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Thursday 27 April 2017

Streaming Now...


As we reach the month of May there's been a wealth of new music out again. Over the last few weeks there have been superb releases from the likes of Kentucky's Moonbow  (BMX legend/Survivor star Matt Bischoff) on Ripple Music and also Baby Guru's Prins Obi's second solo Lp 'The Age of Tourlou.
The sonic Dawn's new album 'Into the Long Night' is a psychedelic beauty and an easy record to get lost in especially wearing headphones, that's out now via Heavy Psych Sounds.
There's excellent new music from Driftwood Pyre and Grand Delusion too.
I've also included the new release from Chile's Föllakzoid featuring Jason Pierce from Spiritualized as the vinyl release for Record Store Day has sold out and these reworking are well worth your time and attention
Be sure too to check out Monobrow, the Canadian Psychedelic Stoner Rockers will be releasing 'The Nacarat' on Vinyl on May 31st and you can hear it via bandcamp now while you preorder !

You'll be able to hear lots of these bands/tracks/records on the various radio shows for Hard Rock Hell Radio, Grip of Delusion Radio and Bigjaf.net as well as a ton great new music.
The title links are clickable and will take you to the bandcamp page.
As always, if you like what you hear support the artists and pay for the download, or check out their pages and buy a physical version. A lot of the bands here will be selling vinyl versions and special edition packages, Enjoy!



Peglica i Komandos - Kefter Gatha




The Sonic Dawn - Into the Long Night




Grand Delusion - Supreme Machine




Moonbow - War Bear




Cruise Forever - God is a Triphead




Descarado - Odd




Driftwood Pyre - Strangeways EP




Prins Obi - The Age of Tourlou




Föllakzoid - London Sessions Featuring J.Spaceman




Monobrow - The Nacarat




Sunday 23 April 2017

Album Review... Knall - Raubkatze auf 12 Uhr

Tonzonen are an interesting label and are responsible for releasing some of my favourite albums of the last couple of years.  In particular, The Spacelords last 2 studio albums  and more recently, Sounds of New Soma's 'La Grande Bellezza'.  Both offer up similar approaches to the same spaced out Krautrock/Kosmische vibes in terms of attitude, and around the instrumentation used, but deliver them in their own unique manner.

Label mates Knall are something else.  I was totally blown away by the last release 'Alien Funk', so much so I had to double check that it was in fact a live album; the recording was immaculate, almost  inaudible crowd sounds and music so tight you'd think it took months of layering in a studio.  As was said then, thats the genius of Knall.  The band take their music and the bare ideas for a song and let it expand, the music evolves further from every time the band play.  What you hear on these studio sessions will be something far bigger and more realised when you hear it live; taking the idea of improvisation and jamming to new levels.

'Raubkatze' takes a single note and builds through the addition of a simple bass noodle, introduces a slow tempo funk drum pattern and lets it flourish from there.  By the time the track hits the 8 minute mark, it has exploded into brain melting, psych-injected space rock almost without you realising.
'Derwisch' carries on the flow but offers urgency and intensity within the guitars and swirling sounds that run with the pulverising drums.  Coming in at 15 minutes long is 'Fell', a looser track than the rest of the album, lavishly forged with spaced out sounds, funky bass and guitar licks, it locks itself in to a groove and keeps on going.

'Sightseeing' provides another example of psychedelic space rhythms and sounds developing over ever evolving drums and jazz inflected guitar work.
'Catwalk' is stylistically different, electronic bleeps and patterns bubble through fuzzy tones and Way-Wahs in a laid back manner.  Like 'Fell' this is another track that shows the more improvisational aspects of the band.  Album closer 'Lachs' once more demonstrates how Knall can take a sparse opening such as the clean guitar sound here and shape it into a funky intergalactic psych piece, simply through layering and measured introductions of each new section and instrument within the track.

Raubkatze auf 12 Uhr dazzles with every note.  As a snapshot in time for the band, it shows rich tones and funked up rhythms from another dimension; the added promise that what you see here is not what you're going to get when these tracks are played out live, makes the record even more intriguing and appealing.  The Ltd 2x purple vinyl is available via Tonzonen's online store, grab one while you can.

Highly Recommended.

Knall Bandcamp

Knall Facebook

Tonzonen Records






Monday 17 April 2017

More Dayz Of Purple And Hope - A Charity Compilation



About a year ago, Andy from the blog 'Dayz of Purple and Orange' assembled a charity compilation 'Dayz of Purple and Hope' in a bid to raise money for the the charities Cancer Research UK and World Cancer Research Fund International.  All profits were split between the two charities, the calibre of tracks donated was incredibly high by some exceptional artists from the world of Modern Psychedelia and Psychedelic Rock.

