Monday, March 31, 2014

Permanent Records Update 3.31.14

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LP - Cosmic Dead - Easterfaust (Import) - $21.99 - BUYbuy - LISTEN listen

The Sound Of Cobra label strikes fast and hard with its latest release "Easterfaust" by Glaswegian heavyweights Cosmic Dead.  We flipped our lids for Cosmic Dead's self-titled debut on Cardinal Fuzz so read on to find out the thrilling tale from Sound Of Cobra about this here ripper:

"Since 2010, The Cosmic Dead have been exploring the outer reaches of Krautrock, doom and psychedelia, tasting the extremes of sound and fusing them into a single, all-enveloping web of stratospheric riffing, otherworldly ambience and kosmische textures that has spread itself across countless shows throughout all Europe
“For anyone who hasn’t yet stood before the Dead and their live homage to the cosmos, expect religious devotion to synthesised dreamworlds, subsonic grooves, guitaristic splendour and the vast, hypnotic sounds of Hawkwind and Popol Vuh eternally jamming in the Möbius strip of time and space”
Remember that satanic drug thing you didn't understand? Forget about it! Here comes the new breed and it's a fierce and fiery force! A creeping barrage of sound that embodies the spirit of heavy psychedelic freak-outs from the Godz and Hawkind to early Monster Magnet („25... Tab“-era) and Acid Mother's Temple to set you afire. Want some? Tune in, turn on, get burned!"

!!! More like Cosmic Alive!  "Easterfasut" is 2 side-long cuts of slowburn psychrawk astonishment!  Those above references of Godz, Hawkwind and Acid Mother's Temple are totally apt, but Cosmic Dead is no paltry rehash… this LP fuuuuckking smokes!  The playing is super tight and in the pocket, the tracks ebb and flow, and turn on a dime.  And these cats really know how to incorporate dynamics, things get slow and low when they need to, yet when things need to explode Cosmic Dead blasts off into lunatic fringe psychedelic wailings of the "highest" order!  Grab one of these immediately cuz this is a primal platter of all things great and needs to be on your turntable like yesterday!  SUUUUUUUPER RECOMMENDED.

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LP - Obnox - Louder Space - Green Wax - $12.99 - BUYbuy - LISTEN listen

Obnox is BACK and with a VENGEANCE!!!  Teamed up with 12XU Records once again, his latest joint is "Louder Space" and like we've learned before, you gotta PAY ATTENTION to what Bim has up his sleeves cuz the good jams just never stop.   But just don't take our word for it, read what Dangerous Minds has to say -

"It’s never happened before and it may never happen again—Obnox have recorded in a real studio. After an LP, a 2xLP, and over a half dozen 7”s recorded in a dumpy punk flophouse's living room on a let’s just say “experienced” half-inch tape deck, Cleveland OH’s biggest brotha Bim Thomas has tracked his new full-length at Columbus, OH’s Musicol Studio. Is “Louder Space” Obnox’s “Tallahassee?” Oh God, no.
That glorious rust belt/disgust belt grit and grime that makes the ‘Nox the ‘Nox is ALL there, good people. Call it Soul Noise, call it Splatter Gospel, hell, call it Urban Contemporary, who cares that it’s taken. From the lumpen stomp of “Primetime Sista,” to the boldly experimental anti-funk of “How to Rob ‘The Punk Years’” and “Red-I,” to the COMPLETELY SICK, fuzzed-out, industrial psych-blues of the jaw-dropping closer “Feeling Real Black Today,” Thomas’ punk spirituals satisfy the soul on “Louder Space” more than ever before. Obnox’s soul/punk fusion just keeps getting dirtier, more organic, and if this white boy may dare to say so, blacker with every go-‘round. You gotta get in on this shit, people. If you’re not on this train yet, it’s time. - Ron Kretch, Dangerous Minds"

YES!!!!!  We thought last year's "Corrupt Free Enterprise" was mind blowing, but HOLY HELL Obnox ups the ante even fucking more on "Louder Space."  With some extra time and better equipment at his disposal, this album is more potent, searing, hypnotic and heavy hitting than we even thought possible.  Bim's soul/punk/hiphop/garage explosion of influences is boiled down to a wall of sound so epic, fuzz coated, layered and warped that it sounds like nothing else.  Take the rustbelt R&B outta the Dirtbombs, the reverb gospel outta the Oblivians, the psych destruction outta Monoshock, the studio wizardry outta Madlib, the blues outta the Blues Explosion and the balls out crazy proto punk sleaze outta Rocket From The Tombs and you might get close to a description.  Maybe.  But really YOU JUST NEED TO HEAR TO BELIEVE and believe you will.

