Singles: Hausu, Ólafur Arnalds, pacificUV, Gun Outfit, Pharmakon, Foot Village

Hausu — "Leaning Mess" (via Stereogum)




Ólafur Arnalds — "Old Skin" (via Filter)




pacificUV — "Russians" (via Noisey)




Gun Outfit — "Lau Blues" (via The Fader)




Pharmakon — "Crawling on Bruised Knees" (via Sacred Bones Records)




Foot Village — "This Song is a Drug Deal" (via Kinsman and Meng)



Sincerely,
Letters From A Tapehead

Gemma Ray: "Baby Goes Bad"

Singer/composer, Gemma Ray, has released Down Baby Down, which consists of compositions and instrumentals mostly influenced by film scores and drive-in era rock arrangements.  A trailer featuring snippets of the release is available below as is the track, "Baby Goes Bad."






All info comes courtesy of Seriés Aphōnos/Bronze Rat.

Watch/listen to a trailer of Down Baby Down, a new album of 'fantasy soundtracks' by Gemma Ray, available to buy now on vinyl and download now on vinyl and download on Seriés Aphōnos/Bronze Rat.

Recorded in a few days at Candy Bomber (housed in the former CIA headquarters wing of Berlin’s intimidating Tempelhof Airport) with Thomas Wydler (of Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds) on drums, Rory More on organ, and Wilhelm Stegmeier on bass, it is 30 minutes of largely instrumental compositions coated with choral enhancement and ominous vocal motifs. Gemma herself takes care of all vocal, guitar, piano, clavioline, glockenspiel, melodica and dulcimer duties.

For want of a better description, Gemma calls them “fantasy soundtracks”, as the music escapes the trappings or the expectations of the pop or rock song. “It’s probably my most free work to date”, she says. She makes no secret of her love of composers such as Komeda (of Roman Polanski soundtracks fame), Morricone, John Barry, or Jack Nitzsche (see Tarantino’s Death Proof), and this collection of compositions reveals Gemma’s more darkly musical imaginings. They unfold on their own pictorial journey through deserts, mountains and ghettos, lithely sinking through jazz-noir, gothic folk, rock’n’roll, and out into space.

Gemma Ray will be performing Down Baby Down in its entirety in a special Seriés Aphōnos concert to be announced later this year, but in the meantime she can be seen blowing away the long winter blues with these stripped-down shows:

April 12th: IT Florence, Tender Club
April 13th: IT Verona, Interzona
April 21st: DE Bielefeld, Forum (with The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion)
April 22nd: DE Hamburg Grünspan (with The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion)
May 2nd: DE Frankfurt Zoom (with The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion)

Released on vinyl (with CD included) and download, Down Baby Down is the second release on Bronze Rat’s Séries Aphōnos, a new music library which focuses on left-of-centre musical meanderings, soundtracks, instrumentals, and strange treasures from hidden corners. Also available is the soundtrack to Solex Ahoy! The Sound Map of the Netherlands with releases coming from Tanger Trio and more.

Sincerely,
Letters From A Tapehead

RSD 4.20 — Flying Nun & Captured Tracks reissues

Dunedin enthusiasts, behold: The Bats and Snapper reissues from Flying Nun and Captured Tracks, which will be both be out for Record Store Day!

Links, tracks and info come courtesy of Enabler PR.

The Bats: "My Way"



CAPTURED TRACKS & FLYING NUN TO REISSUE THE BATS & SNAPPER
 
HEAR "MY WAY" FROM THE BATS & "BUDDY" FROM SNAPPER"
BY NIGHT & SNAPPER AVAILABLE FOR RSD ON 4/20

Captured Tracks & Flying Nun are pleased to announce two amazing reissues from the Flying Nun vault this Record Store Day. Snapper, led by Peter Gutterdige, the Dunedin band that made dense, dark & spaced out pop jams & also set for release is the debut album, By Night, from influential New Zealand band, The Bats.

HEAR: THE BATS - "MY WAY"

HEAR: SNAPPER - "BUDDY"

The first EP from Peter Gutterdige (The Clean, Chills and Great Unwashed) lead Dunedin band Snapper to re-issue their eponymous album for Record Store Day 2013. Originally it was released on Flying Nun Records in 1988, in such a limited quality that a press fetches $40-50. Snapper became known for their live shows which were diverse and osculating as their lineup. Snapper EP captures one of the earliest forms in all their space-freak-out glory. 

