Bowerbirds - "In Our Talons". Danger at Sea is the exceptional debut EP by Raleigh NC's Bowerbirds - a duo that roosts on fire-escapes, on garden paths and in holey sailing ships. Maybe in cherry trees, where all the cherries have already been eaten. "In Our Talons" is accordion and guitar, bass drum boom, voices twinned like wood and bark. Dee-da-dee da-da dee. So far away from the bloodless parade of The Decemberists: Bowerbirds have chirp and croak, true melancholy and truer hope, and the liberty with which they swing their drums reminds me of The Diskettes more than anyone else. Pop music that doesn't flinch at the first sign of storm: something to keep in your nets, your lockets, the flask over your heart.

Danger at Sea is hand-made and out now. It is very highly recommended. Buy a copy while you still can ($10!): we'll be hearing a lot more about this band.

---

Jason Molina - "Let Me Go Let Me Go Let Me Go". Human beings are off balance. Hearts on the left side - and what on the right to balance it out? Nothing. Liver? Kidneys? Nothing perfect. We are off balance. It is no wonder our hearts tip us over.

Our hearts live in the dark. They never see the light of day - not unless there is some horror accident, some ultimate autopsy. Our hearts would wither in daylight. We keep them hidden.

I see a sign by a long set of stairs and the sign advises caution for those with heart problems. At moments like this, what does the person with the other heart problems do? Do they trust that the sign refers only to weak blood pressure, heart disease, pacemakers - and climb? Or do they stay below? Standing in their shoes at the base of the stairs. Feeling their broken heart in their chests. Wondering if at the top of these steps there is an orchid in the shape of their true love's face.

Jason Molina usually works behind the curtain of Songs:Ohia or Magnolia Electric Company. He is one of my favourite singers. "Let Me Go Let Me Go Let Me Go" is by an album of the same name, released this year. The record is one of Molina's finest works. (The others are Axxess & Ace and Magnolia Electric Co.) It was recorded in the dark. And off-balance.

Molina takes drum machine, organ, voice, and plays an electric guitar that sounds, distorted and ozone arctic green, like the last puffs of the dying, dying, dying northern lights.

[buy]

---

rbally announced this week that they are calling it quits. For some time now it has been the best mp3blog for high-quality, noteworthy concert bootlegs, and it is a great pity to see them go. Before it all disappears, you'd be well to go get (at the very least) the Cat Power gig on there now. Jennings calls it one of the "loneliest" shows he's ever heard. This is true - but listening to this version of "Sea of Love", I just want to slip into somebody's bed.

Gramofriend David Gooblar's new band, Gooblar, are playing two shows soon in London - headlining Thu 2 Nov. at 333, and then Fri 17 Nov. at The Wilmington. I wrote about his song "Uh-Oh" a few months ago, and they're sure to play it. See a live version of "Uh-Oh" from a previous gig, over at YouTube. Londoners, do go.

---

Sean's favourite colour for a leaf: blue.