Might you fancy a trip down Memory Lane with the likes of Cremaster? Not as wonky as it sounds! Instead the above clip for Cold Cave’s new “Life Magazine” video is as fetching as that song is unshakeable. Directed by Aaron Brown and Ben Chappell of Focus Creeps, it follows album cover star Marti Domination’s daily performance preparation, a visual (and logical!) extension of Love Comes Close artwork. CONCEPTUAL THRILLZ.
Another late October and another CMJ come-and-gone. NYC is exhausted, still trying to recover from a week’s worth of assorted free drinks and endless amplitude. Our collective ears still ring, but its all good, because we can sort of remember CMJ. That said, it’s safe to say that if there was a band who “blew the fuck” up at CMJ this year, it was probably Surfer Blood. This was sort of predicted, considering the storm of blog love/record deal signing/all sorts of other shit the band received after their visit to Brooklyn two months ago. The xx were probably the second most blogged about band during CMJ, which makes sense, but sort of isn’t fair because, well, the xx have long been megadarlings of the NME set in the UK. To be honest, it wasn’t that exciting a CMJ, probably due to the speed of information Twitter-holics (I myself included) and blog rats post on new bands, good or bad. If anything CMJ was a catalyst, barometer or deal breaker for band’s who had enjoyed a bit of hype before things actually kicked off here. Harlem, Small Black, the Smith Westerns, Best Coast, Real Estate, Dum Dum Girls joined the xx and Surfer Blood in the category of groups we knew would have a successful CMJ. Maybe we’re just cynical and old, or maybe it’s because nearly all of them have received an immense amount of (un)noteworthy hype in months prior and recently been signed to significant labels, but, all in all, for the most part, each and everyone of them seemed to make the best of their stay in NYC. Throw Suckers, Sharon van Etten, Cymbals Eat Guitars, Javelin, Cold Cave, Neon Indian, and a dozen more I’m too fuzzy to remember into the mix and it was a pretty damn good year for bands at CMJ. Doesn’t seem like any pre-recorded beat problems, excessively boring live show or sound guy problems marred anyone’s career, especially considering the xx, known for being, uh, quite dull in the live setting, were one of this year’s biggest success stories.
Whoa. Just put this one together: Cold Cave is definitely a pun for cold wave (slow on the uptake, I know. sorry guys). Another fact: Teenage Jesus and the Jerks is a slightly misleading bandname, since neither Lydia Lunch nor James Chance were conceived immaculately. Dissapointing, I know.
Perhaps the WFMU fest lineup will cheer you back up? The sheer improbability of so many legends sharing the stage should be enough for your average Californian to road trip over to the Music Hall Of Williamsburg, where the three day festival is being held. Full digs on the entire event are available on WFMU’s blog.
The full lineup includes:
Thursday Oct. 1, doors 8:00, showtime 9:00, $20
Faust, Cold Cave, Aluk Todolo
Friday, Oct. 2, doors 8:00, showtime 9:00, $15 ($12 advance)
Pissed Jeans, TV Ghost, VeeDee, Guinea Worms
Saturday, Oct. 3, doors 8:00, showtime 9:00, $20
Teenage Jesus and the Jerks, Sightings, Drunkdriver, Talk Normal
Philadelphia’s Cold Cave, after a flurry of limited vinyl and cassette releases over the past 18 months, has garnered the attention of Matador Records. The indie juggernaut has signed the band and plans to re-release its debut LP, Love Comes Close on November 3, along with additional tracks to be announced shortly. The band has released work on Dais, Hospital Productions, and What’s Your Rupture along with their own label, Heartworm Press, and is comprised of Wesley Eisold and a changing lineup including Caralee McElroy (ex-Xiu Xiu), Dominick Fernow (Prurient), and Max G. Morton. Two downloadable tracks are available over on Matador’s blog; the band will briefly tour the West Coast at the beginning of September, with more dates currently being confirmed.
Tour dates:
09.03.09 San Diego, CA @ Soda Bar w/ Crocodiles & Strange Boys
09.04.09 San Diego, CA @ The Casbah w/ Glass Candy
09.05.09 Los Angeles, CA @ LA Historic State Park FYF Fest (w/ Black Lips, Lightning Bolt, Fucked Up, Times New Viking, Kurt Vile & More)
The Singles Collection is our weekly column where we highlight some great pieces of 7″ wax — whether new or old — that we think you should know about.
This week’s Singles Collection is of a bit higher fidelity than last week’s batch of burners, and a tad more on the electronic/dance tip to boot. But don’t fear, we haven’t switched gears to delve into mind-numbing 12″ remixes; these selections all remain firmly rooted in our medium of choice.
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