Reminds us of: The Fu
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Dirty Projectors are led by former Yale student, current "musical director" and one of the most unique/eccentric indie singer/songwriters of the early 2000's, Dave Longstreth, who is accompanied by a shifting cast of band members. In fact, there have been 17 different band members in total, but no more than six at a time (including Ezra Koenig and Rostam Batmanglij of Vampire Weekend).Dave deco...
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Reviews of new albums by Sonic Youth, Dirty Projectors, Double Dagger, J Dilla, and Joan of Arc
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Photos by Nicole BrownerSold out and packed early. The Dirty Projectors have proven themselves quite the draw as they tour in support of their latest album “Bitte Orca” (Domino). The Night started out normal enough. Few people walking it at their leisure, but as opening band What’s Up took the stage a palatable sense of [...]
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The Dirty Projectors’ the Brooklyn based collective involving multiple performers using a mix of pop and classical elements. They’ve been around since 2002 and to be fair I only began to know about them with their 2007 release Rise Above. I was actually unable to get my hands on Rise Above and knowing my musical [...]Related posts:Dirty Projectors – Stillness Is The Move Music Video Do the
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So, here we are, half way through 2009, a perfect time to take stock, sit back and mull over the best and worst music of the year so far.Album wise it's been a pretty good year already, although as with 2008 it is the US acts which have dominated. Grizzly Bear's Veckatimist, The Dirty Projector's Bitte Orca and Animal Collective's Merriweather Post Pavilion were all career best albums and early...
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I don’t put much stock into the ratings at Metacritic [as we were never included or answered back when we asked for inclusion, so suck it, Metacritic ] but The Dirty Projectors‘ latest album, Bitte Orca, has been in the Billboard Top 100 for two weeks now and with the great press they have [...]
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One of the new bands to get excited about from Brooklyn, the Dirty Projectors are an ever-shifting lineup captained by Dave Longstreth. The collective have released two solid albums including The Glad Fact in 2005 and Rise Above in 2007. The cast for Bitte Orcaincludes Amber Coffman (vocals, guitar), Angel Deradoorian (vocals, keyboard, samples, bass), Brian Mcomber (drums), Nat Baldwin (bass) ...
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On ‘Bitte Orca’, Dave Longstreth and co craft a glimmering weave of soundscapes, effortlessly fusing soaring orchestral ambition with a refreshingly simple idea of pop music. The result is something close to a master class. It’s not Longstreth’s ability to make the superficially mundane sound like a hymn, nor is it fluttering golden harmonies of Coffman and Deradoorian that make ‘Bitte O
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Bitte Orca, the new album from Dave Longstreth's Dirty Projectors, sets the standard for albums in 2009.Read the full review http://www.neonfiller.com/page3.htm#dirtyprojectors
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Dirty Projectorsby Lavinia Jones Wright • June 9, 2009 Dirty ProjectorsBitte Orca(Domino, 2009)Dirty Projectors have come to define the forward-thinking movement that is the Brooklyn music scene, and, in a way, they have done much to preserve the scene's organic integrity while trends in noise and art-rock sweep through. It's the mantle quite a few bands have worn for a moment—TV on the Radio,
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There are two things you can say about Bitte Orca, and feel almost certain of what you're saying: It is the most guitar-driven Dirty Projectors album yet, and it is also a brilliant piece of music. Everything else is up for debate.
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ALBUM REVIEW: Dirty Projectors - Bitte Orcawords: Jamie Miltonoriginally scribed for thisisfakediyMaking what you do best ‘user friendly’ is a horrible process, bordering on torturous. From a reviewer’s perspective, it takes talent and guts to become a Smash Hits writer. From a musician’s perspective the same blood, sweat and tears have been necessary for Dirty [...]
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Brooklyn's Dirty Projectors are definitely one of those bands that are an acquired taste. Their experimental post-rock style prevent them from ever achieving mainstream success. That, however, means they are free from any obstacles in their pursuit of artistic expression.Bitte Orca is the band's forthcoming album (out June 9th). This, the fifth proper studio album of their career, sees Dirt
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Dirty Projectors have been playing only Bitte Orca tunes in their SXSW sets, and Amrit tells me yesterday's performance at Emo's Jr. was unreal (his pics adorn this post). The crowd apparently cheered so loudly, Dave Longstreth had to plug his ears. NPR's recording of the indie sextet's earlier gig at The Parish (3/19) suggests that if you're in Austin today, you should be at the Press Here Gar...
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Dirty Projectors' Amber Coffman channels Beyonce/Mariah/Whitney over some hypnotic West African guitar steez on the group's rad new single, "Stillness is the Move." I sort of miss the subtle chord change from the live version, but this is still a great, great jam:edit: video removed from youtubeThe Stillness is the Move 12" single is out April 21. Consider it pre-ordered.*************
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One of the new bands to get excited about from Brooklyn, the Dirty Projectors are an ever-shifting lineup captained by Dave Longstreth. The collective have released two solid albums including The Glad Fact in 2005 and Rise Above in 2007. The cast for Bitte Orcaincludes Amber Coffman (vocals, guitar), Angel Deradoorian (vocals, keyboard, samples, bass), Brian Mcomber (drums), Nat Baldwin (bass) ...
