Fennesz/Daniell/Buck - Knoxville documents the first meeting of Christian Fennesz, David Daniell and Tony Buck, recorded live in early 2009 at the Big Ears Festival in Knoxville, TN.

“These pieces are about stirring feelings in a very direct and tangible way ... Knoxville offers an opportunity to lose yourself in a rush of highly detailed and overpowering sound... there’s something life affirming and joyous about the noise.” - Pitchfork

Born from the mind of Dave Heumann (Arbouretum, Human Bell), Coil Sea came about as a collaborative experiment between some of Baltimore’s finest.

“A satisfyingly meandering four-tracker, “The Coil Sea” begins in the vicinity of where Arbouretum left off. “Abyssinia” is serpentine, torpid psych with Heumann providing frictional improvisations over a staunch Crazy Horse plod.” - Uncut

Imbogodom is a collaboration between Alexander Tucker and Daniel Beban, and Dusted Magazine says, "The Metallic Year seems to encapsulate the tenor of post-terror times, a thread of worry running through even the most serene landscapes.”

Tortoise 2.0

10,000 Chicagoans watched Tortoise at Millennium Park last night, as they opened the "Made In Chicago: World Class Jazz" series there with help from some of the city's finest.

Edward Wilkerson, Nicole Mitchell, Jim Baker, Fred Lonberg-Holm and Greg Ward helped Tortoise write, arrange and perform a new piece for the special performance.

You can see some photos from the event here, or check out some live video from the crowd.

Coming In The Fall

Lest you thought we'd been warshed away in one of those crazy summer rainstorms, here's a quick rundown of the mountain of awesome we have lined up for the rest of the 2010.

August 24 will bring three very special collaborative releases, Alexander Tucker and Daniel Beban as Imbogodom, Dave Heumann's new project Coil Sea, and a very special live performance from the Big Ears Festival by Fennesz, David Daniell and Tony Buck, appropriately titled Knoxville.

In September, Oval returns with another album of electronic recordings like none other, a new Sam Prekop album that sounds like none of his others, and a DVD of the Boredoms' 77 BOA DRUM, a performance like none other ever.

Later in the month, we have the latest from Virginia's legendary old-time stylists the Black Twig Pickers, and a very special Future Islands recording of stripped down "Undressed" performances. Then look out for a new solo recording by Dustin Wong, Koen Holtkamp's recordings with bees, some dark heaviness by Barn Owl and new White Hills. Stay tuned!

New EPs by Oval and Jack Rose with D. Charles Speer & The Helix

Out now in stores are two very special EPs by Oval and Jack Rose with D. Charles Speer & the Helix.

“Oh” is Markus Popp’s first Oval release in nearly a decade. Popp took the world of electronic music and turned it on its head with his mid-90's albums that later earned him credit as the creator of what was later dubbed the “glitch” or “clicks & cuts” style. The 25-minute, meticulously crafted "Oh" 12" is a wild ride, a vibrantly colorful music that truly feels alive.

The "Oh" 12" is available on white vinyl, and is already sold out from Thrill Jockey, so check your local shop!

Jack Rose with D. Charles Speer & the Helix recorded their new "Ragged & Right" EP after a 2008 tour through the heartland. The recording features the original lineup of D. Charles Speer & the Helix in peak form, and rare electric lap steel and Telecaster stylings from Rose. The songs bear a vibrancy and depth of feeling that is striking and unforgettable.

Eternal Tapesty and Barn Owl sign to Thrill Jockey

We're excited to announce that two of our favorite West Coasters have signed to Thrill Jockey: San Francisco's Barn Owl and Portland's Eternal Tapestry.

Hailing from San Francisco, Barn Owl formed in 2006 and Evan Caminiti and Jon Porras have been carving a path through the extended drone landscape ever since, including a recent album on Root Strata.

Eternal Tapestry was formed late 2005 by guitarists Dewey Mahood and Nick Bindeman in Portland, Oregon. The band began as an experimental improvisation/noise group, but have refined their sound over the past five years into heavy, classic psych rock awesomeness. The band plans to start recording for their Thrill Jockey debut this summer.

