Skeletons tour Europe & give away TWO tracks

The fascinating Brooklyn/NYC band plays 7 shows between Oct 11 and 18…
…to support their recently-released album "People", which was acclaimed by European & US press alike (see quotes below).

Skeletons and Crammed Discs are giving away free mp3s of two tracks, captured live at Glasslands, Brooklyn by the good folks at NYC Tape: 

* "Paint Over It", an epic 14-minute rendition of a previously-unrecorded track
 
* "Wal-Mart and the Ghost of Jimmy Damour", a live version of the song from the 'People' album (it's one of the tales written by Matt Mehlan & based on true stories read in the papers).      

Just click here to access the download page for these tracks. 


Skeletons October tour dates :

Oct 11: Utrecht (Netherlands), Ekko -  with The Luyas and Zun Zun Egui
Oct 12: Rotterdam (Netherlands), Worm - with The Luyas
Oct 13: Paris (France), Petit Bain
Oct 14: Duedingen (Switzerland), Bad Bonn
Oct 15: St. Gallen (Switzerland), Palace
Oct 16: Berlin (Germany), Hebbel Am Ufer 2 - with Lucky Dragons
Oct 18: Gent (Belgium), Cafe Vooruit

In other news:

- Skeletons leader Matt Mehlan has recently taken an essential part in the  Congotronics vs Rockers project. Alongside Deerhoof, Konono No.1, Juana Molina, Kasai Allstars and Wildbirds & Peacedrums, Matt was a member of the collaborative ensemble which performed 16 fantastic shows in ten countries across Europe and Japan

- Matt Mehlan has also recently had the pleasure of being commissioned by the Brooklyn Philharmonic to write a string quartet, which was performed at the Brooklyn Museum. He's now rumoured to be working on a full orchestral piece….

- Also, don't forget this intriguing  video for "More Than The One Thing" :


click HERE

From the press on the Skeletons album "People"

Skeletons drink from a similar pool of inspiration as fellow New Yorkers Dirty Projectors and Animal Collective, although as with both these bands, they don't strictly resemble any one thing, exactly. People reveals them to be a peculiar chimera of influence, blending Afro-pop, Krautrock and jazz fusion with unlikely ease.  (Uncut, UK)

"People" gives the impression of redefining the contours of rock, no less.
(Pop News, France)

A quintessential New York amalgam, guided by a fluttery art-jazz shimmer, a minimalist aesthetic, a grab bag of post-punk grooves and those disjunctive melodies currently turning the underground into a 12-tone headlock… a mix of circular rhythms and Graceland-gone-avant cheer (The Village Voice, US)

A dense, challenging listen, one that’s grounded in reality and ever so more compelling as a result of it. (Pop Matters, US)

"People" is beauty without perfection. This album is a masterpiece. A powerful and already seminal sonic maelstrom which alludes to the dissonances of Schoenberg, the rhythmic passion of Fela Kuti, the shadow of Can, the acoustic introspections of John Fahey, and a spirit shared with Animal Collective (…) … an amazing stage presence and passionate live presentation of their music… (Magic, France)

A unique event with THE REAL TUESDAY WELD & GLEN DUNCAN

Musician and writer join forces for multimedia in-store at Rough Trade East, London.

There are not many in-store events that incorporate live music, reading & a screening... but this Real Tuesday Weld event is quite unique. Join Stephen Coates and GG McEwan of The Real Tuesday Weld and author Glen Duncan for a special one off audio visual performance of music and readings from Duncan's novel The Last Werewolf and the band's soundtrack to the book to mark the release of the album on Crammed Discs and the publication of the UK paperback.
 
Rough Trade East In-store: THE REAL TUESDAY WELD / GLEN DUNCAN
Monday 3rd October, 7pm.

THE REAL TUESDAY WELD album "The Last Werewolf" takes Glen Duncan's novel as the backdrop for a widescreen emotional cabaret tailor-made for the I tunes generation. For the album is both a high-concept soundtrack plus a diverse playlist for the eclectic of ear and heart, all held within the band's own genre Antique Beat. The book's themes of violence, friendship, transformation, London, love and betrayal are recast as a suite of songs bound together by voices and readings from the text.

As ever with an album by THE REAL TUESDAY WELD, individual tracks cover a spectrum of styles from thirties ballads and torch songs through gypsy jazz and electro-swing to minimalist electronica. A range of influences including Gainsbourg, Chopin, Django Reinhardt, Cole Porter, Springsteen, Barry Adamson and Tom Waits hover ghostlike over the story as it unfolds.

Stop press: the movie rights to Glen Duncan's novel 'The Last Werewolf' have just been snapped up by Ridley Scott!

