A litte bit of Country-Folk for your Friday – Lucas Westcott’s “Addition by Subtraction” ∞

Need a bit of heartache & story telling to ease you into the weekend?  How about a bit of southern drawl in your daily listening?  How about both in one package, “Addition by Subtraction” by Lucas Westcott just may be exactly what you are looking for.

Lucas sent me the CD the other week which was actually released in 2008 and I was completely unaware of it!  Did I say I like getting great musical recommendations?  Well I do.  Around here I tend to cover a range of artists who’s sound might range from fringe folk to a more traditional country and Lucas sways closer to the country side of that spectrum.  He has some great slow burners and it’s his drawl that makes you think it has southern roots when in fact he is from Michigan.  I have firmly believed in the Michigan scene and now I know they have even more including some in the alt-country variety.

The majority and the best tracks from the album include Westcott’s vocals out front with it’s country/blues tenor, almost if he is a cross between Texas and Mississippi.   I think he could get away with even more grit in his sound as his voice can carry it.  That voice looks to be beyond his years and brings me back to days of which I have never been, but you still know it takes you back…if you get what I am saying.  The album is pretty straight forward, he knows his sound and he sticks with it – most (if not all) of the tracks are solo singer songwriter in the “troubadour on a back porch” style and that works for me.  I want to leave you with two tracks that feature some great tales set to country ballads that should make you run out and pick up a copy…even if we are a year late.

“Father of the Year”
“Hometown”

Visit & Purchase Lucas Westcott:

~Smansmith

Today, I am thankful for great acoustic videos ∞

This is just one of the ones that Slowcoustic favourite The Black Atlantic recommended just this morning over on Musikmob.  Just thought I would post one of the two great videos from Nadja out of Germany – or as she is known is recording circles: binoculers.  Definitely head over to Musikmob to check out the kitchen performance, once it gets started it is absolutely stunning!

Binoculers – “Beat” from musikmob on Vimeo.

Check out binoculers:

~Smansmith

Slowcoustic Update – because you care about us! ∞

Well class, I wanted to put a quick post on what is happening around Slowcoustic HQ – just looking to keep you all in the loop, we’re a team after all.

Hopefully you all are finding it okay to get to the site lately, my host has been a bit erratic on the up-time in the last couple of weeks, I am looking into it and may be moving hosts to ensure more quality sad bastard music making it through the “big pipe” to your very keen ears.  So basically I apologize if any of you were looking to make it over here to pick up a tune or two and were given a strong left upon trying to negotiate to the site.

~~~

Just getting ready to send out the info to my fellow bloggers for the “Best of 2009″ series set to take place in December, hopefully Dec. 7-22 on weekdays only.  If any of you were around last year, what I do is invite fellow music bloggers to do a feature blog post on something that they think was pretty darn neat-o this past year.  The list can be just about anything: best album, best live band, best album cover and best make out album…almost anything!  The side bar to the right of this post (your right, not mine…wait…) you will see a block of images that represent the various sites that are taking place.  So stick around, you may find something that you don’t normally see on this blog and you just might like it!

