Incredible new record from Shearwater 2010 - Page 2

DJ WILBUR · 02-09-2010, 11:18 AM

actually you can also download a FLAC file of one of the new songs from Matador

http://www.matadorrecords.com/matabl...er-tour-dates/

first time I ever heard of a lossless advance track being available from a label...

DJ WILBUR · 02-09-2010, 11:20 AM

an image from this book being offered with the flac download...

DJ WILBUR · 02-10-2010, 01:57 PM

http://drownedinsound.com/releases/1...eviews/4139048

If you’ve visited Shearwater’s website over the last couple of months, you’ll have been greeted by an arresting, scratchily-filmed series of images – of mist over mountains, damaged flags and roiling sea-waters; of travel journals and captains’ logs, bloodied bird carcasses and satellite grabs. It’s all part of the story.

See, The Golden Archipelago is Shearwater’s most ‘visual’ project yet. While their records have always been packaged in beautiful cases illustrated by watercolours or drawings of various species (frontman Jonathan Meiburg is a well-documented bird-watcher and voyager), for this album they went the extra mile. Meiburg and designer Mark Ohe created several ‘Golden Dossiers’, visual guides to the music comprised of images and manuscripts collected by the singer on his travels to various islands and other remote locations. Each dossier is an eerie scrapbook of snatched history, of black and white photos, of hastily-written diaries and long-forgotten legends.

But, while such specific foregrounding definitely encourages you to identify these kinds of themes while listening to The Golden Archipelago, it’s not like you wouldn’t have come to similar conclusions by yourself. As with all of Shearwater’s work, this album is soaked in maritime imagery, populated by lonely explorers and watery vistas. This stripped, salt-bleached and gladly uncivilised realm is and has always been Meiburg’s world; and it’s a world that is there for any one of us to find if only we would walk – or sail – until there were no buildings left.

The Golden Archipelago is more a return to the reverent, quiet majesty of Palo Santo (2006) than a continuation of Rook (2008)’s rather grandiose manifesto – and it is a tone that suits this record’s subject matter far better than Rook’s tendency toward the over-dramatic ever could have done. It is more fluid, more subtle; as such, it pulls you in gradually, irresistibly, its icy black under-current taking hold when you least expect it.

Drummer Thor Harris’ percussion is the album’s real axis; unguent, it slip-slides through ‘God Made Me’ and ‘Castaways’ as though moving through a thick gel, while for ‘Landscape at Speed’ it is uproarious, double-deckered and full of fury. Wet-sounding and thickly slick, Harris’ tones decide each song’s direction – the pianos, injured guitars and Meiburg’s vocals all follow its lead.

Meiburg’s words are often difficult to decipher because of his tremulous delivery – but this is frequently the reason his voice is so powerful, able to sound as animal as it can human. And, as we know well by now, that liquid hoot of his can all too suddenly shapeshift into an unchained holler – and ‘Corridors’, ‘Black Eyes’ and ‘Uniforms’ are prime examples, all regal and nasty.

As Meiburg’s voice buffers the bruising swell of ‘Black Eyes’, it is as though it is butting and bouncing off the waves itself, defiant as the prow of a boat racing toward the ragged cliff walls. His saltwater gargle is an angry, desperate string of vowels, and its meaning is conveyed through its urgency and intent rather than through the words themselves. The words, instead, are lost in the sea froth and twisted by the cavernous acoustics of uncharted land.

It is difficult to write music that addresses either the delicate balance or the ever-more-rapid destruction of the planet without over-egging it – without the finished piece coming off as trite and/or the writer coming off as a wannabe eco-champion who’s just in it for their own ego. But The Golden Archipelago is a record that explores this turbulent and terrible time in the life-cycle of our earth without preaching, without getting pious. It makes its statement simply by describing the things we stand to lose, their power and yet their precariousness.

And that is surely one of music’s greatest abilities, when it is done well – rather than over-complicating and abstracting our surrounds, it can simply help us see what already exists as though we are looking, for the first time, with clear sight. This is one of those records; and, hopefully, Meiburg’s respect for and evocation of a wild, untamed and ancient environment that we – sitting at our desks and our screens – hardly ever see will affect some of you as deeply as it always does me.

Clarkophile · 02-09-2010, 12:52 PM

I doubt very much I'll be able to afford the deluxe version of this, but I'll definitely pick up the reg. CD.

