by BBG

If you only went by the lead song "Horizon" or the video for "Dark Passage", you might get the sense that The Drift tread in similar pounding kraut-rock-y waters as labelmates Maserati. But in the wake of the passing of member Jeff Jacobs, the mood is (save for previously cited examples) very pensive on Blue Hour, The Drift's new LP due via Temporary Residence Limited on 10/4.

As many of you may know, our dear friend and long-time collaborator Jeff Jacobs (trumpet, flugel horn, fx) has departed us, having succumbed early this year to a long and very courageous battle with cancer. He was and remains to be an integral force in the bands development. The amount of passion and energy he gave to music and to the life of this band was paramount. We will miss him beyond what words can express. His light will no-doubt continue to shine on. The recording's we made are in dedication to him, his radiance as an artist, and to the testament of music. May you rest in peace dear friend. Please visit this lovely memorial site his sister Erika Jacobs put together in his honor. His life is to be celebrated.

Blue Hour, which alternates between head-nodding and pensive, is exclusively streaming below alongside a video for one track, "Dark Passage". If you happen to be in the EU in November, swing through to catch them on dates with Explosions in the Sky (dates below).

Explosions in the Sky are meanwhile playing Wellmont Theater in NJ with the Antlers TONIGHT (10/3).

Continue reading "The Drift releasing 'Blue Hour' on Temporary Residence (exclusive stream), touring Europe w/ EITS (dates)"

Canon Blue

Canon Blue, the solo project of Daniel James, released his sophomore LP, Rumspringa, today (8/16) via Temporary Residence Limited (and via Efterklang's label Rumraket in Scandinavia) (Rumtaket's last-ever non-Efterklang release). The album is the follow-up to 2007's Colonies, a collaboration with Chris Taylor of Grizzly Bear. It was recorded while he was on a European tour with Efterklang, who Daniel contributes to. Sigur Ros' string section Amiina provided string arrangements on the album (which they recorded in Iceland). Slaraffenland and Efterklang both also contribute to the album. Stream the track "A Native (Madison)" here and check out some video clips of album tracks below. Listen to the whole album at Spinner.

Canon Blue kicks off a tour in support of the album tonight (8/16) at Mercury Lounge. After a couple more East Coast dates, they'll play Glasslands on August 20 and then hit up other US and Canadian venues. Both NYC shows feature support from Atlantic/Pacific (ex-Texas is the Reason). Tickets are on sale now for the Mercury show and the Glasslands show. Canon Blue also tour in November supporting The Boxer Rebellion. Canon Blue are not listed as an opener when The Boxer Rebellion hit NYC on November 18 at Webster Hall but maybe that will change after Canon Blue's NYC shows this week. Tickets for the Webster Hall show are on sale now.

Speaking of Sigur Ros, they recently put a trailer video on their website for the film INNI, which will screen at the Venice Film Festival. The film was directed by Vincent Morisset, who also directed the Arcade Fire film Mirror Noir. Sigur Ros frontman Jonsi is also set to score Cameron Crowe's upcoming film We Bought a Zoo. Cameron and Sigur Ros last worked together when the band contributed music to his 2001 film Vanilla Sky.

All dates, videos, album art and tracklist below...

Continue reading "Sigur Ros doing film stuff, Canon Blue released an album & is playing shows (dates, songs & videos)"

by BBG

DOWNLOAD: Young Widows - "Future Heart" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Young Widows - "Rose Window" (MP3)

Young Widows at Cake Shop (more by Markus Shaffer)

Always evolving on each LP is what Young Widows does best, and the Louisville trio is prepping to release their latest creation In and Out of Youth and Lightness for Temporary Residence Limited. Preorder the LP now via the label (it drops 4/12). Download "Future Heart" from the new album now for free above. The song also rears its head on a limited 7" with non-album track "Rose Window" which you can also download above.

Ever the road warriors, Evan Patterson & the boys will hit the pavement for a string of US dates with the also awesome My Disco (who toured with them previously) that will include dates from coast to coast, and one NYC show on May 7 at Union Pool with Xaddax (ex-Dazzling Killmen). All tour dates are below, alongside a brief chat with Evan about the direction of the new LP and its influences...

Continue reading "an interview w/ Young Widows, a new MP3 & tour dates"

by BBG

DOWNLOAD: The Black Heart Procession - "Blank Page" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Three Mile Pilot - "What's In The Air" (MP3)

The Black Heart Procession share a moment....

