A bit of closure is at hand with this double album collaboration by three-fourths of the legendary Throbbing Gristle: Chris Carter, the late Peter "Sleazy" Christopherson, and Cosey Fanni Tutti. "Desertshore / The Final Report" serves both as a tribute to the memory of Sleazy and one last go around featuring the terrifying sonics only the masterminds from TG can create.
The collaborative effort found on the tribute disc "Desertshore" is a varied and unique take on an obscure classic by the Velvet Underground's Nico. With guest musicians and vocalists throughout, "Desertshore" proves as not only as a tribute to Nico but with the passing of Sleazy during the sessions it now proves as a tribute to his memory as well. It takes the serene and dreamlike state of the album and infuses it with doses of paranoiac beauty and creative re-imaginings.
"The Final Report" finds the group in "20 Jazz Funk Greats" mode but with a more modern end times vibe permeating throughout. Both unsettling and compelling it is sure to make your skin crawl yet you won't be able to turn away, transfixed by the dark tones entering your inners.
A flawless swan song by one of modern times most innovative and challenging musical acts, "Desertshore / The Final Report" is fine addition to the already stunning TG back catalog. These will not be around long so get while the getting's good.
Severely Recommended.
After long last, the St. Dad LP finally graces our wretched racks and we are stoked to say the least (thanks Vinyl Rites). It's a real shame that these maniacs broke up, we spun the "Jobs and Junk" single to death back in the day and now we can finally get our St. Dad fix with this here proper full length (well as close to a full length as we're going to get).
St. Dad are bringing 8 tracks of brain dead punk rock bafoonery in the vein of Angry Samoans, The Germs, early Black Flag, Homostupids and the choicest of the KBD alumni. Played straight to the point with anger, humor and a lot of attitude St. Dad obviously could give a fuck what any of us tiny peons thinks, but that's just the kind of abuse we crave around here.
The frowning sunglasses wearing sun on the cover is pretty much the epitome of our feelings on all of this. So here's a fond farewell to the daddys! Have fun while you "blow up the jail", we'll be spinning this here platter on repeat in fond memory of days gone by. Recommended.
MISSISSIPPI RECORDS ALERT!
This co-release by Mississippi Records and Corum's Psychic Sounds Research label is a hauntingly beautiful collection of harmonium pieces by Russian spiritualist/teacher/mystic G.I. Gurdjieff.
Harmonium Improvisations is just one of many works by this influential man, his legendary book Meetings With Remarkable Men tells the tale of growing up during a time of a land still dealing with unexplainable occurrences and the coming of age of modern sciences. This music is extremely melancholy with wheezing harmonium (pump organ) passages floating around for the betterment of the soul.
Most of these recordings were made after hosting dinners he held during the occupation in 1940's Paris with the intent of engulfing listeners in this very sad religious intensity so that when finished all could move on to more light hearted affairs. He was a genuine original amongst mortals and this document of his improvised spiritual music is testament to his enduring influence on this age and for future generations. Highly Recommended.
LP - Various Artists - Naughty Girl: To What a Strange Place Vol. 1 - $11.99 - BUY
MISSISSIPPI RECORDS ALERT!
Mississippi teamed up with other recent like-minded lost dusty audio unearthers Canary and Change to release this fantastic three-volume collection of Greek, Armenian, Turkish, Egyptian, and Syrian immigrant music gathered from long forgotten '78s. These collective grooves on "Naughty Girl" are filled with nearly lost recordings dating between 1905 up through 1930; all tracks we're glad Mississippi took the time to dig up.
The Ian Nagoski penned liner notes place the performances contained within into fascinating and historical context featuring full biographies of each performer and in some cases put a face on said performer in displaying a photograph of them.
You might even stumble across a familiar face such as the Grecian performer Marika Papagika as she was previously featured in the Mississippi curated full-length collection of her works, "The Further The Flame, The Worse It Burns Me (Greek Folk Music in New York City 1919-1928)". Each volume is no less essential (or limited) than the other.
Do yourself a favor and grip all three volumes now so you don't have to kick yourself when you want to complete the collection of this important and RECOMMENDED material.
LP - Various Artists - I Wish I Never Came: To What a Strange Place Vol. 2 - $11.99 - BUY
MISSISSIPPI RECORDS ALERT!
