Chad VanGaalen has delivered a beautiful, amorphous video for “Host Body,” one of the standouts from Light Information, his acclaimed album of 2017.
“The theme of the video is paranoia and the illusion of reality. All of the beings in the animation are affected by how they perceive themselves through the internet, or through technological devices they have come in contact with. In this animated take on the song, the ‘parasitic demon’ is the worshiping and addiction of the augmented reality,” VanGaalen says of the new visual, which he animated meticulously over the last four months.
Chad VanGaalen has also scheduled a mainland and eastern European tour in support of Light Information for 2018, which begins May 26th in Madrid, Spain at Tomavistas Festival and ends June 5th in Krakow, Poland at Green Zoo. The tour will make additional stops in Belgium (Brussels), Netherlands (Amsterdam, Groningen) Russia (St. Petersburg, Moscow), and Poland (Warsaw).
May 26 - Madrid, ES - Tomavistas Festival May 29 - Brussels, BE - AB club May 30 - Amsterdam, NL - Paradiso May 31 - Groningen, NL - Vera Jun. 02 - St. Petersburg, RU - Erarta Stage Jun. 03 - Moscow, RU - 16 Tons Jun. 04 - Warsaw, PL - Plac Zabaw Jun. 05 - Krakow, PL - Green Zoo
These tour dates follow a visit to Germany in April 24-29 for the Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film. The festival will be featuring a program retrospective of Chad’s animation work, a screening of his short sci-fi film “Tarboz”, and a live performance accompanied by visuals.
Light Information is available now on CD / LP / DL / CS worldwide on Sub Pop and in Canada through Flemish Eye.
While in Paris during his European tour supporting the album, Chad and his backing band the Bleach Wipes performed a rooftop session for French website MOWNO. The band played stripped down versions of Light Information standouts “Host Body” and “Static Shape.”
VanGaalen also premiered the previously unreleased “Dust on Dust (Dog Walking Jammer)” single through Adult Swim, a driving instrumental which arrived earlier today, and caps off their year-long ‘Singles Program.’ The appropriately-titled “jammer” is representative of his more electronic and instrumental work that doesn’t always make it to his solo albums [listen here].
“Dust on Dust (Dog Walking Jammer)” isn’t VanGaalen’s first collaboration with the network. VanGaalen is also an amazing visual artist, having contributed both his animation and music to Adult Swim’s “Dream Corp LLC” — where he helped design the robot character T.E.R.R.Y, as well as composing the bizarre and memorable score.
And on the final leg of his recent Light Information tour, Chad stopped by CBC Q for a chat with show host Tom Power. The two talked about the new album, as well as Chad’s multifaceted life as an animator and visual artist. Chad and the Bleach Wipes also knocked out a few tunes from Light Information. The performance airs December 21st on CBC.
Chad VanGaalen and the Bleach Wipes have scheduled new, Canadian dates for 2018 in support of Light Information, which begin January 19th in Winnipeg at The Good Will and end January 27th in Edmonton at the Starlite Room. The tour comes on the heels of his successful, 50-date international tour for 2017, which saw performances in Germany, The Netherlands, United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, and France.
2018 Tour Dates Jan. 19 - Winnipeg , MB - The Good Will * Jan. 20 - Saskatoon, SK - Winterruption! Festival * Jan. 25 - Calgary, AB - Commonwealth Bar and Stage * Jan. 26 - Red Deer, AB - Bo’s Bar * Jan. 27 - Edmonton, AB - The Starlite Room * *w/ Mauno
Chad VanGaalen’s Light Information is out now + 2017 international tour dates begin October 15th
“TARBOZ (translated log of inhabitants)” is the long-awaited, animated short film from creative polymath Chad VanGaalen, which premiered today with Pitchfork TV [see October 5th news story).
Van Gaalen delivered this statement on the making of the film:
“TARBOZ was planned as the first episode of “Translated Log of Inhabitants,” and was an experiment to see if I could make a long-form improvised animation and still get out alive. I barely did!
The “Translated Log of Inhabitants” was conceived as a guide to the origin story of many different species. I imagined myself doing dozens of these episodes, focusing on a new life form very time — very much like a page from “Barlowe’s Guide to Extraterrestrials.” It expands a universe that I had already been developing in my own music videos, as well as ones for other bands. The videos for “Peace on the Rise” as well as ones for Black Mountain and Shabazz Palaces all exist in the same world (at least in my head).
