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Shearwater Announces New Record "Animal Joy" Out 13 February 2012 On Sub Pop Records

2011-11-15T10:07:00.001-08:00

On 13 February, 2012 Shearwater will release their Sub Pop debut Animal Joy.  

Animal Joy was produced and recorded by Danny Reisch in Austin, Texas, and mixed by Peter Katis (The National, Interpol, Jonsi, Frightened Rabbit) in Bridgeport, Connecticut; sessions took place through most of 2011. The band will embark on a 13 date North American tour opening for Sharon Van Etten beginning on 2 February and will be heading to Europe in April.

The Rosie Taylor Project - new album in Feb 2012

2011-11-15T10:04:00.000-08:00

Twin Beds is the new album from The Rosie Taylor Project, which is due out on Odd Box Records in February. Harnessing the intensity of The National with the pop sensibility of Jens Lekman and the intelligent wordplay of Deathcab For Cutie, The Rosie Taylor Project have made a sophisticated record, full of heartfelt honesty and romance. Produced by Richard Formby (Wild Beasts, Herman Dune) and with a guest vocal appearance from Wild Beasts’ singer Tom Fleming, the band have honed their chamber pop sound to become the next in line of succession for widespread admiration.

http://therosietaylorproject.blogspot.com/
http://www.myspace.com/therosietaylorproject
http://oddboxrecords.com/index.php

Darren Hayman video for "I Taught You How To Dance"

2011-11-15T09:58:00.001-08:00

Darren Hayman - I Taught You How To Dance (Official Video) from Darren Hayman on Vimeo.

"I Taught You How To Dance" is a new four track ten inch EP featuring the standout track from Darren's latest album The Ship's Piano and covers of three other songs with 'Dance' in the title; 'Dance Away' by Roxy Music, 'I Don't Want to Dance' by Eddy Grant and 'Come Dancing' by the Kinks.

http://www.hefnet.com/

New video for Meg Baird's "The Finder" directed by Naomi Yang

2011-11-15T09:40:00.001-08:00

Meg Baird's "The Finder" from Naomi Yang on Vimeo.

Naomi Yang (Damon & Naomi, Galaxie 500) and Meg Baird team up for Naomi's gorgeously shot PSA on how to stay safe while enjoying the outdoors in an archetypal New England autumn. With thanks to Boston-based artist Andrew Witken for the settings.

The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department advises; “Hunters and other outdoor enthusiasts -- make blaze orange your fashion statement when you head afield this fall. Wearing a fluorescent orange hat, vest or jacket makes you highly visible in the woods.

"Wearing hunter orange has definitely been shown to decrease hunting incidents across the country," said Tom Flynn, Manager of the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department's Owl Brook Hunter Education Center in Holderness. "It is important for hunters, because the overwhelming majority of hunting-related incidents involve members of hunting parties"

The song is taken from Meg Baird's new album, Seasons On Earth, available in Europe on Wichita Recordings.

To see more of Naomi Yang's work please visit: http://www.vimeo.com/naomiyang
Listen to "The Finder" here:
http://soundcloud.com/wichita-recordings/meg-baird-the-finder

Other Links:
http://www.megbaird.com/
http://www.myspace.com/pennsylvaniawildlife

EU Tour dates:
Fri 25 November - Tampere, Finland - Telakka
Sat 26 November - Helskinki, Finland - Kuudes Linja
Mon 28 November - Edinburgh, UK - The Wee Red Bar
Tue 29 November - Glasgow, UK - Captain’s Rest
Wed 30 November - Liverpool, UK - Leaf
Thur 1 December - Coventry, UK - Taylor John’s House
Fri 2 December - Kirkbymoorside, UK - The Band Room
Sat 3 December - Hedben Bridge, UK - Trades Club
Sun 4 December - Bristol, UK - Cube Cinema
Mon 5 December - London, UK - Café Oto
Tue 6 December - Brighton, UK - The Basement

New video and 10" from The Pipettes "Boo Shuffle"

2011-11-15T09:21:00.000-08:00

The Pipettes are back with “Boo Shuffle” a super fun single (10"/download - out on Fortuna POP! on 14 November) resplendent with its own dance routine that zaps them right back to their polka-dotted girl group roots. One of the last songs to be produced by the legendary Martin Rushent (The Stranglers, Shirley Bassey, Altered Images, The Buzzcocks and, most famously, the Human League’s ‘Dare’) before his untimely death earlier this year, Boo Shuffle fizzes with energy and is sure to put the band right back in the hit parade where they belong.

Live dates:
21 December - London - Nambucca
14 December - Manchester - Sound Control

http://thepipettes.org/

New video from THEE SPIVS for Black and white memories

2011-11-15T09:17:00.000-08:00

Thee Spivs' tremendous follow-up to their critically acclaimed debut Taped Up is called Black and White Memories, and came out on 14 November on Damaged Goods. The new album still mixes up old school punk with rock'n'roll and injects it with a dash of glam, camp-fire sing-alongs and youthful zeal. They've made an excellent video for the title track "Black and White Memories" which features some old cine-footage taking us down memory lane mixed with some current footage of the band.

Darren Hayman - The Ship's Piano

2011-09-23T09:42:00.000-07:00

DARREN HAYMAN presents "The Ship's Piano" as a free download, the title track from his forthcoming full-length, solo album on Fortuna POP! (out 17 October). He also unveils the new video for the track, which is made up of images of different pianos over the ages submitted by fans.

Darren Hayman "The Ship's Piano"
VIDEO - http://www.vimeo.com/28706764
MP3 Download link here: http://www.fortunapop.com/free_download.php?id=32

More info here: www.hefnet.com
NEW PHOTOS HERE: http://www.hefnet.com/Publicity.htm

DATES:

Darren will be playing a few intimate piano concerts over the coming months, with two dates at the Albany in London and on 13 November at the Unitarian Church in Brighton. Full gig listings below (including the Vostok 5 show next week and the Fortuna POP! Anniversary at the Scala in November).

Tues 18 October - The Albany, London (intimate piano set)
http://www.wegottickets.com/event/135106
Weds 19 October - The Albany, London (intimate piano set)
http://www.wegottickets.com/event/135118
Thur 3 November - Scala, London (Fortuna POP! 15th Anniversary)
http://www.wegottickets.com/event/131297
Sun 13 November - Unitarian Church, Brighton (grand piano set)
http://www.wegottickets.com/event/132273

Best known as the singer-songwriter of the phenomenally successful and much-loved Hefner, Darren Hayman is now six albums into an increasingly idiosyncratic career path; writing the theme tune and staring in a Spanish Sitcom, playing a 30 people capacity show in a 100 year old paper mache observatory and playing possibly Britiain’s most remote festival on the Isle of Eigg. Darren is also writing the best tunes of his career; increasingly complex and mature songs. In the latest incarnation of the constantly morphing Secondary Modern he has gathered together a set of musicians with the chops to do justice to his increasingly complex and mature songs; a tight, tough, but soulful folk-rock orchestra reminiscent of a more urban Incredible String Band or an Anglicized Lambchop. Following his January Songs project Darren continues one of his busiest years with a brand new solo album of subtle, drifting piano ballads called The Ship’s Piano out in October.

“London's laureate of sexual dysfunction, discomfort, and dog-eared under-achievement... the match of Ray Davies, or any of the quintessentially English masters.” (The Guardian)

VIDEO FOR "I Know I F*ed Up" with Elizabeth Morris HERE http://www.vimeo.com/18643115

Elephant Stone to Release New Single

2011-09-23T09:22:00.001-07:00

Elephant Stone to Release New Single on 10 October

As a preview of their upcoming sophomore album (to be released spring 2012), Canada's Elephant Stone will be releasing a two-song digital single on 10 October. The lead-off track is the 12-string guitar symphony of "Love the Sinner, Hate the Sin" b/w the 8.5 minute psychedelic opus "The Sea of Your Mind". A free download is available at www.elephantstonemusic.com.

Elephant Stone is the brainchild of bassist/sitarist Rishi Dhir, a founding member of Montreal pop/psyche veterans the High Dials, and sitar player for basically every outlaw psyche band out there (Black Angels, The Earlies, Hopewell, Brian Jonestown Massacre, The Soundtrack of Our Lives).

In 2009, Elephant Stone released their debut album, The Seven Seas. Perfectly melding Rishi's obsession with the perfect pop song and the trippiest raga, The Seven Seas was warmly embraced by the global indie-scene and long listed for the coveted 2009 Polaris Music Prize in Canada. 2010 saw the release of The Glass Box EP, a 5-song suite of inspired power-pop/psyche classics, a supporting slot on the Brian Jonestown Massacre's North American tour, and an inaugural tour of Europe with sold-out dates in London and Berlin.

Elephant Stone are currently planning their biggest tour yet that will take them to California, Iceland and the UK.

