I thought I would send you on your way into the meat of the weekend with a couple of tracks that I have been spinning lately and are tracks that I thought needed to hit the blog, ergo, you my fine readers.  They kind of span things I enjoy listening to, but sometimes everyone doesn’t enjoy all aspects of what I think “Slowcoustic” means.  Well, I use the term quite loosely and I think the below are some examples of a bit of the range of the genre.

“Hawthorn to Hennepin” – Clint Michigan {Visit}
I don’t know why there isn’t more blog love for this Brooklyn duo, they have such great harmonies and keep it basically singer songwriter with folk tinges of banjo and is just a great listen.

“Mommy Crow” – E.P. Hall {Visit}
This is an example of lo-fi female fronted vocals that draws me in; beautiful, not too over the top and you can both dig into it and drift away with it.

“Drop” – Akira Kosemura {Visit}
Definitely the ambient side of me – Kosemura is one of the artists that create something that is just stunning.  This is a track that is considered electronic, and I am willing to bring it on board a traditionally non electronic blog.  It must be good then…right?

“Question (Old 97s Cover)” – Josh Preston {Visit}
Josh sent this to me due to my covers post last weekend – great job by Josh as I am not really a huge fan of Old 97s.  This is a highly approachable track that might get you on board and then you can find numerous other tracks from Preston – he has a lot!

One last video inclusion for a new album just sent over that is really hitting home – “Life But No More” from Frank Schweikhardt.  Take a listen to The Dead – this is some great slow and acoustic stuff!

Frank Schweikhardt- The Dead from Crossroads Of America Records on Vimeo.

Enjoy!

~Smansmith

p.s.  The top photo is just a random photo from a hike last year in the beautiful Kananaskis area.

So one to always cover labels that I think go out of their way to provide something a bit different but (almost) always chock full of talent, Western Vinyl are set to release “Houseboat” next week from Sleep Whale.

Sleep Whale are from North Texas and could be considered a bit of an amalgamation of shoegaze, folk, psychedelic, noise-art are definitely and interesting crew and I am finding myself oddly drawn to it.  Truth be told, I have only the two lead off promo tracks below and myself being a pretty straight forward singer songwriter guy, this stuff is really good.  “Cotton Curls” is thick and lush and with space sounds and muffled vocals – it is soo incredibly catchy, that even this sad bastard finds himself head bopping and toe tapping.  The second track is “We Were Dripping” eases you with a bit of nice acoustic guitar into a space rock journey that seems like it might only have chanting until those vocals come in and you tend to not know if they are saying ‘We Were Dripping’ or ‘We Were Tripping’ – but I think you know where I am going with this.  I have to say I am a bit excited to hear the rest of the album, next Tuesday is the release (Nov. 10th) with the good folks at Western Vinyl.

Sleep Whale
“Cotton Curls” (mp3)
“We Were Dripping” (mp3)
from “Houseboat”
(Western Vinyl)

More On This Album

Visit & Purchase:

~Smansmith

Artist/Music submissions come fast and furious at times and it is hard to keep up being the solo person around Slowcoustic HQ.  Why even mention this?  Because it’s my blog damnit!  No just kidding – I am wanting to let you all know about a project that showed up in the ol’ inbox a few weeks back that I thought you might actually want to listen to.  I always enjoy getting artist submissions – they just don’t always match up to what I have going on around here…but that is a whole different story.  It also can be hard just keeping up with all the music!  Oh, it’s hard for a pimp…

Let’s dig into a project and get you listening to (hopefully) new music that you will love and hold over the heads of your friends because you have it and they don’t.  {I think I am a bit punchy today, no?}

~~~

We Are The Willows (Amble Down Records)

This one is well worth a listen, believe me (the American version of me, Lee @ Knoxroad, had a mention as well).  There is a free EP “A Family. A Tree. EP” and an upcoming full length on November 24th entitled “A Collection Of Sounds And Something Like The Plague” that have been playing quite regularly around here.  Anyone who has been around these parts for a while know that I can have a bit of a thing for unique and interesting vocals.  Lets be honest, for a pseudo folk singer songwriter the vocals can make and break you.  Many have been singled out for having what I believe Peter Miller has, the distinct ability to have a voice and delivery that will make you love it or hate it.  If you are worth your salt in my books, you will love it.  If you have read this far and haven’t listened yet, press play on the YouTube video below now and then read on.

You will find obvious similarities to the late Jeff Hanson (RIP) and Joel Thibodeau of Death Vessel – Miller could be the folk version of another favourite, Windmill, to if I had to say…  It can be unnerving, but the combination of the great acoustic/ambient/electro backing with perfect combination of true singer songwriter and performance art brings the full bloom of this experience.  I find it intoxicating at times, it can be one of the most delicate things you can listen to and even strangely heartbreaking (songs like “Karate” from the EP and “A Funeral Dressed As A Birthday” & “Norwalk, Iowa” from the upcoming LP).

There can be a bit of over ambient mixed in for the straight laced crowd, as Miller can provide additional audio layers with an impression of the world around us…you could say.  This is created by We Are The Willows recording most of the album with his laptop & microphone while touring his native Minneapolis to create the album but I still believe it works.   Don’t get me wrong, it can get away from him a little bit at times, but overall he reigns it in to keep it from going to over the top art house noise pop on us.   Take a bit of a glimpse into the world of WATW below;

“Karate”
“Isabel’s Song”
from A Family. A Tree. EP

“A Funeral Dressed As A Birthday”
from A Collection of Sounds And Something Like The Plague

You can stream the whole upcoming album at both Amble Down Records and the We Are The Willows Myspace page.  You can also pick up the entire “A Family. A Tree. EP” at both for a free/donation download.  If you needed to listen now, you can pre-order the album and get the download immediately – that seems like something to get your weekend started correctly, doesn’t it?

Visit/Purchase We Are The Willows:

Bonus Video:

~Smansmith

Firstly Glass Ghost is a band I don’t know too much about, but they are on Western Vinyl (good start) and have shown up on some good blogs (great start) – so why did I just listen for the first time yesterday?  Maybe because they are not traditionally a “me” band – but I like this song.  The press on the album indicates “…something completely refreshing, and fittingly, a little scary” so y’all are going to listen to it below and look into them, right?  Album should be out mid October.

Glass Ghost
~~~
“Like A Diamond” (mp3)
from “Idol Omen”

