Beyond Within with Estrella Oscura - An Interview

Andy Jefferys criou em Março deste ano seu projeto espacial e sonhador intitulado Estrella Oscura.

Mergulhando em odisseias climáticas com doses de shoegazer e alimentando-se de Flying Saucer Attack, o Estrella Oscura soltou deu o pontapé inicial de sua vigem com Beyond Within, uma bela amostra do que virá pela frente.

Para acompanhar atentamente os próximos capítulos dessa viagem.

***** Interview with Estrella Oscura *****

Q. When did Estrella Oscura started, tell us about the history...
1/ I started Estrella Oscura in about March this year as an outlet for songs that couldn't be used in the other project I'm involved in, The Speedwell Blue. That project tends to produce material at a slower rate, and I have itchy fingers to create & record more!

Q: Who are your influences?
2/ I have quite a mix of influences, but the main ones would probably be Syd Barrett & Dave Gilmour of Pink Floyd for the spacey but lyrical guitar playing that inspired me to pick up the guitar. John Cale's work in the Velvet Underground influenced me a lot and introduced me to drone, distortion & minimalism in a rock setting. The guitar orchestras of Glenn Branca have made an indelible mark on me (I've been lucky enough to play in three of his pieces in the past) just for the sonic chaos he can create, and the guitar layering that Neil Halstead & Christian Savill produce in Slowdive influences how I create my music to this day.

Q. Make a list of 5 albuns of all time…
3/ Very tough to choose just 5 albums but the ones I've picked resonate the most to me: The Velvet Underground - 1st album, Pink Floyd - The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn, Sonic Youth - Confusion Is Sex, Kitchens Of Distinction - The Death Of Cool, Slowdive - Souvlaki.

Q. How do you feel playing live?
4/ it's been a long time since I played live with a band so I can only tell you from past experience. I feel a part of me is attached to the sounds I create and project and although I experience the adrenaline rush of a live performance I can also feel emotionally drained at the same time.

Q. How do you describe Estrella Oscura sounds?
5/ The sound I'm trying to achieve with Estrella Oscura is as close to what I hear in my head when I write, multi layered with a drone element combined with melody, but riding a seesaw of harmony and discord, minimal and maximal all at once. It's a delicate balance but hopefully with this track and ones in the future I've managed to find that happy medium.

Q: Tell us about the process of recording the songs ?
6/ The recording process can vary depending on what mood I'm in, how I hear the music and also how much time I have to record, which can be limited! My recording set up is basic; I run all of the instruments directly into an old version of GarageBand on an even older MacBook, sometimes through external effects, but normally settle on the guitar sounds via the effects in GarageBand itself. I normally have maybe 5 or 6 guitar lines going on which I then layer to the bass. Keyboards are only used minimally as texture & any drums come via the Midi keyboard using various elements of the GarageBand kits, all played in real time. I like the tracks to sound organic and warm with little post production as most of the time a demo can sound just as good as a more professionally produced track. Even though my ears have been through hell over the years I still trust them over anything else to get the right balance and tone!

Q. Which new bands do you recommended?
7/ I only occasionally listen to new bands, but from the many, many bands out there at the moment, I've enjoyed Flyying Colours, Seasurfer, Maff, Tamaryn, Nothing & 93 Million Miles From The Sun.

Q: Which band would you love to made a cover version of?
8/ I've never enjoyed covering other bands material, as I never feel I can really do justice or improve what, to me at least, is pretty much set in stone already. I always try to live by the rule to "innovate not recreate" which sadly I don't see in a lot of the nugaze bands who seem quite happy to sound exactly like MBV without taking things further. Some time ago my old band adapted the theme music of a 60s TV show called 'Randall & Hopkirk (Deceased) as an instrumental which came out really well, and I've been wanting to adapt a classical piece, Adagio For Strings by Samuel Barber into a more gazier version so that's something for the future.

Q: What are you plans for the future?
9/ I have ideas in various stages at the moment, but ultimately I intend to have a solid selection of tracks available online which can then form the basis of an album. All time and inspiration willing!

Q: Any parting words?
10/ I'd like to thank everyone that's taken the time to listen to my music and for their support. I'm hoping to have more tracks available soon so please check the band's Facebook page for updates. All the best from me & mine to you & yours!
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Thanks

https://soundcloud.com/estrella-oscura-2
https://www.facebook.com/estrellaoscurauk

Skid Fiction with The Moas - An Interview

Os canadenses do The Moas soltaram há dois meses Skid Fiction, seu segundo trabalho, que na verdade é um ep split ao lado do Susan.

Em relação ao debute de 2013 poucas mudanças, o que de fato é muito bom, as nuances melódicas, harmoniosas e sedutoras são o cartão de visitas para cativar os sonhadores de plantão.

E o TBTCI avisa, The Moas é sim altamente viciante, só que o vicio precisa ser degustado sem limites.

***** Interview with The Moas *****

Q. When did The Moas started, tell us about the history...
We’ve been a band since 2010. It all started purely as an “I’m bored, wanna play some guitar?” kind of thing. Five years later, we’re still friends, still jamming.

Saskatoon is full of bands with a lot of shared members. It’s kind of a wonderful musical love triangle. Past and present projects that members of The Moas are associated with include The Fjords, Dumb Angel, Pearson, A Gentle Forest and Golden Smoke. The Moas grew out of the now defunct A Gentle Forest. Chad and Sonia had played in A Gentle Forest together. Sonia wanted to move away from lo-fi pop towards something louder, and grungier. Chad lives and breathes shoegaze. So that’s where the Moas began. Loud, gritty and strange at times, but still holding on to melodic pop tendencies.

Q: Who are your influences?
Yo La Tengo, Stereolab, Swervedriver, My Bloody Valentine, Sonic Youth (shoegaze and the 90s!)

Q. Make a list of 5 albums of all time…
In no particular order (we each chose one)
Stereolab “Emperor Tomato Ketchup”
NOFX “Punk in Drublic”
Yo La Tengo “I Can Hear the Heart Beating As One”
Beck “Sea Change”
Pavement “Wowee Zowee”

Q. How do you feel playing live?
Playing live is great! It’s a chance to share our music with others. Not every show is going to be perfect, but we’re fine with that. Sometimes how a room sounds, or what you are able to hear on stage is completely out of your control. Over the years we’ve learned to just accept that this may happen, and to try and have fun and play our best regardless. If we’re having a good time, the crowd will too. Playing live we get to meet people who feel the same way about music as we do. Playing music is something we all love to do, and we want to share that with others.

Q. How do you describe The Moas sounds?
This is always a hard one to answer… you could say we are an amalgamation of shoegaze, garage rock, psychedelia, and dream pop. We delve into sonic territories steeped in reverb and nostalgia. We can be loud, fuzzy, swirly, and dreamy. At the forefront, our sound is defined by our use of texture, drone and melody.

Q: Tell us about the process of recording the songs ?
The recording of the record was spaced out over about a year. We tend to do things in bursts of energy and then let it stew for a while. We believe pretty strongly in the idea of recording all of our material ourselves, so the record was recorded and mixed in our own homes. We tracked the drums at Jeff’s house, and the rest in Chad’s home studio. We totally lucked out, Jeff's living room sounded amazing for drums! Craig Boychuk of cb audio mastered the record.

