I’ve been a fan of Small Sur for quite a while and have been asking Bob to do a microshow for almost 2 years now! We were grateful they were able to do one with us last month. It was a really beautiful night, full of amazing musicianship, wonderfully crafted songs and really nice people. Everything came together perfectly and it’s here now for you to take a peak in to their microshow. Hope you enjoy!

Bob Keal: Vocals, Acoustic Guitar
Austin Stahl: Drums, Vocals
Andy Abelow: Keyboards, Vocals, Alto Sax
Paul Kusner: Bass
Emily Hilliard: Violin

Engineered by Austin Stahl
Mixed by Mat Leffler-Schulman

Technical info: Bob’s vocals: Shure SM7, Acoustic: SM81, Kick: RE20, Snare: Fathead Ribbon, Overhead: Sputnik, Austin’s Vocals, AKG 414, Violin: AKG 414, Andy’s Vocals: SM81, Bass: 421

Download MP3s - 85.57 MB

Photos by Tedd Henn, WhatWeekly.com

Small Sur have a new record, Tones, dropping June 28th! NPR says Small Sur is, “serene minimalism conjures large expanses of natural landscapes at their most beautiful.” It’s a beautiful almost minimal 11 song record recorded with Chris Freeland and Austin Stahl with guests include Jenn (singing) and Andy (guitar-ing) from Wye Oak and Susan Alcorn on pedal steel guitar. 11 gorgeous sunday morning breakfast music songs. Having already mastered their previous record, working with Bob Keal on Tones was of course a joy. Below are two of my favorite songs from the record. And if you are in Europe be sure to check them out on tour this summer.

The Woods
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Prettyboy
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Austin Stahl has an innate sense for the arrangements in his songs. He has a minimalist approach to recording which translates to well-thought out production and song-writing, perhaps because he records himself. Whatever he’s doing, it’s a good thing and his new record, Definitions, is no exception to the wonderful pop gems he makes in his home studio. Music that pulls from the likes of Luna, Neil Young and Brian Wilson. This is his third release as a solo-artist and my second working with him as mastering engineer. How he has the time to create his own music while playing drums for Small Sur and A Cat Called Cricket is a testimony to his devotion to what he does as an engineer and songwriter.

Enjoy two of my favorite songs from Austin’s latest record due out tomorrow on cassette and digital download.

Burn Bright and Fade
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Arrows Pierced You
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I recently had the privilege of working with Alex from A Cat Called Cricket. Over the past few months we produced a transitional EP that will be bridging the gap between their last record and their upcoming record due out in 2012. These songs are heartfelt and while great on their own didn’t really have a place on the upcoming record. So while this isn’t really a taste of what’s to come, it’s a different side of A Cat Called Cricket. It’s a perfect autumn soundtrack. Crack the windows and let the cold air come in and enjoy my favorite track from the EP, Atlas, complete with cellos, handclaps and organs. Also enjoy a killer remix of When Leaves Fall (available as a free download on the Beechfields’ site after you purchase the EP). And last buy not least, this record was wonderfully mastered by TW Walsh.

If you haven’t already picked up a copy, be sure to buy one on the Beechfields‘ site and soon on iTunes!

Atlas
[See post to listen to audio]

When Leaves Fall (Thomas Hallett Mix)
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Small Sur’s last record We Live in Houses Made of Wood was in heavy rotation in my household last year. So when Bob Keal came by the studio to have his next record Bare Black mastered, I was honored.

Small Sur is a collective run by songwriter Bob Keal. Bob writes beautifully haunting songs that remind me of being outside and traveling, of the feeling of moving from one place to another. Or simply leaning back against a tree staring at the stars. This newest record takes you to a place with insanely crafted melodies, occasionally droney textures, and haunting minimalist arrangements. Multi-instrumentalists Austin Stahl and Andy Abelow join Bob on this record.

Bare Black was released last week for Aural Slates Records. The sample song below is a complete reworking of a track recorded for the 2008 Friends and Friends of Friends Compilation on their former label Tender Loving Empire.

Other guests include Geoff Graham (bass; member of Lower Dens/Jana Hunter), Susan Alcorn (pedal steel) and Natasha Tylea-Cooke (vocals). Engineered by Chris Freeland and mixed by Adam Cooke, whose collective credits include Beach House (Sub Pop), Double Dagger (Thrill Jockey), Lower Dens/Jana Hunter (Gnomonsong), Oxes (Monitor), and Wye Oak (Merge).

Please enjoy my favorite track below.

Weeds
[See post to listen to audio]

I recently mastered a Baltimore compilation for SpliceToday.com. When Zach came to me asking if this is something I’d be in to, I didn’t even hesitate. We love Baltimore bands and the community they enrich, but Baltimore bands covering Baltimore bands! That’s just too good to be true.

Crossing genre lines, this mix tape reflects the beautiful diversity and vitality of the Baltimore scene. Caleb Stine covers Small Sur. Small Sur covers Wheatie Mattiasich. Mickey Free covers Wye Oak. And Wye oak covers Rod Lee. It’s like one big musical do-si-do. We love it! And you can download it for free. Look out for a Volume 2 coming soon!

Here are a few of my favorites:

Little Dreamer f/ Victoria Legrand by Jones (Future Islands)
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Dance My Pain Away by Wye Oak (Rod Lee)
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Two Mantras by Caleb Stine (Small Sur)
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Love those pretty Beach Boys harmonies at the end of Two Mantras! You can just drink it.

Last week, we hosted Austin Stahl for our monthly microshow. He brought new and moving interpretations from his latest solo record, The Things You Carry, and pulled some songs from the vault, including covers of Private Eleanor, Hank Williams, Small Sur and Bruce Springsteen. It was a warm and intimate night and so still as we held our breath listening to each heart-rending verse.

Tech stuff: U87 on vox. Shure SM81 and SP C3 on the acoustic/banjo. The acoustic also was DI’d through a RedDI by A Designs (Thanks Frank!) on a few tracks. The electric mandolin was mic’d using a SM57 on a Fender Champ.

Download MP3s - 77.67 MB

I just finished mastering Austin Stahl’s (Private Eleanor, Small Sur) first solo record, The Things You Carry. It’s a great record. Wonderful lyrics and beautiful melodies. He recorded it on his cassette 8-track at his house. You can download the record for free here.

Prelude/The Things You Carry
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The Ballad Of Buena Vista
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There’s also a bonus record called 1982 which is his birth year and contains songs released that year. My favorite is definitely the Bruce Springsteen cover of “Used Cars”.