you resource for all things shoegaze & dream pop.
19 April 2011
17 April 2011
13 April 2011
Interview: The Stargazer Lilies.
Guest writer Anas Al-Horani brings the awesome yet again with this recent interview he did with the relatively new dream gaze project The Stargazer Lilies. For those unaware, The Stargazer Lilies is comprised of two members: John Ceparano and Kim Field. Names sound familiar? They should! Both Kim and John are also members of the NYC disco shoegaze band Soundpool. Not only do these two create sonically breathtaking music, but they also have quite the sense of humor. When The Sun Hits hopes you enjoy this tongue in cheek interview with John and Kim, and if you don't, well, take your dose of Fukitol and kindly move along.How were The Stargazer Lilies formed?
The Stargazer lily was created in 1978 by Leslie Woodriff, [2] a lily breeder in California. (from wikipedia).
Before the band was formed, was this the type of music you wanted to originally play? Or did your tastes gradually change? Have you always wanted to form a shoegaze band?
Well, we originally wanted to form a shoegaze/newgaze/dreampop/psychgaze/discogaze/noisepop/dreamgaze/electrogaze band but already had one, and we were also considering a noisegaze/dronegaze/postgaze/nogaze/crunkgaze/shitgaze/dazedgaze/gazepop etc. band but, we were ultimately looking for something a little different.
The Stargazer Lilies. Don't Waste My Time.
Which brings me to question number 3, do you consider The Stargazer Lilies a shoegaze band, roughly speaking?
No, roughly speaking we are the opposite of shoegaze...which is of course "stargaze".
Your music is ethereal, loud, ghostly, painfully sweet, almost erotic, and always magnificent. But that's just my opinion. If you had to describe your music, how would you describe it?
Exactly the way you did! But especially the erotic part.
What is it that inspires you to create music?
God only knows. We love that song.
Each band has its own disc-shelf of influences. Can you name us three albums that have influenced you the most?
Mirrors in Your Eyes, Dichotomies & Dreamland, On High. [all Soundpool LPs]
As a band, what are you aiming for? What is it that you hope to achieve? Or, to put it more simply, what is the message you're trying to convey through your music?
God only knows...seriously this time!
Would you tell us a little about what you are currently into (bands, books, films, etc)?
My Bloody Valentine for all 3.
What do you think of modern shoegaze bands, and this recent shoegaze craze? Any favorites bands? Any comments?
Recent? You mean there was an older craze? We love Christy Romanick, Screen Vinyl Image, Dead Leaf Echo, Luxa, the Invisible Kid, Ulrich Schnauss, Me You Us Them, the Sky Drops, the Vandelles, Serena Maneesh, Pia Fraus, Ringo Deathstarr, Panda Riot, Auburn Lull, Ceremony, A Place to Bury Strangers, Chatham Rise, Fleeting Joys, Tears Run Rings, Monocle, All in the Golden Afternoon, Film School, Experimental Aircraft, The High Violets, Chapterhouse, Bowery Electric, Insect Guide, Resplandor, Telltale, Butterfly Explosion, Mansions and Junipers, Manual, Monster Movie, Nightmare Air, Broken Little Sister, Project Skyward, Airiel, Windy & Carl, Eau Claire, Memoryhouse, Loveless Music Group, Syntaks, the Fauns, If When, 28 degrees Taurus, Elika, 93 millionmilesfromthesun, Malory, Thrushes, Hypatia Lake, Tokyo Idaho, Asobi Seksu, the Depreciation Guild, Mahogany, etc. etc.
The Stargazer Lilies. Endless Days.
What is the most important piece of gear for your sound? And which is your most favorite?
John: For me it's my "organ". (Like I said, especially the erotic part!)
Kim: Ditto ;)
What is your philosophy, on life, that you live by, if any?
Fuck it all!
Live Show Photos: Bloody Knives. Houston, TX. March 31, 2011.
Greetings, gaze-lings. These photos of WTSH's faves, Bloody Knives, were taken on March 31, 2011 in Houston, Texas, by Amber at a strange little downtown venue called Notsuoh (that's "houston" backwards, if you want to know). Notsuoh is a unique place, to say the least; a haven for misfits, nerds, eccentrics and train hoppers (and apparently their pets, as well, if the patron is so inclined). It is a much beloved venue around here.I warned you last July, when I photographed Japanese drone rock band Boris (see those pictures HERE), that my camera has one setting: the gazer setting. But I need to update that. It actually has TWO settings: the gazer setting and the LSD setting. No, I wasn't on acid; but my camera may have been. Some of the most psychedelic photos I've managed to capture ever. Oh, and the show was bad ass. Perhaps that had something to do with it.
Pre-show. The aformentioned ambiance. No clue who that dude is.
Aaaaand the camera LSD kicked in.
Jake McCown destroying the drum kit with Awesome.
Preston Maddox, kicking ass and looking ghostly.
Newest member, Jim Moon, bathed in red light while being a sonic magician.
Trippy full stage shot. I think my camera was peaking at that point.
Preston Maddox looking even MORE ghostly. Am I the only one that sees his demonic second head? I'm telling you, this LSD setting on my phone gets intense.
An accidental, but probably inevitable, crotch shot. On acid. Sweet.
Another trippy full stage shot.
I try to explain to my camera that Preston's head is, in fact, NOT exploding, but it won't believe me.
Jim Moon, looking similarly ghostly.
Jake's sweet drum kit.
05 April 2011
Record Label Spotlight Series Edition 3: Skipping Stones Records.
When The Sun Hits is extremely excited to bring you the 3rd edition of our exclusive Record Label Spotlight series; our maiden voyage was taken with the psychedelia-drenched sounds emanating from Northern Star Records, edition 2 focused on the killer sounds of Custom Made Music, and edition 3 will focus on the Connecticut based label, Skipping Stones Records. Just as a recap, the Record Label Spotlight series will focus on the dedicated people at work behind the scenes of our favorite records and bands - the ones out there discovering new music and finding a way to bring that music to us - the record labels. Believe it or not, there are some labels that are still honest, passionate, and fair to their artists. The Force is strong with them. These are the labels When The Sun Hits want you to know about.
Record Label Spotlights include an interview with the label, tons of information about the bands on the label (including in depth spotlights on 5 bands on the label), videos, links, photos, resources, and a FREE downloadable mini sampler put together exclusively for When The Sun Hits readers by the record label (downloads are in mp3 format). In short: It's a win.
And so without further ado, we present to you The Awesome.
INTERVIEW:
William Knapp and Christine Jewell.
1. How did Skipping Stones Records get its start?
The label started in 2004 with the release of superfallingstars' album Swimming Across the Sound with William as drummer. We shopped around for a label and decided to start our own instead! William handles a lot of the technical side to the label, he has mastered all of our releases except for The Year Zero, which was mastered by Kramer. Christine is in charge of publicity / marketing and creative, designing many release covers in collaboration with the artists and William. 
2. Would you consider Skipping Stones Records to be a shoegaze and/or dream pop oriented record label?
In recent years we have leaned more in that direction. Early on we released indie pop and twee, such as The Besties and also with The Charade (from Sweden) being one of our signature bands. We love early Ride, Slowdive and dream pop bands, so when we were approached by Andreas Hagman from Celestial, we were excited to release his music.
The Morning Paper. Paint A Dream.
3. How do you choose the bands that are to be represented by your label? Is there a specific sound you are looking for?
There is not a specific sound that we go for, we both have to genuinely like the music in order for us to have the confidence to back it up.
4. Who are the 5 most recent shoegaze/dream pop acts to be represented by Skipping Stones Records?
Beauty Sleep, Nature vs. Nurture CD-ep (SKIP008)
A Brooklyn band that swims happily between the sounds of sweet indie pop, rock, and melancholy melodies without ever stopping for breath. We released a CD and digital in 2006.
Listen to Beauty Sleep's excellent track, "Unusual White Day," HERE.
Celestial, Dream On, CD digipak + digital, 2007 (SKIP009)
”Wanders from shoegaze via Field Mice to JAMC in five songs” Groove.
“Effortless beauty that slide through the darkness and sink deep into your heart without a sound” Friends of the Heroes.
