I've been playing catch-up. TR/ST : "Gone" (via Tell All Your Friends PR / House Arrest  /  DAZED  / YouTube) Via Tell All Your Friends PR: TR/ST has shared the new video for “Gone”, the soaring electronic pop first single from his new LP The Destroyer - 1 out now on Grouch/House Arrest. Directed by LA filmmaker Jordan Hemmingway, the visual accompaniment to "Gone" is bursting with vivid colours and lens flare around TR/ST mainman Robert Alfons ' dramatic and dark to camera performance. Jordan Hemingway about the making of the video: "Shot in a cavern in the hills of Los Angeles, the music video for 'Gone' is a visual homage to an era of music videos I grew up to. The jarring angles and visuals mixed with vivid color are meant to match the haunting vocals that sit beautifully over an upbeat sound." Robert Alfons adds: "Filmed over the course of one weekend, I think Jordan did a fantastic job capturing the feeling of desp...

Facial : "Black Noise" (via  Chain Letter Collective /Us-Them Group/Soundcloud) "Black Noise" is the second single from Facial 's upcoming new release,  Facade , which will be released September 29th via Chain Letter Collective.  You can pre-order the LP  here . __________________________________________________________ Humans Etcetera : "Silkworm" (via  Nefarious Industries /Earsplit PR/YouTube) From Earsplit PR: Nefarious Industries confirms the October release of Intelligent Skeleton by China-based solo outfit HUMANS ETCETERA , offering an early glimpse into the album with a video for the opening track, "Silkworm." HUMANS ETCETERA is an experimental rock outfit founded by West Virginia native, Christopher Henry , also a member of Fuck Your Birthday , and formerly of Clean Dirty Clean . The outfit's output unifies '90s alternative rock and post-hardcore and modern experimental rock elements into a mellow but engaging...

Low Sun : "Into Sun" (via Art of the Uncarved Block / New Noise Magazine /Soundcloud) "Into Sun" is to be featured as part of a split release made with labelmates  Humanities called, Human Sun .  The release will be out via Art of the Uncarved Block on July 13th, but you can pre-order it here . DEAFKIDS : "Pés Atados" (via Neurot Recordings /Earsplit PR/YouTube) This track is taken from Configuração Do Lamento , which will be released October 6th via Neurot Recordings . The Convalescence : "This is Hell" (via Unique Leader Records /Earsplit PR/Bandcamp) "This is Hell" is the title track to the band's upcoming LP to be released at Unique Leader Records on September 1st.  Digital copies are currently available for pre-order . This is Hell by The Convalescence Labyrinth Lounge : "Trouble Won't Last" (via Rufftone Records /Shameless Promotion/Soundcloud) "Trouble Won't Last" is the ...

Some recent purchases: 20 Buck Spin 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 Reiss...

Jungle : "The Heat" (via Noisey /Force Field PR) Widowspeak : "Calico" (via Captured Tracks) White Lung : "Blow it South" (via Enabler PR) Huerco S. : "Ragtime U.S.A. (Warning)" (via Enabler PR) Sahg : "Slipping Off the Edge of the Universe" (via Indie Recordings/ Metal Hammer ) Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

1970s soul singer Swamp Dogg ( Jerry Williams Jr. ) is still active and currently reissuing a series of relatively obscure soul and blues albums from the 1970s as part of a collection called Swamp Dogg's Soul & Blues Collection . A very unimaginative title, but it looks like it's worth checking out. The first two reissues featured in the collection are from Wolfmoon (or, Little Tommy ) and Sandra Phillips . Check out some singles and then read the info provided to you by Pavement PR. NEWLY RE-RELEASED & REMASTERED VERSIONS OF WOLFMOON'S SELF-TITLED ALBUM & SANDRA PHILLIPS' TOO MANY PEOPLE IN ONE BED OUT OCT. 1ST AS PART OF ALIVE NATURALSOUND RECORDS' ONGOING SWAMP DOGG SOUL & BLUES COLLECTIONAVAILABLE FOR THE FIRST TIME ON VINYL SINCE THEIR ORIGINAL RELEASES IN THE EARLY 1970S! FREE MP3S OF WOLFMOON'S "MY KIND OF PEOPLE" AND SANDRA PHILLIPS' "MY MAN AND ME" CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO & SHARE WOLFM...

