Katharsis Dec. 21 '09

Merry Christmas! Download the show in mp3 or ogg.

Music to watch snow fall to: Osso - Year of our Lord (Sufjan Stevens cover), Machinefabriek - j'espere CA, Efterklang and the Danish National Chamber Orchestra - Illuminant (live), Felicia Atkinson - Brother in Mind, Dirac - A Rest in Tension, Peter Wright - River Lea Time Lapse, Oren Ambarchi - Trailing Moss in Mystic Glow, September Collective - Waldflöte, Steven R. Smith - Night Upon Us, The Green Kingdom - Maplecopter, Rachel Grimes - The Corner Room, Aarktica - Slept Through Christmas, Black to Comm - Trapez, Celer - Belsslsssl, Hauschka - Flingern, The Beautiful Schizophonic - Pollen, Julien Neto - III, Ramesses III - Across the Lake is Where My Heart Shines, James Blackshaw - Cross, and Low - Silent Night.

Tune in on Monday for a bit of a best of 2009 round-up with myself and Timothy Heck, host of one of the most exquisite radio programs ever broadcast anywhere (Music For Hedgehogs) and occasional guest host of Katharsis.

The links to the archived show recordings should be good for up to a month from the show date. If the links expire just let me know via comment and I'll re-up.

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Katharsis Dec. 14 '09

Listen again: mp3 or ogg

This week: Azeda Booth - Well (Refilled and Set in Sand), Women - Black Rice, Animal Collective - I Think I Can, Beach House - Walk in the Park, Thighs - Walking out on the Call of Townhouses, Systems Officer - Quan, Tannhäuser - DK, Arms & Sleepers - Helvetica, Small Color - Hikari No Hana, Praveen & Benoît - Death as a Man, Teruyuki Nobuchika - Nocturne, Pillowdiver - White, Fjordne - Turn of Color, Felix - Waltzing for Weasels, Heather Woods Broderick - Wounded Bird, The Battle of Land and Sea - Harden my Heart (Pat Benatar cover), Guitar - Ever Green Moment, Dub Tractor - A Lot of Work is Done, .Tape. - The Projectionist (Arbol Remix), Prefuse 73 - Speed of God 2000, Lusine - Gravity, Fax - Rota, Four Tet - Love Cry, and Atlas Sound - Washington School.

The links to the archived show recordings should be good for up to a month from the show date. If the links expire just let me know via comment and I'll re-up.

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Katharsis Dec. 7 '09

The recording: ogg.

Tonight: Om - Cremation Ghat II, Dirac - Bantu, Vlor - She Goes without Boys, Mount Eerie - Between Two Mysteries, The Black Heart Procession - Suicide, Ethernet - Kansia, Systems Officer - East, Tristeza - Manitas, Kurt Vile - Heart Attack, Built to Spill - Oh Yeah, Steven R. Smith - The City Gate, Piano Magic - The Blue Hour, Aarkitca - Corpse Reviver #2, Shelly Short - How was the Water?, Molina & Johnson - Lenore's Lullaby, J. Tillman - My Proud Mountains (Townes van Zandt cover), Erik Enocksson - Non Ursae, Brian Harnetty & Bonnie Prince Billy - As Old As the Stars, Jay Farrar & Benjamin Gibbard - Final Horrors, - Duke Garwood - Reap the Many Fruits - Harris Newman - Sometimes a Bad Attitude is all it Takes, Anders Parker - Second Skin, Mark Eitzel - Why I'm Bullshit, Great Lake Swimmers - Our Mother the Mountain (Townes van Zandt cover), The Green Kingdom - The Promise of Spring, and Richard Hawley - Don't Get Hung Up In Your Soul.

The links to the archived show recordings should be good for up to a month from the show date. If the links expire just let me know via comment and I'll re-up.

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Katharsis Nov. 30 '09

Sorry, no show recording this week (technology failed us).

This Week: Slow Six, Heinali, Heather Woods Broderick, Max Richter, Christian Naujoks, Black to Comm, Jon Hopkins, Hudson Mohawke, Lubomyr Melnyk, Orla Wren, Nathan Bell, Zelienople, Ilyas Ahmed, Rafael Anton Isarri, Lokai, Peter Broderick + Machinefabriek, Felix, Nancy Elizabeth, and Aarktica.

Hopefully the stream recording will be working for next week's show.

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Katharsis Nov. 23 '09

Listen: mp3 or ogg.

I was off enjoying a show with Liz Durrett and Vic Chesnutt backed by members of Thee Silver Mt. Zion and Picciotto from Fugazi. Craig Soby filled in for me and did a fantastic job. If you missed it I highly recommend you download it and listen via the links above.

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Katharsis Nov. 16 '09

Again: mp3 or ogg.

First night in the brand new studio. It's great but the passing of our beloved mojo navigator, the iconic Rev. Ron has left me with a touch of the blues. No more "everythings gone buggy", no more "bricks in the leaning tower of babel", no more "church of get-down", no more Blues Witness... bummer.

The complete set list by request: Grimble Grumble - Emma Sleeping Blues, Jodis - Continents, J. Tillman - Barter Blues, Bohren & der Club of Gore - Darkstalker, the Inhabitants - Drop Descender, the Shipping News - It's Not too Late, Slint - Good Morning Captain, Aarktica - In Sea, the Drift - Lands End, Tarentel - Open Letter to Hummingbirds, Zelienople - Moss Man, the Mercury Program - Katos, Pillowdiver - Tony on a Bike, Black Heart Procession - Wasteland, Dirac - This is your 4am Wake-up Call, and Black to Comm - Void. Goodbye and Godspeed Rev. You will be missed.

The links to the archived show recordings should be good for up to 3 months from the show date. If the links expire just let me know via comment and I'll re-up.

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Katharsis Nov. 9 '09

Listen: mp3 or ogg.

Last night in the basement. Artists this week: Califone, Castanets, Brian Harnetty & Bonnie "Prince" Billy, Vic Chesnutt, Shannon Wright, Mark Eitzel, Steven R. Smith, Molina & Johnson, Shelley Short, Laura Gibson, Nick Cave & Warren Ellis, Richard Hawley, Sumner McKane, Julie Peel, Thighs, The American Analog Set, Felicia Atkinson, Fjordne, Lou Barlow, Chet, Idaho, and Peter Wright. Next week we should be upstairs... (finally)

The links to the archived show recordings should be good for up to 3 months from the show date. If the links expire just let me know via comment and I'll re-up.

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Katharsis Nov. 2 '09

Listen: mp3 or ogg.

This week: Arms and Sleepers, Nanang Tatang, Mark Eitzel, Nancy Elizabeth, Lusine, Prefuse 73, Atlas Sound, Helios, Apparat, Heinali, Ametsub, Ben Frost, Klimek, Marsen Jules, Chihei Hatakeyama, Loscil, Offsets, Ethernet, Mountains, Hauschka, Fjordne, Mark Hollis, Rachel Grimes, Klumpes Ahmad, and Ryuichi Sakamoto.

The links to the archived show recordings should be good for up to 3 months from the show date. If the links expire just let me know via comment and I'll re-up.

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Katharsis Oct. 26 '09 (Funding Drive)

Thanks to those who pledged during our funding drive. We ended up raising over $1500 during Katharsis and the station went on to raise approximately $210,000. Considering the times this is fantastic, a great show of support for truly original radio.

Craig Soby, who used to follow up Katharsis every week with a great show called Bedtime Boogaloo, sat in with me for my funding drive show. We had a great time blathering on about the station. If you care to listen, here are the links: mp3 or ogg.

If you pledged THANKS! Make sure you pay your pledge by Nov. 20 to be included in the grand prize draws.

The links to the archived show recordings should be good for up to 3 months from the show date. If the links expire just let me know via comment and I'll re-up.

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CJSW 2009 Funding Drive

It's here again; my funding drive show is tonight from 10pm-midnight and the funding drive only goes until Friday. The theme this year is cjsw 90.9fm Delicious Radio!

On top of the warm fuzzies you get from supporting a good cause, there are some fun new pledge incentives this year such as cjsw ice cream scoops, aprons, and stuff for the kids (a colouring book, kids T's and onesies for babies). To check out the goods head over to our swag page.

If you would like to donate on my show but don't want to have to stay up late to do it (or are in a completely different time zone), we'd be happy to accept your pledge online. As in previous years, I will probably be able to offer some additional cd's as incentives for pledges over $75. In the sharing spirit, I have made 5 virtual mix compilations (instrumental electronic/IDM, rock, neo-classical, and quiet/dreamy pop.) For each paid $25 pledge amount you a get an emailed link to the zip file (ex. $25 = one zip file of your choice, $125 = all 5)

Feel free to donate early and donate often; it all goes in the same pot.

