You're Welcome to Play

Derek M. Johnson- 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 new album 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 Hollow Earth Radio from the night before said event and it makes my heart crumble.
Derek M. Johnson- You're Welcome to Play (Live on Hollow Earth) (original off the excellent Self-Titled LP on Aphonia Recordings)

Luzmila

I've been a big fan of the huayno genre for years now, but haven't found an artist to fully embrace. Los Errantes de Chuquibamba 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 DJ Rupture's recent post on Luzmila Carpio (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 her website, 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).
Luzmila Caprio- Riqsiqakasunchik (Seremos Reconcidos) (off Cantos Quechua, Aymaras de los Andes)
Luzmila Carpio- Azucenita (off Reina de Folklore)

Those Celebrities Are Pretty Clever

My recent love of Algebra Suicide 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.
The 20 songs on 1987's The Secret Like Crazy is collected from their various EP's and reminds me a wonderful lo-fi, post-punk version of Laurie Anderson.
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.
Algebra Suicide- Little Dead Bodies (off The Secret Like Crazy)
Algebra Suicide- (A Proverbial Explanation of Why) No Action is Taken (off The Secret Like Crazy)

Sandpaintings

I must hand it to the Inner Islands 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?
Stag Hare- Holy Wind (off Sandpaintings)

An Emptiness

As part of the Karl Blau 24-hour song relay (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.
Letters- An Emptiness (Karl Blau cover)

It's the Stars

There are a lot of things I love and appreciate about Karl Blau- 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.
Now comes the time to DONATE to him and his amazing and weird record label, Kelp Lunacy Advanced Plagiarism Society. 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.
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.
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.
Karl Blau- It's the Stars (off Nature's Got Away)

Life is Full of Possibilites

And guilt pop goodness. Just got this in the mail from the fine folks at Sub Pop. The song that started the insanely addictive, one-off album project, known far and wide as The Postal Service (which, as it turns out, is the second best selling album in Sub Pop history!??). If only my friends who had dance parties to Give Up 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.
Dntel- (This Is) The Dream Of Evan And Chan (ft. Ben Gibbard) (off Life is Full of Possibilities, the Dntel album being reissued on Oct. 25th on Sub Pop)

What I Know

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).
Poppet- The Crustacean (off Unitard Galaxy)
Jordan O' Jordan- Lever, Leave Here (off Drawn Onward)
Barren Nieces- Nevada (off Lascivious Occupations)

Been a while

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 tomorrow night at the Tribal Cafe, 5pm.
Daniel Martin Moore- Think Again
Routines-Young Hearts
Fats Domino- I'm Ready

Catching Up

So, in the midst of this two month tour with Eleanor Murray & Co. 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.
Hosannas- The People I Know (Christopher Francis mix) (off The People I Know)
Wet Hair- Echo Lady (off In Vogue Spirit)
Guilty Ghosts- Top Prize Fighter (off Enigma Variations)
DJ Dogwater- Spice (unreleased)
Letters- Oceanwide (off Well, I Don't See Why Not Vol 3)
William Ryan Fitch- When The Ground Is Numb (off Asthmatic Kitty Digital Sampler)

Pacific northwest political punk

As I sit here in my basement room listening to Portland punk paramours Tiny Knives practice, (well, trying to tune out with headphones...It is practice after all!) I reflect on all the great punk music i've been lucky to listen to and experience at house shows across the northwest this last week.Let's reflect. You may be thinking "Hmm... letters with mixtapes? What the punk? Who is this person overtaking the blog, where's josh?" My name is Danielle Warhola and I run another blog, Resume Of Charm where most of this stuff is going to be crossposted. Josh is just sharing, and I'll be updating a lot more while he's on tour.

Sunday, we had a great basement blowout with pasta salad, a huge white strawberry whipped cream cake and an apple pie the size of a pillow. We also had Shark Pact, Members of Hail Seizures' Keyboard and drum outfit play, suitable for dancing or "shaking your butt" and bringing thoughtfully penned songs about harm reduction, service industry work, cities and wilderness. I have no clue if there is a way to obtain their 2010 tape album "Ditches" aside from a show but an address to contact them at is PO Box 913 Olympia, WA 98507

They are on Tour with the Hail Seizures, and the tour dates for that can be found here.

Two days later at the well loved portland house fucketts, was a total gem of a show - Sleep Spindle, Agatha, My Parade and Diver . My Parade; All people of colour, all political butt shaking for everyone involved. Mathy post rock drumming, power vocals, and pitchy keyboard organ sound lines. At time of publish, I don't think they have music available but at a show.

Agatha. Palatably poppy queer hardcore (that is saying a lot, because I am fucking sick of hardcore until further notice!) with incensed lyrics from a powerful frontperson (plus sick group vocs), dreaming up the drive for actual change in a kierarchal world and assessing identity. Listen to + order their EP at Rumbletowne records. (Rumbletown also has other quality bands Doomhawk, lightnin' round, Shorebirds, and Hooky that remind me of some of the greatest shows I ever experienced living in seattle. Being 19 was really, really exciting.)

They played with Sleep Spindle, Portland all girl goodness. I don't know if they have internet contact.

In the process of writing this post, I plugged the speakers into my bedroom for the first time in a year - going to go through the rumbletowne records backcatalog, turn it up and get nostalgic. Enjoy.

First post; Sharing the good with Purrbot!

I have been lucky to be invited to post up here at Letters With Mixtapes - a blog i love reading and listening to. The future! First, a little sweet talk for a special artist, musician, and artist.

I received Nathan Carter's "Will you marry me?" single page folded treasure at zine symposium 2008, while in the midst of a golden lovespell with a beautiful towheaded colt with a crack in his head, where the happiness could seep out if it all became too much. These adorable letters, wondrous drawings and entries from a life were held very precious to us, and we mimicked the style for our own zine. Nathan has lots of beautiful books available on his etsy. Where this story climaxes; Nathan also makes lushly layered piano and banjo music, under the name Purrbot. Take a listen to this single "Share the good"! I can not get over his unique voice, that i will assure is even nicer in person, as a handful of folks got lucky enough to see him preform at the release release for Stumptown underground about a month back.

Let it get too close

The sounds of the Northwest (so much so), before heading off for two months away from it. Input and output. Holding on. And letting go.
Kickball- Handmedowns (off Well, I Don't See Why Not Vol. 3)
World History- Forcefield (Beck Cover) (off A Tribute to One Foot in the Grave)

People Like Us

You know it's a good day when you wake up to a new People Like Us album. The sound collage pieces of People Like Us (AKA- Vicki Bennett) are always pleasantly weird, wandering between hilarious and dark, and at times catchy as all hell. Lines from the Wide Open Spaces album were repeated ad infinitum at 2008's Autonomous Mutant Festival and, for that, I am forever grateful to her. The new album, Welcome Abroad, was made while stuck in the U.S. after Iceland's volcanic eruption made air travel to her native Britain an impossibility. An interesting commentary on travel and home ensues.
People Like Us- The Seven Hills of Rome (off Welcome Abroad)

Slippin' Into Darkness

The Northern Rail's new album came out last night and they threw a lovely release event and had us join. I was completely loving their gorgeous darkness. They seem to have played all 12 songs in order of the album, which is something I love when people do. It was also the kick-off for their first ever tour. So, if you're on the west coast of the U.S., you should probably check them. Friends like Jordan O' Jordan, Twig Palace, Maelstrom, will be playing with them at different points along the way. Should be good.
As a counterpart (and perhaps because Robbie from The Northern Rail has started playing in Letters), I thought I'd debut the song we did for the Northwest Interpretive Dance compilation coming out in June on Off Tempo Records. The comp. looks like it'll be great and has some personal favs like Karl Blau, Angelo Spencer et les Hauts Sommets, and Brianna Marela.
(photo by Alexis Wolf)
The Northern Rail- Sighs to the Devil (off Eves)
Letters- Sacred Chime in Glowing Light (off Northwest Interpretive Dance)