NPR’s Robin Hilton was rather effusive in his praise of the new Circulatory System album, and while I agree that it’s an interesting sounding album with some enjoyable songs, I was a little more tempered in my enthusiasm towards it on the whole.
It took nearly eight years to make, but Circulatory System’s breathtakingly inventive new album, Signal Morning, justifies the wait. The 17 new tracks, culled from hours of recorded material and meticulously pieced together in more than half a dozen different studios, are sonic wonders. Obliterated guitars rumble over strange, fluttering textures. Vintage synth lines and quirky found sounds tumble together amid psychedelic melodies and harmonies. It’s a mysterious and mesmerizing world of orchestrated chaos that offers new discoveries with each listen.
…
Signal Morning features all of the original members of The Olivia Tremor Control (Bill Doss, Eric Harris, John Fernandes and Peter Erchick), along with Circulatory System’s Charlie Johnston, Derek Almstead, Suzanne Allison and Nesey Gallons. Jeff Mangum and Julian Koster of Neutral Milk Hotel also appear on the disc. All of the contributing artists are part of the Elephant 6 collective, a sprawling group of likeminded musicians with a love for neo-psychedelic and experimental pop. [NPR.org]
The upcoming NPR.org “First Listens” schedule, Taken By Trees public listening party details, Yo La Tengo tour dates and album release party details, and all Circulatory System tour dates after the jump.
Taken By Trees Public Listening Party: September 3, 2009 at Stanton Public
Upcoming NPR.org First Listens:
September 8-15: Keep An Eye On The Sky by Big Star
September 15-22: Unmap by Volcano Choir
September 15-29: Psychedelic Blues by Poncho Sanchez
September 22-29: I And Love And You by The Avett Brothers
Circulatory System 2009 Tour Dates
Sep 07 2009 Nightlight Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Sep 08 2009 Kung Fu Necktie Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Sep 09 2009 Le Poisson Rouge New York, New York
Sep 10 2009 The Grind at Clark University Worcester, Massachusetts
Sep 12 2009 All Tomorrow’s Parties Festival NY Monticello, New York
Sep 14 2009 Cambridge YMCA Theatre Cambridge, Massachusetts
Sep 15 2009 Union Plaza at SUNY Geneseo Geneseo, New York
Sep 16 2009 Grog Shop Cleveland, Ohio
Sep 17 2009 The Pike Room at The Crofoot Pontiac, Michigan
Sep 18 2009 The Chopin Theatre Chicago, Illinois
Sep 19 2009 Al’s Bar Lexington, Kentucky
Sep 20 2009 The Pilot Light Knoxville, Tennessee
Yo La Tengo 2009 Tour Dates
Sep 15 Winooski, VT Higher Ground
Sep 16 Boston, MA Wilbur Theater
Sep 17 Washington, DC 9:30 Club
Sep 18 Durham, NC Carolina Theater
Sep 19 Atlanta, GA Variety Playhouse
Sep 21 Asheville, NC Orange Peel
Sep 22 Knoxville, TN Bijou Theater
Sep 23 Louisville, KY Headliners
Sep 24 Nelsonville, OH Stuart’s Opera House
Sep 25 New York, NY Roseland (NYC)
Oct 02 Montreal, QC Le National
Oct 03 Toronto, ON Opera House
Oct 05 Cleveland, OH Beachland Tavern
Oct 06 Chicago, IL The Vic
Oct 07 Minneapolis, MN First Avenue
Oct 09 Omaha, NE Slowdown
Oct 10 Denver, CO Ogden
Oct 11 Solano Beach, CA Belly Up Tavern
Oct 12 Salt Lake City, UT Urban Lounge
Oct 14 Phoenix, AZ Marquee Theater
Oct 15 Los Angeles, CA Avalon
Oct 16 San Diego, CA Soma
Oct 17 Santa Cruz, CA Rio Theater
Oct 18 San Francisco, CA 100% Equal Festival
Oct 20 Portland, OR Crystal Ballroom
Oct 21 Vancouver, BC Commodore Ballroom
Oct 22 Seattle, WA Showbox
