Don’t Miss New Album Out Today From Orebolo, Strand Of Oaks, Bonny Light Horseman & More

Each week Release Day Picks profiles new LPs and EPs Team JamBase will be checking out on release day Friday. This week we highlight new albums by Orebolo, Strand of Oaks, Bonny Light Horseman, Tony Trischka, Organ Fairchild, Charli XCX, Kaytranada, Beings, Aloe Blacc and Robert Hunter. Read on for more insight into the records we have ready to spin.

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Orebolo – The Chateau

Goose acoustic offshoot Orebolo issued their debut studio album, The Chateau (pre-order vinyl), via No Coincidence Records. Orebolo — guitarist Rick Mitarotonda, guitarist Peter Anspach and bassist Jeff Arevalo — captured the album at Mitarotonda’s new studio dubbed The Chateau. Frequent collaborator D. James Goodwin (Bob Weir, The Hold Steady, Bonny Light Horsemen) produced the trio’s premiere studio LP. Goodwin helmed Goose’s 2022 record, Dripfield. Some of the songs on The Chateau are familiar from the trio’s performances as well as the Goose catalog including opener “Rosewood Heart,” along with “Turned Clouds,” “Tumble” and “Dripfield.” Some appear to be new songs (see tracklist below). There’s also a cover of Tom Waits’ “Christmas Card from a Hooker in Minneapolis,” which Orebolo has performed live, to close the record.

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Strand Of Oaks – Miracle Focus

Strand of Oaks (Austin-based musician Timothy Showalter) released an adventurous new album entitled Miracle Focus through the Western Vinyl record label. Showalter once again worked with producer and close collaborator Kevin Ratterman, who produced Strand Of Oaks’ 2019 album Eraserland and 2021’s In Heaven. Showalter and Ratterman recorded Miracle Focus at Future Temple in Austin and Ratterman’s Invisible Island studio in Los Angeles. The 10-song album features guest vocals by Lacey Guthrie. Showalter wrote the following about the eighth Strand Of Oaks album, Miracle Focus:

“I spent over three years building Miracle Focus. In the midst of writing, I became a painter and spent two seasons acting on a television show (Mayans MC). The dichotomy of painting for days in my garage and then flying out to LA to play a villainous biker on TV was one of the most thrilling experiences of my life.

“The idea of Miracle Focus was born out of one simple concept: to make people feel good. Throw in a healthy mix of Ram Dass, yoga, Freddie Mercury, Alice Coltrane, and Beastie Boys, plus over a year of writing and building the extremely dense architecture of the songs, and Miracle Focus was born. The result is FUN, wild, rhythmic music filled with synth layering and mantra-like lyrics intended to uplift and hopefully bring some light to whoever listens.

“In many ways, this record is a love letter to bliss. Through meditation, I found a way to connect with something greater, a positive force that allowed me to write music as a manual towards a more love-focused life. And the miracles I refer to aren’t asking the universe for anything; it’s just acknowledging and celebrating this complex beautiful moment that we all get to share. It will be gone, it will re-emerge as something new, that will be gone, repeat….repeat…repeat…this eternal cycle. My most sincere hope is that whoever listens might through sonic osmosis experience a similar joy.

“Sending peace and love. Thank you for your time.”

-Tim

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Bonny Light Horseman – Keep Me on Your Mind/See You Free

Bonny Light Horseman — the trio of Anaïs Mitchell, Eric D. Johnson and Josh Kaufman — released a new double album, Keep Me on Your Mind/See You Free today through Jagjaguwar. Mitchell, Johnson and Kaufman began work on 20-track the album when they traveled to Ballydehob, Ireland to record at Levis (pronounced: “leh-viss”) Corner House pub. There the trio was joined by frequent collaborators, drummer JT Bates and bassist Cameron Ralston. Engineer Bella Blasko was recruited for the sessions as well. Some of the tracking was done while the pub was occupied by attentive patrons. The pub’s well-worn upright piano, whose creaking was quieted with olive oil, helped inform some of the album’s themes. A painting that hung on the wall at Levis Corner House became the cover art for the album that serves as the follow-up to the group’s 2022 LP, Rolling Golden Holy. Additional recording sessions were held upon their return to the United States when they went back to Upstate New York’s Dreamland Recording Studios, where they recorded parts of their prior two albums, to complete the work started in Ireland. Those sessions saw the trio joined by another frequent collaborator, Mike Lewis, who contributed bass and tenor saxophone. Additional upright bass and harmony vocals were provided by Annie Nero.

“It has this sense of history; it’s also small, and crammed with a bunch of stuff that’s spilling all over the place,” Kaufman said of the time at Corner House. “It was like the pub version of our band.”

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Tony Trischka – Earl Jam

Earl Jam is acclaimed banjo player Tony Trischka‘s album celebrating the late master of the instrument, Earl Scruggs’ 100th birthday. Trischka recruited an astounding array of talent to contribute to the 15-track album, tapping the likes of Billy Strings, Sierra Ferrell, Vince Gill, Gibson Brothers, Sam Bush, Molly Tuttle and others. The genesis of Earl Jam dates back to the peak of the COVID lockdown, whenTrischka received a thumb drive in the mail featuring rare recordings of Scruggs jamming with John Hartford. Consisting of over 200 songs, the recordings were mostly captured during private sessions held at Earl’s house in the ’80s and ’90s. Trischka’s interest was piqued as he had devoted over half a century to learning about and from Earl Scruggs. Trischka spent time transcribing what he heard from Scruggs on the recordings, he presented some of the songs during a concert held in tribute to Earl’s illustrious career at Joe’s Pub in New York City. Ken Irwin of newly formed record label Down The Road listened to a recording of Trischka’s show at Joe’s Pub and spoke with the banjoist. The pair decided an album based around the material was a must.

