Hidden Shoal News
Boxharp Interviewed on Underground of Happiness
Last week our beloved Boxharp were interviewed by our old friends at Underground of Happiness. On a slightly crackly phone line from North Carolina, the conversation ranged across early musical influences (from Bach to Burl Ives to Gong), the combination of vintage with modern in studio techniques, the meaning of “art rock”, the effect of a rural location on their music, how they hooked up with Hidden Shoal, and field recording in forests, churches and cemeteries. As Wendy commented, “we’re always looking for the music in the sounds of the world around us.”
Boxharp – The Green Boxharp – The Green
New Elisa Luu Track Released
Hidden Shoal Recordings today announced the release of the new single by Rome-based post-ambient composer Elisa Luu.
‘Come’ is a stunning and subtly devastating slice of ambient electronica. The brand new track is a delicious appetiser for Elisa Luu’s next full-length on Hidden Shoal. It overlays levitating guitars and droning synths in heartbreaking counterpoint. ‘Come’ re-enforces Elisa Luu’s place as one of the leading proponents of the post-ambient guard, creating work via alchemy rather than simple marriage. The track is bundled with the epic and aptly titled ‘Pixie Space Rock’, the second song to be released from debut album Chromatic Sigh. Together, these stunning tracks betray a sensitivity that is rarely found in the often male-dominated sphere of electronica. With its sighing, lilting qualities, Elisa Luu’s music creates a blissful, liminal realm where everything is rendered transformative.
“A stellar work of ambience, Chromatic Sigh refracts the sound of cool intelligence. As far as descriptions go, you can trot out the usual suspects, like shimmering and sparkling, because they apply in abundance… There’s something cyclical about the music on Chromatic Sigh, and electronically this places listeners in the wondrous open spaces that still boom quietly in our natural world. These spaces are Elisa Luu’s sonic gift to the chumps stranded in suburbia or packed away in cramped apartments.” – Delusions of Adequacy
‘Come’ along with bonus track ‘Pixie Space Rock’ is available for free download from the Hidden Shoal Store. Elisa Luu’s Chromatic Sigh is also available through Hidden Shoal. Read a full press release here.
Elisa Luu – Come Elisa Luu – Come
Markus Mehr's "Lava" Available for CD Pre-Order
Markus Mehr’s stunning lush drone full length Lava is now available for pre-order on CD from n5Mailorder. The album comes in a custom amaray case with the gorgeous widescreen artwork that format affords and that this artwork deserves (sorry for the mouthful!). The initial run is limited so make sure to pre-order early to get a copy. Please note that the official CD release date has been slightly shifted and the album will now be out on the 4th of August.
If digital is your thing then you can grab the album now from all good stores in all good formats. Check the HSR Store for all purchase links and info.
Markus Mehr – Hubble Markus Mehr – Hubble
The Caribbean Tour and Forthcoming Album
Lovers of awesomeness take note – The Caribbean have a new album coming out in October through the wonderful Hometapes label. The band are currently touring in support of the new record, Discontinued Perfume, and are in fact about a third of the way through wowing audiences with some the new material along with their backlog of gloriously inventive pop. The band are also running a tour diary over at The Vinyl District which, as anyone who knows the band would expect, is a hoot. Last lot of dates for now include:
Jul 9 2010 8:00P
40 Watt Club
Athens, GA
(w/Venice is Sinking)
Jul 10 2010 9:00P
Drunken Unicorn
Atlanta, Georgia
(w/Venice is Sinking)
Jul 18 2010 8:00P
Galaxy Hut
Arlington, Virginia
(w/The Zookeepers)
Sep 17 2010 9:30P
U St. Music Hall
Washington, DC
(w/More Humans)
In other Caribbean news we shall finally be releasing the stunning music video for Scott Solter’s remix of ‘Populations’. The video was made by none other than the amazing Mark Solter. The video will be available via all the usual streaming sites but will also be bundled in mpeg-4 format with the Scott Solter Re-Populates The Caribbean EP. It’s been waiting in the wings far too long but it will out soon we promise!
