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Aug 21 , 2008

tote this!

IMPORTANT RECORDS American Apparel TOTE BAGS!
You wouldn't believe how often people have asked us for tote bags. How often you ask? Practically never but we made them anyhow. Perfect for a trip on the yacht, a trip to the grocery store or a record buying adventure at Twisted Village. How much you ask? Just $10 and they're professionally screen printed too.

Aug 21 , 2008

new

NEW TITLES FOR FALL/EARLY WINTER:
Here's a little preview of what's coming on Important this fall/winter. It's one of the most active schedule's we've had in the last 7 years and every record is essential. We've finally got Ocean's follow up to the acclaimed Here Where Nothing Grows, the debut full length from Risil (Guillermo Herren, Zack Hill, Tyondai Braxton, John McEntire...), Conifer's debut full length for Important, Slomo, Dominique Leone, Tecumseh, Nadja, Pauline Oliveros, Eleh and so much more... Stay tuned.

Aug 21 , 2008

NOW OFFERING REGA AUDIOPHILE TURNTABLES:
Rega is highly regarded for manufacturing high end audiophile turntables. They're also well respected for offering them at sane, reasonable prices. Important Records has partnered with Rega to bring you their new P1 - the best possible turntable you can find for the price. Preserve your investment in vinyl and bring new life to your collection.

rega banner

July 17 , 2008
 

NEW IMPORTANT RELEASES FOR JULY 22, 2008
The following new titles will be available for mailorder next monday. We're not doing pre-orders for these but if you're on our mailing list you will be alerted the moment they're up on the site:
Bass Communion "Molotov & Haze" CD
Astro/Hiroshi Hasegawa "Live At Muryoku Muzen Temple" LP
Astro/Hiroshi Hasegawa "The Echo From The Purple Dawn" CD

*Please note that the Bass Communion LP will be available along with our August new releases. Some manufacturing concerns have caused a brief delay.

July11 , 2008
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IMPORTANT RECORDS NOW AN OFFICIAL SPONSOR OF BRAINWAVES:
This year's fest features old friends and family, local heroes, and a special day honoring Kranky's 15 years.
Matmos, Meat Beat Manifesto, Stars Of The Lid, Reformed Faction (Mark and Robin of Zoviet France, Rapoon, Dead Voices On Air), Andrew Liles and Jonathan Coleclough, Nmperign feat. Jason Lescalleet, Marissa Nadler, Glenn Jones, His Name Is Alive, Gary Wilson, Rivulets, Strategy, Nudge, Boduf Songs, To Kill A Petty Bourgeoisie, Lichens and more TBA



July 11 , 2008
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Christina Kubisch

Stromzeichnungen / Electrical drawings
Arbeiten 1973-2008 / Works from 1973-2008
15. Juli bis 5. Oktober 2008 / 15 July to 5 October 2008
Eröffnung am Dienstag, dem 15. Juli, um 18 Uhr / Opening on Tuesday, 15 July, at 6 pm
Kunsthalle Bremen

Am Wall 207
28195 Bremen
T 0421 329 08-0
F 0421 329 08-47
office@kunsthalle-bremen.de
www.kunsthalle-bremen.de

Anlässlich der Ausstellung wird ein Buch im Kehrer Verlag Heidelberg erscheinen.
On the occasion of the exhibition a book will be published by Kehrer Verlag Heidelberg.

www.artbooksheidelberg.com/html/de/programm/detail.html?ID=338
www.artbooksheidelberg.com/html/en/program/detail.html?ID=338




July 1 , 2008
Eleh

update July 2, 2008 11am est
ELEH "Homage To The Square Wave" LP - SOLD OUT
*** head to http://www.taigarecords.blogspot.com/ to pick up copies while still available***

We've got a limited amount of copies of this brand new LP from Taiga Records in Minneapolis. Taiga has been doing super deluxe LP pressings and this one is certainly no exception. It's housed in a 2 color letterpress jacket but unlike every other letterpress jacket you've seen this one was actually cut and then hand glued so that it has a printed spine. It's a more rhythmic drone crafted by Eleh on vintage modular analog gear and made entirely out of square waves. The first 100 include a screen printed insert paying homage to Josef Albers and to Eleh. We only have 100 of these and expect that they'll all be gone within the next 24 hours.

May 29 , 2008
 

NEW GRAILS & IMPORTANT RECORDS SHIRTS AVAILABLE NOW!
new shirts!

Click below to read the recent interview with James Blackshaw on Pitchfork where he discusses, amongst other topics, the recent Blackshaw currated/Important released compilation titled The Garden Of Forking Paths as well as his breakthrough release for Important.

Blackshaw


May 29 , 2008
Dan Friel

MORE PRAISE FOR DAN FRIEL'S GHOST TOWN!
Check out this Stereogum "Band To Watch" feature


May 19 , 2008
Dan Friel

GLOWING REVIEWS FOR DAN FRIEL'S GHOST TOWN CD/LP
From Coke Machine Glow
Ghost Town contains within it the haunted forms of the most worn records on my shelves, specters of (yes) (seriously) Neutral Milk Hotel, New Order, the Dust Brothers at their best, the Chemical Brothers at their best, the Pixies, Is This It (2001) and pop music et al along with the resonant memories of those I’ve recently wiped with decided dissatisfaction from my cerebral RAM: the rhythmic puncture of Clark and Justice, the blissed-out fuzz of Times New Viking and No Age..............


April 25 , 2008
   
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DAN FRIEL "GHOST TOWN" CD/LP COMING IN MAY ON IMPORTANT

Check out this Pitchfork write up and MP3 from the Dan Friel full length titled Ghost Town coming next month. Imagine Wolf Eyes covering In The Aeroplane Over The Sea and you're not even close...

"It blows up into a stomping instrumental ditty, a music-box melody shoved through the speaker cone of a subwoofer salvaged from the trunk of a totaled Jeep." Pitchfork


April 16 , 2008
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NEW RELEASES:
april 22:
Acid Mothers Temple "Infinite Darkness...." CD/LP
Three Day Band (John Fahey/Ayal Senior) CD
Kluster "Admira 1971" CD
Kluster "Vulcano 1971" CD

may 13:
Dan Friel "Ghost Town" CD/LP (mp3)
Grails "Take Refuge In Clean Living" CD/LP
Cluster "Berlin 2007" CD

April 16 , 2008
 

BORED? Download this PDF of an interview with John Brien from a recent music publication in the UK. Also included is an overview of some Important releases from the last 7 years.

March 19 , 2008
Grails

GRAILS COMMERCIAL FOR TAKE REFUGE IN CLEAN LIVING CD/LP
On May 13th Important will be releasing the new Grails cd/lp titled Take Refuge In Clean Living. It's been on repeat here ever since the masters arrived and very soon you'll hear why. Click the clip to the left to check out a commercial for the new record on the Grails MySpace page.

March 14 , 2008

NEW IMPORTANT RECORDS "PUFF PUFF" PLATTER PADS

In the apparel section of the Important site we've got new double sided Important Records slipmats. Designed by Darryl Norsen these have his Puff Puff design on one side and the Important Mondrian 2 logo on the other side.

March 10 , 2008
APTBS tee

A PLACE TO BURY STRANGERS T-SHIRTS AVAILABLE


We've got limited stock of a couple of great APTBS shirts available right now. They're professionally printed on the highest quality American Apparel shirts.

March 10 , 2008
 

COIL BOX SHIPPING BEGINS

Despite the flu's best attempt to keep the Coil boxes from shipping (our entire staff had the same flu) we've finally started shipping out the boxes. Assembly is moving very slowly and we've only been able to ship about 100 a day.

February 13 , 2008
 

******* Important Records Podcast **********

Click on the link below for the recent Important Records podcast from Brainwashed Radio in its entirety.
This Mp3 link can be played directly on your computer without a subscription to iTunes.
http://media.brainwashed.com/podcast/podcast080210.mp3

February 6 , 2008
 

************************* NEW YEARS SALE *******************************
Our new years sale has been a massive success. It'll be available for about
one more month. It's a great way to explore titles in the Important catalog that
you've been curious about but haven't purchased at full price.

February 6 , 2008
  **** COIL APE OF NAPLES/NEW BACKWARDS 4 LP BOX PRE-ORDERS NOW OPEN ****
Click here for pre-order instructions.
We've approved test pressings and hopefully the box set will start shipping in the next 30-40 days. Pre-orders will have to be closed shortly so if you've been procrastinating pre-ordering this now is the time
January 2 , 2008
  Important Records has been voted the label of the year in the 2007 Brainwashed readers poll. For the last seven years of my life Important has been a 50-60 hour a week job, often more. 2007 was a big year for Important with a new office, a warehouse (actually, a big warebarn to be exact) & a full time employee. It was also the first year that I really felt as if the label was becoming worthy of it's name and it's great to know that so many other people agree.
Of course, the people who really make it possible are the tremendously creative artists who make up the Important roster. Here's to them, to 2007 & to 2008 which will make 2007 look like 2006. Thanks so much!
December 27 , 2007
Coil Box

**A PLACE TO BURY STRANGERS REPRESS**COIL BOX NEWS**
************************* NEW YEARS SALE *******************************

APTBS repress:
2nd pressing of the self titled A Place To Bury Strangers LP is back in stock
this time around we've got some white splatter on pink to ship to mailorder
while supplies last.

Coil "Ape" box news:
Click the image to the left to see the first look at this super lavish package. The
overall quality was even higher than expected. 4 lps packed in a tip-on style ultra-
heavy duty box set.
We don't have the vinyl here yet as there are some slight concerns with the test
pressings but should have that resolved soon. As soon as it is there will be an
update with some more information.

New Years Sale:
Get 15 Important Records releases for only $100 or 30 for $175.
See the list of available titles and shipping info here.

And last, but not least, we've got a new t-shirt design from Darryl Norsen

December 08 , 2007
Karlheinz Stockhausen held a strong influence on the early musical consciousness that was the impetus for the creation of Important Records. Recordings like Mantra, Kontakte, Momente & Gesang Der Junglinege showed new ways of thinking about music at a time when I desperately needed it.
NPR obituary
Biography
November 14 , 2007

Click the album cover on the left for a mini-website including a bio on Christina Kubisch, a link to an NPR piece on Electrical Walks & information about the upcoming Kubisch releases on Important.

On Novemer 20, 2007 Important Records will be releasing Christina Kubisch's first collection of work sourced from recordings made during her acclaimed Electrical Walks. At the same time Important will also be reissuing, for the first time on CD, her 1986 album Night Flights. Both are masterful works by one of the most important first generation sound artists.

"the most consistently rewarding of the first-generation sound-artists" Keith Fullerton Whitman

October 16 , 2007


SELDON HUNT HOODIES
AVAILABLE NOW
The fall chill is in the air and our response is a new hoodie from Seldon Hunt. Seldon Hunt is a celebrated graphic designer who has worked closely with Isis, Khanate, Neurosis etc. Over the last couple of years he's done some great work for Important including the Conrad Schnitzler 3cd box set titled Trigger Trilogy and the recent Acid Mothers Temple Crystal Rainbow Pyramid cd/lp.
Printed electric blue on black and navy. Available in small, medium, large & extra large.

October 15 , 2007

COIL APE OF NAPLES BOX OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT
In December 2007 Important will finally make available the long rumored 4 LP box for Coil's Ape Of Naples album. Ape will feature the full length album spread out over 3 lps each with B-side laser etchings. The 4th lp is a double sided exclusive full length album titled The New Backwards which features backwards mixes of Coil. Each LP is packaged in an offset printed single pocket jacket and they're housed in a deluxe heavy duty box which was offset printed w/ a 5th color spot UV gloss. A poster is also included in the package. This will be limited to 1500 copies. More info soon. Please sign up for the Important mailing list to be notified immediately upon release.
LP1: 1. Fire Of The Mind 2. The Last Amethyst Deceiver 3. Tattooed Man LP2: 1. Triple Sun 2. It's In My Blood 3. I Don't Get It 4. Heaven's Blade 5. Cold Cell LP3: 1.Teenage Lightning 2005 2. Amber Rain 3. Going Up. LP4: The New Backwards side A: 1. Careful What you Wish For 2. Nature Is A Language 3. Algerian Basses side B: 1. Copacabbala 2. Paint Me As A Dead Soul 3. Princess Margaret's Man in the D'Jamalfna

October 3 , 2007
NEW OCTOBER RELEASES:
XBXRX "Sounds" cd/lp
LSD MARCH "Constellation Of Tragedy" CD *
SUISHOU NO FUNE "The Shining Star - Live" CD
*Limited edition LSD March t-shirts available
.................................................................................
September 20, 2007
 


UPCOMING IMPORTANT VINYL TITLES:

We will not be taking pre-orders for these titles. They will be put up on the site when they're available for order. If you'd like to be alerted when they're available please sign up for our monthly mailing list here.

A PLACE TO BURY STRANGERS
Self Titled
IMPREC170 LP
available: October 23, 2007

First edition of 1000 copies. 300 copies on clear vinyl. First 150 to order via mailorder will receive clear.
While there are obvious reference points: Pornography-era Cure, early Ride, My Bloody Valentine, and pre-1990s Jesus and Mary Chain, the sound is all their own, in part due to singer/guitarist Oliver Ackermann's day job of building custom guitar pedals (see deathbyaudio.net). Coupled with the solid bass of Jono Mofo and the relentless drumming of Jay Space, the APTBS team is a force to reckon with.
Pitchfork 8.4 "Best New Music"

CITAY
Little Kingdom

IMPREC139 LP
available: Nov 6, 2007

500 copies. First 100 on transparent orange vinyl.
“Inspired by the acoustic sides of ‘70s rock behemoths Led Zeppelin, Heart and Black Sabbath, they've taken a detoour into lush, baroque folk and sun-kissed Laurel Canyon jams; blending those groups with more pastoral shades with the likes of John Fahey, Pentangle and CSN&Y to very fine effect.”---MOJO

SUN
I'll Be The Same
IMPREC171 LP

available: October 23, 2007

Limited vinyl edition of the Staubgold full length cd. 500 made. 100 on white/100 on transparent orange.
Sun is the coupling of sound artist OREN AMBARCHI and musician-producer CHRIS TOWNEND. The pair have been kindred spirits for many years,

August 28, 2007
 

2007 End Of Summer Sale:
http://importantrecords.com/releases/sale.htm

August 8, 2007

LARSEN & FRIENDS ABECEDA CD/DVD now available
OCEAN/CONIFER split LP also now available
Both of these long delayed and extremely elaborate releases are finally available. Check the front page of the site for a lot more info on both.

