If you look into who Los Angeles based artist Raven Chacon is, it becomes quickly apparent that he is a man who wears many hats. On one hand, he is a member of the Navajo Nation, and an important composer and teacher of "New Native Art." He has been the composer in residence of the Native American Composers Apprenticeship Project, and in this faculty has performed and recorded a substantial amount of music and received serious commissions from several organizations. On the other hand, he is a solo performer of experimental and noise music, as well as a member of such bands as Cobra//group, KILT, and Dog Shit Taco. On "Black Streaked Hum" another side of Raven Chacon is revealed. A sort of hushed, hazy, folk sound is utilized here, providing mixed results.

The tape begins with a real relaxed campfire feeling. Strummed acoustic guitars, low-key vocals, with an occasional wordless falsetto punctuating the proceedings. This is a place all of us have been, a warm place, a calm place, and it is nice to be here. The second song "Hastaa'", brings a bit more to the table. The aforementioned guitar strum combines with lush female vocal harmonies, fleshing the sound out a little. A melancholy Native American style flute meanders in, floating above the song, present, but never intrusive. The melodies here are pretty, with harmonies challenging enough to slip the sound into psych-folk country. Track three raises the tempo, adopting a crude early blues style. The vocals wail like the wind over a rolling guitar line, ending the side in an exciting fashion. Strangely a vinyl like pop and hiss are present throughout this entire tape, combining with the music to make the recording seem substantially older than it actually is.

Unfortunately, all campfires must eventually fade and go out, as does the second side of this tape. "Song for Eight" takes up the second side of the tape in its entirety. The strumming commences, ringing a single chord repeatedly with periodic rests and accents. Occasionally the track almost succeeds in creating sufficient atmosphere to draw me in, but those moments are few and far between. The track fails to create the tension, either in tone or harmonics that would be needed to carry its length. Despite the promise shown and good feelings felt on the previous side, I was ultimately left feeling cold. 5/10 -- Bryan King (4 June, 2009)