Filed under: Les Rallizes Denudes
I’ve been thinking for weeks about how I could possibly write about Les Rallizes Denudes. They’re the type of band that once you attempt to try and assign words to their sound, you feel as though you’re only cheapening what they’ve created. If someone forced me to write about them, I could only describe their music as destructively psychedelic noise while at the same time being devastatingly beautiful. Ninety percent of noise loses me, the other ten percent is some of my favorite music. That impossible melody, located in the distortion and feedback, that could never fully be realized with words. The feeling you get after first discovering the Velvets, happens again after listening to Les Rallizes Denudes. Of any band I have read about that is claimed to share similar qualities with the Velvet Underground, Les Rallizes Denudes are the most deserving.
From ‘69:
Les Rallize Denudes – Romance of Black Grief
Les Rallize Denudes – Night of the Assassins
(I recommend listening to the first song during the morning/afternoon and the second song at night)
Update: Download the entire album these came from here. (I usually don’t post whole albums, but with albums that are as impossibly difficult to track down as this and out of print…have at it.)
Their releases have been extremely limited and are mostly available as bootlegs. I believe revolver offers one of the only currently in print Les Rallizes Denudes releases. You can buy it here . (Or seek out their better earlier 60’s stuff online)
Filed under: Uncategorized
In case you missed it… Sibylle Baier’s Colour Green was one of the most interesting folk rediscoveries and releases last year. Another lost gem from the early 70’s resurrected and saved from its forgotten past. Before its re-release last year, her songs had only been heard on the soundtrack to Wim Wenders “Alice in the Cities”. Although she often draws comparisons to Drake and Bunyan, I think those comparisons are often fleeting and overly referenced due to lack of knowledge. If anything I would compare her to early Leonard Cohen. Regardless, Colour Green stands out for its own unique merits and has quickly become one of my favorite folk albums. Highly recommended. From the release and two of my favorite songs by her follow:
“Colour Green” was recorded in Germany in the 1970-1973.
In a particularly dark and moody period of her young life, Claudine, a friend of Sibylle’s, dragged her out from under the bed and took her on a road trip to Strasbourg, ending up across the Alps in Genoa.
Upon the return from this trip Sibylle felt her sprits renewed and she set out to write the song “Remember the Day”, grateful for being alive. It was the first song she ever wrote. Her music is simply amazing in its intimacy and closeness. Recorded in the late 70’s in her home on a reel to reel recording device, the songs on “Colour Green” are intimate portraits of life’s sad and fragile beauty. It is a gem of an album that will blow your mind. Sibylle is a star who chose to shine for her friends and family instead of the whole world.
Sibylle Baier – Remember the day
Filed under: Devendra, Vasu deva kutumbam, devendra banhart, new album, smokey
Yesterday we reported that Devendra Banhart’s new album was titled Vasu deva kutumbam (after reading it here, here and here) and thinking that a management run myspace page was credible enough. It now looks like those sources read too much into the original, somewhat vague myspace page, as I have the word straight from Devendra about the title of the new album and how the recording process is finishing up. In a brief correspondence with Devendra, who I believe was writing from within the studio, he mentioned that he was tracking the record and that it was difficult for him to outwardly comment on it all since he was still so in the album. In regards to the albums title, Devendra says that at the moment there’s no official name for the album yet. As for the new songs, he said to expect lots of surprises and that being where they are recording has allowed for some interesting friends to come in and add to it all. While saying that many of the songs are very direct lyrically, he also mentioned that his Spanish songs in particular were, from what I gathered, increasingly expanding the ideas of a universal spirituality beyond what he ever had written before in the language. I think what he was getting at was the interconnectedness of man, animal and his surroundings. There’s also a song that is sung in Portuguese. Keeping true to his mentioning last year of recording parts of the album on a boat, several of the songs were recorded on a sailboat on the way to Catalina. Finally, he told me one thing he’s certain of, “i will say , its more……. musical!”
Naturalismo
Update(5-25-07): Devendra talks new album with Naturalismo Blog (click here)
Devendra Banhart’s upcoming album, tentatively titled ‘Smokey’ last spring, now has an official release title (label management run myspace alluded to this being the title of the album and I read it here (who would have ever thought wikipedia could be wrong??) of Vasu deva kutumbam. I’ll let you wordsmiths figure out what that translates to. The album will be finished in a week and has no set release date. It’s slated for release in ‘Mid 2007,’ so hopefully it’s the earlier part of the mid. The last I heard was the end of August, but these things tend to change. Expect a full supporting tour of the album to start shortly after.