Tour Dates

Oct 15: Reykjavik, Hresso (Iceland Airwaves - Canadian Blast Showcase - daytime)
Oct 15: Reykjavik, Tjarnarbio (Iceland Airwaves - evening showcase)
Oct 18: London, The Lexington (w/ the Koolaid Electric Company, the See See, and the Hall of Mirrors).
Oct 19: Brighton, Jam Brighton
Oct 20: Cardiff, Clwb Ifor Bach
Oct 21: Carlisle, The Brickyard
Oct 22: Edinburgh, The Bongo Club
Oct 23: Glasgow, 13th Note Cafe
Oct 25: Nottingham, Chameleon Arts Cafe
Oct 26: Liverpool, The Kazimier
Oct 27: York, Stereo
Oct 28: Manchester, Dulcimer

Free download of "Love the Sinner, Hate the Sin": www.elephantstonemusic.com
Hi res cover: http://www.box.net/shared/gpsf9v4y9854k1k7xyv6
Hi res band photos: http://www.elephantstonemusic.com/media/photos/
Soundcloud stream: http://snd.sc/rkJS7p

I'm So Unclean - Evans the Death

2011-09-23T09:22:00.000-07:00

Evans the Death
I’m So Unclean
Fortuna POP!
7” | EP | Download
6 September 2011

Following in the footsteps of The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart and Allo Darlin’, Evans The Death will be releasing their debut album via Fortuna POP! early next year. Before that though, they release their eagerly anticipated second single 'I’m So Unclean' on 6 September.

Following the release of their instantly acclaimed debut single ‘Threads’, and a series of celebrated live shows around the country, Evans the Death have been given extensive airtime on BBC Radio 1 and BBC 6Music, as well being made John Kennedy’s ‘Xposure Big One’ on XFM. ‘I’m So Unclean’ documents with dry humour and bathos the contraction of the world and its contours which characterises the experience of personal breakdown: ‘My dressing gown is my choice of apparel for this season/so I stare at the cat for a while/the minutes have changed into miles, and I’m too tired to walk…’ Breathless guitars, a devastating and thunderous bassline, and soaring unraveling vocals combine to hint at something akin to the Gun Club meets Prolapse meets Elastica but arriving somewhere else entirely; a hyper-smart searing pop single which can’t fail to ratchet up the excitement as to what the band will do next.

http://www.myspace.com/evansthedeath

Fortuna POP! Celebrates 15 Years this year!

2011-09-23T09:15:00.000-07:00

*Fortuna POP! presents*
FORTUNA POP! - FIFTEEN YEARS OF FUN

*Tues 1st Nov The Primitives + Bearsuit + Monnone Alone (ex-The Lucksmiths) + Special Guests*

*Wed 2nd Nov Crystal Stilts + Comet Gain + Shrag + Evans The Death*

*Thu 3rd Nov Allo Darlin' + Darren Hayman & The Secondary Modern + Tender Trap + The Ladybug Transistor*

While people gather around bonfires and swirl sparklers in the air, the first week of November this year will be remembered for something other than Guy Fawkes night. Birthdays usually mean presents but this year as Fortuna POP! celebrate their 15th Birthday, they’re giving us the gift of music. Again.

They’re going to celebrate with three nights in a row at the Scala in London on November 1st, 2nd and 3rd, four bands every night, doors at 6:30pm. The full line-up thus far includes: Crystal Stilts, Allo Darlin', The Primitives, Comet Gain, Darren Hayman & The Secondary Modern, Bearsuit, Shrag, The Ladybug Transistor, Tender Trap, Evans The Death and Mark Monnone from The Lucksmiths’ solo project Monnone Alone. More info on most of these artists can be found on the Fortuna POP! website: http://www.fortunapop.com/

There will be guest DJs and free aftershow parties at The Lexington every night too. Fifteen years of fun. Put it in yr pop diary.

Meg Baird - Seasons on Earth out September on Wichita

2011-09-23T09:05:00.000-07:00

Wichita Recordings are pleased to announce the new album from Meg Baird, best known for her stunning songwriting, guitarwork and vocal contributions to the US folk band Espers. Her second solo album Seasons on Earth will be released on 26 September. There are plans for some intimate live dates around the release date.

There’s a rare intimacy in Meg Baird’s music. She shares secrets, she breaks your heart, she tells you how to fix it. Her second album Seasons On Earth is a beautiful, moody masterpiece of understatement—part wanderer, part flower, part assassin—moving stealthily from light to shadow and back again.

http://www.megbaird.com/
http://www.myspace.com/pennsylvaniawildlife

Peggy Sue - Acrobats out on Wichita in September

2011-08-15T06:11:00.000-07:00

Peggy Sue will release their sophomore album, Acrobats, on Wichita Recordings on 12th September (and on Yep Roc Records in North America this October.)

Produced by John Parish (PJ Harvey, Sparklehorse, Giant Sand, Eels etc) in early 2011, the album finds the band moving away from the acoustic sounds of their first album to something heavier but just as subtle and beautiful. This new sound may surprise some fans - only one song on the album features acoustic guitar - but the dual vocals and tribal drums familiar from their debut are still present and more developed and breath-taking than ever before.

You can hear the first taste of this new direction, “Cut My Teeth” over at the band's website now or here: soundcloud.com/peggysueband/cut-my-teeth

Full details on the new album to follow but to celebrate its release the band will be throwing a party on the 12th September at the Lexington in London. Peggy Sue will headline the event and are very happy to announce that also appearing will be very special guest from Portland, Oregon, Laura Gibson.

Following this London show the band will head out to play a handful of UK shows (all details below.)

The band released their debut album Fossils and other Phantoms on Wichita Recordings in 2010. It won the band acclaim for its subtle but powerful song writing. The NME called them 'head-over-heels brilliant', The Guardian praised their 'thrilling' musicianship and awarded the album four stars. They toured tirelessly for the rest of 2010, playing runs around Europe with both Local Natives and The Archie Bronson Outfit and around North America with She Keeps Bees, a co-headline run with Sky Larkin and finally in support of Kate Nash.

2011 UK TOUR DATES:

Mon 12th September LONDON, LEXINGTON

Wed 14th September WINCHESTER, RAILWAY

Thu 15th September BRISTOL, LOUISIANA

Sat 17th September MANCHESTER, DEAF INSTITUTE

Sun 18th September LEEDS, BRUDENELL

Official site: www.peggywho.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/PeggySueBand
Twitter: twitter.com/peggysueband

Kathryn Calder solo album and End of the Road appearance

2011-08-15T06:07:00.000-07:00

Kathryn Calder is one of those artists who belies her age. She began her professional music career as a teenager, and by the time that most people are just stepping into their first independent record store, she had recorded 2 EPS and 4 CDs with the Victoria based Immaculate Machine (from whom she parted ways in 2008), and toured the world and recorded three albums as the newest member of The New Pornographers.

Recorded at her mother’s house in Victoria BC, ‘Are You My Mother?’ is one of 2011’s most innovative releases. It is a deeply personal record that was largely born through two years of Kathryn caring for her terminally ill mother. Yet the songs on “Are you my mother?’ are universal in their tone because the record relates to so many facets of all our lives. This is NOT a eulogy. Rather, it is a statement that life is a mixed bag, and that without losing things you would never know to cherish them. Yes there are songs of loss on ‘Are you my mother?’, yet there are also songs of love, friendship, and whimsy. It is a beguiling album, that - because of the wisdom and experience communicated by her voice - gives the illusion of being written by someone in the twilight of their years, while at the same time it expresses the excitement and wonder of a young woman who is just finding her own voice.

‘Are You My Mother,’ is one of the most exciting and honest debut records of 2011. You will hear a moment in time and all of the feelings that were contained in it. Kathryn Calder will be playing the End of the Road Festival on Sunday 4 September at the Tipi Tent Stage.

http://kathryncalder.ca/

Butcher Boy - new album and single on Damaged Goods

2011-08-15T06:03:00.000-07:00

HELPING HANDS (CD/LP) - 29 August
IMPERIAL (7"/digital single) - 22 August
Damaged Goods Records

Short video for title track "Helping Hands" here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0yxAOcYvWc

New Damaged Goods signings Butcher Boy release their third album Helping Hands, with this single "Imperial" out a week before on 7” (a limited edition of 500 copies) and digital. The Glasgow-based 7-piece have produced yet another momentous album, weaving rich storytelling and exquisite arrangements, allowing the strength of their songwriting to shine through.

Creating poetic, delightful indie-pop tinged folk, Helping Hands leans towards well crafted melodies and allows the music to convey the emotion rather than simply relying on John Blain Hunt's tenderly delivered off-kilter poetry. Drawing inspiration from their native Glasgow, the album follows the previous two records Profit in Your Poetry and React or Die as the completion of a trilogy of sorts. Where the first two focused on childhood and growing up, Helping Hands is more about moving out and moving onwards. Using a lush mélange of strings, guitars and piano arrangements, they have also incorporated electronica on this record, with Moog synthesizers lacing the cello on “Whistle And I’ll Come To You” and a classic Roland CR-78 drum machine introducing “Imperial”.

Beginning in its current form in 2005, Butcher Boy released Profit in Your Poetry in 2007 to a flurry of press activity, including a First Sight Feature in The Guardian and a 4/5 review in Uncut. Second release React Or Die (2009) made even more of an impact, The Times’ Peter Paphides intimating that the album was as important as any of those released by The Smiths or Belle and Sebastian in his 5/5 review. The album also received a 5/5 review from The Sunday Telegraph and scores of 9/10 from Drowned in Sound and 8/10 in the NME. The amount of critical acclaim garnered for their first two albums were surely heralding in a significant band for our time - but no-one was more shocked than the band themselves when React Or Die was voted one of The Times’ top 100 albums of the 2000s.

