Posts Tagged ‘4AD Records’

EX:RE – ” Ex:Re “

Posted: March 13, 2019 in CLASSIC ALBUMS, MUSIC
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Ex:Re

Ex:Re – the solo recordings of Elena Tonra from Daughter – is now available worldwide on vinyl and CD, after the digital release of the album late last year.

The album was Rough Trade’s Album of the Month, and they will be celebrating by offering an exclusive limited blue pressing of the vinyl with a free CD featuring live versions of four tracks recorded at Hoxton Hall, London in November 2018.

Last month Tonra shared the stunning visuals for ‘The Dazzler’.  Directed by Iain Forsyth and Jane Pollard (creators of Daughter’s triptych of videos for their second record Not To Disappear), the video imagines ‘The Dazzler’ as the hotel depicted in Tonra’s lyrics and places the magnificent British actress Maxine Peake languishing alone in one of its rooms (with cameo appearance from Tonra). Running parallel to Daughter, Tonra has assumed the pseudonym Ex:Re (pronounced ex ray) for her eponymously-titled debut solo album, a deeply personal record that was made with both a sense of urgency and a cathartic need.

“A spacious, raw record.” – Q
“The overall effect is immersive, wallowing, sad but often beautiful.” – Uncut
“Fascinating but demanding debut.” – MOJO
“An album that’s fully formed, rich and deeply affecting.” – DIY
“A beautifully understated mood piece and Tonra’s finest work to date, with or without the band.”
– Loud And Quiet

Elena said of the album, “Although the record is written for someone, a lot of the time it’s about the space without that person in it.  In every scenario, there’s either the person in memory or the noticeable absence of that person in the present moment.  I suppose it is a break-up record, however I do not talk about the relationship at all, and he hardly features in the scenes.  He is only felt as a ghostly presence.”

Tonra’s candid solo songs document the time after a relationship ended and are written like unsent letters to herself and others.  Taking on a creative moniker, she chose Ex:Re to mean ‘regarding ex’ and also ‘X-Ray’ as a way to look inside and see what is really there.  Writing took a year but the recording process lasted mere months, turning to Fabian Prynn (4AD’s in-house engineer and producer) and composer Josephine Stephenson on cello to help bring Ex:Reto life.

Ex:Re’s first single ‘Romance’ its accompanying video (directed by Antonia Luxem

Taken from Ex:Re’s self titled debut album, digitally out now on 4AD & Glassnote Records.

METHYL ETHEL – ” Trip To The Mains “

Posted: March 13, 2019 in CLASSIC ALBUMS, MUSIC
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Beirut

Triage, the third album by Methyl Ethel. Written, produced and performed by lead singer Jake Webb, mixed by Marta Salogni and mastered by Heba Kadry, Triage was recorded in Webb’s home studio in West Perth, Australia.

With the creation of this album, Webb felt a sense of closure – completing the triptych of his three releases.  Methyl Ethel has always been a surrealist outfit – a dark and obscured expression of life set to the backdrop of dream pop hooks.  But Triage is a more reflective album – one that explores the notion of coming of age, only to reference it for the snapshots and passing memories that it has become.

Methyl Ethel is the musical project of Jake Webb which expands to a five-piece live band that includes Thom Stewart, Chris Wright, Lyndon Blue and Jacob Diamond.   Methyl Ethel has enjoyed phenomenal successes over the last year.  In Australia, ‘Ubu’ (the hit single from second album Everything Is Forgotten) became an ARIA Accredited Gold single .  The band has clocked up over 46 million streams on Spotify alone and sold out shows in Australia and the UK.

“One of Australia’s most essential current bands.” – Paste
“Methyl Ethel is one of Australia’s weirdest, most beguiling bands, with its endlessly creative frontman Jake Webb nimbly leaping between sounds that draw upon classic pop, shoegaze, and R&B.”  – Consequence of Sound
“Choc-a-bloc with hooks and head-nodding electro-pop from the get-go, Methyl Ethel have reached great new heights with this stellar effort.” – NME
“Their finest work yet.” – The Line of Best Fit
“Quite dazzling.” – DIY Magazine

‘Trip the Mains’ is the new single taken from Methyl Ethel’s new album ‘Triage’ out on 4AD Records on February 15th 2019,

PIXX – ” Disgrace “

Posted: March 13, 2019 in CLASSIC ALBUMS, MUSIC
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Hannah Rodgers returns with a new Pixx album, “Small Mercies”, on 7th June 2019.

Although love lives at the heart of the BRIT School graduate’s second album, it has little to do with romance. Small Mercies is absolutely not a heartbreak record, nor is it a celebration of new love, or sisterly call-to-arms or vengeful catharsis. Instead, it is a series of poetic examinations of love across the experiential spectrum, from the micro (self-love) to the macro (devotional faith-inspired love, love for this planet), set to a soundtrack that mixes electronic pop and grungy guitar rock with aplomb.

‘Disgrace’ is the new single by Pixx, from the album ‘Small Mercies’ which is released 7th June 2019 on 4AD Records.

BIG THIEF – ” U.F.O.F. “

Posted: March 9, 2019 in CLASSIC ALBUMS, MUSIC
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U.F.O.F., F standing for ‘Friend’, is the name of the highly anticipated third record by Big Thief and their first on 4AD Records, set to be released on 3rd May 2019.

U.F.O.F. was recorded in rural western Washington at Bear Creek Studios. In a large cabin-like room, the band set up their gear to track live with engineer Dom Monks and producer Andrew Sarlo, who was also behind their previous albums. Having already lived these songs on tour, they were relaxed and ready to experiment. The raw material came quickly. Some songs were written only hours before recording and stretched out instantly, first take, vocals and all.

“Making friends with the unknown… All my songs are about this,” says Adrianne Lenker (guitar, vocals); “If the nature of life is change and impermanence, I’d rather be uncomfortably awake in that truth than lost in denial.”

‘UFOF’ by Big Thief, from the new album ‘U.F.O.F.’, released May 3rd on 4AD Records

U.S GIRLS – ” Time “

Posted: March 1, 2019 in CLASSIC ALBUMS, MUSIC
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U.S. Girls document the hypnotic quality of their live show with the intimate new “Time” video. Director Alex Kingswell takes a hands-on approach with the clip, filming Meghan Remy and her massive backing band side-stage during their sold-out performance 2018 at Canada’s Sappy Fest. The camera follows Remy as she dances, sings and steps out to a parking lot during a lengthy instrumental jam.

“Time” appears on the latest U.S. Girls LP, the acclaimed In a Poem Unlimited, which was named in most magazine and bloggers top 10 best album of 2018. Remy aimed to push herself from art-pop into more accessible territory with In a Poem Unlimited. she detailed wanting to make “something that could be played in situations where thinking isn’t usually encouraged.” 

‘Time’ by U.S. Girls, from the acclaimed record ‘In A Poem Unlimited’, out now on 4AD

BIG THIEF – ” UFOF “

Posted: February 27, 2019 in CLASSIC ALBUMS, MUSIC
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Image may contain: 4 people, people sitting, child and outdoor

U.F.O.F. is the highly anticipated third record by Big Thief, set to be released on 3rd May 2019 via 4AD Records.

U.F.O.F. was recorded in rural western Washington at Bear Creek Studios.  In a large cabin-like room, the band set up their gear to track live with engineer Dom Monks and producer Andrew Sarlo, who was also behind their previous albums.  Having already lived these songs on tour, they were relaxed and ready to experiment.  The raw material came quickly.  Some songs were written only hours before recording and stretched out instantly, first take, vocals and all.

“Making friends with the unknown… All my songs are about this,” says Lenker; “If the nature of life is change and impermanence, I’d rather be uncomfortably awake in that truth than lost in denial.”

Band Members
Adrianne Lenker, Buck Meek, James Krivchenia, Max Oleartchik

‘UFOF’ by Big Thief, from the new album ‘U.F.O.F.’, released May 3rd on 4AD Records.

EX RE – ” Ex Re “

Posted: February 1, 2019 in CLASSIC ALBUMS, MUSIC
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Elena Tonra is the singer, songwriter and guitarist for Daughter. This is her first album for the new project that she runs simultaneously alongside Daughter. The album was recorded with Fabian Prynn (4AD producer/engineer) with Josephine Stephenson on cello and inspired by a shattered relationship. ‘Romance’ is the first single taken from Ex:Re’s self titled debut album, digitally out now on 4AD & Glassnote Records.

Running parallel to Daughter, Elena has assumed the pseudonym Ex:Re(pronounced ex ray) for her eponymously-titled debut solo album. The 10-track album ‘Ex:Re’ out now.

Warm, rattling, reassuring strings, tickling percussive beats and rhythms. Soft soothing vocals pair with warm strings, wrapping themselves around the vocals and hugging the strings of your heart. Sliding, picked strings match heartbeat rhythm pulses. The intimate, warm sound of home. Mood is turned into an instrument and a feeling of closeness surrounds you. Eastern tinges edge into the music, climbing vocals and sinuous, resonating drums. An eloquent tale, a catharsis of feeling. The sound of a heart breaking is something to fall in love with.

Elena has said of the album,“Although the record is written for someone, a lot of the time it’s about the space without that person in it. In every scenario, there’s either the person in memory or the noticeable absence of that person in the present moment. I suppose it is a break-up record, however I do not talk about the relationship at all, and he hardly features in the scenes. He is only felt as a ghostly presence.”

EX:RE – ” Romance “

Posted: December 3, 2018 in CLASSIC ALBUMS, MUSIC
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Ex:Re, the Solo Recordings of Elena Tonra. from Daughter.

Elena’s debut solo album – released under the alias Ex:Re – is available digitally now!

The 10-track album was recorded this autumn in South London and is co-produced by Elena & Fabian Prynn.  What a coincidence that I was wondering this morning, if Daughter is ever coming back with some new music. And then I check Twitter and see that “Romance” is released. Even though it’s not a new Daughter song or album, it’s still a pleasant surprise!

Physical copies of ‘Ex:Re’ are also now available for pre-order worldwide (12″ vinyl & CD) with a release date of the 1st February 2019. ‘Romance’ was the first single to be taken from ‘Ex:Re’. Watch the track’s accompanying video – directed by Antonia Luxem .

‘Romance’ is the first single taken from Ex:Re’s self titled debut album, digitally out on 4AD Records & Glassnote Records on November 30th.

METHYL ETHEL – ” Scream Whole “

Posted: November 20, 2018 in CLASSIC ALBUMS, MUSIC
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The most impressive thing about Jake Webb’s musical project, Methyl Ethel, is how consistent the quality of music is. Have you ever listened to a Methyl Ethel song you didn’t like? Think about it. Also, while you’re thinking, how ’bout the fact that no one’s ever seen Nicholas Cage and Marilyn Manson in the same room at the same time? Exactly. ‘Scream Whole’ is the first single off Methyl Ethel’s upcoming record, Triage, out Friday 15th February, 2019.

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The LEMON TWIGS – ” Never In My Arms, Always In My Heart “

Posted: November 15, 2018 in CLASSIC ALBUMS, MUSIC
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The Lemon Twigs have released a video for “Never In My Arms, Always In My Heart,” off their most recent album Go To School, out now through 4AD. The video was directed by frontman Michael D’Addario, who also stars in the video, and Winston H. Case.

Go To School is a glam-inspired concept album about a chimpanzee raised as a human boy—no, seriously. That sort of free-wheeling fancy made the album one of the most effortlessly fun listens of the year, and “Never In My Arms” acts as the introduction to the world that the D’Addario brothers built for us.

It’s a bit jarring, then, that the video is so … depressing. That’s not to say it’s not fun, because it is, in a darkly ironic sort of way. But the story it tells is a far cry from the outlandish fantasy of a chimp in a human’s world. The video follows the trials and tribulations of a barfly couple and their (very publicly) dissolving relationship, It’s the sort of sad scene you might see unfolding at a local watering hole at 8 p.m. on a Wednesday.

“Brian and I played in a whole lot of Long Island bars growing up, and man, we met a lot of people like this,” Michael D’Addario says in a statement. “Sometimes the Long Island mothers would gossip and you’d hear a sad story like this one, and somebody would end up with a tattoo that said ‘Never In My Arms, Always In My Heart.’ A weekend in Hicksville.”

‘Never in My Arms, Always in My Heart‘ is taken from The Lemon Twigs‘ second album ‘Go to School’ out now on 4AD Records,

The Lemon Twigs will be touring throughout November, and will start up again in January of next year

 

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