US / THEM

http://sargenthouse.com/marriages_assets.html

Album stream: Geneva

Album stream: Station

Hi-res photos, album art, bio and more:

sargenthouse.com/russiancircles_assets.html

Marriages (members of Red Sparowes) premiere first track from debut, announce tour dates with Deafheaven in March

noreply@blogger.com (Dave Clifford) — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 18:03:00 +0000

Click image above to watch video

Red Sparowes offshoot band Marriages premiere the first song from their forthcoming debut today via Prefix Mag. The track "Ten Tiny Fingers" is culled from their new recording, Kitsune and is available to download/stream HERE.

Watch a video teaser for Kitsune featuring the band at work in the studio HERE.

Marriages also take to the road in March with dates supporting SF black metal faves Deafheaven. The trio -- comprised of Red Sparowes members Emma Ruth Rundle (vocals, guitar), Greg Burns (bass, synthesizer) and David Clifford (drums) -- will also perform at the Sargent House official SXSW showcase in Austin, TX on March 16th. Please see complete dates below.

Marriages formed in late 2011, quickly recording their debut with engineer Toshi Kasai (Melvins, Big Business, Tool) in December. The resulting effort, Kitsune will be available on LP, CD and Download via Sargent House on May 1st, 2012.

MARRIAGES LIVE:

03/09 Los Angeles, CA @ The Smell *

03/10 Phoenix, AZ @ Trunk Space *

03/11 El Paso,TX @ Low Brow *

03/13 Denton, TX @ Rubber Gloves *

03/16 Austin, TX @ Bat Bar (Sargent House official SXSW showcase) #

* w/ Deafheaven, Whirr

# w/ Deafheaven, Zechs Marquise, Indian Handcrafts, Chelsea Wolfe, more.

Artist: Marriages

Album: Kitsune

Label: Sargent House

Release date: May 1st, 2012

Track list:

01. Ride In My Place

02. Body of Shade

03. Ten Tiny Fingers (MP3)

04. Pelt

05. White Shape

06. Part The Dark Again

On the Web:

marriagesband.com

www.facebook.com/MarriagesBand

Hi-res photos, album art, bio and more:

Tera Melos announce tour dates with reunited fIREHOSE in April

noreply@blogger.com (Dave Clifford) — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 20:24:00 +0000

"Once in a rare while an album comes along that's so fresh and ingenious it redefines what's possible in a field of music. It's been some time since a trio armed with guitar, drums, bass and vocals have shattered the boundaries of convention and pushed the limits of their instruments and compositions like a graceful tsunami of invention." -- Exclaim!

"Tera Melos has ferociously explored the outer limits of bizarre time signatures and unhinged thrash since its self-titled 2005 debut. But the band's full-length, Patagonian Rats is more akin to the type of freak-pop perversion dished out by daring pioneers like Devo and The Flaming Lips." -- Wired.com

Sacramento genre-benders Tera Melos have been hand-picked to support fIREHOSE on their upcoming reunion tour dates on the West Coast. Given Tera Melos' longstanding relationship with fIREHOSE/Minutemen/The Stooges bassist Mike Watt, this pairing should come as no surprise. Watt recently lent his voice to the track "Manar the Magic" on the band's Zoo Weather EP and Mike Watt & The Missingmen has toured with Tera Melos in Japan, UK and the US extensively.

Tera Melos' most recent album Patagonian Rats landed on many Best of 2010 lists, as well as receiving raves from Wired.com, Exclaim!, ALARM Press, Impose and Exploding In Sound. Tours with Boris, Melt Banana and Le Butcherettes have continued to build the band's extensive fan base. Henry Rollins has repeatedly championed the album on his KCRW radio show and Marnie Stern also named it her favorite album of the year in SPIN. MP3 and video links follow below, or stream the entire Tera Melos discography via Bandcamp.

TERA MELOS w/ fIREHOSE 2012:

04/05 - Sacramento, CA @ Harlow’s

04/06 - Portland, OR @ Doug Fir Lounge (sold out)

04/07 - Seattle, WA @ Neumos

04/09 - Bellingham, WA @ Wild Buffalo

04/10 - Eugene, OR @ Wow Hall

04/11 - San Francisco, CA @ Slim’s

Artist: Tera Melos

Album: Patagonian Rats -- Deluxe Digital Edition

Label: Sargent House

Release Date: February 22nd, 2011

01. So Occult (VIDEO)

02. Kelly (VIDEO)

03. The Skin Surf (VIDEO)

04. Aped

05. Trident Tail

06. Frozen Zoo (MP3) (any file format) (VIDEO)

07. In Citrus Heights

08. Skywatch

09. Party With Gina

10. Another Surf

11. Westham United

12. A New Uniform/Patagonia

13. Purple and Stripes

14. Kelley

15. Manar The Magic (MP3) (VIDEO)

16. Melt Bamanarnana (Melt Banana Remix)

17. Manar The Magic (Pat Hills' Rat Trap Dub)

18. Manar Was A Rat

19. Frozen Zoo (Thawed Out Mix) (VIDEO)

20. Frozen Zoo (Raleigh Moncrief Remix)

Hi-res photos, cover art and bio:

http://www.sargenthouse.com/tm_assets.html

On the Web:

facebook.com/teramelosmusic

www.teramelos1.tumblr.com

teramelos.bandcamp.com

Tera Melos are available for interviews. For more information, please contact Dave Clifford at dave@usthemgroup.com

# # #

Big Sir's new album out today, streaming in full all week at Spinner.com, updated tour dates

noreply@blogger.com (Dave Clifford) — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 18:37:00 +0000

"Buoyant and eclectic – a marriage of noises that somehow creates something beautifully cohesive." -- RCRD LBL

"Big Sir have probably made their best record yet in Before Gardens After Gardens, trickling icy soul and fiddly patterns into the mix, all making for a set well worth a listen." -- Bowlegs Music

Big Sir -- the longtime collaboration between singer/composer Lisa Papineau and bassist/composer Juan Alderete (The Mars Volta) -- release their latest album, Before Gardens After Gardens worldwide today. AOL Spinner is streaming the 11-song set in its entirety all week. Listen HERE.

The band also continues to add dates for their Spring 2012 tour in the EU and UK. Southern California shows this month have also changed since previously announced. Please see complete dates below.

Though created mostly in a back and forth between each other's laptops, Before Gardens After Gardens features special guest appearances by The Mars Volta's Cedric Bixler-Zavala on drums, Broken Bells' bassist Jonathan Hischke, multi-instrumentalist Matthieu Lesenechal, violist Heather Lockie (Mike Watt, Listing Ship), Matthew Embree (who also collaborates with Papineau in the duo ME & LP), Mars Volta drummer Deantoni Parks and a host of others on backing vocals. Bonus tracks also include performances by Money Mark Ramos-Nishita and David Sims of Jesus Lizard.

Big Sir began with a self-titled debut album and a remix disc in 2000 and 2001 respectively. The next Big Sir album Und Die Scheiße Ändert Sich Immer was released in 2006. Alderete and Papineau first met in the band Pet. Throughout their relationship the two musicians have also continued their collaborations with other artists. Papineau has lent her vocals to a spectrum of projects such as the last two Air albums (10,000 Khertz, Talkie Walkie), M83's Before the Dawn Heals Us, and soundtracks for the films Watchmen and Super. She has released two solo albums, Night Moves and Red Trees, and recently co-wrote (with Jun Miyake) and sang on a song for Wim Wenders' Academy Award short-listed film Pina. Alderete has played in the Grammy award winning The Mars Volta since 2003 as well as playing bass with rap legend Kool Keith's Dr. Octagon and the Omar Rodriguez Lopez Group. In 1999, he formed the project Vato Negro and released the album Bumpers on drum& bass label N2O.

Before Gardens After Gardens will be available everywhere on CD/Download on February 7th, 2012 via Rodriguez Lopez Productions/Sargent House.

BIG SIR LIVE

02/20 Los Angeles, CA @ Harvard and Stone *

02/27 Long Beach, CA @ Harvelle's #

04/07 Namur, BE @ Belvedere
04/08 Berlin, GER @ Spirale Kulturzentrum

04/09 Hamburg, GER @ Hafenklang

04/10 Solingen, GER @ Waldmeister - Raum für Kultur e.V.

04/11 Leipzig, GER @ Ilses Erika

04/12 Munich, GER @ Ampere at Muffatwerk

04/13 Innsbruck, AUS @ Los Gurkos
04/14 Bozen, IT @ Vintola
04/15 Molfetta (Bari), IT @ La Macerie

04/16 Copertino, IT @ I Sotteranei Arci

04/17 Rome, IT @ Ausgang / Locanda Atlantide

04/19 Trieste, IT @ Etnoblog

04/20 Rimini, IT @ Velvet

04/21 Livorno, IT @ Cage

04/22 Genova, IT @ La Claque

04/24 Birmingham, UK @ The Ballroom/The End

04/25 Manchester, UK @ Sound Control

04/26 Swansea, UK @ 22 Project Promotion/The Garage

04/27 Bristol, UK @ The Croft

04/28 London, UK @ The Old Blue Last (Binnacle Festival)
05/01 Grenoble, FR @ La Ciel
05/02 Paris, FR @ Le Trianon
05/03 Paris, FR @ Le Trianon

* w/ Eureka The Butcher+Sadah Luna (Marcel Rodriguez Lopez from Zechs Marquise)

# w/ The Vespertines, C-Gak

Artist: Big Sir

Album: Before Gardens After Gardens

Label: Rodriguez Lopez Productions/Sargent House

Release Date: February 7th, 2012

01 Regions

02 Ready On The Line (MP3)

03 Infidels

04 Right Action

05 The Ladder

06 The Kindest Hour (MP3)

07 Old Blood

08 Born With A Tear

09 Be Brave Go On

10 Our Pleasent Home (MP3)

11 1 Thousand Petals

Hi-res photos, cover art, bio and more:

On the Web:

http://www.nedrymakesmusic.com/

twitter.com/#!/bigsirband

British trio Nedry premiere new video via Consequence of Sound, new album out in March

noreply@blogger.com (Dave Clifford) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 17:13:00 +0000

Click image above to watch video

"With their dreamy electronic loops and darker industrial undertones, London dub-rockers Nedry fall somewhere in between Beach House and The Knife. Their 2010 LP, Condors, was a masterful expression of what dubstep can sound like when in the right hands." -- Consequence of Sound

"A futuristic sonic collage of dreamy glitch-folk, shimmering electronica and weapons-grade Dubstep percussion... Feels like a futuristic step forward from Radiohead's In Rainbows or Portishead's Third." Four stars -- Uncut

"When a band is as good, as versatile and as daring as Nedry, you hope the wider world will stand up and take notice." -- Huw Stephens - BBC Radio One

London UK's dark electronic trio Nedry premiere the first video off of their forthcoming sophomore album In A Dim Light today via Consequence of Sound. The clip for "Violaceae" is available to stream HERE.

