Hi,
First off, the Austinist writes very well, and wrote about a show I did the other night w/ my good friends Silver Pines and Prince Rama of Ayodhya. You should listen to both if you haven't already. They also wrote about that record I had come out a couple of months ago, "&hope still".

" Found noise, static and loops punctuate traditional piano, guitar and wordless choruses, making each song a unique testament to the modern songwriter's devotion to the real. We hear it's called chamber folk, and we're hooked." ====> click here for the full review / preview.

Also, I've been remixing songs off &HS for this tour I just went on; I think I've ended up finding them endearing, and others have too, so I'm going to record them when I get home. They're a lot different, but I think you'll like them. They're a little more schizophrenic, but that's ok, as long as they acknowledge the issue (awareness is the first step of any process).

Ok, talk / hear / feel soon?

xoxox

Yes yes,
It's true. We're going on tour. I'm piggy-backing on the backs of fuzzy-distorto-giants SILVER PINES (myspace.com/silverpines) this June. I'm bringing a lot of inanimate friends with me too, I'm really very cumbersome when it comes to these things and don't get out much...

***note about SLTM live: it's much different. I will be remixing songs from &hope still, and new stuff, and it's going to be more like a noisey-dance-tunes into walls of electro-emotional intelligence (w/ strings, of course) that would come out of your brain if each synapes made frequencies and beats when they fired off (it sounds like brain activity I hope...that's what this is all about anyway)))))))***

OK ok, dates:

Silver Pines + Silent Land Time Machine + North America =

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

All dates with SILVER PINES:

Jun 14 - Velvet Lounge w/ SPACE TIGERS - Washington, DC, Washington DC

Jun 15 - Floristree w/ LESSER GONZALEZ ALVAREZ - Baltimore, Maryland

Jun 16 - Mojo 13 w/ THE WHITE LODGE - Wilmington, Delaware

Jun 17 - Green Line Cafe w/ THE WHITE LODGE, DEADFOLK, and WOOD-LAND - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Jun 18 - WMFU Studio(s) - Hoboken, New Jersey

Jun 18 - Monkeytown w/ SONTAG SHOGUN - Brookyln, New York

Jun 20 - "Ro He Ge" Shin-dig w/ RUSSIAN TSARLAG - Belfast, Maine

Jun 21 - Lab Synthese w/ HRSTA / ECHOES STILL SINGING LIMBS - Montreal, Quebec

Jun 22 - The Velvet Underground w/ OSTRICH TUNING - Toronto, Ontario

Jun 23 - The Whistler w/ GOOD STUFF HOUSE - Chicago, Illinois

Jun 24 - Good Style Shop - Madison, Wisconsin

Jun 27 - Mountain House w/ PRUSSIA - Dallas, Texas

***more dates TBA possibly, since we're doing this all ourselves!***

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

...more info go to IndianQueenRecords (and type at info@IndianQueenRecords.com if you want to be put on the mailing list).

xoxoxoxox,
sltm

Oh shit:

...and here's a nice review from Finland, Noise.Fi specifically, which was translated by Olli of Ous Mal (myspace.com/ousmal) who make really nice tunes indeed w/ his significant other I think, go listen...

"One man band playing post rock in a bedroom? Or maybe it’s not really rock, because it’s not electric. A letter that came with the recording proposes a term “post-psychedelic chamber rock” which describes better Silent Land Time Machine’s mostly acoustic music.

&hope still is wrapped in carton sleeve which has waterfalls in it. The list of songs and other information have been damaged by water and can’t be really read. The Texan man behind the music speaks in singular. He says the record is made in “my bedroom” and the band “consists of me” without giving away his identity. All this fits perfectly to the music: the record is made really skilfully and it gives an idea of music that is carefree and has formed by itself.

The record is three quarters long and the time slips a way nicely while listening. The music is based on layers which repeat and overlap towards the climax. The music sounds like more discreet and instrumental version of A Silver Mt Zion and comparing it to other Constellation artists is not out of question. But the mostly acoustic music of Silent Land Time Machine is not reaching out for noisy crescendos but intimate and mesmerizing soundscapes using electronic noises, vocal harmonies and string instruments.

&hope still is a really sympathetic record and it has content for many listens to come. This music is fragile yet powerful – it’s something you don’t have to argue about but you feel comfortable being with."

...yes!

Hello there,
More reviews / kind words about the record. Foxy Digitalis seemed to really like it and really read the notes (they're kind of hard to read) and really listened, so, naturally, I really appreciate all that sort of stuff quite a lot & thought y'all might be interested too...

***Oh, and before I begin, the "&hope still" LP is, you heard right, SOLD OUT up at TIME-LAG Records! Nemo is out, but I've still got about 70 left; all hand-numbered, 180g, all that good stuff ***

You can still get the "&hope still" LP and/or CD from IndianQueenRecords.com

==============================================

"For an album recorded in a bedroom in the autumn of 2006 and winter of
2007-08, its production values and high level of musicianship and
professionalism actually make it rather difficult to critique, except
only to endorse it with high praise." - Foxy Digitalis (click for full review)

"You see, there is something about this album that provides an
overwhelming warmth emotionally.  It evokes something that very few
albums are able to do, as it asks for nothing but your listening
participation.  Through its peaks and into its valleys, if you follow
closely, you will be rewarded ultimately, as nothing soothes like the
gentle sounds from &Hope Still." - Austin Town Hall

"Instrumental soundscapes of light, joyous, sepia-toned, old-timey folk
combined with long form drones which invoke memories and dreams." - Waterloo Records

"It almost sounds like too much to take, but the underlying songforms are
highly engaging and the hodgepodge collection of sounds work in such an
alchemical way that it all just inexplicably comes together perfectly.
Even the recording style seems like Anthem Of The Sun era Grateful
Dead, where they took multiple takes of the same piece recorded in a
range of fidelities (many of them low) and magically filtered them
together...we must say it's one of the most refreshing
and unique records we've heard in awhile!" - Aquarius Records (San Fransisco)

"Some tracks are glistening and optimistic, like the sun breaking
through the clouds on a rainy day ("I shouldn't be in School"), whereas others have morefrenetic, buzzy, and experimental touches. Mesmerizing stuff." - KFJC

"Ison mualiman pieniä ääniä tarjoilevat puolestaan yhden miehen post-rock/folk yhtye Silent Land Time Machine" - Radio.Noise.Fi (this isn't a review, just a description, but it's good to know that the nice people of Noise.Fi will play weird CDs from Texas in Finland from time to time!)

...& thanks to Paige Maguire who thought I had one of the best albums this year. And Dan Schnebly too.

Thanks to whoever reads this and whoever is listening out there; I really do truly appreciate it.

thanks / takk / kiitos / merci / xoxo
jon

One of the best review sites around...actually where I found out about Time-Lag, truth be told!

http://almostcool.org/mr/2347/

Co-released on Time Lag and Indian Queen Records, & Hope Still
is the debut album from one Silent Land Time Machine, a one-man
recording project of a fellow from Texas who has managed to teach
himself how to play a lot of different instruments and build up a
beguiling little album with some crafty layering and subtle shifts in
sound that call to mind a ton of different artists but doesn't really
sound like any one of them in particular.

There's acoustic guitar, viola and violin, accordion, piano, some
hand-percussion, piano, and some other random noise makers (and some
occasional wordless vocals), and the result is seven warm tracks that
never get too dense and manage to unfold gracefully while revealing new
layers at regular intervals. Because of the instrumentation involved,
there's a palatable connection to a variety of Constellation Records
artists. One can hear a bit of the quiet moments of Do Make Say Think,
a tinge of the more organic Polmo Polpo, and maybe a little bit of
Silver Mt. Zion if they weren't so damn serious.

'Everything Goes To Shit' kicks things off and is easily among the best
tracks on the release as see-sawing violins weave back and forth with
some stomping percussion and wheezy accordion as background vocals kick
in and make the whole thing rise into a frenzy over the course of eight
minutes that sounds like a true community back-porch hoe-down blowout.
'The Thing This Doesn't Mean Is Nothing' takes many of the same
elements and splays out over more than ten minutes, with some beautiful
trilled guitar parts that fade into a string-driven bridge and finally
some slightly-filtered percussive breakdown that again adds a
delightful rhythmic element to the mix.