DJ WILBUR · 02-09-2010, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clarkophile

I doubt very much I'll be able to afford the deluxe version of this, but I'll definitely pick up the reg. CD.

its not an inflated price actually. the first batch, I've read the first 5k and 10k, not sure which quantity is accurate will have this book.

I think the "deluxe" word is a misleading tag here...

I preordered the cd from Matador for about $11 plus shipping...if you pre-order one you should get the book.

Clarkophile · 02-10-2010, 04:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJ WILBUR

its not an inflated price actually. the first batch, I've read the first 5k and 10k, not sure which quantity is accurate will have this book.

I think the "deluxe" word is a misleading tag here...

I preordered the cd from Matador for about $11 plus shipping...if you pre-order one you should get the book.

Good to know. Thanks.

Cyaneyes · 02-10-2010, 05:00 AM

My favorite band. Thanks for posting the writeups.

Pricewise, the LP is 15, the CD is 10. The Golden Dossier could have been ordered for a donation as little as $30. Too late now, unfortunately.

DJ WILBUR · 02-10-2010, 05:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cyaneyes

My favorite band. Thanks for posting the writeups.

Pricewise, the LP is 15, the CD is 10. The Golden Dossier could have been ordered for a donation as little as $30. Too late now, unfortunately.

not sure its too late, both the Matador site and theirs seems to imply some details coming soon on that item. my guess is a minimum printing run is bigger than the number of donations they received so some might be available to purchase.

also most of this dossier it is included in the initial run of cd's and also if you pre-order the vinyl from Matador you'll get the 50 page version coming with the CD package as opposed to this 73 page complete one that has also been created.

DJ WILBUR · 02-10-2010, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cyaneyes

My favorite band. Thanks for posting the writeups.

Pricewise, the LP is 15, the CD is 10. The Golden Dossier could have been ordered for a donation as little as $30. Too late now, unfortunately.

you are right about The Golden Dossier book...IT IS TOO LATE to order one...a shame...still the 50 page version will be a nice bonus in this day and age of dwindling cd sales, nice to see a company like Matador doing that for the first cd edition.

pre-ordered vinyl from Matador also gets you a copy of the cd 50 page version of the Dossier book...

Solaris · 02-09-2010, 08:32 PM

Gorgeous record, I've got the headphones on listening to the NPR stream now. The vocal on Corridors reminds me of late 70s Peter Gabriel, and in fact I hear hints of Gabriel here and there in the melodies elsewhere. The LP is tempting, but with the two bonus tracks I'm wondering what the running time of this sucker will be.

DJ WILBUR · 02-10-2010, 04:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Solaris

Gorgeous record, I've got the headphones on listening to the NPR stream now. The vocal on Corridors reminds me of late 70s Peter Gabriel, and in fact I hear hints of Gabriel here and there in the melodies elsewhere. The LP is tempting, but with the two bonus tracks I'm wondering what the running time of this sucker will be.

the first post copied from NPR states the record is 38 minutes, most of the "vinyl only" bonus cuts on their earlier albums are in the 2 minute mark. should be fine...

ralphb · 02-10-2010, 05:34 AM

Just listening to this now on NPR (with good headphones at work). Wow. Never heard them before but this is BIG music. I hear the Kate Bush influence, but there's so much going on here. A bit of Talk Talk, This Heat, the dramatic push of Echo and the Bunnymen, some Scott Walker. But these guys just have reach, they sound huge and have created their own sonic landscape. It sounds alien and fearless. Pretty overwhelming, pretty great.

Anyone attuned to this kind of stuff should check out Heartland by Owen Pallett (aka Final Fantasy). Very orchestrated, dramatic, again with that sense of fearlessness and reach that seems to be so lacking in a lot of todays artists.

DJ WILBUR · 02-10-2010, 07:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ralphb

J

Anyone attuned to this kind of stuff should check out Heartland by Owen Pallett (aka Final Fantasy). Very orchestrated, dramatic, again with that sense of fearlessness and reach that seems to be so lacking in a lot of todays artists.

so funny you mentioned this record as my copy arrived yesterday and thought "i wonder if anyone in here knows of him". very cool record, somewhat like an Andrew Bird. Certainly stepping up to the plate of creativity unlike so many artists currently...

the new Shearwater and the Owen Pallett, the new Peter Gabriel, Joanna Newsom...they are all already strong contenders for records of 2010 for me.

pdxrunner · 02-10-2010, 07:34 AM

Thanks for the NPR link! I've been hoping that Shearwater would put out a new album soon. I bought Rook (LP) in late '08 on kind of a whim after listening to an online 30 second preview. Loved it! went back and found a copy of the expanded edition of Palo Santo (also LP). I think Rook was the first new LP I've bought since the mid '80s.

