Search Results for:

GLITTERHOUSE

Various Artists

The Jeffrey Lee Pierce Sessions Project - The Task Has Overwhelmed Us

    Nearly ten years in the making, The Task Has Overwhelmed Us is the long-awaited fourth volume in The Jeffrey Lee Pierce Sessions Project series. Coming Sep 29 via Glitterhouse Records and starting with the first Single on June 30th “On The Other Side” by Nick Cave & Debbie Harry. Just two of many great contributors in this project, to honour the life and work of Jeffrey Lee Pierce.

    Conceived in 2006 by the late Gun Club titan’s guitarist Cypress Grove, the Project has always aimed to highlight Pierce as one of America’s most fascinatingly influential singer-songwriters of the last century while propelling his outpourings into modern times by placing it in the hands of former collaborators, friends and fans.

    Following 2009’s We Are Only Riders, 2012’s The Journey Is Long and 2014’s Axels and Sockets, The Task Has Overwhelmed Us presents stellar interpretations of tracks from Pierce’s Gun Club and solo canons along with fresh works constructed from rehearsal skeletons, previously unheard lyrics, songs only performed live. Taking song ideas without lyrics and words looking for musical settings gave rise to what Cypress Grove calls “Frankenstein songs”.

    The stellar roll-call of contributors features the Project’s original recurring core including Nick Cave, Debbie Harry, Mark Lanegan, Lydia Lunch, Youth, Jim Jones, Warren Ellis, Mark Stewart, Hugo Race, Cypress himself plus Mick Harvey and J.P. Shilo as The Amber Lights, even Jeffrey himself from original tapes. These are joined by new bloods including Dave Gahan, Suzie Stapleton, Duke Garwood, Pam Hogg, The Coathangers, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club’s Peter Hayes and Leah Shapiro, Humanist, The Walkabouts’ Chris Eckman, Jozef van Wissem, Jim Jarmusch, Chantal Acda and Welsh space-rockers Sendelica with US vocalists Wonder and Dynamax Roberts. Like Pierce’s beloved jazz, the cast often spill into each other’s tracks. The mood throughout the eighteen tracks is of rare gems crafted with love, respect and the energy of committed fans, even obsessives channeling whatever facet or fragment of Pierce’s unruly muse fires their creative juices. It’s pretty much carved in legend how Jeffrey Lee Pierce roared out of post-punk LA brandishing an incendiary genius that flamed in the spotlight for just fifteen years before his untimely death in 1996. Despite the impact of the Gun Club and resonance of Pierce’s back catalogue, his legacy seemed in danger of shrinking to eternal cult status earlier this century, fading against modern blandness yet ever-radiating for a gaggle of core diehards he’d touched with his supernatural muse (quite possibly in a blizzard of chaos).

    Then along came London-based guitarist Cypress Grove, who’d played with Jeffrey in his final years gigging and on 1992’s Ramblin' Jeffrey Lee & Cypress Grove With Willie Love. Sorting out his loft one day in 2006, Cypress found an anonymous cassette containing bedroom rehearsals for Ramblin’… - “very vague but good enough to work from,” he says. “So I had the idea of asking people who worked with Jeffrey, were friends with him or who simply admired his work to help me complete the songs.” “The Cypress Tape” would soon be joined by other unrealized song sources from diverse tapes supplied by key characters in Jeffrey’s life coming on board, including Gene Temesy, who started the Gun Club fan club in 1984 and brought home Pierce’s ‘98 autobiography Go Tell The Mountain, writer-DJ- musician Phast Phreddie Patterson and Jeffrey’s sister Jacqui, who supplied unfinished songs and previously unseen writings she’d discovered after her brother’s death. “The source material for some of the songs was so vague that it could be interpreted in many ways,” says Cypress. “There was no definitive or ‘original’ version. It was like trying to restore a painting where much of the material was missing.” (Lunch’s turning some lyrics from Phreddie’s collection into the scabrous nightmare roll of ‘Time Drains Away’, bolstered by Jarmusch on guitar and van Wissem’s medieval lute).From Gahan’s opening haunted piano ballad take on ‘Mother of Earth’ through, for example, Lanegan singing ‘Go Tell The Mountain’ backed by Ellis and Cave (who back Jeffrey himself on ‘Yellow Eyes’), Cave duetting beautifully with Debbie Harry again on ‘On the Other Side’ to Sendelica and Secret Knowledge’s Wonder hotwiring ‘Bad America’ into caterwauling mayhem mixed by veteran electro-Def Jam producer Jay Burnett, NY rapper Dynamax acknowledging Jeffrey’s hiphop obsession over the juddering beats.

