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

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...

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 albu...

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 posit...

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 “bl...

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. 7" by Papier Tigre   "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 s...

Ensemble Pearl s/t Drag City Released: 3.19.13 No Ripcord review Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

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

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

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 almigh...

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 AN...

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 / Mon...

4.20 is quickly approaching. While it's obvious some of you reading this will be clear ing smoke from six foot glass tubes and subjecting yourselves to repeat view ings 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 loca l/favorite record stores for this year's R ecord Store Day. I'm still in the dark as far as the even t's e xclusive rel eases, but t h e event's of ficial film is Last Shop Standing , a documentary meant to both l ament and pay tribute t o our dwindling reco rd store.   Check out the trailer b elow.   All info comes co urtesy of M VD 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 5...

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

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

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) M...

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