Devon Williams Review In Paste

Devon Williams
Carefree [Ba Da Bing Records]

Charming solo debut from former mall punk gets retro-classy

If you ever bought one of those Epitaph Records Punk-O-Rama compilations in the late '90s, you might vaguely recall Devon Williams' pop-punk band Osker. (They also played the house-party band in the movie Crazy/Beautiful.) And your jaw might crack the table when you hear the direction he's taken on his solo debut. It's not uncommon for lapsed punks to turn to country or folk (an urge Williams slakes as the guitarist for Lavender Diamond), but how often do they become '60s pop-rockers with a penchant for syrupy chamber strings? Echoes of Williams' old group can be heard in the rollicking cadences of "Stephanie City" and "Bells" but, mostly, Carefree is for fans of Cass McCombs, Belle & Sebastian and John Vanderslice. The production sparkles with reverb and cavernous drums, and from the marching strings of "Please Be Patient" to the harmonized girl-group "ooh-oohs" of "One and One," Williams has found a context in which his lush tenor can really soar.

Brian Howe

Revolver Bands On Tour July 30th 2008

A HAWK AND A HACKSAW
09/12 Dorset, UK Larmer Tree Gardens (End of the Road Festival)

A STORM OF LIGHT
08/14 Warsaw, POL Club Stodola (w/ Neurosis)
08/15 Prague, CZE Brutal Assault Festival (w/ Neurosis)
08/18 Leipzipg, DEU UT Connewitz (w/ Neurosis)
08/19 Leipzipg, DEU UT Connewitz (w/ Neurosis)
08/21 Munich, DEU Metropolis (w/ Neurosis)
08/22 Le Locle, CHE VNV Festival (w/ Neurosis)
08/23 Ancona, IT Mamamia (w/ Neurosis)
08/30 Cammer, DEU South of Mainstream Festval
09/02 Aalst, BEL Negasonic
09/03 Tilburg, NL 0-13
09/04 Hamburg, DEU Markthalle
09/05 Copenhagen, DNK Loppen
09/06 Oslo, NOR Garage
09/10 Hannover, DEU Cafe Glocksee
09/11 Dresden, DEU Groovestation
09/12 Prague, CZE Klub 007
09/13 Innsbruck, AUT PMK
09/14 Vienna, AUT Szene
09/16 Düdingen, CHE Badd Bonn
09/17 Geneva, CHE Lusine
09/19 La Chaux De Fonds, CHE Bikini Test

AKIMBO
08/16 Missoula, MT Badlander Total Fest
09/05 Portland, OR Ash Street Saloon (NW Music Festival)
09/27 Seattle, WA King Cobra

AKRON/FAMILY
09/07 Isle of Wight, UK Bestival Festival
09/12 Dorset, UK Larmer Tree Gardens (End of the Road Festival)
09/14 Red Rocks, CO Monolith Festival

AMON TOBIN
09/20 San Francisc0, CA Treasure Island Music Festival

APACHE
08/06 New York, NY The Knitting Factory
08/11 Detroit, MI The Lagerhouse
08/12 Chicago, IL Empty Bottle
08/16 Atlanta, GA E.A.R.L.
08/20 Philadelphia, PA Manhatten Room
08/23 New York, NY Cake Shop

BLUES CONTROL
08/30 Long Island City, NY Texas Funhouse
08/31 Jamaica Plain, MA Milky Way Lounge & Lanes
09/13 Chicago, IL Empty Bottle
09/14 Cleveland, OH Now That's Class

CHEAP TIME
07/30 Los Angeles, CA The Echo (w/ Jay Reatard)
07/31 San Diego, CA Casbah (w/ Jay Reatard)
08/01 Mesa, AZ Hollywood Alley (w/ Jay Reatard)
08/03 Austin, TX Red 7 (w/ Jay Reatard)
08/04 Dallas, TX ClubDada (w/ Jay Reatard)
08/06 Memphis, TN Murphy's
08/18 Nashville, TN The End

DAEDELUS
08/06 Los Angeles, CA Low End Theory
09/02 Medford, MA Tufts University
09/05 San Francisco, CA Elbo Room
09/06 New York, NY Knitting Factory
09/20 Chicago, IL Jackson @ Lava
09/21 Montreal, QC Piknic Electronik

DEAD C
10/12 Philadelphia, PA Johnny Brenda’s
10/13 New York, NY Bowery Ballroom
10/16 San Francisco, CA Great American Music Hall (w/ Six Organs Of Admittance)
10/19 Chicago, IL Empty Bottle

DEVENDRA BANHART
08/21 Reno, NV Grand Sierra Theatre
08/23 San Francisco, CA Outside Lands Music&Arts Festival

DROP THE LIME
07/31 New York, NY Santos Partyhouse
08/01 Chicago, IL Abbey Pub
08/10 Salmo, BC Shambhala Music Festival
09/27 Princeton, NJ Terrace F. Club

ENDLESS BLOCKADE
08/4 kamloops, BC Dirty Jersey

ESSIE JAIN
08/09 Leicester, UK Summer Sundae Weekender Festival
08/13 Brighton, UK Freebutt
08/16 Glanusk Park, UK Brecon Beacons Park (Green Man Festival)
09/12 Dorset, UK Larmer Tree Gardens (End of the Road Festival)
09/16 Brighton, UK The Hope
09/18 London, UK Green Note
10/27 Milan, IT La Casa 139

HOWLIN' RAIN
08/13 Glasgow, UK Nice and Sleazy’s
08/14 Leeds, UK The Brudenell Social Club
08/15 London, UK Corsica Studios
08/16 Glanusk Park, UK Brecon Beacons Park (Green Man Festival)
08/19 Portland, OR East End
08/22 San Francisco, CA Outside Lands Music&Arts Festival
08/29 Vancouver, BC Media Club
08/30 Victoria, BC Mcpherson Playhouse (Rifflandia Festival)
08/31 Seattle, WA Bumbershoot Music & Arts Festival

JANA HUNTER TOURING WITH LESSER GONZALEZ ALVAREZ
08/14 Washington, DC Black Cat
08/15 Philadelphia, PA M Room
08/16 New York, NY Knitting Factory Tap Bar
08/17 Providence, RI AS220
08/19 Cambridge, MA TT the Bears
08/20 Montreal, QC Le Divan Orange
08/21 Toronto, ON Rancho Relaxo
08/22 Buffalo, NY Soundlab
08/23 Pittsburgh, PA Morning Glory
08/24 Pontiac, MI Pike Room
08/26 Madison, WI High Noon Saloon (early show)
08/27 Chicago, IL Schubas
08/29 Denver, CO Hi-Dive
08/30 Salt Lake City, UT Kilby Court
08/31 Boise, ID Neurolux
09/02 Portland, OR Holocene
09/05 San Francisco, CA Hemlock Tavern
09/07 Los Angeles, CA Tangier
09/10 Marfa, TX Thunderbird Hotel
09/12 Austin, TX Emo's
09/13 Denton, TX Rubber Gloves
09/17 Houston, TX Diverseworks
09/19 Birmingham, AL Bottletree
09/21 Atlanta, GA Eyedrum
09/22 Mount Pleasant, SC Village Tavern

JAY REATARD
07/30 Los Angeles, CA The Echo (w/ Cheap Time)
07/31 San Diego, CA Casbah (w/ Cheap Time)
08/01 Mesa, AZ Hollywood Alley (w/ Cheap Time)
08/03 Austin, TX Red 7 (w/ Cheap Time)
08/04 Dallas, TX ClubDada (w/ Cheap Time)

KID KOALA
08/02 Montreal, QC Olympia de Montreal
08/30 New York, NY Rocks Off Concert Cruise
09/04 Guelph, ON Mitchell Hall

KING KHAN & THE SHRINES
07/30 Northampton, MA Iron Horse
70/31 Cambridge, MA Middle East Upstairs
08/01 New Haven, CT Cafe Nine

LEFTOVER CRACK
08/01 Philadelphia, PA Trocadero
08/02 Washington, DC St. Stephens Church
08/03 New York, NY Tompkins Square Park (2:00 PM)
08/05 Providence, RI Club Hell
08/07 Boston, MA Club Lido

LUDICRA
08/12 San Francisco, CA Slim's

NEUROSIS
08/12 Oslo, NOR Kanonhallen
08/14 Warsaw, POL Club Stodola (w/ A Storm Of Light)
08/15 Prague, CZE Brutal Assault Festival (w/ A Storm Of Light)
08/16 Hasselt, BEL Pukkelpop Festival
08/18 Leipzipg, DEU UT Connewitz (w/ A Storm Of Light)
08/19 Leipzipg, DEU UT Connewitz (w/ A Storm Of Light)
08/21 Munich, DEU Metropolis (w/ A Storm Of Light)
08/22 Le Locle, CHE VNV Festival (w/ A Storm Of Light)
08/23 Ancona, IT Mamamia (w/ A Storm Of Light)

OCTOPUS PROJECT
08/03 Chicago, IL Lollapalooza
08/04 Kansas City, MO Record Bar
080/5 Norman, OK Opolis
08/06 Lubbock, TX Tequila Station
08/11 Phoenix, AZ Rhythm Room
08/12 Tucson, AZ Congress Theater
08/14 Los Angeles, CA Knitting Factory
08/15 Visalia, CA Cellar Door
08/16 San Francisco, CA Bottom of the Hill
08/18 Portland, OR Satyricon
08/19 Seattle, WA Nectar Lounge
08/22 Edmonton, ON Velvet Underground
08/23 Calgary, AB The HiFi Club
08/25 Salt Lake City, UT Urban Lounge
08/26 Denver, CO The Hi-Dive
08/28 Fort Worth, TX Lola's Saloon @ The Burning Hotels
08/29 Houston, TX Warehouse Live
09/28 Austin, TX Austin City Limits Festival

PORT O' BRIEN
08/06 Madison, WI Cafe Montmartre
08/07 Chicago, IL Schubas
08/09 Toronto, ON El Mocambo
08/10 Montreal, QC Le Divan Orange
08/12 Cambridge, MA Middle East Upstairs
08/13 New York, NY Mercury Lounge
08/15 Brooklyn, NY Union Hall
08/16 Philadelphia, PA Johnny Brenda’s
08/17 Washington, DC Black Cat Backstage
08/18 Columbus, OH Cafe Bourbon St Annex
08/19 Indianapolis, IN Locals Only
09/13 Red Rocks, CO Monolith Festival

SCREENINGS OF THE GITS MOVIE
07/30 Edmonton, AB Metro
07/31 Edmonton, AB Metro
09/03 Portland, OR Music Fest NW
09/04 Portland, OR Music Fest NW
09/05 Portland, OR Music Fest NW
09/06 Portland, OR Music Fest NW
07/30 Fort Collins, CO Aggie Theater
07/31 Denver, CO Bluebird Theater
08/01 Salt Lake City, UT Paladium
08/03 Portland, OR Doug Fir Lounge
08/04 Seattle, WA Neumo's

SJ ESAU
07/30 London, UK Cargo

SLIM CESSNA'S AUTO CLUB
08/22 Durango, CO The Summit
08/23 Denver, CO Bluebird Theatre
08/24 Fort Collins, CO Aggie Theater
08/25 Salt Lake City, UT Bar Deluxe
08/27 Boise, ID Neurolux
08/28 Seattle, WA Tractor Tavern
08/29 Portland, OR Dante's
08/30 San Francisco, CA Great American Music Hall
08/31 Los Angeles, CA Safari Sam's
09/01 San Diego, CA Casbah

SONIC YOUTH
08/04 Leucate, FR Les Mediterraneennes Festival
08/05 Lokeren, BEL Lokerse Feesten
08/07 Oslo, NOR Oya Festival
08/08 Goteborg, SWE Way Out West Festival
08/09 St. Nazaire, FR Les Escales Festival

THE DEATH SET
08/30 Los Angeles, CA Los Angeles Historic State Park (Fuck Yeah Festival)
09/13 Bellevue, PA The Key Room
09/20 Boston, MA Boston University
10/25 Los Angeles, CA Henry Fonda Theater (w/ Girl Talk, CX KiDRONiK)
10/28 San Francisco, CA The Fillmore Auditorium (w/ Girl Talk, CX KiDRONiK)
10/30 Salt Lake City, UT In The Venue (w/ Girl Talk, CX KiDRONiK)
10/31 Denver, CO Ogden Theater (w/ Girl Talk, CX KiDRONiK)
11/01 Lawrence, KS The Granada Theatre (w/ Girl Talk, CX KiDRONiK)
11/03 Minneapolis, MN First Avenue (w/ Girl Talk, CX KiDRONiK)
11/04 Milwaukee, WI Turner Hall Ballroom (w/ Girl Talk, CX KiDRONiK)
11/05 Urbana, IL Canopy Club / Club Void (w/ Girl Talk, CX KiDRONiK)
11/06 Nashville, TN Cannery Ballroom (w/ Girl Talk, CX KiDRONiK)
11/07 Louisville, KY Headliners Music Hall (w/ Girl Talk, CX KiDRONiK)
11/08 Chicago, IL Congress Theatre (w/ Girl Talk, CX KiDRONiK)
11/09 Cincinnati, OH Bogarts (w/ Girl Talk, CX KiDRONiK)
11/10 Cleveland, OH Beachland Ballroom (w/ Girl Talk, CX KiDRONiK)
11/11 Pontiac, MI Eagle Theatre (w/ Girl Talk, CX KiDRONiK)
11/12 Toronto, ON Koolhaus (w/ Girl Talk, CX KiDRONiK)
11/13 Montreal, QC Club Soda (w/ Girl Talk, CX KiDRONiK)
11/14 Foxborough, MA Showcase Live (w/ Girl Talk, CX KiDRONiK)
11/15 New York, NY Terminal 5 (w/ Girl Talk, CX KiDRONiK)

TRICLOPS!
08/13 Seattle, WA Kenton Club
08/14 Tacoma, WA Hell's Kitchen
08/15 Spokane, WA Blvd
08/16 Missoula, MT Badlander (Total Fest)
08/18 Fargo, ND The Aquarium
08/20 Duluth, MN The Merritt (early show)
08/20 Duluth, MN Thirsty Pagan Brewery (late show)
08/22 Milwaukee, WI The Vault
08/23 Chicago, IL Reggie's Rock Club
08/24 Elgin, IL The Gasthaus
08/25 Bloomington, IN Uncle Fester's

VETIVER
07/30 Hampden, CT The Space
08/01 Boston, MA Museum of Fine Arts
08/02 New York, NY Bowery Ballroom
08/03 Brooklyn, NY Music Hall of Williamsburg

