May Bandcamp Friday recs!

 

So, shows and tours are being announced, I still feel not optimistic about the prospects but hopefully I'm wrong. So, here's more recommendations:

Tomaga - Intimate Immensity

Sadly, this is the final album by Tomaga due to the passing of Tom Relleen this past fall, but we are lucky to have this last document of a band fully realizing their potential. I found out about em cuz they opened show(s) for Stereolab. The first 5 tracks are some great combo of exotica, kosmische, ambient, IDM and with a heavy focus on the hypnotic layered percussion. Tracks 6 - 8 go into a territory I am not a huge fan of, which is more aggressive, dark ambientish, and noise. For some I'm sure this would be a welcome dynamic shift, for me....eh, but the record finishes with 2 more tracks in line with opening 5 tracks. I think they are, in my opinion in the same peer group as Wume, Forma, Bitchin Bajas and one track feature's vocals from the singer of Vanishing Twin. Get into it.

https://tomaga.bandcamp.com/album/intimate-immensity

Blu~ish, Dream Crease and Enchanted Forest  - Energy Hum Vol 2

This is a 3 cassette combo release from Blu~ish(AKA Winter), Dream Crease(Witching Hour radio host and truly lovely human), and Enchanted Forest(Ash Allard from Hott MT), all separate album's, put together as a single release by Mutation Records here in LA. Each release brings a different twist on extemely blissed out new age and ambient music. Blu~ish tape is made up of improvisations on Juno-60, that brings some 80s sounding cosmic zone outs. Dream Crease on the other hand brings a more pyschdelic ambient vibe, that feels like yr gliding through the ocean on an alien planet, looking at all the 4th dimensional beings. Lastly, Enchanted Forest, who introduced some more jarring moments upon the peace, more haunting than other two. The jarring moment's are like scars popping out that yr trying to smooth out and heal. Highly recommended for absolutle bliss.

https://mutationrecords.bandcamp.com/album/energy-hum-volume-two

Blue Ocean - Summer Of Hands/Fade

I've already talked about Blue Ocean, but recently Paisley Shirt records compiled both of their EPS on one tape, and get some more eyes on this fantastic shoegaze/noise pop. "Summer of Hands" shows a more straight forward bendy pop ala Isn't Anything, its a cool first peak into this bands mind. "Fade" is a huge leap forward, shedding some of the noise, but adding loops, feedback and even catchier jams that has the feel of early Moose and the single best MBV song "Off Your Face". This is what shoegaze should be, poppy, experimental and uptempo. For the punx.

https://paisleyshirtrecords.bandcamp.com/album/blue-ocean

Jonnine - Blue Hills

Finally, this fantastic LP is available on bandcamp, the solo debut LP by Jonnine Standish from HTRK. I know at this point calling something Lynchian is cliche but that truly is the best way to describe this record. Shades of jazz, 60s pyschdelic, minimalism,  folk and darker shades of dream pop collide to make this complete nocturnal vibe. There's an unsettled feeling in all the songs, there's always a strange sound arouns the corner to subvert the experience. The song "I Feel Like Im In A Film"  is such a bizarre combo of sounds, this simple folk song, bleeping synths, and what sounds like scissors opening and closing to create a very very very creepy feeling. This LP reminds me of 50 Foot Hose, The United States Of America and more minimal/eerie Broadcast. Do it.

https://jonnine.bandcamp.com/album/blue-hills

Elijah Knutsen - Pink Dreams

Shout out to my bud Mark for pointing me in the director of this cool tape from Elijah Knutsen. The goal of this cassette was to focus on the ambient side of shoegaze, and they succeeded! Its definitely reminiscent of Harold Budd/Eno collaboration, but also reminds me of Jefre Cantu Ledsema and Loveliescrushing. Track 3 "Wander" has Cocteau Twins feel for sure, those chorusy guitar textures. All in all a short 4 song ep worth yr ears

https://arouralrecords.bandcamp.com/album/pink-dream

Green-House  - Music For Living Spaces

Yasssssss, Green-House debut LP, their debut EP was one of my favorite and most listened to albums of last year. This is a preorder and only 2 tracks have been released so far but I'm loving em. The EP had a very warm, minimal tape ripped from youtube vibe but these new songs show a progression of sound design and songwriting. More active, layered but still remaining beautiful/transcendent. This is easily in my top 5 most anticipated  releases of the year.  Cant wait, and if you haven't listened to their debut ep, WHAT ARE YOI WAITING FOR.

