A Thread For School of Seven Bells Love!

Just announced:

We are pleased to announce the official video for the anti-cancer track "I Got Knocked Down (But I'll Get Up)" originally by Joey Ramone. Throughout 2013 Benjamin had been courageously combating T-cell Lymphoblastic Lymphoma. Recorded in it's entirety to his laptop from his hospital bed at Memorial Sloan-Kettering in New York City, 'I Got Knocked Down (But I'll Get Up)' is Benjamin's final recording before passing on December 29, 2013. The track will be made available for purchase digitally on 6/24 and the video will be premiering on 6/25 exclusively on CultureCollide.com. Stay tuned for more details and plans from School of Seven Bells coming soon.
Directed By: Toby Halbrooks & Alan Del Rio Ortiz

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iR48SIJznHU

Finally! One of the things I was told about. (They left out the cute/morbid detail (depending on your viewpoint) that Benj's hotel room was literally across the road from Joey's.)

More details:

http://exclaim.ca/News/school_of_seven_bells_final_recording_to_be_released

"It was a very spontaneous decision to record this track," said School of Seven Bells singer Alejandra Deheza in a statement. "Benjamin had been talking about the song a lot, and then he just decided he was going to do it. We couldn't record vocals in the hospital, so he actually FaceTimed with me and his brother while we recorded vocals in the studio. He spearheaded the whole thing on FaceTime, would even tell us which knobs to turn and listen to levels etc. We'd even see nurses in the background from time to time! It was really amazing. But that was Benjamin, and producing was what he did. It was therapeutic and took his mind off being really sick. This song was really important to him and I'm happy we were able to record it."

That man was just so amazing. I can totally imagine him lying in a hospital bed, telling Brandon "No, twiddle that knob, it needs more sparkle on the etherealiser!"

Single out tomorrow:

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152496685826063

Just downloaded it this morning and listened to it on the bus to work. It doesn't reach the highs of "Put Your Sad Down" but it's still pretty solid and obv makes me really bummed that it's, like, the last new thing we will ever hear from them.

I just had such a huge emotional response to it that I can't really be objective about it at all, but it's like... balancing the knowledge of "this was recorded by a guy literally lying in a hospital bed" with the sensation that this is a band still in their Imperial Phase, whose peak was still to come!

(I don't know if any of his other stuff will ever see the light of day, like, it's completely understandable if it doesn't, but at the same time, the fan in me thinks it is such a loss.)

I was able to grab a copy of Put Your Sad Down on RSD from the store I used to work at. It's the one record that I own where the context makes it really intense to listen to.

Listening to I Got Knocked Down right now and it's amazing how they transformed it from a Joey Ramone composition into...this! If it's the last SVIIB thing any of us are ever graced with, I think it's a fine goodbye.

It is indeed. There forever.

http://culturecollide.com/feed/detail/exclusive_school_of_seven_bells_I_got_knocked_down_full_song_premiere#.U6pNzo1dXcl

Phew. The cat's out of the bag now.

Prior to passing, Benjamin had recorded his portion of the record in its entirety, both before he was diagnosed and after, between treatments, and now Alejandra is picking up where they left off, and heading into the studio to finalize the next record.

http://culturecollide.com/feed/detail/school_of_seven_bells_exclusive_video_i_got_knocked_down#.U6r0BK61aRl

There, Brandon, I said nothing!

Not working for me right now (internet issues this end) but maybe someone else can see it?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orutQKKsvp4

oh man that's gonna be heavy when it comes out

but omg more new music!!!!

I know, right?

Like I have been dying to talk to someone about this - but obviously couldn't - because it's such a headfuck. On one level, I was praying that they were going to do something with it, because it was Benjamin's dying wish to make that music, and get it done, and he was so *driven* in the studio. But holy shit, I can't even imagine the emotions to work on something like that, after he's gone.

And the fan in me is like "OMG, new music by my favourite band on earth" and getting really excited but the human-being-with-a-heart in me is like, holy shit, this is too heavy to deal with.

Argh, I need to get going soon but I'm glad that this news hit me here, and not tonight. Too many feels.

I miss Ben

Me too, dude, me too.

This interview, with Alley it's quite beautiful:

http://www.wonderingsound.com/news/school-seven-bells-alejandra-deheza-remembers-bandmate-best-friend/

http://www.interpolnyc.com/news

*does a little cry*

*is verklempt*

Sorry, posting from an iPhone sucks. Message from Brandon, not random Interpol spam, honest.

