Sideways Through Sound on-line MP3 store.
Coming soon...
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Sideways Through Sound Radio
Broadcasting Live Every Wednesday, 9.00 PM / 21:00 AEST
Listen live at:
Frequency: 2ser 107.3 FM, Sydney, Australia
Also 24hour live streaming available at:
Sit back, relax and do not adjust your set...
Thee Sonic Assassin and Sideways Through Sound are now part of the 'new social networking phenomena' that is Twitter... if you want to follow us then head for:
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Next week's Radio Show news - 10th February 2010
Our musical guests next week include brand new folk flavours from The Unthanks and Golden Ghost, intimate solo sounds from Antonymes and Corn Capri and electronic laptop antics from Bloom and Roshi feat Pars Radio...
...and we have another guest joining us live in the studio for a session, next week we will be in the very lovely company of Ange Takats who will be in Sydney to play at the Fairlight Folk Festival and hopefully she will come in to see us, have a bit of a chat and play a couple of tunes for us as well...
Featured: Ange Takats (live in sesssion)
Born in Sydney but now based on the Sunny Coast, singer songwriter Ange Takats somehow managed to begin her musical journey in Bangkok where she was based for two years as a foreign correspondent. Spending her days on the road with a TV news crew, and her nights singing Joni Mitchell songs in a small music bar...Ange was able to mix her two greatest passions.
After several months playing solo she was asked to join a folk rock band, teaming up with some of Thailand's top musicians to perform every Friday and Saturday night at one of Bangkok’s most popular acoustic music venues. Singing songs from the early 70s, drinking sweet Thai whiskey and learning from Buddhist musicians with big hearts, Ange's songwriting has been greatly influenced by her time overseas.
Strangely enough, her Americana music influences came from the guitarists and singers she hung out with in Thailand who owned old hippie records left by US-soldiers during the Vietnam War. They introduced her to singers like Janis Joplin, Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Joan Baez and groups like The Grateful Dead, The Allman Brothers and The Band.
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Sonic News 3rd February 2010
Featured: John Fairhurst (live in session)
Having spent the last 3 years touring the world, earning places on well respected international music festivals such as Glastonbury, End of the Road and SXSW as well as playing well over 100 shows a year John Fairhurst is back in Australia touring his debut album ‘Joys of Spring’.
“An instrumental record of immense power and creativity that blends eastern melodies with brilliant guitar dexterity. Fairhurst exudes a zest for life and being that is nothing short of intoxicating.” (Electric Ghost)
With a bottle-neck style blues referencing the likes of Son House and Bukka White, comparisons to the fingerpicking of John Fahey, a leaning towards the psychedelic 60’s rock of Hendrix and Captain Beefheart and the ever present influence of sarod master K. Sridhar and Indian raga, John’s music is a real melting-pot of diverse musical traditions.
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Sonic News 27th January 2010
Featured: Spotlight on Deep water Acres Records
(or "Welcome to your new favourite label, Part 13")
Deep Water Acres is a state of mind, a way of being, and a place up in some old old mountains where things work just a bit differently. It's also the online extension of the old Deep Water magazine, originally published way back in the 1990s to the delight of at least dozens. We ceased publication in 1998 after several years of whiskey drinking, pipe smoking, strategic meetings, philosophical discussions, and even occasional magazine production activities.
The original Deep Water magazine was known for its carefully articulated, though often obscurantistically veiled, viewpoints on matters musical, cultural, and culinary. It was also known for its streaming spews of opinionated blather. And only the wisest sage could tell them apart.
Deep Water Acres hasn't been around for a long time, but during it's tenure as Pennsylvania Furnace, PA's premier label for all things weird, the label has cranked out some serious contenders. From their very own kingpins, Clear Spots, to the organic effervescence of Evening Fires and the pure raunch of Heavy Winged, there's a lot of beautifully damaged sounds to check out.
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Sonic News 20th January 2010
Featured: The Boy Who Spoke Clouds (live in session)
The boy who spoke clouds is transfixed as he watches the old men chant. He is a boy, but he is also very old, and has had so many men throw words at him from each and every angle, but finally he can hear the golden word, truth finally spoken from the mouths of a thousand men on one giant mountain.
A debut album from The Boy Who Spoke Clouds is available now through Sun Sea Sky Productions (www.sunseasky.com). An EP/storybook will also be coming out soon featuring the wonderful artwork of Mathieu Bauer (http://www.mathieubauer.com), entitled 'The Seal Woman Suite'. Finally, an album with full band will be released late 2009 entitled 'Weight of Experience'
www.myspace.com/theboywhospokeclouds
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Sonic News 13th January 2010
Featured: Brown Bird - The Devil Dancing (Peapod)
Brown Bird is an original 5 piece band which draws influence from Country, Blues and Eastern European musics. Brown Bird began over five years ago as the brain child of songwriter David Lamb and has developed into a miniature orchestra of harmonized voices and instruments carrying Lamb’s haunting lyrics on surging waves of Appalachian, gypsy, and shanty music.
The group hails from Rhode Island and Maine and pulls from the talents of each member to create a diverse folk music that swells into high-spirited, foot-stomping madness.
