i finally heard some of their earlier stuff last night. how did they (and glass candy) get into the whole disco thing from no wavey stuff?
I think Johnny was getting into dance music and Mike Simonetti turned him onto the good stuff.
I also think it was definitely a time when everybody was getting into electronic and/or vintage dance music, and the only difference was Johnny has a good ear for it and knows how to get a lot of mileage out of an arpeggiator.
― dan selzer, Friday, 14 September 2007 12:04 (sixteen years ago) link
from the myspace:
WE ARE ANXIOUS TO HEAD OUT ON OUR FIRST TOUR WITH RUTH. THE NIGHT BEFORE, RUTH SCALDED HER HAND AT RON TOM'S WHEN TWO BOILING BOWLS OF TOMATO SOUP SPILLED ON HER. AT 4 AM, SHE RECORDED THE VOCALS TO "RUNNING UP THAT HILL" WITH ONE HAND IN A CUP OF ICE WATER AND ONE ON THE MIC.
― haitch, Friday, 14 September 2007 13:03 (sixteen years ago) link
"Lady" on shining violence has some of the most gorgeous synths.
So nice to see Glass Candy and Chromatics finally getting some much needed love.
― Spinspin Sugah, Friday, 14 September 2007 17:17 (sixteen years ago) link
So has anyone heard/ordered their new album yet?
I got my copy this week and haven't stopped playing it. Love it all though the last (mainly ambient) track goes a bit long. Could've put another song or two in there! Lovely minimal production from Johnny Jewel throughout.
― Capitaine Jay Vee, Friday, 14 September 2007 17:18 (sixteen years ago) link
they are alright. glass candy is still garbage.
― bell_labs, Friday, 14 September 2007 17:30 (sixteen years ago) link
they were boring live
So did IV just kind of leapfrog In Shining Violence as being 2007's "official" Chromatics album? For the longest time, I was under the impression that a more polished version of In Shining Violence would be available before the end of the year, and then a couple weeks ago IV just showed up out of nowhere.
Not that I mind, because it's great and all...but I was hoping for brighter-sounding better-mastered versions of the songs on In Shining Violence. :(
― Johnny Fever, Friday, 14 September 2007 17:34 (sixteen years ago) link
I...wait, what? I AM CONFUSED BY THIS ABUNDANCE OF ALBUMS
― Telephone thing, Friday, 14 September 2007 17:40 (sixteen years ago) link
They've been releasing tour cd-rs full of new material somewhat regularly going back to 2005, and In Shining Violence showed up late last year. I was under the impression that it was the demo version of a proper In Shining Violence to be released soon(ish). But apparently they're just moving ahead with new stuff as it comes, and IV showed up just a little bit ago (with Night Drive, Running Up That Hill, etc).
― Johnny Fever, Friday, 14 September 2007 17:53 (sixteen years ago) link
No mention of the great, great, great (I like it better than Nite) Healer/Witness 12''. I believe it is still available from the TMU store. If you're liking this new stuff, you need that one too. But, yeah, Plaster Hounds and before can be left behind if this newer sound is what you like.
― matt2, Friday, 14 September 2007 19:41 (sixteen years ago) link
http://a6.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/110/l_e1228fc8792fa558d4baa345acc06785.jpg
― baaderonixx, Saturday, 15 September 2007 09:16 (sixteen years ago) link
Just received the new album and it's fucking fantastic.
― baaderonixx, Thursday, 20 September 2007 06:28 (sixteen years ago) link
This is great - i dled the tracks off After Dark and In Shining Violence - but what is going on with their records? What has actually been officially released? Which album did you just get?
All v mysterious and exciting.
Given that it has, like two notes, In the City has become ridiculously stuck in my head.
― Jamie T Smith, Thursday, 20 September 2007 11:05 (sixteen years ago) link
http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=19439297&blogID=308540140
― willem, Thursday, 20 September 2007 11:13 (sixteen years ago) link
That sheds some light ...
Thanks
― Jamie T Smith, Thursday, 20 September 2007 11:25 (sixteen years ago) link
(i hope i only spoiled the mysterious bit and not the excitement ;-)
― willem, Thursday, 20 September 2007 11:32 (sixteen years ago) link
Yes, that's the one. Am I wrong in thinking that this is their first official album (as ooposed to tour CDRs and EPs)?
― baaderonixx, Thursday, 20 September 2007 12:30 (sixteen years ago) link
yes
― cutty, Thursday, 20 September 2007 12:37 (sixteen years ago) link
that is, you are rong
― cutty, Thursday, 20 September 2007 12:38 (sixteen years ago) link
Alright. I guess, yeah, I forgot that no-wave first LP.
