“When Cats Claw” was produced by Knife Knights (aka Ishmael Butler and Erik Blood), recorded and mixed by Blood at Protect and Exalt Labs: A Black Space in Seattle (see Rolling Stoneinterview & track premiere June 20th).
Quazarz: Born on a Gangster Star and Quazarz vs. The Jealous Machines will be released on July 14th on CD / LP / DL / CS and are now available for preorder from Sub Pop [right here]. LP pre-orders for each album from megamart.subpop.com and select independent retailers, will receive the limited “Loser” edition on colored vinyl (…Jealous Machines on mashed-up purple; …Born on a Gangster Star on aluminum). Both albums can be purchased together as a special bundle, and there are also new T-shirt designs associated with each release (one for …Born on a Gangster Star and two for …vs. The Jealous Machines). Would you like to know more?
Shabazz Palaces will support both Quazarz: Born on a Gangster Star and Quazarz vs. The Jealous Machines with international tour dates that span July 13th-16th at Cascadia Festival in Granite Falls, Washington through November 9th-12th at Le Guess Who? Festival in Utrecht, Netherlands.
Jul. 13-16 - Granite Falls, WA - Cascadia Festival Aug. 16 - Portland, OR - The Star Theater* Aug. 18 - San Francisco, CA - Great American Music Hall* Aug. 19 - Los Angeles, CA - The Regent Theatre* Aug. 20 - Phoenix, AZ - Crescent Ballroom* Aug. 21 - El Paso, TX - Lowbrow* Aug. 23 - Austin, TX - Mohawk (Outdoor Stage)* Aug. 24 - Dallas, TX - Club Dada* Aug. 25 - Baton Rouge, LA - Spanish Moon* Aug. 26 - Atlanta, GA - Terminal West* Aug. 27 - Charleston, SC - Music Farm* Aug. 28 - Carrboro, NC - Cat’s Cradle* Aug. 30 - Columbus, OH - Ace of Cups* Aug. 31 - Detroit, MI - El Club* Sep. 01 - Toronto, ON - Lee’s Palace* Sep. 02 - Montreal, QC - Theatre Fairmount* Sep. 03 - Quebec City, QC - Le Cercle Sep. 05 - Boston, MA - The Sinclair* Sep. 06 - Brooklyn, NY - Warsaw* Sep. 07 - Philadelphia, PA - Union Transfer* Sep. 08 - Washington, DC - Black Cat* Sep. 09 - Baltimore, DC - Ottobar* Sep. 11 - Asheville, NC - The Grey Eagle Tavern & Music Hall Sep. 15 - 17 - Chicago, IL - Riot Fest at Douglas Park Nov. 09-12 - Utrecht, NL - Le Guess Who? Festival *w/ Porter Ray
Strange Peace will be available in Canada from Royal Mountain Records and throughout the rest of the world from Sub Pop Records.
On September 22nd, METZ will release Strange Peace, an emphatic but artful hammer swing to the status quo and their highly-anticipated third full-length album. Alex Edkins (guitar, vocals), Hayden Menzies (drums), and Chris Slorach (bass) recorded at Electrical Audio in Chicago, live off the floor to tape with Steve Albini. The result is a distinct artistic maturation into new and alarming territory, frantically pushing past where the band has gone before, while capturing the notorious intensity of their live show. The trio continued to assemble the album (including home recordings, additional instrumentation) back at home in Toronto, adding the finishing touches with longtime collaborator, engineer and mixer, Graham Walsh. “The songs on Strange Peace are about uncertainty,” Edkins explains. “They’re about recognizing that we’re not always in control of our own fate, and about admitting our mistakes and fears. They’re about finding some semblance of peace within the chaos.”
And “Cellophane,” the first song to be released from the new album, is available now. Read the full bio for Strange Peace below.
Strange Peace is available for pre-order now from both Sub Pop and Royal Mountain Records. LP pre-orders of the album from megamart.subpop.com and select independent retailers will receive the limited Loser Edition on clear vinyl with red and green swirls (while supplies last).
Strange Peace Tracklisting: 1. Mess of Wires 2. Drained Lake 3. Cellophane 4. Caterpillar 5. Lost in the Blank City 6. Mr. Plague 7. Sink 8. Common Trash 9. Escalator Teeth 10. Dig a Hole 11. Raw Materials
METZ have scheduled international tour dates in support of Strange Peace from September 25th at Chicago’s Thalia Hall, through to December 16th in Houston at Studio at Warehouse Live, with more to follow. This first tour will visit over 34 cities including Toronto (two shows), Boston, New York, Philadelphia, DC, Prague, London, Warsaw, Berlin, Copenhagen, Barcelona, Paris, Seattle, Vancouver, Portland, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Austin.