~~~

I have been listening to some pretty good tunes lately and hope to get a lot of features upcoming – recent albums I really like and I think you should check out include Frank Schweikhardt, Heather Woods Broderick (yes that Broderick), The White Buffalo with a recent discovery of JBM via his Daytrotter session.  On repeat around here is that Isbells album and those Borcherdt demos and the amazing new EP from Hezekiah Jones (see Herohill’s post on it).

~~~

Also, because I know you all can’t go without a fix (myself included) – how about some lo-fi recordings??  Well this will hit the spot – Andy Berkhout has released a new EP called “Songs on Tape”.  It is aptly names as it was recorded on an actual tape recorder and is a great EP for you lo-fi singer songwriter admirers, which I assume should be a fair share of you readers.  The EP is classic guy with a guitar – its an intimate collection of bedroom folk pop that will have you humming and looking for more.  More you say?  Well he has another EP “In The Light” on his website that is available for a free download.  A free download you say?  Yes, both EPs are available for absolutely nothing – definitely a great option to pick up some solid tunes at rock bottom prices (but don’t forget about his new full length for purchase).

“Feel You Now”
“Just To Say”
taken from “Songs on Tape” EP

Visit and Purchase Andy:

~Smansmith

My winding path to Matthew Ryan’s Dear Lover album ∞

I am sure it is not a secret, but most of you might know that I am a huge fan of Matthew Ryan.  How can I not when he is responsible for many of those late night hushed songs that just hit home for me.  He also (in my opinion) probably has the best voice for singing the music that he does – it is the perfect pitch, it has just enough gravel in it and just matches a dark corner of a smokey bar, in other words it is what I want to hear in practically any song released.

Well, when I first scanned through the new album, I have to admit that I was a bit underwhelmed.  What you say?  Yes, I thought it was “good” for someone else, but below Matthew Ryan standards for me.  Come on, this is the guy who has “Misundercould”, “Jane, I Still Feel The Same”, “I’m an American”, “Gone For Good” and “Everybody Always Leaves” and those are big tracks to live up to for anyone.  While I clearly don’t feel quite the same now as I did then, I do have a couple of reservations on a few songs, but overall it has really bloomed for me and has become a regular listen for the last part of 2009.

Firstly there are some more of my signature Ryan tracks with “Your Museum” and “The World Is…” which actually Ryan told me to listen to when he noticed a tweet about my hesitation with Dear Lover.  Well, when the guy himself tells you to take another listen, well…you listen.  The two songs are stand outs for me now and are joined with “Some Streets Lead Nowhere” which I believe was released last year originally but has been included on the new album.  These are the tracks where you can hear a song and feel a connection or just feel like someone is leaning in and telling you a story that you need to hear.  All analogies aside, they are what I define as Matthew Ryan, a slow paced, gritty voiced lament (my new favourite word) that you just want to put in your list of “go to” songs.

Well there is also another side to Ryan where he brings a bit more energy to his music – which is also very good as it also suits him (listen to tracks like The Wilderness & P.S.).  He truly is an artist that can belt out a rockin’ Americana style track and still hush the crowd immediately, one trait I enjoy in my favourite bands/artists.  What I have noticed in the last few years is Ryan has incorporated a bit of “electronic” assisting in his music (i.e. drum machine and keyboards).  “Electronic” may sound a bit much for what it actually is, but these days it is almost unavoidable when creating an album.  You can notice this in the title track (where it does work) and in what could be considered the two lead off tracks “City Life”, “We Are Snowmen” and then again in “Spark (featuring DJ Preach)” where I like the songs, but feel there is just too much of this sound.  I feel as if the songs might find their way to a car commercial or similar location with their use of drum machine induced cadence.  Not a bad thing most would think and I almost feel awkward saying it, they just seem a bit more late night Lincoln MKZ ad versus late night whiskey soaked ballad.  I can’t write them off as Ryan’s voice in each track still draws me in, it has to be a pretty bad track to make me not want to listen to this guy…

Well overall the album is well above many of its ilk and will be another feather in Ryan’s cap.  So if like me you hesitated, give it more listening time – it will become a mandatory listen very easily.  If you didn’t feel any pause, simply consider me a bit slow.

“Some Streets Lead Nowhere” – Matthew Ryan, from 2009’s “Dear Lover”
Bonus: “Jane, I Still Feel The Same” – Matthew Ryan, from his Daytrotter Session, Sept. 2008
Bonus #2 (side project): “If I Wanted You” – The Dead Satellites

Visit and Purchase Matthew Ryan.  Physical CD release slated for early 2010.

~Smansmith

The Low Anthem’s “Charlie Darwin” Video ∞

