The debut release from upstart Los Angeles band The Widow Babies could have been alternately titled, “The Lamb Lies Down In San Pedro”. This six song, 13-minute concept album features a brilliantly conceived story that pits Minutemen bassist and erstwhile folkhero Mike Watt against a world domination-minded vampire who looks like Abraham Lincoln.

Produced and recorded by Asthmatic Kitty recording artist Chris Schlarb, the album features tightly focused songs that expand into Brazilian and West African rhythms while the raw energy hints at early influences of The Urinals, Die Monitr Batss and yes, the Minutemen.

Formed in January 2007, The Widow Babies got their start playing DIY venues around Los Angeles and Orange Counties. The four piece bands includes members Danny Miller (guitar), Tabor Allen (drums), Elise McCutchen (vocals), and Neal Marquez (bass). The group met producer Chris Schlarb during the filming of a Sean Carnage production and, becoming fast friends, made plans to record in Long Beach, CA. The group worked quickly and in one eight hour recording session laid down the entirety of The Mike Watt E.P.

Credits
All songs written by The Widow Babies

Produced, recorded and mixed by Chris Schlarb
Design and Artwork by Danny Miller

Track Listing
01. Mike Watt Created The Universe With A Bass Solo [mp3]
02. Vanity Thy Name Is Lincoln
03. Whatchu Thinkin’ Vampire Lincoln???
04. Evil Triumphs Over The Awesome Powers Of Kayak
05. In Which Watt Wins His Hands Back And Basses A River Into Existence
06. Epilogue

A collection of live recordings and trio improvisations with Create (!) saxophonist Peter Chan, Between Them A Forest Grew… finds the group performing songs from their debut recording Blood & Light, the split 12″ with Castanets as well as previously unreleased compositions.

Recorded from 2004 through 2007, Between Them A Forest Grew, Trackless and Quiet is the document of the duet in constant motion. I Heart Lung explores a wealth of improvisational material in addition to studio tracks, old and new, including a sketch from the band’s forthcoming album Interoceans.

Credits
Chris Schlarb- electric guitar, electronics
Tom Steck- acoustic drums, percussion
%with Peter Chan- clarinet, alto saxophone

Produced by Chris Schlarb
Design and Photography by Tom Steck

Track Listing
01. Maleem Ya Maleem* [mp3]
02. The Perennial Affair+
03. If I Were a Young Man Now+ [mp3]
04. Lycanthropy%
05. Useless, Useless%
06. Three (Siblings)+
07. Moving Through Color I#
08. Song of the Boatman on the River Roon+
09. Wheelchair Graduation+
10. Retrospective%
11. Moving Through Color II*

%Live at Bluebird Art Gallery, Whittier, California
Recorded by Chris Schlarb March 6th 2004

#Live at The Dome Room, Long Beach, California
Recorded by Shea Gauer April 23rd, 2005

+Live at High Mayhem, Santa Fe, New Mexico
Recorded by Carlos Santistevan July 3rd, 2005

*Live at Portfolio, Long Beach, California
Recorded by Chris Schlarb March 16th, 2007

Press
“[I Heart Lung are] questioning modern conventions… and in the process they are creating music as beautiful as it is challenging. The contrast between hypnotic, driving percussion and susurrus, meditative guitar is a feature of the music. Meditative yet driving, understated and epic at the same time, this is music which courses through the veins as soothingly as an opiate and as sharply as electricity.”- Ian Patterson, All About Jazz

“…you never know quite what you’re in for at an I Heart Lung show– the performances range from free jazz skronkery (”Lycanthropy”) to roaming ambient pieces (”Maleem Ya Maleem”) and frenetic rhythm’n'drone workouts (”Moving Through Color II”). Steck’s drumming is able to stay focused while also including a great deal of embellishment over the top, and the contrast between his active style and Schlarb’s long, arcing notes is the band’s key strength… a solid record for fans of free improv.”- Joe Tangari, Pitchfork

A timeless collection of holiday cheer. Recorded in one afternoon and mixed in another, this five song EP includes four Christmas standards as well as the I Heart Lung original, “Santa Claus Vs. Dracula.”

An album destined to be included in the popular holiday lexicon with Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole and King Crimson, put this on at your next ornament exchange or Jello-swap and watch eyes, hearts and lungs fill up with the Christmas spirit!

