Wednesday, June 30, 2010

EIC'S10Q'S w/Twin Sister

"..simplistic beauty and playful banters that put a smile inside my ear every time I listen to them.."


Twin Sister
Cozy Pop

Twin Sister Bio:
Long Island, NY-based indie pop quintet Twin Sister make music that is dreamy, yet danceable. The five members of the group -- vocalist Andrea Estella, bassist Gabe D'Amico, drummer Bryan Ujueta, keyboardist Dev “Udbhav” Gupta, and guitarist (sometimes vocalist) Eric Cardona -- crossed paths while playing in their respective bands, ultimately befriending each other and forming Twin Sister in 2008. Their first EP, Vampires with Dreaming Kids, was self-released that year. After their first live show out of town, at SXSW, they toured with tUnE-YarDs and Xiu Xiu before putting the final touches on their second EP, Color Your Life, which followed in 2010.



Hello, how are you?
Good. A little sweaty. Our practice space has no ventilation or windows.

What are you currently listening to?
A lot of Kraftwerk. Andrea is in an 80's dance pop phase; the first Madonna album, stuff like that. I just found the Teen Dream album "Let's Get Busy" for her. I don't know how good that'll turn out to be. We'll see. Bryan is at the beginning of a quest to get into house music.

Why exactly are you called Twin Sister?
Eric's mom has a twin sister, and Andrea has a twin sister too.

Are you guys officially signed to any label yet?
Yes, we're on Infinite Best Recordings. We couldn't be happier about it.

Have you begun work on your follow up to “Color Your Life”? Is their a tentative release date/title?
We're working through lots of new material, but it takes us a while to figure out where songs and sounds belong. We'll probably let the finished songs dictate what our next release looks like. It could be a single.


I went to your site and downloaded every song you had on there, 90+ songs later I am convinced you guys are amazing. Your style has slowly developed from Indie Rock/Pop into Dream Pop, was that always your intention to go down that route?

It's not our intention to evolve in a specific direction; that would be very hard to do, or maybe just very boring. Also, because we all write material for the band, we're always pulling in multiple directions at once. Hopefully the series genre classifications for our music will become more and more confusing with time.

Out of all the MANY songs on your site that aren‘t on your recent EP, which one(s) do you care for the most? I really like “Ribbon Bow”.
I love that one too! It almost didn't make it; Dev thought he had lost it. That one has a great mix of fidelities. Another one I really love is the extended version of the song "Dry Hump" from our first EP. It's ten minutes long, really good to fall asleep to. The crackly little recording of Eric and Andrea singing "All My Trials" is a good one too.

You can only keep/listen to ONE album for the rest of your life ..which album would it be?
The Beach Boys "Today!" First It'd be fun, then It'd make me go crazy.

Are you living your dream?
Sure!

Thanx Hunter & Gabel!

Twin Sister are about to go on tour with Memoryhouse..!

REVIEW: Ikons - Ikons

7.25 out of 10

Ikons are an up and coming 6-piece Krautrock group from Sweden. Their debut s/t album was produced by D Lissvik (Studio), and they've opened for the likes of Spiritualized (whom they kind of sound alike at some points). Ikons are the soundtrack to a lost astronaut floating adrift in space.

Their debut album "Ikons", is the equivalent of a slow motion trip through parallel galaxies. Or, more specifically; like cross between Can and Zombi. Synthesizers set the main tone/theme behind the music (which is definitely "space" oriented"), next would be the bass lines (which are danceable and relaxing), after that the guitar fx (which give the album the perfect amount of white noise that it needs), and then the drums (which as simplistic as they sound give the album the feel of a finely crafted Pop song). There are (usually) no vocals, this is (mainly) an instrumental band. A sort of Space Rock free form Jazz session if you will. But the tracks that do have vocals fit in perfectly, in-fact those tracks are usually my favorites. Within the thick walls of "Kraut-inisms" there are also moments of dark Post Punk, Shoegaze, Jazz, and Psych Rock. So, basically what I am saying is, just calling it a Krautrock album seems "unfair", let's just call it good music.

