LORUS - Record Release Party Nov 6th, Chicago

"We finally got our record done. After some drummer swaps, we have Byzantine in the can. Well, in the case. It features guest spots from JT Mueller on uke and Adam Devlin-Brown on baritone sax and the usual suspects of Alan Lawrence on keyboards, Chris Brown on Bass, and me on guitar.

It would be great if you could come celebrate with us. We're having a FREE party on November 6th in Chicago at 3829 N Broadway at Hugen Hall - Strawdog Theater at 10:30pm. We're really proud of this and hope to share it with you.

The record is available in a few places online and at the party.

CD Baby

http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/Lorus

and via pay pal

http://www.lorusband.com

You can also get a free download from our site. http://www.lorusband.com

Dylan

LORUS"

The When McGruff Was King - The Greatest of TWMWK 1999-2009 - Part 6

Part six of the 61 tracks song collection by THE WHEN MCGRUFF WAS KING "The Greatest of TWMWK 1999-2009".

Contains one long track (47:10 min) and five shorter songs.

The long improvised track, called 'were lost' is pretty cool! Kind of heavy, anarchic space krautrock beyond good and evil! Probably my favourite track by TWMWK yet. Especially the first 11 minutes are excellent.

Enjoy!

THE WHEN MCGRUFF WAS KING - The Greatest of TWMWK

1999-2009 - Part 6

(mp3-zip, 6 tracks, 75 min, 109 MB)

Get it here or here!

Demis CousCous and Friends - The Monkey Western (UK 2006)

After you've had the chance to listen to the MONKEY EASTERN lately, you now get the opportunity to listen to its legendary prequel: THE MONKEY WESTERN – this time credited to DEMIS COUSCOUS AND FRIENDS. A mix of finger-pickin' and strummin' (more or less western style) guitar tunes and more conventional folk-rock songs with vocals, some of them quite funny.

Again the singing voice reminds me of a (humurous) NICK CAVE (read and download the earlier DEMIS COUSCOUS posts here)... Enjoy!

"Herein lies the legendary Monkey Western Soundtrack. Recorded in it's entirety over one weekend, this is a collection of songs and incidental music for an imagined movie, the plot of which was never really discussed. The majority of the music was improvised and recorded in one take. This album features some songs which later made their way onto The Mackerelheads debut, including Czech radio "hit" Trouble Comes My Way.

Players on this album are, Demis CousCous, Divad Nyarb, Tam Revorg and occasional vocals by RZ. Highlights include Matts Desert Search For Sacred Horse, which still makes me laugh three years later, and the hypnotic 30 More Days." (D.CC. - more info in the zip-file)

Demis CousCous

and Friends - The Monkey Western

(UK 2006)

(mp3-zip, 22 tracks, 64 min, 102,3 MB)

Get it 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!

Eveden - Violent Derby (2009 FR)

EVEDEN is a psychedelic pop band based on the french riviera. Originally there were three band members, now it's six.

'Violent Derby' consits of four early tracks by the band. Slightly reminiscent of STEREOLAB or BROADCAST, though less experimental than either, but also very 60's influenced, with a girl singer's – Eva's – charming vocals to the fore.

http://eveden7.blogspot.com/

http://blogs.myspace.com/eveden7

Enjoy!

EVEDEN - Violent Derby (2009? FR)

(not quite sure about the release year)

(mp3-zip, 4 tracks, 14 min, 32,4 MB)

Get it here or here!

Raver - 3 EPs: Weird Summer / Red River Canyon / Leopard Head (CAN 2009)

Here's another fine (and at the age of 18 years also very young) artist named Lavurn Lee from Toronto, Canada, who records under the name RAVER.

I hear a strong shoegazer influence in many tracks, reminding me especially of SLOWDIVE - very atmospheric, very gentle, ethereal and dreamlike music. In one word: excellent!

"I'm 18 years old from Toronto, Canada. - I record solo at home since begning of 2009 with Audacity, (a free internet recording program, very simple to use) because I do not have the funds to get nice equipment. I use a terrible microphone, an acoustic guitar, some drums, bells, spoons..... -

Influences: Beach Boys, Elliott Smith, Sigur Ros, Atlas Sound and Belong, Grouper. -

My sound: Lost songs from astronauts heard through AM radios and blasted through thousands of speakers in a vast desert of stardust... massive, miniscule."

This is what Lavurn has to say about the posted EPs:

"Weird Summer EP:

- recorded over the summer of 2009, my first attempt at an "album"

lo-fi, acoustica tape music, with harmonies and strange jingle jangles.....

Red River Canyon EP:

- recorded in Sept 2009. A noise-shoegaze concept album about the desert highway and the American West. Heavy reverb and delay. Buried in sound.

