MUSIC REVIEW: Dreamgaze or psychgaze by any other name is a long jam and the WREATHS own it. Led by maestro’s Shaun Towey and Ralph Nicatro who are old bros from back in the day before there was a back in the day from Hoboken and New Brunswick, NJ. They have been making this type of noise under different names; even using Chicago as a front-office (yes the whole town) these Wreaths are the one’s that’s been sticking over the past couple years. If you’ve wanted to have a lo-fi trip without the help of a lot of booze or blow listening to this music might just do the trick in kick starting the bends. We won’t promise it will keep you safe from the corner drug dealer though. You are on your own there.
Last year they had a couple releases that captured their sound on a self titled and self released CD (currently sold out) and also a exclusive 10″ that was put out by Little Dickman Records (not that you currently will see anything on their site about it we’ll keep wreathsgate out of this review). One thing we like about the guys is you can always tell it’s their flyer and with that slight element of danger. So the band branding is consistent in many ways and reflects their thing as this wall of controlled chaos. You might not be able to hum a tune right way but you will feel it like a hangover the next time. They have tunes called “Coke Straw” not that they use one. They use hundies and tunes like “goin’ back to haiti” which hits the 13 minute mark that are there to support your peyote dreams. This band of five merry-men carry this thing wherever there is a PA like giants in the land of midgets wondering about the leaves on the leaves on the ground. So enjoy this while they take a break from playing the NJ area. In the meantime they will be working on more material for some point in the future. If you need a taste though for sure checkout their brother band Seaside Caves.
MUSIC REVIEW: Perth Australia, I don’t know much about this country but we sure do get a lot of amazing music from there and Water Graves are no exception. Their new EP is mystic. Like fluffy little clouds mystic. Like AIR meets… we’ll you get it. Born in a bedroom like the rest of us Coel Healy and Blake Hart create lo-fi synth music for the jet set. Soundscapes that may ease your ride up in mall elevator perhaps with the air conditioning cranked up to the point you need to wear a coat and goggles. This music will take your mind places in the same way psychedelic colors might distract you. You’ll end up rubbing the walls and seeing if this music is scratch n’ sniff. The Good shit or maybe you’ll just enjoy a nice cup of coffee while you listen. File under: psychedelic /Electronic
SINGLE REVIEW: We love any rock music and all things that remotely mirror bands we love. Here’s a new single with the vocals drenched in reverb and delay called “The Kid” via DeltaSonic Records. In this case these five young lads from Liverpool peaking our interest are called The Dirty Rivers. They are what we want to see with the next generation of musicians carrying the cross. They look like babies straight outa of school in this video single but sound astonishingly like Jesus and Mary Chain meets The Black Angels. Not entirely derivative of that sound since they are English (The Uk kind) under the black clothing and old VCR late night tv noise and intentionally bad graphics is a heavy psychedelic nod to a paisley era garage rock manchester and warehouse scene. Imitated well also by the Anton Newcombe’s, BRMC and Dandy Warhols of the world. The guitar riffage is strong with these guys though so totally check them out. Just keep the tambourine or maracas out of the singers hands and you will be headed in the right direction.
SINGLE REVIEW: We like our jangle garage psyche and this track by Black Manila called “Fiasco” is right in the sweet spot of all groovy things 60’s. Naming their top 5 influential bands as The Velvet Underground, Captain Beefheart, T-Rex, The Stooges and John Lee Hooker. These are some pretty big corner stones that Liam Ramsden, Conrad Armstrong and Gareth Hoskins aka Sun King are taking on but would also say something a little New Wave is ingrained too. This new track by them is less drone than the VU with more of a sculptured song as there is an actual guitar solo to beef it up. Repetition is form in itself and they apply this keenly. We also thought the kids were afraid of guitar explorations, whilst J Mascis he is not (none are honestly) there is enough original guitar slang here to bring this track to the next level. Way above the haze for the acid test. They say this song is about being on a higher plane when imbibed with drink. Been there so we appreciate this so cheers and beers we say to this unsigned band. These grooves will be available 30th April for download & safe keeping with a UK pride B-Side called “England”.
