TV Ghost, “TV Ghost”, [Sweet Rot Records]

TV Ghost is from Lafayette, Indiana and features Dolan Brahne Hoeft, Jackson VanHorn, Shawn Ghost, and Timothy Conrad Gick. TV Ghost released their first 7,” “Atomic Rain,” on Die Stasi Records. This 7″ is a follow up to their full length album “Mass Dream” (In The Red Records). Two tracks of creepy, rockin’ psyche influenced post punk. This would make Lux Interior proud and work well in a set with the Cramps, Blaq Mummy, Haunted George, Dead Bolt, etc…Disturbed vocals, haunted house organ, a twisted ride. B side has a noise influenced 60s garagey, monster mash vibe .

A Side is “Phantasm” it runs 3:46

B Side is “Panic Area” it runs bout 2 and a half minutes

I don’t know if the music influenced me but…Crime vs Recipe review-

“Phantasm”- Late night body-snatching till dawn going from cemetery to cemetery, dodging bats and rolling in the graveyard dirt with bones in our knapsacks.

“Panic Area”- 3/4ths cup garage rock, 13 tablespoons of psychedelic noise, a whole lot of graveyard spice and a pinch of punk.

Long Distance Poison, “The Bog Nebula”, [Prison Tatt Records]

Long Distance Poison is trio Nathan Cearley, Erica Bradbury and Casey Blockout of Brooklyn, New York. This is very spaced out droney stuff bringing to mind meditation albums of the 70s and 80s but with a creepy soundtrack feel like Tangerine Dream meets H.P. Lovecraft. The album is a one sided 12 inch track on the Prison Tatt Record label meant to be played at 33rpm and the track would be great to use either in a mix with something else or on it’s own. The perfect thing to listen to if trapped in a frozen chunk of ice travelling through space. Predominantly keyboards, synthesizers and effects with no vocals. Track is about 18 mins, 55 secs long.

Royal Baths, “Better Luck Next Life”, [Kanine Records]

This Royal Baths release was recorded in a basement in February of 2011 and released in February of this year. With Jeremy Cox on lead guitar and vocals, Jigmae Baer on rhythm guitar and vocals, Eden Savage on Drums and Nathan Grice on bass. This is the band’s second full length release, a follow up to their debut “Litanies”. Just prior to release of this album, Cox and Baer decided to move from San Francisco to Brooklyn, NY. This is gritty garage psych blues at it’s creepiest. The vocal delivery and subject matter is unsettling. The songs are like little glimpses into the world of a maladjusted anti-social misfit. My favorite tracks are “Be Afraid of Me” and “Black Sheep” which are also on a 7 inch they released under the name “Baths” although the versions of these 2 songs on the CD are different from the 7 inch versions. The tracks could work very well in a set with Ty Segall, the Fresh and Onlys, Thee Oh Sees, Sonic Youth, etc. I really like this project and I hope to hear more from them.

Husere Grav, “Myths”, [Prison Tatt Records]

Another one sided 12 inch release from Prison Tatt Records out of New Jersey. This time a Texas based, one man project of Todd W. a noise and metal enthusiast. This release is heavy on the droney, atmospheric noise and includes 4 tracks evoking underground wind tunnels, clashing static and robotic heartbeats. Beautiful, lonely isolation. Released in October of 2011. The cover design is by the artist and is an altered image from Brian De Palma’s film “Sisters” starring Margot Kidder.

Haare, “Rautapilvi”, [Prison Tatt Recrods]

Limited edition release of 100, one sided, hand numbered 12 inch vinyl E.P. Haare is a one man Finnish noise project, Ilkka Vekka. This release includes sounds from Circle’s “Forest” release used with permission. A very eerie and atmospheric droney ambient piece which runs about 19 and a half minutes long, conjuring ghostly sirens, hazey cloudy hallways and knives being sharpened. Cover art by the artist.

Divorce – “Divorce” – [Optimo Music]

Five piece out of Glasgow making punk rock/noise inspired by No Wave. Divorce is Sinead Youth: vocals – Hillary Van Scoy: guitar, vocals – VSO: bass, vocals – Andy Browntown: drums, vocals – Vickie MacDonald: guitar.??This album is from 2009. It was their debut 10″ and is on red vinyl. Optimo is a label run by JD Twitch, one part of a DJ duo out of Glasgow. Refer to the collection “60 Minutes of Fear” ??for more info about J.D. Twitch. This would work well in a set with Teenage Jesus & the Jerks, Uxa, Swans, etc.