Thanks,

Kevin

CJSW's annual funding drive runs Friday October 23rd through to the 30th. For one week every year we take a break from being the best radio station in town, and ask you, our listeners, to help us out.

All the money raised during our annual Funding Drive campaign goes towards our capital budget (like it always does), paying for everything from maintaining our 4000 watt broadcast tower, to our CD players (commercial grade cd players and parts are becoming harder to source), our headphones, and all the other costs associated with running a radio station.

Your past generosity has allowed us to finally develop our new broadcast centre on the 3rd floor of the MacEwan Student Centre (the move in date to the new space is Nov. 6 '09). This is a huge undertaking and we will be paying it off for a while yet. It will be a work in progress for the next while and with the money we raise we will be able to fully equip the new studios.

We have also used funding drive support to improve our web streams and create a new CJSW website, subscribe to award-winnings shows like Democracy Now and Counterspin and develop new initiatives like podcasting.

Thanks to your support, CJSW has expanded its presence in the community as well! CJSW is everywhere! We're out supporting Calgary's many festivals and community events, and we're broadcasting live shows to you from local venues.

Pledging is easy. You can all the pledge line at 403-220-5000 between October 23rd and October 30th, or make a donation on-line at www.cjsw.com. Listen to CJSW 90.9 FM and check out www.cjsw.com everyday to find out about all the great swag we have to offer for pledges. Help us reach our goal of $200,000.

Thanks very much for your support!

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Katharsis Oct. 19 '09

Listen: mp3 or ogg.

This week: Six Organs of Admittance, White Rainbow, Hey!Tonal, Rameses III, Mountains, Atlas Sound, Kurt Vile, Slaraffenland, Teruyuki Nobuchika, Jodis, Supersilent, Tsukimono, Sparklehorse + Fennesz, Klimek, Bad Rabbit, Zak Sally, Jesu, and Aoki Takamasa.

The links to the archived show recordings should be good for up to 3 months from the show date. If the links expire just let me know via comment and I'll re-up.

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Katharsis Oct. 12 '09

Was out of town over Thanksgiving for some much needed R&R. Many thanks to Craig for the fantastic showfill. Have a listen: mp3 or ogg.

Several years ago Craig hosted a fantastic show immediately after mine called "Bedtime Boogaloo". I understand that early rising for work after a late night radio show became too difficult though (I can certainly relate - I must be getting old). His musical knowledge, great taste and wry wit are missed. Fortunately he has been doing more showfills lately. Hopefully he will be able to find an available timeslot that works with his busy schedule. I'm always glad when he can fill in for me.

The links to the archived show recordings should be good for up to 3 months from the show date. If the links expire just let me know via comment and I'll re-up.

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Katharsis Oct. 5 '09

listen: mp3 or ogg.

This week: Aerosol, Califone, Monsters of Folk, Le Loup, Volcano Choir, Atlas Sound, Fink, Koen Park, the Mountain Goats, Shannon Stephens, Hope Sandoval & the Warm Inventions, Lisa Germano, Nancy Elizabeth, Pixel, Nick Cave & Warren Ellis, Christian Naujoks, Christopher Tignor, Jóhann Jóhannsson, David Sylvian, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Richard Skelton, and Jónsi & Alex.

The links to the archived show recordings should be good for up to 3 months from the show date. If the links expire just let me know via comment and I'll re-up.

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Katharsis Sept. 28 '09

listen again: mp3 or ogg.

This week: the Twilight Sad, Slaraffenland, Vic Chesnutt, Slaraffenland, Do Make Say Think, Balmorhea (remixed by the Fun Years), Ben Frost, Murcof, Final, Kreng, Clint Mansell, Keith Fullerton Whitman, Clint Mansell, Aun, Lawrence English (with Dean Roberts), Fuqugi, Nick Cave & Warren Ellis, Rachel Grimes, Peter Broderick, Gareth Dickson, Lisa Germano, and Rameses III.

The links to the archived show recordings should be good for up to 3 months from the show date. If the links expire just let me know via comment and I'll re-up.

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Katharsis Sept. 21 '09

listen again: mp3 or ogg.

This week: David Bazan, Wye Oak, Ramona Falls, the Antlers, Le Loup, Dodos, the Notwist, Califone, Epic 45, Nancy Elizabeth, Shannon Wright, Thanksgiving, Volcano Choir, Tomasz Bednarczyk, Tsukimono, Ben Frost, Jacaszek, Giuseppe Ielasi, Chihei Hatakeyama, Riceboy Sleeps (Jónsi & Alex), Molly Berg + Stephen Vitiello, and Fjordne.

The links to the archived show recordings should be good for up to 3 months from the show date. If the links expire just let me know via comment and I'll re-up.

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Katharsis Sept. 14 '09

download: mp3 or ogg.

This week: Azeda Booth, Benn Jordan, Greg Davis, David Sylvian, Kreng, Bell Orchestre, Mt. Eerie, Port-Royal, 3ofmillions, Ethan Rose & Laura Gibson, Shannon Stephens, Hope Sandoval & the Warm Inventions, Brock Geiger, Bill Frisell, Fink, Early Day Miners, Altas Sound (featuring Laetitia Sadier), and Lusine.

The links to the archived show recordings should be good for up to 3 months from the show date. If the links expire just let me know via comment and I'll re-up.

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Katharsis Sept. 7 '09

download: mp3 or ogg.

This week: Espers, Hope Sandoval & the Warm Inventions, Clouwbeck, Balmorhea (remixed by Machinefabriek), Sparklehorse + Fennesz, Lucid 44, Vic Chesnutt, Sparklehorse + Fennesz, Castanets, DM Stith, the Acorn, Klumpes Ahmad, Timber Timbre, Fabio Orsi, Benoît Pioulard, Snowblink, Mirah, the Black Heart Procession, The Bronzed Chorus, and Shannon Wright.

The links to the archived show recordings should be good for up to 3 months from the show date. If the links expire just let me know via comment and I'll re-up.

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Katharsis Aug. 31 '09

download: mp3 or ogg.

This week: The Prayer Chain, Castanets, Wye Oak, Ladyhawk, Zak Sally, Retribution Gospel Choir, The Alps, Early Day Miners, Land of Talk, David Bazan, Cass McCombs, Thomas Bednarczyk, Key to the City, Picastro, Shannon Stephens, The Trespassers William, The Boats, Bell Orchestre (remixed by Mad Professor), Fourcolor, Bell Orchestre (remixed by Kid Koala), Bell Orchestre (remixed by Tim Hecker), Balmorhea (remixed by Xela), and Balmorhea (remixed by Library Tapes).

The links to the archived show recordings should be good for up to 3 weeks from the show date. If the links expire just let me know via comment and I'll re-up.

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Katharsis Aug. 24 '09

download: mp3 or ogg.

Rock music anyone?: The Surf the Sundried, Jerk with a Bomb, Ral Partha Vogelbacher, Mount Eerie, Angels of Light, Chris Whitley and the Bastard Club, Zen Savauge, Hawaii, The Low Frequency in Stereo, Heat Ray, The Veils, Gliss, Yellow 6, Los Halos, The Black Angels, Tara Jane O'Neil, Prolapse, Radiohead, Early Day Miners, and Piano Magic.

The links to the archived show recordings should be good for up to 3 weeks from the show date. If the links expire just let me know via comment and I'll re-up.

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'Post' Katharsis Aug. 17 '09

Thanks to Stan (from Post-Everything) and Devin (from Each One Teach One) for covering for me. They did a special 2+ hour feature on Louisville, KY and Chicago, IL post-rock/math-rock (ex. Slint, Rodan, June of 44, 90 Day Men, etc.) check it out here: mp3 or ogg.

The links to the archived show recordings should be good for up to 3 weeks from the show date. If the links expire just let me know via comment and I'll re-up.

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Katharsis Aug 10 '09

The show recording: mp3 or ogg.

This week: Tomasz Bednarczyk, Animal Hospital, Konntinent, Jasper TX, Balmorhea (Remixed by Eluvium), Balmorhea (Remixed by Jazaszek), Clouwbeck, A Broken Consort, Christopher Tignor, Kreng, Jacaszek, Max Richter, Gareth Dickson, Jóhann Jóhannsson, Murcof, Black Mold, and Philip Jeck.

The links to the archived show recordings should be good for up to 3 weeks from the show date. If the links expire just let me know via comment and I'll re-up.

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Katharsis Aug. 3 '09

This week's: mp3 or ogg.