SNAPPER
SNAPPER EP
(CAPTURED TRACKS)
APRIL 20th, 2013
 
Track Listing
1. Buddy
2. Case of You
3. Death and Weirdness In The Surfing Zone
4. Hang On
 
STREAM SNAPPER EP HERE
 
WATCH THE VIDEO FOR "BUDDY" HERE

The Bats' first release, By Night, marked one of the earlier releases for Flying Nun in 1984. Formed on New Years Eve in 1982 by Bob Scott (The Clean), Paul Keane (Toy Love), Kaye Woodward and Malcolm Grant, The Bats became one of Flying Nun's strong holds with a catalog and influence spanning over thirty years. By Night establishes The Bats' driven jangle sound that would find both a mainstream audience and continues to influence bands today. As all early Flying Nun releases, By Night's original pressing was limited and as a result, copies today are scarce with a $50 price tag to reflect it. It is now being re-issued for Record Store Day as an exact facsimile of the original.

THE BATS
BY NIGHT
(CAPTURED TRACKS)
APRIL 20th, 2013

Track Listing
1. I Go Wild
2. Jewellers Heart
3. By Night
4. My Way
5. Man In The Moon
6. United Airways

STREAM BY NIGHT HERE
WATCH "BY NIGHT" VIDEO HERE

FLYING NUN RECORDS
CAPTURED TRACKS RECORDS

Sincerely,
Letters From A Tapehead 

Sic Alps: She's On Top 12"

Sic Alps' new 12" single, She's On Top, was announced today, but I've not found anything online to sample.  So, this post will have to serve simply to inform and not to entice. 

When seeing the word "pop" associated with a band like Sic Alps, it communicates to me the common evolution of bands who owe their identity to distortion, feedback and rocky fidelity.  Over the last few albums, Sic Alps has grown to be more melody-driven and accessible, (not to their detriment, mind you), while maintaining what makes them distinct amongst the "garage revivalist" influx that seemed to run aplenty over the last ten years.  Looking forward to hearing how they decipher "pop."

The album will be out via Drag City in May.  

All info comes courtesy of Rarely Unable.

SIC ALPS RELEASE THREE SHARDS OF VIVACIOUS POP ON A NEW 12"

Orange Sunshine! Blue Diamonds! Black Potatoes! Sic Alps are back! and they have burst onto the scene in a positively ebullient mood and with new tunes to boot.
Following their self-titled full length of last year, She’s On Top is a 12" single, a B-12-booster shot extract straight from the heart of Sic Alps.
This is how the other half lives, laughs and loves. It’s fun and exciting, a picture from the airplane. Sic Alps are like you. They’re your friends — the better, smarter, faster, stronger ones. When they get back from their run, they’re friendly and will show you how the guitar works. Whoops, they picked it up and three songs fell out. Time for a 12" single, and time to show the world the steel-plate resolve and wide, sparkling decks of the good ship Sic Alps. These three guns is all they need and now they’ve maneuvered into the power position.

"She’s On Top" will send you up shaking, laughing so hard you’re crying, and how you come down depends on your chemistry. Shards of pop...we may need pincers. “Carrie Jean” is a noirish creeper, another one about girlish allure. Now, “Biz Bag” blew the door open, jet-blast style, finishing with a bitter kiss ‘n’ giggle. And on this song, a new genre is spawned: power-brisk.
To sum up: all three songs = one solid blast and threaten to start and end parties with their vitality and charms. And you can’t stop playing them, that’s what records are for after all.

Drag City will release She's On Top on 20 May 2013 and it’s all wrapped in a 12" single sleeve inspired by and incorporating a Digger’s photograph.

Sincerely,
Letters From A Tapehead

arbogast: "blasfamous" (Video)

A tour schedule from Nefarious Industries band, arbogast, arrived along with this live video of the band's performance at the Ultra Lounge in Chicago.  The math and metal behind this band is on full display with this rendition of the song "blasfamous" from their 2012 debut, I.

For those in the Philadelphia area, arbogast will be at the Kung Fu Necktie in early April with Carved Up, who are also a really good live act. 




All info comes courtesy of Earsplit PR.

arbogast: Chicago Trio Prepares To Tour The Northeast US Next Week

Chicago’s rampant trio arbogast is preparing for an upcoming East Coast run of tour dates in support of their diverse debut full-length, I, recently released by Nefarious Industries. A hometown show on April 1st begins the trek, followed by shows in Columbus, Philly, NYC, Long Branch, Asbury Park and Pittsburgh over the first week of the month.

Liberate arbogast’s forty-three minute manifesto I RIGHT HERE.

