[dumaisaudio]

http://umberto.bandcamp.com

https://www.facebook.com/pages/UMBERTO/371724973289

Very surprised there's not a thread for Umberto already. After seeing the pictures of the new 7" from Japan today, I did some looking around and found the already discussed here Temple Room 12" that has a new version and a remix, but there is also a 12" for The Child which follows the same format. Those aren't listed for download on his Bandcamp page, but the 7" from Japan is so you can at least get it for a good price. Both the 12" vinyls are available from US based mail order for $13 each. I just ordered both, looking forward to them.

[ghostfires]

I don't think I've talked much about it because I've listened to Umberto for so long, since the day the first album came out - I always forget about his horror related music. I've always loved the first two albums the most, and it seems like everything that's come out since has ranged from acceptable to just dull for me.

I met the guy behind it a couple of years ago during a show. I went to see Expo 70 and while talking to Justin from Expo 70 after the show, the guy behind Umberto was being a total smart ass and a dick. Ever since then I've not liked his music as much. That's the main reason I never want to actually meet musicians behind the music I love!

[Whip Wilson]

I think the 7" is sold out.

[dumaisaudio]

It's still available from the label in Japan. Ends up being $25 USD plus whatever shipping is. If you just want the download then it's cheaper from this page.

http://mindrecordsjapan.bandcamp.com/al ... la-llorona

[tonyandrewgiles]

I have a 7" for sale if anyone wants one.

[HenrySpencer]

Hi,
how much can you sell me the 7' incl. postage to France ?

[Whip Wilson]

If Henry doesn't take it, TAG, I'm in thE USA and interested. Let me know. Cheers.

[deathwaltz]

That's odd as Matt is one of the nicest guys you could meet. He's very quiet , shy and humble.
Quite shocked at that. I dj'd with him last night and he's a sweetheart.

[tonyandrewgiles]

Hi @Henry & @Mateo - Sorry guys its sold.

[HenrySpencer]

I'll buy it from the label bandcamp
thanks

[HenrySpencer]

@dumaisaudio
can't find no trace of The Child 12' you mentionned.
do you know where I can order it ?

[ghostfires]

Spencer - I'm sure he's really cool toward people he is working with or that he looks up to, and I don't know him at all personally to say he is always that way. I'm just saying from the experience I had with him when I showed up to support him and Expo 70 by paying to watch them perform and then buying Expo 70 gear after the show, he was a total smart ass and a dick. It was extremely annoying and he just came across as arrogant and childish. Again, this was probably two or three years ago now...maybe he's totally amazing in person these days, I don't know but I do know after that experience I have no desire to ever support him in person again.

[lazyben]

We're all assholes sometimes dude. I do agree that the albums have been getting less interesting though.

[HenrySpencer]

I found out, just have to look on discogs...

[dumaisaudio]

The Child 12" is available from Permanent Records. There's no mention of it on his Facebook page though, just saw it on the Discogs page and searched online for the vinyl.

Hey Tony, how was the show?

[deathwaltz]

Like lazy says
we all have off days

I am shocked though cause that is just not his personality , he is super quiet.
Oh well .
He was fucking amazing last night , end of the set he sropped some killer rave tunes , super upbeat and knocked my for six.

[dumaisaudio]

I hope he does some shows on the east coast at some point, I'd definitely go.

It's weird, Ive seen a lot of people saying they don't like the newer stuff (other threads too), Confrontations I take it, which I actually think is pretty good. It's not the same as his first two albums, but I think that's a good thing. To me, it's a little more 80's sounding, more Carpenter and less Goblin for lack of a better comparison. Don't get me wrong though, I enjoy the other two albums just as much.

I think it's easy to forget that all of these artists are just people like us, they buy their groceries and take out the trash just like the rest of us. And everyone has their off days.

[ghostfires]

I wasn't saying everyone should stop supporting him because of my experience. I just figured I could throw in my two cents because this thread was specifically about this particular musician. I don't care if everyone here hates him or is his best friend, it makes no difference to me. I wasn't trying to hold him to any standard anyways - I just felt really disrespected by him when I interacted with him. I had a really positive attitude toward him and his music/ performance...and to me, regardless of your mood, if someone shows up willing to pay to listen to your art - you should treat them with respect unless they're just bothering you uncontrollably , which wasn't the case. I didn't even ask him to sign anything or give me anything - literally all I said to him was that I love his work, and I think his albums are brilliant...and his reaction was yeah ok thanks, hey let's go now.

