Brian from TDOA faves, The Arctic Flow has offered their new single for this weeks’ free download. Imperial School is a cover of the great song by Horse Shoes. Download. Listen. Enjoy.

The Arctic Flow- Imperial School
(right click and save)

For more information about The Arctic Flow and to pick up some of their other great records, visit their MySpace page here.

Thus begins our attempt to bring you news that isn’t covered by “the cool kid” websites. Here you’ll find the latest news about the bands we’ve interviewed in the past or are “on our radar”. Our goal is to avoid the over-reported stories on topics like the Kings of Leon clothing line or the latest Bono rant. Instead, these are primarily indie bands that aren’t covered by the big boys….. but should be. Quick news for you to scan, with the option to follow links that’ll give you more detail.

Aqualung have almost completed their new record. With 12 songs in the can and a tentative title, ‘Magnetic North’ and release date 30th March 2010 we’re hoping for greatness.

The Psychedelic Furs reunion has apparently ended with an announcement this morning that they were breaking up again. BTW, repeated attempts to interview members of the band were ignored by the label. Bad management or a band that didn’t want to do interviews? You make the call. We didn’t find a single article/interview in the U.S. about the winter of ’09 tour…

A demo of the new single from TDOA fave Ant is available for free download here

Video and information about the new These New Puritans album ‘Hidden’ here.

Top 20 albums of 2009 faves Fruit Bats announce spring tour dates.

This has been reported ad nauseum elsewhere, but Warpaint (previously interviewed here) have released yet another great video.

The Arctic Flow is in the studio working on a new album.

The Raveonettes announce European tour dates:
Feb. 3 Madrid Spain, Sala Heineken
Feb 4. Zaragoza Spain, Sala Oasis
Feb 5. Bilbao Spain, Kafe Antzokia
Feb 7. Nurnberg Germany, K4
Feb 8. Cologne Germany, Gebaude 9
Feb 9. Frankfurt Germany, Hafen 2
Feb 10. Schorndorf Germany, Manufaktur
Feb 12. Munich Germany, Atomic Café
Feb 13. Basel Switzerland, Kaserne
Feb 14. Friburg Switzerland, Fri-Son

Johnny Foreigner announces 2010 tour dates:
1 Feb – Cabaret Voltaire, Edinburgh BUY TICKETS HERE!
2 Feb – Ruby Lounge, Manchester BUY TICKETS HERE!
3 Feb – The Harley, Sheffield BUY TICKETS HERE!
5 Feb – Hare and Hounds, Birmingham BUY TICKETS HERE!
6 Feb – Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff BUY TICKETS HERE!
9 Feb – KCLSU (King’s College), London (14+) BUY TICKETS HERE!
17 Feb – Klein Libertas, Stellenbosch, South Africa
19 Feb – Hotbox, Johannesburg, South Africa
26 Feb – RAMFEST, Worcester, South Africa

We’re fascinated by the various reactions of those artists who pioneered the “shoegaze” sound in the 80′s and 90′s. While they seem split, we have a firm belief. Great songwriting makes for brilliant music, regardless of the genre. While the effects pedals or the production of the song may exactly replicate the sound of a band you’ve heard before, it’s the assemblage of notes that makes any song stand out.
Which brings us to The Arctic Flow. Songs veer from ethereal beauty to pop delicacies while maintaining an dream-like quality (watch us deftly avoiding adjectives like; icy, chilling, etc….) that leaves you with a disconcerted smile…..just the way we like it.
Brian Hancheck is the one-man show behind this avalanche (oh crap, we did it anyway didn’t we….) of sound.

December Morning

TDOA: Can you talk about the challenges of this being a solo project? Do you enjoy being able to control all the parts or do you occasionally wish for outside contributions by adding people to the project?

AF: I guess the biggest challenge is when time is a factor, trying to get everything recorded in such a short time can be crazy. In the past when I used to play with other bands, the challenge was communicating my ideas to others. It’s much easier for me now and it just works. I know it doesn’t work for everyone, but I can’t see it any other way.
On the other hand, I have a couple of projects that I am collaborating on with some other artists, but it’s mostly just a one time thing.
I do wish I had someone to help me on vocals sometimes. You know, someone to sort of coach me along. But, yeah, I enjoy being able to do this on my own. It suites my personality really well.

