You’ve been so patient. 

Here it is – the long awaited first single from our forthcoming album Ascent and The Secret There Below…

Analog Moon - Soda City
(Click to play or right-click and “save as…” to save)

This is the first peek at material from our new album, Ascent and The Secret There Below, which is due out this summer.  It was recorded at Echo Mountain in Asheville, NC as well as at our very own Circuit Rider Studios.  It was mastered by Dave Harris at Studio B in Charlotte, NC.

The rest is on the way!

Analog Moon has begun mixing a new album which will be released in Summer 2010.  I approached Asheville producer/engineer/drummer Jon Ashley in late 2008 to begin development of a batch of songs that I’d begun writing earlier that year.  We spent the following year and a half recording those songs at Echo Mountain Recording along with some new pieces and some additions by Jon.  After revamping and rewriting for weeks and months, we’ve narrowed the pool to a core ten songs which we believe most appropriately convey the ideas of the project.

The album will be called Ascent and The Secret There Below.  I don’t want to reveal too much about the subject matter, as I believe these things are best left to interpretation by the listener.  I will say that I think the album represents a new phase for Analog Moon, and while there are similarities to our old sound, it’s a bold departure from anything we’ve done before.  Most of the instrumentation was performed by myself and Jon, but we did enjoy some collaboration from friends, old and new.  Ryan Monroe, while in town working on another project, lent his hand for some piano and electric piano parts.  Craig Larimer of Modo provided some electric piano as well.  Rusty Ginn also returned to the fold to add some organ parts and will possibly be performing live with the band again soon.  Asheville, NC via Columbia, SC musician Barrett Smith paid a visit and knocked out a spectacular upright bass part for a Jon Ashley composition.  Tentatively, the tracklist is as follows:

1. True Secrets of the Wiser
2. Soda City
3. Six Ways to Sunny Days
4. The Hillside Cries for Carmen Frye
5. At Algeciras
6. Alley Alley Adam
7. The Peoples Church
8. Marked for Number Nine
9. Marked (I’m Slipping Away)
10. Esther, You Wouldn’t Believe

As of now, we’re planning to release the album on our label, Circuit Rider.  We’re pushing very hard for a June release date, and will be celebrating the release here in Asheville and in our old home of Columbia.  We’ll be adding additional performances as well, as we put the final touches on the live configuration and performance.  We’ve worked very hard on this record, and needless to say, we’re very excited to get it out there and to see all of your faces again soon.  The first single, Soda City, will be available for your listening pleasure sometime over the next couple of weeks, so keep your ears peeled.  See you soon!

 Analog Moon played its first gig on June 17, 2005. In the three years that followed, we met a lot of great people, played for some great crowds as well as for just the crew and the bartenders on some nights, driven for miles, and slept on a lot of couches. Most of all, we had a great time, and I’m very proud of what we’ve accomplished thus far. As many of you know, I’ve recently moved from Columbia to Asheville, NC. That move will bring about a lot of change for Analog Moon, most notably, a parting of ways between myself and my Columbia brethren.

So as Analog Moon enters a new phase, I’d like to personally thank the extremely talented musicians that played a part in its formative years. First, Rusty Ginn, who was there at the band’s conception deserves much credit for his ideas and patience while I brainstormed for the original direction of the project. Chris Jones, who signed on soon after, has also been a notable creative force and, aside from myself, has been the band’s longest running member. James Ervin has been an enormous source of energy and a fantastic bass player. Other members have included Chris Deaver, Brian Sansbury, Stephen Stokes, and Scott Crossley, all very talented musicians whom I’m lucky to have shared a stage or bar floor with. Ryan Monroe, Jeff Kozelski, and Dennis Ware have all contributed as well, whether it be in the studio or as last minute fill-ins to help us fulfill a gig obligation. To each of you I owe my appreciation.

