High Places - Thrill Jockey Records

Can't Feel Born

Artist Discography
Can't Feel Born 2010
High Places vs. Mankind 2010
I Was Born 2009
High Places 2008
Vision's the First... b/w Namer 2008
03.07 - 09.07 2008
Xiu Xiu - High Places split 7 inch 2008

USA - Andrew Skikne
at
Agency Group

High Places began as an experiment in collaboration: two people with diverse artistic backgrounds coming together to merge their skills, aesthetic tastes, and music-making approaches. Robert Barber grew up listening to punk and hardcore, and Mary Pearson studied bassoon performance, but both gravitated toward a DIY compositional style and a love of layers. It is the affinity for layering that has thus far defined the duo, both in ideas and instrumentation. High Places’ songs contain a fascinating range of aural layers: bells and bird calls over a wash of ocean waves; mallets hitting mixing bowls over treated guitar and glockenspiel; Mary's reflective vocals over Rob's homemade beats. The result is an imaginative and spacious amalgamation of sounds with a unique, almost Caribbean undertone that is as immediate as it is refreshing.
High Places vs. Mankind is the second long-playing album from Mary Pearson and Rob Barber. The title accurately suggests the album will take a slightly altered course from the “goodness as growth reflected in nature” motif of the band’s eponymous debut (Thrill Jockey, September 2008). Instead, Mary and Rob are tackling the complex, gigantic subject of being human and what it’s like to interact with other human beings. The album’s subject matter covers a wide range; from romantic relationships to overcoming addiction, aging, and finally death in the closing track “When It Comes.”
A digital single released on Halloween in 2009 entitled “I Was Born” (perhaps ironically addressing the subject of birth as a precursor to the album?) demonstrated Rob and Mary using more standard instrumentation than the two had employed in the past. In High Places vs. Mankind, guitars play an important role, and here the band has often kept them sounding like guitars. Mary’s vocals are less effected and more present. But many aspects of the High Places sound and aesthetic remain intact. One hears dance rhythms, stereo effects, accessible melodies, dub influence, and as always, a love of layering and of combining the unexpected into something cohesive and new.
In early 2010, High Places will release a second digital single and video before collecting both on a 12” that will feature additional and unreleased remixes. The band will tour North America and Europe this spring in support of High Places vs. Mankind, due out on Thrill Jockey Records on April 6th.
Artist Discography:
Can't Feel Born 12.43 2010
High Places vs. Mankind thrill 238 2010
I Was Born Thrill 914 2009
High Places Thrill 207 2008
Vision's the First... b/w Namer UTR 018 2008
03.07 - 09.07 thrill 204 2008
Xiu Xiu - High Places split 7 inch ago-013 2008

Can’t Feel Born reviewed by Pop Matters. Check it out here

BBC Music Blog has a video and review posted in their Best of April section here
Subba-Cultcha is all about High Places with this feature and this review
Drowned in Sound sits down with High Places, check out the interview and go deep with HP.
They’ve invention enough to outlast most of the chillwave players. -BBC on High Places Read the article here!
High Places performed live on KEXP Seattle/KEXP.org last week, and you can now stream the session online.
Check out a review of High Places vs. Mankind reviewed on the Adequacy blog.
High Places have a new video for their song 'Longest Shadows'. Check it out HERE on Pitchfork TV!
Check out this article in Neu Magazine and download a free track of On Giving Up from High Places new record High Places vs. Mankind.
Check out this mix tape and interview with Rob and Mary of High Places in Dummy Magazine.
Check out High Places' photo based mini-interview with A Negative Narritive.
High Places new album reviewed in FACT Mag! Includes a free download of 'On Giving Up'.
High Places have a new single called I Was Born. You can buy the new single here on FINA. High Places also made a video for the track, which you can watch here.
Lots of photos of Mary playing the bassoon from High places Guggenheim Museum show in New York City here!
Watch High Places perform at Super 45 and Industria Cultural in Santiago, Chile here!
All Songs Considered featured "Gold Coin" from High Places' self-titled full length. Take a look and have a listen here.
Listen to High Places performing live on Dublab
Watch High Places perfoming live at Market Hotel in Bushwick, featured on Pitchfork.tv

Sep 11 Chicago, IL
Sep 24 Osaka, Japan
Sep 26 Nagoya, Japan
Sep 27 Shibuya, Japan

More Dates...