The life and works of avant-garde singer-songwriter, cellist and producer Arthur Russell, inspired many and remains influential even today, years after his passing in 1992. Having never heard of Russell until Nat Baldwin performed a cover of “A Little Lost”, at Monks this summer, I was surprised to find out (after much research) the breadth of his scope of influence on modern music. Plexifilm’s release of this documentary, directed by Matt Wolf, has been followed by much critical acclaim and honors. A Wild Combination was named Best Documentary at the Gaze Film Festival in Dublin and cited for Artistic Achievement at Outfest in Los Angeles. It officially opens on September 26, at IFC Center in New York and ICA in London. To the tide the rest of us over until its DVD release on November 4, Plexifilm has released this trailer:
The movie features interviews with his friends, family and others who have been inspired by his work including Jens Lekman. It is a fitting tribute to a man who in many ways was before his time and therefore under appreciated. Lekman along with Vera November, Taken by Trees and Joel Gibb are featured on Four Songs by Arthur Russell, a covers EP released in 2007.
For more information about this film, check out the movie’s web site. Also make sure to check out La Blogothèque’s great video of Jens Lekman performing “A Little Lost.”
I spent half an hour blasting Ride the Lightning yesterday while making dinner. That said, this is almost the most metal album I’ve listened to this week. Seriously. And this is Mount Eerie. Yes, that Mount Eerie. Led by sometimes Microphones frontman Phil Elvrum. Oh wait, he’s Phil Elverum now. Why the name change, or letter addition, rather? Well, some have speculated that the name references the Latin word for truth. Others have speculated the extra ‘E’ stands for “extra metal.” Whatever you believe, this is still the same stone cold badass from the Pacific northwest who basically does whatever the hell he wants. If Mr. Elverum wants to sing about music or recording equipment, he’ll do it. If Mr. Elverum wants to record his album in the woods using a microphone held together with twine, he’ll do it…and he may have problems.
Here Elverum gives us six songs pulled from his large and diverse back catalogue redone in a much harder fashion. Over the years, one thing that has been taken away from metal is rawness, and that is one that Black Wooden Ceiling Opening has in spades. With the help of Jason Anderson and Kjetil Jenssen, two names that should be quite familiar to you if you’re fond of normal Mount Eerie material, Elverum has created what feels like a new kind of music; something that’s aggression matches its whimsicality. All six songs represented here (“In Moonlight”, especially), have a unique organic quality to them that you would be hard pressed to find in either the indie scene of today nor the metal scene of the last ten years or so.
Some may deem the included live bootleg of this album unnecessary. When it comes down to material, I would have to agree (especially considering raw and natural the original recording is), but I’m inclined to believe that the inclusion this particular bootleg serves a more philosophical purpose. This album isn’t necessarily about the impact the songs, themselves, (after all, these songs are all rehashes of old material) but rather a means to an end. This bootleg is an experiment in sound. The wonderful packaging this album is wrapped inside of speaks volume about Elverum’s philosophical and artful feelings towards his work. After all, what would be the purpose of including a live-recording of the same six songs that already sound as if they were recorded live if not for the purpose of hearing the sounds through as many different mediums as possible. Or maybe Elverum just doesn’t really know what he’s doing. Whatever the case may be, this is a great listen.
The Present is the new music project of “legendary” New York musician and producer Rusty Santos. Rusty’s most notable work would be that of Panda Bear‘s Person Pitch and Animal Collective‘s Sung Tongs. Not a bad resume to have and as it seems he follows similar minimalist suit with the sounds of “World I See,” the debut introductory single. It’s in the vein of Animal Collective without a doubt and I’m interested to hear this Presentation in a full length format. The single is welcoming but it leaves much to be desired. How can you argue with Panda though:
“When I listen to the sounds and the songs the name and the webs of connections and opposites remain. I can hear light and dark high and low happy and sad synthetic and organic and on and on like that forever and that’s a compliment to the production and the technique I would say. Most of all I like how I feel when I listen to the music.” – Panda Bear
Chad VanGaalen has a new music video. “Molten Light” from his new upcoming Soft Airplane LP displays some disturbing, yet strikingly beautiful visuals, illustrated by VanGaalen himself. I have been fascinated with his previous efforts and thus far the new record is falling into line with the rest. Back when Silence Magazine was dishing out scores I’m pretty sure he got a 94/100 for Infiniheart.