(Western Vinyl)

p.s.  There is even an appearance of Luke Temple on it (from his own and more recently Here We Go Magic fame)

More On This Album

~~~

The other was Vic Chesnutt – obviously a shoe in for this blog.  I have had the album for about a month already and keep starting to listen and then something comes up.  No excuse, I know. So as I currently get into this album of late night pensive folk rock – you can sing along to the first track released for the recently released “At The Cut’ album.

Vic Chesnutt
~~~
“Chain” (mp3)
from “At the Cut”

(Constellation)

p.s.  Listen to “We Hovered With Short Wings” and tell me Chesnutt doesn’t have range…

More On This Album

~Smansmith

I have been listening to a lot of music, but not posting as much as I should.  I thought I would give you a quick song of the day post to fend of the daily mp3 crowd and the die hard regulars (love you guys!).  Hopefully I can get some decent coverage of some really great albums soon!  Speaking of which….see below.

So Matt Dill is from one of my favourite new(er) record labels that I have become quite fond of.  Orchid Collective has a stable of great talent on the more folk-indie-ambient variety.  While not the label for everyone, everyone should have something from them.  One more of those many options is Matt Dill.

Matt Dill’s new album is a collection of slowcore and art-house ambient tracks loosely threaded together to create more of an experience than a standard album.   As I mentioned with some Orchid artists projects there are parts that are quite stunning and also times of musical experimentation.  So if you are looking for something that you can dig your teeth into but still have the option of more than a few straight forward folky jams – this is a great option for you.  I can say it is getting maximum listening around here.  This continues to prove that the the indie talent quotient at Orchid Collective is extremely deep.

“Mountain Side” from Matt Dill – from 2009′s “Lila Rasa” album.  PURCHASE and VISIT, watch below:

Mountain Side -Matt Dill from Zac Eubank on Vimeo.

~Smansmith

Balmorhea gets remixed.  But…

Okay, don’t get me wrong, I love Balmorhea and of the artists that I know that are doing the remixing they are impressive (Peter Broderick, Tiny Vipers, Eluvium…).  I am not sure I am completely sold on the full project.  Yes, it has some very nice ambient tracks, some a lot more ambient than others, but it is more like an alternate universe Balmorhea.  The Bizarro Balmorhea.

The thing about Balmorhea is that they are so achingly beautiful in the instrumental music that they make and it is the ebb and flow of the tracks, the harnessed energy coiled ready to be released.  All the while Balmorhea is ultimately atmospheric music – one that creates emotion and one that both soothes and gets the heart pumping at the crux of the track.  Not all Balmorhea tracks are overly dramatic and built to come to crashing crescendos, but that is the stuff that really hits home for me.  Maybe it is the fact that the remixes (mostly, at first listen) seem a bit too ambient and atmospheric – nice to listen to, but maybe I expected more.  It could be a remix project that grows on me, and it is slowly doing this each time I listen – but I really needed this one to come charging out of the gates.

Full track list below:

01. Settler (Eluvium Remix) 17:24
02. Harm & Boon (Rafael Anton Irisarri Remix) 4:48
03. Harm & Boon (Tiny Vipers Remix) 5:45
04. Elegy (Bexar Bexar Remix) 3:01
05. Remembrance (Machinefabriek Remix) 7:24
06. Coahuila (The Fun Years Remix) 4:17
07. Coahuila (Library Tapes Remix) 3:53
08. Night in the Draw (Jacaszek Remix) 4:21
09. Truth (Helios Remix) 3:45
10. November 1, 1832 (Peter Broderick Remix) 3:21
11. November 1, 1832 (Xela Remix)

Lets do some before and after, shall we!

Balmorhea
“Truth (Helios Remix)” (mp3)
from “All is Wild, All is Silent Remixes”
(Western Vinyl)

More On This Album

And previously:

~~
Balmorhea
“Harm & Boon” (mp3)
from “All Is Wild, All Is Silent”
(Western Vinyl)

More On This Album

~~

Balmorhea
“Baleen Morning” (mp3)
from “Rivers Arms”
(Western Vinyl)

More On This Album

~~

So yes, they are all in the same family, but I am sure you can hear it as I do.  So, the Bizarro Balmorhea – maybe that is the point of the remix album…Let me know your thoughts!

Visit Balmorhea on their Website and MySpace and over on their Western Vinyl Page.
Pick up a copy on eMusic (like me) or on iTunes and even at the Western Vinyl shop.

~Smansmith

Recommendations, recommendations.  Bloggers have many.  Most are pretty decent recommendations and for the most part we (hopefully) know what we are talking about.  As I often talk out of my ass, take what I say with a grain of salt – I obsess on bands or albums or songs, so when I am listening – I recommend as it is the best thing and only thing I can hear at that moment.  Well something is about to be around more and it does come recommended from me.  Long rambling opening short – the Vancouver duo Lightning Dust (representing “East Van” to those in the know).  I like Lightning Dust…a lot.

The new album has more production value than their debut self titled album from 2007, but it is often a shaky ground when you incorporate additional elements into something that is soo clearly already working.  I have to admit that I did sigh audibly after my first listen.  There is still the echoing, haunting aura that Amber Webber and Joshua Wells bring to you, the listener.  This time there is just a bit more outward instead of inward aura, ya know?  A perfect example of this would be the track “Take It Home” – you have strings, bass lines, high hats – yes, high hats – and it comes out great.  They don’t present like they are trying too hard or that someone has come into the studio and started molding them to something else.  Okay, enough about the evolution of band sound and the fact that it progresses and grows!

The band is known for a bit of performance value in the sound – it is like they could fashion a very comfortable lifestyle by sound tracking pulp horror flicks.  But the pulp horror flick that gets known more for it’s soundtrack then its box office appeal, imho.  They do not disappoint with “Infinite Light” – and no matter how hard I try, I want to say it is a little 70′s retro keyboard infused chamber pop.  As much as that puts into your head about how they actually sound, take a listen to the below track to hear the sounds I am stumbling to describe.

