Some Bad News & Some Good News

Sadly, while the Pledge Music campaign has been more than successful, I Like Trains have withdrawn the vinyl box set planned to coincide with their upcoming album release, He Who Saw the Deep. The set was to contain all previous releases as well as the new album and a collection of b-sides and rarities. Very disappointing to see this had to go, but it just wasn’t generating enough support. Go make them (and yourself) feel better about things by pledging your support and staking your claim on one of the items still available. Fingers crossed the box set will come to fruition in the not too distant future.

Speaking of the capacity to make great music projects happen, Contraphonic have just started a campaign via Kickstarter in order to expand their Chicago Sound Series to New York, Pittsburgh, Atlanta and various other cities. If you want to know what it’s all about, Contraphonic explain it all quite succintly:

“Since the launch of the Contraphonic Chicago Sound Series – our attempt to create a portrait of Chicago through the medium of sound – we here at ContraHQ have always harbored secret ambitions to aurally map out other cities as well. In our continuing effort to document how people interact with their surroundings sonically“

Here’s hoping this project is fully realised, as you can see the target is a fair way off yet but I can’t think of a more unique and intriguing way to tour America without ever leaving home.

S4E

I Like Trains – Pledge Your Support

I Like Trains (formerly stylised iLiKETRAiNS) are getting set to release their new album via their own newly founded label ILR, as well as embarking on a tour. While most artists can (or will) say “we coudn’t have done it without the fans” at some point, this new project really does need fan support to make sure it happens.

Announced a couple of weeks ago now, the project neared 100% of its target within the first 12 hours over at Pledge Music – a site dedicated to getting projects like this up and running. Pledges for the I Like Trains project is now hovering just below 150% – a great response from dedicated fans.

Of course, that doesn’t mean you can’t still get involved and make sure you reserve your copy of the new album, He Who Saw the Deep. As well as offering the standard fare, there are a number of exclusive options still up for grabs, such as playing Alistair at Scrabble, signed drum sticks, a guitar lesson with Dave, and – if you’ve got the £’s – an executive production credit on the album itself. Not to mention a super-sweet looking vinyl box set, which contains all their previous releases (including The Christmas Tree Ship – one of my favourites), the new album and a b-sides and rarities collection.

Unfortunately, my plight is much the same as many others; i.e. really want the vinyl box set, but I have to make do with a signed CD. Not that that’s anything to complain about. I seriously recommend those who can sign on for the vinyl, as it will surely be something to treasure.

Here’s what iLT have to say about their new album:

“Our new album ‘He Who Saw the Deep’ is written, recorded and ready to see the light of day. It is a progression from what has gone before it. Whilst still very much an I LIKE TRAINS record, we have taken this chance to re invent. There is light and shade, hope and devastation, and we are taking a look at where we are heading instead of where we have been.”

If that’s not enough to convince, you can find out more info as well as listen to a couple of new tracks by clicking that big button at the top and heading over to the I Like Trains Pledge Music profile. Exclusive content is available to all pledgers.

S4E