A new live video for the “blasfamous” from I, filmed at Chicago’s Ultra Lounge by Waffles & Pancakes and edited by arbogast drummer Mike Rataj is viewable HERE.

arbogast East Coast April Tour:
4/01/2013 Cobra Lounge - Chicago, IL w/ Everything Went Black, So Many Ways, Genus [info]
4/03/2013 The Summit - Columbus, OH w/ Magazines, Prize The Doubt, Hondus [info] 
4/04/2013 Kung Fu Neck Tie - Philadelphia, PA w/ Carved Up, Window Liquor, +church+ [info]
4/05/2013 Lit Lounge - New York, NY w/ Bangladeafy, In Musth, Hannibal Montana [info]
4/06/2013 Brighton Bar - Long Branch, NJ w/ Eastern Anchors, In Musth [early show - info]
4/06/2013 The Saint - Asbury Park, NJ w/ Black Reign, Wreaths [late show - info]
4/07/2013 Garfield Artworks - Pittsburgh, PA w/ Judas Bull, Old Accusers [info]

arbogast’s off-kilter but seamless hybrid of extreme musical styles infiltrated the media at the turn of the year by way of a crushing debut album, simply entitled I. The trio’s slamming hooks and percussion are also fueled by sturdy societal and political disdain. Their unique sound is a hybrid of thrash, hardcore, sludge and even old-school punk merge into an aggressively progressive haze that never veers too far into the pretentious. I tackles a theme on the minds of many: the declining morals of a country where the middle class is being overthrown by the greed of the privileged. Recorded by Andy Nelson (Weekend Nachos) at Bricktop Studios in Pilsen and mastered by Matt DeWine at Ukrainian Village’s Pieholden Suite Sound, founded by the late Jay Bennett (Wilco), I was released in December via New Jersey-based Nefarious Industries.

http://www.arbogastmusic.com 
http://arbogast.bandcamp.com 
http://www.facebook.com/arbogastchicago 
http://nefariousindustries.com 
http://facebook.com/NefariousIndustries 
http://soundcloud.com/nefariousindustries

Sincerely,
Letters From A Tapehead

The Inbox Giveth: Papier Tigre 7"

Papier Tigre
7"
Sick Room Records/Africantape
Released: 4.1.13

Appealing to the math rocker raised on Slint or Shudder To Think, Papier Tigre's upcoming single possesses the splintering chords, thudding low end and vocal harmonizing perfectly suited for 45 RPMs.  The militaristic tap dance of the A-side, "Personal Belongings," allows for interesting builds and retraction of volume, culminating in a chunky mass of fuzztone and a howling six-string.

 

"The Difficult Age" opens up with a momentary shot of intensity and dials back into a slowed stream of low level guitar phrasing, melody at play before the song shifts into loose distortion.  Some of the chords employed recall Fugazi or Jawbox, those back and forth guitar swipes could either qualify as perfectly discontent or effectively out of tune.  It's an evocative release, but Papier Tigre puts a distinctive spin on it, (excuse the pun), crafting two very good sides diverse enough to exhibit range and avoid monotony.  

Sincerely,
Letters From A Tapehead

No Ripcord: Ensemble Pearl

Ensemble Pearl
s/t
Drag City
Released: 3.19.13

No Ripcord review

Sincerely,
Letters From A Tapehead

Singles: Lumerians, Hey Colossus, Toro Y Moi, Snapped Ankles

Lumerians: "The Bloom" (via Life or Death PR & Management)




Hey Colossus: "How to Tell Time With Jesus" (via Fact Magazine)



Toro Y Moi: "Never Matter" (via Gorilla Vs. Bear)




Snapped Ankles: "True Ecology (Shit Everywhere)" (via Sure Shot PR)



Sincerely,
Letters From A Tapehead

Pixies: "Where Is My Mind?"

Yesterday, March 21st, was the 25th anniversary of the Pixies' highly influential album, Surfer Rosa.  I made sure to devote some time today listening to it.  Surfer Rosa was the basis for Nirvana's Nevermind, having provided Kurt Cobain with the essentials to make noise rock and pop music coexist.  Its very significant contribution to rock's evolution notwithstanding, though, Surfer Rosa, in predicting how the tides would turn, managed to utilize the best of what rock music continues to offer, not shying away from hooks or melody, nor fully investing itself in being accessible.  It's always a great listen and even better when you have a good excuse to do so.

From michaelduah.com

Sincerely,
Letters From A Tapehead

RSD 4.20 — Sub Pop Offerings...

I'm still waiting on the big list of Record Store Day exclusives, which is supposed to be releases sometime today.  In the meantime, Sub Pop has divulged some RSD-related info and posted a trailer for the new Sub Pop 1000 compilation. 

I guess it goes without saying that all info comes courtesy of Sub Pop.  