"Songs For The Last Werewolf" will be released by Crammed Discs on October 3rd as a deluxe 20 page hardcover CD book including extracts from the novel, lyrics and original illustrations by Catherine Anyango.

Coming soon, an animation video clip for "Me & Mr Wolf" by George Fort for Giant Squid Eye Productions. Have a look at the stills:

BALOJI joins the Crammed roster

"Kinshasa Succursale", the latest opus by the Belgo-Congolese artist, will soon be released worldwide by Crammed.
The album features contributions from some of the finest musicians from the capital of the DRC, including  KONONO No 1 & Zaïko Langa-Langa, as well as three brand-new remixes.

BALOJI has just returned from his whilrwind tour of the United States & Canada, where he was featured as Artist of the Week on MTV IGGY.

Crammed Discs 30th Anniversary Sale !

To celebrate our 30 years we have a special offer for you: We have chosen some prime examples from our 30 years of quality music and are offering them to you at 30% off!
That's right, we are marking down your favorites (by 30% or more!) such as:

AKRON/FAMILY - "SET 'EM WILD, SET 'EM FREE"
ALLA - "ES TIEMPO" 
APOLLO NOVE - "RES INEXPLICATA VOLANS"
BALKAN BEAT BOX - “NU MED”  
CHICHA LIBRE - "SONIDO AMAZONICO!"
CIBELLE - "THE SHINE OF DRIED ELECTRIC LEAVES”
CIBELLE - “CIBELLE”
CELSO FONSECA - “NATURAL”
BEBEL GILBERTO - “BEBEL GILBERTO”
BEBEL GILBERTO - “TANTO TEMPO”
BEBEL GILBERTO - “TANTO TEMPO REMIXES”
BEBEL GILBERTO “REMIXED”
COLIN NEWMAN - “COMMERCIAL SUICIDE” 
JURYMAN - "THE HILL"
KOCANI ORKESTAR - “ALONE AT MY WEDDING”
KONONO N°1 - “CONGOTRONICS”
LONELY DRIFTER KAREN - “GRASS IS SINGING” 
MEGAFAUN - "GATHER, FORM & FLY"
MOCKY - "SASKAMODIE"
MINIMAL COMPACT - “DEADLY WEAPONS”
SHANTEL - “DISKO PARTIZANI”
SHANTEL - “PLANET PAPRIKA” 
SNOOZE - "THE MAN IN THE SHADOW"
SUBA - “SAO PAULO CONFESSIONS”
TARAF DE HAIDOUKS - “BAND OF GYPSIES”
TARAF DE HAIDOUKS - “DUMBALA DUMBA”
TARAF DE HAIDOUKS - "HONOURABLE BRIGANDS"
TARAF DE HAIDOUKS - “MUSIQUE DES TZIGANES” 
TEK 9 - "SIMPLY"
TRIO MOCOTO - “SAMBA ROCK”
TUXEDOMOON - “DESIRE”
TUXEDOMOON - “HALF-MUTE” 
U-CEF - "HALALWOOD"
ZAP MAMA - “SABSYLMA”
ZAP MAMA - “ZAP MAMA”
ZEEP - "PEOPLE & THINGS"
&
ZUCO 103 “OUTRO LADO”

These discs are available for a limited time at this special price. As an added bonus, if you buy 2 of these albums, we will offer you your choice one of the first two "Mr Crammed" albums, from our new series of compilations which explores the gems of our back catalogue:

Crammed Walks With The Animals - A visit to songs and artists that feature our furry (and not so) friends
Crammed Goes To The Movies - Tracks written for or inspired by films.

Plus:

Order 5 discs and receive both compilations!
That makes for a lot of quality music as autumn approaches !

Enjoy the sounds and best wishes,
Crammed Discs

THE REAL TUESDAY WELD single "Tear Us Apart" Premieres

The first video from the upcoming album "The Last Werewolf" is here at last!




Something worth writing home about!  A new stop-animation video to tease you about the upcoming Crammed Discs release "The Last Werewolf" by THE REAL TUESDAY WELD. This deluxe hardcover CD book includes extracts from the novel, lyrics, original illustrations by Catherine Anyango and bonus tracks. This 19 track hommage (soundtrack) to the best-selling book ("The Last Werewolf" by Glen Duncan) is available at the following site:



Frightfully good.

MEGAFAUN Give Chills On New Single “STATE/MEANT” From New Album Out This Fall

Megafaun are giving away a free download of “State/Meant,” the new single from their forthcoming self-titled album.




