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Kindred Spirits: Stampfel, Hurley and more

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Peter Stampfel, Michael Hurley and some kindred musical spirits.

Bellemeade Sessions - Michael Hurley
$17.99
(cdRoots# nav-belle)
Some rough and tumble sessions by Hurley and a few friends made between between 1994 and 1998 are, as Hurley puts it, 'a return to the Land of Lo-Fi.' It's the real (raw) deal.

Weatherhole - Michael Hurley
$temp out of stock-16.99
(cdRoots# nav-weather)
More snock, complete with a band and, as always, some great, quirky songs.

Down In Dublin - Michael Hurley
$17.99
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The king of snock, a master of overstated, under-rated, country influenced songwriting is like no one else on the planet, and these sessions from ireland are no exception. Dark, funny, disturbing and romantic, often simultaneously, Hurley is one of the few people out there who merits the accolade of 'one of a kind.'

The Jig Is Up - Peter Stampfel and the Bottlecaps
$17.99
(cdRoots# nav-jig)
H.M. Rounder Peter Stampfel is back again, in a series of recordings made 1989–1999 with a host of different musicians, but all pulled together by his insatiable, exploratory lust for good songs, odd ideas and bizarre juxtapositions (and a Quicktime video clip, too!).

A few kindred spirits

Bellemeade Sessions - Michael Hurley - 17.99
Some rough and tumble sessions by Hurley and a few friends made between between 1994 and 1998 are, as Hurley puts it, 'a return to the Land of Lo-Fi.' It's the real (raw) deal.

How Long Has That Evening Train Been Gone?: Vol. 1, 1928-1934 - Leroy Carr and Scrapper Blackwell - 29.99
4 CDs with 95 tracks of early citified blues from this popular piano/guitar duo: "How Long, How Long Blues," "Naptown Blues," "Christmas in Jail," "Papa's on the House Top," "Midnight Hour Blues," "Mean Mistreater Mama," and much more. Essential listening

Testament - Peter Lang - 16.99
IN 2008 my favorite guitarist releases another beauty: a 15-cut homage to early blues, played on tenor, 6- and 12-string guitars. Tunes by Elizabeth Cotten, Mississippi John Hurt, Blind Blake, Sylvester Weaver, Leadbelly, plus traditional material: "I'm Satisfied," "Guitar Rag," "Keep Your Hands Off Her," "Delia," "Buckdancer's Choice," "Stackolee," "Nobody's Business But My Own," and more

World's on Fire - The Crooked Jades - 15.99
A potent mix of all-acoustic old-time mountain instruments (banjo, guitars, jews harp, fiddle, double bass, etc) and modern edge, this band writes their own material in a style that at first seems to be in the tradition, but on closer listening reveals a sharp, contemporary approach to lyrics and playing style.

The Player: A Retrospective - David Bromberg - 12.99
The guitar player's guitar player, Bromberg forged a unique path with his first recordings. This is a collection of the best of those, and includes brilliant work like 'Sammy's Song," "Sharon", "The Holdup," and "Dehlia" as well as a good dose of his humor, and some traditional songs, too. If you wore out your old LPs, here's the replacement.

Flying Saucers - Mad Tea Party - 13.99
True Americana by a quirky crew from North Carolina delve into old blues, hokum and folk tunes, with a touch of coutry pop music from the 20s and such. Ami Worthen (vocals, ukulele), Jason Krekel (vocals, guitar, fiddle, and kazoo) and Lora Pendleton (vocals, bass) recorded this little gem of American roots in their home in North Carolina and the energy and spontaneity overflow in every tune, from the clever novelty of "Flying Suacers" to the warmth of the old country standard, "Walking on the Kings Highway." I was priveleged to have these folks on my radio show in CT in 2005 and fell in love with their personable and witty approach to all kinds of American roots music. Highly recommended.

Rub That Rhythm - The Bluelights - 14.99
They call it 'Roots Music In Overdrive' and while this might be a jug band in some sense, they have moved past the strict definition in this new recording, offering rock, rockabilly and R'n'B in the mix, as well. Folk and blues legend Eric Von Schmidt calls them 'absolutely the best since Kweskin's Jug Band... traditional music in overdrive.'

