Merge Records

Radar Bros. will visit Nic Harcourt, host of Morning Becomes Eclectic, in the KCRW studios on Thursday, May 8th at 11:15 am PST / 2:15 pm EST.

Jim Putnam with his brand new band of bros will play 30 minutes of live music and chat with Nic. Tune in HERE! And don't miss Radar Bros. on tour HERE.

The Music Tapes announce new album, debut video, Athens Popfest appearance

It's been nine years since First Imaginary Symphony for Nomad, the first album from The Music Tapes, was released on Merge. The Music Tapes is the recording and performance collective formed by Julian Koster. Julian is perhaps best known as the purveyor of the haunting sounds of the singing saws in Neutral Milk Hotel.

In recent years, Julian has hidden himself away concocting new games, inventing new band members, such as the Orbiting Human Circus Tapdancing Machine, and hosting an occasional magical gathering for those lucky enough to stumble upon his secret invitations.

He has also been working on a story album entitled 2nd Imaginary Symphony for Cloudmaking, narrated by Brian Dewan and accompanied by bowed banjos, singing saws and sound effects. Portions of the story were aired in early 2003 on WNYC in New York, and were met with great enthusiasm by Music Tapes fans longing for new material.

Music Tapes for Clouds and Tornadoes spotlights Julian's songcraft and distinctive vocals, his almost religious devotion to the singing saw, and numerous contributions from other musicians in the Elephant 6 orbit. As on previous efforts, recording was done using an array of antique hardware, giving Music Tapes for Clouds and Tornadoes a timeless, texturally rich sonic palette. It is the sound of Julian's world poking through the curtain surrounding objective reality. In his words, "I just find the imaginary more real than the physical. Magic, the way we find things beautiful, the light behind eyes, kindness, and how we want to serve and protect the things we care about - these things seem like the real foundation of the world to me. I hope that the songs on this record can be more than just postcards from a world, but an invitation to it, to anyone at all who may find such a place comforting and nice."

Julian, Static the Television, the 7 Foot Tall Metronome and a few human friends will perform at Athens Popfest on August 15, 2008, at the 40 Watt Club. This event will involve much more than just a rock show, so make your travel plans now!

Listen: "Majesty" [mp3 stream] from Music Tapes for Clouds and Tornadoes

Watch: "Minister of Longitude" [video stream]

http://www.orbitinghumancircus.org

She & Him on NPR's Day to Day

She & Him will appear on NPR's mid-day news and culture show, Day to Day today, May 2 at Noon EST.

Listen: [mp3 stream]