Artists

• TOUR DATES for zum artists

• zum audio releases are carried by many stores and distributors including Carrot Top, Tonevendor, Darla, K Records, Revolver, Scratch (Canada), Stickfigure, Subterranean, Rhythm Online (UK), Forte (UK), Kill Rock Stars , Ooga Booga (LA), Family (LA), Aquarius Records (SF), Sound Fix (NY), 1-2-3-4 Go (Oakland), Amoeba (Berkeley, SF, LA), Jackpot (Portland), Eclipse , and Amazon.
• To order directly from ZUM (we definitely encourage this!), check out the ZUM Store
  

Mincemeat Or Tenspeed

"No synthesizers, samplers, sequencers, drum machines, computers, musical instruments." Right in the liner notes for "Strange Gods," Philadelphia's David Harms has turned his methodology into an ideological stance. Using solely effects pedals and a mixer, Harms started Mincemeat Or Tenspeed as a recording project that became a live entity in 2006. Harms began making rhythmic and melodic adjustments out of a feedback circuit with effects pedals, abandoning guitar altogther. Labor-intensive trial and error lead to a compositional approach that some mistake for pure improvisation.
The essence of this music then is partly its means of production, though in a live setting its rhythmic throb has started plenty of moshpits. Having toured with modern music weirdos like Nero's Day At Disneyland, Social Junk, Foot Village, and Drums Like Machine Guns (with whom he shares a split 12") and shared stages with Black Dice, Parts and Labor, Extreme Animals, and USAISAMONSTER over the past three years, Harms imbues Mincemeat Or Tenspeed with a hardcore work ethic that's earned him a cult following (Dan Deacon is a supporter and has booked Harms at Whartscape three years running). "Strange Gods" is an evolution of sorts, letting the tones ride our more than previous efforts, a continuation of a process begun with records like the "All Critters" 12" (Deathbomb Arc), or this year's double CDR "Manifest Wizard." As the first "official" Mincemeat Or Tenspeed CD release, the seven (and a half) tracks here set the bar for "maximal minimalism", post-apocalyptic chirps and whirrs shifting and coalescing, cresting and searching for catharsis where none may be coming. Reminiscent of "a smart ass take on Steve Reich" (Z Gun) or even the synth-scuzz of Mr. Brinkman, Mincemeat Or Tenspeed is keeping it real whilst making experimental music uniquely accessible through the simplicity of its principles. A forthcoming collaboration with Dan Friel (Parts and Labor) is also in the works. Album artwork by Mark Price, edition of 1000 CDs, full color jewel case.

High Castle

One-sided 12" EP. High Castle is your older brother's favorite band, assuming he grew up on a steady diet of '90s underground rock. They produce a viscous byproduct of the jams you grew up on dragged through a record collection's worth of sludge and muck. Once you decide to bring it, that's kinda the only way to go. The "You're on Your Own Way" EP is the debut record for the trio of Erin Allen (Child Pornography, Work), Shaggy Denton (Hips, Saboteurs), and Wilson Drozdowski (Duchesses, Woman's Worth), a culmination of songs road tested on summer 2008 US tour and written post-New Year's hallucinations. Songs about garbage strikes, astral projection, lonely security guards, hedonism, dropping out, meditation, injustice, misplaced hearts...and more. In a short life span the band has played shows with such highlights of the American/Candian underground as Abe Vigoda, Shearing Pinx, Strip Mall Seizures, and USAISAMONSTER if that gives you an idea of their neighborhood. Seven short bursts of salvation, pressing of 500, mastered by Weasel Walter. Two color silkscreened covers by Paul Morgan (Club Sandwich, Business Lady).
"I feel like I'm back in ear-bleeding country with the trio's Unwound-ishly, damaged style of noisy rock, nursing an insatiable appetite for more tinfoil-scorched guitar scuzz, blown-out low end, and full-tilt drum thwackage. As each song unloads, three howling voices punctuate the maelstrom...Whatever avenue this threesome decides to explore in the future — be it noisesome or poppy — I know I'll be all ears." - Chris Sabbath, SF Bay Guardian