So how then, did a band declared one of the best in Britain, end up without a label? They had completed Helping Hands by late 2010 and suddenly found themselves without anyone to put it out. Their previous label How Does It Feel To Be Loved had moved away from releasing records to focus on club nights and events, so the band had to shop the record around. In a stroke of luck, they were picked up by the iconic Damaged Goods label (home to Billy Childish, Holly Golightly, Piney Gir).

PRESS QUOTES

“Like those of Tindersticks and The Chameleons, Hunt's intelligent, unshowy songs are often so intimate you feel privileged simply to be listening to them.” METRO

“Regret, giro-funded couplets, sensual ambiguity – it’s all here, resurrecting a great British genre” UNCUT

“studded with literate, finely etched pop moments that could easily fill Belle & Sebastian's collective shoes” Q

“unabashed west-end indie - romantic, delicate, literate and sweetly melodic”
THE SCOTSMAN

http://www.butcher-boy.co.uk/
http://damagedgoods.co.uk/band/?c=Butcher-Boy

Roberts and Lord "Eponymous" on Asthmatic Kitty

2011-08-15T05:59:00.000-07:00

Remember MySpace? Rafter Roberts and Simon Lord sure do—they owe their new band to it. Well, sort of; this is a band that would've happened regardless, a collaboration constellationally fated, a thing bound to be born, and born to be fun. Earlier this year, former Simian member Lord was combing the interwebs for collaboration ideas. A click lead to a click which lead to a click onto a Rafter video and then a MySpace message was blasted off from Lord in London to Roberts in California. This “hella MySpace hookup,” as says Roberts, has blossomed into a full-length album, Eponymous. To best understand the duo's debut, it's necessary to look at the nature of the collaboration: The distorted, garage-y, electro backing music was recorded on a 4-track tape machine at Roberts' studio. Next, Roberts sent the tracks to Lord, who recorded vocals and mailed 'em on back. The duality of these dancy art-pop jams, Roberts' rough and grimy (yet complexly arranged) analog backing tracks paired with Lord's clean, digitally-recorded vocals, gives the work a tricky kind of depth that is immediately engaging and, above all else, FUN. Eponymous will be released ------ on Asthmatic Kitty Records.

http://asthmatickitty.com/roberts-and-lord

FREE MP3 DOWNLOAD (feel free to post!!)
Roberts and Lord "Windmill" : http://asthmatickitty.com/mp3/roberts_and_lord_-_eponymous_-_%20windmill.mp3

Herman Dune Stream on The Guardian

2011-06-01T04:26:00.001-07:00

Thanks Mr Guardian for streaming the Herman Dune album... :)
http://gu.com/p/2pcj2

Crystal Stilts UK TOUR - June 2011

2011-05-20T10:32:00.000-07:00

UK Dates
Mon 20 Jun 2011 London XOYO
Tue 21 Jun 2011 Southampton Joiners Arms
Wed 22 Jun 2011 Portsmouth Wedgewood Rooms (w/Warpaint)
Thu 23 Jun 2011 Cardiff Millennium Music Hall (w/Warpaint)
Fri 24 Jun 2011 Manchester Sound Control

Following the release of their latest album In Love With Oblivion, Crystal Stilts are releasing “Shake the Shackles” as a digital download single to coincide with their second UK jaunt of 2011 this coming June with headline shows including XOYO in London on 20th (with The 1990's and Still Corners) plus a couple of shows with Warpaint.

Crystal Stilts burst out of Brooklyn's storied post-punk indie scene in 2008 with a string of releases including their fantastic debut album Alight Of Night and this year’s critically acclaimed In Love with Oblivion. Deftly combining the spooked 60s Texas psych of 13th Floor Elevators and Red Crayola, the gothic blues/punk howl of Gun Club, the dark, experimental DIYism of early Flying Nun/Xpressway groups and a dash of classic 60s pop, Crystal Stilts won universal accolades and established the band as first-class purveyors of haunting, atmospheric post-punk pop.

"Shake The Shackles" is one of the stand-out tracks from In Love With Oblivion, as described by the NME; "the fuzzy layers of infectious riffs, organs and tambourine shakes gloom clear with a hopeful, dappled-sunlight brilliance." Driven by echoed guitar strum and droning keys, it's a dexterous update of 60s garage pop that places it alongside late 80s Paisley Underground heroes like Green On Red and later Dream Syndicate, but the song itself is totally timeless, and impossible to place anywhere but firmly in Crystal Stilts' own unique style.
"Where 2008 debut 'Alight of Night' swooned in on a wave of surf-tinged guitars and simple rhythmic swagger, 'In Love With Oblivion' capitalises on the band's melodic talents and embraces them tenfold. It's not so much a departure as just, well, better. For every one of Brad Hargett's nonchalantly droning vocals, there's a melody that shimmers and sparkles with all the pop nous of any 60s great." NME 8/10 "Tough, primitive and direct... when scholarship and tribute are transformed into something urgent and vital" The Wire "Thrillingly transcendent... even the song titles sound like great bands from the future" Q (4/5) "Swirling through a reverb fug comes this satisfying record of lean garage rock... a nice updating of Count Five-style psych menace" Uncut "Brooding garage with a classic retro sound... there's something strangely familiar, thrilling and addictive about this LP" Loud & Quiet (8/10) "It opens with an ominous crescendo of atonal, swirling organ and eerie guitars. Suddenly it bursts into a drone-tastic groove that recalls Clinic's fusion of The Velvet Underground and Neu!-style kosmische... Terrific Stuff." The Fly

http://www.fortunapop.com

The Ladybug Transistor - Clutching Stems album out June

2011-05-20T10:27:00.000-07:00

The Ladybug Transistor
Clutching Stems
Fortuna POP!
25 June 2011

LINKS!
Press kits: https://www.mergerecords.com/presskits/MRG377/
Artist Page: http://www.mergerecords.com/artists/ladybug

Since the 1990s, the Ladybug Transistor has created formalist pop-rock albums with a dreamy, articulate sound that spans decades and genres. Anchored by Gary Olson’s organizing vision and restrained baritone, their music boasts intricate arrangements and soaring melodies that are at once modern and timeless.

This band’s narrative holds a rich history of heartfelt collaboration, tireless devotion, quiet and outspoken romance, new arrivals, unexpected departures, achy break-ups, and unspeakable loss. They have become agile at adjustment.

In 2007, the untimely passing of their beloved drummer San Fadyl left members Olson, Kyle Forester (also in Crystal Stilts), and Julia Rydholm at an unimaginable loss, struggling with a prevailing sense of “What now?” At a time where moving forward felt possibly impossible, the band quietly gathered new recruits – Mark Dzula, Eric Farber, Michael O’Neill (also in MEN with JD Samson) – and embarked on writing a new album with the memory of San squarely in mind.

The resulting effort is their forthcoming release Clutching Stems—a lush collection of potent refrains and brought-to-one’s-knees ballads. Set to an invigorated soundtrack of wave-pop arrangements, the songs detail stories of humbling heartbreak, profound longing, undoing distress, nagging regret, and coming-of-age awakenings. Olson’s lyrics express an overarching search to find one’s voice in the face of moments that knock the wind and words right out of a person.

This new line-up has found a distinct voice that honors diverse influences and the band’s own precedent sound. Clutching Stems assuredly underlines that while love can tear things apart, it can also capably mend them back together once again.

The Ladybug Transistor are:
Gary Olson – vocals
Kyle Forester – keyboards
Julia Rydholm – bass
Michael O’Neill – guitar
Eric Farber – drums
Mark Dzula – guitar

Herman Dune - Strange Moosic

2011-05-20T10:14:00.000-07:00

The easiest thing to say about Herman Düne is that they are atypical. Created by brothers David-Ivar Herman Düne and Andre Herman Düne more than ten years ago, the two Swedish-rooted fans of American music were already playing all around Europe and the States before they'd even begun making records. Having written over four hundred songs, they have become a reference in the modern folk-rock songwriting scene. In recent years, founder member Andre has left the band but despite this David and drummer Neman (also of Zombie Zombie) have continued relentlessly and the band’s newest album, Strange Moosic is to be released on 6 June on Fortuna POP!.

They have a new, rather charming video starring Jon Hamm from Mad Men and featuring a baby-blue Yeti which you can see here: http://vimeo.com/23262014

Live dates:

4 June - Bristol - Thekla

5 June - Brighton - Coalition

6 June - London - XOYO (w/ Comet Gain)

http://strangemoosic.tumblr.com/
www.hermandune.com
http://www.myspace.com/therealhermandune

Amor de Días - Street of the Love of Days - debut album out June

2011-05-20T10:10:00.000-07:00

Amor de Días (Spanish for 'love of days') is the name of the—until now—secret new group of Alasdair MacLean of the Clientele and Lupe Núñez-Fernández of Pipas. Street of the Love of Days, their debut album, will be released in the UK on 17 May as a digital download and 13 June on CD.

