Hidden Shoal News
Circus Devils Music Video Featured at Magnet Magazine
The brilliant music video for Circus Devils ‘Let’s Go Back To Bed’ lifted off the forthcoming I Razor soundtrack has been featured in the always reliable Magnet Magazine. This comes just days before the first official single from the I Razor soundtrack is released (14th March), the Circus Devils track ‘All The Good Ones Are Gone’.
For the uninitiated I Razor is the no-budget experimental feature film directed by Todd Tobias. The I Razor soundtrack, to be released by Hidden Shoal in May 2013, comprises work by Todd Tobias and Circus Devils featuring vocals from Robert Pollard (Guided by Voices) as well as instrumental versions of some of the bands existing songs. The album is a cinematic feast within itself, uncompromising, redemptive and always engaging.
Markus Mehr's "Off" Reviewed in Hypnagogue
Markus Mehr’s sublime new album Off has received another glowing and wonderfully engaged review, this time over at the always excellent Hypnagogue. Check out the excerpt below to get you started, then read the whole review here.
“Listening to Off is a challenge, but it’s an incredibly rewarding one. The balance is tricky, because the opposite ends of this equation are the far ends, but Mehr makes its work perfectly. You are pummeled with the unyielding intrusion of blatantly non-musical noise, and you are salved with the reassuring solidity of the piano, and somehow it makes sense. Yes, it requires an open approach to music. If you like it pat and simple, this won’t work for you. And maybe it’s not supposed to. The triptych as a whole has been slim on easy access points, but that’s also a hallmark of Mehr’s work–he’s not easy to listen to. He is, however, well worth the effort, and Off is perhaps Mehr at his most stunning.” – Hypangogue
Stream Off and get your copy of the limited edition CD release or digital package here.
Apricot Rail "Quarrels" Now Officially Available – Digital and CD
Apricot Rail’s much anticipated sophomore album Quarrels is now officially available which means digital packages (MP3 + FLAC) and CD packages (Inc immediate album download) are now live in the Hidden Shoal Store. A beautiful extended digital booklet is also available for download for those who have already purchased, those who are about to and even those who are just plain curious.
Almost four years after the release of their acclaimed self-titled debut album, Perth-based multi-instrumental pop sextet Apricot Rail return with their sophomore album Quarrels, which features the singles ‘Basket Press’ and ‘Surry Hills’. A foray into more experimental territory, Quarrels features lusher, denser instrumentation, is rich in ideas yet toys with new levels of restraint. The band’s trademark harmonic guitar passages and syncopation sit beneath languid brass and woodwind, balanced by glitchy electronica, dramatic crescendos and opium-infused oriental explorations; slow, meandering waltzes give way to moments of ethereal lightness and beauty. This music transcends fads and trends to appeal to anyone drawn to beautiful, supple songcraft.
“Quarrels envelopes the listener like a rain curtain, with Rail’s six individual parts contracting into a tourniquet with exactly the kind of apparent, balmy temperance that actually masks rigid and almost brilliant perfectionism. Simply and quietly, this is an incredible album.” – Drum Media
Apricot Rail – ‘Running With an Egg on a Spoon’
New Todd Tobias + Circus Devils Album and Music Video!
Hidden Shoal is excited to announce the upcoming release of I Razor, the soundtrack album for the no-budget experimental feature film directed by Todd Tobias. The I Razor soundtrack, to be released by Hidden Shoal in May 2013, comprises work by Todd Tobias and Circus Devils featuring vocals from Robert Pollard (Guided by Voices) as well as instrumental versions of some of the bands existing songs. The album is a cinematic feast within itself, uncompromising, redemptive and always engaging.
To get you in the mood we have a music video (Youtube, Vimeo) to share for album track ‘Let’s Go Back to Bed’ by Todd Tobias and the Circus Devils. The video features footage from the film and provides a window into the visual and sonic landscape that is I Razor. The video precedes the first official single to be released off the album, ‘All The Good Ones Are Gone’ by Circus Devils, available on 14 March as a free download.
