4.06.2024
11.04.2022
Zack Keim “Canyon” / “Alice” 7" (AW033-SG)
Zack Keim can find inspiration nearly anywhere. The Pittsburgh singer-songwriter hatched the hook for his new single, “Canyon,” while driving around Washington, D.C. making food deliveries. “I was delivering Uber Eats, and I wrote that on my phone—just a voice memo,” Keim recalls. An insistent vocal refrain (“Can-yonnn!”) was all it took; Keim started strumming the melody on his guitar, and pretty soon the song blossomed into a buoyant folk-pop gem of a tune. Keim’s first solo single since his 2017 debut First Step, “Canyon” is both a monumental leap forward and the first taste of Keim’s forthcoming sophomore effort, Battery Lane. B-Side “Alice” feat. Laurel Wain of String Machine.
“Canyon” is a perfect as pop song as it´s possible to conjure up. From the whistle that kicks the song off, it´s simple and stripped-down, seemingly effortless, joyous and yet steeped in a kind of bitterseet nostalgia. Imagine the best pop hooks Lou Reed or Jonthan Richman ever managed overlaid with Zack´s singular, plaintive voice and you´re close.” - Shindig Magazine
“Canyon” is an impressive show for Keim as someone in the midst of a redefining moment.” - Pittsburgh City Paper
"Opening with a pounding percussive stomp followed by joyous layers of jangling guitar and buoyant melodies, “Alice” feels both heartfelt and endlessly charming, crafting jangly folk pop with lush complexity." - Under The Radar Magazine
“Fresh from touring Europe with his band Nox Boys, Zack Keim releases a brand new solo single of Laurel Canyon-inflected country psych.” – Louder Than War
“If you’re looking to indulge in some sunburnt desert-psychedelia this summer, then look no further than “Canyon.” – Look At My Records Blog
“We’ve heard Zack Keim in garage-rock mode with The Nox Boys and stripped-down folk mode a la early Dylan on his Get Hip solo album, but “Canyon” is something new.” – Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Produced by Jake Hanner (Donora) + Animal Scream
Recorded by Jake Hanner at Social Hill
Mastered by Dave Gardner (Infrasonic Sound)
Artwork by Adia Taimuty-Loomis
Portrait photo by Zian Meng
"Canyon" registered under
BATTERY LN MUSIC, BMI / EVIL MOTOWN MUSIC, SESAC
"Alice" registered under
PENNS WOODS MUSIC, BMI
Official Website: zackkeimmusic.com
PLACE ORDER HERE:
4.09.2021
The Routes “Mesmerised” LP (AW031-LP/Colour LP/CD)
“Mesmerised” is the newest LP by The Routes, the group helmed by Scots-born, Japanese-dwelling guitarist, vocalist and songwriter Chris Jack. This alsohappens to be the eighth long-playing record to bear the group’s name; one that has been steadily growing in stature and stamina since their earliest outpourings more than ten years ago. The recordings were undertaken in both Japan and England, and mixed and mastered by Chris Jack. As Chris is a major fan of Guided By Voices, Courtney Latta (who designed GBV’s “Mirrored Aztec” album cover) was brought on board to create the cover for “Mesmerised”.
“Mesmerised” is also one of the most powerful statements of sixties-influenced, modernistically executed garage beat rock’n’roll.On this brand new collection Chris is joined by two names familiar to Routes aficionados, drummer Bryan Styles who can be heard on 2019’s Tune Out, Switch Off, Drop In (and also on Miles To Go the exceptional solo LP Chris recorded most recently for Action Weekend) and bass player Toru Nishimuta who, aside from also appearing on Tune Out… played on the group’s 2007 debut Left My Mind.
PLACE ORDER HERE:
11.08.2020
Chris Jack “Miles To Go” (AW030-LP)
The songs were written and recorded spontaneously, without overthinking. The idea behind the recording was to create an audio document of a particular moment in time, rather like an entry in a diary. The songs were recorded purely for personal pleasure, taking influence from bands such as Felt, The Pastels, Galaxie 500, Guided By Voices, The Velvet Underground, and The Lemon Drops, amongst many others. Upon the interest of Action Weekend Records, the audio document idea was extended to 10 songs over the space of 10 nights. Drums, percussion and glockenspiel were provided by Bryan Styles (a bandmate of Jack’s from 25 years earlier).
The songs, the melodies and the recording are simple and restrained. The acoustic compositions are accompanied by organ, Rhodes, melodeon, vibraphone and more, with production that is rich and warm. “Miles to Go” sees Chris Jack moving beyond the snotty, cynical vocals and lyrics, the fuzz guitars and rough-edged production aesthetic of garage rock, and emerging into something as bare, vulnerable and intimate as a solo album should be.
"A slowly piercing series of meditative cycles, ‘Miles To Go’ presents 10 tracks that channel Galaxie 500’s spider-like minimalism, the warmth of early Low, or even the twilight introspection of the Velvet Underground’s bummed out third album. It’s all fuelled by this desire to communicate, something that allows the opening title track to truly get under your skin."
"A record about growth and self-knowledge, ‘Miles To Go’ is the sound of the UK born songwriter finally looking in the mirror. Shorn of vintage tropes, it buzzes with minimalist invention, with songs such as ‘Thought’ and ‘Elephant’ betraying a unique kind of delicacy".
"‘Miles To Go’ is Chris Jack at his most allusive, yet curiously also his most direct. One to seek out." Robin Murray (Clash Magazine 27-10-20)
Bryan Styles – Drums, Percussion, Glockenspiel.
All songs written by Christopher Jack. Arranged by Christopher Jack and Bryan Styles.
Recorded at the Jack residence, the Styles residence and Soy Studio.
Mixed and mastered by Andy Shartle at Black Diamond Recording Studios, OR.
Cover painting by Alexander Shosuke Ono. Design by Carlos Espejo.