A cross-continental motorcycle trip means, among other things, a lot of time inside my helmet. The charm of a singing engine and highway winds gets old after a couple of hours, so I spend a lot of time on the road listening to music.
Just this week, Indieverse did an interview with one of my all-time favorite bands; the Lonesome Doves. Anyone with a taste for country or modern folk will do themselves a favor by giving the Doves a listen.
The band's greatness in my eyes stems from several sources, not the least among them being the fact that I happen to share DNA with the band's singer, my sister Scarlett. Together with her husband (and my brother-in-law), Sean, they put together music that is simultaneously deeply sincere yet easy to listen to. These are two people whose musical inspiration not only springs from their love of music. Their love for each other is so overwhelming that it serves as just as powerful a muse when creating their songs.
Yet there is always someone who has said it better. Take a couple minutes to read the Indieverse interview here and hop onto the Lonesome Doves' homepage here. The Doves just released their album, Handmade, and the interview is an awesome guide to a stellar first drop.
The second album I want to talk about, which is currently in very heavy rotation on my in-helmet playlist, doesn't have the personal connection that the Doves have. Nevertheless, I think it's still a spectacular example of creative indie music. The album is the collaborative premiere of DJs RS2090 and Mooninite, both under the understatedly genius HEL Audio label (which should be immediately recognizable to any listeners of Roman Mars' 99% Invisible podcast).
The tracks are so unique that they resist being compared to each other or to other artists, but if we assume understatement as inevitable then I will tentatively submit that a careful listener might derive elements of Brian Eno, Flying Lotus, and Boards of Canada throughout the album. Suffice to say, this is music to relax to. Tracks like "4D Printer" and "I Never Get Upset" have transformed how I view early mornings and sunsets on a motorcycle.
The best part is this album can be yours on a FREAKING CASSETTE TAPE (and digital copy) for just FIVE BUCKS. It doesn't get much more in-your-face indie than that.