REVIEW: Black Hearted Brother - Stars Are Our Home

7.25 out of 10

Find it here. 

If you tell me somebody (anybody really) from Slowdive has a new project I will look into it with eager ears. If you tell me that same thing and then tell me somebody from Seefeel is also involved I may need a new pair of pants. Black Hearted Brother is "my ticket towards new trousers".

Black Hearted Brother is a new sonic experimentation from three friends; Neil Halstead (Slowdive/Mojave 3), Mark Van Hoen (Seefeel/Mark Van Hoen), & Nick Holton (of Holton's Opulent Oog). From what I understand there was no clear direction of style /genre when starting this project, merely more of a jam session that would hopefully evolve into some form of a full length LP. I'd say the three amigos pulled it off quite sufficiently. 'Stars Are Our Home' is an [Experimental] Post Rock meets Shoegaze jam session wrapped with elements of Indie [Space] Pop-tronica. From upbeat jams to spaced-out euphoria and everything in between, there are more than enough layers here to keep any audiophile warm this winter.

Notably-"If the above names don't peak your interest I'm not sure I can agree with your lifestyle."-Recommended.

Standout Tracks: (I Don't Mean To) Wonder, Got Your Love, If I Was Here To Change Your Mind (♡n l♡♡p), Time In The Machine, I'm Back

EIC's 10Q's w/ Black Hearted Brother

"..[Experimental] Post Rock meets Shoegaze jam session wrapped with elements of Indie [Space] Pop-tronica.."

Black Hearted Brother

Alliance [of] Sound & Influence

Black Hearted Brother Bio:

Comprising Neil Halstead (Slowdive, Mojave 3), Mark Van Hoen (Seefeel, Locust) and Nick Holton (Holton's Opulent Oog, Coley Park), Black Hearted Brother represents a collaboration of sorts - supergroup even - that probably isn't quite sure how it ended up here in the first place. Born from years of writing, recording, deliberating, re-recording, remixing and then no doubt starting all over again from scratch, 'Stars Are Our Home' is a deftly orchestrated album that bypasses all generic templates for a colossal smorgasbord of diversity. Throughout its 12 pieces, there's a range of sounds, styles and ideas far and above any realm of expectation associated with the project. In the press release, Halstead talks about Stars are Our Home being 'a record that was in some ways unedited', before going on to conclude, 'while not worrying about a particular sound or style, but to just go with the flow'..

Hello, how are you?

BHB forgot to answer this one, we'll assume they're doing swell;]

 What are you currently listening to?

Nick: Just waiting for Jonathon Wilson's 'Fanfare' to arrive, but in the meantime; 'The Terror' by The Flaming Lips, 'Hello Nasty' by The Beastie Boys, just dug Sly & Family Stone 'Life' out for a boogie & Mark's been playing me 'Music Is Painting In The Air' by Sensations Fix on his massive (big as small elephants) speakers - beautiful.

Mark: Lots of VU of course, Spiritualized (just saw them in a 400 year old church in Kingston NY) and Tyler, The Creator's 'Wolf' ...somehow as a foil to all this.

How long has the band/project been a concept and did you know what kind of sound you were going for when you began writing for it?

Nick A few years now with some breaks for Neil & I to record Palindrome Hunches & Mark his 'Revenant Diary'. When we began we had no idea really but we quickly got into the idea of working on stuff and doing things that wasn't natural to us. There was a few really crazy (eccentric) tracks that we left off in the end as we realized we did have something cohesive in the end.

Care to shed some light on your debut LP; theme, favourite track(s), etc?

Mark: My favourite track is 'Time In The Machine' but that's probably because I had the least to do with it; just being a fan of Neil & Nick! Another couple of favourites are 'My Baby Just Sailed Away' and 'Oh Crust', probably because these were done in the last few days before mastering the album...so they are much more spontaneous and fresh to my ears.

Will you be touring extensively for said release?

Playing live - yes we think so. Extensively - maybe.

Speaking of touring, Rachel Goswell joined you for a couple of shows right? How did this idea come about and did you end up playing any Slowdive material either of those nights?

Neil: I was just talking to Rachel a while back and asked if she wanted to come sing a couple songs, she was surprisingly keen. I think we played a couple Slowdive songs on the second night and a bunch of Mojave 3 songs as well.

(Speaking of Slowdive/I gotta ask) What are the chances of a full reunion tour/new album??

Neil: Improbable...but you never know.

You can only keep/listen to ONE album for the rest of your life ..which album would it be?

Nick: Big Star's 'Third', couldn't get tired of that.

Mark: Can's 'Tago Mago'.

Are you living your dream?

Nick: Yes, I think so, more or less. I think The Brothers are committed to making music, helping our friends, loving our ladies, not doing too much other work that we hate. There is always a better album somewhere among the stars to be found & recorded though.