In A Dim Light will be released worldwide via Monotreme Records on March 12th, following the March 5th release of "Violaceae" as a single. In anticipation of the album, two tracks, the eerily sinister "Float" and surrealistically soaring "Post Six" are available to stream/download HERE.

“The original idea was to create a video that explored a dream or a detachment from reality, a self contained world that could be informed by the atmosphere of the track," explains 'Violaceae' video director Dan Tassell. "We decided to create something quite stripped back to allow Ayu's lyrics to take centre stage. Shooting in a studio allowed maximum control over the light and shadow and to explore Ayu's performance at macro level picking up on subtle facial gestures and movements. The black and white format allowed us to have some fun exploring the relationship between light and dark to reflect the haunting undertone of the track and lyrics. Several animated sequences were used to locate Ayu within a self-contained 'dreamworld' in which she escapes from her imprisonment in a cocoon or shroud of darkness as the track progresses.”

Drawing on the gothic undertones of David Lynch - and at points, absorbing T.S. Eliot’s ‘Four Quartets’, vocalist Ayu Okakita revels in ruminations urging acceptance of the shadows; to permit the darkness to settle around her.

British bass music clings to few modern regulations. As grey areas become inviting, zones of conflict are transformed into fertile new ground. Nedry are dictating a path that recognizes no genre, no structures, no rules. Ripping progressive dance culture out of the bedroom producers’ smoke stained confines and planting it resolutely on the live stage, Matt Parker and Chris Amblin utilize MPC, laptops, guitars and synths to create a deep, thoughtful musical space.

Nedry are a trio who are dissolving the distance between this cutting edge and hungry audience. Splicing a band aesthetic with the ‘heads down and thumbs up’ bass craft of the UK, they gift the faceless revolution of dark music an inviting visage within which we can all dwell.

The dazzling fusion of electronica, instrumental rock, dubstep rhythms and hauntingly beautiful vocals of their 2010 debut album Condors saw them tipped for greatness by BBC Radio One, The Guardian, Uncut and Q Magazine. In the past two years, Nedry has performed at the Roskilde, Sonar and SXSW festivals, XFM and BBC sessions and tours with 65daysofstatic, Maps & Atlases and These New Puritans.

Nedry started performing, producing and recording in summer 2008. In a short amount of time they've made waves on the UK electronic music scene, sharing stages with the likes of Pivot (Warp), Maps (MUTE), The Gaslamp Killer (Brainfeeder) and Daedelus (Ninja Tune). Nedry have steadily gathered critical acclaim since the self-released SZ EP and Condors album in 2010, and In A Dim Light sees the band poised for the bright lights.

In A Dim Light will be available worldwide March 12, 2012 on Monotreme Records. Available on CD and digital formats and as a 180 gm vinyl edition of 500 on black (200 copies) or white (300 copies) vinyl with a free CD of the album and a free 12" x 24" poster.

Artist: Nedry

Album: In A Dim Light

Label: Monotreme Records

Release Date: March 12, 2012

01. I Would Rather Explode

02. Post Six (MP3)

03. Violaceae (VIDEO)

04. Havana Nights

05. Dusk Till Dawn

06. Float (MP3)

07. Land Leviathan

08. TMA

09. here.now.here

10. Home

Artist: Nedry

Album: Dusk Till Dawn

Label: Monotreme Records

Release Date: March 14, 2011

01. Dusk Till Dawn (VIDEO)

02. Dusk TIll Dawn (CAPAC remix)

On the Web:

www.facebook.com/nedrymakesmusic

http://monotremerecords.com

Nedry are available for interviews. For more information, contact Dave Clifford at dave@usthemgroup.com

Big Sir (Lisa Papineau and Juan Alderete) announce EU & UK tour dates, post another track from forthcoming new album

noreply@blogger.com (Dave Clifford) — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 16:59:00 +0000

Big Sir -- the longtime collaboration between singer/composer Lisa Papineau and bassist/composer Juan Alderete (The Mars Volta) -- announce Spring 2012 EU and UK headlining tour dates in support of their forthcoming new album, Before Gardens After Gardens. Please see complete dates below. In anticipation of this new release, Prefix Mag today premieres a new track called "The Kindest Hour" available to download/stream HERE.

RCRD LBL recently posted the song "Our Pleasant Home" (featuring special guest Cedric Bixler-Zavala of The Mars Volta on drums) which is available to download/stream HERE. Back in December, Big Sir premiered the shimmering pop song, "Ready On the Line" which is available to download/stream HERE.

At times danceable, others darkly haunting, the album is as visually evocative and it is musically compelling. "Something that Juan and I have shared since our last album is that we've found out that we have chronic life-threatening illnesses," Papineau explains. "Illnesses that make us face that our bodies are not permanent. More and more I started thinking, or really, was needing to think about how you don't fold up in terror having that constantly in the foreground." The fear and uncertainty that we all face in contemplation of death, and the varying ways we all make peace with it is the basis of the album's overall concept. "The hymn 'Amazing Grace' speaks to the death of pride," Papineau says, "the death of believing yourself to be omnipotent, and how joyful and sweet this humble giving-in can be. So, on our album, Death is a ship, and her name is The Calico." It's an album of dance and celebration in death's insistent embrace.

Though created mostly in a back and forth between each other's laptops, Before Gardens After Gardens features special guest appearances by The Mars Volta's Cedric Bixler-Zavala on drums, Broken Bells' bassist Jonathan Hischke, multi-instrumentalist Matthieu Lesenechal, violist Heather Lockie (Mike Watt, Listing Ship), Matthew Embree (who also collaborates with Papineau in the duo ME & LP), Mars Volta drummer Deantoni Parks and a host of others on backing vocals. Bonus tracks also include performances by Money Mark Ramos-Nishita and David Sims of Jesus Lizard.

Big Sir began with a self-titled debut album and a remix disc in 2000 and 2001 respectively. The next Big Sir album Und Die Scheiße Ändert Sich Immer was released in 2006. Alderete and Papineau first met in the band Pet. Throughout their relationship the two musicians have also continued their collaborations with other artists. Papineau has lent her vocals to a spectrum of projects such as the last two Air albums (10,000 Khertz, Talkie Walkie), M83's Before the Dawn Heals Us, and soundtracks for the films Watchmen and Super. She has released two solo albums, Night Moves and Red Trees, and recently co-wrote (with Jun Miyake) and sang on a song for Wim Wenders' Academy Award short-listed film Pina. Alderete has played in the Grammy award winning The Mars Volta since 2003 as well as playing bass with rap legend Kool Keith's Dr. Octagon and the Omar Rodriguez Lopez Group. In 1999, he formed the project Vato Negro and released the album Bumpers on drum& bass label N2O. Alderete has also recently embarked on a subscription based website www.pedalsandeffects.com to help illustrate his approach to sound design with stomp boxes and various effects.

Before Gardens After Gardens will be available everywhere on CD/Download on February 7th, 2012 via Rodriguez Lopez Productions/Sargent House.

BIG SIR LIVE

02/20 Hollywood, CA @ Harvard and Stone *

02/27 Long Beach, CA @ Harvelle's #
04/07 Namur, BE @ Belvedere

04/09 Hamburg, GER @ Hafenklang

04/11 Leipzig, GER @ Ilses Erika

04/13 Innsbruck, AUS @ Los Gurkos

04/14 Bolzano, IT @ TBA
04/16 Lecce (Copertino), IT @ I Sotterranei

04/17 Rome, IT @ Ausgang / Locanda Atlantide

04/19 Trieste, IT @ Etnoblog

04/20 Rimini, IT @ Velvet

04/21 Livorno, IT @ Cage

04/22 Genova, IT @ La Claque

04/24 Birmingham, UK @ The Ballroom/The End

04/25 Manchester, UK @ Sound Control

04/26 Swansea, UK @ 22 Project Promotion/The Garage

04/27 Bristol, UK @ The Croft
04/28 London, UK @ The Old Blue Last (Binnacle Festival)

* w/ Eureka The Butcher+Sadah Luna (Marcel Rodriguez Lopez from Zechs Marquise)
# w/ C-Gak (RX Bandits)

Artist: Big Sir

Album: Before Gardens After Gardens

Label: Rodriguez Lopez Productions/Sargent House

Release Date: February 7th, 2012

01 Regions

02 Ready On The Line (MP3)

03 Infidels

04 Right Action

05 The Ladder

06 The Kindest Hour (MP3)

07 Old Blood

08 Born With A Tear

09 Be Brave Go On

10 Our Pleasent Home (MP3)

11 1 Thousand Petals

Hi-res photos, cover art, bio and more:

On the Web:

twitter.com/#!/bigsirband

Russian Circles announce Spring 2012 European and UK headlining tour dates

noreply@blogger.com (Dave Clifford) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 20:09:00 +0000

"It's not a stretch to say it's the band's best album yet." -- Rock-A-Rolla

Chicago trio Russian Circles today announce extensive Spring 2012 tour dates throughout Europe and the UK in support of their critically praised new album Empros. Please see complete dates below.

RUSSIAN CIRCLES LIVE:

Artist: Russian Circles

Album: Empros

Label: Sargent House

Release date: October 25th, 2011

Track list:

01. 309

02. Mladek (MP3)

03. Schipol

04. Atackla

05. Batu

06. Praise Be Man

On the Web:

Album stream: Geneva

Album stream: Station

Hi-res photos, album art, bio and more:

sargenthouse.com/russiancircles_assets.html

Big Sir (Lisa Papineau and Juan Alderete) post another track from forthcoming new album

noreply@blogger.com (Dave Clifford) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 14:30:00 +0000

Big Sir -- the longtime collaboration between singer/composer Lisa Papineau and bassist/composer Juan Alderete (The Mars Volta) -- premiere the second track from their forthcoming new album today courtesy of RCRD LBL. The song, "Our Pleasant Home" features special guest Cedric Bixler-Zavala (The Mars Volta) on drums and is available to download/stream HERE.

Back in December, Big Sir released the shimmering pop song, "Ready On The Line" which is available to download/stream HERE.