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Sonic News 6th January 2010
Featured Dan Mangan (live in session)
As well as playing in the studio and haviing a bit of a chat with us, Sideways Through Sound is also very happy to say that we will be playing a track from Dan's new album Nice, Nice, Very Nice (out here in Australia next month); titled in reference to a Kurt Vonnegut poem, the album was recorded in Toronto in fall 2008.
There is a raw rootsiness to Nice, Nice, Very Nice that touches on aspects of indie-pop. There are a number of toe-tappers amid his trademark lamentations and, though it’s mellow at times, what Mangan has to offer isn’t overly precious or delicate. He simply writes songs that evoke the wonder and the absurdity in what we do.
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Sonic News 30th December 2009
Thee Sonic Assassin and Sideways Through Sound would like to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of you who have supported the show in 2009.
To everyone who has sent in music, made station ID's, contributed to the Beyond The Pale compilation, drank wine with us and got us high, we wish you much love, light and happiness.
2010 will see the show develop into the on-line MP3 store, the launch is coming soon and the site looks amazing, with so much great music already hosted and much more to come.
There will also be another Sideways Through Sound compilation album in the new year and many more live guests coming into the studio with us...
It's going to be a great year, I hope you will all be along for the ride!!
Thanks again to all our wonderful friends around the world, to 2ser for giving us the airwaves and to all the listeners who offer kind words and support!!
See you all next year!!
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Sonic News 16th December 2009
Featured: Sparkwood & 21 - By The Water's Edge (SR)
‘by the water’s edge’ is the debut album by Liverpool’s alt-folk rockers Sparkwood&21. With a sound somewhere between dream and memory the elegiac songs of ‘by the water’s edge’ will sooth even the weariest of ears and bring a warmth to the coldest of hearts.
Recorded at the house of long-time friend and emerging Producer Jeff Jepson over the last year, the album’s tales of everyday life and love are majestically melancholic, but never morose, satisfyingly soulful but never slick.
The band are four close friends who came together one warm, drunken, summer’s night to keep themselves immersed in music. With a growing reputation as one of the best ‘life affirming’ live bands to emerge from Liverpool in recent years, the band begged and borrowed, scrimped and saved to put together the record themselves.
‘by the water’s edge’ is real, realistic and really rewarding – a record that will not let you down.
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Sonic News 9th December 2009
Featured: Cave Country - S/T (SR)
Cave Country is a contemporary blend of country, indie rock and folk, colored by rich vocal harmony that seem to emanate from their home on the California coast. Jim Reynolds and Evan apRoberts, two guitar-playing songwriters, began the project in Los Angeles nearly fifteen years ago. The lineup also includes creative contributors John Thompson and Jason Boles on drums and bass.
The group has recently completed its first full-length recording; collaborating with producer/engineer and longtime friend, Beau Raymond (Little Joy, Devendra Banhart, Gary Louris and Mark Olson). The new album is scheduled for a release in early 2010. so we have somewhat of an exclusive on our hands here brothers and sisters...
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Sonic News 2nd December 2009
Featured: Jack Rose (RIP)
(February 16, 1971 – December 5, 2009)
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Sonic News 25th November 2009
Featured: Espers - III (Drag City)
III is the long overdue new release from the Neo-Psychedelic Folk trio Espers. After what seems to be an interminably long gap and born into an inextricably changed world, Espers III walks among us, finally and finely.
It's not as if Espers completely disappeared following their acclaimed first and second albums and tours. They played the odd show here and there but with time and focus given to Meg Baird's solo album Dear Companion, The Valerie Project project and Helena Espvall's collaborations with Masaki Batoh and others, not to mention the launching and flight of Greg Weeks' Language of Stone label, three years passed like a day or two in the life of Espers.
Picking up the threads with ease, Espers III was intended to be an aural reversal of the layered sound of II. There's plenty of vocal interplay between Meg and Greg throughout the album (the beautiful "Caroline" is just one example). "That Which Darkly Thrives" is enthralling musical interplay at it's best. Each track takes it's time to gently develop and mesmorize. The album's closer, the 6 minute epic "Trollslända" merits special attention, as it seems to summarize the album perfectly.
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Sonic News 18th November 2009
Featured:
As some of you may know Sideways Through Sound will soon be trading as an on-line MP3 store and, what started out seeming to be a fairly straight forward idea has become a huge project...
This has been taking up so much time and energy recently that there just hasn't been any time left to organize next week's show, but rest assured, there is a pile of great music waiting to get organised this Sunday afternoon (with a few glasses of red wine to lubricate Thee Sonic Assassin's creativity), and what a selection we have...
...there's new music from Khancoban, Eat Lights Become Lights, Soft Hills, Jona Byron, Little Pebble, The Miserable Rich, Part Timer, Octopus Syng and loads more...
So make sure you stay tuned folks...
...oh and the MP3 store website looks amazing!!
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Sonic News 11th November 2009
Featured: This Frontier Needs Heroes - S/T
(Heroic Endeavours)
This Frontier Needs Heroes is the brother/sister duo of Brad and Jessica Lauretti, who communicate their tales through haunting folk, rustic Americana, roots rock, and earthy blues by splattering them all over the album.
