Hidden Shoal News
Kramies Charting at Soma FM
Kramies beautiful track ‘Antiquarian Days’ is sitting at number 8 in the Soma FM top 30 track by spins chart and number 3 on the Top 30 tracks by Listeners (on demand). Sweet!
‘Antiquarian Days’ is lifted off Kramies gorgeous EP The European which is available now as a limited edition CD postcard as well as all digital formats.
Markus Mehr "In" Released
Hidden Shoal Recordings is proud to announce the release of new album In by German experimental ambient artist Markus Mehr, the first of a triptych that also includes the forthcoming releases On and Off, all released over the next 12 months.
Markus Mehr follows up his stunning debut album Lava with three new releases. In is the first part of the triptych, comprising two monumental tracks, ‘Komo’ and ‘Ostinato’, each of which clocks in at around 25 minutes, circling around and building upon hypnotic instrumental motifs. ‘Komo’ gradually emerges from silence, its distant, filtered throb reluctantly revealing its source material – a heartbreaking string part whose emotional impact intensifies as the loop clarifies. ‘Ostinato’ is an altogether darker, gnarlier experience, its string loops chewed into distorted knots which are highlighted by treated guitars and crafted electronics.
“In this blissful wanderlust Mehr succeeds in spades creating a completely engrossing, engaging and all together reliable album full of the most powerful ambient-drone tracks this year.” – Tome to the Weather Machine on Lava
“They’re ‘big’ compositions, the sheer scale of the sonic work is rather awe inspiring, but they never sound antagonistic or uncomfortable… it sounds like the ebb and flow of space itself – individual snippets of a grand, repeating, organic process that keeps the universe in balance…” – No Ripcord on Lava
In is available for purchase now in digital format and for CD pre-order. The CD version of the album comes as a limited edition two panel CD cardboard sleeve of 100 numbered units with artwork by Stuart Medley. Head to the Hidden Shoal Store for all availability details and read a full press release here.
Markus Mehr – In (excerpt)
Antonymes meets Slow Dancing Society – New Track, Free Download
Hidden Shoal is excited to release ‘The Colour Of Long Days’, an as yet unreleased companion track to the acclaimed 2011 EP We Don’t Look Back For Very Long by neo-classical/minimal ambient artist Antonymes.
In keeping with the theme of We Don’t Look Back For Very Long, ‘The Colour Of Long Days’ is Antonymes’ reworking of music by fellow Hidden Shoal artist Slow Dancing Society. This time ‘The Red Summer Sun’ from “Priest Lake Circa ’88” is transformed, the original’s shimmering waves of guitar forming a background against which plaintive piano chords resonate beautifully. Antonymes marries SDS’s glistening atmospheres to his own trademark ambient neo-classical minimalism, creating a completely mesmerising hybrid.
“seamlessly weds the neo-classical leanings of Antonymes to the luscious atmospheric soundsculpting specialized in by Slow Dancing Society, resulting in close to thirty minutes of ambient-classical splendour” – Textura on We Don’t Look Back For Very Long, voted one of their favourite EPs of the year
“This album is probably the most heartbreaking set of songs I’ve heard since Bon Iver’s For Emma Forever Ago, or I Am A Bird Now by Antony And The Johnsons. It’s Brian Eno meets a dagger to the heart….a record that deserves album of the year, even four months into 2011.” – Delusions of Adequacy on Antonymes’ The Licence To Interpret Dreams
‘The Colour Of Long Days’ is available as a free download from the Hidden Shoal Store. For all other Antonymes and Slow Dancing Society music (including free downloads, CD’s and digital releases) head to the Hidden Shoal Store. Read a full press release here.
Antonymes meets Slow Dancing Society – ‘The Colour Of Long Days’
New Umpire Single – Free Download
Hidden Shoal Recordings is excited to announce the release of ‘Supply Chins’, the second single from Perth’s widescreen indie-rock craftsmen Umpire, taken from their brilliant 2011 debut album Now We’re Active.
On an album crammed to breaking point with hooks, ‘Supply Chins’ has perhaps the catchiest hooks of all. Alternating between a massive fist-pumping chorus and reflective verses, the song builds towards a breathtaking climax punctuated by sumptuous horns, weaving vocals and driving guitars. This is indie-rock at its most unashamedly anthemic.
Umpire combine sprawling indie-rock sounds with reflective melancholy, expertly wielding massive sun-drenched melodies, serpentine guitar parts and soaring vocals to spectacular effect. From singles ‘Green Light District’ and ‘Supply Chins’ through the chiming guitar surge of ‘The Canyon’ to gorgeous finale ‘Cyclones Into Sunshowers’, Now We’re Active is a stunning release, as expansive as it is propulsive, as heartbreaking as it is life-affirming.
