Jason Lescalleet-Songs About Nothing

[jon abbey]

I'm a little early on this, but I'm very proud to announce the latest Erstwhile release is about to go to the printers, and will be available in about three weeks. Songs About Nothing is the third in the ErstSolo series after Keith Rowe-The Room and Toshimaru Nakamura-maruto, and is the first double CD on the imprint. Songs About Nothing essentially contains two independent powerhouse releases (Trophy Tape and Road Test) from the ever reliable Lescalleet, two of his strongest discs ever, bundled for a semi-bargain price.

as usual, I haven't yet finished the PR for this (and may not do one at all), but I'm ready to start accepting preorders for it now since I have bills to pay. it's a double CD, so it's $23 in the US/Canada, $26 anywhere else in the world (those include shipping), paypal to ErstRecs@aol.com and I'll send your copy as soon as I get it (around July 17), plus if you ask, I will send you a link to CD-quality digital files as soon as they're ready (not quite yet). if you want to order multiple items and save on shipping, please e-mail me first as always so I can put them aside/make sure I have them for you and give you a shipping estimate/total. thanks!

[p_ano]

oh my god yes, it's time to break out the psychedelics.

[jon abbey]

I should have this in about two weeks, and am now sending out a DL link with preorders. early feedback so far has been as strong as it should be, two bundled album of the year candidates IMO. I recommend hearing it as soon as possible, I will not be able to keep people from spilling the surprises for too much longer.

also, anyone in or around NYC should come see the man at the Stone on Sunday, 8 PM. he pretty much never fails to deliver and has been playing more shows than ever before in recent months.

[jon abbey]

I don't think I've ever intentionally tried to muzzle discussion of a disc I've put out like this, it's certainly not for lack of excitement on my part.

in lieu of substantial discussion for now, some quotes from the first episode of Tenacious D that I feel apply here:

"Where do songs come from? Inspirado. "

"Warning. If you want your asses blown out, stay in the room."

"Always record, always record."

[drip]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQnaRtNMGMI

[jon abbey]

a couple of sound clips up, as picked by Jason:

http://www.erstwhilerecords.com/catalog/ES003.html (click on tracks)

[drip]

like p_ano, i'm also looking forward to songs about nothing. the sound samples don't give anything away, imo.
i remember you (jon abbey) mentioned the difference between his past releases and live sets, favoring the live lescalleet as more powerful. so will songs about nothing be more in the vein of his live sets?
looking at the track listing, i guess disc one will be more composed, made from studio recordings, while disc two might be a long, improvised drone recording…

i also wonder if the artwork is in any way a reference to another record, like he did before?

[billygomberg]

i also wonder if the artwork is in any way a reference to another record, like he did before?

don't think there is much to wonder about. chronologically:

[jon abbey]

remember you (jon abbey) mentioned the difference between his past releases and live sets, favoring the live lescalleet as more powerful. so will songs about nothing be more in the vein of his live sets?

there's definitely a difference between lescalleet live and on record, but it's not that the live version is more powerful exactly. it's complicated, part of it is that jason doesn't really consider himself an improviser (although he is capable of improvising very well), and of course a recording is easier to control than a concert on an often not-up-to-the-test sound system. I guess maybe disc 2 of SAN is one of the closer attempts he's made to recreating a live show, but there will always be a gap there, for the better, I'd say (concerts and recordings are different animals and should be different in most cases).

looking at the track listing, i guess disc one will be more composed, made from studio recordings, while disc two might be a long, improvised drone recording

heh, not a great guess, but you don't have to guess as you can pick one up for yourself and just listen...

[barry]

yep, side two comes closer to his live shows IMO. a few listens in now and i am liking this one more and more.

[grisha]

great, great release. dense and full of detail (and on the first CD, not only musical). so far has been worth every listen i've given it, and that's been a few.

[jon abbey]

looks like I won't get these until early next week, but the sample digipaks look great:

[jon abbey]

this is out now, preorders have shipped, distro and promo copies should go out soon.

[anasara]

interesting that he doesn't consider himself an improviser. has he spoken about this anywhere in particular, or just in private conversation?

i actually wrote a long, uhm, rumination, of sorts, after his show at the stone the other week. it was supposed to go online shortly after, but that never happened. maybe i'll just post it here instead...

[jon abbey]

I'd like to read that but maybe you could put it in IHR or the IHM Lescalleet thread, thanks. it was a kind of crazy show, I don't think I've ever seen a musician end by stopping and apologizing to the audience, especially after a set which at the least had fantastic sections.

some early one-liners about SAN:

‎'most everything released this year seems irrelevant/uninteresting when compared to "songs about nothing"'-matt horne on twitter

'Way better than Fucking (the album) '-steve knutson (of audika) on FB

[anasara]

the 'review' of his set at the stone - http://ihatemusic.noquam.com/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=8089

[grisha]

'Way better than Fucking (the album) :-) '-steve knutson (of audika) on FB

hah. you know, i tried to listen to "Trophy Tape" and "Songs About Fucking" next to each other, track by track. I had to stop couple of tracks in, because while Jason's tracks seems to fly by, SAF seemed to drag on forever next to them. i just got so bored (and i like the record in any other situation).

[jon abbey]

heh, Jesse G could have posted this here himself just as easily, but from FB just now:

==========================

Jesse Goin

jason lescalleet ~ songs about nothing

a jewel atop a slag heap of mediocrity, if i were offering one-liners for promotional purposes.

[jon abbey]

"songs about nothing = album of the year. no question. incredible work, @tapeloops."-casey anderson, twitter

[>FFF<]

Hands down, one of the most fascinating and engaging albums I've heard all year.