Chris Schlarb- electric guitar, bells
Anthony Shadduck- acoustic bass, bells
Tom Steck- acoustic drums (no bells!)

Produced and Engineered by Chris Schlarb

Artwork by Tom Steck

Track Listing
01. Let It Snow [mp3]
02. Carol of the Bells [mp3]
03. Little Drummer Boy [mp3]
04. Silent Night, Holy Night [mp3]
05. Santa Claus Vs. Dracula [mp3]

Press
“I Heart Lung’s Christmas EP is full of free-form improvisations based loosely on themes from Christmas carols. “Little Drummer Boy” is the most interesting and coherent of the bunch. It takes its time getting around to the theme from the actual song, first delivered on hovering e-bowed guitar around four minutes in. Even then, you really have to concentrate to realize that the drawn-out phrases are echoing the “pah-rum-pah-pum-pums” we’re all used to. 3 out of 5 stars”- Pitchforkmedia.com

ellul’s massive, multilayered debut is born again in a series of specially commisioned remixes. Thavius Beck chops and screws “Esophagus” while Italian electronic duo Mickey Eats Plastic reconstruct “Freedom.” Fellow San Francisco-based artists Radius and Bookworms take completely original turns on their respective remixes while Siamese Sisters surmount a difficult task in re-approaching the delicate and powerful “Fragrance.” A trio of stunning remixes from Blevin Blectum, Deneir and Heezen with Xn. round out an impressive remix EP.

Artwork by Matias Coduri

Track Listing
01. esophagus (Thavius Beck Remix) [mp3]
02. freedom (Mickey Eats Plastic Remix) [mp3]
03. maniacs collide (Radius Remix) [mp3]
04. blood (Heezen with Xn. Remix) [mp3]
05. fragrance (Siamese Sisters Remix) [mp3]
06. enamel on iron (Blevin Blectum Remix) [mp3]
07. around the bend (Bookworms Beck Remix) [mp3]
08. swamp king (Deneir Remix) [mp3]

Press
None at this time.

Recorded in vaulted hill top church, an industrial warehouse, a community center and a living room, up and down the California coast, over the course of five months, ellul’s self titled debut is surprisingly established. Produced and engineered by Chris Schlarb the group added his electric guitar to contributions from Adam Garcia (Timonium, belltower) on drums and Anthony Shadduck (Nels Cline, I Heart Lung) on bass.

Dueling live/programmed drum patterns, shimmering guitar distortions and stunning choral harmonies are unearthed upon repeated listens. ellul have crafted a stunning debut album that reveals heavy doses of progressive electro-acoustic musicianship with each spin.

ellul is:
Joel Brown-Tarman- vocals, acoustic piano, organ, sythesizer, melodica, programming, drums, radio
Joel St. Julien- vocals, electric & acoustic guitar, electric bass, drums, programming

with:
Adam Garcia- acoustic drums
Chris Schlarb- electric guitar, electronics, drums, radio
Anthony Shadduck- electric & acoustic guitar

Produced and engineered by Chris Schlarb
Artwork by Matias Coduri

Track Listing
01. Ballet Faces
02. Maniacs Collide
03. Blood
04. Esophagus [mp3]
05. Listen
06. Freedom
07. Swamp King [mp3]
08. Around The Bend
09. Fragrance
10. Enamel On Iron

Press
“…nothing short of masterpieces of the songwriting craft. This is soul music for the turbulent 2000s. If quality equated with sales then Ellul would sell by the bucket-load… “- Ian Patterson, All About Jazz

“If you can imagine a vocal, instrumental, and lyrical collaboration between Radiohead and Neutral Milk Hotel, I think you’re about halfway to ellul’s sound… There is a beautiful balance of acoustic and electronic sounds throughout… I’m reluctant to highlight individual tracks because I think this set of songs is best enjoyed as a whole. There is a true sense of mood and flow here as one song carries flawlessly to the next… Skipping anything would just be missing out on a strong piece of the album. 9 out of 10″- Foxy Digitalis

“…an enjoyable if not totally surprising debut… the continuum can be more accurately labeled as the kind of not-unknown but not-top 40 version of rock and roll moodiness of bands like the Flaming Lips as well, fitting in a niche while not being entirely part of it.”- Ned Raggett, All Music Guide

“Over time, the LP proves itself as interested in hooks as much as atmosphere. And hooky or not, it is most often beautifully scary.”- Stereo Subversion