After many years in London, Andreas Hagman returned to his native Örebro, Sweden in 2000, where he began writing and recording songs under the name Celestial. The definition of celestial means heavenly, but not only in the literal sense. The Celestial is also a specific type of wild rose described as humble and shadow-resistant. Andreas’ music is like this humble flower, aiming to reach far beyond the terrestrial world to a heavenly, dreamlike state. The melodies are central to Celestial’s music and they ebb and sway over layers of reverb and echo.
Andreas asked various friends and acquaintances to contribute to the album. Pär Carlsson and Christoffer Davidsson shared the drumming like brothers. The wonderful and angelic voice on certain songs belongs to Malin Dahlberg, who is the vocalist in Laurel Music and shoegazy Douglas Heart (on the Swedish label Labrador), and also for her solo project We Are Soldiers We Have Guns (on English label Stereo Test Kits Records). Daniel Björck, of The Tower of Foil and The Idle Hands, contributed his piano playing skills and Sara Thedéen plays the flute. All the musicians are, in one way or another, connected to Örebro, Sweden.
Celestial. The Boy Who Never Says Goodbye.
The Morning Paper, It’s Getting Clearer, CD-ep + digital, 2008 (SKIP010)
“A must if dreamy melodies is your cup of tea” Sonic.
The Morning Paper was formed in Malmo, Sweden in 2004 by David Kyhlberg. The music takes inspiration from the daily life, from daydreams, longing and summer haze. Sweeping across urbanity and nature, with humble movements and delicate voices, The Morning Paper is best read in terms of dusk and dawn. Being in the same room as The Morning Paper means being a part of a gentle-colored scenery; memories, hopes, failures, suns rising up and suns falling down.
The Morning Paper. Count Me Out.
Singing Bridges, three trains, CD + digital, 2009 (SKIP016)
“Harkens back to the days of early 90s jangle pop. The CD is full of reverbed-out female vocals, jangly rhythm guitar, and a glimpse of sonic experimentation.” CT Indie.
“Simple melodies are layered on top of each other, simple chord progressions flow effortlessly and vocals are unaffected and sung as though by the pure of heart.” Tasty Fanzine.
Singing Bridges is William on drums and Christine on bass and vocals, with guest musicians playing additional instruments. Fuzzed out guitars and solid rhythms create a familiar sound balancing feelings of dark heaviness with hopeful light. Compared to a Flying Nuns Records band when loud and a K Records band when quiet, Singing Bridges manages to encompass influences including Joy Division, The Wedding Present, Sonic Youth and The Pixies.
We are currently writing new material for our third release! Christine is experimenting with her bass sound through a crash course in pedals. She plays through an Ampeg V4, a VT pedal, flanger to get a more dynamic sound for the band.
The Year Zero, Oceania, I Will Return, CD digipak + digital, 2006 (SKIP005)
“Gleaming lo-fi ambient anthems that suggest My Bloody Valentine with an elegant hangover.” Editor’s Pick, music.download.com
The Year Zero is Rodney Sellars, Lili de la Mora and a Tascam 424. Their debut album, Oceania, I Will Return, pushes the limits of a four track and weaves together layers of guitars and vocals to create futuristic dream pop soundscapes reminiscent of early shoegaze. Oceania, I Will Return, combines a myriad of influences to create light and ambient rhythms with spaced-out effects, taking cues from Cocteau Twins and Sigur Ros. Singer Lili de la Mora's lullaby sighs lilt and sway over shimmering guitars with ebow effects created by Rodney Sellars. The music is complimented by the original artwork of Rodney Sellars, evoking imagery like scenes from a film.
Rodney emerged from the Southern CA punk scene to play drums in Reason To Believe, who released two albums and toured nationally with seminal punk bands Fugazi, 7 Seconds and The Dickies. Influenced by The Pixies and My Bloody Valentine, the musicians branched out to form Sense Field, in the 1990s with releases on Revelation and Nettwerk. Lili de la Mora is a "guitar-toting pixie" whose soft voice has been captured in releases from the slow-core musings of Robert Deeble to the "soul-hop" of Josh One. Lili has played guitar for years in the Long Beach, CA area, in diverse venues from friend's living rooms and coffeehouses to Timothy Leary's birthday party and opening for Allen Ginsberg at the Viper Room.
The Year Zero. Phoenix.