Q. Which new bands do you recommended?
Suuns & Jerusalem In My Heart “S/T”
Swervedriver “I Wasn't Born to Lose You”
Disappears “Irreal”
Viet Cong “S/T”
Fountain “Fountain 2”
Adolyne “of Ash / of Shit / of Shame”
KEN mode “Success”

Q: Which band would you love to made a cover version of?
Roxy Music!

Q: What´s the plans for future....
Our future plans include working on new songs and writing enough material for a full length album. Scott and Sonia are having a baby in the fall, so that might slow things down for a bit. On the other hand, Sonia will have a whole year away from work so we might just see those new songs really start to roll in.

Q: Any parting words?
Thanks so much for taking the time to listen to our record and interview us! We are really excited about Skid Fiction, and happy to share it with you.
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https://www.facebook.com/themoasmusic
https://themoas.bandcamp.com

For Ex Lovers with Azul Toga - An Interview

Jon Clowdus é a mente por trás do Azul Toga.

Resumidamente um espectro de canções pop perfeitas em formato e ambiência lo fi, com aquele delicioso e viciante fuzz de fundo, vocais desleixadamente apaixonados, com aquele tempero de Black Tambourines e Aislers Set.

As vezes não é preciso muito coisa pra se fazer a canção perfeita.

Vida longa ao Azul Toga.

***** Interview with Azul Toga *****

Q. When did Azul Toga started, tell us about the history...
Azul Toga started a few years back as a way for me to release solo bedroom recordings. I started the project and recorded the first EP following the break-up of my former band with friends, fake nails.

Q: Who are your influences?
Black Tambourine, Cocteau Twins, Neu!, Luna, O.M.D.

Q. Make a list of 5 albums of all time…
I could never choose 5 favorites, but here are 5 albums that I love...
1. Stereolab - Peng!
2. Elliott Smith - Roman Candle
3. Brian Eno - Here Come The Warm Jets
4. Broadcast - Tender Buttons
5. The Magnetic Fields - Get Lost

Q. How do you feel playing live?
I love playing live! So far, Azul Toga has consisted of a few different live formations, and lately I've been focused on recording, but I hope to start playing live with a bassist (my friend Derek) and a drum machine by the end of the summer, it's in the works.

Q. How do you describe Azul Toga sounds?
Pop songs that are lovably imperfect, usually incorporating guitars and old drum machines. Some songs are more polished than others...

Q: Tell us about the process of recording the album?
Recording of the new EP/ cassette (out on track and field records) took place over the course of winter 2014/2015. The first three tracks on the EP were recorded in the same week, at home in my studio apartment. I think they sound like the fit together nicely. The last 3 songs on the new cassette were recorded over the course of a few months, including one weekend at small cabin here in Oregon, where I enlisted the help of my friend David Blatnik who I played in Fake Nails with. The new EP is definitely intended to be guitar-pop.

Q. Which new bands do you recommended
They aren't super new, but I love Mr. Twin Sister! There is also a dance project that I love from Berlin called Satin Jackets.

Q: Which bands would you love to make a cover version of?
I'd love to record a cover of "Rush Hour" by Jane Weiland, who was in the Go-Go's.

Q: What´s the plan for the future....
I plan to continue working on new music and to release some new demos/ random tracks and EPs online. I also wanna play some shows this fall. Eventually, I'll do another cassette. In general, I'd like to stay positive and stay active as an artist!

Q: Any parting words?
"Don't take life too seriously!" -Rupaul
Thanks.
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https://soundcloud.com/trackandfieldrecords/sets/azul-toga-2
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Azul-Toga

Dreams Never End, A Tribute To New Order

FireBomb with L.A. Drones - An Interview

Kontrol Remoto e Darlingtonia Brackets formam o duo insano L.A. Drones.

Fortemente inspirados por Cabaret Voltaire, Throbbing Gristle e muito de kraut rock o L.A. Drones impressiona principalmente pelas performances ao vivo, reproduzindo o caos criado pelo TG e reapropriado para a atualidade.

Mais caótico e contemporâneo impossível.

 ***** Interview with L.A. Drones *****

1- When did L.A.Drones! start? Tell us about the history

About a year and a half ago. One night we were invited to play in a show with our post punk band in a friends B-Day party in LA, and as many times it happened to us that we ended up spinning European electronic dance music at the after party, and I think people liked it pretty much! Don't know how! but a kind of inspiration or abduction from something or someone that night happened to us, suddenly we thought that it would be awesome to play our own live music for the dance floor to make punk rockers dance, it was going to be fun! ¨Punk rockers WE also dance¨ we've told ourselves!! so, we already had several machines that we bought years ago, we put all of them together, a synth, mixer, modules effect, many pedals octaving, flanging, distorting, faceering… we've got a new more gorgeous synth and many many wires… and EUREKA, L.A.Drones! came out smoothly and very easily. We wanted to do it so bad, we were so inspired by the idea of mixing our classical souls with electronic music, and doing all this live, like an open set, so we could decide on stage if we did it longer or shorter and improvise as much as we feel like and having close peoples vibes, that was going to be awesome



2- Who are your influences?

For this we need to tell you a story, ha!… ¨there is an old legend which says that, Two eternal L.A.Drones! (thieves) pierced the line delimiting the real and the unreal with the magnificent ability to travel in time and also thanks to the magic hiding in the primes numbers and to the knowledge of the energy that the sound frequencies produce and support the multi-verse…These two could observe and assimilate the most interesting music that humans came along with in decades. So they met near the minimalism of Terry Riley, the proto electronic of Silver Apples, the dronic rock of the Velvet, the Kraut of Cluster, Neu, Can or Kraftwerk, and adore Brian Eno as a living demigod ... and feel close to the rebirth of the Synth, under the tutelage of punk with Suicide, Cabaret Voltaire, Crash Course in Science, through the Industrial apocalypse of Throbbing Gristle… See the birth of the synthesized pop of the Neue Deutsche Welle and DAF, and jumping to the new world to learn about new influxes of acid house, techno and the most primitive electro of the dark Detroit… Never stop breathing the most intoxicated fumes of the Jamaican dub, with people like The Scientist, or king Tubby. They say that no one knows who they are, because they are hidden with thieves (L.A.Drones!) masks!, paths not to be recognized in the akelarres sounds ... They say that Chris & Cosey might be hiding their true identity?¨ eh, eh, but we know for sure they are not Chris&Cosey!!!



3-Make a list of 5 albums of all times?

We can say 13 (another prime number anyways) less it´s impossible for two (thieves) L.A.Drones! to survive

VELVET UNDERGROUND - WHITE LIGHT WHITE HEAT/ SILVER APPLES - CONTACT / BRIAN ENO - ANOTHER GREEN WORLD / TALKING HEADS - REMAIN IN LICHT / CABARET VOLTAIRE - RED MECCA / GANG OF FOUR - ENTRETAIMENT / SLY & FAMILY STONE - THERE´S A RIOT GOIN´ ON / TERRY RILEY - A RAINBOW CURVED AIR / SUICIDE - 1 ALBUM / CLUSTER - ZUCKEREIT / STOOGES - FUN HOUSE / CAN - EGE BAMYASI
CYBOTRON - ENTER



4- How do you describe L.A.Drones Sounds?

