sábado, 30 de setembro de 2017

Vague Noire with Pastel Coast - An Interview

Côte d'Opale é uma das regiões mais belas da França, rodeada por paisagens deslumbrantes, visualmente majestosa e convidativa para realização de sonhos afrodisíacos.

E é exatamente de lá que vem o Pastel Coast, criado e concebido pela mente de Quentin Isidore, que somente neste ano soltou três trabalhos, três charmosos e sofisticados EPs, sendo "Vague Noire" o mais recente. Lançado em 9 de Setembro, o disco é algo como se Serge Gainsbourg enveredasse pelos caminhos do dreampop ensolarado, ou se o Wild Nothing tivesse o charme do mestre Gainsbourg.

Sutilezas melancólicas dão a temática do trabalho de Quentin, que ainda evoca e se alimenta do pop perfeito de preciosidades como The Chills e Go-Betweens.

A música do Pastel Coast é o menu perfeito para seu próximo amor.

***** Interview with Pastel Coast *****


Q. When did Pastel Coast start? Tell us about the history...
Pastel Coast starts in 2015 with a first digital EP « Childhood ». But it really began on stage in October 2016 with the second EP « Sense ». Now I’ve just done my third EP in French called « Vague Noire ».

Q: Who are your influences?
First I Would say that i’ve got an admiration for the 80’s with this particular way of singing, composing and of making music something pictural. In France, UK, USA, that kind of sound made with Reverb resonate in me, as The Cure, The Smiths, Tears For Fears, Talk Talk, Etienne Daho…

Secondly, I think that Shoegaze is an influence even if my music can be sometimes far away from that 90’s Sounds. I’m really Impressed with the begining of The Verve, Oasis, Slowdive, Ride, My Bloody Valentine.

In the End, if you mix this two decades together you can find acutually some Indie pop- jangle pop - lofi influences. I have learnt a lot from, The Drums, Beach Fossils, DIIV, Beach house, Future Islands etc. Melancholy seems to be everywhere.

In another kind of influences, i think that i’m a bit inspired with Ghost movies, Vampires, soft Horror, the True « romance » of the XIX, the Sea, and of course women.

Q. Make a list of 5 albums of all time…
Such a difficult Question. There are too much album I love, but the first one is maybe « The Verve – Urban Hymns », even if there’s no direct link with Pastel Coast.

Q. How do you feel playing live?
I’ve got the impression to tell a story, maybe mine, feeling really me inside. I dance, too shy to look to the public. At the end I have too much talked and I’m exhausted, but that’s a good impression when you feel people sensitive to your work.


Q. How do you describe Pastel Coast sounds?
Maybe Pastel Coast ‘ sounds is share between soft melancholy and cold Dance. I’m in love with Duality in music. The impact of Strenghts.
I love when you listen to the same music two times and feel different sensitive.

I Try in Pastel Coast to make the same process. First it’s the sun, the sweet beach and peace, summer with friends. Then you listen again, pay attention to the lyrics, and it’s the cold sand, the iced waves, cursed love and disorder. It make sense when you listen to The 80’s Pop.

Q: Tell us about the process of recording the songs ?
It’s very instinctive. When i’ve got something in Head, i comeback to my room and record it on my computer. It’s very easy.

Then I choose the « songs » I prefer between all this impulsives creations and done it with serious a second times. This part of the process can be very long.

The third step is to create lyrics. You take time, alone with yourself, at night, in the morning, in the transport. I always records some melodies on my phone to remember them.

Q. Which new bands do you recommend?
I’m in a collective called « Noord Sfeer Records », an association based on mutual aids. We share some concerts too. Those bands are really awesomes, coming from the North of France. We ve got approximatively the same influences but not the same way to make them real in a song.

Otherwise, I also Love the solo project of Johnny Aries from The Drums Like a revival of the Smiths in a darker pop universe.
I have recently discovered a band from Amsterdam « Dakota » with a lot of manliness in their feminity. Very poetic.
Another band « Ilgen Nur » from Hamburg , with more melancholy and sensitivity.

The last i recommend is Plattenbau, my friends from Berlin, because I’m an Aquarious in love with Reverb and Chorus.

Q: Which band would you love to made a cover version of?
Too much unfortunatly to make one real. Actually i would said : Simple red – « Holding back the tears », « Melancholy man » from The Wake, « promesses » from Etienne Daho or … maybe « Macarena » from Damso.

Q: What are your plans for the future?
[in no particular order]

Make an album, a LP Records. Make Love. Act in an Horror movie. Party. Travel. Find others Love words. Adopt a dog. See the sea. Surf. Read. Have 3 daughters , one boy and manage the best Dream pop band of the World. Support The Drums one night. Be in peace

Q: Any parting words?
I Will support Beach Fossils the 19.09 and François and the Atlas Mountains in November, stay tuned. Cursed Love
Pastel
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segunda-feira, 25 de setembro de 2017

We Hold Nothing in Our Hands with Murderbait - An Interview


Já escrevi aqui nas páginas do TBTCI sobre a cena pós punk de Portland ser uma das mais intensas do gênero, vide, primeiramente, o expoente maior, The Prids, sem contar outras preciosidades como We Miss The Earth, Vacant Stares, Sex Park, Shadowlands entre outros.

Agora é chegada a vez do quarteto Murderbait. Sombrios, pesados e intensos, os caras debutaram no ano passado com o caótico "We Hold Nothing In Our Hands". Algo como uma colisão entre Crime & The City Solution e o Blue Angel Lounge.

Psicodelismo sombrio ou pós punk lisérgico em tonalidades escuras, você pode fazer sua escolha. O fato é que o Murderbait é sonoramente assassino.

Se você espera por luz, certamente não é com o Murderbait que você a terá.

***** Interview with Murderbait *****


Q. When did Murderbait start? Tell us about the history...
It started with experimenting with archaic recording methods and sound layering. Several cassette tape recorders, field recordings run through over-saturated effects, and playing any instrument I could get my hands on while lyrically searching and exercising my own personal demons. Although I wasn't raised in a musical family, I've played music for more of my life than I haven't and I don't do well if I'm not creating and playing music. Luckily 2 of my longest and closest friends play in the band, so our combined experiences, history, trust, and shared oddities lends to a cohesiveness that doesn't impose on continued exploration.

Q: Who are your influences?
Everything from developing post punk like Joy Division, early Bauhaus, and the Birthday party to 70s Kraut-rock like Can, Tangerine Dream, and Neu! Spiritualized, Swans, and Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds are some of the more current bands that are on heavy rotation on our record players.

Q. Make a list of 5 albuns of all time…
No More Shall We Part -Nick Cave
Lodger-Bowie
Songs of Love and Hate-Leonard Cohen
Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space-Spiritualized
Disintegration-the Cure

That's quite a difficult question to answer, though, and I could name a thousand more that I would never want to live without.

Q. How do you feel playing live?
My favorite thing in life is to experience that border between self and others dissolved. There are few places I've personally found this. Music can be this way, and bringing everyone in the room to dissolve into the collective - no tomorrow, no yesterday - just this. Now. A worship of sorts, but without any illusion of god or dogma. To me that is the epitome of any experience.

Q. How do you describe Murderbait sounds?
We vacillate from somber ballads to noisy hypnotic drone. Like sitting in nature, letting the terrible cruelty and tender beauty of everything it is to be alive overwhelm you to the point of peace.



Q: Tell us about the process of recording the songs?
It depends on the song. The song will dictate how it is to be written-apart from ego. There is a lot of contemplation that goes into every song. Many times it will be written, then abandoned, then rewritten completely different. The recoding process is similar. We'll get some rough tracks of the whole band recording and then decide what instruments and layers need the most focus and take it from there. We do a lot of rough recordings and listen to the a LOT before we land on the final draft. Often, a song is truly transformed in the recording process and we let the song guide us.