New releases by Daniel Higgs, Pontiak and High Places

Daniel Higgs' double album Say God, Pontiak's new rocker Living and High Places' "Can't Feel Born" EP are all out now in stores.

Daniel Higgs' desribes Say God as "a body of Gospel songs, as sung in praise, thanks, and wonder, sacrificed to the all-pervading Mystery," and with the recording help of Dave Sitek, it's even more epic than it sounds.

Pontiak give us another heaping helping of delicious sludge on Living, unpredictable, unforgiving, and utterly individual. Simply put, our favorite kind of rock. They're also on tour now with Arbouretum.

High Places' new "Can't Feel Born" 12" EP collects two exclusive tracks by the band with remixes of those tracks on some slick white vinyl.

Future Islands and Lazer Crystal albums out now

Two new albums from two new bands - what could be more exciting? Future Islands and Lazer Crystal are both making their Thrill Jockey LP debuts, and even better, both bands are on tour!

Future Islands uniquely bold and compelling take on synth pop that has absolutely captivated everyone who hears In Evening Air. The album is available on CD and digitally; Orange vinyl LP has already sold out in pre-order, so you'll have to check your local shop or catch the band on tour...

Future Islands have just kicked off a two-month North American tour that will keep them busy through mid-June. You can also check out this lovely music video for Future Islands's song "Tin Man" from the new album.

Lazer Crystal is a legendary Chicago live force, now releasing their first full-length album with MCMLXXX.

You can catch Lazer Crystal on tour now with Trans Am in Europe and the UK, and check out their video for from the new album.

Honest Strings: A Tribute To The Life And Work Of Jack Rose

Honest Strings: A Tribute To The Life And Work Of Jack Rose is available now on Fina-Music.com.

Honest Strings is a massive and exceptional collection of heartfelt contributions of music, words and art from forty artists who were friends with Jack and/or inspired by his prodigious talents. Due to the running time in excess of six and a half hours, this collection is only available as a download.

All proceeds from the sale of Honest Strings go directly to Jack Rose's estate.

Trans Am's new album Thing

Thing is the ninth studio album in Trans Am's powerful fifteen year career. The album is a mysterious and dynamic installment in their enduring legacy, and a testament to what has always been Trans Am’s most refreshing quality: their ability to never take themselves too seriously.

Trans Am’s last release was the Live double-LP What Day Is It Tonight? that quickly sold out last fall. Trans Am a-la 2010 is a band of veterans unafraid to contradict themselves, one that has grown stronger in its music and more confident in its identity

Trans Am is on tour now in the US, and will be touring in Europe with Lazer Crystal in May.

New albums by Tunng and Mi Ami, new EPs by Future Islands and Jason Urick

Our month full of new releases in April is like the very best kind of party, full of both old friends and new favorites - the return of Tunng, our first album with Mi Ami, another new batch from Jason Urick and the label debut from Future Islands. And later this month, we'll have the new album by Trans Am!

Tunng's new album, And Then We Saw Land, is the long-awaited followup to 2007's Good Arrows. The band that began as an inter-city experiment between two British musicians interested in the intersection of folk and electronics has taken the band far beyond the Derbyshire road.

Worldly influences, including a tour with Tinariwen, and new blood helped shape the direction of Tunng's new material while maintaining that bucolic oddness and modernist gleam that have always made their music so intriguing.

The new album by SF trio Mi Ami sounds like one of a band possessed, lean, fully formed and committed to their unique joyful noise. Steal Your Face is the followup to the quickly sold out "Cut Men" 12" from last fall, and is the album that finally captures Mi Ami's trademark ferocity. PopMatters calls Steal Your Face, "rightly cathartic, an extended primal scream into the night." Mi Ami is on tour in the US in April and in Europe through May and June.

Future Islands' "In The Fall" EP is their first release for Thrill Jockey, and the vinyl version comes on lovely blue vinyl. The EP features Katrina Ford of Celebration joining singer Sam Herring on the title track.

Future Islands' full length In Evening Air will be out May 4, and the band is touring constantly from now through June, all over the US.

Jason Urick's new EP Fussing & Fighting follows his solo album debut Husbands, and finds Urick pushing his music further forward with new experiments in rhythm and sonic space.