https://green-house.bandcamp.com/album/music-for-living-spaces

Cobalt  - Astral Traveler's 

Lastly, this wavy dreamy new agey space rock(i use rock very lightly) from 1979, that has the most appropriate album title ever. I dont know much about the history behind this release, cuz there isnt much available. It was made in LA, and inspired by world travel. I love listening to this album in the afternoon, it has a sun baked haze to it. The guitars, drums and synths all feel like there is phaser all over em, eveything is ebbing and flowing to pyschdelic perfection. Its has a very like early Pink Floyd feel, Syd Barret era, but no vocals and all the zone outs. Trip out on the milky waaaay.

https://fromthestacks.bandcamp.com/album/astral-travels

Tangled Shoelaces - Turn My Dial - The M Squared Recordings and More

Welp, this is crazy, when Tangles Shoelaces started they ranged from 10 to 14, and the music puts to shame most adults. Playing jangley soft focus pyschdelic pop, its some of the best indie pop I've heard in forever. "The Biggest Movie Ever Made" is such aittle gem with its playful organ ans sax, and little Byrdsy guitars, that weirdly shift into a almost new waveish part, its wild. In both songs there a clever songwriting moments/transitions. The collection on the whole is very good, some of the vocals are a bit much for me, but i mean they were kids so whatever! Annnnnd Tangled Shoelaces is the cutest name ever. The always reliable Chapter Music is releasing this, and if you havent check their back catalog. Go

https://tangledshoelaces.bandcamp.com/album/turn-my-dial-the-m-squared-recordings-and-more-1981-84

April Bandcamp day recommendations 9.0

Jock Gang - Delayed Release Capsule 

Ok, so Jock Gang rules, and when they went silent it was a huge bummer. But, suddenly, month ago I got a notification they released a new ep, yassss they are returning. The EP opens with a cover of Les Rallizes Denudes song, that sounds almost as unhinged and animalistic. Jock Gang takes elements of Velvet Underground, Women, and Red Krayola to make absolutely blistering rock music. My favorite track is "Paint Spilled on the Highway", which takes noise, feedback, anti solo choas into a sub 1 minute of pummeling pop. Pure noise = pure bliss.

https://jock-gang.bandcamp.com/album/delayed-release-capsule

April Magazine - Tape For Japan

San Francisco's April Magazine make lofi pop that sounds like its from rural psychedelia scene that spawned Flying Saucer Attack, Light and Movietone but lighter than those bands. Like those bands, the recording could alienate some but for me its tight. The touchstones are VU, Galaxie 500 and 60s pop but much more hazy, and very nocturnal. Too my ears, this is DREAM POP, it feels like yr floating in and out of being lucid, its creates such a zone atmosphere and warps yr sense of reality and time. Goooood stuff!

https://aprilmagazine.bandcamp.com/album/tape-for-japan

World Peace - Come and See

In recent years I've slowly come back around to heavy music, but really only a certain brand of it, and thats power violence informed hardcore. I want all go, no slow pummeling, feedback drenched and here enters World Peace. This record is 20 songs deep, that careens into the speakers, punching you right into the face. There's not much to say, its great to listen to while driving, and being pissed at all the people out and about ignoring the reality we live in.

https://worldfuckingpeace.bandcamp.com/album/come-and-see

Regional Justice Center  - Crime and Punishment 

Like World Peace, RJC scratch a similar itch to my rage toward humanity, and this album is one of the best hardcore records I've heard since the first Low Threat Profile 7inch. In the same lineage as No Comment, Endless Blockade and a more straight forward Iron Lung. The riffs are hard, blasts are in yr face and the vocals are oddly catchy. You can tell this is a varied studied songwriter making these tunes. Also, I BELIEVE this band is angry, it doesnt feel performative. "Absence" is my favorite song, main riff makes ME wanna mosh. 10 songs, no bs, just absolute sonic punishment.

