Something Like Sound

A memento from their final show that now hangs on my kitchen wall

As an update to a story covered earlier, Vaux has posted the live recording of their final concert from July 2007. I was at the Bluebird that night to see what Westword called the “Best Show to Rip the Still-Beating Heart Right Out of Your Chest.” While the recording may not do that night its proper justice, it is still a must-download.

Download Vaux – Last Show, Denver CO 07

Local experimental instrumental lo-fi group Woodsman released a new single out this week on the French digital-single-label Beko. The two-track download features “Manual Control” and “Chants.” While “Manual Control” is a shorter soundscape filled with ambient guitar and voices, “Chants” uses its 9 minute running time to build from a simple repetitious guitar riff (which sounds a bit like “Dikembe Mutombo” from their recent LP Collages) to a full thematic climax and denouement.

Download Beko 34 (via Beko DSL)

Listen to Woodsman

If the recent trends continue, Denver may become a hot-spot for electronic music on the national scene. Among the newest class of artists in the genre is The Biz, a trio consisting of Tim Santos, Phil Buck, and Leigh Bernstein. Their debut full-length The Ancient Future hit the internet just last week and is available on the group’s homepage as a “pay-what-you-want” download.

The Biz manages to maintain a certain organic sound throughout the 70+ minute record. From acoustic-drum and horn samples to non-sampled bass grooves, The Ancient Future feels like a sexy soul record turned sideways. “Infinite Light” and “The NEXUS” stand out as two tracks that are as smooth as they are inventive.

Listen to “Infinite Light” (via ReverbNation)

Mark your calendars, April 27 will see the release of In the Memory of Loss, the debut record from Nathaniel Rateliff and the Wheel on Rounder Records. As a preview, Rateliff & Co. have made the official album version of  “Early Spring Till” available as a free download (see the widget below, it requires signing up for an e-mail list). From what I have seen and heard of this group, In the Memory of Loss has the potential of being one of the best local releases of 2010. While you’re at it, also check out this video of Rateliff from Rod Blackhurst, it is stunningly beautiful.

There has been a trend in local music that has been rising from the underground in the past few months. From Savoy playing at the Monolith Festival to Pretty Lights selling out venues, electronic dance music has found a home in Denver. While not every project is a MSTRKRFT clone or a Justice emulator, there are some quality beats coming out of the city. Here are a few that have flown into our radar.

Pretty Lights - NYE 2009 (Live At The Vic Theatre): This live recording from Pretty Lights’ recent New Year’s Eve set in Chicago might not fully capture the excitement of counting down the end of 2009, but it certainly offers some memorable takes on some classic dance tunes.

Savoy – Automatic: As the follow-up to the Savoy EP, the full-length Automatic explores more of Savoy’s brand of electronic dance music. While their song structures are more straightforward than their mashup-artist counterparts, Savoy still manages to set bodies in motion.

Boom Ninja – Boom Nina EP: While most of the music on the Denver-electro-scene is fairly underground, I would wager that many out there have not heard Boom Ninja. Keep your eyes peeled for this newcomer and stay occupied by listening to “Blow Shit Up”… it’s like listening to an NES on acid.

Vaux was one of those bands that had the makings of a break-out success. Their recorded albums and EPs were polished and punchy. Their live set was an experience. With lights flashing and 3-guitarists, they always managed to bring down the house. For those who want to re-live those days, there’s something new from the Vaux camp. Just yesterday Greg Daniels began posting old bootlegs on the Vaux MySpace blog. This does beg the question: “When will we hear their final, unreleased EP?” a few tracks have surfaced in the time since their break-up, but still no full EP. In the meantime we’ve got these recordings.

