Yalls is on fire.  The prolific and talented artist recently dropped a new EP and has been keeping quite busy while prepping his new LP which we hope to share with you later this year.  It’s sometimes hard to keep track of all the awesome stuff he’s doing, but this will get you started:

• Doing a DJ set for Matthew Dear and James & Evander tomorrow (Wednesday May 22nd) at The Mezzanine in SF.
• Dropping some knowledge on PORTALS in their Silk Screens series where he describes the making of his “Remember” track.
• Remixing a new track by Churches.

You can still grab a copy of his limited edition Fantasy 7” right here on Gold Robot Records.

The prolific Yalls dropped a free EP today in anticipation of his full-length which is due later this year (right here on Gold Robot Records).  We’re loving these tracks, which you can grab for free right here.

If you haven’t gotten a copy of his limited edition Fantasy 7”, you should check it out as well.

Check out a new mix by our main man Yalls for the folks at Real Gold Plated, it features some gems by fellow Bay Area artists and a few of his own reworkings.

Tracklist:
Rhye – “The Fall (Yalls Bootleg)”
Glenn Jackson – “Save”
Yalls – “Outerbanks (Friendzone Remix from Academy of Science night)”
Majical Cloudz – “Turns Turns Turns (Yalls Remix)”
Antwon – “Automatic”
Heathered Pearls – “Precious Dive”
Dave Reep/Dan Casey – “DD-LRPARMS”
Wildarms – “Unity”
Luminous Veil – “Flesh Origami”

You can also grab a copy of the limited edition Fantasy 7” while they’re still available.

Yalls has a more guitar-centric side project titled Steezy Ray Vibes.  A new track and video recently premiered over on FADER:

“Dan Casey is clearly not rushing his Steezy Ray Vibes alter-ego, a fittingly snaily pace for such unhurried, spot-on tracks. Nine months after sharing the demo of “Empty City,” the guitar-wielding counterpoint to Casey’s more electronic persona Yalls has returned with “Endless Calm.” In an email, Casey described the visuals as “my own little Tree of Life creation sequence.” I don’t know about you, but from where I’m sitting, it’s a crazily windy Thursday afternoon with the setting sun bouncing off a glass building and straight into my eyes, and a leisurely guitar jam like this is about all I want to hear.” - Duncan Cooper

Grab a copy of the Yalls Fantasy 7” here!

THE YEAR IN GOLD ROBOT VINYL RELEASES

One of the great things about a year ending is that it gives us a chance to sit back and reflect on all that has happened in our little world.  Here at Gold Robot, 2012 has been fairly epic, no matter how you measure it.  We released 9 vinyl records over the last 12 months (out of a total of 30 since the label was founded in 2007).  The growth of the label is a testament to the artists and their talent.  I’d like to think that GRR occupies a small spot of the music landscape where we support creative artists and projects that might not have been made otherwise.  So, thanks for everyone’s support thus far, and we hope to continue to bring you interesting and entertaining releases for many years to come.  Here’s a chronological snapshot of our year in vinyl, meant to introduce us to folks who might not have ever heard of Gold Robot or to remind the longtime fans of some releases that might have slipped past their radar.

[Feb 21, 2012] Yalls - Fantasy 7”
I have loved working with Dan Casey (aka Yalls) over the last 1+ years, the dude is amazingly talented and prolific.  In my eyes, this is the perfect 7” as it has three brilliant tracks that showcase the Yalls sound.  I’m really looking forward to his proper debut LP, tentatively scheduled for 2013. (buy the record)

[Feb 28, 2012] Roman Ruins - Homebuilding 12”
Seeing this record finally come into existence was one of the highlights of my year, as I’d been hearing drafts and glimpses for a long while.  While Graham Hill (aka Roman Ruins) might be better known as the drummer for Papercuts or former tour/session drummer for Beach House, he’s also the primary reason this label exists.  I can’t recommend this album enough. (buy the record)

