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New Releases for date: 10/6/03
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AMMP
Artist: KHAN, ALI AKBAR Title: Swara Samrat
Format: CD Catalog
Number:		 AMMP0301
Price: $12.00 Label: Ammp
Release
Date:		 10/6/03
***"Narayani Gauri" is a new mixture of two traditional ragas ("Narayani" and "Gauri") woven together by Ali Akbar Khan. It is an evening raga mostly used for prayer for one's soul and mind. The moods are devotion, peace, joy, pathos and detachment.

"Chandra Dhani" was composed by Khansahib when he went to Washington DC to receive the National Heritage Fellowship in 1997. He performed this raga for the first time at an event showcasing the Fellowship recipients. There was a wonderful moon in the sky. One could see the whole city from where the raga was composed, and the beautiful face of the moon was hanging over the city. This was the mood-- peace and joy-- Khansahib sought to create through sound. (Chandra means moon and Dhani is the capital city.)

These recordings were made in Sausalito, California, on May 7, 1998-- recorded directly to a hard drive, the first recording AMMP has released without the use of an analog or digital tape.

Ali Akbar Khan, 81, has studied vocal music since the age of three, and went on to learn several instruments before his father decided that he must concentrate on the sarode and singing. For over twenty years, Khansahib trained and practiced 18 hours a day. His father continued to teach him until he was over 100 years old. Khansahib has continued his father's tradition, that of the Sri Baba Allauddin Seni Gharana of Maihar and Rampur, India.

In 1967 he founded the Ali Akbar College of Music, currently located in San Rafael, California, where he teaches four to six classes a week, nine months a year.

Pandit Swapan Chaudhuri, the brilliant master of the tabla, credits his family for encouragement and training that have earned him a place among the greatest classical musicians of India. He received long training from Santosh Krishna Biswas of Calcutta, and has been the Director of Percussion at AACM for the past 21 years.

ANTICON
Artist: WHY? Title: Early Whitney
Format: LP Catalog
Number:		 ABR0035
Price: $8.25 Label: Anticon
Release
Date:		 10/6/03
***CD was released the week of 9/8/03

why? grew up in Cincinnati playing kickball in the cul de sac and watching 8-bit Nintendo in his big brother's attic bedroom. The minor key melodies of religious music and the tight belt, tight-laced shoes of his soft-spoken middle childhood in part provide the impetus for why?'s candy-time-dissonant, singsong-suicide style. In addition to his membership in cLOUDDEAD and reaching quiet, why? has collaborated with Hood, Fog, boombip, jel and sole; he has toured the world twice, performed two Peel Sessions under the cLOUDDEAD moniker, and is admired by Boards of Canada, Mum, Stereolab, Danielson Famile, The Notwist and Mogwai. why?'s quirky production and infectious melodies are merely sugar coating for the contents of a young man with unbuttoned lips and a gut spitting words.

Picking up where why?'s well-received oaklandazulasylum left off, the early whitney ep maintains why?'s unique, off-kilter, dirty-drum, digital, dark folk constructed with samplers, guitars, keyboard and all kinds of found sounds. Over unique song structures why? delivers pretty melodies and catchy, sing-songy half-raps. The record starts out with the hair-raising title track (initially released on oaklandazulasylum) "early whitney," a sad song about all things being mortal. The rest of the side continues with a similar feel and theme. Just as original and sweet as his melodies are why's words. The tracks on Side A are introspective, moody and lonely dissections of the human condition, with memorable lines like "you should whistle when you walk past a graveyard and hide your face in your trench coat collar" on "Ladyfingers," whereas Side B is more topical with songs like "Darla," a whimsical vegan anthem of sorts, starring a hen named "Darla." "me on beer" ponderings class-ism, and "the crest" brings it all back home.