Artists played: Lucid 44, Psychic Pollution, Grandfather Fire and the Holy Morning, Timber Timbre, Jay Crocker, Pinetop Seven, Keith Smith Trio, Vetiver, Tiny Vipers, Fleet Foxes, Peter Lang, Shearwater, John Fahey, Simon Fisk Trio, 3ofmillions, Tortoise, 3ofmillions, Swod, Adrian Klumpes, Peter Broderick, James Blackshaw, Riceboy Sleeps, and Koen Park.

The links to the archived show recordings should be good for up to 3 weeks from the show date. If the links expire just let me know via comment and I'll re-up.

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Katharsis July 27 '09

This week's: mp3 or ogg.

Artists played: Esmarine, Klumpes Ahmad, Tim Hecker, Relapxych, FourColor, Tujiko Noriko, Helios, Klumpes Ahmad, Molly Berg + Stephen Vitiello, Konntinent, Grouper, Mountains, David Sylvian, Pillowdiver, Ben Frost, Sylvain Chauveau, Mick Turner, Vlor, Mount Eerie, Max Richter, and Hammock.

The links to the archived show recordings should be good for up to 3 weeks from the show date. If the links expire just let me know via comment and I'll re-up.

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Katharsis July 20 '09

This week's: mp3 or ogg.

Artists played: Joan of Arc, Steven R. Smith, A Broken Consort, Jack Rose, James Blackshaw, Alexander Turnquist, Evan Miller, Richard Skelton, Ilyas Ahmed, Psychic Pollution, Forest Tate Fraser, Knots, Extra Happy Ghost!!!, Gobble Gobble, Goldmund, Tiny Vipers, Chris Brokaw, Takeshi Nishimoto, and Mark Templeton. Programmed on the fly (as I usually do) this show ended up being heavily Fahey/Takoma-inspired though I neglected to play the master himself (I accidentally left my Fahey music at home). There is so much more of this type of stuff to explore that I'll very likely play more of it in a future show. Boomkat has put together a nice little intro to the Takoma sound. Check it out.

The links to the archived show recordings should be good for up to 3 weeks from the show date. If the links expire just let me know via comment and I'll re-up.

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Katharsis July 13 '09

Sorry, I've been slackin': mp3 or ogg.

This week's selections: We Were Promised Jet Packs, Patrick Phelan, Pale Air Singers, Tiny Vipers, Stina Nordenstam, Idaho, Lotte Kestner, Lawrence English, DM Stith, Mark Templeton, Riceboy Sleeps, Rafael Anton Irisarri, Brock Geiger, Mothers Auxilliary, Forest Tate Fraser, Mount Eerie, The Antlers, Hermit Thrushes, Tom Brosseau, Marissa Nadler, Alela Diane, Nina Nastasia, Psychic Pollution, Thanksgiving, Royal City, and Chihei Hatakeyama.

The links to the archived show recordings should be good for up to 3 weeks from the show date. If the links expire just let me know via comment and I'll re-up.

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Katharsis July 6 '09

Stampede? What Stampede?: mp3 or ogg.

This week: Viva Voce, Timber Timbre, CocoRosie, Chris Garneau, Nils Frahm, Jóhann Jóhannsson, Christopher Tignor, Gareth Dickson, A Broken Consort, Molly Berg + Stephen Vitiello, Julien Neto, Max Richter, Gregg Kowalsky, Taiga Remains, Taylor Deupree, Fuqugi, and Pillowdiver.

The links to the archived show recordings should be good for up to 3 weeks from the show date. If the links expire just let me know via comment and I'll re-up.

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Katharsis June 29 '09

Get your: mp3 or ogg.

This week: Royal City, Brock Geiger, Jordan Klassen, Reverie Sound Review, Githead, Adam Franklin, Torngat, Jonathan Kane, Bedhead, Deerhunter, Kevin Hearn & Thin Buckle, Axis of Conversation (remixed by Morgan Greenwood), Riceboy Sleeps (2 tracks), Christopher Bissonnette, and Tiny Vipers.

The links to the archived show recordings should be good for up to 3 weeks from the show date. If the links expire just let me know via comment and I'll re-up.

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Katharsis June 22 '09

Download: mp3 or ogg.

This week: Nels Cline, Crippled Black Phoenix, Earth, Bad Rabbit, Pontiak, Tim Hecker, Sonic Youth, The Dead Science, Black Heart Procession, The Black Angels, Jasper TX & Anduin, A Broken Consort, Mount Eerie, Bracken, Animal Hospital, Lucid 44, Royal City, Magnolia Electric Co., David Grubbs, and Rothko.

The links to the archived show recordings should be good for up to 3 weeks from the show date. If the links expire just let me know via comment and I'll re-up.

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Katharsis June 15 '09

Download: mp3 or ogg.

This week: Edison Woods, Tarentel, Clogs, Jay Crocker, Giuseppe Ielasi & Nicola Ratti, Israel M, Mitchell Akiyama (2 tracks), Tortoise, Stars of the Lid, Precious Fathers, Günther, Russian Circles, Bibio, Years, Triple Take-out, Oliver Schroer, and Plastik Joy.

The links to the archived show recordings should be good for up to 3 weeks from the show date. If the links expire just let me know via comment and I'll re-up.

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Katharsis June 8 '09

Download: mp3 or ogg.

This week: Dan Goldman, Patrick Watson, Timber Timbre, Jordan Klassen, Knots, Eamon McGrath, Jon-Rae Fletcher, Forest Tate Fraser, Lucid 44, Kris Ellestad, Brock Geiger, Gianna Lauren, Julie Doiron, Tara Jane O'Neil, Seaworthy, Boduf Songs, Brian Borcherdt, Ilyas Ahmed, Precious Fathers, Years, Michael Brook, Peter Broderick, A Broken Consort, Christopher Tignor, and Mark Templeton.

The links to the archived show recordings should be good for up to 3 weeks from the show date. If the links expire just let me know via comment and I'll re-up.

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Katharsis June 1 '09

Show recording: mp3 link here & ogg link here.

This week: Olenka & the Autumn Lovers, Knots, Forest Tate Fraser, Cam Penner, Jordan Klassen, Pale Air Singers, Jason Lytle, Jeremy Enigk, Voice of the Seven Woods, Lewis & Clarke, Bill Callahan, Viva Voce, Grizzly Bear, Headless Heroes, Takahiro Kido, Barzin, Weinland, Patrick Watson, Wilco, Balmorhea, Eamon McGrath, Richard Laviolette & the Hollow Hooves, Ladyhawk, Adam Franklin, The Church, and Rothko.

The links to the archived show recordings should be good for up to 3 weeks from the show date. If the links expire just let me know via comment and I'll re-up.

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Katharsis May 25 '09

Show recording mp3 here & ogg here.

This week: Damien Jurado, Eleventh Dream Day, Chris Brokaw, Rhys Chatham, Jonathan Kane, Tortoise, Ender, Pelican, Isis, Nadja, Jasper TX & Anduin, James Blackshaw, Kris Ellestad, Knots, Beneath These Idle Tides (excerpt from Moments of a Red Sun (in D Major) as heard on Noise, May 14 '09), Tara Jane O'Neil, Fuqugi, Neal Moignard, Seaworthy, and Years.

The links to the archived show recordings should be good for up to 3 weeks from the show date. If the links expire just let me know via comment and I'll re-up.

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Katharsis May 18 '09

Sorry (again) for the delay in posting. Too busy... mp3 here & ogg here.

This week: Lanterna, Operation Aloha, Years, Machinefabriek, Mark Templeton, Jasper TX & Anduin, Animal Hospital, Stafrænn Hákon, The Fun Years, Aun, Tsukimono, Tujiko Noriko/Lawrence English/John Chantler, Knots, Adrian Klumpes, Dakota Suite (Hauschka Remix and Emanuele Errante Remix), Forest Tate Fraser, Jessye Cook, and Sumner McKane.

The links to the archived show recordings should be good for up to 3 weeks from the show date. If the links expire just let me know via comment and I'll re-up.

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Katharsis May 11 '09

Sorry for not fading out the Soft Machine sooner (yikes!) Here's the show recording in mp3 and ogg.

The show actually started with one of my favourite Mount Eerie tracks, “Wooly Mammoth's Absence” from Seven New Songs, after which I was graced with a special treat: a live phone interview with Mr. Mount Eerie (Phil Elverum). The Anacortes, Washington based artist discussed his upcoming Sled Island appearance (w/ Woodpigeon June 25 @ Central United Church), his annual Anacortes-themed What the Heck Fest, the Anacortes arts-hub The Department of Safety, running his creative proprietorship (P.W. Elverum & Sun), and touched on the idea of digital music versus tangible physical works of art. Thanks to Phil and to BeatRoute for facilitating the interview.

