I should have been on this months ago, but it took Bryant over at Part Time to bring it to my attention.

Family Trees are a Brooklyn based threesome that recently released a7″ on the quickly rising Father/Daughter Records. Ryan Trott, Amanda Finn, and Joe Pruitt make up the trio and as the title of this post/song suggests we get blissful dream filled pop. Gentle guitars and hazy vocals, complete with harmonies, comprise this short but sweet pop number. A song that is perfect for these thick humid end of summer days. Toward the end of the track the guitar takes the lead and rings out like a sudden thunder storm in the summer heat. Family Trees show restraint in this song using that catchy guitar riff only twice, when another band might use that single riff as the basis of an entire song. A sign of maturity and the ability to craft songs which is rare in a bands first release, and a promise of more great things to come.

[mp3] Family Trees- “Dream Talkin’”

Family Trees claim Phil Elverum’s Microphones and the Beach Boys as their influences, and hearing this track makes that apparent. A beautiful realization of two very different musical visionaries colliding.

On top of this wonderful single Amanda Finn, drummer of Family Trees, directed this video for one of the b-sides:

Buy Family Trees’ Dream Talkin from Father/Daughter Records here.

———————————————–

Family Trees have been playing out around Brooklyn, but there is a prime chance to see this great new band tomorrow in Manhattan:

August 17th, 2010
Live at Pianos!
Julian Lynch (11pm)
Family Portrait (10pm)
Family Trees (9pm)
and
Guardian Alien (8pm)

If you couldn’t already tell by this line up… it’s filled with gprecs favorites…you might remember the countless times I’ve posted on Julian (who released one of my favorite records of 2009, and it’s looking the same way for 2010), and Family Portrait (great dudes who make great music)…there couldn’t be a better time to catch Family Trees than with these two acts.

If by chance you still don’t know Julian or Family Portrait here are some mp3s from the archives (all previously posted):

[mp3] Julian Lynch- “Time After Time (Cyndi Lauper Cover)“

[mp3] Julian Lynch- “Rancher”

• buy it here.

[mp3] Family Portrait- “Killer Statements”

• “Killer Statements”appeared on the Underwater Peoples Winter Review, with a ton of other great bands.
  • Buy it here.

[mp3] Family Portrait- “On The Floor”

• Buy their split 7″ with Andrew Cedermark here.

Keep up to date on Family Trees shows by following their blog!

———————————————————

• more This Week In Mail Order here.
• more on Julian Lynch here.
• more on Family Portrait here.

M. Pyres is a musical out lit that has a revolving cast of band members, and each recording seems to have a different band backing but always fronted by Mathew Sage.  M. Pyres & the Skygaze Family Band released Apart the Echo last year.

I honestly hadn’t heard of M. Pyres until they came recommended to my by Ryan from Mirror Universe tapes, and I immediately ordered Apart the Echo (Patient Sounds releases are so reasonably priced that you can afford to do that). Shortly after I placed the order I got an email from Mathew (of M. Pyres and Patient Sounds) with three downloads…one of the album I ordered, and two other M. Pyres releases.  Talk about customer service.  I listened to the other two recordings, but waited until I physically held Apart the Echo in my hands to play it.  I got this album in January, and have been trying to write about it since.

Apart the Echo is a vast album venturing into many different genres: ambient, folk, psychedelics of various forms, pop, and punk.  From the minimalist melodic melodies that present from the beginning of the album on “Rain Song” to the running a fine line between psychedelica and folk while remaining in the realm of pop music on “Sea As Myth.”  M. Pyres and his band show early in this album that they are able to run a full spectrum of genres, and as the album progresses it only gets better and more diverse.