Sub Pop Saddles Record Store Day 2013 with a Trinity of Musical Things:

Shearwater & Sharon Van Etten’s “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around” b/w “A Wake for the Minotaur” Limited-Edition 7” Single

The Limited-Edition Sub Pop 1000 Compilation LP

Terminal Sales Vol. 6: The Silver Ticket, Sub Pop’s Free 19-Track 2013 Label Sampler CD 

Watch Sub Pop 1000 Trailer here.
 
Watch Shearwater & Sharon Van Etten’s “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around” AV Club “Undercover” here.

We at Sub Pop will celebrate the hallowed musical holiday known as Record Store Day with a trinity of releases, available on April 20th.

Leading the pack is the almighty Shearwater, who joined forces with friend, tour-mate and Jagjaguwar recording artist Sharon Van Etten to release the “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around” b/w “A Wake for the Minotaur” single, a limited-edition, 2013 Record Store Day exclusive. “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around” was originally recorded for an AV Club “Undercover” session, and is, of course, a cover of the 1981 duet by Stevie Nicks and Tom Petty; while “A Wake for the Minotaur” is a new, previously-unreleased original. The 7” is housed in a handsome double-gatefold sleeve that must be seen to be believed (and then purchased and owned to truly be enjoyed).

Via the A/V Club:
 
Sharon Van Etten and Shearwater cover “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around”

Secondly, Record Store Day is the release date for Sub Pop 1000, a limited-edition compilation of what we feel are some of today’s most vital artists from around the world. Sub Pop 1000 is comprised entirely of unreleased and exclusive tracks, and will be available digitally and on dazzling colored vinyl in a limited edition of 5,000 copies. The LP will include an 11"x11" booklet and a MP3 download coupon. Sub Pop 1000 was inspired by our landmark 1986 compilation, Sub Pop 100, which championed such groundbreaking artists as Sonic Youth, Wipers and The U-Men. 




Lastly but not leastly, Terminal Sales, Vol. 6: The Silver Ticket is our 2013 label sampler. It’s a free, 19-track CD sampler featuring a heaping helping of new and in some cases somewhat rare tracks from the likes of Low, Shabazz Palaces, Mudhoney, Father John Misty, Still Corners, Pissed Jeans, Daughn Gibson, and 13 others. In keeping with Sub Pop tradition, the sampler is extravagantly packaged and will likely conjure thoughts like, “Wow!” and, “What were they thinking, giving this away for free?”

Please find tracklistings for all three releases below.

Shearwater & Sharon Van Etten
“Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around” b/w “A Wake for the Minotaur” 7”
(Limited-edition of 3,000)
Tracklisting:
01. “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around”
02. “A Wake for the MInotaur”

Various Artists
Sub Pop 1000 LP
(Limited-edition of 5,000 on colored vinyl)
Tracklisting:
01. His Electro Blue Voice “Kidult” (Como, IT)
02. Chancha Via Circuito “Lacandona” (Buenos Aires, AR)
03. Protomartyr “French Poet” (Detroit, MI)
04. Lori Goldston “Tangled North” (Seattle, WA)
05. Iron Lung “A Victory for Polio” (Seattle, WA; San Francisco, CA)
06. Soldiers of Fortune “Money” (Brooklyn, NY)
07. Peaking Lights “Subterranean Brainblow” (Los Angeles, CA)
08. Ed Schrader’s Music Beat “Radio Eyes” (Baltimore, MD)
09. My Disco “Guided” (Melbourne, AU)
10. Starred “Doomed” (Los Angeles, CA)

Various Artists
Terminal Sales Vol. 6: The Silver Ticket CD
Tracklisting:
01. The Ruby Suns “In Real Life”
02. Shabazz Palaces “Recollections of the Wraith (The Helio Sequence remix)”
03. Pissed Jeans “Bathroom Laughter”
04. Survival Knife “Name That Tune”
05. Low “So Blue (So Young)”
06. Mudhoney “I Like It Small”
07. The Postal Service “A Tattered Line of String”
08. Ed Schrader’s Music Beat “Radio Eyes”
09. Shearwater & Sharon Van Etten “A Wake for the Minotaur”
10. Still Corners “Berlin Lovers”
11. The Baptist Generals “Dog That Bit You”
12. Condominium “Show Them”
13. Rose Windows “Native Dreams”
14. METZ “Dirty Shirt”
15. Total Control “Scene from a Marriage”
16. King Tuff “Screaming Skull”
17. Father John Misty “Nothing Hurts Worse”
18. Sera Cahoone “Nervous Wreck”
19. Daughn Gibson “Lite Me Up”

