September 7, 2001

Blowing Our Own Horns
Check out our swinging new video section. We’ve got 8, count ’em 7 (or 8) JSBX videos for your viewing pleasure, as well as highlights from the Yo La Tengo video ouvre, new videos from Aereogramme, Solex, and some up close & personal words of wisdom from the Arsonists, gabbing about their new album ‘Date Of Birth.’

Preston School Of Industry —
The Return of Scott Kannberg
Pavement founder Spiral Stairs has had his smiling face plastered all over UK publications like The Guardian, NME, Mojo, Uncut and too many others as of late, as his new project, Preston School Of Industry are receiving richly deserved thumbs (and other appendages) up from pundits and persons alike. You can hear “Whalebones” and “Falling Away” from ‘All This Sounds Gas’ in our newly updated MP3 section. Following an instore performance at Berkeley, CA’s Mod Lang this Sunday, PSOI will prepare for a late Autumn US tour.

Mr. Len — Pity the Fool
Mr. Len is currently working on commissioning a video for a track from ‘Pity The Fool....’ It will definitely NOT be the initial proposal that was based around getting busted having a party in his parents’ house. I think we’ll leave that one to Kid ’n’ Play. Watch the Matador site for copius free MP3’s from ‘Pity The Fool’ in the upcoming weeks, including luminary MC’s like Chubb Rock, Jean Grae, Massinfluence, Mr. Live and Kice of Course. Other MC’s on the album will include D-stroy, Q-Unique, Steady Roc, Lord Sear, Murs and Amplifire. ‘Pity The Fool: Experiments in Therapy Behind the Mask of Music While Handing Out Dummy Smacks.’ In stores October 23.

Arsonists
‘Date Of Birth,’ one of 2001’s most eagerly awaited new albums will be released this Tuesday, coinciding with an instore performance and signing session at Fat Beats the same day. A new 12" of “What You Want” is shipping to DJs as we speak/write/talk. The group will be hitting the road in mid-October, co-headlining northeastern dates with DJ Swamp, DMC champion circa 1996. Following that jaunt, the Arsonists will be back on the road with DJ Logic and Ninja Tune recording artist Kid Koala, whom some of you might’ve seen supporting Radiohead earlier in the year. If you’re gonna be in NYC during the CMJ Music Marathon, don’t miss the Arsonists at BB Kings (237 W. 42nd Street between 7th and 8th Avenues), appearing with the Smut Peddlers, DJ Swamp, Mixmaster Mike, X-ecutioners, DJ Swamp, Rock Steady Crew, Afu Ra and Pep Love. There will be 700 tickets available for those without CMJ credentials.

“What You Want” and “We Be About” from ‘Date Of Birth’ are now available for free download from our MP3 section.

Mogwai — Unjudicious Use of the Word “Extreme”
The following was sent to us from Pias Recordings. The single in question will be out in the US via Matador on October 23 on CD:

“Mogwai are set to release their most extreme record to date and announce a UK tour for November.

Mogwai have just completed recording a version of “My Father, My King” — a traditional Jewish hymn — with Steve Albini. “My Father, My King” is the most extreme recording Mogwai have ever committed to record. Running in at over 20 minutes, the track will be released as one track single on October 22nd in the UK through PIAS Recordings.

Mogwai originally recorded the song over a year ago for inclusion on Arthur Baker’s as yet unreleased LP. It has since become a live favourite and was their set-closer at last weekend’s Carling Weekend Festival. Albini has managed to capture Mogwai at their most intense for the new recording: two parts beautiful serenity and one part death metal. Due to the single’s length it will be ineligible for inclusion in the single charts.

Mogwai are also pleased to announce a UK tour for November. Dates run as follows:

November
 2 - Bristol University
 3 - Wolverhampton, Wulfrun Hall
 4 - Leeds, Met University
 6 - Belfast, Queens (Belfast Festival)
 7 - Dublin, Olympia
 8 - Glasgow, Barrowland
 9 - Liverpool, L2
10 - London, Brixton Academy

Advance tickets are £12.50 everywhere except Belfast & Brixton (£14) and Dublin (£14.50).

Mogwai will also have two LPs released in the UK on October 1st through Chemikal Underground. The first is ‘Kicking A Dead Pig,’ which originally appeared on the Eye-Q label (Jetset in the U.S.); it includes remixes of Mogwai tracks by the likes of Alec Empire and Arab Strap and also a bonus CD of mixes from u-ziq and Kevin Shields. The second LP collects the three EPs — ‘4 Satin,’ ‘Fuck The Curfew’ and ‘EP’ — which were released on Chemikal Underground. Entitled ‘EP +6’ the CD comes complete with a CD-ROM section which includes the video for “Stanley Kubrick” and a Mogwai screensaver.

For more information go to http://www.mogwai.co.uk

We’d like to note that the “My Father, My King” single will also be ineligible from the U.S. singles chart. Not due to running time or anything, just because we think there’s too much competition in the world already. The UK reissue of ‘Kicking A Dead Pig’ and ‘EP + 6’ will not be coming out on Matador in North America; the former is still available via Jetset, and the latter includes tracks from ‘EP + 2’ which is currently available from Matador.

Yo La Tengo — Doing the Sideperson Thing Again
Yo La Tengo will be backing Neil Innes (The Rutles, Bonzo Dog Band) for a few shows in NY, NJ, and Boston: Maxwell’s on Oct 6, Cambridge House of Blues on Oct 7, and Village Underground on Oct 9 or 10. He’ll be doing Rutles & Bonzo songs as well as solo stuff old & new. These shows will mark Neil’s first US appearances in more years than we can count, so this should be very exciting. Followers of recent history will note that Innes was a featured player on Yo La Tengo’s spring 2000 tour of the UK that also included Sonic Boom and Robyn Hitchcock as part of the cast.

James McNew writes:

“YLT went to Taipei the last week in July. We played at a 3-day festival of all Asian groups, but with one American group each night. 1st night: Biohazard; 2nd night, YLT; 3rd night: Megadeth. Look it up. It was murderously hot 24 hours a day; the food was often good and occasionally extremely weird, and absolutely disgusting at least once (stinky tofu, anybody?); we were nearly killed by many taxis and/or scooters; and, I saw “South Park” dubbed into Mandarin (pretty funny show that way). Never got to hang with the other Americans — oh well, next time we play with them, for sure.”

Cat Power — If You See Someone on a Billboard Who Looks Like Chan, That’s Cause It Is Her
Chan Marshall, fresh from a multi-page fashiony spread in New York Magazine, will be featured in an upcoming campaign for the Gap, following in the footsteps of such cultural icons as LL Cool J and uh, David Arquette (note to research dept. was Rollins ever in one of these? We’d better make sure, no sense in getting on his bad side). Since there’s more to Chan than just having her photo taken, she recently recorded sessions for the BBC’s John Peel and XFM’s John Kennedy, played a bunch of UK festival dates, and continued work on her long-awaited new album.

Bardo Pond — Not Exactly About Them This Time
Our good friends at Three Lobed Recordings (home of the official Bardo Pond website) are working on an 8 disc cd EP subscription series entitled ‘Purposeful Availment,’ with contributions expected from Bardo Pond, Mick Turner, Shannon Wright, Tim Midgett, Idyll Swords and more. You can get the full scoop at Three Lobed.

Khan — One Great Showman Risks Being Blown Off the Stage by Another
Khan and Kid Congo Powers will be supporting Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds at the following events:

September
18 - Los Angeles, CA - Wiltern Theater
21 - San Francisco, CA - Warfield Theater
23 - Portland, OR - Crystal Room
24 - Seattle, WA - Opera House

October
5 - New York, NY - Beacon Theater

D-Stroy — New Single Out Now, CMJ Event With His Special Presence
D-Stroy’s 2nd solo single “The Matador” (not, btw, about a certain label) is out now on 12", though it will be available on CD at some point in the future (when we know when, we’ll say so). Much like his smash “Roll Out” debut, the single is a dizzying display of D-stroy’s lyrical skills — to call him one of the most original MC’s on planet earth is barely summing it up at this point.

Sunday, September 16, 2001
CMJ & Subversive Skool Present:
Loop Troop, Masterminds, Jig Masters,
Shapeshifters (AWOL & Circus),
Asheru, and Source of Labor
Hosted by: D-Stroy and DJ Kool Akiem (Mirconots)
SOB’s
Varick St
$12 Advance
$15 at Door
8:00 PM

Aereogramme — The Spiel From Their End
You can check out the “Zionist Timing” video in our video section and look out for Aereogramme on tour with Arab Strap this autumn. The following is the Aereogramme newsletter, as supplied to us by Craig B:

“Hello again. Hope you are all doing well. This is just a small note to let people know that Aereogramme’s new EP was recently released and should be available right now in your local (UK) record shops. The ‘White Paw E.P.’ contains 1. Zionist Timing 2. Motion 3. Messenger 4. The Art of Belief. It can also be bought at the Chemikal online shop.

“Zionist Timing” is the only song that will appear on the forthcoming ‘Story in White’ album on September 21st (editorial note: That’s the UK release date, take it easy. The US release date is October 9 and will include all the tracks from the ‘White Paw E.P.’).

John Peel has already played two songs off the album and we are trying to annoy the evening session into playing some stuff as well since the Scottish evening session led the way so long ago! Feel free to bother these people as well.

Any geeks looking for the "hard to find" first single? Well get yer arses along to http://www.opalmusic.com as they have the aereogramme debut single “Translations” on sale for £2.99. There were only 500 printed and they seem to think “Hatred” was the first single so they are charging £7.99 for that one. Get in there before they change the prices round. One warning though: “Translations” is not heavy in the slightest. It was before we had a decent budget so it’s all quiet and miserable. We are still proud of it though!

Gigs: There is a tour in the works for September / October but we will let you know when its is confirmed. The dates confirmed so far are:

September
5 - Acoustic gig with Life without Buildings, 13th Note Cafe, Glasgow
6 - Twa Tams in Perth with Degrassi
9 - Benefit gig with Bangtwister and many more excellent Glasgow bands (in other words, I can’t remember who they are), 13th Note Cafe, Glasgow
13 - London Monarch (Barfly) - XFM gig
28 - Glasgow King Tuts Wah Wah Hut - Album Launch!!!!

Hope you are all well and that some of you can make it to these gigs. Say hello if you come along. If you want to be removed from this list please reply with “dkjsfosdfowufpfweeffsddiufsjfPJFBFBnj” in the subject line. If it’s not exact you will not be removed. Hey, its only fair. Thank you for your time. Aereogramme.”

(If you want to be added to Aereogramme’s mailing list, send us your personal details and we’ll pass them along. The more personal the better).

Mary Timony —
New Recordings and a Gig You Can’t Buy Tickets to
Mary is scheduled to begin recording her new album in early November, assisted by Mark Linkous of Sparklehorse at his Virginia studio. Whether or not this is a Helium album or Mary’s 2nd solo album has yet to be determined (by her) but when we know, we’ll tell you. Mary will also be playing at NYC’s Bowery Ballroom on 11 October, along with Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks in what we’re told is an event being presented by Jane Magazine. This seems like a good time to mention that one of the label’s founders recently tried to peddle his entire collection of Sassy back issues on eBay, only to be sent a rubber check. Letters of sympathy can be sent c/o Matador. One sensible person at the label suggested that maybe we shouldn’t mention this gig as it is probably not open to the public, but lots of things aren’t open to the public. Ivy league Universities. Florida polling stations. If you have a problem with it, perhaps you should hop in a time machine and come back to earth as Jane Pratt. Or Todd Pratt.

Solex — Videofied
Elisabeth writes:

“Everyone who’s more into visuals than into sound, can watch two new Solex videos on the Matador site.

For the video ‘Comely Row’ (directed by Birgit Rathsmann), it looks like I’m swimming in the biggest sewer on earth, the East river. Fortunately, Birgit can animate very well, so I was able to keep my clothes dry. I had to pretend I was a mermaid who fell in love with a big Polish Sailor guy. From that shoot on, I decided Birgit is a freak!!

For the video ‘That’s What You Get with People Like That On Cruises Like These’ (directed by Gloria Pedemonte, who is not a great animator), I had to throw myself into the cold waters of the Amsterdam IJ. Not too bad, considering Gloria first wanted to film me naked with blood on my back... illustrating “wounds from wings cut” (Gloria = French). So, from that shoot on, I decided Gloria is an even bigger freak.

