Unlike other birds of prey, the Barn Owl (Tyto alba) has a close relationship with man. Akin to a flying, feathered feline, the Barn Owl hunts and eats pests around the farm in exchange for a warm and safe place to nest. With enormous eyes adapted for nocturnal hunting, the Barn Owl flies through the air, attacking and killing its prey in one fell swoop. Even with its magnificent eyesight, the Barn Owl’s greatest attribute is its hearing. The owl’s ears are so finely tuned it can track down, catch, and kill rodents in total darkness. If there is any justice, the common Barn Owl will use its auditory abilities to check out the new album from San Francisco band Barn Owl.
Bad David Attenborough impressions aside, Thrill Jockey is releasing V, the new album from Jon Porras and Evan Caminiti a.k.a. Barn Owl on April 16. Recorded last summer in San Francisco, with production by Phil Manley of Trans Am and The Fucking Champs fame, it is the follow up to 2011’s Lost in the Glare and sees the duo incorporating electronics and synthesizers into their already deeply textured brand of hypnotic psychedelia. Drum machines now augment their haunting, slow-building soundscapes. Static hiss hints at a rhythm beneath the surface. The influence of dub and minimal techno helps to blur the line between tracks, moods, and themes. V is looking to be the most complex and intricately constructed Barn Owl album yet.
Just as the majestic Barn Owl eats voles, mice, and occasionally small birds, the band has a full plate on its hands, too. The members of the human Barn Owl are organizing a music series called Remote View.
Remote View will focus on Bay-area bands taking part in what is billed as “realtime experiments in performance and sound.” The series will focus on experimental electronic music performances accompanied by a visual component, looking to explore the interaction between aural and visual stimuli. Remote View is the brain child of Caminiti and Porras as well as fellow Bay-area artists Lisa McGee (of Higuma) and Sky Madden. The Remote View series is bookended by performances featuring Caminiti, beginning with Painted Caves (Caminiti’s modular synthesizer project) and concluding on the third date with a performance by Barn Owl.
Remote View dates (all at The Lab in San Francisco):
02.15.13 - Painted Caves, Austin Cesear, It’s Own Infinite Flower, Paul Clipson
03.09.13 - Vallens, Ensemble Enconomique, KWJAZ
04.05.13 - Barn Owl
As well as taking part of the Remote View series, Barn Owl is planning a tour of US cities as well as shows across Europe but so far have only officially announced UK tourdates:
04.26.13 - Bristol, UK - The Cube
04.27.13 - Birmingham, UK - St. Paul’s Church
04.28.13 - Glasgow, UK - The Old Hairdressers
04.29.13 - Leeds, UK - Wharf Chambers
04.30.13 - Brighton, UK - Green Door Store
05.01.13 - London, UK - The Lexington (w/ Koen Holtkamp)
• Barn Owl: http://www.electrictotem.com
• Painted Caves: http://paintedcaves.tumblr.com
• Thrill Jockey: http://www.thrilljockey.com
More about: Barn Owl, Painted Caves
