Welcome to the home of Rif Mountain Records, a small independant co-op label.
Raw scraping, and a deathly scratching takes hold. A howl sounds, and wheels spin. A voice shouts for the gang to break on through to the otherside. A distant banjo plays, a lone rhythmic chant, calling, urging ... Hello my fellow sonic pathfinders, welcome to this new, yet belated, Cabinet of Curiosities mix. Number 14, Banjomania. A path that was hinted at in my last mix. After watching the film again that inspired this mix, I thought, one more thing that those zombie bikers need, when circling the standing stones, is a banjo. Although I haven't figured out how you'd ride and play simultaneously. Hmm, well anyway, the banjo has been a listening obsession of late. So, go find yourself a toad and invoke a pact to become an undead banjo-toting biker. Let this set soundtrack your race across this earth.
As Mark Twain put it, 'When you want genuine music -- music that will come right home to you like a bad quarter, suffuse your system like strychnine whisky, go right through you like Brandreth's pills, ramify your whole constitution like the measles, and break out on your hide like the pin-feather pimples on a picked goose, -- when you want all this, just smash your piano, and invoke the glory-beaming banjo!' Twanging religion abounds. I plucked an I picked these tunes with my own fair paws. Honest. Enjoy. Dom {The Straw Bear Band} Warning: may contain banjos! Thanks to Jase for some song assistance.
Download Cabinet of Curiosities #14
By the light of the moon, we gaze upwards to clustered stars and wonder. We fall softly to slumber, and dream of traveling beyond those stars. Speeding outward, spiraling. Let this, the thirteenth cabinet mix be your soundtrack. A gentle winter warmer. The featured tracks were chosen by myself and Michael Tanner. The mind behind Plinth and the A.Lords. Currently playing with the ever dreaming Mark Fry. Supping tea with Alice. I also dipped my paws into the pool of unconsciousness and toned down the roar. He started off, selecting the odd tracks. I replied with the even tunes. Thanks go to Michael. I hope you like it. { Dom }
Download Cabinet of Curiosities #13
From India to Thailand. To Turkey via Denver. Hopping over to Brazil, back to the good ol' US of A. On to Africa, doubling back to Hamburg. Returning to the US mountains. Flying to California, then to Springfield. Across to England. Back to the US once more. Over to Ireland. On to England again, and ending up in Athens, Greece. This is the journey we take on this the 12th Cabinet mix. A wild concoction of funky cuts and odd covers. Strange languages and killer hooks. Folky waves and soulful voices carrying us along. Once again I've put my paws on some rare tracks and mashed them together with the deft skill of a boxing glove wearing buffoon. I hope you enjoy them. So time to cheer for the new soundtrack to your summer. Where are the wild things? Dancing the 'Wild Rumpus' to Mix #12. Go join them - cheers { Dom }
Download Cabinet of Curiosities #12
Hi there - welcome my friends. This year's first Cabinet mix has been nailed together and varnished for your ears, so let it worm its way in. This time it's another 'Versus' mix. We've taken on The Owl Service Jukebox, producing an eclectic chop up, sea-sawing back and forth. With many a folk voice, some soundtrack numbers, rocky, mountain and many other genres. Odd tracks chosen by the straw claws, even by the talons of owls. Enjoy the journey - cheers. { Dom }
Download Cabinet of Curiosities mix #11
Hello again and welcome one and all. Here as promised in my last missive is the latest Cabinet of Curiosities mix (no.10 for those keeping count). Yes, another rough cut so soon, and what a battle of DJ might it is. The Garden versus the Cabinet Maker himself. A giant mass of flesh-eating tentacle foliage, fighting furiously with a bear hewn from straw.
