Matador Records | News July 2001

Aereogramme —
New Album Forthcoming
OK, announcement time. We’re licensing a new record by a relatively new band who record for Chemikal Underground. But anyone who assumes this band has much in common with Arab Strap or Mogwai (other than, y’know, being Scottish and really great) is in for a big surprise.

After 2 self released 7"es and a real breakthrough with their early 2001 “Glam Cripple” EP (Chemikal Underground/ FUKD), Aereogramme, led by former Ganger guitarist Craig B, have made a quantum leap beyond the sum of their disparate influences.

Masters of discipline and finesse, their loud-to-quiet-to-loud transitions are a cool enough rollercoaster ride as is. But this Glasgow trio’s songs are unusually soulful and affecting in ways we don’t associate with “post-rock” (which is just as well seeing as there is no such thing as “post rock.” If there was, there wouldn’t be any more rock and we’d be selling pencils). “They consistently transform calm into mayhem and fury back into restraint without any surface glitches or overlap” said Steve Clark of The List, but we think he’s underselling things a bit. ‘A Story In White’ comes out October 9 and if it isn’t our favorite record right this second, that’s because some of us aren’t supposed to admit we have one. The Matador edition of the album will include the forthcoming UK single “Zionist Timing,” as well as 3 non-LP tracks from Chemikal Underground’s ‘White Paw’ EP. Aereogramme’s first US tour is in the works for later in 2001.

Techno Animal — First Ever US Dates
The duo of Kevin Martin and Justin Broadrick, aka Techno Animal, are getting ready for T.A.’s first ever US tour for early next month. Headlining these dates will be the Def Jux crew consisting of El-P, Aesop Rock, Cannibal Ox and Mr. Lif. Techno Animal will be hitting the following cities and venues:

August 8 - Frying Pan, NYC
Tickets on sale this weekend at Other Music and Fat Beats
Doors at 8:30p / $10 / 21+
August 9 - St. Andrews Hall, Detroit
August 10 - Subterranean, Chicago
August 13 - Knitting Factory, Los Angeles
August 15 - Mom’s Cookie Factory, Oakland, CA

It is probable that Techno Animal will be joined onstage by some of the MC’s who appear on the forthcoming ’The Brotherhood Of The Bomb’ double LP/CD, but that will vary from town to town. Techno Animal just made a pair of London appearances this past week, a headline date with Newark collaborators dalek, and last night, a show in support of the Mike Patton/Buzz Osbourne/Dave Lombardo supergroup Fantomas.

A promo only 12" of “We Can Build You” (featuring El-P and Vast Aire of Cannibal Ox) will be serviced to our favorite tastemakers next month; the b-side is a remix of the same track, as provided by Mr. Oizo.

Thalia Zedek —
Live solo video clip, upcoming east coast dates
Following her London solo debut last month, we’ve got a quicktime video of Thalia Zedek performing “Everybody Knows” from the forthcoming ‘Been Here & Gone’ CD. She also has 3 shows coming up that you’ll want to carve in your memory, Sunday July 29 at Tonic in NYC with The Bee & Flower and U.C.E., and Aug 31 + Sept 1 in Boston at The Market Theater.

Preston School of Industry —
New Date Added, New EP Out Now
Preston School of Industry will be opening for Spoon on July 25 at the Great American Music Hall in San Francisco. Their new CD EP ‘Goodbye to the Edge City’ on Amazing Grease is out now. Scott Kannberg was recently photographed and praised to the heaven heavens in publications like Uncut, NME and too many others following a brief PSOI tour of the UK; new North American dates will be announced soon.

The Funky Precedent Vol. II — Launch Party and More
Many of the performers featured on The Funky Precendent Vol. II will be appearing at a launch party in San Francisco this coming August 11. The show is taking place at Slim’s and the lineup that night includes:

Zion I
Azeem
DJ Quest (of Live Human)
Encore
Foreign Legion
Pep Love
Various Blends
Kemetic Suns
Sahnuntayshun Dhupartment Muzik
Stymie and the PJLO

An MP3 of Zion I’s "We Got It" is now available for download from this site, and we’ve also got a video for that track as well.

Arsonists —
‘Date Of Birth’ on the way, along with a new single
Q-Unique, Jise One and Swell Boogie aka the ARSONISTS have just completed a grueling nationwide tour in support of the Beatnuts, previewing material from the September 2001 CD/double LP ‘Date Of Birth.’ You can hear an MP3 of the album’s current single “We Be About” starting July 24. A new 12" of “What You Want” b/w “Millionaire” will be hitting radio stations sometime next month.

Solex — New URL
As preparations for the new, life-affirming ‘Low Kick & Hard Bop’ CD continue, you’ll be happy to know that the official Solex website can now be found at http://www.solex.net.

Stephen Malkmus —
Live shows and glossy action as well
Following some European festival activity at the end of the summer, SM + Jicks will be returning to the highways of the USA as they continue to spread their own particular brand of high-energy, calculated “weirdness.”

No, sorry, that’s Weezer. Stephen and band will merely continue to perform carefully written, immaculately played songs for young and old adults with good taste (or just those that taste good). Stephen will be seen in many publications this autumn as part of a forthcoming Marc Jacobs advertising campaign.