Update: Vasu deva kutumbam translates to ‘universal brotherhood’ or ‘international community’. (Thanks S!)
Filed under: Uncategorized
I half expected my brief residence in San Diego to be met with a lack of any real music going on and no concerts in sight. I was always dying to get out when I grew up here and had no real plans on returning. However, I figured it would make a nice and relaxing mid-point to save up some money before moving up to San Francisco and that would be that. Luckily my plans for lackadaisical insouciance were interrupted last week by an unexpected performer opening for one of the first truly good shows to roll around in quite some time. The Lineup: Entrance, Astra, Earthless and a one J. Emery Blatchley. A chance encounter before the show introduced me to J. Emery Blatchley, at the time I had no idea that he was even performing but it set the right tone for his warm and endearing solo folk guitar that would later follow. It wasn’t until after Astra had finished their set, that I wandered into the smaller back stage area that I saw him readying his guitars. He first finger picked his way through a song that hearkened back to the style of one of my favorite early jazz guitar players Lonnie Johnson. I was completely taken back by it all, I hadn’t ever heard anyone play the style live before and the last place I expected to first hear it was here in San Diego. Before I could pigeonhole his style as only being influenced by one era he quickly moved on to playing some the finest blues guitar I’ve heard in quite some time. A few songs in he asked if anyone had heard of Elizabeth Cotten and without hesitation, I unconsciously lifted my hand. Briefly explaining the original tuning she would use because of her lack of formal knowledge about traditional tunings, he then set into a song in the same tuning Cotten used. I was completely swept over and convinced of J. Emery Blatchley’s ability to not only tap into that timeless sound, but add his own flourishes that made the songs stand out on their own. All one needs of convincing is to listen to one of the tracks off his (possibly) forthcoming LP. So without further ado, I highly suggest giving one of these tracks a listen:
[download] J. Emery Blatchley – Vestapol
Stream the others at his myspace page:myspace.com/cityoftrees
Filed under: Uncategorized
This week is a very special edition of Video Naturalismo. I was sent the following e-mail earlier in the week and I simply have to do something to help. I have always had a soft spot for ? and the Mysterians, namely the mystical front man ? whose history and martian identity has always amused me. Furthermore, I love dogs (here’s the type I hope to be getting soon, so noble looking) so I really have no choice but to try and get the word out about the benefit show for him tonight.
“GENESIS P-ORRIDGE & PSCYCICDELIC FRIENDS! to perform at the benefit for Question Mark of ? + The Mysterians
Wednesday, May 23rd 2007.
Highline Ballroom
431 W 16th Street NYC.For info go to:http://www.highlineballroom.com/bio.php?id=57…
? & the Mysterians’ singer known as “?”..had a fire. It destroyed his entire house. He lost EVERYTHING! All
his archives, photos since 60’s, master tapes, costumes, memorabilia. AND all his personal stuff. These days he was breeding dogs to make a living. His dogs all died too. So he only has what he was wearing. No savings. No insurance.
Genesis P-Orridge had brought him to the Royal Festival Hall in 1999 so he asked for Gen’s support and coming to ?’s rescue P-ORRIDGE & PSCYCICDELIC FRIENDS! will be performing at a special benefit concert this Wed.
It’d be greatly appreciated if you could advance this show in any way shape or form!”
For more information about the show tonight go here: http://www.myspace.com/questionmarkbenefit
and of course, the classic video for ? and the Mysterians “96 Tears” (Originally titled 69 tears):
Filed under: Uncategorized
First off, sorry for the minor hiatus the past two days. I was nearly fired for spending too much time at work browsing for new artists and listening to them. No big deal, it won’t effect postings in any way. It was more of a bad timing thing than anything else. In fact, I feel more motivated than ever before to pour more of my time into Naturalismo. Where I work is actually quite pleasant and conducive to music listening, allowing me to stare out at the ocean and observe the harbor for long stretches of the day. Just to clarify one thing though, when it looks like Naturalismo is in a down time, I am still ravenously looking for new music and working on features for you guys. I just simply cannot bring myself to post filler on any day. I would rather not post than put something up that I don’t completely enjoy and feel you would too. I also wanted to say thank you for all of the nice e-mails and comments you have been leaving, it makes Naturalismo all the more rewarding. I still have to go back and answer lots of e-mails that I salvaged from the spam filter in my gmail account so if you’re waiting for a response or for me to hear something I hopefully will be getting around to it soon! I also have some exciting news and features coming up which I think you will highly enjoy.
