tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35783840903437675542024-03-04T22:37:20.542-08:00Letters With Mixtapes.a music/mp3 blog covering (mostly, but not limited to) the pacific northwest. Indie, folk, experimental, electronic. Weird or pretty (and sometimes both).Lettershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10837600037315489063noreply@blogger.comBlogger226125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3578384090343767554.post-75058476764109296062012-08-30T00:05:00.001-07:002013-11-21T15:40:45.484-08:00The End<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6rFXfzxFDAbD82EE3hMrqULDQ1k43WTj_A5L7zcrR3ltEkkJsS9uxhzJ59QUxNdlOB7yv8iSklfXAmH48vTCuA5hDZku0v-QpPL2582BeYBjzPJ76sI5HjRA8pqiytQeuNgaoo40v10WC/s1600/the+end.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6rFXfzxFDAbD82EE3hMrqULDQ1k43WTj_A5L7zcrR3ltEkkJsS9uxhzJ59QUxNdlOB7yv8iSklfXAmH48vTCuA5hDZku0v-QpPL2582BeYBjzPJ76sI5HjRA8pqiytQeuNgaoo40v10WC/s1600/the+end.jpg" /></a></div>
So, after several years of <i>Letters With Mixtapes</i>, I'm calling it quits. It's been a good run and the response to the site has been overwhelming. Much more than I ever expected.<br />
<br />
Many thanks to Alexis Wolf and Danielle Rodeo Warhola for holding down some of the posting over the last year or so. I knew it'd become a back-burner project for a while now, but I just realized it was done in the last few days. The time had come to say it.<br />
<br />
Thanks for reading what I've had to say about my lifelong obsession over the past few years. I really appreciate that and I hope it turned you onto some sounds that helped you out in some way.<br />
<br />
In other news: I just started a label called <a href="http://antiquatedfuture.bandcamp.com/" target="_blank">Antiquated Future Records</a> and I'm really excited about the first couple releases. They just came out on Friday and I can't stop listening to them. I posted some songs from them below. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.<br />
<br />
I turn 30 years old in exactly one minute, so here goes some kind of future I cannot imagine.<br />
- Joshua<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.mediafire.com/file/s9ry12qb49pjwt3/Blindfolder_-_Dub_Junk.mp3" target="_blank">Blindfolder- Dub Junk</a> (off of <a href="http://antiquatedfuture.bandcamp.com/album/artifact-effect" target="_blank">Artifact Effect</a>)<br />
<a href="http://www.mediafire.com/file/lcs085uyl4n9qjz/Upside_Drown_-_Sheltering_Sky.mp3" target="_blank">Upside Drown- Sheltering Sky</a> (off of <a href="http://antiquatedfuture.bandcamp.com/album/mood-music" target="_blank">Mood Music</a>)<br />
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<br />
<iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="100" src="http://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/v=2/track=3952594608/size=venti/bgcol=FFFFFF/linkcol=4285BB/" style="display: block; height: 100px; position: relative; width: 400px;" width="400"><a href="http://antiquatedfuture.bandcamp.com/track/the-end">The End by Blindfolder</a></iframe>Lettershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10837600037315489063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3578384090343767554.post-22274830366126617872012-03-27T16:40:00.002-07:002012-03-27T16:44:14.999-07:00House Shape<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihMf-r7AnUkix0hvKZhKm2B6r-S5WBL6cX4JJF995StCnHTkNMkKLHlG-Lh1cJ8vcKV3GbrvhBMQ3zFXer235UdVWgKyqFntUABghS_Q7xRbdUjHt-fl4NQ6RoOhzfb5kEw2CujKMJLMCs/s1600/Mount+Eerie-+Clear+Moon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihMf-r7AnUkix0hvKZhKm2B6r-S5WBL6cX4JJF995StCnHTkNMkKLHlG-Lh1cJ8vcKV3GbrvhBMQ3zFXer235UdVWgKyqFntUABghS_Q7xRbdUjHt-fl4NQ6RoOhzfb5kEw2CujKMJLMCs/s320/Mount+Eerie-+Clear+Moon.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
I saw Mount Eerie for the first time in (i think) late 2003 or early 2004. It was in Olympia at a venue called the Yes Yes (RIP!). The project hadn't been announced, as far as I knew. The flyers just said 'Mount Eerie' and, since that was the last Microphones album, I guessed it was the new name for The Microphones and went. There were only a handful of people there and I assume we all just kind of had gone hoping we were right. We were basically right, I guess (the project ended up having a different feel), and it was just Phil and an acoustic guitar. Not the elaborate Microphones shows I'd been having the pleasure of watching for the last few years. But it was still really great. After the show, I talked to Phil a little while he loaded up his beat up pickup truck. I think he might have been doing a little tour down the coast, I can't remember. I walked home, thinking about how brave it was for him to change his project's name at the height of its popularity. I thought to myself, "gee, he must not want a following, must just want it to be a real personal thing." Looking at it now, eight years later (!?!), I think about how I misjudged this one and how this music will attract followers just through its sheer existence. No promotion needed. That said, here's some promotion: the first single from the upcoming <i>Clear Moon</i> album, due out May 22nd.<br />
<a href="http://soundcloud.com/forcefieldpr/mount-eerie-house-shape?utm_source=soundcloud&utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=blogger&utm_content=http://soundcloud.com/forcefieldpr/mount-eerie-house-shape">Mount Eerie - "House Shape"</a><br />
As a side note: I've finally come around to realizing how great Soundcloud is; especially for finding interesting experimental stuff and the weird sides of artists that don't always get weird. If you need a place to start, here's the <a href="http://soundcloud.com/lettersmakesmusic/following" target="_blank">people we follow on Soundcloud </a>and <a href="http://soundcloud.com/lettersmakesmusic/favorites" target="_blank">some of our favorite tracks</a>.Lettershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10837600037315489063noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3578384090343767554.post-6514808886374287592012-03-22T18:13:00.002-07:002012-03-22T18:13:13.090-07:00Drown<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Ue4oVzC8xBwAGSYGkFmlQTuRtqb0uPgjrEu253OnoIM0EpIwedq6IMDiaulTbWEvbpLRmZMLi7G3_948W58_fBpFKwtT64JuvXVMcadt4rdm8CabDk199vpmX17tbrt6jOfPLhyRbjdv/s1600/Broken+Water-+Tempest+promo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Ue4oVzC8xBwAGSYGkFmlQTuRtqb0uPgjrEu253OnoIM0EpIwedq6IMDiaulTbWEvbpLRmZMLi7G3_948W58_fBpFKwtT64JuvXVMcadt4rdm8CabDk199vpmX17tbrt6jOfPLhyRbjdv/s320/Broken+Water-+Tempest+promo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Today, the new single from Olympia's own <a href="http://hardlyart.com/brokenwater.html" target="_blank">Broken Water</a> came my way, getting me all excited for their upcoming album. The album's called <a href="http://www.hardlyart.com/shop/brokenwater.html" target="_blank">Tempest</a> and will be their first release with Seattle's very fine <a href="http://hardlyart.com/index2.html" target="_blank">Hardly Art</a> label. It's been pretty amazing seeing Broken Water evolve over the last few years and I always love seeing their combination of sublime noise and odd pop beauty. And, while their sound is easily comparable to a bygone era of Seattle music and various buzz clip era bands, they've taken it to a place where few of those bands went. It's a little mystical and feels connected to the earth in a way that's pretty different from the genre that inspires them.<br />