The rest of the music (after the interview): Mount Eerie (w/ Julie Doiron and Fred Squire), Mount Eerie, (Sorry if I led anyone astray, our concert calender on the cjsw web site was wrong: In addition to the Flemish Eye Ball, Julie Doiron is scheduled to play Broken City on June 11, NOT May 11. Hopefully my mistaken direction to hurry down to the show did not lead to disappointment), No Kids, Hanne Hukkelberg, Jason Lytle, Pale Air Singers, Jordan Klassen, Tara Jane O'Neil, Benoît Pioulard, James Blackshaw, Jon Hopkins, Lhasa, Patrick Watson, Flying Change, Headless Heroes, and Riceboy Sleeps.

The links to the archived show recordings should be good for up to 3 weeks from the show date. If the links expire just let me know via comment and I'll re-up.

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Katharsis May 4 '09

Sorry for the delay in posting. Busy week. mp3 here and ogg here.

This week: Gliss, Viva Voce, Doves, Adam Franklin, Jeniferever, Lotus Plaza, Jeremy Enigk, Torngat, Shannon Wright, Sholi, Tara Jane O'Neil, Venice is Sinking, The Black Heart Procession, PJ Harvey & John Parrish, Evan Miller, Flowers of Hell, Bill Callahan, Lewis & Clarke, Dan Goldman, Dakota Suite (Loscil Remix), Kaki King, Julie Doiron, Church of the Very Bright Lights, GutterAwl, Jon-Rae & The River, Mark Templeton & Aaron Munson.

The links to the archived show recordings should be good for up to 3 weeks from the show date. If the links expire just let me know via comment and I'll re-up.

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Katharsis Apr. 27 '09

mp3 and ogg show recording.

All ambient/experimental/post-rock tonight (the show starts at approximately 5 minutes on the stream recording): Nels Cline, I Heart Lung, Tarentel, Slow Six, The Beans, The Rachels, Max Richter, Peter Broderick, Hauschka, Years, Marsen Jules, Klimek, Stars of the Lid, Oliver Schroer, & Hammock. The automated stream recording is a bit off lately; the end of the show is on the beginning of the Post-Everything recording (download here or here). I highly recommend listening to Post-Everything. It’s a great show, often better than Katharsis. Tonight Stan profiled Tsukimono, a brilliant Swedish ambient experimental artist.

The links to the archived show recordings should be good for up to 3 weeks from the show date. If the links expire just let me know via comment and I'll re-up.

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Katharsis Apr. 20 '09

Listen to the mp3 or ogg show recording.

Mellow pop and a bit of shoe-gazey rock tonight: Pale Air Singers, Years, Balmorhea, Dan Goldman, Mirah, Snowblink, Royal Wood, Barzin, SubtractiveLAD, Jeniferever, Grant Lee Buffalo, Marissa Nadler, Neko Case, Speck Mountain, Au Revoir Borealis, Venice Is Sinking, The Appleseed Cast, National Skyline, The Doves, Kyte, St. Kilda, Woodpigeon, The Veils, The Church, Mice Parade, Chad van Gaalen, and Years (again).

The links to the archived show recordings should be good for up to 3 weeks from the show date. If the links expire just let me know via comment and I'll re-up.

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Katharsis Apr. 13 '09

Download the mp3 or ogg recording.

Mostly quieter, rootsy alt-pop tonight: Cam Penner, Lorrie Matheson, Howie Beck, Greater California, St. Vincent & The National (covering Crooked Fingers), Bill Callahan (complete with annoying car horn blasts. Sorry, I’m a little thick and it’s taken me 2 weeks of playing this thing on my show and a bit of googling to figure out that the horn-honking is an anti-piracy feature of my review copy, not some quirky attempt at levity on Callahan’s part. I guess I should have played my downloaded ‘illegitimate’ 320 kbps mp3 copy of the album which is car horn-free and I’ve had for weeks rather than my more recently-received ‘legitimate’ but sonically mutilated promo copy. Thanks Drag City, you’re really making it easy for us to review and promote the album. I guess spoiling the music for reviewers and radio dj’s (and their audiences) is acceptable collateral damage in the war against online piracy. Brilliant.) Pale Air Singers, Three Mile Pilot, 40 seconds of dead air (!!!) (Sorry, I forgot to plug in an audio cable to the laptop; real swift…), Seaworthy, Olenka and the Autumn Lovers, Royal City, Jon-Rae Fletcher, PJ Harvey & John Parish, Songs:Ohia, Bill Frisell, Brian Borcherdt, Great Lake Swimmers, Lhasa, Mark Kozelek, Mountains, Rothko, Ilyas Ahmed, James Blackshaw, and Color Cassette. Again, sorry for all the technical glitches. Operator error is to blame. It was an off week.

The links to the archived show recordings should be good for up to 3 weeks from the show date. If the links expire just let me know via comment and I'll re-up.

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Katharsis Apr. 6 '09

Listen in mp3 or ogg format.

On the recording this week: Mono (last song of Aubrey's Shindig), Acetone, Speck Mountain, Pink Mountaintops, Pale Air Singers, Bill Callahan, Peter Broderick, Fuqugi, O+S, Maria Taylor, Fever Ray, Glen Johnson, Alexandre Navarro, Last Days, Julie Doiron, Gianna Lauren, Lhasa, Laura Gibson, Clogs, Manrico Montero, Bohren & der Club of Gore, Barbara Buchholz, Clogs, and Alva Noto.

The links to the archived show recordings should be good for up to 3 weeks from the show date. If the links expire just let me know via comment and I'll re-up.

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Katharsis Mar. 30 '09

Sorry, the cjsw stream went down earlier in the night so no show recording this week.

Artist played this week: Women, Animal Hospital, The Besnard Lakes, The Veils, Ilyas Ahmed, DM Stith, Konntinent, Castinets vs. Ero, Tarentel, Devin Friesen, Lawrence English (with Christian Fennesz), Jasper TX, Lawrence English (with Dean Roberts), Lotus Plaza, Jon Hopkins, Fridge, Marsen Jules, Years, and Harris Newman.

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Katharsis Mar. 23 '09

mp3 or ogg format.

This week: Nels Cline, Laura Gibson, Land of Kush, The Alps, Evan Miller, Bon Iver, DM Stith, Grizzly Bear, Fuqugi, Mark Templeton & aAron Munson, Au Revoir Borealis, Fever Ray, Glen Johnson, Color Cassette, Azeda Booth, Years, SubractiveLAD, Animal Hospital, and Last Days.

The links to the archived show recordings should be good for up to 3 weeks from the show date. If the links expire just let me know via comment and I'll re-up.

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Katharsis Mar. 16 '09

Listen at your leisure in mp3 or ogg format.

Heavy on the abstract electronic/ambient in the first hour or so: Jon Hopkins, Pixel, Ethan Rose, Fennesz, Alva Noto, Murcof & Erik Truffaz, Arve Henriksen, Jacaszek, Eluvium, Mountains, Banjo Consorsium (remixed by Off the Sky/Color Cassette) Grouper, RF & Lili De La Mora, Trespassers William, Last Days, Great Lake Swimmers, Barzin, Maria Taylor, Julie Doiron, Oldman, and Animal Hospital.

The links to the archived show recordings should be good for up to 3 weeks from the show date. If the links expire just let me know via comment and I'll re-up.

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Katharsis Mar. 9 '09

Download in mp3 or ogg.

Artists played this week: Balmorhea, Last Days, Mark Templeton + aAron Munson, Mokyow, Robin, Günther, Psychic Pollution, Idaho, National Skyline, SubtractiveLAD, Taylor Deupree, Sholi, Bon Iver, DM Stith, Grizzly Bear, Tobias Lilja, Jon Hopkins, Azeda Booth, Rigil, DM Stith, and Montag.

If the show recording download links expire just let me know via comment and I'll re-up.

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Katharsis Mar. 2 '09

mp3 recording available here and ogg recording available here or there. (Sorry about the annoying banner ads)

Still recovering from a nasty cold. Artists played this week: Wow & Flutter, Murder By Death, The Alps, The Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra & Tra-la-la Band, Woven Hand, The Veils, Laura Gibson, Marissa Nadler, Alela Diane, The Provincial Archive, Mark Templeton & aAron Munson, Julie Doiron, Nels Cline, Lorrie Matheson, Le Mathrock, Strange Attractors, Mountains, Male, and Evan Miller.

If the show recording download links expire, just let me know via comment and I'll re-up.

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Katharsis Feb. 23 '09

Archived in mp3 format here or ogg format here or here.