Thanks again,
Naturalismo
Jana Hunter has announced the tour dates for her new album, There’s No Home. In a recent interview with stereogum she talks about her day job of working at a pizza place. If you missed my first post on There’s No Home a bit back you can see it here. After repeated listens, There’s No Home has become one of my favorite records of recent memory. Her hauntingly beautiful melodies take time to sink in before you truly appreciate them. There’s No Home sees Jana’s reedy vocals and gentle guitar plucking at their best. I honestly cannot think of another artist who deserves more recognition than they’re currently getting for their music than Jana Hunter. Listen to two new tracks off of There’s No Home:
and
Tour Dates:
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Instants Chavirés w/Charalambides, Tara Jane O’Neil | Paris | ||
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La Chapelle de Boondael w/Coleen, Tara Jane O’Neil | Brussels | ||
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Leopoldskazerne w/Arrington de Dionysio, Tara Jane O’Neil | Gent | ||
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The Proletariat w/Weird Weeds & Wilderness Pangs (early all ages show!) | Houston, Texas | ||
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The Orange Show w/Bert Jansch (solo set) | Houston, Texas | ||
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Modified Arts | Phoenix, Arizona | ||
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TBA | San Diego, California | ||
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The Smell | Los Angeles, California | ||
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Hemlock | San Francisco, California | ||
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Fools Foundation | Sacramento, California | ||
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Someday Lounge | Portland, Oregon | ||
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Gallery 1412 | Seattle, Washington | ||
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Wandering Goat Coffee Company | Eugene, Oregon | ||
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21 Grand w/Dan Deacon | Oakland, California | ||
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Solar Culture | Tuscon, Arizona | ||
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Warehouse 21 @ CSF’s The Sub | Santa Fe, New Mexico | ||
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Rubber Gloves | Denton, Texas | ||
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Mohawk Place w/Pink Nasty, Macon Terry | Austin, Texas | ||
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The Orange Show (full band) w/Pink Nasty, Macon Terry | Houston, Texas | ||
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Magic Stick w/Rasputina | Detroit, Michigan | ||
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Abbey Pub w/Rasputina | Chicago, Illinois | ||
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Varsity Theater w/Rasputina | Minneapolis, Minnesota | ||
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Record Bar w/Rasputina | Kansas City, Missouri | ||
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Bluebird Theater w/Rasputina | Denver, Colorado | ||
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Black Sheep w/Rasputina | Colorado Springs, Colorado | ||
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Suede w/Rasputina | Park City, Utah | ||
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Hawthorne Theater w/Rasputina | Portland, Oregon | ||
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Neumo’s w/Rasputina | Seattle, Washington |
Filed under: Uncategorized
The intricate 12-string folk (London born) American primitive player, James Blackshsaw is back again with a new LP. James Blackshaw’s new album, The Cloud of Unknowing, is due for release on June 5, 2007. The Cloud of Unknowing has already drawn early praise from listeners and is recommended for anyone who enjoys John Fahey’s music. While Fahey is a common talking point when discussing Blackshaw, what I enjoy most about his playing is that he truly has his own playing style and draws from sources well outside of western folk. Eastern flourishes along with Basho influenced transitions add up to form a truly interesting listen. Today I have a track from the upcoming The Cloud of Unknowing. Compared to his previous output, I find some of his new songs to be more equivocal and taking a few more listens to truly appreciate and grasp.
James Blackshaw – The Mirror Speaks
Filed under: Uncategorized
Beirut – Elephant Gun
This is everything a music video could ever hope to be. Simply beautiful… ah but I have such a weakness for those sultry gypsy’s.
Entrance – Grim Reaper Blues, shot by Maximilla Lukacs
I think Guy Blakeslee has to be one of the most passionate singers around these days. He also rocks on a level I never knew was possible anymore.