― baaderonixx, Thursday, 20 September 2007 12:48 (sixteen years ago) link
2 of them (Chrome Rats vs. Basement Rutz --which is good-- and Plaster Hounds --which isn't--).
― Johnny Fever, Thursday, 20 September 2007 16:18 (sixteen years ago) link
My copy just came in the mail, but there's something wrong with the CD. Please could someone hook me up with a 256k AAC of Tick Of The Clock, the last track? Webmail me if you can help.
― caek, Thursday, 20 September 2007 17:49 (sixteen years ago) link
Just ordered my copy. Excited!
The blog entry linked above says Colette wiped out their mail order inventory of After Dark (to sell them at double the price in their Paris store, which is an incredibly douchey thing to do), but it looks like TMU still has copies?
― Telephone thing, Thursday, 20 September 2007 18:19 (sixteen years ago) link
I got a copy from TMU after it was reviewed on Pitchfork. Took five weeks to show up. When I emailed them asking what was going on they pointed me toward a news item on their website about large delays because of unexpected interested. Night Drive looks like it was burnt on a home CD burner.
― caek, Thursday, 20 September 2007 18:50 (sixteen years ago) link
I ordered the "everything pack" last week (After Dark plus the three Italians 12"s) off the TMU site so I hope they still have some
― dmr, Thursday, 20 September 2007 19:32 (sixteen years ago) link
so yes the night drive album is pretty fucking awesome
― pretzel walrus, Tuesday, 25 September 2007 14:32 (sixteen years ago) link
So, SO SO good. And if you buy it directly from the band they'll ship it to you crazy fast, at least if you're in the US; mine came in yesterday.
― Telephone thing, Tuesday, 25 September 2007 18:49 (sixteen years ago) link
yeah mine too! ordered on the evening of the 20th, came in yesterday. lol @ limited edition green cd-r face. looks cool though, sounds even better. 2007 has been crazily good for new music.
― pretzel walrus, Tuesday, 25 September 2007 19:17 (sixteen years ago) link
you guys are totally gay for chromatics
― cutty, Tuesday, 25 September 2007 19:29 (sixteen years ago) link
Yes. Yes we are. And with damn good cause, I might add.
― Telephone thing, Tuesday, 25 September 2007 19:36 (sixteen years ago) link
yeah, i wasn't sold on the "Running Up That Hill" cover until hearing it in the context of the whole record... now i kinda dig it.
― ken taylrr, Tuesday, 25 September 2007 20:01 (sixteen years ago) link
yes yes? I suppose I could just hassle them via email, but I'm in the UK so that will take at least a week of shipping to put right.
― caek, Tuesday, 25 September 2007 22:39 (sixteen years ago) link
Mine took about four days US to UK!
― Raw Patrick, Tuesday, 25 September 2007 22:48 (sixteen years ago) link
I give this +++
Running Up That Hill has wormed into my head and now I find this rest is of a piece.
― Alba, Monday, 1 October 2007 00:19 (sixteen years ago) link
I just heard "Running Up That Hill." Fuck, I don't think I've heard a better cover of that ever.
― jonathan - stl, Tuesday, 2 October 2007 23:03 (sixteen years ago) link
just ordered the new version of the italians' bundle, with chromatics' 'in shining violence' 12" now included. continuing the cover song theme, this one has springsteen's 'i'm on fire'!
― haitch, Thursday, 4 October 2007 01:12 (sixteen years ago) link
just adding another fawning voice of appreciation to the thread. it was the kate bush cover that got me too.
― jermainetwo, Thursday, 4 October 2007 01:15 (sixteen years ago) link
I've been wanting to hear the "I'm on Fire" cover! Good?
― Johnny Fever, Thursday, 4 October 2007 03:13 (sixteen years ago) link
i only just ordered it!
― haitch, Thursday, 4 October 2007 03:51 (sixteen years ago) link
Maybe not the exact right thread but it's the one on new answers....
Mike Simonetti is doing his first London DJ show tomorrow (Fri) at Our Disco at Hub (2 Goulston Street, off Wentworth Street, E1 7TP).
I'm really looking forward to it, the previous Our Disco I went to was a lot of fun.
― Raw Patrick, Thursday, 4 October 2007 10:02 (sixteen years ago) link
I was going to post about the Our Disco gig!
Yeah, I've been a few times (but not since they moved to the new venue)and it's great. www.ourdisco.com. And it's only a fiver.
