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Nature Program Mini-View

Wed, 07 Sep 2011 01:54:33 -0400

RACECAR: With a name like Nature Program it would be expected that you would gather inspiration from nature. What elements of nature? A particular creature or landscape?
Nature Program: My biggest inspiration is weather, clouds especially and I have a tremendous respect for all animals, even humans at times.

R: Are you currently playing live? What does your live set-up consist of? Is it pre-planned before a gig or do you improvise on the fly?
NP: I haven't played live in quite a while, but when I do play out my set-up is a drum machine, analog synth, sampler, and laptop sending midi. It's largely preplanned but I like to leave room for having some fun sending gear through different effects and playing synth here and there. I think sound quality is the most important factor in live electronic music so for me giving the audience a direct output from a sound source which hasn't been prerecorded is a must. Midi control is great fun when your hands can be manipulating timbers and effects instead of notes and timing.

R: You also work with visual media, does this inspire any of your work sonically? Do you find working with sound and vision similar?
NP: It seems not to influence my audio work as much as I would like to think it does. When I start writing music my brain does a complete shift away from anything visual. I've had to stop working on a laptop because I find it really distracting. However I will say that a well designed instrument interface is incredibly important to me, the simpler the better. I had to take apart my modular synth and rebuild it in a new format because it wasn't minimal enough. I got rid of all the markings and work by color. Working with visual media seems to be much more a yes and no process for me while working with sound is incredibly multi layered and there is never a clear answer waiting for you. It's a constant struggle to allow yourself to let go of what you think is right for a song and let things go more to chance. That's where sound design and song writing really get exciting. Chance is a huge part of music and sound. Plus, I finally came to realize that production quality is the loudest instrument in any recording. Those elements seem to draw the most emotion out of me when listening to other artists work.

R: What acts will you be watching this year? Labels?
NP: I'd have to say Autechre because I'm waiting for them to come back to the states and play more live sets in the dark. Their last two albums were ace as they say.

I haven't been zoning in on labels lately since I tend to like random styles from different places. I do appreciate labels that aren't afraid to branch out. I've been really into re-listening to 90's electronic music and artists with mind blowing production techniques like Boards of Canada. They are quite past due on a new album. I would like them to come out with a quad-album to make up for lost time.

R: How would you describe your sound?
NP: Minimalist Maximus

R: Northern California or New York City?
NP: San York hands down.

R: Major or Minor Key?
NP: Major but in a minor way. Finding ways to combine them at the same time is fun.

Pick up Nature Program's latest release If More Space Is Needed out now on iTunes and other fine digital retailers.

If More Space Is Needed

Sat, 27 Aug 2011 17:05:03 -0400

Nature Program is back with a new EP entitled If More Space Is Needed. It will be available digitally on September 6, 2011. We are offering the first track Aqueduct & Conduit for free both here and on SoundCloud. You can also stream the rest of the EP. Consider yourself warned: This is a slow burner!

Nature Program � If More Space Is Needed by \\ RACECAR

Echoes Alike

Wed, 06 Jul 2011 21:13:02 -0400

A "friend of the family", so to speak, has released his debut album. Echoes Alike is the solo project of now Brooklyn based multi-instrumentalist Timothy Shrider. Shrider hails from Kentucky and is known for his drumming prowess in the legendary Drum and Bass outfit entitled Twilight Sleep which also included Love Between Equals and KFrey amongst others. Echoes Alike is his first proper solo-project. The Moon Monster EP is definitely a record that you want to get your hands on, beautiful and experimental all in the same measure.

For a sampling, watch the video for "Bi-Coastal" above.

Skeleton Hands

Wed, 01 Jun 2011 11:30:56 -0400

We are pleased to present a new project of Evan Sharfe (known to some as Evan Scott) to the fold. Comprised of Sharfe and Chase Anderson (sometimes known as 8 Bit Fit), Skeleton Hands, has released their first EP entitled Crystalline Dreams on Bandcamp. Skeleton Hands is blending the already hazy lines of New Wave and Classic-Era Post-Punk. Head on over and pick up their virgin effort for free and say hello.

Crystalline Dreams EP by SKELETON HANDS

Sorry, We Are The Fruhstucks

Thu, 17 Feb 2011 23:14:54 -0500

Last June we met a young man named Sutja Gutiérrez from Castellón de la Plana who introduced us to his newest vision, The Fruhstucks. At that time it was a one-man band but since he has initiated Miguel Cámara (Miguel Boxerinlove) on guitar. As the project morphed so did the sound. What finally emerged was a lo-fi, dream pop band that will make your ears fall in love, yesterday, today, and tomorrow.

As we came to know The Fruhstucks better we realized they were destined for vinyl. So without further adieu, we are pleased to present, finally, The Fruhstucks first record to you on March 15th, 2011. Sorry, We Are The Fruhstucks is a limited edition 7 inch pressed in Purple Tie-Dye available to 248 lucky lovers.

The best part? We have decided that we shouldn't make you wait! We are opening up the record for pre-release sale on our website and Bandcamp. Get those orders in quick and we'll get them out to you well before the actual release date. To boot, The Fruhstucks have decided to release the digital only bonus track, "My Punk Is Alive (Inside)" for free.

The Fruhstucks "My Punk Is Alive (Inside)" (click to download)

Ellie Herring Mini-View

Tue, 28 Dec 2010 14:17:22 -0500

A lot of things are happening with RACECAR these days (notice the slight name change), so we thought we'd ease you into the coming metamorphosis by introducing you to our newest signee, Ellie Herring. Ellie currently resides in Lexington, KY but will soon be making waves in Brooklyn, NY. Here is a small interview we did with Ellie over the holidays. Be sure to check out her now defunct band, Fair Heron's FREE EP on bandcamp and stay tuned for new releases coming from her and RACECAR.

RACECAR: You recently began a solo career apart from your project, Fair Heron? Do you find there are benefits to working alone?
Ellie Herring: Immersion. Working alone unleashed an arsenal of imagination, experimentation, and problem solving. Crafting the intangible alone has been engaging to say the very least.

R: Do you draw any influences from your place of residence?
EH: Very much so, I'm not ready to start pulling from my world of illusion just yet. Keyword there.

R: What does your live set-up consist of? Is it pre-planned before a gig or do you improvise on the fly?
EH: Currently there is a decent amount of pre-planning for shows, I play and trigger from a mac via launchpad, midi mixer, and midi keyboard so routing and mapping has to be done ahead of time. Any current improvisation is vocal, most of this material is fairly new, there is the occasional happy accident.

R: You come from a background in music theory, does this inspire any of your work?
EH: It absolutely does. Structures, bars, the math of it all is something I've been partnering with for a very long time. Those asinine theory workbooks are still playing the game. Snap to grid on says thank you.

R: What acts will you be watching this year? Labels?
EH: Labels... Sub Pop, Sincerely Yours, Fiction, Bpitch, Ghostly, Domino, Pictures /// Artists... Old and new... Pantha Du Prince, Mux Mool, Apparat, Creep, Clark, Memory Cassette, Ulrich Schnauss, Toro Y Moi, Boards of Canada, Lali Puna...

R: How would you describe your sound?
EH: An ambient, plotting, organized mess. Pacified chaos.

R: NYC or Lexington, KY?
EH: NYC / Brooklyn. *Checks calendar.

R: Major or Minor Key?
EH: Minor. Hammock of heartstrings.

Photo credit: Jack King

RCP Artist Studios

Fri, 20 Aug 2010 13:56:57 -0400

We thought we would give you a glimpse into the workspaces of a handful of our artists from around the world. Can you guess who’s studio belongs to what artist? If not there is an answer key at the bottom.

ʇɔəɾoɹd ɐʇəq ˙8 uɐıɹɐɹqıl əɥʇ ˙7 sʞɔnʇsɥnɹɟ əɥʇ ˙6 əzəs əp ɐɯɯə ˙5 spuɐɥ uoʇələʞs/pıʞ ʎxɐlɐƃ/ʇʇoɔs uɐʌə ˙4 uıəʇsuɹəq ˙3 ɹɥoɹ uoʌ ɹıs ˙2 ɯɐɹƃoɹd əɹnʇɐu ˙1

Never Say Die - FREE Download

Thu, 12 Aug 2010 16:17:30 -0400

As we stumble upon our half decade of existence we thought it would be high time to select a few releases and unreleased gems for the general public. These are songs that captured our hearts and were constantly on repeat, classics per se. We offer this as a reminder that the music of Race Car Productions is never disposable. Never say die.

Co-curated by The Librarian and Evan Scott, Never Say Die gives a wide range of the sounds RCP has brought to the table over the years, containing 4 previously unreleased tracks by the likes of 8 Bit Fit, Beta Project, KBFF, and a rare glimpse at New Models' humble beginnings. Please enjoy.

FREE DOWNLOAD (save as... | 115.4 MB, zip file)

Kill Cat$ - The Fruhstucks' music video

Tue, 03 Aug 2010 20:14:22 -0400

Promo film for The Fruhstucks' debut single, Hats & Cats. Directed by Adrian Lendinez.

The Librarian : Bound

Tue, 20 Jul 2010 14:51:58 -0400

Recently, The Librarian was off to see his wife in Michigan. As he relaxed in his rented penthouse a tornado was ravaging outer Detroit. As he watched the funnel clouds moving in he recorded a journey that travels through romance, death, and captivity all the while maintaining a sinister playfulness that only The Librarian can concoct.

Download this and other AERO sessions here. Or subscribe to the Citizens Band: Race Car Productions Podcast via iTunes or your application of choice.