Apart the Echo is interspersed with ambient or what appear to be tracks of found sounds throughout the record, and this gives a sense of anticipation and build up to the next structured song build along the way.  “Citrus Pome” shows the bands ability to write a great pop song while remaining true to Sage’s hollow yet soothing vocals, and “For Aporia” is what I mean when I say the band ventures into psychedelic punk territory.  “For Aporia” keeps a stays in the realm of pop music while incorporating an onslaught of guitars interspersed throughout the track giving it an aggressive and infectious feel, but just when it’s about to get really intense the band slows down and lets Sage’s vocals shine.  towards the end of the album we get “Rocky Surf” which brings vibes of living deep in a cave or maybe underwater, and making that place seem fun and interesting rather than cold and depressing.

M. Pyres & The Skygaze Family Band made an amazing record that embodies the mountains of Colorado.  It’s refreshing to hear a band that can blend genres and keep integrity of their  sound, and M. Pyres does this seamlessly through out Apart the Echo.

Take a listen to “Sea As Myth” and “For Aporia” and then try to snag one of the last remaining copies of the tape from M. Pyres on their East Coast tour which starts today:

[mp3] M. Pyres & the Skygaze Family Band- “Sea As Myth”

[mp3] M. Pyres & the Skygaze Family band- “For Aporia”

• you can probably buy a copy of the record here as well.

—————————————————————-

M. Pyres has sent over two new tracks from M. Pyres and the Season Creeps.  These two tracks with the Season Creeps give us a view into M. Pyres’ mellow side that is ready to relax for the summer and jam…perfect for the muggy heat that we is bound to be hitting us this weekend.  These tracks have me so excited for the next M. Pyres release, and for their show at the CoOp 87 this weekend!

[mp3] M. Pyres & The Season Creeps- “Concord”

[mp3] M. Pyres & The Season Creeps- “Gravity Deluxe”

—————————————————————————————-

Check M. Pyres & The Season Creeps out on tour with Woodsman:

• Tonight!  June17th in Washington DC (House Show) w/ Family Portrait
• June 19th in Brooklyn, NY @ CoOp 87
• June 20th in Pittsfield, MA @ Copperworks
• June 21st in Wilkes-Barre, PA @ Cafe Metropolis
• June 22nd in Cleveland, OH @ Believeland
• June 23rd in Chicago, IL @ TBA w/ Campfires
• June 24th in Chicago, IL @ Box Social w/ Campfires
• June 25th in Madison, WI @ Project Lodge

———————————-

You can also snag the new Patient Sounds Sampler with another new mp3 from M. Pyres on it…as well as some great tracks by Litoral Drift, Lush Cola (member of Weed Diamond), and more here:

[album download] Patient Sounds Sampler Vol. 1 2010

Track List:

• 1. Ambassador Engine – Nowhere Near the Beach
• 2. Cradling – Mug’s Game
• 3. M. Pyres & the Season Creeps – Miles & Days Ahead
• 4. Bingo Pajamas – Loose City Birds
• 5. Littoral Drift – Busy Days
• 6. Martha! Mother – Grandpa Organ Deuce
• 7. The Good Old Fashioned Sinners – Lost My Way
• 8. Kites Sail High – Bedroom
• 9. Pasture – n.

————————————

• more This Week In Mail Order can be found here.

R. Cole Furlow is better known as Dead Gaze, and is one of the many rising musicians in the Mississippi underground.  Dead Gaze has become known for singles like “Back and Forth” which showcase a scuzzy distorted form of rock n’ roll, but to pigeon hole him as lofi garage act is just out of the question.

Dead Gaze recently sent over a new track titled “This Big World,” which will be featured on a Clan Destine Records split cassette release with Gray Things. “This Big World” remains in the the garage rock realm with heavy distortion ala the likes of Ty Segall, but Dead Gaze have a unique pop sensibility that brings to mind indie rock in the vein of Jets to Brazil both in the tone of the guitar, the melody, and the vocals at times. This track touches me in many ways from the part that wants to thrash, all the way down to the part that wants to sing along and swoon. Cole has a way with music, and creates different dimensions within styles that seem to be very limited and constricting, and I feel that this new single shows just how well he can do this:

[mp3] Dead Gaze- “This Big World”

Pick up a copy of the Dead Gaze//Grey Things split from Clan Destine, eventually, here.

