First Listen: Trudgers / Vehicle Blues Split.

02 May 2011 — Henning Lahmann

Last night, I finally received the soundfiles of the eagerly awaited split release between Chicago, Illinois shoegaze devotee Gabe Holcombe aka Vehicle Blues and the musically more, say, pragmatic but by no means less passionate California dude Brent Mitzner, known for the honest and bare lo-fi rock'n'roll he creates as Trudgers. And the term "split release" never made more sense, as it is not only an artistic but also a commercial collaboration, the C32 being put out jointly by Brent's and Gabe's very own little imprints, Hi Shadow Records and Lillerne Tapes, respectively. Take an exclusive listen to one track by each artist below, Trudger's gloomy and carthartic Dead Geranium and Gabe's devastatingly beautiful East River Pipe cover Sleeping With Tallboy, and go here for details on how to order one of the wonderfully crafted tapes. Trudgers - Dead Geranium (Version) Vehicle Blues - Sleeping With Tallboy (East River Pipe Cover) Read more → Last night, I finally received the soundfiles of the eagerly awaited split release between Chicago, Illinois shoegaze devotee Gabe Holcombe aka Vehicle Blues and the musically more, say, pragmatic but by no means less passionate California dude Brent Mitzner, known for the honest and bare lo-fi rock'n'roll he creates as Trudgers. And the term "split release" never made more sense, as it is not only an artistic but also a commercial collaboration, the C32 being put out jointly by Brent's and Gabe's very own little imprints, Hi Shadow Records and Lillerne Tapes, respectively. Take an exclusive listen to one track by each artist below, Trudger's gloomy and carthartic Dead Geranium and Gabe's devastatingly beautiful East River Pipe cover Sleeping With Tallboy, and go here for details on how to order one of the wonderfully crafted tapes. Trudgers - Dead Geranium (Version) Vehicle Blues - Sleeping With Tallboy (East River Pipe Cover)

Vektroid: “Planetary Zones”.

02 May 2011 — Henning Lahmann

Literally stellar tune by Washington State-based electronic producer Vektroid. Planetary Zones is the latest track to leak from Vektroid's forthcoming debut full-length Starcalc, which is gonna be "an experimental response to artists like Com Truise and Ford & Lopatin and the late 80s new age/soundscape movements", according to the artist. A lot of analogue synth chirps we find here indeed, heavily reminiscing early arcade game soundtracks, all slightly dark, with some splendid hip hop beat patterns to keep the whole thing tight and nicely fraying towards the end after the princess has been rescued. Starcalc will be out May 13 though Vektroid's bandcamp. Vektroid - Planetary Zones Read more → Literally stellar tune by Washington State-based electronic producer Vektroid. Planetary Zones is the latest track to leak from Vektroid's forthcoming debut full-length Starcalc, which is gonna be "an experimental response to artists like Com Truise and Ford & Lopatin and the late 80s new age/soundscape movements", according to the artist. A lot of analogue synth chirps we find here indeed, heavily reminiscing early arcade game soundtracks, all slightly dark, with some splendid hip hop beat patterns to keep the whole thing tight and nicely fraying towards the end after the princess has been rescued. Starcalc will be out May 13 though Vektroid's bandcamp. Vektroid - Planetary Zones

Premiere: Apostles - “Centre Fade”.

02 May 2011 — Henning Lahmann

Hereford native Tom Sandwell, who's making pretty amazing post-whatever art rock under his solo moniker Apostles, had already psyched us back in March with the aural wonderlands named Glacial and Wasting Away, and now the dude returns with a double a-side digital single, dropped today via his newly installed bandcamp. Both tunes are considerably more upbeat than their predecessors and owe quite a lot to early 90s fuzz pop which is, as readers know, always enough to leave us happy. Listen to Centre Fade below, and then cop the slightly fiercer track Disconnect over here. Apostles - Centre Fade Read more → Hereford native Tom Sandwell, who's making pretty amazing post-whatever art rock under his solo moniker Apostles, had already psyched us back in March with the aural wonderlands named Glacial and Wasting Away, and now the dude returns with a double a-side digital single, dropped today via his newly installed bandcamp. Both tunes are considerably more upbeat than their predecessors and owe quite a lot to early 90s fuzz pop which is, as readers know, always enough to leave us happy. Listen to Centre Fade below, and then cop the slightly fiercer track Disconnect over here. Apostles - Centre Fade

Other Colors: “Make Your Move”.

02 May 2011 — Henning Lahmann

Completely fallen for this lonesome, melancholy-dripping "spectralist pop" gem by Baltimore, Maryland duo Other Colors, a slow-burning tune with devastating harmonies drenched in a low-profile, restrained fog of noise and reverb. Make Your Move appears on Other Colors' self-titled full-length which is out now via Genpop Records. You can order/stream the whole thing here. Other Colors - Make Your Move Read more → Completely fallen for this lonesome, melancholy-dripping "spectralist pop" gem by Baltimore, Maryland duo Other Colors, a slow-burning tune with devastating harmonies drenched in a low-profile, restrained fog of noise and reverb. Make Your Move appears on Other Colors' self-titled full-length which is out now via Genpop Records. You can order/stream the whole thing here. Other Colors - Make Your Move

Radiator Girls/Blackhawks: “Black Girls”.

02 May 2011 — Henning Lahmann

MJ MJ Records (Two Michael Jordans, no less) dropped their fourth-ever release last week, a split cassette between Radiator Girls aka Minneapolis, Minnesota-based Nicholas J.R. Henderson (no girl, no plural) with some lush and easy rock'n'roll, and our dearest Philadelphia outfit Blackhawks, the group that's featuring long-time NFOP favs Daniel Svizeny aka Cough Cool/Nude Beach and Yohsuke Araki aka BAnanas Symphony. Cop two tracks below, head over to the label's bandcamp to stream the whole thing and then grab one of the beautifully crafted tapes over here. Limited to 100. Radiator Girls - Eerie Body Blackhawks - More Rainbows (Spacemen 3 Cover) Read more → MJ MJ Records (Two Michael Jordans, no less) dropped their fourth-ever release last week, a split cassette between Radiator Girls aka Minneapolis, Minnesota-based Nicholas J.R. Henderson (no girl, no plural) with some lush and easy rock'n'roll, and our dearest Philadelphia outfit Blackhawks, the group that's featuring long-time NFOP favs Daniel Svizeny aka Cough Cool/Nude Beach and Yohsuke Araki aka BAnanas Symphony. Cop two tracks below, head over to the label's bandcamp to stream the whole thing and then grab one of the beautifully crafted tapes over here. Limited to 100. Radiator Girls - Eerie Body Blackhawks - More Rainbows (Spacemen 3 Cover)