Earlier this year Benjamin Curtis of School of Seven Bells was diagnosed with T-cell Lymphoblastic Lymphoma. Bandmate Alley Deheza released a statement via the band's Facebook page.

Dehezra: "It feels so surreal to be writing this to you. In fact I still can't wrap my head or my heart around it, but here it goes. A few nights ago Benjamin was admitted to the hospital for symptoms that have been getting worse for a few weeks now. After a dozen tests and scans (which he's endured like a champion), the doctors say it's T-cell Lymphoblastic Lymphoma. It developed pretty aggressively, and the chemotherapy to treat it will be pretty aggressive, but the good news is that it's TREATABLE. These next few months will be tough, but he is the toughest person I know (even while here, he was trying to figure out a way to sample the MRI). I wanted to share this with you all, because you guys are such a huge and important part of our lives. Send all of the light and love that you can his way. Every bit will count towards a strong and fast recovery. I believe that with all of my heart. I will be doing the same. Love, Alley."

Glasslands in Brooklyn, New York wil be hosting the Support Benjamin Curtis concert fundraiser May 9, 2013. The lineup includes performances by Creep, Exitmusic, Adam Green, Rewards and DJ sets by Albert Hammond Jr of The Strokes, Blood Orange and Certain Creatures. All proceeds will help to pay for Benjamin's medical bills. Event admission is $12 and will be 21 and over. More info. 

Poolside – “Slowdown”
 
(Sally Struthers voice) Do you like watching scrawny L.A. hipsters swim and sing catchy tunes that sound like hip-hop without the rapping? Sure, we all do.
 
Poolside’s big summer single bowed yesterday on Pitchfork, along with its trashy summer vibes video. This thing was made to soundtrack the Ace and Standard hotels, all easy beats and lush synth hooks. Scoff if you must; this sort of thing is rarely done as well as it is here. Their nicely titled Pacific Standard Time album comes out July 9.




Best Coast – "The Only Place" video and KCRW performance
 

Best Coast debuted a super cute video for “The Only Place,” from the album of the same name, this week where Bethany Cosentino and Bobb Bruno run around L.A. and give viewers a tour of the “real” L.A.: tacky souvenir shops, backyard pools, bikes, our gross but awesome river. And lots of Bobb! It’s as sweetly low-key and breezy as the song.
 

We've been getting so many great remixes offered as free downloads on Amoeba.com lately. It makes sense from a business standpoint: remixes raise awareness of an artist and their music through something generally unavailable on the album, while simultaneously helping to further interest in the studio versions. (This is my totally unscientific, un-researched hypothesis.)

One of the things I like about remixes is that they can bring new life into a track, make you hear it in an entirely different way. Remixes, like anything else, run the gamut and with the omnipresence of the remix these days there is a good chance of running into some crap ones too. But when they're good, they can be delicious. In fact, over the last few years I've come across a few remixes that I now prefer over their original tracks.

I'm in love with a new remix from LA/NYC band 

School of Seven Bells just released "The Night," the first single from their forthcoming third album, Ghostory. The album features SVIIB's signature dreampop influenced by ‘80s pop, shoegaze, and ambient electronic music. But it's also kind of a concept album in that it tells the story of a young girl named Lafaye and the ghosts that surround her life.


Free download of "The Night" by School of Seven Bells.

School of Seven Bells is vocalist Alejandra Deheza, formerly of On!Air!Library, and guitarist/producer Benjamin Curtis, a former member of Secret Machines and Tripping Daisy. They formed in 2007 in Brooklyn, New York with Alejandra's twin sister Claudia (who left the band in 2010). Their debut album, Alpinisms (Ghostly International), was released in October 2008. Their second full-length album, Disconnect From Desire, was released in July 2010 on Vagrant Records. Ghostory is out February 28, 2012 on Vagrant Records/Ghostly International.


Watch our What's In My Bag? video with Alejandra & Benjamin: