Ball of Wax 49 Songs: Drew Danburry – “Mediocrity . . .”

Posted on August 4, 2017 by Levi Fuller

The full title of this new song from our Utahan barber/songwriter pal Drew Danburry is “Mediocrity, for Denis Villeneuve (who is amazing and not mediocre),” which gives you some idea of the artist’s intentions. The song seems to be about the feelings we all struggle with that we are not good enough, or interesting enough, or whatever-it-is-we’re-trying-to-be enough. (The fact that it’s addressed to the acclaimed director of Arrival and the soon-to-be-released Blade Runner 2049 is a fascinating wrinkle. I guess we all need a musical hug from time to time.) But if the title makes you think you’re in for a rousing pick-me-up of a tune, I should warn you that there are no easy answers here. The music is beautifully arranged and composed, the tune and lyrics heartfelt, and at the end it feels more like an expression of sympathy and solidarity than an answer to anyone’s problems. And sometimes that’s all we really need.

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Ball of Wax 49 Songs: Solvents – “Sea”

Posted on August 2, 2017 by Levi Fuller

A couple of years after the release of the relatively aggressive LP Modern Dystopia (and man, how apt that title feels right now), Solvents seem to have pivoted back to their strummy/croony roots – at least for the soft, wistful tune “Sea.” It’s fun to hear them getting rowdy with a full band, but I really do love the sound of Jarrod and Emily’s voices and fiddle doing their thing over some softly strummed chords. They’ve been doing just this – playing guitar and fiddle and singing – for years, and it shows. Like the body of water it’s named after, “Sea” is the perfect thing to cool you off by a few degrees in this sweltering summer heat.

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Ball of Wax 49 Songs: Temple Canyon – “Doris”

Posted on August 1, 2017 by Levi Fuller

Temple Canyon is a newish local rock band fronted by the powerful voice and guitar of Mariko Ruhle. They refer to themselves as “Nostalgic Seattle Rock,” but – at least on their newly-released EP Thank You for Not Caring – the nostalgia that infuses their music is of a more recent vintage than your usual Ballard stompin’, clappin’, longhaired, bearded fare. From the big drums to the strummy/stabby guitar interplay to the woozy keyboard lines, it’s hard not to hear some of the best elements of ’80s alternative pop at play here. Mariko’s vocals sound great in mellow mode, especially playing back-and-forth with guest vocalist Noble Monyei, and even better when she kicks into high gear, with a few moments that would make you swear Chrissie Hynde snuck into the studio for a second. They take the song some interesting places, too, slowing down to a rubato breakdown in the middle that leaves you a little stranded before bringing you back to the hook with a hug and a few handclaps for good measure. Welcome to Ball of Wax, Temple Canyon! Looking forward to hearing more in the near future.

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Ball of Wax 49 Songs: Møtrik – “Impossible/OK”

Posted on August 1, 2017 by Levi Fuller

Portland master-Krautrock-practitioners Møtrik make their Ball of Wax debut with “Impossible/OK,” from a forthcoming album that I haven’t heard yet but that has already ratcheted (or maybe sprocketed) to the top of my 2017 favorites list. That driving motorik beat is the perfect way to kick off this grab bag of new and strange music from across the nation. This is the first I’ve heard Møtrik’s instrumentally-oriented music with vocals, and the deadpan, wry delivery of the inscrutable lyrics (“Impossible” “OK” “Everywhere you go” “Circus parade”) combined with those signature rhythms, guitar strokes, and woo-woo-woo noises is almost enough to make you think you’re hearing an unearthed Can or Neu! outtake (or at least it is if, like me, you know just enough about Krautrock to make that reference but haven’t immersed yourself in the genre’s intricacies). Whether you have any idea what I’m talking about or not, “Impossible/OK” is a straight-up jam, destined to be the perfect soundtrack to many a midnight summer drive.

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Ball of Wax 49: August 19th at Conor Byrne!

Posted on August 1, 2017 by Levi Fuller

Ball of Wax 49 posterBall of Wax 49 Release Show
w/Who Is John Smith, Caroline Keys,  Robert Deeble, Michele Khazak
Saturday, August 19, 9pm
Conor Byrne Pub

In case the drought conditions and ludicrous temperatures hadn’t already alerted you to the fact, I am here to tell you that summer is here. And soon enough, the Summer 2017 installment of Ball of Wax Audio Quarterly will be unleashed upon the world, packed with 19 assorted musical gems from Seattle and beyond – perhaps including your personal song of the summer. (Watch this space for our track reviews, which will be rolling out from now until the release date.)

As always, a musical celebration is in order. Join us at Conor Byrne for a delightfully diverse evening of music. Michele Khazak will entrance us at the piano with her spellbinding songs; Ball of Wax mainstay Robert Deeble will bring in some string players to help him preview some songs from his long-awaited new album, Beloved; Caroline Keys and co. will haul across the mountains from Missoula to share their subtle, moody take on Americana with us; and Who Is John Smith will bring the sounds of West African palm wine music to a beer-soaked room in Ballard.

