7/28/2007

performance :: guy blackman

guy blackman and sly hats (of crayon fields) are on a world tour, grass roots style. partially promoting his new release, adult baby, but mostly being honored to perform this year's what the heck festival with k record counterparts such as calvin johnson and mt. eerie, guy's tour schedule is relentless. big travels for the earnest pop songs he creates. his new album at first recalls hidden threads of twee, maybe hinting a mellower belle & sebastian. but after listening to the whole album, there's a different kind of charm in his pop ballads. a quality of 1960's pop, in the quality of nico's chelsea girl or maybe nick drake. this becomes most evident on tracks like 'black eyes.'

:: listen to black eyes

the lyrical content holds a lot more soul then most passby twee too. mostly harbouring emotions of past relationship, faded friendships, and confronting sexuality. the cast for this album is an army of guest appearances and players, including a sing duet with jens lekman, and a vocal lead with peggy frew.

guy has his hands in many cookie jars. he also runs chapter music, which famously released, songs for nao, a compilation of underground japanese bands. it serves as an encyclopedia for japanese undergrounders. highly recommended if you're trying to gain speed on that scene. he was a temporary player in my pal foot foot, my favorite underground band from japan, and has collaborated with the tenniscoats and maher shalal has baz.

guy blackman plays one more time in new york before jumping to europe. he'll be at union hall (702 union st, park slope, brooklyn, NY) on monday July 30 - with in interview, doors 7.30pm.

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