“Never Seen” – Lightning Dust – from 2009′s “Infinite Light”

Now, lets move along to a cryptic psychedelic theatre tune – complete with those keyboards.  The track feels as if it is about to take off, but pulls back each time.  Definitely a more upbeat tune meant to get you the hell out of your seat.  Take a spin.

“I knew” – Lightning Dust – from 2009′s “Infinite Light”

Of the two tracks above, I lean toward “Never Seen” as I do run a blog called Slowcoustic and it is the more moody track…. There are more stand out tracks such as “Dreamer” that bring a pounding string section and “Honest Man” that enjoys a duet of Webber and Wells that can only be described as “Broadway Folk as seen by Pink Floyd’s ‘TheWall’…” – it is spectacular!  Overall it is a bit of a concept album approach and it is definitely meant for the stage – but my headphones will definitely do for now.  Make sure you pick up a copy this August (I believe it is the 4th) or think about catching them on tour with the always great Cave Singers this September (check dates here)

Visit Lightning Dust on Jagjaguwar, MySpace or their Website.
Do the actual Pre-Ordering RIGHT HERE.

~Smansmith

So song of the day today is from Reverie Sound Revue’s newly released self titled album and the first track “An Anniversary Away”.

The track is a more atmospheric summer jam from the Canadian pseudo electro-shoegaze outfit.  It is a lush affair to say the least and begs to be immersed in.  I can’t describe it better than they do on the group’s MySpace page:

Reality blurs and you are floating in space. Drifting, you hear the vibration of a future daydream. This is Reverie Sound Revue.

Pick up an album over on iTunes or visit the online Boompa store!

Reverie Sound Revue
“An Anniversary Away” (mp3)
from “Reverie Sound Revue”
(Boompa Records)

More On This Album

~Smansmith

Yes, you read that post title correctly.  John K. versus Nikki Komaksiutiksak with some electronic/looping via Blunderspublik.  Yes, you read that correctly as well.

One of the most interesting things I have seen in a while – the overall project of “Record of the Week” and then this track – how indie is this??  First off the project:

The Record Of The Week Club is a weekly recording session featuring musicians from diverse musical backgrounds. Never knowing who their co-creators will be — an incognito and disparate group of musicians meet at MCM Studios in Winnipeg, Canada every Wednesday evening. Over the course of one evening they are charged with the task of getting to know each other, arranging, rehearsing and recording a piece under the guidance of Mike Petkau. The song is immediately mixed and uploaded and made available for download that same night.

Okay, Winnipeg (or “The ‘Peg” as I know it) is a pseudo home town for me and ya gotta represent.

Secondly the song:

Tonight Nikki introduced us to one of the 52 languages spoken amongst the aboriginal people in Canada’s arctic. The verses were written by John after getting a lesson in northern geography. Nikki wrote the chorus; the translation is “I am happy to be who I am.”

We built the song around several takes of Nikki’s throat singing. Curtis (Blunderspublik) processed parts of my recordings of Nikki’s singing and John’s guitar, as well building several loops. He also laid down a lead guitar in the chorus. John played guitar and piano, and sang.

The song itself, “Keewatin Arctic”: featuring the vocals of John K. Samson (of Weakerthans fame – kind of a Winnipeg Icon for independent music) and mix in some (not so) surprisingly uniquely beautiful throat singing with electronic accents.  POW – pretty damn sweet, down tempo electro-acoustic track.  Some tracks don’t necessarily fall into the Slowcoustic arena as there is quite the diversity across the project.  This one track however comes highly recommended.

Visit the project Website for a bit more info or to pick up a copy of the 16 track album (15 very affordable Canadian dollars here people!).  If you are in the Winnipeg area – the CD Release show is on June 18th at the West End Cultural Centre – pick up tickets HERE.

~Smansmith

p.s. “Keewatin” is an Aboriginal word in the Cree language and means “Blizzard of the North” – this I get from also living in Northern Manitoba for half my life!

It might not just be the color (or colour as I know it…sorry, inside joke) of clouds, but more so the weightless feeling you get while transfixed by the movement of them.  If the movement could be translated, it just might be the ambient indie pop that is “Color of Clouds”.

The new Color of Clouds EP “The Look” is now out and available at your finest online merchants (as of May 11th).  The release includes 5 tracks to wake up beside, drive to work along side of, kick back with and maybe just to float away with.  The music is gorgeous and includes harmonies that combine the vocals of the enchanting Kellie Scarr along with her counterparts Daniel Chen and Nate Greenberg.  There are orchestral leanings, indie pop hooks and the soundscapes that will definitely bring them to many wanting ears.  They definitely have an electro feeling as well – it helps the aura oozing from the EP – soft, floating songs emanate all around you the moment you press play.  The tracks are all of the same vein, but all feel separate – like chapters of this mighty novella.

Listen to them now as you will most likely find yourself listening to them without even knowing it (you may have already heard them on “One Tree Hill” a few weeks back (Kristy, settle down now! – sorry another inside joke).  While the sound is definitely “listener friendly”, it is still fresh, young and ready to become your new Summer soundtrack.  Think of Imogen Heap and crew doing a great Feist impression – ahhh, now you are thinking…

Look for Cloud member Daniel Chen’s influence on the upcoming Nicole Atkins record which he assisted in writing a few tracks as well as the much anticipated Ivana XL new EP (or possibly full length album)!

Visit them on MySpace HERE.  Friends over at Knox Road posted previously on CoC as well – check it here.

Click on the EP cover below to pick up a copy of “The Look” at iTunes.

~Smansmith

p.s.  See it isn’t always broken down cowboys on this blog…

Check out the video for “Green Meadow Island” below:

Also check out the latest release from the “Spring Tides” album with the track “Lives Apart”.  The sound is once again a production of shoegaze paced beats with electronic tinged slowcore.  It is both mesmerizing and intoxicating.  You also feel a bit of presence with the album and this song, there is an aura of grandiose included in it.  I personally dig it, especially for the 1986 New Order bass line that hits just prior to the 5 minute mark!

Enjoy the night, this track and video are a great start if I had to say.