Mississippi teamed up with other recent like-minded lost dusty audio unearthers Canary and Change to release this fantastic three-volume collection of Greek, Armenian, Turkish, Egyptian, and Syrian immigrant music gathered from long forgotten '78s. These collective grooves on "I Wish I Never Came" are filled with nearly lost recordings dating between 1905 up through 1930; all tracks we're glad Mississippi took the time to dig up.
The Ian Nagoski penned liner notes place the performances contained within into facinating and historical context featuring full biographies of each performer and in some cases put a face on said performer in displaying a photograph of them.
You might even stumble across a familiar face such as the Grecian performer Marika Papagika as she was previously featured in the Mississippi curated full-length collection of her works, "The Further The Flame, The Worse It Burns Me (Greek Folk Music in New York City 1919-1928)". Each volume is no less essential (or limited) than the other. Do yourself a favor and grip all three volumes now so you don't have to kick yourself when you want to complete the collection of this important and RECOMMENDED material.
LP - Various Artists - Notes from Home: To What a Strange Place Vol. 3 - $11.99 - BUY
MISSISSIPPI RECORDS ALERT!Mississippi teamed up with other recent like-minded lost dusty audio unearthers Canary and Change to release this fantastic three-volume collection of Greek, Armenian, Turkish, Egyptian, and Syrian immigrant music gathered from long forgotten '78s. These collective grooves on "Notes From Home" are filled with nearly lost recordings dating between 1905 up through 1930; all tracks we're glad Mississippi took the time to dig up.
The Ian Nagoski penned liner notes place the performances contained within into fascinating and historical context featuring full biographies of each performer and in some cases put a face on said performer in displaying a photograph of them.
You might even stumble across a familiar face such as the Grecian performer Marika Papagika as she was previously featured in the Mississippi curated full-length collection of her works, "The Further The Flame, The Worse It Burns Me (Greek Folk Music in New York City 1919-1928)". Each volume is no less essential (or limited) than the other.
Do yourself a favor and grip all three volumes now so you don't have to kick yourself when you want to complete the collection of this important and RECOMMENDED material.
Two of modern electronic musics finest team up for a collaboration record that is blowing our minds! Tim Hecker and Daniel Lopatin (aka Oneohtrix Point Never) have come together and made a simply breathtaking work with their double album length Instrumental Tourist.
Channel hopping bursts of static and appropriated tone blasts set the scene and low end drones break into crackling walls as glimmering electronic swirls carry the listener along a wave of what we can only call melodic noise. There are heavy hitting brunts of decaying noise and an industrial pulse but with discernible melodies lilting through the magnetic field atmosphere. Both artists sonic finger prints can be heard throughout the record but in the most glorious moments its the fusing of the two styles that really ups the excitement and gives way to genuine moments of ecstatic goose bump inducing euphoria.
If you dug the icy beauty of Tim Hecker's Ravedeath 1972 and the deep cavernous atmospheres of Oneohtrix Point Never's Returnal than get the best of both worlds combined and grab yourself a copy of Instrumental Tourist and take a trip that you won't soon forget.
Mega Recommended.
The Dangerous Age label gives up a state side pressing of this long gone album of synthesizer churn.
When not making up half of the influential Zombi act, Steve Moore is busy composing high-brow synthesizer works that borrow from the past while inflicting an ultra modern spin of his own on the pieces. Arpeggiations gallop along side of white hiss washes and a steady beat giving the music its organic pulse.
Primitive Neural Pathways evolves in a narrative manner giving the album a soundtrack vibe throughout its entirety. Moore's solo work is akin to Tangerine Dream, Arp, and Jean Michel Jarre with shimmering liquid squiggles and glossy deep space exploration. Its a real treat to have this available again so if you dig any of the above mentioned acts and old school sci-fi soundtracks be sure to grab a copy of "Primitive Neural Pathways" now! Recommended.
The Spectrum Spools label has been on a roll in 2012 and Container's latest another slayer. It's always nice to find an act that is turning genres on its ears and Container are taking the minimal synth and proto techno fields and dissecting them to their core and then deconstructing that even further into a monophonic nightmare hypnosis that'll cleanse your spirit as much as inflame your loins.
Container is bringing caustic, aggressive pulse racing electronics that go full throttle into oblivion. Hard hitting relentless drum machines are patterned for maximum assault making Container's LP a blistering techno banger that we're sure is pure chaos in the live setting. This dish is chest pounding delirium that begs to be turned all the way up. Recorded to mono for the most bang for its buck, Container's non-stop rhythm attack is making lo-fi dance music into an unsuspecting weapon.
