Paper Bag Records has signed the Josh Reichmann Oracle Band and is giving away their new Life Is Legal EP as a free download. Josh Reichmann was formerly of Toronto garage punk act Tangiers. That act released three acclaimed full lengths, 2003’s Hot New Spirits, 2004’s Never Bring You Pleasure and 2005’s The Family Myth. The label describes the new full act in their press release:

Josh returns to music with an entirely new line up of collaborators, now gathering from a pool of soul, early-funk, roots and dark punk influences. Josh Reichmann Oracle Band is a five piece band incorporating heavy saxophone, Stevie Wonder-meets-The Stooges keyboards, soul-style drumming, a live dancer, thick roots bass and Josh as the main songwriter and front man. At the root of these sounds is pure songwriting- timeless, heart wrenching and darkly enchanting.

The EP was recorded in Toronto at Gigantic Studios, engineered by Sean Gugula and produced by Reichmann. The studio band features Reichmann on guitar and bass with Joseph Shabason on sax/flute, Steve Singh on keyboards/piano and Niko Kwiatkowski percussion. The live band features the same players along with bassist Jon Hynes and Laura Bolton, a former ballet dancer with Canada’s National Ballet.

Reichmann has also recently been collaborating with Sebastien Grainger (Death From Above 1979). The pair are expected tour together soon. To get the free EP you’ll have to sign up for the label’s mailing list on their website.
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Babylon Party Machine, the electro-ska side project from Michigan based solo ska-punk musician Matt Wixson has released a free EP titled Precedent. The four song release features reworkings of songs by the Toasters, Max Romeo & the Upsetters, Against Me! and Randy. The release is available for free from donation supported Open Hand Records and songs can be streamed on MySpace.

Charleston, WV pop rock act Time And Distance recently signed to Not Alone Records. The band will hit the studio in January with Rob Freeman (Cobra Starship, Hit The Lights, Houston Calls) to record their third full length. The band is also planning to release a limited edition 7″ of acoustic tracks soon.

Roanoke, VA’s The Wading Girl will release a new self titled EP on October 21st via donation supported label Uneasy Records. Along with the downloads the label will make limited edition CD’s and LP’s available at shows, beginning at The Fest. You can hear four new songs from the EP on the band’s MySpace page.
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