Visit the crew on a slew of sites (see what I did there?)

www.jeniferever.com

www.myspace.com/jeniferever

www.monotremerecords.com

www.myspace.com/monotremerecords

~Smansmith

There is still good in the world and this is a shining example of it.  The “Have A Good Night” Series has been around for a couple of years and is currently on it’s 4th compilation in support of Junior Solidarity.  With translation from the French site, I am not quite sure if the compilations are exclusive for charity or simply assisting in its promotion – anyone familiar, please post in the comments any info you may want to contribute.

If you are unfamiliar with Junior Solidarity (English version), it is the French based “charity” that launched an effort, using internet and multimedia, to break the isolation of children with cancer and who are hospitalized in sterile rooms across many hospitals.  The organization provides laptops which provide access to the outside world – keeping the essentially disconnected children, well, connected.  Those children who live separated from loved ones due to the necessity of “extreme hygiene” find themselves not only feeling scared due to their own circumstances, but must feel additional isolation due to often living in hospitals away from family and friends.

It can be painful to think of, but there is help from the music community in the form of the compilations where the artists offer up free contributions of music which is in turn bringing awareness to the cause.  In turn donations are provided to help Junior Solidarity bring a little bit more light through technology.  I discovered this project a while back and don’t know why I haven’t posted sooner.  Originally found via the music that in turn lead to the cause – you can find the music over on Blog up Musique.

Below are tracks from each of the 4 compilations (with Star/Moon actually being the second compilation), with the most recent release coming this past March with a tour being planned for September.

“Stay Golden” – Au Revoir Simone
“The Loveliest of Trees” – Dawn Landes

“Seaworthy Sleeper” – Johanna Kunin (Star)
“Sleeping Some” – This Is The Kit (Star)
“Werewolf” – Flowers From The Man Who Shot Your Cousin (Moon)
“Lullabye” – Grizzly Bear (Moon)

“Do The Right Thing” – My Broken Frame
“The Sea A Dream” – Liz Durrett

“Lullabye For Monkey” – La Corda
“Lily’s Knight” – My Lady’s House

So good music for a good cause – if you so choose, head over to Blog Up Musique and download all 4 compilations – massive amounts of great talent and a lot to discover (at least for me).  Go on, be one of the good guys.

~Smansmith

Compilation of unreleased and previously vinyl only releases by The American Analog Set from the years 2000 through 2005. This collection of live set favorites and greatest hits that never were.

The American Analog Set
“Stoney Chariots” (mp3)
from “Hard to Find: Singles and Unreleased 2000-2005″
(Hometown Fantasy)

The American Analog Set
“Make It Take It” (mp3)
from “Hard to Find: Singles and Unreleased 2000-2005″
(Hometown Fantasy)

More On This Album

The bonus below is from the recently released “Magnolia” album from The Wooden Birds who happen to enjoy the presence of Andrew Kenny who formerly was behind The American Analog Set.  It all comes full circle, especially once listening to much AMANSET – I hear the same mellow indie dreamscapes oozing between both projects.

~Smansmith

What is going on around in my fellow bloggers world that is of concern to me (and hence you)?  Well, I am glad you asked.  Let me drop some links for you for items of note for me (and hence you).

~~~

• Captain Obvious has put up a post on Joe Purdy in light of his new album “Last Clock on the Wall”, which is quickly becoming a favourite of mine.  Great folk country from quite a prolific artist.
• My good friend Tim (aka Strand of Oaks) is hitting some venues on an Eastern US tour – check the dates, check the show!  Dates listed on his MySpace page.
• Thabombshelter did a great job of covering the Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy Show that took place in their neck of the woods – I tended to not do such a great job when I saw him last week.  So check out their photos, videos and rips of the tracks for consumption (but get there soon).  Of note they have the live version of “Champion” from the Chijimi EP that accompanied the “Beware” album – and just might be the better of the two, which is saying something…
• My East Coasters – Herohill – posted on the new Tom Brosseau Album that I am looking forward to.  The misunderstood troubadour might finally get his due.
• Now Blogroller (oh yeah, I did) – Hear Ya - has new John Vanderslice, some Deep Dark Woods from SXSW among much more greatness.  Go visit them…now.

~~~

Well, I leave you today with 3 very different tracks to ponder your Saturday morning (or evening depending on where ya at).

~ One is “Miss Me” from the aforementioned Joe Purdy album that the Capt. posted on, just couldn’t resist as the album is totally on repeat at the moment.  Great laid back folk with a country/Americana tinge.  This is a bit more folky than some of his previous releases (of which there are too many for me to just be hearing him now!), so go and listen, pick up an album from the man himself on his Website.

“Miss Me” – from Joe Purdy’s “Last Clock on the Wall” album (2009)

~ Next we have the lead off promo track “Convict Escapes” from local talent Pale Air Singers.  This Calgary/Victoria duo brings a bit of psych-indie to my ears, and I like it (thank you Flemish Eye Records).  The album (so far) is a mix of two sounds meshing to create something that includes introspective guitars, keyboards, organ and the perfect melding of two lead vocalists.  I say two lead vocalists as the Pale Air Singers is actually the combination of two bands – Calgary’s “The Cape May” and Victoria’s “Run Chico Run” – and is coming recommended.  Who says that all the Canadian talent is from the East??  Visit them on MySpace.

“Convict Escapes” – from Pale Air Singers self titled debut album (2009)

~ Thirdly, we have some instrumental (mostly) dreamy shoegaze pop that is just soothing (well, after the first and before the last 30 seconds at least).  It is in the form of “The Bow Song” from the band Perhapsy.  This is from the debut album from Perhapsy (or Derek Barber & co.) who has emerged from the Ohio/Michigan scene to bring is layered ambient post-rockesque project to a surprising location, Nashville.  Well, maybe the South needs more synth…who would have thought?  Visit them on MySpace and let ‘em know!

“The Bow Song” – from Perhapsy’s self titled album

~Smansmith

So take a breath, sit back, listen to some Wixel, swing by a little later today.

So the new EP “The Natural Order of Things” from Trespassers William will be released on May 25th and it is another great ambient electro-indie folk collage.  While I tend to like most of TW stuff (come on, “Different Stars” and “Having” were great) and tend to fall over backwards at any chance I get to compliment Anna-Lynne Williams, so what else am I going to say about this EP??

