Lo-Fi
Phil Elverum Announces The First Microphones Album in 17 Years, Microphones in 2020
Phil Elverum has reactivated The Microphones for the project’s first album in 17 years, Microphones in 2020. The effort — comprising a single, 40-minute-long song — is due out August 7th via the musician’s own P.W. Elverum & Sun. The Microphones’ last release was 2003’s Mount Eerie, a name which Elverum began performing under not long after. In a press release, Elverum said that regardless of the name, his work has always been about “exploring autobiographically in sound and words with occasional loose participation from friends.” Last year, he delivered a rare performance as The Microphones for “no big reason.” However, the attention and interest garnered by that show at the small “What the Heck?” event in Anacortes, Washington inspired him to “step back into ...
Built to Spill Reveal New Daniel Johnston Tribute Album: Stream
Daniel Johnston (photo by Amy Price) and Built to Spill (photo by David Brendan Hall) Built to Spill have released their new covers album dedicated to Daniel Johnston. Stream Built to Spill Plays the Songs of Daniel Johnston in full below via Bandcamp. Out via Ernest Jenning Record Co., their tribute to the lo-fi songwriting legend spans 11 tracks. All the recordings — which include takes on “Tell Me Now”, “Life in Vain”, and “Impossible Love” — were taken from rehearsal sessions Built to Spill held in 2017 while serving as the backing band on Johnston’s final tour. “It was pretty special for us,” Built to Spill frontman Doug Martsch told Rolling Stone. “Basically we wanted to get good documentation of what our rehearsals were like. It was a lot heavier than what I thought it would be.” Ac...
Posthumous Jason Molina Album Eight Gates Due Out This Summer
Secretly Canadian has announced Eight Gates, a new posthumous album from Jason Molina. Due for release on August 7th, it’s believed to the final collection of solo material the lo-fi songwriter recorded before his death in 2013. The upcoming effort was recorded in 2008 while Molina was residing in London. According to a statement, the musician said he penned the album’s nine songs as he recovered from a “debilitating” spider bite. “I was in the hospital here in London,” the Songs: Ohia mastermind noted in a letter. “Saw six doctors and a Dr. House-type guy. They are all mystified by it, but I am allowed to be at home, where I am taking a dozen scary Hantavirus type pills a day that are all to supposedly help — but they make me feel like shit.” The same letter also saw Molina claim tha...
Supreme Launches New Daniel Johnston Clothing Line
Premier streetwear company Supreme is launching a new clothing line dedicated to the late, great Daniel Johnston, who passed away last year. The Spring 2020 collection will feature Johnston’s own original and distinct artwork emblazoned on plaid shirts, sweatshirts, and t-shirts. The legendary lo-fi musician’s illustrations will also appear on outerwear pieces and beanies. This new line, seen below, will be available for purchase online beginning Thursday, May 14th. It marks the third time Supreme has released Johnston-focused clothes; as Complex points out, similar lines were launched back in 2012 and 2015. Editors’ Picks Supreme recently partnered with My Bloody Valentine for a new line of products. Other previous collaborations include Neil Young, Lou Reed, and David Lynch. Morris...
Reignwolf Fights “Cabin Fever” with New Song Recorded in His Garage: Stream
Jordan Cook of Reignwolf has been isolating like the rest of us, and like the rest of us he’s going a bit crazy. He’s channeled those emotions into the new quarantine banger “Cabin Fever”. Cook recorded the song in his garage using one mic and a a 4-track recorder. He pounded out that violent drum beat himself, while attacking the guitar riffs with nervous, almost jittery fingers. The lyrics are urgent and wild. “I go insane! Insane! Insane! Insane!/ Wait for tomorrow to be yesterday.” In a statement, he explained how the song came together with “tension” baked in. “The song came together quickly and I didn’t want to wait to record it so I used what was available. I dusted off the 4-track, set up a single mic in the garage and went to work. It felt like old times when I used to r...
Gum Country Serve Up New Song “Tennis (I Feel Ok)”: Stream
Next month brings the release of Somewhere, the debut album from new band Gum Country. Comprised of The Courtneys guitarist Courtney Garvin and multi-instrumentalist Connor Mayer, the indie rock duo is previewing the record today with a single called “Tennis (I Feel Ok)”. Contrary to that little parenthetical, Gum Country get rather thrilled when it comes to hitting the tennis courts. “Kinda goofy, but in all honesty my relationship with tennis is so meaningful to me on a spiritual level,” Garvin explained in a statement. “It’s my meditation practice. The game makes you present, you’re repeating movements, and finding a rhythm.” Garvin’s ode to the sport aptly has a rhythmic chillness to it, its chunky lo-fi chords chugging about steadily à la early Yuck. Though the band’s self-descri...
- 1
- 2
