Catherine Irwin (of Freakwater fame, remember?) is releasing a brand new album (her second in 10 years) Little Heater, on Thrill Jockey (a label I’ve always respected but only now I’m starting to care enough to listen to almost everything they put out) tomorrow. The LP has guest appearances from artists like Bonnie “Prince” Billy or Tara Jane O’Neil, if you needed anything more than this video to become interested in the album.
DSS
What a song! I just got send this link after receiving my William Schaff (digital) art book from Graveface, and I’m hooked.
From the Graveface Records Soundcloud page:
The Casket Girls is a new three-piece band hailing from Savannah, GA. Comprised of Ryan Graveface (Black Moth Super Rainbow, The Marshmallow Ghosts, Dreamend) who wrote and played all the song structures, and newcomers, Elsa and Phaedra Greene, who wrote and performed all of the vocals. On Sleepwalking, the band’s first release, the unique collaboration bears to be more than the sum of its parts – as the girls’ haunting and upbeat pop sensibility imbues Ryan’s inspired instrumental musings with such a sense of purpose that you must wonder how one could exist without the other.
But, The Casket Girls happened – as most things do – by accident. Ryan was visiting his future home, and in walking through one of the city’s 22 squares, he happened upon two girls playing autoharp and singing bizarre songs. He watched from afar, eventually approaching them with the idea for the band. Ryan had been (and still is) obsessed with the Shangri-las, and the sisters personified his desire of a far darker and more complex version of the 60s group.
The band’s debut album, Sleepwalking, came about rather quickly. Ryan sent Elsa and Phaedra 20+ songs he thought they could add to, and they came back with vocals for 15 of them. He asked TW Walsh (Pedro the Lion, Soft Drugs, Headphones) to throw down some substantial drums to contrast the weaker drum machines he had already recorded, and the album was finished. Sleepwalking has a number of exceptional tracks that are sure to be anything from radio hits to jams blasted in the privacy of a nerd’s home. “Heartless” is a driving, yet depressive disco. The title track is a sweeping epic with bleakly resolute lyrics. The Casket Girls first tour is booked as support on the upcoming Black Moth Super Rainbow & Faint tours.
Finally the sun has arrived. Dreary days seemed to have ended and now that shining yellow star just said “Hello!” making everybody happy and willing to watch some shows properly. By the afternoon you could notice joyous smiles flooding the river shores that in these days is more like a grassy beach.
Americana act These United States released their a video for their song “Maps” off their fifth, selftitled album released earlier this year. Maxwell Sorensen did it and I thought you should also know more about the amazing album artwork, done by Todd Roeth. Here.
DSS
There’s so much to love about my favorite Greek band, Plastic Flowers. After releasing two EPs on our Cakes and Tapes, the always shape-shifting ambient pop duo has just put out a new single, “Empty Eyes”, through Bad Panda Records. “Empty Eyes” showcases their poppier side, which could and should be more explored by them on future releases.
Natural Conspiracy is still available for download on a pay-what-you-want basis at Bandcamp, and there’s a limited number of green cassettes still available for purchase as well. Grab it below.
<a href=“http://cakesandtapes.bandcamp.com/album/natural-conspiracy” data-mce-href=“http://cakesandtapes.bandcamp.com/album/natural-conspiracy”>Natural Conspiracy by Plastic Flowers</a>
DSS