Q. Which new bands do you recommend?
We are fortunate enough to be connected with some really great bands here in Portland through This-A-Way record collective. The Prids, the Secret Light, and We Miss The Earth are a few. I'm also a big fan of Föllakzoid, Lumerians, Blue Angel Lounge, and Chelsea Wolfe.

Q: Which band would you love to made a cover version of?
We've covered Leonard Cohen, Nick Cave, Prince, and Bob Dylan so far. I'm sure Bowie will be added to this list at some point.

Q: What are your plans for the future?
We are working on collecting and saving for recording a few songs with this current lineup. We have the songs, but we want to do it right and that tends to be expensive.

Q: Any parting words?
I wonder at the duality of existence. The beauty found in darkness. The tranquility found on the other side of fear. Walking through the unknown to find that nothing appears to matter and that this is all a waste of time, yet somehow it's all the more special and lovely. These are the themes that keep me awake at night, and are absolutely imperative to our music.
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Thanks

https://murderbait.bandcamp.com/releases
https://www.facebook.com/mbaitpdx/

domingo, 24 de setembro de 2017

The Big Saturday Illusion with Furry Things - An Interview


Momento de prestar contas e reverência nas páginas do TBTCI.

Lá nos distantes distantes 90´s, em Austin, Texas, nasceu uma banda que durou pouco tempo, gravou um álbum absolutamente sensacional, intitulado, "The Big Saturday Illusion", mais precisamente em 1995, e ainda finalizaria sua curta trajetória com "Moments Aways" de 1998. Esta banda soltou sua obra prima via Trace Syndicate Records, mesma gravadora dos heróis do Texas, os Butthole Surfers.

Este pequeno clássico perdido atende pelo nome de Furry Things, e seria algo como a colisão entre o Medicine e o Dinosaur Jr. potencializado por experimentações eletrônicas.

Resumindo a história, seu criador e co fundador, Mr Kenneth James Gibson, após o precoce término do Furry Things se aventurou junto com Brian McBride do cultuado Stars Of The Lid, banda da Kranky Records e criaram o Bell Gardens, altamente hipnótico, freak e experimental.

E a vida continua para Mr Kenneth, muito em breve um novo trabalho solo virá ao mundo atráves de sua gravadora, a Adjunct Audio, e assim aguardemos os novos capítulos dessa saga.

Mas uma coisa deve ficar clara e transparente, escutar a pequena obra prima "The Big Saturday Illusion" nos dias de hoje tem o mesmo frescor de quando o ouvi lá em 1995.

Para discos como este, a reverência precisa ser eterna.

***** Interview with Furry Things (Kenneth James Gibson) ******



Q. Tell us the story of Furry Things. how it all began
Furry Things began when myself and Cathy Shive, the bass player / singer, started messing with songs on 4-track in my living room in Austin , Tx. We sent out like 2 or 3 demos and got response from 2 labels in Austin, one being King Coffee's (Of Butthole Surfers) label Trance Syndicate and the other being Rise Records. Then we filled out the band with drummer Charlie Woodburn and soon after keyboardist Vance Freeman then finally settling on keyboardist Chris Michaels and the rest is history.

Q: Who are your influences?
That's a large question. I’m influenced by all sorts of music from psychedelic pop to old country to deep house and dub to experimental electronics and everything in between. Biggest influences for Furry Things was clearly bands like Dinosaur Jr., The Beach Boys, My Bloody Valentine, Medicine, Jesus and Mary Chain, The Summer Hits, and so on. You can also find some dub vibes like King Tubby and electronic influences on a bunch of the stuff.

Q. Make a list of 5 albums of all time…
5?! I’m a Libra so that's always hard!….I probably have 500 favorite records of all time.
Ill give ya 20 off the top of my head to be fair….in no specific order…

White Noise - An Electric Storm
Grateful Dead - From A Mars Hotel
King Tubby - um…everything….
Beach Boys - Surf’s Up
Throbbing Gristle - 20 Jazz Funk Greats
Brian Eno - Music For Airports
Townes Van Zandt - For The Sake Of The Song
Phuture - Acid Tracks
Miles Davis - Dark Magus
The Flying Burrito Brothers - Gilded Palace Of Sin
Arvo Pärt ‎– Alina
Dennis Wilson - Pacific Ocean Blue
Pink Floyd - Meddle
Dr. L. Subramaniam ‎– Incredible Maestro
Mad Professor - Dub Me Crazy!! (the first one, but all are amazing)
Aphex Twin - Richard D. James Album
My Bloody Valentine - Loveless
The Orb - Orbus Terrarum
Spacemen 3 - The Perfect Prescription
Merle Haggard Everything. (Too many greats to name one!)

Q. How were the shows of Furry Things?What´s the feeling?
Chaotic as hell. LOUD. Noisy. fun. some have said scary.

Q. How do you describe Furry Things sounds?
Noisy pop music. Lots of feedback.

Q: A Big Saturday Illusion was released 22 years ago and still sounding fresh nowadays, what is your opinion about the album? what your favorite song?
mmm….well first thing that comes to mind when i hear it is how lousy the vocals sound! but i do still enjoy it…i put it on every few years and check it out. My fave tunes are probably "Piled High”, “Still California” or “The Statement”… but “Nothing From Zero” was the most fun live.


Q. Which new bands do you recommended?
I like the 2 Morgan Dealt records quite a bit.

Q. Why the band broke up?
I speak for myself, but I think we were young and dumb and a little crazy… and new to LA - It swallowed use up. Not much can prepare you for being in your early 20’s in the LA music scene.

Q. About Bell Gardens, tell us when it began?
Bell Gardens is a collaboration between myself and Brian McBride (Stars Of The Lid) and it began in 2008 or so… although we talked about it for a few years before that. The original idea was to make the “saddest music possible”. There's still room to grow with that.

Q. How do you define Bell Gardens sound?
I can’t remember who it was, but a magazine called the music "an enchanting easy-listening/ country/ psych-folk/ dream-pop experience awash with regal orchestration and sweet, breathy harmonies" and I think that works quite well! We’ll go with that for now.

Q: What´s the plans for future....
I just finished my next ambient album which will come out next year. Some new releases on Adjunct Audio soon. Lots of other stuff in the works… I’ll let the future sort it out though.

Q: Any parting words?
Be kind.

http://www.worldofkennethjamesgibson.com/
http://bellgardensmusic.com/
http://adjunctaudio.com/artists/
https://m.facebook.com/apendics.shuffle/
http://adjunctaudio.com
https://m.facebook.com/KennethJamesGibsonSounds/
https://www.facebook.com/FurryThingsBand/
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sábado, 23 de setembro de 2017

Bicycle Face with The Persian Leaps - An Interview


A primeira vez que ouvi e o trio de Minnesota, The Persian Leaps, lembrei imediatamente do mestre Kid Vinil.

"Bicycle Face" é o quinto EP dos caras, e na boa, se você não conhece, vá ouvir, em um cheiro delicioso da grande era das college radios. Uma eletrizante combinação de The Jam, XTC e Sugar, guitar pop melódico sem firulas, direto ao ponto, e com o novo EP fica ainda mais explícito a predileção sonora dos caras.

Aumente o som e vá curtir a vida.....e eu continuo lembrando do Kid, certamente ele iria adorar o The Persian Leaps.


***** Interview with The Persian Leaps *****


Q. When did The Persian Leaps start? Tell us about the history...
- The name The Persian Leaps came from a phrase I doodled in a notebook margin during a college Greek archaeology class. The band started in the late-1990s as my 4-track/bedroom recording project. I shared the recordings with a few people but it wasn't until 2012 that I actually formed a band and started performing and recording in earnest. We've released a 5-song EP each fall since 2013 and will release our 5th and final EP in the series this fall.

Q: Who are your influences?
- I came of age in the '80s and early '90s. The bands I loved back then are still the biggest influences on me: Guided By Voices, The Smiths, Teenage Fanclub, The Posies, Pavement, REM.