We feel that music nowadays tends to the cliche, in electronic music and music in general, both. We understand that in areas such as rock is harder to re invent a sound and get away from the standard, but in the field of electronics, focus of so much innovation in the past, we really cannot stand the cliche sound, as almost everything sounds like today, the same sounds, the same styles ... today innovation is lacking, sounds of the 80's or above with the kraut, when Cabaret Voltaire, Cybotron, Coil, Cluster or Kraftwerk, they sounded different, very personal, even in each album they often changed their color palette, sounding only to themselves. It was very difficult, almost impossible to classify their sound and we think that it is genius, the coolest thing in the whole world. We seek (at least) to create dance music in our own way, as original as possible, with influences of many things. We think and work hard to create our own sounds, avoiding the cliche. Already in the post´punk with Pil, Gang of Four, Talking Heads created wonders, sounding like anything done before with strong influence of black music, but under the punk prism. A music that punk rockers could also dance to, with new sounds... L.A.Drones! It is a little attempt to re-update the dronic concept of the krautrock or the acid, or even the minimal of Terry Riley, La Monte Young, or the sum of sound layers from Experimental Audio Research, or Coil, led to the more Martian dance floor, without losing the sight of the proto electronic of the first industrial people, like The Normal, Crash Course in Science, Trobbing Gristel or Cabaret Voltaire even the first electro and techno from Cabaret Voltaire ... and of the Central European scene, even from Dub experimenting, so influential in the post punk or Kraut.


5 - Tell us about the process of recording the songs

The process is never closed, our only obligation is that the beat always goes on the magic prime number of 127 BPM. Generally, it is basically, a sound experimentation, through synthesizers; or we steal sounds from other bands, samplers that we smashed, trashed or deconstructed with hardware effects, software and guitar pedals ... (Cabaret Voltaire is the favorite by now). We use the same process to create beats, playing the drum machines. In the sequences we seek for a dronic sensation and repetition, it is necessary that all of them can be mixed with each other in harmony and be able to improvise in the studio sessions, even in the live shows. From there, our capsules emerge (or the songs, if you can call them that way) Then structures and melodic ideas come out. Usually from rehearsing new ideas and new songs emerge Everything is very open.



6- How do you feel playing live?

Playing live for us is the fun part, like in the studio... We need it like water, food or any other kind of good stuff…It is a 45-minute straight of sonic experiment. where we have suddenly an objective: steal hearts, ears, souls, feet and genitals and make asses move in every direction!!!… and if this happens… I swear it is just magic, something cosmological, lt is so strong, as the moon dances with waves of the sea. As Schopenhauer would say, we get into real happiness not just for 1 min, but for 45 at least!



7- What is the visual concept of the band?
It is the Orwellian concept of 1984, of uniformity, of militancy, which bands like Devo, Kraftwerk and especially The Residents have applied, with their classic concept of hidden identities… also led to the concept of the anti-hero thieves like Fantomas or Diabolik, who we are big fans of, the atmosphere of the Sci-Fi of JG Ballard, to quote the Normal: Warm Leatherette ... The visuals and pix, shot and edited by us, suggest a journey through the real world dyed with colors emerging under the lysergic effects after ingesting our own sound capsules.

8- Which new bands do you recommend? 
We would recommend awesome local bands from LA or Tijuana, Monterey, the ones we love and we´ve played with in the underground scene. You can see most of them in our film ¨Subterranean¨ by Gabriel Velazquez, filmed in LA in December 2014. As we've said before, we believe that the music market and big festivals are full of cliche music, Is the cliche music the hype?. For us, it is so boring to listen to the same music over and over again with the same patrons all the time with nothing new to be added. There is a point where you start to lose interest in listening to new music on the regular channels so we really don't know too much about it. Also if you do music all the time it is hard to be updated on that.



9- Which bands would you love to make a cover version of?
Chrome ¨In a Dream¨ or ¨FireBomb¨ / Cabaret Voltaite ¨Second too late¨/ Suburban Lawns ¨Janitor¨, Bowie, but hard to choose, 
I would say… ¨Scary Monsters and Super Creeps¨, ¨Red light¨ from Wall of Voodoo, another angeleno band, that we adore (highly recommend his first album, ¨Dark Continent¨) Wire ¨I am the Fly¨



10- What are your plans for the future? 

We are now producing the 1º L.A.Drones! album. Some awesome people in San Francisco want to publish soonish… In september is plan to do a couple of concerts in Barcelona and Madrid and then in in October we go on tour to Seattle, Portland, San Francisco ending in LA… And as we've mentioned before, there is a spanish film maker Gabriel Velazquez, who came last December all the way from Madrid to shoot ¨Subterranean¨ the story of 2 musicians who left Europe in 2010, nomads who go to America, first Mexico and then LA to make their dream come true. It is a fiction film, but It is about L.A.Drones! and the LA local musical scene… and the plan is to have this out by 2016.

11- any partying words
Yes, ¨Free your mind and your ass will follow¨ and...¨They shoot Horses, Don´t they?¨ ( in spanish: ¨Danzad Danzad Malditos¨)

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Sunny Sunday Smile with Waving - An Interview

Outro beleza vinda da Austrália, o Waving e seu debute homônimo lançado em junho agora é uma audição certeira e cheia de frescor.

Ecos de class of 86 e MBV pré Ins´t Anything são sentidos durante as 10 deliciosas faixas do disquinho.

Para ouvir alto e curtindo paisagens ensolaradas.

***** Interview with Waving *****

Q. When did Waving started, tell us about the history...
Waving started about two years ago I guess. I released an EP under the name Airling and started writing songs for an album not long after that. I was toying with finding a new singer for a long time but my writing style never really allowed for that to happen. It's just a solo DIY project and probably always will be but I try to make it sound like a full band as much as I can.

Q: Who are your influences?
My influences are fairly varied and changed quite a bit over the two years of recording. I listened to bands like Weezer, Silversun Pickups and the Pains of Being Pure at Heart which made me obsessed with fuzz. I also listened to more synthesised bands like Postiljonen, Electric Youth and the Belinda Butchers which led me to include a bit synth.

Q. Make a list of 5 albuns of all time…
Top Albums. In no particular order:
Sigur Ros - Takk...
The Books - Lost And Safe
My Bloody Valentine - Loveless
Lotel - The Lost Thing
Nick Drake - Pink Moon

Q. How do you feel playing live?
Well, I don't play live with Waving so I guess I can't really answer this question. I do play drums live with the band Lunaire though and I really love it. I've never really played guitar live or any other instrument but I think drums would be my favourite. Drums was my first instrument and I don't get to practice loudly when I'm at home so I like to give them a good bash live.

Q. How do you describe Waving sounds?
I would describe Waving's sound as fairly varied. Each song was written and recorded at a different time spread over two years so there's a lot of variance in recording set ups and writing influences. But there's a shoegaze sound that connects them altogether I think. It's fuzzy, noisy, melodic and a bit funky.

Q: Tell us about the process of recording the songs ? The recording process was very sporadic. I would usually start with a guitar part and structure and then add little bits and pieces when they came to me. Usually I would only try to record drums when I know for sure the song is a keeper. After drums I'll do over dubs and vocals. Then spend months and months mixing and then maybe completely scrap it or start again haha! That only happened twice I think.

