On November 1st, Omni will release their Sub Pop debut Networker. The first single, “Sincerely Yours”, delivers a tight groove accompanied by smart leads. Elements that have become a definitive part of Omni’s immediately recognizable sound. However, there is a new sonic brilliance to this recording. If spring single, “Delicacy”, was a taste for what was to come, “Sincerely Yours” lifts the curtain to reveal their lush, new sound.
Networker’s 11 tracks were written between tours and a handful of studio sessions, allowing Omni’s Frankie Broyles and Philip Frobos to push their songwriting boundaries while keeping the stage in mind, designing songs to enhance their tight, energetic performances. Longtime collaborator, Nathaniel Higgins returned to help capture what is their most “HI-FI” album to date. Together they recorded the LP in Vienna, GA between November 2018 - April 2019.
[Photo Credit: Emily Frobos]
Elaborating on the inspiration behind “Sincerely Yours”, Frobos shares that “The last couple of years marked a lot of friends making the 9 to 5 career change. While I’m aware that there are many advantages to that lifestyle, the song is written from an outsider’s perspective while remaining close to their struggles.” You can watch the new video for “Sincerely Yours” right here, and also here.
The band has announced a 26 date world tour this fall in support of their Sub Pop debut Networker. The North American run will kick off on Oct. 23rd in Nashville, and find the group touring through Chicago, Brooklyn, DC, and Raleigh, ending in their home city of Atlanta on Nov. 4th. They will then head overseas beginning on Nov. 10th in Kortrijk, Belgium with shows in Hamburg, Copenhagen, Berlin, Paris, Lille, Brighton, Glasgow, and London. See below for a full list of shows.
Networker is now available for preorder from Sub Pop. LP preorders of the album through megamart.subpop.comand select independent retailers in North America, UK, and Europe will receive the limited Loser edition on opaque blue while supplies last.
Oct. 23 - Nashville, TN - The Basement Oct. 25 - Chicago, IL - Empty Bottle Oct. 27 - Toronto, ON - The Garrison
Oct. 28 - Montreal, QC - Bar Le Ritz Oct. 29 - Brooklyn, NY - Baby’s All Right Oct. 30 - Brooklyn, NY - Sultan Room Nov. 2 - Washington, DC - Pie Shop Bar Nov. 3 - Raliegh, NC - Kings Raleigh Nov. 4 - Atlanta, GA - The Earl Nov. 10 - Kortrijk, BE - Sonic City Festival Nov. 11 - Hamburg, DE - Molotov Nov. 12 - Copenhagen, DK - Loppen Nov. 13 - Berlin, DE - BERGHAIN KANTINE Nov. 14 - Utrecht, NL - Ekko Nov. 15 - Le Havre, FR - Mc Daids Nov. 18 - Paris, FR - La Boule Noire Nov. 19 - Lille, FR - La Bulle Nov. 20 - Brussels, BE - Le Botanique Nov. 21 - Colmar, FR - Le Grillen Nov. 22 - St. Gallen, CH Palace St. Gallen Nov. 23 - Lyon, FR - Sonic Nov. 25 - Brighton, UK - Hope Nov. 26 - Bristol, UK - Rough Trade (Bristol) Nov. 27 - Manchester, UK - YES Nov. 28 - Glasgow, UK - Mono (Glasgow) Nov. 29 - Leeds, UK - Brudenell Social Nov. 30 - London, UK - Oslo
About Omni:
Enter Networker, the new album by Omni and first with indie giant Sub Pop Records. Their sound is still defined by sparse drums, locked-in bass, blistering guitar, and nonchalant, yet assured vocals, but from the first notes of “Sincerely Yours” you’ll immediately notice that Networker sounds much cleaner and more “HI-FI” than their prior two albums, Deluxe (2016) and Multi-task (2017). The departure in fidelity suits the new record and allows the listener to enjoy the nuances of their meticulous arrangements. Don’t worry, the riffs of Gang of Four and Wire are still present, but the production is more lush and the harmony is even more expansive. Despite nods to the sounds of the ’70s and ’80s what comes through is a record fully rooted in the here and now. Thematically, this is apparent on the title track “Networker” taking a candid snapshot of the “digital you” aspect of life in the age of the internet. The otherwise fun romp “Skeleton Key” also acknowledges the “direct message and obsessive” side of social media with lines like “if you don’t like what you see, the pretty face on the screen, scroll on by…”
Networker was written half between tours and half during recording sessions. The band, Philip Frobos on bass/vocals and Frankie Broyles on guitars/drums/keys, returned with longtime collaborator Nathaniel Higgins to the studio in South Georgia where they also recorded Multi-task and most recent single “Delicacy.” In this case, the “studio” is a cabin near Vienna, GA (pronounced Vye-anna) that was built by Frankie Broyles’ great-grandparents in the 1940s. The band completed four sessions between November 2018 and April 2019. Omni hit their stride in the cabin with songs such as “Moat,” which cruises along at a nice mid-tempo clip with sounds that are maybe piano or maybe the “behind the bridge” strings of a Jaguar a la Sonic Youth or This Heat. “Blunt Force” provides a nice contrast to some of the more upbeat cuts, getting jazzy with it’s less traditional arrangement and psychedelic outro.
