Last week my friend Alan sent me a few mp3s off his new album, which the id3 tags tell me will be called Lovingkindness. Alan’s currently 10 tracks deep into the recording of this thing, which will come out early next year on the budding Slow January label.

For those who have not witnessed the genius of Singley, he makes rough and jangley indie folk stuff with a deep and whimsical sense of humor, and lots of light. One point of comparison would be Jonathan Richman, but it’s ultimately hard to pin Alan down to any one reference point, which is saying something these days.

Alan’s last album Audiobicyclette was mostly mellow and slightly trippy, a distinctly Portland mix of bikes, porches, rain, parties, and the occasional bout of deep brooding angst. It’s really good.

From these two mp3s, it seems like Alan is moving towards a more garagey, rough pop sound. I liked the old stuff, but I like this just as much. It reminds me of Steve Miller Band (a rare and good thing), old Beck, and other things too shadowy to recall.

If all goes well I will be helping get the word out about this record to magazines and such. I really hope that happens, because these mp3s are great and Alan is a crazy talent. Ok, here’s the frikkin’ mp3s!

Alan Singley + PANTS MACHINE - Short Sleeve Stumblah
Alan Singley + PANTS MACHINE - Bruises