Blog: Electronic Voice Phenomenon

A release that flew under the radar considering how awesomely huge the release line-up has already been for the Bloomington trifecta of Jagjaguwar / Dead Oceans / Secretly Canadian , Foreign Born 's Person to Person is the smooth blend of modern indie, classic rock, and forgotten dance. As easily as it would be to file them under 'indie' or 'pop', the truth is--for once--we find a band that defies genre logic. Enjoy the warm tones, disco lights, and soft focus of "Winter Games." It's the sort of throwback that holds no qualms about [...]

Drag City continues a fruitful year with the impending release from the Bay Area's OM . God is Good will appear at the tail end of September and is notable for being Emil Amos' first recorded output as a member, replacing former drummer Chris Hakius. Thu-Sep-17 Seattle, WA Neumo's Fri-Sep-18 Vancouver, BC Biltmore Sat-Sep-19 Portland, OR Doug Fir - Music Fest NW Thu-Sep-24 San Francisco, CA The Independent Fri-Sep-25 Los Angeles, CA Echoplex Sat-Sep-26 San [...]

Two stories about labels that sound made-up in one day! What is becoming of EVP? The world may never know. Yet we can't ignore the wealth of new Ruralfaune about to blast into living rooms, bedrooms, and basements the world over. The big announcements this time out revolve around a Warmers Milk 3" CD-R as well as the label's first official compact disc (no 'R' needed) from Jason Honea (a founding member of the ever-popular Jewelled Antler Collective ) under the guise of The Shitty Listener . [...]

Can you believe it's been five tedious years without so much as a hint of all new material from The Reverend Horton Heat ? The band and Yep Roc hope you still care (we do! we do!) because Laughin' and Cryin' with The Reverend Horton Heat inches closer to ending the drought--September 1st to be precise. Landing decidedly on the 'billy' side of rockabilly, Laughin' and Cryin' was influenced by bandleader Jim Heath's love for mid-20th century country music and an open ear for what his band's legions of [...]

While the list of DIY labels grows long like the schnoz of Pinocchio, this proves no lie: Vanishing Hour Revival is strong and unbreakable like petrified wood. The upstart has just launched its first three releases: 30-minute cassettes by Antigua Ibis and Zebulon and a full-length vinyl monstrosity by one of rising stars of 'the scene' (call it what you will): Xiphidae . Needless to say, the descriptions make these SOUND like must listens--of course, we'll let you be the judge of that... XIPHIIDAE - [...]

>> Apparently albums can be recalled for being too loud—at least that's the story surrounding Farm , the album from always louder-than-everyone Dinosaur Jr. . This isn't a case of Mascis, Barlow, and Murph busting eardrums on purpose, but rather when the duplication software used on European versions of Farm doubled the sound layers creating a 3 db increase to the album's overall volume. The band will replace the defective albums free of charge, though a better solution would be sending kids scores of earplugs. >> Bradford Cox can't keep his music to [...]

C'mon, you know EVP is not clever. If we're going to namedrop The Refreshments ' "Banditos" in another article, you can bet even money we're going to exploit it for The After Life. "Banditos" is the quintessential nerdy music of the 90s--the sort that broke the mold for the alternative scene. Granted, the case is made everywhere that if it weren't for Weezer, the nerd rock niche during the mid-90s would have been rather lifeless; probably just Pavement and even their accrued dork cool couldn't fill such an empty void. What The Refreshments do deserve [...]

Langhorne Slim subtlety changed from first to second album, so one wonders if more changes are in store for his upcoming third album, Be Set Free , due from Kemado September 29th. From where we stand, the notion that the live atmosphere of the band being captured on record sounds very promising. One of the most endearing and standout qualities of Slim's live shows is the sureness that one is always entering a genuine gospel-like musical experience full of little miracles. Be Set Free has captured this charisma and spirit -the [...]

Don't confuse this with The Refreshments' "Banditos." This is the debut episode of Banditos , which features the talents of Dent May & His Magnificent Ukulele . Rather than explain it ourselves, we'll leave it up to the experts...and your eyes. We've all been there…You're sitting in a Mexican restaurant, polishing off a monstrous burrito, orange grease dripping from your fingers, when suddenly, six sombrero'd individuals burst through the door and start serenading you without warning or remorse. At Yours Truly, there's only one thing we love more than burritos [...]

Mistakable for the beginning of a bad joke and a flat punchline, A Cave, A Canoo is not such a set-up but rather the name of the upcoming CD/LP from Portland native Shelley Short . The release is due October 13th, with the compact disc coming out via Hush Records and the limited-edition LP through Anonymous Records, each containing a unique photograph from Shelley's brother, Faulkner. Shelley Short - "Time Machine/Submarine" Shelley Short [...]