VanGaalen has a unique style to his own. Known mostly for his homemade instruments and spacious melodies, he’s gotten the attention of many since joining Sub-Pop. I like to think of him as a musician that has seen a new demnsion. Not so much in a drug infused way but more of the, evolved spiritual way, in that, his new senses have awoken him to a new truth. That’s where I seem to go at least while on the “echo train.” Soft Airplane releases on September 9th.
The oddly named Cleveland duo mr. Gnome has announced new U.S. tour dates in September and October in support of its impressive genre-bending debut full-length, Deliver This Creature. See complete dates below. Fitting with its loftily heavy-beautiful music, the band has released an equally stunning and surreal music video for the song “Night of The Crickets.”
This video is incredible, and honestly it’s the first time I’ve come across mr. Gnome. I guess I missed all of their Pitchfork press. I am liking them a lot and hopefully I can make it to the Cavern in October. Oh screw it, I’m going to Austin.
Come out tonight to Monks, if you are remotely close to Abilene, TX. Three of Western Vinyl’s finest, Balmorhea, Bexar Bexar and Mom, will be gracing the stage tonight. Mom starts at 9pm.
Our good friends State Bird informed us the other day that their label (The Record Machine) would be posting their latest EP, 4 new Songs, for free download soon… and now they have:
“They [State Bird] recorded the songs live with a few overdubs before their appearance at a summer festival. Originally there was only 50 copies made but we all loved the songs so much we wanted everybody to get their hands on it. Feel free to download and pass around the ep. If you want to support the band please purchase their full length Mostly Ghostly.”
Don’t stop there, go ahead and purchase their latest full-length, Mostly Ghostly. That’s a Silence recommendation.
There is a certain voyeuristic feeling you get when listening to Fight Bite’s debut album. It’s a dream-like world we can tap in to, like flipping through a series of old, faded photographs. The sound is dense and compressed, littered with crackling drum machines, ghostly echoes, vintage organs and topped off with sweet, girl group-type backings.
Leanne Macomber’s urgent, mournful vocals are nicely wrapped around Jeff Louis’ grainy, saturated production. They paint us a picture of lost love and naive hope, like we’re looking through the eyes of a young girl primping for her prom circa 86 (or is it 56?). That is the strength of Emerald Eyes; while possessing an 80s soul, it pulls together a much broader tapestry to rise above just another pastiche.
This album owes some debt to such diverse sources as vintage 4AD and more recent acts like Beach House. It also recalls echoes of Phil Spector and most of all, Area, a little remembered band from the 80s that I used to have on repeat as a lovestruck teen.
It won’t resonate with us all, but this little gem should find it’s home in more than a few hearts.
We found out via Gorilla vs. Bear that Alan Palomo, ex-Ghosthustler frontman, is ready to announce the birth of his new project VEGA. We love this kid and we’re so glad he’s back from New York.
I heard he did a DJ set at Hailey’s in Denton, Tx recently but from what I know he’s headed to Austin to set up shop. We had him out at Monks last fall and I can’t tell you how much I think of this guy. If he wants to be he’ll be the biggest icon in electronic music from Texas (which I suppose isn’t saying enough).
VEGA’s first single will be released in 12″ format on new Austin/NYC label Vogue College Records. Check out this future hit and download the mp3 below:
Word of this came to me through the incredible My Old KentuckyBlog (thanks Dodge)! The Bowerbirds have a new video for their song “In Our Talons.” We too, are partial to the birds-men (and woman) as they came and played our humble venue Monks in Abilene, TX last March with Phosphorescent. We did take some video of that show so hopefully my lazy ass can get going on that footage for you all to see.
