Prinzhorn Dance School on DFA

I like Prinzhorn Dance School. They had some great singles off their first album, the glitchy gated guitar sound they get is great. It's the barest, sparsest pop... the Gang of Four and The Fall sound taken to it's extreme. The balls to create this minimal, it's almost acapella, or a poetry art project. I know that sounds like crap, but they pull it off. I won't be putting this on after a long day, this is in the challenging pile of work that sends me back through those previous bands looking for some explanation of how this works and where they could be possibly be coming from. Chanted lyrics, like Bauhaus (the art style), there's so little there, it's great, and a little bit creepy because it's so extreme on that side of the spectrum.

Like I tried to make this review.

That's my excuse for today.

Get it from DFA direct or any of the usual mailorder places...

PRINZHORN DANCE SCHOOL - Seed, Crop, Harvest - DFA - DFA2255 - 7" - $ 9.25
***PRINZHORN DANCE SCHOOL announce their return with new single, "Seed, Crop, Harvest." We haven't heard a thing from TOBIN PRINZ and SUZI HORN for three years (their debut LP was released on DFA back in 2007) but they've been far from work-shy. They toured extensively, then came home and built their own bespoke recording studio (The Red Shed)--and learned how to use it. Time consuming endeavors which saw them drop off the music radar. Which might just explain the title of the equally charged B-side "Off The Radar, Off The System."

These New Puritans - Numbers, Elvis ....(podcast?! Ep 1??!!)

This is kind of nice... minimal.... etc, I checked it out because of The Fall...that's who I really need to investigate, especially since the other day when I played Prinzhorn dance school for my friend Doug and he said ..'Oh you have to hear the fall'. I'm still waiting to find Masquerade somewhere...I was told that was the place to start with them. I couldn't get it anywhere on vinyl. Even the CD. Sheesh.

Either of these are available from HMV or HMV, or Rough Trade... I couldn't find anything domestically, but go listen to the myspace, it's catchy, sparse and beat driven.
I really liked that song 'Numerology' he keeps saying 'What's your favorite number? / What does it mean?'...good stuff. In the Elvis single I think they chant 'Elvis / I wasn't talking about that king', so that's obviously their thing. It's hard to make this sound good, but you know what I mean, and you know if you like it.

This picture disc is out of print from HMV, but maybe it's still available somewhere else: These new puritans-Numbers [picture disc]-Limited edition picture disc pressing from their new album beat pyramid, its kind of like catchy indie rock with a punchy dubstep meets jungle beat, for some reason it reminds of early fall with a jungle beat, also features colours on the flip side, november 2007-7"-Angular records

Incidentally, I am starting a 'podcast' where I play some 7" records and talk over them like a jackass whenever I think of something. This is Episode 1. I'm eventually going to figure out the Itunes jazz, so it's easier to just subscribe, but this is a quicktime file which will open in another page, so save it and drag it on your ipod.

I wish I could press them onto a seven inch and mail them out, but that's ridiculous.

I tried to make them not too long (this one is 12:01) and is very crappy. That being said I ended up playing: Slint (a unreleased bootleg 7"), the PIAPTK Casiotone 8" square at the wrong speed, and a Daniel Maggio of Home Blitz side project called the Car commercials. It's me in a room drinking cocktails with an ipod microphone, and a dream.

Yay for me.

I welcome criticism or anyone that wants to sit in via skype or something.

Ha.

(If you are an artist or label and you don't want this music posted, just drop me a line and hopefully we can work something out.)

prinzhorn dance school - you are the space invader

My jury is still out on these guys....I think there are interesting things going on here in the vein of young marble giants...really minimal. It's almost an exercise in 'what's the least we can get away with.' I have to say it's a weird choice for DFA, but then they just released that pylon album which is completely related.
It's almost spoken word...I remember in the early 90's KRS, and other places actually had spoken word artists on the label. I found one the other day from this guy, I can't even remember his name, but it was just these stories with sound effects and maybe some kind of hip hop behind him. That's an area that never went anywhere. But I wonder if he toured around and opened for bands? That must have been hell.
I also remember around that time being into a lot of beats stuff, there was a jack kerouac box set and burroughs did something with kurt cobain. Then I found Ginsberg cd's...crazy. Maybe it was just something I was going through.

PDS, it isn't fun, it's not going to be something to impress your friends with or hear it the first time and fall in love...or maybe it is. There was something really ballsy and alien about it. I don't know if they could sustain it, or hold my attention for albums and albums. But it is catchy in it's own way, and funny.
I know they are related to the fall also, a band I have to revisit.

Happy after turkey day.

Was on phonica also.

I think modlang still has it according to their mailout. This is the best place ever.

* PRINZHORN DANCE SCHOOL- you are the space invader- limited edition 2-track vinyl single with non album track on dfa 7" $6.98

Prinzhorn Dance School - Up! Up! Up!

PRINZHORN DANCE SCHOOL - Up! Up! Up!

It's easy to attempt experimental music, you can pull the wool over everyone's eyes and self release literally noise from the freeway, processed and slowed down. Even make everyone think that's what you are doing. But it takes a lot to make something smart. To strip everything down, get rid of the excess and still make something interesting, still make something accessible that isn't unlistenable.
I think that's my problem with a lot of noise/experimental acts, there's no way to tell them apart and what is really happening anyway? Not that this is really experimental, just loose, like rehearsal sessions from raw talent. How can they be getting away with so little, but still make it sound like something contemporary is happening? I love the vocals, lyrics and minimal sound, it's like mates of state meets suicide.

Needless to say I like these guys. Very much.

There's something about a two piece that seems to always work. I can name at least 10 memorable two piece bands...there is a unique relationship that makes everything different.

Go get both singles from DFA here. Plus they have a crazy wallet that won't be around long....not only that but Aug 6th they release another 7" on DFA, according to their site. I'll be ordering that as well.

No dance music here. Prinzhorn Dance School deliver a torrent of edgy, single-riff, bare-bones, DIY rock that sounds like if The Fall were to jam with The White Stripes and then fire half the members. Their style of outsider rock has had insiders buzzing ever since Pitchfork started touting the duo who are the first UK signing to the New York City’s DFA label (LCD Soundsystem, The Juan Maclean, Black Dice among others). This limited edition 7" single and digital download presents a taster of what is to come when Prinzhorn Dance School release their debut full-length album in August.