Review: Mega Post Pt 2
So, the second of 2 'mega posts', an heroic attempt to catch up with all of the great music around at the moment...and there is...loads
Just under a year ago John McBain, he of Monster Magnet and Wellwater Conspiracy, released a joint album with Kandodo. 'Lost Chants/Last Chance' was a masterpiece of swirling psych and meditative drone. Now he's back with something completely different but no less impressive. 'Accidental Soundtracks Vol 1: The Alpha Particle' (out on God Unknown Records) sees McBain swap the blistering guitar of Monster Magnet and the reality shaping psych of 'Lost...' for a treatise on soundtrack composition.
'Accidental Soundtracks..' is put together like a tastefully curated compilation of movie soundtracks such is the breadth of the material on show and anyone who has an interest in soundtracks will recognise many of the touchpoints. Tracks like 'The Alpha Particle' is very Neu! - solid motorik rhythm and piano motif, while 'Lower California' brings John Carpenter to mind with its rich analogue tones and retro feel. The analogue vibe is pretty much a constant throughout the album, but McBain, best known as a guitar slinger, can't resist throwing in some cool guitar....case in point is 'Interloper' in which his guitar matches the retro electronica perfectly and in 'First Earth Battalion' there is some sublime psychedelic guitar, reminiscent of Floyd in their pomp. Just when you have slipped into an analogue reverie, something unexpected pops the bubble - 'Malibu Run' is a slow burning, moody surf number with plenty of reverbed guitar. The album is closed with a sumptuous slice of Schulze-like kosmische in the shape of 'Eliptic Plane' - plenty of soft washes of synths provide the background for something deliciously ambient.
Gotta say 'Accidental Soundtracks...' is one of the best things I've heard all year. McBain is a man with a long and celebrated career as a guitarist but with this he has firmly strung a new string to his bow, that of electronic soundtrack composer. All the tracks pay homage to the halcyon days of soundtracks but also sound incredibly contemporary and 'now'. I love this album and it's been pretty much on constant rotation since it came through. It is available via the God Unknown Bandcamp page here as a digital download or limited vinyl (ed. of 300).
Eggs In Aspic is another of my favourite labels since they began a short while ago...their releases have been an eclectic collection of albums that all fall broadly under the 'psych' banner...but they have all been cracking. The latest two are equally as diverse as they are good - Guiding Light (more of which in a bit) and The Left Outsides.
The Left Outsides are Mark Nicholas and Alison Cotton, a husband and wife duo who specialise in atmospheric, hypnotic songs that "echo Nico’s icy European folk, pastoral psychedelia and chilly English fields at dawn." 'There Is a Place' is 8 haunting songs that comfort and unsettle in equal measure. Opener 'Cry Of The Hunter' is the aural equivalent of The Wicker Man - haunting drones and ethereal vocals that convey the superstitious folklore of the English countryside - while tracks like 'One Step At A Time' are more standard fare (indeed the guitar intro to this is uncannily, and rather disturbingly, like 'Tonight I Celebrate My Love For You' by Peabo Bryson and someone else...thankfully the track itself is a beautifully sung and evocative folk song). The album as a whole is gorgeous....rich drones, thoughtful lyrics and the vocals, both Mark and Alison, are sumptuous. It is a lysergically charged bucolic delight! The tape is available via Eggs In Aspic webstore here
Update Those fine people over at Cardinal Fuzz have given this album a well-deserved vinyl release...head over to Cardinal Fuzz for details.
Staying on a folk theme, Mark McDowell and Friends play a different sort of psych folk, one that is more 'upbeat' and optimistic - if The Left Outsides are a fog-shrouded field at dawn, then McDowell and Friends are sixties Carnaby Street on a bustling Saturday night. 'Dark Weave' is their new album and one I would thoroughly recommend.
Throughout 'Dark Weave' runs a wry lyrical quality that is quintessentially English while some of the music sounds very West Coast America....it is an intoxicating mixture. McDowell also proves to be an adept musician..the beautifully picked acoustic guitar in the opening instrumental 'Celequiem' is a joy, especially in conjunction with some spacey keyboards. The same combination in the title track, also an instrumental, is maybe even better and is heavier on the spacey effects. But it is the vocal songs in which McDowell really shines....'Elizabeth' is majestic, my fave on the album and 'Look In The Dust' is folk-a-go-go, complete with Hammond organ. It is a highly enjoyable album that brings a smile to the face at every turn. The fact that it is quality should be no surprise when you learn that McDowell has been released by Fruits de Mer and will be playing this years 'Dr Sardonicus' festival in Cardigan this summer. 'Dark Weave' will be put up on McDowell's Bandcamp page here very soon, in the meantime check out his Reverbnation page for more info and top tunes.
