Free music is always good.  Free music is always great when it is worth having and actually listening to.

I have been introduced to aaahh records previously, but sometimes I just need a couple of pushes to get my attention.  In this case the two pushes came in the form of Common Folk Meadows post on Emilie Lund’s EP and then earlier today Simple Folk Radio (@SimpleFolkRadio) tweeted about aaahh records.  Okay, now I get it!  Friends if you enjoy a bit of folk, acoustic, down-tempo (for the most part) albums that are ALL free – aaahh Records is your next click.

The particular album I wanted to let  you know about was Entertainment For The Braindead’s “Hydrophobia”.  Some may call it simple and pretty, others may call it folk in the key of twee, but I simply enjoy the ukulele, accordion, guitar and easy way about Kotowski’s vocals.  The press on the album kind of hits it on the head:

…Singer/Songwriter Julia Kotowski creates a small, intimate and especially silent musical sphere that she fills with notes, lyrics und rhythm. She lets these outcomes ripen slowly

If that doesn’t give you an idea – a promo photo of Julia Kotowski conveys a thousand words, coming to mind are: innocent, stark, fragile and beautiful all wrapped up together in a photo/album:

The album was released in late 2008 (yes a year ago, and I could kick myself as it would have probably made a “best of” in some form from me) and is sold out in physical form, but the digital version is still a free option.  This is one of 4 albums/releases from the German based EFTB with another available for download at aaahh Records as well.  I am personally intrigued by the companion to this release called “Hypersomnia” which is focused on the isolation of slumber as opposed to the slowly drowning of Hydrophobia.  So not for the happy-go-lucky crowd?  Some simply make the lonely dark corners sound beautiful, Kotowski is one of those someones.  This album is magnificent, period.  Enjoy some samples below:

“Hydrophobia”
“Resolutions”
“What You Get”
“A Trace”

Visit Entertainment For The Braindead’s Website & Myspace & Twitter:

Pick up the whole album over at aaahh Records or Aerotone

~Smansmith

p.s.  A new EP “The Raw Timber” just came out, but alas it is sold out…