Ghost Against Ghost and director Craig Murray (Mogwai, Converge) debut film short via The Creators Project

Click Image to watch video

"Evokes a wide array of inspirations to create a vast and intense field of sounds. Christopher Bono constructs a darkly spiritual aura in this post-rock inspired composition." -- Stereogum

Woodstock, NY band Ghost Against Ghost and director Craig Murray premiere the short film

Checkpoint Charlie today via The Creators Project. The elaborate and beautifully shot music video accompanies a remix of the work by film score mixer Satoshi Noguchi and Ghost Against Ghost's Christopher Bono. Watch and share Checkpoint Charlie HERE. (Direct YouTube HERE and Vimeo HERE.)

Checkpoint Charlie is a dramatic, dreamy experiment in lush, dark, romantic harmonies and grating, headsplitting noise. Composed and produced by Ghost Against Ghost frontman Christopher Bono, the epic work features the Czech FILMharmonic string orchestra alongside Bono's strangely ethereal vocals and production, with moments of thunderous drumming by Thomas Pridgen (Mars Volta, Trash Talk, Suicidal Tendencies).

Craig Murray, known for his experimental films and videos for Mogwai and Converge, proved a perfect collaborator for Bono's music. "I'd been looking for a music video that would let my shots breathe and immerse the viewer," Murray says. "Unlike the usual barrage of shots cut to a beat in most music videos these days."

Checkpoint Charlie is a piece from Ghost Against Ghost's upcoming Dark-Romantic conceptual album, Oia. A two-hour saga, Oia is a meditation on love and separation from it. The album outlines a vast, emotional arc that examines the nature and definition of love, moving from the heart-wrenching experience of separation -- a result of love fixated on one human or object -- to the realization of a superior form of love discovered through empirical insight and liberation from fixation. It marks the darkest and most melancholic point on the album but is soon resolved on the full length release. The Checkpoint Charlie music is available to hear and share via Bandcamp. 

The two parts to Checkpoint Charlie depicted in the film are described thusly:

Part 1 is a lush and beautiful piece, unique in its use of the orchestra against synths, vocals and ambience. Drawing on the influence of late romantic and neo-romantic composers alongside psychedelic, progressive and post-rock influences, the movement is a fascinating fusion of orchestral writing and post-rock tendencies. 

Part 2 "The Descent" portrays the psychological descent into hell that is experienced when one is cut off from a fixated object of love. The consistent, dissonant, droning waves of "The Descent" are designed to cut into the listener psychologically and voice the sense of persistent darkness that abounds in the experience of despair once the terror of heartbreak sets in.

Stereogum recently premiered the lead track to the latest Ghost Against Ghost EP, Unarm HERE. 

Ghost Against Ghost's previous release, still love EP is available to hear and share HERE. For full biography on Ghost Against Ghost and Christopher Bono, please CLICK HERE.

On The Web:

ghostagainstghost.com

www.christopherbono.com

facebook.com/GhostAgainstGhost

oursilentcanvasstore.org

www.oursilentcanvas.bandcamp.com

Us Lights share new album of synth-driven post-punk/dream-pop, announce upcoming EP

"Inspired by dream pop and post-punk outfits from the ’80s, such as Echo and the Bunnymen and The Church, mixed with a modern sensibility a la Deerhunter’s more ethereal moments." -- TrebleZine

"Michael Young’s vocals for Us Lights are breathtaking. As rich as Rufus Wainwright, his tone soars over beautiful, classic synth melodies. This five piece produce an incredibly dynamic tease of clean emotive pop. I defy you to not be blown away." -- The Deli Magazine

Portland, OR quintet Us Lights share their self-titled new album today via Spill Magazine. The intoxicating 8-song album is packed with beautiful, soaring melodies and powerful musicianship, driven by the silky and emotive vocals of frontman Michael Young. Hear and share the full album HERE. (Direct Soundcloud HERE.)

Us Lights recently joined the growing SELF Group label roster, releasing Us Lights on LP and download this week while announcing the forthcoming Body EP out on May 6th in conjunction with a European tour. Prior to that trek, the band plays a handful of Pacific Northwest shows, listed below. 

