I’ve been familiar with Yellow6’s music for several years now, but have never got too deeply into it.  Part of that is due to the fact that Jon Attwood has put out nearly 50 releases under the moniker, on nearly as many labels.  But Melt Inside, his more recent full-length (which just came out on Make Mine Music), may be one the most arresting and involving things he’s recorded.  That’s due in large part to the presence of Ally Todd’s vocals, which add a very sensual and mysterious element to Attwood’s foreboding drones and atmospherics.

After listening to Melt Inside several times, I e-mailed Jon and asked if he’d be game for an interview.  After a few e-mails, this is the result.

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One of the bad things about running Opus for as long as I have is that, while I’ve discovered tons of great new bands to write about, others have inevitably drifted off my radar for one reason or another. Unfortunately, such was the case with Brett Smith, who records his dark, haunting soundscapes under the Caul moniker. I discovered Smith’s music several years ago, greatly enjoyed his CDs, and then just lost track of what he was doing.  However, I’ve recently re-discovered his music and he was gracious enough to answer the following questions via e-mail about his music.

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Zelienople recently released their second album, Sleeper Coach (Loose Thread Recordings), which takes the already lush, atmospheric sounds of their debut, 2002’s Pajama Avenue, in a decidedly drone-oriented and even more atmospheric direction.  The band was gracious enough to respond to a couple questions via e-mail, touching on the band’s “new” sound, the recent addition of a new member, and what it’s like to record in a haunted apartment.

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I first heard RF‘s music back in 2002, when Ryan Francesconi (who records under the the moniker with various collaborators) sent me his debut album, Interno, to review.  Although combining real, live instrumentation with digital soundscapes and programming was nothing I hadn’t heard before, the manner in which Francesconi did so felt unique.  There was a very organic and solemn feel to it, which lent the music a surprising amount of warmth and depth.  Francesconi just released his second disc, Falls, which picks up right where Interno left off and further develops his captivating sound.

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I stumbled across Jute’s music purely by chance.  After reading a review of A Violent Narcotic on some other site, I ordered it shortly thereafter from CDBaby, and was promptly floored.  Bearing some similarities to Massive Attack’s darker moments, the debut was an exotic blend of downtempo beats, exotic atmospheres, and 4AD-esque vocals.  Essentially, it was practically everything I had been expecting from Massive Attack’s 100th Window (also released that year).

The following is an e-mail interview I conducted with the band over the course of a few weeks, in which they discuss recording A Violent Narcotic, their upcoming sophomore release, and the perils of being a truly independent band, among other things.

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This interview was conducted by Jonathon Donaldson. The Super Furry Animals are planning the UK release of their new album Phantom Power in the near future.  Jonathan Donaldson catches up with main-Furry Gruff Rhys about the end of the journey of their 2001/02 classic, Rings Around The World.

Super Furry Animals?  Who are you?

My name is Gruff. I write a lot of songs and mostly play guitar and sing. Also in the band are Bunf, Dafydd, and his brother Cian who all sing and are multi-instrumentalists, and Guto who specializes in the bass guitar.

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Halou is just one of those bands that seem to instantly bewitch anyone who hears them. While listening to Halou’s music, I’ve had friends and co-workers ask me what I was listening to, or better yet, ask if they can borrow the CD. I exchanged a couple of e-mails with Rebecca Coseboom, Halou’s vocalist, asking her about their new album, their new label, among other things.

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This interview was conducted by Nolan Shigley at Cornerstone 2002. Jeff Cloud’s a busy man.  His main gig is the man behind Velvet Blue Music, responsible for putting out quality bands like Charity Empressa, Other Desert Cities, John Wilkes Kissing Booth, and LN (to name a few).  But he also has a hefty schedule as a member of Starflyer 59 and Joy Electric.  And then there’s his solo project, Pony Express.  Nolan sat down with Cloud and got his future plans, the deal on Starflyer’s new EP, and Cloud’s picks from the fest.

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