Russ Waterhouse and Lea Cho are making up for lost time after a quiet period following the release of Local Flavor (TMT Review) in 2009 (which made the top 20 of our year-end list). In November they released a full-length collaboration with spiritual comedian Laraaji as an entry in RVNG Intl.’s FRKWYS series, which itself contained a near-full-length of bonus jams, and now they’re all finished with a solo album proper, which will be released on Drag City on June 19 as per their contract to release at least one thing on every great label that is currently active.
The new album is called Valley Tangents and was recorded in part at Black Dirt Studios (like the last few releases) and in another part at their peaceful new home in East Pennsylvania. Their new environs and recent ambient work with Laraaji have moved them in the direction of more peaceful sound exploration, in some ways recalling the moody minimal environments of their Watersports alter ego. But don’t even start to entertain the notion that the duo might be abandoning their “signature Debussy via Guaraldi qua Bley qua Hornsby pianisms,” because that’s on the album in spades; Russ Waterhouse told our own Elliott Sharp over at Philadelphia Weekly that the album would be “an expansion on the things we’ve already done.” An East Village Radio interview also reveals that drummer Tatsuya Nakatani will be playing percussion on two tracks. Eventually you’ll be able to preorder the album here — even on cassette if you choose!
In the meantime, Blues Control are bringing ol’ Laraaji on the road with them to spread the belly laughs all over Europe (with one test drive Brooklyn date on March 28). See those dates below, join the thingie on Facebook, and have a truly inspiring day. You are beautiful and you will stay beautiful.
Valley Tangents tracklisting:
01. Love’s a Rondo
02. Iron Pigs
03. Opium Den/Fade to Blue
04. Walking Robin
05. Open Air
06. Gypsum
Blues Control & Laraaji dates:
03.28.12 - Brooklyn, NY - Roulette
04.12.12 - Lisbon, Portugal - Kolovrat 79
04.13.12 - Madrid, Spain - Electrónica en Abril $ #
04.14.12 - Guimarães, Portugal - Centro Cultural Vila Flor
04.15.12 - Vigo, Spain - Club Sinsal
04.18.12 - Bordeaux, France - I.Boat
04.19.12 - Barcelona, Spain - Electrónica en Abril %
04.21.12 - Hasselt, Belgium - KC Belgie ^
04.22.12 - Rotterdam, Netherlands - Worm @
04.25.12 - Paris, France - Le Batofar
04.26.12 - Lausanne, Switzerland - Impetus Fest
04.27.12 - Bologna, Italy - Live Arts Week
$ Hype Williams
# Thomas Köner
% Keith Fullerton Whitman
^ Michael Chapman
@ AU
• Blues Control: http://www.facebook.com/bluescontrol
• Laraaji: http://laraaji.blogspot.com
• Drag City: http://www.dragcity.com
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