Hidden Shoal FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE http://www.hiddenshoal.com Todd Tobias Impossible Cities

Ohio; Western Australia; 28 October 2014. Hidden Shoal is proud to announce the release of Impossible Cities, the new album by Todd Tobias.

Impossible Cities is the latest visionary chapter in Todd Tobias’s ongoing exploration of rock’s darkest and most hypnotic realms. Inspired by the Ital Calvino book Invisible Cities, each track is named after an imaginary city, from the glistening exoticism of ‘Lamura’ via the seething murk of ‘Gorgum Reeth’ and ‘Smazbaal’ to the eerie, shimmering grandeur of ‘Akrova’, Tobias’s latest musical universe is vividly rendered, scary, beautiful and utterly immersive. The album comes with the companion mini-album Impossible Cities 2, which comprises 10 haunting vignettes.

“it’s tribute to Todd Tobias’s skill as a producer and arranger that the pace never slackens and that he’s quite effectively produced the audio equivalent of a graphic novel, one that will keep you listening right up until its cataclysmic final moments” – Delusions of Adequacy on Medicine Show

“Medicine Show has the vibe of an intense book that you can’t put down and contains new surprises around every corner… absolutely intriguing for anyone that gives this record a chance” – The Fire Note

Todd Tobias and older brother Tim Tobias grew up in Northeast Ohio, USA, where the two played together in a string of bands, culminating in Clouds Forming Crowns and (the latter with fellow Ohioan of ). Todd has been Robert Pollard’s in-house record producer since 2002, beginning with Guided by Voices’ Matador release Universal Truths and Cycles. Todd has also produced many other indie-rock projects over the years, including fellow Hidden Shoal artist Kramies’ EPs The European and The Wooden Heart.

Todd has always been a musical experimentalist. While playing in bands as a drummer or bassist, he continued work on his own with a cassette four-track, creating soundscapes and his own brand of exotic rock. One of Todd’s basement tapes eventually caught the ear of Robert Pollard, who then asked Todd and brother Tim to form Circus Devils. Following the debut album from Circus Devils in 2001, Todd began to use the band as a showpiece for his unorthodox musical adventures. After nine albums with Circus Devils, and several dozen album productions with Robert Pollard and a variety of other artists, Todd finally birthed his first solo work for Hidden Shoal, Medicine Show, which was later followed by the Night Above Ground EP and the I Razor soundtrack. Todd is also one half of duo Brother Earth with guitarist/vocalist/songwriter Steve Five (The Library is on Fire).

Impossible Cities will see worldwide digital and CD release in USA and Canada through Hidden Shoal and Todd Tobias. Tiny Room Records will release the CD in Europe and all other territories.

Hidden Shoal is an Australia-based independent music label and publisher that has earned a reputation for releasing exciting and engaging new independent music that is not bound by genre or style. Hidden Shoal has been chosen as one of Textura’s favourite labels and has been dubbed “This generation’s 4AD” by prominent New York radio host DJ Mojo.

For more information: Contact: [email protected] Todd Tobias: www.hiddenshoal.com/project/todd-tobias/ Hidden Shoal: www.hiddenshoal.com Hidden Shoal Contact: [email protected] Tiny Room Records: www.tinyroom.nl