Polaris Prize winner
Patrick Watson has returned with another collaborative effort enlisting the myriad talents of band members Simon Angell (guitar), Robbie Kuster (drummer) , and Mishka Stein (bass). Titled
Wooden Arms it'll see release April 28th (Canada), May 5th (US), May 8th (AUS), May 11th (UK) + (EU), and June 24th (Asia). You can expect more of the soaring and swooping aural romanticism that permeated award winning debut
Close To Paradise. But this time out the band have taken steps to keep themselves interested and excited about creating music, as Patrick Watson himself explains in a press release:
"We wanted to create folk science fiction music, like in the Twilight Zone, where there's a normal situation with a twist. There should be an innocence to it, a sense of a humble, grounded story with a subtle twist." The band also made use of such oddball items as a tree branch, a plunger, a megaphone and drawers in creating a palpable atmosphere. "Everyone does their own things for their own instruments. Everyone does pieces and parts.""Our drummer, Robbie [Kuster] wanted to get away from drum kits"... continues Watson... "So he rebuilt things, including a bicycle, for percussion." The band played pot drums and a ukulele on the title track, using a bicycle for percussion on "Beijing."+ + + + + +
My review of the album Wooden Arms is here.
Here's the second track off of
Wooden Arms:
tracy's waters [
mp3]
BUY the album from his Canadian label.
Visit the just launched album site
here.
Patrick Watson
myspace &
twitter.
Patrick Watson and the band have plans to head your way, here are the world tour dates:27 Apr 2009 @ L’Impérial - Québec, Quebec
29 Apr 2009 @ Cabaret La Tulipe - Montreal, Quebec
30 Apr 2009 @ Cabaret La Tulipe - Montreal, Quebec
2 May 2009 @ Trinity St Paul’s - Toronto, Ontario
4 May 2009 @ City Winery - New York, New York
8 May 2009 @ Hotel Café - Los Angeles, California
9 May 2009 @ Cafe du Nord - San Francisco, California
11 May 2009 @ Doug Fir - Portland, Oregon
12 May 2009 @ Crocodile Cafe - Seattle, Washington
13 May 2009 @ Richard’s on Richards - Vancouver, British Columbia
15 May 2009 @ Grand Theatre - Calgary, Alberta
16 May 2009 @ Macdougall United Church - Edmonton, Alberta
24 May 2009 @ Mezz - Breda
25 May 2009 @ AB Box - Brussels
26 May 2009 @ Melkweg - Amsterdam
28 May 2009 @ Ubel und Gefahrlich - Hamburg
29 May 2009 @ Passionkirsche - Berlin
31 May 2009 @ Luxor - Cologne
2 Jun 2009 @ Maroquinerie - Paris
4 Jun 2009 @ Union - London
19 Jun 2009 @ Théâtre Granada - Sherbrooke, Quebec
RADIOHEAD - Evening Performance
When I came across the name Astrid Williamson, I took notice, due to the fact that my name is Alan Williamson. Then I saw the title of her new album, Here Come The Vikings, and that brought up the tale handed down through my family for generations that we're descended from Vikings who raided the Orkney Isles centuries ago. Then a quick online search told me that Astrid Williamson is from Shetland, the islands to the north of Orkney. Hell, we're practically related. Maybe, maybe not, but this new album of hers has a song that makes me wish we were related and it deserves to be heard by the millions who follow this blog daily (okay, thousands). "Eve" is the song and it flaunts a heartbroken melancholy borne not only by Williamson's honest vocal, but by the synth-swept and trumpet-edged serpentine melody. From what I've heard of her other songs this one stands in stark contrast... and it's a direction I feel she should pursue just on the merit of this single song.
Neko Case and her band recently played two sold out shows at Washington D.C.'s 9:30 Club. The second of those well received performances was recorded and broadcast live on NPR. Here's the first handful of songs and this is a link to download the entire podcast of the show. Also, Will Sheff of Okkervil River/Shearwater opened the show and you can listen to that show here.
Patrick Watson has just shared a brand new MP3 from his forthcoming album Wooden Arms and it positively shimmers with Watson's voice and a rolling finger picked acoustic guitar. "Man Like You" bears a lovely, lovely melody which brings to my mind the simple beauty that Jeff Buckley tapped into in his music (download the free mp3 below). Mark your calendars now as the new album Wooden Arms hits shelves, and I believe digital services, April 28th (Canada), May 5th (US), May 8th (AUS), May 11th (UK) + (EU), and June 24th (Asia).
Belle and Sebastian's Stuart Murdoch has been working at a new project apart from the band. It involves songs Murdoch felt weren't right for B & S and the voices of a few lovely sounding, and looking, women. This press release should whet your appetite... and if it doesn't this free mp3 and youtube video should do the trick.
Polaris Prize winner Patrick Watson has returned with another collaborative effort enlisting the myriad talents of band members Simon Angell (guitar), Robbie Kuster (drummer) , and Mishka Stein (bass). Titled Wooden Arms it'll see release April 28th (Canada), May 5th (US), May 8th (AUS), May 11th (UK) + (EU), and June 24th (Asia). You can expect more of the soaring and swooping aural romanticism that permeated award winning debut Close To Paradise. But this time out the band have taken steps to keep themselves interested and excited about creating music, as Patrick Watson himself explains in a press release:
