Hidden Shoal News
Mukaizake "Unknown Knowns" Australian CD Release
The Australian music label Hidden Shoal Recordings today announced the Australian CD release of the eagerly awaited sophomore album by Australian indie math-rock marvels Mukaizake.
The cliché ‘all killer, no filler’ is often bandied around with very little to back it up. In the case of Mukaizake’s stunning new release Unknown Knowns, the cliché applies: this six-song, half-hour mini-album is sheer perfection. Unknown Knowns kicks off with the fuzzy propulsion of single ‘The Yeah Conditioner’, immediately launching the listener into Mukaizake’s compelling corner of the musical universe. This is serpentine indie-rock at its finest, weaving hook after hook around your chest until you’re suspended from the clouds, a grin plastered across your face, unable to even think about listening to anything else.
‘Rule Norse’ ups the ante with a thunderously rollicking first half that follows with gorgeous layered backing vocals and hovering guitars in the exultant, expansive second half. ‘Corporal Steam’ winds the album down a notch with its chiming circular guitar harmonics and Geoff Symons’ plaintive vocals before ‘Frisbee’ launches the listener off the edge of a cliff attached to an electric boomerang of riffs and angular melodies. Then, the stunningly wistful ‘My Friend Flicker’ and the dreamy lament of ‘Slack Bees’ bring the listener down in a pool of dazzling songmanship.
“Part math-rock, part jangly dream-pop, the six songs are a beguiling dive into the oceanic sounds of 90’s indie rock. Vocalists Geoff Symons and Erickson can both actually sing with clarity, lending the songs a sort of choirboy purity, even when singing about slashing tyres… The outcome is a pristine and intelligent composite of sounds old and new… It’s a heady combination, and one that hopefully won’t need another five years to reoccur.” – Rave Magazine
Mukaizake comprises Dan Erickson (Bluetile Lounge), Simon Struthers (Umpire, Adam Said Galore), Geoff Symons (Umpire, ex-Adam Said Galore, O!), and Michael Lake (Umpire, ex-Adam Said Galore). Unknown Knowns is the follow up to their critically acclaimed debut album Mapping The Static released in 2003.
Unknown Knowns is now available in CD and digital formats worldwide. Head to the HSR Store for all availability info and to stream the album in full. The album is being launched on December 11th in Perth, Western Australia at the Amplifier Bar.
Read a full press release here.
Mukaizake – My Friend Flicker Mukaizake – My Friend Flicker
Mukaizake "Unknown Knowns" interview and review in Rave Magazine
The latest issue of Brisbane street press Rave Magazine includes an interview with Simon Struthers of Perth quartet Mukaizake, as well as a review of their latest release Unknown Knowns. You can have a read of both the interview and the review by downloading this week’s Rave, or Queenslanders can pick up a hard copy. For more Mukaizake, check out this week’s issues of Perth street press Drum Media and XPress, which contain interviews with the band.
Unknown Knowns is available in digital formats from the Hidden Shoal Store. Tomorrow, Friday 11 December, is the official Australian CD release at Amplifier Bar in Perth. Doors open 8pm, and CDs will be available for purchase.
Muziakaze – The Yeah Conditioner Muzaikaze – The Yeah Conditioner
City of Satellites "Machine is My Animal" reviewed on Leonard's Lair
The latest release from City of Satellites, Machine is My Animal, has been reviewed on Leonard’s Lair. Read the full review over at the awesomeness that is Leonard’s Lair, or check out an excerpt on the City of Satellites reviews section. Machine is My Animal is available from the Hidden Shoal Store.
City of Satellites – Victor! Burn City Lights City of Satellites – Victor! Burn City Lights
Chris Mason Live This Sunday Arvo
Chris Mason (My Majestic Star, Glassacre) is playing a solo acoustic set upstairs at the Flying Scotsman pub, Mount Lawley, this Sunday arvo from 5pm. Be sure to head on down for a beer and some fine, fine tunes.
Chris’s latest release is My Majestic Star’s new album I Haven’t Got It In Me, featuring superb single ‘Crampling’, which is now available in CD and mp3 format from the Hidden Shoal Store.
Tarcutta Live!