Sadly, since its release, Andy lost his own mother to cancer.  Soon after, Andy announced he was compiling a second volume, as he defiantly put it "the next step in unfinished business" to help raise more funds for the same charities.

It should come as no surprise that 27 tracks compiled here are nothing short of stunning; included in the set are Electric Moon's brilliant cover of 'Tomorrow Never Knows', Jonathan Morgan's 'Persian Astral', as well as tracks recorded especially for Volume 2 (Vert:X's 'Sixty-Nine Wheels and the Heavy Moon's 'Fuck Cancer'). The Band Whose Name is a Symbol and The Inteligence Service have kindly donated unreleased tracks for the project too. Other artists included are Sula Bassana, Dead Sea Apes, No Man's Valley and Psychic Lemon.

The compilation costs a very reasonable £10 via bandcamp and that gets you 2 albums worth of excellent music, whilst also donating to Cancer Research.
Head over to the Blog Bandcamp page on the links below, or alternatively Find DOPAO on Social media to show your support.







Friday 14 April 2017

Three from White Dwarf Records


There's a huge amount of music that hits the inbox; I try and play as much as I possibly can, over the radio shows and a monthly mixcloud post.  Here are 3 albums that were recently released by the Berlin Label, White Dwarf, that are well worth your attention. The bandcamp players links are included, so you can hear some of the tracks now.  The label specialises in Heavy Psych-Rock, Stoner, Doom and Vintage sounds.  Of the music reviewed here, there's a diversity of styles that have crossover appeal; all 3 albums are without a doubt, essential listening.
If you like what you hear, please head over to the label on the links included and buy a copy!  You can also buy digital versions via the bands Bandcamp links below.  Enjoy!
            
White Dwarf Records

White Dwarf on Facebook


Holy Mount - The Drought

By the frigid, windy great lakes of Toronto, Canada, situated on a broad sloping plateau, intersected by an extensive network of rivers and deep ravines, lies HOLY MOUNT.  At the summit, four hermits have been gathering for years celebrating Heavy Psych ceremonies, channeling the mystery of the great north.  Their last recorded ritual, released early this year by White Dwarf, titled 'The Drought', shows the quartet comprised of Danijel, Brandon, Troy and Clayton, at their best with heavy doomy drones, ghostly enchantings and superb guitar riffs/solos, filled with fuzz, reverberating through the Black Mountains above into the Dead Meadows below.

You really can't top a write up like that, can you?
The Canadian 4 piece demonstrate a flair for making Heavy Psychedelic Rock sound epic on the 7 tracks delivered here, the shift from mammoth slices of stoner rock on the opening track 'Division' to highly intense, oscillating psychedelia of 'Basalt Seem Almost Effortless'. 'Omnicide switches to stoner again, but displays a harder pounding style, over brilliant fuzzed up tones and swirling guitars.  The excellent 'Blackened Log' is a sonic masterpiece where otherworldly vocals and dope fuelled riffs live happily together; Its depth of sound is captivating.  'Blood Cove' flirts with doom textures over heavy, bruising drums with a depth of sound that is nothing short of captivating.  The title track brings everything together with shades of post rock and incredible walls of fuzz and feedback.






Megaritual - Mantra Music

Megaritual is the solo project of Australian multi-instrumentalist Dale Walker (also member of Sun Of Man).  His monolithic, heavy rock tunes often bear deeper intensity than most four-piece bands would manage to create.  In addition, there's also this compelling atmosphere in his tunes, where one often feels like floating between thick Stonerrock grooves and later 60s Heavy Psychedelia, with a taste of India when he strikes chords on his Sitar. "Mantra Music Volume 2", is the second release within few months between 2014-2015.  This already comes close to perfection and is a real must have for Heavy Psych-afficionados! Strongly recommended if you enjoy bands like Om, Samsara Blues Experiment, Dead Meadow and Queen Elephantine.

The record has a engulfing, atmospheric quality. Its use of sitars, bells and compelling guitars is addictive as it is hypnotic; this is firstly evident in the opening track 'Is the Heart of the Mystery...', deep drones build over Eastern sounds and measured percussions as it leads beautifully in to 'Top of the Mountain to You'; the tribal pounding over a wall of chant like vocals and sonic blasts of guitars. "Stormbringer commences with shimmering sounds and a proclamation that tells us "the dark flight of the soul has just begun', once more, the Eastern tones move to heavier swirls of intense psychedelic rock patterns.  Elsewhere, styles move to acid folk with 'Is the Sound and '∞' a dope hazed slow burner driven with cosmic guitars and a touch of 70's Pink Floyd.  Closing Track 'Have you seen the Sky Lately' is a euphoric trip through magnificent beats and progressions as it draws to incredibly satisfysing close.






