Tapes 'n Tapes' Grier Checks in From the Studio
Band recording sophmore album with Dave Fridmann

Tapes 'n Tapes with Dave Fridmann. [Photos by Liz Hart]

To follow up a debut record like the The Loon-- a rickety, rambling rave-up indomitably awash in influence and promise-- takes focus, pluck, and one hell of a good drum mic. With all that (and a boatload of affability to boot) in their corner, Tapes 'n Tapes hunkered down in esteemed producer Dave Fridmann's Tarbox Road Studios in Cassadaga, New York to record their second album.

Pitchfork got Josh "Tapes 1" Grier on the phone from Tarbox to chat about the recording process, the new tunes, and, of course, blogging.

Fans can get a taste of the new material when Tapes 'n Tapes play their only scheduled show at the moment: November 30 at the Triple Rock in their hometown of Minneapolis.

Pitchfork: So what's the biggest difference between the recording of this album and the last one?

Grier: The last one we recorded in a friend of ours' unfinished basement studio, and this one we're recording in a proper studio. I guess that's the biggest difference.

Pitchfork: Does that lend a certain professionalism to the proceedings?

Grier: It's cool to be able to be at a studio where you're living there and work on stuff all day and mess around with it and work on stuff all night if you want to. But after the first couple weeks of doing it, I was definitely ready to be done in the studio for a little bit. I was like, "How many more times can we go through these songs and mess around with stuff?"

Jeremy Hanson hits the synthesizers
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Charalambides Ready Likeness LP, Tour

We've been led to believe (by the press release) that Likeness, the new Charalambides LP, is going to sound just a bit different than its predecessor, 2005's A Vintage Burden. Gone is the "warm psych" of the last LP, replaced by the "lush and layered vocal strata" of Christina Carter's more recent solo LPs, and a "chillier, more abrasive" guitar tone throughout.

Lyrically, the disc takes a left turn, too, as it mines American public domain tunes, reconsituting the words to fit current political themes. Honestly, from this lot, anything short of an hour-long cover of "Gimme More" won't cause us to bat an eye. Likeness is out October 29 on Kranky.

Charalambides have also lined up a sizable tour with Alasdair Roberts, which kicks off November 2 in Somerville, Massachusetts. Before that, however, Tom and Christina will walk separate paths. Tom plays a trio of shows later this week, while Christina-- along with Heather Leigh Murray, as Scorces-- is following some guy around for a little while. Or is it the other way around? [MORE...]

The Valerie Project Reveal LP Details, More Dates
Dear the Valerie Project, please do Bill & Ted next!

The members of Espers, Fern Knight, Fursaxa, and the other Philly folkies who join them in the Valerie Project will release their self-titled debut via Drag City on November 20.

The Valerie Project translates to double LP and single CD the group's previously reported live soundtrack to 1970 Czech film Valerie and Her Week of Wonders. The film is only the first the group plans to tackle, and they will continue to accompany it live this fall at a handful of performances. Those begin October 28 in New York City. [MORE...]

Ex-Fugazi Roundup: Evens Tour, Joe Lally Tour/LP

Recent web rumors of Ian MacKaye's demise proved graciously premature (thanks, Reaper!), and in the spirit of not being among the spirits, Ian and Amy Farina-- the Evens, when coupled as such-- will set out on a fall tour next month.

For a couple weeks, they'll take those knotty melodies from one coast to another before scooting back home to D.C. A few dates are TBA at the moment, but Dischord's tour page tends to be quite vigilant about updates; bookmark it.

Alas, the trek home's more of the plant-watering variety, not the Fugazi-reuniting variety I wish I were writing about. Of more than a little consolation is a tour from MacKaye's fellow ex-Kill Taker Joe Lally, who's taking his band for a spin around Italy right now. He'll embark on a journey along the West Coast of North America in early November.

Lally's dates fall around the release of Nothing Is Underrated, his second "solo" album, due November 19 from Dischord. Solo in quotes because like last year's There to Here, this one features a bunch of guests, including MacKaye and fellow ex-Fugaziperson Guy Picciotto (these two also produce). So where's Mr. Canty? Busy with Burn to Shine, one supposes. [MORE...]

Flaming Lips Do Another Song for a Movie Soundtrack
Add Zaireeka parties

Full of wonder, between albums, and practically hemorrhaging bubbly tunes, the Flaming Lips have recorded yet another song for a film soundtrack, a move that will surprise no one who's seen a film in the last six months.