So if you still haven't checked out Obnox yet, the TIME IS NOW.  And if you have, man you're in for one tasty garage punk wrecking ball of a treat.   Seriously "Louder Space" is not gonna leave our turntable til summer.  And it's a sure bet to be on many of our top ten lists at the end of the year.   SO ACT NOW AND GET THE LIMITED GREEN WAX VERSION, cuz "Louder Space" is SSSSSSUUUUUUPPPPPPEEEEEERRRRRR RECOMMENDED!!!!!!!!

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7in - Obnox - Used Kids EP - $5.99 - BUYbuy

More Obnox???  WHY YES OF COURSE!!!!!  WE CAN NEVER GET ENOUGH!!!! So luckily for all of us RnR junkies, 12XU Records is releasing a side dish of sorts to Bim's soon-to-be-classic "Louder Space" in the form of the "Used Kids EP."  You should already have yer wallets out, but read on if you need that extra nudge -

"Bim's new 'Louder Space' masterpiece was only narrowly spared double LP status, hence the hasty/confusing 33 RPM, flip-the-sides and interrupt the grind of "Used Kids", a new classic in the Obnox canon (though "cannon" works just as well in this instance). Big thanks in advance to Columbus, OH's Used Kids Records (1980 N. High Street) for NOT SUING US.
If you think Mr. Thomas' prolific nature is tough on your shelf space, spare a thought for all the inferior artists who he's humiliating on what seems like a monthly basis!" - 12XU

AGREED, and this part 1 / part 2 single is just gonna get flipped over and over again time infinity 'round these parts.  So yeah it's HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!!!!!! Not much else needs to be said.


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LP - Lorelle Meets The Obsolete - Chambers - $14.99 - BUYbuy - LISTEN listen
CD - Lorelle Meets The Obsolete - Chambers - $7.99 - BUYbuy - LISTEN listen
LIMITED EDITION ON RED VINYL!!!

Our spiritual brethren over at Captcha Records are once again bringing the high quality vibes with yet another fine-as-a-diamond release from the impeccable Lorelle Meets The Obsolete.  Get the full story behind this blissful shoegaze churner directly form the label peeps:

"(The album is called ‘Chambers’ because, while they recorded it, they felt like they were in various enclosed places far from home and everything else.)
“Most of the songs came out of jams, while the tunes on the first two albums were structured either by Lorena or me,” explains The Obsolete, aka Alberto González. “It’s a really straightforward record. To me it doesn’t sound as hazy as the first two and, as it’s the first time we worked with someone else behind the board, it’s Cooper’s interpretation of Lorelle Meets The Obsolete. Then Sonic Boom cranked the volume up!”
He’s right. The result is a surprisingly direct record which, despite locking into a pulsating krautrock groove on ‘What’s Holding You?’ or getting lost in a fog of white noise on recent teaser track ‘Music For Dozens’, always retains a very human heart and soul. There is diversity too – from the slide guitar and driving bass on the out of control rave up that is ‘Sealed Scene’ to the narco-blues of ‘Dead Leaves’ and the folky, melancholy ‘Grieving’.
The big influences that came into play while making ‘Chambers’ were Austin psych- rockers Holy Wave’s ‘Knife Hits’ album and the Ty Segall and White Fence collaboration ‘Hair’, which more than explains the garage-rock sensibility that pervades here.
Also mentioned in their impeccable list of influences are Nico, Syd Barrett, Broadcast’s 'The Noise Made By People’, Albert Camus’ existentialist tour de force The Myth Of Sisyphus, Julio Cortázar’s short stories and Michael Azerrad’s snapshots from the US underground scene of the 1980s, Our Band Could be Your Life.
Thanks to the incredible ‘Chambers’, Lorelle Meets The Obsolete could soon be yours."

­Chalk another one up for the mighty Lorelle Meets The Obsolete!  "Chambers" finds the group in top form after seemingly endless touring honing their craft.  Pulsing rhythms, lysergic guitar trills and breathy entrancing vocals all combine to make a monster record of psychedelic shoegaze majesty.  These ten tracks of motorik groove finesse and flutter and tickle your earholes with washes of desertscape hypnotics and galaxy spiraling space rock as fine as they come.  Lorelle Meets The Obsolete are one of the many current killer groups hurtling through the atmosphere with their varied brand of interstellar jamz and we say keep 'em coming! As all things Lorelle Meets The Obsolete related, this one is ABSOLUTELY RECOMMENDED.

