The Outsiders: Vol. 9
Not all of Stereogum's favorite sounds conform to what folks expect us to cover. In this space, resident Bananafish fetishist Brandon Stosuy focuses on bands, albums, singles, and villages in Sweden that may otherwise pass by unnoticed. This installment's eclectic virtual milk crate contains Scott Tuma, The Child Readers, and Nalle.
Scott Tuma played in Souled American, Boxhead Ensemble, put out a couple of solo records, and has worked with Zelienople in Good Stuff House (there's a 2006 CD-R on Time-Lag). Tuma's last solo album The River 1 2 3 4 came out in '03, but Brad Rose of Digitalis approached him to record a third, so after a five year solo pause, he's put together the breathtaking Not For Nobody. It's already an excellently rusted, classic feeling collection. The dozen songs are mostly instrumental -- acoustic guitar, banjo, harmonium, etc. -- but I'm posting the first three, including "Nobody (River Of Tin)," which has Scott's voice slowed then sped-up like a spectral child. These tracks ("Nobody" plus "Fishen" and "Eloper") form a cohesive triptych of sorts, so listen straight through.
[Photo by Donn Ha]
Scott Tuma - "Nobody (River Of Tin)" (MP3)
Scott Tuma - "Fishen" (MP3)
Scott Tuma - "Eloper" (MP3)
The disc comes wrapped in silkscreened gatefold packaging: Pics and other info.
The Child Readers, around since 2000, are about to release their fourth album Music Heard Far Off, out on 4/22 on Soft Abuse. It's the team of Jewelled Antler regular Loren Chasse and Jason Honea. Chasse performs/performed in one of my old favorites, Blithe Sons, with Glenn Donaldson (track down We Walk The Young Earth) and has performed in Thuja, the Franciscan Hobbies, Ov, etc. Honea sang for Social Unrest and has been in Teenage Panzerkorps, Ten Bright Spikes, the Knit Separates (with Glenn Donaldson and Chasse ... surprise), and performs solo as the Shitty Listener, etc. Additional label-provided info:
Aiding Honea & Chasse's vision are three short films (the video album 'Superstition Island,' contained on the disc) ... and contributions from Mark Williams (Mirza), Rob Reger (Thuja) and Christine Boepple (Ov). Music Heard Far Off was recorded, played back, re-recorded and collaged in various locales, including the California redwoods and coastlines, Estonia, Berlin, Madrid and Portugal.
This collagist approach is clear on "Fortune (Including The Morningnight/A Hated Art)," which at first reminds me of a dewy Roky Erickson bedroom recording -- or, more so, an old Refrigerator/Paste tune -- before the guys go channel surfing.
The Child Readers - "Fortune (Incl. The Morningnight/A Hated Art)" (MP3)
Listen to ultra Paste-y "Young Worlds - Try to Hear!" at their MySpace, or check out the pretty picture/words here. Both of the aforementioned artists feature moody birds in the artwork for their new one records. Nalle, a folk trio from Scotland, have a tree on theirs. Coincidences abound. Musically, their toybox instrumentation links to the Child Readers, but there's a more spacious air to the mix of oscillators, harmonium, flute, clarinet, bouzouki, dulcimer, Moog, accordion, cello, strings, voices. It makes perfect sense that the Child Readers called their new one Music Heard Far Off; Nalle's sophomore album The Sirens Wave a more crystalline trek through the woods. It's out today on Locust ... "Alice's Ladder" is the penultimate track.
Nalle - "Alice's Ladder" (MP3)
The Scots are currently on tour in the U.S., performing with a number of excellent folks like Paul Metzger, Black Forest/Black Sea, Thee Scarcity Of Tanks, Begushkin, etc.
03/25 - Columbus, OH @ Skylab w/ Paul Metzger
03/26 - Chicago, IL @ Empty Bottle w/ Paul Metzger, The Zoo Wheel
03/27 - Cleveland, OH @ All Go Signs w/ Black Forest/Black Sea, Thee Scarcity Of Tanks, Paul Metzger
03/28 - Pittsburgh, PA @ Secret Eye House w/ Mike Tamburo, Tradition
03/29 - State College, PA @ Schlow Library w/ Black Forest/Black Sea, Evening Fires
03/30 - Brooklyn, NY @ Glasslands w/ Begushkin
03/31 - Jersey City, NJ @ WFMU session
This is what they look like live.
Today's selections make me feel like maybe I should go to Terrastock this year. Or at least go outside.
Posted at 6:20 PM in MP3, The Outsiders, Tour Dates, Video
Tags: Nalle | Scott Tuma | The Child Readers
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nice jams, specially enjoyed Nalle.
related/unrelated - bonafide outsiders Excepter have a new album this week, no?
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They do. Debt Dept's out today on Paw Tracks. In fact, look for some Excepter later today...
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wow. thanks for this article brandon. those scott tuma songs are beautiful!
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wow, alot to take in. Thanks!
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