Super Recommended.
Hot damn! Agitated Records has a brand spankin' new album from Alien Ballroom that has been melting our brains and moving our butts with its infectious psychedelia.
Continuing with the sonic oddities that started with their lp Koolaid, Alien Ballroom have moved even further into the realms of... "holy shit! what is going on here?" madness. Maybe you remember the aural trickster from the Agitated "I'm So Convoluted" comp, perhaps you don't, either way the entity known as Koolaid has evolved into Alien Ballroom and they've mutated their wound to even further reaches psychedelic greatness.
Like Chrome as a cave stomp garage band that snorted some Butthole Surfers EPs and now are on a continual acid march to a land of unknowable sonic ascension. Or some Maggot Brained drainage tunnel dwellers that specialize in soundtracking the rings of Saturn after black out huffing sessions, Alien Ballroom is treading a territory that is wholey their own. Sound collaging found sounds with a primitive garbage can bash and mid-range ear damage ready guitars, Alien Ballroom are ushering in a new space age of gross.
But hold up a sec... what's this? The Alien Ballroom slowly turn their garage-y pummel into some seriously hypnotic stoner-y psychedelia that defies comparison. Zero PAC A.D. is a reverbed echoing work of "less is more" at its finest. A sonic assault of lo-fi clatter and lysergic communion lifts Zero PAC A.D. to lofty heights as it travels ever further towards some warped heaven. Recommended.
ORIGINALS HAVE GONE FOR OVER $400!
London folk auteur Bill Fay is getting a lot of attention lately thanks to his star-studded album "Life Is People", but the saints at 4 Men With Beards have upped the anté by reissuing his beautiful and fragile, self-titled first album - originally issued on Deram in 1970.
Bill Fay made two albums for Deram in the Seventies that went nowhere (this one right here and the even more bleak "Time Of The Last Persecution") - "Bill Fay" was aimed for the folkies, but was really a far more sophisticated and cosmic affair, blending Cohen/Dylan-esque songwriting (read: abstract, somber and poetic, but not lecherous) with delicate baroque string and horn arrangements not unlike the ones Robert Kirby assembled for Nick Drake's albums.
Released once and summarily deleted by the label, this one has never been reissued on vinyl and (for our money) with tunes like "Gentle Willie", "The Sun Is Bored" and the joyously soul-crushing "Methane River", this makes for an undeniable slab of seventies singer-songwriter goodness. We're stoked to see this one again - a shop fave for sure (Hopefully "Time Of The Last Persecution" is next)!! Plus it's pressed up on heavy 180gm vinyl and housed in a beautiful tip-on sleeve - so... um yeah - this one's RECOMMENDED!! GET IT.
TOP-SHELF, private-press psychedelic music from the good ol' U.S. of A by Ark and their album from 1978 entitled "Voyages" - a record touted by many (including head Acid-Archiver Patrick Lundborg) to be a "Top 5" US psychedelic garage record! We tend to agree, and so do the absolute legends at Guerssen - who've remastered and reissued this bad-boy on heavy-duty 180gm vinyl!
HOLY BALLS - what a find!
Winsome, dusty, back-roads psych, with a dash or two of roadhouse rockin, but overall, a killer fuzzed psych rocker! The CRAZY thing is considering this was recorded in 1978 - WAAAAAAAY after this kind of stuff should have been recorded. "Voyages" has that same outsider "biker-psych" feel as the much lauded 'Circuit Rider' record, but with less of a sinister vibe, and more laid back, lazy stoner strumming. We can dig it! Light up a "cowboy killer", crack open a cold one and vibe out to Ark - we'll see ya at the lake (the ancient lake)! RECOMMENDED!
UNBELIEVABLE private-press rarities by British psych-pop band Complex remastered and reissued with love by the musical historians at Guerssen - we're talking BOTH impossibly rare LPs - the s/t "Complex" album and it's follow-up "The Way We Feel"
The s/t affair is a total MONSTER! SUPER raw, fuzzed out psych-garage ragers that benefit from the lack of fidelity and completely remind us of other UK psych gems like 'Forever Amber' (but with more 'oomph') and the post Wicked Lady Martin Weaver act Dark, as well as the equally rare and great US album by 'Mystery Meat'... squealing fuzz guitars and hot, hot, HOT farfisa are drenching this baby, but there's a melancholy air to the whole shebang that hearken our ears to acts like Index and Bachs.
