I’ve said a lot about Laura Gibson lately, and this Cut of the Day is dreadfully late, so suffice to say that it is rad, and that it’s a traditional blues tune. And there’s a definite creepiness to it. And that sounds like M. Ward in the background. He’s officially credited as “Mr. Fantastic.” I didn’t ask. I should ask. But I think it’s M. Ward. Rolling low-in-the-mix style.

Anyway, Six White Horses: Blues & Traditionals Vol I Presented by Laura Gibson and Friends, is a six-song EP of similarly minded traditional tunes, and it’s a pretty little disc indeed. Maybe Laura will sneak a few copies to the Towne Lounge this Sunday, where she performs at the Portland Lounge Series (which I’m hosting, and which will be rad). For now, though, you can enjoy the song.

Download audio file (prettyhorses.mp3)

Isn’t that a heck of a lot more listenable than this government-sponsored karaoke version? Oh, and this thing will see a digital release from Hush (which has started a podcast, by the way) down the line.

Gibson also sings on Colin Meloy’s tour-only EP (a novel concept in an internet-driven world), wherein he covers Sam Cooke tunes (WHERE’S MY COPY!?!?!?! Flipping out here.). Hopefully they save a few of these EP’s for the homecoming show on May 3!

Speaking of which, here are Gibson’s tour dates with Colin Meloy:

04-07 Austin, TX - La Zona Rosa
04-08 Dallas, TX - Granada Theater
04-10 Atlanta, GA - Variety Playhouse
04-11 Asheville, NC - Orange Peel
04-12 Charlottesville, VA - The Satellite Ballroom
04-13 Washington, DC - 9:30 Club
04-15 Somerville, MA - Somerville Theatre
04-16 Brooklyn, NY - Music Hall Of Williamsburg
04-17 Brooklyn, NY - Music Hall Of Williamsburg
04-21 Chicago, IL - Park West
04-22 Milwaukee, WI - The Pabst Theater
04-23 Madison, WI - Barrymore Theater
04-25 Lawrence, KS - Liberty Hall
04-26 Boulder, CO - Fox Theatre
04-28 Los Angeles, CA - Henry Fonda Theatre
04-29 Santa Cruz, CA - The Rio Theatre
04-30 San Francisco, CA - The Fillmore
05-02 Seattle, WA - Showbox
05-03 Portland, OR - Wonder Ballroom

And here’s some press release action from HUSH:

Recorded over a weekend, in the kitchen, front porch and basement of an old Victorian House in Sellwood, Oregon, Six White Horses finds Laura Gibson reinterpreting six old blues and traditional songs that have greatly influenced her music and guitar-work. The sparse and somewhat improvisational arrangements came as a collaboration with multi-instrumentalist Jason Leonard, seasoned in radio sound-effects and found-sound compositions.

While Gibson’s guitarwork mostly adheres to the original blues composition, her voice, nylon strings, and reliance on non-traditional instrumentation bring the songs into a unique time and space. Gibson’s voice and classical guitar were projected and recorded through the speaker of an old-record player. Leonard contributes non-traditional instruments (washbucket, newpaper drums, porch stomping, bells, whistling, vibraphone and glockenspiels). A neighborhood saw player, known only as Mr. Fantastic, exchanged a few haunting melody lines for a bottle of whiskey. All songs were recorded by Sean Ogilvie who engineered the project, and contributed piano to “All the Pretty Horses”.

Totally M. Ward.

Links:
Laura Gibson

Photo by Amy Sly