But, I wish to thank the ladies ’cause they filmed & put a lot of energy in it, just for the fun of it.

Talking about shoots... there’s also an MP3 to cheer up the day for you: ‘Shoot Shoot.’ If you’re wondering what the lyrics are about:

- new crop
- run & hide
- very sexy

MP3 at solex.net & Matador

Arab Strap
We should have some U.S. dates to announce very shortly; following a soldout visit earlier in 2001, Arab Strap will be making their 2nd stateside tour of the year starting in late October, supported by Matador/Chemikal Underground labelmates Aereogramme.

Belle and Sebastian —
Tour News Updated / New Single
Matador will be releasing the new Belle & Sebastian single, “The Season Has Arrived” on November 13, followed shorty afterwards by the soundtrack CD to the forthcoming Todd Solodz film ‘Storytelling.’

Jonathan Richman, a national treasure no matter what nation you’re from, will be opening each show on Belle & Sebastian’s current West Coast tour.

We love to reward you almost as much as we love to disappoint you. Thanks to everyone who participated in the Belle & Sebastian contest where we gave away a pair of tickets in each market to those who wrote us a song. It was kind of like “Star Search” except a) it won’t launch your career and b) Ed McMahon won’t drool on you.

Please note that the September 13 show in Vancouver has changed venues to to the Orpheum Theater, 865 Seymour Street (604) 665-3035.

Tickets are on sale at the following outlets:
Online & in person at Zulu Records
1972 West 4th Ave Vancouver BC (604) 738-3232

Or in person at the following:
Scratch Records (604) 687-6355
Black Swan Records (604) 734-2828
Highlife Records (604) 251-6964
Noize ! Records (604) 681-7007
and Ditch Records in Victoria, BC (250) 386-5874

The venue for the September 14 Seattle show has also been changed to the Paramount Theatre, 901 Pine St. (206) 467-5510. You’ll note that these gigs have been moved to larger rooms to accommodate the huge demand for tickets. Kind of like the opposite of what happens on a Stone Temple Pilots tour.

Techno Animal
The 2XLP/1XCD ‘The Brotherhood Of The Bomb’ is out on September 25, and believe us when we say this album is one of the most uncompromising, powerful works we’ve been associated with in our long history. Yes, even more so than the deleted Klaus Kinski spoken word album. Kevin Martin (ex-God, Ice) and Justin Broadrick (Godflesh, Ice) have teamed with up with some of the most dangerous voices and minds in hip-hop including El-P (Company Flow), Vast Aire (Cannibal Ox), Sonic Sum, dalek, Toastie Taylor (New Flesh) and Rubberroom. The results are vicious, disorienting and like nothing else we’ve ever heard. This isn’t exactly hip-hop, it isn’t exactly rock’n’roll, metal or dub... but it incorporates elements of each in ways previously unimagined.

You can hear MP3s of “We Can Build You” (featuring El-P and Vast Aire) and “Sub Species” on this site, and you’ll be able (on Friday afternoon) to view a video interview with Kevin and Justin conducted during their recent US visit a few weeks back. We would like to apologize for any confusion resulting from the contents of this interview — it seems as though our interviewer’s notes somehow got mixed up with those of CBS journalistic demon Connie Chung. As a result, T.A. are grilled for long stretches about the wherebouts of Chandra Levy, whether or not they impeded a federal investigation and other seemingly unrelated questions. If they look flustered on camera, it isn’t because they are guilty, it was just hot that day.

On the bright side, Ms. Chung’s chit chat with U.S. Rep. Gary Condit was fascinating. The congressman didn’t seem to know what to make of hard-hitting quieries such as “what was it like working with Divine Styler?” and we can only conclude that he has something to hide.

Techno Animal have European dates planned for this autumn, and we are hopeful they will be returning to the USA shortly.

The Bionaut / Moderninst / J. Burger
J. Burger’s latest project is a new label-cooperation with his old mates from Kompakt, called ‘Leichtes Horen.’ The first release is the compilation ‘Leichtes Horen Teil 1’ including 15 Songs (11 of them unreleased) by:

Autobianchi
The Bad Examples
Contriva
General Acoustic
Geometric Farms
Hausmeister
Khan
Modernista ’90
The Novotones
Phong Sui
Trinkwasser
Triola
Turqoise

‘Leichtes Horen’ is “contemporary easy listening music without retro-attitude” and will be available on Kompact, October 22 via the CD and double 12" formats.