<a href="http://www.mediafire.com/file/yi788enyt16b3e5/Broken%20Water-%20Drown.mp3" target="_blank">Broken Water- Drown</a> (off <a href="http://www.hardlyart.com/shop/brokenwater.html" target="_blank">Tempest</a>, coming out March 29th on Hardly Art)Lettershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10837600037315489063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3578384090343767554.post-34755087513385250152012-02-17T14:26:00.000-08:002012-02-17T14:26:00.814-08:00Cuckoo<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc4dZtK_itNhniKo1xrdPJ57ke_BdDR1s3FEKhiSmwj1oF8DLkZFclp6bmNhv-5QK_A58wjFDIDWdt_2-G4rYVl0NBIVlyzNClI5-r2HyTiOwpo2q39-cv37OU8JzUKSLyFC7M1HN4bWsA/s1600/creatures+of+an+hour.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc4dZtK_itNhniKo1xrdPJ57ke_BdDR1s3FEKhiSmwj1oF8DLkZFclp6bmNhv-5QK_A58wjFDIDWdt_2-G4rYVl0NBIVlyzNClI5-r2HyTiOwpo2q39-cv37OU8JzUKSLyFC7M1HN4bWsA/s200/creatures+of+an+hour.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<span id="goog_662441701"></span><span id="goog_662441702"></span>The first few bars of 'Cuckoo' will confuse your senses with a familiar
warmth if you are a fan of Zola Jesus and/or Broadcast, but when Tessa
Murray's soft and hypnotizing voice begins to coo in a tone that implies
the transmission of delicate secrets, you will realize that you are
making a fresh connection to an important new band producing dream pop
with their own finely tuned twist. The London-based <a href="http://www.myspace.com/stillcorners" target="_blank">Still Corners</a>, who
recently put out their first full length record with Sub Pop, <a href="http://stillcorners.bandcamp.com/album/creatures-of-an-hour" target="_blank">Creatures of an Hour</a>, blend pitch perfect electronic pop with a taste of
psychedelic memorabilia. The result is a mind-expanding feeling made all
the more potent if you are able to catch their live show, during which
Tessa's slowly swaying body and knowing dreamlike expression are framed
by eerie video projections compiled for the songs by the band's
guitarist, Leon Dufficy. Their new album has something for everyone,
from the frolicking melodies of 'The White Season' to the trippy percussive frenzy on 'Into the Trees', or the lovely and creepy ballad
'I Wrote in Blood'. Still Corners manage to combine all of the desirable
aspects of the '60s with a modernity that scans the horizon, looking
towards a haunting hallucination of the future. (Alexis Wolf)<br />
<a href="http://www.mediafire.com/file/zmvddlyae7hu0pn/Still%20Corners-%20Cuckoo.mp3" target="_blank">Still Corners- Cuckoo </a>Lettershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10837600037315489063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3578384090343767554.post-10690253920035332782012-01-27T13:21:00.000-08:002012-01-27T13:21:31.146-08:00Song a Week<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzom8dBXcxH3hnE8n5kJ8Qjtr3KTdfyubiawxxfx2fioTrSfpKwtfLgDhufOydc5mj-3WERF8pMV48_RmaZN1NmraJQlRioumMtt8zV755FXFJllcMTeXmxMJvBlHrlZg73BHJDFL5475A/s1600/Diane+cluck+song+a+week+project.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="46" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzom8dBXcxH3hnE8n5kJ8Qjtr3KTdfyubiawxxfx2fioTrSfpKwtfLgDhufOydc5mj-3WERF8pMV48_RmaZN1NmraJQlRioumMtt8zV755FXFJllcMTeXmxMJvBlHrlZg73BHJDFL5475A/s400/Diane+cluck+song+a+week+project.png" width="400" /></a></div>
In short: Diane Cluck (amazing). <a href="http://dianecluck.info/song-of-the-week/updates">Song-a-week subscription project</a> (new!). Needs funding (soon). You should (you will not regret it, i am sure).
<a href="http://www.mediafire.com/file/myzvh0gzi1i/diane%20cluck-%20my%20teacher%20died%20%28live%20in%20olympia%29.mp3">Diane Cluck- My Teacher Died (Live in Olympia)</a>Lettershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10837600037315489063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3578384090343767554.post-5310281117780669172012-01-24T22:43:00.000-08:002012-01-24T22:48:30.513-08:00Something is Eating Me<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtEub4_Gj7V4pZCR3TplDRLls9c7lNf6lNkdNAcS0OEK8zAevezJZRQTzxzs0E8bZKXsx0p8L-L0f1IKsjlpI3JZP9zZd-8fae7Z9ArXNWGOG7atgpwj5RtOvZE5aDo9l3pnOXviVwtAf0/s1600/Emilie+Lund.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="320" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtEub4_Gj7V4pZCR3TplDRLls9c7lNf6lNkdNAcS0OEK8zAevezJZRQTzxzs0E8bZKXsx0p8L-L0f1IKsjlpI3JZP9zZd-8fae7Z9ArXNWGOG7atgpwj5RtOvZE5aDo9l3pnOXviVwtAf0/s320/Emilie+Lund.jpg" /></a></div>
We stumbled across this wonderful songstress late at night when the lights were dim and the shadows could have been interpreted as either cordial or dismaying, dependent upon the tilt of our head or the squint of our eyes. Luckily, a push of the play button allowed <a href="http://www.aaahh-records.net/emilie-lund-emilie-lund-ep/">Emilie Lund</a>'s childish yet refined voice to fill up the entire room with a familiar sentiment brought back from the realm of nuanced comfort. The contrast of her simple layered vocals and subtle yet perfect instrumentation carried us away to another realm and helped us to forget that we had ever been nervous of the dark. Her lovely music reminds us of the perfect combination of near-romantic feelings that can be found in the company of friends -- moments when the heart is quiet and full to the brim with a special combination that is impossible to replicate and worth holding onto. (<i>Alexis Wolf</i>)
<a href="http://www.mediafire.com/file/t9j55a5a6jh7vr4/Emilie Lund- Something Is Eating Me.mp3">Emilie Lund- Something is Eating Me</a> (off her <a href="http://www.aaahh-records.net/emilie-lund-emilie-lund-ep/">Self-Titled EP</a>)Lettershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10837600037315489063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3578384090343767554.post-91591137589628205112012-01-16T18:56:00.000-08:002012-01-16T18:58:16.512-08:00Lovebot<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy0LSf47dYb6TuHBN7FJoClBL6vw_nsB6HRyxJVeRPn4_ENuJrV-hWtNN9mIGPnyES6MFrXW_k74VZohbTSQ7nmw2GdBj_XeJCGeRUMvQFtjiF2YcpoJoeGWZ992XbSJnMNRtPLKln_Hjj/s1600/IMG_0427.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy0LSf47dYb6TuHBN7FJoClBL6vw_nsB6HRyxJVeRPn4_ENuJrV-hWtNN9mIGPnyES6MFrXW_k74VZohbTSQ7nmw2GdBj_XeJCGeRUMvQFtjiF2YcpoJoeGWZ992XbSJnMNRtPLKln_Hjj/s200/IMG_0427.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