The new track "Love the World You Find" will be included in the Zach Helm-helmed, "Natalie Portman runs an enchanted toy store" movie Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium. The fittingly Lips-ian flick, which also stars Dustin Hoffman and Jason Bateman, hits theaters November 16, though Varese Sarabande will drop the soundtrack November 13.

The Lips have also added a number of "Zaireeka Parties" to their previously announced pair of 'em, at which the notoriously hard-to-play LP-- recently expanded to a fifth disc for its tenth birthday-- will be presented in all its stupendous synchronicity. There's nothing like the simple joy of hearing "track number two, CD number three" with a room full of puzzled potheads. And, hey, lil' Wayne's gonna (virtually) be there!

In other Flaming Lips news, how many other bands do you know with a Halloween parade, a Christmas flick, and their very own alley? Not enough, friends. Not enough by half. [MORE...]

GZA Added to Portishead ATP, Doing Swords in London

Photo by Karra McDonald

See, sometimes, you've gotta flash 'em back, take folks back to the source, so forth. GZA's been up to a lot of that sort of thing this year, what with the Wu's forthcoming 8 Diagrams LP and his performances of his classic 1995 album Liquid Swords at this summer's Pitchfork fest and in NYC in December. So it's no shock that All Tomorrow's Parties will give the Genius a couple more opportunities to brandish his swords on the other side of the pond.

First up, GZA is among those who have been added to the sold out, Portishead-curated ATP Nightmare Before Christmas fest. Joining GZA and the already stellar lineup will be Madlib, Silver Apples, Oren Ambarchi, John Parish, and many others. They'll converge on Minehead, England the weekend of December 7-9.

Of note: GZA's set at the Nightmare Before Christmas will not be a front-to-back performance of Liquid Swords. Though I'd be willing to bet money on him doing at least three songs from that album. Takers? Raekwon, put your hand down.

On the evening of December 9, GZA will bid a fond farewell to Butlin's Minehead resort, head into the big city, and swing Liquid Swords in its entirety at London's Koko. But apart from a nap and perhaps a quick game of chess, it'll be back on the plane ASAP, as he'll have those New York dates to attend to. Busy guy, that GZA. [MORE...]

Xiu Xiu Book Bumped, Bonus CD Tracklist Revealed

Way back in the idyllic days of May, whilst taking a break from frolicking through some meadow full of flowers in bloom, we brought you the dirt on Xiu Xiu: The Polaroid Project: The Book. Now the flowers are dead, the meadow has become a Starbucks, and the month of September-- when said tome was said to arrive-- has come and gone. So what the hell, Pitchfork?

Easy, my friend! Xiu Xiu: The Polaroid Project: The Book is still coming out. It's still being published by Mark Batty. It still collects a bunch of David Horvitz's Polaroids, from the sensational to the mundane, documenting Xiu Xiu on the road. It still contains commentary from such folks as Deerhoof's Greg Saunier, Casiotone for the Painfully Alone's Owen Ashworth, Barr, and members of Xiu Xiu. And it still comes bundled with a bonus CD compilation of mostly new tracks, as well as field recordings by Horvitz.

All that's changed, really, is the release month (now November 2007) and the cover (depicted above). Oh, and the bonus CD-- called A Soundtrack for a Polaroid of Two Trees in Indiana-- now has a tracklist, boasting previously mentioned winners like Casiotone, Yellow Swans, Parenthetical Girls, Grouper, Barr, This Song Is a Mess but So Am I, the Dead Science's Jherek Bischoff (who also mastered the disc), High Places' Mary Pearson (sister of a former Pitchfork staffer, truth told), and Xiu Xiu themselves. Catch that below.

Xiu Xiu's next LP and Air Force follow-up is still due early next year, with more details expected to come to light very, very soon. For now, if you dare, check out the rather ridiculous and fairly offensive "tracklist" Jamie Stewart posted on the Xiu Xiu site/blog. So NSFW.

Their CMJ showing now the stuff of memory, Xiu Xiu have no dates presently scheduled. Although if these Polaroids provide any indication of the fun these guys have on the road, we reckon they'll return there soon enough. [MORE...]

Photos: The Hold Steady / Art Brut [Philadelphia, PA; 10/23/07]

Photos by Michael Alan Goldberg

Eddie Argos and his Art Brut pals have been going steady with the Hold Steady on a joint U.S. tour that kicked off last week and will carry the two bands from sea to shining sea over the next month. Craig Finn's crew impressed the boys and girls of America at Philly's Electric Factory Fillmore at the TLA last night with their Boss-inflected tunes, while Argos strutted and shouted tunes from this year's It's a Bit Complicated.