Lee Van Cleef - Holy Smoke


The project Lee Van Cleef was born, as a joke, at the end of 2015 and is the result of long jam sessions between Marco Adamo, guitarist (La polvere di Bodélé), Guido Minervini, drum (Efesto, Lamarck) and Pietro La Tegola, bass (Whiskeycold Winter).  The project is influenced by bands like Earthless, Black Bombaim, Harsh Toke (to name a few).  The first work "Holy Smoke" was recorded, mixed and mastered in the Godfather studio of Naples. The artwork was done by Robin Gnista."

Holy Smoke is a fascinating album.  As with Holy Mount and Megaritual, they're a band that keep you guessing.  'Heckle Yuppies' on the face of things begins as a stoner doom track, but as the song progresses it demonstrates some brain melting guitar work that has a great vintage rock quality over them in a psychedelic Hendrix kind of trip.  The same can be said of second track 'Banshee' but this time the bass driven groove and reverberating guitars assist the track in ascending to a higher plain over 13 minutes of stoned brilliance.  'Hell Malo' is fantastic Psych rock Jam, wah wah fuelled, with heavy attitude and more irresistible grooves. 'Mahãna' continues in the earlier stoner doom mould but maintains a heavy psych vibe, as it creates sonic wall of noise over a punishing drum beat and ferocious riff.  Closing track 'Towel' is the most psychedelic track in tone on offer and also the most majestic; the wailing guitars heave above you as the drums and bass line mesmerise.  Essential listening.






Sunday 9 April 2017

Listen to Atom Heart Mutha - April 2017 on Mixcloud Anytime...

This Month's Atom Heart Mutha RadioShow is now available to listen to anytime on Mixcloud. You can go to the AHM Mixcloud page HERE or listen on the embedded player below. This months show went out on the Bigjaf.net RockShow on April 8th and again for American Radio Station Grip Of Delusion Radio on the 9th. This month features a ton of brand new releases from the likes of Gnomes, Sula Bassana, Siena Root, Kikagaku Moyo, Here Lies Man and Devil's witches As always if you like what you hear please support the bands and labels by buying their music, there are direct tags on the AHM Facebook Page, check it out. Atom Heart Mutha is now also a weekly 2 hr Show on the newly launched Hard Rock Hell Radio, you can hear it every Friday from 13.00 - 15.00 by clicking the link HERE

Track list:
Siena Root - Growing Underground
Desert Suns - Heavy
Sula Bassana - Organ Accumulator
Gnoomes - Cascais
Gioba - This World Was Being Watched Closely
Hypertonus - Eghost
Holy Mount - Basalt
Here Lies Man - When I Come To
Kikagaku Moyo - In a Coil
Gorilla Pulp - Hope You're Feeling Better
Devil's Witches - Pornadelic Opium Dreams





Saturday 8 April 2017

Album Review... 10,000 Russos - Distress Distress

Portugals 10,000 Russos are a formidable force within modern psychedelia; described as industrial psych/post-punk; they bring an intensely psychedelic buzz to their sound, whilst utilising hypnotic Krautrock rhythms.  Distress Distress is their second LP and is released by the London label Fuzz Club Records.

The record opens with 'Germinal', an arresting, motorik monster, that beats its way acerbically over 7 minutes of atmospheric drones and sonic inflections.  'Tutilitarian' delivers a confident bass line, whilst menacing walls of guitars and synths build and throb over its neo psych soundscapes.  'Europa Kaput' is up next and shares an approach to sound, not unlike label mates 'The Cult of Dom Keller'; the synth psych approach to modern psychedelia over krautrock beats and electronic soundscapes builds to a gratifying climax.  The sonic modulation and cosmic progressions of 'Ism' follows and shifts its focus of noise from light to dark effortlessly, before moving into the cloudy repetitions of 'Radio 1'.
'Distress' closes the record in style; a threatening beat pulsates over an evolving wall of oscillating feedback and ominous growling vocals, as the record draws to its satisfying conclusion.

Within the 6 tracks are dark undertones and heavy drones; Distress Distress demands your attention.  Inside the labyrinth of sounds are mysterious vocals, chants and metronomic rhythms; it mesmerises from start to finishes and envelopes you into a dark work of electronic psych and dope induced fogs. The influence of Neu! and Spacemen 3 are evident, but at times it also calls to mind the relentless intensity of more current acts such as Hookworms.