Even though it's very organic in feel, most of the tracks on & Hope Still
develop in very loop-based ways. Pieces like 'Down The Hill' work in
additive and subtractive ways, bringing in layers slowly then taking
away things to leave the listener in a slightly different place than
where they started. It's at its best when it incorporates all angles,
as it does on album-closer 'Copperpot Topography,' as harsh feedback
swells mingle with delicate vocals, acoustic guitars, muffled rhythms,
a rough string quartet and some minor processing. A very solid debut,
this one is worth seeking out if any of the above tickles your fancy.

Attention artists: packaging is important. The visual images and
materials you choose to associate with your music can be paramount to
the attitude of your listeners when deciding whether to buy or even
listen to what you have created. Sure, the internet has provided a
powerful argument suggesting the downfall of physical packaging. To me
it is just wake up call to artists and labels alike: step it up! (but
not like the movie of the same name.) I would like to provide you with
two contrasting examples. First, Kurt Weisman. Weisman’s debut solo
album, Spiritual Sci-Fi, is without a doubt my favourite
singer-songwriter album of the year and will most certainly be on my
top ten list next week when we post our year ends for 2008. The cover
of Spiritual Sci-Fi; however, is terrible. Like, laughably
terrible. I apologize to Weisman if there is some personal resonance
associated with the illustration that dawns the cover of his record,
but seriously, it is humorous at the most. So terrible is this album
art that, despite my consistent and unequivocal ravings concerning the
genius of the record, Sassigrass (my FG cohort/spouse) will not touch
the thing with a twelve foot poll. I’m not sure if she listened to it
that she would like it as much as me, but now she will never even have
the chance because she can’t get over that ridiculous cover. Now for my
second example and true subject of this review, Silent Land Time
Machine’s &Hope Still. This album was sent to me by the
wonderful folks at Indian Queen who co-opted with Time-Lag on the
packaging and it is stunning. Here at FG we receive a fair amount of
promos. Some more visually attractive than others, but none that have
held my attention so singularly as &Hope Still. I simply
had to hear what kind of music could be associated with the luxurious
cotton sleeve folded inside a sepia-toned outer cardstock fold filled
with various abstracted images. I could go into more detail, but I
don’t have the packaging on hand as I’m writing this (at my other job
that actually pays real money). Suffice it to say that it was the
quickest that I have ever desired to listen to a promo and the most
excited as well. I guess the second thing to announce to artists is
this: make good music. Novel, huh? Well, fortunately for me, the
packaging of &Hope Still was an absolute spot on visual/physical introduction to the music of Silent Land Time Machine. &Hope Still
is all shades sepia via sound. Built on layers of acoustic
instrumentation combined with various audio ghosts and samples, Silent
Land Time Machine is a chamber folk orchestra of beautiful
construction. Similarly wonderful, is the fact that this “orchestra”
has been constructed with only two hands. It is another nod to an era
filled with individual artists achieving wonderful ends by their own
unique vision. &Hope Still is a vigorous, winding
adventure, a ghostly post-rock mystery and a wonderful summer day
wrapped into one beautiful package; one most definitely worth obtaining
a physical copy of!

-Mr. Thistle of Forest Gospel


At times mysterious, at times complex, but always relaxing, even during its climaxing moments, Silent Land Time Machine is an instrumental rock project that reminds me a lot of A Silver Mt Zion. Except that... Jon is just one man... But upon your first listen you wouldn't know it... Hailing out of Austin, Texas, Jon is a multi-instrumentalist, and is equally comfortable behind the guitar, piano, accordion, and a wide range of stringed instruments. His motivation to master the musical medium and inspirations are credited to Anni Rossi (recently signed to 4AD) and Sophie Trudeau (member of Godspeed You! Black Emperor, and a co-founder of Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra & Tra-La-La Band), as well as much other output from Constellation and FatCat labels. Jon mangles instrumentals, DSP filtering, and field recordings which create a feeling of a small folksy community gathering, improvising over familiar melodies. The mood of &hope still, is less apocalyptic and political then the above mentioned influences, leaving a lot more room for imagination of the listener. Although some of the sounds appear to be looped, the patterns are not obsessively repetitive and are very organic. Jon takes great care in overdubbing layers and layers of live instrumentation to create his unique blend of post-americana-psyminimal-desktop-folktronica. Yes. I like that for a genre. The debut album has been released this past October, 2008, as a collaborative effort between Time-Lag Records and Jon's very own Indian Queen Records. Recommended if you like experimental pieces from M83, Mogwai, Benoît Pioulard, and Múm. - headphone commute

