So, this is what I'm doing.  I'll be back 8.6. Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

High On Fire The Art Of Self Defense Southern Lord Recordings Originally released: 3.7.00 (Man's Ruin Records) Reissued: 7.31.12 Stereokiller review Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

OM Advaitic Songs Drag City Released: 7.24.12 No Ripcord review Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

Portland art rockers Menomena will be releasing their new album, Moms , on September 14th.  A new single, "Heavy Is As Heavy Does," has surfaced.  Below is a teaser trailer for the album along with information provided by Prescription PR. Menomena's 2010 release, mines , was reviewed at No Ripcord . MENOMENA TO RELEASE MOMS IN THE UK ON OCTOBER 8th ANNOUNCE EUROPEAN TOUR & ATP ALBUM TEASER TRAILER AVAILABLE NOW Barsuk Records is excited to announce that Menomena will release their new album, Moms , on September 18, 2012 in the US and on October 8 in the UK. Moms is the Portland-based band's fifth, and their first as a duo. A teaser trailer for the album (featuring a guest appearance by an indie-rock pug) is available below. In support of Moms , Menomena will embark on a North American headlining tour in Autumn, followed by dates in Europe and an appearance at the revered All Tomorrow's Parties festival in the UK. Those tour dates are listed belo...

See below for dates and info, all of which was lovingly provided by Earsplit PR.  If I wind up going, I'll be sure to sit up front this time .  SUNN 0))) East Coast Tour And Festival Actions Announced After three years since their last official US performances, and over two years since their live collaboration with Boris in Brooklyn, SUNN 0))) have confirmed several new performances this Summer, including a tour of the East Coast. SUNN 0)) will infiltrate venues down the East Coast with their oppressive drone hymns, with shows now confirmed in Philadelphia, Washington DC, Richmond and Atlanta, as well as a performance at the annual Hopscotch Music Festival in Raleigh. The lineup for these performance will include vocals from Attila Csihar , moog from Tos Nieuwenhuizen , and as always, the low-end string attacks of founders Stephen O'Malley and Greg Anderson . Southern Lord signees Dead In The Dirt will provide direct support for SUNN 0))) on all dates except the H...

Not much to say, other than I just really dig this song.  Video and information provided by Mute Records. Cold Specks has just released her latest Hoxton Hall Session video , “Hector”. The second of this four-part series filmed at the fame venue in London, “Hector” can now be viewed on the Cold Specks website along with the first video for “Winter Solstice." The final two videos will be revealed shortly. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ropZ1apYo6U Also announced today, Cold Specks has been short-listed for the Polaris Music prize, along-side Grimes , B,C D and many more of Canada’s most talented musicians. Past winners include Arcade Fire , Caribou , F*cked Up , and Final Fantasy . The awards take place September 24th in Toronto. Cold Specks will be playing a string of North American dates this August, including August 1st in New York, August 16th in LA and August 15th show in Seattle. COLD SPECKS TOUR DATES: July 27th & July 28th - Calgary Folk Festival –Ca...

One of the most infectious tunes I've heard so far this year is "Now That I've Given Up Hope, I Feel Much Better" by Shout Out Out Out Out , a rather jovial instrumental based in the sound of David Bowie 's Low and the spacier loops generated by Neu! or Can .  It's bouncy, synthesized vocoder rock music that enjoys its groove, embraces its joyful sounds next to its defeatist title and latches on. Shout Out Out Out Out's new album, Spanish Moss and Total Loss , which is a tad uneven, but still worth a listen, is streaming now via the links below which were provided by Terrorbird Media.  Shout Out Out Out Out's Spanish Loss and Total Loss LP Out Today Album Streaming Now at Exclaim! & Spinner Album Release Show on July 28th in Edmonton with Faunts STREAM: Spanish Loss and Total Loss LP via Exclaim! / via Spinner   AUDIO: "Now That I've Given Up Hope, I Feel Much Better" via direct mp3 / via Soundcloud / via MTV H...

A little over a year ago, I posted a video of a live performance that featured the Assembly of Light choir, who collaborated with the doom juggernaut The Body for their 2010 release, All The Waters Of The Earth Turn To Blood.  It was revealed that an Assembly of Light LP will see release in the coming month or so, though there's apparently no set date. Photo credit: Jaime Lowe The choir continues their left coast tour with The Body and Braveyoung . Remaining live dates can be viewed below. All info comes courtesy of Earsplit PR. ASSEMBLY OF LIGHT: Choir's Debut LP To See Release On At A Loss Recordings At A Loss Recordings is proud to announce the pending release of one of the most unique musical acts in existence. Featuring nearly two dozen members, Providence, Rhode Island-based ASSEMBLY OF LIGHT choir is a secular all-female choral faction, unifying their incredible range of voices into beautiful, and often undeniably eerie, ethereal hymns, which blend classi...

