Optical Atlas

Athens Soundies recently shot some video of James Husband performing “Window” and “While the Boys Went Down Under,” both from his recent album A Parallax I.  This is some great footage – enjoy:

The first James Husband music video has been released, and it’s for “Window,” from his new album A Parallax I naturally, and which I have been spinning quite too often.  Thanks to The Booty Patrol for the link – enjoy!

James Husband’s excellent debut album A Parallax I, a decade in the making, is released today on Polyvinyl Records. I highly recommend it to all fans of E6 or of Montreal.

Concurrently, Polyvinyl is reissuing on vinyl the early of Montreal records Coquelicot Asleep in the Poppies, Aldhils Arboretum, The Early Four Track Recordings, The Bird Who Continues to Eat the Rabbit’s Flower, and The Bedside Drama, and you can purchase all of them now at the label’s website.  This is the vinyl debut of The Early Four Track Recordings and The Bird Who Continues to Eat the Rabbit’s Flower.

James Husband’s debut album A Parallax I is shipping now, if you pre-ordered from Polyvinyl Records (I just got my copy in the mail on Saturday, and I’m listening to it as I’m writing this…).  And the Austinist has just posted a great interview with Jamey, conducted from his porch while he was locked out of his house.

The Austinist – Fun Fun Fun Fest Interview: James Husband

The lineup for this year’s Fun Fun Fun Fest has been announced, and within the large roster you’ll find of Montreal as well as James Husband.  Tickets are on sale now for the festival, which takes place November 7th and 8th at Waterloo Park in Austin, Texas.  Head over to their website for details.

In last night’s post about the new James Husband album A Parallax I, I neglected to mention that he has some tour dates lined up in support of the album.  Here they are, courtesy Polyvinyl Records:

10/23/09 New York, NY @ CMJ
11/02/09 Orlando, FL @ The Social w/Why?
11/03/09 Gainesville, FL @ Common Grounds w/Why?
11/04/09 Tallahassee, FL @ Club Down Under w/Why?
11/07/09 Austin, TX @ Fun Fun Fun Fest

James Huggins’ solo recording project James Husband has been known mainly to Elephant 6 and of Montreal obsessives who may have heard some tracks on his MySpace, or via CD-Rs passed around at shows.  Earlier this year Huggins dropped word that Polyvinyl was showing interest in releasing his music officially, and a short while later they created a space for him on the label’s website as one of their signed artists.  Now, at long last, comes the album announcement.

A Parallax I will be released October 27th, a 12-track sampling of James Husband’s decade-plus collection of recordings.  According to the press release, “the first third of the album was recorded on cassette, the next third on strictly analog and the last third in a straight digital format,” which implies a kind of chronology, or at least progression, represented in the track sequencing (below).  The influences run the gamut, from 60’s psych to the witty, playful pop he’s currently playing as a member of of Montreal–so don’t judge the album by its cover, which seems strictly early-80’s Lionel Richie. (God, my childhood spent in department stores waiting for my mother and sister to come out of the dressing room!)  Incidentally, those who find themselves newfound James Husband fans can (and should) also seek out Great Lakes, in particular their first, Zombies-esque album; Huggins sings vocals on the terrific “Virgil.”

Anyway, pre-order now to get a limited edition deluxe CD, which comes with a James Husband EP featuring 6 covers.  You can also get a double-gatefold LP with the album on 180-gram pink vinyl (with digital download code).  (Pitchfork mentions the of Montreal/James Husband split 7″ on the Happy Happy Birthday to Me Singles club as though it’s forthcoming, but it’s already been released, and the singles club is almost entirely sold out–perhaps, by the time I finish writing this sentence, completely sold out.)  Here’s the track listing with a sample MP3:

A Parallax I,
by James Husband
1 Little Thrills
2 A Grave in the Gravel
3 Greyscale
4 Elephant Alibi
5 Take the Train
6 No No Baby
7 While the Boys Went Down Under
8 Window
9 Waiting on Rayne
10 Driving Around
11 The Darkestness
12 The Great Grand Ghosts of Buena Vista GA

Polyvinyl is simultaneously repressing some classic of Montreal albums on 180-gram vinyl.  Coquelicot Asleep in the Poppies!  Aldhils Arboretum!  The Bird Who Continues to Eat the Rabbit’s Flower!  The Bedside Drama: A Petite Tragedy!  The Early Four Track Recordings!  Expect those to be released on October 27th as well, but if you want everything, you can pre-order the whole lot right now.

There’s bad news and great news coming out of Happy Happy Birthday to Me Records.

Their ongoing singles club was scheduled to feature Circulatory System and Sound Houses (aka The New Sound of Numbers) on a split 7″.  Unfortunately Sound Houses dropped out, and the Circulatory System material is already featured on the forthcoming full-length Signal Morning, so HHBTM’s Mike Turner has announced the single will be replaced by a 7″ featuring rare early tracks from Elephant 6 Recording Company projects The Sunshine Fix and Always Red Society.  Imagine, if you will, getting an early-90’s Olivia Tremor Control single, because that’s basically what this is: Bill Doss on one side, Will Cullen Hart on the other, both recording right before they joined forces.  In other singles club news, High Water Marks has replaced Tender Forever on a split with The Love Letter Band.  Also soon to be released are splits featuring of Montreal & James Husband, The Apples in Stereo & Patience Please, and All Girl Summer Fun Band & Cars Can Be Blue.  Subscribers can expect their singles to ship round late June.  If you’re a latecomer who wants to join the club, I’d recommend heading over to HHBTM’s website and sending a message to check availability.