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After listening to my brand new Dolorean vinyl for his newest album “The Unfazed”, I was kinda worked up and wanted more. Well, I started going over the fact that I had to post again on the nom de plume that is the Al James fronted band out of Portland.

Admittedly a bit late to the party on Dolorean as I have only been listening for a couple of years, but there are some crazy good slow burners (including the one in this post) from James & Co. that just stop me in my tracks. The new album that is currently creeping up my best of 2011 list is laid back country at its best. From songs like duet beauty of ‘Country Clutter’ (with Bosque Brown I believe) to the stunning ‘Fools Gold Ring’ and up to 70′s rock influenced ‘Black Hills Gold’ – it is a must own album.

But enough of the new album, the song of the day is from a split 7″ Dolorean did with Holy Sons a few years back and there is a bit of a story of first jobs, misread words, Springsteen albums that lead to this song. Read the story from the Dolorean site here. Such a great track – this is minimal & stark singer songwriter at its best. This song is a piano lament of love lost – tragic in its crushing beauty to say the least. A must hear.

Please visit and support Dolorean: Website, Twitter and Facebook.
Purchase on Partisan Records (North America) and Fargo Records (EUR).
Purchase the 7″ split with Dolorean & Holy Sons on the Pamlico Sound site.

~Smansmith

Today sees the release of Kim Janssen’s album Ancient Crime from Snowstar Records over in the Netherlands.  It is a concept album and that concept might be stunningly gorgeous music…no really.  I have been looking forward to this album for a few months now and after more than a few listens it has become one to beat for best album of the year so far.

So when I mentioned my lame “concept album” reference above it is because it is in fact described as one in all honesty.  The album as outlined by artist and label as:

It is a album inspired by his years on boarding school in Asia. ‘Ancient Crime’ is a concept album that takes place in an old idyllic school, in a remote village in north-west England during the winter. A mixture of history, myth, memories, old and new verses and arrangements.

This is not lost on you when listening as it is extremely delicate, formal and hits a nice balance of instrumental band tracks with more traditional (yet just as grand) vocal tracks.  If I am not mistaken the album is 10 tracks and 5 are essentially instrumentals – this may immediately make many pause but the strong points in this album are so strong that they literally pull the entire album together.  I normally am not a huge fan of these interludes/ambient moments on albums and Ancient Crime has its fair share, but with tracks like ‘Drift’, ‘Tors’, ‘Casket’ and ‘Holmes’ Bonfire 1966′ being so stunning you just want more from this artist/album that the interludes fill that void left by what could effectively be an EP release if he so wanted.

The songs Drift and Tors have made appearances on Slowcoustic already and they lead the pack on the album as the truly top notch tracks.  Drift is currently my favourite track of 2012 so far…by a long shot.  Take a listen to it below:

And Janssen has recently performed it live, so let’s take a look at it as well!

There is a 10 second ad prior to the performance…just hold on!

The song Drift is a good measure of the sound and overall feel of the Ancient Crime album – it is a floating pensive moment put to a beautiful backdrop of acoustics, instruments, choirs and Janssen’s feather soft vocals.  It might be Janssen’s cadence and breathy delivery that makes you feel comfortable and at home in these songs…it just so happens he has crafted a beautiful pallet of music to coincide with.  Take a listen to ‘Tors’ below to get the full effect of the instrumentation of which I speak.

Again, the album from this co-member of the band The Black Atlantic (yes, that Kim Janssen!) is truly a “best new music” and comes highly recommended.

Find more on Kim Janssen: Facebook | Bandcamp
Purchase Ancient Crime: Bandcamp | Snowstar Records

~Smansmith

Apparently we should be on the look out for a new Sergius Gregory album by the looks of this, so why not have a ‘cover-song of the day’ for it?

Sergius Gregory creates atmosphere in(stead of) music.  It is partially ambient, partially folk based and it drips with the aforementioned atmosphere.  The Morrissey cover gives a more gentle drift than the truly downtrodden Morrissey lyrics provide on paper.   The lyrics in Gregory’s delivery seem more of an account of sadness instead of an internal self loathing that you might expect from this particular track.  Either way it is a beauty and bodes well for the upcoming album “Long Life” – ETA unknown.
seasick, yet still docked (morrissey cover) by sergius gregory

More info can be had on Sergius and his previous album can be found over at Saint-Loup Records or you can always follow him via the Facebook.

~Smansmith

Just listened to a couple of Dustin Gamble tracks and thought I would share.  I was reminded of him as he just started following me on the Twitters so I took a spin back through his Reverbnation page and thought I would show you how to spend a Slowcoustic St. Valentine’s Day.  For a reminder, I did a post on Dustin way back in 2008 here.  I am not sure if he is still really recording as the two songs below have been around for a bit (I believe) but they are excellent slowcore folk jams not to be missed.

“Easy”
“Storefront Inn”

Just a suggestion to check the guy out and listen to a few sad bastard tracks this February 14th.

~Smansmith

p.s.  I don’t really ‘celebrate’ today as it is my Mom’s birthday and she just steals the show every year from my wife….so, then…Happy Birthday MOM!!

p.p.s.  My mom doesn’t steal anything.  Ever.  Love you Mom.

HI54LOFI Records has a new compilation out to commemorate Valentines Day next week appropriately called ‘I Love You & Stuff” but wait, it’s soo much more.  This isn’t just 15 tracks to impress the one you love/like or even not remotely know, you also get the opportunity to actually send them a Valentine card with your “purchase”.  Come on, you know you want to spread the love and what better way than with music (…says the music blogger).

There are some really great tracks on this compilation and while it not being exclusively “Slowcoustic” or anything it has it’s fair share along with a full range of indie for the whole family.  I wanted to include a favourite from a Canadian artist I have been keeping my eye on, The Bravest Ghost.  Sean Craib-Petkau who is this said ghost recorded a song exclusively for the compilation and its another winner, so kudos to HI54LOFI for seeking him out!  Listen to ‘Long Shot’ below;

“Long Shot” – The Bravest Ghost
from ‘I Love You & Stuff’ Compilation

So that is my “pick” from the release, but there are more of note I wanted to make sure get a mention including the pixie lullaby from Shedding Feathers entitled ‘Starlet’.  Shedding Feathers is a project of Craven Canary and A Singer of Songs (who also have other contributions from their respective bands on the album).  Listen below;

And for my non-Slowcoustic recommendation, I have started a bit of a head bopping affair with Lint Vaccine’s ‘Those Freckles Compliment Each Other’.  It is a bit lo-fi but fun and includes a cow bell – why can’t this be your bleary eyed crush this year?  I think it can, just take it for a test spin here;

Find out more on this compilation and how you can order it and send cards to some folks HERE.  Visit the Bandcamp page for it HERE.  Visit HI54LOFI HERE.

~Smansmith

Tyler Butler joins the crew over at our label Yer Bird Records and re-releases ‘Winter King’ on March 20th, 2012!

If you are reading Slowcoustic on a regular basis, you already know of Mr. Butler from Edmonton and we are very excited to bring one of our favourite albums of last year home to us over at Yer Bird Records.  We are re-releasing it with a couple of ‘bonus tracks’ as well!  The bonus tracks are a newly recorded version of “Feral Horse” from his previous EP Feral Horse plus the previously unheard title track ‘Winter King’.  All in all we couldn’t be happier here at Slowcoustic/Yer Bird Records with having Tyler on board as this album is simply amazing.  See a quick teaser trailer below plus the track listing.

Tyler Butler :: Winter King (March 20, 2012) from Yer Bird Records on Vimeo.

1) Barghest*
2) Morana*
3) Child-Ghost*
4) House Painter*
5) Waxwing
6) Kingfisher
7) Plover
8) Sparrow
9) Feral Horse (Winter King Version)
10) Winter King (previously un-released)

(*Re-Mastered for the 2012 release)

You also might want to check out a new video for Plover recorded in conjunction with this re-release over on the new Winter King website.  We will be uploading a video performance of all 8 of the original tracks on this site over the next few weeks!  For now also enjoy the newly remastered ‘Morana’ below.

Tyler Bulter: “Morana” by Yer Bird Records

~Smansmith

Andrew Sisk (Photo by Scott Munn)

Today’s song of the day is from one Andrew Sisk, who was passed on to me from Matt over at Pigeon Row (see them & their full list of clients here) and I am greatfull this brooding singer songwriter’s newest album is now with me.

The album, Treelines, was released on January 31st and is nine thick-with-character songs recorded “…in his apartment in Montreal with his son Elliott sleeping on his lap during vocal takes, and quietly watching him record classical guitar parts“.  The song “I Whispered It” is a stunning example of what what you would think from that last sentence.  It is a layered but still stripped down beauty – vocals just scratchy enough to feel worn in and echoing guitars in the distance causing texture.  The song both floats and digs into you at first listen.  My only ‘complaint’ is that it ends to soon.  So then, stop and listen for at least two minutes and seventeen seconds today.

Find the full album from Andrew Sisk over on his Bandcamp page.

~Smansmith

I have been giving this album some serious spinning for the last month or so and it is indeed a seriously great listen.  The album officially saw its release on Jan. 24th (this past Tuesday) over on Crossroads of America.  The album is available on all your favourites; space age digital, retro CD and exclusive vinyl – of which I recommend the latter…but more on that below.

First off, let us get one thing straight, this album is a creeper.  This album, while seemingly an innocent folksy little collection of mellow singer songwriter jams, is just soo much more and you really realize it from repeated listening.  This album grows on you because it is something that you dig into instead of let play in the background…which all too many people do with “folk” music in general.  If this happens to you with albums, please return to “Baptist Girls” as it unfolds soo immensely that I can’t see anyone not enjoying it.  Well, those that come to a blog called Slowcoustic should all know what I mean.

The album has an eerie comfort attached it with what could be described as it’s honest laments and life observations that just so happen to be attached to music.  These songs are performed with sincerity and you know it – especially with lyrics chosen of self deprecating and inner moments that most of us only think to ourselves.  All sung over acoustic guitar and moody synth in the ether that surrounds you as the listener.  Even being an apparent “lo-fi” recording it sounds full but doesn’t lose the intimacy that is apparent in Bro. Stephen’s recordings.

Listen: “Tears on Tape” – Bro. Stephen

Okay, I said “more on that later” in regards to the vinyl.  I recommend the vinyl version of “Baptist Girls” as it is a phenomenal album in general, so there is that.  It also forces you to listen to the album outside what might traditionally be where you hear most albums these days…your computer.  Unless you have a nice set up, you want to hear this album in its fullness on a home stereo and vinyl usually makes this the only option.  Bro. Stephen provides a delicate folk(ish) album that you can play loud and immerse in… yes, honestly it does really work.  As a bonus, it is on lovely green vinyl, aaaaaaand it is where to get two bonus tracks:

Bonus, bonus, bonus tracks: 2 bonus tracks exclusive to the vinyl option!

So there you have it, best new music and a great album that I fully recommend.  So swing by Crossroads of America to pick up your copy by clicking HERE.

Find more on Bro. Stephen:  XRA Records | Facebook | Twitter | Website | Purchase at Bandcamp

~Smansmith

Today’s song of the day is a cover of the classic track ‘Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want’ from The Smiths as performed by Pickering Pick.  Gone is the dramatically mellow angst only to be replaced by sombre aching alongside the ambient acoustics.  While we are not comparing which song is better and both are the same lyrically but give total different listens despite being the ‘same’ song.  Pickering Pick removes himself from the persona of Morissey and The Smiths and simply creates a great version of a classic song.

“Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want (The Smiths Cover)” – Pickering Pick
As part of the Rate Our Music #08 compilation “See You on the Other Side”  (FREE DOWNLOAD)

Visit and listen to more from Pickering Pick on his Bandcamp Page.

~Smansmith

Today’s (free) Song of the Day is from Noah Gundersen’s “B-Sides” one track release over on his Bandcamp page.  The track is Avalanche and is a recommendation for the hurt lover that pines from afar in all of us.  The song kind of makes you think that some of the most intense love affairs can happen between people that have never met.  Oh, and it’s an extremely pretty song as well.

You can find the above track as a free download (with email address) via his bandcamp page here.   If ‘Avalanche’ above does something for you, make sure you look into his most recent album “Family” as well as you will not be disappointed.

Find more on Noah Gundersen: Facebook | Twitter | Bandcamp

~Smansmith

Kim Janssen (photo snagged from Last.fm)

Today’s song of the day is a beauty from Kim Janssen’s upcoming album “Ancient Crime” due out soon.  Okay, I don’t really know when, but I predict it to be fairly soon!  Some of you might know him from his “day job” in the band The Black Atlantic and some of you may know him from his great 2009 album “The Truth is, I am Always Responsible” (we had a quick mention and track back in early 2010 here).   The new song “Tors” is very reminiscent of his previous album, which is a good thing, and hence I have high hopes for ‘Ancient Crime’.  Just take a listen to the delicate acoustics and tell me you are not as well…

Make sure you keep an eye out for this one (as I am) and I hope to update you with more on the release very soon!

Visit Kim Janssen: Facebook | iTunes

~Smansmith

Found this EP just the other day due to an invite to a local house show here in Calgary.  Wow, am I glad that I got that invite.

So the artist is Paul Stewart and to be honest, I have only been listening to this EP for about 4 days now…but it has been a glorious 4 days.  The 5 songs are available as a “name your price” download over on his Bandcamp page and I immediately dropped my $5 for it after about 48 seconds of total preview split between all 5 tracks.  Why do I note this?  I am noting this as I almost can’t put forward one song as the lead track or single from it – they are all frickin’ great.  He describes his sound as “Defeatist Folk” or as many readers of this blog might call it, “Sad Bastard Folk”.  The songs might be a bit down on their luck but at the same time bring such rich beauty and comfort that I almost miss that fact.

I am selecting 2 tracks to embed below and they are the opening and closing tracks: “Glass Skull” opens the EP with gentle sepia toned echoes of lost summers…you almost picture the song playing over silent video footage of a summer camp in the 50s…it sounds like it floats due to what could be a slide guitar/pedal steel in the background, then the piano hits for the last few moments – stunning.

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Next is the closing track “Crowd Cocoon” which comes in a bit more ominous but with many of the same elements of piano, acoustics, reverb…but used in a more late night solitary drinking binge sort of way.  As many sad bastards know, this can be some of the most stunning and wrecking moments…the same can be said about the song.  It kills me each time I hear it.

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As I mentioned, all tracks are worthy, so if you like the above 2 tracks then there are 3 more just waiting for you and they are just as good.  Highly recommended.

Calgary Concert Alert: Any Calgarians can find Paul Steward at ‘The White House’ next weekend – January 21st with Alex Wesley Cardinal on their Winter Tour.  See the Facebook event for more details.

Find Paul Stewart: Bandcamp | Facebook

~Smansmith

We/Or/Me - Photo by Bobby Aazami

Today is a quick post on a repeat offender around here in a song & video of the day from Bahhaj Taherzadeh (or We/Or/Me).  His most recent album is called Sleeping City and it came out midway through last year.  As you can expect it comes with great slowed down harmonies and almost lullabye infused folk.  Sounds about right for a man who now has twin girls at home…

Listen to “Sun Came Up” from We/Or/Me below:

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Sun Came Up by we/or/me from Ramin Eshraghi Yazdi on Vimeo.

You can find more from Bahhaj over on his Website as well as his Bandcamp Page (I recommend the CD bundle for Sleeping City with Ghostwriter!).

~Smansmith

p.s.  Ramin Eshraghi Yazdi who made the video above also did a more recent video from the same album “Across the Country” and he is apparently from right here in Calgary!  Nice.

Quick Sunday post for all you looking for some great mellow tunes over coffee.  And it is completely free!

Found via my twitter feed (I love when others do all the ground work – thanks Leentje!) and I have to say, it is incredibly beautiful to listen to and if possible use headphones.  While it is halfway between acoustic folk and shoegaze pop it can find a home with lovers of both.  Tracks like “Winter’s Wall” that opens the album has a pseudo electro start that yields to a piano/acoustic ballad with a bit of electro pop drumming.   More true Slowcousticals will enjoy the tracks “Gold” and “A Heart You Can’t Find” especially – so I will include both below and make sure you head over to their website to download the 7 track FREE album (and in better quality 320 kbps files).

RIYL: Melodramatic Pop Songs – but in a good way.

“Gold”
“A Heart You Can’t Find”

Visit Wise Children: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Tumblr

~Smansmith

Seattle based singer songwriter Sam Watts (Ghosts I’ve Met) has a new EP he has available at his live shows.  The EP “The Light Opera” has just started in rotation over at Local legend/radio station KEXP as well, so keep an ear out there as well.  The collection of tracks can be purchased from Sam directly if you are not able to make a local show (please email us and we can get you in touch if you were looking to pick up a copy) and it is still so new that it has no artwork!

The EP was recorded earlier this year at a Lakehouse in Leavenworth, Washington with Ghosts I’ve Met recording/live performance regulars Bill Patton (yes that Bill Patton) and Faustine Hudson.

