News

Montreal art-rock outfit Young Galaxy will kick off an exciting second run of tour dates across the globe this September in celebration of their highly successful album Shapeshifting which was released last year on Paper Bag Records. The band will be joining electro-pop masterminds Junior Boys for select North American appearances (full list of dates below).

Young Galaxy’s Shapeshifting was recently included on the Polaris Music Prize long list becoming the only act in the prize’s history to be included on the list in consecutive years.  Upon the release of Shapeshifting, Young Galaxy was named CBC Radio 3, Aux TV and Exclaim Magazine‘s X3 Artist of the Month for February. Look for Young Galaxy’s remix of  ‘Lose It’ on Austra‘s Sparkle remix album which is released today and available here.

Young Galaxy is also pleased to release their second video from Shapeshifting. Early this year, Sinbad Richardson‘s animated video for ‘We Have Everything’ topped the Elbo.ws video chart (view below). The stunning new video for ‘Blown Minded’ was crafted by Montreal artist Carine Khalifé, and was inspired by the textures and depths rooted within the song. With paint as her medium, Carine spent four months creating a series of paintings captured frame by frame with a fixed camera. The process took place inside a darkroom, with a single light source coming from beneath the glass to reveal various textures and brush movements. “I worked a lot with transparency. The more paint, the darker the image, and therefore the animation became about gesture, and the texture of brushstrokes. It’s a very physical, organic process. Everything is based on the rhythm” – she explains.

“It was important for me, especially for the abstract parts, that I was responding to the song conversationally like a running dialogue. I think I listened to the song more than a thousand times and because I would often listen and focus solely on drums, voice, lyrics, or melody I was able to hear new things each time. I’m a night worker, and spent several hours at the window, looking at Montreal skies and lights. The chimney is obviously [from] the house next door, and the room at the beginning is my studio. When I arrived in Montreal I liked and was struck by the contrasting warm indoors and deep blue outside. It was a bit like deconstructing the whole song second by second. Spending the last months in the darkroom, with the light box, projecting blue, red or yellow lights on the white walls of my studio was an intense experience.  And now that it’s done, it’s a bit like waking up from a dream, and as the film is now getting out of my studio, I rediscover it with new eyes, almost as if I didn’t do it myself.”

View ‘Blown Minded’ below:

You can still download the two remix EPs released earlier this year:

Download the ’We Have Everything’ EP here.
(Featuring GRIMES, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Blue Hawaii, Adam & The Amethysts, Cotton Mouth)

Download the ‘Cover Your Tracks’ Remix EP here.
(Featuring Teen Daze, CFCF, Freedom or Death, Dunez)

And if you haven’t seen it yet, watch the video for ‘We Have Everything’ below:

Young Galaxy World Tour Dates:
September 11 – Minneapolis MN – First Avenue *
September 12 – Winnipeg MB – West End Cultural Centre *       
September 14 – Edmonton AB – Starlite Room *
September 15 – Calgary AB – Republik *    
September 17 – Vancouver BC – Commodore Ballroom *
September 18 – Victoria BC – Sugar Nightclub *
September 20 – Seattle WA – Neumos *
September 21 – Portland OR – Doug Fir Lounge *
September 23 – San Francisco CA – Mezzanine *
September 24 – Los Angeles CA – El Rey Theater *
September 25 – Tucson AZ – Plush *
October 13 – Reykjavik IS – Iceland Airwaves
October 15 – Stockholm SE – Strand
October 19 – Oslo NO – Mono
October 20 – Göteborg SE – Pustervik
October 21 – Malmo SE – Debaser
October 22 – Hamburg DE – Indra Club
October 23 – Berlin DE – Comet Club
October 25 – Cologne DE – Elektroküche
October 26 – Amsterdam NL – Paradiso
October 27 – Paris FR – Flèche D’or
October 28 – Lille FR – Ground Zero Festival
October 30 – Manchester UK – The Deaf Institute
November 2 – London UK – The Lexington   

* w/ Junior Boys

Toronto’s shape-shifting performer and visionary song-sculptor Slim Twig has released a string of new videos in support of his recent musical efforts for  Fat Cat imprint, Palmist Records, who will release a U.S. Girls/Slim Twig 12″ in North America on August 16th.  Watch Slim Twig’s self-directed video for ‘Priscilla’ here.  Southern Souls recently recorded an intimate live performance of ‘I’ll Always Be A Child’ which can be viewed here.  Both tracks will be available on the new 12″.