As for what the future holds, I can’t tell. I’m continuing to write and explore more sonic ground. Analog Moon will continue, but in what format I do not know. I’m truly enjoying my time in Asheville and can’t wait to see how it influences my perception of music, art, and of the world in general. Analog Moon was always an experiment, the focal point of which is the unknown. In that realm, we’ve found favor. Here’s to continuing in that direction, whatever it may be.

Cheers!
-todd

 Achtung! We’re transmittin’ on all available frequencies! Tune in to the following and hear Analog Moon doin’ its thing:

February 14, 10pm ET – Valentines Day! – XM Satellite Radio – Analog Moon will be featured once again on XM Sattelite Radio’s Channel 43, XMU. This week’s Radar Report is a unique one. XMU says, “We will be featuring our favorite bands that we have featured over the past two months.” Thanks, guys!

February 22, 4pm ET – WARQ 93.5 FM, Columbia, SC – Analog Moon will be appearing LIVE with Matt Lee promoting that night’s “Friday Night Live” Concert Series. Tune in from 4-6pm and then come out that night for some serious rock and roll when Analog Moon and SeepeopleS will take the stage at Headliners.

March 7, 4pm ET – WUSC 90.5 FM, Columbia, SC – Analog Moon will be appearing LIVE on The Columbia Beet.

June 1, 8pm ET – WXRY 99.3 FM, Columbia, SC – Analog Moon will be appearing LIVE on WXRY Unsigned.

Can’t get enough? Love your Analog Moon buddies and want to do anything you can to help them out? Contact your favorite radio station and request something from our new album, AM Radio. Here’s the scoop:

WARQ 93.5 FM (Columbia, SC) Request Line: (803)695-9935

WUSC 90.5 FM (Columbia, SC) Request Line: (803)576-9872 AOL Screename: wusconair

WXRY 99.3 FM (Columbia, SC) Request Line: (803)227-0222 or 1-800-978-9930 AOL Screename: wxryonair

WNCW 88.7 FM (Asheville, NC), 92.9 FM (Boone, NC), 100.3 FM (Charlotte, NC), 97.3 FM (Greenville, SC), Request Line: (828)287-8080 email: request@wncw.org

XM Satellite Radio’s XMU Channel 43 (Earth) Request Line: 1-866-BUG-THEU

Enjoy!

 Taking Europe by storm…er…radio! We are very happy to announce that our new album, AM Radio, is now enjoying radio play in Europe. Lord Litter’s Magic Music Box first featured song, Floor 33, in January of 2008. Lord Litter’s German radio show is broadcast via Radio Marabu over AM, FM, shortwave, satellite, and online. The original show can be downloaded in its entirety here.

Our European listeners can purchase our new album, AM Radio, as well as our other albums on .

Bis später!

 XM Radio Channel 43, XMU, will be highlighting Analog Moon as the featured artist of the week on it’s weekly R>A>D>A>R Report. The R>A>D>A>R Report is a special feature highlighting XMU’s most notable bands each week. Analog Moon will be the featured band out of 13 new artists during the Thursday, November 22nd show at 10pm ET. The R>A>D>A>R Report re-airs every Friday at 2pm ET and Saturday at 6am ET. So you have three chances to listen! Here’s how:

If you have XM Satellite Radio, simply tune in to Channel 43 on Thursday, November 22 at 10pm ET, Friday at 2pm ET, or Saturday at 6am ET. If you don’t have XM, you can listen online with A FREE ACCOUNT. Just go to xmro.xmradio.com and use the following code: XMB4MD
You can listen for several days for free with no credit cards. All you need is an email address. If you want to sign up, you can use the Friends and Family Plan: friends.xmradio.com and use R>A>D>A>R Report host, Billy Zero’s email address – billyzero@xmradio.com.

 THE NEW ALBUM IS HERE!!!

At long last, the release of AM Radio is upon us. Thursday night we will be celebrating with you, our friends, at the fountain in 5 Points (that’s cola, sc). We’ve got The Specs from Charleston and The Dave Britt Band performing as well as Analog Moon, so get there early.