https://regionaljusticecenter.bandcamp.com/album/crime-and-punishment

Headroom - Head In The Clouds

 

Learned about Headroom because Aaron from Landing was kind enough to send me their split 12inch with em, and than realized TiM released this LP few years back. This record is very good, and very cool. Space rock isn't often compelling, normally mired in lame cliches, and even lamer songwriting. Space rock like this doesnt exist anymore, harkens back to Ash Ra Temple, Jessamine, Bowery Electric(at their most blown out) and Magnog. The opening track "How To Grow Evil Flowers" is a vast hypnotic jam, feedback bouncing all around, slow churn of a groove that swallows you in sound. The follow up track, that features vocals, and feels like what if Broadcast was more into Hawkwind than The United States of America? Anyway, highly recommend, esp if yr a early Kranky Records phreak. 

https://headroomnhv.bandcamp.com/album/head-in-the-clouds

Electric Chair - Social Capital 

So far this year, as you can see from this list 2021 has already been a crazy good year for punk/hc. The always reliable Iron Lung records comes through again with this fantastic 7inch from Electric Chair. Blistering fast d-beat played how it is always meant to be, noisey, unhinged and not drop tuned into oblivion for the aesthetic of heavy. The guitar work is really weird, off kilter at times, has that classic Dischargey tone, the rhythm section feels like they could collapse at any moment and the vocals has that raging but also has side eye vibe to em

 I havent heard a d-beat record like this in forever, packs a punch and is fun to listen too.

https://ironlungpv.bandcamp.com/album/social-capital-lungs-179

Troth - Small Movements In Radiance 

Lastly, we have this preorder from the also extemely reliable Not Not Fun Records, Troth's a duo from Australia making what they envision "ambient music for children". I dont know if I'd play this for a kid, it's pretty haunting and ritualistic, as are a lot of Aussie bands like HTRK, Joninne and early Smoke Bellow. Only 3 tracks are available right, but I am loving the combo of drone, cultish psychedelic minimal rhythms, Japanese ambient and what sounds like disembodied vocals. I am very excited to hear the rest!

https://troth.bandcamp.com/album/small-movements-in-radiance

Angel'in Heavy Syrup - IV

I remember the first time I heard Angel'in Heavy Syrup, I was at the original drummer of Wildhoneys house, we worked together at a coffee shop, and it sucked. But, after work we would often go to his house, get very stoned and he would show me music. This is where i fell in love with Flying Saucer Attack, early MBV, The Telescopes and Angel'in Heavy Syrup's "IV".  There isn't a ton of info about AIHS online, mostly I know they released 4 albums, were Japanese and all gals. IV was their last record, and imo easily their best. The early stuff isnt bad, it just doesnt grab me the way IV does, it feels like a culmination of their powers, their dynamics between members, and whatever studio they recorded(or who captured it) in to just nail this pyschdelic masterpiece. The main attraction into is the interplay between the leads and rhythm guitar, the solos sound so free from thought, and are all FEEL. She really fucking shreds, like you think yr fav goes off, listen to "Space Conquest" and shut yr mouth. They feel like the childen of Ash Ra Temple, or Amon Duuls mellow jams, but full in outer space. "First Love" opens with an iconic guitar part, and feels like a rocket ship exploding out of the atmosphere, and than the vocals kick in(which perfectly match with the dreamy, but confident coos), and it feels like yr floating. I also, love the tone of the rhythm guitar, its so jangley, punchy and crisp, they are played w equal effortless flow. Its a shame this record hasn't been rediscovered or issued, I have a cd version but would love an LP. Anyway, not on streaming or bandcamp, here's full LP on YouTube, stfu and listen.

https://youtu.be/K_EXFd-vE0o

 

