Something Like Sound

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).

It’s December 25, and most of you won’t be reading this until after the New Year, but here are some special free downloads that Denver artists are offering as a download this season.

I Am The Dot – Blue Christmas (Elvis Presley Cover) (right clisk “save as”)

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Happy Christmas from Candy Claws and Firebreather

(via E-J | via Cause=Time)

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John Common – Gift EP (available until Jan. 1)

Jon Evans (of Achille Lauro) – Wishes You A Merry Christmas

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)

Zach Tipton is one of the more interesting characters on the Denver-indie-scene these days.  Rather than sequestering himself away in some mountain cabin to record a traditional full-length album he’s been at work constantly releasing a stream of new songs with varied themes. This blog, in particular, has already paid quite a bit of attention to Tipton’s current endeavor I Am The Dot (even premiering the track “Quantum Thoughts”), so I’ll keep things brief for this review.

Rare Creatures, while only 3 songs, is another step in development of a genre Tipton has dubbed “Apocalypse Pop.” Each song tells the story of an individual who has endured some variety of tortuous experience. “Double Vision” is about a man who experienced both atomic bomb blasts in Japan during WWII. “Tunnel of Love” is about a woman who was forced to tunnel her way out of captivity to be with her lover. “Struck” is about a man who was struck by lightening on 7 different occasions.

With each track Tipton’s trademark reverb-y guitar and vocals find backing on near-electronic beats and sounds. The same Motown-styled sensibility heard on his debut EP I Am The Dot makes more appearances. Rare Creatures is available for free (in low quality) via MusicFloss and in a higher-quality pay-what-you-want version over at BandCamp (you’ve gotta pay at least $1, but this EP is worth so much more).

Listen to “Double Vision” here

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Today is officially Lo-Fi Sat-ur-day, I have declared it so. There are all sorts of delightful lo-fi things happening in Colorado, here are some of the highlights.

After one of their shows got canceled this last week, M. Pyres & Co. decided to record a show in their basement and broadcast it to the world for all to enjoy.

Zach Tipton is up to something again. This time he’s collaborated with visual-audio-artist Boneless on a song that is “filled with ambient dreamscapes.” We are streaming the song right here and offering a free download.

DOWNLOAD “I AM THE DOT ~ TREETOPS (FEAT. BONELESS)” (right click “save as”)

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Another lo-fi group from Fort Collins is playing shows via the internet. Candy Claws has partnered with blogs from all across the world to bring the songs from their latest project In the Dream of the Sea Life to listeners via videos. Recently they made a stop at another Denver blog, Cause=Time, to play an acoustic version of their song “Lantern Fish.”

“I’m very close to selling my car so i can make this record happen” were the words Zach Tipton used back in September when I Am The Dot was just starting to gain momentum. The musical project, a bit of a solo venture, finds Tipton guiding the listener through a musical existential journey that is best described as “Apocalypse Pop” (a phrase found on the I Am The Dot MySpace page).

Things are looking up for the project and the record has come through to fruition. The 4 tracks of I Am The Dot hit iTunes yesterday and will see wider availability in the coming days. Also recently announced: a tour! Zach will be playing the Hi-Dive January 7, with a west-coast tour following. Also be sure to check out our recent premiere of non-EP track “Quantum Thoughts” here. Embedded below is the MySpace player, with the EP and “Quantum Thoughts.”

Today’s post is brought to you by: THE FUTURE… how cosmic! Seriously though, I’m proud to introduce the newest song from I Am The Dot as a free download right here. I Am The Dot, as a quick refresher (because you already know this stuff, right?) is the solo project of Zach Tipton, who currently resides in Denver and plays with Young Coyotes (one of our favorite local groups). He’s produced a four track EP, which is downloadable over at Get Off The Coast. A mix of Motown melodies and beatbox-esque percussion, Zach has managed to create some really unique songs.

The download for today is a new song, not on the EP. “Quantum Thoughts” was recorded as a part of the Denver Show and Tell Project. Each month the curators of the project select a different theme and receive submissions from local artists. According to Zach, “This month was supposed to be a ‘future’ song, or something that sounds like it could be recorded way out in the future.”

DOWNLOAD “QUANTUM THOUGHTS” (right click “Save As”)

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Looks like Young Coyote Zach Tipton is up to something again. It seems that everyone has their own side-project, and Zach is not immune to the lure from such an outlet (for another side-project band I like, see Discovery, which is Wes from Ra Ra Riot and Rostam from Vampire Weekend). Further details are unavailable at this time, but you can check out his new MySpace (complete with a stream for a forthcoming EP). Click on the image to go there.