Unseen on the vinyl format since 1998 when Tenth Planet reissued it in an all-too-limited run (this one's probably not long for this world either) and wholeheartedly endorsed by Acid-Archiver Patrick Lundborg - if you're inclined to buy, we recommend you do it NOW!
Totally RECOMMENDED! Holy COW!
UNBELIEVABLE private-press rarities by British psych-pop band Complex remastered and reissued with love by the musical historians at Guerssen - we're talking BOTH impossibly rare LPs - the s/t "Complex" album and it's follow-up "The Way We Feel"
The second Complex album finds the band operating in a slightly more "singer-songwriter" mode - more "songly" songs. The band's website claims that principal songwriters Steve Coe and Bob Mitchell "wrote songs in a similar manner to Elton John and Bernie Taupin", and while we don't necessarily hear THAT comparison, the Sixties garage feel is lessened in favor of a more "progressive" feel (don't be scared - we're not talking ELP, here). Tunes like "Hey Girl You've Got Style" and the fuzz-crusher "If You Are My Love" still have whiffs of left-handed cigarette tokin' garage greatness!
The band would splinter soon after this album, with BOTH principal songwriters going separate ways - luckily we have both Complex albums to keep us company! Unseen on vinyl since a Tenth Planet reissue in 1998, "The Way We Feel" is remastered and repressed on slick 180gm vinyl - this baby hasn't looked or sounded this great in... well... NEVER!!!
COMPLEX-LY RECOMMENDED!
LP - Shin Joong Hyun and Yup Juns - Shin Joong Hyun and Yup Juns (180gm vinyl) - $16.99 - BUY - LISTEN 
- LISTEN Righteous, rare grooves from Korean psychedelic auteur Shin Joong Hyun, reissued by local heavies Lion Productions! Some KILLER tunes here, less "psych" and more groove-based, fuzz rockers - a dazzing melange of latter-era Beatles, Curtis Mayfield, Grand Funk, James Gang or Blue Cheer! The rhythm section's locked in TIGHT, with slinky guitar lines zig-zagging in and out of the groove.
We also hear similarities to stuff like Atomic Forest, A.K.A, and Bunalim, but with a more controlled, slick finesse. An amazing companion to Light In The Attic's recent "Beautiful Rivers and Mountains" 2LP set! Pressed here on 180 gm vinyl, and housed in a beautiful tip-on sleeve with liner notes! Nice price too! RECOMMENDED!
SHOCK-ing news from Guerssen Records! The inimitable garage/psych/prog reissue label has unearthed a MUTHA of an acid-fuzz rocker in Shock' s unreleased album!
Definitely a whiff of the Mexican or Brazilian fuzzed out underground, perhaps Tobruk, but also the fuzzier, garage-y moments from Os Mutantes and Los Dug Dugs too! The tunes herein are also far out and rockin in a Fugs/Zappa way, replete with backwards guitar effects and group-harmonies and some deadly fuzz guitar slingin'. There's also an element of influence from American garage like Count Five, The Stones, and even more teeny bopper stuff like Dave Clark Five.
It's heady music that you can DANCE to. Is it as good as it looks? YES. GREAT album, with detailed liner in English and pressed up on luscious 180gm vinyl - hard to beat a record like this one! RECOMMENDED!
Branes are bringing gothy synth punk cuts of aggro paranoia and they aren't here to play nice. Dark yet dancey, Branes are brooding in the vein of Adult.., Tearist, Nina Hagen and Berlin. A heavy 80s vibe permeates through Branes aesthetic and they own it with their unbridled enthusiasm and kenetic energy. Hard hitting beats, spooky keyboards and ever forceful female vox make up the bread and butter of Branes sound and they are ready to choke you out with "Perfection Condition", their latest on Burger Records. Branes do a fine job of coupling their aggression with ultra catchy hook-laden cuts of dancey post punk. Recommended.
LIMITED TO 500 COPIES
Burger has the market cornered when it comes to young upstart power popping jangled up garage bands these days. So any new additions to their roster will give you a head start on the internet hype machine when it comes to promising new bands. Case in point, Fletch C Johnson's debut lp "Salutations", hot outta the pressing plant. Fletch has hit our sweet spot with his trebly country tinged Brit Invasion influenced psych rock. It's a soul jangle that mixes in a little bit Laurel Canyon folk, a little bit of AM bubblegum radio and a whole lotta smoked out of Nuggets love.