WHY?
08/02 Osnabrück, DEU Lok Pop Festival
08/16 St. Malo, FR La Route Du Rock
08/29 San Francisco, CA Great American Music Hall
09/04 Los Angeles, CA Echoplex
09/05 Tempe, AZ The Clubhouse
09/06 Tucson, AZ Solar Cultural Gallery
09/08 Austin, TX Mohawk
09/09 Dallas, TX Granada Theater
09/11 Pensacola, FL Sluggo's
09/12 Gainesville, FL Common Grounds
09/13 Miami, FL White Room
09/14 Orlando, FL Social
09/16 Asheville, NC Grey Eagle
09/17 Philadelphia, PA First Unitarian Church
09/18 New York, NY Bowery Ballroom
09/19 Boston, MA Museum of Fine Arts
09/20 Portland, ME SPACE Gallery
09/21 Providence, RI Club Hell
09/22 Montreal, QC La Sala Rossa
09/25 Cincinnati, OH Blaclbox Theatre (Midpoint Music Festival)
09/26 Carbondale, IL Bottom Lounge
09/27 Minneapolis, MN Triple Rock
09/29 Denver, CO Hi-Dive
09/30 Salt Lake City, UT Kilby Court
10/02 Vancouver, BC Richard's On Richard
10/03 Seattle, WA Vera Project
10/04 Portland, OR Wonder Ballroom

WIRE
09/08 London , UK Scala
09/09 Leeds, UK Met University
09/10 Nottingham, UK Rescue Room
09/11 Glasgow, UK The Arches
09/12 Manchester, UK Academy 3
09/19 Amsterdam, NL Melkweg
09/20 Gent, BEL Minnemeers
09/21 Tilburg, NL ZXZW Festival
09/22 Brussels, BEL Botanique
10/05 Montreal, QC Le National
10/06 Ottawa, ON Barrymore's
10/07 Toronto, ON Lee's Palace
10/08 Cambridge, MA Middle East Downstairs
10/10 Philadelphia, PA Johnny Brenda’s
10/11 Washington, DC 9:30 Club
10/12 Atlanta, GA Variety Playhouse
10/15 San Francisco, CA Fillmore
10/16 Vancouver, BC The Commodore Ballroom
10/17 Minneapolis, MN First Avenue
10/18 Chicago, IL Metro

WOODBOX GANG
08/8 Columbus, OH House of Crave
08/16 Carbondale, IL Hangar 9
08/21 Springfield, IL Marley's
08/23 Davenport, IA River Roots Live Festival
08/31 Pittsburgh, PA Bocktown Beer and Grill

WOODEN SHJIPS
10/31 London, UK The Forum

Future Feature - TWTW Mojo's Album Of The Month

Time travel into the not-so-distant future..... The Rock 'n' Roll soothsayer predicts that The Week That Was will be Mojo's album of the month for Spetember.

Pitchfork Today: The Bug 8.6/Best New Music!

The Bug:
London Zoo
[Ninja Tune; 2008]
Rating: 8.6
Original review

Kevin Martin, under a dozen-or-so aliases and across numerous genres, has been screwing around with deep bass for well over a decade. 1997's Tapping the Conversation-- a concept album conceived as a surrogate soundtrack to Francis Ford Coppola's The Conversation-- was his first release as the Bug, and in retrospect, it sounds like an alternate-universe prototype of dubstep, based on instrumental hip-hop rather than UK garage rhythms. By the time he issued his 2003 follow-up Pressure, he'd already charged headlong into heavy digital ragga, building a repertoire of grimy, distorted beats that mutated dancehall into a glitchy, blown-out commotion.

Martin's latest Bug album, London Zoo, is very much in keeping with that permutation, which stands out amidst the recent wave of dubstep in a way that makes Burial's Untrue sound like Music for Airports. But it also takes the Bug's work into a somewhat cleaner, less abrasive area-- it streamlines the sound, shaves away the distortion, and draws most of its impact from the rhythms themselves. Of course, "less abrasive" doesn't necessarily mean it hit any less hard: Martin knows how and when to drop a heavy beat directly on top of you, and there's a carefully crafted tension throughout this record, no matter how sparse or dense that beat actually is.

Sparseness and density tend to work in tandem on London Zoo's strongest tracks: Bass hits at machine-gun intervals, leaving deep, tube-station echoes disintegrating in its wake and giving a number of these tracks a simultaneous sensation of freeness and claustrophobia. Reverberating, distorted voices and spare synth melodies close in on you even as they recede into the distance, and the rhythms are so pervasive and locked in that after a while you start hearing the spaces in between as much as you're hearing the beats themselves.

Martin has also enlisted an army of top-notch singers and toasters for the record, ranging from dancehall veterans like Tippa Irie to Burial and Kode9 collaborator Spaceape. However, three names in particular stand out. First, there's Roll Deep member Flowdan, whose grumbling, elastic baritone contributions to the chaingun-rhythm "Jah War" (heard on the fantastic 2006 Planet Mu comp Mary Anne Hobbs Presents the Warrior Dubz) and last year's sinster, headknock single "Skeng" show up again here. Flowdan is also at the center of the manic "Warning", which features one of the album's best hooks and a hell of a rampaging performance; there's one cool bit about halfway through where he ratchets the intensity in his voice down to a conversational rumble to match a moment in the song where the bass draws back, then resumes shouting right when it drops back in.

Singer/toaster Ricky Ranking shows up on three tracks as well, and his vocal range-- switching from sweet melodies to foreboding chants-- is impressive, even if he's best suited to the slower numbers (especially the dirgelike closer "Judgement"). And the two appearances from Warrior Queen are knockouts: "Poison Dart", originally released as a single last year, is ruffneck feminism ("Though me na sling no gun, a boy think sey me soft/ But me a real poison dart") delivered with a sharp, wailing sneer over more low end than most MCs could contend with, and "Insane", which augments a chirpier, more buoyant flow with a smoothly-sung chorus and a few out-there adlibs, including a funny little riff on Tears for Fears' "Mad World".

The only caveat concerning London Zoo is how far it might skew away from your traditional notions of dancehall-- and even then, it helps to recognize that, if anything, this record is another manifestation of how London has transformed the sounds of Jamaica to its own ends, from 2-tone to jungle to dubstep. It's a tense record, sure, but that tension is palpable in a crossover-friendly way, invoking Babylon and fire while avoiding the more problematic aspects of "slack" lyrics. It's angry and ferocious, but always triumphant: When it threatens to bust out your windows and rip holes in your speakers, it crackles with the kind of force that makes you want to punch the air as hard as your subwoofers do.

- Nate Patrin, July 30, 2008

The Alps Get Dusted.

Dusted Reviews
Artist: Sic Alps
Album: U.S. EZ
Label: Siltbreeze
Review date: Jul. 24, 2008
Original Review

The recent media emphasis on “lo-fi” as a re-emerging genre feels more than forced these days. After all, low-fidelity recordings have existed as long as musicians have deigned to make a few bucks off their craft. What differentiated 1980s and ’90s practitioners from any number of skuzzy Nuggets clones or DIY progenitors from decades past was a base ironic detachment that rested on a willful subversion of the expected norms of music production. To claim any sort of rebirth here is to deny the fact that crappy microphones and cheap methods for recording music continue to propagate each and every day.

In a way, though, this renewed focus on an aesthetic like lo-fi was almost an inevitability, a response to be expected from musicians and listeners less and less interested in indie rock’s increasing approach of traditional major label values and marketing strategies coupled with desperate grabs for ever-shrinking pieces of market share pie. Even still, while lo-fi’s break represents somewhat of an alternative from the way things currently are, it still brings with it another set of troubling orthodoxies: ridiculously small pressings of records, a seller’s market on eBay, bands who use cardboard boxes for drums, and a resigned expectation of terrible live sets.

California duo Sic Alps have been lumped pretty haphazardly in with this new class, thanks in part to the tinny quality of some of their recordings and a few overt moves to dialogue with their forbearers (going so far as to cover kindred spirits like the Strapping Fieldhands). In addition, the fact that they’ve had a few vinyl-only releases disappear in a matter of weeks hasn’t done much to sever that association. And though it might have made sense on recordings past, with U.S. EZ, Mike Donovan and Matthew Hartman’s first full-length for the Siltbreeze label, Sic Alps lay bare the fact that their primary interest isn’t in dissociating methods or recorder grot, but rather in pure and simple songs.

More so than any other of their supposed contemporaries, Sic Alp’s tunes place the personalities and the methods a distant second to Donovan and Hartman’s simple guitar and drum patterns, building blocks for songs that call to mind a distinctly multi-generation approach that has as much to do with garage pop and vintage psych as it does modern wave weirdo punk. “Bathman” starts out with a forlorn acoustic strum, for example, but quickly segues into a cascade of rolling drums and a thundering riff. Later on, “Mater” comes on like a punched-up version of the Clean, albeit one cut with stronger percussion and a better sense of vocal harmony. Best of all here, though, is “Gelly Roll Gum Drop,” an ascending vocal paired with insistent drums and honky-tonk moves that manage to take the music of Sic Alps into a wholly new realm.

Now, this group exists in some perfect middle ground, one in which great songs can be had without all the muss and fuss that strips them of their personality. Building on the strength of the still fresh singles collection, U.S. EZ is another great record by a pair of folks who seem to crank them out at ever increasing speeds with an alarming efficiency. You can call this stuff “lo-fi” as much as you’d like, but more than anything else, when the record stops or the show ends, you’ll remember the songs you heard first and foremost and not be left, weeks later, with the nagging feeling that you’ve had the wool pulled over your eyes by some burnout.

By Michael Crumsho

Threeimaginarygirls.com Reviews Jay Reatard's Seattle Show.

LIVE SHOW REVIEWS
Capitol Hill Block Party 2008: Jay Reatard @ Capitol Hill Block Party 2008
Original post

There have always been bands I haven’t given the time of day simply because of their monikers. Case in point: Jay Reatard.

I was unsurprised to be greeted with wild-haired, ironic flying-v toting post-punk rockers. But like mama always says, don’t judge a book by its Pitchfork cover story.

Though skeptical, I was pleased once I witnessed a band who could churn out songs so quick and so raw they were seconds away from tearing my face off. Unfortunately their high-energy antics brought out the mosher in some of the crowd, most likely those too drunk to realize that punk has been on its deathbed for quite some time.

Fortunately, in their tight jeans and golden slacks, Jay Reatard managed to rise above the punk rock grave, deconstruct the genre, throw in garage rock, slaughter that, and beat it into something compact and forceful. Though they may have felt like a gimmick at times, perhaps running on the dreaded 15-minute course, at least they’ve got great music and marvelous stage presence to show for it.

More Reatarded shows with the Cheap Time supporting:
7/29 San Francisco, CA @ The Independent
7/30 Los Angeles, CA @ The Echo
7/31 San Diego, CA @Casbah
8/1 Mesa, AZ @ Hollywood Alley
8/3 Austin, TX @ Red 7
8/4 Dallas, TX @ ClubDada

Dead C Tour The U.S. - Pitchfork Hears It First.

Legendary kiwi noise rockers, The Dead C, return to the states for a limited run. Details below were taken from a Pitchfork news article that was posted earlier this week.

The Dead C Reveal Rare U.S. Tour, New Album, Reissues...and tour-only 12"!

Fun fact about the Dead Sea: it has a lot of salt and stuff.

Fun fact about the Dead C: the Earth has circled the Sun some five times since the long-running experimental New Zealand combo last toured the U.S., and 13 times since their most recent visit to the East Coast.

That all changes this October, as the Dead C have announced a brief Stateside visit, kicking off in Philly on the 12th and wrapping just a few days later in the Chi. All kinds of noiseniks and other weirdos are coming out of the woodwork to support the Dead C on this trek, including Thurston Moore's Northampton Wools project, Wolf Eyes, Six Organs of Admittance, and Sightings.

So what's the occasion for this rare overseas voyage? Why, a new Dead C record, naturally. Secret Earth packs in four presumably long tracks and arrives October 14 on CD and vinyl thanks to Ba Da Bing.

But that's not all! Ba Da Bing is also teaming with Jagjaguwar to reissue on vinyl a pair of Dead C classics originally released by New Zealand's legendary Flying Nun label (the Clean, the Chills, the Bats, the Verlaines, etc). Eusa Kills and DR503 are due to hit shelves in mid-fall in double-LP form, and each packs in the extras. The former boasts a pair of cuts from the "Helen Said This" 12", while the latter crams in six jams off the The Sun Stabbed EP.

But wait, there's more! When the Dead C barnstorm the States this fall, they'll have with them a new, limited edition, tour-only 12". Take that, giant pool of brackish water.

Secret Earth:
01 Mansions
02 Stations
03 Plains
04 Waves

DR503 (vinyl reissue):
01 Max Harris
02 Speed Kills
03 The Wheel
04 Three Years
05 Mutterline
06 Country
07 I Love This
08 Polio
09 Angel *
10 Crazy I Know *
11 Fire *
12 Bad Politics *
13 Sun Stabbed *
14 Three Years *

Eusa Kills (vinyl reissue):
01 Scary Nest
02 Call Back Your Dogs
03 Alien to Be
04 Phantom Power
05 Now I Fall
06 I Was Here
07 Children
08 Bumtoe
09 Glasshole Pit
10 Maggot
11 Envelopment
12 Helen Said This *
13 Bury (Refutaio Omnium Haeresium) *

* bonus track

C-span:
10-12 Philadelphia, PA - Johnny Brenda's #
10-13 New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom ^
10-16 San Francisco, CA - Great American Music Hall %
10-19 Chicago, IL - Empty Bottle $

# with Blues Control, Pink Reason
^ with Northampton Wools, Sightings
% with Six Organs of Admittance
$ with Wolf Eyes

Vashti Bunyan Song In Reebok Commercial.

Reebok TV commercial featuring Vashti Bunyan's "Train Song" - stranger things have happened on prime time.

Gates Of Slumber On MTV's Headbangers' Blog.

The Gates Of Slumber video for "Trapped in the Web" is currently posted on MTV's Headbanger's Blog website and will also premiere on Headbangers Ball this Saturday night! Watch the vid now here.

What happens when you grow up in Indianapolis, Indiana, a city whose greatest claim to fame is a yearly car race that millions of people watch just to see the fiery collisions that sometimes take place? Well, we wouldn’t know since we’re tried and true Noo Yooakas, but we’re guessing you grow up a little twisted. Maybe you harbor fantasies of working in a chocolate factory by day and hacking up and skinning cheerleaders at night. Or maybe you really withdraw into the recesses of imagination and form a lumbering doom metal band like The Gates of Slumber.

Although Gates of Slumber formed in the late ’90s the band’s first release wasn’t until 2004. But that record, The Awakening quickly garnered acclaim within underground circles and was hailed as “a breath of fresh air within the doom / true metal underground” (if you don’t believe us, read the band’s bio).