Q. Make a list of 5 albums of all time…
- Honestly, I've tried this exercise in the past and can't even narrow it down any further than my top 15 (in no particular order):

The Clash - (self-titled)
The Stone Roses - (self-titled)
XTC - Skylarking
My Bloody Valentine - Loveless
Guided by Voices - Bee Thousand
Pavement - Slanted & Enchanted
Simon & Garfunkel - Parsley, Sage, Rosemary, and Time
Prefab Sprout - Two Wheels Good
The Posies - Frosting on the Beater
Teenage Fanclub - Bandwagonesque
New Order - Power, Corruption, & Lies
The Jam - Greatest Hits
The Smiths - (self-titled)
The Church - Heyday
Rush - Moving Pictures

Q. How do you feel playing live?
- It's usually enjoyable but we're doing it less and less. We've never been able to tour because we all have careers, families, and mortgages, so we mostly play in Minneapolis and Saint Paul.

Q. How do you describe The Persian Leaps sounds?
- We're an indie rock/power pop band. Our music is a mixture of chiming, jangling guitars over a bed of fuzz and distortion. We favor hooks, harmonies, and brevity over all else.


Q: Tell us about the process of recording the songs?
- For years now, we've followed the same routine. Every winter we record the 5 best new songs we have available that fit together. We work with our friend, Neil Weir, who owns a studio in Minneapolis called Blue Bell Knoll. We accidentally fell into using the least efficient process possible. Instead of recording the basic tracks for all 5 songs in a single session, we record one complete song per session, usually about once a month. So at the end of each session, we have a mostly finished song that I can listen to for awhile and decide what additions/subtractions make sense.

Q. Which new bands do you recommend?
- Honestly, I've been listening to and liking less and less new music. Mitski is the last artist I remember being blown away by--her voice is amazing. Instead, I'm mostly catching up on bands and albums that were before my time or that I never got around to checking out. For example, I picked up AC/DC's "Back in Black" and listened to it a lot last month. I'd only ever heard the 2-3 obvious songs from that album. It was really fun to hear, although I might have appreciated the lyrical content more when I was 14. I had to keep reminding myself that it wasn't Spinal Tap.

Q: Which band would you love to made a cover version of?
- Not a day goes by that I don't hear a song and think about covering it, but we've mostly played original material so far. That said, my dream is to someday release an EP consisting of covers of songs by Robyn, the Swedish pop star. Her song "Call Your Girlfriend" is one of my all-time favorites. I recorded a demo version of it in our style. Maybe someday I'll do something with it.

Q: What are your plans for the future?
- We're releasing our EP on September 22 and then taking some time off. We recorded a new song over the summer and plan to release it next year on some sort of anthology/"best of" compilation that will include our favorite songs from all 5 EPs. Beyond that, the future is murky at best.
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Thanks

https://thepersianleaps.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/ThePersianLeaps/

sexta-feira, 22 de setembro de 2017

Do You Feel What I Feel? with Tomorrow Forever - An Interview


O italiano, Alberto Battaglia já é um sócio de carteirinha aqui do TBTCI, por conta de sua banda The Mystic Morning, mas não contente com o shoegaze psicodélico de sua banda, o cara resolveu chamar seu irmão Francesco Battaglia e juntos montaram o Tomorrow Forever.

O debute dos caras nasceu hoje, e já vem ao mundo com tonalidades épicas, muito por conta de uma mistura deliciosamente envolvente contendo The La´s, Rain Parade, Ride, circa Carnival of Light e muito psicodelismo sessentista.

O disquinho homônimo é daqueles encantamentos imediatos, aquele tipo de disco que vicia desde as primeiras audições, também pudera, como não se render a melodias altamente grudentas sob um clima indie da melhor qualidade.

Estreia em grande estilo do Tomorrow Forever.

***** Interview with Tomorrow Forever *****


Q. When did Tomorrow Forever start? Tell us about the history...
Alberto: Me and my brother, Francesco, essentially love the same music. For years, we flirted with this idea: why don't we form a band together? In march 2017 a wise man told me bluntly: “Make your fucking band with your fucking brother”. So, I started the recording of my own songs, involving Francesco and his “lead single”, 'Do you feel what I feel'.

Q: Who are your influences?
Alberto and Francesco: The first and the most evident influence is Ride. Beside shoegaze, we love every band with a prominent jingle-jangle sound: Felt, Rem, Byrds, Beatles, early Primal Scream, Game Theory and Rain Parade.

Q. Make a list of 5 albums of all time…
Alberto and Francesco: Here is a list of personal favorites.
Ride – Nowhere;
Rain Parade - Explosions in glass palace;
Band of Susan’s – The word and the flesh;
Smashing Pumpkins – Siamese Dream;
Tim Buckley – Goodbye and Hello.

Q. How do you describe Tomorrow Forever sounds?
Alberto and Francesco: We tried to sound “analog” and “real” as a live band. You can call it shoegaze because we have reverbs, noise, quite distant voices and sweet melodies. But our guitar sound is more “natural” as we use few pedals, and, most notably, no fuzz/overdrive/distortion. All the “dirty” sounds (and we have many) are obtained the old-fashioned way: with saturated valve amplifiers, at crazy volumes. To enhance this direction, we have mastered the audio with analog technologies. Because of this the record sounds very vintage. When we create dreamy sounds our focus is more on chord figures, rather than guitar pedals: we constantly blend two or more unusual chords at the same time to draw evocative landscapes. Powerchords were “abolished” in this EP, leaving space for smoother and wider sounds.


Q: Tell us about the process of recording the songs.
Alberto and Francesco: The most interesting aspect was the recording of guitars. We used the stereo feature of Rickenbacker 370/6, recording at once the same part with a bright tone, and a muddy one. Then we added ultra-bright parts to cover more and more frequencies. You can hear up to 8 different guitar parts at once. Vocal harmonies were important for us, at times you can also hear a third, female voice: a soprano Dorela Cela. Some arrangements were created together in studio with our producer, drummer, engineer and friend Francesco Genduso. That was an exciting and creative environment.

Q. Which new bands do you recommend?
Francesco: I would say DIIV, Flyying Colours, Sulk, Forsaken Autumn.

Alberto: Shoegaze is powerful in Italy, so I recommend Rev Rev Rev, The Yellow Traffic Light, Stella Diana, In her eye.

Q. How do you feel playing live?
Alberto: As Tomorrow Forever, we must play the first gig in the near future. I like the energy of the audience, but I also love the complete creative freedom you have during a studio recording.

Q: Which band would you love to made a cover version of?
Alberto: I would love to cover Dido's Lament, by Henry Purcell. As Jeff Buckley did.

Francesco: My choice is “Bad Blood”, by The Black Rebel Motorcycle Club.

Q: What are your plans for the future?
Francesco: We have many songs set aside. Our thoughts are projected towards the next release.

Q: Any parting words?
Alberto and Francesco: All the revenue of this EP will be donated to Unicef, so we encourage everyone who enjoys our music to buy the record (via Bandcamp, iTunes, etc). We are lucky, so we want to give something back. Moreover, you will enjoy much stronger audio quality. There is much of ourselves in this music, we hope you like it. Thanks for your support, Renato.
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Thanks

https://www.facebook.com/tomorrowforeverband
https://tomorrow-forever-band.bandcamp.com/

quinta-feira, 21 de setembro de 2017

The Lady of Heaven with Raizel - An Interview



Um calabouço sonoro com tons negros, assim é o Raizel.

Tudo que você possa imaginar de soturno, tribal, gótico, escuro, sombrio, passa obrigatoriamente pelos experimentos dos caras.

Não há classificação, o Raizel soa dark, como soa eletrônico, como pode soar apenas etéreo, porém o que une as várias facetas da banda é obviamente a escuridão.

Não espere ver a luz durante uma audição a qualquer dos trabalhos do Raizel, definitivamente ela não irá aparecer, e se por ventura houver a miníma possibilidade disso acontecer, eles trucidarão em questão de segundos de esporros sonoros negros.

