Album Review: David Kilgour and the Heavy Eights - End Times Undone

The opening track to David Kilgour and the Heavy Eights’ End Times Undone fades in quietly as if trying not to disturb and to pretend that it was playing the whole time.

When it’s sure it has been noticed, the opening track “Like Rain” kicks into a slightly higher gear. It’s still relaxed, but there’s a vibrance to this song - and to the album as a whole - that makes End Times Undone feel more alive than its 2011 predecessor Left By Soft.

The best example of this comes on the next song, “Lose Myself in Sound.” The opening guitar splashes aggressively, but it’s cut off quickly and allowed to ring while the percussion begins to drive the song underneath all the swirling tones and colors.

Merge 25 Night 3: David Kilgour and The Heavy Eights, The Mountain Goats

All photos by Kevin Norris

Friday night continued on with one of the heaviest bands currently on the Merge roster or, at least, that’s what they sounded like during their performance.

David Kilgour and the Heavy Eights brought a wall of sound and an aggression to their performance that was surprising and energetic. It continued the trend at Merge 25 of bands that may sound lighter on their records, but were really bringing it for the festival.

David Kilgour & The Heavy Eights releasing 'End Times Undone' in August, share "Comin' On"

New Zealand singer-songwriter and The Clean co-founder David Kilgour is back with a new album this year with The Heavy Eights, the follow-up to 2011's Left By Soft. The album is titled End Times Undone and it will be released by Merge Records on August 5.

Check out the music video for the album's seventh track "Comin' On" as well as the complete track list for End Times Undone below. The vinyl edition of the album will be pressed on randomly colored vinyl.

As previously mentioned, The Clean's Anthology will be reissued as a deluxe four-LP set on July 15. David Kilgour and The Heavy Eights will play the Merge 25 Festival at the Cat's Cradle on July 25 with Destroyer, Wye Oak, The Mountain Goats, Imperial Teen, Hospitality, Saint Rich and The Vertical Scratchers. The show is sold out.

Merge Records announces full Merge 25 Festival lineup

Merge Records has just unveiled the full lineup for its four-day 25th anniversary bonanza in Carrboro and Durham, adding some big acts to the already stellar bunch that was previously released.

The newly announced performers are Mount Moriah, William Tyler, Reigning Sound, Telekinesis, Eleanor Friedberger, Amor de Días, Hiss Golden Messenger (the newest addition to the Merge family), David Kilgour and the Heavy 8s, Imperial Teen, Hospitality, Saint Rich, Vertical Scratchers, Teenage Fanclub, Mikal Cronin and The Music Tapes. The day each artist is performing has also been announced and you can check out the day-by-day breakdown below.

A press release noted "We have plenty more surprises up our sleeves, so stay tuned as we celebrate Merge 25!"

Richard Buckner plays a stunning set at the ArtsCenter

All photos by Kevin Norris

Singer-songwriter Richard Buckner rolled into Carrboro Wednesday evening for a show at the ArtsCenter and brought his impressive catalog of songs with him.

After opening with the fantastic song "Traitor" from his new album Our Blood, Buckner rolled through a hefty set, pulling songs from his back catalog as far back as 1997's Devotion + Doubt.

He was accompanied by keyboard player Jeff Kazor helped filled out the songs bit, which came in handy on a number of the new tunes where keyboard lines are big hooks in the songs (see "Traitor" and "Confession"). But Buckner's unique deep voice and skillful guitar playing are the heart of the music, which shined throughout the evening.

Richard Buckner & David Kilgour team up for summer tour, coming to Carrboro

Labelmates and incredible singer-songwriters Richard Buckner and David Kilgour are teaming up to take their new albums on a short tour this summer. Kilgour released Left by Soft in April and Buckner will release Our Blood on August 2.

They'll play the ArtsCenter in Carrboro on Wednesday, August 24. Tickets are on sale now via etix for $14.

Download the song "Diamond Mine" by David Kilgour and "Traitor" by Richard Buckner below.

Album Review: David Kilgour and the Heavy Eights - Left By Soft

David Kilgour and The Heavy Eights latest album, Left By Soft, sounds free, easy, relaxed and natural so it makes sense that the album was recorded over one week in a camping lodge at the southern tip of New Zealand’s south island.

The album’s got a jam session feel and songs flow from one to the other. Opening tracks “Left By Soft” and “Way Down Here” have some added energy that helps to set the album in motion before it truly settles into its laid-back sway.

David Kilgour and the Heavy Eights releasing 'Left By Soft' in April

Singer-songwriter David Kilgour of the New Zealand band The Clean, is preparing to release a new solo record with his band The Heavy Eights. It will be his first solo record since 2007's The Far Now.

The album is titled Left By Soft and will be out on April 26 via Merge Records.

Download the dreamy, six-minute plus song "Diamond Mine" from the new album below. Also, check out the album's full track list below the download.