…makes me happy.  Well I am not sure in relation to the song, but just in general.  I knew about the video but it completely slipped my mind until I saw it posted over on Tsururadio.  This was one of my favourite songs of 2008 (top 5) and now has a great video to add to it’s beauty.  If you didn’t ever pick up The Low Anthem’s “Oh My God, Charlie Darwin”, you missed out.  Pick it up now, its a great listen.

Visit & Purchase:

~Smansmith

Tomorrow night, lamenting with Liz ∞

Tomorrow night I will hopefully be spending some quality time with Liz.  Okay, spending time at a table in the back, casually tapping my foot while enjoying what I can only assume will be a frosty brew.  Liz is in town with Vic Chesnutt (another reason to get my ass out to a show) so I started listening to some tracks and noticed this Cat Stevens cover by Liz is absolutely stunning.  It is a free download on her website and is totally stuck in my head now.

Remember Calgary locals – The Marquee Room tomorrow night (hopefully tickets at the door…) be there, buy me a beer.

“How Can I Tell You (Cat Stevens Cover)” Liz Durrett

Visit Liz Durrett:

~Smansmith

Saturday Quickie {Clint Michigan, E.P. Hall, Akira Kosemura, Josh Preston & Frank Schweikhardt} ∞

Well this one is actually safe for work and is not the quickie some visitors might have been looking for when googling and finding yourself here.  This is a quickie because I am currently in transition with home computers, waiting for delivery guys to deliver some furniture and hence I might only have a fleeting visit to the computer to dedicate to music today.

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.

Brian Borcherdt releases double album and new video. Slowcoustic raises hands to heavens, pauses to reflect… ∞

I have been a fan of Borcherdt for a couple of years now.  His Coyotes album from last year was my top pick for the year and is still an outstanding album today – I just can’t recommend it enough.  So when the good folks over at NXEW posted that he released a double album of demos with Hand Drawn Dracula and a new video to boot – I admit I immediately started to sweat and stutter only a maximum of 4 words per sentence until I got home to download it.  To say I was excited is an understatement, but hey what is a music fiend supposed to do?

So I have been listening continuously since I downloaded it COMPLETELY FREE <— (Click here please).  The albums are both pre Coyotes but still in the solo singer songwriter vein which I have been known to focus on blindly.  While the tracks are essentially lo-fi demos – this is the style of Borcherdt’s newer solo stuff anyway, so the demo part shouldn’t dissuade you in any way.  By the cover art alone (see below), you can get an impression of each “album” with the Ward Colorado demos being a bit more intimate and Torches being a bit more electric and fuller sound (well kind of).  Take a listen to a few tracks from each album below.

“Guide Home”
“Steady Hands”
“Preserver”(I have had this track for a while somehow, but I feel like this is a song that could have been on the Coyotes album)

“Crime Scenes”
“Further”
“Low Hills”

You can see the video on the sidebar as the new “featured video” on the blog and it is for While I Was Asleep from the Coyotes album (did I say you should buy this yet?).

Find yourself visiting Brian and purchasing Coyotes (you must, just saying):

~Smansmith

p.s.  Please note the mp3s here are just to get you excited, please head over to the link above or Hand Drawn Dracula for the full 320 kbps version and full album art!

Song of the Day (and new discovery) “Time’s Ticking” from Isbells! ∞

This new discovery and album is one that found its way to my inbox from one of my very good German friends.  I don’t know why Europe has such good taste in music and people (Do the Germans know my wife is German???  Maybe…) but they seem to just be the right people to talk to when you are looking Slowcoustic.

This album “Isbells” is the self titled new release from Isbells (obviously) over on Zeal Records this past October 23rd.  Isbells are not German like I might have lead you to believe, but are based out of Belgium (where my wife lived for a year) and is basically the nucleus of Gaetan Vandewoude who has settled down to create his own brand of folk pop/singer songwriter type recordings.  During the process of becoming a recording artist the band “Isbells” actually formed with the combination of Vandewoude and co-horts: Naïma Joris, Bart Borremans, Gianni Marzo.   I don’t actually know much more than this other than the album is quite enchanting and I have found it to be a nice end of year surprise.  If you enjoy a nice late night, or not so late night album of harmonies and great song crafting (i.e.  it is not the normal “overly dark and brooding” stuff I usually peddle around here) this is definitely an album to look into!

“Time’s Ticking” – Isbells

Please consider hitting up Zeal Records on MySpace to pick up an album via Paypal for a lousy 10 Euro (or 12 to us non EU folks), you can’t go wrong.

Visit Isbells:

~Smansmith

Tobacco Pat returns to finalize his EP Trilogy – The Destroyer ∞

Tobacco Pat has a penchant for providing me with EPs of dark Americana tinged singer songwriter projects.  The third and final installment of his “Apocalypse” series has just been self released and it falls into place quite nicely.