Here’s one from their previous release called Hazy Daze MP3 by Black Manila
Tour & Holiday stops:
4/20 Buffalo Bar, London
4/28 The Finsbury, London
5/16 Capanno Blackout, Prato (Italy)
5/17 Caffe Del Teatro, Aradeo (Italy)
5/18 Villanova, Pulsano (Italy)
5/19 Blue Dhalia, Marina Di Gioiosa Ionica (Italy)
5/20 Chromazone, Atripalda (Italy)
6/4 Bloomsbury Bowling Lanes, London (Gibson showcase)
6/8 Green Door Store, Brighton
Some hand picked songs by Black Manila: Death Letter Blues MP3 by Son House from The Delta Blues of Son House (Liam likes this) Hedi’s head MP3 by Kleenex from Liliput (Gareth Likes this) England Made Me MP3 by Selfish Cunt from English Chamber Music (Conrad likes this noise- thumbs up on this one)
SINGLE REVIEW: This is going to be quick, easy and painless for you psych rock fans. Actually you may have never heard of them until now but I think you owe yourself this if you’re a Black Angels fan to check this groovy band out. New Animal are from Atlanta, Georgia which is basically two guys Kris Hermstad and Derek Burdette, actually now I think they have fired their drum machine and have a drummer to drag on stage. Which is the only respectable thing to do. What may have started off as a bed room recording experiment is now evolving into this dream like pyche-pop drenched in reverb and delay. I’m always amazed with this genre of music being re-invented by groups like this one. The burning in your ears will be akin to a suicide girls pin-up. They have built dreamscapes from their first release to this recent single. The good thing for you my dears fans is they have a new record in the works. So much to look forward to. So if you are down south check them out live in November playing with Purity Ring on (11/2) and Architecture in Helsinki (11/12). Details on their bookface.
Something about this bands sound man: Winter ’68 MP3 by The Black Angels from EP (2005) The Illiad MP3 by Tapes and Tapes from The Loon (2006) Roller Coaster MP3 from The Psychedelic Sounds ofThe 13th Floor Elevators (1966)
ALBUM REVIEW: If you’re going to name your record Space Jam there is no way of getting around the fact I’ll think of Space Balls. Thanks John Candy; but if you made a statement like it’s a speed amp test that seems to use different flavors of reverb and a bunch of spastic guitar moves it would be a whole other thing. Oh wait! That’s my job music fans. While I’m not going to re-name this record by The Trashies they are personified in their name. So where do you go from here? In this experiment you’d put a mic a in a metal dumpster and bang it erratically with a bat and it will give you an idea of what this Seattle basement band sounds like. Maybe for an element of danger you’d stand in a puddle but somewhere between you may realize this surf music has had it’s polarity switched and that maybe you’ve been saved from electrocution by pure chance. Lead by a singer who’s falsetto vocals somehow land you in what is the relentless song world of The Fall – you’ll quickly realize you’re good with these risks. They deviate a little with the sleigh bells on “sippin on a coolie” (I collect these by the way so send me some – coolies not sleigh-bells) with something sounding like it was hatched in Ethiopia but then they bring you quickly back with something sharper and bo-diddle-esque where the beat is humpin’ on “i wanna destroy”. While they won’t win the award for the tightest band in the world this psyche pastiche is about being a sloppy work in progress that uses reverb as an instrument. You ought to love The Trashies because they just don’t fuckin’ care.
schultz mask MP3 by The Trashies from Space Jam (2011)
This psychedelic trash punk music is also like: Terry Waite Sez MP3 by The Fall from Bend Sinister (1986) Bad News MP3 from The Great Lost Trashmen Album D.W.I. MP3 by The Ribeye Brothers from If I A Horse
Here’s a mish-mosh of some recent musical treats from the deep within the RS inbox for your listening pleasure.