Mark: I agree with Nick, although there's no dream or plan...one day at a time (sweet Jesus)

Thanks BHB and Caroline!

Black Hearted Brother recently released their debut, give that a spin as soon as you can...

Slowdive reunion!?

From Creation Records:

Neil Halstead and Rachel Goswell of Slowdive will be reuniting for two special gigs in London later this month.  They will perform together for the first time in almost 10 years at London’s Cecil Sharp House on 23rd and 24th October, tickets are on sale now by clicking here. Rachel will be one of the long-promised “very special guests” at both shows which will see Neil performing songs from across his back catalogue both solo and with a full band. Both shows will also be recorded for a future live album. Neil Halstead has also been busy with his new band Black Hearted Brother. The band is a collaboration with Mark Van Hoen (Seefeel) and Nick Holton. Van Hoen co-produced several Mojave 3 albums, while Holton worked with Halstead on his solo albums Sleeping On Roads and Palindrome Hunches. Van Hoen and Halstead go back much further still, to 1992, when they were in Seefeel and Slowdive respectively: ‘Mark taught Neil much that was electronic and ambient music.’

Not "exactly" a full reunion, but pretty close.. (Please-please) Hopefully this leads to more.

In the meantime here's this:

EIC's 10Q's w/ Ekin Fil

"..the most beautifully-warm/pacifying environment possible.."

Ekin Fil

 Syngnathidae Sprite Lullaby

Ekin Fil Bio:

Operating out of Istanbul, Ekin Fil is the solo project of Turkish musician Ekin Üzeltüzenci. Her music first came to the ears of many by way of 'Language', a 2011 cassette release on the Root Strata label that presented listeners with a fractured, hazy sound-world in which half-remembered melodies and wraith-like vocals cohered into dark and hypnotic masses. On 'Ekin Fil', Üzeltüzenci opens the curtains a bit, letting in some light and offering up an even more refined work. This haunting collection of songs wouldn't sound out of place on Drunken Fish Records in 1995, effectively channeling the ghosts of Roy Montgomery and the Bristol Shoegaze scene, while occupying similar sonic climes to those traversed by Grouper and Jessica Bailiff. "Anything Anywhere" opens the album and articulates its central concerns, with obscured, rhythmic guitar shapes coiling around Üzeltüzenci's ethereal voice. Later, field recordings usher in the blackened night of "Two Stars," one of the record's most stark and exhilarating movements. Ultimately, 'Ekin Fil' is a remarkably cohesive statement, an album of devotional pieces that function together to form a beautiful, faraway whole.

Hello, how are you?
I'm fine, thank you.

What are you currently listening to?
I recently discovered Andy Stott.. Been listening to his latest album almost constantly everyday.

When did you begin writing music and whom/what were your biggest influences for said project? 
I was so young when I first got into music. 5-6 or so, but when I started Ekin Fil, my initial aim was to heal myself, I was trying to get rid of broken hearts, trying to get better through music. But generally, the things that I am influenced by are usually the things that I can connect/relate to, in one way or another. If it has the power to move me away from the current moment and the mood that I am in, and make me believe in things or the opposite, then I am sold.

Care to tell us a little bit about your latest s/t release?
I think it's a bit more open, a bit more direct than my previous stuff.

Any plans to tour for said release?
Hope so..

If you could choose any artist(s) to remix your work, whom would you choose and why?
Could be many, but nowadays I would say Andy Stott. I feel something very nostalgic about him. Like when I used to listen to Seefeel or Scala in the 90s. I wonder how it would have turned out though.

Got any other projects we should know about?
I am a part of the band Proudpilot. But we are not moving on right now. I guess we paused the band.

What movie would work best on mute while listening to you music? 
I really don't know, but if I can choose.. I would love to do something for John Cassavetes, Bergman, Antonioni or Bruno Dumont.

You can only keep/listen to ONE album for the rest of your life ..which album would it be?
Could it be a mixtape? If so there would be names like Cocteau Twins, Grouper, Biblo, Pierre Henry, Paavoharju, Ligeti, Fikret Kızılok and Alice Coltrane on it.

Are you living your dream? 
I'm just doing what I feel like doing and this works on a very natural level, like a natural process. It's very nice to meet people who can relate to what I do too, I feel good in that way.

Thanx Alex & Ekin!

Ekin Fil recently released her "debut" LP via Students Of Decay, do yourself a favor (like I did) and become obsessed...

Have you heard the new Seefeel track?

Seefeel - Dead Guitars

Stream some other tracks while you're at it:]


Seefeel's "Seefeel" comes out February 8th via Warp.

This song almost sounds like a "return to form" for this band..

What's this? A NEW Seefeel album on the way..?!

Seefeel's "Faults" comes out September 21st via Warp.