Q. Which new bands do you recommended?
I would recommend everyone listen to EGO and their track Moon because then they might make some more music https://egomusictime.bandcamp.com/releases

Q: Which band would you love to made a cover version of?
I'd like to do a cover of the Bee Gees song Alone. I reckon it would work well in a shoegazey sort of style.

Q: What are your plans for the future?
I don't really have too many plans for the future. If I can work out how to operate Ableton I'd like to do more electronic stuff. I'd really like to create a dream/synth pop record at some stage so I think that might be next.

Q: Any parting words?
Hope that's cool! Couldn't think of any parting words
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https://waving.bandcamp.com/releases

Nowhere Fast with Talking Bush - An Interview

Nikita Bushmanov é Talking Blush e vice e versa.

O ep de estreia Ordinary Unusual é um curioso e belo passeio por entre synthpop oitentista passando por pós punk clássico e eloquente e principalmente o Talking Bush segue a risca os ensinamentos de Morrissey/Marr. Muito de Smiths, da melancolia a sonoridade mas muito longe de soar como os Smiths, o Talking Bush conseguiu extrair de suas referências o elixir e criou um mundo de texturas particulares e diga-se sedutoras.

Uma estreia de gente grande.

***** Interview with Talking Bush *****

Q. When did Talking Bush started, tell us about the history...
1. Oh, there is not so much to say. I started the project accidently, when I recoeded "Tell Me" and decided that it sounds a way different to my current (at that moment) musical project "Neverover!". Then I updated it on soundcloud and some good guys found out about me. Than Shelflife records asked me to cooperate with them and I recorded debut EP. We released it at June, 30. As you can see, the history is small.

Q: Who are your influences?
2. My influences are The Smiths and a-ha at the most part. It is really hard to say, I listen to tons of different music, like many other people.

Q. Make a list of 5 albuns of all time…
3. I am sure I can't do this, because my mind has an option to change, and I didn't heard a lot of music yet, but I declare, that my favorite albums right now are "The Smiths" by "The Smiths" and "Hunting High And Low" by a-ha.

Q. How do you feel playing live? 4
. Never played live with Talking Bush. Our first concert will be this september, and there are so much time until it starts. So right now I don't feel anything about it. Emoticon smile

Q. How do you describe Talking Bush sounds?
5. It's a dream breaking pop, a mixture of sweet indie pop with synths and post-punk mood in a not-so-clear lyrics.

Q: Tell us about the process of recording the songs ?
6. Firstly I record some guitar riffs and then combine them into song, then I add drums and bass and synths in FL Studio and then record vocal parts. Nothing special, as you can see.

Q. Which new bands do you recommended?
7. Not sure about their newness, but I straightly recommend to listen Sean Nicholas Savage and Ice Choir. These guys are damn good.

Q: Which band would you love to made a cover version of?
8. The Smiths Emoticon grin I don't really like making covers, but me and my guys like The Smiths very much, and this is the band that connect us to play together in some way, so yeah, we'll probably play some Smiths songs because we all love them.

Q: What are your plans for the future?
9. Release a great album on Shelflife and then start touring. We are open to all suggestions, so contact us, management guys (we don't have any manager) - talkingbushmusic@gmail.com

Q: Any parting words?
10. Be able to release your thoughts.
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https://soundcloud.com/talkingbushmusic
https://www.facebook.com/talkingbushmusic

Nothing is Real with Snoww Crystal - An Interview

Uma das grandes revelações de 2015 certamente são os austríacos do Snoww Crystal.

O single de estreia One Sided/Nothing is Real é simplesmente magistral, duas preciosidades nesse universo shoegazer recente.

Muito longe de algumas enganações que descambam para o lado etéreo e insosso, o Snoww Crystal vai e atinge profundamente o resultado através de claras conexões com MBV e Slowdive mas muito longe de mera cópia, o Snoww Crystal é daquela seleta estirpe de novas bandas que pega suas influências e as transforma em pérolas de ruído branco sem nunca soar cansativo.

Esperamos mais material urgentemente.

***** Interview with Snoww Crystal *****

Q. When did Snoww Crystal started, tell us about the history...
I had the idea to form a band like Snoww Crystal for a very long time,  but only in the spring of 2012 I found the right moment to make it happen for real. And all the musicians I asked to be part in the band found it interesting and joined. We started with some very basic ideas and jam sessions, and throughout the time of rehearsing the band developed its own style. We had our debut show in March 2013, with a slightly different band line-up.

Q: Who are your influences?
It might come as no surprise, and it might not seem very exotic at all in this context, but I've been listenning to MBV's 'Loveless' intensively throughout the past years. Also Ride's 'Going Blank Again'
was some sort of revelation to me some time ago. And apart from just music, I drew much inspiriation from the sky and the stars, wind and weather, hopes and disappointments. And love.

Q. Make a list of 5 albums of all time?
My Bloody Valentine - Loveless
Ride - Going Blank Again
The Jesus And Mary Chain - Psychocandy
Fennesz - Endless Summer
Sun Glitters - Everything Could Be Fine

Q. How do you feel playing live?
Great!

Q. How do you describe Snoww Crystal sounds?
Hmmm... maybe I would describe it as fuzzy, dreamy, shimmering,  blurry, hypnotic, floating, ethereal, eerie, wintry. Something like that.

Q: Tell us about the process of recording the songs?
We haven't recorded an album yet... we released a 7" shortly before  Christmas 2013. We did the recordings ourselves at the rehearsal space, and the started replacing the instrumental parts that weren't really satisfactory with the best possible takes. At the end we recorded the vocals. So basically the recordings we have are a kind of patchwork. And since we're six people in the band, all busy at different times of the day and the week and also busy with other bands, and 2 people even have kids now, we just never found the time to record a whole album. Let's hope for the future!

Q. Which new bands do you recommended
There are so many... personally I would recommend the 'Revolution - The Shoegaze Revival' compilation out on Ear To Ear Records and their bandcamp site. And check out Mile Me Deaf, an Austrian psychedelic Dreampop band.

Q: Which bands would you love to make a cover version of?
I could think of a few, but I'll keep that as a secret :)

Q: What´s the plan for the future....
Rehearsing, recording, gigging... nothing really fixed yet. We'll see!

Q: Any parting words?
I want all capitalist corporate companies, intelligence agencies, corrupt bankers and dishonest politicians to be sent off to Mars to save our little planet from dying.
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Thanks

https://soundcloud.com/snowwcrystal
https://www.facebook.com/snowwcrystal

Figuras Cosmicas with Aire Espacial - An Interview

Da Califórnia vem o trio Aire Espacial, que em julho passado soltou seu debute intitulado Figuras Cosmicas, navegando e viajando entre o shoegazer o space com doses de pós punk principalmente em sua cozinha pesada, rítmica com baixo predominando fortemente, sendo o fio condutor para as inserções das guitarras sempre ruidosas sem soar barulhentas, perpetuando uma viagem com orientação interestelar. 

Detalhe para as letras todas em espanhol. Uma bela estreia.

***** Interview with Aire Espacial *****

Q. When did Aire Espacial started, tell us about the history...
In 2009 it was started by Carlos (guitars/vocals) and Ivan (Drums) later on joined by Juan (bass) who happened to be Ivan's friend since they were young. We live in Fresno, CA a city located in the Central Valley. Mostly the band started as a necessity, I guess we were all tired of being in other bands that weren't doing anything interesting, and wanted to do something more ethereal and different. Really didn't knew if it was going to be an actual band or just a side project for jamming. But 5 -6 years later here we are, as a serious band, still trying to do interesting music. We don't know if we have actually done anything interesting yet, but keep on trying....

