This week’s free download offerings include: a track by triple threat, I‘m With Her; Cary Brothers new one “Crush”; a bang from Black Pistol Fire; Kita Klane, who teams up with Brazilian Girls for a remix; and a hefty slice of ‘dreambow’ from Balún.
Monday, April 9 I’m With Her “I-89”
When musicians spend years on the touring circuit, they are bound to cross paths again and again, such was the case for Sara Watkins (Nickel Creek), Aoife O’Donovan (Crooked Still), and Sarah Jarosz. This trio of virtuosic music-makers meld their voices, songwriting, and instruments seamlessly. Their music might sound like old bluegrass, but these gals don’t pine away for past lovers; instead they write songs of wanderlust and self-worth like we hear in “I-89.”
Tuesday, April 10 Cary Brothers “Crush”
Cary Brothers is not the name of singing siblings; it’s the moniker of an acclaimed musician. After 8 years, he’s back with a new full-length, which drops later this month. We preview the album with “Crush”, his ode to what his imaginary Molly Ringwald would be dancing to in a John Hughes film.
Wednesday, April 11 Black Pistol Fire “Lost Cause”
Rock-fueled Black Pistol Fire know how to make a lot of noise for just a guitar and drum duo. We hear hints of blues, Led Zeppelin, and Chuck Berry inspiring their songs. Get ready to rock with “Lost Cause.”
Thursday, April 12 Kita Klane/ Brazilian Girls Rmx “Technicolor”
Remixes don’t always sound so different from the original recordings, but when Brazilian Girls got their hands on LA based artist Kita Klane’s James-Bond-Girl influenced “Technicolor,” the song morphed into a kaleidoscopic genre-bending jam.
Friday, April 13 Balún “El Espanto”
KCRW DJ José Galván first wrote about Puerto Rican via-Brooklyn outfit Balún on his Pan Caliente blog a couple of years ago (and again while recapping outstanding bands at SXSW this year). Originally part of a DIY scene out of San Juan, Balún features: a classically trained vocalist and songwriter, Angélica Negrón (also a NY Philharmonic commissioned composer); bassist Noraliz Ruiz, who holds a PhD in ethnomusicology; and José Olivares, a technology educator and pioneering beatmaker. The quartet brands their sound as “dreambow.” Check out “El Espanto.”
(Cary Brothers photo by Michael Muller)