Leaf Newsletter #63
21 March 2003
This newsletter contains details of the following:
* MANITOBA - 'Up In Flames' album
* MANITOBA live show in London this Tuesday!
* other forthcoming releases
* forthcoming Leaf events + Euro tour
* unsubscribe info
1. MANITOBA - 'Up In Flames'
CD / BAY 26CD / UPC 666017051222
LP / BAY 26V / UPC 666017051215
Limited clear vinyl LP with poster / BAY 26VX / UPC 666017051239
release date: Monday 31 March 2003
mail order price: CD: 10.00 GBP (+p&p) / LP: £8.00 (+p&p) / limited LP:
£9.00 (+p&p)
artist website:
http://manitoba.fm (download mp3s of the forthcoming album now)
for mail order, real audio samples and further info, go to:
http://www.posteverything.com/artists/release.php?id=3148
Available to order now!
So early in the year, and we're already blessed with what will surely be
looked on as one of 2003's most extraordinary, groundbreaking albums.
Coming from the fringes of electronic music, as it does, its 21st century
psychedelia is going to surprise a few people. If there's one thing Dan
'Manitoba' Snaith has learnt since his debut album Start Breaking My Heart
came out exactly two years ago, it's that, "I don't give a shit about the
electronic music scene!"
A bold statement for one whose first album shot him to the top of the
electronic pops, but tell us more, young Snaith (he's still only 24).
"There's all this lazy, complacent shitty electronic music where everyone
uses the same keyboard sounds and shit drum sounds. Fuck that! Electronic
music can sound like anything you want it to so why does it all sound the
same? People aren't very ambitious. Why be an imitation? Why not try be on
some next level shit some Brian Wilson / Timbaland type shit?"
Consider these thoughts for a moment as Manitoba's incredibly
self-confident second album Up In Flames comes a-shimmering out of your
stereo. Isn't it... an electronic music album? Very perceptive. In fact, it
was made with exactly the same dinky computer equipment as the last album,
except he now plays glockenspiel as well as guitar and keyboards.
But wait! It sounds completely, utterly unlike the first one, doesn't it?
It sounds like a magnificent kaleidoscopic rough'n'tumble of starlight
melodies, irresistibly catchy fatbeats and all manner of uplifting tooting,
parping, plinking, riffing, tinkling, soaring and harping, the joyous mass
gliding happily together within Manitoba's masterful sense of space.
Plus... handclaps, alarm clocks, crickets chirping and dogs barking.
There's a lot in there, but it's never cluttered, it's deft and wise and
funny and gobsmackingly brilliant all at once.
The other point is that Dan writes actual songs, not just a bunch of sounds
strung together in ProTools. In Dan's words, he wanted to make an album of
"wicked pop songs with textures, layers and weird instruments. I make music
totally by ear, just by fucking around and experimenting. It couldn't be
less systematic and organised. When it's sloppy and messy, that's how I
like it." Well, that will happen if you spend enough time soaking in albums
by My Bloody Valentine, Spaceman 3, Mercury Rev, The Beach Boys, Neutral
Milk Hotel and psychedelic rockers like The Byrds and The End.
That's also Dan singing on Up In Flames, though don't be thinking he's gone
all singer/songwriter. "It's more about the textures, adding something
different. And more melodies." Yep, you can never have enough melodies.
He's also managed to coax his mysterious homey Koushik out of hiding to
contribute lead vocals on a couple of tracks. (Not even major labels who've
been calling constantly since he put out a limited edition 7" on Kieran
Hebden's Text label in 2001 have been able to track him down, although
further 7"s for several labels are rumoured.)
"I literally think Ko is a genius," Dan says, point blank. "I know that if
Ko does something, I'll like it. I totally trust him, he knows everything
about music."
Why settle for less when you can have more than you ever thought possible?
That's the Manitoba way. He's onto something, don't you agree?
CD: LP:
1. A1. I've Lived On A Dirt Road All My Life
2. A2. Skunks
3. A3. Hendrix With Ko (featuring Koushik)
4. A4. Jacknuggeted
5. A5. Why The Long Face
6. B1. Bijoux
7. B2. Twins
8. B3. Kid You'll Move Mountains
9. B4. Crayon (featuring Koushik)
10. B5. Every Time She Turns Round It's Her Birthday
What they're saying already:
"Bursting with bastardised Merseybeat harmonies and oscilating guitar FX,
this album is both stunningly spontaneous and absurdly precocious. It's
said that no one loves a smart arse. But you will love this one." Paul
Clarke, Jockey Slut Album of the Month
"the work of a music lover, and should appeal to all who consider
themselves such... the whole thing satisfies like no ther record released
this year."
Steve Jelbert, 5/5 X-Ray
"Start Breaking My Heart was one of the key electronic releases of 2001. Up
In Flames is even better"
Chris Sharp, The Wire
"A thing of beauty and wonder. One man and his laptop outdoing the
Polyphonic Spree for widescreen loveliness." Muzik
"Quite possibly the best thing out of Canada, since, well, ever"
Stephen Worthy, 5/5 Loaded Album of the Month
"A sprawling, bucolic tour de force, like early Mercury Rev on magic mushrooms"
Paul Mardles, Arena
"Lazer Guided Melodies for the laptop generation. Up in Flames takes the
most levitating alt.rock of the last decade as its springboard, meriting
comparison with My Bloody Valentine, Spiritualized,Stereolab and the early
work of Mercury Rev. The result is both adventurous and accessible, a
record in love with the obliterating power of sound"
John Mulvey, 4/5, Uncut
"A Spiky sunburst of experimental rock, a multifarious mixture of the
Byrds, Spiritualized, Faust and, well, Manitoba. Sprawling cyber-delic
sweetness."
i-D
"A claustrophobic, mesmeric soundscape akin to My Bloody Valentine and
Spacemen 3's early work"
4/5, Mojo
"Up In Flames is up there with the best of them"
Hardeep Phull, Rock Sound
"a psychedelic swirl of raspberry ripple with plenty of tasty layers to dip
your spoon into. Could be the album to make indie kids befriend dance dudes."
