Karl Blau - Introducing Karl Blau
I was first introduced to the uniquely mystifying and haunting sounds of Karl Blau’s voice through my dear friend (and Claude’s BFF) Phil in San Francisco. Phil is known for making the most epic mixtapes which I’ve been fortunate to be on the receiving end of for sometime now. I’ll still never forget the first time I heard ‘Make Love That Lasts’ on one of said mixes. Never had I heard such a voice, so low and slightly diffused sounding, running all over the place with mystical lyrics. Karl’s album ‘Nature’s Got Away’ became a steady favorite of mine (I mean, ‘Before Telling Dragons’? Oh man!). Even more memorable is the first time I heard this album, his cover album, while opening the bakery one morning with Briana. I immediately turned to her during his cover of the Good Thing alum Link Wray’s ‘Falling Rain’ and said ‘WHO IS THIS?!’. I had no idea Blau had made a cover album. I’m not sure a day has gone by since then that I haven’t put this album on at least once. When digging in to learn more about it, I learned that the producer Tucker Martine’s intention for this album ‘Introducing Karl Blau’ was to do exactly that - introduce this amazing musician, writer and singer to the world who may not have yet heard his prolific discography. We’re sending this album your way with a chance of extending that introduction to one of our very faves. -Kathleen N. Pratt
Ivan Molano - Tolima, Colombia
We are so stoked to be able to offer coffee again from the inimitable Ivan Molano. What strikes me most about Ivan is his deep love for his work and his family and his infectious excitement about the future. Ivan is stoked about the potential of the specialty coffee industry and is eager to plant new varietals and experiment with his coffee in order to keep raising the quality. I love being able to support Ivan's experimentation and hard work, especially since his coffee is sooooo good. We purchased several different lots from Ivan this year because we kept receiving samples that we just couldn't pass up! This lot is a blend of Colombia and Caturra from his farm Finca Las Pulgas which is located way up there at 2050 masl. The cup is full of juicy grape candy sweetness, delicate florals, and sweet lemonade.