“Zack Kouns is from some small town in the US. He plays music with voice, tenor and alto saxophone, clarinet, trumpet, temple blocks, chinese opera gong, tape manipulation, violin, banjo. It’s weird shit, some dark neofolky gothic shit, some totally fucked up noise, some angular no-wavey shit, some Leadbellyesque blues and Woody Guthrie folk, some beautiful piano ballads, and plenty of free jazz all through it. He exists in a realm somewhere near Jandek, I suppose – completely outside of everything, and basically impossible to compare to everything. You can download one of his whole albums free here” (Cut and paste straight from the mouth of Alps aka Chris Hearn)

Zack Kouns will be touring the country with Alps as support over the next few weeks. They will be ending the tour in Canberra at Smiths Alternative Bookstore on Saturday the 31st so come along and pick up a copy of the tour 7″.

Zack Kouns – 7″ Sample

• Release Date: 2010
• Label: Past Futures Presents
• Genre: Folk, Experimental, Psychedelic

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After touring the east coast for the last month (to support their new 7″ now out on R.I.P Society) and playing alongside bands Eddy Current Suppression Ring, Royal Headache and Bed Wettin Bad Boys. Brisbane’s Kitchen’s Floor, are finally coming down to Canberra tonight to play their unique brand of angst ridden noisy pop at the Phoenix Bar. Alongside them will be Alps of NSW who recently got back from touring the US, and locals Assassins 88 and The Fighting League. Sunday Phoenix shows are continuing to secure some amazing acts, with both Thee Oh Sees and Straight Arrows blowing everyone away on previous occasions (and word has just got to me that Scull Hazzards are coming next month!!!).

***UPDATE***The show was awesome and was kindly documented by Matt from Kitchen’s Floor. You can find videos from the show as well other great shows around the country at Eternal Soundcheck HERE***

Chris Hearn, known as Alps, and also known to many as Alps of New South Wales has been progressing his minimalist pop approach to music for over five years. Currently residing in Newcastle, Alps has toured through fourteen countries and played hundreds of shows including supporting Animal Collective, Beirut, Robin Guthrie (of Cocteau Twins), Xiu Xiu and Casiotone for the Painfully Alone.

Recently returned from a US Tour, Alps will be playing at the Phoenix Bar this Sunday with Brisbane’s Kitchen’s Floor.

Alps – Burning An Australian Flag

• Release Date: 2005
• Label: Self Released
• Genre: Minimalist, Organ, Pop,

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