Anyway, also really looking forward to it.
I'm severely tempted by the Italians bumper back, but the postage to the UK is $40!
― Jamie T Smith, Thursday, 4 October 2007 10:29 (sixteen years ago) link
bumper pack
gah!
(xpost) And ask Mike for one of the IDIB t-shirts at the gig! I hear he'll have a few handy ; )
― Capitaine Jay Vee, Thursday, 4 October 2007 10:43 (sixteen years ago) link
"I'm on Fire" cover
Holy shit. Mike doesn't make Troubleman/IDIB stuff avilable digitally, does he?
― Ben Boyerrr, Thursday, 4 October 2007 11:58 (sixteen years ago) link
Stylus writer Nina Phillips isn't so impressed:
http://www.stylusmagazine.com/reviews/chromatics/night-drive.htm
― matt2, Thursday, 4 October 2007 13:41 (sixteen years ago) link
Wow, what a shit review.
― Johnny Fever, Thursday, 4 October 2007 13:51 (sixteen years ago) link
I'm planning to drop by Our Disco, which is conveniently close to my hotel. I love love the entire label's aesthetic.
― Tim F, Thursday, 4 October 2007 22:59 (sixteen years ago) link
found a Tour 2006 full length thingy called "in shining violence". it's pretty great, but doesn't have much of the disco influence i was expecting. instead it sounds more like early TG or siouxsie and the banshees. just minimal, dark electronic pop. the dude sings on most of the tracks.
i had a friend listen to some of their tracks on myspace. she's way more into twee indie stuff, and she thought they sounded like romeo void, which i couldn't really argue w/
― jaxon, Thursday, 4 October 2007 23:29 (sixteen years ago) link
"poorly produced" what
― Telephone thing, Friday, 5 October 2007 01:11 (sixteen years ago) link
i'm loving this
damn... thanks ILM
― gman, Friday, 5 October 2007 06:02 (sixteen years ago) link
I definitely wasn't bored by them at all (I guess I don't really see how they could have been boring if you've heard them before - I don't mean this sarcastically at all, but what did you expect?). I was pretty captivated.
I saw a different guy on the decks after Chromatics, but maybe Simonetti was just taking a break for a sec after putting that Marley tune on. My favorite thing (of the songs I knew) that he played was "Hollywood Seven" by Alides Hidding, which the band were all singing along to when they were setting up.
I was hoping they would be selling those new Italians 12"s, but they said they were almost all sold out of all of them already, and they only have copies of them in the label store. I really want to hear that Tiedye/Metallica cover thing, and the Invisible Conga People stuff.
I'm tempted to try to see them again tomorrow, even though I'm sure it'd be the same show.
― Savannah Smiles, Monday, 21 April 2008 13:29 (sixteen years ago) link
They were all very warm for working this icy aesthetic.
That was a slight problem for me, actually. A bit of a disconnect between material and delivery, especially at the end, on In the City and Running Up That Hill, where they were really getting into it. Pls be more haughty and emotionally withdrawn, thx.
I'm an idiot, though. I just looked at the running order in the main room and thought Studio must have cancelled. It never occurred to me that they were in the bar.
Other highlights: Johnny Jewel (I presume) from Chromatics leaping around like a lunatic in DJ booth. Mike Simonetti playing the Doors TWICE (Peace Frog and them doing Gloria live, which I'd never heard before and was fantastic) and looping a bit of Beautiful Life for seemingly ever. Ame sounded great as well, although much darker and trackier than I'd expected.
Downsides: people not dancing at all until Chromatics came on. I hate it when at a club, just because there's a band on, people stand around waiting for them to play instead of dancing as they would if there weren't a band next. It was nearly 1am and everyone was stood around talking. Two and a half-hour journey to get there owing to rail replacement bus service after seeing Saints slump 1-0 and now staring relegation in the face, followed by an hour of queing to get in, get wrist band and get coat compulsarily checked - not great mood enhancers.
Did anyone stay to the bitter end? I'm too old for that, although Horse Meat Disco would have been cool. Should have gone to bed and come back around 10.30!
― Jamie T Smith, Monday, 21 April 2008 15:55 (sixteen years ago) link
That's queueing and compulsorily.
― Jamie T Smith, Monday, 21 April 2008 16:02 (sixteen years ago) link
I think I left about 8am? It's all a bit of a blur after about 2ish though - I was already pretty drunk when the Chromatics were on and I'd forgotten about both Gloria and Beautiful Life.