TARBOZ is stream of consciousness, dreams, and friends. Alternate versions of my own reality. Coming to terms with the fact that I will never play freestyle disc professionally, but wanting to pay homage to the peaceful energy of that sport. It also reflects my needing to score a sci-fi film so badly that I ended up making my own.
I TARBOZed myself for two years, through software transitions and computer wastelands, and slowly the physical realm slipped away. I learned a lot about why you should get into something with a clear idea in mind. I would never make another animation in quite the same the way I made this again. After two years of working on it in solitude, I just wanted my life back. Doing it alone was my biggest mistake. I was very lonely.
It didn’t really end up like any of these things, but I hope this might help people understand the spirit of the piece. Although I’m not sure I understand it entirely myself. Sometimes you need to just do it in order to know how not to do it?”
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Chad VanGaalen recently released Light Information, which is available on CD / LP / DL / CS worldwide on Sub Pop and in Canada through Flemish Eye. The album features the highlights “Mind Hijacker’s Curse” [listen here], “Old Heads” [listen here] and “Pine & Clover” [watch here]. Light Information was written, played, and produced by VanGaalen (save Ryan Bourne’s bass part on “Mystery Elementals” and vocals on “Static Shape” from his young daughters Ezzy and Pip). The album emerged from the experimental instruments that fill his Calgary garage studio. Among them is a beloved Korg 770 monosynth, which VanGaalen coveted for years before fixing one up and devoting a lot of recent energy to recording “duets” with it. One of these, “Prep Piano and 770,” is the lone instrumental on Light Information, more atmosphere and chord bursts than the rest of the album’s hooky rock narrative.
Light Information can be purchased from Sub Pop and Flemish Eye. LP purchases of the album from megamart.subpop.com, select independent retailers and at Chad’s shows, will receive the limited Loser Edition on crystal clear vinyl (while supplies last). There is also be a new T-shirt design available.
Chad VanGaalen’s previously announced international tour schedule in support of Light Information has been extended. The dates now span October 15th in Utrecht, Netherlands at EKKO through January 27th in Edmonton, Alberta at The Needle Vinyl Tavern.
2017 European Dates Oct. 15 - Utrecht, NL - EKKO ^ Oct. 16 - Rotterdam, NL - Rotown ^ Oct. 17 - London, UK - Oslo ^ Oct. 18 - Leeds, UK - Brudenell Social Club ^ Oct. 20 - Hamburg, DE - Molotow (Sky Bar) ^ Oct. 21 - Copenhagen, DK - Stengade ^ Oct. 22 - Berlin, DE - Kantine am Berghain ^ Oct. 24 - Düdingen, CH - Bad Bonn ^ Oct. 25 - Lyon, FR - Le Sonic ^ Oct. 26 - Amiens, FR - La Lune des Pirates ^ Oct. 27 - Paris, FR - Point Ephemere ^ Oct. 28 - Nantes, FR - SOY Festival ^ Oct. 29 - Tourcoing, FR - Le Grand Mix ^ Oct. 30 - Luxemburg, LU - Rotondes ^ Oct. 31 - Gent, BE - NEST ^
2017 North American Dates Nov. 09 - Vancouver, BC - The Biltmore Cabaret Nov. 10 - Seattle, WA - Sunset Tavern * Nov. 12 - Portland, OR - Doug Fir * Nov. 14 - San Francisco, CA - The Chapel * Nov. 15 - Los Angeles, CA - Satellite Club * Nov. 16 - San Diego, CA - Soda Bar * Nov. 17 - Phoenix, AZ - Valley Bar * Nov. 19 - Denver, CO - Hi Dive * Nov. 20 - Salt Lake City, UT - Kilby Court Nov. 30 - Toronto, ON - Lee’s Palace Dec. 01 - Detroit, MI - El Club ** Dec. 02 - Chicago, IL - Empty Bottle ** Dec. 03 - Indianapolis, IN - The Hi Fi ** Dec. 05 - Pittsburgh, PA - Club Cafe ** Dec. 06 - Brooklyn, NY - Rough Trade NYC ** Dec. 07 - Allston, MA - Great Scott ** Dec. 08 - Montreal QC - Fairmount **
2018 Canadian Dates Jan. 19 - Winnipeg, MB - The Good Will Jan. 20 - Saskatoon, SK - Winterruption! Festival Jan. 25 - Calgary, AB - Commonwealth Bar and Stage Jan. 26 - Red Deer, AB - Bo’s Bar Jan. 27 - Edmonton, AB - The Needle Vinyl Tavern
Chad VanGaalen’s fantastic new album Light Information is out now on on CD / LP / DL / CS worldwide from Sub Pop and in Canada from Flemish Eye. The album features the highlights “Mind Hijacker’s Curse” [listen here], “Old Heads” [listen here] and “Pine & Clover” [watch here]. Light Information was written, played, and produced by VanGaalen (save Ryan Bourne’s bass part on “Mystery Elementals” and vocals on “Static Shape” from his young daughters Ezzy and Pip).
