NEW ALBUM FROM HALF-HANDED CLOUD
June 18th, 2010 , by Asthmatic Kitty
Those who've been with us since the beginning remember that Half-handed Cloud's debut was reissued by AK in 2001. This was our second release as a record label, preceded only by an album by the label's co-founder. Since then, Half-handed Cloud has released three more full-lengths, plus an EP/singles collection.
Recorded on half-inch reel-to-reel in the sanctuary and custodial quarters of a church in Berkeley, frontman John Ringhofer recorded most of the parts himself, joined occasionally by friends. Daniel Smith (Danielson) mixed the record at his studio in Clarksboro, New Jersey.
Stowaways' tunes splash about in cavernous spaces opened up by irregularly measured rhythms and pocket-orchestra arrangements integrated with creaky pianos, sound-loops, a tugboat of a church organ, guitars, and billowing banjos. In other words, they are real gems.
Stowaways will be out September 28th, 2010 in CD, vinyl, and MP3. More details here.
AK ARTISTS TO HELP OPEN INDIANAPOLIS ART PARK
June 12th, 2010 , by Asthmatic Kitty
If you wander around the White River in Indianapolis long enough, you'll eventually stumble across something new and phenomenal: the 100 Acres, part art-park, part nature reserve, part lake. When it opens this month as a section of the Indianapolis Museum of Art (IMA), the 100 Acres will be one of the largest art-parks in the country. The IMA is inaugurating the park with eight site-specific installations including a vector-based basketball court, a submerging/reemerging park bench, gigantic human bones, a floating livable island pod, and Eden II, a modern apocalyptic ark.
Several AK artists will have the honor of aurally christening the park on Saturday June 19th. These include Shara Worden (of My Brightest Diamond), Liz Janes, and Roberto Carlos Lange (of Helado Negro and Epstein). They'll perform alongside Dayna Kurtz, DJ Kyle Long, Arrington de Dionyso, Jordan Munson, and The Outside Orchestra.
At a VIP event that Saturday, Liz, Shara, and Dayna will debut a new musical piece written specifically for the 100 Acres. Following that, they will all perform from 7-9:30pm at the opening party. Tickets $80 for general public and $50 for IMA members; you can purchase either here.
The grand public opening for 100 Acres, which is 100% free, is the day after. It will have throat signing, park tours, drumming, team-building exercises and DJing by Kyle Long and Epstein. Details on that event are here.
More info on this amazing space is here. Map of 100 Acres is here.
The Creativity of Pop Music
June 6th, 2010 , by
Pop music is one of the most popular musical genres these days. Pop music often includes different elements of hip hop, rock, reggae, R & B, dance, electronic, jazz, and at times certain folk music, along with several other styles. These days, pop music is a collaboration of the latest technologies in music. This can be achieved by musical producers and advanced recording studios in order to obtain the type of sound that they want. Musical producers generally have a heavy influence in this regard.
Pop music most typically uses a memorable, yet simple melody, which puts an emphasis on synching. The music is stripped down to a loop that repeats itself all throughout the music. At times, this type of music is criticized because of being repetitive and simple.
Pop Music as Popular
Pop music is a type of music that belongs to any kind of musical style. It is quite accessible to the public and is generally distributed by several media. It may not be something that many people refer to as art. This is most often associated with a specific social group, most particularly the young ones. Pop music is also disseminated in a mass market. Pop music is being characterized by the fact that the idea of promoting a music is done by simply allowing it to be heard again and again and again.
Pop music serves as a contemporary type of music which has become common to many people. As a matter of fact, pop music does not only refer to a particular and single genre of music. It can simply point to different types of music which has simply become popular and common. This is the reason why it can be clearly distinguished apart from the other subgenres of music.
Creation of Albums
The main purpose of pop music is to become a common part of the everyday lives of people. With the advent of the Internet, as well as of mobile devices and gadgets, it has become easy to download music to mobile phones and gadgets. It acts the same with downloading other services such as iphone bingo apps and others. With the convenience of getting this stuff, more people have the access to the music that they love.
In this musical era, even a single song can be widely distributed in a very short period of time. This is also because of the different musical charts existing that rank the popularity of certain songs. The ranking is based on the number of downloads done over the Internet, as well as the number of times music is downloaded online.
Pop music also varies from generation to generation. For instance, in the 1980’s, music was somewhat influenced by equipments that produce electronic sound that works with synthesizers. However, these days, times have rapidly changed, and the latest in musical technology is being put to use. This results to a modern rendition of music which people usually loves.
SHAPES AND SIZES ARE BACK
June 4th, 2010 , by Asthmatic Kitty
It has been three years since Shapes and Sizes released their sophomore album Split Lips, Winning Hips, A Shiner, and in that time they have managed to squeeze in quite a bit of living and working. They have been getting married, opening record stores, starting and joining other bands (Elfin Saddle, Think About Life, Miracle Fortress), not to mention moving to Montreal and learning a new language. They toured with The National and Yeasayer, and opened for Sufjan Stevens and the Silver Jews. And alas, they managed to write and record their newest album A Candle To Your Eyes. The album is simultaneously more subdued and more dangerous than Split Lips. It is ambitious, confident and fiery and we think you will have a hard time resisting it. A Candle To Your Eyes will be released on August 3rd, but in the meantime you can listen to the lead off track below. Details here.
900X ON LAMINAR EXCURSION MONTHLY
June 4th, 2010 , by Asthmatic Kitty
ANNOUNCING A DUECK FILM
May 28th, 2010 , by Asthmatic Kitty
RICHARD SWIFT, KRISTIN MILTNER PROVIDE NEW LIBRARY CATALOG ENTRIES
May 22nd, 2010 , by Asthmatic Kitty
PREORDER THE NEW FOL CHEN, IMPRESS FRIENDS WITH RINGTONES
May 19th, 2010 , by Asthmatic Kitty
"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."
Download the ringtones here:
DM STITH TOURS NORTH AMERICA, PREORDER HEAVY GHOST APPENDICES
May 14th, 2010 , by Asthmatic Kitty