Q: Who are your influences?
Lots and lots! we are lucky enough to be influenced by our Latin culture, which in a way gives us the chance to mix lots of sounds. But as a more to bands that we enjoy are Cocteau Twins, Slowdive, Ride, My Bloody Valentine, Joy Division, The Cure, the Jesus and Mary Chain, Soda Stereo from Argentina, you know the classics that made us start in this genre. But we are always looking for new bands and music that certainly influence us as well. A place to bury strangers, m83, sigur ros, The horrors, Airiel just to mention some of the more well known from the new generation. It would be cynical not listen to new bands given that we are a new band , and that's exactly what we want ... To be listened to .... Spread our music

Q. Make a list of 5 albums of all time…
Don't know if this will be of all time, I guess the list always changes but albums that influenced our latest LP it would be:
Cocteau Twins - Heaven or Las Vegas
Smashing Pumpkins- Adore
Slowdive - Souvlaki
Soda Stereo - Dynamo
The Cure - Disintegration

Q. How do you feel playing live?
For us is always something kind of hypnotic, we love to improvise a lot and extend our songs, so we never know what kind of sounds are going to re-emerge in between the actual songs. We think we are a band with a lot of music chemistry among us 3 ... the sound that we create Is kind of a sensation of release of stress and other cool emotions

Q. How do you describe Aire Espacial sounds?
Rough... Melodic .... With a lot of space and atmospheric sounds. Flirts a little with pop and psychedelic stuff... But we always like to describe our sound as kind of "savage"

Q: Tell us about the process of recording the songs ?
Well for this new album we recorded all guitars, bass and synths sounds ourselves. All the drums and vocals with a recording engineer from here Fresno, CA named Eric Peters who also did the mixing and mastering at his studio. Our new album "Figuras Cosmicas" (which means Cosmic Figures) took almost two years to be completed. We wanted to take our time, and also was a way to spread our budget to record it. We stopped a lot during the two years to be able to complete it as good as possible, and to save some money by making it gradually. We also wanted to have a co-producer other than ourselves which Eric did an amazing job at it. We think it came out really good, we like it... and hopefully people like it to ...

Q. Which new bands do you recommended?
Uff there is lots of really good bands out here, we really enjoy Be Forest, Vibragun, Ringo Deathstarr, the sleepover disaster, Seasurfer, Flyying Clours to mention a few, we are probably forgetting more we like to mention and later on going to regret it. Please listen to new bands, there is really really really good ones out there.

Q: Which band would you love to made a cover version of?
This is a really hard question because we are always afraid of ruining a song .... lol ... Have lots of respect for the work of others. Always wanted to do a noise, space-shoegazy version of one of Gustavo Cerati or Soda Stereo songs. We'll do it some day probably. Who knows maybe even a Slowdive cover if we are brave enough...

Q: What are your plans for the future?
So far to spread out music to as manny places as possible and maybe hopefully go to some of those places to play live. We currently don't have a label, and if someone is interested we would like to work with one to be able to spread our music. We are also already writing new songs for our next work which probably is going to be an EP not a full album. Maybe with some English tracks on it since we live in the U.S. and is also part of our culture. But nothing is set in stone yet...

Q: Any parting words?
Thanks to "The Blog That Celebrates Itself " for considering us for this interview and to the readers you can find us in all the social networks that rule out world nowadays Facebook, Twitter, Soundcloud, etc.. Just search for Aire Espacial, and there will be links to our music and shows. Keep on supporting all the new and interesting projects out there...
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Thanks

https://aireespacial.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Aire-Espacial/

Cupid Come with Everyone but Me - An Interview

Uma das mais belas surpresas desse 2015 certamente é o Everyone But Me.

A estreia deles, um k7 belíssimo e altamente inspirado contendo cinco exercícios de texturas hipnóticas, ruidosos sonhadores, com claras e fortes conexões com MBV porém sem a experimentação extrema de Mr Shields, o Everyone but Me caminha em seu ep numa direção atual e fantástica.

Um dos grandes eps desse ano.

***** Interview with Everyone but Me *****

Q. When did Everyone but me started, tell us about the history...
We've been talking about this project for year and finally got started in 2013. It took us some time, but we finally made it happen!

Q: Who are your influences?
There are many. MBV, Slowdive, Tamaryn (Rex Shelverton), Starflyer 59, No Joy, Ringo Deathstarr, Depreciation Guild, Smashing Pumpkins...

Q. Make a list of 5 albuns of all time…
That's tough...here are 5 great albums:
1) The White Album - The Beatles
2) Loveless - My Bloody Valentine
3) Synchronicity - The Police
4) Gold - Starflyer 59
5) Adore - Smashing Pumpkins

Q. How do you feel playing live?
There is nothing like the feeling of playing music you've poured yourself into for an audience who connects to it.

Q. How do you describe Eveyrone but Me sounds?
It's a textured wall of sound. It's more about the whole feel and vibe than any one part. Noisy and swirly, but rooted in pop.

Q: Tell us about the process of recording the songs ?
We basically hang out at Nick's house over a beverage or two and write and record in his home studio. All DIY.

Q. Which new bands do you recommended? That's tough to answer, there are so many to discover. We are all about digging deep. There are gems all over the place.

Q: Which band would you love to made a cover version of?
Can't say for sure, but we're suckers for New Wave so I'm sure there is something there, ha!

Q: What´ your plans for the future?.
We play to continue to write and record and are looking forward to playing out more and more.

Q: Any parting words?
We are very appreciate to you and all who have taken an interest in us and our music. It's very exciting to see the shoegaze community around the world embrace us. Thank you!
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Thanks

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

Ephemeral with Starnoise - An Interview

Starnoise é um projeto de James C onde ele é o faz tudo, grava, mixa, compõe e expurga seus demônios através de um lento e sujo shoegazer lo fi.

Ecos de psicodelia são notadas no mais recente álbum, Ephemeral, lançado agora em janeiro pega exatamente seu lado shoegazer e o deixa fluir além da característica sempre lo fi com nuances de neo psicodelismo deixando o resultado mais saboroso ainda.

Detalhe na entrevista para a citação dos brasileiros do My Magical Glowing Lens, Catavento e Descartes, que se você não conhece, deveria conhecer.

Boa viagem, sempre relaxadaMENTE com o Starnoise.

 ***** Interview with Starnoise *****

Q. When did Starnoise start, tell us about the history...

I release most of the solo music I’ve done in the past five years under the name Starnoise. I released 3 EPs by 2013 when I put the project to rest and started a band called Psychic Fair with a friend of mine, Taylor, and two exchange students from Brazil, Leo and Dimi, that were in Kansas for a semester. The band only lasted half a year because they went back to Brazil and the other member moved to LA. After that I was back to being solo, but I gained a new perspective on music. I used what I learned from being in a band to record Ephemeral. Most of the themes on this record are about the times I had playing with a band.