TDOA: It’s easy for writers to make the ‘shoegaze’ association, but the shoegaze movement had a lot of different types of bands. Can you talk about the bands that have influenced you the most?

AF: Well, I knew the shoegaze thing would come up. Strange enough there seem to be two schools of Arctic Flow fans, the ones that like the more shoegazy things, like “Sentiments and Artifacts” and ones that like “Untill December”-they’re just pop songs, but with different production. “Until December” which was on the Holiday Records Pop Music Compilation Volume 2, is more Smith’s like guitar pop, without all the haze. So now it’s like having two styles, but I enjoy it. It’s just the way the songs come out. The next release is going to more guitar pop, than the last EP was.
But to answer your question, and I could fill a book, but obviously The Cocteau Twins and Slowdive are two huge influences. The Cure is my favorite band ever, even though I don’t really sound like The Cure. But The Smiths, Map, Chapterhouse, My Bloody Valentine, Ride, Starflyer 59, The Beach Boys, and recently Horseshoes and Victory VIII, have been great influences.

Sentiments and Artifacts

TDOA: We’re guessing that most of your songs start with guitar melodies and build from there. Is that accurate and talk us through the songwriting and recording process.

AF: I don’t so much write songs as build songs in the studio. Usually it starts with a melody in my head or just a line, a few words, or something. But in the studio I’ll have a drum part and just start with a rhythm guitar and just layer from there. It can be hard to just have something simple, I like to fill up all the tracks I can, but there have been a few songs, like “Too Late To Say I’m Sorry” that have like two guitar tracks.
But once I get the backing track I’ll ride around with that for a few days and come up with lyrics. Other times I’ll write an actual song on the guitar, but that doesn’t happen often.

TDOA: Have you played live and has there been consideration of putting together a full band?

AF: I played one show a few years ago opening up for a band inside the House of Blues restaurant, it was ok, just me and an acoustic guitar. Didn’t translate well.
But no, I don’t play live. I don’t have the time anymore to put together a live band being a family man and all. Plus the music scene in Myrtle Beach is a complete joke. I get requests here and there and would like to play some festivals and things if I was invited. But as for now, The Arctic Flow is just a studio project.

TDOA:The artwork on each of your releases have been really tremendous. Who has done the artwork for each and how much do you contribute to the process?

AF: I am so glad you asked about the artwork. I am a firm believer that the artwork is such a major part of an album. My friend, Jacob Graham, from Holiday Records does all the album art. It is a passion he has. I think he does all the album art for all the Holiday Records releases. He will just listen to the music and then send me what he comes up with. It is always brilliant and I am so happy to have come in contact with him and the whole Holiday Records crew. It’s like a family.

TDOA: What’s the long-term goal for The Arctic Flow?

AF: The Arctic Flow will be around a while. The luxury of what I do is that I can record what I want when I want with no pressure. Everyone at Holiday is so laid back and lets me submit music at my pace. It’s a great situation to be in. Everyone has been so great.
We have a new release coming in December and 2010 is wide open. We’ve put out two EP’s and a single so far and would like to release a full length at some point.

The Stars Refuse To Shine

To learn more about The Arctic Flow, visit their website here.

It’s been a while since we had time to compile the best songs that have crossed our path recently. You’ll find that we’ve added links to purchase some of the songs through iTunes. When that wasn’t possible, we’ve given you the link to the band’s myspace page. We’re going to pass on describing the songs this time. Go in with an open mind and know that we’re challenging you with the best music we could find.

Grand Analog
Electric City (Feat. Shad)

The Federals
Take It From Me

Amusement Parks On Fire
In Our Eyes

Tenniscoats
About You

The Platers
Let’s Take The World Tonight, Johnny

Holopaw
The Art Teacher and the Little Stallion

Sennen
Bizarre Love Triangle

The Arctic Flow
December Morning

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