Lapse

It's been awhile since we've updated this space and there's been good reason. We've kept our heads down lately and we've managed to get a bit of work done on our various projects.

Work continues on the next proper Halou record. The wide range of material we have to work on is encouraging and shows, even at this early stage, what a different sound this next album will have. We still get the odd 'trip-hop' tag applied to us from time to time and, frankly, I will be happy to see that go away once and for all. I think I speak for all of us when I say we'd like it if all seven of you would start calling us goth. What else are we going to do with all this eyeliner?

Very soon - certainly by the time we perform next on May 9th - I will have 'officially' released my very first instrumental music. I have assumed the name 'The Science Teacher' for the purpose and the short introductory CD will be called 'Paralellism'. There are three tracks contained within and I think they represent quite a different sound than I've put out there before. Dynamophone are showing incredible faith and a shocking lack of commercial acumen by agreeing to put this out.

Perhaps more relevant and interesting to readers of this blog is the upcoming Halou EP compilation entitled 'Skimming'. 'Skimming' is more than an albums worth of tracks we've put out on various EP's over the past few years. Why are we putting exclusive tracks and live material on it? Why not? In fact, this CD will actually contain the new track, 'Skimming' along with live versions of this and that.

RYAN

2007SOFAR

With the change of season I'm already anticipating another year passing me by. My movements feel slower these days and my ambition less satisfied. The one remedy is to constanty work, work on new things and I have been taking my medicine lately - overdosing, perhaps.

2007 will certainly bring the Rigil full-length album, which I am producing. The Abassi Bros album, which I have just recorded and shall mix. The Galactic record which Count is recording and mixing.

Also, we will be releasing a CD compiling the recent EPs. It is our hope to add some live/studio tracks to what already is a full disc. This should be available within the next couple of months. Too bad we already used the name 'Wholeness & Separation' - it would have been perfect for a disc combining the EPs. Damn.

24 Hour Party People

2 days of recording finished for the Abassi's album. Beatiful weather here in San Rafael to accompany a totally smooth session during which we recorded on about 15 songs. Hopefully, everything continues to go well with this and we get the album out in the early summer. Regardless of release date, it's going to be fantastic.

RYAN

In/Out

While spending the nights working on new music, days are spent with the music of others humming in the background. 2007 has been a great year for music so far, for sure, and there are plenty of older things I'm just discovering that make the days sound better. Here are a few:

The Mary Onettes - Lost EP
Late Night Tales - Nouvelle Vague
Goldmund - Corduroy Road
Fennesz - Endless Summer (Reissue)
The Good, The Bad & The Queen
The Earlies - The Enemey Chorus
Hammock - Raising Your Voice...

Also, to briefly address my other obsession, it's a really great time for wine. A lot of the '04 Napa Cabernets are hitting the shelves now and, damn, there's some really good stuff to drink. The '05 Pinots from the RRV are also just amazing and I'm drinking what I can of those. Strangely, one of my very favorite wines of the moment is a Zinfandel - the 2005 Gamba Estate, actually, which is made in the style of a Cabernet instead of the syrupy confections that a lot of winemakers favor. You can't knock it down, it just goes with everything and works on its own as a sort of cocktail alarmingly well. Sadly, very little made, which is often the case with such a beautiful creation. I love that.

RYAN