Nothing Here Worth Staying For by JJ & The Rogues‘s EP Stare Down from Fort Worth Texas is somewhere in-between Elvis Costello my aim is true and a Monkees lunchbox with a rock-n-roll McCartney shake. Hold the Lennon in this Wilco salad as I say they seriously have lots of influences that come across in the right ways. Oh and did we mention this release is free like air? Yup get some »
And It Come And Goes MP3 by Lightsout from their self titled single. These Britishy sounding guys are based out of The Gowanus in Brooklyn and sound in the erie vain of early British Sea Power and The Wedding Present guitar style on this track. Somewhere there is a hi-watt amp on fire from their last gig as this guitar music bounces. Check them out »
Whitewash MP3 by MYTY KONKEROR from their 8 song record I miss the future. Mostly instrumental power psyche rock on this release with electricity driven guitars. Certainly nice to hear bands getting away from the vapid sticatto haircut rock. The singer when he pipes in sounds like lou barlow which is a very good thing. Bringing back the drug rock via twin lakes records. Get Some »
Cover Girl (Acoustic Demo) Live MP3 by Saints of Valory is a tune from their new Neon Eyes EP by this Austin Texas band which is a mix of live and studio tracks. Simply though I saved the best for last. These guys are going to be huge. Remove the pretension of things I personally hate about music and add a real rock singer with a band who has their shit down and they become elevated and almost saintly. Yup I said it. Shoot me. Doesn’t matter if it’s recorded or performed live they pull this pop-off effortlessly. No laptop magic just tunes that swirl in your ears with a touch of U2esque charm without the politics or spiderman antics and if some of the bad 80’s pop were hip it woulda sounded like SOV. Dig it »
ALBUM REVIEW: Florida has some general weirdness. Kramer from Bongwater moved there some time back, there’s a decent agency and an art school in Miami. It’s got modern scenic architecture and a psychedelic band called Lil Daggers. One of my favorite Butthole Surfers song’s is even named after the flattened state. Can’t say much about the voting habits of a song like “Dead Golden Girls” but there is something nice and sinister about this music. They take the garage tinkering seriously and use a 1967 Vox Continental keyboard for example to show their commitment. There is some dedication and attention to detail in paying respect to the psych genre in this release. Some of songs could be soundtracks for erie swamp scenes where no one gets out alive like on “give me the pill” or you can think of it as a sequel to a good trip equal to Live at Pomeii. The opener “wasting” is probably their most jaring and upbeat tune and the record just submerges you into their waste from there. Can’t you see the trails man?
ALBUM REVIEW: Howdy psychedelic music fans here’s some jams from a Moscow band called June Hunters. If you are a aficionado of Psych Rock and house of LSD’s light touch like faves 13th Floor Elevators or Black Angels you might dig this trip. They are pretty good genre emulators and I think we have the internets to thank. They verge a little on a 80’s alternative interpretation similar to The Psychedelic Furs with the use of some of the extra keyboard sounds. They are power trio and none too far off of what The Faint were sorta trying to pull off except with a actual drummer, nothing to do with Disco though and the ability to sling a tambourine track like Jonestown Massacre as logged by their track called “More” available exclusively here for the first time with that unmistakable Rickenbacker bass sound to drive this closing track on the EP. Now where are my bell bottoms and funky shades?
More MP3 by June Hunters from their self titled EP.
Something Psychedelic like music: Love My Way MP3 by The Psychedelic Furs Reverberation(Doubt) MP3 by The 13th Floor Elevators (1967) The Black Angel’s Death Song MP3 by The Velvet Underground & Nico (1967). The Black Angels named their band after this song. Which features this repetitive violin sound with this amazing sense of melody by Lou Reed in-between the noise. Amazing song.
ALBUM REVIEW: If you like psychedelic rock too much then ignore this because you’ll be addicted to Dumbo Gets Mad’s sounds from tail to snout on Elephant At The Door from the first walk. Wedging itself on the wake of some big bass riff from the get go on “Plumy Tale” the undertow will drag you right in. What makes this record believable is that no computer chips were used in the raw recording of this music. It’s not laptop rock and was executed with care via Big Panda Records. This singing and keyboard sounds are vintage late 60’s- early 70’s analog so it’s all very authentic halogenated reverb. Imagine your in a sexy leopard pleather lounge called “San Tropez”. In this futuristic situation your inhaling the best of imported air at this purest oxygen bar from 2011. Listening to this collection of psychadelia – kicking back feeling the pulse of speakers vibrate your very sensitive eardrums. It’s blissful.
Distributed as a Free digital download the vinyl is available for you audiowhores who deserve these type of Meddle like soundscapes that a blind man could surf too — so I would get on this and buy some stock. Yup that’s right they aren’t super heavy but definitely amplify the volume when required. At time it reminds me of Pink Floyd jams and other moments it’s sweet like lemon iced tea made from some lost mountain spring. Maybe just the gear they are using where certain moog settings are unswappable it feels like another successful genre retro-record with enough variety you might find at your regular whirling dervish bionic hashish market. Other times it’s a Jonestown Massacre happening and a little female birdy is telling you to set your ears on right because the dream and feeling is real. Take it for a ride.
Recent Comments