SPIRIT FEST - Forced Exposure

$16.00 IN STOCK

For their fourth album, Bear In Town, indie avant-pop supergroup Spirit Fest made a virtue of distance, with group members split across Europe, and recording sessions taking place after a brief 2021 tour of Europe. The six songs on this album illuminate different aspects of the transnational quintet's character -- lovely, heart-rending pop songs; melancholy chants; the joys of simple repetition -- with the group's guitar pop tended by gentle flourishes of piano and electronics. Some of those flourishes were spirited onto Bear In Town across the waves, with Mat Fowler (Bons, Jam Money) contributing from Britain, while the body of the music was recorded in a small apartment studio in Munich by the other members of Spirit Fest: Saya and Ueno (Tenniscoats), Markus Acher (The Notwist) and Cico Beck (Joasinho, Aloa Input). Bear In Town is concise and powerful, the infectious joy of the spirit communicated, beautifully, by melodies that balance the heartfelt with the melancholy. It's all the more impressive given this material was put down live in the studio, with a few vocal overdubs. The depth of feeling at the core of Spirit Fest's music is evident from the opening notes of Bear In Town. "Kou-Kou Land," the first song on the album, recalls several earlier Tenniscoats songs in the way the musicians weave gentle complexity around a simple, repeated chant. "Lost & Found" revolves around a delightful descending chord change that breaks up the swaying, folksy verses, gorgeous electronic whirrs and purring winds floating through the song. The following "In Our House" possesses such sweet sadness, it's one of Spirit Fest's most moving songs yet. "Like A Plane" repurposes a song that Markus Acher originally wrote and recorded for his solo EP of the same title, released on a 2022 10" on Morr Music. The original was a gentle, introverted lament, but the version on Bear In Town has a widescreen tenderness, its melancholy framed by raindrop piano. The album concludes with two moments of playful splendor, the bossa-inflected "Hill Blo," and the driving title track, both led by Saya, who is in stunning voice on this album; on "Bear In Town," her awestruck wonder perfectly captures the sense of possibility in the song's capacious chords. Like the rest of the album, it's full of kindness, rich with psych-pop splendor -- a balm for troubled times.

$30.50 IN STOCK

LP version. For their fourth album, Bear In Town, indie avant-pop supergroup Spirit Fest made a virtue of distance, with group members split across Europe, and recording sessions taking place after a brief 2021 tour of Europe. The six songs on this album illuminate different aspects of the transnational quintet's character -- lovely, heart-rending pop songs; melancholy chants; the joys of simple repetition -- with the group's guitar pop tended by gentle flourishes of piano and electronics. Some of those flourishes were spirited onto Bear In Town across the waves, with Mat Fowler (Bons, Jam Money) contributing from Britain, while the body of the music was recorded in a small apartment studio in Munich by the other members of Spirit Fest: Saya and Ueno (Tenniscoats), Markus Acher (The Notwist) and Cico Beck (Joasinho, Aloa Input). Bear In Town is concise and powerful, the infectious joy of the spirit communicated, beautifully, by melodies that balance the heartfelt with the melancholy. It's all the more impressive given this material was put down live in the studio, with a few vocal overdubs. The depth of feeling at the core of Spirit Fest's music is evident from the opening notes of Bear In Town. "Kou-Kou Land," the first song on the album, recalls several earlier Tenniscoats songs in the way the musicians weave gentle complexity around a simple, repeated chant. "Lost & Found" revolves around a delightful descending chord change that breaks up the swaying, folksy verses, gorgeous electronic whirrs and purring winds floating through the song. The following "In Our House" possesses such sweet sadness, it's one of Spirit Fest's most moving songs yet. "Like A Plane" repurposes a song that Markus Acher originally wrote and recorded for his solo EP of the same title, released on a 2022 10" on Morr Music. The original was a gentle, introverted lament, but the version on Bear In Town has a widescreen tenderness, its melancholy framed by raindrop piano. The album concludes with two moments of playful splendor, the bossa-inflected "Hill Blo," and the driving title track, both led by Saya, who is in stunning voice on this album; on "Bear In Town," her awestruck wonder perfectly captures the sense of possibility in the song's capacious chords. Like the rest of the album, it's full of kindness, rich with psych-pop splendor -- a balm for troubled times.

