Visible Voice Winter 2011 Mixtape

So, this is the first of what will be a quarterly thing on Visible Voice...the seasonal mixtape.  I plan to use these mixtapes as an opportunity to share some of my favorite new music.  Great tunes by local or not-so-local bands that you should know and, in many cases, tracks that have not been officially or widely released yet.  For this inaugural winter mix a cold, snowy Boston is my (our) backdrop and, fittingly for this time of year, many of the songs here evoke themes of reflection.  During the cold winter months I find that the music I listen to becomes increasingly spare, unadorned, raw.  These songs fit that mold; gritty and uncompromising, yet intensely beautiful.  I'm sharing this as two "sides" (think cassettes, vinyl), instead of individual mp3s, so that this might be listened to as a cohesive whole.  There will also be a limited number of physical copies available with individual tracks, please email if you'd like one.  

A huge thanks goes out to all of the bands that agreed to take part.  Please support them by buying their music and going to shows.  I hope you enjoy this as much as I have putting it together -- and please share!

Side A
1. You Are Not My Love - Wooden Dinosaur
2. I'll Be Fooled Again - Twain
3. Great Move North - Faces On Film
4. Wither on the Vine, pt. 2 - The Old Ceremony
5. Wolves of Winter - Lonesome Lake

Side B
1. Dancing On Your Tears - Hands and Knees
2. Long Time - Guards
3. Sweeties Babies - Push Pals
4. Say What You Will - Joe Fletcher & The Wrong Reasons
5. Crooked Road Blues - Mount Peru

New music: Twain - I'll Be Fooled Again

Twain is the side project of Low Anthem multi-instrumentalist Mat Davidson, who has recorded a new album of beautiful, understated folk songs with the help of Ken Woodward (Annie & The Beekeepers) and Pete Pezzimenti titled Love Is All Around.  Davidson's pure voice and fingerpicked guitars alongside slide guitar, singing saw and bouncy rhythms give the songs a light, airy and almost tropical feel at times.  It's a wholly pleasing listen, introspective and fun at the same time - great for those times that you want something mellow but still uplifting.

One of the clear highlights for me is "I'll Be Fooled Again", a flat-out gorgeous rumination on loss and one of my favorite songs of the year.  Listen/download below and watch a beautiful live performance captured by Possum Den Productions.

Twain - I'll Be Fooled Again

The album seems to only be available by mail for now, but go to the band's myspace page for ordering details.