From the ashes of Desolation Wilderness rises Nick Zwart’s new solo recording project Electric Sunset, who’s debut self titled album is set to be released on K Records on September 7th.
While it’s obvious from the first single, “Soda,” that Electric Sunset is farther than a stones throw from Desolation Wilderness, but once you look a little bit deeper I start to see aspects of that shoegaze band that I’ve pined over for the past couple years.
“Soda” is an ambient pop jam that starts with the slow pulse of electronic drum beats leading into wavering tones creating a perfect vehicle for Zwart’s soft sweet vocals. The guitars kick in you witness the coming together of the two styles as the wall of sound of shoegazey guitar meets ambient electro pop creating a delicate but jangly noisy back drop. Zwart has created something new and unique with aspects of eltronic pop and psychedica using synthesizers, guitar, modified samplers and computers…something that will appeal to fans of Desolation Wilderness and the Postal Service a like…and that is a large gap to bridge.
A full review of this album will be posted once I let it settle, but I really like what I’m hearing…and that being said I’ve listened to it like three times today.
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Electric Sunset has a couple West Coast tour dates lined up too:
07/07 – Berkeley, CA 2703 Fullerston w/ St. Stag Hare & Gkfoes vjgoaf
Last year I did a list of twenty five albums, and I began to think that the rank ordering no longer meant anything once I hit a certain number. This year I thought I was going to do a top ten with a not so short list of other albums, but then I decided that would be the same thing as a top twenty five.
I feel like I settled in the middle. I was able to narrow 2009 down to fifteen albums, and no short list. These are my favorites. If you haven’t heard them check out the mp3, and if you like it buy the album…you won’t be disappointed. Cheers.
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The Great Pumpkin’s favorite albums of 2009.
15.) Screaming Females- Power Move
Hearing this record for the first time was like the first time I heard Dinosaur Jr. Power Move was released by Don Geovanni Records.
13.) Alex Bleeker and the Freaks- Alex Bleeker and the Freaks
Classic Rock for my generation. This record gets more powerful with each listen. Released via the wonderful Underwater Peoples Records. Their cover of “Animal Tracks” is just as good as the original.
Sonny and the Sunsets made the perfect warm weather pop album that it transcends seasons. I find that even on a morning as cold as today Tomorrow is Alright can make me feel warm inside. Sonny is part of the Endless Nest Collective, and if you know what is good for you should have your eye on the nest…so many great records came out of this group in 2009. Tomorrow is Alright was released by Soft Abuse Records.
This is an album of psychedelic dance jams and not necessarily the dance music you would hear in a club, but more what you want to chill out with at the end of the night. This record was released by Human Ear Music / Gloriette Records.
9.) Julie Doiron- I Can Wonder What You Did With Your Day
While she is known for her sad songs this album shows her lighter side, and that is something that I really enjoy…and she can totally wail on that guitar too. Released by Jagjaguwar Records.
As far as I’m concerned these two should have been a double album. I have a hard time thinking about them separately. Ducktails in a sense gave birth to Real Estate, and possibly this whole thing chillwave thing. Ducktails came out via Not Not Fun and Lanscapes via Olde English Spelling Bee.
This man is a constant inspiration to me. This record is just one of three albums that he made this year that I fell in love with. Released by K Records.
The first full length form this Sacramento band, and it was pretty much perfect. The LP was released by Weird Forest and CD by Woodsist (who will be repressing the LP).
4.) TOM: WFMU’s the Best Show’s Tribute to Paul McCartney’s RAM (various artists)
The Best Show put together the best tribute album ever. If you are unfamiliar with RAM it is the only album I have ever heard of by Paul McCartney refered to as dirty (and that is a very good thing). Released as a DJ Premium for donating to WFMU… Sad that it was so exclusive. The moral of this story is…DONATE TO WFMU!
I haven’t really listened to Danielson over the past couple albums, but this cover makes me want to rethink that…one of my favorite tracks from this album, and one of the best covers I have heard in a long time.
Oh and if you don’t already have it…buy Paul McCartney’s Ramhere (or used on LP here).
