Optical Atlas

Occasional Optical Atlas contributor Adam Schragin has written a review of the new Midget and Hairs compilation for the Austinist, and you can read that – as well as download an MP3 from the album - right here.  Expect my review to materialize at this site within the next week or so.  In fact, we’re playing review catch-up over here: in addition to my Elf Power review posted last night, you can expect to shortly see reviews of the new Apples in Stereo album (from me) as well as the various artists comp Build Your Army with Potatoes (from Austinist scribe Adam). By the way, Build Your Army with Potatoes is an amazing record, featuring new and rare tracks by The Instruments, Great Lakes, Folklore, The Sixth Great Lake, Von Hemmling, The Diminisher, Calvin, Don’t Jump!, The Mendoza Line, The Lilys, Jack Logan, Geoff Reacher, Fabulous Bird, El Goodo, Volcano the Bear, and more, including my unqualified favorite new band, Laminated Cat, who have a record coming out that I hope gets all the attention it deserves.  But the Potatoes comp, as well as the Midget and Hairs album, is available right now from Royal Rhino Flying Records.

The Southern Shelter live music blog last week added two more E6-related concerts to their archive.  First up is a 2006 set from Circulatory System (10/11/06, at the Caledonia in Athens).  The set is a mix of old songs and new.  Also of interest is the 2/23/08 Black Swan Network performance from the AUX experimental music festival in Athens.  This was actually the one-off “Flash Card Orchestra” performance we mentioned here.  Both performances are available in MP3 and lossless FLAC formats.

My review of Elf Power’s latest, In a Cave, is now up, and you can read it here. The album streets tomorrow from Rykodisc. (If you’re ordering it through Amazon, use this link to support Optical Atlas.)

The Great Lakes will be playing a show this Wednesday, March 26, at Magnetic Field in Brooklyn (97 Atlantic Ave). The band takes the stage at 10, after opener Lungs of a Giant.

Over the weekend this “Madam Truffle” clip from the upcoming Major Organ and the Adding Machine short film leaked to YouTube. (The short will be released by Orange Twin later this year, bundled with an “expanded” edition of the original 2001 album.) There’s a bit of controversy as to whether or not the clip is legit, but I’d say, judging by the amount of new Madam Truffle scenes here (and dancing lobster – Jeff Mangum), it’s real; it’s just difficult to gauge how exactly this fits into the final edited product. And the use of David Barnes’ Icon, Abstract Thee art is really odd. Anyway, here it is.

UPDATE: Glorious Noise contacted Laura Carter at Orange Twin asking if this was an actual clip from the film. “No, it’s not,” she replied via email. “Looks like someone has turned our trailer into their own personal advertisement.” So there you go. Big sigh of relief, everyone.

Chris Yetter has posted an old Puncture Magazine article on Elephant 6, with a detailed introduction to the then-coalescing collective, and looks at The Apples in Stereo, Olivia Tremor Control, and Neutral Milk Hotel.  You can read it in this thread.  A great find.

Plus he’s scanned in a Puncture article on Olivia Tremor Control, which you can read in this thread. 

Some SXSW coverage via Erik Adams in Venus Zine (thanks to Adam Schragin for the link):

Disappointed in my inability to see R.E.M., I wandered through the slowly growing downtown insanity until I spotted the words “Elf Power” by the door of Spiro’s. I ducked in and heard the sweet sounds of something decidedly Neutral Milk Hotel-esque. The band was Nana Grizol, and I managed to catch the finale of their set, which as far as I could tell was as gloriously rickety as a flying Victrola powered by youthful, punk energy. Thanks for being my first great SXSW find, Nana Grizol!

After the thrill of discovery, Elf Power was a bit of a let down. I don’t know what it is, but I just can’t get into their super-peppy power (ha ha!) pop. Mostly, I was transfixed by the astounding melodic bass skills of Derek Almstead, who might have some of the lightest fingers in town this week.

OK, so he didn’t like Elf Power, but Adam did – here’s his write-up in the Austinist:

One of this writer’s SXSW highlights was the Orange Twin records showcase on Wednesday night at Spiros. The band Nana Grizol impressed the small but enthusiastic crowd with bountiful energy and bouncy song structures, while also featuring the skills of horn player Laura Carter (Elf Power) and Madeline Adams on bass, who had played a solo set earlier in the evening. Elf Power ripped it up next, previewing songs from their new In a Cave record while also trotting out some old favorites like “We Dream In Sound” and closed their set with the raucous guitar duel of “Skeleton.” As loud and in our face that performance was, it was nothing compared to the set to follow. Prior to Dark Meat’s arrival on stage, a rumor had begun to circulate that the band were all dropping acid, and their set erased whatever doubt may have lingered. Ostensibly playing The Stooges’ Fun House in its entirety, the pure noise (four guitars!), drawn-out songs, and lead singer Jim McHughes’ unhinged anger made a fantastic if frightening impression.

Incidentally, the Nana Grizol album is due out May 13 on Orange Twin.