BAIRD, MEG Waltze Of The Tennis Players (Tequilla Sunrise) 7" 8.98
The female vocalist from Espers gives us a sweet taste of her solo work in anticipation of her upcoming debut. Covering "Waltze of The Tennis Players" by sixties folk obscurities, Fraser and Debolt on one side, and on the other, an acapella version of "Dear Companion", an ancient hymn like tune which will be featured on the full length record. Alas, such a little taste leaves us begging for more. Beautiful.

BAIRD, MEG / HELENA ESPVALL / SHARRON KRAUS Leaves From Off The Tree (Bo'Weavil) cd 21.00
Meg Baird and Helena Espvall, the string players and female vocalists of Espers, team up with British folkie, Sharron Kraus for a hazy afternoon's recording of traditional English and Appalachian folk songs. Sung simply and played sweetly on guitar, cello, and dulcimer by a trio well versed in the dulcet timelessness of the folk cannon, these nine songs recall the best work of Shirley Collins, Sandy Denny and Shelagh McDonald. Lovely!
MPEG Stream: "Now Westlin' Winds"
MPEG Stream: "False Sir John"

BAKER, AIDAN Scalpel (The Kora) cd 11.98
Usually, on Aidan Baker's solo records, the list of instruments almost doesn't matter in terms of the actual music. Voice, flute, whatever, Baker tends to smear and blur all of the various pieces into one fluid and gently flowing organic whole. Even in Nadja, his doom metal duo, the guitars are rendered fairly un-guitar like. Instead, the riffs are delivered as huge swaths of molten granulated sound. On Scalpel, his latest solo record, guitar is again the main instrument, but unlike most of the time with Baker, you can actually hear the guitar, and it sounds, well, like a guitar. In fact the first two tracks, the shortest of the five, sound almost like pure folk music, albeit a dark and minimal and lugubrious folk. The guitars wispy and ethereal, chords gently strummed, melodies softly fingerpicked, Baker's voice a gruff whisper. Quite lovely, but surprisingly straight ahead, reminding us of Loren Connors or Hisato Higuchi, a dark languorous folky shimmer, the only hint of Baker's penchant for sound processing, at least in the first two songs is the blur of shortwave interference separating the tracks, a woman's voice, hissy white noise, but it quickly subsides and the sound dials back down to a dreamlike crawl.
The last three tracks, all well over 10 minutes, seem to have the same root, that soft shimmery folk, but here's where Baker's deft hand and soundscaping and sound processing finally surfaces. "Our Needs Bear No Relation To Our Desires" is a slow gentle strum, the various overtones gradually building into moody swells, eventually joined by bits of textural grit, muted buzz, what almost sounds like field recordings, but it's all very subtle, the focal point still that lonely minor key melody, marching resolutely forward through a fuggy dreamlike haze. "Indifference" also begins with a lilting folksy strum, but is also soon nearly subsumed by dizzying whirls of sound, subtle backwards sonic swoops, fuzzy smears of effects, turning that heart of folk into something much more glimmering and glittering. And finally, "Drawn Like A Moth, Slip Like A Snail", returns, mostly, to the unadorned folk of the opening two tracks, another gorgeously drawled, barely audible vocal line, and a lovely main melody, but for its entire 11+ minutes, the guitar and vocal lines drift in an gauzy expanse of humid minimal whir and soft focus high end flutter, various bits of vocal flecked with FX and occasional bits of backwards blur.
Yet another beautiful Aidan Baker disc, and while this one will of course appeal to the Baker / Nadja faithful, it just might hit the spot for dark freek folk fans as wellŠ
LIMITED TO 500 COPIES!!! Each one hand numbered. Gorgeously packaged, fold over die cut sleeve, silver metallic ink on maroon textured paper, a black and white insert / cover image visible through the diecut.
MPEG Stream: "K"
MPEG Stream: "Our Needs Bear No Relation To Our Desires"

BAKER, MICKEY Wildest Guitar (Sepia Tone) cd 13.98
Mickey Baker is best known as half of the duo Mickey & Sylvia, but did you know that this formidable R&B / rock 'n roll guitarist enjoyed a varied and eclectic career playing sessions on such hits as "Money Honey", "Shake Rattle and Roll", "Mama He Treats Your Daughter Mean"? And then in 1959 he released his first solo album, an all instrumental gem featuring four Baker originals as well as his singular renditions of "Autumn Leaves", the Third Man Theme, "Night and Day", etc. The wildest guitar record ever made? Well, for 1959, yeah okay maybe. The guitar tone is clean yet gritty, the reverb sparkles. Really good!
RealAudio clip: "Third Man Theme"
RealAudio clip: "Autumn Leaves"

BALTHROP, ALABAMA Your Big Plans & Our Little Town (End Up) 2cd 12.98
Not a geographic location, Balthrop, Alabama is a singer/songwriter! Joining in the band naming tradition of the likes of Boston, Chicago, Kansas et al, former Bay Area now Brooklyn based solo singer/songwriter Pascal Balthrop's latest musical moniker is a place, but a fictional one, mind you! You might know him under his previous musical alias which was simply Pascal. With a new name and new hometown come new sounds, a broader scope, instrument palette and group of musicians to accompany him. On his brand new sprawling concept double (!) cd about big city encroachment on a small town, Balthrop's acoustic songcraft is definitely still very very indebted to Jeff Mangum, John Darnielle and the Elephant 6 Collective, but the telltale signs -- such as a very distinctly emotive singing delivery combined with unabashedly blatty horns -- are a little bit more subsumed into his own realm. His lyrical storytelling is less cryptic or surreal, and the downhome-y album unfolds like an indie pop country fair stage play. Some folks have likened his new songs such as "Love To Love You" to the Hidden Cameras in its peppy exuberance. Fans of all of the abovementioned, hop aboard!
MPEG Stream: "Angel"
MPEG Stream: "Tell The Stars"

BAND OF BLACKY RANCHETTE, THE Still Lookin' Good To Me (Thrill Jockey) cd 15.98
Howe Gelb's solo and collaborative projects produce some of the most unpredictable, erratic music around -- running the arid desert gamut from expansive, trippy soundtrack compositions to intimate rough-hewn voice'n'guitar only numbers.
This themed album seems to be one of his most casual and off the cuff gatherings of musical friends. Gelb prefaces it mysteriously with the note "It's been 20 years since the Band Of Blacky Ranchette released its first record. This is the fourth in a series." The stellar guestlist includes Neko Case, Cat Power's Chan Marshall, John Convertino and Joey Burns of Calexico, Richard Buckner, M. Ward, Grandaddy's Jason Lytle, Jon Rauhouse, Dallas Good of the Sadies and Lambchop's Kurt Wagner. Along with the regular ol' studio-recorded songs, some of these recordings were captured in more unconventional locales: Howe Gelb's home, outside the Nashville International Airport (interrupted by a state trooper!), in an unspecified location in Austin TX, as well as "somewhere in Germany". This may be seen as a "sum is less (not greater) than its parts" collaborative collection. Most appearances are so brief, you barely have a chance for them to register. If you're looking for songs more indicative of the individual guest artists, you might be disappointed. However if you're a big Howe Gelb and/or Giant Sand fan, this will probably tickle your fancy.
MPEG Stream: "Mope-A-Long Rides Again"
MPEG Stream: "My Hoo Ha"

