Tim Larson premieres new track via Brooklyn Vegan from forthcoming album

"His dark pronouncements make even Nick Cave sound positively giddy by comparison." -- Blurt

Chicago songwriter Tim Larson shares a new song from his forthcoming sophomore album Vargar via Brooklyn Vegan today. The brooding tune "Chasing It" is available to listen/share HERE.  Previously, Larson shared the first track, "6" to kick off Midwestern tour dates. That song is available to stream/download HERE.  The history of song, put simply, is at its heart our collective attempts at confronting entropy. As all things move toward their end; as relationships grow and break down, we use music either as an escape or as catharsis to soften the impact. Vargar, the sophomore album by Chicago songwriter Tim Larson explores a range of themes relating to "the end."  Larson's stark, often blunt lyrics and weathered baritone shares similarities to Michael Gira (Swans, Angels of Light) and Mark Lanegan, while the music often takes a more direct, anthemic approach reminiscent of The National. And, there are also generous shades of hazy shoegaze guitar and moody gothic overtones wedded to song structures that are pure American folk/blues at heart. It's no surprise that Larson's varied influences connect the dots between Son House and Bauhaus.  Album opener "Chasing It" fades in with a slowly strummed open-tuned guitar line that might sound akin to John Lee Hooker if it weren't drenched in chorus and delay effects. Ominous organ notes hang above the proceedings, until the song opens up with its soaring chorus as Larson intones of exhaustion over chasing a degenerate lifestyle. "6" kicks off at a forceful clip with quickly strummed guitars and driving drums as Larson repeats the chorus refrain, "we're not the same as we were." It's an acceptance of the inevitability of change, despite our own best attempts to quell the advance of time. Elsewhere, "Dust" sets a metaphor for whatever one's albatross might be, as Larson's sturdy rasp proclaims, "everything I know about dust, I wish I'd forgot." Throughout, Vargar is both lyrically and musically evocative with a masterful economy of instrumentation.  Larson has a college degree in music composition, being skilled at guitar, bass, mandolin, violin and piano. Born and raised in south side Chicago, he spent much of his college years touring as a member of the acclaimed Irish band The Drovers. In 2002, he retired from the band and has since been earning what we'd call an "honest living" in the asphalt business and pursuing his own music, releasing a solo debut No Weapons, No Allies in 2007, then with backing band The Owner/Operators for A New Deal and A Done Deal EP in 2011. Now, Larson returns as an eponymous solo artist. He's joined on Vargar by drummer Ryan Durdin, formerly of The Winter Sounds.  Vargar (a Swedish word for wolves) will be available on CD and download on February 4th, 2014.  TIM LARSON LIVE: 02/08  Chicago, IL @ Saki (album release party)

Artist: Tim Larson Album: Vargar Label: Follow Death Release Date: February 4th, 2014 01) Chasing It (MP3) 02) 6 (MP3)  03) Dust 04) Don't Look Down 05) Shadow 06) I Follow Death 07) Dark Outside 08) Vargar On The Web: followdeath.com timlarsonchicago.bandcamp.com twitter.com/ownroprtr

Zorch multi-instrumentalist Shmu covers Lorde in Exclaim! exclusive, premieres second track from new EP

"Compared to the manic sensibilities of Zorch, Shmu brings a more chilled-out vibe with elements of pop and shoegaze, opting for some serious grooves rather than spacey synths." -- ALARM Press "A perfect storm of pop chaos." -- Exclaim! Sam Chown, drummer/singer/multi-instrumentalist in Austin's hyper-kinetic duo Zorch, A.K.A. Shmu premieres a fittingly warped cover version of Lorde's hit song "Royals" today via Exclaim! The track is available to listen/share HERE.  Shmu's new Chroma Key EP releases everywhere tomorrow, January 28th. In anticipation of the EP, the second tune, "Mollasacre" (a collaboration with Geoff Earle, ex-Freshmillions, current Big Fist) is available today to listen/share HERE. Previously, the song, "She's Leaving" which showcases the band's glitchy dream pop/shoegaze meets blue-eyed soul sound was made available to listen/share HERE.  Shmu -- a solo recording endeavor expanded to a three piece band in a live setting -- has just finished touring throughout the Southwestern US, with plans for more live dates to come in Spring. Watch the band in action performing "I've Got Nothing To Show" VIDEO HERE.  The 5-song Chroma Key EP is the followup to Shmu's full length debut Discipline/Communication released in 2012. Like that album's melodic exploration into dream pop, shoegaze, glitch, psych and experimental rock, Chroma Key further expands the pop hooks with hazy layers of guitar and soulful vocals. Chown wrote, performed, arranged and produced all of the tracks which will be released January 28th as a download-only, the first in a series of EPs leading up to a double LP release in late 2014.

