Hey Kidz,
The big news this week is xo #2 is available for ordering physical copies or you can just watch it online on our site or spread the word with it on IFC Medialab & YouTube.
Below are a few recent reviews.
hrt
Brian John Mitchell
VLOR: A FIRE IS MEANT FOR BURNING
Vlor? The name sounds like this should be some sort of obscure black metal band. Or maybe an alien race from a sci-fi TV show. But Vlor is actually a band, or project really, devoted to making lovely layered shoegazing guitar sonics in a minimal, post-rock style, a bit like Windsor For The Derby, or maybe old AQ faves Codeine (like an intro to one of their songs though, before it really kicks in with drums n’ all). One guy, Brian J. Mitchell, seems to be the instigator here, playing on all the tracks, joined by various other friendly collaborating guitarists over the course of the album, including members of Remora, Aarktica, Lycia, Rivulets, and Jessica Bailiff (who also contributes some breathy vocals to the very short “Suncatcher”, an anomaly on this otherwise instrumental album). Many of the tracks are trembling, mellow and quite pleasant, with some (like “Wires”) getting a bit more menacing, with th’ distortion factor upped… A good blend of the repetitive, experimental and the almost indie-pop, in the realm of guitar explorations. Quite Nice!
~ Aquarius Records
ALAN SPARHAWK: SOLO GUITAR
Away from his work with slowcore supremos Low, this is Alan Sparhawk on his own with just guitar & effects. Entirely instrumental, comprised of short abstract pieces & longer, extended explorations, Sparhawk’s forays into the molten, dream-drift orbits of Loren Connors, Hisato Higuchi, & Earth’s Dylan Carlson creat an intriguing work of reverb-heavy, metal-stringed experimentation.
~ Mojo
Alan Sparhawk = Windy and Carl + Slowdive “Pygmalion” + Godspeed You Black Emperor!
You might expect to be in a world of trouble when the equation above is mixed together with the name Alan Sparhawk. While mostly known for his central role in Low, this solo work (finally!) shows the truly tortured artist we have always wanted out of Spahawk. Recorded live in a church with just some guitar loops & some reverb, Sparhawk is drenched in mid 90s shoegaze, a Twin Peaks episode from Season One and Canada. Amazing. Layer upon layer of textured attack & cease-and-desist restraint resonate as the album moves deftly between an architecture of brooding build up and Orchestrated sea faring. While Low is the pop side & Black-Eyed Snakes is his rockin’ side, Alan’s solo stuff is a 90s mid-life crisis finally shooed out the door. This release is A+ if you like the drone – not too much and not too little.
~ Erik Lopez, Slug Magazine
Low’s Alan Sparhawk takes a surprising left turn into meditational Krautrock. Beautifully patient instrumentals with an ancient, almost menacing edge, well-tempered with minimalist layers of soothing drones and loops.
~ Michael Chamy, Dallas Oserver
BLACK HAPPY DAY: IN THE GARDEN OF THE GHOSTFLOWERS
Featuring members of Stone Breath and Lycia, an eerie shotgun wedding of folksy medieval dirges and magickal ambiance from the dark side of Stonehenge.
~ Michael Chamy, Dallas Oserver