Gates of Slumber’s follow-up, 2006’s Suffer No Guilt, was even more lethal, and the band quickly developed a strong following across Europe — especially in the UK, where they tour was greeted with raised swords and battle cheers. However, in their native land, their albums were only available on import and The Gates of Slumber remained relatively unknown. With their new album, Conqueror, the heathen warriors hope to change the tide and assemble a strong army of barbarians and sociopaths intent on tearing s—t up to the tunes of Indianapolis’ most promising doomsayers.

And The Gates of Slumber’s video for “Trapped in a Web” ain’t gonna hurt their cause. Here’s frontman Karl Simon to tell us more:

The concept around the video, for us, was to do something totally over the top. To that end, we spent the entire night before the shoot driving around town and gathering up guitar and bass cabinets to augment our stage gear. We wanted it to have that “wall of amps” look. I think I finally got home by like 7 a.m.

At 8:00, I got up and went to gather the troops. After picking up bassist Jason McCash and drummer Bob Fouts, we were on the way to the location for the shoot. At that point, the director Andy Reale calls to tell us that “he doesn’t think we’ll need the amps” (cue laugh track). It turns out his idea was way cooler than what we had in mind.

The video, to me, has the same look and feel as Danzig’s “Am I Demon” or Slayer’s “War Ensemble” — both very cool looking videos. The hall that we played in was something like 45 degrees, rather cold and dark for a lack of sleep. The lights, on the other hand, were only slightly cooler than the surface of the Sun! The shoot was a hell of a lot of fun: we must have done a thousand takes and all I remember was Andy telling us over and over again that we had to “headbang more.” Now, I almost never headbang at all anymore so I think I threw my neck out five seconds into the shoot. He kept telling Bob to “hit the drums harder,” and Bob already beats the hell out of his drums! I think he and Jason looked the coolest: their solo shots were just awesome — especially. Bob’s because of the way the light was playing off the cymbals. It was just great to look at.

And by the way… It would be awesome if you’d play “Gloves of Metal” by Manowar after our video - that would rule!

Karl, your wish is our battle command. Now watch the bloodshed and don’t miss it on the big screen on Saturday’s “Headbangers Ball.”

Revolver Bands On Tour July 24th 2008

A HAWK AND A HACKSAW
24-Jul Seattle, WA @ The Tractor Tavern w/ Benijam Wetherill
26-Jul Calagry, AB @ Prince's Isand Park (Calgary Folk Music Festival)
27-Jul Calgary, AB @ Prince's Isand Park (Calgary Folk Music Festival)
2-Sep Dorset, UK @ Larmer Tree Gardens (End of the Road Festival)

A STORM OF LIGHT
14-Aug Warsaw, POL @ Club Stodola w/ Neurosis
15-Aug Prague, CZE @ Brutal Assault Festival w/ Neurosis
18-Aug Leipzipg, DEU UT @ Connewitz w/ Neurosis
19-Aug Leipzipg, DEU UT @ Connewitz w/ Neurosis
21-Aug Munich, DEU @ Metropolis w/ Neurosis
22-Aug Le Locle, CHE @ VNV Festival w/ Neurosis
23-Aug Ancona, IT @ Mamamia w/ Neurosis
30-Aug Cammer, DEU @ South of Mainstream Festval
02-Sep Aalst, BEL @ Negasonic
03-Sep Tilburg, NL @ 0-13
04-Sep Hamburg, DEU @ Markthalle
05-Sep Copenhagen, DNK @ Loppen
06-Sep Oslo, NOR @ Garage
10-Sep Hannover, DEU @ Cafe Glocksee
11-Sep Dresden, DEU @ Groovestation
12-Sep Prague, CZE @ Klub 007
13-Sep Innsbruck, AUT @ PMK
14-Sep Vienna, AUT @ Szene
16-Sep Düdingen, CHE @ Badd Bonn
17-Sep Geneva, CHE @ Lusine
19-Sep La Chaux De Fonds, CHE @ Bikini Test

AKIMBO
26-Jul Seattle, WA @ Capitol Hill Block Party
16-Aug Missoula, MT @ Badlander Total Fest
05-Sep Portland, OR @ Ash Street Saloon (NW Music Festival)

AKRON/FAMILY
24-Jul New York, NY @ Castle Clinton River to River Festival
25-Jul Rochester, NY @ Boulder Coffee Co Music Festival
26-Jul Guelph, ON @ Hillside Music Festival
7-Sep Isle of Wight, UK @ Bestival Festival
12-Sep Dorset, UK @ Larmer Tree Gardens End of the Road Festival
14-Sep Red Rocks, CO @ Monolith Festival

AMON TOBIN
20-Sep San Francisco, CA @ Treasure Island Music Festival

APACHE
26-Jul San Francisco, CA @ Annie’s Social Club
28-Jul Sacramento, CA @ Luigi’s Fun Garden w/ Cheap Time
06-Aug New York , NY @ The Knitting Factory
11-Aug Detroit, MI @ The Lagerhouse
12-Aug Chicago, IL @ Empty Bottle
16-Aug Atlanta, GA @ E.A.R.L.
20-Aug Philadelphia, PA @ Manhatten Room
23-Aug New York, NY @ Cake Shop

BLUES CONTROL
30-Aug Long Island City, NY @ Texas Funhouse
31-Aug Jamaica Plain, MA @ Milky Way Lounge & Lanes
13-Sep Chicago, IL @ Empty Bottle
14-Sep Cleveland, OH @ Now That's Class

BUTTHOLE SURFERS
24-Jul Dublin, IRE @ Vicar Street
26-Jul London, UK @ Kentish Town Forum
28-Jul Newmarket, NH @ The Stone Church
29-Jul New York, NY @ Webster Hall

CHEAP TIME
25-Jul Seattle, WA @ Funhouse
26-Jul Seattle, WA @ Comet Tavern
27-Jul Portland, OR @ Doug Fir Lounge w/ Jay Reatard
28-Jul Sacramento, CA @ Luigi’s Fun Garden w/ Apache
29-Jul San Francisco, CA @ The Independent w/ Jay Reatard
30-Jul Los Angeles, CA @ The Echo w/ Jay Reatard
31-Jul San Diego, CA @ Casbah w/ Jay Reatard
01-Aug Mesa, AZ @ Hollywood Alley w/ Jay Reatard
03-Aug Austin, TX @ Red 7 w/ Jay Reatard
04-Aug Dallas, TX @ ClubDada w/ Jay Reatard
06-Aug Memphis, TN @ Murphy's
18-Aug Nashville, TN @ The End

DEAD C
12-Oct Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brenda’s
13-Oct New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom
16-Oct San Francisco, CA @ Great American Music Hall w/ Six Organs Of Addmittance
19-Oct Chicago, IL @ Empty Bottle

DEVENDRA BANHART
21-Aug Reno, NV @ Grand Sierra Theatre
23-Aug San Francisco, CA @ Outside Lands Music&Arts Festival

DROP THE LIME
24-Jul San Francisco, CA @ Mezzanine
25-Jul Los Angeles, CA @ Avalon Hollywood
31-Jul New York, NY @ Santos Partyhouse
01-Aug Chicago, IL @ Abbey Pub
10-Aug Salmo, BC @ Shambhala Music Festival
27-Sep Princeton, NJ @ Terrace F. Club

ENDLESS BLOCKADE
25-Jul Brantford, ON @ The Ford Plant
04-Aug kamloops, BC @ Dirty Jersey

ESSIE JAIN
09-Aug Leicester, UK @ Summer Sundae Weekender Festival
13-Aug Brighton, UK @ Freebutt
16-Aug Glanusk Park, UK @ Brecon Beacons Park Green Man Festival
12-Sep Dorset, UK @ Larmer Tree Gardens End of the Road Festival
16-Sep Brighton, UK @ The Hope
18-Sep London, UK @ Green Note
27-Oct Milan, IT @ La Casa 139

HOWLIN' RAIN
24-Jul San Diego, CA @ Casbah
26-Jul Los Angeles, CA @ Spaceland
27-Jul Santa Monica, CA @ McCabe's
13-Aug Glasgow, UK @ Nice and Sleazy’s
14-Aug Leeds, UK @ The Brudenell Social Club
15-Aug London, UK @ Corsica Studios
16-Aug Glanusk Park, UK @ Brecon Beacons Park Green Man Festival
19-Aug Portland, OR @ East End
22-Aug San Francisco, CA @ Outside Lands Music&Arts Festival
29-Aug Vancouver, BC @ Media Club
30-Aug Victoria, BC @ Mcpherson Playhouse Rifflandia Festival
31-Aug Seattle, WA @ Bumbershoot Music & Arts Festival

JANA HUNTER TOURING WITH LESSER GONZALEZ ALVAREZ
14-Aug Washington, DC @ Black Cat
15-Aug Philadelphia, PA @ M Room
16-Aug New York, NY @ Knitting Factory Tap Bar
17-Aug Providence, RI @ AS220
19-Aug Cambridge, MA @ TT the Bears
20-Aug Montreal, QC @ Le Divan Orange
21-Aug Toronto, ON @ Rancho Relaxo
22-Aug Buffalo, NY @ Soundlab
23-Aug Pittsburgh, PA @ Morning Glory
24-Aug Pontiac, MI @ Pike Room
26-Aug Madison, WI @ High Noon Saloon (early show)
27-Aug Chicago, IL @ Schubas
29-Aug Denver, CO @ Hi-Dive
30-Aug Salt Lake City, UT @ Kilby Court
31-Aug Boise, ID @ Neurolux
02-Sep Portland, OR @ Holocene
05-Sep San Francisco, CA @ Hemlock Tavern
07-Sep Los Angeles, CA @ Tangier
10-Sep Marfa, TX @ Thunderbird Hotel
12-Sep Austin, TX @ Emo’s
13-Sep Denton, TX @ Rubber Gloves
17-Sep Houston, TX @ Diverseworks
19-Sep Birmingham, AL @ Bottletree
21-Sep Atlanta, GA @ Eyedrum
22-Sep Mount Pleasant, SC @ Village Tavern

JAY REATARD
25-Jul Seattle, WA @ Capitol Hill block Party
26-Jul Vancouver, BC @ Commodore Ballroom
27-Jul Portland, OR @ Doug Fir Lounge w/ Cheap Time
29-Jul San Francisco, CA @ The Independent w/ Cheap Time
30-Jul Los Angeles, CA @ The Echo w/ Cheap Time
31-Jul San Diego, CA @ Casbah w/ Cheap Time
01-Aug Mesa, AZ @ Hollywood Alley w/ Cheap Time
03-Aug Austin, TX @ Red 7 w/ Cheap Time
04-Aug Dallas, TX @ ClubDada w/ Cheap Time

KID KOALA
02-Aug Montreal, QC @ Olympia de Montreal
30-Aug New York, NY @ Rocks Off Concert Cruise
04-Sep Guelph, ON @ Mitchell Hall

KING KHAN & THE SHRINES
24-Jul Toronto, ON @ Legendary Horseshoe Tavern
25-Jul Montreal, QC @ La Sala Rossa
26-Jul Ottawa, OH @ Zaphod Beeblebrox
30-Jul Northampton, MA @ Iron Horse
31-Jul Cambridge, MA @ Middle East Upstairs
01-Aug New Haven, CT @ Cafe Nine

LEFTOVER CRACK
01-Aug Philadelphia, PA @ Trocadero
02-Aug Washington, DC @ St. Stephens Church
03-Aug New York, NY @ Tompkins Square Park (2:00 PM)
05-Aug Providence, RI @ Club Hell
07-Aug Boston, MA @ Club Lido

LESBIAN
25-Jul Seattle, WA @ Capitol Hill Block Party King Cobra Stage

LODGER
26-Jul Ripley, Derbyshire, UK @ Indietracks Festival

LUDICRA
12-Aug San Francisco, CA @ Slim's

NEUROSIS
12-Aug Oslo, NOR @ Kanonhallen
14-Aug Warsaw, POL @ Club Stodola w/ A Storm Of Light
15-Aug Prague, CZE @ Brutal Assault Festival w/ A Storm Of Light
16-Aug Hasselt, BEL @ Pukkelpop Festival
18-Aug Leipzipg, DEU @ UT Connewitz w/ A Storm Of Light
19-Aug Leipzipg, DEU @ UT Connewitz w/ A Storm Of Light
21-Aug Munich, DEU @ Metropolis w/ A Storm Of Light
22-Aug Le Locle, CHE @ VNV Festival w/ A Storm Of Light
23-Aug Ancona, IT @ Mamamia w/ A Storm Of Light

OCTOPUS PROJECT
03-Aug Chicago, IL @ Lollapalooza
04-Aug Kansas City, MO @ Record Bar
05-Aug Norman, OK @ Opolis
06-Aug Lubbock, TX @ Tequila Station
11-Aug Phoenix, AZ @ Rhythm Room
12-Aug Tucson, AZ @ Congress Theater
14-Aug Los Angeles, CA @ Knitting Factory
15-Aug Visalia, CA @ Cellar Door
16-Aug San Francisco, CA @ Bottom of the Hill
18-Aug Portland, OR @ Satyricon
19-Aug Seattle, WA @ Nectar Lounge
22-Aug Edmonton, ON @ Velvet Underground
23-Aug Calgary, AB @ The HiFi Club
25-Aug Salt Lake City, UT @ Urban Lounge
26-Aug Denver, CO @ The Hi-Dive
28-Aug Fort Worth, TX @ Lola's Saloon @ The Burning Hotels
29-Aug Houston, TX @ Warehouse Live
28-Sep Austin, TX @ Austin City Limits Festival

PORT O' BRIEN
06-Aug Madison, WI @ Cafe Montmartre
0 7-Aug Chicago, IL @ Schubas
09-Aug Toronto, ON @ El Mocambo
10-Aug Montreal, QC @ Le Divan Orange
12-Aug Cambridge, MA @ Middle East Upstairs
13-Aug New York, NY @ Mercury Lounge
15-Aug Brooklyn, NY @ Union Hall
16-Aug Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brenda’s
17-Aug Washington, DC @ Black Cat Backstage
18-Aug Columbus, OH @ Cafe Bourbon St Annex
19-Aug Indianapolis, IN @ Locals Only
13-Sep Red Rocks, CO @ Monolith Festival

RED SPAROWES
27-Jul Chicago, IL @ Wicker Park Fest

SCREENINGS OF THE GITS MOIVE
27-Jul Edmonton, AB @ Metro
28-Jul Edmonton, AB @ Metro
29-Jul Edmonton, AB @ Metro
30-Jul Edmonton, AB @ Metro
31-Jul Edmonton, AB @ Metro
03-Sep Portland, OR @ Music Fest NW
04-Sep Portland, OR @ Music Fest NW
05-Sep Portland, OR @ Music Fest NW
06-Sep Portland, OR @ Music Fest NW