Sep. 05 - Atlanta, GA - 529 Sep. 07- Raleigh, NC - Hopscotch Festival Sep. 25 - Chicago, IL - Thalia Hall Sep. 29 - Toronto, ON - Lee’s Palace * Sep. 30 - Toronto, ON - Lee’s Palace * Oct. 02 - Boston, MA - Sinclair # Oct. 03 - Philadelphia, PA - The First Unitarian Church # Oct. 04 - Brooklyn, NY - Music Hall of Williamsburg # Oct. 05 - New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom # Oct. 06 - Washington, DC - Rock & Roll Hotel # Oct. 08 - Montreal, QC - La Sala Rosa Nov. 02 - Prague, Czech Republic - Futurum ! Nov. 03 - Wroclaw, Poland - Klub Firlej ! Nov. 04 - Warsaw, Poland - Klub Hydrozagadka ! Nov. 06 - Berlin, Germany - Bi Nuu ! Nov. 07 - Copenhagen, Denmark - Loppen ! Nov. 08 - Hamburg, Germany - Knust ! Nov. 09 - Zwolle, Netherlands - Poppodium Hedon ^ Nov. 10 - Kortrijk, Belgium - De Kruen (Sonic City Festival) Nov. 12 - Le Havre, France - Le Tetris % Nov. 14 - Nimes, France - La Paloma % Nov. 15 - Bordeaux, France - Theatre Barbey % Nov. 16 - Toulouse, France - Club Metronum % Nov. 17 - Barcelona, Spain - La (2) De Apolo % Nov. 18 - Madrid, Spain - Moby Dick % Nov. 20 - Nantes, France - Pole Etudiant % Nov. 21 - Paris, France - Le Trabendo % Nov. 22 - London, UK - The Garage % Nov. 23 - Bristol, UK - The Fleece % Nov. 24 - Leeds, UK - Brudenell Social Club % Nov. 25 - Brighton, UK - The Haunt % Dec. 07 - Seattle, WA - Neumos Dec. 08 - Vancouver, BC - Cobalt Dec. 09 - Portland, OR - Doug Fir Dec. 11 - San Francisco, CA - Independent Dec. 12 - Los Angeles, CA - Teragram Dec. 13 - San Diego, CA - Casbah Dec. 15 - Austin, TX - Mohawk & Dec. 16 - Houston, TX - Studio @ Warehouse Live
* with SUUNS # with Uniform ! with Protomartyr ^ with Brian Case % with Drahla & with Cherubs
More on METZ’s Strange Peace Since releasing their self-titled debut record in 2012, which The New Yorker called, “One of the year’s best albums…a punishing, noisy, exhilarating thing,” the Toronto-based 3-piece METZ have garnered international acclaim as one of the most electrifying and forceful live acts, touring widely and extensively, playing hundreds of shows each year around the world.
Now, Alex Edkins (guitar, vocals), along with Hayden Menzies (drums), and Chris Slorach (bass) are set to unleash their highly-anticipated third full-length album, Strange Peace, an emphatic but artful hammer swing to the status quo.
“The best punk isn’t an assault as much as it’s a challenge — to what’s normal, to what’s comfortable, or simply to what’s expected. Teetering on the edge of perpetual implosion,” NPR wrote in their glowing review of METZ’s 2015 second album, II.
Strange Peace was recorded in Chicago, live off the floor to tape with Steve Albini. The result is a distinct artistic maturation into new and alarming territory, frantically pushing past where the band has gone before, while capturing the notorious intensity of their live show.
“Recording in Chicago was a blast. We tracked fourteen songs in four days. It was the first time we felt confident enough to just play live and roll tape,” Edkins said of the recording process. “Strange Peace is much more diverse and varied than anything we’ve done before, which was exhilarating, but terrifying, too. We took the tapes home to Toronto feeling like we’d made the record we wanted to make.”
The trio continued to assemble the album (including home recordings, additional instrumentation) back in their hometown, adding the finishing touches with longtime collaborator, engineer and mixer, Graham Walsh.
From the ferocious opening track, “Mess of Wires,” we’re met by the sheer force and fierce musicianship we’ve come to expect from METZ. With the unhinged, post-punk fragments of “Drained Lake,” and the whirling, acerbic pop features of “Cellophane,” the band’s hectic progression becomes clear. But Strange Peace isn’t merely a collection of eleven uninhibited and urgent songs. It’s also a kind of sonic venting, a truculent social commentary that bludgeons and provokes, excites and unsettles.