--Ken

DJ WILBUR · 02-10-2010, 08:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pdxrunner

Thanks for the NPR link! I've been hoping that Shearwater would put out a new album soon. I bought Rook (LP) in late '08 on kind of a whim after listening to an online 30 second preview. Loved it! went back and found a copy of the expanded edition of Palo Santo (also LP). I think Rook was the first new LP I've bought since the mid '80s.

--Ken

Wow, that is quite a statement!

jpmosu · 02-10-2010, 08:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ralphb

Anyone attuned to this kind of stuff should check out Heartland by Owen Pallett (aka Final Fantasy). Very orchestrated, dramatic, again with that sense of fearlessness and reach that seems to be so lacking in a lot of todays artists.

A friend just recommended that I check out the Owen Pallett record. Actually, this is the same friend who first recommended I check out Okkervil River and Shearwater.

Guess I better take his advice.

DJ WILBUR · 02-10-2010, 09:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jpmosu

A friend just recommended that I check out the Owen Pallett record. Actually, this is the same friend who first recommended I check out Okkervil River and Shearwater.

Guess I better take his advice.

the Owen Pallett....think Sufjan meets Andrew Bird...quite a creative record.

bord · 02-10-2010, 02:23 PM

Holding off until the vinyl arrives. One of my favorite bands - thanks for starting the thread.

Mondie · 02-10-2010, 05:00 PM

Wow, never heard of them but glad you started this thread

You can listen to a few songs at their myspace page:

http://www.myspace.com/shearwater

DJ WILBUR · 02-11-2010, 04:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mondie

Wow, never heard of them but glad you started this thread

You can listen to a few songs at their myspace page:

http://www.myspace.com/shearwater

I'm glad you wandered into this thread and checked them out.

I've got the vinyl on pre-order, can't wait to hear it in full sonic glory...

02-10-2010, 01:57 PM	#3
DJ WILBUR The Cappuccino Kid Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Manhasset, New York Posts: 14,763	Drowned in Sound Review - 8 out of 10 http://drownedinsound.com/releases/1...eviews/4139048 If you’ve visited Shearwater’s website over the last couple of months, you’ll have been greeted by an arresting, scratchily-filmed series of images – of mist over mountains, damaged flags and roiling sea-waters; of travel journals and captains’ logs, bloodied bird carcasses and satellite grabs. It’s all part of the story. See, The Golden Archipelago is Shearwater’s most ‘visual’ project yet. While their records have always been packaged in beautiful cases illustrated by watercolours or drawings of various species (frontman Jonathan Meiburg is a well-documented bird-watcher and voyager), for this album they went the extra mile. Meiburg and designer Mark Ohe created several ‘Golden Dossiers’, visual guides to the music comprised of images and manuscripts collected by the singer on his travels to various islands and other remote locations. Each dossier is an eerie scrapbook of snatched history, of black and white photos, of hastily-written diaries and long-forgotten legends. But, while such specific foregrounding definitely encourages you to identify these kinds of themes while listening to The Golden Archipelago, it’s not like you wouldn’t have come to similar conclusions by yourself. As with all of Shearwater’s work, this album is soaked in maritime imagery, populated by lonely explorers and watery vistas. This stripped, salt-bleached and gladly uncivilised realm is and has always been Meiburg’s world; and it’s a world that is there for any one of us to find if only we would walk – or sail – until there were no buildings left. The Golden Archipelago is more a return to the reverent, quiet majesty of Palo Santo (2006) than a continuation of Rook (2008)’s rather grandiose manifesto – and it is a tone that suits this record’s subject matter far better than Rook’s tendency toward the over-dramatic ever could have done. It is more fluid, more subtle; as such, it pulls you in gradually, irresistibly, its icy black under-current taking hold when you least expect it. Drummer Thor Harris’ percussion is the album’s real axis; unguent, it slip-slides through ‘God Made Me’ and ‘Castaways’ as though moving through a thick gel, while for ‘Landscape at Speed’ it is uproarious, double-deckered and full of fury. Wet-sounding and thickly slick, Harris’ tones decide each song’s direction – the pianos, injured guitars and Meiburg’s vocals all follow its lead. Meiburg’s words are often difficult to decipher because of his tremulous delivery – but this is frequently the reason his voice is so powerful, able to sound as animal as it can human. And, as we know well by now, that liquid hoot of his can all too suddenly shapeshift into an unchained holler – and ‘Corridors’, ‘Black Eyes’ and ‘Uniforms’ are prime examples, all regal and nasty. As Meiburg’s voice buffers the bruising swell of ‘Black Eyes’, it is as though it is butting and bouncing off the waves itself, defiant as the prow of a boat racing toward the ragged cliff walls. His saltwater gargle is an angry, desperate string of vowels, and its meaning is conveyed through its urgency and intent rather than through the words themselves. The words, instead, are lost in the sea froth and twisted by the cavernous acoustics of uncharted land. It is difficult to write music that addresses either the delicate balance or the ever-more-rapid destruction of the planet without over-egging it – without the finished piece coming off as trite and/or the writer coming off as a wannabe eco-champion who’s just in it for their own ego. But The Golden Archipelago is a record that explores this turbulent and terrible time in the life-cycle of our earth without preaching, without getting pious. It makes its statement simply by describing the things we stand to lose, their power and yet their precariousness. And that is surely one of music’s greatest abilities, when it is done well – rather than over-complicating and abstracting our surrounds, it can simply help us see what already exists as though we are looking, for the first time, with clear sight. This is one of those records; and, hopefully, Meiburg’s respect for and evocation of a wild, untamed and ancient environment that we – sitting at our desks and our screens – hardly ever see will affect some of you as deeply as it always does me. __________________ "Wreckorder" http://www.stevehoffman.tv/forums/sh...d.php?t=226126