“Ellul’s music may be slow and quiet most of the time, but it is engaging enough to resist fading into the background. 4 our of 5″- Owl Magazine

“Ellul have created an utterly surprising collection of songs for their self titled debut album. Ranging in emotion and composition, the album has amazing production values…”- The Deli Magazine

“The production value of the album is stunning. Ellul manages to skirt the line between experimental and minimalist pop, mastering the ability to dip into both sides while maintaining the breathy subtlety that is the band’s signature.”- West Coast Performer Magazine

“Somewhere in between the darker side of late ‘90s indie rock and dissonant shoegaze comes the San Francisco duo Ellul. The band’s self-titled debut was recorded along the California coast in places as diverse as churches, industrial warehouses, and living rooms–which isn’t too surprising given the the guys’ lust for indie guitarscapes…”- XLR8R Magazine

“This is the sound of clouds not burning off. The sound of sleep seeds building up in the corners of your eyes. The sound of that last five minutes and five seconds before your alarm goes off. The sound of empty impossibility and pregnant pauses.”- Music For Robots

“Just another Radiohead rip-off? Only until you grasp Ellul’s reasons for calling its style “contemporary vocal music” by digging into upfront lyrics about “the painful history of a transplanted Haitian son.” Intriguing music and vocals give this debut two legs to stand on.”- East Bay Express

THE DOCUMENT OF THE NEW L.A. MUSIC SCENE!
One night. Forty bands. Two minutes to make their mark.

In the tradition of underground rock movies like THE DECLINE OF WESTERN CIVILIZATION and URGH! A MUSIC WAR, comes an instant cult-classic: 40 BANDS/80 MINUTES!

On one night in Hollywood, over forty of Los Angeles’ most amazing, experimental and eccentric bands join together with one daring goal: to present their uncompromising musical visions to the world in two minute blasts! Using shared equipment, each band has only one chance to get it right. No second takes allowed, everything captured live with multiple cameras and audiophile-quality sound!

These bands fuse electronic, rock, dance, metal, jazz, noise and punk within one amazing community. This is your glimpse into the future of music…

This is 40 BANDS/80 MINUTES!

DVD Includes
* 40 BANDS/80 MINUTES!
* 10 BANDS/20 MINUTES! (Also available for free download!)
PLUS:
* Behind-the-scenes footage
* 2 Audio Commentaries
* Photo Gallery
* Karen Centerfold Short Film
* All Region Disc Play

Press
“Get your culture fix in a New York minute”- N.Y. Times

“Nonstop, high-energy and amazingly diverse.”- The Detroit News

“I was blown away by the exhilarating collective energy the whole event projected, total diversity and whatevs styles with only a common denominator, ‘Do Your Own Thing, and Care’.”- 20 Jazz Funk Greats

“Top DVD, 2006″- Byron Coley & Thurston Moore, Bulltongue #26

“It’s good, really good, in that bang your head silly for two minutes sort of way… Prepare yourself for a strange, diverse and a nonstop jolt of energy!”- John Doran, The Missoulian

“One night of the Los Angeles underground sucked into a hand-held, moving-picture machine”- L.A. Record

“A glimpse into L.A.’s experimental underground scene”- Pitchfork

“The ultimate in short-attention-span sonic theater”- Rich Kane, IE Weekly

“Covering everything from post- hip-hop to sludge metal to sheer insanity, it’s a glimpse into the anything-goes mentality of L.A.’s experimental rock underground. Makes one wish more shows were this concise.”- XLR8R Magazine

“A high-concept ear-shredding thrill ride… Highest recommendation.”- Meanstreet Magazine

“The sheer range of talent is astonishing. From sandwich makers to noisemakers, laptops to a more traditional rock lineup, 40 Bands! gives a glimpse into a scene that will continue to explode”- CMJ

“40 Bands! is a scene report for L.A.’s current DIY underground in all its heterogeneous glory”- Pop Matters

“frenetic… the spirit of this über-independent effort can’t be denied.”- Ann Powers, L.A. Times

“Joyride of a documentary”- YAHOO! Movies

“bizarrely enjoyable”- L.A. CityBeat

“Not recommended for use with Ritalin”- Decibel Magazine

“A High Speed Rockumentary”- The Cleveland Plain Dealer

Recorded in Long Beach immediately following the return from their 2005 tour with Castanets and Wooden Wand & the Vanishing Voice.