We do have a track to share with you courtesy of Mr. Watts and it is true to form with his airy acoustic performance but with one addition…there is some percussion working its way into the mix here…not out of the question for this particular “folk” artist but GIM has traditionally gone light or without the element.  I like the sense of purpose it gives the track, if not a small jolt of gravitas if I had to say!  Enjoy.

“Dark Blue Sound”  – Ghosts I’ve Met, from the EP ‘The Light Opera’

Find more Ghosts I’ve Met on Bandcamp and over on Yer Bird Records.

~Smansmith

Brought to you from the good folks at Crossroads of America – Bro. Stephen is a relatively ‘new’ discovery for me.  Bro. Stephen (Stephen Scott Kirkpatrick) has a brand new 7″ that found its way to me way up in the great white north of Canada, and I am very glad it did.  This limited to 300 vinyl offering brings 3 tracks including the title track “Patrons of the Arts” and two b-sides “The Truth” and “Previous Things”.

If you are reading this about Bro. Stephen and are not here by mistake, you will know that he is bringing his acoustic guitar along for the ride on this release and I have to say it works out for him (and the b-sides are hardly ‘b-sides’ if you know what I mean).  I don’t have any official listening options as currently the release is vinyl only, but I am sure we will see a digital offering soon once all those 7″ copies are snapped up…so get to snapping them up right here.  For now, listen to a YouTube embed for the track below:

And as this is “Artist” of the day and not just “Song” of the day, lets keep on with the sampling, shall we?  How about one of the tracks from the Bro. Stephen contribution to Flannelgraph Records “Laminar Excursion Monthly” series that was one of my best buys last year.  Enjoy “Telephone Two” below.

Aaaand to top it off, how about a “bedroom folk” demo?  Okay, I thought so.  The below is “Where The Ohio” that I found via Last.fm.  Very lo-fi, hushed, short and sweet.  Its good stuff.

“Where To Ohio” – Bro. Stephen

Just so you know, there is an expected full length release in 2012 that will include the first track above “Patrons of the Arts”, but my current recommendation is getting that 7″ as it also includes the 2 b-side exclusive tracks!

Find out more on Crossroads of America and his blog.

~Smansmith

I’ve been keeping my eye on Ryan Tanner ever since he floored me with his great cover of ‘Goodbye’ from Steve Earle – it ended up being song of the week as song of the day just wasn’t doing it justice.  Well I realized that he just released an EP of acoustic tracks just this week!  The EP is very reminiscent of early Ryan Adams or at least of the sound that made Ryan Adams an ‘alt-country’ darling.  These tracks are fully acoustic (aptly named EP then…) and are gorgeous slices of life via Tanner’s penchant for writing great songs.

While I have heard two of the 8 tracks previously, the other 6 solidified that I will be continuing my stalking of his output in the years to come.  The two songs below are great sad bastard songs, ‘Mama, Please Don’t Give Up On Me’ & ‘Salt Lake City Rain’ and speak to the weight of this EP (a pretty lengthy EP at that coming in at almost 32 minutes).  The songs are hushed, the vocals soft and waning at times and combined to the casual acoustic strumming, you are forced to slow down immediately…and in fact feel the urge to stop fully and listen.  You should listen…now.

~

Swing by and visit Ryan and pick up this recommended EP today on his Bandcamp page.  Visit him on his Website and follow on Twitter.

BONUS: ‘Goodbye (Steve Earle Cover)”

~Smansmith

*picture of artwork from here.

This Sunday I thought we should have some ‘beauties’ in the form of 3 ladies who emanate music soo soothing, stunning and Sunday morning French press worthy that is almost ridiculous.

As far as I know they are not connected in any way, Tiny Ruins and Haruko have been on Slowcoustic previously but I think this is Honey Watts first appearance.  Haruko starts your journey at your grass roots traditional folk vibe and then you move to Tiny Ruins’ more modern singer songwriter aspects and she is, in turn, your gateway artist to the ethereal Honey Watts.  Some might think that journey can be taken forwards or backwards…but as long as you take it, it will be worth the trip.

So let’s listen to some of the best female voices in folk this year:

The Haruko track above was originally on her “Wild Geese” album and the Tiny Ruins song is actually called ‘Old as the Hills’.  All albums came out this year and they are something I gotta give more attention to…

Visit their Bandcamp Pages:  Haruko | Tiny Ruins | Honey Watts

~Smansmith

Chris Kiehne has just released his newest album ‘A Widower’s Kind’ via his Bandcamp page and as eluded to in the title of this post he is using material from the great Hank Williams.  By his own admission he describes the project below:

“A Widower’s Kind” is a collection of significantly-to-slightly modified Hank Williams songs. Some of my favorite Hank songs, and some of his most morbid. Mark de Wilde (http://markdewilde.tumblr.com/) created the beautiful cover art. Hank supplied everything else. God rest his soul.

If you are familiar with the originals you do know that these are more of a modern day stark singer songwriter version of the country tunes, but they do work for the most part.  I have selected a couple of tracks that stuck out as some good listenin’.

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Enjoy your Friday.  Oh, did I mention this album is available for free?  You can download it via his Bandcamp Page HERE and find a link to a Mediafire upload link to grab a copy or simply chip in $1.00 or more for the Bandcamp copy (more format options than the mediafire copy).

You can also check out a previous post with Chris Kiehne here and also find him with his fantastic previous band The National Lights on iTunes here.

~Smansmith

Today’s song & video of the day came out of nowhere, but from a familiar place – always nice when that happens.  Creeping on music forums is one of the best ways to find music – you tend to get a lot of suggestions and the people tend to know what they are talking about.  Then, I look into it and I find a video via the good folks at Love Drunk Studios (where I first ‘saw’ the band Kill County – another winner in this category).  The song is “Man Pt. 1″ from the one man band ‘South of Lincoln’.

On a side note, I actually drove through Lincoln on my honeymoon road trip and both me and my wife felt that it was the type of place we would love to live in.  Albeit from the 20 minutes in downtown getting coffee to the small divey motel on the outskirts of the town – we had it all figured out & decided!  I guess we now have more reason to revisit that plan of moving a bit further south…

Aaaaaaannnnyyyywaaaayy, this song of the day gets double treatment with audio and video – this is a good thing as well because you get the more produced version in the Soundcloud stream below and then you get a great fully acoustic version via the video.  This one man band is made up of the talented Max Holmquist who brings an ease of creating music that instantly creates a connection – you have to immediately enjoy the stark honesty and harmony that is provided in spades.  The sound can be described as a modern day storytelling folk country troubadour (I tried to fit in more words but it just got out of hand) and by his own admission gives influences of Neko Case, Damien Jurado & M. Ward – pretty good models to hone your craft if I had to say.  As I have literally just started listening to the album I can’t really make full observation on the early 2011 release, but from what I have heard – it is sounding frickin’ good.

South of Lincoln has a new EP that was just released called “The Monsters/Bathroom Sessions” but I can’t really find anything on it…so if anyone wants to point me in the direction to a purchase, I would be much appreciated!!

Please take a moment, listen, fall in love with it and then swing by the good folks at Hear Nebraska for more information and ‘Like’ him on his Facebook page to show your support for great music.  You can pick up the ‘Homes’ album via iTunes by clicking HERE.

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Man, Pt. I by South of Lincoln
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South of Lincoln: Man Pt. 1 from Love Drunk on Vimeo.

~

EDIT: The Monsters/Bathrooom Sessions on iTunes!!

~Smansmith

After listening to my brand new Dolorean vinyl for his newest album “The Unfazed”, I was kinda worked up and wanted more.  Well, I started going over the fact that I had to post again on the nom de plume that is the Al James fronted band out of Portland.

Admittedly a bit late to the party on Dolorean as I have only been listening for a couple of years, but there are some crazy good slow burners (including the one in this post) from James & Co. that just stop me in my tracks.  The new album that is currently creeping up my best of 2011 list is laid back country at its best.  From songs like duet beauty of ‘Country Clutter’ (with Bosque Brown I believe) to the stunning ‘Fools Gold Ring’ and up to 70′s rock influenced ‘Black Hills Gold’ – it is a must own album.

But enough of the new album, the song of the day is from a split 7″ Dolorean did with Holy Sons a few years back and there is a bit of a story of first jobs, misread words, Springsteen albums that lead to this song.  Read the story from the Dolorean site here.  Such a great track – this is minimal & stark singer songwriter at its best.  This song is a piano lament of love lost – tragic in its crushing beauty to say the least.  A must hear.

Please visit and support Dolorean: Website, Twitter and Facebook.
Purchase on Partisan Records (North America) and Fargo Records (EUR).
Purchase the 7″ split with Dolorean & Holy Sons on the Pamlico Sound site.