Another from Eggs In Aspic, but this time the psych folk is swapped for a more fuzzy Americana vibe but with an arty twist. Guiding Light are a duo comprised of Chuck Davis & Jason Sebastian Russo but the album sees guest contributions from a whole raft of people including members of Mercury Rev, The Dandy Warhols, The Warlocks, My Jerusalem & Hopewell. The result is an intriguing and satisfying concoction. The press release says: "Think David Lynch meets PJ Harvey meets Sparklehorse"...pretty good shout I would say.
The cast of thousands has resulted in different styles and approaches that in turn results in 'Guide The lightning' being an album of infinite variety. From the sultry, fuzzy noir of opening track of album opener 'Temptation' through to the treated vocals and dream pop vibes of closing track 'Oh My My' there are moments of melancholic Americana ('Jesus' which breaks out into a superb fuzzy wall of sound) and almost slowcore ('Guiding Light' with its Twin Peaks-esque guitars (thus the David Lynch ref.)) While this is not straight-up psych it has enough fuzz to give it that warm, hazy feel and enough emotion to make it heartfelt and evocative. This is what Eggs In Aspic do so well - their releases are never the same, never fall into a specific category and long may that be the case. As for 'Guide The lightning'...well...it's nigh on impossible to slot it nicely into a pigeonhole, so I'm not gonna try...but will say that it is a damn fine album that will warm the cockles and get the ol' grey matter turning over. It is available from the Eggs In Aspic shop here.
And now for something completely different. Hominid Sounds are a label who are taking the concept of noise to the next level, and no more so than with this pairing of two of the noisest, chaotic acts around. Sly and the Family Drone have long been a fave and this sees them teaming up with Dead Neanderthals, the Anglo-Dutch purveyors of skronky free-jazz (this is, of course not the first time they have appeared on vinyl together - they both appeared on a God Unknown split 7"). Needless to say, 'Molar Wrench' should come with a health warning.
I admit to being a bit non-plussed by Dead Neanderthals in the past..their sonic blasts of discordant brass left me scratching my head, however, in collaboration with the Sly boys it makes sense...the proverbial penny has dropped. The musique concrete barrage of dissonant electronica and deep, deep drones from Sly provide an ideal backdrop for some guttural sax tones that rattle the teeth and shake the bones. There are four tracks on the record, each one as exhilarating and intoxicating as the last..it's not for everyone, I'll admit but there is something of beauty lurking 'neath the miasma of noise. With its intelligent abstraction this collaboration is the nearest to 'Trout Mask Replica' this generation is gonna get...Love it! 'Molar Wrench' is available as a 12" vinyl or download from the Hominid Sounds Bandcamp page here (Can also from the bands' pages here & here)
One of a raft of upcoming releases from the ever reliable Fruits De Mer, this EP from Anton Barbeau is a little gem of psychedelic pop. Anton is a bit of a legend in psychedelic circles and his back catalogue is filled to the gunwales with joyous, catchy psych. This EP sees him cover three other musical legends - Traffic, Big Star & the godlike genius that is Bowie.
Title track 'Heaven Is In Your Mind' is of course a cover of the Traffic song and Anton pays due deference whilst instilling it with his own brand psych pop. There is one original recording - 'Secretion Of The Wafer' - and it is a thing of lyrical beauty that harks back to the golden age of British psychedelia. The cover of Big Star's 'September Gurls' is yet again a respectful version of one of their greatest songs...Alex would approve! I am always wary of a Bowie cover version and when I read that Anton had covered 'Scary Monsters' my blood ran cold..of all of Bowie's songs, surely this would be one of the trickiest to cover. However, Anton has done it justice...it has the same aura of malevolence but with a mischievous glint in the eye..good job dude! Fruits De Mer have yet to release anything I haven't liked but with this EP they have surpassed themselves. 'Heaven Is In Your Mind' will be on sale in July from the FdM site here but can be pre-ordered now.