$37.50 IN STOCK

Double LP version. Gatefold sleeve; includes printed inner sleeves and download code. "With Mirage Mirage, avant-pop quintet Spirit Fest gifts their listeners with their richest, deepest record to date. It's no surprise when you consider the group's membership: Saya and Ueno, aka the duo Tenniscoats; Markus Acher, best known as singer of The Notwist; Mat Fowler, who plays with Jam Money and Bons; and Cico Beck, who's making music with Joasinho, Aloa Input, and The Notwist. If that feels like a heavyweight line-up, that's because it is -- yet the overarching mood of Spirit Fest is one of lightness and joy, of experiment and pure pop pleasure. Sessions for the album were split between the Tenniscoats' Tokyo home studio in November 2018, and a small apartment studio in Munich in June 2019. Saya, Ueno and Markus pitched in songs, but sometimes, as with 'Fish With Arms', beguiling moments grew from group improvisations, often kicked off by Cico and Mat. All members stretched their instrumental limbs, too . . . There's a sincere, child-like generosity to the music, and a playfulness with an everyday surrealism you can hear in some of the experimental interjections across the album. Its final sound is the rolling click-clacking of a bicycle wheel. The bike was key to one of Mat's explorations of the Tenniscoats' Tokyo neighborhood . . . Stumbling across art amongst the everyday; that's also core to Spirit Fest . . . There's more here than just avant-pop: see the pronounced folksy lilt to 'The Snow Falls On Everyone'; or 'Mohikone', a gorgeous instrumental, droplets of piano pattering amongst a plangent acoustic guitar. The seven-minute 'Zenbu Honto (Every Thing Is Everything)' is a spiraling psychedelic pop mantra, with field recordings and slithering electronics tracing a path under the scrub-growth of guitar, piano, and drums. There are guest appearances from Micha Acher (The Notwist, Tied & Tickled Trio) on trumpet, and Aiko Okamoto, who takes part in the choral rounds of the album's closing tune, 'Saigo Song'. Whichever way you approach it, though, the guiding force of Spirit Fest is friendship and collaboration, giving life to collective dreaming..." --Jon Dale

$15.50 IN STOCK

"With Mirage Mirage, avant-pop quintet Spirit Fest gifts their listeners with their richest, deepest record to date. It's no surprise when you consider the group's membership: Saya and Ueno, aka the duo Tenniscoats; Markus Acher, best known as singer of The Notwist; Mat Fowler, who plays with Jam Money and Bons; and Cico Beck, who's making music with Joasinho, Aloa Input, and The Notwist. If that feels like a heavyweight line-up, that's because it is -- yet the overarching mood of Spirit Fest is one of lightness and joy, of experiment and pure pop pleasure. Sessions for the album were split between the Tenniscoats' Tokyo home studio in November 2018, and a small apartment studio in Munich in June 2019. Saya, Ueno and Markus pitched in songs, but sometimes, as with 'Fish With Arms', beguiling moments grew from group improvisations, often kicked off by Cico and Mat. All members stretched their instrumental limbs, too . . . There's a sincere, child-like generosity to the music, and a playfulness with an everyday surrealism you can hear in some of the experimental interjections across the album. Its final sound is the rolling click-clacking of a bicycle wheel. The bike was key to one of Mat's explorations of the Tenniscoats' Tokyo neighborhood . . . Stumbling across art amongst the everyday; that's also core to Spirit Fest . . . There's more here than just avant-pop: see the pronounced folksy lilt to 'The Snow Falls On Everyone'; or 'Mohikone', a gorgeous instrumental, droplets of piano pattering amongst a plangent acoustic guitar. The seven-minute 'Zenbu Honto (Every Thing Is Everything)' is a spiraling psychedelic pop mantra, with field recordings and slithering electronics tracing a path under the scrub-growth of guitar, piano, and drums. There are guest appearances from Micha Acher (The Notwist, Tied & Tickled Trio) on trumpet, and Aiko Okamoto, who takes part in the choral rounds of the album's closing tune, 'Saigo Song'. Whichever way you approach it, though, the guiding force of Spirit Fest is friendship and collaboration, giving life to collective dreaming..." --Jon Dale CD version comes in digipak; includes eight-page booklet.

$15.50 IN STOCK

Flowing and brimming with life, Anohito, the second album by indie supergroup Spirit Fest, has come ashore. The group is comprised of Tokyo-based duo Tenniscoats (Saya and Takashi Ueno), Markus Acher (The Notwist, Rayon), Cico Beck (Aloa Input, The Notwist), and Mat Fowler (Jam Money, Bons). Crossing boundaries geographically and musically, each member contributes rich experiences in collaboration. But experience can be a tricky friend to navigate, often leaving musicians trapped in their comfort zones. However, Spirit Fest embodies the idea of perpetual motion. Ever-changing and keeping their music alive, the singular souls of Spirit Fest have been drawn together a second time. In the wake of releasing their first record, the group embarked on a European tour where they found their own distinct character and collective voice. From this shared experience, new songs and recordings followed, encompassing Anohito (Japanese for "that person"). The first two album tracks were constructed on a day off in London. The triumphant opener, "Anohito (Till The Gate)", an extraordinary minor key title track, sets the tone of the record; Saya's tender voice and the shimmering, delayed guitars and zither reach delicate and pastoral heights. The loopy folktronica of "Fête De Départ" continues to preserve the pace of the album perfectly. Spirit Fest recorded the remainder of Anohito at Markus's home in Munich. Only Mat operated from London, contributing additional recordings in the form of a tape exchange. These begin with the collective lament of "Yuri's Zahn", followed by Markus's evocative banjo pop "Look At The Colours" and the twisted Raymond Scott/Dick Hyman-ish wonk of "Ueno The Future". The album draws to a close with "Takeda No Komoriuta" ("Lullaby Of Takeda"), a beautiful cover of a dark Japanese traditional, followed by the instrumental track "Bye Bye" -- a perfect collage to close and document this rich and playful collaboration by highly imaginative and ego-free musicians. CD version comes in a digipak.

$20.00 LOW STOCK LEVEL

LP version. Deluxe relief varnish artwork; includes printed inner sleeve; includes download code. Flowing and brimming with life, Anohito, the second album by indie supergroup Spirit Fest, has come ashore. The group is comprised of Tokyo-based duo Tenniscoats (Saya and Takashi Ueno), Markus Acher (The Notwist, Rayon), Cico Beck (Aloa Input, The Notwist), and Mat Fowler (Jam Money, Bons). Crossing boundaries geographically and musically, each member contributes rich experiences in collaboration. But experience can be a tricky friend to navigate, often leaving musicians trapped in their comfort zones. However, Spirit Fest embodies the idea of perpetual motion. Ever-changing and keeping their music alive, the singular souls of Spirit Fest have been drawn together a second time. In the wake of releasing their first record, the group embarked on a European tour where they found their own distinct character and collective voice. From this shared experience, new songs and recordings followed, encompassing Anohito (Japanese for "that person"). The first two album tracks were constructed on a day off in London. The triumphant opener, "Anohito (Till The Gate)", an extraordinary minor key title track, sets the tone of the record; Saya's tender voice and the shimmering, delayed guitars and zither reach delicate and pastoral heights. The loopy folktronica of "Fête De Départ" continues to preserve the pace of the album perfectly. Spirit Fest recorded the remainder of Anohito at Markus's home in Munich. Only Mat operated from London, contributing additional recordings in the form of a tape exchange. These begin with the collective lament of "Yuri's Zahn", followed by Markus's evocative banjo pop "Look At The Colours" and the twisted Raymond Scott/Dick Hyman-ish wonk of "Ueno The Future". The album draws to a close with "Takeda No Komoriuta" ("Lullaby Of Takeda"), a beautiful cover of a dark Japanese traditional, followed by the instrumental track "Bye Bye" -- a perfect collage to close and document this rich and playful collaboration by highly imaginative and ego-free musicians.

