Lewsberg – North American Tour, New Single & New Album

photo by Tommy Ventevog

LEWSBERG will be touring North America for the first time this Autumn, with a 25 show run kicking off September 20 at Brooklyn’s Union Pool. The band’s first-ever trip to these shores includes a September 30 Memphis appearance at the 20th edition of Goner Fest. Full dates below.

Said tour is preceded by Tuesday’s release of early mixes of 2 new Lewsberg songs, “Without A Doubt” and “Communion”, both of which will included on the band’s forthcoming 4th album, ‘Out & About’,  coming this September.

In addition, Lewsberg’s self-titled debut album from 2018 is being reissued in the U.S. by 12XU this July

Lewsberg North American Tour  2023

9/20 – Brooklyn NY, Union Pool w/ Ava Mendoza, Donna Allen
9/21 – Kingston NY, Tubby’s w/ Rider/Horse
9/22 – Philadelphia, Jerry’s on Front w/ Cartoon
9/23 – Wash., DC, Quarry House
9/24 – Chapel Hill, The Cave w/ Three Body Problem
9/26 – Atlanta, The Earl w/ Dippers, Arbor Labor Union
9/27 – Nashville, Drkmttr w/ Dippers
9/28 – Louisville, The Portal w/ Charm School, Palomina
9/30 – Memphis, Gonerfest 20
10/1 – Jackson MS, End of All Music anniversary party
10/3 – New Orleans, TBA
10/4 – Houston, Echoes
10/5 – Austin, Hotel Vegas w/ Water Damage
10/7 – Lawrence KS, The White Schoolhouse
10/9 – Chicago, Sleeping Village w/ CB Radio Gorgeous
10/11 – Indianapolis, State Street Pub w/ Craig Bell & the Dead Man’s Handle, Living Dream
10/12 – Columbus, Cafe Bourbon St. w/ Unholy Two
10/13 – Detroit, Outer Limits Lounge
10/14 – Cleveland, Beachland w/ Obnox, Wrong Places
10/16 – Rochester NY, Lux Lounge w/ Nod
10/17 – Toronto, Tranzac
10/19 – Montreal, Casa del Popolo w/ Chris Forsyth, Helene Barbier
10/20 – Cambridge MA, Middle East Cafe w/ Chris Brokaw, Minibeast
10/21 – TBA
10/22 – Asbury Park NJ, Bond Street Basement

Coming July 14 : Lewsberg – ‘s/t’

On July 14, we’ll be issuing the first US pressing of Lewsberg’s 2018 self-titled debut LP.  You can preorder via Bandcamp or from the 12XU mail order dept.

Recorded at Schenk Studio during the summer of 2017, one or two overdubs at the band’s rehearsal space in Delfshaven.

Produced and mixed by Jan Schenk and Lewsberg.

Mastered by Mikey Young.  Lacquers by Carl Saff, US Pressing at Smashed Plastic, Chicago

Coming June 2 : Weak Signal – ‘War&War’

Weak Signal – ‘War&War’ LP (12XU 148-1)

“Consolation” video – directed by Tran, starring Paul Major

first vinyl edition of NYC trio Weak Signal’s 3rd album, 2022’s ‘War&War’, originally issued digitally by Colonel Records.

“crazily focused & powerful” – Jennifer Kelly, Dusted

“a slyly incendiary collection wracked with rippling tension” – Raven Sings The Blues

“a mesmerizingly morose journey, yet a scenic one too. Just don’t whack it on the turntable when you’re feeling at your most fragile.” – JR Moores, The Quietus

Weak Signal is Sasha Vine, Tran and Mike Bones.

Ryan Sawyer plays additional percussion throughout.
Sarim Al-Rawi plays additional guitar throughout.
Cass McCombs plays guitar on Spooky Feeling.

Produced and Mixed by Jonathan Kreinik at Vitos Fall 2020 and Union Pool Spring 2021
Mastering and lacquers by Carl Saff

‘War And War’ is a novel by László Krasznahorkai

Coming June 2 : Water Damage – ‘2 Songs’

(photos by David Fox)

Water Damage – ‘2 Songs’ (12XU 141-1)
out June 2, 2023

More Water! More Damage! The second proper LP by this Texan juggernaut is even more biggerer than the first, a head-drowning pair of new “reels” (every Water Damage tracks generally take up a reel of tape, hence the “reel ____” song titles) that makes you feel like you’re swimming in a sun-drenched river of sound. Two drummers, two bassists, and tons of vibrating strings are once again a recipe for massive rocking-drone fires.

