Justin sent me this really rad textured jam he worked on with Mickey Mickey Rourke over Facebook chat this morning, which consists of Miller Rodriguezs’ classic textured psychedelia with Justins’ vocals, some bass and a sample looped over it. While the rest of the album explores multiple sub-genres of ambience, Justins’ poppy edge adds a bit of depth to the album, making it an interesting listen all the way through. This track is going to be coming off of Mickey Mickey Rourkes’ full length tape dropping next week titled Inner Gazing, featuring a few other collaborations with artists including Foxes In Fiction and Lester Brown.

Mickey Mickey Rourke & Craft Spells: Gloomy Guts

(photo)

I have been working diligently during this month of August to put together a new charity compilation to help combat world hunger. I have handmade eleven CD packages, each unique and personalized for each person who purchases one. It is free for everyone to download, and most of the proceeds from the physical purchases will go to Action Against Hunger. Each compilation features a different apostle, with the first package featuring ‘Jesus’ himself. This is meant to signify Jesus and his apostles, obviously. I did not choose to do this for religious purposes, but only to highlight the significance of the limited release. This compilation is meant to celebrate the art of the compilation as well as limited releases, and all for a good cause. I have also been fortunate to have Justin Vallestros of Craft Spells create the digital art for this compilation, as pictured above. The first CD is all track premieres/exclusives, and the second is some of my favorite tracks from the last quarter.



CD 1

CL Sosa: Good Things (Never Last)
Elite Athlete: Moving Set
Spells: King Shivers (Live)
Fluffy Kittens: Concentration Is Good Except In Camps
Omnivore: Take It All
Craft Spells & Emily Reo: Love Well Spent
Port City: Colours
XO Kid: Unhappy Sex Addict In The Old West
Wools: Sing (Blur cover)
Mainslide: Pizzicato
Megafortress: Police Elevator
Fossil Cities: Running Man
Quit: 9/11 Responders Bill
Green Gerry: Eyesssss

[Download]

CD 2

Yung Life: Patient Love
Birthdays: JNCO Genius
Rabbit Punch: Munchie Dreadlock
Port City: Feel It Out (mastered version)
SBBD: Layered Dust
Sunnybrook: The Way You Know Me
Tennis: Marathon
Our Husband: Villages
Michael Parallax: Rainy Vacation
Gem Trails: Old Kid

[Download]

Craft Spells & Emily Reo: Love Well Spent by SaladFork

This Craft Spells/Emily Reo duet is a pure gem. When Justin and Emily first became friends on Facebook, I knew this could only result in something great. Justin has recently signed to prominent indie label Captured Tracks, and has two 7”s and an LP in the works. Emily has contributed to a new Truman Peyote track that will be on a split with her fellow Floridians Attached Hands, dropping soon on Post Records, which you can stream and download here.

Omnivore: Take it All by SaladFork

Omnivore is Glenna Van Nostrand. She attended school at MASS Art in Boston, and now resides in Providence, RI where she preforms many local shows of her unique, and mesmerizing set of A Capella through a very old radio. The track contributed to this compilation is a bit different than her older material, she recently acquired a sampler and this track has her soothing vocals layered over simple, driving electronic sounds.

CL Sosa - Good things (Never last) [Prod. by Stewrat] by SaladFork

I have very recently had the pleasure of receiving an email from New Jersey based indie rapper CL Sosa, and I have been hooked ever since. The vocal sample presented at the beginning of Good Things (Never Last) is irresistible, his flow is unreal, and at 1:11 the track changes gears and breaks out into a drum solo, soon reverting back to the vocal sample until the track ends.

PURCHASE

Hey all, sorry for the delay with the tapes, I’ve been working on getting the design for it done with Aaron Bouvier, who has donated his professional services to design this cassette. You can see his portfolio here.

All of the information was sent to the tape company last week, and in his most recent update, the masters are done, the imprints are done, and all that’s left is duplication and the O-Cards. I expect to have the tapes in my hands no later than two weeks, (given the shipping is timely) and I will be putting all the Kickstarter goodies together with those who pre-ordered a tape. This delay has given me a lot of time to think about those special Kickstarter gifts, which I believe everyone will be super stoked when received.

Aaron has put a nice folder together containing the art with the MP3’s, and I will be re-sending those out to everyone who purchased them as a more complete representation of the compilation.

I only have a limited number of tapes left for sale, to be specific only six. If you are interested in purchasing a tape, I would do so as soon as possible to assure that you get one. You can purchase one from my Big Cartel store here. Below is a stream of a few exclusives that were made for the tape, Memory Tapes’ heavenly Peter, and Craft Spells’ glowing From The Morning Heat.

Memory Tapes : Peter by SaladFork
From the Morning Heat by SaladFork

The state of California seems to have a great power of influence on the artists that reside there, and Craft Spells, is one of those artists. Embellished with pop, Craft Spells is no doubt affected by Californias’ influence with Justins’ brightly written tracks.

Craft Spells: Triangle Rhymes
Craft Spells: Time Lapse
(photo)

One of my favorite Californian artists right now, Craft Spells, just hit me up with two brand new tracks from their upcoming full length, Idle Labor, coming out in late June. I’m super happy to premier these tracks for you guys, they are full of 70s/80s nostalgia and cool guitar riffs. Given The Time starts off with some deep synth and is brightened up with a catchy guitar chorus, while Ramona has a super sweet bass line that remains prominent throughout the track. No doubt for fans of Teen Inc.

Craft Spells: Ramona
Craft Spells: Given The Time

Previously:
Craft Spells: The Fog Rose High

New video from Craft Spells, promoting their forthcoming EP. This clip is Anna Karina dancing in Jean-Luc Godards’ film, “Vivre Sa Vie”.

Found this utterly amazing track over at Transparent, and I am so into it right now. I literally just listened to it five times in a row. If you are a fan of Brooklyn new wavers Small Black you will be so into this. Also check out the song You Should Close The Door on their myspace, it’s equally as ‘epic’.

Craft Spells: The Fog Rose High