SECRET CHIEFS 3
25-Jul Detroit Lakes, MN @ 10,000 Lakes Festival
26-Jul Milwaukee, WI @ Turner Ballroom
27-Jul Chicago, IL @ Double Door
30-Jul Fort Collins, CO @ Aggie Theater
31-Jul Denver, CO @ Bluebird Theater
01-Aug Salt Lake City, UT @ Paladium
03-Aug Portland, OR @ Doug Fir Lounge
04-Aug Seattle, WA @ Neumo's

SIC ALPS
24-Jul Columbus, OH @ Burbon Street
25-Jul Detroit, MI @ Bohemian National Home Fest
28-Jul St. Louis, MO @ Open Lot
29-Jul Kansas City, MO @ Pistol Social Club

SJ ESAU
30-Jul London, UK @ Cargo

SLIM CESSNA'S AUTO CLUB
30-Aug San Francisco, CA @ Great American Music Hall

SONIC YOUTH
04-Aug Leucate, FR @ Les Mediterraneennes Festival
05-Aug Lokeren, BEL @ Lokerse Feesten
07-Aug Oslo, NOR @ Oya Festival
08-Aug Goteborg, SWE @ Way Out West Festival
09-Aug St. Nazaire, FR @ Les Escales Festival

THE BUG F. WARRIOR QUEEN
25-Jul New York, NY @ Trouble N Bass @ Club Love

THE HEAVY
23-Jul Grenoble, FR @ Cabaret Frappe Festival
25-Jul Rennes, FR @ Malestroit Au Pont du Rock Festival
26-Jul Rennes, FR @ Ribeyrac Le Grand Souk Festival
27-Jul Wroclaw, POL @ Wroclaw Era New Horizons

TRICLOPS!
25-Jul San Francisco, CA @ Hemlock Tavern

VETIVER
25-Jul Rochester, NY @ Boulder Annual Music Festival
26-Jul Albany, NY @ Valentine’s
27-Jul Burlington, VT @ Club Metronome
28-Jul Peterborough, NH @ Reynolds Hall
29-Jul Portland, ME @ SPACE Gallery
30-Jul Hampden, CT @ The Space
01-Aug Boston, MA @ Museum of Fine Arts
02-Aug New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom
03-Aug Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg

WHY?
26-Jul Laval, FR 3 @ Elephants Festival
02-Aug Osnabrück, DEU @ Lok Pop Festival
16-Aug St. Malo, FR @ La Route Du Rock
29-Aug San Francisco, @ CA Great American Music Hall
04-Sep Los Angeles, @ CA Echoplex
05-Sep Tempe, AZ @ The Clubhouse
06-Sep Tucson, AZ @ Solar Cultural Gallery
08-Sep Austin, TX @ Mohawk
09-Sep Dallas, TX @ Granada Theater
11-Sep Pensacola, FL @ Sluggo's
12-Sep Gainesville, FL @ Common Grounds
13-Sep Miami, FL @ White Room
14-Sep Orlando, FL @ Social
16-Sep Asheville, NC @ Grey Eagle
17-Sep Philadelphia, PA @ First Unitarian Church
18-Sep New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom
19-Sep Boston, MA @ Museum of Fine Arts
20-Sep Portland, ME @ SPACE Gallery
21-Sep Providence, RI @ Club Hell
22-Sep Montreal, QC @ La Sala Rossa
25-Sep Cincinnati, OH @ Blaclbox Theatre Midpoint Music Festival
26-Sep Carbondale, IL @ Bottom Lounge
27-Sep Minneapolis, MN @ Triple Rock
29-Sep Denver, CO @ Hi-Dive
30-Sep Salt Lake City, UT @ Kilby Court
02-Oct Vancouver, BC @ Richard's On Richard
03-Oct Seattle, WA @ Vera Project
04-Oct Portland, OR @ Wonder Ballroom

WIRE
08-Sep London, UK Scala
09-Sep Leeds, UK Met University
10-Sep Nottingham, UK Rescue Room
11-Sep Glasgow, UK The Arches
12-Sep Manchester, UK Academy 3
19-Sep Amsterdam, NL Melkweg
20-Sep Gent, BEL Minnemeers
21-Sep Tilburg, NL ZXZW Festival
22-Sep Brussels, BEL Botanique
05-Oct Montreal, QC Le National
06-Oct Ottawa, ON Barrymore's
07-Oct Toronto, ON Lee's Palace
08-Oct Cambridge, MA Middle East Downstairs
10-Oct Philadelphia, PA Johnny Brenda’s
11-Oct Washington, DC 9:30 Club
12-Oct Atlanta, GA Variety Playhouse
15-Oct San Francisco, CA Fillmore
16-Oct Vancouver, BC The Commodore Ballroom
17-Oct Minneapolis, MN First Avenue
18-Oct Chicago, IL Metro

WOODBOX GANG
24-Jul Springfield,IL Marley's
8-Aug Columbus, OH House of Crave
16-Aug Carbondale, IL Hangar 9
21-Aug Springfield, IL Marley's
23-Aug Davenport, IA River Roots Live Festival
31-Aug Pittsburgh, PA Bocktown Beer and Grill

WOODEN SHJIPS
20-Sep Monticello, NY @ Kutshers Country Club (ATP)
31-Oct London, UK The Forum

A Whole Lotta Biafra.

Recently Jello Biafra did an interview on Billy Jam's WFMU radio show. The whole show (three hours) has been archived and is available as a downloadable MP3.

Check it out here.

Scroll to the bottom of the page and right click or control click on the bj080718mp3 link.

Enjoy.

Wire Object 47 Review On Dusted

Artist: Wire
Album: Object 47
Label: Pink Flag
Review date: Jul. 7, 2008
Original post

Even though this is Wire's 47th recording (counting EPs, singles, live albums and god knows what else), the band's reputation still mostly rests on its three groundbreaking albums in the late 1970s: Pink Flag, Chairs Missing and 154. When people say that something "sounds like Wire," they mean it sounds like these three records – either brash and fast and loud like the first two, or tentatively melodic, experimental and synthy like the third. They forget, for the most part, that Wire itself didn't sound like Wire for much of the late ’80s and early ’90s, that in those dance-influenced, synthetic years, Wire actually sounded more like New Order. A series of fractious post-2000 reunion recordings – the three Read and Burn EPs and the summing full-length Send – may have allowed us to forget that Wire had its pop side, its new wave side, its technology-fascinated dance side. If nothing else, Object 47 serves as a reminder that no one should ever assume they know what the next Wire album will sound like, only that it will differ from the last.

One difference is immediate. This is the first Wire album without guitarist Bruce Gilbert, a member since the beginning and one of its leading proponents of noise. So when Object 47 brings its pop melodies to the front and shoves its droning, clanking, turbulence down into the mix, as it does for the first half of the album, fans of that classic Wire sound will be cursing Gilbert’s departure.

The fact is, though, that the first five songs on Object 47 exist in an almost surreally clean sonic space. Even the edges that might be rough in live performance are subordinated with antiseptic washes. Listen to how the abrasive crank of bass slips down below the singing in opening salvo "One of Us," almost subliminal under a slick, late-1980s new wave melody. There's subversion in the lyrics and maybe in the deepest rumbles underneath, but the song feels too accessible, too easy, too bouncy. "Mekon Headman,” too, taunts with droning, distorted guitars roiling under pop surfaces. You hear them as if through layers of sterile gauze. With "Four Long Years," the slinky, minimalist percussion at the start makes you wonder if the musically omnivorous Colin Newman and crew have been sampling some dubstep – that is, until the Depeche Mode synths bubble up.

The first half of Object 47 would, in fact, be easy to dismiss as lightweight and over-eager to please, lesser fragments from a once great band … if you ignored the second half. The album takes a shocking 180°. On "Hard Currency," the drums crack right up near the surface, the circling, distorted guitars and hard-pulsing bass build genuine heat under a serene façade. For the first time on the record, you feel surrounded by three-dimensional sensation. "Patient Flees," while softer, is melodic in an idiosyncratic way, more like Syd Barrett than XTC. And the two closing cuts, "Are You Ready?" and "All Fours" are tough and abrasive and punishing, full body blows at last.

Various people have tried to explain to me why I find Object 47 so frustrating. One, Bill Meyer from Dusted, said it sounds like it was recorded via file trading, as if none of these guys were ever in the same room. Another, an ex-editor, said that Wire's super-clean material always took longer to warm to than its art punk and that I should give it time. Maybe, but my inclination is to forget all that and just play the last four tracks over and over. After 47 recordings, 30 years in music and at least three self-reinventions, who can blame me for cherry picking the good stuff?

By Jennifer Kelly

Upcoming live shows:
8-Sep London UK Scala
9-Sep Leeds UK Met University
10-Sep Nottingham UK Rescue Room
11-Sep Glasgow UK The Arches
12-Sep Manchester UK Academy 3
19-Sep Amsterdam NL Melkweg
20-Sep Gent BEL Minnemeers
21-Sep Tilburg NL ZXZW Festival
22-Sep Brussels BEL Botanique
5-Oct Montreal QC Le National
6-Oct Ottawa ON Barrymore's
7-Oct Toronto ON Lee's Palace
8-Oct Cambridge MA Middle East Downstairs
10-Oct Philadelphia PA Johnny Brenda’s
11-Oct Washington DC 9:30 Club
12-Oct Atlanta GA Variety Playhouse
15-Oct San Francisco CA Fillmore
16-Oct Vancouver BC The Commodore Ballroom
17-Oct Minneapolis MN First Avenue
18-Oct Chicago IL Metro

Revolver Bands On Tour July 17th 2008

A HAWK AND A HACKSAW
18-Jul Madison WI Memorial Union Terrace at UOW
19-Jul Chicago IL Union Park (Pitchfork Music Festival)
20-Jul Los Angeles CA Echoplex (w/ Benijam Wetherill)
21-Jul San Francisco CA The Independent (w/ Benijam Wetherill & Colossal Yes)
23-Jul Portland OR Doug Fir Lounge (w/ Benijam Wetherill)
24-Jul Seattle WA The Tractor Tavern (w/ Benijam Wetherill
26-Jul Calagry AB Prince's Isand Park (Calgary Folk Music Festival)
27-Jul Calgary AB Prince's Isand Park (Calgary Folk Music Festival)
12-Sep Dorset UK Larmer Tree Gardens (End of the Road Festival)

A STORM OF LIGHT
14-Aug Warsaw POL Club Stodola (w/ Neurosis)
15-Aug Prague CZE Brutal Assault Festival (w/ Neurosis)
18-Aug Leipzipg DEU UT Connewitz (w/ Neurosis)
19-Aug Leipzipg DEU UT Connewitz (w/ Neurosis)
21-Aug Munich DEU Metropolis (w/ Neurosis)
22-Aug Le Locle CHE VNV Festival (w/ Neurosis)
23-Aug Ancona IT Mamamia (w/ Neurosis)
30-Aug Cammer DEU South of Mainstream Festval
02-Sep Aalst BEL Negasonic
03-Sep Tilburg NL 0-13
04-Sep Hamburg DEU Markthalle
05-Sep Copenhagen DNK Loppen
06-Sep Oslo NOR Garage
10-Sep Hannover DEU Cafe Glocksee
11-Sep Dresden DEU Groovestation
12-Sep Prague CZE Klub 007
13-Sep Innsbruck AUT PMK
14-Sep Vienna AUT Szene
16-Sep Düdingen CHE Badd Bonn
17-Sep Geneva CHE Lusine
19-Sep La Chaux De Fonds CHE Bikini Test

AKIMBO
26-Jul Seattle WA Capitol Hill Block Party
16-Aug Missoula MT Badlander (Total Fest)
05-Sep Portland OR Ash Street Saloon (NW Music Festival)

AKRON/FAMILY
24-Jul New York NY Castle Clinton (River to River Festival)
25-Jul Rochester NY Boulder Coffee Co Music Festival
26-Jul Guelph ON Hillside Music Festival
07-Sep Isle of Wight UK Bestival Festival
12-Sep Dorset UK Larmer Tree Gardens (End of the Road Festival)
14-Sep Red Rocks CO Monolith Festival

AMON TOBIN
20-Sep San Francisco CA Treasure Island Music Festival

APACHE
26-Jul San Francisco CA Annie’s Social Club
28-Jul Sacramento CA Luigi’s Fun Garden (w/ Cheap Time)
06-Aug New York NY The Knitting Factory
11-Aug Detroit MI The Lagerhouse
12-Aug Chicago IL Empty Bottle
16-Aug Atlanta GA E.A.R.L.
20-Aug Philadelphia PA Manhatten Room
23-Aug New York NY Cake Shop

ASVA
17-Jul Innsbruck AUT PMK
18-Jul Vienna AUT Arena
19-Jul Hannover DEU Cafe Glocksee
20-Jul Dour BEL Dour Festival

DEVENDRA BANHART
21-Aug Reno NV Grand Sierra Theatre
23-Aug San Francisco CA Outside Lands Music&Arts Festival

BLUES CONTROL
18-Jul Philadelphia PA Johnny Brenda’s
30-Aug Long Island City NY Texas Funhouse
31-Aug Jamaica Plain MA Milky Way Lounge & Lanes
13-Sep Chicago IL Empty Bottle
14-Sep Cleveland OH Now That's Class

BRACKEN
20-Jul Benicassim ESP Benicassim Festival

THE BUG F. WARRIOR QUEEN
25-Jul New York NY Trouble N Bass @ Club Love

BUTTHOLE SURFERS
18-Jul Bristol UK Carling Academy
19-Jul Manchester UK Academy 2
20-Jul Glasgo UK ABC1
22-Jul Wolverhampton UK Wulfrun Hall
23-Jul Nottingham UK Rock City
24-Jul Dublin IRE Vicar Street
26-Jul London UK Kentish Town Forum
28-Jul Newmarket NH The Stone Church
29-Jul New York NY Webster Hall

CHEAP TIME
18-Jul Detroit MI LJs Lounge
19-Jul Chicago IL Bottom Lounge (w/ Jay Reatard)
20-Jul Milwaukee WI Frank’s Power Plant
21-Jul Minneapolis MN Triple Rock (w/ Jay Reatard)
22-Jul Fargo ND The Aquarium (w/ Jay Reatard)
25-Jul Seattle WA Funhouse
26-Jul Seattle WA Comet Tavern
27-Jul Portland OR Doug Fir Lounge (w/ Jay Reatard)
28-Jul Sacramento CA Luigi’s Fun Garden (w/ Apache)
29-Jul San Francisco CA The Independent (w/ Jay Reatard)
30-Jul Los Angeles CA The Echo (w/ Jay Reatard)
31-Jul San Diego CA Casbah (w/ Jay Reatard)
01-Aug Mesa AZ Hollywood Alley (w/ Jay Reatard)
03-Aug Austin TX Red 7 (w/ Jay Reatard)
04-Aug Dallas TX ClubDada (w/ Jay Reatard)
06-Aug Memphis TN Murphy's
18-Aug Nashville TN The End

