doing right by virginia since 2009
L.A. Dies is heading back down to Norfolk this summer for “Grilled Out,” one of many large -scale parties hosted by Lava Presents this summer. The lineup also includes good buds Long Division and other incredible Virginia action. Tickets are on sale now. SIDENOTE – L.A. Dies is cooking up something rad for the back half of 2023…STAY TUNED!
RELEASE: HSAL #62
RELEASE DATE: February 3, 2023
AVAILABILITY: CASS / DIG
ARTWORK: courtesy of William Stichter
STREAM/DOWNLOAD: HSAL bandcamp
FFO: Jamie XX (A side), The Books (B side)
In a fortunate turn of events, HSAL found itself with some DIY inventory, including some blank cassettes, in the fall of 2022. Averse to squandering neat opportunities, we reached out to some friends to see about doing a split single. Benjamin Mauch, whose “Golden Bay Garden” still ranks as one of our favorite releases, took on the A side. Stilyagi, drinking the same potions that inspired his recently dropped, funky self-titled EP, took on the B side.
The physical copy of this single is magnetic tape housed in a clear shell contained in a “Maltese cross” style case. Each case has been printed by Grammy-nominated artist William Stichter.
RELEASE: HSAL #61
RELEASE DATE: December 9, 2022
AVAILABILITY: CASS / DIG
ARTWORK: courtesy of Joanna McGlothlin
STREAM/DOWNLOAD: HSAL bandcamp
FFO: The Art Of Noise, The Bomb Squad, 400 Blows (UK)
After turning in remixes and individual tracks for compilations over the past few years, Stilyagi has put in the work to craft a standalone collection of samples and rhythm. Detail-oriented visitors will find new things within conspicuous layers on repeated listens, while the causal listener will be content to bob their skulls to the pulsing bluster.
The physical copy of this EP is magnetic tape housed in a golden shell contained in a “Maltese cross” style case. Each case has been printed by HSAL house visual artist Joanna McGlothlin using gelli prints, screens, and stampers.
RELEASE: HSAL #59
RELEASE DATE: October 1st, 2021
AVAILABILITY: DIG
ARTWORK: courtesy of Stilyagi
STREAM/DOWNLOAD: HSAL bandcamp
FFO: Mogwai‘s “Rock Action“, Pan American‘s “Cloud Room, Glass Room“, Forest Swords‘ “Fjree Feather“, Every Bono-free moment of U2‘s “The Unforgettable Fire“
This may be the most adventurous outing in TLVS’ history. It may also be the most focused. Early in the writing, drummer Nathan McGlothlin found inspiration from the writings of Gerard Manley Hopkins, namely “The Golden Echo.” From this poem, TLVS captured the album’s title and its direction. Across its eight tracks, “Beauty” floats down streams of hopeful meditation toward moments of euphoric release.
Sonically, the trio employs some new pieces to their formula. The electronic beats and programming on album high point “Mt. Zion Temple of Love” create a vibe as potent without live drums as they do with them. Members of L.A. Dies provide ethereal vocal work (a first for TLVS) on “District Interpretation” and “Fragaria Virginiana.” Kaily Schenker (Graven Image, Meridiane), offers an enchanting cello melody on “Rupert Rainelle.”
Live drums and some early tracks were recorded in Richmond with longtime friend Allen Bergendahl (ShyLow, L.A. Dies), who also mixed the record. The band sent the album off to the UK for a stellar mastering job by Simon Scott (Slowdive, Fennesz).
HSAL #60: PORCELAIN (DELUXE EDITION) by TLVS
IT’S BANDCAMP FRIDAY!
All proceeds from the purchase of this album go toward our continued efforts to support the unconventional rock action happening across the commonwealth of Virginia.
