eclectone records

Its going to be a rocker, Little Man and Backyard Tire Fire with the Rhinestone Diplomats at the Turf Club. October 16th. Wait- isn’t something else happening that night as well? Yes, The Vibro Champs are at O’Garas for their CD release. The good news? You can catch both- the venues are a mere 4 blocks away from each other… We’ll even share the cab ride with you…

Great opening track has to be said right off the bat about Little Man’s “Of Mind and Matter”. “Tarots and Arrows” shoots out the speakers with a punchy melody, tight harmonies, and nice slick, thick guitars. The song keeps most of its focus on the catchy repetitive chorus, which in simplicity there is enjoyment. It is followed up by eleven more poppy, well produced tracks that include nice mid-tempo, Oasis sounding rockers like “Don’t Pray to Fantasy” to more folksy sounding rockers like “Did You Know” and “Savers”.

The strength of Little Man lies within their use of strong harmonies and gentle melodies. Somewhere throughout the music, one can hear traces of Big Star and Camper Van Beethoven, as well as an ever present Beatle-vibe. I even heard some David Bowie on “Get it to Ground” and T.Rex on “Not Quite So High”. I’m not one that usually goes for over polished products, but the precision found on this disc only adds to its charm. It is only natural with such pretty songs that they need pretty production. It is definitely a disc that demands repeat listening, which is nice because not all disc that one gets to review ask for that. Let me keep this short and sweet, there are no regrets in tuning into Little Man’s vibe.

If you missed Little Man on the ‘Local Show’ last weekend — or want to hear it again — you can listen to the show from the Current’s archieve in the player below. Thanks Chris Roberts and MPR!

head over to the 89.3 The Current website at mpr.org for a free download of “Tarots and Arrows” as song of the week!

Little Man’s new album “Of Mind and Matter” is now available on iTunes! Please check it out and leave reviews!

Little Man, Of Mind and Matter
Released: November 2008
Format: Digital
Buy It: iTunes

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1. Tarots And Arrows
2. Don’t Pray To Fantasy
3. Everyone on the Floor
4. Talisman
5. Together On The Long Way Around
6. Did You Now
7. Savers
8. Get It To Ground
9. Not Quite So High
10.  Love of All Time
11. Lifted Me Like A Curse
12. Seal Of Secrecy

Thanks to everyone who came out to the Entry last Saturday for the Little Man release show. Look for the band in the First Ave. mainroom opening for the Ike Reilly Assassination on Thanksgiving Eve. Chris will also be joining Ike’s band that night as a guitarist!

Saturday. November 8. 7th St. Entry. Little Man and Eclectone Records celebrate the release of “Of Mind and Matter.” Come early for The Strange Lights and High On Stress.

Says Chris Perricelli: “It’s going to be a very unique show. The new album, Of Mind And Matter, will be played in its entirety with back up singers, keyboards and rhythm guitar included. You’ll hear many songs that will only be heard live at this particular show.”

Little Man is back from a second trip to the Chicago area, where Chris Perricelli and crew are working on the band’s fourth album, tentatively due out by sometime this winter.

The sound will be “a bit fuller with more layered vocals and guitars,” Perricelli said. They have 14 songs in the hopper for the yet-to-be-named new album.

The band is working again with producer/engineer Ed Tinley, who also produced Soulful Automatic. Most of the tracks were recorded in an old hunting lodge owned by Ike Reilly. (”It looks like a ‘Lincoln Log’ house,” Perricelli said.)

On the most recent trip, the band finished overdubs and recorded string parts for a few of the new songs — a first for the band, but something they’ve always wanted to do, Perricelli said. “We used tow musicians and multitracked cello and violin.”

Read more about Little Man’s Chicago trip and studio progress on Perricelli’s blog.