Jana Hunter’s new album There’s no home hit the internet this week but will not see an actual release until April 2nd. Initial responses online are that it’s a grower. I haven’t had time to fully digest it yet but my upon my first listen I was completely blown over with how great it sounds. But why listen to me or anyone else…judge for yourself: Here’s two new tracks from Jana Hunter’s There’s no home

Jana Hunter - Bird

and

Jana Hunter - Vultures

Meanwhile, fellow boat mate and There’s no home contributor Castanets (Ray Raposa) has a new tour only split album with Shapes And Size out on Asthmatic Kitty. Castanets contributes 2 new songs to the split, as well as 2 covers. Here’s his great new cover of Viking Moses’ “One arm around the sinner:”

Castanets - One arm around the sinner

As for Castanets new songs on the split, all I can say is that they’re mind-melting and hauntingly dark. (In a good way)

Visit Jana Hunter @ myspace to order her new album.

and

Castanets @ myspace

This weeks feature is an interview with Naturalismo music photographer Lauren Dukoff. I first discovered her photography when it was featured in an interview with Noah Georgeson, ever since then I have been following her work and immensely enjoying it. Lauren Dukoff’s close relationship with the Naturalismo artists enable her to provide a glimpse into their private lives. The visual counterpart to the artists she photographs, Lauren Dukoff manages to capture the true essence of artists. Through her photography one is given the rare opportunity to visually see the artists in their natural environment. Lauren Dukoff is a breath of fresh air in this flat post-modern cellphone and digital SLR - era of visually capturing music. I was terrified that the best music movement in years was going to go by documented by a set of grainy sub par digital photographs. All that one needs to be convinced of the importance of the gasping breaths of life from film is to see a single photo from Dukoff. I’m fortunate to bring to you today an interview with Lauren Dukoff.

Could you please tell us about yourself? Your background and how you came into shooting music photography.

I grew up in California in a creative household. My father, a director and photographer always encouraged me to be involved in the arts. There was always a camera available to me. Taking pictures was just something that I did as a kid. I began constantly photographing my friends and some of those friends grew up to be professional musicians. I have portraits of Devendra that I took when I was 14 practicing guitar and piano in our high schools music room. As Devendra’s musical career grew I just kept on taking photos the way I always had been. Not much had changed except that suddenly other people were interested in seeing the photos other than myself. Once I saw that there was a value to these photos, and I don’t mean monetarily, just that they were appealing to his fans I really pursued truly documenting him. Whether I was joining him on tour or catching a moment in his living room of him writing a new song, I was there with my camera. I soon became friends with the family of musicians around him and began taking their photographs too. It was a great feeling to have Devendra share my photos with such great musicians as Noah Georgeson and Matteah Baim and then have them approach me to also take there photos. It’s a wonderful environment of friendship, art and music. I feel honored to be a part of it even if in a small way.

One thing I especially enjoy about your photography is your ability to capture the essence of the musician in a more natural setting that fans normally wouldn’t get to see. Do you think that photographing artists in their natural environment is as or possibly more important than in a live setting?

I just think documentary photography in general is appealing in a way to everyone. I think it is just human nature to be curious what happens behind closed doors. As an artist’s popularity grows so does the feeling that they are untouchable. I think in a way some of the photos I’ve taken just give the fans a little respectful peak into their private lives.

I only ask because I often feel that we only have an artists songs to hear and are left wondering where their sources of inspiration come from. Do you feel that being able to visually see these photographs of the musicians lives add another element to their music?

I think it would be way to bold to say that in any way I add another element to their music.

When a shoot is arranged do you first discuss with the artist what type of setting and mood they are interested in for it or is it more you having an idea and approaching them with it?

I wish I had all the great ideas! No, really so far everything I have done is a true collaborative effort. I definitely come to the shoot with a vision in mind but always run things past the artists I am shooting. From there the concepts always seems to grow and evolve into something even better then what I imagined.

Your black and white live music photos first struck me as being something to the effect of Mick Rock coaching David Bailey on how to shoot live. Who would you consider are your influences and do you shoot primarily with film, digital or both?

I have been really inspired and influenced by my mentor Autumn de Wilde. She is an amazing photographer. Sometimes I look at her work and say to myself why do I bother. Everything about her is admirable. I only shoot with film. There is something about film that digital could just never capture. Shooting film is a blessing and a curse. When I was photographing Neil Young’s Bridge School Benefit all the other digital photographers were practically laughing at me in the photo pit because I had to reload my camera with film and would then miss shots. But in the end I feel I have one great shot of Neil during the finale that just wouldn’t have been the same if it were digital. There is such character and depth to film its hard for me to see myself converting to digital photography.