You might remember an earlier mention of this project here on the blog and once again this installment comes in the form of 5 tracks in “The Destroyer” package.  This one feels like it brings it all down with more energy than the previous EPs, it is definitely a raw lo-fi journey!

Logan Farmer finds himself giving the title track a double dose with Part 1 & 2 as stand outs, with Part 1 being a lone guitar and voice singing into the night.  Part 2 of the title track brings in the cavalry with galloping of guitar strokes – with no vocals it feels as if it is a triumph and ending of the series of EPs, playing to the end of it all…with purpose.

I find this final chapter is focused with a coiled energy, Farmer is less hushed and pushes forward and at times is almost howling into everything without losing control.   “The Truth and The Stream” comes in waves and still manages to bring hushed moments before finishing the tale (all the while a second voice simply repeating the lyrics deep in the background).   You really feel the angst in “The Vault” with Farmer truly pulling emotion I have rarely heard (his chant of “You’re just like them, just like them…” makes you feel as if you would see the spittle of betrayal flying from between his teeth!) – refreshing to this old folky!

The Destroyer Pt 1
The Truth And The Stream

Find the EP (along with the two previous releases) available for download from his MySpace page and his new Website which will be a host for demos and live recordings that I eagerly await.

~Smansmith

We all make rash statements and jump the gun at times… ∞

Okay, I spoke a bit too soon about the new Matthew Ryan album “Dear Lover” and mentioned that it wasn’t quite gritty enough or possibly overproduced in parts.  Well friends, sometimes I talk out of my ass.  The new Matthew Ryan album is growing on me something fierce.  Look for a full post on the new album soon, but I just wanted to mention it.  For now, immerse in the instrumental version of one of the best tracks on the album.

“Some Streets Lead Nowhere (Instrumental Version)“ – Matthew Ryan, original (with vocals) from 2009’s “Dear Lover”

Visit Matthew Ryan on his website to pick up a copy of his self released album.

~Smansmith

Another Blogger Saturday Mixtape! (but this one is great) ∞

Hello Slowcousticals, I bring you a weekend playlist because I don’t have a feature post (let’s just be honest here).  There isn’t even a compromise though because there is some really great music included.  If you are a regular reader or are a member of the Last.fm group, you know I am a bit of a playlist fiend.  So enough with the blather and let’s get to your weekend soundtrack!

Slowcoustic Saturday Playlist (November Edition)

~ Wonder Stranger - Via Tania, from Moon Sweet Moon (Visit)
This is St. Vincent meets Tiny Vipers, really atmospheric.

~ Untitled In May -  Becky, from Some Like The Water (Visit)
Simply stunning.  Stunning and Canadian.  Stunning and Canadian and Albertan!

~ Girl From The North Country – EELS, from The MySpace Transmissions EP (Visit the Sessions)
Nice little cover by Mr. E himself.

~ The Echoes of Time - The Smiles and Frowns, from self titled The Smiles and Frowns (Visit)
Psych folk from across the pond, very catchy and underappreciated.

~ Twenty Cycles To The Ground - Molina & Johnson, from self titled Molina & Johnson (Visit)
Taken a while to post this lead off track, album is definitely better than most, but that was expected.

~ Painting - South China, from Washingtons (Visit)
Folk, orchestral, moves at a snails pace with perfectly matched harmonies.  This one makes you ache.

~ Thirteen - Cam Penner, from Trouble & Mercy (Visit)
Definitely a new favourite – gotta catch this guy next time he comes through!  Highly recommended.

~ Winter – The Diamond Family Archive, from Fife (Visit)
Mellow and German (by way of Bristol), simply great – free download on Woodland Recordings.

~ Island of Broken Glass - Dragon Turtle, from Almanac (Visit)
Wow, ambient “post-folk” with a bit of noise.  Definitely the album with the most “wall of sound/fuzz folk” on this list.

~ Wildmere (live at Lakehead) - Trevor Tchir, live @ Lakehead University (Visit)
Recommended to me from Becky (see above) and this is a great little ditty performed live – more Canadiana for ya!

~ Consolation Prize (live) - Sharon Van Etten, from NYCtaper’s session @ Pianos NY 2009-01-11 (Visit NYCtaper)
NYCtaper has soo much good stuff, this is a “half set” from earlier this year – look for a newly recorded performance from SVE soon!

~ Field Report – Loch Lomond, from the re-released Split 12″ with The Builders & The Butchers (Visit Song, By Toad Records)
Two artists on one piece of vinyl – what’s not to like?  The “Down To The River” from The Builders & The Butchers is also amazing!

~ We Used To Think The Freeway Sounded Like A River -  Richmond Fontaine, from We Used To Think The Freeway Sounded Like A River (Visit)
Admittedly the slower stuff from RF appeals to me – check “Thirteen Cites” album as well.

~ The Shortest Distance Between Two Points Is a Straight Line – Simon Joyner, from Room Temperature/A Collection of Tracks from the Team Love Library (Visit Team Love)
A bit lo-fi, okay, a lot lo-fi and well worth signing up for a collection of various tracks from numerous albums!