It was announced today that 4AD will be reissuing JunkYard by The Birthday Party on 180g vinyl with the bonus singles Release the Bats/ Blast Off 7" and CD.  This version is being lifted from the 2000 re-master that Henry Rollins produced and issued via 2.13.61/Buddha Records. You can find more info at 4AD and Beggars Banquet . While on the topic of Nick Cave , the fourth round of Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds reissues will be on shelves very soon.   Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

Interesting preview of the new promotional material from L.A. based brutality-smiths Foot Village , who recently signed with Northern Spy Records.  Their album will be releasing digitally on my birthday, which naturally coincides with Frank Zappa 's birthday and the end of the world.  Sounds like a good way to go out.  Foot Village boasts band members from XBXRX and Beak> . Foot Village / Northern Spy from Deathbomb Arc on Vimeo . Here's the sampler:                         Info and links are provided courtesy of Northern Spy. Foot Village Signs With Northern Spy, Releases Webmercial And Gives Away Sampler The thunderous drum-n-shout assembly from Los Angeles known as Foot Village made a huge name for themselves after blowing up All Tomorrow’s Parties in the US and UK last year. With their wild tribal drumming and nearly indefinable style, it was sort of inevita...

Something subtle and light, though quietly intense.  Mothlite , (a.k.a Daniel Sullivan ), will be releasing "Seeing in the Dark" as a single on August 13th.  His band's 2012 LP, Dark Ages , is available. All info comes courtesy of Sure Shot PR. MOTHLITE TO RELEASE ‘SEEING IN THE DARK’ ON AUGUST 13th VIA KSCOPE The second single to be taken from Dark Age , the new album from Daniel O'Sullivan   Seeing In The Dark , the new single from Mothlite, is released on Kscope on August 13th. Mothlite is the brainchild of Daniel O’Sullivan ( Ulver, Æthenor, Miracle, Grumbling Fur ) and the single is taken from Dark Age , the band's second album which was released earlier this year on Kscope. Dark Age , the follow-up to 2008’s The Flax Of Reverie , was recently rated as one of the top 50 albums of 2012 so far by The Quietus, who described it as, 'a startling, frank examination of the human (and perhaps especially male) condition delivered via synth bombast a...

Maybe I'm helping to play "No. 1 Against The Rush" out seeing as I've posted about it so much, but I thought this filmed studio session of the Liars performing the song was worth checking out.  The video was produced by Yours Truly , (and I don't mean me).  Sorry if I'm being very FM radio. Liars new album, WIXIW , was reviewed at No Ripcord . Photo Credit: Zen Sekizawa All info, links and tour dates are courtesy of Mute Records. Liars "No.1 Against The Rush" from Yours Truly on Vimeo . LIARS LIARS CURRENTLY ON TOUR WATCH “No. 1 Against The Rush” Yours Truly Session HERE WIXIW OUT NOW “It's an album that creeps you out even as it sucks you in." - RollingStone “In essence, it’s a dark pop masterpiece." - KCRW “For Liars, it embodies what they do best — saying one thing and then doing another. And on WIXIW , everything is in its right place." - SPIN “WIXIW” is Liars' "electronic" reco...

Richard Hawley 's Standing at the Sky's Edge will be out late August via Mute Records.  Having myself sampled the album in its entirety, but only once at this point, I enjoy its texture, free floating psychedelia and volume.  It's a laid back listen, despite Hawley's reliance on distortion.  At some points you may catch similar references to the 13th Floor Elevators or The Velvet Underground as explored by bands like The Brian Jonestown Massacre or The Black Angels .  Even later era Roky Erickson might come to mind.  Still, the album is rich in melody, heavy on the pedals but not to the detriment of the songwriting.  I'd recommend. All info comes courtesy of Mute Records. RICHARD HAWLEY — Standing At The Sky’s Edge NEW VIDEO: “DOWN IN THE WOODS” ALBUM OUT AUGUST 28th “Hawley creates an essential listen. 4/5" – AllMusic “In a throwaway era, Richard Hawley holds a torch for the craftsman. 4/5” – Consequence of Sound “A churning, glower...

In tribute to a departed friend. R.I.P. Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

Mike Patton/Luciano Berio Laborintus II Ipecac Recordings Released: 7.3.12 In 2010, along with the Brussels based Ictus Ensemble and the choral chamber choir, Nederlands Kamerkoor , Mike Patton acted as narrator for a live performance of Italian composer Luciano Berio ’s 1965 musical piece, Laborintus II . The performance was held at the Holland Festival, which also premiered Berio’s performance of Laborintus II for Dutch audiences in 1972. As further tribute, Patton has released the Ictus Ensemble/Nederlands Kamerkoor performance as a live album through Ipecac Recordings . Based on a poem by Edoardo Sanguineti , Berio’s own version renamed as the writing’s sequel, (which was also meant to acknowledge the 700th anniversary of Danté ’s birth), Labortinus II is delivered in three parts, which are apparently three separate voices. The majority of the piece is in Italian, (with maybe a sentence or two uttered in English), so I’m incapable of deciphering the narrative a...

