Karl Blau is one busy man… whether he is making his own records, putting endless hours into the creation of KELP!, or spending time recording/producing or performing with other bands….and recently there have been a couple new development for this man with oh so many talents.

Ambient Doom Metal band EARTH has just announced that Karl Blau will be playing bass with them on their upcoming West Coast tour where they will be performing new material! EARTH’s line up for this tour will be Dylan Carlson on Guitar, Adrienne Davies on Drums, Karl Blau on Bass, and  Lori Goldston on Cello.

Go see Karl Blau perform with EARTH!

• 04.14.10 – Eugene, OR – The Oak Street Speakeasy
• 04.15.10 – Eureka, CA – Noctrum
• 04.16.10 – San Francisco, CA – Slim’s
• 04.16.10 – Santa Cruz, CA – Brookdale Lodge
• 04.17.10 – San Diego,CA – Ché Café
• 04.19.10 – Los Angeles, CA – The EchoPlex
• 04.22.10 – Portland, OR – Rotture
• 04.23.10 – Seattle, WA – Neumos
• 04.24.10 – Olympia, WA – Capital Theatre *
  • all dates with Wolves In the Throne Room
  • * Mount Eerie and Ô Paon

Even more exciting than Karl Blau playing with EARTH is the fact that he is co-producing EARTH’s next record for the Southern Lord, the follow up to The Bees Made Honey in the Lion’s Skull, with Stewart Hallerman at AVAST studios in Seattle, Washington this Spring.  The album is due out early 2011. (all the bolding is because I’m super excited about this!)

Karl Blau also recently signed on and made a large sampling of his recordings available though the WFMU’s FREE MUSIC ARCHIVE! Karl Blau has such an extensive catalog and this is a great way to get familiar with his work.  I’m excited to present to you a song from the FMA…his cover of The Microphones’ “The Blow.” Karl Blau’s version of this song is a 12 minute experimental adventure in music.  While not indicative of his other works it is a true treat:

[mp3] Karl Blau- “The Blow (The Microphones cover)”

• from the FMA
• buy Karl Blau’s cover album It was Hot We Stayed In The Water here.
• buy the Microphones’ It Was Hot We Stayed In the Water here.
• “The Blow” by Karl Blau features Adrian Orange

Check out Karl’s other submission to the FMA here!

Last but not least is a split collaboration EP between Karl, Madeline Adams, and Your Heart Breaks that is coming out on Orange Twin Records this month.  Madeline Adams is a part of the Elephant Six collective, Your Heart Breaks is an indie band from Seattle, WA, and this collaboration features six tracks recorded at the Department of Safety in Anacordes, Washington.  Phil Elverum (Mt. Eerie) and Gus Franklin (Architecture in Helsinki) both contributed to the recording by playing various instruments.  The recording is a unique collection of songs, and a coming together of creative minds.  Each song features a different arrangement of musicians, and my favorite of the bunch is a cover of Richmond Fontaine‘s “Post To Wire” performed by Madeline and Karl:

Madeline Adams & Karl Blau- “Post to wire (Cover Richmond Fontaine)”

• Buy this collaborative EP (eventually) from Orange Twin here!
• Madeline Adams is on tour right now.  Check out her tour dates here.

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Creative Commons Credits:

• more on Karl Blau can be found here.
• more on Wolves in the Throne Room can be found here.
• and more on the FMA can be found here.

Last year I did a list of twenty five albums, and I began to think that the rank ordering no longer meant anything once I hit a certain number. This year I thought I was going to do a top ten with a not so short list of other albums, but then I decided that would be the same thing as a top twenty five.

I feel like I settled in the middle. I was able to narrow 2009 down to fifteen albums, and no short list. These are my favorites.  If you haven’t heard them check out the mp3, and if you like it buy the album…you won’t be disappointed. Cheers.

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The Great Pumpkin’s favorite albums of 2009.

15.) Screaming Females- Power Move

Hearing this record for the first time was like the first time I heard Dinosaur Jr.  Power Move was released by Don Geovanni Records.