Tessela : "Nancy's Pantry" (via Pitchfork ) Far-Out Fangtooth : "Bow Your Head" (via Ad Hoc ) The Obits : "Spun Out" (via Village Voice ) K. Raydio & Psymun : "Jupiter" (via Okayplayer ) Upset : "Oxfords & Wingtips" (via Pitchfork) Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

I took the day off work. Mind you, I'm not one that typically does the "mental health" day, or just decides "I need some time off."  I'm normally paranoid and guilty enough when legitimately sick that I'll bother my coworkers with updates about how the day is going and whether or not I need to plug in and work from home.  I have a complex, so days off aren't my thing. But, I had some things to take care of today and just figured I would try this "relaxing" that everyone speaks so highly of.  Part of trying to enjoy the day involved me hitting the record store.  I kept it very local today and stopped by The Vinyl Closet in North Wales, which is maybe ten minutes from my house. While the store doesn't hold much for those looking for current artists or recent releases, it is a treasure trove for vinyl addicts.  The first time I'd visited, I found a few things to pick up without spending too much loot.  Today, though, I kept on f...

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...

Pop singer, Whitney Houston , has passed away at the age of 48.  The Guardian published a very comprehensive eulogy and overview of Houston's career. It's incredibly unfortunate, but as with Michael Jackson , Houston's actual contributions to pop music and her talent as a singer had less resonance with the public than her difficulties with drug abuse, her unhealthy marriage to singer, Bobby Brown , and her erratic public behavior.  It's all about the headlines and she'd become a celebrity punchline. Though I can't claim to have ever been particularly fond of Houston's music, I do believe her to be one of the last true original R&B voices to emerge over the last twenty years, maybe thirty years.  You can preach the gospel of Mary J. Blige , Mariah Carey or Beyoncé Knowles till you run out of breath, but as far as I can tell, down to the Disney charter school that shot out Christina Aguilera and Britney Spears like freshly-greased newborns out the...

Soul Train creator and host, Don Cornelius , has apparently taken his own life . A champion for soul music in the 70s, Cornelius gave a televised platform for many black musicians when none had previously existed, exposing performers like Curtis Mayfield , James Brown and The Jackson 5 to an expanded audience. For its time, Soul Train ’s existence as a syndicated program was remarkable, Cornelius having recognized the value of the music and the potential it had to breach and possibly bridge gaps between social and racial classes. Even MTV, which arrived a little more than 10 years later, didn’t have the balls to expose black artists in its infancy despite the network’s pioneering of a music-industry innovation. R.I.P. Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

No Auto-Tune or tweaks.  No Pro Tools or polish.  Just soul, finesse and talent.  The kids have nothing on you, Etta James .  R.I.P. Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

I managed to find a live clip of “Chemmie,” the new single from Joan As Police Woman ’s recent album, The Deep Field .  "Chemmie" is being released this August as a single.  You can find information on the album and the upcoming single, along with tour information, below. And check out the live clip.  It's a good performance. All info is from Sure Shot PR: ‘Chemmie’ New Single released August 1st 2011 From her latest album, The Deep Field - out now UK Gigs and Festivals Aug/Sept 2011 on sale Wednesday June 15th at noon Currently wowing audiences across Australia, Joan As Police Woman hasn’t had time to catch her breath since the release of her latest album, The Deep Field . In demand across Europe and the US, days off at home in Brooklyn have become a rarity. Joan follows her Australian trip with a month long European tour, more US shows, then back to the UK for a run of headline shows and festivals including a return to Shepherds Bush Empire on September 9th ...

David Bowie Station To Station (Special Edition) Virgin/EMI Originally released: 1.23.76 Reissued: 9.28.10 No Ripcord review Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

Shapes and Sizes Candle To Your Eyes Asthmatic Kitty Released: 8.3.10 No Ripcord review Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

Gil Scott-Heron I'm New Here XL Recordings Released: 2.9.10 No Ripcord review Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead