BandFreaks Independent Music News for Today: July 19th, 2005

Today's Indie Music Headlines
+++ BandFreaks Independent Music Network Launches This Week with Innovative New "Band Finder"
+++ Unsigned Band Clap Your Hands Stirs Indie Buzz
+++ Angela Johnson @ Sugar Bar in NYC
+++ Dale Pantalione Releases "theominous drone"
+++ Indie label launches innovative CD/MP3 subscription package
+++ Los Angeles' Rising New Indie Rock Band Icebird Releases Debut Album "Magnitude"

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BandFreaks Independent Music Network Launches This Week with Innovative New "Band Finder"

(PRLEAP.COM) bandfreaks.com officially opened its doors to the general listening public today, signaling the beginning of what its owners believe will be a brand new way to find new independent music on the Internet. The BandFreaks Independent Music Network is one of the first of its kind, not only offering independent MP3 reviews, featured unknown artist coverage, an independent music community and news, but also unveiling its new "band finder"; a special tool designed to help everyday lovers of independent music quickly find new and unknown bands and artists worldwide.

"The difference is you can actually search from scratch, from nothing," says BandFreaks owner and content editor Avallon Julian DeBrill. "There are tons of places to search for all kinds of stuff, but the difference is they all assume you know what you’re looking for to begin with. When you’re looking for a new band, or a new artist, you’re thinking in abstract terms — you’re looking for something that feels like this, sounds like that, sung by a him or her, mixed with that, and so on. What we created is something that works just like that. You can actually get as specific as you want not even knowing what you want in the first place. And that’s what I think it is we all want."

According to DeBrill, the finder works a lot differently than what people are probably used to. "Bands sign up, add their information and a list of keywords that describe their sound, their location, their ‘vibe’, influences, or anything else they can think up. We try to make it easy for them. When a fan uses the Finder to search for a new band, the tool matches each of the keywords in their search to all of the bands in the Finder and gives them the top bands and artist for their search. You click on the link and go to the artist’s website. A lot of bands have been using this to increase plays at their artist pages, too.

"The idea is that a fan can sort of string together all sorts of terms with virtually no limit to how specific they can get," says Courtney O., one of BandFreaks’s staff music reviewers, "you can find yourself in a mood for a ‘Romantic moody tribal electronic female driven post rock solo artist from queens new york that sounds like Fru Fru and nine inch nails’ and use the tool to pin it down. The funny thing is, with all the new bands we’ve been getting in the Finder, you’ll probably find it."

A simple search at BandFreaks using the finder confirms Courtney’s theory — nearly 213 bands match these terms, including New York’s Ailanthus, described as "Dark industrial infused rock with femme fetale vocals". "Bands and artists with more matches come up first. Less specific ‘single term’ matches show up near the end of the list, just in case you feel like paging through them all."

In addition to the new band finder, BandFreaks also offers daily MP3 singles reviews in every genre, a weekly featured independent band or artist, an active community forum, categorized music links, and other regularly updated content.

Visit BandFreaks at http://www.bandfreaks.com

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Unsigned Band Clap Your Hands Stirs Indie Buzz

Cox News Service - Who needs a major label? Or an indie label, for that matter? Clap Your Hands Say Yeah's debut is on a collision course with the big time without either. Why? Because all the cool kids (and the patron saint of experimental rock) are talking.

Ever since Pitchfork, the arbiter of online indie music cool, gave it a rave, it's been flying off the shelves at indie stores. Now the big guys are starting to paying attention.

The first pressing of 2,000 copies was gone a couple of weeks ago. A second run of 5,000 is dwindling, and the band has ordered more. The Brooklyn, N.Y.-based band is getting attention as far away as Atlanta.

"We've sold [more than] 60, with more every day," said Atlanta indie store Criminal Records' Eric Levin, adding that he just ordered 60 more last week. "We are the only store in Atlanta with it, so that helps."

It also helps that it's good.

The band sounds something like cuddlesome Scottish combo Belle and Sebastian in a tightly contested pillow fight with early Talking Heads over the last Velvet Underground album in the rack. It's a sound that seems fully formed, despite the fact that CYHSY frontman, Philadelphia-based Alec Ounsworth's passionate delivery, cracked in all the right places, is the band's trump card.

Band members, who are mailing out the discs themselves, are getting a quick lesson on the power of the Internet. "I'm becoming slowly more familiar with the inner workings of the World Wide Web," said Ounsworth with a chuckle. "Apparently, people use their computers. So, I guess that's it."

"Right now, Pitchfork [www. pitchforkmedia.com] has an incredibly active and responsive readership," explained Criminal's Levin.