[mp3] Screaming Females- “Bell”

• buy it here.
• more on Screaming Females can be found here.

14.) Desolation Wilderness- New Universe

When I saw the cover and title of this album I hoped it would sound like it looked.   And it did.  A shoegaze master piece released by K Records.

[mp3] Desolation Wilderness- “Boardwalk Theme”

• buy it here.
• more on Desolation Wilderness can be found here.

13.) Alex Bleeker and the Freaks- Alex Bleeker and the Freaks

Classic Rock for my generation. This record gets more powerful with each listen. Released via the wonderful Underwater Peoples Records. Their cover of “Animal Tracks” is just as good as the original.

[mp3] Alex Bleeker & The Freaks- “Animal Tracks (Mountain Man cover)”

• buy it here.
• more on Alex Bleeker can be found here.

12.) Sonny and The Sunsets- Tomorrow is Alright

Sonny and the Sunsets made the perfect warm weather pop album that it transcends seasons. I find that even on a morning as cold as today Tomorrow is Alright can make me feel warm inside. Sonny is part of the Endless Nest Collective, and if you know what is good for you should have your eye on the nest…so many great records came out of this group in 2009. Tomorrow is Alright was released by Soft Abuse Records.

[mp3] Sonny and the Sunsets- “Too Young To Burn”

• buy it here (the LP is sold out…maybe get it here?).
• Sonny’s website
• Endless Nest’s website.

11.) Nite Jewel- Good Evening

This is an album of psychedelic dance jams  and not necessarily the dance music you would hear in a club, but more what you want to chill out with at the end of the night.  This record was released by Human Ear Music / Gloriette Records. 

[mp3] Nite Jewel- “Weak for Me”

• buy it here.
• Nite Jewel’s website// myspace

10.) BOAT- Setting the Paces

If there has been one album this year that can bring me out of dark times it is Setting the Paces.   Released by Magic Marker Records.

[mp3] BOAT- “Prince Of Tacoma”

• buy it here.
• more on BOAT can be found here.

9.) Julie Doiron- I Can Wonder What You Did With Your Day

While she is known for her sad songs this album shows her lighter side, and that is something that I really enjoy…and she can totally wail on that guitar too.  Released by  Jagjaguwar Records.

[mp3] Julie Doiron- “Spill Yer Lungs”

• buy it here.
• more on Julie Doiron can be found  here.

8.) Ducktails- Ducktails// Landscapes

As far as I’m concerned these two should have been a double album.  I have a hard time thinking about them separately. Ducktails in a sense gave birth to Real Estate, and possibly this whole thing chillwave thing.  Ducktails came out via Not Not Fun and Lanscapes via Olde English Spelling Bee.

[mp3] Ducktails- “Landrunners” (off of Landscapes)

• buy Ducktails here // buy Landscapes here.
• more on Ducktails can be found here.

7.) Karl Blau- Zebra

This man is a constant inspiration to me.  This record is just one of three albums that he made this year that I fell in love with. Released by K Records.

[mp3] Karl Blau- “Dark Sedan”

• buy it here.
• more on Karl Blau can be found here.

6.) Pains of Being Pure at Heart- Pains of Being Pure at Heart

Like a time machine to the late eighties //early nineties.  Another great album from Slumberland.

[mp3] Pains of Being Pure at Heart- “Come Saturday”

• buy it here.
• more on Pains Of Being Pure at Heart can be found here.

5.) Ganglians- Monster Head Room

The first full length form this Sacramento band, and it was pretty much perfect.  The LP was released by Weird Forest and CD by Woodsist (who will be repressing the LP).

[mp3] Ganglians- “Crying Smoke”

• buy it here.
• more on Ganglians can be found here.

4.) TOM: WFMU’s the Best Show’s Tribute to Paul McCartney’s RAM (various artists)

The Best Show put together the best tribute album ever.  If you are unfamiliar with RAM it is the only album I have ever heard of by Paul McCartney refered to as dirty (and that is a very good thing). Released as a DJ Premium for donating to WFMU… Sad that it was so exclusive.  The moral of this story is…DONATE TO WFMU!

