Hit & Run Vol. 1

August 28th, 2012 , by

Singer-songwriter Rosie Thomas has paired up with long time friend and collaborator Sufjan Stevens for the first entry in the Hit & Run series of split 7” vinyl collaborations. Hit & Run Vol. 1 consists of Thomas’ “Where Were You?”—a thoroughly re-imagined version of the track “Where Was I” from Thomas’ new full length record With Love (out now on Sing-A-Long Records) recorded, mixed and featuring a performance by Sufjan Stevens— alongside Steven’s “Here I Am!” which in turn features vocals by Thomas.

Recorded in Brooklyn, the songs brim with questions – both lyrically stated, and implicitly begged:

“Where was I?” Where were you?” “Can you hear me?”
“Does this face mask make me look younger?”
“Could there possibly be any more auto-tune?”

Ecstatic Jazz Duos LP

May 5th, 2009 , by

I Heart Lung/Castanets Split LP

August 16th, 2005 , by

This limited edition (400 copies) 12″ features two unreleased outerspace cuts from Castanets and three all new pieces from Sounds Are Active’s I Heart Lung.  Pressed and on the Oort Cloud BBQ/Sainthood Now tour which saw I Heart Lung touring along side Castanets and Wooden Wand & Vanishing Voice. One long-form Castanets composite along with a shorter piece make up Side A. I Heart Lung contributes one rapid-fire free jazz romp on “Speedboats For Breakfast”, one ballad and the near 8-minute “If I Were A Young Man Now.” Delicious droney stuff from all involved.
All artwork by Tom Steck

Seven Swans

March 16th, 2004 , by

Multi-instrumentalist Sufjan Stevens made a couple of records that slipped under the radar before his third, the astoundingly lush post-rock concept album GREETINGS FROM MICHIGAN, gained him critical attention and cult status. Seemingly bent on not repeating himself, Stevens scales down MICHIGAN’s grandeur to a minimalist palette for SEVEN SWANS. Where the previous album was instrumentally comparable to Tortoise or Stereolab, SEVEN SWANS is practically lo-fi, based around simply strummed acoustic guitars, banjo, organ, and hushed vocals. It’s more akin to laconic Americana troubadours like Will Oldham and Iron & Wine, though no amount of sonic slimming-down can disguise Stevens’s knack for crafty arrangements and accessibly quirky songs. Like-minded spirit Daniel Smith of the Danielson Family produced, and other Family members provide accompaniment that’s considerably more structured than their own free-wheeling recordings.

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