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En Bloc - 3 EP Collection

    Laundromat (AKA Toby Hayes) announces En Bloc - 3 EP Collection - a vinyl release encompassing the three Laundromat EPs released to date.

    Laundromat has built a reputation over the previous twelve months as an innovative and profoundly skilled songwriter, his languid style and deftly created songs earned him support from the likes Steve Lamacq, Lauren Laverne, Marc Riley, DIY, Dork, Loud & Quiet among others. Red, Blue and Green - the 3 EPs - all released to critical acclaim, were mixed and co-produced by Tom Andrews (alongside Hayes). Recent single Combo was recently added to the playlist at BBC 6Music after extensive support at the station. Laundromat is currently writing his debut album.

    On the new collection, Laundromat says "These nine tracks were written (really slowly) over a number of years, and although they’ve been out a while now, it's massively cathartic to release them as this 3 EP collection. Mainly because despite the fact that this isn’t an ‘album’ release, it was certainly written as one. So to finally deliver these tunes in the order that they were meant to be listened to feels real good I have to admit. ‘En Bloc’ - 3 EP Collection also includes a number of segue pieces that link the songs together - the idea being that this slice of work would be released as two continuous chunks of sound, i.e - side 1 and side 2. A nice big feast for the ears." Inspired by a broad range of influences including Kim Deal, Broadcast, Jaki Liebezeit, Jason Albertini, Madlib and Gonjasufi, Hayes also cites film as a huge source of intrigue: "I find a lot of inspiration in film - Repo Man (1984), Deep End (1970), Punch-drunk Love (2002), and Alice in the Cities (1974) in particular."

    Lyrically, the project explores the end of the world, binge drinking, social anhedonia, nostalgia, as well as the time Hayes got ‘catfished’ - for nearly 7 years.


    TRACK LISTING

    1. Flat Planet
    2. Off
    3. Slow Clap
    4. Humans
    5. En Bloc
    6. Nein
    7. Bug Eyed
    8. Bureau De Fatigue
    9. Milky

    Bonus Dinked Edition 7” Tracklisting:
    A. Laundromat - Flat Planet (Bothelbows X MIIIKE Remix)
    B. Laundromat – Bureau De Fatigue (Marcus Hamblett Remix)

    The Loyal Seas (Tanya Donelly & Brian Sullivan)

    Strange Mornings In The Garden

      The Loyal Seas are Tanya Donelly and Brian Sullivan. For the last decade, trailblazing alternative rock figurehead Tanya Donelly - co-founder of Belly, Throwing Muses and The Breeders - has pursued meaningful collaborations with favorite artists and friends. The resulting work is by turns poignant, delightful and entirely surprising, melding folk, rock, pop and orchestral sounds.

      Her latest, The Loyal Seas, pairs Donelly with New England cult-favorite Brian Sullivan, who's worked under the moniker Dylan in the Movies since the mid '00s. A skilled singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, Sullivan's debut, Feel the Pull (2005), and follow-up full-length, Sweet Rebel Thee (2014), are each teeming with a lush, discrete form of alt-pop, Sullivan's private mind garden translated as cinematic vignettes.

      Donelly and Sullivan first met in the mid '90s at Fort Apache Studios, the famed New England recording studio that has produced legions of beloved albums. They were friends almost instantly and have collaborated over years, appearing on two of American Laundromat's most popular tribute compilations. The pair contributed a sparkling cover of "The Lovecats" for Just Like Heaven: A Tribute to The Cure (2009), where Donelly's honeyed rasp is brightened by the contrast of Sullivan's lower-register growls. Their take on "Shoplifters of the World Unite," from Please, Please, Please: A Tribute to the Smiths (2011), glimmers with melancholic wonder, Donelly's silken lead vocals textured by an orchestral scythe and Sullivan's backing anchor.

      The Loyal Seas' dynamic debut album, "Strange Mornings in the Garden" features 10 glorious originals written by Donelly and Sullivan, and showcases particular sides of their personalities with luxuriant, sweeping ballads to tightly-knit, kinetic alt-pop. It's a beautiful album from start to finish. Mastered by Sean Glonek (Matthew Sweet, Juliana Hatfield, Waxahatchee), with original art by Nicole Anguish (Nada Surf, Letters to Cleo, Lake Street Dive).

      TRACK LISTING

      1 (So Far From) Silverlake
      2 Strange Mornings In The Garden
      3 Early Light
      4 Driving With A Ghost
      5 Mary Magdalene In The Great Sky
      6 Come Around Again
      7 Milkweed
      8 Last Of The Great Machines
      9 You, Me, And The Sea
      10 Swimmers In The Gold

      Laundromat

      Red EP

        The Red EP is the third and final Laundromat (AKA Toby Hayes) EP in the current set, concluding a triology completed with the prebiously released Blue and Green EPs. Laundromat has previously received support from Steve Lamacq, Marc Riley, DIY, Dork among others.

        On the EP opener ‘Flat Planet’, Laundromat says "I don’t ever remember setting out to write a tune like this, but here it is anyways. I kinda hear it like a St. Vincent song or something like that. Some tongue in cheek (but not) apocalyptic-pop. An eye-roll pointed right back at us dumb humans. You know how when you’re reading the news, and it’s facepalm after facepalm? This was a response to that feeling. The drop at the end is a Big Muff driving a Harmonic Percolator - a lot of fun through headphones."

        Laundromat, the new project from Toby Hayes has been a long time in the making. Hayes admits as much, recalling a process that has taken "years" to bear fruition. The resulting EPs showcase a musician who has earned his stripes in the DIY scene.

        Elsewhere on Red, En Bloc is an ode to friendship, Hayes describing how he "grew up a bit awkward, socially. So now I get really romantic about my pals". While Milky is a more sombre affair that recalls Beck at his most tender.

        Lyrically the project explores the end of the world, panic attacks, political figures that don’t represent the people that elected them, the preciousness of friendship, binge drinking, mental health and the time Hayes got ‘catfished’ - for nearly 7 years.

        Influences are broad, ranging from Broadcast, Jaki Liebezeit, Jason Albertini, Madlib to Gonjasufi. Kim Deal stands out as major inspiration. Film is also a huge source of intrigue for Hayes "I find a lot of inspiration in film. Repo Man (1984), Deep End (1970), Punch-drunk Love (2002), and Alice in the Cities (1974) in particular" he says.

        Hayes finds salvation in the intimacy of bedrooms recordings, " I love the sound of them. There’s something special there that I will always love, the sound of someone exploring their imagination, performing to themselves." Lo-fi may be the guiding force, but after an eventful and painful few years Laundromat is ready to embrace positive change and seek catharsis with these new recordings.


        TRACK LISTING

        1. Flat Planet
        2. En Bloc
        3. Milky

        Tanya Donelly And The Parkington Sisters

        Tanya Donelly And The Parkington Sisters

          Tanya Donelly covers some of her favorite songs by The Go Go’s, Leonard Cohen, Kirsty MacColl, Split Enz, Linda Ronstadt, The Pretenders, Wings, Echo & The Bunnymen, and Mary Margaret O’Hara on this outstanding new album. "When Joe from American Laundromat asked if I’d be interested in doing a covers album, I was hesitant, mainly because most of the songs I truly love are already perfect in their original form. But then I had the idea to ask the brilliant Parkington Sisters to be the band for this project, to bring their gorgeous sound and spirit, and make it something cohesive and centered. Happily, they said yes. So I chose a handful of songs that have been on heavy rotation in my head and heart from the first time I heard them, and the Sisters took over. They charted and plotted and arranged, and I joined Rose and Sarah and Ariel recording at Jon Evans’ Brick Hill Studio in Orleans MA, with guest players Matthias Bossi and Jon Evans (who also engineered). Lydia P put down some cello later, and I recorded additional vocals at Q Division Studios in Somerville MA, with James Bridges engineering. These are some of the most honest, moving, beautiful, unfiltered, true and cool songs that have ever been written, in my opinion. And those same adjectives apply to the Parkington Sisters as well." – Tanya.

          STAFF COMMENTS

          Barry says: Tanya Donelly presents a perfect selection of covers, ranging from minimalistic guitar, to full Americana-tinged orchestration, and Donelly's legendary vocal prowess. A superb counterpoint to the original versions, and a superb listen.

          TRACK LISTING

          1. Automatic (Go Go’s Cover)
          2. Dance Me To The End Of Love (Leonard Cohen Cover)
          3. Days (Kirsty MacColl Cover)
          4. Ocean Rain (Echo & The Bunnymen Cover)
          5. Let Me Roll It (Wings Cover)
          6. Kid (Pretenders Cover)
          7. Different Drum (Linda Ronstadt Cover)
          8. Devil You Know (Split Enz Cover)
          9. You Will Be Loved Again (Mary Margaret O’Hara Cover) 