Filed under: Andrew Douglas Rothbard
Out this week is a new mix of Andrew Douglas Rothbard’s debut solo album, Abandoned Meander, which came out this past Halloween. If you’re not familiar with his name you may be with his former band, Pleasure Forever. After Pleasure Forevers demise, Rothbard was said to have become a bit of a recluse, spending the last 3 years exclusively working on the album and planning out his series of upcoming albums. “Abandoned Meander is the first in a planned five-record series outlining the Discordiant concept of the “law of fives:” Thesis, Antithesis, Synthesis, Parenthesis, and Paralysis, each of which represents a different stage of life.” Abandoned Meander, has been hailed as a psychedelic masterpiece by several critics, yet seems to remain one of those gems that has been looked over thus far. Recommended if you like Six Organs of Admittance, Grizzly Bear or Robbie Basho. On Abandoned Meander, Andrew Douglas spins salacious spiderwebs of acoustic guitar and electric distortion, captured within are his shaking vocals embattled in the struggle between predator and prey. Now is as good a time as ever to jump onto the Rothbard wagon, his second album in the series focuses on the Antithesis and is due for release in only a few months.
Have a listen:
Andrew Douglas Rothbard – Rabbit Hole
and
Andrew Douglas Rothbard – Bull in the Dell
Buy the newly remixed LP here.
Filed under: Leonard Cohen
Early 60’s artwork by Leonard Cohen
To mark the 40th anniversary of Leonard Cohen’s first recorded album, Songs of Leonard Cohen, Legacy records has released a remastered set of his first three albums. Included in the set are the albums Songs of Leonard Cohen (1967), Songs From A Room (1969) and Songs Of Love And Hate (1970). Each album contains unreleased bonus tracks and new essays written by Rolling Stones Anthony DeCurtis. For those of you wondering what Leonard Cohen is up to now I found this on his fansite The Cohen Files.
“Leonard Cohen left the Zen Center of Mount Baldy in Spring 1999. He had been living at the Center for several years as Zen monk Jikan. Many poems on The Blackening Pages were written on Mount Baldy. Now Cohen lives and works in Los Angeles.”
From the 2007 remastered version (buy it here) of Leonard Cohen’s debut album Songs of Leonard Cohen (not my links):
Leonard Cohen – So long, Marianne
Early notes on what would later become Suzanne
A few months ago, I posted a new track from Eliza Douglas’ band We Are Married. Back then all she had up was a demo featuring various members of Devendra Banhart’s band Power Mineral-most likely even Devendra himself and Andy Cabic. Eliza has just posted two new songs from what I can only speculate is an upcoming album. One of the new songs named “Shells” has (I think) Devendra singing back up and the other new one, “Bed,” possibly has Jana Hunter guesting. Who do you hear? As I said, details are scarce. Regardless, I really enjoyed these new tracks with Douglas’ unique vocal stylings. Anyways, give ‘em a listen- who do you think she’s playing with? If you have any more information about these songs let me know.
We Are Married (With Devendra?) – Shells
Filed under: Uncategorized
I don’t know why, but it never really occurred to me before to join myspace. Alas, if you’re into the top 8 thing and would like to add Naturalismo to your friends you can now visit Naturalismo on myspace here.
Filed under: Uncategorized
Lavender Diamond – Open your heart
Has a catchy hook, I wish I could be that cheery right now…
Buy Lavendar Diamond’s split 7″ with Devendra Banha-I mean Queens of Sheeba here.
Filed under: Uncategorized
I’ll admit it, in sixth grade I used to love the song Devendra covers on the upcoming guilty pleasure cover compilation album Guilt by Association. The myspace page for Guilt by Association went live yesterday and is now streaming Devendra’s rendition of “Don’t look back in Anger”, as well as Will Oldham’s take on the Mariah Carey number “Can’t take that away.” Both songs of which are involved in a music video competition where anyone can submit their video for the songs to be premiered on pitchfork, mtv and rolling stone. Which actually sounds like a pretty good way to get your film work seen with a bigger audience. For more information and to hear Devendra and Will’s covers head over to the Guilt by Association myspace page here.
Guilt by association @ Myspace now streaming Devendra’s cover of “Don’t look back in anger” and Will Oldham’s cover of “Can’t take that away”
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As if things didn’t finish off last week oddly enough for the duo, I recently discovered that Cocorosie have been arrested and can no longer perform the rest of their tour dates. Sent out in a myspace bulletin the two announced the following:
dear loves
we are so sorry to announce that we cannot play the rest of the us tour dates
the band got arrested, thats all i can say
we love you all
we are playing a free show in New York on may 19th
please come if you can
we are crying
say a prayer for our band
love
Sierra and Bianca
later…
While the reason for their arrest is still under speculation, I read somewhere that the reason for their incarceration was due to a lack of work Visas…?