The first video from our dearest <a href="http://soundcloud.com/poppetsblackbirds" target="_blank">Poppet</a>. Awesomely weird.<br />
<iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/35040157?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" width="400" height="225" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/35040157">Lovebot: 3000</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user7769176">LLAMAMAMA</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p>
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<a href="http://www.mediafire.com/file/mn1khar9435bq9c/Poppet-%20Lovebot%203000.mp3" target="_blank">Poppet- Lovebot 3000</a>Lettershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10837600037315489063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3578384090343767554.post-28342351649881240912011-12-29T22:37:00.000-08:002011-12-29T22:44:29.004-08:00Best (?) of 2011<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhi7XtGBVDlqQuumYJ4brFE0Xk0PviU4Gt85loXA4YVuxAKO1Hlad9rb7PZ1IQihKSFEp8e680t0-G7hyphenhyphenLrrcr2AlNhQvgxu-60fAQC3WJ_bQY9G-gasDsBohe6YN7N5TQN07aIZOovguO/s1600/EMA-+Past+Life+Martyred+Saint.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhi7XtGBVDlqQuumYJ4brFE0Xk0PviU4Gt85loXA4YVuxAKO1Hlad9rb7PZ1IQihKSFEp8e680t0-G7hyphenhyphenLrrcr2AlNhQvgxu-60fAQC3WJ_bQY9G-gasDsBohe6YN7N5TQN07aIZOovguO/s200/EMA-+Past+Life+Martyred+Saint.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
Best of 2011? I can't totally say. In 2011, I didn't hear a lot of albums that I thought were great. I heard a lot of interesting albums and a lot of pretty good albums, but it wasn't the flood of 2010 (for me). I also wasn't up on it. I was on tour for big chunks, listening to mixtapes and <a href="http://www.audible.com/pd?asin=B004RCBFII&source_code=GBTDG9000RF021811" target="_blank">audio books</a>, hearing <a href="http://eleanormurray.com/performances/" target="_blank">interesting local music around the country</a>. I was obsessing over's <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/69912652/the-prince-zine-zine" target="_blank">Prince's catalog</a> and <a href="http://msvalerieparkdistro.com/music/various-artists-summer-soul-vol-6" target="_blank">collecting soul songs from bygone eras</a>. I was <a href="http://letters.bandcamp.com/album/all-the-adventures-to-see-them-i-will" target="_blank">working on albums</a>, arranging <a href="http://msvalerieparkdistro.bandcamp.com/album/well-i-dont-see-why-not-vol-three" target="_blank">compilations</a>, and putting <a href="http://soundcloud.com/poppetsblackbirds/the-crustacean" target="_blank">my friends' songs on repeat</a> for days on end. I was going through every <a href="http://www.newyorker.com/online/podcasts/fiction" target="_blank">New Yorker Fiction Podcast</a>, listening to <a href="http://www.negrophonic.com/" target="_blank">Mudd Up</a> every week. I could honestly just come up with three albums that I listened to front to back enough to know their greatness.<br />
1. <a href="http://barrennieces.bandcamp.com/album/lascivious-occupations" target="_blank">Barren Nieces- Lascivious Occupations</a>- never would have come across this had we not been sharing a bill together in Phoenix this summer. I am baffled at why Barren Nieces isn't an indie sensation and am set on trying to help change that (so far, not much luck, but these things take time). Since I've already posted the single a time or two, here's the opening instrumental that is up for free on their Bandcamp.<br />
<a href="http://www.mediafire.com/file/5a5z1p94eiuzkd5/Barren%20Nieces%20-%20Lascivious%20Occupations%20-%2001%20Wicked%20Wicked%20Whisper.mp3" target="_blank">Barren Nieces- Wicked Wicked Whisper</a><br />
2. <a href="http://jordanojordan.bandcamp.com/album/drawn-onward" target="_blank">Jordan O' Jordan- Drawn Onward</a>- such a good album. It's so nice to have an album that finally shows this man's genius to others without them needing to see him play live to understand. This is an earlier version of a song from the album. It's fun.<br />
<a href="http://www.mediafire.com/file/dtmwce8m2hucm22/15%20Introducing%20the%20Scientific%20Method.mp3" target="_blank">Jordan O' Jordan- Introducing the Scientific Method</a><br />
3. <a href="http://www.souterraintransmissions.com/souterrain/releases.jsp?release=22720&category=&format=all&artist=0" target="_blank">EMA- Past Life Martyred Saint</a>- to my dismay, <a href="http://lettersmixtape.blogspot.com/2010/02/gowns-call-it-quits.html" target="_blank">Gowns</a> called it quits a year or so ago. One night I saw that Erika from Gowns was playing in downtown Olympia in a new project called EMA, I got excited, but decided I was too tired to go out. Turns out this was a huge mistake. This album is so amazing and EMA will probably never come back Olympia. But at least I have the album.<br />
<a href="http://www.mediafire.com/file/2fqfxy2arx0s712/EMA-%20The%20Grey%20Ship.mp3" target="_blank">EMA- The Grey Ship</a><br />
There were a lot of albums that I came to late, or just can't totally say how much I like them because I didn't give them that test of obsessive listens. PJ Harvey- Let England Shake, Shabazz Palaces- Black Up, Bjork- Biophilia, Ducktails- III, Twilight Singers- Dynamite Steps, French Quarter- Desert Wasn't Welcome, Tom Waits- Bad as Me, and Mega Bog- Freaky Dawn come to mind.Lettershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10837600037315489063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3578384090343767554.post-27946615914384928572011-12-16T18:51:00.000-08:002011-12-16T18:51:01.333-08:00Knowing That Feels Good<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik56KkS1apYC5j0rEbyxMi66_aCukI9Uo0YGt-B51liqbRXRo4rBawhLVynltvJ1ul98NRMmasvz9XvZxMqdevYD1x34phKt1APGbAzfIy3avqqIUrNQi5PrfCLph4Ct7baCwYr7rbWmmJ/s1600/Mega+Bog-+Okay+Human.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik56KkS1apYC5j0rEbyxMi66_aCukI9Uo0YGt-B51liqbRXRo4rBawhLVynltvJ1ul98NRMmasvz9XvZxMqdevYD1x34phKt1APGbAzfIy3avqqIUrNQi5PrfCLph4Ct7baCwYr7rbWmmJ/s200/Mega+Bog-+Okay+Human.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