Vegetable – “C.f. / Sol” – [Gilgongo Records]

One sided 45 (33rpm). Recorded at XNA in November 2010 with the help of James Fella in Tempe, Arizona. Released on Gilgongo Records. Frantic 3-some of spastic punk rock with male and female vocals. 2 tracks: “Castration Frustration” and “Sol”. Fun.

Sperm Wails – “Lady Chatterly / Mr Wonderful” – [S-S Records]

Recorded in 1986, Songs by Sperm Wails (London, 85-89). Vocals, guitar, bass and drums. Good 80s UK punk rock sound with elements of New York No Wave. Apparently they had their own label (Spurt) and might have recently been reborn under the name “Blowhole”. 2011 release on S-S Records. “Lady Chatterly” was released originally on flexi as part of a freebie to a fanzine, “Mr Wonderful” was an unreleased track.

Coathangers, The – “Hard Candy” – [Die Slaughterhouse]

Foursome of fierce females. Georgian garage/punk rock that’ll bring a smile to your face. “Johnny” (Side A) is about going to hell and has some killer piano and slide guitar action. “Wife Eyes” is a bit cuter but just as fun. An entertaining follow up to their 1st single “Don’t Touch My Shit” on Suicide Squeeze.

Segall, Ty – “Melted” – [Goner Records]

San Francisco garage rocker Ty Segall presents the album “Melted” which was recorded in December of 2009 in a basement studio in San Francisco. In the past he has pretty much done everything himself but on this release he has help from Mike Donovan (Sic Alps), Eric Bauer (Crack W.A.R.), Tim Hellman, Emily Rose Epstein, Jigmae Baer, John Dwyer (Thee Oh Sees) and Charlie Moonheart. This album is filled with catchy psychedelic-garage-pop tunes with classic 1960s rock riffs. The album brings to mind King Khan, Jay Reatard, Brian Jonestown Massacre, John Lennon and even Cheap Trick. Call me crazy but Ty pretty much had me with the cover and the gatefold art is pretty groovey too. Play it and enjoy!

Grinderman – “Grinderman 2″ – [Anti-, Inc.]

This is the latest of Bad Seed side-projects featuring Nick Cave, Warren Ellis, Martyn Casey and Jim Sclavunos. Grinderman 2 is their second release and was recorded in England in 2009. This album is even better in the last and covers Cave’s usual themes of God, Death, and America but also sex being a major focus. Cave could be going through a mid-life crisis and there are a lot of songs on the album where he seems to be exploring the theme (3,7). There are a few songs that are softer “When My Baby Comes” (4) but most of the songs are pretty rockin. The artwork is impressive and the lyrics are included in the booklet. There is no naughty language.

Sun City Girls – “Funeral Mariachi” – [Abduction]

FUCK YES- another Sun City Girls album! This one was recorded in Seattle by Alan Bishop, Randall Dunn and Scott Colburn. Alan Bishop does vocals, acoustic and electric guitars, electric bass, pitch pipe, mandolin, organ, mellotron and percussion. Richard Bishop on electric guitar, piano, organ, vocals, acoustic guitar and electric bass. The late Charles Goucher on drum kit, gamelan, gongs and misc. percussion. Also featured on this release Jessika Kenney on vocals on A-3, A-5 and B-4, Eyvind Kang on viola on B-2 and B-4 and David Carter on trumpet on B-6. This is mind blowing stuff, typical of what we have come to expect from these masters of their craft. These records are of limited issue and very rare. I started becoming obsessed with the Sun City Girls because of my interest in Alan’s solo work as Uncle Jim and Alvarius B (which I would highly recommend). Track 5 on Side B is a cover of an Ennio Morricone arrangement.

Detective Instinct – “Detective Instinct Presents” – [Sick Room]

From Middlesbrough in North East England, Oli Heffernan has been making loops, field recordings and 4-track recordings since the mid nineties. He has played with a numerous projects over the years including bands like The Fall, Echo And The Bunnymen, Clinic, John Cooper Clarke, Leaves, Future Of The Left, and Archie Bronson Outfit.
Detective Instinct, gets it’s name from the song by The Fall. This EP is the first of a series of 4 collaborations titled: “Detective Instinct Presents”. The project began when Heffernan rediscovered old recordings, he then wrote to a few musicians he had previously worked with and they began a type of online exchange of recordings. This release features a collaboration with The Champagne (of Country Teasers and Gag). Post punk with very elaborate percussive elements and plenty of social commentary. In the midst of the songs are field recordings of haunted buildings, people going about their daily business, and lots of found sounds recorded while he was on tour with Das Wanderlust. The cover art for the series as well, was found in an old book of woodcuts. This is really marvelous stuff and I can’t wait to hear more.
Released on Sick Room in Feb. of 2009.