‘Supply Chins’ is available now as a free download from the Hidden Shoal Store where you’ll also find Umpire’s amazing debut album Now We’re Active. For more info read a full press release here.
Umpire – ‘Supply Chins’
Hidden Shoal Radio, Google+ and More, More More!
Just a few quick miscellaneous bits and pieces we’ve been meaning to pass on. We have recently set up a page on Google+ so if you’re a G+ user then head over and join the Hidden Shoal circle. We’ve also been building a HSR Radio playlist (mp3 clips) over at our YouTube Channel which is now clocking in at over 3 hours of music and growing weekly as we continue to add more tracks.
Oh and stay tuned as we still have free tracks from Umpire and Antonymes/Slow Dancing Society coming your way before the end of the year!
Kramies and City of Satellites Reviewed at Luna Kafe
Two lovely reviews for recent Hidden Shoal releases over at Norway’s Luna Kafe. The first was in November’s edition of the zine for City of Satellites‘ Remixed,
“The outcome is stunning… With so many different remixers it is as expected some variations here, but it still feels like a wholesome album, tied nicely together by the underlining of City Of Satellites shoegazing dream-pop material… And in some parts, these mixes has not just made the tunes slightly different, or added another kind of quality, but actually turned the better part of them into something more, and by that; better.” – Luna Kafe
The second review appeared in the just out December edition for Kramies‘ The European,
“Kramies has with the aid of producer Todd Tobias (Circus Devil, Guided by Voices) and guitarist David Paolucci, made The European into a delicate melancholic and poetic swirl of pop-delight.” – Luna Kafe
Hopefully you own both these releases and are sitting there nodding your head in agreement. If not however then head straight to the Hidden Shoal Store where you can stream Remixed and The European in full as well as purchase.
City of Satellites -‘Moon In The Sea (Slow Dancing Society Remix)’
Interview with Conor Devlin of [The] Caseworker at DOA
Head over to Delusions of Adequacy to read a fantastic interview with Conor Devlin of The Caseworker. Conor waxes lyrical about everything musical from Steely Dan to Opeth to The Caseworker. Regular DOA readers will remeber the glowing review of The Caseworker’s stunning 2011 album Letters From The Coast. Speaking of which, after your fill of words you should then head here to stream the album in full and buy a cd or a bagful of files!
The Caseworker – ‘Boats’
Markus Mehr Triptych Coming in 2012
German ambient drone maestro Markus Mehr will be following up his stunning debut album Lava with not one, not two, but three Hidden Shoal releases across 2012 and 2013.
The first part of the triptych, In, will be released on 26 January 2012. It comprises two monumental tracks, ‘Komo’ and ‘Ostinato’, each of which clocks in at around 25 minutes, circling around and building upon hypnotic instrumental motifs. You can take a sneak peek at what’s in store by viewing some live footage of Mehr’s performing ‘Komo‘ live at the Maximilian Museum, Augsburg, with video artist Stefanie Sixt, who created the video to Mehr’s track ‘Cousteau‘.
The second part, On, released on 21 June 2012, takes a more experimental direction, with eight diverse tracks employing samples, field recordings and slathers of Mehr’s trademark distorted drones. And finally, Off, released on 24 January 2012, includes his most epic piece yet, ‘Transit’, which clocks in at 49 minutes and will be performed live, again in collaboration with Sixt.
Head to the Hidden Shoal Store to stream and buy Lava (CD version comes in custom Amaray packaging) as well as download two free tracks.
Markus Mehr – ‘Hubble’
US Radio Love
Lots of lovely US college radio action happening for our current round of releases. Here’s a run down!
City of Satellites Remixed is one of WRSU top 5 RPM adds and Kramies The European is one of the top 5 Radio 200 adds, Salli Lunn’s A Frame of Reference and Kramies’ The European are in Bagel Radio’s top 5 CMJ adds this week, The Caseworker’s Letters From The Coast continues its long term camp in the Bagel CMJ top 30 charts, Salli Lunn’s A Frame of Reference gets a top 5 CMJ rotation add at KJHK and City of Satellites and Kramies are both charting in the 3WK CMJ top 30. Nice!
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Salli Lunn – ‘Parachutes Forever (Markus Mehr Remix)’
Scott Solter and Antonymes in Textura's Best of 2011
It’s not even December, yet Textura have boldly published their best of 2011 lists, featuring Scott Solter’s One River among the year’s best albums, and Antonymes Meets Slow Dancing Society’s We Don’t Look Back For Very Long among the year’s best EPs. If you’re not already intimately familar with Textura, subscribe to their montly round-up of the best new ambient/classical/experimental/avant-rock releases for some essential reading.
Many, many thanks to Textura for their support throughout 2011!