This week Polyvinyl starts shipping pre-orders of a new release from personal faves Ida, an EP titled "My Fair My Dark" that officially arrives in stores on August 5th. The 7-track disc (8 on vinyl!) follows fairly closely on the heels of their gorgeous January-released "Lovers Prayers" full-length, and includes material recorded during those sessions at Levon Helms' farm in upstate NY. Order it up here, and vinyl-lovers should note that the 12" version includes download codes for 256kbps Mp3s of all the songs (including the vinyl's bonus track).
Here's what the Ida site has to say about the EP's contents...
To celebrate this new release, here's a recording of Ida's most-recent visit to the Boston area, a hushed set (as Dan says, "quietest Dreamdate ever") at the Nave Gallery inside Somerville's Clarendon Hill Presbyterian Church, which includes an audience-assisted live version of one of the new originals ("Don't Wreck It"). The stripped-down band was Dan, Liz, and violinist Jean Cook (whose harmonies are much-appreciated, especially in the absence of newish mom Karla Schickele), and they were joined on a few songs by friend and show opener Michael Hurley. Word is that the full lineup will tour Japan later this year once Karla and drummer Ruth Keating (also taking a mom-break) return to the fold. Here's wishing that us statesiders get the same treatment soon after, and I've also got high hopes for a Boston visit from Liz & Dan's children's music incarnation sometime soon. Our little guy is ready to find out where the songs he loves come from...
Additional Audio: Ida generously makes live audio available on their own Audio Archive page (update coming 'shortly'). You can stream the entirety of their latest full length, "Lovers Prayers", right here. Polyvinyl has many Ida Mp3s available for sampling, including...
Many more Mp3 and streamable links can be found through the Polyvinyl Ida page. Stream their wonderful children's music at the You Are My Flower site. If you're the parent of a young one, those albums couldn't be more highly recommended.
Photos: Ida keeps their own photos here, and my Flickr-hosted shots are over here. Check out a full Ida Flickr tag search for tons more. Which includes pics of many women named Ida.
Upcoming Ida live appearances...
Saturday, Aug. 16th @ Schuba's in Chicago, IL
August 25th @ Hotel Cafe in Los Angeles, CA
September 5th @ Bottom of the Hill in San Francisco, CA with Michael Hurley, Amy Annelle, & Ralph White
September 12th @ the Vera Project in Seattle, WA with Tara Jane Oneil
September 15th @ Doug Fir Lounge in Portland, OR with Tara Jane Oneil
Easily stream any and all 'Nac-hosted Mp3s over at Le Hype Machine.
the fine print... If anyone has an issue with these Mp3s being made available, just let me know (my contact info in the 'nac faq). Live sets recorded with a Sony ECM-719 mic and a Sony MZ-RH10 minidisc, converted to .wav and then edited to 192kbps Mp3s. Files are made available for a limited time, and are not reposted once removed.
