Latest Review: Magic Lantern – High Beams

Long Beach’s Magic Lantern have finally gone and released a new sonic document after what seemed like an eternity of waiting. Eagerly anticipated by those who have been biding their time waiting for the band to get on with their uber limited cassette only and CD-R releases (their Self-Titled CD-R was limited to 30), “High Beams”, the band’s latest opus [...]

Emily Jane White at Tangier

I couldn’t help but wish last night while watching Emily Jane White at Tangier that I could have scooped up her and her band and taken them back to my brother’s place where one of his roommates had turned the place into Christmas (for a solo studio dweller, it’s nice to be in a home that has a feminine touch around the holidays), and had her performance all to ourselves. White’s presence was subdued and understated, and if you weren’t paying attention closely, there’s a good chance you missed the brilliance in her simple melodies and dark lyrics. Lyrics that are not quite macabre, but they sometimes feel that way, as they run heavy with the theme of isolation and the interpersonal battles that her songs’ subjects face. Songs like the title track of her new album, “Dark Undercoat”, and “Dagger”, both serve as great displays of each.

Released earlier in November on Double Negative Records, the Bay Area label better known for noisy post-punk and ear-splitting hardcore bands, Dark Undercoat is White’s first album released under her own name. Previously releasing an album with her college band, Diamond Star Halos, it wasn’t until White went France after finishing school that she started to be comfortable as a solo performer, and was what led her finally to San Francisco where she began performing under her own name.

Download “Dagger” (mp3)

[audio:http://terrorbird.alphapupserver.com/music/EJW-04_Dagger.mp3]

and “Wild Tigers I Have Known” (mp3) from Dark Undercoat.

[audio:http://terrorbird.alphapupserver.com/music/EJW-09Wild_Tigers_I_Have_Known.mp3]

Dark Undercoat is out now, get it directly from Double Negative (who have a third mp3 available) or on iTunes.