Optical Atlas

You may have already heard Folklore’s second album, Carpenter’s Falls.  The band has been selling it themselves at their shows for the past year or so.  And prior to that, there was a short EP called Carpenter’s Falls, which is significantly different, consisting mainly of demos from what would eventually become a full-length complement-album to their debut, The Ghost of H.W. Beaverman.  Carpenter’s Falls continues the Beaverman mythos, but telling the ghost-story-that-wasn’t from different points of view–though with one solitary voice this time, as Jimmy Hughes (also of Elf Power) now handles all the vocals (after dividing those duties with a number of well-known, Athens-based singers on H.W. Beaverman).  Now BumbleBEAR Records is finally set to give the album its official release on October 21st.

On Carpenter’s Falls, Hughes is once again joined by Folklorists Jon Croxton (Wee Turtles), Aaron Jollay (Dark Meat), Ian Rickert (Nana Grizol), Raoul De La Cruz (The French Toasts), Che-Na Stephens, and David Specht, with guest appearances by Will Quinnell, Chris Bracco, Adam Spiegler, Linnea Weiss, Margaret Child, and Cousin Steve.  The band is already hard at work on their third album, Home Church Road, with a concept that sounds a bit like George Orwell’s Animal Farm.  You can read my review of both of Folklore’s albums here, and download Folklore MP3’s at their website.

The Elephant 6 Show, the E6-focused college radio program hosted by Becky Lovell, has returned for Season Two.  You can download the September 16th episode here.  (Incidentally, there are some audio inconsistencies in this episode which Becky says should be ironed out by next week’s show.) The program is broadcast every Tuesday at 7pm EST out of WGSU 89.3 FM “The Revolution” (SUNY-Geneseo), and archived at Optical Atlas. The show’s theme song is by Andy Gonzales (M Coast/Andy from Denver), and Kevin Barnes and B.P. Helium (of Montreal), Julian Koster (The Music Tapes), Paige Dearman (Midget and Hairs), Kirk Pleasant (Calvin, Don’t Jump!), Rich Chodes (Kingsauce), and Ben Crum (Great Lakes) contribute drops. To obtain playlists for each show, join the Elephant 6 Show Facebook Group. All episodes are archived in our E6 Radio page.

Of Montreal will be appearing on the Nick Jr. program Yo Gabba Gabba, and You Ain’t No Picasso (via the E6 Townhall) is offering an MP3 of their song/performance, “Brush Brush Brush.”  I don’t have cable, so I’ve never seen this show, but I assume it features this green person on the left.

The press release that was just sent out for Julian Koster’s upcoming Christmas album on Merge Records, The Singing Saw at Christmastime, is worth quoting in full, if only to get in the silly Jesus joke, so here it is.  (Incidentally, I’ve had a listen to the record, and it’s a very enjoyable, if strangely eerie, collection of Christmas tunes played on saw.  Very simple, very straightforward.  Do not expect a Music Tapes-style high-concept album.  But it should make good accompaniment while wrapping presents in a few months.)

Julian Koster uncovers the secret traditions of The Singing Saw at Christmastime

The Singing Saws are a shy and mischievous group. They don’t share their stories and traditions with many human beings, but lucky for us, Julian Koster is a trusted friend of the saws. Julian and his friend Nesey Gallons were allowed to record the saws as they sang their holiday favorites including “Frosty the Snowman,” “Santa Claus is Coming to Town,” and “O Come All Ye Faithful.”

Julian and Nesey encouraged saws of all ages to sing together under bridges, in barns, and in living rooms. The saws love Christmas for, as they told Julian, “Christ, being by far the most highly regarded and beloved carpenter of all time, was a great friend to the Saws.”

This album is our very first foray into the holiday album world. We believe this bizarre and beautiful album and it’s accompanying glimpse into Julian’s vivid imagination will be a holiday classic from this year forward. Please add this to your holiday gift guides. We will be offering The Singing Saw at Christmastime on CD, LP, and digital servicing.

You can now purchase Orange Twin Records‘ two October releases, and they’ll ship when the release date approaches.  For Vic Chesnutt, Elf Power & the Amorphous Strums: Dark Developments, that would be October 28.  For the Visitations‘ third album, The Conundrum Tree, that would be October 14.  Plus the label has updated their “distributed titles” with more vinyl and rare CDs.

Check it all out in the Orange Twin store.

Stereogum has posted footage from last fall’s of Montreal tour of the band performing “For Our Elegant Caste” at the Avalon, Los Angeles.  You can watch the clip here.  And it’s worth dropping a reminder that there’s a Skeletal Lamping futuristic (circa 1976) laser dome listening party in Seattle tonight at 9:15pm sharp.  Details in this old post.

The blog Modern Mystery has posted a new interview with Casper & the Cookies‘ Jim Hix, in which he dishes just a bit on their upcoming album.  I’m curious about that song “Pete Erchick” (!).

Casper & the Cookies will be on the road for at least one leg of Dressy Bessy’s fall tour.  (Dates here.)  Dressy Bessy’s new album, HOLLERandSTOMP, is out September 16th on Transdreamer Records, and you can pre-order the CD or LP here. 

Elf Power has announced their upcoming fall tour dates with Vic Chesnutt, promoting their collaborative album (attributed to Vic Chesnutt, Elf Power, and the Amorphous Strums), Dark Developments, due out on Orange Twin on October 14th.  The tour is in two separate legs–first to Spain and Portugal, then to the U.S., and in between jaunts with Chesnutt the Elves will be appearing on the Elephant 6 Holiday Surprise Tour, which you already know all about.

Elf Power and Vic Chesnutt

Sep 12 2008 Zaragoza Expo, Zaragoza, Spain
Sep 13 2008 Apolo, Barcelona, Spain
Sep 14 2008 Wah Wah, Valencia, Sapin
Sep 15 2008 Casino Antiguo, Castellon, Spain
Sep 16 2008 Neu Club, Madrid, Spain
Sep 17 2008 Aulario La Bomba, Cadiz, Spain
Sep 18 2008 Auditorio Municipal Augusto Cabrita, Barreiro, Portugal
Sep 19 2008 Auditorio Caixa Nova, Vigo, Spain
Sep 20 2008 Sala Acapulco, Gijon, Spain
Oct 29 2008 Proud Larry’s, Oxford, Mississippi
Oct 30 2008 One Eyed Jack’s, New Orleans, Louisiana
Nov 1 2008 Club Dada, Dallas, Texas
Nov 2 2008 Rubber Gloves, Denton, Texas
Nov 3 2008 The Parish, Austin, Texas
Nov 5 2008 Santa Fe Brewing Company, Santa Fe, New Mexico
Nov 7 2008 Club Congress, Tucson, Arizona
Nov 8 2008 Modified, Phoenix, Arizona
Nov 9 2008 Casbah, San Diego, California
Nov 10 2008 Echoplex, Los Angeles, California
Nov 11 2008 Bottom of the Hill, San Francisco, California
Nov 12 2008 Blue Lamp, Sacramento, California
Nov 13 2008 Sam Bond’s Garage, Eugene, Oregon
Nov 16 2008 Chop Suey, Seattle, Washington
Nov 17 2008 Neurolux, Boise, Idaho
Nov 18 2008 Kilby Court, Salt Lake City, Utah
Nov 19 2008 Hi Dive, Denver, Colorado
Nov 21 2008 Jackpot, Lawrence, Kansas