Recomendado para góticos de verdade, mas se você for meio gótico, melhor deixar a luz acesa.

***** Interview with Raizel *****


Q. When did Raizel start? Tell us about the history
A: We officially started in the winter of 2015 in Savannah, Georgia in the dorm room shared of Dusk and myself (Knoxxia). We are all SCAD (savannah college of art and design) alumni and we met in school. At the time we were very much a part of the punk scene there. So seeing live music at a friend's house, crowded with a bunch of sweaty, moshing kids, and more often than not the band performing were friends too, all that just made us want to perform more and more. We weren't punk we were goth so our sound would be quite different. One day our friends decided to perform "Oh Comely" for us on her acoustic guitar and I knew I wanted to form a band and I wanted her in it. (She'd go on to be our bassist: Blüd J.) Our name comes from another very good friend of mine. She kind of saved my life while I was going through a life threatening health issue. Her name is Rayzel. I was first introduced to her by another bandmate, Harley. I thought it was so beautiful and feminine sounding yet somewhat dark and endearing. It means "rose" in yiddish. I have a really special connection to the flower and immediately knew that was the name of the sound we were trying to create. (Better than the first name: The Acid Rosehips)

Q: Who are your influences?
A: This is, officiallly, a longer list. But practically our main influences are : Slowdive, Whirr, The Cure, The Jesus and Mary Chain, Cocteau Twins, Love Spirals Downwards, Alcest, Amesoeurs, My Bloody Valentine, Burzum, Joy Division, The Sisters of Mercy and Mazzy Star.

Q. Make a list of 5 albums of all time…
A: My current top 5 are:
5. Mask by Bauhaus
4. Amesoeurs by Amesoeurs
3. Blue Bell Knoll by Cocteau Twins
2. Disintegration by The Cure
1. Pornography by The Cure

Q. How do you feel playing live?
A: Playing live is an extremely exhilarating and cathartic experience. A Raizel live show should be a cross between sunn(o)) and MBV. Loud, dimly lit and smoky~

Q. How do you describe Raizel sounds?
A: A combination of pink and black. A sweet and warm shoegaze sounds with an ethereal and dreampop background combined with a cold and unmercifully bleak goth,industrial and post-black metal sound. The struggle of inner duality with good and evil all coming out in a gothic styled narrative. We rely on a lo-fi and rough style of presentation, with both a loose pop and non-standard composition and structure. Tone-wise we like that early 80s post-punk sound with reverb and chorus being staples, also the 90s garage fuzz to pull the shoegaze out. That plus aggressive joy division esque disco-like drum patterns and distant almost gregorian chant like vocals. Graveyard music but not all souls in this graveyard made it to heaven😈😈


Q: Tell us about the process of recording the songs ?
A: Since we're all scattered around the U.S. we can't all be in one place tp record. So we take a note from bands like the postal service in that we record all instrument parts separately to a backing drum or metronome track and I or Dusk combines them in a sound editing software to mix and master then its all done. I and Dusk are the band's producers so were usually tasked with the finishing steps and I create the visual artwork for the releases.

Q. Which new bands do you recommend?
A: 1.There's the Savannah,GA band:
"The Gumps" there a punk band who takes notes from original 70s punk.
2. New Orleans, LA band:
"Gools" a noisy, horror surf punk alt rock band like a darker pixies
3. Also from New Orleans is:
"Rougarou" a traditional Blues and old school rock and roll band.
4. Another Savannah, GA band we love is: "The Anxiety Junkies" a hardcore punk band who has taken a prime role in the Savannah punk scene.
5. "Trophy Wives" a riot grrrl punk band. All female and amazing. Although they broke up.
6. "Tokyo Shoegazer" a Japanese shoegaze band.
7. "Jatun" ambient dreampop
8. "The Twilight Sad" a post-punk revival, indie and shoegaze band from Scotland.
9. And last but not least :
"Locust Revival" a straight up traditional goth rock one-piece. Similar to "Drab Majesty" but heavier!
(Also lesser known but somewhat old: "Swervedriver" they're underrated imo)

Q: Which band would you love to made a cover version of?
A: Either The Cure or Cocteau Twins!

Q: What are your plans for the future?
A: To make more music. I never want to stop Raizel. Even if its just me by myself. Hopefully though, I can steal all my members to one place to start doing live shows again OR get a live band for the time being.

Q: Any parting words?
A: We try to make our music as free and as accessible as possible. We would rather be as authentic to ourselves and our tastes as possible because we know what its like to have particular tastses and little to no satisfaction. Hopefully we can help ressurect Goth and bring it back to some cultural (or subcultural) relevance.
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Thanks

https://raizel.bandcamp.com
https://www.facebook.com/pg/Raizel-484821685010684

Bottlerocket with Zooey - An Interview


Tallahassee é a capital do estado da Flórida e, é, exatamente de lá que vem o quarteto Zooey.

Pense nas melhores bandas que pegam o shoegaze e o direcionam para o lado lo fi, o lado mais, digamos americano da coisa, leia-se Drop Nineteens, Swirlies, Lilys e por aí vai.

O disco de estreia deles nasceu lá em meados de Abril e tardiamente chegou aos ouvidos do TBTCI, mas, meus caros, assim que chegou, bateu fortemente, também não há muito como não se render a impressionante capacidade deles de criar peças deliciosamente barulhentas, pegajosas e soarem pop ao mesmo tempo.

Daqueles discos para se ouvir repetidas vezes em looping. Ah sim, nem escrevi o nome da preciosidade, "Bottlerocket" é o nome da pérola.

O  Zooey é feito para ser apreciado em volume máximo, ok?


***** Interview with Zooey *****



Q. When did Zooey start? Tell us about the history...
A. Zooey began in the winter of 2015, with just myself recording demos in my room. Hannah would come over to record vocal tracks for them or help me with a guitar part I was having trouble with. I would either use programmed drums or have Matt play drums for the recordings, and eventually it got to a point where we realized there were a handful of actually good songs there and we could play live. So, officially, Zooey as it exists now, began there- Hannah on vocals and bass, Matt on lead guitar, our good friend Brian took over the drums and myself on vocals and guitar. We're all best friends and ended up in this great band together; it was really perfect.

Q: Who are your influences?
A. For myself the biggest influences for Zooey, sonically, were groups like The Ecstasy of St. Theresa, Lilys, Swirlies, The Velvet Underground, The Brian Jonestown Massacre, Whirr and of course My Bloody Valentine. But probably the most important band as far as the inspiration for the sound on our record was Drop Nineteens. I remember getting into them and listening to Delaware incessantly and realizing that that was something we could actually do- you could be a few suburban American kids with hardly any budget and make a really powerful record like that. Outside of just the sound of the band, groups like Beat Happening and The Ramones inspired me in the way that they were uncompromising and made what they wanted no matter what anyone else thought, or whatever else was going on at the time . Also, Brian is a Danzig fanatic so for better or worse that may have made its way in there too!

Q. Make a list of 5 albuns of all time…
A. Oh man that is a stressful question... Ugh... Um, well I can tell you what mine have been for maybe the last year or so even though I'll probably leave some out and regret it later.
-5: "You're Living All Over Me" Dinosaur Jr
-4: "Painful" Yo La Tengo
-3: "Velvet Underground" Velvet Underground
-2: "Methodrone" The Brian Jonestown Massacre
-1: "You Made Me Realize" My Bloody Valentine (not an album, but oh well)

Q. How do you feel playing live?
A. I think we all feel pretty good, we've all been in bands before, so it comes naturally. Although, we are all a pretty nervous bunch so maybe everyone is just good at faking it by now? Who can really tell. I can say for certain we all love playing together, in front of people or not.

Q. How do you describe Zooey sounds?
A. I guess it depends on who you're talking to! Noise pop or shoegaze both work, and I think I would just say shoegaze if someone asked me. But labels give me a headache- the most accurate description would just be "crunchy". When my Mom or someone I work with ask, I just say "The Smashing Pumpkins", and they seem to get it.


