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.

FOL CHEN RETURN WITH NEW ALBUM [FREE MP3]

April 8th, 2010 , by

By Juliana Paciulli

Last time, on Fol Chen: John Shade made his fortune. Bing & Co built a pyramid, the pyramid, and took the battle to Shade. It all fell apart. The world? In ashes.

And now, on Fol Chen: John Shade is dead.  A mysterious letter. The end of one end, and a beginning on another one. A new chance at a new world. But not one given so easily, things are not so clear as they once were. Long live John Shade.

For the uninitiated, this is Fol Chen. After receiving praise from NPR for their debut, releasing a remix album, recording a BBC Session and a music video with the Laker Girls, Fol Chen has created Part II: The New December. The album shores up the group's slippery identity further still. This is Fol Chen's most focused work – as consistent as it is consuming, as enjoyable as it is unusual. For more info, visit their website here.
 
On Saturday, Fol Chen begin their tour with Liars, starting in LA and ending in Seattle, before heading off to Europe. Info here. 

"In Ruins" (Download)

SHARA WORDEN OF MBD AT BELL HOUSE, BROOKLYN TONIGHT

April 3rd, 2010 , by

Tonight (Saturday, April 3), at 7:30 PM at The Bell House in Brooklyn, Shara Worden of My Brightest Diamond will be performing a song cycle called Penelope by the composer Sarah Kirkland Snider, together with Signal – a versatile, do-anything chamber orchestra conducted by Brad Lubman.   
 
Penelope has appeared in various guises over the past two years: it originated as a music for a theater piece and then debuted as a song cycle with Signal last May. When Shara came aboard the project, Sarah revised and expanded the songs yet again, tailoring them to Shara's unique talents and arranging them for Sarah's dream cast of characters: a 25-person orchestra of strings, harp, percussion, drums, electric guitar and bass, and electronics (with sound design by Michael Hammond).  The cycle grew from 40 to 60 minutes.  This is the premiere performance of this new, expanded version of the piece.     
 
Details here.

RAFTER: HE TOURS, YOU DANCE

April 1st, 2010 , by


Photo by Lizeth Santos

On the 13th of April we'll have the high partying honor of releasing Animal Feelings, the third full length from Rafter. We have high expectations that this will end partisan politics, long-standing family disputes, and decrease aggressive driving accidents by 22%, perhaps more.

Until the wide release on April 13th though, expect smaller but more intense pockets of effect. Why? Rafter is touring. Like a crazy man. Because he is on a mission, a mission to make you sweat. Rafter & Co. begin in Houston, run back and release the CD in San Diego on the 17th, then use the gravity from California to swing back to NYC and then back again. 

We'd stake our reputation that you'll dance at a Rafter show. Seriously. You will dance. Go. Details here.
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