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LP - Spies - The Battle Of Bosworth Terrace - $15.99 - BUYbuy - LISTEN listen

STELLAR unheard New Zealand pop from The Spies, an undocumented piece of late-Seventies Kiwi-pop released courtesy of Siltbreeze! Read the gospel straight from label head Tom Lax himself:

"The Spies bear the unique distinction of one of New Zealand’s true missing pieces in the Underground puzzle. With no audio documentation ever seeing the light of day in their time (1978-79, Wellington), the band really did exist in a you-had-to-be-there bubble. Historically (as in, now) known as hatching both George Henderson (later of The Puddle) and Christopher Plummer (who also thumped heads in Shoes This High), The Spies possessed a lithe but keen awareness of both the Canterbury and DIY movements that were taking place back in Old Blighty.
The Battle of Bosworth Terrance imagines a bridge connecting Kevin Ayers and The Desperate Bicycles—a much-needed safe passage over a mysterious chasm you never knew was there. The fact that these recordings exist at all is nothing short of miraculous serendipity; the story is beautifully retold by Mr. Henderson in the liner notes. If you’re thinking forgery, theft, drugs and distinctive footwear (Alpaca boots perhaps?), congrats, the sniffer is working just fine. Besides the heretofore unknown music, also included are photographs, lyrics and text. It’s only taken 30+ years, but the larcenous abandon that was The Spies is finally willing and able to be heard, read about and seen for the first time.
Pressed in a one-time edition of 500 copies, The Battle of Bosworth Terrace includes a digital download card."

Siltbreeze is long past proving themselves to be a reputable source for all things NZ-related and The Spies LP is a worthy addition to the canon! A brilliant band, (who must have been amazing live) that does indeed bridge the gap between jangling, off-kilter pop smersh & dissonant, obtuse post-punk. We're hearing ripples of folks like Wire, Soft Boys, Pin Group, Shoes This High, Victor Dimisch Band, Young Marble Giants and the like; wafts of that unmistakable zeitgeist after the initial throb of punk lit fires under the asses of misfits everywhere. Everything WAS possible and you didn't HAVE to know what you were doing to create a masterpiece. DIG IT, but don't waste too much time - "The Battle of Bosworth Terrace" is a ONE-TIME pressing of 500 copies and are likely to disappear faster than you can say "Titmachine". RECOMMENDED.

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LP - Various Artists - The Emotional Cosmic And Occult World of Joe Meek - $11.99 - BUYbuy - LISTEN listen

Hopefully we don't need to convince ANYONE of the genius of Joe Meek and his undeniable footprint on the sound of pop music, but JUST IN CASE; may we present this compilation of Meek productions that span the spectrum of Outer Space-related weirdness to just plain strange otherworldly rock! Released in a miniscule pressing on the 'Chump Change' record label - READ ON:

"A trip through the productions of pioneering genius Joe Meek.  Here we have a mix of hits that have appeared on comps before and real out there obscurities.  Designed to be highly listenable.  Never a dull moment amongst these songs that cover subjects close to Joes' heart such as Vampires, Love (and the lack of it), Death, Outer space, the Human soul, Buddy Holly, and more.  Artists featured are The Blue Rondos, The Blue Men, Jason Eddie and the Centremen, The Sound Offs, The Moontrekkers, Johnny Leyton, The Cryin' Shames, Mike Berry, The Outlaws, Chick Lewis, Glenda Collins and even Joe himself warbling out a tune.  One time very small pressing so please don't sleep."

AMAZING. These tunes run the gamut from rockabilly-inflected R'n'R to cosmic instrumentals to straight-up weird pop tunes as only Meek could record 'em - this shizz sounds INCREDIBLE to our ears and is an impeccably curated set of tunes! Seriously DO NOT SLEEP on this one, as these aren't likely to be available for long - RECOMMENDED.

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LP - Cheater Slicks - Live Vol 3 - $14.99 - BUYbuy

Columbus Discount just unleashed the third installment of their ongoing live series from the mighty and unruly Cheater Slicks!!!!  And this might just be the best volume yet!   So don't ponder this one too long, and read on below - 
 
"CHEATER SLICKS Live Vol. 3 is comprised of two songs. Each has a running time of around twenty minutes. The A-Side track, “Thinkin’ Some More” was recorded at the Khyber Pass in Philadelphia PA in 1992. The B-Side track is a cover of the Velvet Underground’s Sister Ray, recorded at the Summit in Columbus, OH in 2009. It was never in question that the Cheater Slicks are a great band. This recording illustrates why the Cheater Slicks are one of THE great bands. This records makes clear that the same strand of DNA that malfunctioned and made mutations like the Cramps, the Bassholes, the Velvets, Nervous Norvus , the Stooges, Suicide, et al also went horribly wrong and made the Slicks. This document, when taken with their other two live releases and their studio output, is the most compelling argument to date that the Cheater Slicks are one of the last bands that are unquestionably of the same continuum of the greatest rock bands in history." - Columbus Discount

AMEN!  If this kinda statement was made about any other band, we'd have to disagree, but the Cheater Slicks have been and still fucking are one of the most killer, loudest and talented garage punk bands to ever destroy our ears!!!!   And "Live Vol. 3" is just like having them play in yer living room whenever you want.   Two EPIC SIDE LONG JAMS that are more blown out, vicious and mesmerizing than anything else you'll hear all year long, this album just makes us even more fanatic about the Slicks.   And dare we say this version of "Sister Ray" will change your fucking life!!!   Fans of Birds Of Maya, the Oblivians, Thomas Jefferson Slave Apartments, the Bassholes, Obnox and any like-minded RnR miscreants need "Live Vol 3" now.   There is no doubt about that.  RECOMMENDED L A M F !!!!!!!!!!!!