Q: Tell us about the process of recording the songs ?
A. Well, I demo all the songs myself and then we kind of fine tune them together in practice. With our album 'Bottlerocket', one day my friend Josh Lupowitz basically just told me that I should let him record our album- so I did. Josh is a genius, and he hates chicken, so you know he's REALLY crazy. We recorded the whole thing at his place on a tascam 8-track, very cheaply. The only real expense was batteries for the 8-track, which had a busted power supply, and weed. Josh pushed us to try new sounds and really brought the most out of us as a group. It took about 6 months to finish, which seemed like a while then when it was happening, but I always wish I could relive that time in my life.

Q. Which new bands do you recommend? A. Hmm, it seems like I only find old bands to get into, but there's definitely some new ones I really love. Poster from Tampa, FL are amazing and all really great people, I think Trementina is really great, UVTV, MTVH1N1, Westkust, Milk Music.

Q: Which band would you love to made a cover version of?
A. We always talk about this actually. Things like Husker Du, Pavement and The Ramones get thrown around a lot. But I think if I had my way we would cover "Lovefool" by The Cardigans.

Q: What are your plans for the future?
A. Right now we are taking it easy and just demoing tracks for the next album, which is coming along really well. A few of us have moved around a bit, but we're still within a few hours of eachother. There will definitely be more music from Zooey in 2018.

Q: Any parting words?
A. We really appreciate anyone interested in our music. We make this music because we really love it, but it means a lot when people near or far are into it like we are! Keep your eyes peeled for more Zooey in the not-so-distant future...
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Thanks

https://zooeyzooey.bandcamp.com
https://www.facebook.com/pg/Zooeyluvsu

quarta-feira, 20 de setembro de 2017

Swell with Lunar Vacation - An Interview


Ao dar play no mais recente EP do quarteto de Atlanta, Lunar Vacation, é possível sentir aquela brisa inigualável que vem do mar.

O pessoal do Lunar Vacation é dream surf music para apaixonados, não existe nada melhor que os defina. Simplesmente os sonhos de verão em formas sonoras, soam absolutamente perfeitos na música deles.

Tanto faz se for ao amanhecer ou, ao entardecer,  Lunar Vacation é perfeito para ser sua trilha sonora ao caminhar com seu amado(a) a beira da praia.


***** Interview with Lunar Vacation *****


Q. When did Lunar Vacation start? Tell us about the history...
A: We are based in Atlanta, Georgia. It originally started as my (Grace-vocalist/guitarist) solo project, but then turned into a duo with Maggie (guitarist), then finally settled as a four piece band: Me, Maggie, John Michael (bass/synth) and Connor (drums). We all went to the same high school and met through mutual friends. Then one day we were all jamming, and just vibed really well together. We've been together since August 2016!

Q: Who are your influences?
A: We like a variety of music, but we are mostly influenced by Alvvays, Real Estate, Tame Impala, The Smiths, and a bunch of others. Too many to name!

Q. Make a list of 5 albuns of all time…
Sunken by Twin Peaks
Louder Than Bombs by The Smiths
Room on Fire by The Strokes
InnerSpeaker by Tame Impala
Loaded by the Velvet Underground

Q. How do you feel playing live?
A: We love it! It's so fun to be with your best friends playing your songs. One of the craziest things is to have people sing your songs at your concerts, it's surreal.


Q. How do you describe Lunas Vacation sounds?
A: We would generalize it under the category of "surf rock" but since there are no beaches in Atlanta, we made our own genre called "pool rock". Basically smooth, dreamy surf music.

Q: Tell us about the process of recording the songs ?
A: We would go after school and record the songs off of our EP, "Swell", at our friend Chris Senador's (Antarcticats) house. It was a small, cozy room with two mics in it. Then had to re-record some parts at our house to then send it over for mixing and mastering.

Q. Which new bands do you recommend?
A: As for local bands, I would recommend Pinkest, The Pellys, Antarcticats, and Fantasy Guys. Other bands (non local), I've been really digging Hot Flash Heat Wave, NE-HI, and Vacationer.

Q: Which song would you love to made a cover version of?
A: "I Can't Help Myself" by the Four Tops.

Q: What are your plans for the future?
A: We're writing/recording a full length album right now, but the ultimate goal is to be signed to Captured Tracks or Grand Jury or a cool label like that, and tour a lot!

Q: Any parting words?
A: Go listen to our new EP Swell, its on Spotify, iTunes, Apple Music and Bandcamp. We worked very hard on it. Thank you for everything. We hope to come to Brazil one day.
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Thanks

https://lunarvacationatl.bandcamp.com
https://www.facebook.com/lunarvacationatl/

terça-feira, 19 de setembro de 2017

Ghost with Staring Problem - An Interview


Pós punk ríspido, com inserções de no wave, assim poderia ser resumidamente descrita a sonoridade do trio de Chicago, Staring Problem.

Guiados obviamente por linhas de baixo incisivas, e guitarras sempre estridentemente cortantes, a banda criando a cada trabalho uma identidade que ao ouvinte desavisado poderia confundir com alguma preciosidade perdida do auge do pós punk.

O último single deles "Ghost", é exatamente assim, curto e grosso, sem firulas e direto ao ponto, aliás como toda a discografia da banda que conta com inúmeros singles e o disco homônimo lá de 2010, isso mesmo.

Como se percebe o Staring Problem não é nenhum novato, e você ai, deveria corrigir seu equívoco e devorar cada pedaço da discografia deles.

E que venha o novo álbum.


***** Interview with Staring Problem *****


Q. When did Staring Problem start? Tell us about the history... Q: Who are your influences?
Staring Problem started off some time around 2010 in Carbondale, IL. We were an odd bunch brought together in band form, from our shared loves of music and culture. We wanted a band that ranged in sound from Teenage Jesus and the Jerks, to the Cure.

Q. Make a list of 5 albuns of all time…
I always have trouble with so-called "top" lists because I have such a broad interest in music, but I'll do my best here in no particular order! I'm also gonna do 10, rather than 5!
The Cure - Pornography,
Wire - 154,
David Bowie - Heroes,
Ministry - With Sympathy,
Rolling Stones - Her Satanic Majesties Request,
George Harrison - All things Must Pass,
New Order - Low Life,
Kraftwerk - Computer World,
Pink Floyd - Animals,
Kate Bush - Never Forever

Q. How do you feel playing live?
I personally don't love to play live with Staring Problem, insofar that I have made my job too difficult for my abilities. As a 3 piece, where I am the sole/lead guitar and vocals, it is all I can do to get those sounds out of me accordingly. I am bound in place and feel terribly boring being so stationary. As a consolation I try to dress up my wardrobe a bit for the stage so there is subjectively, something interesting to look at from my direction. The rest of the band is much better to watch being able to emote a bit more and move about. On a whole, I am proud of our songs and feel that playing live is a necessity that comes with sharing something you take pride in. It is also quite enjoyable to have the opportunity to play alongside and see other great bands perform!


Q. How do you describe Staring Problem sounds?
We sound quite terse and tense with moments of relief, often during a chorus. We seem to subsist on intertwined melodies of my guitar and Milo's bass that are accompanied by my vocals and supported by the steadiness of our no-fuss, human drum machine, Alix.

Q: Tell us about the process of recording the songs ?
We enjoy recording because it gives us a bit more freedom to expound on our ideas. We usually enlist the aid of a friend to do so as the recording engineer becomes a member of the band that pushes the aesthetics of sound with their abilities.

Q. Which new bands do you recommend?
There are some great bands going at this time. Some that I would recommend that are worth checking out are "YOU." and "Ritual Howls" from Detroit, "Verhalten", "UNUR" and "Froe Char", all on Modern Tapes Records, "Teton" from Portland, "Essential Tremors" from Nashville and from Chicago, "Den", "Melanin" and "Wingtips".

Q: Which band would you love to made a cover version of?
We were considering doing a Lydia Lunch cover most recently.