Much of your photography has gravitated towards new-folk artists such as Devendra Banhart, Noah Georgeson, Matteah Baim, Hecuba, etc. What has the experience been like working with them?

Simply amazing. They are all wonderful and beautiful people. We are all friends and I feel honored to be included in this family of musicians in such an intimate way.

What are you currently working on?

I am continually building my body of work, just shooting as much as I can. I enjoy photographing musicans of all genres its such a treat to be invited into a musician’s world even if just for a moment. Devendra is working on his new record right now and if he chooses to use a photograph for the cover we are going to have to come up with a great concept. Really looking forward to that.

Lastly, are there any exhibition plans for your photography at the moment? Where can we see more of your photography and what can we expect in the future?

I do not have any exhibitions planned at the moment, but it something I have always wanted to do. You can see more of my work at www.laurendukoff.com. I wish I knew what to expect for myself in the future.

Thank you for your time.

All Photographs Copyright Lauren Dukoff

——-

-Devin Edvard Woolf

To see more of Lauren Dukoff’s photography and order prints visit: www.laurendukoff.com

I have a real affinity for fractured piano songs and ballads. The type of spontaneous and short songs that never last quite long enough to form a complete picture, yet serve only to provide a mysterious and small glimpse into the artists mind, leaving the listener only a small clue to speculate about what it all meant. I’ve come across several of these songs recently and would like to share them with you.

The first is from Ginger Lee, whose album “Songs fired in the forge drift” is out in March on Drift records,

Ginger Lee - Hold me close

The second one unexpectedly comes from Priestbird, formerly known as Tarantula AD and more known for their loud psychedelic rock than soft piano songs. This track comes from their upcoming album “In your time.”

Priestbird - Guest Room

The third and (by far) best is an older song from Devendra and Andy Cabic that you may or may not have heard. I remember giddily trying to explain to Andy when I first met him that it was possibly the happiest song ever written and then him shyly attempting to suggest he had forgotten it. It took several years before they got around to recording a full version of it for Vetiver’s recent “To Find Me Gone.” However, I still think that the short original captured the feeling of the song best.

Devendra Banhart (w/Andy) - Me and Andy sing El Rio

If anyone else has some suggestions for more snippets of songs like these…let me know and I will post them up!

“Greg Ashley, mastermind behind The Gris Gris and The Mirrors, is going solo for the first time since his 1993 masterpiece Medicine Fuck Dream. The result, Painted Garden, is Ashley’s most ambitious, textured, beautiful and dark record to date. Warmer and more intimate than Gris Gris’ 2005 garage-psych stunner For The Season, Painted Garden still reflects the same vision behind that band’s greatness.

Written in the burnt-out ghettos of Oakland and in Ashley’s remote East Texas cabin, the album’s ten songs drip with the psychedelic flair that turned on cats such as Roky Erikson, Mayo Thompson and Skip Spence (and more recently Vetiver, Six Organs of Admittance, and Devendra Banhart).

Beautifully orchestrated, sometimes fragile and always fuzzy, the album features great tunes, proof that the young songwriter’s star is still on the rise. Written, produced and performed almost entirely by the artist, Painted Garden is a true vision realized, and puts Ashley right up there with the great musical minds of the day.” Pre-order Painted Garden here.

Painted Garden out March 5th 2007. This and Panda Bear are shaping up to be my favorites of the new year!

First single:

Greg Ashley - Amnesia

and another by request/to show the diversity of the album (Sunny and tropical with guest female vocals):

Greg Ashley - Sailing with Bobby

Greg Ashley @ myspace

Today I have a guest Blogger who I think has some valid incite into the new incarnations of the Naturalismo movement. His name is Brandev and he e-mailed me out of concern for what he sees as an emerging threat to the sincerity of the folk music movement. He has titled his article “Fake Folk”

Read the rest of this entry »

Passaro do Pomar’s music ranges from full on tropicalia psychedelic jams to more subdued gentle acoustic folk strumming, often in the course of a single song. Reminiscent of Os Mutantes unique and quirky Brazilian song writing style, Passaro do Pomar’s music draws from many similar sources of influence while still maintaining an original sound. Although Passaro do Pomar’s warm melodies seems a little more fit for summertime, I think they work in an odd way in the cold weather of late winter Devendra Banhart recently mentioned that Passaro Del Mar’s 4 song demo was one of his top 5 albums of 2006. I have put two of the songs from his 4 song demo up for you download. Let me know what you think…

