Glacial Records

Glacial Records

Before the Thanksgiving break, which all but cemented my slothful nature, I have to say that I have been pleased with the sorts of independent, local groups coming forward. Sure, I do love my Sargent House however it always raises my spirits to see more local, small, and independent acts coming forward and making their presence known through a vigilant commitment to patience and passion. It is largely for this reason that I wanted to go ahead and write this article in honor of Glacial Records, an upstate New York record label which has given us the likes of Winterlong and Lives of the Obscure. (both releases recently reviewed).

So why write about Glacial Records? Sure, there are plenty of small outfit labels, striving to provide a new sound to an often over saturated music industry. The first explanation I would offer is the simplest: they have done an incredible job picking out acts. Whether it was Deathfete 7″ from Lives on the Obscure or Five Songs from Winterlong, Glacial Records has proven that they not only know how to seek out and master a niche, but also how one can expand a niche to a larger sound that seems to blend genres and scenes. Believe me, I tend to never compare the sounds of Plastic Constellations with Jawbox but somehow, Glacial Records has forced the comparison through some of their acts (Oh, and there are plenty of additional amazing acts on the label, acts I hope to write about in the future. For now, however, I will stick with the two I know and love).

The biggest explanation for this article, however, is that I like their style. For several weeks, we were unable to get in contact to discuss articles and the like. It turned out that he was on the move, hopping from one location to the next and thus, one computer to the next. After living around the MICA scene, I can certainly sympathize. Thus, get used to the ad we will be trying out on the side column. It’s well deserved.

Glacial Records

– Cliff

Lives of the Obscure – Deathfete 7″

With “Sins Like These“, who needs virtues? Ok, sorry, just me trying to be clever with the opening track title. Based out of Hudson Valley, NY, Lives of the Obscure are off of Glacial Records (with fellow label-mates Winterlong) and are attempting to warmly introduce themselves through their upcoming release, Deathfete 7″. It looks as though they have succeeded. Coming in at a little under 10 mins, Lives of the Obscure pack a remarkable amount of material into an EP bursting with nagging enthusiasm.

As stated, the EP opens with “Sins Like These“, which draws the listeners with it’s elegantly stumbling percussion and lyrical authenticity which begs the comparison of Medications. Taking a meandering pace, the song has a hauntingly charming feeling, bringing a sensation of deep, meaningless meditation. Although an odd statement, I would argue it is extremely important. Moving onto “Skin of the Sun“, Lives of the Obscure are able to pick up their pace into a rhythm almost demanded by “Sins Like These“. To me, it brings up a nostalgia towards Connor Obrest‘s the Desaparecidos, yet over all it is a nice, spanking new reboot of early 00’s post-hardcore.

Finally we move onto “Small Perspectives“, a perfectly fitting ending track to the EP. Complacent yet uplifting, apathetic yet emotional, “Small Perspectives” goes a long way to wrapping the album up with its over a min. instrumental, post-rock climax that will make your ears ring with a combination of blasting bass and humble yet proud hooks.

The release will be available via Glacial Records on vinyl and should be shipped out by November 24th, 2012 (God, I’m a sucker for vinyl). Do the smart thing, buy a copy and support a sick act. Who knows, maybe the purchase can ensure a North-East tour. One can only hope…

Lives of the Obscure – Deathfete 7″

– Cliff

Fang Island – Major

9 days ago, Brooklyn’s own Fang Island released their sophomore album, Major, to a gleeful audience excited for more after their debut, S/T full length and teaser Single, “Sisterly“. Admittedly, I was nervous after hearing the “Sisterly” single: it felt as though everything that made them fun to see live had been replaced with…well…FUN (the band). However, after listening to the album, Major, as a whole, I couldn’t be more wrong, a point to which others have taken quick notice of. There’s plenty of other, professional music reviews you can take a look at however my favorite quote is probably from the brilliant crew over at Vice, “As an album, if I had to give Major a rank, I would promote it to General.”

As the album artwork hints at, Major is one hefty, monolithic and just plain regal experience. Compared to their S/T, to which Fang Island described as, “everyone high-fiving everyone,” Major is a far more confident triumphant experience with just a dash of youthful exuberance. As guitarist/vocalist Jason Bartell explains, “One of our core ideas has always been that our songs would be all of your favorite parts of the song that other bands make you wait 8 minutes to get to… We wanted to be the band that’s nothing but your favorite hooks back to back.” I thought they had already achieved that with their S/T release but I guess Major has put any doubt to shame.