New High Places and Double Dagger

High Places new album High Places Vs. Mankind and Double Dagger's new EP Masks are out now and available in stores.

Both High Places and Double Dagger are touring in the US in March and April, and in Europe in April and May - check out the tour dates - including Double Dagger shows with Future Islands, and High Places shows with Future Islands and Javelin.

Pitchfork reviewed Masks and gave it an 8.1 rating and saying, "at their best, Double Dagger feel fresh and urgent," and Drowned In Sound called Masks, "an all-night drunken party in your best friend's basement that you really don't want to miss."

As for High Places, Boomkat says, "The arrival of this sophomore album is cause for no small amount of celebration... on Vs. Mankind, High Places are sounding like an increasingly impressive force."

Jack Rose and White Hills albums Out Now

Our newest releases this month are the Jack Rose album, Luck In The Valley, and White Hills' self-titled album.

Jack Rose was an incredible guitar player. His technical prowess and his ability to incorporate elements of raga and drone into the traditions of American blues and bluegrass were unmatched.

But more important was his unique ability to infuse his personality and humor into purely instrumental music, and what a personality it was. Luck In The Valley is Jack Rose at his best, surrounded by like-minded friends on a recording that is enriched by a sense of history but entirely new, vibrant and warm.

NPR's Weekend Edition featured Jack Rose on the occasion of the new album, including interviews with Jack, Byron Coley, Glenn Jones and Espers. You can listen to the story as well as an extended interview with Jack here.

White Hills is the trio of Dave W., Ego Sensation and Kid Millions. Their music is a deep-space blast of sonic fuzz and heavy psych. White Hills' self-titled album follows the Heads on Fire LP released Thrill Jockey last year and the "Dead" 12" released from last fall, both of which sold out immediately upon release.

"White Hills have shaken up the space-rock box, and shown that the patterns you can make therein are as infinite as the stars." - The Quietus

White Hills was recorded in the summer of 2009 at The Ocropolis, Oneida's studio located in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. All drums on the album were played by Kid Millions of Oneida. The album is loose and open, with a focus on capturing the emotion in the playing and stands apart from previous White Hills records in its intimacy, toughness and brutality.

White Hills will be touring Europe with Pontiak, with a US tour to follow

Jason Urick - Husbands - now available on CD and LP

Jason Urick released Husbands with Thrill Jockey in 2009 on LP. With the LP version nearly sold out, the album is now available as a limited edition CD.

This new CD edition is limited to 500 copies worldwide, contains an exclusive bonus track and is complete with a 12” x 24” fold-out art print of the original art work. Act now these wont be around for long!

The Chicago Underground Duo, Pit Er Pat and Robert AA Lowe & Rose Lazar

January new releases this month by The Chicago Underground Duo, Pit Er Pat and Robert AA Lowe & Rose Lazar.

The Chicago Underground Duo is Rob Mazurek and Chad Taylor, the nucleus of a collective that has now released ten albums and has been a driving force of jazz and avant-garde music in the city for more than a decade.

Boca Negra is the first Chicago Underground album to be recorded outside of Chicago, and captures broader palettes of sound and ranges of nuance, all reminders of the value of a change of scenery to keep things fresh. The New York Times calls it, "the rare jazz album that gets deep into the possibilities," and All About Jazz says "Boca Negra is a delight to get lost in."

Pit Er Pat have re-configured themselves as a duo, relocated themselves to Los Angeles and reimagined their sound to match. The result on The Flexible Entertainer is the band's most dance oriented, beat driven record to date, a completely new and distinct Pit Er Pat style perfect to warm your winter spirits.

"It's the most instantly rewarding Pit Er Pat album yet, and deserves to take the duo to a new level of recognition."- BBC

Robert AA Lowe & Rose Lazar's new album Eclipses picks up where their artbook and CD release Gyromancy left off, along the synth driven soundscapes very similar to those found on Lowe's recent solo release Fazo IV… LP (Rainbow Body), accompanied by a 12"x36" art print match.

The music on Eclipses was recorded at home by Lowe utilizing semi-modular and polyphonic analogue synthesizers hearkening back to the Kraut rock days of Cluster or NEU! Lowe and Lazar create cosmic layers of music and mind-altering landscapes, blessed out travels in sound and vision.