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Organ Fairchild – Songs We Didn’t Write

Buffalo-based trio Organ Fairchild released an album of covers aptly titled, Songs We Didn’t Write. Guitarist Dave Ruch, keyboardist Joe Bellanti and drummer Corey Kertzie co-produced Songs We Didn’t Write with Justin Guip (Hot Tuna, Levon Helm). Soulive’s Alan Evans handled mastering of the follow-up to the band’s sophomore album, Leisure Suit. The LP boasts instrumental reimaginings of the Grateful Dead’s “Lost Sailor,” Otis Redding’s “Hard to Handle” (with special guest guitarist Jorma Kaukonen), a Harry Styles song and more. The album is bookended with Bob Marley songs including opener “Them Belly Full” and closer “Redemption Song.”

“It was actually my son who suggested a full album of cover songs!” Ruch stated. “Why not? We love rearranging material in our organ trio format, and our shows always include some choice covers – we had a ball making this!”

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Charli XCX – Brat

Brat is the sixth studio album by English singer Charli XCX, released today through Atlantic Records. The album features production from Charli XCX herself, along with longtime collaborator A. G. Cook, Finn Keane, Cirkut, and her partner George Daniel. The follow-up to 2022’s Crash, Brat features 15 tracks, including singles “Von Dutch,” “360” and “Apple.”

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Kaytranada – Timeless

Timeless is the third album by Kaytranada, following his Grammy-winning album Bubba from 2019. Released today through RCA Records, Timeless features 17 tracks, plus and additional four bonus tracks. The feature-heavy album sees contributions from Childish Gambino, Thundercat, Anderson .Paak, Dawn Richard, Tinashe, Rochelle Jordan, Lou Phelps, Durand Bernarr, Don Toliver, Charlotte Day Wilson, Ravyn Lenae, Channel Tres, SiR,PinkPantheress and Mariah the Scientist.

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Beings – There is A Garden

Beings — a new group made up of Zoh Amba, Steve Gunn, Shahzad Ismaily and Jim White — issued their debut album, There is A Garden, through No Quarter Records. The New York City-based supergroup features renowned musicians guitarist Steve Gunn, saxophonist Zoh Ambab, drummer Jim White and multi-instrumentalist/producer Shahzad Ismaily. The quartet captured the highly improvised There Is A Garden at Ismaily’s Figure 8 studio in Brooklyn with just a few shows under their belt. They immediately noticed the chemistry present.

“I felt very confident, and I think everyone did, that we were going to make a record in two days,” White told Stereogum in an interview. “It had the feeling that it was going to be something, and I didn’t really question it.”

“I remember when we first got set up, being able to hear the drums all mic’d up, hearing what Shahzad was doing and Zoh warming up, I was like, ‘Damn, this is going to be very cool,’” Gunn added. “It’s about this exchange and listening and feeling the energy of the room. For me, that’s the deepest way to experience music.”

“Everything else vanishes during our time together,” Amba said. “I think that’s really, really beautiful.”

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Aloe Blacc – Rock My Soul Volume 1

Aloe Blacc shared the first EP in a two-part covers project titled Rock My Soul. Rock My Soul Volume 1 sees Aloe Blacc interpreting iconic alt-rock songs from the ’90s. The EP contains covers of songs by Soundgarden (“Black Hole Sun”), No Doubt (“Don’t Speak”), Nirvana (“Lithium”), Red Hot Chili Peppers (“Under the Bridge”), Green Day (“When I Come Around”).

“I’ve always been drawn to the emotional depth and powerful messages in these songs,” Blacc stated. “With Rock My Soul, I wanted to honor the originals while also bringing my own perspective to the music. I can’t wait for everyone to hear it.”

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Robert Hunter – Tales Of The Great Rum Runners (Deluxe Edition)

Robert Hunter’s 1974 debut solo album, Tales of the Great Rum Runners, received the deluxe edition treatment — including 16 previously unreleased tracks. Hunter — best known as the Grateful Dead‘s lyricist — recorded Tales Of The Great Rum Runners at GD drummer Mickey Hart’s converted barn studio in Novato, California. The record contains contributions from Dead members including Hart, Jerry Garcia, Keith Godchaux and Donna Jean Godchaux. Also performing on the LP are guitarist Barry Melton (Country Joe & The Fish), bassist David Freiberg (Quicksilver Messenger Service/Jefferson Starship), pedal steel guitarist Buddy Cage (The New Riders Of The Purple Sage) and more. Launching a new archival series from Rhino Records and celebrating the LP’s 50th anniversary, Tales Of The Great Rum Runners (Deluxe Edition) boasts 16 unreleased tracks including alternate versions of six songs that are on the original album. Jesse Jarnow (author, DJ and co-host of the Good Ol’ Grateful Deadcast) described Tales Of The Great Rum Runners in the deluxe edition’s liner notes:

“The music was as warm and handmade as the tapestries and tie-dyes adorning the Barn studio walls, an idiosyncratic continuation of the cosmic folk vocabulary that Hunter and Dead explored on Workingman’s Dead and American Beauty. In an era when the Dead’s own studio albums were growing slicker, Rum Runners doubled down on organic earthiness.”

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