Ever heard that song ‘Parentheses’?

Thats The Blow, made up of Mikhaela Yvonne Maricich and Jona Bechtolt (YACHT).

The song was a big hit in 2007, off the album Paper Television. The sound on the record is characterized by minimal electronic beats and vocal melody provided by Maricich. It’s a nice listen, managing to somehow sound sparse and full at the same time.

Pile Of Gold – The Blow

What I really want to talk about though, is the Blow that existed before 2004. Actually at this time it was just Maricich by herself, releasing a couple of records under the name ‘Get the Hell Out of the Way of the Volcano’. One of these records was ‘Everyday Examples of Humans Facing Straight into the Blow’, put out in 2001. It’s not what one would expect after listening to ‘Paper Televsion’. Maricich uses an acoustic guitar and her voice to create incredibly raw songs. Reminiscent of  Kimya Dawson and The Moldy Peaches with guitar playing that reminds me of Joni Mitchell’s ‘Blue’. It is relaxing and quirky and the perfect thing to listen on a rainy weekend afternoon.

Milkmaid – Get the Hell Out of the Way of the Volcano (the Blow)

My Heart – Get the Hell Out of the Way of the Volcano (the Blow)

Nothing – Get the Hell Out of the way of the Volcano (the Blow)