Hear Here

New and notable local releases and shows.

The Echo Orbiter’s long-awaited Laughing All The Way is finally set for release. But the album, which has been finished since summer of 2000, has had the Jersey band on the verge of a breakdown. A litany of production screw-ups — culminating with the manufacturer losing the band’s address and shipping the finally-finished discs to Boise, ID, of all places — has delayed Laughing’s coming-out party. Which is almost fitting for an album that may or may not be about losing one’s mind. The 12 tracks, produced by Brian McTear, flip between giddy and ruminative and embrace the structural experimentation of bands like The Olivia Tremor Control. They’ll debut the disc on Friday, March 23, at the Khyber with The Minders and Fuck (who will be doing their last Philly performance). The EO are known for their elaborate stage shows and their website (echoorbiter.homestead.com/echo.html) encourages attendees to bring along "instruments, toys, balloons, masks, toothbrushes." Can’t imagine this not being fun.

Same night, across town, another performance extravaganza goes down. Say what you will about spastic fantastic EDO, the many-member group knows how to put on a fete. Friday, March 23, at Bennie’s, the Eliot Duhan-led EDO (still finishing its new album) debuts its seven-piece Rockestra. What makes this performance special? How about Todd Young joining in on keys, Rob Smith returning to the drums, Glenn Leonard on percussion and CP’s Vance Lehmkuhl doing live cartooning?

And while we’re talking new records, here’s another. Matt Pond PA, after the disaster that was his second LP, Measure (the music was beautiful, but its release was botched by -ESQUE records and had to be re-released on a second label), returns with an fine five-songer to keep you warm. On I Thought You Were Sleeping (File 13) Pond and friends maintain a grasp on the dark, string-laden arrangements that made Measure so endearing, but also pick up the pace with jaunty, oddly-shaped guitar figures and even a bit of rocking out (see "St. Andrews"). Matt Pond PA will play with The Beachwood Sparks and Rich Kaufman on Sat., March 24 at the Khyber.