DOWNLOAD: Autumn Owls - "Raindrops In The Water" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Autumn Owls - "Pavor Nocturnus" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Autumn Owls - "Acrobatics of a Patchwork Heart" (MP3)

Dublin trio Autumn Owls are here for a visit. They're currently camped out at Engine Studios with producer Brian Deck (Modest Mouse, Iron & Wine, Fruit Bats), recording their debut full-length LP. Their two 2008 EPs, Insomnia Lodge and On the Trail of the Disappearing, showcased an interesting mix of folk and post-rock. Download three tracks from those albums at the top of this post. You can also check out some video footage of the band playing two new tracks from their upcoming album, below.

While they're here laying down some new material, Autumn Owls have a number of Chicago shows scheduled (the first happens TONIGHT (April 27), at Cal's Liquors). They'll play a 4PM Epitonic Saki Session with Big Science tomorrow, and then Reggie's Music Joint later that night with Like Pioneers and Brontosaurs. They are also playing Martyrs on May 14.

All dates and some videos/song streams below...

Continue reading "Autumn Owls are here, recording w/Brian Deck; playing shows"

by Parker Langvardt

An Aesthetic Anaesthetic

In January, Chicago post-rock quartet An Aesthetic Anaesthetic used Kickstarter to raise just over $2,000 to put towards their sophomore full-length album, NAMES, which was recorded by producer Sanford Parker at Engine Studios over the course of four days last week. NAMES will be released via Chicago's Artistic Integrity Records, with an estimated street date of July 2012. There will be a total of 500 vinyl copies (100 colored and 400 black), with art by Robert Donis. There are also 17-test pressings of the LP, four of which are claimed by Kickstarter contributors, with custom jackets by Grant Kersey.

An Aesthetic Anaesthetic released their second EP, Ghosts in the Red Wilderness, in February of 2011 and their debut full-length, Before the Machinery of Other Skeletons (a solid Allen Ginsberg reference), in August of 2011. They achieved a variety of moods through these mostly-instrumental recordings by combining elements of post-rock, math rock, punk, and metal. The band have stated that NAMES will be darker than previous efforts and that their goal in recording with Sanford Parker was "to harness the raw energy of their live show."

To experience that raw energy in the near future, head over to Schubas on Friday night (April 6) to catch them opening up for Cleveland's eclectic rock duo Mr. Gnome. Joining them will be Chicago dance-rockers Blane Fonda, who also used Kickstarter to raise funds for their recently released EP, Foolish Croon. Tickets are still available.

Some song streams from both AAA and Blane Fonda, below...

Continue reading "An Aesthetic Anaesthetic recorded an LP w/ Sanford Parker; playing Schubas TOMORROW w/ Mr. Gnome"

T-shirts from Local H's NYE show @ Bottom Lounge

Chicago's Local H were working out of Engine Music Studios this month (they just finished tracking) recording their first LP since 2008's 12 Angry Months, tentatively titled Hallelujah! I'm A Bum, with well-known metal producer Sanford Parker. The duo, consisting of guitarist Scott Lucas and drummer Brian St. Clair, have regarded the recording experience as a positive one."Sanford's awesome," Lucas says. "He's been at the forefront of the most interesting things happening out of Chicago for a while, and it's truly an invigorating experience to work with him." He goes on to add, "And, if he would quit feeding me all this whiskey, I'd be alright." The new album is scheduled to hit stores this summer.

Two tracks that will definitely be on the LP are audience favorites "Paddy Considine" and "Another February." Check out a live video of the former and a behind the scenes studio clip of the later, below. You can also find more studio clips at their Facebook.

Stay tuned for upcoming hometown shows and more album information.

Continue reading "Local H recorded their new LP w/ Sanford Parker"