3.) Mount Eerie- Wind’s Poem
I am a long time fan of Phil Elverum, and on this album he took me to a place I never imagined I’d go. Dark and beautiful…seeing it performed live gave me the best halloween I’ve had in years.
After this record I will be on the look out for anything Julian Lynch ever releases. Orange You Glad has moved me. Released on Olde English Spelling Bee.
more on Julian Lynch (mp3s, video, pictures, reviews, more) can be found here.
1.) So Cow- So Cow
By far the record I listened to most this past year. The pop catches you, but the guitar and lyrics keep you. I couldn’t have asked for a better introduction to Tic Tac Totally Records. If you didn’t catch So Cow when they were in the states last year their 2010 American Tour starts in less than two week! Tour dates can be found here.
more on So Cow (reviews, posters, mp3s, pictures)can be found here.
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Thanks for reading my best of lists. I’m pretty sure this is the end of it…my goal was to get it up by February 1st, but I ended up one day late…I’m ok with that.
You can find more of mine, and some of my special guests, best of lists here.
Last Thursday Karl Blau graced Ash’s Place in Williamsburg with his presence. This was my first time at Ash’s, and I was a little bit surprised at the vibe the Karl and his K Records crew were greeted with. Instead of the usual quite, smallish, attentive crowd Ash’s Place was packed…half with people who were there for the music, and the rest seemed to have mistaken the show for a drunken rowdy Thursday night party.
Karl was backed by LAKE (who also opened). This was my first time seeing Karl perform an entire set with a backing band, and it was as wonderful as I expected (despite the loud talking of the crowd). It made possible the recreation of many of the songs off of Zebra, and even some from last years phenomenal Nature’s Got Away.
While it wasn’t possible do to background noise to capture any of the quieter songs I was able to grab the two singles off of the new album…check out the new dance Karl invented for Brooklyn at the beginning of the extended live version of “Dark Sedan.”
Karl Blau- “Dark Sedan”
Karl Blau- “Apology to Pollinateurs”
It was a pleasure seeing Karl with a full band, and I hope I have this opportunity again, but I did miss the mesmerizing loop building of his solo sets. Karl also mentioned that they were shooting the music video for “Dark Sedan” this weekend in New York…I can’t wait to see how that turns out.
If you haven’t grabbed a copy of it yet, Karl has a newvolume of hisKelp Lunacy available for sale. This time it is called 96(pictured above) and is limited to 175 copies. All copies have letter pressed covers, and are printed on the back of other album covers. K Records describes it:
Those who follow Karl Blau’s prolific trail may find 96 to be of the Double Duty Booty /Dance Positive dance vein of Blauisms. Extra-hott dog.
I picked mine up at the show (along with Blau’s reggae tribute to the Nutcracker!), but you can grab one from Karl off of his website…as always with Karl this album is totally worth it. I can’t get enough of his smooth dance jams.
To give you a taste of 96 here is a song from the previously mentioned Double Duty Booty. It is an amazing, kind of creepy, dance jam titled “Ceremonial Apple Pie.” The song starts off with almost a hip hop or dance hall style beat and vocals, and then turns into one of Karl’s wonderful reggae influenced dance jams…full of of his smooth voice, and other vocal experiments.
New York City tomorrow is your only chance on this tour to catch the always wonderful, extremely talented Karl Blau.
This tour is coming just after the release of his new African influenced album titled Zebra (but you can actually say that all of his music is African influenced).
If you haven’t heard the second single (I’ve already posted it once) “Dark Sedan” listen to it now:
This song is definitely in my list of best songs of 2009, and on top of that… Karl Blau has released one (or more) of my favorite records in both 2007 (Dance Positive), 2008 (Nature’s Got Away and AM), and it looks like he has at least two (Zebra and Baby Nettles), if not three (I think there is one more that I need to get my hands on), that will be in my year end lists this year.
Karl Blau has been nice enough to post some tracks for free download on his wonderful Kelp Lunacy, and during my listening I came across some real gems.
First up is “Too Thirsty to Drink Water,” and it is what I what I consider a signature Blau solo live song…guitar, vocals, minimal drum beats, and of course loops….but ends with a worldly sounding drone. I’ve been listening to this track all morning and it has been so sweet to my ears…gearing up for the awesomeness that will be tomorrow!
