It's a new direction for him.

In what way? Does he still whisper sing? I dug The Shepard's Dog, however he's not someone I readily check out with every new release.

Anybody grab A dele before it got taken down? My wife has had me on the lookout.

A few years into writing the songs that were to become The Foundling album, I flew up to Toronto to play them for Michael Timmins from Cowboy Junkies, to see if he’d consider producing when the time came to make my next record.

Great producers roll tape all the time to capture everything that happens in their studio so as not to miss something special, and in keeping with that tradition, Michael recorded me performing these songs for the first time. Time went by and I forgot about the afternoon I threw these down in his garage studio. Several months later, we went on to make The Foundling in earnest.

A year and a half later, a worldwide CD release, over 250 shows playing these songs from Peoria to Perth, Austin to Auckland, Birmingham to Brussels, we listened back to these early recordings, and realized that they marked a turning point in the creative process – when my foundling song dreams first became a reality.

We felt as though there was something worth keeping here, so I took the files to Ray Kennedy (4-time Grammy Award winning producer, engineer and musician) and had him master the original tracks in his studio in Nashville. He did a gorgeous job, and the result is what we’re calling The Foundling Alone. The songs are captured in their early development; many of them went through more changes as they revealed themselves further...

this is not the i&w we heard on his first few records. more akin to the direction he started to move on the first half of the shepherd's dog. it's fully- and well-produced, and definitely has a groove throughout it that will be the hallmark of this his worst titled record. but i love the sound of it so far. it's worth listens.

Gruff Rhys stays busy outside of his work with Super Furry Animals: he has two solo efforts to his name, as well as Neon Neon with Boom Bip and 2010's collaborative album with Tony Da Gatorra. Hotel Shampoo is his third proper solo LP, and it is at least nominally about a strange habit that Rhys picked up while touring. As he explains it, "A gleaming new cosmos of hotel accommodation opened up for me and in an instant I was seduced by the free product available in the rooms...Having never kept a journal these items have become like diary entries, triggering memories of all those buildings and random people I've met and inspiring some of the songs on the album." An art installation at the Chapter Arts Center in Cardiff accompanied the announcement of the album, and can be previewed here.

After a series of seven-inch releases, Baltimore, MD pop-influenced aggressive punk outfit Deep Sleep finally get around to issuing a complete album. As expected with this ten-track affair, the band revel in their posi-punk and modest hardcore influences ― to absolute extremes. Taking the pace of proto-D.R.I. and smashing it into hooks culled directly from Adolescents and Descendents, every one of these tunes is a rousing excursion into punk rock's most formative days. Not content to sit on those influences, the entire affair is doused in a serious Take It Back, Take It On, Take It Over!-era 7 Seconds delivery, most notably vocally, then completed by flourishes of Greg Ginn's scratchy, wanky guitar passages. Subtly instinctual, overtly melodic and enduringly catchy, Turn Me Off is equal parts relief in seeing Deep Sleep continue their stellar output and excitement at having a new batch of catchy, upbeat ragers to jam into our subconscious.

Recently appearing at magiska in the Holy Shit! department. For Dov and me anyway:

Twilight Singers - Dynamite Steps

Cloud Nothings is the brainchild of 18 year old Cleveland resident Dylan Baldi. Late in 2009, he started recording a bunch of catchy indie rock songs on his computer in the basement of his parent’s house. Dylan wasn’t so concerned with them being lo-fi. But since he only had his simple computer and a crappy microphone that’s the way they turned out. Almost immediately praise was bestowed upon young Dylan, and as new songs were unleashed, the online excitement only grew.

Dylan needed to take his songs on the road, so he formed a band with TJ Duke on bass, Jayson Gerycz on drums, and Joe Boyer on guitar. Their first show was in New York last December opening for Real Estate and Woods. Since then the band has played SXSW, toured with Wavves, and played shows with such bands as Titus Andronicus, Parts & Labor, Best Coast, and Kurt Vile. Their live shows have become super tight, displaying an intensity and precision rarely seen in bands of any age.

2010 has been very busy for Cloud Nothings. First there was the Turning On EP, then a seven inch single on Group Tightener and then another one on Old Flame. In August, True Panther released a Cloud Nothings single as well, and there is a super rare split cassette release on Bathetic. This fall, Carpark compiles the Turning On EP, the Group Tightener single, and two songs from the split cassette for a handy introductory compilation called simply Turning On.

Cloud Nothings are recording their first full length this summer in Baltimore with Chester Gwazda who has also recorded albums for folks like Dan Deacon and Future Islands. The album is planned for a winter 2011 release. It probably won’t be as lo-fi as his past stuff.

1. Understand At All
2. Not Important
3. Should Have
4. Forget You All The Time
5. Nothing’s Wrong
6. Heartbeat
7. Rock
8. You’re Not That Good At Anything
9. Been Through
10. On The Radio
11. All The Time

Simple songs to ease the soul and keep faith burning bright.

It’s been over two years since the Daniel Martin Moore’s debut album Stray Age and a year since his collaborative release Dear Companion with Ben Sollee. Judging by his newest solo effort, The Kentucky singer spent that time deep in prayer. A voice as pure and blessed as the words he sings, In the Cool of the Day makes a listener want to believe.

Transforming hymns into plaintive ballads, the well-produced tracks are gracefully austere, but the serious, somber nature is contrasted nicely with a simple joy ever-present in Moore’s voice—grandeur in an uncomplicated package.

Despite the album’s religious foundation, the message isn’t doctrinal. In the Cool of the Day takes the listener out of church and into a glorious world. The folk gospel tunes evoke images of revivals, campfire nights, harvest moons and long, lazy days. Relying mostly on banjos, organs, violins and pianos, the album is uplifting without proselytizing or feeling preachy.

Most of the tracks have a folk feel, but the jazzy touches on “In The Garden” and “Up Above My Head” provide some upbeat relief for a rather sedate album—don’t listen while operating heavy machinery. With a truthful tone and a passionate telling, In the Cool of the Day is good salve for anyone, believer or skeptic.

Recently appearing at magiska in the Holy Shit! department. For Dov and me anyway:

Twilight Singers - Dynamite Steps




Edit: updated V0 link