2006-06-08: Marquis Theater, Denver, CO

2006-06-04: The Boardwalk, Orangevale, CA

2005-03-12: Hi-Dive, Denver, CO

2006-06-29: The Varsity Theater, Baton Rouge, LA

Edit: Here are a couple more. I’ll keep posting the links as they put them up

2005-07-13: Fox Theater, Boulder, CO

2002-08-04: Warped Tour-USF Sun Dome, Tampa, FL

2006-07-23: Warped Tour-Invesco Field Mile High, Denver, CO

2004-06-12: Graceland, Seattle, WA

Eiffel (Vaux) – 2000-01-08: The Cat, Denver, CO

While most of us were taking a break for the last few weeks Zach Tipton (aka I Am The Dot) has produced yet another EP! (that’s now 3 EPs and a handful of singles released within the last year). The latest, titled Winter, is a collaborative work with Nevada-based instrumental artist Boneless. Each track combines sonic sound-scapes with Tipton’s reverb-drenched vocals in such a way that remind the listener of wintertime, a flowing, cold, time of the year.

As with most I Am The Dot releases, this one is available for free download via this website. So check it out, you have nothing to lose and everything to gain. Also mark your calendars for February 19th, when I Am The Dot will make its live debut at the Hi-Dive (also playing that night are Young Coyotes, American Tomahawk, and The Pirate Signal).

There are many ways I could go about starting this review. Perhaps one would be to talk about how Vices I Admire made the move from Fort Collins to Denver around the same time I did. While they kept making music and recording a new record, I decided to start writing about music. Maybe I could start by drawing comparisons to other bands, there are a few to be made here. Vices newest record The Politics of Apathy is a bit like a roughed up version of Incubus with a little bit more attitude. Or, perhaps, I should start by saying this: Vices I Admire have recorded a record that has “in your face” guitar-rock sound, but also realizes that simply blasting people away with rock is not enough.

This record comes kicking right out of the gates. “Keep Killin’ Me” has the kind of driving guitars and catchy choruses that will get anyone moving. The closest thing to a single on the record is track #2, “Heartbreaker.” This song ebbs and flows, while focusing on a central guitar riff. While the rest of the record maintains a similar level of “rock-ness,” not every song is intended to be a head-banger. “Denouement: An Intermezzo” starts the second half of Politics with a simple mix of piano and vocals. However, no momentum is lost from the piano intermission. Even the last track “Monster” keeps high spirits in a Zebrahead-esque manner.

Perhaps one of the best aspects of this record is that Vices I Admire is offering it as a free download via their website. However, that’s not all! (I’m starting to sound like an infomercial pitchman, dang). They’re giving the physical-copy CD a proper release with a show at the Bluebird on January 1. The show is only $5 with a discount ticket available on www.vicesiadmire.com

Listen to Heartbreaker right here

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So I’ve been majorly swamped with finals, but here are the newest free music from around Denver and the interwebs. Happy Holidays, this may be the last post until New Year’s.

Hot Congress Compilation #1

Action Packed Thrill Ride – Best I’ve Felt

Love, Everyday Joe’s Vol. 3 – Wake Up, O Sleeper

I Am The Dot – Rare Creatures EP

Nathaniel Rateliff & The Wheel Daytrotter Session

Hearts of Palm Live at KVDU (SLS Exclusive)

The holiday season is upon us once again and that means gifts! Keeping with their own traditions, Fort Collins coffeehouse / music venue Everyday Joe’s has released its 3rd annual compilation Love Everyday Joe’s Vol. 3: Wake Up, O Sleeper as a free download (with highly suggested donation-action). This year’s comp. features some Fort Collins favorites such as Candy Claws, Danielle Ate The Sandwich, Katie Herzig, and Denver artists Paper Bird, Oh Starling (Dan Craig & Jessica Sonner), and John Common, just to name a few. The entire mix is a brimming with great wintery tunes that will be a welcome change to those over-played cheesy Christmas songs the shopping malls have been playing since Halloween.

Everyday Joe’s is one of my personal favorite venues in Fort Collins. I have been to countless shows there and will be headlining a benefit concert at Joe’s on December 19th with my band The Heritage Music Collective. The show has been dubbed “States Filling Plates” by Bryan Collins, the event organizer who hopes to fight hunger through art and music. Collins and his band Otherwise The Locusts will also be playing in addition to friend-of-the-blog Danielle Ate The Sandwich. For more information on the show please follow this link or for more info on “States Filling Plates” click here.