Mega Bog has that magic. I can't describe what's so good about them. They just have that something special that happens sometimes. And maybe that's the best reason you should listen to them- not that many groups have that. I picked up their new-ish <a href="http://wizardsoftheghost.bandcamp.com/album/freaky-dawn" target="_blank">Freaky Dawn </a>(quite randomly) last weekend in Seattle and it's been on repeat in my tape player. The below track is my favorite from last year's <a href="http://wizardsoftheghost.bandcamp.com/album/okay-human" target="_blank">Okay Human</a>. To me, it's one of those times that a recording captures a moment of people in a room and it feels like people in a room and you know what celebrating with other people feels like and knowing that feels good.<br />
<a href="http://www.mediafire.com/file/tn7p30400jk70lk/Mega%20Bog-%20Ocean%20Weeze.mp3" target="_blank">Mega Bog- Ocean Weeze</a> (from <a href="http://wizardsoftheghost.bandcamp.com/album/okay-human" target="_blank">Okay Human</a>)Lettershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10837600037315489063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3578384090343767554.post-6818370431536760142011-11-29T19:23:00.001-08:002011-11-29T21:06:17.039-08:00Someday You'll<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxTfXb0i4udLLQ33RPD9s6cMvXfznApViiulYuV_EruZfk8vURk5p_diZA16aIYrPubvHmr4q6dqWpSyMqR_shzAJq4xiXngXIF_NYzc6Yw99GMbqQg5kR1959Te_VqUVKZweZ4DpyO9cU/s1600/J.P.+Haynie-+The+Sand.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxTfXb0i4udLLQ33RPD9s6cMvXfznApViiulYuV_EruZfk8vURk5p_diZA16aIYrPubvHmr4q6dqWpSyMqR_shzAJq4xiXngXIF_NYzc6Yw99GMbqQg5kR1959Te_VqUVKZweZ4DpyO9cU/s200/J.P.+Haynie-+The+Sand.jpg" width="200" /></a>On my bike today, in this miserable Northwest weather, I liked thinking of the fans on at full blast and the babies chatting it up through this <a href="http://jphaynie.bandcamp.com/" target="_blank">J.P. Haynie</a> performance in Salt Lake City this summer. Straining to hear every note, sweating profusely.<br />
<a href="http://www.mediafire.com/file/urby1zw891rdu9k/J.P.%20Haynie-%20Someday%20You%27ll%20%28Live%20in%20SLC%29.mp3" target="_blank">J.P. Haynie- Someday You'll (Live in SLC)</a><br />
<a href="http://www.mediafire.com/file/4h7ssqukjnximcu/J.P.%20Haynie-%20Family%20River.mp3" target="_blank">J.P. Haynie- Family River</a> (off the upcoming album, <a href="http://jphaynie.bandcamp.com/album/the-sand" target="_blank">The Sand</a>)Lettershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10837600037315489063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3578384090343767554.post-59907597279422837562011-11-22T15:42:00.001-08:002011-11-22T16:00:00.787-08:00Something I Could Hold Onto<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidkE4BIFLH51bwntBfqWubEFO42Xc23PGcn-2otfYRTIL1hbXJlH4fj1ZLdX_RmtvWmVYZxYEFOsqe4PeVEK9nRvmDUobzlzmdZZaUGAyiodlz_8Yhp71thO9Qf5MX9Ez6A86rq3y8LPLh/s1600/well+less.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidkE4BIFLH51bwntBfqWubEFO42Xc23PGcn-2otfYRTIL1hbXJlH4fj1ZLdX_RmtvWmVYZxYEFOsqe4PeVEK9nRvmDUobzlzmdZZaUGAyiodlz_8Yhp71thO9Qf5MX9Ez6A86rq3y8LPLh/s200/well+less.jpg" width="181" /></a></div>
In brief: <a href="http://msvalerieparkdistro.bandcamp.com/album/well-i-dont-see-why-not-vol-one" target="_blank">free compilation</a>. In detail: a few years ago (three and half, to be exact), there was nothing better to me than the music that people were making out of the Pacific Northwest. While that hasn't really changed, the degree to which it was being generally ignored by a wider audience was heart-wrenching and endlessly baffling to me. So, I got ahold of my favorite folks making music at the time and asked they be part of this compilation. I called it <a href="http://msvalerieparkdistro.bandcamp.com/album/well-i-dont-see-why-not-vol-one" target="_blank">Well, I Don't See Why Not: A Compilation of Unsigned/Barley Signed NW Artists</a>, got the ever-amazing Ariel Birks to do the art for it and burned (oh, how quickly times have changed!) a hundred copies. Surprisingly, it sold out really fast and I kept burning copies until one day I realized I should get somebody to professionally duplicate a bunch, then other volumes came out, it continues, life is good. Definitely never a big money maker, but always infinitely satisfying, Well, I Don't See Why Not has been the best excuse I've ever had to get my favorite artists to play me their new songs (and, often, <i>make</i> new songs!). So, the one that started it (and i thought would be the only one) just sold out and I decided to stop reprinting it. Now it's free. Hope you enjoy.<br />
<a href="http://www.mediafire.com/file/vow0k0oz89a909x/01%20Wicker%20Frames.mp3" target="_blank">Twig Palace- Wicker Frames</a>Lettershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10837600037315489063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3578384090343767554.post-37550643006452440612011-11-08T12:25:00.000-08:002011-11-08T12:25:12.632-08:00I Thought This Would be Louder<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5qhUCRwBOSgu9Rh0Oxxgpdxv3j3-Pbj3hX7THkLSBm4MjYuxLKKmIOj-BPCVbwqCH-OtrIQGabC8LkVYyCX70tnxx4YOy3vhKO5QYREvgYEhU0iZVI7XMIuqWqCbaQPleJZWfsKd56kQm/s1600/Barren+Nieces.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5qhUCRwBOSgu9Rh0Oxxgpdxv3j3-Pbj3hX7THkLSBm4MjYuxLKKmIOj-BPCVbwqCH-OtrIQGabC8LkVYyCX70tnxx4YOy3vhKO5QYREvgYEhU0iZVI7XMIuqWqCbaQPleJZWfsKd56kQm/s200/Barren+Nieces.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<a href="http://www.barrennieces.bandcamp.com/">Barren Nieces</a> is coming to the Northwest for a few shows and...why don't people know about him? A grave injustice, indeed.<br />
Sunday, November 13th Portland @ <a href="http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=251393564910159">Bahh House </a>(w/ Emp Moe, Zena Bat, Desiree' Ale'ne Rousseau)<br />
Monday, November 14th Olympia @ <a href="http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=189910127755979">The Alamingo</a> (w/ Poppet, Letters, and Josh Kane) <br />
Tuesday, November 15th Seattle @ <a href="http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=239724126081981">The Mystery Machine</a> (w/ Daycare and Nod & the Hobgoblins)
<br />
<a href="http://www.mediafire.com/file/roz867gftkx7zvz/Barren%20Nieces%20-%20I%20Thought%20This%20Would%20Be%20Louder.mp3">Barren Nieces- I Thought This Would be Louder</a>Lettershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10837600037315489063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3578384090343767554.post-41341473707683424582011-11-02T23:22:00.000-07:002011-11-02T23:22:44.056-07:00Bring a Dollar With You, Baby<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig33E5f6Eyp36u74duG8FR2OZHFTpNAI9kLA7Do-GnS-N-HOqK7eiCvWhqjPzHf2IPqQS6XJZWQk4-46YLuE7-kUftwsHqjWfhPKfUTOFBb-CFFIJTaHaiFp3UoOZLXYLuCWPHUaqdLSI6/s1600/Dj+Dogwater+is+worried.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig33E5f6Eyp36u74duG8FR2OZHFTpNAI9kLA7Do-GnS-N-HOqK7eiCvWhqjPzHf2IPqQS6XJZWQk4-46YLuE7-kUftwsHqjWfhPKfUTOFBb-CFFIJTaHaiFp3UoOZLXYLuCWPHUaqdLSI6/s1600/Dj+Dogwater+is+worried.jpg" /></a></div>