Don’t miss it!

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Submit to Ball of Wax 49 and/or 50!

Posted on June 19, 2017 by Levi Fuller

Another Ball of Wax is behind us, which means yet another Ball of Wax is in front of us. To wit: Volume 49, which will have no theme but be full of wonderful music. Send us some wonderful music for it, why don’t you? Have a new album out or coming out? I’m totally open to previously released or just-about-to-be-released material.

Deadline: July 15th
Guidelines: here

And hey, why not roll out two calls for submissions at once? Ball of Wax 50 (!) will be comprised entirely of songs by women or women-led projects. This does not mean that if you are a woman you should wait until Volume 50 to submit – why not both? – just that you have more options and you should please keep it in mind and spread the word. I’m co-curating this one with the wonderful Sharlese Metcalf, and I couldn’t be more excited.

Deadline: Not set in stone yet, but mid-to-late-Septemberish? Watch this space or send me an e-mail for updates.

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Ball of Wax 48 Songs: Spelunker – “French Song”

Posted on June 2, 2017 by Matty P

“French Song” plays like sweet bossa nova. Perhaps Gilberto or Getz. But it harkens deeper then that to me. The delivery and style remind me of the softer quieter moments of Tom Ze. It plays like “A Felicidade” by Jobim and Vinicius de Moraes. It rambles on in a similar way. Reminiscing, philosophizing. The flute has as much to say as the vocals do. Spelunker’s Darryl Blood shows how so much can be done with so little: A guitar, finger snaps, flute and some vocals. Speaking of the vocals, so soft and subtle like a whisper. Such delivery. And after the first refrain, “ahhhh.” So expertly placed! Darryl’s execution is perfection in this song. This song soothes and sends one into a reverie. And the song exits so beautifully, with some dah dah dah recap of the melodies and some mysterious woman’s voice duoed with the singers. I cannot say enough about this song.

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Ball of Wax 48: Los Piringundines – “Disfruto Todo”

Posted on June 2, 2017 by Matty P

I love this song. North American bands don’t write songs like this. North American bands don’t use rhythms like these. North Americans don’t speak the language like this. “Disfruto Todo” gets you bobbing your head and dancing to the off beat the second the song starts out. The guitar licks sound foreign and are a welcome divergence from the typical sounds floating across the airwaves these days. And this song has layers. Loads of seamlessly well placed layers. Percussive layers, horn layers, keyboard layers. The singer’s nonchalant delivery and subtle accents tie the piece together. “Disfruto Todo” is a very catchy, wonderful addition to Ball of Wax 48. It is a song that’s been executed brilliantly!

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Ball of Wax 48 Songs: Yas/Whetzel – “Wonder Arc en Ciel”

Posted on May 31, 2017 by Jon Rooney

Yas/Whetzel is the project of local Seattle producer James Whetzel and French rapper Yas. I presume “Wonder Arc en Ciel” is about a rainbow (wonder arc in the sky), though you wouldn’t guess that by the nervous, driving pace of the track. There’s a real Act II tension in the song, enhanced by Yas’s serious, more-spoken-than-rapped performance. There’s something particularly cinematic about the song, even the way the production expands and contracts, layering in drums and bass to heighten the drama then pulling back to sparse guitar and what sounds like a click track to catch a breath.

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Ball of Wax 48 Songs: Thuraya Ahmad Hasan Ghannam w/ Moe Provencher – “تذكروني”

Posted on May 30, 2017 by Levi Fuller

This song – whose Arabic title is pronounced “Tethekrooni,” and loosely translates as “Remember Me” – is the result of an impressive, heartfelt collaboration across generations, cultures, and the great divide between the dead and the living. The primary vocal was recorded by Moe Provencher during a conversation with her sister’s mother-in-law, Thuraya Ahmad Hasan Ghannam. “I was interviewing her about her journeys,” writes Moe, “and this song suddenly poured out of her. It’s about exile, and love, and family, and god.” Moe recorded the interview in late 2014, and Thuraya passed away in the spring of 2015. The subtle instrumentation and vocals that Moe added to flesh out the song complement the power and beauty of the original spontaneous performance beautifully – never overpowering, only supporting. I can’t express what an honor it is to have Ball of Wax be the place where people feel they can share this kind of deep, personal, experimental music. Infinite thanks to Moe, to the Ghannam family, and to everyone listening for making this possible.

Moe and friends will open up the Ball of Wax 48 release show this Saturday night – of course the original vocalist can’t be there, but I do hope they’ll find a way to bring this powerful song to our live audience. Either way, Moe’s performances are always worth showing up for. I’m glad we finally got her on a BoW.

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