The album emerged from the experimental instruments that fill the creative polymath’s Calgary garage studio. Among them is a beloved Korg 770 monosynth, which VanGaalen coveted for years before fixing one up and devoting a lot of recent energy to recording “duets” with it. One of these, “Prep Piano and 770,” is the lone instrumental on Light Information, more atmosphere and chord bursts than the rest of the album’s hooky rock narrative.
On Monday, September 11th, Chad VanGaalen will participate in the Reddit Indieheads AMA at 1pm ET [more info on that is here].
Light Information can be purchased from Sub Pop and Flemish Eye. LP pre orders of the album from megamart.subpop.com and select independent retailers will receive the limited Loser edition on crystal clear vinyl (while supplies last). There is also be a new T-shirt design available.
Also out today is the repress of VanGaalen’s Infiniheart, his beloved and long out of print (on vinyl) 2005 debut on 2xLP and Turquoise vinyl. And Chad VanGaalen’s entire discography (Shrink Dust, Infiniheart, Skelliconnection, Soft Airplane, and Diaper Island) is also now available through Bandcamp.
Chad VanGaalen’s previously announced fall 2017 international tour dates in support of Light Information span October 15th in Utrecht, Netherlands at EKKO through December 8th in Montreal, Quebec at The Fairmount. Full list of dates + ticket links are here.
And here we have Chad VanGaalen’s “Mind Hijacker’s Curse”, another highlight from his forthcoming sixth album known as Light Information.
VanGaalen says of the song, “Mind hijacker’s curse is the outcome and side effects of vacationing inside of another organism’s consciousness. Once we can do this, I see the potential to forget your physical self and just live inside of some other beings mind. Hook me up to the fungal web that allows entire forests to communicate. I imagine the dolphin package would be very popular…”
[Photo Credit: Marc Rimmer]
Light Information is available for preorder now on CD / LP / DL / CS from Sub Pop and Flemish Eye. LP pre orders of the album from megamart.subpop.com and select independent retailers will receive the limited Loser edition on crystal clear vinyl (while supplies last). There will also be a new T-shirt design available for your bundling pleasure.
In other fantastical (but also very factual) news: on September 8th, Sub Pop will repress VanGaalen’s Infiniheart, his beloved and long out of print (on vinyl) 2005 debut on 2xLP and Turquoise vinyl. And now at long last, Chad VanGaalen’s discography (Shrink Dust, Infiniheart, Skelliconnection, Soft Airplane, and Diaper Island) is available for the first time time ever on Bandcamp.
Chad VanGaalen’s previously announced fall 2017 international tour dates in support of Light Information span October 15th in Utrecht, Netherlands at EKKO through December 8th in Montreal, Quebec at The Fairmount.
Europe Oct. 15 - Utrecht, NL - EKKO Oct. 16 - Rotterdam, NL - Rotown Oct. 17 - London, UK - Oslo Oct. 18 - Leeds, UK - Brudenell Social Club Oct. 20 - Hamburg, DE - Molotow (Sky Bar) Oct. 21 - Copenhagen, DK - Stengade Oct. 22 - Berlin, DE - Kantine am Berghain Oct. 24 - Düdingen, CH - Bad Bonn Oct. 25 - Lyon, FR - Le Sonic Oct. 26 - Amiens, FR - La Lune des Pirates Oct. 27 - Paris, FR - Point Ephemere Oct. 28 - Nantes, FR - SOY Festival Oct. 29 - Tourcoing, FR - Le Grand Mix Oct. 30 - Luxemburg, LU - Rotondes Oct. 31 - Gent, BE - NEST
North America Nov. 09 - Vancouver, BC - The Biltmore Cabaret Nov. 10 - Seattle, WA - Sunset Tavern * Nov. 12 - Portland, OR - Doug Fir * Nov. 14 - San Francisco, CA - The Chapel * Nov. 15 - Los Angeles, CA - Satellite Club * Nov. 16 - San Diego, CA - Soda Bar * Nov. 17 - Phoenix, AZ - Valley Bar * Nov. 19 - Denver, CO - Hi Dive * Nov. 20 - Salt Lake City, UT - Kilby Court Nov. 30 - Toronto, ON - Lee’s Palace Dec. 01 - Detroit, MI - El Club ** Dec. 02 - Chicago, IL - Empty Bottle ** Dec. 03 - Indianapolis, IN - The Hi Fi ** Dec. 05 - Pittsburgh, PA - Club Cafe ** Dec. 06 - Brooklyn, NY - Rough Trade NYC ** Dec. 07 - Allston, MA - Great Scott ** Dec. 08 - Montreal QC - Fairmont *w/ NE-HI **w/ Un Blonde
Light Information will be available in Canada from Flemish Eye and the rest of the world from Sub Pop on September 8th.
