HSAL #62, “Benjamin Mauch & Stilyagi”

RELEASE: HSAL #62
RELEASE DATE: February 3, 2023

AVAILABILITY: CASS / DIG
ARTWORK: courtesy of William Stichter
STREAM/DOWNLOADHSAL 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.

“S T I L Y A G I”

RELEASE: HSAL #61
RELEASE DATE: December 9, 2022

AVAILABILITY: CASS / DIG
ARTWORK: courtesy of Joanna McGlothlin
STREAM/DOWNLOADHSAL 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.

HSAL #60 IS HERE!

HSAL #60: PORCELAIN (DELUXE EDITION) by TLVS

  • A fresh retooling of the entire album by TLVS
  • A collection of remixes from over the years by members of the band (Stilyagi, asentimentalsong) as well as friends (White Laces, Ben Mauch, PJ Sykes)
  • An unreleased 2010 master of the original album by Chad Clark, who went on to work on the Fugazi live series
  • A stockpile of photos from acclaimed RVA photographer PJ Sykes

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.

PRE-ORDER: HSAL #60

HSAL #60: TLVS, “Porcelain (Deluxe Edition)”

RELEASE: HSAL #60
RELEASE DATE: October 4th, 2020 (pre-order is live now)

AVAILABILITY: DIG
ARTWORK: courtesy of HSAL
STREAM/DOWNLOADHSAL 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.

New HSAL Sounds Are EVERYWHERE!

HONEYBRANDY

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!

L.A. DIES

L.A. Dies, Spring 2020 (PC: Tori Goodman)

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

BENJAMIN MAUCH

Cover of “A (C)able Tethered To The Sky” (sefl-released, 2020).

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.

It’s a new honeybrandy record!

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/DOWNLOADHSAL bandcamp

FFO: early Tangerine Dream, Emily A. Sprague, The Inward Circles

HSAL #57 Goes Farther!

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…

“Isolation” being recognized!

Since releasing last week, HSAL #57 has been streamed over 500 times! It’s been great to see/read the positive repsonse to this record. Over the weekend, the comp started showing up on radio playlists:

Where have you seen “Isolation” pop up? News feeds, podcasts or other streams? Let us know…Our sincerest hope is that it brings comfort to anxious ears and hope to heavy hearts.

Our latest compilation features tracks from Benjamin Mauch, Opin, From Overseas, Opin, Young Hierophant and many more!

HSAL #57 IS LIVE!

Given how difficult it’s becoming to readily acknowledge which day of the week it is any more, we went ahead and pushed HSAL #57 out this morning. Truth be told, we know what day it is (March eleventeenth, right?) – we just couldn’t wait to deliver this collection to you all. Birthed out of the myraid feelings isolation has caused / is causing, this set presents over an hour of introspective, contemplative pieces loveingly crafted by some incredible Commonwealth-based artists. Each act has not only provided music, they have written out what this season and this project has done in and around them. Take some time to read through the content with each track. Oh, the download comes with bonus material as well (extra track, videos).

Above all, we hope HSAL #57 will provide head / heart space to work through feelings and land at a posture of peace. There’s no need to fear. LOVE DEFEATS FEAR!

HSAL > COVID-19 (part two)

Spring is happening all around us! Regretfully, so is that pesky coronavirus. Your friendly neighborhood record label REFUSES to hand life over to an unseen force that threatens our very well-being. That said, we are also 100% on board with measures (be they responsibly insituted or culturally mandated) to stop the spread of said unseen force. Here’s the next installment in a series of posts to reinforce what the HSAL family is doing amidst the COVID-19 scare.

HSAL #57Various Artists, “Isolation

RELEASE DATE: April 17, 2020

Perhaps the most unnerving element tangled up in this historical moment is fear. Fear of the future. Fear of contraction. Fear of engagement. These things ought not be. As a community, we reach across technology to share art, which in most every case is an expression of love (directly or indirectly). In a season where multiple pressures were driving people away from each other, your friendly neighborhood record label worked with friends and family to collect recordings made during the COVID-19 scare (03/13/20 – ???). The result is this compilation of sounds primed for times of solitude and contemplation. Of the many emotions that reside in these sounds, may one thing ring true – LOVE DEFEATS FEAR!

AVAILABILITY: DIG (download comes with extra goodies)
ARTWORK: courtesy of HSAL
STREAM/DOWNLOADHSAL bandcamp

FFO: PAN‘s “Mono No Aware“,  Unseen‘s “Disquiet” Series, Past Inside The Present‘s “Healing Sounds