CONTRAPHONIC

Martin Bisi 'Son of A Gun'

Martin Bisi, Contraphonic's resident "performer, producer, Cultural Antagonist," releases Son Of A Gun (5 song EP) - a digital-only follow up to his Sirens Of The Apocalypse (CD) from earlier this year. On Son Of A Gun, Bisi brings in musicians from his extended revolving line-up at live shows - long time collaborator Bill Laswell, and members of The Dresden Dolls, Fiery Furnaces, Balkan Beat Box, and World Inferno Friendship Society.

Son Of A Gun is digitally available everywhere now, and you can get yours by simply clicking here at the ContraStore. In addition, Bisi and crew will be heading out on a series of dates for their Summer Tour. If you live in one of the lovely locales they'll hit, make sure to mark your calendars today! [posted MON. 06/08/09]

Pronto unveils exclusive track "Buy Your Blues"; gears up for West Coast shows

In preparation of their smattering of shows on the West Coast, Pronto is happy to unveil an exclusive track from the All is Golden sessions entitled "Buy Your Blues." Available as a FREE download via the Contraphonic site, "Buy Your Blues" is our spring gift to you. Check out the track now, as well as all the tracks on the highly lauded All is Golden, available now in the ContraStore and at physical and digital outlets everywhere. If you live in the Greater Los Angeles area, be sure to check out Pronto at their dates May 14-16 [posted TUE. 05/05/09]

Pillars & Tongues to support Red Red Meat reunion; tour with Bonnie 'Prince' Billy

The hard working avant-trio Pillars & Tongues continue to tour in support of last fall's Protection. After an extended domestic tour and nearly 1-1/2 months overseas, the group will be supporting pre-Califone indie heroes Red Red Meat at RRM's reunion show at Chicago's Empty Bottle. Almost immediately thereafter, the group will leave to support freak-folk O.G. Bonnie "Prince" Billy on the Canadian/West Coast leg of his tour and continue on their own down the Pacific Coast. Check out their artist page for all the tour dates, be sure to catch their recent Daytrotter session in case you missed it, and partake in the unfolding musical discussion of Protection by securing yours now. [posted TUE. 03/10/09]

Calibrated Crematorium 'What Makes Star Salesmen Tick' Available Now

Around this time last year, Contraphonic quietly unearthed the first release from Calibrated Crematorium, the lo-fi late night side project of Kevin Richard and Seth Bohn of Chicago's Mannequin Men. We enjoyed doing it so much then, we're doing it again now. On their new What Makes Star Salesmen Tick (featuring the Geneva EP)," Calibrated Crematorium still sound and feel a bit like taking a look inside the Folk Implosion and seeing a delirious Robin Gibb sharing a root beer float with Joe Walsh. Or at least Gary Numan running tape between Jad Fair and The Swell Maps. In grand tradition, Contraphonic is proud to release the latest Calibrated Crematorium record as a digital download release with limited edition cassettes made to order. We celebrate the occasion with a record release show this Thursday evening at Chicago's Empty Bottle, where they will share the stage with Martin Bisi. [posted TUE. 02/24/09]

Martin Bisi on Tour

Martin Bisi, the producer/engineer of Sonic Youth, Swans, Bill Laswell, John Zorn, Foetus, Herbie Hancock, Afrika Bambaata, The Dresden Dolls, Serena Maneesh and many more, returns to the realm of his personal recordings with Sirens Of The Apocalypse - 12 songs that emanated from his legendary recording lair in Brooklyn over the last seven years.

Bisi has taken to the road in support of the recently released Sirens, which has been declared as a "a mindfuck of a solo disc that melds bizarro avant-rock, spoken word fragments...with a film noir/conceptual tapestry" (Skyscraper) that "has the loose, organic barroom vibe of early Tom Waits and the New York storytelling feel of Lou Reed circa Street Hassle." (The Big Takeover) Sirens Of The Apocalypse's songs are vignettes of love, obsession and the jungle of gender interactions. The production, or anti-production, is reminiscent of Bisi's chaotic but beautiful early Sonic Youth recordings. A record of varied inflections, Sirens' tracks run the gamut from dark cabaret to shoegaze to full-blown rock affairs. It is a production worth hearing, seeing and playing repeatedly.

