Catch the Breeze with Whirr - An Interview

Diretamente do norte da California um petardo classicamente shoegazer, antes conhecido como Whirl mas que por motivos legais foi obrigado a alterar o nome para Whirr, o fato é que o 12" Distressor do ao passado, ainda sob a alcunha de Whirl foi um dos mais elogiados lançamentos shoegazers do ano, Slowdive, The Cure em doses cavalares para fazer a alegria dos saudosistas de plantão e xiitas aficionados por muralhas de guitarras mescladas com andamento pos punk e aquele ar etereo digno de virar obra prima para qualquer fã do genero. Agora o Whirr devidamente adotado pela Tee Pee joga no mercado um 7" absolutamente fantastico, June é o nome da maravilha Junebounvier e Sundae são verdadeiras perolas ainda mais grandiosas do que as canções de do Distressor, principalmente Junebounvier algo soberbo ecos de Ride, Slowdive, Moose estilhaçados por dentre a canção de pouco menos de 4 minutos, Sundae representa o lado etereo do Whirr, e novamente o TBTCI atraves de contatos imediatos, através de Nick, apresenta em primeira mão a história dessa pequena maravilhosa escondida no universo dos bons.

***** Interview with Whirr *****

Q. When did Whirr starts, tell us about the history...

A. Whirr began under the name Whirl and we had our first practice on Halloween of 2009. The band came together after I wrote demo versions of a few of the songs from the Distressor EP through a MIDI program called Tab It. I showed them to my friends (who all jammed and hung out regularly) and we decided to start a band. We recorded and put out a DIY demo cassette in January of 2010 with our friend Byanca Munoz on vocals.

After the positive response to the cassette, we took a more serious approach toward the band and began writing more songs together. In March 2010, we went into the studio with Jack Shirley at the Atomic Garden in Palo Alto, California and recorded seven songs, which would become the Distressor EP. Following the release of the Distressor EP, Byanca departed from the band, and in January of 2011 we found Alexandra Morte, who is our singer/keyboard player now. In February, we again went into the studio with Jack Shirley to record two songs which would be released as the June 7". Unfortunately, not long after we recieved an Email from an attorney representing another artist named "Whirl" who had trademarked the name, so we changed it to "Whirr". In the midst of the name change we received an offer from Tee Pee records and signed with them. They put out the June 7" in September and will be releasing our debut LP in early 2012.

Q. Make a list of your favorite 5 albums of all time…

A. In no particular order :

The Smiths - Self Titled

The Cure - Disintegration

Slowdive - Just for a day

Smashing Pumpklins - Siamese Dream

Dinosaur Jr - Green Mind

Q. How do you describe Whirr sounds?

A. I'm not sure how to describe our sound, early on we aimed for sort of Slowdive/MBV worship but with more of a pop song structure. However, now it's much more of all of our influences combined, while still adding our own touch to things.

Q. About Distressor ep, many many people consider one of the best records from last year, what´s your opinion?

A. We're all proud of the record and very thankful that people enjoy it.

Q: Tell us about the process of recording the new 7"?

A. There really wasn't much to it, ha ha. We wrote/jammed the songs together for a few weeks, then headed into the studio and live recorded the songs in a day.

Q. Which new bands do you recommended?

A. Yuck, Tears Run Rings, Nostalgist, Anne, Young Prisms, Broken Water, Weekend.

Q: Which bands you love to made a cover version?

A. I would love to cover : The Cure - A forest, Husker Du - Don't want to know if you're lonely and Foo Fighters - Everlong.

Q: What´s the plans for future....

A. Put out our debut LP on Tee Pee records in early 2012, hopefully do a full US tour and continue playing shows and writing songs.

Q: Any parting words?