An obscure, one-man recording project, Silent Land Time Machine thrives in the realm of escapism. The local artist crafts deeply affecting dream narratives, weaving layers of violin, acoustic guitar, and found sound into warm, ambient instrumentals that slowly accumulate force. Self-recorded over the past year and pressed on limited edition, 180-gram vinyl, SLTM's debut, & Hope Still, which was released in partnership with Maine's Time-Lag Records, recalls the hazy bedroom folk of Benoit Pioulard, the Books' looped electro-acoustic pieces, and the minimalist drone of Godspeed You! Black Emperor. 'It's all very vague,' concedes Silent Land Time Machine, who speaks only on the condition of anonymity but emerges from the shadows at the Parish on Dec. 4 with classically minded contemporaries Balmorhea. 'I want to remove myself from the picture as much as possible to help create a really personal listening experience.' - the austin chronicle

The inaugural album of Austin's Silent Land Time Machine has finally arrived after at least a year of waiting, & Hope Still… - co-produced under Time-Lag Records (in Maine) and SLTM's own Indian Queen Records - does not disappoint. At all. Fueled by a cadre of instruments and energy, a unique and fulfilling sound permeates the entire album and allows for a range of emotions across its 7 largely instrumental tracks. It's an aural document as fascinating as the sepia dripping artwork in which the cd is enclosed.

The album launches with a high-energy, polyphonic locomotive in 'Everything Goes to Shit.' With a somber and pensive melody, it is difficult to imagine the song - which is filled with a beautiful and at times cacophonous assortment of accordion, slide guitar, and viola - come from only one man. Looping like a masterful acrobat, SLTM layers melodies until they're swerving into one another, but never loses the tight focus of the bottom line. The second song, 'I Shouldn't be in School,' winds behind multiple violin tracks with an impressive force on par with My Education, while the third, aptly titled 'The Thing This Doesn't Mean Is Nothing,' wharfs a wash of soft ambience and serendipitous sound that ebbs and flows through a 10 minute flood.

Track 5, 'Electronic Transmission(s)'continues the melodic energy of the opener with an honest and electronic driving force, and 'Down the Hill' slowly mesmerizing in an unfolding tumble. While his warp of strings can sometimes become dizzying and his effects peddles often get more play than his notes, as on moments of the over 13 minute closer, 'Copperpot Topography,' SLTM compellingly draws the listener into his vision and continually surprises upon each listen.

Though SLTM is a one-man, self-taught orchestra, he weaves an eloquent musical vocabulary that shows as much promise as some of Austin's best instrumental acts – the subtle beauty of Balmorhea and the eclectic sweep of The Calm Blue Sea and experimental flourishes of My Education . Though & Hope Still… is a wonderful tapestry in itself, SLTM also shines during his performances - no two of which are ever alike. To quote Aurgasm, an mp3 blog on which SLTM was featured last summer: 'Nostalgic polaroids flip while your odometer flips forward.'- austin sound


This record left our Phil feeling happy.
It's good to know Time Lag are still going. It's a dependable label and if you're into psychdelic folk music then you should check out the labels back cat. Some choice nuggets there. Just in from the label is a brand new LP/CD by Silent Land Time Machine called & Hope Still. It sounds pretty lush on first listen. Lots of different instruments on here.... violin, acoustic guitar, percussion, accordian, and some found samples all chucked together into a large earthenware pot of psyche folk fun. It's largely instrumental except the odd haunting vocal here and there and it's all a bit nice. It's a wierd blend of americana, neo classical instrumentation and psyche folk and gels nicely. The multi instrumental fun here reminds a bit of Sufjan Stevens at times (without the vocals and whimsy and a bit of A Silver Mt Zion. Ltd to 300 copies on 180 gram wax and on CD as well. - Norman Records

