HALF MACHINE RECORDS

Roberto Cacciapaglia 'The Ann Steel Album' Re-Press

2012-02-09T14:19:00.007Z

It's been a while since our last post here, sorry about that, been busy (that's a lie, I've just had nothing to say).

Anyway, the initial run of Roberto Cacciapaglia's Ann Steel Album went better than expected, selling out pretty quickly, so I've ordered up a re-press of a couple of hundred. This is a smaller pressing than the first and when it's gone, they're gone for good.

So, if you missed out, you can order yours here:
HALF MACHINE SHOP

Half Machine Records - Solid Gold Hits

2012-01-11T11:10:00.000Z

A playlist of our greatest hits on Soundcloud. Includes hits by Real Estate, Banjo or Freakout, Ancient Crux, MIT, Holiday Shores and so on. Listen without prejudice.

Half Machine Sale

2012-01-10T10:04:00.002Z

We're having a January clearout of stock, so go to our shop and you'll be able to pick up 7"s for £1, 12"s for £3 and CD albums for £4.

I found the last few copies of Banjo or Freakout's 'Upside Down' 12", which has been sold out for sometime too.

Go here to order >> Half Machine Shop

LISTEN: Roberto Cacciapaglia 'The Ann Steel Album''

2012-01-06T11:21:00.002Z

Half Machine Podcast 002

2011-12-23T11:25:00.002Z

Podcast number 2 featuring music from Kevin Ayers, The Wild Swans, Gruppo Di Improvvisazione Nuova Consonanza, Tom Waits amongst others.

Half Machine Podcast 002 by Half Machine on Mixcloud

Holiday Shores live at Shea Stadium, New York

2011-12-05T10:12:00.003Z

Holiday Shores - Live @ Shea Staidum by LiveatSheaStadium

Roberto Cacciapaglia 'The Ann Steel Album' Delay

2011-11-15T20:37:00.007Z

As you may have noticed the reissue of 'The Ann Steel Album' hasn't appeared in shops (or your postbox, if you'd pre-ordered). The album pressing has been delayed longer than expected due to some artwork issues. The record is in production and I'm waiting on Roberto Cacciapaglia to approve the test pressing I've sent to Milan. Hopefully this should be done soon, with that done we can get to finishing it! Sorry for the delays, these were unexpected when we set the release date.

Hopefully it shouldn't be too longer than a week or two, but if you do have any questions or concerns you can contact me at richard (at) halfmachinerecords (dot) com

In the meantime you can read some lovely reviews of the record here:
Pitchfork
The Liminal

And if you haven't already, you can pick up a copy here - Half Machine Shop - there's only about 30 copies left for pre-order from me. It will be available in these places too though:
ROUGH TRADE
KRISTINA RECORDS
PHONICA
THE STONE RECORDS (JAPAN)
CLINTON STREET RECORD & STEREO (US)
OTHER MUSIC (US)

Holiday Shores 'New Masses For Squaw Peak' album stream

2011-10-24T13:15:00.005+01:00

ORDER HERE

They're also in the UK and Europe playing some headline shows and supporting Twin Sister:

Wed 26th Oct Holland Rotterdam - Rotown*
Thurs 27th Oct Holland Utrecht - Ekko*
Fri 28th Oct Denmark Copenhagen - Vega
Sat 29th Oct Germany Berlin - Berghain Kantine*
Sun 30th Oct TBC
Mon 31st Oct Holland Amsterdam - Upstairs at Paradiso*
Wed 2nd Nov UK Brighton - Jam*
Thurs 3rd Nov UK London - Lexington(%)
Fri 4th Nov UK Oxford - Jericho*
Sat 5th Nov UK Bristol - Start The Bus*
Mon 7th Nov UK Manchester- Deaf Institute*
Tue 8th Nov UK Leeds - tbc
Wed 9th Nov UK Glasgow - Captain's Rest*
Thurs 10th Nov UK Edinburgh - Sneaky Pete's*
Fri 11th Nov Ireland Belfast - Limelight*
Sat 12th Nov Ireland Dublin - The Grand Social*
Tue 15th Nov UK London tbc
Wed 16th UK London - The Windmill(^)
Thurs 17th UK London - Old Blue Last
Fri 18th UK London tbc

* - with Twin Sister
(%) - with Gardens & Villa
(^) - with The Babies

Holiday Shores - UK & European tour

2011-10-17T14:35:00.006+01:00

Holiday Shores will be heading to the UK and Europe for their first non-North American tour dates in a couple of weeks.

They'll be playing around mainland Europe, UK and Ireland with Brooklyn's Domino-signed Twin Sister. They will also be playing some headline shows, see below. As you can see there's more to be announced.

If you live in any of the tour towns and want to be super kind and put the band up for the night they'll let you in to the show for free and shower you in beer (or your liquid of choice). Get in touch us (at) halfmachinerecords (dot) com

Wed 26th Oct Holland Rotterdam - Rotown*
Thurs 27th Oct Holland Utrecht - Ekko*
Fri 28th Oct Denmark Copenhagen - Vega
Sat 29th Oct Germany Berlin - Berghain Kantine*
Sun 30th Oct TBC
Mon 31st Oct Holland Amsterdam - Upstairs at Paradiso*
Wed 2nd Nov UK Brighton - Jam*
Thurs 3rd Nov UK London - Lexington(%)
Fri 4th Nov UK Oxford - Jericho*
Sat 5th Nov UK Bristol - Start The Bus*
Mon 7th Nov UK Manchester- Deaf Institute*
Tue 8th Nov UK Leeds - tbc
Wed 9th Nov UK Glasgow - Captain's Rest*
Thurs 10th Nov UK Edinburgh - Sneaky Pete's*
Sat 12th Nov Ireland Dublin - The Grand Social*
Tue 15th Nov Belgium Brussels - Witlo Off Bar*
Wed 16th UK London tbc
Thurs 17th UK London tbc
Fri 18th UK London tbc

* - with Twin Sister
(%) - with Gardens & Villa

Half Machine Soundcloud

2011-10-16T10:54:00.004+01:00

If you're at all interested, you could head over to the Half Machine Souncloud page where I've been uploading the back catalogue to stream and download. It's (nearly) all HERE.