Passaro do Pomar - Broken pews a warm…

Passaro do Pomar - Lifted

Castanets quietly revealed their upcoming tour over the weekend on their website. The last I read about Ray Raposa, the driving forced behind Castanets, he was touring the East coasts intracoastal waterway with Jana Hunter and Red hunter (AKA Peter and the wolf) by way of sailboat. After that he was to leave his new residence in Brooklyn and return to his home town of San Diego to begin recording his new full length album. While putting the finishing touches on his new full length in San Diego he decided to play a one off show to try out some of his new material at the Casbah yesterday. I was able to catch the show and was amazed at his hauntingly engaging stage presence. While playing the superb you are the blood, Ray came out into the audience and knelt down between the audience members, quivering through the chorus he seemed to transcend beyond the audience while still bringing them into his world. It was reminiscent of the experience that I think most have after seeing Akron/Family live. I’m starting to realize that the experience of connectedness in a concert on such a personal level is unique to the Naturalismo movement. Rarely have have I been to a concert where the artist is willing to step off the stage and include the audience. The mutual interaction between artist and audience makes for a much more interesting and lasting experience and I hope it continues.

I had a brief conversation with Ray Raposa after the show and he said to expect a split 10inch record with The Dirty Projectors to be coming out in March. A second split is scheduled for release in April. I pressed for more information about his upcoming full length and he said that it would be coming out in June most likely and that he has a title in mind but isn’t quite ready to anounce anything yet. If you have the chance to catch him on his upcoming tour I HIGHLY recommend it.

The upcoming tour dates are as follows:

If you’re unfamiliar with Castanets music I have selected a few tracks of interest:

Castanets - You are the blood

Castanets - Three days, four nights

Castanets - All that I know to have change

Rio en Medio is Danielle Stech-Homsy. Danielle Stech-Homsy is crafting some of the most metaphysically beautiful folk songs that I’ve heard that have come out of naturalismo. Her debut album, The Bride of Dynamite, which was produced by Andy Cabic, comes out on February 14th and features appearances by Sierra Casady (Coco Rosie), Tim Fite, David Coulter and Devendra Banhart. The first single off her album is named “Everyone is Someone’s.” This song is the ear to the eye that was Pans Labyrnth. Hauntingly angelic, the allure of the song sweeps over you as her soft vocals are interposed with a childs laughter and other sound artifacts that help to fulfill her narrative.

Download her new single here:

Rio en Medio - Everyone is Someone’s

Pre-Order her new album here.

Gnomonsong is the new record label formed by Devendra Banhart and Andy Cabic in parnership with Revolver USA. Banhart and Cabic do not push the paperwork in the label as much as work with the artists.

The label’s first release was Texan singer/songwriter Jana Hunter’s album, entitled Blank Unstaring Heirs of Doom, released in October 2005. The second release was a CD version of the self-titled debut of Feathers (April 2006). Releases are expected from ABRA, a NYC family band, as well as Michael Hurley and Danielle Stech Homsy. [wiki], Devendra & Andy Photo (C) Alissa Anderson

…thus far at least. I know what you’re thinking, it’s not even 2007 yet, how can there be a song that’s a best of, much less of some future better than others. Panda Bear’s “Bro’s” defies all logic and genre within its 12 minutes. At first I wanted to yell Ronettes then The Who wait no Beach Boys! Before I finally just accepted it for being some of the best music I have heard recently. If the earth were to suddenly change the tilt of its axis during the middle of winter and catch the tacky christmas decorations and holiday “cheer” off guard with full sunlight, I’m pretty sure this is the song that would be playing as the event unraveled. Enough, thank you Noah Lennox!

Panda Bear - Bro’s

This blog is about naturalismo and the myriad of muscians who helped shape the current movement.

Things you will not find on this blog:

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The more I read other music blogs, the more disenchanted I feel towards them. The music blog used to be an independent source of music information but more and more I see subtle signs that it’s not so free from what it used to stand against. I question if many music blog owners are writing about music for the sake of music anymore , or if there’s an alternate end. I find that there’s not a blog I can go to that supports my notion that the times we’re living in parallel with my nostalgic inclinations of the 60’s. I firmly believe that naturalismo has awakened the dormant musical roots of the 60’s and timeless music is being written again for the first time since decades ago. If you can’t hear the difference between 1977 and 1967, then this blog might not be for you. But if you stick around I am pretty sure I could convince anyone that some of the music being made now has tapped into something that was long ago forgotten.
Thanks,

Edvard