“The songs on Strange Peace are about uncertainty,” Edkins explains. “They’re about recognizing that we’re not always in control of our own fate, and about admitting our mistakes and fears. They’re about finding some semblance of peace within the chaos.”
With all the pleasurable tension and anxiety of a fever dream, Strange Peace is equal parts challenging and accessible. It is this implausible balancing act, moving from one end of the musical spectrum to the other, that only a band of METZ’s power and capacity can maintain: discordant and melodic, powerful and controlled, meticulous and instinctive, subtle and complex, precise and reckless, wholehearted and merciless, brutal and optimistic, terrifying and fun.
“Their whiplash of distortion is made with precision, a contained chaos. But you would never talk about them like that. Because METZ are not something you study or analyze,” wrote Liisa Ladouceur in Exclaim! “They are something you feel: a transfer of energy, pure and simple.”
In other words: to feel something, fiercely and intensely, but together, not alone.
Sub Pop Records is seeking a
full-time Receptionist at our world headquarters in Seattle, WA. The
candidate must be:
able to
multi-task
able to work
as part of a team, sharing common goals
self-motivated
and goal-oriented
detailed and
organized
in possession
of strong communication and writing skills
comfortable
using MS Office suite and be internet savvy
accommodating
and outgoing with office visitors
The closing date to apply for this position is Friday, May 26th, 2017.
Main Job Tasks and Responsibilities
The Receptionist at
Sub Pop has a variety of responsibilities, including attending to visitors and
phone calls. In addition, our receptionist provides information regarding the
company to the general public and the people we work with, and serves as a
general facilities manager and marketing assistant, whose main focus within
marketing is tour promotions.
answer telephone; screen and direct calls; take and relay messages
provide basic company policies, Sub Pop history, and
information to the public
keep
track of employee schedules and in/out calendars
receive and sort mail and deliveries daily
oversee general cleanliness and organization of common
areas/kitchen/conference room
order and maintain stock of office and kitchen supplies
oversee office maintenance and act as liaison to building
management
provide
venues and promoters promotional tour supplies for Sub Pop bands
update
listings for tour merchandise accounting system AtVenu
assist Marketing Director in preparing for meetings with artists and their managers; assist with project report distribution as nec.
receive, sort, and provide intern applications for
employees, specifically the marketing staff
manage special projects
provide
administrative support as needed
provide
Sub Pop materials as set dressing for television and motion pictures
update
and maintain front desk operator’s manual\
Please send resume and cover letter to Derek Erdman (dereke@subpop.com).
Light Information will be available in Canada from Flemish Eye and the rest of the world from Sub Pop
Nobody cared about their old heads, because the new ones work just fine now, don’t they?.... they have the same size mouth and eyes.
From the beautiful mind of Chad VanGaalen comes Light Information. The creative polymath’s sixth album will in stores worldwide on September 8th.
While alienation has always been a theme of VanGaalen’s music, Light Information draws on a new kind of wisdom–and anxiety–gained as he watches his kids growing up. “Being a parent has given me a sort of alternate perspective, worrying about exposure to a new type of consciousness that’s happening through the internet,” he says. “I didn’t have that growing up, and I’m maybe trying to preserve a little bit of that selfishly for my kids.”
The song “Old Heads” is a sci-fi space anthem to technology that constantly replaces itself, proving both necessary and unnecessary at the same time. It’s also a jangly pop gem, a trip through the fantastical that is ultimately warm and relatable.
Light Information features the standouts “Old Heads” [listen on Spotify], “Pine & Clover,” and Mind Hijacker’s Curse.” As always, VanGaalen wrote, played, and produced all of the music on the album (save Ryan Bourne’s bass part on “Mystery Elementals” and vocals on “Static Shape” from his young daughters Ezzy and Pip), and designed the cover art. Light Information emerged from the experimental instruments that fill VanGaalen’s Calgary garage studio. Among them is a beloved Korg 770 monosynth, which VanGaalen coveted for years before fixing one up and devoting a lot of recent energy to recording “duets” with it. One of these, “Prep Piano and 770,” is the lone instrumental on Light Information, more atmosphere and chord bursts than the rest of the album’s hooky rock narrative.
“If I was going to go out and buy a record, I would probably want it to sound only like that,” says VanGaalen. “That one’s for me.”
Throughout the dark-wave reverb of Light Information are stories of paranoia, disembodiment, and isolation–but there’s also playfulness, empathy, and intimacy.