On “Courtesy Call,” Omni successfully ride the line of being able to pleasantly reference influences without mimicking. They venture into experimental Haruomi Hosono territory while still managing to sound like Thin Lizzy. The same could be applied to “Sincerely Yours” where the fantastic guitar work and a beautiful breakdown in the middle dive into late 70’s jazz production. On standout cut “Present Tense,” Yellow Magic Orchestra vibes are present in the fun synthesizer riff while the guitar counterpoint checks this direction pulling the song back into something fresh, sharp, and definitely Omni.
Overall, Networker is simultaneously fun, catchy, and contains some truly impressive musicianship. This combo is especially hard to pull off as bands that are great players often don’t have great or memorable songs. Omni and Nathaniel Higgins have done a stellar job of reigning in their diverse influences into a cohesive record by curating their sounds into a tight package that leaves you just on the cusp of understanding where the band is coming from, while still feeling like you’re hearing something totally fresh. While their earlier records had more of a “post-punk” sound, Networker is an amalgamation of the best sounds of the ’70s and ’80s, all arranged with (mostly) guitars, bass, and drums for our contemporary age, and it really works! There are hooks everywhere, vocal and instrumental, that will leave you humming along, even during the first listen. As Philip Frobos says in “Present Tense,” “guess who’s on my mind right now?” Well, Omni’s on mine and will be on yours soon.
Close it Quietly, available worldwide on September 6th via Sub Pop.
On September 6th, Sub Pop will release Frankie Cosmos’ fourth studio album, Close It Quietly. This album is a manifestation of the band’s collaborative spirit: Greta Kline and longtime bandmates Lauren Martin (synth), Luke Pyenson (drums), and Alex Bailey (bass) luxuriated in studio time with Gabe Wax, who engineered and co-produced the record with the band at Brooklyn’s Figure 8 Studios.
The bands latest video for “Wannago” features comedian Catherine Cohen and was directed by the fine folks at House of Nod. The video is centered around the band’s love for reality baking shows, specifically The Great British Bake Off. “I thought a baking competition theme would translate well to a music video. In some ways I think the lighthearted drama, tension, and release of that format mirrors the ebb and flow of emotions (lyrically and musically) in this song, and so it was kind of a natural fit” says drummer Luke Pyenson. You can watch the video for the song here and also here.
When asked about the song, Kline had this to share “Wannago is an older song that I thought would never come out. Every time we ever tried to arrange it we gave up or lied that we would come back to it later. It felt too hard, and I found some of the lyrics embarrassing. Then Alex encouraged us to give it another shot because he really loved the demo. We ended up all working together to turn this into a song that feels sparkly and distinct; and it’s really fun to play. I’ve accepted the cheesier lyrics as part of the youthful glow of the song, it feels very wide-eyed and is purely about love, distance, and life.”
Frankie Cosmos has announced a World Tour, splitting these shows into three legs. The first leg of dates will begin on September 18 in Boston, MA, and end on Sep. 29 in their hometown of New York City which will include an opening comedy set from “Wannago” video star Catherine Cohen. They will then head overseas beginning on Oct. 8th in Munich, Germany with shows in Prague, Amsterdam, and Paris, ending on Oct. 22nd in London. The final leg of dates will run from Oct 31st - Nov 16th with shows in Portland, Seattle, Vancouver, Los Angeles, and Berkeley. See below for a full list of shows.
Close It Quietly is now available for preorder from Sub Pop. LP preorders of the album through megamart.subpop.com and select independent retailers in North America, UK, and Europe will receive the limited Loser edition on blue pearlescent (North America) and opaque yellow (UK/EU) while supplies last.
“It’s Marika’s rawness that makes Any Human Friend such an emotive and compelling album” - ★★★★ ½ DIY
Marika Hackman’s internationally acclaimed new album Any Human Friend is out today, Friday, August 9th in North and South America from Sub Pop, and the rest of the world through AMF Recordings.
The powerful, sexually-charged album, which is led by the highlights “i’m not where you are,”“the one,”“all night,” ”hand solo,” and “blow,” was produced by Hackman and David Wrench (Frank Ocean, the xx, Lets Eat Grandma). She will embark on a headlining North American tour this October and November with support from Hardly Art artists Girl Friday, who will also act as her backing band for the entire tour.
Marika Hackman has also scheduled a Reddit “Indieheads” AMA for Wednesday, August 14th at 12:30 pm PDT/3 pm EDT.
Any Human Friend is now available from Sub Pop. LP purchases through megamart.subpop.com and select independent retailers in North America will receive the limited Loser edition on Salmon-colored vinyl (while supplies last).
Aug.15 - Beacon Breacons, UK - Green Man Festival Sep. 21 - Bristol, UK - Thekla Sep. 23 - Glasgow, UK - Oran Mor Sep. 24 - Leeds, UK - Brudenell Social Club Sep. 25 - Manchester, UK - Band On The Wall Sep. 26 - London, UK - Islington Assembly Hall Oct. 11 - Atlanta, GA - The Earl* Oct. 12 - Durham, NC - The Pinhook* Oct. 13 - Washington, DC - U Street Music Hall* Oct. 14 - Philadelphia, PA - Boot & Saddle* Oct. 15 - Brooklyn, NY - Elsewhere* Oct. 18 - Allston, MA - Great Scott* Oct. 19 - Portland, ME - Port City Music Hall* Oct. 20 - Montréal, QC - Bar Le ‘Ritz’ P.D.B.* Oct. 21 - Toronto, ON- The Legendary Horseshoe Tavern* Oct. 23 - Columbus, OH - Ace of Cups Oct. 24 - Ann Arbor, MI - Blind Pig* Oct. 25 - Chicago, IL- Sleeping Village* Oct. 26 - Milwaukee, WI - Back Room at Colectivo Coffee* Oct. 28 - Minneapolis, MN - 7th St. Entry* Nov. 01 - Seattle, WA - Neumos* Nov. 04 - Oakland, CA - Starline Social Club* Nov. 06 - West Hollywood, CA - The Roxy Theatre*
*w/ Girl Friday
What “The People” have said about Any Human Friend:
“A treasure trove of zippy guitar hooks, glimmering synths, and lemony vocals.” - (9.3/10) PASTE
“Infectious, assured, and eclectic…, Album of the Week.” - Stereogum
“Any Human Friend is all bangers, all the time…there is not a single low point on the album.” - ★★★★★ DORK
“Any Human Friend sees Hackman wholly uncensored, and all the better for it.” - ★★★★ Q
“Signals Hackman’s coming of age as an artist with real purpose and star power.” - ★★★★ The Telegraph
“Her most universal album yet.” - (8/10) Uncut
“A contender for album of the year.” - (8/10) CLASH
“A quantum leap forward” - (8/10) PopMatters
“Any Human Friend is an explosive body of work.” - (8/10) The Line of Best Fit
“The arrangements are sharper, the choruses bigger…” - (8/10) Loud & Quiet
On August 23rd, Shannon Lay will release her Sub Pop debut entitled August which will be available on CD/LP/DL/CS worldwide on August 23rd. On the title single “August”, Lay shares that “August is a declaration. I will live my life the way I want to live it and only accept the opportunities that bring me joy. Music has become something that feels much bigger than I am. I fully embrace the immensity of it all and will grow with it every day.”
Recorded with her longtime friend, musician Ty Segall at his home studio lay shared that “I believe whoever you record with tends to affect the mood of music and Ty really brought this jovial sense that I hadn’t really explored yet.” “Once you get rolling with him, he just throws these ideas at the wall. And you’re like, ‘I would never have thought of that!’ I couldn’t have hoped for a better guide and energy to help create this record.” You can listen to her new single “August” by clicking here.
Photo credit: Denee Segall
Lay’s long-player August is available for pre-order from Sub Pop. LP pre-orders of the album through megamart.subpop.com and select independent retailers in North America, UK, and Europe will receive the limited Loser edition on orange vinyl (North America) and Sun Yellow vinyl (UK/EU) while supplies last.
As previously reported, Shannon Lay will be a member of Ty Segall’s Freedom Band for his upcoming full album residencies in Los Angeles, New York, Paris, London, Berlin, and Haarlem (See Pitchfork’s news story April 24th).
Shannon will be playing an album release show at Pico Union Project on Aug. 24th before embarking on an 18-date North American tour opening for Mikal Cronin. This run will begin on November 8th in Portland at Mississippi Studios and end on December 1st in San Diego at the Casbah. Shannon will continue as a special guest performing with Cronin in Europe beginning on Feb. 10th - 29th. See below for a full list of shows.
