The Earth Is A Man

Listening to Chicago based The Earth Is A Man I'm reminded of one of my favourite bands The Naciente Quartet. TNQ released just one incredible 10" before seperating into various other projects such as Grovesnor and William; although rumour is they've begun rehearsing again.

Anyway, enough about old times, this is a new music blog. The Earth Is A Man have released a very fine album of inventive post-rock packed full of melodic hooks and dynamic structure. The self titled album is up for a pay-what-you-like price on their Bandcamp now.

Hess Is More

This all-kinds-of-excellent footage of Hess Is More's live outfit keeps making me return to his new single 'Creation Keeps the Devil Away', but I'm not sold yet. Do you prefer drum-circle-kraut-jazzercise or glacial-disco-pop?

Hess Is More 'Creation Keeps The Devil Away'

More at nublu.net.

Hackney Colliery Band : Pigmy Goats

Get a free download of this new track by East London brass ensemble Hackney Colliery Band, whose debut album is out 4th July through Wah Wah 45s.



More at wahwah45s.com.

Mice Parade : In Between Times

The always interesting Mice Parade release new album ‘What It Means To Be Left-Handed’ on 27th September. ‘In Between Times’ features on the AA-side single alongaside a cover of The Lemonheads 'Mallo Cup'.

MP3:
'In Between Times'



More at fat-cat.co.uk.

Fela Kuti : Reissues

Knitting Factory Records release their third set of reissues by Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti this week. Spanning 1976-1980 the titles are Zombie, Upside Down/Music of Many Colours, Stalemate/Fear Not For Man, Opposite People/Sorrow, Tears and Blood, Shuffering & Shmiling/No Agreement) and V.I.P./ Authority Stealing.

MP3:
Fela Kuti 'Zombie'

More at knittingfactoryrecords.com

Special Benny : Guestmix

Special Benny Guestmix by Proper Songs on Mixcloud

Special Benny have put together a mix that's "a portrait of Special Benny through the influences we can fairly safely say we share".

1. Jim O’Rourke 'Not Sport Marital Art'
2. The Acorn 'Crooked Legs'
3. Tortoise 'Eros'
4. Sea & Cake 'All The Photos'
5. The Naciente Quartet 'Dr Hombus'
6. Sufjan Stevens 'All Good Naysayers...'
7. Neil Cowley Trio 'Dinosaur Die'
8. Battles 'Tras 2'

Their album 'Toys' is released on 6th September through Proper Songs.

More at Proper Songs.

Hackney Colliery Band : Money

Gotta love a bit of brass.

More at Wah Wah 45s.

Special Benny : Toys

I'm very proud to announce the release of Special Benny's debut album 'Toys' on 6th September 2010 through Proper Songs!

The six-piece band are Mat Baynton, Grace Cheung, Tom Corbett, Ben Gates, Rob Smoughton and Matt Turner who hail from Southend, Brighton, Bexleyheath and Hong Kong but now call London home. Most of Special Benny studied music, apart from Mat, who went to clown school. Although five members can distinguish between a Neapolitan 6th, and a French 6th, none can fall over quite so hilariously as Mr Baynton.

The tracks on “Toys” draw from a variety of musical influences. Although they admit their individual tastes differ greatly, the band cites Tortoise, Jim O'Rourke, Sufjan Stevens, Battles, Frank Zappa and Steve Reich among their shared favourites.

As might be expected from a band who admire such experimental luminaries, there is a high degree of collaboration and planning involved in their song writing: “We finish all our ideas together, or the band as a whole aren’t interested. Democracy can be hard within a band, it can lead to arguments. But at the same time, the fact that we are always surprised when we play together is an absolute joy.”

