Built on a Weak Spot

Been looking forward to the second solo outing from Keith Canisius for a couple months now, or at least since I found out it was coming out. Canisius, as some may remember, is part of the amazing Danish dream-pop/shoegaze group Rumskib. In fact their album was just recently featured in my top albums of the decade post, so to say these solo outings come with great expectations is an understatement.

Canisius’ first effort Ferris Wheel Makeout definitely didn’t disappoint when it was released last year, delivering more of the otherworldly dream-pop sounds and melodies that hooked me from the very beginning. Now, just a year later, he has returned with his latest album Waves once again through Quince Records. The record sees Canisius continue in the direction of heavy Cocteau Twins influence, but inching away from some of the more extreme twist and turns melodically while offering up a softer ambient side of things that dominates a number of tracks throughout the album. It’s great to be able to hear him take the already distinct sound that has graced the Rumskib album and his previous solo effort and continue to build upon it. The added textures give it a much smoother feel while still allowing Canisius to interject some of the more extravagant passages that has by this point become sort of a calling card and a mighty good one at that.

While my coverage of such music has certainly waned over the past year or so, and really I have no explanation why, Waves is the sort of album that continually reminds me with each track as to why I fell in love with this sort of music in the first place. Once again, Mr. Canisius has delivered another solid effort.

Keith Canisius – Waves [MP3]

For those interested in picking this up in the USA, it’s available through Tonevendor or Darla. If you’re in the UK Norman Records has you covered. If you like what you hear above, there is much more of it to be found on the album, so definitely pick it up if you’re enjoying it.

Pretty much anything that features former members of U.S. Maple is going to get my attention and thus since catching wind about Miracle Condition a couple years ago I’ve been waiting to hear some material from the trio, which features Mark Shippy (guitar) and Pat Samson (drums) of the aforementioned U.S. Maple along with Matt Carson (vocals & guitar). Just recently however, the band released the 68 Degrees mini-album through the Tizona label and it features four fresh cuts from the band that was quickly snatched up by these eager ears.

Moving away some from the experimental rough and tumble noise mongering that were attributes of the members’ previous band(s), Miracle Condition takes aim at the dreamy and trance inducing soundscapes of space/psych/shoegaze all sort of rolled onto one nice blue piece of wax. I guess the band sums it up nicely in their own bio applying it with the name of “spacegaze”, which sits just fine with me as I certainly can’t come up with anything better to call it and who would I be to argue with that anyway? As to be expected the experimental/avant background that the members all share never leaves and works its way into Miracle Condition’s music throughout much of the record but acting as sort of a different beast for each members musical proficiencies to be put on display. 68 Degrees is a rewarding sampling of the band and a soothing one at that. Definitely give the track below a listen.

Miracle Condition – Classified Re-Entry Part I [MP3]

For those interested in picking up 68 Degrees then head on over to Chicago Independent where it’s currently available. I don’t know if it’s advertised anywhere, but mine came with a code with an option for an MP3/Lossless download of the album. Be on the lookout of the bands first full-length album on November 24th, which I think is also coming out on Tizona and will likely again be available through Chicago Independent. Keep checking and enjoy!

93MillionMilesFromTheSun are one of the few from the recent crop of shoegaze bands that have me excited and still keep me interested in the genre. That would be partly the reason why they are appearing here on the blog once again. The other part is because the band, which has moved on up to a three piece since I last wrote, has just recently released their debut self-titled album through the Parallax Sounds label. The wonderfully fuzzed out melodies contained within the album come just in time for the spring/summer time months ahead. I have no doubt that tracks from the album will eventually find themselves on a playlist or two for driving around in the breezy spring time air. As I am sure many have noticed, this sort of music works perfectly for that sort of thing

Here is what I wrote for the bands demo that I had the pleasure of hearing late last year:

“The band draws a bit from both sides of the shoegaze realm, working probably more so in the direction of Slowdive with that almost pristine feeling of atmospherics and dream-pop. However, what I enjoy a lot about 93MillionMilesFromTheSun’s sound is the slow burning distortion that rolls along with a notable smoothness while the vocals are set to a low whisper underneath the constant squall. It somewhat takes on a Spacemen 3 vibe from time to time as the band puts on their display of effects to great results.”

Really that opinion hasn’t changed much, if any, after hearing the official debut from the group. It sounds even better than the demo disc, which I am sure many out there are thinking that yeah…it should since it was a demo, however that was pretty damn good sounding demo. The album trumps it with a 12 songs that clock in at roughly an hour and fifteen minutes. So yeah, this thing is chock full of the swirling beauty that shoegaze fans will undoubtedly be all over.

93MillionMilesFromTheSun – July Sky [MP3]

For those interested in picking up the bands self-titled debut album, then head on over to Parallax Sounds where it is available for order in both CD-R and digital formats. Well worth it. Enjoy!