Leopard Head EP

- first attempt at "rock/punk". Only album with live drums, lo-fi

reverb and distortion, phat drums...." (L. L.)

Don't let Lavurn fool you, "Red River Canyon" is anything but noise... still very gentle songs. Enjoy!

When listening to these 3 EPs in the listet running order you will clearly notice the progress regarding the recording sound; the first EP is indeed rather lo-fi, the later ones sound much better - though I enjoy all of these songs no matter what sound quality...

If you like what you hear, you are asked to check out Lavurn's website, where you can download lots of his songs for free!

http://www.contactfrombeyond.blogspot.com

http://www.myspace.com/ripityripity

Favourite tracks: 'Hazel', 'Highway 666', 'Solar', 'Was I Sleeping...'

RAVER - 3 EPs: Weird Summer / Red River Canyon /

Leopard Head EP (CAN 2009)

(mp3 zip, 11 tracks, 33 min, 44 MB, front covers incl.)

Weird Summer EP

+ And The Fleeting Light

+ Hazel

+ The Laurel Canyons

+ Walk Into The Sun

+ Wavelengths

Red River Canyon EP

+ Helen Canyon

+ Highway 666

+ Tiger River

Leopard Head EP

+ Can't Let Go (Wah, Wah)

+ Solar

+ Was I Sleeping...

Get it here!

New link June 2023.

Tad Sonic - Hello Life it's Me. Where Are You? (AUSTRIA 2009)

From Salzburg, Austria, of all places comes TAD SONIC. Don't have much info about this guy.

Check out his Myspace site:

http://www.myspace.com/tadsonic

TAD SONIC's music is a cool mix of mainly acoustic freak-folk and full blown (electric) homemade neo psychedelia (sung in English, but there are also some instrumentals to enjoy). Some songs remind me of the old German neo psych rockers from the eighties THE 39 CLOCKS or PHANTOM PAYN ACT - though TAD SONIC is (in my opinion) better, because his music is more eclectic and more extreme. Surely he is not the most accomplished guitar player in the world, but who gives a fuck, his playing is passionate and convincing, and that is exactly what good music is all about!

TAD also works together with a guy called JASON SHELL and someone/something named EBY3.555. Look here for more info and free downloads:

http://www.myspace.com/gateturnmeoffthyristor

Strongly recommended! Hope this post will help to give this guy the recognition he deserves!

Enjoy!

Favourite tracks: 'First attack (chapter one and two)', 'broken key', 'i don't wanna be the pain'

TAD SONIC - Soundtrack for the movie:

Hello Life it's Me. Where Are You? (AUSTRIA 2009)

(mp3 zip, 18 tracks, 49:20 min, 45,5 MB, artwork incl.)

Get it here or here!

The When McGruff Was King - The Greatest of TWMWK 1999-2009 - Part 5 (USA)

Part five of the 61 tracks song collection by THE WHEN MCGRUFF WAS KING "The Greatest of TWMWK 1999-2009".

Contains only three experimental tracks, two of them very long (46:48 min and 27:09 min). Enjoy!

More to come ...

THE WHEN MCGRUFF WAS KING - The Greatest of TWMWK

1999-2009 - Part 5

(mp3-zip, 3 tracks, 77 min, 105,1 MB)

Get it here or here!

Hype Williams/Paradise Sisters - Crowned Regional Sadat X Awareness Project (UK 2009)

Ryan Davis from Sophomore Lounge Records in Louisville, Kentucky, sent me these tracks with some info to share them with you.

If you're into psychedelic heavily distorted guitar drone experimental music you HAVE to listen to these songs. Very strange, very dopey, very far out! Enjoy!

"(...) Crowned Regional Sadat X Awareness Project, a split we're putting out between London, England's Hype Williams and Paradise Sisters.

Lo-fi, droney, minimalist guitar stuff in the vein of Lamborghini Crystal/Skaters, My Cat is an Alien, the more instrumental moments of U.S. Girls, and the peaked-out tape tones of Haunted Graffiti.
Beyond the mysterious shroud of grimey, seemingly appropriated, urban-American imagery, not a whole lot is known on our end about collaborative artists Karen (?) and Roy (Nnawuchi, formerly of Graffiti Island), but we're just as happy to have their haunting, hallucinogenic dwellings on deck for the fall.

The split, in addition to its overseas release by U.K. label Ceylan Projects, will be available via limited-edition, hand-pressed CD-R through our webstore and select U.S. retailers on the 27th of October."

(R. Davis)

http://www.myspace.com/hypheewilliams

http://www.myspace.com/paradisesisters

http://www.sophomoreloungerecords.com/

http://www.ceylanprojects.org/ceylan/CEYLAN.html

IF YOU LIKE WHAT YOU HEAR, PLEASE SUPPORT THE ARTISTS!!!