August 8 , 2007

We've just started uploading videos to an Important Records page on You Tube. If you've got any interesting footage related to anyone who Important has ever worked with let us know!
Click on the logos on the left to link to the Important page on You Tube.

August 1 , 2007

SMEGMA "33 1/3" LP HANDMADE $30
We're fortunate enough to have a small quantity of Smegma's 33 1/3 lp in handmade packaging by the band. Every one is a unique work of art as you can see by the images to the left. More information about the record here. The regular vinyl edition is still available as well.

August 1 , 2007

HOTOTOGISU "Some Blood Will Stick" CD HANDMADE $20
Click on the image to the left to see a larger image of this beautiful handmade edition done by Hototogisu. We've only got about 50 of these. The regular edition of the cd is still available as well. More information here.

August 1 , 2007

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AVAILABLE NOW: $20
CD/DVD set in deluxe packaging w/ custom die cut slip case & 20 page full color booklet. DVD contains Karel Teige's original ABECEDA and Larsen & Friend's entire performance w/ the film material cleverly edited in. CD contains the audio recordings of the performance. Larsen w/ David Tibet, Johann Johannson, Julia Kent & Baby Dee.

More about the performance:
Larsen & Friends
ABECEDA
Concert/performance inspired by Karel Teige’s artworks (1900 – 1951)

Larsen:
Fabrizio Modonese Palumbo, guitar, electric viola
Marco “il Bue” Schiavo, drums, glokenspiel
Paolo Dellapiana, electronics, accordion
Roberto Maria Clemente, guitar

Baby Dee, harp, piano
David Tibet, vocals
Johann Johannson, electric organ, piano
Julia Kent, cello
Snejanka Mihaylova, lights and performance
Bellissimo, visuals

The title says it: at the center of attention is the alphabet. In the sense of the single letters. Considered however as elements in and of themselves, gifted in some way with a true semantic individuality: the ideogram A - a hut, C - symbol of the moon ... this is how they were understood by Karel Teige: 1920's Czechoslovakian cultural radical, founder and principle theorist of the Devetsil collective, largest driving force of the local avantgard surrealists. Designer, student of architecture and visual art, Teige attacked with modern force in the exploration of the possiblity of an interweaving of verbal art and optical expression, industrial technology and mass media, inspired by the poem composed in 1923 by compatriot Vitezslav Nezval: at that time involved in Devetsil: Abeceda specifically. The same Nezval said on the subject of opera"It is intellectual exercise around the most elemental poetic object: the letters of the alphabet.". Language taken back to its minimal terminology, to the essence of spelling and fonetics of its building blocks in which derive the rhymeing quarters of every letter - 25 in total - of the latin alphabet. Ulterior developments of Abeceda made the ominous volume realized three years after Teige, that applied the notion of "poeticism" on the live body of Nezval's opera, that is, the symbiosis between visual and verbal signs which position the same fundamentals of Devetsil. In his words "The artistic fruit of Poetism is negligent, fantastic, exuberant, playful, anti-heroic and erotic.".
Conceived and built as a poetic dialogue between text and images, Abeceda manifests still now the real extraordinary expressive urgency. They are established elements, as well as the verses of Nezval, the photography of Karel Paspa that paints the suggested figuration from the original text on the dancer and choreographer Milca Mayerova (she also, like the same Paspa, adhered to the Devitsil movement). Factors combined from Teige with imprint photomontage techniques, "I have tried to create a photo-style of an exquistely abstract and poetic nature, translating in graphic form that which Nezval expressed in his verses as verbal poetry.", chiosava the author. Drawn into cultural oblivion following the annexation of Czechoslovakia by Nazi Germany, the memory of Abeceda has resurfaced only recently. In 2001, when the work was at the center of the exhibition Dreams and Disillusions - Karel Teige and the Czech Avant-garde at the Grey Art Gallery in New York (occasions in which were presented the video of the subject of the year before at Wolfsonian-Florida International University), and again in the last months, inserted in the basic theme of the exposition Modernism - Designing a New World (1914 - 1939) hosted by the London museum Victoria & Albert.
Teige and the other members of Devetsil would have certainly liked the ulterior declination of Abeceda built by Larsen. The Turinian group, active for more than ten years (a passage documented by six albums, the last and most recent being Seies), that communicate an eclectic and multi-disciplined approach to musical material. Specimen, in that sense, the work done years ago by Winsor McKay with his cartoons, put to music by Larsen under the wording of Cartoanimalettimatti (a project premiered in 2002 during the festival Rimusicazioni) and in general the stateless attitude with which the quartet measures the codes of rock, after the zeroing of the same rock provoked by punk, as such to make Larsen more appreciated abroad than in their own country. Reasons for which the artistic interlocutors of the Turinian group tend to place themselves beyond borders. American are both the labels - Young God and Important Records – that have released their music so far, and many of their partners seen often by their side, Jamie Stewart (Xiu Xiu) - in the configuration called XXL, or Matmos and the ex-Swans Michael Gira and Jarboe. All icons of the independent music scene across the ocean.
Some of these accomplices will play with Larsen on Abeceda : David Tibet, brain of the british “apocalyptic” project Current 93, project that also involves Baby Dee, transgender cult icon from the Manhattan off scene, same underground the cello player Julia Kent, of Antony and The Johnsons, belongs to, whereas Johann Johannsson, musician and producer that has worked with Marc Almond and Barry Adamson, comes from Island. Also on stage with the band will be the russian performer and choreographer Snejanka Mihaylova; together with Larsen, and the visuals by the Bellissimo team inspired by Tiege’s Abeceda, they will set up a concert/performance in 25 movements, one for each letter of the latin alphabet; elaborate and fascinating staging, exclusive worldwide preview for the Torino Settembre Musica festival and its audience.

Alberto Campo
www.settembremusica.it
www.larsen.to.it

June 21 , 2007



click photos to enlarge
VERY LIMITED QUANTITIES NOW AVAILABLE:

Ocean "Here Where Nothing Grows" 2LP $20
double vinyl European pressing with mirror foil printed colors and pressed on marble vinyl

Acid Mothers Temple/Je Suis France split LP $15
limited edition of only 350 #d copies on color vinyl. 1 monster track from each group.

 

June 14, 2007

New Important t-shirt on the apparel page....

There's a new t-shirt now up on the apparel page. The print is an electric blue on a navy American Apparel tee.

In the next week we'll be making the following June releases available:
Astral Social Club "Neon Pibroch" cd
Astral Social Club "Super Grease" lp ltd500
- Two new full lengths from Vibracathedral Orchestra/ABand man Neil Campbell

( r ) "In Pink" cd
2nd full length on Important from Larsen's Fabrizio Modonese Palumbo

Black Magic Disco self titled cd
My Cat Is An Alien collaborating w/ Tom Greenwood (Jackie O-Mother Fucker) & Ramona Ponzi

May 29 , 2007

A few Important things...........

"These are rare talents for someone so young, and, given Poste e Telegrafi, Stefana sounds as if he'll be wielding them among the heavyweights for a long time to come. " Pitchfork

Pitchfork has just published a much deserved rave review of Alessandro Stefana's debut full length on Important. Read it here.

Pauline Oliveros has recently received a lifetime achievement award.
Read all about it here. There's a good chance we'll be releasing a comprehensive collection of her unreleased early electronic work soon.

April 23 , 2007

New releases now available from: Smegma, Asa Irons & Swaan Miller, Pauline Oliveros, Merzbow & Carlos Giffoni. More info on the release page.
Also available is a limited edition Smegma t-shirt utilizing the nifty cover artwork from the album. Click the shirt image to link to our apparel page.
What's coming? New releases are on the way from Piano Magic, XXL (Xiu Xiu Larsen), Astral Social Club, Acid Mothers Temple, Eleh, Kawabata Makoto and loads more.

DELAYED:
Ocean/Conifer split LP. This is being manufactured now but missed it's street date. It should be available in 30-60 days. Limited to 1000. Judging by demand for out of print Ocean vinyl this will sell fast.
Larsen & Friends CD/DVD - Larsen live accompanied by David Tibet, Julia Kent, Baby Dee and Johan Johannson. Extremely elaborate and complex packaging has caused this precious release to be delayed. Should be ready in less than 30 days.

 

March 23 , 2007

Eleh's cover art was chosen to be a part of a modern letterpress exhibit at Gallery 51 in North Adams, Massachusetts. Also chosen from Manifesto Letterpress' recent work was a Dinosaur Jr poster designed by Darryl Norsen & a SXSW poster for Ecstatic Peace designed by Dennis Typhus.
Reception will be held at March 29th (6pm-8pm). Show runs from March 29th-April 22nd.
where:
Gallery 51
51 Main Street
North Adams, MA 01247

 

March 20 , 2007
  EMAIL CHANGE:
If you've been contacting Important via importantrecords@verizon.net please change your contact info to importantrecords at comcast dot net. The @importantrecords.com email addresses will continue to work without interruption.

 

March 6, 2007
James Blackshaw in Rolling Stone:
Not a month seems to go by without O True Believers picking up more and more press. Apparently David Fricke included Believers in his Fricke's Picks column, though he credits it to Bo'Weavel who licensed the vinyl rights:

James Blackshaw is a young English acoustic guitarist whose first trips to the fifth-dimension intersection of antique British and Yankee folk, plantation blues, Indian drone and analog hum (harmonium, Farfisa organ) seeped out in 2005 on CD-R, in pressings of as little as eighty. Sunshrine/Celeste and O True Believers (both on Bo’Weavil) are slightly less limited editions, on twelve-inch vinyl, of Blackshaw’s shimmering instrumental wanderlust. His rolling clusters of twelve-string rain bear the vintage imprint of John Fahey and Robbie Basho, but there is a more pronounced psychedelia in Blackshaw’s transportive integration of sarod, tamboura, whispered timpani and twilight ambience in the near-half-hour of “Sunshrine” and, on O True Believers, the dawn-raga daydream “The Elk With Jade Eyes.”

March 5, 2007
 
The upcoming Acid Mothers Temple US/Canadian Tour will feature a brand new cd and limited edition tour vinyl on Important Records. You'll be able to get the CD on the AMT tour before it's available in stores!
Fri 04/13/07 Troubadour Los Angeles CA Mammatus
Tue 04/17/07 Emos Jr. Austin TX Mammatus
Thu 04/19/07 Bottletree Birmingham AL Mammatus
Fri 04/20/07 The Earl Atlanta GA Mammatus
Sat 04/21/07 Grey Eagle Tavern Asheville NC Mammatus
Sun 04/22/07 Satellite Ballroom Charlottesville VA Mammatus
Mon 04/23/07 Ottobar Baltimore MD Mammatus
Tue 04/24/07 Rock and Roll Hotel Washington DC DC Mammatus
Wed 04/25/07 First Unitarian Church Sanctuary Philadelphia PA Mammatus
Thu 04/26/07 Knitting Factory New York NY Mammatus
Fri 04/27/07 South Paw Brooklyn NY Mammatus
Sat 04/28/07 Middle East Downstairs Cambridge MA Mammatus
Sun 04/29/07 BAR Nightclub New Haven CT Mammatus
Mon 04/30/07 Babylon Ottawa ON Mammatus
Tue 05/01/07 Lees Palace Toronto ON Mammatus
Wed 05/02/07 Soundlab Buffalo NY Mammatus
Thu 05/03/07 Grog Shop Cleveland Heights OH Mammatus
Fri 05/04/07 Magic Stick Detroit MI Mammatus, Odd Clouds
Sat 05/05/07 Empty Bottle Chicago IL Mammatus
Sun 05/06/07 Triple Rock Club Minneapolis MN Mammatus
Wed 05/09/07 Richards On Richards Vancouver BC Mammatus
Thu 05/10/07 Chop Suey Presents Seattle WA Mammatus
Fri 05/11/07 Doug Fir Lounge Portland OR Mammatus
Sat 05/12/07 Bottom of the Hill San Francisco CA Mammatus
Sun 05/13/07 Attic Santa Cruz CA Mammatus



March 4 , 2007
  This just in from the bad news department: Nate Young's (Wolf Eyes) brother Peter was involved in a nearly fatal apartment fire. The Young family is raising money to pay Peter's mounting hospital bills. You can help by clicking here.
January 25, 2007
  Death Unit live photos:
http://billtmiller.com/nofun/deathunit.htm

 

January 23, 2007

****NEW JANUARY RELEASES AVAILABLE NOW****
Death Unit "Infinite Death" cd (Carlos Giffoni, Chris Corsano & members of Mouthus and Hair Police)
My Cat Is An Alien "Leave Me In The Black No-Thing" cd
Roberto Opalio "Chants From Isolated Ghosts" cd

****EVERYTHING'S COMING UP CORSANO****
The last few days have been full of Chris Corsano news. According to Pitchfork he'll be playing drums on the next Bjork album. Also on Pitchfork: Deerhoof's drummer put the Flaherty/Corsano/Yeh trio on his list of favorites of 2006. Of course, I totally agree. Hopefully we'll be able to get the three of them together in the same place at the same time to record some new sessions. Check it out here

January 4, 2007
UPCOMING RELEASES:
The first quarter of 2007 is going to be an extremely busy release period for Important. Here's a rundown of what to expect:

January 23rd will see new full lengths from My Cat Is An Alien, MCIAA's Roberto Opalio solo & Death Unit. (Death Unit is Carlos Giffoni w/ Chris Corsano & members of Mouthus & Hair Police.)

February is possibly our busiest release month ever with a cd & lp from The Bark Haze (Gown and Thurston Moore guitar duo), Rameses III, Baikal (Bardo Pond guys), a cd/lp from the Vanishing Voice & the anticipated vinyl only Eleh full length shown to the left. (Eleh is a tribute to La Monte Young, Pauline Oliveros, Eliane Radigue and the spirit of early minimalist experimental electronic music. Imagine glowing tubes inside fifty pound test oscillators & vintage modular analog gear creating stark low end drone. Pure volume. Pure tone. Only 400 are being pressed and it's housed in deluxe letterpressed packaging.)