The Black Heart Procession has been cranking out gothy folk-rock for more than a decade now, and will release their new mini-LP Blood Bunny / Black Rabbit on 10/12 via TRL. Featuring three new BHP tracks, the release spans 40 minutes and features a remix from Eluvium and a collabo with the legendary Lee "Scratch" Perry. Preorder the mini LP, and dig on the first track "Blank Page" available above. The band will tour off of Blood Bunny / Black Rabbit as well, playing LPR on 9/28 before embarking on a tour with The Books. Tickets are on sale for the NYC show. All BHP dates are below, and non-BHP Books dates which include Carnegie Hall, are HERE.

In related news, both members of BHP served time in Three Mile Pilot, and the band has returned from hiatus to release a new LP for TRL. The Inevitable Past Is The Future Forgotten features "What's In The Air" is the first Three Mile Pilot album in 13 years...

Formed in the early '90s, the group released a debut album to a fair amount of acclaim, followed by Chief Assassin To The Sinister, an album that garnered the attention of Geffen Records, with whom they signed for all of one album. After enduring the major label wringer, the group released Another Desert, their most emotionally resonant and commercially successful record to date. Shortly after, bassist Zach Smith formed Pinback with Rob Crow, and singer-guitarist Pall Jenkins began a new project with Three Mile Pilot keyboardist Tobias Nathaniel. Both projects were meant to coexist with 3MP, however, both Pinback and The Black Heart Procession became unexpectedly popular.

Look for the new Three Mile Pilot via TRL on September 28, 2010.

Speaking of Lee "Scratch" Perry (who just played Highline Ballroom), BHP isn't the only band that the dub legend has collaborated with as of late. The mad professor has also lent his evil talents to a forthcoming recording with Major Lazer (aka Diplo and Switch) (!) more details are forthcoming.

Full BHP dates and a ton of video from a recent show is below...

Continue reading "Black Heart Procession releasing an LP (Three Mile Pilot too), collaborating w/ Lee Perry (Diplo too), touring (the Books too) "

by BBG

DOWNLOAD: Envy - "Dreams Coming To An End" (MP3)

Aside from splits with Jesu and Thursday, Japan's Envy haven't released an album since 2006's triumphant Insomniac Doze. That all changes on Oct 12th, when the band releases their fifth album of their 20 year career, Recitation, via Temporary Residence Limited! Dig on the sixth track from that LP, "Dreams Coming To An End", above and dig on the album art/tracklisting below.

Good news becomes better though with the announcement of a new US tour and NYC date, their first in four years! BrooklynVegan & 1000 Knives are pleased to announce the return of Envy at Santos Party House on 9/30 with Trash Talk, Touche Amore, as well as And So I Watch You From Afar. Tickets are on sale Friday at noon. The rest of Envy's US tour will be filled out with La Dispute, who will rotate into the Trash Talk slot, full dates are below.

Album art and all tour dates are below...

Continue reading "Envy releasing Recitation (MP3), touring w/ Trash Talk (dates) "

by BBG

DOWNLOAD: Kenseth Thibideau - "Black Hole" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Kenseth Thibideau - "Moon 2" (MP3)

Kenseth Thibideau is not currently touring with Tarentel, Pinback, Three Mile Pilot, Rumah Sakit, or any one of a number of his other projects, but the Californian IS prepping to release his first solo LP. Spanning eight tracks over its 40 minutes, Thibideau's debut Repetition ventures into Krautrock-y territory via -you guessed it- repetitive themes, while firmly rooted in pop song structure. The results of Thibideau's solo departure land him anywhere between mathy funk ala Battles ("Moon 2") and the shimmering breathy pop of "Black Hole". Download those tracks above, and look for the LP, due Temporary Residence Limited on July 20th. Preorder yourself a copy.

by Andrew Frisicano

DOWNLOAD: Julianna Barwick - Cloudbank (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Eluvium - Similes (MP3)

Eluvium...

"I sort of decided that I wanted to do something that I hadn't done before, or at least not since I was a teenager," said [Eluvium/Matthew Cooper]. "I wanted to work more in the pop space and to use lyrics as an instrument."

