The Grenadines
ON TOUR WITH MARIA TAYLOR! Dates here!
Born equally of bright lights and seedy charm, The
Grenadines might be Birmingham, Alabama’s sexiest band.
Fronted by husband and wife team Michael and Lauren
Shackelford and thrust into widescreen by guitarist David Swatzell and bassist
Jesse Phillips, The Grenadines have been making a name for themselves in
underground circles thanks to both a sumptuous live show and praise from
producers Andy Lemaster (Bright Eyes, Now It’s Overhead) and Spoon’s Jim Eno –
both of whom have produced tracks for the band.
“Shake” was recorded by Jeffery Cain (Remy Zero, The Great
Book of John, Isidore), at Isidore South especially for this single – the
latest in Communicating Vessels 7-inch series. Backed by “Colorblind” –
a moody deep cut from their self-titled debut – “Shake” is a taut and slinky
disco duet perfect for your Indian Summer dance party. You’ll be compelled to
do as the title suggests.
Preston Lovinggood
Preston Lovinggood was the driving force behind Wild
Sweet Orange – a powerful and profoundly literate indie-rock combo from
Birmingham, AL who is sorely missed by still-growing cult of fans. Despite
releasing a sole, beloved full-length and a few EPs, label politics found Wild
Sweet Orange dropped. In the time that followed, Lovinggood retreated
from music and the rest of the band, led by guitarist Taylor Shaw, carried on
in the form of The Great Book of John.
Fortunately, Preston found music once more… Or did it
find him? Regardless, Lovinggood is in the process of recording a new
album of original material with Darrell Thorp (The Great Book of John,
Radiohead, Beck) in sunny Los Angeles, California. In the meantime we have this
long-awaited piece of vinyl featuring Lovinggood backed by his
compatriots in Wild Sweet Orange before they called it a day… So don’t call it
a comeback.
The A-side is an amazing and beautiful cover of Paul Simon’s
“Duncan” – a song that could have been written especially for Lovinggood
all those years ago. With an indelible atmosphere, a perfect vocal and a
driving rhythm, “Duncan” is one of those rare covers that is as good (if not
better) than the original. The flipside, “No Baby,” is a vaguely-blusey Lovinggood
original that flows smooth and warm. Consider it a taste of what’s to come.
The Green Seed
Despite having shared the stage with Raekwon and members of
Jurassic 5, The Green Seed are the greatest Southern Hip Hop act you’ve
never heard of.
Though Alabama has carved out a niche in the current Hip Hop
omniverse thanks to the likes of Yelawolf and, most notably, G-Side, The
Green Seed (emcee’s R-Tist and C.O.M.P.L.E.T. and DJ FX)
have been working individually and as a collective for the better part of a
decade. The Green Seed’s songs are as diverse and prolific as their
output, taking a Native Tounges-ish approach to topics that include the personal,
the political, and the nerdy. They like to skate. They like comics. They like
to crush it.
“Crack Kills” is the perfect introduction The Green
Seed’s clever aplomb. An anti-consumerist jam that contemplates the
importance of the individual despite how they spend their money, “Crack Kills”
has already found love online due to an amazing (and award-winning) video
directed by the Atlanta film-collective known as Sugar Tooth. Recently
re-mastered by Paul Logus (Mary J. Blige, Puff Daddy, The Great Book of John) the
track has a fresh bump and shine that will rattle both your trunk and mind.
The B-side, “Preservation” features a sample of Birmingham
singer / songwriter / shred-maven, Janet Simpson (Delicate Cutters, Teen
Getaway, The Gum Creek Killers). The featured song, “Salt In The Rain” can be
found on Delicate Cutters’ debut LP, We Are Not Lovers.
Communicating Vessels was started by musician / producer Jeffery
Cain (Remy Zero) to curate a swath of the amazing music that
emanates from the murky south from whence he came. Communicating Vessels is not
only a repository for great-sounding, eye-catching physical releases (with an
emphasis on vinyl) but a resource and springboard for acts of all musical
stripes -- be it rock, hip hop, or experimental -- such as the new vinyl
release from composer and electronic music pioneer Paul Lansky (whom Radiohead
famously sampled for "Idioteque").
Furthermore, the Communicating Vessels studio has produced
records for its extended family of artists and labels.
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