Ounsworth estimated that 20 to 30 companies have expressed an interest since the band began more than a year ago, but he's not going to jump into anything.

"If I can afford to be indecisive I will be," Ounsworth said, laughing. "I think it might be wise to consider something a little before our tour in September, simply because it would be nice to know that somebody else is taking care of it while were out playing."

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Angela Johnson @ Sugar Bar in NYC

I Spysoul Radio @ Ispysoul.com and Nouveau Soundz present Purpose Records artist Angela Johnson performimg music from her outstanding new release "Got to Let it Go."

(PRWEB) -- Ispysoul radio @ ispysoul.com and Nouveau Soundz present Purpose Record Artist ANGELA JOHNSON performimg music from her outstanding new release " GOT TO LET IT GO," which some critics are already touting as one of the best soul Cd's of the year.

Born and raised in Utica New York, Angela has been making music practically her whole life. A musical child prodigy, Angela began playing the piano by ear at the tender age of four. At age 9 she was introduced to the violin. Like many of her contemporaries, Angela received most of her musical experience in the church, where as a teenager she served as church organist and choir director.

Angela later applied these experiences to gain admission to the State University of N.Y. at Purchase as a violin major. While attending S.U.N.Y., Angela developed an ear for studio production, and discovered her talent as a performance artist. Her underlying love for R&B and Soul, ultimately lead Angela to join together with fellow S.U.N.Y. student Christian Urich (Tortured Soul) to form the legendary R&B band, Cooly’s Hot Box. Cooly's has been together for over a decade now, and they’ve recorded and released several dance floor classics (“What A Surprise,” “Make Me Happy,” “We Don’t Have To Be Alone”) as well as two albums, “Take It” (2002 Higher Octave/Virgin), “Don’t Be Afraid, Get On” (2004 Purpose).

Angela’s multifaceted talent as producer/songwriter/singer has allowed her to collaborate with such notable artist as Maysa Leak “All Day Long” (writer), Rahsaan Patterson “Dream Flight” (producer/co-writer), Gordon Chambers “Get Away” (producer/co-writer), Laurnea “No Shame” (producer/co-writer), Reel People “Can’t Stop” (vocalist/co-writer), Monét “Wanna Kiss You” (producer/co-writer) and Seek “Journey Into Day” (co-writer) to name a few. In 2001 Angela wrote and produced the top ten hit “Angel” for Japanese R&B superstar, Double, selling more than 500,000 copies. Angela has also produced remixes for Jimmy Sommers feat. Macy Gray (“Love life”) and Donnie (“Cloud 9”) with DJ Spinna.

Angela’s music has been prominently featured on UPN’s “Kevin Hill” (Taye Diggs), FX’s “The Shield” (Michael Chiklis) and The WB’s “Roswell.” In April 2005 SBC Global.net (AT&T/Cingular) launched a Television Ad campaign for there DSL service, that features Angela Johnson and Cooly’s Hot Box as the centerpiece of the commercial, complete with visual clips of the band performing the song, "Lose Your Friends."

"Got to Let It Go" is the highly anticipated follow up to Angela's critically acclaimed solo debut CD "They Don’t Know,” This twelve track journey through Angela’s childhood musical influences, is destined to become a classic. For someone so incredibly self-contained, Angela wields an easy hand with her tracks, relying on smart lyrics and arrangements to get her point across. She never seems to be showing off. She is sincere and confident enough to let her music speak for itself without being trendy.

No question, Angela owes a debt to such ‘70’s soul elements as solid melodies, heartfelt vocals, ditto for ‘80’s technology like drum and keyboard programming, used liberally throughout the CD.

“Got to Let It Go” includes stellar contributions from Angela’s band members Trevor Holder (drums), Justin Wallace (bass), Jeremy James (guitar & vocals), Lisala Beatty (vocals) and Tricia Angus (vocals). Other special guests include Jacques Schwartz-Bart (saxophone and flute), Matt Schulman (trumpet), Ernesto Abreu (percussion), Monét (flute and vocals) and Pauline Kim (violin).

Angela’s musical craft emanates and expresses the true musicianship that is lacking so often these days from some of her “pseudo soul” commercial brothers and sisters. Make no mistake, Angela Johnson is the real deal!

Angela's new cd "Got to Let it Go" is in the stores now and also available through cdbaby.com.

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Dale Pantalione Releases "theominous drone"

The "Architect of Sound" and builds on his career with a satisfying album for his fans and critics.

Long known in the indie underground music scene as a pioneer for his groundbreaking work in both film, and as leader of experimental bands Liquid Eclipse, and Identical Strangers, Dale Pantalione improves on his career.