It is a bit darker and ethereal (at least after a few listens) than most TW stuff and it might turn off the casual listener, but you gotta let it steep.  At the same time take the auditory darkness and use it to fill the air with an epic journey through echo, reverb, acoustic accent, backing percussion and a plethora of sounds of which only the band knows.  All while Anna-Lynne’s haunting vocals pulling you along the length of the 5 tracks and 24 minutes.  You can get a great idea by the lead off track “Sparrow” included below.

“Sparrow” – Trespassers William – from 2009′s “The Natural Order of Things”

Also enjoy some of the love from 2006′s “Having” album with the video for “Weakening” if only for back story and example of what beauty TW can create.

Visit Trespassers William on their Website and pre-order “The Natural Order of Things” here.  If you can’t wait for the delivery – pick up the digital copy at CD Baby.

~Smansmith

Take an exclusive download from the band (non album version) for the track by visiting below (you will have to enter an email address…but hey, why not?).  New album “Fantasies” is out in April, so check out here for more info and sampling.

~

So Angus & Julia Stone have a new album out as of this week (this band is old news to all you folks down under but fairly new to us folks over in North America!), but enjoy the great new video “Mango Tree” from the new album “A Book Like This”.  Visit A&JS on their Website and MySpace.

Enjoy a couple of tracks below, the Metric is from their 2001 album that was shelved for a while, but finally released a couple of years back.  The Angus & Julia Stone tracks are from a podcast that I wish I remembered actually – don’t recall where I found it, still good stuff.

~Smansmith

You must know by now that I have partnered with IODA on many, many posts here on Slowcoustic.  IODA gives me the opportunity to use resources they have and join in on relationships with labels and artists to get the music to the people.  Of course there is all types and genres of music available via IODA, but of it ends up being considered “indie” and as such, SXSW looms over all things indie.  That being said, if you are in the Austin area in mid March (I know many of you will be), you must attend the March 16th, 2009 event hosted by IODA.  Open to the public, no hassles with wristbands…get in the face of some great artists and enjoy the sounds of SXSW as supplied by the Independent Online Distribution Alliance.

Let’s take a look at who is involved in this little show, shall we?

• Y La Bamba
  “Fasting in San Francisco” (mp3)

• Theresa Andersson
  “The Waltz (live from IODA)” (mp3)

• Marching Band
  “Don’t Go (live from IODA)” (mp3)

• Deastro
  “Parallelogram” (mp3)

• The Phenomenal Handclap Band
  “You’ll Disappear” (mp3)

• Maus Haus
  “We Used Technology (But Technology Let Us Down)” (mp3)

• Blind Pilot
  “Go On, Say It” (mp3)

• We Were Promised Jetpacks
  “Ships With Holes Will Sink” (mp3)

• J. Tillman
  “Steel on Steel” (mp3)

• Deer Tick
  “Art Isn’t Real (City of Sin)” (mp3)

• Easy Star All-Stars
  “Bed of Rose” (mp3)

Enjoy your Friday, and it is still almost a full month till SXSW…

~Smansmith

Just saying, that’s all.  They need to get back together or do a reunion album or admit that they are not still together…sort of.  They have 6 albums with the last one “Set Free” being in ’05 and way too long ago.  Nothing is better than “Punk as Fuck” or “Aaron and Maria” – it is shoegaze indie pop at its best.  So I am not sure if there was news of an “official” disbanding of Amanset, but all I know is Andrew Kenny is now recording as/with “The Wooden Birds” so I am thinking that I might need to just give up hope.

Lament with me, won’t you?

The American Analog Set
“Born On The Cusp” (mp3)
“Immaculate Heart I” (mp3)
from “Set Free”
(Arts & Crafts)

More On This Album

For way out of date information (but a great download for the “Set Free” album demos), visit their Website.  You may even take a look at their MySpace Page if you have time.  Sorry, I couldn’t find more permissions than the tracks above, but pick up an album if you can with “Know by Heart” and “Set Free” being highlights.

~Smansmith

While I admit Windmill’s album “Puddle City Racing Lights” was a sleeper hit for me in 2007/2008, it is not necessarily something that gets a lot of play around the blog.  It is definitely slow, mellow and at times breathtakingly gorgeous – some just find it a bit “odd”.  Well I like “odd” and the album was fairly well received, but I think it deserved more.  Take a listen to a few tracks below, and although I don’t have the permissions for my favourite tracks “Tilting Trains” and “Fashion House”, these two are pretty damn good too.

Windmill
“Tokyo Moon” (mp3)
“Fluorescent Lights” (mp3)
from “Puddle City Racing Lights”
(Friendly Fire Recordings)

More On This Album

~~

I also have something new from “Here We Go Magic”, and while I am familiar with the man behind the HWGM (Luke Temple), I must say this is a new avenue for him.  The just released self titled album from Here We Go Magic is not what I am used to from Temple – all I can say is it is no “Snowbeast” or “Hold a Match for a Gasoline World”, but still interesting.  Description of the album from IODA:

Developed over a two-month period of stream-of-consciousness recording in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, Luke’s self-titled debut under his new moniker Here We Go Magic is a remarkable departure from his signature singer-songwriter material. Luke recorded the album at home using analog synths, a cassette 4-track, and his trusty SM-57 mic, coloring the sound with warmth and creating textures you want to wrap yourself in.

Here We Go Magic
“Fangela” (mp3)
from “Here We Go Magic
(Western Vinyl)

More On This Album

~Smansmith

Ben Sheppard seems like a normal guy that you would want to know, even in close up wilderness photos.  By a few glimpses into the MySpace page for “Uzi & Ari”, Sheppard and co. seem like a good crew…maybe I am just pining to me a musician and part of a band…

Promo-wise U&A push Sheppard to the forefront and put the persona of the both as one complete item;

Ben Shepard is one of those artists that cannot help but create.
Although on the road Uzi & Ari plays as a full complement of
musicians in order to capture the complex and beautiful sounds that
populate its recorded efforts, it is unambiguously the work of its
originator, Shepard, who has an urgent muse.