Aug. 24 - Los Angeles, CA - Pico Union Project ***Record Release Show Oct. 21 - London, UK - Set Nov. 6 - San Francisco, CA - Independent * Nov. 08 - Portland, OR - Mississippi Studios* Nov. 09 - Vancouver, BC - The Fox Cabaret* Nov. 10 - Seattle, WA - Tractor Tavern* Nov. 11 - Missoula, MT - Badlander * Nov. 14 - St. Paul, MN - Turf Club* Nov. 15 - Chicago, IL - Lincoln Hall * Nov. 16 - Detroit, MI - Deluxx Fluxx* Nov. 17 - Toronto, Canada - Horseshoe Tavern* Nov. 18 - Montreal, Canada - Bar Le “Ritz” P.D.B.* Nov. 19 - Allston, MA - Great Scott* Nov. 20 - New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom* Nov. 22 - Philadelphia, PA - Underground Arts* Nov. 23 - Washington, DC - U Street Music Hall* Nov. 24 - Durham, NC - Motorco Music Hall* Nov. 25 - Atlanta, GA - The Earl* Nov. 26 - New Orleans, LA - One Eyed Jacks* Nov. 27 - Austin, TX - Barracuda* Nov. 30 - Tucson, AZ - Toole* Dec. 01 - San Diego, CA - The Casbah* Feb. 10 - Munich, DE - Milla * Feb. 11 - Cologne, DE - Bumann & SOHN * Feb. 12 - Berlin, DE - Kantine am Berghain * Feb. 13 - Aarhus, DK - TAPE * Feb. 14 - Copenhagen, DK - Loppen * Feb. 15 - Stockholm, SE - Nalen * Feb. 17 - Oslo, NO - Ingensteds * Feb. 18 - Gothenburg, SE - Oceanen * Feb. 19 - Hamburg, DE - Molotow (SkyBar) * Feb. 20 - Amsterdam, NL - Bitterzoet * Feb. 21 - Brussels, BE - Botanique * Feb. 22 - Paris, FR - Petit Bain * Feb. 24 - Bristol, UK - The Louisiana * Feb. 26 - Manchester, UK - Soup Kitchen * Feb. 27 - Glasgow, UK - The Hug & Pint * Feb. 28 - Leeds, UK - Brudenell Social Club * Feb. 29 - Brighton, UK - The Hope & Ruin * * w/ Mikal Cronin
On Sep 20th, Sub Pop will release Morning in America, a new 7-song EP of tracks recorded during the sessions for Mudhoney’s 2018 album, Digital Garbage (“…an astute, politically relevant and commendably fired-up garage punk belter of an LP,” – The Quietus). The tracks include “Let’s Kill Yourself Live Again” (an alternate version of the Digital Garbage stand-out “Kill Yourself Live,” and the bonus track for the Japanese CD version of that album), “One Bad Actor” (a new version of Mudhoney’s track on the limited-edition, and now very sold-out, SPF30 split 7” single w Hot Snakes), album outtakes “Snake Oil Charmer,” “Morning in America” and “Creeps Are Everywhere,” plus “Ensam I Natt” (“So Lonely Tonight,” a Leather Nun cover) and “Vortex of Lies” from a very limited EU tour 7”.
The songs were mixed at Johnny Sangster’s studio Crackle & Pop! The release of this EP coincides with Mudhoney’s fall 2019 US tour – see below for dates.
Morning in America will only be available on 12” vinyl and through digital services. Pre-orders for this new Mudhoney EP are available from Sub Pop now. And, the limited Loser Edition of Morning in America, on white vinyl marbled with black, is available frommegamart.subpop.com and select independent retailers inNorth America, UK, and Europe, while supplies last.
Morning in America Tracklisting 1.Vortex of Lies 2. Creeps Are Everywhere 3. Ensam I Natt 4. Morning in America 5. Let’s Kill Yourself Live Again 6. Snake Oil Charmer 7. One Bad Actor
Mudhoney will be touring the US following the release of this EP: Sep. 27 – Sep. 29 - Dana Point, CA - Ohana Festival Oct. 4 - Jersey City, NJ - White Eagle Hall @ Oct. 5 - Boston, MA - Brighton Music Hall * Oct. 6 - Philadelphia, PA - Union Transfer * Oct. 7 - Richmond, Virginia - The Broadberry * Oct. 8 - Pinhook, Durham - NC * Oct. 9 - Atlanta, GA - Terminal West * Oct. 10 - Ashville, NC - Grey Eagle Tavern & Music Hall * Oct. 11 - Knoxville, TN - Concourse # Oct. 12 - Nashville, TN - Basement East $ Oct. 14 - St Louis, MO - Off Broadway % Oct. 15 - Detroit, MI - El Club % Oct. 16 - Cleveland, OH - Grog Shop % Oct. 17 - Pittsburgh, PA - Mr. Smalls % Oct. 18 - Baltimore, MD - Baltimore Soundstage % Oct. 19 - Brooklyn, NY - Market Hotel %
@ w/ Shut Up * w/ Pissed Jeans # w/ Pissed Jeans, Kings of the Fucking Sea $ w/ Porcupine & Kings of the Fucking Sea % w/ Kid Congo Power + the Pink Monkey Birds