More About Record Store Day:
This is the one day each year that all of the independently-owned record stores come together with artists to celebrate the art of music. Special vinyl and CD releases, and various promotional products, are made exclusively for the day, and hundreds of artists in the United States and in various countries across the globe make special appearances and performances. Festivities include performances, cook-outs, body painting, meet & greets with artists, parades, DJs spinning records, and on and on. Metallica officially kicked off Record Store Day at Rasputin Music in San Francisco on April 19, 2008 and Record Store Day is now celebrated the third Saturday every April. http://www.recordstoreday.com/Home

Sincerely,
Letters From A Tapehead 

Cover of the Day: The National's Trouble Will Find Me

As no tracks have surfaced as yet, The National's upcoming new album, Trouble Will Find Me, hasn't necessarily garnered much in terms of anticipation from me.  While I understand their popularity within the band's considerable fanbase, The National hasn't resonated with me enough to gain appreciation.  That's not really a diss on the band themselves as it is an acknowledgment of failure on my part to seek them out and attempt to believe the hype.

Having said that, as I'm a graphic designer by trade, the cover for Trouble Will Find Me caught my attention.  Stark and minimal, but conceptually strong, the image is unsettling, claustrophobic, cold and draped in an air of foreboding.  For me, the cover alone is enough to spark interest in hearing the album.

All info on the release and The National's upcoming tour dates are courtesy of Grandstand Media.

There's also info regarding a tour documentary called Mistaken For Strangers.

THE NATIONAL ANNOUNCE RELEASE OF THEIR SIXTH STUDIO ALBUM TROUBLE WILL FIND ME, OUT ON 4AD MAY 21ST
A NEW DOCUMENTARY TO PREMIERE AT TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL
WORLD TOUR TO FOLLOW ALBUM RELEASE
[Thursday, March 21st, Brooklyn, NY] Trouble Will Find Me, The National’s new album will be released on 4AD on May 20th & 21st. This is the fifth studio album for the Brooklyn band, and follows 2010’s critical and commercial success High Violet. The album is the most self-assured collection of songs produced by The National in its 14-year career. In an interview with UK’s UNCUT Magazine, front man Matt Berninger described the songs as more “immediate and visceral” than their previous work. Trouble Will Find Me possesses a directness, a coherency and an approachability that suggests The National are at their most confident. The album will be available digitally, on disc, on 180gram vinyl and in a limited edition deluxe boxed vinyl version.
After a 22-month tour following the release of High Violet the band returned home. Regardless of plans to wait to record new music for another year or two, guitarist Aaron Dessner began working on sketches of new songs that the other members were too inspired by to not fully realize. Matt confesses, “For the past ten years we’d been chasing something, wanting to prove something. And this chase was about trying to disprove our own insecurities. After touring High Violet, I think we felt like we’d finally gotten there. Now we could relax—not in terms of our own expectations but we didn’t have to prove our identity any longer.” The results are simultaneously breakthrough and oddly familiar, the culmination of an artistic journey that has led The National both to a new crest and, somehow, back to their beginnings—when, says Aaron, “our ideas would immediately click with each other. It’s free-wheeling again. The songs on one level are our most complex, and on another they’re our most simple and human. It just feels like we’ve embraced the chemistry we have.” The album was recorded at Clubhouse in Rhinebeck, NY. Trouble Will Find Me was self-produced and mixed by Craig Silvey with additional mixing from Peter Katis and Marcus Paquin.
In advance of the release, the documentary Mistaken For Strangers will premiere at this year’s Tribeca Film Festival as the festival opener on April 17th. The film, directed by Tom Berninger, follows The National on its biggest tour to date. Newbie roadie Tom (lead singer Matt Berninger’s younger brother) is a heavy metal and horror movie enthusiast, and can’t help but put his own spin on the experience. Inevitably, Tom’s moonlighting as an irreverent documentarian creates drama on the road. The film is a touching look at two very different brothers and an entertaining story of artistic aspiration.
Following the May 21st release of Trouble Will Find Me, The National will embark on a world tour. Highlights include Brooklyn’s Barclays Center, Bonnaroo Arts & Music Festival, the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles and Red Rocks Amphitheater. Tickets are on sale for most shows announced to date and more shows will be announced soon.
ABOUT THE NATIONAL
Formed in 1999, The National consists of vocalist Matt Berninger fronting two pairs of brothers: Aaron (guitar, bass, piano) and Bryce Dessner (guitar), and Scott (bass, guitar) and Bryan Devendorf (drums). Their first full-lengths, The National and Sad Songs For Dirty Lovers, and a crucial mini-album, Cherry Tree, preceded their signing to Beggars Banquet in 2004. Alligator (2005), included underground anthem “Mr. November,” and raised their profile as the National grew into an incendiary live band. Boxer (2007), featuring songs like “Fake Empire”, “Mistaken For Strangers” and “Start A War,” sold over three times as many copies as its predecessor. The National's 2010 release, High Violet sold over 600,000 copies and was widely recognized for its critical and commercial success around the world. Both individually and collectively The National’s members have been involved in countless artistic, charitable and socio-political pursuits.
TRACK LISTING - Trouble Will Find Me
1). I SHOULD LIVE IN SALT
2). DEMONS
3). DON’T SWALLOW THE CAP
4). FIREPROOF
5). SEA OF LOVE
6). HEAENFACED
7). THIS IS THE LAST TIME
8). GRACELESS
9). SLIPPED
10). I NEED MY GIRL
11). HUMILIATION
12). PINK RABBITS
13). HARD TO FIND
TOUR DATES
5/16: State Theater Ithaca, NY
5/26: Boston Calling/ City Hall Plaza Boston, MA
6/05: Barclay's Center Brooklyn, NY
6/06: Merriweather Post Pavilion Columbia, MD
6/07: Mann Center for Performing Arts Philadelphia, PA
6/08: The National Richmond, VA
6/10: Red Hat Amphitheatre Raleigh, NC
6/11: Stage AE Pittsburgh, PA
6/13: Lachine Canal Montreal, Canada
6/14: Yonge Dundas Square Toronto, Canada
6/15: The LC Pavilion Columbus, OH
6/13-16: Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival Manchester, TN
6/21: Hurricane Festival Scheessel, Germany
6/22: Southside Festival Neuhausen ob Eck, Germany
6/25: Cirque Royal Brussels, Belgium
6/28: Live At The Marquee Cork, Ireland
6/30: Parco Della Musica Rome, Italy
7/01: City Sound Festival Milan, Italy
7/02: Salata Zagreb, Croatia
7/14: Bunbury Music Festival Cincinnati, OH
8/06: Roy Wilkins Auditorium St. Paul, MN
8/10: Greek Theatre Los Angeles, CA
9/17: Red Rocks Amphitheater Morrison, CO

