Foggy Notions presents
BEACH HOUSE
+ Jana Hunter
Whelan’s, Nov 27
Tickets €15 (incl. booking fee) WAV [lo-call 1890 200 078], www.tickets.ie, Ticketmaster, City Discs and Road
“To say this record elevates the band far above the swollen ranks
of shuffling shoe-gazers currently doing the rounds is putting it
mildly.” -Drowned in Sound, 9/10
“Bands like Mazzy Star, Galaxie 500, Spiritualized, and Slowdive will
come to mind, but this is neither pastiche nor homage. Delicate,
lovelorn pop.” – Pitchfork, 8.5
“Through the simplicity of their languid melodies, Beach House access a portal into pop's truly uncanny nature.” – Uncut
“Classic 60’s pop arrangements filtered through the fuzzy prism of a
dream… All of it as high on charm as it is on lo-fi.” - MOJO
Beach House are Baltimore boy-girl duo Victoria Legrand and Alex
Scally. Together they have forged a uniquely beguiling sound, drawing
you into a world of hazy beauty and melancholy remembrances of summers
past, with music that manages to be both understated and lush.
Scally was born and raised in Baltimore, but Paris-born Legrand (the
niece of legendary French film composer Michel Legrand) arrived just
over two years ago, lured by cheap rents, old friends, and a wealth of
musical possibilities.
Though their sound is undoubtedly unique, the band fit into the
dream-pop lineage running from the Velvet Underground through to bands
like My Bloody Valentine and Yo La Tengo. However, while some of their
sounds and shapes are the same, Beach House's recipe of fairground
waltzes, spooked lullabies, and woodland hymnals is significantly
different to that of their dream-pop forerunners.
Beach House also share certain sensibilities with the classic baroque
pop sounds of yesterday and at times their self-titled debut album also
exhibits a classic 60s pop feel, and a soulfulness which can be
attributed to Victoria and Alex’s shared love of Motown. With its
release in the US (Car Park) Beach House became one of the biggest
underground buzz bands of 2006 as well as one of the blogger’s
favourites.
Their stunning follow-up album Devotion was released here on Bella
Union to great acclaim earlier this year. The gentle, low-key, hazy
atmosphere of their debut turned more corporeal; the organs, slide
guitars and reverb are still there, but Beach House laid down some new
sounds too – the recording is crisper, the songs are fuller. Check out
the band’s “You Came to Me” video directed by Baltimore underground
film legend Skizz Cyzyk:
http://www.imeem.com/skizzcyzyk/vide...8_music_video/
Beach House have toured with Arbouretum, Cass McCombs, Papercuts,
Grizzly Bear, and Fleet Foxes and will play as part of Dan Deacon’s
29-band Baltimore Round Robin Tour next month.
The band have also just announced the release of a limited edition 7"
entitled “Used to Be.” The title-track is a brand new song, but the
b-side is a super-early four-track recording of “Apple Orchard” from
the first album.
www.myspace.com/beachhousemusic
www.beachhousemusic.net
JANA HUNTER:
Jana Hunter is from Texas, the fifth of nine children. She played
classical music throughout her youth, but that doesn’t really explain
why she writes such haunting songs. Hunter is one of those rare artists
whose craft does its work on listeners before they even notice.
A show in 2003 with Devendra Banhart led a year later to Hunter's
inclusion on his Golden Apples of the Sun compilation. In 2005,
Devendra and Jana released a split vinyl album on Troubleman Records,
followed quickly by the release of Hunter's debut solo album, Blank
Unstaring Heirs of Doom, in October of that year on Gnomonsong a label
run by Banhart and Vetiver’s Andy Cabic.
Since the release, Hunter has toured North America and Europe, joined
forces with Castanets as their sometimes touring bass player and
vocalist, guested on albums by Coco Rosie and Metallic Falcons, and
played at the Banhart-curated All Tomorrow's Parties.
Hunter released her second album There's No Home in April 2007.
Recorded over two consecutive weeks in 2006, the album features Hunter
writing, playing and producing throughout. She followed up on There’s
No Home with the release of her Carrion E.P, formed her own label,
Feow!, (Deer Tick, Bring Back the Guns) and went on tour again.
Future Feow! releases include a split 10” with fellow Houstonians,
Indian Jewelry this winter, full-lengths from Sharks & Sailors and
Woozyhelmet next spring, and a Wicked Poseur full-length next summer.
www.myspace.com/janahunter
www.gnomonsong.com
