Things of the year, etc.

In chronological order. Not necessarily the best stuff, but the stuff that comes to mind I think about this year, which was the year I saw Zola Jesus, Radiohead and Morrissey live. I finally got off my arse and released the Sissysocks records and broke out of listening almost solely to ambient/lo-fi/drone music and actually learnt to appreciate poppier stuff.

One of those songs that feel like they came into my life at the perfect time, both personally and musically:

 

 Undoubtedly the song of the year/was the Creaks intro music for our first show:

"What you gonna tell your children?" Another song that came at the right time.

I really, really love the concept of an album as a narrative. Whether or not this was her intention, having this as the closer cast (for me) a sense of despondency, or impending loss over the whole record and made it more dynamic.

Really lovely. I want to steal this song.

On high rotation through Grand Final week in 2012, after its release on the "You're the One" EP. Personally, the progression from the original to this was a wonderful reflection on the kind of person I was one year ago and now.

Track 9 on a Wild Nothing record makes me weep again (and another Grand Final week favourite). The chorus is particularly gorgeous.

New favourite artist:

Hard bloody yakka, sort of

Helena took the photo.

In the lounge room

After bringing flowers for my kitchen table in the last few weeks, Nina today bought me a Kinder Surprise.

BLOODIED now available from Sabolek Records

If you haven't already realised (and if you have then who the hell are you? No one looks at this stuff) I've decided to release my music under my own vanity label for the time being after trying to work things out with a couple of other people over a long time.

The label is Sabolek Records and at the moment I'm simply operating it from a Tumblr (and even then you have to go through Bandcamp to order stuff). It's only me running it and currently the only releases on their are mine; awkward self-promotion and copywriting ensues.

I'd like to release Nina and I's stuff but that is dependent on a whole lot of stuff and would be some months away anyway.

Jonathon has sadly wound up Totem Tapes, so it means I'm now also in possession of the Bloodied cassette run. Limited to 50 copies, it's now technically available from Bandcamp via Sabolek Records. The art has been tweaked too (that's one for the fan club members).

I'll hopefully be playing shows by this summer and the physical releases will be available at those also.

BECAUSE WE HAVE THINGS IN COMMON [LP] - Available now from Sabolek Records

BECAUSE WE HAVE THINGS IN COMMON (CD/c49)

Side A:

1. Because We Have Things In Common

2. Settle

Side B:

3. On the Way Home

4. Ghosts At My Party

Recorded 2009-2010

Available now in digital, CD and cassette formats from the Sissysocks Bandcamp via Sabolek Records 

This is very, very dour. It wasn't particularly fun to make, and it's certainly not very enjoyable to listen to. I made this when I was a 21ish year-old listening to almost exclusively anything that you could consider as any or all of "lo-fi", "ambient" and "drone". Grouper, Pocahaunted, Robin Guthrie, Inca Ore, Emeralds, William Basinski, U.S. Girls, Topaz Rags and so on (Zola Jesus would come around then too, but as an influence later on).

Ultimately I tried to as make so dour and as difficult as possible to reflect the headspace I was in at that time. It's a naïve and melodramatic person who's been taught a lesson coming to amongst the wreckage. Asking silly questions like, why do we spend our time with the people around us? What attracts us to someone? What attracts them to us? And then childishly trying to get around the answers.

All the tracks were done in essentially one take. After overthinking Bloodied (despite what it might sounds like) I wanted to make this as raw as possible, although like Bloodied I ended up feeding nearly every track through an effects box. In the end I deliberately tried to make it sound non-deliberate; to make it sound "lo-fi", at times "ambient" and perhaps even something that could be described as "drone".

I now look back at the time I initially recorded these songs with a lot of nostalgia, although I wouldn't have expected to then.

This is part two of three of the story arc that began with Bloodied.

First show with Nina as Creaks is tomorrow night. I'm nervous because I will be singing.

"The jet fuel, it fell...

...down to earth, where the money always comes first."

Creaks - Dog Show/Disaster Bay

My dear friend Nina and I put this together out of a few rehearsals. You can stream it or download it for free from the Creaks Bandcamp.

Nina sings and plays keys and I put all the things together and add noises. It's nice to make music with other people again.

BLOODIED now available on Bandcamp

Bloodied is now available from the Sissysocks Bandcamp.

You can stream the entire LP or download it for whatever price you'd like!

BLOODIED [LP] - Available now on Totem Tapes

BLOODIED (c49)

Side A:

1. Bloodied

2. ELPHNT

3. You Shook

4. Green

5. 934-8282
Side B:

6. At Night

7. Sleepy

8. September

Recorded 2008-2010

Sleeve design by MB
Contact Totem Tapes to order ($7+postage)
Also available on Bandcamp

Three years ago, I posted what I thought was a finished version of this. Then I realised it was garbage, and so I re-recorded some instrument and vocal tracks, and fed every other one through an effects box. It's been two years and one failed tape run since I completed this. Also in that time, amongst other bits and pieces, I've also recorded the next LP and have begun work on the record after that.

This record comes from a different time, then. Much of what I feared at the time of its creation eventuated in one way or another, so this also became a farewell letter (written by a kicking and screaming younger version of myself).

I don’t expect anyone aside a few people I know to hear this. It was made as a communication piece from myself to those it is addressed to.

This and the next two LPs share the same story arc. This is part one.

Fangs, but no fangs

Draft I did housesitting in Balaclava a few months ago (the usual garbage whilst I'm waiting for first LP tapes to come back from the UK):



Aaaaand for some reason you can download it:

Rise and Fall [draft]