Dancing About Architecture 3.04.08
Posted by Ian Wright on 03.04.2008
Nine Inch Nails, Arcade Fire, Animal Collective, Vampire Weekend, Blur, The gossip and more.
The bit at the start
Good Tuesday to you. This being my first column of March I feel I should make you aware of the hazards of the ides. If there are any amongst my readership that happens to rule a vast, multi-ethnic European empire then dude, watch your back. Your friends aren't your friends.
I was away last week drinking ˆ2 bottles of wine that still managed to taste great. France is fantastic, and Lyon in particular is an amazing city. It's probably got the highest concentration of stunningly beautiful in the world, and I like a dipshit studied German instead of French at school.
Beg, borrow, buy, steal or download this album.
Fuck Buttons – Street Horrrsing
50 minutes of noise. Beautiful, gorgeous, occasionally melodic noise.
You news, you lose
New NIN NOW.
Quoting the press release, because it's easy …
"Nine Inch Nails presents Ghosts I - IV, a brand new 36 track instrumental collection available right now. Almost two hours of new music composed and recorded over an intense ten week period last fall, Ghosts I - IV sprawls Nine Inch Nails across a variety of new terrain."
"Trent Reznor explains, "I've been considering and wanting to make this kind of record for years, but by its very nature it wouldn't have made sense until this point. This collection of music is the result of working from a very visual perspective - dressing imagined locations and scenarios with sound and texture; a soundtrack for daydreams. I'm very pleased with the result and the ability to present it directly to you without interference. I hope you enjoy the first four volumes of Ghosts."
Reznor was involved in the last Saul Williams record and like that album Ghosts … has been released online with a number of pricing options depending on how much you want to hear/splash out on. For zero cash money you get 9 DRM free 320kbps MP3's as well as "a 40-page PDF book covering the whole release" and a "digital extras pack, with wallpapers, icons, and other graphics for your computer, website, profile, etc.".
$5 gets you "all 36 tracks in a variety of digital formats" plus the PDF and "digital extras".
For the low low price of $10 you get the above plus to your door you will receive two CDs "in a six panel digipak package with a 16 page booklet" that will be shipped on April 8.
And finally for the hardcore obsessive $75 will get you all the digital stuff AND "Ghosts I-IV in a hardcover fabric slipcase containing: two audio CDs, one data DVD (for remixing) with all 36 tracks in multi-track format, and a Blu-ray disc with Ghosts I-IV in high-definition 96/24 stereo and accompanying slideshow." PLUS a 48 page book of "photographs by Phillip Graybill and Rob Sheridan - visual aesthetic accompaniments to the music from the recording process and the outside world." That ships on May 1.
But if you're beyond a hardcore obsessive and fall into the "idiot" category $300 gets you "ultra deluxe limited edition package" which is limited to 2,500 copies and includes the $75 package plus "an exclusive four-LP 180 gram vinyl set in a fabric slipcase, and two exclusive limited edition Giclee prints in a luxurious package."
The album is being released under Creative Commons Licence the terms of which say that people are free to share the files on a non-commercial basis. That's an interesting development but I suspect that it's down to Reznor wanting to say "Fuck You" after his recent unhappy label experience to the RIAA.
Now I couldn't give a shit about NIN musically but the way this album is being released is really interesting, not quite the Radiohead In Rainbows pay what you like then fork out big for the boxset model but the various payment/extras model could, I suspect be something that happens more and more in the future. The idea looks, to me, to have more legs then what Thom and co. did. I suppose labels have been doing it for some years with the basic CD/deluxe package release strategy and charging an extra few quid for an extra CD/DVD/nicer box but giving away the basic package online will I think become a far more common occurrence.
Of course, this will only work with bands that have significant audiences built up, probably thanks to label support over a number of years. And no doubt Reznor will strike a licencing deal with a label to distribute the physical CD in the shops.
Vampire Weekend were forced to cancel a UK date last week due to drummer Chris Tomson being hit by a car outside a London hotel on Friday. Tomson was treated for head and neck injuries at the Royal London Hotel. As for the driver who hit him, no one know because the asshole never stopped.
Here's the band's statement …
"Vampire Weekend's Chris Tomson was the victim of a hit-and-run accident last night while walking in London. He has since been released from the hospital and declared 100% fit, despite some bangs and bruises. The band was in the UK for some shows and promo and will be returning to the U.S. this weekend."
I guess the Blur reunion will never happen now.
It may not happen for a couple of years but ex-Blur drummer Dave Rowntree is to make a bid for a seat in British parliament in the next election. The Labour party have selected Rowntree to be their candidate in the Cities Of London And Westminister constituency, the seat is currently held by Conservative MP Mark Field.
