So here's something a bit different as Ralph brings you the phantasmagorical world of The Music Tapes, Julian Koster of Neutral Milk Hotel and Robbie Cucchiaro of The Olivia Tremor Control who have created an experimental pop music and performance art project like no other and they are bringing it to Scotland for the first time with some dates this June featuring Scottish artists in support, including Washington Irving, Panda Su, Eagleowl and Duncan Drever.
Following Ralph's look at Doune The Rabbit Hole recently word just in from them was they're hosting Julian and Robbie who have spent the last five years bringing The Music Tapes' legendary live shows to living rooms, opera house stages, and everywhere in between - along the way garnering an ever growing legion of devotees enthralled by the band's imaginative and uniquely affecting blend of music, magic, storytelling, and games that collapses the boundaries between pop experimentation, theatre, and performance art.
The Music Tapes live show pushes the boundaries of what audiences have come to expect from an ‘indie rock’ band - performing alongside mechanical contraptions like the 7-Foot-Tall Metronome, a mechanical organ tower and a singing television. They couldn't find a seat on the plane large enough for the metronome this time around, but Static the singing television is looking forward to joining Julian, Robbie and organist Andy on this, their debut trip to Europe!
The band has recently been taking their Travelling Imaginary Circus Tent tour across the US and June 24th sees the European release of their album ‘Mary’s Voice’ through Merge Records. This, The Music Tapes' third full-length album, is the warmest and most accessible invitation yet into Koster's world - the culmination of a vision he has been realizing for over a decade.
Doune The Rabbit Hole’s mission to make Scotland happier and bring art and music to everyone stretches beyond the main festival event at Cardross Estate 22 - 25th Aug.
The dates take place at the following venues:
Sat 22nd June - Glasgow, Nice N' Sleazy with Eagleowl
Tue 25th June - Aberdeen, The Tunnels with Washington Irving, Autumn Hang & Daemons
Wed 26th June - Inverness, Hootananny with Washington Irving & Abagail Grey
Thur 27th June - Edinburgh, Voodoo Rooms with Washington Irving, Panda Su & Duncan Drever