I want to end this week on a lighter note… with a recipe for Africanas Ricas from Devendra Banhart taken from the new book I LIKE FOOD, FOOD TASTES GOOD. The book came out a little over a week ago and features recipes from artists such as Belle & Sebastian, My Morning Jacket, The Walkmen, Calexico. and M.Ward. So go out and buy the book and have yourself an indie feast this weekend. I’m actually pretty curious about this Devendra recipe.
Buy the book here.
(click to enlarge and view whole recipe)
Thanks goes to thesuitcase.org, which if you’re a Devendra fan and haven’t visited yet, I highly recommend stopping by.
I’ve been going back and forth about whether or not to post about this gossip tinged tiff online between Pitchfork Media’s Marc Hogan and Antony about his review of Cocorosie’s recent album Adventures of Ghosthorse and Stillborn. The just of it is that Antony was upset over Hogan’s claim that he had appeared on the album, when in fact he had not.
In a series of letters, correspondence between the two (all available online here) escalated to anger from Antony about how unrelentingly negative the review was of Cocorosie’s album. In the correspondence Antony asks, “Why would you print a review that only seeks to oppress performers who are among those taking some of the biggest and most generous risks?” and later in a letter addressed to Pitchfork directly he says “We all read Pitchfork, and rely on it as an important outlet of information for independent artists. Please rise to the challenge and represent Cocorosie fairly, instead of publishing checklists of incomprehension that are tinged with misogynist resentment.”
I’m trying to remain fairly neutral here as I have some fairly strong opinions about this issue; I don’t want this blog to be divisive, but I will say that I think that Antony does have a point to an extent. Pitchfork has a lot of power in the independent music industry. In my honest opinion, too much power. Their ability to make or devastate a band is scary. I think it’s easy to fall under the assumption that pitchfork should be obligated at times to show some respect to independent artists as they are really the biggest source of news for many of these artists. Whether or not pitchfork should or does well… As much as people try to deny the influence of Pitchfork on their own opinions of music, regardless, I’ve seen a few artists I care about and enjoy get burned (or snubbed as mediocre) by pitchfork and never got the attention the deserve.
On the other hand, I say all of this on a blog. I’m not a critic at heart and when I don’t enjoy an artists album- I don’t report on it. That’s actually what I like about the medium of writing for a blog, I’m not forced to write scathing reviews of things I don’t like. However, Marc Hogan was writing a music review as a music critic. I think that’s an important distinction to make, as I don’t necessarily think he wrote the review as a personal attack on Cocorosie. It’s his job- and as I have experienced first hand here at this blog, it’s not always the critic that can be held for complete responsibility in writing a negative review. They need an audience. I think it’s the reader who is often as much to blame as the writer. Negative reviews attract eyes, people are drawn to them, I don’t know what it is but people love negativity. I made the bad decision of allowing a guest poster to write a mean spirited take on a band for Naturalismo and it was the 3rd most popular and viewed post I’ve ever had on here (the first was here, 2nd here). I’ve since decided to only post what I like and not make Naturalismo blog a hostile read. Venting about artists I don’t like makes me feel cheap and like I’ve waisted time that I could have spent listening to artists I actually enjoy. I’d really like to hear your opinions on this whole debacle. To read the entire correspondence you can go here.
Thanks to BV who first brought this to my attention.
Filed under: Uncategorized
Vetiver says, Give Blood
Devendra Banhart says, Diamonds are a girls best friend
Neither of these really feel like a commercial or are trying to cheaply sell something to me, so I can respect them for giving permission for their songs to be used. We all have to pay the bills, but it’s at least nice to see them being used with a pleasant/respectful visual to the original song. Devendra’s contribution seems more film first with the commercial aspect an afterthought. On an unrelated/related tangent, all of this retiring Baby Boomer marketing is driving me nuts. I can’t recall how many of my favorite songs from the 60’s have been ruined for me over the past few years (at least temporarily as I try to disassociate Dell computers from the 13th Floor Elevators or JcPenny from the %&*@ing Yardbirds). At least every now and then one will be set to an actual directors film short that is promoting something good. For example, I don’t mind the following ad that was shot in Patagonia and uses one of my favorite Donovan songs.
your thoughts?
It also occurred to me that that last youtube clip’s still picture reminded me of my favorite painting by Balthus:
The Mountain
Balthus