I haven’t really listened to Danielson over the past couple albums, but this cover makes me want to rethink that…one of my favorite tracks from this album, and one of the best covers I have heard in a long time.

Danielson- “Monkberry Moon Delight”

• The Best Show// WFMU
• Oh and if you don’t already have it…buy Paul McCartney’s Ram here (or used on LP here).

3.) Mount Eerie- Wind’s Poem

I am a long time fan of Phil Elverum, and on this album he took me to a place I never imagined I’d go.  Dark and beautiful…seeing it performed live gave me the best halloween I’ve had in years.

[mp3] Mount Eerie- “Between Two Mysteries”

• buy it here from P.W. Elverum and Suns.
• more about Mount Eerie  can be found here.

2.) Julian Lynch- Orange You Glad

After this record I will be on the look out for anything Julian Lynch ever releases.  Orange You Glad has moved me. Released on Olde English Spelling Bee.

[mp3] Julian Lynch- “Rancher”

• buy it here.
• more on Julian Lynch (mp3s, video, pictures, reviews, more) can be found here.

1.) So Cow- So Cow

By far the record I listened to most this past year.  The pop catches you, but the guitar and lyrics keep you. I couldn’t have asked for a better introduction to Tic Tac Totally Records.  If you didn’t catch So Cow when they were in the states last year their 2010 American Tour starts in less than two week!  Tour dates can be found here.

[mp3] So Cow- “Casablanca”

• Buy it here.
• more on So Cow (reviews, posters, mp3s, pictures)can be found here.

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Thanks for reading my best of lists.  I’m pretty sure this is the end of it…my goal was to get it up by February 1st, but I ended up one day late…I’m ok with that.

You can find more of mine, and some of my special guests, best of lists here.

Compared to other blogs I’m a little behind on posting my best of lists…but I’m not beating myself up about it, and in fact I’m right on par for my lists from the past two years (actually a little a head of last year). Now that all most my guest posts up I’m finally moving on to my own favorites.

First up is going to be my favorite songs of 2009.  While I loved many songs this year these tracks are by far what I think of when I think of 2009.  If you have been following me over the past year most of these will come as no surprise because most of them come from artist I have been obsessed with for years.  All songs in this short list have been covered on the Great Pumpkin in 2009, and below the track will be a link to buy the album as well as a link to the posts I’ve made about the artist.

the great pumpkin’s favorite songs of 2009

in no particular order.

[mp3] Karl Blau- “Dark Sedan”

• my posts on “Dark Sedan” can be found here (mp3) and here (live video).
• other posts on Karl Blau can be found here.
• “Dark Sedan” appears on Zebra (K Records)
  • Buy it here.

[mp3] Ganglians- “Crying Smoke”

• my post on “Crying Smoke”
• other posts on Ganglians can be found here.
• “Crying Smoke” appeared on Monster Head Room (Weird Forest/ Woodsist)
  • Buy it here.

[mp3] Mount Eerie- “Between Two Mysteries”

• my posts on “Between Two Mysteries” can be found here (mp3) and here (live video).
• other posts on Mount Eerie/ Phil Elverum here.
• “Between Two Mysteries” appeared on Wind’s Poem (P.W. Elverum & Suns)
  • Buy it here.

[mp3] Ariel Pink & the Haunted Graffiti- “Can’t Hear My Eyes”

• my post on “Can’t Hear My Eyes”
• other posts on Ariel Pink can be found here.
• “Can’t Hear My Eyes” was originally on a 7″ that is now out of print (Mexican Summer).
• oops.  this came out in 2008.  whatever…I was obsessed with it in 2009.

[mp3] Real Estate- “Beach Comber”

• My post on “Beach Comber”
• other posts on Real Estate can be found here.
• “Beach Comber” appeared on Real Estate (Woodsist).
  • Buy it here.