Bitchin Bajas - Bajas Fresh

 One of the best shows I've seen in the last 5 was seeing Bitchin Bajas in downtown Baltimore at a short lived venue called EMP Collective with friends Wume. I don't recall how long their set was, but with ambient/new age/kosmische performances can be boring, but not B B, it was engaging, and breezed by in a blink of an eye, I lost time during it and came out full of joy, and I bought this tape. Alot of times, with this sorts music, I have no idea actually how well known they are but to me Bitchin Bajas are under appreciated, over the course of their discography they have honed their craft slowly but surely, that culminated in this FANTASTIC album that is so dynamic and accessible to anyone, not just music nerds! And the title of the record shows they are not so self serious like alot of music like this is. The elements at play here are kosmische, new age, ambient and some spiritual jazz that all wind and flow through 7 tracks of equal measures of calm and excitement. The main thing aside from the songwriting that really came together on this record was the production. Its keeps things engaging, dynamic, immersive and its so well mixed, but not to the point of sounding sterile. The real stand out here is "Angels and Demons At Play" with its soft pulse, droning synth and flute floating around the mix, its such a weirdly playful and catchy song. The opener "Jammu" also really sets the stage for the whole LP, the ever evolving track shows the new found studio confidence. The synths bob and weave for first half, building till this flute loop jumps in the mix, and than soars into some truly blissed out shit. Along their whole discography they have explored so much and are restlessly artistically, thats why they are under appreciated. Bitchin Bajas also have another record that is great, its their collaboration with Bonnie Prince Billy and its a perfect companion piece to Bajas Fresh. Both records have been their for me in recent years, especially when I first moved to LA. Lots of driving around in a car, alone, and these records would smooth over my anxieties about driving in a new city. In the words of BPB "despair is criminal ah haaa ah haaa".

https://bitchinbajas.bandcamp.com/album/bajas-fresh

7 March Bandcamp day recommendations

 

As another month passes, bandcamp continues their unwavering support of artists that continue to struggle, but hopefully soon, we will be back going/playing shows. Either way, here's 7 suggestions for yr listening pleasure.

Nightshift - Zoë

Ya, yea, ye, I've already written about this in the previous recommendation post buuuuut I hadn't heard the whole LP (and has only recently been released in full), and wow, this is so so so good. The restrictions of lockdown in their process has really elevated their songwriting, more based on loops, and mantra like vocals with hints of jazz, krautrock, post punk and early 90s post rock all tucked together for maximum results. I love how the guitar isn't a main focus, its all about the pulse. It's probably just me but they kinda remind me of a less abrasive Pram. Everytime I listen, I pick up on new lil momemts, that sometimes contextualize the song in a different light, like in "Outta Space" catching the lyric "There's no air in outer space" makes the song feel more errie. Another lil moment I love is how in "Spray Paint The Bridge" how it keeps circling back to the fluttering 3 note clarinet part that pushes up against the verse creating this levity I really like. This record is just dope, experimental without being pretentious, but with subtle vocal and instrumental hooks. Fire.

https://nightshiftgroup.bandcamp.com/album/z-e

Landon Cadwell - Bicycle Days

2 haunting, wonderous, pastoral and beautiful ambient/new age adjacent tracks from Landon Cadwell. This tape has been my morning go for the last month since I got it. Each track is around 20 mins, and its totally engaging, evolving and blissful. He weaves recurring melodies through the songs runtimes to evoke nostalgia for youthful moments of excitement, reflection and what it felt like the be on your bike as a kid, feeling free. Its quite lovely and cant wait to hear what he has coming this year on Moon Glyph and Trouble In Mind. 

https://mockrecords.bandcamp.com/album/bicycle-day

Dravier - Earth Mirage

LA really feels like the hub of great ambient, new age, experimental electronic music, its wild how many great releases have come out from artists here. Dravier is no exception, creating a mixture of ritualistic rhythms, new age swirls of synth soundscapes. Unlike another Not Not Fun release Coral Club, which felt like humid tropical landscape, Earth Mirages sound like an traveling through the cosmos to land in a alien rainforest from another dimension. Their are elements imo of kosmische as well, that really makes for a far out listen. 

