RICHARD SWIFT, KRISTIN MILTNER PROVIDE NEW LIBRARY CATALOG ENTRIES

May 22nd, 2010 , by

There is only so long we can ignore your letters and electronic mail. Despite six volumes worth of life-soundtrack, you needed more. There is, you wrote, so much life to live, and not enough soundtrack to fill it. We have listened and, in graciousness, responded. We are now two volumes closer to providing the perfect score to your entire existence. 
 
With you in mind, we are pleased to announce volumes 7 and 8 of the Library Catalog Music Series. These are versatile pieces and it will be up to you to fully discover their various applications but rest assured that we are providing our standard, industry-famous 100% Satisfaction Guarantee. You will not be disappointed. Our two new composer recruits, Richard Swift's Instruments of Science and Technology and Kristin Miltner, have crafted music that will unfold in new ways with each subsequent listen. 
 
Advertising executives! Don't bother with backward-masking your corporate sloganeering. Seventy-two-percent of Soundologists say that music from the Library Catalog Music Series will adequately stimulate the consumption cortex in shopper's brains. These two new volumes will be the only hook you need to start reeling in the Benjamins. Read more about Instruments of Science's Music for Paradise Armor here and Technology Music here and Kristin Miltner's Music For Dreaming and Playing here.

PREORDER THE NEW FOL CHEN, IMPRESS FRIENDS WITH RINGTONES

May 19th, 2010 , by

Photo by tylerdurden1

"In Ruins," the first MP3 single from Fol Chen's second full-length has garnered many kind things across the internet. One reputable blog called it "unexpectedly joyous." 

The whole of Part II: The New December drops June 22nd, but you can preorder it now and be ready for the return of John Shade.

Now, we must admit that we do make use of cellular telephoning. What's more is that we also enjoy the cultural and social identification that emits from that cellphone speaker with each ring.

To that end, we asked the Subcommittee of Audio Protocol to take Part II and turn it into the most usable, functional, poptastic cellphone ringtones you've ever heard. We created two kinds: the audible grade, for when you wish to truly hear your phone ring, and the meeting grade for the more discreet settings.

You can preorder the CD for $10+S&H by clicking here, or the LP for $15+S&H by clicking here.

Download the ringtones here:

DM STITH TOURS NORTH AMERICA, PREORDER HEAVY GHOST APPENDICES

May 14th, 2010 , by

This summer DM Stith will head out on a massive North American tour. Joined by visionary musical colleagues Inlets and Silje Nes, the three bands will bring their ethereal hymns and dirty socks with them as they make stops in roughly 18 U.S. states and 4 Canadian provinces.The tour is the first proper tour in support of not only last year'scritically-lauded Heavy Ghost but will also celebrate the release of Stith’s collection of covers and remixes, Heavy Ghost Appendices. Stith will also be releasing a limited edition tour 12” featuring exclusive material by each touring artist, including a Sparklehorse cover by Stith. See tour dates here.
 
Heavy Ghost Appendices, which comes out May 25 on Asthmatic Kitty, revisits this secret world and adds to its cartography a series ofhidden coves, unexplored forests, and new landscapes. Heavy Ghost was also mystifying and intertwined to David when he wrote it; the Appendices are a means to sort the thing out in his mind. They physically collect the digital trilogy of EPs released over the course of the summer and fall of 2009 into a beautifully packaged limitededition double-disc set. The EPs were an exercise in exploring the boundaries of the music contained on Heavy Ghost, revisiting songs, reinterpreting, and displaying some inspiration and influences through covers of other artists. The remixes helped provide new context and deconstruction of his songs in a way that unearthed the songs’ roles and relationships to one another. Purchase one here before they runout!

SHANNON STEPHENS CLASSIC FIRST ALBUM REISSUED [FREE MP3]

May 6th, 2010 , by

Asthmatic Kitty is proud to announce the re-press of Shannon Stephens' self-titled debut (2000). Produced by Stephens and her former Marzuki band-mates Sufjan Stevens and Matt Haseltine in 2000, this superb collection of Shannon's own songs includes contributions by Marzuki cellist Jamie Kempkers, Kenny Hutson (Vigilantes of Love) on pedal steel guitar, "Mews" and "Mews Too" contributors Roman Bolks and Jason Brouwer, and folk mainstay Jason Harrod.  With new artwork by Gala Bent and two previously unreleased bonus tracks, this release will delight newcomers and faithful fans. For more info click here.

