Picastro profile picture

Picastro

Since 1998

About Me

"Hortur" Video
"If it's a subtle edge you seek, something slightly askew within otherwise solid and sweet orchestration, you may have found it here." -POP MATTERS
"Picastro does what Billy Corgan has futilely tried to master for more than a decade: make scary and realistic sorrow seem like pop". -COMES WITH A SMILE
"If quiet is indeed the new loud, Picastro are todays answer to Black Sabbath". -CHART ATTACK
"Ostensibly a vehicle for singer-songwriter Liz Hysen, Toronto based Picastro weave her songs into an abstract framework of extended, moody soundtracks. Here the singers identity is absorbed into the overall impression left by the music. Reported comparisons with Cat Power are therefore wide of the mark. Hysens role is oddly selfless, her voice subdued to a general murmur amid the musics burgeoning drama. The songs are instead a vehicle for the group to expand their vocabulary, creating a gloomy variant of folk blues with a wide reach. Once the context within which Hysen as singer and author is established, the lack of lyrical clarity or a firm songwriting identity no longer matters". -THE WIRE

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 4/25/2005
Band Website: picastro.net--HIJACKED! Thanks a lot Wild West
Band Members: Current: Liz Hysen, Nick Storring , Brandon Valdivia. Previous: Owen Pallett, Rachel McBride, Evan Clarke, Stephanie Vittas, catl, Kurt Newman, Alex McLeod, Zak Hanna.
Sounds Like: symptoms
Record Label: Polyvinyl and Monotreme
Type of Label: Indie

My Blog

Some disclaimers you should read

There are some things floating around the internet and although I usually don't take issue with these things I had to for this record.First of all, I am not deaf.  At all.  Second of all, wh...
Posted by Picastro on Tue, 19 Jun 2007 09:55:00 PST

Take Away shows

So, Picastro did a whole bunch of videos with the excellent Vincent Moon last fall in the lower East side of Manhattan.  It was during CMJ and lots of fun.I have no idea if the one we shot in the...
Posted by Picastro on Sun, 22 Jun 2008 06:11:00 PST

BBC 1 & Alan Zweig doc

Check out BBC 1 on May 29 right after the news at ten.  "Towtruck" off the new Picastro album will appear in a documentary about surrealism.  This track is a collaboration with Dwayne Sodahb...
Posted by Picastro on Sat, 12 May 2007 08:20:00 PST

VPRO Dwars radio session

Check it out! This was recorded during our spring European tour.  Lots of good stuff from this station in Amsterdam, also featured is Spires That in the Sunset Rise. http://www.vpro.nl/programma/...
Posted by Picastro on Mon, 04 Dec 2006 10:01:00 PST

Ochi Chorni, Badaboom

Some people have been asking and if you would like to own a copy of Ochi Chorni, you can buy a copy of Badaboom Grammaphone # 4 here: http://badabingrecords.com/badaboom.html. It also features Six Org...
Posted by Picastro on Tue, 21 Nov 2006 11:41:00 PST

Crime pays

I used to read the mini crime section in the community newspaper.  It is really hilarious and a great reminder why Toronto is safe and nice. Anyway lately I have been noticing how much I have bee...
Posted by Picastro on Wed, 06 Sep 2006 10:06:00 PST

new recordings

Picastro will be taking a break from out of town shows until some more stuff gets recorded.  Expect a solo record out early next year and a full band album out fall next year (which special guest...
Posted by Picastro on Sat, 24 Jun 2006 04:43:00 PST

WFMU session, show review

Go here to listen to our recent WFMU session with Irene Trudel: www.wfmu.org/playlists/IT There is also a review of the Wavelength anniversary show last weekend (thanks Sarah!): www.nowtoronto.com/i...
Posted by Picastro on Sat, 18 Feb 2006 12:01:00 PST