BAND OF BLACKY RANCHETTE, THE Still Lookin' Good To Me (Thrill Jockey) lp 11.98
Howe Gelb's solo and collaborative projects produce some of the most unpredictable, erratic music around - running the arid desert gamut from expansive, trippy soundtrack compositions to intimate rough-hewn voice'n'guitar only numbers.
This themed album seems to be one of his most casual and off the cuff gatherings of musical friends. Gelb prefaces it mysteriously with the note "It's been 20 years since the Band Of Blacky Ranchette released its first record. This is the fourth in a series." The stellar guestlist includes Neko Case, Cat Power's Chan Marshall, John Convertino and Joey Burns of Calexico, Richard Buckner, M. Ward, Grandaddy's Jason Lytle, Jon Rauhouse, Dallas Good of the Sadies and Lambchop's Kurt Wagner. Along with the regular ol' studio-recorded songs, some of these recordings were captured in more unconventional locales: Howe Gelb's home, outside the Nashville International Airport (interrupted by a state trooper!), in an unspecified location in Austin TX, as well as "somewhere in Germany". This may be seen as a "sum is less (not greater) than its parts" collaborative collection. Most appearances are so brief, you barely have a chance for them to register. If you're looking for songs more indicative of the individual guest artists, you might be disappointed. However if you're a big Howe Gelb and/or Giant Sand, this will probably tickle your fancy.

BANHART, DEVENDRA Heard Somebody Say (XL) cd ep 3.98
Another lil' shortie from Mr. Banhart! Please note the vinyl and cd versions' track listings are not the same! The cd features the title song (taken from Devendra's most recent full length Cripple Crow) as well as two exclusive tracks not on the 7" ("Lickety Split" and "Chicken"). The 7" record features the title song plus one exclusive track not on the cdep ("La Pastorcita Perdida").
MPEG Stream: "Heard Somebody Say"
MPEG Stream: "Lickety Split"

BANHART, DEVENDRA Heard Somebody Say (XL) 7" 3.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
Another lil' shortie from Mr. Banhart! Please note the vinyl and cd versions' track listings are not the same! The cd features the title song (taken from Devendra's most recent full length Cripple Crow) as well as two exclusive tracks not on the 7" ("Lickety Split" and "Chicken"). The 7" record features the title song plus one exclusive track not on the cdep ("La Pastorcita Perdida").
MPEG Stream: "Heard Somebody Say"

BANHART, DEVENDRA / JANA HUNTER split (Troubleman Unlimited) lp 11.98
Only available on vinyl! This split LP with Jana Hunter features Devendra Banhart's first recordings without the spiritual guidance of Michael Gira since those very first home-recordings which comprised the Oh Me Oh My... album and the Black Babies UK ep, but Banhart's time with Gira certainly left an indelible mark on the former. Therefore it may or may not be surprising to find that unlike many of his earlier recordings on which Banhart struck a chord as a solitary untethered voice, his more recent material has embraced group choruses. In fact the final song on his side of this record seems to possess a unhinged giddiness along the lines of the Beach Boys' loopy sing-a-long rendition of the "Vegetables" tune on Smiley Smile. Banhart's no longer such a lone wolf, finding many kindred spirits in his travels -- such as Ms Jana Hunter with whom he shares this record. And perhaps it can be said that this sense of gathering is parallelled by the ever-increasing popularization of the avant-folk genre as a whole. Hunter and Banhart's music make for a great pairing of heart-baring, barebones compositions. At time her off-kilter voice is strikingly similar to his, creating an almost seamless transition from 'Side J.H." to "Side D.B.". Five songs apiece, and sure to please.

BANJO & SULLIVAN The Ultimate Collection (Universal) cd 11.98
This record is so great! We've been listening to this almost as much as the recent Devils' Rejects soundtrack. Which is sort of funny when you know the whole story. But more on that later in the review. This is a greatest hits of sorts from a mysterious honky tonk bluegrass band from the seventies called Banjo And Sullivan. Mysterious mostly because of their tragic story. According to the liner notes, Adam Banjo and Roy Sullivan were last seen at a dingy hotel called the Kahiki Palms, a brief stop over on their 1978 tour. The scene of a grisly murder, both Banjo and Sullivan's spouses and their roadie Jimmy Cracker were found brutally murdered there. Banjo And Sullivan were never heard from again and were presumed killed. The record itself however should not necessarily be sullied by those tragic events, as the music in this collection is totally fun and funny and kick ass. The lyrics are goofy for sure ("Dick Soup" is the honky tonk equivelent of a 'sausage party' apparently) but the music is so killer. Totally rambunctious, wild and wooly bluegrass, banjos and honky tonk piano, crazy lap steel, and there are hooks all over the place. This is like the perfect blend of classic old time bluegrass and more modern Bloodshoot stuff like The Old 97's -- tracks like "I'm At Home Getting Hammered, While She's Out Getting Nailed", "I'm Trying To Quit, But I Just Quit Trying", "Lord, Don't Let Me Die In A Cheap Motel" and even a killer cover of "Freebird".
The funny part is -- this band actually never even existed! Banjo And Sullivan, as well as their wives Wendy and Gloria and their roadie Jimmy are all characters in the recent Rob Zombie movie The Devil's Rejects! And all of them meet a seriously gruesome end. But how fucking cool is that? What ridiculous attention to detail! There's not even any Banjo And Sullivan music in the movie, but still, they went to all the trouble to record a whole record, and a great record at that! And then they released it through normal channels. In fact there's no mention anywhere on the package of the movie or Rob Zombie or anything. The only hint is in the liner notes, where it explains that they were the victims of a murderous gang called The Devil's Rejects! So by itself, this is a pretty cool, fun bluegrass record, but having seen the movie and knowing that this is just more elaborate back story for the film, makes this pretty darn amazing!
If you go to the Devil's Rejects website you can link to the Banjo And Sullivan website, check out the tour dates for that final tour in 1978, see photos and even see an old TV commercial for the record!!
MPEG Stream: "Dick Soup"
MPEG Stream: "I'm At Home Getting Hammered (While She's Out Getting Nailed)"
MPEG Stream: "Killer On The Lamb"