The album's dark theme of self reflection is perfectly captured in the opening track Firefly, "How do I get this hatred out of my heart, how do I get this madness out of my mind." They enlist the help of Ivan Berko (bass), T.K. Webb (electric guitar), Tomchess (flute) and Gian Luca Zanin (violin) to create the perfect landscape and foundation for the Lauretti's angelic voices to soar the heights.
After his work with previous bands, The Pony Express and The Mountain Men, it sounds like the secret weapon Brad had been searching for to allow his music to really shine was none other than his sister.
So, the next time you're fumbling around for something to ease the transition from the party winding down and daylight creeping in, you would be hard pressed to find a better companion than This Frontier Needs Heroes. (reviewer unknown)
www.thisfrontierneedsheroes.com
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Sonic News 4th November 2009
Featured: The Black Ryder - Buy The Ticket, Take The Ride
(The Anti-Machine Machine)
The debut album Buy The Ticket, Take The Ride from Surry Hills, Sydney locals Aimée Nash and Scott Von Ryper, ex-Morning After Girls and who apparently started their journey together with a school crush gone bad, are once again reviving shoegaze rock better than most of it was ever played.
Buy the Ticket, Take the Ride is a masterwork of sprawling, slow-burning psyche rock that paints creeping moods with layer upon layer of drony, blissed-out guitars and etheral vocals. With special guests Mr. Ricky Maymi (brian jonestown massacre), Leah Shapiro and Peter Hayes (b.r.m.c) and Graham Bonnar (ex-swervedriver), this is quite simply the perfect accompaniment to slowly losing your mind...
This is not a nostalgia trip, and similarly don't come looking for a big chorus or bubblegum blurts, just relax and settle in for a long, blissed-out trip; "Buy the Ticket, Take the Ride is a permanent sunset leading in a dangerous and balmy night ahead; like an alternate soundtrack to David Lynch’s 'Wild at Heart'". (Music Australia Guide)
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Sonic News 28th October 2009
Featured: Telling The Bees - An English Arcanum
(Black Thrustle)
'Arcanum': a mystery, a hidden thing, a profound secret, a marvellous thing, an elixir...
Sideways Through Sound regulars and favourites Telling The Bees, return with their eagerly awaited second album of darkly crafted folk... and of course we are not the only people who love them, "Telling The Bees are a wondrous thing!!" (Fabulous Furry Folk, Glastonbury Assembly Rooms).
Drawing once again on landscape, folklore and myth, along with the themes of love and loss, An English Arcanum consists of eleven original tracks that are firmly within the English pastoral tradition. Weaving traditional, classical and progressive themes around haunting troubadour songs, Telling The Bees combine fiddle, mandolin, cello, bass and english bagpipes top beautiful effect.
Packaged with stunning artwork by renowned illustrator, Rima Staines, and released on the band's own label, Black Thrustle, An English Arcanum is certain to delight and will confirm the band's unique place in English Folk music...
"Mischevious and magisterial, their crisp, knowing arrangements serve to underline their devotion to the tradition of English folk music in all it's godless splendour" Catweazle Club
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Sonic News 21st October 2009
Featured: Old Lost John - Faceless (Tight Grain)
So, who's this Old Lost John really? Nobody knows for sure. He's been out there, it seems, as long as anyone can remember. Deep dark eyes, long grey beard, always hummin' a tune or blowing his sad harmonica. That's how some people would picture him. Somewhere in that odd little cabin outside that small town you've passed a thousand times heading north without ever noticing its real name.
He could be any John you or I ever known, or never known. John the Baptist crossing the boundaries of time and history. John the Revelator, caught in his vision, remaining on earth until its fulfillment. Anyone or everyone of countless John Does lost in war, in flames, beneath the waves of the mighty ocean. Anyone of the John Smiths checkin' into hotels hiding their true identity. Perhaps you'll even find a tiny marrow of yourself within his bones, holding his body upright through the lives of man.
That's one story. Of course, there's another story as well... His name is Tomas. He used to be a woodsman and a horse-keeper. These days he lives in Malmo, Sweden, delivering newspapers in the morning hours and writing songs every now and then. Old Lost John is the name of his musical vehicle.
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Sonic News 7th & 14th October 2009
2ser Radiothon: 12th - 24th October 2009
The 2009 on-air dates for 2ser 107.3’s annual subscriber drive, Radiothon, are October 12th to 24th. Anyone who subscribes to the station throughout October will receive a Spunk! Records compilation CD, a 3 month subscription to Time Out Sydney and go in the draw for some BIG prizes including return flights to London courtesy of STA Travel!
The cost of subscription is super cheap!!!
$66 dollars for general subscription
$66.00AUD = $58.00USD = 36.00GBP = 39.00EUR
$33 for concession and the unwaged
$120 for an artist or artist collective (band, performance group, etc),
$250 for businesses and $120 for organisations (not for profit/community)
$150 for families and also $33 for kids and pets
You can subscribe to 2ser online anytime. Click HERE
www.2ser.com/whatson/radiothon
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Sonic News 30th September 2009
Featured: Starless & Bible Black - Shape Of The Shape
(Static Caravan)
Starless & Bible Black were formed in Manchester in 2005 and with Shape Of The Shape, they have drawn together the sounds of ‘70s Topanga Canyon country-rock, ‘80s Mancunian jangle, and space-age psychedelic drones to make this dynamic, warm and woodsy second album.
