Thursday, April 28, 2011

The Black Angels (2011) -Another Nice Pair / Phosgene Nightmare




Artist: The Black Angels
Album: Another Nice Pair / Phosgene Nightmare
Released: 2011
Quality: mp3 CBR 320
Size: 142 MB

Collecting The Black Angels' first two EPs on a single disc, Another Nice Pair (LITA 066) stands as a potent document of the band's formative psych-rock sound. Presented as a vinyl "double EP," the A side (The Black Angels EP released 10/18/2005 as LITA 017) includes key tracks from the critically acclaimed debut album Passover (LITA 018, released 4/11/2006) in addition to the non-album jam "Winter '68." The B side flip presents the original Black Angel Exit EP (released 5/13/2008) which was available only as a limited edition bonus EP for those who pre-ordered the band's sophomore Directions To See A Ghost LP (LITA 033, released 4/15/2008). This side also includes tracks that were available only as bonus material on the limited edition 3-LP version of Directions To See A Ghost, in addition to the iTunes exclusive "Black Angel Exit/Shine," and a ripping cover of Black Mountain's "No Satisfaction."

Explaining the Phosgene Nightmare release, guitarist Christian Bland says - "’Phosgene Nightmare' is 6 more dreams recorded during the Phosphene Dream sessions. The 6 dreams were specifically saved as an epilogue to the full length album and help to complete the story that was presented thru the full length album. The 6 'nightmares' explore the poisonous side of life, if we lose focus on the light that exists in the darkness."





Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Various Artists (2002) -Teen Dance Music From China And Malaysia



Artist: various
Album: Teen Dance Music From China And Malaysia
Release Date: 2002
Quality: mp3 CBR 192
Size: 63 MB


liner notes -
Ran into a small batch of Southeast Asian records at a thrift store this past winter. All dumb luck and good timing, the owner had dropped them off in brown paper bags an hour before I got there. It was hard for me not to get my hopes up þipping through them - the jackets seemed to indicate that I was really scoring. No dates, but they all looked late 60's/early 70's with psychedelia- meets-the-dance-floor cover art and "A-Go-Go" suffixes left and right...


Monday, April 25, 2011

Dengue Fever (2011) -Cannibal Courtship



Artist: Dengue Fever
Albums: Cannibal Courtship
Released: 2011
Quality: mp3 CBR 320
Size: 110 MB

Dengue Fever’s enduring love for an extinct period of Cambodian psychedelic surf-rock never weighs down its fourth album, Cannibal Courtship, but the band’s eccentric lyrical style sometimes does. “Cement Slippers” has a chorus with a New Pornographers-style keyboard hook—one of several welcome power-pop jolts on the album—hampered by verses that repeatedly fall flat as Chhom Nimol and a slop-voiced Zac Holtzman trade dull jokes about a couple having a shitty time together. The chorus of “Thank You Goodbye” (“you’re just another stamp in my passport”) can’t help but sound like a clumsy attempt to make another jet-setting love song like “Tiger Phone Card,” from 2008’s Venus On Earth. But when Nimol sings in her native Khmer and spreads her voice through the slow, eerie “Uku” and “Sister In The Radio,” Dengue Fever’s tiny corner of world music becomes deliriously entrancing again. The images of high-tech missiles on “Family Business” are just black-humored enough to complement the sinister cool of Holtzman’s guitar riff—they can pull off funny here and there—and Nimol’s vocal on the title track conjures Blondie as much as campy seduction. Cannibal Courtship once again proves that Dengue Fever is far more than tacky exotica, even when it can’t shake a few irritating personality tics.Scott Gordon, A.V. Club





Friday, April 22, 2011

Bohren & Der Club Of Gore (2011) -Beileid



Artist: Bohren & Der Club Of Gore
Albums: Beileid
Released: 2011
Quality: mp3 CBR 320
Size: 82 MB