Us Lights uses synth-driven soundscapes, soaring tonal vocals, crisp guitar lines, and a steadfast rhythm section to create a sonically moving and unique brand of dark adventurous pop. 

Us Lights is available on LP and download via SELF Group. 

US LIGHTS LIVE:

04/02 Portland, OR @ University of Portland

04/06 Portland, OR @ The Liquor Store

04/08 Long Beach, WA @ Adrift Hotel

04/09 Long Beach, WA @ Adrift Hotel

Artist: Us Lights

Album: Us Lights

Label: Self Group

Release Date: March 28th, 2016

01. Sang from Space

02. Eyes on US

03. Mothers Fathers

04. Home

05. Light at Night

06. Sometimes Smile

07. Caesar

08. LIFE

On The Web:

http://uslightsmusic.com

selfgroup.org/us-lights

facebook.com/uslightsband

The Blue Stones share title track from forthcoming album, hypnotic soul-rock hybrid

"Music for pint drinking, it was a visceral, deodorant-demanding show." -- Exclaim! "The hottest kind of rock." -- PopMatters Windsor, Ontario's The Blue Stones premiere the title track from their forthcoming album, Black Holes via Exclaim! Hear and share "Black Holes (Solid Ground)" HERE. (Direct Soundcloud.) Paste Magazine recently shared the shimmering, laid-back yearning of album closer "Magic", available to hear and share HERE. (Or, direct Soundcloud, Bandcamp.) Earlier, PopMatters launched "The Hard Part," a perfect example of the duo's hypnotic, yet rousing heavy soul-rock sound. Hear and share HERE. (Direct Soundcloud HERE.) Black Holes was co-produced with Canadian underground legend Ian Blurton and mixed by Detroit garage-punk stalwart Jim Diamond (The White Stripes, The Von Bondies, The Dirtbombs).  The Blue Stones were a little surprised to see that their 2012 release How's That Sound? was on Bandcamp's best-selling list. At the same time, it was more of a revelation as to how far they'd come: the alternative indie-blues duo had made a serious impression on everyone they'd come across since hitting the road in 2010. Not having a third member to fill another rhythm role, the duo developed an original characteristic to the sounds of the bands that influenced them. "We never had a bass player in our early jams, so we subconsciously compensated for one in the music," says guitarist/vocalist Tarek Jafar. For Black Holes, Jafar and drummer Justin Tessier worked closely with Canadian underground legend Ian Blurton to define the record's sound and emotion. "Ian brought a level of grit and rawness that we really wanted to tap into for a record that's far darker than what we've released in the past," says Tessier. "We also worked closely with Brett Humber (Sound Foundry Studios), who helped us with How's That Sound? in 2012." The duo's music has also been featured numerous times on major network television, including spots on Parks & Recreation, Suits, Monday Night Football, Battle Creek and more. More importantly, crowds across Canada and hometown-neighboring Detroit, MI have been stunned by the energy and force behind their loud, dominant live performances-especially for just two dapper guys. The Blue Stones create a killer hi/lo effect; contrasting their slick and put together look with their rough and rollicking live show.  Heart, soul and sweat characterize every Blue Stones spectacle - you can't help but be pulled in from the moment the first note is played.   The two are elated to have played with premiere acts and in national festivals; however, they'd like to achieve an even greater reach to bigger audiences around all of North America and the world. "After two releases and a third in the works, we're looking to forward to pushing this as far as it'll go, to reach as many people as we can," says Jafar. "We love this too much to keep it hid in southwestern Ontario." Black Holes will be available on April 15th, 2016.

