Recording: Man Made Hill

Artist: Man Made Hill

Songs: Allergic To Spikes + Gold [John Stewart cover]

Recorded at Artscape Gibraltar Point ("EXVEE"), May 30, 2015.

Man Made Hill - Allergic To Spikes

Man Made Hill - Gold

Celebrating fifteen years as a retreat and incubator for the arts, Artscape Gibraltar Point decided to throw itself a big party, a day of music and secular blessings. Rain early on kept the crowds away somewhat, but it turned into a fairly pleasant day, with music in the backyard tent going ahead from late afternoon to late at night, when 88 Days of Fortune provided the vibes.

Randy Gagne took to the stage with his power glove and dance moves, sharing a particular personal vulnerability, asking for the audience to look inside themselves to find the Kevin within, and closed out with a localised version of this FM classic. Can someone get Stevie Nicks up here, stat, to provide backing vocals for the single?

[Man Made Hill will be performing tomorrow (Saturday, June 6th) as part of Jay Holy's LP release party at Smiling Buddha. He'll also be playing at the Buddha on Thursday, June 18th as part of Wavelength's Pleasence Records showcase.]

Recording: Ayo Leilani

Artist: Ayo Leilani

Song: unknown^*

Recorded at Artscape Gibraltar Point ("EXVEE"), May 30, 2015.

Ayo Leilani - unknown

Celebrating fifteen years as a retreat and incubator for the arts, Artscape Gibraltar Point decided to throw itself a big party, a day of music and secular blessings. Rain early on kept the crowds away somewhat, but it turned into a fairly pleasant day, with music in the backyard tent going ahead from late afternoon to late at night, when 88 Days of Fortune provided the vibes.

I hadn't caught Ayo Leilani on stage for quite some time, and was impressed by a solo set that brushed up on several styles. A member of hip-hop crew Above Top Secret (formerly known as Abstract Random), Leilani not only brought funky tracks like "Love Shock", but also lead with this vocal + loop pedal number, which lives up to her chosen bandcamp genre of "operatic soul".

[The 88 Days of Fortune crew will be celebrating their six-year anniversary with a party at Double Double Land on Friday, June 26th.]

^* Does anyone know the title to this one? Please leave a comment!

Recording: New Fries

Artist:

Songs: Jasz + Jz III

Recorded at Artscape Gibraltar Point ("EXVEE"), May 30, 2015.

New Fries - Jasz + Jz III

Celebrating fifteen years as a retreat and incubator for the arts, Artscape Gibraltar Point decided to throw itself a big party, a day of music and secular blessings. Rain early on kept the crowds away somewhat, but it turned into a fairly pleasant day, with music in the backyard tent going ahead from late afternoon to late at night.

With things falling behind schedule, this no wave quartet were forced to launch right into their set — no dirge-y antics from keyboard player Ryan Carley this time round. But he's definitely sounding more integrated into the band's sound, especially on an increasing amount of new material. Everything else — from vocalist Anni Spadafora's guitar lines on down — is still tap-dancing on that knife-edge of song and anti-song.

Recording: Farang

Artist: Farang

Songs: Used to Be a Man + unknown^*

Recorded at Artscape Gibraltar Point ("EXVEE"), May 30, 2015.

Farang - Used to Be a Man

Farang - unknown

Celebrating fifteen years as a retreat and incubator for the arts, Artscape Gibraltar Point decided to throw itself a big party, a day of music and secular blessings. Rain early on kept the crowds away somewhat, but it turned into a fairly pleasant day, with music in the backyard tent going ahead from late afternoon to late at night.

After some dancefloor-friendly fare, Farang's hardcore-inspired blasts felt rather invigourating. The band doesn't seem to have much online beyond their bandcamp, but they're worth seeking out.

^* Does anyone know the title to this one? Please leave a comment!

Recording: Maloo

Artist: Maloo

Song: Make Me Believe In You [Curtis Mayfield cover]

Recorded at Artscape Gibraltar Point ("EXVEE"), May 30, 2015.

Maloo - Make Me Believe In You

Celebrating fifteen years as a retreat and incubator for the arts, Artscape Gibraltar Point decided to throw itself a big party, a day of music and secular blessings. Rain early on kept the crowds away somewhat, but it turned into a fairly pleasant day, with music in the backyard tent going ahead from late afternoon to late at night.

In her solo-electronic persona, Maylee Todd was working out the kinks of a new Ableton-powered setup. In between the stand-up comedy and impromptu dance-offs, there was also time for this little groover.

Recording: Etiquette

Artist: Etiquette

Song: Attention Seeker

Recorded at Artscape Gibraltar Point ("EXVEE"), May 30, 2015.

Etiquette - Attention Seeker

Celebrating fifteen years as a retreat and incubator for the arts, Artscape Gibraltar Point decided to throw itself a big party, a day of music and secular blessings. Rain early on kept the crowds away somewhat, but it turned into a fairly pleasant day, with music in the backyard tent going ahead from late afternoon to late at night.

Having missed several chances to see this atmospheric new project from Julie Fader and Graham Walsh, I was glad to catch 'em leading off on the backyard stage, even if their music might be more at home in the slinky dark of night. No matter, though — a bit of cool/damp afternoon fog worked just as well and the band (propelled by fill-in drummer Loel Campbell) evoked the vibe nicely.