Since its inception in the late 90s, Big Sir has explored a vast array of work centered on the fulcrum of electronic and analog beats, Alderete's fretless bass and Papineau's dynamic voice. Their forthcoming third official full length album Before Gardens After Gardens is the culmination of the duo's enduring musical partnership. Says Alderete, "I think the beauty of what we do lies in our commitment to each other as artists. We will always put out music together because we respect each other's artistic perspective so much. I run everything I have ever created by her."

The album opens with a slithering fretless bass line that climbs alongside a round of Papineau's voices swirling around one another on "Regions." The unabashed pop hooks of "Ready On the Line" follows with electro-pulse beats, chiming synth bell-like loops and Papineau's powerful siren song highlighting the album's melancholy joy. "The Kindest Hour" begins with Alderete's soft bass chords and Lockie's violent viola trills leading into a distant, shimmering organ and lightly brushed drums reminiscent of the neoclassical innovations of Talk Talk's legendary The Colour of Spring. The song builds as the instruments intertwine before breaking wide open into a driving rhythm section. A plaintive piano leads the somber "Born with a Tear" underscored by delicately pirouetting bass line and pattering drum beats as Papineau intones, "You say the words and all the words make the tongue go numb..." Throughout, it's an album of subtlety and masterfully arranged voices -- both human and otherwise merged into one enveloping whole.

Before Gardens After Gardens will be available everywhere on CD/Download on February 7th, 2012 via Rodriguez Lopez Productions/Sargent House.

BIG SIR LIVE

Feb 19 Hollywood, CA @ Hemingway's *

Feb 20 Long Beach, CA @ Harvelle's *

* w/ Eureka The Butcher+Sadah Luna (Marcel Rodriguez Lopez from Zechs Marquise)

Artist: Big Sir

Album: Before Gardens After Gardens

Label: Rodriguez Lopez Productions/Sargent House

Release Date: February 7th, 2012

01 Regions

02 Ready On The Line (MP3)

03 Infidels

04 Right Action

05 The Ladder

06 The Kindest Hour

07 Old Blood

08 Born With A Tear

09 Be Brave Go On

10 Our Pleasent Home (MP3)

11 1 Thousand Petals

Hi-res photos, cover art, bio and more:

On the Web:

indianhandcrafts.bandcamp.com

twitter.com/#!/bigsirband

Zechs Marquise premiere wild new video w/ surprise cameos, intense real gangsters, animal-headed people and more

noreply@blogger.com (Dave Clifford) — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 18:26:00 +0000

Click image above to watch video

"Forget the Van Halens, if you want to know about a true musical dynasty, look no further than the Rodriguez-Lopez's! In between Omar, Marcel, and Marfred, these talented hermanos are changing the face of free-form jamming." -- MTV Tres

"Thrusting listeners into chase scenes through psychedelic dreamscapes is nothing new for El Paso prog rock instrumentalists Zechs Marquise. However, the major difference on Getting Paid isn't the fear of being chased, but of what's running up behind you." -- Los Angeles Times

The Mars Volta sibling band Zechs Marquise premiere a wild new video today courtesy of Consequence of Sound. The clip, for "Everlasting Beacon of Light" -- a standout track from the band's latest album, Getting Paid -- features surprise cameos, some very intense and very real gangster dudes, animal-headed people in the desert and much more awesome weirdness. Watch VIDEO HERE.

"Everlasting Beacon of Light" was directed by The 90s. Zechs Marquise also recently posted a live in-studio video session for Terroreyes.tv performing the title track to the album. Watch it on Vimeo or YouTube.

RCRD LBL recently premiered an MP3 for album track "Mega Slap". Check out the MP3 HERE. Stream full album HERE.

Zechs Marquise, the El Paso, TX quintet are back with their sophomore album Getting Paid, bringing an intensified swagger to the band's multifaceted psych-prog haze for their most aggressive and versatile effort to date. "We liked that hip-hop attitude," explains drummer Marcel Rodriguez-Lopez of the album title. "Getting your piece, taking yours." And, Getting Paid certainly finds the band fully taking charge of their musical destiny.

In the years since their auspicious 2009 debut Our Delicate Stranded Nightmare, Zechs Marquise toured extensively throughout the U.S., proving to be a formidable live act supporting Omar Rodriguez Lopez Group and RX Bandits as well as leading their own headlining tours. Zechs Marquise have also grown considerably in other ways. Recent addition Rikardo Rodriguez-Lopez on keyboards and trumpet joins his brothers, drummer Marcel and bassist Marfred alongside guitarists Matthew Wilkson and Marcos Smith contributing to the band's expanded sound. Not only have they reached new plateaus of entrancing riffs and rhythms, but Getting Paid also integrates vocals on select songs, including guest performances by vocalist/guitarist Matthew Embree and El Paso singer Sonny Baker.

Getting Paid was released on LP/CD/Download on September 27th on Rodriguez Lopez Productions via Sargent House.

Artist: Zechs Marquise

Title: Getting Paid

Label: Rodriguez Lopez Productions

Release Date: September 27th, 2011

01. Getting Paid (VIDEO - Vimeo) (VIDEO - YouTube)

02. Lock Jaw Night Vision

03. Static Lovers (MP3)

04. The Heat, The Drought, The Thirst, and The Insanity

05. Time Masters

06. Guajira

07. Everlasting Beacon of Light (MP3) (VIDEO)

08. Crushin' It!

09. Mega Slap (MP3)

Hi-res cover art, photos and bio:

www.sargenthouse.com/zechs_assets.html

On The Web:

www.zechsmarquise.com

www.zechsmarquise.bandcamp.com

www.facebook.com/zechsmarquiseofficial

www.rodriguezlopezproductions.com

Indian Handcrafts sign to Sargent House, recording new album in March 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Dave Clifford) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 08:38:00 +0000

Canadian power-duo Indian Handcrafts have signed with Sargent House to release their next album. The Toronto band begins recording in Los Angeles this March with engineer Toshi Kasai (Melvins, Big Business, Red Sparowes). The album is expected to be released in late 2012.

Until then, check out a free MP3 for "Red Action" (download/stream HERE) from the band's self-titled 2010 self-released debut (stream the full album via Bandcamp). Watch the official video for "Red Action" HERE and a blistering live performance of "Starcraft" HERE.

Indian Handcrafts' well honed, massive melodic heft seems to belie the simplicity of instrumentation between drummer/vocalist Brandyn James Aikins and guitarist/vocalist Daniel Brandon Allen. While their songs feature hints of heavy, technically skilled bands like Big Business, Hella and Tweakbird, there are also strong melodies and a vocal intensity inviting comparisons to bands ranging from Trail of Dead to Death From Above 1979 to Big Black.

Aikins and Allen have played music together for nearly a decade, but it wasn't until the two began writing as a duo in December 2009 in order to satisfy their need for volume and velocity that Indian Handcrafts was born. In Spring 2011, the pair released their 8-song debut filled with songs about life, strife, mental health, rebellion and space-traveling dope-dealing beagles.

INDIAN HANDCRAFTS LIVE:

01/14 Hamilton, ON @ Casbah Lounge
01/18 Peterborough, ON @ Red Dog
01/19 Barrie, ON @ The Port
01/20 Toronto, ON @ Horseshoe Tavern
01/21 London, ON @ Call the Office

07/14 Toronto, ON @ Downsview Park (Edgefest 2012)

Artist: Indian Handcrafts

Album: S/T

Label: self-released

Release Date: May 1st, 2011

01. Drop Out

02. Red Action (MP3) (VIDEO)

03. Starcraft (VIDEO)

04. Microwave Lunch

05. The Jerk

06. Jacklord

07. Centauri Teenage Riot

08. Leary vs. The Wolfman

On the Web:

indianhandcrafts.net

Le Butcherettes record NPR Tiny Desk Concert, announce Coachella performances

noreply@blogger.com (Dave Clifford) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 05:34:00 +0000

Click image above to watch video

"Watch singer Teri Gender Bender transform from a soft-spoken musician into a rock 'n' roll beast." -- NPR

Beloved garage-punk trio Le Butcherettes are currently at work on a followup to last year's breakout debut, Sin Sin Sin. However, that hasn't kept Teri Gender Bender out of the public eye. The group's charismatic singer/guitarist/keyboardist recently recorded a captivating live acoustic set for NPR's Tiny Desk Concert series. Watch the video HERE.

Le Butcherettes also announce today they will perform at this year's Coachella festival on both Sundays, April 15th and 22nd in Indio, CA. Omar Rodriguez Lopez -- who is also reprising his role as producer and bass player for the band's sophomore album -- will be playing bass for these shows.

Le Butcherettes' critically-praised debut album Sin Sin Sin is available to STREAM HERE. Check out MP3s for other album tracks, "Henry Don't Got Love" HERE and "New York" HERE.

Le Butcherettes' full length debut, Sin Sin Sin was produced by Omar Rodriguez Lopez and issued on May 10th, 2011 on Rodriguez Lopez Productions via Sargent House.

Artist: Le Butcherettes

Album: Sin Sin Sin

Label: Rodriguez Lopez Productions

Release Date: May 10th, 2011

01. Tonight

02. New York (MP3) (VIDEO)

03. Henry Don't Got Love (MP3)

04. Leibniz Language

05. Bang!

06. All You See in Me is Death

07. I'm Getting Sick Of You (MP3)

08. Riko's Smooth Talking Mother

09. The Actress That Ate Rousseau

10. Tainted in Sin

11. Dress Off

12. Empty Dimes

13. Mr. Tolstoi

Hi-res photos, cover art and bio:

sargenthouse.com/lebutcherettes_assets.html

On the Web:

lebutcherettes.net

facebook.com/LeButcherettes

lebutcherettes.bandcamp.com

British dark electro-pop trio Nedry announce new album with 2 advance tracks

noreply@blogger.com (Dave Clifford) — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 14:30:00 +0000

"Gently skittering electronics and slow-building, spacious ambience - Nedry's gorgeous, minimal soundscapes are tailor made for the wee hours." -- Q Magazine

"When a band is as good, as versatile and as daring as Nedry, you hope the wider world will stand up and take notice." -- Huw Stephens - BBC Radio One

London UK's dark electronic trio Nedry announce the spring 2012 release of their sophomore album In A Dim Light worldwide via Monotreme Records. In anticipation of this release, two album tracks, the eerily sinister "Float" and surrealistically soaring "Post Six" are available today to stream/download HERE.

