Matmos Announce Supreme New Album

As our own Mark Richardson said in his recent Forkcast post about new song "Rainbow Flag", experimental electronic duo Matmos have largely eschewed the lavish, overarching concepts of previous records in favor of something simpler on Supreme Balloon.

While adhered to just as strictly, Supreme Balloon's concept is just "a lighthearted 'cosmic pop' record made entirely out of synthesizers," according to Matador's missive about the record. The label will release Supreme Balloon in the U.S. on May 6 and in the UK/Europe the day before. And not just any synthesizers: "the exotic and antiquated synths used on the record heavily spotlight the classic 60s/70s/80s consumer electronic rigs of Arp, Korg, Roland, Waldorf and Moog, and feature modular systems from Electro-Comp, Doepfer and Akai (hell, even a stylophone and a Suzuki Omnichord show up)."

The duo of M.C. Schmidt and Johns Hopkins English professor/occasional Pitchfork scribe Drew Daniel are joined by several contributors on Supreme Balloon, including Sun Ra Arkestra member Marshall Allen, electronic music artists Jon Leidecker (aka Wobbly), Jay Lesser, Matthew Curry (aka Safety Scissors), and Keith Fullerton Whitman (aka Hrvatski), and pianist Sarah Cahill. And on the bonus track "Hashish Master" (available on iTunes and vinyl only), minimalist legend Terry Riley.

Although the full tracklist isn't available yet, the album will include the previously mentioned "Rainbow Flag", as well as "Mister Mouth" and a "'cover' of French baroque composer Francois Couperin's 'Les Folies Francaises'", according to Matmos' website.

In live land, Matmos will perform four times in NYC next week, but, this being Matmos, none of them are traditional concerts. The first, taking place February 18 at the Advent Lutheran Church, is "A So Percussion event with M.C. Schmidt performing 45' for a Speaker by John Cage," according to Matmos' MySpace. The next three are all at John Zorn's space the Stone, as part of a month-long series curated by Zeena Parkins. On February 21, Blevin Blechdom and Chris McIntyre will perform, joined in some capacity by Schmidt and/or Daniel. On February 22, Schmidt will join Lesser and Nate Boyce in Phase Chancellor, "an improvisational 3 synthesizer trio". And finally, on February 23, Matmos will perform two sets, playing stuff from the new album as well as a "'cover' of 'The Backyard', the final act of the Robert Ashley tele-opera 'Perfect Lives'".

Also: Drew Daniel's 33 1/3 series book about Throbbing Gristle is out now. [MORE...]

Sir Richard Bishop Blasphemes All Over New DVD

God Damn Religion! No wait, I didn't say it, I swear! It was him! The one over there with the gnarly beard and the six-string! Also, I'd check the papers on that knighthood if I were you...

That's right, Sir Richard Bishop has a DVD coming your way, and it bears the rather bold head-turner of a title seen above there. If the name alone makes you queasy, just reading about the contents will most certainly result in a lost lunch. But look at you, you're reading on anyway. Don't say you weren't warned!

In the man's own words, God Damn Religion is "a diabolical experiment in hypnotic mind control-- a phantasmagoric presentation of demonic and divine imagery, meticulously assembled and designed to put the viewer into an altered state of darkened awareness...If you ever wanted to go to hell and back, this film will get you halfway there."

But wait, it gets better: "Some viewers may find the imagery used in my movie to be disturbing, but that's the idea. Contains some strong sexual content (as all true religion should). Not for the weak-minded, faint of heart, or those suffering from occasional seizures."

Whatever your feelings on the subject, you'd do well to check out God Damn Religion when the DVD hits shelves via Locust on February 26. Sir Richard Bishop fanatics can rejoice in knowing they will not only receive a provocative film with their purchase, but also a CD of their guy's out-of-print, 2006 vinyl-only release Elektronika Demonika (music from which also appears in the film).

God Damn Religion will screen a few places as well, including the Cake Shop in New York City on March 4.

And while some might chide this "Bishop" for blasphemy, let none accuse the guy of sloth. After unloading two albums in quick succession last year and playing live a whole bunch, Bishop is already back at it, touring the Old Countries right now with Earth. He'll also appear at the Suoni Per Il Popolo festival in Montreal this June with brother and fellow ex-Sun City Girl Alan Bishop. [MORE...]

Broken Social Scene Expand Tour
They're going to Russia and Turkey!

Broken Social Scene seem pretty damn tight for such a loose-knit bunch, but they must be a little tired of the frequent farewells they have to give each other after every one-off and chance run-in. So, in the spirit of band unity and togetherness and all that mushy stuff, the Scene have thrown a whole new leg onto their previously reported tour, making it months before they'll have to say those farewells.

