Vee Hua 華婷婷
Field Hymns was started on my birthday — August 30th, 2008, in Portland, Oregon. Why I decided to do that, I have no idea; I must have thought I was making more money than I was at the time, which makes sense as I have a terrible head for math as well as poor decision-making skills. I suppose our music tends to head towards the experimental and odd, but I’ll let you all be the judge of that.
Not knowing how to really approach a mix tape from the label, I have just decided to go in alphabetical order, which actually seems to flow pretty well. For the sake of fairness, I have included only one track per artist even though a few of them have multiple FH releases.
Curated by Dylan McConnell,
Founder of Field Hymns Records
Download Mixtape (76.9 MB)
Adderall Canyonly – “Kerpoodle”
From the first of the Ick Basement Trilogy Series – stoner keyboard jamz… what better to kick it off?
FROM THE ALBUM IT WAS A DARK AND STONEY NIGHT
www.adderallcanyononly.comBoron – “Party With A Human”
“Recorded mostly on a modular Moog III–P that’s the size of a room — and one of only 4 operating in the world — Boron’s sonic glacier passes through one ear and out the other, wiping clean all impure thoughts” — can’t really argue with that. Dan Nelson is also a fantastic conceptual artist and author of All Known Metal Bands published by McSweeney’s.
FROM THE ALBUM DECRRESSCENNDO
www.eyeoftheblackbird.netChores – “Super Car”
Chores was the very first release on FH. This album is great and has been woefully under-acclaimed.
FROM THE ALBUM THE SUBTLE POLITICS OF THE PUBLIC HAMMOCK
www.choresmusic.comEYES – “Far and Away”
EYES is a band from San Francisco that will kinda melt your face. Very excited to put this one out! This band encapsulates so much that I like about music. It’s like they know my genetic code…
FROM THE ALBUM A CANDLE IN THE CROWN OF DAWN
www.facebook.com/eyesbandGarth Steel Klippert – “The Murke”
This album was recorded over the course of three years by a cab driver living in a San Francisco office building. Garth Steel Klippert now mans the helm of a fab band by the name of Old Light, whose latest release you can find on Arena Rock here in Portland. Garth has also built every coffee shop of note in this town.
FROM THE ALBUM MUSIC FOR TAXICABS
www.facebook.com/pages/Old-Light/112826548739779Hammer Of Hathor – “Mt. Tabor”
Now living in Philadelphia, Hammer of Hathor knocked me out with an album of theirs called False Teef; it’s been love, love, love ever since then. A real slow-burner, this track.
FROM THE ALBUM VROOM-PSYCHO
hammerofhathor.blogspot.comMattress – “Done All My Time”
Rex Marshall is Mattress; Mattress is what would happen if your Las Vegas wedding was co-opted by a Suicide cover band fronted by the ghost of someone quite tall. Also lead feller in The Reservations, one of the best bands in PDX.
FROM THE ALBUM LONELY SOULS
www.facebook.com/pages/MATTRESS/349332622102Mike Coykendall – “Disco Next Door” w/ Clicker
Mike is a local musician and producer extraordinaire here in Portland – such a talented motherfucker and a real sweetheart to boot. When he is not burning up a studio, he tours with She & Him and M.Ward as guitarist and whistler.
FROM THE ALBUM THE UNBEARABLE BEING OF LIKENESS
www.mikecoykendall.comOxykitten – “0 For Everything”
This actually is my project – why? Just because.
FROM THE ALBUM THE STREETS WERE PAVED WITH CIRCUIT BOARDS
www.oxykitten.comSusurrus – “Thanks For All the Canvasses But We’d Prefer The Forests Restored”
I actually don’t know that much about Susurrus yet; this is the only finished track I have (it comes out in a couple months). Regardless, I am sure it will be great judging by this cut.
FROM THE ALBUM SUSURRUS
www.fieldhymns.comWhite Glove – “High Bike”
White Glove is Tim Wenzel of Yes, Father and MSG (bringer of the best cassette hip-hip in Portland). Also a fine-ass barista and wicked shortstop.
FROM THE ALBUM WHITE GLOVE
www.fieldhymns.comYes, Father – “Witeout”
Yes, Father is 2/3’s of Klezmer band Shicky Gnarowitz, though you wouldn’t have guessed that from this album. Phil Stern, Dave Leavitt & Tim Wenzel burn it up — one of the first shows I watched in Portland, and I have never forgotten that experience…
FROM THE ALBUM YES, FATHER
www.facebook.com/pages/Yes-Father/212159388803129Zac Nelson – “Labendolla”
And rounding out the comp is Zac Nelson — what a perfect ending… also the next album to come out on FH. Can’t wait!
FROM THE ALBUM TOWARDS YOUR OWN WORLDS
www.zacnelson.com/sound/
Ω
Jake Renn
Navi Esparza