Special Benny are not a band to rush things - their ultra-obsessive nature with microscopic detail of sound would send the most hardy of studio hermits around the bend - but even for them “Toys” has been a long time coming. Mat and Ben have been making music together since they were 14, before meeting other members around university and starting Special Benny (named seconds before playing their first gig, the name stuck ever since, somehow). Despite building up a solid live following and self-recording/producing/releasing the “Rumblestrip EP” in 2006, the group struggled to find their natural rhythm and life began to interfere. original drummer Steve Galloway left, Matt Turner took a job in Australia for a year, Mat Baynton’s acting career took off, Ben and Grace started a family – the group even called time on Special Benny with a final gig at their spiritual home of The Fox in Lewisham, South East London. Then in late 2008, they discussed playing seriously again with their friend and drummer Rob Smoughton (who releases as Grovesnor on Lo Recordings and is live drummer for Hot Chip). The resulting rehearsals inspired the group into resuming with renewed focus, leading to the completion of “Toys”.

The release of “Toys” is a testament to their desire and need to create music together, and to do so on their own terms as a group. It is the sound of people discovering common ground despite their differences and disruptions and creating music that’s beautiful, precious, timeless and entirely their own.



More at specialbenny.com

Connan Mockasin : Its Choade My Dear

'It's Choade My Dear' is taken from 'Please Turn Me Into The Snat' the debut album by phantasy phreak-dreamer Connan Mockasin.

MP3:
Its Choade My Dear

More at Phantasy Sound.

Sonoi : Sonoi

Sonoi is an experimental rock trio from Chicago, whose self titled debut album is out this week. Check out the opening three tracks including the brilliant stop motion video for 'Red Ants'.

MP3:
Sonoi 'Clouds'
Sonoi 'Sherryfall'



More at sonoimusic.com.

Mako Sica : Dual Horizon

If you ever catch yourself thinking "I just don't freak out hard enough these days" then Chicago's Mako Sica are the band to flip your crazy switch. Recorded completely live without overdubs, their far out debut album 'Dual Horizon' is released courtesy of La Société Expéditionnaire, limited to 250 LPs. Exploring punk, jazz, avant-gard, drone, chanting, noise and psychedelia - often at the same time - opening track of three 'I'Itoi' (named for a mythological Native American god who lives in a mountain cave and watches over the desert) sets out the band's agenda for dark, ever evolving experimentalism. If you make it through to the other side the full 40 minute cycle of the album is your next journey to take, released 16th February.

MP3:
Mako Sica 'I'Itoi'.

Buy from La Société Expéditionnaire.

Rich Bennett : Music For Underwater Supermarkets

The side project of Rich Bennett from Monocle makes music that brings together the sophisticated pop soundtracks of Burt Bacharach and Ennio Morricone with the electronic detail of Stereolab and Delia Derbyshire. Debut release 'Music For Underwater Supermarkets' features full tracks embellished with horns, vibraphone and flutes divided by minimal soundscape experiments. It works well, providing a respite to either style and keeping ears turned on. If you're a fan of retro-futurist pop such as the High Llamas then this will be up your aisle.

Download 'The Underwater Supermarket'.
Download 'Dreaming In The Lake'.

Buy at Hidden Shoal.

Laurel Halo : Future Fruit

Having soaked up free jazz in Ann Arbor, house and techno in Detroit and folk and pop in Thailand Laurel Halo had a unique world of influences to draw on, which has resulted in a very distinctive sound. Now living and recording material in Brooklyn, 'Future Fruit' has been remixed by PS favourite Radiant Dragon.

Download 'Future Fruit'
Download 'Future Fruit' (Radiant Dragon Remix)

Hong Kong In The 60s : Guest Mix

Hong Kong In The 60s released their brilliant debut EP 'Willow Pattern Songs' through the Proper Songs label in June. Here they present an unclassifiable world wide mixtape of leftfield pop, jazz, easy listening and Oriental indie.

1. Sivuca - Voce Abusou [I'm Free as a Bird]
2. Starbuck - Moonlight Feels Right
3. Mantler - Private Doubts
4. Burt Bacharach - Hasbrook Heights
5. Carlos Lyra - Canaã
6. Joyce and Milton Nascimento - Tema Para Jobim
7. Sylvia Telles - Canção da Volta
8. Jacqueline Taïeb - Petite Fille Amour
9. Tracy Huang - 美麗人生
10. Fitness Forever - Quando Ho Tempo
11. Ennio Morricone - Ninna Nanna in Blu
12. Nara Leão - Rapaz De Bem
13. The Marshmallow Kisses - 回憶旋賺舞步

Buy 'Willow Pattern Songs' at Rough Trade.