I’m not sure how I could talk about this new single with out talking about Dead Gaze’s amazing End of Days, Why Not You? cassette that was released on Mirror Universe Tapes earlier this year.

As I mentioned Dead Gaze have been getting written up for their distorted garage rock, but no one seems to mention, or post amazing tracks like “I’m a Mess When You Are Gone” a blissful song of psychedelic synth pop which is both mind warping and awe inspiring. It brings to mind psychedelic masters/care free rockers WEEN, and more contemporary early work of Gary War (ie New Raytheonport; download that album by Gary War for free here).  I mean this song is the final track on the cassette, and makes me wish there was ten more tracks of this woozy psychedelica to follow. Perfect for that underwater vacation you are planning or speeding down the highway, but in my case it will probably be the soundtrack to my next walk around Brooklyn…no matter where you are listening to it it’s genius can’t be denied.

[mp3] Dead Gaze- “I’m a Mess When You are Gone”

End of Days, Why Not You? is a collection of Dead Gaze’s previously recorded works, and runs the gambit of his ability and genre defying style. If you don’t already own it I would recommend picking up a copy for $6 from Mirror Universe, another awesome release coming from this South Carolina based label.

Buy Dead Gaze’s End of Days, Why Not You? from Mirror Universe here.
———————————-

• more on Dead Gaze here.
• more on Mirror Universe here.
• more This Week In Mail Order here.

Dirty Beaches is Alex Zhang Hungtai of Montreal, QC (via California via Hawaii via China) and I picked up the self titled Dirty Beaches cassette this past weekend at the CoOp 87 (if ya’ll haven’t been you really should check it out.  A great addition for music lovers to Brooklyn, specifically Greenpoint, and Tommy who runs it is a super nice dude).   Going into the tape I had no prior knowledge of the band other than he had played a show or two with the one and only Julian Lynch.

Dirty Beaches rides the line between ambient rhythmic noise and avant-garde pop and do it so well.  Using beats and and subtle melodies to create a hypnotic composition, and then he works in his unique vocals.  While Dirty Beaches vocals are very unique I can’t help but think of a totally warped and fucked Ian Curtis.  Dirty Beaches’ Dirty Beaches is an EP that I was unsure of what I thought on first listen, but by the end of it I was sad that it was over and all I could do was flip the tape and start again.  With each listen of the EP different melodies, or psychedelic guitar lines start to emerge, and the pulsing hypnotic rhythms start to take on orchestral and surf like qualities.  A release that has much more depth than one can hear on a single listen, and I have been giving it my attention all week.

“Like Dreamers Do” is the second to last track on the release and I feel that it exemplifies what this cassette is about.  Beats that encompass the mind, guitar to break your concentration, and the somber vocals to pull it all together.  Ambience and pop all in one track.  Engaging the mind on many levels, and all  you have to do is accept Alex Zhang Hungtai’s unique mindset and way of making music.  A release that I am extremely glad that I stumbled across.

[mp3] Dirty Beaches- “Like Dreamers Do”

• from the 2009 self titled release on Night People.
  • buy it here.

Shawn from Night People was nice enough to send over a new track from Dirty Beaches upcoming cassette titled Night City.  Night City is diverging from the self titled because there are no vocals on this release at all.  This next tape will be mostly instrumental synth/organ/drum machine tracks, and will be out on Night People this April.

“Paris” is an uplifting instrumental.  Much lighter in the sense that it seems like the type of song you would like to hear as the sun is coming up, at the end of a clear night after the stars had been shining down upon you (I guess ideally you would be in France).  Keeping with the hypnotic tone of the first tape, but changing it up to give this track a very different vibe, and if this song is any indication it seems like a very natural progression from the last release.

[mp3] Dirty Beaches- “Paris”

• from the forthcoming Night City cassette on Night People.

