KLOF is a new mix series that stretches the boundary of the mixes I’ve done before. Although this series will not have any set boundaries it will offer a stronger eclectic and experimental focus than those I’ve done before under the likes of the Lost in Transmission series. The other shows/mixes will still continue
KLOF 1 Playlist
Martin Green – Smallest Plant
Featuring accordionist and electronic experimentalist Martin Green of LAU with Becky Unthank and Adam Holmes on vocals. The track featured on FLIT, an album inspired by first-hand stories of human movement around the world. Find out more about the album here: http://www.martingreenmusic.co.uk/about/
Anna St. Louis – Mercy
Despite her last name, Anna St. Louis was born and raised in Kansas City. She grew up a painter and singing in punk bands, eventually leaving her hometown to attend art school in Philadelphia. After graduating she made the move to Los Angeles where she began teaching herself guitar, writing songs and recording them on her own in her bedroom. First Songs is the sound of someone discovering their talent in real time – a peak into the collage of a wonderful mind that is absorbing their new surroundings and using new tools to put them into the room. https://annastlouis.bandcamp.com/album/first-songs
Twelve Hides – Deir El – Malak (With Buck Curran of Arborea)
Tweleve Hides is a project by the ex-guitar player Ben Tweddell of Cornish folk band Thistletown, and also features vocals from Thistletown’s Tiffany Williams. Deir El-Malak features psychedelic electric guitar from Buck Curran of Arborea. Buy the album via Bandcamp here: https://twelvehides.bandcamp.com/releases
Stein Urheim – Water – part 1
Oslo’s Hubro label have no shortage of talented artists on their roster, so much so that there are two on this mix – they won’t be the last. This track is taken from Stranderbarm (2016), the third solo album from string magician Stein Urheim, based in Berlin, Bergen and Strandebarm. “In the course of his life as a musician Stein Urheim has gathered impressions and input from a musical world that knows no boundaries, and on this album he presents some of the most exceptional and exciting treasures he has discovered along the way – all filtered, naturally, through his distinctive musical temperament. This is strikingly personal music, which could most likely not have been made at any other time in history.” http://hubromusic.com/stein-urheim-strandebarm/
Steve Gunn & The Black Twig Pickers – Trailways Ramble
From Seasonal Hire (Thrill Jockey, 2015), a collaborative album between Steve Gunn and The Black Twig Pickers that combines Gunn’s circular, meditative guitar playing with the Twigs’ energetic mastery of old-time instrumentation. http://www.thrilljockey.com/products/seasonal-hire
Cath & Phil Tyler – Song of the Lower Classes
In case you missed the excitement, Cath and Phil Tyler are set to release their new album The Ox and the Ax via Thread Recordings on 30 March. In his review of the album, Glenn Kimpton declared that is was well worth the eight-year wait (read the review here). Pre-Order The Ox and the Ax: LP | CD | Digital
Xylouris White – Achilles Heel
I dare say I’ve show my colours on the latest album from Xylouris White. Mother is one of my favourite albums of the year and I don’t need much of an excuse to play a track in a mix. In his review of the album, Thomas Blake referred to it as a “rare thing: experimental music with a huge heart.” Read his review here.
Robert Wyatt – Richardson Road (with Grasscut)
From Different Every Time (2014), a career spanning, double compilation album of Wyatt’s work curated by Wyatt, Domino and Marcus O’Dair, it acts as the perfect companion piece to O’Dair’s new biography of the same title. When David Weir reviewed this album from FRUK it turned him into an irrefutable fan for life. Read his review here.
The One Ensemble – Part 2
I’ve been wanting to share the music of Scottish Quartet The One Ensemble since the arrival of their album Saint Seven. I’ve never come across anything quite like it and it’s been on my turntable a lot. As it consists of two long tracks, this new mix series offered the perfect opportunity to showcase half of it. There’s no doubt that these multi-instrumentalists are making bold and innovative folk-classical-experimental music but why take mine or their word for it. Listen for yourself. You can buy it via Bandcamp on Vinyl: https://theoneensemble.bandcamp.com/album/saint-seven-2
Davy Graham – Fakir
From the album Midnight Man (1966). I love a lot of Graham’s music but I regularly return to this instrumental cover of Cal Tjader and Lalo Schifrin’s The Fakir. The raga riffs were enough to make Shankar a natural progression in this mix.
Ravi Shankar – West Eats Meat
From Bridges: Best of Private Music Recordings. If you’re looking for a good overview sitar legend Ravi Shankar then you can’t go wrong with this album which covers three releases: Inside the Kremlin, Passages and Tana Mana from which this track is taken. Tana Mana began as an experiment in 1983 with the use of innovative sampling technology.
Josephine Foster & the Supposed – Well-Heeled Men
From All the Leaves are Gone (2004). One reviewer described Foster as Maddy Prior on acid. Not so sure about that but it hasn’t lost its attraction and this is, for me at least, the stand-out track.
Erlend Apneseth Trio – Sapporo
Our second artist from Hubro. From Det Andre Rommet (2016). According to Hubro Erlend Apneseth from Jølster is one of Norway’s foremost young fiddlers. He competes in the elite Category A in the National Contest for Traditional Music, and has received so many prizes and awards that dusting his mantelpiece has become nearly a full-time job. Despite being steeped in the tradition his skill for improvisation and finding new modes of expression, as he demonstrates here, is breathtaking.
Arborea – Alligator
I’ve been a fan of Maine’s late Avant-Folk duo Arborea since their early days and more lately the music of Buck Curran who is also responsible for Obsolete Recordings (https://obsoleterecordings.bandcamp.com/). Although this first appeared on Wayfaring Summer (2006), they revisited it in 2009 on their exceptional House of Sticks album which was remastered in 2011 and is available via Bandcamp. https://arborea.bandcamp.com/album/house-of-sticks-remastered
Tim Eriksen – Every Sound Below
Without a doubt, my favourite Time Eriksen album is Every Sound Below (2004).
Putnam String County Band – Perilous Journey
And finally…this track was from 2005 Rounder Records compilation called Come to the Mountain: Old Time Music for Modern Times. In case you were wondering, Putnam String County Band featured Jay Ungar and John Cohen who founded The New Lost City Ramblers with Mike Seeger and the late Tom Paley.