Karl Blau: bio

To listen to Karl Blau's albums and make descriptions of what is heard is to walk through a farmer's market and describe all the vegetables grown in that area. It is the love that Blau feels for music that shines through; most anyone can sense the passion this cultivator has for his trade. Every age group has been exposed to punk rock and everyone needs heartfelt music now as much as ever.

Within the last 3 years Blau has toured Japan twice, spent a winter-long residency in Queens, NY, toured the East and West coast multiple times, and played 6 weeks of shows across Europe in Spring 2009, and festivals in Europe in August, followed by tours in the Fall with Mount Eerie and LAKE.

Karl Blau constantly renews his commitment to exploring the frontiers of sound. In this world of instant access to musical cultures near and far that were once a series of thick walls of concrete – time becomes a limitless characteristic. In his latest recordings entitled Zebra [KLP205], Blau pays homage to the feedback of music from Africa and the music of African descent.

Prior to his solo recordings (2007’s Beneath Waves [KLP174] and 2008’s Nature’s Got Away [KLP192] and 2009’s Zebra), Blau played (and still plays) with Bret Lunsford (Beat Happening) and Phil Elverum (Mount Eerie) in D+. In the spirit of his hometown Anacortes, Blau flies the flag of community and, likewise, Anacortes's humble Knw-Yr-Own Records has released D+ "What Is Doubt For" and D+ "No Mystery."

From 2008-2009 K Record's Dub Narcotic studio has employed Karl as a sort of "in house producer." In this all-analog studio, Blau has recorded new albums by Arrington DeDionyso, LAKE, The Bundles (Jeffrey Lewis and Kimya Dawson), Angelo Spencer and Your Heart Breaks. Listen for Blau's vocal and instrumental contribution on the new Laura Veirs album, Calvin Johnson’s next release and Ian Svenonious's recording of his group Chain and the Gang.

Early spring 2010 Blau tours all over again with his dance band to get people shaking off their winter blues. Last year those who followed his various internet scribblings may have anticipated Karl Blau to stay in the Northwest and concentrate on small shows (check), but now we find him going on 3 European tours in 2009, and who knows what in 2010. WTF? What's next Blau, Africa? Yes. Let’s practice how we dance.

Kelp Lunacy Advanced Plagiarism Society

Artist's Website:http://www.myspace.com/karlblau