Finding common ground as painters as well as musicians, and having regularly appeared onstage together (often with Lupe reading the text of The Clientele's 'Losing Haringey') they decided to collaborate on a project of their own.

Wandering in Madrid, Alasdair noticed a street sign for Calle del Amor de Dios, which he mistakenly translated as "Street of the Love of Days". The name struck him as a great title, even after Lupe corrected him (he was actually on the Street of the Love of God).

At times spare and empty, at times rich with instrumental texture, at times jazz-tinged and hypnotic, Street of the Love of Days is of a quality to rival anything either Alasdair or Lupe has recorded before.

The band will be heading out for an extensive US tour with Damon and Naomi in the spring and will play some UK dates when they return in June including these:

Sat 8 June, Union Chapel, opening for Howe Gelb with A Band of Gypsies

http://www.unionchapel.org.uk/events.php?gig=8e298ae4-79f2-483d-af88-6cf5d19ef553

Sun 12 June @ The Lexington, London (afternoon album launch, free)

Fri 17 June @ Scandinavian Church, Liverpool

Sat 30 July, Indietracks, (near Derby)

http://www.indietracks.co.uk

Links:

http://www.amordedias.com/

Press photos/bios/media etc:

http://www.amordedias.com/press

COMET GAIN - new album out in May

2011-05-20T10:03:00.000-07:00

Fearlessly passionate and fiercely intelligent, Comet Gain are back with their brand new album Howl of the Lonely Crowd to be released via Fortuna POP! on 16 May 2011, with production by Edwyn Collins and Ryan Jarman of The Cribs.

Led by songwriter David Feck, Comet Gain have released a string of critically acclaimed records on Kill Rock Stars, Track & Field and What’s Your Rupture? - albums such as Tigertown Pictures, Réalistes, City Fallen Leaves and 2008’s singles collection Broken Record Prayers establishing the band as one of the most fearlessly passionate and fiercely intelligent British bands around. The current line up comprises David Charlie Feck (vocals, guitar), ex-Huggy Bear bassist Jon Slade (guitar), Rachel Evans (vocals), Kay Ishikawa (bass), ex-Morrissey/The Meteors drummer Woodie Taylor (percussion), Anne Laure Guillain (keyboards), and Ben Phillipson of The Eighteenth Day Of May (guitar).

Unapologetically literate and emotional, Comet Gain seek out inspiration and ballast as much in the music of the girl-group era pop, heartfelt Americana, british post-punk, and 60s psych rock, as in the words of the known and forgotten beat poets, kitchen sink dramas, and new-wave French arthouse cinema. From The Modern Lovers, Felt, The Go-Betweens, Big Star, and the Byrds, to Kerouac, Shelagh Delaney, and Godard, the band are influenced by an incessant drive to “distill the spirit, and those moments of musical defiance” by “recalling old stories of friends, of being lonely, and what kept you sane; finding a common ground, taking a deep breath and then picking up our guitars and singing these songs.“

http://www.fortunapop.com

HELP STAMP OUT LONELINESS

2011-05-20T09:54:00.000-07:00

Where It's At Is Where You Are and Papillons Noir are proud to present the heart-poundingly beautiful, eponymous debut LP from Manchester's sublime sextet Help Stamp Out Loneliness which came out this month.

With the glorious opening bars of 'Cottonopolis + Promises' (a bittersweet 'Dear John' letter to their surrogate city of Manchester) it becomes increasingly noticeable that HSOL aren't your standard indie-fare.

Fronted by the striking, Nico-esque singer D. Lucille against a glittering backdrop of transistor organs and jangle-pop guitars, their alluringly seductive songs shield lyrics that flicker between stories of rock-star stalkers (‘Record Shop’) and cringe-inducing alfresco sex (‘Biergarten’); to heartfelt paeans to the days of audio cassettes on ‘Cellophane’ and meditations on the domestic lives of Nico and John Cooper Clarke on the aforementioned ‘Cottonopolis + Promises’.

The first single to be taken from the album is the marvellously catchy ‘Record Shop’, a sinister chanson inspired by Sandra Bernhard’s character from Scorsese’s ‘King of Comedy’.

With a second session on Marc Riley's show on 6 music the day after release, the album received plaudits from The Guardian, The Mail on Sunday, Artrocker and many others, including album of the week on Soundblab, a fantastic feature on God is in the TV and loads of other online coverage. Stay tuned for more dates and info!

http://www.wiaiwya.com

Crystal Stilts - new album and single

2011-03-09T07:20:00.001-08:00

CRYSTAL STILTS
album - In Love With Oblivion - April
single - Through The Floor - March

UK DATES:
24/3 – Brighton – Audio
25/3 – Bristol – Start the Bus
26/3 – Manchester - Ruby Lounge
27/3 – Glasgow – Arches
28/3 – Leeds – Brudenell Social Club
29/3 – Birmingham – Bar Academy
30/3 – London – Cargo
(with Comet Gain + The Tamborines)

Crystal Stilts’ new album In Love with Oblivion will be released in the UK on 11 April 2011 on Fortuna POP!.

Crystal Stilts burst out of Brooklyn's storied post-punk indie scene in 2008 with a string of releases that culminated in their fantastic debut album Alight Of Night. Deftly combining the spooked 60s Texas psych of 13th Floor Elevators and Red Crayola, the gothic blues/punk howl of Gun Club, the dark, experimental DIYism of early Flying Nun/Xpressway groups and a dash of classic 60s pop by way of early Mary Chain b-sides, Alight Of Night won universal accolades and established the band as first-class purveyors of haunting, atmospheric post-punk pop. In Love With Oblivion sets the bar even higher as they reach dizzying, fuzzy heights as first class purveyors of haunting, atmospheric post-punk pop.

The Primitives - Rattle My Cage

2011-03-09T07:18:00.000-08:00

http://the-primitives.co.uk/
http://www.fortunapop.co.uk

With their first new recordings since 1992, The Primitives are back with a fantastic new record, the Never Kill A Secret EP to be released on Fortuna POP! in March 2011. With a new lease of life after successfully touring the UK in 2010, the band decided to write and record some new material. The four tracks on the new EP include the fuzzified girlpop stomper of the lead track “Rattle My Cage” and the cute little Velvets-y heart-melter “Never Kill A Secret”, along with two covers, Suzi Jane Hokom’s Lee Hazlewood-penned “Need All the Help I can Get” and Toni Basil’s Northern Soul classic “Breakaway”. March also sees the band embark on a full UK tour.

TOUR DATES:
Wed 16 Mar – UK – Southampton – Joiners Arms
Thu 17 Mar – UK – Cambridge – Haymakers
Fri 18 Mar – UK – Bristol – Start the Bus
Sat 19 Mar – UK – York – Fibbers
Sun 20 Mar – UK – Glasgow – The Arches
Mon 21 Mar – UK – Manchester – Moho
Wed 23 Mar – UK – Birmingham – Academy
Thu 24 Mar – UK – London – Garage

Piney Gir Country Roadshow 'Lucky Me' Official Promo Video

2011-03-09T07:14:00.000-08:00

Valentines Day saw the release of the second single "Lucky Me" from The Piney Gir Country Roadshow's latest album Jesus Wept plus it’s backed (in a digital way…you see) with an exclusive UK release of Piney’s desert-rock reworking of the Billy Idol classic "White Wedding" and the original demo version of "Lucky Me" recorded live at Truck Studios with an unlikely band of merry pranksters.

The lovely new video for "Lucky Me" is now available. Country Roadshow guitarist Garo Nahoulakian made the puppets, Jeremy Fowler filmed/edited the video, Jiro Nahoulakian, Garo and Piney were the puppeteers.

The Piney Gir Country Roadshow headline the Country Girl All-Dayer at the Lexington in London on 20th March.

Sunday, March 20 Country Girl All-Dayer - The Piney Gir Country Roadshow, The Cedars, Adeline Vesta, The Werewandas, Eliza Newman 5pm £7, adv £5
An all-dayer featuring dulcet-toned Kansas vocalist Piney Gir and her Country Roadshow.
Support from the UK based Alt-Americana quartet, The Cedars with soaring vocals, infectious rhythms and blasts of slide guitar and banjo. Plying tales of lost love, revenge and rural homicide, The Cedars manage to straddle the divide between the dancehalls of the 20's and 30's and what's going on in the scene right now.
Adeline Vesta play folk-rock, indie and alt-country with Sarah from The Research and Go Team! percussionist Chi
The Werewandas play harmonious country-billy indie-garage foot-tapping stompers.
Eliza Newman is an Icelandic violinist, ukelele and piano player, and is also a trained opera singer (formerly of Bellatrix) who'll play some ukulele accompanied quirky folk-pop.
plus DJing from Radio 6/ The Other Woman's Ruth Barnes plus Amy Ashworth and Amanda.