Apricot Rail – Reviews, Album of the Week and RTRFM Feature Album!
Apricot Rail‘s stunning new release Quarrels has been garnering lots of deserved love of late. First single from the album ‘Basket Press’ has scooped a bunch of wonderful reviews which you can check out here, whilst the album has just been named as Drum Media’s album of the week along with a stunning review,
“Quarrels envelopes the listener like a rain curtain, with Rail’s six individual parts contracting into a tourniquet with exactly the kind of apparent, balmy temperance that actually masks rigid and almost brilliant perfectionism. Simply and quietly, this is an incredible album.” – Drum Media
Quarrels is also one of this week’s RTRFM feature albums so be sure to listen in as you can win yourself one of 5 copies of the album!
Apricot Rail – ‘Running With an Egg on a Spoon’
Glowing Reviews for Markus Mehr's "Off"
If you’ve heard this album then you will immediately understand why Markus Mehr’s third and final installment in his year long tryptych has been attracting such glowing reviews. Off has recently been covered by Brainwashed, A Closer Listen and Petal Music with each reviewer providing a beautifully written insight into what is an amazing album.
“There is a mind boggling breadth of ideas and moments captured in the piece, and yet no thought or melodic impulse receives less than full consideration. Indeed, it is this deep attention to detail which amazed me on my first listen to In, and which now bears full fruit in Off.” – Petal Music
Off is available in digital (MP3 + FLAC) formats and as a very limited edition CD. Head to the Hidden Shoal Store to check it out along with Mehr’s previous releases including the other two components of the triptych In and On.
Markus Mehr – Off (excerpt)
Apricot Rail's "Quarrels" Available for CD Pre-Order!
Apricot Rail’s much anticipated sophomore album Quarrels is now available for CD pre-order from the Hidden Shoal Store. All pre-orders come with an immediate FLAC or Mp3 download of the album and a beautiful extended digital booklet is also available for download.
Almost four years after the release of their acclaimed self-titled debut album, Perth-based multi-instrumental pop sextet Apricot Rail return with their sophomore album Quarrels, which features the singles ‘Basket Press’ and ‘Surry Hills’. A foray into more experimental territory, Quarrels features lusher, denser instrumentation, is rich in ideas yet toys with new levels of restraint. The band’s trademark harmonic guitar passages and syncopation sit beneath languid brass and woodwind, balanced by glitchy electronica, dramatic crescendos and opium-infused oriental explorations; slow, meandering waltzes give way to moments of ethereal lightness and beauty. This music transcends fads and trends to appeal to anyone drawn to beautiful, supple songcraft.
Apricot Rail – ‘Running With an Egg on a Spoon’
Markus Mehr's "Off" Officially Released
Hidden Shoal Recordings is proud to announce digital and cd availability of the new album Off by German experimental ambient artist Markus Mehr. Off is the third and final part of a trilogy that includes the critically acclaimed releases In and On. The album is available from the Hidden Shoal Store in digital format (MP3 & FLAC) and as a special limited edition CD release. The CD release is limited to an edition of 50 units.
Off is not only the culmination of Markus Mehr’s trilogy, but it may also be the culmination of his career’s work thus far. The single-track album begins in silence, as a thrumming loop gradually emerges. From there, a beautiful piano refrain is introduced, noise ebbs and flows, threatening to engulf the piece, while field recordings and swooningly transportive synth patterns drift into focus. During its 42-minute runtime, the piece immerses the listener in a dizzyingly beautiful soundworld that’s ever-shifting. Certain passages allude to other sequences and samples in the preceding albums, linking the three albums into a kaleidoscopic mobius strip.