Cooper went back to work, scrapping the album he'd been working on and creating a new set of songs, this time with words...Cooper has been calling Similes a pop record since he finished it. His label people tell him not to, that this is misleading, that in the market pop means something entirely different than these ethereal songs. But Cooper remains stubbornly attached to the label. "Oddly, I kind of feel that I have yet to make a record that isn't a pop record," he said. "I listen to what I've been doing with ambient and noise and drone and textural stuff and relative to what I was usually influenced by, like Stockhausen or Steve Reich or John Cage, it just seems so much more pop. There are chord changes and melody. It's really not that far from the concept of pop music."
[Pop Matters]

The new record from Portlander Matthew Cooper aka Eluvium, Similes, out now on Temporary Residence (the same label The Books signed to for their new LP, The Way Out, due in July). Eluvium is going on tour for the month of May, and about half of those shows will be with another dreamy, textured solo band, Brooklyn's Julianna Barwick. They play (Le) Poisson Rouge on Wednesday, May 19th. Tickets are on sale.

Julianna recently signed to Asthmatic Kitty. Her debut on that label will be out in 2011. She's expected to release another record too, a collaborative album put together with previous tourmates Roberto Lange (Epstein and Helado Negro) and Jonathan Dueck. Her debut, Sanguine, getting a vinyl re-release on M'Lady's in June. And the song above is from her recent Florine EP.

Videos of Elivium songs from the new record and all tour dates are below...

Continue reading "Eluvium - new album out on TRL (MP3), touring (dates) w/ Julianna Barwick (who signed to Asthmatic Kitty) "

by Black Bubblegum

DOWNLOAD: Maserati - "Monoliths" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Maserati - "Join Us, Mystic Sister / No More Sages" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Majeure - "Teleforce" (MP3)

Maserati are prepping to release a rarities compilation entitled Passages:

Featuring all four tracks from their blink-and-it's-gone limited-edition split LP with Zombi, as well as their remix LP (featuring The DFA's Tim Goldsworthy and !!!'s Justin Van Der Volgen), Passages is augmented with two previously unreleased tracks - the Moog-fueled meditative trance of Steve Moore's "Monoliths" remix, and the positively sublime emotional heft of "Do You Hear The Nightbirds Calling You?", all remastered from the original master tapes and packaged with eye-popping new artwork.

Also included on the Enhanced CD are two brilliant videos for "Inventions (Live)" and "This Is A Sight We Had One Day On The High Mountain."

That new LP includes the kick ass "Monoliths" as well as the previously discussed "Join Us, Mystic Sister / No More Sages" available for download above. Look for that LP to surface on merch tables during their stint with Mono which includes their dates at The Bell House (9/29, tix) and Bowery Ballroom (9/28, tix). All dates below.

Meanwhile, a member of Zombi recently signed with Temporary Residence and is prepping a new LP. Majeure, the nom de plume of A.E. Paterra, will release Timespan (featuring "Teleforce" above) on the label this fall with pre-orders kicking off on 9/1.

Full tour dates and those previously-mentioned videos are below...

Continue reading "Maserati releasing rarities, TRL signs Majeure - MP3 & dates"

DOWNLOAD: The Black Heart Procession - Rats (MP3)

The Black Heart Procession are hitting the road in support of their new album, Six, out October 6th on Temporary Residence.

Six is The Black Heart Procession's first album to be written and recorded simultaneously with a new album by Three Mile Pilot, the band that originally spawned Pinback and The Black Heart Procession. As both Three Mile Pilot and The Black Heart Procession now coexist for the first time ever, founding members, Pall Jenkins and Tobias Nathaniel, have steered The Black Heart Procession into a darker, more adventurous direction, with an increased focus on rhythm and a more wildly eclectic instrumental palette.

The Black Heart Procession mainstays, Pall Jenkins on vocals and guitar and Tobias Nathaniel on piano and guitar, will be joined by Matt Resovich (BHP, Rafter, The Album Leaf) on violin, Jovi Butts (Mr. Tube and The Flying Objects) on bass and Jason Hooper (Goodbye Blue Monday) on drums. The five-piece band will perform songs off of Six, plus many selections from The Black Heart Procession's back catalog.

The Black Heart Procession hits the road this fall with a tour that includes a pair of NYC-area stops. They play a Halloween night show at Maxwell's in Hoboken, and then a gig the next night at Bowery Ballroom (11/1). Bellini and The Mumlers, who separately open the first and last half of Black Heart Procession's tour, will both be at both shows. Tickets to the Maxwell's show go on sale Friday, August 7th at noon. Bowery tickets are on AmEx presale now; general sale starts Friday at noon.

