Hidden Shoal News
Apricot Rail Sign with Hidden Shoal
Hidden Shoal Recordings today announced the signing of Perth-based multi-instrumental pop quintet Apricot Rail to its roster of artists.
Most instrumental rock suggests the apocalypse is coming. If it is, Apricot Rail are too busy crafting beautiful lilting melodies to care. This Perth (Australia) quintet have the charm, humour and songwriting nous – and a killer live show – to re-ignite anyone’s belief in music’s subtle, giddy powers.
“The might of, I dunno, Mogwai is still there, but the charm of Múm is also present. They paint mountains in broad strokes but afterwards they take time to put in Sherpas and goats partying on the cliff face. That’s how I like my monumental arms of guitar served up – gigantic but also tiny” – Love Is My Velocity
In November 2008 the band headed into Kingdom studios under the guidance of Simon Struthers (Umpire, Adam Said Galore, Mukaizake) where the band recorded their soon to be released self-titled debut long player. Australian fans got a chance to taste some of the new album’s sublime wares when the Apricot Rail track ‘If You Can’t Join Them, Beat Them’ was released on the prestigious Spunk Singles Club compilation album along with the likes of Leeder Cheetah, The Dead Sea and The Middle East. The band was also recently nominated for Favourite Newcomer in the 2009 Western Australian Music Industry Awards.
Hidden Shoal will release Apricot Rail’s self-titled debut album on the 4th of July, preceded by the single ‘Pouring Milk Out The Window’ on the 2nd of June. The band will be doing a run of shows in Perth throughout June and July to support the album.
Read a full press release here and check out the band’s Myspace for all gig details.
Tarcutta Live
This Saturday night, 16th May, Tarcutta are playing live at the Barley Corn, 177 Johnston St, Collingwood, Melbourne supporting friends Map Nineteen. Tarcutta are stunning live, so make sure you head down if you’re in the area. The show kicks off at 9.30pm.
Tarcutta’s single, ‘You Gotta Crawl Before You Walk Before You Waltz’, taken from their self-titled debut album, is available for free download from the Hidden Shoal Store from next Tuesday, 19th May.
New Tangled Star Single Released, Free Download Available
Hidden Shoal Recordings are pleased to announce the release of ‘seabirdtown’, the new single by Tangled Star, taken from their forthcoming That Time EP.
‘seabirdtown’ opens with the expansive open air sound of Pink Floyd-style organs and spatial guitars before falling into an earthbound shuffle and a taste of a lush, full-band sound for Tangled Star. The song’s gradual build to a towering edifice of glowing overdriven guitar, droning organ and harmony vocals is topped off by an echoed guitar line that sketches glistening arcs in the stratosphere. The single is indicative of That Time’s strengths as a louder more flowing version of the melodic, evocative spaces of Tangled Star’s twilight pop songs. A lesson in how to get ahead while treading water…
“the same surging, warmly anthemic sound of stellar forebears galore, each sonically different — the Triffids, Died Pretty, perhaps most inevitably the Go-Betweens — but which altogether seem to capture a sense and a style more than might be guessed, something detailed, mournful, and a little crushing even at its strongest” – AMG on Our Man In Eden Hill
The band features the inimitable talents of Perth musical luminaries Craig Hallsworth (The Slow Beings, Outstation, Bamboos) and Lorne Clements (The Slow Beings, A Minor Ache, Bing, Chimpy) and Jim Butterworth (Outstation).
“In my opinion one of the most underrated West Australian songwriters of all time.” Dave Cutbush on Craig Hallsworth, Music Director, RTRFM.
‘seabirdtown’ is available for free download from the Hidden Shoal Store until the release of the That Time EP on June 11th. Download a full press release here.
Tangled Star – seabirdtown Tangled Star – seabirdtown
Hotels Album Reviewed on The Dwarf
Hotels’ universally lauded album Where Hearts Go Broke has just received another glowing review, this time on Australian site The Dwarf. Visit The Dwarf to read the review in full, or pop along to Hotels’ reviews section to read an excerpt.
Hotels Port Of Saints Hotels – Port Of Saints
Jumpel on Triple J's Sound Lab
Tracks from Jumpel’s wonderful second album Deuxieme Bureau have been receiving some loving on the excellent Sound Lab show on Triple J, which airs on Sunday nights at 11pm. Visit the Sound Lab page on the Triple J site to stream last week’s show, which also features Tortoise, Clark and Ratatat.
Jumpel Leaves Jumpel – Leaves
Hotels Live In-Studio Videos for OPB Radio
Hotels recently performed live in-studio versions of ‘Near The Desert, Near The City’, ‘Port Of Saints’, ‘Hydra’ and ‘Kite Fight’ from their new album Where Hearts Go Broke for OPB Radio, Oregon. Visit OPB Music to view the videos in full and listen to an interview with the band. Hot stuff!
Hotels Near The Desert, Near The City Hotels – Near The Desert, Near The City
Sleeping Me Reviewed on Luna Kafe
Sleeping Me’s new single ‘Legs Like Gravestone‘, taken from the forthcoming album Cradlesongs, has just been reviewed on Norwegian music site Luna Kafe. Visit the Kafe to read the review in full, or visit Sleeping Me’s reviews section for an excerpt.
‘Legs Like Gravestone’ is available for free download from the HSR Store until the release of Cradlesongs on May 25th.
Sleeping Me Legs Like Gravestone Sleeping Me – Legs Like Gravestone
Hotels Live at Capitol Hill Block Party and Bumbershoot!
Hotels have been invited to play at two amazing Seattle music festivals: Capitol Hill Block Party on July 24th and 24th with Sonic Youth, Deerhunter and Earth, and Bumbershoot on September 5th, 6th and 7th with Modest Mouse, Os Mutantes and Gang Gang Dance. Now, where’s my magical teleporter so I can get from Australia to Seattle?!
Hotels Kite Fight Hotels – Kite Fight
Hotels Interviews on [sic] and Weekly Volcano
Hotels vocalist/songwriter/bass wizard Blake Madden has just been interviewed by [sic] and Weekly Volcano. Visit the respective sites to read all about the genesis of stunning new album Where Hearts Go Broke and find out what’s next for everyone’s favourite space-pop experts.
Hotels The Heart That Hears Like A Bat Hotels – The Heart That Hears Like A Bat
Jumpel CD at Tonevendor, Hotels and Slow Dancing Society Re-Stocks
The truly sublime Deuxième Bureau by Germany’s ambient micro pop maestro Jumpel is now available for mail order and distribution through Tonevendor. Good news for fans of Hotels and Slow Dancing Society as Where Hearts Go Broke and Priest Lake Circa ’88 have both been re-stocked at Tonevendor after selling out.
Jumpel – Matter of Time Jumpel – Matter of Time
Hidden Shoal MixTape
