Angel Tapes, the Fire Talk Records sub-label that brought you artists like ira glass, Shower Curtain, Jawdropped, Sleeper's Bell, and more, just announced their newest signing. It's gash, a group of Eau Claire experimentalists who've earned the endorsement of the Wisconsin city's well-known export Justin Vernon. They'll perform at Vernon's revived Eaux Claires festival later this month. Here's what Mr. Bon Iver says:
gash is [Eau Claire’s] great export right now. And I think they're just doing such inventive work, and I just love their music, and they represent, I don't know, Eau Claire's identity of always do your own thing. And do it for yourself.
That's enthusiastic but not very specific. To elaborate, gash's forthcoming album at least you know what you’re laughing at combines samples from band founder Logan Nyberg’s digitized home videos with new guitar-based compositions. The results are woozy, whispery, and full of left turns, part of a lineage of underground favorites like the Microphones and Spirit Of The Beehive.
Opening track "good and bad" is also the album's lead single. It ends with blood-curdling screams from gash's Breckelle Bathke, and it comes with a video by Kyle Scherber. A word from gash on that:
Kyle is a visual artist that went to UWEC, and after graduating this year moved to Minneapolis. While Kyle was in Eau Claire, he was heavily involved in the DIY scene, doing visuals for local shows and DJ-ing house shows. We wanted Kyle to do the video because he’s always working more and more ambitiously, and we were curious to see what he could bring to gash’s music.
Watch below, where you'll also find gash's July tour dates.
TRACKLIST:
01 "good and bad"
02 "godded"
03 "risking heaven"
04 "professional"
05 "holiday time"
06 "eyelids"
07 "data master"
08 "at least you know what you’re laughing at"
TOUR DATES:
07/09 - Omaha, NE @ Petshop
07/10 - Wichita, KS @ Lumberyard
07/11 - Lawrence, KS @ Replay Lounge
07/12 - Oklahoma City, OK @ Resonant Head
07/13 - Denton, TX @ Rubber Glove
07/14 - Austin, TX @ Chess Club
07/15 - Dallas, TX @ TBA
07/16 - Tulsa, OK @ Whittier Bar
07/17 - Columbia, MO @ Rose Music Hall
07/18 - Davenport, IA @ Skatepark Show
07/25 - Eau Claire, WI @ Eaux Claires Festival
at least you know what you’re laughing at is out 9/25 on Angel Tapes/Fire Talk. Pre-order it here.