“Paris” is just a teaser to the Night City cassette, and in addition to this instrumental cassette there is also an upcoming Dirty Beaches LP which will be a bit more rock n roll oriented that is also coming out on Night People. Keep your eye on the Night Peoples site for more info about these.  I know I am.

——————————————————————————-

Dirty Beaches are touring.  Check out their myspace for upcoming dates.

——————————————————-

• more This Week In Mail Order can be found here.

Just two months ago Cloud Nothings were just a name with their first cassette//cd-r coming out on Bridgetown Records…no shows played, but a few big ones lined up…the first of which was with Real Estate and Woods here in Brooklyn (and I finally caught them in January with Alex Bleeker and the Freaks). Dylan Baldi’s Cloud Nothings were suddenly getting written up all over the internet (including several times by me), and their fuzzy upbeat punk pop was blasting out of stereos…I even had friends across the country ask me to send the digital files of Turning On because their tapes weren’t portable enough (yo dudes…get a walkman).

Now here we are at the end of February, and Cloud Nothings have two more releases out, and a reissue of that first tape but this time it’s on LP.

First up is their split tape with Campfires out on Bathetic Records. I know at this point more and more people are realizing that bands are doing tapes, and while the format might seem to be out of date even Pitchfork just reached out to the format in a big way (see Marc Hogan‘s wonderful feature on cassette culture titled “This is Not A Mixtape“…as well as tape releases often making it on to the 4kst).

This tape features four new songs by Cloud Nothings, and as I expected it is full of the same fuzzy pop as the first full length. Campfires are very much of the same mind set, and offer five songs…making the split well worth the $6 post paid.  A great introduction to Campfires…I can’t wait to her more.

The Fader posted one track from the split, and I’m happy to repost it here for you.  ”Little Raygun” sets the tone for the tape, and is the third song on side A:

[mp3] Cloud Nothings- “Little Raygun”

• Buy the Cloud Nothings//Campfires split from Bathetic Records here.
  • pick it up fast…this tape is limited to 100 copies.

In addition to this split Group Tightener Records has released a extremely limited 7″ single by Cloud Nothings which includes “Morgan” a single from the upcoming 12″ on Group Tightener, and an exclusive b-side: “Another Man.” This is the second release by Group Tightener, and it is limited to 250 copies, and is hand stamped and numbered.

While these are both unreleased tracks You might be familiar with “Morgan” if you saw my videos from Cloud Nothings show at Monster Island back in January. Can’t wait to hear this record, and the recorded version of this tracks…here is a re-post of that video:

Buy the Cloud Nothings’ Morgan/Another Man 7″ from Group Tightener Records here.

Last but certainly not least is that SpeakerTree Records has just started mailing out the LP repress of Cloud Nothings fabulous debut full length Turning On.

Turning On was originally released back in December by Bridgetown Records. I featured this release on my column This Week In Mail Order, and you can read the full write up here. The LP version of Turning On will feature one additional track, “Strummin” as the closer to the album.  This LP press is limited to 500 copies, and to remind you how good this release is check out “Can’t Stay Awake”:

[mp3] Cloud Nothings- “Can’t Stay Awake”

A also captured the exclusive LP track live when Cloud Nothings were in town so you can preview that here:

Buy the LP from SpeakerTree Records here.

• If you don’t have a record player….Bridgetown Records has repressed Turning On on CD…buy that here.
  • and for a limited time you can order the LP release from Bridgetown as well…I highly recommend contacting Kevin at Bridgetown because he is offering some cool combo packages.

—————————————

• More on Cloud Nothings (photos, video, mp3s, and reviews) can be found here.
• The photo at the top of the post is from the White Lodge.
• More this week in mail order can be found here.
• CLOUD NOTHINGs are on TOUR and are playing everywhere…go see them!  The dates can be found here.

Just when I thought I had all the So Cow news posted yesterday, Josh from Ireland’s own Pop Goes the Radio commented on my post.

