Artist Review: Golden Gardens, 'Bellflower'. Our Exclusive Premiere Of The New Record!

At this point, I think it’s safe to say that Golden Gardens' Narcissus EP got people’s attention. The last few months since its release have seen the duo of Gregg Alexander Joseph Neville and Aubrey Rachel Violet Bramble headline a Brickbat Mansion boat tour down the Willamette in Portland, perform repeatedly with Suzanne Perry of revered 90’s ethereal pop act Love Spirals Downwards, and execute their intensely personal live show in every corner of the city from Neumos and The Crocodile to Columbia City Theater and The Josephine.

However, in the midst of this hive of activity they’ve also managed to record the companion EP to Narcissus, titled Bellflower, and we are thrilled to be able to offer you an exclusive premiere below!  It’s not scheduled to release digitally until 12/10, but the limited edition physical CDs are available today (10/29) as a run of 50 handmade, hand-designed discs. Each pure white disc will be uniquely stamped and numbered, and will include unreleased tracks from the How Brave The Hunted Wolves sessions. Word to the wise: the Narcissus discs were offered in a similar way and it sold out in a flash, so if you want one of these you need to move quick. Once the EPs are gone you won't be able to purchase the EP again until December.

The differences between Bellflower and Narcissus are really dramatic. While Narcissus standouts like “My Viridescent Heart” and “Blue Eyes of a Broken Doll” seek to immerse the listener in a sort of delicate, sun-kissed daydream, new tracks like “I’ll Burn Alone” and “Carmilla” are serious and even somewhat aggressive. This is all intentional of course. The two EPs are meant to guide the listener through the cycle of infatuation from its apex of quixotic adoration, to the inevitable disappointment that emerges when outward realities fail to match inner expectations. On this second half of the journey, Golden Gardens showcase incredible dexterity by dipping considerably back into the coldwave/post-punk aesthetic that made How Brave the Hunted Wolves so engaging. Not only does Bellflower retain every ounce of the character that the duo have become known for, but "I'll Burn Alone" might be my new favorite Golden Gardens song. But hey, decide for yourself. 

Get your copy of Bellflower here while they last. There are now only 49 available.

*Updated 10/27* Upcoming Seattle Shows

Sooo much great stuff this week. Hopefully you are checking out the Leatherdaddy record release show at the Josephine as we speak, but if not, you can still check out our review of "The Plague House" over here. Other great shows include Tangerine with Maiah Manser, Lures and Lady the Beard at Barboza this Tuesday; Lou Lou Hernandez with Teach Me Equals, and Corey J Brewer at Waid's on Wednesday; The Seattle Passive Aggressive's Halloween show at the Josephine on the 31st with Smooth Sailing, Ancient Warlocks, Android Here, and Old Iron; and White Lung at Barboza on Friday. Saturday is another story. Saturday I'm leaving up to you. You'll have to choose between Glasser (whose new album Interiors was just released on True Panther Sounds) at Fred Wildlife Refuge (awesome space), and 70's proto-punk band Death at Chop Suey. If it helps you decide, you can now stream Deaths 2012 documentary, A Band Called Death, on Netflix here. More below. Have a great week!

Oh yeah, we just debuted a track from the new Biosexual record due out this Tuesday on Debacle Records. Check it out here and don't forget to pick up a copy!

