This is the demo version of “Can’t Cook Down” recorded on the Tascam Porta 2 in November 2005. I don’t recall the precise influences which allowed this song to come forth. Some of the lyrics are things I use to do. The melody was most likely lifted from a candy bar commercial or maybe some slice of an old traditional. Some people ask if the title is a reference to heroin. It is a reference to vegetables.
Can’t Cook Down (Demo)
“I’ve Been Thinking” is an outtake from 2003 during the recording sessions for “…Bow of Bees”. All of the vocals for this song were recorded first and the bass was added last. I employed this backward method to give certain songs a more wonky quality that is nearly impossible to accomplish if the vocals are recorded last. This song is directly “inspired” by The Beach Boys song “Do It Again”. One might even venture to say this is a loose parody of that song. I like songs where the lyrics deal with subjects the singer claims to be “thinking about” besides the nebulous “you”.
When we played this song live it turned into more of a “My Sharona” type groove that you can place from the bass line. Many times people thought we were playing “My Sharona” and didn’t realize that we weren’t till midway through the song.
I’ve Been Thinking
“The Sad Caller” from the 1997 cassette-only release “Advanced” on Business Deal Tapes. This song is a direct result of the influence from the band Low whom I began listening to in 1996. To be even more specific, I believe this song is essentially a knock-off of the Low song “Over the Ocean”. A gentle repetitive lullaby tainted with despair; most of Low’s songs.
The Sad Caller
I recently googled my name and this review of Cavedweller’s 2006 album “The Best Version Of Gloria…” popped up. I guess I haven’t googled my name in a while because this review is 11 months old. Thank you Anonymous Author from The Deli Magazine for the flattering review.
“Operating on the mellow fringe of Austin’s always healthy psychedelic scene, Cavedweller has quietly put together some of the most fascinating work in town, including our newest choice for CD of the month: The Best Version of Gloria Ever There Was. This isn’t a new album; it’s just one we feel deserves digging back up, because it never received anywhere close to its due.
Cavedweller, aka Dirk Michener, kicks the album off in typically understated style with “A Horse and A Man,” a creaky, timeless song that showcases his weatherbeaten voice. There’s plenty going on in this voice: cracks and rumbles that hint at wisdom, but also just the slightest sense of amusement, and occasionally, behind the resignation, a little bit of swagger. That swagger comes the front more on songs like “Augusta, Ga.” and the immediately appealing and memorable “Black Black Magic”, where he filters Marc Bolan through Tom Waits. But even on the more mournful numbers the various never-quite-meshing emotions evident in his voice raise his music far above ordinary.
Literalists may struggle with the fact that there is no version of Gloria included on the album…we’ll take votes on what he means by that.
There is, of course, a dreamy, druggy feel to the whole thing (his myspace page, under influences: “most of the time”), and a lo-fi recording style that would fit right in the Nuggets compilation, all of which lead to the psychedelic designation. But that label tends to sell short the songwriting…these are just excellent songs, songs you could cover in any number of ways and come up with gold. It’s all off-kilter and the lyrics are surreal, but that’s also true of probably the best music of the last forty years.”
6/2010 The Deli Magazine
http://austin.thedelimagazine.com/5286/austin-psych-poll
“Badger” originally only available on a 3 song cassingle I passed out at the 1997 Fry Street Fair in Denton, TX. Later that year I stuck it on the “Special Education” full length cassette after receiving many request to play it live. More cryptic lyrics dealing with submission and death. Also I use to read the comic book “Badger” and I remember that had something to do with this song.
Badger
I recorded this one at my little apartment on 33st in 2007 with Pat Healy from Pataphysics on hand-held cassette recorder. We had spent the day at an experimental video art show sponsored by the beverage called Sparks. We drank much Sparks and this song was the result.
Physical Phenomenon
The song “Q” from the CD “Schoolboys Charm” 2000, Business Deal. I wrote a handful of instrumentals like this around that period of time. I believe at the time I thought I was trying to emulate Trans Am or any of those other Thrill Jockey bands but these recordings didn’t come off that way at all. The song title was taken from the movie of the same name, “Q: the winged serpent”. Quetzalcoatl.
Q