Pop Goes the Radio posted three tracks from upcoming album on Meaningless Friendly due out very soon on Tic Tac Totally.  Here is what Tic Tac Totally has to say about the new album:

So Cow “Meaningless Friendly” LP/CD is just 2 weeks away folks! The album will be released mid-tour (see below for dates!) just in time for SXSW. The new record expands brilliantly on the promise/premise of the “S/T” LP from last year, which featured 18 of his best collected tracks. Here offering 13 fresh ones of the great off-kilter TVP’s-meets-Home Blitz-pop wandering So Cow delivers. In the meantime we have a digital album release set up for 2/16/10 on iTunes, so no worries if you’re fiending either!

“Extra Friendly” LP+7″ edition
Check back REAL soon for this! This package gets you the new LP, plus a limited edition 7″ EP with 3 bonus tracks.Exclusively through TTT and ltd. to 300 copies. Look out!

Keep your eyes on Tic Tac Totally’s Website…I know I will.  I need to get a copy of that limited edition 7″.  This is the most exciting music news, at least for me, in 2010 so far!

In the mean time check out these tracks.

“Girl Racer” reminds us that So Cow at it’s core is one man, Brian Kelly. Using not much more than minimal electronics, and electric guitar Kelly crafts a near perfect pop track .  This track really resonates in the part of my brain that loved “Shackleton.”  Even though this track has perfect pop sensibility that doesn’t prevent Kelly from adding some psychedelic guitar to the background.  Apparently if you are from Tuam, or Ireland in general, there are references in this song that us Americans just don’t get, but that doesn’t detract from the fact that it is an awesome introduction to So Cow’s new album.  A version of this track originally appeared on a compilation CD about Tuam which Pop Goes the Radio might be posting in the future.

[mp3] So Cow- “Girl Racer”

“Random Girls” is a track that I’m sure many of us boys can relate to…so many ladies in this world, and so many crushes (I’m lucky to already have my special lady).  This track shows a little more of what North America is in store for on So Cow’s tour.  This track features a full band, and an intense guitar solo toward the end.   Kelly’s musicianship is what made me fall in love with So Cow in the first place, and this track is a perfect example of that.  There are sure to be plenty of ladies crushing on these Irish boys as they make their way through the states and Canada.

[mp3] So Cow- “Random girls”

If “Girl Racer” and “Random Girls” are any indication of the rest of the album we are sure in for a treat.  I’ll let you head over to Pop Goes the Radio for the third track called “Dunno.” This final track is one I remember from So Cow’s last American tour. Check it out here.

Meaningless Friendly is now on sale from Tic Tac Totally.  Buy it  here .

———————————————————–

New Yorkers, So Cow will be in the City on:

• Feb 13 Monster Island Basement Brooklyn, New York
  
• Feb 14 Cake Shop New York, New York

The tour starts tonight, February 11th,  at Asbury Lanes in Asbury Park.

For a full list of tour dates click here (or if you are on the main page of my blog…scroll down…they were posted yesterday).

• much more on So Cow can be found here.
• more This Week In Mail Order can be found here.

Grass Widow have released two 12″s with in a matter of months.  Their self titled record on Make A Mess was one of those albums that I looked for for ever, but had no luck.  The first pressing of the LP went out of print very quickly, and even though I tried calling record stores in other parts of the country trying to mail order it I had no luck.  From what I understand the remaining copies of this LP floating around at your local shop are from the second pressing…that appears to be going out of print as fast as the first. It was a nice surprise walking into Permanent Records, and seeing this one up on the wall long after I had given up on it.

Girl pop seems to be king, or queen in this case, and these days there is no shortage of all girl bands…but there are three that I feel are a step above the rest, and Grass Widow is one of those.