To showcase the new tunes and provide a glimpse of what we might expect on his next album currently being completed, Slim Twig will unveil his new band next month starting with a show Toronto’s Dakota Tavern on August 18th (full list of dates below).  Slim Twig’s second full-length album is scheduled for release in early 2012 on Paper Bag Records. While his work thus far has been dominated by a collage-based style of production — crate-digging and snatching moments of pre-recorded music for re-interpretation – Slim’s new project will emphasize live production with diverse instrumentation and an exciting list of collaborators on board.

Slim Twig’s artistic vision is born from a twisted landscape of pop and experimental music and avant-garde film. Besides his great hair, this vision has given many critics a lot to write about since being introduced with his two-part EP series, Derelict Dialect and Vernacular Violence. His debut album Contempt! was a self-made exercise in resourcefulness where Slim experimented with whatever he could get his hands on. It leaned decidedly towards an innovative pop sound that places sampling and found sound firmly at its core. The result, pairing the artist’s “switchblade-sharp lyrics” (NOW Magazine) with a rawer, sample-based aesthetic, was unpredictable and highly original. 

Tour Dates:
Aug 18 - Toronto, ON -  The Dakota Tavern with U.S. Girls & Sun Ra Ra Ra (Facebook) 
Aug 19 - London, ON –  Brennan’s Beer Bistro with U.S. Girls & Zacht Automaat 
Aug 20 - Peterborough, ON –  The Loft with U.S. Girls & Zacht Automaat

On the heels of the announcement that Free It Break has been included on the short list for the Polaris Music Prize, Austra are set to release of a new collection of remixes.  Sparkle will be available digitally on July 26th and on 12 inch vinyl August 23rd from Paper Bag Records.

Leading off Sparkle is a dark, pulsating remix of “Spellwork” from New York duo MNDR, available to stream/download here. Legendary producer Mark Pistel and one of DFA’s newest artists, Planningtorock, finish off side A with stellar remixes of “Lose It”. Side B opens with a straight up peak hour, club ready remix of “Beat and the Pulse” by Still Going and rounding out the 12 inch are remixes of “Beat and The Pulse” by Dutch deep-house producer/DJ Steffi, Berlin’s best kept secret Kool Thing. The digital release also features bonus remixes by label-mates Young Galaxy, Norway’s 120 Days and more Mark Pistel mixes.

Austra will be kicking off a North American tour with Cold Cave on July 21st, including shows in Victoria and Vancouver (full list of dates below).

Sparkle 12″ tracklist:
SIDE A
A1 Spellwork (MNDR Nighttime Remix)
A2 Lose It (Mark Pistel Dub Remix)
A3 Lose It (Planningtorock Remix)

SIDE B
B1 Beat and The Pulse (Still Going Remix)
B2 Beat and The Pulse (Steffi Bass-Break Dub Remix)
B3 Beat and The Pulse (Kool Thing Remix)
 
Sparkle Digital tracklist:
1 Spellwork (MNDR Nighttime Remix)
2 Lose It (Mark Pistel Dub Remix)
3 Lose It (Planningtorock Remix)
4 Beat and The Pulse (Still Going Remix)
5 Beat and The Pulse (Steffi Bass-Break Dub Remix)
6 Beat and The Pulse (Kool Thing Remix)
7 Lose It (120 Days Remix)
8 Lose It (Young Galaxy Remix)
9 Lose It (Mark Pistel Vocal Remix)
10 Lose It (Mark Pistel Funk Bass Remix)
 
