Ryan Trott: “Dreamboat”.

30 May 2011 — Henning Lahmann

Here's a brand new tune by Brooklyn outfit Family Trees' Ryan Trott, attached to the news that sometime soon we're gonna see a new EP by the band as well as Wild Wonder, another solo offering by Trott himself. Ryan Trott - Dreamboat Read more → Here's a brand new tune by Brooklyn outfit Family Trees' Ryan Trott, attached to the news that sometime soon we're gonna see a new EP by the band as well as Wild Wonder, another solo offering by Trott himself. Ryan Trott - Dreamboat

Ellis Swan: “Frankie and Charlie”.

26 May 2011 — Henning Lahmann

At its core true-to-the-letter loner folk yet fuzzed out to the extreme and with quite a few twisted edges, Chicago-based artist Ellis Swan really got me with this slow-burning ballade about devotion in spite of reality and all other things that matter - reason among them. We've heard this story many times before, but it hurts each single time. Baby I love you so. (Photo) Ellis Swan - Frankie and Charlie Read more → At its core true-to-the-letter loner folk yet fuzzed out to the extreme and with quite a few twisted edges, Chicago-based artist Ellis Swan really got me with this slow-burning ballade about devotion in spite of reality and all other things that matter - reason among them. We've heard this story many times before, but it hurts each single time. Baby I love you so. (Photo) Ellis Swan - Frankie and Charlie

Act So Big Forest Compilation Vol. 2: Auriel.

26 May 2011 — Henning Lahmann

The incredible Colorado-based music collective Act So Big Forest has finally issued the much-anticipated second installment of their compilation series. The 2011 Spring Edition named Auriel features 24 mostly brand new tracks by the community's wide-spreading roster, among them gems by NFOP darlings such as Moon Tides, Thrifty Astronaut, StaG, Ambassador Engine, Kevin Costner Suicide Pact, and of course ASBF poster children Candy Claws. As expected, the result is not only pretty eclectic but most of all pretty amazing and just another demonstration that Colorado does have one of the most thriving and forward thinking purely independent music scenes nowadays (yes, we've said that before). Check out four of our favorite tracks below and then head over here to cop the whole beauty entirely for free. Aloeswood - Began to Become Ambassador Engine - Alternatives (the Rope, the Knife, the Revolver) Cotton Keys - Frankenstein Grandfather The Kevin Costner Suicide Pact - Holdrakèta Read more → The incredible Colorado-based music collective Act So Big Forest has finally issued the much-anticipated second installment of their compilation series. The 2011 Spring Edition named Auriel features 24 mostly brand new tracks by the community's wide-spreading roster, among them gems by NFOP darlings such as Moon Tides, Thrifty Astronaut, StaG, Ambassador Engine, Kevin Costner Suicide Pact, and of course ASBF poster children Candy Claws. As expected, the result is not only pretty eclectic but most of all pretty amazing and just another demonstration that Colorado does have one of the most thriving and forward thinking purely independent music scenes nowadays (yes, we've said that before). Check out four of our favorite tracks below and then head over here to cop the whole beauty entirely for free. Aloeswood - Began to Become Ambassador Engine - Alternatives (the Rope, the Knife, the Revolver) Cotton Keys - Frankenstein Grandfather The Kevin Costner Suicide Pact - Holdrakèta

Aux. Out: “They Come in Dark Suits”.

25 May 2011 — Henning Lahmann

Dartmouth, Nova Scotia's Garrett Mombourquette aka Aux. Out is for sure one of our favorite discoveries this year. After releasing his remarkable first offering, the gentle and fragile Read Quickly, via bandcamp in March (read about it here), Matthew Sage from Fort Collins, Colorado cassette label Patient Sounds must have taken notice of the 17 year-old's significant talents. Only two months later, PS is now about to release Other Months, Mombourquette's lovely second piece that once again proves why we all should keep an eye on this dude from the remote shores of the Canadian east coast. Other Months is up for pre-order now over here and ready for download here. Aux. Out - They Come in Dark Suits Read more → Dartmouth, Nova Scotia's Garrett Mombourquette aka Aux. Out is for sure one of our favorite discoveries this year. After releasing his remarkable first offering, the gentle and fragile Read Quickly, via bandcamp in March (read about it here), Matthew Sage from Fort Collins, Colorado cassette label Patient Sounds must have taken notice of the 17 year-old's significant talents. Only two months later, PS is now about to release Other Months, Mombourquette's lovely second piece that once again proves why we all should keep an eye on this dude from the remote shores of the Canadian east coast. Other Months is up for pre-order now over here and ready for download here. Aux. Out - They Come in Dark Suits

Premiere: Pillars and Tongues - “The Making Graceful”.