However, to give a quick run-down about why you should even care about this particular album, here’s an explanation by Chris Georges (guitarist) on some of the multitude of reasons why they named their sophomore album “Major“:
“- Major key dominant (though the first song is minor)
– Valley girl colloquialism
– Because we (Fang Island) are on an independent label
– Because the rank under Sargent (House) is major
– It sounds like a constellation
– Steely Dan’s “Any Major Dude” was in rotation a lot during the sessions
– The record is packaged to look like stone because it’s ROCK. I really wanted people to hold a piece of rock when they picked up the record.”

I really don’t know how to follow an explanation like that. Despite to say, if you want to truly experience the joy, don’t just stop with the one song streaming on this site, pick up a copy (MP3, CD, LP) or, better yet, catch them live as they go all across the US, pairing up with the likes of Adebisi Shank and Zechs Marquise, including Austin, TX with the “Fun Fun Fun Fest“. It’s great to see a sophomore album actually expand in the right direction from a freshmen album and Major certainly lives up to the description. Well done though last complaint… why not Philadelphia?!

FANG ISLAND Summer 2012 Tour:
08/02 Salt Lake City, UT @ Vertigo *
08/03 Boise, ID @ Neurolux *
08/04 Portland, OR @ Hawthorne Theatre *
08/05 Seattle, WA @ The Crocodile *
08/07 San Francisco, CA @ Great American Music Hall *
08/10 Los Angeles, CA @ Troubadour *!
08/11 San Diego, CA @ Soda Bar !
08/12 Phoenix, AZ @ The Rhythm Room *!
08/13 Tucson, AZ @ Club Congress *!
08/14 Albuquerque, NM @ Launchpad *!
08/16 Dallas, TX @ Club Dada !
08/17 Austin, TX @ Mohawk !
08/18 Volente, TX @ Beachfront Boat Studios
08/19 Houston, TX @ Warehouse Live – Studio !
08/20 New Orleans, LA @ Parish at House of Blues !
08/21 Birmingham, AL @ Bottle Tree !
08/22 Gainesville, FL @ Double Down Live !
08/23 St. Petersburg, FL @ The Local 662 !
08/24 Jacksonville, FL @ Jack Rabbits !
08/25 Atlanta, GA @ The Masquerade !
08/26 Asheville, NC @ Asheville Music Hall !
08/28 Raleigh, NC @ Kings !
08/29 Richmond, VA @ Strange Matter !
08/30 Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg !
11/01 – 11/03 Austin, TX @ Fun Fun Fun Fest (exact date TBA)

* w/ Zechs Marquise
! w/ Adebisi Shank

Track list:
01. Kindergarten
02. Sisterly
03. Seek it Out
04. Make Me
05. Never Understand
06. Asunder
07. Dooney Rock
08. Regalia
09. Chompers
10. Chime Out
11. Victorinian

On the Web:
– http://www.fangisland.com/ –
– http://www.sargenthouse.com/ –

– Cliff

Food Will Win The War – “Chester Street”

It’s been a slow and dreary winter. True, there hasn’t been any major snow storms or the like around Philadelphia yet maybe that’s exactly what is so tenuous about this current moment: I feel anxious and excitable purely because there’s nothing going on when I know there should be. And perhaps it is this sensation that Food Will Win The War best captures. A Brooklyn based group with alternative-folk influences the like of Lost in the Trees meets Manchester Orchestra (which, personally, makes me ecstatic as they share so much similarities to good olde, North Carolina acts, aka, my home state.) For your enjoyment then, I present “Chester Street“.

A jingly number with clear dark undertones, the track provides a grand glimpse to their album as a whole, A False Sense of Warmth. First off, I can’t help stating that I love the duet combo of voices, with the elegant, country-esque raspyness matched by grumbling monotone along the lines of Beat Happening or the Halo Benders. What I am also amazed by is the pure size of the band. Now do not get me wrong, theres plenty of large band acts yet what fascinates me about this group, particularly with this track, is that no instrument is left mindlessly in the background. Each plays an important role, whether the xylophone’s light prances, the organ’s Clinic like ambience, to the violin quietly exploring all the intricacies imaginable with the current harmony.

I can get lost with my words, as you can imagine from my last paragraph. Despite to say that this is a truly promising act which seems to be taking a formula which has long been overdone and abused and provided a sense of practicalness to it. Sometimes the most anxious moments of our lives are those where we simply wait for the inevitable to occur and no one quite depicts this feeling with such elegance as Food Will Win The War. So take a listen and take a look through one of their other songs, “Closer to Water“, for some cheery, holiday goodness.

Chester Street – Food Will Win The War

– Cliff