Artist: Nedry

Album: In A Dim Light

Label: Monotreme Records

Release Date: March 12, 2012

01. I Would Rather Explode

02. Post Six (MP3)

03. Violaceae

04. Havana Nights

05. Dusk Till Dawn

06. Float (MP3)

07. Land Leviathan

08. TMA

09. here.now.here

10. Home

Artist: Nedry

Album: Dusk Till Dawn

Label: Monotreme Records

Release Date: March 14, 2011

01. Dusk Till Dawn (VIDEO)

02. Dusk TIll Dawn (CAPAC remix)

On the Web:

http://www.nedrymakesmusic.com/

www.facebook.com/nedrymakesmusic

http://monotremerecords.com

Nedry are available for interviews. For more information, contact Dave Clifford at dave@usthemgroup.com

Big Sir (Lisa Papineau and Juan Alderete) premiere song from forthcoming new album at Consequence of Sound

noreply@blogger.com (Dave Clifford) — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 16:19:00 +0000

Big Sir -- the longtime collaboration between singer/composer Lisa Papineau and bassist/composer Juan Alderete (The Mars Volta) -- premiere the first track from their forthcoming new album today courtesy of Consequence of Sound. The shimmering pop song, "Ready On The Line" is available to download/stream HERE.

Before Gardens After Gardens will be available everywhere on CD/Download on February 7th, 2012 via Rodriguez Lopez Productions/Sargent House.

Artist: Big Sir

Album: Before Gardens After Gardens

Label: Rodriguez Lopez Productions/Sargent House

Release Date: February 7th, 2012

01 Regions

02 Ready On The Line (MP3)

03 Infidels

04 Right Action

05 The Ladder

06 The Kindest Hour

07 Old Blood

08 Born With A Tear

09 Be Brave Go On

10 Our Pleasent Home

11 1 Thousand Petals

Hi-res photos, cover art, bio and more:

On the Web:

sargenthouse.com/boris_attention_assets.html

twitter.com/#!/bigsirband

Year-end roundup for your "Best of 2011" lists

noreply@blogger.com (Dave Clifford) — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 14:00:00 +0000

It's that time of year again -- when everyone's making their lists of which artists have been naughty or nice. Submitted for your consideration, here's a rundown of releases we've handled at US/THEM group throughout 2011, sorted by record label in reverse chronological order by release date.

Please get in touch if you missed out on any of these, would like to arrange interviews or if we can be of any further assistance. All MP3s and videos are cleared for posting.

Follow us on Twitter: @usthemgroup

Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/US-THEM-group

SARGENT HOUSE 2011 releases:

Artist: Boris
Album: New Album
"Spoon" (MP3)
"Flare" (MP3)

The Japanese heavy legends' third full length this year, New Album etches a new post-noise, extreme pop niche with some of their most accessible and melodic music that's equally their most subversive. Limited edition LP and CD hit independent retailers for Record Store Day on November 25th, LP/CD/Download was available everywhere on December 6th. Most recent press release.

Artist: And So I Watch You From Afar
Album: Gangs
"BEAUTIFULUNIVERSEMASTERCHAMPION" (MP3)
"Search:Party:Animal" (MP3)

Belfast, Northern Ireland's celebrated instrumentalists' sophomore album has been widely praised as a triumph surpassing their Choice Music Prize and XFM Album of the Year nominated 2009 debut. Released in conjunction with Dublin based "sister label" Richter Collective. Most recent press release.

Artist: Russian Circles
Album: Empros
"Mladek" (MP3)
FULL ALBUM STREAM

Being widely hailed as their heaviest album to date, the Chicago trio injects evermore slithering rhythms amid skull-crushing heft to their monolithic melodies. Empros is the sound of a band shaking the ages from its shoulders with all the brutal force of a behemoth awakened. Most recent press release.

Artist: This Town Needs Guns
Album: Adventure, Stamina & Anger EP
"Adventure, Stamina & Anger" / "Mnspector Lorse" (STREAM)

The band's last recordings with singer Stuart Smith. The rest of the group is currently at work with new vocalist/guitarist Henry Tremain on a new album produced by Ed Rose (Appleseed Cast, Get Up Kids) to be released by Sargent House in 2012. Most recent press release.

Artist: Hella
Album: Tripper
"Headless" (MP3) (VIDEO)
"Self Checkout" (MP3)
"Yubacore" (MP3)

The legendary experimentalist duo's fifth album is its first new release in over four years. The Onion AV Club raves, "a return to what Hella does best: breakneck instrumentals and raw, inhuman-sounding musicianship. A-." Most recent press release.

Artist: ME & LP
Album: Chez Raymond
"La Belle Tocade" (MP3) (VIDEO)
"Bonnie Says" (MP3)

The collaborative project of celebrated musicians Matthew Embree and Lisa Papineau is a dramatically beautiful and captivating meeting of two extremely talented and versatile talents that merges into a recording that is both ethereal and cozy. Most recent press release.

Artist: Boris
Album: Attention Please
"Hope" (MP3)

The first Boris album on which all vocals are sung by lead guitarist, Wata. Throughout, the album has a sultry, intoxicating catchiness. It's melodic without sounding pop. It's psychedelic without sounding dated. It's heavy without relying on barre chord riffs. Most recent press release.

Artist: Boris
Album: Heavy Rocks
"Riot Sugar" (MP3)

Be it psychedelic metal, colossal drone, blistering punk or distortion-ravaged shoegaze, a Boris song is an exploration of sound as physical mass. The Japanese trio's classic 2002 album Heavy Rocks is a landmark of their mastery. So, it's fitting that the group's new album sharing the same title and very similar artwork to that disc, Heavy Rocks (2011) seeks to redefine "heavy" music in a culmination of the band's tireless efforts over the past two decades. Most recent press release.

Artist: Therapies Son
Album: Over The Sea
"Touching Down" (MP3) (VIDEO)

Therapies Son quickly won fans in late 2010 when his humbly self-recorded demo of shimmering pop surfaced, catching the ears of some elite press and becoming something of an Internet sensation. Tapping into an innate gift for songwriting after the painful dissolution of a relationship, Alex Jacob crafted gorgeous, otherworldly songs which somehow managed to absorb a library's worth of the most glorious chapters in the Encyclopedia of Pop. Most recent press release.

Artist: Gypsyblood
Album: Cold In The Guestway
"Take Your Picture" (MP3) (VIDEO)
"My RKO is MIA" (MP3)

Chicago's hazy, distortion-ravaged sons churn out seamless hooks with the brains of Pavement, the unassuming attitude of No Age and the blurred focus of Jesus and the Mary Chain for a debut so densely packed with potential singles it could be many other bands' greatest hits collection. Most recent press release.

Artist: Adebisi Shank
Album: This is the Second Album of a Band Called Adebisi Shank
"International Dreambeat" (MP3) (VIDEO live)
"Masa" (VIDEO live)
"Genki Shank" (MP3) Ireland's multiple award-nominated breakout trio deftly merges the triumphant guitar harmonies of Fang Island with the mathematic precision of Battles, the genre-surfing playfulness of Daft Punk and churning intensity of HEALTH. Their live shows are a breathtaking combination of visceral intensity and instrumental prowess. Most recent press release.

Artist: Tera Melos
Album: Zoo Weather EP + Patagonian Rats deluxe
"So Occult" (VIDEO)
"Kelly" (VIDEO)
"The Skin Surf" (VIDEO)
"Frozen Zoo" (MP3) (VIDEO)
"Kelley" (VIDEO)
"Manar The Magic" (MP3) (VIDEO)
"Frozen Zoo (Thawed Out Mix)" (VIDEO)

Sacramento genre-benders had a huge year, releasing the Zoo Weather EP and deluxe edition of the Patagonian Rats album, touring with Boris, Melt Banana, Mike Watt & The Missingmen and receiving praise from Henry Rollins, Wired, Exclaim! and more. Most recent press release.

RODRIGUEZ LOPEZ PRODUCTIONS 2011 releases:

Artist: Zechs Marquise
Album: Getting Paid
"Getting Paid" (VIDEO)
"Static Lovers" (MP3)
"Everlasting Beacon of Light" (MP3)
"Mega Slap" (MP3)

The Mars Volta sibling band blasts back with an intensified swagger to their multifaceted psych-prog haze for their most aggressive and versatile effort to date. "Forget the Van Halens," writes MTV Tres, "if you want to know about a true musical dynasty, look no further than the Rodriguez-Lopez's! In between Omar, Marcel, and Marfred, these talented hermanos are changing the face of free-form jamming." Most recent press release.

Artist: Le Butcherettes
Album: Sin Sin Sin
"New York" (MP3) (VIDEO)
"Henry Don't Got Love" (MP3)
"I'm Getting Sick Of You" (MP3)

The L.A.-by-way-of-Mexico City garage punk trio led by vocalist/guitarist/keyboardist Teri Gender Bender exploded onto the scene this year with this massive debut, earning praise from Rolling Stone, NPR, L.A. Times, Chicago Tribune, Consequence of Sound and countless others. Their jaw-dropping live shows have earned tours with Iggy & The Stooges, The Flaming Lips and Deftones as well as major festivals like Lollapalooza and Fun Fun Fun Fest. Most recent press release.

Artist: Omar Rodriguez Lopez
Album: Telesterion
FULL ALBUM STREAM
"Polaridad" (Tychozorente) (VIDEO)
"Asco Que Conmueve Los Puntos Erogenos" (Xenophanes) (VIDEO)
"Agua Dulce De Pulpo" (Un Escorpion Perfumado) (VIDEO)

The extensive anthology of solo recordings by the immensely prolific Grammy Award winning recording artist Omar Rodriguez Lopez (The Mars Volta, At The Drive-In) features 37 songs (38 on the vinyl version) showcasing the variety and breadth of explorative artistry spread across his 25 (and counting) solo albums harvested for this release. Most recent press release.

MONOTREME RECORDS 2011 releases:

Artist: Jeniferever
Album: Silesia
"Waifs And Strays" (MP3)
"The Beat Of Our Own Blood" (MP3) (VIDEO)
"Dover" (MP3)

Uppsala, Sweden's cult-beloved atmospheric rock group's third album is an album borne of tragic loss and motion. The album title was taken from the location at which singer/guitarist Kristofer Jönson first heard of his father's death while on tour in 2009. The album began to take shape thereafter, reflecting upon a multitude of ideas surrounding darkness and light, arrivals and departures and the constant flux of life. Most recent press release.

Artist: Fops
Album: For Centuries
"Cheater Carolina" (MP3) (VIDEO)

The Bay Area superduo featuring Thee More Shallows singer Dee Kesler and Ral Partha Vogalbacher lyricist Chadwick Donald Bidwell issued a 7-song, 43-minute mini-album extending the reach of the band's unique hybrid of krautrock and early-80s synthpop (including a thinly-veiled nod to Duran Duran's "Girls On Film"). Most recent press release.

