New track from Newcastle dream-pop band Lanterns On The Lake found its way to my inbox this morning, so I thought I would pass it on!  This is a great slowed down and haunting track, kinda what they are known for – it is actually quite beautiful.  Strings, piano and their patented ‘cinematic scope’ of music – it always feels so full and encompassing.
What am I talking about?  Just listen below and you will understand.

~

The new album (their debut full length) will be released on Bella Union in the UK and will see that on September 19th, 2011.

For more info on LOTL – visit them on their Facebook page and website.  You can also purchase their previous self released material on their Bandcamp page here.

~Smansmith

p.s.  Bonus track: “Forever Young (Bob Dylan Cover)” – Lanterns on the Lake

Twilight Hotel are bringing their new album and tour through Calgary this coming weekend at the Kerf Music Showcast at the Ironwood.  If you are interested in a slighly 60′s influenced indie pop this will be the place for you.  I find the music of Twilight Hotel hard to describe, there are so many elements intertwined here, but it feels about what the photo above would make you think it sounds like.  That does make sense, right?

Regardless, the show is this Sunday and Calgary’s own SAVK is going to be performing as well, so it will be a great show.  Find a couple of tracks below from the new album “When The Wolves Go Blind” that was just released in January.

Twilight Hotel
“Ham Radio Blues” (mp3)
“Golden Eagle” (mp3)
“When The Wolves Go Blind” (mp3)

from “When the Wolves Go Blind”
(Cavalier Recordings)

Buy at iTunes Music Store
More On This Album

Visit Twilight Hotel on their Website, Facebook, MySpace, Twitter.

~Smansmith

Fredrik – Vinterbarn from The Kora Records on Vimeo.

Bonus: “Blackfur” – Fredrik, from 2008′s “Na Na Ni” album

Visit & Purchase Fredrik:

~Smansmith

p.s.  You might want to also check out Knox Road blog as Lee over there is a supporter of Fredrik and you can also find the mp3 for the above track here.

So one to always cover labels that I think go out of their way to provide something a bit different but (almost) always chock full of talent, Western Vinyl are set to release “Houseboat” next week from Sleep Whale.

Sleep Whale are from North Texas and could be considered a bit of an amalgamation of shoegaze, folk, psychedelic, noise-art are definitely and interesting crew and I am finding myself oddly drawn to it.  Truth be told, I have only the two lead off promo tracks below and myself being a pretty straight forward singer songwriter guy, this stuff is really good.  “Cotton Curls” is thick and lush and with space sounds and muffled vocals – it is soo incredibly catchy, that even this sad bastard finds himself head bopping and toe tapping.  The second track is “We Were Dripping” eases you with a bit of nice acoustic guitar into a space rock journey that seems like it might only have chanting until those vocals come in and you tend to not know if they are saying ‘We Were Dripping’ or ‘We Were Tripping’ – but I think you know where I am going with this.  I have to say I am a bit excited to hear the rest of the album, next Tuesday is the release (Nov. 10th) with the good folks at Western Vinyl.

Sleep Whale
“Cotton Curls” (mp3)
“We Were Dripping” (mp3)
from “Houseboat”
(Western Vinyl)

More On This Album

Visit & Purchase:

~Smansmith

So just a quick status check on the goings on for yours truly.  I know you are all waiting with baited breath on my daily life.  Come on, don’t you feel like we need a connection?  Whatever, well lets look ahead to what is going on around here.

I am working on a few items and features with:

1. Oweihops‘ new album “Viburnum” will get a review – fantastic album and one of my good online friends, so keep an eye out for it.
2. Working on getting a decent photo of the new Slowcoustic T-shirts (men’s AND ladies thank you very much) that we have for sale for $25 w/shipping in CAN & US – so get you paypal accounts all up to date!  If you see one in New York this weekend, say “hi” to Scott for me.  Holler if you need – we will be having a give away for one, so you could also cheap out and do that as well.
3. My last day as a corporate slag will be next Thursday and then I am off to the private sector doing some web & marketing work. Very excited – screw you suit & tie humps!
4. Still waiting on my iPhone 3GS (I have the 3G regardless) – but Canada has apparently been sold out for the last month…go figure – don’t people get it, shiny things attract attention – must…buy…now…

Well enough of those numbered items, so let’s have some recommendations of listening, visiting, reading and such.

~ Rediscovered the Splice Folk Mix (original versions of traditional folk tunes) that you can pick up HERE by simply getting a splice login, which you should have regardless.  Featured artists include: These United States, Christian Kiefer, Theodore, Deer Tick, Vandaveer, Wye Oak, Phosphorescent and more – 20 artists in total!
~ Knox Road are screening the new Antlers video for “Two” (still like that Hospice album, good stuff) – check it HERE.
~ I agree with Sean over at Battery In Your Leg about not posting “Harry Patch”, drop by and agree with us at BIYL HERE.  By the way, I really like the “flash” of the site, makes me think of a change around here…
~ What was with that Radiohead drama anyway?  Just sayin’
~ Please consider visiting Speed of Dark blog, if for nothing else to show support for one of the good “guys” currently in flux for blogging.  Find a real person behind the blog template HERE.
~ Jeniferever are re-releasing their debut album “Choose a Bright Morning”, so if you like ambient/post rock/shoegaze you will find this a must listen!

Jeniferever
“From Across the Sea” (mp3)
“Alvik” (mp3)
from “Choose a Bright Morning”
(Monotreme Records)

More On This Album

That it for now, enjoy your Thursday.

