New Release: Daniel Romano – “Modern Pressure”

New Release: Daniel Romano – “Modern Pressure”

March 10, 2017 | Posted in: Daniel Romano 0

Daniel Romano is an Ontario-based artist, poet, musician and performer of international acclaim. A genre-defying student of musical experimentation and a brilliant multi-instrumentalist, Romano is acutely well versed in the languages of melody, shape, lyric construction and song arrangement.

Apt in its title, Modern Pressure (available May 19, 2017) will surely prove to be his most explorative endeavour to date. The twelve tracks pick up where 2016’s critically celebrated Mosey left off, boldly asking, “What age is this? What blooming weight do we carry through these stolen streets?” Written in observational scrutiny beneath the overcast atmosphere of 2016, the record vigorously tackles the present-day heaviness we contain in the jotting bones of our guilty expressions. It pleads for the restoration of empathy and resonance, to fill the empty chamber once again.

The recording phase for Modern Pressure took place in a minimalistic cabin in secluded Finnsäs, Sweden over the month of August 2016 (with additional string and horn players being added at Baldwin Street Sound in Toronto, ON in October, 2016). Engineered by long-time collaborator Kenneth Meehan, the fevered pace of work lent itself to the unrestrained and undeviated nature of the songs themselves.

Pre-orders are available now in our shop, on LP, CD, or in a limited-edition bundle including an exclusive t-shirt, large poster, and oversized pin!

Watch the video for the first single ‘Roya’ right here:

 

Ancient Shapes – Silent Rave, tour only cassette

Ancient Shapes – Silent Rave, tour only cassette

February 16, 2017 | Posted in: Ancient Shapes, Artists, Blog, Daniel Romano 0

Silent Rave is the new 10 song cassette album by Ancient Shapes. It is available exclusively at upcoming live engagements. Book your tickets, these are brave new waves.

What’s happening:
“Violence in the mouth of age” is a love song for the overlooked. This sunshine carol focuses it’s energies and visual accompaniment towards a timeless companion of youth culture. The teen love affair between alienated youth and its stimulant valentine. Ancient Shapes ponders, perhaps there are other expanses to explore outside of the inside. Another way in. The future, beyond the jaws of yesterday, holds a beautiful violence in the mouth of age. This beautiful violence is rhythmic. To be consumed without fear and transformed in a moment, not unlike the more prominent playmate to those jittery juveniles. This is an analyses, perhaps even a valiant exclamation for bored-youth liberation. Can’t you taste it?”

Live music happenings:
Feb 23 – The Smiling Buddha, Toronto, ON
Feb 24 – Mikado, St. Catherines, On
Feb 25 – Call the Office, London, ON
Feb 26 – This Ain’t Hollywood, Hamilton, ON

Ancient Shapes Live!

February 14, 2017 | Posted in: Ancient Shapes, Daniel Romano 0

This month, Daniel Romano’s Ancient Shapes is playing it’s first run of live shows. The self-declared “Anti-Art Ensemble” has previously graced but one stage (on the occasion of the resetting of the clocks at midnight Dec 31st 2016). This is a rare chance to catch the band, alive, to thrill to the live sound of amplified instruments and the human voice in this still-new year.

Here is where they rage and rave:
Feb 23 – The Smiling Buddha, Toronto, ON
Feb 24 – Mikado, St. Catherines, On
Feb 25 – Call the Office, London, ON
Feb 26 – This Ain’t Hollywood, Hamilton, ON

Fearless Death Tomorrow And I’ll Be Set Free

Fearless Death Tomorrow And I’ll Be Set Free

October 4, 2016 | Posted in: Ancient Shapes, Artists, Blog, Daniel Romano 0

On May 27th, 2016 You’ve Changed Records released the 10 song Ancient Shapes LP: 16 and a half minutes of punk-rock-power-pop-poetry by Daniel Romano. Now from the depths, awake on the shore, hungry and hunted and alive, the video for Fearless Death Tomorrow.

I’m the beast
The beast of madness
I will speak no words of wickedness
I can stretch like the veins on a leaf
I can look with the eyes of a thief

My friend has an American drum
And I can’t sleep if it’s ever going to come

Fearless death tomorrow
And I’ll be set free

Who’s this voice moaning with the waves?
And who is this humidity bath?
Who are all these poisonous songs?
I can hear a snake through the fog

Ancient Shapes is available on double A-side 12″ LP exclusively from You’ve Changed Records.

New Release: Ancient Shapes – “Ancient Shapes”

New Release: Ancient Shapes – “Ancient Shapes”

May 27, 2016 | Posted in: Daniel Romano 0

Though he is best known for his recent work evoking the sounds of classic country music, Daniel Romano has always been a free and restless spirit, a gifted musician and artist, a magpie flying free of genre. On May 27, 2016 he released two albums: The masterful and adventurous “Mosey” (New West Records) and an unexpected blast of punk rock/power pop as Ancient Shapes – which represents a return to You’ve Changed Records, the label he co-founded in 2009 with Steven Lambke, and to his roots in punk rock. It is also a further explosion of all expectations and genre boundaries.

Romano was feeling defeated after a lengthy production session. The drums were set up and he rolled tape, banging through 20 minutes of rhythm just to get the sweat out. There and then Ancient Shapes was born, and quickly blossomed outward with layers of brash guitars and trebly bass. All this in a day’s work but the words, soon to be found amid the abandoned poems that did not have a home beyond the pages scattered on the floor. What didn’t fit was cut. What space remained was improvised.

The result is instant, immediate and fierce power pop reminiscent of early Buzzcocks and Television with surprising hints of Romano’s roots in hardcore and a lifelong Dylan fascination. The music is hard and desperate, as it should be, the vocals balanced on the rails but never quite falling off. Ancient Shapes is a study of a blank and nameless generation. This is the sound. These are the moves. The name is Ancient Shapes. May we all have fearless death tomorrow.

Ancient Shapes is presented as a Double A-side with the entire program appearing on both sides of the LP. This world-wide exclusive LP pressing is available only from You’ve Changed Records.

Listen to Ancient Shapes below.
Dig?

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