There will be a best of compilation to come that will include all of these tracks, as well as tracks from my favorite albums of 2009.  Keep your eye on the blog for the zip file.

Next up in my best of series will be my favorite 7″, 10″, and 12″ EPs.

Other Info:

• the photo above of Phil Elverum was taken by klk and I on halloween at market hotel on a holga.  one of the best shows of the year.
• the great pumpkin had lots of guests contribute best of lists… find those here.

So the holidays are looking pretty dismal this year for me…car broken, car fixed, car broken 30 minutes after being fixed…so it looks like Brooklyn is where I’ll be for the holidays.  Since I’m trying to kill time until I go check on the car again (which is already back at the mechanic) I thought I would put up a couple not so holiday themed Christmas songs…and why are they not so holiday themed?  Well I’m not feeling in the spirit enough to listen to my favorite album, Vince Guaraldi Trio’s Charlie Brown Christmas (BUY IT HERE!!!), so these are doing ok to keep my mind on and off the season, as well as being slightly related to the time of year.

Parenthetical Girls is a band I have been meaning to check out, whether it is a blog or Gareth from LC! talking about them I feel like their name has been floating around for far too long for me not to have heard them yet. No Conclusion posted a couple tracks from their self released Christmas 7″, and the original (the other is a cover) titled “Flowers For Albion” is pretty amazing.  It mentions Christmas, but doesn’t give a holiday vibe.  Parenthetical Girls sound like they could be from somewhere in Europe, but in actuality they hail from Portland, Oregon. Their sound makes me think it should be called cinematic pop, something that should be in a movie but has not been found yet. If this Christmas single is anything like their other albums (which apparently they have a lot of them) I should be checking them out soon.

[mp3] Parenthetical Girls- “Flowers in Albion”
buy the Christmas Creeps 7″ here.

Candy Claws is a band that I have been hearing about for months from Weekly Tape Deck, Chocolate Bobka, and Mimi at Made A Blog.  While studying for the GRE I downloaded the Glacial Prey EP, and found exactly what people have been talking about.  Candy Claws make music that is both pop and ambient, tropical and chilly, and that makes you wonder if they come from outer space or from deep below the sea.  ”Christmas Love” is a track off of Glacial Prey, and just so happens to fit the season.  Candy Claws also released In the Dream of Sea Life a full length that has worked it’s way into my regular listening too…I wish I had found out about them earlier in the year…very dreamy.

[mp3] Candy Claws- “Christmas Love”
download Glacial Prey for free here.
there is another ep for download, and information on how to buy In the Dream Of Sea Life here.

When Karl Blau was in town a couple months back I picked up a copy of The Coconutcracker Suite, his re-interpretation of the Nutcracker but adapted to reggae.  Coming from Karl Blau it is no surprise that this album is phenomenal, and has already become a holiday staple in my house.  While it might not appear to be holiday themed, click play…you will be pleasantly surprised.  I’ve written extensively on Karl Blau this year…read it all here.

[mp3] Karl Blau- “Trepak”
buy the Coconutcracker Suite here.

The next song was recorded for the Ear Farm Christmas album (lots of good stuff on there too!).  Shark? is a newish Brooklyn band that has been playing with Liam the Younger, Family Portrait, and the like…and that is a good thing.  I’m pretty sure they are loosely related to the wonderful Quiet Color blog too.  Shark? make distorted grungy rock and roll, and have several eps for free download here (downloaded both of them the other day, thanks Shark?!). They covered one of my favorites for the Ear Farm x-mas album, and I have for you to hear right now:

[mp3] Shark?- “Christmas (Beat Happening cover)”
Buy Do You Ear What I Ear here.

Last but not least is a 90′s classic, and a tribute kind of to Christmas. Archers Of Loaf for me are right up there with Pavement, and “Assassination of X-Mas Eve” is one of those songs that hits you a little bit of the wrong way the first time you hear it, but you come to love it. When are Archers of Loaf going to get back together for a reunion?  I might be more into that than the Pavement reunion?