~~~

~Smansmith

The Wheat Pool release new video for “This Is It” ∞

Still a fan of these Edmonton boys since first seeing them live here in Calgary – won me over instantly.  They are not the regular acoustic folk that might grace the electronic pages of this site, but sometimes you need a bit of country rock to wake you from your stupor.

Sidenote: Even with my wife saying she thought “they wore their jeans very well…” I didn’t hold that against them and still would welcome these boys around anytime!

Enjoy the brand new video (just released yesterday) from their new album Hauntario!

Hey, you had video, how about a repeat of the tracks previously posted:

The Wheat Pool
“This Is It” (mp3)
“One of These Nights” (mp3)
from “Hauntario”
(Shameless Records Canada)

Buy at iTunes Music Store
More On This Album

~Smansmith

Acoustic Spam. Ain’t nuthin’ better. ∞

Spam – one of the worst words in the modern language.  Whether it be in your email, on your fax, from bands or even from family members (yes, it happens) – it has become an all encompassing phenomena.  It is used to describe anything that you didn’t ask for but are presented with, regardless if you end up liking it – it can still be spam.  It is one of those words that automatically create a negative impression and sometimes I think spam can do some good in this crazy modern world we now live in.  It is only slightly less threatening than the word “discriminate”, which is only a description of an action and you have to decide if…oh, wait – another time and another place.  Music blog…right.

So…this acoustic spam I put in the title of this post.  In a recent Elbo.ws blogger forum there was a post that included a magnificent acoustic video from Meursault (a personal favourite around Slowcoustic HQ) and I had to re-post it here.  I don’t know how this particular thread went from public relation emails to remixes to spam, but sometimes ramblings in an online community forum can be good for something.  Good for finding some damn fine acoustic spam!

Meursault – Crank Resolutions (In the Toad Van after too much wine.) from Song, by Toad on Vimeo.

Bonus – “A Small Stretch of Land” from 2008’s “Pissing on Bonfires/Kissing With Tongues”

Visit Meursault & Song, by Toad Records

~Smansmith

Folk Covers – We all love ‘em. The Diamond Family Archive doesn’t disappoint! ∞

Introduced to my world from Common Folk Meadow blog and I thought we all need more live folk covers. The Diamond Family Archive is the “band” and it is essentially singer songwriter Laurence Collyer out of Berlin (there we go with all the good folkies being located in Germany, with Collyer originally being from the UK and spent a lengthy spell in Brighton).   The latest release “The Wanderer” is a covers album of which we have the title track included below.  The album “The Wanderer” is released from Woodland Recordings (where this live recording is from also) for 12 pounds shipping in!  A new album recorded recently is also about to be released but is still available currently at shows if you are in the area.

Although I believe TDFA is more than these covers, take this as an introduction to the world of his sombre acoustic beauty.   The songs below are quiet and alternate landscapes of familiar and not so familiar songs.  Collyer’s take is classic acoustic folk and keeps is down the middle with consistently great sounding tracks that every Slowcoustic fan would enjoy.  The recordings are surprisingly great quality for the most part and you are treated to the banter between tracks and discover that he is quite funny and charismatic.  This particular recording is from Dec. 29th back in 2007 and is a funny and sad bastard soundtrack for today as well as providing a quick glimpse into this talented German.   Enjoy.

The Diamond Family Archive – 29/12/07 Komedia, Brighton, United Kingdom

Caroline

Here I Go Again

I Hear A Sweet Voice Calling

Islands In The Stream

Brothers In Arms

Down At The Landing

Walk Of Life

The Wanderer

I almost lost my shite when “Here I Go Again” was selected and played.

Visit and Purchase The Diamond Family Archive

~Smansmith

The world is a very small place. End result, Cam Penner is on my radar. ∞

The world is small and déjà vu and/or coincidences happen all the time.  Let me entertain you with a few facts that may seem not so much coincidental as simply true.