Artist: Shmu

Album: Chroma Key

Label: Grand Theft Zamboni Records

Release Date: January 28th, 2014

01. She's Leaving (MP3)

02. Mollasacre (MP3)

03. Hornet's Nest

04. Made of Stone

05. Do You See What I See?

Artist: Shmu

Album: Discipline/Communication

Label: Grand Theft Zamboni Records

Release Date: June 5, 2012

01. Impressions

02. House of Stares (MP3) (VIDEO)

03. Backwoods

04. Directions

05. Crazy #107

06. Shadowgames

07. Happiness

08. Peaceful Swan

09. Vanitos

10. &hearts (MP3) (VIDEO)

11. Heads Will Fall

12. Floatin' Oculus

13. Turpentine

14. Fester

15. Dangerous Passion

16. Pool Party (Place 4 Us) (VIDEO)

On the Web:

www.shmusix.com

shmu.bandcamp.com

www.facebook.com/shmusix

Modern Rivals premiere lead track via PopMatters from forthcoming album

Brooklyn indie pop quintet Modern Rivals premiere the first song from their forthcoming album today via PopMatters. The track, "The Dead Leaves" is culled from the band's lush and charming 10-song full length Cemetery Dares and is available to listen/share HERE. 

Modern Rivals seem somewhat fittingly named for their transcendent psychedelic pop that both evokes antique 60s mod optimism, while also sounding defiantly current with their experimental edge. 

Modern Rivals' ethereal and dextrous songs share the buttoned-up charm of 60s psych-pop bands like The Zombies, mixed with more technically crafty contemporary artists like Minus The Bear and TTNG. Then, all of the elements are given the Nigel Godrich dreamscape approach in which no single sound is exactly what it seems. There is a delicate warmth to Modern Rivals' songs emanating from every meticulously placed note. 

Album opener "Angel Bones" opens with a simple melody of synth pipe organ notes as vocalist/guitarist Erick Lee softly sings a nearly falsetto harmony over the top as keyboardist/vocalist Alex Schiff, guitarist Mickey Novak, drummer Alex Raderman and bassist Patrick Smith carefully settle into the groove until a brief pause explodes into a frenzy of wailing guitars, cascading keyboard notes and pounding drums. "The Dead Leaves" kicks off with harmonized vocals interwoven with effected guitar notes akin to latter day Flaming Lips that quickly flit into warm, yet threadbare vocals/drums verse reminiscent of the breathy, emotional dynamics of The Beach Boys. Elsewhere, tracks like "Pins and Stitches" and "Yvaine" veer into Beach House dreampop territory, but the band's stellar musicianship is never lost in the reverb-soaked haze. And, songs like "Dig Up The Sunset" and "In Tuxedo" remind us of the slippery and elusive melodies The Shins once had. 

Modern Rivals first formed because there was a plague of skinny-necked young men in collared shirts strumming acoustic guitars everywhere they looked and listened in their hometown of St Louis, MO. So they began plotting and playing together in a spacious apartment, trying to think of better ways to use electricity and strings and sticks and skin to make sounds that could beat back this plague. Sometimes they drank outrageously and did their best impressions of Spencer Krug, sometimes they fought vigorously and bare-fisted in a concrete basement, sometimes they split their fingers open on instruments - but eventually they won.

To celebrate, Modern Rivals moved to New York. They made enough noise and moved enough hearts that some nice things were written about them. More and more people came to watch them sing and dance, and some of these people could even sing and dance along. To increase the ease of singing and dancing along, Modern Rivals spent a dozen days in a freezing recording studio filled with rare books and a sonic wizard named Slick. Immediately afterwards, they survived tuberculosis, bed bugs, and Derrick Rose exploding his second knee. But now, their mental and physical fortitude reformed, Modern Rivals will begin sharing their music with anyone who wants to listen and performing it for anyone who wants to watch. Cemetery Dares is Modern Rivals' first album, and the culmination of the aforementioned triumphs and tribulations.

