Announcing: The Cairo Gang – Tiny Rebels

"That playful dichotomy between big and small turns out to be the anchor for the album’s title track, a pretty, march-like drone drenched in so much reverb the sunny vocal harmonies sound like they’re shining in through a pinhole."
– Pitchfork

Empty Cellar Records is proud to introduce to you the first single from Tiny Rebels, the forthcoming album by The Cairo Gang (out 7/23). Listen below and watch a video by Angel Olsen for an alternate mix of the track. Pre-order HERE

Track Listing:
Side A: Tiny Rebels / Take Your Time / Shake Off
Side B: Shivers / Father Of The Man / Find You With A Song

Tiny Rebels is a new collection of songs by The Cairo Gang. They are about awareness. They show a new economy in the work of The Cairo Gang’s leader Emmett Kelly, conjuring up quick and defined songs un-housed in the shimmering of two burning electric 12-string guitars. the sound of them a swirling desert night sky under which songs call to arms multiple voices that long to be freed from the contraints of song. to be re-blooded in a frenzy of hard hitting drums and bass. all the while set against a wild array of compressed overtones that jangle by the hand of Kelly’s inversly delicate touch.

In The Cairo Gang’s previous efforts The Corner Man and the Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy collaboration The Wondershow of the World, Kelly displayed a heaviness in subtlety. The songs laboured over and performed so that the fire and rage were things to play in tandem with, as a pranaic exercise even. the result is audience for a certain type of in-tuneness, that although powerful and realized, nurture both the playing and the fire and the rage… this can be a dangerous place. this leads to Tiny Rebels. Recorded in a week, it is an epiphany of sorts. it is the boiling point that which Kelly surrendered to in one sense, but obliterated in another. the songs are empowering leaps of faith:

“Say what you want, babe. dont just sit and listen to what you are told. you’ve got what it takes.
Lord knows the only way that can suit you well.”

And from that leap they fall at a speed..

The sound of this record is what distinguishes it the most from previous works. Each song has the same instrumentation. two electric 12-string guitars, bass, and drums, with many voices often double tracked exciting a gorgeous spring reverberation and cut fiercely onto quarter inch tape. always in the red and fighting for space, the layers are deeply compressed and pulsating, creating an un-ease that fluctuates as if the listener is in a vacuum, pushing and pulling. or a wave pool. when cranked, it sounds as if there is music happening beyond the music. in the abstraction of the guitar sound. in the spacial irrecognition of the tape and reverb. the non-presence of the drums.. the jagged tremoloes. The Cairo Gang has armed itself well on this record. turn it up loud and let it wash over you like an ocean. Get yours HERE!

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Bonnie “Prince” Billy & The Cairo Gang + Tim Cohen’s Magic Trick = Excellent New Release Week

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:

“Bonny & Cairo and the gang sing for a good cause — for once? — with the profits from your purchase going to facilitate and educate Haitian access to clean filtered water in these times of disaster and disease. For more information, go to www.edgeoutreach.com. The music? Fan-gasms for fans of The Wonder Show of the World and Beware. Two songs and three photos for your ten inches.” – Drag City

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…

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