June 25, 2008

Neil Halstead and a new vinyl giveway from Brushfire Records

British musician Neil Halstead has produced some lovely, starry-night music in his years of tunes; with Slowdive, with Mojave 3, and solo. The first time I probably heard him was on a surf movie soundtrack, or something that conjures up a sparkling ocean in my mind. It’s gorgeous, melancholy, sleepwalking music with a strong support of melody holding it up from slogging around in the dreamland.

This song is the first listen from his forthcoming Oh! Mighty Engine album (out July 29th on Brushfire). He sings, “I just want to live somewhere where the air is sweet and clear,” and this sounds like it will be the perfect accompaniment when he does get there.

Paint A Face – Neil Halstead

This song is also the lead-off track on the newest contest item I have for your winning: Brushfire has supplied me with two 12″ vinyl samplers left from the festivities of Record Store Day. It features eight songs from their artist roster –

12″ TRACKLISTING
Neil Halstead – Paint A Face
Mason Jennings – Something About Your Love
Jack Johnson – What You Thought You Need
Matt Costa – Never Looking Back
Money Mark – Summer Blue
G. Love and Special Sauce – Crumble
(from the new album Superhero Brother, out yesterday)
Zach Gill (of ALO) – Beautiful Reason (from unreleased new album Stuff, out July 29)
Christians In Black – Rogue Wave

Not a bad selection, there. I’ve got two to give away, leave me a comment if you would like to be entered for one of ‘em. You can also buy the vinyl here if you don’t win it. Neil Halstead will be the opening act for labelmate Jack Johnson in August from Toronto to Salt Lake, and then will be announcing a West Coast headlining tour soon.

28 Comments

  • Hey Heather, Put me in. I’m seeing Jack in at Burls Creek and would love to get to know Neil. I’m in Canada though. Make a difference?

    Pinball — June 25, 2008 @ 12:12 am

  • Add my name to the list!

    Drew — June 25, 2008 @ 12:26 am

  • Hi – I’d also love to be entered into this contest. Thank you!

    shua — June 25, 2008 @ 2:26 am

  • Sign me up. Very interested.

    Josh — June 25, 2008 @ 3:20 am

  • would actually love this… thanks for considering me

    Bryan

    ack — June 25, 2008 @ 4:33 am

  • What a cool little lineup. Enter me please. Vinyl samplers – hope I start seeing more of those out there.

    Kevin — June 25, 2008 @ 6:45 am

  • Spin me right round baby, like a Brushfire record baby.
    Thanks for the opportunity to win this vinyl sampler!
    I gutted my grandparents old record cabinet (had to be done), and my dad and I are currently refurbishing with a new turntable, speakers, etc. Can’t wait for it to be completed so my two-year-old daughter can grow up listening to vinyl.
    Grazie,
    Jim

    Jimmy Diggs — June 25, 2008 @ 7:46 am

  • i’m good to go for this as well.
    thanks!

    Scott Orr — June 25, 2008 @ 7:53 am

  • I’d like the Sampler platter, please. Special Sauce on the side.

    Matt — June 25, 2008 @ 8:09 am

  • sign me up yo!

    brushfire (and ATO) are two record labels who do things right in an otherwise shitty music industry scene.

    Christopher — June 25, 2008 @ 9:32 am

  • I just brushed off my old 1974 Technics turntable. Pleeeze give me a good reason to use it – sign me up!

    itsjustme — June 25, 2008 @ 10:41 am

  • i’ll be glad to be entered in the contest

    VW — June 25, 2008 @ 10:44 am

  • Throw my name in the mix. Thanks.

    Alex — June 25, 2008 @ 10:47 am

  • This sounds lovely! …or it will :) sign me up sista!

    Heather Ainsworth — June 25, 2008 @ 10:58 am

  • I’ve loved Neil since i heard a song of his on the Sprout soundtrack. Please put me in the running.
    Matt

    Matt Carr — June 25, 2008 @ 12:11 pm

  • Oh, I’d love to win this vinyl!

    Jason — June 25, 2008 @ 12:28 pm

  • yes please!

    frankie dartz — June 25, 2008 @ 3:42 pm

  • I would love to groove to this. Thanks Heather!!

    LeaD — June 25, 2008 @ 6:51 pm

  • Would love to hear it, put me down for an entry.

    Stephen Kuykendall — June 25, 2008 @ 6:55 pm

  • I’d love to hear it! Count me in!

    Mike

    Mike Todd — June 25, 2008 @ 9:37 pm

  • Sign me up! i t z d at yahoo d o t com

    lauren — June 26, 2008 @ 5:12 am

  • Just thought I’d say: vinyl.

    How nice…

    The Vinyl District — June 26, 2008 @ 12:34 pm

  • I really like Matt Costa; i think his songs are really creative and well produced. Also, the Jack Johnson live in Japan DVD was a really clutch purpose and has him and Money Mark and a couple of other brushfire guys traipsing around japan and surfing. Oh yea, and sign me up please.kg

    Binch — June 26, 2008 @ 4:18 pm

  • Always interested in contests for great music!

    Nathan — June 26, 2008 @ 10:13 pm

  • Neil Halstead has come on my radar screen at least twice a year for the last 15 years of so. Somehow or another I have gazed at my shoes at a Slowdive show at the Metro in Chicago, chatted with Neil and Rachel when Mojave 3 came to Portland, OR. Various albums show up in the dollar bins of area stores! From dark 4AD days to sunny Brushfire days, I expect Neil and his music to be part of my world for a long time to come.

    mattreader — June 29, 2008 @ 6:28 am

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Bio Pic Name: Heather Browne
Location: Colorado, originally by way of California
Giving context to the torrent since 2005.

"I love the relationship that anyone has with music: because there's something in us that is beyond the reach of words, something that eludes and defies our best attempts to spit it out. It's the best part of us, probably, the richest and strangest part..."
—Nick Hornby, Songbook
"Music has always been a matter of energy to me, a question of Fuel. Sentimental people call it Inspiration, but what they really mean is Fuel."
—Hunter S. Thompson

Mp3s are for sampling purposes, kinda like when they give you the cheese cube at Costco, knowing that you'll often go home with having bought the whole 7 lb. spiced Brie log. They are left up for a limited time. If you LIKE the music, go and support these artists, buy their schwag, go to their concerts, purchase their CDs/records and tell all your friends. Rock on.

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