The Soft House hosted a killer lineup last Friday night, and one of our photographers Valerie was there to shoot the whole evening. I unfortunately missed out on this one, but I heard through the grapevine that it was a more than stellar affair. Get a glimpse of some more shots below, and the full photo set after the jump.
Tonight you've got two adventures to choose from, one of which will weave you in and out of the silky marmalade forest full of ambient pop bliss, while the other will enter you into the stank-filled jungle of experimental angst and pure adrenaline. This might sound like a harsh curve, and well, that's because it is.
One of my favorite Baltimore spots, The Soft House, is hosting a super nice one tonight with Happy Family, Do While, Avocado Happy Hour, and Holy Ghost Party. Will of Happy Family just released one of the best splits I've heard in a while, one that features Run DMT on the A-side and himself on the B-side. The beautiful track streaming above is from that tape, and you can snag the whole thing from Wigflip now. Also, Avocado Happy Hour will be performing Spiegel en Spiegel by Arvo Part, and ice cream treats are promised by Amanda from AHH.
If you choose the jungle adventure, you'll be heading to the Golden West where you'll find the Twin Stumps album release party for Seedbed. Their new LP on Fan Death is incredibly awesome, and these dudes are even better live. They'll be supported by Leather and Janitor, and this one will run you five American dollars.
A few weeks ago I realized that I should probably just start a weekly Wigflip feature on their new releases, and yes here I am again with another release to rave about from this new Baltimore music outlet. However this one is rather special in that it is their first "official"release, and their first to be available digitally.
In addition to being an official and tangible object, this is by far the most beautiful piece to grace the label's catalog to date. The release is the debut self-titled album from Do While, and it's a full length record that you're absolutely going to need to go ahead and check out. Here's a generous taste compliments of Wigflip called "Balloons/Balloon Clouds (Alt. Master)".
Do While is John Somers, a Baltimore fellow with a knack for creating ambient sounds using guitars, vocals, and fluffly white clouds. I may or may not have meant that last one in the literal sense, but if this LP doesn't have you feeling like you're floating within the stratosphere 10,000 feet above the ground, then you are listening to it all wrong.
The album is filled with soft and fuzzy ambient soundscapes that uplift your mind and warm your soul. Do While has been a late night go-to for me as of late, a record full of mellow tones yet rich with vibrant color. While this will be, and probably should be, labeled an ambient record, every ambient vibe is counteracted by positive and elevating sounds that really give Do While's sound a unique feel. His ability to create such huge momentum and energy within such relaxing confines is truly special. This was an excellent choice to kickstart Wigflip's official releases, and I can't wait to see what's next. Will at Wiglfip recently had nothing but amazing things to share with me about their upcoming works - things that I can't share with you just yet. You can pre-order the new Do While record here, and stay tuned for more to come from Wigflip.
DO WHILE
1. One2 2. Dancing On Diamond Water 3. Balloon Clouds 4. Balloons 5. A Candy Coated Slow Down 6. Poppies 7. I Know You Said 8. At The Edge Of A Drifting Dawn
Wigflip Records just got going this year, yet this is already the eighth digital release under their belt. Wigflip's first physical release, Do While's self titled CD, is now up for pre-order, but the label's already got a few other jaunts in swing.
There's talks of a Run DMT/Happy Family split 12 inch in the works, and the infectiously fantastic track above is said to be one of the new Run DMT diddies you'll find on there. But for now, the fellow's just dropped Lexx'sMangoblunt.
Above is "Throw Ma Thing Down", a Mangblunt track that cuts some Missy into the mix.
For those who dug the Inflatable Mattress release, (other moniker for Happy Family's Will Pesta) Real Talk, Mangoblunt is another tape of tainted beats and hazy club jammers. This EP also might mark the first time a Ying Yang Twins verse has been used in fair taste since... always. This 20 minute EP offers a smattering of synth-driven beats with found sounds and warped vintage layers abound. It's certainly a fun listen and would prove delightful for any 1 AM porch session dance party. Lexx tosses traditional hip hop of the crunked out variety and damages it with art from a wide palette, leaving behind some heavy beats.
Not without some funk, dance, and soul - this one pays homage with glitches and mashes that get you all jittery inside. Certainly worth a listen, Mangoblunt is a free download over on Wigflip. Also free for your downloading pleasure, Lexx's Slime Time.
Enter Wigflip Records, Baltimore's newest label. Will of Happy Family is largely responsible, deciding that he much rather start a music label than paint for his thesis at MICA.
Wigflip will house a heavy load of new and enchanting artists, ranging from the likes of Happy Family, Run DMT, Semya, Do While, Lands and Peoples, and plenty more. These releases look to be mostly of the digital variety, and also mostly free.
Download Run DMT + Happy Family's new AMANDA HUGGANKISS, and get more details on this release and a handful of others below. Will from Wigflip is particularly excited about two albums coming out in early spring, largely because he's watched them grow and is now seeing it all come together quite nicely. Semya will release a full length called Georythyms, and Do While will have a self titled release, both of which are available in March via Wigflip.
You can download Run DMT and Happy Family's collaborative AMANDA HUGGANKISS above for free in all its faded spacey glory. This release takes guitar drones and varying samples and squeezes them all through one of those Play-Doh spaghetti things, only to mush it all back together at some sort of intergalactic laundromat.
Wigflip Records will also host the next two full lengths from both Happy Family and Run DMT. I know I've been jonesing for a Happy Family LP since the Sound Farm EP, and its good to hear this is in the works. We've still got the audio up from his stellar Soft Fest 2009 set too.
Be sure to stop by the label's site, as they've already got up some other classy free sounds. You can currently grab two EPs from The Treehouse, Bong Voyage by Run DMT, and a mix made for the bathroom at Soft Fest. Look for more info/thoughts on Wigflip's releases to come right here.