Austra Tour Dates
July 14 New York NY – Pier 54^
July 16 Chicago IL – Empty Bottle
July 20 Victoria BC – Lucky Bar
July 21 Vancouver BC – Biltmore Cabaret*
July 22 Portland OR – Doug Fir*
July 23 Seattle WA – Capitol Hill Block Party
July 25 San Francisco CA – Great American Music Hall*
July 26 San Diego CA – The Casbah*
July 27 Los Angeles CA – Ukrainian Center*
July 29 Salt Lake City UT – Urban Lounge*
July 30 Denver CO – Bluebird Theatre*
July 31 Omaha NE – The Waiting Room*
Aug 01 St Louis MO – Firebird*
Aug 02 Cleveland OH – Grog Shop*
Aug 04 Washington DC – Rock and Roll Hotel*
Aug 05 Philadelphia PA – Voyeur*
Aug 06 New York NY – Bowery Ballroom*
^With tUnE-yArDs
*With Cold Cave

PS I Love You are excited to announce the release of Figure It Out (A Collection of Singles and EPs by PS I Love You).

The eleven-track collection will be released on August 30th and includes ‘Leftovers’, their recent single with pal Diamond Rings, and covers of Madonna and Rush. The band will be heading out on an extensive tour of North America in the fall (dates below). PS I Love You will complete the follow-up to the critically adored Meet Me At The Muster Station after returning to Kingston in November. 2011 has been a whirlwind year for PS I Love You.

After releasing their debut last fall the band have toured North America and Europe extensively. The have wowed audiences at SXSW, The Great Escape, M for Montreal, NXNE and Canadian Music Fest. The have also performed on George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight, Q with Jian Ghomeshi and cut sessions for KEXP, Daytrotter and XM Radio. Recently, Meet Me At The Muster Station was included on the Polaris Music Prize long list.

‘Figure It Out (A Collection of Singles and EPs by PS I Love You)’  Tracklisting:
Subtle And Majestic
Facelove (early version)
Scattered (early version)
Actually
Notes and Stuff
Starfield
Leftovers (+ Diamond Rings)
A-D
Mystery Shirt
Where’s The Party
Subdivisions
 
PS I Love You Tour Dates:
THU 7/07 – Ottawa ON – Ottawa Blues Festival
WED 7/13 – Hamilton ON – This Ain’t Hollywood
THU 7/14 – Madison WI – U of Wisc Madison Memorial Terrace
FRI 7/15 – Chicago IL – Schubas Tavern (Pitchfork Fest Afterparty)
SAT 7/30 – Montreal QC – Osheaga
SAT 8/06 – Kingston  ON – Wolfe Island Festival
SAT 9/03 Seattle WA – Bumbershoot Festival    
MON 9/05 Pullman WA – Bell Tower
WED 9/07 Victoria BC – Lucky Bar
THU 9/08 Vancouver BC – Electric Owl
FRI 9/09 Portland OR – Backspace
SAT 9/10 San Francisco CA – Hemlock
MON 9/12 Santa Barbara CA – Muddy Waters
TUE 9/13 San Diego CA – Casbah
THU 9/15 Los Angeles CA – Echo
SAT 9/17 Boise ID – Neurolux
TUE 9/20 Nelson BC – Hume
WED 9/21 Edmonton AB – Pawn Shop
THU 9/22 Calgary AB – SAIT
FRI 9/23 Saskatoon SK – Jale
SAT 9/24 Winnipeg MB – Royal Albert
SUN 9/25 Minneapolis MN – 7th Street
MON 9/26 Iowa City IA – Gabes Oasis
TUE 9/27 Chicago IL – Schubas
SAT 10/01 Toronto ON – Great Hall  
MON 10/03 Hamilton ON – This Ain’t Hollywood
TUE 10/04 London ON – Call The Office
WED 10/05 Ottawa ON – Mavericks
THU 10/06 Montreal QC – Il Motore
FRI 10/07 New York City NY – Mercury Lounge
SAT 10/08 Boston MA – Great Scott
MON 10/10 Washington DC – DC9 / Red Palace
TUE 10/11 Charlotte NC – Snug Harbour
WED 10/12 Atlanta GA – 529
THU 10/13 Orlando FL – Backbooth
SAT 10/15 Birmingham AL – Bottletree
MON 10/17 Durham NC – Motorco (small room)
TUE 10/18 Philadelphia PA – KFN
THU 10/20 Brooklyn NY – CMJ
SAT 10/29 Kingston ON – Grad Club