October

27 Au Revoir Simone at Neumos

27 Maria Minerva, Cherushii, and Youryoungbody at Chop Suey

27 Mercy Ties, Leatherdaddy (Record Release), Livingston Seagull, and Where My Bones Rest Easy at The Josephine

29 Tangerine, Maiah Manser, Lures, and Lady the Beard at Barboza

29 Lo’ There Do I See My Brother, He Whose Ox Is Gored, Province of Thay, and Witch Ripper & Thereafter at Vera Project

30 Charli XCX at Neumos

30 Lou Lou Hernandez, Teach Me Equals, Corey J Brewer at Waid’s Restaurant and Lounge

31 Decades Cover Night at Black Lodge

31 Smooth Sailing, Ancient Warlocks, Android Hero, Old Iron, and special guests at the Josephine

November

21-23 Drill: Seattle Presented by Wire at Various Venues

1 White Lung and Antwon at Barboza

1 Slayer with Gojira and 4ARM at WaMu Theater

1 James Rabbit, iji, Sick Sad World, Imaginary Pants, and Erin Tanner at Werewolf Vacation

2 Glasser, Tempers, and Dutty Wilderness at Fred Wildlife Refuge

2 Punishment, Mselasco, Richie Dagger’s Crime at The Grizzled Wizard

2 Deadkill with Princess, Ubik, and Yassou at Sunset

2 SoMo and special guests at Vera Project

2 Death with Unnatural Helpers at Chop Suey

3 ArtAche Market with Lindseys, DJ Mamma Casserole, and DJ Bobbi Rich at Chop Suey--free

3 Wind Burial, Greenhornbluehorn, Levi Fuller and the Library at Crocodile

3 Condition, Iron Lung, Bone Sickness, and Drowner at Black Lodge

4 Mazzy Star at the Neptune

4 Sepultura at Neumos

4 Stickers, Haunted Horses, Coming, and Sailor Mouth at Waids

5 Ubu Roi at Spin Cycle Records

6 Of Montreal at Neumos

6 Acapulco Lips, Gang Cult, and Red Ribbon at Chop Suey

7 Deerhoof, LXMP, and Jarv Dee at Vera Project

7 Nada Surf with Mates of State at Showbox at the Market

7 Pentaglam, Display, The Pentagraham Crackers, and Le Fomo at Waid’s

8 Curse of the North, LB!, Argonaut, Gladiators Eat Fire at Waid’s

8 Minus the Bear with Constant Lovers and Slow Bird at Showbox at the Market

8 Cass McCombs at the Crocodile

8 Tim Hecker at Chapel Performance Space at Good Shepherd Center

9 Barsuk 15th Anniversary Celebration ft. Cymbals Eat Guitars at Neumos

9 Guitar Worship Service at Josephine

9 Phantogram, Menomena, Maps and Atlases, Yellow Ostrich, Cymbals Eat Guitars, and Say Hi at Neptune

10 Scorpio Party Feat DJ sets by Justin Timbreline, TRANQ, and Menami at Vermillion

11 White Lung, and Antwon at Barboza

11 Crystal Antlers, and Elephant Stone at The Comet

11 Black Black feat. Grave Babies (Live + DJ Set), DJ Hojo, and Dutty Wilderness at Neighbours

12 Toro Y Moi and Classixx at Showbox at the Market

12 Crocodiles with Wymond Miles at Barboza

13 Crypts, Pop 1280, Haunted Horses, and Clayface at Chop Suey

14 Sepultura, Unearth, KATAKLYSM, Dark Sermon, and Lesbian at Neptune

14 Fruit Bats at Neptune

14 Nightlands, USF, and Special Guests at Sunset

15 Jessie Ware at Sonic Boom--Free

15 Jessie Ware at the Neptune

15 Screaming Females, Upset, Darto, and Big Crux at Black Lodge

15 New Weather record release party at LoFi Gallery

16 KMFDM with Chant at Showbox at the Market

17 Cults at Neumos

17 Stalebirth, Cove, 27 Doors and Pablo at Vermillion--free

17 Darkpine, Hibou, Us on Roofs, and Uh Oh Eskimo at Chop Suey

20 James Blake at Showbox at the Market

20 Vienna Teng at Neptune

20 Bill Callahan with Mick Turner at Neumos

20 Nobunny at Barboza

21 The Meat Puppets with The World Takes at The Crocodile

21 Drill Seattle: Earth with Pillar Point at Barboza

22 Blues Control at The Tractor

22 Helmet with FF at The Crocodile

23 Vibragun, Piano Piano, Foreign Resort, and Scriptures at The Sunset

23 Wire, Chastity Belt, and Vestals at Neumos

23 They Rise We Die, Piano Piano, Foreign Resort, and Scriptures at The Sunset

23 Stickers, Mega Bog, Viviane James at Atlas Space

26 Jon Hopkins, Clark, and Nathan Fake at the Crocodile

