Junior Boys have released a brand new video for their song “Bits & Pieces,” from Begone Dull Care.

Directed by Stephanie Comilang for Hellhound Productions, the video takes a literal approach to the lyrics of “Bits & Pieces,” but in an inventive direction.

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Photo by The Peen Scene

Junior Boys are currently on their N. American tour & doesn’t stops until November 8th. If they’re coming near you, DONT MISS THEM! I had the opportunity to see them last night & they’re f*cking amazing, everyone was going crazy! Since it’s almost Halloween, fans are strongly encouraged to celebrate the holiday & attend any of the dates in full Halloween regalia (all dates after the jump). Best costumes will be rewarded with shirts & CDs (someone dressed as a fly one yesterday)!

Jeremy Greenspan, one half of Junior Boys, explains the month-long Halloween celebration:

“Part of being a young Jewish kid to me was directing all of your excitement that should’ve been for Christmas towards Halloween. I was obsessed with Halloween as a kid, I waited for it impatiently, lamented it when it was over. All of my childhood obsessions with science fiction, horror stories, weird movies and strange music all seemed to converge at Halloween. I was particularly mesmerized by Halloween specials like Disney’s ‘The Skeleton Dance’ and ‘The Legend of Sleepy Hollow’, and a television show produced in Hamilton called ‘The Hilarious House of Frightenstein’. Even my indoctrination into dance music came from older gothy friends of mine who seemed to see a direct continuation from the spooky sounds of throbbing gristle and skinny puppy to early 90s detroit techno. Such was the Hamilton mentality at the time… who knows….Anyway when it came about that we would be touring around the release of our single called “Bits and Pieces” during October, all sorts of Halloween fantasies started churning up in my mind. So although we couldn’t quite afford full on GWAR style theatrics, we are hoping that people come to the shows in a Halloween kinda mindset (and attire), and help us ring in Samhain all month long.”

The duo of Greenspan & Matthew Didemus released their 3rd album, Begone Dull Care, earlier this year on Domino Records. A new single featuring Modeselektor & Prins Thomas remixes of Begone Dull Care tracks “Bits & Pieces” and “Work” will be released in time for Hanukkah. “Bits and Pieces” will also be accompanied by a new video directed by Stephanie Comilang, Final Fantasy’s visual collaborator.

“Work (Prins Thomas remix)” | download

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Begone Dull Care, the remarkable new album from the duo of Jeremy Greenspan & Matthew Didemus, professionally known as Junior Boys, was released this Tuesday in the US. It will be followed later this spring by the release of the single “Hazel,” which features 3 remixes from Ewan Pearson.

“Hazel” | download

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The album’s title is a reference to a short film by the pioneering Oscar-winning Scottish-Canadian animator & electronic composer, Norman McLaren, who was a big influence on the conception and creation of this album. McLaren may not be as well-known today, but his influence has been seen by nearly anyone whose been raised on the early works of the Children’s Television Workshop. McLaren was especially fond of direct film animation (the technique of physically manipulating or painting on film frame by frame) as is the case with “Begone Dull Care” and stop-start animation (as displayed in his classic, “Neighbours”).

And that’s of course where the parallels come into focus: the meticulousness of film animation is much like the process of sequencing and programming electronic music. On Begone Dull Care, there isn’t a single sound emitted that feels out of place or like an afterthought. There is a measured restraint that’s rarely employed in modern pop music & it’s the precision & restraint in the arrangements that only serve to magnify what is there. And what is there is exceptional… from the post-industrial stomp of opener “Parallel Lines” to the soothing romanticism of “What It’s For,” which brings the album to an achingly soft close. Lead single, “Hazel” could well be described as “Sign Of The Times” re-imagined as an effervescent song of romantic yearning instead of the predecessor’s dark reflection of Reagan’s America.

Junior Boys are currently undertaking an extensive six-week tour of the Americas, which commenced on March 28th in Toronto and goes through until the 2nd week of May. Joining them on the tour will be Domino label-mate Max Tundra.

April:

09 The Warehouse Calgary, AB
11 The Biltmore Cabaret Vancouver, BC,
12 Neumos Seattle, WA
14 Doug Fir Lounge Portland, OR
16 Bimbo’s 365 Club San Francisco, CA
18 Coachella Indio, CA
19 Rhythm Room Phoenix, AZ,
22 The Bluebird Theater Denver, CO
24 Record Bar Kansas City, MO
25 Billiken Club St. Louis, MO
27 Canopy Club Urbana, IL
28 Southgate House Newport, KY
29 Skully’s Music Diner Columbus, OH
30 The Dame – Lexington, KY

May:

01 Mercy Lounge Nashville, TN
02 The Earl Atlanta, GA
03 Cat’s Cradle Carrboro, NC
05 Black Cat Washington, DC
06 1st Unitarian Church Philadelphia, PA
07 Webster Hall New York, NY
08 Middle East Downstairs – Cambridge, MA
09 Le National Montreal, QC
10 Babylon Ottawa, ON

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