Useful Chamber

Over a year after Björk and Dirty Projectors’ one-off collaboration at the Housing Works Bookstore in NYC, Dave has announced that the music specially written for that show has been recorded and is to be released next Wednesday (30 June).  It’s a seven song affair, called Mount Wittenberg Orca, available as a download only, with profits going to the National Geographic Society’s Oceans Initiative, a campaign to establish international marine protected areas.  The full story, including an explanatory letter from Dave is at Stereogum, whose Brandon Stosuy made it all happen.  And five teaser clips for MWO are on the new Dirty Projectors YouTube channel.

Buy Mount Wittenberg Orca ($7)

Also this week, The Roots album How I Got Over, which features Amber, Haley and Angel performing on an interlude track, is streaming on the band’s MySpace, ahead of its release next week.

The third ever, first ever in Europe, Getty Address show takes place tomorrow at the Barbican, London, with Alarm Will Sound, then it’s on to the Glastonbury Festival for a slot on Sunday.  For anyone in the UK, BBC2 and BBC3 are covering Glastonbury, so maybe there will be some DPs on tv this weekend.

Lastly, Dave has consented to a few more interviews in support of the groups current round of live dates…
T in the Park preview | Westword Music Showcase interview

Be sure to stop by at WXPN’s World Cafe and listen to Dirty Projectors in session and in conversation with a slightly awed-sounding host.  The Daytrotter sessions set a very high standard but the four Bitte Orca songs here maintain the hit rate, beautifully played and recorded.  The acoustic version of No Intention is a particular highlight.

Meanwhile over on YouTube there’s a ton more clips from the tour including some good ones from Williamsburg Waterfront and the full set from San Diego Casbah, a show notable for a guest appearance by Susanna Waiche, who sang on Rise Above before Angel joined the band.  The cameraman maybe needs reminding that stillness is also the move when it comes to recording gig footage but he gets a good spot down the front and we are grateful.  Nat fanciers may want to skip to the later songs for some bare chest bass playing action.

Lastly, Pitchfork has a Director’s Cut interview with Matthew Lessner, talking about the Stillness Is The Move music video and Amber appears on the cover of Bygones‘ debut album, By-.  Yes, that’s the title and that’s the cover at the top of this post.