~Smansmith

So song of the day today is from Reverie Sound Revue’s newly released self titled album and the first track “An Anniversary Away”.

The track is a more atmospheric summer jam from the Canadian pseudo electro-shoegaze outfit.  It is a lush affair to say the least and begs to be immersed in.  I can’t describe it better than they do on the group’s MySpace page:

Reality blurs and you are floating in space. Drifting, you hear the vibration of a future daydream. This is Reverie Sound Revue.

Pick up an album over on iTunes or visit the online Boompa store!

Reverie Sound Revue
“An Anniversary Away” (mp3)
from “Reverie Sound Revue”
(Boompa Records)

More On This Album

~Smansmith

San Francisco’s Papercuts is sound tracking my start of vacation Saturday Morning.  You can’t start all crazy and sometimes it is nice to start with something that you haven’t heard much of.  I have been meaning to spin the Papercuts recent album “You Can Have What You Want” for a while now, so why not now?  There is a bit of 60′s psychedelia and brit pop, but not too much to simply classify as such.  You can get a bit of reference with the second track from the 2007 album which is still considerably “Hazy”, but is a bit for folky than the shoegazey of the newer release.  Definitely a nice listen for today, me thinks.  Listen along with me, why don’t you?  Bonus track from the previous album “Can’t Go Back” thrown in for good measure.

Papercuts
“Future Primitive” (mp3)
from “You Can Have What You Want”
(Gnomonsong)

More On This Album

Papercuts
“John Brown” (mp3)
from “Can’t Go Back”
(Gnomonsong) More On This Album

Visit Papercuts on MySpace, pick up an album on iTunes or on the Label page at Gnomonsong.

~Smansmith

Ever want to lie awake and stare off to the distance, but with purpose?  Well, take a listen and feel yourself catching yourself gazing off, losing yourself while at the same time being totally focused.

Ofeliadorme (or “Ophelia is Sleeping” translated from Italian) is part shoegaze, part ambient with a shake or two of dark ominous on top.  There are the haunting vocals of Francesca Bono that bring the mostly acoustic backing to life – you almost feel like looking at yourself from outside your body, but in a hypnotic slow motion.  To call it “moody” is insulting, to describe it as both spooky and beautiful is a start, but to find it delicate with an edge is where it makes a home.  Very nice.

Visit Ofeliadorme on their Website and/or MySpace – find yourself downloading the EP “Sometimes It’s Better to Wait” over on the Musicaoltranza Digital Label.

~Smansmith

When Joshua suggested I listen to his album, I thought to myself – “Oh great, another musician emailing to tell me I need to listen to his music!  Why do all these damn musicians…er, wait.  Joshua Barton?”

Okay, to be honest, I don’t mind getting emails recommending music – I am a music blogger, it is what I do (in my little bit of spare time).  I especially like getting recommendations from people that I know I already like – for example….Joshua Barton of “Fields of Industry” (see my post on FOI HERE).  So, long story short – I am listening.

This nine track release is clearly located amongst the folk tinged indie shoegazer aisle that I tend to frequent and it is a nice surprise.  You are getting a bit of lo-fi topped with folk sensibility and a bit of ambient texture throughout.  Very easily mashed together to make the paste that many Slowcoustic younglings need in order to become fringe folk enthusiasts.  There is a little bit of everything thrown in (background noise, Oboe, French speaking clips, echoing guitar effects, the ubiquitous instrumental and untitled track) and it can be distracting to the casual listener, but it lends to the eccentricities of the album.  Overall, I think (I know) I will listen again.

Take a listen to three tracks from the readily available album (download it over at Arts Vs. Entertainment) to get an idea of what could be a true indie lullaby “Ypsilanti is Seething” along with his traditional folk ditty of “You’re Just a Baby” and Barton’s sombre, Southern gothic version of “Farther Along” – my personal favourite on the album.  Wait, maybe “Ypsilanti is Seething” is my favourite track…

It might not just be the color (or colour as I know it…sorry, inside joke) of clouds, but more so the weightless feeling you get while transfixed by the movement of them.  If the movement could be translated, it just might be the ambient indie pop that is “Color of Clouds”.

The new Color of Clouds EP “The Look” is now out and available at your finest online merchants (as of May 11th).  The release includes 5 tracks to wake up beside, drive to work along side of, kick back with and maybe just to float away with.  The music is gorgeous and includes harmonies that combine the vocals of the enchanting Kellie Scarr along with her counterparts Daniel Chen and Nate Greenberg.  There are orchestral leanings, indie pop hooks and the soundscapes that will definitely bring them to many wanting ears.  They definitely have an electro feeling as well – it helps the aura oozing from the EP – soft, floating songs emanate all around you the moment you press play.  The tracks are all of the same vein, but all feel separate – like chapters of this mighty novella.

Listen to them now as you will most likely find yourself listening to them without even knowing it (you may have already heard them on “One Tree Hill” a few weeks back (Kristy, settle down now! – sorry another inside joke).  While the sound is definitely “listener friendly”, it is still fresh, young and ready to become your new Summer soundtrack.  Think of Imogen Heap and crew doing a great Feist impression – ahhh, now you are thinking…

Look for Cloud member Daniel Chen’s influence on the upcoming Nicole Atkins record which he assisted in writing a few tracks as well as the much anticipated Ivana XL new EP (or possibly full length album)!

Visit them on MySpace HERE.  Friends over at Knox Road posted previously on CoC as well – check it here.

Click on the EP cover below to pick up a copy of “The Look” at iTunes.