Silentist

We have been fans of Silentist since hearing the first EP, 'Nightingales', and Zum released a solo piano recording from Silentist pianist/drummer Mark Evan Burden shortly thereafter. While Silentist maintains a strong modern classical influence, the band is usually more likely to drag the complexities of classical or experimental composition into the harsh void of grind, punk, metal and whatever else in between with relentless intensity. The mixing of high and low concept, beauty and repulsion, intellect and brutality serves as the drive for the music, arranged for piano, complex drumming, bass, and oscillators by Burden and howling vocals courtesy of August Alston (Pig Heart Transplant, Lords of Light, Society of Friends). After three CD EPs, Silentist has just released it’s first full length on their own Celestial Gang imprint, a self-titled LP that made a few top ten lists of 2008 and has been described as “Nancarrow or Reich with blast beats” (Ed Rodriguez of Deerhoof, Flying Luttenbachers). The Tunnel 7” comes from the same recording sessions, led by ‘The Tunnel’, a disturbing and propulsive two minute exercise in brutal mechanical repetition, and followed by the drum/vocal blast of 'Supernatural Barriers' and the more psychedelic fury of ‘Paralytic’. Recorded with Jeremy Romagna (Jonny X and the Groadies) at Type Foundry.
Zum025 pressing of 500 on black vinyl, full color jackets.
'Portland's Mark Burden is technically a "multi-instrumentalist," but even that open-ended term seems too narrow. Once the organist for Get Hustle and the drummer for Glass Candy, he began Silentist as a solo project in which he sang and played piano, bass, and drums. Now a trio with singer August Alston and bassist Dustin Ferris, Silentist makes music as genre-hopping as Burden's resume. Bombastic and unruly, their tunes cram together modern classical, Boredoms-style noise-punk, and dark-metal throb. It's all topped by Alston's howls, which evoke Pruient's Dominick Fernow (perhaps not coincidentally, Alston and Fernow both hail from Madison, Wisconsin-- there must be something in the Ed Gein-infested water there). On "The Tunnel", the first track on their new three-song 7", Silentist gets their point across quickly and succinctly. Burden's piano pounds heavily and his drums flail frantically, but it's Alston who gives the song its high blood pressure. His blunt screams-- "I live in a tunnel/ It smells like shit!"-- whip the track into a fury, making it seem even shorter than its lean two-minute runtime.' - Marc Masters, Pitchfork

The Weird Weeds

The Weird Weeds debut album from 2004 only existed in CDR form on Edition Manifold and Digitalis recordings. For the past five years the Austin, TX band has toured extensively and released three albums. Lovingly reissued by Zum, "Hold Me" is now available in a limited pressing on black vinyl, packaged in a screened chipboard cover with all new artwork by Lauren Pakradooni. "Hold Me" is also unique in that it's the only recorded document of The Weird Weeds' original 4-piece lineup that included Kurt Newman on lead guitar. The album is evidence that very early in their existence The Weird Weeds had developed a unique approach to songwriting that they've been honing and refining ever since. The core trio is Aaron Russell (Nitre Pit), Sandy Ewen (collaborator with Tom Carter in Spiderwebs), and Nick Hennies (percussionist who has performed with Jandek and Arnold Dreyblatt). Recently featured as a cover story in the Austin Chronicle, Weird Weeds have garnered much love from sources such as Drowned In Sound and Stereogum.
Zum024 pressing of 300.

Child Abuse / Zs

Child Abuse have several releases such as their full-length on Love Pump and a split 7" with Octis (Mick Barr) but we first knew of their Bay Area projects prior to relocating to NY. Oran Canfield (soon-to-be-celebrated memoirist) was in Dig That Body Up...It's Alive and Optimists International (as well as rolling in Murder Murder and numerous others). Luke Calzonetti played in Meths, ABK, and Sheath prior to starting up Child Abuse. After a series of drums and keyboard recordings, they added bassist Tim Dahl and the prog-fused assault went up a significant notch. This 7" includes a version of a Dolphy tune "Hat and Beard" along with the synth squak of "Conversations". Bits of Goblin and the Locust blasted through the 8th dimension if you grok.
Zs have enchanted and confounded in their many incarnations (mirrored sextet replete with sheet music stands, quartet, and now trio) since their 2000 naissance as composition students in Manhattan. Output has run the gamut of modern day guiding lights such as Troubleman Unlimited, Planaria, Gilgongo, and 31G. "In My Dream I Shot A Monk" harkens to a vintage mid '00s Zs sound that dovetails nicely with their current output, a beyond aggro vocal workout with epic man-angst you can smell in the grooves. Beyond stoked for this long-awaited balldrop.
Zum022 is in a black vinyl pressing of 500. Cover artwork from John Dwyer (ex-Tender and the Loins).

