Hidden Shoal News
Todd Tobias EP "Night Above Ground" – Free Download
Hidden Shoal Recordings is proud to announce the release of the new freely available EP Night Above Ground by musical experimentalist and long-time Robert Pollard collaborator Todd Tobias, a companion release to acclaimed debut album Medicine Show.
“very familiar and exciting to all the Circus Devils fans out there, perplexing to non-believers and absolutely intriguing for everyone else that gives this record a chance” – The Fire Note on Medicine Show
After years of producing Guided By Voices, playing in Circus Devils with Robert Pollard, and helping to create the music for Pollard’s solo albums, Todd Tobias is striking out on his own, first with the recent release of debut album Medicine Show, and now with the independent release of the freely available companion EP Night Above Ground. In contrast to the full-length album’s serpentine construction and intense atmosphere, Night Above Ground is more airy, accessible and playful, bursting into vivid life with the crowd chatter and tumbling noisescapes of ‘Invocation’. Immersive, hypnotic tracks such as ‘Wandering Giant’ and ‘Crystal Palace People’ alternate with brief, impressionistic pieces such as ‘Workshop of Spears’ and ‘Ashes and Cream’. The EP’s 17 minutes flow past your third eye like a Dali-esque dream.
The Night Above Ground EP is available in digital format as a free download from the Hidden Shoal Store. Medicine Show is also out now through Hidden Shoal in limited edition CD and digital formats.
Slow Dancing Society Textura Review, Echoes Top 25, KZSU Top 30
With a five release discography that just keeps outshining itself, it’s no wonder Slow Dancing Society’s fifth album continues Laterna Magica in getting some deserved love. The album has just landed in the prestigious Echoes Top 25, is number 14 in the latest KZSU Top 30 chart and also just scooped a beautiful review on the latest Textura magazine.
“…fifty more minutes of the lustrous ambient music that has performed a slow dazzle on listeners since the project’s 2006 inception.” – Textura
If you haven’t already fallen under Slow Dancing Society’s charm then check out the entire discography at the Hidden Shoal Store including a bunch of free downloads and some current super CD specials.
Half Film Reissues are This Week's RTRFM Drivetime Feature Albums!
Half Film‘s beautiful double album reissue, East of Monument/Road To The Crater, is this week’s RTRFM Drivetime feature album. Not only will you be hearing tracks off the albums all week on RTRFM but Perth listeners will also be able to win a copy every day on the Drivetime program.
These two late 90′s slowcore masterpieces are available together as a specially priced double CD and singley in digital formats from the Hidden Shoal Store. All CD orders come with an immediate download of both albums.
Gilded Interview and Chart Round Up
After the incredibly successful release of their debut album Terrane and an equally successful east coast tour, Gilded have been doing nothing but good both here in Australia and also internationally. Proving that Tame Impala aren’t the only band from Perth that can make waves on the US charts, Gilded have managed to enter the WDCE charts at number 20, number 21 at KZSU, number 33 at WCBN charts, number 30 at CKUT and have been added to rotation at WXYC and Soma FM. And thats just the new chart info we have with more to add in the next few weeks as the album gets deeper into college radio.
The band have also racked up a number of fantastic interviews of late thanks to some lovely Australian radio and press folks. Here’s some links for your reading and listening pleasure – Drum Media interview, Triple J interview, 4ZZZ interview, RRR interview.
If you have not yet soaked in the pleasures that Terrane has to offer then be sure to head to the Hidden Shoal Store and grab one of the limited edition CDs or an Mp3 or FLAC package. CD stock is getting low so get in before it becomes another one of your coulda, woulda, shouldas.
Half Film Reissues Out Now on CD and Digital!
Hidden Shoal Recordings is proud to announce CD and digital availability for the reissue of two late 90’s slowcore masterpieces East of Monument and The Road to the Crater by San Franciscan trio Half Film. Both albums are available together as a specially priced double CD and singley in digital formats. All CD orders come with an immediate download of both albums.
Before releasing music on Hidden Shoal as [The] Caseworker, Conor and Eimer Devlin, along with drummer Jason Lakis, made up slowcore trio Half Film. Their two acclaimed albums – East of Monument and The Road to the Crater – are now lovingly reissued by Hidden Shoal. With a sound mapped out so definitively, it’s difficult not to immerse yourself completely in this music’s shadowy topography.