Cemetery Dares will be available on LP, CD and download on April 22nd, 2014. 

MODERN RIVALS LIVE:

01/29  New York, NY @ Piano's

02/06  New York, NY @ Piano's

02/26  Brooklyn, NY @ Knitting Factory

Artist: Modern Rivals Album:  Cemetery Dares Label: Muy Guapo Release Date: April 22nd, 2014 01. Angel Bones 02. Dead Leaves (Danse Macabre Midnight) (MP3) 03. Dig Up The Sunset 04. Yvaine 05. The Ice 06. Somnipath 07. Moon Dust 08. A Shade Hesitating 09. In Tuxedo 10. Pins and Stitches On The Web: www.facebook.com/ModernRivals modernrivals.bandcamp.com

Qui premiere second video via SPIN, tour with Moistboyz in Feb/March

L.A. duo Qui premiere the second video from their forthcoming third album today via SPIN. The clip, for "Whateryadoin?" is available to watch/share HERE.

Hot on the heels of the album release, Qui take to the road with fabled hard rock band Moistboyz (ex-Ween, Mondo Generator) on the west coast. Please see all dates below.

SPIN also debuted the album's first video back in November. The clip for "Mucho Sex in America" is directed by Laban Pheidias (Justin Timberlake, Billie Joe & Norah Jones, et al.) and available to watch/share HERE (direct Vimeo link).

If the third full length by L.A. duo Qui sounds like a radical departure, you probably were never really listening properly in the first place. Sure, perfectly taut vocal harmonies and precise, sparse instrumentation supplants much of the band's early fume-huffing punk-noise here, but their penchant for challenging, button-pushing ideas is stronger than ever. Qui also employed harmonies and experimental structures on their previous album Love's Miracle (2007) with former vocalist David Yow (The Jesus Lizard). But, Life, Water, Living... is clearly the band's most meticulously refined effort at using melody and harmony as subversive weapons.

After a 5-year absence, Qui is once again back to the original duo formed in 2000 by drummer/vocalist Paul Christensen and guitarist/vocalist Matt Cronk. Life, Water, Living... features inventive song structures and warped pop sensibilities reminiscent of early Sparks and Frank Zappa with Queen-style harmonies... or something like if Badfinger were the Melvins. Throughout, it's an album that subtly commands attention as it shifts from a soft whisper to a chuckle to a scream.

Album opener "Kicked Out of Mime College" dares to keep it (deceptively) simple, based primarily around a churning bass riff and soft, but elastic vocal harmonies of Christensen and Cronk, slowly building to rumba percussion breakdowns and a soaring Theremin-like keyboard line. The title track follows with stop and go rhythms as Cronk switches back-and-forth between crunchy power chords and lightly strummed, clean minor chords. Meanwhile, the singers harmonize beautifully, with particularly impressive vocal acrobatics from Christensen (all the more impressive seen live as he pounds on the drums simultaneously). "Mucho Sex in America" takes a revved up ZZ Top boogie riff and stomping drums driven by frantic, paranoid vocals. Elsewhere, tracks like "The Kind of Jazz This Is" and "Awkward Human Interest" employ bossa nova rhythms, cheeky jazz riffs, a cappella passages, light keyboard flourishes and an overall enthusiasm for the unexpected. Life, Water, Living... was produced by renowned engineer Toshi Kasai and Melvins drummer Dale Crover at Entourage Studios in Los Angeles.

Since their first performance in L.A. in early 2001 and the release of their first full-length, Baby Kisses in 2003, Qui (pronounced, "Qui,") maintained a prodigious pace of both local performances and national tours. In late 2006, Qui had the serendipitous good fortune to collaborate with vocalist David Yow of The Jesus Lizard/Scratch Acid fame, first as a guest and eventually as a full-time member. The band soon partnered up with Mike Patton's Ipecac Recordings, for their second full-length entitled, Love's Miracle, which was released on September 11, 2007. With it came a full tour of the US and Canada, followed by a trip to the UK and Europe.

In 2009 Qui was invited to play at the All Tomorrow's Parties festival in Minehead, England, along with Devo, Sleep, HEALTH, Harvey Milk, and for the first time in ten years, The Jesus Lizard. The rest of the year had Yow's calendar full with The Jesus Lizard's highly anticipated reunion tour, during which time Christensen focused on two new musical projects; the rock band, Help, and his staggering country/jazz/bossa nova duo, Paulene.