John Kannenberg- field recordings
Chris Schlarb- electric guitar
Anthony Shadduck- acoustic bass
Tom Steck- drums

Produced and engineered by Chris Schlarb
Recorded at Tackyland, Long Beach, CA.
Artwork by Tom Steck

Track Listing
01. The Illusion of Going Somewhere
02. Skipping Harrison [mp3]
03. Veronica
04. The Use and Abuse of Materials
05. Deluge Ex Machina
06. Serpentine Walk

Press
None at this time.

Between 2003’s Ear Drung and 2006’s Bloodshot Mama, Bizzart became something altogether new. Once a spoken word artist turned M.C. turned abscratch expressionist Bizzart now occupies a circuit-bent performance art hip-hop space that none before him have occupied. A reformed poet who has lost faith in words alone, Bizzart has tucked Alkalyne’s boom bap into bed with Accident’s live noise comprovisations and together they dream of childhood and pray to a distant God.

The album features contributions from a staggeringly diverse group of artists including I Heart Lung, Awol One, Yarah Bravo, Justin Vollmar and Dulok Shaman.

Credits
Bizzart- vocals, electronics, percussion, tapes
Chris Schlarb- electric and acoustic guitar, electronics, percussion, keyboard
Tom Steck- acoustic drums
Justin Vollmar- acoustic guitar, vocals
Awol One- vocals
Yarah Bravo- vocals
Dulok Shaman- vocals

Produced by Alkalyne and Accident
Recorded, Engineered and Mastered by Accident @ The Red Room
All lyrics by Bizzart
Additional lyrics by Awol One, Yarah Bravo, Dulok Shaman
“Dreams of Sparrows” contains a portion of “Dry Tears” by Ronen Landa
Photography and layout/design by TRSR|HNT

Track Listing
01. Suicide Bomber’s Parade
02. Stumbling Blocks
03. Drifter
04. Shark Skin Humans
05. Liquid Beast [mp3]
06. Dreams of Sparrows
07. Bloodshot Mama
08. Mount Washington Blue and Red
09. Blank Forest

Press
“In the three-year break since Ear Drung, L.A.’s Bizzart has stepped up his game considerably. On Bloodshot Mama, Bizzart expands his sonic spectrum greatly, seating melodic passages next to classic-sounding boom-bap courtesy of Alkalyne and Accident. From the circuit-bent “Stumbling Blocks” to the epically unfolding “Dreams of Sparrows,” Bizzart has unleashed an artful hip-hop record that comes off as totally sincere.”- XLR8R Magazine

“With Bloodshot Mama, you can tell Bizzart chewed his lyrics, grit, blood, and all. Bizzart employs a host of carefully placed and sampled strings, bloated beats, and electronic dissonance through his custom built circuit-bent machinery. Unlike the upcoming crop of noise-based hip-hop groups, Bizzart knows restraint. The abstracted scuzz always has purpose and never overtakes the song when unnecessary.”- Tiny Mix Tapes

“Bloodshot Mama, the sprawling new album by SoCal’s Bizzart, is the forcefully focused effort of a manic crew. Alkalyne and Accident teamed up to produce the album, and the best tracks are the result of further collaborations: Bizzart’s sound is magnified by the shocking artistry of Yarah Bravo (One Self) and AWOL One. It’s a sound soup full of delicious, spastic gristle and, thanks to collaborations, just enough lyrical grit.”- San Francisco Bay Guardian

“a series of sharp songs… a thick flow of rumbling beats and arty touches that is already an equivalent of classic rock, suggesting the early work of Divine Styler… sudden, striking moments…”- Ned Raggett, All Music Guide

“Bizzart’s work is… abstract, and production from Alkalyne and Accident is almost consistently interesting”- Prefix Magazine

“Restlessness and resignation aren’t usually comfortable pals (once you give up, you stop moving), but Bizzart mixes both: discernible lyrics are about separation from life, from family, maybe from feeling.”- Paper Thin Walls

Originally released in 2003 on Konstrictor Productions this fantastically bizzare record features both a 7 song Christmas EP from Nichole & The Dreamcatchers, whose lead singer, Nichole, is in full command of her twelve year old voice shaped at the hands of Gary Gooper. Amazing stuff. Then the full on extravaganza. Two tracks from Half-Handed Cloud, The Mary Hamhocks (Liz Janes and husband- erstwhile Slowly Rotating Fan- Michael Kaufmann) and Mary Krismus. Probably the prettiest thing Create (!) has ever recorded (”Hymn for St. John of Shanghai”- bonus points if you know what he is the patron saint of…), a great lo-fi, fun instrumental from elusive My Marathon and a simply astounding piece of music from Joel Pickell (drummer and musician in the travelling Half-Handed Cloud circus). What is Christmas without kids!?? Childhood tape recordings from 1978 and 87 bookend the tracks and the album tops off with “Red & Green” from themorningcall featuring some sweet baby chatter.

