Melkbelly announces tour dates with the Breeders and Bully.

MELKBELLY ANNOUNCE MORE TOUR DATES, INCLUDING SUPPORT FOR THE BREEDERS & BULLY, IN SUPPORT OF DEBUT ALBUM, NOTHING VALLEY, OUT OCTOBER 13TH ON CARPARK’S WAX NINE
(photo credit – Lenny Gilmore )

Chicago’s Melkbelly are set to release their debut full-length album, Nothing Valley, on Oct. 13th on Carpark Records’ imprint Wax Nine. Next week, the four-piece — Miranda Winters (vocals/guitar), brothers Bart (guitar) and Liam Winters (bass), and James Wetzel (drums) — hit the road for a run of pre-release shows supporting Protomartyr. Today, they are announcing more headline shows, plus support tours with The Breeders and Bully. All dates are below.

Emerging from Chicago’s DIY spaces, Melkbelly recorded Nothing Valley fresh off a west coast tour. The resulting debut album is organized noise and thoughtful freneticism. Throughout, they fuse dreamy vocal lines and cantankerous guitar racket as their songs clang and bang in stripped-down production that highlights the band’s sharp edges. Multi-faceted slabs of sound serve harmonious, immediate songs.

Watch Melkbelly’s “Middle Of” Video –
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NdLUXUsBoQY “Kid Kreative” Video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3mJoRmdYTo0Pre-order Nothing Valley:
Via Wax Nine – smarturl.it/nothingvalley_wax9
iTunes – smarturl.it/nothingvalley_itunes
Apple Music – smarturl.it/nothingvalley_appleMelkbelly Tour Dates:
(new shows in bold)
Wed. Sep 6 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Cattivo #
Thu. Sep. 7 – Baltimore, MD @ Metro Gallery #
Fri. Sep 8 – Raleigh, NC @ Hopscotch Festival
Sat. Sep. 9 – Asheville, NC @ Mothlight #
Sun. Sep. 10 – Cincinnati, OH @ Northside Yacht Club #
Fri. Oct. 13 – Chicago, IL @ The Hideout (Record Release Show)
Mon. Oct. 16 – Bloomington, IN @ Bishop Bar +
Tue. Oct. 17 – Columbus, OH @ Double Happiness
Wed. Oct. 18 – Washington DC @ Comet Ping Pong
Fri. Oct. 20 – Brooklyn, NY @ Alphaville
Tue. Oct 24 – Cleveland, OH @ Now That’s Class
Wed. Nov. 08 – Portland, OR @ Wonder Ballroom ^ — SOLD OUT
Thu. Nov. 09 – Seattle, WA @ Showbox ^
Sun. Nov. 12 – San Francisco, CA @ the Independent ^ — SOLD OUT
Mon. Nov. 13 – Los Angeles, CA @ El Rey Theater ^ — SOLD OUT
Tue. Nov. 14 – Phoenix, AZ @ LBX
Thu. Nov. 16 – Denver, CO @ Larimer Lounge
Fri. Feb. 16 – Norman, OK @ Opolis *
Sat. Feb. 17 – Santa Fe, NM @ Meow Wolf *
Sat. Feb. 24 – Eugene, OR @ Hi Fi Music Hall * 
Mon. Feb. 26 – Vancouver, BC @ Biltmore Cabaret *
Thu. March 1 – Spokane, WA @ The Bartlett *
Fri. March 2 – Boise, ID @ Neurolux *
Sat. March 3 – Salt Lake City @ Kilby Court *
Tue. March 6 – Kansas City @ The Record Bar *

# = with Protomartyr
+ = with Snail Mail
^ = with the Breeders
* = with Bully

Live: Depeche Mode and Warpaint – Toronto, ON – September 03, 2017

The calm before the storm at Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ontario.

Somehow multiple decades have gone by without me catching electro legends Depeche Mode live.  The dates finally worked out, and my wife and I were able to see them and shoegaze / post-punk newcomers Warpaint at Toronto’s Air Canada Centre.

Warpaint impressing a lot of us.

Warpaint played a good set of crisp post-punk with snappy bass lines and even snappier drumming (which would be a theme for the entire night).  I’d heard a lot of good things about them, and they didn’t disappoint.  I need to find more of their material.

Looking down the “Barrel of a Gun” with Depeche Mode.

Out came Depeche Mode to the Beatles’ “Revolution,” a major theme for their new album – Spirit.  They rolled into “Going Backwards,” “So Much Love,” and “Barrel of a Gun” (which included a snippet of Grand Master Flash’s “The Message,” which cracked me up).