Q: Who are your influences?
I’ve always been influenced by bands like Mogwai, The Microphones/Mount Eerie, Smashing Pumpkins and Interpol. For my new record I was starting to get into more psychedelic music since that is what everyone else in Psychic Fair was listening to at the time. The old influences are still there, but psych music like Thee Oh Sees, Ty Segall, and Hendrix played a larger role in influencing the sound of Ephemeral.

Q. Make a list of 5 albums of all time…
1. Toro y Moi – Causers of This
2. Interpol – Turn on The Bright Lights
3. Microphones – The Glow Pt 2
4. Belle and Sebastian – If You’re Feeling Sinister
5. Yuck - Yuck

Q. How do you feel playing live?
It is a very scary thing for me. A lot of my recordings are improvised and I am solo so it’s hard to be able to recreate the songs live. At this point I’ve not played live as Starnoise, but it’s something that is in the works. With my old band, Psychic Fair, it was a lot less stressful because you have three other people for support, but there is always a bit of stage fright. There is usually a point for me in the set where I go from being nervous to really having fun and enjoying myself.

Q. How do you describe Starnoise sounds?
I have lot of post punk and shoegaze influence in my sound. With my new album I was going for a straight psychedelic sound, but I would always get feedback from people describing the songs as shoegaze, so I guess it’s inescapable for me.

I am working on some new material that I’ve been describing as Zengazer. It’s sort of a mix of trippy meditative sounds with really lush ethereal textures played entirely with an electric ukulele. We will see if it catches on hahaha.

Q: Tell us about the process of recording the album?
I would come home every day from work last summer, jam out on my guitar while drinking this dirt cheap apple flavored beer. After a while it makes you sick, I think that was integral to the sound of my album. Some of the recordings weren’t very good so I wasn’t going to use them, but then I reversed the tracks and it completely worked so they ended up being used on the album in a new form.

Q. Which new bands do you recommend?
Of course I have to shout out all of my friends in Brazil with Honey Bomb Records… Catavento, My Magical Glowing Lens, and Descartes. Also my bro in LA, No Pillow For Sobaka.

Q: Which bands would you love to make a cover version of?
Recently I’ve wanted to put together a collaborative cover album of Pavement – Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain. I don’t know if I could find enough people to do it, but it would be amazing if it happened.

Q: What are your plans for the future?
I do a bit of web design and I’ve come up with a text based website for my music. I want to release some music through this kind of interactive game on the site. I have the whole thing coded already, all that is left is to record the music. I’m also in the middle of creating a set to play live and maybe getting a live band together. I have some songs ready for my release I’m calling “ZENGAZER” that I will try to put out maybe after the vinyl for Ephemeral comes out. Look out for that vinyl soon, it should be nice.

Q: Any parting words?
Shoegaze makes me feel some type of way.
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Thanks

https://starnoise.bandcamp.com/
https://godrecordsgardenofdreams.bandcamp.com/album/starnoise-ephemeral
https://soundcloud.com/starnoise/concrete-life

Le chaos de l'histoire with L´Ordre d´Heloise - An Interview

L´Ordre d´Heloise é um duo francês que não há como negar, já nos primeiros acordes de seu debute Le chaos de l'histoire, lançado em 2014 fica absolutamente claro por onde eles caminham, darkwave, pos punk, cold wave, com tendências explicitamente trevosas.

Conexões com os baluartes do gênero são facilmente encontradas durante as quatorze faixas do sombrio e bom álbum.

Grata surpresa na saga do TBTCI, vale a audição para fãs das trevas.

***** Interview with L´Ordre d´Heloise *****

Q. When did L'Ordre d'Héloïse started, tell us about the history...
I met Frédéric front of the school in 1992, my look left no room for doubt about the fact that I loved The Cure! He was also a fan. He left the band in which he played to join my group "Black Scream". Then we decided to make our own music instead of covers... The group was renamed "L'ordre d'Héloïse". Frédéric mainly deals with the composition, I take care of the texts. Gradually, however, the tasks are divided equally.

During a long time, we have no more produced a lot, working life, family ... Resumed routine shelved passion ... But we have not disbanded the band, At the beginning of 2013, it seemed vital to work on a new album, that could witness also our lives that collapsed ... It is from this collapse that were born the lyrics and music of the album "Le chaos de l’ histoire" ...

At the death of Frédéric in early 2014, I began to try to publicize the group, perhaps just to honor him because he was my mentor, my role model and an incredible musician.

Jérôme joined the group at the end of 2014, we keep on the adventure together. Some friends also help us. Without them, I think that the adventure would not have taken such a dimension… Particulary Lory, who takes care of the promotion and give always good advices, Greg our webmaster and Kat our photographer. It's a sort of friendly collective and that's what we love more.

Q: Who are your influences?
The influences are many, musically The Cure, Joy Division, The Chameleons, The Cranes, Dead can dance and, of course, others, like Trisomie21, Norma Loy, Indochine…

The influences are also literary, some authors marked my life, like Camus and Sartre mainly, but I can as well quote others Duras,, Conan Doyle, Poe, Shelley... And for modern Frank Herbert or Alain Damasio...

Jérôme has influences resolutely more "rock" than mine, but finally I think that it is an enrichment..

Q. Make a list of 5 albums of all time…
Here is my playlist (Alain) :
1- The Cure "Faith"
2- Joy Division "Unknown pleasures"
3- Cranes "forever"
4- The Chameleons "Script of the bridge"
5- Dead can dance "Within the realm of a Dying Sun"

And the one of Jérôme :
1 - Jeff Buckley "Grace"
2 - Jimmy Hendrix "Are you experienced ?"
3 - Nirvana "Nevermind"
4 - Led Zeppelin "IV"
5 - Mark Lanegan "Blues funeral"

Q. How do you feel playing live?
Considering our current line up (duo), considering our age and considering our lives both personal and professional, we have de facto, became a studio band. You can never say never, but for having played some concerts in the past, I know the personal investment which it requires and it would be a lie t to say that it will possible in the short-term.

Q. How do you describe L'Ordre d'Héloïse sounds?
Even if we try to vary our creations, it is true that our music may be described in a general way by saying that it’s based on a strong bassline, several guitars often baritones, a little bit of rhythmic guitar and some sounds of analog synthesizers or with analog modulation... My voice is quite low and disenchanted...

Q: Tell us about the process of recording the songs ?
Everything starts always from the text… I write the text, and I propose a first musical version to Jérôme. Then we improve then the track and make several other versions, until we are satisfied. Sometimes we ask the opinion of Lory, that allows us to be confronted with a listener not involved in the creation process.

Q. Which new bands do you recommended?
The Black Hotel's Doorkeepers (The B.H.D.) the band of David Droz, because it’s excellent for the music, and also because on the human side, David is really an extraordinary boy (https://soundcloud.com/the-bhd-2).

Seven Pages for a Hedgehog, because we made some collaboration and we count to make it again and also there it’s full of talent and kindness (https://soundcloud.com/sevenpagesforahedgehog).

All the musical projects of my friend Lory with the composers who use her lyrics... (https://soundcloud.com/loredana-fayer/sets/dusky-sounds)

And also other bands, who have a great talent like Verney 1826 (https://soundcloud.com/verney1826), The illusion of silence (https://soundcloud.com/the-illusion-of-silence), Retrograff by who we adore the covers of The Cure with the shades of the Canadian accent (https://soundcloud.com/daniel-hamelin-1), Happiness Project (http://www.happinessproject.fr/)...