COLOSSAL YES
21-Jul San Francisco CA The Independent (w/ A Hawk and A Hacksaw & Benijam Wetherill)

DASH RIP ROCK
18-Jul Key West FL Green Parrot
19-Jul Key West FL Green Parrot
22-Jul Tampa FL Skipper's Smokehouse

THE DEATH SET
18-Jul New York NY Cake Shop
19-Jul Baltimore MD Whartscape
20-Jul Philadelphia PA The Barbary
21-Jul Brooklyn NY Market Hotel
22-Jul Washington DC Velvet Lounge

DOSH
18-Jul Aspen CO Belly Up

DROP THE LIME
24-Jul San Francisco CA Mezzanine
25-Jul Los Angeles CA Avalon Hollywood
31-Jul New York NY Santos Partyhouse
01-Aug Chicago IL Abbey Pub
10-Aug Salmo BC Shambhala Music Festival
27-Sep Princeton NJ Terrace F. Club

SCREENINGS OF THE GITS MOIVE
27-Jul Edmonton AB Metro
28-Jul Edmonton AB Metro
29-Jul Edmonton AB Metro
30-Jul Edmonton AB Metro
31-Jul Edmonton AB Metro
03-Sep Portland OR Music Fest NW
04-Sep Portland OR Music Fest NW
05-Sep Portland OR Music Fest NW
06-Sep Portland OR Music Fest NW

THE HEAVY
18-Jul Vienna AUT Nuke Festival
19-Jul Southwold UK Latitude Festival
23-Jul Grenoble FR Cabaret Frappe Festival
25-Jul Rennes FR Malestroit Au Pont du Rock Festival
26-Jul Rennes FR Ribeyrac Le Grand Souk Festival
27-Jul Wroclaw POL Wroclaw Era New Horizons

HOWLIN RAIN
18-Jul Santa Cruz CA Blue Lagoon
19-Jul Big Sur CA Henry Miller Library
22-Jul Nevada City CA Cooper's Ale Works
23-Jul Visalia CA Howie's Pizza
24-Jul San Diego CA Casbah
26-Jul Los Angeles CA Spaceland
27-Jul Santa Monica CA McCabe's
13-Aug Glasgow UK Nice and Sleazy’s
14-Aug Leeds UK The Brudenell Social Club
15-Aug London UK Corsica Studios
16-Aug Glanusk Park UK Brecon Beacons Park (Green Man Festival)
19-Aug Portland OR East End
22-Aug San Francisco CA Outside Lands Music&Arts Festival
29-Aug Vancouver BC Media Club
30-Aug Victoria BC Mcpherson Playhouse (Rifflandia Festival)
31-Aug Seattle WA Bumbershoot Music & Arts Festival

ESSIE JAIN
09-Aug Leicester UK Summer Sundae Weekender Festival
13-Aug Brighton UK Freebutt
16-Aug Glanusk Park UK Brecon Beacons Park (Green Man Festival)
12-Sep Dorset UK Larmer Tree Gardens (End of the Road Festival)
16-Sep Brighton UK The Hope
18-Sep London UK Green Note
27-Oct Milan IT La Casa 139

KID KOALA
02-Aug Montreal QC Olympia de Montreal
30-Aug New York NY Rocks Off Concert Cruise
04-Sep Guelph ON Mitchell Hall

KING KHAN & THE SHRINES
17-Jul Denver CO Larimer Lounge
20-Jul Chicago IL Union Park (Pitchfork Music Festival)
21-Jul Pontiac MI Crofoot Ballroom - Pike Room
22-Jul Cleveland Heights OH Grog Shop
23-Jul Toronto ON Legendary Horseshoe Tavern
24-Jul Toronto ON Legendary Horseshoe Tavern
25-Jul Montreal QC La Sala Rossa
26-Jul Ottawa OH Zaphod Beeblebrox
30-Jul Northampton MA Iron Horse
31-Jul Cambridge MA Middle East Upstairs
01-Aug New Haven CT Cafe Nine

LEFTOVER CRACK
01-Aug Philadelphia PA Trocadero
02-Aug Washington DC St. Stephens Church
03-Aug New York NY Tompkins Square Park (2:00 PM)
05-Aug Providence RI Club Hell
07-Aug Boston MA Club Lido

LESBIAN
25-Jul Seattle WA Capitol Hill Block Party (King Cobra Stage)

LODGER
18-Jul Nagoya JPN Club Zion
19-Jul Shibuya JPN Club Asia
19-Jul Shinjuku JPN Club Wire (DeeJay set)
20-Jul Shinjuku JPN Club Wire
26-Jul Ripley, Derbyshire UK Indietracks Festival

LUDICRA
12-Aug San Francisco CA Slim's

NEUROSIS
12-Aug Oslo NOR Kanonhallen
14-Aug Warsaw POL Club Stodola (w/ A Storm Of Light)
15-Aug Prague CZE Brutal Assault Festival (w/ A Storm Of Light)
16-Aug Hasselt BEL Pukkelpop Festival
18-Aug Leipzipg DEU UT Connewitz (w/ A Storm Of Light)
19-Aug Leipzipg DEU UT Connewitz (w/ A Storm Of Light)
21-Aug Munich DEU Metropolis (w/ A Storm Of Light)
22-Aug Le Locle CHE VNV Festival (w/ A Storm Of Light)
23-Aug Ancona IT Mamamia w(w/ A Storm Of Light)

OCTOPUS PROJECT
03-Aug Chicago IL Lollapalooza
04-Aug Kansas City MO Record Bar
05-Aug Norman OK Opolis
06-Aug Lubbock TX Tequila Station
11-Aug Phoenix AZ Rhythm Room
12-Aug Tucson AZ Congress Theater
14-Aug Los Angeles CA Knitting Factory
15-Aug Visalia CA Cellar Door
16-Aug San Francisco CA Bottom of the Hill
18-Aug Portland OR Satyricon
19-Aug Seattle WA Nectar Lounge
22-Aug Edmonton ON Velvet Underground
23-Aug Calgary AB The HiFi Club
25-Aug Salt Lake City UT Urban Lounge
26-Aug Denver CO The Hi-Dive
28-Aug Fort Worth TX Lola's Saloon @ The Burning Hotels
29-Aug Houston TX Warehouse Live
28-Sep Austin TX Austin City Limits Festival

PORT O' BRIEN
06-Aug Madison WI Cafe Montmartre
07-Aug Chicago IL Schubas
09-Aug Toronto ON El Mocambo
10-Aug Montreal QC Le Divan Orange
12-Aug Cambridge MA Middle East Upstairs
13-Aug New York NY Mercury Lounge
15-Aug Brooklyn NY Union Hall
16-Aug Philadelphia PA Johnny Brenda’s
17-Aug Washington DC Black Cat Backstage
18-Aug Columbus OH Cafe Bourbon St Annex
19-Aug Indianapolis IN Locals Only
13-Sep Red Rocks CO Monolith Festival

JAY REATARD
19-Jul Chicago IL Union Park (Pitchfork Music Festival)
19-Jul Chicago IL Bottom Lounge (w/ Cheap Time)
21-Jul Minneapolis MN Triple Rock (w/ Cheap Time)
22-Jul Fargo ND The Aquarium (w/ Cheap Time)
25-Jul Seattle WA Capitol Hill block Party
26-Jul Vancouver BC Commodore Ballroom
27-Jul Portland OR Doug Fir Lounge (w/ Cheap Time)
29-Jul San Francisco CA The Independent (w/ Cheap Time)
30-Jul Los Angeles CA The Echo (w/ Cheap Time)
31-Jul San Diego CA Casbah (w/ Cheap Time)
01-Aug Mesa AZ Hollywood Alley (w/ Cheap Time)
03-Aug Austin TX Red 7 (w/ Cheap Time)
04-Aug Dallas TX ClubDada (w/ Cheap Time)

RED SPAROWES
17-Jul Stuttgart DEU Club Schocken
18-Jul Saarbrucken DEU Garage
19-Jul Herk de Stad BEL Rock Herk
27-Jul Chicago IL Wicker Park Fest

SECRET CHIEFS 3
25-Jul Detroit Lakes MN 10,000 Lakes Festival
26-Jul Milwaukee WI Turner Ballroom
27-Jul Chicago IL Double Door
30-Jul Fort Collins CO Aggie Theater
31-Jul Denver CO Bluebird Theater
01-Aug Salt Lake City UT Paladium
03-Aug Portland OR Doug Fir Lounge
04-Aug Seattle WA Neumo's

SIC ALPS
17-Jul Chapel Hill NC The Reservoir
18-Jul Philadelphia PA Johnny Brenda’s
19-Jul Brooklyn NY Death by Audio
20-Jul Brooklyn NY Union Pool
21-Jul Boston MA Abbey Tavern
22-Jul Pittsburgh PA Garfield Artworks
23-Jul Cleveland OH Pat's in the Flats
24-Jul Columbus OH Burbon Street
25-Jul Detroit MI Bohemian National Home Fest
28-Jul St. Louis MO Open Lot
29-Jul Kansas City MO Pistol Social Club

SJ ESAU
22-Jul Bristol UK The Croft
30-Jul London UK Cargo

SLIM CESSNA'S AUTO CLUB
30-Aug San Francisco CA Great American Music Hall

SONIC YOUTH
04-Aug Leucate FR Les Mediterraneennes Festival
05-Aug Lokeren BEL Lokerse Feesten
07-Aug Oslo NOR Oya Festival
08-Aug Goteborg SWE Way Out West Festival
09-Aug St. Nazaire FR Les Escales Festival

TRICLOPS!
19-Jul Los Angeles CA The Echo
25-Jul San Francisco CA Hemlock Tavern

VETIVER
25-Jul Rochester NY Boulder Annual Music Festival
26-Jul Albany NY Valentine’s
27-Jul Burlington VT Club Metronome
28-Jul Peterborough NH Reynolds Hall
29-Jul Portland ME SPACE Gallery
30-Jul Hampden CT The Space
01-Aug Boston MA Museum of Fine Arts
02-Aug New York NY Bowery Ballroom
03-Aug Brooklyn NY Music Hall of Williamsburg

WHY?
18-Jul Gräfenhainichen DEU Melt Festival
20-Jul Dour BEL Dour Festival
26-Jul Laval FR 3 Elephants Festival
02-Aug Osnabrück DEU Lok Pop Festival
16-Aug St. Malo FR La Route Du Rock
29-Aug San Francisco CA Great American Music Hall

WIRE
08-Sep London UK Scala
09-Sep Leeds UK Met University
10-Sep Nottingham UK Rescue Room
11-Sep Glasgow UK The Arches
12-Sep Manchester UK Academy 3
19-Sep Amsterdam NL Melkweg
20-Sep Gent BEL Minnemeers
21-Sep Tilburg NL ZXZW Festival
22-Sep Brussels BEL Botanique
05-Oct Montreal QC Le National
06-Oct Ottawa ON Barrymore's
07-Oct Toronto ON Lee's Palace
08-Oct Cambridge MA Middle East Downstairs
10-Oct Philadelphia PA Johnny Brenda’s
11-Oct Washington DC 9:30 Club
12-Oct Atlanta GA Variety Playhouse
15-Oct San Francisco CA Fillmore
16-Oct Vancouver BC The Commodore Ballroom
17-Oct Minneapolis MN First Avenue
18-Oct Chicago IL Metro

DEVON WILLIAMS
18-Jul San Francisco CA Hemlock Tavern
19-Jul Los Angeles CA The Echo

WOODBOX GANG
18-Jul St. Louis MO Cicero's
19-Jul Carbondale IL Hangar 9
24-Jul Springfield IL Marley's
8-Aug Columbus OH House of Crave
16-Aug Carbondale IL Hangar 9
21-Aug Springfield IL Marley's
23-Aug Davenport IA River Roots Live Festival
31-Aug Pittsburgh PA Bocktown Beer and Grill

WOODEN SHJIPS
18-Jul Brighton UK Barfly
19-Jul Bristol UK Croft
20-Jul Monticello NY Kutshers Country Resort (ATP)
31-Oct London UK The Forum

Mike McGonigal's Rave Review of Eat Skull On Pitchfork.

Eat Skull:
Sick to Death
[Siltbreeze; 2008]
Rating: 8.3
Original review

On their first album Sick to Death, the Portland, Ore., band Eat Skull mashes together almost everything that's great about trashy art-punk, weirdo fuzz-garage, skuzzy punk-pop, Kiwi garage-rock and off-kilter bedroom-strum. If you adore the weird songs on the Not So Quiet on the Western Front album as well as the Urinals, Raincoats, Gordons, Swell Maps, Homosexuals, Tronics, Desperate Bicycles, Television Personalities, Axemen, Guided by Voices, Chain Gang, those Messthetics comps, and very early Pavement, then meet your new favorite band. You should know, though, that this record sounds like it was mastered by a deaf person. It's all super-distorted and in the red; even the "folksy" numbers are louder than fuck. But once your ears adjust, you realize that it's all killer, no filler.

Lots of acts are mining similar territory these days. To name the most obvious adherents, Sic Alps, Times New Viking, Psychedelic Horseshit, No Age, and Tyvek have each hit upon their own twisted formula for reinventing noisy art-pop. For some reason, all these groups have decided that the best way to record is if all your songs sound like they were taped on a thrift-store answering machine using its built-in condenser mic, in a tiled bathroom, when you're really high. Was there some sort of convention held where it was decided this is how records are supposed to sound now? Does Tom Lax of Siltbreeze have nude photos he'll release of all these band people if they ever set foot inside a proper studio? And who came up with the "shitcore"/ "shitgaze" term for this stuff? That's the silliest thing I've ever heard. I personally wouldn't mind being able to hear more of what's going on in some of these songs-- ironically, you can catch the distinct parts of the music way better when you go see these bands live.

Arguing against this approach is useless, and if I do it any more I'll turn into Andy Rooney. You might as well walk up to your favorite Scandinavian death metal act and asking them to please write paeans to puppy dogs. Some things are just genre conventions, and you deal: in this corner you get songs about burning churches, and in the other you have more distortion and hiss than Slay Tracks. You'll notice I have not yet used the phrase "lo-fi" in this review. That's because I greatly dislike that term. In its 1980s/90s heyday, "lo-fi" referred to such a wide variety of acts-- Daniel Johnston, Dead C, Sebadoh, Supreme Dicks, Grifters-- that it was functionally useless right from the start. At most, "lo-fi" defines an alleged method of capturing sound, similar to the way that "indie rock" refers to a supposed distribution method and nothing else (aside from "rock"). I am reminded of Jean Dubuffet's quote, that "there is no art of the insane any more than there is an art of dyspeptics, or an art of people with knee complaints." Um, but I digress.