~Smansmith

The other day I picked up (after waiting much too long) the Mostly Midwest Sampler Mixtape #1 (find it here with a ‘pay what you want option’).  They were doing a push to raise funds for all things Midwest and it simply prompted me to get off my ass and actually “donate” with a purchase.  I had been aware of it for a while and also aware of Jeremiah Nelson as well, but I found another little gem of a track from the mixtape in a 2008 recording from Nelson, “Favorite Chair”.  The song originally was part of his album ‘Take Me Down the Interstate’.

The song is fantastic.  It’s a slow summer morning, with sunlight picking out the dust lazily floating in the air…caught in each of the light’s streams through the window.  It is a piano meshed acoustic ballad and begs for simpler times when you can just sit down and listen – plain and simple, its great and you should listen to.

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Find more from Jeremiah on his website and Bandcamp page.

Check out the great duet with the amazing Heidi Spencer off his new album that was previously on Slowcoustic (via 5 Score Pachyderm) HERE.

~Smansmith

Huge fan of the Baltimore based band Small Sur at Slowcoustic HQ, and hearing a couple of months back about the new album, Tones, I was very excited.  After listening for a little bit now and it finding a release on this very Tuesday, I have to say that this is one of the best albums of the year my friends.

Tones, a title taken from the song from the previous full length album We Live In Houses Made of Wood, is a perfect title for a Small Sur album and this one in particular.  The music created by Bob Keal with the help of Austin Stahl and Andy Abelow is layered, melodic and constantly unfolding.  You will hear new sounds melding into each other almost each time you hear it – headphones really bring this album alive.   While the album is definitely a slower affair, it is almost thick…what I mean is you simply dip a toe in and it encompasses any part of you and you want to just be inside it.  Outside of bizarre images you may be dreaming up in your head, know that the album is one that you truly fall into – it might be the incredible amount of instrumentation used on Tones that really kicks it up a notch.  The album is at its heart an acoustic project, but it is also soo much more – there are layers of strings, wind instruments and Keal’s ever present warming vocals to hold it all together.

Songs like ‘The Woods’ are absolutely stunning – backing “woos” and the molasses slow tempo almost makes you start swaying immediately.  Whether you think the woods are actual woods or your one true love – the song fits the sentiment and starts to fuse with you from the first lamented lyric.  Truly one of the better stand alone songs of 2011 in my opinion.

Another song I wanted to feature is the track written for Bob Keal’s home state of South Dakota – an homage to the rural life and the past that is in all of us.  What I think is an Oboe fits the bill so perfectly – not an instrument that one automatically thinks of, but the waning, aching tones creates the longing we might feel for ‘home’.

I can’t recommend this album enough.  Hell, I can’t recommend the previous EP “Bare Black” and the amazing “We Live In Houses Made of Wood” which holds one of my all time favourite songs, The Kelp.   Whether you are feeling blue and needed an album to be there with you or whether you simply feel like listening to an album that you can really connect to, this one is it.  Please swing by the Small Sur Bandcamp page HERE to pick up a copy of the album today!

You can follow Small Sur on Facebook and Twitter if you wish as well.  When you get a chance, visit their Tumblr page for all things Small Sur like videos, info and updates.

Also, don’t miss the upcoming shows as the crew are currently on tour in the NE of the US!  Dates are all HERE.  Shows include Slowcoustic friends, Conrad Plymouth, The Singleman Affair, Annie Palmer and Micah Blue Smaldone.  Damn, these guys know who to play with – always a great collection of folks at the shows.

There you have it, best new music – Small Sur, “Tones“.

~Smansmith

New track from Newcastle dream-pop band Lanterns On The Lake found its way to my inbox this morning, so I thought I would pass it on!  This is a great slowed down and haunting track, kinda what they are known for – it is actually quite beautiful.  Strings, piano and their patented ‘cinematic scope’ of music – it always feels so full and encompassing.
What am I talking about?  Just listen below and you will understand.

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The new album (their debut full length) will be released on Bella Union in the UK and will see that on September 19th, 2011.

For more info on LOTL – visit them on their Facebook page and website.  You can also purchase their previous self released material on their Bandcamp page here.

~Smansmith

p.s.  Bonus track: “Forever Young (Bob Dylan Cover)” – Lanterns on the Lake

I’ve been a long time fan of Anna-Lynne Williams and all things Lotte Kestner (ok, fine, and Trespassers William) and now we have a full on covers project from her!  This is a great solo acoustic covers album from one of the best voices in folk today.  There is something soo soothing about her voice and the way it floats over acoustics…delicate and almost haunting vocals spill all over anything she does.

So, for a covers album, name someone who you would like to have covered…they will be here.  I always think that half the battle for a collection is selecting the ‘right’ artists to cover to make an album really work – I mean, you just can’t throw it together, you have to put thought into it.  Many decisions must have been made on this album as it is deliciously eclectic and full of “yeah, you gotta have that one” and “oh, I would not have thought of that but damn…” moments.  Think of having songs from The National, The Cure, Bon Iver, New Order and even Vic Chesnutt with Williams’ buttery vocals all over them.

The album was released just this past June 1st and is on her label, Saint Loop Records here.  If you click that link you will notice that you also can have a bonus EP of covers…yeah, they keep coming!  The bonus EP is available via Saint Loop and her Bandcamp Page (here) and includes some great tracks.  I have included two tracks from this bonus EP for streaming below – Billy Idol AND David Bazan?  Nice.

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Do yourself a favour and swing by and pick up this covers tribute to some great artists.  Current favourite is her cover of ‘True Faith’ from New Order…soo good!

Find Lotte Kestner on her Record Label, Facebook and Bandcamp.
Purchase on Saint Loop Records, iTunes and CD Baby.

~Smansmith

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“En Garde” is the new album from Puzzle Muteson via Bedroom Community.  I purchased yesterday (pre-order gets you the download immediately) already knowing this album would be good and so far it is not disappointing.   The songs are lullabyes, floating in and out with fragile and almost tentative vocals.  It would be redundant to say it is beautiful music – but know it is pensive and expansive beauty as opposed to strikingly stark beauty.  This album is has warmth in its songs and thoughtful arrangements.  Nico Muhly and Valgeir Sigurðsson joined in for the creation of the album alongside the music/lyrics of Terry Magson and they have created one stunning collection of songs.  I think the title track of “En Garde” could be one of my favourite songs for the year…

Listen to a couple of the Bandcamp streams below:

Find more, pre-order and visit Puzzle Muteson via the Bandcamp page and Bedroom Community.

~~~

Next we have an EP from good friend Joseph Scott aka White Pines.  In all transparency, our record label Yer Bird Records put out his debut full length album ‘The Falls’ late last year but this is his EP prior.  The EP is “A Face Made of Wood” and before I really knew Scott and worked with him, I had this album in my top 3 EPs for the year in 2009 (see here) and it still stands up.

Actually I can credit Mostly Midwest (follow them) for reminding me via one of their tweets about this EP the other day.  What is also great is that this fantastic acoustic, roots infused folk EP is available for FREE!  Yes, one of the best EPs in the last few years is a free download and I can’t recommend it enough.  Listen to a couple of tracks and then head over and download the 5 track EP immediately!

Find out more, visit and follow White Pines on the Bandcamp Page, Yer Bird Records Page and Twitter.

There you have it, two fantastic albums via Bandcamp – one more dreamy folk and one more guitar/roots folk – what else do you need?

~Smansmith

Today gets a great track I listened to a few months back and never got around to posting on it.  Sooo much music I guess.  Not really an excuse, I know – especially for a great track like this one.

Daniel Huscroft is a Canadian singer songwriter that is a little hard to classify into a specific genre – I want to say folkish, indie singer songwriter-ish, or along those lines.  Listen to the song below and you will understand where I am coming from.  Clearly a powerful vocalist and I think the polish on the great HD video my belie any gruff exterior he might show.  I am sure that was the point of the video having Huscroft in the middle of classical musicians with strategic blur and the like – nice little video for the song I think.

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GONE by Daniel Huscroft
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“Gone” is from his 2010 album “Here Is Just For Now” and you can find it on iTunes here or CD Baby here.  Lots of strings, acoustic guitar and strong vocals – what’s wrong with that for a Friday?  Nothing, now go into your weekend as this week is….gone.  [weak, I know]

Find out more on Daniel Huscroft on his new Facebook page or even his MySpace page.

~Smansmith

Andy Berkhout has a new project that is available for a test drive, it is the album “Morning” from a new side of Berkhout, Trotting Bear.

If you are familiar with Andy’s music you know that you can expect lush acoustic elements on ‘Morning’ to awaken to (see what I did there?).  Andy in general allows the listener in and it always seems like a house concert with his recordings.  What I mean is they are never ‘over produced’ and is a style of music that you can instantly find harmony and a closeness with.  Listen to a few tracks below:

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The album is akin to a collection of lullabyes or early morning/late night mood music, which lends to the accessibility of the songs.  Maybe you should swing by the brand new bandcamp page for some more of ‘Morning’…this morning.

You can also find more Andy Berkhout on his website.
You can follow both Andy Berkhout and Trotting bear on Twitter.

~Smansmith

Jeffrey Foucault released his most recent album on May 3rd and it is very quickly becoming one of the strongest Americana albums I have heard in a long time.

Horse Latitudes should satiate the fans looking for original content and even make them wonder why he hasn’t done it sooner.  Known recently for collaborations and cover albums (albeit pretty darn good ones), it is nice to see some absolutely excellent music from Foucault again.  This album is 10 tracks of beautifully spun stories over waning guitar, gently strummed acoustics and Foucault’s gruff and well focused vocals.

When I first heard the title track a while back, I wasn’t sure what to think.  Still a good track but I think it is his burning country ballads that really make this album for me.  Songs like “Goners Most”, “Passerines” and “Heart to the Husk” are some of the best songs around in this genre.  Throw in “Last Night I Dreamed of Television”, “Idaho” and “Tea and Tobacco” and you have filled out an album of songs that all rate at least 8.5/10 in my books.  This album is a must if you are a fan and if you enjoy my analogy of warming whiskey on a back porch scenario – you must get this album as soon as you can.  Listen to one of my most played songs this spring below:

“Goners Most” – Jeffrey Foucault, from 2011′s “Horse Latitudes”

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And this video for ‘Last Night I Dreamed of Television’:

Find more on Jeffrey Foucault on his Website & Facebook.

Purchase his albums via The Mighty Albert here (Get Miles From Lightning and Ghost Repeater as well) or iTunes here.

~Smansmith

]]> http://slowcoustic.com/2011/05/13/jeffrey-foucault-provides-americana-beauty-on-horse-latitudes/feed/ 0 http://slowcoustic.com/2011/05/06/last-of-the-country-gentlemen-josh-t-pearson/ http://slowcoustic.com/2011/05/06/last-of-the-country-gentlemen-josh-t-pearson/#comments Fri, 06 May 2011 13:55:06 +0000 slowcoustic http://slowcoustic.com/?p=5866

What can be said about this album that hasn’t been said and you have already heard?  If you are at least remotely interested in country, Americana, folk music in 2011, you have most likely already read and heard of Josh T. Pearson and his album “Last of the Country Gentlemen”.  A simple yet soo complex you can’t even delve into it album from a man creating a masterpiece.  Dramatic?  Yes.  That is what this album is essentially.  Its soo tortured, slow, hushed, hurt and haunting that you are left in turn feeling like it is dramatically beautiful and immense.  Last of the Country Gentlemen, best album of the year?  Yes.

03 Woman When I’ve Raised Hell by joshtpearson

Okay, getting worked up about an album released in March as the album of the year before hearing even half of what is released in 2011 is kinda my style…  To be fair, I will wait to officially make my decision in about 6 months but one needs to think that this album has the legs that very few other albums have had lately.  Don’t believe me?  Listen:

02 Country Dumb (Piano Version) by joshtpearson

So while I am not going to ‘review’ the album as you already know I love it, thus I am not an objective observer on the weight this album holds but I thought I might quote from a friend of mine.  The friend is Morgan King who I have known for a while now (and he is the original owner of Yer Bird Records that I now run – so you know we are on the same page) and he writes things as they should be.  While I strain to provide this album with proper prose, I am going to quote from Morgan on a review he did on his ‘Rate Your Music’ account.

“A massive, intimate triumph of an album. Certainly not for those with a short attention span, and in many ways not even for old fans of Lift to Experience, as this trades in the bombast of that record for something stripped bare of arena rock trappings, focusing on the core of self-doubt and the sheer hell of living with yourself that has permeated Pearson’s limited recorded output. Pearson’s sprawling free-folk narratives are laced with heady imagery and wry humor – with the backing of Warren Ellis’s always-gorgeous strings – create a broad tapestry of tragedy, remorse and recurring meditations on the sheer terror that comes with responsibility.”

Yes, I agree with this overview – it can be an album that is lost on some while those that actually ‘find’ it, discover it.  Morgan is writing the words that fail to fall from my fingertips when listening to this album.  But it doesn’t stop there.

“This is an extremely masculine, barely repentant, full-on Id album – limp-wristed scarf-wearing indie-pop fans need not apply, at least not until they’ve lived long enough to have experienced being bitterly divorced, being a righteous bastard, or had to shake off the morning DTs with a shot of bourbon while you’re still sitting on the toilet. Or, put another way, imagine if Leonard Cohen was a shit-kicking Texas drunk instead of an effete NYC martini-sipper and you’re getting pretty close. It’s highly unlikely 2011 will produce a more unique or compelling record.”

I personally think one thing that really hits home about the above quote is that this album IS extremely masculine – and outside of “boys don’t cry” mentality, this is another facet of the album’s raw appeal.  While Leonard Cohen fans may not like the comparison, I don’t think it is unwarranted – in relation to this album at least.   At this point, after all the many reviews on the album (mostly very positive except for the one glaringly obvious one at a certain music website) I have nothing other to say than this album is one that I will hold onto for a while and for good reason.  Give it a chance, you might see the light via his darkness.

Sweetheart I Ain’t Your Christ (piano version with Dustin O’Halloran) by joshtpearson

Find JTP:

~Smansmith

P.S. remember to get the vinyl version of the album as it includes the non CD track “Last of the Country Gentlemen”.
P.P.S. You might also know Morgan King as the one responsible for the original story in the Strand of Oaks Vinyl album.  The story that ties all songs from the album into one surreal tale…check it out if you can!

Quick hitter today with a new album from Philadelphia’s Psalmships.  We have featured Joshua Britton (& crew) on the blog before and his eerie sense of ambient folk and he once again pulls out the stops with his new live album release “Baby, I’m Wild” due out next week as a free download!

I think the facebook page description sums up what you can expect upon first listen before you submerge in it and make your own call.

“Psalmships creates ghost folk, reeling in the minimal with atmospheric restraint.”

Today you can listen to 2 streams from the album (out on Bandcamp now and for free download next week) that cover two highly respected and covered artists in Jason Molina and Jeff Mangum:

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The covers have the delivery and timbre of each original artist and that is what is kind of chilling…listen for yourself and catch the entire thing on his bandcamp page now.

Visit Psalmships: Facebook | Website | Bandcamp

~Smansmith

Today sees the release of an album that has been long in the making and heavy in the expectations.  Folks, Chris Bathgate’s “Salt Year” exceeds expectations and makes the wait seem trivial.  Yes, Slowcoustic loves this album.

