Optical Atlas

The Wesleyan Argus has conducted this interview with The Apples in Stereo’s Eric Allen.  He talks about getting Bill Doss to sing on the new album, ELO and other influences, and the whole “American Idols cover the Apples” thing.  Thanks to soniclovenoize for the link.

Visit the Miles Kurosky online store and you’ll find some merchandise, including the LP version of the critically acclaimed The Desert of Shallow Effects and two T-shirt designs.  Thanks to Tupac for the link.

Initial pre-orders of the Circulatory System’s Signal Morning LP shipped with a bonus 12″, dubbed Side 3, containing remixes, demos, and outtakes from the Signal Morning sessions.  Essentially it’s the equivalent of the Inside Views CD-R, which was released in 2001 to showcase remixes from the first CS album – only this is on 150-gram vinyl!  With a hand-painted gatefold sleeve!  Well, extra copies from the one-and-only pressing are available NOW at Cloud Recordings, so if you missed out on the pre-order and still want a chance to complete your Circulatory System collection – act fast.

Nesey Gallons, who has been a contributor to records by Circulatory System and The Music Tapes, and not too many eyes ago issued a splendid solo LP, has expanded his label Hurrah for Karamazov to include more releases including demos, outtakes, and rarities.  You can visit the store here:

Hurrah for Karamazov Online Shop

Nesey has also posted some free downloads, including some more rarities, at his blog:

Hurrah for Karamazov Blog

So – hurrah!  If you haven’t been exposed to the wonders of Mr. Gallons’ music, now’s a great time to plunge in.

The latest album from The Apples in Stereo, Travellers in Space and Time, is released next Tuesday (April 20th), but you can purchase it at participating retailers on Record Store Day this Saturday, April 17th.  Do so, and you’ll receive a free copy of the 12″ Future Vintage: Covers of The Apples in Stereo, featuring Ted Leo, Bad Veins, Throw Me the Statue, The Generationals, Maps and Atlases, and Elf Power.  (Check here for a list of all participating stores.)  The Travellers in Space and Time tour kicks off this Friday in Lexington…

The Apples in Stereo – Dance Floor

The Apples in Stereo Travellers in Space and Time Tour (with The Generationals and Laminated Cat)

Apr 16 – Cosmic Charlies – Lexington, KY
Apr 17 – 123 Pleasant Street – Morgantown, WV
Apr 18 – Rock and Roll Hotel – Washington DC
Apr 20 – Johnny Brenda’s – Philadelphia, PA
Apr 21 – Bowery Ballroom – New York, NY
Apr 23 – Middle East Underground – Cambridge, MA
Apr 24 – Castaways – Ithaca, NY
Apr 25 – Bug Jar – Rochester, NY
Apr 27 – Grog Shop – Cleveland, OH
Apr 28 – The Pike Room – Pontiac, MD
Apr 30 – Lincoln Hall – Chicago, IL
May 1 – Turf Club – St. Paul, MN
May 3 – Turner Hall – Milwaukee, WI
May 4 – Billiken Club – St. Louis, MO

Mike McGonigal, editor of YETI Magazine (which, a few years back, had an issue co-curated by Jeff Mangum), has initiated a new Portland, OR-based record label entitled Social Music Records and Tapes. To kick off the label, McGonigal has announced a new LP record club (details of which can be found here), and has dropped info on other upcoming LP and tape releases including a vinyl issue of Jeff Mangum’s Orange Twin Field Works Vol. 1, in a new “expanded” edition.  The LP, a co-release with Mississippi Records, does not yet have a firm release date.  The original CD, which features field recordings taken by Jeff Mangum at the Koprivshtitsa Festival in Bulgaria in 2000,  is still available from Orange Twin Records.  More info on Social Records can be found at their website.

Tomorrow AUX, the Athens Experimental Arts Festival, will hold its fourth gathering featuring live performance, multi-media performance, visual art, and more.  Guests include Michael Columbia, Mary Halvorson & Jessica Pavone, John Fernandes (Circulatory System), The Visitations, Hannah Jones (Sound Houses), and the legendary Flash Card Orchestra, among many other performers.  A full list is below.  Little Kings and the Athens Ciné will be hosting the event, and $5 tickets are available at the door.

Special guests:
Michael Columbia (Chicago/Cincinnati)
and
Mary Halvorson and Jessica Pavone (NYC)

Performances:
3:00 Jeff Fallis (Little Kings)
3:30 Nutritional Peace (Cine)
4:00 Rah as Tempel (Little Kings)
4:30 The Visitors/Pocket Full of Claptonite (Cine)
5:00 Magic Tape Research (Little Kings)
5:15 John Fernandes (Little Kings)
5:30 Denise Posnak, Laura Hoffman, Amanda Martin (Cine)
6:00 The Visitations (Little Kings)
6:30 Steven Trimmer (Cine)
6:45 Hannah Jones (Cine)
7:00 MANS TRASH (Little Kings)
7:30 Aman Amun (Cine)
8:00 Dream Scene (Little Kings)
8:30 Case Quarter (Cine)
9:00 Geisterkatzen (Little Kings)
9:30 The Untanglers (Cine)
10:00 Flash Card Orchestra! (Little Kings)
10:30 The Odd Trio (Little Kings)
11:00 Video Program (Cine)
11:30 Brave New Citizen (Little Kings)
12:00 Mary Halvorson and Jessica Pavone (Cine)
1:00 Michael Columbia (Little Kings)

Installations:

Eye Gate
Dan Hole Pond
Justin Roberts

Video screenings:

25 minute program repeating at
3, 4:30, 9:30, and 11 in Ciné 2

Elliott Earls
Ashley Ohman
Joleen Toner
Chris Cogan
Eddie Whelan
Ash Sechler
Carlos Casas
Ries Straver
John Crowe
Seth Nicholas Stephens

Artist’s Market:

Gypsies Tramps & Thieves
Old Cat Died
Cathy Dailey
Cameoko
Christy Wooke
Beca Designs
Bacon Neckwear
Laurel Hill

Sponsors:

Little Kings
Ciné
Nuçi’s Space
Flagpole
Ideas for Creative Exploration (ICE)

Pitchfork has debuted the new Apples in Stereo video, “Dance Floor,” starring Elijah Wood (natch).  Embeddable version please?  Oh well, here’s the link so you can view the good times.  Travellers in Space in Time hits stores April 20th.