[mp3] Archers Of Loaf- “Assassination on X-Mas Eve”
from All the Nations Airports. Buy it here.

I know it’s been a while since the last Speed Dating post, but I’m half way done with the next one…so maybe next week…until then keep your loved ones close and have a happy holiday…I’ll be trying to do the same.  cheers.

Last Thursday Karl Blau graced Ash’s Place in Williamsburg with his presence.  This was my first time at Ash’s, and I was a little bit surprised at the vibe the Karl and his K Records crew were greeted with.  Instead of the usual quite, smallish, attentive crowd Ash’s Place was packed…half with people who were there for the music, and the rest seemed to have mistaken the show for a drunken rowdy Thursday night party.

Karl was backed by LAKE (who also opened).  This was my first time seeing Karl perform an entire set with a backing band, and it was as wonderful as I expected (despite the loud talking of the crowd).  It made possible the recreation of many of the songs off of Zebra, and even some from last years phenomenal Nature’s Got Away.

While it wasn’t possible do to background noise to capture any of the quieter songs I was able to grab the two singles off of the new album…check out the new dance Karl invented for Brooklyn at the beginning of the extended live version of “Dark Sedan.”

Karl Blau- “Dark Sedan”

Karl Blau- “Apology to Pollinateurs”

It was a pleasure seeing Karl with a full band, and I hope I have this opportunity again, but I did miss the mesmerizing loop building of his solo sets.  Karl also mentioned that they were shooting the music video for “Dark Sedan” this weekend in New York…I can’t wait to see how that turns out.

If you haven’t grabbed a copy of it yet, Karl has a new volume of his Kelp Lunacy available for sale.  This time it is called 96 (pictured above) and is limited to 175 copies.  All copies have letter pressed covers, and are printed on the back of other album covers. K Records describes it:

Those who follow Karl Blau’s prolific trail may find 96 to be of the Double Duty Booty /Dance Positive dance vein of Blauisms. Extra-hott dog.

I picked mine up at the show (along with Blau’s reggae tribute to the Nutcracker!), but you can grab one from Karl off of his website…as always with Karl this album is totally worth it. I can’t get enough of his smooth dance jams.

Buy Karl Blau’s 96 here.

To give you a taste of 96 here is a song from the previously mentioned Double Duty Booty. It is an amazing, kind of creepy, dance jam titled “Ceremonial Apple Pie.”  The song starts off with almost a hip hop or dance hall style beat and vocals, and then turns into one of Karl’s wonderful reggae influenced dance jams…full of of his smooth voice, and other vocal experiments.

[mp3] Karl Blau- “Ceremonial Apple Pie”

off of Dubble Dooty Booty.  buy it here.

Links:

• More on Karl Blau (tour dates, mp3s, release info, videos, ect) click  here.
• Buy other Karl Blau releases directly from him here.
  • or if you have other shopping needs at insound.
• More on K Records here.
• More gprecs videos here.

New York City tomorrow is your only chance on this tour to catch the always wonderful, extremely talented Karl Blau.

This tour is coming just after the release of his new African influenced album titled Zebra (but you can actually say that all of his music is African influenced).

If you haven’t heard the second single (I’ve already posted it once) “Dark Sedan” listen to it now:

[mp3] Karl Blau- “Dark Sedan” (Buy Zebra here!)

This song is definitely in my list of best songs of 2009, and on top of that…  Karl Blau has released one (or more) of my favorite records in both 2007 (Dance Positive), 2008 (Nature’s Got Away and AM), and it looks like he has at least two (Zebra and Baby Nettles), if not three (I think there is one more that I need to get my hands on), that will be in my year end lists this year.

Karl Blau has been nice enough to post some tracks for free download on his wonderful Kelp Lunacy, and during my listening I came across some real gems.

