The Castanets
Encyclopedia
Castanets is the musical project of Raymond Raposa, a San Diego native currently residing in Portland, Oregon
. While Raposa is the only constant member of the band, his records and live performances often feature a seemingly never-ending rotating cast of musicians, the line-up often changing from night to night in a single tour. First touted by Pitchfork Media
, Castanets were one of the more prominent proponents of the so-called freak folk
movement (also known as psychedelic folk and New Weird America
) that took place in the U.S. music scene in 2003-04.
In addition to his regular touring, Raposa recently toured the east coast's Intracoastal Waterway
in a sailboat with singer-songwriters Jana Hunter
and Red Hunter (aka Peter and the Wolf
).
Raposa's next record, Texas Rose, the Thaw, and the Beasts, was released on September 22, 2009 by the Asthmatic Kitty
label.
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
. While Raposa is the only constant member of the band, his records and live performances often feature a seemingly never-ending rotating cast of musicians, the line-up often changing from night to night in a single tour. First touted by Pitchfork Media
Pitchfork Media
Pitchfork Media, usually known simply as Pitchfork or P4k, is a Chicago-based daily Internet publication established in 1995 that is devoted to music criticism and commentary, music news, and artist interviews. Its focus is on underground and independent music, especially indie rock...
, Castanets were one of the more prominent proponents of the so-called freak folk
Freak folk
Freak folk is a genre of folk music associated with contemporary artists such as Faun Fables, Animal Collective, Davenport, Devendra Banhart,CocoRosie, Panda Bear, Kelli Ali, Joanna Newsom, Bowerbirds, Woods, Greg Weeks, Hecuba, Akron/Family, Rio en Medio, Birdengine, Sufjan Stevens, Sean Hayes,...
movement (also known as psychedelic folk and New Weird America
New Weird America
New Weird America describes a subgenre of psychedelic and indie music, often psych folk, of the late 20th and early 21st centuries.-Origin of the term:...
) that took place in the U.S. music scene in 2003-04.
In addition to his regular touring, Raposa recently toured the east coast's Intracoastal Waterway
Intracoastal Waterway
The Intracoastal Waterway is a 3,000-mile waterway along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the United States. Some lengths consist of natural inlets, salt-water rivers, bays, and sounds; others are artificial canals...
in a sailboat with singer-songwriters Jana Hunter
Jana Hunter
Jana Hunter is a Baltimore-based songwriter and musician. She was born in Texas and is currently a member of Lower Dens.She is signed to Gnomonsong, a new record label run by Devendra Banhart and Vetiver's Andy Cabic...
and Red Hunter (aka Peter and the Wolf
Peter and the Wolf (band)
Peter and the Wolf is the American folk band formed by musician Red Hunter. Hunter says about his song writing, "I carry a journal everywhere with me. I will stop in the middle of whatever I'm doing to write down an idea, whether it's something I think about, hear, observe, or whatever...
).
Raposa's next record, Texas Rose, the Thaw, and the Beasts, was released on September 22, 2009 by the Asthmatic Kitty
Asthmatic Kitty
Asthmatic Kitty is an American independent record label founded in 1999 by a community of musicians from Holland, Michigan led by musician Sufjan Stevens and his stepfather Lowell Brams. Some were Holland natives, and others had come to attend local colleges and universities...
label.
Discography
- 20032003 in music-January:* January – following an investigation by The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry and London detectives, police raids in England and the Netherlands recover nearly 500 original Beatles studio tapes, recorded during the Let It Be sessions. Five people are arrested...
What Kind of Cure (unreleased) - 20042004 in musicSee also:* 2004 in music Record labels established in 2004-January:*January 1**The Vienna New Year's Concert is conducted by Riccardo Muti.**Kurt Nilsen wins World Idol....
CathedralCathedral (album)-Track listing:#"Cathedral 2 " – 3:13#"Just To Break Free From A Hundred Families" – 0:34#"Industry And Snow" – 1:44#"You Are The Blood" – 4:09#"No Light To Be Found " – 6:30...
(Asthmatic KittyAsthmatic KittyAsthmatic Kitty is an American independent record label founded in 1999 by a community of musicians from Holland, Michigan led by musician Sufjan Stevens and his stepfather Lowell Brams. Some were Holland natives, and others had come to attend local colleges and universities...
) - 20052005 in music-Events:*During the year 2005, 12 rock music albums scored number 1 in the USA. This was the first time even ten albums have scored number 1 since 1996.-January:...
First Light's FreezeFirst Light's Freeze-Track listing:#"" – 0:28#"Into the Night" – 4:03#"Song Is Not the Song of the World" – 3:56#"Good Friend, Yr Hunger" – 2:03#"" – 0:28#"Bells Aloud" – 4:50#"First Light's Freeze" – 2:16...
(Asthmatic Kitty) - 2005 untitled split 12" with I Heart Lung (Sounds Are ActiveSounds Are ActiveSounds Are Active is an independent record label based in Long Beach, CA. It was founded in 1999 by Chris Schlarb. The label has focused on releasing music in the genres of free jazz, avanthop, ambient and other experimental music....
) - 2007 untitled CD EP with Shapes and SizesShapes and SizesShapes and Sizes are a Canadian indie rock band from Victoria, British Columbia. There are four members — Nathan Gage, Caila Thompson-Hannant, Rory Seydel and John Crellin. After self-releasing their self-titled first album in early 2006, the band caught the attention of Sufjan Stevens' record...
(Asthmatic KittyAsthmatic KittyAsthmatic Kitty is an American independent record label founded in 1999 by a community of musicians from Holland, Michigan led by musician Sufjan Stevens and his stepfather Lowell Brams. Some were Holland natives, and others had come to attend local colleges and universities...
) - 20072007 in musicThis is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 2007.-January:*January 1 - George Shearing is knighted for services to music in the Queen's New Year Honours List. Evelyn Glennie becomes a Dame...
In The Vines (Asthmatic KittyAsthmatic KittyAsthmatic Kitty is an American independent record label founded in 1999 by a community of musicians from Holland, Michigan led by musician Sufjan Stevens and his stepfather Lowell Brams. Some were Holland natives, and others had come to attend local colleges and universities...
) - 20082008 in music2008 was a huge year in music history with the emergence of pop superstars Lady Gaga and Katy Perry into the mainstream. Also, this is the year that is widely agreed upon by critics as the start of the fall of hip hop from the mainstream and the rise of Synthpop into the mainstream due to acts such...
City of Refuge (Asthmatic KittyAsthmatic KittyAsthmatic Kitty is an American independent record label founded in 1999 by a community of musicians from Holland, Michigan led by musician Sufjan Stevens and his stepfather Lowell Brams. Some were Holland natives, and others had come to attend local colleges and universities...
) - 20092009 in musicThe following is a list of notable events and releases in 2009 in music. Susan Boyle's album I Dreamed a Dream became the biggest selling album in the world for 2009, selling 8.3 million copies in five weeks; more than any other artist's in the whole year...
Texas Rose, the Thaw, and the Beasts (Asthmatic KittyAsthmatic KittyAsthmatic Kitty is an American independent record label founded in 1999 by a community of musicians from Holland, Michigan led by musician Sufjan Stevens and his stepfather Lowell Brams. Some were Holland natives, and others had come to attend local colleges and universities...
)