Scary Mansion

When Leah Hayes accompanies her fragile, cracking voice with the thunderstick, the result is reminiscent of Harry Smith Anthology folk: simple, breaking, and humble. When running it through a distortion pedal, the noisy, feedback-y texture is closer to Royal Trux or Sonic Youth. Leah Hayes's melodies are always beautifully wrought and melancholy, and her voice has the expressiveness and simplicity of Will Oldham or Cat Power. Scary Mansion has toured with Kyp Malone of TV On The Radio, and sings on the critically-acclaimed "Return to Cookie Mountain". Earlier in her career, she was half of the noise-rock duo Satan's Fingers, along with frontman David Ivar of the group Herman Dune. Every Joke Is Half the Truth (zum023) is Scary Mansion's debut album.

Abe Vigoda / Mikaela's Fiend

Abe Vigoda have toured the US multiple times, earning accolades from all corners (The Fader, Paper Thin Walls, Chicago Reader) and spreading their hybridized version of punk to the basement faithful. "World Heart" brings the Chino, CA quartet's ambition and melodic invention to the next level. They have albums out on OlFactory and Post Present Medium, along with numerous 7"s.
Mikaela's Fiend have been wowing basements and youth centers since forming as teenagers in 2003. Cousins Chris Ando and Donnie Shoemaker utilize a blast of woolly processed guitar and Shoemaker's herculean beats. Their early 7"s sold quickly on legendary live shows and word of mouth, leading to an album "We Can Driving Machine" on Strictly Amateur Films. Their most recent recorded output is a split EP with Twin (fka King Cobra, ex-NEED).
Zum021 had one black vinyl pressing of 500 with covers screened and designed by Matt Hart (Thisposterwillselfdestruct). The second pressing in November 2008 had offset covers and an edition of 300 7"s on mixed colored vinyl.

zum audio vol.3

In the works for a year, this collection is the culmination of what Zum Audio has been brewing under, some selected from demos of promising upstarts and others semi-establishment or soon-to-become-so stunners.
Tracks from Channels 3 & 4, Beak Full of Rubies, Coughs, Child Abuse, John Wiese, Silver Daggers, Lakes (Australia), TG (France), Huts (Nathan Burazer of Tussle), Antifamily (UK, featuring Agnese Trocchi on vocals), KIT, Micose and the Mau Maus, Stefan Udell, Axolotl, Bromp Treb, We Quit, Can't, Deerhoof, My Little Red Toe, Dim Diamond, Yellow Swans, Shoplifting, and Ghost to Falco. Mastering by Weasel Walter, cover artwork collaboration by George Chen and Lart Cognac Berliner in a gatefold sleeve from Pinball Press in Portland.

Zum Audio Volume 3, $10.00 CD

Growing / Mark Evan Burden

Growing are well-known to experimental music audiences for their albums on the venerable Kranky imprint and Michigan's Animal Disguise. The duo of Kevin Doria and Joe Denardo have toured Europe and Australia and played at All Tomorrow's Parties UK. Their amalgam of doom, drone, and ambient music has been compared to the minimalist works of Birchville Cat Motel, LaMonte Young, and Brian Eno. This recording, "Firmament", is from a 2002 session.
Mark Evan Burden's solo recording is a beautiful composition of electronics and piano. His 15 minute piece is a roiling, percussive powerhouse that conjures up John Cage and Conlon Nancarrow. The Portland, OR-based musician and Alaska native was formerly the organist for Get Hustle (31G) and drummer for Glass Candy. He releases albums on his own Celestial Gang label under the moniker Silentist, an exploration of the heavier side of his compositional interests with drums, guitar, and piano.
Vinyl of this release came out in 2006 through This Generation Tapes from Southern California. The CD is also available in Europe via Heroin Records with alternate artwork.

