Luz De Vida 12" benefit compilation on Fort Lowell Records

Fort Lowell Records went and upped the stakes on their 7" single series of Tucson based bands and went all out recently for a 12"...on yellow vinyl! But the radical departure from the 45 format isn't the real story here...this is a benefit album for victims of the Tucson tragedy. It's a pretty amazing homegrown compilation of bands and a label that wanted to help. They looked at what they know how to do, and donated it to the families of the victims of a really terrible tragedy. When you pick this up from Fort Lowell Records, the proceeds are going to the Tucson Together Fund... in this case, buying a record can directly make a difference.

James got this extensive release together of local bands for the vinyl.... you've got previous Fort Lowell artists Tracy Shedd and Dead Western Plains, along with a Giant Sand track from another FL contributor, Howe Gelb. There's also tracks from heavy hitters, Calexico, Rainer and Holy Rolling Empire among others. There's even a live cover of "A Change is Gonna Come" from Chango Malo which is exclusive to this vinyl release.

Let me start right out by saying, it feels bad even talking about these tracks in any kind of way, I mean, this is such an unselfish idea from everyone involved that it's a foregone conclusion it's good...you can't possibly listen to this any other way.

The A-Side starts out with The Dead Western Plains and their heavily layered, optimistic sound, bouncing along with a Brian Wilson experimental edge. A familiar direction for this oddly named local band...I don't think I'm wrong in thinking this complex dance sound doesn't bring to mind a lonesome prairie. I keep confusing them with someone else. The Kiss & Tells have this great nostalgic '60s girl group sound, but I hear the Shangri-La's in everything these days. Big, belted vocals, backup harmony, and on vinyl, it completes the great detached layering feel, making it instantly timeless...in fact I wouldn't be surprised if you told me this was a revered Tucson band from 30 years ago.

Rainer includes a homemade, live room sounding track, with steel guitar and what sounds like an upright bass. A real south western folk sound, from the late Rainer Ptacek. Mariachi Luz de Luna, collaborators with Calexico, gets traditional on their track that might be right at home in another universe with the neo-traditional acts on Electric Cowbell. Giant Sand plays dirty using a chorus of little girls in the chorus...didn't see that one coming...aren't Howe's somber, blues vocals enough? Apparently not.

The live cover of "A Change is Gonna Come" from Chango Malo includes a horn section and is a strong contribution of the classic material. Tracy Shedd lifts the B-Side up with a Magnetic Fields sounding "Encourage Me", the unusually warbly guitar and her layered harmonic vocals reminded me a lot of some of Claudia's contributions. La Cerca is a indie guitar-pop patch of Tucson and Calexico gets introspective again with their especially Iron & Wine sounding track "Absent Afternoon". (Do they need to be compared to anyone? No. Nice going.) I'm just saying be careful with this one. Lenguas Largas is buried in swirly-shoegaze with their dreamy "Such a Thing" while Holy Rolling Empire switches gears again with a flamenco ballad on "Gabynda (Yolanda)". It's a diverse collection of the various sounds of Tucson, a reflection of the people coming together to help out neighbors. It's that simple.

This Saturday in fact, Fort Lowell is having a Record Release Benefit show at The Rialto Theatre in Tucson, AZ. The showcase will feature artists from Luz de Vida, such as Kiss & The Tells, Reno Del Mar, Mariachi Luz de Luna, HAIRSPRAYFIREANDGIRLS, Tracy Shedd, La Cerca, Golden Boots, Silverbell, Rich Hopkins, and Tom Walbank. All proceeds will go to the Tucson Together Fund, and patrons will receive $5.00 off the price of the vinyl record or digital download card of Luz de Vida when purchased at the showcase.

Get this one from Fort Lowell, giant yellow 12" vinyl, an edition of 1500 copies compiling a crazy array of sounds from the Tucson, AZ part of the country, while supporting a truly good cause.

Howe Gelb - Sno Angel / Melted Wires split on Fort Lowell Records

I got an advance copy of this split single from the ever prolific, Fort Lowell Records by one of the legends of alt-country, before it was alt, Howe Gelb. Keeping with the label's geographic theme, Howe is based out of Tuscon and this single unites a couple of his projects onto one split opaque deep blue marble vinyl. Fort Lowell gives this the standard deluxe 7" treatment with a double-sided foldover cardstock sleeve, download card and inserts for everything from the photography to it's subjects. All seemingly separate elements coming together, all essential to the process, and James connects the dots. Like that old expression, 'It takes a village to press a great single'.
The A-Side track 'Spiral' from Sno Angel is Howe on vocals and piano with the Voices of Praise choir backing him up with their angelic harmonies. This could easily go a few rounds with Leonard Cohen's best, tackling those major theme's, the apocolypse content; things are getting hotter, the waters are rising, a massive 'spiral down'. Recorded live in Ottowa, you can clearly hear intimacy of the changing distance to the mic, the huge hall echo and even the release of piano foot pedals. It's going to make you reconsider all of Howe's efforts these past 26 years, and solidifies his place, again, alongside those greats.
It's hard not to sound perfect with a choir softly echoing your vocal behind you. But those aren't even the more moving moments which come from the quieter parts and Howe's disarming vocals. You can take away all his previous achievements and consider this great completely on it's own. Balancing these heavy themes, while keeping it in perspective with the opening line: 'There's a lot of people having a hard time tonight', in that conversational vocal that's really not even trying to sing, an effortless storytelling kind of feel with the carefully crafted sound and skill of a Tom Waits, all those classic songwriting roots running up through it. It figures when you strip everything away to these bare elements and it's this moving, it's going to be around for a long time...which is no surprise coming from the founder of Giant Sand.

