So as to avoid been accused of forwarding my own agenda I won't link to where you can buy the Van Allen Belt's debut album 'Meal Ticket To Purgatory'. Instead I'll let this song wash over you and you can come to your own conclusion as to whether it is worth seeking out. In a parallel universe (a much more clued in one I might add) Pittsburgh's the Van Allen Belt would be superstars, their every need attended to by a galley of helpers and hangers on. Sadly we're stuck with the one we got and it patently and continually [...]
List and Words by Patrick Bowman Obviously, Pittsburgh has a vibrant music scene (this site wouldn't exist if it didn't), and while I don't want to pat myself on the back, it was a herculean task narrowing down the Top Ten Steel City Tracks of 2010. I had about 100 favorite tracks not two weeks ago, now only ten remain. For any of those Pittsburgh bands releasing music between now and the end of the year, I apologize for your exclusion, this is my favorite list to make every year and I couldn't wait [...]
I guess they're too wacky, too cerebral, too funny or too damn talented to have wide appeal but it constantly hurts my head when I think what might be for Pittsburgh's the Van Allen Belt. They are quite unlike anything else, a smorgasbord of electric ideas swilling around lavish arrangements and a singer who has the personality and looks to steal the show all on her own. We've dallied with their releases via Indiecater but there is lots more to take in, namely their latest opus 'Superpowerfragilis' which takes off from where ' Meal Ticket To Purgatory ' left off. [...]
It's been a very, very long time since we had a nice simple podcast of me just chattering about music without extraneous distractions of various drunken people babbling to one another over the top of it. Last week was Ruth, Michael and Dylan, the week before that was Vic and Peej, then me and Mrs. Toad and then there was the one from Homegame, which was nuts, so this one is just calm and sensible and plain vanilla and basically just me playing some songs, wondering how to pronounce names like Borcherdt, and talking pish like usual. [...]
The Van Allen Belt from Pittsburgh are a singular outfit and one we hold dear to our hearts. They even let us release their debut on indiecater last year and we know that some day it will be heralded for the genius piece of bonkers that it is. A knowing bonkers it must be said however because even if the shapeshifting drama knocks you off your feet the home truths in the lyrics will apply the requisite damp cloth to your sweaty forehead. And now and then the words are as hilarious as they are destined to hit [...]
11. Casiotone for the Painfully Alone - vs. Children Owen Ashworth has a sort of shambolic charisma to him which translates pretty neatly to his music. It's unhurried, thoughtful and has the air of a good friend, right from the first moment you hear it. This may be a fuller sound than his older fans are used to, but I think the extra instrumentation is used very carefully, and never smothers his songwriting. Casiotone for the Painfully Alone - Man 'o War [...]
And so it goes and this most precious Pittsburgh band goes all soft centred and release a song that could yet be soundtracking the next Bond movie. Anyone who has heard their debut album 'Meal Ticket To Purgatory' (it's on indiecater folks so no excuses!) will know what a colossal proposition they are. But 'Lovely In Akron' seems somehow restrained, it still has randomness poking out at obtuse
Spring makes a fucking colossal difference, doesn't it. People have been tripping around Edinburgh with a spring in their step for the last week, when the sun has come out and the air, whilst it may still be a little chilly, is notably warmer. It's gentler, I suppose, is the main difference. There's something of a release about Spring, as if all the uncomfortable restraint of Winter no longer has to be acknowledged. Does anyone remember that episode of Northern Exposure when the ice melted? Everyone went nuts, and the relieved exhalation we all express on the coming of the [...]
There are times when this album sounds like a deranged operetta. There are times when it sounds like experimental lounge pop. There are times when it sounds like a straightforward twisted indie. It crashes about all over the place, is riddled with imperfections when the melody doesn't quite catch, when a couple of songs get lost in one another and so forth, but in general this is pure mental brilliance. It does feel incredibly familiar - it's reminiscent of a great many recent bands, but rarely of the exact same ones for all that long. The Revolution Will [...]
eine session gestaltet als live-radio-set, gespielt und aufgenommen vergangenen freitag, ca. 32 minuten lang mit folgender playlist: A Letter to the Bees/The Pool Across the Street/Tickle/Lazlo, Buddy/She of the Diving Horses/Mountain/Plastic Deer/Funnier on Paper/Monster the harvey girls - radio live session (27.03.09) die harveys halten vieles mehr bereit, wir hatten häufig berichtet, ein kleiner ausflug sei dennoch gestattet, denn bei aller freizügigkeit von hiram und melissa: sie müssen auch von irgendwas leben, also [...]
