signal hill

hi everyone!

hope this finds you all doing well :) things have been moving along quite nicely in the signal hill camp(s). since our last update, we all got to hang together in NYC (second time in 6 months!). not only did we get to play a great show with our pals north end, calls, and new friends no grave like the sea, but we also got to spend a few days refining the songs for our new album. many thanks to all who were able to make it out for the show. felt good to be playing live again!

here’s the setlist we played:

additionally, we are thrilled to report that we have pretty much solidified the new tunes, and are pretty darn close to begin recording. at this point we are targeting a late spring/early summer recording session (subject to change!), likely back at the compound with friends jeff lewis and patrick murphy. there’s not a target launch date yet, but certainly it will be out this year.

the new record will be called “chase the ghost” and the tentative tracklist, in no particular order (also subject to change!) is:

• the fantastic hours
• collide us
• corners
• the pacific northeast
• bauhaus balconies
• van gogh sky
• untitled tune
• chase the ghost
• test trains

we are excited to begin sharing these new tunes with you (all songs are new with the exception of van gogh sky, which was initially on our split 7” with all india radio). here’s a super short clip from dave’s phone of us working on “corners”.

also, while we are all together tracking the new album, we just might have to do a show in the LA area..been far too long. hoping we can find the time to squeeze in a show, we will definitely keep you posted!

that’s about it for now, but you will definitely be hearing more from us in the very near future!

thanks for listening and for your continued support!

your friends,

signal hill

p.s. want more frequent nonsensical updates, follow us on facebook and or twitter!

(photo by pamela masters)

wow, cannot believe 2011 is coming to a close! that might be the same opening we use at the end of every one of these year-end posts, but it’s true! it was a great year, and we cannot thank you all enough for your support!

some 2011 highlights for us

• getting together and doing our first ever east coast shows. not to mention, the only time we all got to hang out together this year. it was just like old times, a bunch of nonsense, with a group of really good friends. thank you all who were able to make it to one of the shows, help set one up, and/or told friends to come! we met a lot of new friends and saw some really great bands.

• writing and recording a new song (bi-coastally) called “van gogh sky”, which we released as a limited edition split 7” with our friends all india radio. there are still a few copies remaining which you can order here! the all india radio song on the split, “rippled” has an amazing video which you should definitely see:

• 2011 also saw the release of a cover of the song the radiator (by ida) as part of the “more hope for japan” compilation. we were incredibly honored to participate in this project, with the proceeds all going to support relief efforts for japan. 37 bands, 37 tracks, available via digital download or physical release in the form of a strictly limited edition (100 copies) 4 disc cd set! stream our tune along with the other 36 jams here: http://morehopeforjapan.com/stream_the_entire_album/

2011 was also a year of some really fantastic music, hence the unavoidable: a top albums and tracks lists from us. but before we get into that, a couple of quick notes regarding what’s next to come.

early plans for next year

mid-feb, the west coast branch will join the folks in the east coast office to finish fine tuning the songs for the new album. at this point, we are looking to begin recording in april and hopefully launching a late summer release! more to come on that. we thought while all together, we might as well play another show! friday feb 17 @ don pedro’s in brooklyn, with north end, calls, and alcian – rsvp by going to the facebook event

lastly, our sincere gratitude for your continued support. warm wishes, season’s greetings, happy holidays etc. with love, signal hill

our top albums and tracks all in no particular order.

brian

top albums

1. owen – ghost town
2. blue scholars - cinemetropolis
3. beware of safety – leaves/scars
4. tycho - dive
5. m83 – hurry up, we are dreaming
6. helios - unleft
7. silian rail - (acoustic music)
8. the drift - blue hour
9. the sea and cake - moonlight butterfly
10. sleepmakeswaves - …and so we destroyed everything

top tracks

1. m83 - steve mcqueen
2. tycho - a walk
3. brothertiger - feel
4. the water - elf storage
5. gorillaz - on melancholy hill
6. all india radio - ripple
7. owen - an animal
8. owen - i believe
9. arms & sleepers - kepesh
10. blue scholars – cinemetropolis

tim

top albums

1. ben howard – every kingdom
2. tycho - dive
3. white denim - d
4. the antlers – burst apart
5. iron & wine - kiss each other clean
6. motorcycle diaries - soundtrack, gustavo santaolalla
7. the north end - atlantica
8. beware of safety - leaves/scars
9. the besnard lakes - are the roaring night

top tracks

1. ben howard – lonely pine
2. ben howard - black flies
3. white denim - burnished
4. white denim - anvil everything
5. m83 - intro (ft. zola jesus)
6. iron & wine – walking far from home
7. iron & wine – godless brother in love
8. iron & wine - me and lazarus
9. the besnard lakes- like the ocean, like the innocent; pt. 2 the innocent
10. gustavo santaolalla - leyendo en el hospital, the motorcycle diaries soundtrack

rishi

top albums

1. real estate - days
2. washed out - within and without
3. bibio - mind bokeh
4. owen - ghost town
5. the weeknd - house of balloons
6. craft spells - idle labor
7. the antlers - burst apart
8. tycho - dive
9. destroyer - kaputt
10. beach fossils - what a pleasure (ep)

top songs

1. real estate - green aisles
2. keep shelly in athens - “okionos negri street
3. washed out - “eyes be closed”
4. casiokids - elefantenes hemmelige gravplass
5. shabazz palaces - swerve… the reaping of all that is worthwhile (noir not withstanding)
6. arms and sleepers - i sing the body electric
7. john maus - cop killer
8. atlas sound - te amo
9. the drums - i need a doctor
10. toro y moi - how i know

dave

top albums

1. teebs – collections 01
2. people get ready - ep
3. owen – ghost town
4. the sea and cake – the moonlight butterfly
5. radiohead – the king of limbs
6. washed out- within and without
7. tycho – dive
8. beach fossils – what a pleasure
9. the drift - blue hour
10. m83 – hurry up, we’re dreaming

top songs

1. shabazz palaces – are you…can you… were you? (felt)
2. mogwai – letters to the metro
3. kisses - kisses
4. kuedo – ascension phase
5. m83 – echoes of mine
6. teebs – verbena tea (featuring rebeckah raff)
7. low – especially me
8. the drift – luminous friend
9. the sea and cake – inn keeping
10. beware of safety – moorpark ends
11. north end – synergy
12. wait what – before one love (Nas/Washed Out Mash Up)
13. people get ready - cathedral
14. tycho – hours
15. radiohead – lotus flower

in preparation for our tour next week, how about an epic free music friday! we will be playing songs from each of these next week.  here ya go free downloads of each release today only!

• distance for free: http://t.opsp.in/14XDT
• more after we’re gone: http://t.opsp.in/14XDL
• self titled ep: http://t.opsp.in/14XDO

enjoy/share etc! hope to see you next week!