"Catch the Morning Line" Shannon Stephens (Download)

HELADO NEGRO AT MARFA

May 3rd, 2010 , by

Happy Quatro de Mayo. We know the party doesn't really start until tomorrow, but if you are really feeling ambitious you should get in the car and start driving now to Marfa Texas. By our calculations most of you reading this should be able to make it in time to see Roberto Lange perform at the 3rd Annual Marfa Film Festival under his moniker Helado Negro at the Liberty Hall. Following the screenings of Soy Mi Madre and Parque Vi at the Crowley Theater, attendees will make the pilgrimage to Liberty Hall where the festivities will officially begin, Helado Negro performing with visuals by Jonathan Dueck. Other notables, aside from one of the most incredible contemporary art collections on the planet, include the world premiere screening of Lou Reed's film Red Shirley and a screening of new work by Fol Chen friendly and former music video contributor Kelly Sears.

Before you begin your drive, take time to download this free mixtape courtesty of the folks over at Amo Descubrir Canciones. The mix includes a whole host of amazing new latin music, including our own Helado Negro.

CRYPTACIZE ON AIR, RELATED REISSUES

April 30th, 2010 , by


Photo by  David Garland

We imagine Cryptacize is still catching their breath after a whirlwind of touring last year. They played 94 shows, including touring with Sufjan Stevens, Fiery Furnaces, Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti,Casiotone for the Painfully Alone, Jamie Stewart (Xiu Xiu), and FinalFantasy! Very impressive if we do say so ourselves. And somewhere inthe one show every three days ratio, they found time to stop by and play live on David Garland's Spinning on Air radio show for WNYC. Take a listen here.
 
But Cryptacize isn't catching their breath, they are still workinghard writing and recording new songs for an EP to be released sometimelater this year. We are also excited to announce we will be reissuing two Cryptacize related albums sometime later this summer. The first is Fast Talks, a 2002 album by The Curtains originally released on vinyl viaThin Wrist, the second is Nedelle Torrisi's enchanting Locksmith Cometh originally released on Tangram 7"s.
 
For you Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffitti fans, Cryptacize's Chris Cohenwill be playing guitar with the band for their Mercury Lounge show on May 4th.

MY BRIGHTEST DIAMOND MINI-TOUR

April 28th, 2010 , by

Shara Worden of My Brightest Diamond has been everywhere lately. This will be true briefly in the future as well. In a quick tour of various points of contact in North America, MBD will be performing solo dates in the following cities: Keene New Hampshire, Montreal, Toronto, and Pontiac. On tour you will be able to pick up a new limited release 7" on which Dayna Kurtz plays a bare banjo version of "Gone Away", and in turn Shara covers Dayna's "Postcards from Downtown". You can hear clips of the songs and purchase the 7" here.

Then, in June, My Brightest Diamond will perform at the Vivid Live Festival

in Sydney, Australia, curated by Lou Reed and Laurie Anderson. On June 4, 2010 Shara sings in a collaborative show with Laurie Anderson entitled Slow Music Night at the Concert Hall in the Sydney Opera House. And on June 6, 2010 My Brightest Diamond will perform (as rock trio) at The Studio in the Sydney Opera House.
 
Details for all these dates are here.

WATCH DM STITH LIVE IN ROTTERDAM

April 21st, 2010 , by

You can also watch here. DM Stith's Heavy Ghost Appendices appears on May 25th.

TODAY IS RECORD STORE DAY

April 17th, 2010 , by


Photo by Ivan Zuber

Here in the deep innards of Asthmatic Kitty Official Headquarters we see a lot of information: reports, numbers, charts, graphs, presentations, pdfs, docs, dox, docks and more numbers regarding music. Press reports, Soundscans, daily sales – it all comes through here.

But when we want to know what's really happening in music, we head to our local independent record store. This sounds like an advertisement and that's because it is. We love our local record stores, not only because they sell our music but because we buy  music from them.

Coincidentally, today (Saturday April 17th) is Record Store Day. If your plans today do not involve stopping by your local independent record shoppe, your plans are misshapen. We humbly advise changing them to include said record shoppe.

You can find one closest to you, and get more details about Record Store Day, right here. See you there!

DECAY SUSTAIN IN INDY TONIGHT

April 9th, 2010 , by

Do you live in Indianapolis? If so, consider this: tonight Big Car hosts several AK artists & friends starting at 7pm for DECAY/SUSTAIN, a collaborative art/music show. Tickets are $5 at the door, all ages. Helado Negro, newly signed Julianna Barwick, Epstein, and Jookabox are performing. Kid Primitive Fam, Berry, and Abner Trio will also be there. So should you!

For more info and free MP3 downloads and streams from participating artists , go here.

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