BANNISTER, BOB Dives & Lazarus (Twisted Village) cd 13.98
Here's an album of (sometimes radical) interpretations of traditional British and American folk songs, all done by Bob Bannister of Tono Bungay. Melancholy stuff beloved by fans of Shirley Collins and the like ("The Murder Of Maria Marten", "George Collins", "The Unquiet Grave", and others). His production and arrangements are both evocative and inventive, mixing the original words and melodies with violin drone, tape manipulation, electronics, and even distorted guitar feedback. The weak spot is Bannister's singing, he's just not a great singer -- but the feeling is there, and his music captures the mood perfectly. Amps For Christ meets John Fahey meets Slap Happy Humphrey meets the Harry Smith Anthology of American Folk Music? Er, something like that, if that means anything to you... Or, if you've heard the P.G. Six album we raved about on list #112, you'll have an idea of where this is coming from (no, it's not as good as P.G. Six, but shares a similar sound-approach, and is well worth checking out if you liked that album).
RealAudio clip: "Murder Of Maria Marten"
RealAudio clip: "A Miniature Rainbow"
RealAudio clip: "Dark Hollow"

BARE JR, BOBBY The Longest Meow (Bloodshot) cd 14.98
Whoa! From the get-go, Bobby Bare Jr. is revvin' up his country rock motor full throttle. Is he drivin' a tractor? Heck no! It's more of a bulldozer or steamroller! The Longest Meow just might be his most spirited full length to date (yes, studio albums included)! A somewhat unconventional live album, apparently it was recorded over a marathon eleven hour session back in March. His backing band on it is nothing short of star-studded. The Young Criminals Starvation League includes folks from My Morning Jacket, And You Will Know Us From The Trail Of Dead, and Lambchop. Yee haw! As an added treat, amid his rowdy Americana original numbers you'll find an odd barebones cover of The Pixies' "Where Is My Mind". Always endearingly loose and irreverent.
MPEG Stream: "The Heart Bionic"
MPEG Stream: "Black To Blue"
MPEG Stream: "Where Is My Mind"

BARE, BOBBY Moon Was Blue (Dualtone) cd 15.98
Like father like son! We've heard quite a bit from Mr. Bobby Bare Jr. over the last few years, but we haven't heard from his papa, Mr. Bobby Bare Sr., himself quite a venerable veteran country artist, in over two decades! He's resurfaced from his lengthy musical absence with this album which was co-produced by his son and fellow country artist Bobby Bare Jr. along with Lambchop's Mark Nevers. It's clear that the apple didn't fall far from the tree. Moon Was Blue features a batch of old country classics such as "Everybody's Talkin'" (previously recorded by Harry Nilsson and included on the Midnight Cowboy movie soundtrack), "Love Letters In The Sand" and "The Ballad Of Lucy Jordan". Not at all surprisingly they definitely retain the old country heart 'n' soul of the originals. Although these are current recordings, they almost seems like long-lost treasures from a bygone era.
MPEG Stream: "Everybody's Talkin'"
MPEG Stream: "The Ballad Of Lucy Jordan"

BARE, BOBBY JR From The End Of Your Leash (Bloodshot) cd 11.98
Since Jeff Tweedy and his Wilco comrades have moved further into the more esoteric territory and Paul Westerberg has gotten his boot stuck in his cranky, slipshod bluesy Grandpaboy hole, it's nice to find that Bobby Bare Jr. has ably stepped up to fill their catchy country rock vacancy. On From The End Of Your Leash, he's offered up a nicely varied selection of tunes -- some are warm and golden with piano, some swagger, some have slink'n'pluck surf-inflections. Much better than his somewhat disappointing "OK - I'm Sorry..." ep and his "Young Criminals' Starvation League" debut which we liked quite a bit. Bare's voice has that endearingly withery, slightly inebbriated hoarseness (much like that of Drivin' N' Cryin's Kevn Kinney, Tweedy and Westerberg). To boot, his often twistedly funny without being juvenile lyrics will keep ya entertained. His Young Criminals' Starvation League backing band this time includes such luminaries as Will Oldham, Duane Denison (Jesus Lizard), Paul Niehaus (Calexico, Lambchop), and the excellent vocal accompaniment of Ms Deanna Varagona (Lambchop).
MPEG Stream: "Your Favorite City"
MPEG Stream: "Don't Follow Me (I'm Lost)"

BARE, BOBBY JR Young Criminals' Starvation League (Bloodshot) cd 14.98
Alternative country / Indie rock. Mr. Bobby Bare Jr. is the son of country musician Bobby Bare (singer of such classics as "Detroit City, "Miller's Cave," and "500 Miles Away From Home" and 56 other Top 40 country hits), Lil' Bobby was nominated for a Grammy for a duet with his father at the age of 5. He even sang on the Ryman stage on its closing night. Bare Jr.'s sound has been described as Nirvana meets Lynyrd Skynyrd and well, he does certainly possess a very Cobain-esque, hoarsely pleading, on the verge of cracking yelp of a voice. Combine it with the deeper, more low-key backing vocals and this is much more reminiscent of the beloved Uncle Tupelo. He does a cover of "What Difference Does it Make" by the Smiths, and his version brings all new meaning to the words.
RealAudio clip: "Mehane"
RealAudio clip: "Dig Down"

BARE, BOBBY JR'S YOUNG CRIMINALS' STARVATION LEAGUE "OK - I'm Sorry..." ep (Bloodshot) cd ep 10.98
A bunch of us here loved Bobby Bare Junior's last full-length on Bloodshot, Young Criminals' Starvation League (which now seems to be the name of his band). The son of a country veteran, Junior and his pals play jangly, morose yet sometimes humorous alt-country/indie rock that mixes Nashville with post-Nirvana angst, and could have an Uncle named Tupelo. We're not quite as taken with this new mini-lp -- maybe 'cause the first song is a twee, twangy version of "I'd Like To Teach The World To Sing" -- but you might be, so check it out, especially if you're already a fan. Indeed, this seems to be a fan-oriented release, with some new stuff, two covers, live versions of songs from his last album, and a demo of one of our faves off that record, "I'll Be Around". There's eight audio tracks here and two live video clips you can watch on your computer. A nice half-hour visit into Bobby Bare Jr. country as we await his next full-length.
MPEG Stream: "Pinky"
MPEG Stream: "Flat Chested Girl From Maynardville (live)"

BASHO, ROBBIE Bashovia (Takoma) cd 17.98
"In fact, as usual, when Robbie spoke to me, I didn't understand what in the world he was talking about" -- from John Fahey's liner notes to this new 72-minute compilation of Robbie Basho recordings from three of his albums (The Falconer's Arm I, The Falconer's Arm II, and Song of the Stallion) originally released on Fahey's Takoma label circa '67-'68. Basho (or Daniel J. Robinson, Jr., as he was known before he was realized, via a peyote trip, that he was a reincarnation of the 17th century Japanese poet Basho) was a Fahey protege of sorts, and, in seems -- just look at the cover -- a complete weirdo. Fahey's notes (written before he passed away last year, with this collection in mind) go on to call Basho a "goof" but they also celebrate his undeniable talent, vision, and originality. The booklet also includes Basho's original notes for each track.
Bashovia is composed of "Orientalist" raga-folk-guitar improv with some of the man's unique vocalizations on a few of the tracks -- but most are instrumental, darkly gorgeous and inspired examples of six-string and 12-string manipulation. Moreso than Fahey and other contemporaries, though, there's a super intense, almost scary, impassioned element to Basho's playing.
RealAudio clip: "The Falconer's Arm"
RealAudio clip: "The Haji"