The Second Release On Proper Songs Is By Special Benny

Available on digital in November, 'Air Filter' is the first track from Special Benny's exceptional debut album 'Toys' out in Spring '010.



propersongs.net/label

DJ Food : One Man's Weird Is Another Man's World

News of the forthcoming DJ Food EP was announced today along with the quite fantastic artwork by 2000AD artist Henry Flint. 'One Man's Weird Is Another Man's World' is released on 6th July, here's what they say about the tracks.

'The Illectrik Hoax' features Nathaniel Pearn aka Natural Self aka one half of The Broken Keys in a role he's not normally known for - vocalist. Kev approached him after hearing an uncredited vocalist on two Broken Keys tracks which turned out to be Nathaniel's first forays into singing.

'extract from Stolen Moments' is the first of several variations on a theme that will run through the forthcoming album of the same name. Co-written with PC and seeing the light of day in remixed form after being shelved at the last minute for the Kaleidoscope album.

'All Covered In Darkness Part 1' hosts guest appearances - in sample form - from two artists previously associated with DJ Food. Ken Nordine should need no introduction, he provides the verses whilst the harmonies of The Dragons fill the choruses. The good Dr. Rubberfunk joins in on drums to glue the whole thing together and then freq's out on Part 2 as things get heavy.

'A Trick Of The Ear' A 13 and half minute polyrhythmic percussion epic mixed by ex Tortoise member Bundy K Brown who also provides a remix with an epic title to match. Headphone music based on circular rhythms aimed at the head rather than the feet.

'Colours Beyond Colours' Meditations on colours from far out in space, looking back through the Kaleidoscope.

Teeth Mountain : Q&A

Instrumental trance-rock behemoth Teeth Mountain beam us The Answers (and a photograph) direct from their tour bus, which appears to be somewhere on the outer reaches of reality.

PS. Tell everyone a bit about yourselves.
Kate is dreaming in the hammock at the back of the bus. Greg Fox is reading Cosmic Trigger volume III and wondering what I'm doing. Greg St. Pierre is drifting out on his video zone for tonite. Max is listening to a portable CD player, I can't tell if it has anti-skip or not, lets hope for his sake it does. Andrew Burt is checking out maps and researching Birmingham, Alabama where we're headed now, he's a human compass. Bernie is eating chips, now and forever. I (Justin) just fixed my sunglasses with some duct tape and sticks, so far so good, but when we hit bumps they get sort of fucked.

PS. How's the tour going with Dan Deacon and Future Islands?
Dan, Future Islands, Chester, Steff, Mabson, Bennyventure, Ray Roy, Denny Dagger and the bus/eagle ager guys all make for a serious crew. We've been burning through cities. Our bus is sketchy, but this dude Jeff rules it. Right now we're in the south and heading west to the best tacos in the world.

PS. How did you all meet and start playing together?
We met in clown town and started jamming under the space titty? We wrote the whole back story about 1989 Denton, Texas, the Manic Messiahs, Kings Club backroom, time travel, super Vacations, Quantum leap baltimore mid 90s shit and then the kool bus internet fuzzed out and my netzone got fucked. Family of Love.

PS. What are some of the influences of your sound?
All of existence and non existence, which are not separate things. The effect that vibration has on air molecules, and how those effected molecules can influence the nervous system of a gathered group of entities. Conquering the Black Iron Prison, breaking out of the rigid logic of Aristotle, deafening the chalice of groups who meet in secret and plot our transformation into a slave consciousness. The milky way galaxy is our home, Earth is where we currently "are" in "time" and "space". The taco that can be told is not the eternal taco.

PS. Give us a top five of something.
Top 5 things:
1 - "Taco zone"
2 - "Joose Bros"
3 - "Dick Zoz"
4 - "Powder them nuss"
5 - "Titty Head"

Top 4 awesome things about the bus we're currently on:
1 - Hammocks
2 - runs on veggie oil
3 - has Internet. Alabama --> London digi connection, wifi world order
4 - kicthen (Grateful Dead poster, igloo, kombucha bucket)

Top 3 show playlist moments:
1 - All of Philly singing along to Sublime - "Santeria"
2 - All of Philly singing along to System of a Down "Chop Suey"
3 - The lady in Knoxville yelling at us to start because "this song sucks"

Top 2 theoretical bands:
1 - Bases Loaded
2 - Grind Staph

Top 1 end of show song played by Mabson:
1 - Seal "Kiss from a Rose"

At the moment Juno seems to be the easiest place to buy 'Teeth Mountain' on vinyl or MP3.