So I was recently called out in front of the class for chewing gum not finding local talent.  The calling out cam from fellow Canadian blogger Herohill and the local talent in question is Cam Penner.  Wait, let’s move back a touch – Craig over at Songs:Illinois posted on a nice little find with Cam Penner.  Said post is read by Herohill and then I am called out on ignoring local talent not finding this great roots/Americana/folk artist that I should have.

Okay, us Canadians sometimes have to rely on our friends to the south to find great artists from our own backyard.  It is bound to happen, Canada is MASSIVELY TALENTED when it comes to the indie music scene.  That is not the coincidental stuff, it comes next.

I look into this post by Songs:Illinois on Penner’s new album and low and behold, I find myself downloading the track and enjoying it quite a bit.  I then look into this Canadian musician and find out he is currently based in Calgary – where I live!  Then I look into it some more and find out Cam Penner is originally from Manitoba – where I moved from!  If anyone reading this is familiar with Southern Manitoba, it is full of smaller (mostly) farming communities and a fairly hefty religious and Mennonite presence.  It does turn out that Cam is from such a Mennonite community in Southern Manitoba…for all I know, he was a neighbor of my wife who is also a Mennonite from Southern Manitoba!  That would be too much so I am not looking into it any longer.

Don’t get me started on the fact that part of promotion for Cam Penner is through Kerf Music who I found out last week is the company our bookkeeper at my current job also works for….come on!

So, long not so interesting story short, listen to Cam Penner.  If you enjoy a bit of down-trodden folk with real Canadiana and a splash of country he is well worth it.

Also enjoy a video for the track that was posted to start this all:

Visit and purchase Cam Penner:

~Smansmith

Upcoming Calgary Concert Alert: *Nov. 23rd* – Vic Chesnutt & Liz Durrett ∞

Upcoming is a concert I am making sure I am at – the Vic Chesnutt / Liz Durrett performance at the Marquee Room on November 23rd (locals, please note change in venue with Timbre Productions).  Any Calgarians looking to go, please consider confirming, it will be a great show!  I have not seen either artist live and I am very excited to see them both together.  They are not strangers to each other as you can see from one of the tracks below, but it should be quite an intimate show at points – this I am excited for!  You can check previous posts on these two separately – Vic & Liz.

So tickets can be purchased at Ticketmaster or from Megatunes locally and they are $20.00 each.  Give a shout out if you are going, maybe some beers are in order with the Slowcoustic crew!

Now Listen:

“Rustic City Fathers” – Vic Chesnutt
“Warm” – Vic Chesnutt

“Somewhere” – Vic Chesnutt & Liz Durrett

“The Mezzanine” – Liz Durrett
“November” – Liz Durrett

Visit Vic Chesnutt HERE and Liz Durrett HERE.  See as many of you as possible on the 23rd!

~Smansmith

p.s.  For some new Vic Chesnutt tracks from the excellent “Skitter on Take-Off” – visit Captains Dead here & here.

Let’s be honest, most things around here can be called “Sunday Morning Listening”. ∞

Okay, calling this a “Sunday Morning Listening” Post is a bit redundant.  Most would consider this blog a primer to sleeping…or possibly crying, feeling bad about themselves or trying to extend a current state of depression, but that is beside the point.

I simply wanted to put a couple of acts that hit me up for some coverage, I felt they just might fit into the blog and hell let’s get them on a post!  I have two today and both are a bit acoustic, readily available to be downloaded for the very low price of FREE and I am sure that they will be welcome in your library of slow and acoustic artists.

~~~

Enderby’s Room is a lo-fi bedroom folk act and moniker of Dan Mayfield from the UK along with some mates (Fletcher Boote along with Ben and Tom Handysides) filling out the instrumentation/vocals.  This is the kind of band that you lean into in order to immerse youself in it – this stuff just might not get you out of bed in the morning and maybe you won’t regret it.  It also may sound like four people are too many to create such a lo-fi and intimate sound – but I say nay!  The sound is very balanced and besides being hushed vocals aside the plucking of numerous stringed instruments it is very much your Sunday listening material.  With 3 tracks on the website and the full 5 on the Last.fm page you can definitely get started on your new listening staple.

“Their There”
“Lakeside”

~~~

Tin Can Notes is another EP that can be downloaded free (this time from the Bandcamp page for TCN) and is a touch more up tempo and a nice transition into the actual Sunday morning to full on Sunday from Enderby’s Room above!   Tin Can Notes is Jack Matranga from Sacremento California and brings a bit of folky sunshine to the murky mornings – Matranga sings like he is bringing you out from the darkness if not only into that middle ground of melancholy.   You may find a bit more production and or instruments that “plug in” for this recommendation, but sometimes thats needed, no?  You can find out a bit more on the Myspace page and Last.fm page to TCN.

