Least Carpet - Least Carpet (GER 2010)

"If you listen to Least Carpet the first time it will remember you of something you do already know, but it's blurry and then you get pictures. Pictures of sitting on a hill top in the fresh blooming meadow. You smell the weed and maybe yourself, you listen to the birdsongs and hear tiny bells ringing. On the left side, downhill you get a glimpse of some small village, on the right side: your sheep. You pickup your self carved flute and whistle with the birds. – A romantic notion? Yes, but what about the fact that the magic mushrooms you've found in the grass beside you, start to take effect right now."

(Info by DFBM:

http://leastcarpet.bandcamp.com/album/least-carpet)

The fine guys over at the Dying For Bad Music Blog founded a DIY net-label (concentrating on Neo-Psychedelic, Folk, Lo-Fi Pop and Experimental) starting with a strangely named band AALFANG MIT PFERDEKOPF (a reference to Guenter GRASS' novel Die Blechtrommel I suppose) followed by the LEAST CARPET release featured here. Next will be a new album by LOW - FYE, also featured on HLFP (see here).

LEAST CARPET get compared to HALA STRANA/STEVEN R. SMITH which doesn't say much to me, since I do not know any of them (maybe you do?).

The music on offer is fantastic instrumental psych folk with a definite eastern flair. Somehow reminding me of some instrumental passages of the late DEAD CAN DANCE. This is like some trippy Indian soundtrack music.

Very much recommended!

http://dyingforbadmusic.com/dfbm.phtml

http://myspace.com/leastcarpet

LEAST CARPET: Least Carpet (GER 2010)

(mp3-zip, 8 tracks, 24 min, 56,7 MB, @320)

Get it here or here or here!

The Monkey Eastern - Original Soundtrack Recording (UK 2009)

"Recorded over a few sessions in July/ August 2009 at Tam Revorgs studio, this collection features 46 minutes of incidental music and songs from an imagined movie, placing our monkey heroes in some generic Eastern land populated by Samaurai's, Polish people and sitar players.

Featuring a host of new instruments, this is one soundtrack that is guaranteed to exist, regardless of whether or not there exists a movie to synch it up to." (Demis CousCous)

Kind of a side project of the GRASS MONKEY, whose jam based music I posted some time ago, THE MONKEY EASTERN (Demis CousCous, Divad Nyard, Tam Revorg) sound quite different on this fake soundtrack recording. Most of the tracks are short guitar-based instrumental songs with a definite eastern flair, supported by the occasional use of more or less exotic instruments like sitar, tabla or harmonium (to name just a few - see complete list of instruments used in the info). Then we have some simple songs with lyrics and vocals (some of them quite funny), that are far less eastern sounding (more western sounding to my ears).

A very fine album; quiet and relaxed atmosphere. Recommended!

http://www.demiscouscous.blogspot.com/

http://www.myspace.com/theoriginalgrassmonkey

http://www.freewebs.com/selfservingmonkeys/

Favourite track: 'The Shoegazing Samaurai'

The Monkey Eastern - Original Soundtrack

Recording (UK 2009)

(mp3-zip, 17 tracks, 44 min, 102,8 MB, artwork incl.)

Get it here or here!

Andrew Bland and David Polizzi - mumbojambalaya (2009)

'Mumbojambalaya' is ANDREW BLAND's latest work, this time a collaboration with guitarist DAVID POLIZZI, recorded Summer 2009 on 4-track analog. It's a mellow "fusion of post-rock and funk elements with Indian, Latin, and Arabic traditions".

The ethnic/world music elements on 'Mumbojambalaya' are much more prominent than on earlier releases, especially the Indian ('Ambika Sarang') and Latin sounds ('Cantina').

Again Andrew uses a multitude of different exotic instruments, and again the ten featured instrumental tracks are rather short and most of them seem to be rather sketchy and improvised. You won't find any typical European/American song structures here (verse/chorus...). This all makes for enjoyable listening free from standard rock/pop clichés. (More info in the zip-file.)

The great cover drawing is by Eric Peterson.

Enjoy!

http://www.andrewbland.net

Favourite track: the opener 'Ambika Sarang'

Andrew Bland and David Polizzi - mumbo-

jambalaya (2009)

- Global Curry by Andrew Bland and David Polizzi -

(mp3-zip, 10 tracks, 25 min, 22,8 MB, front cover artwork incl.)

Get it here or here!

((c) of course Andrew Bland 2009)

para!helion - >3 (USA 1999)

Style: high altitude meditations

Featuring:
Dave - Trumpet, effects, percussion
Jeff - Electric Balilaika, effects
J.C. Thorne - percussion, loops, and acoustic bass
Chris & Co... additional percussion.