[Photo Credit: Marc Rimmer]
Read more about Chad Van Gaalen (bio by Evie Nagy) at subpop.com, and follow Chad everywhere in the known inter-verse via Facebook | Twitter | Instagram.
Light Information is available for preorder now (CD / LP / DL / CS) from Sub Pop and Flemish Eye. LP preorders of the album from megamart.subpop.com and select independent retailers will receive the limited Loser edition on crystal clear vinyl (while supplies last).
Light Information Tracklisting:
1. Mind Hijacker’s Curse 2. Locked in the Phase 3. Prep Piano and 770 4. Host Body 5. Mystery Elementals 6. Old Heads 7. Golden Oceans 8. Faces Lit 9. Pine and Clover 10. You Fool 11. Broken Bell 12. Static Shape
Chad VanGaalen has also scheduled fall 2017 international tour dates in support of Light Information. The dates currently span October 15th in Utrecht, Netherlands at EKKO through December 8th in Montreal, Quebec at The Fairmount. The 30-city trek will include stops in London, Copenhagen, Berlin, Paris, Vancouver, Seattle, Portland, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Toronto, Montreal, and Brooklyn. Support for the North American shows (select dates) will come from NE-HI (November 11th-19th) and Un Blonde (December 1st-8th). Please find a complete list of dates below.
Europe Oct. 15 - Utrecht, NL - EKKO Oct. 16 - Rotterdam, NL - Rotown Oct. 17 - London, UK - Oslo Oct. 18 - Leeds, UK - Brudenell Social Club Oct. 20 - Hamburg, DE - Molotow (Sky Bar) Oct. 21 - Copenhagen, DK - Stengade Oct. 22 - Berlin, DE - Kantine am Berghain Oct. 24 - Düdingen, CH - Bad Bonn Oct. 25 - Lyon, FR - Le Sonic Oct. 26 - Amiens, FR - La Lune des Pirates Oct. 27 - Paris, FR - Point Ephemere Oct. 28 - Nantes, FR - SOY Festival Oct. 29 - Tourcoing, FR - Le Grand Mix Oct. 30 - Luxemburg, LU - Rotondes Oct. 31 - Gent, BE - BIB
North America Nov. 09 - Vancouver, BC - The Biltmore Cabaret Nov. 10 - Seattle, WA - Sunset Tavern * Nov. 12 - Portland, OR - Doug Fir * Nov. 14 - San Francisco, CA - The Chapel * Nov. 15 - Los Angeles, CA - Satellite Club * Nov. 16 - San Diego, CA - Soda Bar * Nov. 17 - Phoenix, AZ - Valley Bar * Nov. 19 - Denver, CO - Hi Dive * Nov. 20 - Salt Lake City, UT - Kilby Court Nov. 30 - Toronto, ON - Lee’s Palace Dec. 01 - Detroit, MI - El Club ** Dec. 02 - Chicago, IL - Empty Bottle ** Dec. 03 - Indianapolis, IN - The Hi Fi ** Dec. 05 - Pittsburgh, PA - Club Cafe ** Dec. 06 - Brooklyn, NY - Rough Trade NYC ** Dec. 07 - Allston, MA - Great Scott ** Dec. 08 - Montreal QC - Fairmont** *w/ NE-HI **w/ Un Blonde
Watch a live performance of “Violet” direct from Marika’s bedroom, right over here.
Marika Hackman’s “Violet” is a provocative new track from I’m Not Your Man, her forthcoming album, and Sub Pop Debut, preceded last week by her a romantic (and creepy) new video for “My Lover Cindy,” another standout track from I’m Not Your Man. The video was directed by Sam Bailey, and stars Marika as a butler working in the home of a young couple who begin a fencing match. As the match progresses, the masks come off and the sword fighting intensifies and things get…weird. Watch it here and see through thine own eyes.
Tour Dates + Ticket Links
Marika Hackman’s previously announced co-headlining tour with The Big Moon begins July 29th in Los Angeles at the Bootleg Theatre and ends August 16th in Brooklyn at Baby’s All Right. The Big Moon, will act as her backing band for this trek (and are the studio musicians with whom she recorded I’m Not Your Man). The 14-city tour will also visit Chicago, Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal, Denver, Boston, Minneapolis, Seattle, and more. The Big Moon are currently supporting Love in the 4th Dimension, out now on Columbia Records.
