the kora records news

Gregor Samsa Collectors Edition on sale

Mon, 1 Sep 2008 12:03:19 -0400

Gregor Samsa's new album on vinyl and the Collectors Edition are on sale in the kora store. Vinyl - Rest is a 140 gram double LP enclosed in a two piece heavy card stock double folio design featuring the same die cut and artwork from the CD release. The packaging is an original design produced for the first time by TKR and are a limited edition of 500. Read more about the Collectors Edition of Rest.

Thank you to everyone who ordered the LTD Edition CD, it was a huge success. TKR and Gregor Samsa loved the way it turned out and are honored to report it is now sold out. Stay tuned for more Gregor Samsa news this fall as well as new releases in October by Fredrik and The Piano Creeps plus a new full length in November by Donny Hue!

Gregor Samsa Vinyl and Coll Edition on-sale details

Wed, 13 Aug 2008 15:07:36 -0400

Details for Gregor Samsa's new album on vinyl and the Collectors Edition are in! Both will go on sale in the kora store on September 1st. Vinyl -Rest is being pressed as a 140 gram double LP that will be enclosed in a two piece heavy card stock double folio design featuring the same die cut and artwork from the CD release. The packaging is an original design produced for the first time by TKR and will be a limited edition of 500. Read more about the Collectors Edition of Rest.

Thank you to everyone who ordered the LTD Edition CD, it was a huge success. TKR and Gregor Samsa loved the way it turned out and are honored to report it is now sold out. Those who are still waiting for their orders will see them shortly just as soon as the last few can be assembled at TKR HQ. Stay tuned for more Gregor Samsa news this fall as well as new releases by Fredrik, The Piano Creeps and Donny Hue!

The Widespread Reign of The Great Northwest

Mon, 7 Jul 2008 08:22:03 -0400

The Widespread Reign of the Great Northwest, the debut by The Great Northwest is in the kora office in NW, DC and up in the store for pre-order (comes with free TKR sampler CD)! The letterpressing job by Stumptown may be one of our finest offerings yet and the music inside is even better, it's getting quite the blog buzz. The first single "Chief John" is currently #1 on the Elbows Hot Tracks list.

The official release date is July 29th and gets "digital" on July 15th.

The Great Northwest is a neo-psychedelic project created by studio engineer and producer Brian James "Coatsie" Coates (The Dandy Warhols, Dead Meadow). The group is based around a collective philosophy in which "every one is welcome to participate". Their debut album was recorded in Fresno and Portland in 2006, mixed at The Odditorium in 2007 and is due out later this month. The record features Brian Coates, Randall Crush, Josh Kalberg, Joe Kaczmarek (formerly of Rick Bain), Caleb Spiegel (My Regrets, The Out Crowd), Peter Holmstrom (The Dandy Warhols), Brent Fellows, Jeff Baldwin, Mike Faith, and Marty Smith (Swoon 23) among others.

Gregor Samsa video for Jeroen Van Aken

Tue, 13 May 2008 12:28:08 -0400

Gregor Samsa just started their first tour for Rest, this one in Europe. To get everyone in the mood they've made one breath-taking video for Jeroen Van Aken, directed by Rick Alverson from Spokane. It's viewable on Pitchork TV and last week was in their Forkcast and featured on Stereogum. Not to be outdone, The LK performed Tamagotchi Freestyle live on Swedish tv and Meredith's song My Absent Will is on MTV's The Real World, Weds, May 14th at 10pm eastern time.

Fredrik and The Piano Creeps join TKR!

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 08:16:53 -0400

For those who got our sampler at SXSW, you are already in the know, for the rest of ya, here's the news! Joining TKR from Ithaca, NY it's The Piano Creeps! Featuring Mary Lorson and Billy Coté from Madder Rose along with Kathy Ziegler, we are honored to work with some of our all time favorite music makers. Preview songs here from their introspective masterpiece Future Blues which comes your way this autumn, already one of our favorite records of '08. And from Malmö, Sweden we are ecstatic to bring you the palatial pop from the band Fredrik (featuring Fredrik and Lindefelt from The LK!). Fredrik's album, Na Na Ni, is out at the end of summer, catch an early taste here.

LTD Edition of Gregor Samsa now on sale!

