This is a re-post of my August 2006 interview with Chad VanGaalen. I remember calling Chad up just before the release of his second album, Skelliconnection. We talked a lot about his recording process, building homemade instruments, and his endless backlog of unreleased songs. Chad released Soft Airplane on Sub Pop last year and on August 11th Flemish Eye will release the debut from his alias Black Mold.

Hugh Miller: Who was the first person who encouraged you to release your music?

Chad VanGaalen: I was putting out tapes and CDRs independently for a long time by myself. Ian Russell, the guy that runs Flemish Eye [VanGaalen’s label in Canada], the label that put Infiniheart out originally, was probably the first person that was seriously interested in putting anything out.

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Here’s my top ten of 2008, in alphabetical order (of course):

Andrew Morgan – Andrew Morgan (Independent)
This self titled effort from Lawrence, Kansas songwriter Andrew Morgan was first released by Moorworks in Japan in April. However, it is the digital version that Morgan released on his web site shortly after with a slightly different tracklisting that stands as the definitive version of his second full length. More accessible than its predecessor (2004’s wonderful Misadventures In Radiology), but by no means watered down, this is Andrew Morgan at the top of his game. Chamber pop may not be fashionable like it was at the start of this decade, but Morgan’s brilliant arrangements are breathing life into one of my favorite genres.

Benoît Pioulard – Temper (Kranky)
If you are a fan of Chicago’s Kranky label, then you have no excuse not to own this sophomore release from Benoît Pioulard. Temper isn’t necessarily new ground for Pioulard (real name Tom Meluch), serving instead as a pleasant extension of his 2006 debut, Précis. I struggle to think of another artist who is able to coherently blend melancholy folk with mesmerizing ambient instrumentals.

Chad VanGaalen – Soft Airplane (Sub Pop)
Of all the artists in Sub Pop’s history, Chad VanGaalen is among the most peculiar. Fortunately, he is also one of their best talents in recent memory. This Calgary resident splits his time between his basement and the half-pipe in his back yard. While he’s in the basement, VanGaalen builds instruments by hand for future compositions. His third LP, Soft Airplane, is a complex beast that features many of his best songs released to date. Some of VanGaalen’s work is compared to Neil Young, but with each record he releases, it is obvious that he is slowly establishing his own DIY sound that is morbid, beautiful, and exciting.

Mogwai – The Hawk Is Howling (Matador)
I wasn’t a big Mogwai fan prior to hearing The Hawk Is Howling, but they have my full attention now. A brutal combination of soft and loud. The drones coming out of Glasgow are still splendid.

Portishead – Third (Mercury)
I always say that Portishead isn’t a band I listen to often, but when I do go back and listen to their albums, I regain my immense respect for their music. Third is the comeback album of the year and very few people will argue that. It is the album that I never thought would happen, an album that I had enormously low expectations for. I’m not sure how, but they’ve managed to stay relevant all these years later.

Spiritualized – Songs In A & E (Fontant Int’l)
He had to go through a series of near-death experiences beforehand, but Jason Pierce finally released a new Spiritualized record in 2008. His voice has clearly aged, diminishing the strength of his vocals at times, but this only adds to the haunting nature of the album. One of the most startling things about Songs In A & E is that it was written before Pierce’s bout with periorbital cellulitis and bilateral pneumonia. Pierce’s fixation on blues and soul music remains, but the compact construction of A & E makes it one of his most cohesive releases yet. A & E soars because Pierce has learned that less can be more.

The Tallest Man On Earth – Shallow Grave (Gravitation)
Refer to my post from 12/6/08.

TV On The Radio – Dear Science (DGC/Interscope)
Refer to my post from 12/9/08.

Earlier this year, Calgary’s Flemish Eye Records released the self titled debut from Women, a little known Canadian quartet. Women are fortunate enough to count Flemish Eye labelmate Chad VanGaalen as one of their biggest fans. VanGaalen produced the album shares concert bills with the group on a regular basis. It appears that Flemish Eye’s release of the album generated some notice here in the states. That attention culminated in July when it was announced that Jagjaguwar had signed the band and would be handling the U.S. release, which will take place on October 7th. Women will spend the fall season touring, not only with VanGaalen but also with Dungen and Julie Doiron. Dates are listed below:

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