8/21/2007

interview :: lullatone

p-a-j-a-m-a in the usa [and canada]
lullatone has been touring across the usa and canada, promoting their new album, plays pajama pop pour vous, and spreading sleepy time electronic tunes and pajama pop. they make their final usa appearance in brooklyn this saturday [august 25th] at glasslands gallery before returning to japan. it's gonna be a crazy fun night of electronics, plus many of the bands playing were featured performances on the final night at this year's new york city circuit bending festival.

:: listen to wake up wake up

on their way to philly sean [s] and yoshimi [y] made time to conduct a little mini interview, like an alias pail pop quiz for lullatone:
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1. sugar or honey?
[y]: honey that comes from a bear shaped container!
[s]: me too!

2. what's the best food/restaurant you've enjoyed on your tour?
[s]: mission burritos in san francisco!
[y]: me too!

3. which creature in our animal kingdom do you think would enjoy your music the most?
[y]: i don't know, but i know my puppy likes xylophone.
[s]: dinosaurs!

4. are you happy or sad if people fall asleep to your albums while listening and before finishing them?
[y]: happy.
[s]: we both fell asleep a million times making it.

5. was there a specific reason you couldn't hit the midwest during this tour?
[y]: i didn't know how big america is.
[s]: yeah, we didn't have any time this time. but I really want to go there soon!

6. crayons or markers?
[y]: crayons.
[s]: everything.

7. you've been involving the audience with pretuned recorders. which show had the best musically inclined recorder blowers?
[s]:there was a little boy in burlington [maybe around 5 years old?] who showed up in his pjs and totally re-invented the way the pre-tuned recorder had been played up to that point!

8. has anything broken on the tour?
[s and y]: nope.

9. silver or gold?
[y]: neither
[s]: gold watches and platinum teeth

10. do you write the basic melodies for songs by playing with midi loops in the computer, or organically, by just playing naturally on an sk-1, then moving to the computer for details?

[s]: i guess we start each song a different way. like some with xylophones, some with a harp, or some with some handclaps.
[y]: i just hum in the bathtub.

11. milk, half and half, or soy?

[y]: milk
[s]: i love milk!
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you can view a detailed flyer of the show here or watch a cute commercial for their tour here.

learn about other performers:
www.myspace.com/aliaspail
www.myspace.com/tristanperich
www.myspace.com/burnkit2600
www.myspace.com/twiandhumblefeather

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posted by Unknown @ Tuesday, August 21, 2007 0 comments

8/06/2007

release :: sly hats liquorice nights

geoff o'connor is soft spoken. i have to lean in and cup my ears when he comments. maybe it's to protect his speaking voice from his singing voice. upon hearing him live, his delicate voice grew on me immediately. his first solo release from his mainstay crayon fields outfit, 'liquorice night' has been steadily growing in my playlist under repeat. his compositions inherit the nostalgia and carefree pop of the 60's. not just sonically, but you can really feel like you're taking a trip back in time. avant garde artist always pull from the past, and from the pop side, there is probably no overly reverenced pop album then pet sounds. panda bear's newest release and critical acclaim comes with alarmingly shocking similarities to a beach boys vocal attack and charm.

:: listen to kill the lights

geoff's approach and reference is more crafted and intentional. many of the beats have that grandma church organ sound. lyrically, the songs also draw from the innocent themes of courtship and romantic admittance in many 60's pop songs. in some parts the lyrics are almost too vulnerable and fumbling, but they come out strong in pieces like 'liquorice night' geoff whispering in pauses, "i miss our perfect harmless lives..." you can help but feel like you are enjoying music your parents listened to.

:: listen to liquorice night

tender and soft, a trip through nostalgia, a refreshing blast of innocent pop. anxiety building. highly enjoyable and recommended. geoff o'connor is sly hats.



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posted by Unknown @ Monday, August 06, 2007 0 comments