And if you 'like' the Half Machine Facebook page I'll post the tracks on there, with a little uninformative information about the release so you don't have to keep checking Soundcloud to hear that Neils Children b-side.

I'll also be putting mixtapes up on the Facebook with stuff I've been listening to. Here's the first one, which includes new tracks from the upcoming Holiday Shores record, alongside Ganglians, Adrian Belew, Walls, Alan Vega, Alex Chilton and & Ben Vaughn, etc.

CLICK>>HALF MACHINE PODCAST 001

Roberto Cacciapaglia 'Media' Stream

2011-10-10T17:39:00.000+01:00

Due to some manufacturing hold up's the vinyl reissue of Roberto Cacciapaglia's cult 1979 LP, 'The Ann Steel Album', will be a little later than expected. It was due to be in shops by Monday 24th October, but it looks as though it'll be a week or so late.

To apologise we've made bonus track 'Media' available here:
Roberto Cacciapaglia - 'Media' by halfmachine

'Media' didn't appear on the original pressing and is one of two tracks available on vinyl for the first time.

Download 'We Couldn't Be Together'

2011-10-07T10:25:00.003+01:00

Download 'We Couldn't Be Together' from Holiday Shores' upcoming second album 'New Masses For Squaw Peak'

Holiday Shores - 'We Couldn't Be Together' by halfmachine

Order here

Guatemalan Road Trip mixtape

2011-10-02T11:02:00.004+01:00

Earlier this year I travelled to Guatemala, this is the music I listened to. It's all from South and Central America (or influenced by). This'll be the first in a series of Mixcloud mixes of my current listening, for better or worse...

Guatemalan Road Trip by Half Machine on Mixcloud

Roberto Cacciapaglia & Holiday Shores albums

2011-10-01T19:43:00.007+01:00

Along with being able to buy the Holiday Shores and Roberto Cacciapaglia albums from our online shop you can also pick them up from these places:

Holiday Shores - 'New Masses For Squaw Peak;':
Rough Trade
Boomkat
Piccadilly Records
Amazon (MP3)
HMV
iTunes (Pre-order for £5.99)
7Digital

Roberto Cacciapaglia - 'The Ann Steel Album':
Rough Trade
Juno
Phonica
Kristina Records
Insound (US)
All Day Records (US)

Any questions just ask - us (at) halfmachinerecords (dot) com

Our Facebook Page

2011-09-26T20:50:00.005+01:00

To celebrate Half Machine finally getting a Facebook page they had a big conference to announce it. They also mentioned some other shit.

You should head over and see my ruminations on some past Half Machine releases, loads of links to new music and what not. There'll be some Facebook only mixes going up soon too.

It's HERE

Holiday Shores - Havana, FL mixtape

2011-09-15T11:46:00.003+01:00

Holiday Shores' second album, 'New Masses For Squaw Peak', is out in the US now, and out via us in the UK on the 17th October (order here). To celebrate they made a mixtape, which you can listen to here:

Holiday Shores Havana Mix by Holidayshoress

Shop update

2011-09-01T17:38:00.005+01:00

New items up on the shop;

Robero Cacciapaglia 'The Ann Steel Album' LP

Holiday Shores 'New Masses For Squaw Peak' CD

Holiday Shores 'New Masses For Squaw Peak' LP

Holiday Shores 'Spells' Live at Glasslands, New York

2011-08-24T12:29:00.001+01:00

PRE-ORDER THE ALBUM, 'NEW MASSES FOR SQUAW PEAK', HERE

Holiday Shores interview with The Beat

2011-08-19T19:03:00.005+01:00

Read an interview with Nathan from Holiday Shores up on The Beat, where he discusses 'New Masses For Squaw Peak', Tears For Fears, Hare Krishnas and King Crimson.

Read the interview HERE

PRE-ORDER THE ALBUM HERE

Mirror Mirror 'Interiors'

2011-08-16T11:54:00.002+01:00

Mirror Mirror - Interiors LP by RVNG Intl.

Released on RVNG Intl on 22nd August.

You can also still order the debut 7" 'New Horizons'/ 'Lock Up Your Sons' HERE

So weightless as to have it fly away like a balloon

2011-08-04T16:36:00.002+01:00

"In my music there is nothing to understand. It is so superficial that I can’t find anything to say. My music is ingenuous, there is nothing inside it and it is for this reason, that I like it. It can be listened to while sipping tea, watching television, or while speaking with a friend. Even in a moment when one has nothing to do or is bored, the music can be listened to attentively and millions of little changes can be discovered. It is certainly not the ideal music; it is just one type of music.
The computer has been indispensable. It is a marvellously poetic instrument that evokes the beauty of the new technologic environment and it gives everything a great artificial taste of grand actuality. This music can be utilized in many ways and listened to by different people, which is what makes me happy because I want it to be accessible to everyone. I would like it to be even more simplistic, in fact, and my aspiration is to uncover it on a weightless day – so weightless, in fact, as to have it fly away like a balloon."

Roberto Cacciapaglia

Roberto Cacciapaglia - 'Find Your Way' by halfmachine

PRE-ORDER THE VINYL HERE

Roberto Cacciapaglia 'The Ann Steel Album' reissue

2011-07-29T16:33:00.005+01:00

We've been dormant as a label for just over two years now, allowing the looming spectre of chill wave and witch house to come and go without so much as a download single release by //\\''&%$@@@$%&"//\\ to our name.

So it's as much of a surprise to us as it is you that we're releasing two albums this year, the aforementioned Holiday Shores and now with the reissue of Roberto Cacciapaglia's 1979 bizarro futurist pop LP, 'The Ann Steel Album'.

Roberto Cacciapaglia is an Italian electronic composer who's made albums using every possible permutation of the same six notes, right up to modern classical, with 'The Ann Steel Album' as the weird anomaly.

Made with an American model, who moved to Italy to make it big in fashion, Roberto took her languid, Laurie Anderson-esque voice and created a detached futurist popstar.

