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We all fall in love with new bands/artists on a daily basis...
We cheat on our old favourite acts with brand new ones...
Monogamy does not exist when it comes to new artists...
And I have discovered a love for another emerging superstar...
Fresh Cherries From Yakima is the moniker for Douglas Martin...
An unsigned multi-instrumentalist & lyrical-poet...
For the past 24 house (since I first came across his music) I haven't been able to listen to anything else...
The music is melodic and engrossing, the lyric's dreamy and delicate & the vocal's are nothing short of awe and wonder - dry & whispering...
A self-proclaimed reclusive scruffy book-worm, Douglas has so many enthralling features flowing within his music, it would be an absolute insult to him if I tried to explain how they will make you feel when you hear them...
I wouldn't be able to do them justice...
These songs need to be heard...
They need to be discovered by welcoming ears...
I was awake until about 5 am last night...
I couldn't sleep due to the amount of coffee I drank during the day...
The entire night was spent smoking cigarettes and listening to Douglas' songs...
They took on a whole new meaning listening to them at night...
I don't want to name any other artists whom he reminds me of because it just wouldn't be fair...
These songs don't need comparisons (and neither does Douglas) because their delicate superiority speaks volumes...
However, I will say this - If you can imagine a more melodic Jeffrey Lewis amalgamated with a softer, more diaphanous Isaac Brock, then that is how I would describe Douglas' vocal ability...
You really need to support his music,
I implore you to do so.
Douglas is going to be releasing a brand new online EP for free entitled "Bourbon and Bedsheets," very soon.
His debut album, "Buttons for North Caroline" will be available digitally on New Year's Day (fuck Radiohead, buy this!) and hopefully, it will see a physical release in June....right in time for those beautiful summer nights... - shapesandshadows.blogspot.com
Discography
"Buttons for North Caroline," Fresh Cherries from Yakima's debut LP, was released digitally on January 1st, 2008. It is still awaiting a physical release, tentatively scheduled for June. "Bourbon and Bedsheets" is a free online EP that will be released on Valentine's Day, featuring two original songs and five covers.
Photos
Bio
Hunkered down in a tiny apartment bedroom with a busted acoustic guitar and an equal love of hip-hop production duo The Neptunes and Nirvana's "Unplugged in New York" album, Seattle-area recluse Douglas Martin spent the better part of a year in near-isolation, hunched over his notebook, his aforementioned busted guitar, and loads of effects pedals, writing the narrative that would eventually become his debut album, "Buttons for North Caroline." Although the album-length narrative follows the two main characters, Mr. Sailor (the protagonist) and North Caroline (obviously, the title character) through art shows and flood parties and car crashes, "Buttons.." is primarily a story of love which is eventually lost, which is something everyone can relate to. Although the foundation of the album is built on acoustic guitar, the album contains layers of shoegaze guitars, ambient electronics, odd percussion, and an unconventional sense of rhythm.
"Buttons for North Caroline" has been praised by many blogs, but most notably would be Largehearted Boy, who posted an early version of the entire album on its blog in early 2007.
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