<a href="http://www.mediafire.com/file/gsec90lb7maxa48/DJ%20Dogwater-%20Splish%20Splash%20%28dogged%20n%20watered%29.mp3">DJ Dogwater- Splish Splash (Dogged n' Watered)</a><br />
<a href="http://www.mediafire.com/file/pbed58wl4l8dx7w/DJ%20Dogwater-%20buggin%27%20out.mp3">DJ Dogwater- Buggin' Out</a><br />
<a href="http://www.mediafire.com/file/dt8n183q7ledrza/DJ%20Dogwater-%20cold%20cold%20ground.mp3">DJ Dogwater- Cold Cold Ground</a>Lettershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10837600037315489063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3578384090343767554.post-394948205751782892011-10-13T00:37:00.000-07:002011-10-13T00:37:31.377-07:00Baron Mixtape Adventures Series<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEhOvkBLW-OAwD4y9v-nmKhpuwLqxpZORfm211dW-EUD9dtva0aBvhKyzyWL4wAUMLZySqA0TsY7tRV5IN_JIsTYa62F5gI32qRX-9P68cFIPvS4X57R00ASiM8MwcZNTULwlBDlqgVXBD/s1600/mixtapes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="127" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEhOvkBLW-OAwD4y9v-nmKhpuwLqxpZORfm211dW-EUD9dtva0aBvhKyzyWL4wAUMLZySqA0TsY7tRV5IN_JIsTYa62F5gI32qRX-9P68cFIPvS4X57R00ASiM8MwcZNTULwlBDlqgVXBD/s200/mixtapes.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
Digging through our household pile of music yesterday, I came across the three volumes of the Baron Mixtape Adventures Series, a free dj mixtape project I used to do a few years back. I'm guessing they came out in in the 2006-2008 period of time, but I'm not totally sure on release dates. I listened to them and rather liked them and thought posting them might motivate me to do another. The first leans more toward IDM-ish trip hop, hip hop, and smatterings of weirdness; the second volume is an all ambient mix; and the third is all mash-ups, with some of the individual mash-ups posted below.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.mediafire.com/file/prt97iaww5umn58/Baron%20Mixtape%20Adventure%20Series%20Volume%201.mp3">Baron Mixtape Adventure Series Volume 1</a><br />
<a href="http://www.mediafire.com/file/cedfqy72jl10eub/Baron%20Mixtape%20Adventure%20Series%20Vol.%202.mp3">Baron Mixtape Adventure Series Volume 2 (get ambient)</a><br />
<a href="http://www.mediafire.com/file/g4y34798amyw6th/baron%20mixtape%20adventure%20series%20vol.%203.zip">Baron Mixtape Adventure Series Volume 3 </a><br />
<a href="http://www.mediafire.com/file/l0y0zte8jexvz0b/The%20Baron-%20Calle%2013%20vs%20Timbaland%20vs%20Steve%20Reich.mp3">The Baron- Calle 13 vs Timbaland vs Steve Reich </a><br />
<a href="http://www.mediafire.com/file/7tkgey0kvkkkmch/The%20Baron-%20Spank%20Rock%20vs%20Arcane%20Device.mp3">The Baron- Spank Rock vs Arcane Device</a><br />
<a href="http://www.mediafire.com/file/qkadanjqq7j37ab/03-Muslimgauze%20vs%20Alan%20Smithee%20Smith.mp3">The Baron- Muslimgauze vs Alan Smithee Smith</a><br />
<a href="http://www.mediafire.com/file/ruxj5vyb9grtarp/The%20Baron-%20Kool%20Keith%20vs%20Rakim%20y%20Ken.mp3">The Baron- Kool Keith vs Rakim y Ken</a><br />
<a href="http://www.mediafire.com/file/os6byypr79869te/The%20Baron-%20Venetian%20Snares%20vs%20Buenas%20Noches.mp3">The Baron- Venetian Snares vs Buenas Noches</a><br />
<a href="http://www.mediafire.com/file/1ywpafekpos1f5e/8-Battles%20vs%20Jay-Z.mp3">The Baron- Battles vs Jay-Z</a><br />
<a href="http://www.mediafire.com/file/sw7o4iybxcnasa5/The%20Baron-%20Eric%20B%20%26%20Rakim%20vs%20Jean%20Michel%20Jarre.mp3">The Baron- Eric B & Rakim vs Jean Michel Jarre</a><br />
<a href="http://www.mediafire.com/file/bd5t3i388e8clcw/The%20Baron-%20Bjork%20vs%20Sean%20Paul.mp3">The Baron- Bjork vs Sean Paul</a>Lettershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10837600037315489063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3578384090343767554.post-69304336515354946352011-10-11T19:03:00.000-07:002011-10-11T19:03:48.935-07:00Checks and Balances<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiXXOTcfy-zrdd0huVOKQYjt2DVhvaBvBxuRZ6ICA0cyc-8HuOihhKBFNxn2jH8UKOq4MZOjqjzkPHKyZW2wAmvbnsP3AyH3ZBwRPz06nprlnhm4Kz7O5o3uyBacvua_QqLuWWMtKEkrYH/s1600/Still+Corners.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiXXOTcfy-zrdd0huVOKQYjt2DVhvaBvBxuRZ6ICA0cyc-8HuOihhKBFNxn2jH8UKOq4MZOjqjzkPHKyZW2wAmvbnsP3AyH3ZBwRPz06nprlnhm4Kz7O5o3uyBacvua_QqLuWWMtKEkrYH/s200/Still+Corners.jpg" width="200" /></a>Something hazy and good from the folks at Sub Pop. Today bringing the release of Still Corners' <a href="http://www.subpop.com/releases/still_corners/full_lengths/creatures_of_an_hour"><i>Creatures of an Hour</i></a> album. Attention-grabbing pop music, for sure. Curious to hear more from this group.<br />
Speaking of amazing pop music, also just picked up the new French Quarter album, <i><a href="http://msvalerieparkdistro.com/music/french-quarter-desert-wasn-t-welcome">Desert Wasn't Welcome</a></i> and can't stop listening to it. Glad to finally have it, maybe now I can stop listening to "Checks & Balances" on <a href="http://stephensteinbrink.bandcamp.com/">their Bandcamp</a> 10 times a day, like I have been doing for the last several weeks.<br />
<a href="http://www.mediafire.com/file/71jwwop88am6dtu/Still%20Corners-%20Into%20the%20Trees.mp3">Still Corners- Into the Trees</a> (off <a href="http://www.subpop.com/releases/still_corners/full_lengths/creatures_of_an_hour">Creatures of an Hour</a>) <br />
<a href="http://www.mediafire.com/file/35znaz4dlntdcwb/French%20Quarter-%20Checks%20%26%20Balances.mp3">French Quarter- Checks & Balances</a> (off <a href="http://msvalerieparkdistro.com/music/french-quarter-desert-wasn-t-welcome">Desert Wasn't Welcome</a>)Lettershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10837600037315489063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3578384090343767554.post-55941103358446795242011-10-07T13:59:00.000-07:002011-10-07T13:59:44.846-07:00You're Welcome to Play<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjav-9dDwqgT7RlRZAVgdMlGCtsQOEjdIk0NJ8GBqeecUvLeJNSdc0GJMI0KNixAacGBOcjKwAMb3chtErSQ0gAIFvtk99vmpZQ0eK9OCAoTwrz2Jyxny61ekd7emwAQ_lgDy3hPpF3V-VQ/s1600/derek+m.+johnson-+self+titled+lp+%2528aphonia%252C+2011%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjav-9dDwqgT7RlRZAVgdMlGCtsQOEjdIk0NJ8GBqeecUvLeJNSdc0GJMI0KNixAacGBOcjKwAMb3chtErSQ0gAIFvtk99vmpZQ0eK9OCAoTwrz2Jyxny61ekd7emwAQ_lgDy3hPpF3V-VQ/s200/derek+m.+johnson-+self+titled+lp+%2528aphonia%252C+2011%2529.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<a href="http://soundcloud.com/derekmjohnson/tracks">Derek M. Johnson</a>- go-to Olympia cellist, postal worker, lovable curmudgeon, experimental composer. While his work with other artists is perhaps more well-known, his own compositions should not go unnoticed. Especially when he has finally released a <a href="http://aphoniarecordings.bandcamp.com/album/derek-m-johnson">new album</a> that does his talents justice. A split personality affair of digital string hardcore and modern chamber layering, I got the pleasure of seeing his album release party last week and it was one of the best ambient/experimental shows Olympia has seen in a good long time. This is a live recording on <a href="http://hollowearthradio.org/">Hollow Earth Radio </a>from the night before said event and it makes my heart crumble.<br />
