HALF-HANDED CLOUD EMBARKS

July 20th, 2011 , by


Over the next month, Half-handed Cloud will chart new territory. First, in the physical world, HHC will be touring from the west coast to the east, stopping in great American cities like Salt Lake, Lander Wyoming (also known as AK-HQ!), Fort Collins, Denver, Memphis, Knoxville, Balitmore, Philly, NYC, and Quincy. 

 
In the musical world, HHC will be releasing DOVE, a one-sided LP, on Burnt Toast Vinyl. Fret not if that one-sided bit threw you for a loop; John Ringhofer of HHC is personally etching the second side as designed by the Henningham Family Press. Music+art!
 
And in the virtual world, the debate is now over on what social media service is the best (Twitter or Facebook or Google+ or SharededlyBookSpaceShare). Half-handed Cloud is now on Facebook, thereby making it the best time-waster ever invented by a Harvard dropout since North of Boston. Click here to engage in some quality HHC Facebook time!
 
You can see tour dates here, or preorder DOVE here.

SUFJAN SHOWS TO OPEN WITH DIAMONDS

July 19th, 2011 , by

Photo from Adz tour trailer by Deborah Johnson

Precious stones abound! Sufjan has recruited two diamond acts to open his shows for Celebrate Brooklyn in Prospect Park. The regal and righteous My Brightest Diamond will open August 2 while the glamorous dance-pop Diamond Rings will open August 3. Add these two musical gemstones to Sufjan’s diamond disco helmet (pictured above) and you get a Triple Diamond Threat! Crystal Power Healing Pop Sensation!

These two shows also mark the grand finale of the Age of Adz tour, a pop-theatrical pageant that has spanned time–zones, political boundaries, and language barriers with its eye-candy choreography (fearlessly executed by back-up singers Cat Martino and Nedelle Torrisi) and vivacious video display (by the indefatigable Deborah Johnson, whose work for the show renders the art of Royal Robertson in fantastic animation). Did we mention double drummers, an LED light extravaganza, and kabuki streamers?

The final shows will expand the band to include woodwinds and will feature two more dancers (including choreographer Jessica Dessner). More is more! Bring Your Magic 8 Ball. Wear Your Dance Pants.

My Brightest Diamond just announced a brand new album due in October (info here), and Diamond Rings is still abuzz from the astounding success of his 2010 debut Special Affection. 

Editor’s Note–we’ve just been notified by park officials: aforementioned balloons and confetti (and other perishables) are strictly prohibited on park property (it’s bad for the environment, understandably). But the production team is frantically scheming to bring party vibes by any means possible. Virtual Balloon Drop? Edible Confetti? Heat Lightning? Please, God, Give Us A Double Rainbow? As for the rest of us: Bring Your Magic 8 Ball!

Remember, this is a benefit show. Ticket sales ensure that most of the other shows remain free of charge. Bring a friend, bring an open mind, and find out why Gothamist named Celebrate Brooklyn  “The #1 Reason Why Brooklyn Lives Up to the Hype.”

August 2 is sold out, but tickets are still available for August 3 here. 

JOSH HASSIN VIDEO-IZES WINDMILL [VIDEO]

July 18th, 2011 , by

On Friday we announced Roberts & Lord, a brand new band from the likes of Rafter Roberts and Simon Lord.

Designer, director, and animator Josh Hassin has released a video to their first single, "windmill."  Make sure your leotard is on before you watch; you will want to dancerize immediately upon watching.

ANNOUNCING ROBERTS & LORD, EPONYMOUS [MP3, VIDEO]

July 15th, 2011 , by

Even though we act as if it is, collaboration on the internet is nothing new. It probably took more than one person working together to invent bread, or the wheel, or Chia Pets. You probably worked together with someone even today. See, not so interesting.

So what is remarkable Eponymous, the debut album from Roberts & Lord, a band formed in the firey throes of internet collaboration, is that working together on the internet can sound this good. Not that the pedigree of the participants would lead anyone to believe otherwise. Roberts & Lord is one half Rafter Roberts, whom you know well if you’re from these parts (see here if you don’t), and Simon Lord, of Simian and Black Ghosts fame. All they needed was a connection. Enter MySpace. (Yes, MySpace actually made something amazing.)

Rafter and Simon got to talking (via MySpace), then sharing unfinished bits of music, which led to finished bits of music, which led to talk of a full-fledged album, which resulted in Eponymous. The fruit of their digital co-labor is an record replete with sweet pop riffs that magically blend Rafter’s extra-rough 4-track proto-electro backings with Simon’s sparkle-clean, digital vocals. Eponymous is working together at its very best. 

Listen for yourself with “windmill” below. We’ll have more from Roberts & Lord over the next couple months, including of course the full-blown release of Eponymous on September 6th.

