Saturday, August 9th, 2008

Half Asleep


Photo by Guillermo Herren

I discovered Brooklyn trio On!Air!Library! a bit too late to be of use – they were already done promoting their debut self-title and before long, would quietly announce their disbanding. It’s a shame, too, because the trio, fronted by twin sisters Claudia and Alley Deheza, had managed to craft a unique style of beautifully fractured dreampop that was as compelling as it was confusing. Claudia Deheza and third On!Air!Librarian Phillip Wann would go on to form the underappreciated and decidedly more pop Daylight’s For The Birds, though she would leave before their debut album Trouble Everywhere was completed.

Eventually, she found her way back to her sister who had started a new project with husband and ex-Secret Machine Bejamin Curtis, which brings us to now – and School Of Seven Bells. They made their recorded debut in Fall of last year with the Face To Face On High Places vinyl-only EP and not at all surprisingly, with the angelic harmonies of the Deheza sisters SVIIB evoke the same blend of dream and delirium that defined O!A!L! – less hazy in production but simultaneously more oblique and anthemic in songcraft. But in the past year, it seems they’ve rediscovered the joys of pure pop – they’ll be following that up with a 7″ single on September 16 for “Half Asleep”, which is available to stream at Stereogum, and their first proper full-length Alpinisms on October 28, from which you can grab another song below. Based on those two tracks, I am very very looking forward to this record – the songs are both stunning.

School Of Seven Bells is opening up for M83’s on their upcoming Fall tour, including a November 20 date at the Opera House. Prefix has an interview with that band’s mastermind Anthony Gonzalez.

MP3: School Of Seven Bells – “Connjur”
MP3: On!Air!Library! – “February”
MySpace: School Of Seven Bells

And because it’s just a gorgeous song, “World’s Away” from Daylight’s For The Birds featuring Claudia Deheza on vocals. I’m a bit concerned that the band has been silent for some time, and haven’t even logged into their MySpace in a couple months. Never a good sign.

MP3: Daylight’s For The Birds – “World’s Away”

Holy Fuck have a date at the Phoenix for September 25.

November 12 brings Deerhunter, The Neighbourhood Council and Times New Viking to Lee’s Palace. Deerhunter will release Microcastle on October 28, details and full dates at CMJ.

Ladytron have released a new video from Velocifero.

Video: Ladytron – “Runaway”

Bradley’s Almanac has recordings of Swervedriver’s show in Boston this past June.

Matador reports that Yo La Tengo will release a compilation of their instrumental, soundtrack material on September 5 entitled They Shoot, We Score.

By : Frank Yang at 1:22 pm
Category: Uncategorized
RSS Feed for this postNo Responses.
  1. Adam K. says:

    Frank, an update from the comment I left last week: Frightened Rabbit will be opening for The Spinto Band @ Lee’s on Oct. 21 according to the Spinto Band’s Myspace. Woooo!