First up is “Too Thirsty to Drink Water,” and it is what I what I consider a signature Blau solo live song…guitar, vocals, minimal drum beats, and of course loops….but ends with a worldly sounding drone.  I’ve been listening to this track all morning and it has been so sweet to my ears…gearing up for the awesomeness that will be tomorrow!

[mp3] Karl Blua- “Too Thirsty to Drink Water”

Off of Grease and Bread, buy it here.

This next track… as a pretty well listened fan of Blau’s I can honestly say that I would have a hard time confirming that this was Blau if he didn’t attach his name to the track.  This has happened before, but this one is by far the most unusual coming to date. This very well might be a traditional song, but I wasn’t able to find very much information on it…on that note it comes from  If I Knew Zen What I Know Now which Blau says ” is a collection of would-be pop songs: that is would-be if they were sung in English. There’s a song in Hebrew, and a few in made-up languages and even some deutsch gesprechen–also English and several instrumentals.”  Thanks Karl for giving me some back ground on it.  With that said:

[mp3] Karl Blau- “My Name, My Name”

as I said, this track appears on If I Knew Zen What I Know Now.  Buy it here!

I posted this next track a my previous post about Karl, but just discovered this amazing video!

Karl Blau- “Song For Kevin”

Karl Blau is on tour right now, with fellow K Records stars LAKE! If you didn’t know Karl Blau produced the most recent LAKE album too.  Karl mentioned during his shows in New York back in May that he was working on a full band format…I wonder if that is happening on this tour?  Maybe LAKE will help out…lots of possibilities!  Here are the dates:

• Tonight! Oct 28, 2009 – Bennington, Vermont @ Bennington Collegew/ LAKE
• Tomorrow! Oct 29, 2009 – Brooklyn, New York @ Ash’s Place – 234 Wythe St – w/ LAKE, White Diamonds, and Alex Bleeker and the Freaks!
  • I can’t say it enough…this is not to be missed.
    
• Oct 30, 2009 – Haverford, Pennsylvania @ Lunt Basement – w/ LAKE
• Oct 31, 2009 – Hellertown, Pennsylvania @ Shorb’s Costume Extravaganza – w/ LAKE
• Nov 1, 2009 – Baltimore, Maryland @ The Windup Space – w/ LAKE
• Nov 3, 2009 – Richmond, Virginia @ The Camel – w/ LAKE
• Nov 4, 2009 – Greensboro, North Carolina @ Artistika – w/ LAKE
• Nov 5, 2009 – Lexington, Kentucky @ Al’s Bar – w/ LAKE
• Nov 6, 2009 – Knoxville, Tennessee @ The Pilot Light – w/ LAKE
• Nov 7, 2009 – Athens, Georgia @ Secret Squirrel – w/ LAKE
• Nov 8, 2009 – Tallahassee, Florida @ Club Down Under – w/ LAKE
• Nov 10, 2009 – Dallas, Texas @ Ocher House – w/ LAKE
• Nov 11, 2009 – Austin, Texas @ Emo’s Jr. – w/ LAKE
• Nov 12, 2009 – Lubbock, Texas @ Bash Riprocks – w/ LAKE
• Nov 13, 2009 – Albuquerque, New Mexico @ Burt’s Tiki Lounge – w/ LAKE
• Nov 14, 2009 – Phoenix, Arizona @ Trunk Space – w/ LAKE
• Nov 15, 2009 – Tucson, Arizona @ The Hangar Art Space – w/ LAKE
• Nov 17, 2009 – Los Angeles, California @ The Smell – w/ LAKE
• Nov 18, 2009 – Santa Barbara, California @ Biko Garage – w/ LAKE
• Nov 20, 2009 – San Luis Obispo, California @ SLO Art Center – w/ LAKE
• Nov 21, 2009 – Santa Cruz, California @ Resource Center for Non Violence – w/ LAKE
• Nov 22, 2009 – San Francisco, California @ The Hemlock Tavern – w/ LAKE
• Nov 23, 2009 – Arcata, California @ The Green House – w/ LAKE
• Nov 24, 2009 – Salem, Oregon @ Ike Box – w/ LAKE

Links:

• More Great Pumpkin posts on Karl Blau (mp3s, release info, videos, ect) click  here.
• Buy other Karl Blau releases directly from him here.
  • or if you have other shopping needs at insound.
• More on K Records here.
• Photo by Arrington De Dionyso

This is going to be a new feature (again irregular feature) here on the Great Pumpkin, and I think this edition is going to be one of the most unique from the series, and it is only the first.  When I find a unique cover song I will be posting it along with the original (if possible), and in this case both versions are unique, and wonderful.