Growing / Mark Evan Burden, $8.00 CD

p:ano

Vancouver's P:ano's Nick Krgovich and Larissa Loyva have been playing together since 1999. Their debut release, When It's Dark and It's Summer (zum014/hfr001) was recorded at and co-released by Hive Studios , home to many Vancouver greats. Same goes with their amazing follow-up, The Den, with main recording sessions at the Western Front. Both albums feature prominent Vancouver musicians like Veda Hille and Torston Muller and members of Beans, Gaze, Standing Wave and Black Mountain. They have contributed songs to Acuarela Songs 2 and the accompanying CD to the book Sunny, as well as a remix for Radio Berlin's Sister Sounds. P:ano side-projects include Burquitlam Plaza, Boring, Secret Three, Parks and Rec, Micronice, To Bad Catholics, and A Luna Red. They've played with the Microphones/Mount Eerie, Album Leaf, American Analog Set, Architecture in Helsinki, Casiotone for the Painfully Alone, Timonium, Blood Brothers, Xiu Xiu, Divine Comedy, and Pedro the Lion. Listen to songs from their zum/hive-fi releases on New Music Canada . They've most recently put out a full-length on Vancouver's Mint Records, Brigadoon, and the EP Ghost Pirates Without Heads, to much praise. Since Larissa's departure from P:ano, Krgovich and company have refocused on the band No Kids.

P:ano - The Den, $11.00 CD

P:ano - When It's Dark and It's Summer, $9.00 CD [ Out of Stock ]

The Lowdown

The Lowdown from Santa Cruz, CA, follow up their much beloved Revolver II with the sandblast sounds of Y is a Crooked Letter (zum015). This sophomore album is chock full (16 tracks) of the unstable psychedelic sounds and dance punk that have become the calling card of the Lowdown. Combining woodland magic and busted electronics since 1997. Other band affiliations include St. Joseph and the Abandoned Food, Whysp, Art Museums, Sic Alps, and Comets on Fire. Read an interview with the group in the SF Bay Guardian . Other reviews: Portland Mercury, Blastitude.

Lowdown - Y Is a Crooked Letter, $10.00 CD

Wives/K.I.T.

Wives from Los Angeles were one of the most exciting byproducts of young America circa 2002, comprised of folks from Rotophone, the Jews, and Neon King Kong. They released a full-length on Cold Sweat, toured America several times and Europe once before disbanding. Dean Spunt and Randy Randall have taken on the world as No Age since 2006. K.I.T. are from Oakland and play fast and short because that's what they are. Split 7" with Deerhoof out on Narnack's Buddy Series. Members of KIT are also in other bands. Hand-screened covers with artwork by Kim West (Crack:We Are Rock) in a pressing of 500, co-released with post present medium. KIT also has a full-length, "Broken Voyage" on London's Upset the Rhythm.

Wives/K.I.T. 7" SOLD OUT [ try here ]

The Intima

The Intima hail from Portland/Olympia and have crafted an angular masterpiece in their No Lullaby for Sleep CD EP (zum011). The four-piece of brothers Andrew (guitars/vocals) and Alex (drums, ex-Nova Scotia), Nora (violin/vocals), and Themba (bass) intelligently punk it up with jagged walls of sound. This seven-song EP was recorded at the legendary AVAST! studio in Seattle and is equal parts tension, violin stabs, and social acuity. They've got a 7" on Postpresentmedium, a track on the Troubleman Mix-Tape, and a live EP called Under the Wire on Yo Yo Recordings. We co-released the vinyl for their new full-length album, Peril and Panic.

The Intima - Peril and Panic, $9.00 LP

The Intima - No Lullaby for Sleep, $7.00 CD

Beans

Over the past seven years, Beans have gained growing recognition. They take improv sketches of profound beauty and simplicity into a realm that is distinctly theirs. Described by some as the best working band in Canada, the Beans have released the well-received Portage full-length ( Zulu) and 2000's Tired Snow EP (zum009). The five members of this Vancouver collective seamlessly blend spontaneity with studio mastery. Their latest full-length, Crane Wars (zum012-LP and CD), nests in the overlap between the organic and inorganic, technology and nature. There are clashes and closure between samples, clarion trumpet, guitars, accordion, vocals, piano and beats. Melodic explorations and textural nuances catch your breath like anything that is beautiful and inexplicable. The group performed for 48 Hours straight. They've also been commissioned to perform a site specific composition for New Music Vancouver. Listen to songs from both their zum releases on New Music Canada .

