Based in Philadelphia, Blau has a legendarily broad résumé. He has worked on 250 albums during the last three decades, his experience ranging from Earth and Microphones to Laura Veirs and Matthew E. White. And his own catalog has forever been that of a polyglot, bending funk and folk and pop and punk into experimental forms with total glee. To call Vultures of Love the culmination of all that is to imply some stopping point, as if this is some destination Blau has now reached. But he moved to Philadelphia in part because he likes to be part of music that is going somewhere, that is seeking some frontier. This is just a particularly compelling step on the path of an under-heralded adventurer, still finding new ways to locate the space between the expected and unexpected.     Formed in 2015, "St. Yuma" is the musical project of singer-songwriter Stevan Alva, reflecting his creative vision. Whether performing solo or with a band, Alva's aim has always been to explore emotional depth through his music, drawing inspiration from artists like Damien Jurado, Califone, Silver Jews, and Wilco. His latest work, *Country Sleight of Hand*, emerged from a period of personal transformation following his father's death and a move from Texas to Seattle, WA in 2022. This new beginning in Seattle provided the backdrop for the album, which delves into themes of death, love, and life's uncertainties. Recorded at The Unknown in Anacortes, WA, the album showcases a rich and diverse sound, masterfully captured and mixed by Marshall Pruitt from Austin, TX.