Jul. 29 - Los Angeles, CA - Bootleg* Jul. 31 - Oakland, CA - Starline Social Club* Aug. 02 - Portland, OR - Mississippi Studios* Aug. 03 - Vancouver, BC - Biltmore Cabaret* Aug. 04 - Seattle, WA - Sunset Tavern* Aug. 06 - Salt Lake City, UT - Kilby Court* Aug. 07 - Denver, CO - Lost Lake* Aug. 09 - Minneapolis, MN - 7th St Entry* Aug. 10 - Milwaukee, WI - Back Room at Collectivo* Aug. 11 - Chicago, IL - Schubas* Aug. 13 - Toronto, ON - The Drake* Aug. 14 - Montreal, QC - Casa del Popolo* Aug. 15 - Boston, MA - Great Scott* Aug. 16 - Brooklyn, NY - Baby’s All Right* *w/ The Big Moon
I’m Not Your Man will be released on CD / LP / DL / CS and is now available to preorder (please) in North and South America from Sub Pop. and Marika Hackman’s official website here. LP preorders through megamart.subpop.com and select independent retailers will receive the Loser edition on green and orange swirled vinyl with a bonus 7” (while supplies last). There will also be a new t-shirt design available. I’m Not Your Man is also available in rest of the world via from AMF Records.
Things aren’t what they seem in Marika Hackman’s romantic and creepy new video for “My Lover Cindy,” one of the standouts from I’m Not Your Man, her forthcoming album (out 6/2).
“My Lover Cindy” was directed by Sam Bailey, and stars Marika as a butler working at the home of a young couple who begin a fencing match. Pretty sure you’ll never think of fencing the same way after this…
Marika Hackman’s forthcoming co-headlining tour with The Big Moon) begins July 29th in Los Angeles at the Bootleg Theatre and ends August 16th in Brooklyn at Baby’s All Right. The Big Moon,will act as her backing band for this trek (and are the studio musicians with whom she recorded I’m Not Your Man). The 14-city tour will also visit Chicago, Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal, Denver, Boston, Minneapolis, Seattle, and more. The Big Moon are currently supporting Love in the 4th Dimension, out now on Columbia Records.
Jul. 29 - Los Angeles, CA - Bootleg* Jul. 31 - Oakland, CA - Starline Social Club* Aug. 02 - Portland, OR - Mississippi Studios* Aug. 03 - Vancouver, BC - Biltmore Cabaret* Aug. 04 - Seattle, WA - Sunset Tavern* Aug. 06 - Salt Lake City, UT - Kilby Court* Aug. 07 Denver, CO - Lost Lake* Aug. 09 - Minneapolis, MN - 7th St Entry* Aug. 10 - Milwaukee, WI - Back Room at Collectivo* Aug. 11 - Chicago, IL - Schubas* Aug. 13 - Toronto, ON - The Drake* Aug. 14 - Montreal, QC - Casa del Popolo* Aug. 15 - Boston, MA - Great Scott* Aug. 16 - Brooklyn, NY - Baby’s All Right* *w/ The Big Moon
Marika Hackman’s I’m Not Your Man includes the highlights “Boyfriend,” [watch here], “My Lover Cindy” [listen here / watch live here], “Violet” and “Cigarette,” and was produced and mixed by Charlie Andrew (Alt-J) at various locales throughout London.
I’m Not Your Man will be released on CD / LP / DL / CS and is now available to preorder in North and South America from Sub Pop and Marika Hackman’s official website over here. LP preorders through megamart.subpop.com and select independent retailers will receive the Loser edition on green and orange swirled vinyl with a bonus 7” (while supplies last). There will also be a new t-shirt design available. I’m Not Your Man is also available in rest of the world via from AMF Records.
There’s an open-ended nature toI’m Not Your Man: the discussions within, conversations on femininity, sex and sexual identity, millennial ennui, the pressures of living in a social media bubble and the perils of being young in a fast-paced industry. Says Marika, “The record’s all about female relationships, romance and breakdowns, but there’s also a dim worldview going on. I’m Not Your Man can either mean, ‘I’m not your man, I’m your woman’, or it can mean, ‘I’m not a part of this…’,” explains Marika.It’s a fiery statement from a songwriter who no longer wants to be shackled to limiting descriptions…To help channel this fervid female energy, Hackman recruited her best mates – London quartet The Big Moon to play as her backing band. They all met at a gig once and an immediate friend crush ensued. “They really captured the soul of what it all meant to me and brought a lot of fun and creativity,” says Hackman. “A lot of messing about and cuddling.” There was no concern that bringing in a much-hyped band to play on a number of tracks would take the shine off her own project. “I just wanna make the right record and if that’s involving people who can fucking smash it then that’s what I’m gonna do. Bands coming together is so important, particularly for women [read more at Sub Pop].”