The odd sound of these European futurist pop songs make it sound like the machines are breathing, creating a weird organic/ electronic rhythm section. It has to be heard to be believed.

'The Ann Steel Album' will be a vinyl only reissue, the first time this album has been on vinyl since its initial small pressing in the 70's, available from Half Machine Records.

Lullaby

2011-07-21T13:36:00.000+01:00

Flying Lotus - lullaby by Flyinglotus

Holiday Shores - 'New Masses For Squaw Peak'

2011-07-18T13:32:00.006+01:00

After a lengthy hiatus spent in the Himalayan mountains considering the future of 7" vinyl sales, Half Machine is back in the record selling business!

On October 17th 2011 we'll be releasing the second album from Florida's Holiday Shores. 'New Masses For Squaw Peak' is real step on from their brilliant, zeitgeist spearing, debut 'Columbus'd The Whim'. This album sees them channeling 'Here Come The Warm Jets' era Brian Eno, Talking Heads and Can, but losing none of their trademark twinkling and zigzagging melodies.

Download 'Spells' from Abeano

'New Masses For Squaw Peak' is released in the UK via Half Machine on Monday 17th October 2011.

Sunporch

2011-07-13T12:23:00.001+01:00

"Sunporch" By Walls by Kompakt

From the upcoming album of the year 'Coracle'

Camels

2011-06-22T16:27:00.000+01:00

Principles

2011-06-22T12:36:00.001+01:00

Sweetheart

2011-06-16T16:40:00.002+01:00

Sweetheart by factmag

Mirror Mirror 'Interiors'

2011-06-16T14:26:00.001+01:00

Mirror Mirror - Interiors (Album Teaser) from RVNG Intl. on Vimeo.

Maximum Joy

2011-06-11T12:49:00.000+01:00

I.R.O.K.

2011-06-10T15:34:00.000+01:00

Swear

2011-06-10T13:07:00.001+01:00

Threepeat Got Old

2011-06-08T15:12:00.001+01:00

From the new record, out later in the year

Far Nearer

2011-06-06T10:27:00.002+01:00

The best use of a Janet Jackson sample since that Bell Biv Devoe song that sampled 'Nasty'

Jamie xx - Far Nearer (limited vinyl & download out now - http://farnearer.com) by Numbers

RIP

2011-05-28T09:00:00.000+01:00

Laced

2011-05-27T14:18:00.002+01:00

Psychedelic Horseshit - French Countryside from FatCat Records on Vimeo.

Half Machine alumni Psychedelic Horseshit have a new record out on Fat Cat. 'Laced' is a far cry from the 'sprinkler solos' from our EP. Mid-fi shitgaze.

A Love That Kills

2011-05-26T11:41:00.002+01:00

A Love That Kills by Art Fag Recordings

Buy the 7" from Art Fag HERE

Rimar

2011-05-25T14:52:00.001+01:00

Don't Say by Rimar

Download the whole album HERE

Fire Sale!

2011-05-25T11:32:00.003+01:00

Clearing out some old Half Machine stock, if you want anything make us an offer - halfmachinerecords (at) gmail (dot) com - list here - http://bit.ly/kiPDjq

Unfortunately no copies left of the Real Estate, Woods, Psychedelic Horseshit, Stardeath & White Dwarfs 7"s.

Need Someone

2011-05-24T12:29:00.001+01:00

Stubborn Heart - Need Someone by BOILER ROOM

For Love I Come

2011-05-23T17:47:00.002+01:00

Lil B - emptying his brain on to the internet

2011-05-19T10:55:00.003+01:00

Lots has already been written about Lil B everywhere on the internet, which has probably made it harder to get your head around what he is and what he does, it certainly took me some time to figure out if I liked it or not. Simon Reynolds' article in The Wire about too much information to truly identify with an artist nowadays rings true when talking about people like Lil B - "Fanatical identification with an artist/scene has given way to drifting eclecticism and partial allegiance"

I've had 'Red Flame' and 'Blue Flame' for sometime and never really got round to listening to much else. So it wasn't with great expectation that I listened to 'Rain In England' for the first time yesterday (whilst it rained in England), but I am now a total convert. Despite the occasional remedial synth line that interrupts the strings and synth washes, it's totally hypnotic, stream of conscious poetry. Ruminating on the state of earth, how all women are us and we are them and various other stoner theory's.

'My Window Sill' is where the album really coalesces in to brilliance for me

Suicide seem like an influence on this - the minimal backing, the yelps, the beat poetry:

I read an article about the Black Keys in Mojo recently where the writer dismissed hip hop in 2011 as on a downward spiral, but with Lil B, Wiz Khalifa, Wacka Flocka Flame, Odd Future etc I think it's safe to say that he's a fucking dick.

Mercenárias 'Inimigo'

2011-04-28T12:26:00.000+01:00

In preparation of my trip to the Central American jungle on Saturday, I've been listening to a lot of Panamanian funk and Peruvian psych (as recommended by El Guincho) and this track from the really quite brilliant Soul Jazz comp, The Sexual Lift of The Savages.

I used to play this a lot at our old club night. Nobody liked it much, except me.

Tom Trago 'Being With You'

2011-04-27T12:08:00.002+01:00

Where Smokey goes mid-tempo synth boogie

'Iris' by Tom Trago is out now on Rush Hour, get it here

Mo Kolours

2011-04-26T17:19:00.001+01:00

dBridge 'So Lonely'

2011-04-21T12:22:00.002+01:00

dBridge - So Lonely (Original) by Exit Records UK

Where UK bass music starts to come to the same conclusions as Autre Ne Veut

James Fox - 'New Jack Swing'

2011-04-13T18:21:00.002+01:00

I hated new jack swing when it was in it's heyday. But that was just an early onset of indie snobbery, deep down I loved quietly grooving to Guy and Al B Sure. This doesn't sound like either of those, it's house. Which is also good.

Jacques Greene - 'Another Girl'

2011-04-13T14:58:00.001+01:00

The Koreless remix of 'The Look' is also amazing

Dirty Beaches

2011-04-08T13:40:00.001+01:00

Easily one of the albums of 2011, buy it from Rough Trade

EMA - 'California'

2011-04-05T17:57:00.002+01:00

EMA - California (Official Video) from Souterrain Transmissions on Vimeo.