Artist: M+A
Album: Things.yes
"Yes.pop" (MP3)
"Liko Lene Lisa" (MP3)
"Bam" (VIDEO)

The Italian duo's delicate and beautiful electro-acoustic pop evokes disparate comparisons to Phoenix, Postal Service, Panda Bear, Tuung, et al. Their expert balance of intimate vocals and catchy melodies with wiry glitch, thumping drums and soft acoustic instruments like glockenspiel gives their music an infectious quality. Most recent press release.

Artist: Polinski
Album: Labyrinths
"Stitches" (VIDEO) (MP3)
"Tangents" (MP3)

Paul Wolinski of British electronic-infused post-rock heroes 65daysofstatic makes his solo debut under the nom-de-tune of Polinski. Throughout the album, sci-fi soundtrack moods and Daft Punk styled beat-laced anthems collide with John Carpenter-esque synths, Philip Glass style piano motifs pair up with punching rhythms, gliding melodies soar with the retro-futuristic furor of Bowie-Eno collaborations. Most recent press release.

Artist: 65daysofstatic
Album: We Were Exploding Anyway + Heavy Sky (deluxe edition)
"Crash Tactics" (MP3)
"Come To Me (feat. Robert Smith of The Cure)" (MP3)
"PX3" (MP3)

The exclusive North American deluxe edition release of British electronic-infused post-rock band 65daysofstatic features the group's most recent full length as well as the new Heavy Sky EP. The track "Come To Me" features guest vocals by fan, tour mate and legend Robert Smith of The Cure. Most recent press release.

MISCELLANEOUS LABELS 2011 releases:

Artist: The Nocturnes
Album: Aokigahara
Label: Errant Child Records
FULL ALBUM DOWNLOAD/STREAM
"Love" (MP3)
"The Road" (MP3) (VIDEO)

Led by Red Sparowes guitarist Emma Ruth Rundle, this L.A. quartet plays a compellingly lush haze of melody that blends hints of folk, shoegaze, chamber pop, goth and post-rock all in one. Engulfing, dark and endlessly beautiful melodies wrapped up in multi-part vocal harmonies. Most recent press release.

Artist: The Boxing Lesson
Album: Muerta
Label: New Fortune Records
"Muerta" (VIDEO)
FULL ALBUM STREAM

The popular Austin, TX psychedelic space rock band returns with an extensive mini-album of lush electric guitar soundscapes and shimmering keyboards earning comparisons to everything from Pink Floyd to Ponytail to M83 to Jesus and the Mary Chain. Most recent press release.

Artist: Noxious Foxes
Album: Légs
Label: Broth IRA
"Doth Shalt Noth" (MP3)
"Heavenly Spectacular" (MP3)
FULL ALBUM STREAM

The Brooklyn, NY frenetic power-duo incorporate thick walls of looping guitar effects and intricate drum beats, peppered with synths and electric piano for a manic ride of enveloping chaos. Most recent press release.

Artist: Johnny O'Donnell and Sacramento
Album: Masquerade / Korean Debutante
Label: White Noise
"The Gothic Singer" (MP3) (VIDEO)
"Loose Cannons" (VIDEO)

The wildly inventive noir-pop group led by songwriter Johnny O'Donnell crafts tunes that shift and morph as if we're getting a peek into the mind of Smile-era Brian Wilson. O'Donnell is the former guitarist in avant rock band Holy Ghost Revival, who upon settling in Los Angeles was mentored by composer/producer Van Dyke Parks. Most recent press release.

Artist: Empty Space Orchestra
Album: S/T
Label: Empty Space Unlimited
"New Breed of Skank" (VIDEO)
"Exit Strategy" (MP3) (VIDEO)
"Intergalactic Battle Cruiser" (MP3)
"El Viento" (MP3) (VIDEO)

This Bend,OR based quintet's debut earned considerable praise for their masterful musicianship that merges elements of King Crimson, The Mars Volta, Dub Trio, Deftones, space rock, jazz and more into an intense and energetic sound of their own. Most recent press release.

Artist: Zorch
Album: Demo
Label: Zorch Records
"Zut Alore" (VIDEO)
FULL ALBUM STREAM

The Austin, TX hyper-kinetic keyboard/drum duo are traditionally schooled musicians creating intense, frenetic music imbued with a sense of fun. Their exceptionally precise and inventive songs often invite comparisons to Lightning Bolt, Dan Deacon, HEALTH, Adebisi Shank and Battles as well as more psychedelic/pop acts like Flaming Lips, Animal Collective and F*ck Buttons. Most recent press release.

Artist: Robotanists
Album: Plans In Progress
Label: Overhead Records
"ON/OFF The Ledge" (MP3) (VIDEO)

Los Angeles' glamorous indie-pop group released its sophomore Danny Kalb (Beck, Karen O, Feist) produced album in early spring. It gained much critical attention, radio play and saw the band packing in crowds for their emotionally-intense shows. Frequent comparisons to Florence + The Machine, Mazzy Star and The Xx only begin to hint at their burgeoning talent. Most recent press release.

Artist: Robotanists
Album: Does The King of Limbs in 24 Hours
Label: Overhead Records
FULL ALBUM DOWNLOAD/STREAM

While most Radiohead fans were still soaking in the band's new album, Robotanists reinterpreted, recorded and released their own version of The King of Limbs in its entirety, just 24 hours after its release. Many writers commented that Robotanists' version was superior to the original. Most recent press release.

Boris' New Album available everywhere today, full disc streaming on SPIN.com and Spinner.com

noreply@blogger.com (Dave Clifford) — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 14:00:00 +0000

"More complex than you'll notice on a first or even second listen, 'Spoon' goes places your standard pop doesn't. It's an intriguing look at a band trying their hand at a second genre-- and succeeding." Best New Track -- Pitchfork

"A strong, striking new direction for Boris." -- The Onion AV Club

"New Album is a beaming ode to optimism and joy - an awesomely wild detour from the band who nicked their name (and sound) from a Melvins song."-- SPIN

Legendary Japanese trio Boris today release their third full length this year. New Album is available worldwide (excluding Japan) today, December 6th on LP, CD and Download via Sargent House. The album is streaming in full courtesy of SPIN.com ( HERE) and AOL Spinner (HERE).

Rolling Stone recently premiered the MP3 for New Album track "Flare", which is available to stream/download HERE. Additionally, Pitchfork previously posted "Spoon", the first single from New Album, giving it their coveted Best New Track rating. It is available to download HERE.

The band has also announced the first few dates of an Australian headlining tour in March 2012. Please see current dates below.

Boris has long been celebrated for their rare ability to reinterpret a multitude of esoteric musical genres into a sound uniquely their own. New Album finds the intrepid Japanese trio etching their own post-noise, extreme pop niche with some of their most accessible and melodic music being equally their most subversive. Where their two previous albums, Attention Please and the all new Heavy Rocks -- both released by Sargent House on the same day, May 24th, 2011 -- offered divergent expansions to their sonic palette, New Album is the culmination of the band's ongoing experimentation that catapults its ferocious sound headlong into new territory.

Much of the inspiration behind New Album derives from a confluence of ideas regarding the very basic notion of music as art in the modern age. The band was inspired by a current Japanese pop music trend in which a singing synthesis software program called Vocaloid, which enables users to create songs simply by typing in lyrics and a basic melody to be sung by an imaginary anime character vocalist. It has resulted in many chart topping hits created by people with little musical ability (vaguely similar to the success of Autotuned instant stardom in the US). On the other end of the spectrum, New Album also flips the script on the long established notion of the band as an experimental noise act -- based upon their prior albums as well as collaborations with sonic deconstructionist Merzbow and doom-drone duo Sunn 0))). It proves their enviable skill at penning catchy melodies that many of their extreme noise fans would consider reviling "noise" from their perspective. It's a dual jab addressing the rapidly changing landscape of music that situates Boris once again as innovators in their constant challenging of archetypes. And, it showcases the band's ability to embody the essence of myriad musical styles in Boris' own monolithic form.

The 10-track New Album features a handful of revamped versions of songs from both Attention Please and Heavy Rocks (2011), along with a few new tracks, hyper-charged and rearranged with the assistance of radical Japanese producer Shinobu Narita resulting in a sound that could best be described as extreme pop. It shares both the hummable heft of Nirvana's Nevermind and the entrancing, droning haze of My Bloody Valentine's classic Loveless, run through two previous decades' worth of electronic exploration and the merging of underground noise with sugary mainstream gloss. Boris usually self-produce their recordings, so working with a popular producer is quite an exception. The disc was first issued as a Japan-only release in March 2011, but this rearranged and remastered worldwide edition features a reorganized track listing and four songs not available on either Attention Please or Heavy Rocks.

Album opener "Flare" kicks off with a repeated whine of an emergency siren before hurtling into a speedy punk refrain led by bassist/vocalist Takeshi reminiscent of Sonic Youth's most radio-ready work, while elements of glitch and dubstep pepper the proceedings. "Hope" bursts forth with jangling detuned guitars and churning distorted bass as guitarist/vocalist Wata coos along with a soaring string section and chirping electronics. "Party Boy" could just as soon be a lost Bjork track, with drummer/vocalist Atsuo's bouncing dance beats and Wata's cryptic lyrics detailing an alien encounter at a hazy late night dance party. The chugging metallic riff of Heavy Rocks song "Jackson Head" is transformed here into a slithering synth line and chopping rhythms befitting a violent grime tune. "Looprider" closes the album with a throbbing dream pop melody and gliding chorus that gently drones out throughout the 7-minute songs duration before fading into a delicate piano line that dissolves into the ether.

Boris formed in the early '90s as a four piece just-for-fun endeavor with the sonic template of influences like Melvins and Earth. By the time of its 1996 debut as a trio Absolutego (later released in the US via Southern Lord in 2000), Boris had already hit its stride in creating unique ground-rattling heavy, melodic music. The group, bassist/vocalist Takeshi, guitarist/vocalist Wata and drummer/vocalist Atsuo went on to release nearly 20 studio albums, as well as numerous collaborative albums -- including projects with Merzbow, Sunn0))), Ian Astbury and Michio Kurihara of Ghost (who also currently tours with the band as second guitarist and frequently guests on albums) -- EPs and singles on various labels throughout the world.

These eternal masters of the aesthetic 180-degree shift, Boris prove once again with New Album just how deftly the band can tackle seemingly disparate musical elements and forge new sounds that may seem inconceivable to other artists. New Album is available on LP/CD/Download on December 6th via Sargent House.