Gone are the dulcimers and banjos of their debut, now replaced by an electrifying wall of Telecaster and Moog, and standing in the centre of this bold, widescreen sound resides the earthy and husky voice of Hélène Gautier.
Recorded at Bryn Derwen within the wilds of the Snowdonian mountains, and during all night sessions in the relative tranquillity of their local village hall, Shape Of The Shape is an album of contrasting styles, themes and approaches that coheres beautifully into a seamless entity. With flavours of swamp rock, gothic bluesy chanson and smoky acoustic ballads, as well as a jazz-folk tinged instrumental and, while this album traverses all these different styles, the band never deny the importance of a fine tune and a fine song.
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Sonic News 23rd September 2009
Featured: Nancy Elizabeth - Wrought Iron (Leaf)
"Wrought iron is made by repeatedly heating and working the raw material with a hammer" says Nancy and, like true wrought iron, they rarely make them like this any more.
In contrast to the rich tapestries of her debut album, 2007's Battle and Victory, Nancy Elizabeth takes inspiration from silence and solitude to fuel these strangely gripping, quietly involving songs. Turning her back on the harp that provided the musical focus for her earlier work, Nancy employs a fresh instrumental palette for Wrought Iron, including guitar, glockenspiel, vibraphone and a hundred-year-old Dulcitone, building the album around her instrument of choice, the piano, and her warm, unaffected voice.
'Her matter-of-factness and the subtle momentum of the arrangements lend it a gentle, guileful enchantment'. (Uncut)
Wild Weather
Recently arriving from the North of England, a big draw to starting a new life in Australia was of course the virtual guarantee of great weather most of the year round and, not to rub it in, but even winter here isn't that bad really is it!?!
Generally speaking though, despite the season, Mother Nature always packs a big punch out here... when it rains it's torrential tropical downpours, summer heralds majestic electrical storms and the possibility of brain-boiling temperatures...
But for those folks unaffected by Wednesdays weather drama, have a look at this... this is what we all woke up to on the East Coast, a 600km long, 3km high monster dust storm!! It may have looked like armageddon, but it was too early so I went back to bed after blearily taking these shots...
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6.00 a.m. and waking up in an orange world
As British science fiction writer John Wyndham might have said, when people in Sydney wake up to a sky from Mars, something is seriously wrong somewhere.
.JPG)
"doomsday, doomsday, it's doomsday, doomsday"
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Sonic News 16th September 2009
Featured: Major Chord - The Rabbit Hole (SR)
Major Chord presents The Rabbit Hole and, pardon the pun, this album has depth... it goes down, down deeper and down into the mind and soul of its creator Dan Flynn finally emerging through the folk-pop ramblings, double meanings and melodic dealings of Major Chord.
Fall down in to The Rabbit Hole and find songs that were written and recorded in Dan's home studio... the sound of violins played down the hall, vocals recorded at 4am, percussion from all corners of the world and a 1970's keyboard that cushions the fall... glockenspiels and shakers, the work of music makers, piano accordions and guitars played between passing cars...
Major Chord has delivered an album of unique beauty. It offers a place in which to wander or hide; each song with a story folded neatly inside.
Major Chord Album launch dates
23 Sep 2009, The Hopetoun Hotel, Sydney - w/ Jackson McLaren and Lauren Horton
24 Sep 2009, Ric’s Bar, Brisbane - w/ Burl Ivers
27 Sep 2009, Northcote Social Club, Melbourne - w/ M. Jack Bee
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Sonic News 9th September 2009
Featured: Spotlight on Safety Meeting Records
(or "Welcome to your new favourite label, Part 12 ")
Safety Meeting Records: "Soundbombing the Elm City since 2006"
factoids:
Carlos Wells started the label in 2006.
He started working in music as a noncommercial radio show host for "The Pork Chop Express" on 88.7fm WNHU
He used to book shows for a number of venues in town, which lead to him wanting to start a label to shine a light on the New Haven, CT music scene.
Carlos got the name for the label from a Safety Meeting he was regularly attending in the basement of a local bar.
At these safety meetings he hung out with the majority of the guys that he released music for (Crooked Hook, the Mountain Movers, the Vultures, and Humanoid).
The move from CDs to vinyl is one that he wanted to do from the start, and it's worked out beautifully:
The most successful show they've done to date is the benefit show we held for Bruce's (Carlos' dog) leg operation.
