THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE THING

Lookit! That there! It flashed across your eye, you saw it. It exists too — you can track it down, hold it in your hands. It smells like something, you can read it. What have you got?

In our hand we hold a thing that sounds, looks, smells and feels like something. It’s not just aural, it’s for reals. Sure, it’s only semi-portable; you can’t email it through today’s world without losing some width, breadth and all-round essence. Sure, it’s taking up space and destroying the earth. Nobody said it was perfect — but when we’re all done here, it’ll be there in the rubble, maybe the makings of some future trogg’s treasure!

Every month we’ve got new things too. Sound good? Welcome to the club! Join us in our fetish, speak with us the language of the thing.

OK, end of object lessons…

WEARING OUT THE WELCOME MAT

It it only June or already June? Sometimes, last month seems like a blue million miles away — but we’re told this is a common symptom of shell shock. May, as predicted, was a blast. In fact, our ears are still ringing and our sense of depth may have been permanently damaged from the explosion. Over the course of two release dates, we knocked out four incredible new Drag City albums, a magazine and a DVD, plus an incredible new album from Language of Stone. The scorecard reads like this: Alasdair Roberts Spoils LP/CD, Magik Markers Balf Quarry LP/CD, Sir Richard Bishop The Freak of Araby LP/CD, Bachelorette My Electric Family LP/CD, The Minus Times #28, Peter Liechti Signer’s Suitcase DVD and Sharon Van Etten Because I Was In Love LP/CD. They’re out there and there’s more in here with us — so don’t be afraid, sample the wares.

THE JUNE SPOON-FUL

And yes, June. It’s hardly another month — but on the other hand, it is. What month doesn’t have a new slate of Drag City items somewhere within its unduplicable frame? Certainly not this June. As has occurred somewhat regularly here in this still-new year of 2009, we’ve got some sounds from yesteryear on display. Like for instance, the LP/CD release called Magnificence in the Memory. This album is a skimming from the deep well of inspiration of The Source Family and their flagship band, YaHoWha 13. Under the leadership of Father Yod, there was nowhere that YaHoWha 13 couldn’t go. Their improvistational sense was honed to incredible sharpness and their jams among the most fluid of a very jammy era. Since Father's death in 1976, however, they’ve pursued an on-and-mostly-off path. Fortunately, you can catch them on the road where they might play a classic or two, in addition to the constant creation of new music that is their task in this world. Meanwhile, Magnificence in the Memory captures The Source Family vibes with violent vividity.

Also from the past, but the more recent past, is the self-titled Larry Jon Wilson album. This came out last year on the UK 1965 Records label, but here it is again today, brought home to America where it belongs, on not only CD but sweet, mellow vinyl as well. In case you haven’t heard the backstory, it’s fairly simple — Larry Jon recorded several albums in the mid-to-late-'70s Nashville. He was one of the hot young outlaw country songwriters of the era, but his records, though classic, didn’t sell that well. He was rediscovered a few years ago by some enterprising men and their mobile recording unit, and though he hadn’t cut a record in twenty-five years, his guitar picking and vocal chops were undiminished if not in fact enhanced by the passing of the years. Recorded solo in a room of the Mirabella apartment house in Perdido Key and dubbed at a few key moments with violin parts, this new album is a deep and meditative look into the southern soul of Larry Jon Wilson, a record that transforms his discography with its presence. Larry Jon Wilson is an essential purchase for anyone interested in American roots music and its 20th century revolutions.

The third corner of our June triumvirate is a book from David Berman entitled The Portable February. Now before you poetry freaks get all riled up, this book ain’t poetry! Or is it? The Portable February represents David Berman, the visual artist — an artist many of you on our Christmas card list have become familiar with over the years. David’s many talents as represented by his song lyrics and his poems — wit and wisdom, sure, but also a dry sentiment and a taste for historiography — are all in evidence in this collection of cartoons and drawings, to end both humorous and edifying. Rendered in David's shaky-hand style, The Portable February is a singular work that, while reminiscent of the work of other cartoonists, stands alone as David Berman always has.