27 Waxahatchee, Swearin’, and Dead Bars at Chop Suey

29 Daniel Bachman and Chris Forsyth at Gallery 1412

30 Weeks of Wonders, Charms, Sun Angel, and Gang Cult at The Comet

30 The Cave Singers at the Neptune

30 Sandrider (LP release), Constant Lovers, and Dust Moth at Neumos

30 Cock and Swan, Suzanne Perry with Golden Gardens, and Levator at Columbia City Theater

December

107.7 The End's Deck the Hall Ball, Seattle, December

5 Sandrider at Easy Street Records

7 The Dismemberment Plan at the Neptune

13 Pere Ubu at Neptune

14 Lunamoth, Gems, and Piano Piano at The Josephine

14 Holograms, TV Ghost, and Atomic Bride at Chop Suey

14 King Krule at Barboza

20 MOTOR XI feat. Pete Swanson at Chop Suey

21 He Whose Ox Is Gored, Grenades, and more at Chop Suey

27/28 Built to Spill at Neumos

30/31 SRTFKR at Neumos

January

9 Reverend Horton Heat with Nekromantix and Old Man Markley at Showbox at the Market

17 Wooden Shjips at the Crocodile

22 Darkside at Neumos

24 Patterson Hood at the Crocodile

February

11 Delorean at Barboza

April

17 Godflesh with Special Guests at Neptune (Rescheduled from Oct)

Artist Review: Biosexual, 'The Window Wants The Bedroom'. Also, A New Track!

Well, it’s finally here, a brand new record from Biosexual (aka Zac Nelson, Michael R. J. Saalman, and Jocelyn Noir)!!! 

Though only a year, the wait for The Window Wants the Bedroom has felt like an eternity for fans of Biosexual's eponymously titled debut. It really was amazing. Back in May we reveled in the hauntingly austere, yet sleek aura of “Silent Cuts” for our Songs We Love series, but each of the four tracks of surreal electropop felt like a distinct puzzle piece, and together they seemed like the perfect amalgam of each member’s strong suits.  

Biosexual at Debacle Fest (5/4/13). Photo credit: DJ Slow. Check out his blog!

A lot has changed in the intervening time. Nelson is as prolific as ever; having released more than 8 solo albums since 2008, he has released 3 more since the Biosexual EP, including the excellent Charbroile for Debacle, and Exis II on Further Records. Not to be outdone, Saalman just released his solo debut, Ripe Hymns, on Crash Symbols earlier this month, and ALAK’s Guardian Petted just rolled off the line at Kaleidoscope Records (and immediately sold out of physical copies). However, 
from the liner notes of these releases it's clear that Biosexual has become less of an isolated project, and more like a creative taproot. Whether it's Nelson's extra synth on Saalman's "Cancerous", or Noir's backing vocals on Charbroile, each solo effort baring the mark of their collaboration has only made the prospect of a new Biosexual record more exciting.

Now based entirely in Sacramento, the trio’s official return this Tuesday is everything I wanted it to be. Consisting of 6 brand new tracks and the 4 EP tracks previously only available on limited edition cassette, The Window Wants the Bedroom is a deviously fresh, and clever work of experimental pop goodness.  Whether utilizing syncopated beats, frenetic loops, or slow-burning haze, the record not only retains the EP’s diverse range of themes, but actually manages to expound upon them as well. This is no small part due to the contributions of Saalman and Noir, which are much more apparent in new tracks like “Fun Boy”, in which Noir takes lead vocal work, or the title track, where Saalman’s penchant for beat-work helps kick the record off on the right foot.

Check out a brand new track, “The Flesh Sings”, below. At 5:36 it’s the longest song on the record, but its gorgeous, ethereal feel make it a stunning closer for a band best known for crafting spastic pop gems. 

Also, don't forget to snag your copy of The Window Wants the Bedroom from Seattle’s very own Debacle Records when it releases on Tuesday (here). 