“World In My Eyes”

The crowd (which filled the stadium, apart from the unsold / unused seats behind the stage, by the way) jumped to its feet when they broke into “World In My Eyes.”  It was a reminder of not only their electro prowess, but how much influence they’ve had on Trent Reznor.  An acoustic version of “Question of Lust,” sung by Martin Gore, was a crowd favorite, and the follow-up of “Home” was excellent.

Depeche Mode never letting us down.

“Where’s the Revolution?” – the first single off Spirit – was another standout and essentially the band’s rallying cry for fans old and new to stand up against The Man. “Everything Counts” is also staggeringly relevant for these times, even though it’s decades old by now.  It preceded “Stripped,” “Enjoy the Silence” (which  was almost entirely sung by the now-bonkers crowd), and “Never Let Me Down Again” – which was better live than I even hoped it would be (and drummer Christian Eigner was absolutely slaying his kit by this point).

“Somebody”

The encore started with “Somebody,” included a nice cover of David Bowie’s “Heroes,” and finished with big hits “I Feel You” and “Personal Jesus,” which had everyone raising their hands to “reach out and touch faith.”

“Personal Jesus”

It was long overdue, but very welcome.  My wife immediately listened to their new album as soon as we got back from the show.  She woke up the next day with Depeche Mode songs in their head, and I’ve had “Never Let Me Down Again” stuck in my brain for days.

Thanks for the fun, DM and Warpaint.

Keep your mind open.

 

Cosmo Midnight release fun new single – “Mind Off.”

Cosmo’s Midnight Share Video For New Single “Mind Off” (Feat. Kudu Blue)
Watch Here
One of Australia’s finest electronic exports, Cosmo’s Midnight (Patrick & Cosmo Liney), have revealed the accompanying film clip to their recent single, “Mind Off,” featuring Kudu Blue.Directed by Melbourne-based production company Late Nite Films (RÜFÜS, Dappled Cities, Gang of Youths), the film clip features Patrick and Cosmo as the main protagonists. Breaking into wealthy homes and stealing everything from precious artifacts to record players, the boys come to a halt before a mysterious painting. A woman emerges from the artwork, hypnotizing the duo in what ends up being a surreal twist of fate.

“Mind Off” follows acclaimed single “History” which was released earlier this year via Stereogum. “History” took the duo on their maiden tour of North America, playing to record crowds and selling out shows at both The Roxy in Los Angeles and Rough Trade in New York. Meanwhile in Australia, “History” is currently 2017’s #1 played song on triple j, with “Mind Off” close behind, making it the duo’s second consecutive track this year to reach “#1 Most Played” status on triple j.

After astonishing crowds with their exceptional Splendour In The Grass performance in July, Cosmo’s Midnight set off on their biggest international tour to date. The duo recently performed on stages across Asia and New Zealand, catching up with Billboard China and HypeBeast along the way. Patrick and Cosmo recently wrapped up their world tour, playing a run of six shows in select cities across North America.

Cosmo’s Midnight have been drip feeding their excellence all year. With two international tours, two of 2017’s biggest singles and now an imaginative new video, they’re about to make a triumphant return to their homeland.

Watch Cosmo’s Midnight’s “Mind Off” Video:
https://youtu.be/5LvO-K_0BNA
Cosmo’s Midnight Tour Dates:
Saturday, September 30 – Yours & Owls Festival, Wollongong, Australia
Saturday, September 30 – Sweaty Palms, Erina, Australia

Photo by Alex Johnstone

Kllo unveils North American fall tour dates.

Kllo Announce North American Headline Tour

Backwater Out October 20th On Ghostly International

Listen To Lead Singles:
“Virtue” – https://soundcloud.com/kllomusic/virtue
“Downfall” – https://soundcloud.com/kllomusic/01-downfall


Photo by Hayley Louise Brown

“’Virtue’ is a sterling new single… Ms. Kaul has an oozy, aspirated voice, and smears it tactfully atop Mr. Lam’s euphoric, quick-stepping production, which bridges fiery garage and joyous disco.” – The New York Times

“Once things get started on ‘Virtue’ it’s like a sonic boom. Heavy bass blasts find a home next to frantic dance beats and Kaul’s cooing, serene vocal delivery.” – Stereogum

“In its slow build and beauty, ‘Downfall’ feels like having ascended a ladder to a particularly gorgeous vantage point, and enjoying the journey on the way there, too.”
– Pitchfork

Kllo have announced their first ever North American headline tour this fall in support of their debut album, Backwater, coming out October 20th on Ghostly International. The tour marks Kllo’s first time performing material from Backwater live such as lead singles “Virtue” and “Downfall,” both of which have received early praise from The New York Times, Stereogum, Pitchfork and others.Kllo’s last North American dates were in Winter 2016 supporting RÜFÜS DU SOL with a pair of one-off headline shows including a packed house at Baby’s All Right in Brooklyn for their New York City debut. This time around they’ll headline multiple nights in NYC including brand new venue Elsewhere. A full list of dates is below.