    It’s a wild ride, but then life with Jeffrey Lee Pierce always was. Kris ‘Wild Squirrel’ Needs

    TRACK LISTING

    1. Mother Of Earth - Dave Gahan
    2. La La Los Angeles - The Coathangers
    3. Yellow Eyes - Jeffrey Lee Pierce (feat. Nick Cave & Warren Ellis)
    4. Debbie By The Christmas Tree - The Amber Lights
    5. Go Tell The Mountain - Mark Lanegan (feat. Nick Cave & Warren Ellis)
    6. Going Down The Red River - Jim Jones And The Righteous Mind
    7. The Stranger In Our Town - Peter Hayes, Leah Shapiro, & Humanist
    8. Secret Fires - Suzie Stapleton (feat. Duke Garwood)
    9. Tiger Girl - Hugo Race
    10. On The Other Side - Nick Cave & Debbie Harry
    11. Idiot Waltz - Cypress Grove
    12. Tiger Girl - The Amber Lights
    13. From Death To Texas - Alejandro Escovedo
    14. Vodou - Mark Stewart
    15. Time Drains Away - Lydia Lunch, Jozef Van Wissem, Jim Jarmusch
    16. Lucky Jim - Chris Eckman & Chantal Acda
    17. I Was Ashamed - Pam Hogg (feat. Warren Ellis & Youth)
    18. Bad America - Sendelica (feat. Wonder & Dynamax Roberts)

    Chris Eckman

    Where The Spirits Rest

      The fifth solo album from Chris Eckman (The Walkabouts, Dirtmusic, Distance, Light & Sky) is a deep dive into the vagaries of these extraordinary times. Eckman's luminous song- writing navigates loss, disorientation, redemption and the search for home. Recorded raw and direct with a small ensemble, the record is framed by expansive sonic textures: treated strings, analogue synth drones and ambient guitars. Where the Spirit Rests was co-produced with British electronic composer Alastair McNeill (Roisin Murphy, Yila) and includes an inspired cast of collaborators: pedal steel maverick Chuck Johnson, avant-garde violinist Catherine Graindorge and Dream Syndicate/Green on Red keyboardist Chris Cacavas. 

      This is music that will speak to you about things that have happened! An album that sounds like you are alone in the desert all by yourself. Remembering childhood experiences and musical instruments and all the joy that took place. We have forgotten because of terrible things that have happened. Is it the truthfulness that attracts you to this music? Listen out of time: Mark Olson & Ingunn Ringvold are singing 'Spokeswoman of the Bright Sun', the follow-up to the critically acclaimed Alternative Country/Americana masterpiece 'Good-bye Lizelle' (Glitterhouse Records, 2014).

      All original track recordings were made with a Nagra field recorder. These tracks were delivered to John Schreiner for mixing and mastering. This is the moment a rainbow came into town. John has worked in some of the most important historically speaking and result speaking recording studios in Los Angeles. John worked with Hal Blaine in the past and in the present reinforced his studio sounds in San Clemente, CA with room sounds from studio 3 at Western Recorders. John mixes in groupings and the results are a new step forward in post modern folk-rock sound exploration. Enjoy the warmth and spaciousness of these outstanding musical mixes!

      Mark Olson was born and raised in Minnesota by a family of mostly farmers and school teachers. He has been involved with musical instruments since the age of twelve and is self taught for the most part and uses alternate tunings and two part unison singing followed then by breaking off into harmony in his writing and live performances. He lives now in the California Desert with his wife Ingunn Ringvold. Mark and Ingunn tour off and on internationally almost every year.


      TRACK LISTING

      01 Dear Elisabeth
      02 Time Of Love
      03 Spokeswoman Of The Bright Sun
      04 Mary Francis
      05 Seminole Valley Tea Sipper Society
      06 You Are All
      07 Gravity Loss
      08 Nicola
      09 All My Days
      10 Death Valley Soda Pop Cool Down Dream

      Christine Owman

      When On Fire

        Features Mark Lanegan on vocals on title track.

        Christine Owman's music starts from the darkest underground, surfaces the ground into a mesmerizing cloud of mist and continues reaching for the open sky. Empowering, sensual, dark, dreamy and raw all at once.

