"Little Candle" by Jon Carling


  Before going into new releases, there is news from the Pepper Mill concerning Shel Silverstein ("The Missing Piece Meets the Big O", "Where the Sidewalk Ends", "The Giving Tree", etc...). There is no good news here... only loss. The family who survives Shel (and who owns the rights to his works) have threatened legal actions against almost a hundred artists who had planned to release works inspired by Silverstein's poems and stories. There was no money involved in the project, only a gathering of creative souls from around the world who had all been inspired by the great poet's writings.

  The actions of the family strike a personal chord. They feel like a betrayal of his life and message. Worse, it feels like he has been murdered posthumously, as this means any artists who his message inspires cannot build on that message... not without obfuscation. It feels like a complete loss. Over. Unbelievable. I don't think it has fully set in either. So many have been inspired by his works... too many losses.

  If you're a fan of Shel Silverstein, please spread the word. Instead of purchasing off-the-shelf copies (or other new versions that would support the estate that has done this) I would urge to buy used instead. Buy from resellers or from the used section on Amazon. There are alternatives that do not support the family but keep Silverstein's message circulating in the memepool.

  Sending mad love out to Pepper Mill and all the artists who had already begun work on this project. Thank you for dreaming the dream in the first place. For Anyone unfamiliar with the label, read up on the article about this project here:

  http://www.peppermillrecords.com/comesitbymyfire/

  Again, please spread the word.

  Despite the legal threats and the closure of this project, new releases are still coming out of the Pepper Mill. Here are the links:

  Volumina
  Sky Barstow

  The highlight here is the eclectic collection from Sky Barstow. It's a sound you cannot put your finger on.

Review: This mix opens with one of the many famous quotes from "Army of Darkness", quickly dropping into the clashing beat of Diplo's "200". The sound of fading instrumentation and glitchy static give way to "From Sun's Angle" by Blue Sky Black Death, bringing in a new depth of instrumentation and stability to the beat. Finally, the first piano keys from "Insomniac Olympics" announce that Blockhead is moving in, but not before the two beats and chords play around for a bit of mash-up style techno.