There’s far too much hyperbole in the record biz, but it’s no exaggeration to call this one of the deadstock finds of the century. Hidden away for forty years on an island in Maine called—we kid you not—Vinalhaven, boxes of original copies of Loren Mazzacane and Kath Bloom’s formerly scarce 1982 LP Sing The Children Over have now been unearthed and are plentifully available at Ergot Records.
A singer and songwriter from New Haven, Kath Bloom’s place in the pantheon of crestfallen folk is undeniable. Largely eschewing metaphor and allegory, her songs cut straight to the core like real, direct communication between lovers, unrestrained by the bridles of prudence—not confessional, but absolutely vulnerable. Between 1978 and 1984, she released ten tender records in collaboration with Loren Mazzacane, years before he adopted the surname Connors and became widely recognized as one of experimental music’s singular guitarists. All of these recordings are great, but Sing The Children Over stands out for containing what might be the duo’s signature song in “The Breeze / My Baby Cries.” From its arresting opening line—“I’d like to touch you, but I’ve forgotten how”—the song unfailingly causes time to stand still as its titular breeze breaks hearts left and right. Accompanying Kath, Loren’s contorted impressions of Delta and country blues are entangled with wordless, mournful vocal utterances, hummed and moaned in imitation of the dogs that passed by his window—as Kath sings, “my puppy howls with the moon.”
Alongside six intimate original songs, the duo’s sole LP for the short-lived Ambiguous Records acknowledges their roots with five traditional numbers and one tune each penned by C. Austin Miles and Robert Johnson. Contemporary listeners might recognize some of this material as having been featured in DJ Sundae’s 2024 entry into the Tabi Tapes series or “The Breeze / My Baby Cries” from Bill Callahan’s excellent cover.
Near mint, unplayed copies, most of which are still in (open) shrink.