Artist: The Blue Stones

Album: Black Holes

Label: Blue Stones Music

Release Date: April 15th, 2016

01) Airlock

02) The Drop

03) Black Holes (Solid Ground) (STREAM)

04) The Hard Part (STREAM)

05) Be My Fire

06) Lay

07) Little Brother

08) Midnight

09) Orbit

10) Magic (STREAM)

On The Web:

www.thebluestones.ca

facebook.com/thebluestonesmusic/

soundcloud.com/thebluestones

Mothertapes share video from acclaimed album, lush & smart experimental pop

Click image to watch video

"The pair utilizes driving synth atmospherics in tandem with heavy shades of guitar/bass overlap, swathing a chill-wave cool atop already complex melodic interweaving. The prospect of a band this daring is a breath of fresh air." -- Paste Magazine

"You can hear just how well the pair balances the experimental and the accessible on the terrific new single 'Do Make Say.' For all the risks the song takes, from its washes of chillwave synths and huge, almost dubstep bassline, everything serves the melody which is sumptuous and gently catchy." -- PopMatters

Portland, OR band Mothertapes premiere the first video from their recent self-titled debut album today. The clip for "Gravity Wins" is shared by Eleven PDX and available to watch and share HERE / YouTube. 

Hear and share the entire Mothertapes album via Soundcloud and Bandcamp. 

At the heart of Mothertapes' music lies vivid melodic themes, heavy beats, and lush layers of programmed and live-looped instrumentation wrapped around intense guitar hooks and vocals. A live Mothertapes performance is an impressive show of workmanship in which Pete Bosack and Tommy Franzen build each song from the ground up, creating the sonic footprint of a much larger band. Rather than ceding control to the bloodless clockwork of sequenced loops, the band breathes life into the technology, eliciting an elastic, dynamic quality that has drawn the admiration of critics and earned the band a loyal following.

The creative collaboration of Pete Bosack and Tommy Franzen is entering its second decade. From the beginning, they recognized in each other an experimental spirit and strong sense of purpose rooted in a commitment to precision and musicianship. Their early garage jams led to the formation of their first band, Wax Fingers, and a debut album soon followed.

Astute listeners will notice the influence of artists as varied as Animal Collective, Radiohead, Matmos, St. Vincent, Battles, and Maps and Atlases. But such comparisons serve only as reference points for this thoroughly original duo. After ten years of collaboration, Bosack and Franzen regard Mothertapes as the culmination of their work together, a breakthrough project resulting in forward-looking music that is both artistically ambitious and highly accessible.

Mothertapes' self-titled album is available on LP and download via the Self Group creative collective.

MOTHERTAPES LIVE:

03/22  Portland, OR @ Holocene

04/23  Portland, OR @ Secret Society Ballroom

Artist: Mothertapes

Album: Mothertapes

Label: Self Group

Release Date: October 2nd, 2015

01. Do Make Say (STREAM)

02. Aftermath (STREAM)

03. Debts/Bets

04. Carrot Stick

05. Not At All So Much Like

06. Gravity Wins

07. Beta Bank

08. War Song

09. 12 Step

On The Web:

mothertapesmusic.com

www.selfgroup.org

facebook.com/Mothertapes

Ex-Sybris frontwoman announces Touched By Ghoul debut w/ video teaser

Click image to watch video

"Mullenhour's vocals rise to heated roars worthy of stardom, which lend themselves perfectly to Touched by Ghoul's brand of rock that is loud and heavy..." -- Gaper's Block

Chicago quartet Touched By Ghoul announce their forthcoming debut album today with a video teaser. The clip, featuring music and artwork from the band's full length Murder Circus, is available to watch and share via YouTube. 

Raised in a basement and surviving only on sheer will and flamin' hot cheetos, Touched by Ghoul clawed their way to the surface to induce the vomit of your soul. Touched By Ghoul exists in their own post-nostalgic now, rock and roll gravediggers tearing right through their dissonant yet beautiful Earth. Helmed by Angela Mullenhour (Sybris, Coins) along with a broody bunch of rock and roll ruffians of the Chicago scuzz scene, Touched By Ghoul constructs a soundtrack that is equally at home at a dive bar or a séance.

On their debut LP coming out on new Chicago imprint Under Road Records, Mullenhour hollers her way through a filthy, living, breathing, kidnapping, dead body finding love story backed by Paige Sandlin’s animal drums kicking through the fog and fury of guitar wars. Recorded by Bill Skibbe (The Kills, Blonde Redhead, The Dead Weather) at the legendary Key Club Recording Company, the Ghouls have found that Eternity is today and blood in the sand is just mud. 

Sounds like: If Stephen King wrote an episode of Columbo scored by the bastard children of The Birthday Party, Babes In Toyland and Echo and the Bunnymen.

Murder Circus will be available on LP, CD and download on April 15th, 2016 via Under Road Records. Pre-orders are available via Bandcamp. 

Touched By Ghoul is:

Angela Mullenhour-Vocals/Guitar

Andrea Bauer-Guitar

Alex Shumard-Bass

Paige Sandlin- Drums 

TOUCHED BY GHOUL LIVE:

04/18 Chicago, IL @ Empty Bottle

Artist: Touched By Ghoul Album: Murder Circus Label: Under Road Records Release Date: April 15, 2016 01) B.A.C.M. 02) Western Child 03) Whores 04) Rapevan 05) Immaculate Consumption 06) Nice Corpse 07) Murder Circus 08) Adios! On The Web: touchedbyghoul.com facebook.com/touchedbyghoul/ touchedbyghoul.bandcamp.com instagram.com/touchedbyghoul/

Japanese punk-metal band Suzisuzi (Yellow Machinegun, ex-Abnormals members) stream full debut album via Noisey

"Careens wildly through crossover thrash, punk, rock'n'roll, and good old fashioned chaos...A fun, wild ride of an album, stuffed with diabolically catchy blips like 'Ameba' and the batshit bonkers weirdness of 'Ballooooooon!!'" -- Noisey

Japanese punk-metal quartet SUZISUZI (featuring Yellow Machinegun and ex-Abnormals members) stream their entire debut album Scream Addict today in an interview with vocalist/bassist Kaori Okumura via Noisey. The album features dual screaming female vocalists over fast and fun metallic punk. Read the interview and hear the album HERE. (Direct  Soundcloud.)

SUZISUZI ("suzi" in Japanese means "vein") formed after 2 bands -- Yellow Machinegun and Abnormals -- met 15 years ago and became good friends. Yellow Machinegun was an all-girl band that debuted in 1996 in Osaka, Japan. They made a huge impact with their screaming vocal styles, not only in Japan but also among the international hardcore/metal scene, leading to shows with Slayer, Motorhead and S.O.D. (with whom they also released a split album.) 

Abnormals are from Tokyo, Japan and have been attracting punk fans with their dark view of the world since the late 1980s.

Through a chance encounter, the two bands collaborated together to release a split album in 2000, followed by a tour throughout Japan. Since then, the members of Yellow Machinegun and Abnormals have become good friends, and eventually created SUZISUZI.

Abnormals guitarist IxSxO and drummer Murochin asked Yellow Machinegun bassist/vocalist Kaori to start the band together when her band announced a short break. IxSxO was keen to use a girl's name for their band, and Kaori liked the sound of "Susie". Murochin suggested the word "SUZI" (meaning "vein" in Japanese)  after the veins that appears on their necks when the band members scream. Thus, SUZISUZI was born. 

In 2011, SUZISUZI did their first gig in Tokyo and decided to add another female vocal. Kaori called and asked K♠ of the Pure Evil record label to join. She is an old friend of Kaori's who has helped her out with lyrics over the years. The full 4-piece band's debut was in Tokyo in May 2015 and shocked fans... in good way.

After 7 years of playing together, SUZISUZI finally releases their debut album this year. Scream Addict will be available on CD and download on March 11th, 2016. Order via Amazon and iTunes. 

Artist: SUZISUZI Album: Scream Addict Label: Pure Evil Release Date: March 11, 2016 01) Scream Addict (STREAM) 02) Ballooooooon!!!! 03) Monster of Thinking 04) Shopaholic 05) Ameba 06) Dump It! Bring It! 07) Lazybones Heartbreak 08) Empty Box 09. Go To North On The Web: suzisuzi.com facebook.com/suzisuzi instagram.com/suzisuziofficial/ twitter.com/SxUxZxIxSxUxZxI

RidingEasy Records news: March 'Potcast' w/ guest DJ from Monolord, new album news and tours...

Hear & share RidingEasy Potcast - Vol. 3 HERE. 

Southern California label RidingEasy Records has a lot afoot, as usual, so here's a quick rundown 

of all the current and upcoming action:

The third edition of the "RidingEasy Potcast" is out now, featuring guest DJ set by Thomas Jaeger of Monolord. Check out the full playlist and stream or download via Soundcloud. 

Mondo Drag: The highly praised new album by Bay Area heavy Krautrock-psych band is out now. It's titled The Occultation of Light and is available to hear and share HERE. Mondo Drag bring their bewitching light across the states and EU with Pentagram in March and April, followed by more April shows with Elder and festival performances culminating in Sin City for Psycho Las Vegas in late August. See complete dates below.

The second installment in the ongoing compilation series of rare 60s-70s proto-metal singles Brown Acid: The Second Trip hits the streets, fittingly, on April 20th. Tune in, turn up, and drop the brown acid with tracks from Iron Knowledge, Crossfield and Ash via  Soundcloud. 

Electric Citizen has announced their anticipated sophomore album Higher Time, scheduled for release on May 13th! Just before that, the Cincinnati quartet hits the road throughout the UK & EU supporting Wolfmother. Listen to two new tracks, "Evil" and "Golden Mean" from the forthcoming album on  Soundcloud. 

And, coming this summer, mind-blowing new albums from Salem's Pot and Slow Season... plus much more to be announced soon! Please get in touch for more information, interviews, guest list requests and anything else you might need. 

MONDO DRAG TOUR:

03/11 Denver, CO @ Hi Dive

03/12 Columbia, MO @ Cafe Berlin

03/14 Atlanta, GA @ Masquerade *

03/15 Nashville, TN @ Exit/In *

03/17 Dallas, TX @ Gas Monkey *

03/18 Houston, TX @ Warehouse Live *

03/19 Austin, TX @ The Lost Well - Heavy Metal Parking Lot 3 *

03/21 Flagstaff, AZ @ The Green Room

04/06 Lindau, GER @ Club Vaudeville *

04/07 Munich, GER @ Backstage Big Hall *

04/08 Wiesbaden, GER @ Schlachthol Wiesbaden Big Hall *

04/ 09 Durbuy, BEL @ Durbuy Rock Festival *

04/11 Vienna, AUT @ Arena Big Hall *

04/12 Jena, GER @ F-Haus *

04/14 Hamburg, GER @ Klubsen *

04/15 Tilburg, NL @ Roadburn Festival

04/16 Karlsruhe, GER @ Dorfschanke

04/19 Aalborg, DK @ 1000 Fryd

04/20 Stavanger, NOR @ Folken #

04/21 Bergen, NOR @ Hulen #

04/22 Oslo, NOR @ Bla #

04/23 Gothenburg, SWE @ Truckstop Alaska #

04/25 Copenhagen, DK @ Loppen #

04/26 Kiel, GER @ Schaubude 

04/27 Munster, GER @ Sputnikhalle #

04/28 Chemnitz, GER @ AJZ Talschock #

04/29 Berlin, GER @ Astra | Desertfest

04/30 Lisbon, PRT @ Sound Bay Fest

05/01 London, UK @ Desertfest

08/26 - 28 Las Vegas, NV @ Psycho Las Vegas

* w/ Pentagram

# w/ Elder

ELECTRIC CITIZEN TOUR:

03/26 Nashville, TN @ The Basement

04/08 Dublin, IE @ Olympia Theatre *

04/09 Manchester, UK @ Academy *

04/10 Newcastle, UK @ O2 Academy *

04/12 Glasgow, UK @ O2 Academy *

04/13 Leeds, UK @ O2 Academy *

04/16 Birmingham, UK @ O2 Academy *

04/17 Bristol, UK @ O2 Academy *

04/18 Southampton, UK @ Guildhall *

04/20 London, UK @ O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire *

04/22 Koln, GER @ Palladium *

04/23 Wiesbaden, GER @ Schlachthof *

04/25 Paris, FR @ Le Trianon *

04/26 Amsterdam, NE @ Paradiso *

04/27 Brussels, BE @ AB *

04/29 Groningen, NE @ Oosterpoort *

04/30 Tilburg, NE @ 013 *

05/01 Hamburg, GER @ Grosse Freiheit 36 *

05/02 Berlin, GER @ Columbiahalle *

05/04 Copenhagen, DK @ Vega *

05/05 Oslo, NOR @ Rockefeller *

05/06 Djurgarden, SWE @ Gruna Lund *

05/08 Milan, IT @ Alcatraz *

05/09 Zurich, CH @ Volkshaus *

05/10 Munich, GER @ Kesselhaus *

05/11 Wien, AT @ Arena *

05/13 Barcelona, ES @ Apolo 1 *

* w/ Wolfmother 

THE WELL TOUR:

03/24 Los Angeles, CA @ Viper Room *

03/25 San Diego, CA @ Brick By Brick *

03/26 Phoenix, AZ @ Pub Rock *

03/27 Las Vegas, NV @ Divebar *

03/28 Salt Lake City, UT @ Metro Bar *

03/29 Denver, CO @ Marquis Theater *

03/30 Kansas City, MO @ Riot Room *

03/31 St. Louis, MO @ Fubar *

04/01 Indianapolis, IN @ 5th Quarter *

04/02 Newport, KY @ Southgate House *

04/03 Atlanta, GA @ Drunken Unicorn *

04/04 Memphis, TN @ The Hi-Tone Cafe

* w/ Black Tusk

SLOW SEASON TOUR:

03/17 Santa Ana, CA @ DTSA Underground

05/18 Santa Cruz, CA @ Blue Lagoon

05/19 San Francisco, CA @ Thee Parkside

05/20 Oakland, CA @ The Golden Bull Bar

05/24 Portland, OR @ The Liquor Store Bar

05/25 Seattle, WA @ Funhouse

05/27 Boise, ID @ Shredders

05/28 Salt Lake City, UT @ Urban Lounge

05/31 Chicago, IL @ Double Door

06/01 Indianapolis, IN @ Bent Rail Brewing

06/02 Cleveland, OH @ Stone Tavern

06/03 Pittsburgh, PA @ Gooski's

06/04 Rochester, NY @ Bug Jar

06/07 Columbus, OH @ Rumba Room

06/10 Memphis, TN @ Buccaneer Lounge 

06/11 Hattiesburg, MS @ The Tavern

06/13 Shreveport, LA @ Bears

06/14 Texarkana, TX @ Arrow Bar

06/16 Oklahoma City, OK @ Blue Note

06/18 Austin, TX @ Hotel Vegas

06/22 Tempe, AZ @ Yucca Taproom

On The Web:

ridingeasyrecords.com 

ridingeasyrecords.bandcamp.com

Japanese punk-metal band Suzisuzi (ex-Yellow Machinegun, Abnormals) premiere first track from forthcoming debut

Japanese punk-metal quartet SUZISUZI (featuring ex-Yellow Machinegun and Abnormals members) premiere the title track from their forthcoming debut album Scream Addict (Pure Evil label) today via Echoes & Dust. The song "Scream Addict" features, not surprisingly, dual screaming vocalists over fast and fun metallic punk: hear and share HERE. (Direct Soundcloud). 

SUZISUZI ("suzi" in Japanese means "vein") formed after 2 bands -- Yellow Machinegun and Abnormals -- met 15 years ago and became good friends. Yellow Machinegun was an all-girl band that debuted in 1996 in Osaka, Japan. They made a huge impact with their screaming vocal styles, not only in Japan but also among the international hardcore/metal scene, leading to tours with Slayer, Motorhead and S.O.D. (with whom they also released a split album.) 

Abnormals are from Tokyo, Japan and have been attracting punk fans with their dark view of the world since the late 1980s.

Through a chance encounter, the two bands collaborated together to release a split album in 2000, followed by a tour throughout Japan. Since then, the members of Yellow Machinegun and Abnormals have become good friends, and eventually created SUZISUZI.

Abnormals guitarist IxSxO and drummer Murochin asked Yellow Machinegun bassist/vocalist Kaori to start the band together when her band announced a short break. IxSxO was keen to use a girl’s name for their band, and Kaori liked the sound of “Susie”. Murochin suggested the word “SUZI” (meaning “vein” in Japanese)  after the veins that appears on their necks when the band members scream. Thus, SUZISUZI was born. 