Beans - Crane Wars $9.00 CD [ Out of Stock ]

Beans - Crane Wars $9.00 LP

Total Shutdown / Boxleitner

Total Shutdown and Boxleitner have joined forces for zum's latest 7" (zum013), a co-release with our Olympia buddies Thin the Herd (The Lowdown, Enemymine) on glorious white vinyl. Decadent. Total Shutdown feature former members of Fisticuffs Bluff and Henry's Dress and current members of Ee. The chaotic mutterings of Bob Linder, Paul Costuros, and Nate Denver are augmented live by horns, drum kit mutilation, keyboard bashing and audience shelter-seeking. This is their first wax, though they have a one-sided 12" out on Thin the Herd, a 7" on Life is Abuse, and a track on the Troubleman Mix-Tape compilation. Boxleitner (barely) contained members of Megaweapon, Chync, Jedi Youth League, Sofatu Fiery, and the Petticoats (with guest appearances by members of Mates of State, District 17, Shove, and The Intima). Boxleitner have been described as "motivational speaker core," "mediocore," and "short." Members have gone on to the Silents, Jim Yoshii Pile-Up , K.I.T., 7 Year Rabbit Cycle, and Yellow Swans . listen to an MP3 of Boxleitner's "Oereo"

Nuzzle

zum, in conjunction with Sound on Sound, is proud to bring you the CD anthology of Nuzzle's out-of-print vinyl releases. Junk of Myth '92-'95 (zum008/SND-4) combines the Follow for Now LP (originally on Youth Strike Chord), three 7"s (with recordings by Gravity Records honcho Matt Anderson), and bonus unreleased tracks, all re-mixed and re-mastered from their original sources. Nuzzle's legacy has been chronicled in appearances at the first Yo Yo a Go Go, KXLU live compilation, a tribute to the Minutemen, and affiliation with other "Summer of '94" peers like Fisticuffs Bluff, Mohinder, Lync, Los Cincos, and Evergreen. They released a great full-length on Troubleman Unlimited called San Lorenzo's Blues (read Salon's review). We have also re-introduced their "No Más" 7" (zum003), co-released with Sound on Sound (California Lightening, New Brutalism) and Yakamashi (Aislers Set, Slumber Party). The band has regrouped as The Dying Californian and have an ep out on Turn Records .

Nuzzle - Junk of Myth $10.00 CD

Nuzzle - No Más $4.00 7"

OutHud / !!!

Sacramento/New York-transplants of sibling dub/funk outfits OutHud and !!! offer a side each as part of GSL's LAB remix series (zum007/GSL026). This record has been reissued on CD format. !!! are now on Touch and Go.

Members of !!! have played with the Yahmos, Pope Smashers, Sweaty Vibrant, Free Blood, Plants, and Cake. Molly and Phyllis of OutHud were also in Berkeley punk legends Raooul so very long ago. OutHud also have an out of print 7" on Don Godwin's Red Alert Works and several albums on Kranky.

OutHud/!!! split $8.00 CD

Giardini di Mirò

The U.S. debut from Giardini di Mirò . GdM started in 1996 in Cavriago (Reggio Emilia), reaching its current line-up in early '98. With two releases on Italian label Gamma Pop Records and European shows with bands like Unwound, Karate, and Godspeed You Black Emperor! under their belts, they are ready to share their music with America. They have a new full-length, Rise and Fall of Academic Drifting, out in Europe on Homesleep Records and tons of remixes.

Giardini Di Mirò - self-titled $8.00 CD

Sea Scouts

We are very pleased that Sea Scouts' "Word as a Weapon" 7" (zum005) is now available from us. You can also order their second album, Beacon of Hope (zum004), and their first album re-released on CD, Pattern Recognition. The Sea Scouts are a stunning group from Tasmania in the vein of early Sonic Youth/Unwound. We're happy to make all their releases available to the States.

Sea Scouts - Word as a Weapon $3.00 7"

zum audio vol.2

You've heard about it and here it is. The comp that firmly established Zum on the audio map. Check out the stellar line-up: Aerial M (Dave Pajo of Slint and Zwan), Ativin, Bunkbed, Allen Clapp, Dianogah, Duster, Grandaddy, I Am Spoonbender (their first official release!), Jakarta (members of Winfred E Eye), Modest Mouse, The Mondo Crescendo (f.k.a. Juniper), My Favorite, Paul Newman (members of American Analog Set), P.E.E., Rex, Doug Shepherd, Slower Than (members of Swords Project), Songs:Ohia, Sterling Silver (members of Drop Science), Windsor for the Derby, and Jen Wood. This is an excellent compilation full of top-notch tracks.

Zum Audio Vol. 2 $10 CD

Last updated February 1, 2010. [ edit this page ]

© 2010 ZUM Media. All rights reserved.