Unlike the current army of Anglophiles rocking the basements across the land, this quartet is as in love with American punk as they are the Commonwealth stuff. They shamble into a muffled memory of U.S. hardcore on songs like the Nervous Gender-ific "Beach Brains" or the wonderfully incomprehensible "Stress Crazy". But there's a surprising amount of variation between sounds and songs on Sick to Death; at times it seems like a various artists comp rather than one band. Here they are channeling GBV and the TVPs on the acoustic lament "New Confinement", while "Puker Corpse" is what the Gun Club would have sounded like if they only made soundtracks to haunted houses. The organ-driven shoutalong "Punk Trips" is a glorious pop song that pits multiple melodic hooks against one another, each of them competing for your heart. I dare you to not get it stuck in your head for days.

- Mike McGonigal, July 14, 2008

Upcoming Eat Skull live dates:
07/15 Davis, CA @ Delta of Venus
07/18 Portland, OR @ Slabtwon
07/27 Portland, OR @ Rottue (PDX Pop Now Festival)

Nice Daedelus Write Up In The LA Weekly Today.

Great LA Weekly write up on the eve of release of Daedelus's new album Love To Make Music, which streets next Tuesday.

E-Harmony: Daedelus' Love to Make Music To L.A.-based producer-composer's new LP recalls the bliss of rave culture
By JOHN PAYNE
Wednesday, July 9, 2008 - 1:59 pm
Original post

Daedelus sits patiently in the waiting area at Denver International Airport, about to fly off to Portland, where he plays yet another gig tonight. He’s chatting with me about his new album on Ninja Tune called Love to Make Music To. The title is not a typo, but in fact a good way of describing what Daedelus does and how he got things all twisted around in the making of a record — in this case to such happily and highly slamming effect.

Daedelus — original name Alfred Weisberg-Roberts; his assumed name refers to the sculptor of ancient lore — is a nattily attired young man whom one might like to lazily call a “DJ,” although this particular artist should more accurately be thought of as a “serious composer” working within, roughly, the experimental-dance/electronic realm. Over the course of several albums released on many of the most primo progressive/electronic-oriented labels, such as Mush, Phthalo, Plug Research and, most recently, Ninja Tune, he’s collaborated with the likes of Dntel, speed-rapper Busdriver and Radioinactive, MF Doom, Sci, Cyne, Mike Ladd and Prefuse 73’s Scott Herren, along the way finding time to craft extraordinary sonic statements like Exquisite Corpse (Mush/Ninja Tune), a cinematic, sampled-string-drenched wonder world of arcane dialogue bits blended with impossibly complicated beats.

It is said that Daedelus has a bigger record collection than you or you or you, though the size is only part of its import. It’s the type of stuff he collects and which ends up inhabiting his own music — your basic hip-hop stuff, of course, but then a lot of jazz, vintage funk/R&B/soul and most of the Hollywood and Euro film soundtracks circa 1940-1980, every kind of world music, vast hunks of vintage electro-acoustic and musique concrète, and four tons of bossa nova, música popular brasileira and batucada.

But that’s just to give you a hint of where the Santa Monica–born, USC-educated Daedelus is coming from, and to give some contrasting shades to his new Love to Make Music To, an upbeat, positive, romantic, fulla life virtual homage to rave culture that seems very deliberately, well, extrovert, and which is in many respects a total departure for Daedelus.

“It definitely is lively,” he says with a laugh. “The label had a great deal of effect, plus the idea of working with a London-based label and the European market. There’s Ninja Tune’s psychic image, their weight of history — a label that really is known for strange dance music, or strange electronic-music culture.”

He points out that, regarding the album’s upbeatness, the whole time he was doing this record, he was also working with his wife, singer-composer Laura Darlington, on a very dour and dirgey project called the Long Lost.

“So in some ways on past records, where I kind of oscillated between different tempos and different moods, this one kind of kept me grounded upbeat, ’cause I was throwing a lot of energy in a different direction on a different record.”

On this one, he attempts to rediscover and re-create a moment in time that was very brief but had, for many, a shatteringly deep impact and that was, at the same time, sort of a dream state that was only loosely hitched to reality. He explains:

“There’s at least an aspect of that rave culture when there was confusion about what dance music was at that moment in time,” he says. “And actually, I was too young to really have a sense of what that exactly meant, but just as a reflection that I was receiving, it was almost optimism; even with all these dark synth pads and cheesy samples, at times it really did identify with me as being a very positive thing.”

Thus, his homage to rave tips a hat not just to the happy vibe or atmosphere of the original scene, but to the actual analog-synth sounds that gave it its ferocious heat and whamming impact. All of these things have their sources in even earlier scenes, of course.

“We’ve really had rave culture since the Northern Soul parties in England, these all-nighters. It’s been around for a long time, just in a different form,” he says. “But the moment that most people would talk about was ’92-’93.”

This was, in hindsight, a mere moment when a lot of divergent music, like house and hip house and acid house and early techno and also breakbeat, your Bomb Squad and Ultramagnetic MC’s (sampled heavily by the rave producers of the time) all came together in one genre.

“There was a moment in time when every record that everyone was putting out was a rave record,” opines Daedelus, “and that was really rare in our highly fractured genre. It was a mad mix where you had people doing very computer-based production, very drum-machine-type production, but mixed with these really advanced samplers, where you start to have people throwing in longer, you know, five seconds’ worth of a string sample or something. This was really like people taking musical history and throwing it all together.”

Which is what the rather antiminimalist Daedelus does too, on this new album. Just so much sonic information shoves for attention in these tracks, not to a claustrophobic, show-offy effect but with his now infamously architectural flair for sound design and, most importantly, extremely reverberant combinations of melody, harmony and texture.

From the impossibly up opening “Fair Weather Friends,” which is built on a sample of a Japanese surf guitarist from the ’60s, to the “failed experiments in minimalism” of tracks like “I Took Two” and “Twist the Kids,” however, some of the production ideas behind these tracks differ quite a bit from Daedelus’ typical styles, with less emphasis on the painting with samples of his past work and a newfound hands-on wrangling of a lot of vintage analog-keyboard gear.

It’s that thick, fat, buzzing analog-synth sound that gives his new tracks this in-your-face sort of sociability, all of which arrives courtesy of the vintage gear of his beloved 1992 rave scene.

“On this record, I have a love affair with the Roland SH-09. In rave culture, the SH-101 is the most stolen synthesizer, and one of the early analog synths to have. It was one of the first to have an arpeggiator, in a real cheap form, so it wasn’t your kind of really fancy Jupiter synths, it was more a ground-level kind of thing. So, using the SH-09 allows me to sort of get to some of those sound sets, ’cause it’s really an exact precursor to the 101. It doesn’t have an arpeggiator, but it has its own unique bass sound. People talk about the Moog series having an amazing bass sound, but this one is really different.”

He’s also doing some extraordinary things with the famous old “Hoover bass” technique: Basically, a kind of very low subtone would come into a record at certain intervals, and in so doing on a big sound system, it would kind of blow people’s hair around back in the day. It can also make the material around the knees of your pants vibrate.

Then there’s his trusty midi-controller the Monomeme, which allows him to sample bits and pieces of a song he’s created, or even live material, and rips ’em apart on the fly, recombines, reverses, repeats ’em, allowing for a lot of improvisational control in an immediate fashion. That’s his main ax onstage, and he’s now used it extensively in Love to Make Music To.

“When I’m using the Monomeme live, I’m trying to find the audience,” says Daedelus. “I’m trying to find what people want to hear and what they want to do.” It’s a reflex that steered the early rave DJs toward the sound of surprise. The original rave masters “were making music that was futuristic, and it’s a future that never came to pass,” he says. “As quick as it happened, all those genres — breakbeat, house and techno — they all fragmented back into their own individual categories. So this is a dream more than a reality.

“It’s bittersweet to be dealing with genres that people aren’t familiar with, so when you’re subverting them, people won’t know. And rave music, a lot of people won’t know — and why should they? It’s a very specific moment in time, and that’s what makes it so compelling.”

Daedelus celebrates the release of Love to Make Music To on Saturday, July 12, at a private downtown location. For more information, go to www.groovetickets.com.

The Bug Reviewed On Downed In Sound.

The Bug: London Zoo
by Adam Anonymous
* Type: Album
* Release date: 07/07/2008
* Label: Ninja Tune
Original Review

From adversity often springs great art. And that’s sure the case come second album proper for Kevin ‘The Bug’ Martin, noisemaker producer extraordinaire and veteran of Techno Animal, God and Ice.

Sleeping in his wrong-side-of-the-tracks studio, too poor to afford residential rent as well, he observed the urban cauldron of London at first hand. A methadone clinic down the road, human excrement littering the building, smackheads injecting each other in broad daylight: all that and a whole lot more bleeds into London Zoo’s confines.

Much has occurred in the capital city since 2003, when The Bug’s debut album, Pressure, emerged. Back then, the blood-red chat from various dancehall guests who voiced brutal highlights like ‘Gun Disease’ sounded like comparatively empty threats. Released three years to the day from the 7/7 terrorist bombs, however, the follow up emerges into an inner city landscape where claustrophobia, perhaps even fear, stalks the streets.

Big Smoke dwellers may scoff that notion is the stuff of tabloid exaggeration and out-of-touch generalisation. In the back of most minds, though, including Martin’s, it’s very real. The top-level toasters who litter London Zoo latch onto that mindset, grasping the mood from the off with Tippa Irie’s ire on ‘Angry’ and Roots Manuva’s mate Ricky Ranking on the paranoid ‘Murder We’.

As a supporter of the first wave of the dubstep movement, Martin’s avant-dancehall production template has evolved at a frantic pace. Nowhere is that more apparent than on the singles that have preceded London Zoo. ‘Skeng’ bristles with slowed down portent. The minimalism-to-mayhem intro of ‘Jah War’ could be prime Roll Deep – circa underground rave days – apt considering it revolves around the badman mic talents of crewmember Flow Dan. And ‘Poison Dart’, featuring long-time collaborator Warrior Queen, smacks faces and billows trousers with ceaseless bass burps.

After 11 tracks of being ground down, both physically and mentally, by the uncompromising atmospherics, there is welcome relief within closer ‘Judgement’. The Bug’s most ethereal moment thus far, Ranking returns to add blissful ruminations. The cumulative effect – somewhere around being lifted into the heavens by sunrays – is at odds with the continuous black clouds that come before. Yet it’s a necessary chink of light to conclude a journey so oppressive you may just forget to breathe through its duration.

Apocalyptic sci-fi vid for "Poison Dart" feat. Warrior Queen

Revolver Bands On Tour July 9th 2008

A HAWK AND A HACKSAW
07/12 Winnipeg, MB @ Winnipeg Folk Festival
07/13 Winnipeg, MB @ Winnipeg Folk Festival
07/14 New York, NY @ Le Poisson Rouge
07/15 Montreal, QC @ Club Lambi
07/16 Toronto, ON @ El Mocambo
07/18 Madison, WI @ Memorial Union Terrace at University of Wisconsin
07/19 Chicago, IL @ Pitchfork Music Festival
07/20 Los Angeles, CA @ Echoplex
07/21 San Francisco, CA @ The Independent (w/ Colossal Yes)
07/23 Portland, OR @ Doug Fir Lounge
07/24 Seattle, WA @ The Tractor Tavern
07/26 Calgary, AB @ Calgary Folk Music Festival
07/27 Calgary, AB @ Calgary Folk Music Festival
09/12 Salisbury, UK @ End of the Road Festival

A STORM OF LIGHT
08/14 Warsaw, POL @ Club Stodola
08/15 Prague, CZE @ Brutal Assault Festival
08/18 Leipzipg, DEU @ UT Connewitz
08/19 Leipzipg, DEU @ UT Connewitz
08/21 Munich, DEU @ Metropolis
08/22 Le Locle, CHE @ VNV Festival
08/23 Ancona, IT @ Mamamia
08/30 Cammer, DEU @ South of Mainstream Festval
09/02 Aalst, BEL @ Negasonic
09/03 Tilburg, NL @ 013
09/04 Hamburg, DEU @ Markthalle
09/05 Copenhagen, DNK @ Loppen
09/06 Oslo, NOR @ Garage
09/10 Hannover, DEU @ Cafe Glocksee
09/11 Dresden, DEU @ Groovestation
09/12 Prague, CZE @ Klub 007
09/13 Innsbruck, AUT @ PMK
09/14 Vienna, AUT @ Szene
09/16 Düdingen, CHE @ Badd Bonn
09/17 Geneva, CHE @ Lusine
09/19 La Chaux De Fonds, CHE @ Bikini Test

AKIMBO
07/26 Seattle, WA @ Capitol Hill Block Party
08/16 Missoula, MT @ Badlander (Total Fest)
09/05 Portland, OR @ Ash Street Saloon (NW Music Festival)

AKRON/FAMILY
07/24 New York, NY @ River to River Festival at Castle Clinton
07/25 Rochester, NY @ Boulder Coffee Co Music Festival
07/26 Guelph, ON @ Hillside Music Festival
09/07 Isle of Wight, UK @ Bestival Festival
09/12 Dorset, UK @ End of the Road Festival
09/14 Red Rocks, CO @ Monolith Festival

AMON TOBIN
09/20 San Francisco, CA @ Treasure Island Music Festival

APACHE
07/09 San Francisco, CA @ Elbo Room (Record Release Party)
07/11 Portland, OR @ East End
07/12 Seattle, WA @ The Comet (CANDY FEST)
07/26 San Francisco, CA @ Annie's Social Club

GREG ASHLEY
07/11 San Francisco, CA @ The House of Shields
07/17 Oakland, CA @ Mama Buzz

ASVA
07/13 Birmingham, UK @ Supersonic Festival
07/15 Munich, DEU @ Feierwerk
07/17 Innsbruck, AUT @ Pmk
07/18 Vienna AUT @ Arena
07/19 Hannover, DEU @ Cafe Glocksee
07/20 Dour, BEL @ Dour Festival

DEVENDRA BANHART
08/21 Reno, NV @ Grand Sierra Theatre
08/23 San Francisco, CA @ Outside Lands Music&Arts Festival

BLUES CONTROL
07/18 Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brenda's
08/30 Long Island City, NY @ Texas Firehouse
08/31 Jamaica Plain, MA @ Milky Way Lounge & Lanes
07/13 Chicago, IL @ Empty Bottle

BRACKEN
07/13 Leeds, UK @ Brudenell Social Club (w/ Efterklang)
07/20 Benicassim, ESP @ Benicassim Festival

BUTTHOLE SURFERS
07/15 Amsterdam, NL @ Melkweg
07/17 Gent, BEL @ Minnemeers
07/18 Bristol, UK @ Carling Academy
07/19 Manchester, UK @ Academy 2
07/20 Glasgow, UK @ ABC1
07/22 Wolverhampton, UK @ Wulfrun Hall
07/23 Nottingham, UK @ Rock City
07/24 Dublin, IRE @ Vicar Street
07/26 London, UK @ Kentish Town Forum
07/28 Newmarket, NH @ The Stone Church
07/29 New York City @ Webster Hall