https://dravier.bandcamp.com/album/earth-mirage

Grand Veymont - Grand Veymont

Would like to shout out Steve from Moon Glyph records for putting me onto this French groop, he knows I fuck with dreamy vocals over a motorik beat. What you get here is a slightly broody krautrock/kosmische with lovely vocals sprinkled thoughout, with a more avant leaning presentation. Imagine if Broadcast (haha era bleeding into tender era) had foregone pop and focused more long occulty hypnotic jams. Its def in same zone as Erasers, Zomes and early Smoke Bellow. 

https://grandveymont.bandcamp.com/album/grand-veymont-2

They Are Gutting A Body Of Water - Destiny XL

Hallucinatory mutant gazey noise pop/rock that goes hard, I'm so excited Citrus City is issuing this on cassette. This is one of the few bands I feel like "get" MBV, its crushing, in yr face but not in an overly masculine way, driving, dreamy, but at times very abstract with the inclusion of hip hop beats/production to break up the feel. Its someone from one of the best "shoegaze" bands Blue Smiley. I like on bandcamp the stream is side a and side b to force you to listen to it as complete sides, its flows similar to a Spirit of the Beehive album. Its like a liner lucid dream. Anyway, good gaze is hard to come by, and here's some.

https://citruscityrecords.bandcamp.com/album/destiny-xl

Fievel Is Glauque - Gods Trashmen Sent Right To The Mess

Found this on bandcamp daily, its a kaleidoscopic combo of bossa nova, lounge, fusion and indie pop. Its kinda sits at a cross section between Astrid Gilberto, Belle & Sebastian, Cortex and a lofi beat tapes. Its mostly 90 to 120 second bursts of exuberant energy, subtle grooves and dreamy but confident vocals. Its all record live, to tape so it gives me that quality I love about early Patsy Cline recordings. There's hints pointing in a more experimental direction here and there, I hope they mine that more in the future. Honestly, lots of potential here, excited to hear what they do next.

https://laloi.bandcamp.com/album/gods-trashmen-sent-to-right-the-mess

Pram - North Pole Radio Station 

Its still early in the year, so not a huge pool of releases have come out yet that I'm feeling super hard, and I tend to include older stuff, and this is a perfect place to start for the uninitiated to one of my favorite bands Pram. Easily one of my favorite discoveries over the last five years, and super influential to Dummy. North Pole Radio Station is Pram's fourth LP, and in my opinion their best entry point. Early Pram much weirder, dissonant and abrasive, until Sargasso Sea which saw them mellow on the somewhat aggressive Can inspired noise/post rock, into a dreamy almost exotica band. With NPRS they become more accessible, pop folding in elements of bossa nova, lounge, dub, library music, jazz and psychedelic pop and swirling it all together into a cohesive and brilliant listen. The vocals are the thing that normally turn people off, but I love the soft coo of Rosie's voice. The LP is just a beautiful journey through a weird little self made wonderland

https://pram.bandcamp.com/album/north-pole-radio-station

7 recs for February Bandcamp day 2021

 

 

And we're back, 2021 and eveything is still fucked, but bandcamp is here doing the lords work, helping bands stay a float, so here's a list of things that rule.

Ryan Garbes - Tabbed View

Over the last year Moon Glyph records has become one of my favorite active labels, one that I will always listen to whatever release that is coming out next. Late last year, they released "Tabbed View" by Ryan Garbes, a mutant fried psychedelic pop record that is far weirder and creative than 99% of pysch rock you will hear. The rhythms are off kilter, the guitars strings feel like their being attack and vocals coast along the mix as a source of gravity pulling it all together. Its like an even more whacked out Elephant 6 record but with no beach boys/Beatles worship. My favorite song is "Reverby", which is like Cluster on speed, it moves so franticly, like a funhouse on acid but in a good way. This shit rocks.