        After releasing two strong albums within a mere 11 months, the DeSoto Caucus has taken their time completing this upcoming release. "4" is an album marking a change in the band's modus operandi; after consistent touring and shows everywhere from humble Reeperbahn bars to imposing concert halls, the former musical collective has steadily become more of a tight knit gang of four. Having picked up a great deal of dexterity in handling musical curve balls through years of touring and recording as Howe Gelb's Giant Sand, the intuitive way of playing is ever present. Along with still more personally engaged songwriting, the sound of the band is significant, intriguing and utterly unique. There's still the solid, liquid grooves made up of Peter Dombernowsky's rolling beats and dry percussion, perfectly matched by the rock steady flexibility of bass player Henrik Poulsen, the boiling organ, pensive piano and twang guitar of Nikolaj Heyman with the signature dual lead vocals he shares with main songwriter Anders Pedersen. At the same time, though, fans of the band will recognize new flavors not only in the fat sounds oozing from the album, but also in the expanded collaborative efforts of Heyman and Pedersen on stories of frailty, detachment and rupture.

        For recording the band relocated to Heyman's north country studio in a former horse stable turned Big Pink, and isolated themselves, jamming and trying new approaches. The artistic benefits of being without cell phone signal and wifi are obvious, but during the winter the remoteness also meant having to deal with frozen pipes, and melting snow for the morning brew. Two and a half years down the road, the foursomes' fourth album is proof that the process, focused on gaining new territory while never abandoning your trademarks, was worth the wait. So join the DeSoto Caucus' continued journeys under the wide open sky, down red dirt roads, into towns without names, and into the hearts of people out of touch and out of time.

        Not unlike the DeSoto Caucus itself, timeless as their take on contemporary independent rock is. Four brothers in arms. Four musketeers. Embarking on yet another sonic voyage. 

        Joe Volk is a solo artist from Bristol, England now based in Bern, Switzerland. He was one of the first musicians signed to Invada records, headed by Portishead's Geoff Barrow, and has had over 13 releases on the label. Joe Volk was the original singer and lyricist in the band Crippled Black Phoenix, and was signed to Domino Publishing with Justin Greaves as sole songwriters of the band. After six studio albums, one live album and several EP's, Volk left the group to focus his energy on his solo material. He was also the original singer and lyricist with hard rock band Gonga, one of the first bands signed to Invada.

        On the new album, Volk worked closely with the Emmy nominated composer Ben Salisbury and Geoff Barrow (the songwriting partnership behind the soundtrack to Alex Garland's 2015 film 'Ex Machina'), with both being credited as additional producers along with Volk. The album was mixed by Joe Volk and Jim Barr (Portishead / Get The Blessing), as well as the musician and artist Leafcutter John. The album features the three producers, along with Jim Barr, Billy Fuller (Robert Plant, BEAK>), Adrian Utley (Portishead), Mark Ophidian (US / Animals With Machinery), Guy Metcalfe (Thought Forms), Leafcutter John, Luke Harney (Typesun) and a collection of other musicians, all active in the Bristol music scene.

        The spectrum of the album is broad, ranging from low-fi acoustic pieces featuring subtle analogue electronics from Ophidian and instrumentation from Salisbury, to more realised tracks, layered with Volks harmonies and intricate guitar work with backing from Fuller and Barrow, who constitute the rhythm section of the band Beak>. There is a track featuring a full orchestral score by Ben Salisbury, played by the Bristol Ensemble Orchestra, with a haunting accompaniment by Volk on acoustic guitar and voice, and then, again in contrast, there are tracks at 120 BMP with programmed drums, bass, analogue synths, electric guitars, samples and electronics, with Volk pushing his voice to new extremes for his solo work. This is an album with a broad scope of sounds, styles and influences, yet it manages to translate into a cohesive body of work. The common thread running throughout is the instantly recognisable guitar playing and voice of Volk, which is uniquely complemented by the different musicianship that is bought to each track from the wide array of artists from different genres that he worked with.

        After leaving Crippled Black Phoenix in 2013, Volk teamed up with the experimental Japanese band Boris to release a split 12" EP. Volk wrote, recorded and produced his tracks, and the EP was released to widespread critical acclaim. He toured the UK and Europe with Boris, and since this tour, he has been completing work on his new album in Switzerland. Volk is also a composer, having written scores for independent European and British short films. He has had his material used by the BBC, HBO and had commissions from National Geographic. Volk contributed music to the Academy Award nominated documentary on Bristol street artist Banksy, entitled "Exit Through The Gift Shop". 

        Jeffrey Lee Pierce Sessions Project

        Split 7"

          THIS IS A RECORD STORE DAY 2014 EXCLUSIVE, LIMITED TO ONE PER PERSON.

          This is the perfect appetizer for the upcoming new album by The Jeffrey Lee Pierce Sessions Project "Axels & Sockets" (GR 796), which will be released on May 2nd. Both tracks will NOT be on the full length album, so we have two exclusives fort he Vinyl afficionados! "Zonar Rose" is a rowdy, wild rocker that features bay area legends Keith Morris (founding member and first singer for Black Flag) and Steven McDonald (Redd Kross), who both nowadays serve as frontman and bassplayer for the mighty OFF! plus fellow Californians Ty Segall (The Epsilons) and John Dwyer (Thee Oh Sees). "Girl It's Me" sees one of Glasgow's finest bands, The Primevals at their best. A catchy, raw and driving song, perfect for any garage/punkrock jukebox with some of the finest slide guitar lead parts. This single is exclusively available for Record Store Day 2014 and limited to 666 copies worldwide!

          TRACK LISTING

          A 1: "Zonar Roze" - Keith Morris, Ty Segall, John Dwyer, Steven McDonald.
          A 2: "Girl It's Me" - The Primevals

          Spain

          The Soul Of Spain

            "Of all the melancholy slowcore bands of the mid-'90s, Spain were one of the more imaginative: a debonair, blues-tinged group from LA led by Josh Haden (son of jazz bassist Charlie Haden) that frequently sounded like Spiritualized crossed with a cool jazz quartet. Haden's calm dissection of his own doubt and guilt is unnerving, like eavesdropping on an intimate conversation.... a woefully underappreciated band." UNCUT

            Spain are a Los Angeles-based alternative rock band founded in 1993 by Josh Haden (son of jazz bass legend Charlie Haden). Their debut 1995 album, 'The Blue Moods Of Spain', garnered the band a devoted cult following, In 1999, they released their sophomore CD 'She Haunts My Dreams' and they followed this with 'I Believe' A Spain best of compilation, 'Spirituals: The Best Of Spain', was released in 2003. Haden reformed Spain in 2007 with all-new members and began playing gigs again in their native L.A. Since then they've shared the stage with Tindersticks and the Clientele.

            Ten years of waiting for new Spain songs and it feels like almost nothing has changed. 'The Soul Of Spain' contains the same gorgeous, dreamy, lounge-tinged pop that made their first album The Blue Moods of Spain a critical and cult favorite. The songs feature Josh Haden's smoky vocals, the trademark moody arrangements and the very special Spain-vibe. But… "There are 2 songs on this new release are very up-tempo and even, God forbid, kinda Rock n Roll. A friend of mine told me not to mess up the Spain formula, to which I said "the songs may be faster, but they're still in the Spain idiom with song structure, they're Spain". (Josh Haden)

            Tamikrest in Tamasheq language means junction, connection, knot, coalition. The group members come from different horizons (Mali, Niger, Algeria). Wanting to assume fully their Touareg identity, they found in the rebel music Ishumar the means to express it.
            'A desert hosts us, a language unites us, a culture binds us.'
            The story begins at Kidal, capital of the 8th Region of Mali, while making tea of course. Pino, Cheikh and Mossa had just finished a guitar workshop with Juhan Ecaré (guitarist for Meiway) when they decided to form a group with only two old 'home made' guitars. And they got to work… After one year and a half of hard work, the group is complete and their repertory has grown to contain more than twenty-five original compositions. Though their music takes root in Ishumar Rock or Tuareg Blues, it borrows from various international influences as well as from neighbouring cultures. Through the message of their songs, Tamikrest want to make Tamasheq poetry and culture accessible to inhabitants of a world larger than the immensity of the Saharian desert.
            Tamikrest´s debut is an hypnotic and intense affair rooted in the desert while taking the tradition of both Tamasheq blues and rock music to the next level. These young Tamashek rebel rockers have rightfully been called the 'spiritual sons' of Tinariwen.

            TRACK LISTING

            1. Outamachek
            2. Aicha
            3. Amindi
            4. Tamiditin
            5. Aratane N' Adagh
            6. Tidite Tille
            7. Tahoult
            8. Alhoriya
            9. Adagh
            10. Adounia Mahegagh
            11. Toumastin


            Latest Pre-Sales

            158 NEW ITEMS

            E-newsletter —
            Sign up
            Back to top