CHEAP TIME
07/16 Athens, OH @ The Union
07/17 Bloomington, IN @ Statehouse
07/18 Detroit, MI @ LJs Lounge
07/19 Chicago, IL @ Bottom Lounge (w/ Jay Reatard)
07/20 Milwaukee, WI @ Frank's Power Plant
07/21 Minneapolis, MN @ Triple Rock (w/ Jay Reatard)
07/22 Fargo, ND @ The Aquarium (w/ Jay Reatard)
07/25 Seattle, WA @ Funhouse
07/26 Seattle, WA @ Comet Tavern
07/27 Portland, OR @ Doug Fir Lounge (w/ Jay Reatard)
07/28 Sacramento, CA @ Luigi's Fun Garden
07/29 San Francisco, CA @ Independent (w/ Jay Reatard)
07/30 Los Angeles, CA @ Echo(w/ Jay Reatard)
07/31 San Diego, CA @ Casbah(w/ Jay Reatard)
08/01 Mesa, AZ @ Hollywood Alley (w/ Jay Reatard)
08/03 Austin, TX @ Red 7 (w/ Jay Reatard)
08/04 Dallas, TX @ Club Dada (w/ Jay Reatard)
08/06 Memphis, TN @ Murphy's
08/18 Nashville, TN @ The End

COLOSSAL YES
07/21 San Francisco, CA @ Independent (w/ A Hawk And A Hacksaw)

DASH RIP ROCK
07/12 Houma, LA @ Y-Bar
07/18 Key West, FL @ Green Parrot
07/19 Key West, FL @ Green Parrot
07/22 Tampa, FL @ Skipper's Smokehouse

THE DEATH SET
07/09 Chicago, IL @ The Abbey Pub
07/10 Detroit, MI @ Magic Stick
07/11 Toronto, ON @ Sneaky Dees
07/12 Hamilton, ON @ Club Absinthe
07/13 Montreal, QC @ Zoobizarre
07/14 Boston, MA @ Great Scott
07/15 Burlington, VT @ Club Metronome
07/16 Providence, RI @ AS220
07/17 Danbury, CT @ Heirloom Arts Theatre
07/18 New York, NY @ Cake Shop
07/19 Baltimore, MD @ Whartscape
07/20 Philadelphia, PA @ The Barbary
07/21 Brooklyn, NY @ Market Hotel
07/22 Washington, DC @ The Velvet Lounge

DENGUE FEVER
07/09 Boston, MA @ Museum Of FIne Arts
07/11 Chicago, IL @ Empty Bottle
07/12 Madison, WI @ Central Park

DIRTBOMBS
07/11 Hoboken, NJ @ Maxwell's
07/12 Brooklyn, NY @ Fort Greene Park
07/13 Asbury Park, NJ @ Asbury Lanes

DOSH
07/18 Aspen, CO @ Belly Up

DROP THE LIME
07/24 San Francisco, CA @ Mezzanine
07/25 Los Angeles, CA @ Avalon Hollywood
07/31 New York, NY @ Santos Partyhouse
08/01 Chicago, IL @ The Abbey Pub
08/10 Salmo, BC @ Shambhala Music Festival
09/27 Princeton, NJ @ Terrace F. Club

GITS (SCREENINGS OF THE GITS MOIVE)
07/16 Buffalo, NY @ Buffalo Film Festival
07/27-31 Edmonton, AB @ Metro
09/03-06 Portland, OR @ Music Fest NW

HALF JAPANESE
07/11 Washington, DC @ Rock and Roll Hotel

THE HEAVY
07/11 Montreux, FR @ Montreux Jazz Festival
07/18 Vienna, AUT @ Nuke Festival
07/19 SouthWold, UK @ Latitude Festival
07/23 Grenoble, FR @ Cabaret Frappe Festival
07/25 Rennes, FR @ Malestroit Au Pont du Rock Festival
07/26 Rennes, FR @ Ribeyrac Le Grand Souk Festival
07/27 Wroclaw, POL@ Wroclaw Era New Horizons

HOWLIN' RAIN
07/18 Santa Cruz, CA @ Blue Lagoon
07/19 Big Sur, CA @ Henry Miller Library
07/22 Nevada City, CA @ Cooper's Ale Works
07/23 Visalia, CA @ Howie's
07/24 San Diego, CA @ Casbah
07/26 Los Angeles, CA @ Spaceland
07/27 Santa Monica, CA @ McCabe's
08/13 Glasgow, UK @ Nice and Sleazy's
08/14 Leeds, UK @ The Brudenell Social Club
08/16 Wales, UK @ Green Man Festival
08/19 Portland, OR @ East End
09/10 Arcata, CA @ Van Duzer Theater
09/12 Santa Rosa, CA @ Wells Fargo Center
09/13 Las Vegas, NV @ The Joint
09/16 Mesa, AZ @ Ikeda Theatre (Mesa ARts Center)
09/17 Los Angeles, CA @ The Greek Theater
09/19 Santa Barbara, CA @ Santa Barbara County Bowl

ESSIE JAIN
08/09 Leicester, UK @ Summer Sundae Weekender Festival
08/13 Brighton, UK @ Freebutt
08/16 Glanusk Park, UK @ Green Man Festival
09/12-14 Dorset, UK @ End Of The Road Festival @ Larmer Tree Gardens
09/16 Brighton, UK @ The Hope
09/18 London, UK @ Green Note
10/27 Milan, IT @ La Casa 139

KID KOALA
08/02 Montreal, QC @ Olympia de Montreal
08/30 New York, NY @ Rocks Off Concert Cruise
09/04 Guelph, ON @ Mitchell Hall

KING KHAN & THE SHRINES
07/10 Los Angeles, CA @ Echo
07/11 San Francisco, CA @ Great American Music Hall
07/12 Portland, OR @ Dantes
07/13 Seattle, WA @ The Tractor Tavern
07/14 Vancouver, BC @ Pat's Pub
07/16 Salt Lake City, UT @ Urban Lounge
07/17 Denver, CO @ Larimer Lounge
07/20 Chicago, IL @ Pitchfork Music Festival
07/21 Pontiac, MI @ Crofoot Ballroom - Pike Room
07/22 Cleveland Heights, OH @ Grog Shop
07/23 Toronto, ON @ Legendary Horseshoe Tavern
07/24 Toronto, ON @ Legendary Horseshoe Tavern
07/25 Montreal, QC @ La Sala Rossa
07/26 Ottawa, ON @ Zaphod Beeblebrox
07/30 Northampton, MA @ Iron Horse
07/31 Cambridge, MA @ Middle East Upstairs
08/01 New Haven, CT @ Cafe Nine

LEFTOVER CRACK
08/01 Philadelphia, PA @ Trocadero
08/02 Washington, DC @ St. Stephens Church
08/03 New York, NY @ Tompkins Square Park (2:00 PM)
08/05 Providence, RI @ Club Hell
08/07 Boston, MA @ Club Lido

LESBIAN
07/25 Seattle, WA @ Capitol Hill Block Party King Cobra Stage

LODGER
07/16 Fukuoka, JAP @ Kieth Flack
07/18 Nagoya, JAP @ Club Zion
07/19 Shibuya, JAP @ Club Asia
07/19 Shinjuku, JAP @ Club Wire (DJ set)
07/20 Shinjuku, JAP @ Club Wire
07/26 Ripley, Derbyshire, UK @ Indietracks Festival

LUDICRA
08/12 San Francisco, CA @ Slim's

MODEY LEMON
07/09 Minneapolis, MN @ The Uptown
07/10 Milwaukee, WI @ Borg Ward
07/11 Chicago, IL @ Beat Kitchen

NEUROSIS
08/14 Warsaw, POL @ Club Stodola
08/15 Prague, CZE @ Brutal Assault Festival
08/16 Hasselt, BEL @ Pukkelpop Festival
08/18 Leipzipg, DEU @ UT Connewitz
08/19 Leipzipg, DEU @ UT Connewitz
08/21 Munich, DEU @ Metropolis
08/22 Le Locle, CHE @ VNV Festival
08/23 Ancona, IT @ Mamamia

OCTOPUS PROJECT
08/03 Chicago, IL @ Lollapalooza
08/04 Kansas City, MO @ Record Bar
08/05 Norman, OK @ Opolis
08/06 Lubbock, TX @ Tequila Station
08/11 Phoenix, AZ @ Rhythm Room
08/12 Tucson, AZ @ Congress Theater
08/14 Los Angeles, CA @ The Knitting Factory
08/15 Visalia, CA @ Cellar Door
08/16 San Francisco, CA @ Bottom of the Hill
08/18 Portland, OR @ Satyricon
08/19 Seattle, WA @ Nectar Lounge
08/22 Edmonton, AB @ Velvet Underground
08/23 Calgary, AB @ The HiFi Club
08/25 Salt Lake City, UT @ Urban Lounge
08/26 Denver, CO @ The Hi-Dive
08/28 Fort Worth, TX Lola's Saloon @ The Burning Hotels
08/29 Houston, TX @ Warehouse Live
09/28 Austin, TX @ Austin City Limits Festival

PANSY DIVISION
07/16 Philadelphia, PA @ Trocadero (screening of "Pansy Division: Life in a Gay Rock Band")

PORT O'BRIEN
07/09 Santa Barbara, CA @ Muddy Waters
07/10 Los Angeles, CA @ Spaceland
07/11 San Francisco, CA @ Cafe Du Nord
08/06 Madison, WI @ Cafe Montmartre
08/07 Chicago, IL @ Schubas
08/09 Toronto, ON @ El Mocambo
08/10 Montreal, QC @ Le Divan Orange
08/12 Cambridge, MA @ The Middle East Upstairs
08/13 New York, NY @ Mercury Lounge
08/15 Brooklyn, NY @ Union Hall
08/16 Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brenda's
08/17 Washington, DC @ Black Cat Backstage
08/18 Columbus, OH @ Cafe Bourbon St Annex
08/19 Indianapolis, IN @ Locals Only
09/13 Denver, CO @ Monolith Festival @ Red Rocks

JAY REATARD
07/13 Baltimore, MD @ Sonar
07/14 Philadelphia PA @ Johnny Brenda's
07/15 Brooklyn, NY @ Prospect Park
07/16 Providence, RI @ Lupo's
07/19 Chicago, IL @ Union Park (Pitchfork Festival)
07/19 Chicago, IL @ Bottom Lounge
07/21 Minneapolis, MN @ Triple Rock (w/Cheap Time)
07/22 Fargo, ND @ The Aquarium (w/Cheap Time)
07/25 Seattle, WA @ Capitol Hill block Party
07/26 Vancouver, BC @ Commodore Ballroom
07/27 Portland, OR @ Doug Fir Lounge (w/Cheap Time)
07/29 San Francisco, CA @ Independent (w/Cheap Time)
07/30 Los Angeles, CA @ Echo (w/Cheap Time)
07/31 San Diego, CA @ Casbah (w/Cheap Time)
08/01 Mesa, AZ @ Hollywood Alley (w/Cheap Time)
08/03 Austin, TX @ Red 7 (w/Cheap Time)

RED SPAROWES
07/09 Liverpool, UK @ Barfly
07/10 Glasgow, UK @ Stereo
07/11 York, NY @ Fibbers
07/12 Sheffield, UK @ The Corporation
07/13 Birmingham, UK @ Supersonic Festival
07/14 Bristol, UK @ The Croft
07/16 Paris, FR @ La Maroquinerie
07/17 Stuttgart, DEU @ Club Schocken
07/18 Saarbrucken, DEU @ Garage
07/19 Herk de Stad, BEL @ Rock Herk
07/27 Chicago, IL @ Wickerpark Fest

SECRET CHIEFS 3
07/25 Detroit Lakes, MN @ 10,000 Lakes Festival
07/26 Milwaukee, WI @ Turner Ballroom
07/27 Chicago, IL @ Double Door
07/30 Fort Collins, CO @ Aggie Theater
07/31 Denver, CO @ Bluebird Theater
08/01 Salt Lake City, UT @ Paladium
08/03 Portland, OR @ Doug Fir Lounge
08/04 Seattle, WA @ Neumo's

SIC ALPS
07/09 Aimes, IA @ the Practice Space
07/10 Madison, WI @ The Project Lodge
07/11 Minneapolis, MN @ Treehouse Records (in-store)
07/11 Minneapolis, MN @ The Turf Club
07/12 Chicago, IL @ Enemy
07/13 Memphis, TN @ Murphy's
07/14 Athens, GA @ the Secret Squirrel
07/15 Atlanta, GA @ the Earl
07/16 Knoxville, TN @ the Pilot Light
07/17 Chapel HIll, SC @ the Reservoir
07/18 Philadephia, PA @ Johnny Brenda's
07/19 Brooklyn, NY @ Death by Audio
07/20 Brooklyn, NY @ Union Pool
07/21 Boston, MA @ The Abbey Tavern
07/22 Pittsburgh, PA @ Garfield Artworks
07/23 Cleveland, OH @ Pat's in the Flats
07/24 Columbus, OH @ Bourbon St.
07/25 Detroit, MI @ X! Fest at the Bohemian National Home

SJ ESAU
07/22 Bristol, UK @ The Croft

SLIM CESSNA'S AUTO CLUB
08/30 San Francisco, CA @ Great American Music Hall

SONIC YOUTH
08/04 Leucate (next to Perpignan), FR @ Les Mediterraneennes Festival
08/05 Lokeren, BEL @ Lokerse Feesten
08/07 Oslo, NOR @ Oya Festival
08/08 Goteborg, SWE @ Way Out West Festival
08/09 St. Nazaire, FR @ Les Escales Festival

TRICLOPS!
07/19 Los Angeles, CA @ The Echo
07/25 San Francisco, CA @ Hemlock Tavern

VENETIAN SNARES
07/10 Dublin, IRE @ Andrews Lane Theatre

VETIVER
07/25 Rochester, NY @ Boulder Annual Music Festival
07/26 Albany, NY @ Valentine's
07/27 Burlington, VT @ Club Metronome
07/28 Peterborough, NH @ Reynolds Hall
07/29 Portland, ME @ SPACE Gallery
07/30 Hampden, CT @ The Space
07/31 Montague, MA @ Montague Bookmill
08/01 Boston, MA @ Museum of Fine Arts
08/02 New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom
08/03 Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg

BENJAMIN WETHERILL ON TOUR WITH A HAWK AND A HACKSAW
07/20 Los Angeles, CA @ The Echoplex
07/21 San Francisco, CA @ The Independent (w/ Colossal Yes)
07/23 Portland, OR @ Doug Fir
07/24 Seattle, WA @ The Tractor Tavern

WHY?
07/12 Dornstadt, DEU @ Obstwiesen Festival
07/13 Nijmegen, NL @ Valkhof Affaire
07/18 Gräfenhainichen, DEU @ Melt Festival
07/20 Dour, BEL @ Dour Festival
07/26 Laval, FR @ 3 Elephants Festival
08/02 Osnabrück, DEU @ Lok Pop Festival
08/16 St. Malo, FR @ La Route Du Rock
08/29 San Francisco, CA @ Great American Music Hall

DEVON WILLIAMS
07/09 Salt Lake City, UT @ Kilbey Court
07/11 Portland, OR @ Backspace
07/12 Bellingham, WA @ Whaam
07/13 Seattle, WA @ Nectar Lounge
07/14 Olympia, WA @ Old School Pizza
07/18 San Francisco, CA @ Hemlock Tavern
07/19 Los Angeles, CA @ The Echo

WOODBOX GANG
07/17 Chicago, IL @ Martyr's
07/18 St Louis, MO @ Cicero's
07/19 Carbondale, IL @ Hangar 9
07/24 Springfield, IL @ Marley's
08/08 Columbus, OH @ House of Crave
08/16 Carbondale, IL @ Hangar 9
08/21 Springfield, IL @ Marley's
08/23 Davenport, IA @ River Roots Live Festival
08/31 Pittsburgh, PA @ Bocktown Beer and Grill

WOODEN SHJIPS
07/12 Birmingham, UK @ Supersonic Festival
07/13 London, UK @ Cargo
07/14 Antwerp, BEL @ Scheld'apen
07/16 Tilberg, NL @ 013
07/17 Amsterdam, NL @ Melkweg
07/18 Brighton, UK @ Barfly
07/19 Bristol, UK @ Croft
10/31 London, UK @ The Forum

A Spectacular Aufgehoben Review From Delusions Of Adequacy.