In 2011, SUZISUZI did their first gig in Tokyo and decided to add another female vocal. Kaori called and asked K♠ of the Pure Evil record label to join. She is an old friend of Kaori's who has helped her out with lyrics over the years. The full 4-piece band's debut was in Tokyo in May 2015 and shocked fans... in good way.

After 7 years of playing together, SUZISUZI finally releases their debut album this year. Scream Addict will be available on CD and download on March 11th, 2016. 

Artist: SUZISUZI Album: Scream Addict Label: Pure Evil Release Date: March 11, 2016 01) Scream Addict (STREAM) 02) Ballooooooon!!!! 03) Monster of Thinking 04) Shopaholic 05) Ameba 06) Dump It! Bring It! 07) Lazybones Heartbreak 08) Empty Box 09. Go To North On The Web: suzisuzi.com facebook.com/suzisuzi instagram.com/suzisuziofficial/ twitter.com/SxUxZxIxSxUxZxI

Yardsss share 'beautiful excess' of Granfalloons album blending Swans, post-rock and orchestral elements

"Yardsss tends toward the dark and droning and bombastic, with heady, swelling orchestrations. It doesn't take many listens to understand that Krueger is breaking boundaries not for the sake of being (or seeming) transgressive, but to make sounds that awaken actual feelings -- uplifting, inspiring emotions." -- Portland Mercury

"Soaring drone noise and melody as cacophony reminiscent of late-80s/early-90s SWANS, Emeralds and Popul Vuh." -- New Noise Magazine

"A weird mix of Swans, post-rock, and orchestral music. It’s not nearly as harsh or abrasive as No Wave or other experimental noise or drone projects, but it definitely has elements from those genres." -- Heavy Blog Is Heavy

Portland, OR band Yardsss -- ethereal music brainchild of Southerly and Sndtrkr leader Krist Krueger -- share their new album Granfalloons today. The 5-track piece is the second in a three part Kurt Vonnegut inspired series following the critically acclaimed Foma, which also became a short film of the same name. Hear and share the full album via  Soundcloud / Bandcamp. 

Heavy Blog Is Heavy recently reviewed and premiered "Granfalloons II" HERE. New Noise Magazine featured "Granfalloons III" and the full album stream HERE. Granfalloons is performed mostly by Krueger with fellow Southerly member Eli, joined by Sarah Saturday of Gardening, Not Architecture on guest vocals.

Yardsss is the experimental embodiment of recording artist and SELF Group founder Krist Krueger's sonic landscape. Krueger is best known for his work with Southerly, whose 2007 debut Storyteller and the Gossip Columnist was met to national critical acclaim. His label, SELF Group, began a major relaunching in late 2015, with new releases slated for 2016 from Southerly, Us Lights, C^VES, Scriptures and more. 

Artist: Yardsss Album: Granfalloons Label: Self Group Release Date: March 4th, 2016 01. Granfalloons I 02. Granfalloons II 03. Granfalloons III 04. Granfalloons IV 05. Granfalloons V On The Web: selfgroup.org/yardsss facebook.com/Yardsss twitter.com/Yardsss

Jerkagram premiere video via Noisey, launch North American tour today

Click image above to watch video

"They say that sometimes twins develop their own language. I don't know if Derek and Brent ever did that, but their second album makes it clear they're communicating on a wavelength of their own." -- The Obelisk

"A razor sharp eight-song beast that melds the influence of the Melvins’ classic Stoner Witch with Don Caballero-like math-jazz and Tweak Bird-esque stoner metal, dousing it all in wads of guitar looping'n’noodling fuckery." -- Noisey

L.A. fraternal twin duo Jerkagram premiere the first video from their new album today via Noisey. The glitch-heavy psych-pop video is available to watch and share HERE. (Direct YouTube HERE.)

Jerkagram also kick off a lengthy 6-plus week North American tour today starting in Phoenix, AZ. Please see complete dates below.

The duo's new album Outer Limbs is filled with kinetic, psych-drenched, Krautrock-leaning jazz-rock with catchy atmospheric post-rock sounds. It's not easy to make sense of on paper, but the music makes sense on its own. Hear and share the full album HERE.