Pinback also has an October tour lined up that hits NYC just one day before Halloween. Tickets for that Irving Plaza show are still on sale.

Speaking of Halloween in NYC, King Khan will be here too, as will Mount Eerie (and Lez Zeppelin).

A track of the new Black Heart Procession record is posted above. Check out a video for another song, "Witching Stone," with the album art, tracklist, and all tour dates, below...

Continue reading "The Black Heart Procession - an album, MP3, 2009 tour dates"

by Black Bubblegum

Merle Allin, Pinback's Rob Crow, and Dino Sex (Sweet shirt Rob!)

Pinback are hitting the road this fall. The San Diego band, whose last LP was 2007's Autumn of The Seraphs on Touch N Go, will be premiering some material from their upcoming Temporary Residence Limited debut, not due until Spring 2010. One of the new dates is on Devil's Night (10/30, apropo for Senor Goblin Cock?) at Irving Plaza. Tickets for the NYC show go on sale Friday, 6/19 at noon here. They play Halloween in Boston.

Rob Crow's Goblin Cock played with Orphan earlier this year at Highline Ballroom. Wow, that last sentence sounded kinda sick.

Orphan has a few dates of their own as well, including a string of dates with the great Malkuth, none of which are in NYC. However, the band IS playing NYC on June 21st as part of the Tom Tom Magazine Benefit at Public Assembly, and again on August 16th with Night Horse and Tournament at Union Pool. Night Horse has also scheduled a second NYC date, at Pianos three days earlier (8/13) with TK Webb & The Visions, Barracks.

All Orphan, Night Horse, and Pinback dates are below..

Continue reading "Pinback - 2009 tour dates (Irving Plaza) ++ Orphan shows too"

words By Black Bubblegum

Young Widows @ Red 7 in Austin - March 21, 2009

Young Widows are in town, and the Louisville Sluggers will be joined by like-minded Aussies My Disco, as well as punks Tournament and caustic drum machine killers of The Austerity Program. I'm talking about the show at Europa in Brooklyn TONIGHT (4/1). Tickets are still available. Fans of The Austerity Program can also check for the band at Union Pool on April 26th if you can't make it tonight (shame on you).

In other news, Young Widows' current -uh- recording residence, Temporary Residence Limited, recently announced the signing of Pinback to their label... a move they proudly label "PINBACK + TEMPORARY RESIDENCE = PB&J W/ THE CRUSTS CUT OFF!". Agreed, though I guess it depends on the type of jelly.

Pinback would like to thank Touch and Go Records for putting out our last 2 releases. We have nothing but good things to say about the label. It's hard to see them go. The releases that they did over the last 25+ years have been an inspiration to us, and it was an honor to be on the label.... At the same time we are looking forward to starting a new chapter in Pinback's future with Temporary Residence... We can't wait and are looking forward to writing a solid new record for them."

This is not the first TRL / Rob Crow (of Pinback) joint venture. They released his solo album Living Well on the label in 2007.

Pinback played Music Hall of Williamsburg with Kylesa in October, and Rob Crow's "alleged" side project Goblin Cock played Highline Ballroom in February.

Young Widows were busy-as-all-get-out during SXSW, but still found time to add a last minute, late show at Red 7 on March 21st (the final night of SXSW). They did it to open for the almighty Frodus who used a lot of Young Widows' gear (and who also played hours earlier at Radio Room). Young Widows pics from that show are above and below (Frodus pics coming one day soon).

Continue reading "Pinback sign to Temp. Residence ++ Young Widows are here "

by Black Bubblegum

DOWNLOAD: Maserati - "Join Us, Mystic Sister / No More Sage" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Zombi - "Spirit Animal" (MP3 Snippet)
DOWNLOAD: Mono - "Ashes In The Snow" (MP3)

Zombi (photo by Shawn Brackbill)

Zombi is a space rock duo from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, consisting of Steve Moore on bass and synthesizers and Anthony Paterra on drums. The group makes use of looping to create multi-layered compositions. They have toured with Don Caballero, Isis, Orthrelm, The Psychic Paramount, Daughters, Red Sparowes, These Arms Are Snakes and Trans Am.

Zombi does not f around. The proggy duo have scheduled THREE releases for the month of February... read 'em and weep Axl Rose.

First up is Spirit Animal, Zombi's poppin' fresh LP due on Feb 3rd via Relapse Records. The band is currently streaming snippets of a pair of tracks at their myspace and made one of those snippets available for download here... check out "Spirit Animal" above.

