Tony Dale

I first encountered Nick Castro’s music under the banner of the collectivist musical project Children of Ghaud, which had Nick and fellow freak music enthusiast and San Diego record store clerk Josh Quon as its twin centers-of-gravity. What was clear from the dark, introspective recordings issued as the CD Kinder des Gottes was a keenness to experiment with instrument, sound and form; as elements of folk, rock and psychedelia were thrown into an imaginary particle accelerator and warped into new and intriguing substances. Clearly, here was music on a journey of discovery rather than at a destination, and here were musicians to put on a watch list for future misbehavior of similar dimensions.

I next encountered Nick’s work in mid 2005, when a CD titled Further From Grace arrived in a package of promotional materials from the estimable Strange Attractors Audio House label. In stark contrast to the open-endedness of the Children of Ghaud material, an ensemble including various members of Espers and neo-folk luminary Josephine Foster were now assisting Nick in realizing one of the tightest and most exquisitely arranged folk albums I had ever heard issue from any period, including the mighty 1968-1973 heyday of British progressive and psychedelic folk. It’s the kind of album that refuses - and is in fact demeaned by - easy reference points in the present and past, existing as a sui generis masterpiece of new acoustic music, and a model for what might fly in the future to replace to already tattered and stained flag of “freak folk”. British, American and Middle-Eastern traditions are respectfully drawn together, and it’s difficult to imagine improving on any decision made on the record. Brian McTear’s production at the Miner Street studios in Philadelphia, - always excellent - reaches new heights on Further From Grace also, as he perfectly synchs Nick’s West Coast sensibilities with the East Coast ensemble he chose to work with on this occasion.

Here’s a recipe for the traditional Australian campfire bread known as damper. We like to cook it here in the coals of burned-down ritual fires lit on Camera Obscura acres to celebrate various pagan festivals, and for other rites of dubious provenance. This is a cheese and chive variant, which can be done in foil in the coals, or in an iron camp oven.

Ingredients

• 2 Cups Flour
• 4 Tsp. Baking Powder (heaping)
• 1/4 teaspoon of Salt
• 1 cup grated tasty cheese (in the USA, this would be “sharp” cheese)
• 2 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese
• 2 tablespoons chives, chopped
• 15g (1 Tbsp.) Butter (approximately)
• 3/4 Cup Water or Beer (approximately)
• Milk

Directions

Fire off a campfire and let it die down. Sift the flour and mix in the salt and baking powder, then rub in the butter as with scones. You’re going for the consistency of bread crumbs at this point. Add in most of the cheese and chives and mix like a crazy person.

Then mix in the water or beer not overdoing it and looking ultimately for a doughy consistency. Knead lightly on a board/flat surface/altar until smooth. Form into a round shape. Wrap the dough in foil or put in a camp oven and brush with a bit of milk, then sprinkle with extra cheese. Adorn with symbols.