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The chemistry between Bill MacKay and Katinka Kleijn radiates like a beam of light throughout STIR. The compositions unfurl like explorations into the unknown, only to be pulled back to earth with a commanding presence. The latest single, "No One Here Is A Stranger," is a concept unhindered by the conceptual, a free expression which still maintains a beautiful through-line to its organization. Both MacKay and Kleijn direct their instruments with a fluid precision, waxing and waning with only their instincts as... (read more)

The Silence have just released Metaphysical Feedback, their newest exploration of progressive music that totally rocks! With psychedelic elements, jazz tangents, and classic rock excursions, Metaphysical Feedback is an absolute must listen for anyone with an ear towards timeless music. Masaki Batoh's group may call themselves The Silence but these sounds are meant to be played loud - not just on record but live, too! In fact, The Silence have shows coming up in Japan just next week - in Tokyo and Osaka... (read more)

Shepherd In A Sheepskin Vest is the triumphant and gentle return to form for clever crooner, Bill Callahan! Steeped in sentimentality, dripping to the depths with anecdote and advice, and reflective on life and death, it's a uniquely steadying record for these unstable times. And it ain't all serious business, either - Callahan slings one-liners for laughs with unusual ease! Unsurprisingly, all of this translates to the stage with the greatest of ease, and with the first round of US-touring under his belt, Bill... (read more)

Bonnie 'Prince' Billy stays busy - in the past five years he has released albums of previously-recorded songs by Susanna Wallumrod, Mekons, Merle Haggard; even himself) and a collaborative record with Bitchin Bajas! The only thing he hasn't done is a new album of Bonny originals - in case you weren't counting, 2011's Wolfroy Goes To Townwas the last one. That's from the first half of the Obama presidency, for chrissakes!

Things happen for reasons that are often... (read more)

Alasdair Roberts' tendency to explore nuanced historical arcana in his music is blessedly paired with an ability to do so compactly in song - turning, say, a 1000-year-old Irish text on the mysteries of creation and apocalypse, or the peregrinatory journal of a medieval English mystic, into something with which we can all sing along. With his latest single "A Keen", Ali marks the span of a life through the ritual use of song and utterance, from cradle croon to wooing charm... (read more)

Taking a trip with Bitchin Bajas through an expanding universe of sonic dimensions is as simple as cuing up your turntable, CD player, tape deck or electronic device (you lazy sods!), and as of later this month, you're invited to enjoy them through the lens of grounded terrain as well! Beginning with an engagement at Chicago's eminent Constellation on September 12th, Bitchin Bajas are off on a jaunt through the Midwest - just enough to limber up the capacitors, this will be their first tour... (read more)

A pulse, humming forth from the speakers. Rhythms fracture and divide themselves, intersecting, diverging. The pounding of a heartbeat emerges, so stressed....this is a feeling of dread. Thus passes the first moments of 1 Minute 2 Midnight, Russ Waterhouse's second solo release.
  
It's been several years since Russ participated in new music-making as part of the duo Blues Control, now on an open-ended hiatus. Since, Russ' solo work has coalesced as the relationships that had created Blues Control... (read more)

From where they sit astride the San Andreas fault,  Ty Segall  and the Fredom Band are on the brink of world domination - and they don't even have to leave town. Well, not 'til October anyway - first, there's 5 more dates to go at LA's Teragram Ballroom, where they've been on a belt-busting 10 date summer residency (every Friday night, represent!) featuring the all-new First Taste  + a whole album from Ty’s back catalog (this week/next week's transgressive time capsule: 2016's... (read more)

Jim White and George Xylouris have been friends since Jim's early days in Dirty Three. Their musical connection goes back to then and led them to start Xylouris White in 2013. Since then, they have released three albums and been touring the world. The Sisypheans is their Drag City debut and fourth release together.
 
Xylouris White's fourth installment of progressive Cretan lute compositions present the sounds of the lute, George Xylouris' vocals and Jim White's drums in an open, spacious sound-field. With... (read more)

After all these years, who’s there? Why, it’s Bill Callahan, the super-sexy solo singer, driving though the front of our house once again in his 90s vintage vehicle– the Smog-mobile! And what’s he got there in the passenger seat? Hey, it’s the 20th anniversary half-speed master vinyl edition of the Smog classic, Knock Knock, by (we’ve been over this) Smog!

Placing this LP on your turntable, you find yourself drawn ever-deeper into the sound – and it’s not just... (read more)