Archive for the 'Experimental / Psychedelic' Category

Castlemusic - You Can’t Take Anyone

Published
by
smansmith
on September 16, 2008
in Alternative, Experimental / Psychedelic, Folk, New Album Alert and Singer Songwriter
. 0 Comments

Jennifer Castle, or Castlemusic as she is known, is a Torontonian songstress with what can be called a mix of traditional singer-songwriter infused with a bit of fringe folk.  However you describe it, I think you are going to like this one.

Castlemusic has a new release entitled “You Can’t Take Anyone” which from what I can take is a beautiful collection of down-tempo folk, and slightly toned down version of her live performance persona (but I need to see her to believe it).  The album is rich, textured and even a bit frayed at the edges at times, but it works for Jennifer.  The songwriting excels here with what seems is an undertone of stray bitterness - just enough to carry off a great song, but leave you wondering if she was pained in creating it.

Castlemusic gets assistance in delivering her creation to recording from Ryan Driver and Doug Tielli who both contribute vocals along with an assortment of backing instruments.  Don’t get me wrong here though, the album is heavily influenced by Jennifer, her guitar and her songwriting - described as below:

“…to lyrically write in the often sad voice of a person who feels alone, while playing and singing like a person who reaps the uninhibited and beautiful benefits of this state.”

One of my favourite tracks is the title track with it’s “worbly” vocals and accompanying electric guitar to mirror that very style - awesome.  To witness this, take a listen:

 

Castlemusic - “You Can’t Take Anyone”: Play Now | Play in Popup

You may also enjoy a little 4-track recording of a live performance of “Heaven” as well, take a listen below. With “Heaven” you can feel the rawness of the song, but maybe it is just that live performance persona I have been hearing about…I hope you like it as much as I do.

 

Castlemusic - “Heaven” : Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

~Smansmith

The Venus Illuminato - Company With Kings

Published
by
Olivier
on August 30, 2008
in Acoustic, Experimental / Psychedelic, Folk, Unsigned and chamber pop
. 2 Comments

Time for psychedelic music. After the superb Trappers Cabin, another amazing psychedelic band, I’ve just discovered is The Venus Illuminato. Nothing much to say about those Californian Rob Franco and Brandon Kennedy (I even won’t be able to tell you which one of these is singing…) as these guys are not really prolix on their myspace page. So find below a copy paste their cdbaby information…

Picture yourself being knifed by a gypsy on board a high-jacked merchant ship off the coast of Morocco while an 1860’s civil war band drops some acid and does their best interpretation of 70’s English psychedelia.

Helpful ? Indeed, truly.  Once again, music speaks for itself better than any other words…

 
 Mt Olympus - The Venus Illuminato [3:37m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

I’ve been more than seduced by this superb ballad on the Mount Olympus, and from what I’ve listened so far the others tracks are also really gorgeous ! With violins, tubas, glockenspiels and cellos, it’s quite impossible to find a genre to label this rich music ; according to Rob Franco, it could be described as psychedelic gypsy wizard chamber folk. And that’s for sure chamber-folk really match my feelings !

Band : The Venus Illuminato
Label : None
Where to buy : cdbaby.com
If you love : Devandra Banhart, Mike Scott and/or The Waterboys, Nick Cave, Calexico, those illuminates from Los Angeles will soon become a favorite !
You should also enjoy : Trappers Cabin, Elvis Perkins, Orpheum Bell (an interview will be shortly posted here…)
More Appetizers : @myspace

Trappers Cabin - Trappers Mind

Published
by
Olivier
on August 25, 2008
in Acoustic, Country, Experimental / Psychedelic, Folk, Indie and Singer Songwriter
. 2 Comments

While copypasting Susana’s interview with Ben Sollee, I was checking that NPR List of Best Unknown 2007 Artists. One of them retained all my attention : Trappers Cabin. Best Unknown Artists : Isn’t it crazy to deserve such a prize for a guy who had released 7 full lengths ! Two solutions :

  • Joel Nettesheim (the famous unknown Trappers Cabin) is making noise for his own pleasure… and his streaming his own songs on his myspace for his self-masturbation…
  • NPR staff are smoking mushrooms….

Well, according to his myspace page views, I guess that this guy is doing music for more than a couple fans!

He’s the crazy old man in the mountains. I’ve heard the stories - he’s alive up there still. One man alone in the mountains of North Georgia, his multiple personalities and voices take over to create beautiful rivers of sound which flow through one ear and proceed to the deep deep valleys of your mind - continuing out your other ear and on to the next lucky contestant!

Influences : The woods - the bear - the trees - the smells - the stars - stuff that matters.

This description is quoted from his myspace page. If anyone could give me more information about Trappers Cabin, it will be more than welcome ! Joel described his music as Psychedelic / Experimental / Regional Mexican…
Well, I’m not sure about the Regional Mexican, but anyway… the first adjective is perfectly matching the NPR staff judgment (be sure they have their daily dose..). Experimental is also meeting my own opinion… and my single wish is that Trappers Cabin will keep experimenting his art, voice and all these arrangements that create such an beautiful and unique ambiance for the 7 forthcoming albums.

 
 New Pair of Shoes - Trappers Cabin [2:32m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

 
 The Wandering Horse Mirabel - Trappers Cabin [3:19m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Trappers MindArtist : Trappers Cabin
Label : none
Where to buy : CdBaby.com
More Appetizers : @myspace - Download a whole truck full of Trappers Cabin songs for free - offered by the man himself.
Who else could you enjoy : Me ?