5. What do you think of the modern shoegaze/dream pop scene?
There are a lot of great pockets of shoegaze / dream pop, which is really 
great. It’s made a comeback, for instance Thrushes and Secret Shine. We were really fortunate that Secret Shine agreed to play Popfest New England, which we organize and present, in 2006. We’ve had several headliners that draw from the dream pop genre, such as Trembling Blue Stars.
Secret Shine. Way Too High.
6. Are there any other shoegaze/dream pop record labels (old or new) that you admire?
Elefant, Fortuna Pop, 4AD, Creation, tonevendor, Factory …
7. Can you tell us a little bit about what's currently going on with Skipping Stones Records (new releases, new bands signed, tours, etc)?
We’re always on the lookout for bands to release, but we’re also cautious about our finances. Our model was always to break even, which we succeeded in doing, and to pay bands. The funding came from our own pockets and the label was a means of sharing the music that we love. It’s a changing industry right now and it’s challenging to discover new bands. We have typically released CD digipaks and followed the Factory / 4AD model of unique packaging. Eventually we would love to release vinyl and digital.
Celestial. Fragile Heart.
8. What is your goal for Skipping Stones Records?
To find another hidden gem of a band and to continue to release music, stay happy and to make music too. We’re involved in many different creative projects, one being our own band, Singing Bridges.
9. What is your philosophy (on life), if any, that you live by?
Our philosophy is to always be creative, stay tuned with new bands and to appreciate life’s ups and downs. Last year something magical happened and we had lots of hummingbirds, which we just watched at the feeder in amazement. Hummingbirds are the most amazing creatures on earth, but they can be territorial, as well. It’s kind of like the music that we enjoy, a song may take you back to painful memories, but music is also a great healer.
Free Downloadable Mini Sampler. Click HERE to begin download.
News: Jesu Set To Release Next LP, Ascension.
Jesu is set to release their newest LP, entitled Ascension, on Mark Kozelek's (of Red House Painters and Sun Kil Moon) record label Caldo Verde - the CD/Digital release is slated for May 10, 2011 and the double vinyl version of the LP will be released shortly after. This will be the band's first "traditional" LP since 2007's Conqueror (2009's Infinity was one 50 minute track), though there have been a handful of EPs since that time. Justin Broadrick has long been heralded as an absolute genius by When The Sun Hits, so we are understandably excited about the release and (hopefully) a subsequent tour. My ears are still ringing from the 2007 Jesu show I attended! Awesome.Pre-orders ARE being taken now at Caldo Verde (click HERE), so if you are as antsy as we are, you may want to go ahead and pre-order.
Ascension will be 10 tracks in length, but you can hear two tracks from the album NOW by clicking on the following track names: "Birth Day" and "Small Wonder".
01 April 2011
Interview: Ian Griffiths of Kontakte.
If you haven't yet heard of Kontakte, perhaps you'll remember their name from our Record Label Spotlight with Northern Star Records (read it HERE), as we gave them a lot of love in that article. And deservedly so - this UK outfit, consisting of Ian Griffiths, Gary McDermott, Stuart Low and Ben Worth, has been blowing my mind in particular ever since receiving their first full length LP, Soundtracks To Lost Road Movies, in 2008, from their label Drifting Falling. Soundtracks is a great LP, but it in no way prepared me for how amazing their newest release, which came out in March 2011, would be. Entitled We Move Through Negative Spaces, this LP is an absolute triumph for Kontakte, incredibly gorgeous. We have a review of the new LP coming up next week on the blog, but until then, enjoy the following interview with band member Ian Griffiths, and have a listen to some of the tracks here. You will no doubt be instantly converted. When The Sun Hits expects huge things from Kontakte in the future, and after getting a taste of the music, you'll see why.
Is there any significance behind the name "Kontakte"?
It is significant in terms of where the name was taken from and the lineage of electronic based music as we see it.
The name "KONTAKTE" was taken from Stockhausen's 1958 seminal Electronic-Acoustic arrangement Kontakte - fur elektronische Klange, Klavier und Schlagzeug. This was essentially the first recording to contain both Electronic and Acoustic sounds, something quite extraordinary at the time. The name seemed to instantly resonate with what sits at the heart of our sound; processed electronic beats and synths, juxtaposed with "classical" and "organic" instruments such as guitars, piano, percussion instruments; and (as we have experimented with on the new record) live strings.