Those into the Strange Boys, Gap Dream, Magic Jake & the Power Crystals and the Half Rats will definitely wanna grab the warm sunshiny vibes off Salutation. Those who thought the spirit of Byrds and Alex Chilton was dead and gone, think again. "Salutations" is some powerful, messy and fun rock 'n roll that the gives the classics a run for the money (including King Tuff!).
RECOMMENDED. Grab one now,
Burger releases are super limited and always sell out quick
LIMITED TO 1000 COPIES!
Catchy retro/future synth pop from Californian Sam Flax, out on the ever-prolific Burger Records! We were kinda flummoxed by this one - thinking our ears were playing tricks on us, 'cuz "Age Waves" sounds timewarped from 1985! New wave keyboards and moody pop tunes that sound straight out of a John Hughes teen dramedy!
Flax is clearly enamored with Eighties radio pop from the like of (late-era) Roxy Music, Gary Numan, Tom Petty, and even more radio-friendly unit shifters like Timbuck 3, Outfield, De Barge and Tom Tom Club and it shows! Totally fits into that Cali-neuvo-pop scene Burger's got a lock on like Gap Dream, Andy Human, Danny James and Branes! If you have a predilection for Reagan-era radio rock, then Sam Flax has what you're lookin' for - just bring the shoulder pads and neon accents! RECOMMENDED!
When Memphis, TNs' His Hero Is Gone called it a day and 3/4's of its members relocated to Portland, OR the future was dismal and uncertain, as the underground had just lost one of the most punishingly ferocious acts that anyone had seen/heard in years. But when these dudes changed their name to Tragedy and altered their sludgey yet frantic schizophrenic DIY hardcore to a more melodic song based structure, the underground crust hardcore scene would never be the same.
Tragedy has always stayed true its DIY ethics, releasing their own records in their own sweet time on their own dime and, most importantly, on their own terms. Now with the much-anticipated "Darker Days Ahead", Tragedy is still leading the pack in dark no-bullshit hardcore. Tragedy take classic crust punk and drag it through High On Fire riffage, the post apocalyptic dirges of Amebix and touch of Celtic Frost muscle to create some of the most compellingly original hardcore that is more than just breakdowns and raging. But don't be fooled this is not for the faint of heart, with gnarly barked vocals, steam-roller drumming and air raid siren guitars added to their already guttural guitar assault Tragedy is bringing the end-time message.
But all comparisons aside, Tragedy has really just created their own sound, they'e been steadily sharpening that sound for nearly 12 years constantly evolving and moving away from any sort of traditional sound while never losing their roots. With a title like "Darker Days Ahead" the future is obviously not a bright one but still a future worth fighting for. And these guys know when to drop all the volume and dash in some clean picked guitar passages to increase the tension and further pummel the listener when it all comes crashing back in loud and brutal. "Darker Days Ahead" flows seamlessly from track to track with a dark cloud foreboding feeling that mirrors the troubled times we live in. These dudes have constructed a near perfect document of anger that is channeled through furthering what hardcore and punk rock can be. Seriously Recommended.
Better late than never, the mighty Unwound deliver a double live album from their final 2001 tour. It's cuts from their mind blowing last studio album "Leaves Turn Inside You" as they transitioned these songs into a live capacity. "Live Leaves" showcases one of the 90's most thrilling bands getting up on stage and rising to the self-imposed challenge of furthering their sound and we must say they more than rise to the occasion. This collection of live cuts is further proof of the genuis that was Unwound.
"Live Leaves" finds Unwound in all its cacophonous majesty, burning through 11 cuts from "Leaves Turn Inside You" in various venues across the USA and generally showing folks how its done. This was originally slated to come out in 2002 but the band imploded on tour and called it a day. Well luckily they've spent the time to sift through hours of live tapes and compiled the best takes to make this here double album, since the songs are coming various sources the sound quality varies from track to track but they did a fine job of making the whole record flow uniformly. Unwound absolutely ruled in the live capacity to say the least, and it's fully captured on these platters. They've tossed in a couple of older tunes that have been given the beefed up line up reworking, which is a treat for sure.
A decade plus has passed since we last heard from Unwound and now to get this blistering live document of a bygone era is making our rainy days a littler brighter. Thanks Unwound! Self-released by the band themselves, "Live Leaves" is another example of the DIY ethic this band steadfastly displayed in the face of medocrity. Mega Recommended.