If you love Space Rock/Krautrock you will probably be pretty obsessed with Ikons. If you're looking for some chill background noise with a little bit of beat and some "far out there" atmospheres look no further. Recommended

Standout Tracks: Africa, Honey, Domine

Check into Kumon Plaza..

Kumon Plaza - Cliff (Whole EP!)

Lo-Fi-ish 8-bit Electro Pop at it's finest.. this $h!+ is catchy.

If only I lived here..

Oh my.. Check out the 100th Ghostly release...

From Ghostly:

For Ghostly International's hundredth release (GI-100), we wanted to commemorate the occasion with something more than music, something bigger, more permanent--a humble monument to our first decade's work and a gift to our loyal fans. With that in mind, we give you Manzoku: The Ghostly Bento.

The Ghostly Bento was inspired by Japan and its tradition of quality, service, and design--values that Ghostly has always cherished. "Manzoku" is a Japanese word that roughly translates to "satisfaction." Thus, the Bento is an intimate celebration of satisfaction in multiple forms--tactile, visual, aural--packaged in a handcrafted wooden box, stained and etched with a stunning image by LA artist Dosa Kim.

The Ghostly Bento is extremely limited in quantity (only 50 boxes were made) and handmade by a team of artists, designers, and craftspeople working closely with Ghostly International. Typical Japanese bento boxes pair disparate flavors within one container, and The Ghostly Bento is no different: nestled in the box's three compartments, one finds a squid-adorned edition of Horizon Line / Ghostly By Night, our era-defining double-disc compilation; a micro-fibre Ghostly tie, featuring Dosa's design screen-printed by Cyberoptix; and a pair of wooden Ghostly chopsticks.

The result of creative collaboration, meticulous detailing, and old-fashioned hard work, Manzoku: The Ghostly Bento is a ceremonial token of satisfaction--both ours and yours.


Happiness = $100 less in your bank account.

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Stream a NEW M83 track..!

All you have to do is click on this ladies naked butt..

The song is "Black Hole" from the upcoming movie L’Autre Monde, which screened during The Cannes Film Festival. The soundtrack, which also features another unreleased M83 track (as well as some older M83 songs), comes out July 5th via Naive.


Yay! Butts and M83, is there any better way to spend your evening?

Monday, June 28, 2010

Cool Video Funtime #176 - Triumphant

Uhhh what?


Yeah.

Check into Electric Sunset..

Electric Sunset - Soda

Reminds me of a slightly poppier Washed Out..
The Debut s/t album comes out September 7th via K Records.

Catching up w/Iamamiwhoami

I haven't posted anything on the "Iamamiwhoami" project in a while, well here's a few more videos:


and the latest..


Also, here is another interesting video I found online revealing (possibly) the artists(s) behind this "elusive" project...


That's all I got.. I wonder if this is going to stay as a video project only? I would like to better see an album, or at lease news of an album soon..

Sunday, June 27, 2010

New Azure Ray album? Sure!

Azure Ray's "Drawing Down The Moon" comes out September 14th (great day for new releases) via Saddle Creek.

The reason you care.

The Delta Mirror US Tour 2010..

The Delta Mirror '10

07-06 Los Angeles, CA - Spaceland
07-15 San Luis Obispo, CA - Downtown Brewery
07-27 San Francisco, CA - Richshaw Stop
07-28 Sacramento, CA - The Hub
07-29 Portland, OR - Mississippi Studios
07-31 Seattle, WA - Nectar Lounge
08-04 Minneapolis, MN - 7th Street Entry
08-05 Omaha, NE - The Waiting Room
08-06 Des Moines, IA - Vaudeville Mews
08-07 St. Louis, MO - Firebird
08-09 Chicago, IL - Empty Bottle
08-10 Detroit, MI - Majestic Cafe
08-12 Rochester, NY - Bug Jar
08-13 Allston, MA - O'Brien's Pub
08-14 Brooklyn, NY - Union Hall
08-15 New York, NY - Cake Shop
08-17 Philadelphia, PA - Kung Fu Necktie
08-18 Washington, DC - U Street Music Hall
08-23 Denton, TX - Hailey's
08-24 Austin, TX - Emo's
08-25 Norman, OK - The Opolis
08-27 Denver, CO - Hi Dive
08-28 Salt Lake City, UT - Kilby Court
09-02 Costa Mesa, CA - Detroit Bar
09-03 Los Angeles, CA - Spaceland

Can NOT wait to hear these guys live!

Friday, June 25, 2010

EIC'S 1/2 Way To Something: Best Albums (so far) of 2010..

Best Albums
(so far)
of 2010
(in alphabetical order):
(click image to enlarge)
As usual, it's been a great year for new music AND there are still quite a few gems left to come out..

Good (free) music laying around the interwebs..(expanded edition)

Woot. New Blonde Redhead on the way..

Blonde Redhead's "Penny Sparkle" comes out September 14th via 4AD.

If you haven't done so yet, make sure to check out the first single HERE.

If only I lived here..

I like the illustration on this poster.

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

EIC'S10Q'S w/Blank Dogs

"..Mr. Dogs focuses his attention on the "poppier" side of Lo-Fi Gothic New Wave music..I love the simplicity of a good arpeggiated keyboard sound mixed with a lingering synth backdrop. The guitar riffs could easily be mistaken for something you would hear on a Cure album from the mid 80's. From then on I am reminded of more of my favorite 80's New Wave acts like Fad Gadget, Gary Numan, etc.."


Blank Dogs
Abhorrent Neo-New Wave

Blank Dogs Bio:
Blank Dogs are actually singular: it's the insanely prolific one-man Brooklyn-based band of Mr. Blank Dog. We don't know too much about the biography of the guy behind the bedroom new-wave pop/punk and he's usually covering his face with masks or bedspreads, but that's fine. The aura of anonymity allows you to focus on the sounds -- and, really, he might be releasing a ton of things, but there's definitely a higher jam-to-crap ratio. It's like Joy Division vocal lines with The Cure's synth and guitar melodies filtered through ancient submerged keyboards and eroded recording equipment. And that voice? All the feedback in the world can't hide his knack for melody.



Hello, how are you?
On tour, trying not to complain.

What are you currently listening to?
Chrisma "Hibernation"

Where does the band name come from?
100% Random.

Did you listen to a lot of Industrial and/or New Wave music growing up?
Tons.

Love the new EP. Why did you title it “Phrases”?
I just liked the way the word looked.

It seems like you really stepped up the overall production on it, do you feel this is the “future” of your music?
Wasn't really a conscious decision, it just kind of evolved that way.

What’s the strangest thing you have ever witnessed at a live show?

Well, most people who do "strange" things at shows are just morons seeking attention. If it's done on purpose, it's not really strange.

What’s a band that deserves more attention than what they are currently getting?
Hmmm, Grass Widow, maybe? Electric Bunnies...

You can only keep/listen to ONE album for the rest of your life ..which album would it be?
I'd probably pick something awful or boring, like sound effects, otherwise if you had to listen to one album you actually liked for the rest of your life you would hate it, no? I'd rather have the memory of liking it than the monotony of it everyday.

Are you living your dream?
No, I never really had any distinct aspirations. Things are ok, though.

Thanx Mike!

Blank Dogs are currently working on the follow up to "Phrases", if it's half as good it'll blow your ears off (that's a good thing)...

REVIEW: Twin Sister - Color Your Life

8.5 out of 10

Here's another one of those "I'm really far behind on work and haven't had the chance to review" albums that I've been meaning to talk about for quite some time now. "Color Your Life" is the (official) debut release of Twin Sister. If you visit their site you can also get your hands on quite a few other goodies, which I recommend. If you were lucky enough to find this release within it's first couple weeks it was free via the band's site, sorry if you missed out. Either way it's worth your hard-earned cash. I have had "Color Your Life" on heavy rotation since it was originally released back in April '10, and I know (after listening to it sooo MANY times) that it will be on MANY year-end lists, I guarantee it. If anything, it WILL be on mine (I'm thinkin' somewhere high up).

Here's an equation that may or may not make sense to you. What Pinback did to Indie Pop/Rock, Twin Sister has done to Indie Electronic/Dream Pop. By that I mean Pinback had this way of taking the simplest of melodies/sounds and putting them together in the best possible way. The end result being a song that you hum in your head for the next few days (maybe weeks). To simplify that "equation", Twin Sister have created one of catchiest Dream Pop albums in years. It's simplistic beauty and playful banters just puts a smile inside my ear every time I listen to it. Andrea Estella's vocals have this unique, yet familiar sound to them which give every track the perfect amount of whimsy and childlike attributes that could swoon almost anyone over in just one note. The Guitars which are sometimes plucked lightly, and sometimes played in-vein of Surf Rock give the albums the perfect amount of pop and sui generis sound. The drumming keeps a simple beat, but the kind of beat where you bob your head every other track. And the dancey/fun bass lines as well as the Casio sound FX/other vintage sounding Synthesized sounds fill the track perfectly so that there is no empty space on this perfect pop opus. "Color Your Life" does indeed add that pop of calming-excitement/brightness that you may have been missing. I also consider it (maybe you'll agree?) the soundtrack to my Spring/Summer. I think you owe it to yourself to get this NOW. Very catchy indeed.

Hand's down one of the most revisited albums of the year for me. Dream Popper's I'm sure you've been swooning over these guys for a while now, anyone else who hasn't had the chance to introduce themselves do so NOW. Highly Recommended (as long as your OK with obsessing over one album for a long time).

Standout Tracks: All, Lady Daydream (love the guitar on this one), All Around And Away We Go, Galaxy Plateau (I like that this song fades into the next, which is the best on the whole album), Phenomenons (the best track -- so addicting)

Cool Video Funtime #174 - The Music Scene

Did you download this wierda$$ Interpol video?

For the song "Lights"

I don't really understand what's going on, but I (think) I like what I see..

The Xx w/Zola Jesus US Tour 2010..

The Xx w/Zola Jesus '10

09-22 Los Angeles, CA - Hollywood Palladium
09-23 Oakland, CA - Fox Theater
09-25 Seattle, WA - Paramount Theatre
10-02 New York, NY - United Palace Theatre
10-04 Philadelphia, PA - Merriam Theatre
10-05 Washington, DC - 9:30 Club
10-06 Atlanta, GA - Tabernacle
10-08 Dallas, TX - Granada Theatre

What, no Midwest?? SIIIIIIIGH..need's to be on a grander scale.

At LOONG last... the first Tri Angle release has a release date..!

Balam Acab's "See Birds" (the debut Tri Angle release) comes out August 16th via Tri Angle.

I have been anticipating this day.
HERE is the title track..

Check into Japan Sue..

Japan Sue - Bright Lights

Somewhere between Nite Jewel, CocoRosie, Bacehlorette, and/or Beach House...
(I debated myself on filing this under "ear crack")

Monday, June 21, 2010

Adrew Prinz (Mahogany) Interview w/Fractured..


I though this was interesting. Plus there are more mentions of the new Mahogany album(s) coming out soon.. (CAN'T wait)!

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Cool Video Funtime #173 - Swimmer's Ear

REVIEW: Soundpool - Mirrors In Your Eyes

7.5 out of 10

Two words; "Shimmering Inventiveness". Ahh, Soundpool, one of my favorite Shoegaze acts has returned. With each album, "Mirrors In Your Eyes" being their third, the band re-invents it's sound all while maintaining a familiar formula. On their latest offering Soundpool take a shot at what the band dub's "Disco Gaze". What? Another new genre?? Yes! I do believe it is! But seriously, I couldn't imagine strapping a better title on this one. Think Ladytron does Shoegaze..

Blaring guitar melodies, distortions-a-palooza, filtered keyboard sounds (some air-y synths & some dancey arpeggiations), female vocals as sweet as can be with a few male vocals thrown in as well, and the bounciest bass lines I've heard since !!!'s "Louden Up Now". "Mirrors In Your Eyes" delivers. It has something for everyone. Well everyone into great music that is. The parts that are Shoegaze tend to shine a little more than the Disco parts, but only slightly. Honestly, I struggle with which parts to focus on, the dancey parts are super catchy, but the distorted guitar fx are just soo damn good. Either way I'm quite confident that you will find something amicable to your taste buds within each and every track on "Mirrors In Your Eyes". And, if Soundpool continues on their chosen path with re-inventing themselves on each new release they may change Shoegaze/Dream Pop music as we know it.. Marke my words, these guys are only gonna get bigger and bigger.

One of 2010's best Gaze albums for sure. Also one of the best Pop albums I've heard in a bit. Recommended for fans of MBV, Slowdive, Ulrich Schnauss, Goldfrapp (sort of), Asobi Seksu, The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart, and anyone else that falls along the lines of those bands. Yep, you should probably buy this and then after you finally get over the obsession seek out the rest of this bands impressive catalogue. Thanks for sharing Soundpool, keep up the great work!

Standout Tracks: All (It's hard to be picky here..)

REVIEW: Ellen Allien - Dust

6.5 out of 10

To me Ellen Allien is one of "those" kinds of artists, ..you know the kind. The ones that should be waaaay more established than they currently are. But for some catastrophic reason we live in a lame society/fantasy world where quality music never gets the attention it deserves. Her music, well it's extremely simple/minimal techno with a dancey "edge". And, although it's "simplistic", it's extremely rich in sound. Which gives you the sense of picking up more details with every listen. Her 2003 album (my favorite) "Berlinette" could possibly be one of those 10 out of 10 albums for me. It's definitely one of the most catchy electronic albums I've ever heard if anything. Since then I've made it a point to seek out all of her work. On top of releasing a tremendously important techno album that I love so much she also runs a little know label called BPitch Control which is home to the likes of Apparat, Modeselektor & many other artists that are equally awesome. Her role in the "underground" dance scene in Europe is slightly(vastly) larger there than what it is in the US, but maybe one day (hopefully) that'll equal out. Any-whoooo, "Dust" is her latest offering, and yes, it's a tasty treat for the club kid in all of us.

At most points on all of the tracks you won't hear more than 3-4 different layers. Each one of those layers brings the sweetest sensation to those with the best headphones. Tiny blips, machine-esque sounding beats, bizarre lyrics sporadically enhancing other sounds, and the sense of being at one of the best dance clubs of your life. There are also moments like in "My Tree" when the tiniest Jazzy/melodic sample pokes it's head out towards the end, giving this album it's moments of "chill". Don't get me wrong, this isn't one of "those types" of "Dance" albums that's always upbeat, loud & in your face, it's actually quite soothing in the right mind set. Your toes will no-doubt be tapping though.. "Dust" is fun from beginning to end, the pulsing sensations you'll get from the music are super nice and the production (as always) is top-notch. Side note: I'd LOVE to hear Ms. Allien do a split with James Murphy some day, that's a paring that sounds like some next level shtuff if you ask me..

On "Dust" Ellen Allien, once again, proves why she's one of the best female producers in music today. Fans of her previous work should like this one, it's somewhere between "Thrills" & "Sool". Fans of catchy Minimal Techno/Dance music you're in for a treat if you have never laid ears on Ms. Allien.

Standout Tracks: Ever, Flashy Flashy, Huibuh

School Of Seven Bells w/Active Child US Tour 2010..

School Of Seven Bells w/Active Child '10

09-16 Ann Arbor, MI - Blind Pig
09-17 Chicago, IL - Lincoln Hall
09-18 Madison, WI - Majestic Theatre
09-19 Minneapolis, MN - 7th St. Entry
09-20 Iowa City, IA - Blue Moose Tap House
09-21 Omaha, NE - Waiting Room
09-23 Kansas City, MO - Record Bar
09-24 Denver, CO - Larimer Lounge
09-25 Salt Lake City, UT - Urban Lounge
09-27 Seattle, WA - Neumos
09-29 Portland, OR - Doug Fir Lounge
09-30 San Francisco, CA - Independent
10-01 Los Angeles, CA - Echoplex
10-02 Costa Mesa, CA - Detroit Bar
10-03 San Diego, CA - The Loft
10-05 Tucson, AZ - Plush
10-06 Albuquerque, NM - Launchpad
10-08 Denton, TX - Hailey's
10-09 Austin, TX - Mohawk
10-10 Houston, TX - Warehouse Live
10-11 Baton Rouge, LA - Spanish Moon
10-12 Tallahassee, FL - Club Downunder
10-13 Tampa, FL - Crowbar
10-14 Orlando, FL - The Social
10-16 Miami, FL - Grand Central
10-18 Atlanta, GA - The Earl
10-19 Chapel Hill, NC - Local 506
10-20 Baltimore, MD - Ottobar
10-21 Washington, DC - Rock and Roll Hotel
10-22 Philadelphia, PA - Johnny Brendas

Make sure to bring your "gazing shoes"..?

Monday, June 14, 2010

EIC'S10Q'S w/Lovesliescrushing

"..the only thing disappointing about this band is the fact that they aren't immortal. I don't ever want this music to stop.."


Lovesliescrushing
Immersed Milieu

Lovesliescrushing Bio:
In the winter of 1991 Scott met Melissa, after she stalked him for a month. They went out on a date on suggestion of a mutual friend and became a couple immediately. Tired of borrowing everyone else's 4 track, Melissa bought Scott a 4 track, reverb, and a delay pedal. He helped her by convincing her to drop out of law school.

The early material consisted of instrumental guitar pieces, a continuation of early experiments Scott had been doing since '89. Melissa did not consider herself a strong vocalist, because of this she did not sing on the tracks. Scott had a few friends attempt to sing but was frustrated with the lackluster results. Melissa finally volunteered her services, she added one pass of vocals to a new song, the track was "Valerian", it was perfect. The band was born proper. Months later Melissa and Scott left the cold climes of Michigan and the burgeoning Space Rock scene to drive across the country in search of a home. they stopped once they got to the desert expanse of Tucson and started anew.

Debuted in April 93 at the beautiful noise festival, met Sam Rosenthal and signed to Projekt soon after.

The seminal debut album, "Bloweyelashwish", was recorded in a cramped Tucson apartment, a useless mini-fan blowing on a half naked body drenched in sweat. The music was a mix of polarities, delicate crystalline notes, light blurry swathes of sound, slathered in thick slabs of fuzzy distortion. guitars deconstructed to emulate tiny Chinese music boxes, and jet engine roar. Spinning swirls of melody, loops galore.
lovesliescrushing became notorious for crafting beautifully strange music using only a 4 track, voice, guitar and effects.

One of the largest misconceptions about Lovesliescrushing concerns their music itself. People mistakenly assume that they use keyboards or synthesizers to create their otherworldly sound, the music is created with just voice and guitar.

Scott uses a combination of techniques, both lo-fi and digital, to create a unique sonic palette. he is fond of mutating the guitar till it is barely recognizable, regarding it as a mere tone generator. He also utilizes various methods and materials for preparing the guitar. Scott has been known to abuse his guitars with chopsticks, rubber bands, nails, knives, forks, vibrators, paintbrushes, or metal rulers to bow strings,anything to change the timbrel quality. The digital methods are a recent development and are used primarily for arranging tracks and minor treatments, most of the sonic alterations occur before it is committed to the hard drive.


Hello again, how have you been?
I am doing well, this is a good year, off to a great start, working on several releases at once.

What are you currently listening to?
Natural Snow Buildings

You rarely do shows under the moniker Lovesliescrushing, but you recently did one at a smaller venue in Michigan. Why there? And how was that show?
We played the show because it was in Melissa's hometown, so easy for her to perform at. Logistics is the thing that sort of limits our touring ability sometimes because she has small children.
The venue was terrible in a musical sense, but great in a brewery, drink alcohol, sense. I think it would have been a better show if it was just us drinking beer, mic that and process it. We sounded good and there were 5 people there to see us play, so one of the worst places I have ever played, it would have been better to play in the subway. I am still glad we performed for those 5 though.

Girl Echo Suns Veils”, your “b-sides/unreleased” LLC material has FINALLY seen the light of day. Was that a constant struggle to put that together?
Yes, it was a trial to get going, the idea for it has been around since 1999. The music has been done for years, but just couldn't seem to get the right things lined up to make it happen. That seems to be the problem with all Lovesliescrushing music, we have hours and hours of music but the releasing part, the getting it out there part, that is the problem. I will try the Aidan Baker approach and just get everything out, he is a music machine. I had the art done in 2007 and then that fell apart and I had to redo the artwork. it actually turned out better than I thought, the new artwork I mean.
The music is culled from old tapes, material that wouldn't fit on the past discs and needed a home. So most of it was recorded between 1991 and 1995, the most recent was 'Aviatrix' which was started in 1997 and then finished in 2000. So yes most of this material has been waiting years to finally come out. I like how contemporary it sounds, was rather surprised by that actually.
I am really happy with the musical climate now, I mean when llc started there were only a few labels that I was sending stuff too. Now there are tons of labels doing this sort of ambient music, I mean tons, I remember when punk broke, but when it did ambient/drone break through like a flood.
I sent a demo tape to SLUMBERLAND and PROJEKT records in 92, and I was going to send out more when PROJEKT responded, so I stopped sending out demos. I would have sent something to KRANKY if they had been around in 92 but they weren't, so that makes me sad. I hope to still get something out on them in the future because a lot of my friends and favorite bands our on there. Low, Bowery Electric, Lichens, Windy and Carl, Jessica Bailiff...

I love that the whole project was handmade, not only have you poured your heart into the music, but the artistic packaging as well. Why “birds”, visually what do those symbolize?
I am a visual artist first, drawings, paintings, collages, films and videos. I have been making large collages for some time now and I have been incorporating bird images into my own new works. The art on the CD was an extension of that. I can't pin down a singular meaning to the bird imagery because the birds are rich with many possible interpretations. But if i were to say one, I would go with their natural primal musical characteristics and how they suggest the spiritual as well, the soul.
I also liked them for the design aspects, they are a good analog for the music, simple, beautiful, minimal and then abstracted through process, classic.
Another thing, it is very different from anything we have done before and for PROJEKT as well, I wanted something that would set us apart and I think we accomplished that very well, although we are already pretty set apart. I am thankful to Sam for seeing the potential with that, he is very supportive of the craziest ideas.
The whole aesthetic of our style is lo-fi, handmade, not very polished, grown, collaged, noisy, dirty, and I think the art reflects that. The original art was lovely abstract photographs but that would have been the typical way for us to go. I am glad we went in this completely new direction.

What’s your favorite track on the album and why?
It would have to be a track that represents us the best, hmmm. At the moment "Crwth" and "Chorus" are my favorite because they are so iconoclastic within the whole LLC bliss canon. It doesn't remind me of anything else except for maybe Eno's "Music For Airports", or Jehn Cerron/Eyelight, she does lovely ambient voice stuff.

I heard a while ago that you were going to re-release “Chorus” through the label 12K, is that still happening?*
"Chorus" was re-released on 12k/LINE on March 15 and has been generating a great deal of positive buzz. I think people are finally getting us. They have almost sold out of it and I am happy with that too. Sad that it was finished in 2005 and took so long to come out, but it needed the right label for it. We needed to be seen in a new way and we achieved that thanks to Richard Chartier and Taylor Deupree.
I have been a fan of that label for years, so when Richard Chartier contacted me asking for a copy of "Chorus", I freaked out. We then talked on the phone and I asked if he would like to release it domestically and he said yes. Awesome. This has turned out a lot better than I had expected, it gives LLC a credibility that it was lacking.
*Editors Note: "Chorus" was not out at the time this interview was conducted.

I have to know have, have you ever just sat alone in your living room with the lights out and watched a movie on mute while adding your on score/fx?
Yes, someone wants me to score a documentary soon, and I am also talking with someone about getting on a motion picture soundtrack.
I am also working on a project where I redo the soundtrack to David Lynch's "Dune", the Toto music is bullshit, worst thing I have ever heard. Brian Eno's parts are great of course, but TOTO? Please, who dropped that ball there?

What’s next for LLC?
Re-branding. I think the next step is better exposure for us, and the end to obscurity. We are sort of like dark matter, we are there hiding in the fabric of things and have had influence and pull despite the fact that we have been invisible for the two decades. I just hope we have left an impression on music, on other bands, I hope we have had some influence.
It is funny, because all the new music that I am releasing is being pulled from tapes that go further and further back, I am almost to the stuff I did in high school.
Well, I spoke to Melissa the other day and we both came to the conclusion that LLC was like outsider 'Shoegazey' Ambient/Drone. Things have made us invisible, we don't have a real website or strong Internet presence, we are obscure. People thinking we were GOTH really hurt us, it almost broke up the band and made us not release anything for years. there are a few people who said as much in reviews and I will punch them on sight. I think people have finally figured it out, which is why we are enjoying better critical praise now.
Back in 93 we didn't really fit in anywhere. Now, there are about 20 labels that I can think of that want to release our music. The terrain has changed, and I am really happy to be in these new lands, to be cartographers of dreamscapes. Sometimes I feel like LLC went on a intergalactic journey at light speed and when we returned two decades later music was more amicable to our ears but we hadn't really changed that much.

Thanx Scott & Melissa!

Lovesliescrushing are currently scoring films and possibly (hopefully) releasing a new album soon...

REVIEW: Lovesliescrushing - Girl Echo Suns Veils

8 out of 10

It's been a while since I've had a chance to review anything. I do apologize for not staying on top of things (I've been a bit busy). One album in particular that I've been meaning to "shed some light on" is Lovesliescrushing newest-ish offering "Girl Echo SunsVeils", which is a collection of unused/rare/lost b-sides from LLC's "never ceases to amaze me" collection of terrific aqueous sound waves. Hardcore fans probably already scooped up the limited edition/hand-made wooden box that comes with a bonus disc of even more rarities. For anyone else who didn't snatch it up quick enough there is a digital copy via iTunes available now and a possible "un-limited edition" physical copy coming out in August 2010 via Projekt.

"Girl Echo Suns Veils" was one of those "projects" that kept getting pushed back year after year, a lot of work, time & probably stress went into the making of the album. Lucky for us fans, the wait is FINALLY over and we all have another chance to soak in some more ear bliss. With Lovesliescrushing you tend to always know what you're about to get into, but you never know how hard it's going to hit you when it does. Scott Cortez has a way with making the most unimaginable sounds come out of a guitar while Melissa Arpin's voice is more angelic than the word "angelic" itself. On "Girl Echo SunsVeils" the duo have once again stunned my ears with palpitating sounds that leave a calming sensation in my ears during the days that follow. The songs are "b-sides" so there is somewhat of a different sound/feel here. To explain; when I listen to LLC I get the sense of being overwhelmed by an underwater current filled with fantastical unseen lifeforms, with "Girl Echo.." I get the sense of floating just above said current. The liquidized environments engulf my every sense as usual. However, this time the sounds coming out have a "dryer/less surreal" sense to them. I get the feeling, even though it's apparently there, there are fewer distortion pedals used on some of these tracks. Basically, on "Girl Echo.." Scott Cortez has a way of making his signature distortions sound slightly more natural and loose. Maybe you will experience something entirely different when you listen to this, but that's whats special about Lovesliescrushing. Your emotions determine the music. LLC can be just as soul crushing as they are therapeutic. Every sound, every texture, every note, everything that you hear on a Lovesliescrushing album is important. You cannot absorb them all at once, you can take them as a whole, and you will forever experience a new sonic adventure with every listen.

The only thing disappointing about this band is the fact that they aren't immortal. I don't ever want this music to stop. "Girl Echo Suns Veils" is no exception to that rule either. Fans of pastoral guitar sounds with dreamy female vocals and/or LLC will love this. The album feels a little more "raw" and, if possible, more "droney", but on par with the rest of their catalogue. Recommended (most definitely). Oh, also LLC just re-released 2007's (EIC's #6 album of that year) "Chorus", make sure to get that too!

Standout Tracks: Better to take in as a whole, but if you like to skip around; Wallflower (Original Version), Seahorse (this song has the mistake of ending too soon), Blurskin (yummm), Sugarglow, Aviatrix (more please?), Kittenmother

(aww, that's soo sweet! EIC ♥'s you too LLC)