~Smansmith

p.s.  See it isn’t always broken down cowboys on this blog…

Check out the video for “Green Meadow Island” below:

Also check out the latest release from the “Spring Tides” album with the track “Lives Apart”.  The sound is once again a production of shoegaze paced beats with electronic tinged slowcore.  It is both mesmerizing and intoxicating.  You also feel a bit of presence with the album and this song, there is an aura of grandiose included in it.  I personally dig it, especially for the 1986 New Order bass line that hits just prior to the 5 minute mark!

Enjoy the night, this track and video are a great start if I had to say.

Visit the crew on a slew of sites (see what I did there?)

www.jeniferever.com

www.myspace.com/jeniferever

www.monotremerecords.com

www.myspace.com/monotremerecords

~Smansmith

There is still good in the world and this is a shining example of it.  The “Have A Good Night” Series has been around for a couple of years and is currently on it’s 4th compilation in support of Junior Solidarity.  With translation from the French site, I am not quite sure if the compilations are exclusive for charity or simply assisting in its promotion – anyone familiar, please post in the comments any info you may want to contribute.

If you are unfamiliar with Junior Solidarity (English version), it is the French based “charity” that launched an effort, using internet and multimedia, to break the isolation of children with cancer and who are hospitalized in sterile rooms across many hospitals.  The organization provides laptops which provide access to the outside world – keeping the essentially disconnected children, well, connected.  Those children who live separated from loved ones due to the necessity of “extreme hygiene” find themselves not only feeling scared due to their own circumstances, but must feel additional isolation due to often living in hospitals away from family and friends.

It can be painful to think of, but there is help from the music community in the form of the compilations where the artists offer up free contributions of music which is in turn bringing awareness to the cause.  In turn donations are provided to help Junior Solidarity bring a little bit more light through technology.  I discovered this project a while back and don’t know why I haven’t posted sooner.  Originally found via the music that in turn lead to the cause – you can find the music over on Blog up Musique.

Below are tracks from each of the 4 compilations (with Star/Moon actually being the second compilation), with the most recent release coming this past March with a tour being planned for September.

“Stay Golden” – Au Revoir Simone
“The Loveliest of Trees” – Dawn Landes

“Seaworthy Sleeper” – Johanna Kunin (Star)
“Sleeping Some” – This Is The Kit (Star)
“Werewolf” – Flowers From The Man Who Shot Your Cousin (Moon)
“Lullabye” – Grizzly Bear (Moon)

“Do The Right Thing” – My Broken Frame
“The Sea A Dream” – Liz Durrett

“Lullabye For Monkey” – La Corda
“Lily’s Knight” – My Lady’s House

So good music for a good cause – if you so choose, head over to Blog Up Musique and download all 4 compilations – massive amounts of great talent and a lot to discover (at least for me).  Go on, be one of the good guys.

~Smansmith

I am not going to tell you that I have been a fan for years and I am excited for the new release “Spring Tides” from this Swedish foursome, but in fact I now am excited having just started listening.  After a few spins to the lead off promo track, I think I am going to have to give this a bit more play and find me a copy of the album – you tell me if you feel the same way.

When I read that this album will be “As heartfelt and beautiful an album as you are likely to hear all year“, I think I started to consider the fact that I have to give this some listening.  Try the below and tell me you don’t hear yourself saying the below collection of descriptions in regards to the sounds created:

‘lush’, ‘melodic’, ‘swooping’, ‘glacial’, ‘beautiful’, ‘shimmering’, ‘sublime’, ‘electrifying’ and ‘atmospheric’…

Jeniferever
“Green Meadow Island” (mp3)
from “Spring Tides”
(Monotreme Records)

More On This Album

Sorry for the quick post, I know Jeniferever deserve more – and I will give it – just looking to try and get you folks listening prior to my site going down again!  Sorry for the last couple of days if you have not been able to get to the site or found it grotesquely slow – hopefully my host has it all figured out…

~Smansmith

Compilation of unreleased and previously vinyl only releases by The American Analog Set from the years 2000 through 2005. This collection of live set favorites and greatest hits that never were.

The American Analog Set
“Stoney Chariots” (mp3)
from “Hard to Find: Singles and Unreleased 2000-2005″
(Hometown Fantasy)

The American Analog Set
“Make It Take It” (mp3)
from “Hard to Find: Singles and Unreleased 2000-2005″
(Hometown Fantasy)

More On This Album

The bonus below is from the recently released “Magnolia” album from The Wooden Birds who happen to enjoy the presence of Andrew Kenny who formerly was behind The American Analog Set.  It all comes full circle, especially once listening to much AMANSET – I hear the same mellow indie dreamscapes oozing between both projects.

~Smansmith

Sorry I have been remiss on the “If You Haven’t Heard” series here on Slowcoustic, but we have someone that you need to hear…if you haven’t heard.  It’s corny I know, but sometimes it is simply a fact, The Vega Star is a band you will want to hear.

The Vega Star are a Wisconsin foursome that draws you into the swirling Indie rock shoegaze that is their new album “The Night” that was released in February of this year.  Their debut album is fittingly titled, though not to be confused with depressing dark corners, it is meant to revel in the dusk, that time of night that you lose focus and can drift away and get lost in something – in this case the beauty of “The Night”.  The current line up of Justin Rolbiecki | Jackson Messner | John Juchemich | Stephen DeLassus have created a great alt-folk rock album in “The Night”

To start off, their debut album “The Night” is comparable to a more band orientated Gravenhurst.  So anyone knowing the folk noir of Gravenhurst can enjoy a folk-Americana noir from The Vega Star.  I also don’t want anyone to get the impression this is your indie-pop shoegaze either, it is more your indie-rock version.  I dare say that the album isn’t entirely a trip down “Sad Bastard Lane”, but might actually be secretly hiding a bit of rock band in despair.  I wouldn’t be too surprised if the band is secretly lurking behind a veil of sombre song crafting that can effectively lead to a great stage performance.