“Two Songs” has two songs, and they’re kind of the yin/yang of Water Damage: one toned very low, growling and roaring, groaning over a beat, while the other hums high, troubling the treble clef and ringing like a bunch of church bells that don’t want to be in church. They’re more alike than different though, divining momentum from repetition, flying forward by staying in place, climbing a mountain that they’re building as they go.

Enough ink has already been spilled about the previous-band pedigrees of the players in this hurtling collective, and by this point, the past seems way less relevant than the present when it comes to Water Damage’s present-pounding sound. These people know what they’re doing, sure. You don’t need a resume in front of you to figure that out. It’s there in every second of this gigantic, eternal music – in all the strings being bowed, the skins being slammed, the rumbles being rumbled.

You might notice that this time around, Water Damage haven’t just given their tracks reel numbers. They’re also called “Fuck This” and “Fuck That.” I take that as instructional. Whatever you’re doing, whatever you’re fretting about, whatever someone’s trying to use to occupy your attention so you’ll buy something or vote for something or ignore something: Fuck This. Fuck That. Listen to Water Damage. – Marc Masters

Water Damage is Mari Maurice, Thor Harris, Nate Cross, George Dishner, Travis Austin, Mike Kanin, Greg Piwonka, Jeff Piwonka

Engineered by Max Deems at Diseased Tapes Billion Dollar Studios. Mixed by Travis Austin.

Mastered and lacquers cut by Carl Saff. Art and design by Greg Piwonka.

Coming May 5 : Rocket 808 – ‘House Of Jackpots’

(photo by Mike Fickel)

“House Of Jackpots”
video directed by Frostine Shake

Rocket 808’s self-titled debut album came out in late 2019, and luckily, absolutely nothing happened in 2020 to divert the world’s attention away from the release. Combining the primitive analog drum machine of 1970s New York underground icons Suicide with the raw guitar of Link Wray, Rocket 808 blasted rock n’ roll guitar into our new, weirder present. Now Rocket 808 returns with a new LP, ‘House of Jackpots,’ taking up where the previous record left off while adding some new elements to juice things up.

Still channeling Alan Vega, the Cramps, and Duane Eddy influences from the first LP, ‘House of Jackpots’ further explores 1980’s television cop show themes and Ry Cooder film scores. “Punk rock Mike Post” might not be something you knew you needed, until you hear the first cut of the record. Slide guitar gives you your own personal screening of Wim Wenders’ “Paris, Texas” in your mind’s eye, or imagine if instead of the Barry De Vorzon intro, “Simon & Simon” opened with a trash-rock instrumental instead. Saturated in big-screen iconography whether its surf tunes for 100-foot waves or David Lynch soundtracks for a grimy 1970s Las Vegas strip, ‘House of Jackpots’ takes you out of our current reality that frankly, we all probably want to forget anyway. Covers of 1950s proto-goth Jody Reynolds and reviled eighties electro-rockers Sigue Sigue Sputnik give nods to the obscure rock n’ roll weirdos of the past while dragging them into the future.

Recorded by Grammy-winner Stuart Sikes and mastered by Crypt Record’s Tim Warren, ‘House of Jackpots’ takes electronic punk rock guitar noise into the 22nd century.

Rocket 808 is John Schooley – guitar, drum machines, vocals

Produced by John Schooley
Recorded, engineered and mixed by Stuart Sides at Big Orange
Mastered by Tim Warren. Vinyl lacquers by Carl Saff

stream “House Of Jackpots” / preorder ‘House Of Jackpots’ on LP (Bandcamp / 12XU big cartel)

Out March 24 : Borzoi – ‘Neither The One Nor The Other, But A Mockery Of Both’

photo by Angela Betancourt

This EP was recorded, produced, and mixed incorrectly for seven years by the members of Borzoi. We are legally compelled to state that we ignored 12XU’s advice at every turn. Mastered by Carl Saff.

Thank you Nick, James, Cia, Joe, Carlos, Gerard, Andy, Taylor’s Mom, Taylor’s Dad, Sailor Malan, The 43 Group, Kira Nerys, Wasteman, Leche, Trish, Katelynn, Tweedy & Nick.

This EP is dedicated to the almighty trash bin of an outer god Yog. Your reign will soon be at an end. The Usurper has arisen. He will burn your temples, he will bathe in the blood of your acolytes. You will watch with eternal life as the world forgets your name.

download / purchase cassette

Out January 19 : Chris Brokaw – ‘Live At The Decommisioned Power Plant In Florli, Norway’

In 2018 I was invited to join with the arts group Rimi/Imir in Stavangar, Norway, on a multimedia project called ‘Florida Lowlands’, a blend of music, video, dance and sound. The final piece ended up somewhere between a performance and an installation. I spent a lot of time in Stavangar in 20018-2019 working on the piece. It was a lot of process, and pretty different from anything I’d done before. I thought the final outcome, which really only coalesced at the first performances in Oslo, was great, new, exciting. The architects, a couple named Iver Findlay and Marit Sandsmark, were smart, ambitious, elliptical, hard-working.

In 2022 they invited me to participate in a small festival in Florli, about an hour from Stavangar. It’s only accessible by ferry and there’s not much there. Year round population is about ten people, and it’s most famous for its 4444-step wooden staircase up the side of a mountain, big hiker attraction.

The ‘festival’ turned out to be more like an artists’ retreat, combined with the wedding of Iver and Marit. My involvement was kinda last minute but I was very happy to be there. I met some great artists, experienced some cool and unusual performances; and played 2 solo sets, one electric in this giant decommissioned power plant, and one acoustic in the living room of a cabin. Both were thrilling for me; my new friend Jim Dawson recorded the electric one. This tape is that whole performance. As ‘post covid rejuvenation get togethers’ go this one was pretty great; the tape a good memento to an inspiring weekend. – CB, Cambridge 2023

download / purchase cassette

Coming April 29 : Water Damage – ‘Repeater’

photo by Angela Betancourt


stream “Reel 5B” / preorder ‘Repeater’

Water Damage – ‘Repeater’ (12XU 133-1)
out April 29, 2022

There is something really special about music based on drones. Whether it’s the vocals of Pandit Pran Nath, the ARP 2500 of Eliane Radigue, or the nearly-blown amps of Sunn O))), by changing the listeners’s focus on details to one that favors flow, drones are uniquely capable of transporting our brains far far away. The debut LP, ‘Repeater’, by this loudly droning Austin septet is a goddamn splendid example of how the process works. Using the motto, “Maximal Repetition Minimal Deviation,” Water Damage create glowing fields of post-rock lava that pretty much suck you right in and boil you alive.

Water Damage, while technically a septet, actually operate in various configurations, with the proviso there should always be two drummers and two bass players on hand. They prefer if each of their sonic ideas takes up a whole reel of tape, and once they start they don’t look back. Everything proceeds towards an imaginary end point that is only achieved when the tape starts flapping. What a way to run a railroad!

But the folks in the band are all vets of various projects – Spray Paint, USA/Mexico, Marriage, Black Eyes, Thor & Friends, among others — so let’s assume they know what they’re doing. And why not? They sound fucking great. Their approach to the form is less front-loaded than most of their peers, and the surface of their sound is sometimes ruffled by aural events of an un-drone-like nature. But the main gush is usually a blend of harmonic tones and textures pointing towards a goal that is just out of
ear-shot, just over the next bluff, and perhaps forever just beyond our reach.

So remember to drink plenty liquid while you spin this fine album. Nobody wants you to parch.
–Byron Coley

photo by Angela Betancourt

Bass : Nate Cross
Bass : Jeff Piwonka
Bowed Guitar : Travis Austin
Drums : Thor Harris
Drums : Greg Piwonka
Drums : Mike Kanin
Synthesizer : George Dishner

Engineered and mixed by Max Deems at Diseased Tapes Billion Dollar Studio

Mastered by Carl Saff

Coming April 29 : Winged Wheel – ‘No Island’

(stream “Monsella” / preorder ‘No Island’)

Winged Wheel – ‘No Island’ (12XU 134-1)

