Pitchfork

Upstart indie-rock label Absalom Recordings is planning to release two full-length CDs late this summer. First out of the chute is the self-titled debut from Charity Empressa. This project is the brainchild of Eric Campuzano (ex-Lassie Foundation, Cush) and was nearly three years in the making. Apparently not all that confident in his own voice, Campuzano has recruited friends Matthew Kelly (Autumns), Jason Martin (Starflyer 59), Troy Daugherty (Duraluxe), and Wayne Everett (ex-Lassie Foundation), among others, to handle vocal duties. Charity Empressa seeks to create epic soundscapes which focus on "the power of one note," inspired by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and Spiritualized. Just don't expect them to record any songs about taking drugs for breakfast.

The second Absalom release is a compilation entitled seen/unseen. A benefit for a Toronto area youth center, the disc features rare and unreleased material from a cross-section of indie music royalty: Frank Black and the Catholics, Giant Sand, the Czars, Joe Henry, 16 Horsepower and Over the Rhine, plus a few more. Not a bad line-up, if we say so ourselves. (Which we do.) Both albums are due to be released on August 21st.