Sounds Are Active » My Marathon http://soundsareactive.com Making Noise Beautiful Since 1999 Fri, 18 Jun 2010 05:00:02 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 en hourly 1 Nichole and the Dreamcatchers + Various Artists- Krismus Karuls (KK01) http://soundsareactive.com/nichole-and-the-dreamcatchers-various-artists-krismus-karuls-kk01/ http://soundsareactive.com/nichole-and-the-dreamcatchers-various-artists-krismus-karuls-kk01/#comments Wed, 03 Oct 2007 16:04:59 +0000 Chris Schlarb http://soundsareactive.com/nichole-and-the-dreamcatchers-various-artists-krismus-karuls-kk01/ 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. ]]> 5AB83900-4A5A-4ECA-9EE8-F19A346AFF4B.jpg
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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

]]> http://soundsareactive.com/nichole-and-the-dreamcatchers-various-artists-krismus-karuls-kk01/feed/ 0 themorningcall/My Marathon- split 7″ (SAA1107) http://soundsareactive.com/themorningcallmy-marathon-split-7-saa1107/ http://soundsareactive.com/themorningcallmy-marathon-split-7-saa1107/#comments Wed, 03 Oct 2007 07:16:56 +0000 Chris Schlarb http://soundsareactive.com/themorningcallmy-marathon-split-7-saa1107/ The first split 7" released on Sounds Are Active comes from two very different instrumental ensembles: My Marathon, based out of San Francisco, is a moody four piece which includes former Halo Friendlies drummer, Deanna Lewis now on guitar. These two slippery songs recorded by Havalina’s Matt Wignall in Long Beach, shout and murmur with highly melodic guitar interplay and a propulsive rhythm section work from Justin Lewis (bass) and Colin Dobrin (drums). Also mastered by The Album Leaf's Jimmy Lavalle. Chris Schlarb’s themorningcall is a distinctly different musical statement from one of Create (!)’s co-founders. With Chris playing all instruments (except drums on “August” which are played by Long Beach area rapper Zyrun Jackson) themorningcall’s music transitions from brisk fusion breaks on “Sometimes...” to the acoustic piano driven “August” which also includes a 4-part clarinet section before falling into backward cymbal washes and keyboard melodies.]]> 393B195E-F42C-40F3-B0C9-0FBD2AE36075.jpg

The first split 7″ released on Sounds Are Active comes from two very different instrumental ensembles:

My Marathon, based out of San Francisco, is a moody four piece which includes former Halo Friendlies drummer, Deanna Lewis now on guitar. These two slippery songs recorded by Havalina’s Matt Wignall in Long Beach, shout and murmur with highly melodic guitar interplay and a propulsive rhythm section work from Justin Lewis (bass) and Colin Dobrin (drums). Also mastered by The Album Leaf’s Jimmy Lavalle.

Chris Schlarb’s themorningcall is a distinctly different musical statement from one of Create (!)’s co-founders. With Chris playing all instruments (except drums on “August” which are played by Long Beach area rapper Zyrun Jackson) themorningcall’s music transitions from brisk fusion breaks on “Sometimes…” to the acoustic piano driven “August” which also includes a 4-part clarinet section before falling into backward cymbal washes and keyboard melodies.

My Marathon is:
Colin Dobrin- drums, trombone
Deanna Lewis- guitar, engineering, xylophone, twisting knobs
Justin Lewis- bass, twisting knobs
Kris Rotelle- guitar, guitar, guitar

Recorded and mixed at tackyland by Matt Wignall
Mastered by Jimmy Lavalle

themorningcall is:
Chris Schlarb- electric guitar, electric retar, drums, electric bass, acoustic piano, clarinet, percussion, electronics
Zyrun Jackson- drums on “august”

Recorded, produced and written by Chris Schlarb
at Lil’ Rock Studios, the Orange Room and Gilmore Music
Mastered by Nick Bergh

Track Listing
A1. My Marathon-559 Pennsylvania [mp3]
A2. My Marathon-The Getaway
B1. themorningcall-stereotomy pt.2/somethings the rays of the sun get really sharp and poke me in the soft part of my eye [mp3]
B2. themorningcall-august/45 drunken spiders

Press
“This is why turntables were invented, you know… this 7″ is special. If you like instrumental music you’re guaranteed to enjoy it, and if you don’t own a turntable, buy it anyway. No, I’m being serious. You won’t regret it. Trust me on this one.”- tangzine.com

“exquisitely pretty style… full of uplifting crescendos, mathy interludes and electronic meanderings… quirky noises, piano, clarinet and guitars over drum backdrops…”- Punk Planet

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