This next track… as a pretty well listened fan of Blau’s I can honestly say that I would have a hard time confirming that this was Blau if he didn’t attach his name to the track. This has happened before, but this one is by far the most unusual coming to date. This very well might be a traditional song, but I wasn’t able to find very much information on it…on that note it comes from If I Knew Zen What I Know Now which Blau says ” is a collection of would-be pop songs: that is would-be if they were sung in English. There’s a song in Hebrew, and a few in made-up languages and even some deutsch gesprechen–also English and several instrumentals.” Thanks Karl for giving me some back ground on it. With that said:
as I said, this track appears on If I Knew Zen What I Know Now. Buy it here!
I posted this next track a my previous post about Karl, but just discovered this amazing video!
Karl Blau- “Song For Kevin”
Karl Blau is on tour right now, with fellow K Records starsLAKE! If you didn’t know Karl Blau produced the most recent LAKE album too. Karl mentioned during his shows in New York back in May that he was working on a full band format…I wonder if that is happening on this tour? Maybe LAKE will help out…lots of possibilities! Here are the dates:
Tonight! Oct 28, 2009 – Bennington, Vermont @ Bennington Collegew/ LAKE
Tomorrow! Oct 29, 2009 – Brooklyn, New York @ Ash’s Place – 234 Wythe St – w/ LAKE, White Diamonds, and Alex Bleeker and the Freaks!
I can’t say it enough…this is not to be missed.
Oct 30, 2009 – Haverford, Pennsylvania @ Lunt Basement – w/ LAKE
Oct 31, 2009 – Hellertown, Pennsylvania @ Shorb’s Costume Extravaganza – w/ LAKE
Nov 1, 2009 – Baltimore, Maryland @ The Windup Space – w/ LAKE
Nov 3, 2009 – Richmond, Virginia @ The Camel – w/ LAKE
Nov 4, 2009 – Greensboro, North Carolina @ Artistika – w/ LAKE
Nov 5, 2009 – Lexington, Kentucky @ Al’s Bar – w/ LAKE
Nov 6, 2009 – Knoxville, Tennessee @ The Pilot Light – w/ LAKE
Nov 7, 2009 – Athens, Georgia @ Secret Squirrel – w/ LAKE
Nov 8, 2009 – Tallahassee, Florida @ Club Down Under – w/ LAKE
Nov 10, 2009 – Dallas, Texas @ Ocher House – w/ LAKE
Nov 11, 2009 – Austin, Texas @ Emo’s Jr. – w/ LAKE
Nov 12, 2009 – Lubbock, Texas @ Bash Riprocks – w/ LAKE
Nov 13, 2009 – Albuquerque, New Mexico @ Burt’s Tiki Lounge – w/ LAKE
Nov 14, 2009 – Phoenix, Arizona @ Trunk Space – w/ LAKE
Nov 15, 2009 – Tucson, Arizona @ The Hangar Art Space – w/ LAKE
Nov 17, 2009 – Los Angeles, California @ The Smell – w/ LAKE
Nov 18, 2009 – Santa Barbara, California @ Biko Garage – w/ LAKE
Nov 20, 2009 – San Luis Obispo, California @ SLO Art Center – w/ LAKE
Nov 21, 2009 – Santa Cruz, California @ Resource Center for Non Violence – w/ LAKE
Nov 22, 2009 – San Francisco, California @ The Hemlock Tavern – w/ LAKE
Nov 23, 2009 – Arcata, California @ The Green House – w/ LAKE
Nov 24, 2009 – Salem, Oregon @ Ike Box – w/ LAKE
Links:
More Great Pumpkin posts on Karl Blau (mp3s, release info, videos, ect) click here.
Buy other Karl Blau releases directly from him here.
With each passing day my excitement for Karl Blau‘s new album Zebra grows more and more. Earlier this week Pitchfork premiered“Dark Sedan” the second single from the album. Pitchfork said it “is a cut from the new record that features a groovy rhythm section adorned by a wide variety of orchestration, from saxophones to strings to disco keyboards.” This statement is pretty accurate, and again I am impressed with Blau’s arrangement and growth as a musician. If these first two tracks from Zebra are any indication of the entire album it won’t be leaving my turntable for a very long time. I think I can honestly say that this is my most anticipated album of 2009.