Winged Wheel is made up of four musicians whose worlds have intersected for years without them ever all being in the same room. Cory Plump (Spray Paint, Expensive Shit), Whitney Johnson (Matchess, Damiana), Fred Thomas (Tyvek, Idle Ray), and Matthew Rolin (Powers/Rolin Duo, solo) have been longtime participants in various d.i.y. communities, crossing each others’ paths through shared gigs, working on releases, or taking the stage at Cory’s small upstate NY bar. Each player has developed their own personal practice of improvisation and home-recording, and Winged Wheel began by chance when Cory asked Fred (drummer for Detroit summer punks Tyvek) to send over some rawly-recorded drum loops to jam over. Cory tracked rangy guitar and bass parts over these repetitive loops and songs slowly started taking shape. Matthew’s guitar layers took these foundations to a whole new level, and Whitney’s submerged vocal tracks solidified everything, elevating the project from a soup of partially formed ideas into something intelligible. The entire album was written, recorded, and mixed in remote collaboration, eventually turning into a balancing act of precisely arranging sonic details and maintaining the formless excitement the music began as. This paradoxical process can be heard in the final form of the album, a continuous zone that manages to be strange and amorphous while still carving out space for four distinctive musical personalities. It’s a sound that hovers and stumbles as often as it takes declarative turns in unexpected directions, the circles getting smaller the closer you zoom in.

Whitney Johnson
Cory Plump
Matthew J. Rolin
Fred Thomas

Lonnie Palmtree – Lap Stee / Sambago Bells on “Monsella”
Mastered by Mikey Young

Lewsberg – ‘In Your Hands’

 

Lewsberg – In Your Hands (12XU 137-1) 

(available via all digital services Friday, October 29 2021, LP coming in early 2022)

Sometimes change comes with big shocks, sometimes it comes with small steps. On ‘In Your Hands’, Lewsberg’s new album, a bit of both seems to be happening. Take the second song, ‘The Corner’. A remarkably discreet song: a violin plays a simple melody; a gentle drum loop keeps its finger on the pulse. “This brick is a brick to build”, it sounds, though a little later: “This brick is a brick to throw”. A brick offers many possibilities, for those who want to see it. One time as a part of something bigger to come, the next time just as a simple stone, left on the ground. After all, most things are relative. Sometimes one can achieve more by breaking something than by building something. If you think you can determine which of the two is needed, you’d be fooling yourself.



(photo : Els Kuijt)

‘In Your Hands’ embodies the moment when all the bricks are there, but the wall has yet to be built. It’s a moment with perspective, a moment where everything still seems possible, but caution is advised. The album sounds both smaller and more spacious than the previous albums. Guitar chords are plucked instead of fiercely struck, the bass guitar is given more room for melodic explorations, the drum kit is dismantled to just a tom and a tambourine. There is doubt in the lyrics, but it’s a strong kind of doubt. A doubt that can stand in the way of a wrong decision but  also invite for a good conversation.

The old Lewsberg has been professionally demolished and the building blocks are on display. Ready for future applications and already finished at the same time. ‘In Your Hands’ is therefore an ode to the potential and a call to carefully give way to it. Just what we need right now. But if I were to claim this so boldly, I wouldn’t have learned much from Lewsberg.

Niek Hilkmann
October 2021

‘In Your Hands’, Lewsberg’s third album, will see the light of day on October 29th. Just like their self-titled 2018 debut and second album ‘In This House’ (2020), this record will be released by the Rotterdam-based band themselves+. For ‘In Your Hands’, Lewsberg was reduced to a three-piece: Arie van Vliet, Michiel Klein and Shalita Dietrich. With nine songs and a total playing time of 23 minutes, it can rightly be called a mini-album.

+ – In North America, as was the case with 2020’s ‘In This House’, ‘In Your Hands’ will be released by 12XU.


music by michiel. words by arie. words for all things (continued) by shalita. performance by arie (guitar, violin, vox), michiel (guitar, drum loops, keys) & shalita (bass guitar, percussion, vox). recorded and mixed at schenk studio during the summer of 2021. produced by jan schenk and michiel. mastered by jasper boogaard. c&p 2021 lewsberg under license to 12XU.

preorder LP/CS ‘In Your Hands’

upcoming dates  :

6 November Badlands, Gent BE
12 November Crofters’ Rights, Bristol UK
13 November, Fusion Arts, Oxford UK
14 November, The Castle Motel, Manchester UK
15 November, Sneaky Pete’s, Edinburgh UK
16 November, The Hug & Pint, Glasgow UK
17 November, Bobik’s, Newcastle UK
18 November, The Smokehouse, Ipswich UK
20 November, The Festing, Portsmouth UK
21 November, The Latest Music Bar, Brighton UK
22 November Hyde Park Book Club, Leeds UK
23 November, Moth Club, London UK