Steve Mclay, Mixmag
2. MANITOBA live at the 100 Club, London + tour
Manitoba's full live band show will make its debut appearance at London's
100 Club on Tuesday March 25.
Capitol K's new band will support, while Domino's Max Tundra and The Leaf
Label's Tony Morley will DJ at the show.
Tickets are available now from
http://www.gigsandtours.com and usual
outlets (020 7287 0932, 020 7734 8932, 020 7344 4040). Tickets are £9.00
advance subject to booking fee.
TUESDAY MARCH 25
8PM-12AM
The 100 Club, 100 Oxford Street, London, W1
Manitoba's new band will embark on a full European tour in April, including
the following dates. More to be added soon, including US shows with Prefuse
73 and Four Tet. Keep up to date at:
http://www.posteverything.com/news/article.php?id=1428
Sorry to break it to you, but there won't be anymore Manitoba laptop shows,
although on the strength of his laptop / DJ rock-the-party sets, he's
played on five continents in fifteen different countries, including a
headline slot at last year's Sonar festival in Barcelona. "I'm sick of
doing laptop shows," he declares. Instead he's put together a band with two
drummers, keyboards, glockenspiel and fully synched-up live visuals to
accompany the new live set.
Manitoba tour dates:
**POSTPONED**
Thursday March 27
Centrale, Ghent, BELGIUM
Manitoba (full live show) + more tbc
**POSTPONED**
Thursday April 3
The Art College, University of Ulster, York Street, Belfast, NORTHERN IRELAND
Manitoba (full live show) + more tbc
Saturday April 5
The Village, Dublin, IRELAND
Manitoba (full live show) + more tbc
Sunday April 6
Half Moon Theatre, Cork, IRELAND
Manitoba (full live show) + more tbc
Thursday April 10
El Sol, Madrid, SPAIN
Manitoba (full live band show) + DJ Men-T-Zero
Friday April 11
Zulo, Lazarte, SPAIN
Manitoba (full live band show) + DJ Men-T-Zero
Saturday April 12
Jai Alai, Huesca, SPAIN
Manitoba (full live band show) + DJ Men-T-Zero
Sunday April 13
Apolo, Barcelona, SPAIN
Manitoba (full live band show) + DJ Men-T-Zero
Tuesday April 15
Echo Chamber, Hamburg, GERMANY
Manitoba (full live band show) + Murcof (live)
Wednesday April 16
B 72, Vienna, AUSTRIA
Manitoba (full live band show) + Murcof (live)
Thursday April 17
Pathos, Munich, GERMANY
Manitoba (full live band show) + Murcof (live)
Saturday April 19
FZW, Dortmund, GERMANY
Manitoba (full live band show) + Murcof (live)
Sunday April 20
Scheune, Dresden, GERMANY
Manitoba (full live band show)
Tuesday April 22
Trauma, Marburg, GERMANY
Manitoba (full live band show)
Wednesday April 23
Roter Salon, Berlin, GERMANY
Manitoba (full live band show)
Thursday April 24 (daytime)
Le Printemps de Bourges Festival, Palmais Jacques Coeur, Bourges, FRANCE
Manitoba (full band show) + Tony Morley (DJ)
Friday April 25
Triptych Festival, The Venue, Edinburgh, UK
Manitoba (full live band show) + Murcof (live) + Tony Morley (DJ) + Plaid,
Beans, Chris Clark, Warp DJs, Fourtet, Boom Bip, Manitoba, Murcof, Tony
Morley, EYOE DJs
Sunday April 27
Triptych Festival, Tron, Glasgow, UK
Manitoba (full live band show) + Murcof (live) + Tony Morley (DJ) + The
Pastels, Barbara Morgernstern, Mapstation, Fourtet, Buck 65, Future Pilot
AKA, EYOE DJs
3. Other new releases
Coming up before the summer we have the debut album by new signing Colleen,
aka Cecile Schott from Paris, France. It's a beautiful, melodic, mesmeric
piece of work, and isn't going to disappoint all you Leaf fans!
We also have the brand new Murcof EP, Ulysses, which includes 2 epic
tracks, and shows a marked development since last year's much-loved Martes
album.
Manitoba will will release 'Hendrix With Ko' in June, along with 2 brand
new B-side tracks.
We've also got a few copies of the Sofa Surfers 12" 'See the Light'
(featuring Junior Delgado), which we've picked up from Austria's Klein
Records, and will be out in the UK in April. Order it from PostEverything now!
4. Upcoming Leaf live events
Once again, we've got way too much going on at the moment to fit it all in
here, all over Europe, so take a look at:
http://posteverything.com/news/article.php?id=1428
for the most up-to-date information.
Murcof has confirmed a show at London's Plastic People (noted for its
exquisite sound system) on Wednesday April 23. Support comes from one of
our favourite duos, Icarus, who will also be playing with Four Tet and
Manitoba in May. DJs tbc.
For more info go to:
http://www.posteverything.com/news/article.php?id=3208
The show is part of a European tour (see
http://posteverything.com/news/article.php?id=1428) and in advance of the
new 'Ulysses' EP, which should be out in May.
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Thanks for listening. Get in touch!
The Leaf Label Ltd
Suite 216,
Bon Marche Building,
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UK
leaf@posteverything.com
http://posteverything.com/leaf
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