BEARSUIT - WHEN WILL I BE QUEEN (OFFICIAL VIDEO)

2011-03-09T07:04:00.000-08:00

As Royal wedding fever grips the nation, dance-punk five-piece Bearsuit releases their new single When Will I Be Queen? on February 28. But an ode for Kate Middleton this ain’t. Unless you’d find “no more waity” boozing it up with broken heels and smudged mascara to a Tech Noir soundtrack of filthy bass, killer beats, schizophrenic vocals and sinister synths on her hen night.

he new single comes ahead of the band’s eagerly anticipated album The Phantom Forest on March 14 on Fortuna POP! The 12-track long-player heralds a fierce new sound for the band, who have swapped violins, flutes and horns for dirty synths, urgent guitars and infectious beats in the light of a dramatic line-up change. With a sprinkling of sonic dust from big-time producer Gareth Parton (The Go Team, Breeders, Foals) the band have created a perfectly off-the-wall pop masterpiece.

The band are heading to SXSW later this month and have been raising funds via the website http://www.wefund.co.uk/project/bearsuit-sxsw. For £1000 they'll even change their band name, to the name of their sponsor for a month.

http://www.bearsuit.co.uk/
http://www.myspace.com/bearsuit

The Primitives release new EP + tour the UK

2011-01-19T10:08:00.000-08:00

With their first new recordings since 1992, The Primitives are back with a fantastic new record, the Never Kill A Secret EP to be released on Fortuna POP! in March 2011. With a new lease of life after successfully touring the UK in 2010, the band decided to write and record some new material. The four tracks on the new EP include the fuzzified girlpop stomper of the lead track “Rattle My Cage” and the cute little Velvets-y heart-melter “Never Kill A Secret”, along with two covers, Suzi Jane Hokom’s Lee Hazlewood-penned “Need All the Help I can Get” and Toni Basil’s Northern Soul classic “Breakaway”. March also sees the band embark on a full UK tour.

http://the-primitives.co.uk/
http://www.fortunapop.co.uk

Wed 16 Mar – UK – Southampton – Joiners Arms
Thu 17 Mar – UK – Cambridge – Haymakers
Fri 18 Mar – UK – Bristol – Start the Bus
Sat 19 Mar – UK – York – Fibbers
Sun 20 Mar – UK – Glasgow – The Arches
Mon 21 Mar – UK – Manchester – Moho
Wed 23 Mar – UK – Birmingham – Academy
Thu 24 Mar – UK – London – Garage
Sat 02 Apr – Spain – Valencia – Qfestival

The Singing Loins - Stuff

2011-01-19T10:00:00.000-08:00

The Singing Loins are back with their eleventh album, due for release on the 7 February, proving that genius is nothing more than gritted teeth and enduring patience. ‘STUFF’ (Damgood365CD) is the 11th offering of bare-knuckle folk from the Medway Delta. Their song writing is steeped in the British & European traditions of Punk, Folk, Music Hall, Character, Chorus, Cabaret, Melodrama & Buffoonery. Ever enduring outsiders, it’s likely they are now the world’s longest serving, truly amateur, original musical group.

Here's a video of one of the tracks from Stuff called "Where's My Machine Gun"
http://damagedgoods.co.uk/videos/1154/the-singing-loins-wheres-my-machine-gun

http://damagedgoods.co.uk/band/?c=The-Singing-Loins

Gigs:

Jan 22Album Launch @ The Medway Little Theatre, Rochester
Jan 30Walthamstow Folk Club, Ye Olde Rose & Crown Theatre Pub, London E17
Feb 02Balkan Tour from WEDNESDAY 2nd FEBRUARY to SATURDAY 5th FEBRUARY
Mar 26The Wheatsheaf, Leighton Buzzard
Apr 07Earls, Maidstone
Apr 21The Brook Theatre, Chatham

HARRYS GYM - new album in February + tour

2011-01-19T09:56:00.000-08:00

February sees the release of the brand new album What Was Ours Can't Be Yours from Norway's glacial dream pop band HARRYS GYM. This is preceded by the single "Old Man" on 24 January which features a remix of the track by Chad Valley and the 7" will be released by Sonic Cathedral. Harrys Gym will be touring in support of the album in the UK and Europe in February as well a playing Austin's SXSW in March – full tour dates below.

UK
08.02.11 - London @ The Social (Sonic Cathedral Night)
09.02.11 - Birmingham @ Hare and Hounds
10.02.11 - Leeds @ Nation Of Shopkeepers
11.02.11 - Bristol @ Start The Bus
12.02.11 - Cardiff @ Arts Institute
14.02.11 - Glasgow @ Stereo
15.02.11 - Manchester @ Roadhouse
16.02.11 - London @ Camp Basement (Fleur De Lys)
17.02.11 - Reading @ Oakford Social Club

Europe
03.03.11 - Hamburg @ Mondial Club
04.03.11 - Berlin @ Bang Bang Club
05.03.11 - Dreden @ Thalia Kino
07.03.11 - Vienna, Austria @ Arena Vienna
08.03.11 - Erfurt @ Stadtgarten
12.03.11 - Offenbach @ Hafen 2

US
16.03.11 - Austin, Texas @ SXSW”

www.myspace.com/harrysgym
http://harrys-gym.com

The hotly-tipped Chad Valley has given the track "Old Man" a glo fi rework, which is free to download here: http://soundcloud.com/splendour/harrys-gym-old-man-chad-valley-remix-1
Hear the original streamed here: http://soundcloud.com/splendour/old-man
Watch the video for ‘Old Man’: http://vimeo.com/14713947

BEARSUIT to release new album "The Phantom Forest" in March

2011-01-19T09:50:00.000-08:00

Dancepunk five-piece Bearsuit will unleash their eagerly anticipated album The Phantom Forest on March 14 on Fortuna POP! The 12-track long-player heralds a fierce new sound for the band, who have swapped violins, flutes and horns for dirty synths, urgent guitars and infectious beats in the light of a dramatic line-up change. With a sprinkling of sonic dust from big-time producer Gareth Parton (The Go Team, Breeders, Foals) the band have created a perfectly off-the-wall pop masterpiece.

Check here for the brilliant video for "Train Wreck". The next single from the album will be the dancefloor smasher When Will I Be Queen? due for release in Feburary.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YhEgsur7VyU

http://www.bearsuit.co.uk/
http://www.myspace.com/bearsuit

Sic Alps release new album on Drag City in January

2010-11-04T05:54:00.000-07:00

Sic Alps are back with their new album Napa Asylum on 24 January on Drag City. Hailing from San Francisco, they have a modern approach to a psychedelic sound, laden with reverb and pretty lo-fi, they create gorgeously moody, spooky pop songs with themes of reincarnation, magic and schizophrenia. They'll also be back for a tour next year after their successful European jaunt in May/June, which included an appearance at the Pavement curated ATP as well as supporting at one of Pavement's sold-out Brixton Academy shows.

More info below and here:
http://www.sicalps.com/
http://www.dragcity.com/artists/sic-alps

The Loves December Boy Trailer

2010-11-04T05:44:00.000-07:00

The new single by The Loves, December Boy, is the first to be taken from their fourth and final album …Love You, and the first on which Jenna Love (The Loves' J-Lo) takes lead vocals. Recorded live at Soup Studios in London's glittering East End, it turns the chorus for September Gurls by Big Star into a Spector-esque girl group pop number, with help from Liz Hunt from The School and Emma Hall from Pocketbooks on backing vocals, as well as Rob Jones (AKA The Voluntary Butler Scheme) on organ. Real life violins also make an appearance. Flip-side Bubblegum is equally upbeat, but with more of a 60s garage Nuggets feel. The single will be released on bubblegum coloured 7" vinyl.

The album …Love You will be released in January before The Loves call time on the whole tawdry ten years by imploding in a mess of badly drawn paper hearts, cheap alcohol and bodily fluids on Valentine’s Day 2011.

The very talented Simon Love from The Loves has created not one but TWO videos for the forthcoming double A-side single December Boy/Bubblegum. First up, here's the trailer for the "December Boy" video, just to tease you before the real unveiling in a few weeks (by then it'll be nearly time for the December Boy to take centre stage!) and you can see how the story of a boy in search of his missing heart unfurls.

The Loves Live

November

27th- The Cardigan Arms, Leeds with Ringo Deathstarr

December

4th- The Luminaire, London with The School
5th- The Buffalo Bar, Cardiff with The School

February

5th- Prince Albert, Brighton with The Lovely Eggs
12th- The Loves Retirement Show with very special guests

The Loves links:
http://www.myspace.com/lovetheloves
http://www.fortunapop.com/artist_details.php?id=30

Allo Darlin' - My Heart is a Drummer (Official Video)

2010-11-04T05:38:00.000-07:00

As Allo Darlin' are set to release their new single "My Heart is a Drummer" (15 Nov, Fortuna POP!) from their critically acclaimed self-titled debut album, here's a fabulous video made by Joseph Brett and Simon Taffe from End of the Road. Bursting with charm and indiepop loveliness, "My Heart Is A Drummer" is the perfect antitode to the encroaching winter.

The band play a single release gig on 17 November at Cargo.

http://www.myspace.com/allodarlin - http://allodarlin.com/

It's True!! Thee Spivs Mojo Rising!

2010-10-28T09:28:00.001-07:00

Yes! Thee Spivs are featured in the new issue of Uncut (coverdate December 2010) in one of the Mojo Rising features. Ignore them at your peril, these boys are ready to have a crack at the big time!

Shrag - album of the month in Artrocker!!

