Shabazz Palaces have added new European and U.K. dates for 2018 in support of Quazarz Vs. The Jealous Machinesand Quazarz: Born on a Gangster Star. The dates, which find the band supporting Ms. Lauryn Hill’s The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill 20th Anniversary Tour, begin November 18th in Brussels at Forest National and end on December 3rd in London at O2 Arena.
Shabazz Palaces’ previously announced U.S. dates with Ms. Lauryn Hill resume on September 20th at Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, California and run through October 7th at the Chicago Theatre in Chicago. The band will also appear at Cropped Out Festival in Louisville on October 6th. Please find a complete list of dates below.
Shabazz Palaces have also shared “Quazarz on 23rd” a short film for the closing song from Quazarz Vs The Jealous Machines, their acclaimed release and second album of 2017 [watch here].”
Director, multimedia artist and fellow Black Constellation member Nep Sidhu says of the visual: “In continuing from the previous short film (“Welcome to Quazarz”), A Being from the Quazarz raises from the Black Constellation System Scramble ® but still finds himself lost tonally and sonically amidst earth’s recent offerings. In receiving Bhai Vir Singh’s response by way of a familiar female form, he journeys to ready himself to meet her on H.E.R. terms by way of cleanliness, and a non-deity based ritual. Far from superstition, this is a ceremony that has no place for fake cathartic release. An indigo drenched reflection in drum awaits his understanding of himself.”
“Quazarz on 23rd” stars Michael Singh (as “The Soul”) and Allix Thompson (as “Mother Nature”), and features collaborations from: Michael Reynolds (editing and analog optics); Tiona Nekkia McClodden, Noel Chaput, and Reynolds (VHS cinematography); and Alex McLeod (animation).
In related news, Sidhu will also unveil new works at the grand opening of Toronto’s MOCA Museum first show entitled “Believe,” beginning September 22 (through January 6th, 2019). This includes the Shabazz Palaces-inspired “Quazarz Pinball Machine w/ Leisure & Surveillance Enhancement Console” which will make its debut at the show.
Sep. 20 - Mountain View, CA - Shoreline Amphitheatre* Sep. 26 - Denver, CO - Red Rocks Amphitheatre* Sep. 29 - Houston, TX - Smart Financial Center Sugarland* Sep. 30 - Dallas, TX - The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory* Oct. 03 - New Orleans, LA - Lakefront Arena* Oct. 05 - St. Louis, MO - Chaifetz Arena* Oct. 06 - Louisville, KY - Cropped Out Festival at American Turners Oct. 07 - Chicago, IL - The Chicago Theatre* Nov. 18 - Brussels, BE - Forest National* Nov. 20 - Paris, FR - AccorHotels Arena* Nov. 21 - Paris, FR - AccorHotels Arena* Nov. 23 - Glasgow, UK - SSE Hydro* Nov. 26 - Manchester, UK - Manchester Arena* Nov. 27 - Birmingham, UK - Birmingham Arena* Nov. 30 - Dublin, IE - 3Arena* Dec. 03 - London, UK - O2 Arena* *w/ Ms. Lauryn Hill
Quazarz Born on a Gangster Starand Quazarz vs. The Jealous Machines, the group’s third and fourth albums released in 2017, are available now on CD / LP / DL / CS / Illustrated album worldwide through Sub Pop over here, and you can hear here:
Recently, Rolling Stone Country had this to say about “Booksmart Baby,” one of the rarities found on Furr: Deluxe Edition, “Different from the hazy, psychedelic Americana of Furr…“Booksmart Baby” is a mellow, finger-picked folk tune that runs for just under two minutes. The song…sounds in line with the wistful melancholy of Nick Drake and that of another Portland artist, Elliott Smith. Throughout the short song, Blitzen Trapper frontman Eric Early delivers hushed, cryptically poetic lyrics full of longing.”
Blitzen Trapper released Furr its breakthrough and label debut for Sub Pop in 2008. The album was met with universal acclaim, earning praise from the likes of The Guardian, Pitchfork, Paste, AV Club, and Rolling Stone, who in its 4-star review called it “an engaging album full of rootsy beauty.” The album would go on to earn the no. 13 spot on Rolling Stone’s “50 Best Albums of 2008,” later that year.
For the newly expanded deluxe edition of Furr, Blitzen Trapper have compiled two LPs worth of material: The original album and twelve rare and previously unreleased tunes. All of these songs were from the same recordings that became Furr, with the exception of the “Live at KCRW “ tracks, which were recorded during the Furr tour.