For Your Diary
2ser Presents:
POP POP ALOT! Sept 13, Cad Factory, Marrickville. www.cadfactory.com.au
Sydney Underground Film Festival, Sept 10-13, The Factory Theatre, Marrickville. www.suff.com.au
Rethreads, Sept 19, Carraigeworks. www.carriageworks.com.au
COFA spring Fair, Sept 19, COFA. www.cofa.nsw.edu.au
Menahan Street Band, Sept 24, Gaelic Club. www.lovepolice.com
Bellingen Global Carnival, Oct 2-4, Bellingen. www.globalcarnival.com
This Is Not Art, Oct 1- 5, Newcastle. www.thisisnotart.org
Spirit of Soul, Oct 4 - 11, Sydney venues. www.spiritofsoul.com.au
Beyond Visibility: Light and Dust, Sept 8 – Oct 9, UTS Gallery. www.utsgallery.uts.edu.au
References to Salvador Dali Make Me Hot! Sept 25 – Oct 17, Griffin Theatre. www.griffintheatre.com.au
Tiny Vipers, Oct 1, The Hopetoun. www.myspace.com/tinyvipersss
The Middle East, Oct 9, Manning Bar. www.manningbar.com
Loft Nights, every Wed, Thurs, Fri, The Loft UTS, Broadway. www.utsunion.uts.edu.au
Plus over 20 birthday events in October - WATCH THIS SPACE!
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Sonic News 2nd September 2009
On next week’s show (9th September) we’ve new folk sounds from The Hare And The Moon and Woodpecker Wooliams, lovely electronic trickery from Weave and Igneous Flame and some tongue twisting solo guitar work from M. Mucci and Chihei Hitakayama...
And although the pile of CD's is a little smaller now there's no featured album again next week but, keeping with the solo guitar vibe we will have the company of Brisbane’s very own Anonymeye in the studio; being in Sydney promoting his new album The Disambiguation Of Anonymeye hopefully he’ll drop by for a bit of a chat and maybe play a couple of tunes for us as well...
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Sonic News 26th August 2009
On next week's show we’ve brand new Australian indie folk flavours from Jez Mead and Chris Pickering, more intimate folk sounds from Peter Broderick and August In Fall and we’ll be opening the show with an absolute gem of a tune from Jody McKenna...
We’ve also a good dose of heartbreak from Larkin Grimm, summer sounds from The Duke and the King and some folk rock action from Sarabeth Tucek and Wolf People.
And I decided that there would be no featured album this week, simply because the pile of music I’ve got waiting to get on the show is just out of control, so I’ve made a bit of extra time to finally play some of those folks who have been very, very patient with me...
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Sonic News 19th August 2009
Featured: Six Organs Of Admittance - Luminous Night (Drag City / Spunk!)
Ben Chasny is one of the more prolific musicians of the last decade. He's released one or two albums each year since 1998 under his Six Organs of Admittance banner, plus a bunch of EPs, one-offs, and 7"s, and because that didn't keep him busy enough, he's also worked with Comets on Fire, Badgerlore, and Current 93. It could be argued that he's done more than anyone to establish, develop, and fuel this whole modern freak-folk thing, even if his profile has never risen as high as some of his peers'.
Luminous Night continues Chasny's association with Chicago's estimable Drag City label, and it's something of a summary record, demonstrating most of the range he's shown over the years, from pretty acoustic guitar ramblings to ambient noodling, droning psychedelic horrors, acid folk tunes, and rumbling noise.
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Sonic News 12th August 2009
Featured: Grand Salvo - Soil Creatures (Preservation)
One of Australia's most unique voices is back with his best album to date. For ten years now, Melbourne songsmith Paddy Mann has made music as Grand Salvo. In some ways he has hardly changed over that decade, while in others he is almost unrecognisable.
'Soil Creatures' is Grand Salvo's most assured and accomplished record yet and is set to cement Paddy Mann’s position as one of Australia’s most compelling, challenging and affecting songwriters. Paddy has quietly and unassumingly developed a body of work that has inspired both incredible devotion from fans and seen him perform alongside Iron & Wine, Jose Gonzales and Joanna Newsom.
Whilst his previous albums 'The Temporal Wheel' and 'Death' received rapturous acclaim, this album continues Paddy's fascination with mortality and unexpected physical transformation. This gorgeous set of songs revolves around delicate guitar, strings and harp along with other added nuances that confirms Paddy's master's touch in arranging.
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Sonic News 5th August 2009
International Vinyl Day
Next Wednesday August 12, 2ser 107.3 will host, for the first time in Australia, International Vinyl Record Day. Celebrating the enormous contribution that vinyl has made to our lives, from midday every single specialist music show on 2ser will play all in over 8 hours of music, only from vinyl.
The facts...
Vinyl Record Day was started in the USA in 2002 and is dedicated to:
This is the first time that it has been celebrated in Australia, and possibly the first time that it has been celebrated on radio!!
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Sonic News 29th July 2009
Featured: Micah Blue Smalldone - The Red River (Think!)
'The Red River' is the third album from Portland, Maine’s Micah Blue Smaldone, who began his musical career as a punk, but found folk music with a 12-string far more satisfying. Smaldone plays pre-war ditties, backwater folk and dirt-floor blues from another time with amazing authenticity and contemporary attitude.
Most of the album was written upon returning from an 11 week European tour in the winter of 2007. 'The Red River' confronts the malevolence we’ve come to accept in our nature perhaps more out of cynicism than of true understanding. It tells hard tales gently, and in the end offers faith in our capacity for goodness.
The album features accompaniment by many fine Portland musicians, including the members of Fire On Fire. Micah has recently appeared on the new Jack Rose album and just finished a tour supporting Death Vessel, where he also played in the Death Vessel band.