Improvised and recorded live to two track, Albuquerque, NM.
More information at http://penmallet.blogspot.com/

"Of all the music I have posted (...) at Pen & Mallet, the two ¡para!helion releases are the ones that I personally listen to the most often. I have always chalked that up to the fact that ¡para!helion's music was all improvised. None of the overlearning under a critical ear that goes into creating and perfecting composed songs goes into the creation of improvised music, so, for me, it feels easier to listen to the songs as music, rather than as a product of my ego. In other words, it's easier to let go and hear the songs as songs without being critical of my own performance or wishing I had one more take to move the song closer to the ideal version that I carry around in my head. (...) today we have 6 never released songs taken from the Midaq Alley and 3 Miles from Mecca sessions. At the time we put those two releases together, these didn't make the cut primarily due to non-musical issues like less-than-ideal microphone placement, or minor equipment failures. After 10 years not hearing these, I don't find that those issues hurt these tracks much at all, so I thought I would share them. -- Several of these tracks include additional players beyond the trio including ¡para!helion's original drummer, Chris (iirc) and a gang of percussionist he brought over for one or two of our night recording sessions. Track's one and two come from the very last ¡para!helion session, with Ghazna being the last song we ever recorded."

(Info from http://penmallet.blogspot.com)

para!helion - >3 (USA 1999)

(mp3-zip, 6 tracks, VBR, 42,9 MB, 43 min)

1) Chabolo

2) Ghazna

3) Bactra

4) Haraiva

5) Lampaka

6) Nagarahara

Get it here or here!

Also available in lossless Flac, Ogg Vorbis

as well as Mp3 from the internet archive.

AND DON'T FORGET TO CHECK OUT THE NEW REMIX PLAYGROUND.

YOU CAN CONTRIBUTE AND SEND ME SOME REMIXES!!!

para!helion - 3 Miles from Mecca (USA 1999)

"This is the first para!helion release that I (= John Thorne) played on (Dave & Jeff had released some earlier work with a different drummer). The bulk of these were recorded live at Mecca coffeehouse in Albuquerque to entertain the troops as Basement Films projected and archived a massive donation of educational films. We played with films projecting on every available piece of wall space. The first and last track were recorded in Dave's living room." (J. T.)

Released in very limited quantities in 1999

Style: Opium Den Ambiance
Players: Dave - Trumpet, effects; Jeff - Electric Balilaika, effects; John - African Kettle Drums, Dumbek, Clay Djemba

para!helion - 3 Miles from Mecca (USA 1999)
(mp3 zip, 7 tracks, 74 min, 168,6 MB, @320)
Get it here or (in two parts) here and here!

para!helion: Midaq Alley (USA 1999)

JOHN THORNE (aka: icastico) runs a blog by the name of Pen & Mallet, that "will share music that I have been involved in creating over the last 3 decades. I will only post out-of-print works that I had a direct hand in creating..."
The first two things he posted were from PARA!HELION. Here is "Midaq Alley", released in very limited quantities in 1999 and featuring: Dave - Trumpet, effects; Jeff - Electric Balilaika, effects; John - percussion, loops, and acoustic bass. All songs were improvised and recorded live to two track.

So what do we get? Hmmmm... Difficult... let's say: Imagine the late 60s (US) KALEIDOSCOPE jamming with the mid-seventies MILES DAVIS in an opium den in Egypt in the 90s... Middle Eastern influenced improvisations with a very cool trumpet to the front - how would ya call that? Ethnic jazz? Amateur fake exotica?
You may read a complete, very good review of "Midaq Alley" here.
Anyway, however one will call it - it's very good music! Quite trippy! Enjoy!

para!helion: Midaq Alley (USA 1999)
(mp3 zip, 12 tracks, 77 min, 143,8 MB, @320)
Get it here or (in two parts) here and here!

The GoodLuck Boys - The Gift of Time (JP 2008)

Another very interesting band, this time from Kichijoji, Japan - here are: THE GOODLUCK BOYS.

"Enter the world of Ritualistic World Freak Punk Experimental Psychedelic Avant Folk MUSIC.

A collective of some of Tokyo areas strangest and most dangerous musicians, artists and nothing beings.

Some of them are native to the country and some are criminal expats with an overflowing stream of creative energy and a taste for sacrifice.

They have been related to FATHER YOD's YA HO WAH 13 and FELA KUTI, not for their music, but for their cult-like self-created communities involving artistic and rebellious expression mixed with tribal sexual activities." (TGLB info)

"An adventurous four piece band that combine elements of abstraction yet very accessible songs in a variety of styles to deep and concentrated improvisation and game pieces.