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LP - Nervosas - Nervosas (2xLP - Clear Vinyl) - $14.99 - BUYbuy - LISTEN listen
BACK IN STOCK!!!

Dark, frantic punk from this Columbus, OH trio! We scored a few copies of their s/t debut direct from the band themselves when they stopped thru town - released on Bloomington label Let's Pretend Records, read what they have to say:

"Dark, anxious, paranoid, manic, obsessive, melodic, misanthropic, gothy, punk, punk from Columbus, OH. Like if Wipers, X, and Dead Moon were somehow one band. But forget comparisons, Nervosas is their own animal. 18 bangers...like 18 ender enders. These songs ooze talent and precision, ranging from break-neck hardcore skate punk tempos to a few mellow rockers to surprise ya just when you think you got it all figured out. Don't sleep on this!!! Go skate to this shit!!! (500 Double LP's pressed on clear wax! w/ screen print on the D side. Double sided screen printed inserts)"

Nervosas come out kicking with 3 sides of dark, scuzzy & agitated punk rock in the vein of The Wipers, 45 Grave or (early) Christian Death with desperate male/female harmonies piercing the cacophany. These guys keep it lean & mean, with concise, & memorable hooks too - Midwest punk (filtered thru the Northwest) at it's finest! This is the clear vinyl second pressing - still has the insert as well as the killer screened 4th side! Grab this fast, cuz it's likely to vanish quick-like - RECOMMENDED!

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LP - Night Terrors - Spiral Vortex (Import - 180gm Red vinyl) - $19.99 - BUYbuy - LISTEN listen
LIMITED EDITION ON RED VINYL

SHIT YEAH,  after reissuing their 2009 album "Back To Zero" on vinyl last year, our tight bros over at Homeless Records have unleashed a BRAND NEW Night Terrors album onto our unsuspecting turntables - "Spiral Vortex"! Buckle up and prepare to dive into the maw of the VORTEX:

"Melbourne horror synth heavyweights The Night Terrors return with their new album Spiral Vortex. Featuring the haunting theremin melodies of Miles Brown, plus an orgy of vintage electronics, Spiral Vortex sees the band build upon their post-prog roots to explore a broader universe of warped psychedelia, thunderous dreamscapes and dark cosmic dance."

Essentially the project of one Miles Brown, Night Terrors exude the creeping dread of vintage Italo horror business - we're talkin' Frizzi, Goblin, etc but laced with a modern whiff of folks like Zombi, Umberto, Espectrostatic, and the like.  NO GUITARS here folks, but the synths, bass and theremin more than make up for it, pulsing with a lyrical quality that makes this album sing like the soundtrack to a lost slasher movie - live drums too (provided by Damian Coward), that propel the whole thing forward more organically than the icy grip of a drum machine. If you're a fan of anything we've mentioned so far, don't hesitate and get this now - we've got the uber-limited splatter vinyl and they're ABSOLUTELY GUARANTEED to go quicker than the flick of the devil's tongue! RECOMMENDED!!

Monday, March 24, 2014

Permanent Records Update 3.24.13

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LP - WatchOut! - Flashbacker (2014 Repress, Ltd 300) - $14.99 - BUYbuy - LISTEN listen
Permanent Records' 35th label release!
2014 REPRESS LTD 300!

Domestic reissue of Chilean group's debut LP, previously available only on CD and a uber-limited lathe-cut import LP; WatchOut! is the lovechild proof that Os Mutantes and Popol Vuh had an elicit rendezvous in mid-70's Santiago. This Chilean rock group blends krauty synth textures with a Tropicalian style not so successfully crafted since the 70's. Latin rhythms, fuzzy, wah-wah guitar leads, and melodic organ patterns are sewn sweetly together to create a quilt of psychedelic pop that would comfort even the coldest Brazilian psych aficionado. This LP was one of the best unheard and under-released records of 2011. “Flashbacker” includes seven tracks of 60's Brazilian psych, 70's German hypnotism, 80s UK fuzz pop, and Indian raga influenced jams all seamlessly and brilliantly woven together.

