Terror Bird - All This Time

Nikki Nevver is at it again with her third album in three years (plus countless cassettes & 7”s).  

Night School:

Recorded at home over a period of 5 months, the 10 songs on “All This Time” document a period of intense emotional upheaval, a period wherein Nevver underwent major shifts in her personal life, rediscovered the solo recording process (previous albums having used live drumming and studio production) and married a raw, personal music with a straight-to-tape aesthetic most in-tune with her early recording experiences. The difference this time is that Nevver’s unique voice - at turns operatic and fragile, untutored and wearing its heart on its sleeve - serves as the perfect conduit for the emotional turmoil in the songs.

I return to more solo recording sounds just fine by me.  I first fell in love with music from Nevver when I heard her Shadows in the Hall 7” (⬇↯☟↯⬇)from Atelier Ciseaux, a scant 4 track record that was on loop for most of that year.  I’ve enjoyed all of her music since, but nothing has really grabbed on to me like that first 7” did, and maybe a return to more solo recording will bring back that sound I still long for.  All This Time sounds like a step in the right direction.

Terror Bird - All This Time LP is Ltd to 500 copies with screenprinted sleeves with download card and insert.  300 Sleeves in black, 100 in dark forest green, 100 in dark navy blue.

TERROR BIRD - Shadows In The Hall from Moduli TV on Vimeo.

Tops - Double Vision

A home video directed by David from TOPS, featuring many good friends.
‘Double Vision’ is taken from the album Tender Opposites, out now on Arbutus.

Tops are so good it hurts.

If you missed the vinyl & cassette releases of Tender Opposites from Atelier Ciseaux, then you’re stuck with Arbutus, whom also ran out of tapes and only has compact discs (sigh).  Or you can just stream the whole album on SnDcLd until it gets repressed.  Its so good, and slowly (?) gaining steam, but it’ll be a year end best staple before its through.

Tops - Diamond Look

Tops + Fear of Men = two of my favorite new artists of 2012 

Tops - Diamond Look b/w Easy Friends 7” is Ltd to 300 copies on white vinyl and available here.

Tops - Easy Friends

Debut release Tender Opposites, by Tops took me by storm bout 6 months ago.   Originally a cassette from Arbutus Records, I was thrilled when it got a proper vinyl release from Atelier Ciseaux, however Ltd to 250 copies = long gone. 

Nice to see they’ve got at least one b-side for us out on a 7” backing album hit Diamond Look.  Then again every track on Tender Opposites is a single hit in my mind.

Tops - Diamond Look b/w Easy Friends 7” is Ltd to 300 copies on opaque white vinyl.  Kinda hilariously that its less limited than the album. Pre-order your very own copy from Atelier Ciseaux here.  Ships 9/10.

Fear Of Men - Green Sea

Super Rad.  As I’ve said before, Fear of Men is my favorite new artist of 2011/2012.  I was jammin out to my cassette on my road trip to Canada this weekend and it sounds amazing as ever.  Cannot cannot cannot wait for a full length. 

Almost thought it was the same director as for the equally fantastic Tops’ Rings of Saturn video, but guess they just both used a VHS camcorder.  Tops have slot #2 for best new release this year with their vinyl version of Tender Opposites on Atelier Ciseaux, Ltd to 250 copies on red Vinyl.

Fear of Men - Green Sea 7” is Ltd to 300 copies on white vinyl and available to pre-order from Sexbeat here.  This one will sell out sooner or later.

Tops - Diamond Look

Breaking News: Tops - Tender Opposites   sees a super Ltd release on 12” vinyl

So there was a Ltd to 80 cassette non/us release that quickly sold out, and another Arbutus cassette/compact disc, but I’ve been holding my breath waiting/praying for a vinyl version to drop.  Happy day as of 10min ago.  

Tops - Tender Opposites 12” AC#14 is Ltd to 250 copies on solid red vinyl.  Atelier Ciseaux  consistently produces some of the nicest vinyl releases, and I’m thrilled to see them efforting this vinyl port. Pre-order one quick quick.  Releases May 30th.

Tops - Rings of Saturn

Ela Orleans - Black and White Flight

Totally did not realize that Ela Orleans had a new full length out soon (like this week!!) Her recent split with Dirty Beaches was fantastic.  Much as I love DB, I think her side shines through as the slightly brighter gem. 