BASHO, ROBBIE Bonn Ist Supreme (Bo Weavil) cd 17.98
Bonn Ist Supreme is a rare glimpse into the live performative side of guitar soli legend Robbie Basho. Recorded in Bonn, Germany six years before his death, Basho was by then in his less interesting Windham Hill phase of his career, but you wouldn't know it by this recording. Containing many pieces from his Takoma-era heyday, Basho's fusion of Celtic, Middle Eastern and medieval influences on his guitar work made him the least blues-based of the Takoma triad of himself, John Fahey, and Leo Kotte. Melding an esoteric spirituality to his playing style, it's easy to get lost in Basho's raga like compositions. Some of the pieces do contain his unique singing which is often a dealbreaker for some (though we dig his vocal stylings), but it doesn't get in the way too much here, and shouldn't keep folks from enjoying his mesmerizingly sublime guitarwork. Nice!
MPEG Stream: "Cathedrals et Fleur De Lis"
MPEG Stream: "The Girl and The Lotus"
MPEG Stream: "Pavan India"
MPEG Stream: "California Raga"

BASHO, ROBBIE Guitar Soli (Takoma) cd 17.98
New Age guitar hero? Hmm. More freaky than that I think. Definitely into the mystical/exotic/"oriental" thing though. Here's a compilation of tracks from three LPs Basho released on John Fahey's Takoma label back in '65 and '66. Beautiful stuff from Seal of the Blue Lotus/Guitar Soli, The Grail and the Lotus, and even one track from Basho Sings (that's when it gets really weird). Brilliant steel string guitar action!

BASHO, ROBBIE The Voice of the Eagle (Comet / Vanguard) cd 16.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
Wow. This is one ridiculous record. Solo 6 & 12 steel string guitar and singing by '60s acoustic guitar hero Robbie Basho (plus a little South Indian Log Drum accompaniment by Ramnad V. Raghavan). This record (a reissue of Basho's 1972 Vanguard debut) might have been almost passable (for solo proto-nu-age guitar in the usual mode of Basho and his contemporaries Fahey and Kottke) had Robbie not opened his mouth to moan pseudo-Native American vocal stylings (with similarly themed lyrics that may have been quite sincere but come across as very silly). It's only a surprise that the Mad Deadly Worldwide Communist Gangster Computer God label (of "Celebrities At Their Worst" fame) didn't get around to re-issuing this themselves. Indeed, although the absurd, wavering vocals might ruin one's enjoyment of Basho's fine guitar playing, they also really do make this a hilarious listen. Connoisseurs of the weird/kitsch should check this out, it's like a cross between "Ein Wigwam" and a Fahey album. For fans of the Sun City Girls, Yahowah, Telly Savalas, and other absurdities. Allan finds this record to be quite enjoyable on those grounds, and once you're done laughing, you'll see that some of it is quite beautiful and Tim Buckley-esque as well. "I am the voice of thu-u-und-rrrrr" etc. Reissued in a nice mini-LP style sleeve.
RealAudio clip: "Voice of the Eagle"

BASHO, ROBBIE The Voice of the Eagle (Comet / Vanguard) lp 21.00
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
Wow. This is one ridiculous record. Solo 6 & 12 steel string guitar and singing by '60s acoustic guitar hero Robbie Basho (plus a little South Indian Log Drum accompaniment by Ramnad V. Raghavan). This record (a reissue of Basho's 1972 Vanguard debut) might have been almost passable (for solo proto-nu-age guitar in the usual mode of Basho and his contemporaries Fahey and Kottke) had Robbie not opened his mouth to moan pseudo-Native American vocal stylings (with similarly themed lyrics that may have been quite sincere but come across as very silly). It's only a surprise that the Mad Deadly Worldwide Communist Gangster Computer God label (of "Celebrities At Their Worst" fame) didn't get around to re-issuing this themselves. Indeed, although the absurd, wavering vocals might ruin one's enjoyment of Basho's fine guitar playing, they also really do make this a hilarious listen. Connoisseurs of the weird/kitsch should check this out, it's like a cross between "Ein Wigwam" and a Fahey album. For fans of the Sun City Girls, Yahowah, Telly Savalas, and other absurdities. Allan finds this record to be quite enjoyable on those grounds, and once you're done laughing, you'll see that some of it is quite beautiful and Tim Buckley-esque as well. "I am the voice of thu-u-und-rrrrr" etc. Reissued in a nice mini-LP style sleeve.

BASHO, ROBBIE Venus In Cancer (Tompkins Square) cd 15.98
You know we must confess it is getting harder and harder to write about instrumental acoustic guitar records and not repeat ourselves. Sure we can talk about the various fingerpicking styles, the different tunings, the long-enduring influence and lasting legacy of John Fahey, but it starts to sound routine and in a wide field of players concentrating solely on one instrument, it's not easy to keep a fresh perspective. So thank the stars that the Tompkins Square label has reissued this amazing 1970 recording from Robbie Basho because it sounds so refreshing. Basho was the least known of the Takoma label trio, John Fahey and Leo Kottke being the brighter stars. But Basho's style heavily influenced by raga modalities and Celtic melodic structures was more akin to the classical and Eastern hybrid styles of Sandy Bull and Pete Walker. Venus in Cancer is a transitional recording originally released on ABC's Blue Thumb imprint just after he left the Takoma label and before his later New Age dabbling on Windham Hill. The songs are long and flowing, spiritually imbibed (but not overtly so) with melancholic melodic structures and raga-ish tempos that occasionally burst out in song. Yes, folks, Robbie Basho sings on this one (a point other reviews we read seem to ignore). But, before you all run away into the hills, let us tell you that his voice is a) pretty great in context with what he's playing and b) it's thankfully sparse throughout the record. On one song, he does some Henry Flynt-style field hollering, on another a bit of spoken verse, and yet on another his voice recalls a slowed down Antony or John Jacob Niles. This has got to be one of the best and unusual examples of primitive guitar we have heard in a while and as you well know we have heard a lot. Plus the cover art is pretty damn rad. Highly Recommended!
MPEG Stream: "Venus In Cancer"
MPEG Stream: "Song for the Queen"

BASHO, ROBBIE Zarthus (Comet / Vangurd [sic]) cd 16.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
Robbie Basho: amazing, mystic guitarist. Robbie Basho: absurd, overwrought singer. Here you get a lot of his entrancing ethno-folk guitar, and also a bit of his sincere, but unintentionally silly vocals. Still, "Zarthus" is quite lovely, a blend of "Persian, Arabic, Western themes" played on 6 & 12 string guitars, accompanied by Ramand V. Raghavan's mrdangam. Originally a 1974 LP, now reissued on cd in a beautiful mini-LP sleeve.
RealAudio clip: "Khoda E Gul E Abe"
RealAudio clip: "Khalil Gibran"

BASHO-JUNGHANS, STEFFEN 7 Books (Strange Attractors Audio House) 2cd 16.98

BASHO-JUNGHANS, STEFFEN In The Morning Twilight (Kning Disk) cd 16.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.

