New J.Tillman mp3: Though I Have Wronged You

[mp3] J.Tillman: "Though I have Wronged You"

The new J.Tillman record Year in the Kingdom (9/22 Western Vinyl) has been a staple around here over the past month or more. While at times recalling the better parts of Ray Lamontagne, Tillman is able to retain a soft darkness to his songs, which keep them out of the straight ahead "singer songwriter" vein and in the more mysterious hard to pin down, "indie" genre. Being in the Fleet Foxes helps a lot too. Yet, Tillman was a well established songwriter in his own right, before being tapped to diddle the skins for the Foxes. He's a prolific musician that is well deserving of the attention he's been garnering of late. Let's hope it keeps up.

Pop Ooga

[mp3] Shuta Hasunuma: Power Osci

We've been following Japanese "glitch" artist Shuta Hasunuma since his last record Ok Bamboo. Hasunuma is able to deftly blend organic and electric piano, synth, drums and percussion in such a way as to create lush landscapes that are also minmalist and beautiful. An easy comparison, is to The Books, but Hasunuma is able to channel a sound of his own that is warmer, and to us at least, more evocative of his home Japan.

Western Vinyl releases Pop Ooga, Hasunuma's third on June 6th.

Balmorhea: New Release + SXSW

[mp3]

Balmorhea - "Harm & Boon"

Austin, TX natives Balmorhea (pronounced bal-mor-ay) offer up their newest release, All is Wild, All is Silent, March 10 via Western Vinyl. These ethereal-space jammers create long, instrumental experimentations, such as the eight minute, "Harm & Boom" above. Look for them at the Western Vinyl showcase at SXSW playing alongside labelmates Here We Go Magic, J. Tillman, Callers, and Sleep Whale formally (Mom).