Anyways! I just was sharing to share. Back to the music - I found Confrontations to really bore the shit out of me. I think in perspective tho - when it came out lots of carpenter worship bands were releasing albums. To me, Confrontations sounded like it was from Xander Harris, which his music is just dull Carpenter worship too. The reason I found his first two albums so exciting was that they didn't rely on synth arpeggios laid on top of generic beats to carry a six to ten minute track, over and over. His first two albums had incredible bass lines that left you humming them for days after each listen , the breathing of beats between synth stabs and stings was enthralling and added a modern touch to a vintage sound. From there it's kinda like he gave up on originality and went forward with what everyone else was doing at that time. The exact same can be said for Zombi with their last album.

When a band or musician just settles into the genre in which they helped shape or define instead of pushing it forward, I get tired of them easily. I am very critical, yes I know. But I do give credit where it's due when I hear something great!

[dumaisaudio]

I'd say those are valid criticisms on Confrontations. I enjoyed it anyway, but it's definitely less dense and complex than the first two albums. I'd agree on Xander Harris, I came across Snow Crash and got excited as I really enjoyed the book, but the music just wasn't that interesting to me, like someone trying to do Carpenter techno stuff.

[tonyandrewgiles]

@dumaisaudio - Man I had a blast at the show.
I've never really seen a dance show before but like Spencer said he was awesome last night.

A solid 45 minutes & then an encore that had a really cool Profondo Rosso cover/mash up.

I'd go see him again 100% for sure!

[Whip Wilson]

I understand your take on the musical side of things, Ghosty, though we differ on this musician. Portishead is a great example of getting it right. Like them or not, they helped define a genre of music that spanned over a decade. When they dropped their comeback record years later, many fans (myself included) were anticipating (heck, hoping for) a return to form. Instead, they created something new and different and, in the process, showed the world that their defining characteristic wasn't the "sound" that we all remembered, but their innovation and talent which had led them to create that sound to begin with. And their new one. In his own way, I'm sure that's what Umberto was shooting for and, to my ear at least, he succeeded.

[dumaisaudio]

The Child is now up on Umberto's Bandcamp page so you can buy or stream both tracks.

[ghostfires]

I definitely understand you point Mateo, though I can't agree.

Portishead might not be the best example simply because of the delay in time between albums. They had all split apart, had time to grow in new directions on their own, and I think when they came back together - they purposely stated we will work together but not under the same style we were so well known for ten years or so ago. That scene had pretty much died, the whole trip hop thing...and I don't think they were interested in resurrecting it. I do think they produce great music regardless of their direction.

As for Umberto, he hasn't been far removed by time from his first two albums, so to take a more basic approach to his music didn't come across to me as trying to redefine himself. I actually listened to Confrontations yesterday again just to make sure I'm not totally off, but it is a very basic and repetitive album. Some people enjoy that, and I'm not saying they shouldn't - but I definitely cannot see how Confrontations could be described as innovative, as it was released during the height of Carpenter worship albums. If you listen to it back to back with the first album from Xander Harris, you truly cannot tell any difference. Same synths, same beats, same themes...identical Carpenter worship. I listened to Black Widow and From The Grave over the weekend, and those two albums are still just as brilliant to me. The bass lines are just incredibly addicting, the synths are frightening and powerful, the whole of each album is just pure excitement. To change that is totally fine, but there is just no way I could ever consider Confrontations or anything like it to be any where on the same level as the first two records.

[Whip Wilson]

Fair enough, Ghosty. I think though our ears differ, our minds align. Chin, chin.

[dumaisaudio]

Got my vinyl copies of The Child and Temple Room in the mail today, both are high quality looking copies, can't wait to spin them later tonight. Also got an Expo 70 cassette that he plays on, enjoyed the samples on his Bandcamp page, and the tape was only $6 and has bonus tracks.