Get the album from Souterrain Transmissions

The Supremes + Joni Mitchell = Krautrock!

2011-04-04T09:39:00.004+01:00

In the 70's, long past their peak, The Supremes released this cover of Joni Mitchell's 'All I Want'. It comes from their Jimmy Webb produced self-titled album and was released in 1972, the same year Neu! released their debut album and coincidently features a Klaus Dinger-esque motorik beat!

Koreless

2011-03-24T13:39:00.002Z

4D by Koreless

Banjo or Freakout, Italy, March 2011 video

2011-03-22T15:36:00.003Z

Banjo or Freakout's Italian tour, as seen through my eyes (via a Flipcam):

Banjo or Freakout Italy March 2011 from banjo or freakout on Vimeo.

The music is my 'remix' of 'Go Ahead' from Banjo or Freakout's debut album, out now on Memphis Industries

Heavy Manners

2011-03-22T15:28:00.001Z

Heavy Manners Part 1

Heavy Manners Part 1 by Heavy Manners

I feel better when I have you near me

2011-03-01T13:49:00.001Z

Shriekback 'Accretions'

2011-02-25T16:00:00.000Z

Jello Biafra vs Tipper Gore

2011-02-24T14:57:00.000Z

Half Machine Soundcloud Drop Box

2011-02-22T23:28:00.003Z

If you'd like to send us tracks you can do it via our Souncloud Drop Box

15-60-75 'Jimmy Bell (Live)'

2011-02-22T23:18:00.000Z

How I Quit Crack

2011-02-22T23:13:00.000Z

Couple of changes

2010-12-14T14:51:00.003Z

In a couple of weeks the www.halfmachinerecords.com URL and us@halfmachinerecords.com email address won't be working.

You can get to the blog via this link - halfmachinerecords.blogspot.com

And email us here - halfmachinerecords@gmail.com

Jah bless xxx

Ancient Crux/ Weed Diamond split 7" out now!!

2010-04-13T22:24:00.004+01:00

OUT NOW!!

Order from:
UK
Half Machine Online Shop
Rough Trade
Pure Groove
Norman
Banquet
Rounder

US:
Insound

Japan:
Vinyl Junkie
The Stone Records
Escalator

Ancient Crux 'In Teen Dreams' video

2010-03-03T13:04:00.002Z

Lo-fi

Ancient Crux/ Weed Diamond split 7"

2010-02-24T15:27:00.005Z

We're pleased to announce that the oft-talked about Ancient Crux/ Weed Diamond split 7" is now almost ready (ready enough to announce anyway!). Released on Monday 5th April on Half Machine Records, there's only 200 copies available from us and various shops and each band will have a stash to sell on tour and what not so get in early! Download both tracks below.

DOWNLOAD: Ancient Crux - 'In Teen Dreams' [SENDSPACE LINK]
DOWNLOAD: Weed Diamond - 'Nothing To Write Home About' [SENDSPACE LINK]

Half Machine Records - Cat number: HMR018

Pre-orders can be placed here - HALF MACHINE ONLINE SHOP

Order from ROUGH TRADE HERE

Ancient Crux Mixtape MP3

2010-02-12T11:32:00.004Z

The split 7" with Ancient Crux and Weed Diamond will be with us shortly, on very very limited 7" (around 200 copies in shops and some from each band). To celebrate Travis from Ancient Crux has made us a mixtape, which you can download below. Taking in three Wu (or related) songs, which makes this three times better than most mixtapes.

Tracklisting:

1. Brian Eno - Cindy Tells Me
2. The Adverts - No Time To Be 21
3. Wu-Tang Clan - Protect Ya Neck
4. Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti - Beefbud
5. The Birthday Party - Fears Of Gun
6. Chromatics - Washed Up On A Beach Of Infants
7. The Singing Principal - Woman's Liberation
8. Liliput - Yours Is Mine
9. Broadcast - Man Is Not a Bird
10. Country Teasers - Golden Apples
11. The Velvet Underground - The Gift
12. Wu-Tang Clan - Da Mystery Of Chessboxin'
13. Raekwon - Kiss The Ring (Ft Inspectah Deck and Masta Killa)
14. Swell Maps - Let's Build a Car (Single Version)
15. Sonic Youth - Catholic Block
16. Shoplifting - Claude Glass
17. Public Image Ltd. - Swan Lake

DOWNLOAD: ANCIENT CRUX MIXTAPE MP3 [SENDSPACE LINK]

You can pre-order the 7" from us HERE

Never Goin' Back

2010-02-05T17:52:00.002Z

How I managed to miss this from the b-side to his Group Tightener 7" I do not know. But anyway, it's ruddy marvelous. It's all about school and shit. Never fails.

DOWNLOAD: ALEX BLEEKER & THE FREAKS - 'NEVER GOIN' BACK' MP3 [SENDSPACE LINK}

via Chocolate Bobka

LEMONADE & SUNGLASSES

2010-02-05T14:52:00.003Z

Unseasonable pop music

Rough Trade Counter Culture '09

2010-01-28T14:04:00.003Z

Jumbling Towers' spazz pop ditty 'Kanetown City Rips', released on 7" vinyl by this very establishment, is now available to consume on the fine Rough Trade Counter Culture cd. Featuring all of the shops favourite songs of 2009, like Fever Ray, Mos Def, Broadcast, Glasser, the Very Best and what not.

"Jumbling Towers bring their uniquely eerie and lopsided rolling bumper to the party"

PRE-ORDER FROM ROUGH TRADE HERE

Glasser

2010-01-26T15:56:00.003Z

Last year everyone's favourite person (Dean Bein) released an EP by Glasser on his True Panther Sounds label. The beautiful 12" came with a handmade kaleidoscope on the front, all cut out by Dean. Dedication.

That EP ('Apply'), came with a remix by those fine tropical disco New Yorkers Tanlines (download below).

She'll also be releasing the Tremel EP on Young Turks in a couple of months, with an album in the works.