Killer Review following 2013 RSD Release:
"[Permanent Records] re-issue of a Chilean psych rock band’s debut (limited lathe cut and cd from 2011) that mixes elements of kraut rock, indian instrumentation and latin sensibilities all steeped in the various era’s 60”s 70′s and 80′s technology and stylistic influences to create an incredible hybrid sound that is sure to make you salivate for more. A nice variation in terms of track lengths and vibes. Some head off into Pop territories such as the catchy South Sun and others wander off into that crazy hybrid mentioned previously ala the opener, Latinarabi. And then there’s Die – the synths sound like Accordions. I’d actually like to hear a Brian Jonestown cover of this one. Wish You Know spirals off into fuzz garage territory (and that’s just the A side). The B side heats it up with 3 more gems like the tribute to the Madchester Sounding Space So Near and the meandering krauty-jammer Flashbacker (the title track) clocking in at a whopping 12:45. Finally, Mystic River (9:16) wraps it all up with a bow and a desire to yet again flip the record for another historical psychedelic tryp throughout the minds of these Chilean geniuses. I’m ready for some more of this appropriately titled disc and I’m sure you will be as well."
– Jack Soil, KFJC 89.7 FM, 6/7/2013


For Fans Of: Os Mutantes, Popol Vuh, Jesus and Mary Chain, Follakzoid, Holydrug Couple

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7in - Bitchin Bajas/Shockwave Riderz - Split - Hand Numbered Edition of 300 on Black And White Split Wax - Includes Download - $4.99 - BUYbuy - LISTEN listen
7in - Bitchin Bajas/Shockwave Riderz - Split - Hand Numbered Edition of 750 on Black Wax - Includes Download - $4.99 - BUYbuy - LISTEN listen

REALLY killer split single from these two great bands! Shockwave Riderz is the new project from Phil Boyd & Paul Quattrone, ex-of Modey Lemon whose "Mountaintop Rock" struts off the A-Side with a come-hither Stones-via-Royal Trux/Oh Sees junkshop glam vibe! The groove chugs along gleefully until shuddering to a sudden climax. Local Chicago faves Bitchin' Bajas knock another one outta the park on the flipside with "Loop" - a kraut-y droner with some hypnotic congas & tablas rattling over what sounds like talkbox manipulated vocals run thru (perhaps) a keyboard? It's a bewitching track that sits comfortably alongside heavies like Can, Cluster & Popol Vuh. Really! Consider this one a DOUBLE A-SIDE of unexpectedly complimentary tunes. RECOMMENDED, but act fast if you want the black 'n' white split color vinyl, 'cuz that shizz will vanish REAL FAST.
 

Monday, March 17, 2014

Permanent Records Update 3.17.14

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LP - Sacred Product - Sacred Product - Import - $18.99 - BUYbuy - LISTEN listen

New music from Australian band Sacred Product - the project of ex-Satanic Rocker, Lynton Denovan! After mourning the loss of the Satanic Rockers last year following the release of their mind-bending, fuck-all masterpiece "Fu-Kung" we thought this day would never come! The 'Heinous Anus' record label released this one, so take a seat by the back door, and feel the heat from the Anus:

'Vinyl debut for Sacred Product. Lynton from Satanic Rockers. Known live as Encounter Group. LP features 5 tracks from 2013 Alberts Basement Cassette plus 3 new."

Eight tracks in all, (five previously released on a hyper-limited cassette) that muck about in the 'Tussin-drenched swill of tha 'Rockers as well as fellow Aussies Mad Nanna, Wonderfuls and Kitchen's Floor (and Flipper too! DUH). The mood here is dark (of course), caked in the scuzz and muck that could only come from down under, writhing and twisting in a nihilistic dirge of guitars sweltering in the oppressive sun. We miss the 'Rockers, but we'll hold this product sacred. If you dig being down, then this is the record for you. RECOMMENDED, but ACT FAST. These won't last long!

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LP - Axemen - Derry Legend - Reissue - $23.99 - BUYbuy - LISTEN listen

The recently minted Luxury Products label (the saints responsible for the 39 Clocks "Pain It Dark LP reissue) are BACK AGAIN with a reissue of the 1989 second album "Derry Legend" from New Zealand's AXEMEN! Sit back and feel the Luxury:

"A long overdue reissue of the AXEMEN’s cracked pop classic and Flying Nun rarity. "An album simmering with background chaos worthy of prime-era Buttholes or Royal Trux. The real surprise is how Derry Legend clears room for pop chops, making it possible to see the Axemen's relation to bands like the Clean and the Gordons. A wonderful testament to the power and limits of form-bloat. Ahoy!”—Byron Coley. Remastered from the original tapes. Packaged with two newprint poster inserts."

OH BABY - originally issued on Flying Nun in '89, this is one weird record! "Cracked" is a perfect way to describe "Derry Legend", as the Axemen careen back and forth from shambolic, jangle-pop to obtuse pop kookiness (there's even a satirical, half-hearted attempt at hip-hop - wtf??) These guys are nuts and we love it! If you dig the stranger whiffs of Kiwi-pop, or other "damaged" songwriters like Julian Cope, Nikki Sudden, or Robyn Hitchcock, then rest assured, this is in your wheelhouse! Originals are scarce in the wild, so don't miss yer shot at copping this disc! RECOMMENDED yall!

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12in - Crash Course In Science - Signals From Pier Thirteen - Reissue - $15.99 - BUYbuy - LISTEN listen

Dark Entries strikes gold again, this time resuscitating the cult fave "Signals From Pier Thirteen" by Philly's warped post punkers Crash Course In Science.  Dig the back story -

"CRASH COURSE IN SCIENCE are a post punk band that formed in 1979 in Philadelphia.  The band members, DALE FELICIELLO, MALLORY YAGO and MICHAEL ZODOROZNY, met while attending art school.  They began to experiment with crude electronics and off-beat writing. CCIS avoids conventional instrumentation by using toy instruments and kitchen appliances to augment the distorted guitar, drums and synthesized beats. Their first single, “Cakes in the Home” was released in 1979 and their 4-song 12" EP Signals From Pier Thirteen in 1981. Pier 13 was an abandoned coal-loading pier along the Delaware River near where CCIS rehearsed. The band went there often and was inspired by the huge silent machinery, shapes, shadows, ghosts and debris. The songs 'Cardboard Lamb' and 'Flying Turns' quickly became club favorites during the early ‘80s. This EP's raw, percussive sound influenced both techno and industrial music in later years. CCIS feel a strong connection to Throbbing Gristle, although they consider themselves as working in a parallel universe rather than being influenced by them. All songs have been remastered for vinyl by George Horn at Fantasy Studios in Berkeley. The vinyl is housed in the original jacket featuring stark black and white photos of Pier 13. Each LP includes a double sided 11x11 insert with lyrics, photos of the band and the atmospheric pier. Crash Course in Science go above and beyond what is considered 'New Wave' in attitude and sound."

Yes, we definitely agree!!!  Comprised of three art students who decided to construct a band out of synthesizers and toy instruments instead of the guitar/bass/drums format of most post punk rockers, Crash Course In Science from the get-go was out to create something totally new.   Taking Eno, Suicide, Cabaret Voltaire, krautrock and no wave as jumping off points, "Signals From Pier Thirteen" is a grimy slab of noisey synth-bent post punk bangers unlike little you've heard before.   Think Gary Numan backed by Throbbing Gristle instead of the Tubeway Army, or DAF jamming with Savage Republic and/or Controlled Bleeding.   Warped samples cascade, feedback mutates into a motorik rhythm, drumbeats urgently throb and off kilter melodies keep you wanting more.  Experimental electro fans, minimal synth junkies, industrial / noise record collectors and anyone into obscuro post punk need to jump at the chance to finally grab this ep at an affordable price.  Cuz Crash Course In Science is SUPREMELY RECOMMENDED!!!!!  Make yer next dance party even weirder!!!!

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LP - Jakob Skott - Amor Fati - Import - $22.99 - BUYbuy - LISTEN listen

We nabbed a stack of this awesome psychedelic adventure brought to you by the always-solid El Paraiso Records.  Read on for the full details directly from the label:

"Causa Sui drummer Jakob Skøtt returns with his second full-length under his own name. Taking the leap from his debut Doppler's (EPR 011LP) introvert kosmische synthesizer dronescapes, diving into a full-blown mad scientist one-band mode, Jakob straps on a wide array of heavy percussive modes to fuel his vivid utopia of analog synths and drums. It's one man's vision, as crazed and intoxicated as it is soothing and compelling, borrowing as many clues from Afro-beat, Latin grooves and new age ambience as it does from the booming legacy of Krautrock. The proceedings are distanced from both coolness and kitsch, and a refreshing break from any standards. "Mantis in Lace" kicks off the record with a thick, repetitive bass synth riff, on top of two drum kits battling to spontaneously combust. On top of that, a heavy percussive layer of echo-addled synthesizers is working out a path of its own: an opening statement constantly collapsing on itself. "Synthemesc" takes a calmer, yet insisting percussive mode of full bodied Moog-tone carrying the track into a John Carpenter-ish landing. "Araucaria Fire" straps on congas for a more exotic journey into an organ-riddled percussive climax, recollecting Trans Am and Tony Williams Lifetime. Side B lends itself to a more subtle start, with two tracks of electroorgasmic psychedelic bliss, leading the way into the heart of the title-track -- a heavy slice of funk as dense as any 4-piece band could have cooked it up. "Earth of No Horizon" lands the spaceship safely with echoes of Terry Riley or Vangelis. Amor Fati is unique blend of improvisation, as well as carefully structured climaxes and shifts."

After dropping several amazing releases by Causa Sui, Papir, Psicomagia and Jonas Munk to name but a few, El Paraiso Records brings us this killer new record by Causa Sui drummer Jakob Skott "Amor Fati."  The fact that these sounds are the work of just one human being is flat out mind blowing.  Multiple layers of highly skilled and varied drumming and rhythm work skitter and groove over top of many layers of bubbling, gurgling, shimmering, glistening synthesizers; a total bugged out free for all.  Skott takes the keyboard and drum template of Silver Apples and infuses with some Afro Beat and Latin rhythms, peppers in some jazzy interplay and some Terry Riley-isms (as mentioned above) with hints of Cave to create a thrilling psychedelic ride of Kosmische supremacy!  SUUUUUUUUUUUUUPER RECOMMENDED!

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LP - Sons Of Huns - Banishment Ritual - Coke Bottle Colored Vinyl - 2xLP - $25.99 - BUYbuy - LISTEN listen

We scored a batch of this ripper from Easy Rider Records, get the full story behind this one directly from the label:

"In a city like Portland, Oregon, where there are quite literally hundreds of people playing heavy music - and playing it well, at that - it takes a bold, tightly-honed punch to the crowd's ears in order to stand out. Formed in the winter of 2009 and armed with a full stack of Orange cabs, a lifetime of experience and enough classical training to out-riff any band that dares stand in their SG-wielding path, Sons of Huns have consistently blown crowds away. Peter Hughes (guitar), Shoki Tanabe (bass) and Ryan Northrop (drums) have headlined shows in anywhere from tiny bars to the main stages of Portland's biggest music festivals, and had the honor of opening for the likes of Red Fang, Andrew W.K., and Danava. Limited to just 500 copies, Cobraside has coke bottle clear blue-green vinyl exclusively just for Black Friday 2013!"

We nabbed the limited edition Coke Bottle Colored Vinyl of "Banishment Ritual" hold to your hats hombres, this one is straight up shredder!  A fitting soundtrack for both a ride in a spaceship if that spaceship was a muscle car hurtling through the cosmos.  High energy fist pumping rock 'n' roll rage that slithers into bluesy breakdowns and stoner rock majesty with heaping helpings of talented musical chops.  The rhythm section absolutely owns these grooves and there is some seriously delicious fret work by the guitar.  This shit'll have you tearing your shirt sleeves off in no time.  Sons Of Huns unleash a head banging hair farmer hesh-tastic ripper from the Pacific Northwest.  Deliriously Recommended.

Be sure to catch 'em in May 2014 as they are doing a US tour with the legendary Saint Vitus!

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LP - Albino Python - The Doomed And The Damned - $19.99 - BUYbuy - LISTEN listen

Phoenix, AZ's Albino Python bring 6 heaping cuts of down tuned desert doom blues on "The Doomed And The Damned" out now on Easy Rider Records.  Fronted with feral female vocals, Albino Python keep things slow and low and extra dark with their brand of Sabbath-y sludge and with haunting track titles like Through Dead Black Eyes, To Hell We Ride and Stone Grey Skies this cult of riff merchants ain't here to make friends.  "The Doomed And The Damned" has guttural stone-y pitch-black grooves for days so turn down the lights and crank this sucker all the way up!  Totally Recommended.

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LP - Hoax - Hoax - $16.99 - BUYbuy - LISTEN listen

This self-titled debut is 11 cuts of nasty nihilistic hardcore from Western Massachusetts punks Hoax.  Hoax throw nasty jabs of sordid high-energy rage dealing with topics such as politics, hopelessness, fear, death, and anger et al. Berserker guitar skree, paranoic destructo rhythms and guttural growls and yelps make for a furious and dangerous listening experience fer sure.  It features a noisey industrial intro track by Pharmakon and is self released.  Punk as fuck and Recommended.

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LP - Robert Turman - Way Down (Import - clear vinyl - Ltd to 400) - $21.99 - BUYbuy - LISTEN listen
AVAILABLE AGAIN!

