More Pop Gems from Guy Blackman

I admittedly haven’t been able to find the words that fit into summarizing the great work of Chapter Music over the years, particularly their important role in our lives here at ATH; we’ll be sad to miss their curation and discovery as they shift focus to their back catalogue and reissues. But, we can throw our support behind label head/founder Guy Blackman, as his solo effort will be one of the last releases of new music from the legends! This week Guy made available two new singles from his Out of Sight LP, one which features Julien Gasc of Stereolab.”Let Me Let You Down,” which features Julien is more of a bare-bones of bedroom pop, working on really light electronics and a guitar that opens the tune unto the world. The second of the tunes is this playful little ditty with a nice hopping pop element, some hand-clapping moments for audience participation. Both tunes will be on Out of Sight, which drops on June 13th.

Another Tune from Guy Blackman

After the devastating news that Chapter Music would be closing its doors to new music, we’ve got to make sure we uplift the new stuff they have left, like label head Guy Blackman. Today, he’s dropped the latest single from the forthcoming Out of Sight LP, and it stretches Blackman’s tastes into bold balladry. His heavy and honeyed vocals ease through the track, supported by these sweeping string arrangements and backing piano lines, giving heft to every inch of the song. It’s a sound fitting for a one man act, crooning to an audience of adoring fans with an orchestra behind him, and as such, we’re glad to have been a member of the pit lifting up Guy and all the work he’s put into great music over the years. Out of Sight is out on June 13th.

Guy Blackman Shares Don’t Ask Don’t Tell

Long time friend Guy Blackman has long been a champion of our site, and we’ve been a champion of his label Chapter Music, as its introduced us to some great works…but today we celebrate Guy and his first solo album in nearly 20 twenty years. This first single from that new album is a sincere pop song, simple and earnest, carefully moving with the narrator’s detailing of appreciating the unsaid in their relationship. There’s something in its construction that reminds me of Jens Lekman at his peak, and yet, the chorus here is stunning, making me swoon. With the years and maturity to look back and realize there’s a new horizon, we wish Guy all the best on his musical endeavors. Out of Sight will be out via Chapter on June 13th.

Friday Album Streams: Blood, Teenage Tom Petties + More

You know we’re nearing the fall when records start to come fast and furious, and we hit up another Friday with tons of really great releases for folks to pick out…and as usual, most of these have been discussed in detail on this here site. So, no need to go into too much detail, but we’re pretty sure that we’ve got albums for all your moods…so just dive right in, and be sure to grab the ones you love to support the bands/labels.

BloodLoving You Backwards (Ramp Local)

Teenage Tom PettiesTeenage Tom Petties (SafeSuburbanHome/Repeating Cloud)

The Male GaysBe Kind (Chapter Music)

True OptimistMental Health (Self Aware Records)

AabergWishing Well (Forged Artifacts)

The Male Gays Release Be Kind Single

Today the world gets to meet the Male Gays, though in all likelihood, you’ve heard from the two members before. The new cross-continental project is the work of Guy Blackman (owner of Chapter Music) and Bart McDonagh (of Amour Foo/Domino Records). Their very first single is this enchanting number below, almost like a lounge version of Magnetic Fields; there are deep tones on the vocal end, and it feels as if it’s been crafted on your older sisters keyboard; I loved the sort of heart-on-the sleeve sincerity too. The messaging on this go round is all about kindness, which seems like a simple concept, though it’s one that’s becoming increasingly less common. On their three song EP, they’ll offer up other thematic references “rejecting queer cynicism, the need to rid the world of white boys wielding guitars (which includes themselves, naturally) and the difference between being outpunk and being an actual punk.” The single will drop on August 2nd via both Chapter and Amour Foo.

Friday Album Streams: Perennial, Kelley Stoltz, The Black Watch and More

It’s Bandcamp Friday, so you should ideally put your money where your mouth is, or where your support is…like going over to ATH Records and clearing out some of this stock for super cheap! Or, you can check out the records below that we’ve been enjoying and now encourage you to pick up. Despite all the issues with the current industry, even with what was once the home for independent artists, you can’t go wrong listening to the tunes below and grabbing a copy. There’s rock, pop and even bands from Lockhart!

 

PerennialArt History (Ernest Jenning Record Co)

The Black WatchWeird Rooms (Atom Records)

June JonesProximity EP (Chapter Music)

Kelley StoltzLa Fleur (Dandy Boy Records)

Good LooksLived Here for a While (Keeled Scales)

Chapter Music to Release Dave Mason’s Soundtrack for Double X

So, the title of this post is a lot, but that’s also because there’s a lot going on in this post; I was even grateful to learn some things, as you should be! First, our friends at Chapter Music are releasing the soundtrack to the 1986 short film, Double X and the Unmentionable Underbelly of His-story, created by Julie Cunningham. Not only is this cause to revisit the short film, but also to revisit the history of Dave Mason, the main man in legendary, and ‘contender for best Australian band of all time,’ the Reels. Plus, the song’s now put to edited film footage by Geoffrey O’Connor who has a whole long history with Chapter. Obviously, that’s a lot to swallow, but you can now soak all that in with the craft of Mason, which feels oddly of the moment, despite being decades old; the synth work and playful nature of the rhythmic pulse would align perfect with a number of like-minded acts operating today. The score for the short film will be available in 7″ format on July 19th.

Friday Album Streams: Amy O, Stephen’s Shore, Grego + More

Friday’s are a great day to kick back and absorb the new music that’s coming out, with a definite bonus for those of you who follow our site as there are new releases from some of our favorite artists. Amy O has an excellent record hitting today, plus you get the elegant sounds of Gregor if you’re looking for that immersive pop experience. Personally, I’m stoked on this new Stephen’s Shore EP from Meritorio Records, and I know RayRay is looking for that new Dehd LP! Stream them all below and have a great Friday!

Amy O.Mirror, Reflect (Winspear)

Stephen’s ShoreNeptune EP (Meritorio Records)

GregorSatanic Lullabies (Chapter Music)

DehdPoetry (Fat Possum Records)

FlypaperAnother Orbit EP – (PNK SLM)

LunchboxPop and Circumstance (Slumberland Records)

 

Gregor Shares Angels Single

There aren’t a ton of artists out there making pop quite like Gregor does. You listen to his work and there’s so much space, allowing his voice to just reverberate as it billows through your speakers, much like in his newest single. I love the way it feels like Gregor is sort of haunting the shadows of this song; the guitar notes ring out, almost echoing while the dulcet tones from the vocals creep through all the empty space. And, just as one gets used to this sort of darkened stationary state, the vocals rise, a brief emphatic burst of up and down tones that faintly remind me of Bowie’s range within short phrases. Gregor’s work continues to beckon me with each new single; I’ll be looking forward to Satanic Lullabies, out May 10th via Chapter Music.

Gregor Announces Satanic Lullabies

While Gregor‘s perhaps not a household name over in the States, his compositions have always resonated with me, particularly the Destiny LP. Today, the artist announces a new album, Satanic Lullabies, describing it as ‘ if pre-Maga Kanye made a Disney soundtrack.’ His dulcet tones always created that feeling of lullaby, but he’s clearly balancing than gentle expectations of his voice with the darker side alluded to in the album’s title. Where his last album was filled with striking emotions, this first single is pretty bare and stark, so I’ll be interested to see where the whole of the album goes. Satanic Lullabies is out via Chapter Music on May 10th.

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