DOWNLOAD - GLASSER 'APPLY (TANLINES REMIX)' [SENDSPACE LINK}

Sbtrkt

2010-01-25T11:17:00.004Z

SBTRKT, who has been knocking out great remixes for a few months now is due to release a new 12" on Young Turks in a couple of months. 'Soundboy Shift' backed by 'Rundown'.

In the meantime, here's a mix he did for Gilles Peterson's Radio 1 show (tracklist below):

SBTRKT 17.01.2010 by sbtrkt

Sinden & SBTRKT - Kind Of Familiar (Test)
Joy Orbison - The Shrew Would Have Cushioned The Blow (Aus)
2562 - Flashback (Tectonic)
MJ Cole - Volcano Riddim (Prolific)
These New Puritans - We Want War (SBTRKT Remix) (Angular)
A Made Up Sound - Closer (AMS)
Headhunter - Prototype (Modeselektor Remix) (Tempa)
EL-B - The Club (Tempa)
MJ Cole - Sanctuary (SBTRKT Remix) (Test)
Pangaea - Memories (Hessle)
Zomby - Digital Fauna (Brainmath)
Erykah Badu - Next Lifetime (Universal)
SBTRKT - Step In Shadows (Young Turks)
Portico Quartet - Lines (SBTRKT Remix) (Real World)

You can pre-order the 12" from Young Turks here

Ancient Crux

2010-01-20T12:18:00.005Z

The wonderful and ever on it blog Rose Quartz have posted a couple of tracks and a short write up on Ancient Crux, click HERE to read it all and download two tracks ('Mutant Beach Theme' and 'Demand Respect'), taken from their split with Ouija.

"'Mutant Beach Theme' which makes me experience two different childhood memories, a) listening to Weezer and b) playing with Toxic Crusaders toys in my lounge which was "awesome""

The split 7" with Weed Diamond will be out in a short while, the artwork just came in and is looking very cool.

Left It Alone

2010-01-15T11:52:00.003Z

It seems I neglected to post this video of 'Left It Alone' by Banjo or Freakout before, so here it is:

It was directed by Alexander Brown who has also made videos for Wild Beasts and Maccabees etc etc.

It was premiered on Stereogum a little while back.

King Midas Sound

2010-01-14T14:15:00.002Z

King Midas Sound's 'Meltdown; taken from one the best albums of 2009, 'Waiting For You'.

King Midas Sound is Roger Robinson,The Bug and Hitomi. 'Waiting For You' is the sound of late night London bus rides, creeping dub dread.

DOWNLOAD: Fact Mixtape

THERES SPACE FOR OL DAT I SEE

2010-01-13T14:13:00.001Z

Motown Mixtape

2009-12-30T13:34:00.003Z

Whilst ensconced back home I decided to make a mixtape in between reading and eating Twiglets.

Having been brought up listening to Motown (and a strange amount of prog) I've always been a little obsessed, so here's a little mixtape I made of some of my favourite songs to come out on the label. I decided to choose songs that weren't massive hits because everyone has a Motown compilation with those on there right? You'll probably know some (or maybe all) of these songs, they're not all super obscure - b-sides to big singles/ used on a KFC advert etc etc. Anyway, hopefully these songs aren't too played out and this mixtape will be of some interest...

1. 'Bye Bye Baby' – Mary Wells (Released December 1960)
2. 'Jamie' – Eddie Holland (Released October 1961)
3. 'Contract On Love' – Little Stevie Wonder (Released December 1962)
4. 'There He Is (At My Door)' – Martha & The Vandellas (Released July 1964 – b-side to ‘Dancing In The Street’)
5. 'You’ve Been A Long Time Coming' – Marvin Gaye (Released January 1965 – b-side to ‘I’ll Be Doggone’)
6. 'My Baby' – The Freeman Brothers (Released mid-1965)
7. 'You’ve Really Got A Hold On Me' – The Miracles (Released November 1962)
8. 'Put Yourself In My Place' – The Elgins (Released December 1965)
9. 'Do I Love You (Indeed I Do)' – Chris Clark (Unreleased – recorded 1966)
10. 'Just A Little Misunderstanding' – The Contours (Released 1966)
11. 'I Like Everything About You' – The Four Tops (Released July 1966 – b-side to ‘Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever’)
12. 'Mother You, Smother You' – The Supremes (Released October 1966 – b-side to ‘You Keep Me Hangin’ On’)
13. 'Since I Left You Girl' – The Monitors (Released November 1966)
14. 'I Think I Can Change You' – The Marvelettes (Released December 1966 – b-side to ‘The Hunter Gets Captured By The Game’)

DOWNLOAD - MOTOWN MIXTAPE DECEMBER 2009 (YOUSENDIT LINK)

Banjo or Freakout Christmas Album

2009-12-17T11:58:00.004Z

AC Milan fan and all round lovely Italian Banjo or Freakout has made a beautiful Christmas album including all the hits - 'White Christmas', 'Jingle Bells' and 'Blue Christmas'. You can download the whole thing from his blog LINK

TRACKLISTING:
01 White Christmas
02 Merry Christmas, Baby
03 Jingle Bells
04 Christmas Is Coming
05 Must Be Santa
06 Silent Night
07 Come On Ring Those Bells
08 Joy To The World
09 Blue Christmas

Recorded first take at home between December 3rd and December 13th 2009 apart from Silent Night (Dec 2008) and Blue Christmas (Dec 2007).

The Dirty Hearts Club - Jan 05-Dec 06

2009-12-15T16:16:00.013Z

A few years ago I started DJing and working on the door of a friends night on Canvey Island. It was called Bored and was on one Thursday a month, then every other Thursday. It was run by my friends in Thee Harmacy (Canvey Island's weirdest and possibly hardest working lazy band). We put on some ropey bands that played ska and what was referred to as 'alt-rock'. In between though we (Thee Harmacy and I) DJ'd, playing things like Roxy Music, The Stooges, MC5, The Fall, Sonic Youth etc etc. It was good fun, got pretty popular cos there was no other 'alt' night around and we had a very slack attitude to the over 18s rule the club imposed...

