Saudade "best of 2008"

This image of record covers includes Saudade's "The Hooded Ones". Apparently the guy who blogs about music at "the Grotto of Miracles" found it more important than most other releases this year. It is interesting to note that he also lists Grouper's "Dragging a Dead Deer Up a Hill" who I saw play WITH Saudade at Rererato here in Portland last summer. Isn't it neat to find out that something you put out there can impact someone else in such a positive way?

***update: while writing this post i got an email from Jason Gray leading to another top ten list they made at The Party's Crashing Us

Nature Photos by Chickweed Monkeyflower

Our dear friend and compatriot Chickweed Monkeyflower takes a variety of photos, often of the natural world he tends to surround himself with. He is constantly posting new images, here are a few recent sights:

New T-Shirt by Ven Gist - Available Now

Ven Gist is a sick illustrator/designer who is currently based out of Florida (but we cant wait to see him back in Portland!). His style encompasses technical and loose linework, clean, strong fonts, and he loves some psychedelic colors. It has been a while since he has had a t-shirt design out, his last group of shirts were all handmade here in Portland, with all-over print patterns for Artikel Clothing, and prior to that he did some work for the Japanese apparel group G.U. This design is a clear commentary on the oil crisis and the possibility for other energy sources, with the windmills and sun above the crossed out oil drop. Pretty sweet. Check out Ven's design company Make Nice and if you want you can buy the shirt HERE.

New Songs from Saudade

Saudade is the musical collision of Weather Exposed Skeleton Music and Cantino. They take the listener on guided journey through their emotional and mental response to the world with songs that range between lush ambiance and ecstatic noise. Their live show is like watching a hurricane, from the calm water pulling away from shore to the trees hurtling through subdivisions. They have some new songs up on their blog, Shermstixx recommends "Early October". I am feeling the "Interstate Bridge Song", possibly because it uses elements i have heard glimpses of during their live sets mixed with field recordings taken around the bridge here in Portland, or because Cantino lets us enjoy his voice. While you are there you can download a copy of their full length release, "The Hooded Ones", fo free, and space out in their world for a while.

all the links above go direct to specific parts of their blog, or you can just go check it all out for yourself: www.saudadepdx.com