Uzi & Ari, seem playful, a bit electro-indie but still subdued at the same time.  The music seems to know its place or is trained to “follow the leader’ well.  I would think that a live performance could either be out of control or something that would soothe you on a Sunday afternoon (see what I did here…).  This is what intrigues me for this band, I can’t place them – I love the sound, but I know the next album may head in another direction.  Another direction that would fall into place and simply be the next “turn” on this journey.

A couple of tracks should move you towards what I am speaking of, and hopefully make you a fan of him/the band.  They are currently just heading up a massive UK tour with stops in Japan at the end of April.  The full list of dates are on their MySpace Page.

Uzi & Ari

“Don’t Black Out” (mp3)
from “It Is Freezing Out”
(Own Records)

More On This Album

~~

“Wolf Eggs” (mp3)
from “Headworms”
(Own Records)

More On This Album

For a bit of a bonus – check out the video and attached track for Mountain/Molehill below!
Uzi & Ari “Mountain/Molehill”

~Smansmith

Welcome the slow portion of the day….funny guy, I know.  Well regardless, its true, this is some great shoegaze/ambient-esque music to ease you into the rest of your day.  Sometimes you need to take a breathe, and really breather – let Suturee’s self titled album be your muse.

Suturee [soo-cher-ee] = someone who has been sutured.  I am not sure if there is a story behind the name, but I am sure there is.  I not sure if they have had the time to experience a story worthy of the band name as the band’s history seems short and fairly straight forward:

Suturee formed in August, 2007 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The band members are Julian Brau (Guasp, The Deep Sea Ensemble, Thee Locked Room) and Rebecca Adorno (Lalia, Parasolar). Julian and Rebecca met randomly through mutual friends and began writing and recording together right away. The 9 track self-titled album was completed in March, 2008. In August 2008 Julian and Rebecca relocated to New York City…

I think the future is something that might hold a lot for this duo…a move to a new country (and New York none the less) can only mean a progression in what Suturee might become, I for one am looking forward to it.

Enjoy a couple of my favourites from the album – “To Depart” and “The Presence” – you can also check out an acoustic performance of both here (just make sure you brush up on your Spanish).

~Smansmith

Some tracks that have caught my ear over the last bit.  I don’t think that they necessarily are all that connected – hell, some of these bands might even have absolutely nothing in common at all.  Well, nothing in common other than some Canadian dude putting them on his blog and calling it a “Mixlist”.  But that is the point of a mixed list, now isn’t it?

• Arrows

“She Wore A Cabernet Smile” (mp3)
from “Modern Art & Politics”
(Hobbledehoy Record Co)

More On This Album

• The Apples in Stereo

“Go” (mp3)
from “The Discovery of a World Inside the Moone”
(The Apples in stereo)

More On This Album

• Matt & Kim

“No More Long Years” (mp3)
from “Self Titled”
(iheartcomix)

More On This Album

• Blackout Beach

“Cloud of Evil” (mp3)
from “Skin of Evil”
(Soft Abuse)

More On This Album

• Slaraffenland

“Show Me the Way” (mp3)
from “Private Cinema”
(Rumraket)

More On This Album

• The Coast

“The Lines Are Cut” (mp3)
from “The Coast”
(Aporia Records)

More On This Album

• Deer Tick

“Long Time” (mp3)
from “War Elephant”
(Partisan Records)

More On This Album

• Mean Sea Level

“Nothing Less” (mp3)
from “Mean Sea Level”
(Cardboard Sangria Records)

More On This Album

~~

Go on and consume, you know you want to.

~Smansmith

~~

• Broken Social Scene

“Hotel” (mp3)
from “Broken Social Scene”
(Arts & Crafts)
More On This Album

• Amy Millan
  “I Will Follow You Into The Dark (DCFC Cover)” (mp3)
  from “KCRW.com Presents Morning Becomes Eclectic”
  (Arts & Crafts)

More On This Album

• Stars
  “The Night Starts Here” (mp3)
  from “The Night Starts Here”
  (Arts & Crafts)

More On This Album

• Matthew Barber
  “Modern Woman” (mp3)
  from “Ghost Notes”
  (Outside Music)

More On This Album

• Jill Barber
  “The Knot” (mp3)
  from “For all Time”

  (The Baudelaire Label)

More On This Album

• Great Lake Swimmers

“Moving Pictures Silent Films” (mp3)
from “Great Lake Swimmers”
(Misra)

More On This Album

• Sunset Rubdown

“Stadiums And Shrines II” (mp3)
from “Shut Up I Am Dreaming”
(Absolutely Kosher)

More On This Album

• Chad VanGaalen

“Somewhere I Know There Is Nothing” (mp3)
from “Infiniheart”
(Flemish Eye Records)

More On This Album

• Cuff the Duke

“Blackheart” (mp3)
from “Life Stories For Minimum Wage”
(Outside Music)

More On This Album

• Sebastien Grainger & The Mountains

“(Are There) Ways To Come Home?” (mp3)
from “Sebastien Grainger & The Mountains”
(Outside Music)

More On This Album

~Smansmith

First Corner:  Beirut

“My Night With The Prostitute From Marseille” (mp3)
from “March of the Zapotec & Realpeople: Holland”
(Pompeii Records)

More On This Album

Opposite Corner:  Heartless Bastards

“The Mountain” (mp3)
from “The Mountain”
(Fat Possum Records)

I am undecided at the moment for my song of the week and I had to post on this today.  Today is kinda my “New Album” day as every post today included an album that is being released in January 2009.  Who knew that January is a power album release month!!  Buuuuuut…the battle royale….I don’t know.

→ Beirut has some history on its side (The Flying Club Cup from ’07 was pretty good) but Heartless Bastards is new to me.  Point Beirut?
→ Beirut can get a little too electro at times for me…Heartless Bastards would be considered a bit more Slowcoustic material?  Point Heartless Bastards?
→ Heartless Bastards will be touring in Calgary in a couple of months….point Heartless Bastards?
→ Zach Condon’s voice totally hits the spot for me at times…point Beirut?

I just don’t know, maybe I need to consider songs that are somewhat similar in order to get a better battle with a clear winner.  You decide for me….post in the comments please!!