Hiruko Records is bringing it with another stellar installment of its ongoing Ongaku series. After blowing our minds with "Ongaku 70" and "80", this new collection of Japanese music from the 90's further proves the utterly unique and creative take the Japanese culture has when it comes to making "out there" underground music. They seem to be unparalleled in their uncanny ability to make absolutely bonkers sounds yet make them totally accessible to most ears.
Whether it be the electronic sing song of Ryuichi Sakamoto, the mystical psychedelic travels of Ghost, the throw back psych freak beat of Idiot O'Clock or the quite literal furious masturbation of The Gerogeigege, "Ongaku 90" is full to the brim of interesting and varied musical endeavors that'll have those with an adventurous ear flipping their wigs with all the greatness on this collection. Super Recommended.
MICRO-TOUR REPRESS LTD TO 150 COPIES // RED WAX // RED LABELS // RED GATEFOLD
ALSO ON SALE AT "NICE-R" PRICE!
ALSO ON SALE AT "NICE-R" PRICE!
Rock Is Hell, re-pressed up a small batch of this essential epic weirdo electronic masterpiece for a mid-to-late 2012 Shit and Shine tour. If you missed out the first time around, now is your chance (at a much nicer price to boot)! Here's what we had to say about "Le Grand Larance Prix" when we initially stocked and recommended it:
Holy Buckaroo Bonzai! The Shit and Shiners return with the massive triple album "Le Grand Larance Prix" on the formidable Rock Is Hell label. All the wax is white with song titles hand stamped on to each side. We’re talking 6 side long tracks of sonic assault that only Shit and Shine can pull off. Known for endless ear splitting sessions of multiple drummers pounding away at the same beat while squalls of noise ebbs and flows through the mechanical hypnosis, Shit and Shine have traveled further down the weirdo hole and now are doling out 10 minute plus tracks of drum machine with pitch shifted vocals/samples and sleazy manipulated synths spewing out squiggly surges and lacerating slashes. Each track is like a journey unto itself, creating brooding moods that veer into uneasy Faust-ian collage entrancement, wonky psuedo-Hype Williams syrupy casio bafoonery, a straight up hilarious butt shaker with a sampled refrain from The Rolling Stones' "Emotional Rescue" that spirals into infinity nearly caving in on itself and some damn fine motorik driven Neu!-isms. Shit and Shine have always been able to put their signature slant on whatever territory they choose to mess with and this mega-album is a serious winner from start to finish. We've been spinning the hell out of it around the shop and are hearing something new with each needle drop. Super Recommended.
ESSENTIAL CHICAGO PUNK ROCK DOCUMENTARY/SOUNDTRACK BACK IN PRINT!
INCLUDES LP/DVD DOCUMENTARY PRESSED ON WHITE VINYL HOUSED IN GATEFOLD JACKET
INCLUDES LP/DVD DOCUMENTARY PRESSED ON WHITE VINYL HOUSED IN GATEFOLD JACKET
The film is cram packed with loads of late-70's and early-80's live footage from lots of obscure and some more well known Chicago punk bands. Featured in the film are bands like Mentally Ill, Tutu and the Pirates, Strike Under, Way-Outs, Da, Subverts, End Result, Naked Raygun, Articles of Faith, Effigies, Big Black, and many more. The filmmaker interviewed a bunch of the OG Chicago punkers and got some great anecdotes from seminal musicians like Jeff Pezzati, Santiago Durango, and Steve Albini and less celebrated, but no less important folks like Terry Nelson. Anyhow, the interviews, live footage, still photos, and music are arranged beautifully. The 2+ hours fly by and leave one wanting more.
We're super stoked to be offering this DVD + LP up for sale and we think you'll be equally stoked to add it to your collection. This is the real History of Chicago Punk, a tragically neglected story, that's just as important as anything that went on in L.A., New York, or in the UK.
Don't miss out on it. FUCKING RECOMMENDED.
REJOICE - the Guitars From Algadez series from Sublime Frequencies continues with this AMAZING 7-inch by the late, great Koudede!
TRAGIC NEWS - we were hoping for a lifetime filled with Koudede's righteous guitar shredding! Alas, it is not to be, but the music here speaks volumes - Volume 6 in the series drops another couple of extended jammers recorded live and "on location" in Mali that let Koudede and group really dig in DEEP for that groove. "Hat-iman-in" starts of measured and (relatively) mellow, before picking up steam like a runaway locomotive, vibing towards oblivion!
The flip serves up "Nelil-igorasan" - a righteous, stone-cold, rhythm-monster that had us head-bopping HARD. We love this guy's stuff and despite the sadness of (possibly) no more Koudede recordings is outweighed by the sheer, undeniable QUALITY of this record. Limited to 700 copies - that may sound like a lot, but we BLEW through the first 7-inch a few months back, so don't hesitate! One for the ages.
RIP Koudede. Do we need to say this one's recommended? Fine. RECOMMENDED.
The second Scientists EP gets the "full-launch" reissue treatment from U.K. label Agitated Records! We say "full-launch" 'cuz this baby was reissued for Record Store Day 2012 in a limited run of 500 copies on red wax, but is BACK on bad-as-fuck BLACK wax.
Um, yeah. You get this one yet?
NO? Proceed right now to the checkout cart and buy this one now.
Absolutely ESSENTIAL punk rock of the Aussie variety and worthy of every minute of your time!
This is the first incarnation of the band, who hadn't yet embraced the swampy, dark hoodoo vibe later evident on tunes like "Swampland" and "We Had Love" - this is sugar-coated, hot-loaded rock and roll a'la Flamin' Groovies, Modern Lovers, Easybeats and Rolling Stones with undeniable hooks and choruses - all four tunes are classics; "Last Night", "Pissed On Another Planet", It's For Real" and "Bet Ya Lyin (Slink City Lee)" will creep into your mind and lock it into a musical vice grip so tight you'll nary find a way to get free! TOTALLY and ABSOLUTELY RECOMMENDED.
BLOWN OUT RAW ROCK N ROLL ALERT!!!!
Ultras S/c debut 7 inch for Cass Records is some of the most furious garage punk we've heard all year, and there's been quite a few contenders. Just as scorching and rowdy as the Reatards, Pussy Galore and the Oblivians, Ultra S/C has dropped one helluva a double shot screamer in 1417 Roberts Avenue.
We missed the screeching blues punk of Immortal Lee County Killers around the shop, and we wondered what happened to Gemina Pearl of Be Your Own Pet, as well as the long lost Soledad Brothers for that matter. We guess somehow and somewhere in Nashville they all ended up at the same dive bar and decided they needed to get back to the basics with a brand new band, thus was born Ultras S/C.
This is punk rock on a three-day bender of bath salts and moonshine, all done up like the nastiest of the records in the Crypt Records catalog. Move over John Spencer, Ulta S/C is the REAL BLUES EXPLOSION. 1417 Roberts Ave has everything we like in a single: dirty garage crunch, pummeling drum bashing, in the red blown out anti production and some of the most powerful, snotty female punk singing around.
A super group? Yes!
A super fucking record? Hell yes!!!
TOTALLY RECOMMENDED DUDES.
Being a punk band a couple decades ago must've been tough. Being a bummer punk band like Flipper, Stick Men With Rayguns, Drunks With Guns, or Feedtime (Gentlemen's fellow countrymen) must've been even tougher. Getting people to care about ugly, repetitive, shit-fi music isn't an easy task. That's one reason why I admire the people who go about making ugly, repetitive, shit-fi music. They're literally making this music for themselves and, only in some cases, for the very few others who give two shits about it.
Gentlemen, along with the Lamps, Shaved Women, Francis Harold and the Holograms, Pissed Jeans, Watery Love, and a half-dozen or so others are admirable. They make the kind of ugly, bleak noise rock I need in my life. The kind that's equally influenced by the aforementioned bands and side two of "My War". I couldn't tell ya exactly why I wanna hear this kind of music, it's just in my blood.
What I do know is that my blood boils every time I hear of a new band creating this raw, uncompromising, completely unmarketable kind of rock'n'roll (a key distinction - this is not just noise). If you put a thermometer under my tongue while I was listening to "Sex Tape Demo" I surely would've shot mercury all over the wall, and that's not all. Ok, maybe that's all.
Regardless, if the name dropping I did in this stupid review got you excited, you'll climax your mind over this tape. Someone please vinylize it already. Tapes are alright, but Gentlemen prefer blondes...and vinyl.
RRRRRRRREEEEEEEECCCCCCCOOOOOOMMENNNNNNDDDDDDDDDEEEEEEEEEDDDD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