BORIS AUSTRALIAN TOUR 2012

03/22 Sydney @ The Metro

03/23 Brisbane @ The Hi-Fi

03/24 Melbourne @ The Corner Hotel

Artist: Boris

Album: New Album

Label: Sargent House

Release Date: December 6th, 2011

01. Flare (MP3)

02. Hope

03. Party Boy

04. Luna

05. Spoon (MP3)

06. Pardon?

07. Jackson Head

08. Les Paul Custom '86

09. Tu, La La

10. Looprider

Artist: Boris

Album: Attention Please

Label: Sargent House

Release Date: May 24th, 2011

01. Attention Please

02. Hope (MP3) (VIDEO)

03. Party Boy

04. See You Next Week

05. Tokyo Wonder Land

06. You

07. Aileron

08. Les Paul Custom '86

09. Spoon

10. Hand in Hand

Artist: Boris

Album: Heavy Rocks

Label: Sargent House

Release Date: May 24th, 2011

01. Riot Sugar (MP3) (VIDEO)

02. Leak -Truth, yesnoyesnoyes-

03. GALAXIANS

04. Jackson Head

05. Missing Pieces

06. Key

07. Window Shopping

08. Tu, la la

09. Aileron

10. Czechoslovakia

On the Web:

www.borisheavyrocks.com

www.myspace.com/borisdronevil

www.facebook.com/Borisheavyrocks

www.twitter.com/borisheavyrocks

Hi-res photos, cover art, bio and more:
www.sargenthouse.com/boris_newalbum_assets.html

sargenthouse.com/boris_heavy_assets.html

For more information, please contact Dave Clifford at dave@usthemgroup.com

Boris stream entire forthcoming album via SPIN.com, disc in stores December 6th

noreply@blogger.com (Dave Clifford) — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 17:05:00 +0000

Legendary Japanese trio Boris are now streaming their entire forthcoming release New Album courtesy of SPIN.com. Listen to the full album HERE.

The band has also announced the first few dates of an Australian headlining tour in March 2012. Please see current dates below.

These eternal masters of the aesthetic 180-degree shift, Boris prove once again with New Album just how deftly the band can tackle seemingly disparate musical elements and forge new sounds that may seem inconceivable to other artists. New Album will be available on LP/CD/Download on December 6th via Sargent House.

BORIS AUSTRALIAN TOUR 2012

03/22 Sydney @ The Metro

03/23 Brisbane @ The Hi-Fi

03/24 Melbourne @ The Corner Hotel

Artist: Boris

Album: New Album

Label: Sargent House

Release Date: December 6th, 2011

01. Flare (MP3)

02. Hope

03. Party Boy

04. Luna

05. Spoon (MP3)

06. Pardon?

07. Jackson Head

08. Les Paul Custom '86

09. Tu, La La

10. Looprider

Artist: Boris

Album: Attention Please

Label: Sargent House

Release Date: May 24th, 2011

01. Attention Please

02. Hope (MP3) (VIDEO)

03. Party Boy

04. See You Next Week

05. Tokyo Wonder Land

06. You

07. Aileron

08. Les Paul Custom '86

09. Spoon

10. Hand in Hand

Artist: Boris

Album: Heavy Rocks

Label: Sargent House

Release Date: May 24th, 2011

01. Riot Sugar (MP3) (VIDEO)

02. Leak -Truth, yesnoyesnoyes-

03. GALAXIANS

04. Jackson Head

05. Missing Pieces

06. Key

07. Window Shopping

08. Tu, la la

09. Aileron

10. Czechoslovakia

On the Web:

www.borisheavyrocks.com

www.myspace.com/borisdronevil

www.facebook.com/Borisheavyrocks

www.twitter.com/borisheavyrocks

Hi-res photos, cover art, bio and more:
www.sargenthouse.com/boris_newalbum_assets.html

sargenthouse.com/boris_heavy_assets.html

sargenthouse.com/boris_attention_assets.html

For more information, please contact Dave Clifford at dave@usthemgroup.com

The Nocturnes premiere new video via Consequence of Sound, free flexi disc in new issue of LA Record

noreply@blogger.com (Dave Clifford) — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 19:40:00 +0000

Click image above to watch video

"The most beautiful music I've heard in ages." -- Invisible Oranges

The Nocturnes -- the band led by Red Sparowes guitarist Emma Ruth Rundle -- premiere a new video today from their second album, Aokigahara. Consequence of Sound hosts the clip for the track, "Love" available to watch HERE.

Los Angeles' largest music publication L.A. Record offers a free flexi disc of the song "Love" inside their current issue -- a first for the innovative paper. RCRD LBL hosts an MP3 for the track for those unable to acquire the flexi disc. Stream/download HERE. The entire album is available for streaming and download via The Nocturnes' Bandcamp page.

The Nocturnes are the folkgaze brainchild of guitarist/vocalist Emma Ruth Rundle. While the band began as a duo in 2007 and built a cult following prior to her joining Red Sparowes in 2009, Aokigahara is nonetheless a dramatic rebirth for The Nocturnes. Featuring a revamped quartet lineup, the 8-song album ventures into multiple textures of style and sound that create a lush haze of melody that blends hints of folk, shoegaze, chamber pop, goth and post-rock.

Rundle is joined on this recording by guitarist/vocalist Julian Rifkin, multi-instrumentalist/vocalist Paris Patt and drummer Dave Clifford (also of Red Sparowes). Aokigahara was written collectively, combining the different styles and personalities of the players. Some of the songs were built from Rundle's unrecorded older songs, others were written by Rifkin ("Craving", "Hello Neighbor") and others penned as a group ("Aokigahara", "The Road"). The album takes a more ethereal approach -- leaving behind the more direct vocal and rock-leaning song structures of the band's earlier releases -- for a new sound awash with reverb, drifting voices and harmonies, atmospheric guitars, Twin Peaks-esque bass lines and orchestral style drumming.

As a duo featuring Rundle and drummer Daniel Yasmin, The Nocturnes released their debut Wellington EP in January 2008 while based in New Zealand. Upon returning to Los Angeles, the duo issued the full length A Year of Spring the following year. In this time, Rundle formed a close musical connection with Patt, who contributed bass guitar to the debut album. The Live on KXLU EP released in 2010 shows hints of what was to come, as Rundle was joined by Rifkin for the drum-less session when Yasmin was unable to play. He left the band shortly thereafter, relocating to the Bay Area.

In 2010 the newly solidified quartet recorded a set of songs in Venice, CA in what was once a studio space used by the Beach Boys. In a way, you can almost hear the famous Wilson clan's melancholic harmonies and saturated Wall of Sound within the somber, pliant and thoroughly soaring songs of Aokigahara. The album was released August 30th on LP, CD and Download.

Artist: The Nocturnes

Album: Aokigahara (ALBUM STREAM)

Label: Errant Child Records

Release Date: August 30th, 2011

01. Aokigahara

02. London Town

03. Love (MP3) (VIDEO)

04. The Cradle

05. The Road (MP3) (VIDEO)

06. Hello Neighbor

07. Craving

08. Grandmother Make a Steeple

On the Web:

www.thenocturnesmusic.com

www.thenocturnes.bandcamp.com

www.facebook.com/pages/The-Nocturnes

Boris premiere new song on RollingStone.com from forthcoming album, set Australian dates for March 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Dave Clifford) — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 19:00:00 +0000

Legendary Japanese trio Boris have premiered a new track via Rolling Stone from their forthcoming disc New Album. The MP3 for "Flare" is available to stream/download HERE. New Album will be available via Sargent House on limited edition vinyl and CD at independent retailers on Record Store Day: Black Friday November 25th and LP/CD/Download worldwide on December 6th.

The band also announces the first few dates of an Australian headlining tour in March 2012. Please see current dates below.

Pitchfork recently posted "Spoon", the first single from New Album, giving it their coveted Best New Track rating. It is available to download HERE.

These eternal masters of the aesthetic 180-degree shift, Boris prove once again with New Album just how deftly the band can tackle seemingly disparate musical elements and forge new sounds that may seem inconceivable to other artists. New Album will be available on limited LP/CD on November 25th, 2011 in celebration of Record Store Day: Back To Black Friday and LP/CD/Download on December 6th via Sargent House.

BORIS AUSTRALIAN TOUR 2012

03/22 Sydney @ The Metro

03/23 Brisbane @ The Hi-Fi

03/24 Melbourne @ The Corner Hotel

Artist: Boris

Album: New Album

Label: Sargent House

Release Date: November 25th, 2011

01. Flare (MP3)

02. Hope

03. Party Boy

04. Luna

05. Spoon (MP3)

06. Pardon?

07. Jackson Head

08. Les Paul Custom '86

09. Tu, La La

10. Looprider

Artist: Boris

Album: Attention Please

Label: Sargent House

Release Date: May 24th, 2011

01. Attention Please

02. Hope (MP3) (VIDEO)

03. Party Boy

04. See You Next Week

05. Tokyo Wonder Land

06. You

07. Aileron

08. Les Paul Custom '86

09. Spoon

10. Hand in Hand

Artist: Boris

Album: Heavy Rocks

Label: Sargent House

Release Date: May 24th, 2011

01. Riot Sugar (MP3) (VIDEO)

02. Leak -Truth, yesnoyesnoyes-

03. GALAXIANS

04. Jackson Head

05. Missing Pieces

06. Key

07. Window Shopping

08. Tu, la la

09. Aileron

10. Czechoslovakia

On the Web:

www.borisheavyrocks.com

www.myspace.com/borisdronevil

www.facebook.com/Borisheavyrocks

www.twitter.com/borisheavyrocks

Hi-res photos, cover art, bio and more:
www.sargenthouse.com/boris_newalbum_assets.html

sargenthouse.com/boris_heavy_assets.html

sargenthouse.com/boris_attention_assets.html

For more information, please contact Dave Clifford at dave@usthemgroup.com

Italian electropop duo M+A premiere video via Prefix, release acclaimed new album

noreply@blogger.com (Dave Clifford) — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 15:14:00 +0000

Click image above to watch video

"No matter the tempo, atmosphere, or style, the duo has the musical abilities, bright ideas, and ear for a lovely melody to make everything sound good." -- All Music Guide

"Nimble and inventive, the pair’s naivety makes for a refreshing take on pop." -- RCRD LBL

"You may hear things that sound like an old jewelry box or a carnival carousel, and it’s done so beautifully it makes you wonder why a lot of people aren’t doing it this way. It has an old world charm that is often lost in a lot of attempted hybrids." -- This Is Book's Music

Italian duo M+A premiere a new video today from their just-released debut album, Things.Yes courtesy of Prefix Mag. Watch the clip for "Bam" HERE. Also, the entire album is now available for streaming courtesy of Clash Magazine in the UK. Stream full album HERE.