There was hardly any dancing before the Chromatics and the place seemed to empty out a lot after that, almost like a load of people had turned up just for the gig.
― Matt DC, Monday, 21 April 2008 16:03 (sixteen years ago) link
The thing that weirded me out the most was the bouncer leaping up the side of the toilet cubicles and looking over to check people weren't taking drugs in there.
― Matt DC, Monday, 21 April 2008 16:04 (sixteen years ago) link
I just picked up the Tiedye remix of Rubies "I Feel Electric" today, and it is one of the most gorgeous, blissed, envelopingly beautiful things I've heard in a looooong time. There's a stream here: http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/download/49949-rubies-ft-feist-i-feel-electric-tiedye-remix-stream... This label is one of the most exciting discoveries for me in ages, and I can't wait to start taking some of it in in a live setting.
― Clarke, Monday, 28 April 2008 04:52 (fifteen years ago) link
Phonica or some site was streaming the Tiedye cover of the Metal1ica song ("Nothing Else Matters" done ultra-balearic with live instruments)... awesome.
― Savannah Smiles, Monday, 28 April 2008 06:22 (fifteen years ago) link
http://www.juno.co.uk/products/309450-01.htm
― caek, Monday, 28 April 2008 14:33 (fifteen years ago) link
I know it kinda kills the whole vibe of the label, but I wish I could get good quality MP3s of these new tunes.
― Savannah Smiles, Monday, 28 April 2008 15:10 (fifteen years ago) link
cos of this thread today i have picked up the 2 cds that are available. not decided as to whether i have done the right thing ..
― mark e, Monday, 28 April 2008 15:35 (fifteen years ago) link
Night Drive and After Dark are DRM-free on the iTunes store. No surprise the Tiedye Metallica cover isn't.
― caek, Monday, 28 April 2008 16:14 (fifteen years ago) link
All of Juno's stock of ICP's 12" are unplayably warped. Seriously, I love the music, but after three run-ins with the label, every one problematic, they don't strike me as the most competent outfit in the world.
― caek, Friday, 2 May 2008 23:51 (fifteen years ago) link
I'm listening to a cover of "Pornography" they've done for some Cure tribute cd and it's purdy nice.
― Johnny Fever, Monday, 26 May 2008 08:13 (fifteen years ago) link
?!!!!!!??????
― baaderonixx, Monday, 26 May 2008 09:40 (fifteen years ago) link
http://store.releasethebats.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=1537&osCsid=3b22b3241a4198c84b90fb9fe5223dd0
― Johnny Fever, Monday, 26 May 2008 09:42 (fifteen years ago) link
Ah this is the "old" Chromatics then
― baaderonixx, Monday, 26 May 2008 10:20 (fifteen years ago) link
http://acuterecords.com/blog/imgs/JUNE21st.jpg
― dan selzer, Wednesday, 18 June 2008 13:01 (fifteen years ago) link
So am I the only one who thinks Plaster Hounds is a swell record? As in Swell Maps. Hadn't spun it since the IDB reincarnation. But it's really good wasteland rock.
― bendy, Thursday, 19 November 2009 17:38 (fourteen years ago) link
i just bought the Dark Days "Hands In The Dark" 7" (the song they covered)
― jaxon, Thursday, 19 November 2009 20:21 (fourteen years ago) link
dang, shadow is so good
― nxd, Thursday, 1 June 2017 10:24 (six years ago) link
it really is. hit my right in the heart at the end of twin peaks.
― Bein' Sean Bean (LocalGarda), Thursday, 1 June 2017 10:46 (six years ago) link
https://www.spin.com/2017/05/chromatics-dear-tommy-delayed/
Seems like Johnny is mixed on this record and is endlessly tweaking/revising the record. Or he thinks it's crap. The songs released from this are good ("Shadow" and "I can Never Be Myself When You're Around") to mediocre, but the delay seems related to artistic exhaustion/perfection
― Week of Wonders (Ross), Friday, 29 September 2017 04:26 (six years ago) link
It's coming!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UwigmMTsM-Y
― lbi's life of limitless european glamour (Le Bateau Ivre), Wednesday, 16 May 2018 12:04 (five years ago) link
PSYCHED
I know the synths get all the attention but that guitar sound does it for me every time
― umsworth (emsworth), Wednesday, 16 May 2018 23:42 (five years ago) link
Fucking A!
Been spinning their eps
They’re probably better than the lps
― Depressed and impressed (Ross), Thursday, 17 May 2018 15:09 (five years ago) link