Lightbox Sessions recently released their live session with Dastardly. The band will be performing at Schubas on September 2nd.

In their full-length debut the buzz band YAWN deliver on the promise of the 2010 self-titled ep. The band incorporates tribal influence with their unquie indie rock roots. The result is fun, and undenibly orginial. Through incorporating tribal elements the band is able to present an array of sounds throuh out the album while crafting infectious pop tunes.

On a track like "Keepup", YAWN swirls drums with churning bells, claps, and other noises beneath classic ’60’s harmonies. It draws you in on a number of levels, and that is where the charm of the band rest. It the best of the Beach Boys meets Animal Collective, but all with a new twist. My favorite track on Open Season has to be "YumYum" with its slight ’80’s flare, and nodd to Of Montreal. It adds another demension this wonderfully complex release. Through Open Season YAWN has proven that they are more than just buzz, but a solid collective of musicians.

YAWN will be celebrating the release on Open Season at Schubas on August 30th.

Back in 2009 Andrew Bird recorded the score for an indie movie called Norman. The movie and soundtrack are finally being released. The soundtrack with Bird’s complete score and tracks from Wolf Parade, the Blow, Richard Swift, and Chad VanGaalen will be released on October 11th through Mom + Pop. You can hear a sample of what Bird created at the movie’s website, and in the trailer below.

Russian Circles have announced the details of their next album which will be called "Empros" and will be released by Sargent House on October 25th. This will be their fourth studio album, and you can check out the tracklisting below. The band will be touring Australia and New Zealand next month, but do not appear to have any Chicago date’s booked at this time.

Track list:
01. 309
02. Mladek
03. Schipol
04. Atackla
05. Batu
06. Praise Be Man

The local DJ and producer White Shadow (aka Paul Blair) is mostly known for co-writing and co-producing nine tracks on Lady Gaga’s album "Born This Way". However, he just released his first EP of original music, and it is called "I’m Killing Me". The EP is available digitally for free through his website. His is currently on a cross-country tour called IDentity Festival Tour, but does not have any Chicago dates scheduled at this time. 

YAWN has premiered the video for their track "Acid" via Rolling Stone. It comes from their new album "Open Season" which comes out August 30th.

YAWN will be performing at Schubas on 8/30 and at Metro with Mates of States on 9/30.

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The latest project from Travis Lee Wiggins (Essex Channal, The Salts, and others) is called Dolphins Swimming. This is primarily him with help on violin by Allison Trumbo and Elisabeth Victoria Johnson. The thirteen track project will be released on Sept 23rd, but you can stream here now. The album explores the indie-pop side of traditional country western music. The always prolific Wiggins is also releasing a 5-track bonus ep on the 23rd. Once again an abundance of great tunes from this wonderful local musician.

Dolphin Swimming – "Country"

The debut album for local musician and artist, Rainbo Video (aka Arturo Evening) is beautiful, haunting, and stunning is scope. Over just five tracks, he manages to loop his way through modern electronic music. This minimal trance, or ambient music but with so many layers and texture you will find yourself lost and in love. The epic opening to the album, "Ultraviolet" is the bast of Steve Reich mixed with Aphex Twin. The album as a whole is chilling, but that could be because of the albums core concept. Shadow Relics centers around an expedition to Antarctica and the strange artifacts uncovered there.

You can purchase a physical copy of Shadow Relics here, and you can find it digitally here.

Ornery Little Darlings officially released their first full-length album, O is for Ornery, this past week. The album is available digitally through bandcamp for $0.50, but you can pay more if you enjoy the band’s music. The Chicago trio is plays an arousing brand of indie rock is will have you dancing and grinding in no time. They also like to keep in Chicago by recording with Narwhal Audio at EP Theater in the Pilsen neighborhood. The result is beautifully raw, wild, and riot inducing. This is especially true on the lead off track "Prowler". The rest of the album mixes in jazzy elements with retro pop sounds.

Ornery Little Darlings will be performing at VFW Post 540 (240 N. Throop St) in Woodstock on August 20th and at Empty Bottle on August 31st.