This is an album I had no idea was even coming out. In fact I began seeing people mentioning that the new London Apartments album Signals & Cities Are Forever was freely available through the projects website and then it didn’t take long after that for me to jump all over this. It’s been awhile since I’ve been able to get a bit excited about anything in the good old fuzzy and dreamy realm. Not that this is really a full on blast of either, but it still manages to do the trick.

For those not familiar with London Apartments, it’s basically the project of Justin A. Langlois who has been putting together various singles under the moniker for a few years now. While definitely influenced by shoegaze and dream-pop bands of old, Langlois takes the sounds in a much more electronic direction. Sometimes this doesn’t always work for me, however Langlois has never disappointed me with his work as London Apartments and has proved himself time and time again that he can craft some truly beautiful tunes with this method. The vocals, especially here on Signals & Cities Are Forever, sort of remind me of the similar ultra breathy and high pitched vocals of Scott Cortez’s wonderful project Astrobrite.

The London Apartments – Satellites [MP3]

For anyone interested in the full album, it’s freely available through The London Apartments website in high quality mp3’s. I would definitely recommend giving it a go for fans of this type of deal. In the meantime, enjoy!

Last year Invada Records put out a pretty nice little compilation of new and upcoming shoegaze groups called The Secret Garden: Vol 1. Many of the bands featured on it have been written about on the blog or thrown on to a mix or two at some point or another. However it wasn’t until this past week that I got a chance to hear one of the standout groups from that compilation at length, 93MillionMilesFromTheSun. Thanks to guitarist/vocalist Nick I was able to receive a fairly lengthy CD full of demos that in my opinion sound way better than a typical demo.

The band draws a bit from both sides of the shoegaze realm, working probably more so in the direction of Slowdive with that almost pristine feeling of atmospherics and dream-pop. However, what I enjoy a lot about 93MillionMilesFromTheSun’s sound is the slow burning distortion that rolls along with a notable smoothness while the vocals are set to a low whisper underneath the constant squall. It somewhat takes on a Spacemen 3 vibe from time to time as the band puts on their display of effects to great results. While it’s been awhile since I’ve spotlighted a shoegaze inspired band on the blog, that’s been for a good reason and that’s because there just hasn’t been anything come across my desk that really deemed it necessary or worth the time. However, thanks to 93MillionMilesFromTheSun there is another band that I can honestly look forward to within the genre. It makes me wonder how much these demos will change, as they already sound great, but that alone is a testament to the focus and talent that these songs possess within. For fans of shoegaze and dream-pop, there is no reason to not keep an eye on this band.

93MillionMilesFromTheSun – Yesterday Morning [MP3]

For updates on the band, just check out their MySpace and to purchase the Secret Garden compilation which features 93MillionMilesFromTheSun along with numerous other great and upcoming shoegaze/dream-pop bands, just head on over to Cargo UK.

Pia Fraus just recently returned this past May to deliver their fourth and latest album upon us titled After Summer. The album also happens to be a return to Clairecords, which released their second full-length In Solarium five years ago. Since then the bands has released one other record along with a couple EP’s in between.

I must say, Claire has been on a pretty good roll lately with their releases and judging by the songs contained on After Summer it’s going to continue. The album doesn’t stray away too much from the bands previous output, which means listeners should be prepared to hear a solid mixture of shoegazey guitar feedback and upbeat pop rhythms for a sunshine radiating style of dream-pop. This time around however things get a bit more polished and the all around sound has been tightened up some, which probably has something to do with them working with producer Norman Blake (Teenage Fanclub, BMX Bandits) this time around. Fans shouldn’t see much a problem, if any, with this though as everything that was to like about Pia Fraus before is definitely still here on After Summer. If anything, Blake’s work with the band has helped strengthen up some of the finer points of the bands sound that may have been sorely lacking on 05’s Nature Heart Software, which was a bit tougher of a record to get into for me personally. It’s definitely good to hear the band come back strong on After Summer.

Pia Fraus – Doctor Optimism [MP3]

For those enjoying the music and that are looking to pick up After Summer, then head on over to Tonevendor to do so!

Back in 2006 NYC’s Soundpool completely came out of nowhere with their excellent debut On High, which was some sort of masterfully executed danceable shoegaze…at least that’s what I suppose it could be called. Wasting hardly any time the band have returned here in ’08 with their follow up Dichotomies & Dreamland released this past March through Aloft Records here in the US and through Quince in Japan.

While it’s hard to determine whether Dichotomies & Dreamland will change the minds of anyone that disliked the first record, I can say that fans of it will notice a few favorable changes here. The songs have been scaled back a bit from the full bore bouncy pop rhythms that were fluent throughout On High. Instead here we receive a much more ambient and mood driven version of Soundpool, loaded with textures, guitar effects, and a number of songs that are dictated by slow burning crumbles of feedback. Jumping between variations of the two easily works in their favor. The electronic side of the band has also taken on a greater importance, giving them a sound that resembles at times a sped up Bowery Electric or a fuzzier Boards of Canada or Broadcast.