It was really good fun to do. The Garden guys have a great knowledge of music wide and varied (check them out - www.myspace.com/thegardenpresents), but this mix started out on an uptempo route into dark woodland, following those bright coloured lights, and it didn't veer from that path. It became a psych-rock journey with folk twinges all the way - some good tunes abound. The Straw Bear chose the odd tracks with his straw claws, and The Gardeners chose the even numbered tracks and planted them deep. Enjoy, my intrepid listeners. { Dom }
Download Cabinet of Curiosities no.10
So here we are on the ninth SBB Cabinet of Curiosities mix. Who knows where the time goes? In the past I found tracks that went together well (or not) and left them on iTunes with the 12 sec overlap, creating a mix that way (yep, cheating). This time I used a program called Mixxx, which is better. It's still not great, anyone know an even better one? I tried to mix a bit more, and to chop down the tunes. In places it worked great, in others it was sketchy. But thats the way we like it, right? Anyway, it's still about the tracks. Ranging from Thai pop to Greek rock, with a dash of French library and a West coast cover. It's business as usual, hope you enjoy it. Coming up next are two 'Vs' mixes; one against The Garden, and another versus The Owl Service Jukebox. Until then, I hope you like listening to #9. { Dom }
Download Cabinet of Curiosities no.9
Steven's compilation of his favourite '60s and '70s 'strange-folk' tracks. A neat mixtape for your pleasure... { Dom }
Download Acid Tracks - An introduction to the roots of psych-folk
Late Junction presenter Fiona Talkington invited myself and Tucker Zimmerman to record an impromptu session for the BBC at Maida Vale studios in September (to coincide withe the Ghosts... Village Thing celebration at Cecil Sharp House). I'd spent time with Tucker's spooked lo-fi masterpiece on Village Thing from '72, but had no idea what to expect. The following few days were full of deep wonder for me.
Meeting Tucker and his beautiful partner Marie Claire the eve before to chat, we hit it off. The night brought a fierce full moon, and we prowled the streets of north London, swapping tales of teenage Leadbelly worship and lycanthropy. We ordered Chinese. Tucker softly howled some poems, and my mind's eye scratched them onto a banjo, pupils dilated. The next day's session fell into place like leaves to the ground, with ease and joy. So, hear it is, captured live. Thanks to Fiona and Philip at the BBC for helping to conjure this.
{ Jason }
Tucker Zimmerman and Jason Steel - Late Junction collaboration session
You may remember a few months ago we ran a competition to win a one-off handmade CD compilation put together by Jason Steel. Well, it's now winging its way to the lucky winner, but I was thinking it'd be a shame if only one person got to enjoy it, so here it is as a free download for all... { Steven }
Download Now You Know (songs Jason enjoys)
The Owl Service
A Garland of Song
Hobby-Horse / OAK005CD
Released June 2007
01 - A Garland Of Song (Folk Revival)
02 - Child Ballad No. 49
03 - Hoodening
04 - Turpin Hero
05 - The North Country Maid
06 - The Lammas
07 - Katie Cruel
08 - Oxford City (or The Jealous Lover)
09 - The Dorset Hanging Oak
10 - Apple Tree Man
11 - Child Ballad No. 219
12 - Corn Dollies
13 - Flanders Shore
Click here for free download
(--aps mp3 files)
To launch the new Owl Service project, The Pattern Beneath the Plough, we're releasing a free suite of original music inspired by Plough Monday traditions.
Download Rise Me Lads
I've just taken delivery of a recording from our Christmas gig at The Good Intent in Rochester, courtesy of our resident bootlegger Nidge Ince. T'was a fine evening, with sets from Nancy and Jason, Philip G Martin and us Owls, fuelled by some lovely winter ales in the beer garden by a roaring fire. Here's a few highlights for you - Nancy and Jason's stunning version of Low's If You Were Born Today plus four songs from the Owl Service set. { Steven }
Download Christmas in Rochester
As snow falls so softly we give you this little gift. Last year for the giveaway CD I recorded a red wine-fuelled, spooky rendition of In the Bleak Midwinter. I made the melody up and just used the words. From there me and Lewis reworked it to play live with another made up melody (faintly reminiscent of something else, any ideas?). It was even in our last set, a month ago. The newer version was recorded in Banbury, whilst doing Eccentric songs early this year. On this collection are four other seasonal songs from previous releases by The Owl Service, Nancy Wallace and Jason Steel...
Download the Rif Mountain Midwinter EP 2009
Happy New Year from The Straw Bear Band & all at Rif Mountain
The Straw Bear Band
Damned Village / HAM002DL
Released Sep 2008
01 - The Engine, The Heart {alt version}
02 - Apple Tree Man {demo}
03 - The Werewolf
04 - Lunar Light {demo}
05 - Fitcher's Bird
06 - Sketch For a Friend
07 - Treeman, Fisherman {live}
08 - Between Lightning & Tired Limbs
09 - She's Like a Swallow
10 - The Raven & the Wren
11 - Sussex Snakes {live}
12 - Lyke Wake Dirge
Click here for free download
(mp3 files)