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Interview: Tyler Hanan [1/29/12]
Loma Prieta recently released I.V., their Deathwish debut and possibly their best album yet, followed by tours of Australia with Raein and New Zealand with Parents. Drummer Val Saucedo took some time after those tours were over to answer a few of our questions concerning all things Loma Prieta in 2012.
”Lost Time” - Javeon McCarthy
Produced and mixed by Craze and Hoax, mixed by Joker, Javeon McCarthy’s “Lost Time” is a lament put to a quick, steppy tempo - a fusion that is both interesting and good. The Eats Everything mix is a vastly different experience - over twice as long, pulled back and layered over into an fluctuating, almost unrecognizable form meant for a much darker, cooler club (as any good remix should do) [link]. Both will be found on McCarthy’s second PMR Records release, a single incuding these two tracks and a T. William’s remix, out February 27th.
- Tyler Hanan
It’s a shame we haven’t mentioned this sooner, but for those still unaware, Polyvinyl recently released a split 7” from the Deerhoof and David Bazan. It’s available in clear blue, and both songs can be streamed on the Polyvinyl site. [link]
IFC has debuted the Aaron Himes-directed video for John K. Samson’s “Longitudinal Centre,” off his first solo album Provincial. I have nothing clever to say here, only praise for what is an exceptional album made by one of the greatest lyricists around. I mean, he made me cry with a song petitioning for the induction of a player into the hockey hall of fame. Just… what? [link]
Mute has announced the launch of new label/imprint Liberation Technologies. According to Mute, the LT will work with “highly distinctive and pioneering electronic musicians” and will hold “statement design, a commitment to vinyl product and inventive methods of releasing each work” of great import.” Their first will release will be Spring EP from King Felix (hailing from my favorite town) on March 9th. [link]
Well, this fairly made my month. Norah Jones and Danger Mouse apparently hit it off while making ROME, so much so that the former brought in the latter for the entirety of the creation of Jones’ upcoming album Little Broken Hearts. The two share all song-writing credits and most of the instrumental duties, with Burton also doing the production for the album (a given, really). The album will be out this spring on Blue Note and EMI, and if it isn’t excellent I will eat this awful laptop. [link]
Courtesy of Absolute Punk, we know that the new Rocky Votolato album, Television of Saints, will be out April 3rd, plus a few other things revealed in the interview [link]. His track with Matt Pond off that record, “Little Spring,” is streaming now. [link]
In case you weren’t aware, everyone’s really excited for Reign of Terror. So you’ve probably seen the video for Sleigh Bells’ “Comeback Kid” already (directed by Gregory Kohn band member Derrick Miller). I just have one thing to say. Mustard flip. Mustard flip! [link]
Stones Throw have announced that they’ll be hopping on the latest trend in in the promotion and releasing of new music, digital subscription services. Stone’s Throw Digital Discography will, for $10 a month, provide subscribers with “every new Stones Throw album, single and EP as they are released, select music from the catalog, and exclusive advance material.” You can find the rest of the info on the site; I haven’t personally tried out any of the subscription services yet (such as those from Matador or Joyful Noise) but with the quality of Stones Throw’s releases, this is one as enticing as any. [link]
Suis La Lune, one of the premier screamo bands active today and yet another example of the wonders of Sweden, have joined Topshelf Records for the release of their upcoming LP Riala. This is a fairly fitting match, to say the least. [link]
Spirit of Talk Talk, why do you taunt me. It is “the definitive visual companion to the Talk Talk legend,” a creation that sounds absolutely riveting. It will collect all forms of visual, Talk Talk-related art that James Marsh created, including cover art and concept sketches, and also including lyrics handwritten by Mark Hollis and 80+ contributions those inspired by the music and art of Talk Talk. Much more info about the book can be found at the official site. [link]
- Tyler Hanan
All my favorite things in life seem to be Swedish. I thought I loved Canada, but my friendly northern neighbors might be tied with a country I’ve never visited, only loved for the art it has produced. Miike Snow are a big reason for this stalemate. The triumvirate (“trio” doesn’t do them justice) are joined by Lykke Li here, creating yet another tremendous track off their upcoming album. The bad news: Happy to You still won’t be out until March 27th. We’ll have to make do with only having three tracks already available to us. Miike Snow will also be touring the U.S. briefly in support of the album, for you lucky coastal Americans. [link]
- Tyler Hanan
When listening to this, I can picture where the song could have been taken, the big, rollicking anthem that it could have been. The thing is - it is so much better this way. Soft and minimal, caught between the realms of bedroom pop and indie rock, “America’s Son” has an understated, low-key buildup that manifests itself in the way of an unexpectedly high emotional payoff when the final leg of the song rolls out. It’s a lovely, emotive song, the most memorable on the EP it shares a name with. That four-track EP is due out in the spring; however, you can hear all four songs now on their website. [link]
- Tyler Hanan
“Into Giants” - Patrick Watson
The last minute of “Into Giants” is on another level. The gentle, horn-celebrated crescendo into a blissful zenith is the sort of final flourish that burns a song into my memory. That is not to disparage the rest of the song; the entirety of it is lovely; it is an exquisitely arranged and produced folk song. Also, the press release speaks of the increased intimacy of the both the music and the recordings, additionally mentioning the desire of both Watson and his band to “make the kind of music [they] would want to listen to at home.” While this is all evident, especially in the softer moments of the song, “Into Giants” at times has an incredibly dynamic, grandiose tone that easily grows beyond the boundaries of the backyard.