2010-10-28T09:22:00.001-07:00

Ok, so this was LAST month's issue but here's a lovely review from the nice people at Artrocker who made Shrag's new album "Life! Death! Prizes!" their album of the month!!

Here's also a link to a feature on the Artrocker website with Shrag talking about making the album.

THEE SPIVS It's true (Emergency Films 2010)

2010-10-28T09:20:00.000-07:00

I'm delighted to announce that I'll be working with another band on the Damaged Goods label called Thee Spivs. Their new album Taped Up is out in November and mixes 70s punk with 60s garage and a little bit of rock'n'roll. They're playing an album release show on 12 November at London's Hope and Anchor... hope to see you there!

Here's the video for their last single "It's True". Their next single "I Don't Want It" is out on 1 November.

www.myspace.com/theespivs

Bearsuit: Please Don't Take Him Back

2010-10-28T09:13:00.000-07:00

Tying in with telly's new crop of costume dramas for the autumn, bearsuit bring you their own version in the brand new video for their new single "Please Don't Take Him Back".

Shrag - Rabbit Kids - Promo Video

2010-09-24T03:59:00.000-07:00

Shrag's brand new album Life! Death! Prizes! is out on 4 October. Here's their brand new video for the radio hit "Rabbit Kids". Also keep your eyes peeled for their Album of the Month review in the next issue of Artrocker!

Bearsuit - new single, new line-up, new sound!

2010-09-24T03:56:00.000-07:00

bearsuit
please don't take him back
7" and download single
Fortuna Pop!
25 October 2010

Fresh from a line-up change and an invigorated sound, BEARSUIT are back with a brand new single. Please Don’t Take Him Back is the debut single from their forthcoming new album The Phantom Forest, which will be released on Fortuna Pop! on 25 October. To celebrate the band will be playing a few live dates:

October
Sat 9 – Bloomsbury Bowling Lanes – LONDON
Sat 16 – Take 5 – NORWICH
Weds 20 – Buffalo Bar – LONDON
Fri 22 – Big Blue Coffee Company – DERBY
Sat 23 (day) – Edinburgh Pop Fest, The GRV – EDINBURGH
Sat 23 – Newcastle Arts Centre – NEWCASTLE
Weds 27 – The Basement – CHELMSFORD
Fri 29 – The Red House – SHEFFIELD
Sat 30 – Night and Day Cafe – MANCHESTER
Sun 31 – Buffalo Bar – CARDIFF

http://www.bearsuit.co.uk/
http://www.myspace.com/bearsuit

Vatican Cellars - MP3 from forthcoming debut album

2010-09-01T09:13:00.000-07:00

for September you lucky lucky people can download the first single from the VATICAN CELLARS' debut album - BITTER PLANS

www.wiaiwya.com

BITTER PLANS will appeal to fans of TIM HARDIN, the LILAC TIME and NICK DRAKE; a georgeous lament to loss and its accompanying guilt. It's an English gent's soul music, an angry acoustic politely strummed, and a cello part to break you heart... Utterly beautiful...

it's coupled with a cover of VAN HALEN's RUNNIN' WITH THE DEVIL... it's cockrockchamberpop... oh, yes... i said COCKROCKCHAMBERPOP... it's the new thing, and all the kids are doing it...

http://www.myspace.com/thevaticancellars

The Piney Gir Country Roadshow - Jesus Wept - 18 October

2010-09-01T09:07:00.000-07:00

Just to let you know that I'm going to be helping out with the new release from The Piney Gir Country Roadshow, Jesus Wept, on Damaged Goods. The release date has been put back to 18 October 2010, so let me know if you'd like a copy of the album or if you're able to review or cover in any way. Piney and the gang will be playing some London gigs soon, so let me know if you'd like to come along or are able to write about 'em here:

7th Sept The Lexington, London
3rd Oct 100 Club, London (with Fabienne Delsol)

The queen of country/indie, Piney Gir lasso's in her Country Roadshow to create a fabulously luscious sound with nods to Emmy Lou Harris, Tammy Wynette and Dolly Parton.

More info here;
http://www.pineygir.com/

SHRAG - "Tights in August" for August

2010-08-03T07:47:00.000-07:00

Have a listen to this sneaky-peak of the brand new material from Brighton/London indie pop band SHRAG. Their new album "Life! Death! Prizes!" is due for release in October.

"Tights In August" is their first 'single' available as a free download throughout the month of August from their label's website here: http://www.wiaiwya.com/

Direct link here

The single 'sleeve' is a delightful re-hash of the old Mary Quant tights packages.

Here's their myspace page: http://www.myspace.com/shrag

The Holidays - Golden Sky 7"

2010-07-22T02:37:00.000-07:00

The Passport Label - 7”/download
23 August 2010

The Passport Label is thrilled to be teaming up with Sydney band, The Holidays, for its latest 7" release in 23 August.

Having emerged from their Sydney studio just in time for the British summer, The Holidays present Golden Sky - a sun-drenched tune that channels warm nights and cloudless skies. The song blends wild percussion, sing-a-long chant choruses, falsetto vocals and squawking guitars into an action-packed, yet equally sublime journey.

B-side “Heavy Feathers” complements the lead track perfectly. A little more downbeat than the elation of “Golden Sky”, “Heavy Feathers” is a dreamy, hazy come-down evoking the relaxed atmosphere of The Caribbean.
The Golden Sky single consolidates The Holidays' foray into an exciting new direction that genuinely stakes their claim as one of the most exciting new bands in the Australia. Remixes of their track “Moonlight Hours” by Modular new kids on the block Jonathon Boulet and The Swiss have also attracted generous lashings of hyperbole in the blogoshere. The latter recently appeared on an exclusive NME download Mixtape complied by UK disco/electro wunder-kid Grum, and made much-loved Belgian remixers Aeroplane’s February Chart podcast.

Golden Sky will sit comfortably on The Holidays’ forthcoming debut album, which is nearing completion and has been self-produced by the band and mixed by Tony Espie (Midnight Juggernauts, Cut Copy, Avalanches). The album is shaping up to be a thrilling musical ride traversing a myriad of influences and genres that ultimately will see light of day as a groove-based record full of summer vibes, elec-tropical dance floor anthems and mellow, breezy melodies.

http://www.myspace.com/theholidays

WRECKLESS ERIC & AMY RIGBY

2010-07-09T03:54:00.000-07:00

WRECKLESS ERIC & AMY RIGBY

Two-Way Family Favourites

30 August 2010 – Southern Domestic Recordings

Wreckless Eric & Amy Rigby are a two-piece rock and roll group who have individually been making distinctive and original music for decades: he a British iconoclast and wild-card survivor of the early Stiff Records, she as a long-standing heroine of the New York pop scene. Their 2008 debut album Wreckless Eric & Amy Rigby and their live show have enjoyed rapturous critical acclaim in the US, UK & Europe. Now they're back with Two-Way Family Favourites, a shimmering collection of songs written by other artists - to be released 30 August 2010 on their own Southern Domestic Recordings label and supported with a UK tour.

"When we started playing together, we hoped to get work as a covers band playing in bars in France – but when people heard our version of playing covers they were confused. So we knew we were on to something."

Wreckless Eric recorded the legendary single “Whole Wide World” back in 1977. Since then he has made countless albums in different guises, moving between bubblegum, pop, grunge, psychedelia and techno, but always remaining true to the DIY spirit of his early days on Stiff.

Amy Rigby started a country band in eighties New York City, went on to form girl group The Shams, and began her solo career in 1996 with the US hit album Diary Of A Mod Housewife. Her five solo albums embrace pop, country, folk-rock, psychedelia and the indefinable.

With Two-Way Family Favourites the duo continue to develop their warped, harmony-rich sound. There are no other musicians involved – Wreckless Eric & Amy Rigby accompany themselves with electric and acoustic guitars, bass guitar, keyboards and percussion.

"... their loopy, layered approach, keenly turning conventional boy/girl pop-group convention on ear, sinks in deep." UNCUT

"The static-riddled spiritedness highlights their individual quirks as well as the easy chemistry between the pair." Pitchfork

UK Tour Dates (more dates to be announced probably)

Friday 20 Aug Bedford Rhythm Festival

Saturday 21 Aug Coventry Taylor John's House
Friday 10 Sept Nottingham Rescue Rooms

Friday 17 Sept Glasgow Stereo

Saturday 18 Sept Hyde, Cheshire The Verge

Friday 24 Sept London The Lexington

Saturday 25 Sept Bury Lancs The Met

Tuesday 28 Sept Winchester The Railway

http://www.myspace.com/wrecklessericamyrigby

http://www.amyrigby.com/wrecklessericamyrigby.html

Cours Lapin - twisted French pop - Gigs this week!

2010-07-06T07:35:00.000-07:00

Just thought I'd alert you to a couple of gigs this week from the band COURS LAPIN. The album isn't out til September but it'd be great if you wanted to pop down and check them out. They play at Notting Hill Arts Club on Wednesday and at Rough Trade East on Thursday.

COURS LAPIN are four Danish film score composers who make twisted pop fairytales drawing from the old 'chanson' tradition, inspired by the films of Tim Burton and David Lynch.