We’ve been working on this album for well over a year. It really stepped up in February, when we went to Boston to lay down the foundation of what would become our most ambitious endeavor to date. Now, with it finished, it’s time to celebrate! We’ll be giving away a few free CDs as well as a couple of t-shirts and anything else we can dig out of the trailer. This is a 5 Points After 5 event, so get there early. You know…sometime after 5. We’re very excited to see you all.

FREE TIMES: Blue Mountain, Chevelle, Analog Moon and More

 FREE TIMES: Music Crawl 2007

Fall is a magical time of year. The temperature cools, the leaves change and thousands of music-hungry Palmetto staters descend on the Vista for the Crawl.

Originated in 1999 as an effort to highlight, promote and support the diversity of musical talent in and around Columbia, the Free Times Music Crawl celebrates its eighth installment on Saturday with 24 acts spread across six stages in the Vista. For a mere $5, patrons 18 and older can freely visit stages at the Art Bar (where there are two stages), Flying Saucer, Headliners and Wild Wing Café for a full evening of eclectic and cutting-edge music, plus an info booth/stage in front of Blue Marlin. Wristbands sold at each venue will enable patrons to visit all five stages. more…

 Seven is the magic number!

What’s a seven-letter word for “surrounding conditions”? C-L-I-M-A-T-E

If I were you, I’d seriously consider going to Charleston, SC, this weekend to enjoy a great concert for a great cause. On Saturday night (the 7th night of the week), Analog Moon, Josh Roberts & the Hinges, and Danielle Howle will perform at The Music Farm as the Friends of Live Earth present the South Carolina Change the Climate Concert. Not to get all political on you, but if there is one issue that crosses party lines (especially here in our state), it’s the environment. So whether you’re red or blue, consider being green and having a good time with us on Saturday night, 7/7/07.

On a different note, thanks to everyone who came out to brave the heat and then the lightning and then the rain this past Saturday at the West Columbia Riverwalk Amphitheater. We managed to get one set out before our very brave crew and some good friends managed to pack the entire stage rig just ahead of the storm.

Note: This weekend’s show is for the climate, not in it. Get there early. The door opens at…wait for it…

…8.

I know. It’s Mickey Mantle’s number. So not only is it an all-around beautiful name, it is also a living tribute.
- George Costanza

 Since our last correspondence, we’ve released a live album and gone to Boston to record a studio album. We won’t bore you with every other boring detail, but we do have some fun stuff on the horizon. This Saturday, for example, we’ll be playing at the West Columbia Riverwalk Amphitheater for the final 2007 installment of the CMC Steel Rhythm On The River Concert Series. We’re looking forward to a great time. The fun starts at 5, so don’t be late. In addition to the regular Rhythm On The River tomfoolery, you’ll have the opportunity to help those less fortunate in our great state. This is from CMC Steel:

In response to the news over the weekend, the CMC Steel Rhythm on the River Concert Series has teamed up with Hardee’s, the Cayce West Columbia Jaycees, and ESPN Radio’s “The Sports Drive” to invite everyone to “Rock CAN Roll” for the Harvest Hope Food Bank on Saturday, June 30th.

From 5pm -8pm, everyone who brings 5 non-perishable food items or makes a monetary donation of $10 or more will receive a coupon for a FREE Hardee’s Thickburger. This will coincide with the final show of the Rhythm on the River Concert Series, featuring Analog Moon, at the West Columbia Riverwalk Amphitheater. Admission to the concert is FREE.

Harvest Hope Food Bank serves over 200,00 families in central South Carolina and recently lost over 150,000 pounds of food due to a faulty sprinkler system.

For more information, contact the West Metro Chamber of Commerce at 794-6504.

So bring some canned goods and get a free burger. Admission to the show is free. That sounds like quite a bargain. The best you ever had? Perhaps. There’s more to come on the upcoming studio album. So stay tuned!

For more info on the Rhythm On The River Concert Series, visit www.rhythmontheriversc.com.