INEVERYROOM has evolved from experimental pop into textual compositions exploring live and sampled sounds. In 2010, Lands & Peoples and INEVERYROOM created a split cassette that got Pitchfork’s attention. Shortly following that, Local Baltimore label, Friends Records released a self titled 7-song cassette and digital download. For their microshow they were inspired by healing and easy listening, R&B, carnivals, textures found in nature and their friends in Baltimore.

Sometimes I am not sure what’s going on with Amy and Chase’s music. Part mad scientists part Brian Eno/Daniel Lanois. It’s completely genre-less. You just don’t know what you are going to get – but you keep wanting more and never wanting it to end. And that happened last week when INEVERYROOM, unfortunately, played their last show.

Chase O’Hara: Vocals, Keyboards, Drum Pads, Sampler
Amy Reid: Vocals, Keyboards, Contact Mic, Drum Pads

Engineered by Alex Champagne and Sean Mercer
Mixed by Mat Leffler-Schulman

Technical info: Amy’s mic: AKG 414, Chase’s mic: Shure SM7, Micro Korg, Sequential Circuits Six-Trak, Roland SP606, Roland Sampling Pad, Contact mic through mixer: All DI, Room mics: AKG D58, Audio Technica AT871R.

Download MP3s - 76.95 MB

(more…)

Lands & Peoples has become one of my favorite bands here in Baltimore, not to mention one of the nicest and most giving. Literally impossible to classify, they blend aspects of pop, folk and musique concrète. Fresh off playing a few shows with Wye Oak and Secret Mountains they were able to squeeze in a Microshow here at Mobtown. They certainly are a band to catch live and this show is no exception. Their perfect yet interesting harmonies blend seamlessly here as well as adding a their friend Evan on viola to the set. Enjoy the show!

Caleb Moore: Guitar, Vocals, Keyboards, Toy Piano, Ukelele
Beau Cole: Guitar, Bass, Vocals, Drums
Evan Merkel: Viola

Technical info: Kick: Neumann U87, Snare: Senheisser 441, Tom: EV468, Floor Tom: EV468, Overhead: AKG 414, Caleb’s Vocal Mic: Blue Mouse, Beau’s Vocal Mic: MAudio Sputnik, Beau’s amp: Shure SM7, Caleb’s amp: EV RE20, Evan’s amp: Oktava ML-52 Ribbon.

Engineered by Paul Mercer.
Mixed by Mat Leffler-Schulman

Download MP3s - 54.02 MB

(more…)

The intriguing title of Microkingdom’s latest album, Three Compositions Of No Jazz, made me wonder if the Baltimore trio were making some kind of statement, serious or tongue-in-cheek, about their genre affiliations or how composed or improvised their music is. As it turns out, the title is a nod to both Anthony Braxton’s Three Compositions Of New Jazz and the ’70s post-punk “no wave” movement, and those reference points in and of themselves make a potent statement about where Microkingdom is coming from.

(more…)

I’ve had the pleasure of working with Secret Mountains for the past few weeks. We’ve mainly been recording three separate singles that will be released over the next few weeks. The first of them is Weepy Little Fingers – A song they also performed at their microshow last year. It will be available shortly on a Friend Records compilation.

(more…)

Celebration came in last week for their microshow. The audience packed it in nice and tight. An intense energy permeated the room. Celebration modified their sound by adding a new dimension to what they do on a typical stage. Katrina Ford’s powerful and soulful voice completely filled the room while Sean Antanaitis’s pump organ complemented her every move, adding a complicated sense of melody. Dave Bergander’s simple yet syncopated beats were the glue holding it all together. Celebration was also joined by Tony Drummond on harmony vocals and Walker Teret on upright bass and acoustic guitar. Both perform with Celebration regularly on tour. It was quite the experience and we have it all here below for you to share.

And be on the lookout! Friends Records is releasing Celebration’s highly anticipated new LP, Hello Paradise – Electric Tarot. This is the band’s first release since their last record, which came out three years ago on the prestigious 4AD Records out of the United Kingdom.

Technical info: Kick: Sennheisser 421, Snare: SM7, Floor Tom: Oktava 012, Overhead: C12 Clone, Katrina’s Vox: AKG 414, Upright Bass: Neumann U87, Acoustic Guitar: Oktava 012, Pump Organ: Spaced Pair of Shure SM81s, Tony’s Vox: AT 4033. 2nd Engineer: Alex Champagne

Download MP3s - 66.18 MB

(more…)

Sri Aurobindo are what’s often referred to as a ‘guitar band,’ the kind of act whose records are dominated by swirling overdubs of noodling leads and effects pedal textures. But that kind of characterization would diminish how key bass guitar is to the Baltimore quartet, who have one of the best bass sounds going: fuzzed out and high in the mix, but round and appealing, like a foghorn cutting through the otherwise trebly mix. On Cave Painting, their first release for Friends Records, Sri Aurobindo’s bass is in your face more than ever, hooking you even when the lyrics are impossible to make out and the psychedelic songs’ shaggy structures are hard to follow. In fact, that massive low end may be what ultimately sets  the band apart from the pack of similar psych rock acts currently crowing the indie scene.

Adobe Flash Player is required to play this audio.

(more…)