JSBX — On stage and in the studio
The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion are continuing work in a New York studio with producer Steve Jordan on their next album. They’ll be taking a brief respite from recording and overseas gigging when they play Maxwell’s tomorrow, as well as headlining the Siren Festival at Brooklyn’s Coney Island, playing along with Guided By Voices, Superchunk, Quasi and others. In an unrelated note, the Brooklyn Cyclones will be taking on the Staten Island Yankees in what pundits have called "the submarine series," July 25 at Keystone Park. Tickets are sold out, so you might want to go to the Siren Festival instead.

Matmos —
Humbling the rest of us with their frenzied schedule
“We just flew back to the West Coast to shoot new video footage inside a surgical clinic. Drew’s sinuses and ear canal were anesthetized and then an endoscope was inserted very, very far into his orifices; the results will be imposed upon Bjork/Matmos fans worldwide once the joint tour kicks off in August. We have convinced Jay Lesser to relocate to our NYC crib and join our rampage, so expect showier signal processing and onstage injuries. Recordings of note: The new Slicker album ‘The Latest’ (Hefty) boasts of a track touched by the hands of Matmos; the humidity of our collaborative show with People Like Us was the talk of the SONAR Festival, and there’s a 12" of more PLU/Matmos jiggery pokery coming soon; and finally, Drew has released a 12" of fucked up house music under the name ‘The Soft Pink Truth’ (on Matthew Herbert’s Soundslike Records) which is out now and causing a ruckus, but we’re not going to break up over that sort of thing.”

Drew was too humble to mention that it is his birthday on July 20. Also, Matmos will be appearing with Bjork on the BBC’s Top Of The Pops television show at the end of July. This used to be one of the most prestigious, you-have-arrived moments in pop, but then the Strokes got booked, so never mind.

TV Party —
Tonight. We’ll pass out on the couch (tonight).
Don’t talk about anything else, we don’t wanna know!
The music of Couch was heard in a recent episode of “American High.” If you missed it, don’t cry, they rerun these things all the time. Sad Rockets can be heard in a new commercial for the Children’s Defence Fund. Pell Mell’s “Interloper” (from the album ‘Star City’) was featured on the July 7 episode of “Sex In The City” (and anyone who thought that girl was better in “Melrose Place,” by all means write to us and tell us all about it). And Cat Power’s “Naked If I Want To Be” will be heard in the upcoming independent motion picture “Jackpot.” OK, we cheated, that’s not TV.

Guy Wins Contest, Writes Us Sappy Letter
Got the pedal on Friday afternoon and tried it with my little rock band on Friday night. It sounds hella sweet. I thought I got a nice sound out of my MXR distortion, but the Big muff makes it eat its dust. It will be much used and much useful. Thanks y’all. Send my grateful regards to the boys of Mogwai.

And sure, go ahead and post my entry on the site. I get a kick out of making people jealous whenever I can.

Take her easy
Mathieu

P.S. The 10-inch vinyl and stickers were a very nice surprise. Now Matador gots itself an even warmer spot in my heart...

See, people really do win Matador contests. This was much better than the time we gave away Mark Eitzel’s apartment.

Quickspace — They’re still alive, really!
“Rumours emanating from the Quickspace camp are that they have been doing nothing more than sitting around on their fat arses since getting an advance from Matador to record the follow up to last years ‘Death of...’ but the truth is the band have been very hard at work - Tom’s been hard at work building a studio, Tim’s been hard at work rigging lights and smashing up things, Nina’s been hard at work looking after her dog, Shilt has been hard at work working, the Chin has become a club impresario in his spare time with the launch of a monthly club in North London called the Glass Shrimp and sean has been working at getting some press and radio interest in the new Broken Dog and Dougal Reed releases out on Kitty Kitty Corp — maybe the wrong type of work but the band will start recording the new album on 21st July and will keep you very updated on our progress. There is a strong chance we will be playing some dates in Italy this coming September. There are offers to do a Festival near Torino and 4 or 5 shows in Sicily with our good friends the Yuppie Flu. Should have more details of this really soon and will forward them immediately. Thank you for your patience and support. We will deliver.”

The Soft Boys — Robyn writes . . .
Aug 31 and Sept 1 in Boston at Market Theater
(a new arts theater)
“Michael Portillo has snuck around to the left of Tony Blair on the dope platform in a bid to become Britain’s next Labour Prime Minister. We at the Soft Boys say Just Say No... My next solo album is a novel entitled ‘The Unbaby,’ almost completed and due next year. I also have short story in an anthology edited by Greg Kihn, out this autumn. I also have a track on the forthcoming McCartney tribute record, due this summer. The other 3 Soft Boys also appear on this. The Soft Boys are rehearsing for the forthcoming ‘Unprotected Love’ album. All dates and titles are provisional. The Soft Boys will play a village hall in West Dorset around the Equinox (mid-September) and will open for the Pretty Things at the Festival Hall October the 19th. Come to think of it, we’re also playing unbilled at the Clerkenwell Free Festival - outside the Three Kings - on July 20th at 7pm. These last two dates are confirmed... Oh, yeah - I’m playing 3 dates - August 3-5th - at the Assembly rooms in Edinburgh at the beginning of this years Festival. Onstage 10 pm. That’s all for now, my glittering love triangles — Robyn Hitchcock”