Kllo – an electronic pop collaboration between Melbourne cousins Chloe Kaul and Simon Lam – waded in figurative backwater for much of 2016 amid an extensive world tour. These were exciting times; the duo’s Well Worn EP furthered the promise of 2014 EP Cusp, receiving millions of streams and landing Kllo on festival stages as well as Artists-to-Watch lists. Nonetheless, the stretch kept them far from home, isolated and vulnerable, treading through perpetual uncharted territory while yearning for the comforts of the familiar.

As a result, Kllo’s full-length debut depicts inner adjustment to outer change. Songs were written partially on the road and developed back at Lam’s bungalow, a haven that harbors creative spontaneity and catharsis.

“It’s the first time we hadn’t felt like kids anymore,” says Kaul. “We were really able to dive in deeper and bring out a lot more of us into the music.”

Kllo first emerged with a sound beyond their years; fully formed, fusing elements of R&B, UK garage, and 2-step. Well-versed students of artists like James Blake, Lauryn Hill, and The xx, the duo extend an amalgamation of established pop elements with modern sensibilities and wide-eyed sincerity. Backwaterarrives as a refined, coming-of-age account. The LP format finds Kllo with more room to breathe and sync their rhythms with emotions. Kaul’s smoky voice emanates with assurance and leisure. Lam’s production invents brooding, steely undercurrents hemmed with charming crescendos.

Kllo have officially come out the other end of the stilted estuary with twelve compositions cultivated to feel timeless and crafted, and equally current. The duo’s second release on Ghostly International — and their most realized work to date — Backwater celebrates the ephemeral and the enduring changes in emotion, the downfalls and the dissolves. It’s an album that parts course with its flow, and flourishes in a lowland.

Watch & Listen:
“Virtue” video – https://youtu.be/4vSVpoABRRU
“Virtue” audio – https://soundcloud.com/kllomusic/virtue
“Downfall” audio – https://soundcloud.com/kllomusic/01-downfall
Kllo Tour Dates (new dates in bold):
Oct. 18 – Chicago, IL @ Schubas (tickets)
Oct. 20 – Detroit, MI @ El Club (tickets)
Oct. 27 – Vancouver, BC @ Waldorf (tickets)
Oct. 28 – Seattle, WA @ VERA Project (tickets)
Nov. 1 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Resident (tickets)
Nov. 2 – San Francisco, CA @ Bottom of the Hill (tickets)
Nov. 4 – Brooklyn, NY @ Elsewhere (tickets)
Nov. 5 – New York, NY @ Berlin (tickets)
Nov. 12 – Madrid, ES @ Costello
Nov. 13 – San Sebastian, ES @ Dabadaba
Nov. 14 – Barcelona, ES @ Sidecar
Nov. 16 – Paris, FR @ Supersonic
Nov. 17 – Rotterdam, NL @ V11
Nov. 18 – Brussels, BE @ Les TransArdentes at Palais 12
Nov. 20 – Amsterdam, NL @ The Sugar Factory
Nov. 23 – London, UK @ XOYO
Nov. 24 – Bristol, UK @ The Louisiana
Nov. 25 – Manchester, UK @ The Soup Kitchen
Nov. 27 – Glasgow, UK @ Broadcast
Nov. 28 – Edinburgh, UK @ Sneaky Pete’s
Nov. 29 – Leeds, UK @ Headrow House
Nov. 30 – Nottingham, UK @ The Bodega
Dec. 3 – Berlin, DE @ Badehaus
Dec. 4 – Cologne, DE @ Yuca
Dec. 5 – Hamburg, DE @ Haekken
Dec. 8 – Sydney, AUS @ Oxford Arts Factory
Dec. 9 – Perth, AUS @ Jack Rabbit Slim’s
Dec. 14 – Brisbane, AUS @ Woolly Mammoth
Dec. 15 – Melbourne, AUS @ Corner Hotel
Dec. 16 – Adelaide, AUS @ Fat Controller

Backwater artwork

Punctual releases title single from debut EP -“Fading Youth”

Punctual Share Video For New Single “Fading Youth”
Watch Here

From Debut EP, Fading Youth, Out Now On RCA
Stream Here

On the heels of the release of their debut EP, Fading Youth, hotly tipped DJ / Producer duo Punctualpresent the official video for title track “Fading Youth.”
Watch Punctual’s “Fading Youth” Video:
https://youtu.be/Ox6sIH6hYzU
“Fading Youth” touches on more of a pop crossover with slick harmonies and soulful vocals while signature track “What I Love” is the kind of bubbly feel-good anthem described by Mixmag as “injecting a new lease of life into the summer banger.” “Mela” brings back the pace with an infectious sample over a driving 4/4 beat and final track “Real” perfectly rounds off what is an exceptional debut EP.

Drawing inspiration from garage to classical, and citing Floating Points, Todd Terje and Robert Glasper as influences, the pair have been immersed in their local music scene since meeting in Bristol at University. Punctual have harnessed these influences to create rich, textured and timely music for their generation.

The pair continue to grow from strength to strength having had radio support from the likes of Pete Tong, DJ Target and Elton John and having recently supported The Avalanches on tour as well as playing coveted slots at Glastonbury and Lovebox festival.

Watch Punctual’s “Fading Youth” Video:
https://youtu.be/Ox6sIH6hYzU

Listen To Fading Youth:
http://smarturl.it/FadingYouthEP

About Punctual:
Punctual are songwriter / producer / DJ duo Will Lansley and John Morgan, formerly based out of Bristol but now living in South London. Their debut single ‘Eva’ has received over 1.7 million plays on Spotify and gained radio support from the likes of Zane Lowe, BBC Radio 1’s Pete Tong,  Phil Taggart and Huw Stephens. The pair continue to grow from strength to strength with recent track ‘What I Love’ being described by Mixmag as “injecting a new lease of life into the summer banger” as well as support on the likes of Clash Music and remixes from sought-after producers KC Lights and Jarreau Vandal.

Punctual online:
https://www.facebook.com/wearepunctual/
https://twitter.com/wearepunctual
https://www.instagram.com/wearepunctual/
https://soundcloud.com/wearepunctual

Slow Magic’s “Mind” gets remixed by Tomggg.

Slow Magic Shares “Mind” Feat. Kate Boy (Tomggg Remix)
Listen Here

Float Out October 6th On Downtown/Interscope

World Tour Kicks Off This Month


Photo by Dream Angel
Today, Slow Magic shares the remix for “Mind” from his forthcoming album, Float, due out October 6th on Downtown/Interscope. “Mind” is the lead single from Float and originally features Kate Boymarking the first time Slow Magic has included vocals on a track.

The genesis for “Mind” began when Slow Magic and Kate Boy met a couple of years ago at a German festival that took place in an abandoned car factory. Slow Magic recalls, “I remember sneaking through the backstage area and onto the roof to watch their set. I had wanted to work with them ever since I heard their song ‘In Your Eyes.’”

Initial work on Float began during a trip to Iceland. Slow Magic cites the surreal change in light that far north as an inspiration. “The sun never really went away. It was eternal,” Slow Magic explains. “I wanted to approach this album in ways I never had before.” That meant recording live drums at a studio in Stockholm normally reserved for metal bands. This is where “Mind” and other instrumentals for Floatstarted to take shape.

“Most of the songs started very stripped down, just with piano and organic instruments. I let the songs write themselves without forcing them to go anywhere they didn’t naturally go.” To complete Float, Slow Magic enlisted not only Kate Boy and Tropics, who features on recent single “Light,” but other vocalists such as Peter Silberman (from The Antlers), Toulouse, and MNDR, opening up a new dimension in Slow Magic’s songwriting.

Slow Magic will tour the world for the rest of 2017 in support of Float headlining his biggest rooms yet. “I’m planning a lot of new things that I haven’t done before. There will be a completely revamped live show with a ton of new music. I’m hoping people that have been to my show and people that never have will all feel like they are experiencing something they never have imagined.” Tickets are available for purchase here.