M+A's delicate and beautiful electro-acoustic pop is infused with dubstep elements evoking comparisons to the Postal Service, Panda Bear, Phoenix, Tunng, et al. The band recently released the infectious song "Liko Lene Lisa" (MP3) at RCRD LBL, which has already soared over 42,000 downloads in under two months. The song "Yes.pop" (MP3) premiered later via Consequence of Sound with similar enthusiasm.

M+A is Michele Ducci,19, (vocals, instruments) and Alessandro Degli Angioli, 22, (instruments) of Forli, Italy. Their new 10-song album of inventive, spirited electronic pop was released worldwide on November 8th via Monotreme Records on CD/LP/Download.

In their own words:

"We listen to music to understand what we do, and we do music to understand what we listen to. We record everything at home, in a mansard to be more precise. The 'home-made' policy corresponds to a definite aesthetics, particularly with regard to a pop range. It's like a scene from a thriller movie where, at the very crucial moment, there's a shot of the director and his assistants while setting up the play set. So yes, we do make pop, but with the unpretentious intention to thrill. Our band is made up by two components, not merged in a unique identity, but rather coexisting. Sticking to the common sense of the word, we never really felt like a group. With its naivety and brutality, M+A plainly represents our initials just to make the whole thing more tangible and real. It's two people moving forward parallel one another, though with countless meeting points."

Artist: M+A

Album: Things.Yes

Label: Monotreme Records

Release Date: November 8th, 2011

01. Yeloww

02. Yes.pop (MP3)

03. Liko Lene Lisa (MP3)

04. Sommer

05. Bam (VIDEO)

06. Blå

07. (we)

08. Bergen.jpg

09. Adidas

10. Ly

On the Web:

www.ma-official.com

www.facebook.com/ma.thingsyes

www.twitter.com/ma_thingsyes

M+A are available for interviews. For more information, please contact Dave Clifford at dave@usthemgroup.com

Northern Ireland's And So I Watch You From Afar release sophomore album, full disc streaming at Spinner

noreply@blogger.com (Dave Clifford) — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 16:45:00 +0000

Belfast, Northern Ireland's celebrated instrumental band And So I Watch You From Afar release their sophomore album, Gangs today via Sargent House, partnered with Dublin label Richter Collective. The complete album is available for streaming all week courtesy of Spinner: listen HERE.

A pair of MP3s from Gangs are also available: opener, "BEAUTIFULUNIVERSEMASTERCHAMPION" is available for download HERE and the brilliantly titled "Search:Party:Animal" can be intercepted HERE. Both tracks are cleared for posting.

Known for their unrelenting tours that has seen them play over 300 shows since the start of 2009, And So I Watch You From Afar (ASIWYFA to their fans) don't know how to take a break. From appearances at SXSW, Eurosonic, Electric Picnic, Novarock, Canadian Music Fest, Popkomm, Pukkelpop, Sonisphere, to tour dates in Europe, North America, Russia and a support slot for rock supergroup Them Crooked Vultures, the band has been on the road playing music non-stop since the release of their fan-stirring debut self-titled album.

In between, the band was nominated for Ireland's coveted Choice Music Prize for Album Of The Year and XFM's New Music Album Of The Year, released The Letters EP in February 2010 and a stop-gap tour single "Straight Through The Sun" in November 2010.

It's a small wonder then, that the band actually managed to record their highly-charged second album Gangs at all with that punishing schedule. It was recorded on weekdays between festival appearances over the summer of 2010 during July and August at Start Together Studios in Belfast with producer Rocky O'Reilly and the help of a young technician by the name of Lee McMahon.

A matter of weeks before they entered the studio, the band scrapped 22 songs they had written after the release of their self-titled debut. "We spent the last year and a half writing but we essentially did this album in eight weeks," guitarist Rory Friers says of the decision. "We suddenly took this notion that we didn't like any of the songs. This was four weeks before we went into the studio. We had demoed the whole thing and had it all mapped out. We took bits and pieces that we liked but we wrote a whole new set of songs. It's worked out."

As a result, Gangs is the band's most cohesive record, a 44-minute, eight song unyielding document of the band's last two years playing together told through ironclad guitar riffs and colossal yet increasingly subtle rhythms. "We had a far broader experience of things," says Rory. "We really wanted to try and get it on the record, which sounds weird because we're an instrumental band, but there are songs on there that we specifically wrote to try and capture the vibe of new and meaningful things that we've all experienced."

It's a celebratory record, one which fittingly culminates in a samba outro on the album's final song "Lifeproof" which layers up many takes of percussion played by the band in the studio until a carnival atmosphere is created, whistles and all.

The heart of Gangs is a section entitled Homes: "Ghost Parlor KA-6 to Samara to Belfast" which spans tracks six and seven. It's a near 10-minute epic which taps into the emotions of returning to familiar places and visiting new ones for the very first time. "It's a cheesy thought but we wanted to capture our journey through touring: seeing so many different things, unexpected happenings, sudden changes and then a homecoming," Rory explains. "The end of that tune sums up the relief and elation of coming back into Belfast and getting to see our friends and family again."

It's a sentiment echoed by the title of the record - Gangs. "In the same vein, everything we've done, places we've played all, people we've met, all circulate around these pockets of people, pockets of scenes and pockets of culture. These gangs of people who emanate from everywhere. It's that DIY / The Clash / Black Flag sort of thing that our band is like a gang sometimes."

Gangs is available in North America on LP, CD and Download via Sargent House/Richter Collective on November 8th, 2011.

Artist: And So I Watch You From Afar

Album: Gangs

Label: Sargent House / Richter Collective

Release date: November 8th, 2011

Track list:

01. BEAUTIFULUNIVERSEMASTERCHAMPION (MP3)

02. Gang (starting never stopping)

03. Search:Party:Animal (MP3)

04. 7 Billion People all Alive at Once

05. Think:Breathe:Destroy

Homes

06. Ghost Parlor KA -6 to...

07. ...Samara to Belfast

08. Lifeproof

( 'Homes' couples together tracks 6 and 7)

On the Web:

www.asiwyfa.tumblr.com

www.facebook.com/andsoiwatchyoufromafar

twitter.com/#!/asiwyfa_band

Hi-res photos, album art, bio and more:

www.sargenthouse.com/asiwyfa_assets.html

Polinski (65Daysofstatic's Paul Wolinski) releases solo debut, full album stream at Spinner

noreply@blogger.com (Dave Clifford) — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 14:15:00 +0000

Click image above to watch video

"Polinski = Com Truise + Pretty Lights + E.T.... Galactic music of epic proportions is the only way to properly describe this album. A must-buy for sci-fi nerds like myself, and a worth-it if you love losing yourself in music." -- SLUG Magazine

"Coming across like a soundtrack to an 80s sci-fi film never made, this is a rich, pulsating collection of loud, noisy but never anarchic tunes based around deep rhythms and prominent synths." -- Subba Cultcha

Paul Wolinski of British electronic-infused post-rock heroes 65Daysofstatic today releases his solo debut under the nom-de-tune Polinski. The entire album, titled Labyrinths is available for streaming all week courtesy of Spinner: listen HERE.

The first video from the lead single, "Stitches" is hosted by Consequence of Sound and available to watch HERE.

Labyrinths mixes sci-fi soundtrack moods with Daft Punk styled beat-laced anthems. It is released worldwide via Monotreme Records. Check out MP3s for "Stitches" (MP3) and "Tangents" (MP3) from the album.

After ten years (give or take) on the road and on the record with 65daysofstatic, Paul Wolinski finally steps out from behind that particular outfit's notorious smokescreen and emerges as Polinski, a man with a laptop, some synths and a plan, in the meta-physical sense of the word.

In our childhood bedrooms and minds, the possibilities were always endless, there were worlds within worlds, and galaxies upon galaxies. If the suburbs outside seemed limited by how far we could get on our bikes, then in the real and unreal realities of space travel and science fiction we were satiated, if only momentarily. What if your bike could take off?

And it is to there that Polinski has returned, to soundtrack the impossible possibilities of the sci-fi mentality. Says Wolinski, "this is basically an album I daydreamed of writing back when I was 15 and just learning how to program MIDI...lots of beats and distortion and piano and big melodies, with a dance-y toughness."

Feeding himself a steady diet of 70s and 80s sci-fi movies and endless second hand paperbacks from the golden era of sci-fi publishing, and free of the myopic shortcomings of writing music in a room with 3 other people, this is music that is unconstrained in its search for warp speed, the 1.21 gigawatts that launches the listener back to the future.

Throughout, John Carpenter-esque synths collide with robot voices, Philip Glass style piano motifs pair up with punching rhythms, gliding melodies soar with the retro-futuristic furor of Bowie-Eno collaborations... Even in the thickest analogue bubblebath, the digital heart beats on.

Labyrinths is available on CD, 180-gram black or white vinyl and download on November 8th, 2011 via Monotreme Records.

Artist: Polinski

Album: Labyrinths

Label: Monotreme Records

Release Date: November 8th, 2011

01. 1985-Quest

02. Stitches (VIDEO) (MP3)

03. Tangents (MP3)

04. Still Looking

05. Like Fireflies

06. Kressyda

07. Awaltzoflight

On the Web:

polinskimusic.net

www.facebook.com/pages/Polinski

Zechs Marquise premiere Terroreyes video session, announce winter tour with Thursday and headlining dates

noreply@blogger.com (Dave Clifford) — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 13:00:00 +0000

Click image above to watch video

"Forget the Van Halens, if you want to know about a true musical dynasty, look no further than the Rodriguez-Lopez’s! In between Omar, Marcel, and Marfred, these talented hermanos are changing the face of free-form jamming." -- MTV Tres

"Thrusting listeners into chase scenes through psychedelic dreamscapes is nothing new for El Paso prog rock instrumentalists Zechs Marquise. However, the major difference on Getting Paid isn’t the fear of being chased, but of what’s running up behind you." -- Los Angeles Times

"Zechs Marquise knows when to give into its sweaty, twisted vision-quest dalliances and when to let a groove ride." -- Alarm Press

The Mars Volta sibling band Zechs Marquise premiere a live in-studio video session for Terroreyes.tv today. The El Paso quintet performs the title track to their recently released album, Getting Paid. Watch it on Vimeo or YouTube.

Zechs Marquise return to the road in November for headlining dates leading into a run of shows supporting Thursday, Maylene & The Sons of Disaster and also of the Sargent House family, Native. Please see complete dates below.