Sat, 5 Apr 2008 13:54:08 -0400

LTD Edition(s).5.Apr.08 -

The limited edition of Rest is now on sale for pre-order. Learn more about the various formats available for the new Gregor Samsa. Stop the letterpresses - there's more in "store"! The Fairline Parkway's A Memory of Open Spaces, #3 in our micro series with only 700 letterpressed copies made, is also in the store for pre-order. Click here and good luck!

For a limited time only starting on April 9th, Meredith Bragg's "My Absent Will" will be KCRW's daily download aka today's top tune onkcrw.com and on the podcast pages of iTunes. Meredith will be making his way thru the midwest for a solo tour this summer, dates coming soon.

4 Ways to REST

Fri, 28 Mar 2008 09:21:09 -0400

Get Rest.28.Mar.08 -

Gregor Samsa's new album Rest will soon be available in 4 different formats - Digital, Unlimited Edition, Limited Edition of 500, and a Collectors Edition of 30.

DIGITAL
The digital format should be available via all standard digital outlets on April 1st.

UNLIMITED EDITION
The Unlimited Edition is a custom die cut gate fold CD sleeve of heavy black stock with print by our friends at Stumptown Press. Release date May 13th.

LIMITED EDITION OF 500
The Limited Edition of 500 takes a copy of the unlimited edition and encloses it within a folio with a rivet and sting closure and also adds an 8 page rivet bound book of extra artwork and lyrics. All binding and riveting is done by hand at the TKR office and all pieces are hand numbered. Available for Pre Order starting April 8th and ships aprox. the week of the 24th.

COLLECTOR'S EDITION OF 30
The Collector's Edition of 30 is a special project undertaken by Gregor Samsa and The Kora Records to commemorate the release of Rest and our love for the album. The Collectors Edition arrive in an vintage metal Super 8 film can as Gregor Samsa has made several films which will surface as the album is released. This can will be stamped by hand with the album title and the number of the edition. This can will contain the extra print from the Limited Edition that has been die cut for this edition as well as a custom made and finished walnut disc with a steel and rubber hub on which the cd will rest . The walnut disc will also serve as film reel. One of the films Gregor Samsa has produced for this album will be printed to Super 8 film and each copy of the Collector's Edition will come with its own section of that film.
Available for Pre Order first week in May.

SXSW RECAP, NEW RELEASE DATES

Thu, 20 Mar 2008 11:42:54 -0400

Vs. the Snow is available now. To help celebrate, The LK kicked off their tour last weekend in Washington and are currently turning heads at SXSW. Their debut video for "Stop Being Perfect" - the kora bonus track - is also getting buzz by the likes of Pitchfork and Stereogum... and read P4K's tremendous (a 7.9!) album review here.

+ SXSW +
Listen to MB and TT's live performance and interview with Nic Harcourt and KCRW from SXSW recorded on Thursday.

+ Upcoming release info +
Gregor Samsa's Rest and The Fairline Parkway's A Memory of Open Spaces, both come out on May 27th. A limited edition version of Rest is out on April 25 (pre-orders coming in early April). Our first sampler has arrived, get it for free if you run into us in Austin, or thru the kora store, just $2 with any order. It's your first chance to have music by kora bands that haven't even been officially announced yet, but if you go to the store page you'll have the scoop!

THE LK MUSIC VIDEO, TOUR DATES

Tue, 4 Mar 2008 10:58:41 -0500

THE LK - VIDEO/TOUR/MORE -

Vs. the Snow is available now. To help celebrate, The LK kick off their tour this weekend in Washington (shows at the House of Sweden and Kennedy Center, link to more shows below) - get prepared with their debut video for "Stop Being Perfect" - the kora bonus track.

Click here for more tour dates and see who else is on the road.

+ Upcoming release info +
Gregor Samsa's Rest and The Fairline Parkway's A Memory of Open Spaces, both come out on May 27th. A limited edition version of Rest is out on April 25 (pre-orders coming in early April). Our first sampler has arrived, get it for free if you run into us in Austin, or thru the kora store, just $2 with any order. It's your first chance to have music by kora bands that haven't even been officially announced yet, but if you go to the store page you'll have the scoop!

SXSW, The LK Pre-Order, Gregor Samsa Sneak Peak

Mon, 4 Feb 2008 10:07:58 -0500

Here we go - Vs. the Snow is available now for pre-order. The LK tour is nearly complete, click here for dates/updates and see who else is on the road. We'll be debuting our first kora sampler at SXSW, so if you see us in Austin, make sure you get one. It features 6 tracks from upcoming releases including a beautiful song from Rest as well as some new kora artists we haven't even told you about yet. Gregor Samsa is previewing a track a week from Rest every Sunday on MySpace - if you haven't listened to any of it yet, get started, four tracks are already up.