Zombi's second release is decidedly different... the Sapphire 12" will be released on Throne Of Blood (aka The Rapture's label). Look for that on dancefloors, in February as well.

Finally, Zombi have paired up with Maserati to release a split LP on Temporary Residence Limited, due in, you guessed it, February. The kind folks at TRL have made one of those Maserati tracks (and an intro) available for download. Check out "Join Us, Mystic Sister / No More Sages" above. Maserati will be embarking on a short East Coast tour, hitting Le Poisson Rouge along the way on March 10th. Tickets are on sale.

While we are on the Temporary Residence Limited tip, labelmates MONO have dropped of an MP3 from their upcoming LP Hymn to the Immortal Wind check it out above. Tickets are still available for their 10th anniversary show at The Society For Ethical Culture with a 23-piece orchestra.

And that's not all for Steve Moore... the Zombi multi-instrumentalist wears many faces, a few of which will be showcased in the coming weeks. Look for a solo Steve Moore to hit Connolly's with Future Islands and Anamanaguchi on Jan 16th, and then again at Cake Shop with Jonas Reinhardt and ARP on Jan 30. He's also in Titan (who have no shows scheduled at the moment) and Lovelock who play Jan 23rd with College, Anoraak, and Russ Chimes as part of the Valerie party at Webster Hall.

All Maserati, Steve Moore, College, and Anoraak dates (none for Zombi yet), below...

Continue reading "Maserati, College & Anoraak tour dates, new Zombi releases, Steve Moore shows, Valerie & MONO"

by Black Bubblegum

Young Widows

Young Widows are hitting the road in support of their new Kurt Ballou-produced debut for Temporary Residence Limited, Old Wounds (up for pre-order NOW). The tour includes one date at Death By Audio on Oct 25th. Full tour dates are below.

Meanwhile, in a dimly lit smokey-filled section of Portland, YW labelmates Grails announced a new album of their own, Doomsdayer's Holiday, due Oct 7th (NSFW cover art below). Doomsayer's is the follow-up to the recently dropped Take Refuge In Clean Living (on Important) and the band is streaming the first taste, "Reincarnation Blues" at their myspace. Doomsdayer's Holiday goes up for pre-order on Sept 1st on CD and 180 Gram vinyl in 4 different variants (two different covers, and three different vinyl colors: black, a metallic gold/clear mix, or metallic silver/clear mix).

Speaking of Grails, Emil Amos's other band, Om are opening for Dinosaur Jr in CT and NJ. The NJ show is at the Stone Pony on September 24th. Tickets are on sale. The CT show is September 19th at Toad's Place.

Om and Dinosaur Jr. are both also playing the ATP Festival in upstate New York along with touring partners Meat Puppets, Built to Spill, and The Drones who are all playing Toad's Place together on September 17th. Every band mentioned in this paragraph also has one or more NYC shows coming up, except Om. Dinosaur Jr, BTS & MP are at Terminal 5. The Drones are playing Pianos and Union Hall.

All Om & Young Widows tour dates (and that NSFW cover art), below...

Continue reading "Om, Young Widows & Grails - 2008 tour dates, albums, stuff"

by Black Bubblegum

DOWNLOAD: Young Widows - "Old Skin" (MP3) from Old Wounds
DOWNLOAD: Young Widows - "The Heat Is Here" (MP3) from Old Wounds
DOWNLOAD: Young Widows - "The Charmers" (MP3) from Settle Down City, Out Now.

We previewed it a couple weeks ago, and now we have a taste. For those who missed it, Young Widows announced Old Wounds due this fall on Temporary Residence Limited (home of Explosions In The Sky, Mono, and more recently, a Genghis Tron Remix LP). Comprised of members of the celebrated but fallen Breather Resist, Old Wounds is produced by Kurt Ballou (Converge) and is one of a series of releases due from Young Widows this fall (look for another four seven-inches). If your tastes veer anywhere near the early 90s noise punk of Steve Albini and his cohorts (Shellac, Jesus Lizard, etc), Dischord staples like Fugazi or Jawbox, or more recent bands like Fight Amp and Made Out Of Babies, you'll want to check out "Old Skin" and "The Heat Is Here" from the new album Old Wounds available for download above. Some videos below...

Continue reading "Young Widows - new Temporary Residence album & MP3s"