Live concerts in London:

Death Disco @ Nottinghill Arts club, wednesday july 7th at 9pm.
21 Notting Hill Gate, London W11

Rough Trade East, in-store gig, Thursday july 8th at 7pm.
'Dray Walk' Old Truman Brewery 91 Brick Lane

UK release, September 13th.

Listen to "Cache-Cache" on Soundcloud here: http://soundcloud.com/butilikeyou/cache-cache-by-cours-lapin

www.myspace.com/courslapin

CLOUD CONTROL - UK Tour + Album news

2010-07-06T07:30:00.000-07:00

www.myspace.com/cloudcontrol

After sensational reactions to debut single “Gold Canary” released earlier this year, Australia’s Cloud Control are returning to the UK for a brief spell of shows in July having signed to bespoke independent label Infectious Music.

Described by Record Collector as “…somewhere between Animal Collective’s Beach Boys spin and the sophisticated pop shenanigans of The Shins” and having a victorious nomination on BBC 6 Music’s Rebel Playlist, Cloud Control play London’s The Luminare and Brighton’s Freebutt before debuting at Secret Garden Party. This string of intimate gigs pre-empts the bands first single release on Infectious Music this autumn with the bands stunning debut album ‘Bliss Release’ due in early 2011.

Hailing from the picturesque and rugged terrains of Australia’s Blue Mountains, the ethereal melodies and tribal rhythms of the enigmatic quartet drift wonderfully between the psyche-flourishes of Jefferson Airplane and the dreamy vastness of The Go-Betweens.

Since their UK debut at The Great Escape Festival in 2009, Cloud Control have evolved into a thrilling live act, headlining their first sell-out tour of Australia earlier this year after supporting Vampire Weekend on their Australasian tour by special request. Nurtured from the same vein of eccentricity that nourished David Byrne & Nick Cave and loaded with a stellar collection of quirky layered harmonic pop, Cloud Control is sure to excite this summer.

Cloud Control are Alister Wright (guitar/lead vocals), Jeremy Kelshaw (bass) and siblings Heidi Lenffer (keyboards/vocals) and Ulrich Lenffer (drums).

Cloud Control Play :

Fri 16 July London, Barfly - 7.30pm

Tue 20 July Brighton, Freebutt (www.wegottickets.com/event/84977)

Thur 22 July London, The Luminaire (Black Cab Session Presents) (www.wegottickets.com)

Fri 23 July Cambridge Green-Mind, Haymakers (www.wegottickets.com/event/84160)

Sat 24 July Huntingdon, The Secret Garden Party (www.seetickets.com/secretgardenparty2009)

www.myspace.com/cloudcontrol

www.infectiousmusicuk.com

Cours Lapin - debut album from four Danish Film Composers

2010-06-16T09:14:00.001-07:00

We're delighted to bring you the debut album from Cours Lapin - Four noted Danish film composers create a timeless French musical adventure with their debut album. Cours Lapin’s unusual combination of words, tones and textures leads us into a theatrical underworld consisting of a French adventure shaped by the old ‘chanson’ tradition. The mood of the album moves from the dark and sensual to naive and hopeful, reminiscent of the atmosphere found in the films of Tim Burton and David Lynch. One minute you are initiated into the mysterious intrigue surrounding a murder scene in the 1950s and the next minute you are following strange creatures on strings in a 20th century puppet theatre.

For a little taster, here's a free MP3 for the song Cache Cache -
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/631249/Cache%20Cache.mp3

JULY DATES

07 Notting Hill Arts Club

08 Rough Trade East Instore

http://www.myspace.com/courslapin

New video from TENDER TRAP

2010-06-15T10:49:00.000-07:00

A celebration of indie-hang outs, the new video from Tender Trap begs the question - "Do You Want a Boyfriend?". Well. The answer is quite evidently - YES - especially when one of the contenders is none other than label impresario John Jervis.

The single for Do You Want a Boyfriend comes out on limited edition white vinyl this month, so grab it while you can!!

TENDER TRAP - new album Dansette Dansette from band led by indiepop legend Amelia Fletcher

2010-05-21T08:41:00.000-07:00

We're pleased to announce the brand new full-length album from indiepop legend Amelia Fletcher's band TENDER TRAP (also featuring Elizabeth Morris from Allo Darlin'). It is called Dansette Dansette and will be released on Fortuna POP! on 12 July 2010. Just before that there will be a single from the album called "Do You Want a Boyfriend" with the b-side of "The Sum and the Difference". Look out for live shows in July (see dates below)!

A free download single is already available for the track "Girls With Guns" which you can download here http://www.fortunapop.com/girls_with_guns_free_download.php

There's also a fabulous video for this track here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_GnEXrEXoY

Gone is the more contemplative pop classicism of recent years to be replaced by a riot-grrrl-esque tale of sisterhood and revenge that wouldn’t be out of place among the punkest moments of Amelia's previous outfits Talulah Gosh and Heavenly. While guitars and drums rush by in a blur, Amelia and her new girl crew swear a cold-hearted vengeance on the unreliable and untrustworthy menfolk of the town.

“In a nicer parallel universe, Tender Trap’s Amelia Fletcher is the most influential artist of her day” (NME)

LIVE:

May 21 New York Popfest, New York, US
May 22 Pilam, Philadelphia US
Jul 3 The Hope, Brighton
Jul 9 The Library, Leeds
Jul 10 TBC, Liverpool
Jul 13 The Wheatsheaf, Oxford
Jul 14 Rough Trade East Instore, London

The Pack a.d. UK TOUR!

2010-04-22T05:09:00.000-07:00

We're thrilled to announce that Vancouver's finest female rock duo The Pack a.d. will be in the UK playing some shows after their European tour with Nomeansno. They'll be at the Great Escape in Brighton and Liverpool Sound City Festival with 3 London shows in between. There's also a new video for the album track "Deer" which is off their album WE KILL COMPUTERS which is out on 3 May...

UK TOUR

14 May - Brighton - Great Escape, Komedia daytime show
14 May - London - Windmill - Brixton
15 May - Brighton - Great Escape, Artrocker stage
18 May - London - The Gaff (Artrocker night - NHS Club (New Heavy Sounds))
19 May - London - The Lexington - Fleur-de-Lys Club
20 May - Liverpool - Sound City Festival - Jacaranda
21 May - Liverpool - Sound City Festival - Canadian Blast Showcase at Masque

Brand new video for "Deer"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=00pfn0bVtM0

Rangda - Richard Bishop, Ben Chasny and Chris Corsano

2010-04-07T10:24:00.000-07:00

RANGDA

FALSE FLAG
CD/LP – 10 May 2010
(Drag City)

Drag City are pleased to announce the new album from Sir Richard Bishop, Ben Chasny and Chris Corsano with a European tour in May.

EUROPEAN TOUR DATES (more to be announced)
MAY 2010

27 London, UK, Bardens Boudoir (with Plurals)
28 Bristol, UK, the Croft (with Acid Mothers Temple)
29 Cornwall, UK, Miss Peapods
30 Newcastle, UK, The Cumberland
31 Glasgow, Scotland, Stereo

June
1 Dublin, Irl, whelans
2 Cardiff, Wales, Norwegian Church
3 Brighton, UK, FreeButt
4 Aalst, Be, Netwerk
5 Hasselt, Be, Kunstzentrumbelgie
6 Utrecht, Nl, tivoli
7 Krefeld, de, Kulturrampe
8 Lyon, fr, Grnd zro
9 Geneva, Sw, L'Usine

When individuals with the originality and talent of the trio gathered for Rangda get together, something truly remarkable is bound to happen. All well respected musicians and leaders in their field, Sir Richard Bishop (Sun City Girls), Ben Chasny (Six Organs of Admittance, Comets on Fire) and drummer extraordinaire Chris Corsano create a glorious cacophony as an instrumental super-group exploring the edges of sound through improvisation and collaboration. With an explosion of psychedelia and classic rock, the album ricochets between gorgeous, blissed-out guitar melodies and thrashed-out noise.

The Blackeyed Susans play two London gigs

2010-02-27T09:04:00.000-08:00

THE BLACKEYED SUSANS

The Barbican, London (with The Triffids)
Fri 19 April 2010
The Borderline, London (headline show)
Sat 10 April 2010

Londoners will get their first opportunity to see Australia’s Blackeyed Susans live when they play the Barbican on April 9 as part of The Triffids’ ‘A Secret in the Shape of a Song’ show. The Susans will also play one headline show of their own the following night at The Borderline on Saturday 10 April with friends and special guests including Melanie Oxley and Chris Abrahams.

The Blackeyed Susans and The Triffids have a long and intertwined history. The Susans started as a side project for members of The Triffids and Chad’s Tree in the late eighties before growing into the legendary collective that has over the years boasted members of the Dirty Three, The Drones, The Bad Seeds and many other luminaries of the Australian alternative music scene. They have also released six albums across this time, marking their twentieth anniversary last year with the release of the four disc retrospective box set, ‘Reveal Yourself 1989-2009’.

Lush, dark and romantic, The Blackeyed Susans twist their op-shop stylings into something uniquely their own.

