Category Archives: Recycled News

Das Racist’s Heems presents ‘Nehru Jackets’ Mixtape

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I don’t have a strong opinion about Das Racist, every so often someting pops up from them that you can’t deny the slacker brilliance. I grabbed Heems’s recently released mixtape ‘Nehru Jackets’ on a whim and was pretty impressed. More than a few tracks are built around awesome chopped samples of Indian vocalists paired with some quite decent beats. As well, the mixtape has guest spots from the likes of Danny Brown, Mr. Muthafuckin’ eXquire, Das Racist’s Kool A.D., Action Bronson, Childish Gambino and Despot. ‘Nerhu Jackets’ is petty good for a guy who broke onto the scene with an ode to Yum! Brand franchises. Though, to be fair, they moved on to Žižek references which is in my mind, a fine evolution.

This free mix was unleashed on the world via the insidious playground that was Megaupload. Thanks to the Feds, that dark shadow has been purged from the earth. (Whatever will Swizz Beats do?) You can still grab it from Hulkshare…don’t tell anyone.

DOWNLOAD HERE

Also, here’s my favorite thing done with their rhymes – Anamanaguchi’s remix of ‘Rainbow In The Dark’:

The Social Network & That Creep Cover

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The newest teasery-trailery thing for the next Fincher movie The Social Network hit the web yesterday. I can’t really tell yet if the movie is going to be worth a damn as there’s an unnecessary drama slathered over every inch of the trailer. Ultimately, we’ll be sitting down to watch a movie about an empire not yet toppled. Don’t you really need hindsight to craft a biopic like this that brings anything to the table besides sensationalism?

I am interested in the cast though…Jesse Eisenberg, a man I once described as “Discount Michael Cera” has wormed his way into my heart with Zombieland and his non-inverted chin, so I’m curious to see how he does in this lead role. Plus, you’ve got the next Spiderman in the film. (They haven’t realized what they did by casting him and swapped for someone more Amerrrrican yet, right?). I’ve lost a lot of trust in Fincher as a director over the years, but maybe there will be some glint of his former self somewhere in this film.

Featured in the clip (along with recycled dialog that’s been abused in the earlier teasers) is the live rendition of Radiohead’s ‘Creep’ as preformed by Scala & Kolacny Brother’s choir of Belgian ladies. I hadn’t heard this track in a while, despite blogging about it a while back. The music adds a bit of the overbearing drama to the movie clip but revisiting the track alone, I again realize that it’s a really fantastic rendition of the song.

Here it is again for download:

SCALA & KOLANCY BROTHERS – CREEP (LIVE)

Also, check out my original post about the song.

Michael Gira’s Swans return, new material & tour!

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I’ve had a draft of a post dedicated to the Swans sitting in the queue for probably a year now. What I was planning to do was create a selection of posts just dedicated to things deemed in my mind “classics” and the late career live album Swans Are Dead is something that falls into that category. Perfect transition, as the news has hit that Michael Gira, frontman to both Angels of Light and Swans is reforming the latter with a mixture of old members and new for a tour this year. As well, Tiny Mix Tapes reports that an album of new material currently in the mixing stages will be released in September and will be titled My Father Will Guide Me Up A Rope To The Sky

I never got a chance to see them live, as the first introduction I had was the postumous 1997 live album recorded around the world in various cities like Amsterdam, New York City, Trondheim, Prague, Brussels and Atlanta. Some of the reworkings on that two disk set are brilliant, angry crescendos fueled by the sometimes unnerving tenor of Gira’s voice. My favorite tracks ‘The Sound’, ‘I See Them All Lined Up’ and ‘Blood Promise’ all take their time, leaving long wordless passages that are spaces where heavy riffs grow like stormclouds. Often bolstered by the dull whir of ominous keyboards, the songs billow upward guided by heavy percussion. I think a lot of the more cascading, layered moments from those last live shows were some of what set me up to be an ardent fan of the post rock movement which would blossom the following year.

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SWANS – BLOOD PROMISE (LIVE)

I was lucky enough to catch Michael Gira wayyy back in 1999 at the Bowery Ballroom, for a show to benefit Swans bandmate Jarboe, who had caught a chair to the face while recording in Israel. The show then was a bit of a preview for the Angels of Light lineup that was to follow that year, featuring Larry Mullins, Bill Bronson, and Kid Congo Powers. More reserved than the Swans final live tour, the lush, folk derived sound was a shock, but still impressive. Selections from that show and another at Tonic were released as a cd for the Jarboe Emergency Medical Fund. The Angels of Light have had a good run in the last 10 years, but I’m happy to see Swans return, even with the altered line-up.

I’ll forgive Gira act of unleashing Devranda Barnhart upon the world by signing him to his Young Gods label, as the prospect of both touring and new material will outweigh the damage done by that fruity beardo.

