Protovulcan share their new “Life Is Twigs” video as well as news about the band’s upcoming record release show this week…
It sure has been a big year for Chicago’s favorite acid punks, Protovulcan. Will MacLean and crew dropped their Psychic Pinball LP this past February, and not only did the record include contributions from legendary synth pioneer Malcolm Cecil of TONTO’s Expanding Head Band, but Tortoise members Dan Bitney and John McEntire also both made contributions to the record. With remixes from Anticon label founder Odd Nosdam and Chicago’s Oscillator Bug to round things out, it was definitely a smokin’ affair.
As if that isn’t enough, though, Protovulcan is now currently readying their second long-player of the year, Life Is Twigs (Midwest Action Records). The band will celebrate in the Windy City this week with a record release show on May 29th at The Emporium, and the bill includes local favorites Diagonal and Speed Babes. Additionally, the group has a new video directed by Russel Foltz-Smith for the album’s title track.
In further Protovulcan news, the group reports they have also been in development with an as-of-yet undisclosed technology giant in an effort to create a portable Edison Blue Amberol Record Cylinder player. While the hurdles in developing the technology have been massive and preliminary interest in the product has been slim to marginal, the design team has remained unfazed. The group recently sat down with our own Groovy Dumpster to discuss all this news. You can read their interchange below, as well as watch the new “Life Is Twigs” video.
GD: You recently released your LP Life is Twigs on Edison Blue Amberol Record Cylnder. Can you tell us more?
Answer: Sales of vinyl records have reached all-time highs, and sales of cassettes have more than quadrupled in that past couple years. So, we were trying to anticipate the next vintage medium, ride the wave before everyone else, and possibly corner the market. And we figure Edison Blue Amberol Record Cylinders are the next exciting thing in obsolete sound media. You know so behind-the-time we’d be ahead-of-the-times. Like real visionaries.
GD: So, what exactly is an Edison Blue Amberol Record Cylinder?
Answer: Well, it’s kind of a tube that makes noise. I guess the closest thing we have to it now is PVC pipe, where The Blue Man Group hits plastic pipes with shoes to make music. Only, Edison Blue Amberol Record Cylinders have actual grooves, where you put actual needles, and they actually spin around. They are more like vinyl records in that respect so the marketing people put “Record” in the name, so people wouldn’t confuse them with PVC pipes.
GD: And how did the Edison Blue Amberol release go?
Answer: We played an in-store release show at Vex Trex Records on Edison Blue Amberol Record Cylinder Store Day, more popularly known as EBARCSD. We knew we were in for trouble when we saw crowds with signs saying “Vinyl is PURE! Edison Blue Amberol Record Cylinders are SHOITE!” and “Up with CASSETTES! Down with Edison Blue Amberol Record Cylinders!” I mean, the place was full of cassette tape and vinyl purists, and man, were they angry! They were chanting “AMBEROL SUCKS! AMBEROL SUCKS!” And we only got about halfway through the first song, when they stormed the merch table and smashed our whole inventory of Edison Blue Amberol Record Cylinders. It was sick! They rioted–unspooled cassette tape streaming everywhere, smashed up bits of Blue Amberol. We barely escaped with our lives!!
To celebrate, Protovulcan has released a video for the song “Life is Twigs” directed by Savant-Gardist Russel Foltz-Smith:
Protovulcan plays a release show for the CD and Cassette versions of Life is Twigs on May 29 at The Emporium Wicker Park with Diagonal and Speed Babes ? Free:
https://emporiumchicago.com/event/diagonal-protovulcan-speed-babes/
You can preorder Life is Twigs on Cassette or CD at Midwest Action Records:
Cassette: https://midwestaxn.com/product/life-is-twigs-by-protovulcan/
CD: https://midwestaxn.com/product/life-is-twigs-by-protovulcan-cd/