New Gregor Samsa, listen up!

Mon, 21 Jan 2008 23:16:17 -0500

When our parents (or for some of you grandparents) were kids they'd tune into the radio every Sunday night to hear the latest installment of their favorite show. Transistor radios may be gone, but the thrill of those Serial Sundays is back. Gregor Samsa has come up with a wonderful way for fans to hear their upcoming kora release entitled Rest.

Every sunday evening, they are be uploading a song from their new album. Visit their myspace page to get in on it, it's already week two, so catch up, or shall we say rest up, and enjoy.

Rest tracklisting:
The Adolescent
Ain Leuh
Abutting, Dismantling
Company
Jeroen Van Aken
Rendered Yards
Pseudonyms
First Mile, Last Mile
Du Meine Leise

New Releases! Meredith Bragg, Aidan Baker, Donny Hue

Tue, 11 Dec 2007 08:14:57 -0500

It's trifecta Tuesday with 3 new releases out today. Aidan Baker's Scalpel; after pre-sale there are only around 300 of these left, so get in on it soon. Meredith Bragg'sSilver Sonya; has been featured on NBC's Chuck and is garnering a great buzz online and in print. Meredith is playing a special acoustic set at Olsson's in Dupont Circle today at 12:30pm.

Donny Hue and the Colors' Mr. Red Blues; our first digital only release, gets us all in the holiday mood with their Christmas EP. Check out your favorite digital download store to get some festive tunes, it's online today.

Those in DC after Christmas - Dec 27th - Meredith Bragg's official CD Release show at the Black Cat with solo sets by Donny Hue and good pal Paul Michel.

Aidan Baker/Meredith Bragg/Donny Hue new releases!

Mon, 5 Nov 2007 08:29:44 -0500

We're ending the year with 3 new releases. Our first effort with Aidan Baker, Scalpel, is finally ready to put in your hands. There are only 500 of these to go around, so you may want to get in on it soon. Sparse guitars and sounds ebbing and flowing with ghostly vocals, it's an ambient gem... and what Aidan has called his folk record. Silver Sonya by Meredith is also now on pre-sale. There's more! We'll have our first digital only release on December 18th as Donny Hue and the Colors get in the holiday spirit with a Christmas EP! It's been a traditon of Ed Donohue's to write and record Christmas songs every winter for friends, and now we are letting a new batch come out for everyone to hear. Get to stuffing your musical stockings.

Making of Meredith Bragg's Silver Sonya

Mon, 15 Oct 2007 10:46:36 -0400

December 12th marks the return of Meredith Bragg, this time as a solo artist, with his masterful musical document named after the studio is was conceived in, Silver Sonya. Pre-orders begin November 1st. Check out the making of Meredith's solo album here

http://profile.imeem.com/GqEJ8b4/video/otUUORmW/silver_sonya_music_video/

(Aidan Baker fans - we'll have news on Scalpel later this month).

Donny Hue interview online!

Wed, 3 Oct 2007 14:52:01 -0400

Donny Hue recently did an interview at the Kennedy Center for his show there with the Colors. It's just been posted on YouTube, check it out here Donny is currently winding down a 5 week US tour with shows this week in Chicago, Detroit, Bowling Green and DC.

kora signs The LK and The Fairline Parkway

Fri, 21 Sep 2007 16:51:55 -0400

Hej Hej! Please help us welcome from Malmö, Sweden, The LK, and from Washington, DC, The Fairline Parkway. We began a musical love affair with The LK after catching them in DC earlier this summer. Captivated by their infectious sound - a combination of indelible loops, resonating lyrics and shimmering vocals - we have no doubt their songs will be the indie anthems of many a house party next year. Their debut, VS. the Snow, with an extra bonus track for the USA, will be out in February.

We met Ben and Raj from Fairline for the first time in 2006 when their band Pagoda (now Roofwalkers), opened for Gregor Samsa. Both sides stayed in touch and when they sent us a copy of Lander's Peak we couldn't get it out of our stereo and kept thinking to ourselves, how did kora's karma get so good?Lander's Peak will be out in the new year as well. 2008, it's going to be one heck of a year.