Studio G : G-Spots

While we're gripped by soundtrack fever, Trunk Records have compiled a new CD of the best of the Studio G label of library records. Set up by advertising exec John Gale in the 60s, Studio G tracks featured on children's show Vision On, the darts and top crown bowling. Its an incredible collection of weirdy folk, electro and horror sounds that gravitate far beyond their original purpose.



Buy from Trunk Records.

AU : Q&A

PS: Tell everyone a bit about yourself and where you are.
I myself am Luke Wyland. I started AU back in 2005 as I was finishing up my BFA at the Massachusetts College of Art in Boston, though my first release was under the moniker "luc" (peaofhesea, 2005 - Aagoo Records). Since then the project has been through a bunch of incarnations with the only real constant of myself. I've been lucky enough to have some great friends and players help out along the way including Jonathan Sielaff, Mark Kaylor, Sarah Winchester, Becky Dawson and Dana Valatka (to name just a few). Currently its a touring duo with Dana Valatka on drums (also of Jackie-O-Motherfucker, Mustaphamond). We are based out of Portland, Oregon.

PS: What should we expect from the live show? Has it been a challenge to reproduce some of the album tracks?
Well the first thing I like to tell people is that the live show is just two of us. Most expect at least 5 or 6 people on stage due to the sound on Verbs. While we have put on shows with 20 plus people on stage in Portland its just not reasonable for the touring and traveling needs (recorded sound vs. live sound in my own mind should be two different things). That being said the live show is a lot more energetic and rockin and tends towards distinct dynamic changes. As for the challenge of translating the songs live, its something I rather enjoy. Some songs we don't ever play live - or if we do it's only for the special occasions that we have the right amount of people to do em justice. Others are constantly evolving in terms of how we play them over time leaving significant room for improvisation and spontaneity. An important thing for us to keep the enjoyment level up night after night.

PS: Were you pleased by the response to Verbs? What's next?
I was primarily pleased with the process of making the record and being fortunate enough to collaborate with so many amazing players. As far as the response goes, it's allowing us to tour more which makes me very happy. I mean we're heading overseas, which has been a dream of mine for years now, so not much to complain about here. Besides these things its very hard to gauge what the response is to albums in such a saturated "market".

We just finished up an EP of live versions of songs from both Verbs and our first album, as well as a new song or two, that better represents the live duo of Dana and myself. That'll come out this summer some time while we'll be starting the next LP after we get back from Europe in June.



Download 'RR vs D'

PS: RR vs D is my girlfriend's favourite track. She asks:" it sounds like you're at a magical carnival - what would your float have on it?"
My own float huh? I'd say it would be stacked high with numerous people strapped to grand pianos, one on top of the other sticking out at adjacent angles. Surrounding them would be a cascading waterfall of champagne ending in a pool of cognac with a submerged and drowning and extremely intoxicated marching band blowing bubbles instead of music. At the precipice would be a franticly running cartoon animal of shapeshifting abilities on a treadmill. All parties survive no worries.

PS: Give us a top 5 of something.
I'm left blank on this one. Top 5 lists are my least and most feared task.

AU undertake a massive European tour from 11th April to 6th June. Full dates on Myspace.

Various Artists : Dark Was The Night

'Dark Was The Night' is a double compilation in support of the Red Hot Organization - an international charity dedicated to raising funds and awareness for HIV and AIDS. If you take away the obvious reason for buying this album and concentrate on the actual music, you come away with a decent round up of the current of cream of the US indie/alt scence. A 31 track album is always going to vary in quality but contributions from Dirty Projectors with David Byrne, Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings, Kronos Quartet, Blonde Redhead + Devastations and Bon Iver easily outweigh any lesser moments.

Buy from 4AD.