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Chris Koza, Laulu, Dave Ray: This week’s Minnesota record releases

by Aaron Bolton

October 28, 2014

Chris Koza: In Real Time

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Rouge Valley’s Chris Koza has a new album. In Real Time reaches into the past trying to grasp onto something human. On the track "Radio Wave," for example Koza’s struggle to accept technology's grasp on the world makes for a compelling theme over rhythmic instrumentation that captures the feeling of the nine-to-five grind the lyrics paint a picture of. In Real Time drops today, and Koza will play two album release shows: Nov. 8 in Northfield and Nov. 9 at the Cedar Cultural Center.

Laulu EP

Laulu drop their self-titled debut EP today; it's full of aural painted soundscapes painted by beautiful folk instrumentation and emotional vocals. Laulu, who describe themselves as a "Minneapolis based indie/folk outfit, with roots stemmed from the cold pines of northern Minnesota," released the EP at the 7th Street Entry on Sunday accompanied by Ancient Mariner and Portage.

Dave Ray: Legacy

St. Paul's Red House Records have released a three-disc, 55-track compilation of recordings by the late blues legend Dave "Snaker" Ray today. Legacy includes rare and unreleased tracks from Ray’s early work while living in Minneapolis’s West Bank neighborhood. The label has organized a tribute concert for Ray on Nov. 9 at the Minnesota History Center. Some of the performers will include “Spider” John Koerner, Tony Glover, Charlie Parr, and Ray’s brother, Max Ray. St. Paul recently decided to name a street in Ray's honor.

Aaron Bolton is a senior at the University of Minnesota. Currently he writes for growyourflow.com and is the music reporter at Radio K. He hopes to continue a career in music journalism.

Clean Water Land & Legacy Amendment
This activity is made possible in part by the Minnesota Legacy Amendment’s Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund.