Hidden Shoal Recordings have announced the digital pre-release of Deuxième Bureau, the sophomore album by German minimal electro maestro Jumpel.

Deuxième Bureau is a further refinement of the Jumpel sound so wonderfully displayed on debut album Samuel Jason Lies On The Beach. Like perfectly fabricated ecosystems, each track is a luscious miniature environment complete with its own microclimate and prismatic inhabitants. The attention to detail in the music is consistently astonishing, rewarding close listening with a good pair of headphones. Deuxième Bureau is a fabric of intimate moments – some parts woven tightly, others open to the air – and an enticing invitation to explore Jumpel’s delicate and immersive ambient micro-pop.

“Jumpel brings a wealth of musical and life experience to this meticulously crafted debut album… intimate despite its broad spectrum of instrumental colour and occasional cinematic ambiance” – Textura on SJLOTB

Deuxième Bureau is now available digitally from the HSR Store and all good digital music stores such as iTunes, eMusic and Amazon. The album will see its official CD release mid-February. Jumpel’s first album Samuel Jason Lies On The Beach is also available in digital format through Hidden Shoal Recordings. Check the HSR Store for all availability and distribution information.

A full press release is available here.

Jumepel – Clay State  Jumpel – Clay State

Excerpt: “an engaging brew of sputtering electronic pop with touches of strings, keys, and acoustic guitar providing a serene melodic counterpoint. While the song arrangements are complex in places, the vocals, whether sung by each individually or in harmony, are delivered with a sense of earnestness and are steeped in matters of the heart. Some of Bjork’s work comes to mind here, both sonically and vocally, particularly when Mandy approaches her breathy expressionism on ‘A Nightmare’.”

Foxy Digitalis

Ghost In The Water’s superb debut album Tooth has just been reviewed on the Foxy Digitalis music site, where they describe the music as “an engaging brew of sputtering electronic pop with touches of strings, keys, and acoustic guitar providing a serene melodic counterpoint”. Right on.

Tooth and GITW’s new Cardinal Red EP are available on CD and mp3 from the HSR Store.

Ghost In The Water Cardinal Red Ghost In The Water – Cardinal Red

Pay attention Hotels fans. OK, that’s everyone – good. With the recent release of single ‘Hydra‘ and the forthcoming release of their stunning sophomore album Where Hearts Go Broke on Valentine’s Day, the band has announced a tour along the west coast of the US between January and March. Some of the venues are still to be confirmed, but for now you can check whether you’ll have the unparalleled pleasure of witnessing this very special band tear it up on stage in your local metropolis:

29 January – The High Dive, Seattle, WA
14 February – Dancing On The Valentine Benefit, Chop Suey, Seattle, WA
20 February – CD Release Party, The Sunset Tavern, Seattle, WA
6 March – Bob’s Java Jive, Tacoma, WA
7 March – TBA, Portland, OR
8 March – BBG Showroom – Roseburg, OR
10 March – TBA – Sacramento, CA
11 March – The Rockit Room – San Francisco, CA
12 March – TBA, Los Angeles, CA
13 March – TBA, San Diego, CA

Meanwhile, visit the Hotels MySpace blog for all the Hotels news in full. And don’t forget that ‘Hydra‘ is currently available for free download from the HSR Store until the release of the album on 14 February.

Hotels Hydra Hotels – Hydra