Live: 8th August 2009
"Paddy Mann makes intimate records that are anything but small or, indeed, anything but enclosed - whether of mind or imagination . . [he] does more than make attractive sounds, he makes pieces of hearts and skin and nerve with thoughtfulness and depth." - Sydney Morning Herald
Described by The Vine as Australia’s pre-eminent folk lyricist, Grand Salvo’s beautiful new album Soil Creatures is being hailed as his best yet. This gorgeous set of songs revolves around delicate guitar, strings and harp along with other added nuances that confirms Paddy Mann’s master’s touch in arranging.
See Grand Salvo launch Soil Creatures in a special, intimate performance at the Paddington Uniting Church, 395 Oxford Street Paddington, with extra-special guests The Necks' Chris Abrahams and Melbourne’s Jessica Says. Chris will play on the church's fantastic pipe organ for a one-off improvised piece.
This is the last Grand Salvo show in Sydney for some time, as Paddy Mann is relocating overseas.
$12 entry, starts at 8pm. Co-presented by Preservation and 2SER-FM.
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Sonic News 22nd July 2009
Featured: The Steals - Static Kingdom (Faun Records)
The new Steals record arrived just as Thee Sonic Assassin was about to spend a few hours driving in the city, and despite it's organic space and earthy mystery 'Static Kingdom' proved to be the perfect soundtrack to the chill of a Sydney winter night.
Following the superb 2006 EP ‘Floodlights’ and an intense creative sabbatical, The Steals are back with a new album of magical psychedelic folk, mostly recorded in San Francisco with long-standing musical cohort Mark Peters.
'Static Kingdom' is laced with powerful song-writing, big guitars, achingly detailed production and hauntingly melodic vocals. The Steals have created a meticulously crafted album, unpretentious, humble and unfettered by ego.
"...listening to Northern English band The Steals is like hearing something for the first time which you just know, instinctively, is going to become a part of your life for years to come. This is a breathtakingly brilliant album" (Terrascope)
www.myspace.com/thestealsmusic
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Sonic News 15th July 2009
Featured: v/a Leaves Of Life (Borne! Recordings)
Hi everybody, this is Buck Curran of the Maine-based folk duo, Arborea. My wife Shanti and I are excited about having released our new benefit CD, 'Leaves of Life,' just a few weeks ago on June 23rd.
'Leaves of Life' is a compilation of songs by some of today’s most creative folk artists such as Alela Diane, Marissa Nadler, Rio en Medio, Fern Knight and Devendra Banhart. All proceeds from the sale of this CD will be donated to the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) and the Not On Our Watch agency to help with essential relief operations in the Darfur region of Sudan, as well as other African communities in need of assistance.
Both the World Food Program and Not On Our Watch agencies have really touched our lives with so many amazing success stories of aiding people, families and communities in Africa who are in great need. As musicians, parents and active members of our own community here in Maine, a state that is now home to many African communities, Shanti and I, along with friends from around the world, wanted to share our music and help raise awareness about the great needs in Africa. Our CD will help support relief programs that the World Food Program and Not On Our Watch agencies have created.
Here's a few facts you need to know:
Every 6 seconds a child dies of hunger
5 dollars will feed one baby for one year
Over 850 Million people do not get enough to eat
Every day 25,000 people die of hunger;
14,000 of them are children
if you would like more information about the world food program please visit:
to purchase the CD
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Sonic News 8th July 2009
Featured: Spotlight on Rusted Rail Records
(or "Welcome to your new favourite label, Part 11 ")
Rusted Rail are a micro-independent record label from Ireland that releases, almost exclusively, 3"CD's in tantalisingly limited runs. Each release is ink-stamped and comes housed in a hand-made, cover slipped into a perfect fit coin bag, often with a little something extra inside too...
Their expanding roster confidently encompasses a variety of folk-flavoured sounds, from the glitchy electro-folk of Loner Deluxe and the sombre dub of The Declining Winter, the psychedelic experimental adventures of Phospene and United Bible Studies, through to the more traditional folk sounds of Agitated Radio Pilot and Autumn Grieve, Rusted Rail continue to defy fashionable genres and over-used hyphenated styles to promote a sound all their own...
All Rusted Rail releases on that proper tiny 3"CD format feature music from Agitated Radio Pilot, The Big Eyes Family Players, Cubs, The Declining Winter, Directorsound, The Dovetail Consort, CWK Joynes, Loner Deluxe, Mirakil Whip, Music For Dead Birds, Phantom Dog Beneath The Moon, Phosphene, Plinth, So Cow, United Bible Studies... a format that is admittedly way too easy to lose, yet entirely practical if you are short on storage space like yours truly... Rust Never Sleeps...
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Sonic News 1st July 2009
Featured: Tranko / Japanese Special
Tranko
The sounds of musical instruments such as native musical instrument electronic sound electric musical instrument drums assumed the Indian musical instrument beginning were combined. Raga toronica jamband...
