by BBG

Chicago sound artist J.R. Robinson is like Alan Lomax with an editor's pen. The first full-length record from Wrekmeister Harmonies captures three elliptical drone improvisations staged in museums, intercut with field recordings of ambient sounds from public places and some in-studio editing from a rotating cast of collaborators. The on-site recordings are fascinating, particularly a performance from the Andy Warhol Museum ("Pittsburgh"), which features U.S. Maple's dueling guitarists Mark Shippy and Matt Carson and finds its lurching rhythm after a collage of disembodied crowd voices blends into vocal contortions from the Jesus Lizard's David Yow. - [Decibel]

Wrekmeister Harmonies presumably won't have Yow in tow when they descend upon Knitting Factory on August 8th (tickets) but they will share the stage with another Jesus Lizard-er. NYC band unFact, which features David Wm. Sims, is also on the bill with Chris Brokaw (ex-Codeine) and Peg Simone (WH and PSplayed together in January too).

unFact is also scheduled to play the Knitting Factory on June 29th alongside two other bands that feature figures from other great bands: Lapis Lazuli (which features Kurt Wolf of Pussy Galore & Boss Hog) will headline the night with an assist from Avondale Airforce (which features Peter Aaron of Chrome Cranks & Stanton Warren). Git yer tix.

In other Brooklyn show news, High on Fire are coming to MHOW, Sleep are coming to Masonic Temple, Javelina & Hot Graves & Unearlthy Trance open for Floor at Europa this Saturday, and Jucifer & Gloominous Doom play right affterwards at Union Pool.

DOWNLOAD: Azita - I'm Happy (MP3)

Azita

Azita's newish album, How Will You?, is on the high-standard Drag City label, giving it a kind of cachet, of course, but bringing expectations of the left-field, kranky and experimental, which the Iranian-born singer's music/performance art/punk-noise has been in prior incarnations. The new one, however, boasts a full brace of beautifully spare, not-so-ironic, piano-driven paeans to her friends, lovers, time, life and nothing in particular, given the odd little late-Beatles or '70s lite-jazz shades here and there. [LA Weekly]

In the past, Azita, full name Azita Youssefi, was part of Drag City acts like Scissor Girls, Bride of No No and AZ, as well as Will Oldham's touring band. She's currently on tour behind How Will You?, her third LP for Drag City, which came out on February 17th. The MP3 above is from that album.

Azita plays two NYC shows with Wrekmeister Harmonies. The first is Friday, May 15th, when the two acts perform at Bruar Falls, also with Bear in Heaven. The second, Monday, May 18th is at the Mercury Lounge. Tickets for that show are on sale.

Wrekmeister Harmonies is sound artist (and Ace Frehley fan) JR Robinson. Live, he'll be accompanied by "cellist Fred Lonberg-Holm (Wilco, etc.) and guitarist Mark Shippy (US Maple)." The project's first collection, Recordings Made In Public Spaces Volume One, is out now on Atavistic.

More info on Wrekmeister Harmonies' album, which was recorded at museums around the world, with live videos of Azita and all tour dates (with Bruar Falls flyer) below...

Continue reading "Azita (Drag City) + Wrekmeister Harmonies - 2009 tour dates (2 NYC shows) & MP3"