When an artist splinters off from their main group for a side project, they're often carving an outlet for some unclaimed impulse, often an itching, obscure ambition constrained by their main outfit. For singer/songwriter Tim Kasher, though, his band the Good Life has often felt like an avenue to showcase his consistent side — a quiet stretch of unbroken highway, miles away from the teetering tornado of his concurrent post-hardcore shitstorm Cursive.
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The London based quartet, The Kinks , were one of the most influential bands from the British Invasion movement of the early 60's. The band wowed listeners around the world with timeless Brit-rock masterpieces, "You Really Got Me" and "All Day and and All of the Night." However, it wasn't until the autumn of 1968 that the band hit their hippy stride, chronicling the perfect peaceful group gems, The Kinks are the Village Green Preservation Society. Back in the day, the album's record sales were poor but the critics praised it's pure genius, crafty songwriting and baroque-like countrified rock. Each song tells a story of a precious time gone by that would sit nicely between the Zombies, Odessey & The Oracle and the Beach Boys' Smile or even Donovan's Greatest Hits. The self-titled track is one of the coolest hippy songs of the 60's with its coy philosophy about preserving everything from strawberry jam to Donald Duck. Although there is a song not to be missed on this delightful summer record, "Starstruck" and "Animal Farm" are certainly stand-outs. Enhance your listening pleasure by kicking back in the sun with a tall boy from Half Acre's heavenly hopped Daisy Cutter.
The Village Green Preservation
Dream pop's recent resurgence, coaxing pensive lyrics over oft-stripped down instrumentals of soaring melodies, has dominated the indie scene. The purveyors of such compares it to the summer through terms like surfing, sunny, and beaches. Relatedly Tim Kasher's The Good Life reside on the other hemisphere, coaxing out winters and autumn through somber subjects accompanied by warming embers of bright compositions. "Your son is a glorious mess who wrecks anything he adores. But deep in his center he swears there's a candle waiting to burn…and melt."
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Milwaukee-based electronic duo Signaldrift celebrate the release of their new album and kick off a 4-date tour Tuesday at The Empty Bottle. Signaldrift originated as the solo project of Franz Buchholtz, who has since been joined by John Goelzer, and their debut album as a duo, Two Agents, was released on May 25. Bringing a post-rock approach to IDM, the album showcases the two collaborators’ progressive, accessible and cinematic sound. Signaldrift is joined on tour by Casino Versus Japan, the moniker of Milwaukee-based electronic maestro Erik Kowalski, whose lush, dream-like music invokes the ambience of high atmosphere transmissions on his latest release, Night on Tape. Nudge, the minimalist IDM collective centered around Brian Foote, Paul Dickow and vocalist Honey Owens, also supports.
Casino Versus Japan / Nudge / Signaldrift at The Empty Bottle -- Tuesday June 1st at 9:30pm. Tickets are only $8 at the door.
Signaldrift - "Yesterday's Tomorrow"
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