• Shelley Short - Time Machine / Submarine

It is with deep regret and loss that EVP must report the passing of Danielle Baquet-Long, member of Celer --but more importantly, the wife, companion, and partner of Will Long. Will posted the message early this morning to Celer's blog and MySpace. With sincere sadness, we repost it for you to read so you may know the story and celebrate Dani's life with fans and family. Dear friends, With great sadness I have to announce to you, our friends, that Dani passed away yesterday, July 8. On Tuesday morning [...]

It's always with a bit of intrepidation that festivals are given any headline, but the minds behind Kemado are organizing In the Pines, a festival with weird music hoping to engulf Big Sur come August 28th with its total coolness. But don't take our word for it... Over the past 7 years, NYC's Kemado Records has been home to a variety of bands and artists ranging from Metal to Psych Rock to Folk. In this time of growth, we as a label have proven lasting worth and stand as a destination for [...]

Your Flemish Eye does not deceive. Sub Popster Chad VanGaalen is getting on board with nom de plumes, choosing to dub thyself Black Mold for his forthcoming album, Snow Blindness is Crystal Antz . The August 11th album finds VanGaalen exploring his electronic side, using glitch, bleeps, bloops, and various otherworldly sounds to create his pastiche of sound and imagination. In other words, expect the unexpected. The album will be accompanied by a download link to nab 100+ minutes worth of material that didn't make Snow Blindness... 's cut--and considering [...]

We admit ignorance as far as Black Whales are concerned, but we are eager to learn and that's what press releases and West Coast tours are for. You don't learn nuthin' if you don't jump in and mix it up, get a little dirty, and inflict/take a bit of pain. Royal Tenenbaum taught us that and it's as true in reality as it is in a fictionalized tale of family dysfunction. What we do know is that, at the moment, Black Whales are far from dysfunctional. How could they be with their debut EP, cleverly (?) titled [...]

Beyond the prospects of a tour with the likes of Akron/Family and Larkin Grimm appearing on the bill, Toth has a few new releases in the works as well. Whether they will bare the minimal Wand moniker, returning with the Wooden prefix, or come blazoned with Toth's given name is for the future to tell. Wed 7/22/09- Pilot Light Knoxville TN Thu 7/23/09- River City Grill Fairmont WV Fri 7/24/09- Metro Gallery Baltimore Sat 7/25/09- [...]

Locrian Drenched Lands ( At War With False Noise / Small Doses ) Similar Sounds: Alan Sparhawk, Stephen O'Malley, Roy Montgomery File Under: drone, spacial, synth At first glance, the cover art and font that dots Drenched Lands would have you believe Chicago-based Locrian has released a black metal album. Pentagons, gothic lettering, and a suburban landscape resisting the uprising and reclamation of soil, grass, and tree. If it's a lesson you have yet [...]

One of the hardest working labels in 2009, Digitalis , continues to roll out stacks of prime recordage from a host of indie darlings, underground favorites, and cultish figures--all of it with the touch of kid gloves. Imagine the surprise when EVP's inbox is filled with notice that new releases are forthcoming from the heartland and one of those would be from Green Blossoms . Some of you just peed your pants--most of you are giving us a proper cross-eyed stare. Both are acceptable. What is not acceptable is further ignorance toward Aiko Kogo and Anthony [...]

• green blossoms - hana-akari
• green blossoms - whiskey leaves

Jul 6 Tuscon, AZ Hang Art Space Jul 9 Long Beach, CA The Prospector Jul 10 Oakland, CA 21 Grand Jul 11 San Francisco, CA Hemlock Tavern Jul 12 Portland, OR Holocene Jul 13 Seattle, WA The Funhouse Jul 14 Vancouver, BC Little Mountain Studios Jul 15 Springfield, OR Ditch Project Jul 17 Santa Cruz, CA The Crepe Place Jul 18 Irvine, CA UC Irvine (Acrobatics Everyday) Jul 19 Los Angeles, CA The Echo (Part Time Punks)

We love Keith Wood--it's no secret. Under the guise of Hush Arbors, Wood has been mixing psychedelia, folk, and 60s blues in a comforting yet hectic blend that all ends up being rock. Just rock. We all need more straight up rock and roll in our lives. Here, some burgeoning director treats us to a live shot of "Fast Asleep" from Hush Arbor's recent ATP performance (it is getting hard to figure out which ATP performance considering All Tomorrow's Parties is multiplying more than post-midnight full-bellied Mogwai). Please to enjoy.

What you see before you is the cover art of the album, Modern Silence , by the one and only Casper & the Cookies . While it's certain Modern Silence doesn't delve into ghosts and chocolate-chipped baked snacks, it is certain that the CD captured a large enough audience that the band--in conjunction with People In a Position to Know --will be releasing their latest on the reborn fossil known as vinyl; LP for those into shorthand communication. As with any modern foray into vinyl, the 2xLP is limited to 500 editions--200 of [...]