With no real agenda, Cronk and Christensen spent the better part of a year writing new music. Yow was by then fully engrossed in his new careers as an actor and artist, unable to commit to playing full-time. So, Qui elected to proceed as their original line-up, with future Yow collaborations an imminent possibility, schedules permitting. In July, 2013, Qui released, "Awkward Human Interest," a limited edition spit 7" single with Mike Watt + The Secondmen on ORG Music.

Life, Water, Living... will be available February 25th, 2014 on LP, CD and download in partnership with Cobraside Distribution.

QUI LIVE:

02/28  Los Angeles, CA @ The Satellite *
03/01  San Francisco, CA @ Slim's *
03/03  Mill Valley, CA @ Sweetwater Music Hall *
03/04  Arcata, CA @ Humboldt Brews *
03/06  Portland, OR @ Doug Fir Lounge *
03/07  Seattle, WA @ Tractor Tavern *
03/08  Portland, OR @ Porch Couch
03/09  Spokane, WA @ Mootsy's


* w/ Moistboyz

Artist: Qui Album:  Life, Water, Living... Label: Cobraside Distribution Release Date: February 25th, 2014 01. Kicked Out of Mime College 02. Life, Water, Living 03. Mucho Sex in America (VIDEO) 04. Awkward Human Interest 05. Boogie Down Disappointment 06. The Kind of Jazz This Is 07. Proof of Bass 08. Songbirds 09. You're a Girl 10. Whateryadoin? (VIDEO) 11. Ham Spray On The Web: www.facebook.com/quiband

Helms Alee premiere new track via Noisey, announce shows with Russian Circles

Seattle trio Helms Alee premiere the second track from the forthcoming Sargent House debut today via Noisey. The tune, "Pleasure Center" is culled from the album Sleepwalking Sailors, which will be released on February 11th. Listen/share on Noisey or Soundcloud. Helms Alee also take to the road with label mates Russian Circles in March. Please see complete dates below. The band previously premiered the first song from the album, "Tumescence" via Pitchfork. Listen/share the song on Pitchfork or Soundcloud. Helms Alee's music is exactly the sort of mutant, fantastic hybrid that used to only occasionally erupt out of small, isolated scenes, uninformed by trends of the day - instead inspired by the band's own collective contributions. The Seattle trio's unique amalgam of metal, art rock, pop and punk is charmingly reminiscent of the fertile creativity that groups once had before the Internet seemed to instruct bands to only copy one another. Helms Alee's third album, Sleepwalking Sailors sounds like many styles combined into one, and none of it concerned with any notion other than creating vital, urgent and uniquely characteristic music. Bassist/vocalist Dana James, drummer/vocalist Hozoji Matheson-Margullis and guitarist/vocalist Ben Verellen combine a vast array of ideas within a single song, while still sounding entirely cohesive. Their songs are undeniably heavy, but also freely roaming through icy post-punk and warm melodic haze at any given moment. Any given song can be pummeling one moment and then subtly shift into triply harmonies without the listener even realizing what has happened. Album opener "Pleasure Center" kicks off with churning riffs and staccato drums that repeat and morph in a constant build that's equal parts Gang Of Four as it is early Soundgarden. The slithering and perfectly meshed distorted rattle of James' bass with Verellen's climbing, chiming single notes on "Tumescence" lead off with Neurosis style heft, but soon give way to compelling minor-key vocal harmonies laid over the proceedings. Elsewhere, James' and Matheson-Margullis' even more pop-hook leaning vocal harmonies lend a transcendence to the proceedings. "Pinniped" pits near chamber-pop group vocal harmonies against screaming, wailing guitar blasts and thumping tom drum beats. Throughout the album, Helms Alee prove that their unique creative spark is its greatest asset in creating incisive and insightful music. Sleepwalking Sailors will be available everywhere on LP, CD and download on February 11th, 2014 via Sargent House. HELMS ALEE LIVE: 02/01  Seattle, WA @ Neumos (w/ Sandrider, Survival Knife) 03/04  Seattle, WA @ Neumos * 03/05  Portland, OR @ Wonder Ballroom * 03/07  San Francisco, CA @ Great American Music Hall * 03/09  San Diego, CA @ The Casbah * 03/10  Los Angeles, CA @ El Rey Theatre * 03/12  Phoenix, AZ @ The Crescent Ballroom * 03/13  Albuquerque, NM @ Launchpad * 03/14  Oklahoma City, OK @ The Conservatory * 03/15  Kansas City, MO @ The Record Bar * 03/16  Chicago, IL @ Metro * * w/ Russian Circles, KEN Mode