Karl Blau might have already released one of my favorite albums of this year with his most recent KELP Lunacy titled Baby Nettles. The sad part about that is only a handful of people will ever hold a copy of it. While this limited release won’t make it to many ears his next album, which I am very excited about, titled Zebra will be seeing the light of day via, one of my personal favorite labels,K Records.
I was able to catch Karl at two of his 5 or so New York City shows earlier this year where he performed solo doing his thing with a guitar and and his beat box style vocal loops where he mentioned his new album, and said it would be paying tribute in a way to the music of Africa.
K Records has released a press release about the album with more details:
Listening to Karl Blau’s albums and trying to describe what you hear is like walking through a local farmer’s market and describing all the vegetables grown in that area. The common thread running through Blau’s records is a love felt for homegrown music. Most anyone can sense the passion this cultivator has for his trade.
In a world of instant access to musical cultures near and far, Blau overtly mirrors African musical influences with hints of blues, soul and rock steeped in l’herbe de Northwest and he calls it Zebra [KLP205].
This striped burro was birthed in the trusty analog setting of Dub Narcotic Studios in Olympia, Washington. For Zebra Blau explored the frontiers of folklore, adding one instrument at a time (drum, guitar, bell, keys, saxophone, flute, piano) in an organic process of response to this confluence of sounds. A restless thinker, Blau is adept at imaginative and sweet songs about education, work, love and society. Blessed with an expressive and gentle baritone, Blau asks the eternal question: “what’s next?” Every generation has its own revolution and we need heartfelt music now as much as ever. Let’s practice how we dance. (read the whole thing here)
GvsB posted the first single of the new album a while back, and I have been sitting on it taking it in for sometime now. The track features both Melanie Valera ( Tender Forever) and Arrington de Dionyso(Old Time Relijun). I hope you enjoy this first track as much as I do:
Every time Blau releases an album it brings a freshness to my ears…whether it is creating something entirely new, or transforming something familiar Karl Blau really cannot do any wrong in my book.
Karl Blau’s Zebra will be out on October 6th, 2009 and you will be able to purchase it from K Records here.
Karl Blau has a whole slew of tour dates lined up too…last time I saw him he mentioned working on a full band format…I wonder if that is happening this time around? Either way these shows are not to be missed ( will update the post once the venue for the NYC show is confirmed):
Aug 21, 2009 – Seattle, Washington @ Q Cafe
Aug 22, 2009 – Rochester, Washington @Helsing Junction Sleepover – w/ Desolation Wilderness, Joey Casio, Christmas, Tender Forever, Jeffrey Jerusalem
Sep 18, 2009 – Portland, Oregon @ Backspace – w/ Mount Eerie, Tara Jane ONeil, No Kids
Sep 19, 2009 – Oakland, California @ 21 Grand – w/ Mount Eerie, Tara Jane ONeil, No Kids
Sep 20, 2009 – Los Angeles, California @ Eagle Rock Center for Arts – w/ Mount Eerie, Tara Jane ONeil, No Kids
Sep 22, 2009 – San Diego, California @ Che Cafe, San Diego State – w/ Mount Eerie, Tara Jane ONeil, No Kids
Sep 24, 2009 – Eugene, Oregon @ EMU Ampitheater, University of Oregon – w/ Mount Eerie, Tara Jane ONeil, No Kids
Sep 25, 2009 – Olympia, Washington @ Northern – w/ Mount Eerie, Tara Jane ONeil, No Kids
Oct 11, 2009 – Olympia, Washington @ Northern – w/ LAKE
Oct 12, 2009 – Tacoma, Washington @ The Den – w/ LAKE
Oct 13, 2009 – Seattle, Washington @ The Josephine – w/ LAKE
Oct 15, 2009 – Pullman, Washington @ Belltower – w/ LAKE
