Tetuzi Akiyama's contribution to the portrait series, The Ancient Balance to Control Death  is a departure in a career of departures.  In addition to Akiyama's trademark improvised, blues-infused, guitar work, the ep features intense multi-layered vocals.  The end result is a collection of unique Japanese blues that could only have come from one of Japan's most distinct and creative improvisers.

Mirroring the vast Texas skies, the soulful collection of songs on Rivers Arms is imbued with a visceral weight and endless space.  Check out some audio samples here, watch a short film about the making of Rivers Arms here, or listen to their recent feature on NPR's Second Stage here.  At South By Southwest 2008 Balmorhea put on an amazing show at St. David's, following  special evening of Steve Reich's music performed by So Percussion and hosted by Steve Reich.  Pitchfork's kind words about Rivers Arms are available here.

Dirty Projectors recently performed at the Pitchfork curated All Tomorow's Parties, with additional performances by Les Savy Fav, Of Montreal, & many more.  If you missed ATP, you can watch them croon in the streets on La Blogotheque's "take away show" here.  In other news, DP have recently collaborated with David Byrne for two songs to appear on a Red Hot compilation to raise funds for AIDS research.  Other artists on the CD include Sufjan Stevens, Feist, the National, Grizzly Bear, & the Decemberists.  An MTV feature, including a DP interview and live footage can be seen here.

This Spring the Season 2 of the Showtime TV series This American Life will feature four Bexar Bexar tracks.  If you missed Season 1, featuring 10 Bexar Bexar tracks, you can now purchase it on DVD or download individual episodes.  Later this year the documentary film Think Big, directed by Tally Abecassis, will be released, featuring a soundtrack by Bexar Bexar.  Additionally, the new film The Recruiter by Edet Belzberg (director of Children Underground), will feature one Bexar track.

Two Point Discrimination, marks Goldmund (aka Keith Kenniff)'s 3rd release after his highly praised debut Corduroy Road and followup 7" The Heart of High Places for Type Records. Part of Western Vinyl's Portrait Series, this collection features 11 short pieces for solo piano focusing on the sensation of touch and its relationship to sound.You can listen to the track "One" on the NPR feature here. 

Slow Six uses amplified strings, guitars, and Rhodes piano, processed live by homegrown software "instruments" on their debut Private Times in Public Places.   Earlier this year New Albion (John Cage, Arvo Part, Terry Riley, Steve Reich, etc) released Nor'ester .  Slow Six has recently received some great press, including coverage in Wire, and a feature in Textura and Signal to Noise.

Madagascar uses crisscrossing accordion, saw, and glockenspiel melodies, punctuated with beautiful wordless vocals on their new album Goodbye East, Goodbye West.  From playful waltzes and clanky dirges, to minimalist scrapes and drones, to their arrangement of the Chanukah staple S'vivon, Goodbye East, Goodbye West is a uniquely satisfying and mystifying collection of songs.The Forced March DVD, with music by Madagascar and film manipulations by The King of Russia is now available in our shop.