~Smansmith

FatCat Records is pretty much an “ahead of the curve” indie label with a few great “straight ahead” indie artists.  If you are a bit sketchy on what I am trying to say, think of starting at Animal Collective and move towards Frightened Rabbit.  See, now you know what I mean.  It is always hard to get all the “new stuff” for an entire label’s roster (and there is surprising little downloads on the their website), but check out below for some great samples of what FC has to offer.

• Amandine
  “Faintest Of Sparks” (mp3)
  from “Solace In Sore Hands”
  (Fat Cat Records) More On This Album
• David Karsten Daniels
  “Martha Ann” (mp3)
  from “Fear of Flying”
  (Fat Cat Records) More On This Album
• Frightened Rabbit
  “Be Less Rude” (mp3)
  from “Sing the Greys”
  (Fat Cat Records) More On This Album
• Frightened Rabbit
  “Head Rolls Off” (mp3)
  from “The Midnight Organ Fight”
  (Fat Cat Records) More On This Album
• Gregory & The Hawk
  “Grey Weather” (mp3)
  from “Moenie And Kitchi”
  (Fat Cat Records) More On This Album
• Hauschka
  “Freibad” (mp3)
  from “Ferndorf”
  (Fat Cat Records) More On This Album
• Mice Parade
  “Double Dolphins On The Nickel” (mp3)
  from “Mice Parade”
  (Fat Cat Records) More On This Album
• Mum
  “Dancing Behind My Eyelids” (mp3)
  from “Go Go Smear the Poison Ivy”
  (Fat Cat Records) More On This Album
• No Age
  “My Life’s Alright Without You” (mp3)
  from “Weirdo Rippers”
  (Fat Cat Records) More On This Album
• Songs Of Green Pheasant
  “King Friday” (mp3)
  from “Gyllyng Street”
  (Fat Cat Records) More On This Album
• Ten Kens
  “Bearfight” (mp3)
  from “Ten Kens”
  (Fat Cat Records) More On This Album
• The Twilight Sad
  “Cold Days From The Birdhouse” (mp3)
  from “Fourteen Autumns, Fifteen Winters”
  (Fat Cat Records) More On This Album

• Silje Nes

“Ames Room” (mp3)
from “Yellow EP”
(Fat Cat Records)
More On This Album

There you have it, hefty amount of music for a Tuesday, no?

~Smansmith

This is why I love music and love Last.fm.  Lanterns on the Lake (discovered via Agnes over on It All Started with Carbon Monoxide) is a lush and soothing soundscape via rainy day England.  Now with the help of Last.fm, you too can stare longingly at the ground while possibly swaying back and forth getting lost in ethereal/ambient indie pop!  While I am not always into dreamy indie pop, I really have taken to LotL since first hearing them a few weeks back and I highly recommend them.  Why they are unsigned is still baffling me.

Back story: I have decided to put a post together as while scrobbling (yes it is a real word) some Lanterns songs over on Last.fm, I realized that you can pick up a entire album of 2007 demos on their Last.fm profile page.  You can easily look below for a taste of these tracks, but you can visit their Last.fm page here as well.  The included songs on this post below are mostly from a “Recordings 2007″ album that is completely free for download!  I must say that this is a great way for bands to get out there and Last.fm is really the place to do this, with it’s many music “taste makers” being longtime members of the community.   So I say kudos to the Lanterns for putting the music up.

As mentioned above, the selection of songs are what could be a collection of demos with the stand out tracks being “I Will Lay You Down”, “Caught on the Way” and the demo for the title track to their new EP “In Starlight”.  So enjoy some Lanterns on the Lake and visit their MySpace page to say hi and pick up a copy of the “the Starlight EP” for like 3.5 pounds (which is like $43.00 Canadian, but whatever).

~Smansmith

p.s.  I am not sure, but did I actually include the word “taste makers” on this post??

Seagull is not a band nor a boy, it is a sound that comes out of your speakers to remind you of your first love and how much you thought you knew.

That description comes from the Two Bright Lakes page in the bio for Seagull, a band, sorry, a project from an Australian foursome that create sombre, grey, expansive skies through music.  Some may feel grey skies could be a bad thing, but just let this album suck you in and drag you along the horizon of the folk inspired soundtrack.  Seagull gets it’s writing and vocals from Chris Bolton (who’s bullet point fact sheet would highlight that he is classically trained in the use of a guitar).  Bolton definitely sets the stage with ominous sounds, laid back vocals and is generally your tour guide through the sounds of his residence that is Seagull.  Along for the trip comes Ed Bolton, Kishore Ryan and Michael Zulicki to assist in filling out the sounds that keep me (and soon, you) coming back.

Don’t get me wrong here, there are times of energy, so don’t think it is all about taking too many Ambien and drifting off to sleep.  Great examples are tracks “Baby” and “Joy”, which could almost be a post punk tracks a la New Order/Joy Division.  Some tracks walk the fence between electro-indie and simply indie ballad, such as “Half Asleep” which is one of my favourite tracks on the release.  A release that actually saw the light of day many months ago (April 2008), but is seeing more love over ’round these parts in the last couple of month I believe.

If I have to single out a couple of tracks from “Goodbye Weather” of the solid 11 tracks in total – stellar listens include “When”, “Trucks Are Sheep”, “Crow” and the pounding instrumental “Joy”.  I have to say I am glad to have picked up a copy of the album.  To be quite honest, I mostly notices due to the great album cover, I quickly followed with a couple of listens on their MySpace page, which quickly led to a purchase.

Visit Seagull on their MySpace Page, or swing by the label page and even iTunes if you can’t wait to have it sent from the land down under.  Don’t forget about their self titled EP from last year as well; while I haven’t tasted it yet, if it is the start of “Goodbye Weather” it would definitely be finding it’s way to my collection soon.

~Smansmith

Let’s open up with a nice acoustic video shall we…

Live at Lime – School of Seven Bells from Matt Huard Productions on Vimeo.

So far so good??  I think it is great performance, almost ethereal at times.  If that is not good enough, you can always try their performance on KCRW as well.  If that radio performance wasn’t enough, try the (audio only – one large track unfortunately) from KEXP over here.  With that transition to audio only, try some tracks from the “Alpinisms” album that was released this past October.

