Owls Of The Swamp (a.k.a. Pete Uhlenbruch) just released Atlas via Labelship Records. To celebrate, we asked Uhlenbruch to make MAGNET a mix tape. Check it out below. It;s pretty great.
Feist “The Water”
My favourite Feist song. It has quite a raw live sound that works perfectly for this piece. I love the exquisite combination of acoustic instruments, and there’s something in the way Feist vocally hits the chorus that sends shivers down my spine every time. Video
Sufjan Stevens “Enchanting Ghost”
Another indie-folk classic. The waterfall-like acoustic picking and ghostly piano notes add a mysterious quality to this mainly acoustic gem. I don’t know how he does it, but there’s something in the muted electric-guitar melody that evokes a sense of timelessness and suspension from reality. Video
J. Tillman “When I Light Your Darkened Door”
I actually prefer this live version over the album version. This performance stopped me in my tracks when I first heard it. When the band comes in, it’s just sonic bliss, and that pedal-steel part just kills me! Video
Daniel Lanois “Panorama”
Speaking of pedal steel, this ambient piece comes from the album Belladonna. This is another one of those pieces that just catapults me into a pensive and mysterious state. This album was the soundtrack to the period in my early 20s when I discovered Carlos Castaneda. I picked this live version to highlight Lanois’ extraordinary pedal-steel technique. Video
Boards Of Canada “Kid For Today”
There’s something quite peculiar and enchanting about this ambient-electronic track from the mesmerizing In A Beautiful Place Out In The Country EP. If I had the ability to astral project at will, this is how I imagine the experience would sound. Video
Doveman “Breathing Out”
There’s an underlying sense of euphoria and of new beginnings in this spectral piece by Doveman; a stunning combination of poetic lyrics, suspenseful production and subtle instrumentation. It’s far from pop, but catchy as hell. Video
Gillian Welch “I Dream A Highway”
To my personal taste, this is Gillian at her finest. A 15-minute masterpiece of surrealist lyrics, haunting chord progressions and an alchemical bond between Welch’s evocative vocals and David Rawlings’ exquisite guitar accompaniment. Music to transcend to. Video