Unfortunately, I wasn't up to doing my show this week. Devin, host of the fantastic Each One Teach One (heard every Tuesday from 9-10 PM MST on cjsw), filled in for me and did a stellar job. He played: Desolation Wilderness, Mark Templeton & aAron Munson, Stag Hare, Another Electronic Musician, Apse, Shearing Pinx, Bell Orchestre, Robin, Sun Araw, Deerhunter, Azeda Booth, Arliss Parker, Evan Miller, Mark Templeton & aAron Munson, The Hylozoists, Bedhead, Burning Star Core, Flying Saucer Attack, and Yo La Tengo. Check out his blog posting for details. (Thanks Devin!)

Do check out his show.

If the show recording download links expire, just let me know via comment and I'll re-up.

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Katharsis Feb. 16 '09

Enjoy!

Artists played this week: Animal Collective, Dan Deacon, the Low Frequency in Stereo, Nels Cline, Mountains, Akron/Family, Jon-Rae Fletcher, Brian Borcherdt, Gregor Samsa, Susumu Yokota, Swod, Goldmund, Adrian Klumpes, Machinefabriek (w/ Soccer Committee), Peter Broderick, Tomasz Bednarczyk, Sigur Rós, Tim Hecker, Chihei Hatakeyama, and the Sight Below.

The recording is in .ogg vorbis format recorded directly from the cjsw stream. I prefer vorbis files to mp3’s due to their better fidelity at similar bit rates (ie. an .ogg vorbis file sounds better than an mp3 file of a similar bitrate) and the fact that vorbis is open source (ie. non-proprietary). Most computer audio software programs can play .ogg files but I realize that not all hardware music players (such as the iPod) can play .ogg files. If you want to convert the show recording to an mp3 or AAC file so that you can load it on to your iPod I recommend FreeRIP for PC users.

There is always some quality degradation with conversion between compression formats but as the cjsw .ogg stream is at a higher bitrate than the .mp3 stream converting the .ogg recording to an mp3 of similar bitrate shouldn’t sound any worse than a recording of the mp3 stream.

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Katharsis Feb. 9 '09

Available here.

This week, mostly mellow folky kind of stuff. Artists played: Jon-Rae Fletcher, Cotton Jones, Vetiver, Jen Grant, Bodies of Water, The Surf The Sundried, Dakota Suite, Au, Marissa Nadler, Andrew Bird, Fink, Dan Auerbach, Bon Iver, Le Chat Blanc Orchestra, Timbre Timber, J. Tillman, Mark Kozelek, Snailhouse, Snowblink, Sholi, Steinbrüchel, Ezekiel Honig, Taylor Deupree, and Balmorhea.

The recording is in .ogg vorbis format recorded directly from the cjsw stream. I prefer vorbis files to mp3’s due to their better fidelity at similar bit rates (ie. an .ogg vorbis file sounds better than an mp3 file of a similar bitrate) and the fact that vorbis is open source (ie. non-proprietary). Most computer audio software programs can play .ogg files but I realize that not all hardware music players (such as the iPod) can play .ogg files. If you want to convert the show recording to an mp3 or AAC file so that you can load it on to your iPod I recommend FreeRIP for PC users.

There is always some quality degradation with conversion between compression formats but as the cjsw .ogg stream is at a higher bitrate than the .mp3 stream converting the .ogg recording to an mp3 of similar bitrate shouldn’t sound any worse than a recording of the mp3 stream.

Read more...

Katharsis Feb. 2 '09

Download it here.

Artists played: Rokia Traoré, Matthew Ship Trio, Squarepusher, Hudson Mohawke, Pixel, Signal, Kangding Ray, Alva Noto + Ryuichi Sakamoto & Ensemble Modern, Alva Noto, Implex Grace, Beneath These Idle Tides, Tim Hecker, Elegi, Jasper TX, Emeralds, Sylvain Chauveau, Pivot, The Fun Years, Rafael Anton Irisarri, Peter Broderick, Troubles, and Po.

The recording is in .ogg vorbis format recorded directly from the cjsw stream. I prefer vorbis files to mp3’s due to their better fidelity at similar bit rates (ie. an .ogg vorbis file sounds better than an mp3 file of a similar bitrate) and the fact that vorbis is open source (ie. non-proprietary). Most computer audio software programs can play .ogg files but I realize that not all hardware music players (such as the iPod) can play .ogg files. If you want to convert the show recording to an mp3 or AAC file so that you can load it on to your iPod I recommend FreeRIP for PC users.

There is always some quality degradation with conversion between compression formats but as the cjsw .ogg stream is at a higher bitrate than the .mp3 stream converting the .ogg recording to an mp3 of similar bitrate shouldn’t sound any worse than a recording of the mp3 stream.

Read more...

Katharsis Jan. 26 '09

Yours here or here.

This week plenty of compilations & collaborations: Mt. Eerie w/ Julie Doiron & Fred Squire, Justin Vernon & Aaron Dessner, Antony & Bryce Dessner, Grizzly Bear & Feist, Clinton St. John, Alela Diane, Vetiver, Machinefabriek, Leo Abrahams, Efterklang, Peter Broderick, Kris Ellestad, Jose Gonzalez, Takahiro Kido, Hauschka, Alva Noto, Marsen Jules, Klimek & Husak, Taylor Dupree, and Yagya. Much of this is brand new (recently or soon-to-be released). Enjoy.

The recording is in .ogg vorbis format recorded directly from the cjsw stream. I prefer vorbis files to mp3’s due to their better fidelity at similar bit rates (ie. an .ogg vorbis file sounds better than an mp3 file of a similar bitrate) and the fact that vorbis is open source (ie. non-proprietary). Most computer audio software programs can play .ogg files but I realize that not all hardware music players (such as the iPod) can play .ogg files. If you want to convert the show recording to an mp3 or AAC file so that you can load it on to your iPod I recommend FreeRIP for PC users.

There is always some quality degradation with conversion between compression formats but as the cjsw .ogg stream is at a higher bitrate than the .mp3 stream converting the .ogg recording to an mp3 of similar bitrate shouldn’t sound any worse than a recording of the mp3 stream.

Read more...

Katharsis Jan. 19 '09

Available here or here.

This week: Lucid 44, Timber Timbre, Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds, Cam Penner, James Yorkston & the Athletes, Barzin, Sean Smith, Mark Kozelek, Bruce Peninsula, Remote Kid, Slaraffenklang, Chad van Gaalen, Fred Frith, Andrew Strenglen, Vetiver, Peter Bruntnell, The Innocence Mission, Immune, Tim Hecker, Steinbrüchel, Chihei Hatakeyama, Po, Rigil, and Another Electronic Musician.

The recording is in .ogg vorbis format recorded directly from the cjsw stream. I prefer vorbis files to mp3’s due to their better fidelity at similar bit rates (ie. an .ogg vorbis file sounds better than an mp3 file of a similar bitrate) and the fact that vorbis is open source (ie. non-proprietary). Most computer audio software programs can play .ogg files but I realize that not all hardware music players (such as the iPod) can play .ogg files. If you want to convert the show recording to an mp3 or AAC file so that you can load it on to your iPod I recommend FreeRIP for PC users.

There is always some quality degradation with conversion between compression formats but as the cjsw .ogg stream is at a higher bitrate than the .mp3 stream converting the .ogg recording to an mp3 of similar bitrate shouldn’t sound any worse than a recording of the mp3 stream.

Read more...

Best of 2008 List

As promised, a more complete list of my favourite 2008 releases...

Better late than never, these were the sounds of Katharsis in 2008 and will provide moments of bliss for years to come (I will edit and flesh these out as time allows):

Aidan Baker & Jakob Thiesen - A Bout De Souffle (Waterscape) Aidan Baker maintained a dizzying release schedule this year. This collaboration with crack percussionist Jakob Thiesen is a tasty mix of drone, electronica, kraut and jazz; much more upbeat than his usual work in doom purveyors Nadja. There are moments that will literally leave you at breath's end. Fans of Tarentel's current work will enjoy.

Aidan Baker & Tim Hecker - Fantasma Parastasie (Alien8) A brilliant experimental ambient/electronic collaboration that yields results greater than the sum of the parts. Their individual strengths are reflected and magnified and blend together beautifully. Highly recommended.

Alias – Resergam (Anticon) More impressive textured electronic pop from Brendon Whitney. Some solid instrumentals, and vocal contributions from Yoni Wolf of Why? and One AM Radio.

Alva Noto – Unitxt (Raster-Noton) Only Carsten Nicolai can make Office documents converted to audio files and French poet Anne-James Chaton reading the contents of his wallet and reciting golden number ratios sound so cool.