Bored ended when we were given a Saturday night cos loads of people started coming. We got monumentally drunk and accidently blew the entire soundsystem by turning up the Flaming Lips' 'Talkin Bout The Smiling Deathporn Immortality Blues' until everything was in the red (and forgetting to turn it down for the rest of the night).

My friend Dean and I then decided to start a night in Southend, we called it Vive Le Rock (after the Adam Ant song), it was a shit name. We admit it. We did this night at Saks basement on one Tuesday a month. Nobody came and when they did we'd scare them off by playing The Clean really loud.

We then moved to the Royal Hotel after the owner decided he needed more nights there and asked us to come down (one Wednesday a month). There was a recently started night there called Junk (we went to the first couple, there was always about 6 people there who didn't like outsiders).

Anyway, after six months of hardly anyone coming we managed to blag a Saturday night (third Saturday of every month). With this new night we decided we needed a new name. So we replaced shit name with shit name and the Dirty Hearts Club was born.

We started on the third Friday of January 2005 (don't know why). It was instantly popular, which was an odd sensation for us.

The night went from strength to strength, getting three times the capacity in there, creating a very, very sweaty club. When Black Wire played we had far too many people there, followed by an amusing after party at somebody's house which ended with a load of umbrellas up a tree and Tom from the band sucking red wine out of the cream carpet with a straw...

In that time we put on some good bands and some shockers. We put on first gigs by These New Puritans (its funny to read now that they say their first gig was at fellow Southend night Junk, which came a year after they'd played every night in London and Dirty Hearts three times...), Hadouken and stuff. We put on Kaito's last ever gig and brilliant early gigs by Good Shoes, Les Incompetents, Blood Red Shoes, MIT, The Violets etc.

Klaxons, Shitdisco, Dandi Wind and Roland Shanks all pulled out due to illness/ shit managers last minute too. We also turned down The Automatic, Arctic Monkeys and Vincent Vincent & The Villains (several times) to play too and I'm pleased we did.

It lasted from January 2005 to December 2006. We decided from the first one that club nights turn shit after 2 years and we would end then.

The DJs every night were me, Dean and our friend Anthony Vicious (now owner of Hottwerk Records). I've made a Spotify playlist of some of the stuff you were likely to hear on an average night. There's lots missing that isn't on there (loads of weird white label remixes and what not). But if you click this link you can get a flava:

DIRTY HEARTS CLUB SPOTIFY PLAYLIST (BEST LISTEN ON SHUFFLE)

Nite Funk

2009-12-09T12:58:00.005Z

Dam Funk + Nite Jewel = Nite Funk. Clever.

The first track to come out from their collaboration, 'Am I Gonna Make It', sounds like those moody scenes in Miami Vice where Crockett drove around in his convertable contemplating his failed marriage and the conflict he has with going back to his family or protecting them via his dangerous job. Emo. Phil Collins would usually do the music for these scenes with some awesome sounding drums, but Nite Funk do a good job of filling in, making it sound like an Imagination slow jam.

NITE FUNK - 'AM I GONNA MAKE IT' MP3 [SENDSPACE LINK]

Via XLR8R

Alex Bleeker & The Freaks

2009-11-16T14:58:00.003Z

Alex Bleeker (bassist in Real Estate and all round nice guy) and his Freaks will be releasing their debut long player on the always amazing Underwater Peoples in the coming weeks. Having been lucky enough to hear it, I can safely say the Neil Young & Crazy Horse/ Grateful Dead comparisons are not over the top. Its rambling, timeless music for driving along long lonely roads and sitting, staring at mountains and stuff.

This video from Sawyer of Underwater Peoples explains more, with 'Summer Epilogue' playing in the background:

To My Boy 'Us + The Wind'

2009-11-09T18:19:00.008Z

A couple of years ago.To My Boy released an underrated synth pop album, instead of the now almost obligatory Yazoo referencing, they sounded more like an electrocuted Devo playing OMD songs too fast. But there was always an undercurrent of melancholy in Jack's voice that hinted at a darker future.

So after their debut album the band (Jack, Sam and laptop) returned to university to study nuclear physics. Not much was heard from them until Jack sent me over the new album. It's an astonishing leap forward, a concept album about when the world runs out of natural resources and has to find a new planet to inhabit. It's a really great record, which conjures up images of disused nuclear bunkers on the grey plains of Northern England, The Quiet Earth and Phillip K Dick's existential angst.

Below is a link to 'Us + The Wind', further songs will pop in time:

TO MY BOY - 'US + THE WIND' MP3 [YOUSENDIT LINK]

WOODS

2009-11-06T10:54:00.003Z

WOODS are in the UK from Sunday as part of the Shred Yr Face tour (with Espers and Cave Singers).

They recently had a chat with Drowned In Sound, where they talk about tapes, Wavves, dating music lovers and what not. Click here to read it.

They'll be playing an instore at Pure Groove in Faringdon this Sunday (8th) at 3pm, which is here (FYI)

08/11/09 : Pure Groove (3pm) – London (UK)
08/11/09 : Lexington - London (UK)

09/11/09 : The Farmhouse – Canterbury (UK)

10/11/09 : Hare & Hounds – Birmingham (UK)

11/11/09 : Crawdaddy – Dublin (EIR)

12/11/09 : Speakeasy (Radar Club) – Belfast (UK)

13/11/09 : Stereo – Glasgow (UK)

14/11/09 : The Electric Circus – Edinburgh (UK)

15/11/09 : The Cluny – Newcastle (UK)

16/11/09 : The Brudenell Social Club – Leeds (UK)

17/11/09 : Academy 3 – Manchester (UK)

18/11/09 : The Freebutt - Brighton (UK)

19/11/09 : Fleece – Bristol (UK)

20/11/09 : ULU – London (UK)

Real Estate live at CMJ

2009-11-03T18:02:00.004Z

Some more Real Estate videos from CMJ. Pitchfork have also upped the entire set from their gig at the Market Hotel (MP3s below).

Real Estate - "Fake Blues" from Flipswitch on Vimeo.

'Basement' live at Pianos. Which will appear on their upcoming 12" on Mexican Summer

The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner: Real Estate [Part 3 of 14] from Ray Concepcioñ on Vimeo.