Oct 17, 2009 – Salt Lake City, Utah @ Kilby Court – w/ LAKE
Oct 18, 2009 – Denver, Colorado @ Rhinoceropolis – w/ LAKE
Oct 20, 2009 – Lawrence, Kansas @ The Jackpot Saloon – w/ LAKE
Oct 22, 2009 – Chicago, Illinois @ Schubas Tavern – w/ LAKE
Oct 23, 2009 – Grand Rapids, Michigan @ The DAAC – w/ LAKE
Oct 24, 2009 – Bloomington, Indiana @ Russian Recording – w/ LAKE
Oct 25, 2009 – Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania @ Garfield Artworks – w/ LAKE
Oct 28, 2009 – Plattsburgh, New York @ North Country Food Co-Op – w/ LAKE
Oct 29, 2009 – Brooklyn, New York @ TBA (Market Hotel? Todd P still has TBA) – w/ LAKE
Oct 30, 2009 – Haverford, Pennsylvania @ Lunt Basement – w/ LAKE
Nov 4, 2009 – Greensboro, North Carolina @ Square One – w/ LAKE
Nov 5, 2009 – Lexington, Kentucky @ Al’s Bar – w/ LAKE
Nov 7, 2009 – Athens, Georgia @ Secret Squirrel – w/ LAKE
Nov 8, 2009 – Tallahassee, Florida @ Club Down Under – w/ LAKE
Nov 10, 2009 – Dallas, Texas @ Swiss House – w/ LAKE
Nov 11, 2009 – Austin, Texas @ Emo’s Jr. – w/ LAKE
Nov 12, 2009 – Lubbock, Texas @ Bash Riprocks – w/ LAKE
Nov 13, 2009 – Albuquerque, New Mexico @ Burt’s Tiki Lounge – w/ LAKE
Nov 14, 2009 – Phoenix, Arizona @ Trunk Space – w/ LAKE
Nov 17, 2009 – Los Angeles, California @ The Smell – w/ LAKE
Nov 18, 2009 – Santa Barbara, California @ Biko Garage – w/ LAKE
Nov 20, 2009 – San Luis Obispo, California @ SLO Art Center – w/ LAKE
Nov 21, 2009 – Santa Cruz, California @ Resource Center for Non Violence – w/ LAKE
For much more info on Karl Blau (mp3s, ect) please click here.
Desolation Wilderness released a wonderful droney shoegaze pop album last year titled White Light Strobing, on K Records. I picked this up after hearing their first single, and I have been following them since. I’m extremely excited that they have not only released a new 7″ in 2009 (No Tomorrow on K), but they also have a new full length album coming out too: New Universe.
I’m am increasingly becoming interested in Daytrotter. They continue to give great recordings from bands across the spectrum, and I noticed that Desolation Wilderness did a session with them back on March 6th. In this session they played two tracks from their upcoming album (as well as several from White Light Strobing), at that time it was still untitled. I have heard the recorded version of “No Tomorrow”, and the live Daytrotter version is equally pleasing…they also provided a track that I had not heard, “Venice Beach”. Both of these tracks are from their Daytrotter Session.
Both off of New Universe. “No Tomorrow” also on a 7″, buy it here.
While I enjoy these wonderful live recordings the vocals are highlighted, but they are not the main focus of the bands recorded material. It is a different view of Desolation Wilderness, and if you enjoy it I highly recommend checking out one of their records where the doney pop bends together seamlessly. You can kinda see what I mean here (off of White Light Strobing):
My research of their yet to be released new album was sparked by the commercial that their friend, Wes Currie, made. The video is short, and a sampling of several songs on the album. Almost as if a radio was set on scan, and every station was Desolation Wilderness with a little video to accompany it.
Buy other Desolation Wilderness releases from the K Records Mail Order Department. New Universe will be available here on August 8th, 2009.
They also have a huge tour lined up, and three amazing looking NYC shows!
Aug 15 2009 Olympia, Washington @ The Northern w/ Moon Runners, Lusty Leaf
Aug 19 2009 Tacoma, Washington @ TBD
Aug 20 2009 Anacortes, Washington @ Department of Safety w/ Karl Blau
Aug 21 2009 Seattle, Washington @ TBD w/ Herr Jazz
Aug 22 2009 Chehalis, Washington @ Helsing Junction Farm
Aug 23 2009 Portland, Oregon @ The Wail w/ Hornet Leg, Metal (7pm sharp!)