Artist: Helms Alee

Album: Sleepwalking Sailors

Label: Sargent House

Release date: February 11th, 2014

Track list:

01. Pleasure Center (STREAM)

02. Tumescence (STREAM)

03. Pinniped

04. Dangling Modifiers

05. Heavy Worm Burden

06. Crystal Gale

07. New West

08. Fetus. Carcass.

09. Slow Beef 

10. Animatronic Bionic
11. Dodge The Lightning

On the Web:

www.sargenthouse.com/Helms_Alee

www.facebook.com/HelmsAlee

www.helmsaleemusic.tumblr.com

Follow Helms Alee on Twitter: @HelmsAleeMusic

Tim Larson shares first track from forthcoming album, announces Midwestern tour dates

"His dark pronouncements make even Nick Cave sound positively giddy by comparison." -- Blurt

Chicago songwriter Tim Larson shares the first song from his forthcoming sophomore album Vargar today. The tune, "6" is available to stream/download HERE. Larson also hits the road this month for a series of Midwestern live dates. Please see complete shows below.  The history of song, put simply, is at its heart our collective attempts at confronting entropy. As all things move toward their end; as relationships grow and break down, we use music either as an escape or as catharsis to soften the impact. Vargar, the sophomore album by Chicago songwriter Tim Larson explores a range of themes relating to "the end."  Larson's stark, often blunt lyrics and weathered baritone shares similarities to Michael Gira (Swans, Angels of Light) and Mark Lanegan, while the music often takes a more direct, anthemic approach reminiscent of The National. And, there are also generous shades of hazy shoegaze guitar and moody gothic overtones wedded to song structures that are pure American folk/blues at heart. It's no surprise that Larson's varied influences connect the dots between Son House and Bauhaus.  Album opener "Chasing It" fades in with a slowly strummed open-tuned guitar line that might sound akin to John Lee Hooker if it weren't drenched in chorus and delay effects. Ominous organ notes hang above the proceedings, until the song opens up with its soaring chorus as Larson intones of exhaustion over chasing a degenerate lifestyle. "6" kicks off at a forceful clip with quickly strummed guitars and driving drums as Larson repeats the chorus refrain, "we're not the same as we were." It's an acceptance of the inevitability of change, despite our own best attempts to quell the advance of time. Elsewhere, "Dust" sets a metaphor for whatever one's albatross might be, as Larson's sturdy rasp proclaims, "everything I know about dust, I wish I'd forgot." Throughout, Vargar is both lyrically and musically evocative with a masterful economy of instrumentation.  Larson has a college degree in music composition, being skilled at guitar, bass, mandolin, violin and piano. Born and raised in south side Chicago, he spent much of his college years touring as a member of the acclaimed Irish band The Drovers. In 2002, he retired from the band and has since been earning what we'd call an "honest living" in the asphalt business and pursuing his own music, releasing a solo debut No Weapons, No Allies in 2007, then with backing band The Owner/Operators for A New Deal and A Done Deal EP in 2011. Now, Larson returns as an eponymous solo artist. He's joined on Vargar by drummer Ryan Durdin, formerly of The Winter Sounds.  Vargar (a Swedish word for wolves) will be available on CD and download on February 4th, 2014.  TIM LARSON LIVE: 01/16  St. Louis, MO @ Firebird 01/17  Champaign, IL @ Error Records 01/18  Milwaukee, WI @ Frank's Power Plant 01/21  Nashville, TN @ Basement  01/24  Madison, WI @ Mickey's

Artist: Tim Larson Album: Vargar Label: Follow Death Release Date: February 4th, 2014 01) Chasing It 02) 6 (MP3)  03) Dust 04) Don't Look Down 05) Shadow 06) I Follow Death 07) Dark Outside 08) Vargar On The Web: followdeath.com timlarsonandtheowneroperators.bandcamp.com twitter.com/ownroprtr