<a href="http://www.mediafire.com/file/6jkdgz3vb3ohts9/Derek%20M.%20Johnson-%20You%27re%20Welcome%20to%20Play%20%28Live%20on%20Hollow%20Earth%29.mp3">Derek M. Johnson- You're Welcome to Play (Live on Hollow Earth)</a> (original off the excellent <a href="http://aphoniarecordings.bandcamp.com/album/derek-m-johnson">Self-Titled LP</a> on Aphonia Recordings)Lettershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10837600037315489063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3578384090343767554.post-52021972589907893432011-10-05T20:53:00.000-07:002011-10-05T20:53:14.425-07:00Luzmila<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJZCw39Bfplkn4XFUiPhVDMvnJXQCydsrdCfZ_2SHe-9Z-vCyPeVuLkZbHSEWiAbF-lK4KlKjj6AFueAnRmvG2JnMNWkRUsu72Xo4CyFJ_YCyjOGFvEXvZToDIJOpM8vk9vhnIlQwxLmh1/s1600/Luzmila+Carpio.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJZCw39Bfplkn4XFUiPhVDMvnJXQCydsrdCfZ_2SHe-9Z-vCyPeVuLkZbHSEWiAbF-lK4KlKjj6AFueAnRmvG2JnMNWkRUsu72Xo4CyFJ_YCyjOGFvEXvZToDIJOpM8vk9vhnIlQwxLmh1/s1600/Luzmila+Carpio.jpg" /></a></div>
I've been a big fan of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huay%C3%B1o">huayno</a> genre for years now, but haven't found an artist to fully embrace. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qyJV1tQ7XQ0">Los Errantes de Chuquibamba</a> seem great to me, but I can see how, if I was part of the culture, I might write them off as overly accessible pop. Mostly, I listen to the intense and varied compilations out there. But <a href="http://www.negrophonic.com/2011/i-heart-luzmila-carpio/">DJ Rupture's recent post</a> on <a href="http://www.luzmilacarpio.com/es/Contactar/Creditos_www_luzmilacarpio_com/creditos_www_luzmilacarpio_com.html">Luzmila Carpio</a> (and tons of subsequent listening to her albums) has made me see the expanse of what huayno can be. While I couldn't find links to either of these albums on <a href="http://www.luzmilacarpio.com/es/Tienda/tienda.html">her website</a>, she does have a couple albums for sale there. She's definitely one of a kind. Many thanks to Luzmila for making such wonderful sounds and Rupture for pointing me in the right direction (as always).<br />
<a href="http://www.mediafire.com/file/1e389fk1csq0pir/Luzmila%20Caprio-%20Riqsiqakasunchik%20%28Seremos%20Reconcidos%29.mp3">Luzmila Caprio- Riqsiqakasunchik (Seremos Reconcidos)</a> (off Cantos Quechua, Aymaras de los Andes)<br />
<a href="http://www.mediafire.com/file/m2n4tw1n0zc8fd9/Luzmila%20Carpio-%20Azucenita.mp3">Luzmila Carpio- Azucenita</a> (off Reina de Folklore)Lettershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10837600037315489063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3578384090343767554.post-55393075031224088992011-10-03T18:15:00.000-07:002011-10-03T18:15:43.191-07:00Those Celebrities Are Pretty Clever<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgU50YF8DZvkaIBDSLOgf9NHrUhnHI4jU-GGgXxwsyFgEB2DGA-xqBRrV_iWKli83f4OuubAAqT13hdsrNC184MdUnGbN6CwF3Pm0xrVW3wJRGGJ90eJSjaVJTnJNrfjf87MXW6wUArInx/s1600/Algebra+Suicide+%2528Lydia+Tomkiw%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgU50YF8DZvkaIBDSLOgf9NHrUhnHI4jU-GGgXxwsyFgEB2DGA-xqBRrV_iWKli83f4OuubAAqT13hdsrNC184MdUnGbN6CwF3Pm0xrVW3wJRGGJ90eJSjaVJTnJNrfjf87MXW6wUArInx/s200/Algebra+Suicide+%2528Lydia+Tomkiw%2529.jpg" width="162" /></a></div>
My recent love of <a href="http://www.myspace.com/algebrasuicide">Algebra Suicide</a> has lead me to wonder how many people know about this band. After doing some Googling, I might guess that the answer is 'not many'. And I kind of think that's a shame.<br />
The 20 songs on 1987's <a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Secret-Like-Crazy/dp/B001AIRHDO">The Secret Like Crazy</a> is collected from their various EP's and reminds me a wonderful lo-fi, post-punk version of Laurie Anderson.<br />
These are two of my favorites so far. I hate linking to the media giant of Amazon, especially at a time when people are abuzz about them taking over so much- including (if we are to believe the pessimists) my trade of independent bookselling. But, Amazon's digital copy is the only way I could find that might actually benefit these musicians.<br />
<a href="http://www.mediafire.com/file/lsks7kid49aawav/Algebra%20Suicide-%20Little%20Dead%20Bodies.mp3">Algebra Suicide- Little Dead Bodies</a> (off <a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Secret-Like-Crazy/dp/B001AIRHDO">The Secret Like Crazy</a>)<br />
<a href="http://www.mediafire.com/file/6a8gydia91gw20f/Algebra%20Suicide-%20%28A%20Proverbial%20Explanation%20of%20Why%29%20No%20Action%20is%20Taken.mp3">Algebra Suicide- (A Proverbial Explanation of Why) No Action is Taken</a> (off <a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Secret-Like-Crazy/dp/B001AIRHDO">The Secret Like Crazy</a>)Lettershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10837600037315489063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3578384090343767554.post-86653757456600860822011-10-03T10:02:00.000-07:002011-10-03T10:02:17.280-07:00Sandpaintings<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn4fTz-C_kWmwOq_QnWuz1ldzcFv40xWXrzFDF-sEg-wBbVTOvHr7gb-9DDecytzmt1chhP6xnEPypLIwAIapmfLLka5mdKdu-JnVIbduPrQPsMB7seuRuxiEriswXpHKgLCWAPUNncitb/s1600/sandpaintings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="118" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn4fTz-C_kWmwOq_QnWuz1ldzcFv40xWXrzFDF-sEg-wBbVTOvHr7gb-9DDecytzmt1chhP6xnEPypLIwAIapmfLLka5mdKdu-JnVIbduPrQPsMB7seuRuxiEriswXpHKgLCWAPUNncitb/s200/sandpaintings.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
I must hand it to the <a href="http://innerislands.com/">Inner Islands</a> record label. If it wasn't for their kind sending of new dreamy ambient releases, I would have probably let this blog fall to the wayside. So, thanks. Got a list of words on their way, waiting to be said, songs waiting to be heard. And what could be better as a soundtrack to waiting than this?<br />
