Listening to: Howe - Down Home. Howe Gelb, frontman and mastermind of Giant Sand on his own. This cd only available from his excellent site features tracks which did not make it onto his last official release Confluence ('cept the piano solo album Lull which was released a couple of days ago). Laid back and relaxed it is desert (island) music again. Mainly guitar plus Gelb's appealing baritone with some piano/keyboard interludes. It starts very calm and stripped down and gets more jazzy and bluesy later on. The last song "Blue Marble Girl" features his charming little daughter babbling (she is on most of his last albums). Review in Comes with a Smile. Howe Gelb is definitely one of the most underestimated and unrecognized rock musicians around.

Check Michael Goldberg's Insiderone daily report (archive link) today on Velvet Underground's Quine Tapes with before unreleased live material from the late 60s. Another must purchase.