Check out his tour dates to see when to catch him and click on over to the ContraStore to purchase Sirens... now. [posted TUE. 02/24/09]

Crush(ed) Kill(ed) Destroy(ed)

We say hello and goodbye this week to the always lovely Crush Kill Destroy. The Chicago quartet's The World's Largest Area is available now through the ContraStore as a digital-only full length release, and will soon be available all across the digital spectrum. We say hello to that record as a powerful testament to their unique brand of jazz-inflected gloss rock. Sadly, we say goodbye to the group upon its release. For those in Chicago, come celebrate with us tonight at the Empty Bottle, as the group plays what is most likely its final show. [posted TUE. 02/10/09]

Special Xmas Gift from oRSo

A special Christmas release comes this year in the form of oRSo's Is Xmas Tomorrow?, available digitally now for $4.99 in the ContraStore. Is Xmas Tomorrow? is six beautiful songs that evoke all of the gilded Holiday themes-- family, humor, fragility, magic-- wrapped in oRSo's deconstructed folkways style. A new Holiday classic to down the egg nog to. [posted TUE. 12/09/08]

oRSo's "Ask Your Neighbor" officialy out today

Buy your copy of oRSo's Ask Your Neighbor now at your local shop of choice or direct at the ContraStore. oRSo is the project of ex-rex member and oft-time HiM and Loftus contributor Phil Spirito. After a series of releases for Perishable Records, oRSo has teamed up with Contraphonic in this year of their decennial celebration. With contributions from members of Icy Demons, Califone, Coat, and The Zincs, among others, Ask Your Neighbor is the perfect soundtrack for the approaching autumn. For those in Chicago, come see them celebrate the release of Ask Your Neighbor at the Empty Bottle on Friday, September 19th on a bill with Jesse Sykes and Marissa Nadler. [posted TUES. 09/09/08]

Pillars & Tongues' "Protection" Available at ContraStore NOW; Start to Travel the World

Officially available October 14th, Contraphonic is eager to announce that Protection, the new full-length release from avant-trio Pillars & Tongues, is available now in the ContraStore. Protection employs a language peppered with considerable representations of visceral forms of distinctly American art and musics: there is gospel and there is blues, there is folk, and there are even hints of Tonalism. (see the paintings of Albert Pinkham Ryder.)

Our partnership with Pillars & Tongues began with their contribution to the Chicago Sound Series, taking form in Little Hell Vol. II. Our Lady of the Underpass: An Emergent Grotto. Your partnership with them can begin at any of the various points on the map at which they will be landing this fall. Leaving this week on a tour that will take them into nearly every corner of the U.S., Pillars & Tongues will embark to Europe shortly thereafter. Get all the details and make your plans by checking out their tour page here. [posted TUES. 09/02/08]

Loose Thread joins Us

Contraphonic is excited to announce that we have teamed up with our friends at Chicago label Loose Thread to act as their exclusive distributor in North America. Home to eclectic artists such as drone-rockers Zelienople, Bossa Nova-inflected popsmiths Morning Recordings, and more, Loose Thread is a welcome addition indeed to the Contraphonic family. Head on over to their recently redesigned site or direct to the ContraStore and load-up on your new faves. [posted TUES. 09/02/08]

New Shirt, New Records ... all for Sale Now.

Contraphonic is breaking out all the back-to-school gear with a bevy of items available now in the ContraStore.

Our new Little Hell t-shirts come courtesy of Chicago artist Diane Christiansen and are available in Women's sizes S-L and Men's M-XL. These are limited edition American Apparel-printed shirts meant to coincide with the release of Little Hell Vol. I: Apathy of a Cow: Chicago's Little Hell by Frank Rosaly, all a part of our Chicago Sound Series. Hear what NPR had to say about Little Hell here. [posted TUES. 08/12/08]

Contraphonic Signs, Welcomes, Releases Coat

COAT is the musical project of Chicagoan Libby Reed (Fruit Bats, oRSo, Bevel). Using rich vocal harmonies and an eclectic combination of instruments (cello, air organ, keyboards, electric guitar), Reed stitches together the small unnoticeable sentiments of life into one large sonic quilt. Contraphonic is happy to welcome the addition of Coat to its roster with the release of Winter in the Bubble Garden, a digital-only full-length release.

Winters' songs are unconventional but easily digested, a mesh of nerves that become more and more cohesive with each spin. These are pop songs at their core, but with pulsing rhythms and layers of vocals that at once reveal her past influences and point towards new compositional styles from all corners of the world. It's a combination that produces new song shapes and sizes that are uniquely Reed's.

Her remarkable band is comprised of Griffin Rodriguez on bass (Icy Demons, Bablicon), Phil Spirito on tenor guitar & piano (oRSo, rex) and Jason Toth on drums (The Zincs, Fruit Bats). Get yours in the ContraStore now. [posted TUES. 07/15/08]

Little Hell Vol. II Out Now, Courtesy of new Contraphonic Signee Pillars & Tongues

The second volume of Little Hell, part of the Contraphonic Chicago Sound Series, comes courtesy of local Chicago trio Pillars & Tongues. Pillars & Tongues' contribution to the Little Hell Series is their musical take on the "vision" of the Virgin Mother appearing on the walls of the Fullerton Ave Underpass, located off of one of the busiest commercial highways in Chicago, and the nation.