As you probably already know, I am a huge fan of this Michigan artist (as you can see from the top right of this page, Mr. Bathgate is a ‘Slowcoustic Essential’).  As you also probably know, his new album drops today and folks it is a must-buy.  The album has 11 tracks officially (2 bonus tracks from the bandcamp/chrisbathgate.org page only) and essentially there is not a weak track among them.  If I had to describe the music, I would say it was Michigan Folk – but that doesn’t mean anything to a lot of you as it is my personal take.  Chris Bathgate was the first artist I truly connected a location with for some reason and his combination of strings, horns and vocal delivery just say Michigan to me now.  The sound is almost rock-a-billy at half speed, it is horns with piano, it is electric guitar played like acoustic and Bathgate’s ebb and flow delivery.  Kills me every time.

I think it is the combination of everything in these songs that make it sounds soo natural, you wonder why every band doesn’t combine horns with electric guitar and banjo!  The album has a mix of outright ballads (Salt Year, Poor Eliza, Fur Curled on the Sad Road) along with more upbeat tracks that flex a bit of the rousing live show he is known for (No Silver, Levee, In the City).   The album is described by Quite Scientific (Bathgate’s label) as “…his most beautifully bruised work to date” and I think this is a perfect description of the album.  It is not a light affair in anyway – but while being personal and about love lost and realization of how you loved it isn’t necessarily tears in your bear music.  This is music that knows of hurt, but isn’t afraid to confront it and come out the other side.

For a bit of scope, take the description of the term Salt Year itself to get an idea of the overall theme of this record:

Salt Year:

a. A song about seeing a person you were once in love with, and are no longer in love with, after not seeing them for a very long time.
b. (“The Salt Year”) roughly Sept 2008 to Sept 2010
c. An album about Love versus Time.

The listener fells like Bathgate is caught between wanting a somber affair and having to go through catharsis – this helps the album as while it is a down-tempo album overall, it chooses it’s moments to bombard you with it’s own power.  Like the above indication of Bathgate’s ‘ebb & flow’ vocals, his song-crafting does just the same.  You will be taken along, eased down with calming vocals and delicate acoustics and then thrust upward with full band to embrace the song before falling back into itself once again.  Songs like Levee, Eliza and Own Design really feature this style of his.

As I can fall short on flowery descriptions to describe the music as it deserves to be described, let’s just leave it at me not being able to recommend this album enough.  It has the chops to stand and deliver with the best of them and has some of the most poignant ballads around, the one-two punch as it seems.  This one is a must, Best New Music.

Chris Bathgate : Bridgehouse Session Pt. 2 (Poor Eliza) from Mostly Midwest on Vimeo.

Pick up this album via the Chris Bathgate Store

Find our more on everything Salt Year on the newly launched website

~Smansmith

New album from I Am Oak “Oasem” is due out in about 3 weeks or so and it is one of the most beautiful albums I have heard this year.

I have only been listening to I Am Oak for about a year or so since Geert from The Black Atlantic recommended it to me.  When that happens, you listen and I have been listening ever since.  His 2010 album “On Claws” was/is also fantastic with tracks like “On Oxen & “On Trees and Birds and Fire” – but with Oasem, he even extends on the aura oozing out of the sounds of I Am Oak.  If that is even possible.  The new album is slow, ebb and flow type, waning at times…songs like “Distances II” combine synth backing with electric guitar over layered vocals…stunning.

There are multiple double takes on songs – for example there are songs like Distances, Horizon and Island that all have a “II” version which I am often torn as to if they are completely separate or simply reinterpretations of the same thought.  The double takes are usually a larger sound-scape than the original (a song like Island II is immense!) but stand alone on the album quite well.  At this time the track Ocyaan is a favourite with it’s enveloping synth, ominous electric guitar and the constant comforting of Thijs Kuijken’s vocals.  Highly recommended.

Listen to the lead off track ‘Curt’ below followed by the teaser video for the album.

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Oasem Promo from Thijs Kuijken on Vimeo.

Swing by I Am Oak’s website, Bandcamp and the Snowstar page for more information on this and previous albums.  Pre-order the album HERE.

~Smansmith

p.s.  Bonus track from the Snowstar Compilation from 2009: “Gold And Porcelain“

While I am not overly familiar with Amy Schmidt, I found the newly released EP “Scratch Tracks” while perusing the IODA website and Schmidt brings a great EP of what *might* be out-takes to the listening table today.  While I don’t know that for sure (that they are official out-takes or stripped down versions of existing songs), I think that I like the sound of this 5 track EP and the look of a woman who wields a banjo in a Nebraska field…yeah.  Check it out below:

Amy Schmidt
“Geography” (mp3)
“Losing All Your Warmth” (mp3)
from “Scratch Tracks”
(A-Reaction Music Group)

Buy at iTunes Music Store
More On This Album

Find a bit more information on A-Reaction and her MySpace page.

~Smansmith

This song has been on constant repeat at Slowcoustic HQ.  Why?  Because it is absolutely stunning.  I am not overly familiar with the original but I fear that I might prefer the cover…is that really so wrong?

Well it might be wrong if you ask Ryan Tanner due to Steve Earle figuring predominantly in the “hero” category around Ryan Tanner HQ.  Well, we agree to disagree on the immensely powerful cover of “Goodbye” performed here.  While I have heard some live versions of the song by Steve Earle back in the day, they are also damn good (and possibly with a bit more twang than Tanner provides) but I stand strong with the fact that this song can stand on its own.  That is really all you can ask for a cover/tribute song – that it stands on its own.  Ryan Tanner’s “Goodbye” stands taller than most.

I recommend you start keeping an eye on this award winning songwriter’s solo persona (he was formerly in the band Atherton who enjoyed their fair share of notability).  While he is new to me, I plan on listening to him as much as possible – new album is due this year, which is great news.

Best new find in my book.  The new find, once again, brought to me from Adrian (my web brother) from I Pick My Nose Blog – cheers Adrian.  Let’s listen to the song that started this ramble.

“Goodbye (Steve Earle Cover)” – Ryan Tanner

Find more on Ryan Tanner on his Website, Twitter and his blog!

~Smansmith

*All photos on this post by Jed Wells

]]> http://slowcoustic.com/2011/04/15/song-of-the-week-goodbye-steve-earle-cover-by-ryan-tanner/feed/ 2 http://slowcoustic.com/2011/04/13/toby-burke-returns-with-new-album-mexico-city/ http://slowcoustic.com/2011/04/13/toby-burke-returns-with-new-album-mexico-city/#comments Wed, 13 Apr 2011 14:00:44 +0000 slowcoustic http://slowcoustic.com/?p=5920

Always a sucker for a raw and down trodden sound, I was pleasantly surprised to find the new album from Toby Burke that he released on his label earlier this year.  Recommended to me from the good folks over at Quit Mumbling (see their post here) while we were having a “twitter convo” in regards to the new Josh T. Pearson album.  A rather successful recommendation in my books and brought Burke back into my daily listening.

While we shouldn’t compare Mexico City directly to Pearson’s Last of the Country Gentlemen it does share a feel, an aura and leaves an impression that one would consider familiar.  One feels like they have experienced something after listening – it’s hard to find a “single”, it’s hard to listen to a song and move along, it needs to breathe and play completely.  The album Mexico City was recorded in, you guessed it, Mexico City – but done old school in mono and using natural echo that helps create this overall impression when listening to it as a whole. It creaks, its ebbs and flows while still holding the listener close.

While I know Toby Burke from his ‘other band’ Horse Stories, this album recorded under his given name might be more representative of the artist…as an artist.  While I am familiar with Horse Stories, I am thinking that that moniker is meant for the indie-melancholy (which is another favourite – check out the November, November or Everyone’s a Photographer albums) this one seems more for the sad bastard troubadour in all of us.  Recommended listening.

“Cantina Crawl” – Toby Burke, from 2011′s ‘Mexico City’
(stream the entire album from his site)

Watch probably my favourite song (so far) of the album, “Sentimental Fools”;

Visit Toby Burke on his Website and Facebook.
Purchase via his store or find those Horse Stories albums via this store.

~Smansmith

]]> http://slowcoustic.com/2011/04/13/toby-burke-returns-with-new-album-mexico-city/feed/ 0 http://slowcoustic.com/2011/04/12/new-release-from-a-spark-from-ghosts-ive-met/ http://slowcoustic.com/2011/04/12/new-release-from-a-spark-from-ghosts-ive-met/#comments Tue, 12 Apr 2011 14:00:09 +0000 slowcoustic http://slowcoustic.com/?p=5915 *Artwork by Sam Richardson

Newest album out on our label Yer Bird Records is from Sam Watts out of Seattle and his debut full length from his musical moniker of Ghosts I’ve Met entitled “From A Spark”!  If you read Slowcoustic and are old school, you will know that I have been following GIM for a few years and well before we ran a music label and now we are working with him to get more of his music out there, and we couldn’t be prouder of this album.

From A Spark is more of the sound that you would have come to know via his previous EP “Payphone Patience” in the way that you get slow pining piano, waning cello and sparse acoustics to fill out the signature sound.  The sounds created here seem so frightfully delicate that you almost need them to be playing softly, almost as if they are playing naturally in the background.  Okay, before we get to far, lets go back a year and listen to the title track from the EP, “Payphone Patience” for a reference to what you can expect from Ghosts I’ve Met.