Niiiiiiiiice!

EIC'S10Q'S w/RxGibbs

"..music that gives you the sensation of floating above your own body is never a bad thing.."


RxGibbs
Liquescent Rapture Cultivation

RxGibbs Bio:
RxGibbs is a solo project of Ron Gibbs (Auburn Lull). In his words, " It kind of sounds like if Andrew Weatherall produced Auburn Lull". RxGibbs also features (here and there) members of Auburn Lull as well as the chopped up vocals of Lorraine Lelis (ex-Mahogany vocalist)." His debut album is set for release sometime in 2010.


Hello, how are you?
I'm great, thanks. Glad Spring is finally here. Michigan winters can be quite long and dreary.

What are you currently listening to?
Lately I've really been into Coppice Halifax, which is one of projects of Brian Graiger, aka Milieu. His albums Ocean Lion I and II are pure dubby ambient goodness, and he’s got tons of other great releases besides those as well. He also recently remixed a track of man that I think turned out really sweet. I've also really been digging new stuff coming out from the likes of Caribou, Casino Versus Japan, Seasonscollide, Beach Fossils, Thomas Fehlmann, Toro Y Moi, and Radio Dept. 2010 looks like it's going to be another good year for music.

Can you explain your music in 5 words or less?
Ambient Dub?

How did the name RxGibbs come up?
I was actually dubbed RxGibbs after an old band mate of mine noticed my license plate read RXG. With my first initial being R and my last name being Gibbs, he started calling me RxGibbs. It just stuck I suppose.

You got members from Auburn Lull to guest star on your next album, how did that come up?
Well, about three years ago I was lucky enough to be able to open up for them live a couple of times here in Michigan. We became good friends and I ended up joining the band right before their last album, "Begin Civil Twilight", came out. So, over the years I've acquired many recordings from everyone in the band that I ended up incorporating into the new album. A couple of the songs actually kind of started out with me trying to remix a few Auburn Lull tracks, and they just ended up kind of morphing into their own thing.

Your earlier material seemed a little more psychedelic, now it's a little more ambient, was it your mood and/or your influences that changed?
I wouldn't really say that my influences have changed. I mean, I’ve always drawn inspiration from bands like Seefeel, Slowdive, My Bloody Valentine, early-Verve, Andrew Weatherall‘s projects, The Orb and such. These were the bands that blew my mind way back in high school, which really dates me I suppose. But I never stopped loving those bands and I’d glad to see that there is somewhat of a resurgence of interest in many of those bands. I’ve got to say though too, I am definitely continuously inspired by all the new great music coming out nowadays. I think we are in pretty exciting times, creatively, for music. There’s so many bands making exciting stuff that it’s hard to keep up.
Anyway, the change in sound was mostly due to me going from an all live recording setup to more of a loop/sample based project. Sometimes I just think recording can be a huge pain in the ass. Too many cables and too many variables that can make it all go horribly wrong. Plus, I’ve got enough recorded material on my computer already to keep me busy for a while.

I would love to hear you score a movie sometime, have you ever thought about doing that?
Yes, I have and I hope I have the opportunity someday ..Actually, Auburn Lull just found out that one of our songs is going to be featured in a movie this year. I can’t give out the details just yet, but we are definitely excited about the company we are in on this soundtrack. This director is known for having pretty sweet soundtracks. Stay tuned.

Who is you all time favorite guitarist and why?
I'd have to say that Nick McCabe from Verve is probably my favorite. I don't think anybody has ever made their guitar sail and soar like his did on "Storm In Heaven" and all the early Verve singles. I still think that was some of the most beautiful music ever made. I remember buying "All In the Mind", their debut single, when it first came out and thinking they were already the best band in the world. I mean, that is still probably my favorite debut single from any band, ever. Too bad they ultimately turned to crap. Although I hear that Nick and Simon Jones, Verve bass player, have formed a new band so I am hoping for good results. I still think Richard Ashcroft is the one that ruined them in the end. Too bad.

You can only keep/listen to ONE album for the rest of your life ..which album would it be?
This is a totally impossible question, but I guess if I had to pick one I would say Kiln's latest album "Dusker" for a couple of reasons. First, that album never ceases to blow my mind. The attention to detail on that album is just amazing. And second, because I feel like I could always listen to that album and find little blurps and bleeps that I never noticed before. It’s literally chock full of wonderful, soothing sounds.

Are you living your dream?
Ha-ha, I‘m not sure, but life is good. If I'm ever am able to quit my day job and just make music, then maybe I'll be a little bit closer to that. But that is highly unlikely. Actually, if I even still have a day job by the time you read this, I’ll be happy.

Thanx Ron!

RxGibbs is currently putting the final touches on his upcoming debut LP, look for that pretty soon...(in the meantime check out these)