According to the Times Rowntree has accused Field "of failing to speak up for the poor in the constituency*. He added that encouraging the greater involvement of young people in politics would be high on his list of priorities if he were elected."
This isn't Rowntree's first foray into politics as last year he ran in the local council elections for Labour but was defeated.
* No shit, he's a Tory.
Menagerie
It's mad the way that you can turn away on the band. I used to be vehement in my dislike for Animal Collective and now I utterly adore them. They've got a new EP called Water Curses out on Domino on May 5th in the UK and a day after in the North America on CD and 12".
All tracks apart from the closing track were produced by Scott Colburn at Wavelab Studio in Tucson during the Strawberry Jam sessions. The final track was recorded in the Rare Book Room Studio by Nicholas Vernhes (who mixed all the songs). According to a press release "All tracks find Animal Collective exploring strange new waters."
Tracklisting:
01 Water Curses
02 Street Flash
03 Cobwebs
04 Seal Eyeing
Shh, I've got some gossip.
Lamest headline ever.
The Gossip are currently working on a new album but before that's ready there's that old standby to bridge the gap between records (aside from reissuing their first 2 records) to hit the shelves. Here comes the live album.
Gossip: Live In Liverpool is out on April 15th and is a CD/DVD release featuring footage from the band's gig in Liverpool, England. If you're a geek and can wait a bit longer though Kill Rock Stars are putting the album out on Vinyl + DVD on May 6th. The Footage was shot by Lance Bangs, who is pretty well known for this sort of thing.
CD:
01 Eyes Open
02 Yr Mangled Heart
03 Swing Low
04 Are You That Somebody? (Aaliyah Cover)
05 Fire / Sign
06 Coal to Diamonds
07 Jealous Girls
08 Keeping You Alive
09 Don't Make Waves
10 Yesterday's News
11 Standing in the Way of Control
12 Listen Up
13 Careless Whisper (Wham Cover)
DVD:
01 Eyes Open
02 Yr Mangled Heart
03 Fire / Sign
04 Careless Whisper (Wham Cover)
05 Coal to Diamonds
06 Jealous Girls
07 Swing Low
08 Are You That Somebody? (Aaliyah Cover)
09 Keeping You Alive
10 Don't Make Waves
11 Yesterday's News
12 Standing in the Way of Control
13 Listen Up
The YouTube video of the week
Arcade Fire (despite being Montreal based the Butlers are Texan and Regine Chassagne has duel citizenship) playing at a Barrack Obama rally in Ohio on Sunday.
If you can you should go to these gigs.
Los Campesinos!
02-29 Munich, Germany - Atomic Café
03-01 Rees-Haldern Germany - Haldern Festival
03-04 Paris, France - Nouveau Casino
03-06 Milan, Italy - Musicdrome
03-07 Bologna, Italy - Covo Club
03-13 Austin, TX - Emo's (Canvas Media/Onion/Saddle Creek SXSW day party)
03-14 Austin, TX - Cedar Creek (Filter Magazine SXSW day party)
03-15 Austin, TX - The Parish (Arts & Crafts SXSW showcase)
03-28 Umea, Sweden - Umea Festival
03-29 Stockholm, Sweden - Debaser
04-10 Cardiff, Wales - Solus
04-11 Tunbridge Wells, England - Forum (two shows)
04-12 London, England - The Quad
04-13 Norwich, England - Waterfront
04-14 London, England - The Windmill
04-16 Hereford, England - Jailhouse
04-17 Bradford, England - St. Georges Hall
04-18-19 London, England - Camden Crawl
04-20 London, England - Hoxton Bar & Grill
04-25 Rouen, France - Le 506 *
04-26 Bordeaux, France - Theatre Barbey *
04-27 Clermont-Ferrand, France - Cooperative de Mai *
04-28 Orleans, France - Astrolabe *
05-09-11 Rye, England - Camber Sands Holiday Centre (ATP vs. Pitchfork) $
05-14 Hoboken, NJ - Maxwell's
05-15 Brooklyn, NY - Music Hall of Williamsburg
05-16 Washington, DC - Black Cat
05-17 Philadelphia, PA - Johnny Brenda's
05-19 New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom
05-21 Boston, MA - Paradise Rock Club
05-22 Montreal, Quebec - Petit Campus
05-23 Toronto, Ontario - Lee's Palace
05-24 Detroit, MI - Magic Stick
05-26 Chicago, IL - Empty Bottle