Pinning down just what Jerkagram does is no easy task. "I never know what to tell people when they ask," explains drummer Brent Gaines, one half of the fraternal twin duo, along with guitarist Derek. The raucous twosome is influenced by a very wide array of musical styles and philosophies, from the cacophonic yet buoyant heaviness of The Melvins to the orchestral post-rock of Explosions in the Sky to the loose jazz of Sun Ra. 

Starting out exclusively as an improvisational stilted noise/free rock operation from New York, Jerkagram embarked on several tours, and came to find that their free approach was naturally gravitating towards something more foundational and song-oriented. This newfound energy for song-writing lead to the band releasing two records in 2014 -- full-length Let's Talk About Us and EP Tired Old Horseshit. Following these releases was an ambitious ten-week tour around the US, where they landed in Los Angeles, ready to tickle some more earlobes with sheepish grins.

Enter the band's new full-length album, Outer Limbs. Recorded and mixed by Toshi Kasai (Melvins/Big Business), the record is an evolutionary refinement of their melting-pot sound. Each song has a motorik sensibility behind it and seems to grow and transition organically, yet also manages to feel unhinged and unpredictable. The interplay of sturdiness and freedom inherent in their songs, as well as the dynamics of the bludgeoning drums and ambient guitars switching roles in being the driving force behind them is what makes Jerkagram such an intriguing force -- they don't imply themselves or belong to any genre, and despite this, everything is characteristic, cohesive and thematically consistent, from the Morricone-inspired opener, "Coat of Arms," to the frenetic yet poppy, "Cloud Builder," to the jazz-rock closer, "Empty Gesture."

Outer Limbs is available on CD and download as of January 29th, 2016. 

JERKAGRAM LIVE:

03/03 Phoenix, AZ @ Trunk Space

03/04 El Paso, TX @ Bowie Feathers

03/05 San Antonio, TX @ Imagine Books & Records

03/06 Austin, TX @ Hotel Vegas

03/07 Houston, TX @ The Satellite

03/08 New Orleans, LA @ Saturn Bar

03/10 Columbia, SC @ New Brookland Tavern

03/11 Raleigh, NC @ Slim's

03/12 Washington, DC @ Safari

03/13 Philadelphia, PA @ Kung Fu Necktie

03/15 Brooklyn, NY @ Shea Stadium

03/16 New Haven, CT @ BAR

03/17 Boston, MA @ O'Briens

03/18 Providence, RI @ Funky Jungle

03/19 Annandale-on-Hudson, NY @ Bard College

03/20 Burlington, VT @ The Monkey House

03/21 Montreal, QC @ L'Esco

03/23 Toronto, ON @ the Handlebar

03/24 Hamilton, ON @ this Ain't Hollywood (93.3 CFMU Fundraiser)

03/25 Pittsburgh, PA @ Gooski's

03/26 Louisville, KY @ Mag Bar

03/27 St. Louis, MO @ Foam

03/28 Chicago, IL @ The Burlington

03/29 Milwaukee, WI @ The High Dive

03/30 Minneapolis, MN @ The Nicollet

04/01 Kansas City, MO @ Mini Bar

04/02 Lincoln, NE @ Zoo Bar

04/03 Denver, CO @ 7th Circle

04/05 Boise, ID @ Neurolux

04/06 Portland, OR @ High Water Mark

04/07 Seattle, WA @ Substation

04/08 Bellingham, WA @ Waterfront Seafood

04/09 Olympia, WA @ The House of Sass

04/10 Vancouver, BC @ LanaLou's

04/12 Tacoma, WA @ Half Pint

04/13 Eugene, OR @ Wandering Goat 

04/14 Sacramento, CA @ Cafe Colonial

04/15 Oakland, CA @ Golden Bull

04/16 Los Angeles, CA @ TBA

Artist: Jerkagram

Album: Outer Limbs

Label: Jerkagram Music

Release Date: January 29, 2016

01) Coat of Arms

02) Lyra

03) Anteater (STREAM)

04) Cloud Builder (STREAM)

05) Three Pillars (STREAM)

06) Orphaned Origin

07) Two Pillars

08) Empty Gesture

On The Web:

jerkagram.bandcamp.com

facebook.com/jerkagram