Q: Which band would you love to made a cover version of?
The Cure Obviously, and we have already made some, but it is always the same happiness to plunge ourselves into one of their piece. Recently, we made a cover of Joy Division, one of The Cranes, one of Daniel Darc... We love that exercise, so to answer the question, I shall say The Chameleons, I would adore playing a piece as the skin second or don’t fall while trying to pour a little our D.N A.there.

Q: What´s the plans for future....
Our album "Après le chaos" should be published on tape in september for a russian label. We already work on the following album that should be titled " "A la folie". The main plan, it is to keep on making some music and take so much pleasure from that. We are amateur, and what brings the music in our lives is essential.

Q: Any parting words?
Here are the links to find us on internet
Soundcloud : https://soundcloud.com/lordre-dh-lo-se
Bandcamp : https://lordredheloise.bandcamp.com/album/le-chaos-de-lhistoire
Facebook page : https://www.facebook.com/lordredheloise
Reverbnation : https://www.reverbnation.com/lordredh%C3%A9lo%C3%AFse?profile_view_source=header_icon_nav
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Thanks

From Under the Cloud with Astral Tide - An Interview

A audição dos alemães do Astral Tide é uma poderosa viagem ruidosa com tonalidades cinzentas e ambiências perturbadores.

Pos punk com art noise e shoegazer sem pender para nenhum dos lados, o Astral Tide fica exatamente na linha tênue que os três estilos podem se encontrar.

O Astral Tide é desses pérolas escondidas no submundo dos bons sons que precisam ser acompanhas de perto. O resultado é intenso.

***** Interview with Astral Tide *****

Q. When did Astral Tide start? Tell us about the history...
MP: Jonas moved from Copenhagen to London a few years ago to join a band I was in, and we ended up moving to Berlin to set up a studio and start something new. After a year of writing but generally failing to get our shit together we miraculously found everyone else in a two-week period over Christmas ‘14, then we started to work quite quickly.

"From Under the Cloud” was recorded before we met the others, we drafted in our friend Nacho on guitar, Jonas wrote the synth line and we had our friend Michael chipping in on backing vocals. It was a bit of a last minute scramble to make the most of a studio booking but I think it worked out.

MM: For me, when I contacted them and we had our first rehearsal I discovered that I wasn't the only new member, but there were another two. At the beginning it was a bit weird, ‘cause it seemed like we’d played together for years, really good vibes. It was like as if we’d found each other in the right moment at the right place. We immediately understood that it could work between us, it was really intense and simple.

MP: Recorded on a similarly tight schedule a couple of weeks after we’d met Mark, Stephan and Martino, "Glimpses" and "Haunt You” were the first songs we put down as a five piece. We’ve only played a couple of shows so far.

Q: Who are your influences?
JD: Hüsker Dü, Lifelover, Zappa, Aphex Twin, Venetian Snares, AR Kane, Swirlies, Lightning Bolt, anything from doom-lounge to erotic speedcore. The list is endless. I always try to embrace all kinds of different music and not think too much of genres. It’s all the same anyway, just different wrappings.

MP: It’s tough to say what exactly influences us, but I love Wire, The Cure, The Fall, Mark Lanegan’s voice, The Wave Pictures’ storytelling, David Thomas Broughton’s vocabulary, John Maus, Bowie, Zounds, Penny Rimbaud…

MM: My Bloody Valentine, Joy Division, Swans, Pixies.

Q. Make a list of 5 albums of all time…
MP: This is the toughest question! These are probably the albums we’ve listened to together the most.

Unwound – Leaves Turn Inside You
Talk Talk – Laughing Stock (and Spirit of Eden)
The Chameleons – The Script of the Bridge
Slint – Spiderland
The Cure – Disintegration

Q. How do you feel playing live?
MY: Playing live is really important to us, one of the best ways to expose new people to our music. Aside from that it's a great release of pent up energy and frustration. It's tribal.

MM: It's like sharing a moment where each member can add a different layer of sound in order to keep our music on a higher level.

JD: I like the shamanic experience of playing live, two become one. It’s best when it is complete chaos.

MP: I’m in a bit of a trance most of the time, I should probably open my eyes a little more.

Q. How do you describe Astral Tide’s sounds?
JD: Too much of everything!

MP: Jonas calls our sound dream-punk, which I quite like.

MM: The wall of sound we create gives me the idea it's like a wave that never stops, that hides many different shades.

MY: Like a psychedelic, sonic wave crashing down over the beach of your soul.

MP: This is going to sound pretentious but to me it’s like a soundtrack to the end of the world, that’s where the band name comes from anyway. It almost feels we’re at a tipping point in time and a massive global shift is inevitable, whether it be climate change, war, revolutions, meteor showers! It’s definitely apocalyptic music.

Songs in the set like “Wrongfoot” and “Blissful Agony” are eerier, darker and more sinister than what we’ve put out so far, and much more interesting for it I think. The EP we’re about to record will be a much better portrayal of the band, as we’ve played together for six months now.

Q: Tell us about the process of recording the songs?
MM: I don't think it's different from other bands. We work a lot on the material we have and when we really feel that the song is ready we record it in the studio.

MP: We recorded the drums and bass together first then layered the rest, and kept a lot of the guide guitars. We’re really picky about our sound so the mixing and mastering process took a while, especially with “Glimpses" and "Haunt You" as there’s so much going on with all five of us. There was a lot to deal with.

We’ve recorded everything so far at Golden Retriever in Kreuzberg with Felix-Florian Tödtloff (from the black metal band Sun Worship) engineering and mixing, and we’ve been mastering with Freddy Knop at Listeners.

Q. Which new bands do you recommend?
JD: Fat White Family.

MP: Sleaford Mods too. What excites me most are artists that hold a mirror up to society which can’t be ignored as there’s so much truth in it. I think it’s easy to be angry, but it’s not so easy to do it in an original way and hit the nail on the head. Regardless of ‘genre’ that’s pure punk to me. Sleaford Mods would definitely hate us though, and I’d expect nothing less!

Also Fumaça Preta, The Limiñanas, Pinkshinyultrablast, BATALJ, Land Observations, Grumbling Fur, Diät, Warm Graves, Cozmik Onion Express 2.91414.

MM: Viet Cong.

MY: Physics House Band, Goat, Alarmist.

JD: Also Dorias Baracca, really intense and beautiful shoegaze hailing from Denmark, and Blaue Blume, friends of mine and one of the most interesting new Scandinavian bands.

Q: Which band would you love to make a cover version of?
JD: Mr Mister – Broken Wings.

MM: I don't know, I've never been so fond of covering other bands songs.

MP: I’m not into doing covers either, except on my own with a guitar or ukulele. It would have to be something that has nothing to do with our sound so we could flip on its head and make it our own. I don’t think I’d ever want to cover something I actually like.

Q: What are your plans for the future?
MM: Play a lot, record an EP and start touring.

MY: Record, gig, tour, enjoy being alive.

MP: There’s our first headline show at Tiefgrund in Berlin on 7th August, and we've got a couple of things ready to put out; the video for “Glimpses” which was made by audiovisual artist (and our live VJ) Dafne Narvaez, and the third song "Haunt You". We’re recording our debut EP at the end of the summer, trying to get that out on a decent label and hopefully a tour of some sort in the autumn.