05-27 Chicago, IL - Empty Bottle
05-28 Minneapolis, MN - Varsity Theatre
05-31 Seattle, WA - Neumo's
06-01 Vancouver, British Columbia - Plaza Club
06-02 Portland, OR - Doug Fir Lounge
06-03 Eugene, OR - WOW Hall
06-05 Sacramento, CA - TBA
06-06 San Francisco, CA - Bimbo's
06-07 Los Angeles, CA - Troubadour
06-08 Pomona, CA - Glass House
* with the Go! Team
$ with the Hold Steady, Jens Lekman, Caribou, Hot Chip, Les Savy Fav, No Age, Black Lips, Of Montreal, Man Man, Vampire Weekend, Glass Candy, Dirty Projectors, Times New Viking, Meat Puppets, Jay Reatard, the Black Angels, Marissa Nadler, Wooden Shjips, Deerhunter, Shit and Shine, Sebadoh, Ween, Redd Kross, Pissed Jeans, Yeasayer, Fuck Buttons, Apse, A Place to Bury Strangers, the Clientele, Black Mountain, Harmonia, Born Ruffians, Howlin Rain, Car Sick Cars, Even
I'm From Barcelona
04-24 Philadelphia, PA - First Unitarian Church
04-25 Hoboken, NJ - Maxwell's
04-27 Indio, CA - Coachella
04-28 Los Angeles, CA - El Rey
04-29 San Francisco, CA - The Independent
05-01 Brooklyn, NY - Masonic Temple
05-09 Brussels, Belgium - Nuits Botanique
05-10 Diksmuide, Belgium - Ten Vrede
07-03 Kristiansand, Norway - Quartfestivalen
07-04 Oystese, Norway - Bygdalarm
07-18 Poupet, France - Les Arts á la Champagne
07-19 Étang de Thau, France - Festival de Thau
Handsome Furs
03-14 Austin, TX - Bourbon Rocks (Sub Pop SXSW showcase)
03-27 Miami, FL - PS 14 !
03-28 Palm Beach, FL - Respectable Street !
03-29 St. Augustine, FL - Café Eleven !
03-30 Orlando, FL - Social !
03-31 Gainesville, FL - Common Grounds !
04-01 Mt. Pleasant, SC - Village Tavern !
04-02 Chapel Hill, NC - Local 506 !
04-03 Charlottesville, VA - Satellite Ballroom !
04-04 Philadelphia, PA - North Star Bar !
04-05 New York, NY - Santa's Party House !
04-11 San Diego, CA - Casbah #
04-12 Los Angeles, CA - Troubadour #
04-13 Costa Mesa, CA - Detroit Bar #
04-14 Visalia, CA - Howie & Sons Pizza
04-15 San Francisco, CA - Bottom of the Hill
04-17 Eugene, OR - WOW Hall *
04-18 Portland, OR - Someday Lounge *
04-19 Seattle, WA - Neumo's
04-20 Bellingham, WA - Old Main Theatre
04-21 Vancouver, British Columbia - Richards on Richards
! with Violens
# with Mr. Tube & the Flying Objects
* with Arthur & Yu
Frog Eyes
03-04 Helsinki, Finland - Kuudes Linja
03-05 Paris, France - Mains D'Oeuvre
03-06 Limoges, France - La Fourmi
03-07 Lyon, France - Sonic
03-08 Barcelona, Spain - Sala Be Cool
03-11 Annandale-on-Hudson, NY - Bard College
03-12 New York, NY - Mercury Lounge
* with Final Fantasy, Dirty Projectors, Six Organs of Admittance
# with Deerhoof
Constantines
03-13 Austin, TX - Emo's (Canvas Media / Onion / Arts&Crafts / Saddle Creek SXSW party)
03-14 Austin, TX - Antone's (Billions SXSW showcase)
03-15 Austin, TX - The Parish (Arts&Crafts SXSW showcase)
04-16 New York, NY - Mercury Lounge
04-18 Cambridge, MA - T.T. the Bear's
04-19 Brooklyn, NY - Southpaw
04-20 Philadelphia, PA - Johnny Brenda's *
04-21 Washington, DC - Rock and Roll Hotel *
04-22 Cleveland Heights, OH - Grog Shop *
04-24 Chicago, IL - Empty Bottle *
04-25 Pontiac, MI - Pike Room *
04-29 London, Ontario - Call the Office !
04-30 Waterloo, Ontario - The Starlight Room !
05-01 Toronto, Ontario - Phoenix Concert Theatre !
05-02 Ottawa, Ontario - Capital Music Hall !
05-03 Montreal, Quebec - Club Lambi !
* with Oakley Hall
! with Attack in Black, Jenn Castle
Writing under the influence
Without which this column would not have been possible:
Talk Radio
The Octopus Project with Black Moth Super Rainbow – The House Of Apples And Eyeballs
The bit at the end
I participated in the Soccer Fact Or Fiction over in the sports zone his week if you've got nothing better to do.
2 months into the year and while there's been some good albums I've yet to hear something that I think is staggeringly brilliant. Must do better 2008, you're not trying.
Semi permanent plug for my blog. Lots of stuff about Fuck Buttons and some other things have gone up of late.