When I think of all the mutant strains of noise and/or noise-rock out there, Aufgehoben still has a way of sounding wonderfully singular. Their noise is a wholly distinct one and although it operates as a group, Aufgehoben shares more in common with academic noise architects like Kevin Drumm or Russell Haswell than the negative creep of groups like Hair Police and Wolf Eyes. Through the most brute force attack and careful consideration of each aspect of its music, the group manages to overcome the mundanity that plagues a good portion of what passes for noise these days.

Like some other great artists before them (CAN, Faust, Miles Davis, etc.), Aufgehoben normally uses a long-term editing process after its initial recording to carve out a resultant mass from raw material. This was discussed in greater detail in my interview for DOA last year with the group. Khora was actually recorded way back in 2005, approximately one year after the recordings for 2006's Messidor. This led to Aufgehoben's Stephen Robinson referring to them as "sister albums." Make no mistake, Khora follows an upward trajectory from the previous album, which is no small feat since Messidor was pretty goddamn incredible.

Khora is essentially split into halves. The first of these halves is made up of a sequence of three songs called "Ignorance Oblivion Contempt," "Annex Organon," and "A Bastard Reasoning." These are shorter pieces that focus on the musicians' seemingly wild abandonment of all structure and logic. Things start out loud and abrasive and the group only ratchets up the intensity from there. It would all probably fall apart in the hands of a less capable group, but here each player manages to utilize this chaos. They don't try to unwisely control or manage the walls of screeching electronics and stereo guitar feedback, instead the band just lets loose while its dual drummers establish a broken backbone that constantly lurches forward. The second half of the album is 30 minutes of pummeling punishment entitled "Jederfursich." Here, Aufgehoben gives us raw matter as there was no editing from the initial recording. It sounds as if their amps are melting down from being overloaded with a gross amount of distortion. For nearly any other band to attempt something like this would be overstepping the bounds of its capabilities. For Aufgehoben it seems like the band is really flexing its muscles and it accomplishes something entirely beautiful as a result. Noise that is clear and concise in its
brutality.

Aufgehoben has effectively raised the bar for every avant-rock and noise group operating today. Khora is the result of time well spent on the band's part at attempting perfection. Here it just may be that they have achieved such an end, the total cleansing hinted at by the dark water on the album's cover, a tidal wave of destruction sweeping away everything in its path.

Joe Davenport
06/30/08

Biafa 5-0 Contest.

Alternative Tentacles is graciously giving away a few door-prize leftovers from last month's Jello Biafa 50th birthday bash show. Lucky winners will score a limited edition 7" single and shirt. More info on the contest can be found here.

Dosh Daytrodder Session & NPR's Second Stage Piece.

Download live versions of songs off The Lost Take and Wolves & Wishes from Dosh's Daytrotter session.

Dosh

A Balancing Act Of A Dentist And Dozens Of Metamorphoses -23 June 2008

Words by Sean Moeller // Illustration by Johnnie Cluney // Sound engineering by Patrick Stolley

Maybe it’s just the lingo and it’s not in me to understand it or to have been around it enough to appreciate the garden varieties of it, the ho-hum building block of the mostly instrumental music that Martin Dosh makes when he’s not maxed out being busy with everything else. When describing his song “First Impossible,” he mentions, “the main drone for this piece is something I have been working on for over three years,” and the word “drone” elevates itself right up out of the explanation. Given the chance to define it, that word would be accompanied by a soft explanation of what it means to lock into a groove. It’s the worker bee, the drone bee syndrome, a sort of monotonous system of similar initiatives that – when combined with other perfectionists in different categories – can create a dangerously spectacular experience.

A drone, meeting a drone of a different stripe, meeting a drone of a different mind makes for a three-flavored explosion of three specialists playing their cards right. Alone, it’s a drag and in combination, these three different repetitive signals, can be as exhilarating as a ride through some white rapids. Martin Dosh, Andrew Bird’s percussionist of choice (because just calling him a drummer would be a gross underestimate of the Minnesotan’s expansive talents) challenges his own efforts when he’s building these dense and daring walls of cacophonous sound and hoping that they’ll fluster people in ways that they’d never imagined they could be. He’s taken his drones and his meaty beats and braided them into a recipe that belies anything that could be categorized as simple electronic music. It could be the live-ness of how he makes and performs all of the songs that he pounded out in his basement. It could be even more to the point that he thinks like a songwriter, not a music-maker. Or at least that’s the venture that’s we’re willing to make. These pieces of music that have taken years of experimentation and dissection, re-application and jiggering, are not plated to the floorboards, but are filled with yeast buds ready to start multiplying when that targeted temperature reading hits. These songs on Wolves and Wishes are full of active ingredients that never interlope, just function precisely with one another, bringing out all of the aromas and accents needed to make the full picture – usually a peaceful torrent of steam that acts like a pulsation.

Watching Dosh work in a live setting is a bit of how it would be if there was one room – with an observation deck – or maybe a stadium full of spectators, where one we could witness a combination of things happen. These acts wouldn’t be exclusive of one another, but all happening at the same time, performed by the same person simultaneously. We’re talking about a dentist intensively drilling and filling a cavity – staying within that little off-white kernel of corn and straying from the nerve endings, a half a fleet of Monarch butterflies all metamorphosing at the same time, showing the before and after pictures, two drum corps battling off with each other, three or four hot air balloons ascending, and a big cat on the prowl. You – or we, cause this wouldn’t be something to miss – would be seeing all of this happening at once, like a hydra controllably flailing. Dosh pounds the shit out of his Rhoades with his drum sticks, then attends to his pedals, then attends to his kick for some brief flourishes, keeping the state of mind in a constant flux between the cerebral appreciation of the difficulties seen before you and the physical connection to the driving force of feeling as if you were on some sort of high-speed getaway, with Mike Lewis’ getting red and sweaty in the cheeks and giving you a flattering, brassy push with his saxophone blurts. You’d be looking behind your back all the time if the circus in front wasn’t so captivating.

DOSH ON NPR's Second Stage.

Dosh: 'Don't Wait For The Needle To Drop'

NPR.org, July 2, 2008 - Martin Dosh is a percussionist from Minneapolis, Minn., but his solo work is far from simple drum work. With Wolves and Wishes, Dosh's fourth full-length release on the Anticon label, Dosh has composed a series of richly orchestrated, mostly instrumental electronica tracks with a cinematic grandeur. With collaborative help from such well-known artists as Bonnie "Prince" Billy and Andrew Bird (for whom Dosh plays backing drums), the record finds a balance between Dosh's trippy synth, keyboard and drum work, and the album's guitars, violins, clarinets and saxophones. The result is organic, never feeling over-produced or mashed up, as it works a happy, eclectic medium between trip-hop and more grandiose orchestral sound.

The album opens with "Don't Wait for the Needle to Drop," and from the first few notes you might think you're listening to a new Sufjan Stevens record. But Dosh quickly adds a heavy hip-hop beat to disorient any expectations. Instrumental chaos builds in a flurry of keyboards, drums, and synths until a short, sweet violin melody floats out of the mix, only to be chopped up and overcome by all the bells and whistles. Ultimately, a simple repeated keyboard motive prevails and the track slides into a soft ordered decline. The record isn't all trip-happy though. Much of Wolves and Wishes rests between jazz-influenced works like the smooth piano piece "Kit and Pearle" and jam-rock tracks such as the head-bob guitar track "The Magic Stick." Still, the album holds together under Dosh's signature, nervous, percussive jitters.

While each of Dosh's albums includes a few tracks with vocals, he usually sticks to wordless music. "I like the sound of vocals and my voice, but it's just the words there's a disconnect with." For this record, Will Oldham of Bonnie "Prince" Billy offered some vocals, almost as an afterthought to Dosh.

Dosh recently wrapped up a U.S. tour and will be playing a number of festivals with Bird this summer as well as a shorter solo tour. Plans are in place for him to put together material for an EP later this year.

8.1 Jay Reatard Review on Pitchfrok.

Jay Reatard:
Singles 06-07
[In the Red; 2008]
Rating: 8.1
Original Review

As far as singles compilations go, two years might seem like a pretty narrow window. Then again, just as the two- or three-minute songs from Jay Reatard feel epic, he's given his fans a near-career's worth of riches in that time. It's true that nearly one-third of these tracks are demos and alternate versions of songs from 2006's Blood Visions, but he hasn't rested on his laurels for one moment since then. This compilation is beyond helpful for collecting so many one-off singles, and actually makes for an excellent intro into the world of Reatard for the uninitiated.

Anyone who's caught Jay Lindsey and his band live over the past year or so has probably heard "Night of Broken Glass": It's a simple but effective juxtaposition that sums up Lindsey's reference points fairly well, from the Devo-brand jerkiness of the verse into one of his most breathless punk-rock choruses. (It speaks to the man's casual approach to history to have what sounds like an empathetic warning song from a guy whose last side project was named the Final Solutions.) Those only familiar with Blood Visions may be surprised by the other tracks from the Night of Broken Glass EP. "Another Person" has perky carnival keyboards, stiff new-wave affectations, and sophisticated self-harmonizing, while the foreboding lyrics in "All Over Again" are betrayed by a swinging and sweet backing track without a flying-V guitar in sight.

"I Know a Place" and its B-side, "Don't Let Him Come Back", are just as disarmingly gentle, but it further speaks to a songwriter steeped in punk traditions who's absorbed a lot more than his album covers might suggest-- not in the least bands like the Go-Betweens, who originally recorded the deep cut "Don't Let Him Come Back" in 1979, with Reatard following suit after Grant McLennan's had passed in 2006. It's a faithful, acoustically driven version marked by Reatard's hiss-soaked multi-tracked vocals, making his lonely yelp into a basement chorus line.

"Hammer I Miss You" is slow and loopy power-pop that struts rather than races, with a great faraway wail and a guitar part like a downhill snowball for the chorus. But between the staccato full stops of "All Wasted" and the screeching vocal of "It's So Useless", its B-sides might do the best job of reconciling his former, younger fury with his just-slightly slower punk-pop of late. "In the Dark" is one of Reatard's most explicit Wire nods, though it's mid-tempo beat is still infectiously urgent, the single for which also featured two sluggish lo-fi demos of what would be two Blood Visions stand outs, "Searching For You" and "Haunting You" (which would be renamed "Nightmares" and Fading All Away", respectively-- the promo we reviewed inverted the titles, but both demos are clearly named from key lyrics in each.) Here, they seem to sink underneath the melodrama of the broken relationship they detail; "Searching for You" holds up, as it's an uncharacteristically wistful song for Reatard, while "Haunting You" doesn't fare as well-- hearing a lyric like "I won't stop until you're dead" isn't quite the same without the clattering engine of the band behind it.

Those unexpected quirks are more evident on the "Blood Demos" 7" released on Stained Circles. The title track is just as biting as its album counterpart, but its chorus melody is more static and the transition between it and the verses much less smooth, while the juxtaposition of the sterile verses to the careening chorus of "Turning Blue" was sacrificed for a more manic and more streamlined approach on the record. That said, there's still something happening here; a sense of melody and purpose that still lifts them above the other exemplary singles from Blood Visions. Letting the seams show a bit with these demos not only reveals a bit about his process, but it illuminates the link between his earlier career and his recent breakthrough, while going a long way to prove that record was more than three or four chords and a fake accent.

Song for song, Blood Visions might still outclass this compilation (though this is certainly more diverse), but again, mind those dates at the top: In this short span of time Reatard cranked out more memorable songs then some acts do in their whole careers. If there's a creeping criticism to be had, it's that Jay Reatard solo songs always sound like Jay Reatard, be they slow or fast, quiet or loud, played on synths or guitars. It's a fine line between consistency and stasis that he's toeing, and something to bear in mind as he continues as he continues to record for Matador. For a songwriter hitting this kind of unstoppable stride over the past two years, however, it's a moot point. Whether you watch that DVD or not, it's an era worth celebrating.

- Jason Crock, July 3, 2008

Summer tour schedule including dates with Spoon, Cheap Time, Les Savy Fav, and Pitchfork Fest appearance.

07/14/08 @ Johnny Brenda’s, Philadelphia PA
07/15/08 @ Prospect Park, Brooklyn, NY, w/Spoon
07/16/08 @ Lupo’s Providence RI w/Spoon
07/19/08 @ Pitchfork Festival, Chicago, IL
07/21/08 @ Triple Rock Minneapolis MN w/Cheap Time
07/22/08 @ The Aquarium, Fargo, ND w/Cheap Time
07/25/08 @ Capitol Hill block Party, Seattle WA
07/26/08 @ Commodore Ballroom Vancouver, BC w/Les Savy Fav
07/27/08 @ Doug Fir Lounge, Portland, OR w/Cheap Time
07/29/08 @ Independent, San Francisco CA w/Cheap Time
07/30/08 @ Echo, Los Angeles, CA w/Cheap Time
07/31/08 @ Casbah, San Diego, CA w/Cheap Time
08/1/08 @ Hollywood Alley, Mesa, AZ w/Cheap Time
08/3/08 @ Red 7, Austin, TX, w/Cheap Time