Lyle Hysen, Matador Records
Summer 2001:
Lucinda Williams - "Essence"
Calexico - "Aerocalexico"
William Parker & Hamid Drake - "Piercing The Veil"
Flickerstick - VHI - Bands On The Run WINNER
Freeks and Geeks repeats on the Family Channel

Dave Martin, Matador Records
I’m bringing back the 7" single!!!!!!!!!
1. The Gospel Swingers "Mississippi/Los Muertos"
2. Don Howland/ Monsieur Jeffrey Evans "Cowgirl Blues/Sweatshop Blues"
3. Reigning Sound "Two Sides To Every Man"
4. Dan Melchior’s Broke Revue "Bad For My Soul/Art Machine"
5. The Buff Medways "Don’t Hold Me Back/Demolition Girl"

Long players:
1. Blue Oyster Cult "Secret Treaties" I don’t know how, but this was the first BOC studio album that I ever bought (After "Some Enchanted Evening") and is still one of my all time favorite rock records. The Bonus tracks on the CD are GREAT. Esp. "Boorman The Chauffer"
2. Blue Oyster Cult - I can’t figure out what is going on w/ the bonus tracks (Soft White Underbelly? Huh?!?! I mean, sure Hit Parader always said that before BOC they were SWU, and I never heard about Stalk-Forest until years later, but it doesn’t seem to make sense as the dates jive when compared with the Stalk-Forest Group CD. Still totally jamming though.
3. Blue Oyster Cult "Tyranny And Mutation" If you ask me this "American Black Sabbath" thing is a load of crap. One song based on "The Wizard" doesn’t cut it. It’s more like taking the West Coast Speed Freak vibe of Mad River and making it tougher.
4. Blue Oyster Cult "Agents Of Fortune" The first non-all killer no filler BOC album, but it sounds so much better than I remember. The Demo version of "(Don’t Fear) The Reaper" is worth the price alone.

Live Music:
Bellini (Damon Che from Don Caballero & Augustino and Giovanna from Uzeda w/Matt Talor (some dude)) Great! w/Golden.

Robyn Hitchcock
Top ten bad elections
1 US 2000
2 UK 1979
3 US 1980
4 US 1968
5 UK 1983
6 UK I987
7 UK 1992
8 US 1984
9 US 1988
10 Germany 1933 (should probably be number One)

Patrick Amory’s Listening Pile:
1. Jan Johansson — Jazz pa skiva ( Megafon LP)
2. Bach — Cantatas BWV 49 and 98, Helmut Rilling Bach-Ensemble (Laudate LP)
3. Bach — Cantatas BWV 144 and 67, Helmut Rilling Bach-Ensemble (Laudate LP)
4. Bach Cantatas BWV 99 and 8, Helmut Rilling Bach-Ensemble (Laudate LP)
5. San Ul Lim (SRB LP)
6. San Ul Lim 2 (SRB LP)
7. San Ul Lim 3 (SRB LP)
8. Amory Kane — Just To Be There (CBS LP)
9. AC/DC — Powerage (Atlantic LP)
10. Bob Seger & The Last Heard — 3 45s on Cameo Parkway: East Side Story, Vagrant Winter and Heavy Music

Jesper Eklow, Matador Records
listen
* El Ritual - El Ritual LP (Denver reissue - Mexico)
* Canned Heat - The Boogie House Tapes 2xCD
(Ruf - Germany)
* Iancu Dumitrescu - Memorial/Alternances CD
(Edition Modern - France)
* The Bluestars - The Bluestars LP
(Dig The Fuzz reissue - UK)
* Blind Blake - Bootleg Rum Dum Blues 1926-30 LP (Biograph - US)
* Kool Keith - Spankmaster CD (Overcore - US)
* Luc Ferrari - Electronic Works CD (BV Haast - Holland)
* Simon Finn - Pass The Distance CD (Bootleg reissue - US)
* v/a - Round The Town - Following Grandfather’s Footsteps: A Night at the London Music Halls 4xCD (Bear Family - Germany)

read
* Tony Horwitz - Confederates in the Attic: Dispatches from the Unfinished Civil War
* James Allen - Without Sanctuary: Lynching Photography in America
* Don Herron — Willeford

Gerard Cosloy, Matador Records
Sparklehorse - It’s A Wonderful Life (Parlophone)
Susumu Yokota — Grinning Cat (Leaf)
Sensational — Get On My Page (Ipecac)
Kathy McGinty — Kathy McGinty (Hamburger)
The Shins — Oh, Inverted World (Sub Pop)
Kinski — Be Gentle With The Warm Turtle (Pacifico)
Toshimaru Nakamura/Sachiko M — Do (Erstwhile)
Herbert — Bodily Functions (Soundslike/K7)
Preston School Of Industry - Goodbye To The Edge City (Amazing Grease)