East Flatbush Blues - Andy Statman - 17.99
A 2006 followup (after 25 years!) to the legendary Flatbush Waltz by mandolinist Andy Statman. Crossing seamlessly across genres, from American jazz, blues, bluegrass to folk and klezmer, he relentlessly searches for new ideas. This new recording has traditional folk and blues, and some stark, original songs.

Awakening From Above - Andy Statman - 17.99
This 2006 release by the mandolin (and many other instruments!) master CD focuses on the meditative and ecstatic centuries-old melodies that lie at the heart of Jewish music. Spare arrangements, loose improvisation and expressive depth are in evidence throughout the recording. In solos, duets and trios, he galvanize the klezmer roots with jazz and other folk and ethnic styles to create his own unique Jewish instrumental music.

Bahamut - Hazmat Modine - 15.99
On my list of quirkly originals, this crew just moved towards the top. Duel harmonicas, guitar, trumpet and a drum/tuba rhythm section back vocals of real originality, while guests add Romanian cimbalom, electric banjitar, contrabass sax, claviola and bass marimba, while a gang of genuine Tuvan throat singers round it all out. Totally unique.

Traveling Chamber Blues Show - Corky Siegel - 15.99
I heard Corky Siegel's Traveling Chamber Blues Show on the radio (WPKN in CT) one night and it just bowled me over. It was weird, it was funky, it had grit and class. Here is the famous blues harp and piano man, joined by a string section (cello, violins, viola) and percussion on one of the most unexpected CDs of the year 2005. Listen

Dogie Music - Skip Gorman and the Waddie Pals - 16.99
Old timey music from the American west by Skip Gorman and pals Ruthie Dornfeld on fiddle, Mary Burdette on bass, Tom Sauber on banjo, fiddle and mandolin and Patrick Sauber on accordion and mando. Sweet old tunes familiar and un, played with love and spirit.

Weatherhole - Michael Hurley - temp out of stock-16.99
More snock, complete with a band and, as always, some great, quirky songs.

American Primitive Vol. II: Pre-War Revenants 1897-1939 - various - 26.99
2 CDs, 50 tracks with a 72 page booklet - a collection of obscure commercial recordings of early Americana: the NuGrape Twins, Bayless Rose, the Salty Dog Four, Geeshie Wiley, the Mississippi Moaner, Blues Birdhead, the Bubbling Over Five, Pigmeat Terry, Mattie May Thomas and many others

Good For What Ails You: Music Of The Medicine Shows, 1926-1937 - various - 24.99
2 CDs, 48 old-time classics in a nicely designed trifold digipak and a well-illustrated 72-page booklet with extensive notes, period photos and much more. A musical document of the old-time medicine shows, with Gid Tanner and Riley Puckett, Pink Anderson, Sam McGee, the Memphis Sheiks, Emmett Miller, Carolina Tar Heels, Henry Thomas, Mainer's Mountaineers, Cannon's Jug Stompers, Charlie Poole and many others

Orgia - Jaume Sisa - 17.99
Jaume Sisa was an important part of Musica Dispersa and is a folk-rock artist with a very idiosyncratic style. His first album Orgia was a prime example of psychedelic rock - the Spanish way - with Sisa followings his whim much like Incredible String Band. The vocals and harmonica playing is a little indebted to Bob Dylan, but a lot stranger. Elsewhere there are kazoos, piano, tablas, recorders, snippets of tapes, and even occasional strings and brass. The same year, 1971, that Musica Dispersa was released, he also put out this great solo album. Crazy acid folk with lots of humour and weird vocals by Sisa himself.

Cult Cargo: Belize City Boil Up - various - temp out of stock-18.99
It's pretty much guaranteed that this is like nothing you have heard before: funk, reggae, brukdown, disco and soul all boiled together in the obscurity of Belize City and served up in 16 remastered tracks from original tapes and 45s made in Belize in the 60s and 70s.