The reissue features updated cover art, and a new liner note from Earley reflecting on the album and what it means now, as well as a track by track description of the bonus songs, and a Q&A with the stage & screen actor, and Blitzen Trapper fan, Rainn Wilson (of The Office, Six Feet Under and The Blitzen Trapper Massacre fame).
Furr: Deluxe Edition is available on 2xLP/CD/DL/CS (Furr only) through Sub Pop [buy here]. LP purchases through megamart.subpop.com and select independent retailers will receive the limited Loser edition on clear vinyl with gold swirl (while supplies last).
Blitzen Trapper Tour Dates + Ticket Links
Blitzen Trapper will support the release of Furr: Deluxe Edition with a massive fall North American tour, beginning this Friday, September 14th at Victoria’s Rifflandia Festival and ending November 17th-18th with a two-night stand at Portland’s Doug Fir Lounge. These fall shows will find the band playing Furr in its entirety, followed by a set of fan favorites from throughout the band’s discography. Sub Pop labelmates Luluc will also join Blitzen Trapper as direct support November 8th-18th (select dates). For up-to-date information on tickets, please visit the band’s official website.
Furr Fall 2018 Tour Dates Sep. 14 - Victoria, BC - Rifflandia Festival Sep. 15 - Vancouver, BC - The Commodore Sep. 16 - Nelson, BC - Spiritbar at the Hume Hotel Sep. 17 - Calgary, AB - Festival Hall Sep. 18 - Edmonton, AB - Starlite Room Sep. 19 - Saskatoon, SK - Amigos Sep. 20 - Toronto, ON - RBC Echo Beach** Sep. 21 - Minneapolis, MN - Fine Line Music Cafe Sep. 22 - Indianapolis, IN - Holler On The Hill at Garfield Park Sep. 24 - 25 - Chicago, IL - Schubas Sep. 27 - Hamilton, ON - Mills Hardware Sep. 28 - Ottawa, ON - The 27 Club Sep. 29 - Montreal, QC - Le Ministère Oct. 01 - Allston, MA - Great Scott Oct. 02 - Brooklyn, NY - Music Hall of Williamsburg Oct. 04 - Philadelphia, PA - The Foundry at The Fillmore Oct. 05 - Washington, DC - Rock and Roll Hotel Oct. 06 - Carrboro, NC - Cat’s Cradle Oct. 07 - Atlanta, GA - The Earl Oct. 08 - Nashville, TN - The Basement East Oct. 10 - St. Louis, MO - Blueberry Hill Duck Room Oct. 11 - Kansas City, MO - Record Bar Oct. 12 - Lincoln, NE - The Royal Grove Oct. 13 - Boulder, CO - Fox Theatre Nov. 08 - Chico, CA- Sierra Nevada Brewing Company * Nov. 09 - Reno, NV - Offbeat Music Festival Nov. 10 - Novato, CA - Hopmonk Tavern* Nov. 11 - Sebastopol, CA - Hopmonk Tavern* Nov. 12 - Solana Beach, CA - Belly Up Tavern Nov. 13 - Los Angeles, CA - Lodge Room* Nov. 14 - San Francisco, CA - The Independent* Nov. 16 - Seattle, WA - The Crocodile* Nov. 17 - Portland, OR - Doug Fir Lounge* Nov. 18 - Portland, OR - Doug Fir Lounge* ** w/ Shaky Graves, The Sheepdogs * w/ Luluc
Knife Knights have shared a new visual for the song “Low Key,” from 1 Time Mirage, their otherworldly debut, directed by Dean Blunt. Gorilla vs. Bear premiered the visual and had this to say, “Knife Knights team up with a kindred experimental spirit in enigmatic London luminary Dean Blunt on the visuals for “Low Key“, taken from Knife Knights’ fathomless new debut LP 1 Time Mirage. The group’s bio refers to the hazy “Low Key” as a “radiant daydream,” and Blunt takes that concept in an impenetrably nebulous direction [see September 13th post].”
1 Time Mirage is out today on CD/LP/DL/CS worldwide from Sub Pop. The long-player features the highlights “Give You Game,”“Seven Wheel Motion,”“My Dreams Never Sleep”“Light Up Ahead (Time Mirage)”and the aforementioned “Low Key.” The album also includes guest appearances from labelmates Shabazz Palaces and Porter Ray, along with Stas THEE Boss, OCnotes, Thaddillac, El Mizell, Marquetta Miller, Gerald Turner, and Darrius Willrich. 1 Time Mirage was produced by Ishmael Butler and Erik Blood at Protect and Exalt: A Black Space in Seattle.