Their musical interpretation of how this uniquely cultural and religious phenomenon has ingrained itself into Chicago's history comes to fruition in the form of LITTLE HELL VOL 2. OUR LADY OF THE UNDERPASS: AN EMERGENT GROTTO, available for purchase now in the ContraStore. Each purchase comes with a free .pdf booklet resplendent with essay and photos, and of course, includes the brand new Pillars & Tongues' composition.

In addition to their Little Hell appearance, Contraphonic is excited to announce that Pillars & Tongues will be releasing a full-length entitled Protection, on Contraphonic later this fall. Pillars & Tongues will flesh out their cinematic, otherworldly sound--think Roy Harris' orchestras filtered through the lens of psychedelia-tinged folk and executed with a Pharaoh Sanders aesthetic, but with nary a saxophone in sight-- with extensive US and European tours to coincide with the release of Protection. Keep glued to the Contraphonic site for more info to come, and for more on Pillars & Tongues, Little Hell, the Contraphonic Sound Series and how we all collide, check out the recent radio piece that aired on Chicago Public Radio. [posted TUES. 06/17/08]

oRSo celebrates with Contraphonic

Contraphonic eagerly welcomes oRSo to its roster, a band whose presence has hung around Contra HQ for some time. The project of ex-rex member and oft-time HIM & Loftus contributor Phil Spirito, oRSo has teamed up with Contraphonic in this year of their decatennial celebration. After a series of releases for Perishable Records, multiple national and Italian tours alongside mates such as Califone, oRSo joins Contraphonic in anticipation for their soon-to-be-released Ask Your Neighbor. While finishing touches are being placed on the upcoming full-length, Contraphonic and oRSo have mined the Spirito/Binto Family archives and will be releasing a series of digital-only lps highlighting some of the lost works of oRSo. In honor of our oRSo unveiling, Contraphonic is proud to issue two digital-only lps, Alterations One and Alterations Two, available now in the ContraStore, and in iTunes or your preferred digital-outlet soon. And stay tuned for more information on upcoming oRSo releases. [posted TUES. 05/13/08]

Joshua Marcus' Reverse the Charges Officially Out NOW

Contraphonic and Philadephia's High Two Recordings have paired up to release Philadelphia folk balladeer Joshua Marcus' latest release, Reverse the Charges. The follow-up release to last year's lauded make/believe, Reverse the Charges is a record steeped in Appalachian tradition and pre-AAA folk innovation, flush with lilting banjos, heartbreaking harmonies, sly lyrical phrasing, and a multitude of guests brought into the mix by Marcus' traveling recording process. Reverse the Charges is already lighting up the blogosphere with folks taking note of Marcus' enhanced musical palette and reach. Joshua Marcus is also just back from his initial tour for Reverse the Charges, so get in touch with him now to request him to bring his banjo to your town. In the meantime, bring a bit of him there right now, Reverse the Charges is now available everywhere fine records are sold, as well as in the ContraStore and through iTunes. Take a listen to Joshua in ContraRadio right now as well. [posted TUES. 05/13/08]

CHICAGO SOUND SERIES' LITTLE HELL LAUNCHES WITH FRANK ROSALY

Contraphonic is pleased to announce the launch of Little Hell - phase two of our Chicago Sound Series. Little Hell, the companion component to the Sound Series' "A Lot You Got to Holler" section, brings together Chicago-based musicians and artists to create works that focus on a particular place, event, neighborhood, or moment across Chicago's broad history. The end result is a portrait of Chicago through the medium of sound.

For the first Little Hell release, Contraphonic presents Apathy of a Cow: Chicago's Little Hell: a musical meditation on the historic Little Hell neighborhood by Chicago-based drummer and composer Frank Rosaly. A stalwart on the Chicago Free Music and Free Jazz scenes, Rosaly has performed with the likes of Peter Brotzmann, Ken Vandermark, Jeff Parker, Von Freeman, Tobin Summerfield, Mantana Roberts, Ingebrigt Haker Flaten, and a multitude of who's who of the modern avant-music scene.

