Sunday Morning News: Re-launch of Yer Bird Records & Uncles to release debut album on Aluminum Records April 15 (first two tracks available)

Yer Bird Records

Listen while reading:

Hezekiah Jones – Traffic To The Sea (from Bread Of Teeth EP) download song!

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As a CFM reader there is a fair chance that you know J. Tillman (of course you do…) and therefore I assume that you are also familiar with his amazing 2007 Cancer And Delirium record. But do you remember the label that released the album? If not, you really should. Yer Bird Records is a small label putting out high quality (often folk) music. Along with J.  Tillman there are releases from folk/folk rocker The Gunshy, alt country band Blackbird Harmony (who sadly broke up) and of course folk singer-songwriter Hezekiah Jones, just to name a few. The reason why I tell you this is simple: Yer Bird Records just re-launched and has new owners – and if you haven’t heard it yet, it’s nobody else than Sandy (from the Slowcoustic blog) and his wife Judy. I don’t know, but I see a future full of great music releases coming and Yer Bird will be their home. To celebrate the re-launch, Yer Bird received a full make over and a new, great looking layout – but that’s not all! If you haven’t purchased Hezekiah Jones’ music yet, you can now order an exclusive bundle from Yer Bird’s store containing all his releases. Still more to come: the line-up for the follow up compilation of the stunning Folk Music For The End Of The World was confirmed (but not yet shared). But I can let you know that it will be awesome – lot’s of great bands, that’s for sure. The title will be Folk Music For What Lies Ahead and “is meant to represent the new launch of the label”. Release date seems to be set for summer – but let’s start celebrating right now! Be sure to visit Yer Bird and have a look around.

Here is a quote from the original newsletter:

Just wanted to send a note out about what’s going on at Yer Bird Records HQ.  Yer Bird has recently move from Philadelphia to The Great White North…Calgary, Alberta and is now under the watchful eyes and ears of Judy & Sandy Smith (you may recognize Sandy from the Slowcoustic music blog).  Along with a new look for the website (www.yerbird.com) we have also added digital downloads and a couple of new offerings!!

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Uncles – Replacing Words With Other Words
Aluminum Records 2010

[tags: folk, acoustic, upcoming album, 2010]

Listen while reading:

Settler’s Song (from Replacing Words With Other Words )

Where Does It Sleep (from Replacing Words With Other Words )

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So, part 2. Yesterday I received a music submission for Uncles‘ upcoming debut album Replacing Words With Other Words. Uncles is a collaboration between Dan Bateman and Will Schwartz, two Queens-based singer-songwriters. The label shares the first two tracks which are very promising. Acoustic folk for the most time, but the info-sheet states that the album will also explore other genres, officially it says:

There’s a lot of sex on the record, some urban grit, a fair share of plaintive mid-western balladeering, tales of nursing-home dimentia, and plenty of violence, too. It’s a musically diverse album, with different members of the Ensemble of Uncles bringing their training from free jazz, classical, and folk idioms to support the songs.

I don’t know what the result will be like, but in the mail I received I read that it might sound a bit like Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy – and judging from the quote I can really imagine this and it makes me very curious to hear the full record. The two shared songs hopefully represent the overall quality of Replacing Words With Other Words, but I will keep you updated as soon as I have the opportunity to listen to the full record. The album will be officially released due April 15. This is their MySpace – check it out for further details.

Uncles