In addition to the previously reported string of dates around Australia, New Zealand, Japan and Singapore, the band are headed to Taiwan, Mexico, Turkey, Luxembourg, Russia... and, um, your more standard rock show locales, like the UK, France, and the States.

As previously mentioned, they'll make appearances at the Explosions in the Sky-curated ATP Festival and Bonnaroo. I bet when these kids play a festival, they get two artist trailers.

And, while we're touching on Scene unity, know that Brendan Canning's solo LP-- bearing the Broken Social Scene Presents stamp-- will appear via Arts & Crafts May 27. [MORE...]

Vetiver Share Covers LP Info, Tour With Jayhawks Dude

Photo by Alissa Anderson

Hey, remember that "all-covers LP" Andy Cabic and his Vetiver gang were cooking up way back when? Seems it's well on its way to a listening device of your choosing, complete with title, tracklist, release month, and all those other vital stats your analytical mind craves.

A Thing of the Past is the rather appropriate title Vetiver have given to their tribute to assorted songs of yesteryear. In addition to previously mentioned covers of jams by Hawkwind, Townes Van Zandt, Elyse Weinberg, Biff Rose, and "Spirit in the Sky" guy Norman Greenbaum, the set also includes takes on tunes by Michael Hurley, Ian/Iain Matthews, and Bobby Charles, among others.

Look for this Thing in shops come May (exact date TBA) bearing the Gnomonsong stamp, and listen closely for guest appearances from Vashti Bunyan, members of the Chapin Sisters, and Hurley himself (who sings on Vetiver's "cover" of his own "Blue Driver" and contributes mock trumpet elsewhere).

That Vetiver remix 12" on Gnomonsong is out now, while Cabic continues writing new material for the next, non-cover-centric Vetiver album.

Perhaps you'll hear some of the new stuff as the band hits the road this March and April, where they'll be pulling double duty on founding Jayhawks member Gary Louris' tour. Vetiver will both open and act as the backing band for Mr. Louris, so go easy on 'em, eh? [MORE...]

Lou Reed, David Byrne, Antony Play Iraq Peace Benefit
With Blonde Redhead, Scissor Sisters, Laurie Anderson, Moby, Norah Jones

Believe it or not, there are still some folks out there who don't think the decision to invade Iraq was such a good one! Relegated to the outskirts of society, these rabid peaceniks have seen zero representation for their way of thinking in any of the major political parties or their respective pundits. And for good reason, since the Iraq war is going so splendidly. Why would anybody want to complain about it?

On March 18 at Brooklyn's St. Ann's Warehouse, a bunch of these weirdos will gather for SPEAK UP!: A Benefit Concert for Peace in Iraq & Justice at Home. They will be entertained by the likes of Lou Reed, David Byrne, Antony, Laurie Anderson, Blonde Redhead, Scissor Sisters, Damien Rice, Moby, Bill T. Jones, and Norah Jones, among others. The performers "will be joined by speakers from the worlds of politics, media, war, and social justice in a call for action," according to the St. Ann's website.

The evening, which marks the fifth anniversary of the beginning of the Iraq war, will also feature a photo exhibit by Timothy Greenfield-Sanders of portraits of injured soldiers.

(Via BrooklynVegan.)

sBACH (Hella's Spencer Seim) Signs to Suicide Squeeze
Sebastian Bach ponders lawsuit for about five seconds before returning to text messaging Axl Rose

Man, this new project from Spencer Seim sounds Hella crazy! Seim, guitarist and founding member of cacophonous Californians Hella, has a new little thing on the side he's calling sBACH.

According to a press release, Seim "promises to have no idea what the record will sound like until he sits down to record." (Though, uh, "kinda crazy" is probably a safe bet, even this far out.) We did note, however, that his MySpace claims "sBACH makes music only old people can hear." Hey, kinda like that other S. Bach!

Suicide Squeeze will release Seim's debut August 19, with an sBACH tour to follow. Since those dates have yet to come to light, and Hella don't seem to be up to much now, we will encourage patience, in ourselves as well as in others.

Battles Sketch out Spring Tour

Photo by Sanchez and Kitahara

So casserolin' with Rachael Ray (and, alas, SXSW at large) is a no-go for Battles. In fact, from what we can gather at the moment, it won't be until late April that the frantic foursome hit another stage, when they make their way to Coachella.

But they've added plenty of dates after Coachella including a brief European tour, a few UK dates (including their appearance at the Explosions in the Sky-curated ATP Festival), a trip to Bonnaroo, and a few U.S. gigs to follow.

But what are they gonna do with their time off? Come up with fancy new intra-band handshakes? Study each other's movements under a microscope in order to better lock in those trusty grooves? Hold a bake sale to raise money to get John Stainier's kinda inhuman cymbal-arm extended even further? Record another kickass space-prog LP? These Battles aren't saying much. (And when they are, it sounds like a crazy alien talking!)