BASHO-JUNGHANS, STEFFEN Inside (Strange Attractors Audio House) cd 11.98
A great new record by Junghans, a soon-to-be much more well known guitarist from the former East Berlin. Solo acoustic steel string guitar is his thing. "Inside" is a folk-trance album of exquisite beauty that has been compared to his evident hero Robbie Basho as well as to Loren Mazzacane Connors. Obviously, John Fahey would be another reference point, and Junghan's sometimes quite repetitive minimalism also puts us in mind of Rod Poole. The disc is divided into three "movements", starting in a simple, rhythmic manner (sounding very avant-garde & "Eastern" & Rod Poole-like) before morphing into some equally radical intricacies. There's no overdubs, but lots of variation. It's all very beautiful and hypnotic, never too difficult (to listen to, that is -- to play this stuff I'm sure is difficult). With colorful liner notes by Byron Coley.
RealAudio clip: "First Movement"
RealAudio clip: "Second Movement, Part One"

BASHO-JUNGHANS, STEFFEN Landscapes In Exile (Blue Moment Arts) cd 18.98

BASHO-JUNGHANS, STEFFEN Rivers And Bridges (Strange Attractors Audio House) cd 14.98
49 year-old German steel-string acoustic guitar talent Steffen Basho-Junghans returns with his third cd for Portland's Strange Attractors Audio House label. His other ones, which we liked a lot too, were of a more experimental bent, all minimalist and droney and weirdly tuned, but this one takes a more traditional path hewing closer to the music of his obvious hero, the great and eccentric Robbie Basho (and to many of Basho-Junghans' past import releases). Like his guru and adopted namesake, here Basho-Junghans deftly picks out some totally beautiful, meditative and damn impressive East-meets-West 6 & 12 string guitar. (But unlike his hero, he doesn't indulge in any singing!) If you're at all into the classic Takoma school of instrumental acoustic solo guitar -- Basho, Fahey, Kottke -- you'll dig this. Really nice.
MPEG Stream: "Hear The Winds Coming"

BASHO-JUNGHANS, STEFFEN Unknown Music 1 Alien Letter (Sillyboy) cd 18.98
We never got around to reviewing this prolific Germanic avant-steel-string guitarist's previous release (the 7 Books double cd released on Strange Attractors last year) although it was perfectly fine -- perhaps we were just scared off by the suggestion of Native American themed spoken word poetry associated with it. No such dangers seem evident here, though, so let's check out this brand new new disc of his on the Italian label Sillyboy, shall we? As with all the stuff of his we've heard, it's one for fans of improvised 12-string guitar in a sorta out-there repetitive, minimalist mode... more Fahey than Bailey thankfully. Maybe that's the reason we didn't manage to review 7 Books, 'cause once you've reviewed a few of this man's releases, it's hard to conjure up more to say, even though the listening remains enjoyable... I mean you gotta cite Fahey, the Takoma label influence, all that. The fact that the man named himself after Robbie Basho ferchrissakes! He makes it so obvious. There's even a couple of tracks here subtitled "Kottke On Mars".
But that's not to dismiss Steffen Basho-Junghan's own talent, and such is quite evident here with this disc, recorded live to DAT in his Berlin living room, all solo, with no overdubs and only "gentle" edits. The concept here (Basho-Junghans is really into concepts) is that of an outer-space alien musician (one of those cantina dudes from Star Wars maybe?) coming to Earth and trying to do his/her/its best on an unfamiliar Earth-instrument, in this case the guitar. Hmm, is this a stretch for Basho-Junghans or not? After all, the guitar IS his instrument. However, his clusters of notes, slides and bends allow one to imagine the alien appendages perhaps used to play such music. And, especially, this does a fine job of conjuring a sense of the night-space-darkness travelled by such an alien visitor. Stark and weird but really quite lovely, with hints of Eastern exoticism...
MPEG Stream: "IV"
MPEG Stream: "VIII"

BASHO-JUNGHANS, STEFFEN Waters In Azure (Strange Attractors Audio) cd 13.98
Here's the seventh cd (!) from Berlin's foremost acoustic 12-string manipulator. We liked last year's "Inside" disc from Junghans (his first domestic release), and this one follows suit with more of his explorations in "minimalist solo steelstring guitar". Repetitive, mesmerizing, rhythmic strum builds and builds while individually picked and slid notes spray like metallic drops of liquid, falling from his guitar strings in shimmering, chiming streams...or something like that. "Waters In Azure" has an obvious watery theme that Junghans renders quite well musically. It's all very beautiful, and sometimes almost manaical in its minimalist single-mindedness. Junghans likes to experiment with arbitrary structures on his playing, limitations (like, say, using but one finger or string) that force him into extreme new compositional solutions. But the results don't sound forced, they just sound like nothing you've really ever heard from a "normal" solo guitarist. He also always records totally live and direct with absolutely no overdubs or effects, which is rather incredible when you listen to some of this! Equally for fans of Robbie Basho and Rod Poole.
RealAudio clip: "ONE No 1, Part III"
RealAudio clip: "Waters, Part II"

BAUER, MATT Nandina (self-released) cd 9.98
San Francisco has quite the impressive (and ever-growing) grassroots folk / country / blues music community, both past and present. Jolie Holland, Sean Hayes, Dieselhed, Virgil Shaw, Crooked Jades, Waycross, Court & Spark... the list goes on and on. Of course, there's always room for one (or two or three) more, isn't there? Well, over the last few weeks, a few folks have been comin' in asking for a gent known as Matt Bauer (not to be confused with Skullflower / Total / Sunroof! / Youngsbower's Matthew Bower, mind you!). Apparently Mr. Bauer had a new self-released cd out, but after much sleuthing about we were unable to track the elusive fellow down... that is, until last week! Yes, we're pleased to report that he's surfaced, and kindly brought in some of his cds himself. And it was worth the wait. Nandina is a fine album of earthy, comforting, melancholic folk songs with warm and weathered male vocals.
MPEG Stream: "Window Hill"
MPEG Stream: "Cold Valley Rain"