Listen To Slow Magic’s “Mind” feat. Kate Boy (Tomggg Remix):
https://soundcloud.com/slowmagic/mind-tomggg-remix-feat-kate

Stream/Buy “Mind” feat. Kate Boy (Tomggg Remix):
http://smarturl.it/MindTomgggRMX

Listen To “Mind” feat. Kate Boy (Original):
https://soundcloud.com/slowmagic/mind-1

Listen To “Light” feat. Tropics:
https://soundcloud.com/slowmagic/light-feat-tropics

Slow Magic Tour Dates:
9/13 – Paris, France @ Batofar
9/14 – Milan, Italy @ Circolo Magnolia
9/15 – Rome, Italy @ Monk Club
9/19 – Amsterdam, Netherlands @ Sugar Factory
9/20 – Brussels, Belgium @ Beursschouwburg
9/21 – Liege, Belgium @ Reflektor
9/23 – London, UK @ Oslo
9/24 – Copenhagen, Denmark @ Lille Vega
9/27 – Stockholm, Sweden @ Debaser
9/28 – Berlin, Germany @ Gretchen
9/29 – Barcelona, Spain @ Razzmatazz
9/30 – Madrid, Spain @ Costello Club
10/25 – Austin, TX @ Empire Control Room
10/26 – Dallas, TX @ Trees
10/27 – Houston, TX @ White Oak Music Hall
10/28 – New Orleans, LA @ Varsity Theatre
10/29 – Atlanta, GA @ Masquerade (Hell Stage)
11/2 – Philadelphia, PA @ Trocadero
11/3 – Brooklyn, NY @ Elsewhere
11/4 – Washington, DC @ U Street Music Hall
11/5 – Boston, MA @ Royale
11/8 – Montreal, QC @ Theatre Fairmount
11/9 – Toronto, ON @ Horseshoe Tavern
11/10 – Detroit, MI @ The Magic Stick
11/11 – Grand Rapids, MI @ The Stache
11/12 – Minneapolis, MN @ Triple Rock Social Club
11/15 – Chicago, IL @ Bottom Lounge
11/16 – Kansas City, MO @ The Record Bar
11/17 – Englewood, CO @ Gothic Theatre
11/18 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Metro Music Hall
11/30 –Vancouver, BC @ Venue
12/1 – Seattle, WA @ The Showbox
12/2 – Portland, OR @ Wonder Ballroom
12/3 – Eugene, OR @ WOW Hall
12/6 – Arcata, CA @ Arcata Theatre
12/7 – San Francisco, CA @ Warfield Theatre
12/8 – San Diego, CA @ The Observatory North Park
12/9 – Santa Ana, CA @ The Observatory
12/10 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Novo

Float artwork

Yumi Zouma’s new single, “Persephone,” is a nice slice of electro-pop.

Yumi Zouma Share New Single “Persephone”
Listen Here

Willowbank Out October 6th On Cascine

Catch Them On Tour This Fall

Photo by Aaron Lee

Yumi Zouma are sharing “Persephone” from their forthcoming album, Willowbank, coming out October 6th on Cascine. It’s the latest single from the new album following previously released tracks “December” and “Depths Pt. I” and offers another reason why publications like NPR Music are calling Yumi Zouma “perfect pop.”
Listen To Yumi Zouma’s “Persephone”:
https://soundcloud.com/cascine/yumi-zouma-persephone
Limited edition Willowbank 12″s are pressed on baby blue vinyl and include sheet music for album highlight “Carnation” printed on premium cotton paper. Select limited edition LPs will also include hidden entry tickets to invite-only release parties in New York City and Los Angeles, featuring live and DJ sets from the band.

For the making of Willowbank, the members of Yumi Zouma settled on a plan to head home for the New Zealand summer. To complete what would become their first significant work written and recorded entirely in their home country, they rented a studio in Christchurch’s semi-demolished CBD, on one of the few remaining blocks that still characterizes the city from before it was destroyed by a series of earthquakes.

Guitarist, keyboard player and vocalist Josh Burgess says, “It was as though there was a brief pause in all of our lives and we finally felt like a band from New Zealand. We were on home turf and creating from a place that felt fundamentally natural.” That sensation was further underscored by Willowbank’s recording sessions falling over the cherished holiday season, during which the Yumis were surrounded by family. Burgess credits some of the small, often mundane Kiwi traditions of the time for influencing their mindset. “New Zealand has a distinct feel from Christmas to the end of January. Things shut down. It has a calming presence, it’s very peaceful.” That sense of holiday can be heard on lead single “December” where the melodies float and stir themselves into a series of swelling refrains that culminate in horns and handclaps.

When you know it’s there, the feeling of rootedness is undeniable on Willowbank. Being connected to their origins on the bottom of the earth allowed the band’s members, Charlie Ryder, Josh Burgess, Christie Simpson and Sam Perry to craft another essential chapter in the Yumi Zouma storybook.