The Caribbean – Do You Believe In Dinosaurs (Scott Solter Remix) – The Caribbean – Do You Believe In Dinosaurs (Scott Solter Remix)
Salli Lunn's Heresy and Rite Released
Hidden Shoal Recordings today announced the release of Heresy and Rite, the debut album by Danish spectral noise-rock quartet Salli Lunn.
Across the expansive terrain of Heresy and Rite, produced by Jonas Munk (Manual), Salli Lunn are utterly bewitching, weaving dark magic in the bleak hinterland of guitar-driven atmospherics, stirring in equal parts pop melody and angular noise. From the tumbling drums and lurching coda of opener ‘The Frame of Reference’ to the stunning finale ‘The First Cause’, Salli Lunn walk a tightrope between bright-eyed songcraft and shadowy textures that threaten to overwhelm. Songs rise and fall in vertiginous shifts, carried by thunderous rhythms, skewed guitar patterns and the compelling vocal presence of Lasse Skjold Bertelsen, each a superb demonstration of Salli Lunn’s mastery of light and shade. Chiming guitar arpeggios highlight the hope and yearning woven throughout the album, while thick coils of bass, pounding drums and wrenching chord changes deepen the atmosphere of foreboding and menace.
“…a courageous breath of fresh air for 2010.” – Undertoner on Heresy and Rite
Heresy and Rite is available worldwide in CD and digital formats through Hidden Shoal Recordings. Check out the Hidden Shoal Store for all availability details. The album is also available on vinyl in Denmark through Duck On The Walk Records.
Read a full press release here.
Salli Lunn – The Frame of Reference Salli Lunn – The Frame of Reference
Boxharp's "The Green" – RTRFM Feature Album and Interview
Listen to Perth’s RTRFM all this week and hear the beguiling sounds of Boxharp‘s masterpiece The Green being featured. Not only is the album is this week’s Out To Lunch Feature Album but you can also catch an interview with the duo on Sarah Tout’s show this Tuesday between 12 to 3pm (Perth time). Oh and of course RTRFM subscribers have a chance to win a copy of the album each day this week during the Out To Lunch show. You can listen to the RTRFM stream live online and you can also re-stream all RTRFM shows if you miss them. Anyone who does not know the goodness that is RTRFM is missing out – trust us.
In other Boxharp news, Scott and Wendy were interviewed last week on Sydneys 2ser and the wonderful folk there have allowed us to post the audio so expect that up later in the week.
Boxharp – Cloy Boxharp – Cloy
Boxharp's The Green Reviewed on Textura
Boxharp’s superb new album Salli Lunn Scoop Top Track at RTRFM
Salli Lunn’s brilliant soon to be released debut has already been getting spins and love at Perth’s always wonderful RTRFM. The album’s propulsive opener ‘The Frame of Reference’ got the thumbs up from Gemma Pike on her Out To Lunch new release show last Friday and scored some “Top Track” love.
Salli Lunn’s Heresy and Rite is released on the 6th of July. In the meantime you can grab a free download of the first single taken from the album, ‘Parachutes Forever’.
My Majestic Star Live
Perth fans are in for a treat this Friday night as My Majestic Star are playing a very rare live show at the Rocket Room with fantastic Perth bands Bat Country, Tangled Thoughts of Leaving and Like Junk. Doors open 8pm, entry $10. My Majestic Star will be on stage at 9:30pm.
Remind yourself of their awesomeness by listening to their recent wall of sonic loveliness, I Haven’t Got It In Me.
My Majestic Star – Stranger My Majestic Star – Stranger
Salli Lunn, Rich Bennett and Iretsu Reviewed on Luna Kafe
There’s a fresh batch of tasty Hidden Shoal-flavoured word buns on everyone’s favourite Norwegian review site, Luna Kafe. Last month’s edition featured a glowing review of Salli Lunn’s new single ‘Parachutes Forever‘. This month sees Rich Bennett’s ‘Misty Valley‘ getting the Luna Kafe team all misty eyed, while Iretsu’s new album Fang has them foaming at the mouth with its post-punk goodness!
Both singles are currently available for free download from the HSR Store, where Fang can also be streamed in full. Get among the goodness!
Hidden Shoal MixTape