You can download the whole set from the Pitchfork gig at the Market Hotel below. The tracklisting is as follows:

01. Pool Swimmers
02. Basement
03. Beach Comber
04. Younger Than Yesterday (mp3 mislabeled)
05. Suburban Beverage
06. The Mall [Ducktails cover]
07. Fake Blues

DOWNLOAD HERE

Surfer Blood/ Holiday Shores

2009-10-28T02:04:00.003Z

Two bands that really caught my ear last week were Surfer Blood and Holiday Shores. Both have that beach pop thing (you could probably tell that from their names), but they back that sound of now with really, really good albums.

Surfer Blood were one of those 'buzz bands' that music industry people like to talk about at CMJ.

I caught one and a half songs at their early afternoon slot at Cake Shop, couldn't see a thing and was kinda jetlagged so went to get an organic smoothy (Very Berry FYI) and sit out front of an expensive clothes shop watching people go by. Fortunately I managed to catch them again at Pianos, where they truly hooked me, and again at the Pitchfork party at Market Hotel.

There's lots of bands at the moment doing this beach pop/ lo-fi thing, but where Surfer Blood really stand out is the fact they have a lot of really good songs. Sounding a little like the Shins, a little like Weezer and a lot like a band people will fall in love with.

Pitchfork posted 'Swim (To Reach The End)' a few weeks back (download below), which is also my favourite track from their debut album 'Astro Coast' (out soon on Kanine)

DOWNLOAD - 'SWIM (TO REACH THE END)' MP3

//////////////////////////////////////////////\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\

Fresh from being on the cover of the New Yorker's arts section Holiday Shores played a bunch of shows too, after many misses I managed to catch them at that same Chocolate Bobka/ Underwater Peoples/ Two Syllable showcase the Real Estate video is from.

Having had the album for a while, I was keen to see how it's lo-fi Baroque guitar pop sounded live. They also drew quite a crowd. It was a pretty great show, the melodies that make the album so timeless and so 2009 were all there, it was pretty impressive to hear a band so easily nailing it.

The album is out now on the brilliant Two Syllable records, I suggest you go get a copy. And to entice you a little more, here's two of the many great moments from it, an MP3 and a video:

DOWNLOAD - 'PHONES DON'T FEUD' MP3 [SENDSPACE LINK]

Holiday Shores - Edge Of Our Lives from Chocolate Bobka on Vimeo.

Real Estate 'Black Lake' live at CMJ

2009-10-27T01:51:00.005Z

Real Estate played a bunch of shows at CMJ last week, one being the Chocolate Bobka/ Underwater Peoples/ Two Syllable showcase at the Delancy (basement - grotty sweat box playing host to lo-fi bands/ upstairs - DJs playing mashups and Lady Gaga).

They went on around 3am, after great sets by Holiday Shores, Pill Wonder, Frat Dad and some others. Everyone was pretty drunk and sweaty by this point, but they managed to play one of the best sets of the week, where the ever excellent Chocolate Bobka got this footage:

Real Estate - Black Lake from Chocolate Bobka on Vimeo.

Kindness

2009-10-23T18:27:00.000+01:00

LCD Soundsysem 'Bye Bye Bayou'

2009-10-21T23:02:00.000+01:00

I love LCD Soundsystem, as in proper nerdy love. Both albums are up there as two of my favourite's from the last few years. And, let's face it, 'Losing My Edge' is the best song of the last 10 years.

Anyway, LCD Soundsystem have covered Alan Vega's 'Bye Bye Bayou', from his pretty patchy debut solo album. Although to be fair, the dude's about 900 years old and he was in Suicide so he can be forgiven the odd ropey album (although 'Saturn Strip' is pretty awesome). LCD's version turns it in to a pulsing 7 minute long disco tune. You can download the MP3 from here

There's also due to be a new album in March next year.

Weed Diamond

2009-10-20T10:00:00.001+01:00

WEED DIAMOND, who will be the other side to the Ancient Crux 7" we're putting out, is Denver, Colorado based Tim Perry. His songs also take in the lo-fi 60s pop thing, although these tracks are more stoner psych jams with long forgotten doo wop bands' melodies floating around behind the fuzz.

Weed Diamond's side of the split 7" will have his heartbroken prom song 'Nothing To Write Home About', which is up on his myspace to listen to (and download if you know how to work the internet)

You can download 'Mr Vacant Stare' below, which sounds like a lost 60s San Francisco garage band playing spooky electric folk:

WEED DIAMOND 'MR VACANT STARE' MP3 [SENDSPACE LINK]

You can order his 'Sweater Kids' tape on Mirror Universe, limited to 100 copies so get in quick.

Ancient Crux

2009-10-19T20:06:00.005+01:00

ANCIENT CRUX is primarily 19 year old Travis Von Sydow (also of LA punks Rapid Youth), he writes, records all the Ancient Crux stuff himself, but plays live with a couple of other dudes. We first stumbled across them on the No Pain In Pop blog a few months ago. We instantly fell in love with the lo-fi Roy Orbison pop of 'In Teen Dreams', sounding like it should've soundtracked Jason Priestly's mercurial (if tragically short lived) turn as Buzz Gunderson in 'Teen Angel'.

So, next year we'll be releasing that song (which is on the Ancient Crux myspace if you want to hear it) as a double a-side split single with Denver, Colorado based Weed Diamond (more on him later). In the meantime, you can download 'Vanisher' from the 'Interracial Coupling EP' on Family Time Records.

ANCIENT CRUX - 'VANISHER' MP3 [SENDPACE LINK]

PAAARRRTTTYYY!!

2009-10-15T13:59:00.010+01:00

Here's the Facebook event thing

Julian Lynch 'Seed' video

2009-10-13T16:24:00.003+01:00

Julian Lynch who released one of my favourite albums of the year, the psych soul and electric folk of 'Orange You Glad' (buy from here) has just posted the new video for 'Seed', directed by Amy Ruh.

JULIAN LYNCH "SEED" VIDEO from OESB // FUTURE SOUND on Vimeo.

