Epitonic Newsletter: Vol. 4, No. 15 'ATP -- Again!'
04/18/02
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You probably thought you'd heard the last of the All Tomorrow's
Parties music festival for awhile after our March email detailing
the inaugural Los Angeles ATP. But it's time for the third installment
of ATP UK, which takes place this weekend and next in East Sussex,
England. Shellac is curating this one, and gosh-darned if Messrs
Albini, Weston, and Trainer haven't assembled a lineup to rival
the one Sonic Youth put together last month. The event will feature
more seminal musical dinosaurs (Cheap Trick, The Fall, Mission
of Burma, Wire), tons of experimental rock from Chicago (Dianogah,
Rachel's, Shipping News, Brick Layer Cake), more avant-garde,
dissonant stuff you'd expect Shellac to like (Arcwelder, Blonde
Redhead, The Danielson Famille, Godspeed You Black Emperor, Melt
Banana, Oxes), a few notable noise pop bands (Breeders, Versus,
Silkworm), a few pensive, folky artists (Bonnie Prince Billy,
Smog, Low, Shannon Wright), and plenty more obscure and/or
offbeat musicians.
If you can go and choose not to, you're a fool. If you can't go
and feel really morose about it (like us), you can take solace
from this week's playlist, made up entirely of ATP UK 2002 artists.
And you can start planning for next year. We hear Autechre will be
curating.
Tickets and info: http://www.wayahead.com/atp/shellac2002.htm
"Watch Song"
by
Shellac
Take three talented musicians, two acclaimed producers, and one brilliantly, famously acerbic personality. Stir. What do you get? You get some highly original, uncompromising, intelligent, and generally all-around ass-kicking music. You get Shellac.
"And Giraffe Natural Enemies"
by
Oxes
Oxes produce a hyperactive mix of precision and lunacy with their nonstop Shellac-meets-Don Cabellero-meets-The Champs weirdo parade.
"Good News For The Pus Pickers"
by
Danielson Famile
The Danielson Famile is a pretty warped family, sorta like if the Partridge Family and the Carter Family went on a picnic into the bizarro world of Neutral Milk Hotel. Bouncy and sunny -- but creepy and dark. Like we said, warped. Oh, and also Christian. Did we mention how warped they are?
"4:23"
by
K.K. Null
Sit yourself down with a cup of tea and check out what one of the forefathers of noise is up to these days. K.K. Null should be a welcome guest in the homes of all extreme noise heads.
"Do Something Right"
by
Arcwelder
Dynamic, coherent, and full of raw rock and roll power, Minneapolis's Arcwelder knows how to mix chunky instrumentation with spot-on pop hooks and thrilling harmonies. Fans of Jawbox, Hüsker Dü, or the Poster Children, download away!
"Peking Spring (Live)"
by
Mission Of Burma
By all accounts, Mission of Burma was one of the best American punk bands ever to set foot on a stage or inside a recording studio. They paved the way for multitudes of post-punk bands with brilliantly nervous, declamatory rock that's bound to bump up your heart rate a bit.
"Missile ++"
by
Blonde Redhead
These New York-based art rockers continue to create hypnotizing, ambiguous compositions that are at once darkly beautiful and sublimely unsettling. Their dense spider webs of sound conjure the moment after you've emerged from the shadowy, terrifying landscape of a dream, when the adrenaline still flows like fire through your body and you can't yet recall how the world works.
"Spiral Bound"
by
Dianogah
A healthy dose of double bass and picky, intricate drumming weave a braided path between rock and Chicago brand "un-rock". With a rumble and a hum you're hooked.
"Lift Yr. Skinny Fists Like Antennas To Heaven"
by
Godspeed You Black Emperor!
Canada's most famous nonet builds majestic, hypnotic, sublimely odd orchestral rock compositions that swell and soar and dip, pieces that can be rich and lush, but which tend towards the stark, the melancholy, the desolate, and the borderline apocalyptic. Their music makes the familiar so very strange that it often feels like a document of another civilization, field recordings from another planet.
"A French Galleasse"
by
Rachel's
The best indie chamber music ensemble in the world. These sweeping, lovely compositions are as luminous and enticing as the moon itself.
"ThaRoman (Formerly Valerie White) Part II"
by
Threnody Ensemble
Since Threnody Ensemble shares members with A Minor Forest and 33.3, it comes as no surprise that distant strains of indie rock are audible in the group's compositions. The shock may lie in the beauty of each piece. This is orchestral music that goes straight for your gullet.
"Sunflower"
by
Low
You can call them what you like -- "slowcore," "sadcore," or what have you -- but you can't argue with the fact that this Minnesota trio makes exquisitely, overwhelmingly powerful music. With minimal arrangements never consisting of more than a guitar, bass, keyboard, delicate strings, a hint of percussion, and sublime vocal harmonies, Low has the impact of a full symphony orchestra.
"The March Song"
by
Shipping News
Three talented musicians create dark, intricate, musical landscapes influenced by jazz, classical, and indie rock. Sometimes heavy and pummeling, sometimes delicate and poignant. Featuring members of Rachel's and June of 44.
"Gasoline"
by
The New Year
If you cried when Bedhead broke up, dry your eyes. Principal members Matt and Bubba Kadane are back -- with members of Codeine -- and continue to create their elliptically beautiful guitar rock.
"Less Than A Moment"
by
Shannon Wright
Singer-songwriter Shannon Wright produces haunting, introspective, acoustic-oriented songs that shine a light on the frayed edges of life. Her ethereal voice creeps up on you like a sudden fog in a live oak forest.
"Treat The New Guy Right"
by
Silkworm
Seattle's Silkworm has been making moody, complex, and emotional indie rock for over ten years. More proof that there must be something in Washington's water that helps to make great bands.
"Eskimo"
by
Versus
New York's Versus has been writing beautiful rock songs for almost ten years. Expansive and intimate, sweet and sinister, restrained and dynamic, their songs are filled with more layers and textures than a swath of Amazonian rain forest.