Q: What are your plans for the future?
Staring Problem is planning to record for a new full-length LP this year that will be released on Modern Tapes Records some time next year!
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Thanks

https://www.facebook.com/staringproblemband/
https://staringproblem.bandcamp.com/

Desert Plants with Vamping - An Interview


Em um clima ensolarado, intimista e contemplativo  Broderick Adams ou Vamping para os mais chegados concebeu seu primeiro trabalho intitulado "Desert Plans".

Evocando a pureza dos baluartes da fundamental Sarah Records, inserindo doces e sutis elementos de soft pop sonhador, o álbum exala aquele frescor confortável típico de canções pop perfeitas.

Trilha sonora ideal para um piquenique no parque.

***** Interview with Vamping *****


Q. When did Vamping start? Tell us about the history...
Vamping is the solo project of singer and guitarist Broderick Adams, previously of a space rock outfit Mount Ivy. Vamping began during a move to El Paso from a small town in the Texas panhandle in March of 2017. The project began with me doing some acoustic demos and toying around with some new songs. They didn't quite fit with the ambient/post rock kind of stuff I was doing before but I still enjoyed the creative outlet so I set them aside. I began to demo these songs with a little more direction and shoot them out to some friends to get some feedback to which I received some positive response. The recording for the album started in April of 2017 and was recorded on mostly one mic a certain EV660 from the 1980's. The album "Desert Plants" took it's first breath when I was on a walk surrounded by Italian Cypress, cholla cactus and vibrant wildflower variations. It was 110 degrees outside and my first theme came to me. "Wither away in the sun. I'm starting to think you're the one that I'll share bloom with. We are like the desert plants holding the rays in our hands made for adversity."

Q: Who are your influences?
If I had to pick a top 3 main influences it would be as follows:

1. Fleetwood Mac
The Mac just knew how to write excellent pop songs with relatable emotions. I was always taken aback by Stevie Nick's flowy vocals and vocal melodies. The whole band had songwriting talent and in my opinion they were just a super group. The always put the music first even when they were in off and on relationships writing songs about each other.

2. The Delfonics
The Delfonics are quintessential soul for me. The harmonies are unreal and had a huge influence on how I approach vocal harmony. I never tire of listening to their music and they just write those classy love songs/heartbreak songs. They handle their emotions with grace which I appreciate and the energy in their music makes it hard not to move.

3. New Order
Especially for this record New Order had a huge influence with the waves they made in the new wave world. The Oberheim drum machines laying down that memorable 4/4 groove, guitar chorus, synths oscillating and longing vocal lines tying the whole sound together. I always had an appreciation for the style growing up and the more I listened I always came back to these guys for inspiration.

Q. Make a list of 5 albums of all time…
This question is always a difficult one but I will try! I can't put these in a particular order because it will take eons.
1. The Delfonics - Alive and Kicking
2. Fleetwood Mac - Rumours
3. New Order - Substance
4. The Velvet Underground & Nico - The Velvet Underground & Nico
5. Margot and the Nuclear So & So's - The Dust of Retreat

Q. How do you feel playing live?
I love to play live because of the connection you get with the people. You get to experiment with the music and sort of give it a life you can never give it in the recording process. There is a whole other human aspect to the music in a live setting. It is probably the most stressful part of the process because I take performance very seriously. I've never wanted to be one of those artists that you go see and you are disappointed because the vocals were off or the band sounded terrible. I like to spend a healthy amount of time polishing the live set and making a memorable experience for fans and newcomers to the music.

Q. How do you describe Vamping sounds?
I describe Vamping as dream pop/bedroom pop. I used a minimalist approach to these songs recording on only an EV660 mic for all the tracks you hear. It was recording in my bedroom near the Franklin Mountains. I love the nostalgic sound of older recordings so I tried to emulate that with my process. The dream pop is sort of based on the use of reverb and delay on guitars and vocals to create a smoother listening experience.


Q. Which new bands do you recommend?
I highly recommend you check out these 5 bands!

1. Tremble Out - Good friends of mine from Austin. Mathy shoegazers and great dudes!
2. Chad Vangaalen - Excellent songwriter/animator extraordinaire .
3. Sorrytown - El Paso/Las Cruces Sadboy heroes.
4. Hayden Pedigo - Your train ticket to fingerstyle guitar technique and ambient/noise euphoria.
5. Soren Bryce - Creative power house with an unbelievable voice.

Q: Which band would you love to made a cover version of?
This is also a tough question but I think maybe I would do a Velvet Underground cover maybe "I Found a Reason".

Q: What are your plans for the future?
I plan on letting the writing process come naturally and continuing to release material under Vamping as it comes to me. This is the leisure of being an indie artist is sort of being able to take your time on the craft without deadlines. I'm working on merch at the moment and hoping to do a tape release of "Desert Plants" before the end of the year.

Q: Any parting words?
I would like to thank Renato first and foremost for this interview and for letting me be a part of his blog. Thank you for checking out my music and I hope you have enjoyed the sounds from the desert.

You can reach me/check out my music on:
Instagram: @vampingvamping
Facebook: facebook.com/vampingvamping
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/6ZI3igo9xvGpuQJeqwYEZr
Bandcamp: vamping.bandcamp.com
email: vampingvamping@gmail.com

Desert Plants is also available on Apple Music, Deezer, Tidal and over 150+ other digital retailers worldwide.
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segunda-feira, 18 de setembro de 2017

Star Alliance with Routine Death - An Interview


A música realmente une, independentemente da distância, credo, ou, seja lá qual for a(s) diferença(s).

Prova cabal disto é o duo Routine Death, onde Dustin e Lisa estão separados 7000 milhas de distância, ele em Austin, Estados Unidos, ela, em Gothenburg, Suécia, e assim suas primeiros demos nasceram.

"Star Alliance" é um BJM soturno, já "The Impossibility of Paying Our Debts" passeia numa ambientação muito mais direcionada ao pós punk do que ao shoegaze.

O mais interessante de tudo é que com o Routine Death tudo ainda esta bruto, o elixir sonoro deles ainda deverá passar por um natural lapidamento e amadurecer gradualmente.

Este, é, sem sombra de dúvida, a grande motivação do TBTCI, acompanhar o nascimento de uma banda como o Routine Death que certamente ainda nos trará grandes e deliciosas surpresas.

Olhos e ouvidos atentos neles.

***** Interview with Routine Death *****


Q. When did Routine Death start? Tell us about the history...
It started as a project for us to work on from across the Atlantic. At first it was just some monotone instrumental drone songs, to experiment with the whole music at a distance thing. Lisa has an incredible voice so once we added that element it took on its own personality really.

Q: Who are your influences?
For me it that's an ever evolving thing, so right now I'm looking back more towards the music I grew up with and that shaped my musicianship. Lisa is influenced by her surroundings I think. For her it's a manifestation to her emotional responses.

Q. Make a list of 5 albuns of all time…
This is in no order and subject to change at any moment. In fact, I'll probably disagree with it as soon as I hit send. But these are important to me.

Beach House - Beach House
Loveless- My Bloody Valentine
In Utero - Nirvana
Abbey Road- The Beatles
Kid A - Radiohead

Q. How do you feel playing live?
We'll let you know when we do it. We've only practiced live twice but it's fun to see what the songs do in that setting.


Q. How do you describe Routine Death sounds?
Sounds like cheap gear in a bedroom.

Q: Tell us about the process of recording the songs ?
One of us will get an idea, demo it and send it to the other. The other will tweak it, add notes or what have you and send it back. The song matures through this process.

Q. Which new bands do you recommend?
Pink Milk, Hidden Ritual, Angry Beige, Drab Majesty

Q: Which band would you love to made a cover version of?
We've done a cover of a Roland Howard song on the upcoming LP, and a cover of a Beach House song on an EP that's in the works.

Q: What are your plans for the future?
We're gonna have some singles out this fall in preparation for our LP release early next year on Black Hair Records based in Gothenburg. Definitely going to have some shows to follow that.