Instruments include an accordion, acoustic guitar, vocals, bass, drum kit, effects, homemade instruments and a huge collection of percussion from all over the world.

All members have played in a good number of bands throughout America, Scotland and Japan. Now together as THE GOODLUCK BOYS they draw huge crowds around their performances within Tokyo. Our shows have been praised as 'psychedelic rituals from an exotic world.'" (info from TGLB web page)

Pretty good description, I'd say.

My personal favourite tracks: "Shadows 1" and "Conversation Of The Crows".

Enjoy!

Myspace

THE GOLDENLUCK BOYS - The Gift Of Time (2008)

(mp3 zip, 11 tracks, 58,8 MB, 43 min)

Get it HERE (nu link 05/2024).

3xcx3 Project - Mendeleev's Toxic Brand (RU 2008)

In October 3xcx3, the one man psychedelic band project from Siberia, announced a "new experimental conceptual album with very mad psycho muzz."

Well, I guess, here it is! And in fact it is really fabulous (mostly instrumental) space psych!

Grab it and enjoy!

Myspace

3xcx3 Project's - Mendeleev's Toxic Brand (RU 2008)

(mp3 zip, 9 tracks, 51 min, 65,8 MB)

Get it here!

Tapio Oksa - Kalevala (FINL 2008)

   
 

Music written and performed by TAPIO OKSA for the play Kalevala, based on the national epic of Finland.

 

   

 

The show took place at Kankaanpää Art School 10-10-2008. It was part of 'Light and Joy – the week of Arts in the Satakunta'-happening. The play was directed by Marko Saario. The roles were played by a group of art students.

 

Instruments played include: moog modular, didgeridoo, tibetan bowls, kantele, finger cymbals, cowbells...

Enjoy and also check out this site. 

 

TAPIO OKSA - Kalevala (2008)

(mp3-zip, 9 tracks, 20 min, 35,8 MB, artwork incl.)

Get it HERE!

New link 05/2024.

3XCX3 - A River Flowing Through Us (RU 1998/2008)

3XCX3 is a Siberian one-man psychedelic band, yes, you read right: this guy here, who wants to share his music with you, is from Russia, I'm proud to tell...

The man behind this band (whose name I don't know) sent me this collection of songs, described by himself as "dirt(y) acoustic-kraut-psycho-ethno..." Well, this probably will do, I guess.

He also wrote, that it's a pity that we don't understand the lyrics of his songs, because they were quite important. I myself don't speak Russian (and don't know if the songs are political or "psychedelic" or whatever) and so I have to trust him on that issue. Nevertheless the music is good enough to stand alone.

You should really check this one out if you want to find out how contemporary russian/siberian psychedelic underground folk music with a strong ethno touch sounds.

If I get it right, some of the songs here were written (and probably also recorded) in 1998 and some in 2008 in the Ural Mountains amidst its fast rivers. In the moment 3XCX3 is recording "a new experimental conceptual album with very mad psycho muzz". Sounds promising to me!

3XCX3 has his own blog (in russian language) where he tries to introduce little known psychedelic underground bands (like TRAUMMASCHINE recently) from all over the world to his countrymen.

Of course you can also visit his MySpace site.

Enjoy!

3XCX3 - A River Flowing Through Us

(mp3-zip, 8 tracks, 58 min, 70,3 MB)

Get it here!

Andi Paulo - Acoustic Loops, Live Neonfest (GER 2005)

ANDI PAULO has been around the alternative music scene in the south-west of Germany for more than twenty years.

Starting as a folk-oriented busker and instrument maker in the Heidelberg area he has been moving around a lot – for years living in his own van/mobile studio. He is now based in rural Palatinate.

 

Andi's instrumental range is wide: He plays acoustic and electric string instruments like dulcimer and mandolin, various wind instruments, several of them conceived and crafted by himself, as well as ethnic drums and lots of homemade percussions.

 

10 years ago Andi started combining ethnic and folk tunes with electronic sounds and loops. This lead to the production of his first – and up to day only – CD "Talking Yoghurt", relaesed in 2003. The first edition of 1.500 copies sold well and is now out of print – a second edition is being planned at the moment.

 

You can find samples from "Talking Yoghurt" on Andi's Website at htpp://www.ocarina-sounds.de

This download features live recordings from Neonfest at Hasselbach, Germany, August 6th, 2005.

If you liked MAURICE RICKARD's work, posted earlier on this blog, you should definitly check this one out!

Enjoy and please support the artist!

Andi Paulo – Acoustic Loops (live 2005)

(mp3 zip, 3 tracks, 49,8 MB, 32 min)

1. Penta - 10.31

2. Sandmännchens Schlaflied - 11.05

3. Zerr mich - 9.52

New link 05/2024: HERE!