Tarcutta are playing two shows in Melbourne in the lead-up to Christmas, both with Jshwa and the Owls. This coming Sunday, 13th December, they’re playing at Edinburgh Castle with special guests The Kinship. Then, on Sunday 20th December they’re playing at Bar Open with special guests Winternationale, the new project of The Spheres’ Guy Harris.
Tarcutta’s self-titled debut album will be available on CD at both shows, or you can grab it in CD and mp3 format from the Hidden Shoal Store.
Mukaizake CD Launch This Friday Night!
Mukaizake’s superb album Unknown Knowns is launched on CD this Friday night at the Amplifier Bar, Perth. Support comes from The Preytells and Hang On St Christopher, with Hidden Shoal’s very own Cam Merton spinning the wheels of steel between sets. It’s gonna be a night to remember, so if you’re in Perth this weekend, be sure to check it out.
As well as being on sale at the show, Unknown Knowns is available in CD and mp3 format from the Hidden Shoal Store.
Slow Dancing Society ‘The Rest of Our Lives’ on Vogue TV
Slow Dancing Society track “The Rest of Our Lives” off the album The Slow and Steady Winter, has been used for a Vogue TV jewellery promo featured on the front page of Vogue UK. Mario Godlewski photographed the season’s most dazzling jewels for Vogue and put together a showcase video- check out all the pretty colours! Check out The Slow and Steady Winter is available here.
Mukaizake Local Feature Album on RTRfm
Mukaizake’s stunning new album Unknown Knowns is local feature album all this week on Perth’s stupendously fine independent radio station RTRfm. Tune in to 92.1FM to hear tracks from the record and for the chance to win CDs.
Visit the Hidden Shoal Store to stream tracks and purchase the album in mp3, CD and lossless formats.
My Majestic Star "I Haven't Got It In Me" Released
Hidden Shoal Recordings today announced the release of the new album I Haven’t Got It In Me by Perth-based post-shoegaze outfit My Majestic Star.
On third album I Haven’t Got It In Me, My Majestic Star continue to showcase their exceptional command of atmosphere and tension. The album sees My Majestic Star merge weightless daydream pop with droning shoegaze and even a smattering of slowcore. I Haven’t Got It In Me expands upon the immersive and dynamic soundscapes of previous My Majestic Star releases with its lush and subtle songcraft, and for the first time features the stunning vocals of the band’s cellist, Miriam Braun, alongside Chris Mason’s distinctively dreamy tones. The album swims in uppers and downers, all the while painting an intimate yet brooding landscape for the listener to traverse.
“‘Crampling’ is a deliciously dreamy slice of tender post-shoegaze. Chris Mason’s signature reverb-soaked vocals sit perfectly with Miriam Braun’s delicate tones, creating a lush, thoroughly satisfying soundscape… they represent some of the best music [Perth] offers at the moment” – Drum Media
“an undeniably affecting record, poignantly igniting that inkling for extremely layered and manipulated sounds… much thought-provoking and righteous music to enjoy… Quite unfathomable, but there is something curiously magical afoot here.” – Beat Magazine on Too Late, The Day
I Haven’t Got It In Me will be available through Hidden Shoal Recordings on the 28th of November, 2009. The album is distributed on CD in Australia through Hidden Shoal Distribution and in the US and Europe via n5Mailorder. The album is available digitally through the Hidden Shoal Store and all good third-party digital music stores (iTunes, eMusic, Amazon, LaLa etc). Visit the HSR Store for all availability information. The album will be launched in Perth, Western Australia on the 27th of November at the Hyde Park Hotel.
Read a full press release here.
My Majestic Star – Take A Walk My Majestic Star – Take A Walk
HC-B "Soundcheck for a Missing Movie" reviewed on WRUV
HC-B’s latest album, Soundcheck for a Missing Movie, has received mighty praise (and then some) on Vermont college radio station WRUV. Hop across to WRUV to read this glowing review. Anything that is going to “blast your face off for its entirety” is definitely something you’ll want to get involved with.
Soundcheck for a Missing Movie is available at the Hidden Shoal Store.
HC-B – A Dusty Book, A City of Lights HC-B – A Dusty Book, A City of Lights
Hidden Shoal MixTape