March will see the release of Larsen & Friends Abeceda performance on cd and dvd. This performance captures Larsen w/ David Tibet, Baby Dee, Johann Johannsson & Julia Kent paying musical tribute to Karel Teige. An event not to be missed and if you did miss it now you can see it and hear it. We'll also be releasing MUSM II including tons of unreleased Larsen material. Also in March will be a full length from Jessica Rylan, Merzbow's Merzbear and the debut from brilliant Itallian guitarist/composter Alessandro Steffana.
Happy new year and stay tuned. 2007 is looking to be a very special year for Important.
December 29, 2006
 

Here's a live video of Mark Ribot playing Alessandro Stefana's Poste E Telegrafi Blues live. Important will be releasing Alessandro Stefana's debut album Post E Telegrafi in early 2007 and Ribot is a guest musician on the album. http://www.youtube.com:80/watch?v=LNfEtmzqTw4


December 11, 2006
 

Rivulets Pitchfork review

December 5 , 2006
 

Holiday sale available while supplies last.

December 5, 2006
(PLEASE NOTE COLOR VINYL IS SOLD OUT. VERY FEW BLACK VINYL COPIES REMAIN)
OCEAN DEMO VINYL

It was Ocean's breakthrough self released demo that first caught our ear and started the flood of interest. With two massive tracks for a total of 36 minutes of huge psychedelic doom this is the record that started the buzz and it's now available on vinyl via Ocean's own 43rd Parallel Recordings. Packaged in a deluxe foil printed package hand done by Ocean's Reuben J. Little. We're accepting pre-orders now and will be shipping next week. First 100 orders will receive red or blue vinyl. If you order more than one record your first record will be on color vinyl and the remaining records will be black. Ltd. edition of only 500.
$14
$3 shipping in the usa
$10 overseas
paypal i.d. is importantrecords@verizon.net
November 29, 2006
 

Click here to see Citay featured on this Swedish television show's segment about the "San Francisco Psychedlic Rock Scene." It's a half hour long show featuring interviews and studio and live footage of Citay, Brightblack, Howlin Rain, Comets on Fire, Badgerlore/Six Organs of Admittance, Michelle Cable and others. There's a couple of minutes of Swedish at the beginning but the rest is in English.

November 27, 2006
 

As you may have noticed our website was down over the weekend while Brainwashed, our host, switched servers. As a result email has been slowly trickling in. If you've emailed us and didn't receive a response please email again.

November 20, 2006
 

HOLIDAY SALE!
We just put up the 2006 Holiday sale page including deep discounts on recordings from Merzbow, Jack Dangers, Noam Chomsky, Kimya Dawson, KK Null, Mudsuckers, Daniel Menche, Anoice, Diane Cluck & many more. Click here

November 20, 2006
 

- Rivulets review on Paper Thin Walls
-
Citay's top 15 favorite albums on Discollective
- Mudsuckers gets an 8.1 on Pitchfork

November 5 , 2006
 

OCEAN/GRAILS LIVE TONIGHT IN BOSTON:
Ocean & Grails will be sharing a bill tonight live @ the Middle East Upstairs in Boston. For more info visit mideastclub.com

October 9, 2006

NOVEMBER RELEASES ON IMPORTANT RECORDS:
Coming up later this month is a full length album of piano works from Conrad Schnitzler titled Klavierhelm as well of a box set of his electronic work titled Trigger Trilogy. Naturally, it's an honor to be able to work with such a legendary artist.
Hototogisu will be releasing a full length titled Some Blood Will Stick on Important in November. We're currently sold out of their double disc Ghosts Of The Sun though a small amount of the hand made version are still available. The covers were hand made by Marcia Bassett.

October 9, 2006

OCEAN RETURNS TO THE STUDIO
Ocean have returned to the same Portland Maine studio where they recorded the final version of their tremendously successful debut full length Here Where Nothing Grows. One week into the sessions the reports are profoundly positive.
Just received an email this afternoon from the studio thats got everyone buzzing with excitement:
"Something magical has happened with this one. I can't explain it but it's everything I ever hoped and wanted Ocean to be. "
Amen. Look for the record to be released some time in 2007

October 9, 2006

RIVULETS - YOU ARE MY HOME IMPREC109
One of our last releases of 2006 is going to be the long delayed Rivulets full length You Are My Home featuring guests Jessica Bailiff (Kranky), Chris Brokaw (Codeine, Come, the New Year), Christian Frederickson (Rachel's), Fred Lonberg-Holm (Boxhead Ensemble), & Bob Weston (Mission of Burman, Shellac). Previous Rivulets full lengths were issued on Low's Chairkicker's Union label and this is the first Rivulets album for Important. Press copies are available now...

October 3, 2006
 

BORIS - VEIN
Vein is now completely sold out. Appologies to all mailorder customers & subscribers who missed this release. Boris will have copies on some upcoming American dates and they'll likely be offering them soon through Inoxia. Copies have been shipped to distributors so stores and mailorder should have a very limited amount in stock in the coming weeks. If you're looking for a copy you're advised to act fast as there were not nearly enough made to meet the demand. Again, sorry to all who missed out. There just wasn't a fair way to handle it

October 2 , 2006
 

NEW SITE LAUNCH
Here it is, the brand new Important Records website. You will find that the overall layout is far cleaner than it was and you should have an easier time navigating the site. The best part is that now the Important release page can be searched by artist, sorted alphabetically and scrolled chronologically. Darryl Norsen & Paul Eichorn made it all possible.

September 27 , 2006
NEW SITE LAUNCH & BORIS
The first official finished copy of Vein was just assembled. We're going to try to time it so that the ordering of Vein coincides with the launch of the new Important Records website. So, keep checking back and as soon as you see the new site design Vein should be ready. We will also have some Important hoodies designed by Stephen O'Malley just in time for the fall chill.
September 11 , 2006
Just when we thought that Boris' Vein was in the final stretch we had another set back. Unfortunately, we had to move the printing of the jackets to a company in Florida. They are rushing it into production and sent us a proof, which you can see full assembled in the photo to the right. (the proofs were cut wrong and are pretty scuffed so the final product will look a little cleaner but you can get the idea).
Expect Vein to be completed in another 2-3 weeks. At this point, however, I can't anticipate another setback.
August 31, 2006
At a meeting over curry recently Ocean handed over the demos for their new full length album coming some time in early 2007. Though they've moved one step forward they've still got a foot in the unique sound that has made Here Where Nothing Grows the highest selling Important release yet (and it shows no signs of slowing down.)
We listened to it over and over again while putting together the new Steven R Smith lp. 500 were made and each come with a hand made wood-block print from Steven R Smith.
(Boris will be available in a fortnight)
August 16 , 2006
BORIS "VEIN" VINYL NEWS:
Vein is going to cost around $30 direct from Important and will likely be a little more in the shops. It will be ready in about 3 weeks. Now, before you rush to the nearest message board to complain, please read on:
Vein is expensive, but it is not overpriced. This price reflects the cost of licensing and manufacturing such an elaborate package. We did everything Boris requested and this beautiful record is entirely their creation. Atsuo told me more than once that this is a very, very special record for them. So, we went all out and two years and lots of problems later it's nearly complete. There were some snags along the way that drove the cost per unit up. Like, we had to pay for all the screen printed mylar "pictures" for the picture discs even though we're not using them. Whatever you choose to do, please understand that this price reflects the cost of production and the final product will be, in my opinion, both stunning and well worth it. (note: as per request of Boris, we can not give out those mylar inserts as previously mentioned on this news update.sorry about that!)
August 3 , 2006
Designer Series T Shirts
We've been commissioning t-shirt designs from some of our favorite graphic designers and the first two shirts are now available. The first is from Stephen O'Malley (Sunn O))), Khanate, Ginnungagap) and the second is from Boston based artists Darryl Norsen. Future shirts from Savage Pencil, Aryk Roper, & Seripop. More info on the apparel page
 
August 11 , 2006

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Larsen & Friends
ABECEDA
Concert/performance inspired by Karel Teige’s artworks (1900 – 1951)

Larsen:
Fabrizio Modonese Palumbo, guitar, electric viola
Marco “il Bue” Schiavo, drums, glokenspiel
Paolo Dellapiana, electronics, accordion
Roberto Maria Clemente, guitar

Baby Dee, harp, piano
David Tibet, vocals
Johann Johannson, electric organ, piano
Julia Kent, cello
Snejanka Mihaylova, lights and performance
Bellissimo, visuals

The title says it: at the center of attention is the alphabet. In the sense of the single letters. Considered however as elements in and of themselves, gifted in some way with a true semantic individuality: the ideogram A - a hut, C - symbol of the moon ... this is how they were understood by Karel Teige: 1920's Czechoslovakian cultural radical, founder and principle theorist of the Devetsil collective, largest driving force of the local avantgard surrealists. Designer, student of architecture and visual art, Teige attacked with modern force in the exploration of the possiblity of an interweaving of verbal art and optical expression, industrial technology and mass media, inspired by the poem composed in 1923 by compatriot Vitezslav Nezval: at that time involved in Devetsil: Abeceda specifically. The same Nezval said on the subject of opera"It is intellectual exercise around the most elemental poetic object: the letters of the alphabet.". Language taken back to its minimal terminology, to the essence of spelling and fonetics of its building blocks in which derive the rhymeing quarters of every letter - 25 in total - of the latin alphabet. Ulterior developments of Abeceda made the ominous volume realized three years after Teige, that applied the notion of "poeticism" on the live body of Nezval's opera, that is, the symbiosis between visual and verbal signs which position the same fundamentals of Devetsil. In his words "The artistic fruit of Poetism is negligent, fantastic, exuberant, playful, anti-heroic and erotic.".
Conceived and built as a poetic dialogue between text and images, Abeceda manifests still now the real extraordinary expressive urgency. They are established elements, as well as the verses of Nezval, the photography of Karel Paspa that paints the suggested figuration from the original text on the dancer and choreographer Milca Mayerova (she also, like the same Paspa, adhered to the Devitsil movement). Factors combined from Teige with imprint photomontage techniques, "I have tried to create a photo-style of an exquistely abstract and poetic nature, translating in graphic form that which Nezval expressed in his verses as verbal poetry.", chiosava the author. Drawn into cultural oblivion following the annexation of Czechoslovakia by Nazi Germany, the memory of Abeceda has resurfaced only recently. In 2001, when the work was at the center of the exhibition Dreams and Disillusions - Karel Teige and the Czech Avant-garde at the Grey Art Gallery in New York (occasions in which were presented the video of the subject of the year before at Wolfsonian-Florida International University), and again in the last months, inserted in the basic theme of the exposition Modernism - Designing a New World (1914 - 1939) hosted by the London museum Victoria & Albert.
Teige and the other members of Devetsil would have certainly liked the ulterior declination of Abeceda built by Larsen. The Turinian group, active for more than ten years (a passage documented by six albums, the last and most recent being Seies), that communicate an eclectic and multi-disciplined approach to musical material. Specimen, in that sense, the work done years ago by Winsor McKay with his cartoons, put to music by Larsen under the wording of Cartoanimalettimatti (a project premiered in 2002 during the festival Rimusicazioni) and in general the stateless attitude with which the quartet measures the codes of rock, after the zeroing of the same rock provoked by punk, as such to make Larsen more appreciated abroad than in their own country. Reasons for which the artistic interlocutors of the Turinian group tend to place themselves beyond borders. American are both the labels - Young God and Important Records – that have released their music so far, and many of their partners seen often by their side, Jamie Stewart (Xiu Xiu) - in the configuration called XXL, or Matmos and the ex-Swans Michael Gira and Jarboe. All icons of the independent music scene across the ocean.
Some of these accomplices will play with Larsen on Abeceda : David Tibet, brain of the british “apocalyptic” project Current 93, project that also involves Baby Dee, transgender cult icon from the Manhattan off scene, same underground the cello player Julia Kent, of Antony and The Johnsons, belongs to, whereas Johann Johannsson, musician and producer that has worked with Marc Almond and Barry Adamson, comes from Island. Also on stage with the band will be the russian performer and choreographer Snejanka Mihaylova; together with Larsen, and the visuals by the Bellissimo team inspired by Tiege’s Abeceda, they will set up a concert/performance in 25 movements, one for each letter of the latin alphabet; elaborate and fascinating staging, exclusive worldwide preview for the Torino Settembre Musica festival and its audience.

Alberto Campo
www.settembremusica.it
www.larsen.to.it

August 3 , 2006
Designer Series T Shirts
We've been commissioning t-shirt designs from some of our favorite graphic designers and the first two shirts are now available. The first is from Stephen O'Malley (Sunn O))), Khanate, Ginnungagap) and the second is from Boston based artists Darryl Norsen. Future shirts from Savage Pencil, Aryk Roper, Atsuo from Boris & Seripop. More info on the apparel page
 
July 25 , 2006
BORIS "VEIN" VINYL NEWS:
Vein is double sided, not single sided as some websites are reporting. Boris originally intended for this to be a clear picture disc using screen printed mylar inside the record. I saw some samples, each being slightly flawed, but at a meeting with Boris in Boston they agreed that the flaws were acceptable and the pressing commenced. Upon pressing the factory realised that each one was coming out worse and worse. (it has to do with the heat of the vinyl and the ink used on the mylar) So, last friday the picture disc plan was scrapped. Click photo to enlarge.
Instead of a picture disc the record is being screen printed. The result is a much better image on the record. The grooves start about 2 inches into the record leaving a smooth perimeter for the screen printed image. Each side is about 18 minutes and although the grooves were cut in this manner the record retains a nice, robust sound.
 
