Happy Birthday Catherine Irwin!

Raising a glass to the amazing Catherine Irwin with a few stellar performances you may have missed.

Freakwater shares "Fullerene" digitally and recirculates 2016's Scheherazade album

Freakwater's excellent 2016 album Scheherazade is available now via Bandcamp. Hear Catherine Irwin's lovely "Fullerene" below. 

Here's the scoop...

Portland's Fluff and Gravy Records and Freakwater are thrilled to announce the re-release of their 2016 magnum opus, Scheherazade, and to begin of what is hoped to be a long and storied partnership. To celebrate we are digitally releasing the single "Fullerene" for the first time. Previously only available in physical format as the b-side to "The Asp And The Albatross" 7", the track is classic Freakwater. Recorded during the Scheherazade sessions, the Catherine Irwin penned track finds the band at their peak. 

As Irwin recounts, "I was burning some stuff in my living room one night. I remember looking up and noticing that the flames were casting shadows on the wall. The flames themselves were casting shadows.

"The song was almost called The Allegory of the Cave. That title seemed too pretentious -- which is pretty hilarious in retrospect. A fullerene is a beautiful little carbon molecule whose shape resembles one of Buckmister Fuller’s geodesic domes."

Anchored around the fragile and compelling harmonies of Janet Beveridge Bean and Catherine Irwin and the subdued, oracular bass playing of Dave Gay, the utterly unique sound of Freakwater is distilled from many sources. There’s the elemental ache and loss in the soil and limestone of Kentucky, the songs and struggles that passed over and over the Atlantic from the British Isles centuries ago. There’s the energy and freedom in the ratty punk clubs of Louisville and Chicago at a time when rules and formalities were meant to be ignored. 

Freakwater's song "Fullerene" is now available digitally and as the b-side to The Asp And The Albatross on 7" vinyl (right here). You can get Scheherazade digitally, on LP and/or CD at Bandcamp and the Fluff and Gravy Records Store (here) with wider physical distribution to follow. Check out "Fullerene" followed by a performance of "The Asp And The Albatross" below. 

Recently, Janet and Catherine from Freakwater spent some time hanging out with Sally Timms and Jon Langford of The Mekons which led to the 'Freakons' joint venture and a surprisingly engaging concept album about the pitfalls of coal mining. You can get the album directly from Fluff and Gravy's site here.

RIP Muhammad Ali, 1942-2016

Remembering Muhammad Ali with Freakwater's tribute "Louisville Lip" off 1998's Springtime album. 

Pining for real country music in Toronto

An authentic sounding traditional country song was the last thing I expected to hear on a label survey put out by Toronto-based indie operation Blocks Recording Club, let alone one as neatly written and brilliantly arranged as She's Gone by The Pining. Of course, not sounding remotely like anything by Final Fantasy, PDF Format, The Blanket, Shadow Self or The Torrent is exactly what made the all-female ensemble's jarring contribution to Building Blocks Singles Club, Volume 1 so memorable. You can check it out right here and have a look at the video for She's Gone below. 

As I later discovered, the tunes She's Gone and Life Ain't Fair were just two of a number of great original songs the Pining had written since coming together two years earlier out of a shared appreciation for the Carter Family, Hazel Dickens, Patsy Cline, Freakwater and Jameson's Irish Whiskey – not necessarily in that order. Those two and three more Pining faves have since been posted on CBC's Radio 3 site (which you can visit right here) which prove that She's Gone wasn't a fluke.

I'm pleased to report that The Pining have maintained the same high standard of quality control for their fantastic Adam Bell-produced debut album for Blocks which you can pick up at their record release party with tonight (Friday, June 24) at the El Mocambo. The Pining plan to take the stage at 11:30 pm but be sure to arrive in time to catch opening sets by Coole & Downes, the engaging partnership of primo picker Chris Coole and singer/songwriter Simone Downes at 9:30 pm followed by a rare acoustic set from catl at 10:30 pm. Tickets are $10 at the door or $7 in advance if there are any left at Soundscapes or Rotate This.  
NOTE: Those who prefer their country music on vinyl should grab a copy of The Pining album on the double – there were only 300 copies pressed of the LP which was superbly mastered by Harris Newman at Grey Market.

She's Gone by The Pining



LINKS
The Pining http://www.myspace.com/thepining
Blocks Recording Club http://www.blocksblocksblocks.com/