Posted in Whathaveyou on December 7th, 2022 by JJ Koczan
I know what you’re thinking, and before you start, just indulge me. Yes, it’s another post with another festival lineup. And yeah, I’m about to tell that with Gnod and Mars Red Sky and Slomatics, Ecstatic Vision, 1782, Vinnum Sabbathi and all the rest on Astral Festival VIII, it’s a pretty killer assemblage. I know you’ve heard it a lot lately. I get it.
Here’s the thing. Human memory is fickle, but I recall vividly a couple years ago when you, me, nobody, had any fucking clue if this kind of thing would ever be able to happen again. So you know what? I actually feel pretty god damned good about being so onslaughted with festival lineup announcements that I’ve run out of shit to say about them other than, “Hey cool fest bruh, would go if I could,” which is pretty much where I’m at here. A bunch of bands getting together for a two-dayer in a place? Great. There’s about zero chance I’ll be there to see it, but I would much, much rather live in a world where it’s happening than the one where it wasn’t.
That’s my two cents. Here’s the lineup set for April 29-30 in Bristol, UK:
We still have a few more surprises lined up. Grab weekend or day ticket now!!
As always huge thank you for your support. It goes without saying there is no festival without you. Tickets are very limited so act fast!
Saturday April 29 Th Gnod Vinnum Sabbathi Phoenician Drive Slomatics Terror Cosmico Ivan the Tolerable and His Elastic Band Black Ends El Universo Dan Johnson
Sunday April 30 Th Mars Red Sky 1782 Wyatt E. Ecstatic Vision Chew Dusty Mush Sum of R Bonnacons of Doom Margarita Witch Cult Solar Corona
Posted in Whathaveyou on March 8th, 2022 by JJ Koczan
When it comes to stuff I’m posting about, I usually have a pretty good idea if something will go over or not. Not so much here. I think Chew‘s “Horses” is a pretty interesting eight-minute run combining three or four different genres minimum that is able to pull itself off simply by doing so. The swagger in the now-this-happens of it, if not necessarily in a showiness for the track itself. It’s the title-track of their third album, and the record is out this Friday, March 11, through reliable purveyors Stolen Body Records, who you always know are up to some fascinating shenanigans, and yeah, I’ve got a certain amount of trust in their taste — not everything is a fit all the time, but none of it is boring — but I also feel like what I’m hearing in “Horses” backs that up.
Maybe you’ll dig it too. Maybe you won’t. Music like this isn’t intended for a universal audience, though I don’t think they’d argue if everybody caught on all at once. Vinyl preorders start next month.
UK and European tour dates, as well as album background and of course the aforementioned video all follow here, courtesy of the PR wire:
CHEW – HORSES (NEW SINGLE)
We are delighted to announce the third album from Atlanta psych experimenters CHEW. Check out out the video for the new single Horses.
We are delighted to announce the third album from Atlanta psych experimenters CHEW. Horses is another leap into the unknown. Another trip through the weird. A wonderfully crafted instrumental album that takes elements of psych, break beat, prog, electronica and much much more. Delve into the world of CHEW.
Chew explain the process of their third album.
Through multiple sessions, the skeleton of HORSES was crafted. Bone by bone by experimental noise freak-out shut-ins. For days at a time, we would lock ourselves in our rehearsal space with no pre-arranged music and tried to incorporate more synthesisers and electronics to establish an atmosphere. Riffs and patterns formed until they resembled songs, eventually polished to purity in live sets until taking their final alchemical shape.
In the summer of 2021, we started production and HORSES was the dream sequence pulled from our heads. Recording dreams is highly experimental and often times resembles the warm, nostalgic warble of the unstable VHS format. We did all we could to salvage the integrity of the original dreams, but we did lose a lot in the process.
In an attempt to refurbish the dream state, we imported more delicious synth, incorporated electronic drums and breaks, and added extreme new flavour with the addition of our friend and multi-instrumentalist Morgan Soltes. Having completed the triptych of 3D EP, A Fine Accoutrement, and Darque Tan, HORSES rides in a new direction for CHEW defining an upcoming era of style and creativity.
Track List 1. Kisouma 2. Horses 3. Holy Fountain 4. If You Are Sensitive To Simulators, Close Your Eyes And The Feeling Will Pass 5. Palo Santo 6. Pseudocide 7. All Operators Will Be On Site 8. Rosette Pattern 9. The Mall
CHEW pushes the boundaries of psychedelic electronic and post-rock with a combination of articulated and monstrously heavy rhythm section work, sample-based analog leads, and discorded psychedelic guitar. What at first seems like a strange mix of concepts quickly pulls you in and immerses you in a controlled chaos of the most melodic kind.
CHEW is
Sarah Wilson: Drums, Electronic Drums, Percussion Brett Reagan: Guitars, Electronics, Sound Manipulation Morgan Soltes: Bass, Synth, Effects
We are doing this one a little different than normal. The album comes out next Friday! The vinyl pre order goes live April 8th and will be very special and very limited. With current wait times as they are we felt this to be the best way to present the album. Especially as the band head out on their postponed EU tour in May/June. Dates below.
TOUR DATES Escape From USA Tour (May/June 2022) 19.05.22 – IT – FANO – CIRCOLO ARCI ARTIGIANA 20.05.22 – IT- SAVONA – RAINDOGS 21.05.22 – IT – VERONA – FINE DI MONDO 22.05.22 – IT – BOLOGNA – FREAKOUT 23.05.22 – SL – ILIRSKA BISTRICA – MKNZ 24.05.22 – AU – SALZBURG – ROCKHOUSE BAR 25.05.22 – CZ – PRAGA – CROSS CLUB 26.05.22 – DE – MANNHEIM – ALTER 27.05.22 – CH – FRIBOURG – LA COUTELLERIE 28.05.22 – CH – CHAUX DE FONDS – CENTRAF TROPIC 29.05.22 – FR – GRANDFONTAINE (Strasbourg) – BRASSERIE DU FRAMONT 31.05.22 – FR – ROUEN – Le 3 Pièces Muzik’Club 01.06.22 – BE – GAND – MUZIEK CENTRUM KINKY STAR 02.06.22 – UK – LONDON – The Victoria, Dalston 03.06.22 – UK – CHELMSFORD – HOT BOX LIVE 04.06.22 – UK – HASTINGS – THE PIPER 05.06.22 – UK – BRISTOL – THE LANES 06.06.22 – FR – BRUXELLES – CHAFF 07.06.22 – FR – ALENCON – Chapêlmêle 08.06.22 – FR – Angoulême – Le Point CaRré 09.06.22 – FR – PARIS – SUPERSONIC 10.06.22 – FR – NANCY – LE ROYAL 11.06.22 – FR – LYON – LE FARMER 12.06.22 – IT – SOLIERA (MO) – NOWHERE
— Written, Produced and Mixed by: CHEW Engineered by: Morgan Soltes Recorded at: Grandma’s Casket at Ember City, West End, Atlanta, Georgia. Mastered By: Benjamin Price Published by: Church of the Abundant Cheeseburger (ASCAP) Video by: Riley Morgan
CHEW is Brett Reagan – guitar/electronics Sarah Wilson – drums/percussion Morgan Soltes – bass/synth bass