July 24 , 2006

5 new Important Records releases for the month of July and one of them is free! Yes, free.
Alasehir & Alumbrados : 2 new groups = 2 new full lenghts from Bardo Pond brothers John & Michael Gibson
Flaherty/Corsano/Yeh: wo new full lengths (one on cd/one on lp) from the Paul Flaherty/Chris Corsano duo only this time with Burning Star Core's C. Spencer Yeh handling vocals/violin.
Daniel Menche: Menche has been working on percusively based material lately and this stuff is amazing. Big, dense, pulsing and slowly evolving pieces.
IMPREC100: Free. Yes, free. Any and all purchases (while supplies last) will come with IMPREC100. This is a free sampler w/ tracks from Anoice,Ocean, Citay, Diane Cluck, Major Stars, Muslimgauze and a bunch more Important artists. All tracks are from previously released albums on Important although the Ocean and Dresden Dolls tracks were only available on limited edition vinyl only releases

asd asd asd asd
 
June 7 , 2006



.... LARSEN & DIANE CLUCK will be at this years Safe As Milk. Click above for more info
 
May 23, 2006

NO FUN:
Upcoming next week wednesday:

No Fun Productions Event 11 may 31st at tonic NYC 8 pm
Hair Police
Heathen Shame (members of Major Stars)
Prurient/Carlos Giffoni
Graveyards (with John Olson from Wolf Eyes)

advance tickets availible trough www.tonicnyc.com. or at Other Music
in manhattan and the tonic box office.

poster by maya miller:
http://www.nofunfest.com/nofun11web.jpg

www.tonicnyc.com for directions

 
May 22, 2006

BORIS "VEIN" VINYL NEWS:
Click on the image to the left to see a larger version of it. This is the clear mylar screen print that will be inside the vinyl, like a picture disc. The pink record in the background has nothing to do with this project, it's simply there to give perspective.
Since we're getting lots of emails about this I figured it was probably time to give everyone someinsight into what we're doing. The vinyl only Boris release "Vein" should be available in the next 30-60 days. It's been an extremely challenging and time consuming process. There's been a couple of months of daily communication with the pressing plant and more trouble shooting than I have the space to elaborate on.
Basically, the record is a picture disc. However, rather than a picture inside it's a screen printed image on clear mylar. This gives the impression of clear vinyl w/ an image suspended within. This will then be packaged in a clear pvc bag w/ custom oversized stickers on each side. Even making the stickers has been a challenge as they are a custom size and require hand building a die to cut them.
We've okay'd test pressings and we're waiting to see some new samples of the mylar picture disc. The first samples failed due to the image smudging when the vinyl was pressed over it. New inks have been used and hopefully they will not smudge this time around. Boris has already said that any flaws will give this record personality and they seem to be okay with it. I'm hoping that each one will be perfect. Either way, this record is amazing and after all this work we're just anxious to get the final product in hand.
- Important 5/22/06
 
May 17, 2006

Larsen w/ Current 93. Click poster to the left for details.

Fe-Mail will be at the Vancouver International Jazz Festival this coming weekend

Citay will be performing this coming sat. at an Arthur Magazine sponosored event at the Rickshaw Stop. Citay is on @ 10. details

 



Fe-Mail photo credit: Nada Zcank

 
May 6 , 2006

Two new Important T-Shirts
Just added are two new $5 Important logo t-shirts on the apparel page. One of the shirts is a Fruit Of The Loom "dakota slate" color which is definitely the best shirt color we've ever seen. It's like a nicely faded black or the deepest grey ever.

Brown..... .......................Dakota Slate
 
April 28, 2006
Experimental Audio Research on Important
As many of you know, we've been slowly working with Sonic Boom for the last few years putting together a record for Important. I appologize to everyone who's emailed us regularly asking for updates. There hasn't been much news to tell though recently it seems that Sonic's in the process of wrapping it up. More info, and hopefully an album, soon.
For now, check out the official Sonic Boom website
 
April 20, 2006
Major Stars are on tour:

fri april 28 "102 ingram street" brooklyn, ny w/ om, michael hurley, psych perv djs
saturday april 29th - wfmu recording session @ 12:30 - to air at a later date
sat april 29 kyhber pass - philadelphia, pa - w/ bardo pond, elevator parade & like moving objects
sun april 30 - garfield artworks - pittsburgh, pa - w/ victory at sea, centipede e'est
mon may 1st "max's pad" 916 catherine st in ann arbor
tue may 2 - subterranean - chicago, il - w/ seepage, scalpels, folk & violence
thu may 4 - skylab - columbus, oh - w/ bonedust, sword heaven, lambsbread
fri may 5 - talking head club - baltimore, md - w/ others tba
sat may 6 - cakeshop - new york, ny - w/ endless boogie, dan melchior
sun may 7 - flywheel - easthampton, ma - w/ txoka txoka, and others tba

April 17, 2006

Larsen on tour:

Fabrizio Modonese Palumbo aka ( r )

04/26/2006 @ Auditorium Controradio, Bari, Italy + Baby Dee
04 /27/2006 @ Spazio 211, Torino, Italy + Mi and L'au + Morose + Baby Dee
Larsen + Xiu Xiu + XXL
05/04/2006 @ Thermos, Ancona, Italy
05/05/2006 @ Jail, Legnano, Milano, Italy
05/06/2006 @ Covo, Bologna, Italy
05/07/2006 @ Teatro Miela, Trieste, Italy
05/09/2006 @ Circolo Degli Artisti, Roma, Italy
05/10/2006 @ Galleria Toledo, Napoli, Italy
05/11//2006 @ Banano Tsunami c/o Porto Antico, Genova, Italy
Larsen
04/28/2006 @ Golden Mt. Zion Festival c/o Zion Club, Morbio Inferiore (Chiasso), Switzerland + Baby Dee
05/24/2006 @ Sala BeCool, Barcelona, Spain + Baby Dee + Six Organs Of Admittance
06/22/2006 @ Hana- Bi, Marina Di Ravenna, Italy
06/23/2006 @ Hybrida, Tarcento (Udine), Italy
06/24/2006 @ Tarfò Bar, Budapest hungary
07/29/2006 @ Safe As Milk , Haugesund, Norway
09/28/2006 @ Le Kab de L'Usine, Geneve, Switzerland + Baby Dee
09/15/2006 @ Settembre Musica, Torino, Italy
Larsen presents ABECEDA featuring:
David Tibet, Julia Kent, Baby Dee, James Stewart, Johann Johannsson

April 12, 2006

Available now for a limited time:
Lee Ranaldo "Vancouver Ambients vol 1-4" 7" - cover art is a screen print designed, signed & #'d to 500 by Lee
Lee Ranaldo "Road Movies" cd & book - Lee's poetry & Leah Singer's photographs. Signed by both and includes a full length cd from Lee.
My Cat Is An Alien "Introducing The Cosmic Blues" 7" - Each 7" is packaged w/ an individual signed polaroid. Only 300 of these were made
My Cat Is An Alien "Cosmic Light Of The Third Millennium" cd - First full length from MCIAA for Important

Ocean vinyl sold out almost immediately. They'll be taking copies across America in April/May. Check out the Ocean website for tour dates.

May will finally see the release of the debut full length from the young Japanese group Anoice. Click their photo below to get to an MP3:

 
April 5 , 2006

.Ocean's "Here Where Nothing Grows" double vinyl is available. The silver on black cover sold out in the first ten minutes and very few copies of the black on black pressing remains. This vinyl edition contains an exclusive live d-side cover of The Cure's "Siamese Twins." Ocean is heading out on a national tour next month. For more info check oceanofdoom.com
Starting next week we'll have the following new releases available:
Lee Ranaldo "Vancouver Ambients vol 1-4" 7" - cover art is a screen print designed, signed & #'d to 500 by Lee
Lee Ranaldo "Road Movies" cd & book - Lee's poetry & Leah Singer's photographs. Signed by both and includes a full length cd from Lee.
My Cat Is An Alien "Introducing The Cosmic Blues" 7" - Each 7" is packaged w/ an individual signed polaroid. Only 300 of these were made
My Cat Is An Alien "Cosmic Light Of The Third Millennium" cd - First full length from MCIAA for Important

 
March 2 , 2006

A quick and timely reminder that if you intend to make it along to the Terrastock 6 festival this year, right now would be a REALLY good time to buy tickets.
The festival takes place in Providence, Rhode Island USA on April 21st, 22nd and 23rd 2006.

Tickets are just $110 for the whole weekend (inclusive of postage, booking fees and admin charges) and are available for purchase online, or from AS220 (address below). Thirty five international bands are appearing, plus special guests. This works out at just THREE DOLLARS A BAND. You would have to be absolutely mad to miss out on this opportunity!

Full details are here: http://terrascope.co.uk/TerrastockPages/terrastock6.html

Confirmed band list (note: there have probably been some significant additions since you last saw this, so please read it carefully)

Avarus (Finland) + Bardo Pond + Black Forest / Black Sea + Bridget St John + Brothers of the Occult Sisterhood (Australia) + Charalambides + Cul de Sac + Damon and Naomi + Fursaxa + Ghost (Japan) [farewell performance] + Glenn Jones + The Green Pajamas + Kemialliset Ystävät (Finland) + Kinski + The Kitchen Cynics (Scotland) + Sharron Kraus (England) + Landing + Larkin Grimm + Lightning Bolt + The Magic Carpathians Project (Poland) + Major Stars + Marissa Nadler + MV/EE + Paik + P.G. Six + Tom Rapp and band + Jack Rose + Salamander + St Joan (England) + Spacious Mind (Sweden) + Spires that in the Sunset Rise + Tanakh (Italy) + Thought Forms (England) + Urdog + Windy & Carl

There is also a Terrastock Launch Party taking place on April 20th at the venue (AS220) featuring Acid Mothers Temple (Japan) + Abunai (reunion) + Bright + Joe Turner + The Seven Levels + Area C. Note however that Terrastock tickets will not be valid for entry, and that tickets for this gig are not available in advance - entry will cost you an additional $10. Doors open 8pm. Both the launch party and the Terrastock festival itself are all ages shows.

FURTHER INFORMATION:

Jeffrey Alexander, Program Director
AS220, 115 Empire Street, Providence, RI 02903 USA
401-831-9327
401-454-7445 fax
terrastock6@secreteye.org

Travel and accommodation information: http://www.terrascope.co.uk/TerrastockPages/terrastock6_travel.html
Contact Aamir Malik for all your flight, travel and accommodation needs. Drop him a line at: aamirmalik@prodigy.net
.............................................
February 3, 2006
Larsen + Piano Magic
14/02/2006 @ Spazio 211, Torino, Italy

Larsen + Baby Dee
09/03/2006 @ Casa Del Popolo, Montreal, Canada + Fratelli D'italia
10/03/2006 @ Philadelphia , tbc
11/03/2006 @ AS220, Providence, RI, USA + Jack Wright + Work/Death
12/03/2006 @ Tonic, NYC, USA
28/04/2006 @ Golden Mt. Zion Festival c/o Zion Club, Morbio Inferiore (Chiasso), Switzerland
28/09/2006 @ Le Kab de L'Usine, Geneve, Switzerland

Larsen + Xiu Xiu + XXL

04/05/2006 @ Thermos, Ancona, Italy
05/05/2006 @ Jail, Legnano, Milano, Italy
06/05/2006 @ Link, Bologna, Italy + Liars
07/05/2006 @ Zenzero, Bari, Italy
09/05/2006 @ Circolo Degli Artisti, Roma, Italy
10/05/2006 @ Galleria Toledo, Napoli, Italy
11/05/2006 @ Teatro Della Tosse, Genova, Italy

( r ) + Matt Elliott + Manyfingers
29/03/2006 @ Galleria Toledo, Napoli, Italy
30/03/2006 @ Milk Club , Genova + Grails
31/03/2006 @ Jail, Legnano, Milano, Italy
01/04/2006 @ Hybrida, Tarcento, Udine, Italy
02/04/2006 @ Le Kab de L'Usine, Geneve, Switzerland

Fabrizio Modonese Palumbo (solo set) + Mi and L'au + Morose
27/04/2006, Spazio 211, Torino, Italy


.............................................
 
January 30, 2006

........................................................New Important Records hoodies in the apparel section

November 18 , 2006
introducing CITAY
follow links for sneak preview MP3



December 5 , 2005
introducing ANOICE
follow links for sneak preview MP3


 
November 26 , 2005
DIANE CLUCK VOTED 2nd BEST ALBUM OF 2006 BY MOJO
The prestigious UK magazine Mojo recently listed Diane Cluck's Important full length Oh Vanille/Ova Nil the ranking of 2nd best underground album of the year! It's available for purchase here.
Heres's the full list:

1. Lightning Bolt-Hypermagic Mountain
2. Diane Cluck - Oh Vanille/Ova Nil
3. Earth - Hex
4. Animal Collective - Feels
5. Sunn O))) - Black One
6. Big Business - Head For Shallow
7. The White Mice - Asphyx
8. Langhorn Slim - When The Suns..
9. Asva - Futurists
10. Jackie O- Mother Fucker - Flags


 
November 26 , 2005
DANIEL JOHNSTON HOSPITALIZED IN TEXAS
Our dear friend Daniel Johnston was hospitalized last week in Texas for what his family suspects may be Lithium poisoning. Read the Johnston family statement here. You're in our hearts and thoughts Daniel.


 
November 22 , 2005

Read the recent Larsen interview in the international fashion mag LABEL

HOTOTOGISU LIVE DATES IN EUROPE
EVENT IN Copenhagen, DENMARK
SAT. DEC 3RD, 8PM, Byens Lys (Christiania):
TAURPIS TULA, HOTOTOGISU, FAMILY UNDERGROUND
Tickets: 50,- kroner
EVENT IN Den Haag, NL.
STATE X NEWFORMS
http://www.state-xnewforms.nl/2005/
DEC 16 & 17

 
November 16 , 2005

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ocean's debut receives tremendous press in it's first week of release!
Ocean's debut album "Here Where Nothing Grows" has been receiving substantial international press in it's first week of release. Features have been confirmed in numerous international metal and non-metal press and countless reviews have been confirmed as well. Check on our release page for links to all the press we've been able to find thus far.
We're nearing the end of the supply of the limited edition of 2000 in a deluxe foil stamped gatefold.

Here are some dates from their upcoming tour:
nov 19 portland me @ geno's cd release w/ rosetta & cwaf
nov 25 allston ma @ o'brien.s cd release w/ sin of angels & shroud of berevement
nov 26 baltimore md @ jerk store
nov 27 harrisonburg va @ crayola house w/ withersoul & tba
nov 28 hickory nc @ underground w/ tba
nov 29 chattanooga tn @ ziggy's w/ moscow theater siege & hoth
nov 30 tba
dec 1 tba
dec 2 fredericksburg va @ the burbon room w/ we're all gonna die & tba
dec 3 new york ny @ c squat w/ death mold, kurixis, rabia & deathcycle
dec 4 trenton nj @ the mill hill basement w/ rosetta

dec 19 boston @ the middle east w/ sunno))) & nachtmsticm

 

October 16, 2005
Minazo tribute t shirts, designed by Jenny Akita, have just been added to the apparel page of our site. New vinyl bags as well as the limited edition metallic print shirts for Ocean's debut full length have also been added to the apparel page.
You may also notice that we're in the middle of a big content update on the distributed titles pages.