Yumi Zouma Tour Dates:
Fri. Oct. 6 – London, UK @ Omeara
Sun. Oct. 8 – Brighton, UK @ The Joker
Mon. Oct. 9 – Paris, FR @ L’Espace B
Wed. Oct. 11 – Copenhagen, DK @ VEGA Musikkens Hus – Ideal Bar
Thu. Oct. 12 – Stockholm, SE @ Debaser
Sun. Oct. 15 – Amsterdam, NL @ Sugarfactory
Wed. Oct. 18 – Los Angeles, CA @ Bootleg Theater*
Thu. Oct. 19 – San Francisco, CA @ Rickshaw Stop*
Fri. Oct. 20 – Portland, OR @ Mississippi Studios*
Sat. Oct. 21 – Seattle, WA @ Barboza*
Mon. Oct. 23 – Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brenda’s  ^
Tue. Oct. 24 – Washington, DC @ U Street Music Hall ^
Wed. Oct. 25 – New York, NY @ Le Poisson Rouge ^
Thu. Oct. 26 – Boston, MA @ Lilypad ^
Fri. Oct. 27 – Montreal, QC @ Bar Le Ritz ^
Sat. Oct. 28 – Toronto, ON @ Smiling Buddha ^

*w/ Chad Valley
^ w/ She-Devils


Willowbank artwork

John Dwyer releases 20th album in 20 years with OCS’ “Memories of a Cut Off Head.”

OH SEES’ NEW ALBUM ORC OUT NOW; OH SEES ARE DEAD, LONG LIVE OCS

OCS ANNOUNCES MEMORY OF A CUT OFF HEAD, OUT 11/17 ON CASTLE FACE

LISTEN TO TITLE TRACK OFF 20TH ALBUM IN 20 YEARS

Just as you begin to get comfortable with something, the rug is pulled from under you. Last Friday, John Dwyer and his band Oh Sees released their newest record, the monolithic psych opus Orc. This release represents the 19th album under some amalgam of the name Oh Sees/Thee Oh Sees/The Oh Sees, OCS, etc. Wasting no time, John Dwyer presents the 20th album (in the 20th year of the band’s existence), Memory of a Cut Off Head (out 11/17 on Castle Face), returning to his roots as OCS.

It is easy to forget (especially amidst the ringing of ears and aching of muscles after your typical Oh Sees show) that initially, OCS was a rather hushed affair. After the minimalistic brutality of Coachwhips, OCS was a diametric opposite corner of John’s musical world, quiet to the point of whispered in the wind, buffeted by the airy whirr of singing saw, soft and strange. Those early records especially had a rather contraband hush about them, as if the party has gone on all night and continues into the morning but everyone’s raspy from talking too much and gradually agrees to whisper and pantomime as they watch the sun come up over the hills. Since then of course, things got gradually louder, faster, crazier…the band evolved since then into the Oh Sees everyone knows. For the 20th Oh Sees release, 100th Castle Face title, and 20th year doing it, John re-examines the quieter roots of it all in particularly baroque and homesteadly fashion. Memory of a Cut Off Head was co-written with longtime collaborator and vocal counterpoint Brigid Dawson, recorded in total in John’s own Stu Stu Studio, and it’s lush, sumptuous in texture, but satisfyingly retains the gentle grace of the early stuff. There’s beautifully executed strings throughout, courtesy of Heather Lockie’s fine arrangements, horn arrangements courtesy of Mikal Cronin, and they even brought back the old saw – Patrick Mullins, that is – on saw and electronics. A return and a refinement of old forms, a few solemn meditations on life lived at high velocity, perhaps a respite from it…a softer side of JPD and distinguished company. Listen to the title track below.
LISTEN TO “MEMORY OF A CUT OFF HEAD”
http://bit.ly/2wJQNUt

PRE-ORDER MEMORY OF A CUT OFF HEAD
http://bit.ly/2wiTwSM

MEMORY OF A CUT OFF HEAD TRACKLISTING
1. Memory of a Cut Off Head
2. Cannibal Planet
3. The Baron Sleeps and Dreams
4. The Remote Viewer
5. On & On Corridor
6. Neighbor To None
7. The Fool
8. The Chopping Block
9. Time Tuner
10. Lift A Finger

 

PRAISE FOR ORC

“With their latest full-length, and a minor name change, John Dwyer’s garage-punk band continues to travel further toward rock’s outer limits.” – Pitchfork (7.4/10)

“The record is an absolutely evil stunner from front to back, top to bottom, head to toes and everywhere in between, and whips up the same kind of radiant, strange awe that the band’s overdriven catalog has so generously perpetrated album after wicked album.” – Paste (9.5/1010)

“Many have tried to knock the crown from his head, but essentially most just need to come to the conclusion that they’re not even on the same mountain.” – Raven Sings The Blues