Inner Santum – “Tomb It May Concern” – [Radiola]

Inner Sanctum Mysteries debuted over NBC???s Blue Network in January 1941.
Every week, Inner Sanctum Mysteries told stories of ghosts, murderers and lunatics. Produced in New York, the cast usually consisted of veteran radio actors. What made Inner Sanctum Mysteries unique among radio horror shows was its host, a slightly-sinister sounding man originally known as ???Raymond.??? The host had a droll sense of humor and an appetite for ghoulish puns, and his influence can be seen among horror hosts everywhere, from the Crypt-Keeper to Elvira. It had one of the most memorable openings in radio history: an organist hit a dissonant chord, a doorknob turned and the famous ???creaking door??? slowly began to open. This record includes “The Vengeful Corpse” and “The Hermit’s Cave” both tracks run 30 minutes. This was release number 16 and it’s first pressing was in 1972. Great for Halloween or nighttime!

Andi Sex Gang – “Bram Stoker’s Dracula” – [Pink Noise]

This is the story of Bram Stoker’s Dracula with narration and music by Andi Sex Gang. It is creepy and perfect for Halloween. Disc one is chapters 1-16, disc two is chapters 17-30. Enjoy and pleasant screams!

Price, Vincent – “Master of The Macabre” – [Cherry Red Records]

3 radio dramas starring Vincent Price all from the CBS radio series called Suspense. Tracks one and three were originally broadcast in 1957, track two was aired in 1944. Creepy stuff, perfect for a deadtime story or just a little Halloween fun.

Big Blood – “Dead Songs” – [Time-Lag Records]

This is the first full length album from the project Big Blood. The duo is out of South Portland, Maine and are involved with the projects Cerberus Shoal, Threads and Fire on Fire. The duo of Caleb Mulkerin and Colleen Kinsella had a baby together, left Cerberus Shoal and Big Blood was born. This album is called Dead Songs. When I first put it on my boyfriend said that it made him want to kill himself and he works at a funeral home. He made the observation without seeing the cover, knowing the name of the album or song titles (Curtain Call, Lay Your Head on the Rails, etc.) Undeniably, the melancholy on this release is palpable, but it is also hauntingly beautiful. Colleen’s vocals have been compared to the likes of Coco-Rosie and Joanna Newsome but although high pitched I find her vocals less grating. Occasionally Caleb also comes in with vocals which at times seem like he is channeling Neil Young. Freak folk, fuzzed-up garage folk anthems, psychedelia with a country tinge. Accordion on Curtain Call. Also worth mentioning is the packaging a gorgeous full color 60s style gatefold cover with clear varnish overprinting, large offset printed vellum insert, full color art labels, etc. pressed on the highest quality 180gm virgin vinyl. Pressed in a limited edition of 700 copies.

Blaq Mummy – “Live Live Live Live” – [Self -released]

Blaq Mummy is a quintet out of the Czech Republic. Tracks 2, 4-9 were recorded at a memorial concert for Lux Interior of the Cramps on February 28th, 2009 @ the Rock Cafe. Tracks 1 & 3 were recorded on December 12th of 2007 @ Klub Vagon. The line up is; Reverend Feedback – vocals, theremin, feedback noise machines; Hana Dead Bride – vocals, moves & grooves; Mark T. – guitar; Baron von Boom – drums; and Sane NonJerk – bass
Elements of Psychobilly with some experimental weirdness. They wear really amazing costumes, you should check them out on my space.

Hoke, Russell – “Haunted Brain” – [Unheard-of Records]

Russell Hoke is a songwriter out of San Antonio, Texas. On this album Russell performs 14 songs that he wrote from 1982-2008. He sings and plays banjo, harmonica and acoustic guitar on all the tracks except “Here Comes The Devil” which has Mark Semmes on guitar. He is kind of a weirdie and has been referred to as the Crispin Glover of San Antonio. The songs are pretty mellow and kinda creepy.