Paper Bag Records is excited to announce the signing of Cuff The Duke! The alt-country road-warriors are set to release their fifth album Morning Comes on October 4th.   The nine-track album was produced by Blue Rodeo‘s Greg Keelor and is the first part of a two part album.  Morning Comes includes upcoming single ‘Count On Me’ and an eight minute epic called ‘Bound To Your Advice’.  Cuff The Duke will be touring extensively after the album’s release.

“These albums are about dealing with loss of someone and the change that brings to one’s life,” says the band’s Wayne Petti.  “The confusion and loneliness that occurs at that point in someone’s life. Coming to grips with the reality of those things. By the end of this record we start to make peace with this and come to terms with it. All these songs are about that. They deal with a similar theme and emotion but still wondering in the back of our minds whether there will be a point to all of it. That’s what the second record will be about. Embracing what has happened and navigating down new roads. This album is the low and the next album will be the high.”

Cuff the Duke started out in Oshawa before making the move to Toronto in 2002. Their debut album, Life Stories For Minimum Wage was released on Three Gut Records, at the time one of the most exciting indie-labels in Canada. Their second and third albums, Cuff The Duke and Sidelines And The City respectively, were both released on Hardwood Records alongside label mates Basia Bulat and Hayden.  Their last album, Way Down Here was co-produced by Blue Rodeo’s Greg Keelor at his beautiful barn studio in rural Ontario.

We’re excited to announce the release of Elliott BROOD’s third full-length album, ‘Days Into Years’ in Canada on September 27th!  The album was produced by the band and John Critchley at Avening Town Hall and Park Side Drive Studios. The band will be touring extensively after the release – a set of existing dates can be found at the end of this update! 

Download album track ‘Northern Air’ here.

During their first European tour back in 2007, Elliott BROOD found themselves with five days to reach Barcelona from Amsterdam. They chose to take the back roads on the southward journey and they soon found themselves winding their way through the Belgian and French coastal landscapes. They were drawn to the picturesque seaside ports, quaint villages and secluded fields in the countryside, where they were compelled to stop and explore. They visited historical battlefields and cemeteries along the way, all culminating in an early morning stop at Juno Beach. Not until weeks later, caught in the midsummer Paris rush hour traffic, did the band begin to discuss the effects of that journey. As they reflected upon their experiences, they came to an understanding that they would one day write an album that was inspired and influenced by that five-day trip. Days Into Years is that album.

Elliott BROOD are Casey Laforet (acoustic guitar, electric guitar, bass pedals, bass guitar, mandolin, banjo, lap steel,vocals) Mark Sasso (banjo, guitar, harmonica, vocals) and Stephen Pitkin (percussion, drums, piano, vocals).

Elliott BROOD Days Into Years tracklisting:
Lindsay
Lines
If I Get Old
Hold You
Will They Bury Us?
West End Sky
Northern Air
My Mother’s Side
Owen Sound
Their Will 

Tour Dates:
June 24 Ottawa Jazz Festival – Ottawa, ON
July 16-17 Vancouver Folk Festival – Vancouver, BC
July 28 George Street Festival – St.John’s, NF
August 1 Centennial Park – Canmore, AB
August 2 Spirit Bar at the Hume Hotel – Nelson, BC
August 3 Cactus Jacks Saloon – Kamloops, BC
August 4 Garibaldi Lift Company – Whistler, BC
August 5-7 Pickathon Festival – Happy Valley, OR
August 20 Annex Park – Fernie, BC

Paper Bag Records is super proud to announce that four of its artists are included on the Polaris Prize Longlist! And yesterday, Sean Wainsteim picked up a ‘Director of the Year’ MMVA for his stunning work on You Say Party’s Lonely’s Lunch video.