Another great offer from Indiecater. Now they're offering up The Van Allen Belt's wonderful Meal Ticket to Purgatory for a bargain basement €4. It's been described as cerebral indie, but you'll have to hear it to see whether that's accurate. I'm not sure exactly how to describe it. Listening works so much better... Download: The Van Allen Belt - 'Baby Boomer Backstroke' Stream/Buy: http://www.indiecater.com/2009 /03/the-van-allen-belt-meal-ti cket-to-purgatory/
Today's free and legal mp3 downloads: Embarassing Fruits : "Corner" [mp3] from Community / Exploitation other Embarassing Fruits posts at Largehearted Boy Eula : "Fight Riff" [mp3] from Language Of Threat EP Eula : "Housewolf" [mp3] from Language Of Threat EP other Eula posts at [...]
Last night, as I checked my e-mail in a dilatory motion to put off studying for my Orgo final by another 30 seconds, I was greeted by a very nice surprise - several unsolicited e-mails chock full of music. Who bestowed this gift upon me, you may wonder? Why, none other than The Van Allen Belt , of course! I've already written a post raving about them, so I guess I'll skip that part (in short: they rull good). The two songs that they sent me were a bit different than the others I had [...]
Last night, as I checked my e-mail in a dilatory motion to put off studying for my Orgo final by another 30 seconds, I was greeted by a very nice surprise - several unsolicited e-mails chock full of music. Who bestowed this gift upon me, you may wonder? Why, none other than The Van Allen Belt, of course! I've already written a post raving about them, so I guess I'll skip that part (in short:
I'm sure it's pretty obvious where our affiliations lie given that the Van Allen Belt have already graced one of our compilations (and appeared here too). To be honest we are besotted by their psychedelic retro futuristic sound. Granted on first listen their grandiose sound can be a tad overwhelming but once conquered you could well be salivating to within an inch of drowning. Their debut album
I figure that if you're reading a blog about music, you are probably also interested in keeping ahead of the curve to impress all of your friends with the "next" band ahead of the indie curve. So, to make your life that much easier, there's a new regular feature round these parts - first there was "Songs of the Week", now there's the "Band of the Week". Enjoy, check back next Friday, and Happy Halloween! *** band of the week #1: the van allen belt ( myspace ) [...]
Last Friday, the inaugural edition of Band of the Week featured a very talented band called The Van Allen Belt ( myspace ). Today, while browsing the same horrid site, I found a very interesting electronic side-project of The Van Allen Belt that goes by the name of Nonstop Everything . When I heard the music, it became quite clear why this is their nom de guerre : everything is happening all of the time. Fusing bop and electronica as if Jaga Jazzist were on ecstasy, Nonstop Everything have some interesting ideas. [...]
Last Friday, the inaugural edition of Band of the Week featured a very talented band called The Van Allen Belt ( myspace ). Today, while browsing the same horrid site, I found a very interesting electronic side-project of The Van Allen Belt that goes by the name of Nonstop Everything . When I heard the music, it became quite clear why this is their nom de guerre : everything is happening all of the time. Fusing bop and electronica as if Jaga Jazzist were on ecstasy, Nonstop Everything have some interesting ideas. [...]
I figure that if you're reading a blog about music, you are probably also interested in keeping ahead of the curve to impress all of your friends with the "next" band ahead of the indie curve. So, to make your life that much easier, there's a new regular feature round these parts - first there was "Songs of the Week", now there's the "Band of the Week". Enjoy, check back next Friday, and Happy Halloween! *** band of the week #1: the van allen belt ( myspace ) [...]
Last Friday, the inaugural edition of Band of the Week featured a very talented band called The Van Allen Belt ( myspace ). Today, while browsing the same horrid site, I found a very interesting electronic side-project of The Van Allen Belt that goes by the name of Nonstop Everything . When I heard the music, it became quite clear why this is their nom de guerre : everything is happening all of the time. Fusing bop and electronica as if Jaga Jazzist were on ecstasy, Nonstop Everything have some interesting ideas. [...]
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