McSUMMER

God, please tell us the days of mass producing the GCM for the LCD are over? It only ever led to corruption and disease — remember the rotten boom days of the late 90s. Nowadays, we make smaller batches out of more organic ingredients, right everybody? Fools! We’re all still sucking at the man’s milky breast, and heaven help you if you try to buck the system. It’s still the truth under our thin, thin umbrella of Obama-mania (but did you see the tie he was wearing today?). Thank the Creator that we’re offering up nothing but homegrown entertainment this summer! You can rest assured that no release we’ve got coming up in the next couple months was made in less than humane conditions and that no animal were harmed during the making of any of the records (not even the Six Organs of Admittance album, "honest!"). No heartless demographics surveys were conducted in order to determine the nature of the audience we’d be pitching new releases to. These releases were made by people who care about what goes inside of them (now, who — that’s another matter!) and where it comes from. Discerning folks who also like to get wild and crazy and put on a show! It isn’t for everyone, but maybe it’s for you. So come out of that processed sunlight and cool yourself in the shade of what we’ve got on the way. Check it out —

A DOSSIER FOR WHAT AILS YUH

The Galactic Zoo Dossier is a new tradition in the world of fanzine anti-journalism, a tonic for those of you who still like to get your news from an ink-and-paper source. Non-electric, but electrifying! For this latest issue, Steve “Plastic Crimewave” Krakow has shaken out another pipe-ful of gorgeously hand-drawn portraits of rock and roll inspirations including Eddie Hazel, Del Shannon, The George-Edwards Group, Blue Things, The Cake, The Four Tops, Kim Fowley and our personal favorite, Hoyt Axton. Plus interviews with Guru Guru, Vashti Bunyan, Peter Walker, YaHoWha 13, MV & EE and psychedelic light show pioneer Bill Ham! With pin-ups of Kaleidoscope, Suicide and Peter Cushing! Other eye-candy includes a pletheora of GZD inquests into the psychedelic world of comics and some new strips from Leslie Anne McKenzie Stein. The CD this time includes rarities from Simply Saucer, Monster Magnet, Mushroom, Vashti Bunyan, Mom’s Boys, Puffy Areolas, Peter Walker and much much more! Plus another slew of Damaged Guitar Gods and Astral Folk Goddess trading cards! How can we do it all for just $16.98? We’re going broke! Get copies before we declare bankruptcy!

The Galactic Zoo Dossier #8 is coming this July 21, 2009. The only question that day will be whether you take one Dossier or two! And speaking of July 21, 2009.....
THEY ARE THE LIGHTS OF THE WORLD

Good gracious! Everywhere we look — singers, songwriters, DJs, laptop monkeys and other solo artists. What the world needs now is a band — and not just to remind us to come together and be one now, but also just to rock as we didn't know a group of people could do, and to please us in ways we didn't know we could be pleased (and no, we're not talking about porn here). Well guess what? Whether you knew it or not, the world's already got one! May we present to you, Lights. Three women and a man making celestial discothèque sounds unlike anybody else rocking that combination today. When you look on the stage, you’ll only see two women and a man, but the patterns of light you see them through will be the contribution of their fourth member (no, not Murray the K). It’s a modern multi-sexual outfit that all genders can wear! The music? It’s light and heavy all at once, the layers of vocals and guitar-bass-and-drums working together naturally to bring you up, rock you, dance you, ballad you and blow a little bit of your mind. Their new album is called Rites and it stands a space apart from the sounds of their previous album, the self-titled 2008 CD on Language of Stone. Rites finds Lights forging songs out of their chants, softening and bouncing the rhythm a bit more, and generally sparkling more, for whatever reason. Did they dossier us? Not sure, but our visual sense has certainly been enhanced, especially on LP. Come July 21st, fight for your Rites – from Lights.