“Whatever their lineup happens to look like, Oh Sees are here to deliver surrealist vignettes of horror and revelation. Dwyer paints sprawling auditory cartoons of aliens, mythical creatures and dominions of the otherworldly here.” – Exclaim! (8/10)

OH SEES/OCS TOUR DATES
Thu. Aug. 31 – Los Angeles, CA @ Teragram Ballroom
Fri. Sept. 1 – Phoenix, AZ @ The Crescent Ballroom
Sat. Sept. 2 – Albuquerque, NM @ Sister Bar
Mon. Sept. 4 – Austin, TX @ Hotel Vegas Outside
Tue. Sept. 5 – New Orleans, LA @ One Eyed Jack’s
Wed. Sept. 6 – Atlanta, GA @ Variety Playhouse
Sept. 7 – Raleigh, NC @ Hopscotch Music Festival
Fri. Sept. 8 – Philadelphia, PA @ Trocadero Theater
Sa. Sept. 9 – Brooklyn, NY @ Warsaw
Sun. Sept. 10 – Brooklyn, NY @ Warsaw
Wed. Sept. 13 – Cambridge, MA @ The Sinclair
Thu. Sept. 14 – Montreal, QC @ La Tulipe I Le National
Fri. Sept. 15 – Toronto, ON @ Danforth Theater
Sat. Sept. 16 – Cleveland, OH @ Beachland Ballroom
Sun. Sept. 17 – Chicago, IL @ Thalia Hall
Tue. Sept. 19 – Milwaukee, WI @ Turner Hall
Fri. Sept. 22 – Missoula, MT @ Monk’s
Sat. Sept. 23 – Seattle, WA @ Neumo’s
Sun. Sept. 24 – Vancouver, BC @ Commodore Ballroom
Mon. Sept. 25 – Portland, OR @ Crystal Ballroom
Wed. Sept. 27 – San Francisco, CA @ Great American Music Hall
Thur. Sept. 28 – San Francisco, CA @ Great American Music Hall

Purchase Orc – https://www.midheaven.com/item/orc-by-oh-sees
Hi-res photos/album art: http://pitchperfectpr.com/thee-oh-sees/

Oh Sees Online:
http://www.theeohsees.com
https://www.castlefacerecords.com
https://www.castlefacerecords.com/collections/thee-oh-sees

Gary Wilson – Let’s Go to Outer Space

It’s a bit surprising that experimental psych-lounge musician Gary Wilson has taken so long to release an album entitled Let’s Go to Outer Space because I’m fairly certain Mr. Wilson is from Saturn or perhaps somewhere outside this solar system.

The album opens with “Back to Where I Belong” and Wilson boldly proclaiming that he met an alien at a bus stop in Johnson City and they then walked all the way to his hometown of Endicott in the rain.  Theremin rolls all around the track as Wilson tells her she’s the prettiest girl from outer space, meaning he’s met others (which shouldn’t surprise anyone).  She offers to take him back with her, but he stays.

“Gary Kissed a Mannequin” is self-explanatory as Wilson falls in love with a mannequin who looks like the girl next door and takes her out to talk to the trees and dance all night long.  It’s quite possible that his encounter with an alien beauty drove him mad.  “Lost in a Mystery” is a song with a familiar theme on Wilson’s records – loneliness.  The song’s peppy keyboards and jazz lounge beats (and more Theremin!) can’t conceal Wilson’s confusion about why his alien girl left (“I want to cry.  I don’t know just why.  You took my heart and ran away.  I’m gonna save my heartache for another day.”).

“Gary Feels Cool” has the never-ending optimism you also find on Wilson’s records.  He’s never completely out of the dating game, despite his many setbacks.  His keyboard solo emphasizes his confident swagger.  He’s just as cool when he dreams of a lovely lady in “You’re the Girl from a Magazine.”  He can’t name her or the magazine.  He just knows she’s pretty and famous for something.  It’s not a sleazy song either.  Wilson just wants to take this pretty girl for a nice walk.

Wilson admits his story is “insane” in “She’s the Girl from Mars,” but he’s so sincere (and his quirky synths are so fun) that you can’t help but believe him.  “Let’s Go on a Walk Tonight” is another plea from Wilson to his Martian girlfriend to stroll with him through Endicott and beyond.  It’s a toe-tapper that you can’t get out of your head for a while after hearing it.

The song’s beats and even the “la la la” chorus continues in “I’m Not Ashamed of You,” as Wilson’s keyboards sound more like a harpsichord.  Wilson has no fear of walking around with an alien, even as others around him are running away in terror.  He’s finally found love, and everyone should be envying him.

