–>I don’t know why this guy isn’t huge, or at least a cult sensation. Dirk Michener, the brains behind Cavedweller, has been making cool, down-tuned acoustic blues that stick with you in a mellow sorta way since 1994. 2016 II & III was my introduction to this guy’s work, and I’m a believer. There’s very few frills, and absolutely no flash, to Michener’s work. He settles into a groove, and mines it for all it’s worth.
Michener specializes in lightly distorted, heavily reverb’d lo-fi blues that I hesitate to to call country only because that word conjures up images of Garth Brooks in a lot of peoples’ minds. Yet this is country, in a good sense: music for driving down a desolate, lonely highway somewhere deep in the American heartland, with nothing but your memories, heartbreak, and Dead Moon tapes to keep you company. “Kevin grows Gills,” despite being about that wretched Kevin Costner flick Water World, hasa ghost town vibe all its own; “Stacy” is a jangly, bittersweet ode to.
You get the idea. This is a record for the long morning after New Year’s, when you’re sitting around your apartment, gutpit depressed, facing another new year with not a whole lot of options and even less faith in the world around you. Slip it on and focus on the groove. Michener’s such a nice guy, you can download it for free, but really you should buy it!

Read the entire post here at Drug Punk.

buy tapes here

Cavedweller is gearing down to put out his 10^th album in June of 2012. This Bandcamp.com exclusive will include the option to purchase a limited edition cassette tape along with the digital. 2016 pt II& III was recorded during 2011 after moving from Austin to San Antonio. The feel of these recordings is different from the “traditional” 4-track tape sound that Cavedweller has been producing for the last 20 years. The shift hasn’t so much increased sound fidelity but rather deepened the lo-fi intensity with many layers of tracking and double tracking. This long awaited release is an essential step into the psychedelic folk rock arena Cavedweller fans have eagerly enjoyed since the early 90′s.

Past Reviews:

“The Best Version Of… Ever” is relaxingly well honed, purposefully meandering, and deceptively simple. Like a ninja posing as a folk singer who rides the same bus for 17 years just to pull off a hit… but much more restless”. -Shon Toney, Haggard and Halloo Publications

“Cavedweller is a lyrical riddle wrapped inside an enigma, a long beard, and a galaxy.” – Kathryn-Terese Haik, Live Music Capitol

“Picture him descending underground for about 20 years with a guitar, and a seemingly limitless supply of notebooks and pens. Now wonder what he wrote…Concrete and abstract observations, stream-of-consciousness poems transformed into lyrics, eventually set to heartfelt rock ‘n’ roll.”- Danna Williams, INsite Magazine

“Operating on the mellow fringe of Austin’s always healthy psychedelic scene, Cavedweller has quietly put together some of the most fascinating work in town.” -The Deli Magazine

Links:

2016 pt I & II on Bandcamp

2016 pt I & II liner notes

Previous Releases:

2010- Cavedweller – gone to seed / tape, Instincto Records, Out of Print

2009 – Cavedweller / Shapes Have Fangs, 7″ Split, Winner of 2009 Best 7″ Split Award, Austin Chronicle

2006 – Cavedweller – Best Version of Gloria Ever There Was

Business Deal Records PO Box 151054 Austin, Texas 78715 * businessdealrecords.com