I also must apologize for being a bit all over the map on this “review”, but the album can be an enigma at times.  There seems to be a common thread that I keep tugging at, one that keeps providing more to sink my teeth into.  There is modern day 60′s Psychedelia in “The Lullaby” that has the band doing a sombre march through dark times, while a track such as “The Cell” shows a bit of folk Americana wrapped in the “Stone and Steel” of a prison lament.  And there is more, 10 tracks more to be a bit more accurate.  You might also find additional stand outs including “The Collector” and “The Wicked” that continue down the path along some terrific gothic rock – this is a band that would close out your Austin evening in style, if you know what I mean.

If you think this might be a band you need to hear in full, click on the album cover below to pick up a copy of the album.

Recommended if you like the description from their MySpace page “… if Neil Young fronted Pink Floyd while covering Bowie’s ‘Space Oddity’.”  Well, it certainly paints the picture.

Visit The Vega Star on their Website and MySpace.

~Smansmith

The story is that the band recorded this album back a few years (okay, like 10 years ago) and ended up disbanding prior to actually releasing the album.  With it being on another continent and 10 years ago, I would never have heard of a band that broke up and didn’t actually release their album.  Well, with the amazing power of the music sharing network (you may know it as the internet) – I have now discovered this: 1 part shoegaze, 1 part indie and 1 part chamber pop, band.

The two tracks I have are fitting for this lazy (snow infused) Sunday and are included below.   The first one is “The Icestorm” and is an acoustic ambient song with a bit of a rock oriented cello section.  Following that up is “Mexico” which is where most Calgarians go during the winter months (again, fitting) and is another dreamy power pop lullabye with Nathan Korotkov’s baritone washing my dreary Sunday away.

Modicom
“The Icestorm” (mp3)
“Mexico” (mp3)
from “The Icestorm”
(Big Rig Records)

More On This Album

~Smansmith

p.s.  If you end up liking the tracks, unfortunately I am not even sure where to purchase a copy as the indicated label doesn’t even offer the album or have them as an artist…

It is true, I am delving into the fray (not the band, cuz that’s weird) and putting out a Sunday Mixlist.  It is almost a blogger tradition to put out playlists/mixtapes/themed musical collections.  I tend to try and theme some (see ladies night/men’s night), but sometimes I find it a bit of a chore to “theme” a list – then you get music that you might not have ever put on a list together, but because the title matches some theme – it all of a sudden is good enough to post?  But maybe that is the idea behind it, putting songs out with a common thread, if only for an idea or word.  Regardless – the “Various” theme gets mucho play around my place, for good reason – put songs together that you want to listen to or are trying out, not because the band name includes an animal…wait, that list might be an option…wait, it would be way too long in the indie world!

~~

“Coming To Terms With Gravity“ – Southeast Engine
This indie rock group slows it down for the title track to their 2005 album.  New album “From The Forest To The Sea” just released in February.

“Bubble“ – The O’Darling
Gorgeous Orchestral Slowcore Pop from this Toronto Band, nuff said.

“The Daredevil Christopher Wright“ – The Daredevil Christoper Wright
New album, ‘In Deference to a Broken Back’ coming out in May 19th – This one has a bit for everyone, folk, sing along, indie rock and singer songwriter – the waters of Wisconsin are deep my friends.

“Leaves & Lay” – Slow Down Molasses
Another winner from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan!  Currently on tour from Central Canada, then moving Easterly, check them out if you can.

“Harmless Lover’s Discourse“ – Odawas
Shoegaze from this ex-Indiana duo.  New album “The Blue Depths” just out on Jagjaguwar.

“Leaves Are Burning“ – Danny Schmidt
Nice bit of hometown singer songwriter from Austin, Texas (I am sure he is about to be overrun shortly – but this guy is Austin Texas!).  Enjoy a track from his 2007 album “Little Grey Sheep”.  His new album “Instead the Forest Rose To Sing” is also just out in time for SXSW.

“Breakdown“ – Wentworth Kersey
Very new to me, introduced by Olivier over on You Crazy Dreamers Blog. Described as a “Sci-fi Folk” artist, you get hazy folk, with long ago keyboards on this lead off track from his new album.  Of note, his nephew Joe Kersey Sampson is a favourite as well – keep an eye out for more tributes to Wentworth coming soon.

“The Poison (By Pedro the Lion)“ – The Sarcastic Dharma Society
What is a Sunday playlist without a cover track?  Well here we go with SDS and his cover of PtL’s “The Poison” – while his album “Other People’s Songs (Volume One)” is a complimentary download, this track is one of the best.

“Arriving” – Wand (James Jackson Toth formerly of “Wooden Wand”)
May 26th will see Mr. Toth’s release of “Hard Knox or ‘Are You Sure Hank Jr Done It This Way?’” which is a collection of demos and home recordings.  Just lo-fi enough to be right up my alley.

~Smansmith

Upcoming on April 21st, 2009 – Badman Recording Company is releasing the next album from Weinland called “Breaks In The Sun”.  If you are familiar with Weinland, you will know it will be an album of rich textrure and at times ethereal acoustic melodies.  Believe me, it is that good.  If by chance you find that all your taste is not just in your mouth, you will have the urge to pick up the album upon release.

Band Synopsis:

Beginning as a bedroom recording project in 2001 under the name John Weinland, the band turned into a full-fledged act in 2005 and as a natural evolution, dropped the name John to simply be referred to as WEINLAND. This music bears the heart of Neil Young, the thoughtfulness of Nick Drake and the beautiful sorrow of Elliott Smith. Weinland’s music stems from a myriad of experiences and by employing an arsenal of musicians to include Aaron “Rantz” Pomerantz (dobro, mandolin, bells, pedal steel, accordion, lap steel, etc), Rory Brown (bass), Ian Lyles (drums, banjo) and Paul Christensen (piano, keyboards) they assist in creating the signature lush and haunting WEINLAND sound.

While the previous album “La Lamentor” was very much acclaimed, the new album at times slips into a more empty location, it seems even more atmospheric while still retaining a “band” sound.  What I mean is that you can still tell this is not one guy sitting and recording (not always a bad thing) – but you have the depth of musicians creating and growing a sound.  There is more indie-folk songs like “Hardly Worth Saving” to the stellar “Sunken Eyes” and its somber cadence.  Not unlike moving from a solo artist to a band, Weinland may just be growing into a sound that this Portland act is most comfortable with.

Enjoy a track from the upcoming album (its a killer) with some previous works from “La Lamentor” below.

“Sunken Eyes” – Weinland – from 2009′s “Breaks In The Sun”

Weinland

“God Here I Come” (mp3)
“Sick As a Gun” (mp3)
“The Devil In Me” (mp3)
from “La Lamentor”
(Badman Recording Co)

More On This Album

Bonus Vimeo performance:

Devil In Me from Kevin Johnston on Vimeo.

Visit Weinland on their Website, MySpace Page and Label Page.

~Smansmith

Montreal Quebec’s ambient power trio Torngat create majestic instrumental music that is at times as breathtaking as the glorious Quebec mountain range from whom they take their name. Torngat return with “La petite Nicole”, the follow up to the critically acclaimed 2007 effort, “You Could Be”. This time around the band is sporting a grittier, propulsive sounding record that more closely resembles the bands live sound.

New album for my Easterly friends has just hit the online and CD/Vinyl market on March 3rd over on Alien8 Records.  The new album is “La Petit Nicole” and is described as below:

“La petite Nicole” offers forays into dub-heavy elements of post rock as well hints of kraut rock and the occasional miniature freak-outs. Aside from these flirtations in new directions, the same sound that has made them popular in Canada and festival stages remains. One gets the feeling that the band is creating music for yet-to-be-made films; while cinematic references may be considered standard when describing instrumental music, Torngat’s creations are particularly evocative of the medium.

I also know I say this a lot, but damn it people, listen with headphones with this band, it is well worth it to get all the layers out of it.  Torngat make beautiful music that, like mentioned above, might be looking for you to give it vision.  Not saying that the sound lacks focus, I just think that there is soo many ways to hear their music.  Soo many ways to decide that they made it just for you and your headphones.

Torngat
“La Petite Nicole” (mp3)
from “La Petite Nicole”
(Alien8 Recordings)

More On This Album

Visit this trio from “La Belle Province” on MySpace or check them on their Website.

~Bonus~

Torngat
“Celebrating New” (mp3)
from “You Could Be”
(Alien8 Recordings)

More On This Album

~Smansmith

]]> http://slowcoustic.com/2009/03/05/post-rock-instrumental-evening-montreals-torngat-is-invited/feed/ 0 http://slowcoustic.com/2009/02/18/only-great-band-names-need-apply/ http://slowcoustic.com/2009/02/18/only-great-band-names-need-apply/#comments Wed, 18 Feb 2009 15:25:33 +0000 slowcoustic http://slowcoustic.com/?p=1459

Standing out in a crowd, to get noticed, sticking out in the “sea of same”.  These days you need a bit of luck or cunning to get noticed.  Interesting band names is one way.  It is one way, but it can be a slippery slope when deciding to label yourself and your music with something that might have nothing to do with the general populace or possibly even your target market.

That being said, often you find a band because of the band name and realize that they are in fact pretty good.  Whether a unique name is created on purpose or if the name itself has purpose – it can work.  For some, it is simply novelty and for some it is a foot in the door.  I have included two bands below that caught my eye due to their band name alone.  I actually listened and it worked out…they are both a good listen and unique sounding, not unlike the reason why I found them in the first place – an interesting band name.

Drunken Barn Dance (or Scott Sellwood) is a combination of freak folk, indie singer songwriter and barn burning hoe down (no pun intended) – eclectic to say the least and definitely worth a listen.  You have both up and down tempo with “Seagulls” (down tempo) and “The Last Desperate Stand…” (up tempo).  A lo-fi winner, and now that I listen more and more, the name may actually be a description of the sound itself.

Drunken Barn Dance

“Seagulls (No Fantasies) (Fading Bones)” (mp3)
“The Last Desperate Stand of the Last Fair Man” (mp3)
from “Drunken Barn Dance”
(Quite Scientific Records)

More On This Album

~~

More Animals Of The Arctic is more shoegazey and a bit epic in sound.  You get a fuller, complete atmosphere with MAOTA – great use of piano, layering sounds – think Sigur Rós if they were English and made music that didn’t require Icelandic rocks and petrified wood to create.  A post rock slowcore experience, but with harmonica!