The Wisdom Of Harry —
An Update From the World of Pete Astor
“Lots of recording going on the world of Pete Astor at the moment... currently working on the new Wisdom Of Harry album. At the moment it’s all looking and sounding very word-based and primal, whatever that means... As well as this, together with David Sheppard, we’re putting together a selection of Ellis Island Sound material for the Heavenly label. It will contain a selection of things only previously released on vinyl or remix work they have done on people from Two Lone Swordsmen to the Manic Street Preachers.”

Mark Eitzel — The greatest songwriter Living or Dead Announces a CMJ Appearance
He sounds better alive, and if you don’t trust me, hop in the time machine and fast forward 50 years (possibly less if Mark doesn’t get several servings of fruit and vegetables every day) and find out for yourself. Mark will be playing the Village Underground on September 13.

Lesser - High IQ = Frequent Flyer Miles
The man who put the “mmmmm” in IDM has an excellent new CD on the Tigerbeat6 label, ‘Mensa Dance Squad.’ Lesser can also be seen as the third wheel in Matmos’ upcoming dates supporting Bjork — don’t be surprised if this global jaunt affords the opportunity for Lesser gigs during days the rest of the entourage is having their hair done, blood changed, etc.

Graeme Downes —
“Master Control” MP3 Available Now
Yes indeed, “Master Control” from Graeme Downes’ debut solo album ‘Hammers & Anvils’ is downloadable at this very second. That a record of such startling wit and complexity isn’t all over the radio (or at the very least, college radio) is a depressing indictment of the- state- of- things, but hey, if you’d like to pretend the competition isn’t totally weak and one-dimensional compared to this, that’s your funeral. Graeme D. tore the musical/lyrical rulebook in half back when some of you were grooving to the “Footloose” soundtrack (don’t lie). Maybe you’ve learned something since then. Maybe not. Either way, Downes isn’t nearly finished cementing his world class rep as an absolute TITAN of forward-thinking rock’n’roll... Enough about “the band of the moment,” whoever they might be -- the moment is fleeting. Graeme Downes plays and writes music for all time. And that’s no consolation prize; that’s a fucking victory.

The Soft Boys —
New Recordings (Did We Mention This Already?)
Robyn Hitchcock writes:

“The Soft Boys are recording again soon; the room is filling up with flies, which is suspicious as there’s nothing dead in here. There’s that point when they buzz together and it sounds like vari-sped double- tracking. Maybe once upon a time, George Martin was in the studio with John Lennon and some flies came by... The group is sounding great! Titles include ‘The Disconnection Of The Ruling Class’, ‘Sudden Town’, ‘Nemesis Beach’ and ‘I’m So Glad You Love Me.’ I personally am a long or short way advanced on:

- a novel
- a short story for Greg Kihn’s book of rock musician authors
- a double CD of mostly live Bob Dylan covers and
- a new solo album.

There is also a version of Paul McCartney’s ‘Let Me Roll It’ that I recorded with the other Soft Boys in January, that has just been released on a McCartney tribute record. The proceeds from this go to a breast cancer charity; details available at http://www.tributellc.com”

Finally, from Mr. Doug Nyce
The Funky Precedent Record Release party was a huge success! About 650 people packed the club Slim’s in San Francisco hosted by MC Kirby Dominant of Kemetic Suns and DJ Qwest of Live Human on the 1 and 2’s. 10 groups off the compilation perform and killed it! Stand out performances were Zion I, Pep Luv, Stymie and the Pimp Jones Love Orchestra, Azeem, and Foreign Legion. Portions of the admission fee at the door was donated to Mission High School in San Francisco.