On “State/Meant,” Megafaun reach new emotional depths blending ghostly harmonies, banjo and other traditional instruments with noise and electronics. Recorded entirely in just one afternoon, “State/Meant” transports listeners to another end of the near limitless sonic spectrum the band explored at April Base in Fall Creek, WI. Brad Cook explains, “This song was a passing thought that erupted into such a complete piece of music in an afternoon. This was the one song where we essentially added nothing after the first day of recording.”

Photographer: Graham Tolbert

(For download, please choose the arrow pointing down on the right of the Soundcloud interface.)

Maïa Vidal: Upcoming Release and Tour dates

We are pleased to announce the addition of Maïa Vidal to our roster, her upcoming debut "God Is My Bike" and associated tour.
This young artist has charmed us with her songs and will surely charm you as well.
Her debut recording "God Is My Bike" Is an intimate look into the creative world of Ms Vidal. Composed and played mostly by her on instruments as diverse as the violin, accordion, guitar and toy piano, she has two notable guests, Giuliano Gius Cobelli on trumpet, and the guitarist that needs no introduction, Marc Ribot.

Please take the time to enter into this compelling musical world by attending one of these upcoming concerts:

July 24 - Felicia’s Atomic Lounge, Ithaca, New York , US
July 30 - Pianos, New York, New York, US
Aug 20 - Living Room, New York, New York, US
Sept 01 - Le Silo, Verneuil sur Avre (France)
Sept 14 - La Boule Noire, Paris (France)
Sept 24 - BAM Festival, Barcelona (Spain)
Oct 05 - Botanique, Brussels (Belgium)
Oct 07 - Festival Nördik Impakt, Caen (France)
Oct  08 - Teatro Municipal São Luiz, Lisbon (Portugal)
Nov 11 - Festival Rendez-vous Sonique, St Lo (France)
Dec 16 - La Gare, Maubec (France)

More info about Maia Vidal and her album "God is my Bike" here

Congotronics vs Rockers Tour = 30 day discount at 30%

30% discount on selected Congotronics CDs & LPs ! Only until July 30th!
We here at Crammed Discs have gone completely crazy about Congotronics vs Rockers! This amazing project bringing together members from Konono No1, Kasai Allstars, Deerhoof, Juana Molina, Wildbirds & Peacedrums, Skeletons and Hoquets (for four of the concerts), is how we choose to celebrate our 30th anniversary.

We are so absorbed in the tantalising sounds coming out of the rehearsals and concerts that we think it is a good idea to share the "roots" of this project, by offering a special discount during the Congotronics vs Rockers tour.

30/06/2011 NL Utrecht Le Guess Who
02/07/2011 DK Roskilde Roskilde Festival
03/07/2011 DE Berlin HKW (Haus der Kulturen der Welt)
06/07/2011 FR Metz Place de la Republique
09/07/2011 FR Paris Cafe de la Danse
12/07/2011 GB London The Barbican
14/07/2011 ES Benicassim Fib
17/07/2011 FR Carhaix Les Vieilles Charrues
21/07/2011 CH Nyon Paleo Festival
23/07/2011 PT Sines Festival Musicas do Mundo
30/07/2011 JP Yuzawa-machi Fuji Rock Festival

So from the 30th of June to the 30th of July, we are offering a 30% discount on the following releases from our Congotronics Series:

 Konono N°1 - Congotronics - The disc that started it all!
  Konono N°1 - Live at Couleur Café
  Konono N°1 - Assume Crash Position

 Kasai Allstars - In The In The 7th Moon...

 Congotronics 2 - Buzz'nRumble in the Urb'n'Jungle

 Tradi-mods vs Rockers - Alternative takes on Congotronics

& last but not at all least The Congotronics Vinyl Box Set

And to make the cake even sweeter, we will trow in a free Congotronics vs Rockers pin if you order 3 or more discs!

Our present to you!
Hope to see you at one of the concerts and happy listening!

MEGAFAUN: Free single off the forthcoming album!

MEGAFAUN is back and better than ever ! New Album, New Tour.




This September, Crammed Discs will release 'Megafaun,' the self-titled follow-up to MEGAFAUN's critically acclaimed, 'Gather, Form & Fly,' which Pitchfork called "ingeniously ramshackle" in a rave review.

MEGAFAUN's first single off the album is entitled "These Words". It was premiered on Pitchfork on July 7, and is available for download below. This song encapsulates the Megafaun we know and the Megafaun we’ve yet to hear... with its indelible piano melody, hypnotic beats and gorgeous vocals, underpinned by loops of field recordings made by Joe Westerlund during his travels in Bali and rural North Carolina:  a round-robin of gamelan, ambient sounds, frogs, and cicadas...

GET THE SINGLE HERE !

MEGAFAUN will be on tour this fall in a select number of cities:

And if you were wondering what to expect, here is a video teaser for the new disc!