Skinty Fia is an Irish phrase which translates to English as “the damnation of the deer” and the album’s cover art features a deer, plucked from its natural habitat and deposited in the hallway of a home, illuminated by an artificial red glow. The Irish giant deer is an extinct species and the band’s thoughts on Irish identity are central to Skinty Fia. While Dogrel was littered with snapshots of the Dublin characters -  like the cabbie in “Boys In The Better Land” - and A Hero’s Death documented the dislocation and disconnection the band felt as they traveled the globe on tour, on Skinty Fia Fontaines D.C. are addressing their Irishness from afar as they recreate new lives for themselves elsewhere. For a band whose hometown courses through their veins -  “D.C.” stands for “Dublin City” - the album finds them trying to resolve the need to broaden their horizons with the affection they still feel for the land and people they’ve left behind.

Meernaa is Carly Bond’s beautiful, freaky dream. When you listen to her songs, you have the feeling of being in this dream: walking alone in the woods, sometimes spooked and sometimes elated, and you are uncertain whether or not you will wake up in a familiar place. Bond (guitar and vocals) formed Meernaa with Rob Shelton (keys) in Oakland in 2015. They are natural collaborators (both work as engineers at John Vanderslice’s recording studio Tiny Telephone) who draw influence from the environments of the Bay Area, where the shift between dramatic landscapes can be hard to perceive. Bond’s songs are expansive and arresting; what starts as an amorous croon can transform into a full psychedelic eruption. With Andrew Maguire (Mirah) on drums and Doug Stuart (Bells Atlas) on bass, the group creates a backdrop of syrupy grooves that allow Bond’s seemingly ancient voice to take the listener through moments of catharsis and moments of play. Meernaa doesn’t fit squarely into a single genre; at times it feels like a fantasy designed by Solange and Grizzly Bear on mushrooms. Like a true spirit quest, Meernaa will allow you to let go of something you didn’t know you were holding.

writes songs. sings them. she/her. currently living and working on Wurundjeri land. new album Things Take Time, Take Time out Nov 12

Best wife n husband gospel duo since The Consolers. All selections are from      bap-tizum.com, the worlds largest online archive of Black/AfAm spiritual music. Live from planet Detroit.

Keeled Scales is a record label deep in the heart of Texas named after a type of snake scale. 

Releases by Lunar Vacation, Katy Kirby, Tenci, Will Johnson, Sun June, Buck Meek, Twain, and more.

Dan Swerbilov is following