<a href="http://www.mediafire.com/file/khea2jr86q0jgzt/Stag%20Hare-%20Holy%20Wind.mp3">Stag Hare- Holy Wind</a> (off <a href="http://innerislands.com/">Sandpaintings</a>)Lettershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10837600037315489063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3578384090343767554.post-74776625385705958332011-09-30T14:15:00.000-07:002011-09-30T14:15:28.133-07:00An Emptiness<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaV8dOJvMXTFsQlwpqYZflStrMJMMyerdaUGOuWAsPhzf4ClORQcnoNVEP-Ad8BA1RiLGTf8pmlx59my3ntAQFFT6uUoJ35rAxzqV9RqRb11yaeoOZKIlaejcaKM3Tu5Uc4KyiBNnEsR3A/s1600/Karl+Blau+24+hour+song+relay.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaV8dOJvMXTFsQlwpqYZflStrMJMMyerdaUGOuWAsPhzf4ClORQcnoNVEP-Ad8BA1RiLGTf8pmlx59my3ntAQFFT6uUoJ35rAxzqV9RqRb11yaeoOZKIlaejcaKM3Tu5Uc4KyiBNnEsR3A/s1600/Karl+Blau+24+hour+song+relay.jpg" /></a></div>
As part of the <a data-mce-href="http://www.kelplunacy.com/songrelay.html" href="http://www.kelplunacy.com/songrelay.html">Karl Blau 24-hour song relay</a> (where a Karl Blau song is being covered/played every minute of the day, the world over), we recorded this. It's 2:15pm here in Olympia, Wa.<br />
<a href="http://www.mediafire.com/file/11arkrnr5dyx84n/Letters-%20An%20Emptiness%20%28Karl%20Blau%20cover%29.mp3">Letters- An Emptiness (Karl Blau cover) </a>Lettershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10837600037315489063noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3578384090343767554.post-89070978276884045412011-09-25T23:54:00.000-07:002011-09-25T23:54:58.197-07:00It's the Stars<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmffsscGvWYIArLu28zVyfl3ymILZkESBZsQ0gTd84qxUxPZY7tIMio7nsOzhYZQcQrrht51qbA_dqsIGfdxfJa7ajiE0kKxlu3jE18vFi0OEugg8NtOUZn7hEee1R6hXDaIL9zfAEntl5/s1600/Karl+Blau.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmffsscGvWYIArLu28zVyfl3ymILZkESBZsQ0gTd84qxUxPZY7tIMio7nsOzhYZQcQrrht51qbA_dqsIGfdxfJa7ajiE0kKxlu3jE18vFi0OEugg8NtOUZn7hEee1R6hXDaIL9zfAEntl5/s320/Karl+Blau.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
There are a lot of things I love and appreciate about <a href="http://www.krecs.com/html/artists/artistbio.php?interest=91">Karl Blau</a>- his overwhelming enthusiasm for life and for people making interesting music, his constant willingness to unapologetically try something different, and (perhaps most of all) how he has contributed a new voice to Northwest music that represents this place so well, but is entirely its own thing. It's not something that reminds one of the stereotyped K Punk aesthetic, the "Seattle sound", or the post-grunge era of NW indie superstardom, but it draws from all that and creates something new and unique that is so much about this place. And, growing up here and loving the music of this place for my whole life, that's something pretty important to me.<br />
Now comes the time to <a href="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/karlblau/give-a-hand-for-klaps">DONATE</a> to him and his amazing and weird record label, <a href="http://www.kelplunacy.com/">Kelp Lunacy Advanced Plagiarism Society</a>. There are few musicians so worth your time or money. In short because: he is not about money. He is legitimately so incredibly dedicated to his art and his community and he only asks for money to continue making art and supporting his community. And that's truth.<br />
Next Friday, he will be hosting a 24 hour event where a Karl Blau song will be covered, interpretated, or broadcast every minute of the day, around the world, by his legion of friends and fans. Should be pretty amazing. We'll be contributing a song (at 2:15pm) and expect it to be posted here.<br />
While you're over at Kickstarter, pledging some funds, enjoy this beautiful celebration of life (in song form). One of my absolute favorites in the grand Blau catalog.<br />
<a href="http://www.mediafire.com/file/07kkok8xpgj72ne/Karl%20Blau-%20It%27s%20the%20Stars.mp3">Karl Blau- It's the Stars</a> (off <a href="http://www.krecs.com/Shop/product_info.php?cPath=21_22&products_id=4184">Nature's Got Away</a>)Lettershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10837600037315489063noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3578384090343767554.post-29345777830168498002011-09-24T13:56:00.000-07:002011-09-24T13:56:13.012-07:00Life is Full of Possibilites<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtMPYLNyqa11skiuShKCcGCksyRtsC-xaypXjmuAELiQYzMnxDVKGpORLBl01qEwcwxxTAmdui-YwRhevSCAzmZUNWsluFMZTUZRZZvG_TzbAxPf7mZ3DTMNByrRKO_w1aqlOb8tBqVgy6/s1600/dntel-+life+is+full+of+possibilities.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5656006516031449490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtMPYLNyqa11skiuShKCcGCksyRtsC-xaypXjmuAELiQYzMnxDVKGpORLBl01qEwcwxxTAmdui-YwRhevSCAzmZUNWsluFMZTUZRZZvG_TzbAxPf7mZ3DTMNByrRKO_w1aqlOb8tBqVgy6/s320/dntel-+life+is+full+of+possibilities.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 225px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 225px;" /></a><br />
And guilt pop goodness. Just got this in the mail from the fine folks at <a href="http://www.subpop.com/">Sub Pop</a>. The song that started the insanely addictive, one-off album project, known far and wide as <a href="http://www.subpop.com/artists/the_postal_service">The Postal Service</a> (which, as it turns out, is the second best selling album in Sub Pop history!??). If only my friends who had dance parties to <span style="font-style: italic;">Give Up</span> every weekend in 2003 would have known about this song. The dance party would have lasted three minutes longer. And it would have been good.<br />
<a href="http://www.mediafire.com/file/lzkxbo1vja3apqi/Dntel-%20%28This%20Is%29%20The%20Dream%20Of%20Evan%20And%20Chan.mp3">Dntel- (This Is) The Dream Of Evan And Chan (ft. Ben Gibbard)</a> (off <a href="http://www.subpop.com/channel/blog/sub_pop_to_reissue_life_is_full_of_possibilities_by_dntel_on_october_25">Life is Full of Possibilities</a>, the <a href="http://www.subpop.com/artists/dntel">Dntel</a> album being reissued on Oct. 25th on Sub Pop)Lettershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10837600037315489063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3578384090343767554.post-74364013462902029662011-09-21T22:55:00.000-07:002011-09-21T23:05:03.087-07:00What I Know<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF_PXEMIcBQwCYRDb_GNRZVo-WaRZYoQEIpsrFhUFWIL3uSkkmlVKTfpxdkq_w_6JfXm9u1mEdd2F2OWofAgaQ5fMoRP8_PQLZ8k-6TGFuPVJBkKmgV8F9VU0iGZwFktZn8vSSJwgJkgNB/s1600/Barren+Nices-+Lasivious+Occupations.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF_PXEMIcBQwCYRDb_GNRZVo-WaRZYoQEIpsrFhUFWIL3uSkkmlVKTfpxdkq_w_6JfXm9u1mEdd2F2OWofAgaQ5fMoRP8_PQLZ8k-6TGFuPVJBkKmgV8F9VU0iGZwFktZn8vSSJwgJkgNB/s320/Barren+Nices-+Lasivious+Occupations.