Atlas Sound – Let The Blind Lead Those Who Can See But Cannot Feel (Kranky/4AD) Between his solo work as Atlas Sound and his work with his Deerhunter this was Bradford Cox's year. He is prolific, hard-working, immensely talented and humble, a winning combination. His throwaway bedroom and tour bus recordings posted on his blog are better than many artists can muster in the confines of million dollar studios and his official releases are simply brilliant. Believe the hype.

Au – Verbs (Aagoo Records) A stunning follow-up from this Portland art-pop/indie-folk collective guided by Luke Wyland. Verbs is padded out with contributions from nearly thirty collaborators, a list which includes featured vocalists Sarah Winchester (A Weather) and Becky Dawson (Ah Holly Fam'ly, Saw Whet), as well as members of Yellow Swans, Parenthetical Girls, and Evolutionary Jass Band, among many others. For fans of Efterklang, Animal Collective, Terry Riley, Steve Reich, and Grizzly Bear. Highly recommended.

Autistic Daughters - Uneasy Flowers (Kranky) Strong, sparse and measured later Talk-Talk-inspired minimalist ambient pop.

Azeda Booth — In Flesh Tones (Absolutely Kosher) Gorgeous abstract ambient electronic pop that is flush with realized potential and exploding with creative energy. Jordan's vocals and lyrics embody beauty in brokenness and are girded by Marc and Morgan's sublime musical accompaniment. Highly recommended.

Balmorhea – Rivers Arms (Western Vinyl) Beautiful instrumental music with folk, classical, jazz, and 20th-century classical inspirations. Fans of the Rachels will enjoy. Highly recommended.

Barbara Buchholz – Moonstruck (Intuition) Exquisite moonlit pop from theramin virtuoso Barbara Buchholz. Yes, theramin. No, there are no warbling sci-fi or surf-rock sounds here, the theramin work is so beautiful and subtle that you'll almost forget that it's there. In her hands the theramin is a serious instrument not a novelty item. Arve Henriksen is just one of her gifted collaborators on this album. Highly recommended.

Bass Communion – Molotov & Haze (Important Records) Each track of beautiful but blistering aural overload is balanced with a track of serene minimalist ambient comfort. Mindblowing.

Beach House – Devotion (Carpark Records) Hauntingly beautiful minimalist pop music; like the sound and light of a distant oceanfront carnival glimmering through the fog. Highly recommended.

Because of Ghosts - This Culture Of Background Noise (Feral Media) This Australian post-rock outfit recorded by Harris Newman proves that there's life left in the genre yet.

Benoît Pioulard – Temper (Kranky Exquisite ambient pop music. Windy Webber of Windy & Carl had this to say in her Oct. '08 Stormy Records email newsletter: "I'm not going to do it justice here, I'll simply say I have had a copy of it since Christmas 2007, and I've played it almost every day since. That's how good it is. you simply need to own it."

Bersarin Quartet - Bersarin Quartet (Lidar Productions) Beautiful classical/electronic ambient music

Bill Hetherington and the Asian Tigers — Bill Hetherington and the Asian Tigers (Independent) Strong solo record from Ex-Boyfriend's member

Bitcrush - Epilogue in Waves (n5md) Not only does Mike Cadoo craft excellent post-rock/ambient electronic music he runs the stellar n5md label which is putting out all kinds of great material in the same vein

Boduf Songs - How Shadows Chase the Balance (Kranky) Nocturnal, atmospheric ambient/folk

Bohren & Der Club Of Gore – Dolores (Pias/Ipecac) Doom-jazz, horror-jazz, jazz-noir, however you label it, they invented it and have further refined it on Dolores. This is some most uneasy easy-listening. Highly recommended.

Bon Iver – For Emma, Forever Ago (Jagjaguwar) Though it has been expounded upon elsewhere by many others this is a beautiful recording.

Chad VanGaalen — Soft Airplane (Flemish Eye/Sub Pop) Chad continues to write original ear-catching songs that put artists like Beck to shame. Along with Azeda Booth and Women Chad is putting this town on the map in the indie rock world. So good (as always).

Chequerboard – Penny Black (Lazybird) Beautiful, understated instrumental electronica

Christopher Bissonette - In Between Words (Kranky) Absolutely stunning orchestral/electronic ambient/noise. Highly recommended.

Clinton St. John — Black Forest Levitation (Independent) Extremely strong solo outing from Cape May front-man. A very stripped down, sparse affair that lets the quality of the songs shine through.

Collections of Colonies of Bees – Birds (Table of the Elements) Enthralling multi-guitar instrumental post-rock. Rhys Chatham fans will love. Highly recommended.

Damien Jurado – Caught In the Trees (Secretly Canadian) Damien Jurado does not disappoint. There are some heartrendingly beautiful moments on this disc.

Dan Goldman - Luxury Pond (Independent) Masterfully-crafted quiet pop. Absolutely superb. Highly recommended.

David Grubbs - An Optimist Notes The Dusk (Drag City) Hypnotizing narcotic guitar tones. So Good. Had me from the first notes.

Deerhunter – Microcastle/Weird Era Cont (Kranky) Packed with earworms that demand & withstand compulsive repeated listening. Think Everly Bros./Beach Boys channeling The Pixies & recording for Factory. If you judged them based on their jet-lagged shambolic technical problem-plagued end-of-tour Sled Island performance you need to give them another chance. Highly recommended. (Also see Atlas Sound review above.)

Destroyer – Trouble In Dream (Merge) Mr. Bejar & co. are in fine form. His vocal timbre, phrasing and verbosity are an acquired taste, but his music is excellent and he is truly a gifted poet.

Dodos – Visiter (French Kiss) Strong pop songwriting and the most mind-blowing percussion work this side of Jim White.

Dolly Sillito - Smartbomb For Heartache (Chicken Wire) Reminiscent of Blossom Dearie or Jonie Mitchel. The last track kills me. So good.

Dreamend – The Long Forgotten Friend (Graveface Records) Ambitious, intricate, well-crafted indie rock with the melodic strength of Mercury Rev, Summer Hymns or Ester Drang's orchestral pop, the ambient brilliance of Bark Psychosis, and the folk-noir of the Black Heart Procession.

Earth - The Bees Made Honey in the Lion's Skull (Southern Lord) Heavy, dark ambient instrumental rock; Bill Frisell guests (& rocks out).

Eric Cheneaux – Sloppy Ground (Constellation) Some wonderfully off-kilter guitar-pop/rock. There is nothing sloppy about his playing; Cheneaux is a guitar wizard. Some of the quieter numbers are very old-sounding (like civil war anthems).

Erik Levander – Kondens (Rumraket) Stellar experimental instrumental electronic music. Brilliantly blends acoustic, classical instrumentation with electronics.

Ezekiel Honig - Surfaces of a Broken Marching Band (Anticipate) Masterful ambient electronic from the proprietor of the fantastic Anticipate label. Stars of the Lid fans should check this out.

Fabio Orsi - Audio For Lovers (Last Visible Dog) More masterful ambient electronic music.

Fax - Yo Recuerdo (Static Discos) This contemporary of Murcof and fellow-member of the Nortec Collective creates electronic music that is a little more accessible than Mr. Corona but is innovative and strong in its own way. Head-fi, not club fare. Highly recommended.

Fennesz – Black Sea (Touch) Experimental electronic ambient masterpiece from a true sound innovator and pioneer. Highly recommended.

Fleet Foxes – Fleet Foxes (Sub Pop) Very reminiscent of early My Morning Jacket but good nonetheless.

Four Tet – Ringer EP (Domino) A return to the brilliant abstract electronic music of his earlier releases. His divergences into jazz territory with Steve Reid haven't really grabbed me...

Gerry Hebert Quartet - Beat Niq Sessions Volume 2: Constructive Interference (Plunge Records) My kind of jazz

Gianna Lauren – Fist In A Heart (Independent) If you liked Julie Doiron's album with the Wooden Stars, you'll love this record. It really blew me away. A wonderful discovery. Some beautiful guitar-work.

Goldmund – The Malady of Elegance (Type) Stunningly beautiful ambient solo piano. Highly recommended.

Gregor Samsa – Rest (Kora Records) Absolutely arrestingly beautiful orchestral post-indie rock; like the Rachel's with vocals. Highly recommended.

Gregory & The Hawk - Moenie & Kitchi (FatCat) Pleasant indie-pop. Actually a solo effort from songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Meredith Godreau, produced by Adam Pierce of Mice Parade.

Grouper - Dragging a Dead Deer Up a Hill (Type) Ethereal, delicate ambient folk.

Günther – Nuclear Stallions (Lakesong Press) Blistering, multi-guitar math/post-rock.