After the inevitable break up, Art Brut will take their show down under for a few dates in December, while the Hold Steady will get a little bit of rest. More photos and tour dates below.

THE HOLD STEADY




ART BRUT



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The Rapture Release "The Sound" as New Single
The Thermals hold it, the Dandy Warhols are it, the Sounds pluralize it

With Daft Punk shows, radio-liberating comps, and soccer anthems out of their way, the Rapture will get back to providing party-rocking fodder this fall with the latest DJ-targeted release on their label Throne of Blood.

It's the 12" single for Pieces of the People We Love's "The Sound", which features the original version in addition to two remixes of the track: one by Gucci Soundsystem's Ben Trucker and the other by Max Pask.

"The Sound" is out November 26 with the help of Amato Distribution.

Future Throne of Blood releases include the Zombi single "Sapphire" / "Long Mirrored Corridor" with an Escort remix, and a 12" from Dances With White Girls.

The Rapture have four dates scheduled on our fair continent this week, starting tonight, October 24, with a show in Monterrey, Mexico. The mini-tour ends with a Halloween show in NYC that also features the B-52's, the most unexpectedly perfect pairing we can think of at the moment. [MORE...]

Blood Brothers Still Together...For Now

Photo by Nathan Martin

Message board-mongering fans of the Blood Brothers' agit-punk antics have been in mourning mode since Monday, when a Three One G records forum administrator (purportedly label owner and Locust/Head Wound City/Holy Molar/Ground Unicorn Horn member Justin Pearson) posted a troubling message on a thread discussing the break-up of Some Girls. In addition to briefs on the status of other Three One G bands, it read:

"the blood bros broke up."

Although rumored for a few months, the news spread quickly following this post-- given Pearson's close ties with the band-- and was even picked up by some press outlets. NME.com, notably, mistakenly reported that, in addition to the break-up, Blood Brothers drummer Mark Gajadhar "hates [his] own band." In the context of Pearson's post, however-- which you may read in full here or below-- it's Mark McCoy of Holy Molar who allegedly hates his band.

So what's really going on here? The word from the Blood Brothers' management: "They are taking a break currently for the rest of the year and will make any final decisions or announcements next year."

Perhaps the death knell has already rung for the Blood Brothers, or perhaps those guys can hold it together (fingers crossed!). We'll just have to wait and see. For now, you're invited to crank "Ambulance vs. Ambulance" and rock out in solidarity. Goddamn does that song kick ten kinds of ass. [MORE...]

Liars Give Away Liars Demos

From single, to single, to EP: the lads of Liars keep on giving up the jams practically as fast as we can listen to them (no complaints here!). For the band's latest "release," Mute Records is unleashing the free-of-charge "Liars sessions" comprised of four demo versions of cuts from their latest LP.

Well, maybe not entirely free: to nab it, you'll have to head here and part ways with some personal info (and choose whether you'd like updates on "Liars", "Alternative", or both).** Your reward is four slices of scuzz-rock at its most primeval. For that, I'd gladly surrender my dental records. Molar city, man.

Thanks to Brooklyn Vegan for the heads-up.

As for Liars, they've just wrapped their tour with Interpol, and are headed to Europe to kick off a headlining trek. They'll play the aforementioned ATP Release the Bats fest with Deerhoof, Deerhunter, Black Lips and Fuck Buttons early next month. [MORE...]

Califone, Dirty Projectors, Black Moth on Esopus Comp

The folks behind bi-yearly magazine Esopus recently decided to make some dreams come true-- through the magic of song!

Guest editor (and Pitchfork contributor) Mike Powell, you see, assembled a crack team of musical types to tackle the sleepytime dreamstuff, however whimsical, weird, or worrying, of Esopus readers-- and now the fruits of their labors have been bundled onto a CD set to accompany the ninth issue of the magazine, which shipped to subscribers this week and will hit newstands the second week of November.

Readers were invited to submit writeups detailing their dreams, and 11 acts-- among them, Califone, Dirty Projectors, Black Moth Super Rainbow, and Ida-- each chose one to interpret musically. If you haven't already done so, do check out the Projectors' "One Kill"-- inspired by subconscious wanderings of an Austin-based Esopus reader-- over in Forkcast. The complete tracklist follows. [MORE...]

Do you have a news tip for us? Anything crazy happen at a show you attended recently? Do you have inside info on the bands we cover? Is one of your favorite artists (that's not somebody you know personally) releasing a new record you'd like to see covered? You will remain completely anonymous, unless we are given your express permission to reveal your identity. (Please note that publicists, managers, booking agents, and other artist representatives are generally exempt from this rule, but will also be granted anonymity if requested.)