“Payphone Patience” – Ghosts I’ve Met, from 2010′s EP, Payphone Patience

The EP was/is fantastic and only leads you into the full length From A Spark.  The songs were created over months living in Marfa, Texas and upstate New York and they almost tell of journeys of his place in the world.  Watts is a huge fan of both poetry and novels and it shows in these new songs as they have grown to become almost chapters in the story of this growing singer-songwriter.

The album had some “regulars” in the Seattle area that worked on the recording and once again they bring depth to the sounds of these ghosts.  Players like Jenna Conrad, Bill Patton (another favourite around here), Faustine Hudson, Anne Marie Ruljancich, Seth Warren, Brittain Ashford and Ben Blankenship.  They create music that Watts creates to become the ballads and laments that you want on a early morning, a chilly afternoon and when pondering the big things in life – mood music if I ever heard it.

Tracklisting

Blackwoods
Winters Ruin
Out With the Embers
Import
Slanted Light
Pale White Horse
Always, Clouds
From A Spark
Through the Snow

Stream the lead off track Blackwoods:

Ghosts I’ve Met – “Blackwoods” by Yer Bird Records
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Bonus: Winters Ruin (The version from last years compilation “Folk Music for What Lies Ahead”):
Ghosts I’ve Met: “Winters Ruin” by Yer Bird Records

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Swing by your favourite online retailer to pick up a copy of the album: iTunes, Amazon and Yer Bird Records.
Stream it on Rdio

~Smansmith

I have been a bit out of touch on the blog lately and missed a few days due to the rigors of my non-blog life (the farce of ‘real’ work) so I needed to come back with a couple of tracks at least! Well, lucky enough there are a few artists that I truly enjoy that are releasing some new songs for all our listening pleasure. Lets start with this mini-mixtape!

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Marissa Nadler is hard at work finishing up her upcoming self titled album (June 14th, 2011) after a successful Kickstarter project to fund it. Always a fan of Nadler so we know it will be stunning with a side of soaring ethereal moments. Or something like that. Listen to a sampling of the new album below:

“Baby, I Will Leave You in The Morning” – Marissa Nadler, from the upcoming S/T album (2011)
Find more on Nadler on her Facebook, Twitter, Website (& pre-order the album)

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Next we have a classic track from Lewis & Clarke who have been known to get stuck on my listening playlist on purpose. The band are masters of wrapping you in sound courtesy of Lou Rogai and his trusty crew. Beautiful and aching is probably the best way to describe the music – it’s fragile but not minimal, its full and sonic at times – take a dip into a recent cover from the good folks at WXPN in Philly.
My Name Is Carnival (Jackson C. Frank Cover) WXPN Live 2/20/11 by Lewis & Clarke

Find more on Lewis & Clarke on Facebook, Band Website as well as label La Société Expéditionnaire.

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Also someone who I have been following a lot lately is Canadian singer songwriter Sean Craib-Petkau or as we know and love him, The Bravest Ghost. His new “Nicotine Hymns Demos” are out in advance of the actual Nicotine Hymns and try another great track from this must have EP.
Devil’s Hooves by TheBravestGhost

I would have posted his new track from Bandcamp “Winter Rolls”, but damn that bandcamp only uses iframe for embeds now, so go visit here for that.

Find more on The Bravest Ghost on his Facebook & Bandcamp.

That is all I have for now, enjoy your Thursday.

~Smansmith

Puzzle Muteson has his ‘debut’ album coming up from the fine folks at Bedroom Community.  The lead off single is currently a free download of the title track from the album and is absolutely stunning.  While Bedroom Community indicates that this is is debut album, it just might be his ‘official’ debut album as I seem to have a previous album of his from a few years back….maybe he didn’t actually release it as much as he gave it away…who knows.  Regardless, his new sound is definitely coming along with sweeping sound-capes and gorgeous arrangements.

This particular song is a fragile one and it features Muteson’s unique voice & delivery alongside some gorgeous finger picked acoustics.  It starts to build up about 3/4s of the way in, as if to say there is more behind this “enigmatic songwriter from the Isle of Wight”…I can’t wait to find out the entire picture this June when the full album is released.  I will be in line to purchase, how about you?

“En Garde” – Puzzle Muteson, from the single (May 23rd) & upcoming album (June 6th), En Garde

Visit Puzzle Muteson on Facebook, Bandcamp (grab the 320kbps version of the track here) and keep an eye on him at Bedroom Community.

~Smansmith

p.s.  Find an earlier post on Puzzle Muteson with a great video and earlier track HERE.

Recommended to me last week via Twitter after posting my love for the band Isbells over on The Paper Crane Collective (formerly known as Tsuruadio).  Sure glad I got the recommendation as this other Zealrecords band is just a beautiful sounding as Isbells (and actually has member of Isbells on the album, so it might just make sense).  Marble Sounds is the recording moniker of Pieter Van Dessel alongside band-mates Gianni Marzo (Isbells), Frederik Bastiaensen (ex-General Mindy), Christophe Vandewoude and Johan De Coster (Soon) and they create dreamy, woozy pop gems. Very much recommended.

Enjoy a couple of videos from their debut album “Nice is Good” that is currently available from Zealrecords and iTunes.

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Enjoy the soothing music (& images) of Marble Sounds, find more Marble Sounds on their/his Facebook and MySpace pages.  As this was recommended to me, why don’t you do the same and pass it on?

~Smansmith

Small Sur has an album coming up called “Tones”!  Small Sur has a just launched Kickstarter campaign for said album!  Small Sur is streaming 2 songs from the upcoming album on their new Bandcamp page!  This, my friends, is a great Friday.

Small Sur (or Bob Keal front and centre, along with co-horts Andy Abelow & Austin Stahl) provide that music that is both majestic in it’s simply beauty and heartbreaking in its sound.  I have enjoyed the music of Small Sur for a few years and honestly everything they release is solid, the band doesn’t make below par tunes, plain and simple.  I did know the album was circling, but just recently official word has become to the forefront with the start of both a Kickstarter and the band’s Bandcamp page (with 2 new songs)!  First, let’s listen to a song to get you in the giving mood.

So that track is phenomenal and a favourite of all the individual songs I have heard this year so far (this is starting out to be a pretty good year, as an aside).  So the album looks to have a June 28th release date and a month long Kickstarter to assist in the release.  Bob discussed with me and mentions it on the album campaign that this isn’t fundraising, it is simply an option to help out the band release the album with your pre-order (and more if you should choose).  They are releasing it and simply are looking to ensure a successful launch, plain and simple.  So please consider a donation to the cause, as its a good one.

*Donate to the Small Sur Kickstarter*

Visit Small Sur on Facebook, Bandcamp (stream another song “Pretty Boy” as well) and their Website.

~Smansmith

A band I have been following lately is Small Houses out of Michigan.  I can’t exactly remember how I ‘found’ Jeremy Quentin’s recording works, but I have to assume it was those bastards at Mostly Midwest.  They taunt me with all their great music and location….and such.  Seriously though, I thank them for introducing me to this unique singer-songwriter.  As you are reading this in the first place, you will know the music is mostly acoustic and more folk inspired – but there is a bit of twang at times mixed with Jeremy’s vocals and in turn this mixture creates such a warm, interesting and engaging sound.  One of my favourite discoveries in a while…even if I didn’t actually discover him.

The upcoming album “North” was just funded via his recent Kickstarter which is fantastic as I am very much looking forward to the next full length.  If his previous album “Our Dusking Sound” is any indication, we are in for another great listen.  See a quick post that includes a track from that album here.  With a successful completion of the Kickstarter campaign, Small Houses has a pre-curser to the full length “North” aptly titled “Just Before The North”.   Take a listen to a song below and visit his page here for another free download from the release on his website.

“North” – Small Houses, from the EP “Just Before The North”

Visit Small Houses on his Website, Facebook and Twitter.

Enjoy your Friday and the sounds of the future of folk music in Michigan.

~Smansmith

~S

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I love finding new music that I was completely oblivious to. Who doesn’t? This time I have found the Louisville “band” The Parade Schedule and it was a very welcome surprise indeed.

The reason I have band in quotes is essentially The Parade Schedule is Matt Kinder with a little help from a rotating list of contributors/friends. The new album “Seeds to be Planted, Trees to be Cut” was just released this December and it is an acoustic folk record at heart that has a lot of heart…you could say. Kinder has a timbre of voice that comforts, it is not a new age indie “off key” voice, but actually a pretty straight forward voice that goes hand in hand with his sombre lyrics and even more solemn guitar strumming. This isn’t your intense finger picking folk style album, it is a drifting and beautifully soothing collection of songs (14 to be exact, more than the average album these days!).

While I originally found it on IODA, I quickly devoured the two tracks below (“Backyard” & “Dye Your Hair”) and immediately hit up eMusic for a copy of the full album. The two tracks included and aforementioned are both cut from the same cloth and could actually be a part 1 and 2 of the same song at first listen. When listening to the remainder of the album, you will be immersed in lo-fi acoustic tracks, with echos of a less twang induced Johnny Cash at times. You might even see a little bit of early Damien Jurado in “Making Away”. Stand out tracks include “Backyard”, “Eight Long Months”, “Be Safe” and “Dancing” as of the first few spins.