RCRD LBL recently premiered an MP3 for album track "Mega Slap". Check out the MP3 HERE. Stream full album HERE.

Getting Paid was released everywhere on LP/CD/Download on September 27th on Rodriguez Lopez Productions via Sargent House.

ZECHS MARQUISE LIVE:

11/15 Houston, TX @ Fitzgerald's - Upstairs

11/16 New Orleans, LA @ Howlin' Wolf Den

11/18 Chapel Hill, NC @ Local 506

11/19 Greenville, NC @ Tipsy Teapot

11/20 Washington, DC @ DC9

11/21 Philadelphia, PA @ Kung Fu Necktie

11/22 Allston, MA @ O'Brien's Pub

11/23 New York, NY @ Irving Plaza $

11/25 Toronto, ON @ The Opera House $

11/26 Pittsburgh, PA @ Altar Bar $

11/27 Milwaukee, WI @ The Pabst Theater $

11/28 Cleveland Heights, OH @ Grog Shop $

11/30 Atlanta, GA @ The Loft $

12/01 Cincinnati, OH @ 20th Century Theater $

12/02 Chicago, IL @ Bottom Lounge $

12/03 Pontiac, MI @ iLounge (at Clutch Cargos) $

12/04 Rochester, NY @ Montage Music Hall $

12/06 St Louis, MO @ The Firebird

12/07 Lawrence, KS @ Jackpot Music Hall

12/08 Dallas, TX @ Bryan Street Tavern

12/09 Austin, TX @ Antone's Night Club

12/10 San Antonio, TX @ Studio 13

$ with Thursday, Maylene & The Sons of Disaster, and Native

Artist: Zechs Marquise

Title: Getting Paid

Label: Rodriguez Lopez Productions

Release Date: September 27th, 2011

01. Getting Paid (VIDEO - Vimeo) (VIDEO - YouTube)

02. Lock Jaw Night Vision

03. Static Lovers (MP3)

04. The Heat, The Drought, The Thirst, and The Insanity

05. Time Masters

06. Guajira

07. Everlasting Beacon of Light (MP3)

08. Crushin' It!

09. Mega Slap (MP3)

Hi-res cover art, photos and bio:

www.sargenthouse.com/zechs_assets.html

On The Web:

www.zechsmarquise.com

www.zechsmarquise.bandcamp.com

www.facebook.com/zechsmarquiseofficial

www.rodriguezlopezproductions.com

Members of Zechs Marquise are available for interviews. For more information, please contact Dave Clifford at dave@usthemgroup.com

Russian Circles new album out today, North American headlining tour in November

noreply@blogger.com (Dave Clifford) — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 07:52:00 +0000

"It's not a stretch to say it's the band's best album yet." -- Rock-A-Rolla

Chicago trio Russian Circles release their highly anticipated and critically praised new album Empros today. SPIN Magazine recently featured a full album stream preview and all this week AOL Spinner hosts an album listening opportunity as well.

Russian Circles hit the road yet again this Fall with headlining dates across North America beginning in November. Please see complete dates below.

The band also recently premiered an MP3 from the new album via RollingStone.com. The song, "Mladek" is available to listen/download HERE.

Taking to Chicago's Phantom Manor studio once again with producer Brandon Curtis of The Secret Machines & Interpol -- who also helmed the band's previous album Geneva -- Russian Circles set out to experiment with their sound in new ways that would still reflect their live sound. In so doing, the band reached a new creative apex in which each of the musicians, guitarist Mike Sullivan, drummer Dave Turncrantz and bassist Brian Cook impart a streamlined and intensified attack to their songs that pummels even as it shifts throughout a range of moods and tempos.

The album opens with an imposing mechanical drone leading into funereal guitar notes that are abruptly interrupted by a propulsive drum beat as the proceedings of "309" erupt into something akin to a neo-industrial revision of Celtic Frost. The song lunges through nearly 9 minutes of masterful rhythmic shifts and brutal guitar warfare with such assertive grace it sounds as though the band is throwing down a gauntlet defying all challengers. "Mladek" kicks off with the soaring notes of Sullivan's signature hammer-on guitar arpeggios as Cook's volume-swelling bass notes surge like bubbling molten lava. Turncrantz's innovative rephrasing of the drum pattern elevates the song as it slinks from part to part, guided by the syncopated chatter traded between chiming guitar notes and churning bass. Elsewhere, there are beautiful moments of melodic respite, helping to underscore the album's majestic strength. And, there may even be a few surprises awaiting within the album's six tracks. There are riffs, yes -- many of them. But, with Empros the entire band seems to be the embodiment of the riff itself.

Empros is Russian Circles' first full-length to be released worldwide exclusively via Sargent House, the band's longtime management company and record label that had previously released only the vinyl editions of its three prior albums. It is available everywhere on LP, CD and Download on October 25th, 2011.

RUSSIAN CIRCLES LIVE:

11/02 Houston, TX @ Fitzgerald's #

11/03 Denton, TX @ Rubber Gloves #

11/04 Austin, TX @ Fun Fun Fun Fest - Auditorium Shores

11/05 Austin, TX @ Red 7 - Fun Fun Fun Nights (with Boris, Tera Melos & #)

11/07 New Orleans, LA @ One Eyed Jack's #

11/08 Atlanta, GA @ The Earl #

11/09 Newport, KY @ Southgate House #$

11/10 Columbus, OH @ Ravari Room #$

11/11 Detroit, MI @ Magic Stick #$

11/12 Toronto, ON @ Lee's Palace # *

11/13 Buffalo, NY @ Soundlab # *

11/14 New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom # %

11/15 Hoboken, NJ @ Maxwell's # %

11/16 Philadelphia, PA @ First Unitarian Church #

1118 Cleveland Heights, OH @ Grog Shop #

11/19 Grand Rapid, MI @ The Pyramid Scheme #

11/25 Portland, OR @ Doug Fir Lounge # +

11/26 Seattle, WA @ Neumos # ^

11/28 West Hollywood, CA @ The Troubadour #

11/29 San Diego, CA @ The Casbah #

12/02 Milwaukee, WI @ Cactus Club $ >

12/03 Chicago, IL @ Lincoln Hall $ >

# Deafheaven

$ Young Widows

+ Helms Alee

* Indian Handcrafts

% The Men

^ Crypts

> Anatomy of a Habit

Artist: Russian Circles

Album: Empros

Label: Sargent House

Release date: October 25th, 2011

Track list:

01. 309

02. Mladek (MP3)

03. Schipol

04. Atackla

05. Batu

06. Praise Be Man

On the Web:

Album stream: Geneva

Album stream: Station

Hi-res photos, album art, bio and more:

sargenthouse.com/russiancircles_assets.html

65Daysofstatic's Paul Wolinski premieres new video at Consequence of Sound from solo debut as Polinski

noreply@blogger.com (Dave Clifford) — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 14:11:00 +0000

Click image above to watch video

Paul Wolinski of British electronic-infused post-rock heroes 65Daysofstatic today premieres the first video from his forthcoming solo debut under the nom-de-tune Polinski. The song "Stitches" is hosted by Consequence of Sound and available to watch HERE.

A 2-song digital single for "Stitches" with a non-album B-side will be available on October 25th on iTunes, Amazon or Monotreme Records' web store. The Polinski album, titled Labyrinths mixes sci-fi soundtrack moods with Daft Punk styled beat-laced anthems. It will be released in North America on November 7th, 2011 via Monotreme Records. A video teaser featuring a mash-up of parts from all of the album's songs is available HERE.

Check out an MP3 for "Tangents" from the album: stream/download HERE.

Labyrinths will be available on CD, 180-gram black or white vinyl and download on November 7th, 2011 via Monotreme Records.

Artist: Polinski

Album: Labyrinths

Label: Monotreme Records

Release Date: November 7th, 2011

01. 1985-Quest

02. Stitches (VIDEO)

03. Tangents (MP3)

04. Still Looking

05. Like Fireflies

06. Kressyda

07. Awaltzoflight

On the Web:

polinskimusic.net

www.facebook.com/pages/Polinski

Russian Circles stream new album via Spin.com, North American headlining tour starts in November

noreply@blogger.com (Dave Clifford) — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 14:43:00 +0000

"It's not a stretch to say it's the band's best album yet." -- Rock-A-Rolla

Chicago trio Russian Circles post via Spin.com a full album stream of their forthcoming release Empros today. Listen to the album in its entirety HERE.

Russian Circles hit the road yet again this Fall with headlining dates across North America beginning in November. Please see complete dates below.

The band also recently premiered an MP3 from their new album via RollingStone.com. The song, "Mladek" is culled from their fourth full length, Empros which will be available worldwide via Sargent House on October 25th. Listen/download "Mladek" HERE.

Empros is Russian Circles' first full-length to be released worldwide exclusively via Sargent House, the band's longtime management company and record label that had previously released only the vinyl editions of its three prior albums. It will be available everywhere on LP, CD and Download on October 25th, 2011.

RUSSIAN CIRCLES LIVE:

11/02 Houston, TX @ Fitzgeralds #

11/03 Denton, TX @ Rubber Gloves #

11/04 Austin, TX @ Fun Fun Fun Fest - Auditorium Shores

11/05 Austin, TX @ Red 7 - Fun Fun Fun Nights (with Boris)

11/07 New Orleans, LA @ One Eyed Jack's #

11/08 Atlanta, GA @ The Earl #

11/09 Newport, KY @ Southgate House #$

11/10 Columbus, OH @ Ravari Room #$

11/11 Detroit, MI @ Magic Stick #$

11/12 Toronto, ON @ Lee's Palace # *

11/13 Buffalo, NY @ Soundlab # *

11/14 New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom #

11/15 Hoboken, NJ @ Maxwell's #

11/16 Philadelphia, PA @ First Unitarian Church #

1118 Cleveland Heights, OH @ Grog Shop #

11/19 Grand Rapid, MI @ The Pyramid Scheme #

11/25 Portland, OR @ Doug Fir Lounge # +

11/26 Seattle, WA @ Neumos #

11/28 West Hollywood, CA @ The Troubadour #

11/29 San Diego, CA @ The Casbah #

12/02 Milwaukee, WI @ Cactus Club $

12/03 Chicago, IL @ Lincoln Hall $

# Deafheaven

$ Young Widows

+ Helms Alee

* Indian Handcrafts

Artist: Russian Circles

Album: Empros

Label: Sargent House

Release date: October 25th, 2011

Track list:

01. 309

02. Mladek (MP3)

03. Schipol

04. Atackla

05. Batu

06. Praise Be Man

On the Web: