IT’S MAGIC!
White Magic, that is. Their debut record, “Through the Sun Door,” is out now — and a new legion of fans is materializing all around the country to receive their sounds with love and understanding. Fronted by the mystic aura of Mira Billotte (singing and keys/guitar), White Magic drive their stakes deep into the listener’s heart with every spin of their mini-album. Making more with less (Miggy Littleton on drums, Andy Macleod on guitar and Mira), White Magic expand once inside your ears — expanding you in the process. Though “Through the Sun Door” features a scant six of their songs, they’ve been witnessed playing other kinds of songs on certain enchanted evenings — and they’ll be revisiting the studio to conjure more ‘Magic soon. Meantime, they’ve got dates with Bonnie and elsewhere — more on this below!

LIFE ON THE FLY
Time is passing, people! Another year has slipped away in the blink of an eye and all of a sudden, another AZITA record is finished and stands before us. Are we ready? Have you finished absorbing the complex bouquet of notes and flavors that is Enantiodromia? We here at Drag City hope so, because AZITA’s brand-new record, Life on the Fly will capture your full attention. AZITA’s new songs are upbeat, catchy and interactive, drawing the listener deeper into a deeply revelatory introspection the more the listener actually listens. AZITA makes it fun with backing vocals and electric keyboards in the mix as well as her gregarious, elegant piano playing at the foundation. Slick sidemen only enhance the experience. Do your inner self a favor — buy Life on the Fly — a top-notch record from a hell of a girl.

DRAG CITY OVER EUROPE
If you’re out in the street in the old EU, perhaps you’ve noticed something different — like how the record shops are so much cooler now that they’re filled with the proud new product from our very own Drag City imprint? With the release of Ghost and Weird War (and Faun Fables, and Will Oldham, and Joanna Newsom, and AZITA, and White Magic), we've taken a new approach to getting the records in the shops over there — paying off local distribution to really sell and promote the records all across Europe. It seems to be working, with strong sales and lengthy reviews coming back to us in German and Italian…no idea what they say, but we’re told that it’s all good! We didn’t know that phrase had made it over there, but we’ll buy anything at this point — we made it over the pond, bloke!

I HOPE THIS WAR NEVER ENDS
Speaking of the pond, Weird War just jumped the big ditch for a whistle-stop tour of the UK. They’re back among us now and I.F. Svenonius has filed this report:

When in Europe, Americans like to say, "If it weren't for us, you'd be speaking German". The continentals are cowed by this invocation of military might and mastery. When abroad, I say this sentence to everyone I meet, especially if they are German. In such a situation, it's invariably true, as they will be speaking in English with me, and not in their native tongue.

When on a recent UK trip though, WEIRD WAR discovered that, contrary to the claims of Tom Hanks, Germany did win the war and the British are speaking German, albeit very poorly. In fact, their mastery of German is so poor that it is what one might call 'pidgin' Deutsch — a guttural, low German mixed with leftover words from English — that is sometimes even comprehensible to English speaking ears. The various regions differ greatly in their German language ability, probably something to do with different concentrations of Nazi occupiers and subsequent intermarriage. The "Geordies" of Newcastle speak the best German, with only a few English words peeking out from a Teutonic tangle. The Scots are nearly as good and are almost incomprehensible but southerners and especially Londoners and 'posh' types are so horrible at German that their patois is up to 50% clear. They have also typically learned more English words from American tourists who come to see the Beefeater guards and the famous 'Tower of London'. It is not clear if their Nazi overlords punish them for this slack attitude toward the mother tongue. Because pop music is an English medium, the British groups sing in English for the sake of export to the American market, hence 'The Rolling Stones' affected American accents and funny misuse of words.

WEIRD WAR’s tour of UK was a smashing success probably because of the word "war" in the title. Germans still have a secret affection for ordered conflict due to their Prussian heritage. The word "Weird" offsets it enough though to allay the guilt which is impressed into their psyche. We rolled into this war torn land and it was actually a nice time. There was little resistance. Maybe after their defeat in the last war they don't have the bottle to put up a fight. Or perhaps we were seen as liberators? I don't know. I don't speak very much German.

Cheers, Ian! Native tongue or no, you’re gonna be big in new Germany — we can tell! We’ll reunite you with your uber allies as soon they demand your extradition.

MAY THE ROAD RISE WITH US
Meanwhile, as summer fights to establish it’s vile, burning presence here on the western front, our artists are doing their bit to bring fun back to lives of people all around the country — this year, they wanna take you higher! Check it out —

In June, AZITA’s got dates, opening for that special new band, The Shins. Faun Fables have dates, opening up for those grunge holdovers, Goth cellists Rasputina. Weird War’s got dates, opening up for no-one — right on, Weird War! Joanna Newsom is touring the whole country, playing everywhere with her dear friend Devendra Banhart in June and July. And in July, David Grubbs supports his new release A Guess at the Riddle with two weeks of tour dates. For these dates, David Grubbs will be a duo, with cellist Nikos Veliotis playing along — the first time David's been more than a solo act on the U.S. stage since the Gastr days of yore. And even as we speak, U.S. Maple are way out west, plying the highways and byways (and taking the occasional day off for a bit of fishing) in support of Purple On Time..

In short, The Drag City roster is working to insure that whatever’s happening, it’s live somewhere near you.

But that’s not all! The big news has been getting around — Bonnie’s on tour again! The last time he really did it up in America was May and June 2003 in the hinterlands of the Mountain Zone. Well, get ready to go to a whole other zone — because Bonnie “Prince” Billy is now packing up the buckboard for a tour through the Deep South. In support of his runaway success Greatest Palace Music, the “Pebbles and Ripples” tour will take him and his merry band from Texas to North Carolina on a scenic path — three plus weeks through eight states, including six shows in Texas, five in Florida, three in Mississippi and one-to-two each in Louisiana, Alabama, Georgia and the Carolinas. But it’s not about quantity — the quality of the shows in such far-flung (and rarely toured-to) localities as San Marcos TX, Hattiesburg MS, St. Augustine FL and such unlikely venues as Wilmington NC’s Soapbox Laundrolounge is what the “Pebbles and Ripples” tour is all about. The Bonnie “Prince” will be delivering quality in spades, with a seven-piece band, old friends Brightblack in support, a special, limited, tour-only split CDEP and Black Nasty, White Magic, Kingsbury Manx, and Arboretum taking the opening spot on selected dates throughout the run. Wanna hang with Bonnie? Get the engine tuned on your VW van and get the kids — the "Prince" is on the road agin'!

Check the Tour Page for the facts 'n details behind each one of these boasts.

DRAG CITY EXPOSED!
We’re getting more press and publicity all around the world than we know what to do with. We told you about what’s happening in Europe earlier, but it’s happening here too (except the press is in ostensible English instead of undeniable German and Italian) — our artists are being reviewed, featured, and splashed across the covers of magazines big and small! Plus, we got production companies calling with requests for posters and such to strategically place in the backdrops of their latest movies and TV shows and ad agencies requesting artists like Papa M, Jim O’Rourke, The Fucking Champs and more for their sound bites (and at like, $10,000 a minute, how can we say no? SOLD, to the highest bidder!). Noted comedienne Laura Kightlinger even made her own Drag City t-shirt to wear on Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn. We’re popping up in lots of places — and we’re not even paying for it! That’s playing the game the way it’s supposed to be played, wouldn’t you say? Then there’s that compilation CD, The Golden Apples of the Sun, compiled by Devendra Banhart and sold exclusively by Arthur magazine through their website. Drag City next generation bands White Magic, Joanna Newsom, and Six Organs of Admittance are all in effect — we’re so ahead of the game, we’ve even got the future covered!

AMERICA GIVES IT UP FOR GHOST
Have you seen the April issue of The Wire? It looks like this:

It’s just the latest in a veritable barrage of positive reaction for Ghost’s Hypnotic Underworld album — and not just from those sleazy journalists, either. Real record buyers and music fans alike are getting deep with Ghost this year. Their fusion jams are on the tips of tongues far and wide — and it’s only going to get better. Dates are being booked at the end of September for that rarest of pleasures — a Ghost U.S. tour. Starting in New York then heading west along a route of northern cities, the “Hypnotic World” tour will touch down in ten other cities on the way to LA. As soon as we have the actual details, we’ll be posting more here — so remain calm. The freaking doesn't start until September — until then, conserve your energies. Ghost flies this fall!

THE HOWLING HEX SELLS OUT!
Congrats to all the faithful who purchased themselves a copy of latest The Howling Hex transmission, Section 2. You’re one in 500, people — and there are no more of you out there. The copies were all gone from our warehouse before the designated street date had even arrived. If you missed out on either Section 2 or the first Howling Hex title, Introducing the Howling Hex, for shame! You’ll have your third strike later this year, when the final volume in this limited series hits shelves. It’s called The Return of the Third Tower and it’ll be available for preorder right here sometime around the first of July. Look out!

THE PALACE TEASE
Hey, didja notice? In pure celebration of Bonnie’s Greatest Palace Music, we’ve brought back some classic Palace t-shirt designs, one for each of the Palace Brothers/Songs/Music three official records. The original pink Palace Brother T is back in effect, though with a somewhat changed design from all those years ago. Go to the T-shirt page and see!

While you’re there, pick up AZITA’s brand-new Life on the Fly t-shirt and fly the flag for the album David Berman said was the “best record I’ve heard all year” — if you have the album already, that is. If not, get the album first, then the t-shirt. Or go for broke and get them both at once!

THE EDITH UPDATE
No, she doesn’t have a new album done yet. Edith Frost fans, be patient! While you wait for something new, how about something old and yet somehow unfamiliar in the meantime? If you go to:

http://www.comfortstand.com/catalog/027/index.html

…or even if you don’t, a special compilation of Edith Frost’s classic demo recordings is now available there to be downloaded — an online-album for your contemporary listening pleasure. Some of Edith’s best demos are included, as well as a couple of old-timey country tunes delivered with her signature honey-slide heavy ether. Check it out! And for the third year in a row, maybe next year for a new Edith Frost album.

OUR SUMMER DREAM
In keeping with our march of great new releases, we dreamed of a summer packed full with goodies. And lo, we’ve got one. Coming out in June, we’ve got David Grubbs’ new record of songs with singing A Guess at the Riddle. Then in July, its reissue time, with Half Japanese’s early 80s releases Loud and “Horrible” together on one CD and The Red Krayola’s singles compilation entitled (wait for it —) Singles. Also in July, we’re releasing another tape from The Red Krayola shelf, songs from the film “Japan In Paris In LA.” Blue Chopsticks is getting in the July spirit as well, with Noël Akchoté’s Adult Guitar career retrospective CD — all previously unreleased, but retrospective just the same.

In August, we welcome Bill Callahan to the world of coffee-table art with his sketchbook, Women. The aforementioned third limited edition vinyl-only release from The Howling Hex hits at that time as well, The Return of the Third Tower. Also in August are two more reissues of the first two Faun Fables records, Early Song and Mother Twlight. But perhaps the most exciting news in August is an all-new LP/CD from something we call The Fucking Am. This unholy union of The Fucking Champs and Trans Am has come up with an album-length experience called GOLD that rivals the great epics of The Fucking Champs for pure energy.

That’s the summer in a coconut-shell for you. It looks (and sounds) to be hot. And then in September, it’s going to get hotter with RTX. Transmaniacon is the name of their new game — more on that next time. In the meantime, here’s an up-close-and-personal look at July…

YOUR GUESS IS NOT AS GOOD AS OURS
In the two years since Rickets & Scurvy, David Grubbs has been a busy man, collaborating with people like Mats Gustafsson (see Off-Road, BC11), Loren Connors, Arnold Dreyblatt and Matmos, as well as touring the world and, happily, composing another new record of songs with singing. His discography is deep with releases featuring no songs with singing, so this is a distinction one has to make. The thrill of such “experimental” records as Act Five, Scene One and “Thirty-Minute Raven” is entirely separate from that of David’s “pop” albums, The Thicket, The Spectrum Between, Rickets & Scurvy and, coming out in late June, A Guess at the Riddle. A Guess at the Riddle continues the trend in Grubbs’ solo work of increasingly direct, upbeat, well-realized albums full of fine new songs. June 22nd is the date you can have your Guess at the Riddle.

LOUD & HORRIBLE
Ever since we reissued Our Solar System and Sing No Evil, we’ve been deluged with requests to get serious about reissuing more Half Japanese records — and not just from Half Japanese, either! No, there are fans out there who’d love to get their hands on some of the long-out-of-print titles in Half Japanese’s extensive biography as well. Well good news, freaks! This July, the second Half Japanese album, Loud, is coming back to you, for the first time ever on CD! Lucky for you, the mind-rending cacophony is only enhanced by digital mastering, capturing the original vinyl experience down to the last detail. For this CD reissue, the “Horrible” EP is included, a six-song trip into the heart of darkness (and fun!) found in horror films, late-night campfire stories and other adolescent activities. There’s also several b-sides, alternate versions and songs from flexi-discs rounding out this collection of Half Japanese, circa 1980-82. We’ll also be bringing back Our Solar System and Sing No Evil at that time. And once again, Half Japanese will rule the world...

THIRTY-TWO YEARS IN SEVENTY-FIVE MINUTES AND TWENTY-NINE SECONDS
Sounds like a trip, don’t it? The latest time-travel device to hit the market is a CD entitled simply Singles. This CD traces the path of Mayo Thompson and The Red Krayola from 1970 to 2002 over the course of 21 songs earmarked personally by Mayo for chart success. Singles represents the old adage that if you have a message for the people, you release it as a single, the true populist format. So here are The Red Crayola songs destined for popular consumption. It wouldn’t be a proper collection without a live version or a rarity or two, so expect a few of those, as well. But mostly, expect the unexpected — a Greatest Hits collection that sounds as forward looking today as it did in the era of the 7” single. Viva la Crayola!

THE RED KRAYOLA IN “JAPAN IN PARIS IN LA”
Back in ‘97, a 16mm film entitled ”Japan In Paris In LA” was created by independent filmmakers Bruce and Norman Yonemoto. Predictably, it made the rounds in Japan, in Paris, in LA …and maybe in London and in New York, we’re not quite sure. Anyway, now comes a little souvenir of this venture — an actual soundtrack recording, “Japan In Paris In LA.” Featuring all-instrumental contributions from Stephen Prina, Tom Watson, Jim O’Rourke, David Grubbs and Mayo Thompson, this is a virtual Red Krayola record, just waiting to be added to your collection. So do it!

ADULT GUITAR
Blue Chopsticks is proud to announce the release of Adult Guitar.

Adult Guitar is a startling anthology of twenty unreleased tracks from Noël Akchoté’s first twenty-one years of recording. For a time, Akchoté was primarily known for his go-for-broke free improvisation, as heard on Close to the Kitchen, his exceedingly electric duo with Derek Bailey. He’s also recorded with Luc Ferrari, Evan Parker, Sam Rivers, Marc Ribot, Fred Frith, Eugene Chadbourne, and many others. Adult Guitar (it is twenty-one years, after all) is the first record to attempt to represent the breadth of Noël’s music. The collection includes a demo made at age thirteen or fourteen; an awesome four-track cassette recording of Noël slashing his way through Ornette Coleman’s “Macho Woman”; a pair of spikily discordant acoustic and electric guitar improvisations; several stellar live performances from his period of static electric guitar pieces and a large helping of slippery, funny, ultimately gorgeous renditions of standards by Sidney Bechet, Cole Porter, and Dizzy Gillespie. When you’re through listening to Adult Guitar, it’ll be clear that Noël Akchoté belongs in the hallowed circle of guitar innovators.

AUGUST
It’s almost June, and we’re almost ready to talk about August. Almost, but not quite — it’s time to post this bitch! And so, you’ll have to wait until next time to hear from us on the majesty of rock to be found in The Fucking Am GOLD LP/CD, the Faun Fables reissues Mother Twlight and Early Song (both on CD only) and Bill Callahan’s sketchbook, Women.

And lots of other things.

Until then—

May 2004
Rian Murphy
Drag City Inc.