A. Thanks so much for for the interview opportunity Renato, thanks to anyone who listens to/supports our band.

Shout outs :

Nostalgist, Anne, Deafheaven, DNF, Lycus, FDBVK, American Gods, Moonbeams, Traif Lip, Broken Water, Wife

*

*
*
Thanks Nick

www.facebook.com/whirrband
http://whirrband.tumblr.com/
http://whirrband.bandcamp.com/album/june

Psychotic Reaction with Teenage Mary - An Interview

Psicodelismo garageiro daqueles que só quem é iniciado sabe, essa é a maxima para a novidade encharcada de fuzz chamada Teenage Mary que ainda não lançou nada oficialmente mas já causa frisson por onde passou e obviamente o TBTCI sempre ligado nas grandes barulheiras nos quatro cantos do mundo, descolou através de contatos imediatos, este feito por Steven, guitarrista do combo. Srs, aprofundem-se no universo psicotico e freak do Teenage Mary.

***** Interview with Teenage Mary *****

Q. When did Teenage Mary start, tell us about the history...

A. We started out about 7 months ago, we always fancied starting a band up so we got together and started jamming. We are all into the same sort of music so it was easy to find our sound and we just started writing tunes and getting great feedback on them. We played our first gig in June and it went really well, we have recently played more gigs supporting the likes of the Lucid Dream and Dead Sons.

Q: Who are your influences?

A. Our main influences include bands like The Beatles, Brian Jonestown Massacre, Black Angles, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, The Verve, Jesus and Mary Chain, Spiritualized, Spacemen 3, The Velvet Underground and many more.

Q. Made a list of 5 albuns of all time.

A. This can change every week, but as a collective of the whole band:

The Beatles: Rubber Soul

Brian Jonestown Massacre: Strung Out In Heaven

Jesus and Mary Chain: Psychocandy

The Verve: A Northern Soul

Oasis: Definitely Maybe

Q. How do you feel playing live?

A. We love playing live, there isn't a better buzz for us than getting up on stage and playing our songs to an audience.

Q. How do you describe Teenage Mary sounds?

A: Our sound is dirty 'rock and roll' with a lot of fuzz and drones. There are a couple of new songs in the process of being completed at the moment that have dialed back the fuzz quite a lot.

Q: When is the first official release due?

A: We are looking at releasing our first EP in February/March time next year but we don't have an official date as of yet.

Q. Which new bands do you recommended?

A. The Lucid Dream, Wild Eyes, Toba Caldera and Minaret are all great bands and friends of ours.

Q: Which bands you love to made a cover version?

A: We currently do a cover of The La's: I Can't Sleep

Q: What´s the plans for future

A. Our plan is to release our EP and just keep playing as many gigs as we can and spread the word about us, hopefully get on some festivals next year also.

Q: Any parting words?

A: Thank you for taking the time to ask us these questions. You can find us and listen to our recordings on www.soundcloud.com and www.facebook.com/teenagemary

*
*
*
Thanks Steve and Teenage Mary

Krautpsychdrone with Eat Lights Become Lights - An Interview

Ouvir o debut Autopia do combo Eat Lights Become Lights é uma viagem sem precedentes ao mundo imaginario do kraut rock alemão clássico dos 70´s mais precisamente NEU!, Can e Faust passando pelas dissonantes trips de Spacemen 3 com pinceladas de shoegazer tudo isso atualizado e transportado para os dias de hoje. A trinca de abertura com Test Driver, Dark Matter e Machine Language deixa altamente ilustrado e clarissimo que estamos diante de uma pequena obra prima que poucos terão acesso, mas certamente quem estiver frente a frente com Autopia sera presenteado com uma audição riquissima, Dark Matter é a alma do album, um kraut noise em altissima rotação, torna-se predileta desde o inico, ainda tem Stargazer e White Horse para fazer de Autopia uns dos albuns do anos.

Como sou aficcionado pela sonoridade não houve como não fazer contato com Neil Rudd, guitarras, sintetizadores, loops, programming e outros barulhinhos mais e descolar essa entrevista exclusiva do já predileto Eat Lights Become Lights, entre e boa viagem.