October 4, 2005

MINAZO 1994-2005

;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;Photos 2 and 3 copyright Jenny Akita

Minazo, Japan's only male Elephant Seal and Merzbow's muse on the album Merzbeat (as well as the cover star) sadly passed away recently at the age of 11.
Masami and Jenny Akita made frequent trips to visit the seal and his memory will be preserved in the many photographs, paintings and albums Masami made that were inspired by this mighty animal.
Masami & Jenny Akita are both strongly opposed to the containment of animals in zoos and aquariums. Had Minazo lived in the wild he may have been able to live a bit longer as 11 is a young age for an Elephant Seal.

We will have a commemerative Minazo t-shirt, designed by Jenny Akita, at some point in the near future.
Check out the great photos on this Russian page dedicated to Minazo
Here's a link to the aquarium's Minazo photo page (if it doesn't load just refresh the page)

 
September 30, 2005


OCEAN'S DEBUT FULL LENGTH CD COMING IN NOV
LARSEN GETS REMIXED


Early November will see the debut full length release of Portland Maine art/doom metal group Ocean. Here Where Nothing Grows was originally recorded at Volume Studios in Chicago with Sanford Parker (pelican/buried at sea). However, an exhausted Ocean returned home only to be tremendously unsatisfied with the Chicago sessions. They retreated to Tsunami Sound in Portland, Maine and emerged 2 months later with a massive epic. 65 minutes, 3 tracks, all mastered to be played loud. It's as heavy as it could ever possibly be. Recommended to fans of Buried At Sea, Neurosis, Mogwai (their heavier stuff), Sunn O)))),etc.. MP3's soon.

Also in November is the remix EP from Larsen titled HMKE. This features two unremixed Larsen originals excluisve to this release as well as remixes from Deathprod & Origami Galaktika both also exclusive to this ep. A new Larsen full length will follow in early 2006

September 23 , 2005
...................................Barbez is currently on tour to support Insignificance


 

 

 

 

"When the Brooklyn quintet isn't smashing Russian vodka anthems like "The Sea Spread Wide" asunder with shards of Kurt Weill-y ephemera, they're rewriting dark indie rock for the post-Bad Seeds generation. " CMJ

9/
23 San Francisco,CA @ 12 Galaxies
w/ Rosin Coven
9/24 Petaluma, CA @ Zebulon's Lounge
9/25 Portland, OR @ Dante's
9/26 Missoula, MT @ M.A.R.S. space
9/27 Salt Lake City,UT @ Ego's
9/28 Denver,CO @ Benders Tavern
9/29 Kansas City,MO @ The Brick
9/30 Bloomington,IN @ Second Story
10/1 Chicago,IL @ Empty Bottle
w/ Spires in the Sunset Rise and Thin Man
10/2 Madison,WI @ Cafe Montmartre
10/4 Asheville @ The Grey Eagle
10/5 Louisville,KY @ Portland Performing Arts Center
(34th & Northwestern Streets)
10/6 Athens,GA @ CaledoniaLounge
w/ Astra & Tin Cup Prophette
10/7 Indianapolis,IN @ Allotropy Festival
w/ Sleepytime Gorilla Museum
10/8 Brooklyn, NY @ The Lyceum
w/ Guignol
10/9 Washington, D.C @ D.C. Nine

 

 

 

September 7, 2005
Sony Picture Classics have recently announced
a release date for The Devil And Daniel Johnston.
Click on Daniel to find out more.

August 23 , 2005


The Weird Wide World Of Henry Jacobs cd/dvd was recently featured on a nationally broadcasted piece on NPR. listen here

New records from Mars, Vibracathedral Orchestra & Hototogisu are now available. Click on the releases link above for more info

Henry Jacobs will be performing for the first time in many years at Arthurfest in early Sept. See you there!
Farewell Bob Moog

July 11, 2005

Brand new full length recordings from The Acid Mothers Temple & The Cosmic Inferno as well as The Birds available now only on Important Records.
 
June 5 , 2005

asd Congratulations Diane!
Diane Cluck's full length "Oh Vanille/Ova Nil" (imprec049) has been selected as Mojo Magazine's Underground Album Of The Month for July. This tremendous honor is much appreciated and very much deserved for this beautiful, stark album.
Click on Diane to read the review
 
 
May 31, 2005

The Henry Jacobs cd/dvd is finally in stock and ready to ship. It's a tremendous honor for Important to issue such a significant piece of audio-visual history. Henry Jacobs' exploratory work in Musique Concrete as well as his work as a humorist (and the combination of the two) marks him as quite a maverick. Plus, the animation documented on the hour and a half dvd was quite a breakthrough for it's time and is hillariously amusing as well as completely fascinating. Again, it's a great honor and we hope you enjoy this as much as we have.
Please click the image below for an elaborate web page dedicated to The Wide Weird World Of Henry Jacobs.

 
May 17, 2005



 
Fe-Mail & Wolf Eyes will be performing together at the following dates:

06.11.05: Fe-mail and Wolf Eyes at Bad Bonn Kilbi, Switzerland.
07.08.05 Fe-mail and Wolf Eyes at Kongsberg Jazz Festival, Norway

May 16 , 2005


Enteruption in San Francisco has released a limited edition of 500 in beautifully hand screened jackets. Available from Important
 
May 12, 2005

Barbez are heading out on a small tour of the midwest.



Thursday, May 19th
Madison, WI
@Cafe Montmartre
9pm
http://www.themomo.com
w/Reptile Palace Orchestra

Friday, May 20th
Kansas City, MO
@the Brick
http://www.thebrickkcmo.com
w/Mr. Marco's V7 and Franklin Delano

Louisville, KY
Saturday, May 21st
@Uncle Pleasant's
2126 S. Preston St.
(502) 634-4147

Sunday, May 22nd
Indianapolis, IN
Broad Ripple Art Fair
11:30 am
http://www.indplsartcenter.org

Sunday, May 22nd
Chicago, IL
@the Bottom Lounge
9 pm
w/Spires that in the Sunset Rise and Dylan Posa (ex-Cheer Accident)
http://www.bottomlounge.com

Thursday, May 26th
Cambridge, MA
@the Middle East
http://www.themideastclub.com
w/Beat Circus

 

 
April 15 , 2005

On July 19th we will be releasing the debut album from Cotton Casino's group The Birds. For more info scroll down. We will also be releasing, at the same time, the debut release from the new Acid Mothers Temple lineup called The Acid Mothers Temple & The Cosmic Inferno. This group contains 2 drummers and members/ex-members of Zeni Geva, The Boredoms, Ghost, Miminokoto,High Rise & Mainliner. Here's a message from Makoto Kawabata:

Acid Mothers Temple & The Melting Paraiso U.F.O. was formed in 1995, so this year 2005 marks our tenth anniversary. Acid Mothers Temple & The Melting Paraiso U.F.O was originally intended as just one part of the Acid Mothers Temple Soul Collective, but over the past ten years it seems that most of our fans have taken them to mean pretty much the same thing. Of course, many of you will have been aware of the various other groups that have come out of the Soul Collective. But it is also true to say that Acid Mothers Temple & The Melting Paraiso U.F.O. was the core of the collective. But I have never seen Acid Mothers Temple as the collective name for any particular unit or group - rather it is a description of the souls of all those who have gathered together under our slogan, and it is an attitude to life. Acid Mothers Temple is a place of refuge, a hometown for all those excluded by mainstream society who find some resonance in our slogan, "Do Whatever You Want, Don't Do Whatever You Don't Want!!"

At the end of our European tour in the fall of 2004, Acid Mothers Temple & The Melting Paraiso U.F.O. decided that this was the last time that we would play such a long tour. Over the years we have tried to play wherever there are people who want to hear us, and we have tried to make our music easily accessible by releasing albums on labels from many countries. We believed that was the best way to reach the fans around the world who have found something to love in our music. However, the repeated lengthy tours (often with no break between them) and the raging torrent of releases have finally begun to wear us down. And if you look back at rock history, even the greatest bands found that their peak lasted for just a few years before they were exhausted by the grind of touring and recording.

Even before the fall 2004 tour I had begun to feel the same warning signs with Acid Mothers Temple & The Melting Paraiso U.F.O. that I had previously experienced in other groups. By the end of the tour, just as I expected, we were physically and mentally exhausted, like a group of dinosaurs on the brink of extinction. That was why we decided not to undertake any more extended tours. We need to take some time out to recharge our reservoirs of cosmic energy, which is just about run out. It feels like I have been slicing off parts of my soul, in compensation for which the group has been granted a modicum of success over the past couple of years. But I no longer feel the need to continue with the group if it means that Acid Mothers Temple & The Melting Paraiso U.F.O. will become just one more ordinary rock band. At the beginning Acid Mothers Temple & The Melting Paraiso U.F.O. did not even exist as a normal group. And to this date we have never had an 'official' lineup - the group has only ever existed as temporary assemblies of likeminded musicians, a miniature soul collective. But through constant touring and recording, I feel that the lineup has fossilized, and the free communion of souls we enjoyed at the beginning has been virtually lost.

Just before setting off on the fall 2004 European tour I accepted a booking for my solo unit, Mothers of Invasion, in Osaka for January 2005. At the time I imagined that we would just play the gig as Mothers of Invasion with a new lineup. But later I began to feel the need for some powerful, new force that could stand against the virtually extinct dinosaur of Acid Mothers Temple & The Melting Paraiso U.F.O., a worthy rival who could read the last rites to the corpse. Perhaps I felt this need because I had nothing to replace the declining power of Acid Mothers Temple & The Melting Paraiso U.F.O. Everything that exists in this universe consists of two elements. Just as ancient Chinese yin-yang five-element philosophy states, in everything there are two opposing forces - a front and a back, a yin and a yang. Without the balance between these two forces, the motion of the universe would cease.

With that thought in mind, I chose to mount an attack Acid Mothers Temple & The Melting Paraiso U.F.O. myself. Of course, if this attack were to succeed I would need musicians just as powerful, if not more powerful, than Acid Mothers Temple & The Melting Paraiso U.F.O.

The first person who voiced their agreement for my ideas was my old friend and partner in Acid Mothers Temple & The Melting Paraiso U.F.O., Higashi Hiroshi. He and I are like two sides of the same coin, yin and yang, and without any explanation from me he immediately grasped my intentions. We decided to take the members of Mothers of Invasion and shift them to the new group, giving birth to a new Acid Mothers Temple. Just then I received a transmission from my own cosmos - the group should be named Cosmic Inferno. It was utterly fitting for this is truly a battle between heaven and hell, between The Melting Paraiso U.F.O. and The Cosmic Inferno.

Though we shall henceforth be Acid Mothers Temple & The Cosmic Inferno, the new group will also be known in short as Acid Mothers Temple and this will no doubt sow confusion in the minds of many. But the true manifestations of Acid Mothers Temple are many - Acid Mothers Temple & The Melting Paraiso U.F.O., Acid Mothers Temple & The Cosmic Inferno, Acid Mothers Temple SWR. The future may see yet other groups bearing similar names. But each and all of them will be true manifestations of Acid Mothers Temple.

Thus, on this the tenth anniversary of the founding of Acid Mothers Temple, I announce the birth of the hellchild, Acid Mothers Temple & The Cosmic Inferno.

 
April 11 , 2005

Here's an early glimpse of The Birds album art by Pete Fowler. The Birds debut full length has been in the works for over two years and it should see the light of record shops in July. The first 1000 will be packaged with deluxe 3-D cover artwork like the Acid Mothers Temple cds we did a few years ago. The Birds is Cotton Casino (Acid Mothers Temple) and Per Gisle Galaan (Slowburn/Del). Mastered by Deathprod. We'll have mp3's up soon enough, but in the meantime imagine that Brian Eno, Cotton Casino and Per Gisle Galaan morphed into one being and went back in time to record Another Green World all over again. Makes sense to me.





 
February 18, 2005

The Important Records vinyl bags are back in stock with all new colors on the apparel page

 
February 8, 2005

On the horizon from Important Records:
Merzbow "Merzbudhha" cd
What did you listen to last summer? Masami Akita, otherwise know as Merzbow, spent most of his summer listening to Horace Andy, Studio One, Dennis Bovel, Keith Hudson and a whole pipe full of other dub mavericks. That's probably why this brand new full length, with cover art by Jenny Akita, is dripping with deep bass riffage and a whole lot of electronic dub vibes and beats.

Diane Cluck "Oh Vanille, Ova Nille" cd (limited edition in packaging made by Diane)
- “This record is by my favorite singer-songwriter in all of New York City. I'm so happy to be alive at the same time she is because i get to see her perform. It's her and guitar or her and piano or her and harmonium. Her lyrics are so good, when i play this for people they stop doing everything and are quiet for hours after." Devendra Banhart

The Hafler Trio "Exactly As I Do" double cd set
- Collaboration with Jonsi Bergisson, singer/guitarist of Sigur Ros

The Weird Wide World Of Henry Jacobs cd/dvd set
.
_This project grew out of several gatherings in Mill Valley, CA and Point Reyes, CA over the course of a couple of years. Conceived as a radio program, the CD was compiled, edited and mastered by Jack Dangers as a journey through the found archive of unreleased tapes by Henry Jacobs. The DVD contains three 30-minute programs, The Fine Art of Goofing Off, a collaboration of experimental and playful animation between Jacobs and artist Bob McClay, produced in the early 70's for broadcast on San Francisco public television station KQED. Literally saved from the dustbin by McClay, this is first commercial release of these programs.

Henry Jacobs is a sound artist and improviser par excellence. His influential recordings as well as collaborative projects resonate with an irreverent sense of humor and a love for musics of the world. From the early 1950s into the 1970s, Jacobs experimented with tape music and film, staged early surround sound and visual spectacles (with artist Jordan Belson), and developed an array of absurd characters that would pop up as crank callers, relaxation coaches, or upside-down smiling instructors.
A contemporary of Ken Nordine and Lenny Bruce, Jacobs honed an individual style that was droll and laid-back but winked at you at the same time. On his recordings for Folkways, World Pacific, and Fantasy, as well as on his private label MEA, the world of Jacobs is an audio collage that embraces many cultures and sensibilities. This CD/DVD collection pays homage to Jacobs’ creative play, presenting recovered and restored audio as well as rare animated films that will give you a taste of this man’s special talents.