Hammock - Maybe They Will Sing for Us Tomorrow (Darla) An ambient gem commissioned for the US debut art exhibition of the Riceboy Sleeps (Jonsi Birgisson, lead singer/guitarist of Sigur Ros and Alex Somers of Parachutes) art opening. The record is a studio recording of the sound installation that they wrote and performed for that event. The title of the record comes from a Riceboy Sleeps painting that they love.

Hauschka – Ferndorf (FatCat) Bertelmann is still tinkering with his piano, placing bottle caps on the strings, clamping wedges of leather, felt or rubber between them, wrapping the hammers with tin foil, weaving guitar strings around the piano's guts, and doing God-knows-what-else under the lid to coax percussive embellishments along with melodious sounds from the instrument. Electronic flourishes and textures are also expertly employed. Bolstered this time out by cellos, violin and trombone. A rewarding progression beyond his previous explorations of the possibilities of prepared piano.

Heaven And – Sweeter As the Years Roll By (Staubgold Germany) Dark, intoxicating, post-rock/jazz from some German improvisational masters. Highly Recommended.

Heidi Elva – Ships and Trees (Vitamin Records) Intricate ambient folk-tronic pop music. Very Nordic-sounding despite her New Zealand/Australia origins.

Helena Espvall & Masaki Batoh - Helena Espvall & Masaki Batoh (Drag City) Espers cellist Helena Espvall and Ghost's Masaki Batoh are unfailing in their delivery of artfully rendered, experimental music.

Helios – Caesura (Type) A highly organic and textured mix of synthesis, sampling and conventional composition, resulting in songs that cross boundaries between post-rock, downbeat IDM and epic, shoegaze electronica. Highly recommended.

Ida – Lovers Prayers (Polyvinyl) Such a beautiful record from such a wonderful band. Some absolutely beautiful moments. Another fantastic album from a band with such a strong catalog. Highly recommended.

Immune – Not Until Morning (Eglantine Records) Dark, moody post-pop in the vein of Bark Psychosis.

Jacaszek – Treny (Miasmah) Experimental orchestral-electronic album of the year. Absolutely stunning. Highly recommended.

James Blackshaw - Litany of Echoes (Tompkins Square) Blackshaw's blissful ambient 12-string acoustic guitar work augmented with minimalist piano in places and rich orchestration in others. A wonderful progression. One can easily get lost in the beauty of his music. Highly recommended.

Jasper TX – Black Sleep (Miasmah) Dark ambient experimental with a deep, harrowing cinematic quality.

Jóhann Jóhannsson – Fordlandia (4AD) Breathtakingly beautiful music with slowly building, gradually morphing, hypnotically repetitive strains showing the influence of minimalist luminaries Glass, Reich, Nyman, Bryers, Pärt et al. Like Max Richter, Hauschka, and others, Johannsson is pulling orchestral music in exciting new directions. Johannson's strength, besides his goosebump-inducing string arrangements, is his seamless weaving of classical instrumentation with the elements of electronica, processed guitars and structure-shaking bass. Fordlândia is a heady, deeply affecting work. Highly recommended.

Kangding Ray - Automne Fold (Raster-Noton) Solid, sophisticated, often very accessible experimental glitch/electronica release.

Lambchop – OH (Ohio) (Merge) Kurt Wagner makes sublime, slow and deliberate, relaxed Americana, but also knows how to rock out. Popeye is a stand-out track and hints at the lasting influence of his collaboration with Co-lab.

Land of Talk – Some Are Lakes (Saddle Creek) Produced by Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon, this was one of the best guitar-rock records I heard this year.

Lawrence English – Kiri No Oto (Touch) My introduction to English's ambient brilliance. In addition to creating stunning music he also runs the consistently strong Room 40 label.

Library Tapes - A Summer Beneath The Trees (Make Mine Music) The best I have heard yet from Library Tapes. Beautiful orchestral electronic ambient. Highly recommended.

Lotte Kestner – China Mountain (Independent) Stunningly beautiful, sparse, melancholic pop from Trespassers William singer/songwriter Anna-Lynne Williams. Highly recommended.

Lucid 44 – Co. Mah Coal (Tonto Is Jesus) Markus has a fantastic distinctive weathered voice in the vain of Chris Cornell or Tom Waits and plays some of the darkest, saddest folk music this side of old Songs:Ohia. Each release is stronger and more confident.

Machinefabriek – Dauw (Dekorder) My introduction to Machinefabriek, and a welcome discovery. Masterful ambient experimental electronic music. It has been described as sounding "something like Arvo Part, something like Mogwai, something like Philip Jeck and something like Fennesz" and "Post-rock without the rock". Really really good. Highly recommended.

Mark Kozelek - 7 Songs Belfast (Caldo Verde Records), Nights LP (Caldo Verde Records) & The Finally LP (Caldo Verde Records). If I had to pick a favourite of these 3 excellent Kozelek releases it would be the Finally LP, a collection of rare covers. Kozelek reinvents and owns these songs.

Max Richter – 24 Postcards In Full Colour (FatCat) Exactly what the title suggests: aural snapshots hinting at the full scope of what the tracks could be as longer, more fully-developed songs. The most post-rock sounding recording yet from this self-described post-classical composer. Highly recommended.

Miss Murgatroid & Petra Haden - Hearts and Daggers (File Under Music) Brilliant collaboration. The vocal harmonies are impeccable, the music sublime.

Murcof – The Versailles Sessions (Leaf) Venturing light years beyond his contemporaries Murcof splices, dices & morphs harpsichord, viola de gamba, violin & flute with mezzo soprano vocals, found sound & his own digital wizardry.

Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds – Dig!!! Lazarus Dig!!! (Anti) This is literature set to reinvigorated rock & roll music. Nick Cave is brilliant and his band is as deadly as ever. Together they put artists half their age to shame.

Okay – Huggable Dust (Absolutely Kosher) Hypnotic indie rock from an incredibly gifted and challenged artist. Great art is truly born of great hardship.

Peter Broderick - Home (Bella Union) Updated Jan. 30 '09 I'm a bit late to the party with this one, but it is just too good not to mention. Combining all of the best features of some of my favourite solo acoustic/mellow-pop artists like Jose Gonzalez, Sam Beam (Iron & Wine), Benoît Pioulard, Canyon Country, Jim James (My Morning Jacket), Kings of Convenience with intricate, beautiful melodies, wonderful vocal harmonies, heartwarming-optimism and an uplifting & calming aesthetic, Peter Broderick has struck gold with Home. After a busy year performing and recording with the likes of Efterklang, Machinefabriek, Horse Feathers, She & Him, Loch Lomond and Norfolk & Western and on the heals of his gorgeous, string and piano-based instrumental full-length debut, Float, Broderick somehow found time to write, perform, and record, this stunning ethereal folk-pop masterpiece. Did I mention he's just 21!? Unbelievable... You have to hear this record. Once you hear it, you'll have to own it.

Rafael Anton Irisarri – Daydreaming (Miasmah) Beautiful ambient piano with tasteful synths & electronics; right up there with Deaf Center or Goldmund.

Retribution Gospel Choir – Retribution Gospel Choir (Caldo Verde) Low's Alan Sparhawk cranks the amps Crazy Horse style combining meaty guitars with stoner-rock rhythms & some super catchy melodies. Produced by Mark Kozelek who often plays live with the band. Highly recommended.

Rudi Arapahoe – Echoes From One to Another (Symbolic Interaction) Very impressive post-classical/ambient electronic release; moments that are right up there with Jacaszek's Treny and older Murcof.

Sam Phillips - Don't Do Anything (Nonesuch) Post-break-up album from an incredibly gifted artist. Very strong.

Shearwater – Rook (Matador) Carrying the Mark Hollis/Talk-Talk torch admirably.

Sigur Rós - Med Sud I Eyrum Vid Spilum Endalaust (XL Recordings) I'm a sucker for Sigur Rós.

Simon Fisk - Vague Hotels (Plunge) More of my kind of jazz.

Skyphone – Avellaneda (Rune Grammofon) A real grower. Organic electronic instrumental folk music.

Snailhouse – Lies On The Prize (Unfamiliar) Mike Feuerstack is a criminally under-heard quiet-pop master.

Snowblink – Long Live (Independent) Playful, beautiful, quiet pop.

Soccer Committee & Machinefabriek – Drawn (Digitalis) A wonderful collaboration that reminds me of Grouper's better work.

Springheel Jack - Songs and Themes (Thirsty Ear) This is truly my kind of jazz. J. Spaceman guests.

Stephan Mathieu – Radioland (Die Schachtel) Tasteful ambient electronic.