” It feels like emerging from a tunnel only to find that I am driving into the path of a tornado. As it builds up into a storm of guitar feedback and reverb, I have forgotten about where the piece has begun, entranced instead by a tonal shift into some kind of hellish union of choir voices and endless noise… Markus Mehr has crafted a sharply clever piece of music. It a evokes a presence that is rarely found; a balance between the ugly and the pretty where both can exist at once. I continue to be impressed by what Mehr is capable of.” – Brainwashed reviewing Off
“… The single, 42 minute long form piece mixes new samples and loops with numerous textures reconizable from the preceding releases, all woven together in a concoction that is by turns dazzlingly bright, hauntingly deep and wholly engaging…There is a mind boggling breadth of ideas and moments captured in the piece, and yet no thought or melodic impulse receives less than full consideration. Indeed, it is this deep attention to detail which amazed me on my first listen to In, and which now bears full fruit in Off.” – Petal Music reviewing Off
Off is available now in digital and limited edition CD formats through the Hidden Shoal Store.The limited edition CD release of the album features custom packaging and is limited to 50 units only. Due to a printing issue outside of our control, CD orders will not ship until the 11th of Feb. Our apologies and thanks for your patience. Head to the Hidden Shoal Store for all details.
Markus Mehr – “Off” (Excerpt)
New Apricot Rail Music Video
Check this beautiful new music video for the Apricot Rail track ‘Surry Hills’. The song is lifted from Apricot Rail‘s forthcoming sophomore album Quarrels. The music video comes to us via the wonderful Chad Peacock and was edited from footage taken from his currently in production documentary concerning communities in Cambodia and features work by Australian artist Kyle Hughes Odgers. Be sure to check out Chad’s other projects here.
Quarrels will see release on the 25th of February 2013 with CD pre-orders available on the 11th of February. The album launch takes place at the Rosemount in Perth on 23 February. While you wait you can grab Apricot Rail’s new single ‘Basket Press’ as well as ‘Surry Hills’ for free download from the Hidden Shoal Store.
Markus Mehr's "Off" – Digital and CD Pre-orders Now Available
Hidden Shoal Recordings is proud to announce digital and cd pre-order availability for the new album Off by German experimental ambient artist Markus Mehr. Off is the third and final part of a trilogy that includes the critically acclaimed releases In and On. The album is available from the Hidden Shoal Store in digital format (MP3 & FLAC) and pre-orders are available for the special limited edition CD release. The CD release is limited to an edition of 50 units.
Off is not only the culmination of Markus Mehr’s trilogy, but it may also be the culmination of his career’s work thus far. The single-track album begins in silence, as a thrumming loop gradually emerges. From there, a beautiful piano refrain is introduced, noise ebbs and flows, threatening to engulf the piece, while field recordings and swooningly transportive synth patterns drift into focus. During its 42-minute runtime, the piece immerses the listener in a dizzyingly beautiful soundworld that’s ever-shifting. Certain passages allude to other sequences and samples in the preceding albums, linking the three albums into a kaleidoscopic mobius strip.
” It feels like emerging from a tunnel only to find that I am driving into the path of a tornado. As it builds up into a storm of guitar feedback and reverb, I have forgotten about where the piece has begun, entranced instead by a tonal shift into some kind of hellish union of choir voices and endless noise… Markus Mehr has crafted a sharply clever piece of music. It a evokes a presence that is rarely found; a balance between the ugly and the pretty where both can exist at once. I continue to be impressed by what Mehr is capable of.” – Brainwashed reviewing Off
“… prepare for a shuddering, near chaotic, kaleidoscopic experience as Mehr challenges our and his own preconceptions of what “electronica” is, what it represents and of what his instrumentation can achieve.” – Delusions of Adequacy reviewing On
“It is a process of constant repetition and tension building with each tiny fragment or loop coming in to focus, one by one, little by little, to end up as an emphatically crushing work of art… It is minimalism that gives birth to the epic, intelligent music that takes over its listeners and engages them to its very dying moments.” – The Silent Ballet reviewing In
Off is available now in digital formats (MP3 & Flac) through the Hidden Shoal Store. Pre-orders are also available for the limited edition CD release of the album which features custom packaging and is limited to 50 units only. Head to the Hidden Shoal Store for all details.
Markus Mehr – “Off” (Excerpt)
Hidden Shoal MixTape