A VARIETY OF HAMBURGER

What’s that crying we hear? Ah, the non-music crew. You like videos, you like comedy, you might even like musical comedy, and so far in this newsletter, we haven’t mentioned anything to get you through your long, sticky summer days and summer nights. Well hold it right there, kids. May we offer you a Hamburger? That’s right, Neil Hamburger, “America’s Funnyman,” blah blah blah is back in the DVD racks with the followup to his World’s Funnyman DVD, a semi-new live show he’s calling Western Music and Variety. I guess he hasn’t gotten our royalty statements, but Neil seems to think that he’s got a hit on his hands with last year’s country-music album, Sings Country Winners. Captalizing on its “success” as well the names of his “Too-Good-For-Neil-Hamburger” band (The Tubes’ Prairie Prince, Dieselhed’s Atom Ellis and noted country music sessioneer Dave Gleason), Neil’s hosting a live show of music and comedy and even a special appearance by the Godfather of musical comedy himself, Dr. Demento! It all takes place at the legendary-but-now-defunct Radio Recorders Studio in Los Angeles in front of a crowd that really wants to have a good time. As always, Neil’s comedy routines have the harsh sting of reality, and the laughs come hard. Plus, there’s plenty of video extras including two videos for Sings Country Winners “hits,” one of Neil’s many television appearances and the short film "Live at the Cat Hotel." Distinctively packaged in pathos-ridden newspaper ads from the good old days of newspaper ads (not to mention newspapers! We’re looking at you, Seattle), Western Music and Variety is the “awesome” new DVD variety show from Neil Hamburger, available in stores that care on July 21st.

BISH AND BACHE

…or Sir Richard Bishop and Bachelorette, as you may know them, are just two of our amazing musical force out on the road right now bringing nightly musical entertainment to whichever of you ingrates actually remembers to go down the club and see them. Sir Richard’s playing with his Freak of Araby Ensemble and our spies report that he’s having more fun playing than he has maybe ever. That’s what playing the exotic sounds of the Middle East will do to you. Meanwhile, Bachelorette’s playing her irresistible space-folk tunes with a two-person band flown over from New Zealand and sounding great doing it! Lots of songs from her brand-new My Electric Family album, and treats for fans of her previous recordings as well. She’s playing some shows with Bill Callahan who's also out there picking and (not) grinning in support of his amazing new release, Sometimes I Wish We Were an Eagle. And what an incredible band he has! It’s a peaceful night on a cloud of sound at the Callahan shows these days. But hey, these aren’t the only bands on tour! Check our tour page for shows and mo’ from Baby Dee, Faun Fables, David Grubbs, Neil Hamburger, High Llamas, Lights, Magik Markers, Monotonix, Alasdair Roberts, and Six Organs of Admittance. This is your last warning! For this newsletter, anyway…
A LOT CAN HAPPEN BETWEEN JULY AND SEPTEMBER...

...like August, yo! Helena Espvall and Masaki Batoh with their mega-monster 2xLP/CD Overloaded Ark! Sic Alps Long Way Around to a Shortcut – the double-vinyl version! Six Organs of Admittance Luminous Night LP/CD — the new album!

Don’t space on it – your heart, soul and brain will never forgive you. And once they turn on you, forget it…
WE'LL MEET AGAIN

…we know when, we know where. To find out for yourselves, come back to the site every day between now and the next release date. And hey, would it kill you to buy something while you’re here? God damn you, love us!

See you next time,

Rian Murphy
June 2009
Drag City, Inc.

E-mail our webmaster at webmaster@dragcity.com
For demo submission information, read this Demo FAQ.


Ya Ho Wha 13 Magnificence in the Memory LP/CD DC393
 After the Fatherless Songs From The Source, we felt a return to form would be a great second act for Drag City and The Source Family. So here we present a compilation culled from their massive archives. We'd call it "the best of the rest", if it wasn't all so damn amazing.
Larry Jon Wilson Larry Jon Wilson LP/CD DC399
 The big arrangements have been left behind, making more room for the deep, resounding voice that rattles in your chest. Larry Jon divides his time equally between his own tunes and covers, but you can hardly tell the difference. Once he's touched a song, there's no question of ownership.
David Berman The Portable February Book DC386
 Sketching images that recall both The New Yorker and Raymond Pettibon, Berman skews our world with his startling views on things minor and colossal. The Furthest Side, you might say.
Sir Richard Bishop The Freak of Araby LP/CD DC398
The Freak of Araby is the debut of Sir Richard Bishop and his Freak of Araby Ensemble, a talented quartet of players getting deep into the Middle Eastern mystic with hand drums, percussion, bass, drums, electric guitars and a heavy dose of Moroccan chanters, all of it captured with depth, detail and sympathy for the eternal enigma by engineer Scott Colburn.
Bachelorette My Electric Family LP/CD DC397
Another artist new to Drag City! New Zealand's Bachelorette explores the meeting of woman and machine via eleven swirling electronic sci-folk tunes.
Sharon Van Etten Because I Was In Love LP/CD LOS-011
New on Language of Stone! "Certain musicians are magic. Their voices prick up the ears of those far afield, melt the hearts of those within earshot and magnetize the attention of those souls fortunate enough to have a clear sightline. Sharon Van Etten is a singer and songwriter who trades in that caliber of mysticism."
Alasdair Roberts Spoils LP/CD DC392
All the way from his Scottish home, he's delivered a new set of originals adorned with gorgeous melodies that only he could devise.
Magik Markers Balf Quarry LP/CD DC376
Welcome to Drag City! Balf Quarry's dark beauty is further twisted with the assistance of producer Scott Colburn and assistant axe-wielder Ben Chasny.
Peter Liechti Signer's Suitcase DVD DC398
Roman Signer travels Europe with his suitcase full of tricks, creating happenings and art at every turn. Peter Liechti accompanied the man, documenting his adventures and providing an all-flesh being to stand beside his art.
The Minus Times Issue #29 Magazine MT29
After a lengthy hiatus, The Minus Times returns with this, its largest issue to date. Drawings, poetry, fiction — if you've got an itch, the Times has a full set of fingers ready to scratch it...and perhaps a little more???
Bill Callahan Sometimes I Wish We Were An Eagle LP/CD DC385
First whales, now eagles. The man has really taken to this nature thing and we’re digging it, too!
The George-Edwards Group 38:38 LP DC391/GZD#002
The soft-psych contained within is truly worth the 30+ years of waiting. Another success for GZD Disk!
Scout Niblett "It's Time My Beloved" 7" DC405
Welcome to Drag City, Scout! These songs are the head of the path leading to the forest that is Scout’s debut album for Drag City.
Bonnie 'Prince' Billy Beware LP/CD/Ultraload DC666
Hark, the Prince returns! Dark and mysterious, yet occasionally jovial — that's the man you remember. Introducing new Ultraload format!
Charlemagne Palestine & Christoph Heemann Saiten in Flammen LP ST1026
Dark drones created from a mix of CP's piano and CH's processed aural delights.
The Fems "Go To A Party" 7" DC396
A lost punk classic from Buffalo, New York, c. 1982.
AZITA How Will You? LP/CD DC368
AZITA's 3rd masterpiece! With Matt Lux, John Herndon, Emmett Kelly & Sam Wagster.
Death ...For the Whole World to See LP/CD DC387
Detroit proto-punk from 1975, includes their ultra-rare single plus 5 additional unheard tracks! Mind-blowing.
Upcoming in 2009 on Drag City
Bert Jansch L.A. Turnaround LP/CD DC413
Bert Jansch Santa Barbara Honeymoon LP/CD DC414
Bert Jansch A Rare Conundrum LP/CD DC415
Lights Rites LP/CD DC308
Neil Hamburger Western Music & Variety DVD DC382
Galactic Zoo Dossier Issue #8 Mag + CD DC402
Helena Espvall & Masaki Batoh Overloaded Ark 2xLP/CD DC388
Sic Alps Long Way Around To A Shortcut 2xLP DC400
Six Organs of Admittance Luminous Night LP/CD DC409
Upcoming in 2009 on Streamline
Jim O'Rourke & Christoph Heemann tba CD ST1028
Andrés Krause Move Ground LP ST1024