Father Murphy – Two Views [coll] – [Aagoo]

Some may know Father Murphy, the sinister psychedelic pop group out of Italy that seem to be descending deeper into the dark side. Well here we have part of a set of remixes Aagoo Records are putting together of their last album, Anyway Your Children will Deny it, featuring here pieces by??Indian Jewelry and Philippe Petit. The Indian Jewelry side does a pretty loyal rendition with wind organ setting a raspy, repetitive hearbeat that layers on drones as it progresses. The track drops out to an airy breeze of wind that’s barely audible for the last minute or so. Philippe Petit’s side is a brooding cello drone that plods on while adding unsettling smatterings of subtle found sounds. Both tracks work great for somber or nefarious transitions, mic beds or mixing. A CD release to come contains more remixes from the album, surely more treats.

Cheap Curls – “S/t” – [Art Fag Recordings]

You can almost hear the wind rushing through Jackie Oh’s silk-scarved hair as she speeds along the coast in her sky-blue Buick convertible. This pop rock blast from the 60s past is energizing and fast paced, with guitars, drums, and Katie Serbian’s vocals adding the perfect feminine touch. Side B is a slightly slower love song that rollicks along. It’s all like cracking open a can of ice-cold Coke–you feel refreshed and young again.

Subklinik – “Pt I : Pt II” – [Waggletone Records]

Ritualistic dark ambient from American multi-instrumentalist Chad Davis, erstwhile member of metal bands Demoncy, Father Befouled, U.S. Christmas et al. As the title suggests, this 1996 EP is one track split across two sides. Side one is a gradually building drone, distant clanking and a throat-singing sound that may or not be coming from a human. Side two introduces some slightly more rhythmic touches, with occasional bells and/or gongs added to the mix. Echoes of Michael Northam, Coil, and later SPK, as well as Asian monastic music… well, you know the score, it’s one dark ambient piece among a great many in this style, but I enjoyed its expansive, vaulted mix, which has lots of room to explore. Imagine you are spelunking and have stumbled upon an abandoned cathedral hewn from solid rock.

Pretty – “Mustache In Your Face” – [Numero Group]

Four-piece from yesteryore (1969) the liners detail their
history: brushes with “greatness” (a shot of Electric
Prune juice) and cool oddities (recording in a studio
built into a former industrial cave in Missouri.) The music
on this double 7″ is groovy, a rock solid capture of
psych rock with Jeff Mann’s driving bass lines setting up
great guitar work on top by Bob Theen. His use of effects
is tasty and varied on each track here, from fuzz to the
acoustic intro to “Electric Hand” to reverb tweak to
backwards stylings. Discriminating keyboards too, and a
killer Numero uno Group package! But all of that being said,
oddly what has grabbed me the most by this release are
four simple words
……..MUSTACHE……..IN……….YOUR…………FACE
Is it a foreign curse broken directly into English? Was
it a drunken throwaway after a bitter breakup? (The song
also has misguided lyrics like “You broke my own heart.”)
Part of a sound poem? I don’t know but I look forward to
that phrase taking off not just in KFJC playlist announces
but beyond. A catch phrase between friends? A political slogan
(veiled hawkish threat to a yet-to-be-named Middle Eastern
country)? Something on par with “Andre the Giant Has
a Posse?” Can we have a dramatic reading of the entire song
every hour on the hour? Lyrics evidently writ by Electric Prune
Michael “Quint” Weakley who svengali’d into MO and joined
the band briefly. The other songs are worthy of plenty of
play too, Electric Hand with its acoustic intro before a
kind of Vampyrous Lesbos carpet ride, Funhouse with COW
BELL and a Hendrix grunt/sigh steal, Red Spoon Gravy has
a Stones swipe plus hand claps and lyrics that *almost*
rival the title cut. Perhaps I shouldn’t dig this as much
as I do, but I guess the mustache is on the other face.

-Thurston Hunger

Bren’t Lewiis Ensemble – “Refreshing Hemorrhage” – [BUFMS]

Minimal noise deconstruction on the Butte County Free Music Society label. Sounds of scratchy vinyl, distant and detached vocals, ambient noise and sparse instrumentation. This abstract ambient experimentation in sound is a limited edition run of 100 7″ singles. Recorded in San Francisco, Brighton, and inside a fiat in Sicily. There are some noise and experimental recordings out there that are dependent on a shock approach, overwhelming the listener with a wall of sound or unexpected harshness – this is not one of those. A very minimal recording, worth listening to and uncovering new nuances and elements.

