If my posting prowess stays at the same level, this may be my only post for 2012.

I’ve done stuff, I’ll keep doing stuff.

Anyhow. Updates.

This album:

Is still out there.  The vinyl never materialized and my money vanished.  We’re not the only ones.  See http://www.bewarepoly-cut.com/ for more info.

Other stuff.

I still post things over at

 http://soundcloud.com/mount-mole

Here’s one such thing:

Finally:

Also the awesome folks at B3nson allowed me to make a song for their song of the week feature for 2012.  I made a video for that:

That’s it for now.  I’ve got my hands full with a lot of other concerns at the moment, so it might be thin for a while.

I update the Mount Mole facebook page more often, so check in there.

Well…today’s my arbitrary release date and no sign of the vinyl.  I sent the masters in back in early July, so I had hoped I’d have my 20 copies by now. While I hope that I’d have the vinyl by now, I suspected something was wrong back around Rest Fest. Ah…well…They could still come.

The packaging is something I’m really proud of (I collaborated with my cousin), so I’m still holding out hope that I’ll have something to sell/give away. In the meantime, I’m opening up the album for a pay what you want download for (at least) the first week. That includes free. My ultimate goal when I make a record is for people to hear it. I gave up the fantasy of making money from music long ago. And since this album cost me exactly nothing to make (aside from the as yet unrealized vinyl), it only makes sense to give it away to those already aware of Mount Mole.

Go grab yours HERE while it’s still free.

Hey surprise!!! This weekend is Restoration Festival in Albany and Mount Mole is actually going to play a live show.  I told myself that I wouldn’t ever present this project live, but that changed when I was asked nicely.  There are a couple of  factors that led me to say yes. The first is that no one will actually see me, so I don’t have to worry about presentation.  Frankly…I generally find it boring watching the one-man-band thing and didn’t want to subject anyone to that.  I’m going to be perched way up in an organ loft hidden behind a giant organ.  I’m also afraid of heights, so I ain’t going anywhere near the edge.

I also convinced Mike Hotter from Swamp Baby to play guitar on a song.  Oh…and I finished writing that song yesterday.  This is going to be white knuckle “hope it works” music.  It’s more fun living dangerously.  Three all new songs written in the past week.  I had to make it as hard as possible for myself.  On the other hand, I didn’t have to think hard about how to interpret the stuff I’ve put on record.  Starting with a blank slate let me tailor the performance.

Anyhow…I’m psyched.

As of today, the album is off to the cutter and should be available by the 9/6 release date.  So…I’m opening up pre-orders of vinyl.  Ordering the vinyl today, means that you get the mp3s (or pick your format) today.  There’s only 16 copies of the vinyl out of the run of 20 that are up for grabs.  If you’re a blog or radio, drop me a line and I’ll get you a code.

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About the vinyl:

• The Vinyl is clear 10″ lathe-cut vinyl
• The Sleeves are transparent PVC with an image (like the one at left) printed on a transparency inserted into the sleeve.  It looks really, really nice.
• There are 20 different images photos by [i]anderson. Every copy is unique.
• Due to limitations in this cutting process, the vinyl is in MONO.  The downloads you’ll receive are in full blown stereo.
• The album was mastered with both mono and stereo in mind.
• It’s priced at a slight loss ($11.99), but you can always pay more if you’re feeling generous.

I’ve debated doing a CD edition, but in this age of downloads, it just doesn’t make sense.  I may reconsider if enough folks ask.  Downloads for non-vinyl buyers will not be opened until a few days after the last vinyl ships.  Yes, it’ll probably be cheaper for download only, but you don’t get that beautiful vinyl.  If the record comes in early or late, I’ll let you know either way.

And just so you know what you’re buying…stream it here.

It’s coming.  The latest Mount Mole record is going to be released sometime over the summer as a small batch (20 copies) mono lathe-cut 10″  clear vinyl record.  Right now the target date for release sits in August, depending on the backlog of the cutter.  The cover art is a photo by Ian Anderson.  I will likely sell these via Bandcamp (which will include a stereo download) and I expect the price will come in around $12 a copy.  I’m probably taking a small loss on these, but I do this for love, not money.

I will hold off on selling digital copies until all of the vinyl is sold.  That said, there will be streamable previews.  This is the 21st Century after all. Stay tuned for more.

Here’s the tracklist:

Side A:

1. Orchestral Maneuvers in the Dark
2. Is False, Is Fake
3. Fits and Starts
4. Signal
5. The Atmosphere is Thin and Our Lungs are Getting Light
6. Ice Man Cometh

Side B

1. Poplar Birds
2. Find the Exit
3. Yeah, Whatever, I Surrender
4. Mountain of Snow
5. Beautiful, All That Dirt

Here’s a yet to be mastered version of “The Atmosphere is Thin and Our Lungs Are Getting Light”

 

I’ve received a bunch of acapellas from the good folks at Big Digits and have commenced remixing.  The first (and all future BD approved) remixes are listenable below until they aren’t anymore.  I haven’t heard the actual record, titled Know Tomorrow,  yet which is out this summer on Anchor Brain.  I can’t wait, but I will wait in the interest of not tainting my idea of what the remixes should be.  I like blank canvases.

In the meantime, check their tumblr regularly and like them on facebook.  It’s well worth your time.

After some deliberation, I’ve decided to post the output of my 2011 RPM Challenge work.  The reason for the deliberation was that even though I’m happy with the music, I didn’t have the time/inspiration for words of any sort.  I expect that at some point I’ll tweak it and I’ll have an album that I want to release.

I’m also thinking that this work will mark the end of my stint with “fake” music.  I love it, but I’m ready to sit with guitars and amps again…at least for a while.  If you like what you hear here, don’t worry…I have 2 more album in the can (or in varying stages of the can) that will get released.  I need to spend some time catching up.

Anyhow, stream/download it here:

http://mountmole.bandcamp.com/album/frame-work

It’ll come down in about a month, so get it while it exists.

A mention this morning on Gimme Tinnitus reminded me that I should repost this:

This song was previously titled “Craft Worker” for the obvious homage that it is. I always intended to write lyrics for it, but nothing felt quite right. Instead, I got used to the (accidentally left in) chatter from the films I mined in the video. Those have now worked their way back into the song. The one discernable line is “We’re getting your signal. Are you receiving ours?” As good a title for the song as any.

Anyhow. I’m close on the record. I still have about three tracks that still need additional vocal work, but after that it’s off to mastering.

Photo by Ian Anderson

• I (Mount Mole) am in another band.  We’re called The Pill Crows and we’re a “real” band.  It’s definitely more standard indie-rock fare than MM.  I am proud of the fact that I’m a man of varied tastes and limited abilities.
• I’m participating in the RPM challenge this month.  This effort, should I succeed, will technically be my 4th album, though it will likely be my 2nd release (not counting those Free-P’s that are up in the store.
• Most of the tracks for the upcoming “Art Official” have been done since September aside from vocals.  On the plus side, I’ve finally set up a space where I can record vocals, so I’m looking forward to opening the floodgates. Below is a sampling of the record.  It includes a rap.  I’m not sure it fits on the record, but for now, you can hear it and weep.
• I have a third record that the music is done for, but I haven’t written any lyrics.  It’s got the tentative title of “Mouton Elm”.

Another track from the upcoming record. Get fonkeeee. Whatever. Also as a side note, I’ve finally figured out a genre tag for what I do. Wavecore.