Formed in 1992 by longtime friends Thorsten Benning (drums), Robin Rodenberg (bass), Reiner Henseleit (guitar), and Morten Gass (guitar/piano), self-described German all-instrumental "doom ridden jazz music" quartet Bohren & der Club of Gore was forged from a shared love of grindcore, hardcore, death and doom metal. Originally called simply Bohren (German for drilling), the band expanded its moniker in 1993 to reflect one of its biggest inspirations, the Dutch instrumental band GORE. In 1994, after the release of an eponymous 7" EP for Suggestion Records, the group put out its full-length debut Gore Motel, followed in 1995 by Midnight Radio, both of which appeared on Epistrophy Records. Henseleit left the band the following year, a move that resulted in the group's sound becoming even more brooding and minimalist. Composer and saxophone player Christoph Clöser joined in 1997, resulting in 2000s Fender Rhodes-heavy Sunset Mission. After a brief hiatus, the same lineup returned for 2002's Black Earth, 2005's Geisterfaust, and 2008's Dolores.James Christopher Monger, Allmusic.com


Bohren & der Club of Gore - Midnight Black Earth from Stephan Faber on Vimeo.

Thursday, April 21, 2011

The Revellions (2008 / 2010) -The Revellions / Sigh's [7"]



Artist: The Revellions
Albums: The Revellions / Sigh’s [7”]
Released: 2008 / 2010
Quality: mp3 CBR 320
Size: 93 MB

With the Dublin music scene better than it’s been for years, we now have yet another great new group coming over to London from the Emerald Isle and beginning to make a name for themselves. Formed not much more than one short year ago, these young lads rehearsed for a bit, took a short break to finalise their line-up – and then hit the Irish music scene with a BANG! With influences including the likes of Dick Dale, The Ventures and The Chocolate Watchband, they combine the gut-wrenchingly raw sound of a garage band in heat with a smooth heroin surf atmosphere. The band is composed of a pounding rhythm section, a sharp yet moody organ and a front man/guitarist who shoots out daunting guitar riffs like early morning target practice. Very loud, very fast and very cool. ©






Wednesday, April 20, 2011

TRACK OF THE DAY - Anita Lane





WEBSITE
MYSPACE

Various Artists (2004) -We Ain't Housewife Material



Artist: various
Albums: We Ain’t Housewife Material – An International Collection Of All Girl Punk, Rock & Garage
Released: 2004
Quality: mp3 CBR 256
Size: 102 MB

A compilation of 20 girl fronted bands doing 1 song each. Though most of the bands are in the punk / alternative / hard rock genres they don't have much in common other than that they're all at least partially female. Some of the bands suck and shouldn't be on any compilations whatsoever, while most of them are good enough to be treated like a real band rather than a novelty ''girl band'' act. MORE INFO






Monday, April 18, 2011

R.L. Burnside (1997) -Mr.Wizard



Artist: R. L. Burnside
Albums: Mr. Wizard
Released: 1997
Quality: mp3 CBR 320
Size: 94 MB

After Burnside's breakthrough recording TOO BAD JIM, he collaborated with the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion in 1996 for A ASS POCKET OF WHISKEY, which merged Spencer's post-modern punk-blues with Burnside's gritty traditionalism. On the following year's MR. WIZARD, Spencer and company are present on only two tracks, but Burnside's Mississippi homeboys prove that they can rock just as ferociously on the other seven. As on ASS POCKET, MR. WIZARD's electrifying Chicago/Delta combo platter is amplified into an unerring sonic death ray capable of obliterating anything that crosses it's path, by virtue of its piledriving riffs and jackhammer rhythms.

Burnside opens the album unaccompanied, with a powerful spiritual tune, "Over the Hill." When the band kicks in, the guitars of Burnside and his disciple Kenny Brown interlock for an unrelenting assault that utilizes repeating patterns, cutting, distorted tones, and savage, maniacal slide work. Drummer Cedric Burnside (R.L.'s grandson) lives up to the task of matching all this electric blues fury with his simple, driving approach. MR. WIZARD is probably the best example of the controlled chaos that is an R.L. Burnside concert.




