drive

DZ15 is on its way down I-95 courtesy of Baltimore duo Romantic States, who continue their minimalist approach to writing and recording, while integrating dynamic shifts not explored in earlier work. The result is a collection of raw, sparse, and skeletal lo-fi rock songs that are sincere, vulnerable, and haunting. Jim and Ilenia's newest works have been compiled for release on a self-titled album out February 6 and the band will be touring the East Coast throughout the month.

Special thanks to Spanish magazine Shook Down for their kind words about the album and for premiering "Back Pain" on their site. Look out for an interview with the band in the next physical copy of their magazine, and check out the track below for your first sneak peak at DZ15:

"9 canciones honestas, cristalinas y eso, minimalistas, una propuesta de corazón lo-fi que desprende honestidad, la misma que habían desfilado en algunos de sus trabajos anteriores" - Shook Down

"Romantic States are a minimalist experimental rock band from Baltimore, emphasizing rhythm and melody over instrumental complexity. Their sound is spectral, with live drums and drum machines combined to provide a back beat for reverby guitars and washed out, dream-like vocals in their own version of deconstructed pop/rock songs." - The Modern Folk Music Of America

Tapes are available for pre-order in the merch store, along with a limited number of older cassettes unearthed during my move, including releases by Wavepool Abortion, Ghostandthesong / Chris Rehm, Terror Bird, Adam Torres, Pool Holograph, and Birkwin Jersey, plus one last copy of DYVNZMBR2.

Additionally, Tape School in Tokyo is now stocking some more recent releases - Big Hush, Hazey Jane, Easily Suede, The Sweets, and Seabright all safely made the trip across the globe.

Stay tuned for more updates on DZ15, including new tracks and event info, coming very soon...

powder

Just as you thought things were wound down for the winter freeze, a few more acorns fall from the tree.

It Is Rain In My Face. further elevated his diverse repertoire of sounds with a new collection of songs on the "Bumrush Day EP",



Ghostandthesong snuck out the new track "Signs" (featuring Lindsey Motlow) behind your back,



and Chris Rehm released the third cassette in his Monthly Tape Series, an assortment of styles put together for the various works by his filmmaker friend Derek Beck.



A little closer to home, all four DZ tapes from this year were given superlative honors with placements on the "Best Tapes of 2013" from the folks at Myspace and Tabs Out. The recognition is certainly appreciated, y'all - see you next year.

flashback framer

With 2013 all but wrapped up, you may be thirsty for some new DZ goods, but for now I'm going to continue keeping things close to the chest. One thing I will say is that 2014 is already shaping up to be a good year for the label. With three releases lined up for early next year and a few more beyond that, you'd be wise to keep your eyes and ears peeled for what's coming down the pipeline.

For now, I invite you bask in the glory that is the newest full-length release from It Is Rain In My Face., the project of Mat Jones who last year unleashed his self-titled debut with DZ. "The Framer" is a masterful work featuring "stripped-down, rustic, and soaked in whiskey...his twangiest territory yet." The new album is out now on cassette from Chill Mega Chill and is limited to 25 copies, so be sure to pick up your copy before they're all gone.

Other DZ artists are also staying busy in their respective corners of the world. Across the pond in Berlin, Ghostandthesong recently put out another succulent single "Stuck", accompanied by an equally juicy video by Hypertrashwonderland.



Back home in the states, Chris Rehm, half of the mind-bending New Orleans duo Caddywhompus, has been putting a lot of heart into his new Monthly Tape Series. The project showcases his latest and greatest aural experiments dubbed with love. Take a listen to the latest entry below.



Until next time... stay sound and keep curious. ✌

tapes tapes tapes

Shipping on all orders is picking up steam! Sorry for the delays, but I'm shipping things out in waves so keep an eye on your mailbox!

I also wanna thank Stephanie at Impose Magazine for the nice chat over coffee.

unschärfe / shimmer

Split hexyclical sides sift through subtle sounds of seasonal shifts, from hot to cool and cold to warm.

GHOSTANDTHESONG conjures a saturated psych-lo-funk/neo-surrealist-punk sunshower, the perfect cooldown for a squelchy joyride through woodland creeks canopied in summer sunset. Before nightfall, find a spot to lie back and let crisp autumn riffs and ritualistic rhythms of the rolling river cleanse your heavy heart and hazy mind. With the cold creeping closer, come back to consciousness and follow the siren to shelter.

Avoid the frost on the trek to refuge and wait out the winter with CHRIS REHM. Whispering winds of ambient-ghost-folk drown out all cognizance, but the thaw comes in a shimmering daze. Awaken to sunlight's fingers lifting your lids and softly strumming the icicles in your ears. Rise up and return to the river to replenish that spring spirit of roving revitalization. Get solar, take a quick dip and cycle on.

UNSCHÄRFE: eine romantische feier der kaputtheit. eskapismus mit darauffolgendem realitätsverlust. die katze aß das antidepressiva des onkels, nachdem ich sie ihm geschenkt hatte, weil er sich so alleine fühlte und starb. sind wir nun entkommen? ist noch adrenalin übrig? gibt es nicht genug leute die etwas sauberes machen wollen? recorded 2010 in different rooms and places around freiburg and berlin. this is the beginning of neo-surrealistic punk!

SHIMMER: written and recorded in 2009-2010, through a number of different dorm rooms, bedrooms, and bike rides in new orleans. with one heavily-effected improvised guitar & vocals take as an atmospheric constant throughout the side, i've intermittently placed snapshot ideas in song form on religion, display & perception, and two songs about one girl.

limited to 100, out november 11

DZ03

ghostandthesong | chris rehm

unschärfe | shimmer

(october)

dz01-preview3

DZ01 preview #3

Giant Claw - Tunnel Mind

Chris Rehm - Itches/Wishes

Cough Cool - Disney Again

Howse - Ease

Osiris Glade - Mantis

bread for the birds

word is spreading slowly but surely. because the success of this project lies soley on my shoulders, let me take this opportunity to ask you _the viewer_ for any grass-roots type verbal/viral means you may possess to help lift this dream into fruition.

the release itself will be limited to a 30-day Kickstarter campaign which you will definitely hear/read about if you follow either DZ site, but i am also hoping to get some further publicity thanks to the kind folks at Altered Zones.

the following is a list of the artists who have already submitted tracks. this is approximately half of the total number, and more will be posted as their songs trickle in.

BLACKBIRD BLACKBIRD / BLITHE FIELD / CHRIS REHM / GOLF SWINGERS / HALLS / HOWSE

KEEP SHELLY IN ATHENS / KEN SEENO / PEPEPIANO / RA CAILUM / TEAMS / VACATION DAD

i'll be passing along more info as it makes itself available, so check back or subscribe.