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Dirty Projectorsby Lavinia Jones Wright • June 9, 2009 Dirty ProjectorsBitte Orca(Domino, 2009)Dirty Projectors have come to define the forward-thinking movement that is the Brooklyn music scene, and, in a way, they have done much to preserve the scene's organic integrity while trends in noise and art-rock sweep through. It's the mantle quite a few bands have worn for a moment—TV on the Radio,
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Domino Records has unleashed the first single from the upcoming Dirty Projectors album Bitte Orca. The track is entitled “Stillness Is The Move” and it’s pretty dope. This album is lookin’ like a winner.mp3: Dirty Projectors - Stillness Is The Move
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I am not going to sit here and tell you that the Dirty Projectors didn't put on one of the best shows I have ever seen...because they did. I am ALSO not going to sit here and tell you these are the best pics I have ever taken...because they are not. But they don't suck so check some out after the break and the rest of the set on our Flickr page HERE.Golden BootsDirty Projectors
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Dirty Projectors have released details of their new studio album. Bitte Orca, the band's fifth album, will hit stores June 9th.The cover art is public (above) as is the track listing (below):Cannibal ResourceTemecula SunriseThe BrideStillness Is the MoveTwo DovesUseful ChamberNo IntentionRemade HorizonFluorescent Half DomeDirty Projectors just teamed with former Talking Head David Byrne as part
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It would be pretty tough to be in the Bmore/DC metro area this weekend and not hear someone mention the Dirty Projectors. Not only are they one of the many highlights of tomorrow's RUFUSTIVAL, the avant pop band opens for TV on the Radio Monday and Tuesday at the 930 Club.Oh, and lets not forget their eagerly anticipated first release with Domino, which drops this Tuesday June 9th...
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With dates in Europe already confirmed for September HERE, The Dirty Projectors have now confirmed dates in and around the United States. Kicking off on October 20th in Maryland, the twenty-three date tour stops off in a whole host of states including Texas, New York, California, Massachusetts, Arizona, Illinois as well as nights in Canada.
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ALBUM REVIEW: Dirty Projectors - Bitte Orcawords: Jamie Miltonoriginally scribed for thisisfakediyMaking what you do best ‘user friendly’ is a horrible process, bordering on torturous. From a reviewer’s perspective, it takes talent and guts to become a Smash Hits writer. From a musician’s perspective the same blood, sweat and tears have been necessary for Dirty [...]
More >
So, here we are, half way through 2009, a perfect time to take stock, sit back and mull over the best and worst music of the year so far.Album wise it's been a pretty good year already, although as with 2008 it is the US acts which have dominated. Grizzly Bear's Veckatimist, The Dirty Projector's Bitte Orca and Animal Collective's Merriweather Post Pavilion were all career best albums and early...
More >
With 2007's release of "Rise Above", Dave Longstreth and co. established themselves as one of the most creative acts in indie rock. The album featured reworkings of Black Flag's "Damaged" straight from Dave Longreth's head. Now the band has signed to a new label, Domino and has managed to keep a steady line-up besides mastermind Dave Longstreth. The band has been working on two albums this year...
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This past Friday (3/5) Dirty Projectors performed at the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis, where they stripped things down here/there and performed some Bitte Orca material, including an acoustic take on previous live favorite "Temecula Sunrise" and Bitte opener "Cannibal Resource" as full-band (minus Angel and Haley Dekle) electric. Outside of the new, they also did an acoustic version of Rise...
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Brooklyn's Dirty Projectors are definitely one of those bands that are an acquired taste. Their experimental post-rock style prevent them from ever achieving mainstream success. That, however, means they are free from any obstacles in their pursuit of artistic expression.Bitte Orca is the band's forthcoming album (out June 9th). This, the fifth proper studio album of their career, sees Dirt
More >
A limited edition cassette tape of their upcoming album Bitte Orca is being released the same day as the record - 6/9/09 - along with an MP3 download code so you can put it on your iTunes or iPod. Pre-order all of it now over at Domino RecsDirty Projectors are also going on tour:05/22 Fox Theater, Oakland, CA, USA *05/23 Roseland Theatre, Portland, OR, USA *05/25 Malkin Bowl at Stanley Park, Va...
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| Title | Lyrics | Buy |
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| 1 Cannibal Resource |
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| 2 Temecula Sunrise |
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| 3 The Bride |
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| 4 Stillness Is the Move |
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| 5 Two Doves |
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| 6 Useful Chamber |
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| 7 No Intention |
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| 8 Remade Horizon |
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| 9 Fluorescent Half Dome |
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Click to purchase…
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 "Bitte Orca")