Music was the air my brother, Benjamin, breathed while he was with us on this earth. This music was recorded by him entirely in his hospital room, and he produced the vocal recording and mixing. I am proud to share it with you guys.
http://www.sviib.com/

http://culturecollide.com/feed/detail/school_of_seven_bells_exclusive_video_i_got_knocked_down#.U7vp642Szbx

With love to you all,

Brandon Curtis

The new album is coming together...

https://instagram.com/p/5A5zKXoe1t/

I can't wait to hear what this is going to be like!

Deeply moving new interview with Brandon Curtis about both his own current work and about losing Ben.

http://www.dallasobserver.com/music/brandon-curtis-returns-with-cosmicide-after-the-death-of-his-brother-benjamin-7421417

The new album has been formally announced.

https://twitter.com/sviib/status/659583699873345536

https://www.facebook.com/schoolofsevenbells/videos/10153640706731063/

This was wonderful news to wake up to.

Pretty excited to finally hear this after so long!

More details emerging...

http://www.stereogum.com/1840511/out-of-the-desert-school-of-seven-bells-final-chapter/franchises/interview/

Extremely good and thoughtful piece.

I'm just feeling so "I can't!!!" about everything about this record. Both in a melodramatic "I can't even!" Tumblr sense, but also in a sense of there being real emotions I can't really prod at behind that?

It's difficult to read this stuff without getting teary or emotional, but I feel like a jerk for saying that I have those feelings.

Reading descriptions of the new record feels like ~spoilers~. I just want to let it wash over me when it happens, because I know it's going to be super-emotionally charged. As well as really really amazing.

I'm happy this record is coming out, at last. I'm gutted it's the Actual End of SVIIB stuff. I'm really, really pleased, that Alley is continuing to make music, and is working on new music for a new project. I bet that is going to be really special and amazing.

I definitely can't wait for this. Yet another record scheduled for release next year that I'm longing to hear!

i feel like someone urgently needs to commission branwell to write about this album

First track "Open Your Eyes" shared tomorrow.

https://www.facebook.com/schoolofsevenbells/videos/10153667149686063/

And it's live, along with a new interview.

http://noisey.vice.com/blog/school-of-seven-bells-interview-2015

I am loving this so much in spite of/because of it's Savage Garden "chick-a-cherry-cola" vibes

this is beautiful. when it opens up melodically in the bridge...

Was crying too hard to listen properly the first time through. Ambushed by unexpected emotion.

Yeah, the way the monotone drone vocals explode into technicolor in the chorus is devastating. But I've been so excited about finally hearing this record but now it's coming out it's actually quite devastating to hear.

This is great, can't wait for the album.

Love, love this track.

This hits me hard the same way I L U did (and still does). SVIIB is/was a band I always felt was really consistently good, but only one song has ever struck me as absolutely brilliant. Make that two songs now.

Savage Garden "chick-a-cherry-cola" vibes

lol, it's true!

This is a stunning track.

This song was too much to listen to this past couple of days. Heartbreakingly gorgeous.

wow, this song is just gorgeous. cannot wait to hear the album!

Fell asleep to Alpinisms last night. Man, that record.

The more I listen to 'Put Your Sad Down', the more I'm convinced it's the best thing SVIIB have ever done. Well, so far at least.

Agreed

I cannot find the lie.

Put Your Sad Down just so levelled up on everything they had done before (as amazing as that was) that we were convinced it was the messenger of their proper, full-on Imperial Phase.

And then.

So I actually dreamed about this album last night. As in, sitting down and listening to the songs and marvelling how good they are. I can still vaguely remember how they go. Actual dream pop, I guess. Ha!

Open Your Eyes is really difficult to listen to but so gorgeous, one of the best songs of the year no doubt. I had no idea that there was a new album mostly in the can by the time Benjamin got ill, and if it's all this good then wow.

Update: album out on Feb. 26, new song premiered, "On My Heart"

http://www.thefader.com/2016/01/14/school-of-seven-bells-on-my-heart

I hear some strong New Order nods in the background of this.

omg another new track and possibly the best yet so far

https://soundcloud.com/schoolofsevenbells/school-of-seven-bells-ablaze

and thankfully no talking-singing this time

I like the talk-singing (but I like the harmony singing better).

By the time this record comes out, we will have heard all the songs! I have really been trying not to overdose too hard on the advances because I want the whole album to hit me fresh from the first time.