Belong - Same Places (Slow Version)

Belong - Same Places (Slow Version) (excerpt)

Belong is one of the greatest bands ever. Not only do they craft some of the most beautiful music but they also love their fans. Same Place (Slow Version), part of the Table Of The Elements Guitar Series, isn't due out until August 5th, and even then there will only be a limited number of copies. But the fine men of Belong decided to release the album digitally, for free. You can download it right now, right here.

Same Places (Slow Version) is one 14 minute track that is utterly gorgeous. It starts out with the wall of noise Belong have become known for and then about 6 minutes in, the volume drops and everything fades away. We're left with a quieter but no less thick drone. Very slowly and delicately, it builds, but not into the giant wall it started out as but into something much more subdued.

Warm and warbly, looped and murky, this song is more minimal and subtle than most tracks found on their full length, October Language. However, it is just as (if not more so) breathtaking and magnificent as anything found on their debut. It's absolutely exciting to hear what Belong can do with such a long stretch of time, as opposed to the more traditional song lengths they've previously worked with.

I can't recommend Same Place (Slow Version) enough. If you haven't already and if it isn't already sold out, pre-order the vinyl from the various online retailers. But either way, you should be downloading this song right now. You couldn't give me any reason I would find acceptable not to download this.

Best Release Date Ever

Both Matthew Robert Cooper and Belong have new releases coming out very soon. Like, 3 weeks soon.

Belong has their Same Places (Slow Version) one sided 12" for the Table Of The Elements Guitar Series (check out the Pitchfork article for more info). The opposite side of the record will have a laser-etched image from UK artist Savage Pencil. Right now, CD Universe is taking pre-orders for those who live in the US. So if you want one (and why wouldn't you) you should do so quickly because that shit will sell out.

And not to be one-upped, Matthew Robert Cooper (aka Eluvium) is also releasing a new 12" under his own name (instead of Eluvium), titled Miniatures. You can hear "Miniature 3" at Pitchfork and "Miniature 7" at Gaarden Records (who is releasing the record). And although Gaarden isn't doing pre-orders at the moment, they are "taking names." So shoot 'em an e-mail and get in line if you want a copy, as there will only be 2000 of them.

Oh yeah, the best part is that both records are being released on August 5. That's only 3 weeks from now! That is seriously going to be the best day ever.