Kraak Records - God Damn, I Hate The Blues

Kraak have just released the latest entry in the label's ongoing split double 7" single series titled God Damn, I Hate The Blues featuring Amen Dunes, Ignatz, Marissa Nadler, Nathan Bowles, Warm Climate, & Bridget Hayden. It's easy to take the name of this compilation at face value as the haunting specter of the blues tradition continues to filter into alternative and popular musics. The handful of musicians included in this release have been chosen wisely though and their musics seem to offer winks towards the past as well as opening up the genre's particularly downbeat notions.

Amen Dunes - Ethio song by KRAAK_records

Amen Dunes contribution is a take on a traditional Ethiopique song that has been taken for a strange ride. The track assumes the particular guitar styling that Damon McMahon has become known for over the past few years while his vocals quiver and wail above following the loping guitar lines. This may be one of the most satisfying Amen Dunes recordings I've heard to date actually and will become a refreshing musical moment for the winter days ahead.

Ignatz - She gets all she wants by KRAAK_records

Ignatz mellow country-folk groove "She Gets All She Wants" comes off as a lost John Phillips classic. I say this because the track's distinctly lo-fi sonic characteristics, complete with enough crackling hiss and tape warbling to make someone believe this could be a Phillips bootleg taken from the odd home recordings. Luckily Ignatz quickly bypasses the lingering feeling of anothers work and establishes his own voice and emotional structure that the song unfolds into.

God Damn, I Hate The Blues is available now via Kraak records.

Tom Greenwood - West Coast Tour & new 7"

Fire Records is releasing a new 7" featuring two songs written and adapted by the trio of Tom Greenwood, Joanne Robertson, & David Cunningham. People may be familiar with these folks from their various musical travels, Greenwood being the principle songwriter and leader of avant-folk group Jackie-O Motherfucker, Robertson's own solo wanderings, & Cunningham's significant production work with groups such as This Heat along with his gallery arts sound practice.

According to the press release "These songs were formed from an inspired evening session of improvising and recording in London in June 2008, at the brick lane studio of David Cunningham. The three musicians were woking together on a performance event at the ICA in London that week, and took the opportunity to try tracking some songs together." And try they did succeeding in the creation of a slow moving musical environment that suits these artists perfectly.

In support of the 7" Tom Greenwood is heading out on a two week solo tour of the west coast this December. The tour will consist of shows beginning in Seattle, WA and down towards Los Angeles, CA. You can check out the current dates below. The shows will consist of classic JOMF material and more recent Greenwood songs and adaptations.

12/2 - Seattle, WA - Vera Project@

12/3 - Tacoma, WA - The Den

12/4 - Olympia, WA - The Guesthouse

12/5 - Woodland, WA - Blackbird Farm

12/6 - Portland, OR - Valentines

12/8 - Davis, CA - Villa Nova ^

12/9 - San Jose, CA - Anno Domini Gallery ^

12/10 - San Francisco, CA - Needles & Pens *

12/11 - San Francisco, CA - Adobe Books*

12/16 - Los Angeles, CA - Synchronicity Space*

12/17 - Los Angeles, CA - Human Resources #

@ Pterodactyl

^ w/ Sun Foot

* w/ Strawberry Smog

# w/ Tara Jane Oneil