KEIJI HAINO + SUMAC "American Dollar Bill..."

Very happy to announce the forthcoming collaborative album between Keiji Haino and SUMAC - "American dollar bill - Keep facing sideways, You’re too hideous to look at face on" due out via Thrill Jockey in Feb 2018. We're hoping to have copies available for sale on our upcoming west coast tour with Converge as well. Above and below are previews of the album art generated using recent paintings, photos from our studio session and with design assistance by Faith Coloccia. There will also be some test pressings of this album for sale with the original art created for the album - more on that shortly.

Thank you.

SACRUM PROFANUM + THALASSA INTERVIEW

At this year's Sacrum Profanum Festival in Krakow, PL, "Metapattering for Constellation" - a new composition by Faith Coloccia with Aaron Turner - will be debuted. The piece was commissioned by the festival, and will be performed by a 9 piece ensemble as part of the Post-Indie Classical event on 09/30. More on the festival here. 

From the festival's curatorial text regarding Post-Indie Classical:

"This concert is an attempt at defining, identifying or perhaps even constituting new aesthetics – post indie classical? This type of music is created in opposition to sometimes too predictable modern music, but at the same time to over-aestehticised and following the beaten tracks indie classical, and is written by non-academics from the world of independent music. The concert will be unique for one more reason – as the light goes down, you will not know what to expect. All compositions will be produced by Spółdzielnia Muzyczna as premieres; they have just been commissioned by Sacrum Profanum and are being composed. Their author’s vision of instrumental music will be presented by Faith Coloccia and Aaron Turner (Mamiffer, Sumac) – privately a couple of the pianist and the guitarist – vocalists, graphic artists and composers of music basking in the air of melancholy, situated between ambient and chamber music; Aidan Baker(Nadja) – a multi-instrumentalist, a prolific artist representing many aesthetic styles, first of all ambient, drone, shoegaze and kraut-rock; Toby Driver (Kayo Dot) – a vocalist, multi-instrumentalist and composer of music at the crossing of the avant-garde, jazz and prog-metal; Mika Rättö and Jussi Lehtisalo (Circle, Pharaoh Overlord) – a vocalist and a bassist who play all kinds of music from heavy metal through the improvised avant-garde up to avant-rock; Paweł Kulczyński (Wilhelm Brass) – specialising in modular synthesisers, broken rhythms and sound installations (e.g. last year’s Shibboleth)."

Here also is a new interview with Thalassa, the duo of Aaron Turner and William Fowler Collins. The interview discuses "Bonds of Prosperity" Thalassa's debut album, as well as Megadeth, Hendrix, Ghostbusters and other crucial topics:

Machine Music interview with Thalassa

"NOX", my collaborative album with Daniel Menche, is now available for pre-order. Visit the SIGE Records webstore for details - HERE.

Details and sound samples coming soon.

Thank you.

HOLC video

Ozero from ECHOVIDEA on Vimeo.


A video for an older House of Low Culture track made by ECHOVIRUSES. This was just passed on to me, though made some time back. One of my favorite HOLC tracks - glad someone found another use for it. Thanks.

RECENT INTERVIEWS

photo by: Faith Coloccia


Recent interviews:

Metalsucks podcast

Peer Pleasure podcast

Never Mind The Hype video interview

Thank you.


Recently enjoying: Ryo Murakami "Esto", Basic House "I Could Tell You But Then....", "Labyrinths" Jorge Luis Borges, "Sunburning" Keiler Roberts, Full of Hell + Merzbow, Ghedalia Tazartes "Diasporas", ENDON "Through the Mirror", NORDRA - s/t, Zachary James Watkins - live compositions at The Chapel, Seattle, etc.

THALASSA - ALBUM ART & STREAM

Above: THALASSA "Bonds of Prosperity" 2xLP layout. Artwork by Faith Coloccia, additional artwork and design by A. Turner.

THALASSA is A. Turner and William Fowler Collins. The debut is released officially tomorrow, 5/19 via SIGE Records. Here is a full stream of the album for your listening pleasure.

Thank you.

THALASSA - NEW TRACK AND PRE-ORDER

The THALASSA "Bonds of Prosperity" 2xLP is available for pre-order from SIGE Records HERE.

And, below is "Face Obscure" the third track from the album.
Thank you.

SUMAC - JAPANESE TOUR

Very excited to be heading back to Japan  with SUMAC - especially so considering we'll be touring with ENDON and playing a collaborative set with Keiji Haino. Dates and details below. Poster image by Faith Coloccia. Thank you.

6/30: Tokyo @ Bush Bash, w/ FRIENDSHIP, BLACK PHONE 666
7/01: Nagoya @ Huck Finn w/ ENDON
7/02: Osaka @ Conpass w/ ENDON
7/03: Tokyo @ Fever w/ENDON, collab set w/ Keiji Haino

THALASSA - SHOWS AND NEW TRACK

THALASSA is my duo collaboration with William Fowler Collins. We will be playing two shows this month (listed above). 

Below is the first track from our forthcoming album "Bonds of Prosperity", coming out May 19th on SIGE Records. Pre-orders for the vinyl version will be gin this coming Monday 3/20.

Thank you.

SUMAC/OXBOW Europe 2017

I have neglected my blog for a long while. This is my attempt to get back to updating it regularly. 

Poster image above - art by F. Coloccia, design by me.

Here are the dates for the upcoming SUMAC / Oxbow European tour. Thank you.

SUMAC/OXBOW 

EUROPE 2017

20/04 - PRAGUE, CZ

21/04 - LEIPZIG, DE

22/04 - KARLSRUHE, DE

23/04 - TILBURG, NL

24/04 - BRUSSELS, BE

25/04 - LONDON, UK

26/04 - LEEDS, UK

27/04 - BRIGHTON, UK

28/04 - PARIS, FR

29/04 - CREIL, FR

01/05 - MILAN, IT

02/05 - RAVENNA, IT

03/05 - LAUSANNE, CH

04/05 - MUNICH, DE

05/05 - BERLIN, DE

06/05 - COPENHAGEN, DK

SUMAC EAST COAST TOUR

SUMAC east coast tour begins next week. Dates and info below. Thank you.

Aug. 5 - Portsmouth, NH - 3S Artspace *
Aug. 6 - Montreal, QC - Bar Le Ritz PDB *
Aug. 7 - Toronto, ON - The Garrison *
Aug. 8 - Detroit, MI - El Club *
Aug. 9 - Chicago, IL - Township *
Aug. 10 - Chicago, IL - Township *
Aug. 11 - Columbus, OH - Double Happiness *
Aug. 12 - Nashville, TN - The End *
Aug. 13 - Atlanta, GA - The Earl †
Aug. 14 - Durham, NC - The Pinhook #
Aug. 15 - Richmond, VA - Strange Matter #
Aug. 16 - Washington, DC - DC9 Nightclub #
Aug. 18 - Brooklyn, NY - Saint Vitus Bar #
Aug. 19 - Philadelphia, PA - Boot & Saddle #
Aug. 20 - Allston, MA - Great Scott #

* w/ Jon Mueller, nordra
# w/ Jaye Jayle, nordra
† w/ nordra, Deafheaven

SUMAC "WHAT ONE BECOMES" CS ART PREVIEW

Above: color separation proofs from the SUMAC "What One Becomes" cassette version.

SUMAC "THE DEAL" TEST PRESS PAINTED EDITIONS

Above - paintings for the test press versions of SUMAC's "The Deal" 2xLP (SIGE 037). 
Edition of 7, ink/plaka on paper.

Enjoying: Hander som vardar "Aristokrat", Grimes "Art Angels", Shape of Despair "Monotony Fields", Harry Pussy "One Plus One", Kowloon Walled City "Grievances", Neutral s/t, Akhlys "The Dreaming I", Mt Erie "Sauna", Mt Erie "Ocean Roar", etc. 

MAMIFFER "THE WORLD UNSEEN" PRE-ORDER

PRE-ORDER HERE 

Above: elements from the album art for Mamiffer's "The World Unseen" - painting, photography and design by Faith Coloccia.

After working on this album for several years, I'm very happy (and relieved) to see it nearing release. It's currently up for pre-order here via the SIGE webshop. We'll also be bringing copies with us on tour later this month (see previous posts for dates). 

Thank you.

BLACK SPIRITUALS "BLACK TREATMENT" EP

Above: Black Spirituals "Black Treatment" CS. Design by A. Turner using original art elements by F. Coloccia.