$15.50 IN STOCK

Bewitching avant-pop album from impromptu supergroup built around acclaimed Japanese duo, Tenniscoats. Aside from being the name of an influential Tokyo-based duo, Tenniscoats represents fun, artistic freedom, experimentation, and inclusivity. In the world of Tenniscoats, music can happen anywhere, and everyone is invited to join in. During the winter of 2016, the music happened in Munich. As a long-time fan, Markus Acher (Notwist) jumped at the chance not only to put Tenniscoats on the bill at the Alien Disko festival he was organizing, but also to invite Saya and Takashi to a small apartment studio, together with Mat Fowler (Jam Money), and Cico Beck (Aloa Input, Notwist). This is where Spirit Fest was recorded over the following 14 days. Tenniscoats are known for their collaborations -- some of their finest work was done in conjunction with Tape, The Pastels, Jad Fair, and many others. Mat Fowler recalls the Spirit Fest sessions taking place in an idyllic, festive atmosphere. "Every morning we'd all share breakfast, chat, and learn about German Christmas customs. We'd catch the bus in the morning and walk home in the evening. The journey ran parallel to the beautiful flowing Isar River that bubbles, ebbs and flows right through the middle of Munich." While Tenniscoats sit at the heart of proceedings, it isn't their album alone. Markus, Mat, and Cico also brought songs, providing a solid base on top of which the artistry could evolve. Mat explains, "a melody would begin, and slowly, each of us -- in our own time -- would find our way into the music. Producer Tadklimp would sensitively set-up around us in this narrow window of time, so as to document that first and intuitive moment of collective discovery." "Nearly everything was recorded live," agrees Markus, "playing and singing together in one room with piano, guitars, percussion and some keyboards." The collaborators came from Germany, Japan, the UK, Greece and beyond. From the tender beauty of Markus's "River River" and Saya's "Mikan" to the electro-Merseybeat of Tenniscoats' "Nambei", and the half-crazed pianica-reggae of "Shuti Man", the resulting album is a testament to the manner of which these musicians are able to channel their songwriting through their spontaneity. It's also a snapshot of a gentle and intuitive moment in time. CD version comes in a six-panel digipak.

$20.00 NOT IN STOCK

LP version. Gatefold sleeve; Includes printed inner sleeve; Includes download code. Bewitching avant-pop album from impromptu supergroup built around acclaimed Japanese duo, Tenniscoats. Aside from being the name of an influential Tokyo-based duo, Tenniscoats represents fun, artistic freedom, experimentation, and inclusivity. In the world of Tenniscoats, music can happen anywhere, and everyone is invited to join in. During the winter of 2016, the music happened in Munich. As a long-time fan, Markus Acher (Notwist) jumped at the chance not only to put Tenniscoats on the bill at the Alien Disko festival he was organizing, but also to invite Saya and Takashi to a small apartment studio, together with Mat Fowler (Jam Money), and Cico Beck (Aloa Input, Notwist). This is where Spirit Fest was recorded over the following 14 days. Tenniscoats are known for their collaborations -- some of their finest work was done in conjunction with Tape, The Pastels, Jad Fair, and many others. Mat Fowler recalls the Spirit Fest sessions taking place in an idyllic, festive atmosphere. "Every morning we'd all share breakfast, chat, and learn about German Christmas customs. We'd catch the bus in the morning and walk home in the evening. The journey ran parallel to the beautiful flowing Isar River that bubbles, ebbs and flows right through the middle of Munich." While Tenniscoats sit at the heart of proceedings, it isn't their album alone. Markus, Mat, and Cico also brought songs, providing a solid base on top of which the artistry could evolve. Mat explains, "a melody would begin, and slowly, each of us -- in our own time -- would find our way into the music. Producer Tadklimp would sensitively set-up around us in this narrow window of time, so as to document that first and intuitive moment of collective discovery." "Nearly everything was recorded live," agrees Markus, "playing and singing together in one room with piano, guitars, percussion and some keyboards." The collaborators came from Germany, Japan, the UK, Greece and beyond. From the tender beauty of Markus's "River River" and Saya's "Mikan" to the electro-Merseybeat of Tenniscoats' "Nambei", and the half-crazed pianica-reggae of "Shuti Man", the resulting album is a testament to the manner of which these musicians are able to channel their songwriting through their spontaneity. It's also a snapshot of a gentle and intuitive moment in time.