Friday, April 15, 2011

Various Artists (2003 / 2005) - Attack & Return Of The Hot Rod Zombies



Artist: various
Albums: Attack Of The Hot Rod Zombies / Return Of The Hot Rod Zombies
Released: 2003 / 2005
Quality: mp3 CBR 320
Size: 164+175 MB





Wednesday, April 13, 2011

TRACK OF THE DAY - Brad Mehldau



WEBSITE
MYSPACE

Mathias Eick (2011) -Skala



Artist: Mathias Eick
Album: Skala
Released: 2011
Quality: lossless (FLAC)
Size: 227 MB

Although regarded as a 'jazz' album by virtue of its instrumentation (trumpet, saxophone, rhythm section, plus occasional harp and keyboards), trumpeter Mathias Eick's second ECM recording as leader is as likely to draw inspiration for his fluent, accessible compositions from pop and classical music as from jazz.
True, Jan Garbarek's 'plaintive cry' is cited as among the sources of one of the album's most striking pieces, 'Edinburgh' (Tore Brunborg featured on tenor), but other tunes have their sources in rock music: 'Oslo', for example, is discernibly influenced by Radiohead's trademark melancholic soar over assertively scurrying drums; 'Joni' nods to the great Candian singer/songwriter via the sincerest form of flattery by using her hypnotically compelling, long-lined verse structure – centred on Andreas Ulvo's rolling piano – as the basis for one of the album's standout tracks.
Eick's trumpet style relies, in his words, on an attempt to 'create a tone that was a mix of all the sounds I loved' (among his trumpet models are Kenny Wheeler, Chet Baker and Tomasz Stanko), and there is indeed a haunting purity in everything he plays, particularly when set, as in the album's closer, 'Epilogue', against the vigorous drumming of Torstein Lofthus.
There are moments on this attractive, immediately appealing album when a ravishing soundscape (cf. another recent ECM album featuring Brunborg, Manu Katché's Third Round) cannot quite compensate for the lack of two of jazz's (arguably) defining features, grit and unpredictability, but overall, Eick admirers will find Skala irresistibly seductive.
~ Chris Parker




TRACK OF THE DAY - Thelonious Monk



WEBSITE
Thelonious Monk at ALL ABOUT JAZZ

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

The Dolly Rocker Movement - 3 albums



Artist: The Dolly Rocker Movement
Albums: Electric Sunshine / A Purple Journey Into the Mod Machine / Our Days Mind the Tyme
Released: 2006 / 2009
Quality: mp3 CBR 320
Size: 110+103+84 MB

While Australian pop-psych act The Dolly Rocker Movement’s name might be a Syd Barrett reference, their sound leans heavier on another British mystic of the period. It makes sense: Marc Bolan dug Barrett, too. And these guys might be the best T-Rex update ever. If singer Daniel Poulter comes across a little too accurately as that long lost elf of glitter and smoke, it comes off as more homage than impression. After all, Bolan has been dead for 30 years. It’s about time somebody took a swing at his particular brand of glam and psychedelia as well as these guys have- unabashedly song-friendly, full of hooks and anthemic choruses, with the occasional detour into the truly haunting or straight up bad-ass.




Monday, April 4, 2011

TRACK OF THE DAY - The Dolly Rocker Movement




MYSPACE

Phantom Of The Black Hills (2010) -Born To Gun



Artist: Phantom Of The Black Hills
Album: Born To Gun
Released: 2010
Quality: mp3 CBR 320
Size: 77 MB


Whether your devotion is to doom or destiny, the Phantom of the Black Hills will take you into a world where banjo pickers moonlight as murderers and a wanton fiddler takes his hat off to no one. On the follow-up to acclaimed debut Ghosts, each song is a roll of the bones. Whether you call it Hellbilly, Doom-Country, or Cowpunk, listen to Born To Gun for yourself and you ll know you ve never heard anything like it before...