More Animals Of The Arctic

“John The Baptist” (mp3)
“Peacock Dream” (mp3)
from “An Appendix Of Whaling Terms”
(Standard Recording Company)

More On This Album

~Smansmith

In true form, I give you the slowcore version of this “not quite what it is supposed to be” holiday.  Well holiday might be a strong word, but none the less, it is Valentines day.  I give you love in 1/4 speed…Small Town Boredom.

Hailing from Paisley, Scotland, Small Town Boredom record lo-fi lullabies that draw on the internal lament of what was and what could have been. The unique introspective ambience of their debut LP ‘Autumn Might Have Hope’ sets sparse arrangements of Spanish guitar, bass, mandolin, harmonium, violin, piano and slow motion drums against heavy-hearted hushed vocals and buried field recordings.

I recently found myself in possession of the group’s third release and it is uber mellow, not for everyone and not for non-stop listening (unless you are me).  The purposeful slow motion can get to some, but it is truly a beautiful album.  Sometimes you just find beauty in the places most others don’t look.  More should be looking to STB.

Visit Small Town Boredom on MySpace, their Label Page for a bit more info.

Toronto singer-songwriter Barzin can be summed up quickly.  Not because there isn’t much there or because he is one dimensional.  It is because sometimes the musical persona is a persona in itself.  Quoted from Barzin’s own site the music is “Slow and melancholic, introspective and confessional”. This easily and quickly encompasses the beautiful and atmospheric music from Barzin. All of a sudden it seems like Slowcoustic HQ just found it’s new poster band…

Barzin, is in fact the name of guy pictured above (actually Barzin Hosseini), but it is also the name of the “project” itself.  While there has been a bit of a revolving cast of participants in this project, there are 3 recurring characters circling Barzin at the core – Mike Findlay, Suzanne Hancock, and Tony Dekker (of Great Lake Swimmers fame).  This quartet and colleagues have created a few albums to date and we are expecting another release just next week.  The new album due out on Feb. 16th is entitled “Notes To An Absent Lover” and from what I can tell is a mix of old stuff and new stuff combined for the release.  In fact, one of the few tracks included below actually does double duty in appearing on a previous EP and has been updated and rerecorded for next week’s release.  The new album has the Barzin feel with its trademark minimalism and hushed vocals, but there is a bit more added to it; in the introduction of some up-tempo orchestral elements.  Overall, it follows the same path that Hosseini and crew have lead us on previously, and this is the reason it is a great album.  I for one am enjoying it immensely.

Enjoy some previous Barzin to get you in the mood, with the track “Queen Jane” being the track that has been released previously on the “Just More Drugs” EP and is included on the new album.  Also of note the track “The Dream Song” from the new album was previously on the Hinah release from a few years back, just updated and lengthened I believe (the hinah is currently sold out, so maybe that is a good thing it is included on the new album!).

Barzin
“Let’s Go Driving” (mp3)
“Just More Drugs” (mp3)
from “My Life In Rooms”
(Weewerk)

More On This Album

“Queen Jane” (mp3)
from “Just More Drugs”
(Monotreme Records)

More On This Album

“Pale Blue Eyes” (mp3)
“Past All Concerns” (mp3)
from “Barzin”
(Monotreme Records)

More On This Album

Visit Barzin on his/their Website, Label Site and MySpace.  Be on the lookout for tour dates in Europe starting in March, then it is back to Canada for April – but seems to unfortunately be only in the Eastern half of the country.  I guess the cowboys here in Calgary won’t get a chance to catch the pedal steel in “When it All Falls Apart”…

~Smansmith

]]> http://slowcoustic.com/2009/02/11/just-more-barzin/feed/ 0 4:36 Toronto singer-songwriter Barzin can be summed up quickly.  Not because there isn't much there or because he is one dimensional.  It is because sometimes the ... Toronto singer-songwriter Barzin can be summed up quickly.  Not because there isn't much there or because he is one dimensional.  It is because sometimes the musical persona is a persona in itself.  Quoted from Barzin's own site the music is "Slow and melancholic, introspective and confessional". This easily and quickly encompasses the beautiful and atmospheric music from Barzin. All of a sudden it seems like Slowcoustic HQ just found it's new poster band... Barzin, is in fact the name of guy pictured above (actually Barzin Hosseini), but it is also the name of the "project" itself.  While there has been a bit of a revolving cast of participants in this project, there are 3 recurring characters circling Barzin at the core - Mike Findlay, Suzanne Hancock, and Tony Dekker (of Great Lake Swimmers fame).  This quartet and colleagues have created a few albums to date and we are expecting another release just next week.  The new album due out on Feb. 16th is entitled "Notes To An Absent Lover" and from what I can tell is a mix of old stuff and new stuff combined for the release.  In fact, one of the few tracks included below actually does double duty in appearing on a previous EP and has been updated and rerecorded for next week's release.  The new album has the Barzin feel with its trademark minimalism and hushed vocals, but there is a bit more added to it; in the introduction of some up-tempo orchestral elements.  Overall, it follows the same path that Hosseini and crew have lead us on previously, and this is the reason it is a great album.  I for one am enjoying it immensely. Enjoy some previous Barzin to get you in the mood, with the track "Queen Jane" being the track that has been released previously on the "Just More Drugs" EP and is included on the new album.  Also of note the track "The Dream Song" from the new album was previously on the Hinah release from a few years back, just updated and lengthened I believe (the hinah is currently sold out, so maybe that is a good thing it is included on the new album!). Barzin "Let's Go Driving" (mp3) "Just More Drugs" (mp3) from "My Life In Rooms" (Weewerk) More On This Album "Queen Jane" (mp3) from "Just More Drugs" (Monotreme Records) More On This Album "Pale Blue Eyes" (mp3) "Past All Concerns" (mp3) from "Barzin" (Monotreme Records) More On This Album Visit Barzin on his/their Website, Label Site and MySpace.  Be on the lookout for tour dates in Europe starting in March, then it is back to Canada for April - but seems to unfortunately be only in the Eastern half of the country.  I guess the cowboys here in Calgary won't get a chance to catch the pedal steel in "When it All Falls Apart"... ~Smansmith Ambient, Canadian, Down-Tempo, indie, New Album, Post Rock, Shoegaze, Singer Songwriter no no http://slowcoustic.com/2009/02/04/suturee-suturee-2008/ http://slowcoustic.com/2009/02/04/suturee-suturee-2008/#comments Wed, 04 Feb 2009 15:26:33 +0000 slowcoustic http://slowcoustic.com/?p=1088