Download his Cyndi Lauper cover here: JULIAN LYNCH 'TIME AFTER TIME' MP3 [MEDIAFIRE LINK]

Banjo or Freakout 'Left It Alone' transparent vinyl

2009-10-12T12:57:00.005+01:00

The vinyl turned up today, looks beautiful. Heavy card sleeve and transparent vinyl! Order from the Half Machine Shop

Side A) LEFT IT ALONE MP3 [SENDSPACE LINK]

Side B) BREATHE OUT MP3 [SENDSPACE LINK]

LEFT IT ALONE (BECOMING REAL REMIX) MP3 [SENDPACE LINK]

Walls

2009-10-06T18:26:00.003+01:00

Earlier this year we released a 12" EP by Banjo or Freakout called 'Upside Down'. One of the remixes we had done was by London club night running/ blogging/ label running/ DJs Allez Allez. Which turned the title track in to an extended Kompakt-esque techno wonder (download from RCRDLBL)

Well, since then Alessio and Sam from Allez Allez have got together to form a band called Walls

Below is the first fruits of their labour and brilliant it is too:

Walls - Gaberdine by wallsjams

Banjo or Freakout 'Left It Alone (Becoming Real Remix)' MP3

2009-10-02T11:47:00.004+01:00

After Pinglewood tipped us off about London's Becoming Real and his Blank Dogs via Dilla lo-fi dubstep, we knew we had to get him to fuck with something we're involved with. So, below is his reinterpretation of the upcoming Banjo or Freakout single 'Left It Alone'. It'll be available on iTunes and whatnot as part of a digital EP in a few weeks.

Becoming Real has also just done a little interview on Fader, where he talks 9/11 and the Microphones.

Banjo or Freakout 'Left It Alone (Becoming Real Remix)' MP3 (Sendspace link)

Fool's Gold

2009-10-01T15:55:00.003+01:00

Fool's Gold released their debut album this week on IAMSOUND. I've only had it a couple of days and it's already in my top 10 of the year.

Having initially been put off by their name, thinking they'd be some baggy, Madchester shit (which I hated at the time and still hate), I thought I'd give it a go as I'm a giving kinda guy. What I wasn't expecting was a 7 minute African pop song, all high-life guitars and Hebrew/ English vocals.

'Surprise Hotel' MP3

(via Pitchfork)

Here's the video to the song, if you can't be arsed with downloading free music. It's got old men spraying Fanta and Coke at each other, lizards, girls in a pool and the band mooching around. Everything you need in a pop video:

Ganglians

2009-09-30T10:41:00.004+01:00

I love Ganglians. 'Monster Head Room' and the self-titled 12" are two of my favourite releases of the last year.

They've been on tour with Wavves in the US recently and called in at Todd P's Market Hotel in Brooklyn, the ever excellent Chocolate Bobka filmed this video of 'Never Mind' (labelled as 'Never Mine' though):

Ganglians - Never Mine from Chocolate Bobka on Vimeo.

There's also this unknown song:

Ganglians - unknown song from Chocolate Bobka on Vimeo.

Banjo or Freakout 'Left It Alone' MP3

2009-09-29T12:55:00.002+01:00

Banjo or Freakout's new single 'Left It Alone' is out on Monday 19th October on transparent vinyl and download. If you buy the 7" and want the mp3s drop us an email - us at halfmachinerecords dot com - and we'll send them over to you (same goes for all our releases). Or, you could just download the a-side from below and the b-side from Pitchfork

LEFT IT ALONE MP3 [SENDSPACE LINK]

PRE-ORDER THE 7" HERE

Ducktails 'Landscapes'

2009-09-21T15:35:00.004+01:00

Ducktails just released his new album 'Landscapes' on Olde English Spelling Bee, following on from the singles and tape comp 'Backyard' and the recent Not Not Fun released self-titled. Having seen him mesmerize the Old Blue Last in May with a mixture of new and old songs, this new album is going to be amazing. Check out the live video of 'House of Mirrors', a downbeat 6 minute guitar pop jam, which features on the new album:

Ducktails - House of Mirrors from Chocolate Bobka on Vimeo.

And buy all of the albums and stuff from Matt HERE.

Matt also plays guitar in Real Estate, who's debut album is out on Woodsist in a couple of months and is everything you wanted it to be. New version of 'Green River' is a slowed down, autumnal pop song that should be the theme to the Royal Tenenbaums 2.

Jumbling Towers 'Kanetown City Rips' MP3

2009-09-17T11:54:00.003+01:00

Jumbling Towers' debut single, 'Kanetown City Rips' b/w 'Gilberta', will be available on Monday 2nd November on 7" and digital download. Available only on the Half Machine shop, in independent record shops and iTunes.

Download:
Kanetown City Rips

Jumbling Towers' current project is dedicated to the fictitious world of 1981 Kanetown City, and the group of exiled youth who made the music soon to be heard. Their story is one of passion, poverty, and racial tolerance. The Towers themselves practice neither passion nor poverty but are certainly advocates of racial equality.

Ray Concepcion/ Sore Eros/ Ducktails/ Titus Andronicus/ Smith Westerns

2009-09-14T14:25:00.004+01:00

Ray Concepcion is making the best live videos around at the moment. After the beauty of his Real Estate videos and Woods videos, he's done a load more that we love just as much:

Sore Eros:

Chocolate Bobka: Sore Eros from Ray Concepcion on Vimeo.

Ducktails:

+Ducktails from Ray Concepcion on Vimeo.

Titus Andronicus:

Monster Island: Titus Andronicus from Ray Concepcion on Vimeo.

The Smith Westerns:

Monster Island: The Smith Westerns - 'Be My Girl' from Ray Concepcion on Vimeo.

Real Estate 'Fake Blues' live in New York City

2009-09-14T12:21:00.001+01:00

Real Estate - Fake Blues from Chocolate Bobka on Vimeo.

Filmed at the recent Big Troubles/Zola Jesus/Desolation Wilderness/Real Estate gig Saturday at Silent Barn, New York.

"It's not summer music people, it's life music."

Via the ever excellent Chocolate Bobka