SOMETHING IN CONSTRUCTION

Just in time for Valentine’s Day

Loney Blues, the European video…

OK.

A quick one.

Yes, we admit it. We are very relieved that MDNA’s Superb Owl show last night was amazing and massive and fun.  She’s 53, you know.  And back in the game.

(Also: Stereolab.*)

Speaking of the game, we have new things for you. We’re very proud to announce the signing of VISIONS OF TREES to the label.  We’ve been fans since they opened for Memory Tapes in 2010.  They are equal parts Sonic Youth, Moroder and Madonna, excellent people and utterly bursting with ideas.

The album is coming in the Spring.  First tho, a non-lp tune, Deeper Than Sleep, a little taster of what is to come.  Sign up to get the mp3 and further treats, before we get going with the album.  You could also do worse than go see this from 2011 single Sirens.  

They are playing The Line Of Best Fit’s 5^th Birthday party at White Heat on Feb 28 with Icona Pop and NZCA/Lines.  An amazing bill.  Come.

LONEY DEAR.  Did you see the stunning video for Loney Blues.  It is not a remake of Halloween.  Although it does remind us a bit of that.

Loneydear.com has had a makeover. All the best bits and bobs from the promo have been added in and will continue to be.

Emil has been taking his full band show on the road across Europe and recording bits along the way.  Catch My Heart live in Paris  and also live in Brussels here.  There are some UK dates this month and the full tour which winds across Europe and into the US with Of Montreal is here.

19 Feb  Bristol The Louisiana   Buy tickets

20 Feb  London, UK Bush Hall Buy tickets

We have a new SIC Mgmt client for you.  PHILCO FICTION.  We braved the weather to go see them play in their home country of Norway in December and were blown away.  Absolutely lovely people too.  The Guardian did a nice piece, as did the 405.  Rob DaBank, Huw Stephens and John Kennedy all played a tune or two on the radio in the last few weeks.  Following Euro dates in January, they played a Sold the fuck Out show at the Lexington a week ago.

And they had time to record a jaw dropping one take, one mic, one glitterball, one drum version of Portrait Of Silence for our favourite new music blog, NoFearOfPop too.

Next stop SXSW.

STUDIO WATCH. 

Come on then. ANR have got 35 amazing new songs for the next record and are aiming for that sweet spot between Around The World In A Day and Parade.  Goddam.  MEMORY TAPES is busy in the studio too, as is AIR FRANCE, as is NIVA and LEVERAGE MODELS. Expect releases from all the above this year.

Did you see these badass re-imagined vintage posters of modern films?

Our old friend Akira The Don has been making some amazing videos for his Life Equation album. Next up is one for Broke featuring Gruff Rhys.

*Stereolab.  Years ago, I quite like Stereolab. Wasn’t such a fan of them live.  I bought a few elpees in the last year and loved them.  Finally, I cracked this weekend.  I admit it, they are amazing.  Amazing.  One the very best European groops of the last few decades. I ordered a further 10 (ten!) albums on Amazon marketplace yesterday. Their catalogue is so big but AMP is sooo cheap.  Stereolab penance starts now.   Looking forward to it too.

Also basking in the warmth of SIC love this month

Cloud Nothings second.  Incredible. Albini at the helm playing Scrabble and removing melodies.

Lindstrom’s newest Six Cups Of Rebel is mentally brilliant. Hilariously OTT  and fun.

As is 2 Bears great debut record. For similar but very different reasons.

As is Standard Planets’ forthcoming kraut/prog/psych debut elpee.

As is First Aid Kit’s #1 in Sweden second elpee, The Lion’s Roar

As is the Drexciya catalogue which is new to us but we love it.

Did you buy the David Bowie song by song biography by Pete Doggett?  No? Well more fool you.

We watched The Kill List finally. Was NOT expecting that.  It is burned onto our brain.  Forever. Pretty damnedoriginal and The Wickerman is all I can suggest as a comparison.

Watch it as a double bill with Red State.  Kevin Smith has made an amazing film.  It isn’t like ANY of his other films.  Bleak and harsh and diamond sharp.  Plus it skewers religious extremism which is a subject close to all of our hearts. Right?