Listening habits of the loosely aligned:

Pete Astor - The Wisdom Of Harry
Cluster - Zukerzeit
Missisippi John Hurt - 1928 sessions
Blind Willie Johnson - Praise God I’m Satisfied
Gil Evans - Out Of the Cool
Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin
Bob Dylan - World Gone Wrong
Oliver Nelson - The Blues And The Abstract Truth
Blind Lemon Jefferson - Best Of 1950’s Gospel Classics: Prof Johnson, Henry Green, Rev. A Johnson, Deacon
Leroy Shinault and Rev. Robert Ballinger
The Music Of Kentucky Vol 1 - Early American Rural Classics 1927-37
Charles Mingus - Mingus Ah Um
Michael Nesmith - And The Hits Just Keep On Comin’
Grateful Dead - Europe 72
The Chronological Thelonius Monk - 1947-1948
Sun Ra - Fate In Pleasant Mood / When Sun Comes Out
Shirley Collins & Davy Graham - Folk Roots, New Routes

Patrick Amory, Matador Records
1. Anonymous - Inside The Shadow (Aether CD)
2. Various Artists - Saturday Night Fish Fry: New Orleans Funk & Soul (Soul Jazz CD)
3. Dave Edmunds & Love Sculpture - The Classic Tracks 1968/1972 (EMI One Up LP)
4. Idle Race - Idle Race (Liberty UK LP)
5. The Holy Mackerel - The Holy Mackerel LP (Reprise LP)
6. Hummel -- Piano Concertos - Stephen Hough/English Chamber Orchestra/Bryden Thomson (Chandos CD)
7. Lyres - On Fyre (Matador CD)
8. The David - Another Day Another Lifetime (Vance LP)
9. Eric Dolphy - Out To Lunch (Blue Note LP)
10. Tom Yates - Love Comes Well Armed (President LP)

Ben Goldberg, Matador Records
Broken Social Scene - Feel Good Lost (Noise Factory). Nice, spiralling instrumentals with skillful playing and a generally placid tone. Reminds me of The Marilyn Decade, but who the hell remembers them?

Kool Keith - Matthew (Threshold). Wow, there’s sure a lot of people he doesn’t like.

Donald McPherson - Bramble (Metonymic). Guitar improv recordings from yet another talented New Zealander.

Sophisticuffs - Factory (sophisticuffs@hotmail.com). This part rock, part electronic CD compiles the wildly inventive musical work of my former intern, Ezra. He’s only seventeen, but he knows one of Stinky Puffs and hates Old Skull, so he’s got something of a one-up.

Trembling Blue Stars - Alive To Every Smile (Sub Pop). Out ’Violator’s ’Disintegration’ or maybe vice versa.

V/A - Saturday Night Fish Fry (Soul Jazz). Great New Orleans funk comp.

Donovan’s Top 7, Matador Records
Reigning Sound - "Break Up Break Down"
The Shins - "Oh Inverted World"
Fruit Bats - "echolocation"
Jay Farrar - "Sebastapol"
The Clean - "Getaway"
Superchunk - "Here’s to Shutting Up"
Monty Love - "20 Songs of Love"

Jesper Eklow, Matador Records
Pugh Rogefeldt - Ja Da A Da LP Metronome, 1969
Arbete och Fritid - Arbete och Fritid LP Sonet, 1970
Mike Cooper - Places I Know LP Pye/Dawn, 1971
Film: The Mystery of the Leaping Fish, dir John Emerson, 1916
Film: Cowboy in Sweden, dir Torbjorn Axelman, 1970
They have great food here:
Pelikan, Stockholm, Sweden
BT Korv Heden, Gothenburg, Sweden
La Taurina, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Gerard Cosloy, Matador Records
Herbert - Bodily Functions (K7)
Pub - Do You Ever Regret Pantomime? (Ampoule)
The Langely Schools Project - Innocence & Despair (Basta)
Vote Robot - In Meorm WA (Scratch)
Electric Company - Slow Food (Planet Mu)
Robert Merdzo - Beyond Matter (Kollaps)
Pullman - Viewfinder (Thrill Jockey)
Tim Barnes - All Acoustsics (Quakebasket)
Jackie O-Motherfucker - Liberation ((Roadcone)
Smog - Rain On Lens (Drag City)
Aesop Rock - Float (Mush)
The Only Ones - Remains (Munster)
Sparklehorse - It’s A Wonderful Life (Capitol)

September 1, 2001

Belle & Sebastian tour the US West Coast in September; Tickets on sale now
Here are all the confirmed shows. Please note venue changes for Seattle and Vancouver. Check the Matador Bulletin Board for updates.