Arise, Great Warrior is available as a hand-numbered LP at our store; download included. First pressing limited to 300 copies. In stores via NAIL Distribution (North America) and overseas from Code 7 (United Kingdom).

The ominous tones and noisy guitars resonate under Dominic Cipolla’s sinister talk-singing on “Blackouts and Runaways,” the opening track on this double LP. It’s followed with a jolting metal attack, more akin to Cipolla’s metal foray, Dead Child. This duel of soft, subtle and artsy against angry, aggressive and brutal — driven by powerful drumming from the late, great Tony Bailey — is the most interesting aspect of “Monoliths” — or at least until the two sides merge into a series of songs that are mellower than metal, but more forceful than art rock. Double LPs are always daunting tasks, and rarely fare well when judged against the standard 40-minute album. “Monoliths” works, however, achieving a telling juxtaposition of dark power and dark art.

Phantom Family Halo performs Jan. 20 @ The Empty Bottle in Chicago.

We are pleased to announce that Phantom Family Halo will open for Russian Circles and Young Widows on the following tour dates:

FRI NOV 27 – Detroit MI, Magic Stick
SAT NOV 28 – Buffalo, NY Soundlab
MON NOV 30 – Milford CT, Daniel Street
TUE DEC 1 – New York NY, Bowery Ballroom
WED DEC 2 – Cambridge MA, The Middle East
THU DEC 3 – Washington DC, DC9
FRI DEC 4 – Philadelphia PA, First Unitarian Church
SUN DEC 6 – Montreal QC, Il Motore
MON DEC 7 – Toronto ON, Lee’s Place
WED DEC 9 – Kalamazoo MI, The Strut
THU DEC 10 – Cleveland OH, The Grog Shop
FRI DEC 11 – Louisville KY, Skull Alley

Pre-order PFH’s double LP Monoliths & These Flowers Never Die now. Their record release show has been reschedule for November at Zanzabar.

Rachel Grimes
Oct. 8: Louisville, KY: 21C Museum (Book Of Leaves CD/LP release)
Oct. 9: Lexington, KY: BoomSlang
Oct. 12: New York, NY: Le Poisson Rouge w/ Sarah Cahill
“Book Of Leaves For Solo Piano” LP available for pre-order Sept. 1. In stores domestically Sept. 22.
First 100 copies come with original sheet music score.

Invaders
Sept. 18: Skull Alley w/ Marmoset
Oct. 10: Lexington, KY: Al’s Bar (Boomslang Afterparty)
Debut CD “Floating” available here and now.

The Fervor
Aug. 22: Whitesburg, KY: MARS Fest
Sept. 10: Louisville, KY: Headliners w/ The Features
Oct. 16: Cleveland, OH: Wilbert’s
Oct. 20: Washington, DC: The Red & The Black Bar
Louisville Is For Lovers Vol. 9, featuring The Fervor’s exclusive track, “Same State,” still available. Limited edition pressing of 500 double vinyl LP on red and white marble. Split 7-inch with Wussy on green vinyl coming in October.

Teneia Sanders
Aug. 26: Louisvile, KY: Stevie Ray’s  Blues Bar; 9 p.m.
Aug. 29: Milltown, IN: Blue River Cafe
Louisville Is For Lovers Vol. 9, featuring Teneia’s exclusive track, “Jane’s Song,” still available.

Deer Meet
Aug. 28: Louisville, KY: Derby City Espresso
Sept. 9: Louisville, KY: Skull Alley
Oct. 3: Louisville, KY: Pour Haus
Louisville Is For Lovers Vol. 9, featuring Deer Meet’s exclusive track, “Take Me High,” still available.

Records like this make me wish I was new to Louisville music. I wonder what it would be like to stumble across something so beautifully confounding, where the exhilarating thunder of Black Kerouac is side by side with the subtle pop of Ben & Whit, the retro rock ‘n’ roll of The Ladybirds and the gorgeous psychological minefield of “The Girl in Me” by Bonnie “Prince” Billy and Cheyenne Mize.

What would total strangers take with them after hearing this? Envy? A music-induced schizophrenia? Five or six favorite new bands? All of the above?

This year’s edition of John King’s annual valentine to Louisville ranks among his best, with so many good songs that it doesn’t soak in until after several listens. Highlights include The Fervor, The Cut Family Foundation, The Mack, Whistle Peak and Sandpaper Dolls, while The Gallery Singers’ “All That’s Left” is the sound of utter devastation. —Jeffrey Lee Puckett

Almost lost in a hail of … code, we present Karate Body’s new website! (Which yer lookin’ at — yeah you.)

It’s a work in progress, but we’ll be posting new videos, links to interesting things, our thoughts on the current economic crisis, strange-looking animals, general observations on eating, and actual music.

What better day to launch than on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the same week that President-elect Barack Obama takes the big O? Don’t know about that Bono speech though. Geez.

But you’re here for the myoooozic, right?

Karate Body Records LLC is a vinyl label based in Louisville, Ky. We might go digital at some point, but for right now, it’s wax with tracks.

We’re celebrating an inaugural of our own next month when we release Louisville Is For Lovers Vol. 9 on double red and white vinyl in a custom Valentine’s Day package for the first … time … ever.

This year’s compilation features 19 — or is it 20? We lost count — exclusive tracks by Bonnie “Prince” Billy, The Fervor, Whistle Peak, Lucky Pineapple, The Mack, Teneia Sanders and more. Our pal, resident artiste Lis4L founder Mr. John King has the complete details on the CD version over here. Pre-order your vinyl here through PayPal. All transactions are secure.

Three shows are scheduled for this sucker: Feb. 11 at The Lounge (947 E. Madison St.; 8 p.m., $3), a Feb. 13 Live Lunch at WFPK Studios (619 S. Fourth St.; free, first-come, first seated). Finally there’s an all-ages blowout at Skull Alley (1017 E. Broadway) on Feb. 14. That starts at 8 p.m. and is $5. It’s like a love overdose. You can hardly stand it.

Friend us and check for updates on our MySpace and Facebook pages.

We’re posting more info as we go, so keep checking back with us.

Thanks!
KBR