BAUER, MATT Wasps And White Roses E.P. (Crossbill) cd ep 6.98
A familiar face around this neighborhood -- you might recall his debut cd Nandina a couple of years back -- Mr. Bauer caught us off guard recently when we received a package from him addressed from New York. He'd pulled up anchor and moved across the country! Fortunately his brother still lives around the corner from our shop and can supply us with Matt's latest cdep. It picks right up where he left off on the final somber strains of Nandina's closing track "Jordan In A Plastic Bag". Such achingly beautiful, weathered folk melancholia, this time with the added pleasure of female vocals accompanying Matt's on a pair of songs. Who might those ladies be? Why, noneother than Ms Jolie Holland ("Carve It Out") and Ms Mariee Sioux ("Wasps And White Roses"). Each voice compliments the other so well! Also making a couple of appearances are fiddle player Alisa Rose ("White Horse" and "Poor Robin"), and Nathan Wanta guest sings along on the last number "Poor Robin" too. Seven songs of which five are originals (three with vocals, two without), plus two traditional numbers. Wonderful!
MPEG Stream: "Carve It Out"
MPEG Stream: "Wasps And White Roses"

BE GOOD TANYAS Blue Horse (Nettwerk) cd 16.98
On the last list we raved about Jolie Holland's debut album Catalpa, but well before she recorded Catalpa, she did time as a sidekick/auxilliary member of Canadian bluegrass folk outfit the Be Good Tanyas, providing fiddle, guitar, vocals, arranging and songwriting (her song "The Littlest Birds" appeared on Blue Horse before it showed up on Catalpa!) Folks who dug Holland's solo record will find so much to love here. A lush blend of guitar, mandolin, banjo, electric violin and double bass. Traditional bluegrass infused with modern songsmithery and utterly enchanting vocals weaving strange harmonies, at once classic and traditional but at the same time ghostly and otherworldly, making these songs sound like they were pulled from the ether, from some abstract time in the past. Lilting and forlorn, melancholy and dreamily perfect.
MPEG Stream: "Rain And Snow"
MPEG Stream: "The Littlest Birds"
MPEG Stream: "Broken Telephone"

BE GOOD TANYAS Chinatown (Nettwerk) cd 16.98
Following their fine Blue Horse debut album, the Be Good Tanyas' second full length offers a well selected mix of traditional numbers, originals and covers. On Chinatown the group, perhaps most notable for the very early membership of Ms Jolie Holland (whose since pursued a solo path), prove they've got nothing to prove. While many folks seem hell-bent on comparing the two, each glows warmly luminous in its own right (or shall we say light?). That's not to say that fans of one won't find much to love in the other, but this ain't no competition, is it? Embrace 'em all as their music embraces you! Effortlessly conjures visions of old tyme potbelly stoves, porchswings, corncob pipes and pitchers of lemonade.
MPEG Stream: "Waiting Around To Die"
MPEG Stream: "It's Not Happening"

BE GOOD TANYAS Hello Love (Nettwerk) cd 15.98
Oh how we adore those Be Good Tanyas! Their first two albums Chinatown and Blue Horse hold solid places in our hearts (well, at least Andee and Cup's). Both albums came out ages ago, leaving us craving more for years! Primarily known stateside for far too long as Jolie Holland's former band, with the aptly titled Hello Love the Canadian country folk trio gracefully glide out of Holland's shadow and into their own rustic autumnal spotlight. That said, Holland does make a brief vocal appearance on the eighth track, their cover of Mississippi John Hurt's "Nobody Cares For Me". They also do wonderful versions of "A Thousand Tiny Pieces", a song by SF's dear Sean Hayes and "For The Turnstiles" by Neil Young. They're definite album highlights. Not so sure about their cover of Prince's "When Doves Cry" tho' which you'll find hidden at the end of the album. Oops, sorry to blow the surprise, but maybe they should've kept it hidden?!
An aside: Kinda burns our biscuits that an artist signed to Nettwerk Records (i.e, an international and pretty much 'major' label who could buy them the moon tenfold) is getting Canadian government funding grants while unsigned, empty pocketed independent candidates go empty handed. Geez, that just doesn't sit right.
But regardless, a super pretty twangy delight.
MPEG Stream: "Human Thing"
MPEG Stream: "For The Turnstiles"
MPEG Stream: "A Thousand Tiny Pieces"

BEACHWOOD SPARKS Once We Were Trees (Sup Pop) cd 14.98
Boy do Beachwood Sparks want to be the Byrds. From the psychedelic cover art to the super acid-drenched photo collage foldout poster, they're wearing their peace pendants and worn-in denim like they're conjuring the ghost of Gram Parsons. And hey, they do it really well. Recorded by Thom Monahan (Scud Mountain Boys), the music is syrupy sweet in a good way, without being fake or too pretentious -- it's genuine and rings true. There're chiming guitars that sound remarkably like Roger McGuinn's Rickenbacher 12-string, banjo workouts, male harmonies and a cheerful twang throughout. In a weird twist, Dinosaur Jr's J Mascis guests on two tracks, lending a subtly modern twist to the retro sound. Very Nice.
RealAudio clip: "Confusion is Nothing New"
RealAudio clip: "By Your Side"
RealAudio clip: "The Sun Surrounds Me"

BEACHWOOD SPARKS s/t (Sub Pop) cd 13.98
Beautiful! Two members of the lost great LA band Further here team up with a former Lilys guy to form Beachwood Sparks, the freshest breath of country/rock twang to reach these ears in many months. Supplementing the normal rock lineup with harmonica, organ, piano, and plenty ooh-sha-la-la backup croonings, the music combines the best of Gram Parsons, early Byrds, and the Elephant 6 bands such as the Olivia Temor Control and Apples in Stereo. Boy-girl harmonies, real honest to god songwriting chops, and excellent crystal clear production. Highly recommended!

BIG MEAT COMBO, THE Half Of The Last And Some Of The Rest (self-released) 2cd-r 14.98
Double (cd-r) disc from SF's favorite wild and wooly, rambunctious, foot stomping, bar fighting, beer drinking bluegrass outift, the Big Meat Combo, featuring Chewy Marzolo of Hammers Of Misfortune on BASS (not drums!! Wow!!). On drums is the legendary Ches Smith (from Secret Chiefs, etc...) These two discs collect some live shows and some random studio recordings, that perfectly capture the playful drunken abandon of these guys. Songs about drinking, and fucking, and fighting, Tourette's Syndrome, Guns, and so much more. Steel strings, thumping tubs, harmonica, and harmony vocals, all snarled up in a chair smashing guns in the sky, musical bar brawl. Includes some unlikely covers: theme from Dukes Of Hazzard, "Working In A Coal Mine", "Fat Bottomed Girls", the Jungle Book theme and more. Fans of Bloodshot country, Pine Valley Cosmonauts, Jon Wayne, Waco Brothers, Split Lip Rayfield and the like will definitely dig!