Welcome the slow portion of the day….funny guy, I know.  Well regardless, its true, this is some great shoegaze/ambient-esque music to ease you into the rest of your day.  Sometimes you need to take a breathe, and really breather – let Suturee’s self titled album be your muse.

Suturee [soo-cher-ee] = someone who has been sutured.  I am not sure if there is a story behind the name, but I am sure there is.  I not sure if they have had the time to experience a story worthy of the band name as the band’s history seems short and fairly straight forward:

Suturee formed in August, 2007 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The band members are Julian Brau (Guasp, The Deep Sea Ensemble, Thee Locked Room) and Rebecca Adorno (Lalia, Parasolar). Julian and Rebecca met randomly through mutual friends and began writing and recording together right away. The 9 track self-titled album was completed in March, 2008. In August 2008 Julian and Rebecca relocated to New York City…

I think the future is something that might hold a lot for this duo…a move to a new country (and New York none the less) can only mean a progression in what Suturee might become, I for one am looking forward to it.

Enjoy a couple of my favourites from the album – “To Depart” and “The Presence” – you can also check out an acoustic performance of both here (just make sure you brush up on your Spanish).

~Smansmith

Some tracks that have caught my ear over the last bit.  I don’t think that they necessarily are all that connected – hell, some of these bands might even have absolutely nothing in common at all.  Well, nothing in common other than some Canadian dude putting them on his blog and calling it a “Mixlist”.  But that is the point of a mixed list, now isn’t it?

• Arrows

“She Wore A Cabernet Smile” (mp3)
from “Modern Art & Politics”
(Hobbledehoy Record Co)

More On This Album

• The Apples in Stereo

“Go” (mp3)
from “The Discovery of a World Inside the Moone”
(The Apples in stereo)

More On This Album

• Matt & Kim

“No More Long Years” (mp3)
from “Self Titled”
(iheartcomix)

More On This Album

• Blackout Beach

“Cloud of Evil” (mp3)
from “Skin of Evil”
(Soft Abuse)

More On This Album

• Slaraffenland

“Show Me the Way” (mp3)
from “Private Cinema”
(Rumraket)

More On This Album

• The Coast

“The Lines Are Cut” (mp3)
from “The Coast”
(Aporia Records)

More On This Album

• Deer Tick

“Long Time” (mp3)
from “War Elephant”
(Partisan Records)

More On This Album

• Mean Sea Level

“Nothing Less” (mp3)
from “Mean Sea Level”
(Cardboard Sangria Records)

More On This Album

~~

Go on and consume, you know you want to.

~Smansmith

I also am doing a post to bring it all back to slow and acoustic (well more slow than acoustic).  I might have been forgetting myself with all this up tempo stuff I have been posting on lately, so let’s pump the brakes and just mellow the ‘F’ out.

I am providing and possibly introducing you all to music at 1/4 speed.  This is Pear.  Two guys from Belgium.  They sound like this:

While the music is ambient, often acoustic, some piano/keyboard – it is a drifting sound, meant for long travels via rail.  This is, as one certain music blogger described it, “sad bastard music”.  While the description doesn’t seem like a positive one, it is not entirely inaccurate just the same.

Two tracks included below span over 3 years, but could be pieces in the same puzzle that is Pear.  Each piece bringing the sound of their music into focus.  While “Leaf Tea” takes you on a instrumental journey, you don’t get the sense of a song that is missing anything, especially lyrics.  The newer track is “Garden at Dusk” and it is EXACTLY what you might describe both this song and the aural image of a garden just as darkness falls.

Visit Pear on MySpace and Last.fm for more ethereal lamenting.

~Smansmith

p.s.  This is another Last.fm discovery for me, and do not, I repeat, do not miss tomorrow as we will be having another Last.fm release that you will not want to miss.  We also have a return guest blogger…intrigued yet?

I have previously posted on husband&wife (yes, there is no space in the band name – it is like its one word) and I have been advised that today (Jan. 29th) there will be an appearance from h&w on the indie hit-maker Daytrotter.  This is exciting, I think the new album (due on Feb. 24th – mark your calendar) entitled “Dark Dark Woods” is going to be a must have.

