Deep within the shady annals of Hipsterdom one can find a single, shabby, college-ruled sheet of paper. It’s scribbled on with blue & red ink, the tome is exclusively devoted to the resurrection of cassette-tapes for the purpose of media distribution and tucked into the vinyl front pocket of the “Formatting” trapper-keeper.
In addition, look for the faded orange Post-It note regarding the use of lo-fi recording methods while in strange places during inclement weather.
If you are from San Luis Obispo or know someone who lived there, you may have heard of Kyle Field and Little Wings. Field is clearly talented but has fallen into the hipster’s seductive snake-pit of creating music with crappy recording techniques – during a rain-storm – while in Big Sur’s Dream Yurt. Very Cosy-Coupes.
While Made It Rain could easily (and quite possibly should) be relegated to the pile of ’80s cassette tapes we all have jammed in the back of the closet, Little Wings comes to us with such outstanding pedigree that we’re forced to give the recording a second listen. It seems Field has made a name for himself playing with the likes of M.Ward (She & Him, Monsters of Folk, & Arizona Amp and Alternator), Rob Kieswetter (Bobby Birdman), and YACHT.
It is perhaps Field’s affiliation with Arizona Amp and Alternator & Bobby Birdman that initially drew me to this recording (that and a deep love for all things California). Unfortunately, despite the relaxing rainy day ambience, it’s just a little too hard to listen to – especially the group’s perplexing butchery of The Beach Boys – and ultimately leads me to cheer the power failure that eventually cut short the 2011 session.
Listen for Field’s nonsensical shout-out reprimand of Sandy’s Liquor & Deli (right off the 101 in San Luis Obispo). For what it’s worth, now you know.
[itunes id=”417881847″].
I actually like this silly little album. I have always been a sucker (as most women are, except sincere Ani DiFranco fans) for a man, a guitar, and a folky voice. The rain in the background was soothing. But, maybe I am just sentimental since the album was recorded so close to my new home.