Fans may not fully embrace Dichotomies & Dreamland at first, as it’s not as instantly catchy as their previous effort. However, it’s definitely a further advanced and accomplished album in that it doesn’t lean too heavily on one aspect of the groups sound. With multiple listens it easily proves to be the clear winner between the two in the end.

Soundpool – Do What You Love [MP3]
Soundpool – Lush (What Becomes You) [MP3]

For those looking to pick up Dichotomies & Dreamland then head on over to Tonevendor and pick up this fine addition to the expanding list of fine 2008 releases. Soundpool are one of the bright spots amongst the rapidly growing shoegaze resurgence.

Some might remember back to 2007’s year end list for the blog and one of the records ranked somewhat highly on the list was an album by the Danish shoegaze/dream-pop group Rumskib. It was very nearly my favorite shoegaze related record of the year, only being barely beaten out by Airiel’s excellent full-length. Well one of the main creative forces behind Rumskib, Keith Canisius, has emerged early this year with his debut solo album. The record, which is titled Ferris Wheel Makeout, was just released this past February on the Japanese label Quince and has since been released digitally through Darla Records in March making it their very first digital release.

Unsurprisingly Ferris Wheel Makeout shares a bit in common with Rumskib. However, there is a notable added element of electronic drum programming here that loosens up the songs a bit and allowing Canisius to not have to completely rely on pushing the melodies to the absolute limit like on the Rumskib album. Although I quite enjoyed it, I think that was one of the main criticisms of that record from other listeners, which was understandable. The added electronics do a nice job of giving this album a slightly different feel and probably a satisfying outlet for Canisius. Helping him out somewhat on the album with some of the programming was Jonas Munk (Manual), which for the most part Ferris Wheel Makeout falls comfortably within that Manual and Ulrich Schnauss mold. In the end Canisius’ solo debut comes off as a solid midway between the hazy/ambient qualities of the aforementioned artists and Rumskib’s heavily Cocteau Twins synth influenced dream-pop. It’s definitely worth checking out for anyone that is already fans of any artists/bands mentioned in the post or just this style of music in general.

Keith Canisius – Far From [MP3]

For anyone looking to pick up the CD version of Ferris Wheel Makeout, then head on over to the excellent Tonevendor or Darla to do so. Anyone that would prefer the digital version can get it from the usual suspects of Emusic and Amazon.

Kicking off this week is the new EP, titled Pale Fire, from the NYC trio Dead Leaf Echo. The disc, which was released on March 24th through Year of the Gallon, is a set of six vibrant but yet moody songs that should easily spark the attention of fans of dream-pop/shoegaze. Diving back into the genres earlier days, Pale Fire shares the same sort of glimmering sound that bands like Slowdive and/or Lush (sans Guthrie production) managed to excel in creating during their successful runs through the early 90’s. Adding in a strong influence from 80’s new wave/post-punk bands like Psychedelic Furs and The Cure (the singer at times seems to be channeling Robert Smith), the band has developed what proves to be an exceptional and ultimately fresh sound.

Dead Leaf Echo – Thought Talk [MP3]

Be sure to pick up Pale Fire while you can if you dig the tune posted above. The first pressing of the disc is limited to 200 hand numbered copies that come in two different available versions of artwork. While you’re at it, also be sure to check out the bands previous EP Faint Violet Whiff, which was also released on Year of the Gallon. To purchase either, head on over to their MySpace.

Closedown were an early American shoegaze band that released the album pictured to left called Nearfield in 1994 though the ambient/electronic dominated label Silent Records. That could possibly be a small reason as to why this album isn’t better known than it is among shoegaze fans or just music fans in general. There is a fair amount of chill electronic/ambient material throughout the album, but in a few ways Nearfield reminds me of the brilliant album Quique by Seefeel that managed to be successful in being sort of a crossover success among the underground. Nearfield isn’t that type of album, but it shares a few similarities between it that I think is neat. The album takes on the same approach using waves of light distortion off and on throughout it, slowly and meticulously introducing layer upon layer. One of my favorite tracks off the album, “Red Oval” even comes close to matching the same type of powerful pulsing monotonous beat that eventually lulls you into a trance like state after awhile and then seven minutes have just flown by. Pretty solid stuff if you ask me. Nearfield is sort of an album of halves though, partly made up of slowly rising mood driven ambient pieces and then the glisten and sparkle of something similar to that of Slowdive, which they do very well I might add. I definitely recommend this to fans of that dreamier type of sound check this out.

Closedown – Red Oval [MP3]
Closedown – Sunangel Summer [MP3]

Anyone interested in obtaining this fine album can do so by heading over to Amazon. There are still a few albums floating around on their marketplace, and I imagine there are number of other places online that still have copies of this too. Anyway, definitely check it out if you’re a fan of shoegaze and/or dream-pop.