Lots more in the distant future such as vinyl for all the Angels of Light releases, vinyl for the Mars LP cd, Vibracathedral Orchestra, Hitotogisu, Unbunny, Ocean, Kimya Dawson, Merzbow/Boris, Lee Ranaldo, Hafler Trio, Larsen, R, Larsen with Xiu Xiu, Anois, Acid Mothers Temple



more new release information can be found on the releases page of the site

 
February 3, 2005

new interview with Kimya Dawson

recent Beequeen review on Pitchfork

 
January 26. 2005

A whole lot of Larsen news straight from Italy:

ciao a tutti from

LARSEN
www.larsen.to.it


this friday, the 28th of January
we will perform a new extended version of CARTOANIMALETTIMATTI,
our soundtrack for Winsor McCay short animated movies, for the first time
it will happen at the MART museum of modern art in Rovereto, Italy www.mart.tn.it
Daniele Pagliero www.lodevalm.net and Paul Beauchamp www.gullinkambi.com
will be with us on this show
PREcordings will release Cartoanimalettimatti on DVD in the autumn
www.precordings.com

see the list of our forthcoming gigs below


the new LARSEN album PLAY has just been released by IMPORTANT RECORD www.importantrecords.com
and in the spring BETA LACTAM RING will put it out on vinyl
along with a ltd. ed 7 " with 2 unreleased tracks too www.blrrecords.com

some reviews of "Play" are already on line:
Brainwashed.com www.brainwashed.com/brain/brainv08i03.html
Aquarius Rec. www.aquariusrecordsorg
Musique Machine www.musiquemachine.com/reviews/reviews_template.php?id=576
"Play" has been reviewed on the new issue of "The Wire"


on June IMPORTANT REC. will release another LARSEN album
so far it will be called SEIES and it features contributions by
JULIA KENT, cello wwwantonyandthejohnsons.com/orchestra/juliakent.html
JARBOE, vocals www.thelivingjarboe.com
and a remix by LUSTMORD www.lustmord.com

a short tour of U.S. will follow

more Larsen and Larsen related releases are on their way
Larsenincluding Fabrizio Madonese Palumbo's new solo album as ( r )
and Paolo Dellapiana's MANNYPOL debut
a full list of our forthcoming releases is available here:
www.deathtripper.com/ForthcomingReleases.htm

now Larsen's drummer "Il Bue" plays with the industrial-italian-catwalk-combo NORTHGATE too www.northgate.it
and Fabrizio will join (again) the ambient act MARIAE NASCENTI for some live shows and recordings www.mariaenascenti.com

some loops from LARSEN's songs are the soundtrack of the new art video
by MICHELLE HANDELMAN "This Delicate Monster"
www.michellehandelman.com

also some LARSEN, MANNYPOL and ( r ) music are part of the MARZIA MIGLIORA and MARGHERITA MORGANTIN
performance "Download Now" held at the Italian Cultural Institute of London on Friday 4 February between 6.30 and 9pm. www.italcultur.org.uk


FORTHCOMING GIGS:

28/01/2005 @ MART, Rovereto, Italy www.mart.tn.it
LARSEN play Cartoanimalettimatti feat. Daniele Pagliero www.lodevalm.net
+ GULLINKAMBI www.gullinkambi.com

05/02/2005 @ Usine, Geneva, Switzerland www.usine.ch
LARSEN feat. Matt Howden & Julia Kent
+ SIEBEN www.matthowden.com
+ JOSEPH BUDENHOLZER www.backworld.com

07/02/2005 @ Mercati Generali, Catania, Sicily, Italy www.mercatigenerali.org
LARSEN feat. Matt Howden & Julia Kent
+ SIEBEN www.matthowden.com
+ DIANE AND THE SHELL www.dianeandtheshell.net

16/02/2005 @ AB+, Torino, Italy www.progettocluster.com
FABRIZIO MODONESE PALUMBO / ( r ) www.deathtripper.com
as part of FFWD # 2 launch party www.ffwdmag.org

14/03/2005 @ Cafè Procope, Torino, Italy www.juvarramultiteatro.it
MANNYPOL www.piemontegroove.com/artisti.php?id=84
+ DEAD TEXAN www.brainwashed.com/sotl/deadtexan

6 -10 of Apr: BLOOD AXIS www.diaboli.com/bloodaxis
+ MARIAE NASCENTI feat. Fabrizio Modonese Palumbo www.mariaenascenti.com
3 shows in Italy tba

12/05/2005 @ Teatro Juvarra, Torino, Italy www.juvarramultiteatro.it
... LARSENfeatXIUXIUfeatLARSENfeatXIUXIU ...
www.xiuxiu.org


LARSEN: gigs in Belgium, Slovenja, USA tba


LARSEN
www.larsen.to.it

booking+management+mail order
www.deathtripper.com

 

November 20, 2004

Lots of news to report. Most importantly, the self titled album from Barbez was recently reviewed in Pitchfork and received a whopping 8.0. Pitchfork, always elloquently critical and stingy with the points wrote an amazing review. To celebrate Barbez is only $8.00 with free shipping anywhere in the world. This offer will only last a couple of weeks. Read the Pitchfork review here

Portland Maine doom-metal masters Ocean have just returned from Chicago where they recorded their debut album for Important with Sanford Parker (Pelican/Buried At Sea). Expect more news regarding this release in the future. All we really know at this point is that they returned home having lost a drummer with their rough mixes stolen, leaving behind in Chicago some seriously heavy master recordings for Sanford Parker to mix.

Boris has also just completed studio work for an upcoming Important Records release. Again, more information will be available regarding this record as it becomes available.

January will be a busy month for us with full length recordings due from Larsen, Beequeen and an ep from Piano Magic. All 3 releases are milestones for each group with Larsen turning in a post-rockish epic inspired by Autechre; Beequeen recording their most instrumentally arranged album to date (vocals and a Nick Drake cover... for real) and conversely Piano Magic releasing their most electronic recordings yet. Again, more info and special offers for our mailing list will be available.

Lots more new records coming in the next year from Merzbow, Hafler Trio, Wolf Eyes, Dos Tracks, Diane Cluck, Kimya Dawson, Daniel Menche, Sir Richard Bishop, KK Null, ANP, John Fahey, The Birds, Acid Mothers Temple, EAR and the launching of the Brainwashed Archives series.

BARBEZ TOUR DATES:

December 2nd, 3rd, and 4th, 8pm
Berlin, Germany
@Haus der Berliner Festspiele (http://www.berlinerfestspiele.de)
Barbez will be performing the music to a new episode of John Jesurun's
Chang in a Void Moon as part of this Berlin theatre festival.

December 4th, 10pm
Berlin, Germany
@Haus der Berliner Festspiele (http://www.berlinerfestspiele.de)
Barbez post-Chang performance.

December 5th, 8pm
Dudingen, Switzerland
@Bad Bonn (http://www.badbonn.ch)

December 6th, 7th
Berlin, Germany
@Orphtheater (http://www.orphtheater.de)

December 8th, 9th
Berlin, Germany
@Haus der Sinne (http://www.hausdersinneberlin.de)

December 11th
Potsdam, Germany
@Al Globe (http://www.alglobe.de)

December 13th
Zagreb, Croatia
@KSET (http://www.kset.org)

December 14th
Turin, Italy
@Antidox
w/ Larsen & Matt Howden

December 15th
Ljubjlana, Slovenia
@Channel Zero (http://www.ch0.org)

December 16th
Faenza (Ravenna), Italy
@ClanDestino

December 18th
Paris, France
@Cafe des Trois Freres
w/Catherine Jauniaux

December 19th
Paris, France
TBD

There may be one or two shows added, so please check the Barbez website for updates.

http://www.barbez.com

And here are some upcoming Larsen tour dates:

14/12/2004 @ Antidox, Torino, Italy,
feat. Matt Howden + Barbez

15/12/2004@ Baraonda, Ronchi (MS), Italy,
feat. Matt Howden + Sieben

17/12/2004@ Werk, Campi Bisenzio (FI), Italy,
feat. Matt Howden + Sieben

28/01/2005 @ M.A.R.T. , Rovereto, Italy ,
Larsen play "Cartoanimalettimatti" ( feat. LoDevAlm ) + Gullinkambi

5/02/2005 @ Usine , Geneva, CH,
feat. Julia Kent & Matt Howden + Sieben +Joseph Budenholzer of Backworld

7/02/2005 @ Mercati Generali, Catania, Sicily, Italy
feat. Julia Kent & Matt Howden + Sieben

..more tba...
including: Udine (Italy), Norway
spring 2005: Italy with Xiu Xiu, USA

also
(Larsen's related solo shows):

Fabrizio Modonese Palumbo & Paul Beauchamp + Legendary Pink Dots:
29/11/2004 @ Antidox , Torino , Italy

MannYPol (new solo project by Paolo Dellapiana of Larsen)
16/12/2004 @ Cafè Liber, Torino, Italy

Fabrizio Modonese Palumbo / ( r )
18/12/2004 tba, Torino, Italy


www.deathtripper.com
for info + booking

 

 

November 15, 2004

Jhonn Balance 1962-2004

 

 
November 8 , 2004

Slowly, but surely, we're adding mp3 samples to all Important Records releases found on the Releases page of our site. Our hope is that it will help you to explore our diverse roster of artists.

Also, we will be distributing the Vog Hantel label exclusively for the world. They are a small label releasing hand cut records in miniature editions of around 30 copies in screen printed packaging. The first few releases on Vog Hantel will be from Daniel Menche, Dreams Of Tall Buildings, Maja Ratkje. These records will only be available from Vog Hantel through Important Records. (they're too busy cutting records to handle mailorder....) More info TBA.


 

 
October 12, 2004

An update of epic proportions has just occured to the "distributed titles" sections of the site. While it's still not a searchable database, and may never be, it's now much neater with non-new releases finally moved into the back catalog and new stock finally updated.
If you don't already have the Google toolbar I'd suggest downloading it. One of its many features is that it allows you to search a page for text without having to open a search box. I think this would help if you wanted to search pages on the site fast. Otherwise, browse away. I like the idea of leaving it browsable... Just like a physical record shop. I mean, do you always walk right up to the clerk and ask "Where's Justin Timberlake?" No, you go and find it yourself browsing Nelly on the way.

 

 
October 6, 2004

BENEFIT FOR ACCIDENTAL RECORDS
THURSDAY OCTOBER 14TH
8PM $10 ALL AGES
@ THE HOOK IN BROOKLYN, NY
http://www.thehookmusic.com

THE MOLDY PEACHES
THE PHARMACY
and more.

 

 
Sept 28, 2004

Dear friends and music lovers:

Barbez will be performing in a special triple bill next Friday night...

@Tonic
Friday, October 1
107 Norfolk St.
w/Nik Turner & Spaceseed and Steve Mackay's Radon Ensemble
8 pm (Steve Mackay will be opening then Barbez and then Nik Turner)
http://www.tonicnyc.com

Steve Mackay is the longtime collaborator with the Stooges (notably on their 1970 masterpiece Funhouse as well as the Stooges current reincarnation). Nik Turner is a founding member of the British psychedelic-metal band Hawkwind.


September 2, 2004

John S. Hall will be the first guest on Air America's Morning Sedition show with Mark Maron on Wednesday September 8 - one day after Royal Lunch hits streets.

A 1/2 hour interview will begin at 8:30 AM. The scope of the interview: King Missile III new album Royal Lunch and its political overtones. John S. Hall suggested performance of 'America Kicks Ass' plus other Royal Lunch tracks live on-air.

www.airamericaradio.com
http://www.morningsedition.com

AIR AMERICA is a liberal-minded radio show which hopes to change the political landscape.
They have become the counterforce to conservative talk radio predominance - a counterbalance
to right-wing voices. The talk-radio network boasts compelling entertainment programming
17 hours-a-day , 5 days-a-week. The NYC talkfest host entertainer notables Janeane Garafalo,
rap artist Chuck D, Al Franken and comedian Liz Winstead.

Air America is on on-air nationally :
XM Satellite Radio - ch. 167
Sirius Satellite Radio - ch. 144
EAST:
Chapel Hill, NC - WCHL 1360 AM
Key West, FL - WKIZ 1500 AM
Miami, FL - WINZ 940 AM
New York City - WLIB 1190 AM
Northampton, MA - WHMP 1400 AM
Philadelphia, PA - WHAT 1340 AM
Plattsburgh/Burlington - WTWK 1070 AM
Portland, ME - WMTW 870 AM
West Palm Beach, FL - WJNO 1290 AM


WEST:
Anchorage, AK - KUDO 1080 AM
Albuquerque, NM - KABQ 1350 AM
Ann Arbor, MI - WLYB 1290 AM
Denver, CO - KKZN 760 AM
Honolulu, HI - KUMU 1500 AM
Maui, HI - KAOI 1110 AM
Kauai, HI - KONG 570 AM
Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN - 1530 AM / 740 AM
Portland, OR - KPOJ 620 AM
Reno, NV - KTHO 590 AM
Riverside, CA - KCAA 1050 AM
Sacramento, CA - KSQR 1240 AM
Santa Barbara, CA - KTLK 1340 AM
San Diego, CA - 1360 AM KLSD
San Luis Obispo, CA - KYNS 1340 AM

 
June 23, 2004

Appologies for the lack of news updates this summer. If you're paying attention you know that there's been lots of news worthy happenings that haven't been news because we've completely forgotten that our site has a "news" page.

Most importantly, we've recently released a handful of brand new records:

imprec036 Barbez self titled debut CD :
Highly recommended to Dresden Dolls fans since Barbez & The Dresden Dolls were at one time very close, traveling the same musical paths. The Dolls have since departed on their way to fame and fortune leaving Barbez to release this brilliant debut w/ Important.

Barbez includes a brilliant theremin player who smokes cigarettes and a full –throated Russian singer who comes across like Joan of Arc with a sense of Humor. They cover everything from Bertolt Brecht to Black Sabbath, but the real attractions is their melodically haunting originals. With a folk-music sound located somewhere between turn-of-century Eastern Europe and modern America, it’s arty rock that moves between brooding and winking.”
-The New Yorker

imprec038 Kawabata Makoto " O Si Amos A Sighire A Essere Duas " CD
O Si Amos A Essere Duas Umbras? is comprised of two epic, deeply meditative, spiritual and transcendental compositions. Track one, titled "Ses Aintro ‘e mene finzas Si Ses In S'Atter'Ala E Su Mundu" is the very first solo track Kawabata has ever recorded on an acoustic guitar. Filtered through 3 reverb units and a single delay this epic acoustic track starts off droning but quickly builds with reverb drenched and finger picked momentum light years away from any of Kawabata's solo guitar work.

imprec039 Jack Dangers "Forbidden Planet Explored" double CD
This double cd release contains Jack's now famous soundtrack for the legendary sci-fi film Forbidden Planet. This recording was performed live accompanying a screening of the film at the I.D.E.A.L. Music Festival in Nantes, France. Since the performance the legend has built as Jack's legions of fans have searched far and wide for this recording. As a special bonus, Forbidden Planet Explored contains a second cd full of sci-fi sound effects inspired by the BBC Radiophonic Workshop.