The original version of “This Blackest Purse” was written and recorded by Why?, and was released on the album Eskimo Snow this year (actually recorded during the Alopecia sessions).  Why? is one of those artist that I know from the early days of Anticon (see below), and have occasionally caught part of his sets over the years (when playing with Islands or Mount Eerie) but haven’t followed his career that closely… no reason really either. “This Blackest Purse” is an experimental piano pop song, a little Ben Folds-esque, but definitely with the bizarre twists, and lyrics, that Why? is known for.

[mp3] Why?- “This Blackest Purse” (buy Eskimo Snow here)

Recently P4k posted a cover of this track that Karl Blau did, and while it is no surprise to see Blau doing cover songs… I was really intrigued by him covering Why?.  Blau’s contrasts Why?’s piano pop with mostly minimalist electronics, almost atmospheric,  rendition of the track (not unexpected):

[mp3] Karl Blau- “This Blackest Purse (Why? cover)”

I agree with p4k’s observation that what makes the cover unique is the difference in the delivery of the lyrics.  Why? is known for his out there lyrics, but Blau’s minimalistic rendition of the track really brings them down to a more human level, and rather than bizarre they come off slightly awkward with Blau’s soft spoken abnormal cadence.  Musically when hearing the tracks separately they seem very different, but if you play each section by section the notes of electronics almost match perfectly with Why?’s piano.  Blau’s  Overall I’m pretty impressed with both versions, and in the end Karl Blau probably just made me listen to Eskimo Snow.

While I’m talking about Blau and Why? I thought I would add some bonuses on to the post too (afterall it is Friday!).

Lots of people have been finding my blog searching for Karl Blau’s Baby Nettles, and I haven’t had a chance to post any of it here, and thought this is as good a time as any.  I present to you “Song For Kevin” a fuzzy distorted electronic slow grooving dance number that bridges into a heavy psych jam…something only Blau can do.

[mp3] Karl Blau- “Song for Kevin”

When ever I hear Why? I always think of one particular song, and that comes from Sole‘s album titled Bottle Of Humans that came out on Anticon in 2000.  This happens to be one of my favorite hip hop albums of all time, and Why? collaborates with Sole on the track “Center City.”  For me this has always been a quintessential subway song.  When I first moved to the city I have fond memories of listening to this on the subway, and even memories of thinking about listening to this song on the subway far before I moved here.

[mp3] Sole ft. Why?- “Center City” (buy Bottle Of Humans here).

If you have a chance download it and listen to it on the subway this weekend…I would love to hear your feedback.

Links:

• more on Karl Blau here.
• buy albums by Karl Blau here.
• buy albums by Why?  here.
• buy albums by Sole  here.

With each passing day my excitement for Karl Blau‘s new album Zebra grows more and more.  Earlier this week Pitchfork premiered “Dark Sedan” the second single from the album.  Pitchfork said it “is a cut from the new record that features a groovy rhythm section adorned by a wide variety of orchestration, from saxophones to strings to disco keyboards.” This statement is pretty accurate, and again I am impressed with Blau’s arrangement and growth as a musician.  If these first two tracks from Zebra are any indication of the entire album it won’t be leaving my turntable for a very long time.  I think I can honestly say that this is my most anticipated album of 2009.

[mp3] Karl Blau- “Dark Sedan”

Buy Zebra from K Records here on October 6th.

More info on Karl Blau can be found here (including tour dates, and more mp3s)