“She Had A Name”
“California In The Ether”

~Smansmith

Slowcoustic (hearts): Daytrotter, HearYa, WOXY & [Dog]and[Pony] ∞

It’s Friday today, so join me in sitting back and having other people provide you with all the quality music and coverage.  By the blog post title, I assume you gather what is going on here and yeah, I’m doing it.  Shameless post of other people’s hard work…even if it is because they are all doing a bang up job and only mostly making me jealous.  Where to start…..

Daytrotter!

If I have to tell anyone reading this what Daytrotter is, you must have made it here by mistake.  One of my all time favourite sessions just happened a little while back and was with The Tallest Man on Earth.   This “Man” is Kristian Matsson and he brings the perfect mix of folk and country and a extra serving of twang for the most part.  The song included here is actually a bit of a piano track and is phenomenal mixed with his trademark raspy voice.  The full session includes 4 tracks and ALL are keepers and can be found over at Daytrotter HERE.

“I Won’t Be Found” – The Tallest Man on Earth, Daytrotter Session

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HearYa!

Again, HearYa is a great music blog and I almost even consider them part of my blogger circle (if that circle was ridiculously large), but just on a different level.  HearYa also has a silver bullet in their “HearYa Live Sessions” where they have various indie artists record (both audio and video), similar to Daytrotter.  The level of talent that goes through the Shirk Music & Sound Studios/HearYa crew is mind blowing.  Imagine Deep Dark Woods, Low Anthem, Horse Feather, A.A. Bondy among them.  I have picked the most recent as it is also with a good friend of this Blog in Timothy Showalter, or Strand of Oaks.  Showalter does this incredible cover of Bruce Springsteen and you have to hear it, but don’t forget the rest of them over HERE.

“Used Cars (Bruce Springsteen Cover)” – Strand of Oaks, HearYa Session

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WOXY!

WOXY is a great radio station that puts together some pretty great sessions as well in their “Lounge Act” section.  The session that blew me away recently was the Mumford & Sons, who have crafted their new album “Sigh, No More” from various previously recorded tracks and half new tracks and is a top 5 album for the year for me.  This album makes my sing out loud and is something that you know can bring the house down.  Mumford can hush a crowd with some of the best ballads around and still slap you across the face with a banjo laden, foot stomping jam in only seconds.  The good folks at The Waiting Room turned me onto this recording…I think they had something to do with recording it….  ;-)  Find the full set (5 tracks total) over at WOXY HERE, you will not regret it.

“I Gave You All” – Mumford & Sons, WOXY Lounge Act

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[Dog]and[Pony]!

Last but not least is a newcomer to me and have now wowed me with two great video of some of the best new indie acts around.  [Dog]and[Pony] is a creation of Nick and Krister from Portland (Maine, not Oregon) who feature great local talent.  The first instance I mentioned was a great live video of Blood Warrior (new album early next year!!) and now they have done a feature on Brown Bird who have a new album coming out on Peapod Recordings.  The video below includes some performances mixed with interview pieces and is something you should be watching and then purchasing next week when the album comes out!  Visit more videos from D&P on their website or over on Vimeo HERE.

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~Smansmith

Just something I am looking forward to. More Arborea. ∞

Look for an upcoming feature here on Slowcoustic for this Maine duo as currently the Gothic folk churned out by Arborea is hitting the proverbial spot for me.  What I am working on is putting a more lengthy and thorough post together and hopefully even an interview with Shanti And Buck (of course that is their names) of Arborea pending their availability and if their people can hook it up!

I am also including one promo track to get you on board, it is both Gothic and haunting and still beautiful and ethereal at the same time.  Think of a Boduf Songs intertwined with Trespassers William – they are a current fave for sure.

“Dance, Sing, Fight” – Arborea, from 2009’s “House of Sticks” (re-mastered for the album, originally on their Wayfaring Summer album)

Take a gander below at the great video for River and Rapids as well:

Visit & Purchase Arborea:

~Smansmith

p.s.  Don’t you just love this?