SPIN Archives - Various Small Flames

Ola Podrida Announce New Album – Ghosts Go Blind

Jon Doyle — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 14:17:50 +0000

Ola Podrida the recording project of film score composer David Wingo (who has composed soundtracks for films such as the brilliant Take Shelter, as well as teaming up with Explosions in the Sky to do the soundtrack to the upcoming Prince Avalanche, which premiered at Sundance last month). Between his work on movie soundtracks, Wingo assembled a live band and recorded a new album under his Ola Podrida moniker. The new album – Ghosts Go Blind – will be the band’s third, after their self-titled debut and 2009’s Belly of The Lion (which I strongly recommend if you are unfamiliar with them), and is currently slated for release on the 30th of April on Western Vinyl (who seem to be collecting great artists). I for one can’t wait to hear it – the blurb promises:

“The.. songs are energetic and accessible, while Wingo’s abstract narratives are more personal and intimate than ever.”

Staying In, the first song from the album to be released, is now available to stream/download via Soundcloud after premiering on SPIN. Check it out in the player below. Also, if you are heading to SXSW next month, be sure to check out Ola Podrida’s live performance

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John Maus – We Must Become Pitiless Censors of Ourselves

Jon Doyle — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 11:43:40 +0000

John Maus is an interesting man. Born in 1980 in Austin, Minnesota, he went to study music at California Institute of Arts, later studied philosophy in Switzerland and is currently working towards a PhD in political science. He has also found the time to release three albums and other recordings (around fifteen according to Wikipedia, some dating as far back as 1991). Add to this work with Ariel Pink and its clear Maus is a busy man.

We Must Become Pitiless Censors of Ourselves is the third album, scheduled for release on June 27^th by Upset the Rhythm (June 28^th in the US on Ribbon Music). The album is as strange as it is interesting, combining melancholy vocals with synths and drum machines reminiscent of a soundtrack to a 80s movie. I find myself getting a strange impression when listening that is hard to put a finger on. It’s almost as if John Maus is a fictional character/artist in some dystopian novel or film, part of a weird otherworldly time where past and future are confused. SPIN describe him as ‘retro-futurist’, a term I find suitably contradicting for an album like ’We Must Become…’.

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