The Blow is really visual artist and performer
Khaela Maricich, who formerly released recordings under the name
Get the Hell Out of the Way of the Volcano, after which she recorded (with the help of some guests) for K under the name
the Blow.
The Blow set lyrics that sound like unverbalized thoughts to herself to minimal, often electronically textured basic pop melodies.
Maricich's debut as
the Blow was 2002's
Bonus Album, which she followed the next year with The Concussive Caress, or, Casey Caught Her Mom Singing Along with the Vacuum. In 2004,
Maricich teamed up with musical tech-geek
Jona Bechtolt for the recording of the limited-edition EP
Poor Aim: Love Songs, released late that same year. The results were much to their liking, so much so that
the Blow decided to thus remain a duo.
Everyday Examples of Humans Facing Straight into the Blow arrived early in 2005 and contained material that had previously been released under
Maricich's earlier
Volcano moniker. The Portland-based duo then returned in October 2006 with a full-length of new music entitled
Paper Television. ~ Richie Unterberger, All Music Guide