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5655058907083564546" border="0" /></a>Currently listening to submissions that are filling me with the need to do a few posts (which, obviously, has been a rare occurrence over the summer months). I thought I'd first break the ice with some things I know to be true. These are three artists/albums/friends that I've been OBSESSED with of late; playing on repeat until I force myself to listen to something else just because I know it's good for me (not because it's what I want to do).<br /><a href="http://www.mediafire.com/file/84ixr3ea27nyln4/Poppet-%20The%20Crustacean.mp3">Poppet- The Crustacean</a> (off <a href="http://msvalerieparkdistro.com/music/poppet-unitard-galaxy">Unitard Galaxy</a>)<br /><a href="http://www.mediafire.com/file/c29t5biyeh0dgmg/Jordan%20O%27%20Jordan-%20Lever%2C%20Leave%20Here.mp3">Jordan O' Jordan- Lever, Leave Here</a> (off <a href="http://msvalerieparkdistro.com/music/jordan-o-jordan-drawn-onward">Drawn Onward</a>)<br /><a href="http://www.mediafire.com/file/sd1l4713wflfa78/Barren%20Nieces-%20Nevada.mp3">Barren Nieces- Nevada</a> (off <a href="http://msvalerieparkdistro.com/music/barren-nieces-lascivious-occupations">Lascivious Occupations</a>)Lettershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10837600037315489063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3578384090343767554.post-5274409243176153242011-08-18T01:31:00.000-07:002011-08-18T01:52:26.850-07:00Been a while<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2mIFXLuPmtCiRff7I5JNwlpsyRH-zIxbmhspj9vNuTLJWVgiYn5e-0PMNGQR5b0oCsQZ1Kyon_Gl2reqK96jO77Emw00svAU4YpckS2d6qVdVPim-d2ODZm-lhWjzecy3bYwF0hb1RfuJ/s1600/fats+domino-+i%2527m+ready+%25281956%2529.png"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 292px; height: 208px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2mIFXLuPmtCiRff7I5JNwlpsyRH-zIxbmhspj9vNuTLJWVgiYn5e-0PMNGQR5b0oCsQZ1Kyon_Gl2reqK96jO77Emw00svAU4YpckS2d6qVdVPim-d2ODZm-lhWjzecy3bYwF0hb1RfuJ/s320/fats+domino-+i%2527m+ready+%25281956%2529.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642112270784434082" border="0" /></a>Going into a third month of summer touring and this has definitely taken a back seat. But here's just a couple I've got in the mail of late that I like and my favorite song of the past couple months...a Fats Domino classic that I heard on WFMU while on tour in New York and can't get enough of. On an unrelated note, if you're in LA, come see us <a href="http://lettersmusic.com/shows/">tomorrow night at the Tribal Cafe</a>, 5pm.
<br /><a href="http://www.mediafire.com/file/9hddays09hcvo8k/Daniel%20Martin%20Moore-%20Think%20Again.mp3">Daniel Martin Moore- Think Again</a>
<br /><a href="http://www.mediafire.com/file/wznif6477h0f51o/Routines-Young%20Hearts.mp3">Routines-Young Hearts</a>
<br /><a href="http://www.mediafire.com/file/8xn4fe2l0gy0mjg/Fats%20Domino-%20I%27m%20Ready.mp3">Fats Domino- I'm Ready</a>
<br />Lettershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10837600037315489063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3578384090343767554.post-6893911093550239332011-06-22T10:32:00.001-07:002011-06-22T10:59:33.272-07:00Catching Up<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKvZ2vBssSKsUkr2_I90y3chMNtNVOBOJ_dXIJHIQu9HZ1WuI2WpjRzgknKEsmowjg-CkbPTxGT1wOR4qMN5t4zNWjcxOcJrDgi9b1bMHZN7QL6peL_rB4jnrhE4WlLy1m-negESsCRDQe/s1600/the+people+i+know.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 256px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKvZ2vBssSKsUkr2_I90y3chMNtNVOBOJ_dXIJHIQu9HZ1WuI2WpjRzgknKEsmowjg-CkbPTxGT1wOR4qMN5t4zNWjcxOcJrDgi9b1bMHZN7QL6peL_rB4jnrhE4WlLy1m-negESsCRDQe/s320/the+people+i+know.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621098377058590242" border="0" /></a><span style="display: block;" id="formatbar_Buttons"><span onmouseover="ButtonHoverOn(this);" onmouseout="ButtonHoverOff(this);" onmouseup="" onmousedown="CheckFormatting(event);FormatbarButton('richeditorframe', this, 8);ButtonMouseDown(this);" class=" down" style="display: block;" id="formatbar_CreateLink" title="Link"><img src="http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif" alt="Link" class="gl_link" border="0" /></span></span>So, in the midst of this <a href="http://eleanormurray.com/performances/">two month tour with Eleanor Murray & Co.</a> and am most grateful to other Letters (Ms Danielle Rodeo Warhola, that is) for keeping some posts going. We've been busy. But here are some songs I've meant to post in the last few months, but haven't gotten the chance to. Most are from my inbox and I thank these lovely music makers for sending such gifts. There's also a new Letters song and a (i think) unreleased track from LWM perennial favorite, DJ Dogwater.<br /><span style="display: block;" id="formatbar_Buttons"><span onmouseover="ButtonHoverOn(this);" onmouseout="ButtonHoverOff(this);" onmouseup="" onmousedown="CheckFormatting(event);FormatbarButton('richeditorframe', this, 8);ButtonMouseDown(this);" class=" down" style="display: block;" id="formatbar_CreateLink" title="Link"><img src="http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif" alt="Link" class="gl_link" border="0" /></span></span><a href="http://www.mediafire.com/file/bny7f3n78nzq46b/Hosannas-%20The%20People%20I%20Know%20%28Christopher%20Francis%20mix%29.mp3">Hosannas- The People I Know (Christopher Francis mix)</a> (off <a href="http://www.hosannasmusic.com/?page_id=6">The People I Know</a>)<br /><a href="http://www.mediafire.com/file/8906oxcz57xa2wu/Wet%20Hair-%20EchoLady.mp3">Wet Hair- Echo Lady</a> (off <a href="http://www.insound.com/In-Vogue-Spirit-Vinyl-LP-Wet-Hair/P/INS95293/">In Vogue Spirit</a>)<br /><a href="http://www.mediafire.com/file/x26oqsple6d2wht/Guilty%20Ghosts-%20Top%20Prize%20Fighter.mp3">Guilty Ghosts- Top Prize Fighter</a> (off <a href="http://guiltyghosts.bandcamp.com/album/enigma-variations">Enigma Variations</a>)<a href="http://www.mediafire.com/file/2x656ub0bdq6ka3/Angelo%20Spencer%20et%20les%20Hauts%20Sommets-%20Kenneth%27s%20Dub.mp3"></a><br /><a href="http://www.mediafire.com/file/uhl9dzahn001b5o/DJ%20Dogwater-%20Spice.mp3">DJ Dogwater- Spice</a> (unreleased)<br /><a href="http://www.mediafire.com/file/h9relh94wmhdpyd/Letters-%20Oceanwide.mp3">Letters- Oceanwide</a> (off <a href="http://msvalerieparkdistro.bandcamp.com/album/well-i-dont-see-why-not-vol-three">Well, I Don't See Why Not Vol 3</a>)<br /><a href="http://www.mediafire.com/file/iohuyxezn28ix87/William%20Ryan%20Fitch-%20When%20The%20Ground%20Is%20Numb.mp3">William Ryan Fitch- When The Ground Is Numb</a> (off <a href="http://asthmatickitty.bandcamp.com/album/asthmatic-kitty-digital-sampler-october-2010">Asthmatic Kitty Digital Sampler</a>)Lettershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10837600037315489063noreply@blogger.com0