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The Parade Schedule

“Backyard” (mp3)
“Dye Your Hair” (mp3)
from “Seeds to Be Planted, Trees to Be Cut”
(The Record Machine)

More On This Album

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Bonus: “Old” – The Parade Schedule

Visit and purchase The Parade Schedule:

Bonus #2: Live Performance of “Backyard”

~Smansmith

p.s. The above main photo of Matt Kinder has a tag of “My serious band photo” on MySpace, love that about this guy too!

“Rowboat”

Talons’ have a new album “Songs for Boats” to follow up from “Songs for Babes” which was such a great lo-fi bedroom folk album (see previous posts here & here).  I haven’t given this new one a full dedicated listen, but I know it is going to happen.  I am looking forward to enjoying the delicate and soothing sounds from Mike Tolan (or as you know him, Talons’.  See what he did there…see?).  If you enjoy your music so fragile it make break at any moment while it washes away everything around you, this is for you.  Recommended.
Buy at iTunes Music Store
More On This Album
MySpace

~Smansmith

p.s.  You can stream the entire thing on the Own Records Bandcamp Page (and even purchase if you like!).

Just wanted to let y’all know about an album that came out of nowhere (for me, not for him) and you all need a listen or two…  Chris Kiehne just “released” the album Pray For Daylight and is giving it away absolutely free because he simply wants it to be heard.  Well, I’m liking what I’m hearing.

Chris Kiehne was part of the band The National Lights that released one of my favourite albums of 2007, “The Dead Will Walk, Dear” and when I heard from Chris, I was excited for new material.  If you are a fan of The National Lights, you get a glimpse into what might have been next for the band with this new set of songs.  This new album from Kiehne was started a while back but due to technical difficulties (hard drive crash), half of it was lost.  Well, with the help of Jeff Alford (pianist and general music-partner) and Sonya Cotton (also of The National Lights) they re-recorded the last half of the album and now it is out there!  It combines soft acoustics, a bit of twang, piano and gorgeous melodies that make it a perfect Slowcoustic listen.

Try a sample below in the title track & a link for the entire album:

“Pray For Daylight” – Chris Kiehne, from 2011′s “Pray For Daylight”
FULL Album Download

BONUS: I thought you need to hear a track from the amazing album The Dead Will Walk, Dear

“O, Ohio” – The National Lights
Purchase on iTunes, Amazon, eMusic

~Smansmith

]]> http://slowcoustic.com/2011/03/09/chris-kiehne-releases-pray-for-daylight-gives-it-away-for-free/feed/ 6 http://slowcoustic.com/2011/03/03/video-holcombe-waller/ http://slowcoustic.com/2011/03/03/video-holcombe-waller/#comments Thu, 03 Mar 2011 15:04:38 +0000 slowcoustic http://slowcoustic.com/?p=5774

Holcombe Waller’s new album “Into the Dark Unknown” is another beautiful acoustic tale from Waller.  Known for creating gorgeous folk infused arrangements alongside a slight performance art facet, he is a staple around Slowcoustic HQ.

Recently he was featured on the WNYC “Live on Soundcheck” program and played a stunning and stripped down version of the title track “Into the Dark Unknown”.  Check it below (find the session with full studio session download here):

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Find the new album on Amazon, iTunes, CD Baby and Bandcamp!

~Smansmith

I missed the official release of the album yesterday, but I actually didn’t post anything yesterday, so that makes it better?  Okay, okay, I really wanted to post and tell you about one of my favourite new albums of the Slowcoustic variety in Andy Berkhout’s “Love Without Fear”.  Andy is no stranger to Slowcoustic with his spot on acoustic takes on life, relationships and makes almost any subject matter sound good.

The new album is 10 tracks that don’t fall far from what we hold dear – acoustic, melody, harmonica and a bit of drawl.  While I don’t classify Andy as an Americana artist, there seems to be a bit of it hiding underneath his singer songwriter exterior.  You might hear a bit in songs like “So Patiently” and “It Takes Two” – just something there.  Then he will turn about and knock you over with stunning beauty in the delicate “Empty Room, Heavy Heart” and combine both Americana and the delicate in “Love’s Deep Embrace” (two of my current favourite tracks).

A little about the album from Andy’s Website:

“The album was recorded at R&R Music Labs, a young studio in St. Louis’ Dogtown neighborhood.  Engineers Ryan Albritton and Ryan Lewis (The Northwoods, Messy Jiverson) experimented with a variety of different room arrangements to capture the acoustic subtleties of the songs.  Much of the album was recorded live with no overdubs.  “I really wanted to make a record that would represent my natural sound, and knew this was the right way to do it,” says Berkhout.”

Andy cut his music making chops with a recent foray into releasing a song every week for a year.  Sounds daunting to say the least and if you followed it on his website you were privy to the growing talent of Andy as a songwriter and performer.  The series included better songs than most albums these days and it was a treat to get soo much music and so often – (see a post on one of those stellar songs here).  So essentially I am saying that you know this album wasn’t just thrown together, it grew out of crafting numerous tracks over time and it shows in the pretty darn solid collection of finger-picking, folk tinged beauties.  Definitely a recommended release.  Stream a few tracks below:

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Find more on Andy at his Website, Facebook and Bandcamp and follow him on Twitter!
Purchase on Bandcamp (and get a real copy of the new CD here), iTunes, eMusic.

~Smansmith

Don’t even ask how I found out about this album.  I admit I wasn’t up to speed in knowing about it in the first place (and by the sounds of it, I should have been) and it has been quite a great find I have to say!

Without looking into the album too much, I started listening because I found a Soundcloud stream somewhere that was off of a forum thread, etc, etc, etc.  So let’s start there – this is the song that first caught me.

Balthazar’s Song – Hiss Golden Messenger by blackmaps

So it’s essentially a fully acoustic lament on life.  The lyrics are honest, the sound of guitar strumming is familiar, frontman Michael C. Taylor (or Jai ‘Slim’ Diamond as he often is known) sings with a voice that is restrained and just cracks a little under the melody.  Then I listened to the next track from the Black Maps release.

No Lord Is Free – Hiss Golden Messenger by blackmaps

At this point, I was pretty much sold on this lo-fi album and there was no turning back, so I picked it up on eMusic.  I mean songs that sound to be single track and come off this easy to listen to is something that just doesn’t happen that often.  In fact I do tend to obsess over an album I like and over listen immediately  (which is currently happening at this point) but it is holding strong.  The sounds are essentially folky-bluesy-lofi and of the sad bastard variety, so what’s not to like?  Some might be put off by the un-production (or production to sound like the album is not overly produced), but that is what makes it work – it’s scratchy, unpolished and sounds like real life.  You know Taylor created these songs, plays these songs and possibly even lives them.  I am in debt to “Bad Debt” you could say.

RIYL: Early Phosphorescent & Elephant Micah

Find more on Hiss Golden Messenger on Blackmaps, Facebook and website.
Purchase Bad Debt on iTunes, eMusic, Amazon & Picadilly Records.

~Smansmith

“Overwrought”, “Self Indulgent”, “Painfully Slow” & “Rambling through the dark without care or focus”.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you the new Josh T. Pearson album due out mid March (UK) and end of March (US/Can) – “Last of the Country Gentlemen”.  AND IT IS ONE OF THE BEST ALBUMS I HAVE HEARD IN YEARS.

In regards to the opening quotes, I just thought I would get it out of the way what people will say when they ‘don’t get’ this album.  Admittedly, a guy who runs a music blog called Slowcoustic is going to find god in an album like Pearson’s latest.  And I just might have – it has been on constant repeat since I, ahem, obtained it.  Don’t freak out, I ordered the double CD from Rough Trade last week, so it all comes out in the wash…said the defendant…

So we have established that the Josh T. Pearson album “The Last of the Country Gentlemen” is still blowing my mind and I need you to hear another track from the album.  Okay, this version is not on the album, but it is similar to it and it is just as beautifully painful and comes in at just over 7 minutes [it might be one of the shorter songs from an album with 4 of the 7 tracks being over 10 minutes!]   Again, you have to get it to get it, and when you do get it, this album pays in spades.

Listen:

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Please consider picking up this album when it comes out – I am totally going to be that person who buys the CD and Vinyl after having the digital…its that good.

Find Josh T. Pearson:

~Smansmith

Mp3: “Woman, When I’ve Raised Hell (FD Acoustic Session)” – Josh T. Pearson

Josh T. Pearson’s upcoming album “Last of the Country Gentlemen” is a gut wrenching experience of an album.  It is hard to describe, but this is “essentially” a country album that sways into deep dark corners, digs out remnants of things not to be spoken of and delicately splays everything in front of you.  The album is stellar…dark…slow…straining…rambling and it’s going to be a contender for album of the year.

The song of the day today is “Woman, When I’ve Raised Hell” and I cannot stop listening to it.  The video and above mp3 is the FD Acoustic Session (audio is simply just a rip of the video, sorry for quality) and it is a great representation of the album as a whole.  Please join me in waiting in line to purchase this album this spring (March 14th in the UK at least).

You can sign up on his website mailing list right now (here) and receive the piano version of the first single “Country Dumb” that will be released Sunday Feb. 20th.

Find more about Josh and the upcoming album via Mute Records UK:

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~Smansmith