"Only In My Dreams," the new single from Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti , is available for easy, widget enabled listening.  The band's new album, Mature Themes , is releasing August 21st and follows their critically acclaimed 2010 album Before Today , which was reviewed at Kicking Against The Pricks .  All info comes courtesy of Force Field PR. Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti reveal new Mature Themes song "Only In My Dreams"   MP3: "Only In My Dreams" - http://widgets.4ad.com/onlyinmydreams/ Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti have revealed a new and original song from forthcoming album, Mature Themes , out August 21st. The song, "Only In My Dreams," was given its global debut on Los Angeles radio stalwart KCRW's Morning Becomes Electric show today, and a free MP3 can now be downloaded from 4AD.com . The band has also added European tour dates to their Fall / Winter schedule, see below for all upcoming shows. "Only In M...

New video from Deep Sea Diver for their single, "NWO."  All info comes courtesy of Grandstand Media. NWO from matt wignall on Vimeo . MUSIC VIDEO PREMIERE DEEP SEA DIVER – “NWO” https://vimeo.com/40910501 DEEP SEA DIVER RELEASES NEW MUSIC VIDEO FOR “NWO” THE BAND TO PLAY BUMBERSHOOT FESTIVAL AND DOE BAY FESTIVAL THIS FALL [July 2nd, 2012- Seattle, WA] Seattle based Deep Sea Diver have released their new music video for the single “NWO” off their first full length album History Speaks . The band is set to play the Doe Bay Festival on August 11th & 12th as well as the Bumbershoot Music & Arts Festival on September 2nd. Deep Sea Diver’s initial formation as a songwriting moniker for Jessica Dobson turned into a full-fledged music collaboration when drummer, and future husband, Peter Mansen joined the band along with bassist John Raines . Following the release of their first EP New Caves , the band embarked on a national tour with Conor Oberst & Th...

Cocks Arquette s/t OSCL Records Released: 9.7.12 Percussively rampant, sonically caustic and lengthy, the externalized and distorted abstraction that comprises the four songs of Cocks Arquette 's debut album is, for me, fascinating to hear.  Recorded live, the band's September 7th release investigates the noise/aggro combos that seemed to define Mi Ami 's pre-electronica output, one cyclical mode of conveyance acting the foundation to layered experimentalism and built out intensity. The album is introduced by the less than a minute "Considerably Fucked," which is Boredoms ' styled nonsense that leads into "Pointlessly Vindictive," a No Wave-sized rut that flirts a tad with math rock, ambient tones and free jazz.  The approach is coarse and possibly as vindictive as its title suggests.  The Tangerine Dream on quaaludes approach to "This Changes Nothing" eventually gives way to a thundering Sonic Youth -tinged surf track replete with ...

New Sub Pop acquisition, METZ , will be releasing an album in September.  The track "Headache" was made available for public consumption and consideration.  Check out the widget below. You can find more information on the band at Sub Pop .                         Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

Gargantua mutators Ufomammut have released a teaser video for their upcoming new album Opus Alter , which is the second chapter of this year's Oro series.  "Oroborus," the name of the latest single, finds the expanse and space lust of their earlier release, Opus Primum , fully intact, cyclical hugeness essential to Ufomammut's makeup.  "Oroborus" is a wonderful enticement. All info comes courtesy of Earsplit PR. Ufomammut's Opus Primum was reviewed at Stereokiller . UFOMAMMUT Release Video From Second Installment Of The ORO Albums Five months after the release of their acclaimed ORO: Opus Primum release, Italian sorcerers of supernatural and obliterating doom, UFOMAMMUT, prepare to return with the second part of the ORO series, Opus Alter . The new full-length will see North American release on September 18th, 2012 once again via Neurot Recordings. As with all previous UFOMAMMUT albums, the concepts behind ORO are expansive and multi-facet...

Ihsahn Eremita Candelight Records Released: 6.19.12 Stereokiller review Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

Gothic blues artist Chelsea Wolfe will be touring with progressive space rockers, Russian Circles .  She will also be releasing an acoustic album later this 2012, which will feature the song, "Flatlands."  Check out the video.  All links, tour dates and info were lovingly provided by Life or Death PR and Management. CHELSEA WOLFE ANNOUNCES TOUR W/ RUSSIAN CIRCLES & HEADLINE DATES LISTEN TO A NEW SONG FROM GLASSHOUSE SESSION ACOUSTIC LP COMING THIS FALL VIA SARGENT HOUSE  photo by David Fathi Northern California native Chelsea Wolfe's sound is best described with broad strokes: elemental, intense, radiant, ancient yet modern, intimate yet expansive, dark and sparkling. Hues of black metal and deep blues inform her ever-evolving electric folk--a warm force that wraps itself around the listener, encouraging uplift, seeking triumph. Her voice similarly haunts and soothes, with words that illuminate life's darker corners in order to reveal the unlikely ...