Haven't been able to do as much design work as I'd like lately, so I was happy when the opportunity arose to create the sleeve for a tour CS EP by Black Spirituals. For now it's a cassette only release and currently available for order here. Thanks to Black Spirituals for asking me to do this, and to Faith for providing some excellent source materials! New Black Spirituals studio album in the works for later this year, also due for release via SIGE.


Recent enriching intake: ENDON - live, Black Spirituals - live, Sarah Ferrick - "Odette" and various comics, Champagne Mirrors "Extended Communication Techniques", Mount Eerie "Clear Moon", Circle "Pharaoh Overlord", Stilla "Ensamhetens Andar", Klaus Lang "einfalt. still.", Luigi Archetti "Null III", etc.  

MAMIFFER "FLOWER OF THE FIELD II"

A new Mamiffer track "Flower of the Field II" has premiered today via Tiny Mix Tapes - here. This is the second track to be released in advance of the forthcoming album "The World Unseen". A pre-order for the album will be launched on March 1st via SIGE Records. Thank you.

MAMIFFER ALBUM, TRACK + TOUR

Mamiffer's new album "The World Unseen" is in the works for an April 1st release via SIGE Records, and Daymare Recordings in Japan. The album was recorded by Randall Dunn, and by us in our home studio - mixed by Randall as well. Once again the band core is Faith Coloccia and myself, with contributions on select tracks from Eyvind Kang, Joe Preston and Genevieve Beaulieu. Album art and design by F. Coloccia.We've been working on this album off and on since 2012 - very happy it's finally complete and looking forward to getting it out into the world. We're doing a US run in March/April in conjunction with the album release - dates below. You can also preview a track from the album below. Thank you!







MAMIFFER - US - March/April 2016

March 22 Portland,OR @ High Water Mark
March 24 Boise, ID @ Treefort Music Festival
March 25 Salt Lake City, UT @ Diabolical Records
March 26 Denver, CO @ Lost Lake
March 28 Omaha, NE @ O'Leavers
March 29 Columbia, MO @ Club Berlin
March 30 St. Louis, MO @ Foam
March 31 Knoxville, TN @ Big Ears Festival
April 1 Cincinnati, OH @ Northside Yacht Club
April 2 Chicago, IL @ Co-Prosperity Sphere
April 3 Milwaukee, WI @ Cactus Club
April 4 Minneapolis, MN @ Icehouse
April 5-9 Iowa City, IA @ Mission Creek Festival

SUMAC WEST COAST/SOUTHWEST TOUR 2016

Newly announced SUMAC west coast/southwest tour dates below. We will be touring with the highly exceptional groups ENDON (Japan) and Black Spirituals (Oakland). Looking forward to it - hope to see you out there. We'll be playing a few songs from the new album as well....

2/18 Bellingham, WA @ The Shakedown *
2/19 Vancouver, BC @ Biltmore Cabaret *
2/20 Seattle, WA @ Funhouse *
2/21 Portland, OR @ Bunk Bar *
2/22 Eugene, OR @ The Boreal %
2/25 Chico, CA @ Cafe Coda %
2/26 San Francisco, CA @ Hemlock Tavern *
2/27 Glendale, CA @ Complex *
2/28 Phoenix, AZ @ Rebel Lounge ^
2/29 Albuquerque, NM @ Sister ^
3/1 El Paso, TX @ Lowbrow Palace ^
3/3 Austin, TX @ Sidewinder ^
3/4 Dallas, TX @ Club Dada ^

* w/ Endon, Black Spirituals
% w/ Endon
^ w/ Black Spirituals

NEW SIGE RELEASES

Above and below: the new string of SIGE releases in various states of assembly.

Busy fall for SIGE Records - we have the following new titles now available for order from the SIGE webstore:

- Circle "Pharaoh Overlord" CS
- Pharaoh Overlord "Circle" CS
- Mamiffer/Oakeater split CS
- SUMAC "The Deal" CS
- Jussi Lehtisalo "Maisteri" CS
- Oakeater "Aquarius" LP/CS/digital
- Daniel Menche & Mamiffer "Crater" CD/digital

Up next is "Surfacing", the debut release from Faith Coloccia's new solo project Mára.
You can view a video for one of the songs from the album via The Wire Magazines website here.

Thank you.

CRATER VIDEO + DIGITAL

"Crater" video by Daniel Menche. Write-up/premiere today via Noisey.

"Crater" album digital version now available from the SIGE Records Bandcamp.

Thank you.