Optical Atlas

Babelgum has posted a number of videos from XX Merge, including some delicious footage of The Ladybug Transistor.  View all the videos here.

Autographed of Montreal and Olivia Tremor Control merchandise is for sale in a charity auction from this eBay seller.  Thanks to James Brown for the link.

Brian Heater has written an insightful article at New York Press on Will Cullen Hart, his MS, the reasons for the breakup and reunion of Olivia Tremor Control, and the comeback of Signal Morning.  The title, “Inside Views,” is a wink-wink reference to the Circulatory System remix CD-R that came out in 2001.  Both Will and Bill Doss are interviewed for the piece:

New York Press: Circulatory System – Inside Views

NPR.com is making available the entirety of Signal Morning, streaming now on their website.  If you can’t wait two weeks to hear it on CD, head over there now and enjoy.  Robin Hilton has also written a rave review, and talks to Will Hart, who speaks about his struggles with multiple sclerosis, working with Charlie Johnston and Nesey Gallons, and why we might be hearing a brand new Olivia Tremor Control album in the future.  Head over to NPR to check it out.  Thanks to washermootootwitsoop for the link, but not for making me type that username.

Insound asked Mike Perry to concoct designs celebrating “20 years (1977-1997) of punk, new wave, and indie rock.”  The results, which include designs for The Olivia Tremor Control and The Apples in Stereo, are being made available on American Apparel shirts and signed and numbered posters.  Check it out here.  Matt Wishnow wrote an interesting piece about why he chose OTC for this series, which you can read here.  Thanks to James for the head’s up.

The very kind DoctorSchwindel at the E6 Townhall has made available for download a rare Olivia Tremor Control cassette which he recently purchased off eBay.  (According to the eBay description, this was a one-sided demo tape sent off to U.S. clubs in advance of an early-90’s tour.)  The tracks include:

1. “Athena” 2:34
2. “The One” 1:22
3. “Fireplace” 3:11
4. “Marking Time” 4:13
5. “Black Foliage” 2:59
Total time – 14:19

You can download the tracks in MP3 or FLAC through the links in this Townhall thread, presumably for a limited time.

The Elephant 6 Townhall has assembled an album of covers of E6 songs, from of Montreal through Major Organ and the Adding Machine, Elf Power, Neutral Milk Hotel, Olivia Tremor Control, and more.  You can download Elephant 6 Fanfare through this thread.  Thanks to lenn9o9n for assembling the project, and everyone who contributed.

As has been widely reported, Chris Knox of New Zealand’s The Tall Dwarfs last month suffered a stroke, which has left him facing a long recovery. Knox has old ties to friends Neutral Milk Hotel and The Olivia Tremor Control–the Tall Dwarfs joined OTC’s reunion tour years back, and Cloud Recordings reissued some of the band’s classic catalogue–and now it’s been announced on the Chris Knox blog that Jeff Mangum and Olivia Tremor Control are among the artists slated to appear on a Knox tribute album (along with…David Kilgour, Will Oldham, Guided By Voices, Yo La Tengo, Superchunk, and so many others). I have confirmed with Kelly Ruberto of Elephant6.com that at least Olivia Tremor Control has said “yes” to contributing material. This will be something to watch closely and with great interest… 

Thanks to Therum for the head’s up.

Lucas Jensen (of Venice is Sinking) has conducted an excellent interview with Will Cullen Hart at Aquarium Drunkard, discussing his MS, the new Circulatory System record, and the new recordings by Olivia Tremor Control, as well as some of the older, unreleased Elephant 6 material.   Thanks to Abel for the link.