Dates below:

09.28.10 – Philadelphia, PA – Trocadero Theater
09.29.10 – Washington, DC – Black Cat
09.30.10 – Boston, MA – Middle East
10.01.10 – Montreal, Quebec – Pop Montreal Festival
10.02.10 – Toronto, Ontario – Lee’s Palace
10.04.10 – Detroit, MI – Crofoot Ballroom
10.05.10 – Chicago, IL – Bottom Lounge
10.06.10 – Columbus, OH – Outland Live
10.08.10 – Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn Masonic Temple
10.09.10 – New York, NY – Bowery Ballroom
10.22.10 – Birmingham, England – Supersonic Festival

Chicago’s Maps & Atlases sign to Barsuk, tour with Frightned Rabbit

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Math pop Chicagoians Maps & Atlases, announced yesterday that they’ve finally found a home at Barsuk Records. Now sharing a label with Mates of State and Ra Ra Riot, it looks like the band will release their personally long awaited full-length album this year, as mentioned by Barsuk. Always good news, as their first two releases were incredibly solid affairs. I’ve been a long time fan; here’s Taking Tiger Mountain’s coverage of their first EP release show, from way back in 2006.

They’ve also announced a string of dates through March and April with Scotland’s propulsive sadsters Frightened Rabbit. It’s always wonderful when you can get a killer double bill.

Apr 25, Cat’s Cradle – Carrboro, North Carolina
Apr 27, Black Cat – Washington, Washington DC
Apr 28, Webster Hall – New York, New York
Apr 29, Paradise – Boston, Massachusetts
Apr 30, First Unitarian Church – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
May 3, Petit Campus – Montreal, Quebec
May 4, Opera House – Toronto, Ontario
May 5, Grog Shop – Cleveland, Ohio
May 6, Southgate House – Newport, Kentucky
May 7, The Old Rock House – St. Louis, Missouri
May 8, Metro – Chicago, Illinois
May 9, Pabst Theatre – Milwaukee, Wisconsin
May 10, Varsity Theater – Minneapolis, Minnesota
May 12, Bluebird Theatre – Denver, Colorado
May 13, Urban Lounge – Salt Lake City, Utah
May 15, Biltmore Cabaret – Vancouver, British Columbia
May 16, Neumo’s Crystal Ball Reading – Seattle, Washington
May 17, Berbati’s Pan – Portland, Oregon
May 19, The Fillmore – San Francisco, California
May 22, Casbah – San Diego, California

All dates above with Frightened Rabbit. Maps & Atlases also have SXSW dates and an additional tour with Drink Up Buttercup. Check out their myspace for all the info.

Sad News: Chicago’s Touch and Go To Restructure, Layoffs (UPDATED)

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The Chicago Tribune reports today that Chicago’s 28 year-old distributor/label Touch And Go is cutting both their staff and distribution. The move will see the distributor ceasing manufacturing for 20 smaller labels including: Kill Rock Stars, Chicago locals Flameshovel, and Merge.

Touch and Go will lay off an unspecified number of workers and continue on functioning as a label.

The statement from Touch and Go founder Corey Rusk:

“It is with great sadness that we are reporting some major changes here at Touch and Go Records. Many of you may not be aware, but for nearly 2 decades, Touch and Go has provided manufacturing and distribution services for a select yet diverse group of other important independent record labels. Titles from these other labels populate the shelves of our warehouse alongside the titles on our own two labels, Touch and Go Records, and Quarterstick Records.

“Unfortunately, as much as we love all of these labels, the current state of the economy has reached the point where we can no longer afford to continue this lesser known, yet important part of Touch and Go’s operations. Over the years, these labels have become part of our family, and it pains us to see them go. We wish them all the very best and we will be doing everything we can to help make the transition as easy as possible.

“Touch and Go will be returning to its roots and focusing solely on being an independent record label. We’ll be busy for a few months working closely with the departing labels and scaling our company to an appropriate smaller size after their departure. It is the end of a grand chapter in Touch and Go’s history, but we also know that good things can come from new beginnings.”

On a personal note, I’ve worked in the warehouses of two indie distributors over the years and been laid off from both of them. Both of those jobs were held in far less wobbly economic times (2001 & 2006) and the struggles of this of business model were evident then. It’s a transitive time for the industry, hell…most industries that ship a physical product, and it’s even tougher to continue to while the economic rug is being yanked out from beneath you.

It’s tough, because on one hand Taking Tiger Mountain is an MP3 blog and admittedly, I consume much of my music in the gray market, digital way. Everyone’s pockets are getting smaller by the day, but we should do what we can to support this industry. Click the iTunes & Insound links on the posts here. Try to go see a show and pick up a shirt or print.

And most of all, good luck to those who found themselves without a job today…

UPDATE – The Daily Swarm reports that the David Byrne’s Survival Strategies for the changing industry.