"...These ethereal sound effects are captured in
twenty-three thematic tracks that illustrate the
quirky film, and at the same time give it a fully
timeless quality..." Igloo Magazine

imprec025 Muslimgauze "Zuriff Moussa" LP
Color vinyl pressing of this sought after Muslimgauze cd release. 4 colors of vinyl, 250 each. We're down to our last 100 records so you may want to pick yours up quickly.


Coming in SEPTEMBER:

imprec034 King Missile III "Royal Lunch" CD
What is left to say that John S. Hall and King Missile haven't already said? Everything! The notoriously outspoken and eloquently sardonic John S. Hall is back with the third incarnation of King Missile and this time his unrelenting lyrical avant-poetry/spoken-wordism is angry, irreverently subversive and politically charged. Though not the only topic on the album, Hall has taken aim at the Bush administration and Royal Lunch is a direct shot at the heart of the monster. Royal Lunch has the feel of an America on the brink of disaster, the exact climate the album was written in, and as always, John S. Hall channels the socio-political climate of the globe, mixing in his slanted wit, creating a brilliantly acrimonious masterwork.


There's a whole lot of amazing records currently in the early stages of release. We'll be anouncing them as we get closer to the release date. If you have any questions regarding new releases consult our release page or send an email! Thanks!

look around the site for the 2004 Team T Shirt as well as brand new Important Records stickers...



May 24 , 2004

Barbez has anounced dates for a small spring tour. More information available at www.barbez.com. Look for their debut full length to be released on Important in August.

"A Brooklyn based collective that considers cafe decadence from a European point
of view. Barbez takes the violin and accordion of tango and the sultry vocals of
cabaret to skewed extremes; it's repertory includes the music of Kurt Veill
and The Residents." The New Yorker

@Tonic
Friday, May 28th
107 Norfolk St.
Show starts at 8.
Barbez at 9:30

Saturday, May 29th
Baltimore, MD
The Talking Head Club
http://www.talkingheadclub.com for directions, times.
w/Birdland

Monday, May 31st
Louisville, KY
check back on our site for the venue

Tuesday, June 1st
Indianapolis, IN
Radio Radio
http://www.futureshock.net/radioframeset.html

Wednesday, June 2nd
Kansas City, KN
The Brick
http://thebrickkcmo.com

Thursday, June 3rd
Chicago, IL
Schuba's
http://www.schubas.com
w/Nad Navillus and the Zincs


 
May 7, 2004

Fe-Mail's debut full length cd,"Skylubb Fra Haelvette," with bonus tracks not on the vinyl version, has just been released. The vinyl edition which was quite limited and is now out of print has become quite legendary in its first year of existence. Please see our release page for more info.

Also just released is Kimya Dawson's My Cute Fiend Sweet Pricess and Knock Knock Who? on color vinyl. This will be the only vinyl pressings and they are limited to 500 copies. One in three include a hand made drawing from Kimya just for you!

We've also got new t shirts from Kimya Dawson, ANP, Acid Mothers Temple and a the brand new 2004 Important Records Team Roster t shirt. See the apparel page of the site.

And a side note: Absolut Null Punkt has a lot of momentum behind it and is garnering quite a bit of critical praise and chart entries. It's highly recommended so check it out!

Coming soon: King Missile III, Jack Dangers, Muslimgauze, Hafler Trio, The Birds, E.A.R., Kawabata Makoto and a whole lot more so please stay tuned.


April 1, 2004

The following records have just been released:

Genesis P-Orridge
"When I was Young" imprec035 CD $14.99
Dark and dreamy, When I Was Young is a surprisingly unique addition to the P-Orridge catalog. It's emphasis on P-Orridge's unique word play, voice and annunciation create an eloquently pronounced lyrical and music journey

Hafler Trio
"Kisses With Both Hands..." imprec027 CDep two versions $13.99 & $19.99
"From the ashes of several points consumed by an inner flame, a construction to rekindle the embers left by "A Small Child Dreams Of Voiding The Plague". Recorded in PERCEPTOVISION(tm), using the latest in emotional resonance techniques, never has a small piece of plastic done so much to move hydrogens to a higer rate of vibration." - Andrew McKenzie

Absolut Null Punkt
"Live In Japan" imprec029 CD $11.99
The live setting is a perfect showcase for ANP's diverse inspirations and unique approach to creating music. An echoing chamber of stark,pummeling fusion is created by combining strong elements of free jazz, heavy rock, industrial noise, glitch and free improvisation dynamics

All of these records are available direct. Please see the RELEASES page for more information and the complete Important Records label catalog.

We're currently hard at work on new records from Fe-Mail, ANP, King Missile III, Jack Dangers, Kimya Dawson (color vinyl for her 2 cds each limited to 500 only), Muslimgauze, Hafler Trio, The Birds, E.A.R., Kawabata Makoto and a whole lot more so please stay tuned. If you have any questions, or want to make a reservation for limited titles, please send an email. Don't forget to drop in on the Important Kitties...

"Out of Norway comes the most exciting noise LP I've heard to date. These two women romp thru stimulating noise compositions fresh and clean w/ a distinct Scandinavian frost. But there's always an undercurrent of warm embrace, sweet and masterful." - Thurston Moore

please note that Important Records will be closed between the April 14 - April 20th. all orders and correspondence placed between these dates will be processed on April 20-21. appologies for this inconvenience.


January 22, 2004

Happy New Year everyone. We have a big release date coming up February 24th.

Finally available will be:
Imprec022-24 Merzbow "Last Of The Analog Sessions":
Last of Analog Sessions is a 3 cd box set compiling Merzbow's last 3 albums recorded entirely on anlog equiptment. These albums went unreleased until now, and mark a historic compositional change in the world of Merzbow. Upon completion of these three albums Masami Akita traded his analog equiptment for an Apple laptop which he has been composing on ever since. This change in equiptment marks a change in sound and a whole new period for Merzbow. This box set marks the end of an era and the beginning of another.
Imprec026 Space Machine "3" :
Space Machine is Yamazaki Maso's solo synth-psych side project. This single cd release includes both the Space Machine 3 studio sessions as well as Space Machine live at Big Cat in Osaka, Japan with Makoto Kawabata of The Acid Mothers Temple
Imprec030 John Fahey "Hitomi" 2x LP:
John Fahey's second to last album, inspired by Fahey's Japanese girlfriend and Japanese music, pressed on 180 gram double vinyl and housed in a deluxe gatefold sleeve. limited edition. The first 100, which will only be available through our website will be on clear vinyl.

Prices will be listed soon.

We're currently hard at work on new records from Fe-Mail, ANP, King Missile III, Jack Dangers, Kimya Dawson (color vinyl for her 2 cds each limited to 500 only), Muslimgauze, Hafler Trio, The Birds, E.A.R., Kawabata Makoto and a whole lot more so please stay tuned. If you have any questions, or want to make a reservation for limited titles, please send an email. Don't forget to drop in on the Important Kitties... They're getting so big!

HAFLER TRIO TOUR DATES w/ EINSTURZENDE NEUBAUTEN:

<o3h> 29.2. Warschau
<o3h> 1.3. leipzig
<o3h> 6.3. Wintherthur/CH
<o3h> 11.3. Stuttgart
<o3h> 12.3. Prag
<o3h> 13.3. Berlin
<o3h> 15.3. Offenbach
<o3h> 16.3 Mnchen
<o3h> 6.4. Paris

Nov 20 , 2003

Arts And Crafts:
Finally, after a long delay the first two volumes of the Arts And Crafts Series are finally available. These are brand new releases from Jad Fair and Boston's The Dresden Dolls. Check out the releases page for more info. Order fast, these are both limited to 500 copies each and wont be repressed.

Lots of progress has been made on upcoming releases. The Merzbow Analog box is at the factory as is John Fahey's Hitomi deluxe double vinyl, Space Machine and ANP. For more info about these releases, as well as release dates check out our releases page. Beyond this , there are endless projects coming together so stay tuned.

As always, Kimya Dawson is currently very much on tour. check out her website for live dates. Merzbow is on his way to the UK for a week of live dates and numerous other Important artists are playing out around the globe so check their respective websites.

Loads of new records in the distributed titles section of our web site (updated weekly) and brand new Important vinyl bags and t shirts in the apparel section .

And most importantly, don't forget to take a peek at the lives of our 4 kitties Kevin, Fuzzy And Rhoda, Poopsmith and Henry. They're growing up so quickly!

Oh yeah, Kimya sings on the new They Might Be Giants childrens album/book. If you don't have any kids perhaps now is a good time to get some!

Oct 2, 2003
 

After a long month of moving we're finally settled in. If you haven't had a chance too, check out the link to the kittens we rescued on the front page of the site.
You can expect a vast array of releases in the next few months including the initial two arts and crafts 7" from Jad Fair and Boston's Dresden Dolls as well as full length vinyl releases from Muslimgauze and John Fahey. Also, expect cd releases from Genesis P-Orridge, Spacemachine (Masonna & Kawabata Makoto), Absolut Null Punk (KK Null w/ drummer from Fushishutsa), Merzbow Last Of The Analog Sessions box and much more that i'm currently forgetting. To preorder any of this stuff send an email or await more details as we get closer to the release dates for these projects.
There will also be a lot more Important Records artist related t shirts as well as Important Records hooded sweatshirts just in time for winter. Also, as usual, loads of new store inventory has been added.

 

August 15, 2003

so, the new site is up. please email me if there are any problems. i'm aware of some currently and will be working to fix them.

In an attempt to refrain from constant news page updates we realised we've been totally ignoring it. Expect this to be updated at least every couple of weeks.

There are loads of new records to speak of in the coming 3 months:

-imprec017cd Acid Mothers Temple "Magical Power From Mars" release date Aug 5
finally, the full album version with 4th track
-imprec018cd Kimya Dawson "Knock Knock Who?" late sept official release
-imprec019cd Kimya Dawson "My Cute Fiend Sweet Princess" late sept official release
on break from the Moldy Peaches and Rough Trade, these are Kimya's 2nd and 3rd solo albums and
they keep getting better
-imprec012cd Hafler Trio "A Small Child Dreams Of Voiding The Plague" release date Aug 5
-imprec020... Jad Fair Arts and Crafts 7" #1 september release expected
-imprec0--.... The Dresden Dolls Arts and Crafts 7"#2 early sept release expected
preorder this now to ensure that you'll receive one of the only 500 copies pressed.
will contain a signed photo of the band and an unreleased b side
-imprec0--cd ANP Live
ANP is KK Null and the drummer from Fushitsusha

There is far more than this, but this is all i'm willing to divulge at the moment. check back regularly!

 
May 23, 2003

congratulations to The Dresden Dolls for winning the 25th Rock And Roll Rumble at the Middle East in Boston last night. finally, the Best Band In Boston really is the best band in boston. www.dresdendolls.com

 
May 8, 2003

IKEBANA
after two years of work "IKEBANA MERZBOW'S AMLUX REBUILT, REUSED AND RECYCLED" is in stock and ready to ship. this double disc set features Dj Spooky, Luke Vibert, Jack Dangers, Hrvatski, Mouse on Mars, Kawabata of the Acid Mothers Temple, Cornelius, EAR, Chicks on Speed and many more using sound samples from AMLUX as instruments in their own original compositions. this whole project is intended to highlight the creative process that begins with inspiration. these stunning tracks are exclusive to this release!

Ikebana is housed in an oversized, thick, handmade gatefold sleeve with cover art by Steve Keene. these are the highest quality covers available. it doesn't just feel amazing in your hands, but it sounds even better in your ears. only the first 3000 copies will be packaged like this.

IN THE USA
IKEBANA double cd is $17.00 shipping included
IKEBANA double cd plus t shirt is $23.00 shipping included

OVERSEAS
IKEBANA double cd is $20.00 shipping included
IKEBANA double cd plus t shirt is $25.00 shipping included

add in $5.00 for a copy of Merzbow's album AMLUX
please specify shirt size if ordering with a shirt. this shirt can be seen on our site

our paypal i.d. is importantrecords@attbi.com or you can mail payment in US funds to:

important records
p.o. box 1281
newburyport,ma
01950
usa

for more info about IKEBANA please go to:
http://www.importantrecords.com/ikebana.htm

 
April 14 , 2003

-the Genesis P-Orridge book titled "Painful But Fabulous: The Lives & Art Of Genesis P-Orridge," published by Soft Skull Press, is finally in stock. we have two versions of the book and more info about it can be found here

-version one is the commercially available publication available for the cover price of $20.00
-version two is a limited edition of 250 hand numbered, signed and stamped by Genesis P-Orridge: $75.00. more info about this can also be found on the Important Releases page of our site.

-also, the Hafler Trio cd titled A Small Child Dreams of Voiding The Plague will likely be available for purchase around the middle of may. we had a slight problem with the first printing of the covers and since they are all hand made it takes a little bit of time. if you are not already on our list please get in touch to be on the list to ensure that one will be available for you.

 
August 17, 2004

Barbez is delighted to be participating in this year's Howl festival and collaborating once again with the experimental director John Jesurun. The details on the show are:

Chang in a Void Moon: Unplugged
A Marathon Reading of episodes of John Jesurun's legendary underground serial play: Chang In A Void Moon... (50+ episodes in three days!) You can come and go as you please throughout the evening. We will be interspersing the reading with musical accompaniment...

Date/Time:
Thu August 19 -Episodes 1-15 7pm
Fri August 20- Episodes 16-45 7pm
Fri August 21- Episodes 46-55.5 7pm

Price:
$10/night
$20/ 3-Night "Chang Passport"

Location:
La Mama E.T.C. Annex
66 East 4th St. (betw. 2nd and 3rd Aves) NYC 10003

Tickets:
(212) 868-4444 or www.smarttix.com
More Info: www.howlfestival.com

 
June 23, 2004

Appologies for the lack of news updates this summer. If you're paying attention you know that there's been lots of news worthy happenings that haven't been news because we've completely forgotten that our site has a "news" page.

Most importantly, we've recently released a handful of brand new records:

imprec036 Barbez self titled debut CD :
Highly recommended to Dresden Dolls fans since Barbez & The Dresden Dolls were at one time very close, traveling the same musical paths. The Dolls have since departed on their way to fame and fortune leaving Barbez to release this brilliant debut w/ Important.

