On my Hollow Earth Radio show yesterday, I predictably decided to play a set of all dark, scary, Halloweenish music, and I found myself playing a number of tracks from the Ball of Wax archives. So I figured today would be a fine occasion to post some of the creepier tunes that have graced BoW over the years. Enjoy!
Lys Guillorn – Banks of the Ohio
There are a couple of fantastically spooky numbers on the forthcoming Ball of Wax tribute to the Anthology of American Folk Music, but I don’t think I’m ready to leak those just yet. In the meantime, here’s Lys Guillorn‘s take on the murder ballad “Banks of the Ohio,” from Ball of Wax Volume 1 and The Anthology of American Folk Music Volume 4.
What’s scarier than a crow? A scarecrow! Especially when you think you’ve seen one in the backyard in the middle of the night. Here’s an early version from Ball of Wax Volume 3 of Robert Deeble‘s “Scarecrow,” a version of which will appear on his forthcoming album Heart Like Feathers.
The music of Marc Manning (Everything Is Fine) is often tinged with darkness and populated with ghosts. “Devils” – which if I remember correctly is a collaboration with Kanda’s Arland and Akina – is a beautifully haunting example.
Boston, the young singer of Thundercats Ho!, knows about all sorts of scary things: skeletons, ghosts, Ghostbusters. It’s all right here, in their one minute single “Skeletons.”
I’m torn on this one. On the one hand it’s a charming little pop song by Rosyvelt. On the other hand, it’s about the Diablo Roja (“Red Devil”), or Humboldt Squid, which has a scary name and is probably scary to some people. On the other other hand, I think squids are awesome and not particularly scary (though I’ve never been trapped in the water with one). Whatever, let’s include it.
Wyoming Young and Strong – Christmas Is Over the World Is Gone
If you’re not terrified by the punishing bass and drums and throat-blistering roars of Wyoming Young and Strong, then you need to turn up the volume.
Cool! Thanks, Levi!