RELEASE: HSAL #60
RELEASE DATE: October 4th, 2020 (pre-order is live now)
AVAILABILITY: DIG
ARTWORK: courtesy of HSAL
STREAM/DOWNLOAD: HSAL bandcamp
HSAL is partnering with our flagship artist, TLVS, to re-imagine “Porcelain” for the album’s 10 year anniversary. Back in 2010, Joe Morgan and Nathan McGlothlin had come through a few years of experimenting with lineups and instruments to land on the two-piece model, which had debuted on the “Pebble Azalea Starfish” single (HSAL, 2009). They decided to record their debut album as “TLVS” (shortened from “The Late Virginia Summers”) at Joe’s house. The album, mastered by Chad Clark (who took on the Fugazi live archive project soon after) dropped on September 21, 2010.
With some prodding from friends and fans, TLVS opted to revisit those old sessions with the idea of not just remixing but addressing some of the “loose ends” left on the original. The result is a tighter, more present mix of each tune, cut as stand alone tracks (with the exception of “Lagoon”, which still bleeds into “Marbled Atlantic”).
We have also included a handful of remixes that have been culled from the original source material over the years. As a bonus, the digital download of “Porcelain” comes with a different master (the “dynamic” version) that TLVS received from Chad Clark (Beauty Pill, Smart Went Crazy) prior to the release of the album. It’s not the master that appears as HSAL #03, but the band feels like it may be the superior version.
It’s been a difficult year for so many of us. It’s been a season of isolation, desperation, investigation, determination, and the list keeps on going…
We here at HSAL wanted to remind you that all is not lost. Know that you are not alone. Know that as long as there is a spark of hope in your heart, the fight for living life (not just existing, but really LIVING) isn’t over.
Consider the sounds we have helped to birth this year as our humble accompaniment to everything you are feeling. A reminder that there are people in this world who are still pushing things from deep within themselves out in to the light.
First off, today is the official release date for the new honeybrandy record, “Deaton Forestbrook“! You can now stream the entire thing (all 39 minutes & 20 seconds) wherever you’d typically listen.
We’re pushing everyone we know to stream/purchase the new single, “Not In Our City” this weekend! We think the message couldn’t be more timely. It features a speech given by Dr. Keith Anderson to the Lynchburg VA City Council in prelude to the formation of the Alliance for Police Reform. Help us communicate this example of powerful things going on in small towns all over our nation!
Earlier this month, L.A. Dies were featured on a benefit compilation whose proceeds will benefit the purchase and continued operation of mobile shower units for the homeless community in the city of Birmingham, AL. There are also hopes or hiring homeless neighbors to clean and maintain the showers. Their track, “A Year In My House” predicts further exploration into the darker pop sounds of HSAL #49…
Ever the composer, Benjamin Mauch just dropped a new album into the digital landscape. “A (C)able Tethered To The Sky” is a collection of pieces that Mauch wrote and performed using only the Novation Peak. All the trademark duality of bouncy melodies and contemplative tones you’ve come to expect from the Richmond-based artist are here. Proceeds from the purchase are being donated to the NAACP Legal Defense Fund.
HSAL #58: honeybrandy, “Deaton Forestbrook”
RELEASE DATE: July 24, 2020
Joey and Nathan have been contemplating a record that mimics their live perfromances since dropping their debut LP – “Deaf Sharp” – back in 2017. The seasons since have found honeybrandy sharing stages with guitar focused acts (Andrew Weathers, Soporus) as well as acts that lean into electronic aether (Benjamin Mauch, Oahu). The duo studied, taking notes on various methods of composition and presentation.
“Deaton Forestbrook” showcases both artists’ penchant for the balance of drone and rhythm. “Which Are Not Pronounced” and “Not In Our City” lean into programmed drum loops while “These Words” finds layer after layer of synth and lap steel swarming around meditative instruction. The entire back half of the release is a single long form piece that could easliy score a fever dream.
AVAILABILITY: DIG
ARTWORK: courtesy of HSAL
STREAM/DOWNLOAD: HSAL bandcamp
FFO: early Tangerine Dream, Emily A. Sprague, The Inward Circles
GREAT NEWS! Our most recent compilation, “Isolation“, is now available on Spotify! Over the coming days, you’ll find it popping up on most every digital platform. Stream/share this one with everyone you know. We are all responding to this strange season in our own ways. Consider this collection from among the Commonwealth’s finest are soundtrack to the full range of emotion. Thanks for listening…
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