+ 02.10.09 - Hello, hello, hello, hello. Mr. Thurston here. Welcome to the
February, 2009 Magical, Beautiful newsletter, brought to you by I Hear
A New World Records, Tapes & CDRs.



Many strange and wondrous things have occurred over this particularly
cold, Midwestern and isolated winter. Chicago is more frozen than
ever, and much of the sound emanating from Hear A New World Studios
has held onto that chill. However thick the ice forms around
the edges of our production hall, the heart remains warm & full, like
a pregnant bear restlessly waking through hibernation; excited &
hungry for the future family.



First, time-sensitive matters: Magical, Beautiful is playing a free
concert with Golden Birthday at Sonotheque in Chicago on Tuesday,
February 17. The show is presented by
href=http://www.obeyyourbrain.com target="_blank">Obey Your Brain.
New material will be debuted. Also this month: Alance and I will be
playing in the Casiotone For The Painfully Alone band at Subterranean (Chicago)
on Friday, February 27. More on this later in the newsletter.



2008 saw a much clearer public distillation of the Magical, Beautiful
modus operandi in the form of "Right Rock", the "Nearer My God In
Spring" mix CD and a short live tour of the NorthEastern United
States. Privately, recorded works have taken various shape: extended,
electronic drones; feedback-laced group improvisations;
German-cum-Pakistani trance jams. How these works will be released
remains to be seen, but count on the following:




+ One (1) full-length Magical, Beautiful record comprised of 3-4
long-form original compositions, 1-2 cover songs and several
instrumental buffers. This is the main project, and several people
have contributed to it thus far, including, but not limited to Alance
Ward, Nick Broste, Colby Starck, Christopher Keener and Charlie Vinz.
This will be released as a double LP/download.



+ One electronic full-length record based off the "Music For Painting"
CDr (IHANW*A) and a very recent, epic Thurston/Broste/Ward session
from the Shape Shoppe. Sound samples coming soon.



+ Several limited releases tying up the I Hear A New World loose
ends: noises, drones, dubs, beats, audio documentaries, etc.



+ Fanzine/Compilation CDr chronicling the struggles of many musicians
and artists suffering writers block and self-destructive urges and how
they triumph over it. Contact ihearanewworld@gmail.com if you're
interested in contributing.



That should be it as far as releases are concerned. Live concerts in
different configurations are to be expected. New technologies to be
debuted. New public identities for affiliated projects to be unleashed.



In addition, I'll be back on the road with Casiotone For The Painfully
Alone, first to South By Southwest in mid-March as a duo, and then in
Europe/UK as a four-piece from early April to mid-May. I'll be playing
baritone guitar and keyboards, while Nick Tamburo (from the Dead
Science) will be drumming, Gordon Ashworth (from Concern &
_blank">Oscillating
Innards) will be on keyboards & Owen Ashworth will sing and play
keyboards. We'll be touring in support of the fifth, (and in my
opinion, best) Casiotone record: "Vs Children" and a singles collection called "Advance Base Battery Life". I'm hoping to book a
couple of solo Magical, Beautiful shows at the end of the Europe
thing. If you're interested in helping out, contact
ihearanewworld@gmail.com.



As for internet related works, I'm considering starting up an online bootleg label where I'll post mp3's of various live/field/interview recordings. This will most likely start after that European tour, with the first "release" a collage documenting the sounds of the trip. Also, as far as the I Hear A New World blog - I'm not sure how active I'll be on there. The lack of writing is not due to lack of inspiration - there are lots and lots of aborted posts - it's just that as soon as I start writing I realize that I have many other, more important pursuits to follow and that I'm not going to give my writing subjects the deep attention they command. Most people that write these days don't spend more time thinking about what they're saying than it takes to write it, and the last thing I want to do is further that horribleness.




That's it, I think. ****BONUS SPUR OF THE MOMENT DECISION: The limited double EP version of Right Rock is
currently available in hard copy (with hand-made artwork) for FREE if
you send $2 shipping and handling via paypal to
ihearanewworld@gmail.com. The "Godspeed You Black President" 7" is not
going to happen as I couldn't get appropriate material together.



Winter listening material: I Shalt Become; Burzum; Graveland; Carcass;
Cathedral; Windy & Carl; Grouper; the War On Drugs; 70's Bob Dylan;
Keith Hudson; OMD; Willie Nelson; Oscillating Innards; Joy Division; J Dilla; Mahjonng; Mount Eerie; Paavoharju; Roots Manuva; Wolves In The Throne Room; Animal Collective; "Nebraska"; Broadcast.