Aug 24 2009 Boise, Idaho @ TBD
Aug 25 Salt Lake City, Utah @ Kilby Court w/ Navigator, Stag Hare
Aug 26 2009 Ft. Collins, Colorado @ TBD
Aug 27 2009 Denver, Colorado @ Rhinoceropolis w/ Milton Melvin C. III, M. Pyre
My past two evenings were spent with Karl Blau….and I really can think of a better way to start the week. Monday night was a Zebulon, and last night at Bruar Falls (and might I say that Bruar Falls is a fine venue, and quickly becoming one of my favorites in the city. It’s really nice to drink good beer at a show…I’m been digging the Sixpoint Mason Black Wheat).
Karl plays more or less by himself crafting songs using two microphones, a couple pedals, a guitar, and his vocal cords. I have see artists use loop pedals before, but he is by far is the best…creating a entire song right in front of your eyes…it is just amazing to watch him add loop after loop. The song starts out as one guitar riff, or one vocal beat box loop, and then in a matter of seconds turns into an amazing multi layered song.
I’m a pretty big fan of Karl Blau, and I have all of the LPs released in the past couple years…and if you have been following the GP I’m not the type of person that typically buys CDs. Karl currently does a subscription service called Kelp Lunacy Advanced Plagiarism Society (KLAPS) and this is one of the occasions where I make an exception. KLAPS:
follows the soundscape of audio artist Karl Blau– Kelps are sent out periodically in the format of CD: songs and sounds, orchestrations and field recordings.
Underscoring the committment to style exploration of the modern world as giant mixer of sonic cultures, Blau’s KLAPS–formed beneath the grey skies of the Skagit Valley– produce sonic landscapes of a new world. Karl Blau as crooner, as music producer, instrumentalist, as natural world observer, as collaborateur with artists from the NW and beyond. Kelp Lunacy Advanced Plagiarism Society above all shares Blau’s love of sound
It is important to note that part of the essence of KLAPS is the hand-packaging including screenprinting, letter-pressed, sewn paper, and often on recycled material. Sure, you can download Kelps here for cheap, but you won’t get the full flavor of Kelp Lunacy and the rush of treasure in the mail. (via kelplunacy.com)
Last July Blau announced that he would be putting a stop to KLAPS after issue #40, but you can still subscribe up to that point (currently on issue #29). If you would like to I would email him first. Info on this below.
I was able to pick up a copy of one of these issues when I saw him about a year and a half ago, and when I saw him at Zebulon I asked if he had any copies. He didn’t have any at Zebulon, but brought a copy of the most recent issue for me to Bruar Falls. KLAPS releases are extremely limited, and he mentioned that he only has enough for the subscribers…so I feel really lucky to have gotten a copy:
This particular copy is made of sewn paper, and is comprised of downbeat R&B songs (or the beginning of it is…that is what I heard on my commute this morning). Karl mentioned that some of the tracks were off of various compilations. It was a great soundtrack to my morning.
To inquire about KLAPS email: “kelpmonthly” at sign “fastmail” dot “fm”
You can buy some of the physical back issues of KLAPS and Karl Blau’s other albums on CD here.
If you don’t mind not having the awesome packaging, or would like to hear back issue of KLAPS you can download them! They are available for the extremely reasonable price of $8.99 each.
If you don’t live in the US there is a chance Karl might be playing near you. He seems to be touring most of the world right now. Check out his tour dates here. Lets hope he stops back in NYC on his way back to the West Coast.
the white lodge is a photography collaboration between klk and myself. We specialize in analog photography using both 35mm and medium format film. Please check out our flickr.
i occasionally post mp3s and videos on this blog for the sole purpose of promoting artists that I believe deserve attention. all songs are for sampling purposes only, if you like it there will be a link to buy music from the artist (or tour dates...go see them!). if by chance I post an mp3 or video with audio that you own, and you would like me to take it down please let me know. you can reach me at:
(tom at gprecs.com)
in this instance i am very sorry.
it's a slippery slope. RT: @mattlemay: This whole "hit the 'like' button to access this content" thing on Facebook is incredibly obnoxious.about 14 hours agofrom Echofon