I have three tracks that have been circling the internets for a bit, and they show the band influences spanning electro, indie and pop and as well as how describe themselves on MySpace as “psychedelic”.  I think that last description may be more of a vibe you get rather than an actual sound you hear…ya know?  I am also including School of Seven Bells on my blog as they are a little outside my Slowcoustic comfort zone.  It may be as they are a little bit….well, happy sounding (despite what lyrical messages they send)..it is the sound I speak of.  If it makes the long time readers feel a bit better, I do appreciate their acoustic performance from the “Live at Lime” a bit more than the actual album release, but that should come as no surprise!

School of Seven Bells
“Half Asleep” (mp3)
from “Alpinisms”
(Ghostly International)

“Connjur” (mp3)
from “Alpinisms”

(Ghostly International)

“Chain” (mp3)
from “Alpinisms”
(Ghostly International)

More On This Album

You might find yourself humming along, or simply devouring the earthy electro-folk-pop tunes of this trio.  You can also find them on their website here or on the Label site for Ghostly International here.  Also you can check their MySpace page here, to find a bit more about them and take a look at this Brooklyn based band’s EXTENSIVE tour through the U.K..

Immerse yourself in the School’s, breezy weekend soundtrack…

~Smansmith

p.s.  Does anyone hear a less guitar driven, more 60′s version of Tegan & Sara in their sound??

So here we are with the down-tempo section of the class today – ladies and gents, here are the peptides!

Despite sounding like a 50′s digestive aid, “the peptides” were a welcome surprise in my inbox.  I have also discovered that the peptides are actually the pseudo art project of singer/songwriter Claude Marquis, with assistance from inspired vocalist Pam Kapoor.  I have to say that I tend to lean to the lo-fi and mellow in the first place, so this suggestion was like they say “fish in a barrel”.  While I do enjoy a down-tempo track, it still has to be enjoyable, I mean good harmony, vocals and overall quality listening times must be present, no problems here.

Also, myself being Canadian, I am always looking to represent some “local” talent.  I just had a conversation on the weekend, that I complain about other locations having soo many talented bands – I had to be reminded that there are numerous quality bands from Canada.  I quickly shut my yap (or stopped typing) and low and behold, more Canadian talent in the peptides was awaiting me.  The newest album (and their second to date) “Stereo Stereo” is a collection of woozy original tracks paired with covers of yesteryear.  There is a bit of niche marketing here with what I can make out – retro folk almost.  Not classic Dylan folk, but retro in the way you liked taking acid and enjoying “free love” and wearing platform shoes.  I can’t put my finger on it, as my finger is too busy tapping to the music…if I had to say.

Enough beating around the bush, take a listen and hear for yourself.  These “Canucks” have a unique sound and I must say I will definitely keep them around the ol’ listening lounge.  Yes…that’s it, maybe they could be “lounge folk”…

Visit the peptides on MySpace and their Website.  Make sure you swing through their “demos” and “daily offerings” for many more complimentary offers.
Pick up a copy of “Stereo Stereo” over on CD Baby here.

~Smansmith

So I am a bit under the weather today and I need something soothing (and possibly more sleep).  In looking over recent acquisitions of the musical variety I have found a soundtrack for myself today.  It is the ambient works of Akira Kosemura and Haruka Nakamura.

While most likely not household names to most of you (or me for that matter), I came across Nakamura first which led me to Kosemura – both equally talented and atmospheric I am sure.  I don’t know too much about these two artists, but I am intrigued by them.  While Nakamura’s landscape finds him a bit more electronic infused, Kosemura’s more traditional down tempo piano is the perfect symbiotic match.  Their music is that sound that plays more often during slow motion periods in media – I am sure in order to emphasize the beauty, cadence and to mesh with the visuals just right.  It is more than beautiful and will lull and hypnotize me into the slumber I rightfully need today.  I just hope I actually slip into sleeping instead of wanting to simply listen and listen over again.

I would have to recommend the 2008 releases by both – Kosemura’s “Tiny Musical” and Nakamura’s “Grace” or even the shared release by both artists “Afterglow”.

Visit Akira Kosemura on MySpace, his Website and Virb.
Visit Haruka Nakamura on MySpace and on Virb.
Visit the label of both over at Schole (I hope your Japanese is up to speed though) or simply pick up a copy of “Afterglow” over on eMusic here.

Slow down this Monday with my new Japanese friends.

~Smansmith

It has been a bit of a “off centre” Slowcoustic Weekend.  This isn’t a bad thing, just taking some time to listen to some music that isn’t just an acoustic guitar and accompanying voice.  With that in mind, I bring you the next installment of the growth of the site – Anomie Belle – not your standard indie songstress.

an·o·mie [an-uh-me] n social unrest or normlessness; malaise, alienation and purposelessness.

belle [bel] n a popular and charming woman; especially: a woman whose charm and beauty make her a favorite.

Anomie Belle is really Toby Campbell, classical violinist cum trip-hop diva (didn’t expect that now did you?) and she is releasing her most recent “experiment” into electronic/acoustic/fusion album “Sleeping Patterns” due this November 2nd.  While I do not extensively listen to the more electronic side of the spectrum (see below post on Firekites as well) – this is another project you can get into.  There is a fair share of Campbell’s eerie beats covered by her purposefully slow delivery of lyrics.  These lyrics in particular can be seen often as commentary on many social issues around us, but seem to be more observation instead of outright protest.  I can also say with her delivery and soundscapes, the messages are ones that can actually be pondered while being soothed by the medium.

As expected there is vocal sampling alongside the occasional “keyboard frequency tuning”, but kept in line with the sound and feel of the album.  Among the 11 track album you find gems in songs like “Down” and “February Sun” which may be the tracks to incorporate a more acoustic influence (see below).  You might just also hear some accents via Ms. Anna-Lynne Williams (Lotte Kestner, Trespassers William and all around Slowcoustic favourite) who contributes to the album.

So get in line now to pick up a copy upon its release, in order to convince you to get a copy, listen below!

~Smansmith