Overstreet, Rev. Louis – “There’s No Future In Gaining The World and Losing Your Soul” – [Mississippi Records]

This minister, first recorded by Arhoolie label founder Chris Strachwitz (who also took the photo on the sleeve), here delivers gospel (Side A) and blues (Side B). Guitar, bass drum, piano, and voices help him get his messages across to his Portland, OR congregation. The devil is out there, but he can be resisted!!!

Son of Jor-El/Larson, Erik [coll] – [Underdogma]

Son of Jor-El (Corey Bing, Big Metal Dave, and C.T.) will have you cringing with fear, hiding in a dark corner. Played at 45 sounds pretty normal, but becomes super drudgy at the incorrect speed (not necessarily recommended) Super scary shit, takes you straight down to the ninth layer of Hell in a burning plane…. oh yeah, and you’re high on acid. Ecstatic madness.

Erik Larson (from stoner metal band Alabama Thunderpussy) turns up the stoney-ness all the way up to 11for the B-side. Time to pull out the bong, bust out the Jack Daniels and get ready for some loud music to get that head banging. This song will definitely get some plays on the blues show, fo’ sho’.

PGM: turn this mother fucker UP because I say so!

Ultras S/C – “1417 Roberts Ave” – [Mama Records]

Amazing what only guitars, drums, and voice can do in such a short time. Two short punk rock songs from this Nashville band, the A side featuring Pearl’s voice, the B side Cheetah’s and Pearl’s voices. I prefer the B side because the lyrics are endearing (who doesn’t want his/her own microphone?). Fun, simple rock fare for those of us who love it.

Danny and The Darleans – “Don’t Ask The Question” – [Nero's Neptune Records]

Get ready for some gritty Detroit rock from Danny and the Darleans. Danny Kroha brings raw fury in the form of vocals and guitar, which is a bit refreshing from his old days with the garage- punk band The Gories and the Demolition Doll Rods. Colleen Burke thumps her way away around on bass on the opening track “Don’t Ask the Question” following the flowing drum beats of Richie Wohlfeil. The star of this 45 is the flip side cover of Lou Reed’s pre-Velvet Underground jam”You’re Driving Me Insane”. A delightful shoe scuffing selection out of Nero’s Neptune Records.

-Dianthus-

Crimson Scarlet – “Sanctuary / Two Kinds of Red” – [Cool Summer Records]

2011 debut release from female fronted goth punk / death rock malcontents out of Santa Barbara. Driving, catchy yet dark and moody music set to distant vocals echoing a purely dismal view of humanity and hoping for the worst. Who knew Santa Barbara could produce something so cold and bleak… They seem to be sick of the shamelessly shallow world they’re all condemned to, and I’m glad to hear about it!

Whatever Brains – “4 Song EP” – [Sorry State Records]

What a fun special release for Record Store Day 2012! This band out of Raleigh, North Carolina delivers some energy-packed jolts of upbeat music and provocative lyrics when you can make them out, as you can do on A2. B2 is a slower remix done by Waumiss, with 78-rpm sounding voices asserting at the end that “We Are All Adults”. Punked out music to serve as a palate cleanser in any set.

Wonder Boys, The – “Den Flygande Varmlanningen” – [Lystring]

This is pretty hilarious! David Liiljemark is the weirdo behind The Wonder Boys. Side A has him saying Vill Du Dubba? in comical Muppet styles. I swear this must have been on Sesame Street in Sweden or something. Side B brings you more funny voice stylings, some Bob Dylan upswings, and tweaked chipmunk pitches. They’re all cover songs too, haha! Brainbombs, Las Palmas, and Robert Broberg. Toss one on, giggle, and have the listeners thinking WTF?

Miyagi, Kiyoko – “Koto Music” – [Victor Entainment Inc.]

This 1966 gem features Kiyoko Miyagi on koto.

Side 1 is Rokudan which translates to 6th stage (or step or symphony). It was composed by Kengyo Yatsuhashi in the 1600′s and is a classic piece for koto.