Kontakte. The Ocean Between You and Me.
How was Kontakte formed?
Kontakte was initially a bedroom project that for a long time was dying to be released and turned into a full band capable of playing live shows. As soon as a few tracks were uploaded to what was once the hub of online music (Myspace - RIP), they received a lot of good feedback and the process started to form a "real" band.
In all honesty, it took a while to find the right people. I think other musicians out there will understand what I mean. People who understood the basic idea and had a kinship with the music already written, and didn't feel the need to enter the fold, hell bent on changing what was already a working project. Forming a band can be quite a challenge and Kontakte has been no exception. You realise that you've come full circle, though, when you find the right people and when the music evolves by itself. Our new album is testament to that.
Can you tell us what you've been working on and what you've got forthcoming in the near future (new releases, tour, etc)?
Our new album! We Move Through Negative Spaces has been the labour of our love for the past two years. It goes without saying that we are very excited for people to hear this record. We believe it's a step up from our debut in terms of songwriting, instrumentation and production. When you put a lot of time and effort into something and hear it back in its full form and hold the finished article, you do feel quite a big sense of acheivement.
To coincide, we are playing shows through the spring and early summer including, a much anticipated second visit to Germany.
Kontakte. Hope (live).
What is the most important piece of gear for your sound? Any particular guitars/pedals/amps/synths you prefer?
Well, our guitarists' set-ups are extremely important. Right now, we'd certainly be lost without them. Without getting too nerdy, the amps and pedals used all serve their own purpose. We use Sunn, Fender and Ampeg amps. EHX make some great pedals, as do Line6, and everyone needs a few Boss stompboxes!
I think one thing that sets us apart though is our continuous use of electronic beats/laptops - that is integral to our sound. These beats come from a variety of sources but are generally programmed in Cubase or Ableton.
What artists have most influenced your work?
Every member of the band could probably come up with a different artist or band and that in itself is what makes Kontakte what it is. We are all influenced by a range of artists and different types of music. Anything from Brian Eno to Sunn O))), Tim Hecker to Mono, MBV to TV On The Radio - that's quite a range of taste just there!
Do you consider what you are doing to be "shoegaze" or "psychedelia"? Do you feel that you are part of the shoegaze/psychedelia scene, or any scene?
I don't think any of us would necessarily think we are either Shoegaze or Psychedelic at all. Just as much as we don't dwell on whether we are Post Rock or Krautrock. The fact is that a ton of different labels have been thrown at Kontakte over the past few years, and in a positive way we seem to ride on the crest of all of that and continue to do our own thing which, we don't think, is specific to any type of sound. That works in our favour. People seem to hear a lot of different things in our music which tells us that our sound is not one-dimensional.
Kontakte. A Snowflake in Her Hand.
We absolutely do NOT attach ourselves to any "scene" that may be happening now or ever. Scenes might be a good party for some, but in our view are essentially unhealthy for music. How does a scene develop itself? The music created within a scene can at times become a bit staid and repetitive. If you are intent on being creative and are attempting to do your own thing and wish to develop that thing, then being part of a scene can easily hinder that progress.
What do you think of modern shoegaze/psychedelic bands? Any favourites?
Having said all that above, there are a hell of a lot of great new bands coming through at the moment and a number of great labels that are continuously pushing new music. Two bands springing to mind are The Lost Rivers and Ceremony. We're playing a show with them in Munich very soon - it could well be the gig of the year! A good place to start with labels would be Drifting Falling, Northern Star, Club AC30, Erased Tapes, Field, Monotreme, Gizeh, Home Normal, Hibernate.
Kontakte. Early Evening Bleeds Into Night.
Would you tell us a little about what you are currently into (bands, books, films, etc)?
Film and it's accompanying soundtrack is something that's always interested Kontakte. It's also something we'd love to be working towards and creating in the future. We're big fans of Clint Mansell, who is extremely prolific and always manages to score excellent music to equally excellent films - Requiem For a Dream, The Fountain, Moon, Smokin' Aces, Black Swan, etc.
If you had to choose one Kontakte track that would be the ultimate definition of your sound and aesthetic, which would it be?