MPEG Stream: "Lowdown"
MPEG Stream: "Fat Bottomed Girls"
MPEG Stream: "If I Were King"

BIRDS & BATTERIES Nature Vs. Nature (self-released) cd-r 8.98
Ah folks, proof that you shouldn't judge a book (or cd) by its cover! When Mike Sempert first dropped off a copy of this new cd-r release of his solo project Birds & Batteries its appearance (cover art, title, handmade sleeves, etc) initially struck us as perhaps a Jewelled Antler related or inspired release. Listening to it brought very different impressions. Blending together rootsy Americana, post-rock and electronica, the first song's stuttery programmed rhythms and hypnotic loops of arpeggiated melodies contrast well with Sempert's deep, melancholic vocals and guitar, bass and drums. Winding its way around the proceedings are some slippery stringy sounds that we guess is pedal steel or an e-bowed electric guitar or perhaps a synthesizer. He also enlists his friends to contribute saxophone, clarinet, female vocals (by Ms Heather Masse) and percussion in the form of a box of sugar! A very cool introduction to this recent SF transplant (from the far reaches of the Eastern Seaboard)!
MPEG Stream: "Summersalts"
MPEG Stream: "Goodbye Lullaby"

BISHOP, SIR RICHARD Fingering The Devil (Latitudes 0:07) (Southern) cd 13.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
The newest in the frustratingly limited Latitudes series. Former contributors have included the Grails, Shit & Shine, Will Whitmore, Ginnungagap and Ariel Pink (don't bother asking, they are all long gone). Here we have the Sun City Girls' Sir Richard Bishop, in his solo guitar Improvika mode. Very much in the spirit of the current American Primitive / neo Appalchia sound, exploring similar territory as Jack Rose, Stephen Basho-Jungans, Charlie Schmidt and of course John Fahey, but on these improvised tracks, Bishop injects a healthy dose of flamenco which is sort of surprising. Not that Bishop isn't well versed in various musics of the world, he most definitely is as any number of SCG records will attest to, but it still sounds a little surprising in this context, but the result is truly gorgeous. Moody and emotional, dark and dense, dreamy and lyrical. Just Bishop and a steel string guitar unfurling dense tangles of intricate fingerpicking, as well as slow contemplative melodies, all rich with Spanish flavor. Occasionally Bishop goes for an Eastern raga like vibe instead, and ends up sounding closer to UK guitarist James Blackshaw or Rose at his most drone-y. So so lovely indeed!
Comes packaged in a super intricate hand screened die cut fold over sleeve with a full color insert. The cover has a breathtaking silver foil stamped embossed frontpiece and each copy is hand stamped and numbered. Limited to 1000 copies worldwide, 500 of which made it to the United States, about 50 of which made it here. So you know what that means!
MPEG Stream: "Abydos"
MPEG Stream: "Dream Of The Lotus Eaters"
MPEG Stream: "Romany Trail"

BISHOP, SIR RICHARD Fingering The Devil (Latitudes 0:07V) (Latitudes) lp 21.00
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
We've all been going nuts for Southern's Latitudes series, super limited releases from Ginnungagap, Shit And Shine, Ariel Pink, Grails, Paradise Island, and elsewhere on this list, new ones from Magik Markers and Circle! Well the fine folks at Southern have decided to press a few of those Latitudes discs on vinyl! The first of which is Fingering The Devil from the Sun City Girls' Sir Richard Bishop , in his solo guitar Improvika mode. Very much in the spirit of the current American Primitive / neo Appalachia sound, exploring similar territory as Jack Rose, Stephen Basho-Jungans, Charlie Schmidt and of course John Fahey, but on these improvised tracks, Bishop injects a healthy dose of flamenco which is sort of surprising. Not that Bishop isn't well versed in various musics of the world, he most definitely is as any number of SCG records will attest to, but it still sounds a little surprising in this context, but the result is truly gorgeous. Moody and emotional, dark and dense, dreamy and lyrical. Just Bishop and a steel string guitar unfurling dense tangles of intricate fingerpicking, as well as slow contemplative melodies, all rich with Spanish flavor. Occasionally Bishop goes for an Eastern raga like vibe instead, and ends up sounding closer to UK guitarist James Blackshaw or Rose at his most drone-y. So so lovely indeed!
Comes packaged in a cool diecut sleeve, a variation on the immediately recognizable Latitudes cd packaging, although this time, white on black instead of white on brown. Includes the same insert as the cd. Pressed on cool grey splatter vinyl. And of course, SUPER SUPER LIMITED!!!
MPEG Stream: "Abydos"
MPEG Stream: "Dream Of The Lotus Eaters"
MPEG Stream: "Romany Trail"

BISHOP, SIR RICHARD Improvika (Locust) cd 14.98
Sir Richard Bishop, also known as Rick Bishop of the Sun City Girls, offers up Improvika, the second entry in Locust's Wooden Guitars series, after the compilation of that same name on which he also featured, alongside Tetuzi Akiyama, Jack Rose, and Steffen Basho-Junghans. It's also his second solo record -- his now out-of-print first one, Salvador Kali, was released a few years back on the Revenant, a label begun by the spiritual forefather of the Wooden Guitar concept, John Fahey (R.I.P.). So, as you might already guess, unaccompanied steel string acoustic guitar sketches in the Fahey-established "American Primitive" style are the haps here, with more than a few references to the wide variety of 'world musics' that the Sun City Girls like to celebrate and subvert. Bishop's playing is both impressive and evocative, and anyone caught up in the current craze for Faheyesque guitar solos (and why wouldn't you be?) ought to enjoy Sir Rick's sublime efforts here. Locust, keep 'em coming! (Next up in the series, we believe, will be Pelt's Jack Rose...)
MPEG Stream: "Jaisalmer"
MPEG Stream: "Mystic Minor 23"

BISHOP, SIR RICHARD Improvika (Bo Weavil) lp 30.00
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
Now, but not for long, on (limited, expensive) vinyl!
Sir Richard Bishop, also known as Rick Bishop of the Sun City Girls, offers up Improvika, the second entry in Locust's Wooden Guitars series, after the compilation of that same name on which he also featured, alongside Tetuzi Akiyama, Jack Rose, and Steffen Basho-Junghans. It's also his second solo record -- his now out-of-print first one, Salvador Kali, was released a few years back on the Revenant, a label begun by the spiritual forefather of the Wooden Guitar concept, John Fahey (R.I.P.). So, as you might already guess, unaccompanied steel string acoustic guitar sketches in the Fahey-established "American Primitive" style are the haps here, with more than a few references to the wide variety of 'world musics' that the Sun City Girls like to celebrate and subvert. Bishop's playing is both impressive and evocative, and anyone caught up in the current craze for Faheyesque guitar solos (and why wouldn't you be?) ought to enjoy Sir Rick's sublime efforts here.
MPEG Stream: "Jaisalmer"
MPEG Stream: "Mystic Minor 23"