Sincerely,
Letters From A Tapehead

Child Bite: "Abysmal Splatter" & "Begin The Hiss"

Child Bite will be combining their last two EPs, Vision Crimes and the excellent Monomania, into a new compilation, which will be available on CD and a split color 12."

"Abysmal Splatter" and "Begin the Hiss" are both available to check out and I think listening to these two songs will be one of the better things you do with your day.

All info comes courtesy of Joyful Noise Recordings.

Announcing: Child Bite Vision Crimes / Monomania (on Purple / Green split color LP & CD)

Announcing the release of Vision Crimes / Monomania! This album collects Child Bite's recent two sibling EP's into one brutal package. For years, we have watched Child Bite change, contort, and rearrange itself in to the gnarly powerhouse that exists in its current period. Since the inception of their now steady relationship with Joyful Noise, the sounds have become more abrasive then their spastic avant-pop beginnings. Released worldwide April 2nd, Vision Crimes / Monomania is now available on green/purple split color 12" vinyl (for $15), CD w/ matte, reversible-gatefold artwork (for $10), and digital (for $8).

ORDER HERE
You can also DOWNLOAD two songs for free right here.

EUROPEAN TOUR DATES! Child Bite is embarking upon their first ever European Tour this week. If you are anywhere in the area this is a no-brainer. Seriously. They are arguably the best live band we have ever worked with.

fr 3/22 BRUSSELS, B @ MAGASIN 4
mo 3/25 NANTES, FR @ STAKHANOV
tu 3/26 PARIS, FR @ RIGOLETTO
w 3/27 VITORIA, ESP @ IBU HOTS
th 3/28 SAN SEBASTIAN, ESP @ MOGAMBO
fr 3/29 ZARAGOZA, ESP @ ARREBATO
sa 3/30 MARSEILLE, FR @ L’EMBOBINEUSE
su 3/31 SCHAFFHAUSEN, CH @ TAP TAB
th 4/4 ROME, IT @ SINISTER NOISE
fr 4/5 LINZ, AT @ KAPU
su 4/7 VIENNA, AT @ VENSTER 99
mo 4/8 TABOR, CZ @ ORION MUSIC CLUB
tu 4/9 PRAGUE, CZ @ WAGON CLUB
th 4/11 WARSAW, PL @ KLUBOJADALNIA EUFEMIA
sa 4/13 BERLIN, DE @ TIEFENGRUND
we 4/17 Gerth 4/18 HAMBURG, DE @ WESTWERK
fr 4/19 LIMBURG, DE @ KALKWERK KAKADU

sa 4/20 - LILLE, FR @ AERONEF

Here are some photos of this beast:

Sincerely,
Letters From A Tapehead

RSD 4.20 — Last Shop Standing

4.20 is quickly approaching.