Interesting question. Something tells me we shouldn't name one song, as that would suggest that our work here is done. I guess the fact we want to continue writing and continue putting out albums suggests the "ultimate" Kontakte track hasn't been written yet? To date, this new album is definitely the closest definition of our approach. The "space" suggested in the artwork is the kind of image we want our music to evoke in people's imaginations when they hear the album. Somewhere, perhaps both bleak and beautiful.
What is your philosophy (on life), if any, that you live by?
To Move Through Negative Spaces, and to come out the other side in a better place. Simple.
28 March 2011
Interview: Daniel Land of the Engineers, the Modern Painters and riverrun.
Where to begin with the amazing Daniel Land? He first hit our radar in 2007, as a part of the Manchester based shoegaze outfit Daniel Land & The Modern Painters (vocals/guitar).In 2010 both he and Ulrich Schnauss were invited to join Engineers (who are amazing) and then he has his lesser known but just as awe-inspiring side project, called riverrun, Daniel Land has essentially been blowing us away since the first note. His various projects have been described as like "immersing yourself in hazy, shimmering sound" and able to cause "a deep emotional resonance; the music itself has an overwhelming sense of purity and beauty that you can completely immerse yourself in..." and we can't really argue with, nor add to the truth of those statements. They are wholly fact. Daniel Land is an extremely talented and important artist in the music world, working with many sounds and weaving many genres into one another, creating things altogether new, and always gorgeous. When The Sun Hits is proud to feature the following interview with Daniel Land; enjoy, and if you haven't heard any or all of his musical output, now is the time. He will be remembered as legendary, of this we have no doubt.
1. Can you tell us what you've been working on and what you've got forthcoming in the near future (recording, tour, etc?)?
Daniel Land & the Modern Painters. Lostening.
Well, the first Daniel Land & The Modern Painters album came out at the end 2009, so once we'd released and toured that album, 2010 ended up being more about having time out to do outside projects and things like that. But the main priority for 2011 is the work on the second Daniel Land & The Modern Painters record, which I hope will be a really strong return. A really good record label approached us and asked if they could release it, so I think it's really important to get it just right. There are various tunes for it in half-completed states and I've been writing lyrics for most of the year, on and off, so we're just beginning to get a sense of what the shape of that record might be. We've met a great sound engineer who's going to be working with us to "up" the production values overall, and we've got a couple of studios available (in addition to home studios) so it's all looking very positive.
Other than that, last year I contributed some vocals to the new Engineers album (In Praise of More), and then joined the band as a bass player and vocalist, so I imagine at some point we'll start thinking about new material. I've also been playing guitar for Jayn Hanna's band, The Steals, which has been going on since just after their debut album Static Kingdom was released. I'm hoping to be contributing to their next record. And then there's my ambient side-project riverrun: there's a couple more records on the way for that one, one of which is a collection of piano recordings I've been working on for a couple of years now. Anyway, none of this stuff will probably be released for a while yet, because the overriding concern is finishing the second Daniel Land & The Modern Painters album. I hope it's going to be something really, really special - more musical and more varied, texturally, than the last record.
2. What sort of set up/gear do you use? What is the most important piece of gear for your "shoegaze" sound?
Generally, I try not to rely on any particular set up over and over again, and I never use any factory presets, because if you do, things can end up sounding very formulaic very quickly. I like to work with things that are generally quite unfashionable or have been around for a few years. The best things in my own set up are really old pedals that I've never seen anywhere else. I've got a RockTek chorus which I think is an old analog one from the 80s or maybe even the late 70s. It's really retro and noisy, but it's the best chorus I've ever used. I've got a few things like that, that are unique and have a character of their own. Plus when they start to fail, they generally do so in interesting ways - ways that you can exploit musically.Engineers. In Praise of More.
3. What shoegaze bands/artists (or whoever) have most influenced your work?
If we're talking shoegaze bands I'd say it almost entirely begins and ends with the Cocteau Twins, to be honest with you! I listened to almost nothing but the Cocteaus for about two years when I was a teenager and it obviously had a deep effect. Later on, I discovered Slowdive and loved them, and then more recently through Ulrich Schnauss I was introduced to the band Sway from California - The Millia Pink & Green EP was very influential to me around the time of making Voss. Other than that, I don't spend a lot of time listening to shoegaze, to be honest. I listen to a lot of bands like Sun Kil Moon and Mojave 3, and some of the great solo artists like Peter Gabriel and Brian Eno. And a lot of world music.
4. Tell us a little about what you are currently into (bands, books, films, etc)?
Funny you should ask about books, because I feel like I've been in a more literary phase recently. I've been writing lyrics and keeping a journal, and so I've been reading a lot more than I would usually.I've had two very major literary phases running concurrently recently - one is Virginia Woolf, who I'm reading all over again for the first time since I was 19 or so. I read pretty much everything she'd written in about 18 months when I was younger, and it's been a delight to rediscover all of that. I'm also reading my way through a lot of Anthony Burgess's books, starting with the epics like Any Old Iron and Earthly Powers and moving on to some of the more obscure ones that fell out of print, like Beard's Roman Women and Abba Abba.
Aside from this, I've got a kind of fascination with the Clinton years, so I've been reading some of the excellent political books about that time - particularly Robert Reich's Locked In The Cabinet and also David Brock's Blinded by The Right, which is an excellent mea-culpa written by somebody involved in smearing the Clinton presidency. Regardless of where you stand politically, it's a fascinating document of the times.
5. Can we expect to see Engineers and/or The Modern Painters on the road in the near future?Both, hopefully. But probably not until any new material is released, whenever that is.
6. Do you consider what you are doing "shoegaze"?
Engineers. How Do You Say Goodbye.
7. What do you think of modern shoegaze/dream pop artists, any favorites?
I like some of them, but not all. I tend to like my new shoegaze cut with something more modern... the most satisfying bands to listen to, for me, are the ones that incorporate shoegaze sounds as just one element of a much bigger stylistic idea, particularly the US shoegaze bands like Mahogany, plus other bands like Auburn Lull, Elika and so on. I like bands who take a whole load of disparate things and force them into something that's uniquely their own.I also like the kind of dream-pop bands who exhibit really strong songwriting skills - bands like Sway and Ask For Joy, and the band Orange Yellow Red, from the south of England. I think that quality of songwriting in those bands is excellent. There's probably a few more but I find it hard to think of them off the top of my head.
8. What is your philosophy (on life), if any, that you live by?
That's an interesting question. I'd find it difficult to do justice to it in a paragraph in an interview, and there's no way of answering it without being a bit self-centered, but here goes anyway: I guess I could say that I've tried to live my life in a very compassionate way, but then like most people who devote themselves to such obsessive work, I can be a bit prickly at times!And recently I feel like my whole outlook on life has changed anyway... the big lyrical inspiration behind the forthcoming second Painters album was the break-up of a long-term relationship that happened in a couple of years ago, and then another relationship which quickly followed that - at the same time I've been spending a year in therapy dealing with some unresolved things, and the result of all these things has been a big change in my outlook on life, a process of trying to change and improve how I relate to other people. It's made me more resolved to live life in a humble, grounded, and genuine way, and ultimately the hope is that this change reflects in my lyrics and in the kind of work we (or I) produce...
I guess what I'm trying to say is that it's a bit like that Blue Nile ideal - the idea of living a life that is down to earth and "normal" by almost every standard, and that by doing so, you're going to create music that has real empathy in it, a type compassion that's very consoling to the listener. It's all I think about really...
27 March 2011
News: More Details for "Rock Back for Japan" Compilations Revealed.
Almost immediately after the recent disaster in Japan, When The Sun Hits began to hear rumblings amid the shoegaze community about what we could do to help. The outpouring of ideas and compassion was unbelievable, and Tom Lugo, a musician of note himself, as well as the President of Patetico Recordings, had the brilliant idea to create a shoegaze/bliss pop/psychedelia-based compilation disc, from which the profits would contribute to a disaster relief fund for Japan. What was originally a one disc compilation has now grown to 6 (yes SIX) volumes - a mega compilation entitled Rock Back for Japan - of various artists, because so many bands wanted to be involved. That, in itself, is something to be proud of. Our musical community has really reached out with the tools that we have to help, and we are proud of all of the contributors, supporters, and a special thank you to Tom Lugo, who, with a little help from his friends, orchestrated it all.