In Chad VanGaalen’s new animated video for “Pine and Clover”, a shapeshifter is born with the inability to form memories. It transforms into whatever creature or object it senses to be closest to it in the moment, but cannot remember what it was previously. It seems to have no sense of self, whatsoever. Or as VanGaalen humorously theorizes it: “This is what humans will end up being, or possibly have been.”
Created by VanGaalen, the “Pine and Clover” video is a combination of hand drawn drawn animation (cell animation), claymation, and paperless 2D animation. As the singer describes it: “The style and economy of the animation is governed by my ability to sit in a chair and draw for as long as I possibly can without being distracted by my beautiful vegetable garden. Because of the garden and its beauty, I have been inspired to make most of the environments similar to what I see in the garden, so needless to say there is a lot of lettuce.”
Chad VanGaalen’s “Pine and Clover” is one of the highlights from Light Information, the creative polymath’s sixth album.
Read more about Chad Van Gaalen (bio by Evie Nagy) at subpop.com, and follow Chad everywhere in the known inter-verse via Facebook | Twitter | Instagram.
[Photo Credit: Marc Rimmer]
In other fantastical (but also very factual) news: on September 8th, Sub Pop will repress VanGaalen’s Infiniheart, his beloved and long out of print (on vinyl) 2005 debut on 2xLP and Turquoise vinyl. And now at long last, Chad VanGaalen’s discography (Shrink Dust, Infiniheart, Skelliconnection, Soft Airplane, and Diaper Island) is available for the first time time ever on Bandcamp.
Light Information is available for preorder now on CD / LP / DL / CS from Sub Pop and Flemish Eye. LP pre orders of the album from megamart.subpop.com and select independent retailers will receive the limited Loser edition on crystal clear vinyl (while supplies last). There will also be a new T-shirt design available for your bundling pleasure.
Chad VanGaalen’s previously announced fall 2017 international tour dates in support of Light Information span October 15th in Utrecht, Netherlands at EKKO through December 8th in Montreal, Quebec at The Fairmount.
Europe Oct. 15 - Utrecht, NL - EKKO Oct. 16 - Rotterdam, NL - Rotown Oct. 17 - London, UK - Oslo Oct. 18 - Leeds, UK - Brudenell Social Club Oct. 20 - Hamburg, DE - Molotow (Sky Bar) Oct. 21 - Copenhagen, DK - Stengade Oct. 22 - Berlin, DE - Kantine am Berghain Oct. 24 - Düdingen, CH - Bad Bonn Oct. 25 - Lyon, FR - Le Sonic Oct. 26 - Amiens, FR - La Lune des Pirates Oct. 27 - Paris, FR - Point Ephemere Oct. 28 - Nantes, FR - SOY Festival Oct. 29 - Tourcoing, FR - Le Grand Mix Oct. 30 - Luxemburg, LU - Rotondes Oct. 31 - Gent, BE - NEST
North America Nov. 09 - Vancouver, BC - The Biltmore Cabaret Nov. 10 - Seattle, WA - Sunset Tavern * Nov. 12 - Portland, OR - Doug Fir * Nov. 14 - San Francisco, CA - The Chapel * Nov. 15 - Los Angeles, CA - Satellite Club * Nov. 16 - San Diego, CA - Soda Bar * Nov. 17 - Phoenix, AZ - Valley Bar * Nov. 19 - Denver, CO - Hi Dive * Nov. 20 - Salt Lake City, UT - Kilby Court Nov. 30 - Toronto, ON - Lee’s Palace Dec. 01 - Detroit, MI - El Club ** Dec. 02 - Chicago, IL - Empty Bottle ** Dec. 03 - Indianapolis, IN - The Hi Fi ** Dec. 05 - Pittsburgh, PA - Club Cafe ** Dec. 06 - Brooklyn, NY - Rough Trade NYC ** Dec. 07 - Allston, MA - Great Scott ** Dec. 08 - Montreal QC - Fairmont** *w/ NE-HI **w/ Un Blonde