Just under a year ago John McBain, he of Monster Magnet and Wellwater Conspiracy, released a joint album with Kandodo. 'Lost Chants/Last Chance' was a masterpiece of swirling psych and meditative drone. Now he's back with something completely different but no less impressive. 'Accidental Soundtracks Vol 1: The Alpha Particle' (out on God Unknown Records) sees McBain swap the blistering guitar of Monster Magnet and the reality shaping psych of 'Lost...' for a treatise on soundtrack composition.
'Accidental Soundtracks..' is put together like a tastefully curated compilation of movie soundtracks such is the breadth of the material on show and anyone who has an interest in soundtracks will recognise many of the touchpoints. Tracks like 'The Alpha Particle' is very Neu! - solid motorik rhythm and piano motif, while 'Lower California' brings John Carpenter to mind with its rich analogue tones and retro feel. The analogue vibe is pretty much a constant throughout the album, but McBain, best known as a guitar slinger, can't resist throwing in some cool guitar....case in point is 'Interloper' in which his guitar matches the retro electronica perfectly and in 'First Earth Battalion' there is some sublime psychedelic guitar, reminiscent of Floyd in their pomp. Just when you have slipped into an analogue reverie, something unexpected pops the bubble - 'Malibu Run' is a slow burning, moody surf number with plenty of reverbed guitar. The album is closed with a sumptuous slice of Schulze-like kosmische in the shape of 'Eliptic Plane' - plenty of soft washes of synths provide the background for something deliciously ambient.
Gotta say 'Accidental Soundtracks...' is one of the best things I've heard all year. McBain is a man with a long and celebrated career as a guitarist but with this he has firmly strung a new string to his bow, that of electronic soundtrack composer. All the tracks pay homage to the halcyon days of soundtracks but also sound incredibly contemporary and 'now'. I love this album and it's been pretty much on constant rotation since it came through. It is available via the God Unknown Bandcamp page here as a digital download or limited vinyl (ed. of 300).
Eggs In Aspic is another of my favourite labels since they began a short while ago...their releases have been an eclectic collection of albums that all fall broadly under the 'psych' banner...but they have all been cracking. The latest two are equally as diverse as they are good - Guiding Light (more of which in a bit) and The Left Outsides.
The Left Outsides are Mark Nicholas and Alison Cotton, a husband and wife duo who specialise in atmospheric, hypnotic songs that "echo Nico’s icy European folk, pastoral psychedelia and chilly English fields at dawn." 'There Is a Place' is 8 haunting songs that comfort and unsettle in equal measure. Opener 'Cry Of The Hunter' is the aural equivalent of The Wicker Man - haunting drones and ethereal vocals that convey the superstitious folklore of the English countryside - while tracks like 'One Step At A Time' are more standard fare (indeed the guitar intro to this is uncannily, and rather disturbingly, like 'Tonight I Celebrate My Love For You' by Peabo Bryson and someone else...thankfully the track itself is a beautifully sung and evocative folk song). The album as a whole is gorgeous....rich drones, thoughtful lyrics and the vocals, both Mark and Alison, are sumptuous. It is a lysergically charged bucolic delight! The tape is available via Eggs In Aspic webstore here
Update Those fine people over at Cardinal Fuzz have given this album a well-deserved vinyl release...head over to Cardinal Fuzz for details.
Staying on a folk theme, Mark McDowell and Friends play a different sort of psych folk, one that is more 'upbeat' and optimistic - if The Left Outsides are a fog-shrouded field at dawn, then McDowell and Friends are sixties Carnaby Street on a bustling Saturday night. 'Dark Weave' is their new album and one I would thoroughly recommend.
Throughout 'Dark Weave' runs a wry lyrical quality that is quintessentially English while some of the music sounds very West Coast America....it is an intoxicating mixture. McDowell also proves to be an adept musician..the beautifully picked acoustic guitar in the opening instrumental 'Celequiem' is a joy, especially in conjunction with some spacey keyboards. The same combination in the title track, also an instrumental, is maybe even better and is heavier on the spacey effects. But it is the vocal songs in which McDowell really shines....'Elizabeth' is majestic, my fave on the album and 'Look In The Dust' is folk-a-go-go, complete with Hammond organ. It is a highly enjoyable album that brings a smile to the face at every turn. The fact that it is quality should be no surprise when you learn that McDowell has been released by Fruits de Mer and will be playing this years 'Dr Sardonicus' festival in Cardigan this summer. 'Dark Weave' will be put up on McDowell's Bandcamp page here very soon, in the meantime check out his Reverbnation page for more info and top tunes.
