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In Dee Mail: Swimming in Speakers, Scott Ryan and Black Mercies

From their first meeting in October 2008, Swimming In Speakersʼ multi-instrumentalist Chris Clarke and talented vocalist Meadow Eliz of Saranac Lake, New York used a Casio, a laptop and a hodge-podge of analog equipment to begin recording songs together. Here is their lo-fi, dreamy pop as featured on the songs “In Knowing” and “Serve Them Well.”

“Serve Them Well” Swimming in Speakers from s/t EP (2009)

“In Knowing” Swimming in Speakers from s/t EP (2009)

scottryan

Los Angeles singer/songwriter Scott Ryan, along with his band, create experimental, melodic folk and indie rock using a range of instruments, including mandolin, glockenspiel, wurlitzer, organ, mellotron, guitar, violin, bajno, thumb piano, bass and drums. The band’s music is mellow, at times downright somber, as evidenced on the song, “Tree Man.” Another of the band’s songs, “Houndstooth Coat,” has an obvious, but nicely executed, Talking Heads-influence that borders on punk rock. Ryan has opened for artists like Sherwood, Josh Ritter and The Helio Sequence.

“Tree Man”Scott Ryan from Tree Man EP (2009)

“Houndstooth Coat”Scott Ryan from Tree Man EP (2009)

Scott Ryan on MySpace

blackmercies

The first time I heard the Black Mercies I thought of U2. Upon further investigation, some of you will disagree, but it’s just what first came to mind. The Portland, Oregon’s band describes its music as “infused with the cosmopolitan swagger of Roxy Music and the rapt melodrama of contemporaries like Muse and The Bravery.” The band features “BB” on vocals and guitar, Colby Hendricks on bass, Caleb Skinner on keys and Eric Storm on drums.

“Ballad Of A Kept Man”Black Mercies from Murder It Sweetly (2009)

Black Mercies on MySpace

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