Sumner McKane – What A Great Place To Be (Independent) Wonderfully uplifting ambient guitar rock in the vein of Lanterna.

Sun Kil Moon – April (Caldo Verde) A solid release. Heron Blue is one of the best songs Kozelek has written yet.

Sylvain Cheveau/Felicia Atkinson – Roman Anglais (O Rosa Records) Wonderful collaboration. Cheveau's music with Atkinson's spoken word. Highly recommended.

Tanya Tagaq – Auk/Blood (Jericho Beach/Ipecac) Her music is arresting & bewitching, using the ancient art of throat singing in a cutting-edge context to craft something utterly original

Taunus – Harriet (Ahornfelder) F.S. Blumm and co. craft some wonderful musical moments.

Taylor Dupree – Sea Last (12k) One of the best ambient electronic artists of our era. I can't believe I only discovered him this year. (He runs the 12k label)

Thalia Zedek - Liars and Prayers (Thrill Jockey) A return to the blistering rock fury of her work with Come. Highly recommended.

The Abassi Brothers – Something Like Nostalgia (Dynamaphone) Brilliant cinematic instrumental ambient music. These guys should be scoring soundtracks.

The Drift - Memory Drawings (Temporary Residence) My kind of jazzy post-rock. Highly recommended.

The Fun Years – Baby It's Cold Inside (Barge) If you enjoy Belong's dark apocalyptic ambient music you'll dig this.

The Green Kingdom – Laminae (The Land of Records) If you dig the soothing ambient sounds of Loscil this should also please. Highly recommended.

The Middle East – The Recordings of The Middle East (Independent) Absolutely gorgeous and uplifting album from a completely obscure young Australian band. Some of the best indie-pop/rock I heard this year. Highly recommended.

The Neighbourhood Council – Set Pieces EP & Live at CJSW EP – They are now rechristened as BRAIDS and have relocated to Montreal. Considering their youth these are hugely impressive recordings. This band has a very uplifting and original sound. They opened for Azeda Booth and Deerhunter at Sled Island in a soft-seat theatre and easily provided the best performance of the show. So impressive were they that they drew a standing ovation with calls for more from an audience of whom most had never seen or heard of them before. I've heard rumours that Rough Trade has offered to release their first record (once they get around to recording it). Watch out for these guys!

The New Year – The New Year (Touch & Go) Long awaited, long appreciated. Highly recommended.

The Walkmen – You & Me (Gigantic Music) These guys have a distinct sparse, smoky, late-night sound and are at the top of their game with this release. Highly recommended.

Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra & Tra-La-La Band – 13 Blues For 13 Moons (Constellation) Apocalyptic post-rock blues filled with wails of worry, hope and fury. “Blind, Blind, Blind” perfectly expressed my response to the provincial & federal election results this year. “We want punks in the palace; Cause punks got the loveliest dreams...”

Till The Old World's Blown Up And A New One Is Created (Werner Dafeldecker, Martin Brandlmayr, Christian Fennesz) - Till The Old World's Blown Up And A New One Is Created (Mosz) Highly indulgent in places but oh so good in others.

Tindersticks – The Hungry Saw (Beggars Banquet/Constellation) Classic pop. Staples and co. are still going strong.

Tujiko Noriko/Lawrence English/John Chantler – U (Room 40) Absolutely floored me. My introduction to Noriko. Ambient experimental electronic pop with ethereal vocals. Highly recommended.

TV On The Radio – Dear Science, (Interscope) Brilliant and deservedly widely acclaimed. This should be topping pop/rock music charts.

Voice of the Seven Woods – The Journey (Kning Disk) Beautiful warm ambient instrumental solo electric guitar music. Highly recommended.

Windy & Carl - Songs for the Broken Hearted (Kranky) Another dense and perfectly executed exercise in sublime ambient experimental music, marrying colossal sound layering with the most gentle, emotionally resonant sounds imaginable.

Women – Women (Flemish Eye/Jagjaguwar) Moments of brilliance. A band obviously brimming with potential. Recorded by Chad van Gaalen.

Woven Hand – Ten Stones (Sounds Familyre) A strong release as always. Edwards as the rock and roll manifestation of a biblical prophet is a tired but true comparison. His recordings smolder with the same fire and brimstone, branded with his unmistakable harrowing vocals, the clatter and ring of steel and the resonance of horsehair and wood.

Yellow 6 - When the Leaves Fall Like Snow (Make Mine Music/Darla) Double disk of transcendent, enveloping, tube-glowing, ambient instrumental solo electric guitar music. Highly recommended.

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Katharsis/Music For Hedghogs/Post-Everything 2008 Round-up, Jan. 12 '09

This week, part 2 of my 'best of 2008' review. The show recording is divided into 2 files found here and here or here and here.

Stan Molchanov, host of the excellent show Post-Everything that follows Katharsis from midnight to 2:00, and Timothy Heck, host of one of the most exquisite radio programs ever broadcast anywhere (Music For Hedgehogs) collaborated with me on this show. For 4 hours we played off of each other, pontificated, and presented some of our favourite releases from the past year. Enjoy: Bohren and der Club of Gore, the Middle East, Dominique A, the Dodos, Adem, Skyphone, Tujiko Noriko/Lawrence English/John Chantler, Tape, Helios, Azeda Booth, the Neighbourhood Council (recently rechristened as BRAIDS), Woodpigeon, Women, Yellow 6, Picidae, Lotte Kestner, Andy Dixon, Wim Mertens, the Green Kingdom, Volcano, Chambertronica, Hauschka, Heaven And, L'ocelle Mare, James Blackshaw, John Balke, Arc Lab, Benoit Pioulard, Au, Gianna Lauren, David Grubbs, Off the International Radar, Ecstatic Sunshine, Collections of Colonies of Bees, Kieran Hebden & Steve Reid, The Drift, Russian Circles, Mogwai, Because of Ghosts, Arliss Parker, Taunus (we went overtime so the recording ends here), Dot Tape Dot, Balmorhea, Dokkemand, and Machinefabriek/Soccer Committee. Whew! What a marathon, and we still didn't cover all we wanted to. I will try and post a more complete list of my favourite 2008 releases soon.

The recording is in .ogg vorbis format recorded directly from the cjsw stream. I prefer vorbis files to mp3’s due to their better fidelity at similar bit rates (ie. an .ogg vorbis file sounds better than an mp3 file of a similar bitrate) and the fact that vorbis is open source (ie. non-proprietary). Most computer audio software programs can play .ogg files but I realize that not all hardware music players (such as the iPod) can play .ogg files. If you want to convert the show recording to an mp3 or AAC file so that you can load it on to your iPod I recommend FreeRIP for PC users.

There is always some quality degradation with conversion between compression formats but as the cjsw .ogg stream is at a higher bitrate than the .mp3 stream converting the .ogg recording to an mp3 of similar bitrate shouldn’t sound any worse than a recording of the mp3 stream.

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Katharsis Best of 2008, Part 1 - Jan. 5 '09

I'm back. This week I begin my review of my musical highlights from 2008. You can download the show recording here.

Featured this week: Dan Goldman (Luxury Pond), Snowblink, Ida, Heidi Elva, Barbara Buchholz, Dolly Sollito, Gregor Samsa, Goldmund, Jóhann Jóhannsson, Hauschka, Max Richter, Library Tapes, Bersarin Quartet, Jacaszek, Rudi Arapahoe, Christopher Bissonette, Aidan Baker & Tim Hecker, Erik Levander, Fax, Fennesz, Azeda Booth, Tagaq, Felicia Atkinson/Sylvain Cheveau, David Grubbs, and Balmorhea. Each of these artists released fantastic albums in 2008. A good number of them were exciting new discoveries for me.

Tune in for part 2 on Jan. 12. Timothy Heck (Music for Hedghogs) and Stan Mochanov (Post-Everything) will be weighing in with their favourites and we will discuss the year in music.

The recording is in .ogg vorbis format recorded directly from the cjsw stream. I prefer vorbis files to mp3’s due to their better fidelity at similar bit rates (ie. an .ogg vorbis file sounds better than an mp3 file of a similar bitrate) and the fact that vorbis is open source (ie. non-proprietary). Most computer audio software programs can play .ogg files but I realize that not all hardware music players (such as the iPod) can play .ogg files. If you want to convert the show recording to an mp3 or AAC file so that you can load it on to your iPod I recommend FreeRIP for PC users.

There is always some quality degradation with conversion between compression formats but as the cjsw .ogg stream is at a higher bitrate than the .mp3 stream converting the .ogg recording to an mp3 of similar bitrate shouldn’t sound any worse than a recording of the mp3 stream.

Read more...