Out today in all its gleaming glory is the new LP from Portland pals @thenaturalmagic
Vinyl and digital are available from the Optimo Music bandcamp (check link in bio) while stores around the world are already reporting receiving copies and getting them on the shelves. Digital platforms should be all set to go too. Go get Natural!!!
About the album: “Natural Magic II is a west coast road trip soundtrack for the fading summer. Taking inspiration from the majesty and myths of their home in the Pacific Northwest, the seven track album is culled from the late night, dimly lit, live sessions of Mike McKinnon on keys/drums and Matthew Quiet on bass. Overdubs of guitar, synths and percussion followed. All this from the same space they throw their legendary Limited Edition parties - all-night free experimentation celebrations in their own right. The album art work is handmade flower pigments, opium poppy pollen ink and wood-scrap charcoal by their friend and collaborator Pith Cocomici. Roll the widows down, tilt the seat back and turn it up. Gas, grass or black mass... there's magic in the hills.”
Out for just over a week, this very special, and indeed rockin' album by @thenaturalmagic is by all accounts going down very well. Thanks to everyone out there who's supported the album and all the shops that have bought copies. US fans should be able to find a copy via their local dealer shortly (a large box was shipped to Forced Exposure distribution last week). Shops in Europe and Japan are stocked up and some already ordering re-stocks after selling out. Get yours hands on this beauty while you can 🤞
NMII, 2024
Album art, & Sigil logo
24”X18”
Folktale, Details, & Process video ^^^
The materials used to make this grew out of this land, were alchemized, & are now given an immortal 2nd life. The pigments were extracted from Portland’s springtime procession of flowers. Each with its sentimental significance…Camilia, Blue Bells from my yard, Dogwood, Tulip, Iris, Rose, & Poppy. The charcoal powder made from burning Douglas fir woodwork scraps, & Poppy pollen ground into my ink.
Huge shoutout to Mike & Matt for giving me the opportunity to make this for their self titled record “Natural Magic II”. First two singles are out now album coming soon!!! It’s always been my number one goal to make album art for an artist. You two have changed the way I understand community, bridged me to so many friends, & have changed my life forever with your Limited Edition events…which is some real ass magic. LOVE YOUUU <3
The repress of Natural Magic - II is here.
Don't miss out a second time!
Copies are available from the OM bandcamp (link in bio) and will be appearing in shops around the world imminently.
We asked the excellent @thenaturalmagic to interview each other, separately, without conferring.
Matthew doesn’t believe in magic, Mike does - something about infinite formless consciousness being the grounds of the entire universe… ✨🪐
Neither correctly named the dive bar bathroom. Both would bake an apple pie by first inventing the universe.
Natural Magic II is out now on @optimomusic - the final vinyl release put into production by Keith McIvor (JD Twitch) before his passing in September.
Full interview at the link in bio. 🖤
Thanks y’all for joining us in celebrating Natural Magic II’s release into the Collective Mind. It really wasn’t until we saw Pith’s cover art that we truly felt the album made sense, and it wasn’t until Zoe showed up with an olive oil cake covered in the album artwork that we felt anything made any sense. We love you buds. All of u. 🪄🤍
Jim Ottewill, Juno Daily writer and survivor of Natural Magic's marathon Portland parties, on the last album Optimo's JD Twitch put into production before his passing
LINK IN COMMENTS
Plz join us Saturday 1/31 at Dream House to celebrate the birth of Natural Magic II, coming out 1/30 on @optimomusic 🐣🎩🪄
We will have a limited amount of 12” records with us.
8pm start time. 🏁
We are so psyched to share this album with u!
See u then buds! 👯
Much love 🤍🌹
- NM 🤹🏻♂️🤹🏻♂️
The second single to be taken from Natural Magic - II is the album’s hi-speed opening track “Galaxy Builder” which comes thundering in like a ten ton truck powered on pure rocket fuel. Once you adjust to the thrust, settle in and enjoy the ride because as soon as we’re in a steady orbit, it’s cruise control from here. Somewhere along the line melodies enter and before we know it Neu have almost imperceptibly morphed into Harmonia right under our noses and by the end of the six minutes the rhythm and bass fades leaving us with blissful, jangling echoes reminiscent of Cluster & Eno at their most melodious. Remarkable!
The album, Natural Magic II, will be coming out on 30th January 2026.
Head up to link in bio to pre-order/listen 👆
It’s with great pride that we announce the long-awaited sophomore album from Portland-based duo Natural Magic @thenaturalmagic on Optimo Music. Natural Magic II was the final vinyl release that Keith McIvor aka JD Twitch put into production before his untimely departure in late September this year.
Having been a long time lover of everything krautrock, space rock, experimental and psychedelic it seems more than fitting that he leaves us this LP as his parting gift; because this sublime album is all these things wrapped up into one…and much more.
Today we proudly present the first of two singles from the album. Clocking in at almost 8 minutes, “Don’t Look Back” is a unique blend of shoegaze, psychedelia and ethereal electronics.
The album, Natural Magic II, will be released on 30th January 2026.
Hit link in bio to listen to “Don’t Look Back” and pre-order a copy of the album.
Thanks must go to @kompaktrecords for helping get the album over the finishing line and letting it see the light of day on Optimo Music as Keith would have wished.
Much love x