While it's obvious some of you reading this will be clearing smoke from six foot glass tubes and subjecting yourselves to repeat viewings of Up In Smoke or Half Baked, chomping on greasy potato chips and enjoying the afternoon in a haze, others will be in line to support their local/favorite record stores for this year's Record Store Day.

I'm still in the dark as far as the event's exclusive releases, but the event's official film is Last Shop Standing, a documentary meant to both lament and pay tribute to our dwindling record store.  Check out the trailer below.

 

All info comes courtesy of MVD Entertainment.
 
Last Shop Standing
Official Film of Record Store Day 2013
Coming to DVD on April 20

Featuring interviews with Paul Weller, Johnny Marr, Norman Cook,

Billy Bragg, Nerina Pallot, Richard Hawley and Clint Boon

Based on the successful book of the same name, Last Shop Standing is a 50-minute documentary that was released on 10 September 2012. It is a celebration of the unique spirit of comradeship and entrepreneurial ingenuity that has enabled so many shops to keep operating successfully against the backdrop of massive changes in the music industry, the biggest recession in years, the growth of online file sharing and the explosion of choice in music consumption.

Not long ago there was a record shop on every high street, but over 500 independent record stores have closed during the last few years. Record shops were always more than retail outlets, they are part of our culture; they support new bands and local talent. A place for musicians and music fans to congregate, to browse away a few hours, to walk away with music they didn't know existed.

The film features appearances by musicians and industry insiders including Johnny Marr, Norman Cook, Billy Bragg, Paul Weller, Nerina Pallot and Richard Hawley, but the real stars are the record shop owners, their stories are the stuff of folklore! The film tells the full story, holds back no punches, but also celebrates and promotes our great independent record stores.
"An essential watch..." - Mark Searby, MTV
"Punchy and engaging!" - Stevie Chick, MOJO
"4 stars" - John Mitchell, RECORD COLLECTOR

Website: http://lastshopstanding.com/
Clip: http://youtu.be/qBTMe8p_Pxw

Sincerely,
Letters From A Tapehead

On Pause (and Penicillin)

Excuse the inactivity.  I feel like I've been both tired and/or sick for a full month.  Currently, I'm on a regimen of throat lozenges, penicillin and soft foods while my throat recovers from whatever made it decide to be both red and painful.  Fevers and cold sweats aren't necessarily conducive to critical listening or written analysis.  Sleep deprivation doesn't help much, either. 
 
I do, however, have reviews in the works and requests for promos out, so I hope to have some new material up soon.  I'm also in the process of pulling together a Mix Tape entry, (because I haven't written one of those in a while), and another No Ripcast should be out this week.

If you missed the last one, you can find that here.

Sincerely,
Letters From A Tapehead

Singles: Merchandise, Ten Kens, Howl, Beach House, Brandt Bauer Frick, Bodus Songs, The Soft Moon

Merchandise: "Who Are You" (via The Fader)




Ten Kens: "When A Door Opens" (via Consequence of Sound)




Howl: "Attrition" (via Earsplit PR)




Beach House: "Wishes" (via Sub Pop)

It's actually worth clicking on the link to view the video in full.

http://www.beachhousebaltimore.com/


Brandt Brauer Frick feat. Om'mas Keith: "Plastic Like Your Mother" (via The Guardian)




Bodus Songs: "A Brilliant Shaft Of Light From Out Of The Night Sky" (via Rarely Unable)




The Soft Moon: "Insides" (via Stereogum)



Sincerely,
Letters From A Tapehead

Singles: Wax Idols, Wampire, Odonis Odonis, METZ

Wax Idols: "When It Happens" (via The Fader)




Wampire: "Spirit Forest" (via The Fader)




Odonis Odonis: "Better" (via The Fader)



Just a note:
Odonis Odonis will be touring in support of METZ, who are also contributing to today's "Singles" roundup with a new video for the single, "Wasted."