***** Interview with Eat Lights Become Lights *****

Q. When did ELBL starts, tell us about the history...
A. ELBL started in around 2007/2008. I used to be in a band that did the standard post rock thing, quiet/loud, Explosions in the sky/Mogwai kinda thing. I've always been a massive fan of the German 70's bands that become know and grouped under the Krautrock banner. I'd always really loved the motorik beat and that fast forward kinda sound and interesting use of repetition.
So ELBL started out as side project but it quickly became evident that it was way more enjoyable doing the ELBL thing so I focused all my energies in this direction.

I'm a massive believer in getting the right people into a line up. Once you have them it makes the act of playing the music I write effortless as everyone is coming from the same influences and using the same musical language. You don't have to explain yourself with the right people, it becomes more an intuitive thing. I had a few line ups that really didn't work for one reason of another. But in the last few years I've been working with some people that really understand what is required and make the process fun.

Currently I'm putting together a new line up of ELB here in L.A and its really starting to come together. I've begun working with a really talented keys/synth player called Matt McMurray who has a fantastic analogue synth collection and is a great musician in his own right.


Q: Who are your influences?
A-I've a fairly broad range of influences, a lot of minimalist composers- Steve Reich, through to a lot of German 70's bands- Kraftwerk, Neu!, Can, Harmonia, Cluster, Popol Vuh as well as more contemporary bands such as Spacemen 3, Camera, Holy Fuck, Maserati, 12, K-X-P, Cave. I guess they all have a lot in common with each other as a lot of them explore the repetitive elements that I love.

Q. Make a list of your 5 albums of all time…
A-Impossible to limit it to 5 but I guess if I had to...
Brian Eno- Music for Airports
Steve Reich- Works !965-1995
Kraftwerk- Autobahn
Neu!- Neu!
Spacemen 3- Playing with Fire

Q. How do you feel playing live?
A. The live ELBL sound and the recorded sound are two very different things. When we play live we always try and make it that bit more immediate and heavier than the records. I've never been a fan of bands that just replicate what is on their records. I always like to see bands that are pushing their sounded further out there, improvising and experimenting on the fly. This for me is the most exciting time, when your not quite sure what is coming next- it si pure creativity.
I've played guitar quite a few times for Damo Suzuki, the sets are always 100% improvised and these for me are some of the most rewarding gigs I've ever done.

Q. How do you describe ELBL sounds?
A. Kraut-Psych-Drone

Q: Tell us about the process of recording the new album?
A. The new album sessions began earlier this year and its going pretty well right now. I've finished about 12 tracks and I've around another 10 to complete. Then I'll choose which will be going on the new record.

The process is always the same when I right. I generally start with a seed of an idea and build layers and layers of guitars and synths to the point where I've gone way to far. Then it become a reductive process of stripping back layers of sound till it reaches a point that I'm happy with.

Q. Which new bands do you recommended?
A. I'm a massive fan of a German band called Camera. I don't think there is any recorded output by them. They perform generally on the streets of Berlin. They are a 3 piece, guitar, keys, drums and its all, as far as I'm aware totally improvised. They have this incredible honesty in their music, it feels extremely pure. They really seem to get what it is to make this kind of music. There are loads of videos on Youtube of their street gigs. Its far to say I'm completely obsessed with them right now.

Q: Which bands you love to made a cover version?
A. Lou Reed- Metal Machine Music

Q: What´s the plans for future....
A. We are releasing a split 7" with a band called Cloudland Canyon on The Great Pop Supplement label early in 2012. They are an amazing band so I'm very excited to be a part of that. We did our last single with The Great Pop Supplement "Test Drive" which had a Silver Apples remix of the track on the flip side. It came out on square, green vinyl so I'm keen to see what we can do this time around. I've an idea about getting the needle to start at the centre and for the needle to travel out to the edge...We'll see.

After that the next album should be ready for release around March I think. This time around I've tried to strip back the ELBL sound. Less layers and a more direct approach to the sounds and rhythms. It currently feels like its a good follow up sonically to our last album AUTOPIA which came out earlier this year on Enraptured records.

Q: Any parting words?
A. Make music to make music, don't make music to become famous. Scenes come and go but the best music is timeless.
*
*
*
Thanks Neil Lights....

http://eatlightsbecomelights.bandcamp.com/album/autopia