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A La Sombra De Un Árbol : A Mix Curated by Buck Curran
I love acoustic guitar more than almost anything, especially gorgeous, intricate, finger-style work. So when Buck Curran introduced himself, I was immediately enamored with his playing – thoughtful and deliberate, intensely intimate, moody and sensual. In 2020 he put out No Love is Sorrow, his third solo release after many years as half of psych-folk duo Arborea. It’s a lovely, meditative album with an organic feel, with instrumentals interwoven with deeply personal songs about his loved ones and past lives. Morning Haikus, Afternoon Ragas, the preceding album, has become something of a go-to for me in recent months, Buck’s complex…
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Gwenifer Raymond – Hell For Certain : Listen
The Welsh guitar phenomenon has released the second single and video from her forthcoming album, Strange Lights Over Garth Mountain. Her playing is intense, intricate, and absolutely enrapturing. Not a song for soft background noises – this song’s enough to rouse some spirits, clearly. The album is composed of 8 tracks Raymond recorded herself in a basement apartment. Raymond says “I tried to take something of Welsh folk horror to make my own ‘Welsh Primitive.'” Pre-order Strange Lights Over Garth Mountain here. Out November 13th on Tompkins Square.
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Troubled Folk Songs : Playlist
I suppose it’s time to release this playlist into the wild. I’ve been working on it since November, gradually. Initially I named this one “Things I’m Sensitive To.” I’d been fascinated by this concept of ‘unearthed’ records for a minute, but had little guidance after a while and so went it alone. Over the next few weeks, I discovered the Numero Uno group but also did some heavy research seeking distinctly lo-fi private pressings from the very early 70s, or things that tend to be classified as “loner acid folk?” I guess, meaning that it was people who had been…
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Vetiver – To Who Knows Where : Listen
Late last year, Andy Cabic and friends holed up in Yucca Valley, California to make a record that I’ve been eagerly anticipating the announcement for. Vetiver’s signature acoustic, soothing but surprising freak folk tones married with Thom Monahan’s shimmering production always equal perfection. Stoked to hear the full thing, and hopefully catch a show down the road from where the recording took place. I really need this album right now. Pre-order the album Up On High from Mama Bird Recording Co. here. Out November 1.