SWL #43: Lures, "Vacant"

The last track of the 1992 reissue of “Living in Darkness”, the essential debut from surf-punk gurus Agent Orange, has always stuck with me. It features a 1981 interview where the band describes their sound, saying, “We’re not from the beach; we have to take the bus to get to the beach.” The point of course is that is doesn’t matter anymore; in the post-Pulp Fiction world surf rock is more than just a novelty, and certainly capable of being evocative…with or without the woodie.

In Seattle, we’ve fallen head over heels for the lovable, woozy antics of La Luz, but here at NGD we’ve been increasing impressed by Seattle’s Lures as well. The threesome of Sam Peterson, Spencer Miller, and Dillon Christopher (formerly Ambulance) made a splash back in June with their Dizzy 7” on Fin records, (and we were excited to include B-side “Closer” on our SeattleDIYPop Mix), but since then they’ve been hard at work on their debut full-length scheduled for release in January.

“Vacant” is the lead single off the record and it provides a promising glimpse of what’s to come. The song has a traditional pop structure, alternating between verses and chorus, but that what I really love here is the transitions. Whereas the verses are somewhat morose, filled with a driving, slippery wet surf ambiance and Peterson’s trademark half croon/half drawl baritone, the chorus finds the band flying high on an indie/dream rock sound that’s more akin to Wild Nothing than Dick Dale. It’s dangerous but relatable, and ultimately, just one more reason to keep an eye on the young band.   

Download "Vacant" for free from their bandcamp and check 'em out when they open for fellow NGD favorite Tangerine at Barboza on the 27th 29th (next Tuesday).

*Updated 10/20* Upcoming Seattle Shows

 *Intro to come later tonight*

October

20 Airport, Hair & Space Museum, Troller, SSleeper Hold at Therapy Lounge

20 Dustin Wong, Takako Mineka, Secret Colors, and WIll Do at Chop Suey (note change)

21 Love Inks, Killer Ghost, and Glam Code at the Cockpit

22 Grave Babies, Vice Device, Male/Female, and So Pitted at Chop Suey

23 Keep Shelly in Athens and Chad Valley at Barboza

23 Empire of the Sun at the Paramount

23 Braids with Hundred Waters and Special Guests at The Sunset

23 Widowspeak, and Pure Bathing Culture, and Case Studies at Chop Suey

23 Haim at Neumos

23 Walk the Moon at Showbox SoDo

23 Lazer Kitty at Waid’s Restaurant and Lounge ????

24 Us On Roofs, Specters, and Winnebago at the Sunset

24 Ubu Roi, So Pitted, Acapulco Lips at Therapy Lounge
24 Breag Noafa, Gladiators Eat Fire, X Suns, and A Province of Thay at Blue Moon

24 Useless Eaters, Unnatural Helpers, Lindseys, and Freak Vibe at Bogart’s Airport Way

24 Goldflesh, Prurient, Nails, and House of Low Culture at Neumos

24 Bonobo with Grey Reverend at Showbox at the Market

25 Ritual Addict, Ratbite, and Sciatica at The Kraken Bar and Lounge

25 New Weather listening party at Wall of Sound

25 Thee Samedi, Vexx, Orange King, Drug Problems, and Bad Noids at Hollow Earth Radio

25 Motor VIII at LoFi Performance Gallery

25 Cocorosie at Neumos

25 Twins, Stalebirth, Funky Photos, and Geological Creep at Cafe Racer

25 Zebra Hunt, and Detective Agency at Anchored Ship

25 Twins, Stalebirth, Funky Photos, and Geological Creep at Cafe Racer

26 Black Nite Crash, Tokyoidaho, Souvenir Driver, and The Purrs at High Dive

26 Red Alder, Leaving the Fall, and Early Atoms at Gallery 1412

26 Noise-A-Tron, Plains, Spaceships, and Lightning Kills Eagle at Highline 

27 Au Revoir Simone at Neumos

27 Maria Minerva, Cherushii, and Youryoungbody at Chop Suey

27 Mercy Ties, Leatherdaddy (Record Release), Livingston Seagull, and Where My Bones Rest Easy at The Josephine

29 Tangerine, Maiah Manser, Lures, and Lady the Beard at Barboza
29 Chung Antique, Couches, and Zebra Hunt at Blue Moon 

30 Charli XCX at Neumos

30 Teach Me Equals, Corey J Brewer at Waid’s Restaurant and Lounge

31 Decades Cover Night at Black Lodge

31 Smooth Sailing, Ancient Warlocks, Android Hero, Old Iron, and special guests at the Josephine

November

1 White Lung and Antwon at Barboza

1 Slayer with Gojira and 4ARM at WaMu Theater

1 James Rabbit, iji, Sick Sad World, Imaginary Pants, and Erin Tanner at Werewolf Vacation
2 Deadkill with Princess, Ubik, and Yassou at Sunset

2 Glasser, Tempers, and Dutty Wilderness at Fred Wildlife Refuge

2 Punishment, Mselasco, Richie Dagger’s Crime at The Grizzled Wizard

2 SoMo and special guests at Vera Project

2 Death with Unnatural Helpers at Chop Suey

3 ArtAche Market with Lindseys, DJ Mamma Casserole, and DJ Bobbi Rich at Chop Suey--free

3 Wind Burial, Greenhornbluehorn, Levi Fuller and the Library at Crocodile

4 Mazzy Star at the Neptune

4 Sepultura at Neumos

6 Of Montreal at Neumos

6 Acapulco Lips, Gang Cult, and Red Ribbon at Chop Suey

7 Deerhoof, LXMP, and Jarv Dee at Vera Project

7 Nada Surf with Mates of State at Showbox at the Market

8 Minus the Bear with Constant Lovers and Slow Bird at Showbox at the Market

8 Cass McCombs at the Crocodile

8 Tim Hecker at Chapel Performance Space at Good Shepherd Center

9 Barsuk 15th Anniversary Celebration ft. Cymbals Eat Guitars at Neumos

10 Scorpio Party Feat DJ sets by Justin Timbreline, TRANQ, and Menami at Vermillion

11 White Lung, and Antwon at Barboza

11 Crystal Antlers, and Elephant Stone at The Comet

11 Black Black feat. Grave Babies (Live + DJ Set), DJ Hojo, and Dutty Wilderness at Neighbours

12 Toro Y Moi and Classixx at Showbox at the Market

12 Crocodiles wiht Wymond Miles at Barboza

13 Crypts, Pop 1280, Haunted Horses, and Clayface at Chop Suey
14 Nightlands, USF, and Special Guests at Sunset

15 Jessie Ware at Sonic Boom--Free

15 Jessie Ware at the Neptune

17 Cults at Neumos

17 Stalebirth, Cove, 27 Doors and Pablo at Vermillion--free

20 James Blake at Showbox at the Market

20 Vienna Teng at Neptune

20 Bill Callahan with Mick Turner at Neumos

21 The Meat Puppets with The World Takes at The Crocodile

22 Blues Control at The Tractor

23 Vibragun, Piano Piano, Foreign Resort, and Scriptures at The Sunset

23 Stickers, Mega Bog, Viviane James at Atlas Space
23 They Rise We Die, Piano Piano, Foreign Resort, and Scriptures at The Sunset

26 Jon Hopkins, Clark, and Nathan Fake at the Crocodile

27 Waxahatchee, Swearin’, and Dead Bars at Chop Suey

29 Daniel Bachman and Chris Forsyth at Gallery 1412

30 Weeks of Wonders, Charms, Sun Angel, and Gang Cult at The Comet

30 The Cave Singers at the Neptune

30 Sandrider (LP release), Constant Lovers, and Dust Moth at Neumos

 

December

107.7 The End's Deck the Hall Ball, Seattle, December

5 Sandrider at Easy Street Records

7 The Dismemberment Plan at the Neptune

14 Holograms, TV Ghost, and Atomic Bride at Chop Suey

14 King Krule at Barboza
14 Lunamoth, Gems, and Piano Piano at The Josephine

27/28 Built to Spill at Neumos

30/31 SRTFKR at Neumos

January

9 Reverend Horton Heat with Nekromantix and Old Man Markley at Showbox at the Market

17 Wooden Shjips at the Crocodile

22 Darkside at Neumos

24 Patterson Hood at the Crocodile