Pitchfork: Castanets Discuss Upcoming Album

We music appreciators don't realize how lucky we are and how easy we have it. Want to hear some new music? Just stroll on down to the record store and buy it. Hell, you don't even have to do that anymore-- almost anything you'd want to hear is just a few clicks away (legally or not). And you listen to it, and you love it, and that's that.

Ain't so easy for the musicians, though. Ray Raposa, of Castanets fame, spoke to us via email about recording his new album, some singles, some split singles, and some tour dates. "I have probably almost as many deadliness in my life right now. Sleeping in the studio and and walking around deaf in the day and blind from computer monitors.

Hey Ray, don't be modest. Although, I can relate to computer monitor blindness. Raposa says that almost all of the songs are done and they are "ready to do whatever it is they will be destined to do. The remaining few will be supervised by myself, Sufjan [Stevens], and Ero Thompson, who will also being playing alongside Jana Hunter, Daniel Carter, and a couple of others."

A tracklist has not been finalized, but some titles include: "Who Is the World", "Bells Aloud (We Were Not Born)", "Good Friend-Yr Hunger", and the title track, "First Light's Freeze". The release date has not been set, but it should be out, via Asthmatic Kitty, later this summer or sometime early in the fall.

Also in the pipeline is a 12" split single with touring partner I Heart Lung, "who will be in direct competition with our merch stand as we will both be selling copies of it." Both bands offer new tracks to the split, which Raposa says may also be a split between the Asthmatic Kitty and Sounds Are Active labels. He also tells us that "the Castanets side of the split 12" will be all instrumental and live. Not live like in front of people but live in the lacking of overdubs and post-production."

In the meantime, a tour is planned for June and July. "It'll be hot (summer)," Raposa adds. "We'll have copies of the new full-length in hand for part of it and the Castanets lineup will as ever be in flux throughout with our faithful friends calling in sick from state to state, week to week, to be with us when they can."

All dates are supported by Wooden Wand and the Vanishing Voice. Additional support is detailed below. Raposa warns, "The trip may involve quick and shadowy trips into Mexico, improvised and revolting fauxhawks, Supergroup Jam Encores, and a pair (we're looking for pink) of sweatpants with GHETTO across the ass."

06-18 Los Angeles, CA - The Smell
06-19 San Diego, CA - Voltaire
06-22 Merced, CA - The Mainzer
06-23 San Francisco, CA - Hotel Utah
06-24 Redding, CA - Serendipity
06-25 Portland, OR - Loveland *
06-26 Seattle, WA - Gallery 1412 *
06-27 Eugene, OR - Cozmic Pizza *
06-29 Sacramento, CA - Tonevender
06-30 San Francicso, CA - Hemlock *
07-01 Los Angeles, CA - Timbrespace
07-05 Oklahoma City, OK - Conservatory
07-07 Columbia, MO - Ragtag Cinema
07-10 Chicago, IL - Empty Bottle
07-13 Indianapolis, IN - Secret Location #
07-14 Bloomington, IN - Second Story #
07-15 Lexington, KY - TBA
07-16 Buffalo, NY - Soundlab
07-17 Rochester, NY - Bug Jar
07-19 Somerville, MA - PA's Lounge
07-20 New York, NY - Tonic
07-21 Washington, DC - Warehouse Next Door
07-22 Charlottesville, VA - Twisted Branch Tea Bazaar
07-23 Asheville, NC - Harvest Records
07-24 Nashville, TN - Angle of View
07-25 Denton, TX - TBA