otem rellik, seen above with a suitcase of rewired and painted electronics for which he is responsible, has been called a hip-hop mastermind. Yes, he has put out many records over the past decade featuring heavy drum machines and quick flow verse, but there is something more than a rapper, and more like a Bob Dylan-esque monumental folk singer, with Toby Hendricks, the man behind otem rellik. If you don’t like the readability of that last sentence, dive into otem rellik’s newest album, Elephant Graveyard. Circle Into Square just released a colection of remixes by otem rellik titled Skelephant Remixtape, featuring remixes of Restiform Bodies, Sole and the Skyrider Band, Wu-Tang, Dr. Octagon, as well as some of his own tracks. The remix release is available for free through the label.

Empty Coffins from otem rellik on Vimeo.

“Splinter” from Elephant Graveyard

hun•gry

‘orchards’

‘Magic Light’

In addition to being an all-around awesome dude, Patrick “Duffy” De Armas is a Renaissance man. He does it all, and does it well. Currently he commits much of his time to his artistic endeavor, Electric Coffin. With a studio situated in the ultra-hip/sketchy Pioneer Square area of Seattle, Duffy’s work has already garnered much praise and attention from art connoisseurs, hipsters, Chileans, and wayfaring bums. His work, OMG pictures, musical selections, and peculiar videos can be found at his Purple Razors blog.

The anecdote that I will share takes place at one of his shows. Duffy, playing the cordial host, sidled up to a passerby taking in one of Duffy’s compositions. The stranger shook his head and said to Duffy, “I don’t know man. I am done with art.” Duffy inquired as to what the fellow meant.

“Well just between you and me, it seems like everyone calls themselves an ‘artist’ these days. I mean, no disrespect to Duffy, but this is dumb. Duffy is dumb. This isn’t art. A five-year-old could do this with some paint and a decent amount of boogers.” Duffy nodded his head, taking the offense calmly. He thanked the man for coming, and returned to the crowd with a grin. Why a grin? Because a five-year-old had made it with boogers. But the five-year-old was actually Duffy’s pet alien and had used the boogers of a brontosaurus. Duffy had accomplished what he wanted with the piece. By employing an extra-terrestrial and using prehistoric boogers, he had made his artistic statement: that the piece was both “Out of this world,” and “DINOmite.”

Duffy defies social classifications. He is an Arizonan that loves the snow. Hence, his selection of “Cell Mates” by The Bronx is true to his nature. Mariachi, punk, and sweet and clean enough to introduce to your grandmother. Just like Duffy. “Cell Mates” sounds a bit like Vampire Weekend when played on an old radio inside of a rusty pick-up truck rumbling down a Sonoran road. Except it would be Vampiro Fin De Semana, because when you listen to an old radio while in a pick-up truck in Mexico, everything will have a tint of mariachi.

“Cell Mates” by The Bronx

Sing•ing•it•true

“Home” from Hoarse & Roaring

“Short Road” from Hoarse & Roaring

Parlor Hawk “Every Bone” from The Occidental Saloon on Vimeo.

I first became wise to the Wise Blood two nights ago while I was trolling Myspace. The visuals on their page, paired with their grainy-soulful beats had my head bobbing the moment I pressed pay on ‘STRT SRNS’. As with most of the music I love, I was not able to find any history or background on Wise Blood through their site. To gather my intel I turned to the blogosphere. I found some great reviews and interviews (Bohemian Cuddle Box, I Guess I’m Floating, Delicious Scopitone, We All Want Someone To Shout For) on Christopher Laufman, who I came to discover is the creator behind Wise Blood.

Wise Blood’s EP is free to download. The music carries with it a powerful-tribal energy where the easiest way to describe it to someone is to press play.

‘B.I.G. E.G.O.’

‘STRT SRNS’

‘2 ALL THE GIRLS THAT HAVE TRUSTED ME’

Currently residing in Denver, Eric Peterson has made quite an impact on the mile high city. He contributes to the music community playing in Old Radio, Houses, and Hindershot, contributing and arranging music for Tangled We Weave (a split project between himself and film contributor Jennifer Brookes), organizing local music compilations, and playing a leading role in the Denver-based music collective Hot Congress. Somehow, in between all of this and being a full-time student, Peterson manages to make some of my favorite Colorado music, under the moniker Roger, Roll.

For his solo project, he writes, performs, and records everything that will be on record. He has recently compiled a group of friends for a live band, including members of Sun Red, Hello Kavita, Dream Wagon, Old Radio, among others projects. Since 2007, Peterson has crafted two releases for Roger, Roll, with the help of Old Radio and Hot Congress member, Patrick Kelly. These are “Dodging and Burning” and “The Blackwell Gate.”

Roger, Roll just released its new 7″, “Polaroid in Reverse” on July 16th through Hot Congress. “Polaroid in Reverse,” as well as previous R,R releases, is available through rogerroll.net. One may purchase the release under the name-your-own-price system that Radiohead pioneered (at least for “major albums”) for their “In Rainbows” release in 2007.

As a heads up, the new 7″ release is the first of several Roger, Roll 7″ releases, with similar themes. In essence, the collection will translate to one cohesive, full-length record spread across multiple 7″s. Although this rings a similar bell to the layout of the latest Broken Social Scene release, “Forgiveness Rock Record” – which was released as a multiple 10″ box set – I will certainly be laying down the skrilla for the whole Roger, Roll vinyl collection. It has shown to be a worthwhile project just from the two songs from “Polaroid in Reverse.”

“Foreword” from Polaroid in Reverse

“Picture Perfect” from Polaroid in Reverse

“Don’t Hesitate” from the Blackwell Gate

let•loose•and•have•a•ham•burg•er.

Mayer Hawthorne “Your Easy Lovin’ Ain’t Pleasin’ Nothin’” from the album A Strange Arrangement.

Interesting note: The music video for “Your Easy Lovin’ Ain’t Pleasin’ Nothin’” was shot in one take.

Ahnyoung

in•ces•tu•ous•sa•cra•men•to•sound

I recently discovered that it isn’t that hard to write a pop song. My cousin has a toy keyboard with all of these preset hooks and rhythms in it. I pushed buttons for a couple of minutes, got a beat going, some simple riffs, let my fingers dance back and forth over no more than three keys. Then I started to sing about the sea turtles that were swimming around on the television. I was rather proud of myself. I told myself that I could even consider myself an “artist” if I took the angle, “Yeah, I don’t have any talent and put very little effort into this song, but that makes me cool because I did it and just didn’t care. I’m awesome, follow me on Twitter.”

Nut Brown may have made their tunes the same way. They may have been watching the same turtles on television. But my composition doesn’t hold a candle to what Nut Brown has. Perhaps it is innate talent, experience as the front-man of Vancouver’s They Shoot Horses Don’t They, or superior equipment that gives Nut Brown the edge. I don’t know. But I do know one ingredient that goes into the Nut Brown hopper. He has gusto. He is all about what he is doing. The course is set, the fires stoked, and Nut Brown is at the helm. Full steam ahead.

Nut Brown – I Need A Love Like That

Nut Brown – Welcome Back

Nut Brown has made the album “I Really Do” available for free download at http://nutbrown.net/. Get after it.