Paper Bag Records artists on this year’s Polaris Long List:

Austra – Feel It Break
PS I Love You – Meet Me At The Muster Station
The Rural Alberta Advantage – Departing
Young Galaxy – Shapeshifting

Congratulations to the artists and Sean Wainsteim!

If you haven’t seen the video for Lonely’s Lunch yet, make sure to catch it below:

At long last, the icy grip of winter loosens! To celebrate the beginning of patio season, the Paper Bag Records gang has released a summer sampler! The sampler features 7 of our most sun-ready tracks from our recent and upcoming albums, and can be downloaded via Facebook. The tracklisting below links to videos for your viewing pleasure!

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE PBR SUMMER SAMPLER

 Tracklisting
 1. Austra – Lose It
2. Young Galaxy – We Have Everything
3. Johan Agebjörn - Watch The World Go By
4. Winter Gloves – Dancing My Heart Out
5. PS I Love You – Facelove
6. The Rural Alberta Advantage – Stamp
7. Elliott BROOD – Northern Air

We know that summer also means festival season, and a whole slew of our artists are taking part in festivals both here and abroad! Check out all appearances below – regular tour dates follow.

2011 SUMMER FESTIVAL DATES

Austra
Jul 10 – Rimini – Sant’Arcangelo di Romagna Festival
Oct 12-16 – Reykjavik – Iceland Airwaves Festival
Oct 28-30 – Asheville, NC – Moogfest 

PS I Love You
Jun 16 – Toronto ON – Horseshoe Tavern – NxNE
Jun 18 – Madrid – Dia de la Musica Festival
Jul 07 – Ottawa, ON – Ottawa Blues Festival
Jul 30 - Montreal QC – Osheaga
Aug 06 – Kingston, ON – Wolfe Island Festival
Sep 03 – Seattle, WA – Bumbershoot Festival
Sep 09 – Portland, OR – Backspace - Music Fest NW

The Rural Alberta Advantage
Jul 24 – Guelph, ON – Hillside Festival
Jul 29 – Montreal, QC – Osheaga
Aug 20 – Calgary, AB – XFest Calgary (Fort Calgary)
Aug 27/28 – Ottawa, ON – Ottawa Folk Festival

Winter Gloves
Jul 14 – Ottawa, ON – Ottawa Blues Fest

Young Galaxy
Oct 12-16 – Reykjavik – Iceland Airwaves Festival

Due to the ongoing Canada Post strike, please expect delays on shop orders – if you need more information shoot us an e-mail at info@paperbagrecords.com. Thanks!

The Last Day Of Summer, the newest single comes off of Johan Agebjörn’s recent album, Casablanca Nights. The producer, best known as the producer and songwriter behind italo-disco sensation Sally Shapiro, has teamed up with Ercola and Queen Of Hearts to produce this pop gem. The single features remixes by Le Matos, Le Prix, Ercola and Dreamtrak Diamond Sound.

For a limited time, you can download the remix by Le Matos on Soundcloud

Click here to order the single on the Paper Bag Records Online Shop

Just in time for the release comes a video for The Last Day Of Summer. Styled by Oliver Vaughn, the video depicts Queen of Hearts in a top notch array of high end couture. She is featured in looks by haute couture German designer Furne One, Tomasz Starzewski, who made some of the most famous dresses for Princess Diana, Rachel Freire,who has designed pieces for massive artists such as Rihanna, Britta Kjerkegaard, one of the most established couture and bridal designers in London, and upcoming designer Ksenia G.