10,000 Russos remain a hard working, touring band.  Their performance at Liverpool Psych Fest was widely described as a stand-out set and is still being talked about now.  These tracks will surely take on heavier and irresistible form in a live set.
The futures bright for the trio right now, their second full length delivers so much and still promises more to come in the future.  Fuzz Club have played a blinder here; watch the end of year lists, you'll be seeing Distress Distress feature in many of them.





New Release Roundup


Over the last month there's been a huge amount of brand new releases worthy of your attention,  you'll be able to hear lots of these bands and records on the various radio shows for Hard Rock Hell Radio, Grip of Delusion Radio and Bigjaf.net.
There are more full reviews to come soon, for now here are a few Bandcamp Links to some current and brand new releases to stream. Take some time and check this stuff out, theres some absolute gems. This time around theres New albums from Detroits awesome Ecstatic Vision, Motherships fantastic HeavyPsych monster 'High Strangeness' and Dead Sea Apes excellent dub heavy 'Sixth Side of the Pentagon , theres also new Eps from Kikagaku Moyo and Farflung. The title links are clickable and will take you to the bandcamp page. As always, if you like what you hear support the artists and pay for the download, or check out their pages and buy a physical version. A lot of the bands here will be selling vinyl versions and special edition packages, Enjoy!




Dead Sea Apes - Sixth Side of the Pentagon



Ecstatic Vision - Raw Rock Fury



 Stupid Cosmonaut - Algol



Gnod - JUST SAY NO TO THE PSYCHO RIGHT​-​WING CAPITALIST FASCIST INDUSTRIAL DEATH MACHINE



Mothership - High Strangeness



Stone Garden - Kikagaku Moyo



Farflung - Unwound Cellular Frown



Ethiva - Sublime Island



Hypertonus - Tidal Wave



Year of Birds - White Death to Power Alan





Monday 3 April 2017

Album Review... Here Lies Man - Here Lies Man

What if Black Sabbath played Afrobeat?

I'll be honest, it's not a question I've ever asked myself; Antibalas's Marcos J Garcia has though.  "These repetitive guitar figures that happen in Afrobeat music are pretty close to heavy rock guitar riffs," Garcia explains. "It's based on the clave;  the musical algorithm that the rhythms revolve around.  That's what gives it integrity and is part of this musical conversation thats going on.  I knew I wanted it to be psychedelic and heavy; and I wanted to be expanding on a musical tradition, rather than pretending to be creating something new."

'When I Come To' opens the record with a fuzzed up riff and punchy vocals; it demonstrates, in perfect fashion, what's to be delivered over its 8 tracks.  The music is hypnotic and the beats are unpredictable, especially evident on the second track 'I stand alone'.  Everything served up here is encased in a sonic wall of distorted electric fog and hefty rhythmic drumming . 'You Ain't Going Nowhere' puts itself it up for track of the year so far; intense, urgent and far-out, the drum work by Geoff Mann is incredible.

'Letting Go' doesn't let up the pace; the woozy synths interweave with the mantra like riffs and it's pounding counterpart as it leads to the psychedelic trip of instrumental track 'So Far Away'.  'Belt of the Sun' follows like a cosmic hurricane and brings to mind, Swedish band, Goat, but without their own trademark chanting vocal and given a harder, dirtier edge.  The album ends with the title track and once more demonstrates the addictive tribal psychfunk and looping beats the band set out to discover.

Whatever the inspiration/motivation was for Garcia to write and record the Here Lies Man record it works.  At its best, it’s groovy as hell with the right balance of heavy riffs and stoner fuelled rock, as well as the  psychedelic infused flourishes Garcia strived to create.
I can’t say whether, or not, it’s a combination that’s going to work for everybody.  As someone that doesn’t know too much about what’s considered great (Fela Kuti aside) in afrobeat circles;  I don’t suppose I can really say how it has an appeal that would be embraced by fans of afrobeat.  Garcia wanted to expand on that existing musical tradition and there's no argument that he's achieved that.

In a Month where The Cosmic Dead release an LP entitled ‘Psych is Dead’ and the Dead Sea Apes release an incredible Psych-Dub Record; it would seem that there is an appetite for change and to look at more interesting and challenging approaches to making Psychedelic rock music.
There are some fascinating artists right now, pushing the boundaries and are being backed up by really forward thinking labels.  As 2017 progresses, the calibre of new music is getting stronger and for now at least, Marcos J. Garcia and RidingEasy Records are at the forefront of that.   Here Lies Man have delivered something that’s completely original and spirited, if you’re willing to venture into new territory, this album comes highly recommended.

Here Lies Man Bandcamp

Here Lies Man Facebook

Riding Easy Records Facebook

Riding Easy Records Website


Antibalas