Castanets was the musical project of Raymond Raposa, a San Diego native whose innovative blend of psychedelic folk and alternative country captivated listeners. Signed to Asthmatic Kitty Records, Raposa released six studio albums under the Castanets moniker, beginning with the critically acclaimed "Cathedral" in 2004. His compositions often incorporated unconventional instruments like organ, synthesizer, and saxophone, pushing the boundaries of traditional Americana. Raposa's collaborations included scoring the documentary "Beyond This Place" with Sufjan Stevens in 2011. His final album as Castanets, "Decimation Blues," was released in 2014. Raymond Raposa passed away on July 29, 2022, at the age of 41. ([pitchfork.com](https://pitchfork.com/news/raymond-raposa-who-recorded-as-castanets-has-died/?utm_source=openai))