“windmill” (Download)

MY BRIGHTEST DIAMOND TO RELEASE NEW ALBUM IN THE FALL

July 12th, 2011 , by

Cover art by Photographer: Denny Renshaw; Hairsculpture: Hrafnhildur Arnardóttir aka Shoplifter; Design: DM Stith; Hat by Emillner

On October 18th in the US (October 10th in the EU), we will have the very, very lucky honor of releasing All Things Will Unwind, the third album from My Brightest Diamond.

Things have changed for MBD frontwoman Shara Worden since 2008’s A Thousand Shark’s Teeth; a move from Brooklyn to Detroit, a new baby boy, a new backyard garden, and a whirlwind of brilliant collaborations with the likes of the Blind Boys of Alabama, The Decemberists, David Byrne, and many others. Likewise, this third album represents a slight tact change from the more direct guitar-rock underpinnings of Shark’s Teeth and her 2006 Workhorse. Less guitar strings, more, well, chamber strings.

But some things have stayed the same, too: Shara’s relentless pursuit of pure, good sound, her rebellion against “genre,” her remarkable understanding of tempo and the way it bends, and her fearless song-writing. We think All Things Will Unwind is not just a third album, it’s a picture taken in time of an artist maturing; someone that is deeply considering joy and pain, beauty and horror, and then singing about it.

Read more info here. You can also hear and download the first single, “Reaching Through to the Other Side,” below:

“Reaching Through to the Other Side” All Things Will Unwind (Download)

WATCH THE SUFJAN-MADE GET REAL, GET RIGHT [VIDEO]

July 7th, 2011 , by

You might recognize the art in the Sufjan-made stop-motion video above; it comes from Prophet Royal Robertson, who inspired not only Sufjan's The Age of Adz but also the documentary film MAKE. MAKE is available now on DVD for $15 here.

Sufjan is also playing one last big Adz show on August 2nd and 3rd in Prospect Park, Brooklyn. In addition to neon gaffe tape (bring it if you got it!), some non-balloon non-confetti partying devices, x-treme dancing, and sweat, expect to see some of projectionist Deborah Johnson's brilliant work at the show (ie. this amazing bit).

Show is general admission and standing room only (stand up if you love standing!). Bring a good 'tude and neon, because you can't Celebrate Brooklyn with a frown. Besides Celebrate Broolyn! is the number one reason Brooklyn lives up to the hype. Believe the hype. Tickets for the show are here.

#THISWEEKEND

June 24th, 2011 , by

Via our Twitter feed.

#THISWEEKEND FRI: Liz Janes in Pittsboro @ Wild Goose Fest; Jookabox in #Indy @ Earth House; Julianna Barwick in Calgary @ Marquee.

#THISWEEKEND SAT: Liz Janes in Carrboro @ Open Eye; @HeladoNegro in Quito; Julianna Barwick in #Calgary @ Stephen's Church.

Details here.

ONE LAST CHANCE TO CELEBRATE

June 23rd, 2011 , by

Sufjan Stevens is playing Celebrate Brooklyn! in Prospect Park on August 2nd and 3rd. This video by Deborah Johnson, who also did the projection you'll see at the show, gives you some idea of what to expect. (YouTube version here).

Buy tickets to the August 3rd show here.

NEWLY RELEASED: MAKE DVD

June 21st, 2011 , by

The best art is that which uses the engine of inspiration to in turn create more art. So today we are honored to be releasing MAKE on DVD, a documentary film that explores the lives of four American self-taught artists, all of whom use simple materials to create remarkable and thought-provoking work. The journey of the film from concept to today's release has been a long one for filmmakers Scott Ogden and Malcolm Hearn; years, really, of travel,  investigation, interviewing, research, editing, collecting, and documenting. Their work, if we may be so bold, mirrors the quality of the artists that they document in the film. 
 
And it is MAKE that also inspired Sufjan Stevens' most recent album, The Age of Adz. Sufjan based the framework of the album after seeing Prophet Royal Robertson's work featured in MAKE. (Royal's artwork is also in the liner notes of the CD and LP.) 
 
You can see this remarkable film for yourself by purchasing the DVD for $15. We also have a digital version available for $10. Click here to do either.
Feel free to play or download Sufjan’s “Get Real, Get Right” below, a track from Adz heavily inspired by the art of Prophet Royal Robertson.

#THISWEEKEND

June 17th, 2011 , by

Via our Twitter account:
 #THISWEEKEND Fri: Julianna Barwick @ Wrongbar #Toronto  || Sat: Chris @Schlarb @ Salvage #Austin; Julianna @ Neptune #Seattle

Details here.

« Previous Page — Next Page »