Review: Bandcamp / Soundcloud / Submissions Round-Up pt 14

Time for another round-up of submissions - some goodies (as usual!)



Tentakel is also know as Pontus Torstensson, "Gothenburgs most manic drummer" and has also plied his trade in Uran and The Exorcist GBG. His Tentakel guise is a more 'techno' based affair, but, as would befit his other work, is infused with all kinds of influences. The single 'Impulse/Inversion' is out on Höga Nord Rekords and is a beaut. 'Impulse', on initial listening, may seem like generic dance music (whatever that is) but upon really listening you discover that there is a hell of a lot more going on....there is a distinct 80s synth driven soundtrack vibe to it with more than a hint of 1970s kosmische. By the time you reach the end you realise that it is nothing like generic dance music...it's fuckin' ace! 'Inversion' takes the ingredients of 'Impulse' and, if anything, expands upon them; the same retro synths, the same driving tempo and the same nod to the Berlin pioneers of the seventies - all wrapped in a glitchy techno monster. Both sides of this 7" are pretty damned ace! The single can be purchased at the Höga Nord webshop.





Jonny Weathers was a completely new name to me prior to an email out of the blue. He professes to play music inspired by "The Rolling Stones, Guided By Voices, Thirteenth Floor Elevators, The Dandy Warhols, Pink Floyd, Jimi Hendrix and many more"...gotta be good right? Well, actually, it is good. 'Jonny Weathers and Cosmic Scream' is ten tracks of low-fi garage rock with flashes of psych, glam and good ol' rock music. First track 'The Bullet and the Breeze and the Killing Floor' wears its Stones influence on its sleeve, right down to the 'woo woo's' in the chorus and the Keef-like guitar. 'Babirusa' has some fine psychedelic guitar while 'Mongo Shaker' is one hell of a garage punk blues driven stormer. All ten tracks are of the highest quality....I cannot for the life of me work out why this guy isn't bigger....he's a superb guitarist, a damn fine songwriter and obviously has a fine grasp of what he's trying achieve....brilliant stuff. The album can be found at the Jonny Weathers Bandcamp page here and is probably one of the most satisfying and rewarding £7 you will spend.





Eclisse are a Portland, Oregon based band who, according their FB page, play "Post-Stoner/Alternative Metal/Hard Rock". I normally shy away from anything that has 'metal' in its description....but that's just me, but if this reviewing lark has taught me one thing it is to challenge my own prejudices and give every submission a fair hearing....and I'm damn glad! The band's album, 'The Origin Of Error' has too much good stuff going to ignore. They mix stoner rock and 'metal' with some nice prog segments, plenty of solid post-rock and some flashes of psych...and a whole lot more. Standout tracks include the single 'Dark Dances' (see below) with its Killing Joke bassline and post-punk aspects, 'Your Son' which moves from folky acoustic to bombastic post-rock, and the awesome title track 'The Origin Of Error' which starts with eerie horror movie synths and whispered vocals and evolves into monumental post rock/metal....great stuff! The album is out October 29th...check out the bands website and their Bandcamp page.





Dark Moon are a London based band who play some great proggy psychedelia. They have an album out at the end of November and have released a single ahead of that. 'I Fly' has an insistent bass line, funky drums and some great vocals courtesy of Lola Ulalume. They manage to capture the spirit of late 60s/early 70s psychedelia and throw in some classic rock and some more contemporary psych....it all bodes exceptionally well for the album, which can be pre-ordered via itunes. In the meantime, check out the single below.





Bruiser Queen hail from St Louis, Missouri and play a poppy garage rock that cannot help but to raise the spirits. The new single 'Telepathic Mind' is a joyful slice of pop punk with some great vocals and harmonies, a rock solid beat and bursts of farfisa organ. It doesn't break any taboos or challenge the listener, it is what it is...a good example of the lighter side of garage rock. The B-side, 'Rainbow In The Dark' is a whole lot moodier and at times the vocals of Morgan Nusbaum take on a Chrissie Hynde aspect....good stuff. It is available as a 7" vinyl and download via the bands Bandcamp page here.