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A​.​P​.​O​.​M​.​P​.​O​.​M.

by Black Balsam

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1.
h o p e s 01:01
2.
3.
4.
5.
i took a hike to the top of black balsam i took in the view and the view was awesome decided right then right there to set my tent i made my camp it seems i lost my stakes but the day was so nice i said for goodness sakes i'll be alright right here right now i bet when the sun went down it was quite exquisite then a howling rain and a wind came to visit and they stayed all night i was soaked and never slept when the sun came back i was quite astounded and i wrang myself out and i walked down the mountain and i never looked back not once not never not yet it's gonna take a long time but i'll wander back it's gonna take a long time but i'll wander back got swept up by a wild notion jump out a plane right into the ocean eight miles down and just now learning even under water this heart is still burning even under water this heart is still burning even under water this heart is still burning even under water this heart spring
6.

about

I moved to Austin twice. Both times, I moved there from North Carolina.

The first time, in 2009, where I asked all of my new and old friends to play in a band with me, and that band was called Bridges, and then later when that band name was not for me, i took all those musical contributions from amazing friends and called it a different name, “Black Balsam,” after a mountain* i have a terrible and special relationship with out on the blue ridge parkway in NC. Nevertheless, that record was called “See You Later, See You There.” I'm still proud of it, though some days I wish I had recorded the whole thing and released it in 2011 instead of 2016. Some days wish I was still working on it.

I moved back to Austin in 2015. My friends Mateo (drums), Arron (guitar), Daniel (piano & synth) and Luke (bass) joined me for a new band, this one called Black Balsam. Luke played in Bridges, and he and Daniel both played on the first record. We released SYLSYT and started working on our new sound and some new songs I was still learning how to play. realizing that bands aren’t forever, and wanting to capture the sound, we set up some mics in a converted garage and recorded some of what we’d be doing lately. however, as many of you may know, i run late. a few years later, a few extra recording sessions across state lines, and we now present to you “A Piece Of My Peace Of Mind”… affectionally called A.Pom.Pom. (mostly by me).

For those of you with 23 minutes to spare… here is some of the most fun music I think I’ve had the pleasure of being a part of. Occasionally, you may (if not careful) start tapping your toe. So much thanks to Arron, Mateo, Luke and Daniel for making it happen. Daniel suffered a couple years of me hassling him about some forgotten synth and piano parts. We found all of them. Poor Luke got a call from me a year or two ago where I intended on innocently asking him about a background vocal part and accidentally offered to mix the damn thing, and god damn did he do one hell of a job.

And also, a special thanks to my friend Caitlin Kraus. Someone I know from Austin, but with a lasting connection to Ohio, which is also the home of one of my favorite songwriters, Jason Molina. Before moving back to Ohio, Caitlin came over to the “studio” (the uninsulated laundry room of my last house in Austin) and brought her voice to “Magnolia,” which is secretly the best song from the EP (Well… Daniel said it is… I think he is right).

A note: track # 5 (Wild Notion) was written in two parts. Part 1, which is the last 0:37 seconds of the song was written back in 2016 when we started recording this thing. The first minute and a half I wrote last year. It’s about the whole reason I named the band Black Balsam in the first place. Apart from it being a beautiful little hike off the NC portion of the Blue Ridge Parkway. (Mile Marker #420 but please don’t read into that more than you’d like. My love affair is with the mountain, not numerology). This little song retells a summarized version of a couple trips i’ve made to that mountain.

*based on those trips, i recommend that you never name your band after a mountain. the name is not yours to take. however, it’s too late for us.

please enjoy a piece of my peace of mind.

design: randy skidmore
cover photography: noah nishite
mixed: luke kalloch
mastered: carl saff

feat. vocals by caitlin kraus on "magnolia," courtesy of little leonard.

if you liked this record, but especially if you didn't, you may prefer:

theloblollyboy.bandcamp.com (music by luke)
marijuanasweettooth.bandcamp.com (music by arron, mateo)
caitlinkrausmusic.bandcamp.com (music by caitlin)
creekbedmusic.bandcamp.com (more by jesse)

credits

released December 4, 2020

black balsam is:

arron casper
daniel dillon
luke kalloch
mateo mares
jesse wooten

license

all rights reserved

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about

Black Balsam Austin, Texas

it's gonna take a long time
but i'll wander back

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