Side 2 is Seoto which translates to sound of running river. It is a 20th century composition by Michio Miyagi (1894-1956).

Very beautiful with an interesting contrast between old and relatively new pieces.

(Thanks to my brother-in-law for translation help.)

Reynosa – “Carinito / Caballeras” – [M'lady's Records]

“Carinito” is a lively song spiced with guitar, bass, percussion, and female voices singing enchanting Spanish–about affection, I believe? Very jaunty and pleasant. “Caballeras” is even more fast-paced and in-your-face with the lyrics and music. Female gentlemen? Gentlewomen? I may not understand the Spanish, but the energetic music beat translates well and will get your blood pumping.

Death Sentence: Panda!/ Silver Daggers [coll] – [Not Not Fun]

This 7” ends quicker than you can fake a belch. Released as part of Not Not Fun’s Bored Fortress Club, a series of 7” split singles intended to arrive in the mail once a month for six months to those who have signed up for the club… also included in the series are bands such as Coughs, Burmese, Afrirampo and 16 Bitch Pile up.. to name a few (the full list is in the liner notes)..have you wet your pants yet? These are two sides of fully assaulting, angular, lopsided art-rock. Death Sentence Panda proves that a clarinet and a flute can kick buckets of ass. Pounding, churning brain tumor riffage and a floor heavy drum beat that knows how to march… not to mention the lovely lady yells.. Silver Daggers bellow with horns and reeds and schizoid strummage. Free and noodley all over the place till the crunchy guitar fuzz drops from above along with a bass line to bump to and some killer she-howls. Oh yes. Yes please. -Surfer Rosa

Talibam! – “#noschool” – [Critical Heights]

Experimental jazz/rock/noise duo Talibam! have moved through all sorts of absurd transformations, but none like their brand of #noschoolrap that we’ve seen in recent incarnations. We have two short tracks here of silly smatterings of danceable grooves set against stumbling lyrical storylines, both with some pretty spot on social critique slyly hidden in the babble. A side gives us some bouncy surf-hop lamenting the downfall of society. B side’s more of a disco cruiser auto-tuned party rap parody. These tracks are for sitting poolside sitting bacardi and coke at the Sandy Balls Resort Motel. Dig it.

Tex Soul and The Bayonets – “Uto Nwa / Osi Na Ngada” – [Academy]

A reissue of Nigerian Afro-Funk recorded in 1972 by Tex Soul and his early group ‘the bayonets’. Tex soul was known for his showmanship, and has worked with bands such as the Funkees and his own group The Vibrations. This is some bottom of the funk bucket funk. That is the funkiest of funks, mind you. Soulful singing belted in the native language and super swanky organ lines all over the place. The bass line holds it down and the old school production/recording sound adds just the right amount of dirt. This is something you can boogie to. Both tracks are pretty short and end abruptly and without warning. So be mindful and funk off. -Surfer Rosa

Furlong & Sick City Four [coll] – [Gubbey Records]

Two oblong bands on Gubbey Records, a label out of Louisville KY. Dirty, sweaty energy on a little 7” piece of vinyl. Furlong is kinda catchy, tweeked out headbanger riffage. Crunchy, gritty, motorcycle hard rock bananas. Sick City Four (this side wins) noodles and doodles for a couple minutes on an instrumental, improvised, skronk jam. Free and naked! Barry sax trades off with trumpet while the drummer rips and the guitarist stays far from rhythm. Formless, conversational…jazzyspazzy. Chunky..not smooth! This shreds. -Surfer Rosa

Leather Bath – “Zulu Time” – [Leather Bath, Inc.]

John Wiese teams up with Greh Holger (aka Hive Mind) for this pair of brief scrap metal meditations. Gong scratching rodents playing ceremonial singing bowls of rusty aluminum with some bass raga to sanctify the ceremony. Side B is more ominous and menacing, but without being too harsh. Like a Saharan sandstorm over tin shacks. Recorded May 2010.

Hintz, Daniel – “S/t” – [Self-release]

Local dude. Self-described minimalist. Two tracks of solo guitar atop faint background noise such as traffic and voices. All open-string droning-type stuff with no fancy fingering. Hintz either didn’t bother to tune the guitar, or he carefully tuned it to get the desired effect. Does it matter which? To me it doesn’t. One short track on each side of this clear 7″.