You get 11 tracks of mellow indie soundscape.  I say soundscape as there is an aura created on the album that flows through most, if not all of the songs.  I am one to not use flash and diversion in my music listening.  I enjoy my jams to be straight forward, honest and the type of music that creates an atmosphere.  You have it in spades with their newest album.  I know I compared h&w to Death Cab for Cutie in the aforementioned post and I think it can hold up, if you think of Transatlanticism-era Death Cab.  More so the title track from the DCFC album created this melancholic and immense sound – both introspective and all encompassing.  I find this the thread that joins the two for me.

Stand out tracks from the album are “Comp Jam”, “England Lives” (personal favourite), “Thanks For Understanding” and “Haven’t Got A Friend”.  As with most albums, there are moments where my vision strays from the album – songs like “I Got Fat” create a more “Indie-pop” feel with use of horns and a snappy(er) bass line.  They then follow that up with some almost alt-rock leanings on “Red Cross Fever” and it works!   Overall, this is a solid album and comes recommended from yours truly.  Whether you are pining for the new girl/guy in class, cleaning the apartment on the weekend, cruising around Friday night looking for a place to crash – this album has something that could back your every move.

My previous post included a couple of songs in video form and I include the last of the 3 Vimeo performances here for “Thanks For Understanding” – this is where I hear DCFC – check it below:

husband&wife – Thanks For Understanding from Crossroads Of America Records on Vimeo.

The above video is a live performance in the studio of Community Access Television Services Incorporation in which I posted two more on my previous post.  Enjoy a couple of tracks from the album below.

You can catch up with husband&wife on their Website, MySpace Page and their Label Site.

~Smansmith

Fields of Industry…kind of like “Captains of Industry” only like with a field, or something with a touch more hazy drug influenced backgrounds.

So, yeah.  What is going on here is some indie-psych soundtrack from Lansing Michigan entitled “Fields of Industry”.  I am fairly new to FoI and not necessarily up to date with my Michigan trivia other than references of “Motor City” and “Great Lakes” and that ilk.  I am not sure if I am projecting, but Fields of Industry could be an aura of tired factory worker going on a journey through some of the sparse wilderness of the upper peninsula.  So again, I don’t really know anything about Michigan.  I do know that they are surprisingly full of great indie talent and Fields of Industry are included among this pool.

Fields of Industry can be overly ambient, offensively lo-fi and even ridiculously full of psych-folk.  Stop right there, this is a good thing, as a matter of fact it can be a great thing.  We all know we are here at Slowcoustic and we should be expecting it, but it always brings warmth to my cockles when I find a new band such as this foursome (or five-some apparently).  Regardless if they have ranged from as few as 2 up to the apparent five-some, this is quality shoegaze fronted by vocalist Joshua Barton along with Eric Gallippo, Joel Schrauben, Jacob Walbridge, Allison Stanley (depending on the show…apparently).

FoI have a couple of releases starting with a self titled “Fields of Industry”, follow up “Dogs” and the newly released “Two Dogs, A Television”.  I have included a couple of favourites with this post starting with “Ramona Bopper” which could be a long lost Mark Kozelek track from their “Dogs” EP.  Also included is the live version of “Fiction Writer” from their latest release along with “Point of Contention”.  As a bonus, check out the video for Point of Contention from Vimeo below;

Fields of Industry – Point of Contention from Arts vs. Entertainment on Vimeo.

Visit Fields of Industry on MySpace, Arts vs Entertainment (see the “releases” for many downloads) and pick up a copy of “Two Dogs, A Television” over at eMusic & iTunes.

~Smansmith

Some Monday listening for y’all today in the form of Joseph Murphy’s “Twin Cats“.  While Murphy is not new to creating and performing music, this is a bit of a new project for Murphy.  “Up North” as an album feels and listens like a transition to something new, a beginning of Twin Cats itself (both literally and figuratively).

From the opening line of “If This Were A Postcard”, it tells of the recent relocation of Murphy to Chicago (which for some, may just be “Up North“).  This real life relocation launched a new era of Murphy’s – changing the name for his musical identity to “Twin Cats” from previously unassuming “Aim”.  With this brought a bit of expansion in his sound to include more range of sound on his debut album as Twin Cats, almost as if Chicago breathed new life into him.  In “Up North” there is traditional singer songwriter, indie, garage, shoegaze and even a bit of post rock – this album definitely spans across the spectrum of where I feel indie music is heading (or has already become).

While I tend to lean towards the more traditional folk, you can find this in tracks like the incredible “False Advertising” and “The River”.  This is not all this album offers as mentioned earlier – don’t be afraid, as we get some guitar garage in the form of “I Was Wrong” then all the way to ambient with the title track “Up North”  and “A Night at the Optimist’s Club” which have soundscapes of some of the best post rock around.

As far as current Twin Cats information, the band has expanded to include Jake Acosta, Kyle Klipowicz, and Matt Fields.  The quartet are now creating/working on a new album as a band which is a new adventure for Murphy from his solo effort on “Up North”.   That solo effort actually came to life with the help of these new band mates – Jake gave creative input and Kyle mixed the album.  To round out the quartet, Matt Fields was a formerly in a band with Murphy a couple of years ago and is also a roommate!  In Murphy’s words, it was kind of a natural progression to have them join in the band.

Expect a few shows this fall and winter, and sometime after the new album is officially finished, do a long tour – as a band, which is something both Murphy and myself are looking forward to.  Remember Canada for the tour!

Enjoy a couple of tracks below – find yourself on the Twin Cats MySpace page, or Virb Page.  Also, please consider picking up a copy of “Up North” at the Orchid Collective site – make up a great price/donation, get a great album.

~Smansmith