Blackbird Raum - Under the Starling Host (2009)

http://www.mediafire.com/?qmnytow0mdi

Newest album from Blackbird Raum, the best banjo/accordion/singing saw/washtub bass/washboard anarcho-folk-punk band around.

Blackbird Raum formed out of the nucleus of a squatter community living in abandoned buildings and greenbelt treehouses in Santa Cruz, CA, in the early 2000's. Finding themselves living without electricity, they began to learn to play folk instruments from each other and other members of the traveling punk/folk culture. They all grew up playing in anarcho-punk, indie and ska bands and then, knowing next to nothing about traditional music, slowly gathered together the skills to create a new genre of music, based somewhere right in the middle of punk and folk.


Refusing the retro cliches of many of their contemporaries, they write entirely original music (in both senses of the word) that is reflective of the world they live in: a realm of abusive police, ecological devastation, creeping ambiguity and vague fear, but also a strong sense of community and a deep love of a natural world constantly on the verge of collapse. They jump back and forth between extremely fast metal-influenced jug band dance numbers and quasi-medieval chant-and-drone while doing herky-jerky hardcore-influenced time signature gymnastics...   - - - http://www.blackpowderrecords.com/raum/

Anyone who has read my blog for more than 5 minutes (most don't), knows that i have a special love for old-timey folk, and same aforementioned influence applied to modern music that dominates my music preferences.

http://www.blackpowderrecords.com/raum/

Django Reinhardt & Stephane Grappelli - Souvenirs

http://www.mediafire.com/?tmtzavtyz2j

I love gypsy jazz. Particularly Django Reinhardt. He is likely my favourite guitarist ever, and has had a tremendous influence on my guitar playing (almost 10 years).

He was a genuine French gypsy, and had his left hand badly burnt in a caravan fire. He played guitar using only two fingers of his left hand due to the damage caused by the burns, and still managed to be better at guitar than practically everyone. He pretty much single-handedly invented the genre of gypsy jazz, also.

Blackbird Raum - Swidden (2008)

http://www.mediafire.com/?xexjnznjmhb

Tracks:
1. Valkyrie Horsewhip Reel
2. California Fetid Adder's Tongue
3. Rubicon Drawn
4. Silent Spring
5. Witches
6. Greymare
7. Story from Strawmouth
8. Woodwose
9. Shot Coplifting
10. Unregistered Firearm / Ravachol in Valhalla / Crom
11. A Rat in My Dream
12. Still Sick (Years After the Draft)
13. Honey in the Air
14. Coal
15. Germinal
16. Everyone Up To the Wall

Fast, dark, gypsy-styled folk punk from Santa Cruz, CA. Earlier, I compared Hail Seizures to this band. Apparently Blackbird Raum is often seen busking in their hometown - I wish we had buskers this amazing where I live, because I'd probably spend a lot of time on the street watching them. Accordion, washboard, washtub bass, banjo, singing saw, screaming! They definitely have their own sound going on here, and they sound like they're having incredible fun doing it.


http://blackbirdraum.com/
http://www.last.fm/music/Blackbird+Raum