NEON GOLD SXSW 2013.

SXSW is coming in hot this week, so let's do this. The 2013 installment of our annual official SX showcase is our biggest yet, as we take over the main stage at Empire Autos on Friday night. On the bill, we've got Lovelife, Ghost Beach and Sir Sly, before HAERTS, Foxes and St. Lucia close out the night in style. On the decks, captain Xaphoon Jones will be keeping the night alive in the late night slot alongside open bar cocktails from 12:30-1:30, courtesy of Western Spirits. It's all popping off at 7pm, Friday March 15th at Empire Autos, conveniently located on the corner of Red River and E 7th Street. Let's go, Austin.

08:00pm: Lovelife // DOWNLOAD: "Dying To Start Again"

08:45pm: Ghost Beach // STREAM: "Close Enough (Feat. Noosa)"

09:30pm: Sir Sly // STREAM: "Gold"

10:20pm: HAERTS // STREAM: "Wings"

11:10pm: Foxes // STREAM: "Warrior"

12:20am: St. Lucia // STREAM: "September"

01:10am: Xaphoon Jones // DL: "If You Love Me" (XJ + Grave Goods Remix)

POPSHOP WEST 007: SIR SLY

Our first Popshop West of the new year is a (sir) slightly special one. Not only is it the single release party for our first release of 2013 with Sir Sly, but it also marks the knighted trio's official LA live debut. With west coast favorites Kitten and Onuinu supporting, it's a gathering of some of LA's brightest new hopes for 2013. It's all going down February 6th at 8pm, 100% FREE, and kicks off Sir Sly's Echo residency for the month of February. Check out digital-only B-side "Where I'm Going" below and preorder Sir Sly's debut single "Ghost" HERE, out February 11th on Neon Gold.

STREAM: "Where I'm Going" - Sir Sly

GOLD041: SIR SLY

The mysteriosos behind Sir Sly are dark knights in the truest sense. Since first making their presence known last summer, the LA outfit have been running the tastemaker underworld with their monochromatic blend of vigilante pop, leaving onlookers with nothing more than a pair of explosive tracks and a hero-shaped shadow to go on. So it's with great pleasure that we're able to pull the curtain back today and unveil our next release, as we bring Sir Sly's debut 7" into the world on Neon Gold next month in conjunction with our UK sister label, National Anthem.

Sir Sly is not one sir but three - Landon Jacobs, Jason Suwito, and Hayden Coplen to be precise - who have been hard at work for the past few months writing, recording and producing all aspects of their debut offering in Suwito's studio. From the arresting cold open to the ever-restless denouement, lead A-single "Ghost" doesn't just pass our every litmus test, it passes right through it, swimming through a fog of wartorn synths and floating with timeless melancholy in an ocean of unforgotten pasts. Elsewhere, the vinyl's AA-side "Gold" - for which the band have put together the perfect visual accompaniment (below) - jangles with moody desperation and reckless abandon, while digital-only B-side "Where I'm Going" delves deeper into the depths of the trio's doom-and-gloom pop noir.

The Ghost 7" arrives stateside on Neon Gold February 11th, before making its way to the UK on National Anthem March 4th. There will also be a three-track digital Ghost EP hitting iTunes next week for the impatient among you, and those on the fairer coast next month can catch Sir Sly making their LA live debut at their single launch party at Popshop West (more details to follow). Preorder is available now from the Neon Gold Shop and National Anthem.

STREAM: "Ghost" - Sir Sly

ON YOUR WAY BACK TO THE GRAVE.

Sr. Sly rode in under the shroud of night, as mysterious as ever. Like a premonition with ammunition, lead single "Ghost" makes its presence known with hooded synths that grind their teeth, knuckles clenched, and counter vocals that coo with smokey nonchalance. It reminds us of the best parts of Wildcat! Wildcat! and Electric Guest, with shades of KO KO in there for good measure. And even after the haunting back-pedaling beat and horror story harmonies, it comes back with another stealth attack of immutable perfection. So yeah, Sr. Sly is pretty brilliant, and we're SRSLY stoked to bring you the exclusive download of "Ghost" below. Enjoy responsibly.

MP3: "Ghost" - Sr. Sly [exclusive]