Their debut full length on Make A Mess channels a more powerful force, at least for me. In the depths of their music I can feel the faintest hints of Beat Happening.  One might think that this would be a hard thing to pull out of their music being that they are an all girl band, and that one of the corner stones of Beat Happening is Calvin Johnson’s baritone voice, but it is more the subtleties in the music more than a direct comparison that brings this to mind….a vocal cadence or part of a drum beat.  It’s not necessary to see this, but it’s something I pick up on…and in the end anything that reminds me of Beat Happening tends to be a winner with me.

I feel that Grass Widow emphasis this on “Celebrate the Mundane” the second track off the Make A Mess full length.  Even at first listen Grass Widow are clearly different than their contemporaries in the way that they utilize every member of the band.  All three of the women in Grass Widow contribute to the vocals, and it is not just on choruses but at times all three of them are simultaneously singing different lyrics….creating harmonies that at first don’t seem possible.  This combination of lyrics, vocals, cadence, and harmony are where I truly see the connections I alluded to above, but occasionally in the beat as well.

[mp3] Grass Widow- “Celebrate the Mundane”

Grass Widow bring in the the horns later on in the LP, and overall have created a truly beautiful post-twee record. Extremely impressive as a debut LP, and one that has been spinning on the turntable and headphones for weeks. It’s looking like this is another one in my year end list as well.

Buy Grass Widow’s Self Titled album here.

A couple Sundays ago Grass Widow jumped on the bill for the Tom Tom Magazine launch party at Bruar Falls.  Grass Widow had been playing shows all weekend, but I didn’t quite make it to any of them, and when I heard this show was at Bruar Falls I couldn’t not go.  If you the Great Pumpkin you already know this, but Bruar Falls just happens to be my favorite venue right now…so the location was perfect.

I got to Bruar Falls about 20 minutes before Grass Widow went on, and the place was totally packed.  It seemed like more people were there for the magazine than the music (this was made clear by how many people just talked through the bands sets), but I guess that could be expected.  I was a little surprised by the music that was being played between sets…after all Tom Tom Magazine is a magazine about female drummers, but I’m pretty sure there wasn’t an actual drum set used in any of the dance/hip hop music that was being played (I guess a party atmosphere was the desired effect)….just thought this was odd and worth mentioning.

By time Grass Widow took the stage I was really ready to hear the music that I came for, and these ladies brought it.  With songs like “Celebrate the Mundane” and “To Where” it can be hard for a band to pull it off live, but Grass Widow were well practiced and sounded great even on what I assume, due to the distance they traveled without a full tour, was borrowed equipment.  It’s really impressive that all three of their vocals can be so tight in a live setting.  I was able to capture some of this on video, and I am now happy to share it with you.

Grass Widow- “Lulu’s Lips”

[mp3] Grass Widow- “Lulu’s Lips” off of the Captured Tracks 12″.  Buy it here.

While reviewing my recordings I realized that I didn’t know three of the tracks I taped.  I emailed Grass Widow, and Hannah was kind enough to help me identify them.

Hannah informed me that the three tracks are from their yet to be recorded album for Slumberland Records!  Grass Widow will be hitting the studio in January, and these three tracks, and many others, will be put to tape.  Enjoy:

Grass Widow- “Give Me Shapes”

Grass Widow- “Landscape”

Grass Widow- “Uncertain Memory”

Thanks to Hannah, and the rest of Grass Widow, for identifying these songs for me.  I’m really looking forward to the new record, and to your return to New York!

Links:

• Buy Grass Widow releases here.
• Grass Widows website/myspace
• more on Slumberland Records here.
• more on Captured Tracks Records here.
• more on Permanent Records here.
• more gprecs videos here.
• more This Week In Mail Order 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 new volume of his Kelp 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.

Buy Karl Blau’s 96 here.

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.

[mp3] Karl Blau- “Ceremonial Apple Pie”

off of Dubble Dooty Booty.  buy it here.

Links:

• More on Karl Blau (tour dates, mp3s, release info, videos, ect) click  here.
• Buy other Karl Blau releases directly from him here.
  • or if you have other shopping needs at insound.
• More on K Records here.
• More gprecs videos here.