Barbez includes a brilliant theremin player who smokes cigarettes and a full –throated Russian singer who comes across like Joan of Arc with a sense of Humor. They cover everything from Bertolt Brecht to Black Sabbath, but the real attractions is their melodically haunting originals. With a folk-music sound located somewhere between turn-of-century Eastern Europe and modern America, it’s arty rock that moves between brooding and winking.”
-The New Yorker

imprec038 Kawabata Makoto " O Si Amos A Sighire A Essere Duas " CD
O Si Amos A Essere Duas Umbras? is comprised of two epic, deeply meditative, spiritual and transcendental compositions. Track one, titled "Ses Aintro ‘e mene finzas Si Ses In S'Atter'Ala E Su Mundu" is the very first solo track Kawabata has ever recorded on an acoustic guitar. Filtered through 3 reverb units and a single delay this epic acoustic track starts off droning but quickly builds with reverb drenched and finger picked momentum light years away from any of Kawabata's solo guitar work.

imprec039 Jack Dangers "Forbidden Planet Explored" double CD
This double cd release contains Jack's now famous soundtrack for the legendary sci-fi film Forbidden Planet. This recording was performed live accompanying a screening of the film at the I.D.E.A.L. Music Festival in Nantes, France. Since the performance the legend has built as Jack's legions of fans have searched far and wide for this recording. As a special bonus, Forbidden Planet Explored contains a second cd full of sci-fi sound effects inspired by the BBC Radiophonic Workshop.

"...These ethereal sound effects are captured in
twenty-three thematic tracks that illustrate the
quirky film, and at the same time give it a fully
timeless quality..." Igloo Magazine

imprec025 Muslimgauze "Zuriff Moussa" LP
Color vinyl pressing of this sought after Muslimgauze cd release. 4 colors of vinyl, 250 each. We're down to our last 100 records so you may want to pick yours up quickly.


Coming in SEPTEMBER:

imprec034 King Missile III "Royal Lunch" CD
What is left to say that John S. Hall and King Missile haven't already said? Everything! The notoriously outspoken and eloquently sardonic John S. Hall is back with the third incarnation of King Missile and this time his unrelenting lyrical avant-poetry/spoken-wordism is angry, irreverently subversive and politically charged. Though not the only topic on the album, Hall has taken aim at the Bush administration and Royal Lunch is a direct shot at the heart of the monster. Royal Lunch has the feel of an America on the brink of disaster, the exact climate the album was written in, and as always, John S. Hall channels the socio-political climate of the globe, mixing in his slanted wit, creating a brilliantly acrimonious masterwork.


There's a whole lot of amazing records currently in the early stages of release. We'll be anouncing them as we get closer to the release date. If you have any questions regarding new releases consult our release page or send an email! Thanks!

look around the site for the 2004 Team T Shirt as well as brand new Important Records stickers...



May 24 , 2004

Barbez has anounced dates for a small spring tour. More information available at www.barbez.com. Look for their debut full length to be released on Important in August.

"A Brooklyn based collective that considers cafe decadence from a European point
of view. Barbez takes the violin and accordion of tango and the sultry vocals of
cabaret to skewed extremes; it's repertory includes the music of Kurt Veill
and The Residents." The New Yorker

@Tonic
Friday, May 28th
107 Norfolk St.
Show starts at 8.
Barbez at 9:30

Saturday, May 29th
Baltimore, MD
The Talking Head Club
http://www.talkingheadclub.com for directions, times.
w/Birdland

Monday, May 31st
Louisville, KY
check back on our site for the venue

Tuesday, June 1st
Indianapolis, IN
Radio Radio
http://www.futureshock.net/radioframeset.html

Wednesday, June 2nd
Kansas City, KN
The Brick
http://thebrickkcmo.com

Thursday, June 3rd
Chicago, IL
Schuba's
http://www.schubas.com
w/Nad Navillus and the Zincs


 
May 7, 2004

Fe-Mail's debut full length cd,"Skylubb Fra Haelvette," with bonus tracks not on the vinyl version, has just been released. The vinyl edition which was quite limited and is now out of print has become quite legendary in its first year of existence. Please see our release page for more info.

Also just released is Kimya Dawson's My Cute Fiend Sweet Pricess and Knock Knock Who? on color vinyl. This will be the only vinyl pressings and they are limited to 500 copies. One in three include a hand made drawing from Kimya just for you!

We've also got new t shirts from Kimya Dawson, ANP, Acid Mothers Temple and a the brand new 2004 Important Records Team Roster t shirt. See the apparel page of the site.

And a side note: Absolut Null Punkt has a lot of momentum behind it and is garnering quite a bit of critical praise and chart entries. It's highly recommended so check it out!

Coming soon: King Missile III, Jack Dangers, Muslimgauze, Hafler Trio, The Birds, E.A.R., Kawabata Makoto and a whole lot more so please stay tuned.


April 1, 2004

The following records have just been released:

Genesis P-Orridge
"When I was Young" imprec035 CD $14.99
Dark and dreamy, When I Was Young is a surprisingly unique addition to the P-Orridge catalog. It's emphasis on P-Orridge's unique word play, voice and annunciation create an eloquently pronounced lyrical and music journey

Hafler Trio
"Kisses With Both Hands..." imprec027 CDep two versions $13.99 & $19.99
"From the ashes of several points consumed by an inner flame, a construction to rekindle the embers left by "A Small Child Dreams Of Voiding The Plague". Recorded in PERCEPTOVISION(tm), using the latest in emotional resonance techniques, never has a small piece of plastic done so much to move hydrogens to a higer rate of vibration." - Andrew McKenzie

Absolut Null Punkt
"Live In Japan" imprec029 CD $11.99
The live setting is a perfect showcase for ANP's diverse inspirations and unique approach to creating music. An echoing chamber of stark,pummeling fusion is created by combining strong elements of free jazz, heavy rock, industrial noise, glitch and free improvisation dynamics

All of these records are available direct. Please see the RELEASES page for more information and the complete Important Records label catalog.

We're currently hard at work on new records from Fe-Mail, ANP, King Missile III, Jack Dangers, Kimya Dawson (color vinyl for her 2 cds each limited to 500 only), Muslimgauze, Hafler Trio, The Birds, E.A.R., Kawabata Makoto and a whole lot more so please stay tuned. If you have any questions, or want to make a reservation for limited titles, please send an email. Don't forget to drop in on the Important Kitties...

"Out of Norway comes the most exciting noise LP I've heard to date. These two women romp thru stimulating noise compositions fresh and clean w/ a distinct Scandinavian frost. But there's always an undercurrent of warm embrace, sweet and masterful." - Thurston Moore

please note that Important Records will be closed between the April 14 - April 20th. all orders and correspondence placed between these dates will be processed on April 20-21. appologies for this inconvenience.


January 22, 2004

Happy New Year everyone. We have a big release date coming up February 24th.

Finally available will be:
Imprec022-24 Merzbow "Last Of The Analog Sessions":
Last of Analog Sessions is a 3 cd box set compiling Merzbow's last 3 albums recorded entirely on anlog equiptment. These albums went unreleased until now, and mark a historic compositional change in the world of Merzbow. Upon completion of these three albums Masami Akita traded his analog equiptment for an Apple laptop which he has been composing on ever since. This change in equiptment marks a change in sound and a whole new period for Merzbow. This box set marks the end of an era and the beginning of another.
Imprec026 Space Machine "3" :
Space Machine is Yamazaki Maso's solo synth-psych side project. This single cd release includes both the Space Machine 3 studio sessions as well as Space Machine live at Big Cat in Osaka, Japan with Makoto Kawabata of The Acid Mothers Temple
Imprec030 John Fahey "Hitomi" 2x LP:
John Fahey's second to last album, inspired by Fahey's Japanese girlfriend and Japanese music, pressed on 180 gram double vinyl and housed in a deluxe gatefold sleeve. limited edition. The first 100, which will only be available through our website will be on clear vinyl.

Prices will be listed soon.

We're currently hard at work on new records from Fe-Mail, ANP, King Missile III, Jack Dangers, Kimya Dawson (color vinyl for her 2 cds each limited to 500 only), Muslimgauze, Hafler Trio, The Birds, E.A.R., Kawabata Makoto and a whole lot more so please stay tuned. If you have any questions, or want to make a reservation for limited titles, please send an email. Don't forget to drop in on the Important Kitties... They're getting so big!

HAFLER TRIO TOUR DATES w/ EINSTURZENDE NEUBAUTEN:

<o3h> 29.2. Warschau
<o3h> 1.3. leipzig
<o3h> 6.3. Wintherthur/CH
<o3h> 11.3. Stuttgart
<o3h> 12.3. Prag
<o3h> 13.3. Berlin
<o3h> 15.3. Offenbach
<o3h> 16.3 Mnchen
<o3h> 6.4. Paris

Nov 20 , 2003

Arts And Crafts:
Finally, after a long delay the first two volumes of the Arts And Crafts Series are finally available. These are brand new releases from Jad Fair and Boston's The Dresden Dolls. Check out the releases page for more info. Order fast, these are both limited to 500 copies each and wont be repressed.

Lots of progress has been made on upcoming releases. The Merzbow Analog box is at the factory as is John Fahey's Hitomi deluxe double vinyl, Space Machine and ANP. For more info about these releases, as well as release dates check out our releases page. Beyond this , there are endless projects coming together so stay tuned.

As always, Kimya Dawson is currently very much on tour. check out her website for live dates. Merzbow is on his way to the UK for a week of live dates and numerous other Important artists are playing out around the globe so check their respective websites.

Loads of new records in the distributed titles section of our web site (updated weekly) and brand new Important vinyl bags and t shirts in the apparel section .

And most importantly, don't forget to take a peek at the lives of our 4 kitties Kevin, Fuzzy And Rhoda, Poopsmith and Henry. They're growing up so quickly!

Oh yeah, Kimya sings on the new They Might Be Giants childrens album/book. If you don't have any kids perhaps now is a good time to get some!

Oct 2, 2003
 

After a long month of moving we're finally settled in. If you haven't had a chance too, check out the link to the kittens we rescued on the front page of the site.
You can expect a vast array of releases in the next few months including the initial two arts and crafts 7" from Jad Fair and Boston's Dresden Dolls as well as full length vinyl releases from Muslimgauze and John Fahey. Also, expect cd releases from Genesis P-Orridge, Spacemachine (Masonna & Kawabata Makoto), Absolut Null Punk (KK Null w/ drummer from Fushishutsa), Merzbow Last Of The Analog Sessions box and much more that i'm currently forgetting. To preorder any of this stuff send an email or await more details as we get closer to the release dates for these projects.
There will also be a lot more Important Records artist related t shirts as well as Important Records hooded sweatshirts just in time for winter. Also, as usual, loads of new store inventory has been added.

 

August 15, 2003

so, the new site is up. please email me if there are any problems. i'm aware of some currently and will be working to fix them.

In an attempt to refrain from constant news page updates we realised we've been totally ignoring it. Expect this to be updated at least every couple of weeks.

There are loads of new records to speak of in the coming 3 months:

-imprec017cd Acid Mothers Temple "Magical Power From Mars" release date Aug 5
finally, the full album version with 4th track
-imprec018cd Kimya Dawson "Knock Knock Who?" late sept official release
-imprec019cd Kimya Dawson "My Cute Fiend Sweet Princess" late sept official release
on break from the Moldy Peaches and Rough Trade, these are Kimya's 2nd and 3rd solo albums and
they keep getting better
-imprec012cd Hafler Trio "A Small Child Dreams Of Voiding The Plague" release date Aug 5
-imprec020... Jad Fair Arts and Crafts 7" #1 september release expected
-imprec0--.... The Dresden Dolls Arts and Crafts 7"#2 early sept release expected
preorder this now to ensure that you'll receive one of the only 500 copies pressed.
will contain a signed photo of the band and an unreleased b side
-imprec0--cd ANP Live
ANP is KK Null and the drummer from Fushitsusha

There is far more than this, but this is all i'm willing to divulge at the moment. check back regularly!

 
May 23, 2003

congratulations to The Dresden Dolls for winning the 25th Rock And Roll Rumble at the Middle East in Boston last night. finally, the Best Band In Boston really is the best band in boston. www.dresdendolls.com

 
May 8, 2003

IKEBANA
after two years of work "IKEBANA MERZBOW'S AMLUX REBUILT, REUSED AND RECYCLED" is in stock and ready to ship. this double disc set features Dj Spooky, Luke Vibert, Jack Dangers, Hrvatski, Mouse on Mars, Kawabata of the Acid Mothers Temple, Cornelius, EAR, Chicks on Speed and many more using sound samples from AMLUX as instruments in their own original compositions. this whole project is intended to highlight the creative process that begins with inspiration. these stunning tracks are exclusive to this release!

Ikebana is housed in an oversized, thick, handmade gatefold sleeve with cover art by Steve Keene. these are the highest quality covers available. it doesn't just feel amazing in your hands, but it sounds even better in your ears. only the first 3000 copies will be packaged like this.

IN THE USA
IKEBANA double cd is $17.00 shipping included
IKEBANA double cd plus t shirt is $23.00 shipping included

OVERSEAS
IKEBANA double cd is $20.00 shipping included
IKEBANA double cd plus t shirt is $25.00 shipping included

add in $5.00 for a copy of Merzbow's album AMLUX
please specify shirt size if ordering with a shirt. this shirt can be seen on our site

our paypal i.d. is importantrecords@attbi.com or you can mail payment in US funds to:

important records
p.o. box 1281
newburyport,ma
01950
usa

for more info about IKEBANA please go to:
http://www.importantrecords.com/ikebana.htm

 
April 14 , 2003

-the Genesis P-Orridge book titled "Painful But Fabulous: The Lives & Art Of Genesis P-Orridge," published by Soft Skull Press, is finally in stock. we have two versions of the book and more info about it can be found here

-version one is the commercially available publication available for the cover price of $20.00
-version two is a limited edition of 250 hand numbered, signed and stamped by Genesis P-Orridge: $75.00. more info about this can also be found on the Important Releases page of our site.

-also, the Hafler Trio cd titled A Small Child Dreams of Voiding The Plague will likely be available for purchase around the middle of may. we had a slight problem with the first printing of the covers and since they are all hand made it takes a little bit of time. if you are not already on our list please get in touch to be on the list to ensure that one will be available for you.

 

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