Track Listing
01. Nichole & The Dreamcatchers- Santa is the Greatest [mp3]
02. Nichole & The Dreamcatchers- Santa-Santa [mp3]
03. Nichole & The Dreamcatchers- Time To Rejoice [mp3]
04. Nichole & The Dreamcatchers- What a Day for a Dog of Gold [mp3]
05. Nichole & The Dreamcatchers- Santa’s on his Way [mp3]
06. Nichole & The Dreamcatchers- Santa is the Greatest (surf-rap) [mp3]
07. Nichole & The Dreamcatchers- Chocolate Stars (I’ll be home) [mp3]
08. The Mary Hamhocks- Christmas Kiss [mp3]
09. Joel Pickell- Don’t be Scared There is a Savior [mp3]
10. Christmas 1978- Jingle Bells [mp3]
11. My Marathon- A Sleigh Ride Through the Streets of San Francisco [mp3]
12. Campfire Kids- It’s Jesus’ Birthday so He Should Get the Toys [mp3]
13. Half-Handed Cloud- Asian Meteorologists Predicted the Heavens to Snow-down a Child a Child to Us (Plant a little Fir Tree) [mp3]
14. Mary Krismus- Ah-ooh-nee-oh [mp3]
15. Create (!)- Hymn for St. John of Shanghai [mp3]
16. Bastille Day- It’s Christmas Time in D.C. [mp3]
17. Philip Fawn- Ode to Gandolf and Ye Ole Christmas Spirit [mp3]
18. The Mary Hamhocks- Sweet Baby Jesus [mp3]
19. Christmas 1987- Little St. Nick [mp3]
20. The Switched-Off Promise Book- Electrical Coloured Lights [mp3]
21. Mary Krismus- Go Tell it on the Mountain (for Cousin Paul) [mp3]
22. Half-Handed Cloud- The * That Moved-around the Night [mp3]
23. themorningcall- Red & Green [mp3]

Press
“The comp, now free for the downloadin’, also features music from Liz Janes (disguised as Mary Hamhocks) and Create (!), as well as seven songs by a 12-year-old named Nichole. Does she sound like Daniel Smith of the Danielson Famile? You’ll just have to download to find out.”- Pitchforkmedia.com

“a somewhat deranged holiday album”- Tofuhut

“some of the best Christmas music you’ll hear all year”- Gorilla Vs. Bear

This limited edition 12″ features two unreleased cuts from Asthmatic Kitty recording artists Castanets and three all new pieces from Sounds Are Active’s I Heart Lung. Set to a limited edtion run of 400 copies these rare marbled vinyl LP’s will be going fast. And once they’re gone, they’re gone.

Pressed and sold on the recent Oort Cloud BBQ/Sainthood Now tour which saw I Heart Lung touring along side Castanets and Wooden Wand & Vanishing Voice.

One long-form Castanets composite along with a shorter piece make up Side A. I Heart Lung contributes one rapid-fire free jazz romp on “Speedboats For Breakfast”, one ballad and the near 8-minute “If I Were A Young Man Now.” Delicious droney stuff from all involved.

All artwork by Tom Steck

Track Listing
A1. You Ain’t Goin Nowhere [mp3]
A2. Nothing Was Delivered
B1. Speedboats for Breakfast
B2. Song of the Boatman of the River Roon
B3. If I Were A Young Man Now [mp3]

Press
“…ripping out tongues like lollipops… the duo has a great dichotomy working to their advantage throughout: Schlarb’s free-flying fusion-y Sharrock-n-Hendrix guitar work rings over Steck’s polyrhythmic aerobic pillaging. Imagine if “Evening Star” were made with a figure like Han Bennink ravaging the drums, “If I Were A Young Man Now” is the extremely exciting result. “- Tiny Mix Tapes