METZ: "Wasted" (via Stereogum)



METZ tour dates were provided by Sub Pop:

March 5 - Gothenburg, SWE - Pustervik
March 6 - Oslo, NOR - Blaa
March 8 - Stockholm, SWE - Debaser
March 8 - Malmo, SWE - Debaser
March 9 - Stockholm, SWE - Svenaska Musikklubben
March 10 - Zeewolde, HOL - Where the Wild Things Are Festival
March 11 - Brussels, BEL - AB Club
March 12 - Hasselt, BEL - Muziekodroom
March 14 - Austin, TX - Brooklyn Vegan Party @ Stage on Sixth
March 15 - Austin, TX - Stereogum/Hype Machine @ Hype Hotel (3:00 pm)
March 15 - Austin, TX - Another Planet Entertainment Party @ Red Eyed Fly (5:00 pm)
March 15 - Austin, TX - Filter Magazine / Doc Martens Party @ Bar 96 (10:30 pm)
March 16 - Austin, TX - The Onion Party @ Mohawk (2:00 pm)
March 16 - Austin, TX - Urban Outfitters, Back Lot (6:00 pm)
April 8 - Montreal, QC - La Sala Rossa
April 9 - Kingston, ON - The Grad Club
April 10 - Ottawa, ON - Babylon
April 11 - Winooski, VT - The Monkey House
April 12 - New Haven, CT - Cafe Nine
April 15 - Boston, MA - Brighton Music Hall
April 17 - New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom
April 18 - Washington, DC - Rock and Roll Hotel
April 19 - Philadelphia, PA - First Unitarian Church
April 20 - Chapel Hill, NC - Local 506
April 22 - Atlanta, GA - 529
April 23 - Birmingham, AL - Bottletree
April 24 - New Orleans, LA - One Eyed Jacks
April 25 - Austin, TX - The Mohawk
April 27 - Phoenix, AZ - The Crescent Ballroom
April 28 - San Diego, CA - Casbah
April 29 - Los Angeles, CA - Troubadour
April 30 - San Francisco, CA - Bottom of the Hill
May 2 - Portland, OR - Holocene
May 3 - Vancouver, BC - Biltmore Cabaret
May 4 - Seattle, WA - Neumos
May 6 - Salt Lake City, UT - Urban Lounge
May 7 - Denver, CO - Hi Dive
May 9 - Grinnell, IA - Grinnell College Gardner Lounge
May 10 - Minneapolis, MN - The Whole Music Club
May 10 - Minneapolis, MN - University of Minnesota Twin Cities
May 11 - Madison, WI - The Frequency
May 12 - Chicago, IL - Lincoln Hall
May 13 - Indianapolis, IN - Radio Radio
May 14 - Louisville, Ky - Zanzabar
May 17 - Toronto, ON - Lee’s Place
May 23 - Barcelona, SPA - Primavera Sound Festival
May 25 - London, UK - Field Day Festival
May 26 - Bristol, UK - Fleece w/ Fucked up & Titus Andronicus
May 28 - Glasgow, UK - SWG3 w/ Fucked up & Titus Andronicus
May 29 - Manchester, UK - Sound Control w/ Fucked up & Titus Andronicus
May 30 - London, UK - Electric Ballroom w/ Fucked up & Titus Andronicus
Jun 1 - Porto, POR - Primavera Sound
June 4 - Brighton, UK - Concorde 2 w/ Mudhoney
June 5 - Glasgow, UK - ABC w/ Mudhoney
June 6 - Newcastle, UK - Academy 2 w/ Mudhoney
June 7 - Manchester, UK - Academy 2 w/ Mudhoney
June 8 - London, UK - Forum w/ Mudhoney
June 9 - Bristol, UK - o2 Academy w/ Mudhoney
June 10 - Birmingham, UK - HMV Institute - The Library w/ Mudhoney
June 29 - Helsinki, FIN - Rock the Beach Festival
July 2- 5 Arendal, NOR - Hove Festival
August 2-4 - Katowice, POL - OFF Festival
August 6-10 - Oslo, NOR - Oya Natt Festival
October 30- November 3 - Reykjavik, ICE - Iceland Airwaves Festival

Odonis Odonis tour dates were provided by Force Field PR:

March 9 - 35 Denton @ Hailey's (Denton, TX) &

April 11 - Monkey House (Burlington, VT) *

April 12 - Cafe Nine (New Haven, CT) *

April 15 - Brighton Music Hall (Boston, MA) *

April 17 - Bowery Ballroom (New York City, NY) *

April 18 - Rock & Roll Hotel (Washington, DC) *

April 20 - Local 506 (Chapel Hill, NC) *

April 22 - 529 (Atlanta, GA) *

April 23 - Bottletree (Birmingham, AB) *

April 24 - One Eyed Jacks (New Orleans, LA) *

April 25 - Austin Psych Fest @ Mohawks (Austin, TX) ? *

More dates TBD

* w/ METZ

? w/ A Place to Bury Strangers

& w/ The Soft Moon

Sincerely,

Letters From A Tapehead

Singles: Marnie Stern, Total Control

Marnie Stern: "Nothing Is Easy" (via NME — who provided a shitty, not witty, write-up of the single)




Total Control: "SWEATY" (via Enabler Agency)



Sincerely,
Letters From A Tapehead