“Low-key underground guitar atmos that’s very moody indeed… Stark like Joy Division and darkly melodic like Neil Young – 4/5” – Melody Maker on Half Film’s second album, The Road to the Crater
Right from East of Monument’s languid opener ‘Weather Patterns’, it’s clear there’s a deliberate, measured and deeply rewarding melodic map unfolding, akin to classic releases by Codeine and Low. This aesthetic is explored, refined and distilled across the two records, and by the time The Road to the Crater’s finale ‘Themselves’ has played out, the special pocket of indie-rock that Half Film inhabited completely in the late ’90s has been revealed anew.
Head to the Hidden Shoal Store to grab your copy now and stream both albums in full. To get you in the mood the track ‘Machines, Hawks And The Perfect Equation’ is also available fro free download.
Half Film – ‘Machines, Hawks And The Perfect Equation’
New Scott Solter and Stray Ghost Releases
Scott Solter and Stray Ghost fans rejoice as fantastic new releases by both artists have recently been released. Stray Ghost’s stunning new album Those Who Know Darkness See The Light has just been released on the excellent Time Released Sound label and Scott Solter’s No Compass sees an ingenious reworking of tracks from Erik Friedlander’s Broken Arm Trio album.
Two very special artists and two very special releases that deserve your attention.
More US Radio Love for Team Shoal!
KBRP (Arizona) loving for Hidden Shoal as Gilded get a CMJ rotation add , Slow Dancing Society sit at 22 on the Top 30 and Elisa Luu sits at number 4 and Slow Dancing Society number 7 on the Electronic Chart. Go team!
Pre-Orders Available for Slowcore Masters Half Film Double CD Reissue
Hidden Shoal Recordings is proud to announce CD pre-orders for the reissue of two late 90’s slowcore masterpieces East of Monument and The Road to the Crater by San Franciscan trio Half Film. Both albums will be released as a specially priced double CD and singley in digital format. All CD pre-orders come with an immediate download of both albums. The albums will see official release on 31st of October.
Before releasing music on Hidden Shoal as [The] Caseworker, Conor and Eimer Devlin, along with drummer Jason Lakis, made up slowcore trio Half Film. Their two acclaimed albums – East of Monument and The Road to the Crater – are now lovingly reissued by Hidden Shoal. With a sound mapped out so definitively, it’s difficult not to immerse yourself completely in this music’s shadowy topography.
“Low-key underground guitar atmos that’s very moody indeed… Stark like Joy Division and darkly melodic like Neil Young – 4/5” – Melody Maker on Half Film’s second album, The Road to the Crater
Right from East of Monument’s languid opener ‘Weather Patterns’, it’s clear there’s a deliberate, measured and deeply rewarding melodic map unfolding, akin to classic releases by Codeine and Low. This aesthetic is explored, refined and distilled across the two records, and by the time The Road to the Crater’s finale ‘Themselves’ has played out, the special pocket of indie-rock that Half Film inhabited completely in the late ’90s has been revealed anew.
Head to the Hidden Shoal Store to pre-order your copy now and stream both albums in full.
Half Film – ‘Coated’
Gilded Reviews, Track by Track and Tour
Gilded‘s stunning debut album Terrane has been garnering a plethora of plaudits all over the shop lately. Well, when I say ‘shop’ I mean ‘Internet’. And more specifically, websites Delusions of Adequacy, Fluid Radio and Cool Perth Nights. There’s also a rather excellent track-by-track article on Mess+Noise. And, if that wasn’t enough, Gilded recently launched the album in Perth and are coming to other Australian cities later in the month. How good is that? Super-good. Tour dates as follows:
Saturday 20 October @ The Street Theatre, Canberra
Sunday 21 October @ Gasometer, Melbourne
Friday 26 October @ 107 Projects, Sydney
Saturday 27 October @ Powerhouse, Brisbane
Slow Dancing Society Reviewed at A Closer Listen
Another glowing review has rolled in for Slow Dancing Society’s 5th opus, Laterna Magica. Check out the review at the always excellent A Closer Listen and listen to the album here.
Hidden Shoal MixTape