The Ides Of March was indeed a Candidate for our times.  And pretty damn fine and shiny. If depressing.

As was Contagion.  All fun and smiles in the winter, innit.

Attention Loney Dear fans. Emil has set up his own Youtube channel where you’ll find all this clips, sessions, interviews and whatnot.

first up, SIC Mgmt client, NZCA Lines, on Loaf…a live session version of Okinawa Channels

then Loney Dear, offers the second single from Hall Music, Loney Blues directed by Ewan Macleod, with just a hint of the Michael Myers…

The final single to be lifted from Memory Tapes‘ slow burning pop masterpiece, Player Piano continues the record’s monochrome theme (see also: the black and white videos for ‘Today Is Our Life’ and the Grammy nominated ‘Yes I Know’).

Vera Todorova, a young Berlin-based film-maker, was given a wildly ambitious brief: to remake the George Lucas cult sci-fi debut THX1138 for not much more than the cost of a couple of flights to Berlin and back. She rose to the task, amazingly, and delivered a memorably great narrative video that starts like some contemporary newsreel footage of civil disobedience and ends up…well, shan’t spoil it, but “demented, sci-fi mind control” is not a phrase we use often. But we will. And it fits here.

Taken from the album ‘Player Piano’ available from Something In Construction.

Amazing.

BOLD DATES are full band shows

Jan 19, 2012 – Vera, Groningen, Netherlands
Jan 20, 2012 – Willie, Deventer, Netherlands
Jan 21, 2012 – Tivoli Oudegracht, Utrecht, Netherlands
Jan 22, 2012 – Rotown, Rotterdam, Netherlands
Jan 26, 2012 – Handelsbeurs, Gent, Belgium
Jan 27, 2012 – Festival Mo’fo, Paris, France
Jan 28, 2012 – AB Club, Brussels, Belgium
Feb 16, 2012 – by:Larm Festival, Oslo, Norway
Feb 17, 2012 – by:Larm Festival, Oslo, Norway
Feb 18, 2012 – La Route du Rock Festival, St-Malo, France
Feb 19, 2012 – The Louisiana, Bristol, UK
Feb 20, 2012 – Bush Hall, London, United Kingdom
Feb, 22, 2012 – Schocken, Stuttgart, Germany
Feb 24, 2012 – Apartaménto Hoffman, Conegliano, Italy
Feb, 25, 2012 – El Lokal, Zurich Switzerland
Feb, 26, 2012 – Gleis 22, Munster, Germany
Feb, 27, 2012 – Roter Salon, Berlin, Germany
Feb 28, 2012 – Knust, Hamburg, Germany
Feb 29, 2012 – Ideal Bar, Copenhagen, DK

North America
Mar 19, 2012 – Bootleg Bar, Los Angeles, CA
Mar 20, 2012 – Bottom of the Hill, San Francisco, CA
Mar 22, 2012 – Mississippi Studios, Portland, OR
Mar 23, 2012 – The Media Club, Vancouver, Canada
Mar 24, 2012 – Chop Suey, Seattle, WA
Mar 27, 2012 – First Avenue, Minneapolis, MN * #
Mar 28, 2012 – The Metro, Chicago, IL * #
Mar 29, 2012 – Beachland Ballroom, Cleveland, OH * #
Mar 31, 2012 – Webster Hall, New York, NY *
Apr 01, 2012 – Paradise Rock Club, Boston, MA * #
Apr 02, 2012 – Union Transfer, Philadelphia, PA * #
Apr 03, 2012 – 9:30 Club, Washington, DC * #
Apr 04, 2012 – Cat’s Cradle, Carrboro, NC * #
Apr 05, 2012 – The Orange Peel, Asheville, NC * #
Apr 06, 2012 – Track 29, Chatanooga, TN * #
Apr 07, 2012 – Variety Playhouse, Atlanta, GA * #

* w/ of Montreal
# w/ Kishi Bashi

OK, FINE here is the ‘Buy Button’ for NZCA/Lines: Okinawa Channels. BUY DOWNLOAD

As heard on Radio 1 in the DAYTIME, yo.

Here is the sleeve