BLACK FOREST / BLACK SEA s/t (Last Visible Dog) cd 11.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
It seems the Last Visible Dog label can do no wrong of late, now bringing us this wonderful album of mellow, melancholy music full of folkish, creaky ambience from Black Forest/Black Sea. It's tailor-made for the Terrastock Nation, if you know what we mean. If you read Broken Face 'zine, or scarf up Jewelled Antler cdrs, or dig what the Wire calls "The New Weird America", or liked their track on the "Invisible Pyramid" compilation, well then this disc of psych-folk action ought to suit you like that shaggy beard suits Kawabata Makoto.
Black Forest/Black Sea are the Providence, RI duo of Jeffery Alexander and Miriam Goldberg (is one the forest and one the sea? dunno). Jeffery plays guitar and Miriam plays cello, primarily, but there's more than just guitar and cello in the mix. We know a couple of their friends help out at times with some shortwave, sax, and general knob-twiddling. But these songs mostly start with melodic guitar picking, oftimes unaccompanied, that may then be joined by doleful cello drone, wavering electronic organ, or perhaps some slow, steady percussion rhythm -- even, on one track, primitive electronic beats from a Casio or something -- always stirring echoes of old world folk and underground '70s kraut jamming. Much of this is instrumental, with what vocals there are -- it must be Miriam singing -- being quite haunting, sometimes simply lurking in the background, wordlessly, melding with the glitchy reel-to-reel tape noises and other non-instrumental, extra-musical textural effects this band employs that add depth and mystery to their simple but effective songs. From spacious droning, possibly improvised passages to downright tuneful 'folky' hooks, this works and works well. We can't see how any of AQ's psych/folk fan customers would want to pass this up. Recommended.
MPEG Stream: "Blackbird On Gray Sky"
MPEG Stream: "Banjo Song"

BLACK KEYS, THE Chulahoma (Fat Possum) cd ep 10.98
On Chulahoma, Black Keys play six songs by the late blues great Junior Kimbrough. It's not the first time they've covered his music. You might recall their right-on version of "Do The Rump" that was featured on their debut album back in 2002. Here they riff on both the garagey grit of their last album Rubber Factory as well as Kimbrough's traditional raw blues sound. An understated but kick ass tribute to an unsung blues giant!
MPEG Stream: "Have Mercy On Me"
MPEG Stream: "Work Me"

BLACK KEYS, THE Magic Potion (Nonesuch) cd 16.98
We play this game around AQ called "Why? Do you like it?" It's designed to not let us be prejudiced by preconceived notions when listening to music. Once in a while when we're playing a record and a co-worker asks what we're listing to, rather than just telling them, we'll respond instead with "Why? Do you like it?" Thus the person has to decide if they should be honest, risking embarrassment, 'cause if they say they hate it, it might be something they own and supposedly love, and if they say they love it, it could be that record they claim to hate. It actually works out pretty well. We've all had to fess up to liking stuff we supposedly hated. And we've discovered that records we thought we loved (or at least owned) that we didn't really care for all that much.
It's kind of hard to be unaffected by all the things -other- than the music. Stuff you read, how popular a band is, other folks who like the band. It all colors your opinions whether you want it to or not. So, we always just sort of figured we would hate the Black Keys. I'm not sure we ever even heard them, they just sort of seemed like a band we would hate. Then we went to Arthurfest in L.A. last year, and happened upon a stage where some bad ass blown out psychedelic blues rock band was completely destroying. A two piece, just guitar and drums, and they were loud and heavy, soulful and freaked out. Well, it ends up it was the Black Keys and we were forced, happily we might add, to change our tune. And while once in a while, the Black Keys will dip into bad blues or boring jam rock, for the most part, we have to admit, we really dig these guys! After that fateful show, we went back and checked out their records and that just cemented it. These guys kick ass.
So here we have the latest, not sure if this is the 4th or 5th, but it's another blast of blown out proto-metal psychedelic blues. We're usually opposed to bands who choose to ditch an instrument. No bass player, just drums and bass, whatever. It usually sounds like something is missing. Not so here. These guys sound a little stripped down sure, but it suits them. Gives the guitar room to slither all over the place. A warm wild buzz, over a relentlessly groovy drummer, who pounds and shuffles, and hangs all over every riff, like he's adding his own imaginary bass lines. And the vocals are killer, lazy and sun baked, perfectly complimenting the fuzzy psychrock guitar jams. We hear a lot of Groundhogs, some Zeppelin, which is awesome! A few folks here, thought they heard some Fabulous Thunderbirds. Which is maybe not so. It all sort of depends on what sort of musical background you're bringing to the table. Either way, it's hard to resist this Magic Potion, a gloriously fuzzy, laid back, groove laden, buzzy blues rawk and roll concoction.
MPEG Stream: "Just Got To Be"
MPEG Stream: "Your Touch"
MPEG Stream: "You're The One"

BLACK TWIG PICKERS North Fork Flyer (VHF) cd 13.98
Backwoods Appalachian folk twang from this trio composed of fiddle, guitar, and clawhammer banjo courtesy one of the members of Virgina's drone-psych outfit Pelt. This is straightforward old-timey music with absolutely no modern affectations. Warbling vocals and the sounds of distant trains a'passin' by. Almost all the songs are traditional numbers such as "Fair and Tender Ladies", "Sail Away Ladies", "Lonesome Clinch Mountain", etc. It seems like every city and town has got a band like this, who play standards for the love of it, and Black Twig Pickers do it well.
RealAudio clip: "Spike Driver's Blues"
RealAudio clip: "Fair and Tender Ladies"

BLACK TWIG PICKERS Soon One Morning (VHF) cd 13.98
Second full length from Virginia backwoods trio who play old timey music heavy on the fiddle. Serious barnstorming party music. Cello and homemade baritone banjo make appearances. Any fan of those Revenant releases that have done so well here at AQ (Dock Boggs, Charley Patton, Charlie Feathers, Stanley Brothers) will like these guys.
RealAudio clip: "John Brown's Dream"
RealAudio clip: "This War is Killing Me"

BLACK TWIGS, THE Midnight Has Come and Gone (VHF) cd 13.98
Third album from these Virginia natives formerly known as the Black Twig Pickers. Building on their previous albums the now quartet -- fiddle, banjo, guitar and bass -- has expanded their sound outwards from their strictly old-timey roots to include more of a bluegrass repertoire. They're vastly improved by the change, with the songs on this album having a greater variety of tempos and arrangements: from lush bluegrass ballads to sparse high lonesome tunes with scratchy fiddle and clawhammer banjo. Additionally the Black Twigs have been woodshedding their songwriting skills, the results of which here are a majority of originals and only four renditions of traditional numbers and standards. Those still lamenting the demise of The Bad Livers should definitely pay heed.
MPEG Stream: "Original Natural Bridge Blues"
MPEG Stream: "Twilight on the Radford Army Ammunition Plant"