Optical Atlas

Here’s the latest Visitations video, directed by Dickie Cox, from the upcoming album The Conundrum Tree (out on Orange Twin Records October 14th). Imagine watching Shrek 2 after dropping acid…

Southern Shelter has been posting the audio from the occasional Athens Face/Off live series, which teams two random members from two random Athens bands to form impromptu rock duos.  Included in batch #4, taped at the 40 Watt on September 4th, are members of Elf Power, Folklore, We Versus the Shark, Titans of Filth, The Buddy System, and more.  You can download it here in MP3 or FLAC, or check out the Athens Face/Off MySpace.

Lexington, Kentucky’s Ideal Free Distribution amassed a large backlog of material before releasing their first, self-titled album (ultimately released by Happy Happy Birthday to Me, and mixed with help from Robert Schneider of The Apples in Stereo), so it shouldn’t be a big surprise that there’s been a much shorter interval to reach their sophomore album, Then We Were Older. The title could refer to the fact that these songs reflect a band that’s come a significant way since writing the songs on their first album; this is an older, slightly different band. For one thing, Craig Morris has left to pursue Thee American Revolution, although he co-wrote the album’s “single,” “William Buss.” Tony Miller’s vocals still possess a rich, Zombies-esque flavor, and the band continues to mine 60’s psychedelic rock and garage for inspiration on the album’s thirteen tracks (even the cover winks at its retro inspirations), but the IFD also stretches past the three-minute pop song into longer tracks (some well over six minutes) that feel both tight and carefully structured. They’re a headphones band, and this is headphones music for bedroom daydreaming, Brian Wilson style.

Color Wheel Records is releasing Then We Were Older on CD and through iTunes on October 13. You can download “William Buss” below, or pre-order the album at the label’s MySpace (where you can also stream more tracks from the record).

Then We Were Older,
by Ideal Free Distribution
1. Cold Wind Blows
2. Something I Know
3. Carol Anne
4. Turn to Find You
5. Calm Herself
6. William Buss
7. Ride a Bike, Part I
8. Trip Inside
9. Strawberry Crush
10. Anne Maria
11. Ride a Bike, Part II
12. Can’t You See
13. Stars

The latest issue of Under the Radar (the one with Jenny Lewis on the cover) features an article on of Montreal with exclusive new photos.  You can see scans in this Townhall thread.

Back a little bit later today with a preview of the new Ideal Free Distribution album (it’s really, really good)…

The Optical Atlas streaming jukebox has been updated with new music from Dressy Bessy (whose rocking HOLLERandSTOMP came out this week on Transdreamer Records) and of Montreal (the epic, glittering “Nonpareil of Favor”), plus eight more tracks including rare Sunshine Fix and Von Hemmling.

The latest issue of Spin Magazine (with Kings of Leon on the cover) features an in-depth, 5-page piece on of Montreal, going behind the scenes as the band prepares for another major, outlandish tour (there’s much prop-building and volleyball-playing).  Plus Kevin Barnes on his sexuality, Georgie Fruit’s sexuality, and a rather startling dream about drummer Ahmed Gallab.  Worth it for the photos alone, and this bit of business:

“There was one show we did with Olivia Tremor Control where we put on a wedding between animals from another planet…We wore red capes.”

The November issue of Paste Magazine will feature a cover story on the band.

Pitchfork is reporting that of Montreal is one of the many artists set to appear on the 2-disc charity compilation Give Listen Help Volume 5.  The of Montreal track is “Jimmy” (Parvati Khan/M.I.A. cover), which Pitchfork released in MP3 form a little while back.  Also on the comp are Radiohead, The Decemberists, Ladytron, Bloc Party, and many more.  Proceeds go to the Pablove Foundation, a charity set up to support five-year-old Pablo Castelaz (the son of Dangerbird Records co-founder Jeff Castelaz), who is undergoing treatment for a rare form of children’s cancer.  The compilation will be available at Urban Outfitters beginning October 15.  A full track listing is at Pitchfork.

Unfortunately Pitchfork has announced that the release of Skeletal Lamping has been pushed back a few weeks from October 7th to October 21st.  However, in the interim there will be more of Montreal music: on September 30th Diplo’s Mad Decent is releasing a 12″ single for “Id Engager” (already released as a 7″ single by Polyvinyl), spotlighting two remix tracks (by Mad Decent and DJ Sega), with the original mix as the B-side.  You can listen to the Mad Decent mix at Pitchfork, or order the single here.  None other than Jon Brion will be remixing “An Eluardian Instance” for future release via Polyvinyl. In unrelated, altogether odd news, the Harvard Lampoon has named of Montreal “Musicians of the Year.”