Patetico Recordings will be releasing the Rock Back for Japan - Disaster Relief Fund compilation series over the next couple of weeks via digital download, and soon after, hard copies will be available for purchase through Amazon.
You can (and should) become a member of Patetico's website for updates as they become available. This is a cause worth supporting, and after you catch a glimpse of the track lists, you'll be lusting after the comps. Top notch.
Thus far, this is the information we have regarding the compilations and artists involved. Our hearts our with you, Japan.
Rock Back for Japan Vol. 1
01. Purple Bloom. Kisses bloomed
02. Apple Orchard. Half steps towards bright skies
03. SPC ECO. Silo Too High
04. Tahaki Miyaki. Something is better than nothing
05. Insect Guide. (?)
06. Black Swan Lane. Age end
07. Un.Real. Angel 75
08. Spotlight Kid. All is real
09. Tally Ho! Rainbow
10. Counterfeit i. Atlantis
11. Panophonic. Disappear into the night
12. Spell 336. Silence
13. Orangenoise. Trust
14. The DeFog. A Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing
Rock Back for Japan Vol. 2
01. Stellarium. Chocolate & Strawberry
02. Absence of Ocean. Open Heart (Open Fire)
03. Hemming. Swinging at Ghosts
04. Slowness. Slowboat
05. Dead Leaf Echo. Baby Eyes
06. The Ludvico Treatment. Enter secondary character
07. Wavvement. The Girl in the Denim Vest
08. Anthing+After. Disconnected
09. The Bavarian Druglords. WorldofSound
10. Ten Pound Troy. Unchained
11. Boy Party. July
12. Pilot Cloud. Meridian
13. Short to the Ground. No Time
14. This Scarlet Mourning. Shine
Rock Back for Japan Vol. 3
01.Ceremony. Control
02.Golden Gardens. The High Priestess 2
03.Bosques. Dorstein Rejse
04.Oblisk. Around the sound
05.Stone Darling. All I wanna Do
06.Resplandor. Twilight
07.Ludwyg. Phantom
08.Dirty Pulp Theatre. Excessive Noise
09. Hope. Wolfredt
10.After Sun. Walking Through This Door Again
11.Wavefield. Automatic Electronic Machines
12.Neorev. The Stars Above Us
13.Jesus Deluxe. No Middle Ground
14.Sway. Thirty Seven Miles Beside the Ocean
Rock Back for Japan Vol. 4
01.Plumerai. Empty Graves
02.Leaving Richmod. Your personal infinity
03.Jazzblaster. Dream
04.93millionmilesfromearth. Sorrow Song
05.Anne. Perfect teeth
06.The Psychocandies. High Love
07.Periscope. Freak Beat
08.Music For Headphones. Life inside a parka
09.Anji Cheung. Vessel of the Earth
10.Last Remaining Pinnacles. Students of V.U.
11.Phantom Vibrations. Burlington
12.Bloody Knives. Let me out
13.The Sunshine Factory. Sugar Sister
14. Chatham Rise. Air Feat (Featuring EJ Hagen)
Rock Back for Japan Vol. 5
01.Screen Vinyl Image. Too much speed
02.Tone Rodent. These Blues
03.Deep Cut. Decision
04.The Tweeds. Christmas Time
05.Victorie & Hyde. Fire we were
06.Presents for Sally. Three
07. SER.ES. Satélite
08. The Hope Slide. The Survivor
09. The High Violets. The Orchard
10.Whirl. Leave
11. FRACTAL. Niña Flor
12.Westkust. Falling through the floor
13.The Telewire. Silence
14. Stellarscope. You always know
Rock Back for Japan Vol. 6 (Still waiting on some tracks)
01.The Lost Patrol. Justine
02.Niels Nielson. Step Aside!
03.Isabela Music Club. What were you thinking?
04.Thrushes. Crystals
05.Elika. Seam
06.Patrik Torsson. Summary
07.The Second Floor. More science than soul
08.Mechanism for People. The taste of a sweet life
09.Starry Saints. The Long Fade
10.Her Vanished Grace. Blue
11.Ill-iteracy. Inside ya mind
12.C’est la Mort. Paper Ships
13.One Unique Signal. Bishops