The honeymoon ends, however, when we get to “I Want to Cry.”  Everything had been going so well that Wilson even took his outer space lover to his high school reunion, but yet he still wants to weep.  Is it from joy or misery?  It can’t be from his sweet electric piano solo, that’s for sure.

“Let’s Go to Mars” is simple, yet catchy with Wilson singing another song about marrying his Martian girlfriend in front of his hometown pals and then driving her in his new car out of orbit.  He can’t find love on Earth, so will he find it on another planet?

Probably not, if “My Beautiful Wife Walked Away” is any indication.  Wilson has been dumped yet again.  “I don’t know just what do.  I just wanna be with you,” he sings.  Finding a lasting love is an eternal quest for Wilson, and things beyond his control or understanding always seem to screw it up for him.  On “My Pretty Little Space Girl,” Wilson laments the departure of his alien beauty who never plans to return.  “All things gotta come to an end,” Wilson tells us.  That includes his quest, by the way.  It might not have ended with a woman from another planet, but Wilson will find someone someday.

Keep your mind open.

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Public Enemy – Nothing Is Quick in the Desert

The cover to Public Enemy’s new record, Nothing Is Quick in the Desert, features outdated technology ranging from tube TVs and cassettes to an outdated computer and, yes, an iPod classic (like mine). Lit candles circle the items in homage to a time past, which includes some of PE’s classic albums, by the way. The words “Except death” line the bottom of the cover. The desert will reduce you over time, but it will kill you in an instant if you’re unprepared for it. It’s the same with time, and PE are using this record to warn us (again, as we can’t seem to listen) of growing lackadaisical in these tricky times.

The title track has a nice mix of heavy guitar and bass with chimes and piano as Chuck D proclaims “Everybody sellin’, but nobody buyin’” before rolling into “sPEak!” – a slick track encouraging us to use our voices and not let twenty-four hour news cycles and propaganda drown out our concerns (“Speak your mind. Speak. It’s time. Speak your piece. Be free.”).

Flavor Flav throws down a challenge at the beginning of “Yesterday Man” as he proclaims, “You don’t even know who the hell you are.” The song is about those of us who choose to live in (and are thus prisoners of) the past. Chuck D claims many of us want to be a spectacle instead of spectacular. We’d rather be momentarily famous than do something that matters.

“Beat Them All” brings in trance bass as the band sings, “If you can’t join ‘em, you know you gotta beat ‘em.” The song flows well into “Smash the Crowd.” Chuck D puts down some of his best flows on the track (tearing up rappers who’d rather get a quick buck instead of trying to change the world with their art) and I’m sure it’s smashes crowds and clubs live. “So Be It” has Chuck D proclaiming the virtues of “it,” but what is “it?” It’s whatever you believe in, according to him. Only Chuck D could use the word “it” so many times in one song and have it mean a hundred different things. Listen to this track if you’ve forgotten what a master MC sounds like.

“SOC MED Digital Heroin” is heavy on guest stars and warnings about getting “lost in the 1980’s” and becoming lazy thanks to having everything spoon fed to us. Flavor Flav shouts that he’s “shakin’ my damn head” at the proliferation of reality TV (of which, it should be noted, he was a star) and social media. “Terrorwrist” has wicked beats and bass by DJ Lord while Chuck D asks, “How can I make you understand?” – which he’s essentially been asking us since Public Enemy’s first album.

DJ Lord puts down more killer beats and cuts on “Toxic,” while Chuck D asks if MCs can change the world in “this time of 45.” He and Flavor Flav speak about how toxic talk and venomous news cycles have poisoned us. One of the cleverest tracks on the record is “Sells Like Teens Hear It.” It’s a slam on new styles of rap such as mumblecore and trap music. Chuck D likes some of it, but can’t understand why so many teenagers like songs that are essentially empty calories. It also has Flavor Flav’s best rapping on the record. It’s easy to forget that Flav can drop rhymes because he’s the greatest hype man of all time.

The album ends with “Rest in Beats (Parts 1 & 2).” Chuck D laments the losses of so many hip-hop and rap legends from Jam Master Jay to Lisa “Left Eye” Lopez. It moves onto the loss of record stores, excellent tours, exquisite rapping, rap teams, “the time when you really had to rhyme,” and having everyone together in one studio instead of e-mailing pieces of tracks back and forth. A lot of what made rap so good is a lost art by now.

Thankfully, we still have records like this.

Keep your mind open.

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