Hype Williams/Paradise Sisters - Crowned Regional Sadat X

Awareness Project (UK 2009)

(mp3-zip, 3 tracks)

Get it here or here!

I strongly recommend to check out the free download Sophomore Lounge Family Album, especially if you're into homemade alt. country and other handmade folk and indie music or even hardcore punk. Quite a mixture! (Download here!) My favourite tune: 'Psychomania' by GIVING UP that reminds me of BUILT TO SPILL.

Beautiful and very small label!

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)

The When McGruff Was King - The Greatest of TWMWK 1999-2009 - Part 4 (USA)

Part four of the 61 tracks song collection by THE WHEN MCGRUFF WAS KING "The Greatest of TWMWK 1999-2009".

Contains some really weird and noisy stuff - somewhere between CAN ("and that was it she walked out and closed the...") and THE FALL ("in's and out's")...

More to come ...

THE WHEN MCGRUFF WAS KING - The Greatest of TWMWK

1999-2009 - Part 4

(mp3-zip, 11 tracks, 76 min, 101,4 MB)

Get it here or here!

Rocket Park - Up Against Goodbye (USA 2002-2003)

"After 1999's "Teenage Folklore" and 2000's "The Effects of Eating Too Much Television", a third album was surely right around the corner for Rocket Park, right? Well, after cranking out two full length albums in two years at our expense while still working day jobs, we needed a breather. So we spent 2001 gigging, recording demos and tracks for various artists compilations, and responding to some indie label overtures. When 2002 rolled around and we were no closer to being signed, we thought about all we'd learned from Mike Martin (engineer and co-producer of the previous albums), bought our own recording gear and decided we would paint our own masterpiece. Little did we know the final brushstrokes wouldn't be in place for another seven years.

The actual recording of the album wasn't that problematic, aside from the occasional arguments that always emerge from a shared artistic endeavor. It's everything that followed that got sticky - a ridiculously protracted mixing process taking place in another city, personnel changes, a lack of effective leadership resulting from a debilitating divorce (mine), indecision, self-destructive perfectionism and, eventually, the demise of the band itself. (...)

It's all a damn shame, really, because it really would've been (and, I guess, is, now that it's floating around) our best album. The material is stronger, the arrangements are more sophisticated, the performances are more assured. It's more of a band effort (and less naive) than "Folklore", more consistent (and less openly derivative) than "Television", and I think the engineering compares favorably to both albums. Eric Moore pounds the drums better than ever (the fill at the end of "Tell It to Samantha" may be one of his finest moments) and Dave Harris' bass lines always find that happy medium between rhythmic simplicity and melodic adventure. And, uh, I like the stuff I did, too. (...)"

(BaM.; more info in the zip-file!)

Here's another fine album for all ROCKET PARK and BRIAN ANDREW MAREK fans. Again, "not the most overtly psychedelic" of his work, "but it's there... lurking..."

Do I hear a slight DAVID BOWIE/ZIGGY STARDUST influence here and there (e.g. "Spinning Around") - especially in the vocals and some of the guitar playing?

Don't forget to check out BAM's older posts!

http://www.myspace.com/brianandrewmarek

Rocket Park - Up Against Goodbye (USA 2002-2003)

(mp3-zip, 13 tracks, 54 min, 124,2 MB, artwork incl.)

Get it here or here!

Deep Magic - Balance (USA 2009)

Alex Gray from DREAMCOLOUR (see posts here!) started a solo project called DEEP MAGIC and this here is his first cassette (to be released on a Belgian label), called 'Balance'. Thanks for sharing!

"recorded on a laptop, with synth/loops/tapes/drum machine/guitar/bamboo sax. all played by me, alex gray. soon to be available at zaagmachien.net.

upcoming releases: 'lunar bells' c40 (wet merchants), 'deep magic/high wolf' split lp (not not fun), 'solar meditations' c90 (mooondial tapes), 'deep magic/al qaeda' split 7" (tba), 'deep magic/the north sea' split c60 (tba), 'deep magic/love cult' split c60 (existential cloth)..." (A. G.)

Two tracks, 'Mind' and 'Peace', each one 10 minutes long. Definitely more 'spacy' than most of Alex' work with DREAMCOLOUR. I like those 2 tracks a lot... Like a TANGERINE DREAM/late ASH RA flashback, but with a new millenium approach... Minimalistic, mystical and hypnotic.

A very promising start. I'm eager to hear more!

http://www.deepmagik.com/

http://www.myspace.com/deepmagik

http://www.listentocolour.com/

http://www.zaagmachien.net/

Deep Magic - Balance (USA 2009)

(mp3-zip, 2 tracks, 20 min, 19,3 MB, artwork incl.)

Get it here or here!