From the Aquarius Records mailing list.
Howdy everybody,
Wow, have we been hosting some kick ass instores. Thanks to everybody
for coming down and making the bands and artists feel at home.
The most recent was Nadja, all the way from Torronto, and they were
definitely the loudest instore we've had since Alec Empire way back
when. But it wasn't just loud, it was thick and textural and really
really pretty.
If you missed it, we'll soon be posting photos on the aQ site, as
well as photos and recordings from past instores! And while we have a
bunch more instores planned for the future, the only one you need to
concern yourself with right now is this one...
So if you're in the neighborhood tomorrow, be sure to come by the
store for a very special appearance by:
JOHN MAUS
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26th
6:00 p.m.
Right here, at AQUARIUS RECORDS
1055 Valencia Street (btwn 21st and 22nd)
Folks who caught Maus a couple nights ago, or saw him at SXSW, know
what a wild, crazy, sweaty and fun show this one-man band puts on.
For those of you who are new to the twisted pop world of John Maus,
here's what we had to say about his last record:
The year is only just beginning but there have already been some
amazing new records released that we're pretty sure will end up on
our favorites of '08 list. This new outing by the enigmatic John Maus
is one of them and it might just be the most engrossing and addicting
albums we've been hooked on in a long time!
Best and barley known in the past as being loosely associated with
the Paw Tracks family (Animal Collective, Panda Bear, Ariel Pink)
Maus has made a record that will make his name definitely stand on
its own. As he's created one of the most fantastical, bizarre and
engaging pop records in recent memory. Warped bedroom pop with a
flair for fantasy, wrapped in old fucked up synths, deep slowed down
vocals, cosmic beats and a singular unique vision. Like OMD on
codeine or early home demo recordings of The Cure captured on an
answering machine tape that's been dubbed over way too many times. Or
imagine a soundtrack to a lost early '80s movie made by both John
Hughes and John Carpenter, as romantic teenage life intersects with
magical apocalyptic doom! Love Is Real is as creepy and mystifying as
it is heartfelt and endearing. As catchy as it is unpredictable. Out
of nowhere the synths will rise to crazy loud levels or Maus will let
out a haunting scream, and even after listening to this album
hundreds of time as we have obsessively already, those parts still
jump out, scare, startle and thrill us every time we listen.
Start to finish the album is impeccable. Songs lead into each other
perfectly, the pacing is dead on, and every single track on the
record belongs where it is and has a weight of its own. Whether it's
sounding like the muddiest version of a Psychedelic Furs track or
tapping into a bizarre drugged out cosmic disco excursion or having a
freaked out panic attack, the record pulls from so many directions
while always sounding like a completely other universe. This is what
fantasy sounds like when the world around you is falling apart.
Totally amazing!
Hard to imagine what it will be like live, amidst the racks of
records and cds, crammed into the corner by the Tron machine... but
we're sure it'll be unforgettable. Don't miss it.
(sorry I forgot most of the quote last time for some reason.)