Featuring with The Blackeyed Susans will be a number of special guests including pedal steel ace “Evil” Graham Lee of The Triffids.

FRI APRIL 9

THE BARBICAN – THE TRIFFIDS ‘A Secret in the Shape of a Song’

Silk Street, London EC2Y 8 (Barbican tube)

TICKETS ON SALE: www.barbican.org.uk

SAT APRIL 10

THE BORDERLINE – THE BLACKEYED SUSANS AND FRIENDS

Orange Yard, Off Manette Street, London W1D 4JB (Tottenham Court Rd tube)

TICKETS ON SALE: 08448 472 465 www.meanfiddler.com or www.ticketweb.co.uk

Special guests: Melanie Oxley & Chris Abrahams

Leader of the Pack

2010-02-18T04:07:00.000-08:00

Thrilled to be adding another great band to the roster! Since I've been spending most nights this week glued to the Winter Olympics (doubles louge anyone? why is curling so addictive?), I'm glad to be able to welcome the next best thing to come out of Vancouver, the band THE PACK A.D. With growling rock'n'roll vocals and sounds that you didn't think a woman could make from singer/guitarist Becky Black, and Maya Miller's explosive drums attacking the songs rather than playing them, the duo make up one of the most exciting garage rock/pop/punk combos around.

Their new album 'We Kill Computers' will be released in the UK by Mint Records on 3 May.

Here's a little teaser right here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bE9pMFzdR_Y

Keep posted for more postings...
http://thepackafterdeath.com/

Cloud Control Press

2010-02-18T03:58:00.001-08:00

I'm well and truly chuffed about the great reception people have been giving Cloud Control's "Gold Canary" 7". As well as getting single of the week in Drowned In Sound this week, we also got great reviews in Artrocker, Record Collector, Subba-Cultcha and This is Fake DIY. To cap it all, the track won Steve Lamacq's rebel playlist on 6 music last week!!

Drowned in Sound: http://drownedinsound.com/in_depth/4139096-this-weeks-singles--15-02-10
This is Fake DIY: http://www.thisisfakediy.co.uk/articles/tracks/cloud-control-gold-canary
Subba-Cultcha: http://www.subba-cultcha.com/features/article.php?contentID=17962

Thrill Jockey Records

2010-02-11T08:14:00.000-08:00

As well as working on freelance projects with butilikeyou, I have also just started working for Thrill Jockey Records here in London. I'm very excited to be here and working on some really fantastic releases and with a label that I've been a fan of for many years. This blog is mainly for my freelance stuff but I might post a few MP3s and exciting tidbits of news about TJ stuff as well... www.thrilljockey.com

One of the first bands that I'm working on is HIGH PLACES (pictured left). The second full-length from Mary Pearson and Rob Barber, High Places vs Mankind, tackles the complex, gigantic subject of being human and what it's like to interact with human beings. Having moved from Brooklyn to LA last year, the duo combine luscious, effect-drenched vocals with off-kilter dance rhythms and a DIY aesthetic. Both are very creative and interested in art, designing all their own sleeves and making all their own videos. You can see some of their photography on their blog here: http://hellohighplaces.blogspot.com/

Here's an MP3 of the album track, 'On Giving Up'
http://thrilljockey.com/assets/freedownload/High_Places-On_Giving_Up.mp3

They're touring the UK in May...
Mon 3-May-10 Brighton Freebutt
Tue 4-May-10 London Cargo
Wed 5-May-10 Dublin Whelans
Thu 6-May-10 Glasgow Nice & Sleazy
Fri 7-May-10 Sheffield The Harley
Sat 8-May-10 Leeds The Brudenell Social Club

More Cloud Control radio action

2010-02-11T08:00:00.000-08:00

Ok, so I got a bit over excited by a couple of plays on Lauren Laverne's show... so you should have seen me when 'Gold Canary' got added to Steve Lamacq's rebel playlist!! Go on, do your bit and vote to see Cloud Control in 6 music's playlist!! I think it lasts for a week (until 6pm Tues 17 Feb)...
http://www.bbc.co.uk/6music/shows/steve_lamacq/rebel_playlist.shtml

Cloud Control track played on the radio

2010-01-21T04:11:00.001-08:00

Lauren Laverne played 'Gold Canary' on her daytime show on 6 Music yesterday (20 Jan 2010). See track listing here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00q2n7x#segments
On the very same evening, John Kennedy played the track on X-Posure on XFM.

Bird Show Band

2010-01-08T04:29:00.000-08:00

Here's another great project that I'll be working on. The self titled Bird Show Band album will be out in the UK on 8 March via the New York based label Amish Records (who also brought you Oakley Hall, Mike Wexler, PG Six and many others).

Here's a bit of background info: Bird Show is the solo project of Ben Vida (who used to be in Town and Country and now plays with various bands including; Soft Circle [with former Black Dice member Hisham Bharoocha], Singer [on Drag City] and The For Carnation – who were in the UK recently for the 10 Year Anniversary of All Tomorrow's Parties).

With two solo albums out on Kranky, Vida has now expanded the scope of Bird Show, incorporating a band featuring a who's who of Chicago's improvisational luminaries, including Dan Bitney and John Herndon (Tortoise, Isotope 217) as well as Josh Abrams and Jim Baker (they have played with the likes of as Jeb Bishop, Hamid Drake, Ken Vandermark, Jim O’Rourke). While Herndon and Bitney’s percussion invokes German psych, progressive rock, and jazz idioms, Vida’s synth-based experiments rely heavily on the Moog and fluid, lyrical melodic lines.

We also have the pleasure of offering you an MP3 for absolutely free of the track Quintet Four, which you can download right here, right now...

Quintet Four MP3

For more info, drop me an email or find out for yourself at:
www.amishrecords.com

Cloud Control

2010-01-07T09:00:00.000-08:00

CLOUD CONTROL
Gold Canary
7" and download out 22 Feb 2010

The next 7” single from the Passport Label is the brilliantly uplifting ‘Gold Canary’ by Cloud Control. Hailed as one of the best new bands in Australia after winning the Best New Artist prize at the Sydney Music, Arts and Culture Awards, Cloud Control have finished recording their debut album which will be released by Ivy League Records in early 2010. 'Gold Canary' combines their many influences to create an infectious song infused with tribal chants, dub rhythms and inventive pop melodies.

You can download 'Gold Canary' on their myspace page and listen to some tracks from their rare EP as well as snippets from their forthcoming album here:
http://www.myspace.com/cloudcontrol.

Amy Millan Press

2010-01-07T08:29:00.001-08:00

Some great reviews came in for the new Amy Millan album 'Masters of the Burial', which came out in December. The Stars/Broken Social Scene singer combines her own compositions with some great covers such as Death Cab For Cutie's 'I Will Follow You Into the Dark' and Richard Hawley's 'Run For Me'. The album was CD of the Week in The Sunday Times (see left) on 13 December.

‘… a warm, rounded and altogether lovely album.” – Mojo ***

'... sumptuous...' – Uncut ****

“a beautiful collection of warm, folksy tunes… A fine album” – THE LIST

“these country tinged lullabies do indeed contain a seductive and sedate magic” – INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY

“A lovely, late-night listen” – TELETEXT

“…scratch the surface and there’s a veritable treasure trove of heartbreak and lost love. Masters of The Burial is bursting with subtly intelligent ideas…” – THE LINE OF BEST FIT

“…its melancholy heart shimmers in similar terrain to Bon Iver or Smog.” – BBC

Rowland S Howard RIP

2010-01-07T03:18:00.000-08:00

I was very sad to learn that Rowland S Howard died just before New Year. He had been ill for some time. My thoughts go out to his family and friends. I had the pleasure of working on the 7" single of Pop Crimes/Girl Called Johnny for the Passport Label. Lots of people were very excited that he was back making music after so many years and were looking forward to hearing his last full length, Pop Crimes, which has already been released in Australia but yet to be made available in the UK. It's great that he was able to make one last amazing album to add to his already great legacy. He will be missed.

http://www.passportlabel.com/artists/150:rowland-s-howard
also see great recent feature in Uncut

butilikeyou PR is born

2009-12-09T09:23:00.000-08:00

Hi folks...

Even though I started butilikeyou PR a few years ago, I'm finally getting round to ACTUALLY doing something about it, so keep posted here for updates news and exciting new projects that I'll be working on.

This is for all things music press related, so if you know of anyone looking for a publicist, do please let me know. Most of you know that I spent 7 years working for one of the best labels ever to exist, Matador Records. There I had the great pleasure to work with lots of nice people and some fantastic bands including Cat Power, Interpol, Guided By Voices, The New Pornographers, Yo La Tengo, Cornelius, Dead Meadow, The Ponys, Pretty Girls Make Graves, Neko Case, Matmos and, well, loads of others.

More recently I've worked with Rowland S Howard (Birthday Party) and Amy Millan (Stars). Amy Millan's Masters of the Burial came out this week, so I hope you all go check it out. The album is supposed to be record of the week in next Sunday's Times, so can't wait to see the review! You can find out more info here: www.amymillan.com, along with a great video for Bury This (with some very dramatic vase throwing!!).

speak soon

Lucy
butilikeyou
lucyATbutilikeyouDOTcoDOTuk