Silent Land Time Machine is a one man project from Texas (Indian Queen being his label). Gently lysergic pastoral chamber psych sculpted from sweet strings, acoustic guitar, unobtrusive electronics, percussion and buried vocals. The sound merges into a gorgeous haze that evokes late summer evenings. Heavy vinyl (for the LP) with a fold out cover and insert. - boa melody bar

Hello there,
So this album of mine, "&hope still" is now officially out. If you'd like to purchase a CD (pressing of 500) or a 180g LP (hand-numbered edition of 300) please go right over to:

IndianQueenRecords.com

Hope you enjoy it, and thanks for listening in the first place...

xoxoxox,
sltm

Hello,
So, further updates about SLTM, and other projects, will most likely be available at the home of the one and only Indian Queen Records. So, go check out:

IndianQueenRecords.com

...for album info, news, touring, pictures/videos/new sounds and, as of the first week of October, "shopping" capabilities so that you can get your copy of "&hope still" really quite easily. Don't forget that you can get it through Time-Lag Records at Time-LagRecords.com as well!

If you're interested in subscribing to the mailing list, just type about it to farewell.iq@gmail.com and you'll be put on. Fun stuff, no?

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox

Hi there,
So, I have a little song that I just made, it's going to be on this new moon compilation (info below). It's about the electricity in my head...

Here's some info about the compilation:

New Moon Compilations is a project started in August of 2008. It was started, not only because we are surrounded by wonderful people making all kinds of art and music, we thought it would be a perfect way to keep artists productive, and fresh material in physical format. When we ask people to submit, we encourage people to write a new song, make a new recording, or dig up an old one that has otherwise never seen the light of day. After all, the New Moon is the ceremonial moment of the emptying and refilling of the cosmic vessel. Because the moon cycle is the basis for our ~30 day month (or moonth as it may be) we will try like damn to get one out every New Moon, in all its handmade, affordable glory.

"We" are Charlie Alvarado and Stephanie Gordon, and we live in Austin, Texas.

Stephanie's brother likes ICP and lives north of Denver where she lived before she went to AZ to become an animator. Then she moved to Austin, started making a lot of cute things, collects owl decorum, plays melodica and continues to inspire all those around her. She gets her jollies from other people being jolly.

Charlie grew up in Houston, Texas and now resides in a creative household in Austin, with a blossoming garden and a piano in the living room. He is constantly involved in interesting projects and collaborations and can often be found loving his cat, Kitty Time, experimenting with music and visual art and riding his bike as often as possible.

Hello there,
So, "&hope still" is coming out really soon...

But, since this album is coming out, I have to promote it! So I'm asking for your help, but worry not, it shant go unrewarded! I've got some promo posters here, but since I'm recording new stuff, recording friends, making shirts and making a website (oh, and all that other "paying the bills" stuff) I really don't have too much time. SO, if you kindly sign up for my mailing list and type at me expressing interest in putting up a poster or two at a nice spot I will:

- mail you some posters, on the house. that is, of course, if mailing is necessary

- email you a sweet flat bread recipe

- send you a new minute long track of mine that's on this "New Moon Compilation" that I know little to nothing about! Anyway, it's going to be out soonish, more details soon...it's called "memory resistor".

Sweet deal, yeah? Email me back (at intothesilentland@gmail.com) with how many posters you think you can handle, an address if need be, and I'll send you the necessities.

Awesome.

Take care, and will type at y'all soon when that albums closer to dropping...thanks again for listening.

truly,
jon

Hello,
Seeing that this avenue is a bit flooded with information, to say the least, I was thinking of making a mailing list to contact particularly interested parties about particularly interesting upcoming events. If this sounds like something you'd fancy, please just send me an email expressing that said-fancy at:

intothesilentland@gmail.com


The mailing list will basically be to keep the two of you that are interested informed about what's going on now / what's coming up next. Examples of such updates include:

- "&hope still" will be out really soon: CD in August, vinyl in September. Pretty awesome! I'm also making just a few shirts to commemorate the release I think, so look out for those too.

Am recording again, finally. So, if you'd like to hear some advance tracks and such the email list will be a good place to find that...should have a couple of tunes done by the end of the month or the next...

Sound good? Lots of stuff is in the works right now, but more on that later...thanks again for listening.

best,
jon