Another from Eggs In Aspic, but this time the psych folk is swapped for a more fuzzy Americana vibe but with an arty twist. Guiding Light are a duo comprised of Chuck Davis & Jason Sebastian Russo but the album sees guest contributions from a whole raft of people including members of Mercury Rev, The Dandy Warhols, The Warlocks, My Jerusalem & Hopewell. The result is an intriguing and satisfying concoction. The press release says: "Think David Lynch meets PJ Harvey meets Sparklehorse"...pretty good shout I would say.
The cast of thousands has resulted in different styles and approaches that in turn results in 'Guide The lightning' being an album of infinite variety. From the sultry, fuzzy noir of opening track of album opener 'Temptation' through to the treated vocals and dream pop vibes of closing track 'Oh My My' there are moments of melancholic Americana ('Jesus' which breaks out into a superb fuzzy wall of sound) and almost slowcore ('Guiding Light' with its Twin Peaks-esque guitars (thus the David Lynch ref.)) While this is not straight-up psych it has enough fuzz to give it that warm, hazy feel and enough emotion to make it heartfelt and evocative. This is what Eggs In Aspic do so well - their releases are never the same, never fall into a specific category and long may that be the case. As for 'Guide The lightning'...well...it's nigh on impossible to slot it nicely into a pigeonhole, so I'm not gonna try...but will say that it is a damn fine album that will warm the cockles and get the ol' grey matter turning over. It is available from the Eggs In Aspic shop here.
And now for something completely different. Hominid Sounds are a label who are taking the concept of noise to the next level, and no more so than with this pairing of two of the noisest, chaotic acts around. Sly and the Family Drone have long been a fave and this sees them teaming up with Dead Neanderthals, the Anglo-Dutch purveyors of skronky free-jazz (this is, of course not the first time they have appeared on vinyl together - they both appeared on a God Unknown split 7"). Needless to say, 'Molar Wrench' should come with a health warning.
I admit to being a bit non-plussed by Dead Neanderthals in the past..their sonic blasts of discordant brass left me scratching my head, however, in collaboration with the Sly boys it makes sense...the proverbial penny has dropped. The musique concrete barrage of dissonant electronica and deep, deep drones from Sly provide an ideal backdrop for some guttural sax tones that rattle the teeth and shake the bones. There are four tracks on the record, each one as exhilarating and intoxicating as the last..it's not for everyone, I'll admit but there is something of beauty lurking 'neath the miasma of noise. With its intelligent abstraction this collaboration is the nearest to 'Trout Mask Replica' this generation is gonna get...Love it! 'Molar Wrench' is available as a 12" vinyl or download from the Hominid Sounds Bandcamp page here (Can also from the bands' pages here & here)
One of a raft of upcoming releases from the ever reliable Fruits De Mer, this EP from Anton Barbeau is a little gem of psychedelic pop. Anton is a bit of a legend in psychedelic circles and his back catalogue is filled to the gunwales with joyous, catchy psych. This EP sees him cover three other musical legends - Traffic, Big Star & the godlike genius that is Bowie.
Title track 'Heaven Is In Your Mind' is of course a cover of the Traffic song and Anton pays due deference whilst instilling it with his own brand psych pop. There is one original recording - 'Secretion Of The Wafer' - and it is a thing of lyrical beauty that harks back to the golden age of British psychedelia. The cover of Big Star's 'September Gurls' is yet again a respectful version of one of their greatest songs...Alex would approve! I am always wary of a Bowie cover version and when I read that Anton had covered 'Scary Monsters' my blood ran cold..of all of Bowie's songs, surely this would be one of the trickiest to cover. However, Anton has done it justice...it has the same aura of malevolence but with a mischievous glint in the eye..good job dude! Fruits De Mer have yet to release anything I haven't liked but with this EP they have surpassed themselves. 'Heaven Is In Your Mind' will be on sale in July from the FdM site here but can be pre-ordered now.
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