https://moonglyph.bandcamp.com/album/tabbed-view

Landing - Bandcamp Subscription Series

Landing is one of those underrated, hard working bands thats been around forever, who never have gotten their due, but aren't in it for that reason. This year they are doing a subscription series where each month they will drop a long form piece of music, if you pay into it. The first song has been released called "Sow" which is a beautiful slow moving peace of dreamy drone, minimal drums and walls of gorgeous sound. Contextually Landing is from the Wendy and Carl, Fuxa and Azure Plane scene of psychedelic droney dreamy space rock, and continue to push themselves to experiment to uncharted places. Also, check out "Oceanless" its a perfect combo of rural psychedelia, ambient drone and noisy pop.

https://landing.bandcamp.com/subscribe

Erasers - Pulse Points

This Australian duo are easily the most underrated Fire Talk records band, meditative kosmische pop(?). There aren't to many bands doing this vibe at all, similar to early Beach House, Zomes and Smoke Bellow, these songs envelope you on warm trance like atmospheres. Organs drone, beats pulse....and vocals guild you through this cosmic outback. This is so fully my shit. Excited to see what they do next, hopefully go further out. 

https://erasers.bandcamp.com/album/pulse-points

Insides - Soft Bonds 

Insides haven't released a full LP since 1993, that album "Euphoria" was minimalist dream pop at its finest, with evocative lyrics, sensual ASMR type vocals and triphop skittering beats. Almost 30 years later they return with "Soft Bonds", an even weirder record that pushes the more abstract bits of their minimalism while retaining the dreamy/other worldly quailty of the debut. Something about this reminds me of  the most recent HTRK LP, I wonder if they are at all influenced by Insides? Truly unique vocal delivery that feels like she's whispering right into your ears, its mixed very similarly to early Bjork LPS. If your a fan of minimalist ambient pop, you'll dig this!

https://insides1.bandcamp.com/album/soft-bonds

Terminal Bliss - Brute Rrr/Ata

Chris and Mike Taylor at this point are an institution of great music, from Pg99, Mannequin, Hissing Choir, Pygmy Lush and now Terminal Bliss, who's debut is a chaotic and blistering masterclass in punk rock in the right hands(😉). There's a beautiful unhinged euphoria to these songs, pure energy, distilled down to its bare bones. Like their hero's Born Against, Disclose and Crossed Out, this is punk music with purpose, that pummels. Its been very cathartic listening to this LP.

https://terminalblisscult.bandcamp.com/album/brute-err-ata-2

Lionmilk - I Hope You Are Well

Ah, Leaving Records, you have become such a consistent in my life for peaceful and meditative music, and Lionmilk's new album is no different. Originally made exclusively for friends in LA who were feeling anxious and depressed due to all the isolation, is now released for us all to enjoy. Most of the release is made up of exploratory Rhodes playing, thats so serene and warm you feel like yr floating down an endless stream. Jazz, ambient and hints of new age course through this lofi cassette, and its perfect for cleaning house, reading and walking at dusk. Sonic therapy for this absolute hellscape.

https://lionmilk.bandcamp.com/album/i-hope-you-are-well

Soul Connection - Street Soul

Welcome to 2021, originally I was gonna write about another underrated UK early 90s post rock band, but I tossed it in favor of writing about something I've been currently obsessed with that seems unheard or rated. Soul Connection were  beloved UK street soul pioneers, only releasing 2 albums, and "Street Soul" is a comp of their "best" tracks. The duo's mix of soul, hiphop, breakbeat and house is truly unmatched and infectious. All of this stuff was recorded in a bedroom, truly raw, punk and singular. These 6 songs bang front to back, signaling things to come in the 90s with dance music effecting top 40 production and aesthetics. "In And Out Of Love" is a hit song that never was with its perfect hook, bouncey beat and laid back atmospheres, that feels like someone running around a city center trying to shake off the feeeeeels. Its has this ambiance that is so warm and welcoming, the beats are off kilter but groove, and the vocals emote yearning that feels universal. The whole thing just feels so ahead of its time, with the layering of rhythms, samples and synths. You can hear its echos from Dee-Lite to No Joy. Its perfect and maybe could be the first thing you discover in 2021.

https://invisible-city-editions.bandcamp.com/album/street-soul