Pantalione is probably one of the most important, and underrated artists to come along New Jersey's DIY music scene. His creative output since 1995 has rivaled that of Robert Pollard of Guided By Voices fame. Once more he plugs away creating his fantastically catchy and heartfelt music.

"theominous drone" is Dale's sixth solo outing for Elsewhere Records since 1995, and this time he fuses Peter Gabriel-esque pop sensibilities, with Brian Eno-esque textures, with shades of Lennon and McCartney's early solo work.

Comparisons aside, the interplay between ethereal vocals, and alternatingly droning soundscapes, breathes life into the album's original twelve raw tracks, which deal with the darker side of relationships. So, if you are expecting Coldplay, you won't find it here!

As he's done in the past, Pantalione plays all the instruments himself. His "wall of sound" is a stunning mix of funky fuzzed-out guitars, found objects, surreal instrumental work, and hypnotic rhythms. Even though his grandiose production has devolved since his Liquid Eclipse days, he still manages to immerse the listener in a soaring wave of sonic expression.

The album's stand-out track, "Virgin In the Flowers" features the prominent vocal styings of Caroline Bridges, a talented young songwriter from the UK, who may gain even more attention from this particular song.

In all, this is Dale Pantalione at his rawest and most dramatic, an album woth sorting out.

http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/pantzfanz/

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Indie label launches innovative CD/MP3 subscription package

(PRLEAP.COM) Long Beach, CA. – Independent label 'Sounds Are Active' has introduced a subscription package available through their website (www.soundsareactive.com) that provides over 10 albums of content plus a DVD for less than $40. The multi-platform subscription includes CD quality (192kps), DRM-free mp3 downloads, physical CD releases and an exclusive live DVD. The package covers present and future releases through the end of 2005.

No stranger to off-the-wall innovation, Sounds Are Active also offers two t-shirts on their website that come with free downloadable music. According to label founder and musician Chris Schlarb they aren’t interested in the ancient formula of brick and mortar distribution, “Our experience with distributors has been spotty at best. If we can offer something unique to our fans I think we stand a better chance of sticking around a while. Obviously people are listening to music differently than they did just five years ago. And by the same token I don’t think you can control music the same way it was controlled a few years ago. With our subscription package you can burn the downloadable albums to CD or rip the CD’s and listen on your iPod and the quality of our mp3’s are much higher than iTunes minus any restrictions on how you can listen to it. So far the feedback has been very positive.”

Included in the subscription package are CD releases from Electric iLL (side project of Viva Voce drummer/singer Kevin Robinson) and Create (!)’s newest free jazz recording which features Raymond Raposa of the Castanets. Among the downloadable releases are Soul-Junk side project Golden Poultry Error and Texas jazz-rockers MakeShift:Shelter. The first mp3 release, an ambient/electronic collaboration from Xn. And Deneir is available now for download. In another interesting twist, all of the downloadable albums are free to the public whether a subscriber or not.

Founded in 1999, Sounds Are Active is an independent record label based out of Long Beach, CA. In addition to releasing jazz, electronic, hip-hop and experimental music, Sounds Are Active has been recognized in teaching, charity and mentoring efforts throughout Los Angeles County parks and schools.

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Los Angeles' Rising New Indie Rock Band Icebird Releases Debut Album "Magnitude"

(PRLEAP.COM) Los Angeles, CA - Los Angeles based indie rock trio Icebird is set to release their much awaited debut album MAGNITUDE by FSR (Flying Squirrel Records). While performing exhaustively in hot spots from Los Angeles to Las Vegas to New York over the past year, the band met continually with increasing audience demand for available recordings. The band entered Red Rockets Glare in early February 2005 emerging ten days later with an energetic recording that captures the frenetic drive of the band’s live performances in an extraordinary live-tracked studio album. For mastering, Icebird sent the album to John Golden, who is best know for his work with Sonic Youth and the entire Kill Rock Stars catalog.

Already generating positive response from early listeners, Tom Pilla of Kill Radio fame had this to say about MAGNITUDE, “From the hypnotic melodic groove of ‘Starting Line’ to the blistering speaker-wrecking of ‘ABABA’ this album is solid from start to finish. Well crafted and diverse MAGNITUDE is one of the best rock albums in 2005. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for this band."

With the release of MAGNITUDE, Los Angeles finally finds a band truly unrelenting in their pursuit of raw rock, uncompromising energy and genuine musical cohesion that contains an array of influences ranging from Wire to AC/DC; from Slint to Mission of Burma. All of these elements align to deliver the always unique Icebird sound.

For more information about Icebird and their debut album MAGNITUDE visit the band website at www.icebirdband.com.

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