Aaron Byrd, Jeremy Sole, Todd Simon, Itai Shapira

From KCRW DJ Jeremy Sole:

The Decoders are a project from respected LA musicians Itai Shapira and Todd Simon (trumpeter/arranger for Mayer Hawthorne, TV On The Radio, etc.)

Both of these cats are massive talents in their instruments, as well as in vintage and contemporary recording techniques. They both are players in my recording project as well (Musiacs), so I’ve been hearing whispers about this Decoders concept for a while… and sure as can be it’s as fresh as I knew it would be…

Earlier this week, they dropped by KCRW’s studios during my show to give us a sneak preview of their new tunes and spin a Guest DJ set of songs that have inspired this particular project

They treated us by leaking their next tune that’ll be available soon — “Baby This Love I Have” — originally by Minnie Ripperton and Leon Ware. The Decoders had the legendary artist/superproducer Mr. Ware sing the vocals on their version (note: !!!). Check it out in the archives here.

And sample a song here:

Inside My Love feat. Sy Smith by The Decoders

– Jeremy Sole

It all started with a rap from local artist Shane Eli, who wrote a tribute to the station and shouted out a bunch of KCRW DJs….but not Anne Litt.

Anne has been on the air during Morning Becomes Eclectic since the Winter Pledge Drive started with Jason Bentley, and he joked about Josh Groban, a known fan of her show, writing a jingle on her behalf as a response. The joke went on all week, including with a tweet from Anne requesting a “classical rap” from the artist, who has sold 24 MILLION albums worldwide in his career.

We all figured it was a longshot and a fun joke until this morning when Jason surprised Anne by playing a musical tribute from Josh on the show!

Josh Groban Tribute to Anne Litt – #SupportKCRW by KCRW

She was absolutely stunned. And speechless! A first.

It was a beautiful thing. Thank you Josh!

RR

Surprised Anne in the studio! Photo by Pledge Drive staffer Christine Hermosisima

Three years after releasing their remarkably austere and unique debut on DFA Records, Prinzhorn Dance School has emerged with an equally austere and unique follow-up titled, “Clay Class“.

Although no less catchy or talented than other boy/girl duos who’ve gone on to worldwide superstardom (read: The White Stripes and Matt & Kim,) Tobin Prinz and Suzi Horn’s minimalist post-punk take on the formula has been met with a little less fanfare. Maybe it’s that their monochromatic visual aesthetic is puzzling? Or that lyrically they have the particularly British gift of wittily turning lovely phrases about the discomforts and claustrophobias of love? Or perhaps that instead of alluding to American pop-rock tropes, they headily reference The Cure and Young Marble Giants?

Prinzhorn Dance School – Usurper by DFA Records

In a post at the beginning of the year, KCRW DJ & Music Librarian Eric J. Lawrence called them DFA’s “secret weapon,” and I wholeheartedly second that notion. To date, it’s kind of  a sin that they’ve been as under-appreciated as but here’s to hoping that “Clay Class” pulls them out of the secret weapon storage space and on the front line, so people can gravitate to their gravitas this time out.

– Mario Cotto

KCRW Presents dozens of shows across Southern California and here are some photo highlights from Wilco’s recent sold out show in Los Angeles courtesy of Marc D’Amour. The band returns to Santa Barbara for a show at the Arlington Theatre next Friday, February 10!

Wilco by Marc D'Amour

Wilco by Marc D'Amour

Wilco by Marc D'Amour

Wilco by Marc D'Amour

Wilco by Marc D'Amour

Wilco by Marc D'Amour

Wilco by Marc D'Amour

KCRW TOP 50 FOR WEEK OF 01/30/2012

1 ALABAMA SHAKES == Ep >> [Self Release]

2 BLACK KEYS == El Camino >> [Nonesuch]

3 GOTYE == Making Mirrors >> [Universal Republic]

4 HEARTLESS BASTARDS == Arrow >> [Partisan]

5 QUANTIC == Look Around The Corner >> [Tru Thoughts]

6 WHITE RABBITS == Milk Famous >> [Tbd]

7 TIJOUX, ANA == La Bala >> [Nacional Records]

8 NOVALIMA == Karimba >> [Esl]

9 SHINS == Port Of Morrow – Sampler >> [Columbia]

10 NADA SURF == Stars Are Indifferent To Astronomy >> [Barsuk]

11 LE BON, CATE == Cyrk >> [Control Group]

12 WILCO == Whole Love >> [Dbpm/anti]

13 MY MORNING JACKET == Circuital >> [Ato]

14 OBERHOFER == Time Capsules Ii >> [Glassnote]

15 DYLAN, BOB – TRIBUTE == Chimes Of Freedom – Songs Of Bob Dylan >> [Amnesty Int'l]

16 CHAIRLIFT == Something >> [Columbia]

17 M83 == Hurry Up We’re Dreaming >> [Mute]

18 VAN ETTEN, SHARON == Tramp >> [Jagjaguwar]

19 COHEN, LEONARD == Old Ideas >> [Columbia]

20 AIR == Le Voyage Dans La Lune – Sampler >> [Astralwerks]

21 FIRST AID KIT == Lion’s Roar >> [Wichita]

22 BAYLIN, JESSIE == Little Spark >> [Blonde Rat]

23 TUMMY TOUCH COMPILATION == Fully Bearded – 15 Years Of Tummy Touch >> [Tummy Touch]

24 TYCHO == Dive >> [Ghostly International]

25 RIZZO, CARMEN == Space Left Behind >> [Electrofone]

26 DIAZ, MADI == Plastic Moon >> [Small Horse]

27 FEIST == Metals >> [Cherrytree/interscope]

28 DJ SHADOW == Less You Know The Better >> [Island]

29 TORO Y MOI == Freaking Out Ep >> [Carpark]

30 BON IVER == Bon Iver >> [Jagjaguwar]

31 WHITE DENIM == D >> [Downtown]

32 FOSTER THE PEOPLE == Torches >> [Startime]

33 RE:GENERATIONS == Re:generations >> [Hyundai]

34 SONNYMOON == 2012 Ep >> [Plug Research]

35 INTERNET == Purple Naked Ladies >> [Odd Future]

36 RODRIGO Y GABRIELA == Area 52 >> [Ato]

37 DRY THE RIVER == Dry The River >> [Rca]

38 HOSPITALITY == Hospitality >> [Merge]

39 KITSUNE COMPILATION == Kitsune Parisien Ii >> [Kitsune]

40 SOUNDWAY RECORDS == Original Sound Of Cumbia >> [Soundway Records]

41 ROLLING STONES – TRIBUTE == Sticky Soul Fingers – Mojo Compilation >> [Mojo]

42 ROOTS == Undun >> [Island Def Jam]

43 WINEHOUSE, AMY == Lioness – Hidden Treasures >> [Universal Republic]

44 BAILEY, LIAM == It’s Not The Same Ep >> [Advance]

45 BOMBAY BICYCLE CLUB == Different Kind Of Fix >> [A&m/octone]

46 ADAMS, RYAN == Ashes & Fire >> [Pax-am/capitol]

47 BURAKA SOM SISTEMA == Komba >> [Enchufada]

48 HANNIGAN, LISA == Passenger >> [Ato]

49 MIGS, MIGUEL == Outside The Skyline >> [Om]

50 SBTRKT == Sbtrkt >> [Young Turks]