  • Follow-up EP to his well received full length oaklandazulasylum
  • one third of critically acclaimed cLOUDDEAD
  • Front man for cult favorite reaching quiet
  • Full world tour planned the same month of release
  • File under hip hop W and rock W

    30-second RealAudio excerpts:

    Early Whitney
    Ladyfingerz
    Point Blank
    Darla
    Me on Beer
    The Crest

    If you have a recent version of iTunes software on your computer, clicking on the link below should open the iTunes application and take you to the iTunes Music Service page-- where you can listen to samples and buy this album, or individual tracks:

    why? "early whitney" (anticon)

    For a complete listing of Midheaven exclusive albums available for download from the iTunes Music service, please visit the Midheaven Mailorder/Revolver USA Downloadables page.
CITY MASSIVE
Artist: DW & FATJACK Title: The Message
Format: CD Catalog
Number:		 CM01CD
Price: $12.00 Label: City Massive
Release
Date:		 10/6/03
***The melodic rhythms and hard-hitting breaks that DW (aka DJ 'D) displayed on his Workers Union album align again with Fatjack's timeless keyboard riffs and engineering skills. Their latest effort, The Message, is a testament to their maturation as producers. An album that should be filed in "neo soul" rather than hip hop, The Message's soundscape is set to a European feel and delivers eight solid instrumentals for listeners who desire the passion and inspiration in urban music. A reminder of why a generation claims them as their own.
Artist: DW & FATJACK Title: The Message
Format: LP Catalog
Number:		 CM01
Price: $8.25 Label: City Massive
Release
Date:		 10/6/03
COMMUNION LABEL / HAUSMUSIK
Artist: VILLAGE OF SAVOONGA Title: Live
Format: CD Catalog
Number:		 COMM59
Price: $11.00 Label: Communion Label / Hausmusik
Release
Date:		 10/6/03
***The fourth and probably final chapter in the Village of Savoonga story happens to be a live album, recorded at the annual Hausmusik Festival in 2001. One of the final VoS live shows, it also happens to be (in the band's own opinion) one of their best shows ever. The material spans all three previous VoS releases, and shows the band's sound returning (full circle) to its initial incarnation as a soft/loud guitar group. Gone are the loops and ambient flourishes, as the live ensemble approaches the heights associated with Shellac and Slint.
  • This Bavarian collective features members from Notwist, Tied & Tickled Trio, Lalipuna, and about 74 other great German bands
  • A popular cult band with dedicated North American following, via three previous Communion / Hausmusik releases
  • This live testament to the greatness features seven completely different and redone versions of studio favorites
  • Reference points: Chicago, Louisville, Munich

    30-second RealAudio excerpts:

    [track 1]
    [track 2]
    [track 3]
    [track 4]
    [track 5]
    [track 6]
    [track 7]
GALAXIA
Artist: JET BLACK CRAYON Title: Experiments In The Space Metal Time Signature
Format: CD Catalog
Number:		 GLX18CD
Price: $9.50 Label: Galaxia
Release
Date:		 10/6/03
***This EP is the result of a request from Thomas Campbell (Galaxia) who came to some live improv shows Jet Black Crayon used to do on Sundays at Amnesia in San Francisco. He wanted the band to capture the drunken meandering vibe of those shows for this EP. At the shows Tommy Guerrero, Monte Vallier, Gadget, and Tim DeGaugh would usually do two sets of an hour to an hour-and-a-half, playing some Jet Black Crayon songs but mostly just making things up on the spot and rolling with them. The improvisations were atmospheric, and sometimes got heavy in a funk/soul sort of way. Experiments In The Space Metal Time Signature is Jet Black Crayon's favorite parts of a couple hours' worth of the studio recordings performed similarly.
HOLY MOUNTAIN
Artist: SIX ORGANS OF ADMITTANCE Title: Compathia
Format: CD Catalog
Number:		 82614
Price: $12.00 Label: Holy Mountain
Release
Date:		 10/6/03
***While the "acoustic based project[ions]" of Six Organs of Admittance have been pigeonholed by some as a chance-operated celestial jam unit, the group has always been about songs, and nowhere is this more apparent than on their fourth full length album, an eight-song cycle that mixes the strengths of Ben Chasny's acoustic and electric guitar with his knack for placing this on top of disparate and subtle atmospheric backgrounds. The live favorite (and rare single) "Somewhere Between" has been redone and finalized in a fantastic new version featuring sitar by Comets on Fire's Ethan Miller. The delicate acoustic strum of the album is challenged at the end of the record on the epic "Only the Sun Knows," which features some extremely heavy "electric destruction guitar" from Mr. Miller before Chasny takes back control and lands the album on solid ground.
NINJA TUNE
Artist: KID KOALA Title: Some Of My Best Friends Are Djs
Format: CD Catalog
Number:		 ZENCD82CD
Price: $13.00 Label: Ninja Tune
Release
Date:		 10/6/03
***The second album from Canadian turntable magician and DELTRON 3030 and GORILLAZ member KID KOALA, and another conceptual blast of hip hop sorcery. Fifteen tracks that, though less weird than his first album, are still pretty out there, with short-attention-spanned whips of tweaked and drunken jazz, ska, and hip hop grooves. CD is packaged in a digipak with an accompanying fifty-page comic book, and an outer card stock slipcase.
TIGERBEAT 6
Artist: V/A Title: Revenge Of The Fight Club
Format: 12" Catalog
Number:		 MEOW095
Price: $4.00 Label: Tigerbeat 6
Release
Date:		 10/6/03
***Fight Club invites witnesses to the third installment of band vs. band manipulation and audible bloodlust in The Revenge of the Fight Club. After nursing a grudge for too long, it's payback time. These avengers have come to settle an old score and go beyond the boundaries of violence, permanent harm, and violation of hyped-up genres.

1. Stars as Eyes vs. Casino Versus Japan
Our Light Remix
Midwest emo-IDM hero Casino Versus Japan picks the fight with one of Stars as Eyes' old tricks and bullies you around with a pleasing psych out.

2. Dwayne Sodahberk vs. Janosh Brando
Partying With Dignity
As soon as you feel safe and get comfortable staring at your shoes, Dwayne Sodahberk and Janosh Brando hit you with an oversexed dance track - an unexpected uppercut featuring vocals from Maria of Swedish electrotrash group Revlon 9.

3. 0=0 vs. Super Mario Brothers
Mario's Theme
In a superfast heartbeat, mashed up Toronto junglist 0=0 makes a full frontal attack on the much loved and recognized Super Mario Brothers' theme song.

4. Com.a vs. Original Hamster
Hugluvsucklogchatemoticon
A bob and weave cut-up attack led by Com.a against Chilean DSP prankster Original Hamster, fresh from remixing the new Señor Coconut single.

5. Cex vs. GD Luxxe
One Cex / Skeleton Middlefinger Remix
Severe emotional punishment comes with number one entertainer of the world Cex's taunting words and the dirty electro hooks of GD Luxxe (Cheap, Ersatz Audio, IT, Mego).

6. Donna Summer vs. Van Halen
Leg Splits
Ibiza-worthy glitch-metal to make sure you remember all of their names on the other side.

If you have a recent version of iTunes software on your computer, clicking on the link immediately below should open the iTunes application and take you to that album's iTunes page-- where you can listen to samples and buy this album, or individual tracks:

Go to iTunes to browse downloads for Various Artists "Revenge of the Fight Club"

For a complete listing of Midheaven exclusive albums available for download from the iTunes Music Service and emusic, please visit the Midheaven Mailorder/Revolver USA Downloadables page.
VHF
Artist: PELT Title: Pearls From The River
Format: CD Catalog
Number:		 VHF76
Price: $12.00 Label: Vhf
Release
Date:		 10/6/03
***First new music in a couple of years from the trio, focusing entirely on their acoustic side-- a single session recorded in Virginia by Mikel Dimmick. "Up the North Fork" is a trio for banjo, baritone banjo, and cello-- after the snaky bowed introduction, the fast thwacking of the banjos and forcefully strummed cello take over and whip up a storm. The other two tracks are lengthy ragas (one in C, one in D) with the virtuoso modal guitar of Jack Rose front and center. "Pearls From The River" features Rose on 12-string, dueling with Mike Gangloff on esraj. Pat Best's thick, sonorous double bass bowing anchors the duet between the lightning thrumming and plucking of Rose's guitar and Gangloff's arcing, sharply bowed half-time melody. "Road To Catawba" has Rose on 6-string, with Gangloff moving to tamboura, for a full exploration of the D Lydian mode. Mmmm, D Lydian mode... Best's bass is again the foundation, with whistling overtones rising from his bow over the low drone.

