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Pillars & Tongues recorded a Daytrotter session during their fall tour in support of Lay of Pilgrim Park. The result is a lush, richly textured, recording of a beautiful performance. It is hard to believe that three people are able to produce so much sound with so many powerful harmonies. We highly recommended listening to “My Word”. This session, featuring new material, is a perfect compliment to their Dublab Sprout Session from the same tour. (((Listen now)))
Two Empty Cellar artists released amazing records this week. First, The Cairo Gang stokes us down a new 10″ e.p., Island Brothers, in equal collaboration with Bonnie “Prince” Billy on Drag City; and then, Tim Cohen releases both a full-length LP/CD, Tim Cohen’s Magic Trick, and a 2×7″ e.p., Bad Blood on New York’s Captured Tracks label… sick dawg…
Let’s start with the Bonnie “Prince” Billy & The Cairo Gang vinyl:
If you saw Bonnie “Prince” Billy & The Cairo Gang on their most recent walkabout, then you probably saw the band that cut these tracks. An all-star cast featuring Ben Boye on piano, Danny Kiely on bass, Van Campbell on drums, and the lovely Angel Olsen on harmony vocals.
Pick up a copy of Island Brothers and/or Bonnie “Prince” Billy & The Cairo Gang’s debut full length The Wondershow Of The World at the Endless Nest / Empty Cellar Store.
Oh, and incase you have not stumbled upon the ecstatic review posted on Dusted’s “Still Single” blog for The Cairo Gang’s Holy Clover single, then you can read it here: “nothing less than transporting genius… devastatingly perfect… otherworldly”.
Moving on, we have two SOLID releases by the ever prolific Tim Cohen:
“Tim Cohen’s third solo release, Magic Trick, finds him still fighting off the demons of a restless musical mind. In the 12 songs collected here, Tim traverses a wide range of conflicting moods while somehow always reenforcing his songs with messages of hope and positivity. “Don’t Give Up”, “I am never going to die”, and “Flower” are perfect examples of the upbeat melancholy that has defined his solo work to this point. Joined by fellow Soul searchers James Kim (Kelley Stoltz band), Noelle Cahill, and Alicia Vanden Huevel (Aislers Set), along with other supportive friends, Cohen has taken long musical strides on this third LP, in terms of arrangement, recording, and overall risk-taking. Recorded at home on the reliable tascam 388 during breaks from a busy touring schedule with The Fresh & Onlys, “Magic Trick” captures almost every moment of solitude, longing, and wonderment that passed through Tim’s foggy mind throughout his transient 2010. “Magic Trick” is a record for all seasons, and should be listened to in the earliest morning.
To coincide with the release of “Magic Trick” we have a double 7″ with poster sleeve that plays at 33 1/3. Recorded during the same fruitful period the produced Magic Trick, all eight tracks are exclusive to this release and continue in the homegrown, earthy pop that we’ve all come to know and love from the Fresh & Onlys frontman. One record is black and one record is white on this 2×7″ EP.” – Captured Tracks
These are two amazing records by Tim… possibly the best yet! If you don’t believe us, then read the Pitchfork reviews. We’ll have these in at the endless nest store soon…
Gorilla VS. Bear premiered two tracks today from The Sandwitches beautiful sophomore album Mrs. Jones’ Cookies (Out March 29th on Empty Cellar Records). (((Listen Here))).
…and if you find yourself at SxSW next month then catch The Sandwitches live, March 17th at 8pm at the Mexican Summer x Gorilla vs. Bear – SxSW showcase!.
More on Mrs. Jones’ Cookies by Sonny Smith:
“Like the sapphire Schethiya, The Sandwitches, the crown jewels of the Archangel Lucifer, fell from Heaven. Is there any question the distinctive singing of Grace Cooper & Heidi Alexander represent mercy & severity? Roxanne Brodeurs’ beats the brazen pillars of the Flesh? Their latest effort is a sanctuary of spiritual illumination crossed with earthly splendor, a hushed witness to the perfect virtue of equilibrium, a flaming sword for the listener to thrust into the coronet of their adversary.
The ten songs on Mrs. Jones’ Cookies stand as a doorway leading to the House of God. The music of these three cascade in and out like active and passive expressions of the Divine Energy. Sometimes high, sometimes low, Sulfur and Salt, Good and Bad, Light and Darkness, that, when placed in the proper chamber of initiation graft into one androgynous creature that blazes forth eternal verities revealing temporal truths.”
Engineered by Donny Newenhouse, mastered by Paul Oldham, and featuring guest appearances by San Francisco swingers Shayde Sartin, Dic Stusso, and James Finch Jr, Mrs. Jones’ Cookies come in CD and LP flavors. All LPs include a complimentary digital download.
Pre-order your own copy from the Endless Nest Store.
Usually, we add less than one item a month to our store… but last week we went a little overboard, so we figured it deserved a post. You can click on the covers above or links below to learn more about these solid vinyl releases by Empty Cellar related artists.
Sonny Smith – 100 Records Volume Two: I Miss The Jams, 5 x 7″ Box (Turn Up! 005)
Tim Cohen – Laugh Tracks, LP (Captured Tracks 62)
The Sandwitches – Makes Me Sick, 7″ (Southpaw 12)
Fresh & Onlys – August In My Mind, 12″ e.p. (Captured Tracks 46)
Bonnie “Prince” Billy & The Cairo Gang – Wonder Show Of The World, LP (Drag City 2012)
Pillars & Tongues – Protection, CD (Contraphonic 074)
San Francisco record label Turn Up! has taken Sonny Smith’s most ambitious project of all time to a whole new level of ambition. This winter, they are releasing the second recorded volume of Sonny Smith’s 100 Records Project (the first being a very limited edition portfolio of Prints and tunes). The thing – titled I Miss the Jams – is beautiful! It is a fully decorated box (designed by Sonny) carrying five 7″ singles (45rpm), each encased in a stunning full color glue-pocket sleeve featuring artwork contributed by a slew of amazing artists that participated in the 100 Records Project. Each box comes with a download code too, so you can listen to Sonny’s jams anywhere you go with a mobile listening device.
Best of all, the music is ballin’ and features an all-star cast of San Francisco musicians including: Ty Segall, Heidi Alexander (The Sandwitches), Tim Cohen (The Fresh & Onlys), Donovan Quinn (Skygreen Leopards), Kelley Stoltz, and members of Citay. HAWT DAWG!
Listen to “I Wanna Do It!” from I Miss The Jams by Earth Girl Helen Brown (Heidi Alexander of The Sandwitches) below:
[audio:http://www.endlessnest.com/mp3player/source/05IWannaDoIt.mp3]
The 7″ Box is extremely limited (only 300 in existence), so get one quick from Turn Up! or the Endless Nest Store. Don’t worry if you miss out on the box, because the CD version will be made available starting this tuesday.
Tune in to 100 Records Updates at the Turn Up! 100 Records blog.