For Nihon

I don't have anything to do with this one, but I wanted you to know about it.

Unseen records is putting together a benefit CD for victims of the recent tragedy in Japan. Contributors to the project include some of the best and greatest ambient and experimental musicians working today: Ametsub (JP); Amman Abbasi (US); Alva Noto (DE); Arms and Sleepers (US); Aus (JP); Balmorhea (US); Bexar Bexar (US); Biosphere (NOR); The American Dollar (US); Clem Leek (UK); Christina Vantzou (US); Cokiyu (JP); Colin Kenniff (US); Dustin O'Halloran (US); Ex-Confusion (JP); Goldmund (US); Hammock (US); Harold Budd (UK); Helios (US); Hollie Kenniff (US); Jon Hopkins (UK); Joe Minadeo (US); Jonsi and Alex (IS); Last Days (UK); Little Phrase (JP); Max Richter (UK); Near The Parenthesis (US); Nils Frahm (DE); Olafur Arnalds (IS); Peter Broderick (US); Rafael Anton Irisarri (US); Rhian Sheehan (NZ); Rob Simonsen (US); Robin Guthrie (UK); Ryan Teague (UK); Ryuichi Sakamoto (JP); Sawako (JP); Taylor Deupree (US); Ulrich Schnauss (DE).

"For Nihon" features some of the premier names in ambient / experimental music and 100% of the profits from the sale of this album will be donated to the Japan Earthquake Relief Fund set up by New York's Japan Society.

Looks to be a great collection. Check it out and support the effort.

Here's a preview:For Nihon - compilation sampler to benefit the Japan earthquake by Keith Kenniff

Eco Monsters and Broken Things

A quick friend of the show post today with a current events theme. An old friend from Albuquerque, Christina from elephant, has a nifty new project she is doing with her sons that you should check out and support. It is called Eco Monsters, an attempt to turn our collective fears about how we are transforming our world into positive energy through art. It lets you participate by contributing either art or money. Christina has personal connections to Japan and promises that she and her sons will "find a creative way for this art project to benefit the victims of the earthquake and tsunami." More information is available through the project's kickstarter site (watch the video at kickstarter to get the full context).

This isn't all Christina is up to these days. Check out her photography and her latest songs/videos. Here's one hand picked by Christina for your viewing pleasure: Broken Things. Enjoy.

soothing sounds for baby

Back in September of last year, Marc Weidenbaum over at disquiet posted a sampler of ambient music put together by some of his friends from LuvSound in honor of his then newly arrived baby titled Soothing Sounds for Baby. The title, of course, was inspired by the classic work from the early 1960's by Raymond Scott. While I thoroughly enjoy both of these collections, I have found that they don't quite do the trick for my newly arrived baby. But with their inspiration, I have been searching for baby soothing sounds far and near. The search afar has come up with some sensuously soothing finds including Quiet Evenings, Bing Satellites, Darren Harper, and Meczûp. From the search nearer afield, I have put together a mix of some of the more soothing sounds from aboombong, psychic enemies network, and azwarm that entrances our little guy every time. I think the trick is rhythmic low tones and avoidance of abrupt transitions. If you have contributions to add to everyone's soothing sounds library, drop a note in the comments section here. In the mean time I thought I would share my mix with ya'll: A little trip back to the womb...enjoy.



Tracklist (about 90 minutes - wav, flac, ogg vorbis, mp3):
1) valis from valis by psychic enemies network
2) I feel from P.E.N. by psychic enemies network
3) Jiang Qing, Zhang Chunqiao, Yao Wenyuan, & Wang Hongwen in Dahomey from amnemonic by aboombong (edit)
4) of so many from P.E.N. by psychic enemies network (edit)
5) gnomonic from valis by psychic enemies network (edit)
6) drag along behind from asynchronic by aboombong
7) come crumbling from valis by psychic enemies network
8) in its streets (aboombong remix) bonus track from P.E.N. by psychic enemies network
9) noon from amnemonic by aboombong
10) in this city from P.E.N. by psychic enemies network (edit)
11) Trinidad from a morning's work by azwarm

teenage wearwolves- live in Santa Fe

A couple of videos featuring Kenta, from The Jonny Cats. These were recorded recently at El Corazon in Santa Fe, NM. Enjoy.

Teenage Werewolves at Corazon #2 from Santa Fe Pulse on Vimeo.

Teenage Werewolves at Corazon from Santa Fe Pulse on Vimeo.

Don't forget you can support our work here at Pen & Mallet by purchasing something from aboombong , psychic enemies network, or azwarm, (name your own price) or making a donation via a "donate" button here at Pen & Mallet.