For Apathy of a Cow, Rosaly presents electroacoustic sounds and manipulated field recordings that evoke the simmering intensity of what was once known as Little Hell - Chicago's roughest late 19th-early 20th century tenement. Available as a digital-only release, and for sale now in the ContraStore (iTunes coming soon), Apathy of a Cow comes with a free downloadable booklet with an accompanying history of the neighborhood and exclusive photos. Read, listen and learn why this neighborhood was feared as the "the plague spot of North Division." [posted TUES. 04/29/08]

NEVER ENOUGH HOPE, ROCKET NUMBER NINE ZOOM ZOOM UP AVAILABLE ON CONTRAPHONIC SITE NOW

Coming off a weekend of highly successful Chicago shows, Chicago improviser/composer Tobin Summerfield's 20-piece ensemble, Never Enough Hope, is receiving accolades from all corners of the music world for The Gift Economy. Noted as a "truly unorthodox and fascinating album" (WNUR Radio Jazz Pick of the Week) and pinpointed as a "...jazz-centric collection of players into a concise and magnificently rude rock band" (Time Out Chicago), The Gift Economy, with its scores of saxophones, vibraphones, and violins, mingling with guitar, bass, trumpets, and dual drum kits, is indeed "... an impressive feat, a kind of super-magnified orchestration of the terse vocabulary of no-wave..." (Peter Margasak, Chicago Reader)

Take a peek by listening to "Grant Park" at ContraRadio and then head to the ContraStore to pick up your copy today.

Rocket Number Nine Zoom Zoom Up are the first artist south of the Mason-Dixon line Contraphonic is lucky enough to be teaming up with. The South Carolina, Sun Ra-inspired trio, make their debut with a self-titled full length limited edition vinyl pressing that is also available as a digital download. With the help of Chicago producer John McEntire (Tortoise, Stereolab, The Sea and Cake, Chicago Underground) fleshing out the production, the record stands as a progressive, funk-tinged, experimental-leaning journey set atop mountains of melody and billowing rhythms.

Open your ears to "Mello" and get the limited edition vinyl of Rocket Number Nine Zoom Zoom Up now. [posted TUES. 03/11/08]

ENTER THE CREMATORIUM AVAILABLE NOW

Contraphonic is ecstatic to make available through its new direct digital-download service the first official release from those broken late-night crooners, Calibrated Crematorium. Enter the Crematorium, the first in a series of releases for Contraphonic from the 4-track sister side project of the Mannequin Men, is an 11-song volume of lo-fi pop musings, imbued with the impetuousness of stoned wonder. Get your download (or download with ltd. edition homemade cassette!) now, right here at the ContraStore, before the release is available on iTunes or any of those other digital big-boxes.

As well, if you're in Chicagoland, come and celebrate this release with us at the Calibrated Crematorium release party this Thursday, 2/28 in Chicago @ Black Beetle. [posted TUES. 02/26/08]

Pro.Con Records Joins the Fray

Contraphonic has teamed up with Oakland-based Pro.Con Records --short for Prophecy Connection-- to distribute select releases from their catalog. Starting today, certain Pro.Con titles will be available online via iTunes, eMusic, (plug in your preferred digital purveyor here), as well as the physical goods over in the ContraStore. Take a gander at the Pro.Con offerings from Chicago based Sweet Dude, as well as The Light Microphone (yes, an actual light microphone!) series. Also, be sure to download the latest mp3 and video from Pro.Con artist Mardu, right here on the site. [posted TUES. 01/22/08]

The Lesser Birds of Paradise's SPACE BETWEEN VINYL AVAILABLE EVERYWHERE

Available in stores today and in the ContraStore now, the limited edition VINYL version of The Lesser Birds of Paradise's Space Between is letting folks be thankful a bit early this season. Preserving the "small psych-folk gem" (All Music) into grooves and wax, the limited edition Space Between will come equipped with a free mp3 download of the record as well, and is being pressed in an extremely limited edition. A perfect pre-Holiday treat from Chicago's favorite folk bullshitters... [posted TUES. 11/06/07]

Upcoming Shows

07.06.09 Pillars & Tongues @ Schubas. Chicago, IL

07.08.09 The Lesser Birds of Paradise @ Empty Bottle. Chicago, IL

07.10.09 Frigates @ Town Hall Pub. Chicago, IL

07.14.09 BEVEL @ The Whistler. Chicago, IL

07.18.09 Martin Bisi @ The Hexagon. Baltimore, MD

07.20.09 Martin Bisi @ Local 506. Chapel Hill, NC

07.21.09 Coat @ The Whistler. Chicago, IL

07.21.09 Martin Bisi @ Glassworks (rooftop). Louisville, KY

07.22.09 Martin Bisi @ Garfield Artworks. Pittsburgh, PA

07.27.09 Martin Bisi @ The Delancey. New York, NY

07.28.09 oRSo @ The Whistler. Chicago, IL