Craft Spells

In the cold and dreary winter of 2009, alone in his bedroom and thoughts and hidden from the darkness of the world outside Justin Paul Vallesteros had begun working on something that would change his life forever. What began as a couple notes played in experimentation soon transformed into vibrant melodies. .Guitar chords laced over pulse sating melodies and drum rhythms  he began to create the dreamy nostalgic pop music that is Craft Spells. Craft Spells is the epitome of the recent uprising of the DIY music scene.Sites like Weekly Tape Deck, Pasta Primavera, No Modest Bear and Pitchfork’s Forkcast took notice and thus began the never ending worldwide posting and re-posting on blog after blog of Craft Spells. The sound is led by Justin’s blissful voice, backed behind beautiful guitar melodies over heavenly synths, pop basslines and looped rhythms. Captured Tracks has released 7” single for the song “Party Talk” and will release the debut LP due out in Spring 2011 called Idle Labor. 2011 is going to be a busy year now that Justin has set up a live band for future touring. Keep a look out for tour dates in Europe and US come the new year.


Track Listing:


1. For the Ages

2. Scandinavian Crush

3. The Fog Rose High

4. Party Talk

5. From the Morning Heat

6. After the Moment

7. Ramona

8. Given the Time

9. Your Tomb

10. You Should Close the Door

11. Beauty Above All

RELEASE DATE: March 29th, 2011.

Also, see them on there West Coast Tour with Label Mates Berach Fossil and Writer.

Sun 05/01/11 Club Congress Tucson AZ


Mon 05/02/11 Soda Bar San Diego CA

Tue 05/03/11 Echo Los Angeles CA

Wed 05/04/11 The Cellar Door Visalia CA

Thu 05/05/11 Slims San Francisco CA

Sat 05/07/11 Chop Suey Seattle WA

Blouse into black video

I’ve got some more Portland love to share with you all this week. First and foremost meet Blouse, an up-and-coming Portland-based dream pop trio that just signed onto the stellar Brooklyn label Captured Tracks  and now meet Wooden Lens, a talented group of Portland videographers who create  this brilliant unofficial music video that was made from found and stock footage. They  pulled scenes from Léos Carax’s 1991 film les amants du Pont-Neuf comprise the video for Blouse’s first single and shows vibrant fireworks, strobe lights, and an eccentric, one-eyed Juliette Binoche that perfectly suits the music video.