Pitchfork

Excerpt from photo by Danielle St. Laurent

All's been more or less quiet on the ex-Rainer Maria front since the divisive but unquestionably spirited emo outfit called it quits in late 2006. Would the first album-length post-dissolution peep come from charismatic vocalist/bassist Caithlin de Marrais? Charismatic drummer William Kuehn? Nope, turns out it comes from that other charismatic former member of the Rainer Maria triumvirate, guitarist Kyle Fischer.

Fischer has followed up his 2002 Polyvinyl solo affair Open Ground with another round of solo-with-occasional-guests recordings, Black Milk. The 11-track LP, which we'll assume has nothing to do with the Detroit MC/producer, is available for free download right now via End Up Records. (Donations, we should point out, are encouraged.) Black Milk boasts additional contributions from the likes of the Blow's Khaela Maricich, Mates of State, Owen's Mike Kinsella, and de Marrais, among others.

Turns out de Marrais actually got a jump on her ex-bandmates in the singles realm, having released a free* track entitled "The Fire" via End Up back in February. The tune will appear on de Marrais's forthcoming solo debut, My Magic City, due later this year. Catch her live June 6 at New York's Bowery Ballroom, and keep your eyes peeled for a special, limited edition three-song EP de Marrais hopes to have for sale at the gig.

Okay, your move, Kuehn!

* De Marrais suggests downloaders donate to her mom's "favorite non-profit organization," the Evergreen Network.

Black Milk:

01 Love (Won't Save You)
02 Fetch a Coffin!
03 Never Once
04 Thousand Points of View
05 I Came Home
06 Sweet Suspense [ft. The Blow]
07 Hey, Sweetheart
08 It Seems to Me (I've Long Been Dead) [ft. Mates of State]
09 Fallen Chandelier
10 Death Letter
11 If You Don't (Someone Else Will)