London in Stereo says 1 Time Mirage is “[A] spellbinding fusion of rap, blessed funk, and tough soul, and The Wire called it a “suite of sci-fi cosmic hip-hop that takes myriad turns and twists, none of them predictable, all of them compelling.”
Meanwhile, Loud and Quiet, in its 8/10 review, had this say, “Like Butler’s frequent collaborator Flying Lotus, Knife Knights create a rich, fibrous world around each of the tracks on 1 Time Mirage. This is an album whose air you can breathe, whose fragrant musk seeps from each detail. Its production has an insomniac energy, oddly tranquil and unsettled at the same time, each dab of reverb and tickling delay sending ripples through the fug of warped beats and sardonic rhymes.”
And Bandcamp Daily offered this, “1 Time Mirage leapfrogs across several different genres and subgenres, pulling hip-hop, psychedelic soul, and shoegaze into an 11-track set of chaotic noise. Between the woozy bounce of “Seven Wheel Motion,” the house-inflected stomp of “Can’t Draw The Line,” and the hazy pop of “Come On Let’s Go,” the album is easily as esoteric as anything created by Shabazz Palaces; but the music here feels lusher and more sophisticated.”
1 Time Mirage purchases through megamart.subpop.com and select independent retailers will receive the limited Loser edition pressed on blue and white marbled vinyl (while supplies last). The album cover also features gorgeous artwork from Robert Beatty.
The band’s international tour schedule in support of Double Negative has been extended with new, headlining North American dates for 2019.
Lowhave shared a new video for “Rome (Always in the Dark)” which was directed by Aaron Anderson and Eric Timothy Carlson. The collage-like video accentuates the intense nature of the track, an insistent march forcing its way through the din of the album with a damn-the-torpedoes tenacity. “Let’s turn this thing up before they take us out…”
Low’s Double Negativewill be available on CD/LP/DL/CS worldwide this Friday, September 14th through megamart.subpop.com and select independent retailers. The album cover for Double Negative was created by longtime collaborator, English artist, Peter Liversidge.
Low’s international tour schedule for 2018/19, which begins with a three-night stand September 19th-21st, 2018 at National Sawdust in New York City, has been extended through March 23rd, 2019, ending with a show at Velour Live Music Gallery in Provo, Utah. The new, 10-date extension includes stops in Denver, Santa Fe, Phoenix, Tijuana, Los Angeles, Portland, and Seattle.
2018 Tour Dates Sep. 19 - New York, NY - National Sawdust Sep. 20 - New York, NY - National Sawdust Sep. 21 - New York, NY - National Sawdust Sep. 29 - Lisbon, PT - Lisboa ao Vivo Oct. 01 - De Compostela Santiago, ES - Sala Capitol Oct. 02 - Madrid, ES - Sala But Oct. 03 - Barcelona, ES - Fabra i Coats Oct. 05 - Milan, IT - Teatro Dal Verme Oct. 06 - Zurich, CH - Bogen F Oct. 08 - Leipzig, DE - UT Connewitz Oct. 09 - Berlin, DE - Festsaal Kreuzberg Oct. 10 - Bochum, DE - Christuskirche Bochum Oct. 11 - Brussels, BE - Orangerie (at Botanique) Oct. 12 - Amsterdam, NL - Paradiso Oct. 13 - Paris, FR - La Gaîté Lyrique Oct. 15 - Bristol, UK - Trinity Oct. 16 - Manchester, UK - Manchester Cathedral Oct. 17 - Dublin, IE - Vicar Street Nov. 02 - St. Paul, MN - The Fitz Nov. 05 - Detroit, MI - El Club Nov. 06 - Toronto, ON - Great Hall Nov. 08 - Montreal, QC - La Sala Rosa Nov. 09 - Boston, MA - Brighton Music Hall Nov. 10 - Philadelphia, PA - Underground Arts Nov. 12 - Washington, DC U Street Music Hall Nov. 13 - Pittsburgh, PA - The Funhouse Nov. 14 - Cleveland, OH - Grog Shop Nov. 15 - Grand Rapids, MI - Pyramid Scheme Nov. 16 - Chicago, IL - Rockefeller Chapel Nov. 17 - Madison, WI - High Noon Saloon
2019 Tour Dates Jan. 29 - Glasgow, UK - Tramway Jan. 30 - Birmingham, UK - Birmingham Town Hall Jan. 31 - Brighton, UK - St. George’s Church Brighton Feb. 01 - London, UK - Barbican Feb. 02 - Kortrijk, BE - De Kreun Feb. 04 - Groningen, NL - Vera Feb. 05 - Erlangen, DE - E-Werk (Erlangen) Feb. 06 - Cologne, DE - Kulturkirche Köln Feb. 07 - Frankfurt, DE - Sankt Peter Feb. 08 - Hamburg, DE - Uebel & Gefährlich Feb. 09 - Aarhus, DK - Voxhall Feb. 11 - København, DK - The Koncerthuset - Studie 2 Feb. 12 - Gothenburg, SE - Pustervik Feb. 13 - Oslo - Norway - Parkteatret Feb. 14 - Stockholm, SE - Kagelbanan (Small Room) Mar. 08 - Denver, CO - Globe Hall Mar. 09 - Santa Fe, NM - Meow Wolf Mar. 11 - Phoenix, AZ - Valley Bar Mar. 12 - Tustin, CA - Marty’s On Newport Mar. 13 - Tijuana, MX - Moustache Mar. 15 - Los Angeles, CA - Lodge Room Mar. 16 - San Francisco, CA - Great American Music Hall Mar. 18 - Portland, OR - Star Theater Mar. 19 - Vancouver, BC - Imperial Mar. 20 - Seattle, WA - Neumos Mar. 23 - Provo, UT - Velour Live Music Gallery
Beach House also shares “Black Car (Sonic Boom Remix)”.