Update: also didn’t realize this release was Ltd to 300 copies.  I guess I wasn’t behind on this one seeing as I just the latest email on this from Atelier Ciseaux bout an hr ago.

From new MARS IS HEAVEN LP of Ela Orleans
Co release La Station Radar / Atelier Ciseaux
out 2011. 19th. Oct
Pre order now
lastationradar.com / atelierciseaux.com

Video by movies for ears
elaorleans.wordpress.com/​

This track is also on
Beko // La Station Radar compilation
digital co/release - 2011.JAN.10th
beko-dsl.com

Dirty Beaches - God Speed

So I’ve been waiting on this long playing split for too long ever since it was just a coming soon teaser on Night People eons ago; thanks to Atelier Ciseaux for the very organized email sent out.  One part Dirty Beaches: dark, midnight lost highway, Lynchian chase scenes filled with paranoia and dread, balanced out with some a dose from Ela Orleans, a La Station Radar veteran filling our ears with ghoulish baroque pop, driven by soft piano ballads and vocals.

Double Feature 12” Split featuring Dirty Beaches and Ela Orleans is out June 21 from La Station Radar, Atelier Ciseaux, and Night People. 

Vinyl is Ltd to 500 copies on clear vinyl with silk-screened covers on recycled paper; artwork by Shawn Reed.

If you’re in the states, snatch it with much cheaper shipping from Night People here.

Track Listing:

Side A: Ela Orleans
Tides and Shadows
Neverend
Somewhere
Vertigo
In the night
I know

Side B: Dirty Beaches
God speed
Crosses
Death valley
Don’t let the devil find you
L train
A train

Ela Orleans - Neverend

Video by Grace Denis and Movies for Ears

still comin…

Dirty Beaches - God Speed

Video by Grace Denis and Movies for Ears

More to come…

Jeans Wilder - Tough Guys

Great track by Jeans Wilder from his OOP 7” split with Best Coast.  Debut LP from Jeans Wilder should be arriving any day now to those of you that pre-ordered…I’m hoping mine is sitting in the dungeon of my ancient haunted apartment building waiting for me to save it.  I’ll post some new one ones once it arrives.  If you haven’t ordered it yet, grab it from atelier ciseaux here.

Young Prisms - If You Want To

So Young Prisms debuted on a sold out 7” split with Mathemagic back in August via atelier ciseaux (Best Coast, Jeans Wilder, latest Coasting/Reading Rainbow split…).  They also had another sold out Mexican Summer s/t EP release here.  Catch the pattern I’m eluding to here kids??  If you missed those excellent releases, then just your luck, you can grab their LP from Kanine Records here (also on cassette for portable boombox greatness), home to the equally lovely Eternal Summers as we can see from the post below. 

Jeans Wilder - Sparkler

Been waiting for this LP from favorite Jeans Wilder to drop for a whiles now, then I got the email!  A new collaboration/friendship between La Station Radar and Atelier Ciseaux.  Grab Nice Trash LP here from La Station Radar, there’s even a special reduced price if you missed the last Jeans Wilder 7”, Simpler Times (pssh another gem). 

“Tornado pop, lo-fi smiles, thundery melodies and garage heartbeats.” ac

The later has brought us the very sold out Jeans Wilder/Best Coast split 7”, Bethany’s 2nd 7” release.   The latest 7” from Atelier Ciseaux is the Coasting/Reading Rainbow split 7” , limited to 350 copies that will sellout very quickly, they always do.  First 50 orders also get a free silk-screened poster by Sarah of Reading Rainbow that you see above.  Grab the split here.  While you’re there, grab one of the last copies of the Terror Bird Shadows In the Hall 7”, my favorite release from Atelier Ciseaux to date. 

Reading Rainbow - Always On My Mind

Of course this was out from Hozac maybe last weekish when I first posted about the advance gold copies, but I <3<3<3 the music video.  For the ultra hip: Reading Rainbow/Coasting 7” split limited to 350 copies here.  The first 50 lucky people that order this beauty will receive a silk screened poster by sarah of rr!  Yay excitement for all, will you get yours?  

P.S. we have atelier ciseaux to thank for one of the first best coast 7”s (the split with jeans wilder) that is long ago sold out, and the release that led me to discovering the immaculate french label.