30-second RealAudio excerpts:

Up the North Fork
Pearls from the River
Road to Catawba

If you have a recent version of iTunes software on your computer, clicking on the link immediately below should open the iTunes application and take you to that album's iTunes page-- where you can listen to samples and buy this album, or individual tracks:

go to iTunes to browse downloads for Pelt "Pearls From the River"

For a complete listing of Midheaven exclusive albums available for download from the iTunes Music service, please visit the Midheaven Mailorder/Revolver USA Downloadables page.
Artist: SUNROOF Title: Cloudz
Format: CD Catalog
Number:		 VHF75
Price: $12.00 Label: Vhf
Release
Date:		 10/6/03
***Bi-annual collection of pillow sound from Matthew Bower & Co. Fairly mellow and spacey, à la the "Embroidered Birdsong Nearly Meadows" disc from Sunroof's 2001 Bliss double-CD. Layers of twinkling keyboard, guitar, unidentified fuzz, short wave, etc. Very much in the style of Harmonia and Cluster in spots. There are a couple of amped-up moments here and there, including surprise lead guitar action on "Tornado Rose Canoe," and the excellent fuzz-grilled rock of "Primavera" (aka "AC/DC" - a staple of recent live sets). According to no less of an authority than Neil Campbell, Cloudz is "the best Sunroof ever."

30-second RealAudio excerpts:

Machine
Grasshopper
Viva
Zero
Universal Acceleration
Tornado Rose Canoe
Silver Nazi Suicide
Primavera
Silver Zero

If you have a subscription account at emusic.com, you can download tracks for purchase here.

[please note that, due to international licensing agreements, not all Midheaven titles may be available for download in all territories].

Artist: VIBRACATHEDRAL ORCHESTRA Title: The Queen Of Guess
Format: CD Catalog
Number:		 VHF77
Price: $12.00 Label: Vhf
Release
Date:		 10/6/03
***While certainly VCO's most upbeat and percussive music, the nine tracks on this immense, visceral slab of rackety action run through a wide range of styles. "Ramshackle Sunrise" has a gamelan-like, five-note melody overlaid with a hovering drone. "The Silent Socket" rocks with "Sister Ray"-style guitar careening along side actual drums. The two 20-minute epics that bookend the record are a study in contrasts: "Your Head Shone Like A Stone" has a heavy, excited buzz, while the closing "Goodnight Stars Goodnight Air" is a gentler acoustic epilogue, gliding into the rosy future.

30-second RealAudio excerpts:

Your Head Shone Like a Stone
Ramshackle Sunrise
The Silent Socket
Magnetic Burn
Visit/Forgive > Either
Green Ears
You're Hard to Get
Immobiliser
Goodnight Stars Goodnight Air

If you have a recent version of iTunes software on your computer, clicking on the link immediately below should open the iTunes application and take you to that album's iTunes page-- where you can listen to samples and buy this album, or individual tracks:

go to iTunes to browse downloads for

If you have a recent version of iTunes software on your computer, clicking on the link immediately below should open the iTunes application and take you to that album's iTunes page-- where you can listen to samples and buy this album, or individual tracks:

go to iTunes to browse downloads for Vibracathedral Orchestra "The Queen of Guess"

If you have a subscription account at emusic.com, you can download tracks for purchase here.

For a complete listing of Midheaven exclusive albums available for download from the iTunes Music service, please visit the Midheaven Mailorder/Revolver USA Downloadables page.

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