7 is one of the Best Albums of 2018 (So Far): Stereogum(#1), Rolling Stone, NPR, Entertainment Weekly, Billboard.
**** - TheGuardian **** - Rolling Stone “Best New Music” (8.9/10) - Pitchfork “The new Beach House album is their best yet” - Vulture
Beach House’s “Drunk In LA” is one of the standouts from 7, the group’s acclaimed new album for 2018. And now the song has a new, kaleidoscopic video directed by album co-producer Sonic Boom.
Upon the album’s release, Stereogum included the track in its “5 Best Songs of the Week,” and had this to say: “The immediate standout from Beach House’s magnificent 7 is “Drunk In LA,” a showstopper made stronger by everything else around it. The stuttering opening beat that opens the song blossoms into one of the duo’s most staggering songs yet.”
Beach House has also delivered a new Sonic Boom remix of “Black Car” [listen here] and had this to say about both the rework, and the “Drunk In LA” video:
“7was co-produced by Sonic Boom aka Peter Kember. We had a lot of fun with him throughout the process, and he helped us remember that any idea is welcome in a recording environment (he played a drill on “Lemon Glow”).
“While mixing the record with Alan Moulder in London, we were out having dinner and Pete mentioned an idea for a video where the viewer is always looking up from the ground. This became the “Drunk in LA” video. When he sent it to us, we complimented and commented on the trippy, dreamlike nature of the video and he wrote that it was essentially just a day in his life.
“We have never had a remix, but we thought it would be cool if Pete did one. We really like the one he did for “Black Car,” because it feels like a different song, focused largely on voice and arpeggio. It feels like a poem this way, and the minimal treatment highlights the lonesome quality of the song. Hope you enjoy! Much Love.”
Beach House just completed a sold-out, North American tour in support of 7. The band will resume their overseas dates on September 25th in Lisbon, PT at Coliseu dos Recreios and end touring for 2018 on October 20th in Dublin, IE at Vicar Street.
Sep. 25 - Lisbon, Portugal - Coliseu dos Recreios Sep. 26 - Porto, Portugal - Teatro sa da Bandeira Sep. 27 - Madrid, ES - La Riviera Sep. 28 - Barcelona, ES - Razzmatazz Sep. 30 - Lyon, France - Epicerie Moderne Oct. 01 - Köln, DE - Gloria Oct. 02 - Berlin, DE - Huxleys Oct. 04 - Lund, SE - Mejeriet Oct. 05 - Gothenburg, SE - Trädgar’n Oct. 07 - Oslo, NO - Rockefeller Music Hall Oct. 08 - Stockholm, SE- Münchenbryggeriet Oct. 09 - Copenhagen, DK - Forum Black Box Oct. 11 - Hamburg, DE - Kampnagel Oct. 12 - Utrecht, NL - TivoliVredenburg Oct. 13 - Brussels, BE - AB [Sold Out] Oct. 15 - Paris, FR - Olympia Oct. 17 - London, UK - Troxy Oct. 18 - London, UK - Troxy [Sold Out] Oct. 19 - Manchester, UK - Albert Hall [Sold Out] Oct. 20 - Dublin, IE - Vicar Street [Sold Out]
7, featuring the videos and singles for “Black Car” [watch here], “Dark Spring” [watch here], “Lemon Glow,” “Dive” and the aforementioned “Drunk In LA,” is available now from Sub Pop, Bella Union (Europe), and Mistletone (Australia / New Zealand).