25 May 2011 — Henning Lahmann

Originally Chicago-based neo-folk outfit Pillars and Tongues are about to drop The Pass and Crossings, their third full-length album in total and the second that's being released via fabulous San Francisco boutique label Empty Cellar Records. As with the trio's efforts before, the new piece is a heavy thing to digest, but one that will unfold its grandeur little by little if you're willing to stick to it all the way. Employing mainly violin, double bass, drums, bells and occasionally organs, and relying on the marvelous baritone of Mark Trecka, Pillars and Tongues' music always has one foot in the avant-garde, while never completely abandoning pop, which in this case is gloomy, dark, and dreamy, almost cinematic, evoking pictures of lost and doomed landscapes. The Pass and Crossing is close to nothing contemporary, a truly outstanding piece of sonic art. The Pass and Crossings is out June 28. Pre-order here. Pillars and Tongues - The Making Graceful Read more → Originally Chicago-based neo-folk outfit Pillars and Tongues are about to drop The Pass and Crossings, their third full-length album in total and the second that's being released via fabulous San Francisco boutique label Empty Cellar Records. As with the trio's efforts before, the new piece is a heavy thing to digest, but one that will unfold its grandeur little by little if you're willing to stick to it all the way. Employing mainly violin, double bass, drums, bells and occasionally organs, and relying on the marvelous baritone of Mark Trecka, Pillars and Tongues' music always has one foot in the avant-garde, while never completely abandoning pop, which in this case is gloomy, dark, and dreamy, almost cinematic, evoking pictures of lost and doomed landscapes. The Pass and Crossing is close to nothing contemporary, a truly outstanding piece of sonic art. The Pass and Crossings is out June 28. Pre-order here. Pillars and Tongues - The Making Graceful

Save MJ MJ Records (mp3 exclusive).

24 May 2011 — Henning Lahmann

So here's the thing, those incredibly nice guys you see in the picture above, Andy Todryk and Charlie Collier from MJMJ (Two Michael Jordans) Records, recently moved from their home in Eau Claire, Wisconsin to LA to finally be closer to their FMLY, but on their way to the promised land some unchill bro broke into their van and stole just about everything, clothes, computers, music gear. But instead of simply lying down crying and lamenting, the two have decided to put up a Kickstarter project so friendly folks can jointly fund the rescue/resurrection of their wonderful little label and help them put Vacation Dad's (Andy's project) 12 inch on vinyl. By pledging, you can get your hands on the more than amazing Save MJ MJ Records double cassette compilation which is featuring 31 songs, all by really amazing artists and no less than 25 of them new or exclusive (you can already stream the whole thing here and here). Also, to make things even more exciting, Andy was kind enough to send over this exclusive Vacation Dad jam named I'll Always Find You, an utterly beautiful and very personal tune that in fact is my favorite VD song to date. So enjoy this little masterpiece, and don't forget to help MJ MJ Records. Vacation Dad - I'll Always Find You Read more → So here's the thing, those incredibly nice guys you see in the picture above, Andy Todryk and Charlie Collier from MJMJ (Two Michael Jordans) Records, recently moved from their home in Eau Claire, Wisconsin to LA to finally be closer to their FMLY, but on their way to the promised land some unchill bro broke into their van and stole just about everything, clothes, computers, music gear. But instead of simply lying down crying and lamenting, the two have decided to put up a Kickstarter project so friendly folks can jointly fund the rescue/resurrection of their wonderful little label and help them put Vacation Dad's (Andy's project) 12 inch on vinyl. By pledging, you can get your hands on the more than amazing Save MJ MJ Records double cassette compilation which is featuring 31 songs, all by really amazing artists and no less than 25 of them new or exclusive (you can already stream the whole thing here and here). Also, to make things even more exciting, Andy was kind enough to send over this exclusive Vacation Dad jam named I'll Always Find You, an utterly beautiful and very personal tune that in fact is my favorite VD song to date. So enjoy this little masterpiece, and don't forget to help MJ MJ Records. Vacation Dad - I'll Always Find You

Premiere: Ryan Hemsworth - “Nowt Redneval”.

24 May 2011 — Henning Lahmann

Halifax, Nova Scotia pal Ryan Hemsworth has finally dropped his proper debut effort today so whatever you're doing right at this moment, drop it cause this dude is about to drop some seriously amazing beats for y'all. No Plans comprises twelve heavy bangers that delicately pick up influences from everything between early naughties R&B production to new wave and video game soundtracks, melting everything into cutting edge electronica. The album is a co-release between LAND[^] and The Villa, and for your delight it's up for pay-what-you-want over here so don't wait no longer and cop this beauty now. Ryan Hemsworth - Nowt Redneval Read more → Halifax, Nova Scotia pal Ryan Hemsworth has finally dropped his proper debut effort today so whatever you're doing right at this moment, drop it cause this dude is about to drop some seriously amazing beats for y'all. No Plans comprises twelve heavy bangers that delicately pick up influences from everything between early naughties R&B production to new wave and video game soundtracks, melting everything into cutting edge electronica. The album is a co-release between LAND[^] and The Villa, and for your delight it's up for pay-what-you-want over here so don't wait no longer and cop this beauty now. Ryan Hemsworth - Nowt Redneval