★
Anko (g & voice & pc)
Yoshino Travel (sitar & bass & esj)
Sigeji Moriyama (tabla)
Kage (harmonium & syn) Eiji Mitomi (pc & g) DJ Hiro
Shinsuke (bass) Matsumoto Vapourtrail (bass) Benjian (bass) Yamanaka (bass)
Satoshi Watanabe (dr) Sekil (dr) Kishida (dr) Kiyosawa (g) Mitunaga (dr)
★
Tranko on CD-r
new CDR tranko3 ￥1,000
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www.members.jcom.home.ne.jp/a.nko/
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Sonic News 24th June 2009
The Boy Who Spoke Clouds - S/T (Sun Sea Sky Productions)
Adam Casey is The Boy Who Spoke Clouds, whose love of gypsy and indigenous music has resulted in what might be described as world-tribal-folk-neo folk-electroacoustic, or some amalgamation of the above and a bit more...
The album was recorded through 2004/2005 via the microphone on a handycam video Hi8 onto a cheap sound card. Everything from handclaps, percussive chanting, footstomps and guitars played with chopsticks were incorporated whilst attempting to dispell all self-concious methods of music production. Adam sings predominantly of death, transitions and of the mystery before the answer or questions arise...
The boy who spoke clouds is transfixed as he watches the old men chant. He is a boy, but he is also very old, and has had so many men throw words at him from each and every angle, but finally he can hear the golden word, truth finally spoken from the mouths of a thousand men on one giant mountain.
www.myspace.com/theboywhospokeclouds
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Sonic News 17th June 2009
The Orbweavers - Graphite & Diamonds (Home Wrecked)
The Orbweavers formed around 2006 when MaritaDyson & Stuart Flanagan began humming along to the corrugated iron reverb and sewing machines ghosts of Brunswick, Melbourne.
They recruited friends on drums, bass and trumpet to complete a quintet, before recording 'Graphite & Diamonds' at the 5th Brunswick Scout Hall.
'Graphite & Diamonds' is a collection of 11 dark and dulcet songs straight from the abandoned knitting mills; a world of chiming pins and needle electric guitar, haunted violin bequeathed by nuns, runaway vines, mystery, and fittingly in this international year of astronomy 2009, the Moon.
"If you have a yearning to plunge into some intense daydreaming, you should definitely have a soundtrack to achieve this to. 'Graphite and Diamonds' is that soundtrack. Atmospheric and spooky, if this album was a thing, it would be a ladybeetle with long eyelashes, knitting a shawl of silver and gold." Jenny O'Keefe
'Graphite & Diamonds' can be purchased from good record shops or online HERE
The Orbweavers are also featured on the Sideways through Sound compilation 'Beyond The Pale', see above for details...
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Sonic News 10th June 2009
Spotlight on Humble Soul Records
(or "Welcome to your new favourite label, Part 10 ")
Humble Soul Records are based in Manchester, UK but the arms of their roster are, rather appealingly, not only geographically wider reaching, but also both artistically and sonically more extensive.
Certainly Humble Soul mines a folk-flavoured furrow, but the components of this passionately run boutique label's back catalogue are intrigueingly eclectic.
From the off-kilter quirkiness of Aidan Smith's melodramatic folk-pop, to Denis Jones' guitar-worrying, loop pedal wizardry, Liz Green's unique and distinctly British take on the blues and John Fairhurst's Fahey/Basho inspired lush, eastern melodies, Humble Soul have been perfectly capturing a corner of an exciting scene.
The latest addition to the Humble Soul roster are the quite wonderful Miserable Rich from Brighton, whose album 'Twelve New Ways To Count' follows hot on the heels of one of the best 7"s of last year, simply titled 'Pisshead'... The new album has been described as being "variously tender, dark, warm, thoughtful and euphoric, packed with stories about knife throwers and drunks and comely barmaids".
Sideways Through Sound will be featuring a selection of tracks from the Humble Soul catalogue on next week's show, 17th June 2009.
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Sonic News 3rd June 2009
Alela Diane - To Be Still (Rough Trade / Rogue)
'To Be Still' is the highly anticipated follow up to Alela's 2006 debut 'The Pirate's Gospel', (originally given away to friends in hand-sewn covers). On first listen, with the addition of mandolin, pedal steel, percussion and multi-tracked vocals, the impression of 'To Be Still' is that of a considerably more complex musical palette than her earlier more 'campfire-folksong' recordings.
With a full and engaging backing, Alela's compelling and unique voice remains a joy; from gale-force to ghostly, her heart-achingly beautiful songbird curlicues added mid-melody, conclude that her wholly original music remains convincingly borne of mournful contemplation and isolation.
"these songs were crafted from love and lore" Alela explains. Like 'The Pirate's Gospel' this album is largely a family affair; recorded with her father and their shared friends, arrangements were arrived at "casually and magically", taking their time to be delicately and appropriately woven together.
Sideways Through Sound will be featuring Alela Diane's 'To Be Still' on next week's all girl and guitars special show, 10th June 2009.
...and Alela loves cats...
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Sonic News 27th May 2009
Jeff Zentner - The Dying Days Of Summer
Jeff Zentner resides in Asheville, North Carolina, in the heart of the haunted Southern Appalachian mountains. In 2006, he released a solo album 'Hymns to the Darkness' as well as an album with Creech Holler (his Southern Gothic garage rock band).