[March 20, 2012] James & Evander - Let’s Go b/w Welcome to Planet Dance 7”
Another local act which was an amazing pleasure to work with this year was James & Evander.  I loved how they approached this 7” as a concept piece to explore new sounds, and the success of their recent LP makes it that much sweeter. (buy the record)

[May 15, 2012] Conveyor - Mane 7”
I was introduced to this amazing band early in the year and couldn’t be happier for these talented guys out of Brooklyn.  The two tracks on this beautiful 7”, combined with the artwork, are an example of why we’re in this business in the first place.  I’ve seen their debut LP on many year-end lists already, which is wholly deserved. (buy the record)

[June 19, 2012] Monster Rally - Beyond the Sea 12”
Over the last few years, no other artist has pushed the label harder than Monster Rally.  His design sensibility is perfectly matched for what we try to do, his output is unparalleled, and his aesthetic vision continues to inspire us.  His latest LP marked our first gatefold LP (and largest 12” run to date), and the sounds add to his growing and impressive portfolio. (sold out, download here)

[September 4, 2012] RUMTUM / Catamaran - New Goth Gypsies 7”
You’ve probably heard it before, but we love to make split 7” records.  Their place in the music culture has a special spot in my heart, and the ability to pair artists and perhaps expand their respective audiences is really intriguing.  The two tracks on this 7”, combined with some gorgeous packaging, make it an important part of our catalog. (buy the record)

[September 11, 2012] Seamonster - Baldessari 12”
This is exactly the type of record which Gold Robot aspires to release.  When Todd Webb (aka Seamonster) and I started working together 3 years ago, first corresponding with letters and packages and eventually resulting in the Two Birds 7”, I knew I had found an artist who really understood what GRR was trying to do.  This LP was dreamed up by the artist, and the principles and story behind how it was made couldn’t be cooler. (buy the record)

[December 4, 2012] Monster Rally & RUMTUM - Coasting 12”
This 12” featured our first full-sided etching along with a collection of sounds foraged by a couple of talented musicians with similar passions.  From this end, it’s really amazing to see how the tracks take shape and how each artist puts their stamp on the final sound. (sold out, download here)

[December 4, 2012] Seamonster - Neighbors 7”
Our only collaborative release of 2012 found us working with the amazing Turntable Kitchen on this limited edition record as part of their pairings box subscription series.  Seamonster recorded a couple of tracks that had previously never been released, and they’re both quite arresting. (buy the record)

Thanks again for a wonderful year of vinyl, we couldn’t have done it without the fans, the writers, the collaborators, and (of course) the artists.

Seamonster’s Baldessari LP drops today!  The vinyl edition is limited to 250 copies pressed on easter yellow wax and all orders will instantly receive an MP3 download of the album.  The digital version also includes bonus remixes by Monster Rally, Yalls, Roman Ruins, Eric Steuer, and DJP & MrT!

The album is named after John Baldessari, an artist whose creative appropriation of discarded materials to make new and interesting art was a huge inspiration to the process of making this particular group of songs. The following instruments were used to create this record: Casio Sk-10 toy keyboard (which he received as a Christmas present in second grade), Yamaha PortaSound PSS-130 (thrifted), ukulele, an old iphone (purchased from a friend for $50), a Campbell’s soup can, and a broken Danelectro guitar.

“The results are sublime and beautiful.”
- YVYNYL

“Musically, Webb balances elements of traditional songwriting against his conceptual musical explorations. For example, there are clear sonic road signs pointing to his Elephant 6-inspired background (especially Neutral Milk Hotel and early Apples In Stereo). Throughout, lo-fi psych gives way to fully textured compositions and delicately threaded instrumentation.”
- Turntable Kitchen

“Building a lush orchestra of what I sometimes think of as “miniature noises” with less presence, but that in Webb’s work gain a new potential to inform the overall system, which unfolds most spectacularly in the presence of his voice.”
- Decoder Magazine

Buy the limited edition 12” now over at the GRR shop!