Archive for the ‘ALBUM OF THE WEEK’ Category

Michael Chapman “Fully Qualified Survivor” NOW AVAILABLE!

Tuesday, February 22nd, 2011

Marking our 60th release on Light In The Attic, we give you the 1970 Brittish psych/folk/rock classic–Michael Chapman’s Fully Qualified Survivor! This reissue marks the first time Fully Qualified Survivor has ever appeared on CD in the US and the first vinyl reissue in decades. And speaking of the vinyl and CD, they both get the usual deluxe treatment. Housed in a stunning silver foil digipak, the CD also includes a booklet with archival photos and liner notes by Mick Hougton (Uncut). The vinyl got plenty of love too–sporting a deluxe gatefold old school “tip-on” sleeve holding a delicious slab of 180 gram vinyl and including a booklet with the same liner notes and photos as the CD.

So, who is this guitar slinger??? Read on…

The guitar and voice of Michael Chapman first became known on the British Folk Circuit in 1967. Playing a blend of atmospheric and autobiographical material, he established a reputation for intensity and innovation. Signed to EMI’s Harvest label he recorded a quartet of classic albums. LPs like Rainmaker and Wrecked Again defined the melancholic observer role Michael was to make his own, mixing intricate guitar instrumentals with a full band sound.

Although not as well known as his peers (Roy Harper, John Marytn, and Bert Jansch), the name Michael Chapman is an important one in the linage of English folk rock guitarists and singer/songwriters of the late 60’s/early 70’s. For those unfamiliar with Chapman’s work, Roy Harper might be his closest musical cousin (and both artists were signed to EMI’s seminal stoner record label Harvest – also home to Kevin Ayers and Syd Barrett). What makes Fully Qualified Survivor such a special album (besides being a vehicle for a young, pre-David Bowie Mick Ronson’s mind-blowing guitar heroics) are the layers of beautiful acoustic guitars, deranged vocals, floating conga drums, and the cello of one Paul Buckmaster, all floating in a slightly druggy haze.

For audio samples and to order Michael Chapman Fully Qualified Survivor LITA 060 (CD | LP) click HERE!

****Make sure to tune in this week for info on some Fully Qualified Survivor release party action!!!****

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RODRIGUEZ PLAYS EUROPE. BUY YOUR TICKETS NOW!

Sunday, November 22nd, 2009

The man, the plan, Sixto Rodriguez is yet again, jumping across the pond to the mighty European Union for a series of shows.  The last time Rodriguez brought his psych folk to the land across the sea, the reviews were rave (take it from Matt Sullivan, he was THERE), and this time will be no different.  Tickets are on sale now and we, never one to pressure, are demanding you, the citizens of Europe to remove your heads from the sand and support the Gem of Detroit, Sixto Rodriguez.

Below, the tour dates:

DEC 5 – Transmusicales de Rennes Festival (Hall 03) – Rennes, France

DEC 7 – Deaf Institute – Manchester, UK

DEC 8 – Thekla – Bristol, UK

DEC 9 – Union Chapel – London, UK

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ALBUM OF THE WEEK: Cryptacize – Dig That Treasure

Thursday, June 12th, 2008

We really wish we had some sort of kitschy-cool descriptor for what exactly Asthmatic Kitty’s Cryptacize sounds like … but we don’t. They exist somewhere between afro-beat, 1940′s musicals, 80′s punk rock and the dusty paths of forgotten country westerns. It’s slow and simmering and a downright joy to listen to. We were so surprised, amazed, and honestly, baffled by how much we enjoyed this all-to brief album, we just had to figure out what went in to. Chris, Nedelle and Michael were delightful enough to sit down with us and answer a few of our prying questions.

Light In The Attic: Just to get it out of the way, what exactly does the name “Cryptacize” refer to? I was imagining, er, darker music and to say the least was a little surprised.

Chris: Nedelle made up the word. It means whatever you want it to mean. Someone told us it gave them a mental picture of zombies doing aerobics…Also the word ‘cryptacize’ is a noun as our band title, but is a verb in the imperative form – we command you the listener to ‘cryptacize’ with us!

Nedelle: It’s our magic word, and a magic word can be anything- like when the magician in Sesame Street says “a la peanut butter sandwiches!” before performing a trick. His tricks never work, but that’s another story…

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ALBUM OF THE WEEK: The Black Ghosts S/T

Thursday, June 5th, 2008

Hello and welcome to the first of, hopefully, many Album of the Week columns here at Light In The Attic. Each week we’ll showcase a new album getting bandied about the office. We’ll “sit down” with an assortment of bands and pick their brains on the inspirations, the ideas, the concept, and the processes that went in to these pieces of work. We hope you enjoy.

We’re starting with a favorite band of Techmonkey Noah: The Black Ghosts. Theo Keating (The Wiseguys) and Simon Lord (Simian) came together in 2006 to form The Black Ghosts. After releasing a series of EPs over the course of the last few years, the two are set to release The Black Ghosts on July 8th. We sat down to find out their thoughts on the current state of electronica, the return to 8-bit, and just what goes in to making an album this enjoyable.

Light In The Attic: In making this album both of you guys are coming from completely different bands, how did this affect the sound of the record? What did you draw from Simian and The Wiseguys (and conversely, what did you leave behind) in the creation of this album?

Simon: It meant we could combine the best bits of what we were doing. I drew on my past of writing songs and lyrics and mixing them with electronic sounds.

Theo: It’s hard to say, as things like that are never conscious – that’s the stuff other people notice and comment on. So I’m sure this album does have echoes of The Wiseguys in some songs, and my Touch’e stuff in others. It’s all just part of one’s “style” or whatever. It all gets filed away in the brain somewhere – the good stuff you learn gets distilled into new projects, and you bin the stuff that didn’t work.

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