Jeff is a strong believer in the 'do it yourself' ethic. He writes all of his own songs, records himself, puts out his own albums, and plays guitar, mandolin, banjo, dobro, lap steel, pedal steel, and cello on his recordings. 'The Dying Days of Summer' is Jeff's second solo album.
On his first album, he recorded every note himself. This time he is joined by several special guests. Katiejane Garside (Queen Adreena, Ruby Throat) co-wrote and performs on 'Where We Fall We’ll Lie'. Andria Degens (Pantaleimon, Current 93) contributes harmonium, bass, and vocals to 'Lights on the Hill'. Matt Bauer, known both for his excellent solo work and his banjo work with Alela Diane contributes banjo and vocals to 'Night Jasmine'. Josie Little contributed her gorgeous voice in harmony on several tracks, and Jeff is even joined by his wife, Sara Zentner, on piano on 'I’ll be Here When You Wake'.
Sideways Through Sound will be featuring the wonderful dark Americana of 'The Dying Days Of Summer' on next weeks show, 3rd June 2009.
"i write songs for those who see the face of god in dirt and rust and broken things. for those who love desolation and who make of it ceremony and song. for those who bear memory's weight and who count the days of their youth in the blinking lights of distant radio towers and deserted intersections. who read in the crumbling names of towns on water towers the dispatches of passing seasons and forgotten heartbeats. for those who in dreams find great and unknowable mystery. who love words that sound upon their lips like secrets and sighs."
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For archive details see 'Statement'
Broadcast Date May 27th 2009 (archived)
Broadcast Date May 20th 2009 (archived)
Broadcast Date May 13th 2009 (archived)
Broadcast Date May 6th 2009 (archived)
Broadcast Date April 29th 2009 (archived)
Broadcast Date April 22nd 2009 (archived)
Broadcast Date April 15th 2009 (archived)
Broadcast Date April 8th 2009 (archived)
Broadcast Date April 1st 2009 (archived)
Broadcast Date March 25th 2009 (archived)
Broadcast Date March 18th 2009 (archived)
Broadcast Date March 11th 2009 (archived)
Broadcast Date March 4th 2009 (archived)
Broadcast Date February 25th 2009 (archived)
Broadcast Date February 18th 2009 (archived)
Broadcast Date February 11th 2009 (archived)
Broadcast Date February 4th 2009 (archived)
Broadcast Date 28th January 2009 (archived)
Broadcast Date 21st January 2009 (archived)
Broadcast Date 14th January 2009 (archived)
Broadcast Date 5th January 2009 (archived)
Broadcast Date 29th December 2008 (archived)
Broadcast Date 22nd December 2008 (archived)
Broadcast Date 15th December 2008 (archived)
Broadcast Date 8th December 2008 (archived)
Broadcast Date 1st December 2008 (archived)
Broadcast Date 24th November 2008 (archived)
Broadcast Date 17th November 2008 (archived)
Broadcast Date 10th November 2008 (archived)
Broadcast Date 3rd November 2008 (archived)
Broadcast Date 27th October 2008 (archived)
Broadcast Date 20th October 2008 (archived)
Broadcast Date 13th October 2008 (archived)
Broadcast Date 6th October 2008 (archived)
Broadcast Date 29th September 2008 (archived)
Broadcast Date 22nd September 2008 (archived)
Broadcast Date 15th September 2008 (archived)
Broadcast Date 8th Sptember 2008 (archived)
Broadcast Date 1st September 2008 (archived)
Broadcast Date 25th August 2008 (archived)
Broadcast Date 18th August 2008 (archived)
Broadcast Date 11th August 2008 (archived)
Broadcast Date 4th August 2008 (archived)
Broadcast date 28th July 2008 (archived)
Broadcast date 21st July 2008 (archived)
Broadcast date 14th July 2008 (archived)
Broadcast date 7th July 2008 (archived)
Broadcast date 30th June 2008 (archived)
Broadcast date 26th June 2008 (archived)
Broadcast date 19th June 2008 (archived)
Broadcast date 12th June 2008 (archived)
Broadcast date 5th June 2008 (archived)
Broadcast date 29th May 2008 (archived)
Broadcast date 22nd May 2008 (archived)
Broadcast date 15th May 2008 (archived)
Broadcast date 8th May 2008 (archived)
Broadcast date 1st May 2008 (archived)
Broadcast date 24th April 2008 (archived)
Broadcast date 17th April 2008 (archived)
Broadcast date 10th April 2008 (archived)
Broadcast date 3rd April 2008 (archived)
Broadcast date 27th March 2008 (archived)
Broadcast date 20th March 2008 (archived)
Broadcast date 13th March 2008 (archived)
Broadcast date 6th March 2008 (archived)
Broadcast date 28th February 2008 (archived)
Broadcast date 21st February 2008 (archived)
Broadcast date 14th February 2008 (archived)
Broadcast date 7th February 2008 (archived)
Broadcast date 31st January 2008 (archived)
Broadcast date 24th January 2008 (archived)
Broadcast date 17th January 2008 (archived)
Broadcast date 10th January 2008 (archived)
Broadcast date 3rd January 2008 (archived)