In other Battles news, they recently popped up on Rough Trade's Counter Culture 07 comp. [MORE...]

Fleet Foxes Sign to Sub Pop, Prep EP and Album, Tour

Seattle's self-proclaimed "Baroque / Sacred Harp / Minstrelsy" quintet Fleet Foxes have signed on the dotted line to become members of the Sub Pop family, thus expanding the label's roster of bands who sort of sound like the Band beyond Blitzen Trapper and Band of Horses. And hooray for bands who even sort of sound like the Band!

Sub Pop will release Fleet Foxes' Phil Ek-produced debut full-length on June 3. It's a self-titled affair clocking in at 11 tracks. Preceding the album will be an Ek-produced five-song Sub Pop EP called Sun Giant, which you can get from Sub Pop's website in March and elsewhere April 8-- or pick up a copy on Fleet Foxes' North American tour with labelmates Blitzen Trapper.

That tour starts tonight with a FF headline show in Walla Walla, Washington and doesn't end until late April. Along the way, the Foxes will play a "secret show you can't go to w/ U2, Bob Dylan, Led Zep" in "Rapture, Hawaii," a date at "Carpal Tunnel, Connecticut"'s legendary "Typing This Makes My Hands and Brain Hurt" club, and another in "Norman (Is this a real place?), Oklahoma." They'll even take a "day off, slowly grow to hate each other" in "Transylvania, Alaska." All of this according to their MySpace, naturally. [MORE...]

Kanye Adds Dates to "Glow in the Dark" Tour

More like the "GROW in the Dark" tour, I guess! Kanye West's ol' robotic, futuristic, George Jetson, crazy jaunt with Lupe Fiasco, N.E.R.D., and Rihanna has more than doubled in size since our last dispatch. For the sake of the bad pun, we'll just pretend these dates were added sometime during the night.

Feist's new BFF and his posse still kick things off April 16 in Seattle, and will now run through some 33 locales normally reserved for humongous professional sporting events and Rolling Stones concerts before wrapping things up in Calgary, Alberta on May 30. Pretty much all those "conspicuous gaps" from before are now accounted for, and Kanye and Lupe still reunite in June for Bonnaroo.

Still fresh: the "Flashing Lights" video, Kanye's Grammy appearance, Estelle's "American Boy", Beyoncé's Connect Four skillz, and, alas, not Craig Mack. [MORE...]

Photos: 18th Annual Tibet House Benefit [New York, NY; 02/13/08]

Photos by Kathryn Yu

An unlikely collection of music-makers from across the sonic spectrum came together for a common cause last night at New York City's Carnegie Hall. The occasion was the 18th Annual Benefit for Tibet House U.S., and the cause is the preservation of the Tibetan culture and way of life-- or, as the Tibet House organization's mission statement puts it, "ensuring that the light of the Tibetan spirit never disappears from the face of the earth."

Sufjan Stevens treated show-goers to "The Star-Spangled Banner", while Kinks man Ray Davies led a bill-wide sing-along. Also on-hand for the evening of charity and good cheer: Band of Horses, Philip Glass, Marisa Monte, Ashley MacIsaac, Phamie Gow, Tibet-born Nawang Khechog, and the monks of Drepung Gomang. To learn more and find out how you can help, head to the Tibet House U.S. website.

SUFJAN STEVENS




BAND OF HORSES


RAY DAVIES


THE DREPUNG GOMANG MONKS


GROUP SING-ALONG

[MORE...]

Pitchfork Seeks Business Intern in Chicago

Pitchfork Media, Inc. seeks a part-time business intern to work in our fast-paced Chicago office. This position is structured for the self-motivated applicant. This internship is unpaid and growth is limited only to the candidate's willingness to succeed. The ideal candidate will have basic administrative skills, be incredibly organized, and available a minimum of 15 hours a week.

Current college students seeking credit are preferred.

Qualified applicants should submit their resume and cover letter here, with "Business Intern" in the subject line, no later than February 22 at 2 p.m.

Britt Daniel, Grizzly Bear Remix Feist on New Single

Finally, "I Feel It All", the best song on Feist's The Reminder (in my humble opinion-- sorry "1 2 3 4"), is getting the attention it deserves. First came the explosive video, and now it's time for the single.

Out this week digitally via the Arts&Crafts digital store, the "I Feel It All" single features three killer remixes. Spoon's Britt Daniel and Feist collaborator Gonzales each take on the track at hand, while pals Grizzly Bear amp up the disco in "My Moon My Man" (you can stream a snippet here).

As you may have noticed, Feist performed at the Grammys on Sunday night. She was up for four awards, but came home empty-handed. At least she got to hang out with Kanye! (Photo via Kanye's blog.)

And she's up for five JUNO awards (Canada's Grammys), so that's a nice consolation prize.

Feist heads out on yet another massive world tour starting next week. [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.)