After its first year of existence as a label that only released Icelandic instrumental music (from Amiina, Johann Johannsson, etc.), the Los Angeles-based Worker’s Institute label is expanding with four exciting new records for the fall, from new signings My Latest Novel and Peter and the Wolf, as well as EPs from Amiina and Sigur Ros.
The first release of 2006 will be Sigur Ros’ Saeglopur EP and DVD on August 8th, (pre-release via iTunes on July 11th). Saeglopur features one track from Takk and three new, intimate recordings that expand upon the music Sigur Ros released on their Baba Tiki Dido EP and on their Untitled EP. This release is in partnership with the band’s own Krunk label and Filter US Recordings. It will also have a separate DVD with three beautiful and engaging videos.
Sigur Ros Saeglopur EP Track List:
Disc One – Audio:
1.Saeglopur
2.Refur
3.O Fridur
4.Kafari
Disc Two – Video / DVD
1.Saeglopur
2.Glosoli
3.Hoppipolla
In September The Worker’s Institute will release Lightness, the first official album from the Austin, Texas based Peter and the Wolf. The band has some self-released CD-Rs that have been well circulated but this will be the band’s first proper release. The band has been garnering much national attention this summer for its upcoming sailboat tour of the East Coast. Red Hunter, singer and mastermind behind the band, found himself with sudden cult status after his performances last year which took place in off-radar venues like graveyards, abandoned buses, under bridges, and even an island the audience could only reach by canoe. Peter and the Wolf is currently on a US tour that features a pick-up band or “junk orchestra” comprised of local musicians and friends joining the band in each city.
Peter and the Wolf tour dates:
7.06 San Diego, Scolari’s Office
7.07 Los Angeles, The Echo
7.08 Los Angeles, Il Corral
7.09 San Francisco, Hotel Utah
7.12 Portland, Towne Lounge
7.13 Seattle, S.S. Marie Antoinette
7.14 Victoria BC, Orange Hall
7.15 Vancouver BC Pat’s Pub
7.18 Seattle, live on KAOS at 9pm
7.20 Salt Lake City, Vagabond
7.21 Denver, Rhinoceropolis
7.22 Omaha, O’Leavers
7.23 Lincoln, Chatterbox
7.24 Ames, The Practice Space
7.25 Iowa City, The Hall Mall
7.26 Columbia, Ragtag
7.27 Columbia, Live on KOPN at 3pm
7.27 St. Louis, The Ground Floor
7.28 Chicago, Logan Square
7.31 Ypsilanti, Banana Tina
8.02 Kutztown, GoodVibes
8.03 Charlottesville, Tea Bazaar
8.04 Baltimore, Talking Head
8.05 Philly, Avant Gentlemen’s Lodge
8.09 Portsmouth, Chutney Flatz
8.10 Portland, Strange Maine
8.11 Montreal, Green Room
8.12 Toronto, Tranzac
8.13 Rochester, The Bug Jar
8.14 Kingston, KMOCA
8.15 Northampton, Gallery TK
8.17 Boston, P.A.’s Lounge
8.18 NYC, Goodbye Blue Monday
The third new signing, slated for an October release, is Glasgow-based five piece and UK press darlings, My Latest Novel. The NME has favorably compared them to the Arcade Fire, while Mojo referred to them as a cross between Belle and Sebastian and the Velvet Underground. The album Wolves will see its first release in the States, having already been issued in Europe by Bella Union.
Also in October, the Workers Institute will release a 3-song single from the band Amiina, the title of which is TBA. It features the song “Seoul” from their upcoming full-length album (set for a 2007 release) and two b-sides. Amiina fans know “Seoul” as the song from the live set (they are most often seen opening for Sigur Ros) that most prominently features the musical saw.
Sigur Ros and Amiina are on tour in Europe through July 17th.
bands:
www.whiskeyandapples.com (Peter and the Wolf)