-
Beachwood Sparks – Across the River of Stars
My favorite band released a new album, after an 11 year hiatus. Not that its members haven’t all been busy – I’ve been sketching a family tree, Peter Frame-style, and its many branches have me rethinking its structure, more like a mycelium system, all interwoven and interconnected and to me, one living organism hosting many fruiting bodies. The latest fruit, Across the River of Stars, out now on founding band member Brent Rademaker’s Curation Records, is bursting forth with color and vibrancy. Filled with classic Beachwood Sparks sounds, it’s rollicking, sparkling, yet brings freshness and modernism. Lyrics nod to both…
-
BRIM – “California Gold”
Pedal steel, central valley sounds mixed with swirls of psychedelia. BRIM sounds like My Morning Jacket meets GP meets Sloan. The title track from their debut album California Gold reminds us why California tropes are just that – wisps of nostalgia, vestiges from a Huell Howser show (the album is dedicated to the California TV tour guide), and some far-off whiff of sea breeze, even inland. California Gold by Brim California Gold is a song that meditates on the virtues of living in what most would consider to be flyover/drive-through country. Growing up in Tulare County, folks eventually adapt to…
-
GospelbeacH – “It’s Too Late”
Good news for us all – my favorite band, GospelbeacH, releases a new song today, building anticipation for their upcoming full-length. Luther Russell’s driving guitar line and Jonny Neimann’s piano anchor the reflective piece, a bit wistful but GospelbeacH can never discard their sunshine-infused optimism. Like the spirit of Brent Rademaker, head of GospelbeacH and Curation Records, who have both faced immense loss recently with the passing of the effervescent Kellie Clonts Colby, he knows the light is there and proceeds to follow his predestined mission spread the good music to the world. It's Too Late by GospelbeacH Springtime and…
-
Scott Hirsch – Windless Day
Windless Day by Scott Hirsch Scott Hirsch’s magical new album, Windless Day, is out today on his own Echo Magic label. Recorded mostly at Scott’s studio of the same name in the flourishing wilds of Ojai, a place (I imagine) to be filled with the spirits of the former owners of the vintage instruments and gear that give Scott’s music such a classic, polished vibe. “Much Too Late” has all the effortless groove and ease of a JJ Cale song, complete with a delicious guitar line, adorned with subtle chimes to make the whole thing shine. Similarly, you would almost…
-
Howlin Rain: An interview by Jiah Carron
Petal Motel is pleased to introduce Jiah Carron, a Canadian music journalist and label executive who’s a huge psych and private press junkie. I thought Jiah would be the perfect person to interview Ethan Miller of Howlin Rain and it turns out, I was right. Their conversation was deep, long, and literary. Thanks for reading! I had the privilege of conversing with the legendary Howlin Rain’s frontman, Ethan Miller. I’ve spent the last few weeks getting absolutely lost in their upcoming album The Dharma Wheel, a sprawling psychedelic folk-rock monument featuring the band at their most fluid and dynamic, carving…
-
Kareeta – Buttons
Today the newly-formed band Kareeta premieres the first single, “Buttons” from their upcoming self-titled debut album. Buttons by Kareeta Kareeta rose from the swamps and southern delta heat during the uncertain spring of 2020. Emerging as a fully formed amalgamation of the music that shaped its core, the band settled out west in California and recorded its debut LP with producer and musician Greg Loiacono at the controls. The music is an all-night drive pushing you deeper into the dial with broken characters and stories of red sky redemption silhouetting every ache. The bandmembers, including Chuck Harris on vocals and…
-
Rick Deitrick – Coyote Canyon
Coyote Canyon by Rick Deitrick Rick Deitrick used to press small batches of his albums and leave them on hiking trails for people to find. Recorded between 1972-197 and reissued by Tompkins Square Records, Coyote Canyon, like many of Rick’s releases, is acutely in tune with and inspired by nature. Echoing the cascading of a waterfall or emulating a windstorm blowing across a desert mesa, Rick’s guitar work is as timeless as the surrounding canyons and cliffs he was inspired by. With its themes of lonesome reflection, wilderness bewilderment, and Rick’s warm, intimate tones, Coyote Canyon is a quiet, contemplative…
-
Songs from the Dharma World : A Playlist by Howlin Rain
Ethan Miller of Howlin Rain compiled an excellent playlist for Petal Motel in homage to the universe of their new album The Dharma Wheel. As expected from one of the headiest musicians of modernity, the playlist comprises of space funk, burnout rock, ambient free jazz, Italian prog, contemporary underground heroes, rare psych, DLR and more, is filled with a few favorites (Canned Heat, Ryley Walker, Sarah Louise) and even more previously unknown but overwhelmingly bewitching tunes. A metallic strand runs through The Dharma Wheel, Miller’s signature fiery ferocious guitar and atmospheric voice augmented by the unmistakable wizardry of Adam MacDougall…
-
Scott Hirsch – “Dreamer” (Live performance)
Scott Hirsch is releasing his third album, Windless Day, on October 8th. Lush and smooth, polished and perfected, the album showcases Hirsch’s finely tuned skill as an engineer and producer. His celestial songwriting style is in full effect, as heard on his latest single, “Dreamer.” Dreamy words and mystical themes abound, as usual. Highly recommend a listen underneath a pink sky. Although the song on the record sounds full and orchestrated, the romantic, intimate essence of the song shines through in Scott and crew’s acoustic performance of the tune, Kelly McFarling’s harmonies exceptionally a highlight. Have a peek inside his Echo…
