Summersteps Records News

It’s been five long years since Kid Icarus’ last album proper, The Metal West. After some interminable delays, we are proud to present the newest addition to the K.I. discography, Imaginary Songs & Aluminum Hits. Please help us celebrate the release with a semi-rare performance by the group at Scranton, PA’s finest local record emporium, Embassy Vinyl with a free show. Supporting acts These Elk Forever and Eww Yaboo will help ring in the news. LP is available for pre-order at our online shop now and is available in a limited edition pressing on vinyl in addition to various and sundry digital outlets.

Come and celebrate the vinyl release of The Marshmallow Staircase’s magnum opus Terror De Lune. Experience the full band assault of the Staircase with a live line up featuring members of Scranton underground sensations Fulmarine Petrels and Das Black Milk both fresh off tour and recent live sets at WFMU. The show will also feature opening sets from The Dirt Vultures and Esophagus.

Click here to grab a live version of The Marshmallow Staircase performing “Alpha Centurai” live. LP pre-orders are being accepted now at our shop for $12 postpaid. Act now, it’s an extremely limited pressing.

Prices include shipping.

USA $12.00 Canada $13.00 International $24.00

Kid Icarus began as the solo home recording project of Eric Schlittler, and has spent the past fourteen years or so growing and evolving into an electrified psychedelic folk rock quartet. From cutting his first record in a stranger’s living room to recording most of his latest opus in a geodesic dome in Central Pennsylvania; from ramshackle, half finished acoustic numbers to epic, multi part space rock suites, Schlittler’s growth as a musician and songwriter has consistently kept those in the know anxiously awaiting his next move. There’s been a lot of waiting lately—five years since their last full length The Metal West, with nothing but a split 7” and a compilation track in between—we’re proud to report that it’s been worth every minute of waiting: here is Imaginary Songs & Aluminum Hits, the strongest and most focused Kid Icarus record to date.

The transition from solo bedroom project to full band onslaught has been completed: Schlittler’s swirling rhythm guitar, Justin Marchegiani’s chiming leads and Ted Baird’s melodic, post punk basslines provide the foundation for the majority of tracks here, years of live gigs having fine tuned their chemistry to the point where their amalgamated sound is now a Kid Icarus trademark. But while this is, for the most part, a full band affair, there are still plenty of throwbacks to the bedroom alchemy of earlier days, with Schlittler occasionally going it alone or teaming up with local songwriter Gregory Gover (These Elk Forever) on some of the album’s quieter moments.

In any event, this album is sure to please fans of anything that falls into the intersection between indie rock, folk, and psychedelia: think Robyn Hitchcock, early Guided By Voices, Sebadoh, Gary Higgins, Roky Erickson, and such. A solid effort, with enough twists and turns to make for a rewarding listening experience that you’ll no doubt return to again and again, finding something new and exciting every time.

The LP is pressed in a limited edition of 250 LPs and includes a free mp3 download. We are accepting pre-orders now and the LP will be officially available on 8/17. Check out free mp3s of “Dig Architecture” and “Projection Loop” from the LP now!

All Orders Include Postage

US $12.00 Canada $14.00 International $24.00

After years of kicking around the underground with handmade CD-R releases of aggressive bass propelled psychedelia and Hawkwind informed space rituals, The Marshmallow Staircase emerge with their first vinyl release Terror De Lune. It’s a limited edition vinyl and digital release. Vinyl copies will be scarce with a hand numbered & limited edition. Pressed on 100 % virgin wax and lovingly hand assembled. It won’t be officially available until 7/20 but we are officially taking pre-orders now! To help get you excited check out a free mp3 of “Lesbian Sushi” from the album.

Psychatrone Rhonedakk doesn’t get out very much these days but he has some news to share with the outside world. First off, he has assembled a new release. It’s a “best of” collection and digital-only release entitled Cyber Space Rituals. It features choice cuts from his official albums along with some unreleased mixes and alternate takes. You can download it via iTunes and other fine digital shops out there on the interwebs.

Psychatrone also recently paid tribute to his pen pal Chris Knox, who suffered from a life altering stroke on June 11 2009. Please check out Psychatrone’s homage to Chris here. Make sure to check out the rest of Chris Knox’s official website & pick up a copy of the fund-raising double CD, STROKE, that features tons of amazing musicians playing Chris’s songs.

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New amasa track is available here for free download. It’s a cover of the Sean Kingston track “Take You There” featuring Futuresaurs Next on guitar and vox.

YouTube clip over here.

While Scranton based psychedelic rock wunderkinds, The SW!MS, may be taking a little time off to regroup, we’ve teamed up with founding member Brian to bring you some free unreleased holiday SW!MS music. First up, is a free download of the group playing 2007’s Summersteps Records’ Holiday bash in acoustic mode. Grab it here.

Tracklisting:
1. Take A Dip
2. Blood In The Lanai
3. That’s What You Get
4. Depth Charge
5. Pile Of Features
6. EV-9D9
7. Truffleberry Wine
8. Sara Jean
9. 93 Spurs
10. Jack In The Box (De Spys Cover)
11. Festooned
12. Center Eye

…and while we’re in the giving spirit, here’s a free download of the now out of print SW!MS release on Summersteps Handmade, Festooned – A Pile of Christmas’s. Download it here and have a merry one!

Tracklisting:

1. Festooned
2. I Know What Donnie Jeffcoat Is Gettin’
3. Silver Bells
4. Christmas Sweater
5. Cheerkick
6. Placenta of Christ
7. Jingle-Jangle

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Shipping

US $3.00 Canada $5.00 Worldwide $7.00

Summersteps Records is proud to announce our latest release, The Dan Aykroyd Compilation. A semi-concept record & homage to one of our favorite “not ready for prime time” players, the album will be available in a limited edition run of 100 cassettes (access to a free mp3 download will be included). We are accepting pre-orders now and the official release date is 12/19. Tapes are $3 postpaid.

Tracklisting:
1. Ode to Mr. Aykroyd – Maryl-lyn Cooper
2. Mr Thickdick and Mr Urinal Cake – The SW!MS
3. The Unidentified Flying Ballad of Daniel – The Cult of James
4. Dan Aykroyd Fight Tape – These Elk Forever
5. Retired Ghost Hunter – Kid Icarus
6. Neighbors – Tigers Jaw
7. Spies Like Us – amasa
8. Ray Toy – Fulmarine Petrels
9. Magic – Das Black Milk
10. Ghosts of Your Past – My Dad Is A Dinosaur
11. Hittin’ on Dana – Girls Galore

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