02-09-2010, 12:52 PM	#4
Clarkophile ... or Between Clark & Hillman Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Toronto, ON, Canada Posts: 7,445	I doubt very much I'll be able to afford the deluxe version of this, but I'll definitely pick up the reg. CD. __________________ Tom S. The Clarkophile

02-09-2010, 08:32 PM	#10
Solaris UBIK Join Date: May 2005 Location: New Orleans, LA Posts: 5,946	Gorgeous record, I've got the headphones on listening to the NPR stream now. The vocal on Corridors reminds me of late 70s Peter Gabriel, and in fact I hear hints of Gabriel here and there in the melodies elsewhere. The LP is tempting, but with the two bonus tracks I'm wondering what the running time of this sucker will be. __________________ "It was when I found out I could make mistakes that I knew I was on to something." -- Ornette Coleman

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02-10-2010, 05:00 AM	#7
Cyaneyes Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 307	My favorite band. Thanks for posting the writeups. Pricewise, the LP is 15, the CD is 10. The Golden Dossier could have been ordered for a donation as little as $30. Too late now, unfortunately.

02-10-2010, 05:34 AM	#12
ralphb Senior Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Brooklyn, New York Posts: 618	Just listening to this now on NPR (with good headphones at work). Wow. Never heard them before but this is BIG music. I hear the Kate Bush influence, but there's so much going on here. A bit of Talk Talk, This Heat, the dramatic push of Echo and the Bunnymen, some Scott Walker. But these guys just have reach, they sound huge and have created their own sonic landscape. It sounds alien and fearless. Pretty overwhelming, pretty great. Anyone attuned to this kind of stuff should check out Heartland by Owen Pallett (aka Final Fantasy). Very orchestrated, dramatic, again with that sense of fearlessness and reach that seems to be so lacking in a lot of todays artists.

02-10-2010, 07:34 AM	#14
pdxrunner Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Portland, OR, USA Posts: 55	Thanks for the NPR link! I've been hoping that Shearwater would put out a new album soon. I bought Rook (LP) in late '08 on kind of a whim after listening to an online 30 second preview. Loved it! went back and found a copy of the expanded edition of Palo Santo (also LP). I think Rook was the first new LP I've bought since the mid '80s. --Ken

02-10-2010, 02:23 PM	#18
bord Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: St. Louis, MO Posts: 185	Holding off until the vinyl arrives. One of my favorite bands - thanks for starting the thread.

02-10-2010, 05:00 PM	#19
Mondie Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Adelaide Hills, Australia Posts: 237	Wow, never heard of them but glad you started this thread You can listen to a few songs at their myspace page: http://www.myspace.com/shearwater