Q: Any parting words?
MP: Thanks for reading this far. Look out for our new releases and check out some of the bands we mentioned if you don’t know them already. Peace x
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Thanks

https://soundcloud.com/astral-tide
https://www.facebook.com/astraltideband

Everything Stays the Same with The Stillwalkers - An Interview

Os finlandeses do The Stillwalkers pela qualidade, elegância e tato por conceber peças do mais perfeito pop deveria sim estar encabeçando as publicações especializadas ou no topo dos festivais.

Primeiro um EP, Fortune de 2012 e o agora seu debute o álbum homônimo que dá todos os contornos para a construção de um grande disco de indie rock de verdade, muito acima das baboseiras que usualmente nos jogam para digerir goela abaixo.

Não deixe de saborear o que o The Stillwalkers preparou neste belo e certamente forte candidato a virar um disco obscuro admiro apenas por iniciados.

***** Interview with The Stillwalkers *****

Q. When did The Stillwalkers started, tell us about the history...
T: Well Marko and I have known each other since we where kids. We’ve played together in different bands, but The Stillwalkers is actually our first ‘real’ band. We were looking for a drummer and luckily we met Iiro, who had just moved to Turku. So the band started as a trio sometime in 2010 here in Turku. Then Ninni (trumpet) came along, and after a while we released our first record, Everytune EP in early 2013. Now there are five of us, as my brother Julius (keys) joined the band over a year ago. For a while we were a sextet, but our trombone player left the band few weeks ago.

Q: Who are your influences?
M: I think we all like all kinds of music. When I started playing guitar 20 years ago it was mostly metal music and especially this finnish power metal band Stratovarius. It was very melodic music and I think it has been more influential than I give it credit for. Nowadays I like all kinds of music with great melodies.

T: Yeah, it really doesn’t matter whether it’s indie rock, metal, jazz or everything in between as long as there are good melodies and something that touches. Generally The Stillwalkers has always been about making our own music, playing our own songs. It took few years to figure out our sound and our own way to make music. But now it seems that making new music is getting easier and easier.

Q. Make a list of 5 albums of all time…
T: That’s always a very difficult thing to do. But if I narrow it down to my favourite rock albums, then the list would look something like this:

The National - Alligator / The Posies - Amazing Disgrace / Mew - Frengers / Coheed And Cambria - Second Stage Turbine Blade / Radiohead – The Bends

M: Four Star Mary - Thrown to the wolves / Pedro the Lion - Control / Mew - Frengers /  Stratovarius - Episode / The Twilight Sad - Fourteen autumns and fifteen winters

Q. How do you feel playing live?
M: Well, It’s getting easier each time.

Q. How do you describe The Stillwalkers sounds?
M: Maybe melodic guitar rock/pop? I don't really think it that much. If I think it's good it's enough.

T: Yeah, I guess it’s just some sort of melodic guitar rock.

Q: Tell us about the process of recording the songs ?
M: We recorded everything separately. First drums then bass, guitars, vocals, brass, keyboards and then some more guitars and keyboards and what ever we felt was still missing. I think it's kind of a normal way to make records these days. We had some difficulties but I think that the whole recording process wasn't that tense because we sometimes had weeks between the sessions. And I also think it was again very educational because we are not professionals when it comes to recording and mixing and I think the next album is going to be lot easier to pull together.

T: We really must give credit to Marko, who recorded and mixed the whole album. That’s why the album really sounds like us and not like any other band.

Q. Which new bands do you recommended?
M: I like this Finnish band called Delay Trees very much. Although it's not that new anymore, but I think it should be more known around the world.

T: Lately I’ve been listening to bands that aren’t necessarily that new, but they’re still well worth checking out. Canadian band The Deep Dark Woods is one of them; they really know how to make great records. And Citizen’s album Youth (2013) is very good too. I guess they’ve just released new album too but I haven’t heard it yet.

Q: Which band would you love to made a cover version of?
M: We’ve played some covers: Four Star Mary, The Cure and Pedro the Lion but we have never recorded them. But if we would, then maybe we would start with those.

Q: What´s the plans for future....
M: To play more gigs and then start recording the next album or ep. Or maybe both.

T: As I mentioned before, it seems that we come up with new songs and ideas whenever we play together. At the moment we’ve got 5–8 new songs waiting to be recorded. But we’d love to play more gigs too and spread the word.

Q: Any parting words?
T: Thanks for the interview Renato, keep up the good work!

M: Spread The Stillwalkers message around!
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Thanks

https://soundcloud.com/thestillwalkers
https://www.facebook.com/thestillwalkers

Last Train To Satansville with Skullsquadron - An Interview

Dos subúrbios de Marrickville, Sidney na Austrália vem o ruidoso e guitarreiro Skullsquadron, trio que bebe e bebe muito na fonte de Mr Adam Franklyn e seu Swervedriver.

Sinking The Ghost Ship seu último single com Tomorrow Morning e This X Forever não deixam dúvida alguma, Mezcal Head é disco de cabeceira dos caras bem como Ejector Seat Reservation, a conexão fica fortíssima em This X Forever, mas essa reverência do Skullsquadron vai além da pura cópia, porque junte ao todo o barulho uma melancolia quase pós punk, o que dá o tempero perfeito pros som dos caras.

Bandaça pra ficar de olhos e ouvidos atentos.

***** Interview with Skullsquadron *****

Q. When did Skullsquadron started, tell us about the history...
A. Dave + Anthony were the rhythm section of a killer band called Ides Of Space, they were looking to do something new and needed a bass player which is where I came in. We've been playing since about 2008 or 2007.

Q: Who are your influences?
A. The usual stuff, you can imagine our record collections I'm sure. Ha ha, Creation Records, Kranky. 4AD, Beggars Banquet, Thrill Jockey are all well represented. We watch a lot of tv series, the style of certain shows can give us a cool vibe to go with. Did you see Black Mirror? Incredible.

Q. Make a list of 5 albums of all time…
A. This list would change every 3 seconds, but for now...
5. Sisters Of Mercy - First And Last And Always
4. The Cure - Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me
3. Swervedriver - Mescal Head
2. June of 44 - 4 Great Points
1. MBV - Isn't Anything

Q. How do you feel playing live?
A. Half dreamy half sweaty. We tend to go for it. Making loud music feels awesome when you play in the moment.

Q. How do you describe Skullsquadron sounds?
A. Sad but optimistic, super fuzzy and great guitar sounds. Solid jams, bring earplugs....

Q: Tell us about the process of recording the songs ?
A. Anthony and Dave know their way around a studio so it's pretty much done ourselves. We don't really involve many other people in the process. Take time finding good sounds and keep things chilled, try things with different mics and amps. We like to keep our options open

Q. Which new bands do you recommended? A.
I dig Cheetahs, they keep putting out cool stuff. What else, Liz Harris has a new band called Helen. Erik Blood is great too.

Q: Which band would you love to made a cover version of?
A. We do a pretty mean Reverence cover. Ha ha. Maybe something goth like The Sisters Of Mercy, Death In June or The Chameleons.

Q: What´s the plans for future....
A. Release some music, we've got a bunch of stuff we can't wait for people to hear. Play some more shows, always cool to play shows.

Q: Any parting words?
A. Be excellent to each other, Come see us live.
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Thanks

https://skullsquadron.bandcamp.com
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Skullsquadron