Fans of proto-industrial / darkwave / minimal synth take note!  Another obscure cassette tape has been unearthed and preserved to vinyl, over 20 years after it's initial release.   Burka For Everybody Records' re-reissued it this time and they describe "Way Down" quite eloquently here:

"Originally released as a small run cassette in 1987, only to fall into tape label obscurity, Robert Turman’s industrial genre-bending masterpiece album “Way Down” finally has been excavated for a proper vinyl reissue after 23 years in the shadows.  This album solidifies Turman as a cut above the rest with respect to his talent and his natural ear for experimental composition.  Turman first came onto the industrial scene in the late 70’s as the ominous “other half” of legendary noise outfit NON, alongside Boyd Rice, together releasing the now classic first NON single, Mode of Infection / Knife Ladder 7 in 1977.  After parting ways, Turman went on a excursion of self-released cassettes to which he fused every possible influence at his disposal, culling together past habits of experimental know-how and going forward into uncharted terrain. After his previous experimental efforts included on his Flux release in 1981, and even later in the prolific Chapter Eleven boxset, Turman turned the tables with the creation of Way Down, using synthesizer arrangements & drum machines along side guitar solos, piano chords, tape loops and primitive sampling to create a whole new concoction of dance-like minimal synth blended together his industrial darkwave noise he was mostly known for.  After almost vanishing from the music scene, Turman resurfaced in 2005, teaming up with seminal noise musician Aaron Dilloway to not only reissue previous recordings, but to record and perform once again with new releases out on Hanson & Medusa.  This vinyl reissue of Way Dawn serves as the blueprint of what Turman sought to render as a very accessible minimal synth/industrial album, yet keeping it just obtuse enough to make it one of the most brilliant and engaging albums to be ushered into the canon of 80’s experimental culture."

We are way down with "Way Down".  We recommend getting down to it, way down.
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7in - Fuzz/CCR Headcleaner - LAMC Vol. 10 - $7.99 - BUYbuy - LISTEN listen

We grabbed a fat stack of the latest installment of the LAMC series and it is a stone ripper!  Get the background behind this series directly from the label responsible, Famous Class:

"We are launching the LAMC split 7” series in loving memory Ariel Panero, our dear friend and a partner in Famous Class.
The series gets its name from the epic Less Artists More Condos concerts that Ariel threw, showcasing amazing bands in some strange and unique venues. Ariel’s driving force was a desire to get the bands he believed in the recognition he felt they deserved. This series simply tries to honor that idea.
For each LAMC split 7” we ask one of our favorite bands to provide us with an unreleased track for the A-side. We then asked them to pick their favorite emerging artist to provide a track for the B-side. Ariel’s LAMC shows introduced New Yorkers to bands they might not have otherwise discovered – we hope that this series will do the same. We’ll also make the tracks available on the FAMOUS CLASS bandcamp page with 100% of the digital proceeds going to the Ariel Panero Memorial Fund at VH1 Save the Music."

Look out brothers and sisters!  The A side sets the scene with the mighty FUZZ giving us rip roaring rendition of Kinks classic "Till The End Of The Day".  Yeah you read that right!  Flip this disc and find yet another totally exclusive rager from SF's CCR Headcleaner entitled "Free The Freeks", it's a caveman stomper of an anthem if we've ever heard one!  Both tracks are total scorchers and ludicrously Recommended.

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7in - Ty Segall/Chad And The Meatbodies - LAMC Vol. 7 - $7.99 - BUYbuy - LISTEN listen

Ty Segall never seems to have a shortage of material - this time we're treated to a brand new, unreleased tune from the man himself, paired with a new song from emerging San Fran group Chad and the Meatbodies, released in Famous Class Records' LAMC series - we'll let Famous Class fill you in on what this whole deal is:

"We are launching the LAMC split 7” series in loving memory Ariel Panero, our dear friend and a partner in Famous Class.
The series gets its name from the epic Less Artists More Condos concerts that Ariel threw, showcasing amazing bands in some strange and unique venues. Ariel’s driving force was a desire to get the bands he believed in the recognition he felt they deserved. This series simply tries to honor that idea.
For each LAMC split 7” we ask one of our favorite bands to provide us with an unreleased track for the A-side. We then asked them to pick their favorite emerging artist to provide a track for the B-side. Ariel’s LAMC shows introduced New Yorkers to bands they might not have otherwise discovered – we hope that this series will do the same. We’ll also make the tracks available on the FAMOUS CLASS bandcamp page with 100% of the digital proceeds going to the Ariel Panero Memorial Fund at VH1 Save the Music."

Ty throws us a curve-ball with "Music For A Film 1", an instrumental jam that grooves high on a krautrock-y, bongo-laced groove and sounds different than anything he's done prior - a real hip, Sixties noir sounding cut. SUPER great - we almost expected to hear Damo Suzuki's lysergic wail over the top! Chad and the Meatbodies deliver "Mountain", a driving pop tune slathered in grit, with a killer sugar-coated, twin-guitar attack that's coming from somewhere between the apocalyptic scree of "Slaughterhouse" and the pop hum of Pangea's "Living Dummy". A killer split that pairs a couple of interesting West Coast musical foils. RECOMMENDED - but act fast, this one's not liable to stick around for long!