[Moshe]

new album from Smalltown Superjazzz:

http://www.sts.musiconline.no/shop/d...33117&cid=&sid=

 

[Moshe]

http://mog.com/JohnUncut/blog_post/103702

Sunburned Hand Of The Man’s “Fire Escape”

Artist: Sunburned Hand Of The Man Album: Fire Escape
As I’ve mentioned before, the marketing department next door aren’t too fond of the primordial swamp jams that come out of the New Weird America, and for the past couple of weeks they’ve been particularly aggravated by the new album by Sunburned Hand Of The Man.
To my ears, though, “Fire Escape” is by far the most accessible album I’ve come across by this productive and frequently unhinged collective from Massachusetts. Compared with the last Sunburned album which came my way, “Z” on Ecstatic Peace, this is a pop record.
I exaggerate, of course. But still, most of Sunburned’s copious catalogue consists of sprawling freak-outs recorded in their attic and released by themselves on CDR . “Fire Escape”, on the other hand, is a slick and formal product. It’s coming out on Oslo’s excellent Smalltown Supersound label, with a sleeve designed by EYE from the sainted Boredoms. Most importantly, it’s been produced – in a proper studio, no less – by Kieran Hebden, the London producer and musician who’s best known for his largely electronic work as Four Tet.
Hebden has great and eclectic taste, and he’s set about recording and mixing Sunburned pretty fearlessly. For a start, he’s hacked down a fair bit of the undergrowth that traditionally surrounds the band, without – amazingly – compromising their quicksilver free spirits. On “Fire Escape” you can hear every last rustle and clank, from the spirited percussive ambles through to a spray of trumpet supplied I think, by Vibracathedral Orchestra’s Michael Flower, whose duets album with Chris Corsano (another sometime Sunburned member) I raved about here. The trumpet is pitched somewhere between “On The Corner”-era Miles and the voluntaries of a dying elephant. This, I suspect, is what marketing have most issues with. I think it’s great, of course.
Most importantly, Hebden understands that Sunburned’s secret weapon is bassist Rob Thomas, whose heavy, funky lines bring all the wayward jams into sharp focus. It’s here that Sunburned’s potency as a groove band becomes really apparent (as anyone who’s seen them live will testify). Beyond the drum circles, improv psych and shamanic moaning, they’re at their best when they recall Funkadelic or Can. Their best record, anyway, since “Jaybird”, and maybe their best ever. Neophytes should definitely start here.

Originally Posted by Moshe

new album from Smalltown Superjazzz:

http://www.sts.musiconline.no/shop/d...33117&cid=&sid=

 

Thanks, Moshe. I just read a press release for this record where Hebden says that it came out sounding like 23 Skiddo or Cabaret Voltaire. I'm not a fan of Sunburned, but this looks like it might be an interesting record, and I want to check it out. Nice line up too. Here's the press release:

http://www.pitchperfectpr.com/images...edpresskit.pdf

[Iain]

Ace....there are soundsamples on the Smalltown Superjazz for anyone interested. Sounds pretty interesting.

Is this actually available now Moshe? Press release says October or or Smalltown shipping them now?

[jon boy]

excellent! another for the list.

[Moshe]

sorry, the cd is not available yet. It will be in a month though.

[_slavo_]

I really don't like Sunburned at all.

[sonicl]

I think they have to be experienced live to be liked. Without seeing the madness that is going on onstage, the sounds just seem messy and meandering. Live, when they hit a krautrock-style groove, it's just incredible - I can't think of words to describe it.

[_slavo_]

May be, yes. Never seen them live and probably never will.

[Everyneurotic]

what i don't get about sunburned is, who needs their recordings? i mean, all you really need is one.

[unlurker]

Originally Posted by Everyneurotic

what i don't get about sunburned is, who needs their recordings? i mean, all you really need is one.

which ONE is that?

[dnorsen]

shit paul wouldn't you like to know too!? haha i have 25-30 sunburned and sunburned related releases, which is barely a dent into the catalog but every release has a purpose and the deeper you delve the more you'll find out about sunburned. to say you need just ONE to own them all is the most naive musical shit i have ever heard...

Originally Posted by unlurker

which ONE is that?

[Everyneurotic]

well, it seems to me, that you are trying really hard to justify the fact that you're spending money on them (big money too, what's with sbhotm vinyl going for $25-30?).

don't get me wrong, if you like them a lot, that's awesome; but to say that everyone of their hippie jamming rehearsals has a purpose (other than giving the band money and giving yourself indie points) is more naive than me thinking you only need one of their albums.

yeah, one is a little extreme, but i can't see why someone would like to listen to the same improvisation for more than 3 albums.

i agree in theory with sonicl that you have to experience them live as the experience of random live improvisation is better appreciated when people are moving and giving a show.

[hat and beard]

Originally Posted by Everyneurotic

well, it seems to me, that you are trying really hard to justify the fact that you're spending money on them (big money too, what's with sbhotm vinyl going for $25-30?).

Huh? I've always found Sunburned recordings to be quite on the cheap side. At least here in the US of A CDs on the manhand imprint tend to go around $10, LPs on other labels not much more. The only exception I can think of is Wedlock, but that was a double LP and had pretty fancy packaging to boot. And I think that only cost me $20ish.

I could see why someone might think their discography is lacking diversity, but of the 10 or so albums I have of theirs I don't regret buying any of them. So there.

-- sUnbuRnEd h@nD fAn 01!

[Cantankerous]

yay new sunburned
is it coming out on LP?

[Everyneurotic]

Originally Posted by hat and beard

Huh? I've always found Sunburned recordings to be quite on the cheap side. At least here in the US of A CDs on the manhand imprint tend to go around $10, LPs on other labels not much more. The only exception I can think of is Wedlock, but that was a double LP and had pretty fancy packaging to boot. And I think that only cost me $20ish.

I could see why someone might think their discography is lacking diversity, but of the 10 or so albums I have of theirs I don't regret buying any of them. So there.

-- sUnbuRnEd h@nD fAn 01!

i saw a bunch of them on my recent trip to ny and they were all going from $25 to 30, i think just one of them was $20.

on a less controversial note, anyone else psyched about the upcoming sunburned circle album?

[dnorsen]

actually i have to admit i have paid for very few of my sunburned releases. i have done a lot of artwork for the band and have befriended many of them in the process. so yea my thought that every release has a purpose could be seen as clouded because of our friendship; i am still a firm believer that every release has a purpose regardless of its content or whatever band. i know paul (unlurker aka guitarist for sunburned) would argue the same. but hey man the shit doesnt have to be for everyone regardless and if you don't want to own a bunch of releases its up to you. but hey for those interested i recommend the following releases...

wild animal
no magic man
complexion
feel the wind
the pedagrift
rare wood
live in shit
earth do eagles do
jaybird
head dress
two whats (great live dvd)

Originally Posted by Everyneurotic

well, it seems to me, that you are trying really hard to justify the fact that you're spending money on them (big money too, what's with sbhotm vinyl going for $25-30?).

don't get me wrong, if you like them a lot, that's awesome; but to say that everyone of their hippie jamming rehearsals has a purpose (other than giving the band money and giving yourself indie points) is more naive than me thinking you only need one of their albums.

yeah, one is a little extreme, but i can't see why someone would like to listen to the same improvisation for more than 3 albums.

i agree in theory with sonicl that you have to experience them live as the experience of random live improvisation is better appreciated when people are moving and giving a show.