A free download and video are available, both of which are highly recommended [link]. Adventures In Your Own Backyard, which is Watson’s Domino debut, will be available on April 16th in Canada and April 30th worldwide [link]. Watson will be promoting the album with an SXSW headliner and a stint in Europe, along with a few U.S. dates with Andrew Bird [link].
- Tyler Hanan
“Hi” - Xiu Xiu
The first though that came to my mind when watching this was a bastardized version of The Vaccine’s record title: “What did you expect from Xiu Xiu?” The Pitchfork-debuted, Jamie Stewart and David Horvitz-directed video, which is described on the Xiu Xiu website [link] with multi-colored text and preceded by Stewart expounding on his experience with paid live sex cams, is a bizarre mix of photos and videos centered around subjects such as an adorable cat (my personal favorite), the burning of stuffed animals and a hand, and the disposal of Dick Cheney autobiographies. So, what did you expect from Xiu Xiu? [link]
The equally odd synth pop single is off the upcoming Xiu Xiu full-length Always, due out March 6th on Polyvinyl. You can bundle it together with Stewart’s A New Tropical Companion, a book of haiku which will be just as intriguing as everything else Xiu Xiu, I’m sure. [link]
- Tyler Hanan
On January 19th, the United States Department of Justice seized and shut down Megaupload and its sister sites. After protests successfully ended SOPA, PIPA, and the threat of squelching information online, the federal government exercised a power that the would-be bills were supposed to grant to the government. As a result of the site’s shutdown and what was considered to be a total breach of power, the hacking entity Anonymous retaliated against not only the DOJ, but also Universal Music Group, the Recording Industry of America, and the Motion Picture Association of America. How was the government able to do this? What might happen to Megaupload and its executives when they are taken to court?
Hey there, strangers. It has been too long. This week’s mix was created with a rather relaxed guiding hand. A mix of punk and hardcore, with an intermission of sorts dividing the fun and angry halves. It’s short and sweet, comprised of some of my favorites. Next week I’ll be back to a more comprehensive, detailed theme. [link]
Tracklist:
- The Thermals - Everything I Want
- Ted Leo and the Pharmacists - The Mighty Sparrow
- Superchunk - Hyper Enough
- Aficionado - Stir Like Hell
- Les Savy Fav - The Sweat Descends
- Mogwai - Drunk and Crazy
- At the Drive-In - Arcarsenal
- Propagandhi - Tertium Non Datur
- Cave In - White Silence
- Refused - The Deadly Rhythm
- Tyler Hanan.
“No Future/No Past” - Cloud Nothings [Video via Urban Outfitters (link)]
It’s Music Video Monday, guys. I know, you forgot the holiday and didn’t dress for the occasion. Luckily the only condition for participating is checking out this new video for Cloud Nothings’ “No Future/No Past,” the first song off of the new album Attack On Memory. In it, you see a man being pulled through what appears to be every known terrain in your local suburbia. In the article, director Ryan Manning mentions having a penchant for making his viewers uncomfortable, a talent I think is well exercised in the video. You can peruse Carpark Records’ stores to order Attack On Memory [link], and the label’s soundcloud to stream it for yourself [link].
- Kyle Minton
