A Place To Bury Strangers: "What We Don't See" (via Dead Oceans/Big Mouth Publicity/Drowned In Sound/YouTube)
DADRAS: "Mormon Disco" (via Friend of Friends/Soundcloud)
Antigama: "Used To" (via Selfmadegod Records/Earpsplit PR/YouTube)
Hey Mandible: "Missing Monet" (via Fort Lowell Records/Soundcloud)
Sincerely,
Letters From A Tapehead
Tuesday, March 31, 2015
KEN mode: "Blessed"
New single from KEN mode!
"Blessed" is the first glimpse into the band's upcoming new release, Success. Engineered by the one and only Steve Albini, (and if you check out the track you can certainly hear Albini's signature drum sound), the album is due to release mid-June and the shock and grunt of the lead single certainly goes the distance in terms of selling its promises of alienating and unbridled pigfuck-allegiant rock music. While I wouldn't go so far as to say the torch has been passed from David Yow's maniacal grasp, the muck and angst-fueled motion of KEN mode is worthy enough to at least sit alongside some of the finest albums to emerge Touch & Go and AmRep. I'm very much looking forward to giving Success a spin or twelve.
"We can play this game a little bit longer/But we all know we're not really welcome here... Oh no... "
You can also view an album trailer here:
All info, links and sounds have been brought to you by Rarely Unable.
KEN MODE HAVE GOT THE SECRET TO SUCCESS
THEIR NEW ALBUM DUE FOR RELEASE JUNE 15TH VIA SEASON OF MIST
The latest turn from KEN mode will take many by surprise. The Winnipeg trio can announce that their next album is titled Success, and is a bold move towards sounds that inspired them at their beginning sixteen years ago, and now doubly so on their sixth full-length, which will see release on June 15th (Season Of Mist).
Recorded with legendary engineer Steve Albini (Nirvana, the Jesus Lizard, PJ Harvey and so many more) to capture the material in a fully live and analog session in the band's hometown in November 2014, brought to fruition is the most raw, rock and roll sound the band has ever put forth.
We are pleased to share the video for album opener "Blessed", which premiered worldwide on the Noisey network including Germany, France and the UK. The song features no guitar, only bass, and that's not all it features either, this Christopher Mills (Tegan & Sara, Rush, Metric, Modest Mouse, etc) directed video boasts appearances from guest vocalist Eugene Robinson (Oxbow), guest cello by Natanielle Felicitas, and guest noise by Dylan Walker (Full of Hell).
WATCH AND LISTEN TO ALBUM OPENER "BLESSED"
https://youtu.be/OeMAWgNskv0
Rock, noise, math, indie – KEN mode offer a root to it all on Success, locating a common ancestor that's behind all that they do and have done as a band. It's one seriously fermented sound that pervades these recordings, a goldrush of skewed rhythms, corrosive riffs and scorching pickup abuse, so diligently pulled off and inherently important to the band. Their path first appears to be one of complex inspiration, but a lineage soon becomes clear, lighting up a way through concentric circles of legacy that encompasses Revelation Records, Dischord, Touch And Go, Sub Pop – the full spread of inventive heavinesses that fed in to the grunge estuary, and out in to the open sea of independent labels in the final decade of the last century, where KEN mode first appeared.
Success is a funny concept; in its rawest, most pure form, it is entirely relative, and this was the subject KEN mode chose to approach their new album with. Sonically, and lyrically, a shift has been made from the classic spitting of metallic hardcore tinged vitriol, that the band has become known for, to a rawer, more mature, even humourous indie rock aesthetic. In April 2014, the band set out to pay tribute to where they've come from: a salute to both their Canadian Prairie roots, and a time when they first started to care about making music; the burgeoning 'grunge' and Touch & Go/Dischord scenes of the late 80s/early 90s, with bands like Nirvana, Big Black, Cop Shoot Cop, The Cows, Circus Lupus, and Drive Like Jehu warping their teenage minds. Lyrically, the band's fascination with comedy spirals around classical western concepts of 'success' - from employment, sex, marriage, religion, socioeconomic standing, and particularly the many perceptions people have of how they, and those around them, happen to fit into the world.
Artwork from acclaimed Winnipeg based fine artist Randy Ortiz can be viewed below, along with the track listing for the album.
TRACK LIST:
1. Blessed
2. These Tight Jeans
3. The Owl
4. I Just Liked Fire
5. Management Control
6. A Passive Disaster
7. Failing At Fun Since 1981
8. A Catalog Of Small Disappointments
9. Dead Actors
The current lineup of Jesse Matthewson (vocals, guitar), Shane Matthewson (drums) and Skot Hamilton (bass, vocals) will be touring Europe from April 1st, delivering Success as it was recorded - live, primal, and in your face. It's recommended that you experience it in the flesh, and as such, the band will be organising special release show album pricing on many of their dates surrounding the release date.
KEN MODE LIVE DATES
April 1, 2015 – Fribourg, Switzerland @ Fri-Son
April 2, 2015 – Lyon, France @ Sonic
April 3, 2015 – Frankfurt, Germany @ Elfer Club
April 4, 2015 – Delemont, Switzerland @ Sas
April 5, 2015 – České Budějovice, Czech Republic @ Velbloud
April 6, 2015 – Praha, Czech Republic @ 007
April 8, 2015 – Geneva, Switzerland @ Usine
April 9, 2015 – Tilburg, Netherlands – Roadburn Festival
April 10, 2015 – Rouen, France @ L’Oreille Qui Traine
April 11, 2015 – Winterthur, Switzerland @ Gaswerk
May 25, 2015 - La Louviere, BE @ Taverne Du Theatre
May 27, 2015 - Copenhagen, DK @ Kb18
May 28, 2015 - Hamburg, DE @ Astra Stube
May 29, 2015 - Paris, FR - OTB Festival
May 31, 2015 - Bristol, UK - Temples Festival
June 1, 2015 - London, UK @ Macbeth
June 2, 2015 - Lille, FR @ Peniche
June 3, 2015 - Sint, BE @ Jeugdhuis Job
June 4, 2015 - Caen, FR @ TBA
June 6, 2015 - Poitiers, FR - Less Playboy Is More Cowboy Fest
All dates with Fight Amp
June 16, 2015 - Toronto, ON @ The Shop (Parts & Labour) w/The Great Sabatini
June 17, 2015 - Montreal, QC @ Turbo Haus w/The Great Sabatini
June 18, 2015 - Brooklyn, NY @ St. Vitus w/Pyrrhon, Couch Slut
June 19, 2015 - Philadelphia, PA @ Kung Fu Necktie
June 20, 2015 - Columbus, OH @ Ace of Cups w/Lo-Pan
June 21, 2015 - Chicago, IL @ The Burlington w/GOBO’S CVIT
June 26, 2015 - Winnipeg, MB @ The Goodwill w/Pop Crimes, Teethmarks *no Fight Amp
ALBUM TRAILER
http://youtu.be/zCrNIYQxk8Q
PRE-ORDER LINK
http://shopusa.season-of-mist.com/predefined-search?id_list=57
www.ken-mode.com
http://www.season-of-mist.com/
Sincerely,
Letters From A Tapehead
"Blessed" is the first glimpse into the band's upcoming new release, Success. Engineered by the one and only Steve Albini, (and if you check out the track you can certainly hear Albini's signature drum sound), the album is due to release mid-June and the shock and grunt of the lead single certainly goes the distance in terms of selling its promises of alienating and unbridled pigfuck-allegiant rock music. While I wouldn't go so far as to say the torch has been passed from David Yow's maniacal grasp, the muck and angst-fueled motion of KEN mode is worthy enough to at least sit alongside some of the finest albums to emerge Touch & Go and AmRep. I'm very much looking forward to giving Success a spin or twelve.
"We can play this game a little bit longer/But we all know we're not really welcome here... Oh no... "
You can also view an album trailer here:
All info, links and sounds have been brought to you by Rarely Unable.
KEN MODE HAVE GOT THE SECRET TO SUCCESS
THEIR NEW ALBUM DUE FOR RELEASE JUNE 15TH VIA SEASON OF MIST
The latest turn from KEN mode will take many by surprise. The Winnipeg trio can announce that their next album is titled Success, and is a bold move towards sounds that inspired them at their beginning sixteen years ago, and now doubly so on their sixth full-length, which will see release on June 15th (Season Of Mist).
Recorded with legendary engineer Steve Albini (Nirvana, the Jesus Lizard, PJ Harvey and so many more) to capture the material in a fully live and analog session in the band's hometown in November 2014, brought to fruition is the most raw, rock and roll sound the band has ever put forth.
We are pleased to share the video for album opener "Blessed", which premiered worldwide on the Noisey network including Germany, France and the UK. The song features no guitar, only bass, and that's not all it features either, this Christopher Mills (Tegan & Sara, Rush, Metric, Modest Mouse, etc) directed video boasts appearances from guest vocalist Eugene Robinson (Oxbow), guest cello by Natanielle Felicitas, and guest noise by Dylan Walker (Full of Hell).
WATCH AND LISTEN TO ALBUM OPENER "BLESSED"
https://youtu.be/OeMAWgNskv0
Rock, noise, math, indie – KEN mode offer a root to it all on Success, locating a common ancestor that's behind all that they do and have done as a band. It's one seriously fermented sound that pervades these recordings, a goldrush of skewed rhythms, corrosive riffs and scorching pickup abuse, so diligently pulled off and inherently important to the band. Their path first appears to be one of complex inspiration, but a lineage soon becomes clear, lighting up a way through concentric circles of legacy that encompasses Revelation Records, Dischord, Touch And Go, Sub Pop – the full spread of inventive heavinesses that fed in to the grunge estuary, and out in to the open sea of independent labels in the final decade of the last century, where KEN mode first appeared.
Success is a funny concept; in its rawest, most pure form, it is entirely relative, and this was the subject KEN mode chose to approach their new album with. Sonically, and lyrically, a shift has been made from the classic spitting of metallic hardcore tinged vitriol, that the band has become known for, to a rawer, more mature, even humourous indie rock aesthetic. In April 2014, the band set out to pay tribute to where they've come from: a salute to both their Canadian Prairie roots, and a time when they first started to care about making music; the burgeoning 'grunge' and Touch & Go/Dischord scenes of the late 80s/early 90s, with bands like Nirvana, Big Black, Cop Shoot Cop, The Cows, Circus Lupus, and Drive Like Jehu warping their teenage minds. Lyrically, the band's fascination with comedy spirals around classical western concepts of 'success' - from employment, sex, marriage, religion, socioeconomic standing, and particularly the many perceptions people have of how they, and those around them, happen to fit into the world.
Artwork from acclaimed Winnipeg based fine artist Randy Ortiz can be viewed below, along with the track listing for the album.
TRACK LIST:
1. Blessed
2. These Tight Jeans
3. The Owl
4. I Just Liked Fire
5. Management Control
6. A Passive Disaster
7. Failing At Fun Since 1981
8. A Catalog Of Small Disappointments
9. Dead Actors
The current lineup of Jesse Matthewson (vocals, guitar), Shane Matthewson (drums) and Skot Hamilton (bass, vocals) will be touring Europe from April 1st, delivering Success as it was recorded - live, primal, and in your face. It's recommended that you experience it in the flesh, and as such, the band will be organising special release show album pricing on many of their dates surrounding the release date.
KEN MODE LIVE DATES
April 1, 2015 – Fribourg, Switzerland @ Fri-Son
April 2, 2015 – Lyon, France @ Sonic
April 3, 2015 – Frankfurt, Germany @ Elfer Club
April 4, 2015 – Delemont, Switzerland @ Sas
April 5, 2015 – České Budějovice, Czech Republic @ Velbloud
April 6, 2015 – Praha, Czech Republic @ 007
April 8, 2015 – Geneva, Switzerland @ Usine
April 9, 2015 – Tilburg, Netherlands – Roadburn Festival
April 10, 2015 – Rouen, France @ L’Oreille Qui Traine
April 11, 2015 – Winterthur, Switzerland @ Gaswerk
May 25, 2015 - La Louviere, BE @ Taverne Du Theatre
May 27, 2015 - Copenhagen, DK @ Kb18
May 28, 2015 - Hamburg, DE @ Astra Stube
May 29, 2015 - Paris, FR - OTB Festival
May 31, 2015 - Bristol, UK - Temples Festival
June 1, 2015 - London, UK @ Macbeth
June 2, 2015 - Lille, FR @ Peniche
June 3, 2015 - Sint, BE @ Jeugdhuis Job
June 4, 2015 - Caen, FR @ TBA
June 6, 2015 - Poitiers, FR - Less Playboy Is More Cowboy Fest
All dates with Fight Amp
June 16, 2015 - Toronto, ON @ The Shop (Parts & Labour) w/The Great Sabatini
June 17, 2015 - Montreal, QC @ Turbo Haus w/The Great Sabatini
June 18, 2015 - Brooklyn, NY @ St. Vitus w/Pyrrhon, Couch Slut
June 19, 2015 - Philadelphia, PA @ Kung Fu Necktie
June 20, 2015 - Columbus, OH @ Ace of Cups w/Lo-Pan
June 21, 2015 - Chicago, IL @ The Burlington w/GOBO’S CVIT
June 26, 2015 - Winnipeg, MB @ The Goodwill w/Pop Crimes, Teethmarks *no Fight Amp
ALBUM TRAILER
http://youtu.be/zCrNIYQxk8Q
PRE-ORDER LINK
http://shopusa.season-of-mist.com/predefined-search?id_list=57
www.ken-mode.com
http://www.season-of-mist.com/
Sincerely,
Letters From A Tapehead
Sunday, March 29, 2015
R.I.P., Joe Walker
I was saddened to learn this morning that Joe Walker, one of the three Fishtown area music critics whose viewpoints fueled the entertaining little web show called Breakfast at Sulimay's, has passed away at the age of 90. Alongside fellow critics Bill Able and Ann Bailey, Mr. Walker was lively with witticism and anecdote, offering incite when he could and always giving fair consideration to what he was hearing. He was unapologetic about how little he cared for contemporary pop, hip-hop or metal, but he consistently put across a willingness to listen, even when something he'd heard was not "my cup of tea." Of the three voices, his was certainly my favorite and also the least dismissive.
While the concept of Breakfast at Sulimay's had the embedded charm of being a senior citizen-led platform for critique pertaining to modern music, which in some ways allowed for a level of perspective not often heard in the vast corridor-riddled online world of pitchforks, dropping needles and self-appointed music experts, the show itself was a fun thing to watch and the various reactions of Bill, Ann and Joe to what they were hearing certainly inspired some laughs.
Scrapple TV, the Philadelphia-based video company responsible for Breakfast at Sulimay's, posted a tribute to Mr. Walker.
R.I.P. and T.T.F.N.
Sincerely,
Letters From A Tapehead
While the concept of Breakfast at Sulimay's had the embedded charm of being a senior citizen-led platform for critique pertaining to modern music, which in some ways allowed for a level of perspective not often heard in the vast corridor-riddled online world of pitchforks, dropping needles and self-appointed music experts, the show itself was a fun thing to watch and the various reactions of Bill, Ann and Joe to what they were hearing certainly inspired some laughs.
Scrapple TV, the Philadelphia-based video company responsible for Breakfast at Sulimay's, posted a tribute to Mr. Walker.
R.I.P. and T.T.F.N.
Sincerely,
Letters From A Tapehead
Friday, March 27, 2015
Ty Segall: "Queen Lullabye; King Tuff: "She's On Fire"
Because what's a year in music without some insane number of releases from Ty Segall?
This time he's sharing a side with King Tuff for a split live 12" titled Live At Pickathon, which features performances from the 2013 Pickathon Music Festival. This is apparently the second installment in an ongoing series, the first of which featured Diarrhea Planet and Those Darlins. You can sample two tracks from each artist on the Soundcloud link below.
All info and links are courtesy of Force Field PR.
Ty Segall & King Tuff announce split Live at Pickathon 12" on Easy Sound
Listen to two songs from the 12" now over at Pitchfork
These blistering performances are being released for the first time as part of Live At Pickathon vinyl series
Pickathon Music Festival and Easy Sound Recording Company are excited to announce the second record in its limited pressed, vinyl-only Live At Pickathon series. Featuring songs by the prolific Ty Segall and King Tuff, recorded live in Happy Valley, Oregon during Pickathon 2013.
Beginning on May 5, these limited edition splits will be available at independent record stores across the U.S., directly from Ty Segall and King Tuff while they are on tour, as well as at this year's Pickathon taking place July 31-August 2 on Pendarvis Farm. A very limited web pre-order is now available via Easy Sound at http://www.easysoundshop.com/product/live-at-pickathon-ty-segall-king-tuff-lp
Pitchfork is now streaming two tracks from the release-live versions of "Queen Lullabye" by the Ty Segall Sleeper Band on The Woods Stage and "She's On Fire" by King Tuff in the Galaxy Barn.
Live At Pickathon: Ty Segall / King Tuff
12" limited pressing standard weight black vinyl
Street Date: May 5, 2015
(A) Ty Segall Sleeper Band - Live At Pickathon 2013
01 Sleeper
02 The Keepers
03 Crazy
04 The Man Man
05 Queen Lullaby
06 Girlfriend
(B) King Tuff - Live At Pickathon 2013
01 Anthem > Keep On Movin'
02 Dancing On You
03 Stranger
04 She's On Fire
Artwork by Travis Bone at Furturtle
The first split in the Live At Pickathon series, featuring Diarrhea Planet and Those Darlins, will be released for Record Store Day on April 18 with upcoming releases in the series to be announced soon.
The 17th annual Pickathon occurs July 31 - August 2, 2015 at Pendarvis Farm in Happy Valley, Oregon. Tickets on sale and lineup announcements begin April 7, 2015 at 8am PST.
Easy Sound Recording Co. 'The First Year' catalog - http://easysound.co/store/Catalog
Sincerely,
Letters From A Tapehead
This time he's sharing a side with King Tuff for a split live 12" titled Live At Pickathon, which features performances from the 2013 Pickathon Music Festival. This is apparently the second installment in an ongoing series, the first of which featured Diarrhea Planet and Those Darlins. You can sample two tracks from each artist on the Soundcloud link below.
All info and links are courtesy of Force Field PR.
Ty Segall & King Tuff announce split Live at Pickathon 12" on Easy Sound
Listen to two songs from the 12" now over at Pitchfork
These blistering performances are being released for the first time as part of Live At Pickathon vinyl series
Pickathon Music Festival and Easy Sound Recording Company are excited to announce the second record in its limited pressed, vinyl-only Live At Pickathon series. Featuring songs by the prolific Ty Segall and King Tuff, recorded live in Happy Valley, Oregon during Pickathon 2013.
Beginning on May 5, these limited edition splits will be available at independent record stores across the U.S., directly from Ty Segall and King Tuff while they are on tour, as well as at this year's Pickathon taking place July 31-August 2 on Pendarvis Farm. A very limited web pre-order is now available via Easy Sound at http://www.easysoundshop.com/product/live-at-pickathon-ty-segall-king-tuff-lp
Pitchfork is now streaming two tracks from the release-live versions of "Queen Lullabye" by the Ty Segall Sleeper Band on The Woods Stage and "She's On Fire" by King Tuff in the Galaxy Barn.
Live At Pickathon: Ty Segall / King Tuff
12" limited pressing standard weight black vinyl
Street Date: May 5, 2015
(A) Ty Segall Sleeper Band - Live At Pickathon 2013
01 Sleeper
02 The Keepers
03 Crazy
04 The Man Man
05 Queen Lullaby
06 Girlfriend
(B) King Tuff - Live At Pickathon 2013
01 Anthem > Keep On Movin'
02 Dancing On You
03 Stranger
04 She's On Fire
Artwork by Travis Bone at Furturtle
The first split in the Live At Pickathon series, featuring Diarrhea Planet and Those Darlins, will be released for Record Store Day on April 18 with upcoming releases in the series to be announced soon.
The 17th annual Pickathon occurs July 31 - August 2, 2015 at Pendarvis Farm in Happy Valley, Oregon. Tickets on sale and lineup announcements begin April 7, 2015 at 8am PST.
Easy Sound Recording Co. 'The First Year' catalog - http://easysound.co/store/Catalog
Sincerely,
Letters From A Tapehead
Tuesday, March 24, 2015
What I Heard This Morning: NY IN 64
With the rhythmic musculature of bands like Dub Trio and Triclops! and some of the space-related, progressive elements of a band like Russian Circles, NY IN 64's "Maintaining Now, The Contact" is the latest single from the band's upcoming release, NY64. Structurally, there's some academia to its make-up, but there's a fluidity to the changes and the opening movement is really strong. The interaction between the thick bass groove and the numerous guitar applications that thread through the rhythm section are really well-handled. I'm interested to give this full album a listen.
Check out the song:
New Jersey's instrumental quartet, NY IN 64 -- featuring former members of You And I and current residents of East Of The Wall -- will release their recently completed debut LP, NY64 via Magic Bullet Records on April 7th with a vinyl edition to follow shortly after. The enigmatic album's artwork, track listing and additional details have been revealed this week, in addition to new live shows the band is booking in support of its release.
NY IN 64's maiden voyage into album land explores vast, lush terrain in genre territories some may apply "post" prefixes to, or refer to as "progressive," but the simple fact is, the band merely executes spectacularly crafted, instrumental, melodic, hardcore/rock, constructed from an unbreakable core, and its shimmering layers seemingly weaving directly into the earth as they unfold. With turmoil and tranquility interwoven throughout the entire album, the seven dynamic sequences that formulate NY 64 were recorded in November at Volume Fact and Backroom Studios (The Dillinger Escape Plan, Foxy Shazam, Meek Is Murder) by guitarist Chris Alfano, and mastered by Nick Zampiello at New Alliance East, and the cover photography and layout by guitarist Justin Hock.
Magic Bullet Records has unveiled the track listing and cover art for NY 64, which will see official release on CD and digital outlets on April 7th. A 12" vinyl version will be released in the near future as well, with a street date to be confirmed shortly. Digital preorders via Bandcamp have been posted HERE; CD and LP preorders will be available shortly.
NY IN 64's sixth track "Maintaining Now, The Contact," is now playing via Bandcamp HERE and Youtube HERE.
NY 64 Track Listing:
1. Soon, You Will Lose Me
2. Bystander
3. A Towering Relic
4. Washington Square
5. The World's Fair
6. Maintaining Now, The Contact
7. Stan & Steve
NY IN 64 has begun booking new shows in support of their debut album, including a short record release trek. The three-city run sees the band playing Wayne, New Jersey on Wednesday, April 8th -- just one day after the record is released -- followed by a show in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on Friday, April 10th and a set in New York City on Saturday, April 11th. Additional tour dates will be announced in the coming weeks, along with additional album news and more.
NY IN 64 Live:
4/08/2015 Gili's Place - Wayne, NJ w/ Locktender, Entia, Forever Losing Sleep, Facility
4/10/2015 Lava Space - Philadelphia, PA w/ Locktender, Soul Glo, To Tremble
4/11/2015 ABC No Rio - New York, NY w/ Locktender, Cinema Cinema, Sangharsha
After taking a fifteen-year hiatus from writing music together, Justin Hock and Thomas Schlatter - both part of the writing team behind '90s screamo band, You And I - began laying down the framework to collaborate once again. To flesh out the outfit, Schlatter and Hock recruited New Jersey musical veterans Chris Alfano and Seth Rheam, best known for their work in the progressive powerhouse East Of The Wall, among many other acts, completing the lineup for NY IN 64. Completely void of vocals, the raw energy of '90s hardcore supplied by Hock and Schlatter, mixed with the refined technical aspects of progressive metal Alfano and Rheam deliver, were like two worlds colliding, however, resulted into something that seamlessly blended the two contrary styles. While injecting the energy and enthusiasm of a basement show into a more refined musical composition, NY IN 64 attempts to harness two sides of many coins; youth and age, rawness and precision, joy and hostility.
http://www.facebook.com/newyorkin64
http://www.nyin64.bandcamp.com
http://www.magicbulletrecords.com
http://www.facebook.com/magicbulletrecords
http://twitter.com/magicbulletrecs
Sincerely,
Letters From A Tapehead
Check out the song:
NY IN 64: New Jersey Instrumental Act Featuring You And I and East Of The Wall Members Releases Debut LP Details + Track
NY64 To See April 7th Release Via Magic Bullet RecordsNew Jersey's instrumental quartet, NY IN 64 -- featuring former members of You And I and current residents of East Of The Wall -- will release their recently completed debut LP, NY64 via Magic Bullet Records on April 7th with a vinyl edition to follow shortly after. The enigmatic album's artwork, track listing and additional details have been revealed this week, in addition to new live shows the band is booking in support of its release.
NY IN 64's maiden voyage into album land explores vast, lush terrain in genre territories some may apply "post" prefixes to, or refer to as "progressive," but the simple fact is, the band merely executes spectacularly crafted, instrumental, melodic, hardcore/rock, constructed from an unbreakable core, and its shimmering layers seemingly weaving directly into the earth as they unfold. With turmoil and tranquility interwoven throughout the entire album, the seven dynamic sequences that formulate NY 64 were recorded in November at Volume Fact and Backroom Studios (The Dillinger Escape Plan, Foxy Shazam, Meek Is Murder) by guitarist Chris Alfano, and mastered by Nick Zampiello at New Alliance East, and the cover photography and layout by guitarist Justin Hock.
Magic Bullet Records has unveiled the track listing and cover art for NY 64, which will see official release on CD and digital outlets on April 7th. A 12" vinyl version will be released in the near future as well, with a street date to be confirmed shortly. Digital preorders via Bandcamp have been posted HERE; CD and LP preorders will be available shortly.
NY IN 64's sixth track "Maintaining Now, The Contact," is now playing via Bandcamp HERE and Youtube HERE.
NY 64 Track Listing:
1. Soon, You Will Lose Me
2. Bystander
3. A Towering Relic
4. Washington Square
5. The World's Fair
6. Maintaining Now, The Contact
7. Stan & Steve
NY IN 64 has begun booking new shows in support of their debut album, including a short record release trek. The three-city run sees the band playing Wayne, New Jersey on Wednesday, April 8th -- just one day after the record is released -- followed by a show in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on Friday, April 10th and a set in New York City on Saturday, April 11th. Additional tour dates will be announced in the coming weeks, along with additional album news and more.
NY IN 64 Live:
4/08/2015 Gili's Place - Wayne, NJ w/ Locktender, Entia, Forever Losing Sleep, Facility
4/10/2015 Lava Space - Philadelphia, PA w/ Locktender, Soul Glo, To Tremble
4/11/2015 ABC No Rio - New York, NY w/ Locktender, Cinema Cinema, Sangharsha
After taking a fifteen-year hiatus from writing music together, Justin Hock and Thomas Schlatter - both part of the writing team behind '90s screamo band, You And I - began laying down the framework to collaborate once again. To flesh out the outfit, Schlatter and Hock recruited New Jersey musical veterans Chris Alfano and Seth Rheam, best known for their work in the progressive powerhouse East Of The Wall, among many other acts, completing the lineup for NY IN 64. Completely void of vocals, the raw energy of '90s hardcore supplied by Hock and Schlatter, mixed with the refined technical aspects of progressive metal Alfano and Rheam deliver, were like two worlds colliding, however, resulted into something that seamlessly blended the two contrary styles. While injecting the energy and enthusiasm of a basement show into a more refined musical composition, NY IN 64 attempts to harness two sides of many coins; youth and age, rawness and precision, joy and hostility.
http://www.facebook.com/newyorkin64
http://www.nyin64.bandcamp.com
http://www.magicbulletrecords.com
http://www.facebook.com/magicbulletrecords
http://twitter.com/magicbulletrecs
Sincerely,
Letters From A Tapehead
Monday, March 23, 2015
Singles: Chastity Belt, Frank Rabeyrolles, So Stressed, Crom Dubh
Chastity Belt: "Cool Slut" (via Hardly Art/YouTube)
Frank Rabeyrolles: "Third Skin (Demo)" (via Wool Recordings/Soundcloud)
So Stressed: "Merv King & The Phantoms" (via Honor Press/Noisey/YouTube)
Crom Dubh: "Cutting Teeth II" (via Earsplit PR/Soundcloud)
Sincerely,
Letters From A Tapehead
Frank Rabeyrolles: "Third Skin (Demo)" (via Wool Recordings/Soundcloud)
So Stressed: "Merv King & The Phantoms" (via Honor Press/Noisey/YouTube)
Crom Dubh: "Cutting Teeth II" (via Earsplit PR/Soundcloud)
Sincerely,
Letters From A Tapehead
Tuesday, March 17, 2015
Johnny Cash: "Danny Boy"
Have a very happy and safe St. Paddy's.
Sláinte.
Sincerely,
Letters From A Tapehead
Sláinte.
Sincerely,
Letters From A Tapehead
White Hills: "No Will"
Taking a cue from Bauhaus' "Dark Entries," the psych-fuzz duo White Hills has released a new single called "No Will." This post-punk/gothic nod was pulled from the band's upcoming new release, Walks For Motorists, which will be out on April 6th via Thrill Jockey Records.
Check out the track:
After that, read up on the release. All info, links and sounds were supplied by Thrill Jockey Records.
Psych rockers White Hills share new track 'No Will'
Taken from forthcoming new album Walks For Motorists out 6th April
White Hills on tour throughout this April & May, including dates with Mudhoney
"Demented, wigged out and stupendously mind-blowing" - Classic Rock
"Crunchy psychedelia-imbued creep-rock featuring some growling heavily reverbed vocals and drums" - The 405
"Successfully melded disparate in uences and genres to bring to life their chilling and dystopian world view" - Shindig
White Hills have been a fixture of the psych-rock revivalist scene for a number of years now, thanks to a sound that brought Hawkwind-style, blissed out cosmic sprawl down to an intimate scale.
Their forthcoming new record Walks for Motorists (produced by David Wrench, who’s worked with FKA Twigs, Jungle, Caribou), was their first album they recorded outside of their native New York City, and the temporary move to the countryside in Bryn Derwen, Wales for the recording seems to have had the opposite of the effect you might suspect the pastoral scenery would have.
Their brilliant new single 'No Will' which you can listen below, is a taut, almost gothic post-punk track that's reminiscent of prime-era Bauhaus... taking the pair’s psych trip to an intriguing dark side. Perhaps inspired by their work with Jim Jarmusch on the vampire movie Only Lovers Left Alive last year?
LISTEN: No Will
https://youtu.be/w5wZHfj_vT4
Walks For Motorists will be released on 6th April and will be available on LP, CD and digital download.
White Hills have been developing an entirely new live set focusing on new music, and will be playing many major festivals in 2015, including Roadburn, Primavera, ATP Iceland, and selected dates with grunge heroes Mudhoney. Full list of tour dates are below:
White Hills 2015 European Tour:
Thu April 9th Manchester, UK - Islington Mill - tickets
Fri April 10th London, UK - Birthdays - tickets
Sun April 12th Tilburg, The Netherlands - 013 (Roadburn Festival) - tickets
Mon April 13th Hamburg, Germany - Molotow Club - tickets
Tue April 14th Copenhagen, Denmark - Loppen - tickets
Wed April 15th Gothenburg, Sweden - Truck Stop Alaska
Thu April 16th Malmö, Sweden - Inkonst - tickets
Fri April 17th Aarhus, Denmark - Radar - tickets
Sat April 18th Berlin, Germany - Urban Spree - tickets
Sun April 19th Dresden, Germany - Groovestation - tickets
Mon April 20th Pilsen, Czech Republic - Papirna Plzen
Wed April 22nd Feldkirch, Austria - Graf Hugo
Thu April 23rd Madonna Dell'Albero, Italy - Bronson - tickets
Fri April 24th Colle Val D'Elsa, Italy - Sonar
Sat April 25th Mezzago, Italy - Bloom
Sun April 26th Savona, Italy - Raindogs
Tue April 28th Karlsruhe, Germany - Kohl Kutlur Raum
Wed April 29th Munster, Germany - Gleis 22 - tickets
Thu April 30th Leipzig, Germany - UT Connewitz
Fri May 1st Brussels, Belgium - Magasin 4 - tickets
Sat May 2nd Rouen, France - 106 Club * - tickets
Sat May 9th Yverdon-des Bains, Switzerland - Swiss Psych Festival - tickets
Wed May 13th Prague, Czech Republic - Lucenra Music Bar *
Thu May 14th Vienna, Austria - Arena Big Hall *
Sat May 16th Rome, Italy - Sinister Club
Tue May 19th Schaffhausen, Switzerland - Kammgarn *
Wed May 20th Geneva, Switzerland - L'Usine *
Thu May 21s Zug, Switzerland - Chollerhalle *
Fri May 22nd Feyzin, France - L’Epicerie Moderne *
Sat May 23rd Lille, France - Aeronef * - tickets
Mon May 25th Gladbeck, Germany - Reuhrpott Rodeo Festival - tickets
Fri May 29th Barcelona, Spain - Primavera Festival - tickets
Thu July 2nd Keflavik, Iceland - Asbru (ATP Iceland) - tickets
* w/ Mudhoney, Barton Carroll
White Hills are proponents of psychedelia as transformation. The music made by Dave W. and Ego Sensation is risky and cutting edge, rooted in dystopian futurism and hyper-conscious of society’s constant desire for a new and better drug. That progressive aesthetic is at the heart of White Hills’ forthcoming new album Walks For Motorists, their most daring and radically stripped-down record that emphasises rhythm and groove.
The album bursts forth with a new kind of intensity, one born out of laser-focused precision and detail-oriented songwriting. Possibly surprising to fans familiar with the mega Hawkwind-style guitar squall of earlier albums... the songs on Walks For Motorists began as a keyboard melody or bass line, and several songs on the album don’t even feature guitar at all. This is propulsive, open music, surreal to its core but made to inspire people to get out of their seats and move.
Walks For Motorists is the band's most diverse album to date. Fuzzed-out rockers sit comfortably next to kraut-infused grooves, and there are more vocal contributions from Ego than ever before.
White Hills on:
Facebook / Twitter / Official Website
Sincerely,
Letters From A Tapehead
Check out the track:
After that, read up on the release. All info, links and sounds were supplied by Thrill Jockey Records.
Psych rockers White Hills share new track 'No Will'
Taken from forthcoming new album Walks For Motorists out 6th April
White Hills on tour throughout this April & May, including dates with Mudhoney
"Demented, wigged out and stupendously mind-blowing" - Classic Rock
"Crunchy psychedelia-imbued creep-rock featuring some growling heavily reverbed vocals and drums" - The 405
"Successfully melded disparate in uences and genres to bring to life their chilling and dystopian world view" - Shindig
White Hills have been a fixture of the psych-rock revivalist scene for a number of years now, thanks to a sound that brought Hawkwind-style, blissed out cosmic sprawl down to an intimate scale.
Their forthcoming new record Walks for Motorists (produced by David Wrench, who’s worked with FKA Twigs, Jungle, Caribou), was their first album they recorded outside of their native New York City, and the temporary move to the countryside in Bryn Derwen, Wales for the recording seems to have had the opposite of the effect you might suspect the pastoral scenery would have.
Their brilliant new single 'No Will' which you can listen below, is a taut, almost gothic post-punk track that's reminiscent of prime-era Bauhaus... taking the pair’s psych trip to an intriguing dark side. Perhaps inspired by their work with Jim Jarmusch on the vampire movie Only Lovers Left Alive last year?
LISTEN: No Will
https://youtu.be/w5wZHfj_vT4
Walks For Motorists will be released on 6th April and will be available on LP, CD and digital download.
White Hills have been developing an entirely new live set focusing on new music, and will be playing many major festivals in 2015, including Roadburn, Primavera, ATP Iceland, and selected dates with grunge heroes Mudhoney. Full list of tour dates are below:
White Hills 2015 European Tour:
Thu April 9th Manchester, UK - Islington Mill - tickets
Fri April 10th London, UK - Birthdays - tickets
Sun April 12th Tilburg, The Netherlands - 013 (Roadburn Festival) - tickets
Mon April 13th Hamburg, Germany - Molotow Club - tickets
Tue April 14th Copenhagen, Denmark - Loppen - tickets
Wed April 15th Gothenburg, Sweden - Truck Stop Alaska
Thu April 16th Malmö, Sweden - Inkonst - tickets
Fri April 17th Aarhus, Denmark - Radar - tickets
Sat April 18th Berlin, Germany - Urban Spree - tickets
Sun April 19th Dresden, Germany - Groovestation - tickets
Mon April 20th Pilsen, Czech Republic - Papirna Plzen
Wed April 22nd Feldkirch, Austria - Graf Hugo
Thu April 23rd Madonna Dell'Albero, Italy - Bronson - tickets
Fri April 24th Colle Val D'Elsa, Italy - Sonar
Sat April 25th Mezzago, Italy - Bloom
Sun April 26th Savona, Italy - Raindogs
Tue April 28th Karlsruhe, Germany - Kohl Kutlur Raum
Wed April 29th Munster, Germany - Gleis 22 - tickets
Thu April 30th Leipzig, Germany - UT Connewitz
Fri May 1st Brussels, Belgium - Magasin 4 - tickets
Sat May 2nd Rouen, France - 106 Club * - tickets
Sat May 9th Yverdon-des Bains, Switzerland - Swiss Psych Festival - tickets
Wed May 13th Prague, Czech Republic - Lucenra Music Bar *
Thu May 14th Vienna, Austria - Arena Big Hall *
Sat May 16th Rome, Italy - Sinister Club
Tue May 19th Schaffhausen, Switzerland - Kammgarn *
Wed May 20th Geneva, Switzerland - L'Usine *
Thu May 21s Zug, Switzerland - Chollerhalle *
Fri May 22nd Feyzin, France - L’Epicerie Moderne *
Sat May 23rd Lille, France - Aeronef * - tickets
Mon May 25th Gladbeck, Germany - Reuhrpott Rodeo Festival - tickets
Fri May 29th Barcelona, Spain - Primavera Festival - tickets
Thu July 2nd Keflavik, Iceland - Asbru (ATP Iceland) - tickets
* w/ Mudhoney, Barton Carroll
White Hills are proponents of psychedelia as transformation. The music made by Dave W. and Ego Sensation is risky and cutting edge, rooted in dystopian futurism and hyper-conscious of society’s constant desire for a new and better drug. That progressive aesthetic is at the heart of White Hills’ forthcoming new album Walks For Motorists, their most daring and radically stripped-down record that emphasises rhythm and groove.
The album bursts forth with a new kind of intensity, one born out of laser-focused precision and detail-oriented songwriting. Possibly surprising to fans familiar with the mega Hawkwind-style guitar squall of earlier albums... the songs on Walks For Motorists began as a keyboard melody or bass line, and several songs on the album don’t even feature guitar at all. This is propulsive, open music, surreal to its core but made to inspire people to get out of their seats and move.
Walks For Motorists is the band's most diverse album to date. Fuzzed-out rockers sit comfortably next to kraut-infused grooves, and there are more vocal contributions from Ego than ever before.
White Hills on:
Facebook / Twitter / Official Website
Sincerely,
Letters From A Tapehead
Friday, March 13, 2015
No Ripcord: The Body & Thou
The Body & Thou
You, Whom I Have Always Hated
Thrill Jockey Records
Released: 1.26.15
Sincerely,
Letters From A Tapehead
You, Whom I Have Always Hated
Thrill Jockey Records
Released: 1.26.15
Sincerely,
Letters From A Tapehead
Thursday, March 12, 2015
The Mailbox Giveth: Sweaters & Pearls
The contents of the package were as follows with a few words regarding each release:
Harpoon Forever
American Flag EP
While I found American Flag mostly emulative, this release is a couple years old and it's very possible that Harpoon Forever's grown creatively. I haven't yet heard the band's newest LP, A Prince For All Seasons, which just came out in February.
Black vinyl 7;" 4 tracks.
Soccer Mom
You Are Not Going to Heaven
Though structurally there's not much new to hear, Soccer Mom works in some ethereal melodies that are distinct enough to latch onto and the band manages to attach some of its own signature to the idiom, songs like "(A) Natural History" and "American Flag (Eagle Flag 911)" reason enough to keep the record on rotation. I found myself putting this on a lot, actually. I'm not naive enough to think that some part of the brain engaged by nostalgia wasn't partly to blame, but You Are Not Going to Heaven is a well-crafted pop-fueled listen.
R. Stevie Moore
I Missed July 7"
With a considerable leap in time from the A-side to the flip side, Moore's humorous disposition remains consistent. Since recording methodology had time to evolve, the less refined and shaky psych-pop of "I Missed July" sounds more lo-fi than the much later composed "Traded My Heart For Your Parts," though it's more of a complete entity, certainly indicative of the era but also hook-driven. "Traded My Hearts For Your Parts" is more of a folky goof, amusing content put into motion by acoustic chords that bounce from ear to ear and a bass tone that yearns to lounge. It's an interesting selection of tracks and it could possibly be a good introduction to Moore's music, two artful approaches certainly inspired and enabled by time, place and the means with which to create.
Red vinyl 7;" 2 tracks.
Fat History Month
A Gorilla 7"
The band works in nuance, engaging in sonic tangents that resemble jams at points ("B") or falling hard on the notes generating a post-hardcore haze ("Heart Takes A Beating"). The opening track, "Gorilla," narrates death at the hands of its namesake, hard luck addressed in an almost joking manner till the outro seems to communicate some spiritual ascendency. They go out on a lonely instrumental called "()," a picked guitar melody strolling over top a percussive skip.
I liked this one a lot.
Yellow vinyl 7;" 4-tracks.
Sincerely,
Letters From A Tapehead
Wednesday, March 11, 2015
What I Heard This Morning: Bill Mountain
So... "Let's Get It Started" is not a Black Eyed Peas cover. I just want to put out there right up front. This is the new single from a band called Bill Mountain. If you thought Bill Mountain might at least want to "get it started" with something Instead, what you have is a James Chance-inspired dance mutation that's in line with current post-punk retro-chuggers like Ed Schrader's Music Beat, DINOWALRUS and, to some extent, where Mi Ami left off with Steal Your Face. It's got the shuffling guitar strokes, a tolerable shriek and ritualistic urgency from a percussive standpoint. Certainly there's energy and the sax lick stays with you.
You can listen to the track below:
And when you're done listening, you can check out the info on Bill Mountain below, which was provided by Us/Them Group.
Bill Mountain premiere first song from debut
Mysterious rural Louisiana "Jungle Punk" band channeling early No Wave, arty punk (Pere Ubu, Contortions, SST Records, etc.)
Listen to & share "Let's Get It Started" HERE.
"What happens when you add Fela Kuti horns and percussion, spazzed-out Contortions-y sax, wild Ian Svenonious vocal delivery to a rolling thunder post-punk burner? Bill Mountain, a sophisticated five-piece post punk band from the very rural Houma, Louisiana provide the nitro. A call to arms if there ever was one." -- Noisey
Bill Mountain is a new quintet from Houma, LA often described as "jungle punk" for evoking the raw, primal energy of early No Wave bands like The Contortions and Chain Gang, West Coast punk (Weirdos, Minutemen, 100 Flowers) and later underground heroes Nation of Ulysses run through steamy Southern proto-rock'n'roll. Bill Mountain's first single premieres today via Noisey. Listen to & please share "Let's Get it Started" HERE. (Direct Soundcloud link HERE.)
"Imagine you're running through a hot, heavy jungle, branches slapping you in the face while you sprint from a ferocious and beautiful tiger," writes the Beaumont Enterprise's Beth Rankin. "Bill Mountain is frenetic and primal and rabid; it's screaming vocals punctuated by pounding jungle drums and, surprisingly, earth-shattering horn sound coming from saxophone player Jon Kelpsch."
Bill Mountain formed in the summer of 2013 in Houma, LA (60 miles southwest of New Orleans). Four of the group's members were in a previous project that lasted a few years called Secret Society in Smaller Lies. Following the sudden departure of their singer, the remaining members quickly formed a new band with one of their guitarists taking over lead vocals. Bill Mountain started writing new songs and embarked on a West Coast tour followed shortly thereafter by the addition of a saxophonist/percussionist to the line up.
Currently, Bill Mountain is finalizing their debut release, making videos, and playing shows in and around Louisiana.
BILL MOUNTAIN LIVE:
03/31 Houma, LA @ The Boxer & The Barrel
04/03 Hot Springs, AR @ The Exchange
04/04 Dallas, TX @ Double Wide
04/25 New Orleans, LA @ Banks St Bar
05/08 New Orleans, LA @ Gasa Gasa
06/19 New Orleans, LA @ TBA w/ Quintron & Miss Pussycat
06/21 Houma, LA @ The Boxer & The Barrel
Artist: Bill Mountain
Track: "Let's Get it Started"
Label: Bill Mountain Music
Release Date: March 10th, 2015
On The Web:
facebook.com/BillMountainMusic
billmountainmusic.bandcamp.com
Instagram.com/BillMountainofficial
Sincerely,
Letters From A Tapehead
You can listen to the track below:
And when you're done listening, you can check out the info on Bill Mountain below, which was provided by Us/Them Group.
Bill Mountain premiere first song from debut
Mysterious rural Louisiana "Jungle Punk" band channeling early No Wave, arty punk (Pere Ubu, Contortions, SST Records, etc.)
Listen to & share "Let's Get It Started" HERE.
"What happens when you add Fela Kuti horns and percussion, spazzed-out Contortions-y sax, wild Ian Svenonious vocal delivery to a rolling thunder post-punk burner? Bill Mountain, a sophisticated five-piece post punk band from the very rural Houma, Louisiana provide the nitro. A call to arms if there ever was one." -- Noisey
Bill Mountain is a new quintet from Houma, LA often described as "jungle punk" for evoking the raw, primal energy of early No Wave bands like The Contortions and Chain Gang, West Coast punk (Weirdos, Minutemen, 100 Flowers) and later underground heroes Nation of Ulysses run through steamy Southern proto-rock'n'roll. Bill Mountain's first single premieres today via Noisey. Listen to & please share "Let's Get it Started" HERE. (Direct Soundcloud link HERE.)
"Imagine you're running through a hot, heavy jungle, branches slapping you in the face while you sprint from a ferocious and beautiful tiger," writes the Beaumont Enterprise's Beth Rankin. "Bill Mountain is frenetic and primal and rabid; it's screaming vocals punctuated by pounding jungle drums and, surprisingly, earth-shattering horn sound coming from saxophone player Jon Kelpsch."
Bill Mountain formed in the summer of 2013 in Houma, LA (60 miles southwest of New Orleans). Four of the group's members were in a previous project that lasted a few years called Secret Society in Smaller Lies. Following the sudden departure of their singer, the remaining members quickly formed a new band with one of their guitarists taking over lead vocals. Bill Mountain started writing new songs and embarked on a West Coast tour followed shortly thereafter by the addition of a saxophonist/percussionist to the line up.
Currently, Bill Mountain is finalizing their debut release, making videos, and playing shows in and around Louisiana.
BILL MOUNTAIN LIVE:
03/31 Houma, LA @ The Boxer & The Barrel
04/03 Hot Springs, AR @ The Exchange
04/04 Dallas, TX @ Double Wide
04/25 New Orleans, LA @ Banks St Bar
05/08 New Orleans, LA @ Gasa Gasa
06/19 New Orleans, LA @ TBA w/ Quintron & Miss Pussycat
06/21 Houma, LA @ The Boxer & The Barrel
Artist: Bill Mountain
Track: "Let's Get it Started"
Label: Bill Mountain Music
Release Date: March 10th, 2015
On The Web:
facebook.com/BillMountainMusic
billmountainmusic.bandcamp.com
Instagram.com/BillMountainofficial
Sincerely,
Letters From A Tapehead
Monday, March 09, 2015
The Colossus Of Destiny - Kickstarter Campaign for New Melvins Documentary
Just received news of a Kickstarter campaign aiming to fund a Melvins documentary. Sound cool? I think so. The trailer, links and info were lovingly provided by the wonderful people over at Speakeasy PR & Marketing, so check it out.
MELVINS’ DOCUMENTARY, THE COLOSSUS OF DESTINY – A MELVINS TALE, LAUNCHES KICKSTARTER CAMPAIGN
RELEASE NEW TRAILER
SAN FRANCISCO, March 9, 2015 – The filmmakers of the forthcoming Melvins’ documentary, The Colossus of Destiny – A Melvins Tale, have launched a Kickstarter campaign featuring artwork donated by Haze XXL, Brian Walsby, Arik Roper, Skinner and Mackie Osborne (https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/26674096/the-colossus-of-destiny-a-melvins-tale).
The film, which is currently under production with an anticipated early 2016 release, is the creation of Bob Hannam and Ryan Sutherby. The pair, who met through a mutual affection for the Melvins, began work on the officially authorized documentary in late 2014.
“We kept asking ourselves why no one had ever made a film about the Melvins,” explained Hannam. “What an incredible story and twisted tale both Buzz Osborne and Dale Crover have taken. There aren’t many bands who can say they’ve influenced some of the most popular artists of our generation and done it in every instance according to their own rules, still as important, if not more so, some 32 years after forming.”
The Colossus of Destiny – A Melvins Tale follows the band’s journey, from the backwards waters of the Chehalis River in Washington, through the Golden Gate of Northern California and finally, into Los Angeles where Osborne and Crover both reside. The film features lengthy interviews with Osborne and Crover as well as present and ex band members, collaborators and many other musicians from bands such as Mudhoney, The Jesus Lizard, Soundgarden, Butthole Surfers, Sleep, Babes In Toyland, Neurosis and Redd Kross to name but a few.
www.melvinsmovie.com
www.facebook.com/melvinstale
Sincerely,
Letters From A Tapehead
MELVINS’ DOCUMENTARY, THE COLOSSUS OF DESTINY – A MELVINS TALE, LAUNCHES KICKSTARTER CAMPAIGN
RELEASE NEW TRAILER
SAN FRANCISCO, March 9, 2015 – The filmmakers of the forthcoming Melvins’ documentary, The Colossus of Destiny – A Melvins Tale, have launched a Kickstarter campaign featuring artwork donated by Haze XXL, Brian Walsby, Arik Roper, Skinner and Mackie Osborne (https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/26674096/the-colossus-of-destiny-a-melvins-tale).
The film, which is currently under production with an anticipated early 2016 release, is the creation of Bob Hannam and Ryan Sutherby. The pair, who met through a mutual affection for the Melvins, began work on the officially authorized documentary in late 2014.
“We kept asking ourselves why no one had ever made a film about the Melvins,” explained Hannam. “What an incredible story and twisted tale both Buzz Osborne and Dale Crover have taken. There aren’t many bands who can say they’ve influenced some of the most popular artists of our generation and done it in every instance according to their own rules, still as important, if not more so, some 32 years after forming.”
The Colossus of Destiny – A Melvins Tale follows the band’s journey, from the backwards waters of the Chehalis River in Washington, through the Golden Gate of Northern California and finally, into Los Angeles where Osborne and Crover both reside. The film features lengthy interviews with Osborne and Crover as well as present and ex band members, collaborators and many other musicians from bands such as Mudhoney, The Jesus Lizard, Soundgarden, Butthole Surfers, Sleep, Babes In Toyland, Neurosis and Redd Kross to name but a few.
www.melvinsmovie.com
www.facebook.com/melvinstale
Sincerely,
Letters From A Tapehead
Friday, March 06, 2015
And So I Watch You From Afar: "Wasps"
Were I forced to come up with a two-word summary of And So I Watch You From Afar's newest single, "Wasps," those words would probably be "circular anthems." The constant arpeggios and choral harmonizing are dizzying to say the least, a wasp in flight possibly the basis for its immediacy and motion. You can listen to the song below.
And So I Watch You From Afar is releasing a new album called Heirs on May 5th via Sargent House. For information on the release, please scroll below. All news, dates, music and links were provided by Us/Them Group.
And So I Watch You From Afar:
tracks from forthcoming album Heirs cleared for posting
Listen to & share "Wasps" HERE + "Run Home" HERE
Northern Ireland's And So I Watch You From Afar premiered a new track from their forthcoming album Heirs yesterday via The Fader. The song "Wasps" is cleared for posting via Soundcloud HERE.
ASIWYFA previously shared album track "Run Home", also cleared for sharing via Soundcloud HERE. Album pre-orders are available at iTunes HERE.
ASIWYFA also hit the road with Mylets this spring for extensive shows throughout the UK and EU. Please see complete dates below.
And So I Watch You From Afar have applied to their fourth album the same rigorous work ethic that has seen them touring nearly non-stop all over the world in recent years -- including less common tour stops like China, Russia, India and Africa. Heirs is both the band's most painstakingly created album as well as its most personal and meaningful. "Its central theme is about the inheritance of ideas," the band says. "In that we're all heirs to other peoples' passion, which in turn inspires ourselves."
Many new lives, new imperatives and invigorated perspectives helped shape the 10-song album borne of over 30 tracks written in prolific isolation spanning over 6 months in the band's Belfast, Northern Ireland home. It's a work of intense focus and adventurous abandon that reaches to the heart of artistic expression.
"We started making the album while touring in 2013," guitarist Rory Friers explains. "We would be recording demos in our hotel rooms, back stage and we would even hire out rehearsal rooms during days off." Being the first album with new guitarist Niall Kennedy (who joined as a touring member in 2012), the band grew increasingly productive taking half a year off from the road and working nearly every waking moment together in their rehearsal room. Friers and Kennedy, along with drummer Chris Wee and bassist Johnathan Adger amassed about 30 new songs, which were then whittled down to 15 tracks. Of those 15, only 10 songs made the final cut, carefully selecting those that best represented the ideas and feelings the band wanted to express with the album.
"Its called Heirs as a tribute to a lot of new people who came into all our lives during the writing and recording of the album -- lots of nephews and Johnny had a daughter, Eisa," Friers explains. "It seems like the songs soaked up all those feelings we had during the writing. Because making the album was such an intentionally intense and full time experience none of us where listening to much other music or even experiencing much else outside of it. So, it feels like a very pure representation of what happens when these four people decide to make music together. It was a very intense time and the record has been shaped by that."
Heirs will be available everywhere on LP, CD and download on May 5th, 2015 via Sargent House.
AND SO I WATCH YOU FROM AFAR TOUR 2015:
04/15 Moscow, RUS @ Teatr Club
04/16 St. Petersburg, RUS @ Kosmonavt
04/17 Yekaterinburg, RUS @ Nirvana Club
04/28 Glasgow, UK @ King Tut's Wah Wah Hut *
04/29 Manchester, UK @ Gorilla *
04/30 Bristol, UK @ Marble Factory *
05/01 London, UK @ Islington Assembly Hall *
05/02 Dunkerque, FR @ Les 4 Ecluses *
05/03 Luxembourg, LUX @ Den Atelier *
05/04 Paris, FR @ La Fleche D'or *
05/06 Molenbeek Saint Jean, BE @ Vk *
05/07 Rotterdam, NE @ Rotown *
05/08 Eindhoven, NE @ Effenaar, Small Hall *
05/09 Deventer, NE @ Burgerweeshuis *
05/10 Nantes, FR @ Le Ferrailleur *
05/11 Clermont Ferrand, FR @ La Cooperative De Mai Club *
05/12 Zurich, CH @ Dynamo *
05/13 Bern, CH @ Dachstock @ Reitschule *
05/14 Geneva, CH @ Usine *
05/15 Milan, IT @ Leoncavallo *
05/16 Rome, IT @ TBA *
05/17 Modena, IT @ La Tenda *
05/19 Ljubljana, SLO @ Kino Siska *
05/20 Zagreb, CR @ Zedno Uho Festival *
05/21 Budapest, HU @ Durer Kert *
05/22 Vienna, AT @ Arena *
05/23 Munich, DE @ Ampere *
05/25 Prague, CZ @ NoD Teatro *
05/26 Wiesbaden, DE @ Schlachthof *
05/27 Leipzig, DE @ Taubchental *
05/28 Berlin, DE @ Bi Nuu *
05/29 Hamburg, DE @ Logo *
05/30 Essen, DE @ Zeche Carl *
05/31 Cologne, DE @ Underground *
06/01 Amsterdam, NE @ Paradiso *
06/19 Dublin, IE @ Olympia
06/20 Belfast, UK @ Mandela Hall
07/09 - 07/11 Cheltenham, UK @ 2000 Trees Festival
07/24 Beelen, DE @ Krach am Bach
07/25 Sheffield, UK @ Tramlines Festival
* w/ Mylets
Artist: And So I Watch You From Afar
Album: Heirs
Label: Sargent House
Release date: May 5th, 2015
Track list:
01. Run Home (STREAM)
02. These Secret Kings I Know
03. Wasps (STREAM)
04. Redesigned a Million Times
05. People Not Sleeping
06. Fucking Lifer
07. A Beacon, A Compass, An Anchor
08. Animal Ghosts
09. Heirs
10. Tryer, You
On the Web:
sargenthouse.com/AndSoIWatchYouFromAfar
facebook.com/AndSoIWatchYouFromAfar
twitter.com/ASIWYFA_band
asiwyfa.bandcamp.com
Sincerely,
Letters From A Tapehead
And So I Watch You From Afar is releasing a new album called Heirs on May 5th via Sargent House. For information on the release, please scroll below. All news, dates, music and links were provided by Us/Them Group.
And So I Watch You From Afar:
tracks from forthcoming album Heirs cleared for posting
Listen to & share "Wasps" HERE + "Run Home" HERE
Northern Ireland's And So I Watch You From Afar premiered a new track from their forthcoming album Heirs yesterday via The Fader. The song "Wasps" is cleared for posting via Soundcloud HERE.
ASIWYFA previously shared album track "Run Home", also cleared for sharing via Soundcloud HERE. Album pre-orders are available at iTunes HERE.
ASIWYFA also hit the road with Mylets this spring for extensive shows throughout the UK and EU. Please see complete dates below.
And So I Watch You From Afar have applied to their fourth album the same rigorous work ethic that has seen them touring nearly non-stop all over the world in recent years -- including less common tour stops like China, Russia, India and Africa. Heirs is both the band's most painstakingly created album as well as its most personal and meaningful. "Its central theme is about the inheritance of ideas," the band says. "In that we're all heirs to other peoples' passion, which in turn inspires ourselves."
Many new lives, new imperatives and invigorated perspectives helped shape the 10-song album borne of over 30 tracks written in prolific isolation spanning over 6 months in the band's Belfast, Northern Ireland home. It's a work of intense focus and adventurous abandon that reaches to the heart of artistic expression.
"We started making the album while touring in 2013," guitarist Rory Friers explains. "We would be recording demos in our hotel rooms, back stage and we would even hire out rehearsal rooms during days off." Being the first album with new guitarist Niall Kennedy (who joined as a touring member in 2012), the band grew increasingly productive taking half a year off from the road and working nearly every waking moment together in their rehearsal room. Friers and Kennedy, along with drummer Chris Wee and bassist Johnathan Adger amassed about 30 new songs, which were then whittled down to 15 tracks. Of those 15, only 10 songs made the final cut, carefully selecting those that best represented the ideas and feelings the band wanted to express with the album.
"Its called Heirs as a tribute to a lot of new people who came into all our lives during the writing and recording of the album -- lots of nephews and Johnny had a daughter, Eisa," Friers explains. "It seems like the songs soaked up all those feelings we had during the writing. Because making the album was such an intentionally intense and full time experience none of us where listening to much other music or even experiencing much else outside of it. So, it feels like a very pure representation of what happens when these four people decide to make music together. It was a very intense time and the record has been shaped by that."
Heirs will be available everywhere on LP, CD and download on May 5th, 2015 via Sargent House.
AND SO I WATCH YOU FROM AFAR TOUR 2015:
04/15 Moscow, RUS @ Teatr Club
04/16 St. Petersburg, RUS @ Kosmonavt
04/17 Yekaterinburg, RUS @ Nirvana Club
04/28 Glasgow, UK @ King Tut's Wah Wah Hut *
04/29 Manchester, UK @ Gorilla *
04/30 Bristol, UK @ Marble Factory *
05/01 London, UK @ Islington Assembly Hall *
05/02 Dunkerque, FR @ Les 4 Ecluses *
05/03 Luxembourg, LUX @ Den Atelier *
05/04 Paris, FR @ La Fleche D'or *
05/06 Molenbeek Saint Jean, BE @ Vk *
05/07 Rotterdam, NE @ Rotown *
05/08 Eindhoven, NE @ Effenaar, Small Hall *
05/09 Deventer, NE @ Burgerweeshuis *
05/10 Nantes, FR @ Le Ferrailleur *
05/11 Clermont Ferrand, FR @ La Cooperative De Mai Club *
05/12 Zurich, CH @ Dynamo *
05/13 Bern, CH @ Dachstock @ Reitschule *
05/14 Geneva, CH @ Usine *
05/15 Milan, IT @ Leoncavallo *
05/16 Rome, IT @ TBA *
05/17 Modena, IT @ La Tenda *
05/19 Ljubljana, SLO @ Kino Siska *
05/20 Zagreb, CR @ Zedno Uho Festival *
05/21 Budapest, HU @ Durer Kert *
05/22 Vienna, AT @ Arena *
05/23 Munich, DE @ Ampere *
05/25 Prague, CZ @ NoD Teatro *
05/26 Wiesbaden, DE @ Schlachthof *
05/27 Leipzig, DE @ Taubchental *
05/28 Berlin, DE @ Bi Nuu *
05/29 Hamburg, DE @ Logo *
05/30 Essen, DE @ Zeche Carl *
05/31 Cologne, DE @ Underground *
06/01 Amsterdam, NE @ Paradiso *
06/19 Dublin, IE @ Olympia
06/20 Belfast, UK @ Mandela Hall
07/09 - 07/11 Cheltenham, UK @ 2000 Trees Festival
07/24 Beelen, DE @ Krach am Bach
07/25 Sheffield, UK @ Tramlines Festival
* w/ Mylets
Artist: And So I Watch You From Afar
Album: Heirs
Label: Sargent House
Release date: May 5th, 2015
Track list:
01. Run Home (STREAM)
02. These Secret Kings I Know
03. Wasps (STREAM)
04. Redesigned a Million Times
05. People Not Sleeping
06. Fucking Lifer
07. A Beacon, A Compass, An Anchor
08. Animal Ghosts
09. Heirs
10. Tryer, You
On the Web:
sargenthouse.com/AndSoIWatchYouFromAfar
facebook.com/AndSoIWatchYouFromAfar
twitter.com/ASIWYFA_band
asiwyfa.bandcamp.com
Sincerely,
Letters From A Tapehead
Thursday, March 05, 2015
Shopping For Records: Sleep, Hüsker Dü, Wire, Roberta Flack, Max Roach, Iron Maiden
Some recent purchases:
Sleep
Vol. 1
Tupelo Recording Company/Very Small Records
Originally released: 1991
Reissued: 2014
The 20 Buck Spin subscription service let it be known one fine day that Sleep's Vol. 1, (the band's debut album), was available to purchase on vinyl. While interested, I didn't jump on the opportunity right away. A mere day or so later, all copies were sold and the good ol' "ah shit" lament followed. But, 20 Buck Spin restocked the LP and, once notified, I picked it up. I think it was about $18.
The LP is stored in a glossy sleeve that picks up fingerprints without mercy and a download card was included. On the strength of "The Suffering" alone I would recommend picking this one up if you haven't already.
The Vinyl Closet
North Wales, PA
I had a gift certificate to spend. So, I perused and purchased.
Hüsker Dü
Land Speed Record
SST Records
Originally released: 1981
Reissued: 1987
Truly its namesake, Hüsker Dü's Land Speed Record is the band's first release and a live recording to boot. I'm surprised anyone made it out of this show alive. Hüsker is just relentless. While it's not that easy to distill beneath the onslaught of Grant Hart's percussive attack and the barked vocals throughout, you can sort of hear early indications of the band's growing musicality, which would eventually take shape and influence countless bands. Granted, hindsight plays some roll in this, but it's there nonetheless. Hardcore for music fans.
This might've been $11. It was a sealed and clean copy.
Wire
The Ideal Copy
Mute/Enigma
Released: 1987
This being Wire's mid-80s foray into synth pop and electronics, I've been spinning The Ideal Copy a lot lately. The Ideal Copy was the follow-up to Wire's excellent (and I think undervalued) 154 album, following about a five or six-year hiatus and quite a few solo albums and off-shoot collaborations. While this phase of Wire seems inspired by the more circuit-guided pop melodies of the era with tracks like "The Point of Collapse," "Madman's Honey" and the almost Oingo-Boingo'ness of "Ambitious," there are also avant-flavored offerings like "Feed Me" and "Still Shows," keeping alive the band's penchant for writing challenging arrangements. "Over Theirs" is definitely one of my favorite Wire tracks overall.
I found this for $10 and it came with an insert advertising Colin Newman's fourth solo album, Commercial Suicide. Cool find.
Roberta Flack
Quiet Fire
Atlantic
Released: 1971
This was an impulse buy and the price was right ($2).
Despite the fact that I grew up in a house seemingly stuck in the 60s and 70s sound wise, funk and soul were never part of the playlist. I've been trying to educate myself more in this area over the years when I get the urge, hence my purchase of Roberta Flack's Quiet Fire. The album contains a beautiful rendition of "Bridge Over Troubled Water" that I think I prefer over the original Simon & Garfunkel version. It just sounds less self-important and more impassioned. Plus, I'm one album closer to my unattainable goal of owning every album to feature Ron Carter, who plays on a cover of "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow."
"Sunday and Sister Jones" is great.
Max Roach
Drums Unlimited
Atlantic
Released: 1966
...because you can't own too much Max Roach. I found this used for $6.
The dust jacket is evidently original to the album and has a printed list of Atlantic jazz releases. The album's previous owner felt compelled to mark off what he/she owned or wanted with uneven circles and strikethroughs. Seems like this individual was really into Herbie Mann and Elvin Jones.
Anyway, back to the release: Featured are James Spaulding, Freddie Hubbard, Ronnie Matthews and Jymie Merrit, whose "Nommo" is one of the album's highlights. For the track "St. Louis Blues," Roland Alexander aids the quintet on the alto sax. It's noted that Roach's solo performances are truly unaccompanied, "The Drum Also Waltzes," the title track and "For Big Sid." I'm not sure if this album was a milestone entry in the Roach canon, (I really don't know much about it), but I'd recommend it for bop fans especially. As was the intention of an album called Drums Unlimited I'm sure, Roach is certainly showcased while his accompanying players manage to remain essential to the arrangements without pulling his spotlight. And he sounds great.
Iron Maiden
Killers
BMG
Originally released: 1981
Reissued: 2014
So, this will be embarrassing to admit, but I slept on Iron Maiden. Another occupant of the back burner that's become more impressive than my actual record collection, Maiden was one of those bands I didn't take seriously in my formative years and more or less ignored. I always thought "Aces High" was cool, especially when I'd heard it on the Plan B skateboard video, Unquestionable, while watching Colin McKay pull feats with his board so physically unreachable I pretty much wanted to give up skateboarding. But, otherwise, nope... no Maiden.
So, since their discography's been subject to the reissue treatment in late 2014, I figured now would be a good time to acquaint myself with the band. I've started with Killers. And, yeah, I want more. Naturally. And, yeah, I should've been into this years ago. Naturally. But, better late than never I guess. More to follow as I acquire more Maiden.
This was sealed and clean. I think it might've been $18, but I can't remember.
Sincerely,
Vol. 1
Tupelo Recording Company/Very Small Records
Originally released: 1991
Reissued: 2014
The LP is stored in a glossy sleeve that picks up fingerprints without mercy and a download card was included. On the strength of "The Suffering" alone I would recommend picking this one up if you haven't already.
The Vinyl Closet
North Wales, PA
I had a gift certificate to spend. So, I perused and purchased.
Hüsker Dü
Land Speed Record
SST Records
Originally released: 1981
Reissued: 1987
This might've been $11. It was a sealed and clean copy.
Wire
The Ideal Copy
Mute/Enigma
Released: 1987
I found this for $10 and it came with an insert advertising Colin Newman's fourth solo album, Commercial Suicide. Cool find.
Roberta Flack
Quiet Fire
Atlantic
Released: 1971
Despite the fact that I grew up in a house seemingly stuck in the 60s and 70s sound wise, funk and soul were never part of the playlist. I've been trying to educate myself more in this area over the years when I get the urge, hence my purchase of Roberta Flack's Quiet Fire. The album contains a beautiful rendition of "Bridge Over Troubled Water" that I think I prefer over the original Simon & Garfunkel version. It just sounds less self-important and more impassioned. Plus, I'm one album closer to my unattainable goal of owning every album to feature Ron Carter, who plays on a cover of "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow."
"Sunday and Sister Jones" is great.
Max Roach
Drums Unlimited
Atlantic
Released: 1966
The dust jacket is evidently original to the album and has a printed list of Atlantic jazz releases. The album's previous owner felt compelled to mark off what he/she owned or wanted with uneven circles and strikethroughs. Seems like this individual was really into Herbie Mann and Elvin Jones.
Anyway, back to the release: Featured are James Spaulding, Freddie Hubbard, Ronnie Matthews and Jymie Merrit, whose "Nommo" is one of the album's highlights. For the track "St. Louis Blues," Roland Alexander aids the quintet on the alto sax. It's noted that Roach's solo performances are truly unaccompanied, "The Drum Also Waltzes," the title track and "For Big Sid." I'm not sure if this album was a milestone entry in the Roach canon, (I really don't know much about it), but I'd recommend it for bop fans especially. As was the intention of an album called Drums Unlimited I'm sure, Roach is certainly showcased while his accompanying players manage to remain essential to the arrangements without pulling his spotlight. And he sounds great.
Iron Maiden
Killers
BMG
Originally released: 1981
Reissued: 2014
So, since their discography's been subject to the reissue treatment in late 2014, I figured now would be a good time to acquaint myself with the band. I've started with Killers. And, yeah, I want more. Naturally. And, yeah, I should've been into this years ago. Naturally. But, better late than never I guess. More to follow as I acquire more Maiden.
This was sealed and clean. I think it might've been $18, but I can't remember.
Sincerely,
Letters From A Tapehead
Wednesday, March 04, 2015
Singles: The Crotals, Enternal Tapestry, Doldrums, The Helio Sequence, James K
The Crotals: "Never Sorry" (via Viral Propaganda PR/Tenacity Music/YouTube)
Eternal Tapestry: "Mountain Primorose" (via Thrill Jockey Records/YouTube)
Doldrums: "Loops" (via Sub Pop/FACT Magazine/Soundcloud)
The Helio Sequence: "Stoic Resemblance" (via Sub Pop/YouTube)
James K: " (via Julian T. Schoen/The Muse/Soundcloud)
Sincerely,
Letters From A Tapehead
Eternal Tapestry: "Mountain Primorose" (via Thrill Jockey Records/YouTube)
Doldrums: "Loops" (via Sub Pop/FACT Magazine/Soundcloud)
The Helio Sequence: "Stoic Resemblance" (via Sub Pop/YouTube)
James K: " (via Julian T. Schoen/The Muse/Soundcloud)
Sincerely,
Letters From A Tapehead
The Inbox Giveth: Can Can Heads
Can Can Heads
Can Can Heads is Ruining the Classics
(self-released)
Released: 2.14.15
Can Can Heads is a Finnish noise rock band that recently decided to take recognizable hit songs and reinterpret them in a manner less style conscious and reverentially accurate than sloppily aggro and fit to mock in the spirit of fun. Targeted for inspiration are Survivor, Michael Jackson, Van Halen and The MC5, the songs retitled for humor's sake, ("Peel It" for instance instead of "Beat It.")
Released digitally on Valentine's Day, Can Can Heads is Ruining the Classics is available to purchase through Bandcamp along with one of the best album summations I've ever read:
"Planning this 'release' took as long as it took to record them. Recorded in mono with one track tape recorder PA-Pak 07/02/2015."
Sincerely,
Letters From A Tapehead
Can Can Heads is Ruining the Classics
(self-released)
Released: 2.14.15
Released digitally on Valentine's Day, Can Can Heads is Ruining the Classics is available to purchase through Bandcamp along with one of the best album summations I've ever read:
"Planning this 'release' took as long as it took to record them. Recorded in mono with one track tape recorder PA-Pak 07/02/2015."
Sincerely,
Letters From A Tapehead
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