Q: Any parting words?
Mike Tyson once said, "everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face".
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Thanks

https://soundcloud.com/routinedeathtxgbg
https://routinedeathgbg.bandcamp.com/album/demo-tracks
https://www.facebook.com/routinedeath/

domingo, 17 de setembro de 2017

Diamonds with Peak Body - An Interview


Uma brincadeira de imaginação agora: imagine se o Raveonettes ao invés das distorções e pop songs ensolaradas, enveredassem por caminhos soturnos, hipnóticos e densos, sem perder a orientação melódica. Imaginou? 

Esta química pode ser encontrada no duo australiano, Peak Body e seu primeiro EP, lançado há pouco mais de um mês.

O trabalho homônimo captura exatamente a atmosfera sugerida no início deste texto, melódicos porém pouco ensolarados, mesmo que alguns momentos sugiram a luz, como na deliciosa "Feelings" e na linda e intimista "Girl Gang", mas é exatamente no melhor momento do EP que a dupla encontra seu ápice, "Life´s Hard"  é um exercício de como fazer o ouvinte se hipnotizar instantaneamente, mas ainda há espaço para o grand finale com "Diamonds" e sua tendência melancolicamente densa.

Beleza, acima de qualquer suspeita, resume o que é o Peak Body.


***** Interview with Peak Body *****


Q. When did Peak Body start? Tell us about the history...
We were both in other bands when we began playing together (Jordan in Naked, Emma in Catsuit). We had been talking about starting a new project together for ages before we actually did it. Our other projects were/are quite removed from the style of Peak Body so it's been a different creative outlet for the both of us. It feels like the band is evolving a little now, and that it's becoming more of an even partnership in terms of the songwriting and production. It's much more electro and effects driven than anything I have worked on before so it's a learning curve but I am really embracing the process.

Q: Who are your influences?
HTRK, Low, The Native Cats, Heart Beach, Mazzy Star, Molly Nilsson

Q. Make a list of 5 albuns of all time…
Whoa. Big question. How about five super amazing albums in no particular order...

Low - C'mon
Cat Power - You are free
Sleater Kinney - Call the Doctor
Hole - Celebrity Skin
East Brunswick All Girls Choir - Seven Drummers

Q. How do you feel playing live?
Jordy generally looks like he's having a great time onstage and always looks seems super chilled. I find it fun and rewarding but I have to admit that I do get pretty nervous, more so than when I have played with other bands. Some of the songs are pretty minimalistic and given that there's only two of us in the band I feel that there's a bit more pressure and less room for error. We've recently had a long break from playing live due to personal circumstances so it's been fun to start performing again. I do feel like I'm still finding my groove in a live setting with Peak Body. We do have this one song, Snickers Bar, which is super fun to play because it involves a bit of improvisation and is different every time. It either works really well and we get heaps of positive audience feedback on it or it ends up being a bit of a mess. Either way, I often end up getting pretty loose with my vocals and performance which I find really freeing! We haven't recorded that song and I don't think we ever will. There's probably a YouTube video of us playing it live.

Q. How do you describe Peak Body sounds?
Dreamy, brooding, upbeat, smiley, minimalist, loose, shoegazey, stargazey. I think our individual personalities are captured pretty well in the different songs.


Q: Tell us about the process of recording the songs ?
Most of our songs require backing tracks which we record in the little home studio we have set up. We often end up recording demos as we use the recording process as a kind of writing tool and the songs change and develop as we go. We recorded our just released digital/cassette EP at another studio space so the songs obviously evolve and get added to both at the recording stage and post-production. We each have our own little quirks when it comes to recording and can sometimes hear things differently which is usually a positive as we can assess the songs from the other's perspective but occasionally we will disagree and have to compromise.

Q. Which new bands do you recommend?
Maybe these aren't all super new bands but they've all got some great recent releases-

Foxy Morons, Ghost Drop, Two Steps on the Water, Heart Beach, Moody Beach, Ani Lou, Prinzhorn Dance School (this last one was recommended to us recently by a Peak Body fan and we really dig them!)

Q: Which band would you love to made a cover version of?
We have often worked on cover songs (Kate Bush, Nico and Velvet Underground) and then scrapped them before getting them to the performance stage. We're currently working on a Spacemen 3 cover. Hopefully we will actually end up performing it sometime!

Q: What are your plans for the future?
In the immediate future we are planning some shows and are going to make a film clip or two. We're also working on new material and hope to release an album in late 2018, which we'd then like to tour in Australia and possibly New Zealand too. You can keep updated on our website peak-body.com or by following us on Instagram @yourpeakbody

Q: Any parting words?
Just a few words for any women, trans, non-binary folks and people of minority groups who are thinking of starting a band or music project - do it. Music scenes everywhere need more non-white dudes playing shows, getting heard and being seen.
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Thanks

http://peak-body.com/
https://peakbody.bandcamp.com
https://www.facebook.com/yourpeakbody/

Fantasy Nails with Mini Dresses - An Interview


Seguindo a tradição da tríade básica e fundamental para todos os desmembramentos do indie, leia-se, Class of 86, Flying Nun, Sarah Records, onde o hoje radicado trio de Boston, mas nascido em Austin, Mini Dresses segue destilando suas canções perfeitas desde 2012.

Há dois dias atrás veio ao mundo seu mais recente trabalho, o álbum homônimo, uma beleza ensolarada, intimista e delicada que cai como uma luva para manhãs como as de hoje, onde um domingo ensolarado pede e clama por calmaria.

Sutilezas sonoras para acalentar o caos do dia a dia, assim é o Mini Dresses. Desacelere e aproveite.

***** Interview with Mini Dresses *****


Q. When did Mini Dresses start? Tell us about the history...
Lira and Caufield have been playing music together for almost 9 years now. Mini Dresses started as a modest recording project in Austin, TX in 2012 and expanded when we moved to Boston.

Q: Who are your influences?
We started as a dreamy jangle pop project in the vein of C86, Flying Nun, Sarah Records, etc. We've since tried to get out of the 80s and further into our own heads. Perhaps the project has evolved to incorporate other fascinations: library music, goth, lounge, dub, even maybe new age music to some extent. The songs are still guitar and voice-oriented, but those other influences are lurking in the corners. And over the years we've gotten more technophilic by implementing reel-to-reels, tape echoes, spring reverbs, and the like, whereas when we began we used computers for everything.

Q. Make a list of 5 albums of all time…
This is always changing. Here's what we're listening to most right now:
1) Virna Lindt -- Shiver
2) Joe Meek and the Blue Men -- I Hear a New World: An Outer Space Music Fantasy
3) Pram -- The Stars Are So Big The Earth Is So Small... Stay As You Are
4) Anna Domino -- East and West + Singles
5) Strawberry Switchblade -- 1982 4 Piece Demo

Q. How do you feel playing live?
When our schedules permit us to do so, we enjoy playing live on the east coast. Barring some concerns about Boston's lacking infrastructure and means of supporting musicians, we think there's lots of great people and projects in our city now.

Q. How do you describe Mini Dresses' sounds?
Dreamy, but not pristine, a little amateur, with spirit.


Q: Tell us about the process of recording the songs?
The recording process for these songs was challenging in that, this being our first album, we were somewhat clueless. We thought we had our songs figured out, and then we tried recording them to tape, and we ended up rewriting some of them multiple times, ditching others, and ultimately taking a lot longer than we anticipated. Add to that the chaos inherent in working with vintage equipment that has a tendency to deteriorate, and you have...an interesting experience! Thankfully, our super patient recording engineer, Ian Doerr, worked overtime with us to finish the record we wanted to make.

Q. Which new bands do you recommend?
Some bands from our area come to mind: Strange Passage, Beverly Tender, Dyr Faser, halfsour, Birthing Hips, Dame. And there's many more!

Q: What are your plans for the future?
Our first full-length is coming this September. And we're already halfway through our second album. After that, who knows?

Q: Any parting words?
Thank you!
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Thanks

https://minidresses.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/minidressesband/

sábado, 16 de setembro de 2017

Celebrity Ghost Stories with Orange Gold Red - An Interview


Andrew Gregory é o criador e a mente por trás do Orange Gold Red.

O OGR soltou seu novo single "Undone // Celebrity Ghost Stories" que diferentemente do anterior "Wayward // Riptide" deixou de lado os synths e o lado mais new wave concentrando-se em uma ambientação mais gazer, com uma nítida atmosfera mais soturna.

Uma certa diversidade entre estilos que de certa maneira se unificam em determinado momento, sem perder a essência, demonstrando que o Orange Gold Red deve ser muito mais versátil do que se possa imaginar.

Aguardamos os próximos passos.


***** Interview with Orange Gold Red *****


Q. When did Orange Gold Red start? Tell us about the history...
I was playing in another band and I wanted a different type of creative outlet. Playing in a band and crafting songs alone are very different in the experience and the product. I mostly wanted that alone writing experience, which was sort of like therapy for me, trying to distill my thoughts and feelings into songs. so I wrote a number of songs very slowly while still playing more uptempo pop with the band. At the same time I met my cousin who is a very talented musician for the first time. We hit it off and went to the studio and started recording what I'd come up with the second time we met.

Q: Who are your influences?
I try to listen to everything. I've been dabbling in jazz so maybe that will make its way into the next records.

Q. Make a list of 5 albuns of all time
here are 5 good ones

new order - movement
Slowdive - souvlaki
iggy pop - raw power
Cannibal ox - the cold vein
Beach house - devotion

Q. How do you feel playing live?
Nervous.

Q. How do you describe Orange Gold Red sounds?
It's always changing, really. What would you say?


Q: Tell us about the process of recording the songs ?
I just go with whatever is working at the time. Sometimes it's a riff, or a chord progression, or a melody. Sometimes I'll be lazing around with an acoustic or playing with synths when I hear something I like. I try to build off of it, loop what I have until I can improve upon it and mumble some lyrics.

Q. Which new bands do you recommend?
Diary is a great new band from Brooklyn, snail mail, makthaverskan

Q: Which band would you love to made a cover version of?
I'd love to cover a waxahatchee song, maybe "recite remorse." I've been a fan for years and I would love to be able to make people feel as much as she can.

Q: What are your plans for the future?
Finish my phd in psychology, record a full length, learn Greek.
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Thanks

https://orangegoldred.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/Orangegoldred/

sexta-feira, 15 de setembro de 2017

A Sea​-​Spell with Dreams are Like Water - An Interview


O trio neozelandês, Dreams are Like Water, pegou emprestado seu nome de uma antiga canção do This Mortal Coil, e debutou no primeiro dia de Setembro com seu primeiro trabalho, o EP, "A Sea-Spell".

Uma onda negra e oitentista permeia o disco, evocando Xmal Deutschland, Siouxsie & The Banshees, Kas Product, entre outros expoentes do lado negro e ritualístico do pós punk. 

O Dreams are Like Water é intenso, sombrio, soturno e angustiante, feito sob medidas para notívagos famintos por noites eternas, onde a luz não tem espaço algum.

***** Interview with Dreams are Like Water *****



Q. When did Dreams are Like Water start? Tell us about the history...
Rosebud suggested to me the overall premise for the project in about mid 2015; she was learning to play bass, had some song ideas and asked me about contributing to the music. The sound she had in mind was similar to some old demos I’d done for my other band Disjecta Membra, but which had never been properly recorded. The song ‘(Thrice) In Blood’ is essentially Dreams are Like Water covering an old Disjecta Membra song, and the musical skeleton of ‘Ineffable’ was based on demos for another project that never came about.

About the same time, I suggested we should also get Jamie involved. We both liked Jamie, and he and I had been intending to do something musical together for some time, but Rosebud coming along with Dreams areLike Water was the first time anything clicked into place. Again, there were sounds in Jamie’s own recordings as The Emptys Response that Rosebud and I both felt would be a good match with what she had in mind for this project.

I think the three of us only started getting together regularly at Jamie’s near the end of that year, trying to get something together for our first gig in February of last year. The music for ‘Feathered Infant Bells’ from our EP grew out of those first jam sessions; initially a very long (even longer than it is now), semi-improvised piece that we concocted for that gig. At that point, the song was called ‘In Memoriam’, and revolved around readings from the Tennyson poem by the same name.

We only played one other gig after that, in mid 2016. It was just Rosebud and I this time, because we live some distance from Jamie and we were having trouble being able to regularly get all three of us together. For that gig we just played a bunch of covers of songs that had previously been covered by This Mortal Coil. Neither of those two gigs were particularly what we’d been aiming for, and the whole thing just petered out for a while after that.

Finally, earlier this year, we decided we should change our approach and make Dreams are Like Water solely focused on recording. We got back in touch with Jamie and started exchanging song ideas and files back and forth online, and that was much more successful. The song ‘A Sea-Spell’ was the result of working that way together, and then the rest of the EP was developed and recorded over the space of a few weeks.

Q: Who are your influences?
It varies from one song to another.

Q. Make a list of 5 albums of all time…
No! Hahaha… No, we had to answer a question like that for our last interview and we all decided that we just can’t do it. It’s impossible to just choose five.

Q. How do you feel playing live?
I enjoy it, but not with this project. We’re not well suited to live performance. Dreams are Like Water works better as something where we can build and layer instruments and voices and just keep adding and subtracting elements until we’re finished that song and ready to move on.


Q. How do you describe Dreams are Like Water sounds?
I prefer to use other people’s descriptions… refer to the press release!

Q: Tell us about the process of recording the songs?
Rosebud and I record in our bedroom, and I think Jamie records in between his bedroom and lounge. Rosebud and I use a very, very minimal set up, whereas I think Jamie’s house might actually be constructed from wall-to-wall music gear.

The way we approach it changes with every song, but generally speaking, once we have a reasonably clear idea of how the words and music will go together, we usually start by recording a basic skeleton of drum machine, bass and guitar parts. Those initial parts will usually survive through to the final mix. We might also record a guide/demo vocal track to play along to while we’re still working out how the final vocal arrangements will go.

We’ll usually send that basic skeleton off to Jamie while we carry on working out various other ideas. He’ll send things back to us, usually keyboard parts and sometimes guitar ideas, sometimes other sounds. He’ll often send a lot of different parts and ideas, but he does so very quickly and spontaneously, with a certain degree of abandon.

With most songs we carry on like that for a few days, sending things back and forth. Once we’ve started recording a song it can be difficult to stop coming up with new ideas to try out for it, so we usually end up recording and re-recording layers and layers for all the different instruments and vocals, throwing in every different idea that comes to mind, just to see what “sticks”. A lot doesn’t make it into the final mix. We just continually add and subtract things until we settle upon what works for each song.

And then at some point we’ll somehow conclude that it’s time to stop, usually arriving at a sort of “peace by exhaustion”, and that’s the basic tracking done.

Then I’ll send what we’ve decided to use to Bryan Tabuteau, who takes care of the post-production and final mixes. I send him stems and a project file that has a very primitive approximation of how we think the overall mix should sound, and then he takes out all of my awful stock reverbs and what-have-you and makes it sound good. I don’t know what he does exactly, some sort of voodoo, as I understand it.

TL;DR: We record lots of things, and then Bryan makes it sound good.

Q. Which new bands do you recommend?
A Thousand Hours, and Crimes of Passion.

Q: Which band would you love to make a cover version of?
We’re working on something at the moment, actually, but it’s a secret. You’ll have to wait and see…

Q: What are your plans for the future?
These are also secret!

Q: Any parting words?
Thank you very much for the interest and support. If readers would like to hear our music or grab the EP (download or CD digipak), here are some links:
http://dreamsarelikewater.bandcamp.com
http://vesperrecords.bandcamp.com
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Thanks

https://www.facebook.com/dreamsarelikewater/