lightships:

Today the record company, Geographic, issued a press release to announce details of the project and the release date of the LP.

According to Geographic, if all goes well, the album will be released on April 2nd 2012.

Here is the press release in full:

“Lightships | Electric Cables

…

This is all very exciting, and something I have been looking forward to for a long time. I’m forever a fan of Gerry’s ability to capture sunny melodies into little translucent boxes that are then shared with everyone. His songs are very observant, personal, and incredibly uplifting. I can’t wait…his debut record is sure to dazzle.

Be sure to check out the first single from Lightships- “Two Lines” right here.

I make big leaps & bounds to see artists that have absolutely won me over, and this show was one of the many I have attended from a distance. Last week, on the 7th, I drove down to Milford, Connecticut and hopped a commuter rail to Grand Central Station. With a few texts from city friends regarding various lines to take on the subway system, I successfully ended up at the Rock Shop in Brooklyn. Walking in, I was a bit shocked that I’ve never been to a place like this. It’s quite cozy and has that small, dirty American rock club feel to it, much like my favorite venue in Allston- Great Scott.

So, how did it begin?

Well, it all began with a cover of a Syd Barrett song that Cate handled with a certain finesse, which made me check out her own work. Meet Me Oh My, an album released in ‘09 that rings the little Kevin Ayers bells in my ears. And her new single, the bright and soft-sounding “Puts Me To Work”, is from an album that will soon be released in the US via The Control Group. Fresh off of a North American tour opening for the lovely St. Vincent, Cate brought her bewitching tunes back to New York with fellow friend and musician, H. Hawkline.

It was by pure coincidence that I was turned onto his music. On my Twitter feed, a very talented member of the Welsh super-surf rock combo Y Niwl, posted a link to his Bandcamp site, with a preview of his forthcoming second record, The Strange Uses Of Ox Gall. With a title like that it is hard to pass it by and not pay attention. So I streamed it, and with its little blips and turns and detours into really great sounding pop songs, it quickly became one of my favorite records of the year. It’s hard to classify it into a particular genre of music, so I will just call it “mighty”. If you are a fan of Euros Childs’ solo efforts, then this is certainly something you should look into.

But back to the Rock Shop. Its small, intimate vibe was a perfect place for their American showcase. Nothing fancy was involved, just a guitar, a small amp, and Cate’s new pedal, which St. Vincent Sharpie’d.

Here are a few amateur videos from that night, along with some of my photographs. You can also view more photographs by clicking here.

H. Hawkline

Cate Le Bon

Cate is currently finishing up her European tour with St. Vincent, and H. Hawkline’s just released a split 7” with My Sad Captains on Trash Aesthetics, which you can purchase here.

joemcalinden:

Fourth single release in October 2011 from LINDEN. (AKA Joe McAlinden). Recorded summer 2011 at West Heath Yard Studios and features production by Edwyn Collins and Sebastian Lewsley, Paul Cook (yes, him) on drums and James Walbourne on guitar.

I’ve always been impressed by whatever Joe releases, but I am particularly jumping-up-and-down excited to listen to Joe’s new material released under his musical nom de plume, Linden.

Another track to consider: If I Had Wings.

Colorama

Llyfr Lliwio

A Short Jaunt Through the Colorama Kaleidoscope: A Visual Exercise Transcribed Onto The Back Of A Napkin Somewhere Over The Irish Sea, by Sarah Gagne

The forgotten gentle percussion of fallen leaves. The soft scent of musk and jasmine breezing by you, helplessly clinging onto the fabric of a passerby. Fingers fluttering in a dimly-lit disco. Tape loop overdubs one minute and thirty-four seconds into “Flying”. The heart-jumping sensation of an accelerating car with its body dangerously close the pavement. The color of a crest of a wave. An empty bus mowing through the busy streets of a northern town. 

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Colorama, a Welsh psychedelic pop outfit, is composed of Carwyn Ellis, Luca Guernieri and David Page, with Carwyn being the principal creator of light-as-air melodies and hooks. Their newest release, Llyfr Lliwio/Colouring Book, released thru See Monkey Do Monkey, is another treasure to add to their collection. A 7 track mini-album if you will, all sung in Welsh with the exception for “Valley Song”, which is sung in English. The flow of Llyfr Lliwio is consistent and brimming with visions both strange and familiar.

Preview two tracks here:

“V Moyn T”

“Llyfr Lliwio”

And

Watch a video for “Valley Song”