          Juliana Hatfield

          Juliana Hatfield Sings The Police

            “With “Juliana Hatfield Sings The Police’ I am continuing the project that I started last year with my “Juliana Hatfield Sings Olivia Newton-John” album. I hope to continue to go deep into covering artists that were important to me in my formative years. The songs I’ve chosen seem to resonate in the present moment. “Rehumanize Yourself”, “Landlord”, and “Murder By Numbers” explore ugly kinds of nationalism, abuses of power, and the mendacity of large swaths of the ruling class. And then there are the timeless, relatable psychodramas: “Every Breath You Take”, “Can’t Stand Losing You”, “Canary In A Coalmine”. In the Police, each player’s style was so distinctive, accomplished and unique that I didn’t even attempt to match any of it; for anyone to try and play drums like Stewart Copeland would be a thankless, pointless task that is bound to fail. Instead, I simplified and deconstructed, playing a lot of the drums myself, in my rudimentary, caveman style. Chris Anzalone (Roomful Of Blues) played the rest of the drums. Ed Valauskas (the Gravel Pit) and I each played about half of the bass parts, while I did all the guitars and keyboards. I listened to a lot of the Police when I was preparing and making this album, and their recordings are as refreshing and exciting as ever. I hope that my interpretations of these songs can inspire people to keep loving the Police like I did, and still do.” -Juliana Hatfield

            TRACK LISTING

            1. Can't Stand Losing You
            2. Canary In A Coalmine
            3. Next To You
            4. Hungry For You (J'aurais Toujours Faim De Toi)
            5. Roxanne
            6. Every Breath You Take
            7. Hole In My Life
            8. De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da
            9. Murder By Numbers
            10. Landlord
            11. Rehumanize Yourself
            12. It's Alright For You

            Various Artists

            Please, Please, Please: A Tribute To The Smiths

              American Laundromat Records has enlisted a herd of indie-rock luminaries - including The Wedding Present, Built to Spill’s Doug Martsch, Throwing Muses co-founder Tanya Donelly, Telekinesis and William Fitzsimmons to contribute covers of 20 classic songs by The Smiths for this new tribute CD.

              In a fitting touch, the label - which previously has released the compilations Just Like Heaven: A Tribute to The Cure and Dig for Fire: A Tribute to the Pixies - was able to secure a photo of ’60s U.K. pop star Sandie Shaw for the cover art; Shaw, of course, was a favourite of both Morrissey and Johnny Marr who, in 1984, covered The Smiths’ "Hand in Glove." It's an outstanding tribute to The Smiths and highly recommended.

              Tanya Donelly is a singer-songwriter and founding member of three of the most successful bands of the post-punk era. At the age of 16, she and stepsister Kristin Hersh formed Throwing Muses, which became the first American band ever signed to the influential British label 4AD. Not only did the Muses' dreamy, swirling guitar sound prove highly influential on many of the alternative acts to emerge in their wake, but they also made any number of unprecedented advances into the male-dominated world of underground rock. Donelly later sidelined with Pixies bassist Kim Deal to form the Breeders, appearing on the debut LP, Pod. She later exited both the Breeders and Throwing Muses to form her own band, Belly.

              After issuing a pair of well-received EPs, Belly released their full-length debut, Star -- a superb collection of luminous, fairy tale-like guitar pop songs -- and for the first time in her career, Donelly earned commercial success commensurate to her usual critical accolades. Not only did the record go gold on the strength of the hit single 'Feed the Tree' but the band even garnered a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist.

              Donelly would eventually disband Belly to raise her two daughters. She still found time to write and record music as a solo artist -- Beautysleep, Whiskey Tango Ghosts and This Hungry Life were all exceptional albums and enjoyed critical success. The Swan Song Series is a collection of songs in which Donelly collaborated with friends, musicians and authors such as Rick Moody, Robyn Hitchcock, John Wesley Harding, Damon Krukowski and Naomi Yang (Damon + Naomi/Galaxie 500), Bill Janovitz (Buffalo Tom), Tom Gorman (Belly), and Claudia Gonson (Magnetic Fields), and explored an impressive range that wasn't always captured on previous albums.

              This exclusive collection includes the first 5 self-released digital EP's + 7 brand new, previously unreleased, tracks on a 31 song set.

              TRACK LISTING

              1. Mass Ave
              2. Christopher Street
              3. Let Fall The Sky
              4. Blame The Muse
              5. Meteor Shower
              6. Still
              7. Mary Magdelene In The Great Sky
              8. Why So Sad
              9. Making Light
              10. Miranda (Pacifically)
              11. Written_Unread
              12. VivaKaraoke
              13. Far Away And Hard To See
              14. Hidalgo Street
              15. Cygnet Song
              16. Salt
              17. Worry Doll
              18. Cape Ann
              19. Flying At Night
              20. Snow Goose And Me
              21. Tu Y Yo
              22. Lucky Love
              23. Oh Me Of Little Faith
              24. The End To The Dawn
              25. Silver


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