These are both great sides to turn up and hear that space on vinyl, the crystal capture of the little details next to the rising choir and full instrumentation.... or Howe's solo vocal. You're going to want to track down Sno Angels Winging it on Ow Om Records.

The B-Side has another project of Howe's, Melted Wires who recorded 'Cordoba in slow motion'. It's a moody, space filled instrumental, all captured perfectly within this 7" groove. The silences, the light brush of a snare or cymbal against a thumping drum kick. There's layers and layers of subtlety here. Recorded like historic jazz loft jam sessions, this project consisted of 2 members of Giant Sand and two from Calexico. There's no mistaking Jacob Valenzuela on trumpet, but where it's coming from is another matter entirely. This huge sounding space of this recording is unintuitive, the piano so upfront you hear the hammers striking strings, then between the far away hushed drums, heavily mixed left, the trumpet isn't anywhere in the middle?...it's a great effect and with any natural speaker separation, it's completely intensified by this capture and mix, you can really get in there and feel the smoke in that dimly lit room. Record players are meant for jazz after all and it's got that feeling of countless Blue Note records I'm now going to go listen to.

Get this one by supporting your local record store on Record Store day or straight from Fort Lowell when it becomes available. There's also couple of signed test pressing contest giveaways going on over at Fort Lowell for this one, as well as live shows scheduled this weekend for Record Store day.

Apparently James still has too much time on his hands.
Lucky you.

Thrill Jockey Box Set!

Ahhhhhhhh! (That't a yell of joy) Holy Shit! The thrill jockey box set is out! I didn't get an email or anything. What's the point of signing up for a mailing list if you don't give anyone notice about this!
That's why I blog, I selfishly need something to write about and check back and there it is. No big announcement, just barely a mention in the news section on the homepage. This set really highlights the amazing set of musicians to have been on the thrill jockey label. Everyone covers everyone else on 56 inches of vinyl. That's 9, 7 inches.
I think thrill jockey was one of those labels where I realized very early in college that I could appreciate pretty much anything they put out. I saw that all my albums were either drag city or thrill jockey or subpop. Labels could be enough to warrant a purchase of that unknown album which couldn't be converted to MP3....ahhhh the old days.

Here's some of the highlights:

Tortoise chose to cover “Falls Lake” by Nobukazu Takemura, a Japanese musician whose ground breaking albums are delicate combinations of live instrumentation (largely played by Takemura himself), analog synths and computer manipulated or simulated voice recordings (on one record he used a computer program designed for those who are speech impaired).

This is amazing, first a new tortoise track? And of Takemura? I didn't know he was on thrill jockey? Maybe someone can tell me if this was available somewhere else?

Arbouretum recorded “Bus Stop,” a dark beauty by Thalia Zedek, a Boston musician also known for her work in the bands Come and UZI. Thalia will be recording her second Thrill Jockey record this fall for release in early 2008, and also makes a contribution to the box set. Special guest on Arbouretum’s recording is Victoria from Beach House, with whom Arbouretum are touring Europe this fall.

The Sea and Cake recorded “Spider’s House” by Califone from their most recent album, Roots and Crowns. The vocal styles of The Sea and Cake’s Sam Prekop bring an entirely new feeling to the song. Califone and The Sea and Cake are touring this fall and will both be performing at Thrill Jockey’s Anniversary shows in London and Chicago.

Pit er Pat selected a gem by The Lonesome Organist, “Flew Out my Window,” from his album “Cavalcade,” re-interpreting it with a killer calypso feel. Pit er Pat’s Butchy Fuego recently performed as drummer number 7 in Boredoms’ 77 Boadrum performance in New York. Pit er Pat are touring in North America this fall with The Fiery Furnaces.

Directions in Music covered “Toy Boat” by Jeff Parker, reminding us very much of the first Tortoise singles when Bundy Brown was in the band. Also, Pullman covered “3 am” by the Chicago Underground Quartet.

David Byrne covered “Ex Guru” by The Fiery Furnaces.

Archer Prewitt covered “Mrs. Turner” by The National Trust.

Bobby Conn, Califone and Thalia Zedek covered Freakwater songs - “Washed in the Blood,” “Jewel” and “ Flat Hand,” respectively.

Freakwater covered “Passengers” by The Zincs.

The Zincs covered “Blue Marble Girl” by Giant Sand.

Howe Gelb covered “Boxers” by John Parish.

John Parish covered “Vampiring Again” by Califone.

Sue Garner & Rick Brown covered “ UMO” by OOIOO.

Adult. covered “Underwater Wave Game” by Pit er Pat.

Angela Desveaux covered “Two Moons” by Arbouretum.

Eleventh Dream Day covered “I Like the Name Alice” by Sue Garner.

I forget how much it was, I think $35. It's really reasonable, I can't wait to hear this. I promise bank account, it's my only gift to myself. Unless I see another amazing 7" box set, but I doubt it. This is making my best of, year end list for sure.